FloatingPixie

native-detroiter: creolesoul: A History of Black people in...

Mon, 08 Oct 2012 18:27:18 -0400

creolesoul:

A History of Black people in Europe

It is generally known that black people have been residing in European countries since the early colonial times. But even before the 15th century and during Roman times, a time when colour of skin still wasn’t a racist stigma but just another physical feature, black people lived in Europe. Remains of a man with black African features were found in England recently, dating his life back to the 13th century. Read this article for more info.

Besides that, facts have been found of black people living in different parts of Europe, although I don’t want to overstate their presence or influence. But it is generally known that during the Muslim era of the Iberian Peninsula (from the 8th century AD until the 15th century AD) people with dark skin were part of daily live. The Muslims who invaded Spain and Portugal around 700 AD were a mixture of black and dark people from North-Africa. They were often referred to as Maures, wrote about and painted, way before the dehumanization of black people started.

I added above Jan Mostaert’s portrait of a nobleman, guest of the Queen of Austria. This painting dates back to the early 1500’s in what we now call Belgium, then part of the Duchy of Brabant. There is no doubt this man has African roots while being a respected member of European culture. We can only guess that this man is of Maure origin, i.e. a Muslim having converted to Christianity or even the second or third generation of converts.

Below I will go deeper into the subject. I will give you some internet links, book references and a list of early Europeans of African descent, each time linked to their wiki page. If you know more about the subject I invite you to add information in a comment.

Al Andalus

Many blacks who were Muslims converted to Christianity after the emirate ofAl Andalus was abolished (end of 15th century). But the Reconquista took centuries (8th-15th century) and during those times black people gradually integrated the Christian and Northern European world. Among them were noble men and scholars. The negative image of blacks, as natural slaves, only gained prominence in the 18th century when the transatlantic slave trade became a central piece of European economical activity and later when European nation-states were being established.

Slavery and racism

Of course slavery existed before racism. In the 15th century blacks and whites were enslaved indiscriminately. Blacks in the America’s could become free men and own their own slaves and land (which was rather common in colonial Brazil for instance). It is only in later years that being black made you a slave forever and by birth, or at least a kind of human always inferior to white people. This racial perspective on identity and humanity only gained authority in later modern times. Read more on the subject here.

Coat of Arms

Black people were part of European imagination and reality from very early times. Read more here and here. We can say with certainty that there were black people in Europe before that white people reached the area south of the Sahara. North Africa, Iberia and the Middle East were the crossroad where black and white intermingled. In Europe references to blacks was a positive sign of strength and military power. Still today you can find many blacks in coat of arms for towns all over Europe, central, south and north, dating back to the middle ages.

Some Literature

After the 15th century, Portugal entered an intense relationship with African kingdoms in the Gulf of Guinea and the Congo coasts. Slave trade (although not based on race) and exchange between the kings led to the presence of Europeans on the West- and Central African shores, just as Africans in Portugal. Accounts from those days tell us that the sight of black people in the streets of Lisbon wasn’t a rarity during the Middle Ages, more on the contrary. I want to refer to following books for those who want to know more about this topic:
Black Africans in Renaissance Europe, Thomas Foster Earle,K. J. P. Lowe(eds.)
Africa’s discovery of Europe, David Northrup

As a consequence of the slave trade free blacks also arrived in Europe between the 16th and 19th century. Blacks lived in London, Liverpool, Lisbon, Seville, … during the 17th and 18th century. Other historical books with scientific authority give you in depth knowledge of this:
Hugh Thomas’s ‘The Slave Trade’
Ivan Van Sertima’s ‘African Presence in Early Europe’
All this publications teach us something about this hidden part of European history.

Leo Africanus

Leo Africanus is often stated as one of these black and European noble men and scholars. But it is rather speculation to state if he was black or white. He was definitely a Maure but as racism, whiteness and blackness were unknown concepts as we know it today, we can’t know his ‘race’ for sure. This shouldn’t surprise anyone. Even very common socio-cultural concepts of today such as ‘French’, ‘German’ or ‘English’ didn’t exist in those days such that it would be silly to argue whether historical figures of those days were German or French. Same thing is valid for the white and black race as defined today.

Famous Europeans with African ancestry (1500-1900)

Below I will list some of the most famous figures of European modern history (after 1500) who happened to be black or have African ancestry, but were integral parts of European (high) society. Most of the time the African ancestry of these people is ignored by history books although acknowledged and accepted by most history scholars. I think it throws a new light on the concepts of race and the meaning of blackness in the 21st century.

Alessandro ‘il Moro’ de Medici 1510-1537
Duke of Florence

Abram Petrovich Ganibal 1696-1781
Major-general, military engineer, governor of Reval and nobleman of the Russian Empire

Anton Wilhelm Amo 1700-1775
German Philosopher

Ignatius Sancho 1729–1780
Author and abolitionist, UK

Olaudah Equiano a.k.a. Gustavus Vassa 1745-1797 Author and abolitionist, UK

Chevalier de Saint Georges 1745-1799 A famous musican, composer and swardsman of his times
Listen to his music here.

Thomas Alexandre Dumas 1762-1806 A general of the French Revolution

George Polgreen Bridgetower 1780-1860 Musician and composer
Listen and watch here

Alexandre Pushkin 1799-1837
Famous author, great-grandson of Abraham Petrovich Ganibal

Alexandre Dumas 1802-1870
French author of the world famous tale of ‘The Three Musketeers’, Thomas Alexandre Dumas’s son

John Archer 1863-1931
Presumably UK’s first black mayor, political activist

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor 1875-1912 Musician and composer
Listen to his music here

(via afroeurope.blogspot.nl)

you mean black people didn’t just appear in time for slavery?!?

gettingahealthybody: What is overnight oats? Overnight oats...

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 22:26:58 -0400

gettingahealthybody:

What is overnight oats?

Overnight oats (OO) is basically oats soaked in the liquid of your choice. Either milk or yogurt, but you can always experiment with other kinds. It is often chilled overnight (hence the name) and usually left uncooked. However you can heat it up if you prefer to. It is perfect for days when you are in a rush to make breakfast, just make it in a jar the day before and it’s ready to go the next day.

You can add any kinds of toppings you want to it. You can add fresh fruits, nuts, dried fruits, peanut butter, etc. Many people also add chia seeds to the overnight oats. Be adventurous and try new additions, you might be pleasantly surprised!

This is also good to put together with your kids, let them play around with their favorite toppings and learn more about fruits and nuts, etc. There’s no or minimal cooking involved, so it’s safe for them as well.

In the following list, there are several sites that provide the recipes for a basic overnight oatmeal, and if can continue from there if you want to create your own personal one-of-a-kind oatmeal. Have fun! Remember, healthy doesn’t mean boring or tasteless!

Overnight Oatmeal

Mint Chocolate Chip Overnight Oats

Strawberry Cookie Butter Overnight Oats

Skinny Overnight Oats in a Jar

6 flavor varieties of Refrigerator Oatmeal

Mango Almond Refrigerator Oatmeal

Blueberry Maple Refrigerator Oatmeal

Apple Cinnamon Refrigerator Oatmeal

Banana Cocoa Refrigerator Oatmeal

Banana Peanut Butter Refrigerator Oatmeal

Raspberry Vanilla Refrigerator Oatmeal

Overnight Oats (OO), Two Ways

Basic Overnight Oats

Pumpkin Peanut Butter OO

Strawbery Banana OO

Coconut mango overnight oatmeal

Chocolate Cake Batter Overnight Oats

Overnight Blueberry Almond Oats

Overnight Refrigerator Oatmeal with Berries

Banana Cream Pie Overnight Oatmeal

Vegan Overnight Oat Parfaits

Cherry Chocolate Bomb Vegan Overnight Oats

Blueberry Vanilla Banana Soft Serve Vegan Overnight Oats

Peanut Butter and Jam Vegan Overnight Oats

Strawberry Banana Softserve and carob Vegan Overnight Oats

Banana Split Vegan Overnight Oats

Gingerbread Pumpkin Vegan Overnight Oat Parfait

Neapolitan Vegan Overnight Oat Parfait

Pumpkin Delight Vegan Overnight Oat Parfait

Vegan Scottish Overnight Oats with Blueberry Banana Softserve Parfait

Basically these are the more popular and interesting creations of overnight oats that I found. However, this list is by no means exhaustive! Get creative and come up with your own favorite recipe.

The picture and recipes do not belong to me but to their respective owner.

P.s: Here’s a link on how to spice up your oatmeal.

http://gettingahealthybody.tumblr.com/post/29385595274/how-to-spice-up-your-oatmeal-oatmeal-101-in-a

Photo

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 10:33:25 -0400

sc0rnflakes: Best speech of all time.

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 21:40:00 -0400

sc0rnflakes:

Best speech of all time.

witchsistah: kyssthis16: crankyskirt: fuckyeahpatti: Patti:...

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 20:41:51 -0400

witchsistah:

kyssthis16:

crankyskirt:

fuckyeahpatti:

Patti: They’re like 18 and 19 years old and consider themselves divas, and I said a diva is something you can not call yourself, boo.

Chaka: The main thing about diva-ism…is time. You got to pay dues.

Perfection.

Basically.

That last panel? SHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADE!!!!

We know EXACTLY who you talmbout, Miss Patti!

youngbadmanbrown: Basically, fuck job creators. The people who...

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 20:41:34 -0400

youngbadmanbrown:

Basically, fuck job creators. The people who do the jobs are more important.

reuterspolitics: Washington state delegate Majid Al-Bahadli,...

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 19:57:20 -0400

reuterspolitics:

Washington state delegate Majid Al-Bahadli, originally from Iraq, holds up a sign as he awaits the start of the first day of the DNC.

[REUTERS/Eric Thayer, September 4, 2012]

"[Who] does gain from the drugs trade? One unambiguous winner is the Western banking sector. In..."

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 19:55:55 -0400

“[Who] does gain from the drugs trade? One unambiguous winner is the Western banking sector. In recent years a series of American and British banks, including Wachovia and HSBC, have been caught providing banking services to drug dealers. Bankers don’t move money around for nothing. They receive commissions for the service. And they are only part of a much larger infrastructure of lawyers, company formation agents, accountants and tax advisers who help turn the proceeds of crime into untraceable capital. The benefits for banks don’t stop there. Antonio Maria Costa, the head of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, told the Observer newspaper that ‘in many instances, the money from drugs was the only liquid investment capital’ that the banks could access during the credit squeeze of 2008. ‘There were signs,’ he said, ‘that some banks were rescued that way.’”

- So who’s winning the war on drugs? (via theamericanbear)

Photo

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 08:37:35 -0400

Photo

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 08:30:56 -0400

kylesbogusjourney: A christian and an atheist walk into a bar. They procede to have a few drinks...

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 08:25:52 -0400

kylesbogusjourney:

A christian and an atheist walk into a bar. They procede to have a few drinks and enjoy each other’s company because they’re not pretentious assholes.

chrisdonayyz: nestorarnel: Age 104 old man and his age 100...

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 08:09:08 -0400

chrisdonayyz:

nestorarnel:

Age 104 old man and his age 100 wife, they are poor. They have been married for 81 years and they never had a group photo. When the old lady got dressed up the wedding dress, old man was so happy to hug his wife, and said his wife is so beautiful.

To prove a point to my dad, reblog if you're AGAINST Mitt Romney

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 08:07:35 -0400

TW: Abuse - How to not derail discussions about domestic violence.

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 08:07:16 -0400

Times when it's appropriate to say "men can be abused too!": When someone states that men cannot be abused.
Times when it's appropriate to say "men can be abused too!": When someone states that a woman cannot be an abuser and that a man cannot be a victim.
Times when it's appropriate to say "men can be abused too!": When someone states that "only women" can be victims.
Times when it's NOT appropriate to say "men can be abused too!": When people are discussing domestic violence and the victim happened to be a woman.
Times when it's NOT appropriate to say "men can be abused too!": When a woman is discussing her experiences with being a victim of abuse.

witch-moon: this is my life.

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 08:06:01 -0400

witch-moon:

this is my life.

leilockheart: TRUE FALSE

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 21:29:45 -0400

leilockheart:

TRUE

FALSE

"Mother sets fire to her daughter's gloating rapist"

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 21:27:25 -0400

"Mother sets fire to her daughter's gloating rapist":

psychoreality:

tallerandblueonline:

jonjonweaver:

clitxvx:

mynamesjustanoose:

unobject:

“A Spanish mother has taken revenge on the man who raped her 13-year-old daughter at knifepoint by dousing him in petrol and setting him alight. He died of his injuries in hospital on Friday.

“…he passed his victim’s mother in the street and allegedly taunted her about the attack. He is said to have called out “How’s your daughter?”, before heading into a crowded bar.

Shortly after, the woman walked into the bar, poured a bottle of petrol over Soriano and lit a match. She watched as the flames engulfed him, before walking out.

The woman fled to Alicante, where she was arrested the same evening. When she appeared in court the next day in the town of Orihuela, she was cheered and clapped by a crowd, who shouted “Bravo!” and “Well done!”“

I dunno man, I’m not a doctor but from what I understand if it’s a legitimate fire the body has ways of shutting that whole thing down.

omfg @ everything

if it’s a legitimate fire the body has ways of shutting that whole thing down.

I’d have to reblog this just for that.

this woman deserves mother of the year

ianthe: impl0de: lumium: solelia: v-is: applej4ck: hwankss:...

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 20:58:10 -0400

ianthe:

impl0de:

lumium:

solelia:

v-is:

applej4ck:

hwankss:

africandaisy:

I FINALLY HAVE THIS ON MY BLOG

I REGRET NOTHING

I feel accomplished

I feel like I have a proper blog now.

my blog is complete

YES. blog complete.

asdfghjkl

TUMBLR RULE # 183

You must reblog this when you see it on your dash.

I FEEL SO ACCOMPLISHED RIGHT NOW.

Finally.

OMG FUCKING FINALLY.

My tumblr feels complete. :)

Unofficial rule of Tumblr: This must make it onto your blog.

^ everything he said was true. Must reblog this.

holy shit…my life right here.

just for the shits and gigs

Hahahahahahaahahahahahahaha

LOL

now i feel like in my customize page!!!1!!! omg yeah!!!!1!1!

Im feeling more apart of tumblr thanks to this.

Hahaha these comments are so unnecessary!!!

i don’t follow the rules coz i’m bad ass but i will still reblog this.

AAAAHAHAHAHA, I HAVE BEEN LOOKING EVERYWHERE FOR DIS.

WOOOT

ITS FINALLY ON MY BLOG, AFTER SEEING IT EVERYTIME I CHANGE AROUND MY THEME OR EDIT SHIT

the things it says on here omfg why

FUCKING GOT IT

MY BLOG FINALLY HAS THIS YESSSSSS

It must be shit to be on the most famous Tumblr picture,
but have your face BLURRED OUT…

This is pretty needed..

i’ve reblogged this 34900754 times FUCKYEA

I don’t understand, what’s this?

finally :’)

forever reblog

if you don’t understand this. get off tumblr plz. omFG. c:

FINALLY. Thank you God.

This is exactly why I love tumblr

LADFN.,MADF

I was waiting for this almost a year!

I’ve seen this about 50 times… never seen so many people excited over a blurry picture… please someone fill me in on why this is such a big deal? lol smh… maybe I just don’t get it.

^its been on tumblr since the beginning. and we see every time we customize our pages. so its kinda a symbol of us being on tumblr :) if you don’t get it, why are you on tumblr?

I’M FUCKING LAUGHING AT ALL OF THE COMMENTS, REBLOGING FOR THE COMMENTS AND WELL…. YOU CAN NOT NOT HAVE THIS ON YOUR BLOG!

now that i’ve reblogged this, my life is now complete

It’s about time

tumblr.

you all need to calm down tho

ianthe: oh my fuck i’m flowers ahaaHAAHAAHAAHAHHAA

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 20:55:30 -0400

ianthe:

oh my fuck i’m flowers ahaaHAAHAAHAAHAHHAA

riversonggetyourcoat: the-sun-child: kidsofthetides: yourblogi...

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 20:39:44 -0400

riversonggetyourcoat:

the-sun-child:

kidsofthetides:

yourblogiswank:

its like

one smile was not enough for the sky

it was really fucking happy

it had to have two

i have to have this on my blog

this has to be the best photo on tumblr by far

Reblogging again , because of reasons