Where to Begin?

Alright, so you decided to look into studying African History and Culture. However, when it comes to studying African History sometimes you don’t know when or where to begin. You don’t know if you should start during the Antebellum South or Pre-Dynastic Kemet. It’s like being at a family gathering and you see all the delicious food, and all you have is a flimsy paper plate. Where to begin?

Here are a few suggested readings from some of our Black authors to begin your journey.

3 Books to Start Your Journey into African History

• Stolen Legacy by George G.M. James
• Introduction to African Civilization by John G. Jackson
• Black Man of the Nile and His Family by Dr. Yosef Ben-Jochannan

Stolen Legacy by George G.M. James is a classic. This is the first book that I would advise my High School students to read. If you are interested in studying African History, this is a great start. It is a light read, small book, and easy to understand. It doesn’t delve into esoteric symbolisms, and the liberal arts and sciences. However, it provides solid foundational information, as to how Greek and Roman culture took many concepts from Kemet and made it their own. James in his book touches on the Kemetic Mystery schools, which provided a means of developing men and women to become Khari Heb or a Priest. Stolen Legacy https://amzn.to/3H5eda3 (Amazon)

Introduction to African Civilization by John G. Jackson is a book that I was introduced to while I was attending Paul Quinn College in Dallas, Texas. My Professor Mrs. Matthews used this book as a reference in her African History Course. By the way, that was an amazing class. It covers various cultures and civilizations on the continent. It is amazing how he uses sources that can sometimes be unobtainable to most people and use it in his book so you can get an understanding of it. Without going to a museum or paying an astronomically high price for a text. Introduction to African Civilization: https://amzn.to/48nuPpe (Amazon)

Black Man of the Nile and His Family by Dr. Ben, is a classic! It is an excellent piece of work written by one of the most profound African History Scholars of the 20th Century. In reading the book over time, I learned that you cannot just read it once, skim through it, and put it down. It is designed for you to take your time, and gradually read it. It may take some time, but it’s worth it. There are a lot of scholars today that speed read through things. Some might be on Social Media platforms, they read to respond to a post and not to understand. The same thing goes for reading our scholars. They read for the sake of reading, or to say they’ve read it. Yet they do not understand what they’ve read. The Black Man of the Nile and His Family, once read, can and should be used as a workbook. A book that you should refer to multiple times as you conduct your research. Another magnum opus is Africa: Mother of Western Civilization you should check out. It is a gem that every scholar should have in their library.

These are my suggestions, to begin with these three books in mind. Begin by taking your time, and take notes. Remember, studying African History is a journey, a marathon, not a sprint. Enjoy the view.

Thanks for coming

If you want me as a freelance writer for history, education, and religion let me know.

• Email: marqdcameron@gmail.com

Check out these books, disclaimer, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Stolen Legacy https://amzn.to/3H5eda3 (Amazon)

Introduction to African Civilization: https://amzn.to/48nuPpe (Amazon)

The Black Man of the Nile: https://amzn.to/41OiWGt (Amazon)

Africa: Mother of Western Civilization: https://amzn.to/4do6DGr (Amazon)

Ujumbe Means Message Journal: https://amzn.to/3Qm1ODF (Amazon)