Today In Black History: Dr. Cheikh Anta Diop
Senegalese historian, author, anthropologist, physicist, and politician
Issue #795 Today In Black History, Monday, January 27, 2025
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Dr. Cheikh Anta Diop, often revered as one of Africa's greatest historians and anthropologists, was born on December 29, 1923, in Thieytou, Senegal. He pursued his higher education in Paris, embracing a multidisciplinary approach to his studies, delving into physics, chemistry, history, and linguistics.
While studying at the Sorbonne, Diop helped organize the first Pan-African Student Congress in Paris in 1951 and, in 1956, participated in the First World Congress of Black Writers and Artists in Paris.
Diop’s groundbreaking work challenged Eurocentric narratives that marginalized African contributions to world history. His seminal book, Nations Nègres et Culture (1954), argued that Ancient Egypt was fundamentally a Black civilization and that Africa had made substantial contributions to the development of human society. This work laid the groundwork for further scholarship on the African origins of civilization and inspired a generation of African scholars and pan-Africanists.
African-American historian Dr. John Henrik Clarke called Diop "one of the greatest historians to emerge in the African world in the twentieth century,” noting that his theoretical approach derived from various disciplines, including the "hard sciences." Clarke further added that his work, The African Origin of Civilization: Myth or Reality, challenged contemporary attitudes "about the place of African people in scholarly circles around the world" and relied upon "historical, archaeological and anthropological evidence to support his thesis.” He later summarised that Diop contributed to a new "concept of African history" among African and African-American historians.
Dr. Diop served as a member of the UNESCO International Scientific Committee for the Drafting of a General History of Africa in 1971 and wrote the opening chapter about the origins of the ancient Egyptians in the UNESCO General History of Africa.
In this chapter, he presented anthropological and historical evidence in support of his hypothesis that Ancient Egyptians had a close genetic affinity with Sub-Saharan African ethnic groups, including a shared B blood group between modern Egyptians and West Africans.
Beyond history, Dr. Diop made notable contributions to linguistics and the study of African cultures. He developed a theory on Africa's cultural unity, proposing that despite linguistic diversities, there was an overarching cultural continuity across the continent. His work aimed to bolster African identity and pride when many African nations grappled with the impacts of colonialism and fighting for independence.
Dr. Diop was a scholar and advocate for African nations' political and economic liberation. He envisioned a united Africa, where resources and ingenuity would be harnessed for the continent's development. His vision underscored the importance of self-reliance and collaboration among African states.
Cheikh Anta Diop University (formerly known as the University of Dakar) in Dakar, Senegal, is named after him.
Dr. Diop died on February 7, 1986 (aged 62) in Dakar, Senegal.
Today In Black History
In 1797, Captain John (“Jack Punch”) Perkins became the first Black commissioned officer in the British Royal Navy.
In 1952, “Invisible Man,” a novel by Ralph Ellison, won the National Book Award.
In 1961, renowned opera singer Leontyne Price debuted at the Metropolitan Opera House.
In 1972, the world premiere of famed ragtime composer Scott Joplin’s rediscovered opera “Treemonisha” was performed at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.
In 1973, Joseph Lowze was named auxiliary Bishop of Mississippi.
In 1977, Drew Days became the first Black Assistant Attorney General in charge of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division.
In 2017, Donald Trump issued an executive order banning travel to the U.S. from seven primarily Muslim countries and suspending admission for refugees.
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