Black orientalism

Black orientalism is an intellectual and cultural movement found primarily within African-American circles. While similar to the general movement of Orientalism in its negative outlook upon Western Asian and North African – especially Arab and Berber – culture and religion, it differs in both its emphasis upon the role of the trans-Saharan slave trade, Indian Ocean slave trade, Red Sea slave trade, and the Coolie slave trade in the historic relationship between sub-Saharan Africa and the Arab – and greater Muslim – world, as well as a lack of colonial promotion over the Middle East and North Africa region as was promoted by European orientalism in the same region. The term "black orientalism" was first used by Kenyan academic Ali Mazrui in his critique of Henry Louis Gates Jr.'s documentary Wonders of the African World. Supporters of this movement include writers such as Chinweizu.