Chapter Three

A Historical Perspective

“If there be those who would not save the Union unless they could at the same time
destroy slavery, I do not agree with them. My paramount object in this struggle is to save
the Union, and is not either to save or destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without
freeing any slave, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing all slaves, I would do it;
and if I could do it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do that. What
I do about slavery and the colored race, I do because it helps to save this Union.”
Abraham Lincoln in a letter to Horace Greeley August 22 1862 (1)

After I joined the Navy, I had until June 11, 1968, to report for duty.
Therefore, I sat at home watching the riots and destruction that followed the
death of Dr. King. Rebellion spread in over a hundred U.S. cities, and soon
the death toll was climbing. In Washington, D.C., Chicago, and other
locations across America, it was the beginning of a long hot summer.
It took over twenty thousand federal troops and thirty-four thousand
National Guardsmen to confront the rebellion. Schools were canceled and
even the start of Major League baseball was postponed.
Most young men face uncertainty days before joining the military while
their country is at war. I faced additional anxiety because my country
seemed to be at war with herself.
Finally, on June 11, 1968, I left for boot camp and the real world
disappeared for 11 weeks. A few days earlier, on June 8, 1968, a man named
James Earl Ray had been arrested for the assassination of Dr. King. I thought
that would cool things off, that justice was going to be served and all would
be well.
Boot camp was so regulated that hardly any news filtered in. I did not
hear about the arrest of one hundred citizens at the closure of “Resurrection
City.” That happed on June 24 that year, long after I had left for camp. The
July race riots in Cleveland, Ohio, and Gary, Indiana, were not reported to
us. I had other things to worry about; I was in a new world far from home. It
was world that had every intention of putting me in harm’s way and I was
concentrating on learning as much about surviving in that world as possible.
I had to learn how to stop a flooding compartment, put out a boiler room
fire and many other new things a country boy needed to know for sea duty. I
was busy learning the new language and new world of the Navy. However,
the day Dr. King died will remain one of the most unforgettable dates in my
memory.
While I was in the Navy, I met many people from all over the country,
sailors from every walk of life and every economic level. For the first time
in my life, I realized that there were people who had a different point of
view of race relations than I did. My whole family structure was challenged
by this new environment and I felt the need to justify my beliefs.
The civil rights movement was in full gear and many of the black sailors
began to express themselves along racial lines. I was curious about this.
Who was I as a person? Who was I as a man and what was my country?
Instead of following the rhetoric of the times, I decided to study my history.
Because I dropped out of school needing only one class to graduate, I took
history at a local school.
The instructor turned out to be a radical black revolutionary and turned
the class into a study of “Black history” in America. It was the best class I
had ever experienced and it started an eagerness in me to learn more about
myself and my people.
Many students were looking for reasons to blame White America for
problems within the black community. I was looking for reasons to be proud
of what we had accomplished in spite of the problems. We both found what
we were looking for.
The Slave Trade and the Black American
No one could deny the absolute cruelty of the slave trade. Slavery forced
nine generations to develop self-hatred, little respect for families, little care
for education, and general hopelessness. I choose to give more time and
credibility to the success of Black Americans despite the burdens of slavery.
I am not a victim — I am victorious!
There have not been people of any nation, during any time, who have
suffered as much as did the Black Americans under slavery, as well as
afterwards. However, despite laws that made it illegal to read and write,
despite laws forbidding ownership of property, despite families separated by
selling and buying, black people not only survived slavery in America—we
have thrived!
Africa was also colonized by the same force that brought slavery to
America. Africans suffered just as much as did the Black Americans.
Something happened to the continent that resulted in its warriors becoming
helpless to the European invasion. What happened to a continent
impenetrable by foreign armies, unbending to cultural influences and
unwavering to any outside pressure to change?
I asked myself this question and so should you. Once I found the answer,
I found the reason for the slave trade and the reason for the demise of the
African continent. Know your past so you can control your future.
When the Mali King Mansa Musa’s pilgrimage entered Cairo in July of
1324, he came with 60 to 100 camels loaded with gold, and an estimated
60,000 people. Surely, the European travelers saw this splendid display of
gold and word of this rich African kingdom got back to Europe. So why did
the Europeans, 150 years later, travel all the way across the Atlantic looking
for “El Dorado” when there was so much gold 500 miles away in Africa?
Why didn’t they run over Africa like they did the Indians of South America?
Maybe it was the same reason Rome conquered only the coastal countries of
Africa and not the interior. Maybe they knew their history. Why was the
slave raiding primarily on the coast and not inland? The answer is that the
inland slave trade was accomplished by negotiations and treaties with tribal
chiefs.
Not only did the interior of Africa have gold and camels, but also they
were protected by a well-armed, highly motivated, and disciplined army.
This army had already defeated the same Muslim army that conquered
Portugal and Spain. They had a reputation of fiercely defending their land
from invaders. The prospects of venturing into Africa and dealing with the
African warriors persuaded the Europeans to consider going to South
America.
We, the descendants of the tribes taken out of Africa, fought and won our
freedom and have successfully begun the journey to equality on the land
where we once were held as slaves. We have achieved more with less than
any people in the history of mankind, and we should be proud of it.
After all of the hardships and 125 years of post-slavery bigotry, we are
the wealthiest, best-educated, healthiest, most influential black people on
this planet. No African nation can claim the educational or political
influence of Black Americans. No Caribbean Island can compare with the
health of Black Americans. No country from Brazil to Britain can show as
many black people on their Supreme Court, in Congress, as Nobel Prize
winners, or world-recognized entertainers.
When I ask some of these self-proclaimed “victims” where else they
would rather be a black person, someone always mentions countries like
Britain or Sweden. Of course, when I ask them when they can remember the
last British judiciary member who was black, or the last Swedish legislator
who was black, they cannot answer. I do not know if there have ever been
any such members, but the fact is that we have done more in this country for
African people and ourselves than Africa has done for itself. Let us stop
being ashamed of our success. Since we cannot go back and correct the
wrongs of the past, let us go forward and establish the accomplishments of
the future.
All of the current “African pride” movements are fashion statements of
no real economic or social value. If one would look at the achievements of
black people on both continents, it seems to me that Africans should be
imitating Black Americans. Black Americans lead the world in almost every
field: from entertainment to politics, from Colin Powell’s effective
leadership of the world’s greatest military (40% Black Americans), to
United Nations ambassadors. Black Americans have thrived!
Since 1444 When the First Portuguese Sailors Took Slaves Out Of
Africa, Black People Have Been Hampered With A Huge Inferiority
Complex
It may be quite understandable, since generation after generation was
beaten, raped, killed, sold, and otherwise punished for showing the slightest
bit of self-esteem. For nine generations it was against the law to learn to
read and write. It was against the law to look another man in the eye and
speak your mind, or even to defend yourself and your property. Legal
beatings were given to black people for speaking in the wrong tone of voice
or failing to move fast enough. It became a survival technique to deny one’s
own dignity. Mothers raised their children not to “act smart” or express
themselves in a positive manner. The whole community of slaves suffered
for the actions of any one of them. There was great community pressure to
remain in one’s “place.” You could not bring any attention to the group.
How one acted around the master could bring “credit to the race” and was
encouraged.
Black men were an additional benefit if they made babies. He did not
have to worry about taking care of his family, raising his kids, or caring for
his woman. If he were successful at breeding, he would be loaned out to
other plantations solely to make more babies. Today we have far too many
black men “bragging” about all of their babies from different women.
The slave system was very well organized. The master was the
plantation owner and controlled the means of existence for everyone on the
plantation. His slaves were worked by white hired help known as “slave
overseers.” These men rode the fields on horseback, with their whips poised
to administer immediate punishment if the slave did not work fast or hard
enough. The slave overseer was also the “first response” team to chase after
runaway slaves. Since they were always on horseback and on patrol, they
usually were the ones who intercepted the slaves who had not escaped the
plantation. There were special hunters for the slaves whom made it off the
plantation.
Now the slave driver was a slave who the master put in charge of a work
group, field, the big house, or over the entire plantation. His job was to keep
everyone working and afraid of the master. He was treated better than other
slaves and could feel free to approach Master with questions and give
information. The slave driver’s job and status would be in great jeopardy if
slaves started escaping the plantation. Therefore, it was in his best interest
to maintain the status quo to keep his position and his life.
The slave system allowed only one day of the week for slaves to have for
themselves, and that day was Sunday. The only time slaves could meet
privately in large groups, without a white person present, was at the church
meeting on Sunday morning. Consequently, most slave revolts and
uprisings were planned by the ministers or church groups. Because of fear
and mistrust of the slave driver, overseer and others, most planned rebellions
on the plantation were reported to the master by someone else in the slave
community. This caused resentment and mistrust amoung the slaves and
secured the plantation for the master. The plans for rebellion or escape were
usually “sold out” for scraps of meat or very small privileges. This is where
the term “sellout” came from.
The master kept the slaves in such need that the slaves’ very survival
depended on preying on their own people. This sounds like the inner-city
black on black crimes of today. The fact that we still eat garbage thrown
away by the master and scrounged by the slaves speaks to the depth of the
degradation. After the master slaughtered a pig, he took everything he
wanted and discarded the rest. The slave, so deprived of meat, had to find
ways to make food out of the garbage. Do you think we naturally developed
a taste for the pig’s guts, feet, ears, tails, nose, neck or other parts not to be
mentioned? Even the fat off the pig’s back was used to survive, and survive
they did. They not only survived but they prepared for their day of freedom,
and they hoped for a day of dignity. We owe it to our ancestors to take full
advantage of every opportunity we have. If they survived on the garbage of
the master, surely we can survive with the legal right to compete.
The black ministers held a degree of respect from the slave masters, and
they were allowed to speak to the master on behalf of the slaves. The black
ministers assume the same status today. How many civil rights leaders have
been ministers? Why does the news media always go to the black churches
for comments on how the black community feels about a certain subject?
The black churches have historically been either social rooms or war rooms.
They were either planning the community picnic and food drive or a march
downtown and a business boycott. From Nat Turner, as a slave with a vision
to be like Moses, to Martin Luther King’s dream, black ministers have been
the focal point of the black expression.
While the slaves knew they were helpless and had to cooperate to
survive, they still had hope. They had found a new religion and embraced it.
It was a religion of salvation and its lessons were filled with verses like: “Let
my people go,” “He who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved,” and
others that gave hope. There is no real evidence that the slaves believed that
“Servants be obedient to thy master” was God’s endorsement of their plight.
There were over 250 slave revolts and rebellions recorded up to the Civil
War. (2) Black people found hope in the Bible, not hopelessness. It was this
hope that inspired prayer and kept them alive. It was their dream that one
day their offspring would not have to worry about being sold, beaten, or
killed. It was the seemingly hopeless dream that one day it would not be
against the law to teach their children to read and write.
They waited generation after generation, and after hundreds of years of
degrading, socially crippling activities, freedom finally came. The slaves
were finally free and able to leave the plantation. Finally, they could form
real families, educate their own children, and create their own society.
However, after four hundred and twenty years of surviving by not showing
intelligence, and after four hundred and twenty years of a community
discouraging its members to achieve, and after four hundred and twenty
years of depending on someone else for basic human needs, black people
found it hard to leave the plantation.
There were great success stories even before slavery ended. Many black
slaves defied the community and the master by learning to read and write
and became very successful. However, the overwhelming numbers of slaves
were happy to remain on the plantation or to move north to the new
plantations called “factories” in the major cities. The Civil War ended in
1865, but Black Americans had to wait one hundred more years to exercise
any real civil freedoms in this country.
After One Hundred Years, Black Americans Still Had Not Left the
Plantations
We still could not move into the neighborhoods of our choice, vote, run
for office, use public restrooms, or even eat in restaurants. We still had a fear
of the slave master, overseer, and the slave driver. They were still in the
community doing the same job. The masters were the politicians who
claimed control over the South after the Civil War. They were the ones with
all the power; they were the ones you had approach. The slave drivers were
“social” and even “religious” leaders in the black community. Their job was
to play power broker and get services for the community from the master.
These services included welfare, sharecropping jobs, low-paying domestic
jobs in the city, and minimal health care. Again, this new system of
plantation life had its black breeder. The system discouraged black men to
be in the home with their babies because welfare and other “aid” would be
shut off. The young under-educated black women were encouraged to have
more babies because their aid and services would be increased. Therefore,
you had a system where black men were bragging about “all” the babies they
had all over town. Black women were hanging out of tenement windows on
the 1st and 15th of the month looking for “my” check.
Before the Civil War, there were nine generations of slaves taught to hate
and distrust themselves. They could not read or write and had no defense
against the system. Now we have four, five, or six generations of black
people on welfare with no motivation. Our school systems have not taught
reading or thinking skills. We still congregate on urban plantations lacking
many services. We still turn to the slave driver to go to the master for us,
hoping to get little things we need.
Of course, Master will give us the little things we need, as long as we
vote the right way and follow our overseer’s instructions. The black
community still exercises control over its members who try to “make it”
without the overseer’s blessing. They are called “Uncle Tom,”
“Handkerchief head,” “Sellout,” or many other names that are reserved for
Black Americans who move to the wrong side of town, speak proper
English, or decide to marry despite color.
On the plantation, the slaves had to watch out for the “sellout,” (who
would disclose the plans of the slaves to the master for a little scrap of
meat). Master still pays for these services, but the real “sellouts” of today
are the black leaders who are selling us into a life of poverty and degradation
while making millions providing “services” for us.
The Real “Sellouts” Are Those Black Americans Who Try To Keep
Others Down By Looking At Themselves As Victims
Those black people, who are trying to keep you from speaking the
English language, getting education instead of recreation, competing instead
of complaining and actually dreaming of a better life instead of resigning
yourself to poverty and hopelessness, are the “sellouts.”
These new “sellouts” are very smart. They actually talk as if they are not
the “sellouts.” Like their namesakes of old, these “sellouts” are among us,
pretending to be our friends while they are doing the master’s job. They are
the ones who are always ready for a demonstration against someone who
does not like them. They never show the motivation to compete against them
only to complain. They want you to be angry but never motivated. They
want you to follow them instead of your dreams. They treat black people as
if we are a group of retarded individuals who need their care and concern.
We cannot act without them, vote, or even go to school without their input.
What an insult to the intelligent, hard working, achieving black people who
have built this great nation. [ Should Black Americans who didn’t let Jim
Crow, the Ku Klux Klan, White Citizens Council, racist police and judges,
red lining, little education, and less hope rob them of their dignity be
expected to depend upon white America for guidance?] We are a nation of
achievers and survivors, and the overseers do not want you to know it
because then you would not need their leadership.
Martin Luther King was a black leader, and I respect and honor the
sacrifice he made. However, when he died his dream almost died with him.
Why? Because once you have a nation of followers behind one leader, you
can simply cut off the leader and the people will perish. What if we had 20-
30 million leaders? How can you stop that? The current “black leaders” are
ineffective, paralyzed, and impotent contributors to Master’s plantation. All
they do is preach that we are victims and they are leading us to salvation and
prosperity. They are leading you to their prosperity, not yours. They will
not tell you that the civil rights movement has been won! You are now free
to compete in America and win! There will always be people around who
will not like you or give you a break, but the civil rights movement was
about giving you the right to compete. Take advantage of that right!
Today the civil rights movement has made great progress. We can not
only vote, but we can win political office. There are black governors,
mayors, police chiefs, district attorneys, doctors, members of Congress,
senators, and business people. We no longer need to wonder if black people
will be seen in positive roles in the movies, because we now make movies.
Everything black people “think” they can do, they do better than anyone
on the planet. We “think” we can play basketball, do we not? We “think”
we can play baseball, football, or box, do we not? We “think” we can sing,
dance and entertain, do we not? We even “think” we can shoot, kill, rob,
and sell dope, do we not? If you put the top black basketball, football, or
baseball players on the same team, no other combination of players would
beat them. Just look at the U.S. basketball team in the past Olympics. The
top entertainers in music, acting, TV, comedy, or dancing will always
include—black people. Why? What about racism? What about the
“conspiracy to keep the black man down?”
Charley Pride was not afraid of racism when he became the Country and
Western singer of the decade. He was singing in honky-tonk bars in
Mississippi and Alabama while black people were being lynched, and he
still made it. Giving up a baseball career, he entered the “white man’s”
field, where even his own people discouraged him.
Jack Johnson did not care about a white conspiracy when he became the
first black heavyweight boxing champion. He was knocking out white men
while they were beating black men for looking the wrong way. It was
dangerous for him to enter certain towns, let alone enter the ring. He did not
let the hatred, bigotry or fear stop him.
Do you think Jackie Robinson let other people (white or black) stop him
from breaking into baseball? After so many years of witnessing Jim Crow at
its worst, Robinson responded by thriving in everything he did. He not only
thought he was equal, but dared to believe he was better. We will always
have someone not wanting us to succeed, because they just may not want the
competition.
Black Americans have many reasons to stand proudly. We not only
survived slavery, we have thrived! Despite all of the harshness of the slave
system, black people in this country are the wealthiest, best educated, most
influential black people on the planet. We ran the strongest military in the
world, and we sit on the Supreme Court of the most valued legal system the
world has ever known. The everyday activities of our celebrities are
followed worldwide. The influence and power of Black Americans had as
much to do with the freeing of Nelson Mandela as the efforts of his own
people. Black people in America can be proud of what they have achieved
here. Again, ask yourself the question: where else would I rather be? What
other country offers the most opportunity and tradition? There are no
African nations, Caribbean islands, or South American countries where
black people have made a better life for themselves.
We owe it to the struggles of our ancestors, the prayers of generation
after generation, and the bloody sacrifices of never-to-be-known heroes, who
knew not to give up on America. If anyone should claim America as its
own, it should be black people. Her land was cleared by us, her people were
fed by us, her factories were worked by us and her wars were fought by us.
All these were sacrifices for little or no pay, benefits or thanks. We have
paid for this country. We have earned the right to be part of it. All we need
to do is have the courage to leave the plantation. Do not pay much attention
to those who do not want you to make it; they just cannot stand the
competition. They see what happened when black people entered
entertainment, sports, or any other field they “thought” they could do. They
do not want the competition. Do not let them stop you.
What if black people, as a group, thought they could own businesses, buy
and develop real estate, or become scientists? Let us leave the plantation
knowing it is going to be rough and a struggle. Let us not be afraid of
struggles. It is our history to overcome and thrive!
“African American” Versus “Black American”
A few years ago a group of Black Americans gathered to discuss a new
American agenda. It was called a convention, and “delegates” formed
caucuses and voted on issues. This convention resulted in the term “Afro-
American” being changed to “African American.” I was not present at this
convention nor was I given the opportunity to vote for a delegate. I have
some problems with the term “African American.” It still is not descriptive
enough for me. A “Mexican American,” “German American,” or even a
“European American” simply describes the country of one’s ancestry. It
does not describe culture, race or even color.
An “African American” could include white South Africans, German
descendants of Western Africa, Egyptians, Moroccans, Libyans, or Arabs,
Dutch, Portuguese, etc. I prefer “Black American of Slave descent,” which
is a description that better identifies me. I know some black people do not
want to be reminded of their slave past, but if we understood our
achievements in the face of slavery, we would be more proud and
understanding. I could not accept this title of “African American” because it
diminished the achievements and contributions of my people to this
American culture.
If I moved to Africa, would I become an African American African? If I
then return to the United States would that make me an African American
African American? How can anyone, including ourselves, take black people
seriously when we cannot even get serious about our name? It is clear that
dividing us into hyphenated Americans only keeps more of us dependent and
culturally deprived. We must resist this force trying to keep us from
celebrating the tremendous success we have achieved here in America.
Black Americans and the Christian Way of Life
The one thing about God that is clear is that God is consistent! What
God likes, He likes forever. What God hates is always hated by God and
whenever God punishes or rewards a people, He will punish and/or reward
other people for the same thing.
On November 18, 1978, over nine hundred followers of Jim Jones died
with him in Jonestown, Guyana. This mass murder-suicide struck very close
to home for me. Most of the victims were black, and a great many had come
from the San Francisco area. I had attended college, was working in that
area, and had many friends there.
My first question was a racial one because that was how I thought in
1978. How could hundreds of black people follow this white man anywhere?
In addition, the strange behavior he required of these church folks was hard
to understand. Here were older individuals who had spent decades in the
front pews of the church, and still could not recognize this man for the
demon he was. To what kind of church did they belong?
I was not a churchgoing Christian at the time, but my upbringing under
my father Rev. Weaver and my grandfather Rev. Vaughn made certain
things clear. I was not going to let someone else share my wife, I was not
going to give everything I have earned to someone else, and I was not going
to follow some power hungry white guy back to the jungles.
Jim Jones was a very popular preacher with the politicians of San
Francisco. He was seen often in the company of the city leaders and was
given much respect. I found even the black leaders were accepting of him.
Some called it charisma, others called it his ability to build up a large
congregation; I call it “birds of a feather flocking together.” However, I had
what I believed was a natural suspicion of a white leader of a black
congregation, one whose father was or had been a Ku Klux Klan member!
Jim Jones did not pledge any following of his father, and publicly rejected
the philosophy of the Klan. However, this one man probably caused more
death, destruction and misery on the black community than the entire history
of the Klan.
Because I had worked for Congress and, at the time of the deaths, was
working for the U.S. Department of Energy, many of the relatives and
friends of victims called on me for advice and information.
Congressman Rand’s inquiry into the cult’s activities had sparked the
mass suicide. It also sparked in me a fear of not knowing who God was. That
event and others began the most important research project I had ever
embarked upon. Finding the truth about religion and my relationship with
my creator became very important.
When I saw the people of God in the Old Testament, I noticed every time
they disobeyed God and turned against Him, they went into slavery. Every
time they turned to God and repented, they came out of slavery. I can find
no example in the Bible or secular history where the people of God went
into slavery Worshipping God. They may come out of slavery Worshipping
God, but God’s people never enter slavery while obeying Him.
So, with that in mind, I began to look at the history of black people in
Africa and guess what I found? Through queens like Candace and Nefertari
and kings like Solomon, Africans had a rich knowledge of God. And while
they Worshipped Him they flourished. But soon division and delusion
came, and they stopped Worshipping the Creator and started Worshipping
the creation. Then false religions came in and the people left God. The
people became so weak; the Europeans just walked into Africa and took
what they wanted. Africa was not conquered by a great war. Africans were
weakened by spiritual and social decay, not by military might.
Black people were taken in chains from Africa while they were still
Worshipping a false god. Many African countries were colonized while
they Worshipped this false god. Then something started to happen in
America. First, the slaves began to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior, and a
movement began among Christians of America called “the Abolition
Movement.” Black churches sprung up on plantations and through this
movement slavery was finally lifted. Again, when God’s people turned to
Him, they were delivered.
Immediately after slavery, black people achieved many things and were
generally prosperous. In the early 1930’s, we started leaning back toward
that same false god who we came here with. Since then, our community has
fallen apart again. If you are a Black American, or anyone interested in
what keeps a people free, then learn your history. If you are an American
interested in how Americans can stay free, understand history (or “HIS
STORY”)! Whenever a nation turns from God, they go into slavery or
destruction. When they turn to God, they are delivered by God.
Look at God’s chosen people (read Judges chapters 2 through 6).
Whenever they turned from God, they went into captivity. When they
turned to God, they were freed. Repeatedly, the people of God were safe
only when they honored God. Look at modern history. Palestine was in the
hands of ungodly people for hundreds of years. They did not serve the true
God, and their land was a desert wasteland. In other countries God’s people
were praying to get their homeland back, and when God delivered them back
to their land (the same land), have you noticed what happened? The same
desert wasteland that the ungodly had for hundreds of years has (in less than
40 years) become an oasis, green and productive. God turned the desert into
farm land for those who love Him.
The study of religion is a very important question, a question that must be
answered with truth and understanding. It has eternal consequences and
should be the most important question a nation, community, or individual
should ask. When I grew into manhood and had to face this question I came
to a crossroad between Allah and the God of the Bible. It was resolved very
fast once I considered the history.
The followers of Allah controlled the Promised Land for 700 years.
Apparently, they Worshipped properly and attended to all of the
requirements of Allah. So, why was Palestine a desert wasteland for the
people? They could not grow enough food to feed themselves. Then, while
these people were Worshipping Allah, the unbelieving Christians and Jews
forced the Muslims out of the promised land. Not only do we have to ask,
“Why would Allah allow this,” but also, “why would he bring prosperity to
the land only one generation later?” The Jews took over the country and in
less than 40 years it has become a rich, lush garden, feeding everyone who
lives there. Why would Allah allow this?
I Looked Into the History Of the African Worshipers of Allah Who
Were Taken Off Their Knees, Chained and Sold Into Slavery
Why would Allah allow his people to enter slavery while Worshipping
him, spend hundreds of years calling his name and allow freedom only when
they stopped calling his name and began calling on the name of Jesus?
I learned from my black history classes that the slaves were converted to
Christianity and began to pray and have faith in Jesus. Then the abolition
movement was started by Christians, and there began a movement of
freedom for black people here. Even the colonized continent of Africa had a
similar history. The independence of each nation was preceded by its
people’s conversion to Christianity. It became obvious that no real God
would allow His people to go into slavery Worshipping him, and no real
God would bring them out of slavery while they worshipped a false God.
Even at an early age, I did not know the complete truth—but I did know I
could not go back and worship a god who could not keep me out of slavery.
What I did not find was this great connection to the Islam religion that we
hear so much about. In the 1960’s and 70’s I kept hearing about the “black
man’s god” and a return to worship him. Well, if this black man’s god was
Allah, then why did the prophet Mohammed completely avoid Africa? I
cannot find any statement, writings or traditions placing him on the African
continent.
The Muslim religion came into Africa by way of war, not by
missionaries. It flourished by participating in the slave trade, and continues
in fear and violence. Even with its long history in Africa, the Muslim
religion has fewer members in Africa than the less-touted Christian religion.
I was amazed to see that the estimated number of Christians living in Africa
is 327,204,000, but the number of Muslims on the continent was only
278,365,000.(3) I verified this by cross-referencing many sources, including
almanacs and world population data.
God has promised to turn to them who turn to Him, to prosper their land,
and to be their God (2 Chronicles 7:14, 1 Peter 5: 6 and Ephesians 2:17-19).
Therefore, if you are a Christian, you cannot be a “Black Christian.” If you
are a Christian, you cannot be a “White Christian.” If you are truly a
Christian, you are a new person and part of the “race of Christ!” (1 Peter
2:9-10, II Cor. 5:17) Be wary of all secret attempts that lead us back into the
recognition of the hollow pagan rituals that made us weak and vulnerable to
the slave masters and oppressors of the past. Worship God! God’s way is
freedom!
This revelation, that God was consistent for all people and for all times,
eventually led me to reevaluate my personal relationship with Him. I had to
decide if I was Worshipping God the way God requires or my way. I had
left the God of my grandfather and my father and turned to youthful
foolishness. However, because of the love of God I saw in their lifestyle, I
sought Him again. Thank God for faithful parents!