We Were There

We were there,

As Afro-Romans spread throughout the empire, in a society where skin tone held no grounds on who was better. If poor and living on the streets, we were there with any other. In wealth we looked upon the sea, the hills and all its wonder.

A bangle made of ivory is proof of what I've written. A memento of her origin and a symbol of her riches.

The collapse of this great era marked the start of myth and legend, with scholars painting pictures of a land that they imagined. Like speculations of a race with heads the same as dogs and springs that grant eternity to those who take a gulp.

These fantastical delusions are drawn onto a map, 'savages' inhabiting a land they want to grab.

Oh we were there

When Tudors reigned from 1485, at the coronation of a king who later had six wives.

A trumpeter of the royal court is seen atop a steed, painted unequivocally for everyone to see. To have us in their entourage showed great sophistication, paraded as a sign of international relations.

Despite what you believe you know, through no fault of your own, we were mostly servants instead of slaves that people owned. Living ordinarily with ordinary jobs, we married fellow locals and built families out of love.

As Britain built it’s colonies their need for slaves grew wider, and so assumptions did arise that all Blacks had a master.

But we were there

As merchants too, trading precious goods, of pepper and of ivory and most important gold.

We knew what our kingdoms held, we knew of our power, they knew of our riches that they envied, sought and glowered.

Five men travelled across the seas, a successful expedition. They trained us in their mother tongue, but learning? Inefficient.

Five men returned to Africa, to Shama, to their home, greetings from their village rained in tears and gentle warmth. Five months long without a word or sign of how they faired, imagine that, imagine the anxiety we bared.

Yet still we opened arms with joy in a welcoming embrace, as we did our brothers, with no care for their race.

When the Englishmen had first arrived they came not in their helmets, they came not with their bulky spears that scattered iron pellets.

For they saw a society, intelligent and wise, military greater in body, soul and mind.

Decisive and meticulous, clear in understanding, swindlers be swindled should they not realise it.

A nation worthy of respect to each and every buyer, but tantrums still erupted burning towns in vengeful fire.

As time passed, a chapter turned, we know it off by heart. The Atlantic, cuffs of iron, sickness and the dark. Tears caressing sunken cheeks and praying to our gods. Humans now commodities, the gold was not enough.

Yes, we were there

During World War 1 and World War 2 as well, clouds like mustard filled the air with garlic in their smell. We built the roads for them to cross along uneven ground, as we did the trenches that sheltered them in hell.

We volunteered to fight with them, we came in drones and drones. Despite our good intentions, what displeasured looks they showed.

We could not fight in Europe, it went against their rule, that an ebony could spill the blood of ivory as well. They feared that we’d remember the value of our strength and use our feats to justify the treatment we expect.

Trepidation fuelled by kin, kin like Walter Tull, a lieutenant on forbidden soil, with troops a different tone. Obstacles defeated and glory to his name, there are many others like him even to this day.

Once the orchestra of bombs and guns had turned to peaceful silence, parades erupted in the streets to celebrate their triumph. Their soldiers welcomed in loving arms by those they knew and didn’t, while we were hunted, beat upon and simply disregarded.

Early in the second war, in 1942, the US brought their soldiers and segregation too. The British people looked at them thankful but astonished, their contrast in behaviour, it was not what they imagined. GI soldiers, white in skin, loud and full of steam while those of dark complexion voiced politeness in their speech.

Despite the signs displayed to all, ‘No dogs, No blacks, no Irish’, they did not want to pass a law keeping worlds divided. Enforcement was not present but they did give us advice, not to mix with different skin before their Sibling’s eyes.

The values that they fought for, the enemies they fought, atrocities they witnessed, which pained their beating hearts. Signs of their hypocrisy written on their hands, reflected in the image of their mighty GI friends.

It seems they had forgotten the words they spoke before, regarding our intelligence and competence for war.

Looking at their people and seeing how they faired, how malnutrition swept them and mental anguish spread. Soon they faced comparisons with melanated skinned, ‘physically superior’ and hungry for a win.

Cautioned by the image, reiterating views, attempts to keep a hierarchy based on little truth. Even when we joined them, they’d kept us at a distance, in a coloured section or our very own contingent.

Even when we marched again such treatment still remained, the difference were their allies who would beat us with disdain and want to see us swinging after suffering the pain.

True, with lifted voices, they stood up for our rights but when our blood was mixed with theirs, they’d toss our young aside.

Sisters, aunts and cousins too, seeking new affections, to fill the void imposed on them and relieve them of afflictions.

They raged at the audacity, claiming it a sin. A taint in their genetic pool and pity for the kids. The children were not one of them and neither one of us, and thus were ‘badly handicapped’, they’d struggle all their life.

Believing this, they sent them off, deported with their mothers, as a nation of the highest class should not produce such ‘mongrels.’

We were there,

When suffragettes marched along the streets, calling for the right to vote and organising meets. Demonstrations of conviction through controversial plans. A mangled lifeless body, lay before a horse and man.

We took care of their households through every risk and challenge, sparing them the time they need to fight and win this battle.

But where are records of our names and photos of our image? I searched us on the internet, but Britain’s answers? Lacking.

But we were there

Behind the scenes of Britain’s greatest powers, though rarely taught in systems used to educate a child.

The math that we all use today stems from our home, from counters to geometry, we made systems of our own, and used them to build nations strengthened to the bone.

Our cultures birthed discoveries in the land within the stars. Charting all its movements and splitting it apart, we gave the world a calendar a foundation for today’s. Tweaked by Europeans before unjustly claimed.

Advances in metallurgy and creation of known tools, were made in Ancient Africa, our people were no fools. Do you know of iron chisels? Do you know of nails and glue? Do you know about steam engines? Our forebears made those too.

Our contributions run deeper than many know or think. It’s up to us to find them and help all others see.

We are here,

As 21st century kings and queens existing, in every nation on this earth, our influence proceeding. Enlightening the minds of young like our ancestors before us. Digging up our history, lift your voices sing the chorus,

We were there.

*Written with reference from David Olusoga's Black and British: A Forgotten History (2016).*