Dear America,
I want to start first by thanking Noble Magazine for providing me with the opportunity to share some of my opinions on our current racial climate, and the blatant disparities that continue to exist today. I hope the information in this piece leads to intrigue that paves the road of discovery and knowledge the same way it did for me. My aim is not to widen the gap between races, but to instead spark a curiosity for yourselves. The following will discuss the true reality of the deception perpetrated by this country at its inception that has perpetuated the idea of race and racism. In my quest to make sense of the hate and prejudice that has been part of this country I sought out to research our true history as it pertains to race and humankind.
Personally, I can’t help but see color because of the role it has had in our history up to now, however, it does not dictate outcomes or perceptions of any person. Unfortunately, we live in a society where many uniformed and lesser uneducated people use HATE and individual characteristics to isolate and instill fear in their communities. In my quest to understand the history of slavery and make sense of the many subtle disparities that exist today, I realized knowledge and confidence are essential components to achieve equality. In our current America, the color black is subconsciously referenced as inferior which can have profound impact on how we see ourselves. In addition, our education is organized to deceive, and is selective on the parts of history it teaches to perpetuate this societal difference centered on race.
Racism has always been part of American culture even after the civil rights era from the obvious identifiable segregation/prejudice to the more subtle laws that have been enacted preserving the cycle. In 2020, despite The Fair Housing Act of 1968 we continue to see racial segregation of our American cities that is anything but accidental and continue to see racial health disparities all while medicine evolves.
There is no denying the changes that have occurred since slavery thanks in part to the brave civil leaders who lost their lives simply for demanding equal treatment with their “white” counterparts already imparted by the Declaration Of Independence. However, although there have been changes it does not equate to progress. Unfortunately, as a race we remain among the most unemployed, poorly educated, incarcerated, and profiled persons. The reality of the lack of forward progress made as a race more than 300 years after the end of slavery is incomprehensible.
As a black man I cannot help but be disheartened and disgusted of the divide, violence, and uncertainty predicated on the color of my skin. The advances in social media have allowed others to witness in real time what many of us have already experienced in our lifetimes. The idea of race and white superiority are fabricated terms used to distribute an idea or belief. Race is an idea created and disseminated by our founding fathers to rationalize the idea of slavery based on false scientific claims of the inherent inferiority of blacks, and the comparison of certain distinct physical features to those of animals. This rationalization of the black race as subhuman and inferior allowed for slavery in the new world that claimed all were equal. The sciences, medicine, language, architecture, agriculture, and so forth historically have already been recognized to have been started by the Ancient Egyptian Civilization located in Northern and part of Eastern Africa. The rise of the Greek and Roman Empires could not have happened without the knowledge gained from those same Egyptians. The philosophers Plato and Socrates became famous using these same teachings learned from the ancient mystery system from their pilgrimage to Egypt. Nefertiti in popular culture is synonymous with beauty was a black empress and the mother of King Tut. Cleopatra one of the best-known women in history for her beauty, intellect, and power was black. The main character in The Gladiator movie is said to be based on the famous General Hannibal Barca was also black. We can continue with Beethoven who was black, as was the Roman emperor Lucius Severus. Therefore, for those who claim white supremacy, it does not exist since the expansion of Europe and civilization as we know it started with the black Egyptian Empire. You cannot claim supremacy if you were not supreme to start. The famous Christopher Columbus did not “discover” America since it was already known and inhabited by Moors of the mighty Moorish Empire of North Africa and most of Europe.
The Black Lives Matter movement have provided a voice for the oppressed and I commend them for their efforts. I also commend all the people of all races who strive for a world that goes beyond race and prejudice. This information of history is not meant to widen the gap between white and black but to provide a small excerpt of the true history of the world. I encourage us all learn and educate those who are uninformed. Let us be proud to be who we are and stand tall. Be COURAGEOUS and strive for greatness! Don’t let society dictate what you can and cannot accomplish due to race. We were KINGS, QUEENS, EMPERORS, APOSTLES, CRUSADERS, and much more! We cannot change the future if we do not learn from the past. The information is there, and I implore you to seek it out.
Sincerely,
Anonymous Black man, husband, father, professional.
Location: Washington D.C.