(Audio option)
The African American History and who black people are has so much history behind it and it even dwindles down to modern times and affects the Black community and their everyday life.
In lieu of the recent events that have happened in our country, I have been taking the time to expand my knowledge and learn as a black woman who we are and what we stand for. Before the recent matter of George Floyd I have been studying the African American Culture in history as well as modern times, and Racial and Cultural Diversity in American Life and History. A lot of insight has been shed with regard to everything being studied and what is happening right now.
Historical Facts
According to Dr. James Anderson – Professor at the University of Illinois, Race and Cultural Diversity are always interwoven into issues of discrimination, a history of oppression, and a legacy of the continuing effects of past discrimination. This is said to be the case when it comes to the Black community.
Going back in history, African Americans are largely the descendants of slaves. Slaves are people who were brought from their African homelands by force to work in the new world. The history of blacks in the United States began in 1619 when 20 Africans came to the English Colony of Virgina. As more came to the United States their rights were severely limited and for a long time they were denied an equal and rightful share in the economic, social, and political affairs of our Country. In 1790 blacks numbered almost 760,000 and made up nearly one-fifth of the population of the United States.
In the 21st Century, more than 36 million African Americans lived in the South. Slavery was never widespread in the North, hence why there were so many of them in the South. Slavery became so damaging to their identity! Let’s look at an example. Let’s say you and your family are snatched out of your home, put into chains, put on a boat and brought thousands of miles to an unknown continent. You’re sitting on the boat and you’re seeing friends and family that you know, 75% of the people on the boat die. You watch them being thrown off the boat, treated as if they are nothing!
Now, the ones who survive are brought onto the land into slavery. You are beaten into submission. You see them take the strong men – Uncles, brothers, cousins, seeing them mutulated, beaten, and raped! They took away your history, your identity, your whole life! They separated families onto different plantations because they didn’t want the families to know each other anymore so that they could lose their history. They didn’t want a mother or father telling their children where they really came from. Let’s say your family who came from whatever country in Africa, they were a generation of a tribe that specializes in agriculture. The slave owners wanted that to be forgotten, your language forgotten, your history forgotten, or the mere fact that you’re an actual human being FORGOTTEN! Imagine being told that you were MADE to be a slave.
Think about the mental agony from this. It is a miracle African Americans even made it out of slavery. Thanks to the god-embedded notion in our hearts that we are humans, we never stopped trying to escape, we never stopped trying to learn, to the point when even when it was illegal for a black person to even know how to read, somehow we still figured it out. We then made the Underground Railroads to escape slavery. Slavery eventually was abolished after the civil war with the Emancipation Proclamation which we are all familiar with in 1863. I have not even scratched the surface of the pain and suffering mentally and physically that occurred during slavery and AFTER slavery.
African Americans Today
We have been through it, and are STILL going through it! Though we have made valuable contributions to society such as food, music, science, different accomplishments and discoveries we are still suffering! Although we have come pretty far thanks to the fight we have put up, we still are facing a race problem, and are still somewhat being treated like animals just like we were back in the days of slavery. As Al Sharpton has said at the memorial of George Floyd, we are still waiting for the people who oppress us and discriminate against us to “get their knee off of our necks”! What is sometimes denied but what must be recognized and come to an end is indeed the racial discrimination against the black community and us being labelled as “threats”.
Colin Kaepernick, NFL Football Player has voiced numerous times that he will not stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people! His stance was powerful! We still have people fighting and their voices getting louder against this oppression and hate being shown! Why?! The systematic infrastructure that put its knees on the necks of black Americans has never been lifted.
For example, if you see a black person walking towards you at night, you will go and cross the street, or clench your purse a little tighter just out of the pure view that black man is a threat! You have some black bosses who are making LESS money than the employee that is working under him or her, and this is present in 2020! To put it bluntly, it is difficult being black in America! We have to deal with systematic racism all over! We are stereotyped, we are labelled! For us if one of our people gets killed, the only consequence sometimes that person who did the killing gets, is getting fired! We can’t relax because we are living in a country that puts race and prejudice in everything! It makes us name our child, it’s what makes us decide on a “good neighborhood”. It even determines who we say “what up” to and who we say “hello” too. We can’t help it! We are simply judged by the color of our skin!
I encourage you to see the below links to the different courses on African American Culture as well as a course on Racial and Cultural Diversity. Please educate yourself so you can learn to speak up about what is wrong in our society and stand with us as we continue this fight!
“You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes. You may kill me with your hatefulness, but still like air, I’ll rise.” – Maya Angelou
African American Studies From Emancipation to the Present https://oyc.yale.edu/african-american-studies/afam-162
Racial and Cultural Diversity in American Life and History https://www.coursera.org/learn/race-cultural-diversity-american-life
Melissa says
This is an incredible resource that the world needs at all times. I love the links you provided. Thank you for putting this out there.
Lisa says
African Americans, and black communities, are experiencing so much right now. Just know, that you’re not alone in your struggle, and we support you 100%.
Amber Myers says
Thank you for this! I always love to learn more and I think it’s important. Sadly, history books don’t tell it all. I know I am raising my kids to be kind to everyone.
Tara Pittman says
This is info that I will have to share with others. We need to learn about our history
Aiyna says
I loved this! At this very moment the world needs posts like this. Very educational and thank you for the links that you posted. I will be taking a look at all of those today.
Jessica Collazo says
I’m a white Caribbean or at least that is my classification in this skin tone thing people call Race. I’m actually a white Puerto Rican but in front of any White Person in United States, I’m just a Puertorrican, a Latina a “speak”. I’ve seen racism in United States more that I’ve seen it in the Caribbean even though there’s a lot of colorism in the Caribbean. But what strikes me the most is the term African-American. I don’t want to be disrespectful but I always thought that that term is separating Black Americans from being called simply as what you are,Americans. When you come to Puerto Rico for vacation people don’t see you as African-American they see you as an American they respect you. I’ve always seen that term of African-Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, as a way to exclude you for the whole nation. I even see Americans as a silly name because Americans are the people that live in the continent of America not only in the United States alone. I’m used to see interracial relationships, I used to see black people in my family. I even have black nephews. I don’t see why this discrimination have to continue in this world especially in the United States. A nation that prouds it selve as being modern and being powerful. When I saw George Floyd’s video I was crying. My heart what’s broken in half. I couldn’t internalize why this man was killed that way. That horrible way and history shows that’s discrimination has always been there. It’s so sad but we have to eradicate that. We have to love each other because we are all humans we are creatures of God, sons of God. Since I was a little girl I learn a song at church. And everytime I see I hate crime like this I always sing it to myself. It Says:
“De que color es la piel de Dios?
De que color es la piel de Dios?
Si de negra,amarilla,roja o balnca es.
Todos son Iguales a los ojos de Dios.”
Wish translates:
“What’s God’s skin color?
What’s God’s skin color?
If it is black, yellow, red or white
We are all the same in God’s eyes.”
We have to make a change. We have to love everybody. We have to support each other.
Because God loves us all.
LaRena Fry says
I wish more people would study their history. I also think that Colin Kaepernick should get his job back, back pay, and a huge apology. I am hoping and praying that true change happens. Thank you for all the information and the links.
amberl.hurley says
Agreed!! Thanks for reading!
successunscrambled says
Amber, it is true that racial discrimination is still being practised to a large extent in America and it is so sad. Who knows how much longer it will take for this attitude to cease and for everyone to be treated equally. Education is the key but that takes time and patience.
Heather @ US Japan Fam says
When you read it like that, it seems too horrible to be true. Some outlandish historical fiction movie. It’s absolutely heartbreaking and shameful to know in fact it’s the truth. The injustice is so deeply rooted in our country and our culture, it’s hard to see a way out of it, but we have to. There have been strides made here and there – slavery abolition, desegregation, etc. But clearly we are not even close to the true equality we need for our country. I hope this movement doesn’t slow down, and really pushes us all to dig deep and make HUGE changes!!
amberl.hurley says
Thank you for reading!
joanna says
It is so sad that in 2020 racism still exists and people are still judging others based on the way they look. It is so wrong!
Marta says
This is a very informative post. I love the links you shared. This what we need now so we can listen and learn and in the end do better for everybody.
WorldInEyes says
The history is so deep and very interesting..i have read little about the history before but your blog cleared that all..Thanks for this..it is really very heart touching and inspiring…hoping for good things ahead..🙂
Jessica Joachim says
I feel like people like to “forget” the negative side of history. We like to say that America is so wonderful and free, but we are quick to forget the dark side and I think that it is important to talk about and learn from.
Levi Bastian Redcross says
Not many people can stay so true to the facts. This is a very sensitive subject that makes most people emotional. While it’s okay to share and speak on your emotions, I am supersized that you were able to speak you mind using sited sources. Well done.
Michelle Cooke says
This is such a great read! Thank you for sharing babe!! 💪🏾✊🏾
Michelle Cooke says
This is such a great read! Thank you for sharing babe!! 💪🏾✊🏾
Nyxie says
Thank you so much for this post. I’ve been spending a great deal of time educating myself on black history and it’s been so eye-opening!
Candy Rachelle says
I honestly believe we have THE MOST history of any race out there. We’ve been there since the beginning of time and we’re still going strong!
Candy Rachelle
Keeping Up With Candy
http://www.keepingupwithcandy.com
Sara says
Thank you so much for taking the time to write this powerful and important message. I listened to your interview with Living with Landyn and found myself saying “ I wish all my friends could here this, this women is phenomenal!” You did an amazing job helping me, a white mom of three, engage more deeply in this movement. From the bottom of my heart thank you. #amovementnotamoment