The Black Truth ~ Un-sanitizing American History

 

When you read or research the sanitized version of American History, it is easy to understand why so many Americans have this false sense of pride, patriotism and feeling of moral superiority. On the surface, American appears to be the only world superpower over the last 2,500 years that did not achieve its position of prominence through the act of dark terror, however, diligent research to uncover the truth quickly reveals why the U.S. is one of the most hated and despised nation on earth — its hypocrisy has no bounds.

There is not room enough, in this short treatise, to adequately address all of the atrocities of the U.S., but what I will do is speak on a specific atrocity to a specific group of people, while interpolating arbitrary transgressions against others to address the erroneous and impudent claim that American chattel slavery is the only blemish on the record of this nation — suggesting that if this one blemish is removed, it would somehow uncover a reality that suggests a strong moral character.

Allow me to elucidate my intention early in this piece. I am not here to placate or satiate the concerns of white people.[1] Those of you who are truly my friends know me, and your support for me and my fight for my people has already been documented, so you know that this is not for you. The remaining white people are more than willing to use this brief dissertation as the initial resources that serves as the springboard for authentic and unbiased research into the history of this country in relation to its citizens of color, but this is where it ends.[2] The truth is that this is being written to educate and empower my people — properly framing their history in this country in a manner that it is not being done anywhere else.

Although this dissertation is not a formal one, I will attempt to cite all resources and works that I used to build my case and establish this particular position and process of thought. As I currently work on the Black Empowerment Blueprint, a comprehensive strategy for black empowerment, addressing every area of struggle and concern, I am constantly bombarded by the reality that we are in a war that the vast majority of us are completely unaware of.

All of us who grew up attending public schools received virtually the same education, and the same introduction to our history in this country. We learned about Frederick Douglass, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman and more: however, black juggernauts like Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, Nat Turner and others were either spoken of in passing, or avoided all together. We knew that slavery existed, but it was introduced in a matter-of-fact type of way. For most of us, slavery was simply as asterisk in American and World History. There was no hint of the pernicious impact of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. Well, there is good reason, America takes its image very seriously, but instead of creating an image built on its actual behavior that is reflective of what it wants to portray to the world, it simply rewrites history to align with its presentation.

Personally, I believe that the asterisk that has been placed next to slavery should remain, not because it is simply a misunderstood blemish in the history of the nation, but because it is the single most nefarious and devastating act of inhumane treatment of humans ever recorded. Yes, slavery has existed since the beginning of time, but never in the history of mankind has anything close to American chattel slavery existed. Never has a group of people been so completely extracted from their history, culture and identity, nor has any other group of people experienced the destruction of their dignity as a people as the African slave in America.

When we studied history in school, we learned about the immoral behavior of other world powers throughout the ages. We learned of the excesses and moral decay of the Roman empire, we were introduced to the viciousness of the Soviet Empire under Stalin, and we were literally bombarded with the image of the brutality of the Nazis under the Hitler Regime. We read great stories about the egocentric-driven accolades of Napoleon and the barbarianism practiced by the Mongols, including the ferocious tenacity of the Huns. However, America never bothered to share her own transgressions with any type of veracity. Well, America, I am here to tell you that your slip is hanging, and it has been hanging for quite some time.

While this country has been bombarding its citizens with stories of moral superiority and heroic adventures, the rest of the world has experienced her deception and her impious actions on a grand scale.

I do not discount the malicious actions of the nations, empires and regimes mentioned earlier, but the suggestion by American conservatives that this country was founded upon the morality established through Christian values, is, in itself, paradoxical in theory and in truth. America, like all other nations of power in the last 2,500 years, has consistently functioned outside of any moral parameters in the manner in which it has dealt with outside entities, and even its own citizens (Carpenter, 2015).

I know that the subsequent statement will make some of my Christian friends and followers uncomfortable, or maybe even a little angry, but those of you who know me are cognizant of the fact that I disseminate truth, not feel-good messages. The idea that a country founded upon Christianity, which this country is not, is somehow morally superior and above approach is to completely ignore the bloody history of the Christian religion. Some of its greatest and most celebrated leaders burned people at the stake based on claims of heresy. One of the problems with blacks as a race of people is that we too easily embrace things that we know nothing about — many times solely for the sake of being accepted by something that is directly associated with our white oppressors, but I will leave this for another discussion.

While the history lessons in American text books do such a great job in chronicling the moral and ethical transgressions of other nations, it is conspicuously absent on the list of transgressors, being the perpetrator of some of the most gruesome crimes against humanity in history (DeGruy, 2005). Actually, this nation has done a remarkable job of sanitizing its history, as it writes out a legacy of championing the cause of human good — such hypocrites.

It amazes me that a nation with so many skeletons in its closet is so open to discussing the skeletons in the closets of others from their fallible and fragile platform of perfection. While we could talk about the constant efforts to destabilize African and Arab economies to strengthen the American Dollar globally, I will focus on some things a little closer to home. To elucidate the aforementioned statement, the destabilization of regions and nations by the U.S. is normally done by funding and underwriting some despotic ruler and putting them into power, or by sponsoring terrorism and genocide in certain regions. America loves to talk about how important it was to remove Saddam Hussein from power, but what they fail to mention is the fact that they put him into power in the first place (Staff, 2003) (Staff, A Tyrant 40 Years in the Making, 2003). There are records that prove that Saddam may have been on the CIA payroll as early as 1959.

The Black Truth ~ Un-sanitizing American History

In 1931, Dr. Cornelius Rhoads, under the auspices of the Rockefeller Institute of Medical Investigations, infected human subjects with cancer cells. Rhoads would go on to establish bioweapons labs for the U.S. military (Leider, 2005).

One year later, in 1932, the Tuskegee Syphilis Study begins. This is a study in which 200 black men were either diagnosed with, or injected with syphilis, and then denied notification and treatment — being used as human guinea pigs, so that the pseudo-scientist could study their progression through the peril of the disease. Ultimately, all 200 men died from the disease, but not before enduring some of the most horrible experiences imaginable, including going blind, becoming mentally incapacitated and more. What is never considered is the fact these men were either under the impression that they had been treated for the disease, or they were completely unaware that they had it — meaning that they likely passed this disease on to their mates and others. No one will ever really know the full extent of the damage that was done by this so-called experiment. Did I mention that this experiment was conducted by what is now known as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the same government agency that was recently exposed for knowingly exposing young black boys to vaccines that contributed to a 340 percent increase in the risk for the development of autism (Chief, 2015)?

I could go on speaking of the horrible atrocities done on what must be considered minor on a scale when placed juxtaposed to the atrocities committed during the middle passage. When I began to invest diligent study into the plight of my people, I was overwhelmed at how much had been omitted from history. While the vicious nature of physical and psychological subjugation and dehumanization of chattel slavery gave cause for me to cringe, what I discovered about the middle passage brought me to my knees, as I discovered the inhumane conditions and the atrocious mistreatment of our ancestors.

If you have never conducted any type of in-depth study into the Trans-Atlantic slave trade, more commonly referred to as the Middle Passage, I suggest that you do so, and soon. However, I must warn you that you need to prepare yourself for some things that your mind may not even be capable of fathoming at this present time. I have often attempted to create an authentic and true expression of the pain, fear and anxiety that our ancestors experienced during this dreadful event, but it has proved challenging to paint a posthumous portrait that could adequately express the darkness that our ancestors experienced. I have struggled to find the right way to provide the right recognition, to give them a voice that speaks from the depths of the grave to convict their European captors and their American owners. Let us be clear about this, our ancestors were victims of a vile crime — a crime for which no one has ever paid the price. When an African American mother cannot find justice for a son who was slaughtered by a white police officer, and left lying is the street, while the police officer raises more than $500,000 from white people who swear they no longer see color, she must engage her suffering from a position that considers the fact that suffering injustice is a part of her heritage — knowing that our ancestors are still awaiting justice. She must somehow reconcile herself with the reality that the words of Chief Justice Roger Taney in the Dred Scott decision still ring true — “The black man has no right, which the white man is bound to respect (Staff, Dred Scott Case, 2005).”

The truth is that here are no words that can effectively and adequately express what our ancestors endured during this deplorable experience. I don’t believe that we really want to attempt to walk just one mile in their shoes. The African American has become so comfortable in their oppression that the psychological impression that would be made by becoming aware of this is more than most of us can take.

There are a number of things that you are capable of experiencing that has the capacity to cause you a substantial amount of pain, such as a migraine, a broken leg, battling cancer through chemotherapy and radiation or the pain associated with severe injuries from an automobile accident. Now, imagine this type of pain, and there being no way to escape it. Imagine being taken from your homeland and traveling for weeks or even months to a destination that you know nothing about. Imagine making this journey in the bowels of a ship, being chained to hundreds of men, women and children, with only inches of space between you. The bowls of the ship was the complete totality of your existence. It is where you shared your fears, ate, slept, cried, defecated, gave birth, lived and died. In those few moments in which you could escape the physical pain, you were immediately gripped by the pain of fear and anxiety. This was your reality, and it would only get worse.

Imagine being treated like property, having to sacrifice your dignity, your soul and your will, all for the sake of your survival.

When you take a serious look into the middle passage, slavery and the oppression and terror that followed, it is easy to see why the U.S. does not want to give any significant attention to this piece of important history. When I used the metaphorical expression of America’s slip hanging, it was a gross understatement. The truth is, her garments are displaced and they are being ripped away in rapid fashion. She is being exposed as one of the greatest terrorists and violators of human rights in the history of humanity.

Most historians that are really honest, will admit that the number of slaves that died during the middle passage exceeds the number of Jews that were slaughtered during the holocaust. What some refer to as the Dark Voyage is believed to be responsible for transporting between 40 and 100 million Africans to Europe, the U.S., the Caribbean and South America. It is estimated that as many as 15 to 20 percent of those prisoners died during the trip — never making it to their final destination (Unknown, 2014). What is sad is that the consensus is that they were actually the lucky ones.

While we look at the fact that black women were raped in front of their families, bred for the production of strong offspring, had their children stripped away from them and sold, and we examine the viciousness of the manner in which the black male slave was broken, we tend to downplay the realities that took place after the Civil War. The powers that be would love to convince African Americans and the world that life improved astronomically for the African American after chattel slavery ended; however, history tells a different story. We often refer to the Jim Crow period, but we rarely investigate, with any sincerity, just how bad this period was. Black men could be lynched for something as simple as looking at a white woman (Daniels, 2014). Entire black enclaves and towns were destroyed simply because they were thriving, and the success of former slaves enraged white Americans (Unknown, 8 Successful and Thriving Black Communities Destroyed by Racists White Neighbors, 2015).

Whites have been attempting to asphyxiate the life’s breath of Africans and their descendants for centuries, and the intensity at which they push against us has never relented, they have simply switched modalities to give the impression of an improved environment for people of color, but from a historical perspective, it is clear that there is no intent of white supremacy, as it is defined by Neely Fuller Jr.,[3] lift its boot off of the neck of African Americans. The truth is that we represent too much of a risk for us to ever be left alone to lift ourselves out of the mire of oppression. That will have to be accomplished amidst the adversity and opposition.

We must learn to become a nation within a nation, standing under one flag, honoring a code of the community first, respecting our women and protecting our children. Black women have to develop an understanding of the importance of getting out of her own way, with respect to the manner in which she handles the black man. The black man must no longer consider it to be an acceptable course of action to procreate and then abandon their progeny to be reared by a single mother. We must embrace the concept of community and collectivism, abandoning the selfish paradigms of individualism and egocentricity.

White supremacy will not voluntarily acquiesce to our demands, so we must dismantle it and build an economic and social infrastructure that is capable of supporting our growth and empowerment. We must holistically educate our youth, preparing them to be business owners and protectors of their heritage and community. Brothers and sisters, to put is simply, it is time to make our presence felt.

There Is Something in The Atmosphere

In his last speech, “I’ve Been to The Mountain Top”, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke of the possibility of having a general and panoramic view of history and God giving him the opportunity to choose which era he wanted to LIVE in. This put me in a place of deep contemplation.

I began to ponder the possibility. What if the Creator of the universe gave me a panoramic view of history and then gave me the choice of living in any era I chose, what would I do? I would travel back to visit the ancient civilizations of Cush and Kemet, witnessing one of the most awesome eras in history. Though it would be breathtaking and invigorating, I wouldn’t stop there.

I would move on past the 25^th dynasty of Kemet to examine the deterioration of civilization after the dynasty fell through foreign infiltration, as my ancestors still found a way to thrive. Although it would be both, empowering and liberating to witness the fortitude inherently embedded in the soul of my African ancestors, I wouldn’t stop there.

I would move on to Mount Olympus at the Parthenon and sit down with the likes of Socrates, Plato, and Aristophanes as they contemplated the mysteries of life using philosophies that originated from ancestors, and though it would be intellectually stimulating to challenge them, I wouldn’t stop there.

I would move on down to the hay day of the Roman Empire and I would witness the reconstruction of history and the rewriting of the origins of religion. Although it would be tempting to intervene, I wouldn’t stop there.

I would move on down through the reconstruction era, Jim Crow and the Civil Rights era, to sit down with the likes of Malcolm and Martin. Now, as exuberating and refreshing as that would be I couldn’t stop there. No, I would end up back here in the 21 Century.

In a place, that by all counts, is totally screwed up. A place where the Black man has, in so many ways, lost his way; A place where two parent households have become an anomaly; A place where hopelessness is the order of the day, and despair dominate the atmosphere. I would come back to this very moment in time. This place where there seems to be no consistent positive male role models to guide our young men into manhood. A place where the male rite of passage all too often transverse the social infrastructure of gang life. This very place where young women are unaware of their worth and are easily convinced to compromise their purity for the bitter nuggets of male acceptance.

Why would I choose this time and place when it is so messed up? This is where I meet my purpose and destiny head on. This is where I come face to face with my very reason for being. This is where I dance with lady destiny in order to leave a legacy, much like that of those who came before me. This is where and how I tell the generations that follow that I was here. This is where I write the narrative that I came, I saw and I conquered. I came to that moment in my life where destiny presented herself to me in the form of purpose, and I saw her clearly and I conquered the mission laid at my feet. I was designed and created for such a time as this. I am here to share a message of hope with my people. I am here to inform you that lady destiny is coming to dance with you soon. Put on your dancing shoes. I love you my people! ~ Dr. Rick Wallace, Ph.D.

Dr. Rick Wallace is a man who has committed his life to investigating, examining and anatomizing the struggles of African Americans for the purpose of developing comprehensive strategies that are capable of efficaciously resolving the enigmatic issues that are at the forefront of the African American experience.

 

[1] While I often use the term “white people” in a general sense, it is important to understand that not every white person is complicit to the current treatment of African Americans; however, they still benefit from white privilege by default. Understanding this, it is my assertion that we must examine the character of white people on an individual level, taking care not to expose ourselves to harm and infiltration.

[2] It is important to understand that it is not the responsibility of blacks to convince whites that racism exists. It is our responsibility to empower ourselves to fight against racism whether others believe that it exists or not.

[3][3] _{“A system of thought, speech, and action, operated by people who classify themselves as white, and who use deceit, violence, and/or the threat of violence, to subjugate, use, and/or abuse people classified as ‘non-white’, under conditions that promote the practice of falsehood, injustice, and incorrectness, in one or more areas of activity, for the ultimate purpose of maintaining, expanding, and/or refining the practice of white supremacy (racism).”}

 

Bibliography

Carpenter, M. D. (2015). American Atrocities. Outside the Camp, 1-2.

Chief, E. i. (2015). Bad Medicine. Snopes.

Daniels, J. (2014). White Women and the Defense of Lynching. Racism Review.

DeGruy, J. (2005). Post Traumatic Syndrome: America’s Legacy of Enduring Injury and Healing. Portland, OR: Uptone Press.

Leider, N. (2005, September 14). U.S. Government’s Track Record on Atrocities Against the People. Retrieved from Blog in Service .

Staff, E. (2003). A Tyrant 40 Years in the Making. Global Policy Forum, 1.

Staff, E. (2003). U.S. and British Support for Hussein Regime. Global Policy Forum, 1.

Staff, E. (2005). Dred Scott Case. United States History.

Unknown. (2014). Dark Voyage: Hell Below Deck: The Greatest Holocaust in History. African Holocaust.

Unknown. (2015). 8 Successful and Thriving Black Communities Destroyed by Racists White Neighbors. Black Then .

Dr. Wallace has written 16 books that include: The Invisible Father: Reversing the Curse of a Fatherless Generation, When Your House is Not a Home, and his latest release, The Mis-education of Black Youth in America: The final Move on the Grand Chessboard and he is currently working on his latest project, The Black Community Empowerment Blueprint, a comprehensive step by step strategy that has the capacity to facilitate the complete elevation and empowerment of Blacks in America and abroad.

You can support the work of Dr. Wallace by donating to The Odyssey Project! Your donations will be directed to the numerous existing programs, the development of future programs, further research and studies associated with improving the Black Experience. Thank you in advance for your support.