5 Things People Still Get Wrong about Slavery

African American Freedom Fighters

I've just seen this very interesting article about slavery misconceptions.  I know that in school, children used to be taught that the enslaved were docile and "happy on the plantation".  But does this belief still persist today?  Please post your thoughts in the comments section below.  

I am delighted that Brother Tony Warner of London Black History Walks will be joining me as my guest on my Success Strategies podcast/online radio show on 4th March.  Please join us for this show, as I am sure he will be dropping many, many fascinating Black history facts and telling us about his new book, Black History Walks in London Volume 1.  

Plus go here for loads more Black history blog posts.  

See also:  The Breathtaking Courage of Harriet Tubman.  

See also:  The Legacy of Violence of the British Empire. 

Please share this with your networks.  

What was your most surprising or unusual Black history fact?  Please comment below.  

Success Strategies with Zhana: What's on Your Mind?

Kamala Harris

At the time of recording, the result of the U.S. election had just been announced - a few minutes before we went on air, we found out Joe Biden was the new President, with Kamala Harris his new VP.  Listen below for more. 

What do you think about this?  What prospects does a Biden Presidency hold for our communities? 

Did you listen to our Election Day Roundtable?  Or our Post-Election Roundtable? 

Meanwhile, here in the UK, we are back in lockdown due to the coronavirus covid-19.  How do you feel about this?  Will it work to stem the rise of covid-19?  And what will it do to the economy? 

 

This scientist says the pandemic is over in the UK.  I find this fascinating.  What do you think? 

Our caller from Ghana told us the President of Tanzania had tested a papaya - and it had been found covid-positive.  

Plus:  Before Black History Month in the UK, why was there so much Black programming?  What are your thoughts?  

Go here to listen. 

Please share this with your networks and please leave your comments below.  Thanks.  

 

Patrick Vernon on the Importance of Black History Month

In this video, a panel including activist and campaigner Patrick Vernon discuss the importance and relevance of Black History Month/African Heritage Month.

If you have seen the documentary More than a Month, you know that this debate continues in the United States, where it was found that the way Black history was taught in schools focused on a few signicant figures.  People such as Harriet Tubman, Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks featured prominently, as so they should.  But Black history did not begin with slavery.

Although this approach to Black history is wholly inadequate, when there was no attempt made to recognise Black History Month, Black history was not acknowledged or taught at all.

Therefore, Black history is still very relevant, and although there is no need to confine it to one single month, Black History Month/African Heritage Month serves as a signpost towards greater knowledge and understanding, both here in Britain and in the United States.  . 

I am keen to share Black history as far and wide as I can.  Therefore, please share this with your networks and please leave your comments below.

Please also share these Black history links.

Please also share my short film about Harriet Jacobs and Harriet Tubman.

Samuel L. Jackson Says "12 Years A Slave" Is Proof That Hollywood Still Isn't Ready To Deal with Racism

Samuel L. Jackson is quoted as saying that 12 Years a Slave is proof that Hollywood only wants to deal with the past - not the present.  

I have to disagree.  12 Years a Slave is not just about the past.  There are a lot of lessons in this film about the roots of modern-day racism.  This is one reason I am so glad the film was made, and why I think everyone should see it.  In order to understand the present, we need to have knowledge of the past. 

Jackson went on to say, "I'm glad 12 Years got made and it's wonderful that people are seeing it and there is another view of what happened in America".  But this is missing the point - it's not just what happened in America.  Similar things happened in Africa and the Caribbean, and we are still dealing with the consequences of this now.  Click here to read more of Jackson's comments.  

Click here for my analysis of 12 Years a Slave.   The brutalization inflicted on Black peple during slavery still has implications and still affects us today. 

Click here to read my review of The Black Jacobins, C.L.R. James's classic study of slavery and revolution in the French Caribbean.  

You want a context for what happened to Trayvon?  Read The Black Jacobins, an analysis of the Haitian Revolution, and see 12 Years a Slave.   

Want to know why a reporter confused Samuel L. Jackson with Lawrence Fishburne?  There is a scene that relates directly to this in 12 Years a Slave. 

As African people, we need to get over this tribalistic view of the world.  We are facing similar challenges, wherever we are, and we share a common history.  This Black History Month/ African Heritage Month, let us remember our common history and work towards our common goals. 

Spike Lee, African American Filmmaker Entrepreneur

Spike Lee is a filmmaking genius and undisputed trailblazer. He changed the face of Hollywood. 

And when Lee had trouble getting the studio to fund his Malcolm X film, he raised money from prominent members of the Black community. 

Click here to read more about Spike Lee. Plus check out his Black History Month Quote of the Day. 

Click here for more about Black business success.

Slavery by Another Name

The documentary Slavery by Another Name is being screened as part of the Black History Month Youth Film Series at the Schomburg.  

For this and more Black History Month events, see Black History/Cultural Events.  

Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book by Douglas A. Blackmon, and narrated by Laurence Fishburne, Slavery by Another Name is a documentary that squares off against one of America's most common misconceptions: that slavery ended with the Emancipation Proclamation. The documentary tells the story of new systems of indentured and involuntary servitude that took its place and lasted well into the 20th century. 

This film gives a voice back to a largely forgotten population of victims and perpetrators (including interviews with their living descendants today). This screening is part of a week-long series of films for young audiences that capture a diversity of voices on the African-American Experience. All films are followed by a discussion by the filmmakers, scholars, or Schomburg educators.  

For this and more Black History Month events, see Black History/Cultural Events. 

The only problem I have with this film is that it suggests that this practice is not still going on.  For more about this, see:  Prisoners Provide Cheap Labour for Microsoft.  

Why Focus on History?

It was lovely to see several young people at the Black History Studies event the other night, "Slavery Is Not Our History".   More about this event soon. 

One young man asked the important question (and I am paraphrasing):  given the pressures on young people today, what is the point of focusing on history? 

As you can imagine, there was a lot to say about this. 

Mark Simpson of BHS referred to Sankofa:  in order to move forwards, you have to look backwards.  In order to know where we are going, we need to know where we have been. 

Charmaine Simpson, also of BHS, pointed out that many of the issues we face today originated in the enslavement of our ancestors.

I talked about the importance of identity.  Without knowledge of our history and of who we are, it is easy for us to become confused.  

Click here for more Black history events.  

Click here for even more Black history events, with Black History Studies and London Black History Walks. These events are held year-round. 

It is vital that you share this information with young people and parents. 

And always, always Remember Your Greatness.  

Black History: Ebony Goddess and Black Fighter Pilots of World War 2

October is Black History Month in the UK, and I am listing some BHM events on Nurture Success.  

Click here for Next Black History Events.  They include Ebony Goddess and Black Fighter Pilots of World War, two  presentations by London Black History Walks.  These presentations are held every month of the year, not just in October.  

Click here for my review of Black Heroes of WWII, a previous presentation by London Black History Walks.  

Black History Studies is also holding a season of Black history events this month - and every month - including, on Monday 8th October, a screening of the film More than a Month.  

For more details, see Next Black History Events.  

And always, always Remember Your Greatness. 

Egyptian Activists Inspired by Martin Luther King Comic

While the world's political pundits debate the role the United States has played in the historical events presently occurring in Egypt, one activist is crediting a specific American with playing a part in inspiring a generation of Egyptians to take to the streets in a nonviolent protest that has changed the course of their nation.

In a recent newsletter to supporters of the American Islamic Congress, Ziada indicated that the translated Martin Luther King comic book had been identified as contributing to the air of peaceful revolution in Egypt. The Fellowship for Reconciliation agreed. Ziada shared this anecdote in her communique:


Click here to read more.

Click here for the What U Need to Know radio show. This month, we were joined by Black History Studies.

Click here for more African cultural events, plus Black history quizzes and more.

Booker T. Washington Quote

The Vocal Expressions blog is posting quotations for Black History Month. Click here for a great quote from Booker T. Washington.

Booker T. Washington was a firm believer in economic empowerment for the Black community. He was a major inspiration for the African American filmmaker Oscar Micheaux. Click here to read more.

Click here for the What U Need to Know radio show. Saturday 12th Feb, 7 p.m. UK time. If you miss it, you can still hear the recording.

This month, we shall be joined by Black History Studies, a London-based group. You WILL want to hear what they have to say.

Heroic Black Women

Check out this great video from Brother T. of London Black History Walks: Heroic Black Women.

Click here for more about London Black History Walks. They put on some awesome events every month.

Click here for the What U Need to Know radio show. This month, we will be looking at Black History Month (which, for us, is every month). Saturday 12th Feb, 2 p.m. EST, 7 p.m. UK time.

Click here for my two Black history quizzes. I will be adding more.

Enjoy Black History Month - every month!

Wordpower Literature Festival 2010

Centerprise Bookshop is holding events throughout the month of October as part of the Wordpower International Black Literature Festival. We will be interviewing Emmanuel Amevor from Centerprise today on my radio show, What U Need to Know, at 7 p.m. UK time, 2 p.m. EDT. Click here to listen .

If you miss the live broadcast, click here to listen to the recording

We will be broadcasting live from the NAACP march on Washington for Jobs, Justice and Education.

Our other guest will be Jamaican writer Yvonne Archer, author of Life According to Maas Roy. I hope you will join us.

Click here for more BHM events.

First Black Woman to Win the Pulitzer Prize?

Who was the first African American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for literature? For the answrs to these and other Black history questions, visit: Black History International. I am changing these frequently throughout Black History Month, so grab them quick!

The Black Queen, Charlotte Sophia

Happy Black History Month/African Heritage Month, everybody!

Of course, some people say every month is Black History Month.

What was the relationship between the Black Queen, Charlotte Sophia, and Queen Victoria?

I will be publishing Black history questions and answers over at Black History International. I will update these frequently, so please keep coming back.

The Courage of One Man

As I'm sure you are aware, Hotel Rwanda is the story of the courage of one man, Paul Paul Rusesabagina, who stood up as an individual at a time when group mentality threatened his life, and hundreds of thousands of people were killed. Rusesabagina saved the lives of hundreds of people during the Rwandan genocide. There are other stories of individual courage we have not yet been told.

To read more, see Hotel Rwanda.

See also Black History International.

I talk about the individual vs. the group in my ebooks What They Don't Want Us to Know and The Key to Everything.

Black History International

This year, with the election of President Obama, we have more to celebrate than usual. Check out this article about Black History International.

It includes

• Harriet Tubman


• Harriet Jacobs


• Rosa Parks


• Malcom X

African and African American freedom fighters, writers, entertainers and more.

President Obama is aware of the history of Kenya and how it affected his family. To read more, visit Obama's Inauguration.

Check it out: Black History International.

Black History Virtual Book Fair

Ella D. Curry of the Black Authors Network has launched her second annual Black History Virtual Book fair, which celebrates African American cultural heritage.

Storytellers, librarians, historians, teachers, parents and motivational speakers are invited to participate in this event, the theme of which is "Give the Gift of Knowledge".

To read more, visit: http://www.edc-creations.com/blackhistorybookfairthemes.html

Elvis Costello and Smokey Robinson

Channel surfing the other day, I came across a programme in which Elvis Costello was interviewing Smokey Robinson on stage at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem. Two music legends in conversation.

It was a magical moment. Smokey told the story of when he met Ray Charles for the first time and Charles helped him out of a difficult situation. In fact, it would have been a disaster had it not been for Charles's intervention. Read all about it at Celebrating the Legend that Is Motown.

Smokey also talked about working with Marvin Gaye and how he "Marvinised" every song he sang - he made every song his own.

In this Black History Month/African Heritage Month, we may be very aware of the suffering we have endured and our fight for survival. It's also important to remember and celebrate the good times.

Then I saw the end credits. And who produced this TV gem? Among others, David Furnish and Sir Elton John.

Black History: Poetry, Music, Art

On Sunday 26th October, 2008, UK's Most Wanted presents its Black History programme. As the author of Black Success Stories, I will be speaking on The Importance of Our African Cultural Heritage.

I hope you will be able to join us.

Every month, the UK 's Most Wanted programme includes spoken word, music and an art exhibition.

Time: 4:00-8:00 p.m.

Place: Redstar, 319 Camberwell Road, Camberwell Green,

London SE5 0HQ

Cost: £7 or free with a leaflet.

For more info, phone 07727 214 047

To read interviews with African Caribbean artists on their responses to the Bicentenary of the end of the Transatlantic trade, visit:

www.kuumba-survivors.com

For more BHM arts events, visit: http://groups.msn.com/BlackBooksStuff/events.msnw

Do Black People Know Our History?

My guest on tonight's show is Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, founder of the Law and Policy Group and author of Race, Law and American Society 1607-Present. She has a lot to say about Black history and how the law has affected us in Britain and the U.S.A.

I had a fascinating conversation with Gloria last night. She lectures in law in New York City and she told me that some of her students from Caribbean backgrounds were not aware that slavery had even happened there - they thought African people were indigenous to their islands. They had never been taught about slavery. (These are NOT Jamaicans, she assures me.)

Similarly, I was told by a previous guest, Tony Warner, that people in African countries are not aware of their history because the education system does not tell them about it. Click here to read more about that.

Tonight's show is going to be lively, informative and thought-provoking. I hope you will join us at 8:00 p.m. UK time. Click here to join us.