 |
| Black men wrapped in Kente cloths of various designs |
 |
| African teens cavorting on a beach |
There are many who speculate and theorize that humanity has its' origins from the continent of Africa. There exists some science that supports this belief. Obviously, this makes some people very uncomfortable. Regardless, it is accepted fact that Africans and African-Americans, Black people, have made significant contributions towards the advancement and betterment of the human race. It is fitting that we do take the time to celebrate and honor these achievements to our culture.
As a gay man of African descent, I am proud of my heritage as a son of the Yoruba Tribe, most of whom live in what is now the country of Nigeria. My mother was born in the city of Ibadan located in western Nigeria. I have extended family who currently reside in that ancient center of Yoruba culture. I have visited there many times. As a mixed-race man, I embrace and own equally both my Greek and Nigerian roots, confident that the combination of African and European have made me the man that I am. As a same gender loving nudist, I am grateful for the legacy of nudity that both cultures have bestowed on me.
 |
| Adinkra symbol: Sankofa |
The Sankofa is an Adinkra symbol that comes to us from the Akan Tribe of Ghana and the Ivory Coast. Adinkra symbols are visual representations of traditional proverbs. The Sankofa symbolizes a bird of paradise looking behind itself. It means "learning from the past" or "it is not too late to go back and retrieve it if you forget." It suggests that we all must learn from the past, our ancestors, in order to prepare for the future. I feel this is exactly why we have Black History Month. In helps us all, regardless of race, to discover where we've been so that we can decide in what direction to proceed.
No comments:
Post a Comment