A #BlackHistoryMonth post by @mekkaokereke about black communities in the USA that were razed reminded me of a Canadian example: Africville.
Canadaland did a great podcast on it:
https://www.canadaland.com/podcast/real-estate-2-the-last-man-in-africville/
Basically, Africville was founded by Black former slaves who fought as loyalists in the US revolution.
They were given the land near Halifax, then treated as a nuisance until it was ultimately razed.
We Canadians like to pretend these things didn't happen here, but they did.
🧵 For #BlackHistoryMonth I want to recognize contributions made by Black people to some of the things I care about. I'm gonna kick things off by shining the spotlight on #MikePondsmith, best known as the creator of the #Cyberpunk tabletop RPG. Pondsmith enjoyed playing traditional games as a kid, went to school for graphic design and behavioral psychology, and ended up working in publishing. [continued]
Hey #lawfedi folks, a friend that runs a low-bono #legal services firm is in need of funding.
They do incredible work for sexual assault, domestic violence, eviction and other at-risk populations in Indiana.
They are, frankly, right now at risk themselves. This is an incredible organization doing important #legal work for the people of #Indiana.
If you can give, please do. If you can't, please boost or share the link elsewhere. Let's help them out!
My life online during the month of February is mostly shutting up about the things I normally natter on about, and promoting and highlighting others on the subject of Black history in honor of Black History Month. Such as:
Unsung Black Heroes, from Quentin R. Jiles
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuX_udIp4IoHR1MtRLpumkvED8wqHPxtO
Quentin is the host of The Queue with Que. Two years ago he ran a series on "Unsung Black Heroes," talking about people like Ta-Nehisi Coates and Marilyn Nance and Dorothy Height. As a white person, I found myself nodding enthusiastically when I saw Coates or James Baldwin, and wondering "who?" at some of the other figures he covered. I hope you're better-educated about Black history than I am, but if not, or if you want a reminder, this series is for you.
There are 22 episodes, which are generally under ten minutes, although Fannie Lou Hamer just can't be contained in only ten minutes. 😀
Also, @mekkaokereke has been on fire talking about generational wealth today. I know I included him as someone to follow yesterday, but if a list of ten was too much for you, at least follow Mekka.
Then go back and follow the other nine, too. I'll have more suggestions tomorrow.
Children killed annually by mass education of Black history: 0
Children killed annually by mass book reading: 0
Children killed annually by drag shows: 0
Children killed annually by mass shootings & firearms: 4400
GOP: The only way to protect our kids is ban history, ban books, ban drag, and arm more kids with guns.
It should become clear why Black folk can't seem to build generational wealth in the United States.
This failure is not something intrinsic in the makeup or behavior of Black people.
This failure is baked into how Black people in the US are treated. In other words, racism.
Black folk cannot just "bootstraps" or "education is the key" or "LLC Twitter" or "Hustle, grind, put in work," their way out of this reality. We need to address the racism head on. And we can't do it alone.
*Creating* generational wealth is not hard for Black people. It's happened many times in US history. There have been thriving communities.
*Keeping* generational wealth has proved to be nearly impossible. Between racist pogroms, and eminent domain used to create parks, freeways, reservoirs, and shopping malls, Black folk in the US have consistently had their wealth stolen by white folks.
I still run into New Yorkers that go to Central Park every week, but have never heard of Seneca Village.
Why do white Americans learn about the dozens of wealthy Black towns that were destroyed by racism, from:
* Fictional TV shows made by HBO
* Black women comedians (Amber Ruffin)
* Random Black dudes the post on the internet 🙋🏿♂️
Instead of from their history text books?
Again folks will ask "Why was I not taught this in school?" And again, I will say, "You know why." Look at what DeSantis is doing. Look at what the Texas Board of Education has always done.
This is the Forbidden Knowledge(tm)! 🤫
Frederick Douglass: The Most Photographed American of the 19th Century
Frederick Douglass understood that it would take much more than rhetoric and the Civil War to make white Americans grant black folks their humanity.
1/11
#BlackMastodon #BlackTwitter #BlackFedi #BlackExcellence #BlackJoy #histodons #History
Happy #BlackHistoryMonth !
I'm still not ready to talk about Black history. I want to talk about white US history.
Q: "Why don't Black people build any generational wealth? Newer immigrant groups seem to be doing just fine? Must be a lazy and shiftless people!"
A: Because for most of US history, white folk have *intentionally* destroyed the wealthiest Black neighborhoods in the US and stolen all the wealth.
Greenwood. Allentown. Seneca Village. Rosewood. Freedmen's town.
We can thank Carter G. Woodson, often described as the "father of Black history," for Black History Month. He started a week-long event in February 1926 which later turned into the month-long event we have today.
This video about Carter G. Woodson by One Mic History is less than 19 minutes, and worth watching: https://youtu.be/yDsgf3u3rEo
In fact, this entire 81-video playlist is good.
Black History, by One Mic History
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFAhUaY7D-Ea0hIjboE90EWZIFb-vtgiD
I'll be watching these myself this month, and I've got many more video playlists queued up!
It’s February 1st, #BlackHistoryMonth. That means your reparations are due. ✊🏽
All month you can Venmo/CashApp me, or buy my art.
Black history is American history!
Black history is American history!
Black history is American history!
Black history is American history!
Black history is American history!
Black history is American history!
Black history is American history!
#BlackHistoryMonth
February 1st marks the start of #BlackHistoryMonth in the US.
This month, we'll highlight some of the influential Black astronomers whose discoveries led to science questions that Rubin Observatory hopes to address!
February is Black History Month. Fellow white people, do you have any idea how much better-educated than you nearly every Black person you know is about American history? There are events and people you have not been taught about at all, or about which and whom you have been taught a "white-washed" version, reshaped to fit into the great American myth of white history.
As a white kid, I was taught poorly, too. We used to call the process of learning the real history "waking up," with the end result of becoming more woke, maybe even fully woke. Now that term is being widely used pejoratively, so I'll say instead: open your eyes!
Open your eyes, and see what has always been there. Become someone who sees.
I've got a few links tucked away for February, and I'll find more as the month goes on, but let's start by turning to the people who've been taught Black history from the time they were young.
10 accounts to follow:
@mekkaokereke Mekka Okereke
@black_intellect blk_intellect
@liberate The Way of Accountability
@DHS Darker Hue Studios
@onlymeindc Sherri G., PhD
@nadinestorying she who weaves stories
@popcornreel Omar Moore
@carnage4life Dare Obasanjo
@Jaden2@mstdn.social Jaden
@kingsley kingsley
#OnThisDay, 1 Feb 1998, Lillian Fishburne becomes the first African-American woman to be a rear Admiral in the US Navy.
Happy #BlackHistoryMonth !
You know the drill by now. I don't like talking about Black history. Americans know Black history. I want to talk about white American history. In other words, racism, and the erasure of both positive achievements of, and injustices suffered by, non-white people. That's what people don't know.
Try this: Ask your white US friends what the statue of liberty celebrates.
Now ask your Black friends. Or French folk of any color.
Love conquers fear
#nerdery #books #puzzles #ttrpg #anime #Christian #feminist #antiracist #photography #sudoku #golang #python #OpenWeb #AIart #GenshinImpact #tfr