Marcus Burns, Janelle Fajardo, & Emeka Thomas
Professor Sutherland
African / African American Psychology
October 21st 2015
Article Name:
Reclaiming African Cultural Traditions for the Liberation of People of African Descent
Arguments for Cultural Nationalism
• "The study of the history of liberation struggles shows that in general, they are
preceded by an increase in cultural phenomena which progressively crystallize into
an attempt...to assert the cultural personality of the oppressed people in an act of
rejection of that of the oppressor"
• Cultural nationalism would advance our cause
• Create unity and singular goals
• Greater strength in numbers
• Perpetuation of disciplines for and by black people
Arguments against Cultural Nationalism
• “To root Africa's modern identity in an imaginary history-requires us to see the past
as the movement of wholeness and unity; ties us to values and beliefs of the past, and
thus diverts us ... from the problems of the present and the hopes of the
future" (Appiah)
• Cultural nationalism would only serve as a distraction from the issues of the
modern day
• We already have united goals considering a similar struggle between us all
• The idea of cultural nationalism would only serve to distract us, and dilute our
opinions because our varied opinions behind a united goal would make us
strong
Our opinion: The argument we found more compelling was the argument in favor of Cultural
Nationalism, and reclamation of African traditions and values. We felt this argument was more
compelling because it lays out a significantly clearer plan that would aide the black community
in coming together to overcome the various issues we face in the world today.
Important Ideas:
Collectivism
“Traditional African morals are defined in philosophical and religious terms. Believing that God
gave them their values, the early Africans saw this as providing an unchallenged and
uncompromising authority for their moral code (Khopa, 1980).”
•In African tradition, god is the source of morality. Adhering closely to this moral
code, despite any hypothetical religious differences, would aide us in returning to the
prosperity Africa and its people experienced prior to involvement with Europeans.
Following such a code of morals would reduce the black on black violence that the
article expressly cites as a part of the many problems facing the black community
today.
