Introduction
Diaspora is the concept of migration or dispersion regardless of the time spent on its creation or the time of its existence. Diaspora may be characterized by two different states as it is both a process and a condition. It is a process since it is constantly in the creation, and as a condition, it is located within the universal sexual category and hierarchies.
Diaspora as a process is continuously being transformed trough movements, exodus journeys and in the imaginary thought patterns as well as political struggle and cultural creation. As a condition, it is constrained to the procedure by which it is prepared and remade. Diaspora can be reversed just the same way it was made. This calls for examination of various Diasporas from various historical backgrounds and locations.
The extensive based conceptualization of African Diaspora is augmented by its long history. The process of creation of this particular Diaspora was influenced by racial capitalism, imperialism, and colonialism. In essence, the African Diaspora exists within the framework of gender hierarchies and global race which are made along legal, cultural, economic, imperial and social lines.
Effects of slave trade on definition of Diaspora
The aspect of slave trade directly affected the African Diaspora. The groups of slaves were sailed across the Atlantic while their concentration in the African culture remained intact. The groups never became unified or monolithic. Differences of gender and class were integral and deeply entrenched in social relations to Central and West Africa.
Imperial structures and wars brought together the Soyinka and Wolof due to their closeness to each other in location and common trade routes. Black labor migration brought about by slave trade was basically triggered by the need for capital, labor policies and ideologies. This made the migrants to work in mines, plantations, and rail works of the Europeans (Patterson and Kelley, 2000, p.13).
Major political dimensions and developments with regard to industrialization were shaped by revolutions, violence, famines and international wars. The revolutions yielded immigrants some of whom were dispersed in the U.S. Therefore, Black Nationalism has not necessary been originated from Africa.
It is linked to international movements like socialism, feminism, communism and religious affiliations. In the modern world, Diaspora is also significant, especially, in Europe and America. The Afro Diaspora politics and identity have changed the political landscape of the new world.
Historical and social characteristics of diaspora
Diaspora characteristics are historically and socially constituted and replicated. The collective identity of the Blacks in Diaspora is constantly shifting and appears to be conditional. The cultural identity is defined in terms of collective culture, history and a common ancestry (Patterson and Kelley, 2000, p.11).
The complex process of identity formation and the demographic changes led to regional variations in the fight for social and political equality. The fight for cultural autonomy was a major reason for social protest.
For instance, in Salvador, the Afro-Cuban involvement in wars for national liberation was widespread, and the military leaders assumed political seats when the war had ended. After the race war, the efforts for the Afro Cubans to organize and participate in the national affair were curtailed.
The concept of dominant ideology is competing in struggle, historical gender circumstances, class and products of alliance (Patterson and Kelley, 2000, p.12). The focus is on the efforts of African descents to secure the third citizenship rights, define them as part of the nation and challenge the idea of limited racial consciousness.
The consciousness of non-English speaking societies was limited and complex. Marginalization by the ruling class laid the basis for the opposition and uprising on the political ideology. The activist formulated ideological assumption for opposition to the ruling philosophy. They resorted to cultural field which included recreation and religion as a way to level out inequality.
Replacement of Asian labor with newly empowered slaves in South America and South Africa brought about reshaping of racial labor stratification where the Indians were employed, and as a result, they established the peasant existence.
The divide and rule policies of the colonial masters raised tensions as the blacks were considered authentic after the rise of the post colonial nationalism. The black Indians, also known as Dalitas, developed an alertness of their African history and ancestry and hence strengthened the efforts of the African struggle.
The gender mainstreaming was also evident in Diaspora development, especially, regarding the Africans. Masculine characteristics of nationalism and Diaspora historically and genealogically left out women. The Diaspora condition which is much based on gender hierarchies is well documented by many authors studying African Diasporas (Patterson and Kelley, 2000, p.18).
The focus is on the impact of Black Nationalism, but little attention is given to the women’s participation and efforts in the struggle due to their gender and feminism. Despite women’s participation in religious activities as diviners, for example, in the Caribbean, the institutional hierarchies in churches were dominated by men.
Identity development process and demographic dynamics resulted in regional discrepancy in struggle for political and social fairness. The creation of African culture was conditioned by the same, and this created harmony in sociopolitical agendas.
For example, in Brazil, the Afro-Brazilians realized the material and political barriers which faced them and tackled them through political mechanisms. Need for political equality and identity resulted in political struggle which was meant to intensify the understanding of African descent people.
The impact of African Diaspora can be illustrated by comparing the post empowerment societies. Transition from slavery to freedom was a holistic process presented across all the continents. Slavery was a global concern, and it mainly led to industrial capitalism.
The transformation from slavery to freedom is also a process which aimed at labor force reconstruction which in turn had implications on democracy, racial ideology and capitalism. In the modern world, the aspect of empowerment was a global concern in the framework of industrial capitalism.
Conclusion
Despite the overpowering Diaspora patterns in the Atlantic, in the modern world, Black Nationalism is growing by day. Africa is not the sole source of black globalization. These movements which were entrenched in freedom, socialism, gender recognition and anti-colonialism cannot be limited to the US, Africa or Asia. From the foregoing, it is evident that the African Diaspora is a process.
It is evolving in time trough historical and political developments across the globe. Slave trade and colonialism greatly impacted the development of the African Diaspora. Being a process, it has continuously been transformed and changed due to movements, such as mass departure, borders’ crossing, as well as such patterns as political struggle and cultural creation.
As a condition, it has been inhibited to the procedure through which it is prepared and changed. In fundamental nature, the African Diaspora has subsisted within the outline of gender hierarchies and global race which are made along cultural, legal, economic, imperial and social spheres
Work Cited
Patterson, Tiffany Ruby & Robin D.G. Kelley. “Unfinished Migrations: Reflections on the African Diaspora and the Making of the Modern World.” African Studies Review, 43.1 (2000): 11-45. Print.