Black Princess party

[Sweetmelody72]

So my daughter turned 6 on Boxing Day. It’s always a struggle to sort out a celebration for her in and amongst all the Christmas madness, and this year was of course even harder.

I planned to do a tea party with a couple of school friends in her bubble and wanted to organise a virtual visit from a black princess/Princess Tiana. Scoured the internet and called a couple of ‘princess appearance’ companies, but not even one offered this in South Hertfordshire/North London where we are based.

I carried on digging and eventually came across Black Princess Parties DMV - based in Washington DC!! The plan was for her to appear via Zoom as Elsa (she looks amazing as Elsa), do a craft activity with the girls and sing Happy Birthday and a song from the movie. All very exciting. Then tier 4 happened and I had to postpone but she was still able to do a personalised message for my daughter for her big day - she has a musical theatre background and has an amazing voice.

Anyway, since I struggled to find this and thought other Black Mumsnetters might be interested in something like this, thought I’d come on and mention her. Don’t think I’m allowed to share a link?

Top 10 Africans in Greek mythology, what I just posted.

@Theowawaynow

Well that went wrong fast, go on *@partyatthepalace* Chuck the feminism peice in and we can see how fast the whole thing implodes?

To OPs actual point, I think that’s a great idea, kids are mixed heritage not black to be fair but I struggle to find them role models “like them” so a great shout to consider.

I DON’T WANT little girls to model themselves on princesses! I think it’s DAMAGING to their MENTAL HEALTH and future AMBITIONS.

But as you say, I do think it’s great that the OP has flagged the chance to have a black princess party, should you want a princess party (which no child of mine is ever getting)

Thank you @DivineRoyalty.

@BaronessBomburst

This thread is really interesting! Thank you *@PlanDeRaccordement*. I'd love to know more about the stone circles and ancient cities. Can you recommend any books, or links?

Here is UNESCO link to Senegambian stone circles whc.unesco.org/en/list/1226

Birthplace of sun, oldest megalithic structure on planet
www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-places-africa/adam-s-calendar-oldest-megalithic-site-world-003160

There are lots in S. Africa as well but these are more like the ones in Europe in size, style and age.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=Fsj6EdzAZKc To skip anoying intro go to 20seconds in. It’s 40mins long and covers ruins of cities and stone circles.

Here is link to more about the Pyramids of the Kush Empire (theirs were a bit smaller than the Egyptian ones, but they built more of them)
theafricanhistory.com/826

Here is link to a National Geographic news blog on the lost civilisation in Congo basin. Lots of satellite and aerial photos. Much like Mayans, only through modern day deforestation are we discovering what was beneath the jungle.
blog.nationalgeographic.org/2018/09/26/lost-civilization-in-the-congo-basin-by-mike-fay-and-richard-oslisly/

@DivineRoyalty
Let's not forget the igbo people, the asante people, timbuktu, all great civilizations and the list goes on. African people were not swinging on trees until the lighter race came to rescue us😂. It's what they teach our kids in schools and what they want us to believe. We know the truth

Yes, did leave them out. I kind of stopped short of the kingdoms that collapsed due to the slave trade. People only hear the history of the slaves kidnapped and how they lived under the whip in the Americas. But what history classes usually leave out we’re the devastating effects on the empires and kingdoms of Africa. The slave trades - Atlantic and East Africa collapsed the economies and then the civilisations of Africa. How could it not? We know the Spanish slaving the Native Americans collapsed the entire Aztec Empire. But yet we barely give a thought to the Igbo or Timbuktu or the Benin or Mali or Jolof. See attached timeline of just West Africa. It was a thriving region with many rich and civilised kingdoms before...and you can see how hardly any survive it through the slave trade years.
That’s what makes me a bit angry when people argue about Africa being “behind” or “less developed” like it was some lack or lesserness. When truth is that the two slave trades East and West (Atlantic) destroyed much of Ancient Africa and literally pushed everyone back in time.

The history of my ancestors, the Chinese isn’t really taught in European or American schools either. But I think Africa has been more ignored than West Asia/China has been.
History is a hobby of mine. I love reading about history of everywhere.

[quote DivineRoyalty]BaronessBomburst

[/quote] Loved the video. Hadn’t heard about the Nubian Queen on her war Elephant that beat Alexander the Great :) sorry to forget her name, I am bad with names. But will read more and eventually it will stick.

The daughter of a mumsnetter (a trained dancer and performer) works for party company in the UK. She does Tianna & Moana. Obviously not face to face at the moment.

@DivineRoyalty

PlanDeRaccordement So they say. I only accept African history from African historians. This thread should not have turned into offended privileged individuals responding to my post. Now I understand why there are not a lot of black women in this group.

By the same premise, do you only accept European history from Europeans?

I do notice that everything on black mumsnet goes off topic once some entitled individuals of another race cross their boundaries and think they can tell black minds how to think, what to believe and what their history is base on what their history tells them about us

You’re making quite a lot of assumptions on poster’s race here...Apart from @PlanDeRaccordement who has said her heritage is chinese how do you know about everyone else?

I love history too and have been fascinated by Timbuktu since I was a child. I know nothing about the history of Africa - it isn't taught in schools and should be. Whereas I did the Industrial Revolution and the Second World War twice.

How and why did Europe twist African history

The thread is again attempting to derail with nonsense. We shall ignore and keep sharing knowledge.

@BaronessBomburst

I love history too and have been fascinated by Timbuktu since I was a child. I know nothing about the history of Africa - it isn't taught in schools and should be. Whereas I did the Industrial Revolution and the Second World War twice.

Yes. I understand European, US, all schools will naturally focus on their own nation and continent’s history for most of school child basic education and that is absolutely ok by me.

But I agree with you the curriculum needs to widen especially now we are becoming a globally diverse community. Most nations have school children for 12-13yrs of education. If there were just two years of this in secondary school in which history were a “world history” focus then they would have 6 terms to spend one on each region other than their own so : Africa(N, W, E and S), East Asia (China, Japan and India), aCentral & Minor Asia (Russia and Middle East), Australia/New Zealand, North & Central America and South America, and a term for Europe. (Each country doesn’t do the term that’s about their own continent).

And the history should focus on that region and their civilisations and accomplishments. I’d hate to see history of China start when Europeans explorers “found” us and then talk about the Opium wars. That would be Eurocentric. The history should be written for each term by historian from or who specialises in that region. So China history is China centric. The same with Africa...it should be Africa centric- include but don’t make it all about slave trades and Egyptian pharaohs, yes included them but also, talk about the great kingdoms and kings and queens. The adventurous explorers that sailed to S America. The discovery and colonising of Madagascar. The sea trade routes with India. All the civilisations and accomplishments that came out of Africa. Their astronomy was more advanced than the ancient Greeks. They invented a number system based on 20 (instead of the base 10 we use today) and that requires a lot of brain power to do math and astronomical calculations in base 20. They had advances in medicine long before the Middle East did- much of what Middle East Arabic cultures were credited with they took from African kingdoms when they conquered them. It was old story of barbarian hordes at the gates of civilisation.

Every culture has contributed to where humans are today. No one is less than or bad. And every child of every race has a legacy of brilliance and stands on shoulders of giants. It would be a real disgrace to have world history taught to a black child outside Africa and only tell them “oh you were slaves” they need also to know the greatness in their past.

@PlanDeRaccordement agree that history should be widened. European history is pretty boring and very narrow - royalty and wars, with a couple of plagues thrown in.

My children were lucky enough to go to a school which was over 70% black british. Many had Ghanaian, Jamaican or other African parents and the school did an amazing job of teaching black history as best it could alongside the national curriculum. Even School dinners were reflective of the culture.

It can be done- when they had an Arab Muslim student teacher for example they took every advantage and had her teach whole school lessons in her own heritage.

It makes a huge difference in acceptance of differences when kids this age are taught about the world rather than one narrow aspect.

The reason why I am more focus on African heritage because they have contributed the most yet they have been the most degraded and disrespected people on this planet. So much focus have been put to destroy us so therefore so much focus must be put to rebuild our very well deserving royal status. Other race of people have not been discarded and berated as much as our African people have and still are. So sorry(not sorry) if I end up offending you whilst I'm busy building my house up. We have heard the greatness and heritage of every nation except of the one who have contributed the most(the motherland).

It is also a parental responsibility to teach your kids about their history. I'm very happy that a lot of our people are waking up and searching for answers. It will lead to much healthier generations in the future.

I don’t think you do need to knock other cultures down to show how great african history is.

Most of it stands on it’s own. Zulu war tactics and skill managed to defeat the british army on many occasions despite not having guns and armoury. “Horns of the bull” was simple genius.

They didn’t beat the British because the british were shit. They beat one of the best, most organised armies in history. Which shows even more the skill and intelligence of those war leaders.

You don’t need to show how great african history is by saying everyone else is shit. Tell people the stories, teach them the history, and it will become clear. And tbh teaching about other cultures, their strengths and weaknesses, will only make your point even more.

Every culture has contributed to where humans are today. No one is less than or bad. And every child of every race has a legacy of brilliance and stands on shoulders of giants. It would be a real disgrace to have world history taught to a black child outside Africa and only tell them “oh you were slaves” they need also to know the greatness in their past.

Bears repeating ...

First of all, if you are black your focus is misdirected.
Secondly, nowhere have I said other people's culture is "shit", but for some reason some people view African history as a threat. In their minds African greatness=white inferiority. They automatically feel like "shit" when you dare to reclaim your greatness. This is called white fragility. That's why I always say that how you feel about my message has nothing to do with my message at all. You are responsible for your own emotion. It is not my concern if it makes you feel like "shit" by me talking about African greatness.
Thirdly, if it's the European destruction and distortion of aftican history that are talking about being "shit". Then that is historical facts. If you view that as "shit" that is your own words, not mine.
Fourth, please do not enter my mind and tell me how to think and what to speak on. I only I own this body. Do not tangle my message up with our emogion
Lastly, I can tell that you have some issue of your own and that does not concern me.
Stockholm syndrome much?

Emotion

Well that escalated quickly! Perhaps it could be a new business opportunity for you @Sweetmelody72 ?

It escalates when people go off track and start getting into their feelings. That's what I meant that African people cannot do anything without being restricted and put down just because you feel negative. I dont feel like shit when Europeans and Asians declare their greatness. In fact I love learning about other cultures I am a humanitarian at heart. But for some reasons people want to put us back in our place when we dare to rise . No difference to black lives matter vs all lives matter. Black people do this too. You see them in the crowd with their "alllivesmatter" banner
My your business. What about your life😂. You are focusing on other races and other cultures who dont put you first and do not consider you. Mind your business black black people #stayhome😂😂

@bluebluezoo

There were a lot of mistake in my first posse let me post again. My mind is running faster than my fingers

First of all, if you are black your focus is misdirected.
Secondly, nowhere have I said other people's culture is "shit", but for some reason some people view African history as a threat. In their minds African greatness=white inferiority. They automatically feel like "shit" when you dare to reclaim your greatness. This is called white fragility. That's why I always say that how you feel about my message has nothing to do with my message at all. You are responsible for your own emotion. It is not my concern if it makes you feel like "shit" by me talking about African greatness.
Thirdly, if it's the European destruction and distortion of aftican history that you are talking about being "shit" then that is just historical facts. If you view that as "shit" that is your own words, not mine.
Fourth, please do not enter my mind and tell me how to think and what to speak on. Only I own this body. Do not tangle my message up with our emotions.
Lastly, I can tell that you have some issue of your own and that does not concern me.
Stockholm syndrome much?

Anyway I hope you get the message @bluebluezoo.

I'm going to opt out of this thread because it is starting to look like a "shit" show😂

Thank you for sharing your knowledge @PlanDeRaccordement. I will look at some of the links you have sent.