|
DJNiyi (m)
|
Someone recently said that Nigerians (and by implication most of our black ancestors) have not made any significant contributions to modern civilisation. Here is the quote: How much of our sweat and blood went into inventing the automobile, electricity, telecommunications, gunpowder etc? I've sought far and wide for any proof that the Black African (excluding egyptians!) had a wheel. I've found none! Until the europeans came, Black Africa could not even discover the Wheel, which scientists term one of the oldest and most important inventions ever! and this same wheel has been in Europe since the 4th millenium BC. I fail to see how we would have developed technologically in centuries without the intervention of the White Man. Just my opinion, sha  Is this person right? I'll allow others to comment objectively before I post my own opinion. |
|
|
|
|
|
Seun (m)
|
Actually, what he's saying is that our ancestors contributed far less than what others contributed, and I don't think that is disputable. While our ancestors were busy selling their brothers into slavery, others were at work.  |
|
|
|
|
|
DJNiyi (m)
|
I'm going to chalk those comments down to ignorance.
When we were growing up, we got fed with all sorts of written, visual and auditory propaganda that made us lose our confidence vis a vis other races. We got told that we are genetically inferior, and that we have no civilization and our ancestors were a bunch of 4ft cannibals with bones through their noses. Those messages are all still around us today in subtle ways.
However, as an adult, you really have no excuse not to dig up information about where you've come from. From the ancient civilizations of Nubia-Kush where hydraulic pumps were invented, to the scholarly settlements of Timbuktu where books were manufactured and preserved up till today, right up to the steel blast furnaces in Tanzania and our own ancient Yoruba oracle that uses the binary system, we can't no longer afford to be ignorant.
Even without doing your research, surely you should ask yourself - how can a race that can produce modern day social geniuses like Mandela and Fela Kuti, literary geniuses like Chinua Achebe and Wole Soyinka, and scientific geniuses like the countless doctors and surgeons that save lives in the US and the UK everyday, not be able to reproduce similar geniuses in its history.
I'm not saying we are better than other races but there's no way that any other race is better than us.
Don't let people tell you that you have no history of achievement - go and find it yourself.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Seun (m)
|
I'm not saying that black people haven't contributed significantly to civilisation.
In fact, I suspected that your intention was to mention several wonderful things that black people have done.
The fact remains that they contributed far less. I don't feel bad about that because it doesn't matter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
DJNiyi (m)
|
With reference to the phrase "contributed far less", by what method of analysis are you measuring "far less"? Let me guess, by the number of books that reference non-black inventors vis a vis the books (or lack of) that reference black inventors. That my friend, is what they call an unwarranted assumption.
It doesn't matter if you don't have a problem with it. It is wrong to assert something that you don't have proof of. I'm sure you agree that readily available evidence of of achievements by non-blacks does not mean blacks do not have achievements.
Furthermore, if you cannot quantify the achievements of blacks, then how, pray tell, have you come to the conclusion that the blacks have contributed far less?
Those of us that have taken the considerable trouble to learn our history disagree with that reasoning.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Seun (m)
|
Do you have any proof that blacks have contributed as much as whites to our current civilization?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hero (m)
|
Just what are you insinuating that whites have soly by themselves contributed, is the question that needs asking, here?
|
|
|
|
|
|
bioye (m)
|
Furthermore, if you cannot quantify the achievements of blacks, then how, pray tell, have you come to the conclusion that the blacks have contributed far less?
Errmm, actually we are patiently waiting for you to quantity the achievements of blacks and hence prove to us that they have contributed more than we are aware of. I believe that's the reason you started this thread in the first place. |
|
|
|
|
|
DJNiyi (m)
|
Interesting question:
First of all, the term current civilization is a misnomer. Civilization as we know it has existed for many millenia. Our knowledge of what occured during this period is incomplete and skewed.
Fortunately, my CS experience has taught me how to use formal rules of logic to solve such problems.
Premise: All things been equal, race has no material effect on an individuals ability to achieve.
Inference: If blacks are capable of innovating and contributing to society in the 21st century and also doing so in 2000BC, and they did so right up to the point in which records were lost or sparsely researched, then, by rules of inference, it follows that they have continued to innovate and contribute to society in many such ways in the period therein (between 2000BC and the 21st century).
Here is the interesting bit - the same applies to non-black civilizations. We don't need any textbook or author to tell us our history. Formal rules of logic have been designed to aid our thought and reasoning. process. It also helps that there is evidence, however few and far between to corroborate the hypothesis.
Back to the original issue of "current civilization". Even if one race landed on the moon first and undertook a lot of the scientific and technological research and innovation within the last century or two, it is too short a time period to deduce or infer that one race is better than the other or that one race has done more for society. Civilization has existed for thousands and thousands of years.
|
|
|
|
|
|
DJNiyi (m)
|
Errmm, actually we are patiently waiting for you to quantity the achievements of blacks and hence prove to us that they have contributed more than we are aware of.
There needs to be an enlightenment of the mind to understand certain concepts. There are reasons why some understand what e=mc2 means and some don't. There are reasons why some argued doggedly that the Earth was flat but others dared to disagree. All throughout history, there have been people who challenged convential wisdom, and we've all been better for it. Propaganda is all around us and there is no better proponent of the collective group think syndrome than the mantra - If I can't see it in front of me (or read it in any of my textbooks), then it doesn't exist. Be an individual, think logically (not collectively), dare to disagree and do your own research. If you think like the average person, you are just going to be average. |
|
|
|
|
|
Ndipe (m)
|
This following was copied from this site http://www.saxakali.com/COLOR_ASP/historymaf.htmIn Ivan Van Sertima's (1984) book Blacks in Science: Ancient and Modern, countless examples of African science from articles by several different authors are given. A few examples are listed below: 1. The Dogon of Mali had an excellent understanding of the solar system and the universe 700 years ago. The Dogon had detailed knowledge of a white dwarf companion star to Sirius A which was not visible to the naked eye. Western scientists stated that there was no way that the Dogon could have uncovered this knowledge on their own and that it must have been supplied to them by a visiting European or an extra- terrestrial visitor. 2. The Yoruba tribe had an exceedingly complex number system based on twenty. 3. A 35,000 year old, fossilized baboon bone found in Zaire, the Ishango bone, is covered with a series of notches or tally marks, which makes it the oldest mathematical object in the world, and the world's earliest number system. The bone is also a lunar phase counter, which suggest that African women were the first mathematicians since keeping track of menstrual cycles requires a lunar calendar. 4. There was a very accurate calendar system in Eastern Africa by the first millenium B.C. (Lynch & Robbins 1984). 5. A megalithic site similar to stonehenge dating to 300 B.C. was found in northwest Kenya. Its nineteen basalt pillars were aligned extremely accurately with the stars and constellations (Lynch & Robbins 1984). 6. A model of a glider dated to the 4th or 3rd century B.C. was found in Egypt. The structure of the object was most definitely aerodynamically designed (Messiha et al. 1984). 7. An iron-ore mine in Swaziland, the oldest found in the world, was dated as 43,000 years old. The ore specularite was used as a cosmetic and pigment (Zaslavsky 1984). 8. Africans developed technology to build sea-worthy boats and the ability to navigate over long expanses of ocean . There is ample evidence to suggest that African explorers reached South and Central America long before Columbus made his journeys (Malloy 1984). 9. 1500 to 2000 years ago near Lake Victoria, carbon steel was made in blast furnaces. The temperature achieved in the furnaces, 1,800C, was much higher than was managed in Europe until modern times (Van Sertima 1984). 10. By the year 1000 AD, in the Middle East, Ibn al-Haytham, a Muslim mathematician and astronomer, was studying atmospheric refraction, and by the 1100s a fellow Muslim, geographer Abu Abdallah Muhammad al-Idrisi, divided the world into seven climatic zones. Climate changes have long since tuned vast savannas and grasslands bodering Africa’s Sahara into desert. Translations of Arabic texts into Latin help spread knowledge of such instruments as the astrolabe. Ancient African Numerals Mathematics in Africa started much earlier from the first written numerals of ancient Egypt around 3100 BC. Ancient African calendars made use of numbers and calculation at an early stage. Ancient Africans also discovered and use the concept of zero (see The Discovery of Zero), and wrote several texts on math and other subjects. some more info chemistry has its roots, in Ancient Egypt. They used it in the creation of synthetic pigments for clothes. http://africanhistory.about.com/od/hieroglyphs/a/ColorTech.htmIn the Nok culture Iron working, smelting and fabrication of iron tools became widespread in the region from around 350 BCE http://africanhistory.about.com/od/kingdoms/a/NokCulture.htmCulled from Afrobeat's discourse earlier on a similar subject. Thanks Afrobeat. |
|
|
|
|
|
oyinboaja
|
my brother, no mind these brainwashed people.
anyway, texazzpete no dey educated and no get mind. I don read some of the guy posts and e dey obvious say na whiteman a*** licker.
Many people here think say if them don go school where oyinbo brainwash them, them don get sense be that. Education supposed help you develop ya brain; no be just for you to get brainwashed.
The time wey I dey school for Nigeria, na so so willliam wilberforce, mary slessor herbert macaulay and co them dey teach us like say these people na them be the best kind of people for life. na later them come begin teach us very little about mansa musa etc.
as we don reject our own ways of life/education and embraced oyinbo ways completely, we will have an indefinite feeling of inferiority.
|
|
|
|
|
|
tpia
|
my brother, no mind these brainwashed people.
anyway, texazzpete no dey educated and no get mind. I don read some of the guy posts and e dey obvious say na whiteman a*** licker.
Many people here think say if them don go school where oyinbo brainwash them, them don get sense be that. Education supposed help you develop ya brain; no be just for you to get brainwashed.
The time wey I dey school for Nigeria, na so so willliam wilberforce, mary slessor herbert macaulay and co them dey teach us like say these people na them be the best kind of people for life. na later them come begin teach us very little about mansa musa etc.
as we don reject our own ways of life/education and embraced oyinbo ways completely, we will have an indefinite feeling of inferiority.
oyinboaja, why not contribute something quantitative to the discussion like Ndipe did, and provide solid examples, instead of throwing abuse all over the place. your post says nothing about the contribution of Blacks to civilization. It only shows you did no research. As they say, easier said than done. |
|
|
|
|
|
oyinboaja
|
I tell you say I be researcher?
u no sabi rerad wetin I write so? I say them no want make we learn about our people wey do anything good. why them no tell us say our people been fight to comot demseves from slavery? Na so so william wilberforce and mary slessor them want make we sabi.
carry go jo
|
|
|
|
|
|
mazaje (m)
|
Very interesting topic i have learnt from it , but what baffles me is this. why aren't we moving forward now and contributing so much to the world today? to me every thing about us seem stagnant or progressing at a very very slow pace(i might be wrong ).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Seun (m)
|
why aren't we moving forward now I am moving forward, and so are most of us on this thread. We have more in common with whites who are also moving forward. why aren't we moving forward now Being the same color is not what truly makes me your brother. Having the same mentality, white or black, is what makes us a "we". |
|
|
|
|
|
bioye (m)
|
Be an individual, think logically (not collectively), dare to disagree and do your own research. If you think like the average person, you are just going to be average.
Relax. I agree I did not do the research myself. But I think it makes sense if one of us did the research and the rest of us don't have to. @Ndipe, Thanks for the info. That's what I'm talking about. But the truth of the matter is: You all are yet to prove that the Black man has not contributed far less than the White man to development of the world. Because for every one of the points you listed, we can list 1,000 that the white man invented without doing any research. |
|
|
|
|
|
NINETOFIVE (m)
|
You people need to re educate your minds, where you are looking at is not where you should be looking at, most of the modern inventions were not really needed as a result of our wheather not being very extreme, necessity is the mother of inventions, black people under slavery invented a lot of things to make their works easier because of the conditions they found themselves, having no choices after all, but we the modern African needs to get into the advancement of technology strictly for the purpose of competition, but the problem here is that we are not organized because of the people ruling our respective countries, for example all of our former head of states and most people in the government are not really exposed and never went through any sort of mind searching and re-education, [therfore do not lay a lot of emphasis on research or technological advancement] our current system of Education is only meant for the purpose of learning English language, and is a waste of every body's time.
English language is not the way forward, and is the main curse of inferiority complex pravelent in African and in the mind of Every black person, let me say it loud and clear, Africans are doomed and will never achieve technological advancement while studying in forreign languages, it has never happened in the History of mankind and it would never happen, mark my word, come up with any stupid reasons why English language should be retained, it would still all boil down to nothing, I speak nine languages and two out of these Nine languages are Affiliated to up to 15 languages, believe me I know what language does to the mind and self esteem, studying in ones mothers tongue gives people the ability to contribute to education and to bend education as flexible as desired, it gives you the power to challenge ideas while countering such ideas with yours and removing every atom of inferiority complex because you know what you are studying first hand.
Believe me people if you believe that we should continue to study in foreign languages then the purpose of this discursion is defeated. An average Nigerian Engineer does not know what momentum or forces of gravity is, if you ask him in English he can tell you alright, but try to ask him in his mothers tongue, am sorry he can't tell you, which means he does not have a single clue, which is why we are very good in theory but in practical we are zip.
Andrew Beard (1849-1921)
Andrew Beard was a farmer, carpenter, blacksmith, a railroad worker, a businessman and finally an inventor.
Andrew Beard and Related History
• Andrew Beard Patent Drawings
• Black Inventors
• Railroads
• Janney coupler
By Mary Bellis
Andrew Beard was born a slave on a plantation in Woodland, Alabama, shortly before slavery ended. Andrew Beard was a farmer, carpenter, blacksmith, a railroad worker, a businessman and finally an inventor.
In 1881, he patented his first invention, a plow, and sold the patent rights for $4,000 in 1884. In 1887, Andrew Beard patented a second plaw and sold it for $5,200. Beard invested the money he made from his plow inventions into a profitable real-estate business.
In 1892, he patented a rotary engine. In 1897, Andrew Beard patented an improvement to railroad car couplers commonly called the Jenny Coupler (not to be mistaken for the Janney coupler). It did the dangerous job of hooking railroad cars together, Beard, himself had lost a leg in a car coupling accident. As an ex-railroad worker, Andrew Beard had the right idea that probably saved countless lives and limbs. Andrew Beard received $50,000 for the patent rights to his Jenny coupler. View the complete patent drawings for Beard's inventions below.
|
|
|
|
|
|
4 Play (m)
|
I don't understand why some people have a problem with the phrase "contributed far less".The question is not whether we have made any contributions at all but whether our contributions,proportionally,match those of others.
|
|
|
|
|
|
NINETOFIVE (m)
|
I don't understand why some people have a problem with the phrase "contributed far less".The question is not whether we have made any contributions at all but whether our contributions,proportionally,match those of others.
limiting replys to only this phrase makes the whole thing idiotic, because is not quantifiable as you want to put it, inventions are inter woven because without electric motor invented by a black person you won't have an airplane and a thousands of other things to day, just be open minded and lets learn from one another, is not how far but how good, the Asians are on top today, but how many things did they invent, it was natural for the Europeans to have started most of these things because of their wheather, and is also natural for other people to take over and try to improve things, the white man has done his job. |
|
|
|
|
|
4 Play (m)
|
limiting replys to only this phrase makes the whole thing idiotic, because is not quantifiable as you want to put it, inventions are inter woven because without electric motor invented by a black person you won't have an airplane and a thousands of other things to day,
Who is this black person who invented the electric motor? |
|
|
|
|
|
NINETOFIVE (m)
|
Who is this black person who invented the electric motor? Fredrick M. Jones June 27, 1939 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
NINETOFIVE (m)
|
We can equally improve and contribute further if create conditions coducive for inventions, if we don't create this conditions we would be worse than our fore fathers you guys are wasting your time bashing.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An African American man named Lewis Latimer who worked with Thomas Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell drew up the plans for Bell's first telephone? If you did, you are probably among a fortunate few who possess such knowledge. It is a fact that has not been well publicized.
There are countless inventions by African Americans and they cover everything from food processing to electrical technology. The inventions by African Americans point out the contributions that African Americans have made to the comfort and advancement of mankind.
The following are some of the inventions invented by African Americans:
African American Inventors Invention Inventor Date Invention Inventor Date
Air-Conditioning Unit Frederick M. Jones July 12, 1949
Ice Cream Scoop A. L. Cralle Feb. 2, 1897
Almanac Benjamin Banneker Approx. 1791
Insect-Destroyer Gun A. C. Richard Feb. 28, 1899
Automatic Cut-Off Switch Granville T. Woods Jan. 1, 1889
Ironing Board Sarah Boone Dec, 30, 1887
Automatic Fishing Device G Cook May 30, 1899
Key Chain F. J. Loudin Jan. 9, 1894
Automatic Gear Shift Richard B. Spikes Feb. 6, 1932
Lawn Mower J. A. Burr May 19, 1889
Blood Plasma Bag Charles Drew Approx. 1945
Lawn Sprinkler J. W. Smith May 4, 1897
Biscuit Cutter A. P. Ashbourne Nov. 30, 1875
Lemon Squeezer J. Thomas White Dec. 8, 1896
Bicycle Frame I. R. Johnson Oct. 10, 1899
Lock W. A. Martin July 23, 1889
Baby Buggy W. H. Richardson June 18, 1899
Latern Michael C. Harvey Aug. 19, 1884
Cellular Car Phone Henry T. Sampson July 6, 1971
Lubricating Cup Elijah McCoy Nov. 15, 1898
Chamber Commode T. Elkin Jan. 8, 1897
Lunch Pail James Robinson 1887
Clothes Dryer G. T. Sampson June 6, 1892
Mail Box Paul B. Downing Oct. 27, 1939
Curtain Rod S. C. Scratton Nov. 30 1889
Mop Thomas B. Stewart June 11, 1893
Curtain Rod Supporter William S. Grant Aug. 4, 1896
Motor Fredrick M. Jones June 27, 1939
Door Knob O. Dorsey Dec. 10, 1878
Peanut Butter George Washington Carver 1896
Door Stop O. Dorsey Dec. 10, 1878
Pencil Sharpener J. L. Love Nov. 23, 1897
Dust Pan Lawrence P. Ray Aug. 3, 1897
Record Player Arm Joseph Hunger Dickinson Jan. 8, 1918
Egg Beater Willie Johnson Feb. 5, 1884
Refrigerator J. Standard July 14,1891
Elevator Alexander Miles Oct. 11, 1867
Riding Saddles W. D. Davis Oct. 6, 1896
Electric Lamp/Bulb Lewis Latimer Mar. 21, 1882
Rooling Pen John W. Reed 1884
Eye Protector P. Johnson Nov. 2, 1880
Shampoo Headrest C. O. Bailiff Oct. 11, 1898
Fire Escape Ladder J. W. Winters May 7, 1878
Spark Plug Edmond Berger Feb. 2, 1830
Fire Extinguisher T. J. Marshall Oct. 26, 1872
Straightening Comb Madam C. J. Walker Approx. 1905
Folding Bed L. C. Bailey July 18, 1889
Stethoscope Imhotep Ancient Egypt
Folding Chair Brody & Surgwar June 11, 1889
Street Sweeper Charles B. Brooks Mar. 17, 1890
Fountain Pen W. B. Purvis Jan. 7, 1890
Stove T. A. Carrington July 25, 1876
Furniture Caster D. A. Fisher Mar. 14, 1876
Sugar Making Improvement Norbet Rillieux Dec. 10, 1846
Gas Mask Garrett Morgan Oct. 13, 1914
Telephone Transmitter Granvill T. Woods Dec. 2, 1884
Golf Tee T. Grant Dec. 12, 1899
Thermostat Control Frederick M. Jones Feb. 23, 1960
Guitar Robert F. Flemming, Jr. Mar. 3, 1886
Traffic Light Garrett Morgan Nov, 20, 1923
Hair Brush Lydia D. Newman Nov. 15, 1898
Tricycle M. A. Cherry May 8, 1888
Typewriter Burridge & Marshman Apr. 7, 1885
Ice Cream Augustus Jackson
Corn Harvester Henry Blair
Striking Clock Benjamin Banneker 1761
Railway Signal A. B. Blackburn
Gas Heater and Clothes Dryer B. F. Jackson
Machine for making paper bags William B. Purvis
Potato Chip Huram S. Thomas
Jan Ernest Matzelinger invented the shoe-lasting machine (for attaching soles on shoes in Lynn, Mass, His invention revolutionized the shoe industry.
Ernest E. Just was the first biologist to receive the Springarn Medal. He received
distinction in his field through his research on egg fertilization and the functioning of cells.
Harold D. West was the first person to synthesize the amino acid threonine in the
laboratory.
Dr. William Hinton devised a test to determine syphilis.
Dr. Charles Drew developed a technique for separating and preserving blood.
|
|
|
|
|
|
IG
|
Has anybody heard of Benjamin Benneker ?
He's the first person to construct a working clock in America.
He designed the architechture of Washington D.C
And he is black, son of an ex-slave and never went to school.
His surname Benneker was originally Bannaky an African name later changed (I think by historians)
to make his name sound white.
You see, the white man's capital is designed by a black man.
And I think that's a good contribution to America's civilization.
I think some people on these forum just enjoy feeling inferior. And am afraid there is very little
we can do help them. They exist in every race, a lot of white people also feel hopeless. Maybe for a
different reason but the feeling is the same.
|
|
|
|
|
|
blue-sky (f)
|
the arabs invented the numbers we use today
|
|
|
|
|
|
stranger12
|
in a world of black & white
Blacks should contribute 1/6th to modern civilization because there are over 6 billion people in this world of which about 1 billion are classed as blacks.
I see things slightly differently, most of the whites that contributed to modern civilization literally did so on the backs of their black slaves.
Either because they had more time in their hands or because the could easily steal an idea from their slaves. I often wonder why the industrialization of the world happened around the same time as slavery. Blacks might not have been in those industries but I'm sure they supported the workers with food importation from the Americas.
|
|
|
|
|
|
nferyn (m)
|
I see things slightly differently, most of the whites that contributed to modern civilization literally did so on the backs of their black slaves. You definitely got a point here, but this representation is a bit too easy and blurs the general patterns of oppression that stemmed from European political organisation and philosophy. To be more precise, Europe provided the first modern system of exploitation that has got expansion as one of it's core elements. I'll present a little historical expose to make my point in my next post here. Either because they had more time in their hands or because the could easily steal an idea from their slaves. Once more, your core idea is correct, but it is not limited to the experience of Africa and the African diaspora. All great civilisations were built upon extensive division of labour and the re-use of the labour surplus to maximise internal and external power and control. I often wonder why the industrialization of the world happened around the same time as slavery. Blacks might not have been in those industries but I'm sure they supported the workers with food importation from the Americas.
It didn't happen at the same time but after the European expansion and was built upon the accumulated wealth of the British Empire, when slavery was no longer useful in the new capitalist societies. The industrialisation was built upon the wealth from the triangular trade of finished products - slaves - agricultural produce between Europe, Africa and the Americas and made slavery dysfunctional as it allowed internal economic expansion and there was no longer a need for the excessive repressive apparatus that sustained slavery. |
|
|
|
|
|
jeshua (m)
|
I am moving forward, and so are most of us on this thread. We have more in common with whites who are also moving forward. Being the same color is not what truly makes me your brother. Having the same mentality, white or black, is what makes us a "we". I have working independently on the Black history and i think this is an issue that is important for our generation and others to follow. I actually discovered that Blacks colonised the Greeks though an egyptian king. It was the period that the Greek culture and civilization developed. The history was silenced by early historians who thought that because the Egyptian history actually doesnt favour Israel ever staying in egypt at any time in history, then Egyptians colonization of Greece should be silenced. In order to establish the plot, they resolved that "Africa has no past". you may think i made it up just like my Oyinbo lecturer until i brought out the book written by martin Bernal tilted "BLACK ATHENA". the book gave evidences to it. i actually was not out looking for it but just to establish the connection between African Sexist views and that of Greek culture. I discovered dsome similarities in our myths about the reason for sin in the world and the reason why women were looked upon as properties and it linked me up with our history. even Ethnologist Leo Frobenius in 1910-1911, was convinced that the arts works in Ife (a capital of the Yoruba speaking people), Nigeria, west Africa- were the remains of the lost greek colony of Atlantis, founded in the second millennium B.C . that however was disproved by other historians because it can not beproven scientifically. The greeks later came back to colonise africa and the rest of the world but we did it first. i am going to buy that book soon. it is volume 1 and 2. in a world of black & white
Blacks should contribute 1/6th to modern civilization because there are over 6 billion people in this world of which about 1 billion are classed as blacks.
I see things slightly differently, most of the whites that contributed to modern civilization literally did so on the backs of their black slaves.
Either because they had more time in their hands or because the could easily steal an idea from their slaves. I often wonder why the industrialization of the world happened around the same time as slavery. Blacks might not have been in those industries but I'm sure they supported the workers with food importation from the Americas.
The only thing i can't explain is how we went backward? MAY GOD HAVE MERCY |
|
|
|
|
|
Ndipe (m)
|
I agree with you, if the black race came up with these inventions, then why are we portrayed as being backwards in today's era?
|
|
|
|
|
|
stranger12
|
@ Topic
Nothing obvious apart from gold, iron, man power and art.
Africans did it thousands of years ago and they went to sleep.
I will like to add that people are a product of their environment.
There are too many constants around West Africa hence the lack of reason to invent new things.
Just imagine, no changing seasons except for wet and dry seasons.
Sun rises same time every day and sets about the same time every day all year round
Tides don't come and go, the water level is basically stable.
And they are superstitious because a lot of weird creatures are bound to be born. (diversity of species is most found in warm climates).
Very rough and harsh terrain hence a lack of an adventurous mind. People go on expenditure because of news heard by those who have done the same.
quite a number of Europeans who explored west Africa died from the claws of malaria and had their brains fried under the sun, I can assure you the sun can make you hallucinate and go schizophrenic if you stay under it long enough.
Things are changing, modern man now work despite these hardships.
Let me also add that the government of most african nations were fused into existence by external forces. This is a big set back but Africa will rise again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Donzman (m)
|
@4Play
Given the oppression and limited opportunities we have faced SINCE the 17th century, I think it is fair to say we have contributed alot and will continue to contribute as more opportunities are opened up to us. How do you expect any inventions or enterprise when people are fighting for bare survival from Africa to the American slave plantations?
|
|
|
|
|
|
![Nairaland [Nigerian Forum] Home](http://www.nairaland.com/Themes/default/images/english/home.gif)
Author
beard.gif (23.35 KB, 197x400 )
