Welcome to Negritude - #2
The Hidden Impact of MAGA on Your Life
Welcome to Negritude
the quality or fact of being of Black African origin.
o the affirmation or consciousness of the value of Black or African culture, heritage, and identity.
"Negritude helped to guide Senegal into independence with pride"
Women’s Movement
Many Black women have expressed a collective sentiment: “We’ve done our part. We tried to tell you, and you didn’t listen. Don’t look for us to save you now. This time, we’re tired. You’ll just have to FAFO (f*** around and find out).”
The frustration of the 92% of Black women and the over 80% of Black men who voted for equity is deeply understandable. Throughout history, we have risen to support countless other groups facing oppression. Now, we’re weary. Yet, as tempting as it may be to sit back, make popcorn, and watch the drama unfold, we cannot afford the luxury of watching the house burn down around us. So, where do we go from here? The answer lies in our history.
We must find new ways to take care of ourselves and our families. It’s time to reconnect with our roots and reclaim the self-reliance that has sustained us through past hardships. Let’s turn to the Baby Boomers who know how to can vegetables, grow gardens, stretch recipes, and recycle materials. Let’s rebuild our sense of community, knowing who can lend a cup of sugar or help with a repair. Teaching our history, singing our songs, and praying our prayers are vital acts of resistance and resilience.
Yes, the incoming administration’s plans may be unfriendly to us—but when has America ever truly been pro-Black? This is not a new challenge. It is a step backward, but in taking one step back, we may rediscover our heritage and prepare to weather this storm.
As we begin this year, let’s do so with renewed hope and commitment. Let’s focus on supporting one another and protecting our families. Ironically, we may find ourselves better prepared than some of our white counterparts, who are only now experiencing the shock of systemic disdain. For most Black people, discrimination is just another Tuesday afternoon.
To white women, this moment will likely be especially challenging. Over the past century, many of you have achieved a level of equity far beyond what Black women have experienced. The stripping away of your rights will be painful. Welcome to Negritude. Historically, Black women have often stepped in to fight for justice—but this time, that rescue may not come. Still, I hope this blog offers a few tactics you can use to navigate this new reality.
Understanding history is essential. Take Bacon’s Rebellion of 1676, for example. Nathaniel Bacon, a wealthy farmer, led a rebellion of indentured servants, enslaved, and small farmers against Virginia’s Colonial Governor William Berkeley. The tensions arose from falling crop prices, landlessness among freed indentured servants, and the desire to encroach on Native American land. When Berkeley refused Bacon’s demands for military action against Native Americans, Bacon rallied his rebels to attack Native tribes and eventually rebel against the colonial government.
The rebellion collapsed after Bacon died in 1677, but its aftermath was profound. Colonial leaders decided that indentured servants were too unpredictable and they needed to ensure that workers in the lower socioeconomic class would never rise up against the oligarchy again. To achieve this, they legislated a racial and gender hierarchy. Laws enacted in 1681 introduced the term “white,” creating a clear racial divide that permanently subjugated Black people while reinforcing white male dominance over women of all ethnicities. Enslaved Africans became the preferred labor force, as their skin color made them easily identifiable, and they were systematically stripped of autonomy. For a deeper exploration of this pivotal moment, I recommend Jacqueline Battalora’s vlog, “Birth of a White Nation.”
We don’t know exactly what the next four years will bring. Already, several campaign promises have been abandoned before the inauguration. We must remain adaptable and vigilant. As more people awaken to the reality of broken promises and manipulation, some may join the fight against oppression. Others may retreat in fear. But for those of us who embody the spirit of Negritude, one thing remains certain: we will rise.
Let’s take this moment to recommit to equity, to our history, to our community, and to our resilience. Armed with these tools, we can face whatever challenges come our way.