What Does It Mean to Be Black in the 21st Century?

Reflections on Senegal and Australia

By Danille K. Taylor
ChickenBones: A Journal

One three centuries removed
From the scenes his father loved,
Spice grove, cinnamon tree,
What is Africa to me?

"Heritage," Countee Cullen

In  2004 I had the opportunity to visit Australia and Senegal, both experiences made me reflect on what it means to be Black in the twenty first century especially if you are a Black woman.  This has been a journey into history. 

The United States, Australia, and Africa are worlds apart connected by the kiss of mother Africa but also scarred by the legacy of a racialized world where imperialism, capitalism, sexism, genocide and slavery are still very apparent.  This complex legacy impacted my experiences; I could not help but draw upon my understanding of the world in my attempt to make sense of what I saw. 

The visual can be seductive, enthralling, and humbling.  We exist in a world that manipulates the visual to sell us things and to diminish who we think we are. 

What is Africa to me?

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