Defining the African Diaspora Requires Careful Consideration

The U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit highlighted differing perspectives on the definition of the African diaspora. Reporting on these discrepancies was primarily conducted by students participating in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Africa Correspondents Corps.

Summit Discussions on Diaspora Definitions

During the summit, government officials presented a broad and unified definition of the African diaspora. However, some Africanist scholars noted a developing distinction between what they termed the “old” and “new” diaspora by the summit’s conclusion.

Emergence of the “New” Diaspora Narrative

The summit underscored the rise of narratives that define the African diaspora as a “new” diaspora. This group is characterized by recent, middle-class economic migrants and social and economic entrepreneurs. Descendants of enslaved Africans, often referred to as the “old” diaspora, are largely excluded from this emerging narrative.

Political and Economic Considerations

The “new” diaspora narrative aligns with a portrayal of the United States as a land of economic opportunity and prosperity, seemingly detached from its history of slavery and colonialism. This image is being promoted both domestically and internationally. The growing political influence of this “new” diaspora has led to increased engagement from both Republican and Democratic political parties.