SOURCES:
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/The-Slave-Revolt-of-1712-in-New-York---An-Anniversary-90028817.html
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part1/1p285.html
http://slaverebellion.org/index.php?page=new-york-slave-revolt-1712
On this day in history (April 7, 1712) began a slave uprising that would lead to the deaths of at least nine whites, and leave at least six others wounded. Intended to inspire others to follow suit, only the intervention of the State Militia would stop the revolt from spreading beyond the area in which it started. As the story goes, a group of approximately 23 slaves met in an orchard on Maiden Lane in Manhattan, and began setting fire to houses & buildings in and around Manhattan. When the European Colonists & Slave Owners came out to fight or escape the fires, they would be attacked by slaves carrying Guns, Hatchets, and knives. in the end 27 rebels were captured. six allegedly committed suicide, rather than face a return to bondage or worse. the remaining 21 were tortured and ultimately executed. Some were said to have been burned alive. fearing similar rebellions, already established Slaves Law were made even more strict. No more than three slaves could be in the same place, at the same time; and slaves would be severely beaten without reason, as long as they were not killed (profit reigns supreme over all). Prior to the rebellion, slaves already endured savagely inhumane conditions of beatings & starvation; so there really was never anything to lose. the narrative about slavery & racism in general always focuses on The South; but history records some of the most horrible acts of aggression coming from the supposedly more safe North. This would continue right on into the sixties when Dr. Martin Luther King would endure the worst of all of his violent encounters right in Chicago. THE WANDERING EYES BLOG SALUTES ALL FREEDOM FIGHTERS, past & present!!!
SOURCES: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/The-Slave-Revolt-of-1712-in-New-York---An-Anniversary-90028817.html http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part1/1p285.html http://slaverebellion.org/index.php?page=new-york-slave-revolt-1712
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Before Marcus Garvey, before Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm X, before The Black Panthers & Black Liberation Army, there was Martin Robinson Delany. Considered the First to promote the core philosophies of Black Nationalism, Martin Delany was a Radical Abolitionist, Writer/Editor, Dentist, Physician, One Of The First Black Men To Be Admitted To Harvard Medical School, Military Officer & a key figure in recruiting the famed 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Brigade (featured in the film "Glory"). Born May 6th 1812, Martin R. Delany was born a Free Man. His family would move to Pennsylvania to avoid prosecution for knowing how to read & write. By the age of 19, Delany himself would be firmly entrenched in his study of medicine; but all the while developing his militant stance in opposition to the institution of slavery. By the late 1830's he had launched a newspaper, called "The Mystery," which spoke to the plight of Blacks and Women in America. Soon thereafter he would be recruited by Frederick Douglass, and the two would work together on "The North Star" weekly newspaper. This partnership would last from 1846 to 1849, but would end allegedly due to the Martin Delany's more militant approach to resolving the injustices faced by Black People daily. Around that same time, Delany would go on to enroll at Harvard; but continued fight & evolve his position in regard to how to resolve the concerns of his race. Starting around 1850, he would begin pushing the case for repatriation back to Africa, leading exploratory missions to West Africa & even temporarily relocating to Canada (that same year Delany & the two other Black Students would be kicked out of Harvard to pressure from angry Whites). "We are slaves in the midst of freedom, waiting patiently and unconcernedly, indifferently, and stupidly, for masters to come and lay claim to us, trusting to their generosity, whether or not they will own us and carry us into endless bondage." With the onset of The Civil War, however, he would return to The U.S. to serve as a surgeon for The 54th Massachusetts Regiment and leading recruiter of current & former slaves for The North. Commissioned as Major, Delany would be one of the first-if not The First Black Soldier to hold an official commission as an officer. After the war he also served on The Freedmen's Bureau. Delany spent the bulk of his remaining life pushing for emigration first to South/Central America, and then Back to Africa. Delany's position was that justice would never be achieved in any situation where Black People were not in the majority. This core value, along with his refusal to assimilate into American Culture or identify himself as anything other Purely African, are chief reasons why Martin R. Delany is largely hidden from the history books. But to the learned reader, his true impact clearly eclipses that of all of his contemporaries of that time. Martin R. Delany died January 24th 1885. He authored one book "The Condition, Elevation, Emigration, and Destiny of the Colored People of the United States Politically Considered" in 1852. http://www.nndb.com/people/363/000165865/ http://www.post-gazette.com/life/lifestyle/2011/02/06/Martin-Delany-Father-of-Black-Nationalism/stories/201102060355 Fifty-Eight Years ago today, The African Republic of Ghana (formerly known as The Gold Coast) gained its independence from Britain. One of the first to break free from what had been hundreds of Years Exploitation & Oppression at the hands of European Nations, this set off a wave of additional revolutions all across The Continent of Africa. Between 1957 & 1960, eighteen African Nations gained their Independence from British, French & Belgian Oppressors. In the case of Ghana, many of its citizens had fought along-side The British in World War II & returned home to find the same Poverty, Unemployment & Violence they thought they had fought to end. At the forefront of Ghana's struggle for independence was Kwame nkrumah. Previously imprisoned for leading protests against the British Colonial Government, Nkrumah would be elected as The Gold Coast's First Prime Minister & eventually President. Renaming his new nation Ghana, in honor of The Ancient African Empire, Nkrumah went about the work of improving the nation's Roadways, Universities & Infrastructure. However his Marxist-Leaning ideals did not sit well with the Western World, and soon the campaign to bring him down would kick into high gear. Blamed for the Ghana's new & old economic woes, public opinion of Kwame Nkrumah began to change. Nkrumah made several errors during his time, which led the military to believe that he had too much power. At least two failed assassination attempts would only make Nkrumah close ranks to more of a Dictator-Like Regime. In 1966, a CIA-backed Coup took place while Nkrumah was away in China. Nkrumah would never be allowed to return home to Ghana, and would end his days in Exile. Numerous regime changes would follow-most of them far more repressive than Nkrumah could have ever been accused of being. The early 1970's regimes of Ignatius Acheampong and Frederick Akuffo were said to be especially brutal. Some stability would return in 1979, under the rule of Jerry Rawlings; but by that time the spirit pf The African Revolution was long dead. “Divided We Are Weak. United, Africa Could Become One Of The Greatest Forces For Good In The World.” With a vision for a "United States Of Africa," Kwame Nkrumah was one of the pioneering forces behind the formation of The Organization Of African Unity established in may 1963. The OAU, which consisted of 32 African Nations, sought to ensure a return to Political & Economic Prosperity for the Entire Continent. Kwame Nkrumah warned of this Unified Africa as the only deterrent to a second wave of returning to continue to exploit The Continent of Africa for all of its Natural Resources again. Today we honor You President Kwame Nkrumah & All others that stood to fight for the greater good. Sources: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6382237.stm http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?historyid=ad43 "My name is Assata Shakur, and I am a 20th century escaped slave. Because of government persecution, I was left with no other choice than to flee from the political repression, racism and violence that dominate the US government’s policy towards people of color. I am an ex-political prisoner, and I have been living in exile in Cuba since 1984. I have been a political activist most of my life, and although the U.S. government has done everything in its power to criminalize me, I am not a criminal, nor have I ever been one. In the 1960s, I participated in various struggles: the black liberation movement, the student rights movement, and the movement to end the war in Vietnam. I joined the Black Panther Party. By 1969 the Black Panther Party had become the number one organization targeted by the FBI’s COINTELPRO program. Because the Black Panther Party demanded the total liberation of black people, J. Edgar Hoover called it “greatest threat to the internal security of the country” and vowed to destroy it and its leaders and activists." These are the words of Assata Shakur, formerly known as JoAnne Chesimard. Wrongfully convicted in 1977, for a murder that she would have been physically unable to commit. It's pretty hard to shoot someone with an arm that you had been shot in, and which Forensics experts testified that her hands were in the "Surrender Position." Nevertheless, she was sentenced to Life in Prison for the 1973 murder of a New Jersey State Trooper. Her conviction was at the hands of an All White Jury. If you've ever read her biography "Assata," you would have no choice but to agonize at the treatment she received between the time of her arrest & eventual escape from Clinton correctional in 1979 (being left in the morgue-next to her fallen comrad Zayd Shakur, being abused in the hospital & then placed in a Men's Prison, etc.). Though held in a maximum Security Prison, the visiting area at The Clinton Correctional Facility was said to be more Medium Security. Exposing other shockingly loose security measures, Assata Shakur was liberated by a team of three took three Prison Guards hostage to secure her safe exit from the prison. Each of the three guards were released unharmed & Assata Shakur moved from Safe House to Safe House until eventually being granted Political asylum to Cuba five years later. Today she sits with a $2 Million Dollar Bounty on her Head, and listed on The FBI's Most wanted Terrorist List. But to me, she is a HERO! She personifies every bit of the definition of Freedom, Self-Determination, Justice & Power. May she continue to be safe in these changing times. P.E.A.C.E. Source: http://www.thetalkingdrum.com/bla4.html With everything that's going on right now, we need the type of simple/common sense leadership that Chicago Black Panther Party Chairman Fred Hampton displayed. He stressed education, Organization & Mobilization. He was NOT about useless, Symbolic, marches & demonstrations. He was about ACTION, on ANY LEVEL!!! Under his watch, The BPP instituted Political Education Classes, Free Medical Clinics & Free Breakfast Programs (the actual precursor to what millions of children enjoy today). Most impressively, this was all within just one year. Imagine what he would have done, if he was not assassinated by Chicago Police on December 4th 1969. ferguson needs you Fred. New York needs you. THE WORLD NEEDS CHAIRMAN FRED!!!!
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