PAN-AFRICAN “ASSIMILATION”

In that July 4 interview with Von Martin on Caribbeana (WPFW 89.3 FM), the question was raised as to how much of her/his Caribbean identity the Caribbean immigrant to the United States should retain. President Frederick thought that, whereas it was important to keep the special Caribbean identity, those immigrants who achieved the greatest success were those who were prepared to “assimilate” more fully. The term “assimilate” leaves a bitter taste in the mouth, harking back to the old days when natives under a white supremacist colonial regime saw assimilation to whites as the best way out of their situation. Here at the premiere HBCU (historically Black college / university), we are called to provide “leadership for America and the global community” in emancipating ourselves from mental slavery. Under the “Big Tent” of Pan-Africanism, Caribbean identity, African American identity, Afro-Latino identity, Yoruba identity, Kikuyu identity, etc. etc. fit together in marvelous harmony. There is no need to introduce the outmoded concept of “assimilation.”