Essence Pageant of Tradition is a yearly celebration of Black tradition that folks stay up for each July 4 weekend. It’s so in style that the film “Women Journey” made it a plot level within the movie. Often, attendees go away raving about how a lot enjoyable that they had…however not this yr.
First there was a noticeable distinction that folks seen once they arrived on the conference middle. Hardly anybody was there.
Then there was drama with the music. First Lauryn Hill carried out practically two hours late and got here out to a really small crowd…although for a change, the tardy efficiency wasn’t really Miss Hill’s fault.
Then there was the Stephanie Mills debacle. She was so underwhelmed by the professionalism of the pageant that she wrote an open letter decrying the organizers.
However let’s be actual…everyone knows what everyone seems to be speaking about: The strain between Black People and Africans that the pageant placed on Entrance Road this yr.
I’ve written about this earlier than. For years that has been a rift between Black People (the decedents of slaves) and Africans (first or second era immigrants from the continent.) To African People, the rift is usually one-sided as a result of we pay little consideration to the damaging feedback from our brothers and sisters from the Motherland.
However this yr’s Essence Pageant has many speaking about it, as a result of what was as soon as a celebration of Black American tradition this yr became one thing else.
Many have rightfully identified that Caroline A. Wanga, a Kenyan citizen, is the present President & CEO of Essence Ventures. They indicate (nicely, say with their chest) that her being on the helm of the corporate is why the pageant took a extra Pan-African flip and tried to have a good time world Blackness as a substitute of the distinctly American model of it.
There’s definitely a must attempt to unite Africans and Black People. We’re extra alike than we’re dissimilar. And we’d be smart to keep in mind that.
Marcus Garvey, Stokely Carmichael and W.E.B. Du Bois all talked passionately in regards to the want for Africans and Black folks in America to see their destinies intertwined. Du Bois wrote that neither communities would overcome anti-Blackness with out the assistance of the opposite.
I’m the affiliate director of a Middle for Africana Research at a college, so I agree with the notion of attempting to unite Africans and Black People. However Essence Pageant just isn’t the place to attempt to do accomplish this.
This pageant has traditionally been a spot the place the tradition of Black People is widely known. The arduous left flip into celebrating all Blackness is ok if you don’t pull again on the celebration of Black folks in this nation. That’s the place this yr’s pageant went flawed.
The noble effort to attempt to have a pageant that celebrates the attractive complexity of the folks within the African Diaspora fell quick. Black People felt unnoticed. Many are claiming they’ll by no means go once more.
Essence higher get its act collectively and study from what went flawed this yr. Persons are writing obituaries for the quintessential July 4 cookout. In the event that they don’t repair it fast, quick and in a rush. this celebration of Blackness might be little greater than a reminiscence.
Straight From 
Join our free each day publication.