Asante vs. Hooks, Hall, and West

Asante claims that African/African American history and the influences associated with said cultures have been shrouded out by and all credit given to Europeans. This is to say that Asante hopes to distinguish that cultural traits and factors creating the character of this culture were not influenced by or molded by European influence but they were a reactionary response to the situation of oppressive control in which they were in. This development over time is the creation of a culture but without acknowledgment from the rest of the world, African/African American culture fails to gain any notoriety, respect, or even independence as a people are still being oppressed as their culture is under the umbrella of another and no due credit has or will be given.

Hooks speaks on the disconnect between blacks and black intellectuals in the formulation, organization, and further creation of a cultural identity in a post-modern era. Hooks shows the division within a race as some feel that others do not have the authority or right to reprsent or speak for them. Black intellectuals are sometimes ousted as a defense mechanism as the insititution of education is immediately associated with Eurocentric ideas and influence. This lack of trust in the system causes this lack of trust to occir within a people resulting in a division that fails to help carry on a rich culture.

Hall speaks on the idea of being "black" as being a socially constructed culture, manner of behavior, and even image. This delineates from the creation or carrying on of a culture as no faith or credit is given in this culture as all that is "black" is seemingly put together by the various, mainly racist, opinions comprising our society. This furtehr refusal to acknowledge a developing culture portrays the lives of black people as shallow and uneventful as their entire culture isoe created and dictated by others.

West brings up the intellectual, political, and existental barriers holding back blacks form celarly defining their difference and independence in culture. Through these three areas of focus we see that in all areas blacks usually fail to qualify as legitimate entities in the prejudiced eyes of others. It is interesting how West calls this the "politics of difference" as that could no better titled. In order to gain control of their own culture and identity, it will take a political and well over thought battle to define their difference from others. The fear of the establishment or our core of society to deny any credit or recognition in concern to black culture is a fear based on relinquishing control and to do so would allow equality to inch a step closer.