Mboya, Tom. “The American Negro Cannot Look to Africa for an Escape.” New York Times, Jul 13, 1969, pp. 1-8. ProQuest, https://search-proquest-com. Accessed 27 Nov. 2018.

Mboya begins “The American Negro Cannot Look to Africa for an Escape” by drawing attention to black Americans, Africans, and the relationship between the two groups, along with their subsequent cultures.  While they are similar in their political and economic situations along with ideas such as the “black man’s struggle,” it is important to recognize the two groups, while both black, are not the same.  African Americans are not Africans.  One of the main contributors to Afro-Americans rising interest in Africa is due to independence movements which “influenced the thinking of black Americans toward Africa and toward themselves.”  Previously experiencing “shame in their African heritage” they shifted their attitudes to ones of “great pride,” beginning to identify more closely with Africa.  Mboya goes on to state this new intensity of identification with Africa seemed as if “some of them [black Americans] became, in a sense, more African than the Africans.” Touching on the heroes of the black man’s struggle, like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X, Mboya states “Africa is the birthplace of the black man, but his home is the world.” It is essential that black individuals embrace their heritage.  However, it is important to keep in mind the differences between the lives of each and every black man, specifically geological location along with family roots and culture. “Just as the African must reconcile the differences between his tribal and his national identity, so too must the black American realize to the fullest extent his potential as a black man and as an American.”  While a difficult task, Mboya points out, it is one that is integral to maintaining identity, both personal and national.  While attempting to find that identity, perhaps because of dissatisfaction in life or loss of identity, many black Americans fail in dividing the lines between Africans and Afro-Americans.  In trying to “find a home,” “There is the possibility that they [Americans] want to identify with Africans on a purely racial basis—which is unrealistic since they were citizens of different nations.”  Attempting to create an identity, these black Americans may take on the “concepts and ideologies that grew out of the African experience.”  This main idea of Mboya’s article ties in with his title, and the large, bolded statement, “The black American should look to Africa for guidance—and for a change to guide—but not for escape” (p. 7).  Cultures and traditions are unique to each and every person, with similarities across vast cultures.  Growing up in America, Afro-Americans’ culture is rooted in their identity, and just because black Americans originated from Africa generations ago does not mean each black man is African.  To find a sense of belonging, an identity, a home—black Americans should look to Africa for guidance.  In the appreciation of change, struggle, and independence, a black American can find confidence and hopefully individual identity, while maintaining their roots.

After I read Mboya’s take on black cultural appreciation in America, I made an interesting distinction between Alice Walker’s characters in “Everyday Use.” Dee overall is a symbol of entitlement, paired with a lack of respect for heritage and culture entirely.  Others perceive Dee as beautiful, successful, and confident.  Dee’s lack of knowledge and care for her family history can be seen as due to her success in life, beginning with a proper education.  She came from a family with little money, but moved out and “made it.” Dee did not look towards another country or culture to find a sense of self.  She never wanted to learn from her family’s past because she never felt a strong connection, or cared to find one.  Dee was not sad to see her childhood home burn down, it was not nice, and she “wanted nice things.”  In this way, Dee can be viewed as a symbol of privilege, confidence, and ultimately entitlement.  It was easy for Dee to find a “home” in American culture, because she embraced American values, and disregarded her own heritage.  Dee was Americanized and throughout the beginning of her life, did not feel the need to connect with her ancestry.  She had confidence and positive qualities without family knowledge or care.  Dee did not realize her “fullest extent [in] potential as a black man [individual] and as an American,” (Mboya).  Instead, Dee was just an American.  “She would always look anyone in the eye. Hesitation was no part of her nature.” Dee shines in her own way, full of confidence. Educated, careless, and beautiful, she did not feel the lack of belonging that many other black individuals struggling with identity feel.  Dee’s sister Maggie, however, presents an interesting contrast.  From the same house, school, and similar childhood experiences, Dee and Maggie grew into entirely different people. Maggie lacks confidence and places great emphasis on the importance of family and culture.  “She [Maggie] thinks her sister has held life always in the palm of one hand, that ‘no’ is a word that the world never learned to say to her.” Lacking Dee’s qualities, Maggie looked to her heritage to find a meaning, and identity.  Beginning their lives in identical situations, one grew up to care, and one did not.  She started at the same place as Dee, held values, cared, and attempted to connect with her heritage, yet is dismissed and feels out of place. Maggie can be seen as a symbol for African Americas searching for a sense of belonging.  This contrast between two black individuals ties in with the main ideas of “home,” personally and geographically, and what culture means to each and every individual.

Over time, Dee began to realize her lack of culture.  Americanized, she wanted to become more in touch with her African roots.  She changed her name to Wangero and started dating a newly Muslim black man “named” Hakim-a-Barber.  However, Dee does not have African roots, well, significant ones at that.  Dee’s family, instead of placing importance on African relatives they never knew, focuses on traditions passed down through generations.  Quilting has always been central to their family, so some of the most important objects are the family quilts.  Yet, the main focus is on quilting, and how it brings the family together through such a small act.  Instead of seeing the action, Dee sees the object, and begins to place emphasis on old materials in her mother’s home, mainly focusing on the quilts.  “Priceless,” Dee wants to hang them on her wall at home.  When her mother denies her them, Dee “looked at me [her] with hatred.”  She has no respect for her family members, or her real roots.  Attempting to find a “home,” Dee tries to connect with a culture and country that never was her own, and never will be.  She looks to Africa “for an escape,” but should instead “look for guidance,” (Mboya). On the other hand, during Dee’s visit Maggie gains a stroke of confidence.  Mother refuses to give the quilts to Dee because she promised them to Maggie, because she cares and actually knows how to quilt.  When Dee leaves, Maggie smiles, “A real smile, not scared.”  Gaining confidence in herself,  Maggie is a symbol yet again for black individuals embracing their unique heritage, and embodying their identity.