Sharielle on Universal Blackness

Universal Blackness. This is a phrase that I thought of one Saturday. As a sociology major, we learn that race is not biological, but a social construction. This explanation helps to discredit stereotypes. However, I believe it is important to look at commonalities.      

I was telling my friends about something that I do in America and one of them said, “See Black people everywhere are the same”. She is not the first person or last that I've heard say that while I have been here in South Africa. For some people they may see this as being a stereotype, but for me I see it as a statement of unity and connection. It was at that moment that I felt closer to my friends.

A lot of times we focus on our differences when we have more similarities. It is amazing how even though we (Blacks) are from different countries, we still have similar cultural traditions and practices. Slavery and colonization caused all Black people to be separated. This separation has made us to forget that there are some practices that we have that are rooted in our African heritage. In my first blog I talked about how emotional and profound the church service in Guguletu was. It was emotional because the same spirit and style of worship was similar, if not the same, as it is in the Caribbean and in some Black American churches. For me it reminded me of how we as Blacks are linked and connected to this continent. I believe that if we remember our past it will help to build a better future.

What I have noticed in the United States in Black communities that there are separations, whether subtle or obvious, among people who are of voluntary migration (people of Caribbean decent and African decent) and those of involuntary migration (Black Americans whose heritage has been in America since the slave trade). We even tend to make distinctions based on skin complexion (ie. darker  vs. lighter). Similar to the issue of xenophobia in South Africa, Blacks tend to be separated and do not work together for their social and economic advancement. I believe that if we focused on our similarities and our cultural traditions that make us unique to other global cultures, we would be able to appreciate the beauty that God gave us. An appreciation and realization of this beauty can mean a better life for all those of African decent. This is a dream that many great leaders like, Nkwame Nkrumah, W.E.B DuBois, Steve Biko, Stokely Carmichael and many others had and a dream I hope to carry out.