Although cultural appropriators have been in existence as early as the days when the ancient Greeks would be educated by the great scholars of ancient Kemet (only to steal much of the knowledge and claim it as theirs), it is imperative that our youth are informed about how to properly identify who cultural appropriators are. The reason for this is because many of our youth are in constant interaction with children and teens of other races–as their classmates in school, and their teammates in their youth sports leagues.

It has been said that imitation is the greatest form of flattery. We’d be remiss to acknowledge the world-changing effects of hip-hop (and general Black pop culture) in the modern era. However, let us also acknowledge the difference between imitation and ridicule. Here are a few examples to identify cultural appropriators, and how they “get down”.

1. Language

Have you ever come across a non-Black male who uses one too many “yo-yos“, and “‘nah means” in your presence as part of their vocabulary, yet you notice how they switch right back to the King’s English in the presence of their white peers? Do you know that non-Black female who refers to her Black boyfriend as a “triflin’ nigga”? These are examples of members of the dominant society who are cultural appropriators via the usage of Black colloquialisms. They are also masking white their supremacist tendencies to disarm their Black buddies by attempting to “talk down” to us.

2. Fashion

In the dominant society, there has been a recent trend that has gone viral which involves a longtime tradition in Black Society. What is the tradition, you ask? It is the tradition of wearing the durag. A highly affordable item that we as a people have worn on our heads for many years, it has now found its way to the mainstream media spotlight when it was revealed that white runway models were taking pictures for social media to show off their du-rags.

3. Music

This is an example which could serve as an article all by itself, but it has often been noted that cultural appropriation runs deepest in music. From Elvis, to Justin Bieber, it’s no secret that Black music’s influence has given birth to some of the dominant society’s most celebrated performers.

4. Media

Speaking of Black music, perhaps no other form of music is as influential as hip-hop. The genre has grown so rapidly, that it has become a subculture of Black culture, by itself. The culture of hip-hop has been embraced by people from New York to Tokyo. This hasn’t gone unnoticed by people in the dominant society who have bastardized the culture to create media platforms which has a primary focus on Black dysfunction and mediocrity. Some of these media figures look, walk, and talk the part (hip-hop), but their motives are ulterior. Instead of using their platform to highlight Black excellence in the culture of hip-hop, their only focus is to report stories about beefs (especially between Black artists) and deliver content only worthy of making the tabloids. This method isn’t limited to hip-hop journalism alone. This also occurs in sports media as well.

5. Religion

Are you familiar with that fire-and-brimstone preachin’, good word deliverin’ white pastor who does his thing on the pulpit every Sunday in front of a predominantly Black church congregation? For years, we’ve been led to believe that their status as the “man of the cloth” exempted them from scrutiny. After all, we’re all God’s children and bleed the same color blood, right? At least that’s what these white pastors of Black congregations tell us…but it’s now a safe bet to conclude that we can’t even believe that mantra anymore. Hopefully, Joel Osteen and Paula White taught us that lesson.

People generally have a right to like what they like, as is the case with the dominant society’s fixation with Melanoid culture. On the contrary, the tragedy of it all is that their seemingly innocent voyage into Black culture has become a predatory one, robbing us and insulting our intelligence in the process.

B. Clark

However, there may be many of you who may not be familiar with the term “Coon”. Although at first glance, it appears to be a nickname reserved for those pesky stripe-tailed rodents who terrorize homes and property, we’re referring to a “coon” in a different sense. By the time you finish reading this, you’ll have a better understanding of who coons really are, and their characteristics.

1. Regurgitating White Supremacist Rhetoric

As Melanoid people, we are clearly under attack on all fronts from the system of racism/white supremacy. One of the methods of attack is through propaganda. This includes media, academia, and any other platform that allows a group of people to spew their venom towards the global Melanoid family. One example of such venom spewing white supremacists would be Rush Limbaugh. “Brothers” and/or “Sisters” who choose to engage in such talking points are clearly playing for the other team.

2. Shunning African/Black Culture

Regardless of whether you’re from Boston or Botswana, if you ethnically and biologically identify as an individual of African descent, then that is how the dominant society views and treats you. There are Melanoid people who attempt to distance themselves from their African roots, whether it be by their actions or their shared ideologies. Whenever you come across a Melanoid person who says they’d rather be caught dead than to attempt to embrace–or even acknowledge–their African ancestry, then

3. Making Excuses For Other Cultures’ Mistreatment Of Melanoid People

From the Middle Passage of the 1700s, to the miseducating institutions (called “schools”) that our children are enrolled with in the 2010s, to acknowledge that we as a people were mistreated could actually be an understatement. Surprisingly enough, there are more than a few Black people who actually try to justify our pain and suffering as if it were preordained.

4. Playing The “Shade Game”

It’s true that all families partake in the occasional banter with each other, but when that family accepts those jokes as the gospel truth, then it becomes a house divided. The global Melanoid family is no different. The banter we often engage in is the longstanding “Shade Game”, aka the “dark skin/light skin game”. You might not quite be familiar with the term “coon” yet, but you’ve certainly known another Black person to pick on a lighter-skinned Melanoid Brother because they felt he wasn’t “real enough” or “man enough”. You might’ve also heard other Black folks make jokes about darker-skinned Melanoid Sisters because they feel she’s “not pretty enough”. Either way, the “Shade Game” is pure coonery and extremely detrimental to the advancement of Black Society. On a lighter note, it’s apparent that Malcolm X and Naomi Campbell (thankfully) didn’t receive these “Shade Game” jokesters’ memos!

5. The Black Gender War

This is one aspect of cooning that is arguably the most prevalent. This could be a Melanoid man’s unsubstantiated anger towards Melanoid women as an escape clause for him to date outside his race. On the flip side, this could also involve a Melanoid woman drinking the the Black male despising feminist kool-aid only to be hit with the “Black men ain’t sh–” drunkenness. This is a bottomless pit that we as Melanoid people should avoid falling into, because it eventually gives way to serious systemic perpetual issues such as perpetual cultural dilution and reduced birth rates in Black Society because of the lack of trust respect among Black men and Black women.

6. A False Sense Of Obligation To An Openly White Supremacist System

It’s evident that we have to move and shake in this system of racism/white supremacy on a daily basis, but some members of our Melanoid family have gone above and beyond to kiss the feet of the dominant society by making open declarations of their love for the dominant society. Some have taken their loyalty to a Jihad-like level to preserve the religion of white supremacy.

B. Clark

These two words most likely best describe the extensive body of work that the Late Dr. John Henrik Clark built over his illustrious career as a Master Teacher, and contemporary of other great Melanoid scholars of his day, such as Dr. Yosef Ben Jochannan, Dr. Amos Wilson, and many others. Today marks 17 years since his transistioning, yet his presence is felt stronger than ever before. What made Dr. John Henrik Clarke stand out from the Melanoid scholars who decide to compromise their integrity in order to have a seat at the table of the dominant society, he–like the aforementioned scholars and others not listed here–stood his ground and challenged white supremacy dead on.

Dr. Clarke, who adhered to the progressive nature of the Pan-Africanist school of thought/movement, was also a good friend of Malcolm X, was once asked if he would be open to debating with a member of the dominant society, Dr. Clarke replied, “I only debate my equals, all others I teach”. ‘Nuff said.

Enjoy some of the following video clips of Dr. Clarke’s lectures, and be sure to apply the nuggets of knowledge and information that he and other great Melanoid minds disseminated for us many years ago.

B. Clark

DETROIT, MICH. – “If we embrace the victim mentality, then we have given up our authority.”

That inspiring message left the teachers and administrators in silence as award-winning author and educator Chike Akua gave his African-Centered Education (ACE) presentation Saturday morning at Paul Robeson/Malcolm X Academy.

Principal Jeffery Robinson brought in Akua for professional development for his administrators after he was requested from some of his staff.

“I heard about Akua three years ago when my staff heard him speak in Chicago,” he said. “They wanted him here and we had to make that happen.”

As the Academy is known for having an ACE curriculum, Akua made sure that the teachers, both of Melanoid and non-Melanoid decent, understood what exactly ACE is and how to imply it to their students.

Akua simplified the eight essential elements of ACE:

1. Places Africa, African people and African points of view at the center of all things studied.
2. Helps students critically examine how the subject or object of study is related to the image and interest of Africa and African people.
3. Taps into the spirit of the children.
4. Requires a sharp orientation towards social justice.
5. Requires methods that are unique and indigenous to the nature and needs of African children.
6. Asks a simple question of all things: Is it good for African people?”
7. Requires a consciousness of victory.
8. Prepares children for sovereignty.

This was a collection of Chike Akua’s merchandise that was available at the event. To purchase these items and more, go to www.myteachertransformation.com

 When these elements are all used together, teachers and administrators will use the best of African culture to examine/analyze information, meet needs and solve problems in the African community.

“Usually when our children hear about Africa, they don’t hear about the best of Africa, but the worst,” Akua said.

Amari Akua, Chike’s 12-year-old son, was in attendance at the Academy while he sat and took notes of his father’s teachings. Amari enjoys the fact that his father is an educator and how it impacts not only his life, but the lives of people across the world.

“I feel so inspired to make change whenever I hear my father speaks,” he said. “The family could be relaxing in the house and my dad would begin teaching to us. Though I may not want to hear it at the time, I realize that my father has a gift and I’m thankful for his gift.”

Amari would like to follow his father in the teaching profession at some point of his career, but he would like to explore video game programming or the filming industry.

Akua harped to the teachers that the students must have a sense ancestral history and proceeded to showed the history of African people with pictures from his trips to Kemet (Egypt.)

As the presentation continued, he tied in African history and how the legacy was stolen to help build America. With side-by-side comparisons of American and African monuments, it was clear to the teachers where America got their ideas for their memorials.

“The Ramesu statue is the origin of the Lincoln Memorial,” Akua said with his presentation. “And there’s plenty more that were copied.”

Baba (David) Khari has been a teacher at the school since its second year in operation during the 90’s and teaches at the middle school level.

He assures that since he’s been teaching in all-male classrooms, he can definitely see a difference.

“The students, both boys and girls, function better,” Khari said. “The students are worried about the opinions of the opposite sex and that helps bring the best out of our students.”

Detroit originally had three separate all-boy schools: Paul Robeson, Malcolm X and Marcus Garvey Academy.

“Our former principal Dr. Clifford Dean Watson made sure we had African resources along with the Detroit curriculum,” Khari said. “Our schools were basically operating with two curriculums.”

The plan was to add three additional all -girl schools, but the plan was turned down during the planning stage.

Now that Detroit has downsized with ACE schools, Robinson is looking to empower his staff to ensure the best education for his students.

“We use to make the teachers take African-cultured training classes before they taught here, but due to the financial emergency and other things happening in Detroit we no longer had that authority to enforce that training,” he said. “It’s time for innovation and we’re making that step.”

For further information and products by Chike Akua, visit his website, www.myteachertransformation.com.

(EDITOR’S NOTE) The following video provides a brief background on Mr. Akua’s career as an educator.