Tuesday February 9th, 2010
- Last update:14 hours 38 min ago
Greater unity needed says race expert
Published: 5 Aug 2009
Race Relations expert Ayinde Kafile says the African male is still shackled by the remnants of slavery because of his inability to build strong family structures. Speaking on behalf of the Emancipation Support Committee during Emancipation celebrations at Oropouche East on Thursday, Kafile called on Indian youths to refrain from emulating African youths. He said if such emulation occurs, then Indian youths will lose their identity. Kafile lamented that because of the legacy of slavery, African youths have not embraced family roles.
“This is a result of colonialism and slavery where the male African male was used as a stud. To date we are asking what went wrong with the African male, but what has happened is that the African male has not learnt how to adopt fatherhood roles and build family structures like the Indian.” Kafile explained that the African man seems to be working against himself. He called on African males to be mindful of the effects of mental slavery and to try to build a strong family system like that which exists among Indian communities. He explained that both Africans and Indians must get rid of hatred, malice and spite and must embrace each other.
“The Indian and the African are experiencing the same problems with Government. They are the same,” Kafile said. He added that the “African mind is a simple mind and Africans were lagging behind economically because initially they lived in a land of plenty where they did not have to fight for anything.” Kafile said both Africans and Indians should be proud of their ethnicity and must work together to escape the challenges of mental slavery.
“He who experiences the
“He who experiences the unity of life sees his own Self in all beings, and all beings in his own Self, and looks on everything with an impartial eye.”
Buddha (Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism, 563-483 B.C.)
“It is a magnificent feeling to recognize the unity of complex phenomena which appear to be things quite apart from the direct visible truth.”
Albert Einstein (German born American Physicist who developed the special and general theories of relativity. Nobel Prize for Physics in 1921. 1879-1955)
I wonder if ryan4party or
I wonder if ryan4party or whoever hides behind that screen ID has anything of real substance to add to these forums.
S/he seems to parrot the words of others with unusual fervour. For the most part your ideas appear confused and disconnected. This is fair comment because it is weeks now I've been observing the pattern.
Look ryan4party, you hog these forums with rather irrelevant responses - and I think somebody needs to tell you that, just so you have an alternative viewpoint. [I declare that this is fair and dispassionate feedback].
This is a great
This is a great article/speech where we can learn and see the truth of what is happening with the African male. I hope that all the readers and participants of this forum will grasp this message and don't try to shoot the messenger. This to me is the truth, now wah all yuh say eh!
It is indeed refreshing to
It is indeed refreshing to see a speaker making such constructive and positive comments on race relations, while recognizing a shortcoming within his own ethnic group.
This is the type of discussion and dialogue that T & T and, indeed, the whole world needs, rather than the divisive, racist comments that people like Selwyn Cudjoe makes.
Cudjoe likes to come to here, stir up friction and create polarization and fear with his comments and then hightail it out back to his "safe haven" in the USA.
It is about time that people condemn Cudjoe for his fear mongering, such as his most recent comments at the recent NAEAP gathering.
Mr, Ayinde Kafile I do take
Mr, Ayinde Kafile I do take you wise words into consideration, but in lust of life to live, I will hope the rest of Trinidad and Tobago bow down and deal with the facts.
Mr Ayinde Kafile, maybe this
Mr Ayinde Kafile, maybe this explains how in the UK, the blacks of African or Caribbean descent behave as you noted. We ask the same questions here in London. Why do the blacks go around fathering children and moving on? why so many blacks get into trouble? and they who get into trouble, come from one parent home, mainly no fathers, generally, (statistics) in the home. They actually go around here in groups and trouble comes about. This is a good insight Mr Kafile, now I can begin to understand.
Boss I posted that video
Boss I posted that video yesterday, the guardian took it off, I guess they do not need to show the people history. How can we grow their minds, let’s just talk on the forum, that works.
Ajinde Kafile, it takes
Ajinde Kafile, it takes courage to openly address these issues. Many would fault you for 'speaking ill of the African descendents' in T&T. But we must first know where we came from in order to build our positive path to the future. These 2 ethnic groups were conditioned somewhat differently, but we are seeing the differences dwindling away with each passing year. Opportunities are there for the taking, but we must be encouraged to step forward and share in the education, training and community building. Fathers have a vital role to play in the lives of their children. Absentee fathers rob their offspring of a positive role model, love and guidance. Slavery ended over a century ago and we must learn to distance ourselves from the 'slave mentality' if we are to strive for equity. Ajinde, you are a breath of fresh air. I wish Prof. Cudjoe could take a page out of your book of learning. Never be afraid to speak the truth. You are a positive racism expert.
If science can prove of DNA
If science can prove of DNA from bones all over the world, we are just one man, one life and civilization.
http://www.bradshawfoundation.com/journey/
So y are we still talking.
Mike you get this one I am you and you are me.
Who are we!
why did you not call out Tim
why did you not call out Tim Goopiesingh last week when he was and still making remarks about Ethnic cleansing? your comment alone shows you are bias. evil prevail when good men stand by and do nothing. If you calling out Cudjoe, then call out Goopiesingh. Cudjoe is racist but Goopiesingh is not? The only reson you agree with Mr Kafile is because he talking down African men. I dont understand you people. if something is wrong, it's wrong, no matter who does it. I happen to agree that African men, not all of them, but a lot of them are not responsible parents. we have been saying this for years. it's nothing new. The only way to have real unity is to make sure politicians dont use race to divide us. we have to stop it. we need to denounce the politicians when we see them trying to divide us. call them out. all of them.
My friend, I did not call
My friend, I did not call out Tim because he is of no consequence in this civilised discussion. Ajinde Kafile was addressing the 'BLACKS' and attempting to empower them on this important occasion of EMANCIPATION. His message to the indian community was just a sideline. Prof. Cudjoe, a black man and a 'learned man of many letters' claims that he is defending the rights of blacks in T&T, but his messages in reality is utter disrespect for our people. Claims have been made by some blacks in America that when they try to 'progress', they are advised that to be successful (power & the almight dollar) i.e. in the music industry they must "dumb it down". Is this the same message that this Prof. is attempting to instill in our black country folks. I am comparing one who attempts to empower us and another who is not. Peace and Love.
It is curious indeed that
It is curious indeed that Cudjoe is a divisive yet Gopeesingh can make FALSE claims about ethnic cleansing and not be.
Things to make you go hmmmmmm!
That said, I agree that the African male needs to learn to be more paternalistic.....on the whole.
Not taking away anything from those who take care of their children though
LOL
LOL
Ayinde Kafile said "African
Ayinde Kafile said "African mind is a simple mind...." It seem like I have heard that phrase before, coming out of the mouths of those patronizing, rabid, colonial racists in their justification of slavery. Mr Kafile is way off base here. You cannot dismiss the superior achievements of thousands of Africans in T&T and elsewhere based on the antisocial acts of a few miscreants, who have been given overtime exposure in the news media. Mr. Kafille ought to do some sound research before committing himself to making public speeches, and not rely on his whims and fancies, and his meager understanding of what the true facts are. Stand down Mr. Kafille! Your statement borders on the ridiculous, and is indeed laughable.
alpha3as
Respect for each others
Respect for each others differences is a good way to start. Our strenght is in our people united not seperated by politicians.
it's funny how you jump to
it's funny how you jump to cudjoe and say that about him. I guess it's ok for Tim Goopiesingh to say what he wants and get away with it. that's the problem right there. what cudjoe said is right the statistics is there to support it. why is it when a member of the African race talk about discrimination is always taken as a joke or he is a racist, but when a member of the Indian race make the same comment it's ok? I happen to agree with Mr Kafile. He have not said anything that lots of people have not been saying for years about African men and their responsibiliy. I want you to call out Tim Goopiesingh as well. do it. If Cudjoe is making trouble and trying to devide us, what is Tim Coopiesingh doing?
We institutionalise
We institutionalise divisiveness in our society. A first step should be to abolish Emancipation Day and Indian Arrival Day and replace them with a People of Trinidad & Tobago Day. Want to bet no Government funding for that?
Smithee
Please Can
Please
Can someone tell me who the 'Africans' are? I was not aware we had such a large 1st/2nd generation from Africa.
(quote)because of the legacy of slavery, African youths have not embraced family roles(unquote)
I wonder, as a percentage, where the 'African' youths are in the scheme of things, versus say the 'mixed race' youths, and of course the male 'Yankees' and the Europeans who were stationed in Trinidad back in the 40s, 50s, 60s - many of whom left Trinidad (in some cases RETURNING to their 'white' families) never to return these shores, but not before having left representations of their DNA behind.
Today, I think there are elements of the male population around the world as a whole not 'embracing' their family roles and it is not as simple as saying it is an "African" thing or a financial thing.
(Steve Bing, wealthy and 'white' - not having any input in his son's life (mother: Elizabeth Hurley, model/actress); Eddie Murphy, wealthy and 'African' not having any input in his daughter's life (mother: Melanie "B" Belafonte, singer/model))
La Diva
All of us came here on a
All of us came here on a ship which we did not owne under very ,very bad conditions. We have survived. We can make IT.
Do not let those who wish to se us destroy ourselves get the
gratification.
"Ayinde Kafile says the
"Ayinde Kafile says the African male is still shackled by the remnants of slavery because of his inability to build strong family structures"
200 odd years on? Sounds like an irrelevant excuse... more like they are using slavery to justify casual sex, and limited responsibility...
"African mind is a simple mind and Africans were lagging behind economically because initially they lived in a land of plenty where they did not have to fight for anything."
A simplistic statement from an even simpler mind... is Kafile saying that the African mind is unable to fathom higher ideas or ideals? What utter rot....
On the surface, this seems like an intelligent statement, but underneath it reeks of patronising racism... against the African.
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