SLAVERY ABOLISHED IN ENGLAND BEFORE U.S.

From: Black Saga: The African-American Experience by Charles M. Christian

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Murray,_1st_Earl_of_Mansfield

"On June 22, 1772, Chief Justice Lord Mansfield abolished slavery in ENGLAND and thereby gave immediate freedom to 14,000 slaves. His decision in the Sommersett case stated that, 'by Common Law no man could have property in another man and that as soon as a Negro came to England he is free, one may be villein in England but not a slave.' Penalties were levied on those who did not free their slaves. The English courts did not attempt to apply this decision to their colonies and no official body in America took notice of the decision. Nevertheless some slave upon hearing of the decision ran way from their owners and attempted  to get passage to England." 

HOW DID ISLAM CONQUER AFRICA? DID CHRISTIANS FIGHT BACK?

According to the General History of Africa, Vol 3: Africa from the Seventh to the Eleventh Century, there were several basic patterns of Islamization in Africa between the 600 and 1000 C.E (A.D.)

1) The Arab conquest of Egypt and North Africa
2) The commercial activities of Muslims
3) Clerics and holy men spread the word
4) The penetration into different societies into Arab societies 

 From: http://17-122.qataracademy.wikispaces.net/Islamic+Empires+Webpage

From: General History of Africa, Vol 3: Africa from the Seventh to the Eleventh Century, pages 90-91

"Christians fought back as much as they could, however. In North Africa, in Nubia and in Ethiopia the incoming Muslims encountered Christianity. The resistance of local Christians to Islamization varied according to local political and social conditions. In the Maghrib where the Christians represented only a minority (mostly of mixed or foreign origin), Islamization has been more complete and Christianity completely  died out by the eleventh century. In Egypt the process took a longer time being accelerated only by the Fatimids; Islamization has never been complete, as about 10 per cent of Egyptians still belong to the Coptic Church. 

In Christian Nubia, by contrast, the impact of Islam until the end of the thirteen century was minimal but during the next two centuries Christianity gradually vanished, being superseded by Islam. Only in the Ethiopian highlands were Christians able to resist. Neither the peaceful penetration of Muslim merchants nor the military campaigns of Muslim states to the south of the plateau shattered the fidelity of the Ethiopians to the faith of their fathers. Although Christianity in Ethiopia emerged from this centuries-old struggle victorious, it remained an isolated outpost amidst a Muslim sea." 

BLACK SAILORS IN THE REVOLUTIONARY NAVY

  Black people have always served in America's armed forces since the time of the Revolutionary War. 




FROM:

                                                          http://www.portraitsinblack.com/Navy.htm

Picture from: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part2/2p51.html

"The small Continental navy was supplemented by individual state navies, privateers, and vessels sailing under letters of marquee. All carried blacks, although race was not always noted on the ship rosters. Naval vessels suffered from chronic manpower shortages. Many black seamen had naval experience from previous colonial wars or from serving on numerous coastal vessels prior to the war. Although no ship captains were black, many pilots were black. As early as 1775 a recruiting poster in Newport sought “ye able backed sailors, men white or black, to volunteer for naval service in ye interest of freedom.” The War of 1812 proved, for the most part , to be a naval war with fleets engaged at sea as well as on the Great Lakes. With their Revolutionary War experience and relatively unlimited access to shipping jobs, blacks proved to be a most valuable and eagerly sought source of manpower. Blacks constituted from 10 to 20% of most ship’s crews and performed heroic duty in many engagements. Oliver Hazard Perry spoke of his black crew members as “absolutely insensible to danger” after their efforts in freeing the Great Lakes from British control."

  

ISLAM AND THE AFRICAN CHURCHES

Northern Africa played a huge role in early Christianity. I am not saying that these early Christian theologians were all Black, but I am say that Africans played a significant role in the creation of Church doctrine and history.  




From Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years by Diarmaid MacCulloch

"The story of Christianity in Africa into the early modern period is ... one of defensiveness and decline nearly everywhere, leading inexorably to its complete extinction along the North African coast and in Nubia. The North African Church, the first stronghold of Latin Christianity, the home of Tertullian, Cyprian, and Augustine of Hippo, should be given credit for surviving the Arab conquest of the 690's for some five centuries in certain areas, but it never recovered its unity after the bitterness of the fourth- and fifth-century divisions between the Donatists and the Catholic elite which was in communion with the wider Mediterranean  Church. Eventually, in the twelfth century, the rigidly intolerant Almohad dynasty insisted on mass conversions of both Jews and Christians....
Western Christians have forgotten that before the coming of Islam utterly transformed the situation in eastern Mediterranean and Asia, there was a good chance that the center of gravity of Christian faith might have moved east to Iraq rather than to Rome. Instead, the ancient Christianity of the East was nearly everywhere faced with a destiny of contraction in numbers, suffering from martyrdom which still continues. But there is one practical consequence of the fifteenth century Latin delusion that Prester John might unite with Western Christians. The myth generated an optimism which had a vital galvanizing effect on Latin Christianity, so it played a part in that surprising new expansion worldwide which from the fifteenth century led Western Catholicism and Protestantism to become the dominant form of Christian faith into modern times."

BLACK MEN READ?!

Black Men Read?! by Lindsay Robinson--member of a Black, all male, book club near Washington, D.C.

from http://www.kasitimes.co.za/

Th

The Audacity of Hope by President Barack Obama,

When Chickenheads come home to Roost: A Hip-Hop Feminist Breaks It Down by 

Joan Morgan

Bedtime Stories by Trey Ellis

Moving to higher ground: How Jazz Can Change Your Life by Wynton Marsalis

This is just a snippet of the literature that has been digested, diagnosed and discussed in the book club, Black Men Read?! (A name to both poke fun at the stereotype and destroy it simultaneously) 

Let me pose a question. When was the last time an African American male approached you with these words, "I want to start a African American Book club complete with brothers who like to read exclusively?" That is what a friend asked me about 3 years back. This was an interesting idea that I must confess was new to me. I have been a part of male dominated study groups and know of some women’s book clubs, but never one solely devoted to African American men. 

I jumped in, a bit intimidated by the letters and multiple degrees of the gentlemen involved; however, one thing came to the forefront immediately: anyone can read and simply give their opinion, good, bad or indifferent and enjoy other points of view.

Fresh from our, at times, enlightening, and at other times heated meetings on, "Them," by former Washington Post writer Nathan McCall and “The Beautiful Struggle” by Ta-Nehisi Coates and a number of other good books, I wanted to share my experience with others on the fun and benefits of our group. 

The only setback for me comes from the fact the club meets two hours away from me. Going 2 hours away five times a year does not sound that difficult, but at times life and TRAFFIC get in the way.  I considered starting a similar group in my area or get a couple more brothers willing to ride down from time to time.  I was floored by the response and reactions of others when I spoke loud and proud of the Black Men Read?!

When I approached brothers, sad to say, some admitted they did not read books. Some only read hardcore books on the Black experience, which we do that category as well. We just mix in some other genres because we want variety. Some only read papers and magazines and some did read, but the just were not too keen on the idea of an all male book club. Some admitted to only reading when bored. I am not sure whether their reading maintained of lifted their boredom.  

I really gave up on the idea early of a new reading group; however, from time to time, I would just throw the question out there to get a response. I met one brother who loved to read, but like to keep that a secret. Perhaps, it may ruin his reputation.

Another stated, "Do you all read a book then sit around talking about it!?

“Yes,” I responded.  What was his political correct comeback? 

"That is so gay!" A lady accused us of saying it is a book club, but actually we really go to strip clubs. 

My truly unscientific research has minimum if any real credentials to come to any conclusions either way on the subject matter of, Black Men Read!?

I guess stereotypes take time to fall, and I have the audacity to feel that one day, African American men gathering to read will not cause a stir. Until then, although there should be more, I am glad know that SOME, Black Men Read!?

RACE: AN ILLUSION, SKIN COLOR: EVOLUTION PROOF

"Nina Jablonski Breaks the Illusion of Skin Color"
Watch the Video:
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/nina_jablonski_breaks_the_illusion_of_skin_color.html

Map  of UV Exposure on Earth's Surface:                        











Map of average human skin color












And read her paper:
http://www.direct-ms.org/pdf/VitDGenScience/Jablonski%202002%20Skin%20color.pdf



Skin deep
Abstract:
Throughout the world, human skin color has evolved to be dark enough to prevent sunlight from
destroying the nutrient folate but light enough to foster the production of vitamin D. Recent
epidemiological and physiological evidence suggests that the worldwide pattern of human skin color
is the product of natural selection acting to regulate the effects of the sun's ultraviolet radiation on
key nutrients crucial to reproductive success.



From:  Scientific American; New York; Oct 2002; Nina G Jablonski;George Chaplin; Volume: 287; Issue: 4
Start Page: 74-81; ISSN: 00368733; Subject Terms: Ultraviolet radiation; Skin Color Evolution

ISLAM SPREADS THROUGH AFRICA

Two different views of the same history.

1. Watch a short youtube video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPPdpXKv_CY

From: http://exploringafrica.matrix.msu.edu/students/curriculum/m14/activity3.php

2. From the BBC's The Story of Africa: Islam
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/africa/features/storyofafrica/index_section7.shtml

From: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Africa

"According to Arab oral tradition, Islam first came to Africa with Muslim refugees fleeing persecution in the Arab peninsula. This was followed by a military invasion, some seven years after the death of the prophet Mohammed in 639, under the command of the Muslim Arab General, Amr ibn al-Asi. It quickly spread West from Alexandria in North Africa (the Maghreb), reducing the Christians to pockets in Egypt, Nubia and Ethiopia.

Islam came to root along the East African coast some time in the 8th century, as part of a continuing dialogue between the people on the East coast and traders from the Persian Gulf and Oman. Like early Christianity, Islam was monotheistic, that is, Muslims worship only one God.
Islam was a modernising influence, imposing a consistent order among different societies, strengthening powers of government and breaking down ethnic loyalties. 

Unlike Christianity, Islam tolerated traditional values, allowing a man to have more than one wife. For many, this made conversion to Islam easier and less upsetting than conversion to Christianity 

In the early centuries of its existence, Islam in Africa had a dynamic and turbulent history, with reforming movements and dynasties clashing and succeeding each other. Gaining power depended on securing trade routes into gold-producing areas in Sub-Saharan Africa. Islamic rulers expanded north as well as south. In the last quarter of the 11th century, Islam dominated the Mediterranean world. 

In the 14th century the Black Death came from Europe and seriously undermined the social and economic life of North Africa, or the Maghreb, as it is known. However Islam remained the dominant religion. 

From the 16th to the 19th century, much of the Maghreb was under Ottoman rule. By the 1880's, Islam had taken root in one third of the continent."