“What does it mean to be African?” one of my professors asked the class, challenging us to come up with our own answers. One student said that an African is anyone born in Africa. Another suggested that an African is anyone—regardless of place of birth—who has black skin. Yet another classmate put in that Africans are all people who feel truly connected to the continent. As you can see, it’s not an easy question for which to find a true answer!
That very discussion causes a point of contention in the discussion about U.S. slavery. Some Ghanaians feel very connected to their distant relatives who survived ocean crossings and cruel conditions. Others feel that over time, African Americans have become distinct and separate from “true” Africans, and don’t agree that those of African descent should be welcomed back to Ghana and other African countries. Some even believe that African Americans are better off than Africans still on the continent and should be grateful for their lot in life.
Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s liberator and first President, found a unique way to connect the two worlds. Born in the former Gold Coast himself, he was educated as a young man in Africa and went on to study at a university in Pennsylvania. After he declared Ghana an independent nation and set about building a new country with the help of many others, he was careful to recognize those who had played a role in helping Ghana to become free. A good example is W.E.B. DuBois. DuBois was an American, but he died a Ghanaian citizen; his old friend Dr. Nkrumah granted him citizenship and encouraged all Africans and those in the African diaspora to unite!
Visiting Cape Coast Castle or Elmina Castle in 2019 is somewhat of a strange experience.
