Origins and significance of African American historical statements

African-Americans History And Culture

The false and misleading notion that "African-Americans created themselves" completely ignores and invalidates the rich history of those whose ancestry lies in the great African continent. While African-Americans have adopted and incorporated many cultures into their own (not unlike any other cultural group in America) that in no way signifies that African-American's have no culture or history of their own.

"Black people have no history, no heroes, no great moments," this was told to a young Arthur Schomburg by his 5th grade teacher. Schomburg, with both African and Puerto Rican ancestry went on to become a great historian and curator of African-American history; helping to dispel the very "truth" that his teacher tried to feed him about his own history and culture many years prior. The statement that "African-Americans created themselves" simply means that the Black American is devoid of history and a culture to call his own. This statement indicates that African-Americans lack deep ancestral roots or any significant accomplishments to society. For this statement to be true, it would have to apply to all inhabitants of America who cannot call North America their native land.

The statement that "African-Americans created themselves" is very significant in that it bears witness to a mindset by a group of people who seek to devalue the Black American experience and the roots African-Americans have to the great African civilizations. Those who believe that African-American's have no real history, lend no credence to the weight and horror of slavery; which a part of African-American history as are the great accomplishments by blacks in Africa. This is the same mindset that that gave birth to and made it legal to count blacks as three-fifths of a person.

Many great African civilizations existed and have accomplished feats that still astound historians and scientists a like this day. Ethiopia, located in central-east Africa, is the location of the oldest known human ancestors. What this means is that man from all over the world, originated in Africa. Ethiopia is among the oldest independent countries in the world, and the first African country to "print" coins. Ethiopia is the site of many firsts for the world. Archeologists believe that Ethiopia is indeed the site of the origins of humankind. Ethiopia is the site of the world's earliest civilizations, kingdoms and government and among the first to establish agriculture and grain cultivation.

Egypt, another great African civilization stores a deep source of proud history and culture for African-Americans. The Pyramids of Egypt represent one of the greatest archeological feats by man. The Pyramids of Egypt are one of the Seven Wonders of the World and yet, the only to survive to the present day. While having a woman ruler in present day American is still an amazing and far-reaching accomplishment, ancient Egypt had female rulers before the women's movement, Hatshepshut being one of the most famous female pharaoh's. Egypt is credited with the being the origin of instruments such as the flute, oboe, clarinet and trumpet.

Ghana, a West-African civilization was the home of a rich people, who achieved wealth through trade and mining. Ghana actually had a system of taxation that is similar in some ways to the tax system we have today. Ghana was a major hub of trade in ancient times, leveraging control over the Senegal and Niger rivers which were important to commerce during that time.

While all forms of slavery is undesirable despite it being practiced in many civilizations around the world. The particular crime of American slavery was the overt oppressive nature and severe crimes against humanity. Also, the American slavery establishment is much more well-known with documentation that bears witness to the crime. Much of the African slave establishment was not documented and passed down via oral history. The major difference between African and America slavery was the method and the way in which slaves were "harvested." The conditions of the slave trade to America, the condition in which slaves lived and were treated like animals was at the least repressible. This coupled with the white superiority dogma is the clear dividing line between African and American slavery. What anyone seeking to understand African-American history must understand is that black people have and still do to an extent experience racism and derogatory treatment based on nothing more than skin color. So it is difficult to overcome the pain and stigma of a society that at one time embraced slavery as a way of life when those some attitudes and paradigms still remain prevalent today. So this continues to be African-American experience in America. For a black person in the U.S., there are many great accomplishments to applaud, but there is still yet much do be done to gain true equality and to create a society that is indeed, colorblind.