African diaspora embracing their African roots [Culture on The Morning Call]

The African diaspora is spread out all over the world. For example in the United States, where we find the African-Americans, from the Caribbean (Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, and Dominica), and from South America (Venezuela).

Without first-hand knowledge of their roots, many of them can only shape their views of Africa based upon what has been said and written in both the media and distorted history books, which tells us of a continent full of war-torn countries, starving people and corrupt leaders, who continue to profit from the betrayal of its people.

Platforms like the Afropunk Festival in the United States are designed for the African diaspora community to express themselves in groundbreaking styles. This year’s festival-goers found themselves in the middle of the resurgence of a natural hair movement, in which Black people are re-committing to embracing the diverse histories of their hair despite being faced with what is effectively censorship.