Contrary to popular belief, the history of Black people did not begin with slavery. It began with the dawn of civilization on the continent of Africa. A seminary student once asked his professor, "Which of the people in the Bible were black?" The professor answered, "It's probably easier to tell you which ones weren't black." The Middle East is the location of most of the stories in the Bible and is located in Western Asia and Northern Africa, with no clear boundaries. Historically the term, Middle East, is used to present a Eurocentric perspective of history. One which denies the African and Asian influences on culture and religion.
Black American history is also African history. Much of the Black History taught in schools is incomplete at best or completely inaccurate. When I was in school, the Virginia and US History books may have devoted anything from a paragraph to a full page on the topic of slavery. It was usually buried in the 'glorious' account of how the proud southerners took up arms to defend their right to their way of life. A way of life that was being threatened by the advances of those northern Yankees.
That history usually stated that slaves were brought to America from Africa after being sold by their relatives. Though often not implicitly stated that history painted a picture of slaves being 'saved' from the savagery of their own people that could include cannibalism. And that our godless ancestors who ran around naked and worshiped trees were being rescued from Africa, civilized, and introduced to Christianity. With such negative images, it's no wonder that many Black people wanted nothing to do with Africa or embracing their African ancestors. 'Darkest Africa' was viewed as a place where the natives were just a little higher than animals. These images were exaggerated in Minstrel Shows with blackface, as well as in movies and on television. These were lies.
The truth is that slaves were not brought to America. African men, women, and children were brought to America. They were midwives and healers, students and teachers, farmers and herdsmen, and kings and queens. Our ancestors were forced into a system of chattel slavery that was different from any other type of slavery in the world. There had always been slavery in every part of the world. Persons could be enslaved to pay off a debt or to pay for a crime. Families were usually kept together and the debt was to be paid only by the enslaved person. But in chattel slavery, the slave had no rights, they were considered property and were enslaved for life. Their children and grandchildren were also enslaved and families were routinely ripped apart and sold separately as any livestock.
Our ancestors were stripped of their names, language, culture, and way of life. They were captured and chained in the cargo hold of ships for the purpose of being sold for profit. Those who were weak or sick were usually thrown overboard. Their lives were considered so cheap that it was more profitable to collect the insurance for lost 'cargo' than to feed and care for those Africans who were sick, weak, or old.
For years Black History has been 'whitewashed' (pun intended) and skimmed over. Knowing where we came from and our difficult past is nothing to be ashamed of, but to be embraced. When we know where we came from and what our ancestors survived, we realize that survival is in our DNA. Our history is about a strength and determination that made our ancestors want to survive, even with the uncertainty of their lives and the lives of their family members. Their faith in a better tomorrow and hope for better times sustained them through the middle passage and almost 250 years, around seven generations, of slavery. And our history is a story of a people still struggling to be considered equal members of the human race even today; 400 years after our first ancestors were brought here.
This is my version of the Beginnings of Black History.
Black American history is also African history. Much of the Black History taught in schools is incomplete at best or completely inaccurate. When I was in school, the Virginia and US History books may have devoted anything from a paragraph to a full page on the topic of slavery. It was usually buried in the 'glorious' account of how the proud southerners took up arms to defend their right to their way of life. A way of life that was being threatened by the advances of those northern Yankees.
That history usually stated that slaves were brought to America from Africa after being sold by their relatives. Though often not implicitly stated that history painted a picture of slaves being 'saved' from the savagery of their own people that could include cannibalism. And that our godless ancestors who ran around naked and worshiped trees were being rescued from Africa, civilized, and introduced to Christianity. With such negative images, it's no wonder that many Black people wanted nothing to do with Africa or embracing their African ancestors. 'Darkest Africa' was viewed as a place where the natives were just a little higher than animals. These images were exaggerated in Minstrel Shows with blackface, as well as in movies and on television. These were lies.
The truth is that slaves were not brought to America. African men, women, and children were brought to America. They were midwives and healers, students and teachers, farmers and herdsmen, and kings and queens. Our ancestors were forced into a system of chattel slavery that was different from any other type of slavery in the world. There had always been slavery in every part of the world. Persons could be enslaved to pay off a debt or to pay for a crime. Families were usually kept together and the debt was to be paid only by the enslaved person. But in chattel slavery, the slave had no rights, they were considered property and were enslaved for life. Their children and grandchildren were also enslaved and families were routinely ripped apart and sold separately as any livestock.
Our ancestors were stripped of their names, language, culture, and way of life. They were captured and chained in the cargo hold of ships for the purpose of being sold for profit. Those who were weak or sick were usually thrown overboard. Their lives were considered so cheap that it was more profitable to collect the insurance for lost 'cargo' than to feed and care for those Africans who were sick, weak, or old.
For years Black History has been 'whitewashed' (pun intended) and skimmed over. Knowing where we came from and our difficult past is nothing to be ashamed of, but to be embraced. When we know where we came from and what our ancestors survived, we realize that survival is in our DNA. Our history is about a strength and determination that made our ancestors want to survive, even with the uncertainty of their lives and the lives of their family members. Their faith in a better tomorrow and hope for better times sustained them through the middle passage and almost 250 years, around seven generations, of slavery. And our history is a story of a people still struggling to be considered equal members of the human race even today; 400 years after our first ancestors were brought here.
This is my version of the Beginnings of Black History.