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Who were the Moors of Spain and what were they doing at the time of the European Dark Ages? (1673 hits)

Who were the Moors of Spain and what were they doing at the time of the European Dark Ages? Also, how does this relate to African-Americans today?

The Moors were and are Black African people. They are most famously know for their adventures in Spain (750 – 1492 AD), but their history goes back centuries before the time of the European Dark Ages. I mention this because some have come to define Moors only as Muslims that came through North Africa from Arabia. But Blacks in Africa were called Moors during the time of the Roman Empire, long before Islam came to exist in its present form:

“When the Romans entered West Africa in 46 B.C., they saw Africans and called them Maures, from the Greek adjective Mauros, meaning dark or black. It is from Mauros and the Latin term Marues that the word Moor is derived. Since the inhabitants of North Africa were black, the Romans and later the Europeans called them Moors. It is no coincidence that the land inhabited by the Moors was called Mauritania and Morocco, meaning "Land of the Blacks."

Runoko Rashidi, The Golden Age of the Moor, Edited by Ivan Van Sertima

The Moors were of as many shades of Black as African-Americans. And, because some were of lighter skin complexion, early European scholars chose to view them as a dark skinned Caucasians. The reason for this choice… The Moors gave Europe (via Spain) their present day educational system.

The University style of education originated with the learning centers and libraries established in Spain centuries before Oxford University (the oldest English University) was founded (1096AD supposedly). When we research the beginnings of Oxford we find:

“As the oldest university in the English-speaking world, Oxford is a unique and historic institution. There is no clear date of foundation, but teaching existed at Oxford in some form in 1096 and developed rapidly from 1167….”

Taken from the Oxford University Website

“…no clear date of foundation…teaching existed in some form.…” In other words, they don’t know when or exactly how it began. But, in Spain learning centers existed nearly everywhere. These learning centers were called “Madrasahs” which means literally - a place of learning. The word “Madrasah” is an Arabic word. The Black Africans that had taken over Spain were Muslim converts who learned the Arabic language via the teaching of the Quran (the Muslim Holy Book).

The schooling system, which DID NOT exist at the beginning of the formation of the Islamic world, developed over time as early Arabs journeyed into Africa and learned from the various African Priests (Scholars) like unto the Greeks. That learning was preserved and built upon by later thinkers and teachers and became the basis of the Madrasahs.

I say the above (in brief) to emphasize that the current status of Blacks in the American educational system is not reflective of who and what we really are. Blacks are the founders of education and have been the tool of its spread from ancient times. Our current relationship to education has been mired by our lack of pertinent connectivity to it. We have not been shown our true relationship with education therefore we have no real concern for it outside of its requirement to make money. That in itself is not enough! To reduce education to a means of providing for one’s family is to lower its true value from becoming a constructive force in the development of humanity.

I focus on the Moors in Spain because of what was founded there while the rest of Europe languished in a state of complete mental and spiritual ignorance. While they were in the Dark Ages We were spreading light unto he world.

Realize who you really are!

Anthony (Tony) Stewart
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Posted By: Anthony Stewart
Monday, September 28th 2009 at 2:22PM
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Hello Mr. Anthony Stewart,

Let me tell you who Black Americans are. First, let me establish my premise.

All dark skinned people or Black people are different people from each other within the scientific category of Negroid people. The same as not all Caucasian people are just one kind of people, scientifically speaking. For instance, an Ireland Caucasian person is not the same as an American Caucasian person or an Australian Caucasian person.

For example, not all blackbirds are crows. Some blackbirds are ravens, and some of grackle birds.

Now, Black Americans who are descendents of slaves are a distinct kind of Blacks from other blacks. For example, an Ethiopian Black person is not the same person as a Black American person is.

Black Americans who are descendents of slaves are a new breed or race of people that has emerged out of the ashes of slavery. The race of Black Americans who are descendents of slaves is no more than 500 years old.

Black Americans are a people that resulted from the many different kinds of African slave women sold to White American men mostly of British descent by the slave traders. Then, these White British men bred themselves with these African slave women from the 15th century to the late 18th century. They wanted to increase their slave population as well as having some pleasure. The people that resulted from this breeding process are who Black Americans are today.

Black Americans who are descendents of slaves have nothing to do with the Moors and Morocco or any other kind of Black people. What makes us a unique people is the fact that we are descendents of slaves while no other Blacks are as we are from slavery. In fact, no other slavery in the history of humanity was like our slavery and I do not want you to forget that.

Now, I do not want to go on any further until you get the significance of what I just written down in your head good. Your understanding shows our extremely ignorance we are not to know who we are. We are as a fatherless child.

However, I am here to straighten it all out. We are going to become a sovereign people on a portion of this continent that we could call our very own country with borders. But, we must first know who we are.

Lastly, please take no offense to my vernacular or the style of my writing.

Tell me what you think.

Tuesday, September 29th 2009 at 1:44AM
Harry Watley

Harry, I know I take no offense to it and am glad you responded as you did. As I was reading that post as well as hearing most of my life of how we were as a people in Africa, I'm often deaf to those stories b/c of what I see everyday in this present life. First off, all that nonsense about 'we were kings and queens' is complete BS. That's like generations from now telling our great-grand-kids 'we were Presidents of the United States' b/c ONE of us was. We ALL couldn't have been kings and queens.

But I digress. I have tried to make clear to many people that we are a new breed for the exact same reasons mentioned above. Many Black Americans think they relate to Nigerians when in fact they have nothing in common with them. Ask yourself, how many Nigerians do you have a great relationship with. There's a reason that answer is few or none. Although we DO have something in common with Africans along the Ivory Coast, but Africa is a huge continent and to think we are all somehow related is just a plain simpleton's way of thinking.

The post is an interesting read, though b/c it's historical and shows what dark skinned people have done and are capable of doing. But as Harry said, 'they' are not 'us'. We are who he described just above.
Tuesday, September 29th 2009 at 12:03PM
Craig Amos

Well, you've said a mouthfull and have given alot to respond to.

First sir what is the basis of your trying to show how we ARE NOT the same? I take it that you see some unique benefit in focusing on our differences within the Worldwide Black Community. What benefit that might be, I would certainly like to know. A great deal of time and resources have been spent trying to show our differences by European Scholars. Much, not all, but much of it has turned out to be racist or incompetent at best. Now you come along and for some odd reason decide to "get me straight" using the same logic.

You said, "All dark skinned people or Black people are different people from each other within the scientific category of Negroid people"

Sir, there is no "Scientific Category" called Negroid! That was a racist concept developed by European scholars to further divide us. If you want to get into skull type differences between Blacks and whites, we can. If you want to discuss the biochemical properties of melanin, we can. If you want to go into the similarities versus the differences between how Africans currently on the continent, and African Americans past and present ENGAGE culture and life in general we can! At the end, you wll find there are far more simliarities between Blacks than differences. And far more differences between Blacks and Whites.

You said that "...Ethiopian Black person is not the same person as a Black American person is..."

Based on what? Some of my best friends are Ethiopians. We have more commonalities than differences, once again. The way they approach spirituality and the importance of spirituality is no difference from us. The way the approach dance and music, is no diferent than us. They way they approach food (cooking) is no different than us. Depending on which African Americans you're looking at and which Ethiopians you're looking at, Sir, you cannot tell the difference! I've been confused with being ethiopian when traveling in Europe and other African types when in Turkey and Japan. Until I spoke, they simply didn't know.

Yes Ethiopians speak Amharic and we speak American English. Yes Ethiopia was never truly colonized but we were. They don't have the level of Black on Black crime we do, nor many of the ills we have from being brought up in the mess of a society pretending to be a civilized nation. But to take those surface level activities and make a blanket statement that we are not the same, without clearly clarifying what you mean by that is irresponsible and not a very well thought out statement.

You really should read the works of Cheikh Anta Diop, Chancellor Williams, Theophile Obenga, Muata Ashby, Richard King, Carol Barnes, Francis C. Welsing, Ivan Van Sertima, Drusilla D. Houston, John Henrik Clark, Yosef Ben Jochannon, Asa Hilliard, John Jackson, George G.M. James, Maulana Karenga, Haki R. Madhubuti, Elijah Muhammad, Molefi Asante, Ashra Kwesi, RayHagin, Louis Farrakhan, Bobby E. Wright, Ben Ami Ben Israel, Ra Un Nefer who all have some serious disagreements as to our origins and how WE should be in service to humanity. BUT THEY ALL AGREE THAT WE, Blacks worldwide, ARE ONE PEOPLE.

The above list includes, Historians, Egyptologists, Anthropologists, Archaeologists, Social Scientists, Physicians, Psychiatrists, Professors, and spiritual leaders throughout time and across cultures. So exscuse me if I tend to go with them and my own studies and life experiences while traveling, opposed to you and European Scholars.

I've written an article called "Claiming Black: A Working Definition" its on this site...
Please read it and try to understand where I'm coming from with the word "Black".

The last thing I'll comment on is that you stated, "...The people that resulted from this breeding process are who Black Americans are today."

Sir, with that statement you imply that EVERY BLACK SLAVE WOMAN THAT BORE CHILDREN WERE FROM INTERCOURSE WITH WHITE MEN. Which is simply not the case. Now I'm not saying that White men didn't have children from Black women, thats obvious! But you make it sound as though EVERY African-American person has a white ancestor from America. Thats simply not true. And, you have no real evidence of that.

When I write, it's in the language of unity. I don't write in the language of dividing US even further. All I see in your post is the language of division through misinformation. I would seriously like to know what you have been reading and from where you get your social and historical guidance as to what was and is.
Lies have been told to divide us, now truth must be told to unite us.

Tuesday, September 29th 2009 at 12:51PM
Anthony Stewart

Hello Mr. Stewart,

You did not really filter what I said and the significance of it. You are more weighted down by legendary authors who are not as wise as I am.

I said that Black Americans are the people that resulted from the breeding process of White men and the many different kinds of African slave women they purchased from the slave traders. You should know this information for yourself. Black Americans are people that came into existence out of that era of slavery. Black Americans has no history or connection to any people pre-slavery. We are a new breed a race of people that has emerged out of the ashes of slavery.

You said this, “Sir, with that statement you imply that EVERY BLACK SLAVE WOMAN THAT BORE CHILDREN WERE FROM INTERCOURSE WITH WHITE MEN.”

What I am saying is that for the most part 99% of who Black Americans are today were from intercourse with White men. It baffles me why it troubles you to accept this fact as well read as you are.

The significance I was referencing that Black Americans being different from other types of Blacks is we would appreciate who we are unto ourselves. For instance, there are many similarities of Mexicans and Puerto Rican people. Nevertheless, there are differences and of these two different people, each is fond and appreciate who they are unto themselves. This glowing significance that I appreciate and see about Black Americans somehow you do not see or appreciate since you want to be like other Blacks. I said to you that we are as a fatherless child because slavery has made us a very ignorant people. However, I am here to straighten all that out for us.

Lastly, what makes Black Americans still different from other Blacks is our experience of slavery.

I want Black Americans who are descendents of slaves to desire to become a sovereign people or have complete independence from White America on a portion of this continent that we could call our very own country with borders to pursue life, liberty, happiness and prosperity in our own way. I am not interested in the same for the Ethiopian Blacks. Am I making any sense with you, Mr. Stewart?

Lastly, because Ethiopians approaches cooking, as Black Americans does do not genetically means we are the same people. Am I right?

Please reread my previous comment in an effort to filter the significance of it.

Tell me what you think.

Tuesday, September 29th 2009 at 3:46PM
Harry Watley

Hello Mr. Amos,

I am happy that I am not alone in what I see.

Tuesday, September 29th 2009 at 3:48PM
Harry Watley

In your desire for us to be a completely unique people you exude disunity by referencing how YOU think we have NO connection to other Blacks. That's is where I believe the foundation of your point is weak. Whether or not YOU care about our connection to other Blacks (Ethiopian or otherwise) has nothing to do with the FACT that we ARE connected and our Unity is the key to our success!

I have no problem with sovereignty. I'm all for it. But not at the expense of alienation from other Blacks the world over.

Lastly, I never said that genetically we were the same because we APPROACH cooking the same...but if you WANT to discuss the science of Melanin and the none calcification of the Pineal Gland in the Brain of Black people we can at a later date.

Till then, my point is made and this discussion is closed.

Peace
Tuesday, September 29th 2009 at 6:15PM
Anthony Stewart

Hello Mr. Stewart,

I am shocked, but not surprised since you are a descendent of slaves and affected by the trauma of slavery.

I said that because you said this, “Till then, my point is made and this discussion is closed.”

You are an arrogant so-and-so. How could Black Americans improve the quality of our lives and advance as a people when 99% of us are ignorant and arrogant as you are?

I have not shown you any arrogance. I have shown you intelligence. The obligations of an intelligent person is factually and rationally prove the other party wrong in an effort that the party embraces a new and different direction.

I thought we were having an intelligent discussion.

Now, supposing you are still wrong, with your arrogance and ignorance how could you improve? You obviously could not improve.

What say you?

Tuesday, September 29th 2009 at 11:30PM
Harry Watley

WOW!!! its amazing that people can have an opinion absolutely void of fact and still argue it so aggresively. Mr. Harry Watley stated that "99% of who Black Americans are today were from intercourse with White men"
we all have an opinion. however where your opinion derives from is what gives it weight or makes it lighter than air. To make such an outrageous claim and not back it with any evidence is ......idiotic and dangerous. dangerous for anyone reading or listening to you from a young and or under developed mind state.
its important to remove your feelings from a subject and argue it from a calm and clear thinking point of view. Mr. Harry Watley's point of view was full of unsubstantiated claims and wild accusations. this is not the way of an intelligent thinking person.

thank you
Tuesday, July 13th 2010 at 8:59AM
cyral vaughan

Thank you mr. anthony stewart for giving us great Scholarship about people that live in The Magreeb, which is in Africa and that in 100+ degree weather and desert the people's color is not that like snow.

I built a Masjid with people from Magreeb, have traveled there and have many friends from The Magreeb, Algeria and Mauritania.

Not one ever described themselves as a color, like "black".

from 680-Now they have followed AlQur'aan and The Sunnah of Mohamed(as)--1400+years.

and of course Racialism and Racism is not a product of Africa but a product of Racialist European terms used by paganChristians to Divide the Family of Adaam.

Your concerns for Education are admirable and we wish you great successes with the Youth of America.

Tuesday, July 13th 2010 at 1:07PM
robert powell

TEACH HARD CYRAL! EAT HARRY UP LIKE A CHERRY IN A GAME OF PACMAN!
Tuesday, July 13th 2010 at 3:55PM
Siebra Muhammad

Great post Anthony, keep them coming!
Tuesday, July 13th 2010 at 3:56PM
Siebra Muhammad

I only have a few questions...why is it so many African-Americans are so ready to accept that there were no Africans that were Kings and Queens but they will fully accept that no one from Africa could have come from even a city state but can accept that all they did was raid each other's camps and killed, raped and plundered...it is just beyond me...

All I ask is to just close your eyes and pucture the White man riding his horse through those jungles. NOt dying from some bug bite or animal attack???This is all that I ask.(smile)

Hell, they don't even do this today.LOL....WAKE UP....EGYPT WAS IN AFRICA UNTIL THE MEN OF SCIENCE HAD TO CONCEED THAT CIVILIZATION AS WE KNOW IT BEGAN ALONG THe NILE.(smile)lets not even mention the facts about L-U-C-Y...and maybe why she does not have an African name?!(smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA

Well, what do you know, we did not come from those jungles as we have been told.(smile)

Now that that little joke is over, we are still seriously fighting the same wars and for the same reasons as back then.....
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA

Something else that is very interesting. I did not take notes at this time and this was quite a few years ago that some scientist were doing a study or some oral history of some peoples in Africa. They would have a ceremony that was related to some ancient drawings on some rocks in their area. It had to do with something that the scientist found had to do with the stars. Years later they learned the these drawings was of a star system that astronomers were just able to find with a newer more powerful telescope and this was in the early 90s. It is too bad that we know so little about our actual, true history, but me, I never give up hope that in the future we also will go back and seek the truth, first hand for our own selves.(smile)
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA

And, may "I" also add that most of the things "I" learned as an African and African-American study major and being from the south; "I" found that many of the things we do in the south is more in direct relationship to Africa than say, in New York or here in California.A lot of the words we use in the south are African words as is the grammer...or EBONIC

There is a place in my home state of North Carolina that had been left alone until WWII. some scientist were there to study them as they still speak the African language and one of the scientist there heard this young girl singing this song.She had heard this same song sung in this same language in Africa.(right now I can not remember which part of Africa this is)She learned that this song has been handed down as we tend to do by way of oral history. Some of the people from N.C. were taken to Africa to meet the king there(believe it or not craig, a king)and they all were reunited.

"I" will repeat, that "I" and the people in my home town are more a like with those manners, superstitions, habits, language use ect, to Africa than north America.It really hurts me to see just how well some of us so resist our true natual identity for those who have so tried to educate all of this out of us."Never give up your ties to the Mother land Africa" is always magic to my ears.As our true and actual history of us in America and pride in our own selves that we were neither breed by slavery without a history before slavery is a shame and mostly because during slavery we were not consideredas "human beings"...It is slavery that taught us to suffer, suffer and then suffer some more, because this is the only way for us to get a soul and be able to get into heaven, is even more of a pity...
Thursday, April 10th 2014 at 6:47PM
ROBINSON IRMA