Diversity and the African Diaspora

 "We Are Proud of Our African Blood"- Malcolm X

When studying composition pedagogies, many groups were excluded from participating in power and were used, abused, and written off as inferior. Even today African nations have not recovered from being exploited by European powers. Historically, Belgium, France, Great Britain, Spain, Italy, and Portugal divided the continent up amongst themselves.

France and Great Britain owned most of the African land. We still do not study African history fully and examine its richness. It wasn't until the 1960s, that many African nations won their independence.

We can learn much about alternative approaches. African Americans like Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. pushed the limits of rhetoric and asked that their voices be heard. What we don't realize is how potent and how powerful such voices have become to people of color around the world. Such historic speakers continue to have a global impact.

Malcolm X examined the impact of capitalism:

It is impossible for capitalism to survive, primarily because the system of capitalism needs some blood to suck. Capitalism used to be like an eagle, but now it's more like a vulture. It used to be strong enough to go and suck anybody's blood whether they were strong or not. But now it has become more cowardly, like the vulture, and it can only suck the blood of the helpless. As the nations of the world free themselves, the capitalism has less victims, less to suck, and it becomes weaker and weaker. It's only a matter of time in my opinion before it will collapse completely.

During recessions and depressions such words start to resonate with truth. However, as soon as we return to a stronger economy, we denounce such rhetoric.

When thinking about knowledge, Malcolm X said, "Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today."

With the election of the first African American president, it becomes vital to examine the rhetoric of the African Diaspora and its impact on Americans. How do we address teaching writing skills to African Americans?

Thank you. Written for a Pedagogical Rhetoric course. BLESSINGS.