Afrophobia
Afrophobia is a perceived fear of the cultures and peoples of Africa, as well as the African diaspora.[1]
Lexicology[edit]
Primarily a cultural phenomenon, it pertains to the various traditions and peoples of Africa, irrespective of racial origin.[1] As such, Afrophobia is distinct from the historical racial phenomenon negrophobia, which is a contempt for negro peoples specifically.[2] The opposite of Afrophobia is Afrophilia, which is a love for all things pertaining to Africa.[1]
By location[edit]
It has been observed that writing and terminology about racism, including about Afrophobia has been somewhat U.S.-centric. In 2016, Afrophobia has been used as a term for racism against darker-skinned persons in China. In such usage Afrophobia is an inexact term, because the racism is directed against darker-skinned persons from anywhere, without regard to any connection to Africa. Conversely, Chinese views for lighter-than-average skin are more positive, as reflected in advertising.[3]
Activism[edit]
To overcome any perceived "Afrophobia", writer Langston Hughes suggested that European Americans must achieve peace of mind and accommodate the uninhibited emotionality of African Americans. Author James Baldwin similarly recommended that White Americans could quash any "Afrophobia" on their part by getting in touch with their repressed feelings, empathizing to overcome their "emotionally stunted" lives, and thereby overcome any dislike or fear of African Americans.[4]
In 2016, Tess Asplund made a viral protest against Neo-Nazism as part of her activism against Afrophobia.[5]
Unsophisticated stereotype[edit]
Some afrophobic sentiment centers around ideas of Africans being unsophisticated. Such perceptions include of Africans lacking a history of civilization, and visual imagery of such stereotypes include living in mudhuts and carrying spears and other notions indicating their primitiveness.[6][7]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Kivuto Ndeti; Kenneth R. Gray; Gerard Bennaars (1992). The second scramble for Africa: a response & a critical analysis of the challenges facing contempory [sic] sub-Saharan Africa. Professors World Peace Academy. p. 127. ISBN 9966835733. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
- ^ The Congregational Review, Volume 2. J.M. Whittemore. p. 629. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
- ^ Roberto Castillo (August 12, 2016). "Claims of "China's Afrophobia" show we need new ways to think about race and racism". (posted originally at The Conversation, with title Of washing powder, Afrophobia and racism in China, August 11, 2016)
- ^ Washington, Robert E. (2001). The Ideologies of African American Literature. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 272.
- ^ Crouch, David (2016-05-04). "Woman who defied 300 neo-Nazis at Swedish rally speaks of anger". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-12-08.
- ^ Mays, Vickie M. "The Black American and psychotherapy: The dilemma." Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training 22.2S (1985): 379.
- ^ Marongwe, Ngonidzashe, and Munyaradzi Mawere. "Chapter Four Violence, Identity and Politics of Belonging: The April 2015 Afrophobic Attacks in South Africa and the Emergence of Some Discourses." Violence, Politics and Conflict Management in Africa: Envisioning Transformation, Peace and Unity in the Twenty-First Century (2016): 89.
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