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African American History - How Well Do We Know It?

All peoples of this world need to know where they came from and the bitter struggles faced by their forefathers in shaping the world as we know it today. In particular not many young African Americans show any inclination to learn of their history, as a result they do not even know themselves. This is indeed a tragedy as African American History tells the story of a glorious and victorious march from enslavement to freedom depending on the version that you read.

A story can take many shapes depending on who is telling it. The historians of that era when slavery was in its prime were mostly of European stock so naturally this horrible event in history was very much sanitized for public consumption. The brutalities of the slave trade and the total suppression of African culture, African art and African music are hardly recorded anywhere. It was left to the elders to pass on the stories of the many heroes of the slave trade; those great rebels who helped pave the way for its eventual abolition.

However it was not just African American slaves who suffered, even their brothers and sisters in the Caribbean were abused in the worst possible way. But this abuse and punishment started from the moment they boarded the slave ships where they were herded like sheep below deck in sweltering heat and filthy conditions. Widespread African poverty on the dark continent facilitated this act. The journey which lasted months saw many died en route and thrown overboard. Those who survived were made presentable and sold to the highest bidder and then the inhumane treatment continued on the farms where they were placed.

By the far the greatest abuse perpetrated upon the peoples of African descent via the slave trade was not physical but mental and hence the reason why the present generation of African Americans needs to understand their history. Their ancestors were forced to give up their religious beliefs and pray to the western gods. Their culture ranging from African musical instruments and African food was utterly suppressed beyond recognition. They were forced to adopt western names and modes of dress, it was a complete and utter transformation of a people that should never have occurred.

The real truth about African American history should not be garnered from the corridors of a university but rather from the elders of the tribe, stories which have been told from one generation to the next. Only then would the real horrors of their epic journey be felt or the joy of freedom experienced as it was experienced by the heroes of yesteryear.