Indigenous Africans in the Diaspora

09/26/2025

09/26/2025

09/26/2025

09/21/2025

I have always seen this picture but never tied it to anyone…

This is a picture of a young Walter Lee Fowlkes who was being attacked by police dogs on the left. Thank you, Mr. Fowkles, for your sacrifice and dedication to the cause. He is pictured as an older man on the right.

"A famous civil rights era photo showing a young man being attacked on May 3, 1963 by a German shepherd in Birmingham is finally being credited as Walter Lee Fowlkes. He was a student at Miles College when the photo was taken. Mr. Fowkles never made a huge fuss about the photo in public interviews.

Upon his passing it was stated:

“He just went on with his life and wasn’t really looking for notoriety. At the time, he was motivated, committed, doing what he had to do.” said his cousin in The Birmingham News report.

Image and caption via NAACP.

09/17/2025

1828 Definiton of American

A native of America; originally applied to the aboriginals, or copper-colored races, found here by the Europeans; but now applied to the descendants of Europeans born in America.

🦅🏹💯

09/13/2025

💯💯💯

09/09/2025

Portrait of a Bisharin girl with braided hair, beads and long tunic in Egypt, circa 1910.

The Bisharin are a subgroup of the Beja people, traditionally living in the Eastern Desert region that stretches between southern Egypt, Sudan, and parts of the Red Sea coast.

They are one of the oldest nomadic groups in the area, with a history that goes back thousands of years, and their way of life has long been shaped by the harsh desert environment. Traditionally, the Bisharin were pastoralists, herding camels, goats, and sheep, and moving seasonally in search of water and grazing land.

They speak a Beja language (often called Bedawiyet), though many also use Arabic, especially in modern times. Culturally, they are known for their distinctive hairstyles, ornaments, and clothing. Women, in particular, were often recognized by their braided hair decorated with beads and shells, along with flowing tunics and jewelry, while men wore simpler garments suited to nomadic travel. Their music, oral traditions, and poetry remain central to their identity.

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, Western travelers often encountered the Bisharin and described them in journals and photographs, sometimes romanticizing their “desert life,” though usually without much regard for their own perspectives.

Today, many Bisharin communities still exist, but modernization, urbanization, and economic pressures have changed much of their nomadic lifestyle, with many settling in towns or working in other trades.

09/09/2025

09/09/2025

On September 8, 1957, Althea Gibson became the first Black athlete to win the U.S. Open (previously known as the U.S. National Championships), defeating Louise Brough 6–3, 6–2. Vice President Richard Nixon himself presented her trophy.

Born in Silver, South Carolina and raised in Harlem, New York, Althea grew up playing paddle tennis on the streets before joining the Cosmopolitan Tennis Club, where her raw talent was discovered. She went on to attend Florida A&M University (FAMU) on a full athletic scholarship, where she became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

But Gibson didn’t just make history once:
🎾 In 1956, she became the first Black player to win a Grand Slam title (the French Open).
🎾 In 1957 and 1958, she captured back-to-back Wimbledon and U.S. Open championships.
🎾 She was the first Black woman voted Female Athlete of the Year by the Associated Press (1957 & 1958).

Gibson’s career paved the way for legends like Venus and Serena Williams, proving that barriers are meant to be broken. 👏🏾

11/06/2024

11/06/2024

The knowledge was there....

Deep in the Sudanese desert lies the ancient city of Meroë, home to over 200 pyramids constructed by the Kingdom of Kush. Unlike the larger Egyptian pyramids, these structures are smaller and steeper, arranged in ways that continue to baffle researchers.

Nearby carvings and symbols, some of which seem to align with celestial events, suggest that the Kush*tes may have had advanced knowledge of astronomy. While it is believed that these pyramids primarily served as burial sites, some believe they may have also functioned as markers or ceremonial centers.

Unfortunately, much of the history of Meroë was lost when treasure hunters raided the site in the 19th century, leaving us with more questions than answers. Though they may not be as well-known as their Egyptian counterparts, the over 200 pyramids of Meroë hold fascinating clues about an ancient civilization still waiting to be fully understood.