Steve Biko's Some African Cultural Concepts In Black America

African Cultural
Concepts in Black America

African Cultural Concepts

Have African Americans’ perception about what it truly means to be of African decent altered, or have they managed to stay connected to their African customs and traditions? In the essay “ Some African Cultural Concepts,” Steve Biko discussed five major aspects of African culture that, from his perspective, differ from the European culture, specifically the Anglo-Boers. According to Biko, Africans encourages a “Man-centered” society within a village that focuses on strong communication, mutual support, spirituality, the sharing of land and riches. These village settings thus create a strong-willed individual with the mindset to help others, is highly religious, and chooses not to worry about circumstances in life that can’t be changed. However, Biko’s opinion that African Americans have held onto their traditions by keeping a strong family and doing things for the community isn’t exercised like it used to be. “ I don’t care how poor a man is; if he has family, he’s rich.” This popular statement is a perfect example revealing what the African mentality used to be. Every since the Whites
brought Africans to America as slaves, the African view of family has gradually altered. According to Biko, “Intimacy is a term not exclusive for particular friends but applying to a whole group of people who find themselves together through work” (32). In today’s society, the definition of family has changed. Africans didn’t limit the word family to strictly the immediate family, but to the entire village. In the modern days, a child can grow up barely knowing his or her father’s side of the family because of lack of communication or other invalid reasons. Biko’s observation also doesn’t coincide with today’s culture because people, in general, are more individualistic. Most people like to stay in their own bubble or box. Everyone is wrapped up in his or her self. For example, it used to be pleasurable to spend on other, but now for most people, it satisfies people more if money is spent on only themselves. The new generation of children’s mindset has changed as well. Instead of children appreciating what their parents have done and relying on their parents until they’re financially comfortable; children would rather struggle because they have the “ready-to-move-out” attitude. In the short story, “Double Standard,” Ralphie demonstrates the perfect example of why black families have the stereotype of instability in the world today.
The fear of making permanent commitments can change the mutual love of husband and wife into two loves of self-two loves existing side by side, until they separate. When Socrates sees Ralphie publicly “hunched down over the small woman kissing and touching, pressing her hard against the door,” Ralphie makes the stereotypes spring to life (Mosley 58).
Ralphie’s actions obviously reveal his thoughts and feelings towards he wife and child. He doesn’t take their feelings into consideration or else he wouldn’t be with the woman especially publicly. Like the rest of the men who cheat on their wives, every action he takes is for his own selfish
pleasure. Therefore, Blacks need to change their attitude and perspective of life and then their physical actions will undergo change. African Americans must backtrack to their African roots to understand that the black race can change in the first place. If Blacks knew that these stereotypes about family responsibilities, then they would have more confidence about change. Blacks must understand that these actions are new and just became socially acceptable. We were forced from our mother land and put on American soil; therefore we are still Africans who are just in America, not African Americans. If black people carried this in their hearts, the world would see a difference and Biko’s opinion would be relevant. Blacks also need to recognize that their ancestors went through the same struggle and fought to keep families together so their present actions are a disgrace to the ones who died fighting. By evaluating Biko’s opinions about the differences between African culture and Anglo-Boer culture as compared to today’s society, one can conclude that the African way isn’t as strong as it used to be. It has been diluted with European influence, but it can be restored with a contemporary mindset. A wise man by the name of Malcolm X once said, “Being here in America doesn’t make you an American. Blacks are the victims of Americanism.”