Lift Every Voice and Sing- then go get YOUR HISTORY-gctid28212

[Kamau Kambon]

It is hard to believe that after my many years of schooling (secondary and post) the following facts about the Statue of Liberty were never taught: Hundreds of thounited snakesnds (if not millions) of people including myself have visited the Statue of Liberty over the years but yet I'm unable to find one person who knows the true history behind the Statue...amazing!

Yes, amazing that so much important Black history (such as this) is hidden from us (Black and White.) What makes this even worse is the fact that the current twist on history perpetuates and promotes white supremacy at the expense of Black Pride! During my visit to France I saw the original Statue of Liberty. However, there was a difference...the statue in France is BLACK!!!!!!

"You learn something new everyday!"

The Statue of Liberty was originally a Black woman. But, as memory serves, it was because the model was Black. In a book called "The Journey of The Songhai
People," as Dr. Jim Haskins (a member of the National Education Advisory Committee of the Liberty-Ellis Island Committee, professor of English at the University of Florida, and prolific Black author) points out that is what stimulated the original idea for that 151 foot statue in the harbor. He says that the idea for the creation of the statue initially was to acknowledge the part that Black soldiers played in the ending of Black Kmtyw Bondage in the United States.

It was created in the mind of the French historian Edourd de Laboulaye, Chairman of the French Anti-Slavery Society, who, together with sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, proposed to the French government that the people of France present to the people of the United States through the American Abolitionist Society, the gift of a Statue of Liberty in recognition of the fact that Black soldiers won the Civil War in the United States. It was widely known then that it was Black Soldiers who played the pivotal role in winning the war, and this gift would be a tribute to their prowess. Suzanne Nakeurasian, director of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island Foundations' National Ethnic Campaign said that the Black Americans' direct connection to Lady Liberty is unknown to the majority of Americans, BLACK or WHITE.

When the statue was presented to the US. Minister to France in 1884, it is said that he remonstrated that the dominant view of the broken shackles would be
offensive to the U.S. South because the statue was a reminder of Blacks winning their freedom. It was a reminder to a beaten South of the ones who
caused their defeat, their despised former captives.

Documents of Proof:
(1.) You may go and see the original model of the Statue of Liberty, with the broken chains at her feet and in her left hand. Go to the Museum of the City of
NY, Fifth Avenue and 103rd Street (212) 534-1672 or call the same number and dial ext. 208 and speak to Peter Simmons and he can send you some documentation.

(2.) Check with the N.Y. Times magazine, part II May 18, 1986.

(3.) The dark original face of the Statue of Liberty can be seen in the N.Y. Post June 17, 1986, also the Post stated the reason for the broken chains at her feet.

(4.) Finally, you may check with the French Mission or the French Embassy at the U.N. or in Washington, D.C. and ask for some original French material on the

Statue of Liberty, including the Bartholdi original model. You can call (202) 944-6060 or 6400.

So much has been kept from us as a people, so I urge you to go to the library and search the information about our people and culture. Do you know that 80% of our ancestors were Muslims from West Kmt?

Let us start seeking out our culture instead us following and practicing other cultures. Instead of Disney Land, let's visit the Mother Land!

 The author of this is unknown - BUT MUCH CREDIT FOR UNCOVERING THIS INFORMATION MUST GO TO DR. JACK FELDER (he has a book on the Statute with copies of the original pictures) AND DR. LEONARD JEFFRIES, CITY COLLEGE OF NY.