[nattyreb]

THE AFRIKAN BROWSER
Jahfree I Kupendua, 1997
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After one year with Windows 95, my zeal to upgrade my computer has subsided. Now that the smoke has cleared, I am a lot wiser to the cons and pros of the computer industry. But now I am literally going blind reading tiny words on a computer screen, so I decided to invest a little money into some books, instead of computer software.

I arrived at the Know Thyself Bookstore in Philadelphia recently, just in time to pick up the last copy of another 1995 blockbuster, The African Presence in Early Asia, edited by Runoko Rashidi, and co-edited by Ivan Van Sertima. As for major breakthroughs, the historical revelations contained in this under-publicized book far outweigh the primitive technology presented in Windows 95. Like Windows 95, this book is presented as a major upgrade: it is the 10th Anniversary Edition of the original 1985 version.

To be honest, I think one or two of the essays in African Presence in Early Asia flashed on my computer screen once upon a time, and I believe they are still buried somewhere on my hard drive. As memorable as the articles may have been in the e-mail/news group format, they certainly don't compare to the actual book, which contains about 30 similar Ourstorical analyses of life in Black Ethiopia, which for purposes of this book, consisted of the entire known world, including especially the continent known today as Asia.

The fullness of the Afrikan Genius is reflected on in these pages, which present a people skilled at books (philosophy, science and religion), as well as advanced in culture (from rituals to fashion) and, generally speaking, advanced in civilization.

For example, despite the hype of Windows 95, and of internet hucksters, there is simply no better way of presenting the ideas of man than in books. If we are supposed to be moving towards a "paperless" society, are we actually improving on the ancient Egyptian invention of writing thoughts on paper? I don't believe for a minute that the data stored on my computer will last a generation, let alone 4,000 years. In fact, I am convinced that computers and their media are very unstable, and can't be trusted to archive important information. Now, if our ancestors were stupid enough to have thought that electromagnetic media like diskettes, or even laser/optical media like CDs, would last until the "ends of time," then we would indeed be a people without a story. HisStory would be whiter than it is now, as improbable as that sounds. OurStory would be lost forever.

SURFING FOR OUR-STORY

Overall, I had a pleasant experience with African Presence in Early Asia. I never experienced any headaches or eye strain while reading the book. And folks, I was able to hyperlink several key sections of the book together instantly, without having to insert complicated HTML coding, simply by using small wire devices commonly available in offices. Visually, the book was very inviting, despite the fact that it didn't have blinking lights on it or any primitive animation. The home page (the cover) of my new book resembles a "pandora's box", with the seals removed. While surfing the shelves at the bookstore, I didn't have to wait for these graphics to download, and I didn't have to choose between frames or java or whatever. I understood what this book was about in about 2 seconds!

Already, one of my young sons has written on a few pages of my new book, and a couple of pages have been ripped. However, this is not a problem at all. However, when they get hold of some computer diskettes, they're ruined forever. The user friendly interface of "African Presence in Early Asia" allowed my young ones -- who have very short attention spans -- to view the pictures of the Black Asians with ease. Later, I was able to loan this book to a friend without having to buy a computer for him.

As a reading medium, nothing beats the book. They're more portable than the smallest laptop computer, and can conveniently be browsed without electricity or batteries. You can even get FREE, unlimited access to them at a library! Let's see America Online top that!

Despite the burning of countless manuscripts by barbarian conquerors (Greeks, Romans, etc.), the knowledge available in just a handful of books that survived from the era of Black supremacy continues to cast a deep, dark shadow over the body of knowledge commonly called "Western Civilization". For Afrikans, books are the devices proven by our ancestors to work most effectively in communicating our thoughts, all things considered. As for the internet, you better print what you feel is useful now, while you can.

I recommend everyone visit their favorite Black Bookseller and to "get with the program"....

1. Read more books (esp. African Presence in Early Asia.). Knowledge attained thru books comes quicker, and is more focused and thorough.

2. Write more books, if you can, and leave a legacy for YOUR children to explore.

3. Collect more books. With a minimum amount of fuss, they'll last longer than your computer files, and they'll be easier to access for you and your children.

4. Use the internet intelligently. There are many good sites, with bazillions of bytes of data on the Afrikan Experience. Many can be accessed through our Cyberspace Gateway. However, honest researchers are forced to admit that the internet is notoriously eurocentric, provides precious few clues to OurStory in its fullness, and specializes in sending people on dead end journeys. You need only go to your local Black Bookseller for the definitive link to Ourstory.

I'll write more in the future about the Two Ethiopias of history: Afrika and Asia. But first I need to do a little more research. To do this I have to turn my computer off.

SOURCE: African Frontline Network, by Jahfree I. Kupendua