Your Questions About African Artifacts

Why do some people think Africa is a failed continent?

Africa, prior to colonization, had a higher average standard of living than Europe did. Most Africans lived fairly simple lives compared to the rest of the world, but they were nevertheless able to feed, clothe & look after themselves and their communities. Colonization completely changed the system, Europeans divided Africa into various blocks which they would plunder, the created countries that didn't exist there before--Ghana, Nigeria, etc---they removed thousands of important artifacts (like the various sarcophagai on ancient egypt, and monetarized, devaluing a lot of what made the economic feudalist & bartering African system work.

Ancient Africa was the 2nd to have civilizations after the Middle East (Arabs were the first to create a system of writing). Africa was home to civilizations like Egypt, Nubia, Ghana, Mali, & Songhay to name a few, and the Black African scholars of Mali were the most learned in the world at the same time Europe was engaged in a war known as the "Hundred Years War"

http://africankingdoms.com/

Modern day Africa, which only broke away from colonization in 1960 (around the same time Black Americans were fighitng for equal rights) is still in a position to catch up with the rest of the world. Nigeria has TONS of resources, the 2 most prominent of which are oil (it is one of the top 5 suppliers to the U.S.) and population size (tons of cheap labour like China & potential service sector like India). Kenya, a few decades ago, had an economy that was growing faster than China was (although corruption & bad economic decisions killed it's momentum). Ghana is a West African country that is the most stable in Africa (more stable than say, North Kore or even Iran and most countries in the Middle East). It has the best University in Africa--The University of Ghana--and tons of Black intellectuals go from there and do very well academically abroad.

Nigerians & Ghanaians, for example, have the highest success rate (academically) of any immigrant group in the world.

http://www.theroot.com/buzz/black-immigrants-overrepresented-ivy-league

Dambisa Moyo, one African (She has a PhD from Oxford & a Masters ' from Harvard) Economist, even stated in her book "Dead Aid" that if African politicians stop being so corrupt in a century or so Africa could be where some countries in Asia--China, India, etc, are right now

Africans in Texas artifacts? (Late 1800s)?

So, I'm looking for some artifacts or visual depictions of different aspects of Africans' (in Texas) daily life (like music, art, crafts, clothing, architecture, jobs, language, food, dance, literature). The time period I'm looking at is the late 1800s. Thanks!

Are Religious people aware that they are paying homage to the Sun God: Amen-Ra?

Not that Historical awareness is their strong suit...yet the first state sponsored church: Catholicism, has an African artifact of the phallus (obelisk) with a cross fixed atop of it. Of course this symbolizes Christianity's rise as the newest myth. Moreover, it is by no coincidence that Amen-Ra was also worshiped by the Greeks.
Today, regardless of the 3 major religious cults you may call your own, all of them pay homage to the Sun God: Amen Ra, each time they say Amen.
This is by no coincidence, but of course the sheeple can justify being tricked and misled....once again!

Separation of Church and State? Not for Islam?

The ACLU is ready to attack any Public Christian activity, where are they at times like this?
Carver Elementary - San Diego Public School Bows To Sharia
June 12, 2007 - San Francisco, CA - PipeLineNews.org - Those having doubts that New York Department of Education's proposed Arabic school - Khalil Gibran International Academy - will inevitably turn into a madrassah should consider how a similar experiment in the San Diego Unified School District is turning out.
In September Carver Elementary school [kindergarten - eighth grade] accepted nearly 100 students from a failed charter school which served a Somali Muslim constituency.
The school population now numbers approximately 400.
Though these kids are now being educated within the wall of Carver, they have not been incorporated into the main student population and operate as a school-within-a-school, segregated elite with special privileges.
The controversy became a matter of public record when a substitute teacher Mary-Frances Stevens made a report to the local school board in which she claimed that Carver's Muslim children were being led in Islamic prayer by a teacher's aide. Steven's, who subbed at the school on March 8 stated that the lesson plan she was given included the allotting of one hour for prayer.
The teacher's allegation of religious indoctrination led to an investigation.
In true multicultural fashion, the school has gone to extreme lengths to accommodate its new students; the curriculum features the teaching of Arabic - the language of the Quran - single gender classes for girls as well as organized prayer...for Muslims only.
A new dhimi class schedule - expressly designed to kow tow to Carver's new students - was instituted. It created an extra 15 minute recess period as part of an hour set aside so that Carver's Muslims can pray en-masse while in class. Additionally, the school cafeteria menu no longer serves pork or other foods which conflict with fundamentalist Muslim diet restrictions [halal].
Even Carver's "winter holiday" celebration has not escaped the wrath of this brand of extreme multiculturalism, ripping the heart out of what was formerly the Christmas holiday by injecting extraneous cultural artifacts; as the San Diego Union Tribune notes:
"The school's winter holiday celebration featuring multicultural performances was a big hit. African-American, American, Muslim and other traditions were celebrated.
"Carver has always been sensitive to the different cultures and always looked at the variety of cultures we have as an enrichment, not a problem," teacher Pamela de Meules said." [source "District wants to provide options," by Helen Gao http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/education/20070412-9999-1m12carver.html]
Confronted by an apparent double standard which elevates Muslims over Christian and Jewish students, school principal Kimberlee Kidd attempted to explain, "I think there are so many misconceptions."
The actions taken by Carver's officials have made them agents whereby Sharia [Muslim religious law] has been extended into a region of the public domain where heretofore an ACLU interpretation of church-state separation has prevailed.
On that note, the local ACLU is still "considering" its options in this matter…don't hold your breath.
The unequal treatment on display at Carver is manifest, especially when seen in the light of how requests by Christians who have petitioned to have their prayer needs accommodated are routinely denied by public school officials. It goes without saying that public school cafeteria menus have seldom if ever been modified to accommodate the religious needs of Orthodox Jews who also must not eat pork.

Was the Nazi's really interested in the Paranormal or the occult?

Just curiosity lead me to this conclusion since watching the movies of Indiana Jones and the lost Arc and Hell Boy. But since Germany is busy with the Russian front, the European invasion and the African campaign, do they have time to look for relics or religious artifacts about the power of God here on earth while they are fighting a war they have brought to the world in World War2?

Would they assign a specific group of SS to look for this so called power of God somewhere in Egypt or Syria which to me is completely ridiculous. It is just nice watching it on cinema but come to think of it...nah it is completely a make believe story of Nazi's looking for power of God here on earth. Harrison Ford is one of my favorite actor and Indie Jones character is also one of them. I just recently watch Hell Boy, yeah its nice because of its special effect scene. What do you think?