The Veil and Double-Consciousness
In Sociologist W.E.B. Du Bois’ (1903) seminal work outlining double consciousness theory, he argued that “the problem of the 20th century is the problem of the color line” (p. 281). Despite reductions in de jure racial discrimination, which is legally codified explicit racism, improved racial attitudes among the general public, and the election of the United State's first biracial Black president, the trouble of the color line persists in reproducing racial disparities in the United States and around the globe (Alexander, 2010; Bobo, 2017; Bonilla-Silva, 2013; Williams and Collins, 2001). As exemplified by the 2016 election of a Presidential candidate who campaigned on an explicitly racist, anti-immigrant, and nationalist platform (Bobo, 2017), national discourse and political rhetoric have become more divisive while hate crimes and brutality towards people of color and immigrants have risen (Eligon, 2018).
This reading helped me understand how racism affects identity and thinking. W.E.B. Du Bois explained double consciousness as the feeling of seeing yourself through your own eyes and through the eyes of others who judge you. African Americans were treated as a problem in society, even after slavery ended. This caused emotional and psychological stress that still exists today. Even though laws have changed and progress has been made, racism continues in new ways.
Political language, discrimination, and violence still affect people of color.
This shows that the color line Du Bois talked about has not disappeared.
The section on pre-colonial Africa changed how I see African history.
Africa was not empty or uncivilized before Europeans arrived.
It had strong empires, trade systems, and cultures.
People identified with their kingdoms and communities, not race.
African identity was shaped later by colonization and slavery.
Learning this helped me understand how racism and racial categories were created over time. It also helped me see the connection between Africa’s past and the struggles that African descendants face today.
Pre-colonial Africa
The African continent has been home to complex human societies for over 10,000 years. Families formed tribal groups and created some of the first known markers of culture and social organization, including tools, sharing resources, and agriculture. Many groups co-existed peacefully, while others fought over territory and other disputes. Before any contact with colonial outsiders, multiple large empires and kingdoms were created with systems of trade, taxation, and political representation. In Figure , there is a map that has the territorial borders of kingdoms and empires located throughout the continent, with some groups overlapping land claims with one or more other groups. This includes Mali Empire, Nok Culture, Fulani Empire, Akan States, Benin, Hausa, Kingdon of Kangaba, Christian Ethiopia, Songhai Empire, Empire of Ghana, Wolof, Empire of Kanem, Fatimid Caliphate, Ayyubid Dynasty, Umayyad Caliphate, Yoruba Yorubaland, Igbo, Great Zimbabwe, Kingdom of Aksum, Kongo Kingdom, Luba State, Lunda State, Carthaginian Empire, Persian Achaemenid Empire, and The Ptolemies.
This reading helped me understand that Africa had a long and rich history before colonization. The African continent has been home to human societies for more than 10,000 years. People lived in families and formed tribes. They worked together to survive and support each other. They created tools, shared resources, and practiced agriculture. These actions show that African societies were organized and intelligent. Life in Africa was not empty or simple. It was full of culture and social structure.
Many African groups lived peacefully with one another. At the same time, some groups fought over land and resources. This is something that happened everywhere in the world. Conflict was not unique to Africa. Before Europeans arrived, Africa already had large empires and kingdoms. These societies had systems of trade, taxation, and political leadership. This shows that African societies were advanced and independent. They did not rely on outside groups to survive or grow.
The reading also explains that Africa was made up of many different regions and cultures. The map shows many empires and kingdoms across the continent. These include the Mali Empire, the Empire of Ghana, the Songhai Empire, Great Zimbabwe, and the Kingdom of Aksum. There were also cultural groups such as the Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, and Wolof. Each group had its own traditions, language, and way of life. This shows that Africa was never one single culture. It was diverse and complex.
People in pre-colonial Africa did not identify themselves by race. They identified with their local kingdoms, families, and communities. Identity was based on place and culture. The idea of being “Black” or “African” came later through colonization and slavery. This helped me understand that race is a social idea created over time. It was not the main way people understood themselves in early African societies.
Learning about pre-colonial Africa challenges many stereotypes. Africa is often described as undeveloped or without history. This reading proves that idea is wrong. Africa had powerful empires that managed land, trade, and people. These societies existed long before European contact. They had knowledge, systems, and leadership that supported daily life.
Overall, this reading helped me see African history with more respect. It reminded me that history is often told from a colonial point of view. Many African achievements are ignored or forgotten. Learning about pre-colonial Africa helps correct this view. It shows that Africa has always been a place of strength, culture, and innovation.
Works Cited
Finlayson, J. Africa History Atlas. Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.
