Question: Who is your hero ?

Answer: Encoded deep in the fibres of the twisted double helix, resilience floods the veins and arteries of the African in the diaspora.

Fifty million were uprooted from their West African territories. One-third, endured the injustices and horrors of the 'Middle Passage'. Generations, physically and psychologically subjected to the brutal traumas of colonialism.

Yet today, the African in the Americas and the Caribbean persists. He lives and pursues life.

We are still here.

Buoyed by resilience, we survived slavery and political disenfranchisement. In time, we will overcome their sequels; neo-imperialism and oppressive white economic dominance.

Pierced by the arrows of illiteracy, unabated poverty, institutionalised prejudice, political abuse of trust, imbalanced development policies, we are wounded, distracted, hindered, but not defeated.

Resilience rises above the attempts to sabotage black pride, and we slowly learn to walk again in self-love.

Nations compete for short-lived accolades of military, economic and technological prowess. They are blind to the real source of power.

Hybrid New World cultures, steeped in African origins, fascinate and magnetise the world, discreetly invading, permeating, influencing, converting.

In time, Africa triumphs.