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The Ethical Trope Of Asante Apartness

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The Ethical Trope Of Asante Apartness
According to Asante blackness is an ethical trope.
Asante puts forth the idea that the blackness of someone should not be based on their skin tone, but rather on a set of characteristics, experiences and worldviews (Asante, 2007). In the following essay, I will discuss and critique his thesis.

Asante believes that blackness can be attributed to, and attained by, a multitude of peoples from all races and regions, if they meet a set of his criteria. The criteria coming down to a strong sense of justice, a full understanding of the beliefs and interests of those being oppressed as well as actively doing something to fight the oppressive powers that be. For Asante blackness falls on a spectrum, where one can constantly work towards to becoming more black in a sense by educating oneself more about the oppressive regimes of the past and the present, of knowing about slavery, the after effects of it still felt, not just feeling sympathy for the oppressed but being able to fully stand in their shoes and to experience their existence that has become so severely shaped by these injustices. …show more content…
Asante points out how some dark skinned individuals have opted out of their blackness, they dissociate from any remnants of their predecessors blackness and they adopt a whiteness that is so prevalent in a Westernised society. I agree with Asante in seeing the allure of joining the white oppressors as it would seem to provide a shelter from harassments of sorts but just as Asante sees it I too think this is a very dangerous thing to do, as the revolution against oppression will be more successful with larger numbers. On the other hand, more individuals of different skin tones around the world are meeting Asante’s criteria for blackness and thus the movement keeps
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