"A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture, is like a tree without roots."
Every year in October we celebrate BLACK HISTORY MONTH. Black history is with us every second, minute, hour, week, month and year. PANTHER NEWSLETTER'S Culture Corner will attempt to enlighten you with what they never told you in your history class. Our story will be told right here - So enjoy the journey of clarification.
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Not widely known but true...
MUSIC
Ludwig Van Beethoven the classical composer and musician was black.
Joseph Haydn another well-known composer and musician who wrote the music for the former Austrian National Anthem was also black.
HISTORICAL FACTS
Before Abraham's birth, the sacred river of India, the River Ganges was named after an Ethiopian King General Ganges who conquered Asia as far as this river and established an empire.
The most ancient lineage in the world is that of the Ethiopian Royal Family. It is said to be older than that of Queen Elizabeth II by 6160 years. The former Emperor of Ethiopia Haile Selassie I, traced his ancestry to King Solomon, the Queen of Sheba, Menelik I and beyond to Cush 6280 B.C. (Song of Solomon I verse 6).
A black man was in the party of 6 who were the first to reach Antarctica in 1909.
There were Africans in Britain before the English!
MEDICINE
Imhotep, a black man was the real father of medicine. Hippocrates, the so-called father of medicine lived 2000 years after Imhotep. Greece and Rome obtained their knowledge of medicine from him.
Doctor Daniel Hale Williams, an African/American who died in 1931 was the first surgeon to perform a successful operation on the human heart.
FAITH AND RELIGION
There were three African Popes of Rome. Victor I (189 - 199 A.D.) ; Melchiades (311 - 312 A.D.) ; and St Gelasius (496 A.D.). It was Melchiades who led Christianity to final triumph against the Roman Empire.
The celestial saint of Germany is St Maurice, an African. While in command of a Roman legion in what is now Switzerland, in 287 A.D, he refused to attack the Christians when ordered to by the emperor Maximian Herculius, for which he was killed. His picture is in many German cathedrals and museums, sometimes with the German national emblem, the eagle on his head.
Akhenaten
The beginning of religion was in Africa. Pharaoh Akhenaten gave the world the belief in one god. In Egypt, he insisted that his people worship Aton, the Sun God only. His beliefs were strong enough to completely change art and literature in Egypt.
WRITING
Alexandre Dumas (1802 - 1870)
Alexandre Dumas was one of the most famous French writers of the 19th century. He is best known for his historical adventure novels like The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo and The Man in the Iron Mask. Dumas' grandfather was a French nobleman who had settled in Santo Domingo, now part of Haiti. His paternal grandmother, Marie Louise Cessette Dumas was African/Caribbean, who had been a slave in the French colony.
Alexander Pushkin (1799 - 1837)
Alexander Pushkin has become one of Russia's national heroes. Born in Moscow of African blood, portraits often tried to disguise his features. His political verse got him exiled from Moscow in 1820 and his atheist opinions also hampered him. Among his great works are the poem The Bronze Horseman (1833) and also the short story The Queen of Spades (1834).
FREEDOM FIGHTERS
Olaudah Equiano (1745 - 1797)
Olaudah Equiano was born in what is now Nigeria. Kidnapped and sold into slavery in childhood, he was taken to the New World as a slave to a captain in the Royal Navy and later to a Quaker merchant. He eventually earned the price of his own freedom by careful trading and saving. As a seaman, he traveled the world. When he arrived in London, he became involved in the movement to abolish the slave trade, an involvement which led to him writing and publishing The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, or Gustavus Vassa the African (1789), a strong abolitionist autobiography. The book became a bestseller and as well as furthering the anti-slavery cause, made Equiano a wealthy man. Equiano's passion, committment and energy to the anti-slavery cause, informed and inspired William Wilberforce, a religious English MP and social reformer to convince the British Empire to bring about the Slavery Abolition Act in 1833.
Frederick Douglass (1818 - 1895)
Frederick Douglass was best known for delivering stirring speeches about his life as a slave and he became a leading spokesman for the abolition of slavery and for racial equality. The son of a slave woman and an unknown white man, "Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey" was born February 1818 on Maryland's eastern shore. He spent his early years with his grandparents and with an aunt, only seeing his mother five times before her death when he was seven. During this time Douglass was exposed to the degradations of slavery, witnessing firsthand brutal whippings and spending much time cold and hungry. When he was eight he was sent to Baltimore to live with a ship carpenter named Hugh Auld. There he learned to read and first heard the words abolition and abolitionists. Living in Baltimore laid the foundations and opened the gateway to his prosperity. Douglass won world fame when his autobiography was published in 1845. Two years later he began publishing an antislavery paper called North Star. He served as an advisor to President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War and fought for the adoption of constitutional amendments that guaranteed voting rights and other civil liberties for black people. Douglass provided a powerful voice for human rights during this period of American history and is still revered today for his contributions against racial injustice.________________________________________________________________
Here ends your history lesson for this month.
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I'd like to take this opportunity to big up Denise Anthea and my daughter Shereen for encouraging me to make this newsletter possible; and also a big up to Candice Smith for taking time out to offer her technical skills. "Bless you ladies."________________________________________________________________
Log on for more Culture Corner next month and remember...
"The greatest thing is to know, what you don't know."
Irene Ann Samuda-Smith
So said my mom: Irene Ann Samuda-Smith
Sunrise: December 10 1929 - Sunset: June 13 1987
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Everyting Bless.
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THE CULTURE CORNER (2)
THE BLACK MADONNA; THE BLACK CHRIST
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"A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture, is like a tree without roots."
Every year in October we celebrate BLACK HISTORY MONTH. Black history is with us every second, minute, hour, week, month and year. PANTHER NEWSLETTER'S CULTURE CORNER will attempt to enlighten you with what they never told you in your history class. Our story will be told right here - So enjoy the journey of clarification.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Not widely known, but true...
Did you know?
Africa's original name is the Land of Ham - The trem/name Africa came after a Roman General, Leo. S. Africanus led the attack which defeated Hannibal's army in Carthage (North Africa, now Tunisia). After the victory, in the General's honour, the Roman Empire re-named the Land of Ham, Africa after him.
The word: Laba-laba; to chat, gab, gossip, originates from the Daju languages of South-West Sudan - meaning lib or lebe/to say, talk, tell.
The word Corral (an enclosure for cattle or livestock), used by the North American Cowboys, originates from the African word Kraal - The Bush Men of the Kalahari in southern Africa, for centuries have located their Kraals within their homestead or village; and they are surrounded by a palisade, mud wall or other fencing, roughly circular in form.
The United Kingdom can fit into Nigeria 11 times.
THE BLACK MADONNA; THE BLACK CHRIST
The Saviours of Mankind from Buddha to Jesus were Black. In fact, the earliest statues of the Virgin Mary and Christ in Europe as far north as Russia were black. They are still worshipped today in parts of Europe:
In Poland, she is called the Black Madonna of Czestochowa.
In Spain, there is a Black Madonna from Nuria called the "Queen of the Pyrenees".
In Russia, Notre Dame of Kazar is a Black Virgin.
One can find a Black Christ:
In France, the Cathedral of Millan.
In Germany, the Cathedral of Augsburg.
In Italy, the Church of San Francisco (at Pisa).
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TRIBUTE TO OUR S/HEROES
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Nephertiti (or Nefertiti), her name meaning "the beautiful one approaches" was the Queen of Ancient Egypt and one of the most beautiful women in history. She was the chief wife to Pharaoh Akhenaten. Nephertiti generally wore close-fitting dresses, but was also depicted naked. In part this related to her role in the fertility cult.
To her native people, The Queen of Sheba was known as Makeda (960 BC - 930 BC); meaning beautiful. She ruled Ethiopia and Saba in South Arabia. Fascinated by tales of Israel and King Solomon, she travelled there to learn from him and adopted his religion Judaism. Her greatest joy was their son Menelik.
Queen Amina of Zaria reigned over the Zazzua region (now known as Zaria in Northern Nigeria) for 34 years. At a time when strength, courage and military prowess were traditionally associated with men, it was Amina who restored the pride of Hausaland. Usually pictured riding at the front of her army, Amina won battle after battle until she united the seven states of Hausaland and extended and secured its borders.
WRITERS AND FREEDOM FIGHTERS
Mary Prince was born in 1788 on a plantation in Bermuda in the Caribbean. She was the first African woman to escape slavery and publish her experiences in England. Her book about her life and experience of enslavement contributed to the abolition of the British slave trade.
Queen Nzingha began the first liberation movement in Angola, Central Africa. She waged war against the Portuguese slave traders and despite their occupation of Angola, Nzingha maintained the resistance until her death in 1663.
Phillis Wheatley was born in Senegal around 1753. She was captured by slave traders and brought to America in 1761. Purchased by John Wheatley, a tailor from Boston, Phillis was taught to read by one of Wheatley's daughters. Phillis studied English, Latin and Greek and in 1767 began writing poetry. Her first poem was published in 1770.
BLACK WOMEN INVENTORS
Sarah Boone - The Ironing Board - April 26 1892
Mary Toland - Float operated Circuit Closer - April 26 1916
Mary J Reynolds - Hoisting/Loading Mechanism - April 20 1920
I.O. Carter - Nursery Chair - February 9 1960
Marie Van Brittan Brown - Home Security System; Utilizing T.V Surveillance - December 2 1969
Valerie Thomas - Illusion Transmitter - May 4 1980
Joan Clark - Medicine Tray - April 1 1987
Patricia Bath, M.D. - Apparatus for Ablating & Removing Cataract Lenses - May 17 1988
Joanna Hardin - Keyboard Stand - February 23 1993
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Here ends your history lesson for this month.
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I trust each and every one of you enjoyed or are still enjoying your holidays. For those of you celebrating Kwanzaa; Happy Kwanzaa and I pray your affirmations of the Nguzo Saba, (The Seven Principles) guides you to a happy and prosperous New Year - Jah Bless.
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Log on for more Culture Corner next month and remember...
"To educate the man is to educate an individual. To educate the woman is to educate and liberate a nation."
Malcolm X (1925 - 1965)
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Everyting Bless.
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THE CULTURE CORNER (3)
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"A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture, is like a tree without roots."
Every year in October we celebrate BLACK HISTORY MONTH. Black history is with us every second, minute, hour, week, month and year. PANTHER NEWSLETTER'S CULTURE CORNER will attempt to enlighten you with what they never told you in your history class. Our story will be told right here - So enjoy the journey of clarification.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Not widely known but true...
The word UHURU - pronounced - (oo-who-roo); in Swahili means Freedom.
The ancient Greek writer Lucian wrote: "The Ethiopians were the first people who invented the science of the stars, and gave names to the planets."
Scotland's very first football/soccer captain was a black man. His name; Andrew Watson. He became the first black man to captain an international team, when Scotland played England in 1881.
The word Sata-pronounced-(Sat-tah)-is a verb from the Amharic language of Ethiopia. In Rasta patois it means: to rejoice, to meditate, to give thanks and praise.
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TRIBUTE TO OUR S/HEROES
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Mary Seacole (1805 - 1881). Jamaica's most famous nurse was born in Kingston Jamaica. Her father was a Scottish army officer and her mother a free black woman who ran Blundell Hall Hotel. Mary's mother also treated people who became ill, she was a great believer in herbal medicines based on the knowledge of slaves brought from Africa. This knowledge was passed on to Mary who later became a 'Doctress'. Mary Seacole is best known for her care of British Soldiers during the Crimean War (1853 - 1856).
Charlotte Sophia (1744 - 1818). Her portrait is used as an example to show black blood in royal ancestry. Queen Charlotte Sophia became Queen Consort of King George III, whom she married in 1761; producing nine sons and six daughters. She is the great, great-grandmother of King George VI.
William Gordon and Paul Bogle merged as defenders of the rights of the poor and oppressed in the post-emancipation era in Jamaica. It was a time of great hardships and injustice which resulted in a series of protests culminating in the 1865 Morant Bay Rebellion. Both Bogle and Gordon were arrested and executed for their role in the protest; but the protests proved a turning point in Jamaica's history.
Sam Sharpe (1801 -1832). 'Daddy' Sam Sharpe as he was affectionately called was to carry on the Resistance against slavery effecting at the young age of 31, the most outstanding slave rebellion in Jamaica's history; The Christmas Rebellion.
Queen Tiye the Nubian Queen of Egypt in the 14th century B.C. changed the course of history when as a Nubian commoner, she became the spouse of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. He defied his nation's priests and customs by making her his royal spouse. She is portrayed as a majestic monarch, proud, noble and serene.
Amon - Ra also spelt, Amoun and Amen, was seen as an immortal being in Egyptian mythology; the God of creation. From an early date from references in the Pyramid texts, he is symbolised as the creative force originally identified as the air.
SPORT
Althea Gibson (1927 - 2003), was a former number one American sportswoman who became the first African-American to win a Grand Slam tennis title in 1956. She is sometimes referred to as "The Jackie Robinson of tennis" for breaking the sporting colour barrier.
Don Quarrie competed in five Olympic Games and is regarded as one of the finest sprinters in the history of track and field. He is also considered as the greatest runner around the bend. The Godfather of Jamaican athletics, he has inspired the modern day Jamaican athletes like Usain Bolt and Asifa Powell.
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A TRIBUTE TO HAITI
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Haiti is in our thoughts and prayers at this time. We trust that the Island and her people will come back better and stronger. This is our tribute to our brothers and sisters: Jah Bless...
Toussaint L'Ouverture (1746 - 1803), became General and Governor of Santa Domingo (Haiti) in the middle of the French Revolution. He led the slaves into battle against the British, French and other European countries who saw Haiti as a valuable trading post and political tool. Read more about Haiti here...
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Here ends your history lesson for this month.
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Log on for more CULTURE CORNER next month and remember...
"There is no mercy on those who have ability and don't use it - they just waste it."
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Everyting Bless
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THE CULTURE CORNER (6) - http://wp.me/pDUcK-yt
THE CULTURE CORNER (7) - http://wp.me/pDUcK-E0
THE CULTURE CORNER (11) - http://wp.me/pDUcK-R8
THE CULTURE CORNER (13) - http://wp.me/pDUcK-10h
THE CULTURE CORNER (22) - http://wp.me/pDUcK-1QM
THE CULTURE CORNER (25) - http://wp.me/pDUcK-2H9
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