Did you know that ancient African people were the first people to observe the nighttime sky and to chronicle their observations? They noticed that the stars rose from East to West just like the sun. And through their observations they were able to define time. In fact there are Kemetic solar calendars in Egypt (formally called Kemet) documenting these discoveries. They also accurately calculated the circumference of the earth. Greek scientist Claudius Ptolomy spent decades in Kemet studying at the feet of African scholars. His works represented everything ancient Greeks knew about astrology. Modern astrology is based on his writings. In Africa there were the Fathers and Mothers of advanced science, spiritual ideas and practices — writing, mathematics, philosophy, art, medicine, architecture, biology, chemistry, and astronomy. After more than 3,000 years of relative peace and prosperity, Alexander of Macedon a Greek general wasn’t satisfied with solely gaining ancient knowledge from Kemet. He wanted to control the entire civilization. It was renamed Egypt and all those years of ancient indigenous knowledge was taken under European control. You know what they say, to the victor goes the spoils. And the winner gets to write the history we come to accept as facts. Even if fabricated. Your research results might reveal that ancient Africans would throw bones in the air and whichever way they fell is how they knew the time. 😭 Which is hilarious if ignorant stereotypes are your humor. Lord knows I was tickled at how wicked this sh*t can get. But that’s egregiously ignorant and untrue. Protect ya neck!! Melanated people really ruling out here. And if you’re paying attention, you might see history repeating itself. 👀
Black History 365 | # 117 Toussaint Louverture
Did you know Francois-Dominique Toussaint Louverture led a successful slave revolt and emancipated the French colony of Saint-Domingue (Haiti)? He is known as the most prominent leader of the Haitian Revolution. He was knighted and recognized as a general as he demonstrated extraordinary military ability throughout many battles. In 1802 he was invited to “parley,” by French General Jean-Baptiste Brunet after the French were defeated, but was tricked and arrested upon his arrival. He was deported and jailed, tortured, and killed in 1803. Kinda clowned out for that a bit 🤷🏾♂️. Still Haiti has had the largest and most successful slave rebellion in the Western Hemisphere.
Black History 365 | # 116 Martin Luther King, Jr. & El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X)
Did you know Martin Luther King Jr & Malcolm X only met one time? Yes. On March 25, 1964 King and Malcolm were both on Capitol Hill watching a Senate hearing regarding legislation aimed at ending segregation in public places and racial discrimination in employment. As King was wrapping up a press conference, he was approached by X, and the two shook hands and exchanged greetings. As cameras clicked away, Malcolm expressed his desire to become more active, saying, “I’m throwing myself into the heart of the civil rights struggle.” Malcolm X was assassinated one month short of a year later. Martin Luther King, assassinated 4 years later. Two sides of the same coin.
Black History 365 | # 115 Bayard Rustin
This is Bayard Rustin. He was the man responsible for organizing and strategizing the March on Washington in August 1963. He had so-called controversial ties to communism and was also a gay man and was considered too much of a liability to be in the front line of the movement. A lot of that is credited to Martin Luther King. Behind the scenes he was known as one of the most brilliant minds in the movement. Rustin broke from the Communist Party when it gave unwavering support to Joseph Stalin; but unlike many former so-called Communists who later flipped to so-called rightwing politics, Rustin remained a committed so-called socialist for the rest of his life. Socialism is rooted in the belief that in an economic system whatever industries that are owned by private businesses should be owned by the workers. Rustin was the man behind the “I Have A Dream” speech. However MLK did regret this speech. Reflecting upon it he feared he was integrating his people into a burning house. He felt that America was not being true to what America’s founding father’s wrote on paper. His perspective started to change. He was assassinated within 24 hours of making his last speech “I’ve Been To The Mountaintop”. Mr. Rustin’s involvement behind Martin’s change of heart is not nentioned nor is this last speech highlighted.
Black History 365 | #114 Reies Lopez Tijerina
Are you familiar with the Chicano leader Reies Lopez Tijerina? He formed the Federal Alliance of Land Grants in 1962. And in June 1967 he led an armed takeover of a New Mexico courthouse where a prison guard was shot and Deputy Sheriff was injured. This thrust him into the national spotlight and he became the catalyst for an entire generation of activists. One year before the Tierra Amarilla Courthouse Raid, Tijerina and the Alianza organized peaceful protests in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. He is quoted as saying “They stole our land and gave us powdered milk!” Two months after his armed takeover he reached out to hold a meeting to explore Black and Brown unity. Virtually every major Black Power organization sent a representative. It was the Treaty of Peace, Harmony, and Mutual Assistance. The Treaty was a seven-part pact which acknowledged a mutual respect and a cooperative alliance. In this pact there are articles stating that both peoples will not make false propaganda of any kind whatsoever against each other, either by SPEECH or WRITING. Never to permit violence or hate. To cure and remedy the historical errors and differences that exist between the two peoples. Chicano activists after this claimed that the Black and Chicano communities oppression, dreams, and demands are one. This was published in the La Raza’s newspaper in 1968. I’m not sure of the lasting impact of this treaty. You tell me what you see in the world today if we’re united or not. At the time however, this treaty and new position of togetherness was a considerable shift from previous Mexican American generations who were openly assimilationist and sought to assert Mexican identity as European. In conclusion written in the treaty is that this pact would be valid between Black and Brown people as long as the Sun and Moon shall shine. ☀️ 🌙