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In the annals of history, amidst tales of struggle and defiance leading up to the ‘Battle of Pueblo’ and ‘Cinco de Mayo’, emerges the remarkable […]
Events Global African HistoryIn the annals of history, amidst tales of struggle and defiance leading up to the ‘Battle of Pueblo’ and ‘Cinco de Mayo’, emerges the remarkable saga of Gaspar Yanga, a former African slave who defied the odds to become a liberator. His story intertwines with the harrowing legacy of the African slave trade.
Millions of enslaved Africans ended up in South America and the Caribbean. Brazil alone got a whopping 4 million! Here’s the kicker: Mexico, yes, Mexico, had its share of about 200,000 enslaved Africans between the 1520s and 1829 đ§.
But beyond oppression, there’s a lesser-known chapter in Mexican history: the courageous African and mixed-heritage fighters who stood tall in the ‘Battle of Puebla’, etching their mark on the tapestry of time.
Ever wondered what’s the deal with Cinco de Mayo? Is it just an excuse for a fiesta, or is there more to it? Well, hold on to your sombreros, because we’re about to dive into the authentic story.
So, rewind to 1861 in Mexico â Benito JuĂĄrez is at the helm, trying to steer the country out of financial turmoil. But here come France, Britain, and Spain, knocking at the door, demanding some serious cash. But JuĂĄrez isn’t about to hand over the keys to the treasury without a fight.
France, led by Napoleon III, has its sights set on Mexico. They figure it’ll be a walk in the park to conquer. But wait, who’s that standing in their way? It’s General Ignacio Zaragoza and his band of soldiers â a mix of African đ˛ and indigenous Mexicans ready to give the French a run for their money.
Dawn breaks, and the Battle of Puebla kicks off. The French come in guns blazing, but Mexico’s band of fighters aren’t backing down.
You’ve got 2,000 Africans, mix heritage Africans and indigenous Mexican soldiers, staring down the barrel of a French army three times their size. Talk about David versus Goliath vibes! It’s a scene straight out of an epic saga, with the fate of a nation hanging in the balance âď¸.Â
Feel the tension in the air as General Ignacio Zaragoza rallies his troops, the taste of anticipation lingering on their tongues as they prepare to make history. And then, in a flurry of action, witness the unthinkable:Â
For a full day, on May 5, 1862, it’s like a scene from a Hollywood blockbuster â cannons roaring, swords clashing, and the smell of gunpowder hanging heavy in the air of Puebla.
And guess what? Against all odds, those gutsy Afro and Mexican fighters don’t just hold their ground â they hand France a serious beat-down. The Aftermath: Victory for the UnderdogsđŞđž!Â
When the dust settles, it’s a sight to behold. The French are licking their wounds, with nearly 500 soldiers out of commission. Meanwhile, General Ignacio Zaragoza troops? Well, they’ve barely broken a sweat, with fewer than 100 casualties.Â
Now, while Cinco de Mayo’s a big deal in Puebla, the rest of Mexico? Not so much. It’s just another day on the calendar. But across the border in the U.S., it’s a whole different story.
Letâs zoom back to the Civil Rights Movement of 1960s and 70s.
Inspired by African-American resilience against systemic injustice in America, 1Chicano activists saw an opportunity to make their voices heard too.
Like those fighting for African-American rights, Chicano activists stood up for their community. They shared their challenges and celebrated their Mexican heritage with pride.đŻÂ
The Chicano’s saw the âBattle of Pueblaâ as a symbol of resistance to oppression. They looked back at history and saw a connection between their fight for equality and Mexico’s win over the French. It was like saying, “If they can do it, so can we!” Cinco de Mayo became a beacon of hope for, “Hey, we’re here, and we’re proud of who we are!”    Â
Cinco de Mayo isn’t Mexican Independence Day â that’s a whole other shindig in September. Cinco de Mayo isn’t just about celebrating a military victory. In a nutshell, Cinco de Mayo is about an event that took place in Mexico in 1862.
When, on the 5th of May, a ragtag army of 2,000 soldiers, a mix of African and indigenous Mexican fighters, led by a general who was born in Texas, defeated the most powerful army in the world in the small town of Pueblaâđž.
*How do you think showing diverse representation in historical narratives, like the Battle of Puebla, shakes up our view of the past? Does it add some spice? Comment down below⤾ď¸
Sources: Image Credit: SFGATE 2015
El Perico Cinco de Mayo for Chicanos
1 Chicano was originally a classist and racist slur used toward low-income Mexicans that was reclaimed in the 1940s among youth who belonged to the Pachuco and Pachuca subculture. In the 1960s, Chicano was widely reclaimed in the building of a movement toward political empowerment, ethnic solidarity, and pride in being of indigenous descent.
Meet Dr. Patricia Cowings, an innovative aerospace psychologist and aspiring astronaut. who studies how people stay safe in challenging places, like space missions. Patricia Cowings […]
Tech & InnovationMeet Dr. Patricia Cowings, an innovative aerospace psychologist and aspiring astronaut. who studies how people stay safe in challenging places, like space missions.
Patricia Cowings was born on December 15, 1948. She grew up in the vibrant community of The Bronx, New York City. Her amazing journey, driven by curiosity and determination, took her on a path to become a renowned aerospace psychologist.
As a young African American girl, the wonders of science and the complexities of the human mind fascinated Patricia. Fueled by her curiosity, she pursued a PhD in psychology at the University of California Davis, where she dove into the mysteries that intrigued her.
Venturing into the unknown realm of space exploration, Cowings joined NASA in 1971, sparking a passion for understanding how space travel affects the human body. Her pioneering research aimed to make space safer and easier for astronauts beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
In the early 1980s, at NASA’s Ames Research Center, Patricia faced the challenges of space travel head-on. With her revolutionary patented invention, the Autogenic-Feedback Training Exercise (AFTE) system, she enabled astronauts to have control over their bodies in space!
Under Patricia’s guidance, astronauts underwent 12 transformative (AFTE) training sessions, each lasting 30 minutes. Imagine being able to control your heartbeat or breathing while floating in space!
Patricia and her team conducted experiments where she made people feel like they were in different levels of gravity. She used a machine called a “human centrifuge” for this. It spins around really fast, making people feel like they’re heavier than usual, just like on Earth or even 1.5 times heavier.
During these tests, people spent a long time in the spinning machine. Dr. Cowings checked things like their skin temperature, how fast their blood flowed, their heart rate, and how they breathed. She also gave them tests to see how well they could think and move under these conditions.
Patricia Cowingsâ dedication knew no bounds. Beyond Earth’s orbit, she studied how microgravity affected cosmonauts on the Mir Space Station, uncovering how space travel impacts human health.
From simulating space conditions on Earth to monitoring astronauts in orbit, she led numerous experiments uncovering the wonders and challenges of space exploration. Her work paved the way for humanity’s journey beyond our planet.
With her clever experiments using the “human centrifuge,” Dr. Cowings learned how the human body reacts to different gravitational forces. These discoveries help us understand how astronauts cope in space.
Cowings’ influence extended beyond astronauts to include pilots, rescuers, and soldiers. Her teachings and training exercises helped them navigate their missions with confidence.
Patricia Cowings made significant contributions to the field of space psychology through her innovative research and determined attitude. The positive influence she left behind inspires future generations to aim high and pursue their dreams.
What marvels await us as we continue our voyage into the boundless expanse of the universe? The sky is not the limitâit’s just the beginning of our odyssey into the unknown.
Like a simmering pot on a stove, long before the devastating Rwandan Genocide of 1994, a bitter divide plagued the land. Two ethnic groups, the […]
Events Global African HistoryLike a simmering pot on a stove, long before the devastating Rwandan Genocide of 1994, a bitter divide plagued the land. Two ethnic groups, the Hutus and Tutsis filled with tension, threatened to boil over.
This tension started way back when Belgium was in charge of Rwanda. Instead of treating everyone equally, they played favorites, giving the Tutsis more power and leaving the Hutus feeling angry and left out.
In Rwanda, the Hutus make up most of the population, but historically, the Tutsis have had more power. Back in 1959, things took a drastic turn when the Hutus toppled the Tutsi monarchy from power. This led to a wave of violence.Â
Fast forward to 1994, a plane carrying the Hutu president was shot down, chaos erupted. Extremist Hutus blamed the Tutsis for the attack and used it as an excuse to unleash violence. It was a well-organized nightmare, with innocent Tutsis being targeted and killed mercilessly.
As the violence escalated, different groups pointed fingers at each other. The Tutsi-led rebel group, the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), claimed that the Hutus shot down the plane themselves to justify their attacks on Tutsis. Amidst the chaos, the truth became blurred, and innocent lives continued to be lost.
Once-friendly faces turned into enemies, tearing families apart and shattering trust. Even places meant for safety, like churches and schools, turned into battlegrounds, echoing with screams of terror.
Like bullies on a rampage, armed groups with machetes, clubs, and other weaponry wielded their weapons. People seeking refuge inside Ntarama church were burnt alive. Neighbors hunted down their neighbors, and some husbands killed their wives just because they belonged to a different group.
As the chaos unfolded, the world stood by, watching in horror but doing little to help. It was as if everyone had their hands tied, unable or unwilling to intervene.
The United Nations, a superhero without powers, was present in Rwanda but didnât stop the madness. Despite knowing the scale of the horror, they hesitated to act, leaving the victims to suffer alone.
It was a tragic chapter in history where, for 100 days from April to July 1994, silence spoke louder than words.
In the midst of all the chaos and sadness, a glimmer of hope appeared on the horizon. Imagine a group of brave champions, like characters from a movie, rising up against the villains. That’s what happened when the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), led by a courageous Tutsi named Paul Kagame, decided they had enough of the violence.
They fought tooth and nail against the extremist Hutus, gradually gaining ground until they defeated the government forces.
A beam of light pierced through the darkness, putting an end to the nightmare of genocide.
But victory came at a great cost – almost a million lives lost and millions more forced to flee their homes as refugees.
After the dust settled and the guns fell silent, Rwanda faced a huge challenge – rebuilding and healing.
Similar to a broken puzzle, scattered into a thousand pieces, remained a nation of people waiting to be put back together. That’s how Rwandans felt as they tried to pick up the pieces of its shattered society.
The international community stepped in, setting up the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda to bring the culprits of the genocide to justice. Meanwhile, Rwanda itself held trials for many ordinary citizens who had taken part in the killings.Â
The wounds left by the genocide ran deep. Families were torn apart, neighborhoods destroyed, and trust shattered. It would take years of hard work and dedication to not only rebuild the physical buildings but also mend the hearts and minds of the Rwandan people.
The Rwandan Genocide is like a cautionary tale, a warning bell ringing loud and clear. Picture a dark storm cloud gathering, sinister and frightening. That’s what happens when we leave hate and prejudice to grow unchecked.
The genocide serves as a reminder to all of us about the dangers of ignoring the signs of tension and violence between different groups of people. It’s a wake-up call, urging us to speak up and stand against injustice before it’s too late.
Remembering the Rwanda Genocide isn’t just about paying tribute to the lives lost; it’s also about making sure history doesn’t repeat itself.
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