Colonialism and Oppression in the African Diaspora Essay

Colonialism and Oppression in the African Diaspora The experiences of the women of the African diaspora are as diverse as the regions they have come to inhabit. Despite the variety in their local realities, African and African-descended women across the planet share in many common experiences. Wherever they have made their homes, these women tend to occupy inferior or marginalized positions within their societies. Whether in the United States, Europe, Latin America, or even Africa itself, black women must confront what Patricia Hill Collins describes as a â€Å"matrix of domination† which has, for centuries, perpetuated their subjugation and oppression. According to Collins, a matrix of domination is a comprehensive social organization in†¦show more content†¦Even Maathai’s ancestors, the Kikuyu and Maasai peoples, were among them. The majority of these forced dislocations took place in the highland regions. The rich soil and temperate climate of this area had proven attractive to native African peoples for centuries; and it seemed the new British settlers found it equally tempting. After most of the land’s original occupants were transported to the Rift Valley region of western Kenya, settlers began taking advantage of the highlands’ vast natural resources. The land was essentially ravaged as ancient forests were clear-cut in order to make room for agricultural plots. The introduction of the plantation system, with its non-native plant species, large-scale hunting, and systematic recruitment of Africans as field laborers, signaled the next phase in the oppression of native Africans (Maathai 6-9). The situation became even more complex when the British colonial administration introduced a currency-based income tax system. For centuries, the Kenyan economy had largely rested on the exchange of livestock and other goods. With this in mind, it should come as little surprise that such a drastic shift put native Kenyans in a rather precarious position. Since nearly all â€Å"acceptable† currency rested in the hands of colonists, many Kenyans were forced to leave their reserves and work as hired hands on the farms of white settlers, essentially becoming squatters on their own ancestral landsShow MoreRelatedColonialism and Oppression in the African Diaspora Essay938 Words   |  4 PagesColonialism and Oppression in the African Diaspora The Kenyan feminist and environmental activist, Wangari Maathai, explores the legacy of colonialism and oppression in her native country through her moving 2006 memoir, Unbowed. Maathai explains that over the course of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Africa experienced a massive influx of white settlers. 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Canty March 17th, 2016 Spring 2016 atownse5@scmail.spelman.edu Paulo Freire’s beliefs concerning liberation and notions of oppression absolutely align with one another and tell a story that starts with enslavement that still relates to today. In Freire’s writings, he does not hesitate to highlight the white power establishment, and the black survival struggle Colonialism and Oppression in the African Diaspora Essay Colonialism and Oppression in the African Diaspora The Kenyan feminist and environmental activist, Wangari Maathai, explores the legacy of colonialism and oppression in her native country through her moving 2006 memoir, Unbowed. Maathai explains that over the course of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Africa experienced a massive influx of white settlers. In an effort to solidify control over recently acquired colonies, many European powers had encouraged large numbers of their ethnically white citizens to make a new home on the African continent. As a result, thousands of native Africans were displaced. Maathai’s ancestors, the Kikuyu and Maasai peoples were among them. The majority of these forced dislocations took†¦show more content†¦As time passed, European domination drastically altered the African landscape – both physically and culturally. Traditional roles, practices, and beliefs were either completely subverted or modified to fall in line with European cultural ideals. Doubtlessly , this process of subjugation worked to the detriment of native populations throughout the continent. Even though all members of indigenous communities have suffered under this system, African women remain especially vulnerable to its harmful effects. As Mary Kolawole points out in her comprehensive work, Womanism and African Consciousness, these women must confront a set of oppressions unique to their position as both black Africans and women. During her discussion of African women’s current struggle for recognition, Kolawole argues that, although colonialism displaced many African traditions, the patriarchal social structure remained. In many ways, she holds, European colonization widened the rift between African men and women even further (Kolawole 34). Although African and European traditions share in the elevation of the male over the female, most African cultures offered women a greater position of respect within society, as well as more â€Å"positive avenues of self-liberation† than were available to European womenShow MoreRelatedColonialism and Oppression in the African Diaspora Essay2014 Words   |  9 PagesColonialism and Oppression in the African Diaspora The experiences of the women of the African diaspora are as diverse as the regions they have come to inhabit. Despite the variety in their local realities, African and African-descended women across the planet share in many common experiences. Wherever they have made their homes, these women tend to occupy inferior or marginalized positions within their societies. Whether in the United States, Europe, Latin America, or even Africa itself, blackRead MoreThe Colonialism Effect Of Africa1002 Words   |  5 PagesThe Colonialism Effect of Africa As the world races for its place in history, many continents excel on their mark on the map. It is because Africa was in the right place, but in a different time they were taken advantage of their glory. Although it is difficult for Africa to retrace and reclaim its memoirs, it has an origin that had existed before colonialism. The attempt of challenging modern history has desperately provided an economical realm that extracts and injects into Africa resources. 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Arguably, his movement seems to be dismissed often by his controversial personality. To me, Garvey focusedRead MoreTeaching Freedom : Education For Liberation953 Words   |  4 Pagesscholarly articles into a collection that expounds upon education for liberation. In Teach Freedom: Education for Liberation in the African American Tradition the question of â€Å"did your education encourage you to move† resonated with me throughout the text. Over a series of nineteen articles, the centering theme of the role of education being political tied to the problem of African Americans being subjected to a hegemonic system which places those living at the intersection of race, class, and/or genderRead MoreConstructing My Cultural Identity6012 Words   |  25 Pagesanalysis of my life growing up in Jamaica where I attended colonial school, to making the transition to high school in the Canadian context. 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