Analysis of Breaking the Chains of Psychological Slavery by Dr. Naim Akbar - Book Report/Review Example

Breaking the Chains of Psychological Slavery Dr. Na’im Akbar a very prominent person in the history of African Americans was a revolutionist who wrote to bring about a change in the present state of the African Americans. He wrote in order to spread awareness and discussed controversial issues like slavery which most writers of that time refrained from doing so. Breaking the Chains of Psychological Slavery is a breakthrough novel in which Dr. Na’im Akbar talks about the psychological impacts of slavery on the African Americans. He believes that more than three hundred years of slavery that the African Americans underwent were not just brutal and unnatural but it has developed a psychological and social fear in the minds of all African Americans. Most people who research on slavery limit themselves on the past events but sadly psychologist and socialist have failed to highlight the persistence of fear and psychological disturbance that remains in the minds of all African Americans. Dr. Akbar extensively discusses each and every aspect of the psychological impact of slavery on the African Americans. He discusses the issues, evokes their belief in their potentials and finally provides solutions to overcome the psychological impacts slavery has not only on the ancestors but the present generation. In the first chapter of the book Dr. Na’im Akbar discusses legacy of psychological slavery. Slavery is not something that started now or few decades backs but it has a very deep and intense history. Basically the purpose was to discuss the things (brutality) that happened with slaves during the past and connect it to the things that happen with them today. Although the things that happened with the African Americans was a very long time back but still the impacts of such torture are still being seen in the succeeding generations. Thereby it will not be wrong to say that the present generations are still undergoing the same torture and pain which their ancestors faced but in a modified form. In chapter once importance was given on leadership. There was no concept of leadership for the African Americans. There were considered to be slaves of the whites what so ever. If any African American gathered the courage to stand up and raise a voice for himself and his people he was either victimized, tortured or killed. Thus “any slave who began to emerge as a natural head, that is, one oriented toward survival of the whole body, was identified early and was either eliminated, isolated, killed, or ridiculed. In his or her place was put a leader who had been carefully picked, trained, and tested to stand only for the masters welfare.” (Akbar, 9). Therefore there was no concept of leadership. Furthermore another thing discussed in chapter two was related to family. Since the African Americans were slaves they were treated like cattle who were only supposed to obey their master. Hence they were not allowed to get married or start a family. They considered that slaves were not human but were considered to be objects that didn’t have humanly desires. One can now relate so as to why marriages are failing at such a high rate in recent times. Yes the writer was right in his view about family and leadership which lead to this psychological turmoil. Hence whether we accept or no we are somehow or the other connected to the ancestors and their struggles. In the second chapter the writer discusses liberation from mental slavery. The first step towards this was provided by Dr. Na’im Akbar. He states that “In order to change the African American consciousness we must change the information that is in the African mind.” (Akbar, 34) which is absolutely correct. This means that today’s African American are inculcated with the story that has been designed by the Americans. The truth is somehow disguised and the concepts are eventually quite vague of the recent generation. Hence he believes that the first step towards liberating the slaves from mental slavery is to acknowledge them about the reality and inculcate the facts. This will not only develop feeling of association with the ancestors but will also seek to clear their blurred beliefs. Furthermore another major issue discussed in the novel was faith. One needs to have faith in himself in order to succeed and have their significance. Those who take an initiate are the once who emerge successful. Freedom comes to those who believe in it. Hence the slaves need to have this faith that everything will eventually sort out and they would emerge as a free nation. Those who dream and believe in their potentials can only win the battle. This was a very important aspect which Dr. Na’im Akbar preached. This not only will help them to regain their faith but would also make them proud of their existence and identity. Hence in a nutshell faith under any circumstances should be greater than fear. Lastly in the child chapter Dr. Na’im Akbar discusses religion in terms of the inquiries that are in the minds of the African Americans as well as the psychological confusions that persists in them. Dr. Akbar believes that a person can go as far as their intellect allows them for instance those individuals who have a very conservative approach on religion and God eventually have a narrow minded thinking and are not willing to accept religion the way God wants. Such people question the existence of a superior being. Whereas those who have a broad approach are more open to god and His bounties and their belief is far stronger. Hence it will not be wrong to say that the ugly past of the African Americans still tends to haunt them. The purpose of this book is not to remain oppressed and victimize but to stand up and raise a voice for your rights. It is now the duty of the African Americans to recognize the symptoms of the issue, and eventually master the situation to overcome the trauma caused by this brutality. Works cited: Akbar, Naʼim. Breaking the Chains of Psychological Slavery. Tallahassee, FL: Mind Productions & Associates, 1996. Print. Read More