SPEARMANGROUP

Ascending Into
Consciousness
This text is reprinted from the Pan African Association of America. The
information within is not meant to be divisive but used as a unifying factor of the
African masses.

One of the most clichéd terms that accompany conversations about liberation is the
term "conscious." It is used by many African people with many agendas that may or
may not be related to the liberation of African people. The PAAA presents the
following as its observation of what the (five) categories of consciousness are in
relation to its organizational agenda.

UNCONSCIOUSNESS

A state of complete unawareness of a cultural self or a right to self-definition and

self-determination. Life is strictly lived at a survival level, governed by accident or
incident.

PRE-AWARENESS

A vague state of awareness that a cultural self might exist and things are not fair
for people who look like that person on his or her block. Grabs at some cultural
things that are dictated as popular by entertainment or sports figures but is still
governed by a survival philosophy based on accident or incident. Usually is only
aware of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King as the sole reference point for African human
achievement.

AWARENESS

A state of awareness of a cultural self in less vague but still very parochial terms.
Most of the awareness is attributed to reading extremely superficial information
about the culture of her/his ethnic group. Does not move beyond the memorization
of a few dates and famous figures that are acceptable to European people. Will
decorate a home with a great deal of culture that is reflective of the influence of
European culture on African people in the U.S. mixed with a little African art of
which there is little to no understanding.

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A person at the Awareness level will wear attire that could pass for continental
African attire and only wears it once or twice a year at best. Is very uncomfortable
with African words, symbols and ceremonies but is willing to be a spectator rather
than a participant. Is into feel good, motivational talk and confuses Eurocentric
definitions of universality with African liberation.

Often times the only books read are novels, cookbooks, or civil rights literature
that is non-threatening to the idea of white supremacy. Self-determination is
defined as the right to live in a multicultural society where African culture is never
institutionalized in that society.

INTELLECTUAL AWARENESS

An intellectual state of awareness of the cultural self in terms of theories,

concepts and travels in closed circles of people who share the same views
intellectually. This awareness is usually restricted to an academic, political,
religious, economic or social agenda that is the result of personal experiences
rather than any clear vision.

This awareness is manifested in a range of expressions that can be from ambiguous

to extremely dogmatic. While speaking of African-centered perspectives, it applies
Eurocentric logic to all of its thinking processes. While it can internalize
information of a material nature, it has extreme difficulty in internalizing
spirituality. Even its perception of spirituality is still housed in a European
perception of monastic or hermitic, isolative non-involvement, in the day-to-day
struggles of liberation.

Its life is still centered around control, power, domination and helping when it is
advantageous to it. It has difficulty moving beyond attending lectures, workshops,
conferences, study groups and discussion groups to community volunteerism.

Generally only has a theoretical, linear working idea of Africa based on an

understanding of ancient Africa but with little exposure to the issues of
contemporary Africa, the Caribbean and other living African societies.

It has difficulty accepting the existence of models in its own backyard that it
preaches in favor of, simply because those models have less value than the scholars
and intellectuals it has come to idolize. Scholars and intellectuals take the place of

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religious leaders in its life and liberation for it is the act of reading books, listening
to tapes and developing relationships with scholars and intellectuals.

For it, self-determination is a romanticized, static, intellectual gymnastic exercise

rather than acts of compassion and contribution to the lives of ordinary African
people. It is taking on an African name without having a clue to how traditional
African people view the universe and themselves. It is a kind of cultural virtual
reality without concrete social commitment to change.

CONSCIOUSNESS

A holistic state of awareness of the global cultural self in terms of knowing that
culture is the sum total of how the parts work together in a harmonious and natural
way, minimizing stress in African people while maximizing their individual and
collective empowerment.

It is an awareness that attempts to put all the pieces together in a comprehensive

working manner to affect positive change in the lives of African people locally and
globally. It understands that economics, politics, religion, education and social
development have the interrelated purpose of maintaining the unique African way of
organizing her/his world for the betterment of future generations of African
children.

She/He is an optimist and can envision a world of African self-determination, and

strives to make it come true through establishing the institutions needed to bring a
change in African human behavior, beliefs and goals.

It is seeking a balance between mastering ancient history and working towards

positive solutions from those ancient times that have practical application to
contemporary issues affecting African people globally.

It is developing a multi-dimensional perspective that leads to the creation and

maintenance of local models of self-determination, based on African philosophical
principles that can be reproduced in Europe, the Caribbean, Africa and India.

It is the promotion of harmonious relationship between African people globally that

is based on the respect of difference, the ideal of harmonious cooperation and the
security of the African Worldview from the intrusion of white supremacy and its
cultural tools of direct and indirect domination.

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Conscious is the ability to separate a brilliant idea from a questionable character

and take the best of all of the ideas and thoughts, internalize them to achieve
personal serenity and translate that serenity into institution building to reflect the
idea of becoming RA, in the best of our Kemetic traditions.

It is able to discriminate enough to work with those who practices the principles it
believes in rather than wasting time attempting to convert or rescue those who,
repeatedly, display agendas that are not of a Pan-African, sharing spirit.

Finally, this consciousness is so comfortable with its Africaness that it will not
modify this comfort zone for the benefit of career, profession, social status,
educational opportunity, religious acceptance or western/Arab political and
economic favoritism.

2834 Burger Avenue Dallas, TX 75215 469.583.3275 spearmangroup@yahoo.com