Cheikh Anta Diop born on December 29th of 1923, was a historian, anthropologist, physicist, and politician who studied the human race’s origins and pre-colonial African culture. In 1946, at the ripe age of 23, Diop decided to go to Paris to study. He originally thought to study mathematics as his major of study.

Dr. Diop only later decided to enroll to study philosophy in the Faculty of Arts of the Sorbonne. He earned his first degree in philosophy in 1948 and quickly enrolled in the Faculty of Sciences, where he received two diplomas in chemistry in 1950.

According to Diop’s personal writings, his body of education in Paris included studies in History, Egyptology, Physics, Linguistics, Anthropology, Economics, and Sociology. He was very well-rounded and educated individual. Not only an educator, Diop had been politically active.

He was involved in the Rassemblement Démocratique Africain (RDA), which is an African nationalist organization that was led by Félix Houphouët-Boigny. Dr. Diop was the general secretary of the RDA students in Paris from 1950 to 1953. Under Diop’s leadership, the first post-war pan-African student congress was organized in 1951.

Dr. Cheikh Anta Diop Bio Story

Diop’s understanding and main theory of Africa were that the political strife for African liberation would not be successful without the civilizing role of the African being acknowledged. This he believed began with ancient Egypt. He singled out the contradiction of “the African historian who evades the problem of Egypt“.

Black Africa: the economic and cultural basis for a federated state is one of Cheikh’s books and is the on that best expresses Diop’s political aims and objectives. In Black Africa, Diop argues that only a united and federated African state will be able to overcome the crying issue in Africa, which is its underdevelopment conflict. He proposed to establish a single African language, which should be used across the continent for official, educational, and cultural purposes.

cheikh anta diop black radical

Struggle of Official Recognition

His initial doctoral dissertation submitted at the University of Paris, Sorbonne in 1951, was based on the premise that ancient Egypt, with all the glory of the past pharaohs, was an African civilization.

This dissertation was rejected by “white” Eurocentric educators. Regardless of this, Diop’s dissertation was finally published by Presence Africaine; and it was under the title Nations Negres et Culture in 1955 (which won him global recognition).

Diop pushed to have his doctorates granted again, and two additional attempts were turned back once again. It wasn’t until 1960 when he entered his defense session with an array of sociologists, anthropologists, and historians; that he triumphantly carried his argument.

Dr. Cheikh Anta Diop Biography

It took nearly a decade of enormous and arduous effort, but Diop finally won his Docteur es Lettres! In that same year, 1960, were published two of his other works; the Cultural Unity of Black Africa and Precolonial Black Africa.

In 1966 at Dakar, the World Festival of Negro Arts honored Diop.

He was honored as “the black intellectual who has exercised the most fruitful influence in the twentieth century.”

Diop passed in 1986 on February 7th. He is remembered as a towering Sudanese black radical, educator.

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Medgar Evers Life Story

Medgar Evers was a civil rights activist who organized voter-registration efforts, demonstrations and boycotts of companies that practiced discrimination. Born in Mississippi, he served in World War II.

He did this before going to work for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Prior to his civil rights crusade, he fought in a different kind of battle. In June 1944, Evers’ unit was part of the massive, post-D-Day invasion of Europe, not to mention, he served in both France and Germany. This was until his honorable discharge in 1946. It was there he realized the harsh incongruency in America and the Jim Crow law.

Back in the States

In August 1955, a Chicago-born Emmett Till (just 14 years old and visiting relatives in Money, Mississippi) was kidnapped by a group of white men, after reportedly flirting with the wife of a local shopkeeper. Evers spoke up diligently about this matter, bringing him into the limelight.

During the early 1960s, the increased tempo of civil-rights activities in the South created high and constant tensions. And in Mississippi, conditions were often at the breaking point. On the morning of June 12, 1963, around 12:20 a.m., Medgar Evers arrived home from a long meeting at the New Jerusalem Baptist Church located at 2464 Kelley Street.

He was assassinated by KKK members.

On the 40-year anniversary of Evers’s assassination, hundreds of civil rights veterans, government officials, and students from across the country gathered around his grave site. This was at Arlington National Cemetery, they celebrated his life and legacy.

The Life Story of Medgar Evers

On June 15, 1963, Evers’s funeral was held at the Masonic Temple, with Charles Jones, Campbell College chaplain, officiating the service. In 1969, Evers’ brother Charles was the first black man elected mayor of Mississippi.

“Medgar and I said many years ago, if we ever end the violent racism in this state, it’ll be the greatest state in the world to live,” he tells Peeples. “And now, Medgar, I know you’re gone, but I’m telling you, son, it’s come to pass.”

medgar evers life story

Evers’s wife, Myrlie, became a noted activist in her own right later in life. She eventually serving as chairwoman of the NAACP. Medgar’s brother Charles returned to Jackson in July 1963 and served briefly in his slain brother’s place.

Medgar Evers a Black Radical

Evers was featured on a nine-man death list in the deep South as early as 1955; as a matter of fact, he and his family endured numerous threats and other violent acts. This made them well aware of the danger surrounding him because of his activism.

It takes a radical to face uncertainty, threats, and other misgivings in pursuit of freedom, justice, and equality. It takes a radical to face this and to continue to move forward.

This is why Medgar Evers is a true black radical.

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Chinua Achebe Things Fall Apart Radical Author

The great Nigerian author, Chinua Achebe wrote a classic and literary powerful book that told a story of colonialism in a light that was not seen or heard of prior to. Caucasian European historians had dominated the field in telling the story of Africa from their isolated and often, biased point of view.

When Chinua Achebe published his book, Things Fall Apart, he told of the harsh reality of colonialism that nearly every country in the world, who’d been colonized (inappropriately) resonated with.

Because of this resonation, Achebe received countless letters, even from Korea regarding their ability to relate to the story. Korean women felt Achebe told their story. Revealing colonialism is a worldwide conundrum put in place by Caucasian (white) Europeans with evil intent.

the Radical Author of Things Fall Apart

Chinua Achebe Things Fall Apart Radical Author

A Black Radical in his own right, Achebe was a novelist, poet, professor, and activist. His first book or novel, Things Fall Apart, is considered the most read book in modern African literature.

Radical Author Follows His Heart

He won the Man Booker International Prize in 2007, for authors that is a big deal. Established in Igbo town in Nigeria and was a top student. He won scholarships to study medicine but ultimately decided to follow his heart and study English literature.

The Biafra war broke and he supported the Biafran independence, even presented himself as an ambassador.

Achebe believed colonialism was a vicious attempt to take a nation from the responsible elders and put it into the hands of the lesser responsible youth. This is where fight and struggle, violence, destruction, and war comes from. The destruction is perpetrated and staged by the oppressor.

BlAcK RaDiCal Achebe Had Tough Times with Publishers

The black radical talks about his tumultuous relationship with publishers and with politics in general. He was loved all over the world where people appreciate a humanitarian, writer, fighter-for-the-people, and a voice for the oppressed. Enjoy this video of a true #blackradical.

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Malcolm X Explains Some of His Reasons for Departure

This is a sad implication and story from the great black radical Malcolm X. In the video above, brother Malcolm shares why he was slowly yet rapidly separated and out of the Black Muslim organization lead by the honorable Elijah Muhammad.

Malcolm addresses the fornication being presented by Elijah Muhammad’s son. In addition to this, the hypocrisy of the handling of the situations really frustrated brother, Malcolm. The hypocrisy dealt with the women. The secretaries for Elijah Muhammad were mysteriously coming up pregnant.Malcolm X Explains His Reasons for Departure

When they were found pregnant with no apparent husband, they were brought before the congregation, shamed and isolated.

Nevertheless, the men or man whom they’d been impregnated by were never brought forward, nor shamed. After this occurred with the fourth or fifth secretary, suspicions grew.

It can be presumed that the man impregnating these women was also paying them off to keep them silent. After a few years, when the number grew past seven women, two of the women rebelled.

They began spreading their story in the streets of Chicago, getting the attention of Elijah Muhammad’s own grown son.

Malcolm X Explains His Reasons for Departure

Elijah’s son gets the information to brother Malcolm. The man impregnating these women was indeed the “honorable” Elijah Muhammed. Brother Malcolm contacts Elijah, who admits to it, but gives Malcolm a reason why it was okay or necessary.

Obviously, with brother Malcolm becoming a whistle-blower for righteousness, and his whistle was blowing against the leader of the Black Muslim movement in America; this would cause troubles for the whistleblower. Brother Malcolm’s life became endangered by the very organization he was a part of to champion the black cause.

This is a disheartening story of the bonds being broken among negro people, yet it is a true one. What are your comments on the video?

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Marcus Garvey and the Powerful Black Nation

Marcus Garvey had the desire to create a nation for the American Negro or black person. Along with uniting black Caribbeans and South Americans with their native African brothers and sisters. Garvey attempted some pretty big goals even by today’s standards.

Fellow black Americans often called him insane, whites and government officials said he was a lunatic. These labels are often placed on revolutionaries or “ahead of their time leaders,” who have goals so big people often faint. In the documentary, it is revealed that Marcus Garvey had an extreme ego.

A Powerful Black Nation

He did not take advice kindly or at all.  He was compelled in his mind to do things his way. This often alienated him from other black leaders and supporters. He started something bigger than himself and when this occurs, one can’t keep their hands on every detail, no matter how they wish and try.

Marcus Garvey loved reading and was inspired and motivated by his mother to be great. She even often referred to him as Moses that he would be a great deliverer for his people. At the age of 2, Marcus Garvey ran into Booker T Washington’s book, Up from slavery.

This book radically changed his life and perspective. He set out to change the world for black people. However, his early life wasn’t the best. A bad money manager, unstable in relationships, such as that with one Amy Ashwood, and a high ego caused many setbacks. Marcus Garvey Black Nation

Still, his overall objective remained. His ideas failed in Jamaica, but it would have new life in America.

He left for NYC. Garvey realized things were worse in America than it was in Jamaica and once he saw a massacre take place against black women and babies, he decided it was time for black people to fight back.

It was time out for taking a silent approach to racial conflicts.

Disunity of Black Was the Problem

He declared that whites take advantage of blacks because blacks all over the world are disunited. Garvey preached that he was the equal of any white man. He declared Africa’s images from whites were false. False images of cannibals, when in reality, Africans were intelligent, advanced, and very civilized. He declared blacks must unite.

This is the key to any black radical movement. I hope you enjoy this documentary and learn key notes from this black pioneer, and black radical.

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James Baldwin’ Nigger Dick Gregory

The 43 minute video of a panel of actors, writers, comedians, and entertainers, entertain the topic of racism in America in 1969. James Baldwin does most of the talking in the video and answering the questions. One of the questions asked was which was better, black power or integration?

Baldwin claimed both were necessary. I agree in the sense that black power needs to maintain it’s focus. The focus should be based on increasing the political, economical, spiritual, and psychological mindset of the entire people and race.

These things need to be done first for the people to understand the next step, which would be integration; a controlled integration.

In the field of equality, of justice, and of freedom, Baldwin as well as the others, only wish to make (white) Americans aware or conscious. White America should be made conscious of their unconscious behavior towards the oppressed people of the nation.

These oppressed people, often thought of as black or negro, are also partnered with other oppressed in America, mainly poor whites.

James Baldwin and Dick Gregory Baldwin's Nigger (1969)

Why Negro and not Blackman?

Another question brought up in the video was why does James call the “African American” a “NEGRO” and not a blackman?

James replied, in summary, the names he uses are not names he created. Instead, they are names that were given to him by the kidnappers and robbers. These robber stole the “NEGRO” from his native continent of Africa.

Enjoy the video of this Black Radical, James Baldwin.

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Huey Newton a Black Panther Great

Huey Newton and the Black Panther party were very vocal, impactful, and popular political party. They participated strongly in communities helping oppressed people, mainly African Americans who have been grossly oppressed in the very country of their own nativity.

In the video above, Huey spoke on helping a member or civilian who would be legally lynched; that is given a kangaroo court and sentenced to death.

Obviously a handsome, nicely spoken, Huey and Bobby Steele put together a great movement to help oppressed people, beginning with his own “black” people. This was an international movement in other nations to oppressed people around the world.

When asked who he (Newton) blamed for the oppression in the United States, he responded, “I’m blaming the 76 companies who control Nixon; these are the monopolies oligarchy that controls the people in this country, but they also run the empire.”

Huey Newton a Black Panther Great

Newton’s desire was for the people to truly be in control of the country, and not the oligarchy rich who desire to rule over the poor, needy, and oppressed. Thanks for watching and reading. If you like civil right videos like these and would like to be a contributor, contact us.

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