How many ppl have actually read about African history?

Question

I hear a lot of commentary about how Africans/blacks have no history, how they haven't contributed technology or inventions, but I seriously doubt many have even read or tried to research to see if that claim is true.

Reading western textbooks doesn't really apply since we all know who education is controlled by in this country.

I find it hard to believe that any real racists would pick up a book written about black ppl being that they hate us so much.

Chuck: I live in the library & believe me when I tell you there is about half a shelf on African history. I literally counted. There were 14 shelves on white history. Maybe it's just where I live, I don't know.

I have to order most of my books online b/c I can't find them in local bookstores or the library. Don't come at me yapping about something you don't know. If Jitterbug posts a question about something, then Jitterbug knows what the hell she's talking about!

http://film.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/Guardian/0,,1928009,00.html

http://www.raceandhistory.com/historicalviews/04022002.htm

Answer 1

The best black history is being made right now. One day you will look back to these last 20 years and see how blacks, although a minority, still took over in sports(tennis, football, basketball, golf, and as soon as they learn other sports will take those to another level as well), music, culture, white people turning to the black culture for their own identity, movies, and acting, etc....And indeed we all ready see it changing in favor of the black influences.
Music is to me the biggest contributor, even all the top Heavy Metal band members, when asked what the biggest influence to their music is, they all say the same thing, rhythm and blues that the blacks have innovated. The black culture brought rhythm to America, thank God! And yet these young White supremest listen to what? Heavy metal! What a slap in their own face!
Colin Powell a black man who ran the best known campaign in U.S. history that not only rendered one of the least amount of casualties in a war, but soldiers came back to the US and gained great respect, even from haters of war and Liberals. You can say it was our technology, I say the technology was implemented by Colin Powell the best way it could and this is why Desert Storm was so successful!

Answer 2

Most people on here and elsewhere would never take the time to study black history on their own because if they did the could'nt continue the hate. Actually, they would never print the truth for school children to learn because the majority of our population never goes to college (less than 25% of the US population has a degree). And only in college do you actually get textbooks that discuss our true history.

The African people have a lot to be proud of and should hold their heads up high. Blacks have contributed a lot to American society. If it was not for slavery, the early settlers would not have been able to 1. amass the wealth that they did and 2. build this country because they could not afford to do so. It was all about money.

This land was so rich because the Indians appreciated it and only took of it what they needed and only took what they could give back. They were on a spiritual level the early settlers could never comprehend.

If you think about it is society so much better today? We live in a democracy ok but how many people can say they are really free? They race to work long hours, race to pay bills, have to deal with all the stress of maintaining houses, cars and status. Every industry is corrupt, we are damaging our planet, and constantly have to protect ourselves from theft and frivolous lawsuits. In the grand scheme of things we are not free. If you own anything significant you are paying someone else to keep it.

Answer 3

I am an avid black history reader. My favorite place to look for books are the used books corner at my local library. The sell books 25cents an inch. This where I found "jubilee" by margaret walker. It's definitely a book worth reading. My other favorite is "Queen" by Alex haley. This book changed my whole perspective on my(our!) culture. i'm sure you've heard of it but if you haven't then read it soon! My local library also has a list of black authors. Go to Vicksburg Public Library and send them an email requesting the list if you're interested. I had 1 white teacher that actually went in depth about black history and the whites were so nervous they were near tears. When I was in high school(like 2monthsago!c/o07') i asked my history teachers when we would learn about black history because these chapters were almost always skipped over and the answer was always later but later never came. If it wasn't for me talking to blacks who actually lived it and teaching myself through books,magazines, and videos then I'd probably would have turned into the preppy token black that I was 4 years ago. I don't trust american history books. They are inaccurate. I also true to dispel(sp?) the myths of Africa being a savage country. Daughters of Africa is a book about black women from all over the world. Check it out!

Answer 4

I agree with Shawdog, History does have a way of repeating it's self. The same way the African culture was taken over & claimed by Europeans is the same way black culture is being taken over & claimed by whites today.

I wonder how they'll right that up in the history books.

I read African history, & it's crazy how black ppl have been around the longest & we're still going strong. With all the attempts to remove blacks from history & society for that matter we are still here & making racist white society so mad, they can't stop pulling out all the stops against the very same ppl who they say are the lowest race here.

I would think that if black ppl were too "stupid" or "uncivilized" to have a history, then why are we such a major threat now? Why are all the stops being pulled out against us? Why are we the hot topic on YA? Denying the truth doesn't make it disappear.

Answer 5

You're right, I have never read a book specifically aimed at the history of blacks in North America. I have read news stories about abuses, murders and rioting, on both sides, but they were written by whites and I expect were somewhat biased. The closest I have come to actual history would be that I went out and bought Alex Haley's "Roots" on compact disc, I saw it 30 years ago and enjoyed it.

Answer 6

There were many African kingdoms and they werent "only" in the North. African history is hidden just as much as African history in America..Most this are told from a Euro-centric point of view..They make it seem like African and African Americans are all poor and enslaved all our lives..But then again thats why is called HIS-Story...500 years from now theyll be saying Condi Rice was white.

Answer 7

Are you implying that black people have been deliberately written out of history? There are many cases where you are correct, but in the U.K system at least this is being addressed as the achievements of black people are now appearing in the curriculum. The same goes for women.
Who invented what can't be changed no matter what you think the agenda is of those controlling education.
How can you tell the colour of a person by their name on a book?
You seem very bitter and your arguments are broad generalisations.
Many other people(s) have been written out of history, such as women artists, but this has been addressed over time. JK Rowling didn't put her full name on her books because they thought boys would not red them if they had a woman's name on the cover. Prejudice is everywhere, but don't forget change is slow, but it is happening.

Answer 8

You're right that African history is sparsed over, and anyone who does some research can easily uncover some of the very advanced and respected civilizations that flourished in (North especially) Africa in ancient and not so ancient times. However, I think you are overgeneralizing when it comes to some of the conclusions that you reach regarding textbooks and access. Also, I think it is dangerous to make idealized versions of events in your head; these notions can be as far from truth as the blocking out of important history.

Surely a middle ground is closer to reality than either a completely Euro or Afro centric look at the past.

Answer 9

In America .....Not too many.....But...in America they made-up a book of black history........It was probably written by some white group......I am an African ......All they know is that they were slaves and their home-land had sources like >>> Diamonds, And exotic animals ,and birds. I'm sorry to say it like it is . By the way,the only people to blame are >>> WHITE RACE AND THE ENGLISH -MEN .

Answer 10

It's true, Africans haven't contributed to technology etc. much, but not because they were somehow inferior, but simply because they did not have the means financially.

I have studied history extensively. European, North American, African and Australian. Still have Asia and South America to get to.

And you're right, a racist wouldn't even want to learn anything about Africans.