More Religious Bullshit

It is a common theme among many African Americans though less known in the general public, African-Americans don't like Africans all that much. In some quarters it goes to the extent of not wanting to be called "black." In some cases calling a clearly African person "African" is enough to get into a fight. Among many African-American children one will find that they will use disparaging remarks to "recent" Africans. Comments about Jungles and the like, which I had previously only heard come out of mouths of white people, can flow freely from the mouth of America's African descendants.

Anyone with a decent knowledge of history can understand where this self hate comes from. After all Africans in America who are descended from the Maafa had gone through a rather brutal disengagement from their mother countries and culture. With such a disruption such antipathy can be expected, if not excused. However; there is a further problem that affects a great deal of Africans from the continent. Many of these individuals are more hostile to African culture than others. Often I will find that Africans from various areas of Africa are a great deal more defensive of the imported religions than the importers of said religions. The latest evidence of this situation was shown in the NY Times yesterday.In that piece I found this statement

The Spiritual Warfare congregants here said that because their ancestors were not Christians, they were cursed, Africa is cursed and the sins of their fathers are now visited upon all the children.

It is unfortunate, but par for the course, that the NY Times would allow it's pages to be used to promote such a completely illogical as well as insulting statement to be published in it's paper without so much as a challenge. Since the Republicans took office, various news outlets have been extending themselves to so-called religious conservatives. I would actually call it pandering. This particular piece is simply another example of the self hating attitude that unfortunately infects a great deal of African people. The above is also the reasons why I could not in good conscience remain a Christian, attend a Christian church or even give money to Christian outreach organizations. These ideas didn't just materialize out of thin air. These thoughts are the direct results of missionaries who have gone into Africa and disrupted the natural culture there. It is not just a matter of a so-called "curse" either.

There are also widespread reports from all over Africa of Christian congregations who use this "witchcraft" fear mongering in order to extort "exorcism" fees from parents of children who are deemed "witches" by either other family members, their own parents or total strangers. In many cases these children who are accused of being "witches" are actually the victims of economic circumstances and the parents are seeking a means of getting rid of the child without having to take any blame for putting out a child.

Overall this whole "witchcraft" industry is just that, an industry made up of unscrupulous Africans seeking a means of employment and riches at the expense of their followers. After all, if there was no business to be made of "fighting curses and witchcraft" these churches would be empty and the collection plates as well.

I don't expect the NY Times to do it, but if they had any integrity at all they would first and foremost post a counter article on those Africans (both continental and diaspora) who practice their traditional faiths and let them challenge the quoted statement. Furthermore, if they are going to continue to write such articles then they ought to at least balance out such outrageous claims by finding other alternative sources.

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