Disunity in the African-heritage Community

The African American community has faced numerous historical factors that have contributed to disunity. These factors, stemming from systemic racism, economic disparities, and social stratification, have sometimes hindered collective progress. Here are key historical factors contributing to disunity within the African American community:

Slavery and Division:

1. • Enslavement: During slavery, enslaved Africans were deliberately divided to weaken their ability to resist and rebel. Families were separated, and individuals from different ethnic groups were mixed to prevent the formation of cohesive communities.

   • House vs. Field Slaves: A hierarchy was often established between house slaves, who were perceived to have better conditions, and field slaves, leading to internal divisions and tensions.

Colorism:

1. • Preference for Lighter Skin: The legacy of slavery and the preferential treatment of lighter-skinned African Americans by slave owners created a persistent issue of colorism within the community. This has led to divisions based on skin tone, with lighter-skinned individuals often receiving more societal advantages.

Class Divisions: 

1. • Economic inequality has created class divisions within the African American community. The wealth gap between different segments of the community can lead to differing priorities and experiences, sometimes causing friction.

Access to Resources:

1. • Disparities in access to education, employment, and housing have exacerbated economic divides, leading to differing levels of opportunity and success.

Great Migration: 

1. • The mass migration of African Americans from the rural South to urban areas in the North and West during the early 20th century created regional differences in experiences and perspectives. New migrants often faced hostility and competition from established African American residents in northern cities.

Diverging Strategies for Progress: 

1. • Differences in political ideologies and strategies for achieving civil rights and equality have sometimes caused divisions. For example, the approaches of figures like Booker T. Washington, who advocated for vocational training and accommodation, differed significantly from W.E.B. Du Bois, who pushed for higher education and political activism.

Civil Rights vs. Black Power:

1. • During the 1960s and 1970s, the Civil Rights Movement's emphasis on integration and nonviolence, as exemplified by Martin Luther King Jr., contrasted with the Black Power Movement's emphasis on self-determination, black pride, and sometimes militant resistance.

Religious and Cultural Difference

1. • The African American community is religiously diverse, including Christians, Muslims, and followers of African traditional religions. Differences in religious beliefs and practices can sometimes lead to divisions.

Cultural Expressions: 

1. • Diverse cultural expressions and affiliations, including differences in music, fashion, and social norms, reflect the community's broad spectrum but can also lead to misunderstandings and divisions.

Divide and Conquer Tactics: 

• External forces, including government policies and societal racism, have often employed divide-and-conquer tactics to weaken African American solidarity. For instance, COINTELPRO, the FBI’s counterintelligence program, aimed to disrupt and discredit civil rights and black power organizations.