Defining African-Centered

As we move well into the first decade of twenty-first century, Americans of African ascendency are beginning to examine and research history, culture, and religion from an African perspective. Books abound regarding the above subjects. As such many African Americans are waking up to the realization that it was the African who first created civilization. We now know based upon the outstanding works by Jochannon, Clarke, Diop, Sertima, Williams, Darkwah, James and other masters of ancient African history that our ancestors built and were maintaining what is termed “High Culture Civilizations” thousands of years before any other culture.

Although we can and should have pride in the accomplishments of our ancestors, we cannot afford to let that pride get us caught up (again!) in some sort of black nationalist agenda complete with Dashikis, Afros, and “power to the people” sloganeering. We should focus the majority of our attention not on what our ancestors built; our primary focus should be on learning and incorporating the mindset that fomented the thoughts and actions that led to the building of African High Culture Civilizations. In essence, we should focus on becoming African-Centered spiritually as well as intellectually.

These high culture civilizations existed and were maintained in large part because of the highly cultivated and spiritually intellectual nature of our Ancestors. This spirit intellect was founded upon the principle of always seeking right knowledge which leads to right actions. In ancient African terminology right knowledge and right actions were rooted in the principles of Ma’at; which simply means truth, justice, and balance. Our ancestors overstood that there was a force, an omnipotent entity if you will, that brought all things into existence. Since all things exist, then all things must be overstood for one to exist in harmony with all things.

African-Centered means that one accepts responsibility for their actions and to those that they are responsible to and for. In layman terms, it means if one is hungry, then justice demands that they must be fed so that they will not have to steal food to eat. If one is ignorant, then they must be educated so they will not remain ignorant and become a burden to their family or community. African-Centered means that the needs of the masses far outweigh the desires or needs of the individual or even a system of governance. African-Centered demands that the community care for and assist everyone that exists in it; not as a form of welfare, but as a form of love and commitment for the greater good.

African-Centered means to give back to that which gave you life, abundance, and liberty. It simply means that one should endeavor to bring what they have learned and earned back to the community to build upon and continue the success of the community so that each generation can have the same opportunity to rise and transform. African-Centered means that one realizes that all is one and connected to the all. I find this perspective to be in direct conflict with Western notions that humans are something "separate from other forms of life and the universe." Those who are steeped in Western notions often cling to the idea that we are above and better than the rest of the Universe. Fortunately our ancestors overstood the connection to the all in all and when we begin to intuit this truth for ourselves, it is then that we will be able to create the same high culture civilizations that they did.