What Does It Mean To Be Black in the 21st Century?: Reflections on Senegal and Australia

Abstract

n 2004 I had the opportunity to visit Australia and Senegal, both experiences made me reflect on what it means to be Black in the twenty first century especially if you are a Black woman. This has been a journey into history. The United States, Australia and Africa are worlds apart connected by the kiss of mother Africa but also scared by the legacy of a racialized world where imperialism, capitalism, sexism, genocide and slavery are still very apparent. This complex legacy impacted my experiences; I could not help but draw upon my understanding of the world in my attempt to make sense of what I saw. The visual can be seductive, enthralling and humbling. We exist in a world that manipulates the visual to sell us things and to diminish who we think we are. What is Africa to me?