Western Leaders of African Descent
Chris Matthews on MSNBC made the comment that if he won the presidency, Barack Obama would be the first "Western" leader of African descent. He then wondered if he was right, and whether there had been an African Roman Emperor.
The categories Matthews deployed are not very useful. We are all Africans, after all. Homo sapiens sapiens originated in southern Africa. We Africans did not even leave Africa until 70,000 years ago, and some much later. And groups keep intermarrying in history, so that even more recently African genes continually got propagated through Europe and Asia. (The whole world becomes inter-related again every fifty generations).
The construction of a "West" is of course artificial. And "African" covers a very large number of ethnic groups. And one would want to avoid the excesses of Afro-Centrism. But if we play the game in the terms Matthews set it out, the answer is: Hardly the first. Here are some "for examples" with no intention to be comprehensive. Readers are free to add more.
Piye and the other Nubian Pharaohs of the Twenty-Fifth Dynasty (8th century - 666 BC).
Then, Matthews was right to doubt himself on the issue of Roman emperors:
"Lucius Septimius Severus restored stability to the Roman empire after the tumultuous reign of the emperor Commodus . . . Severus was born 11 April 145 in the African city of Lepcis Magna, whose magnificent ruins are located in modern Libya, 130 miles east of Tripoli. . . . However, by giving greater pay and benefits to soldiers and annexing the troublesome lands of northern Mesopotamia into the Roman empire, Septimius Severus brought increasing financial and military burdens to Rome's government. His prudent administration allowed these burdens to be met during his eighteen years on the throne . . . "
"The anonymous late 4th-century Epitome de Caesaribus sets the birthplace of [the Emperor] Aemilianus . . . "on the island Meninx, which is now called Girba," modern Gerba, off the coast of western Tunisia and calls him a Moor"
The Almoravids and Almohads of Spain.
Fernando Henrique Cardoso, president of Brazil 1995-2002, who asserts African descent.
Likewise Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.
Black governors in the United States;
posted by Juan Cole @ 8/29/2008 12:16:00 AM
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10 Comments:
A bit much, extending the West to include ancient Egypt. What about modern Egypt, is that part of the West too?
Still, I suppose it is to the west of ancient Assyria and Babylon, and Achaemenid Persia, but I don't think that's what you meant. The ancient Greeks certainly considered Egypt part of the decadent Orient.
Interesting analysis. Who would have thought Chris Matthews would go there? It's correct to state that when taken to their full meanings, "African" includes alot of people. However I'm always uncertain where exactly "Western" begins and ends. For instance if the Nubian rulers of Napata become Western leaders in their conquering of Egypt, then the vast majority of Egypt's rulers (at least until the Late Kingdom) are also African leaders of a "Western" state--who at one point will consolidate a tributary Empire stretching into the Levant. Whatever one thinks pharaonic Egyptians looked like (not getting into that circular debate, but suffice it to say they were by all accounts a diverse lot), they were as African as the most "tawny" Berber or "dark skinned" Nubian next door. Good post.
A *possible* addition that came to mind, depending on which historian one believes and how much can be made of artistic portraits:
Alessandro de' Medici, 16th Century Duke of Florence.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alessandro_de'_Medici,_Duke_of_Florence
The ongoing debate:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/secret/famous/mediciupdate.html
As we don't have DNA testing of this case to verify it as soundly as Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemmings, it remains (thus far) inconclusive--but nevertheless interesting, as backers of Medici's possible "African" heritage deem him the first such leader of a "modern" Western state.
Great post! I'm working on a master's thesis on Medieval Morocco, so I am grateful that you mentioned the Almohad and Almoravid dynasties.
We can always rely on Chris Matthews for a hearty laugh, or an ill-thought-out comment.
Every single leader of independent Haiti since Toussaint l'Ouverture; the leaders of post-colonial Jamaica, Trinidad/Tobago, Bahamas, and numerous other Caribbean nations. (Or don't they count as the West?") Even Fulgencio Baista was dark enough to be barred from some Cuban beaches before the Revolution of 1959.
Come on, seriously, Northern Africa has about as much to do with southern Africa, historically, culturally, and ethnologically, as Papua New Guinea has to do with Australia.
"Africa" was the ancient Roman term for Tunisia. "We are all Africans" because many of our ancestors left Africa 200 000 years ago is about the most fallacious argument I can imagine. What an insult to actual Africans.
Yes, Barack Obama would be the first leader of the Western world with African heritage. Governing Massachusetts or Haiti does not count as leading the West. That is half the point to the transformative possibilities of his image.
For Pete's sake, Dr. Cole, get a grip.
Alex, man, the West has based its claims to advanced civilization by citing 'the grandeur that was Greece, the glory that was Rome . .", especially when seizing colonies in Africa & Asia while citing the White Man's Burden of looking out for the dark-skinned blighters who obviously couldn't govern themselves. But this excuse for colonialism falls apart if people realize that the ancient Greeks borrowed lots of their civilization from the Ancient Egyptians, who told everyone they came originally from Ethiopia, & who Herodotus described as having dark skin & hair like wool.
Great - now America can prove it's as progressive as Peru.
Isn't Mexico part of "the west"? Besides independence leader Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon (who is responsible for the first constitution which made all men equal regardless of "race"), Vicente Guerrero and Juan Alvardo -- two very important 19th century presidents were Afro-Mexican, as was (in part) Mexico's most important 20th century leader, Lazaro Cardenas del Rio.
And, are the "West Indian" nations in the "west"?
I like Nader/Gonzalez, but I would certainly prefer that Cynthia McKinney be the first "Western Leader of African Descent" to hold the position of POTUS than Barack Obama.
Jimmy Carter Conspicuously Absent From Podium
Jewish Democrats approved of Carter’s limited presence at the convention, as they have argued that embracing the former president could tarnish the party in November.
“You can’t give him a podium, because people will draw the conclusion” that the Democratic Party supports Carter’s views on the Middle East, said Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York. “I wouldn’t let him within 100 miles of the convention center, because it would be used by an unscrupulous Republican Party that doesn’t care about the truth in character assassination against our candidate.”
“He hasn’t shown respect to Israel and many of the Jewish constituencies here based on the things he has done,” said Nan Rich, a Florida state senator who left the hall in protest before Carter’s appearance onstage.
“The party is very sensitive to the American Jewish community, and it’s very sensitive to ever conveying that this is anything but a pro-Israel party.”
And though Rich chose to protest Carter’s inclusion, she was among the critics who appreciated the decision to minimize his role.
“It shows the party gets it and Barack Obama’s campaign gets it,” she said.
Barack Obama and the Democratic Party are as much Neocon tools as are John McCain and the Republican Party.
Voting for either one is war crime.
Barr/Root, McKinney/Clemente, Nader/Gonzalez.
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