Healing from ‘Mental Enslavement’ Known as
Maafa Syndrome* Adenike Amen-Ra
Although the shackles of chattel incarceration through a war of Colonialism on People of African Descent specifically and people of color generally, seems to have been removed from the US governmental system over a century ago, people of African descent in Africa, Europe, and the Americas, are still under a great oppression. European Caucasian slave owners' balance sheets, along with their, oxen, horses, cows, farm equipment and other tangible assets were calculated in great detail as evidence to the crime of White supremacy and the erroneous notions of a god given "Manifest destiny". Through the Emancipation Proclamation, and the 13th Amendment, on December 6, 1865, to the Civil Rights legislation that had been passed to relinquish the legal chains, and inequality, where Congress passed Public Law 88-352 (78 Stat. 241,. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin. Afrikan Americans specifically and people of color generally are still enduring the collateral damage of White supremacy and it's destructive manifestations.*MAAFA SYNDROME
I call this enslaved mindset, Maafa Syndrome.Maafa Syndrome means the total identification with an assailant abuser or terrorist, for the hope of favor. Maafa Syndrome predates the term that is known as Stockholm syndrome (Capture Bonding). Many people of African descent, had/have been targeted, terrorized, and indoctrinated by other ethnic groups, and classes, as though they are subordinate. Many people of African Descent accept and comply with this subordination, and Assimilation, thinking they have no other alternative means... Many African Centered scholars will use the euro reference of "Stockholm Syndrome" to attribute the symptoms of the current psychological phenomena in people of African Descent. Yet the trauma and specific behaviors predate this euro contemporary coined phrase. Maafa Syndrome is specific to our people of Afrikan Descent. Adenike Amen-Ra M.Sp.Ed
Maafa is a KiSwahili word that means chaos and "terrible disaster." Maafa is an African term, like the word Holocaust, that is used universally for the trauma that was exacted particularly against people of African descent, by identifying them according to the color of their skin, to be thought upon as deficient and only worthy of being used as a beast of burden by colonizing imperialists. This term refers to the periods of time, when Indigo People, or People of African descent, were invaded in Afrika by Arabs and Aryan societies, to then be subjected to a war cult in the Atlantic, which subjugated the advanced cultural knowledge and vast resources within the Afrikan cradle of civilization, science, technology and spiritual achievements of the African diaspora. This Maafa has continued to occur within the Americas, and globally, by Invaders, imperialists, and colonizers that sought the expansion of their power and way of life, against Indigo people, who choose to live in harmony with creation.
Afrikan Americans in the US had to endure the Domestic terrorism, of the likes of Black Codes. In late 1865, Mississippi and South Carolina enacted the first Black Codes. Mississippi’s law required Black people to have written evidence of employment for the coming year each January; if they left before the end of the contract, they would be forced to forfeit earlier wages and were subject to arrest. Sharecropping, Jim Crow Segregation Laws, and Redlining, Re-bounded. Black children, elders, and women. African Americans are still subjected to Inequity, racist leadership, inequality in the workforce, employment in Corporate jobs, inequality in education, harassment and outright killing in stores and market places, Lynching, Police homicide, and brutality, supremacy systems, in public and commercial places, spite, hate crimes, and terrorist bombings and assaults. Black Americans still live in enemy territory, among apathetic and insensitive people, under a state of "white" supremacy, racial profiling, stereotyping, and terrorism. People of color and poor Caucasians became collateral damage and expendable assets to the proliferation of erroneous notions white supremacy.
Yet, unlike, Native Americans, Jews, Chinese, and Japanese nations, etc., no outside national actions, Economic Recovery or Health Therapy, by the US society, has been employed to give restitution or reparations, for the mental and physical abuse, for the captivity, and colonization that occurred, for the family and societal disenfranchisement that was inherited, and for what economic destitution still remains with people of African descent today.
Yet many Afrikkan descendants are in denial of the long-lasting effects of the traumatically brutal institution of the inhumane treatment and forced labor, used to build the United States. They often passively assert that slavery happened long ago, it has nothing to do with them now, and as melanin people, we should forgive and forget it, and take advantage of any ‘freedoms’ now available to us. However, the emotional and psychological damage caused by the Transatlantic war, US mass murder and genocide, colonization, human trafficking, rape, and terrorism, was so severe, that many people today still struggle with psychological, health challenges, displaced families, and economic disenfranchisement. So many of our people have assimilated, and are compliant with the WASP middle-class value system of the United States.
One of the early incentives to divide and conquer organization and unity for people of African descent, outside of Religious indoctrination and the Willie Lynch syndrome, is the Meritorious Manumission Act.
The Meritorious Manumission Act of 1710 are principles that controlled the thinking of Caucasians and People of African Descent then and now. This is how racism/white supremacy functions, and how this act affects us today. The Meritorious Manumission Act of 1710 was a legal act of freeing a slave in exchange for his or her "good deeds" as defined by the national public policy:
1.Saving a so-called white person's life
2. Protecting a caucasian's personal property
3. Coming up with inventions in which the slave owner could profit financially and receive credit for the invention
4. Snitching on/ Reporting to authorities of any revolt of so-called Blacks
Many of our people sold themselves out and their own people, out of desperation. Many of us still do...
ARE YOU AN ASSIMILATIONIST (Acting Whyt) OR A REVOLUTIONARY?!
Assimilation describes the process by which a person integrates socially, culturally, and/or politically into a larger, dominant culture and society.
*The term assimilation is often referenced to immigrants, refugees, and ethnic groups settling in a new land. Immigrants acquire new customs and attitudes through contact and communication with the new society, while they rarely introduce some of their own cultural traits to that society.
*Full assimilation occurs when new members of a society become indistinguishable from older members.
Social scientists rely on four primary benchmarks to assess successful immigrant assimilation:
socioeconomic status, geographic distribution, second language attainment, and intermarriage.
The challenge with this synopsis is that America was invaded by the US. The indigenous people of America were subjected to genocide and those who remained were terrorized onto Reservations. Children were then abducted and forced into assimilation where they were stripped of their way of live, culture, language, and sovereignty. While their land was parceled off.
The US had the kill the culture save the Man objectives which were imposed on all people of color
Enslavement was also an assimilation process.
https://nuta-ankh.blogspot.com/2017/10/children-of-african-descent-unsung-in.html
5 questions for gauging African consciousness, by Dr. Amos N Wilson (February 23,1941 – January 14, 1995), Dr. Wilson was a former Professor of Psychology at the City University of New York. He would argue that "only a systematic correction in consciousness can help people, who were taught to think as slaves, and to truly escape bondage."
Dr. Amos N Wilson, the renowned author who penned books such as “The Developmental Psychology of the Black Child,” and "Blueprint for Black Power," posed five simple questions.
If Wilson’s questions are answered truthfully, they reveal and monitor Maafa Syndrome as the enslaved mindset, still within many People of African Descent.
1. What Language Do You Speak?
Language is critical to the expression of culture because it’s a way to express the values, beliefs, and customs of a people. It is fundamental to cultural identity, and if people forget their native tongue, they lose an important aspect of their culture and a piece of who they are. This is fundamental to why people must keep their own languages alive.When Indigo people were forced to adopt the languages of the English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese, etc., in the United States, in essence, they were forced to abandon their own worldview and accept a foreign/alien one, that regarded them as subordinate, and that they were only present, to support the interest and economy of colonist. The mentality that allowed this relationship to happen still exists among us today. It is imperative, that Indigo people pursue their own thoughts, expressions, and Communities. Our rich African languages are alive and are the mother tongue of all other languages. learning to speak multiple languages at a young age, enhances the intelligence and capacity for social interaction and successful communication. It also reduces senility in older ages.
2. What Kind of Clothes Do You Wear?
Fashion has always played an important role in African culture. The styles, patterns, and weaves of clothing often held Scientific, mathematical, spiritual, and mythical significance. In addition, some of the most beautiful garments in the world were crafted by the hands of African crafters. Clothing, Threads, and Fabric are tied to the land and the resources of that land, that a community owns. Many brought their skills to Europe and the Americas, like leathercraft, Indigo dye, tapestry, lacework, and even Patchwork Quilting. dye comes from the Motherland of Afrika. Indigo purple was one owed exclusively by the royal families. Now Indigo dye is exploitable and commonly used for the color of work clothing like denim jeans. The skills of Indigenous people were often exploited as just another source of income for those who incarcerated people of African Descent.
Black people obviously were not able to wear their traditional garments under captivity. Instead, they were provided European styled rags of clothing, often the cheapest and least durable available.
Today, for the most part, Black people have held onto their instinct for elaborate fashion, but for many, Black people have been colonized in their thinking through plagiarized, and alien religious beliefs of Aryan, Asians, and Europeans. So traditional African clothing is thought of as strange and undesirable by our own Afrikan communities, as Europeans perceived it hundreds of years ago. In addition, we are loyal to clothing brands originating outside our communities. These Artificial polyesters and acrylic fabrics are very toxic and dehydrating on our skin and hair.
We must return to our own industry and production, growing and processing our own Cotton, Flax, Hemp, Indigo, Wool, and Leather.
3. What Names Do You Answer To?
After Indigo people were kidnapped from their lands in America or brought to the Americas from Africa, they had to continue to endure terrorism and a number of brutal crimes against them. One was being stripped of the names they were given in their native languages and communities. This forced abandonment of their family and heritage destroyed a vital link that tied people of African descent to their countries of origin and disconnected them from their cultural history that dated back further than that of their enslavers.Rather than being called by the traditional and beautiful names that recorded who they were and where they were from, Afrikans were given names that presented them as property. I recall the infamous scene when Kunta Kente was beaten until he excepted the name "Toby." If there were more than one slave with the same name in any given group, they were assigned various identifiers such as “little” or “big,” so each would know who was being called for.
Since slavery was officially abolished, some Blacks have shed the European names that were once forced upon them and have adopted African Names.
4. What Food Do You Eat?
During the Trans Atlantic War, those who incarcerated our people as prisoners of war would work captured Africans with long work hours, cramped quarters, and harsh punishments. They lived their lives from day to day in desperation, neglect, and hunger. They were stripped of their cultural ties, Equatorial sunshine, and tropical nutrients. Many have now chosen by habit to consume these slave foods, as a reminder of their ancestors' struggles. Many of the foods like Cow tongue, Catfish, Oxtail, Pork Ribs, Bacon, Chitterlings, and other Pork products, for instance, have become delicacies with a high price per pound at the market place. Yet, people of African descent are presently dying from the caustic effects of these foods, with high blood pressure, strokes, Diabetes, Heart Attack, and Cancers leading the death toll before homicide.
The Amen Par Ankh (sacred temple of life) was established to promote health and wellness in the most desolate areas in Kansas City, MO. to remove the hand of disease and Death for Indigo African Americans.
We can have sustainable urban communities! This starts with Feeding ourselves!
IN ORDER TO FREE OURSELVES WE MUST FEED OURSELVES!
WE MUST GROW OUR OWN FOODS! Taking back our involvement with what we consume and feed to our families is the most empowering action we can take. We used to have victory gardens, as a way of preparing for disaster and being responsible to our families and community. Even the act of having a container garden full of herbs that can be grown indoors is an excellent start. Grounding with the earth, "sticking a seed in the ground" and watching it grow from a seedling to full bloom is one of the most gratifying and fulling relationships that anyone can have. If you are not ready to connect with nature and the foods you consume, then purchase your food, locally from local growers as often as possible.
Participate and seek out and get to know your urban growers and agriculturalist and locally grown food markets. amen.ankh@live.com (816)281-7704
When a pig was slaughtered, the entrails, feet, hide, and head “from the rooter to the tooter” was all that was left. This included pig’s feet, skin- Cracklins, and intestines- chitterlings. In modern times, people still partake of this type of food, even though it has been determined to be unhealthy. https://amen-parankh.blogspot.com/2014/11/holiday-health-death-to-life-foods-for.html
The Traditional diet of people of African descent was predominantly Mediterranean, and rich with tropical fruits and vegetables.
Our Motto at Amen Par Ankh Urban Farm:
"Amen Par Ankh is a Sacred Temple of Life- We are a KRST conscious Community. We Grow Food to restore balance in our relationship with the cosmos, earth, and our Natural communities by increasing awareness of Life, Health, and Environment. We are a Maafia a "Healthy Place To Live" Amen Ankh Urban Farm’s Mission is to produce, promote, and perpetuate food, resources, and comfort and to grow local healthy Indigenous Foods in environmentally, respected, earth gentle ways. Call Us-816-281-7704
5. Can You Name One African Spiritual System?
Catholics, Christians, Islamic, and Jews sanctioned the enslavement and Indoctrination Christian/Islam Religions on to people of African descent. In the process, African peoples were forced to abandon their own spiritual systems. To adopt the European version of Christianity and Aryan Islam is like jumping from the frying pan into the flame.Africans had their own religions and concepts of God. Today many of the fears and negative feelings we have towards spiritual systems of our ancestors are a direct result of the anti-African ideology, that was taught and harshly enforced on the plantations.
One of the most egregious acts committed by the racist system of religious thought was the formation of the image of a caucasian man as the ‘son’ of God and later transformed as God in the flesh and spirit. This caucasian male image, which is referred to as "Christ" and is still worshiped by many ethnic African Diaspora cultures of people around the world today, helps to foster a belief that implies that the Caucasian man is white, innocent, just, perfect, good, supreme and the only source of blessings.
We must apply the principles of MAAT and the Nguzo Saba to heal ourselves!
I hope that you have enjoyed our presentation
I am Kandaki Ma Adenike Nuta Beqsu Amen-Ra
I am available for Lectures, Libations, Griot Spoken Word Presentations, KMT Wedding, Birth and Ascension officiant, Salutations and Blessings for new beginnings, Home and Businesses, Afrikan Storytelling, Conferences and Workshops Contact: amen.parankh@gmail.com or amen.ankh@live.com
Phone: 816-281-7704
As a Minister and Director at Amen Par Ankh and Ankh Amen Ankh Academy, we offer Ancestor Libation Ceremony, Consultations and Life Coaching for Destiny, Name, Health, Career, and Relationships. Afrikan Wedding planning and officiate services, Home and Business Blessings, Gardening, Raised growing beds, aquaponics, and other alternative growing styles, Afrikan Naming, Birth Blessings, Domestic Engineering, Ascension services, Lectures, and edutainment- Storytelling, Music, Dance, Youth Outreach and Economic Literacy, Travel agency, Insurance Referrals and STE-A-M(Science Technology Engineering Arts Mathematics medicine) Career introduction called You GROWW Girls- Teach a Girl, Heal a Nation GROWW means (Gaining, Resilience, Opportunity, Wellness and Wisdom) Call for your appointment: 816-281-7704 Feel free to
Contact the Amen Ankh Urban Farm...
amen.ankh@live.com or amen.parankh@gmail.com
Please like our facebook pages:
https://www.facebook.com/Green.Griot
https://www.facebook.com/PARANKH ,
https://www.facebook.com/Amen.Ankh.Farm ,
https://www.facebook.com/Adenike.Art ,
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ankh-The-Way-of-Life-Communities/
Ankh Seneb means Life Health. In honor of our ancient Medu Neter Kemetic Language. We celebrate life for Our Original Indigo families and culture. We are an offshoot of the radio show, "Ankh The Way Of Life." As Our Health is our wealth, and that we are souls having a human experience, we must be vigilant with the well being of our environment to support our lives and establishing our way of life for our children and future generations.
