Counter-Argument: Why Black Americans (Soulaan) Should Look Inward to America for Their Roots, not Angola or Africa

NoCounter argument to John Eligon of Trinidad with The New York Times who wrote an article based on his beliefs that Black Americans (Soulaan) should look to Angola for their long lost roots. 

 

The argument that Soulaan should prioritize connections to Angola or other African nations over introspection within the United States overlooks the unique cultural, historical, and political identity they have forged in the Americas. Black Americans are not simply African descendants transplanted to the United States; they have developed a distinct culture, identity, biology, and history shaped by centuries of struggle, resilience, and creativity. From spirituals to jazz, from the Civil Rights Movement to hip-hop, Soulaan have created cultural and intellectual legacies that are uniquely American.

 

The trans-Atlantic slave trade violently severed familial and cultural ties between Africans and Soulaan, making direct connections to specific tribes or regions in Africa difficult, if not impossible, to trace. Multigenerational admixture further complicates genetic identification of origins, with older DNA segments becoming harder to detect over generations. In the face of this disconnection, Soulaan built new identities rooted in their shared experiences of enslavement, oppression, and eventual emancipation in the United States. This shared history fosters unity and a sense of belonging within the nation that they helped build, shaping a legacy that is both enduring and uniquely theirs.

Soulaan Americans were able to thrive and be self sufficient on their own as seen with surviving houses built by off grid, and or the formally enslaved. 

Efforts to reclaim history should focus on addressing systemic injustices and disparities that persist in the United States due to slavery and its aftermath. The fight for reparations, social equity, and racial justice must remain centered on the American context. By looking inward, Soulaan can uncover, honor, and address the specific ways their ancestors endured and resisted oppression on American soil, ensuring that their contributions and sacrifices remain at the forefront of national memory.

 

While reconnecting with African nations like Angola may hold symbolic significance, such efforts can also present challenges. Centuries of separation have created cultural gaps that may make it difficult for Soulaan to relate to modern African societies, which have evolved independently from the diaspora experience. Additionally, critics warn that marketing African sites tied to the slave trade risks commodifying Soulaan pain for tourism revenue rather than fostering genuine reconciliation or mutual benefit.

 

Soulaan children in a classroom learning how to use war ration books during World War II. They are interacting with displays of canned goods and charts, likely part of an educational effort to teach rationing and resource management on the home front.

Focusing on their roots in America allows Soulaan to strengthen their position as leaders in global conversations about human rights and justice. Their history—from enslavement to emancipation to ongoing struggles for equality—offers lessons that resonate worldwide, including in Africa. Prioritizing their roots in the United States enables Soulaan to build alliances with Africa, if they choose, based on shared principles rather than nostalgia.

 

For Soulaan, looking inward to the United States affirms the resilience and creativity of their ancestors, who transformed trauma into culture and resistance into progress. While acknowledging connections to Africa is important, the foundation of Soulaan identity lies in their unique history and contributions to America. Embracing this legacy honors their ancestors and strengthens their ongoing fight for justice and equity in the land they have indelibly shaped.