oh shacarolyn…let me know when your HBO special airs b/c u are too damn funny. maybe we can get you in a tyler perry movie.

With that said, I’ve been culturally sensitive for a very long time, so my attitude is far from “holier than thou.” For example, it’s common for some African ethnic groups to shave a baby’s head after birth. This is done whether the child is a girl or a boy, and I’ve seen little girls as old as 5 with absolutely no hair. Although foreign, I don’t have a position about this practice, it’s cultural and beyond any objective criticism. My analysis of servitude is on a deeper level. I oppose any manifestation of western colonization/imperialism, white hegemony, and male-domination. Nigerian servitude cannot be summed up as a mere tradition–it is a practice that imitates the relationship we had with our colonial oppressors. I’m aware that certain African societies are traditionally hierarchal, but in 2008, in light of socio-economic factors, tradition is a convenient excuse for classism. The “help” at my NGO are the only members of the staff who lack western education credentials and have tribal scars on their faces, recurring symbols of the Nigerian underclass. This system, like America’s, has been designed to maintain the current power structure by keeping the “lowest” segment of the population oppressed and disenfranchised.

I must be fair and admit that assimilation is not the only purpose for large scale servitude. The poor economy, called developing by the west, is also to blame. Outside of foreign owned oil companies, foreign owned banks, and foreign owned cell phone providers, there are no large scale industries capable of absorbing servants into other economic sectors. However, a quick historical analysis will reveal neo-colonialism as the culprit behind Nigeria’s fledgling economy. So, once again, we’re back at white hegemony!

I didn’t intend to write a whole new blog, but it’s important that my position is clear. I am not turning my nose down at a culture that I don’t understand, but advocating for the liberation of oppressed people around the world.

I must say, you are sharing some real “eye openers” for me. It’s unbelievable that people are still “enslaved” in 2008. Stay true to yourself and your mother’s teachings. Life has great things in store for you! I continue to enjoy your colorful writing style.

Your Former FAMU COL Classmate,

Ethylene Crenshaw