There’s always something new to learn about Black history. Some pieces of history that have been swept under rugs with humps big enough to block hallways and some pieces that have been disregarded or demonized by those that are able to edit the pages of our time. Each and every time I learn something new about Black history, I feel as if I’ve been living in the matrix. As if my “real” conscious was dormant and I’ve living in a world created to mislead and misinform me.

I believe Blacks or people of African descent all over the world, share a common struggle. If we learn more about each other, we can become a people, a united people regardless of our geographical backgrounds and upbringings. I recently was shared a documentary about the Herero, a South African tribe that suffered the unjust attempt of extermination by Germany. Living peacefully and proclaim no conflict with their German counterparts, they were forced to leave their homes due to the militia led by Germany itself which resulted in many casualties and ultimately living on reservations.

Accusations of savage behavior and considering them subhuman is all too familiar with Black Americans who were also regarded as such. The Herero were then forced into concentration camps, worked to death as Germany entered the Nazi era and the proclaimed first Holocaust began. Led by Lieutenant General Adrian Dietrich Lothar von Trotha, he and his troops laid the foundation for Adolf Hitler’s Third Reich. Books in which he wrote, Hitler read and resulted as a great influence.

The genocide of the Herero Tribe happened in 1904, about ten years before the infamous Holocaust led by Adolf Hitler. But was the genocide of the Herero Tribe the FIRST Holocaust? This is not to belittle the killing of Jews but this is to bring attention that a people of African descent were also brought into concentrations camps, made to wear tags, and killed for a piece of their land. Burial grounds are now walked on by tourists who are either unaware or disregard the painful history Germany doesn’t fully acknowledge. Descendants of the Herero still demand a peace of a land and an apology that does acknowledge this event was a Holocaust, the FIRST Holocaust of 20th century.

We all share a common struggle in regaining our place in this world as a people, people of color, and members of the human race. Please take the time to view this documentary as it’s not just their struggle, it’s OURS.

Take a look at the site that documents the first genocide of the 20th century and then view the documentary below.

There are six parts to the Herero Documentary on YouTube. Please view and be enlightened.