BELIZE CITY, Wed. May 31, 2023
The 13th century has to be considered one of the worst centuries of all time, in my opinion. I realize that the 14th was also terrible with The Black Death wiping out between 75-200 million people. That led to a shortage of labor and, after seeing popes and bishops dying, led to “The Reformation”, which changed religion forever! But before all that, during the 13th century was when racism reached its zenith in medieval times, with maniacal fervor, I believe. Jews were always persecuted and hated in Europe, but under the reign of Edward the first in England, this Plantagenet king, the Edict of Expulsion was signed in July, 1290. All Jews had to be out of England by November 1 of that year. On the 10th of October 1290, a group of poor Jews boarded a boat on the Thames in London, to be taken out of England. The boat floated down the river towards the open seas, but because the tide was going out, the captain suggested to passengers that they get out and stretch their legs on a sandbar, at the mouth of the river. He told them to leave their belongings onboard and just to relax. All of the crew were onboard as the tide rushed back in; the captain shouted to the Jews to call on Moses to save them, and sailed away, leaving those poor, hapless souls to drown. They all received light sentences for this horrendous crime; but you know, it was the 13th century.
After the Jewish race, who have witnessed persecution and racism since Jesus was crucified by the Romans, black people have been the most persecuted and prosecuted people on earth, I believe! Earlier this week in South Carolina, 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton, a black boy, was in a store and the shopkeeper, an Asian, thought he was shoplifting, which he wasn’t, chased him and shot him in the back, killing him. Another senseless loss of a black life! This happens much too often and with little consequences for the killers. This one was charged with murder ! And the genocide continues!
Why is there such hatred and distrust of Black People? Ever since we were kidnapped and sold to the Europeans and brought across the seas to the New World, this hatred, this mistrust, this being less than, has been perpetrated and solidified in the minds of the whites, and has spread worldwide! In soccer stadiums all over Europe black players are subjected to being called monkeys, apes, animals and niggers, not looked upon as human beings! Why? When my liberal friends tell me that I’m well-spoken or intelligent, to me that is racist, like I’m not supposed to be literate?
Nowadays we have to come up with terms like Black Lives Matter? Why? It wasn’t always this way. When we ruled Egypt, and even when we were captured and taken to Rome to fight as gladiators, we could fight for our freedom and be respected, recognized as human, not animal? Caesar and Cleopatra? Solomon and Sheba? Those were powerful black women, great romances, until the historians decided they were not black. Why? Why did we become so repulsive to those with less melanin? We keep dying before our time. We are the most incarcerated people in the world! Why? Justice Samuel Alito of the United States Supreme Court was horrified by the thought of a black Santa Claus. Why? People are boycotting Disney because the Little Mermaid is black. Why? As I understand it, sailors at sea were so starved for women and love that they mistook manatees, because they had breasts like women’s, and thus the legend of the mermaid was born. By the way, manatees are more brown or black than white. Why?
As the world becomes smaller, it seems to me that racism is increasing, against Jews, against people of color, but especially against black people! Why? Why? Why? I wonder, if you believe in angels, if black angels are also being persecuted? If I believed in angels my answer would be Yes!
Glen