Azealia's crazy twitter rants bring up some important discussion topics. I agree with her most of the time, but she has lost her damn mind a couple of times, admittedly. I'm really put off by her whole Christianity argument. It's an argument I've seen plenty of times before, but of course I don't agree with it.
I'm probably the most ardent 'Black Nationalist' I know and I'm quite aware that Christianity was forced upon our ancestors by Europeans, but is it that awful to say...I like this faith and I don't even think about how it was forced on us?
Religion is, at least for me, much deeper than just some idea that one latches onto (or is forced to accept) and identifies with. It is a matter of
belief. I believe Christianity and the Christian Bible and I intend to remain those beliefs for the rest of my life. I don't see anything White, White-worshipping, or Uncle Tom-ish about it. Not to mention, one could go to a Black Baptist or Pentecostal church and SEE how far from White our religious experience is.
I KNOW it was forced on us, but uhh Judeo-Christian ideology existed in Africa long before the transatlantic slave trade became a thing, and there are plenty of Africans in the Bible. I hear a lot of "RELIGION WAS USED TO KEEP US DOWN!!!11!!1" but I'm pretty sure it was Christianity and its Abrahamic sister Islam that inspired our most important leaders to stand against oppression. Our ancestors used religion for hope and inspiration in the midst of their struggles, not necessarily because they wanted to please their White masters.
Not to mention, Christianity is pretty
central to our cultural history in more ways than one.
Ex: Traditional Gospel music ---> Jazz, Blues, Ragtime ---> Soul, Funk ---> Contemp R&B ---> Hip Hop etc.
Obviously, a lot of 'conscious' Black people's beef with this faith is that our ancestors' cultures were stolen away from them and erased, and forcibly replaced. Again, as pro-Black as I am, I was never the guy who pushed for African-Americans to delve into African cultures as if they are their own, because they're really not. We African-Americans, Afro-Caribbeans, and Afro-Latinos have
our own cultures which are of course EXTREMELY similar to, yet still very different from, those of Africa. Our cultures are influenced by Europe: European languages and customs, a Middle-Eastern religion forced on us by way of Europeans, European names. I'm CERTAINLY not apologizing for or excusing how we acquired those European traits. Not a chance. I'm just saying it is what it is and there's nothing wrong with that.
I speak English, I have an English last name, and I am a Christian. I don't reject any of that (nor will I ever) and I don't see acceptance of that to be self-hating, White-worshipping, etc.
i'm very sad to see that Azealia has lost her faith tbh. praying for her.
