ISRAEL AS AFRICA, AFRICA AS ISRAEL - DIVINE GEOGRAPHY IN THE PERSONALNARRATIVES AND COMMUNITY IDENTITY OF THE BLACK HEBREW ISRAELITES

A consideration of how identity and knowledge are shaped and played ou t within the Black Hebrew Israelite Community in Dimona, Israel, this article focuses on the Black Hebrews' redrawn map of Africa as their k ey legitimating and motivational symbol. It presents the ''Divine Geog raphy'' of this map as a powerful counter-hegemonic strategy for bring ing what Foucault has called ''subjugated knowledge'' out into the ope n and converting an idea into practical action. Based on participant-o bservation, as well as life-history and focused interviews with Commun ity members, the analysis intertwines narratives and observations to s how how the Black Hebrews have moved beyond resisting racism and an un satisfying identity in America to building their own culture in Israel -as-Africa