While I recently responded to Wole Ife's remarks somewhat critically,
especially as some seem to be accusing all white Americans of racism,
at the same time I wish to state that I understand why this
perception exists, particularly where misunderstandings exist largely
because of assumptions made about the inferiority of Africans which
are commonplace throughout the world (and not just in the West).
Because Africans are marginalized in the human race, likewise our
field is marginalized within the discipline.
In my experience, this is attested not just through what Curtin calls
the "ghettoization" of African History, but in the attitudes of many
"conventional," Eurocentric historians towards African History,
Africans, and the place of Africans in History. Why, for example,
hasthe term "the lonely Africanist" come into being? I submit it's
not just because there are few (or none!) of us around in most
departments, but because of the lack of interest among our fellows in
what we do.
Furthermore, if anyone managed to catch some of the discussions that
went on a few months ago on H-NET and H-WORLD concerning the meaning
(or the continued utility) of the word "civilization" in our
discourse will know what I mean. Even in so-called world history,
Africa continues to be excluded, marginalized or discussed in terms
that, to say the least, are unenlightening to all conmcerned,
students especially. I've yet to find a textbook that satisfactorally
treats Africa, much less colleagues who would want to use such a
textbook. (One colleague, a specialist in medieval European history,
once told me he teaches nothing about Africa in our World History
course until the colonial era because it wasn't until then that Africa
became "relevant.")
Particularly painful for me has been the trap that even many Africans
and African-Americans seem to have fallen into. Many, I fear, have
bought into the racist-based, Eurocentric view of Africa. Attempts to
link black Africans with Egypt and Greece, for example, seem to me to
be partly driven by this. In other words, Africans and their history
don't seem to appreciated in their own rights, but it seems some are
trying to say that Africans and their history can be glorified only
when hitched onto the histories of others.