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Videos by Boukman Academy. The Black History Online School Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @BoukmanAcademy
Dr. Amos Wilson explains succinctly the self-hatred that is so obviously present when African people refer to ourselves and each other with a word that was developed to justify our genocide.
It’s amazing to see just how much mental gymnastics are used by Black people to justify using a word that was created by our enslavers. A word that declared us 3/5ths human. A word that was the ideological basis for countless lynchings, for Jim Crow, for apartheid, for medical experimentation, for mass incarceration, for colonial conquest, for being exhibited in zoos, for being worked to death while digging minerals etc.
Even in so-called “conscious” circles, the dissonance surrounding the use of this word seems so deeply ingrained that people will somehow claim it is now a term of endearment that has been “reclaimed” by us. This is despite the fact that after centuries, we are still at the bottom of the racial totem pole of today’s globalised white nationalist society.
Worse still, many of us have no problem - and even encourage - the use of that word by other groups of people!
This is what happens when a people have an identity crisis. They become whatever their dominators tell them they are.
“No truly self-loving people celebrate their own death, especially not for the entertainment of the primary beneficiaries of that death” - @akalamusic
We have a lesson on coded language: what it is and it’s uses in confusing us, that you can study for free at www.boukmanacademy.com
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Dr. Amos Wilson explains succinctly the self-hatred that is so obviously present when African people refer to ourselves and each other with a word that was developed to justify our genocide. It’s amazing to see just how much mental gymnastics are used by Black people to justify using a word that was created by our enslavers. A word that declared us 3/5ths human. A word that was the ideological basis for countless lynchings, for Jim Crow, for apartheid, for medical experimentation, for mass incarceration, for colonial conquest, for being exhibited in zoos, for being worked to death while digging minerals etc. Even in so-called “conscious” circles, the dissonance surrounding the use of this word seems so deeply ingrained that people will somehow claim it is now a term of endearment that has been “reclaimed” by us. This is despite the fact that after centuries, we are still at the bottom of the racial totem pole of today’s globalised white nationalist society. Worse still, many of us have no problem - and even encourage - the use of that word by other groups of people! This is what happens when a people have an identity crisis. They become whatever their dominators tell them they are. “No truly self-loving people celebrate their own death, especially not for the entertainment of the primary beneficiaries of that death” - @akalamusic We have a lesson on coded language: what it is and it’s uses in confusing us, that you can study for free at www.boukmanacademy.com
This Thursday we’ll be discussing capitalism on IG live with @urfavcharity ! Make sure you tune in at 7pm GMT & WAT • 1pm CT • 2pm EST! We’ll be breaking down what capitalism is, why the idea of Black capitalism is a fallacy, and why rich Black people ≠ Black liberation Remember to like, comment and share this post! Learn political science for free at www.boukmanacademy.com
IT’S FINALLY HERE! “The Black Past: A History of African People” is a concise, comprehensive guide to Black history, going from the continent to the diaspora and beyond! To celebrate, we are giving away TWO FREE COPIES to our followers. For your chance to win, simply like and share this post to your story and tag 2 friends in the comments. The winner will be announced tomorrow! Our book looks at the birth of humanity, the various precolonial African societies that reigned for thousands of years across the continent, the history of the diaspora in Europe and the Americas, and the 20th century heroes and revolutionaries that gave their lives to the struggle. The Black Past is fully illustrated and includes maps and timelines to aid the learning process. It will be available to buy from our website tomorrow! www.boukmanacademy.com
Sister Ramona Edelin breaks down some truth about precolonial African history. History informs a people’s behaviour and forges their culture and identity. When studied correctly, history can be used to transform reality. Study your history for FREE at www.boukmanacademy.com!
Diaspora wars? Narrow nationalism? Pledging allegiance to a country and culture that exploits you? Let Kwame Ture break down the nonsense behind this kind of thinking. “We are Africans, and that’s exactly where we’re going.”
Tupac coming with the Panther spirit and speaking nothing but truth. Most don’t know that Tupac planned to unite a host of Black inner city gangs under his Thug Life movement, turning them into a militant force for the community in the process. The importance of organisation both locally and globally cannot be stressed enough. If you aren’t part of an organisation already, join one or start one. www.boukmanacademy.com
The Honourable Marcus Garvey gives his response to the notion that the USA is a white man’s country. Garvey reminds us that white supremacy is in the DNA of American society. His fierce, unapologetic response shows the power and independence the UNIA had. Not enough of us study the work of Marcus Garvey. As the greatest Black organiser of the 20th century, with a transnational organisation made up of 6 million members, his philosophy and politics should be the blueprint for us today. Expecting us to end our oppression without studying Garvey and implementing his achievements is like expecting to pass a maths exam without knowing multiplication. It’s not possible. A 21st century organisation in the mould of the UNIA is urgently needed, and only we can make it happen. Pan-Africanism or perish. Start your study of Garvey at www.boukmanacademy.com
The last decade has seen an explosion of the “activist industrial complex”. People parading around on social media, writing articles and making television appearances in order to get fame and fortune off the backs of Black state-sanctioned murder. These entertainers and grifters are often not even members of the community they supposedly represent, yet receive plaudits and a paycheque for their apparent “work”. Yet, these same people and groups, some of whom have received billions of dollars, have yet to build one pan-African education centre, one free health clinic, one free food initiative for the community. Malcolm X summed up these caricatures perfectly. Puppets and clowns who are put into their positions by the white power structure in order to misdirect the masses. Revolution quickly becomes assimilation, and words such as “abolition” and “decolonise” lose their meaning. If the “anti-racist” social media page you’re financially supporting doesn’t have a concrete plan towards the goal of Black Liberation, nor a clearly defined set of aims and organisational set up, why are you supporting them? If they do not plan to meet the needs of the masses, who’s needs are they meeting? Radical liberals who cosplay as revolutionaries in order to secure a book deal are an enemy of true liberation. Learn all about Black history, politics, and the tools necessary for liberation on our website for free: www.boukmanacademy.com
On BBC radio, Tyrone talks about the differences between organisation and protest, the importance of education and representation in the media. • In this clip, he discusses reactionary politics and the racist hypocrisy that rises when Black people attempt to become self-sufficient. • This is a clip of the radio show, find the whole show, which starts at 2 hours 22, on BBC Sounds: bbc.co.uk/programmes/p08fxs0q