EMANCIPATING OURSELVES

Slavery and colonialism ended over two centuries ago but it is a lot less gratifying to note that the tragic effects of it are still with us in very glaring dimensions. The psychological damage of these sorry tales of our history are so deeply ingrained that it would require a massive and conscious re-education to enable us take our rightful place in God's world.

James Watson raised more than a few eye brows when he sought to portray blacks as unequal to whites in their giftings and levels of intelligence and I certainly do not agree with him. However our socio-economic-political predicament and seeming backwardness might lend some credence to his wildly misguided submissions. The fact that the whole of Africa contributes a paltry less than 2% to world trade is depressing enough to make me wonder what we do with our heads and hands. I burn with trepidation and pain when I read stories of abject reprobation and the most grievous acts of man inhumanity to man in parts of Africa. Even in Ghana as in many African countries, there are a number tribal groupings who have an unhealthy sense of cultural importance and a false sense of superiority. This is strangely profound with some mutualy intelligible tribes of northern Ghana and generally evident in the use of disparaging languages in our characterisation of others. After over two centuries of the abolition of slavery, it is terribly mind boggling that people would be willing to endure the most degrading and inclement human conditions to make to lands purportedly flowing with milk and honey. However the sheer willingness of thousands and even millions to continually go on these deadly voyages is a testimony of resolve and an unflinching determination to succeed, by any means necessary.

Our failure to create and open up the doors of opportunity for our own is partly attributable to failed, selfish and filthily corrupt leadership in our part of the world. Our development and socialization process are also significantly accountable for our apparent lack of meaningful progress. We are unconsciously thought to despise ourselves by the consistent use of many self deprecating pejorative expressions. Our characterization of white as synonymous with excellence is no less erroneous than our lack of appreciation for the essential goodness of black, no matter how good. It irks me enormously when I see people blush so profusely, acting like pavlovian dogs when a white person gives a compliment or addresses them with fanciful politeness, an act that would probably receive a cursory reaction if it came from a person of the same skin color.

These psychologically debilitating behaviors are also tacitly endorsed by our leaders in decisions involving the hiring of expertise whether in football or engineering. It baffles my mind that we would go to any length to hire foreign football coaches, who speak no english and pay them unbelievable sums while we offer an insulting pittance to their Ghanaian assistants.

Emancipating ourselves, I believe begins by a radical transformation by the renewing of our minds and by the pursuit of Excellence in all we do.

Ralph Waldo Emerson said in a lecture back in 1871 that "if a man can write a better book, preach a better sermon or make a better mouse trap than his neighbor, even if he builds his house in the woods, the world would make a beaten path to his door."

We must set out to do our life's work so well that nobody could do it better. Excellence is probably the only way we could rise above all the barriers there are and move on to our glorious black heritage. The world is replete with examples of excellence prevailing over colour and creed, the most glaring and most recent example being the hitherto improbable rise to the US presidency by the inspiring Senator Barack Obama.

Stay tuned for more on this.
Keep Hope Alive!