Counterclockwise

This is an exploratory analysis into the counterintuitive nature of cultural values, beliefs, and behaviors to uncover the Darkside of culture. How acquiescing and conformity to pre-established cultural precepts can lead to intolerance, marginalization, oppression, and cultural insularity against others. It uncovers how the Darkside of culture is a double edge sword that traumatizes and dehumanizes both women and men participating on either side of cultural events as victims, perpetrators, onlookers, or cultural custodians. Through discussions, we uncover how enculturation and socialization in the post-colonial era imposes a divisive definition of femininity and masculinity. It shows how unchecked power and privilege, domination, gender-based abuse, violence, servitude, and self-deprecation are misrepresented as pathways to self-actualization. We explored how this divisiveness have severely damaged the interactions and relationships between women and men of African descent in patrilineal societies with collectivistic cultures.
It narrates how from an early age individuals are indoctrinated, conditioned and manipulated by the fear of being ostracized or called a failure to acquiesce, conform, and internalize weaponize ideologies, norms, and practices that perpetrate violence, injustice, inequities, and abuse. It exposes how despite the change in laws in some instances, it will take only a change in individual mindset to deconstruct the psychological, mental, and moral bondage from weaponized, flawed, and harmful pre-established cultural precepts. This book is a personal growth journal of women and men of African ancestry at home and in the diaspora who overcame the fear of cultural retribution and triumphed with a change in mindset. Summarily, this an introspective look into the Darkside of culture with a focus on contemporary African culture.