For anyone new to Black To School, we explore the history and contributions of Africans and the African diaspora to global society. Our goal is to learn from these stories, draw inspiration, and make a positive change in our own lives, homes, and communities. The “Why?” that powers our mission is simple. “Our ancestors invented the table that the world now sits at. It’s time to not just claim our seat, but to set the agenda.”

If you received a forwarded issue, you can subscribe to Black To School here. 

✊🏾 Welcome to Issue #25!

As we near the anniversary of Juneteenth here in the United States, we’re taking the time to explore agency throughout time and what it means to be independent. Join us as we explore the continent's history, ancient trade and battles, community organizing, and the commitment to self-determination. 

If you haven’t seen it yet, please check out our feature on SubStack! Read our interview here. Thank you to all readers for your continuing support!

Black Is Sovereign: 

We wrestled with a keyword that could best communicate our theme for this issue, and in the end, “sovereign” was the clear winner. Unlike the words “independent” and “free,” the term sovereign doesn’t beg the question “From who?” or “From what?”. Sovereignty is a state of mind and a truth that exists irrespective of your immediate circumstances. It’s a pact between the people of one nation and leaders within a region to stand together, united. It’s a statement about with whom and for whom ultimate power to live, love, govern, and protect resides. 

After the many migrations, new settlements, large and small conflicts, and re-settlements, Africa and the Caribbean now have 54 and 16 sovereign nation-states, respectively. In addition, individuals and indigenous communities are emerging to assert and manifest Africa’s sovereignty in the digital world.  And yet, globalization and the complex web of multinational companies from British Petroleum, Hershey & Big Chocolate, and MTN to multilateral organizations like the World Bank, IMF, World Trade Organizations, International Criminal Court, and the United Nations are cause for continued debate about the mythical nature, limitations, and modern relevance of national sovereignty.

In the end, sovereignty is both a right and a responsibility that is not without its challenges.

What’s The Story? These Are The Facts.

Our Coalition for Imperial Resistance 

There is some irony in covering one of the most remarkable military feats in the ancient world in a conversation about sovereignty. Nonetheless, it was an incredible process of bringing together a coalition of roughly 90,000 soldiers from different cultures (along with 12,000 cavalries and 40 war elephants). We’re talking about the battle of Cannae, where a union from the maritime state of Carthage (located in modern-day Tunisia) had such strength that people claimed they brought the Roman Empire to its knees during the second Punic War (264 to 162 BC).

Hannibal became an officer in the Carthage army and, by the age of 26, was chosen to command it. Both Hannibal (and his father, Hamilcar Barca), originally from ancient Libya, were legendary for being military strategists, organizing massive armies, and exploiting weaknesses. Hannibal has been called the “father of strategy,” and many of his tactics were later adopted by Roman armies and students of history, mythology, warfare, diplomacy, and influence. 

Unlike most states at the time that tended to conscript their citizens into a structured army, the alliance formed by Hannibal for this campaign relied heavily on the mercenary military. Essentially they hired soldiers from Carthage and neighboring communities to supplement citizen-soldiers. The army was composed of mercenary soldiers from vastly different backgrounds, motivations, and skill sets. A seemingly risky strategy because mercenary soldiers were regarded as unreliable forces who could enact a mutiny at any time. However, Carthage military leaders put in place five types of controls that enabled them to leverage this diversity as a strength to deliver a devastating blow to the Roman empire killing 50,000 Roman soldiers while comparatively losing 6,000 soldiers.

1. Established alliances that provided neglected communities with necessities the Roman government would not offer.

2. Formed marriage alliances between Carthaginian commanders and allied groups as it made it easier to secure loyal troops.

3. Paid in a timely fashion by their generals rather than the state, further solidifying their commitment to their general.

4. Reduced their autonomy by ensuring their captains were observed by Carthaginian captains.

5. Ensured they were never idle and were constantly on a military campaign to sustain their loyalty to their captains. 

These various methods engineered a reliable, cohesive unit that could fight in different formations as one. Carthage's mercenary army’s diversity gave them a competitive edge. They were flexible and had a range of skills and tactics to coordinate. Although, ultimately, Hannibal’s army was unable to maintain its strategic advantage and lost. Their legacy is that they formed a coalition so strong and determined that they successfully shifted the power dynamics throughout the region. 

We Controlled Trade Routes From North Africa And Europe To Asia

Ancient Somali “Arjun” empire known as the Land of Punt, beginning in the 13th century, controlled commerce and trade routes along with the most critical, complex, and expansive commercial network in the ancient world from the Horn of Africa to northwest Europe to China. Somali cities, Mundus and Mosylon, had shrewd merchants who grew rich, buying and reselling luxurious goods to traders around the world. They sold products like 31 different incense trees, myrrh, cosmetics, Indian spices (e.g., cinnamon), ebony, ivory, date palms, gold, and wild animals. They were so effective at hiding their sources that their Mediterranean trading partners believed that Somalia was the point of origin for all of these treasures. 

Somalia was not only a source of luxury commercial goods but also a destination for ancient royals from Egypt, Kush, and other communities for education. Ancient Somalia was seen as a cultural mecca and an ancestral home. It was a source of inspiration for beauty, architecture, fashion, health, and nutrition. Although the exact location of Punt along the Red Sea (i.e., Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia) has long been the subject of archaeological inquiry and investigation, the strength of its trading prowess and economy in Africa and the world is well documented. They established a robust governance structure and military defenses to prevent foreign invasion attempts from all sides. The 1,100-year trading history between the sovereign nations of Egypt and Punt and their long-distance seafaring practices “drove the evolution of maritime technology.”

Relentless In Our Commitment To Self-Determination 

In the late 18th century, intense rebellion and resistance to foreign interference were commonplace across the Black diaspora between the Americas in the West and Africa. 

After both the British and the Spanish invasions of Jamaica, Queen Nanny, also known as “Nanny of the Maroons,” led a guerilla war against the British. The Windward Maroons, thought to be originally from the Akan people of Ghana, were masterful in maneuvering against their enemies with:

• deep knowledge of the terrain and strategic settlements,

• a stealth trade network for exchanging food, weapons, clothes, and other supplies,

• long-range, coded communication system and tools (i.e., abeng made from cow horn), and

• mastery in the art of camouflage (e.g., disguise, inaudible breathing, and stealthy fires).

Queen Nanny’s conflict training is unverified, yet her military instincts were unrivaled, which may explain the fascination with how she could accomplish so much in the face of such formidable opposition. The legends and religious lore about her magic and charms abound. In the end, by 1738, unable to shake or break the Maroon forces, the British sued for peace and signed a treaty with Jamaica to recognize the Maroons’ perpetual freedom. The Maroons were effectively accepted as a free state within the nation-state of Jamaica. Nanny Town, now known as Moore Town, Jamaica, is recognized by the government of Jamaica and the United Nations as an autonomous region self-governed by the Maroon people.  To both celebrate Jamaica’s triumph and commemorate her leadership, the Government of Jamaica declared Nanny a “National Hero,” one of only seven in history and the only identified as female. 

Starting in 1790, masterful generals like Toussaint L’Ouverture led Haiti's revolution. On the heels of the French Revolution, there were ideals espoused by radicals in Paris and documented in the “Declaration of the Rights of Man” as foundational principles of their new democracy. With a conspicuously aligned proclamation “Egalite for All,” Touissant and his homegrown and trained 3,000 man-army fought the French, British, and Spanish forces for 12 years. Haiti’s military delivered success, and they became the first independent black republic and Caribbean nation-state in the Western Hemisphere. They not only forced the French to exit Haiti but also weakened their imperial ambitions so dramatically that it drove them to pull out of the U.S. and North America, ultimately leading to France’s Louisiana sale in 1803. 

The U.S. Black Power Movement Inspired The Federal Free Breakfast Program

The Black Panther Party, a volunteer-based, civilian-led army initially organized to end police brutality in Oakland, later took on a greater charge to achieve self-reliance and reclaim self-determination in Black neighborhoods across the country. One of their most successful community programs, launched in 1969, is the Free Breakfast Program. They observed that many kids were going to school hungry (and thus unable to focus and learn). In response, the Black Panther Party launched the Breakfast Program. At its peak, it fed thousands of children daily across its 45 programs and expanded to provide medical and legal services. 

Though addressing the needs of underfed local kids was one objective, the Black Panther Party intentionally sought to build support and allies in the community for their Black Power agenda. Threatened by the organizing potential that this Breakfast Program unlocked, FBI Director Hoover wrote in an internal memo, “The [Program] represents the best and most influential activity going for the BPP and, as such, is potentially the greatest threat to efforts by authorities to neutralize the BPP and destroy what it stands for.” The Black Panther’s Breakfast Program eventually went viral and was studied by leaders across the globe, including the very institutions they were defending themselves against. After a limited set of small pilot experiments in the 1960s funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in 1975, six years after the launch of the Black Panther Party’s successful Breakfast Program, the federal government made a permanent commitment to serving free breakfast to school children of all races, ethnicities, and socio-economic backgrounds across the country. 

The National School Breakfast Program now feeds 11.8 million kids for free across 78,000 public schools. Most recently, political leaders like Former First Lady Michelle Obama continued this tradition with her “Let’s Move,” healthy food and nutrition initiative.

What’s New? We Keep Building the Future.

Sovereignty should truly be a verb. There is action within and without to be a self-determined individual, let alone a community. So what is sovereignty to you, and what does Black sovereignty mean? Should it be fractured, coalesced, or does that even matter? Here are a just a few provocations that you may not have heard about to the traditional nation-states that are still raging on: 

• The Koi San of South Africa

• Palenque de San Basilio, Colombia

• The Ngorongoro Maasai, Tanzania

• The Sahrawi People, Western Sahara

The topic of black sovereignty is as large and complex as those two encompassing words. And while we are built around the agency of self, here is an interesting bit of academia to archive what we know and where we could go. Check out Queer Freedom: Black Sovereignty by Dr. Ana-Maurine Lara.

🛠️ The Black To School Toolkit

Still curious? Dig deeper on your own, grow with your family, and learn how you can impact change in your own backyard:

• For You: This is how leaders committed to sovereignty roll.  Read these biographies on Hannibal, the African warrior, Queen Nanny of the Windward Maroons, and Toussaint L’Ouverture. Want more? Check out these maps of sovereign Africa before and after the post-European Enlightenment disruption.

• For Family: Read your kids (3rd to 6th Grade) a bedtime story about the Haitian Revolution and how it inspired change in both the Americas and Africa that will be a source of pride for them. Enjoy these games while learning about Queen Nanny, created by Black History Activity Books. Do you have preteens and teens with questions? Get them answered by having them watch this epic conversation (viewed by millions) between present-day kids and former members of the Black Panther Party.

• For Community: Learn from this online course and connect via a private Facebook group and Discord chat with others exploring questions about personal sovereignty. Traveling between countries in Africa? Legal boundaries are blurring and opening up on the continent. Find out here which countries issue visas upon arrival, e-visas, or don’t require a visa at all.

For anyone new to Black To School, we explore the history and contributions of Africans and the African diaspora to global society. Our goal is to learn from these stories, draw inspiration, and make a positive change in our own lives, homes, and communities. The “Why?” that powers our mission is simple. “Our ancestors invented the table that the world now sits at. It’s time to not just claim our seat, but to set the agenda.”

If you received a forwarded issue, you can subscribe to Black To School here. 

💡 Welcome to Issue #24!

One thing that’s an integral part of the Black experience is innovation. We’ve seen it time and time again throughout generations. We recognize needs, create solutions, and adapt. This month, we’ll take a trip through time and learn about the cognitive revolution, Black inventors, and the birthplace of sustainability!

Black Is Innovation: 

Innovation is more than a notion. Beyond the idea, it requires an ability to design, develop, and document. And that’s all before one ever gets anything manufactured, sold, and in the hands of the people who can use and benefit from it. Patent laws were created in the United States in 1790 to promote the spirit of innovation by incentivizing inventors. In short, patents, when granted, give inventors exclusivity to make money from their ideas for 14 to 20 years. 

There are high barriers to entry in the patent process. As of 2019, 58% of all patent applications were approved, which has been steady since inception. Despite initially being barred from participating, Black inventors have always been prolific in contributing to the innovations that built America and established its leadership position in the Industrial era. Between 1870 and 1940, with 50,000 total patents, Black inventors held the largest block of patent awards over all other immigrant groups in America, with just two exceptions.

What’s The Story? These Are The Facts.

The Cognitive Revolution Ignited in Africa.

In present-day South Africa, the first verifiable instance of man-made (or man-managed) fires was in the Wonderwerk cave approximately 1 million years ago. Due to the enclosed space and the type of tools found, experts believe it was a campfire started by our early human relatives, Homo erectus. Although Homo erectus were likely the first ancient humans to cook, they went extinct 200,000 years ago. Unlike Neanderthals, Homo sapiens are thought to have independently learned how to create and tame fire. There are several theories about what our early African ancestors used fire for, ranging from cooking meat and plants; protecting against predators, and making solid tools and weapons to warding off insects when sleeping; staying warm; clearing hard to pass areas of land; illuminating public spaces for social gatherings; and even sculpting pottery.

The most significant and enduring impact of controlling fire has been the evolution of the human mind in both size and function. Our brains grew as cooking reduced the energy required to chew and digest food, and our working memory and problem-solving skills improved thanks to a better quality of sleep (with predators now kept at bay by fire). The power to control fire contributed to the beginning of the cognitive revolution. It was an age when our African ancestors communicated and collaborated closely to explore, create, and survive. This period in human history ultimately placed Homo sapiens at the top of the food chain and enabled us to outcompete and survive all of our other human relatives.

Black Inventions Redefined The Experience Of Home.

Now, let’s move forward in time. In 1821, Thomas Jennings was the first Black person to receive a patent award (for his innovative dry cleaning process). He was certainly not the first Black inventor, but he was the first to have his invention formally recognized and protected under law. It’s important to note that early Black inventors came from all walks of life: enslaved and free, degreed and self-taught, those who drew from African traditions/customs, and those who responded to the demands of domestic service. Whether they were wealthy or had limited means, women or men, young or old, married or single/widowed, what united them was their spark of inspiration and their boundless talent. These early inventors saw a need, imagined a solution, and then brought ideas to life.

The innovations created by Black inventors have been all over the map. They range from railroad transportation improvements to life-saving medical equipment and procedures to more efficient agricultural management systems and transformation of all things related to the home. Black inventors have contributed so much to improving home life. Their residential innovations can be organized into five broad categories, including totally new or enhanced processes and designs: (1) Home Maintenance, (2) Home Furniture & Equipment, (3) Communication, Entertainment, & Art, (4) Food & Cooking, and (5) Personal Attire & Grooming.

Daily Life Runs on Black Computing Power…

Before IBM released the first personal computer in 1981, there had been a long, storied list of Black inventors who invested time, energy, and talent into advancing computer hardware, software, and networking. We want to showcase and celebrate them by reflecting on how their work now benefits us daily. Below is a series of ‘Sample To-Do List’ items. We demonstrate how the technology invented and enhanced by our community has become an integral part of modern life and work — it’s truly humbling and inspiring.

Sample To-Do List

Black Sustainability Was Right From The Start!

In 2019, humans used 160,000 terawatt-hours (TWh) of energy, equivalent to 1.6 quadrillion 100-Watt light bulbs that are simultaneously on. Although clean technology is not yet a primary source of power, it is scaling with more than $300 Billion in investments each year and 30,000+ granted patents. Since 2001, cleantech has been the fastest-growing patent category in the U.S. What’s exciting about this type of technology, in particular, is that it is firmly rooted in systems for harnessing and storing energy that was invented and applied by our early ancestors in Africa.

In many cases, the renewable technologies used in ancient Africa were not claimed as inventions until outsiders from Italy and Greece were exposed to them. These merchants, scholars, explorers, missionaries, and soldiers studied and copied indigenous African scientific methods and tools. Upon returning home, they (and the local ruling elite) positioned these practices and solutions as Greek and Roman discoveries without fully crediting the Black philosophers, scholars, scientists, architects, engineers, artisans, and technicians who were the sources of knowledge and inspiration. 

Ancient Egypt, particularly, and North Africa, as a region, are among the most studied and well-referenced sites. The earliest instances of clean technology, specifically renewable energy, are used and managed in society. Recognizing that many of these innovations also were in existence (and in some cases, originated in) other parts of Africa, below is a review (from surviving sources) of how, where, and when these sustainable solutions first made their appearance.

What’s New? We Keep Building the Future.

With the “Idea” and “Creator Economy” in full swing, the inventors and communities that inspire inventions are gaining more visibility (and a voice) as the enterprises, investors, and platforms that bring them to market give credit where it is due. And yet, the innovation ecosystem, itself, is ripe for reinvention, starting with relaxing the persistent, bright line that it promotes between shareholders and stakeholders. Now we see the world circling back to conversations about what ownership is - from music (sharing royalties earned by artists) to decentralized finance. At the center of this market transformation, we stand both the artisan-scientist making instruments and computers on and off the continent and citizen-philosopher, helping to shift the paradigm of our current “zero-sum” economic system.

🛠️ The Black To School Toolkit

Still curious? Dig deeper on your own, grow with your family, and learn how you can impact change in your own backyard:

• For You: Click here to watch this 13-minute overview video on how we tamed fire by PBS. Want more? Read the book Black Pioneers by Louis Haber and Black Inventors by Keith C. Holmes for great stories about how Black inventors changed our lives forever.

• For Family: Watch this video (all ages) about Black inventions and inventors that revolutionized our homes. Read this book with your kids (ages 5 to 12), Have You Thanked an Inventor Today? Are you all in? Learn about how your kids can get involved in Black Girls Code (ages 7 to 17) and Black Boys Code (ages 8 to 17).

• For Community: Attend AfroTech’s annual conference to network with Black techies from around the world who are looking to hire, collaborate with, and invest in the next generation. Are you game for an Eco-vacation? Enjoy one of these ten breathtaking sustainable safari options on the continent.

For anyone new to Black To School, we explore the history and contributions of Africans and the African diaspora to global society. Our goal is to learn from these stories, draw inspiration, and make a positive change in our own lives, homes, and communities. The “Why?” that powers our mission is simple. “Our ancestors invented the table that the world now sits at. It’s time to not just claim our seat, but to set the agenda.”

If you received a forwarded issue, you can subscribe to Black To School here. 

📜 Welcome to Issue #23!

Spring has arrived! Let’s welcome a new season of growth, renewal, and fresh perspectives. This time of year has always been inspiring to people, and this month, we’re diving into the topics of poetry, language, and human connection. 

Last month, we had the honor of being a featured newsletter on Substack! You can read our interview here. Thank you to all readers for your continued support!

Black Is Poetry: 

Our ability to share complex concepts and learn as a group is what distinguishes humans from other primates. This evolution of human expression is what ultimately gave rise to over 7,000 languages spoken around the world. In this issue, we’ll follow the trail from the earliest forms of writing to the origins of modern poetry and literature.

What’s The Story? These Are The Facts.

The First Writing Can Be Traced Back to Africa.

The first writing systems in the world were developed by Black Africans. Our ancestors (long before the rest of the world) used written language to communicate information about everything from community names, property ownership, warfare, and personal debt to family structure, love, and gender relations. The languages that are generally accepted as the oldest discernible writing systems in the world are Old Nubian (often referred to as Proto-Saharan) and Nsibidi. These languages originate from Black Africans, South of Ancient Egypt (now the Republic of South Sudan and the Republic of Sudan) and Southeastern Nigeria, respectively. There is no conclusive evidence that links early African writing systems to all of the world’s languages. And yet, (1) the timing of when other languages first appeared; (2) the trade-related interactions between these geographies; and (3) the lower levels of linguistic diversity in other parts of the world suggest a natural diffusion of language as populations migrated out of Africa. 

Black Poets Elevated the Influence of Literature in Society

The canon, considered the highest form of classic literature, is derived from the Greek word (kanôn). The most widely studied and celebrated collection of classics is called the Western canon, comprising a core of twenty-six 19th and 20th-century writers, protected by institutions ranging from the Pulitzer, Hugo, and Nobel Prizes for Literature to school curricula, public library collections, and publisher anthologies. In the United States, as the concentration of Black creative and intellectual talent came together in New York, with more than 300,000 African Americans moving north, a cultural phenomenon known as the Harlem Renaissance (aka the Jazz Age or the New Negro Renaissance) was born.

The African American poets that captivated the hearts and minds of Harlem and the world included Countee Cullen, Langston Hughes, Jean Toomer, Arna Bontemps, Sterling Brown, Claude McKay, and Alice Dunbar-Nelson, Angelina Weld Grimké, Georgia Douglas Johnson, and many more. Writers, backed by newfound support from patrons, prizes, and publishers, experimented with literary style and content. Poetry, novels, and drama became a canvas upon which to counter stereotypes and express racial pride. The generation of Black poets who followed, including Gwendolyn Brooks, Robert Hayden, and others, stood on the shoulders of these giants and took the practice of artistic activism to new heights. Over the last 85+ years, Harlem has remained on the cutting edge and at the epicenter of creative experimentation, cultural expression, and political activism. Its spirit lives on in subcultures everywhere and now in the virtual world. 

Hip Hop is the Most Popular Form of Poetry in the World

Whether we are talking about lines and verses, rhyme and meter, or cadence and rhythm, Africans, African Americans, and other African Diaspora poets have been using literary devices since ancient times. In August 1973, Hip Hop was born at a birthday party in the Bronx hosted by a native Jamaican, Clive Campbell (also known as DJ Kool Herc). Click here to listen to the 2-minute history of Hip Hop. Serendipity played a big role in Hip Hop’s beginnings, but it is not the full story. You can trace the roots of Hip Hop back to griots in Africa’s Mali kingdom. Griots were the keepers of their people’s traditions and history. The poetic devices that are part of Hip Hop songs and a signal of high art commonly include (rhythm) repetition and rhyming; (sound) alliteration and assonance; and (meaning) allusion, metaphor, and analogy. In some ways, Hip Hop is a type of lyric poetry. Hip Hop artists like Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Nas, Lupe Fiasco, Saul Williams, Jay-Z, Tupac Shakur, Missy Elliot, Grandmaster Flash, Wu-Tang Clan and so many more are considered modern-day poets (griots). 

With the exception of Shakespeare, they are more well known than most of the Western canon. And some credit Hip Hop culture for (re)popularizing and keeping the literary tradition of poetry alive. ​​Times are changing and Hip Hop has taken center stage. Harvard University, Stanford, Princeton, UCLA, and other top schools now have academic courses and research institutes focused on studying Hip Hop. There have been over 17,000 doctoral theses written on the subject of Hip Hop. In 2017, for the first time, Hip Hop surpassed Rock as America’s #1 streamed music category. In 2018, artist, Kendrick Lamar, broke the proverbial barrier by winning the Pulitzer Prize for Music. The glass door that separated Hip Hop and poetry has been forever shattered. It is now open to recognize other Hip Hop artists for their mastery and literary contributions. Black poetry takes many forms and defines mainstream culture.

Let’s All Go Black to the Future!

Writing and art that focuses on the future and alternate realities are typically characterized as science-fiction. There is evidence of Black science fiction writing in America as far back as the early 19th century. African science fiction also has a long, distinguished history. Afrofuturism exalts our ancestral roots, values, and traditions. Scholars have described it as a “way of looking at the future and alternate realities through a Black cultural lens.” What is so powerful about this genre is that it lives entirely outside of Western influence. Black people are the heroes and heroines in the future (or in alternate realities). Afrofuturism existed long before it had a name. The African American authors, artists, and musicians who gave birth to it often speak of being heavily influenced by African mystical traditions (jujuism), philosophy, cosmology, technology, art, architecture, beauty, and culture. 

Authors like W. E.B. Dubois, Pauline Hopkins, George Schuyler, and poet-musicians like Sun Ra were among the first Black artists on the scene to infuse science and technology into imaginary worlds in which Black heroes shaped the full narrative. Afrofuturism transitioned from niche to mainstream starting with the dawn of mythical vampiric realms in Blade. Then years later with the blockbuster release of Black Panther. Afrofuturism now has a MacArthur Genius award winner and a Basquiat that sold for $110 Million. There are more prolific writers like N.K. Jemison, Nnedi Okorafor (with her special brand of Africanfuturism), and Tomi Adeyemi have joined the field. Scholars such as Alondra Nelson, a Biden administration appointee, Grammy award winners Janelle Monae (The Memory Librarian, releasing April 19th, 2022) and Pharrell as well as numerous other filmmakers, activists, fashion designers, and architects are evolving the global canon. Our future is in great hands. The Black poets, writers, and artists that are shaping our narrative today are helping to tell the story of who we are, what cultural gifts we carry, and where we are going. They are unapologetically aspirational. They are celebrating anything and anyone that sees that Black creativity is key in the great race to save humanity. 

What’s New? We Keep Building the Future.

In the United States and other Western countries, questions around the economies of knowledge production in the arts rage on with the ethics of plagiarism and appropriation (the story of Oroma Elewa). Reflecting on the nature of patronage and the responsibility of those who use misinformed and misattributed work. We find our agency in knowing that black thought is inherently not subject to market forces, meaning there are important ways in which scholarship and literature can work outside of the influences of time and money. The Library of Africa and The African Diaspora (LOATD) explore such topics in their 2022 Symposium - a hybrid event. Long-standing institutions like Jazz Hole Lagos continue to be great places of immersion, study, and creativity, right along with online communities like the Church of Poetry, which holds a Twitter space twice a week with readings authored by African poets - past and present - from across the diaspora.

Black poetics are pushing the boundary of ecology and nature/eco-poetry. Recognizing and raising awareness about the interdependency of our planetary biome are also becoming a staple in knowledge production. These are some names to add to your reading list, in this genre, as well as celebrated artists like the youngest U.S. poet laureate, Amanda Gorman, Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Camille T. Dungy, and Frank X. Walker.

🛠️ The Black To School Toolkit

Still curious? Dig deeper on your own, grow with your family, and learn how you can impact change in your own backyard:

• For You: Here’s an amazing collection of audio, video, and narrative poems from the Harlem Renaissance period. And check out this chart that ranks rappers by the size of their vocabulary. Want more? Read this anthology, endorsed by Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates, which analyzes an anthology of 300 rap lyrics as poetry. 

• For Family: Read this children’s book to explore the poetic tradition of Hip Hop. Guess what Othello and Wu-Tang Clan have in common? Watch this TED Talk in which rapper-philosopher Akala draws shocking parallels between Hip Hop and Shakespeare. Then Chill Out! Enjoy listening to this cool montage of Hip Hop lyrics and beats from 1979 to 2017.

  For Community: First, get inspired by streaming the international Broadway sensation and Hip Hop musical, Hamilton. Now take a MasterClass with Grammy-winning producer, Timbaland, or multi-platinum, singer-songwriter, Alicia Keys. Want more? Engage in this Afrofuturism Reddit group or tune into this Afrofuturist podcast.

For anyone new to Black To School, we explore the history and contributions of Africans and the African diaspora to global society. Our goal is to learn from these stories, draw inspiration, and make a positive change in our own lives, homes, and communities. The “Why?” that powers our mission is simple. “Our ancestors invented the table that the world now sits at. It’s time to not just claim our seat, but to set the agenda.”

If you received a forwarded issue, you can subscribe to Black To School here. 

Welcome to Issue #22!

Happy Women’s History Month! Throughout time, women have always been agents of change and transformation. This month, we want to shine a light on ancient African mathematicians, enslaved geniuses, the pioneering Black women at NASA, and how HBCUs outperform their Ivy League counterparts in creating the next generation of Black doctors, scientists, and techies.

🧮 Black Is Analytics: 

The earliest examples of advanced math in the world are all from the African continent. Did you know that our ancestors applied complex calculations to everything from agriculture, art, architecture, astronomy, academics, to accounting? And those are just the ‘A’ words!

What’s The Story? These Are The Facts.

African Women Were the Earliest Mathematicians.

What fundamental discovery sent shockwaves through the math-loving world? The answer is the Lebombo bone, widely considered to be the oldest mathematical object. Found in the Lebombo Mountain range (between South Africa and Eswatini), scientists have determined it to be around 43,000 years old! Due to the 29 notches etched into the bone, there’s a widespread belief that early African women used it to track lunar phases and menstrual cycles. This would have required significant data gathering, computation, and awareness of celestial bodies. To put this discovery into perspective, African women who marked the Lebombo, and later Ishango, bones gave birth to the field of math thousands of years before more widely-celebrated Greek mathematicians.

Enslaved Geniuses Defying the Odds.

Starting from meager beginnings (and his grandmother's reading and writing lessons), Benjamin Banneker challenged stereotypes and developed into a multi-talented prodigy. With only a few years of formal schooling, he continued learning independently and excelled in the fields of math and science. By age 22, he designed and built a wood striking clock that kept perfect time, the first of its kind made in America. As an adult, he wrote six almanacs and accurately estimated the timing of eclipses, sunrises, and sunsets. Thomas Jefferson even appointed him as an official urban planner responsible for helping to lay out the United States capital! Banneker was a stand-out but not alone in his genius. In the 18th Century, there were many other examples of exceptional math minds like Thomas Fuller, Charles Reason, Kelly Miller, Muhammad ibn Muhammad, and Anto Amo (whose very existence challenged the false connection between race and intelligence).

Black Female Engineers Put The First Human On The Moon.

The mathematicians at NASA’s West campus in Virginia, formerly a slave plantation, were known as West Area Computers: Black women (with math and related technical degrees) hired to assist with data tracking, analysis, and experimentation. At its peak, the Langley campus employed as many as 50 Black computers, including Annie Easley, Christine Darden, Dorothy Vaughn, Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, and Miriam Mann. These women compiled and processed data recorded from tests, conducted hundreds of calculations, and created charts and graphs for reports. Some of the more complex problems they tackled required everything from analytical geometry to linear algebra to estimate satellite’s lift, position, and trajectory, and eventually, crewed spaceships. Their calculations not only helped us achieve success in the arms and space race, but they also laid the groundwork for renewable energy technology and much more!

HBCUs Graduate More Black PhDs than Ivy League Schools.

Originally established around the time of the Civil War, the first HBCUs focused on technical training in agricultural, mechanical, and industrial trades. Today, over 100 Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the US offer diverse areas of study, including degrees in STEM. In fact, Black HBCU STEM graduates account for 25% of all Black STEM graduates across the country, including 46% of all Black female STEM graduates and 30% of all STEM PhDs. 

Ten of the top eleven universities that produce Black PhDs are HBCUs. These African American institutions consistently best Harvard, Yale, and other more well-endowed universities in producing Black STEM graduates. HBCU math and science programs (like the award-winning models at Spelman, Xavier, and Howard) illustrate beyond a shadow of a doubt that representation matters in unlocking our analytical talents. In late 2020, the National Science Foundation commissioned a group of HBCUs to conduct the most comprehensive study ever on STEM student enrollment and retention. When concluded, their findings will be shared with all colleges and universities to improve STEM performance nationwide.  

What’s New? We Keep Building the Future.

Our great, great, great, great grandmothers x 10 to the 4th power laid the groundwork with mathematical instruments for tracking time using the phases of the moon. Their successors include scientists like Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, Moriba Jah, Wanjiku Chebet Kanjumba, Sidy Ndao, and tens of thousands of other STEM professionals around the world who are (re)engineering everything from life-saving vaccines and space exploration to the advancement of thermal computing technology.

🛠️ The Black To School Toolkit

Still curious? Dig deeper on your own, grow with your family, and learn how you can impact change in your own backyard:

• For You: Check out this University at Buffalo chart of African countries that used math and computation during ancient times. Then, watch this featurette of the Hidden Figures movie, and buy the book for the full story!

• For Family: Enjoy these 2 to 4-minute videos of math whiz-kids: Esther Okade, Caleb Anderson, Paula & Peter Imafidon, and Winnie Ngumi. For story time at home, get the book Hidden Figures for children. For high-schoolers, check out “Why Choose an HBCU?,” a 2-minute video on the magic of an HBCU education.

• For Community: Want to remove bias from your hiring process? Partner with the organization, Karat, to improve your interviews. Then, dive deep with Ron Eglash, ethno-mathematician and writer of African Fractals, as he describes how community planning & development served as the basis of computation and recursion, the same computer logic that runs Google, and informed binary machine logic.

About Black To School

Black To School is a collaborative volunteer effort focused on sharing Black history, collecting helpful resources, and creating a safe space for discussion. Learn more about us here, and feel free to join our Slack community to keep the conversation going. People of all backgrounds are welcome!

If you’re passionate about this type of work and want to help out, please let us know! The best way to get in touch is by emailing info@blcktoschool.com with “volunteer” as the subject, or by joining our Slack community and sharing that you’d like to be involved.

Brought to you in collaboration with the Black To School Collective, Hidden Pages, ATCP.co, and Robin Walker.

For anyone who is new to Black To School, we explore the history and contributions of Africans and the African diaspora to global society. Our goal is to learn from these stories, draw inspiration, and make a positive change in our own lives, homes, and communities. If you received a forwarded issue, you can subscribe to Black To School here. 

Happy New Year, We’re Back!

Ok, we’re a little late, and it’s not January, but we’re still kicking off the year with that same energy.

It’s February, a month designated to highlighting Black history, but we as a collective believe that Black History is always relevant —365 days a year. Black To School celebrates Black people and Black contributions around the world. The “Why?” that powers our mission is simple. “Our ancestors invented the table that the world now sits at. It’s time to not just claim our seat, but to set the agenda.”

For long-time subscribers, things may look a little different around here, and that’s because of your feedback! We’re on this journey together, and we get it. The days are long, the pressure is high, the fatigue is real, and our previous issues? They were dense — see for yourself. We’re passionate and proud of that work, but understand the time commitment could be a bit much, so we’re excited to announce Black to School 2.0! 

In our new revised newsletters, we’re prioritizing one key fact at a time. Writing will be concise and easy to quickly digest, and we’ll be sharing three big links: one for yourself, one to share with family (and younger children), and a resource for how you can get involved in making the world a more equitable place. 

So, welcome to Black to School. We’re glad you’re here. Let’s get started.

Black Is Wealth: 

Black people have been wealthy throughout history and continue to be today, and there are no limits to what we can achieve. We’re exploring our legacy of wealth and wealth-building. Who were the richest black people in history & in the present day? What great habits did they have that continue to be relevant and effective?

What’s The Story? These Are The Facts.

The Richest Man Was Black!?

One of the greatest examples of Black wealth comes from the King of Mali, Mansa Musa. During the Middle Ages, he expanded his empire and became one of the wealthiest people to ever live (watch this short TED-Ed video on Mansa Musa to get a quick overview)! He’s still considered one of (if not) the wealthiest people ever, with an estimated net worth of over $400 Billion! To put that into perspective, Mansa Musa was more than 2 times wealthier than the richest men alive today, Tesla CEO, Elon Musk, and Amazon CEO, Jeff Bezos.

Thriving Black Communities Are Not New.

The wealthiest self-made black community in the United States was called Black Wall Street. It was a thriving community located in the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Black Wall Street encompassed 35 city blocks and was home to approximately 10,000 Black residents. This included two millionaires (in today’s dollars), 1,200 homes, over 600 Black businesses, 23 grocery stores, 20 restaurants, 4 hotels, a theater, a hospital, a school system, and churches. Some members of the community even owned private planes! 

There Is A Proven Playbook For Black Generational Wealth. 

The largest minority-owned wealth management firm, Ariel Investments, was created by John Rogers, the grandson of J.B. Stradford who was one of the founders of Black Wall Street (listen to him talk about his grandfather). As a prominent firm with over $15 Billion in assets under management, Ariel Investments has not only consistently delivered superior returns for clients, but also modeled a Black wealth-building playbook for the corporate community. Ariel’s practice is simple and non-negotiable: diversify people, purchasing, and philanthropy (3Ps). They persuaded 45 portfolio companies “to have their Jackie Robinson moment.”

Black People Will Always Be In The Money Mix.

Operating within this $13.8 billion influencer market is an emerging niche of Black personal finance gurus who are using their skills to encourage long-term wealth-building over excessive spending. There are currently nearly 1,500 Black Certified Financial Planners in the U.S. alone.

What’s New? We Keep Pushing the Envelope.

As important as individual net worth is, the names Musa, Musk, Bezos, Dangote, Sawiris, Oppenheimer, and Rupert would mean nothing without the spending power of their larger communities. From the Mali Empire and the Americas to Europe, Asia, and modern-day Sub-Saharan Africa, the wealth, power, and influence of the Black diaspora is a focus for many as our money crisscrosses the globe. Collectives like African Diaspora Network are reimagining what wealth means for society at large and directing investments to sustain our great financial legacy.  

🛠️ The Black To School Toolkit

Still curious? Dig deeper on your own, grow with your family, and learn how you can impact change in your own backyard:

• For You: Curious about where rich Africans and African Americans live? These are the communities with the most wealthy people in Africa and the most income in America.

• For Family: Teach your kids about the wealthiest man who ever lived, Mansa Musa, and thriving Black communities like Black Wall Street. Or binge-watch this new Netflix series about the first Black Female millionaire, Madame CJ Walker. 

• For Community: Are you interested in building wealth? Join this free 22-day #LiveRicherChallenge created by Black personal finance guru, Tiffany Aliche. Or find a certified Black Financial Advisor.

About Black To School

Black To School is a collaborative volunteer effort focused on sharing Black history, collecting helpful resources, and creating a safe space for discussion. Learn more about us here and feel free to join our Slack community to keep the conversation going. People of all backgrounds are welcome!

If you’re passionate about this type of work and want to help out, please let us know! The best way to get in touch is by emailing info@blcktoschool.com with “volunteer” as the subject, or by joining our Slack community and sharing that you’d like to be involved.

Brought to you in collaboration with the Black To School Collective, Hidden Pages, ATCP.co, and Robin Walker.

We’re still here! The last time you heard from us we took you “Behind the Scenes”. Then we enjoyed a much needed break to make some progress on our personal histories. Now, we’re in hot pursuit of a relentless new series: Black is Diplomacy. Coming soon.

Remember: Our ancestors invented the table that the world now sits at. It’s time to not just claim our seat, but to set the agenda. 

Interested in getting involved?

This is a collaborative project, and we’re always looking for contributors! If you have a passion for research, writing, editing, or illustrating, please reach out to us at info@blcktoschool.com.

- Ama, Chinwe, Kristen, Taylor, and the Black To School Community

Black is Agency: 

Welcome to issue #20! 🏳️‍🌈

I was recently reflecting on the links between the Black diaspora and our African ancestors. Despite the long and storied journey, foundational elements of our history, language and traditions remain intact. Ubuntu, which we are exploring today, is one of those cultural building blocks. As you'll see, it plays a role in every aspect of our society. It is also embedded in the DNA of our Black to School Collective. 

Black To School celebrates Black people and Black contributions around the world. The “Why?” that powers our mission is simple. “Our ancestors invented the table that the world now sits at. It’s time to not just claim our seat, but to set the agenda.” 

This month we've been going behind the scenes at Black to School to show how the concept of agency informs everything we do. Last week, we reflected on brand associations of Black people and how they influence our perceptions and behaviors.  

A special thanks 🙏🏾 to the readers below who were our “Golden Griots'' (or top sharers) last week. Please keep sharing stories of #blackcontributions and our collective history within your networks! 

• Sharon B.

• Nik R.

• Dawn M.

• Emma G.P.

• Saamra M.G.

In this issue, we’ll:

• Discover the role of ubuntu in shaping Black to School as a modern griot.

• Learn how the ubuntu mindset helps us thrive, individually and as a society.

Collective Consciousness

Contributor: Sharon Hurley Hall

Community is a concept that we often take for granted. We are both born into (and intentionally or unintentionally opt-into) communities whether they are our families, neighborhoods, social networks, professional affiliations, identity groups, tribes, nation-states, and more. 

The underlying glue that holds any community together is our individual desire to share the experience of living with one another. In pursuit of that universal desire, we are willing (and actively do) sacrifice time, energy, resources, and our ego. It's what drives people with seemingly different interests, backgrounds and environments to cooperate and collaborate. That collective responsibility is at the heart of the concept of ubuntu. 

Shared Humanity

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, a well-known proponent of ubuntu says: “My humanity is caught up, bound up, inextricably, with yours. When I dehumanize you, I inexorably dehumanize myself."

This recognition of shared humanity underpins ubuntu wherever it shows up. And it shows up in multiple African cultures and languages. In Nguni Bantu, it means “humanity”. In Zulu, it has the sense of “humanity towards others.” In Xhosa, it’s about recognizing the universal bond that connects all of humanity. And sometimes, it’s translated “I am because we are.”

Ubuntu asserts that society and community are essential to our humanity, and that we are all part of a larger world, whether you’re talking about your community, society, or the spiritual realm. With ubuntu, we recognize and appreciate differences, while acknowledging that we are part of a community. Sharing, caring, trust, and unselfishness are primary.

When we have ubuntu, we know our place in the world and how our actions affect others, and act accordingly to benefit the community as a whole. As historian, Michael Onyebuchi Eze says, “Humanity is a quality we owe to each other.”

Ubuntu and Reconciliation

That recognition has guided some of the most important political processes of modern times. Ubuntu was first recorded in South African writings in the 1900s, and the writings of Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela brought the term to a wider audience outside of Africa. 

In post-apartheid South Africa, ubuntu guided the actions of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which focused on forgiveness and reconciliation rather than vengeance while still requiring accountability. The same principle underpinned the gacaca courts after the genocide in Rwanda. 

According to Conflict Policy Researcher, Tim Murithi, key aspects of an ubuntu guided reconciliation process are:

• Public participation

• Supporting both victims and perpetrators

• Acknowledging remorse and offering forgiveness

• Reminders of our shared humanity

• Empathy, sharing and cooperation

While some have criticized ubuntu as a woolly philosophy, many more agree that it has worked well in these processes, and also see it as a way to foster ethical leadership in African countries (and why not in the world?)

Financing the Collective

But ubuntu also has practical applications in our daily lives. When I was growing up, I remember my mother taking part in a susu or meeting-turn, an informal savings system where everyone contributed a set amount of money monthly, and one person took the lump sum. It was a way for people to save without going through the banks, and was built on a foundation of trust in the other members of the group.

Similarly, community savings circles (or, as they are also known, rotating savings and credit associations - ROSCAs) exist in multiple African countries. There are widely shared stories about using the same system in ancient times, but this practice is also very much of the modern era. Jeffery Ashe calls it "financial inclusion without financial institutions". It's become part of the financing landscape in many countries, with as many as 30% of people using them to improve their lives. So peer-to-peer lending isn't a new concept; it comes from African societies living ubuntu.

Ubuntu has also gone digital with collaborative efforts by 31 African countries to have decentralized African currency based on blockchain as well as huge strides in growing peer-to-peer bitcoin trading volumes. 

Tech That

Ubuntu was also the inspiration behind Linux's Ubuntu OS. Invented by South African entrepreneur, Mark Shuttleworth, it is the world's most popular free operating system. On the back of this, Linux reinvented itself on the principle of community and a social and economic mission to provide free software to everyone and to reduce the cost of services. Linux has attracted some of the greatest minds in the world as users, and powers ALL of the world's top supercomputers.

Ubuntu at Black to School

The mission of Black To School is to make global Black contributions -past and present - common knowledge. As it stands, what is required to get this information to the masses is too big an undertaking for just those professional historians who dedicate their lives to the research, education, and dissemination of this knowledge. 

At Black To School, our approach is to simultaneously engage each member of our global community within their interest areas to broaden the knowledge base and diversify the channels within which this information is shared. Within the context of Black To School, ubuntu is the distribution and communication philosophy that enables us to shift mindset and behaviors about what it means to be Black. 

We draw from a community of Black experts across disciplines from medicine, healthcare, finance, journalism, real estate, government, and science to the arts, linguistics, energy, education, fashion, food, hospitality and more. Each has tremendous domain expertise and by virtue of their contributions to Black To School play an important role as griot, educating themselves and others about the contributions of Africans and the Diaspora in their industry and beyond.

If you are interested in becoming a Black To School Contributor, please contact us at info@blcktoschool.com for more details.

A Griot's Eye View

From community groups to fostering ethical leadership, this totally African cultural tradition of ubuntu has spread around the globe and has the potential to continue to transform our world. Ubuntu United Nations is leading the charge by inspiring a new generation of global leaders to reflect on and act in honor of our shared story. Black community is a celebration of our collective humanity.

🛠️ The Black To School Toolkit

Now What? Dig Deeper with Friends, Family, and Others.

• Do you want to take a deeper dive on ubuntu? Check out this TED Talk and read this insightful blog roundup.

• Ready to introduce the concept of ubuntu to your kids? This book is great for kids age 12 and under.

• Want to know how young professionals are engaging? Join emerging leaders (ages 18 to 35) from 193 countries in modeling ubuntu on a global level. 

• Curious to learn from two guys who embody it? Be forever changed by reading The Book of Joy by the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

• Interested in the history and future of open-source? Learn more about the most significant open source software and fast growing open-source startups. 

• Let’s join the ubuntu revolution! Try the Ubuntu Love Challenge or support the Mind & Life Digital Dialogue.

⌛ The Black To School Timeline

Black Community Is A Celebration of Our Collective Humanity 

• First, we shared an overview of our Editorial Process. The Point of View: Reframing the Conversation, understanding and curating our story is one of the most powerful ways that we exercise our agency.

• Next, we revealed our Research Methods. The Practice: Showcasing the Evidence, finding and vetting the data and sources is all about going deep and identifying patterns with trusted sources.

• Then, we showcase our Design Philosophy. The Brand: Style Guide, there is intention and Black creative talent embedded in every aspect of our appearance and experience.

• Finally, we reflect on our Collective Model. The Community: The Contributors, the ubuntu principle is at the heart of our distribution strategy and the network of domain experts who work with us to tell our full story to the world.

About This Week’s Contributor

Sharon Hurley Hall

Sharon Hurley Hall (she/her) is an anti-racism activist, writer and educator. She is committed to doing her part to eliminate racism one article at a time, and is the creator and publisher of an anti-racism newsletter. She is the Team Lead for Diversity, Equity and Belonging at Omnis Education.

Sharon is the author of Exploring Shadeism, an analysis of the colorism phenomenon in Barbados and the wider Caribbean. She is also the co-host of The Introvert Sisters podcast, and is a professional B2B writer and blogger.

Sharon practices the principle of ubuntu by fostering community through her newsletter, which includes the amplification of other Black writers and anti-racism perspectives in its mission. 

Sharon holds MA degrees in Media and Cultural Studies, and in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. She helped develop and teach the MA Journalism programme at Coventry University in the UK. As an educator at heart, Sharon loves the Black to School mission of telling our stories our way, drawing on collective wisdom to expand collective knowledge. 

Black Is Agency

Welcome to issue #19! 🏳️‍🌈

A design colleague of mine living in London was really excited to share the results of his Ancestry.com DNA test this week. With parents who are Scottish and Irish, I was surprised when he wrote in our team's Slack channel, “Just found out that I’m 11% Nigerian!” Then he posted a map of the world with accent colors on the few countries to which his DNA can be traced. 

Turns out he’s 19% African with genetic ties to Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and also Mali. It was both a fun revelation and a great affirmation of what we’ve been sharing in Black To School. Each one of us has roots in and has benefited from the contributions of Africans. And we’re all members, some more recently realized than others, of the African Diaspora.

Black To School celebrates Black people and Black contributions around the world. The “Why?” that powers our mission is simple. “Our ancestors invented the table that the world now sits at. It’s time to not just claim our seat, but to set the agenda.” 

A special thanks 🙏🏾 to the “Golden Griots'' (or top sharers) below for spreading the word about last week’s article. Please keep sharing stories of #blackcontributions and our collective history within your networks! 

• Janet D.

• Errol S.

• Fayeon F.

• Pamela W.

• Saamra G

• Jen C.

In this issue, we’ll: 

• Understand how we rebrand and reshape perceptions about Africans and the African Diaspora.

• Get what we need to see beyond stereotypes and access the full story of us.

Pattern Recognition

Collective Member: Kristen Williams

Just by saying the simple words “Black father”, “Black woman”, “Black girl” without knowing anything else, for most of us, there are immediate assumptions, associations and even emotional reactions. As people, we infuse meaning in the color black based on upbringing, education, media, and societal influence.

The human mind takes lots of “mental shortcuts” to process the overwhelming amount of information that we interact with every day. In fact, one of the abilities that gave homo sapiens, our early ancestors, an evolutionary advantage over other hominids is the ability to recognize and differentiate a wide variety of complex and symbolic patterns. 

Whether we were in search of prey or in flight from predators, for over 200,000 years we have been hard-wired to use seemingly related data to make snap judgements. Grouping and responding to people based on appearance, ethnicity, and culture is another example of this natural reaction. 

Although categorizing people is something that the brain just does, making “positive and negative” associations and “superior and inferior” value judgements based on racial differences is a practice that is entirely socially engineered. Race classifications are a societal construct, designed to serve and protect the economic and cultural interests of those who created them. 

Heuristics and historical context help explain the one dimensional, flawed brand narrative of Black people. These misperceptions don’t accurately reflect the nature, talents, interests, accomplishments, and potential of Africans and the African Diaspora. The danger of stereotypical thinking is that it is an “overreaction to information that generates or confirms a stereotype, and [an] under reaction to information that contradicts it.”  

Very few people would argue with the notion that no two people are exactly the same. And yet, out of sheer pragmatism, we often have to group and relate to people as if they were. The question is how much of any person’s real identity, including personality, presenting behavior and background can we afford to ignore in favor of our own assumptions and perceived similarities that we see or feel. 

What transformative experiences and knowledge will we continue to miss out on if we don’t take the time to really understand one another by challenging our own biases? 

Black by design.

We have been intentional at Black To School about developing a brand that uses thematic content and imagery to positively influence attitudes and actions towards Black people. What we perceive about each other, when thoughtfully curated, ultimately becomes our reality of one another. 

There are five components to the Black To School brand aesthetic: (1) Design Framework, (2) Logo Mark, (3) Issue Art, (4) Typography, and (5) “Black Is...” Theming. The following is some background and context on the role that each plays in shaping how our story is told.

1. Design Framework - The night sky inspired our design framework. The contributions of Africans and the African Diaspora are like the stars in the universe. The stars are innumerable. You can see more and more stars as your observation lens improves. 

   The naked eye can only see about 9,096 stars across the sky in an evening. While with binoculars, telescopes or other astronomical instruments that can magnify and measure sound, heat or light our field of view expands. In the end, we will never be able to directly see all of the stars in the universe. However, we know that there are billions of trillions of luminous balls of light that brighten our world. 

   In much the same way, if you limit your field of inquiry to what most of us are taught in school regarding Black culture and contributions, you will miss a lot. You will learn very little about the African origins of the human race, the first mathematical instruments, the first spoken and written languages, the women who sent the first humans to the moon, the institutions that are graduating the most Black doctors and scientists, the origins of sustainable technology and much more. 

   However, with the Black To School perspective, you will get a more well-rounded story of human progress and potential from ancient times to present day.  We organize information, much like constellations, by identifying and connecting contributions that show a specific pattern of success and impact. For example, for the subject of wealth, we connected the wealthiest human to have ever lived to the concentration of wealth built by Black entrepreneurs on Black Wall Street to the board directors and corporate executives building wealth in corporate America to, finally, the wealth that Black personal financial advisors now help everyday people build. For the subject of language, we linked ancient language to modern poetry and the most popular music genre of hip hop to the sci-fi phenom that is Afro-futurism.  

   We have created four luminous narratives around wealth, analytics, poetry and innovation that showcase particular constellations of Black excellence. Rest assured, four is just the beginning, as we continue to develop this mental map of Africans and the African Diaspora, we will add more examples to each constellation that further informs where we have been, where we are today, and where we are going in the future.

2. Logo Mark - The Black To School logo was designed with two things in mind: (1) Make the contributions of Black people everywhere our central focus. The bold, capitalized “B” in the center of a black circle is the symbol of our story, which sits at the center of the world (and human existence). (2) Take the data and facts surrounding Africans and the African Diaspora in the past and present and use it to tell a compelling, educational story. The book-shaped, capitalized “B” along with the bookmark icon represent the acquisition and sharing of knowledge. 

3. Issue Art - We incorporate art in three ways in each issue. In all cases, we believe these images reinforce the key messages in the article and appeal to those who need a visual (even more than quantitative data) to believe and process the story being told. (i) We include art in the header of each issue which is intended to provide a visual teaser of the topic. (ii) We include a primary image in the body of the issue to share a real world example of the people/places/practices/products that we showcase in the piece. (iii) We include an abstract work of art from an emerging artist to celebrate the creative minds who have wrestled with the specific brand of excellence that connects all of the issues within a given theme as we have done with the themes of wealth, analytics, language, innovation and agency. This abstract art is intended to break up the issue narrative by both delighting and challenging you.

4. Typography - The type font that we use on Black To School was invented by the African American typographer Joshua Darden. Darden is a typographer/iconographer, designer, lecturer and entrepreneur. He is the Founder & Designer Emeritus of the Darden Studio, which markets and sells the typefaces of independent typographers/iconographers to some of the most well-known brands in the world. 

   Of course, Joshua is not alone. As with everything that we do at Black To School, we are committed to sharing with you the critical mass of Black talent that operates in every area of society. Here is a list of 32 Black Type Designers who have worked and earned money from designing their own typefaces.

5. “Black Is...” Theming - We have referenced the use of themes as part of our “night sky” and “constellation” Design Framework. This answers the question of how we develop our monthly theming. Next, we’ll focus on the “What?” and “Why?” behind our theming approach. 

   The What? A Black To School theme is typically a significant field of knowledge, practice or industry. We have covered themes ranging from wealth and innovation to language, analytics, and agency. The theme is broad enough to group many different, yet related examples of African and African Diaspora achievement. For example, we did this with our explorations in the theme of innovation. We shared information about the first human-controlled fires, the Black inventors who reinvented the home, the African American & African pioneers in personal computing, as well as the earliest forms of sustainable technology in the world. With each theme, we develop a series of issues that tell the story of how Black people have and continue to contribute to human progress in that area. 

   The Why? At Black To School, we understand that we are what we perceive. And our perceptions may be shaped by the narratives we consume. If the dominant narrative regarding Black people is focused on slavery, colonization, civil rights, social justice and racial healing, then that may color our perception of Africans and the African Diaspora.

   We know that there is so much more to the story of Black people and culture in human history. The “Black is…wealth, innovation, analytics, language, agency…” theming helps to make new brand associations that represent a much more full and representative picture of our contributions and role - then and now.

Brand Promise

Depending on who you ask, there are an infinite number of ways in which we prefer to be addressed. More important than the labels and classifiers is what meaning we give them and how much we let them dictate our beliefs about and experience of each other. Ultimately, Black To School will measure our success by how effective we are at socializing a wide variety of positive associations with the brand (backed by data and compelling storytelling) that shape the default perceptions of Africans and the African Diaspora. Black is a brand that is large and varied; we contain multitudes.

🛠️ The Black To School Toolkit

Now What? Dig Deeper with Friends, Family, and Others.

• Want to learn more about social categorization? Click here to learn about why we classify and stereotype people, which influences how we treat each other and perceive ourselves. Got Video? Watch this TED talk by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie about the danger of a “single story”. 

• Ready to share the full picture with your kids? Check out this fun, self-study platform that provides interactive lessons on Black Love, Black Glory, Black Excellence, Black Genius and more for toddlers, pre-teens, teens, and up.

• Let’s rethink our word choices! Here are a few words that we use everyday that reinforce status quo narratives about the colors “black” and “white”. 

• Interested in how we are all biased and can change? Hear directly from Jennifer Eberhardt, a social scientist, researcher, author and mom, on this topic. Want More? Buy her groundbreaking, best-selling book Biased.

⌛ The Black To School Timeline

Black Is A Brand That Is Large And Varied; We Contain Multitudes.

• First, we shared an overview of our Editorial Process The Point of View: Reframing the Conversation, understanding and curating our story is one of the most powerful ways that we exercise our agency.

• Next, we revealed our Research Methods. The Practice: Showcasing the Evidence, finding and vetting the data and sources is all about going deep and identifying patterns with trusted sources.

• This week, we showcase our Design Philosophy. The Brand: Style Guide, there is intention and Black creative talent embedded in every aspect of our appearance and experience.  

• Next week, we reflect on our Collective Model. The Community: The Contributors, the ubuntu principle is at the heart of our distribution strategy and the network of domain experts who work with us each month to tell our full story to the world.

About This Week’s Contributor

Kristen Williams

Hello! I’m Kristen Williams. I am a Product Designer with a passion for using design to improve lives by providing support for personal agency and democratizing access to information. I joined the Black To School Collective with the hope of spreading uplifting and empowering messages, regarding what it means to be Black. 

Black Is Agency

Welcome to issue #18! 🏳️‍🌈

Last weekend, I was reflecting with my older and much wiser brother, Ike, about an awakening that is happening across the globe. People are more curious than ever (and seeking out answers) about how we got here and what role we can play in the evolution of society. We’re proud to count Black To School as part of this conscious movement. 

Black To School celebrates Black people and Black contributions around the world. The “Why?” that powers our mission is simple. “Our ancestors invented the table that the world now sits at. It’s time to not just claim our seat, but to set the agenda.” 

A special thanks 🙏🏾 to the “Golden Griots'' (or top sharers) below for spreading the word about last week’s article. Please keep sharing stories of #blackcontributions and our collective history within your networks! 

• Brandon J.

• Janet D.

• Cristin G-M.

• Ike O.

In this issue, we’ll: 

• Explore how we find and validate the data behind our stories.

• Become a wizard by taking your Black history knowledge and research skills to the next level.

Truth Rank

Collective Member: Chinwe Onyeagoro

The study of history is the review and interpretation of primary and secondary research for a specific time period. The art and science of (re)search was forever changed by Google’s search technology in 1998. Now, 94% of teachers say that their students rely on Google to conduct research, which is 3x to 5x greater than those who use books, a librarian, or an academic database. 

Before Google, to research and support a hypothesis on any topic, it used to be that you would (a) visit your local library and flip through cards organized using the Dewey decimal system to find referenceable books and journals; (b) scan endless rows of bookshelves; and (c) review old newspapers and magazines using microfiche readers. 

At that time, there was not a default hierarchy of sources. Each research query whether focused on “The wealthiest human” or “The invention of written language” opened up the possibility of discovering a new set of primary data or interpreting existing information in a new way. There was no absolute arbiter of fact versus opinion. No single yardstick with which to measure truth. We relied heavily on our own sense of reason and logic to process information and draw conclusions. 

There are now 1.2 trillion searches a year on Google, which represents 92% of worldwide search engine market share. There is no research endeavor that doesn’t include online search. Google’s search results take into consideration a site’s PageRank and reference to target “keywords”. The PageRank algorithm is designed to sum external reference links as votes. Assuming relevance, the higher your PageRank score the more likely your sources, evidence, data, and version of reality ranks in search results. 

Google has become the final word on what sources and information are to be trusted. It has taken what was a subjective, distributed method within which we each had agency in determining what matters and replaced it with a centralized, privatized, secret scoring system in which Google alone decides which perspectives, narratives, communities, and institutions get visibility. It is powerful to have a system that enables us to filter through and systematically categorize the lion’s share of recorded, human knowledge. 

However, this single “gatekeeper” model is prone to confirmation bias, which often leads to a de facto form of censorship. This dynamic can be clearly seen when conducting online searches on any topic related to civilization, innovation, advancement, success, and excellence. There is a conspicuous absence of any reference to Africa and the African Diaspora’s role and contributions in top results.

People generally tend to seek out information that confirms their view of the world and Google’s algorithm amplifies this behavior. When exploring any topic related to human progress whether it be on ancient communication systems, governance models, and philosophy or business, trade, and innovation, sites that focus on the role of Greek and Western civilization tend to rank highest in search results.

These sites align with status quo beliefs by reinforcing existing notions about the superior role of Europeans in society. Thus, they get more reference links from important news media, government, and educational sites, have a higher PageRank, and as a result get access to a broader audience. 

And those sources that accurately credit Egypt, Ethiopia, South Africa, and other Black communities for contributions throughout human existence are typically buried far beyond page one in Google search results, which generally have less than 2.5% the visibility. Together, online search as the default research method and the circular referential nature of search results suppress lesser known, non-Eurocentric narratives. 

What you’re left with in this recursive search world is a society in which those limited few who already understand the full scope of Black history, know exactly where to look in the historical record for evidence to support the broader narrative about our impact on humanity. And as Anurag Acharya, the inventor of Google Scholar put it, those without the knowledge are “great minds [that] are deprived of inspiration, and the wonderful works that don’t have the impact they would have because of their limited distribution.”

To ensure that the evidence of our shared story doesn’t become a permanent casualty in the race for rankings, it’s critical that we find ways to intentionally aggregate, differentiate, and showcase credible sources and data about Africa and the African Diaspora much like Google has done for other important areas of research and knowledge, including scholarly literature, news, trends, books, patents, language, arts and culture, and more.

A method to our research.

Our focus at Black To School is about telling the story of human progress and the central role that Africa and the African Diaspora play in it. Our starting position is that the evidence of our contributions is everywhere across time and place. Our research represents vetted primary and secondary data in support of this truth. 

Below is an explanation of what we research; where we find source material; how we assess credibility; and when we share this data in each newsletter:

What do we research?

Once we choose a theme for the newsletter like analytics, written language, or innovation and align on the story angle, we segment our target research into six objectives: (1) Establish a Baseline, (2) Introduce the Hook, (3) Define the Scope, (4) Share the Traction, (5) Quantify and Qualify the Impact, and (6) Promote Engagement. 

See below a description of the key questions for each research objective:

1. Establish a Baseline - How is this industry/field defined? What’s the standard of success? Who are the trusted authorities?

2. Introduce the Hook - Has anything significantly changed? What are the recent trends? Are there debates or unfinished conversations related to the role of Africa and the African Diaspora?  

3. Define the Scope - How big is the current opportunity? What’s the potential reach and upside?

4.  Share the Traction - What are the past and present examples of Black excellence and contributions in this area? Where can we show critical mass?  What is the golden thread that runs through each of these stories? 

5. Quantify and Qualify the Impact - How have these contributions advanced the field and influenced other generations and geographies? With this knowledge, what does the future hold?

6. PromoteEngagement - To better understand the role Africa and the African Diaspora play, where might we benefit from a deeper study of the field/industry? What are fun facts and ways to interact with this information for kids and adults? Where and with whom can we pursue our personal and/or professional interests in this area? 

Where do we find source material?

Once we have identified the specific research questions for the newsletter issue, we go hunting for answers and supporting data by reviewing “go to” trusted sources and identifying new references.     

Our “go to” experts have either (a) demonstrated market share or mind share in the industry/field, (b) have done extensive research and analysis on topics related to Africa and the African Diaspora, or (c) both. 

Depending on the topic, our group (a) sources vary significantly. Experts in a particular industry/field typically include: 

• Online Research Databases (JSTOR, CORE, ERIC, NCBI, Taylor & Francis Online, SpringerLink, Internet Archive, Google Scholar) 

• Cultural and Educational Institutions (Library of Congress, Oxford Centre for Global History, The Met, SmithSonian magazine, Other University Research Archives, Local Public Library Digital Archives) 

• National or Multilateral Government Agencies (United Nations, World Bank, U.S. Energy Information Administration, US Patent Office) 

• Research Institutions, Policy Organizations, and Think Tanks (Brookings Institution, Pew Research Center, Urban Institute, NewAmerica, Our World in Data, USA Facts)

• Independent Experts (Historians, Academics, Activists, Authors) 

• Private, For-Profit Companies (Statista, Nielsen, McKinsey & Company, Amazon) 

• Media Publications (BBC, CNN, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Time, NPR, The Guardian, The Atlantic, Forbes, Fortune, PBS, Local News Media, Industry News Magazines)

• Independent Websites (Wikipedia, History.com, TED, TheConversation, Public History Weekly, KhanAcademy, Industry Associations, and Other Sites Run by Seasoned Journalists/Academics/Researchers) 

For group (b), the references remain relatively constant. They have a strong track record of primary and secondary research on Black stories across a broad range of topics. They include organizations like The Africa Report, UNESCO Digital Library, BlackPast, Quartz Africa, African Journals Online, National Archives (Black History), Independent Voices, University African & African American Studies Departments/Centers, Library Research Archives/Databases of African & African American Studies, History Makers, HomeTeam History, Black Excellence & Abundance, NewAfrica, Black Enterprise.

How do we assess credibility?

Our process for vetting the research is simple. We ensure that we are drawing our research from authoritative sources to begin with (see example list above). We check the data whether it be archaeological artifacts, primary source accounts, or secondary research findings with multiple trusted sources. We also seek to understand the different ways in which the information has been interpreted and where there is broad consensus on conclusions. 

The strength or weakness of any one source material will not make or break our overall argument. It is the concentration and logical connections between a variety of facts and figures that truly tells the story.  If there is significant debate among experts as to what the data actually is and what it represents, we typically do not use it as evidence. If there is uncertainty about the when, the where, or the who that doesn’t undermine the underlying point that is being made, we share and qualify the information to make clear where there are still open questions. 

As an example, in our issue about the first calculator, we shared information about the Lebombo bone which is broadly accepted to be invented by Africans and was the first manmade mathematical tool. However, we also noted that there is open debate as to exactly who used it and how it was used. Our issue on the first controlled chemical reaction is another clear example of the African Diaspora’s contribution even though the exact time period when humans ignited the first fire is still in question. 

When do we share this data?

Our goal with Black To School is to tell a data driven story of the contributions of Africa and the African Diaspora. In order to do that, we need to ensure lesser known information that is required to fully understand the topic and our role is attributed and accessible.  The best time to share the research behind the issue is in context. We hyperlink reference materials inline within the body of the issue rather than including a bibliography at the end. 

While reading the piece, there is an option to drill down and immediately address any questions or make a mental note to return to a specific claim. The benefit of this approach is that readers know exactly where to look in order to learn more. The limitation is that only one reference link of the many sources used to validate the information can be made available with this approach. 

Zooming Out

Despite the false claims about the absence of pre-colonial African civilization and the tendency for mainstream media and Hollywood to disproportionately focus on negative stories about Black people, we know and now you know that the data is available to truly educate ourselves about the full story of human existence. 

Data is a powerful tool. It is what we use to rewrite our narrative; showcase our superpowers; and continue helping society learn and grow. At Black To School, we go beyond the quick search results, apply a global lens, and consult a variety of trusted sources to tell the story of Africa and the African Diaspora’s contributions in the world. Black history is human history; our record speaks for itself.

🛠️ The Black To School Toolkit

Now What? Dig Deeper with Friends, Family, and Others.

• Want to learn more about Black studies? Click here for an overview and a summary of how this field has evolved overtime. Want more? Click here to read about the multiracial movement that founded Black Studies in America. 

• Enjoy this visual archive! Visit BlackHistory and HiddenPages on Instagram. They both share great images and vignettes that tell our lesser known stories.

• Check out all of the available academic programs. Here’s a list of colleges and universities in the U.S. with African American and African Studies Departments/Centers/Research Institutes.

• Curious about how Black history is taught in K-12 schools? Here’s a review of what your kids are learning on the subject of Black history. What can be done? Read a case study about a school district that redesigned their Black history courses to tell the full story from an African Diaspora point of view. 

• Want to take your knowledge to the next level? Register yourself or sponsor a local teacher to attend the annual Teaching Black History Conference hosted by the Carter Center for K-12 History Education. 

• Interested in the latest research and findings? Stay current with weekly news and research on Africa. Subscribe to receive bi-monthly, peer reviewed articles on Black Studies. 

⌛ The Black To School Timeline

Black History is Human History; Our Record Speaks For Itself.

• Last week, we shared an overview of our Editorial Process The Point of View: Reframing the Conversation, understanding and curating our story is one of the most powerful ways that we exercise our agency.

• This week, we revealed our Research Methods. The Practice: Showcasing the Evidence, finding and vetting the data and sources is all about going deep and identifying patterns with trusted sources.

• Next week, we showcase our Design Philosophy. The Brand: The Style Guide, there is intention and Black creative talent embedded in every aspect of our layout and appearance.  

About This Week’s Contributor

Chinwe Onyeagoro

My name is Chinwe Onyeagoro. I have two toddlers under the age of 5 and I’m the CEO & Co-Founder of a tech company called PocketSuite.io. I know firsthand how difficult it can be for parents to carry the full weight of educating their kids about the wide and wonderful world.

I was really inspired when I learned about the history of Saturday Schools! If you missed “The Back Story” article, I encourage you to watch this talk by rapper, poet, and journalist, Akala, who himself is one of the most amazing examples of the power of the Saturday School model.

I see the Black To School newsletter as a modern day virtual Saturday School, focused on telling the story of Africans and the African Diaspora that we can all learn, share, and draw strength from with our kids, family, friends, and network.

Black Is Agency

Welcome to issue #17! 🏳️‍🌈

June is here. Happy Pride Month! It has also been exactly 1-Year since the Black To School Collective started dreaming and scheming plans for this newsletter.  Our theme this month is agency, which is all about exercising our greatest power by learning and (re)telling the human story with Africans and the diaspora at the center. 

This month, we are taking you “Behind the Scenes” at Black To School. We are excited to share what our Editorial Team does to develop a storyline, research, design, edit, and deliver this newsletter in your inbox each week. 

Black To School celebrates Black people and Black contributions around the world. The “Why?” that powers our mission is simple. “Our ancestors invented the table that the world now sits at. It’s time to not just claim our seat, but to set the agenda.” 

If you're new to Black To School, last month, we explored some of our greatest innovations, ranging from the chemistry of fire and the modern conveniences in our homes to the personal computer and clean technology. If you haven’t already subscribed to our weekly newsletter, you can join our growing community here.  

A special thanks 🙏🏾 to the “Golden Griots'' (or top sharers) below for spreading the word about last week’s article. Please keep sharing stories of #blackcontributions and our collective history within your networks! 

• Peter L.

• Andrene S.

• Elizabeth H.

• Jilly P.

In this issue, we’ll: 

• Discuss how we shape the narrative and remarket what it means to Black. 

• Take a front row seat and meet those who are on the front lines of telling stories of Black excellence.

Reframing the Conversation

Collective Member: Ama Cobbina

“History is written by the victors.” A saying that has made its way across space and time. Often incorrectly attributed to Winston Churchill who believed it so deeply, he quoted it in a speech to the House of Commons. In addition to the British, the Germans, Italians, French, and Americans all have versions of this quote. 

The reason why it has such deep resonance is clear. It grants full and exclusive agency over the historical record as a “spoil of war” to those deemed the “winners”. Yet, there is no shortage of counterpoints about the role “losers” play in writing the history books and how both sides get to give an account of history within their sphere of influence. 

On the surface, the premise of that quote is sound, if you narrow your field of vision and think of history as a series of one-off events, ranging from discovery and development to trade and conflict. Those who emerge triumphant with the most money, people, and/or information hold the power and therefore have the final word. Whether it be the Romans, British, French, Americans, or others, they make their version of events most visible and limit your access to the full historical record. 

The nagging truth, though, is that history is not a series of incidents with a discrete set of outcomes. Understanding the broader context - past and present - of any single or set of events is critical to creating the right frame for human history. It’s not about any one person, place, or thing. History is an interconnected set of ideas, interests, actions, and events over time that represent the evolution of human consciousness. 

Given that notion, the only true way to be on the “losing” side of history is to relinquish your agency by tying your identity to a single or a series of events. Which means that in telling the story of us, we have the freedom to set the clock, define the playing field, develop the rules, assign positions, and call the plays. As we share our history, Africans and the diaspora are and will continue to be lifelong students, trusted historians, and keepers of the global canon.

This is how we do it.

Our charge at Black To School is not simply to tell lesser known stories. It’s about sharing a data-driven narrative that exposes Black excellence as the status quo in a way that forever shifts our own (and the world’s) mindset and behaviors. Below is a rundown of our Editorial Process:

The pitch.

When we think about themes, we’re focused on topics that have gravitas, which means that they are broadly accepted as important fields of knowledge, continue to be studied, and are highly relevant to adults of all ages. Our first four issues focused on Wealth, followed by Analytics, and then Language. 

The information is accessible to all regardless of background and education-level. The themes represent enduring areas of thought within which there is always something new to learn that can fundamentally expand your worldview and positively influence your day to day life choices. 

Within each theme, we identify story angles that showcase the length of time, depth of contribution, and scale of impact that Africans and the diaspora have had in a particular field. As of this issue, we have covered subjects, ranging from mathematics and science fiction to literature, personal computing,  and clean technology. We’re communicating who we are, what we’ve contributed, and the role that we still play in a way that informs current values and priorities.

The conversation.

As a Collective, we come together each week to discuss the pitches for future issues. We dig into the timeliness of the topic, set aside the typical “Black hero worship” angle, and wrestle with a range of perspectives in the public domain. 

Our tactic to date, in order to reach the broadest most attentive audience, has been to select themes that “free ride” on the spotlight of National Monthly Celebrations like Black History & Women’s History Month as well National Inventors’ Month and this month, Pride.  

The questions that we reflect on and debate are three fold: (1) What are the generally accepted beliefs about the origin story, rules of engagement, and success model within a discipline? (2) Why have these views held up over time and whose interests have been served by it?; and (3) How do they account for the role and contributions of Africa and the diaspora? What do we stand to gain as a society by adjusting this lens?

The outline.

When we are at the end of our open forum dialogue, we find ourselves returning to a few key insights. That is when we know that it is time to document our point of view by drafting the issue outline. Every issue is structured to hit the following notes:

• Define excellence in an area of human life.

• Share the positive role that Africans and the diaspora continue to play. 

• Showcase the critical mass that exists in the discipline/industry, across different periods of time, and places around the world. 

• Reflect on our “but for” impact - then, now, and in the future.

• Highlight tools that support deeper intergenerational understanding and engagement with these truths.

• Raise awareness about the key success factors and roadmaps for others to build on our great legacy and live up to their highest potential.

The Bottom Line

Our editorial process is a critical part of how we exercise our agency at Black To School. And we’re not alone. We are in great company. There are so many brilliant Black minds working to positively reshape our understanding of the world and each other. From academics and historians like Henry Louis Gates and Robin Walker to passionate, self-taught griots like Akala, Derek Bridges, Elizabeth Leiba, Eunique Jones Gibson, K.B. Taiwo, Michael Lutterodt Quarcoo Amaning, Raiyah and Keighley, Samuel Tholley, and so many more.

When all is said and done, the story of Black people is a story about excellence and humanity. At Black To School, we believe that fact is common sense and we’re on a mission, in collaboration with many others, to make it common knowledge. Black excellence isn’t extraordinary, it is and always has been the norm. 

🛠️ The Black To School Toolkit

Now What? Dig Deeper with Friends, Family, and Others.

• Want to learn more about the history of human history? Click here to check out the evolution of the historical record? Read this book When We Ruled by Robin Walker for the full story on Black history from ancient to medieval times.

• Curious about where else you can get the full story? Check out HomeTeam History and NewAfrica. Two YouTube channels that start from the point of view of “black excellence” and share our lesser known history.

• Want some “go-to” Black History resources for kids? KidsBlackHistory is a YouTube channel that is always delivering great, pint size info about Africa and the diaspora for kids ages 2 to 7. Also, Because of Them We Can is a must-have Black History “learn at home” monthly subscription box for kids ages 5 to 12.

• Ready for “mind blowing” self-study courses? Register for one of ATCP.co’s legendary Masterclasses and go all the way with Black History Studies’ 30-week Introductory or Advanced courses.

⌛ The Black To School Timeline

Black Excellence Isn’t Extraordinary, It Is And Always Has Been The Norm.

• In this issue, we share an overview of our Editorial Process The Point of View: Reframing the Conversation, understanding and curating our story is one of the most powerful ways that we exercise our agency.

• Next week, we will expose you to our Research Methods. The Practice: Showing the Evidence, finding and vetting the data and sources is all about pattern recognition and playing hard to get.

About This Week’s Contributor

Ama Cobbina

My name is Ama Cobbina, and I am the founder of mAt design - a marketing and business development consultancy that seeks to develop new combinations of economic and technological tactics in order to develop conscious businesses. I am also a marketing strategist, technologist, life long learner, aspiring space architect and astronaut, and a huge advocate for joy and lazy days. 

I am inspired to be part of the visionary power behind Black to School and its mission to provide intergenerational learning. We are excited about normalizing knowledge about the contributions of African and Black thought to our planetary progress. My hope is that as you read our newsletters, engage in the community, and share these ideas, it will support and strengthen your belief in your ability to achieve anything that you can imagine in all the infinite ways to be you.

Black Is Innovation

Welcome to issue #16! 💡

This is the final Black Is Innovation themed issue. So many of you were blown away by the inventors who created the personal computer and the network of software and infrastructure that support it. We share your feeling of awe and delight in learning the breadth and depth of impact that Black innovation has had in the world. 

Black To School celebrates Black people and Black contributions around the world. The “Why?” that powers our mission is simple. “Our ancestors invented the table that the world now sits at. It’s time to not just claim our seat, but to set the agenda.” Please click on this link and learn more about the backstory behind Black To School. 

A special thanks 🙏🏾 to the readers below who were our “Golden Griots'' (or top sharers) last week. Please keep sharing stories of #blackcontributions and our collective history within your networks! 

• Andrene S.

• Kim R.

• Jilly P.

• Lee H.

If you haven’t yet, you can subscribe to Black To School’s weekly newsletter here.

In this issue, we’ll: 

• Trace the African origins of sustainable energy solutions, which the world now believes will save the planet. 

• Commit to doing our part and explore how these alternatives can improve the way we live, work, and play.

Renewing Past Technology

Contributor: Denise Fairchild

“The future is already here - it’s just not very evenly distributed.” is one of the most heavily referenced quotes by essayist and writer, William Gibson, which is often pulled forward by inventors looking to make the case that the writing is on the wall and the timing is right to take their ideas to market. Whether you're reviewing climate models; experiencing the negative impacts of climate change; an advocate for environmental justice; or just committed to the idea of energy independence, there is no better field of innovation in which this sentiment applies than in cleantech. 

Clean technology includes any product, process or service that improves design and/or performance while reducing energy usage, waste, and/or pollution. Clean technology is not limited to renewables, but they represent the largest share of sustainable solutions in the market, including solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal. As it stands, renewables account for approximately 12% of all energy consumption in the United States as well as globally.

In 2019, humans used 160,000 terawatt hours (TWh) of energy, which is the equivalent of 1.6 quadrillion 100-Watt light bulbs that are simultaneously on. Although clean technology is not yet a primary source of power, it is scaling with more than $300 Billion in investments each year and 30,000+ granted patents. Since 2001, cleantech has been the fastest growing patent category in the U.S.. What’s really exciting about this type of technology, in particular, is that it is firmly rooted in systems for harnessing and storing energy that were invented and applied by our early ancestors in Africa.

In many cases, the renewable technologies used in ancient Africa were not claimed as inventions until outsiders from Italy and Greece were exposed to them. These merchants, scholars, explorers, missionaries, and soldiers studied and copied indigenous African scientific methods and tools. In many cases, upon returning home they (and local ruling elite) positioned these practices and solutions as Greek and Roman discoveries without fully crediting the Black philosophers, scholars, scientists, architects, engineers, artisans, and technicians who were the original sources of knowledge and inspiration. 

In the quest to clear the air and accelerate our transition to clean energy, we have an opportunity to set the record straight on the role of Africa and the African diaspora in engineering these sustainable solutions. Let’s revisit the source code for these enduring, natural power systems and give credit where it is due.  

We were right from the start!

Ancient Egypt, in particular, and North Africa, as a region, are among the most studied and well referenced sites in which the earliest instances of clean technology, specifically renewable energy is used and managed in society. Recognizing that many of these innovations also were in existence (and in some cases, originated in) other parts of Africa, below is a review (from surviving sources) of how, where, and when these sustainable solutions first made their appearance.

Although recorded history is vague and does not consistently attribute these Black innovations, renewable energy in Africa is where sustainable design, development, and living began. Everything that followed anywhere else in the world was either informed by and/or an intentional (and arguably regrettable) departure from those original clean energy solutions.  

Greatest Potential on Earth.

It is fitting that the birthplace of clean technology is now seen as the area of the world with the greatest potential to build an energy grid that is predominantly powered by renewables. The case for why is clear: (1) greatest access to natural energy sources (solar, wind, water, geothermal); (2) rapid population growth; (3) lowest contributor of GHG emissions in the world; (4) most adversely impacted by climate change; and (5) significant opportunity to create jobs and economic development.

With 45% of all energy consumption in Africa powered by biofuels and waste as of 2018, Africa’s energy pathway is clear. The continent has countless examples of clean technology leadership that are a bellwether for its sustainable future. 

• The world’s largest solar farm is in Morocco 

• Kenya has the biggest wind farm and the largest supply of geothermal in Africa

• Top 5 African countries contributing to Africa’s hydropower grid

Africa’s journey back to clean technology demonstrates the power of understanding the practices of those who came before us; trusting our ancestral wisdom; and developing with empathy for the generations yet to be born who will, indeed, inherit the earth.  Black sustainability was right from the start and will help save the planet. 

🛠️ The Black To School Toolkit

Now What? Dig Deeper with Friends, Family, and Others.

• Want to learn more about renewables in Africa? Click here to read this wiki primer. Want real life examples? Watch this CNN video (20 min) that showcases super impressive renewable projects and entrepreneurs in Africa.

• Curious about where you stand on energy? Checkout this chart of energy usage by country from 1900 to 2019. Also, view this table of renewable energy capacity by country from 1966 to 2019. 

• Wondering how to best share with your kids? Expose them to stories of how Black kids are saving the planet. Read them this best selling book. Also, make this heartwarming Netflix drama, rated PG, your next family movie night selection. 

• Interested in a good conspiracy theory? Click here to find out why Nikola Tesla was obsessed with Egypt and how he modeled Tesla Tower after the great pyramids.

• Just want to enjoy mother nature? Visit one of the top hot springs in Kenya, Zambia, Tanzania, Tunisia, or South Africa. You can write it off as a “geothermal” research trip.

• Excited to join the conversation? Check out organizations like Green For All, The Green Lining Institute, Red, Black, and Green as well as Emerald Cities Collaborative. More of an observer? Tune into How to Save a Planet podcast. 

⌛ The Black To School Timeline

Black Sustainability Was Right From The Start And Will Help Save The Planet.

• We began in Ancient times (1 Million Years Ago) The Thing: Chemistry of Fire, our ancestors controlled combustion and used it to reinvent the way we live and work, together.

• Then returned to the 19th Century (200 Years Ago) The Place: Home, the target location of countless inventions that expanded and delighted families around the world.

• Next, we reflected on the mid 20th Century (55 Years Ago) The Process: Personal Computing, much like fire, computer technology gave us “superpowers”. 

• Finally, we landed in the Present Day (Here and Now) The Promise: CleanTech, we are now charting our course to a sustainable and regenerative future.

About This Week’s Contributor

Denise Fairchild

Denise Fairchild is the inaugural President of Emerald Cities Collaborative (ECC), a national nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., with affiliates in major urban centers across the United States. She is charged with advancing ECC’s “high-road” mission to green our cities, build resilient local economies and ensure equity inclusion in both the process and outcomes of a new green and healthy economy.

Denise is nationally recognized and respected for her 40-year successful track record and innovative programs in sustainable and community economic development, domestically and internationally. Her civic and political appointments have included the California Commission on Regionalism, the California Economic Strategy Panel, the California Local Economic Development Association, the Urban Land Institute National Inner City Advisor, the Coalition for Women's Economic Development and the Los Angeles Environmental Quality Board. 

Denise received her B.A from Fisk University in 1972, a masters in City Planning from the University of Pennsylvania and a doctorate in urban planning from UCLA. She holds a number of academic distinctions, including serving as a senior fellow at M.I.T., U.C.L.A. and The Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Fellowship.

She has lived, worked and educated her two sons in South Los Angeles since 1977 and also served as Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's special advisor for South L.A. Investments.

Black Is Innovation

Welcome to issue #15! 💡

I am so glad that you all enjoyed our last issue about Black inventions and inventors that revolutionized our experience of “home”. We commissioned a brilliant Black illustrator, Brooke-Lynn Dortch, to create those amazing pieces. If you know a Black artist who would like to be featured, please email us at editor@blcktoschool.com.

Black To School is part of a broader movement focused on celebrating Black people and Black contributions around the world. The “Why?” that powers our mission is simple. “Our ancestors invented the table that the world now sits at. It’s time to not just claim our seat, but to set the agenda.”  

A special thanks 🙏🏾 to the “Golden Griots'' (or top sharers) below for spreading the word about last week’s issue on the first human controlled chemical reaction in the world. Please keep sharing stories of #blackcontributions and our collective history within your networks! 

• Raina B.J.

• Nimae A.

• Nik R.

• Kara S.

• Dawn M.

• Janet D.

• Franklin O.A.

In this issue, we’ll: 

• Take a stroll down computer history lane to learn about the processing, packaging, networking, and software breakthroughs that power our lives.

• Geek out with other Afro techies and expose the kids to coding.

Computing Giants

Contributor: Yang Forjindam

We all love headlines about hot, new technologies. Typically, the person on stage delivering the keynote at the developer’s conference is celebrated as a visionary. They are a rock star to techies and a unicorn to investors. 

Everyone wants a great story with a single hero taking on the status quo. That’s why Steve Jobs’ masterful “Think different” resonated so deeply. The fact is though, with most innovation, especially computer and digital technologies, there is no one-man show. Thomas Watson, Andy Grove, Steve Jobs, and Bill Gates stood on the shoulders of giants to bring their innovations to life. You need many, many, many people who understand the way the world works, yet see things differently, and dare to pursue their dreams to successfully invent something new.

As an example, a typical desktop computer today has around 11 basic components, including a monitor, a motherboard, a CPU, memory, multiple USB ports, a power supply, an optical disc drive, a hard disk drive, a network card, a keyboard, and a mouse. Each one of those components have subcomponents like a motherboard has 10 parts. And so on. Then there are the ancillary systems and a variety of components that differ in size, color, shape, quality as well as the new generations of parts developed to increase performance and reduce costs. 

Personal computing technology ultimately consists of innumerable discrete pieces, processes, integrations, invented and continuously improved upon by hundreds of thousands of technologists. Among them are a league of Black mathematicians, computer scientists and engineers who were born and raised in America, Africa and throughout the diaspora. They led and supported the creation and the evolution of 2 billion+ personal computing devices in households across the globe. 

There is limited awareness about the pivotal role that these Black technology pioneers played. Despite their outsized contributions, their invisibility is uncannily similar to that of the Black, female human computers, now referred to as Hidden Figures, whose genius helped send rockets into orbit and land the first human on the moon.  

Innovation is a team sport, which Black technologists have skillfully played from the beginning. It’s important to look beyond the surface presentation and behind the curtain to truly and fully understand how the products that we all now rely on came to be. 

How much of your daily life runs on Black computing power?

Since well before IBM’s release of the first personal computer in 1981, there has been a long, storied list of Black inventors who have invested time, energy, and talent into advancing computer hardware, software, and networking. There is no better way to showcase and celebrate them than to reflect on how their work benefits us on a daily basis.

Below is a series of illustrative To-Do List items in which I demonstrate how the technology invented and enhanced by our community has become a form of oxygen for modern life and work. As I re-read and share it with you now, I am truly humbled and inspired.

Illustrative To Do List (May 16, 2021)

(Black computing inventions hyperlinked below)

Personal

• Post GIF in the family WhatsApp group of Uma blowing out the four candles on her birthday cake. 

• Be home by 6pm in time for ADT to stop by and check the alarm system battery. 

• Pick up Mom’s new hearing aids; the prescription is stronger.

• Call a family meeting about reducing screen time for the kids, especially video game playing time.

• Check the weather forecast and confirm plans for the hike and picnic next weekend with our neighbors. Use GPS to map the drive to Chrissy Field.

Work

• Buy 2 new domain names for each landing page in the marketing campaign.

• Conduct video conference calls with a few promising candidates.

• Order a desktop computer for the new hire, starting next week.  

• Reach out to IT to confirm when they will add memory and schedule the software security upgrades.

• Review quarterly budget reforecast and add comments in GoogleSheets.

Community

• Text-to-donate today before the HOA sunsets the building fund campaign. 

• Given all of the special effects in the movie Jurassic Park, confirm the PG-13 rating is ok with local parents for film night in the park this Thursday.

• Attend the Council meeting today to learn more about plans for locating the cellular base station.

Zero to One

From mobile phones, personal computers, and video games to memory chips, security software, and special effects, Black engineers, computer scientists, and mathematicians have had a hand in expanding human capacity to do more things - faster and better. Reassured by this early groundwork and impact, another generation of Black inventors are following in their footsteps both within Big Tech and as venture-backed, tech entrepreneurs. 

Personal computing has further democratized access to information. It has reduced the barrier to innovation and expanded the field on which more brilliant Black talent has come together to solve some of the world’s most challenging problems. Black technologists were one of the earliest pioneers of modern computing.

🛠️ The Black To School Toolkit

Now What? Dig Deeper with Friends, Family, and Others.

• Interested in learning more about the history of personal computing? Check out this database of Black computer technologists, developed by Dr. Scott Williams at the University of Buffalo. Want more? Click here to read all about personal computing.

• Ready to expose your kids to coding? Learn about how they can get involved in Black Girls Code (ages 7 to 17) and Black Boys Code (ages 8 to 17). Prefer to home school? Teach them how to code with robotics industry leader for kids, Dash and Dot. 

• Would you like to meet others who love tech? Attend AfroTech’s annual conference to network with Black techies from around the world who are looking to hire, collaborate with, and invest in the next generation.

• Challenge yourself and build one. Channel your inner “Mark Dean” and use this “do it yourself” kit by Raspberry Pi to build your own desktop computer.

• Want to geek out on the who, what & when? Check out this Computer History Museum timeline of some of the most significant milestones in the history of personal computing.

⌛ The Black To School Timeline

Black technologists were one of the earliest pioneers of modern computing.

• We began in Ancient times (1 Million Years Ago) The Thing: Chemistry of Fire, our ancestors controlled combustion and used it to reinvent the way we live and work, together.

• Then returned to the 19th Century (200 Years Ago) The Place: Home, the target location of countless inventions that expanded and delighted families around the world.

• This week, we were in the mid 20th Century (55 Years Ago) The Process: Personal Computing, much like fire, computer technology gave us “superpowers”. 

• Next week, we will be in the Present Day (Here and Now) The Promise: CleanTech, we are now charting our course to a sustainable and regenerative future.

About This Week’s Contributor

Yang Forjindam

Yang is the Co-founder of PocketSuite, an all-in-one app that makes the hard work of running your own business simpler for solo operators and small teams. 

Yang spent the first 11 years of his career at NetSuite building business management systems that helped 10,000 large and midsize companies run their front and back offices. He was engineer #5 and is still the youngest software architect in NetSuite's history. 

Yang earned a master’s degree in engineering from Stanford University and a B.S. in electrical engineering from Virginia Tech. He has several patents in the area of SaaS and email delivery.

Yang was born in Paris and raised in Cameroon and the U.S.. He now lives in San Francisco with his wife, Chinwe, and two kids. He enjoys hiking, playing tennis, listening to music, trivia games, and debate. His other interests include history, military strategy, sports, technology, politics, international trade and economic policy. 

Black To School has been a long time coming. I love that it explores a range of topics on Black history and current events from a position of strength that you rarely see covered by mainstream media.

Black Is Innovation

Welcome to issue #14! 💡

Happy Mother’s Day, I hope you all had a wonderful time honoring your mothers, aunties, grandmamas, sisters, and friends yesterday. At Black To School, we are grateful to be telling their stories of excellence, beauty, joy, and prosperity.

Black To School celebrates Black people and Black contributions around the world. The “Why?” that powers our mission is simple. “Our ancestors invented the table that the world now sits at. It’s time to not just claim our seat, but to set the agenda.”  

A special thanks 🙏🏾 to the “Golden Griots'' (or top sharers) below for spreading the word about last week’s issue on the first human controlled chemical reaction in the world. Please keep sharing stories of #blackcontributions and our collective history within your networks! 

• Lydia F.

• Kimberly P.

• Michael M.

• Marisha S.

• Andree M.

In this issue, we’ll: 

• Marvel at the inventions and Black inventors who have (re)defined our experience of home.

• Look around; inspiration is everywhere. Let’s bring to bear what we know and tinker a little to contribute something new to the world. 

Patent Power

Contributor: Dr. Mark Ngu Awantang

Innovation is more than a notion. Beyond the idea, it requires an ability to design, develop, and document. And that’s all before one ever gets anything manufactured, sold, and in the hands of real people who can use and benefit from it. Patent laws were created in the United States in 1790 to promote the spirit of innovation by incentivizing inventors. In short, patents when granted, give inventors exclusivity to make money from their ideas for 14 to 20 years. 

There are high barriers to entry in the patent process. Besides having to pay thousands of dollars in filing fees and complete 2 to 3 months worth of research and paperwork, an applicant must prove that their invention is truly new and/or unique. As of 2019, 58% of all patent applications were approved, which has been steady since inception. 

Although overall patent approval rates haven’t changed much since the 19th century, access to participate in the patent process for Black inventors is a different matter. Because patents were only granted to citizens, enslaved people were barred from participating in the process. Before the Civil War, there are countless cases of white property owners unscrupulously patenting and profiting off of inventions created by Black people. 

Despite these early restrictions, Black inventors have always been prolific in contributing to the innovations that built America and established its leadership position in the Industrial era. Between 1870 and 1940, with 50,000 total patents, Black inventors held the largest block of patent awards over all other immigrant groups in America, which just two exceptions. 

Inventing Home 

The first Black person to receive a patent award was Thomas Jennings in 1821 for his innovative dry cleaning process. He was most certainly not the first Black inventor, but was the first to have his invention formally recognized and protected under the law. Although Thomas was born outside of the institution of slavery and ran his own business, the Black inventors that followed him came from all walks of life. They were enslaved or free, degreed or self-taught, drawing from African traditions/customs or responding to the demands of domestic service, wealthy or with limited means, women or men, young or old, married or single/widowed.

What united them was the spark of inspiration and boundless talent. They saw a need; imagined a solution; and then brought it to life. The innovations created by Black inventors have been all over the map. They range from railroad transportation improvements, life saving medical equipment and procedures to more efficient agricultural management systems and transformation of all things related to the home.

Black inventors have contributed so much to improving home life. Their residential innovations can be organized in four broad categories, including totally new or enhanced processes and/or designs:

1. Home Maintenance: lawn mower, sprinkler system, gas masks, street sweeper, dust pan, wash bucket, mop with bucket, window cleaner squeegee, carpet cleaner, ladder, home security system, traffic light, car washing equipment

2. Home Furniture & Equipment: wooden clock, bed frame, folding bed, HVAC system, radiator, cabinet bed, American flag, fireproof safe, umbrella stand, door stop, door knob, embossed photograph, convertible sofa, lamp holder, lamp lantern, electric lamp, lamp post, self-leveling table, hat rack and table, rocking chair, keyhole, door lock, file holder, folding chair, toilet bowl, baby carriage, curtain rod, fireplace, canopy, pillow sham

3. Communication, Entertainment, & Art: piano, guitar, pool table, Almanac, telephone transmitter, hole puncher, precursor to fax machine and caller ID; bicycle frame, envelope seal, pencil sharpener, mailbox, SuperSoaker water gun, The Knockdown Wheeled Toy, typewriter, cell phone (Gamma electric cell)

4. Food & Cooking: peanuts, cured bacon, double cooking range, ice cream scoop, icebox, food warmer, gridiron, kitchen table, egg beater, breadbox, kneading machine, bottle cap, spoon, spatula, oil heater/stove, rolling pin, fruit press, lemon squeezer, sugar refiner, refrigerator

5. Personal Attire & Grooming: razor cleaner, clothes drier, dry cleaning, shoes, boots, ironing table, sanitary napkin, clothes line, hair brush, hair straightener, trouser stretcher

Halls of Innovation

Although the U.S. Patent office does not collect data on race as part of the application process, databases like this demonstrate that the Halls of Innovation are overflowing with Black inventors. They have shaped every aspect of the sacred place called home. 

Increasingly, Black inventors are also cracking the commercialization code and taken their products to market at scale like former NASA engineer turned multi-millionaire inventor, Lonnie Johnson and Percy Lavon Julian, a steroid chemist, who found a way to synthesize and cost-effectively mass produce cortisone and progesterone, which among other things is used to reduce miscarriages and is used in fertility treatment.

The space within the four walls that most people spend 69% of our time has served as a spectacular site for Black innovation. There is no better point of departure from which to continue to expand our creative reach and energy. Black inventions have forever improved the appearance and our experience of home.

🛠️ The Black To School Toolkit

Now What? Dig Deeper with Friends, Family, and Others.

• Want to learn more about Black American inventors? Click here to watch this 18-minute video. Want more? Read the book Black Pioneers by Louis Haber and Black Inventors by Keith C. Holmes for great stories about how Black inventors changed our lives forever.

• Curious about the Home 2.0 patent applications? Checkout this Black To School compiled spreadsheet with a work-in-progress list of popular Black inventions made for our homes. Let us know who and what we missed!

• Ready to expose your kids to the joys of invention? Watch this video (all ages) about Black inventions and inventors that revolutionized our homes. Read this book with them (ages 5 to 12) Have You Thanked an Inventor Today?

• Let’s go all in and invent something new! If you are a teacher, librarian, youth program manager, or Type-A parent, you can use this invention and patent process curriculum to educate, engage, and inspire the next generation of Black inventors.

⌛ The Black To School Timeline

Black Inventions Have Forever Improved the Appearance and Our Experience of Home.

• Last week, we went back to Ancient times (1 Million Years Ago) The Thing: Chemistry of Fire, our ancestors controlled combustion and used it to reinvent the way we live and work, together.

• This week, we return to the 19th Century (200 Years Ago) The Place: Home, the target location of countless inventions that expanded and delighted families around the world.

• Next week, we move into the near Present (55 Years Ago) The Process: Computer Technology, much like fire, personal computing gave us “superpowers” to do things bigger, faster, and (in many cases) much better. 

About This Week’s Contributor

Dr. Mark Ngu Awantang

Dr. Mark Ngu Awantang is an Orthopedic Surgeon. He is a graduate of Washington College, Wright State University, Boonshoft School of Medicine, and completed his residency at Howard University.

He lives in Panama City, Florida with his wife, Dr. Nimae Awantang, and their 5 children. He was born in Cameroon and grew up in multiple African countries before going to college in the U.S., including Liberia, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Egypt. He enjoys sports and traveling. He loves learning about history, especially Black history.

I am a big fan of Black To School. Africa and the African Diaspora have a deep and rich history that we can all make better use of.

Black Is Innovation

Welcome to issue #13! 💡

Black To School celebrates Black people and Black contributions around the world. The “Why?” that powers our mission is simple. “Our ancestors invented the table that the world now sits at. It’s time to not just claim our seat, but to set the agenda.” 

If you're new to Black To School, we just explored our contributions to the field of poetry and the literary arts from the first written languages and Harlem Renaissance literati to the genius of Hip Hop and Afrofuturism. If you haven’t already subscribed to our weekly newsletter, you can join our growing community here. 

It’s May. Happy National Inventors Month! Our theme will be all about the leadership of Africans and the African Diaspora in inventing the most transformational and widely used tools and technologies of all time. 

This month, you’ll get to hear about the first controlled chemical reaction discovered by humans: fire; explore how our innovations truly made a house a home; see how everyday people got superpowers when we helped to create the first personal computer; and take pride in the fact that we are on a mission to save the planet with sustainable and regenerative systems.  

A special thanks 🙏🏾 to the “Golden Griots'' (or top sharers) below for spreading the word about last week’s article. Please keep sharing stories of #blackcontributions and our collective history within your networks! 

• Nik R.

• Janet D.

• Brandon J.

• Saamra M-G.

• Obi O.

In this issue, we’ll: 

• Go back to the very beginning and see how our ancestors tamed fire and used it to permanently improve the quality of life of all humans. 

• Turn up the heat as you experiment and learn fun facts about fire.

Chemistry of Fire

Contributor: Ekiuwa Aire

Fire is regarded by some as man’s greatest discovery. It feels as old as time. We take it as a given in our day to day that it will boil our water, propel our gas-guzzling cars, heat our homes, light our campfires, power our factories, and, and, and. It’s so familiar and predictable that we’ve co-opted the term and now use it in everyday jargon: “I’m fired up!” “You’re playing with fire.” “Hold my feet to the fire.” And my personal favorite, “Liar, liar, pants on fire!”

The reality is that much like fire most people also take for granted the other three elements that occur organically in nature: water, air, and earth. Natural fires are caused when lightning strikes; a volcano erupts; or rocks fall and spark. So, can we really claim credit for discovering something that can be created without any human intervention? In a word, Yes. Because fire 🔥 like all elements can be controlled.

Fire (or combustion) was the first chemical reaction that our ancestors discovered. The chemistry of fire is quite complex, requiring fuel, heat energy, oxygen, and uninhibited chain reactions. Historically, it has been difficult to confirm exact timelines on the discovery of fire because the evidence was quite literally burnt. 

Despite the challenges, there have been archaeological breakthroughs in identifying hearths, recurring and localized fires, as well as partially charred artifacts. All of which place the earliest evidence of controlled fire on the continent of Africa (1 Million years ahead of similar findings in Europe and the Middle East).

In the end, what’s most important is not only the “where”, but also the “when”. The timing of that first man-made flame is the key to answering enduring questions about the role that fire and the Africans who discovered it played in the physical, intellectual, and social evolution of humans. Watch this 3-min video-clip to learn why controlling fire is still our hottest discovery yet! 

Our Eternal Flame

The first, verifiable instance of man-made or man-managed fires was in South Africa in the Wonderwerk cave approximately 1 million years ago. Because of the enclosed space and the type of tools found, experts believe that it was a campfire started by our human relatives, Homo erectus.

Although Homo erectus were almost certainly the first ancient humans to cook, they went extinct 200,000 years ago. And our direct ancestors, Homo sapiens, carried the torch forward. Unlike Neanderthals in Europe who overlapped and in some cases interbred with them, Homo Sapiens are thought to have independently learned how to create and tame fire.

There are a number of theories about what our early Africans ancestors used fire for, ranging from cooking meat and plants; protecting against predators; and making strong tools and weapons to warding off insects when sleeping; staying warm; clearing hard to pass areas of land; illuminating public spaces for social gatherings; and even sculpting pottery.

“When humans domesticated fire, they gained control of an obedient and potentially limitless force. Unlike eagles, humans could choose when and where to ignite a flame, and they were able to exploit fire for any number of tasks. Most importantly, the power of fire was not limited by the form, structure or strength of the human body.”

- Author of Sapiens, Yuval Noah Harari

The greatest and most enduring impact of controlling fire has been the evolution of the human mind in size and function. Our brains grew as cooking reduced the energy typically required to chew and digest food. While our working memory and problem solving skills improved as the quality of our sleep improved (with predators kept at bay by fire). 

The power to control fire contributed to the beginning of the cognitive revolution. It was an age when our African ancestors on the continent and throughout the diaspora communicated and collaborated closely to explore, create, and survive. This period in human history ultimately placed Homo sapiens at the top of the food chain and enabled us to outcompete and survive all of our other human relatives. 

Bringing the Heat

The taming of fire happened over millions of years. Yet, once our ancestors comfortably mastered the science of combustion 70,000 years ago, they unlocked a steady stream of innovations that require different levels of heat to produce, including symbolic art, jewelry, fashion as well as functional tools, furniture, equipment, transportation, and weapons. 

The chemistry of fire was just the beginning. There are now generations of Black chemists who are experimenting with new elements and building on the foundational discoveries of our ancestors, including chemical scientists, engineers, researchers, technicians, entrepreneurs, and investors around the world. The story of Black innovation began by harnessing natural energy, which accelerated human evolution.

🛠️ The Black To School Toolkit

Now What? Dig Deeper with Friends, Family, and Others.

• Want to learn more about how we domesticated fire? Click here to watch this 13-minute overview video by PBS. Want more? Read the book Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari for the full story on how our ancestors stoked the fire and never looked back.

• Curious about how fire makes humans human? Checkout this slide presentation that walks through how using fire to cook changed us inside and out. Still interested? Read this book by anthropologist, Richard Wrangham.

• Ready to do some combustion experiments with your kids? Watch this TEDEd video about the properties of fire with teens (8th grade and up). Suit up for these super fun and safe “at-home” science experiments with your kids (all ages). Start with the fire ones #22 and #35.

• Enjoy visiting Wonderwerk Cave? Take a virtual tour and marvel at two million years of human life that began in South Africa.

⌛ The Black To School Timeline

Black Innovation Began By Harnessing Natural Energy, Which Accelerated Human Evolution.

• In this issue, we go back to Ancient times (1 Million Years Ago) The Thing: Chemistry of Fire, our ancestors controlled combustion and used it to reinvent the way we live and work, together.

• Next week, we return to the 19th Century (200 Years Ago) The Place: Home, the target location of countless inventions that expanded and delighted families around the world.

About This Week’s Contributor

Ekiuwa Aire

Ekiuwa Aire is a bestselling, award winning author at Our Ancestories, a publishing company focused on creating children’s books that provide a more positive narrative of African History.

Her debut book - Idia of the Benin Kingdom has been recognized by the Children’s Africana Book Awards as one of the Best Books for Young Children for 2021. This book has also been recognized with five other awards.

Ekiuwa’s goal is to write stories that provide kids of all ethnicities with a means to relate to and learn from pre-colonial African legends.

I love that the Black to School newsletter uses facts from current events and history to inspire me. Coupled with the well thought out insights are links and resources to learn more about the themes. In one newsletter, there is a week’s worth of content to digest and learn from. Kudos to the team!

Black Is Poetry

Welcome to issue #12! 📜

Black To School celebrates Black people and Black contributions around the world. The “Why?” that powers our mission is simple. “Our ancestors invented the table that the world now sits at. It’s time to not just claim our seat, but to set the agenda.” Please click on this link and learn more about the backstory behind Black To School. 

This is the final Black Is Poetry themed issue. Boy, did we get an earful in response to last week’s Hip Hop is Poetry piece! We were reminded of just how important it is for the Black community to have “master curators” who broaden the scope of the lens from which human history is observed and recorded.  

A special thanks 🙏🏾 to the readers below who were our “Golden Griots'' (or top sharers) last week. Please keep sharing stories of #blackcontributions and our collective history within your networks! 

• Janet D.

• Lee H.

• Andrene S.

• Nikki S.

• Pamela W.

In this issue, we’ll: 

• Delve into a form of Black literature and artistic expression that is powered by science and technology, Afrofuturism. 

• Bend your mind and time as we explore visions of the new world order. Reflect on what you most value about the past and what you want to be true about our collective future. 

Black To The Future

Contributor: Fri Forjindam

“Where we’re going, we don’t need roads!” - quite possibly one of the most iconic lines uttered in a cinematic depiction of the future for anyone coming of age in the late 1900s.  And although today, that time period seems like a snapshot out of the Victorian era, it was in fact the the post-Reagan era, where young kids of all races looked to MTV, record contraband, comic book stores and movie theatre to give them a blueprint of the future. 

Those iconic words were spoken so matter-of-factly by Doc Brown, the hoary physicist played by Christopher Lloyd, to his doting apprentice named Marty, played skillfully by Michael J. Fox.  The era from which they fled was the 80s, and their destination? The Future!  However, the sad reality is that their future had some very glaring omissions. 

Anyone who remembers the space-age cartoon, The Jetsons, or has watched any movie in the, Star Wars franchise, or read the book, A Hand Maid’s Tale, might wonder, where are all the Black people and where does our past fit into the future?   Could Lando (up until the arrival of FN-2187 “Finn” decades later) honestly be the only brother in the entire galaxy?

Writing and art that focuses on the future and alternate realities is typically characterized as science-fiction (a genre of speculative fiction). Science fiction (Sci-Fi) explores aspirational (or cautionary) visions of the future or the present that contemplate technological advancements, social and environmental changes, as well as alternative forms of work and life. There is evidence of Black science fiction writing in America as far back as the early 19th century and African science fiction also has a long, distinguished history. 

Here’s the thing though, the practice of imagining other worlds in the future or here and now, is neither limited to science fiction literature nor the literary arts as a whole. The interdisciplinary field of Futurism is a better way to classify this form of artistic expression. Futurism as a movement was born in Italy, promoted by young visual artists and musicians, who were obsessed with all things modern and technology-enabled. In pursuit of cultural progress, they rejected the past in favor of speed and the trappings of modern life.

Afrofuturism, although similar in name, is markedly different from Futurism in theory, practice, and origin. Afrofuturism exalts our ancestral roots, values, and traditions. Scholars have described it as a “way of looking at the future and alternate realities through a Black cultural lens.” Afrofuturism is a dimension from which poets, musicians, artists, philosophers, designers, and intellectuals both celebrate and emancipate our history and imaginations.

It is a spectrum of narratives that circle the complexities and subtleties of humanity with the African diaspora at the center.  Afrofuturism is the permission to adopt a more reflective, imaginative form of code switching where the end result isn’t a need to assimilate into an adopted mainstream, but in fact, a mandate to carve a bold new reality.  Afrofuturism is revolutionary! 

Where’s the magic in Afrofuturism?

Afrofuturism existed long before it had a name. The African American authors, artists, and musicians who gave birth to it often speak of being heavily influenced by African mystical traditions (jujuism), philosophy, cosmology, technology, art, architecture, beauty, and culture. Authors like W. E.B. Dubois, Pauline Hopkins, George Schuyler, and poet-musicians like Sun Ra were among the first Black artists on the scene to infuse science and technology into imaginary worlds in which Black heroes shaped the full narrative. 

Those Black imagineers were a huge source of inspiration for the next generation, Octavia Butler (a.k.a. mother of afrofuturism), Samuel Delaney, poet-musician-graffiti artist, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and funk musician, George Clinton, who are credited with evolving the field from a movement to a genre. It was their avant-garde work that led author, Mark Dery, in 1994, to publish the essay “Black to the Future” in which he interviewed Black content creators and asked a foundational question that is often cited as a rallying cry for Afrofuturism.

“Can a community whose past has been deliberately rubbed out, and whose energies have subsequently been consumed by the search for legible traces of its history, imagine possible futures? Furthermore, isn’t the unreal estate of the future already owned by the technocrats, futurologists, streamliners, and set designers ― white to a man ― who have engineered our collective fantasies?” - Mark Dery

What is so powerful about this genre is that it lives entirely outside of Western (and any outside) influence. Black people are the heroes and heroines in the future (or in alternate realities). In most cases, the stories are of a utopia or dystopia intended to right old wrongs or serve as a cautionary tale for unchecked societal issues. In the end, it is a fantasy world that returns to and normalizes ancient African truths - existence of nonlinear time, appreciation for the divine feminine, primacy of community, symbiosis with nature, reverence for mysticism and ingenuity. 

So Be It! See To It!

Afrofuturism transitioned from niche to mainstream starting with the dawn of mythical vampiric realms in Blade. Then years later with the blockbuster release of Black Panther, which broke Box Office records, took home three Academy Awards (the first ever for Marvel Studios), and is the 10th highest grossing film of all time with $1.3 Billion gross revenues. Afrofuturism now has a MacArthur Genius award winner and a Basquiat that sold for $110 Million.

There are more prolific writers like N.K. Jemison, Nnedi Okorafor (with her special brand of Africanfuturism) and Tomi Adeyemi who have joined the field. And scholars like Alondra Nelson who is a Biden administration appointee, Grammy award winners like Janelle Monae and Pharrell as well as filmmakers, activists, fashion designers, and architects are evolving the global canon in a variety of fields. 

Our future is in great hands. The Black poets, writers, and artists that are shaping our narrative today are helping to tell the story of who we are, what cultural gifts we carry, and where we are going. They are unapologetically aspirational. They are celebrating anything and anyone that sees that Black creativity is key in the great race to save humanity.  They are paving a new future that not only doesn’t need roads, but dares to dream in culture.

🛠️ The Black To School Toolkit

Now What? Dig Deeper with Friends, Family, and Others.

• Want to learn more about Afrofuturism? Click here to watch this entertaining 20-minute TED Talk. Want more? Read this primer, Afro-Futurism: The World of Black Sci-Fi & Fantasy Culture, which explores the genre’s music, literature, and art.

• Curious about the who, what, & when? Checkout this timeline of Afrofuturist authors, books, philosophy, and movies from 1859 to 2018.

• Wondering how to best share with your kids? Watch this PBS video (10-min) that breaks it down really well for young people (Grade 5 through 12). And choose from this awesome selection of children’s books for toddlers to teens. 

• Are you a #fangirl or #fanboy of Octavia Butler? Join the club! Enjoy this exhibit with a collection curated by The Huntington of over 8,000 items, including some of her unpublished work. 

• Excited to join the conversation? Keep an eye out for the next annual AfroPunk Festival and engage in this Afrofuturism Reddit group. More of an observer? Tune into this Afrofuturist podcast. 

• Let’s look ahead and think different! Buy and read Hugo Award winning author, N.K. Jemison’s, “How Long ‘Til Black Futures Month?”. Bend your mind (just a little) and visit the literary and artist collective, Black Quantum Futurism.

⌛ The Black To School Timeline

Black Creativity is Key in the Great Race to Save Humanity

• We began by stepping into Prehistoric times (At least 5,000 Years Ago) The Thing: Sumerian and Nsibidi, the first written language systems, created by Black Africans in Mesopotamia.

• Followed by zooming into the 20th Century (100 Years Ago) The Place: Harlem (Renaissance), a community of writers and activists that inspired one of the greatest artistic, cultural, and intellectual movements.

• Then we turned the spotlight on the 1970s (50 Years Ago) The Practice: Hip Hop, the lyrical genius that sits at the intersection of poetry, philosophy, and performance art.

• Finally, we returned to here and now (Present Day) The Promise: Afrofuturism, the freethinkers who use artistic expression and technology to create a powerful vision for society and the planet.

About This Week’s Contributor

Fri Forjindam

Fri Forjindam is the Chief Development Officer and Executive Creative Director for Mycotoo, Inc, a global leader in themed entertainment, live events and immersive brand experiences. Mycotoo specializes in entertainment strategy, master planning, design, development and production.

Voted “Top Media” company by Inc. 500, Mycotoo operates in North America and Europe, with iconic collaborations worldwide including Prince’s Paisley Park, Bollywood Parks and Motiongate Theme Park, and award-winning brand experiences like HBO's SxSWestworld, Bleed For The Throne and Netflix’s The Irishman Little Italy Takeover. 

In her role, Fri focuses on driving business development, branding and communications across Mycotoo’s growing global network.  She has been featured in Fast Company Magazine, Essence, Minted.com, KTLA, FOX and was awarded the "Top 50 Theme Park Influencer" distinction in 2018 and 2020 by Blooloop Magazine.  Mycotoo was awarded Top Prizes for Clio and Cannes Lions Gold for SXSWestworld.

Black Is Poetry

Welcome to issue #11! 📜

Black To School is focused on celebrating Black people and Black contributions around the world. The “Why?” that powers our mission is simple. “Our ancestors invented the table that the world now sits at. It’s time to not just claim our seat, but to set the agenda.” Please click on this link and learn more about the backstory behind Black To School. 

This is National Poetry Month and we’re exploring our role in everything from creating written language to establishing a global literary canon. A special thanks 🙏🏾 to the readers below who were our “Golden Griots'' (or top sharers) for last week's issue about the Harlem Renaissance. Please keep sharing stories of #blackcontributions and our collective history within your networks! 

• Margot T.

• Lydia F.

• Nikki S.

• Stacy B.

• Adey D.

In this issue, we’ll: 

• Revisit what you think you know about the genre of Hip Hop and its connection to one of the oldest and respected forms of literature, Poetry. 

• Read, watch, and experience Hip Hop as you would any Shakespearean play. Make your own rhymes and embrace the lyrical genius within. 

We heard you! Starting today, we’ve updated our weekly newsletter release schedule to Mondays in order to jump start your week!😎

Poetic License

Contributor: Obinna Onyeagoro

Whether we are talking about lines and verses, rhyme and meter, or cadence and rhythm, Africans, African Americans, and other African Diaspora poets have been using literary devices since ancient times. We all experience these clever and compelling techniques not only when we read a poem, but also when we listen to our favorite songs; recite prayer; give testimony; cheer for sports teams; watch commercials; read a birthday card; and enjoy a night at the theater. 

There is nearly unanimous agreement on the broad technical definition of poetry from sources ranging from dictionaries, anthologies, and literary journals to prize organizations, academics, and critics. It’s a form of literature that uses sound, imagery, and pace to create abstract and/or literal meaning. And there are at least 36 different genres of poetry, which are formally acknowledged and studied. For centuries, Black poets have won prizes and received high marks for demonstrating mastery of poetry as defined by the West. 

However, what’s curious is that many of the genres popularized by Africans and the African Diaspora, which also conform to the technical definition, are not generally recognized as poetry. They include everything from oral folk tales, spirituals, call and response to jazz, blues, funk, hip hop, spoken word, and more. They are typically regarded as and confined to “performance art” - a combination of disciplines that are excluded from core academic curriculum and canon literature. 

The impassioned and singular case against recognizing song and spoken word as poetry is that the lyrics don’t stand on their own as the verses in poems do. Yet, many struggle to defend this argument when reminded of the origins of celebrated narrative poets like Homer, Milton, Tennyson, Alighieri. Today, the debate still rages on as to whether to include these beloved forms of Black poetry in the annals of literary history.  

What is the genius that lives within Hip Hop?

In August 1973, Hip Hop was born at a birthday party in the Bronx hosted by a native Jamaican, Clive Campbell (also known as DJ Kool Herc). His breakbeats at the turntable started as an improvised experiment and quickly became an underground cultural movement that included new sounds, beats, and rhymes that could only be experienced at house parties and neighborhood block clubs. Click here to listen to the 2-minute history of Hip Hop.

Serendipity played a big role in Hip Hop’s beginnings, but it is not the full story. You can trace the roots of Hip Hop back to griots in Africa’s Mali kingdom. Griots were the keepers of their people’s traditions and history. They were so highly respected and central to the survival of local communities that they became a separate class of people in society. They passed their craft down from generation to generation. Like modern day rappers, griots were multi-faceted performers - skilled in the art of poetry, music, and storytelling. This cultural phenomenon later spread throughout Africa and was transported to Jamaica. 

Hip Hop, also inspired by the Black Arts Movement, has continuously been extended and shaped to reflect the talents, experiences, and points of view of its biggest proponents, Black writers, musicians, DJs, dancers, producers, philosophers, intellectuals, graphic artists, fashion designers, and other creatives. As a result, the magic of Hip Hop is that it cannot be siloed nor contained. By design, it amplifies and fuses at least five different disciplines: 

1. Deejay - mix and maneuver prerecorded music

2. Dance - choreograph specialized movement

3. Graffiti - stylize writing that infuses meaning

4. Emcee, inc. Rap - spoken word performance that integrates storytelling, poetry, and drama

5. Social Anthropology - introspection and reflection on personal and societal norms, values, and behaviors

The poetic devices that are part of Hip Hop songs and a signal of high art commonly include: (rhythm) repetition and rhyming; (sound) alliteration and assonance; and (meaning) allusion, metaphor, and analogy. In some ways, Hip Hop is a type of lyric poetry. 

Hip Hop artists like Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Nas, Jay-Z, Tupac Shakur, Missy Elliot, Grandmaster Flash, Wu-Tang Clan and so many more are considered modern day poets (griots). With the exception of Shakespeare, they are more well known than most of the Western canon. And some credit Hip Hop culture for (re)popularizing and keeping the literary tradition of poetry alive.

Hip Hop Forever

Times are changing and Hip Hop has taken center stage. Harvard University, Stanford, Princeton, UCLA and other top schools now have academic courses and research institutes focused on studying Hip Hop. There have been over 17,000 doctoral theses written on the subject of Hip Hop. In 2017, for the first time, Hip Hop surpassed Rock as America’s #1 streamed music category. In 2018, artist, Kendrick Lamar, broke the proverbial barrier by winning the Pulitzer Prize for Music. 

The glass door that separated Hip Hop and poetry has been forever shattered. It is now open to recognize other Hip Hop artists for their mastery and literary contributions. Black poetry takes many forms and defines mainstream culture.

🛠️ The Black To School Toolkit

Now What? Dig Deeper with Friends, Family, and Others.

• Want to learn more about our tradition of oral literature, including Hip Hop? Skim excerpts from this beautiful audio-visual archive, curated by Furious Flower. Dig Deeper? Read the book, Rhyme’s Challenge, which makes the most powerful argument for Hip Hop lyrics as a transcendent form of poetry.

• Guess what Othello and Wu-Tang Clan have in common? Watch this TED Talk in which rapper-philosopher, Akala, draws shocking parallels between Hip Hop and Shakespeare. Then Chill Out! Enjoy listening to this cool montage of Hip Hop lyrics and beats from 1979 to 2017.

• Ready to expose your kids to the real thing? Watch this TEDEd animated video that talks about “What makes a poem...a poem?” And read this children’s book to explore the poetic tradition of Hip Hop. For you and your teens? Do these fun, classical poetry vs Hip Hop lyric comparison exercises. 

• Curious who has more skills? Checkout this chart that ranks rappers by the size of their vocabulary. Want more? Read this anthology, endorsed by Professor Henry Louis Gates, which analyzes an anthology of 300 rap lyrics as poetry. 

• Do you have what it takes? First, get inspired by streaming the international Broadway sensation and Hip Hop musical, Hamilton. Now take a MasterClass with Grammy-winning producer, Timbaland, or multi-platinum, singer-songwriter, Alicia Keys.

• Eager to support an institution that promotes Hip Hop artists as part of the literary canon? Visit the Hip Hop Archive and Research Institute at Harvard University’s Hutchins Center. Does your alma mater have Hip Hop courses? If not, reach out to your alumni group and find out why. Also, support the Universal Hip Hop Museum and explore partnerships.

⌛ The Black To School Timeline

Black Poetry Takes Many Forms and Defines Mainstream Culture.

• We began by stepping into Prehistoric times (At least 5,000 Years Ago) The Thing: Sumerian and Nsibidi, the first written language systems, created by Black Africans in Mesopotamia.

• Followed by zooming into the 20th Century (100 Years Ago) The Place: Harlem (Renaissance), a community of writers and activists that inspired one of the greatest artistic, cultural, and intellectual movements.

• This week, we spotlight the 1970s (50 Years Ago) The Practice: Hip Hop, the lyrical genius that sits at the intersection of poetry, philosophy, and performance art.

• Next week, we return to current times (Present Day) The Promise: Afrofuturism, the freethinkers who use artistic expression and technology to create a powerful vision for society and the planet.

About This Week’s Contributor

Obinna Onyeagoro

Based in London, Obinna (Obi) Onyeagoro is active in Egon Zehnder’s Financial Services practice. Obinna’s focus is to build close, trusted relationships advising senior executives on their leadership challenges across multiple sectors, including private-equity, private-credit firms, infrastructure funds and technology & media organizations.

Before joining Egon Zehnder, Obinna headed the Financial Sponsors Group for EMEA at Standard Chartered Bank, focusing on private equity clients, corporates and financial sponsors. Earlier he was an investment banker with Deutsche Bank Securities in New York on the Leveraged Finance team. Obinna began his career as a consultant at Accenture, focusing on tech strategy.

Obinna earned a BS in electrical engineering from Boston University, a Master’s in education with a technology focus from Harvard University, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He is passionate about technology, education, and impact investing in emerging markets with an emphasis on Africa and renewable energies.

As we reclaim our history and legacy of achievement and contributions, Black to School is an important tool and catalyst for our global African diaspora community of both parents and children. People with no past will find it difficult to chart a course forward. Black to School is (re)connecting us with our brilliant past and present so that we may walk boldly into our bright future.

Black Is Poetry

Welcome to issue #10! 📜

During Easter weekend, we were reminded by a couple of awesome subscribers to continue grounding readers in our collective “Why?”. It’s simple. “Our ancestors invented the table that the world now sits at. It’s time to not just claim our seat, but to set the agenda .” Please click on this link and learn more about the backstory behind Black To School. 

A special thanks 🙏🏾 to the readers below who were our “Golden Griots'' (or top sharers) for last week's issue. Please keep sharing stories of #blackcontributions and our collective history within your networks! 

• Andrene S.

• Pamela W.

• Cristin H.

• Sarah C.

• Dawn M.

As we spotlight the work of Black poets this month, we experience the reach and impact of our words. In this issue, we’ll: 

• Learn about Harlem, the birthplace of one of the greatest literary, intellectual, and cultural movements of the 20th century. 

• Read, listen, and be inspired by poetry and writing that will make you laugh until it hurts; love with abandon; and cry without shame.

Masterpiece Theater

Contributor: Kibi Anderson

Libraries on every continent are full and expanding with brilliant poetry, novels, drama, short stories, written by Africans, African Americans, Black British, Afro-Caribbeans, and other parts of the African diaspora. Through their narratives and craft, Black perspectives, ideas, and experiences are forever present to prepare, activate, and delight future generations.  

As we study Black literature, let’s educate ourselves on how the classics are selected.

The canon, considered the highest form of classic literature, is derived from the Greek word (kanôn). The practice of forming a canon has roots in religion. The church would canonize everything from sacred scripture to saints. The most widely studied and celebrated collection of classics is called the Western canon, comprised of a core of twenty-six 19th and 20th century writers, selected by mostly white, male experts of European descent and protected by institutions ranging from the Pulitzer, Hugo, and Nobel Prizes for Literature to school curriculum, public library collections, and publisher anthologies.

The Western canon has long been criticized for its Eurocentric perspective, gender and ethnic exclusivity, cultural hierarchies, linguistic colonization, moral obsolescence, and lack of contemporary relevance. Opponents have called for everything from complete abandonment and incremental expansion to the creation of a global canon. These debates reached a boiling point in the late 80s and early 90s, a period affectionately known as the Canon Wars. 

In the 20th century, as a result of long fought and hard won advocacy, more African, Asian, and Latin Diaspora writers were added to the Western canon. Despite some progress, the canon formation process and those who control it still do not reflect population demographics. There have only been three Black Nobel laureates in literature in its 120 year history. A study revealed that 90% of books reviewed by the New York Times are by white authors and 79% of staff at American publishing houses are white and female. 

As we learn about the literary genius of Black poets and writers, we must challenge ourselves to acknowledge the limitations of these designated classics and re-envision how we can maximize access to different literary traditions and styles of interpretation. Only then can we develop an appreciation and respect for their unique contributions to the human experience.

What was it about Harlem in the 20th century that led to the explosion of Black poetry and literature?

The migration of Black workers and families to Harlem began in the mid 1910s. It happened as a response to three distinct macro trends and ultimately led to more than 300,000 African Americans moving north, many of whom favored and settled in Harlem, New York. Harlem’s Black population grew from 10% in 1910 to 70% by 1930.

1. A shortage of factory labor in the North as a result of limited foreign immigration after World War I.

2. Natural disasters in the south in 1915 and 1916 led to high unemployment among Black sharecroppers and workers in the South.

3. Overbuilding in Manhattan drove landlords to seek out a new demographic of tenants to fill empty apartments in predominantly white neighborhoods.

The northbound journey for African Americans in search of economic opportunity and a better life is known as the Great Migration. 

As the concentration of Black creative and intellectual talent came together in New York, a cultural phenomenon known as the Harlem Renaissance (aka the Jazz Age or the New Negro Renaissance) was born. Many credit the initial spark of this movement to a series of pivotal events that brought together Black intellectuals, poets, writers, and other artists with white publishers, journalists, and reviewers, including the release of Shuffle Along (a musical revue) and the Civic Club Dinner (located just outside of Harlem). 

The African American poets that captivated the hearts and minds of Harlem and the world included Countee Cullen, Langston Hughes, Jean Toomer, Arna Bontemps, Sterling Brown, Claude McKay, Alice Dunbar-Nelson, Angelina Weld Grimké, Georgia Douglas Johnson, and many more. Writers, backed by newfound support from patrons, prizes, and publishers, experimented with literary style and content. Some showcased their ability to match traditionalist standards while others initiated a conversation that pushed the boundaries of race, sexuality, identity, and political expression.

The Avant Garde

Beyond the mainstream exposure to African American literature, one of the most powerful outcomes of the Harlem Renaissance was a new Black political consciousness. Poetry, novels, and drama became a canvas upon which to counter stereotypes and express racial pride. The generation of Black poets who followed, including Gwendolyn Brooks, Robert Hayden, and others, stood on the shoulders of these giants and took the practice of artistic activism to new heights. 

Poverty and unemployment brought on by the Great Depression led to the 1935 Riots, which ultimately conspired to throw Harlem off course. And yet, through all of the changes over the last 85+ years, Harlem has remained on the cutting edge and at the epicenter of creative experimentation, cultural expression, and political activism. Its spirit lives on in subcultures everywhere and now in the virtual world. Black poetry continues to stretch and elevate the influence of literature in our society.

🛠️ The Black To School Toolkit

Now What? Dig Deeper with Friends, Family, and Others.

• Curious about which authors are being taught in universities? Check out this database of millions of syllabi from American universities, compiled by Open Syllabus. No doubt, there’s more work needed to diversify this lineup!

• Interested in experiencing more Harlem Renaissance poetry? Here’s an amazing collection of audio, video, and narrative poems from the Harlem Renaissance period. Want more? Review this 250-year timeline of Black poetry, curated by Lift Every Voice. 

• Do you want to see the streets, clubs, and halls where writers and artists came together and performed? Click here and take a tour of Virtual Harlem. Still curious? Watch a photography exhibit that traces the history of this cultural mecca.

• Ready to share the Harlem Renaissance with your kids? Enjoy this medley performed by Rosie’s Theater Kids. They are the real deal! Also, here’s a fun set of worksheets that you can use in the classroom or at home to expose them to the people, places, and performances. And don’t forget to pick up some of these children’s books on the Harlem Renaissance.

• Planning a trip to New York any time soon? Let this be your guide! Take a free walking tour of Harlem and see all of the famous cultural sites in person.

• Want to promote great literature? Read Black authors. Buy our books. Continue the campaign to amplify Black voices and #BlackoutBestsellerLists.

• Are you inspired to make your mark? Join the oldest African American writers group in the world, the Harlem Writers Guild. 

⌛ The Black To School Timeline

Black Poetry Continues to Stretch and Elevate the Influence of Literature in Our Society.

• Last week, we stepped into Prehistoric times (At least 5,000 Years Ago) The Thing: Sumerian and Nsibidi, the first written language systems, created by Black Africans in Mesopotamia.

• This week, we fast forwarded into the 20th Century (100 Years Ago) The Place: Harlem (Renaissance), a community of writers and activists that inspired one of the greatest artistic, cultural, and intellectual movements.

• Next week, we’ll spotlight the 1970s (50 Years Ago) The Practice: Hip Hop, the lyrical genius that sits at the intersection of poetry, philosophy, and performance art.

About This Week’s Contributor

Kibi Anderson

Hello lovely people! My name is Kibi Anderson and I am a Los Angeles based business executive and Emmy Award winning storyteller. My story has had one principal arc and many subplots. With training from both Harvard University and NYU Stern School of Business, I have gone from an amazing career in international management consulting and film production to private banking, digital media, technology, and entrepreneurship. 

I have worked in Senior Executive roles at Red Table Talk, Bloomberg Media, ABC News Digital, and Broadway Federal Bank. My super powers include industry trend analysis, an entrepreneurial mind, strategic communications, digital marketing, and brand building.

I am a lover of people and the beautiful stories their lives represent. I am also passionate about changing the current media landscape that far too often marginalizes the stories of Black people, even though our innovations, culture, and contributions have created huge value throughout human history. 

I am excited to be part of Black to School because the newsletter is focused on elevating many of these forgotten stories. With it comes the power to speak our truth and own our full narrative. I hope that you read this newsletter and are inspired to share it - far and wide - and live into our brilliant legacy and future.

Black Is Poetry

Welcome to issue #9 and the start of our new theme, poetry! 📜

If you're new to Black To School, we just explored our contributions to the field of mathematics from early calculators to human computing and STE(A)M education. 

Black To School is part of a broader movement focused on celebrating Black people and Black contributions around the world. April is National Poetry Month and will be all about the role of the African Diaspora in the development of poetry and the literary arts. 

This month, you’ll get a lesson on the oldest human writing system; a community that inspired some of the most prolific 20th century writers and intellectuals; the lyrical genius behind the top music genre in America; and the emergence of Afrofuturism as a literary bridge that will transport us all to a better world.  

In this issue we’ll: 

• Learn about Nsibidi, the oldest writing system in the world. It was invented by Black Africans and influenced our modern alphabet.

• Enjoy these language programs, African literati, and tour one of the oldest secret societies.

Our Mother Tongue

Contributor: Dennis Dortch

Our ability to share complex concepts and learn as a group is what distinguishes humans from apes. This evolution of human expression is what ultimately gave rise to English, along with 7,000 languages spoken around the world. We will follow the unbroken trail from the earliest forms of writing to the origins of modern poetry and literature.

Traditionally, using the Western lens on the rest of the world, the definition of literature has been narrowly limited to written works, excluding the African oral tradition with all of its prose, poems, plays, proverbs, speeches, folktales, chants, songs, and performances. The rationale for disregarding oral forms of literature range from concerns about the unclear timelines, meaning, and authorship to its excessive functional nature and lack of an official record. 

Given that spoken rather than written language was the only form of communication for the vast majority of human history, there has been strong support for broadening this scope. Critics expose the inconsistencies in the current definition by referencing the Iliad and Odyssey as examples of Greek oral literature that has been widely embraced, interpreted and studied despite open questions about their true significance, accuracy, and creator(s). 

In the end, the slow and reluctant recognition of Africa’s vast and varied contributions to global language arts is driven by lack of cultural understanding and bias, including ethnocentrism, inaccurate translations, and flawed interpretation. With that in mind, it is important to be mindful and challenge our preconceived notions and conditioned preferences when evaluating literary scholarship of any kind. Now, let’s dig a little deeper…

Did you know that the languages that we use today can be traced back to Africa?

The first writing systems in the world were developed by Black Africans. Did you know that our ancestors (long before the rest of the world) used written language to communicate information about everything from community names, property ownership, warfare, and personal debt to family structure, love, and gender relations? Although these ancient African symbolic systems paved the way for modern language, they have either died or are in decline. Check out this endangered alphabets chart that among other things demonstrates Africa’s diverse contributions to the great human lexicon.

The language that are generally accepted to be the oldest discernible writing systems in the world are Old Nubian (often referred to as Proto-Saharan) and Nsibidi. These languages, although a subject of much debate, did originate from Black Africans in South of Ancient Egypt (in Sudan) and Southeastern Nigeria, respectively. Early evidence suggests that they are at least 3,400 to 5,000 years old. These logographic writing system, Nsibidi, (much like Chinese and Japanese) uses wedge-shaped pictures to represent whole words.

These writing systems were initially private languages used amongst the religious community as well as elite and secret societies. Although Nsibidi markings on a person’s clothes and body were reserved for government officials and the powerful, the written messages were actually used to record common events and ordinary communication (like the transcripts of a court case).

Living Language

Nsibidi is at-risk, but alive and still in use today. There is no conclusive evidence that links early African writing systems to all of the world’s languages. And yet, (1) the timing of when other languages first appeared; (2) the trade related interactions between these geographies; (3) and the lower levels of linguistic diversity in other parts of the world suggest a natural diffusion of language as populations migrated out of Africa. 

Our African ancestors laid the foundation for modern languages and writing systems across the globe. These early civilizations represent a beautifully rich and complex web of social groups, structures, hierarchies, transactions, relationships, and learning. Black people invented oral and written language and have a long and proud literary history.

🛠️ The Black To School Toolkit

Now What? Dig Deeper with Friends, Family, and Others.

• Wondering how to explain the evolution of written language to your kids? Start by sharing this Home Team History video (preteens and up) with your kids on the oldest and most popular African languages. For the little ones (toddlers through age 9), share this African language primer video from Kids Black History. 

• Ready for some fun and intrigue? Take a look at this article about the Box Office success, Black Panther, that features ancient Nsibidi writing in the throne room. Want to know more about the secret societies that still use the Nsibidi language and traditions? Check out this Hood Museum of Art exhibit from Dartmouth University.

• Wondering where you can find some modern African poetry? Check out this mobile site, curated by Badilisha Poetry X-Change, that has the largest database of African poets and poetry on the planet. 

⌛ The Black To School Timeline

Black People Invented Oral and Written Language and Have a Long and Proud Literary History.

• In this issue, we stepped into Prehistoric times (At least 5,000 Years Ago) The Thing: Old Nubian and Nsibidi, the first written language systems, created by Black Africans in Mesopotamia.

• Next week, we’ll fast forward into the 20th Century (100 Years Ago) The Place: Harlem (Renaissance), a community of writers and activists that inspired one of the greatest artistic, cultural, and intellectual movements.

About This Week’s Contributor

Dennis Dortch

As the visionary co-founder and CEO of BLACK&SEXY TV, Dennis Dortch, oversees all productions and has served as the screenwriter, director and showrunner for many series. Dennis is a Sundance Film Festival Alumni and Gotham Award nominee as “Breakthrough Director” for his feature film debut, A Good Day to be Black & Sexy. 

Dennis also co-created and sold the first BLACK&SEXY series, The Couple, to HBO and secured development deals for two series for BET Networks. Dennis was honored as a selectee on The Root 100 list for the most influential African-Americans for his work and contributions raising the visibility and voices of the Black Community as an artist, entrepreneur, and culture creator.

About Black To School

Black To School is a collaborative volunteer effort focused on sharing Black history, collecting helpful resources, and creating a safe space for discussion. Learn more about us here and feel free to join our Slack community to keep the conversation going. People of all backgrounds are welcome!

If you’re passionate about this type of work and want to help out, please let us know! The best way to get in touch is by emailing info@blcktoschool.com with “volunteer” as the subject, or by joining our Slack community and sharing that you’d like to be involved.

Brought to you in collaboration with the Black To School Collective, Hidden Pages, ATCP.co, and Robin Walker.

Black Is Analytics

Welcome to issue #8! 🧮

It’s the final issue of our March theme, Black is Analytics! New readers, you can visit our archive to learn more about Black To School and catch up on all past issues. If you received a forwarded issue, you can subscribe for yourself right here. 

Black To School is a newsletter for all people interested in learning more about the contributions of Africans and the African diaspora to global society. We’re excited to learn from these stories, draw inspiration, and be the change that we want to see in our own lives, homes, and communities. 

A special thanks 🙏🏾 to the readers below who were our “Golden Griots'' (or top sharers) for last week's issue. We’re so grateful that you’re sharing #blackstories and our collective history within your networks! Please keep spreading the word.

• Pamela W.

• Nik R.

• Sharon S.

• Stacy B.

• Saamra M.

• Adina K.

Throughout March, we explored Black mathematical talents and how they’re put to work in the world. In this final issue, we’ll: 

• Get to know Black teachers, advisors, and advocates who are reimagining how math and science are taught and experienced in the classroom. 

• Step into the future with these creative and effective programs that prepare students for promising careers and a great life.

The STE(A)M Dream

Contributor: Atoya Burleson

Throughout this month, we’ve showcased just how early (34,000+ yrs ago) our analytic contributions to the world began. We’ve highlighted the depth and breadth of our mathematical genius. The impact of which continues to inspire the next generation and benefit us all.    

As Black human computers helped land the first human on the moon, the country began to focus on science careers and education. Everything changed when America’s first Black President, Barack Obama committed, much like the bold goal that launched us into space, to restore our academic excellence in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) around the world. Our national focus on STEM was later expanded to STEAM in order to include arts education.

“The key to meeting these challenges -- to improving our health and well-being, to harnessing clean energy, to protecting our security, and succeeding in the global economy -- will be reaffirming and strengthening America's role as the world's engine of scientific discovery and technological innovation. . . . We've launched a $4 billion Race to the Top fund, one of the largest investments in education reform in history. . . . [This is] a nationwide effort to help reach the goal this administration has set:  moving to the top in science and math education in the next decade. ”

- President Barack Obama, Educate to Innovate Campaign Address (2009)

Ten years have come and gone and America’s academic rank is not yet among the global top 10 in math or science. Yet there has been significant progress in attracting billions in public-private investments. Also, colleges and universities are graduating 261,000 more (+55%) students with STEM degrees. Although there is some cause for celebration, there are still significant gaps in the share of Black STEM bachelor and graduate degree holders. 

With continued growth in jobs that require computers and math as well as the 25%+ premium in income that Black STEM degree holders can earn as compared to their non-STEM degreed peers, there is no better time than now to understand what works in closing this gap. 

Why HBCUs are essential to America winning in STEM?

Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) were originally referred to as “Institutes”. The first HBCUs were established before the Civil War to teach elementary and high school education to Black Americans. Their initial curricula focused on technical training in agricultural, mechanical, and industrial trades. They didn’t offer college level studies until the 1900s. From the founding of the original 16, in the early 1800s, there are now 101 HBCUs in the United States with a total enrollment of 292,000. 

HBCUs represent a small, but mighty part of our educational system. Some of the most prolific African American STEM leaders in history attended HBCUs like Howard University, Tuskegee University, West Virginia State University, and more, including Booker T. Washington, George Washington Carver, Kelly Miller, Katherine Johnson, Lonnie Johnson, Patricia Bath, Alma Levant Hayden  as well as our first female Vice President, Kamala Harris. 

Black students at HBCUs represent 9% of all of the Black students enrolled in universities and colleges around the world. While Black HBCU STEM graduates are 25% of all Black STEM graduates, including 46% of all Black female STEM graduates and 30% of all STEM PhDs. Ten of the top 11 universities that produce Black PhDs are HBCUs. Their STEM degree rates are 2x higher than all non HBCUs combined. 

After countless national and local studies, there are three essential elements to increasing both the interest in and performance of Black students in STEM, which are all focused on creating a sense of “belonging”: (1) Racial and gender representation, (2) Culturally responsive lessons, and (3) Peer networks within their discipline. HBCUs are striking all of the right notes. These African American institutions are consistently besting Harvard University, Yale University, and other more well-endowed universities in producing Black STEM graduates.

Spelman College, Xavier University, and Howard University STEM programs are award-winning models that bring to life the feeling of “belonging” through everything from teacher and peer mentoring to career counseling and internships. HBCU math and science programs illustrate beyond a shadow of a doubt that representation matters in unlocking our analytical talents and achieving our highest potential.

How do we scale what works?

As a result of a renewed national commitment and their sustained success in educating STEM professionals, the world is taking notice of HBCUs. Recently, Howard University received the largest donation in its 154-year history. In late 2020, the National Science Foundation commissioned a group of HBCUs to conduct the most comprehensive study ever on STEM student enrollment and retention. Their findings will be shared with all colleges and universities to improve national STEM performance.   

Beyond the campus, others are applying lessons learned on their own campuses. Washington State passed an “academic acceleration” law; the National Association of Black Engineers (NSBE) is expanding its member model; and the organization 100Kin10 has prepared 93,000 new STEM educators. As the competition for jobs of the future grows, we have a clear opportunity to learn from institutions that have over two centuries of success in training some of the brightest minds. STEM analytics is in our DNA and ready for full integration into classrooms.

🛠️ The Black To School Toolkit

Now What? Dig Deeper with Friends, Family, and Others.

• Need clarity on what STEM really is? Learn more by watching this illustrated 3-minute video “STEM Integration in K-12 Education”. Click here to see real time data on STEM performance for each state, grade level, and race.

• Curious about how “belonging” makes a difference in educational achievement? Watch “Why Choose an HBCU?”. A 2-minute video on the magic of HBCUs for talented Black students. Want more? Check out “Tell Them We’re Rising!”. A 90-minute video on why and how Black Colleges and Universities were established. 

• Ready to share STEM education with your kids? This is an awesome list of STEM books that beautifully represents our next generation (ages: 4-12). Got older kids? Give them an extra hour of screen time to play these fun STEM games (grades: middle to high school)

• Getting ready for the college application shuffle? Participate with your middle or high schooler in one of these upcoming virtual HBCU tours or plan an on-campus visit. Looking for a leg up? Register your young scholar in one of these STEM summer programs at top universities across the country. 

• Curious how to shake things up in your kid’s classroom? Share these STEM resources with their teacher. Sutori is a really cool and effective lesson planning and presentation tool created by a network of 1.5 million educators.

• Are you an employer looking to hire more STEM grads? Click here to read what some African Americans with STEM jobs say about the importance of diversity in the workplace. Looking to remove bias from your hiring process? Partner with the organization, Karat, to improve your interviews. They have conducted over 80,000 interviews with brilliant Black minds.

⌛ The Black To School Timeline

STEM Analytics is in Our DNA and Ready for Full Integration into Classrooms.

• We started by getting a glimpse of the Stone Age (Over 43,000 Years Ago) The Thing: Lebombo bone, the first calculator in the world, created by African women, which laid the groundwork for advanced math used around the world.

• Then learn what happened in the 17th & 18th Century (About 300 to 400 Years Ago) The People: Enslaved mathematicians, including Thomas Fuller and Benjamin Banneker whose genius and contributions defied and threatened the institution of slavery. 

• We built on that knowledge by visiting NASA in the 1950s (70 Years Ago) The Place: West Area Computers, the Black female mathematicians whose calculations put a man on the moon.

• Finally, we explored what is new and true in STE(A)M today (Here and Now) The Practices: These experiments and promising approaches have students, parents, educators, artists, and futurists excited about reinventing the way we learn and experience math.

About This Week’s Contributor

Atoya Burleson

Atoya Burleson is an accomplished athlete, educator, and business woman with both a psychology degree as well as a masters degree in education.

Atoya has mentored and coached high school student athletes and worked with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) compliance program to ensure student athletes are set up for success. She also gives back by supporting those who are looking to further their careers in education, professional sports, and beyond. Follow Atoya at atoyaburleson.com where she shares education, lifestyle, family, and more.

About Black To School

Black To School is a collaborative volunteer effort focused on sharing Black history, collecting helpful resources, and creating a safe space for discussion. Learn more about us here and feel free to join our Slack community to keep the conversation going. People of all backgrounds are welcome!

If you’re passionate about this type of work and want to help out, please let us know! The best way to get in touch is by emailing info@blcktoschool.com with “volunteer” as the subject, or by joining our Slack community and sharing that you’d like to be involved.

Brought to you in collaboration with the Black To School Collective, Hidden Pages, ATCP.co, and Robin Walker.

Black Is Analytics

Welcome to issue #7! 🧮

For anyone who is new to Black To School, we explore the history and contributions of Africans and the African diaspora to global society. Our goal is to learn from these stories, draw inspiration, and make a positive change in our own lives, homes, and communities. If you received a forwarded issue, you can subscribe to Black To School here. 

We’re so grateful to all of our readers for tuning in and sharing Black To School with others. This week, we’re starting a new tradition! We’re giving a big shout out 🎤 to readers who are also top sharers or “Golden Griots” of the previous week’s Black To School issue. Please keep sharing this information and #blackstories as a whole!

• Kongnwehsusu A.

• Andrene S.

• Nik R.

• Obinna O.

Here’s the thing about Black analytics, it has helped us go where no human nor machine has gone before. In this issue, we’ll:

• Take an insider’s tour of a government unit, staffed entirely by Black, female mathematicians whose calculations led to some of the world’s greatest breakthroughs, including putting the first human on the moon. 

• Reflect on the ripple effects of those great minds and participate in awesome opportunities now available to promote and invest in next generation innovators.

Powered by Human Computers

Contributor: Dhyia Thompson-Phillips

The mental math of geniuses like Benjamin Banneker, Thomas Fuller and many others (Issue #6) highlighted our unrealized potential to contribute at every level of society. It wasn’t until June 1941 when President Roosevelt, under-pressure, issued an Executive Order banning discrimination in the Defense Industry that the doors started to open for some of the brightest minds of all time. 

Since then, four generations of Black mathematicians, engineers, and scientists have contributed to countless discoveries and inventions across the globe.   

How were women in the field of mathematics able to share their gifts more broadly?

In less than half a century, women with math degrees went from being confined to careers in education to jobs in programming and computing. Previously, women educated in mathematics were predominantly teachers. However, in the mid-twentieth century, given their analytical skills, there were five macro trends that led to new employment opportunities for them:

1. Rise of data collection and increasing demand for analysis to support advancements in the fields of astronomy, engineering, aerospace, and defense.

2. Loss of manpower as more men enlisted to fight in World War II.

3. Shift in perceptions of data analysis as tedious work, requiring long hours, repetitive tasks, and strict precision. 

4. Cheaper labor cost of women (~50%) relative to men in the same roles.

5. Elimination of legal restrictions on employing married women. 

Before the war, there were 5 women computers working at Langley Research Center. By 1946, there were 400 female human computers who had joined their ranks. Studying the factors that drive human progress is just as important as celebrating the results. The better we understand what levers lead to positive change, the greater the opportunity to accelerate and replicate these outcomes in other areas of society. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (predecessor known as NACA until 1958) offers one of the best examples of the transformational impact of Black women in the workforce.

Did you know Black, female mathematicians helped put a man on the moon?

White women mathematicians were first hired as human calculators by California’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in 1939. When the U.S. joined the war, it raised the stakes and the need for computing power. NASA enlisted the women of JPL to assist male engineers and scientists with coding, computer programming, and other technical analysis. The first Black female in a technical role at JPL, Janez Lawson, was educated as a chemical engineer. She was one of the first people to be trained to operate NASA’s new IBM computers. She was one in a long line of African American math workers who broke the color line.

On NASA’s West campus in Virginia, formerly a slave plantation, the women who worked there were called West Area Computers. They were black women with math and other technical degrees who were hired to assist with data tracking, analysis, and experimentation. As a result of Virginia’s Jim Crow laws, to be hired, Black female computers were required, as an additional hurdle, to take a chemistry course at a nearby college. Once hired, they worked in the West Area of Langley, which was 1 mile from the main, East campus with segregated dining, boarding, and restrooms.

At its peak, Langley employed as many as 50 Black computers. They compiled and processed data recorded from tests; conducted hundreds of calculations; and created charts and graphs to include in reports. Some of the more complex problems they tackled required everything from analytical geometry  to linear algebra to estimate the lift, position, and trajectory of satellites and eventually manned spaceships. 

Unlike distinguished astronauts like John Glenn (the first American to orbit Earth) and Neil Armstrong (the first person to walk on the moon), the names and contributions of Annie Easley, Christine Darden, Dorothy Vaughn, Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, Miriam Mann and dozens of other Black, female mathematical geniuses responsible for these achievements remained largely unknown for more than 50 years. 

Hidden Figures No More…Ripple Effect

After receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015 by President Barack Obama, the story of Katherine Johnson and the women of West Area Computers went viral (watch this 3 minute video). In 2016, a New York Times best seller was written by Margot Lee Shetterly about their work called Hidden Figures, which was later adapted into a movie that grossed well over $200M worldwide (9x its budget). The story of the West Area Computers is but one of many that paint a powerful picture of 20th century Black analytics.

Their calculations not only helped us achieve success in the arms and space race, but also laid the groundwork for renewable energy technology and much more. Their tremendous accomplishments have not only captured the hearts and minds of the world; but also, inspired a generation of Black mathematicians, engineers, inventors, scientists, astronauts, academics, and, yes, NASA leaders. Black analytics power the operations and innovation of institutions around the world.

🛠️ The Black To School Toolkit

Now What? Dig Deeper with Friends, Family, and Others.

• Interested in learning more about Black human computers? Check out this 30 min interview with Hidden Figures author, Margot Shetterly Lee, that tells the story of the women of West Area Computers. Is your interest piqued? Watch this featurette of the Hidden Figures movie, which broke Box Office records. And buy the book!

• Want to learn about our amazing history in the field of mathematics? See the faces and read profiles of brilliant Black mathematicians throughout history and all over the world.

• Share these trailblazing stories of Black female mathematicians with your kids? Here is a short educational video about the work of Dorothy Vaughn and a book about Katherine Johnson. For story time at home, get the book Hidden Figures for children.

• Ready to connect with today’s top talent? Celebrate these modern-day, Black math scholars. Also, join or support the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), an organization with over 22,000 members, focused on the growth and success of Black math, science, and engineering students & professionals. 

• Exploring a career change? There are 429,000 open computing jobs nationwide. The demand for computer programming (i.e., coding) is by far the highest. Click here and join Reskill Americans as they answer “the call” by providing free coding classes to thousands of African Americans.

• Curious about opportunities to invest in Black female innovators? Goldman Sachs just launched a $10 Billion fund to invest in one million Black, female entrepreneurs over the next 10 years. Interested in getting in on the action? Invest in BackStage Capital’s $5 Million campaign to back underestimated founders (minimum investment $100).

⌛ The Black To School Timeline

Black Analytics Power the Operations and Innovation of Institutions Around the World.

• We began by getting a glimpse of the Stone Age (Over 43,000 Years Ago) The Thing: Lebombo bone, the first calculator in the world, created by African women, which laid the groundwork for advanced math used around the world.

• Last week, we stepped into the 17th & 18th Century (About 300 to 400 Years Ago) The People: Enslaved mathematicians, including Thomas Fuller and Benjamin Banneker whose genius and contributions defied and threatened the institution of slavery. 

• This week, we’ll visit NASA in the 1950s (70 Years Ago) The Place: West Area Computers, the Black female mathematicians whose calculations put a man on the moon.

• Next week, we’ll experience what is new and true in STE(A)M today (Here and Now) The Practices: These experiments and promising approaches have students, parents, educators, artists, and futurists excited about reinventing the way we learn and experience math.

About This Week’s Contributor

Dhyia Thompson-Phillips

I serve as the Executive Director of a workforce program at Olive-Harvey College, a small community college, on the far Southeast side of Chicago. My husband, pup Fruity, and I live in Chicago and enjoy spending our time along the lakefront. I am a space exploration enthusiast and major advocate of increasing Black representation in computer science, robotics, and machine learning. 

In high school, I was obsessed with NASA, the Apollo missions, and the space program. I even attended NASA Space Academy my senior year, earning college credit in Physics. I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Illinois @Champaign-Urbana with a minor in Computer Science and a double master’s degree in Education.

I am especially delighted to contribute to this Issue because of a dear friendship that I formed with Janet (Darden) Gipson, the daughter of Christine Darden. Christine is one of the Hidden Figures and the first Black woman to be promoted into the Senior Executive Service at NASA (which is the highest rank for civil service). Janet, like her mom, has also soared to new heights as the Vice President of Talent Acquisitions at Global Medical Response. Gipson and her husband are raising two talented young men who are college-bound. They, too, will reap the benefits of the Darden legacy and follow the path of Black excellence.

It is quite surreal to think that Janet’s mom and others like her performed calculations that powered the Apollo missions. How will our collective story change now that young Black boys and girls around the world are learning that there is representation and a legacy of talent at NASA and beyond that looks like them?

About Black To School

Black To School is a collaborative volunteer effort focused on sharing Black history, collecting helpful resources, and creating a safe space for discussion. Learn more about us here and feel free to join our Slack community to keep the conversation going. People of all backgrounds are welcome!

If you’re passionate about this type of work and want to help out, please let us know! The best way to get in touch is by emailing info@blcktoschool.com with “volunteer” as the subject, or by joining our Slack community and sharing that you’d like to be involved.

Brought to you in collaboration with the Black To School Collective, Hidden Pages, ATCP.co, and Robin Walker.