History–How Does Theory of Orientalism/Nationalism Relate to African American History?

Orientalism refers to a body of theory and practice associated with constructing the image of the East in the direction of those in the West. In contrast, Nationalism refers to an ideology that insists on loyalty and devotion to a nation in such a manner that a country’s obligation is more than individual or group interest. It elaborates on the culture and moral ethics of Eastern countries compared to Western countries (1). the theories depict the Eastern race as weak, feminine, and vulnerable. In contrast, the race of the West is strong and masculine in making rational decisions that are essential for the country’s development.

It provides a clear insight into the cultural beliefs and norms of the different countries in its inner introspection. It concludes how the Western culture demands power from the most inferior and weak cultures that are not progressing in autonomous and economic development. Edward Said, who grounded the book demonstrating the Arab-Palestinian residing in the Western nation, developed Orientalism in 1978. Edward was highly aware of the cultural attitude and perception of the East culture, analyzed it, and drew conclusions on how it is displayed in society and politics (2, 3). Said’s controversial book provided a clear insight into the activities that occurred two thousand years ago without an explanation.

The commencement of the epic war between the Greeks and Persians resulted from the origin of psychological and physical enemies. The war demonstrates the attack of the Western and Eastern worlds, but the fighting has been ingrained in the soul and hearts of the people until the present day. Said postulates in his book that Western scholarship through the Eastern world is inextricably tied to imperialist societies. Western societies are engrained with much power that colonized some Eastern countries, such as North Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. African American communities in the United States are seen as inferior, weak, and with dysfunctional features such as crimes. African Americans are charged with criminal felonies in courts, with the majority dropping out of schools and institutions due to underlying disparities in the inferior communities(4). Most African American communities are entitled to inferior jobs, and many have been incarcerated because of crimes. Some are scattered in the low-income city with poor housing schemes. Moreover, Said criticizes Western scholars for viewing other cultures as inferior rather than equal and justice.

Anderson, in imagined communities, defined the nation as a current event. He argued that the 17^th and 18^th centuries witnessed the fall of major political and economic bodies created by sacred language and cosmology. The fall of the bodies was because some nations conceptualized themselves as part of an imagined community. Anderson describes imagined communities as communities where members will not know others, finite with limited boundaries, sovereign power, and a community of fraternal and horizontal comradeship. The development of technology has led to the realization of the imagined society through mass media and the press (5). Technology has aided in knowing individuals of particular communities that were unknown by its members.

He argued that Creole communities –descendants of the European white settlers were the first group of people to establish their places in the modern world hence resulting in the discrimination of the imagined communities, especially African American communities. Moreover, the imagined communities were limited in power and termed as the second city in the United States hence conceptualized as the known human being(6). Anderson concludes that it is essential to study and conceptualize each person’s importance and role in the modern phenomenon.

In conclusion, human beings should dismantle the notion of the concept of others in their mind instead of demonstrating a sense of belongingness to a collective individualism. The concept that the East is inferior and weak as opposed to the Western cultures should be disbanded in our minds. The nation should realize that every individual demands a place in this world and avoid engraining the past ideas of orients that can distort the nation’s progress.

References

1. SAID EDWARD. “ORIENTALISM-A CASE STUDY.”

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Samina-Kausar-5/publication/368535962_ORIENTALISM_-A_CASE_STUDY_EDWARD_SAID/links/63ed280c51d7af054028d4d9/ORIENTALISM-A-CASE-STUDY-EDWARD-SAID.pdf

2. Khalil, Osamah F. “American Orientalism.” In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of American History. 2022.

https://oxfordre.com/americanhistory/display/10.1093/acrefore/9780199329175.001.0001/acrefore-9780199329175-e-985

3. Dorman, Jacob S. “Western Civilization through Eastern Spectacles”: Duse Mohamed Ali, Black Orientalist Imposture, and Black Internationalism.” The Journal of African American History 108, no. 1 (2023): 23-49.

https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/722578

4. Bhatti, Yousaf Kamran, Humaira Imran, Asma Rahim, and Samia Shakeel. “Applying Edward Said’s Concept Of Orientalism On The Novella Heart Of Darkness.” Journal of Positive School Psychology (2023): 176-181.

https://journalppw.com/index.php/jpsp/article/view/16298

5. Pippenger, Nathan. “Reading Ellison through Herder: Language, Integration, and Democracy.” The Journal of Politics 85, no. 2 (2023): 000-000.

https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/full/10.1086/722350

6. Yıldız, Tunahan, and Didem Kizir. “Ethnic and religious nationalism in Turkey: the cases of Atsız and Arvasi.” Turkish Studies (2022): 1-24.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14683849.2022.2063048