Examples Of Pan Afrocentrism

This week, we learn about how we all conceptualize “blackness” within the United States. Within the readings, we explore the different movements throughout history and how they have created the categories many African Americans find themselves contributing to today. These categories are known as Pan-africanism and Afrocentrism. Both movements challenged the way America was being taught and what traditions they were taught to value. Later, we come across another aspect known as ethno-racial mixture, and are conflicted in whether to include this area into the past two categories or create its own. Pan-africanism is one way we mentally visualize or categorize blackness. Pan-africanism is the idea that all people of African descent have the same interests, endure the same struggles, and ultimately have the same negative experiences with white supremacy no matter where they are located in the world. It is the idea that all African people, both from he African Diaspora or on the actual continent, share what many call a common “destiny.

Afrocentrism is the idea that every aspect in an African American’s life should be centered around African values and traditions as opposed to european ones. This movement mainly concentrates on “fundamental problems” of the education system and how it teaches students of any ethnicity the European history, culture, and traditions. Afrocentrism enforces an appreciation for African culture and tradition, and primarily enforces African centered education. Through this, it gradually creates its own education system and values. Although people within the Afrocentric movement decide to “exclude” themselves by creating a whole other education system, I still consider it an inclusive category because it is open to all people. In black universities such as Howard, students of any color are welcome to learn about the culture and values of people of African descent, although it is