“On Afro-American History” (1965) is a speech on black history that Malcolm X gave in Harlem a month before he was killed.
Some of his main points:
1. Blacks cannot understand their present or future without understanding their past.
2. Unlike in America, most people in the world are not white.
3. Whites used to rule the world. Those days are over.
As shown by the fall of the European empires and the rise of Japan and China.
4. Stuff white people say:
- If something is all-black they call it “racist”.
- If you point out the wrong whites have done they call it “hate”.
- If you use force to stop them from taking away your rights, they call it “violence”.
5. Negro History Week cuts off blacks from their own history.
- It is rarely used to talk about the African history of blacks.
- “Negro” pictures blacks as people with no history outside of America.
6. Most ancient black civilizations are either claimed by whites or not talked about.
Dividing mankind into Negroid, Caucasoid and Mongoloid was done in such a way as to give blacks as little history as possible by claiming the civilizations of dark-skinned people in Egypt, Sumeria and India for Caucasians.
Ancient Egypt was African through and through. There was nothing European about it: back then Europeans were uncivilized. Carthage and Sumeria were black too. So was India a long time ago – you can tell by the statues. But these are counted as “Caucasian”, which in turn allows Hollywood to have Hannibal and Ancient Egyptians played by whites, making history seem whiter than it was.
Meanwhile, civilizations that no one doubts are black, like Ghana, Mali and Songhai in West Africa, are not talked about. Instead black Americans, who came mostly from that part of Africa, a land of queens and scholars, are told by whites that they came from a land of savages.
And people forget about the Moors, dark-skinned people from Africa who gave Europe its science and mathematics.
7. How white people got on top: gunpowder.
Gunpowder is a Chinese invention but it was Europeans who used it to make guns to kill people. Whites enjoy killing so much they made hunting a sport and lynching an entertainment.
With their guns – and their lies – they were able to take over the world and make men into slaves:
8. In between the slave trader and the slave owner was the slave maker.
Before they got to America blacks were taken to the Caribbean where their spirits were broken, like by crushing the heads of their babies. They lost their names, their history, their languages. In America children were taken from their mothers; fathers could not provide for their families.
9. The scum of England founded America.
If you doubt it, just look at the kind of men the founding fathers were: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry, despite all their nice words about freedom, were what? Slave owners. And if it was left up to them blacks would still be slaves.
See also:
As Menelik Charles said in another thread this is a very good book – and I agree.
With regard to dividingthe race into threes. I think this has an influence to the bible also where you see Ham(Black), Shem(Semitic), Japeth (Europeans).
Obviously it does not coincide with the Negroidd, Mongoloid and Caucasoid.
With regard to ‘Negroid’ and we see its influence still with us today. When Whites were talking about a ‘Negro’, what they had in mind was an individual with very black skin, very broad nose, very curly hair and full lips.
If a group of Blacks were found not to fit this description then they were not ‘Negros’.
This is why today we have a narrow definition of what constitutes an ‘African’ by race but have no problem understanding that some people on the Indian sub-continent are ‘Caucasoiid’.
Again its the reason that ‘Native Americans can be viewed as teh same ‘race’ and/or poulation groups as those within E.Asia. Even though those that left E.Asia and went on to become the Native Americans left thousand of years ago.
These were the ‘spin’ on races back in the day and today we see all type of similar ‘spin’ also in operation today, with regard to ‘human populations’ etc
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Brilliant post, Abagond. Getting linked, as usual. Cue drapto invasion.
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Also from the book:
1.We learn why we hated ourselves and Africa. And when we begin to have pride in Africa we will also begin to have a ‘love’ of/for self.
2. He makes mention that much of European civilisation only begins to develop during their wars with ‘Muslims’ in the Holy land, when they noticed how technologically advance the ‘Muslims are
3. And with regard to point 9, it is generally known that Australia was populated by ‘convicts’. It is not well known that a similar process that occurs in America.
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[…] This post was Twitted by Ankhesen […]
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Point five is one of the hugest things that annoy me about Black History month. I still believe that we need it. Yet I despise how it only pertains to Black history within the USA.
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3. And with regard to point 9, it is generally known that Australia was populated by ‘convicts’. It is not well known that a similar process that occurs in America.
Whites may not know this, but Blacks of my generation did. In fact it was one of the few things we did know.
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With regard to:
“Meanwhile, civilizations that no one doubts are black, like Ghana, Mali and Songhai in West Africa, are not talked about”
There was a time when the ‘Negro’ did not invent ANY civilisations, let alone Ghana, Songhai etc.
the likes of academics like Arnold J Toynbee (historian)
confirmed this when he suggested:
“It will be seen that when we classify mankind by color, the only primary race that has not made a creative contribution to any civilization is the Black race.”
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It’s a bit narrowminded to imply only America was spawned by the scum of England. There was a LOT of scum in England…still is, if Nick Griffin indicates anything.
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I don’t get point #9. Or I should say, the sociological term that equates to “scum” would tend to be “lower class knave”, not so much “person who commits a moral (if not legal) crime.” None of the founding fathers were lower class knaves.
I agree with the substance of the point, though – these men’s moral failings should be noted and discussed – but using a term that will throw people off is probably not the move.
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With regard to:
“I don’t get point #9. Or I should say, the sociological term that equates to “scum”
Malcolm X states with regard to a question
“…But not those men. Those that were sent here from Europe were the dregs of society. Old run-down, ex-, worn-out thieves…they were the worst part of that European society…and they still reflect it right today”.
pp 53-54 (1998 edition)
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And in regard to the following issues of ‘allies’. It kind of reminded me of a similar conversation I had here on this blog.
‘We need allies who are going to help us achieve a victory, not allies who are going to tell us to be nonviolent. If a white man wants to be an ally, ask him what does he think of John Brown.
You know what John Brown did? He went to war.
White people call [him] nuts…Why I would be afraid to get near John Brown if I go by what other white folks say about him.
But they depict him in this image because he was willing to shed blood to free the slaves. And any white man who is ready and willing to shed blood for your freedom – in the sight of other whites, he’s nuts.
As long as he wants to come up with some nonviolent action, they go for that.
pp 84-85
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Darth Paul said:
“It’s a bit narrowminded to imply only America was spawned by the scum of England. There was a LOT of scum in England…still is, if Nick Griffin indicates anything.”
The post never says “only”. Clearly, England had enough scum left to found Australia too.
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^Lol!
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On a serious note, on the topic of number nine, I was taught (directly and indirectly) that the “scum” of England and Britain settled in the South, and that the Northeast consisted only of the “higher breeds.” I remember my 10th grade English teacher explaining that to me, and backing up her claims with evidence such as higher test scores, higher standards of living, and better schools in the Northeast, spanning back to the very beginnings of the United States.
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Natasha:
David Hackett Fischer in his book”Albion’s Seed” (1989) writes about how English society was successfully planted in America not once but four times. So America is not one branch of England but four branches of England growing together. I did a post on it:
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abagond, very interesting post. Your synopsis reiterates a lot of what I was taught. I’ll have to check out that book when I’m finished reading my current.
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Natasha,
Part of what was at play with that was that after the Civil War, the victorious Northern establishment successfully painted the real nobility of the nation’s foundation in the north, not the south. That’s why the pilgrims are sort of held up us the founders of American culture, even though the more commercial-minded Jamestown settlers had already been here for 10 years (and I think the blacks from Africa and the Caribbean had already been brought here too) by the time Plymouth was settled.
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1. There were already blacks in Virginia BEFORE the Mayflower set sail. The first recorded shipment arrived two years before, in 1619, from what is now Angola, but even before then there were blacks in Virginia.
2. George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry are painted as these patriotic heroes, but all three would have fought AGAINST Lincoln in the civil war.
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Completely off topic, but Natasha I like your gravatar! (I’m assuming that’s you on the right?) 🙂
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Jasmin, thanks. Yes, that’s me on the right, with my SO’s younger sister’s best friend.
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‘The post never says “only”.’
And my response didn’t say it did, just that it implied that. Semantics, padawan…
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Jasmin, you just reminded me I’m supposed to be incognito on these blogs! I’ll probably change my gravatar soon.
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Darth Paul:
I said:
“The scum of England founded America.”
You said:
“It’s a bit narrowminded to imply only America was spawned by the scum of England.”
How in the world did I imply “only”??
If I said:
“The queen of England ate pizza.”
Would you then say:
“It’s a bit narrowminded to imply only pizza was eaten by the queen of England.”
Where did I imply she ONLY ate pizza? Or that the scum of England ONLY founded America?
The queen of England and the scum of England are both agents who presumably do other things beyond what I say in my sentences. The queen can go on and eat other things, like ice cream, and the scum of England can go on and found other countries, like Australia.
You are not the only one who misreads me this way. Thad has done it too.
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No worries Natasha! I feel a bit more on an even playing field now! You and i have bantered back and forth a bit and I always wondered if you were going to post an actual avatar pic.
I sometimes wonder if anybody is ever going to come up to me and say, “Hey – you look really familiar. Do you post on Abagond’s blog?” LOL Seriously though….
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Natasha W resumes her secret identity as an ostrich.
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L O L
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“Natasha W resumes her secret identity as an ostrich.”
LMAO.
You know you love my bird!
Color O’ Luv, I thought that picture was far away enough to have as an avatar, but I guess not. I may post pictures from time to time, but I probably won’t keep them up. Although I’m less worried about being recognized in real life than I am about online creepers; I know for a fact there are many people who lurk this blog but never comment.
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@ J
Excellent choice to about John Brown. Brava!
@ Abagond
The post never says “only”. Clearly, England had enough scum left to found Australia too.
*dies*
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*to QUOTE about John Brown
Sorry ’bout that….
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Many are still in slavery, it’s called adoption these days in America.
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To Abagond:
Gunpowder is a Chinese invention but it was Europeans who used it to make guns to kill people.
Well yes it was a Chinese invention but the Chinese, Persians, Mongols, Indians, and Ottomans certainly made guns and cannon (and used them in warfare) sometimes before and certainly after Western Europeans had any guns.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gunpowder#History
Whites enjoy killing so much they made hunting a sport and lynching an entertainment.
Hunting as a sport is certainly not limited to “White” countries and as for public executions as entertainment… they are sadly not isolated to Whites either.
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Forgive me uncle Milton,
This is what might be referred to as the classic White response in that it highlights a particular point and then re-orients it to a Western perspective.
With regard to the specific use of gunpowder teh Chinese used it as a form of ‘defense’ as opposed to an ‘offensive’ weapon to conquer specifically the world.
“Gunpowder was invented, documented, and used in ancient China where the Chinese military forces used gunpowder-based weapons technology (i.e. rockets, guns, cannons), and explosives (i.e. grenades and different types of bombs) against the Mongols when the Mongols attempted to invade and breach the Chinese city fortifications on the northern borders of China”
With regard to hunting and lynching, I observe you left out and chose not to comment on lynching which was a sort of ‘hunting’ ‘sport’. And an unusual spectacle to say the very least
However, I still understand your point but perhaps more importantly do you understand the ‘mechanics’ behind this post, leaving aside your cultural orientation etc
And this is the very point that Malcolm X is refering to in his speech as it alludes to the Wetsern psyche.
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To J:
This is what might be referred to as the classic White response in that it highlights a particular point and then re-orients it to a Western perspective.
The statements were incorrect.. I don’t think pointing out errors is a Western trait.
With regard to the specific use of gunpowder teh Chinese used it as a form of ‘defense’ as opposed to an ‘offensive’ weapon to conquer specifically the world.
I cited several peoples which used gunpowder aside from Whites.. the Ottomans and the Mongols most assuredly used them as offensive weapons to conquer.
With regard to hunting and lynching, I observe you left out and chose not to comment on lynching which was a sort of ‘hunting’ ‘sport’.
I commented on public execution… the video I linked (I also linked another but that didn’t come through..) I consider to be a form of lynching since the people who were executed where do so obviously publicly and without due process … at least certainly by modern Chinese and US standards. As for hunting…. throughout the Chinese cultural revolution, it’s victims where hunted by “youth brigades” and the like.
There are other cultures which practice lynching:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Necklacing
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4038173.stm
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Uncle Milton, I think the problem is that most, if not all, people here know that the actions listed above weren’t and aren’t isolated to whites. However, the post is in regards to these actions via whites. So when you point it out, it makes it seems as if you are deflecting in a “But they do it too!” manner.
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To uncle Milton following Natasha W,
…And also I would add that it takes place in the un-necessary context of ‘genocide’.
With regard to the lynching of the Blacks in the US. Apart from being and sharing the same landscape as White Americans. What had Blacks done to Whites to deserve this fate.
Its not like they were at war religiously, politically. It was merely due to ‘race’.
Again we will also see that this treatment was not an isolated phenomena, as per the Malcolm speech.
“Columbus went from island to island in the Caribbean, taking Arawaks as captives. He ordered everyone over the age of 14 to produce specific quantities of gold every three months, and if the Arawak could not produce this quota, Columbus then had his hands cut off; and left him to bleed to death. If the Arawaks ever tried to escape, they were hunted down by the attack dogs and either hanged or burned alive”
“In other cases, the Spaniards had the Arawaks carry large leaves for their shade and had others to fan them with goose wings. Women were used as sex slaves and their children were murdered and then thrown into the sea. The Spaniards were so cruel, they thought nothing of cutting off slices of human flesh from the Arawaks just to test the sharpness of their blades. Bishop De Las Casas wrote, “My eyes have seen these acts so foreign to human nature that now I tremble as I write.”
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Christopher-Columbus–His-by-Dr-Leroy-Vaughn–091006-355.html
And again:
” Tactics for hunting down Tasmanians included riding out on horseback to shoot them, setting out steel traps to catch them, and putting out poison flour where they might find and eat it. Sheperds cut off the penis and testicles of aboriginal men, to watch the men run a few yards before dying. At a hill christened Mount Victory, settlers slaughtered 30 Tasmanians and threw their bodies over a cliff. One party of police killed 70 Tasmanians and dashed out the children’s brains.”
Such vile and animalistic behavior on the part of the White settlers of Tasmania was the rule rather than the exception”
http://www.cwo.com/~lucumi/tasmania.html
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To J:
And this is the very point that Malcolm X is refering to in his speech as it alludes to the Wetsern psyche.
Do I understand it.. yes.. do I agree with it..? I disagree with some of it; think other parts are archaic and narrow; but agree with a portion.
To some degree this post recycles much of the other themes on Abagond’s blog. I would ask what’s the endgame.
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Cheers, Uncle Milton,
The ‘end game’ must surely be up to you??
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To J:
Its not like they were at war religiously, politically. It was merely due to ‘race’.
It was social control… it was effective (That was W.E.B. Dubois described it I believe..) As are the religious police in Iran and Saudi Arabia who make women wear the veil and keep them “in line” in other ways.
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To J:
Cheers, Uncle Milton,
The ‘end game’ must surely be up to you??
If I am made an all powerful emperor.. sure.
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To NastashaW:
So when you point it out, it makes it seems as if you are deflecting in a “But they do it too!” manner.
It appears that the theme, at least according to Malcolm X,
was that such behavior was unique or predominantly unique to Whites.
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Uncle Milton,
You must be aware that there are some women who do wish to wear the veil for ‘religious’, ‘cultural’ or even ‘political’ reasons do not necessarily view it as a source of ‘social control’ .To these women the idea that it is ‘social control’ would be a form of ‘racial stereotyping’, from their perspective.
However, I do get your point is nonetheless.
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To J:
You must be aware that there are some women who do wish to wear the veil for ‘religious’, ‘cultural’ or even ‘political’ reasons do not necessarily view it as a source of ‘social control’ .To these women the idea that it is ‘social control’ would be a form of ‘racial stereotyping’, from their perspective.
Yes I do.. I am also aware that there were Blacks (Uncle Tom’s and such..) who outwardly submitted willingly to their roles as slaves and later during Jim Crow. As racist Whites would describe them “the good Blacks..” however remove all constraints of social control and I believe almost all such behavior would disappear.
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I never heard of that speech before thanks fir sharing
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Uncle Milton said:
“To some degree this post recycles much of the other themes on Abagond’s blog. I would ask what’s the endgame.”
What do you mean by endgame?
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“There was no Nazi atrocity—concentration camps, wholesale maiming and murder, defilement of women or ghastly blasphemy of childhood—which the Christian civilization of Europe had not long been practicing against colored folk in all parts of the world in the name of and for the defense of a Superior Race born to rule the world”.
‘The White Masters of the World
From The World and Africa, 1965
By W. E. B. Du Bois
This is an attempt to show briefly what the domination of Europe over the world has meant to mankind and especially to Africans in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.nathanielturner.com/images/New_Folder/afroperuvian.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.nathanielturner.com/africanworld.htm&usg=__-u9PqGA4FYna2HJFwb0WjyncwOs=&h=288&w=358&sz=21&hl=en&start=2&itbs=1&tbnid=CSlYO1V2X-RagM:&tbnh=97&tbnw=121&prev=/images%3Fq%3DAfrican%2Borigins%2Bof%2Bchinese%26hl%3Den%26gbv%3D2%26tbs%3Disch:1
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Sukant Chandan, the India born British political analyst, runs the blog http://www.sonsofmalcolm,blogspot.com
and is a founder member of the Malcolm X Movement which officially launches in August 2015 but has a pre-launch Malcolm X Film Festival to be held in the United Kingdom in March 2015
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HIS LIFE STORY ALWAYS GIVES ME HOPE
FOR YOUNG BLACK MEN WHO LISTEN……
& CAN CHANGE.
BLESSINGS & BLOVE
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“Carthage and Sumeria were black too. So was India a long time ago – you can tell by the statues. But these are counted as “Caucasian”, which in turn allows Hollywood to have Hannibal and Ancient Egyptians played by whites, making history seem whiter than it was.”
Abagond, please provide the source for your claim.
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@ gro jo
Ask Malcolm X. This post is based on a speech of his: “On Afro-American History”.
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“Ask Malcolm X.”
I’m asking you for two obvious reasons. 1) X is dead 2) You chose to print his speech without comment. I’m assuming that you are trying to educate your readership, so you wouldn’t post nonsense unless you believed it at the time.
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