African American History - The Real Truth

Many young African Americans today are ignorant of their own history. In fact learning and understanding African American History is essential for the African youth to understand just a little more about themselves. The history of African Americans is indeed a profound story of a struggle from enslavement to a long desired freedom.

What exactly is the truth about slavery and whose truth do we believe? The majority of records on African American history and the slave trade were written by Europeans of the slave trade era and they are slanted to make the slave trade look humane. In reality it was one of the most heinous acts in history which resulted in the total suppression of African culture and African art. The real truth of the many heroes of the slave trade, those men and women who rebelled the atrocities and inhumane treatment were passed from generation to generation by mouth.

The slave trade traversed an unholy triangle from Africa to the Caribbean and then to America. The treatment was the same in both locations, inhumane and barbaric but it started from the moment they were captured in their homeland and sold to the captains of the slave ships. African poverty was so pervasive in those times, it was easy to convince the locals to trade their brothers and sisters for pieces of gold and silver. In fact like a piece of meat they were actually sold twice, first by their own countrymen and then by the Captains to the plantation owners for the highest price. After spending months at sea cooped up like chickens in a pen amidst disease and filth those who survived were made shiny with oils and paraded like refurbished cars to be sold to the highest bidder.

By the far the greatest abuse perpetrated upon the peoples of African descent via the slave trade was not physical but mental and hence the reason why the present generation of African Americans needs to understand their history. Their ancestors were forced to give up their religious beliefs and pray to the western gods. Their culture ranging from African musical instruments and African food was utterly suppressed beyond recognition. They were forced to adopt western names and modes of dress, it was a complete and utter transformation of a people that should never have occurred.

Learning about African American history comes not only from the books and encyclopedias on the school syllabus and in libraries around the world. In fact the real facts about African American history come from those who have stories to be recounted and which have been passed from generation to generation.