Racial Capitalism and Colonialism in African Diasporic Culture - Essay Example

MED-TERM ASSIGNMENT Introduction Racial capitalism entails a practice of preventing people from another racial identity from yours to obtain economic and social benefits of their country. This practice tend to degrade people emanating from another racial identity and further making them feel less important as compared to people with a different racial identity from theirs. The acts and practice of racial capitalism was initially practice in Africa by the colonial masters, whereby the White people deprived Africans their social and economic benefits. Research indicates that racial capitalism has numerous adverse negative impacts not only to an individual but also to the entire society (Leong, p.2). Among the negative consequence of social capitalism include: widening the gap between the rich countries in the western world and poor countries in Africa. This is because social capitalism tends to divide rather than to unite. Whereby, creating social and economic barriers between the rich and poor countries. In addition, social capital curtails the freedom of some members of the society by excluding them from being part the controlling superior group. It furthers discourages the views of non-group remembers by making sure that non-members adhere strictly to the established policies and regulations. Social capitalism tends to act as a barrier of social unity and mobility among non-members of a particular social identity. Additionally, social capitalism tends to escalate crime rate rather than reducing it. This is because it denies some members of the society to enjoy economic benefits such as equal employment opportunities. However, despite an increase in social and economic gap between Western world and African countries, social capitalism and colonialism led to development of African countries. This is because Africans assimilated western culture and thus becoming creative and innovative in some respects. In addition, social capitalism facilitated globalization and adoption of new technology that is being witnessed in the current world (Gaag and Martin, p.14). Therefore, the study aims to provide an insight on how racial capitalism, and colonialism shaped African Diasporic culture(s) while transforming Western culture itself. How racial capitalism, and colonialism shaped African Diasporic culture(s) while transforming Western culture itself? The African Diasporic culture started to take shape by the 1950’s and 1960’s, with an aim of bringing together numerous people of African who were scattered in various parts of the world as a result of slavery. Therefore, racial capitalism and colonialism shaped African culture in numerous ways and at the same time transforming the western culture. For example; the emergence of Africanism and Trans-Atlantic culture was as a result of racial capitalism and colonialism of African by the western countries. Africans were subjected into slavery whereby, they were forced to work for the white people in their large plantation without any payments. This shaped Africans culture in the sense that they were able to learn how to work, making them to become very creative and innovative. Due to oppression from the Whites, Africans developed resentment against force labor and mistreatment by the White. This resentment led to the emergence of Pan-Africanism identity, a culture that focuses at empowering African people to liberate them from slavery. Black people were able to participate in their transformation process because colonialism and racial capitalism enabled Africans to become creative and innovative due to bitterness and determination to liberate themselves from culture of imperialism. In addition to this, Pan-Africanism culture enabled Africans to develop mentoring them to come up with family structures as well as other form of administrative structure that helped them to deal with difficult situation that they were going through. In addition, Pan-Africanism provided the black people with a sense of cultural identity where they could actively participate without fear or intimidation. Additionally, black people started to learn new skills from the white that opened up their minds and sow the need of coming together to form their governing structure. They further emulated the whiter people by establishing policies and philosophies that helped govern and regulate their behaviors as members of Pan-African community (Patrick, paras.6-8). Over the years, Africans had a culture of adventuring and touring different geographical locations as they try to find a place where they could settle and make their lives more. This culture was fostered by racial capitalism and colonialism. Whereby, colonialism led Africans to be exported to western countries to work as slave. This provided Africans with an opportunity to connect with people from other parts of the world such as Asia and Europe. This further helped to create future investments and trade networks as witnessed today. During this period of colonialism, Africans were used as tools of labor by the whites. They were used to construct American Railway lines as well as worked in the mines where they extract minerals such as; petroleum, gold, silver and bronze. In the process of construction and mining, they learnt vital skills that helped towards shaping their culture. In addition, colonialism enabled culture to change, thereby; leaders emerged among African communities who led a fight against slavery and colonialism. More organized government structure were established as well cities such Elmina, Gao, Luanda to mention just but a few (Patrick, paras.8-9). Prior, racial capitalism and colonialism, Africans did not have a formal school where they could take their children to learn, instead their children’s used to learnt important life skills from parents and grandparents. Children’s were taught how to work by observing how seniors when doing the job. In addition, Africans used to worship traditional gods that were based in the mountains. However, this has changed due to racial capitalism and colonialism. Whereby, colonial masters introduced western education and religions such as Christianity which shaped the culture. Africans started the culture of going to school to learn new skill that could help them to get a job. In addition, they changed their mode of worship by adopting Christianity among other western religions. More importantly, Africans culture had been shaped by globalization and emergence of new technology from the west. For example, new industrial techniques and arts of communication had been discovered to mention just but a few of the impacts of globalization (Patrick, paras.9-12). On the contrary, racial capitalism and colonialism had transformed the western culture itself in numerous ways. For example, western culture was shaped economically because the Europeans were able to obtain a lot of wealth from African countries ranging from natural resource to free labor for their homes and plantation. In addition, western culture was transformed as western people started adopting some cultural aspects from Africans. For example, English language borrowed some words from Africans. The word Gorilla and Chimpanzee were obtained from African language because those animals were initially found in Africa. In above connection, Western people adopted Africans arts, dressing, dancing style, storytelling and music such a as Jazz music. Europeans further started adopted some African traditional meals (Byam, p.4). Conclusion The manner in which racial capitalism and colonialism shaped African Diasporic culture as well as transforming Western culture has been put forth. Whereby, racial capitalism entails a practice/process of preventing people emanating from other different racial identity from yours to obtain economic and social value. The Africans Diasporic culture was shaped in the sense Africans were subjected to slavery. During this period of Slavery, Africans learnt a lot of skills and some cultural aspects from the whites and started applying them in their lives. In addition, Africans were bitter due to unfair treatment from their colonial masters. This made them to come together and form Pan-Africanism identity, a union that provided them with freedom of expression and the basis for fighting liberation from slavery. Africans established future trade and investment networks in areas such as Asia and Europe where they were taken as slave. This helped to shape their culture too. In addition, they adopted western education and Christianity which played a significant step towards shaping their culture. Western globalization has also been discussed on how it facilitated in shaping African culture. Conclusively, the ways in which racial capitalism and colonialism contributed towards transformation culture been discussed. Works Cited Byam, L D. Community in Motion: Theatre for Development in Africa. Westport, Conn. [u.a.: Bergin & Garvey, 1999. Print. Gaag and Martin P. J. Measurement of Individual Social Capital. Amsterdam: F&N Boekservices, 2005. Print.Leong.N. Racial Capitalism. The Harvard Law Association. 26.6.2013. Web.12.11.2013.. Patrick Manning. The Africans Diaspora. The History of the Culture. Web.1.6.2013. < http://cup.columbia.edu/book/978-0-231-14470-4/the-african-diaspora/excerpt >. Read More