Our accent is our heritage—proud and strong. We’re not uncivilized;

I won't speak on anything I have not lived or experienced. "We speak the way we speak because we are Africans" — 3'Crown's.

I am drawn to this quote every 24 hours, a gift from God to wake up in this foreign land, the land filled with milk and honey, as everything God created is perfect. As an African child, I am constantly greeted with a look when I speak; "Our language is our identity, and our identity is our power," as Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie reminds us.

The look that always signifies I need to repeat myself and speak slowly to be understood.

The look that signifies I am not from around here, "An alien, maybe? "echoes the words of Julius Nyerere: "To be African is to be resilient, proud, and unbreakable."

Why do Africans get this reaction?

Why is our accent, our heritage, now seen as a joke and a comedic language?

Why does an African child in a foreign land have to change the way we speak before any attention is given to our words?

Do we, as African children, have to hide our accents when speaking in public to be understood?

You see, one common pill, most times hard to swallow, —is that we as African children have this mentality: "The best way to survive and thrive is by fitting in" This is the genesis of our actions and behavior. "The survivor mentality"—which needs to evolve.

Growing up in most African homes, we are raised with this mentality to survive, and it influences our actions and affects our identity, how and when we speak; as Kofi Annan once said, "Your voice is your most powerful weapon. Use it to uplift, to stand tall."

The way we speak as African children from different tribes is a powerful weapon—one that has attracted narratives passed down over many years with the intent of demoralizing Africans to hide their accents, feel ashamed, worried, and be taken as a joke.

I am here to tell you: this is not normal. History proves this over and over again.

The best-known way in which slavery has been implemented is by taking away our identity.

If a person's identity is taken away, it will open the way for a new one to be forced, manipulated or imposed on such a person.

As African children, when we hide our identity and our heritage, we open ourselves up to modern slavery.

If a group of people can influence, change how you speak, and influence your identity just by laughing, what else can they influence with force or fake tears?

It is our responsibility as Africans—born in or exploring foreign lands—to stay true to our cultural accent. It is our heritage and our superpower—one of the attributes that makes us unique among our peers and colleagues.

You see, the fear of being laughed at or ignored is a tactic—a psychological slavery method. When faced with this psychological abuse, we need to address it immediately, speaking up clearly and stating our accent is not a joke, and repeating ourselves confidently with pride.

If we, as Africans, due to fear and the belief that we will be ignored or not taken seriously when speaking with our accent, accept this psychological slavery, we are not only doing so for ourselves but also our children, the next generation.

History shows that psychological slavery often leads back to physical slavery.

Do not let fear stop you from being an African. "Never be afraid to speak your truth; your voice is your strength," Wangari Maathai.

We are not only Africans because of our skin color; we are also Africans because of our accent—our heritage.

We must accept that, just as we learn to understand others’ speech in foreign lands, they can also learn to understand us if they truly want to.

When we get reactions that make us uncomfortable, when we see that all-too-common look for speaking the way we do, it is because we are a unique people.

We hold the power to command attention in every room just by speaking; "Our heritage is our strength; our accents are our pride," Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

There is no better time for an African child to start speaking with their African accent than now. This era is one where attention is the new currency.

We have the power to command attention just by speaking with our accent.

No! we don't have to hide our accent.

No! we don't have to feel ashamed.

No! we don't have to fit in to survive.

The power of language should not be overlooked.

The right combination of language and accent is an extreme power. As Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o emphasizes, "Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going."

As an African child, speaking with your accent grants you the power to be a unique person.

We must not hide even if others try to make us do so.

Our children should not feel ashamed to speak their mother tongue or accent, whether at home or in foreign lands.

As we evolve as African children—educating ourselves to hold our heads high and speak with confidence—our children will follow suit. "Every African child looks up to their parents".

We need to understand that slavery is not only physical but also psychological, starting with the suppression of our identity, and the identity chosen by the oppressor will be manipulated and presented as the normal way of doing things, to demoralize our heritage.

We must stay confident in our accent; it is our heritage and our weapon against modern slavery.

We have the power to choose when we want to be understood and when we don’t.

The African asset—the ability to speak with our unique accent—is one of the greatest powers any African child can possess, and it must be protected.

"A warrior going into battle without his source of power and weapons is only running towards the inevitable, with both eyes closed".

Everything seen as common and accepted today was once new and unaccepted. Once we embrace our African accents and accept that the reason we are laughed at is because we possess the power to command any room just by speaking, the evolution of the African mind can begin. This is the fight against psychological and physical slavery—building a better environment not just for ourselves but for future generations of Africa.

We are Africans. We are unique people.

We cannot be hidden—even if others try.

We don't have to fit in to thrive; the only way to stand out now is to be different.

We are Africans, and we are unique.

We speak the way we do, and it’s beautiful, pleasing, and attractive to any ear.

We have the power.

It’s time to evolve, train, and develop ourselves and our children, mentally and physically, because "We must not be ashamed of our heritage or our accent," Desmond Tutu.

We are Africans, created by God, and everything created by God is perfect.

Let's work.

Written by 3kings and 3'crowns.

God is the greatest teacher

You are not alone, Africa's Children