The "Invisible Institution": How African Continues on in America Today

This week’s lecture, given by Dr. Mario Beatty, was entitled “Abandonment and Dismemberment: Something Torn and New”. In the beginning, Dr. Beatty briefly defined the words “abandonment” and “dismemberment” as the act of completely leaving something or giving something up. He reminded us of the history of the Middle Passage (slave trade) in the 15^th century and where the slaves were taken; he mentioned the process, and later began to elaborate on the effect, of the African Diaspora. Dr. Beatty asked us the question of whether a physical dismemberment and/or abandonment lead to or cause cultural dismemberment.

Dismemberment was further explained to us in steps, first as the historical narratives of loss – the loss of names, culture (defined as “intergenerational transmitted beliefs, behaviors, values, and world views”), morals, beliefs, religion – and emptiness. Next, as the process of African synthesis, transformation, and adaptation to the surrounding social conditions takes place. Finally, it is the blending of African and European traditions (often with the Europeans getting the primacy); it is the combination of something old that is adapted and changed to a new setting and context.

Despite the Diaspora that resulted in the loss of culture, Dr. Beatty discussed how Africa continues on in American today. Maroon societies, societies that were created by African people who left the plantations and started new lives in new places in order to gain a sense of independence and sovereignty, can be found in Jamaica, Brazil, and Haiti. The social structure, or the “invisible institution”, was continued on despite what the social structure was that was imposed on the African people. Things like family patterns, roles in society (mothers, kings, ministers), rituals and traditions were kept alive in the private sphere of life. The African people attempted to ignore the enforced roles that the whites gave to them in the public sphere, like laborers, soldiers, and servants. This “invisible institution” includes Africanized Christianity; the Bible is a book that the African people populated with their own intentions. These ideas of the Africans’ private sphere can be found in Brazil and Cuba to New Orleans and other parts of the United States. Even science and technology from the African people stayed alive and improved as time went on. Medicine men and women, language, literature (story telling), agricultural cultivation, and musical instruments are all derived originally from Africa.

There was once again an echo of the first lecture given by Dr. Carr, when Dr. Beatty stated that it is our imperative to “rewrite history of America emphasizing the African presence and impact”. In other words, we are once again told that it is our job to try to rewrite our history and make sure that the African influence is recognized. Even after hearing quite a few lectures, I keep learning new and different ways in which African culture, ideals, and ways of life influenced the rest of the world. I think it will be vital to remember this fact throughout the rest of the course in order to answer the overall question about the human condition.