African Origins of African Americans

African Origins of African Origins of African AmericansAfrican Americans

West and Central African West and Central African OriginsOrigins

Most African Americans are the Most African Americans are the descendants of enslaved Africans descendants of enslaved Africans imported from West and Central imported from West and Central AfricaAfrica

All humans are descendants of All humans are descendants of AfricaAfrica– DiopDiop’’s two-cradle theorys two-cradle theory

Ancient AfricaAncient Africa Contemporary AfricaContemporary Africa

The Nile Valley The Nile Valley CivilizationsCivilizations

Ancient African EmpiresAncient African Empires Kemet (Kmt)Kemet (Kmt)

– Modern day Egypt and upper SudanModern day Egypt and upper Sudan– Birth place of modern medicine, science, math, Birth place of modern medicine, science, math, astrology, writing, astrology, writing,

Kush (people often referred to as Kush (people often referred to as Ethiopians)Ethiopians)– Modern day Sudan and EthiopiaModern day Sudan and Ethiopia– Most ancient kingdom (3900 BCE)Most ancient kingdom (3900 BCE)– 700 BC Kush invaded and conquered Egypt700 BC Kush invaded and conquered Egypt– Assyrians drove Kushites out of Egypt around 663 Assyrians drove Kushites out of Egypt around 663 BCBC

– See Biblical references to Kush and Kushite See Biblical references to Kush and Kushite (Mose(Mose’’s wife Zipporah was a Kushite; see Numbers s wife Zipporah was a Kushite; see Numbers 12:1)12:1)

Kmt – Contributions to Kmt – Contributions to World Civilization World Civilization

Imotep – (Imotep – (2635 2635 B.C.E. to 2595 B.C.E. to 2595 B.C.EB.C.E.).)– Father of Father of Medicine, Medicine, philosopher, philosopher, astronomer, and astronomer, and priestpriest

– Builder of the Builder of the first pyramidfirst pyramid

Ramses IIRamses II Ramses IIRamses II

– Regarded as EgypRegarded as Egyptt ’’s greatest s greatest pharaoh.pharaoh.

– Son of SetiSon of Seti– Wife was Wife was NefertariNefertari

– Rained for 66 Rained for 66 yearsyears

Tutankhamun (aka King Tutankhamun (aka King Tut)Tut)

Amunoph III (aka Amunoph III (aka Amenhotep II)Amenhotep II)

The Book of the DeadThe Book of the DeadE.A. Wallis Budge (1960)E.A. Wallis Budge (1960)

The hieroglyphic transcript of the The hieroglyphic transcript of the Papyrus and ANIPapyrus and ANI– Acknowledges Amen-Ra as the one true Acknowledges Amen-Ra as the one true GodGod

– Predates the Christian era by 3,000Predates the Christian era by 3,000– Predicated on belief that the dead body Predicated on belief that the dead body of a man was sacred (cult of Osiris)of a man was sacred (cult of Osiris)

– Provides a blueprint for living and Provides a blueprint for living and dyingdying

– Instructions for entering afterworld Instructions for entering afterworld

The Negative The Negative ConfessionsConfessions

I have not committed sinI have not committed sin I have not committed robberyI have not committed robbery I have not stolenI have not stolen I have not slain manI have not slain man I have not stolen grainI have not stolen grain I have not stolen the property of GodI have not stolen the property of God I have not uttered cursesI have not uttered curses I have not stolen cultivated landI have not stolen cultivated land I have not pried into matttersI have not pried into mattters

King Taharqa King Taharqa (Biblical Tirhakah) (Biblical Tirhakah) led his led his Egyptian/Nubian Egyptian/Nubian armiesarmiesagainst the invading against the invading Assyrians Assyrians iin defense n defense of his ally, Israel.of his ally, Israel.TThis action earned his action earned him a place in the him a place in the Bible (Isaias 37:9 & Bible (Isaias 37:9 & Kings 19:9). Kings 19:9).

African Origins of African Origins of Judaism and Judaism and

Christianity Christianity

Moses and MonotheismMoses and Monotheism by Sigmund Freud, by Sigmund Freud,

19391939 Moses was an Egyptian Moses was an Egyptian Under Amenhotep IV monotheism Under Amenhotep IV monotheism emerged (Amen-Ra banned)emerged (Amen-Ra banned)

Egyptian hymn – sound familiarEgyptian hymn – sound familiar– ““O Thou only God, there is no other O Thou only God, there is no other God than Thou.God than Thou.””

Moses, an Egyptian, gave the Jews Moses, an Egyptian, gave the Jews a new religion and the practice a new religion and the practice of circumcision.of circumcision.

Amenhotep III and Queen Amenhotep III and Queen TiyTiy

Queen Tiy, wife Queen Tiy, wife of Amenhotep IIIof Amenhotep III

Mother of Mother of AkenatenAkenaten

Akhenaten Akhenaten (aka Amenhotep IV) (aka Amenhotep IV) 1352-1336 B.C.1352-1336 B.C.

The tenth king of the 18th The tenth king of the 18th Dynasty was perhaps the most Dynasty was perhaps the most controversial because of his controversial because of his break with traditional break with traditional religion. Some say that he religion. Some say that he was the most remarkable king was the most remarkable king to sit upon Egyptto sit upon Egypt’’s throne. s throne. Akhenaten was traditionally Akhenaten was traditionally raised by his parents, raised by his parents, Amenhotep III and Queen Tiy Amenhotep III and Queen Tiy (1382-1344 B.C.) by (1382-1344 B.C.) by worshipping worshipping Amen. Akhenaten, . Akhenaten, however, preferred however, preferred Aten, the sun god that was that was worshipped in earlier times. worshipped in earlier times. Early in his reign he changed Early in his reign he changed his name to Akhenaten, his name to Akhenaten, meaning meaning ““He Who is of Service He Who is of Service to Atento Aten”” and renamed his queen and renamed his queen to Nefer-Nefru-Aten, which is to Nefer-Nefru-Aten, which is ““Beautiful is the Beauty of Beautiful is the Beauty of Aten.Aten.””

Moses and Monotheism Moses and Monotheism (cont)(cont)

Herodutus (Father of History)Herodutus (Father of History)– The practice of circumcision has The practice of circumcision has long been practiced in Egyptlong been practiced in Egypt

– Mummies confirm this practiceMummies confirm this practice

African Presence African Presence in the Biblein the Bible

Song of Solomon 1:5-6Song of Solomon 1:5-6 "I am black but comely,O ye "I am black but comely,O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon, look not upon me of Solomon, look not upon me because I am black because the because I am black because the sun hath scorched me." sun hath scorched me."

Numbers 12:1Numbers 12:1 And Miriam and Aaron spake And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman.Ethiopian woman.

Merriam-Webster OnlineMerriam-Webster Online Main Entry: Main Entry: 1Ethi·o·pi·an1Ethi·o·pi·an Pronunciation: "E-thE-'O-pE-&nPronunciation: "E-thE-'O-pE-&nFunction: Function: nounnoun

11 :: a member of any of the a member of any of the mythical or mythical or actual peoples usually actual peoples usually described by the described by the ancient Greeks as ancient Greeks as dark-skinned and living far dark-skinned and living far to the to the southsouth

22 archaicarchaic :: a black person a black person33 :: a native or inhabitant of a native or inhabitant of

Ethiopia

Dictionary.comDictionary.com E·thi·o·pi·anE·thi·o·pi·an  [ee-thee- [ee-thee-ohoh-pee-uh n]-pee-uh n]

– 1.of or pertaining to Ethiopia or to its 1.of or pertaining to Ethiopia or to its inhabitants. inhabitants.

– 2.belonging to the part of Africa south of 2.belonging to the part of Africa south of the equatorthe equator

– 3.3.Zoogeography. Zoogeography. belonging to a geographical belonging to a geographical division comprising Africa south of the division comprising Africa south of the tropic of Cancer, the southern part of the tropic of Cancer, the southern part of the Arabian Peninsula, and Madagascar. Arabian Peninsula, and Madagascar.

– 4.4.Archaic. Archaic. black African. black African. –noun –noun – 5.a native of Ethiopia. 5.a native of Ethiopia. – 6.a member of any of various supposedly dark-6.a member of any of various supposedly dark-

skinned peoples regarded by the ancients as skinned peoples regarded by the ancients as coming from a country lying south of Egypt. coming from a country lying south of Egypt.

– 7.7.Archaic. Archaic. a black African. a black African.

Ancient African Empires Ancient African Empires (cont)(cont)

Ghana (300 C.E. to 1240 C.E.)Ghana (300 C.E. to 1240 C.E.)– Modern day Sengegambia (unrelated to modern Modern day Sengegambia (unrelated to modern day Ghana)day Ghana)

– Advanced govnAdvanced govn’’t and economic systemt and economic system– Oral historyOral history– Center of trade/commerce – GoldCenter of trade/commerce – Gold– Constant fighting with neighbors led to Constant fighting with neighbors led to declinedecline

Mali (1230 C.E. to 1400 C.E.)Mali (1230 C.E. to 1400 C.E.)– As Ghana declined, Mali ascended As Ghana declined, Mali ascended – Populated by the Mandingo ethnic groupPopulated by the Mandingo ethnic group– Great cultural center of Timbuktu Great cultural center of Timbuktu

Ancient Kingdoms (cont)Ancient Kingdoms (cont) Songhai (1468 C.E)Songhai (1468 C.E)

– Farmers and fishermenFarmers and fishermen– 1464 Sonni Ali came to rule1464 Sonni Ali came to rule– Captured Timbuktu in 1468Captured Timbuktu in 1468– University of Timbuktu attracted University of Timbuktu attracted Muslim scholars from near and farMuslim scholars from near and far

– Declined around 1590Declined around 1590

Ancient City of Ancient City of TimbuktuTimbuktu

Ancient Ancient Manuscripts in the Manuscripts in the sciences found sciences found at Timbuktuat Timbuktu

People of TombuctouPeople of Tombuctou

Ancient City of Ancient City of DjenneDjenne

Dogon People of the Mali Dogon People of the Mali EmpireEmpire

Ancient Kingdoms in Ancient Kingdoms in DeclineDecline

Constant warfareConstant warfare Change to Nomadic life style and Change to Nomadic life style and nation statesnation states

Arrival of EuropeansArrival of Europeans Transatlantic slave trade begins Transatlantic slave trade begins around 1600saround 1600s

Hundreds of forts along west coast Hundreds of forts along west coast of Africa (e.g., Elimina, Cape of Africa (e.g., Elimina, Cape Coast, Goree)Coast, Goree)

Transatlantic Slave Transatlantic Slave TradeTrade

Maafa – great disaster of Maafa – great disaster of unspeakable magnitudeunspeakable magnitude

Beginning around 1600Beginning around 1600– Arabs (began much earlier)Arabs (began much earlier)– Europeans (Portuguese, Spanish, Europeans (Portuguese, Spanish, British, French, Dutch, et al.) British, French, Dutch, et al.)

West and Central AfricaWest and Central Africa– CaptureCapture– March to coastMarch to coast– Slave dungeons Slave dungeons – Middle PassageMiddle Passage