Black Royalty

by Anna M Erickson

I’ve always had a feeling that there was something sacred about blacks in America. The feeling is America specific, when traveling it wasn’t the same. America, the place where blacks have been places in a perpetual cycle of oppression, was were I felt this the most. I couldn’t explain this impression until I studied it and I realized - it’s all in the history.

When translating African Slavery into the African language, the word domum means enslaved war captives. Across all translations, however, there is a common understanding that the person is the property of another politically - meaning, when looking at the 15th century, a tribe’s power over another. Also, forget the barbaric depictions which the European and American media has fed you: these tribes were not people running around naked with sticks, but sophisticated generational kingdoms with communities, wealth, and pride.

Now, it is important to note that there was subjugation in Africa prior to the start of the slave trade. Prominent African tribes kept their captives from battle as prisoners of war. In the native culture, warriors were the highest in society. Each tribe’s ruler was commonly the leader in battle surrounded by prominent members of society coming from a bloodline of notability and ability. African dynasties at the time were in full force - thriving in community and building their riches. Meaning prisoners of war were the strongest, most powerful, and most prominent in African society - they were royalty.  

When captured by a neighboring tribes prisoners of war were were close to home and were likely to escape. For this reason there was a need to be rid of them - to be moved out quickly and sold. Slaves were sold from coastal African tribes to the Europeans. Europeans ship captains, who came to the African coast, were required to acquire a licence to trade through purchasing a specified number of slaves at a specified price from the local chief. The first slaves to be sold? The prisoners of war.

It is important to understand this because the slaves who came to America were not the peasants, not the lower classes, not the disabled. But the most fit, most prominent, and most powerful. The blacks who came to America were royalty.

This all caused me realize the weight of this universal truth - people are only mean to those they feel threatened by. Blacks were brought America, snatched from their dynesties, and treated the opposite of the royalty which they came from - by a bearly stable nation of people struggling to build their own freedom.  

This universal truth that threat and envy causes destruction has been known for ages:

“If you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice.” (James 3:14-16)

Disorder and every vile practice have followed black lives in America since the first day we were shipped here. Blacks have endured discrimination and perceptual abuse being repeatedly tried to be disregarded of their truth - yet everytime they still rise.

Blacks are constantly portrayed as everything opposite of the royalty which they come from. They are perpetually criminalized and portrayed as reckless. Family bonds have been terrorized and are still terrorizes today: 1 in every 3 black men end up behind bars. Too often are blacks kept under the thumb of welfare in a cycle of poverty. They are given inferior qualities of education and perpetually kept from being apart of the economic elite.

Despite every aspect of black lineage being tested, we have survived despite torment year after year. There is a brotherhood among blacks, a strong sense of community and connection. There is an obsession with the gold chain which historically represents wealth, success, and good luck. There is a knowledge of deserving better. There is a depth and wisdom within black women. There is a strength which can endure. There is power to triumph. There is a hunger. There is excellence. There is a history which is carried by every black in America. There is a long bloodline of royal DNA.

So what does this mean now that I know I’m a part of a long bloodline of royalty? For me this means understanding my history, the value of my bloodline, the wisdom, and the inborn birthright I have to a life of richness. It means realizing what we are all more than qualified to achieve - black capability. But more importantly, supported through our history to have a better life. It’s a hereditary royalty I walk around with which others may not understand, but it’s for me and no one else. And what does this mean for you? Well, that’s for you to decide.