Asante's Blackness: Is It An Ethical Trope?

Asante argues that blackness has a moral essence and that blackness and whiteness are not biological. Consciousness has nothing to do with biology and is applied philosophically. Therefore, it is fallacious to apply blackness in terms of biology. Humanity is colourless, we are all human, irrespective of skin colour, and we must accept our biological differences and together stand up against racial inequity and discrimination.

It is within this context that the black race has had to seek out redemption, a scaffold from that to erect an identity for themselves that includes freedom. Asante’s thesis that blackness is an ethical trope is such an effort and I will evaluate the merits of Asante’s arguments. I realise that Asante conceals the truth
Asante in arguing that blackness is an ethical trope, claims that blackness must be understood in purely ethical conditions in addition to biological categories. Blackness represents a virtue that individuals can decide to identify with or
Biko first diagnosed the need for black consciousness as an antidote to the prevailing idea endorsed by white society that blacks are inferior. In one instance Biko also defines consciousness as being about a mental attitude but it is important to note for whom it is a mental attitude for. The first point to note is that is a psychological remedy for black people who find themselves dehumanised and constantly treated as sub-human and lacking dignity. If this sin had not existed, black consciousness would be irrelevant. It becomes irrelevant in a world where the police do not shoot you because you are simply black, where being black is considered to be identical to danger, violence and being a threat. Therefore blackness as an ethical trope should be considered conceptually identical to black consciousness, being applicable particularly to oppressed black people. Secondly, then, blackness or black consciousness aims to eradicate the prevailing ideas and assumptions that black is inferior within society as a whole. It becomes an ethical trope to counter the prevailing historical narrative that black is inferior. It is also a quest then to recognise the intrinsic dignity and worth of black people, it seeks to ignite a passion within black people that their