What Is Africana Critical Theory or Black Existential Philosophy?

Abstract

In this article, the author argues that Africana critical theory or Black existential philosophy is the philosophical discourse that critiques domination and affirms the empowerment of Black people in the world. However, although Africana critical theory shares similar concerns and themes such as existence, consciousness, trepidation, meaninglessness, hopelessness, fear, despair, servility, and abasement with European existentialism, there are important distinctions between them. For example, although European existentialism is, as Gordon says, “predicated on the uniqueness of the individual as well as on a universalist conception of humans and their obligation to self,” Africana critical theory or Black existential philosophy is predicated on the liberation of all Black people in the world from oppression.

Black Existentialism: Extending the Discourse on Meaning and Existence

“…History has taught us that, at times, the frustration of being seen as the invisible outsider has led to a revolt in search of a revolution (Bassey, ). What has occurred within the context of some communities is a revolt against the perceived inauthentic self that is not desired in a hegemonic society (Bassey, ). The result in this scenario could be a condemnation of the undesirable self through positive acts of rebellion.…”

“…This grounding calls for an investigation of how to enact a philosophy that translates its central tenets into active reflection and meaningful scholarly discourse. According to Bassey (), Black existentialism is concerned with the liberation of a people who have historically not been viewed as human. Bassey went on to illuminate where the similarities and differences between Black existentialism and European existentialism emerge.…”

The Challenge of Existential Social Work Practice

“…Aho's text also includes up-to-date connections between Buddhist thought and existential concepts, relating letting go of attachments and suffering to their impact on our health. He is also aware of the now-global reach of existential thought, and of its continued relevance in fighting oppression through critical existential perspectives (Matustik, 1993), as well as of black (Gordon, 1997;O'Bassey, 2007;Gordon, 2008) and feminist existential writing (Welsh, 2015). Aho is also very aware of the diverse impacts of existential thinking on therapy and mental illness.…”

The Derelictical Crisis of African American Philosophy: How African American Philosophy Fails to Contribute to the Study of African-Descended People

“…Ironically, African-centered thinkers like Reiland Rabaka, Maulana Karenga, and Magnus O. Bassey have praised Outlaw's position as the means through which African-centered theory can be realized as a critical social commentary on America's political ills (Bassey, 2007;Karenga, 2006). Reiland Rabaka (2002), for instance, claims that Lucius Outlaw's articulation of Africana philosophy emerging out of the discourse of Africana studies and paying particular attention to Asante's Afrocentricity enables Africana critical theory to simultaneously draw from advances in continental and Diasporian philosophy while guarding against and eschewing tendencies among critical theorists to privilege philosophy prima facia and uncritically.…”