European Dehumanization & Marginalization of Blacks
A Blacologicograghy of European Dehumanization and Marginalization of Black/African People and Their Culture 1600 – 1970’s in South Africa
01-19-02
BY PROF. WALTER CROSS
SUMMITED TO: DR. ROBERT EDGAR
AFRICAN STUDIES Ph.D. HOWARD UNIVERSITY
BLACOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE, FT. WASHINGTON, MD 20744
Table of Content
Page
- Introduction3
- The Problem4
- The Historical Genesis of Blacology4
- A Rhetorical Critique of Materials and Discussions6
- The Original Perpetrators of European Dehumanization in South Africa13
A. George McCall Theal14
B. George Edward Cory14
C. C.W. De Kiewiet15
D. W. M. Macmillian16
- Indoctrination of Black/Africans to Except the Subjugation17
- Liberal School And Racial Approach19
A. Liberal School19
B. Racial approach20
- Religion as an Instrument of the Dehumanization20
- Ideologies that contribute to the dehumanization21
- The Strange Career of Slagtersnek 22
- The Political Mythology of Apartheid23
- Conclusion24
- Definitions25
- References27
“It was not only Marxist writers who took up a new attitude. Although Albert Luthuli, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1961, was educated in the liberal tradition at Adams College, he became disillusioned with white liberals, as they had accomplished nothing, and black rights continued to be whittled away. He became more militant, seeing black education as aimed at making the blacks permanent wood cutters and drawers of water. The Bantu Education Act of 1954, followed by The Extension of University Education Act in 1956, creating separate ethnic or tribal colleges, came as a severe blow to Luthuli. He described the first of these Acts as "a specialised type of education designed exclusively by Europeans exclusively for Africans”.
History of South Africa Course 202,
Semester: Fall 2001, Book# I, Page 159
I.Introduction
This research is to show the utilization of academic disciplines in the dehumanization and marginalization of Black/African People and Their Culture from the 1600’s to the 1900’s. The purpose is to show how writing, sociology, psychology, religion and violence were used in the assault on Black Civilization. In the readings, discussions, assignments, research and studies of these articles and books, it came to my conscious that this was ample documentation on how the Europeans used the academic disciplines to justify their dismantling of the Black/African Culture and People in South Africa. While attending Howard University African Studies Ph. D. Program in the Fall Semester of 2001, in the South African History Class, the topics covered were as followed:
- A concise History of South Africa By Robert Ross,
- F.A. van Jaarsveld; The Afrikaner’s Interpretation of South African History;#3
- The Liberal Trend in South African Historiography up to the end of the 1960s; Book#1
- The Strange Career of Slagtersdnek;#3
- The Political Mythology of Apartheid Leonard Thompson, pp 25-68;#3.
Of course the use of these tactics does not limit itself to South Africa. The geographical area is on the contexts of South Africa. One may also observe familiar pattern elsewhere on the African Continent and the Diaspora. Dr. Robert Edger provided these articles and books in the above mention course. These are the writing of European authors themselves. The excerpts and information provided in this paper are not the totality of dehumanization and marginalization that exists in the materials these are those which were assigned, discussed, researched and studied by Professor W. Cross in the above class.
I must begin by first of all explaining my philosophy and thought. My philosophy and thought is that of Blacology and I believe that Black/African people must acknowledge their own body of knowledge that is self-reliant and operatively theirs. In analyzing these books and articles, I am utilizing a Blacological approach. The concept of Blacology is developed from the authenticity of the Black/African experience. I have also provided some definitions to give understanding to my philosophy of the Cultural Science of Blacology following my conclusion. Blacology may also consist of its own Cultural Linguistics or Ebonics. In addition, it is not restricted to the Euro-centric Language Arts. This give Blacology its own significant identifiable writing forms. It is the utilization of the ideals, philosophies, theories and beliefs of Black/African scholars, historians and philanthropy of the past and present. In the Euro-Centric Culture, Black People have been taught to hate everything Black and African. Black People have been taught to hate themselves. The Cultural Science of Blacology is to undo this type of self-hatred by giving importance to all that is Black and African. In the establishment of the Cultural Science Blacology, one may distinguish a Blacological Research by the capitalization of all words that are associated with this Interdisciplinary Science (i.e. African Woman, African Man, Black/African, Black People, Black Culture, Black Woman, Black Man, Black Youth, Blacology, and Blacological, etc). It is done to give honor, respect, and importance to these words. This is also a way to acknowledge and identify a Blacological Research and the Science of Blacology.
- The Problem
There is a negative relationship between Europeans and Black/Africans in South Africa. The negative relationship is an Euro/White Supremacy Cultural System that discriminates against Black/African Culture. The Europeans utilized the academic disciplines and violence to suppress and assault Black People and their Culture. The current system of European perpetration of dehumanization and marginalization of Blacks through interdisciplinary fields of study or science is stagnating the political growth and redevelopment of Blacks. The use of European ideals, philosophies, and education has made the redemption of Blacks void and without a reality. The view of euro-centric way of life is a vicarious experience for Blacks.
III.The Historical Genesis of Blacology
The study of Blacology begin in Chicago, Illinois at Jean Baptiste Pointe De` Sable High School 1974 in an After School Black History Class. I read a Black History book that mentioned that some day in thisland there would come a Black Social Science entitled Blackology. This Blacology was spelled with a (k). After continued research, study and reading of W.E.B. DuBois' Autobiography, Martin Luther King Jr. II, Malcolm X, Booker T. Washington, E. Franklin Frazier, Ida B. Wells, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, and countless other books in 1985. I was inspired to go back to school and achieve my masters degree and develop Blacology. So, I applied to graduate school at Prairie View A&M University in the State of Texas in the United States.
I was able to be productive and creative at the Black University. I was not a pon in some other cultures' designs. I began to utilize Blacks in my researches, term papers and in class discussions. I began to use my mind to develop the talents and gifts that I was bless with. As a result of the Black Universities (HBCU’s), my blessings were growing. It is because of the Sisters and Brothers who came before me that I am able to say, "I am because we are, and since we are, therefore, I exist".
I was able to do as my ancestors did, I began to think mathematical, scientifically and analytical. I came to the conclusion that Black and ology equaled Blacology. I dropped the "k" and added -ology. This was the beginning of free creative thought and Blacological Thought. Blacology is the ability to be able to think scientifically with the philosophies, theories, and concepts of Black culture.
Black - K = Blac
+ology
Blacology
The term Blacological was developed from the logical thinking of Black People and their Culture. It was synonymous with the development of Blacology as a student of Sociology it was only proper and fitting that Blacology should have it's own logical way of thinking. Based on the scientific training I received in the Black Institutions of higher learning, this would be the natural evolution to any development of an interdisciplinary science. Indeed since there is Blacology there would have to be Blacological thought and/or perspectives. As the research in Blacology continued, it became apparent that Black/African people have their own logical thinking and perspectives. An example is the O.J. Trial and the Kerner Report of the 1960's and 70's. In the O.J. Trial Black/Africans had a totally opposite perspective from Euro/Whites. In the Kerner Report we were told the research revealed that in the United State there were two societies: one Black and one White. After study and research of Black History, Radio, Television, Audio, Video and Literature of Black Culture Professor W. Cross read an article By Dr. Ronald Walters entitled, Moving Towards a Black Social Science (1986). This was also an inspiration and encouragement in the conceptual development of the Cultural Science of Blacology.
The term Black came at a time in the chronological evolution of the Black/African Struggle when we knew not our culture only our color. It was all we had that could link us to our cultural heritage. So Black/Africans became proud of our physical appearance. Even though we were taught to hate everything black and dark. Somehow we turned that self-hatred into self-consciousness. Because the creator blessed us with such strong ancestors, we were always in the company of those who could remember and pass on information in the oral tradition. This knowledge was like the water to the tree, rain to the flower. It was the blood of our culture flowing like a stream. This is what Blacology will do for us in this new millennium.
Blacology emerged out of the second century emancipated African-American Culture. It was coined 120 years after slavery and Professor Walter Cross, Sr. did the first Blacological Research 126 years after slavery at Prairie View A&M University. According to European history, it would be the year 1982 to 1988. Professor Cross is a graduate of Bishop College and Prairie View A&M University. He is now conducting research on the development ofBlacology at Howard University in the African Studies Ph.D. Program. Another Blacologist is Professor Amos D. Sirleaf. He also is a graduate of Prairie View A&M University and a graduate of the Ph.D. in the African studies at Howard University in 1998. He is also conducting Blacological Research and has written a book entitled, “The Role of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in the Liberian Civil Conflict, A case Study of Conflict Management 1980-1997”.
Prior to Professor Cross’ conception of Blacology, its coming was prophesied by Black scholars, historians and writers. It is said that before wisdom comes, there will be prophesy. Blacology has manifested itself in the 20th Century of European cultural supremacy by the son of an ex-slave. This is proper and fitting that from the struggles of a people comes the science of cultural redemption. It is also said that a people without vision will perish. Blacology gives vision to a people who has struggled, and from struggles comes growth.
Blacology Research & Development Institute (B.R.D.I.), is a cultural based organization founded in 1989. The purpose of Blacology is to establish knowledge, information, morality and culture values for Black/African people. Blacologymission is to educate: Slave mentality, Self-hatred, Second class citizenship, Mis-education, and the myth of European cultural supremacy from the heart and minds of Black/African people. Blacologygoals are to establish that Black people have thoughts, ideas, philosophies, Beliefs, theories, and Concepts that are acceptable throughout the world. Also that Black/African Culture is scientific thought and Blacology as a legitimate field of study and a cultural science.
The Evolution of Blacology is the product of an intensive research and study of Blacks who have conducted research and study in the European interdisciplinary Sciences. These Africans, Black/Africans, Negroes, Blacks People, and Colored People contributed much to the fields of Studies in which they acquired their training and received their Professional Degrees from. They have conducted research, study, and gave all their accomplishments and credits to Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, European History Literature and any discipline in which they could received a degree of scholarship from. All this was done under the promise they would receive a job upon graduate. At this time in the evolution of Black/African people we are the products of our need to be independent. We are not only striving for independence in our physical being. We have begun to acknowledge that freedom is a holistic phenomenon. It covers all aspects of our being. We know by the works of our ancestors and contemporaries that freedom is the right to think for yourselves.
Blacology is a product of the uncompromising spirit of our struggle. We must be free not only physically but in academic creativity as well. Blacology is the manifestation of the people seeking truth, wisdom, and knowledge. Blacology is the reward for the many years of research for a better way. Blacology is the pay you receive when you believe in the process of education. It is like being able to go to the Negro only restroom after contributing your life to the United States Army in World War I And II. Blacology is the success and reward of the Civil Rights Movement. Blacology is the evolution of the many years of contribution Black/Africans have made to the interdisciplinary fields of study. When one takes a look at all the research Black/Africans have contributed to Sociology, Psychology, Anthropology, History and Religion since the 1900's, it is inevitable that, “The Cultural Science of Blacology,” was bond to come. The contributions of Black/Africans to these fields of study are not merely for the completion of a job application, But as Scientist in their perspective interdisciplinary fields of science. The natural evolution of an Interdisciplinary Cultural Science entitled;" Blacology" is the manifestation of Black/African Scholarship as an Interdisciplinary Cultural Science.
IV.A Rhetorical Critique of Materials and Discussions
While studying and in the class: “The History Of South Africa ”, under Dr. Robert Edgar in the Fall Semester of 2001. Dr. Edgar is a Euro-American and a philanthropist in the field of African Studies who studied in California. Dr. Edgar has written several articles and Books in the field. The research and study of Black/Africans and their culture has revealed that the history acquired in the European Schools is a so-called Education and really indoctrination. This does not really help Black people. The information is null and void. We might be able to speak the language better then Europeans. We might be able to pronounce our words better than them. Blacks may become better writers of the language then what we are. But Blacks are not able to do for themselves what needs to be done and that is write in our own language, think in our own language, motivate in our own language and even develop a language that is operatively ours. We are denied the right to think about developing Ebonics as a Cultural language that entails our spiritual as well as tones and pronunciation as a people. A language that will allow Blacks to speak more fluently and communicate with each other on a level that is mellow and understanding. So, that Blacks can be encouraged in their intellectual ability.
Blacks are not able to do that because; they have been so indoctrinated with European thoughts and ideals, concepts, and beliefs of European society. When I take a look at Richard Allen picture on a calendar of Black Historians, it drives to mind that we are so trained in European Culture that we do not realize it. Black/Africans dressed like that so that the European would not harm us or hurt us. Also that Europeans would think that Blacks were intelligent. This type of process has gone on for so long that the Blacks have begun to think it is intelligent. This is not necessarily intelligent; it is a method of survival.
What Black/African People have to realize is that, all that we have learned from the European was not an education but training. We were forced to be trained that way because; it made the Europeans feel safe. Safe that Blacks were not thinking about an insurrection or trying to get away from them and/or not doing the work they had for us to do, i.e., picking cotton, cleaning house or whatever work they had for Blacks to do. That was the purpose of allowing Blacks to go to school and read the bible. It’s like the Willie Lynch Theory. The Willie Lynch Theory was that if he made you a Christian the more likely Blacks would not want to be free. The less likely you would not want to be a slave. Blacks would want to be a slave even more because he could get the bible and show Blacks that the bible and Jesus said, be a good slave. Slaves obey your masters. Be a good slave. That is what the Willie Lynch Theory was about.
What Black/Africans has to realize as a people is that we are not going to get anywhere with that kind of thinking. We have tried everything under the Sun from A to Z, in all categories, and orders. Blacks were colonist, slaves, and their victims and supporters of European endeavors. Blacks took up studies to receive an education from the institutions of higher learning. We became sociologist, psychologist, anthropologist, economist and historians. Blacks contributed to these fields of interdisciplinary sciences. Even in South Africa Blacks were historiographers. Any thing that pleased Europeans, those are the things that we have done. These things were done to survive and to convince the Europeans we were humans and all right. It was not a matter of education; it was about survival.
Now that Blacks have gotten past survival, it’s time to start thinking and educating our selves on our own culture. It is time to start studying our struggle. Blacks must come up with methods that provide for them ways and means of bettering our condition. That is what Black/Africans want to do. Blacks do not want to continue on with the same old habits of the past. Black/African are a people of evolution. They are not just the servants and victims of European White Supremacy Cultural System and Arab Imperialism. Blacks/Africans must develop their own thinking. It is neither productive nor creative to continue as we have for the last 500 years.
The research of Blacology has revealed that it has been longer than over 500 years. In the Spring Semester of 2001, I studied Islam in Africa. I found out that Black/Africans have been under the subjugation of the Arabs and Islam since the 5th Century. What time is it? It is time for Black/African People to start thinking and doing some creating to back it up. Blacks must be realistic about how long they have been under this oppression. Blacks must be educated about both Islam and Christianity. It is time to stop thinking that you are more intelligent because you sound like Europeans and Arabs.