The African Diaspora consists of peoples of African origin living outside the continent of Africa, irrespective of their citizenship and nationality.
Why aren't more African-Americans showing up at events dealing with the African diaspora?
I just returned from the San Francisco Museum of the African Diaspora where I work as a volunteer, and I am always bewildered by a relatively small African-American crowd. It seems every time I attend any event that involves Afro-Latinos, Afro-Europeans, Afro-Asians, and continental African cultures, there is only a handful of African-Americans who attend. The room is filled with mostly whites, non-black Latinos, and even Asians who are not only interested in African diasporic cultures, but seem articulate and knowledgeable of them.
Most of the lecture series I attend are related to African-American and Afro-Latino cultures because they are close to my life experience, but I also take interest in the others for an all-round understanding of how my roots are being manifested throughout the world.
Some of it has to do with a lack of awareness. I myself read a book a month on different communities and subjects regarding the African Diaspora. However, I did not find out about the African Diaspora until college. Before college I lived next door to a man from the V.I., I had a Jamaican friend and dated a Bahamian girl in high school. I did not know they were apart of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. When they referred to themselves as Black, I assumed they were talking about color. I though they were islanders and just happened to look black.
ReplyDeleteNext time I am in California I will check out the center.