Speaking Of The Liberian Rape Victim…
Posted by LorMarie on July 25, 2009 · 7 Comments
I noticed that her family has, according to news reports, disowned her because she was raped. Supposedly, it is common practice in many parts of Africa to shun women and girls who were raped. If that’s the case, then Africa is a continent filled with people who practice inferior cultures. Until it’s proved that this is not a common practice in Africa, I’ll stand by my assertion.
Something else to ponder; Liberia is a nation that was established by black American slaves. So basically, Liberians are “genetically identical” to American blacks. Take into consideration that the black collective here places almost no value on the lives of black women and girls when compared to black men. Just remember high profile cases like R Kelly, Rihanna (it appears that she got more support among whites and other nonblacks than blacks), or the current Skip Gates mess. Also take into consideration that the National Association for the Advancement of Criminal Phukups (NAACP) made sure they did not condemn the black males who raped and sodomized a black mother and her son for three hours. They wanted to let all of the facts come to the surface and allow authorities in Florida to handle everything. You can rest assured that there would have been a clear condemnation if a black male was the victim of whites.
This leads me to my main point. Over the years, I’ve heard many people claim that we (blacks) were stolen from our land, language, and culture. There are even a few radical blacks who want to live there. Of course you have racist whites who agree. What both sides fail to realize is that cultural norms and practices are ingrained within individuals. No matter how much an American black will scream that they are African-American, they still do not get the meat and potatoes of what that means. First of all, Africa is a continent consisting of many countries, cultures, and languages. Where exactly will an black American fit in Africa? Heck, my best friend is a black Jamaican woman but there are still cultural differences between us. When I visit her family, we are all racially similar but I still notice the obvious cultural differences. And I will tell you this, there ARE differences between black American women and black Caribbean women but that’s another post, LOL. In addition, there are clear differences between myself and the African women who twist my hair. So although we are all in many ways similar, we are in many ways different.
Next, there are the extreme issues. I firmly believe that my life would not have been as advanced as it was had my ancestors not come to America. I’m glad that my foremothers were not one of the slaves who went to Liberia for a “better life.” So, my language and culture were not stolen from me. My language is English with a beautiful American accent and my culture is the “American culture.” Don’t get me wrong, I’m not the most patriotic person in the world. HOWEVER, reading the account of the Liberian girl’s rejection from her family is one of the many reminders why I’m glad to be a citizen of the west. Anyone who wants to pack up and leave for Africa in the name of going back to their roots can go.
Filed under Ideology · Tagged with Africa, African Americans, America, Arizona, Black Men, Black Women, Crime, Liberia, Liberian Rape Victim, LorMarie, NAACP, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Racism, United States
I agree with you. I was sharing with my teenager and trying to prepare for the reality that the world does not value women and especially not women of color. I wish the world would see us for the creative, beautiful creatures we are.
Liberians are NOT genetically identical to blacks. The black Americans that went there were a small group who in fact looked down on the native inhabitants. And believe me, girls of all races and ethnic groups are sexually assaulted, and many are blamed. Ask any person who works with cases like these. Ask any woman whose been a victim of assault what it’s like to be on the courtroom stand and have people insinuated that it’s their fault. So it’s not just an African thing. The point is not the nationality but the education of *men* to not do these things to females.
How can it not have a genetic component when this type of thing is practiced all over Africa? There are billboards near some villages that tell men not to rape or beat your woman. In South Africa, 25% of the men there have raped women and consider it a rite of passage? Compare that to the rape rates of blacks in any area they are in.
If we say it’s a matter of culture, then we have to ask, from what genes did that culture spring from? If we say it’s poverty, then we must ask why is all of africa this way? The White Man was only in Africa for a couple of hundred years, and i doubt they taught them such values.
Syinly- From my POV, black women in particular are the only group of women who are truly on their own as far as group or community support is concerned. However, I’m going to take that as an opportunity to form new and sometimes more secure alliances. I’ve gotten to know quite a few black women who believe the same.
Aya- thanks for stopping by. However, I think you missed the point. First, there are quotes around the words “genetically identical.” If you continue to read my blog, understand that my use of quotations sometimes indicates that I’m speaking figuratively. With that said, Liberians ARE INDEED “genetically identical” to black Americans. Next, I’m quite sure that many of the native inhabitants looked down on the black slaves who settled there as well.
No where in my post did I state that rape only takes place among Africans nor that women in the west avoid problems when pressing charges against their rapist. What I do stand by is this: women “of the west” are not regularly disowned by their families simply for being raped. The article I included stated such. I’ve also heard that many times before…not only Africa but in many parts of the developing world. If there is evidence to the contrary feel free to present it.
Orion- If there is a genetic component, can rapists really be held accountable for their actions? That is one of the things that worries me about the “genetics” issue.
I had to read this a couple of times to get my bearing on what I wanted to communicate.
The is clearly not about Race or Ethnicity, Lawlessness, absence of government structure and governmental institutions, religion and poverty are more than likely the primary catalyst and /or agitating factors for these issues of rape, etc. in Africa as we clearly see that parts of Asia and the Middle East with similar social economic realities often have the same problems.
Obviously being an African American comes with it its own culture (after all its been 400+ years), it has been 150+/- years since some of our ancestors went back to Liberia so we are still culturally different from them (as a German American is from a German though the divide is not as wide when comparing to other western nations).
Genetics or “race” have nothing to do with the phenomenon you have outlined in Liberia, just look at Serbia and the atrocities committed against Muslim women and you will see that LAWLESSNESS is always the predicate, UNLESS we are talking about the basic genetics of human beings and by mutual implication the basic nature of humanity which is NOT good.
First I should clarify that I do not agree that some groups are genetically predisposed to rape. I do believe that certain cultures are more likely to turn a blind eye on it. I also believe that certain cultures favor men over women…black American culture being one. I believe the reasons could be due to not properly handling historical racism as well as norms that were likely passed down from the former African culture.
As for Africa, I suspect that religion, perpetual victimhood, etc are to blame for its ills.
Lastly, I believe that Eastern Europe is a horrible place for women.
BTW, I just found out this happened in the United States, the girl being SHUNED is the cultural thing I refered to as in happening elsewhere. As for the crime itself, this happens everyday, this pathology in my oppinion is CULTURAL not racial.