pcr 311 - National Open University of Nigeria

PCR 311 Philosophies and Great Personalities of Peace
It was a very difficult experiment both for the American Negroes who
found acclimatisation harrowing, as well as having problems getting along with
the native tribes already living there who were not enthusiastic about the whole
scheme. Those on ground considered them an unwanted, imported population
lording it over the indigenous inhabitants.
The eventual unfolding scenario which blew open after the first Liberian
Coup and the emergence of Samuel Doe, together with its fall-out are linked to
the absolute separatism being discussed. Ironically, in the 1960s, a new backto-Africa
movement was initiated by black Americans who bought land, in
countries of central Africa and established agricultural and handicraft
communes there. They did that without first considering the great differences
between African and American culture. Tom Mboya, according to the New York
Times Magazine of 13 th July, 1969: 30-40, was quoted as having warned
American Negroes that Africa cannot be the solution to their problems. Be that
as it may, history has shown that separatism has proved a difficult policy to
convert into a satisfactory reality, even though, some minorities see it as their
only hope of ever achieving equality.
3.4 Acculturation
This is another type of response to dominance when a minority group
member tries to blend into the majority by assimilating the cultural
characteristics of that dominant group. This include learning the language,
adaptation to the dressing and customs after which it would be easy to mimic
the entire ways of life of the dominant group.
However, instances abound where a minority group, racially determined,
detest acculturation, however minimal. When, in 1958, Charles de-Gaulle’s
Government in France ordered a plebiscite to determine whether the French’s
African colonies world assimilate or not, through Yes or No vote, Sekou Toure’s
Guinea voted No and refused to ‘frenchivise’. That pride and respect Guinea
had for African culture was the catalyst that made Charles de Gaulle to
descend on Guinea by ordering out of Guinea all French personnel serving the
Government of Guinea. The country was thrown into serious confusion;
Electricity was put off, medical personal withdrawn, Airport grounded and it
was a beleaguered nation for 72 hours. At the end of it all, Sekou Toure bluntly
refused to succumb inspite of very serious odds. His countrymen and women
stood solidly behind him for his noble stand while African governments, most
of whom were still colonies of foreign powers gave their support for his stand.
The most outstanding support came from Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s government
in Ghana which sent in qualified personnel to restore the incapacities wrecked
on Guinea Conakry by Charles de Gaulle’s French Vandals. Today, history is
remembering eloquently the noble resistance of Sekou Toure against French’s
forced acculturation.
However, one man’s food could be another’s poison within a minority
group that despised acculturation. There could be a certain group whose racial
and physical characteristics are not strongly marked. Such group could adopt
a terminology called “passing” as they may wish to be seen as members of the
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