Creolen and MarronsThe Creoles and Maroons are both direct descendants from kidnapped [west-] Africans forced to labor on the infamous plantations of Surinam. The two distinct cultures have shared much together. Yet the Maroons have known freedom before the Dutch abolition of the trans-Atlantic slavery...

The Cost of IndependenceUnder the leadership of Jean-Jacques Dessalines Haiti achieved independence from the French empire [in 1804]. It’s status as the first freed colony was an immediate threat to other nearby colonies [in the Caribbean], who feared the possibility of a domino-effect, and quickly...

 The Underground RailroadHarriet Tubman [born as Araminta Ross, March 1822] was born into slavery [Maryland] and escaped to Philadelphia [in 1849]. Harriet returned immediately to rescue her family [from Maryland] and went to carry out 13 successful freedom missions, thereby freeing dozens of slaves in...

Biggie and TupacBiggie Smalls [The Notorious B.I.G] and Tupac Shakur [2Pac], two of hip hop's finest, and legendary household names known around the globe. Their musical art marking them as true ‘Scholars of the Culture’.   Ready to Die [September 13, 1994], a highly praised studio debut...

The Islamic Golden AgeThe Islamic Golden Age [ca. 800 - 1400] was a period of cultural, economic and scientific flourishing within the Islamic Empire. The era is said to have begun under the reign of Harun al-Rashid [786 - 809] and with the inauguration of...

Kush and KemetThe [ancient] kingdoms of Kush and Kemet have been popular topics of discussion within history. Discussions ranging from ‘conspiracy’ theories to ‘science-backed’ evidence.   The ancient civilizations have been the playtoy of Hollywood, often embedding western perception into the movies and therefore ending up with...

wij slaven van surinameAnton de Kom [1898 - 1945] masterfully dictates Surinamese history in ‘Wij Slaven van Suriname’ [We the Slaves of Surinam]. Marking it as the most crucial book in the fight for a Surinamese identity. ‘Wij Slaven van Suriname’ is a page in [Dutch]...

The Bijlmer RenaissanceThe Bijlmer Renaissance explores the resilience, diversity, and vibrancy of the Bijlmer neighborhood in Amsterdam. Through interconnected drawings, this illustration pays tribute to the residents, architecture, and evolving identity of this unique urban space.From the elders who have witnessed the neighborhood's changing face...

The Dahomey AmazonsAdbaraya Toya [Victoria Montou] is widely believed to not only be of Dahomey [Fon] descent but also an elite warrior within the Dahomey Amazons [N'Nonmiton] boasting a position in the Women’s Council.  The Dahomey Amazons, a name cultivated by Europeans after witnessing the prowess...

The Woman before Rosa ParksClaudette Colvin [September 5, 1939] was arrested for the same incident that made Rosa Parks a household name within the civil rights movement.   I’m highlighting her narrative not as a ‘remember her too’- but rather to be aware of the stories we...

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