This week’s Wednesday Wisdom from the late author and thinker Maya Angelou (1928-2014) reminds us of the significance of history when trying to shape our future.
Angelou implied in her famous statement that detaching a people from their roots can result in identity crises, as is the case of the descendants of Africans kidnapped and forced into slavery in the Americas. Furthermore, not knowing our true history can make us susceptible to the oppressor’s narratives about us.
For example, Africans who have internalised that they are inferior to Europeans may try to bleach their skin, an epidemic in many parts of the continent and beyond, or distance themselves from Africa.
Arguably, liberation begins with mental decolonisation, as it is from this that complete liberation can come to fruition. Understanding African history, where we have been and our current reality are required to know where we are heading.
Source:
https://www.nytimes.com/1972/04/16/archives/-for-years-we-hated-ourselves.html