From Diaspora to Digital Diaspora

The Role of Organized Religion in African American Civil Rights Activism

Maya Bechi, M.Ed
3 min readSep 16, 2023

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I want to dive into a journey through history, exploring the concept of diaspora, the emergence of digital diaspora, and how organized religion has played a role in the quest for civil rights and resources for African Americans over the past two centuries. There is a necessary debate within the black community about the benefits and harm of assimilating to non African religions, so as controversial as it may be, I want to do my best to set a singular focus on a specific segment of church history that elevated resilience, strength, and the power of community.

Defining Diaspora

First things first, what exactly is a diaspora? A diaspora is a term used to describe the dispersion or scattering of a particular group of people from their ancestral homeland. Throughout history, numerous diasporas have occurred due to various factors such as migration, forced displacement, or economic opportunities. One of the most notable diasporas in history is the African diaspora, which saw millions of Africans forcibly brought to the Americas during the transatlantic slave trade.

The Birth of Digital Diaspora

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Maya Bechi, M.Ed

Perfectly imperfect. A myriad of musings, research and writings. Educator, Indie Publisher, Supportive Human. Look me up. www.robsonandpuritan.com