Combating Black Elitism: How Black People Experience Freedom
Freedom of Expression
Realizing the Flexibility of Freedom
As one moves throughout communities within the African American diaspora, it becomes salient that freedom, what should be a birth-given right, has been reclaimed and protected through various spiritual beliefs. Every individual’s personal measure of freedom, regardless of how small, deserves to be recognized.
Operating from a religious perspective, Christianity has dominated black freedom movements and even dominates connotations of black religion itself. This is predominantly due to the lasting influence of a society built on the foundation of slavery, where conversion to Christianity secured a greater chance at life. Transitioning to the abolishment of slavery, the only dominant institution that remained was the church.
Contrary to Western norms , freedom provided through religion can not be confined and attaining freedom from a religion outside these norms should not reduce a person’s position within the social hierarchy. In an attempt to highlight non-dominant black religious practices, a short introduction to the ways black people in other religions find freedom will follow.
Black participation in Buddhism, though not as common as Christianity, still exists within the black community and has had a powerful impact for those who practice it. Jan Willis, author of Dreaming Me, provides a deep level on insight into her life experiences of being “Black,Baptist, and Buddhist”. For Willis, studying in Nepal and learning Buddhism came at the expense of staying within America and become a Black Panther. For her, this was the right choice. Living with Tibetan Buddhists gave her a feeling of true belonging that is not commonly found for African Americans living in the United States. Buddhist teachings empowered Willis and allowed her to realized innate characteristics about her own character. What is complex about Willis’ religious beliefs is that she identifies as a “Baptist-Buddhist”, though many black Baptists may disapprove, and she pulls teachings from both religions to achieve her own spiritual freedom.
Orisa is the collective term for the globalization of Yoruba religious culture containing the religious traditions Voodoo, Santeria, and Candomble. As an African descendant religious category, many services and traditions, opposing Western religious norms, involve an individual’s relationship with spirits. Dating back to the Haitian revolution, Orisa religions, particular Voodoo, have become closely associated with rebellion. Through the empowerment of their spirituality, Haitians managed to reclaim their physical freedom and end their enslavement. Their rebellion meant, freedom to exist as an independent nation, freedom to practice their spirituality, and freedom to be fully human.