What is the colonized mindset?

The colonised mindset: The enemy within the African communities. SendMeYourNews

Jul 23, 2006 07:12 PDT

=+=

Get on TheBlackList:

http://www.topica.com/lists/TheBlackList

"Men who are in earnest are not afraid of

consequences", Marcus Garvey.

=+=

----- Original Message -----

From: Cheryl Sanchez mailto:sanchez-@hotmail.com

To: sendmey-@earthlink.net

Sent: Sunday, July 23, 2006 8:48 AM

The colonised mindset: The enemy within the African communities.

The writer is going to put forward an argument that unless the

slave/colonial mindset is recognised as the active enemy, within the African

communities world-wide, attempts to understand the social and economic

problems will be useless. This mindset has been affecting the

individual/family /organisations/community and nations alike. From an early

age, adults have been referring to people as having "being colonial or slave

minded" in a most benign way. It as if having this mindset is like having a

flue. You treat the symptoms and eventually, it should go away, if the

immune system is acute and alert. In reality, it is the most virulent

psychological condition prevalent amongst African communities. The damage is

too enormous to consider in this essay. It has and is still destroying from

individuals to revolutions to states eg Patrice Lumumba-Congo, Thomas

Sankara-Bukina Faso, Walter Rodney-Guyana, Cabral, Malcolm X and Bantu S

Biko to name a few. When foreign money, the lust for power and the colonial

mindset met-destruction is sure to follow. Mineral rich DRC remains the most

tragic example today. Also Angola before the timely death of Savimbi, "

Washington's kept man". Failure to confront and systematically deal with

this enemy is equivalent to failure to live and or thrive.

HISTORY

The disastrous effects of slavery and colonialism on the physical aspect of

the Africans in the Americas, the Caribbean and on mainland Africa have been

well documented by a host of European and African-American historians

including Basil D Davidson, Walter Rodney and Professor Jeffries. Few

writers have focused on the debilitating effects of the mindset on the

emotions and the psychology as Carter G Woodson( 1875-1950)was probably a

pioneer when he addressed this condition in his book - The Mis-Education of

the *****. Later, Dr Na'im Akbar painstakingly outlined the psychological

effects in his book- Chains and Images of psychological slavery. Professor

Joy Leary recently attempted to put the psychological trauma concept in the

public domain during a recent lecture tour in London but, few Africans

wanted to even contemplate this concept as an explanation for some of their

behaviour towards each other.

It is of paramount importance to understand the disastrous reality of the

sate accurately described by Woodson and take action to treat it.

"When you control a man's thinking you do not have to worry about his

actions. You do not have to tell him not to stand there or go yonder. He or

she will find his "proper place" and will stay in it. You do not need to

send him to the back door. He will go without being told. In fact, if there

is no back door, he will cut one for his special benefit. His education

makes it necessary". Woodson showed a lot of foresight in his early

detection of the destructive side of the slave/colonial mindset. It is a

pity that, most Pastors and self-appointed "community" leaders do not

recommend this book to the many families who come through their doors. They

do not even bothered with a plan of action to treat this mindset.

Examples

This mindset certainly has a blindfolding effect eg African girls aspiring

to be like their "blonde Barbie dolls". African men dream of marrying "a

Barbie doll" type of woman as soon as they arrive in Europe and or

UK/USA/Canada, so as not to have "too black" children. Michael Jackson's

obsession with his costly body- altering project. It also causes US

Africans/Afrikans to focus on the body, material gadgets, short cuts. The

physical environment of the homes is often out of balance with the people

who inhabit the space. Their homes always have a blonde type Jesus on the

walls but no other famous Africans like Bantu Biko, Thomas Sankara etc. The

African educationalist and parents both on the mainland, Caribbean and the

Americas have avoided including or making the early and middle years

curricula more relevant to our developmental needs. This opportunity to

change our course of history is missed again and again.

At organisational level, colonise minded but the super qualified committee

members are often afraid to put decolonisation strategy and or

Pan-Africanism into the constitution of their organisation. This also

affects the type of name or identity they take on. Eg the NAACP-The National

Association for the Advancement of "Coloured" people. One would have thought

that aparthedist South-Africa racial policies would have caused this

organisation to re-think it's chosen but, they not change from NAACP to

NAAAP. One could only guess when you start your organisation with white

liberals/ or jews in leadership roles, the de-colonisation agenda never

became a priority for this organisation. The OAS/AU is no different. It has

been in existence for over 50 years and still cannot bring itself to be

known as a Pan-Africanist organisation thus, it remains a toothless

nationalistic organisation.

Even when organisations put Pan-Africanism at the forefront eg PAC in

South-African, the de-colonisation process and project, which is necessary

for health and longevity of the organisation is not a priority either. Well

meaning or na鑼倂e activists continue to take a gamble by hoping against hope

that, a few committed and reliable people could suddenly change 400 years of

psychological damage facing the African worldwide. Things could have been

different if, the PAC was able to capture the interest and support of the

majority of the 24 million native South-Africans and their rands, to keep

the movement financially buoyant and turn it into a political powerful force

in South-African society.

The mindset nutures self-hating , self- destruction and confidence lowering

. This is evident in the practice of self- harming through bleaching the

skin, straigthening the hair and looking to Europe and European institutions

as saviours. It also makes killing each other almost acceptable. The eminent

African-American Bobby E Wright (1984) explained in his book "we have never

been trained to kill Europeans" but, we seem to be able kill each other

(black on black) violence instinctively. It also makes us have a warped and

unrealistic view of our reality. It may cause some, like Dr Kenneth B Clarke

to say," race is irrelevant". Even African-America Dr Alvin Poussant, who

used his qualification avoid addressing the current colonisation condition.

He used his stint in Ebony Magazine to deal with the a few middles class

anxieties. What a shame!

The Slave/Colonial mindset-the Trojan Horse

The Europeans understand how important the psychological warfare project is

to their continued hold on Africa, which is why they got their missionaries

to influences chiefs and other leaders in Africa, to send their young

children to their missionary schools. At these missionary/faith-based

schools, young children were indoctrinated on a grand scale. These young

children come from cultures where, almost all adults are feared and or

certainly not questioned, made the work of the European teachers easier.

This is why it should not alarm us or surprise us that, Mobutu, Savimbi and

their cronies behaved in the way they did to their own people and their own

resources. The mindset, the lust for power and foreign money-from the USA

mainly kept them destroying their respective countries, in the name of

capitalism and the other G6 powers.

The USA officials who paid Savimbi through Mobutu millions and millions of

American tax-payers money to literally destroy a revolution and 2 countries,

have never been brought to justice. If both of these colonial minded

individuals did not die, they would be still destroying the country and

squandering their resources for self-aggrandisement, with Washington's

approval. The foreign powers/handlers knew millions of people were being

tortured, kill, maimed, punished and starved of food and other life

necessities, in their interest. Whilst all this was happening in full view

of other Africans, many of them in the Caribbean and continued going to the

states" to make it". Meanwhile Africans affected by these individuals and

American money and foreign policy, eventually started heading for the UK and

the USA seeking "refuge".

It should not surprise us at the way the Europeans view certain individuals.

The American state had to get rid of Malcolm X by any means necessary. The

Belgian/USA/UK governments saw Patrice Lumumba as an uncompromising

character when it came to his understanding of independence. France could

not stomach an independent minded Thomas Sankara who wanted to transform

Bukina Faso in the interest of it's people. The apartheid South-Africa did

not dare allow Bantu Stephen Biko to live-he was too clear about his

position and his understanding of the social/economic/political situation.

He wanted all or nothing. Walter Rodney exposed the hypocrisy of Europe's

role in Africa-it became a real annoyance in European academic circles. The

under-development was the strategy and the means to achieving this outcome

was to nurture their own "loyal Africans". Off course the "loyal Africans"

are another name for the colonial minded.

Rich men and women often have their "kept women" Well, so to rich Europe has

their "kept men". France has Francoise Compoare of Bukina Faso. The USA has

theirs in the form of Paul Kagame. Spain/USA has Obiang Nguema of Equatorial

Guinea- Africa third largest producer of oil. Shell and the UK and other oil

companies operating in Nigeria have been keeping the Hausa dominated army

and government since 1970. The CIA/USA/France had army man Hissen Habre- a

man who was less than friendly to USA's imagined enemy Gadaffi. Chadian

named him, "Africa's Pinochet". USA supported the Duvalier family for 30

years and off course Savimbi in Angola. See William Blum(2001) Rogue State.

Chapter 17.

The Consequences

If African thinkers and educationalists alike continue to neglect the

content of early and middle years curricula, they would be fighting a losing

battle against the slave/colonial mindset, capitalism, fashion and

mass-media. The same way, one cannot expect to put new wine in an old

wineskin so to, one cannot expect the slave/colonial minded to suddenly

change his or her learnt behaviour. This behaviour has been around for the

last 350 years. It might have started as, a means of coping in strange and

often hostile societies in the Caribbean and America in the late 17th

century. Joy Leary would argue African communities must admit the existence

of post traumatic syndrome before, the treatment could be sought. No

admission means that, this major debilitating psychological condition would

linger and fester away.

Off course when a few like, Thiongo'o(1938-) changed his behaviour in his

adulthood, by going back to his Gikuyu name and writing in his own language

rather than English only, is inspirational to rest who remain in this

regressive state of mind. He used his book-Decolonising the mind: the

politics of language in African literature(1986) as a platform to encourage

African challenged about their attitude towards Africa and or NJAC. Ngugi wa

writers to write in their own language to make their books more meaningful

to Africans on the continent. It is not only about writing in one's own

language although, that is a positive start. It is about having a core

teaching curricula that could be used world-wide. Even if people write in

their own indigenous language but continue to see Europe as the solution to

their problems-the colonised mind remains untouched. The writer applauds the

work of Haki Madibuti and Dr Karenga and Molefi Asante. The African need

more people like the above, if we are to be taken seriously.

Why are members of NJAC( National Joint Action committee) and their 36 year

old organisation in Trinidad, still viewed as not worthy of support from the

majority of African-Trinidadians? The slave/colonial mindset, which makes

people ridicule members for re-claiming their African heritage via taking on

African names. One can often hear African-Trinidadians and other Africans

born abroad saying in a most offensive voice, "I am not African" when asked

about their identity. Thai is the colonial mindset expressing their

ignorance.

What do we begin?

The logical place for decolonisation to begin is in the home, with parents

taking the lead. The early years 0-11 is the crucial time to inculcate the

Afrocentric values. It means that, we have to be prepared to build our own

nurseries and create our own culturally inclusive and sensitive curricula.

The parents must be re-educated. It is almost pointless waiting until a

child becomes an adult, when he may or may not be exposed to Pan-Africanism.

All the research available would agree that, the pre-natal and early years

are the most important educating years. Ideally, the decolonisation ideals

should be embedded in the early years curricula, The Community leaders and

families should make attempts to discuss post trauma syndrome and it's

effects openly and proactively put into place some short term and long term

remedies.

3 African American writers who wrote the The Black Parenting Book did not

pursue the de-colonisation project in their book either. There are 17

chapters in this book yet, Pan-Africanism and or the issue of the

slave/colonial mindset were not addressed in a very active way. There

chapters on Family Traditions and Spirituality without making mention of the

importance of Kwanzaa. There was a chapter on " Black and Proud" not African

and proud. There should have a chapter on how and why Africans came to self

hate and hate all things African. Where did it all begin? The book tackled

particular parenting approach, which was used by African American parents

but, they did not attempt to give the psychological or economic reasons why

most African parents worldwide use the authoritarian model rather than the

authoritative model.

Authoritarian- powerful, assertive/aggressive (verbally or physically adult

leads or makes all the decisions, which are imposed on child. May be highly

critical. Parents may be likely to use shouting and hitting. Parents may

even talk about "I want you to fear me".

Authoritative- Parents use reciprocity and a democratic style, which allows

child to lead but establishes safe limits and boundaries. Parents are likely

to use encouragement, provide choices and highlight consequences and

positive feedback and use time-out and put penalities in place, as part of

their disciplining package.

It might have been helpful to explain why some African parents use the

former than the latter? It would have been more useful to write the book in

some African languages and use a work -book with exercises to involve all

members of the family. This book could be described as the product of a well

meaning qualified but, obviously apolitical professionals. The writers

tackled all the symptoms but never ventured near the core causes. They

missed an opportunity to focus on the link between the type of the society,

which produces such parents focusing on a post-colonial/slave/capitalist,

racist society such as the USA.

Conclusion.

The Decolonisation project and treating post trauma syndrome are as

necessary to Africans, as oxygen and water are to humankind existence.

Neither can be avoided any longer due to it being "too sensitive" an issue.

The message to all the Pan-Africanists/Humanist individuals, families and

organisations , which are always short of committed, reliable and discipline

foot soldiers is this, put some of your efforts and money into the 0-11

years olds and an African Parenting project, based on an Afrocentric model

and treatment for psychological trauma and other self-harming behaviour. If

any individual/family or organisation is interested ion the guture well

being of Africans- the aforementioned approaches are vital. Otherwise, a

plethora of colonial minded and dishonest Pastors from diverse Christian

sects, the mass-media, fashion, cars and short term attractions and whatever

other European cultural left-overs would grab the minds of the majority of

Africans.

The slave/colonial mind is dangerous to Pan-Africanist and African humanist

alike. Those African "kept men" or Europe's trojan horses will continue the

pauperization policies of a very rich continent. They will repeat policies

and slogans without even analysing them. They will like the major obstacle

to progress, changes, self-empowerment and unification of African peoples.

Instead of enabling and building capacities and re-skilling people, they

will disable, de-skill and pauperize people. The colonial minded knows

nothing else. The Europeans using their white skins as authority continue to

pamper and encourage their "kept men" to the detriment of the majority of

Africans, who continue to suffer and to be killed with the weapons made in

the USA/UK/Israel and other European countries.

References:

Akbar Na'im(1992) Chain and Images of psychological slavery- Winston-Derek,

Nashville, TN

Blumm W (2003) Rogue State: Chapter 17. Zed Books London UK

Brittain V (1998) Death and Dignity: Angola's Civil War. Chapter 2. Pluto

Books. London UK

Woodson C.G (1937) The Mis-education of the *****. Africa World Press NJ USA

Wright B.E (1984) The psychopathic racial personality and other essays.

Third World Press Chicago, Ilinois USA

What is the colonized mindset?

I think I lost interest.

What is the colonized mindset?

and what you want agreement ? sorry don't

What is the colonized mindset?

Thats right! Amoebas are more than just blobs.

What is the colonized mindset?

Perhaps it means the mindset that the society/culture of a colonizing group (Europeans) is superior to the society/culture of the group that is being colonized. (Africans)... i.e. the European way of life, centralized cities and towns, is superior to the African way of life, small communal tribes...