Advantage Of Ubuntu

For this week’s reading, we read the article “Racialized Discourses and Ethnic Epistemologies” by Gloria Ladson-Billings. The main purpose of this reading is to argue that “there are well-developed system of knowledge, or epistemologies, that stand in contrast to the dominant Euro-American epistemology.” (Denzin and Lincoln P. 399) The author started out the article by arguing the importance of national and racial consciousness. Author Billings pointed out that the Europeans view that the individual’s mind is the origin of knowledge and presence. On the other hand, the African word “Ubuntu” means “I am because we are.” This shows that the African thinks that the idea of humanity is very important and everyone should be treated fairly no matter what racial and ethnic background they are from. These two ideas came out in the mid to late 1960’s, the two different point of views clear choice between hegemony and liberation. Comparing these two various perspectives shows that this is a critical case.

In his novel Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe introduces his readers to the Nigerian village Umuofia and its culture through the protagonist, Okonkwo, a well respected Umuofian leader. Umuofian culture is centered around pleasing and respecting spiritual life. Everything within this culture and religion has a specific order; however, the Umuofian culture ultimately reaches its demise when Evangelists arrive to convert the Umuofians to Christianity. As seen through the events that transpire in this novel, from Nwoye leaving his family to letting the osu have a place in society, religion has the potential to both build and break a society. Specifically, religion has the power to break apart families, introduce new ideas into society, and bring hope into one’s life.

Over the centuries, the African people have endured many trials, obstacles, and tribulations. From the moment that they were kidnapped from their homeland, and had been savagely placed in the cargo holds on ships to be sold into slavery to the American people, the Africans (now known in the United States of America as African Americans or Black people) have journey far to achieve, as well as, accomplished what was thought to be the impossible. These things include but are not limited to, freedom, equality, independence, the right to vote, a fair education, a wider range of occupations to pursue, politics, but most of all, to live a better quality of life.

In a time of global commerce, new business ventures can take on many forms. What used to be local or even national companies have become world-wide. International growth of a business can be extremely beneficial but is not without its challenges. Different countries have different peoples and different cultures - different ways of doing business altogether. If a venture is to be successful, these differences must be well understood.

Imagine going through life without a trajectory. Not knowing what you and your people did that did make a good impact on world history, only knowing your history as it pertains to oppression and devastation. That has been the experience of most members of the African diaspora living in the West. Knowing the reasons why our communities are dysfunctional and we are in a subservient position in society goes a long way in helping bring the change that’s necessary, but we Africans have been denied our place in history. For a long time, the perception of the history of Africa and Africa today has been through the lens of Europeans and

While this African humanist philosophy and spiritual ideal, Ubuntu, is native to South African, it is also practiced and recognized in a great deal of sub-Saharan African societies (Oppenheim, 2012). Its existence in different African cultures may have a different name, but the same core of meaning as a guide for humanity exists, according to Oppenheim (2012).

Spirituality, interconnectedness, and collectivism all contribute to this role of self-knowledge. Self-knowledge is achieved when one is aware of their privilege, limitations, and rights. They are aware of society’s perspective of their identity and how they can achieve an identity outside of the one that they are given. Overall, through the achievement of spirituality, interconnectedness, collectivism, and self-knowledge, one can ultimately achieve self-determination. “Who am I? Am I who I say I am? Am I all I ought to be?” One can only answer yes to these questions if they can say they have achieved all values of African

This world can appear to be a very large place when looking at the perspective of the earth on a globe. We notice the many continents and the vast country places, which exist within in it. The blueness of the seas that stretches from one end to the other is overwhelming within itself. It’s an elementary fact that life is prevalent on the dry places on the earth. However, another fact is true. Every society wants to establish its importance along with its reason for living and existing. The people of Umuofia were a people who had a strong belief in their power for oneness. Okonkwo’s people were a society of people who exercised strength and agility. The power of their strength came partly from their cultural beliefs. The clan of

   The burden and calling to reach out and help others, enfold many people in society throughout the world. Rich or poor, young or old, black, red or white, the motive is helping those with a need. As Chinua Achebe points out in his book, Things Fall Apart, though there is the aspiration to lend a hand, it can sometimes become deadly, and even fatal to the lives of people. Although the missionaries try help convert the Ibo village of Umuofia to Christianity, their presence in Africa is harmful to the lives and culture of the Ibo.

It is about understanding each other & moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing & celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual.

Upon our planet Earth as of the 21st century, one hundred ninety-five countries have formed throughout history. Within each country, a menagerie of people of all ethnicities, genders, and sexualities have emerged. Out of all these countries though, only two of which are worth speaking of: The United States of America and Malawi. Separated by nine thousand miles of ocean and land, these two countries have form a mutual beneficial bond that guarantees each a spot in the golden-age of the world. Though culturally, at at a time politically, different, America continues its relationship with The Warm Heart of Africa through thick and thin.

The Ubunto video was about Varty expressing how he learned about the term and how he experienced unbunto in addition to witnessing it on many accounts living in South Africa. He gave two examples, which explained how ubunto is about community. He told his personal story about getting attacked by a crocodile and his friend sully saving his life. Then he told a story about a disabled elephant coming back each season when all the odds were against her. The disabled elephant story was my favorite because it reminded me on many accounts in my military experience. We always had that sense of community. Anytime we had a Marine get hurt, on patrol we would move at his pace, making sure we helped him along the way. Varty describes how the elephants

“People think that computer science is the art of geniuses but the actual reality is the opposite, just many people doing things that build on each other, like a wall of mini stones”. (Knuth, 1968)

In Africa there has also been a rapid growth in Science and Technology but despite this growth, African cultures have kept their personhood. Ubuntu is a system of personhood and therefore in Africa, technology does not define personhood but it is defined through others (Du Toit, 2005).

As you are reading this essay, you are most definitely using a piece of technology whether a laptop or a desktop computer. As we can see in our society, technology is booming in our industry. Every year, technology scientists discover new amazing features that later get implanted into our daily used electronics. These days, one of the most known technology companies like Microsoft and Apple, compete with each other to release what’s best for their customers especially in computers. Apple and Microsoft might be both manufactures and sellers of similar functional computers but, there are many differences in the way their operating systems attract different people with different style. From the different structure of coding, to the same purpose of creating a type of style people feel most comfortable of using. Having a different mechanical structure and it’s components but, with the same functionality it produces. Lastly, getting use to these operating systems on these machines both take time but, which options they provide will depend who’s the buyer.