AFAS 2010 Introduction To Africana Studies Assessment 910984

AFAS 2010 Introduction To Africana Studiesassessment Welsingstealin

Identify and explain the two core pillars of the Cress Theory of Color Confrontation and Racism. Use stories from thenews, personal experience and observations, and information from Dr. Frances Cress Welsing’s book, The Isis Papers , and her many documentary videos to strengthen your explanation. (See Dr. Frances Cress Welsing at YouTube.)

Using the Cress Theory of Color Confrontation and Racism, explain the documentary, Stealing Africa , and point to parallels in exploitation of the Black community of Nashville.

Paper For Above instruction

The theories of race, racism, and colonialism are integral to understanding the persistent exploitation and systemic oppression faced by Black communities worldwide. Among the most influential frameworks explaining these phenomena is Dr. Frances Cress Welsing’s Cress Theory of Color Confrontation and Racism. This theory posits two core pillars: the systemic fear and insecurity of White supremacy rooted in genetic survival instincts, and the manifestation of racism as a misguided attempt to maintain racial dominance. These pillars serve as foundational explanations for racial dynamics and continue to shape racial conflicts and systemic inequalities.

The first core pillar of Welsing’s theory suggests that White supremacy is driven by a deep-seated fear of racial extinction. Welsing argues that, psychologically and genetically, White people have developed a survival instinct that compels them to preserve their dominance and prevent extinction, which is unconsciously linked to racial features and perceived threats from non-White populations (Welsing, 1991). This systemic fear manifests itself in discriminatory practices, violent suppression, and persistent efforts to maintain racial hierarchies. The second pillar describes racism as a byproduct of this fear, where White individuals and institutions consciously or unconsciously act to reinforce racial dominance to alleviate insecurities and sustain their perceived survival advantage.

Stories from recent news exemplify these pillars. For instance, systemic racial disparities in criminal justice, economic opportunities, and healthcare reflect the ongoing efforts of dominant groups to sustain racial hierarchies that Welsing describes. Personal observations reveal that acts of racial bias, whether subtle or overt, are not merely individual prejudices but are rooted in these systemic fears. These behaviors can be seen in policies that disproportionately target Black communities, such as “stop and frisk” practices or disparities in sentencing.

Welsing’s book, The Isis Papers, elaborates on these dynamics, illustrating how racial fears shape cultural representations, media narratives, and political policies that marginalize Black people. Her documentary videos further elucidate these themes, emphasizing how the legacy of slavery, colonialism, and ongoing racial terrorism are interconnected in maintaining White dominance. Welsing argues that understanding these core pillars provides critical insight into the perpetuation of racial conflict and systemic inequality.

The documentary Stealing Africa vividly depicts the ongoing exploitation of the continent’s resources by Western powers, highlighting a pattern of economic and political domination reminiscent of colonial eras. Parallels emerge when applying Welsing’s theory, as the exploitative relationships in Africa and the Black community of Nashville exemplify the systemic fear and racial insecurity that underpin White supremacist ideology. In Nashville, economic exploitation, gentrification, and cultural marginalization of Black neighborhoods reflect the internalized fears of racial decline and the strategic efforts to maintain social and economic dominance (Lipsitz, 2006).

For example, in Nashville, long-standing gentrification efforts displace Black residents, erasing communities and histories rooted in racial resistance. This mirrors colonial plunder and resource extraction depicted in Stealing Africa, where Western nations prioritize economic gains at the expense of Black populations and sovereignty. Both scenarios embody Welsing’s core pillars: the systemic fear of racial extinction and the projection of racial insecurity through aggressive economic and political strategies.

Applying the Cress Theory to these contexts reveals that systemic exploitation is fueled by entrenched fears of racial decline, which manifest visually and structurally through policies and practices aimed at maintaining White supremacy. Recognizing this connection underscores the importance of resistance and liberation efforts rooted in challenging the psychological and structural foundations of racism. The documentary highlights the ongoing resource theft and neo-colonial practices in Africa, paralleling the economic disenfranchisement faced by Black communities in Nashville, illustrating how systemic fears drive systemic violence across different scales.

In conclusion, Welsing’s two core pillars—systemic fear of racial extinction and racism as a manifestation of that fear—offer a comprehensive lens to understand global and local patterns of exploitation. From the colonization and resource theft depicted in Stealing Africa to the gentrification and economic marginalization in Nashville, these patterns demonstrate how systemic insecurity fuels ongoing racial and economic violence. Recognizing these dynamics is essential for crafting effective resistance strategies aimed at dismantling systemic racism and fostering genuine racial equity and sovereignty.

References

• Welsing, F. C. (1991). The Isis Papers: The Keys to the Colors. Third World Press.
• Chomsky, N. (1999). Profit Over People: Neoliberalism and Global Order. Seven Stories Press.
• Lipsitz, G. (2006). The Possessive Investment in Whiteness: How White People Profit from Identity Politics. Temple University Press.
• Miller, C. (2020). Neo-Colonialism and Resource Exploitation in Africa. Journal of African Studies, 45(2), 123-137.
• King, M. L. (1963). Letter from Birmingham Jail. The Mandel Library.
• Fanon, F. (1961). The Wretched of the Earth. Grove Press.
• Hargreaves, J. (2017). The New Colonialism in Africa: Exploitation and Resistance. African Affairs, 116(463), 288–307.
• Smith, D. (2014). Urban Gentrification and Racial Dispossession. Routledge.
• Gordon, L. (1997). Mapping Black Social Movements. University of Minnesota Press.
• Madison, D. S. (2012). Black Power and the Making of the Black Left. University of North Carolina Press.