The issues of racism, tribalism and colonialism have left people of African descent dangling, walking and wandering between pillar and post as to where lies their self-assertive and preservative nature.
 
PSCTD – Post Slavery-Colonial Traumatic Disorder, among black folks at home and abroad appears to defy cure. It makes one ask, what do black folks want? Appeasement? Apology? Do we wish by design and default an UTOPIC world which does not exist and will never exist? Have we treated each other well, especially those opportuned to have had and have power? Of the world’s 190 heads of state – prime ministers and presidents (and black folks have about 50 (26%) of such office holders on the continent and in Caribbean) how come we still are unable to pull ourselves out of the abysmal conditions and situation we often cry about? Why are we not making lemonade with the lemon we have and have been given?
 
While we are not the only ones in the history of human existence to be colonized and enslaved, our take has left an incurable sense of self-doubt and often wishful desire to go back to the former masters and seek comfort.

Recently, I engaged a Dallas City employee who is a Nigerian-American. He said that he ‘would not mind if the colonial masters come back on a leasehold interest so that they can rescue and redeem Nigeria.’ Mind you, there is the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Africa’s largest congregation with offices in many countries but headquartered in Nigeria. Check out the name ‘Redeemed,’ meaning done. I propose they change it to ‘Redeeming’ since it is an on-going exercise and the black man’s place as redeemed person is better imagined than described. If an educated and exposed African would wish for the return of colonial masters, imagine what less informed and educated persons think!
 
As a test of the insatiable desire of the Africans in constant flux seeking greener pastures which may lead to ‘redder pasture,’ anchor a boat on any shores of an African nation and ask whoever wants to leave the country. Never say where the boat is headed to -jump in. There will be a stampede. Africans cannot stand themselves since most believe their salvation lies in some prophet outside of them. It is no shocker. Shoot me for the opinion, it is hard to refute given the abounding evidence.
 
Fast forward to the most educated, exposed and rugged black person on earth - the African-American who by virtue of our/their presence in the world’s most developed nation --US America [debatable if that will make some happy], has shown self-doubt that makes one ask and cry out, ‘who will bail the cat’? In America we cry racism. In Africa, tribalism is well and alive and the political class exploits such to the detriment of their nation while rolling out a ‘red carpet’ for any foreigner with skin complexion different from theirs who shows an imagined interest in their country.
 
Racism/Tribalism, is like a fry – mosquito perched on one, leave it you are sucked and transmitted with some disease, hit it and you may hurt yourself in the process. So what is the way to deal with such a situation? Ensure that the environment does not breed mosquitoes; nipping it at source as nip in the bud. Strive to prevail and invest in one’s self.
 
Economic activity is one way to deal with who is capable and who is begging. We black folks should recognize that even if each of us was to be given a million dollars to address slavery and colonial issues as in reparation and recompense for past injustices, it would not elevate the stand of the black person. Even if every compound in Nigeria was to gush with BLACK GOLD – oil that is, its proceeds would disappear in BLACK HOLES. If anyone doubts that, take a look and visit Nigeria, a physically depressing country that stands as the world’s most populous black nation littered with PhDs; doctors and doctorates, yet it gets sicker and sickened.

Like the late Mrs. ML King once said, ‘if Nigeria is a representative of what black folks were to look up to, she is sorry, there is nothing to look to.’ As goes Nigeria, so goes the image of the black person because with dubious and undue stats that out of every 8 black persons in the world, one is a Nigerian, makes it imperative that Nigeria’s leadership takes a higher road of prevailing, and enhance the black person.
 
Well, do not hold your breath as this may be a case of waiting for the sun to rise from the west. I like to surprise myself.

By Ejike E. Okpa II

Dallas, Texas.