I've always loved the way life looked through the lens of a camera and intrigued by the way words can enhance any captured moment witnessed or otherwise.
This is an article about Africans and communicating with the dead
African communication with the deceased is often rooted in rich cultural and spiritual traditions that vary across the diverse continent. These practices are deeply ingrained in the belief systems of different African communities, reflecting a connection between the living and the spiritual realm. While it's crucial to recognize the diversity of African cultures, we can explore some common themes in the ways various communities communicate with the departed.
One prevalent aspect of African spirituality involves ancestor veneration. Many African societies believe that the spirits of ancestors continue to play a role in the lives of their descendants. Communication with ancestors is often seen as a means to seek guidance, protection, and blessings. Rituals and ceremonies, such as libations, prayers, or offerings, are performed to honor and connect with these ancestral spirits.
Divination is another practice found in various African cultures, serving as a channel for communicating with the spirit world. Diviners, who are often regarded as intermediaries between the living and the spiritual realm, employ various methods such as casting lots, reading patterns, or interpreting signs and symbols to gain insights from the ancestors. This process is not only a form of seeking guidance but also a way of maintaining a harmonious relationship with the spirit world.
In some African belief systems, the concept of death is not viewed as the end but as a transition to another existence. As a result, individuals may engage in ceremonies to celebrate the lives of the departed and maintain a connection with them. These celebrations can include dances, music, and feasts, creating a communal space where the living and the dead are believed to come together.
The use of mediums or spiritual leaders is prevalent in certain African societies for communicating with the deceased. These individuals are thought to possess a heightened spiritual sensitivity, enabling them to bridge the gap between the earthly and spiritual realms. Through trance, visions, or other altered states of consciousness, these mediums convey messages from the deceased to their living relatives.
It's essential to approach these practices with cultural sensitivity and respect, recognizing that interpretations and rituals may vary widely among African communities. The communication with the dead in Africa is deeply intertwined with cultural heritage, spirituality, and the understanding of life and death within each distinct society.
Another significant aspect of communication with the dead in various African cultures involves rituals associated with death and burial. Funerals are often elaborate ceremonies that not only serve as a farewell to the departed but also as a way to facilitate their transition to the afterlife. Practices during funerals can include reciting prayers, performing symbolic rites, and sometimes even engaging in dances to honor the deceased.
Dreams are considered powerful conduits for communication with the spirit world in many African societies. Dreams are believed to be a realm where the living can connect with the departed, receiving messages or guidance. Consequently, individuals may place great importance on dream interpretation, seeking insights into the wishes or concerns of those who have passed away.
Certain African communities practice the creation of memorial objects or ancestral altars. These tangible items, such as photographs, personal belongings, or symbolic artifacts, are believed to serve as a focal point for spiritual connection. Families may engage in ceremonies around these objects to maintain a spiritual link with their ancestors, fostering a sense of continuity and familial unity.
It's crucial to note that the diversity across Africa results in a wide array of beliefs and practices regarding communication with the dead. While some communities may place emphasis on rituals and ceremonies, others may have more private and personal approaches to maintaining a connection with the deceased.
In exploring African communication with the dead, it becomes evident that these practices are deeply intertwined with cultural identity, spirituality, and a profound respect for the continuity of life beyond the physical realm. They highlight the richness and diversity of African traditions, emphasizing the importance of understanding and appreciating the complexities within each unique cultural context.
At a Black Student Union meeting at UCLA's Campbell Hall on January 17, 1969, Bunchy Carter and John Huggins, another BPP member, were heard making derogatory comments about Karenga, the founder of Organization Us. Other versions mention a heated argument between Organization Us members and Panther Elaine Brown. An altercation ensued during which Carter and Huggins were shot to death. BPP members originally insisted that the event was a planned assassination, claiming that there was a prior agreement that no guns would be brought to the meeting, that BPP members were not armed, and that Organization Us members led by Ron Karenga were.
Organization Us members maintained the meeting was a spontaneous event. Former BPP deputy minister of defense Geronimo Pratt, Carter’s head of security at the time, later stated that rather than a conspiracy, the UCLA incident was a spontaneous shootout. The person who allegedly shot Carter and Huggins, Claude Hubert, was never found.
During the Church Committee hearings in 1975, evidence came to light that under the FBI's COINTELPRO actions, FBI agents had deliberately fanned flames of division and enmity between the BPP and Organization Us. Death threats and humiliating cartoons created by the FBI were sent to each group, made to look as if they originated with the other group, with the explicit intention of inciting deadly violence and division.
Following the UCLA incident, brothers George and Larry Stiner and Donald Hawkins turned themselves in to the police, who had issued warrants for their arrests. They were convicted for conspiracy to commit murder and two counts of second-degree murder, based on testimony given by BPP members. The Stiner brothers both received life sentences and Hawkins served time in California’s Youth Authority Detention.
fun thing about king James, this guy was fairly public about his bf (more public than what was acceptable). He threw lots of extravagant parties with his man on his arm. It pissed off the church obviously so to get them off his back, he’s the one that ordered the third translation of the Bible from Hebrew to English (the King James Version aka the Authorized Version) so the Bible every hot blooded all American Christian reads today was literally just written so a very gay king could fuck his boyfriend in peace.
“guys, guys. I know this looks kinda gay, and i promise i have a good explanation for all this, but have you considered… that jesus… is also gay? checkmate, heteros.”
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