How Coloniality Shapes Black Activism

Abstract

Black African people have resisted oppression and injustice as long as it has existed. Progress and forms of black liberation have been achieved, but liberation is still incomplete. This study seeks to explore how coloniality has made it difficult for activists to attain complete Black liberation. I argue that the process of attempting to liberate a mind has been psychically damaged by coloniality. This study begins by looking at colonialism, coloniality, movements, everyday activism and concludes by looking at Black futurity. The study unpacks activism, movements and movement building with a particular focus on Kenya Land and Freedom Army, popularly known as Mau Mau. While addressing colonialism which includes the period of slavery, I theorise that there were five pillars of domination that were used throughout the history of colonisation, namely: Education, Religion, Governance, Capitalism and Violence. I show how these pillars of colonialism presuppose coloniality and strengthen and reinforce one another but evolve over time. This study locates coloniality as a by-product of colonialism and an extension of a system of control beyond the symbolic independence of colonies (Mignolo, 2015). What Ngugi wa Thiong’o (2022) refers to as normalised abnormality. The study shows how these pillars are ingrained in mindsets and how every facet of society continue to serve coloniality, making colonialism to become self-sustaining in coloniality as it occupies the minds of the oppressed. The study uses mixed methods to collect data. The first method involves interviewing 20 participants about anti-colonial resistance and reflections then and now. I also used autoethnography, where I centre myself, my embodied experiences and work in social justice movements, and particularly my involvement directing an antiracist organisation known as the Racial Justice Network. I reflect on my being in the struggle by locating myself as a kind of bridge between the past and future of Black activism in both my home country and adopted country in the diaspora. The findings of this study reflect on the five pillars of domination and show how coloniality exists within movements. The findings also reflect on the conditions of colonies back then to the conditions of marginalised and oppressed groups in the diaspora. I argue that resistance should be mounted against the five pillars of domination, pillar by pillar, blow for blow citing unaddressed colonial harms and traumas including what Aime Cessaire called the boomerang effect.

Date of Award	20 Jan 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	The University of Manchester
Supervisor	Marta Cantijoch Cunill (Co Supervisor) & Andreja Zevnik (Main Supervisor)