Student Editor: Kiara Biroo ’21 Office of Intercultural Affairs October Issue Fall 2019

This Issue

Page 1-2: What is the African Diaspora?

Page 3: Similarities & differences between people of the African Diaspora

Page 4: African Americans: Who are they?

Page 5: West Indians: Who are they?

Page 6: Issues that emerged between the groups

Page 7: Reflections

Kiara Biroo ’21

Student Editor

Voices Magazine

Public Health & Political Science major

Voices Magazine

African Americans: who are they that claim to not be Africans, but

creators of their own identity? The anger of abandonment, maybe even

betrayal, allowed our scorned brothers and sisters to rise up. In the

process, they picked up pieces from the past and molded it with the

present for the future. Do we owe our brothers and sisters empathy

because we have turned our backs on them after we were relinquished?

We stood islands, continents, and countries away hearing their cries and

renamed it as complaints. The truth is as a young girl growing up in St.

Lucia, I gazed out the window watching my brothers and sisters afar fight

to be accepted, not only by America, but the world. But through those

windows, we saw them as lazy, aggressive, and uncultured. Do we not owe

our brothers and sisters a hand molding a future without venomous

judgments? Are we not responsible for educating our future black children

of the African Diaspora about our shared pain and suffering throughout

the Americas?

Understanding the Origin and Complexities of

the African Diaspora

During the slavery period, a well-educated group of

African Americans emerged and was able to lay the

ground work for an ethnic identity and

infrastructure to sustain their progressive

development. The infrastructure consisted of

fraternal organizations, religious dominations,

schools, businesses, etc.

According to Harry

Bradshaw Matthews in his

book, African American

Freedom Journey in New

York and Related Sites,

1823-1870, black leaders in

New York on May 9, 1840,

penned a letter stating,

among other things, “We are

outraged by a system of

public caste, which reigns through all orders of the

community, the sanctuary of the Most High not

omitted. We will therefore exert our energies in the

use of all rightful and reasonable means, to correct

the abuses to which we have referred. We owe this to

our God, our country, and to ourselves; and with a

view to direct our energies more effectually in

maturing and using means we determine and agree

to assemble by delegates in Convention from year to

year, till our objective is gained, and that the first

State Convention be held at Troy on the first Monday

in September next.”

What is the African Diaspora?

African Diaspora are words used to describe the

mass dispersion related to people from Africa

during the Atlantic Slave Trade, from 1526 to 1867.

This Diaspora took millions of people from Western

and Central Africa to different regions throughout

the Americas and the Caribbean. However,

according to The Gilder Lehrman Center for the

Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition at Yale

University, “the first Africans that were enslaved

were taken to Europe. The first Africans that came

to the New World arrived from Europe to perform

hard labor.”

How did a much smaller

population expand in numbers

in the Northern America?

Three Kings Day Festival, Havana, Cuba, ca. 1850

Slavery and Remberance.com

https://www.americamagazine.org/arts-culture/2018/11/28/my-

ancestor-owned-41-slaves-what-do-i-owe-their-descendants

The difference in creole

dialects is apparent as

when one moves from

one Caribbean society

to another. This idea

extends into Central

and South America. In

colonial America,

persons of African

Descent became

distinguished by local

accents that helped

influence their views of each other. For example, when

the famed Harriet Tubman assisted in a raid in South

Carolina during the Civil War she remarked that the

black people she came in contact with were not her

people. Harriet Tubman was from the eastern shore of

Maryland, while the people she encountered near the

Combahee River were Gullahs, sometimes also referred

to as Geechees. According to the book, Curacao in the

Age of Revolution, 1795-1800, Brazil and North

America were well known for slave revolts. Although

there appeared to be differences among the people of

the African Diaspora, there was one thing that they

shared in common and that was Revolt.

For example, leaders above (l to r) included Nanny

from Jamaica, Flore Bois Gaillard in St. Lucia, and

Harriet Tubman from the United States. The revolts

were symbolic of the warrior mentality of enslaved

persons brought to the New World.

No matter our differences we all share something in

common from the mother land of Africa. For one, we

have some similar cooking techniques and

ingredients. Many of the groups of the African

Diaspora have some sort of recipe for rice and peas.

We also share appreciation for African rhythm and

dancing techniques that

are popularized. From

fashion and clothing to

hairstyles, we have

embraced and modified

our African garments.

Africa is a continent of

many countries with

varieties of faith such

as Obeah, Christianity, Islam,

etc.

Religion has a strong place in African societies that

influence the world view of believers. The Africans in

the new world found a way to blend their African

languages with those of Europeans to create a variety

of creole languages. Although slavery played a vast

role of an enforced lifestyle, the enslaved were able to

create their own

identities.

Consequently,

numerous ethnicities

emerged based upon

histories, values and

beliefs within specific

societies in the

Caribbean and Colonial

America. For example,

the Rastafarians

emerged in Jamaica

with attachments to

biblical verses of

Ethiopia.

Similarities Between People of

the African Diaspora

Differences between People of

the African Diaspora

katharine gerbner.com

Honorshame.com

Punishment aboard a slave ship, 1792 , Library of

Congress, Prints and Photographs

While most people are familiar with the history of

black people as slaves, the truth was that many

African civilizations were highly developed before

the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. They were rulers,

kings, queens, soldiers and tribal leaders. The

various civilizations on the continent of Africa

were diverse and competitive. For example, the

ancient empire of Ghana ruled from 300 to 1100

CE. The empire

was a form of a

feudal

government

meaning that

local kings in

Ghana paid

tribute to the

highest king.

Before the

Europeans

invaded West Africa, Ghana was known as the

Ashanti Empire. While many people have heard

of Timbuktu, they are unaware of its location and

historical significance. According to Ancient

History, Timbuktu was an important trade center

of the Mali Empire. The Empire flourished

because it controlled the trade routes that

connected the Niger River with the Sahara and

North Africa. The Empire transported salt, gold,

and ivory to the south and Mediterranean.

For many years, whites used African Americans as

laborers. They beat us, and crippled us all in the

name of fear. It’s not because we are worthless,

uneducated, and unaccounted for. For years, the

enslaved cried shackled tears, mending the same

wounds over generations. Now is the time for

African Americans to pamper their pride. Now is the

time to feed into compassion and not rage. Those

who are filled with hatred cannot be free. Those who

are not healed cannot be wise. The salt has dried, so

now I say, now is the time we express our pride.

The metals which once bound us are now embraced

as treasures. Now I say, we rebuild our empires with

the same ropes, chains, and systems which were

once meant to limit our former glory. Now I say,

children rise!

It is not difficult to envision African Americans in

positions of

influence

throughout

the United

States. The

children of

enslaved

ancestors

have risen

to the point of being governors, university

presidents, generals in the military, astronauts, and

so on. It is because history has proven that we were

once superior kindred.

African Americans: Who are they?

Victims of slavery & slave trade, Pin on slaves, pinterest.com

Spectator.co.uk

Propros.com

Inconceivable start of African American Christianity

ChristianityToday.com

West Indians: Who are they?

A Personal Reflection from Kiara Biroo

There were various estimates of the numbers of enslaved Africans brought to the Caribbean. We know that there were millions who were forced into labor. Before they associated us with bacchanal, rum, warm weather, and beautiful sceneries, we were once called slaves and barbarians. We are a tropical mixture of hunters, tribes, voyagers, warriors queens, and leaders. Let it be known that our lands were once trodden, but our spirits still flourished. We were a group that outnumbered our oppressors; our numbers created anxiety about this ethnic discrepancy. We were a group that never submitted, but revolted against slavery. We are the creoles, we are a representation of the Caribs, the French, the Spanish, the English, Indians, and Africans. In each mixture, you see validation of our bravery and strength. Slavery is not our only story; slavery brought our bravery. Our brothers led revolts to abolish fright, but their heads ended up on spikes. Our sisters plotted against their demise and won the fight. Have we forgotten, my people, who we are? Why are we stagnant? Have we gotten to the point of perfection? I say, we haven’t, not until we abolish discrimination. Why do we insist on being better than the other, instead of equals? Indian descendants, they look down on other groups as if God granted them the biggest privilege in life. Their skin is equal to bronze. Can someone please tell our brothers and sisters with ‘the angelic hair’ that they are black! We are teaching our children to snub their nose at other groups based upon complexion and hair texture, so discrimination will follow into the next generation. My people, enough is enough, you would rather teach your children to hate than love? African blood thrives in the veins of those who reject it. You are only rejecting yourselves! Half Indians, those caught in the middle are the real reflection our diversity. We are the ones who get caught in the cross fire. On a regular basis, we are consistently reminded of our inequality in some Indian families.

https://www.absofacts2.com/us/history/story/slave-trade-of-the-west-indian-company.htm

Those who fail to recognize the past

run the risk of repeating the evils of the

past.

Issues that Emerged between

the Groups

Some of the disagreements among us emerged

from our socialization in different societies that

have different norms. This is not limited to

different countries, but could also pertain to

differences in regions of a country. The first

example can be perceived as different norms in

the north and the south within the United

States. We are trained to oppose each other for

the benefit of those who are really in power.

One of the primary roles of divide and conquer

is to isolate the leaders of those who challenge

the norms of the society. Those in power

provide the opposition leaders with some

benefits that lead those leaders to believe that

they are now part of the power structure.

https://www.google.com/search?

q=Indians+brought+into+the+caribbean+as+servants&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa

=X&ved=0ahUKEwj9kK3ksfnkAhVQtlkKHSGNCxoQ_AUIEigC&biw=1366&bih=62

3#imgrc=qZAvzgAxRTHCXM:

A Personal Reflection (continued)

Some Indian families express that our anger,

which is a natural human reaction, springs from

our Africanism. For example, they would

exclaim, “How you acting like a Neg so!”

How pathetic my half brothers and sisters that

you can use that derogatory term to describe

some of your citizens, forgetting that our Indian

ancestors were brought to St. Lucia to replace

the labor of former enslaved Africans. Now

that’s the truth! You are no better! This

discrimination has not helped our development.

We are still fighting for the crumbs off the table

as third world countries. So let us continue, ‘the

relinquished West Indians’, to believe we are in

complete control of our destiny without

establishing our own pathway. Kiara Biroo

According to a discussion on National

Public Radio Behind Close Doors:

Colorism in the Caribbean is a common

issue that has been detected.

Reflections

In becoming a member of the Hartwick College

community, I have found a sense of my purpose,

which is to share my insights and claim my right to

be an advocate.

Hartwick College recruits a heterogeneous

population. In the process of doing so, students

arrive from various backgrounds. Consequently,

their interest varies across different races, ethnic

groups, gender, etc., and they look for different

outlets of expressing their interests. As it pertains

to diversity and inclusion, there are several clubs

that has a focus upon culture. What is missing is

being able to figure out what the students really

want in terms of programming. The primary

interest is how can ALANA clubs on campus make

a historical difference on this institution? It will

take some time to create a movement that will

impact future changes based on the variety of

diversities.

When Hartwick openly allows ALANA students,

i.e., African, Latino, Asian and Native American

descent, to become a part of the community, the

College invites and adopt the various ethnic and

cultural differences. It is right that the students at

Hartwick College bring to this campus their

cultures and they should be supported and

appreciated for their heritage. Members of ALANA

clubs should listen to each other and cooperate

rather than criticize one another. The next thing to

do is to find common ground which represents the

constitutions of their clubs.

While it will take years to develop the perfect club,

it is important to prepare new comers to

understand how to express their multiple cultures

in a meaningful way. The institution will listen to

the clubs if they are organized in a well fashioned

manner.

For current students, reflecting back on the

progress of alumnae and alumni can serve as a

guide and inspiration. There are so many things

that we can alter to prepare the way for new

ALANA students. The goal is to give them a

platform where they can be heard. The clubs are

meant to be their rock and support. We need to

strategize how to use planning tools in order to

claim our respect in this community. We need to

voice demands that require that attention be given

to the methods that best serve us. But, as of now,

the foundation is not steady. Last year, our focus

drifted away from accomplishing our goals.

We may have gained popularity for our parties on

campus, but lost sight of some of our important

needs. We need to ensure that we are known for

more than social activities and “putting on a

show.” Yes, it is a part of our cultures to flaunt our

vibes. But, a vision of the grandest celebration will

be the day when ALANA students contribute to

the true meaning of Hartwick’s diversity. Over the

years, Hartwick College has had a number of study

groups exploring the issues of diversity and

inclusion. Those groups prepared recommenda-

tions that can become useful today.

“Survivors of the Middle Passage gave new life to certain African themes, characters, and stories in their

homes and neighborhoods in the New World, and much of the folklore of the African diaspora reflects a

dynamic combination of African traditions and New World influences. Folklore often conveyed religious

worldviews and beliefs while relating the more mundane routines of everyday life-from the way families

functioned through the rituals of birth and death, to simple routines of cooking and clothing, and the local

calendar of celebrations.

A range of artifacts manufactured by enslaved craftsmen and women with local materials helped to

transmit folklore through such objects as canoes, trays, combs, stools and ceramics shaped for daily use.

Some of those crafts and skills, and the objects themselves, survive to this day. At every turn, folklore of

Africans and their descendants in the Americas was crucially fashioned not simply by an African past, but

by the complex ways African cultures interacted with European and American peoples and cultures in the

New World.

This was, perhaps, most obvious in language. Phrases, words, and patterns of speech, lived on from African

vernacular. In time, however, descendants of African slaves came to speak the local variants of English,

French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch. Similarly, the folklore which evolved, normally in the adopted

language of the Americas, was itself shaped by contact with other, non-African peoples of the Americas.

The rich world of folktales—from Bre’r Rabbit and the Uncle Remus stories of the U.S. South (with their

links to Native American and African folklore), to the Anansi tales of Jamaica, and the bouki stories of

Haiti—all used local imagery to make their point. Such examples evolved as a folklore which spoke not only

to the world of slavery, but offered lessons for daily life and survival in the harsh conditions of bondage.”

slaveryandremembrance.org/articles/article/?id=A0057

Voices Magazine

Office of Intercultural Affairs

Hartwick College

Oneonta, New York 13820

www.hartwick.edu

https://www.stlawu.edu/african-studies/selected-sources-

africaafrican-diaspora-studies