Afrocentricity is the having African interests, values, and perspectives at the center of your thoughts and actions. It challenges all oppression and while tying blackness to ethical action. Coming to this way of thinking requires transformation of thought and requires awareness. These transformations are categorized as: skin recognition, environmental recognition, personality awareness, interest concern, and Afrocentric awareness. Every single person of African descent in the diaspora is in one of these stages. Many of my examples of these stages will come from my personal experience and growth. The first level of transformation is skin recognition. At this level, the individual knows that they are black, but does not understand the implications
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This is known as Personality awareness. Here the individual is behaving in the way they assume is associated with blackness. However, this individual isn’t truly thinking in a black way. This level is most common, but it’s also problematic because the individual doesn’t realize the damage being caused by their actions. I realized I was at this stage in my life when I first moved to a predominantly white school. I had transitioned from environmental recognition to personality awareness because I began to act in the way that I thought was black. However, my understanding of blackness had not come from an African centered mindset, it came from what my environment had communicated as blackness to me. When I began to understand that a lot of my behaviors and actions were a reaction to my problematic environment, I began to make the next …show more content…
It also means that the individual has decided to actively find a solution to the issues facing the black community. Unfortunately, it lacks the Afrocentric base. This is displayed through actions such as, protesting and attending conferences. To illustrate, I transitioned to this stage when I began to take notice microaggressions and how racism had manifested itself. This realization made me angry and inspired me to act. I tried to start a black student union at my school and took to informing my peers of social justice. What differentiates this level from the last level is the Afrocentric
This is known as Personality awareness. Here the individual is behaving in the way they assume is associated with blackness. However, this individual isn’t truly thinking in a black way. This level is most common, but it’s also problematic because the individual doesn’t realize the damage being caused by their actions. I realized I was at this stage in my life when I first moved to a predominantly white school. I had transitioned from environmental recognition to personality awareness because I began to act in the way that I thought was black. However, my understanding of blackness had not come from an African centered mindset, it came from what my environment had communicated as blackness to me. When I began to understand that a lot of my behaviors and actions were a reaction to my problematic environment, I began to make the next …show more content…
It also means that the individual has decided to actively find a solution to the issues facing the black community. Unfortunately, it lacks the Afrocentric base. This is displayed through actions such as, protesting and attending conferences. To illustrate, I transitioned to this stage when I began to take notice microaggressions and how racism had manifested itself. This realization made me angry and inspired me to act. I tried to start a black student union at my school and took to informing my peers of social justice. What differentiates this level from the last level is the Afrocentric