The three C’s and Double Consciousness Essay Example

acknowledged the significance of supporting Black authors who remained devoted to their race and took pride in their heritage. Conversely, they strongly condemned those who utilized their skills for the benefit of white allies and supporters. Moreover, there was a strong emphasis on providing socially relevant education to empower the black population in fighting for freedom and shaping the world according to their own interests and aspirations. In terms of commerce, early advocates of repatriation emphasized the importance of economic autonomy and self-reliance for Africans. Their argument revolved around the idea that relying solely on others for economic survival ultimately leads to downfall.

For success, businesses, factories, and countries must be self-reliant while also providing mutual support. The population acknowledges that revolution and class struggle are crucial in deciding a nation's destiny. It is vital to prevent corporate monopolies and the domination of a few individuals over the majority as these factors greatly influence success or failure. A country that can freely engage in commerce has the opportunity to pursue activities that contribute to its growth.

To ensure the existence of lawful business activities, it is crucial for the people of any state to be free from interference such as slavery. As a result, those involved in an early repatriation movement aimed to grant freedom to enslaved Africans, enabling them to participate in fair and unrestricted commercial endeavors that would contribute to their continent's success.

Dubois' Concept of Double Consciousness

Dubois' notion of double consciousness greatly illuminates the predicament faced by Africa and its people. He emphasized the need for confronting challenges in the pursuit of social, political, and economic rights and advancements (Harris, page 143).

Dubois shed light on

Africa and Africans by emphasizing the importance of political rights in creating economic opportunities and safeguarding economic gains. He also highlighted the significance of racial solidarity and self-help. Another way Dubois enlightened Africa and Africans was through his advocacy of Pan-Africanism. He took an active role in organizing and leading four out of the five congresses prior to independence from 1919 to 1945. In addition, Dubois promoted unity and recognized the common interests and struggles shared by all Africans, stressing the historical importance of Africa on a global scale. Later in life, he relocated to Africa and passed away in Ghana at the age of ninety-five while working on Encyclopedia Africana.

Dubois initially proposed the concept of cooperative economics within the community and later advocated for a socialist society. By doing so, he believed that socialism could serve as an alternative to the unequal distribution of wealth by capitalists, the enslavement of labor, and the prioritization of material pursuits over human aspirations.

Difficulties Faced by Returnees and Comparisons with India

Many accounts highlight the challenges faced by those who returned to Africa from the West, particularly when compared to the struggles of returnees in India. One major issue reported is that black returnees found it difficult to escape the influence of both their physical and social environments abroad.

The influence described above not only resulted in the contributions made by returnees to the African country, but also maintained their connections with the people in the Diaspora. Despite changes in language, lifestyle, and goals of the returnees, remnants of various African languages were still present in Guiana and the islands of Southeastern United States. Examples include the

prevalence of Yoruba in Brazil, the adoption of Swahili in India, and the emergence of Creole in Africa and other Diaspora societies. This continuous cultural evidence was seen as more substantial than its physical form. The forging of cultural and biological ties between Africa and the Diaspora societies facilitated a meaningful return.

The African diaspora played a significant role in their adopted societies, whether it be through political or military achievements, social and economic relationships, or contributions in music and literature. Despite racial prejudices from Euro-Americans, these Africans abroad made substantial contributions to labor, capital accumulation, technology advancement, internationalization of insurance and banking systems, and general administrative organizations in the Western world (Harris, page 62). As a result, the return of these Africans faced obstacles as they considered their contributions in the diaspora to be more significant and preferred not to go back to their country. Furthermore, there is a comparison between Brazilian returnees to West Africa and returnees from other nations. The Brazilian returnees not only retained their African identity but also embraced the Portuguese culture and were motivated by the idea of redemption.

The returnees saw themselves as catalysts for cultural transformation, causing some Africans to view them as partly European. Consequently, a fusion of African and European concepts and abilities occurred, making a substantial contribution to advancements in Africa. The returnees regarded those who remained behind as inferior due to their absence of European expertise and technology. Furthermore, a predicament arose where the returnees were unable to pinpoint their exact places of origin; hence, they were resettled in locations that were not their original homes. This resulted in significant tension between the returnees and

the local population since the locals could not accommodate them.

Exclusion from society and intermarriage between Africans and Europeans resulted in rejection and challenges for a specific group. However, this blending led to the creation of an exclusive group with high mobility in Western trade and professions. This particular group earned more money than the existing group, making their reintegration into society difficult. The repatriated group believed they had a mission to redeem Africa but faced opposition from another group.

Work Cited

1. Harris, Joseph E. Global Dimensions of the African Diaspora. Washington, D.C: Howard University Press, 1993. Print.
2. Harris, Joseph E. Repatriates and Refugees in a Colonial Society: Washington, D.C: Howard University Press, 1987.
3. Joseph E. Harris. The African Diaspora. College Station: Texas A ; M Univ. Press, 1996. Print.
4. Richard, and Robert Asher.Africans in America.

New York: Facts On File, 2005.