quote:Originally posted by Oshun Auset:
I would like all those(especially X-tians) who are comfortable with Santa, X-mas trees, the Easter Bunny ect. to really analyze and comment on why they are comfortable with the inundation of pre-X-tian European symbols and practices(These things are NOT secular) yet are petrified of all things that are pre-X-tian and African.(In particular West African...I notice a lot of us are comfy with Nile Valley symbolism, yet shun Voudun/Yoruba symbolism/practices/beliefs ect. IMO this is largely because of the Biblical/historical ties)
I have my own thoughts on the subject, but I would like to see what those who actually do this are thinking.
I can't speak to the first part, cause I ain't that kind of Xian
.I am more fascinated, however, in your second observation. Why is there all this obsession with Egypt or some primordial/archaic black presence in China, Central America, or Scotland
. As you note, most of us can trace our ancestory to West Africa. For me, that is a more credible location for investigation as to what it means to be African and American, or to use Paul Gilroy's heuristic of diaspora, members of the Black Atlantic.