I found an interesting article on the BBC website a couple days ago. Click here to read about Marlon Jackson's plan for a tourist attraction targeted towards African Americans, in Nigeria.
The idea seems a bit far fetched, but I know none of you are too surprised that one of the planners is a Jackson.
The one part of this article that really caught my attention was their estimate of visitors within the first year. The motherland group believes 1.4 million visitors will arrive in the first year, rising to 4.4 million in five years!
Many African American films that have a positive message, generally struggle to get Black Americans to come out and support it in the theaters. So, forgive me if I laugh at the prospect of getting a significant number of black folk to travel across the Atlantic for a Jackson 5 museum and slave port/resort!
I would truly be shocked if they were able to attract half that number to Nigeria.
I'm not trying to be negative, but ask yourself this, how many African Americans do you know that have a genuine interest in reconnecting with Africa? Or, how many Africans do you think are trying to reconnect with African Americans? Let me repeat, I'm not trying to create a divide, this is just my opinion about the ambivalence that exist between the two different cultures.
For most African Americans, there are more pressing issues today than trying to reconnect with Africa. For proof of that statement, you could sample black blogosphere and see what subjects dominate the conversation. Interracial dating, black on black crime, President Obama or Chris Brown/Rihanna are sure to be the top stories, not Africa.
My guess would be that reconnecting with African Americans doesn't rank too high on Africans to do list, either.
Besides a lack of interest, there also seems to be a lack of sensitivity to creating a resort where slaves were once held. Visiting the museum and then heading to a resort nightclub afterwards, just seems wrong.
Then again, does anyone really care either way?
We'll just have to wait and see.
What do you think about Marlon Jackson and his museum/resort idea? Do you think a significant amount of African Americans will make the trip to Nigeria, if this plan actually goes through?
3 comments:
This is probably the worst idea from the Jacksons in recent history (this includes the Neverland ranch).
I have several issues with Marlon's idea.
Who would go to this thing? Guilty white Americans? No one?
Also, why a slave resort and museum? As you pointed out, a slave museum with a resort is just plain wrong. I heard about this idea earlier this week and it seems doomed to fail. Maybe he could spend the millions on the infrastructure in Nigeria, Sudan, or any other of the struggling African nations. Maybe on AIDS research or contraceptives? This reeks of misplaced funds on a terrible idea.
I know drugs and this sounds like a idea from a high of some sort. Africa is important as most of our folk learn that what they truly want cannot be found here. We have a long way to go in convincing the average black blogger (who is assumed to be educated) to stop gossiping or sucking off of the tit of Obama.
The Jacksons heart is in the right place it's just their heads are f*cked up from Crazy Joe!
D.FreeMan
www.reachfolk.com
T3FLON,
I agree with you one hundred percent!
I think they have to pray that guilty whites would make the trip there, that's the only way this resort could sustain itself and possibly make a profit in five years.
This idea is comical and it would take miracle for this thing to be successful.
Peace
Freemanpress,
Africa can be important to African Americans, as long as we deal with our issues here first. Also, Africans will need to address their biases toward African Americans as well. It's a two way street.
We always talk about how important it is to have two parents in the home to raise a child. I think having Joe Jackson as a father proves that a two parent household is not always the best. Especially, if one of the parents is as nutty as Mr. Jackson!
Peace
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