Lost Black History
By Don Valentine
Since our Union began in 1776, the advocates of slavery recited the argument that Slavery was beneficial for Blacks. The current refrain is the Florida educational system positing that slavery was a vocational asset for Blacks. South Carolina Senator John C. Calhoun was one of the most vocal politicians advocating the benefits of slavery. In his 1837 anti-abolitionist speech he said, “Never before has the Black race of Central Africa, from the dawn of history to the present day, attained a condition so civilized and so improved, not only physically, but morally and intellectually.”
The Washington Post reported Governor DeSantis said, “They’re probably going to show that some of the folks that eventually parlayed, you know, being a blacksmith into doing things later in life.” Take note that blacksmithing, farming, cooking had originated on the continent of Africa centuries prior to the start of the antebellum South. The pervacation that Slaves benefited is based on the foundation that Slaves were ignorant savages.
That premise is erroneous and should not be inflated in public schools. The reality is that we descended from Africa, arguably one of the most sophisticated academic and scientific cultures in world history. An article in blackhistorymonth.org stated, “The African continent is now recognised as the birthplace of humanity and the cradle of civilization. We still marvel at the great achievements of Kemet, or ancient Egypt, for example, one of the most notable of the early African civilizations, which first developed in the Nile valley over 5,000 years ago.”
Documented history supports that the plantation vocational skills had been utilized on the African continent for centuries prior to the Colonial Slave trade. black history month.org assessed that, “In most parts of Africa before 1500… They often had complex systems of participatory government… Many of these societies had solved difficult agricultural problems and had come up with advanced techniques of production of food and other crops. Some people were skilled miners and metallurgists, others great artists in wood, stone and other materials…” These historical findings are supported by every reputable academic history resource.
Governor De Santis, comments about Slaves learning the trade of blacksmithing are fictitious. Blacks were the global savants in architecture, including blacksmithing. The Atlanta Black Star documented, “Many of the math concepts that are learned in school today were also developed in Africa. Over 35,000 years ago, ancient Egyptians scripted textbooks about math that included division and multiplication of fractions…” Our medical sciences were centuries in advance of the European colonials. The earliest known surgery was performed in Egypt around 2750 B.C. Medical procedures were performed in ancient Africa before they were performed in Europe. How could unskilled, feckless savages perform vaccination, autopsy, limb traction and broken bone setting, brain surgery, and tissue cauterization. Fact: We did! Moreover, “Massa’s” enslavement was not why!
