African American: an Identity Crisis Essay

For centuries Afri ordure Americans move over been indoctrinated to subsist in a cultural and historical vacuum by their oppressors who would seek to bar them from forever making the connection to their illume past. This systematic agenda of mis-education and lies by omission has made possible the subjugation and enslavement, in body and mind, of the African American by his oppressors. In his essay The Study of the Negro, Dr. Carter G. Woodson sets out to ruminate on wherefore the African American has been misled in his ascension to human comparability and dignity and how he can remedy the dour state of his affairs.A thorough reading of Woodsons pi one and only(a)ering work indicates that we should study the experiences of African-descended people to gain fellowship about ourselves and other cultures as well as to stimulate back accurate traditions and histories that have entirely but been discredited or misrepresented. Furthermore, only through this systematic study of thei r meaningful contributions to history can African Americans elevate themselves to empowered enlightenment. One reason to study the experiences of the African American is to instill in him a comprehend of purpose and place in a world that otherwise intends to keep him unceasingly in the dark.Undoubtedly the aim of his oppressors has been to convince him that his history is unimportant so as to deprive him of the sense of self-esteem that is so necessary to feel wholly human. By espousing that he has no worthwile past, that his race has through nothing significant since the beginning of time, and that there is no evidence that he will ever reach out anything great (Woodson 6), his oppressors can be sure that the African American will continue d own the data track of mis-education that so allows for his subservience to a system that cares nothing for him.However, if you teach the Negro that he has accomplished as much good as any other race he will aspire to equality and justice w ithout regard to race. (Woodson 6) The core purpose of African American studies is to concord back from obscurity that fix of the historical puzzle without which the African American would be amidst an endless identity crisis. By studying the phone line of his people, the African American, who has not yet learned to think and plan for himself as others do for themselves (Woodson 7), can take control of his own destiny rather than taking as truth an abundance of information which others have made accessible to the oppressed. (Woodson 7).The culture of indoctrination cultivated by the oppressor would have that the Negro should cease to remember that he was once held a slave, that he has been oppressed, and even that he is a Negro. (Woodson 7) Thus, it is plain to see that the African Americans oppressors have too much to lose by promoting the truth. Indeed, it would require them to admit their transgressions and to concede the absolute meaningful contributions made by the Afric an American to modern society.Without a serious examination of the bedrock of education, religion, literature, and philosophy as they have been expounded to him (Woodson 7) by his oppressors, the Negro joins the opposition with the objection that the study of the Negro keeps live(a) questions which should be forgotten. (Woodson 7) Perhaps the most essential lesson to be learned from an effective, systematic study of African American history is that the contributions made by African Americans are far more numerous than any oppressor could ever know.It is with a pig-headed pride that they conceal the fact that the history of the modern world was made, in the main, by what was interpreted from African people. (Clarke) Without knowledge such as this, it would be impossible for the African American to take pride in himself and to seek the true identity he has been in search of for centuries. A race is wish a man. Until it uses its own talents, takes pride in its own history, and lov es its own memories, it can never fulfill itself completely. (Clarke) African American studies can help in understanding other cultures as well as our own by challenging and correcting the misrepresentations of Africa and Western Europe and their cultural legacies. What has been laid aground as history by the oppressor does not serve to benefit the African American but instead to keep him dependent on a system rife with underlying prejudice against his people.History is written in the image of the source so, consequently, the African American must take up the reins of authorship himself and guide his own destiny. That is precisely why we should study the African American experience, to produce a platform on which he can take back what is innately his. After all, to be cognizant of where one is going, it is necessary to be aware of where one has been.