The Deep and Historical Suppression of Black and Brown Magic
By Alai Landa, as published on Its Dated
The first taste I got of occident suppression of our Indigenous and Black origins was when I brought home a hand-out from kindergarten of Columbus and the pilgrims eating Thanksgiving dinner with the Native Americans. As a Venezuelan woman raising her Panamanian-born daughter (two countries “looted” by Europe and later the USA), my Mother found the responsibility to be on her to provide me with the truth. She told me about the raping, murder, and disease brought to the people who had developed complex and advanced civilizations, but sadly, not guns or Euro-immune systems.
Since then, I've remained curious about the deeper layers of history. The true origins of humanity buried by pride and imperialism. However, I didn’t become fully aware of the ways in which it was presently occurring until halfway through A.P. European History class sophomore year. My Father, being super into history, had taught me about the Moors. The tall, black, African-Islamic peoples from Africa, Berber, and Syria. In 710 A.D., they invaded the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal). Their overtaking of power from King Rodrick was embraced by the poor Christian and Jewish population as well as a nearby king, King Julian (for King Rodrick r*ped King Julian’s daughter).
The Moors brought religious freedom (as Christianity and Jews were included by Islam), diversity, trade, and wealth to the land. Not to mention their large libraries of knowledge. They literally brought advanced astronomy, chemistry, physics, math, geography, and philosophy to Europe. Their occupation created one of the richest and most comfortable areas in Europe. This is why Spain is covered in “Moroccan” architecture.
Yet, in my A.P. European History class, wars and invasions came and went with no mention of the Moors or their contributions - except for a single quote by a queen demanding for each one to be killed. Which was odd considering there was no context to who she was even talking about. So I went to my teacher and asked when we’d be learning about the Moors. She got silent and then told me, “you see how our textbook’s pages begin in the 300’s?”
I flipped through and noticed that it did.
She continued, “that’s because everything before that was about the Moors, it got removed by the board a few years ago.”
I was shocked and confused. I wanted to tell everyone about the erasure of black history - of human history. Of the black foundations of human evolution. But what I hadn’t yet understood was that this wasn’t abnormal (it’s still hard to understand). This goes right along with the long line of oppression and cover-ups of black and brown greatness.
Humanity originated in Africa and slowly spread to Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Civilization itself began in Africa, along with music, school, writing, government, written language, religion, etc. for the majority of civilization, Europe has consisted of imperialistic and controlling agendas. Not only towards the world, but their own people. Mind control and manipulation through enforced religion and strict social norms; no space for the wild inner nature. Invading indigenous lands and civilizations with the sick mantra, “God, gold, and glory” which I wish I could translate to the natives to mean, “I am an egotistical maniac. Protect yourselves.”
Black is magic. Brown is magic. As humans we are all, by nature, magic. But the magic, power, greatness, wisdom, and shine of Black and Brown people has continuously and systematically been ignored, misunderstood, oppressed, erased, and destroyed. We are all magic, we are all equal, but that is not the society we are living in today.
That is exactly why these times of confusion and chaos are here now. Because along with other old and outgrown aspects of modern society is racism. And in a society so controlled and guided, systematic change cannot occur without conflict. In the same way we see COVID-19 as a finger-pointing at our direct effect on the environment, conflict between our “justice” system and the masses who cry out against racial injustice highlight cracks in the system. Weak points that would not have been mended amidst normalcy. This is revolution and revolution is a fire that, sadly, must be sparked.
In history class growing up, I’d always wonder what side I would be on. Would I have known slavery was wrong? Would I have been one of the people helping others hide from the Gestapo? Or was the propaganda and brainwashing too strong? Well this is the time to answer that question.
