MEDIEVAL UPHEAVAL, A CATALOGUE OF BLOODY EUROPEAN EVILS: AN ESSAY TO EMPOWER AFRICAN AMERICANS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EUROPE’S TRUTH WILL SET BLACK MINDS FREE

DETROIT, MI – Sheshet Kemet has written a first of its kind book that challenges Europe’s centuries long assertion that early European cultures were far superior to early African cultures. (This was Europe’s reason for forcibly subjecting Africans to its cruel policies).

Many African-Americans feel ashamed of their African heritage. But, their frame of mind developed from hundreds of years of European propaganda that manipulated them into believing that without Europe’s superior cultural guidance, Africans today would be living as savages inside grass huts. In Medieval Upheaval, A Catalogue of Bloody European Evils Sheshet Kemet shatters this and others of Europe’s emotionally paralyzing lies by focusing on medieval European history. As Kemet peels away layers of Europe’s medieval and Renaissance era whitewashed story, their own deplorable actions convict them as the ones who behaved savagely. Kemet shows readers that Europe’s involvement in African life worsened the standard of living for Africans; it did not make life better for them:

• “The medical officer for the Opobo district reported that ‘while the consumption of spirituous liquors [e.g. the mild palm and honey wines] in moderate quantities, exists generally among the natives, the abuse of it is more particularly evident amongst [sic] those classes that, for obvious reasons, have been most in contact with the centres [sic] of European civilisation [sic]. This fact augurs badly for European influence…’ When examined personally by the Commissioners, the same officer agreed that those natives who had been in contact with Europeans were not equal in moral qualities and stamina with those natives who had not come into contact with Europeans.” Trade Politics and Christianity in Africa and the East, A. J. MacDonald
• “In its early stages trade does not elevate the native races… Trade concerns itself with the wants, not with the needs, of the native. Wants are always more material and more demoralising [sic] than needs.” Trade Politics and Christianity in Africa and the East, A. J. MacDonald
• “In Africa the native races have no commercial ambitions. Hence they do not desire political power… In Africa it is rather an ethical question dependent upon the effects produced by western trade upon the native races. If there is a conflict, it will only arise from the competition between the western nations.” Trade Politics and Christianity in Africa and the East, A. J. MacDonald
• “In Fernando-Po-Cameroons the continued existence of the Bube and Duala tribes is threatened on account of the ravages of alcohol and venereal disease, both introduced by Europeans.” Trade Politics and Christianity in Africa and the East, A. J. MacDonald
• “Alcohol was the main inducement to the negro chief to become a slave-trader. From the middle of the seventeenth century to the end of the nineteenth century West Africa lay under the curse of this poison not the mild fermented liquor made by the natives from palm sap, honey, or grain, but the distilled spirits invented by the European. . . . The one article for which the black potentate or trader was ready to sell his soul (be he Muhammadan or pagan), his wife, child, brother, or unoffending subjects and friends, was distilled spirits.” Sir Harry Johnston quoted in Trade Politics and Christianity in Africa and the East

No matter what Europeans told each another about Africans, they set about distorting the traditions and customs of African people around the world. Their claims included that Africans were savages, cannibalistic witch doctors, and filthy people. To challenge Europe’s assertions of cultural superiority, Kemet points out a disturbing number of ironies and hypocrisies as presented through the writings of Europe’s own historians. Through this research readers discover that Europeans feasted on peacocks, pigeon pies, dormouse and maggots.

However, much more disturbing is that Europeans resorted to acts of cannibalism often, and that it was not unusual for vendors to sell parts of human bodies as meats in market stalls during Europe’s many famines. Another shocking detail is that Europeans routinely poisoned one another, and that poison making was once a lucrative European business. But, even this long practiced, pervasive and deceptive custom pales in light of Kemet’s revelation that Europe’s “medical community” regularly prescribed parts of dead humans as standard treatments. For at least two thousand years, doctors prescribed dead humans medicines believing they were valid medicinal remedies; ancient philosopher, Pliny the Elder fully describes this bizarre, ancient tradition. What’s more, they practiced dead humans medicine well into the 19^th century. Additionally, it’s little known that medieval doctors believed they could cure patients with the help of voodoo dolls; this revelation makes similar charges directed at Africans laughable.

As for the “dirty savages” narrative, Kemet tells readers that supposedly god-fearing Europeans never bathed because religious authorities – who exercised great control – believed that cleanliness was next to un-godliness. And, ironically, Europeans who accused Africans of living in “bestial sloth” lived in windowless, grass huts overrun with farm animals. According to Kemet, this was a common practice for medieval Europeans, not Africans.

Kemet escorts readers through medieval European countries pointing out many examples of their culture of sadism and barbarism. Europeans who charged Africans with barbaric acts were quite oblivious and dismissive of the actions of their own citizens who became involved in “daily tumults” that swept violence, and spilled blood over every inch of every European city. Citing the researches of highly esteemed medieval historian Ferdinand Gregorovius and William W. Story, Kemet discloses the highly chaotic state of 1484 Rome: At night soldiers broke into homes to kidnap women, even ones sleeping beside their husbands. Murders were widespread, but cardinals pardoned the actions of these predators by shielding them inside their own homes. Homicides became so common that “Bodies of persons are constantly found suspended, of whom nobody knows, or cares to know, the names,” Story writes.

However Gregorovius looks at the conditions of Rome 40 years earlier, in 1443. His narrative describes just how dangerous the environment was for the holy city where the Catholic Church had set up its throne: “The daily sight of heads or limbs of men who had been quartered nailed to the doors, left in cages, or exhibited on spears, or the daily spectacle of criminals led to prison or the place of execution, must have shocked even the hardened nerves of contemporaries.” Ironically, here Gregorovius is describing Rome at the time when Europeans began voyaging to West Africa (the pope approved the bulls that led to Africans being kidnapped); it was during this period that Europeans began recording their biased observations of the West African people.

The practice of dragging women away from their homes, described by Story, is an ancient custom started by twin brothers and fabled founders of Rome, Remus and Romulus. To underscore the Europeans’ attachment to their customs, Kemet shows readers that as they sailed from Europe – leaving fears of a flat earth and mythical sea monsters behind, most of Europe’s barbaric practices traveled beside them. Greed, violence, corruption, misogyny, dishonest trade practices, slavery, poverty, endless wars, torture, and “lynching” folk are just a few cultural habits Europeans carried with them to the so-called new world that have become popular practices of their white children today. With the help of Gregorovius and other distinguished U.S. and European historians, researchers, and folklorists, readers can measure European claims of cultural superiority against their historical medieval behavior. It’s fair to say that when it came to judging African cultures, Europeans held a double standard that praised their own cultural traditions.

Much closer to reality is Kemet’s summation of Europe’s culture, “Early Europeans were incapable of advancing other cultures given their tumultuous medieval social construct that swirled with outrageous levels of violence, corruption, social inequality, brutal justice and a host of other problems… European accusations of wild and savage Africans in the face of their own wild and savage traditions, and their charges of witchcraft – given their medical practitioners’ commitment to ‘dead humans’ medicines and witchy medical spells, fall flat once prudently scrutinized.”

Read Medieval Upheaval to compare the customs of pre-colonial Africans with those of 14^th-20^th century Europeans – decide for yourself which culture gave rise to savagery. The truth about Europe’s past will set all Black minds free, especially in this age of widespread media deception. Read Medieval Upheaval, A Catalogue of Bloody European Evils. The first step on the road to emotional freedom begins on page one.

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Available Now! A new book by Sheshet Kemet!

Too many African-Americans have felt shame for being born African. This feeling comes from centuries long myth telling that Africans needed whites to guide them from a disgraceful lifestyle. In Medieval Upheaval, A Catalogue of Bloody European Evils, Sheshet Kemet shatters these lies by focusing on medieval Europe. As layers of Europe’s whitewashed history are peeled away, Kemet concludes that early African cultures have been unfairly judged. African-Americans have no reason to feel shame.

Few citizens worldwide know the true Africa (or African peoples) since Europeans began propagandizing her, probably to keep potential rivals from its wealth of resources. But, fewer know historical Europe. As Kemet strolls through medieval Europe pointing out the bloody barbarity and backwardness of those cultures she makes the arguments for enslaving blacks baseless. European claims of superiority when placed alongside their actual medieval era behavior highlight these inconsistencies. The hypocrisy is myth shattering. For closer to the truth is that the behavior of early Europeans was no better than the Africans’ whose behavior was no worse than Europeans’.

For example, it’s become a generally accepted truth that 15^th century and later Europeans stumbling across Africa encountered savages and cannibals. However, here’s William W. Story’s description of 1484 Rome:

“The condition of Rome continued to be dreadful. There were daily tumults; the soldiers now entering the city by night, and carrying off with violence the most respectable maidens and young married women, — taking the latter from the side of their husbands in bed—at which the Pope only smiled and winked… ‘The whole city…is filled with villains, who, after committing homicide, betake themselves for refuge to the houses of the cardinals, and do not issue therefrom; and the homicides of which they are guilty are considered as nothing.’ Bodies of persons are constantly found suspended, of whom nobody knows, or cares to know, the names.”

And regarding cannibalism, Europeans have a lot of explaining to do. Their history contains acts of cannibalism during times of famine and on other disheartening occasions. (Pun intended).

Using the work of distinguished U.S. and European historians, researchers, and folklorists Kemet sizes up ancient European customs dispelling old myths that their cultures were superior to cultures of the same period in Africa. This disturbing argument has taken root in the minds and opinions of people the world over. So that at the same time it embraces African-American music and art, the world remains skeptical of African and African-American genius in science, technology and literature despite their high achievements in those fields.

Of course Europe’s leading rival for African wealth are its original citizens, African-Americans. But it’s unsurprising that after 100s of years of cultural shaming many African-Americans refuse to identify as African or claim the fruits of their legacy. The earth’s first citizens are the world’s dejected people; the originators of civilization are the last to reap its bounty. In effect, cunning Europeans stole African-Americans’ birthright with disinformation. And in so doing they have unfortunately replicated the struggles between the biblical characters of Jacob and Esau.

Kemet hopes that Medieval Upheaval starts a new conversation among African-Americans and Africans that result in improved self-esteem. Higher self-esteem will power African economics leading to a safer environment and a higher standard of living, thereby fulfilling Isaac’s promise to Esau to shake off the yoke of Jacob to become finally free.

Their truth will set us free. Read Medieval Upheaval, A Catalogue of Bloody European Evils, and decide whether current police brutality, unfair laws, unequal justice plus centuries of American hostilities towards African-Americans arose from the piles of ashes of Europe’s medieval upheaval.

(updated 8/22; 9/9; 9/27; 10/6; 10/18).

Copyright©Sheshet Kemet 2015