The black pride movement began as a response to widespread
racism in the
United States. Many times,
when people regard the cultural climate as wrong, they will develop a response
to it. People had been belittled and oppressed because of the color of their
skin, and many blacks would have happily changed their race had such an option
actually existed. In fact at one time clubs existed which would not accept
membership from any blacks darker than a
brown paper bag. It is into this
climate that a response, the black pride movement, was born. Black pride involved a fierce
assertion of the equality (and in some cases, even superiority) of blackness.
Since the descendents of slaves did not know the specific regions from which
their ancestors came, the entire continent of Africa was embraced by the
movement. This is why you will find people holding on to things associated with
Africa, even if the relics originate from disparate cultures seperated by
hundreds of miles.
Afros came about as a part of the black pride movement. Previously, good black
hair styles typically suppressed the natural attributes of the hair (
black people's hair is kinky and
tends to develop naps) with relaxers to make it wavy or straight. The afro is a hair style which is
difficult for most non-blacks to have (unless you have very curly hair), and therefore was a fine choice
for one looking to embrace his/her racial traits and ethnic heritage.
I was not brought up around people who were heavily into black pride, so I view the whole thing as an
outsider. Indeed, I am not proud to be black, as there is nothing for me to be proud of. I was born this
way. I am proud of many of the people I love, as I chose to be around them and support them. I am proud of some of my accomplishments, to be sure, but I have never thought of my race in terms
of pride or shame. I am happy to be black, but I suspect I would be happy to be Asian or white just as
well.