Reply to reader concerning historical myths and white slaves (op-ed)

 

A reader – initials GJ – responded to a column I wrote last month. I stated the first black historians glorified African history to give black people dignity, but Afrocentric scholarship in the 1980’s created myths.  Then I highlighted two black historians who wrote about black slave owners and white slaves.

Here’s most of the letter with my replies.    

GJ:  I understand you're playing devil’s advocate in “check it out”.  But, as you noted, many works published were in response to works degrading us.  And each was written based on the time we were facing.  In the 80’s, we were at our lowest in a long time with the introduction of crack and depletion of morals.  In this drastic time, you stated our historians created “mythologies”.  They were directing the response to us because we were our own enemy and were lost. … If you watch the documentary, “Egypt on the Potomac” and read the book of the same, we see things taken from Africa … Greek Scholars admit what they learned and gained from African nations.

JPD:  When you say “our historians” you’re combining two concepts I distinguish – African Centered Education and Afrocentric Scholarship.  The former was a response to the “drastic times” you described and my “mythology” comment was directed at the latter.  You said Greek scholars admitted they learned from Africa – if that’s the case, then the information the Greeks retained doesn’t fit the definition of stolen. Therefore, the Afrocentric claim that Western Civilization is Africa’s “stolen legacy” is a myth.  But, to my understanding, you’re not refuting the Afrocentric myth you’re justifying its utility.  I’m reminded of the philosopher that said: Religion is a noble lie to prevent mankind from nihilism.  Your version would go: Afrocentricity is a noble lie to prevent black self-destruction.  There’s one problem.  Those that find utility in noble lies are normally ashamed of the facts.  

GJ: To your point of black slave owners and white slaves, true, it’s a fact.  But the bigger agenda was what happened to us and how laws were always made to keep us, you and I from freedom and in second class status; black codes, pig laws, red lining, … The equivalent of white slaves is seen in the prison system.  There are white prisoners, but what you all don’t see is the placement of them.  In the federal system, most are in minimum security camps, no violence, no rape.  The majority in low security are charged with sex crimes against children.  Most black men in federal prison are charged with non-violent drug charges and are sent to high and medium security prison where violence and rape is prevalent.

JPD: Since I mentioned black slave owners and white slaves it sounds like you think I’m implying the historical horror was balanced. I never compared the treatment of black and white slaves.  Your prison analogy would have been a perfect rebuttal if I had.  In the column, I stated, history that instills dignity will always be important, but it can’t dominate the discourse because other lessons of history, which are just as vital, won’t get learned.  I had a young person tell me white slavery was a myth because Europeans had a law that whites could not enslave other whites.  That conversation led to my column.   

GJ: So, the 80’s were roughly 40 years ago.  In 40 years how will people speak on prison reform?  Slavery was roughly 150 years ago, and you think “in fairness” we haven’t come to grips with the legacy of slavery, either.  In 150 years will our historians say the criminal justice system was unjust, as much to whites, as well?

JPD: You said I think “we” haven’t come to grips with the legacy of slavery.  I wasn’t generalizing.   I said activists who claim “America hasn’t come to grips with the legacy of slavery” haven’t come to grips with it either.  My point was black people don’t have a monopoly on historical injustice. Slavery has ravaged humanity from antiquity to present day Africa.   Now, will “our” future historians say the criminal justice system was unjust to whites like it was for blacks? 

No.

But will future Afrocentric myths claim prison reform was stolen from Egypt?

First published in the New Pittsburgh Courier 3/17/21