This is Black history month. I see a lot of posts and meme about that. What I don’t see or hear about all that much is Black history In America. I hear a lot about the time frame from 1492-1776 however. That time frame isn’t American history, it is British history. We became America in 1776 and in 1865 slavery was abolished nationally. That is a period of 89 years. Depending upon the source you wish to reference a total of three generations. Is that really the total history of the black people? If you are living in America today that certainly seems to be what is being taught, and that America began in 1619. I’m just having a difficult time reconciling those two dates. And was there no black history before 1619? Is that were it all begins?
I am well aware of the all the obstacles, the struggles, the discrimination and bias that face black people in America. They are, after all, in the minority. Yes, being in the minority isn’t the ideal position to be in regardless of any other factors, like color, religion, weight, height, intelligence or wealth or lack of any of those things. In a Democracy, which is what the left continually insists upon calling our republic, the majority rules. As a result the minority always feels a little bit suppressed. That’s life. Our republic established equal treatment, equal opportunity for everyone. It’s the law of the land. Only problem being, not everyone follows the law.
History doesn’t offend me, it doesn’t trouble me and I don’t feel responsible for any of that. I wasn’t there. I am only responsible for whatever I do. Am I my brothers keeper? That is a Christian concept, a moral choice each of us have to make. In the Christian tradition it means to not do harm to others and not allow harm to come to others if you can prevent that. It doesn’t mean you are responsible for the past or for anything you weren’t directly involved with. It’s true it took 89 years and a civil war before slavery was abolished, for the nation collectively to “be their brothers keeper.” Still, not everyone agreed, it was the majority that did, not the minority. I’m in the majority and so take credit for that.
How long can you blame the past for the present? That’s a question I have. Who is to blame? Who failed to be their brothers keeper? Who is responsible for the actions of men? Today all I hear about is how difficult life is. We are all either victims or survivors. There really is no difference however, one feels entitled because they were a victim and the other feels entitled because they survived. And when it comes to black history all I hear is, “in spite of.” Every accomplishment that a black person has made has always been, in spite of their color. It’s almost like being black is an inherent handicap. Well yes, when you are in the minority that is a handicap. And as difficult as that may be to accept, it will always be a handicap.
Slavery was practiced in Africa as early as the 15th century and continues there to this day. The first enslaved people arrived in the British colony of Jamestown in 1619. Those enslaved peoples were captured from a Spanish slave ship. The Spanish had “purchased” those captives from, you guessed it, another group of Africans. Those that were not being their brothers keeper. The privateer ship then traded those enslaved people for food. Later Muslim traders would dominate that trade.
Interestingly, those Muslim traders insisted on the slaves converting to Islam. Failure to do so could result in death! Then in the 1960’s a lot of black folks decided they should convert to Islam because there ancestors were Muslims, except they forgot that they weren’t Muslims until after they became enslaved. A bit of Black history that seems to have escaped notice. It’s all just history.
An aging man living in a confusing world. I was born and raised in East Hampton, yes “the Hamptons” but not rich, not famous and definitely not woke. These are my thoughts, my memories and my opinions. Just the stuff of the regular Joe.
This is Black history month. I see a lot of posts and meme about that. What I don’t see or hear about all that much is Black history In America. I hear a lot about the time frame from 1492-1776 however. That time frame isn’t American history, it is British history. We became America in 1776 and in 1865 slavery was abolished nationally. That is a period of 89 years. Depending upon the source you wish to reference a total of three generations. Is that really the total history of the black people? If you are living in America today that certainly seems to be what is being taught, and that America began in 1619. I’m just having a difficult time reconciling those two dates. And was there no black history before 1619? Is that were it all begins?
I am well aware of the all the obstacles, the struggles, the discrimination and bias that face black people in America. They are, after all, in the minority. Yes, being in the minority isn’t the ideal position to be in regardless of any other factors, like color, religion, weight, height, intelligence or wealth or lack of any of those things. In a Democracy, which is what the left continually insists upon calling our republic, the majority rules. As a result the minority always feels a little bit suppressed. That’s life. Our republic established equal treatment, equal opportunity for everyone. It’s the law of the land. Only problem being, not everyone follows the law.
History doesn’t offend me, it doesn’t trouble me and I don’t feel responsible for any of that. I wasn’t there. I am only responsible for whatever I do. Am I my brothers keeper? That is a Christian concept, a moral choice each of us have to make. In the Christian tradition it means to not do harm to others and not allow harm to come to others if you can prevent that. It doesn’t mean you are responsible for the past or for anything you weren’t directly involved with. It’s true it took 89 years and a civil war before slavery was abolished, for the nation collectively to “be their brothers keeper.” Still, not everyone agreed, it was the majority that did, not the minority. I’m in the majority and so take credit for that.
How long can you blame the past for the present? That’s a question I have. Who is to blame? Who failed to be their brothers keeper? Who is responsible for the actions of men? Today all I hear about is how difficult life is. We are all either victims or survivors. There really is no difference however, one feels entitled because they were a victim and the other feels entitled because they survived. And when it comes to black history all I hear is, “in spite of.” Every accomplishment that a black person has made has always been, in spite of their color. It’s almost like being black is an inherent handicap. Well yes, when you are in the minority that is a handicap. And as difficult as that may be to accept, it will always be a handicap.
Slavery was practiced in Africa as early as the 15th century and continues there to this day. The first enslaved people arrived in the British colony of Jamestown in 1619. Those enslaved peoples were captured from a Spanish slave ship. The Spanish had “purchased” those captives from, you guessed it, another group of Africans. Those that were not being their brothers keeper. The privateer ship then traded those enslaved people for food. Later Muslim traders would dominate that trade.
Interestingly, those Muslim traders insisted on the slaves converting to Islam. Failure to do so could result in death! Then in the 1960’s a lot of black folks decided they should convert to Islam because there ancestors were Muslims, except they forgot that they weren’t Muslims until after they became enslaved. A bit of Black history that seems to have escaped notice. It’s all just history.
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This is Black history month. I see a lot of posts and meme about that. What I don’t see or hear about all that much is Black history In America. I hear a lot about the time frame from 1492-1776 however. That time frame isn’t American history, it is British history. We became America in 1776 and in 1865 slavery was abolished nationally. That is a period of 89 years. Depending upon the source you wish to reference a total of three generations. Is that really the total history of the black people? If you are living in America today that certainly seems to be what is being taught, and that America began in 1619. I’m just having a difficult time reconciling those two dates. And was there no black history before 1619? Is that were it all begins?
I am well aware of the all the obstacles, the struggles, the discrimination and bias that face black people in America. They are, after all, in the minority. Yes, being in the minority isn’t the ideal position to be in regardless of any other factors, like color, religion, weight, height, intelligence or wealth or lack of any of those things. In a Democracy, which is what the left continually insists upon calling our republic, the majority rules. As a result the minority always feels a little bit suppressed. That’s life. Our republic established equal treatment, equal opportunity for everyone. It’s the law of the land. Only problem being, not everyone follows the law.
History doesn’t offend me, it doesn’t trouble me and I don’t feel responsible for any of that. I wasn’t there. I am only responsible for whatever I do. Am I my brothers keeper? That is a Christian concept, a moral choice each of us have to make. In the Christian tradition it means to not do harm to others and not allow harm to come to others if you can prevent that. It doesn’t mean you are responsible for the past or for anything you weren’t directly involved with. It’s true it took 89 years and a civil war before slavery was abolished, for the nation collectively to “be their brothers keeper.” Still, not everyone agreed, it was the majority that did, not the minority. I’m in the majority and so take credit for that.
How long can you blame the past for the present? That’s a question I have. Who is to blame? Who failed to be their brothers keeper? Who is responsible for the actions of men? Today all I hear about is how difficult life is. We are all either victims or survivors. There really is no difference however, one feels entitled because they were a victim and the other feels entitled because they survived. And when it comes to black history all I hear is, “in spite of.” Every accomplishment that a black person has made has always been, in spite of their color. It’s almost like being black is an inherent handicap. Well yes, when you are in the minority that is a handicap. And as difficult as that may be to accept, it will always be a handicap.
Slavery was practiced in Africa as early as the 15th century and continues there to this day. The first enslaved people arrived in the British colony of Jamestown in 1619. Those enslaved peoples were captured from a Spanish slave ship. The Spanish had “purchased” those captives from, you guessed it, another group of Africans. Those that were not being their brothers keeper. The privateer ship then traded those enslaved people for food. Later Muslim traders would dominate that trade.
Interestingly, those Muslim traders insisted on the slaves converting to Islam. Failure to do so could result in death! Then in the 1960’s a lot of black folks decided they should convert to Islam because there ancestors were Muslims, except they forgot that they weren’t Muslims until after they became enslaved. A bit of Black history that seems to have escaped notice. It’s all just history.
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