Individualism
Definition. The thought and practice of individual interests as paramount to and over
and above collective, own-race maintenance interests defines individualism.
Diagnosing. Clinical acumen perhaps buttressed by any of various valid scales
measuring individualism-collectivism and the like not incongruously with Africentric thought
required at this time.
Discussion. Despite vaunted, lodestar status in Western civilization, individualism is the
chancre for personal identity conflict in ADP. Emphasizing one’s uniqueness or difference for
the sake of it, practicing “rugged individualism,” dog in the manger, and looking out for number
one to the detriment of family and race collectives are acutely at variance with mental health
defined Africentrically which is the own-race maintenance human imperative (Azibo, 1991,
1996c; Azibo, Robinson-Kyles, & Johnson, 2013).
It must be pointed out that the individual as such is highly prized in African culture
(Gyekye, 1995, 158-162; Khoapa, 1980; Sutherland, 1997). Africentric individuality is nothing
short of the practice of own-race maintenance idiosyncratically in one’s spheres of operation and
life space. Individuality thus contrasts 180° with individualism. Furthermore, as every
individual has a distinct, idiosyncratically organized peripheral personality structure it can be
seen that collective identification with ADP does not obtund one’s individuality. As Gyekye
puts it “communality does not obliterate individuality” (159). Witness the Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr.-Malcolm X contrast where both prioritized the pursuit of own-race maintenance and
collective African-U.S. identity inimitably (e.g., Maglangbayan, 1979; Wise, 2002). I query the
reader, Is this individualism or individuality?