Did the Essence Festival only prove the need for Delineation?
The Essence Festival 'Flop' is proof positive that Blackfolk are setting boundaries & Gatekeeping Our Culture. Some of the comments regarding this 'Gatekeeping' are woefully uninformed. If The Essence Festival was a Pan Afrikan Event, these people would have a point. What We're really talking about, is 'Original Coke'. Imagine if someone bought Coca-Cola & tried to change the formula? THAT is Black America's perspective. We see this as Cultural Colonialism. The fact that the Organizers actually thought they could push their Agenda & monetize the expectation that Blackfolk would simply follow along, is the highest Insult.
The Essence CEO, Caroline Wanga is a walking contradiction. Among many things, she says that Essence isn't looking to diminish Black American Culture, but the write up on the Event speaks of a spotlight on Nigerian Culture. Stephanie Mills' 'Open Letter' gracefully expressed the sentiments of the Blackfolk that attended. The Theme Song of the Event should've been Public Enemy's 'Who Stole The Soul'?... The whole 'Joloff vs Jambalaya' thing wreaks of Tribalism. Message to the Organizers:: Blackfolk DON'T go to New Orleans for Joloff Rice.
The main theme of the Comments responding to Black American indignation over the Essence Festival is: 'Well, Afrikans purchased it & have the right to do with it as they please. If We're so attached to the Essence Brand, We should've done more to hold on to it'. NONE take into account that Essence was White Owned for over 10Yrs, but Time Inc. didn't make wholesale changes to the 'Essence Formula'. What struck Me the most, was the common tone of condescension & arrogance in the responses.
These people are literally bragging about 'appropriating' a Lane (Resource) to push an Afrikan Agenda, at the expense of Black American Culture. Meanwhile, they expect Black Americans- Black Women in particular, to invest in something that openly circumvents their presence. We are now hearing from Local Vendors in New Orleans, folks that participated in the Essence Festival for Years; They feel ostracized. Festival Organizers focused on untested Pan Afrikan Vendors more than the Local Vendors that contributed to the success of the Essence Festival over the Years. It goes against the most elementary rule of Capitalism: ALWAYS keep your Customer Base happy.
These people tried to squeeze a Square Peg in a Round Hole. While many scratch their heads, I look to History. Before the Rise of Ibrahim Traore & the AES, Afrikan Leadership across The Continent & around The Diaspora behaved like the Organizers of the Essence Festival. In The 'Age of Liberation', these folks were more concerned w/ fighting their neighbors, than the People who Colonized them. They were more concerned about the number of 'Benzes' they owned, than the development of their Nations. This is a facet of their Cultural Behavior. Delineation has allowed Me a chance to take off the Pan Afrikan glasses & REALLY look at The Diaspora. Black America, as a Collective doesn't move like the Afrikan Diaspora. We're like the Russians, who desire to be European, but are seen as 'Tatars'. Just as the Russians learned (the Hard Way) to Stand on their Square, Black America has learned the same Lesson.
We are fully aware of the opportunities that We created for ALL Immigrants. We experienced betrayal from Irish, German, Italian, & Eastern European Immigrants; Our commitment to Pan Afrikanism blinded Us to the Agenda of (so called) Black & Brown Immigrants. We literally took in a homeless Family Member & gave them Run of the House. 50 Years later, this person is now claiming the Right to be on the Property Deed. Black & Brown Immigrants, as a Collective, are very disrespectful to Black Americans. They try to exhibit an air of Intellectual & Cultural Superiority; in truth, they aspire to 'Whiteness' to the degree that they repeat Anti- Black talking points Word for Word... They're quick to point out their rapid success in AmeriKKKa, but always leave out the part where they get opportunities that Blackfolk never get.
They're quick to sign up for Grants & Programs meant for Black Americans, but are just as quick to say: "I'm not Black!" From 1865- 1900, Black America raised Our Collective Literacy Rate faster than ANY Ethnic Group in History. We CREATED dozens of Independent Towns & Hundreds of Businesses. White America's 'Fear of Black Rule' led to their destruction, & the current Benign Neglect Policies that keep Us stagnated. Black Immigrants like to tout their success, but after 35Yrs- 50Yrs of Government Backed progress in AmeriKKKa- where is their 'Little Lagos', 'Little Accra' or 'Little Nairobi'? Caribbean Americans have had more success, but they build on existing foundations (e.g. Flatbush, Crown Heights, Wakefield, Richmond Hill, Laurelton) & have yet to match Black Towns from the Turn of the 20th Century. Neither the Afrikan nor Caribbean Immigrant had to contend with 'Whitelash' in response to their success.
The notion that Black America is being xenophobic in Our decision to delineate is ludicrous. NO OTHER LINEAGE GROUP championed Pan Afrikanism more than Black Americans. The RBG Flag was originally called 'The Black Liberation Flag', but in the spirit of Pan Afrikanism, We expanded it to include The Diaspora. That said, how many Immigrants wave that flag? How many Afrikan Nations actually adopted the colors into their National Flag? We were the vanguard of Pan Afrikanism for over 100Yrs, all while being told that We weren't Afrikan. We're no longer arguing w/ them. In fact, Our Scholars have gone Full Circle & are now examining Our History HERE.
For The Record: Less than 10% of Transatlantic Afrikans made it to North America. Most Black Americans are descendants of American Indians (Woodland Indians, 'Coppertoned Aboriginies') who are indigenous to This Continent. Our Ancestors were POWs from 'The Indian Wars' with Spanish, Dutch, English & French Colonialists. They were placed in Prison Camps that later became Plantations; THAT is the consistency of the 13th Amendment with the Colonist Mindset. There was also a large contingent of 'Free Blacks' that owned Property & Businesses. We were spoon fed 'Out of Afrika Theory' for nearly 200Yrs, but Our Ancestors have been in North America for Tens of Thousands of Years. Our Pyramids are older than the Afrikan Pyramids.
When The Diaspora says We don't have a Culture, We only have to point to American Culture. The Food, Style, Language, Music, & overall Swagger of America is based on Blackfolk. When you take away Our influence, America looks like just another European Nation. Our Labor & Inventions elevated American Capitalism over Europe. Our Patriotism & Valor elevated 13 Colonies to a World Power. EVERYONE knows that We're the 'Special Sauce' that makes America 'Great'... The Organizers of the Essence Festival let their ethnocentrism (Tribalism) get in the way of Business. They appear to be so quick to wash the taste of Black America out their mouths, they forget that they [STILL] Stand on Our Shoulders & Eat off Our Plate.
We're a Lineage Group of Originators, Builders, Innovators & Fighters- We're naturally competitive. Essence wasn't the first publication of its kind, & it won't be the last. If the Essence Management Team wants to take the brand Pan Afrikan, I say Good Luck! We'll just create a New Lane to express & tout the [Multifaceted] Excellence of Indigenous Black American Women. If We use 'Afro Beats' as a gauge for the future success of Essence, We won't have much competition globally.
-Game On!
