#dr. john henrik clarke

[keyamsha]

Obituary of John Henrik Clarke

Originally posted to Lucumi by Runoko Rashidi, we present the obituary of John Henrik Clarke. The complete original can be found at http://web.archive.org/web/20041014213827/http://www.cwo.com/~lucumi/clarke3.html THE GLOBAL AFRICAN COMMUNITY H I S T O R Y   N O T E S JOHN HENRIK CLARKE’s AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL OBITUARY By DR. JOHN HENRIK CLARKE Posted by RUNOKO RASHIDI Posted by NEWS SERVICEJuly…

[longlistshort]

“History is not everything, but it is a starting point. History is a clock that people use to tell their political and cultural time of day. It is a compass they use to find themselves on the map of human geography. It tells them where they are but, more importantly, what they must be.”- Dr. John Henrik Clarke

Dr. John Henrik Clarke was an American writer, historian, professor, and pioneer in the creation of Pan-African and Africana studies. He taught at both Hunter College in NYC, where he established the Department of Black and Puerto Rican studies, and Cornell University where he was the Carter G. Woodson Distinguished Visiting Professor of African History at Cornell University’s Africana Studies and Research Center.

The mural pictured above, Dr. John Henrik Clarke and the Mundari Tribe by Reginald O’Neal, was created for the 2022 edition of SHINE Mural Festival in St. Petersburg, Florida.

[ausetkmt]

The Pope Orders The Slave Trade- Dr John Henrik Clarke

[roccblacman56]

[reasoningdaily]

[madamlaydebug]

HOW MANY OF YOU KNEW THIS ABOUT BROTHER WESLEY?!

Snipes formed a production company, Amen-Ra Films, in 1991 and a subsidiary, Black Dot Media, to develop projects for film and television.

AMEN RA PRODUCTIONS PRODUCED ALL OF THE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL (AND LUCRATIVE) BLADE MOVIES

Snipes has been training in martial arts since age 12, earning a 5th dan black belt in Shotokan Karate and 2nd dan black belt in Hapkido.

In the late 1990s, Snipes and his brother started a security firm called the Royal Guard of Amen-Ra, dedicated to providing VIPs with bodyguards trained in law enforcement and martial arts. In 1996, the first film produced by Amen Ra productions was A Great And Mighty Walk – Dr. John Henrik Clarke, in which Snipes narrated.

In 2000, the business was investigated for alleged ties to the United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors. It emerged that Snipes had spotted 200 acres (0.81 km2) of land with the intention to buy and use for his business academy, which were close to the compound in Putnam County, Georgia. Both Snipes' business and the groups used Egyptian motifs as their symbols. Ultimately, Snipes and his brother did not buy the land, instead establishing their company in Florida, Antigua, and Africa.

Snipes, who was raised a Christian, converted to Islam in 1978, but left Islam in 1988. During a 1991 interview, Snipes said "[Islam made] me more conscious of what African people have accomplished, of my self-worth, [and gave] me some self-dignity."

[ptseti]

THE AFRICAN INVITED THE EUROPEAN FOR DINNER That’s the first thing he did. The Indians invited the Europeans for dinner. The Polynesians invited the Europeans for dinner. Now, if you invite people for dinner, you first place, you’ve got plenty of dinner, and you have a society that is traditionally hospitable to strangers. The Indian youngs invited Christopher Columbus for dinner. The first thing they did. All right, now let’s look at what was happening inside of Christopher Columbus’s mind, and we can go to his own diary for this. He said I wonder why they are so friendly. They’ll be easier to conquer than I thought they would be. I wonder why they’re bringing such small amounts of gold. I wonder where the mines are. His intentions were not good. It wasn’t good then. The intentions are not good now. And the black man is still hung up with this dinner invitation, this kindness, with the thought that if you treat a person humanely, that he would act humanely toward you. Black people have not seen white people at all. That is why they can’t deal with them. Dr John Henrik Clarke speaks 🗣

[readyforevolution]

“When you address a people by their right name, that name must relate to land, history, and culture. All people go back to the geography of their original origin and identify themselves no matter where they live on the face of the earth. We have overused the word Black because Black tells you how you look but it doesn’t tell you who you are!”

Dr. John Henrik Clarke

[wise-words-wisdom]

Take what you do best and do it for your people - Dr. John Henrik Clarke 📚👊🏾

[y0ur-maj3sty]

The Arabic Slave Trade is something that is rarely spoken about and often goes unheard of. When we speak of the enslavement of Africans, many of us like to connect it with Europeans, which is fine, but we should never forget they were not the only ones. For over 900 years, Africans were enslaved by Arabic slave traders. They would take Africans from all over the continent including West, East, and North Africa forcing them to march thousands of miles to Slave Markets. The Men, Women, and Children were bound together by the waist and neck so that if one died the rest could drag him or her along. These walks became known as the “Death Marches” and an estimated 20 million Africans died on these walks alone. The Arabs believed it was God’s wish to see Africans enslaved and believed they were uncivilized animals. Sound Familiar? Slaves were beaten and abused regularly although claims have been made that they were not supposed to. Many African Women, young Girls, and Boys would be used as Sex slaves for their owners. Islamic Slave holders would stick their swords and other weapons into the Vagina’s of Black Women and cut off the penis of African Men. This was done because they believed Africans had an uncontrollable sex drive.

Many Africans would be forced to convert to Islam believing if they shared the same religion, it would stop the abuse. Muslim slave traders would also promise them Freedom after conversion. This did not stop the abuse nor did it gain them their freedom. In Fact, one can argue it made them even more enslaved. When Europeans entered the slave industry, Muslim Slave traders would use the religion to exploit Islamic Africans to bring them other Africans. These Africans would then be sold to Europeans. Slavery in the holy city of Mecca would remain until 1966 and in all other Arabic countries until 1990. The Islamic Slave Trade began almost 500 years before the Europeans would come to Africa. It would be a catalyst for the dismantling of the continent and the massive expansion of the Religion. Had it not been for Islam, European Chattel Slavery may never have occurred. History is quite a teacher and once again as the late Dr. John Henrik Clarke once said, “Africa has no friends. If you want a friend, look in the mirror.”

[realjaysumlin]

Dr. John Henrik Clarke stated, "Those who oppose the social construct of race will invariably be labeled as racists by those who uphold it." It appears that individuals identifying as white advocate for the welfare of their children, while Black parents are perceived as not engaging in similar efforts. What accounts for this perception?

To control a people you must first control what they think about themselves and how they regard their history and culture. And when your conqueror makes you ashamed of your culture and your history, he needs no prison walls and no chains to hold you.

John Henrik Clarke

[militantinremission]

The March On Washington 60Yrs later- What does it mean?

Mainstream Media is almost tripping over themselves to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of The March On Washington... Seriously?! Black America is WORSE OFF now, than We were 60Yrs ago! We're still being oppressed by the Same Institutions that Dr. King & 'The Big 6' were marching to protest. I respect my Elder, but Andrew Young is speaking for himself when he says he's 'No ways tired'- more than a few of Us are Sick & Tired of being sick & tired!

U KNOW Mainstream Media had to play Dr. King's 'I have a Dream' speech; I think it's the only MLK Speech allowed. Maybe its just me, but the crowd participating in this 'Event' looked as disingenuous as the Event itself. Why were they there? What are they celebrating? They remind me of the Yuppies that make their pilgrimage to Newburg, N Y. to celebrate the glory & wonder of Woodstock; but the Event itself was a literal Mud Bowl that tested the resolve of the Attendees.

The Kumbaya Coalition looked happy to be part of 'History', but do they understand The History? The individuals that were interviewed ran the usual talking points of 'I have a dream'; are they aware that Dr. King famously said that he 'feared integrating Us into a burning building'? He also said that 'America owes Us a debt & We're coming to Washington to collect Our Check'. Once again, I feel like Black American Culture is being looted to suit another's purpose. MLK is being lauded, but he's just a prop. At the time of his assassination, Dr. King was disliked by 2/3rds of America. Over 160 Newspapers denounced him.

The 'Cloth' of Black American Culture is literally being removed from Us & placed on other groups. First Barack Obama calls his Immigration Policy: 'The Dream Act', & labels the children of Illegal Immigrants 'Dreamers'. Next, (White) LGBTQ... Individuals appropriate Civil Rights to normalize a Counter Culture. NOTHING is politically 'Black Specific', Everything is 'Black & Brown'; meanwhile, Latinx, & Asian Americans get specificity for their respective communities. It's the same thing w/ The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). Their Mission Statement offers more to Immigrants, than the Black Americans that put them in Office.

As an Indigenous Black American, I feel an all out effort to remove & replace my lineage group. Efforts to rewrite American History, as it relates to Anti- Black Racism is gaining traction. Democrats & Republicans appear to be in agreement w/ placing Illegal Immigrants in Black Communities & instigating competition between Us for the same resources. Los Angeles was just The Beginning. The blatant culture appropriation by folks that We thought were 'Family', is forcing Us to revisit John Henrik Clarke's assessment (30Yrs ago) that: 'We don't have any friends'.

-It doesn't look good.

[mooniacs]

YURUGU'S AESTHETIC: THE POWER OF SYMBOLS

Sort of a continuation of my last review! In chapter 3 of Yurugu: An Afrikan-Centered Critique of European Cultural Thought & Behavior, it talks extensively about aesthetics and subsequently the Eurocentric concept of beauty.

Dr. Ani says, "First, we want to identify the European conception of beauty, in the sense of forms, images, experiences that evoke positive emotional responses from those who have been enculturated in the tradition. This sense of the European aesthetic is closely related to value; that is, its themes are “expressions” of European value. This is the aesthetic that reaches to every layer of the culture. The values and images involved are not limited to the ordinary person, although they are more consciously expressed in the media that addresses itself to the “nonintellectual”-- and to the popular art forms. But this should not confuse the issue, because (perhaps unconsciously or at least non-verbally) this aesthetic affects the “intellectual” as well.

We see examples of these value systems in the common protagonists of various films, TV and literature: usually white, usually a man, usually blond or blue-eyed (though not mutually exclusive). A cognitive conditioning and limiting of the viewer's imagination.

Dr. Ani continues: "In European culture, there is a second, other meaning of the term “aesthetic,” […] there is not only the experience of the beautiful, but there is the “objectification” of that experience as well. In keeping with the asili (logos) of the culture, it follows that there must be a “science” based on this objectification. […] This “scientific” or “philosophical” aesthetic seeks to influence and control the emotional experience of what Europeans consider "beautiful.” […] But none of these discussions is satisfying to anyone other than European philosophers. One questions their motives and the reason the subject occupies the attention and energy that it does. The answer is that this speculative/philosophic activity functions in its own way to reinforce and validate the cultural asili and to strengthen the national consciousness; the collective self-image as superior to others, a universal standard for humanity."

We notice this aesthetic pattern in Hollywood films like the Avengers (and other Marvel films), Top Gun, American Sniper, etc., in which the art forms have become a proverbial home to extensively propagandized logos and symbolism that specifically favor the U.S. military industrial complex, heteronormativity, and racism (anti-blackness, colorism, featurism, fatphobia etc.), while serving as a (currently failing) indoctrination technique for their military recruiters. Because of the objectification of these art forms, very few of the "average" viewers would question its value system or wish to abolish them.

Dr. Ani suggests that even writing, or the written word, "takes on the features of a dominant value within the belief system of the group. It is not merely a tool among tools. The medium of the written word is so valued that it can itself impart value (according to the European logos or asili), much as religion does to the entire fabric of traditional cultures."

I'd like to personally address the European aesthetics' ultimately appropriating nature, and what that mean for the Non-European viewer. In Dr. John Henrick Clarke's "On My Journey Now: The Narrative and Works of Dr. John Henrik Clarke, The Knowledge Revolutionary," he says about the West (USA specifically): "Practically all Black people in America are born into, grow up in, and must mentally, culturally and spiritually respond to the multi-dimensional perspective of the people who currently control the flow of information, values, and social ethics in this country. The educational institutions, through which Blacks receive their first formal instruction, are philosophically and pedagogically dominated by those same people, who also oversee the mass media, whether it is printed, electronic, focused on entertainment or part of the world wide web".

Dr. Clarke's longtime research on Afrikan history concluded that: "When Alexander came to Africa, instead of burning libraries (and that's one of the greatest myths of history, the burning of the Alexandria library), he sent the books home to Aristotle, who rewrote a lot of them and put his own name on them and so a lot of what you think is Aristotle's writings is plagiarism from African writings."

Dr. Ani has already spoken extensively of the Greco-Roman's obsession with ancient Kemet (Egypt) in her book, but I wanted to address this out of respect for the intention of her work, which does touch on the concept of an advanced Afrikan civilization and black nationalism in the essence of pan-africanism and the globalization of black solidarity. There are some aspects of European epistemology that she considers "brilliant" (her word exactly) in terms of its effectiveness. This book was meticulously written by an Afrikan woman for Afrikans and other Non-Europeans (she mentions Oceana and Amerindians more than once)(though she initially grew up in America, her Afrikan culture became her protection).

I think that the book is extremely thorough in its research and intentions, and so "enlightening" in the sense that I do think it's important to understand that there are other epistemological modes to consider that are not dominated by white supremacy. It was also a gateway to other great works that I can potentially read!

I started earnestly reading more black/Afrikan + Indigenous books and papers during the BLM movement way way back, because many black activists have stated that actually doing the work to understand racism and anti-blackness is the start to strong critical thinking skills against white supremacist propaganda. And they are correct.

But it also reveals how extremely insidious European epistemology and its allies can become. Their propaganda seems entrenched, ingrained, and still infiltrating. Nothing less than a strong cultural immune system would be able to fight it. I think Dr. Ani's work is an excellent start in comprehending this global problem, if you don't mind the complex wording of the texts. And if you do, I found Dr. Clarke's transcripts of his life's work available to read here!

[lonelier-version-of-you]

Well, Casualty have finally, finally managed it. An episode without Faith The Abuser Cadogan in it. I mean we had to sit through ages of both Paul and Adi but at least Adi’s presumably going now.

I didn’t hate this episode as much as a lot of people did. It was a bit ‘meh’, what with all the focus on the surrogacy storyline. The special effects were way too much and the fight scene was just embarrassing. But thankfully, we had Queen Stevie Nash to carry the episode.

I love Stevie. I know I say that like every week now, but I really do love her, and she just keeps getting better and better. It helps that she reminds me SO much of Henrik - more specifically, Henrik back in the day before Holby stopped calling him out on his shit. What was that anon ask ages back about watching Holby for Henrik because he’s “my poor fucked up little man... I need him to go to therapy... I need to see what he will do wrong next”. That’s how I feel about Stevie. She’s like Henrik - but, ironically, without the sexual harassment. (Although she faced more consequences for false allegations of such than Henrik did for actually harassing Sahira. :/)

Actually, thinking about it, Stevie’s sort of like early Henrik, yeah, but she’s also like a mini Gaskell. To the point I’m tempted to nickname her Mini Gaskell now. To be fair, that’s probably because most of the traits she has in common with Henrik are also ones Henrik has in common with John. Stevie is probably what would happen if Henrik and John somehow produced a kid. But what Jonty called the ‘self-righteous’ “I’m Dr. Nash and I can do no wrong” attitude, it feels more John than Henrik to me, so yeah. Not that her selfish streak isn’t a trait shared by both of them. (Indeed, you could compare Jonty’s rant to Mr. Clarke’s description of Henrik in S19E03: “A terrible old narcissist’s power struggle. [...] Acute lack of empathy. Borderline sociopathic need for immediate and total obedience.”)

Stevie is what John could’ve been if he were written well. Stevie is how you do a villainous mentally ill character right - her mental illness affects her behaviour just like anybody else’s would, but it’s not, at the end of the day, the reason she’s a villain (well, more like antagonist or anti-hero by now, but still). She’s a wonderfully complex character and I cannot praise her enough. Elinor Lawless is brilliant, too, her performances are so fantastic.

I really do think tonight’s episode providing insight into Stevie’s psyche is probably one of the only reasons I enjoyed it. She got a lot of interactions and all of them were fascinating. Despite the Jonty drama, she proved herself ultimately a good doctor in how gentle she was with the woman who was a rape survivor, and how she talked to the pregnant woman trying to decide whether to have an abortion. (Incidentally, this is actually another aspect in which she reminds me of both John and Henrik, but especially John. One of John’s trial patients, Mara, was a domestic violence survivor and he was just lovely with how he treated her.)

I don’t know where I was going with this really. I just love Stevie. I think she’s great. She rescued what otherwise would’ve been a mediocre at best episode for me.

Also, speaking of Jonty, he was throwing stones from his glass house with that rant about Stevie being a bad person. Just saying.

There was really only one other storyline tonight, and it was the Marty/Adi/Paul/Robyn surrogacy stuff. That was... eh. I’m glad Marty’s broken up with Adi and I hope we never hear from Adi again now - he’s outstayed his welcome already.

Speaking of people who have outstayed their welcome, Paul doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. He and Robyn are a thing now, I guess.

Watching Paul yell at Adi was the epitome of that “Heartbreaking: The Worst Person You Know Just Made A Great Point” meme. Like, he wasn’t wrong, but also... he’s Paul. And we’ve seen him being a bit of a misogynistic prat himself.

What the fuck was that fight????? The fact that they tried to play it as comedic when the rest of the storyline was serious made the tone feel seriously off. And the music was SO not needed.

In other news, why are we barely seeing Ethan at the moment when he’s literally leaving the show in a few months? This lack of Ethan scenes is going to be especially frustrating if they go the route of him having a sudden severe Huntington’s decline for his exit story. Just... sigh.

One thing I complained about last week was that, unlike the rest of the series so far, the episode didn’t feel busy enough - thankfully tonight’s episode fixed that, and it felt like a busy, crowded department again. So I did like that.

All in all... meh. Liked the Stevie stuff. Liked that we saw a lot of patients. The rest frustrated me. I wouldn’t mind if we were getting a better episode next week, but unfortunately, there’s no ep on the 15th. It’s that “Casualty gets shifted around the schedules for Strictly” time of year again, I suppose. Next recap will come whenever we get another episode.

[savonnethesiren]

Black Men in Love

Below are quoted about love 🤎🤎🤎

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“Unconditional love will have the final word in reality” - MLK Jr

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“I am grateful to have been loved, to be loved now and to be able to love.” - Maya Angelou

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“Finding love within yourself is truly an act of God. Love is about accepting everything about yourself.” - Ntozake Shange

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“I have learned not to worry about love, but to honor its coming with all my heart.” - Alice Walker

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“Don’t ever think I fell for you or fell over you. I didn’t fall in love, I rose in it.” - Toni Morrison

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“Together we glow brighter than the sun and moon combined, we are love.” - Sanjo Jendayi

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“Being in love with someone will make you come out of your comfort zone.” - Zoe’s Neale Hurston

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“We can’t have a war between Black men and Black women because no one can be free if one-half of the mind of the people is tied up in conflict. It’s going to have to be both is us or none of us.” - Dr. John Henrik Clarke

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“Love takes off the masks we fear we cannot live without and know we can not live within.” - James Baldwin

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“To truly love we must learn to mix various ingredients — care, affection, recognition, commitment, and trust, as well as honest and open communication.” - bell hooks

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What’s your favorite quote about love? Share it in the comments!

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[madamlaydebug]

On this day in 2021...

R.I.P.

Go well … you have fulfilled your purpose 💕https://www.patreon.com/RunokoRashidi

RUNOKO RASHIDI

Runoko Rashidi is an anthropologist and historian with a major focus on what he calls the Global African Presence--that is, Africans outside of Africa before and after enslavement. He is the author or editor of twenty-two books, the most recent of which are My Global Journeys in Search of the African Presence, Assata-Garvey and Me: A Global African Journey for Children in 2017 and The Black Image in Antiquityin 2019. His other works include Black Star: The African Presence in Early Europe, published by Books of Africa in London in November 2011 and African Star over Asia: The Black Presence in the East, published by Books of Africa in London in November 2012 and revised and reprinted in April 2013, Uncovering the African Past: The Ivan Van Sertima Papers, published by Books of Africa in 2015. His other works include the African Presence in Early Asia, co-edited by Dr. Ivan Van Sertima. Four of Runoko's works have been published in French.

As a traveler and researcher Dr. Rashidi has visited 124countries. As a lecturer and presenter, he has spoken insixty-sevencountries.

Runoko has worked with and under some of the most distinguished scholars of the past half-century, including Ivan Van Sertima, John Henrik Clarke, Asa G. Hilliard, Edward Scobie, John G. Jackson, Jan Carew and Yosef ben-Jochannan.

In October 1987 Rashidi inaugurated the First All-India Dalit Writer's Conference in Hyderabad, India.

In 1999 he was the major keynote speaker at the International Reunion of the African Family in Latin America in Barlovento, Venezuela.

In 2005 Rashidi was awarded an Honorary Doctorate degree, his first, by the Amen-Ra Theological Seminary in Los Angeles.

In August 2010 he was first keynote speaker at the First Global Black Nationalities Conference in Osogbo, Nigeria.

In December 2010 he was President and first speaker at the Diaspora Forum at the FESMAN Conference in Dakar, Senegal.

In 2018 he was named Traveling Ambassador to the Universal Negro Improvement Association & African Communities League RC 2020.

In 2020 he was named to the Curatorial and Academic boards of the Pan-African Heritage Museum.

He is currently doing major research on the African presence in the museums of the world.

As a tour leader he has taken groups to India, Australia, Fiji, Turkey, Jordan, Brazil, Egypt, Ghana, Togo, Benin, France, Belgium, England, Cote d'Ivoire, Namibia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Peru, Cuba, Luxembourg, Germany, Cameroon, the Netherlands, Spain, Morocco, Senegal, the Gambia,Guinea-Bissau,Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar.

Runoko Rashidi's major mission in life is the uplift of African people, those at home and those abroad.

For more information write to Runoko@hotmail.com or call (323) 803-8663.

His website is www.drrunoko.com