"Bahá’u’lláh once compared the coloured people to the black pupil of the eye surrounded by the white. In this black pupil you see the reflection of that which is before it, and through it the light of the Spirit shines forth." (attr. to 'Abdu'l-Bahá)

During my time on Fedi so far, I've seen this saying borne out as truth.

Pay attention to your black and brown brothers, sisters and contacts, folks. You might just learn something about them *and* about yourself. #BlackMastodonAllies

wondering if groups staying tagged in replies by hostile/unsupportive people is as draining to others as it is to me. I'm watching for the second time in a few days someone with a generally anti-Black bent be boosted repeatedly by the Black mastodon group because the group is tagged in their replies. First time I saw this, I stepped in and recommended untagging the group. Is that helpful? Or am I just overly bothered by something meaningless?

#BlackMastodonAlly #BlackMastodonAllies

M.E.T.H.O.D. MAN by Wu-Tang Clan

#Music #WuTang #MethodMan #WuTangClan #WuTangForever #HipHop #Rap #Poetry #Listen #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMastodon #BlackJoy #BlackTwitter #BlackMastodonAllies

Watch "Wu-Tang Clan - Method Man (Official Video)" on YouTube https://youtu.be/PEnwXYJcSZc

#introduction

Part of #LoLMigration :catraSad: but hoping for a nice new home here. Will see about importing folks later, but for now follow me if you are open to my posts about mostly

#LongCOVID
#TV
#Film
#Books
#SFF
#BlackMastodonAllies
#Ace
#Queer
#Menopause
#GenX
#Norway
#NewOrleans

I grew up in Ohio. I would say I learned a ton about Ohio's strong history of morality movements throughout school and my avid reading habit as a kid (abolition, temperance, etc.) I knew from a young age that Cincinnati was a key gateway in the Underground Railroad and our adjacency to Kentucky, which practiced enslavement, and Canada, which promised freedom, meant that people there played a pivotal role.

As I was digging into the 1619 Project last night, I was reminded that all of the original 13 American colonies practiced slavery. So I think to myself.. had Ohio always been for abolition?

It seems that slavery was abolished in the 1802 constitution, so its statehood had firmly opposed enslavement. But I learned for the first time about so-called "Black Laws" that required posting a $500 bond and proof of freedom.

As I read this article (https://www.starbeacon.com/news/slavery-in-ohio/article_b0335730-1854-11ea-aca3-9fa5261b80d2.html) from the Ashtabula, OH Star Beacon, I learned even more of the racism running rampant in Ohio. It's pretty clear that I was taught Ohio's role in slavery through a moral lens that focused on positive aspects, but we never really addressed:

If Ohio was so pivotal in anti-slavery, why was the Railroad Underground to begin with? Was racism still at play? Would've been good to know more.

#BlackMastodonAllies #BlackHistory

I spent a good bit of this past weekend reading small snippets from others' #blackhistory posts, but dug a bit deeper on a question that I had still in the vein of Florida's black history (in light of its ongoing suppression in the schools). I was trying to learn more about the early origins of slavery in Florida and when enslaved people first arrived in that region.

Along the way, I read some pretty insistent blogs that took serious issue with the year 1619 being offered as a milestone date for America. So I went down that rabbit hole a little bit as well and got more familiar with "Why 1619?", read some about Port Comfort, VA as well as some things from the Smithsonian about enslaved Africans being brought into Spanish Florida, including St. Augustine in the 1500's.

At the end of the day, I'm a bit out of my depth and uncomfortable addressing what it is that I saw, because I know there's a lot of vitriol targeted at the 1619 project, and I'm not able to tell if it's simply "1619 is given as the initial date for slavery in the USA" for the fact that Florida was a Spanish colony at that time, or if there is something more going on.

What I do know is that I need to read more, so today I stopped by my local independent bookstore and picked up a copy of the 1619 Project to get more of an education from it directly on the project's scope and the contributor's thoughts.

#BlackMastodonAllies

I spent a good bit of this past weekend reading small snippets from others' #blackhistory posts, but dug a bit deeper on a question that I had still in the vein of Florida's black history (in light of its ongoing suppression in the schools). I was trying to learn more about the early origins of slavery in Florida and when enslaved people first arrived in that region.

Along the way, I read some pretty insistent blogs that took serious issue with the year 1619 being offered as a milestone date for America. So I went down that rabbit hole a little bit as well and got more familiar with "Why 1619?", read some about Port Comfort, VA as well as some things from the Smithsonian about enslaved Africans being brought into Spanish Florida, including St. Augustine in the 1500's.

At the end of the day, I'm a bit out of my depth and uncomfortable addressing what it is that I saw, because I know there's a lot of vitriol targeted at the 1619 project, and I'm not able to tell if it's simply "1619 is given as the initial date for slavery in the USA" for the fact that Florida was a Spanish colony at that time, or if there is something more going on.

What I do know is that I need to read more, so today I stopped by my local independent bookstore and picked up a copy of the 1619 Project to get more of an education from it directly on the project's scope and the contributor's thoughts.

#BlackMastodonAllies

From this podcast I learned about Black resorts like Idlewild, where wealthier Black people could go to experience luxury, and shoebox lunches, which Black people prepared for road trips because restaurants would not serve them. https://www.unsunghistorypodcast.com/green-book/ #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackMastodonAllies

This month, I’m committing to learning something new about #blackhistory every day. I read last night about Bessie “Queen Bess” Coleman (b. 1893), the first African-American woman and first Native American to receive a pilots license. She had to travel to France to be trained, and received her license in 1921.

Her biography is full of awesome adventures and fantastic advocacy for civil rights. I’m glad I found out about her this year.

http://www.bessiecoleman.org/bio-bessie-coleman.php

She died in 1926 in Jacksonville, FL at age 33 while preparing for an air show there. Her whole story is so interesting, and I’m sad today that children in Florida, particularly young girls, are being denied opportunities to learn about her and her daring, courage, and skill.

Black history is our history. If you haven’t spent much time seeking out stories (I know I haven’t), I encourage you to do that this February.

#BlackMastodonAllies

Some of WEBdB's ideas on pan-african unity and the need for state-level power to oppose European colonization are lining up well with a recent FD Signifier video too. Check this guy if y'all aren't up, he does a great job presenting nuanced topics around racialized issues.

https://youtu.be/N1g-zwdbmSE

I'm not too sure if I love how that aspect has aged, but otherwise you could have told me #WEBdB wrote this book yesterday.

#FDSignifier #BlackMastodonAllies

Every obstacle put in front of you, to wear you out, keep you tired

Wanna make fast changes, gotta get in they wallet. Fuck up they bank accounts

I wanna commit some #CrimesAgainstCapitalism
free account/,instance name, go ahead, steal it, it's cool

How can we start filling our needs without Capitalism so we can get out of it?

I ain't asking rhetorically. I asking for help from everybody. Real shit, realistic actions

#BlackMastodon
#BlackMastodonAllies
@BlackMastodon@chirp.social
@blackmastodon@a.gup.pe

5/X

Capitalism been around longer than all of us, got us boxed in. And we working just to pay taxes. To the state. To fund the police.

Shit is evil and efficient.

"We know we need to change this shit. Let's figure it... hold up. Damn, I gotta bounce, gotta go to work"
Put a pin in it, we'll circle back

Lotta words being said, nice words. We waiting on action

Can't help but think, Friday night, they planned that

#BlackMastodon
#BlackMastodonAllies
@BlackMastodon@chirp.social
@blackmastodon@a.gup.pe

4/X

Always working, always tired, always afraid

Can't learn, strategize or protest. you gotta work, you need this job to get by, to feed your family. can't risk that

you sick. good

uneducated. good

single parent. heard the father had an unfortunate encounter with the cops. excellent

capitalism got these hours for you, be at work on monday

ain't got time for all that "capitalism is bad" talk, gotta get these ducats, NOW

#BlackMastodon
#BlackMastodonAllies
@BlackMastodon@chirp.social
@blackmastodon@a.gup.pe

3/X

Just enough time to get all your little feelings packed neat into a little box and stacked in the closet with the other boxes
Friday night, business is closed for the weekend
Whatever happens, all on the weekend

Then you back at work on Monday

There's a benefit to having a large class of marginalized people, people that are always worried and afraid that everything will fall apart if they don't keep working

2/X

#BlackMastodon
#BlackMastodonAllies
@blackmastodon@a.gup.pe
@BlackMastodon@chirp.social

I can only think, and I'd bet money, after all the headlines "footage to be released soon", they released that video specifically on a Friday night for a reason
Friday night, you angry and disgusted
Saturday you upset and a little sad but you do some self care
Sunday you go to church, get with the fam, watch some football

Back at work on Monday

I hope your gears are turning

1/X

#BlackMastodon
#BlackMastodonAllies
@blackmastodon@a.gup.pe
@BlackMastodon@chirp.social

A solid quote from Banksy for #BlackMastodonAllies on why it’s necessary to engage your peers in anti racism.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBFyA8iM15Y/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

If you don't want to use the tag the hivemind decided on, #BlackMastodonAllies, yet you find more and more people begin to yell at you when you squat on #BlackMastodon, do not act surprised.

We made this for you to not clog our safe space. Use it.

Hi white people! (I’m white!) I just saw a request that we not use hashtag Blackmastodon when trying to show our support or solidarity or rage or anything at all. They suggested using #BlackMastodonAllies instead if we feel the need for a hashtag. Here’s a post you can boost to spread this request: https://mastodon.lol/@eveiswurzig/109768091222613578

#PSA: If you aren't Black do not post with the blackmastodon hashtag. Instead use #blackmastodonallies

If you aren't Indigenous do not post with the indigenous hashtag, instead use #IndigenousAllyMastodon.

https://ohai.social/@BigAngBlack@fosstodon.org/109769932628275410

#BlackMastodonAllies