Codex Singularity: Search for the Prisca Sapientia
Influential Black History Figures
1. Influential People
in
“Black” History
Designed by
Danise Charleswell
February 2012
2. What is “Black” History?
This is a time set aside by the same group of
people that enslaved us centuries
ago; the race known as Europeans. However,
“Our” Story began long before slavery.
We are descendants of a great civilization of
kings and queens. Our ancestors were part of a
very rich culture of economic growth and social
development. We have our own flag, culture,
religion, nationality, and birthrights which were
removed from us during the time of slavery in
1774.
3. Although we have been subjected to
racial inequalities and injustices because
of slavery, the greatest struggle still lies
within us. We must first learn to love
instead of hate. We must go back to our
own principles and disciplines instead of
following after the European culture.
Only then can we rise once again as a
great Nation.
5. Darkness Death Gloomy
Angry Confusion Murky
Wicked Hopeless Disgrace Empty
Worthless Calamitous
Atrocious Bad Unfortunate
Depressing Sadness
Dirty Evil Soiled Stained
Having no Light
6. Over the years, many individuals have
tried to address the issue of the so called
“Black” identity. Who are you? What is
your Nationality?
They fought for us to be recognized as
a great Nation of people on the Earth.
These individuals helped to stir up the
masses of people to make them think
about their present conditions and try to
find ways to change it.
7. Why were we still suffering
through conditions of slavery even
though slavery was over and we were
“free”? Why were we not held up as a
(race) Nation of people and treated
with equal rights as other Nations.
These are some of those individuals
who helped to shape “Our” Story…
8. Marcus Mosiah Garvey
Often referred to as the modern day
“John the Baptist.”
“We want a Nationality
equal to that of the
English, French,
Italian, German,
American, and
Chinese.”
Up, up you mighty race! You can
accomplish what you will.
9. Malcolm X
Race Pride and
“Black”
Nationalism
"History is a people's
memory, and without a
memory, man is
demoted to the lower
animals."
Prominent figure in the
Nation of Islam.
10. Ivan Van Sertima
Guyanese-British literary critic,
linguist, poet and anthropologist
“[…] trying to restructure
that history…trying to
rewrite it, trying to bring it
closer to the truth…so that
we can see ourselves
again…because unless we
can see ourselves again, we
CANNOT be new people.”
11. A Jamaican reggae singer, songwriter
and music legend
“Emancipate yourself from mental
slavery. None but ourselves can free
our minds.”
“Don’t forget your history, nor your destiny.”
12. Spike Lee: Actor and Director
Confronts issues of “Black”
identities and community
"It comes down to this: black people were
stripped of our identities when we were
brought here, and it's been a quest since
then to define who we are."
13. John Hendrik Clarke: Historian, Writer,
and Professor of African American studies
I saw no African people in
the printed and illustrated
Sunday school lessons," he
wrote in 1985. "I began to
suspect at this early age that
someone had distorted the
image of my people. My long
search for the true history of
African people the world
over began."
14. Maya Angelou:
poet, novelist, educator, dramatist,
producer, actress, historian,
filmmaker,
civil rights activist.
"People will forget what you said
People will forget what you did
But people will never forget how
you made them feel."
15. Edward Wilmoth Blyden
Liberian, Educator, Statesman
“All educated Negroes suffer from a kind
of slavery in many ways far more
subversive of the real welfare of the race
than the ancient physical fetters. The
slavery of the mind is far more destructive
than that of the body.”
16. Mary McLeod Bethune: Founder of
Bethune-Cookman College
The first woman to be honored with
a statue in Lincoln park in
Washington, D.C.
I never stop to plan. I take things step by
step.
17. Queen Hatshepsut
One of the longest ruling female pharaohs of
the 18th Dynasty. Established trade routes
in Egypt and built many temples.
18. Booker T. Washington
“I have learned that
success is to be
measured not so
much by the
position that one
has reached in life
as by the obstacles
which he has had
to overcome while
trying to succeed.”
19. Hannibal Barca (Hannibal the Great)
A formidable opponent and great
military leader. Won battles for fifteen
years.
“We must find a way, or we will
make one.”
20. Prophet Drew Ali:
Founder of the M.S.T.A. (1928)
“I come to set you free
from that state of mental
slavery that I found you
in. I brought you
everything it takes to
save a nation, now take
it and save yourself.”
“Come all ye Asiatics. Come learn
the truth about yourselves.”
