Let’s not mince words. The global African family has an identity problem so severe that it’s metastasized into a full-blown crisis. Yes, I said it. We’re Africans in drag—draped in the garments of religions, ideologies, nationalities, and cultures that aren’t our own, while abandoning the roots that could nourish us and pull us out of this collective mess. Worse still, we have the audacity to tear each other down, fighting over scraps instead of building empires.
My words here aren’t for the faint-hearted. It’s for those who can handle the truth without dressing it up in euphemisms. Let’s talk about why Africans across the globe—whether you’re in Accra, Atlanta, or Amsterdam—are failing to unite, and let’s lay bare the top ten reasons for our self-sabotage.
1. Ego: The Killer Within
Black folks worldwide seem to have a Ph.D. in ego. Instead of being genuinely happy for one another’s progress, we measure ourselves against our brothers and sisters like it’s some twisted competition. The idea that someone else’s win is a personal loss has kept us chained to mediocrity.
2. Envy: The Silent Assassin
We envy what we see in others, but instead of learning from it or celebrating it, we tear it down. That jealousy becomes the fertilizer for the weeds of division, choking any collective progress before it even begins.
3. Division by Design
Colonialism, slavery, and neo-imperialism may have planted the seeds of division, but we water those seeds daily. Whether it’s tribalism, colorism, or religion, we actively seek ways to separate ourselves. Africans in America look down on Africans in Africa. Africans in Africa call Africans in the diaspora lost. The cycle of contempt never ends.
4. Worship of Foreign Hierarchies
We have no problem bowing our heads to foreign powers, systems, and institutions. We’ll bleed and sweat for corporations and governments that don’t care if we live or die, but ask us to support a Black-owned business? Suddenly, we’re full of excuses.
5. The Curse of Individualism
While other communities band together to build generational wealth, we’re stuck in the “me, myself, and I” mindset. If the village raises a child, we’ve abandoned the village entirely in favor of solo ventures that barely scratch the surface of progress.
6. Self-Hate Masquerading as Criticism
Let’s call it what it is: many of us hate ourselves and project that hatred onto our brothers and sisters. Instead of constructive criticism, we deliver insults laced with venom, disguised as “just keeping it real.”
7. Miseducation and Historical Amnesia
We don’t know our history, and that ignorance makes us easy prey. The miseducation of the African has been so thorough that we mistake lies for truth and truth for lies. Without a clear understanding of our past, how can we chart a course for the future?
8. The Addiction to Consumerism
We measure success by how much we can consume, not by how much we can produce. We’ll spend billions enriching other communities but balk at investing in our own. The result? We remain at the mercy of everyone but ourselves.
9. Fear of True Freedom
Freedom requires responsibility, and responsibility terrifies us. It’s easier to stay in mental and economic bondage because freedom means accountability, unity, and hard work. Many of us would rather complain than act.
10. Lack of Vision
Without a shared vision, we’re like a ship with no compass, drifting aimlessly. Other communities have a clear blueprint for success, but we can’t even agree on the first step.
The Way Forward
This isn’t about airing dirty laundry for the sake of shock value. It’s about facing the truth so we can heal. The potential of the global African family is limitless. We’re blessed with resources, intellect, and creativity that the world envies. So why do we squander it?
The answer lies in unity. We need to strip off the drag of borrowed identities and reconnect with our roots. We need to stop fighting one another and start fighting for one another. Until we do, the cycle of division will continue, and we’ll remain at the bottom of the global hierarchy, no matter how much talent, brilliance, and power we possess.
Thank you for taking the time to absorb my perspectives, you’re always welcome to return as much as you wish.
Sincerely,
LanceScurv