A Brief Study on the African-American Dilemma

The journey of the African-American in the United States has not been a walk in the park. From bondage and slavery to the presidency, the so-called "Colored" folk of this country have seen it all. Through the years, several important events have taken place, radically changing the direction of the minority group, resulting in a successful rebirth and revitalization in the mid-20th century. Although emancipation came in 1863, blacks would not experience full freedom until the passing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964.

Throughout the 1940's and 50's, many African-Americans believed it better to take their safety into their own hands and formed the Black Panther Party for Self Defence. This revolutionary organization was active through the 60's and promoted equality and fair treatment for all minorities. The Nation of Islam is a religious organization founded by W.F. Muhammad in July 1930. He set out with the goal of resurrecting the spiritual, mental, social, and economic condition of the African American men and women of America. The Nation of Islam teaches that Black People were the original humans. Former Nation Leader Elijah Muhammad explains:

"The Blackman is the original man. From him came all brown, yellow, red, and white people. By using a special method of birth control law, the Blackman was able to produce the white race. This method of birth control was developed by a Black scientist known as Yakub, who envisioned making and teaching a nation of people who would be diametrically opposed to the Original People. A Race of people who would one day rule the original people and the earth for a period of 6,000 years"

Malcolm X, an important figure in the Nation of Islam, claims that the culture of the African-American people was destroyed by slavery. He explains that ever since the time of slavery, White men had imposed their laws, culture, and names upon the slaves, completely erasing any previous identities. He elaborates on his religious views as well that the Nation of Islam, and the African-American race in general, will "qualify for recognition, as human beings, by all other...human beings on this Earth".

Amiri Baraka wrote a poem titled "Notes for a Speech", which evokes similar feelings to the words of Malcolm X.

Notes For a Speech

African blues
does not know me. Their steps, in sands
of their own
land. A country
in black & white, newspapers
blown down pavements
of the world. Does
not feel
what I am.

Strength

in the dream, an oblique
suckling of nerve, the wind
throws up sand, eyes
are something locked in
hate, of hate, of hate, to
walk abroad, they conduct
their deaths apart
from my own. Those
heads, I call
my "people."

(And who are they. People. To concern

myself, ugly man. Who
you, to concern
the white flat stomachs
of maidens, inside houses
dying. Black. Peeled moon
light on my fingers
move under
her clothes. Where
is her husband. Black
words throw up sand
to eyes, fingers of
their private dead. Whose
soul, eyes, in sand. My color
is not theirs. Lighter, white man
talk. They shy away. My own
dead souls, my, so called
people. Africa
is a foreign place. You are
as any other sad man here
american.

Here, Baraka talks about how he is stripped of his true African identity, as "Africa is a foreign place".