THE CULTURE CORNER
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“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture, is like a tree without roots.”
Marcus Mosiah Garvey (1887-1940)
Every year in October we celebrate BLACK HISTORY MONTH. Black history is with us every second, minute, hour, week, month and year. PANTHER NEWSLETTER’S CULTURE CORNER will attempt to enlighten you with what they never told you in your history class. Our story will be told right here – So enjoy the journey of clarification.
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Not widely known but true
The word UHURU – pronounced – (oo-who-roo); in Swahili means Freedom.
The ancient Greek writer Lucian wrote: The Ethiopians were the first people who invented the science of the stars, and gave names to the planets.
Scotland’s very first football/soccer captain was a black man. His name; Andrew Watson. He became the first black man to captain an international team, when Scotland played England in 1881.
The word Sata-pronounced-(Sat-tah)-is a verb from the Amharic language of Ethiopia. In Rasta patois it means: to rejoice, to meditate, to give thanks and praise.
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TRIBUTE TO OUR S/HEROES
Mary Seacole (1805 – 1881). Jamaica’s most famous nurse was born in Kingston Jamaica. Her father was a Scottish army officer and her mother a free black woman who ran Blundell Hall Hotel. Mary’s mother also treated people who became ill, she was a great believer in herbal medicines based on the knowledge of slaves brought from Africa. This knowledge was passed on to Mary who later became a ‘Doctress’. Mary Seacole is best known for her care of British Soldiers during the Crimean War (1853 – 1856).
Charlotte Sophia (1744 – 1818). Her portrait is used as an example to show black blood in royal ancestry. Queen Charlotte Sophia became Queen Consort of King George III, whom she married in 1761; producing nine sons and six daughters. She is the great, great-grandmother of King George VI.
William Gordon and Paul Bogleemerged as defenders of the rights of the poor and oppressed in the post-emancipation era in Jamaica. It was a time of great hardships and injustice which resulted in a series of protests culminating in the 1865 Morant Bay Rebellion. Both Bogle and Gordon were arrested and executed for their role in the protest; but the protests proved a turning point in Jamaica’s history.
Sam Sharpe (1801 -1832). ‘Daddy’ Sam Sharpe as he was affectionately called was to carry on the Resistance against slavery effecting at the young age of 31, the most outstanding slave rebellion in Jamaica’s history; The Christmas Rebellion.
Queen Tiye the Nubian Queen of Egypt in the 14th century B.C. changed the course of history when as a Nubian commoner, she became the spouse of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. He defied his nation’s priests and customs by making her his royal spouse. She is portrayed as a majestic monarch, proud, noble and serene.
Amon – Ra also spelt, Amoun and Amen, was seen as an immortal being in Egyptian mythology; the God of creation. From an early date from references in the Pyramid texts, he is symbolised as the creative force originally identified as the air.
Sport
Althea Gibson(1927 – 2003), was a former number one American sportswoman who became the first African-American to win a Grand Slam tennis title in 1956. She is sometimes referred to as “The Jackie Robinson of tennis” for breaking the sporting colour barrier.
Don Quarrie competed in five Olympic Games and is regarded as one of the finest sprinters in the history of track and field. He is also considered as the greatest runner around the bend. The Godfather of Jamaican athletics, he has inspired the modern day Jamaican athletes like Usain Bolt and Asifa Powell.
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A TRIBUTE TO HAITI
Haiti is in our thoughts and prayers at this time. We trust that the Island and her people will come back better and stronger. This is our tribute to our brothers and sisters: Jah Bless…
Toussaint L’Ouverture (1746 – 1803), became General and Governor of Santa Domingo (Haiti) in the middle of the French Revolution. He led the slaves into battle against the British, French and other European countries who saw Haiti as a valuable trading post and political tool. Read more about Haiti here…
Here ends your history lesson for this month.
Log on for more CULTURE CORNER next month and remember…
“There is no mercy on those who have ability and don’t use it – they just waste it.”
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‘Til next month: Everyting Bless
Panther Newsletter 
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