By Ever since I was a toddler, I possessed the blessing of witnessing my Abba’s (Father’s) vivid paintings. What made his art unique is every piece had an organic story affixed to it.
His illustrated stories that stood out the most to me were of my ancestors in North America 100’s of years before Columbus. Canvas filled artifacts of a variety of shades of “brown” from the darkest brownish-black to copper tones to lighter shades of brown people wearing ancient like Islamic and Native American garments.
These special stories were passed down from generation after generation of Aboriginal American Muslims. My Grandfather would often express to us, that black people were in America long before slavery. In fact, Jane Elliot, diversity pioneer, said “Black people were here 4000 years before Columbus was born.”
It’s been extremely disheartening for me to know that most of the so-called African-Americans don’t know their true history — that most of their ancestors are Native Americans and often Muslims.
My Grandfather also often expressed to us passionately that we come from royalty — kings and queens, how our royalty was stolen from us, emphasizing the fact that blacks weren’t just brought here on slave ships!
The Masses of the world are not taught this, and my grandfather’s history was re-written. America’s mainstream education is more like indoctrination, and we are taught lies, unfortunately.
However, there are tons of proof and information out there such as Leo Weiner’s book Africa and the Discovery of America, Ivan Van Sertima’s book They Came Before Columbus, and the documentary film series “Hidden Colors,” just to name a few.
Although this subject is not being covered by the mass media or in our schools, there’s ample evidence in Columbus’ journal of his 2nd Voyage to the so-called “New World.”
He stated that the Natives had given him gold-tipped spearheads — these Natives were Black-skinned people. When he traveled back to Spain, he had sent the spearheads out to be accessed, he discovered the spearheads’ metals were made in Western Africa and used for thousands of years by African warriors, especially Mali’s & Moors. In Raccolta di viaggi dalla scoperta del nuovo continente fino a’ dì nostri, this Metal was called Guanine, the same name of the Natives of the so-called “New World.”
White Supremacy has many reasons to withhold the truth. It’s been extremely disheartening for me to know that most of the so-called African-Americans don’t know their true history — that most of their ancestors are Native Americans and often Muslims. It’s such a huge misconception that black natives only came from breeding with slaves that ran away.
Being a Muslim Native American woman has always been a challenge for me. I’ve been subjected to constant discrimination all my life, and then I was being labeled as a Black or African-American, or back in the day I would be Negro or colored by American standards.
I am extremely grateful & honored to know my family’s tribes: Black Foot, Choctaw, Cherokee, and also Moorish Descendants. However, there are so many Black Indigenous American tribes that aren’t honored by the Federal Government.
In 2006, the Aboriginal Republic of North America (ARNA), also known as the International Indigenous Society, was acknowledged by the U.S. Government for having its own private government. Additionally, any so-called African-American can claim the tribe Xi-Amaru — historically called the Olmec, the Oldest Indigenous civilization in America.
As a Muslim Native American, I am exceedingly proud to be fortunate to hold this knowledge of our true history and pass it on to others. With goals to break barriers, misinformation, and the stereotypes that strive to define who we are.
Being a Muslim Native American woman has always been a challenge for me. I’ve been subjected to constant discrimination all my life, and then I was being labeled as a Black or African-American, or back in the day I would be Negro or colored by American standards.
This is dishonoring — not because I’m not proud of my blackness or my African Heritage, but because we have our own ancient tribes and our own identity that is orthodox and not forced on us by white America.
Our culture, royalty, and heritage were stolen and hidden. Now as we celebrate Native American Heritage Month, I pray that this information can help bring awareness and help bring a positive change for Black Natives of America — which is long overdue!
Happy Native American Heritage Month to all Native American tribes!