In understanding the challenge of Black as an identity, I had to contend with its capacity to oversimplify our complexity and diversity, reducing the genuine power of Africaness from its basis as the origin of humanity to its shade in a caste pigmentation stereotype. From the age of reduction into the pseudoscientific classification as Negro, to the sheer will of the profound power of Black as all shades of ebony. Yet none deals with the deeper complexity of African identities. Often, to project the power of the origin of humanity, we reacted to the design of the mass murderers and torturers of our people, defining pigmentation as explanation with probative value and Melanin as distinction. If only it were that simple and the distinction so well drawn. All humans are indeed African, but not all are black. Not all visibly dark people are of the same tone. Africa defines all of humanity, even though not everyone identifies as African. The insecurity that leads large chunks of humanity to reject an African origin clarifies the second aspect of Afrilition, which is choice as intentionality. Africa does not need to foist itself or represent a hierarchy on the world. This, despite it being the origin of all modern human life, the choice of identification with it has to be willing and celebrated, not done under duress. All humans trace their matrilineal source to one African woman, our genetic Eve. Yet the constant rejection of African origin is denying the humanity of your being.
Afrilition: The blackness challenge, By Adéwálé Àjàdí
