Ascending Into Consciousness

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2834 Burger Avenue Dallas, TX 75215 469.583.3275 [email protected]

PEARMAN R P

Ascending IntoConsciousness

This text is reprinted from the Pan African Association of America. The

information within is not meant to be divisive but used as a unifying factor of the

African masses.

One of the most clichd terms that accompany conversations about liberation is the

term "conscious." It is used by many African people with many agendas that may or

may not be related to the liberation of African people. The PAAA presents thefollowing as its observation of what the (five) categories of consciousness are in

relation to its organizational agenda.

UNCONSCIOUSNESS

A state of complete unawareness of a cultural self or a right to self-definition and

self-determination. Life is strictly lived at a survival level, governed by accident orincident.

PRE-AWARENESS

A vague state of awareness that a cultural self might exist and things are not fair

for people who look like that person on his or her block. Grabs at some cultural

things that are dictated as popular by entertainment or sports figures but is still

governed by a survival philosophy based on accident or incident. Usually is onlyaware of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King as the sole reference point for African human

achievement.

AWARENESS

A state of awareness of a cultural self in less vague but still very parochial terms.Most of the awareness is attributed to reading extremely superficial informationabout the culture of her/his ethnic group. Does not move beyond the memorization

of a few dates and famous figures that are acceptable to European people. Will

decorate a home with a great deal of culture that is reflective of the influence of

European culture on African people in the U.S. mixed with a little African art ofwhich there is little to no understanding.


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A person at the Awareness level will wear attire that could pass for continentalAfrican attire and only wears it once or twice a year at best. Is very uncomfortable

with African words, symbols and ceremonies but is willing to be a spectator rather

than a participant. Is into feel good, motivational talk and confuses Eurocentric

definitions of universality with African liberation.

Often times the only books read are novels, cookbooks, or civil rights literature

that is non-threatening to the idea of white supremacy. Self-determination is

defined as the right to live in a multicultural society where African culture is neverinstitutionalized in that society.

INTELLECTUAL AWARENESS

An intellectual state of awareness of the cultural self in terms of theories,

concepts and travels in closed circles of people who share the same views

intellectually. This awareness is usually restricted to an academic, political,

religious, economic or social agenda that is the result of personal experiencesrather than any clear vision.

This awareness is manifested in a range of expressions that can be from ambiguous

to extremely dogmatic. While speaking of African-centered perspectives, it appliesEurocentric logic to all of its thinking processes. While it can internalize

information of a material nature, it has extreme difficulty in internalizingspirituality. Even its perception of spirituality is still housed in a European

perception of monastic or hermitic, isolative non-involvement, in the day-to-day

struggles of liberation.

Its life is still centered around control, power, domination and helping when it is

advantageous to it. It has difficulty moving beyond attending lectures, workshops,

conferences, study groups and discussion groups to community volunteerism.

Generally only has a theoretical, linear working idea of Africa based on an

understanding of ancient Africa but with little exposure to the issues ofcontemporary Africa, the Caribbean and other living African societies.

It has difficulty accepting the existence of models in its own backyard that it

preaches in favor of, simply because those models have less value than the scholars

and intellectuals it has come to idolize. Scholars and intellectuals take the place of


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religious leaders in its life and liberation for it is the act of reading books, listening

to tapes and developing relationships with scholars and intellectuals.

For it, self-determination is a romanticized, static, intellectual gymnastic exercise

rather than acts of compassion and contribution to the lives of ordinary African

people. It is taking on an African name without having a clue to how traditionalAfrican people view the universe and themselves. It is a kind of cultural virtual

reality without concrete social commitment to change.

CONSCIOUSNESS

A holistic state of awareness of the global cultural self in terms of knowing that

culture is the sum total of how the parts work together in a harmonious and natural

way, minimizing stress in African people while maximizing their individual andcollective empowerment.

It is an awareness that attempts to put all the pieces together in a comprehensive

working manner to affect positive change in the lives of African people locally andglobally. It understands that economics, politics, religion, education and social

development have the interrelated purpose of maintaining the unique African way of

organizing her/his world for the betterment of future generations of African

children.

She/He is an optimist and can envision a world of African self-determination, andstrives to make it come true through establishing the institutions needed to bring a

change in African human behavior, beliefs and goals.

It is seeking a balance between mastering ancient history and working towards

positive solutions from those ancient times that have practical application to

contemporary issues affecting African people globally.

It is developing a multi-dimensional perspective that leads to the creation and

maintenance of local models of self-determination, based on African philosophical

principles that can be reproduced in Europe, the Caribbean, Africa and India.

It is the promotion of harmonious relationship between African people globally that

is based on the respect of difference, the ideal of harmonious cooperation and the

security of the African Worldview from the intrusion of white supremacy and its

cultural tools of direct and indirect domination.


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Conscious is the ability to separate a brilliant idea from a questionable character

and take the best of all of the ideas and thoughts, internalize them to achievepersonal serenity and translate that serenity into institution building to reflect the

idea of becoming RA, in the best of our Kemetic traditions.

It is able to discriminate enough to work with those who practices the principles itbelieves in rather than wasting time attempting to convert or rescue those who,

repeatedly, display agendas that are not of a Pan-African, sharing spirit.

Finally, this consciousness is so comfortable with its Africaness that it will notmodify this comfort zone for the benefit of career, profession, social status,

educational opportunity, religious acceptance or western/Arab political and

economic favoritism.

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Ascending Into Consciousness