THE BLACK AGES
Written by: Victor E. Moseley
Email: vemoseley@landcause.com
Blue Sky: vemoseley17.bsky.social
Instagram: vemo607
Oftentimes it takes contemplating how Black folks lives have been defined for us throughout all times by people who were not Black. This truth cannot be denied no more than I can change the color of my skin nor allow myself to be categorized and lessened. Therefore, I must take this journey of discovery as all my valiant and resilient ancestors have sojourned in a world where false judgments were presented as the standard of righteousness. Righteousness added to humility with the grace of God may be the answer.
VOLUME III: ‘Then believed they his words’
Is that all it takes? Someone to do something for you? Someone to give something of value to you with the inscription of a man printed on it like currency? Someone to save your soul or give extra meaning to your life? What about us that makes us desire gifts and favor? Does the receipt of such things bind us to our benefactor? Why?
Is there a better way of living that gives the same or more meaning to life? Let’s cut to the chase. How did America end up with a scoundrel the likes of Donald J. Trump? Donald J. Trump presents me with an insight to how my people, Black people, opened our hearts and minds to visitors with the belief they had the same thoughts in mind. Black people didn’t greet newcomers into their lands as being superior to them! What twisted motherfucker could believe that that is what Black people immediately concluded intellectually?
Black people were not in disarray in Africa were they? If you peruse even a smattering of books covering anthropology about Africa you might conclude the same. That truth wasn’t the prevailing intent of White Supremacists was it? In times long past, White culture was passionately driven by conquest which allowed them to subdue or should I say more accurately, suppress the Black cultures they encountered in Africa. When White conquerors did that; the writing of history in Africa, their version, skewed heavily favoring the conquereors.
It is true. That old saying that is. History is written by the ‘Victors’! What the writers of history, the White conquerors, failed to include in the accounts was that the Black culture they thought they eliminated would never submit to defeat! I would say that was the first, or should’ve been the first ‘clue’ for White Supremacists, that Black culture could not be destroyed. The culture of Black people is Black people!
This is exciting! Imagine a Black man like me. A Black man that hated that his origin, his story, could be ‘white washed’. A Black man who now believes that the best thing that ever supercharged his origin was the projects. The public housing projects of Tom Browne Village, in the community of Avondale, in the city of Birmingham, Alabama. Now I know better than that. It was wrong headed for me to hate where I got my start in this world.
I know now the culture of Black people is to expose us to resilience building situations. Testing our spiritual faith in the First Father because the First Father doesn’t make resilience building mistakes. Hardships are a favorite tool of the First Father. I know that now.
For the record. The First Father didn’t give me a prize for believing in him. The First Father never bribed me or promised me anything. I wish he would’ve given me something to prove to me that I passed a test by enduring a few years in poverty. I had to be honest with everybody as it had to be stated. I’m not a hypocrite. Some of those ‘hardships’ I ain’t gonna lie. I could’ve been shown a movie. I would’ve believed people were living like I had to live. Jeez!
Well. Anyway. Let me say this as forcefully as I can. I wouldn’t trade being a Black man for any race that ever existed, exists today, or any race that the First Father would create in the future! A lot of people I’ve met throughout my life have told me to forget my past.
I now know those was the ‘cruelest’ words ever spoken to me.
The First Father has tasked me with a recounting of Black History. I will not fail him. Also, for the record. There is no prize that awaits me at its completion nor do I expect one.
Be well.