Desireé B Stephens’ Post

Black history is American history, leveraging the history for a better future. #three. Understanding where the Back-to-Africa movement originated. From the port of New York, on February 6, 1820, the passengers of the Mayflower of Liberia embarked on a dangerous course. Though the waters were hostile, this crossing from New York to Liberia in West Africa, stirred political waves. The controversy surrounding African colonization was at its highest. The “Back to Africa “movement was applied to dislodge slavery’s most active and vocal opponents, free blacks. There were pirate ships traveling international waters, loaded with “cargo “of enslaved Africans. It was also clear that the ban on the importation of slaves was having little effect. Equally clear was that the slave trade was an ongoing risky business, for which prices and profits were higher than ever. The higher fees charged for the precious few slaves brought in paid for the “cargo” dumped overboard when a pirate vessel was intercepted at sea for violating the ban. For the 86 men, women and children on their “Back – two – Africa pilgrimage, this day marks the fulfillment of centuries of longing on both sides of the Atlantic – belonging of those who for generations had spoken of the home they had never seen, and of those who had, for the same period, spoken of the children lost across the seas. For these pilgrims aboard, their mayflower, the best hope was an earnest belief in their ability to forge a new life, mindful both of their past, and of the responsibilities for their future. Most of us only know about the Pilgrams who landed from the Mayflower.

Today is a solemn day, and it is even more important to draw connections between the Caribbean islands and the Americas. We have a shared history that is critical to our survival and to moving forward in knowledge and unity as part of the African diaspora to our collective freedom. It's important to conceptualize slavery and recognize that it lasted 400 years. It's crucial to know that this meant an estimated more than 12.5 million people were taken from Africa. The beginnings of this brutal project were staged in the Caribbean and extended to the Americas. The colonies in the Caribbean—French, Spanish, and Portuguese, including Haiti, Puerto Rico, and Cuba, among others—were the epicenters of the sugar industries and the slave trade. It is important to remember that Haiti led the first Black revolution, becoming the second nation in the Americas to become a republic and a sovereign nation. As a response, European colonies tightened their hold and refused to let go of this inhumane industry. Puerto Rico was among the last colonies to abolish salvery. Puerto Rican abolitionist like José Julián Acosta, Francisco Mariano Quiñones, Julio L. de Vizcarrondo, Ramón Emeterio Betances, and Segundo Ruiz Belvis lead the fight and slavery was finally abolished in 1873. This is part of our history that all Puerto Ricans should know. Our objective is to solidify the importance of shared knowledge with our community within and beyond the scope of our arts and community building. Highlighting our connections to todays historic significance and invite us all to examine what this means to us as Puerto Ricans and Caribbean people. El Batey #Repost

As important as Juneteenth is today, what is more important is what we, as Americans, do tomorrow. It is predicted that, by 2053, African American average family wealth will diminish to Zero. To this we say, "NOPE! Not on Our Watch!". Our ancestors didn't make four centuries of sacrifices for us to slip back into collective economic slavery, which is what Zero median family wealth means. Author and Activist Russ Carter and I have joined together to promote two powerful solutions: Preparedness PAYS:5-10-10-75™ and "12 Principles to Secure the Future Success of the African American Family". When we prosper collectively and in solidarity, America will prosper. Make Juneteenth 2024 the turning point for America.

🌍 America's Historical Relevance: Unveiling the Truth 🌍 Did you know that America's history is deeply rooted in the African American experience? 🤔 This region, particularly Atlanta as its epicenter, holds the key to understanding our nation's past and present. 🏛️ Before we address issues such as immigration or conflicts abroad, it is crucial to acknowledge the rich history and complex relationship between white Americans and African Americans in this region. 🤝 As someone who hails from the South, I feel compelled to shed light on this topic. The African American community never asked to be brought to this land, and yet their presence has shaped our nation in profound ways. 🌟 Let's not forget that the struggles and triumphs of African Americans are integral to the fabric of America. 🇺🇸 Their story is our story, and until we reckon with our shared history, we cannot truly move forward as a nation. 💪 Join me in celebrating the importance of this region and the powerful role it plays in shaping America's narrative. It's time to recognize and honor the African American experience as we strive for a more inclusive and just society. ❤️🙌 #AmericanHistory #AfricanAmericanExperience #AtlantaEpicenter #InclusiveSociety #HistoryMatters #UnityInDiversity #UkraineCrisis #ImmigrationIssues #AmericanHistory #RegionalHistory #CurrentAffairs #BorderCrossing #AfricanAmericanRoots #AtlantaEpicenter #HistoricalRelevance

The 26th of January marks 236 years since the British First Fleet invaded First Nations land. It is a day of mourning, commemorating 236 years of dispossession, inequality and destruction which continues today. The first Day of Mourning was organised by First Nations Elders and activists on 26 January 1938. We mourn the attempted destruction of First Nations languages and culture, the theft of Country and songlines, and the loss of children who were stolen from their families. We mourn for those who have died and those who still suffer injustices and inequality in systems built to keep First Nations people disenfranchised here in Australia and around the world. Importantly, it is a day to respect and pay tribute to the resistance and resilience of First Nations people – and come together to reflect and heal. Today’s white Australia has a strong black history. Through it all, First Nations connection to culture, Country and community has survived and remains strong. Sovereignty has never been ceded – this always was and always will be First Nations land.

“It wasn’t until I was in my early twenties, when I had founded and toured ICED IN BLACK (a festival featuring Black Canadian film) and did French summer language programs across Canada, did that change. Seeing Black communities first hand in East Preston Nova Scotia or Montreal, meeting Black Canadians in Ottawa or Victoria, experiencing the natural beauty of this country, had me feeling differently about it. I belonged here. But as I’ve found through the four episodes of the BLK: An Origin Story, it is evident that whether this land was called Upper or Lower Canada, Canada East or West, Rupert’s Land, or pre-confederate Canada, a recurring theme which ties the sites in which Black people have lived for hundreds of years. The themes of expulsion, broken promises and treaties, resistance, struggle, destruction and erasure. Black history is survival, in spite of insurmountable odds. Odds like not being given cleared title to land so generational wealth couldn’t be built in Nova Scotia, Ontario, British Columbia,... it’s a theme throughout the series.” To find out more, please visit the link in my bio or below: https://lnkd.in/g4XSHsM2 @hungryeyesmediainc #bhm #blackhistorymonth #whatsupnextnlh #africanliberationmonth #africanliberation @hazeltonmanor #heritagecanada #recapnlh #bhm #bhm2024 #blackhistorymonth #blackhistorymonth2024 @officialsudzsutherland @jenniferjholness

AMER'ICAN, a. Pertaining to America. AMER'ICAN, n. A native of America; originally applied to the aboriginals, or copper-colored races, found here by the Europeans; but now applied to the descendants of Europeans born in America. The name American must always exalt the pride of patriotism. Who Am I?👉🏾 The ORIGINAL PEOPLE. I'm not AFRICAN AMERICAN, but my RELATIVES ARE... HOW IN THE WORLD CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 👉🏾 DISCOVERED SOMETHING THAT WAS 👉🏾 ALREADY HERE. .. (THE LIES ARE BEING UNCOVERED) #MAKEITMAKESENSE #DATAANALYSIS #BUSINESS

May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! Learn more about this observance as well as the impact of Asian American and Pacific Islander people on history: https://lnkd.in/genyTVNt #AAPIMonth #AAPIimpact

🌍 At the recent Emancipation Jubilee in Jamaica, a powerful moment unfolded as descendants of those who profited from the transatlantic slave trade stood in solidarity with the descendants of the enslaved, offering heartfelt apologies. This historic event underscores the deeply intertwined histories of the African Diaspora and the descendants of those who perpetuated slavery. As we reflect on these apologies, we must consider their profound implications for African Diaspora history and historiography. These acts of contrition are not just symbolic; they are a critical acknowledgment of the ongoing legacies of slavery that continue to shape the lives of Black communities in the Americas today. In a world still grappling with the heritage of the transatlantic slave trade and chattel slavery, these apologies remind us that the history of slavery is not just a distant past but a present reality that demands action and recognition. As we push forward, we must continue to challenge the structures of inequality that persist, using history not just to remember but to drive change.🌍 🔗 [Read more in The Guardian](https://lnkd.in/d9nwsEAW) #EmancipationDay #AfricanDiaspora #HistoryMatters #TransatlanticSlaveTrade #ChangeTheNarrative

THE MOORS 🔥 is a part of history that is not often relayed or displayed by neo colonialist. I wonder why? Moor or Moors is a term generally used by Europeans to describe the people of African descent and the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages. Between 711 C.E. and 1492 C.E. people of African descent controlled parts of Iberia which consist of modern-day Spain and Portugal.