In some of our social media posts, you may have seen the word CHOSSA and wondered what it meant. The short version is it means Children of Stolen and Sold Africans. Henceforth, you’ll see it used interchangeably with Black, when it comes to describing those of us who descend from Africans who were enslaved throughout the Americas. See, the Black to Africa movement isn’t just about a physical relocation, it is a mindset. So, we created the neologism to highlight the pride, unity and strength that comes from being CHOSSA.
HOW IS CHOSSA PRONOUNCED?
CHOSSA is pronounced similar to “chose + a”, but with a hard “s” like Rosa or Sosa (as in Sammy Sosa who, by the way, is also CHOSSA).
WHO IS CHOSSA?
Anyone who descends from people forcibly taken from the African continent and enslaved in what is now known as the United States, Europe, Mexico, or anywhere else in Latin America or the Caribbean is CHOSSA. The name was created as a way to unify all CHOSSA as it matters less where we were dropped off and more where we were taken from. Separating ourselves by us and them when we all come from the same root doesn’t serve us. The so-called “diaspora war” needs a cease fire. It is time we recognize, support and embrace one another as long lost family.
HOW DOES CHOSSA REPRESENT PRIDE?
How can it not? We have nothing to be ashamed of, but everything to be proud of in the ways in which our ancestors endured so that we might someday live. See, European traffickers didn’t find slaves in Africa, they found people. We know this, yet to continue to narrow our forebears down to the title of slave is a shame. To continue identifying them with that title requires us to buy into other people’s opinion of them. Those evil traffickers hated Africans, so of course they used denigrating language to remove their humanity and classify them as property. When we use the word slave, we reinforce the legal fiction that they were someone’s actual property.
We’ve talked before on this blog about the importance of naming when it comes to what we call ourselves and this is not all that different.
Note that the A in CHOSSA describes our ancestors for who they were— Africans! Our people were African mothers, fathers, healers, warriors, historians, artisans, teachers, students, builders, midwives, astronomers, chiefs, cooks, daughters, sons and more. They were fully human and not simply chattel property. Despite being held captive and forced to build other people’s wealth, our ancestors were strong, inventive, soulful, loving, kind, rebellious, hopeful, intelligent, wise and powerful beyond belief. They were people who loved us enough to fight and press on through one of the darkest periods in human history so that we could be born into something better.
By identifying ourselves as CHOSSA, we tell the world that we reject the idea that we come from mere slaves. Instead, we are the heirs of great Africans— great survivors— who may have been enslaved by condition, but that’s not who they were by character. Their strength lives on in us. So, we hold our heads high and we speak fondly of their memory each time we use the word CHOSSA.
HOW DOES CHOSSA REPRESENT UNITY?
Stolen and sold Africans were not just brought to what is today known as the United States. In fact, the majority were taken to Brazil while others were deposited in Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and other regions where they were held captive and forced to work. No matter where our ancestors ended up and where we have citizenry today, we all share one thing in common— Africa! CHOSSA celebrates the history our people have survived and the continent that unites us all. No matter our cultural differences or locales, we declare ourselves family. Our goal is to unify and to do what we can to recognize and support one another globally.
HOW DOES CHOSSA REPRESENT STRENGTH AND RESILIENCE?
Our forebears had to literally go through hell just for us to exist. It took unimaginable strength to survive family separation, rape, physical abuse, mental trauma, harsh labor, inhumane treatment, the stripping of language, culture, religion and so much more. Our ancestors survived, though. And they taught their children and grandchildren how to do the same. They taught all of us how to make something out of nothing and how to keep our spirit and our faith alive even when evil oppressors tried to beat everything out of us. All of that strength and resiliency has been passed down to us and we are grateful to our ancestors for having endured so much. As CHOSSA we remember who we come from and the power we’ve inherited.
ARE YOU TRYING TO CREATE A NEW TRIBE?
Absolutely not! Just like we reject calling our ancestors slaves, we also avoid using the word tribe as much as possible. Understanding that the word is one coined by Europeans to describe people they saw as primitive and savage, we prefer to use people or nation instead of tribe. As CHOSSA, we are like a nation within a nation, but living outside a nation, lol. A nation— in the sense that we are a large group of people originating from the same continent by way of the same history. We are within a nation in that we have a claim to the African continent even though we live outside a nation. Sounds confusing at first, but if you really think about it, it’s true. We are no longer called Africans only because our identity was stripped from us and replaced with words like slave, nigger and negro (or similar titles depending on which country we’re in or languages spoken).
So, while we are not a tribe, we are all a part of CHOSSA Nation!
Hopefully, this has cleared up any questions you may have about what CHOSSA is… or more specifically… who CHOSSA refers to. Now, this doesn’t mean we must abandon any other labels we’ve grown accustomed to. Personally, we use Black and CHOSSA interchangeably. You may choose to go by something else like African-American, Afro-latinx, Black British, Haitian or whatever else. For example, I identify as an American CHOSSA woman. Someone else might be a Cuban CHOSSA man or a Latin CHOSSA. Make no mistake about it, though, we are all CHOSSA!
So there you have the full explanation. What are your thoughts?
If you have any further questions or comments about CHOSSA, please leave them below. Also, please help us spread the word about CHOSSA to help others understand the importance and the pride in using this new descriptor. Let’s keep the conversation going on social, too. In addition to following this blog, we hope you’re also following us on:
Instagram (@blacktoafricamovement)
Twitter (@blacktoafrica)
And the Black to Africa Movement Facebook group.
You may also follow a separate account created for CHOSSA on Instagram at @ChossaNation.
Are you CHOSSA? Do you foresee using this term to describe yourself in the future? Sound off below and let’s discuss!