A Pan-African Expansive Essential Imperative from a Womanist’s Perspective

                Since leaving Virginia Union University School of Theology (also known as STVU) in 2007 earning my Master’s of Divinity Degree, I’ve spent my time as a public theologian, social entrepreneur, cultural artist and community activist. That entire time I have also been a single mother of three children and a wife estranged by immigration policy from my husband. On a graph of intersectionality my 0,0 coordinate is woman of African descent, Black Woman.



In relating to my environment it is the essential basis of how it interacts with me on all levels. There may be occasions that happen in spite of or because of but always Black Woman is my expansive essential imperative. Only toward the end of 2016 do I think I could fully embrace and understand a black expansive essential - A Pan-African Expansive Essential Imperative that contains the history of African humanity. The original indigenous people of the world. It is unsettling that this imperative causes often extreme opposition.

For more than 20 years, starting in my high school years, I have been an avid self-learner of history and informal ethnographer. From W.E.B. DuBois to Zora Neale Hurston, the history of Aksum and history of the African Christian Church to the political study of Pan-African civil rights during the 1960’s, and being a participant observer in current world events for 10 years, the course of action seemed clear- to become more self-determining. Not allowing outside forces to name me or determine my future, even if the future includes struggle. Whether battles in that struggle are lost or won.

                This Pan-African Expansive Essential Imperative has been inspired by my interactions with the Kwanzaa Principle and the work of Community Healing Network’s Emotional Emancipation Healing Circles. Both of these philosophies/methodologies fundamental principle is that the building of Black America is rooted in its connection with African history and culture, communal commitment and collective empowerment. That true emancipation is achieved when Blackness is no longer the negative imperative but the “expansive essential imperative”.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. eloquently told us,

“Somebody told a lie one day. They made everything Black ugly and evil… I want to get the language so that everyone here will cry out: ‘Yes, I’m Black, I’m proud of it. I’m Black and I’m Beautiful!’”

Emancipation for Pan-Africans will be to cast off imperialism’s lie about the African. To do the continuing work of redefining the symbols on the language, even if just for ourselves. But what has occurred rarely in history is a people with vast cultural differences connected by a common unity. For Pan-Africans it is Africa. The Diaspora spans the globe. Yet the struggle common. Imperialism’s definition of the African’s place in current social, political and economic world hierarchy and self-determination. For me, all of this intersects at my place in this world hierarchy as a black woman. A woman of African descent who was born in the United States of America. A black woman, who by all accounts rank lowest in quality of life worldwide.

There is an African Wisdom Proverbs:

If you educate a man you educate an individual,

If you educate a woman you educate a family [and a nation].

                                                                                                probably a Fante proverb [Ghana]

                My education has brought me to this point. To be willing and able to be self-determining like my ancestors despite the consequence. My history full of examples of people of African descent who lost their life for deciding they would not be crushed under the lie of black inferiority. An example of personal, political and economic self-determination. But this cannot happen until Black Americans accept that we have a lot of work to do on declaring a simple statement, “Yes, I’m Black, I’m proud of it.” A Pan-African Expansive Essential Imperative that declares people of African descent’s humanity in its expansiveness.

                My education has also brought to the point of political action, like my ancestors. Education has always led to political action in this country. Meeting with preparation and opportunity in August of this year I joined the Green Party of the United States and its Black Caucus. The party’s platform presents a reform of American government that would uplift Black Americans, along with all Americans. It would put an end to corporate imperialism that requires, as Michelle Alexander states, “A New Jim Crow” and a new form of slavery. Not just in prison but one also of poverty and poor health. All factors that black women rank highest in studies.

                The list of my predecessors that came to this same Pan-African expansive essential imperative that finds its roots in an African Cultural Imperative is long. Yet the fight to defeat the lie of black inferiority not only from outside sources but also within continues. Part of this I believe is also being politically self-determining. Joining the Black Caucus has given me the opportunity to act politically while advancing my Pan-African Expansive Essential Imperative that compels me toward a future where me, my family and my community can be self-determining without the influence of corporate imperialism that requires our exclusion from access to a sustainable future. One that includes equitable access to resources. I am going to end with one last quote.

“We must become members of a new race,

Overcoming our petty prejudices,

Owing allegiance not to nations-

But to our fellow men within the human community.”

Haile Selassie I

                We owe our allegiance that the manifestation of the idea every American has the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is unabridged.