Joy Francis (Hon) FRSL’s Post

Did you know February is #BlackHistoryMonth? Take a moment to consider how you can support black-owned businesses and foster more diversity with strategic suppliers through your procurement practices! Check out some of the resources outlined in the below post to learn more about #BHM2024

We have so much global conflict today under crushing debt & few economic resources to meet present needs. Senseless crimes are escalating and traditional values have no place in our homes today. Resolution comes with a massive dose of truth. We need to release primary sources to verify and confirm our true black history. American red Indians came from Mongolia 🇲🇳 in the 1800s and were never indigenous to America. The real American Indians were black when a black Columbus showed up from black Europe in 1492. Blacks lived in America over 2,000 years. Equally, blacks lived in Europe for over 2,000 years. The Black Hebrews occupied Europe and Scotland. Ben Franklin's Essay of 1751 on the increase of mankind par.24 is the clearest statement on race with an extremely small white population tied to the Caucasus but housed in England mid 1700s when the global population was 600 million. Today of 8.2 billion souls UN /CIA report 5 % is considered pure white. How can history be accurate? In North Africa this summer I was called a Berber blue man but quite content with the genetically proven black bin Yahya Hebrew / Al Ali label. Blacks managed the planet as leaders for 5,800 years going back to a black Adam in BCE 4000. Today blacks are assigned to Africa which appears much smaller on a real map of the world, and is the only continent owned & controlled by other nations. In the Western hemisphere there are no known communities speaking an African language or dialect yet we are called African. There are many European languages spoken to this day in the West by black islanders. Why? Their black ancestors came from Europe. So sad we are living in an extremist and white supremacist world influenced by twisted theories penned by Johann Friedrich Blumenbach b. 1752 and Georges Louis Leclerc b. 1707. But after closer inspection I find it extremely hard to accept these two whitewashed Euromoors had anything to do with racist ideologies conceived in the mid to late 19th century which influenced Darwin, and gave birth to Eugenics and Zionism. The DNA, i.e. fraudulent Haplogroups R, J and I assignment to Europe and MENA, and primary sources like the Anglo Saxon Chronicles based on copies of unknown and unverified material need to be tossed out the window to make way for the real story of black mankind and humankind (not the same thing and read the writings of EG White along a timeline of circa 6,000 years). Our black leaders and black academics have failed 95 percent or 7.79 billion melenated souls on our planet. They are either too lazy to read / think for themselves OR lack the courage to speak out ! As to primary sources I have over 5m records, 30k DNA matches, over 90 kits managed on both sides of the family. Incredible insights from my wife's Polish family with Haplos R, J, I, and H with strong matches among modern Jews & modern Western Europeans. Always remember black history is inextricably linked to Biblical Hebrew history. Shalom.

In honor of Black History Month, today's example of Black excellence in sustainability goes to an individual not in any of the fields officially related to sustainability. Henry Louis Gates is a Harvard professor interested in African American literature and cultural theory. But he serves as the historian and advisor to the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund, which is fighting to preserve Black churches across the country. Not only is this a sustainable way of working within existing buildings, but it also preserves cultural, historical, and spiritual centers of significance to the Black community and the entire American community. This is one of the reasons sustainable architecture and city planning is so important, both for our planet, and for our people. Learn more at the link below!

🎉 Next month marks the 70th anniversary of the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision, a pivotal moment in the fight for civil rights and equality in education. While this decision aimed to dismantle the "separate but equal" doctrine, its legacy is complex and far-reaching. I recently had the pleasure of teaching my students about this intricate legacy during our February Black History Month culture and diversity lessons. The immediate backlash following the decision led to the unjust removal of educators of color from the education industry for decades, perpetuating systemic racism and inequality. This is most evident in the persistent lack of diversity within the education sector. Before Brown v Board of Education, there were thousands of highly qualified Black and Brown teachers in segregated schools across the nation. However, following the decision, many of these schools were shut down, and there was a nationwide mass firing of Black and Brown educators. Despite their equal or even superior qualifications, they were often not hired in the newly integrated schools. Some districts even refused to integrate and instead closed all their schools for a few years. As with many aspects of society, representation matters. The absence of educators of color likely discouraged students of color from pursuing education degrees, further exacerbating the lack of diversity in the profession. This vicious cycle has been perpetuated for 70 years. As we celebrate progress, it's crucial to acknowledge and confront the ongoing echoes of this racist backlash that still reverberate today. Let's honor this anniversary by learning and sharing the accurate history, while also reaffirming our commitment to creating inclusive and equitable educational environments for all. #BrownvBoard #CivilRights #InclusiveEducation #EducationForAll 📚✊🏾

The Long-Term Value of Professional Documentation in Arts and Cultural Heritage Preserving culture is a shared responsibility, and it is through the power of visual documentation that we can ensure the longevity of our artistic legacy. https://www.rfr.bz/lln8ta6

As far back as 1915, there had been proposals for a museum recognizing the achievements of African Americans. In 1929, President Herbert Hoover approved a commission to create such an institution, but it never received funding. Various attempts were made to pass legislation establishing a museum through Congress, including multiple bills introduced by Georgia congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis, but even after the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution joined the effort in the 1990s it still took more than a decade. Finally, in 2003, Congress approved and President George W. Bush signed legislation allocating $17 million to plan the museum and choose a site. Eventually, it was decided that the museum would sit on the National Mall, the newest addition to what is literally a long line of museums stretching from the Washington Monument to the Capitol. The final design, however, was like nothing else in the area: an inverted step pyramid, encased in a bronze screen that references historic iron grilles from African American communities in Charleston, South Carolina and New Orleans, Louisiana. The building rises five stories into the air and reaches equally deep underground. More than 15 years after it was first established, the National Museum of African American History and Culture opened on the National Mall on September 24, 2016. Barack Obama, the nation’s first African American president, led the ceremony and officially opens the museum by ringing the Freedom Bell, a bell from an African American Baptist church founded in 1776. The NMAAHC drew 2.4 million visitors in its first full year of operation and is the world’s largest museum dedicated to African American history and culture. https://nmaahc.si.edu/ #BlackHistoryMonth

Click below to learn more about a super interesting piece of history that connects right back to Birmingham!

Today, we celebrate a landmark in American history: the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture a powerful testament to the enduring spirit and countless contributions of Black Americans, officially opened its doors in Washington, D.C today in 2016. This groundbreaking museum stands as a beacon of hope, honoring the struggles, triumphs, and cultural richness of a people who have shaped the very fabric of our nation. From the harrowing depths of slavery to the civil rights movement and beyond, this museum tells the story of Black Americans with raw honesty and unwavering pride. It's a place where we can connect with our ancestors, learn from their experiences, and celebrate their resilience. The NMAAHC is more than just a museum; it's a symbol of hope, a testament to the human spirit, and a reminder that our shared history is a tapestry woven together by the threads of diverse experiences and perspectives. #NMAAHC #BlackHistory #AfricanAmericanHistory #Smithsonian #WeAreBlackHistory

Today begins Women’s History Month! Consider becoming a charter member of the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum. Coming March 8: the "first digital exhibition, 'Becoming Visible: Bringing American Women’s History Into Focus,' will introduce you to our work expanding the story of America, by confronting how women’s histories have been recorded and remembered, lost and recovered." https://lnkd.in/gFeYHEMM

Transform your understanding of the transatlantic slave trade and its impact at The World Reimagined Globes Launch on 4th July. The World Reimagined is a ground-breaking, mass participation art education project to transform how we understand the transatlantic slave trade and its impact. One of the many globes from the project, ‘A Dark Cloud’ by artist Caroline Daly, is now on display outside the Environment and Sustainability Institute, at the Penryn Campus, University of Exeter. As part of the launch event, we’ll be showing the short film "To Whom Does This Belong?", a poignant exploration of Black history in Cornwall's archives. Made by Ashton John with Museum X, UK Activist Museum Award 2024 recipient,  together for Black Voices Cornwall CIO and Cornwall Museums Partnership, the film amplifies the often-overlooked narratives of Black Cornish history.  Through encounters with archival materials and documents, some containing harrowing accounts of violence and trauma,"To Whom Does This Belong?" highlights the care and sensitivity required when engaging with such sensitive historical material. Join us on July 4th at the University of Exeter's Penryn campus to take part in conversations surrounding Black history and representation. Register to attend using the 'reserve a spot’ link on this page by 17:00 on Wednesday 3rd July: https://lnkd.in/eNKUwjeT If you have any questions regarding the event, please contact us via email: edi@exeter.ac.uk #WorldReimagined #TransatlanticSlaveTrade #RacialJustice #SocialJustice #BlackHistory #BlackVoices #MuseumCollections #Archives #FilmScreening #Documentary #HistoricalNarratives #UntoldStories #LearningOpportunities #CommunityEngagement #SocialImpact #CornishHistory #CornishBlackHistory #BlackHistory #BritishBlackHistory