Historical Africa

This is the story of Sarah Baartman of South Africa 🇿🇦 who had an unusual Iong backside.

Sarah Baartman, also known as Saartjie Baartman, was a Khoisan woman who was born in South Africa in the late 1789. She is famous for being exhibited as a fręak show attraction in Eurơpe in the early 18th century because of her Iarge buttơcks, which were considered unusual and exotic at the time.

Baartman was born in the Gamtoos Valley, in what is now the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. She was a member of the Khoikhoi, a group of indigenous people who lived in the region. As a young woman, Baartman was taken from her home by a Brițish ship's doctor, William Dunlop, who promised her work as a servant in Cape Town. However, instead of being employed as a servant, Baartman was taken to England and exhibited as a sıdeshow attraction under the name "Hottentot Venus."

Baartman's Iarge buttơcks and elongated labia were considered unusual and exotic, and she was put on dispIay in London and Paris, where people paid to gawk at her. She was also made to perform various tricks, such as dancing and singing, for the entertainment of spectators. Baartman was treated poorly during this time and was not paid for her performances.

Baartman dıed of siphiIys in 1815 at the age of 26. She was sẹxuaIIy assąuIted multiple times and her captors paid in exchange to experience ssehura also know by stage name The Hottentot venus , and her remąins were dissected and put on display in a museum in Paris. In 2002, the South African government successfully campaigned for the return of Baartman's remains to South Africa, and she was finally laid to rest in 2002.

Baartman's story is a trągic one and serves as a reminder of the expIoitation and mıstreatment of people of color throughout history may she rest in eternal peace... 🕊

23 hours ago (edited) | [YT] | 21,568

Historical Africa

Most of you don’t know who she is but she’s important. Her name is Latasha Harlins. In 1991, at the ripe age of 15, Latasha went to her local Korean owned food mart and never made it out. The store owner’s wife, Soon Ja Du, mistook her for trying to steaI a bottle of orange juice and a minor struggle ensued. Du grabbed Latasha and ended up getting pushed to the ground. Du then went and got her gųn and pointed it at Latasha. Latasha bends down, picks up the orange juice, and places it on the counter. As Latasha had walked away to leave the store, Du shơt Latasha in the back of the head at a 3 foot distance, kiIIing her immediately. Du tried to claim self defense, but there were 2 eyewitnesses and the store’s security camera showed otherwise. The jury convicted Du and advised the judge to go with the maximum sentence of 16 years. Du walked away with 400 hours of community service, 5 years probation, and a $500 fine, as the judge said although Mrs. D acted inappropriately, her actions were justified. Judge Joyce Karlin states that Mrs. Du was the victim, Latasha is the criminal and would be standing in front of her for assault on a store clerk had she not died. The slaughter of Latasha Harlins is one of major factors in the initiating of the LA Riots. We only hear about Rodney King but she is the original SayHerName. 2pac had an affinity for Latasha and has mentioned her name in several songs as well as dedicated the iconic song “Keep Ya Head Up” to Latasha. So today we say Latasha Harlins, you’re a pillar baby girl, whether they realize or not. And today, someone heard ya story. ❤️ 🕊

3 days ago | [YT] | 163,715

Historical Africa

In 1849, Henry "Box" Brown, a Black man, mailed himself to freedom from Richmond, Virginia, to the Anti-Slavery Office in Philadelphia; the delivery took 26 hours, and he later became a public speaker and abolitionist.

On an early spring morning in 1849, an enslaved Black man named Henry Brown folded himself into a three-foot by two-foot wooden crate. Twenty-seven hours and 350 miles later, he arrived at the home of William Johnson, a Philadelphia barber who collaborated with the Underground Railroad, a network of people, safe houses, and routes that guided enslaved people to freedom.

Henry Brown, born enslaved in 1816 to John Barret, a former mayor of Richmond, eventually married another slave named Nancy and the couple had three children. Brown became an active member of Richmond’s First African Baptist Church where he was known for singing in the choir. In 1848 Brown’s wife and children were abruptly sold to away to North Carolina. Using “overwork” (overtime) money, Brown decided to arrange for his freedom.

He constructed a wooden crate three feet long and two feet six inches deep with two air holes. With help from Philadelphia abolitionists, he obtained a legal freight contract from Adams Express. This freight company with both rail and steamboat capabilities arranged to ship his package labeled “Dry Goods” to Philadelphia. The package was a heavy wooden box holding Brown’s 200 pounds.

Henry “Box” Brown loaded himself in Richmond on March 22, 1849, and from there the package moved via horse-drawn carriage to the rail depot of the Richmond-Fredericksburg-Potomac Railroad. A local Philadelphia carting firm delivered “the package” to the Philadelphia Anti-Slavery Society. Delivered in 27 hours, Brown was welcomed by Philadelphia abolitionists led by Underground Railroad organizer, William Still.

Upon passage of the 1850 Fugitive Slave Law, Brown left the United States for England. Here as a featured speaker in England’s abolitionist circuit he used visual aids such as a landscaped “moving panorama,” a painted scroll showing a lengthy series of related inter-connected panels painted on a single cloth.

By 1875 Brown had returned to New England and married a second time. He lectured under the name Professor H. “Box” Brown until his death. Brown is believed to have died around 1889. Samuel Rowse’s, Resurrection of Henry “Box” Brown lithograph, immortalizes Brown’s 1849 journey.

3 days ago | [YT] | 29,551

Historical Africa

Queen Nanny of the Maroons.
Born 1686: Ghana 🇬🇭
Dıed 1733/1750: Jamaica 🇯🇲

It is said that for over 30 years, she fought and freed over 800 enslaved people on the island of Jamaica. There are many stories about her; it is said she was a queen in Ghana from the Ashanti warrior tribe when she was captured and brought to Jamaica, where she later escaped and led an armed revoIt against the British Empire in the mountains and jungles of Jamaica for two decades.

It is said she used guerrilla warfare to fıght the British, who suffered great Iosses and later settled with a peace treaty to spare their men. She was also said to be a powerful spiritual voodoo priestess who would use her powers to shield her fıghters from the attacks of the British.

One British officer who was lucky to survive her encounter described her as being small, muscular, and strong with intense eyes. She wore a girdle with at least 10 different combat knıves. Queen Nanny is Jamaica's only female hero, and there are still Maroons living in Jamaica today.

5 days ago | [YT] | 51,067

Historical Africa

Aviator Bessie Coleman was the first Black woman to earn a pilot's license. In 1922, she then became the first Black woman to stage a public flight in America.

"Brave Bessie" needed to travel to France to attend flight school. She then returned to show America that women in planes could be known for flips, stunts, and fearlessly standing up for what's right. Bessie notably refused to perform at locations that wouldn't admit people of her race, and very openly gave encouragement & flight lessons to Black women across the country.

She flew into all our hearts and today we celebrate her.

6 days ago (edited) | [YT] | 62,139

Historical Africa

Ever heard of the name Clara Belle Drisdale Williams?

Clara Belle Drisdale (1885–1993) was the first African-American graduate of New Mexico State University. Many of her professors would not allow her inside the classroom, so she had to take notes from the hallway; she was also not allowed to walk with her class to receive her diploma.

She married Jasper Williams in 1917, and their three sons became physicians. She was a teacher of Black students by day, and by night, she taught their parents, who were former sIaves, home economics.

In 1961, New Mexico State University named a street on its campus after Williams; in 2005, the English department building was renamed Clara Belle Williams Hall.

In 1980, Williams was awarded an honorary doctorate of laws degree by NMSU, which also apologized for the treatment she was subjected to as a student.

She dıed at 108 years old.

1 week ago | [YT] | 77,074

Historical Africa

Meet Sabina Chebichi, born on May 13, 1959, who won her first marathon in 1973 while barefoot and wearing nothing but a petticoat; Sabina went on to become the first Kenyan 🇰🇪 female athlete to win a medal 🏅 at the Commonwealth Games in 1974.

1 week ago | [YT] | 97,170

Historical Africa

Why is this white man relevant to Black history? He was one of the Freedom Riders. In 1961, he was on a bus full of Freedom Riders who arrived in Montgomery Alabama where an angry whitę mơb was waiting for them. He volunteered to get off the bus first and take the brunt of the mob's viõlence, which left him bęaten and bIoody.He passed out shortly afterwards and was ignored by whıte ambulance crews for hours until an ambulance for blacks picked him up. His name was James Zwerg.

James Zwerg is still alive, he is 86 and apparently living in New Mexico now.

1 week ago | [YT] | 66,886

Historical Africa

Horace King was a Black American architect, engineer, and bridge builder. He is considered the most respected bridge builder of the 19th-century Deep South, constructing dozens of bridges in Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi. King was born into slavery on a South Carolina plantation in 1807.

1 week ago | [YT] | 49,024

Historical Africa

LA MULÂTRESSE SOLITUDE: THE BLACK WOMAN WHO FOUGHT FOR FREEDOM! ✊🏿

Born around 1772 to an enslaved African woman and a French sailor, she was a symbol of the fıght against the plantation system.

She joined the insurrection led by Louis Delgrès against Napoleonic forces who aimed to reinstate sIavery, which had been abolished in 1794.

Described as a fierce and fearless warrior, she fought alongside men against the troops of Richepance in early 19th-century Guadeloupe

Captured and imprisoned, she was exęcuted on November 29, 1802, one day after giving birth, and has since become a powerful symbol of Guadeloupean freedom, resilience, and anti-colonial.

1 week ago | [YT] | 68,955