African mathematics
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Mancala refers to a group of related counting games played across the continent. Its comparable to chess in complexity and reliance on strategy. I am going to learn this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mancala
http://webfacil.tinet.org/jtc/aWQ9NTM0JnRocmVhZD01MzQ=
http://users.tkk.fi/~vkorkiak/mancala/doc/html_rules/chapter3.html
Well I can help you learn this game..Played it when I was little..Still plays it when I get the chance..It is called Oware originated from Ghana, where I am from. Pm me if your interested.
This is a great. Im going to read it later.
The stories we tell are significant indicators of our shared conciousness. That is why myths and history are important, they give us a clear sense of self and our role in the world. How true these tales are is not important. The myths and history black people posses have been mostly invented and imposed upon us. There is a simple historical reason for this: its rooted in the exploitation of ancestors during slavery and the prosecution and violence that happened after this institution was officially ended and continues today. So it is not surprising that even some of the best and brightest among us frequently degrade us.
Here is a video about memes. It attempts to explain how the narratives we tell have a powerful effect on the reality we create.
http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/116
Another video on the power of story.
http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/155
One of the consequences of European narrative and myth.
http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/193
Availability Bias: the propensity for one to judge the validity of an argument by how easily it comes to mind. Propagandists, politicians, and advertisers are skilled at this. The more times something is repeated, the easier it is to believe. I know sistas who swear that they are no good black men out there. Is this really true? Doubt that. But its been repeated so many times that it is taken as fact, so when a "good brotha" comes their way some really can't see it. Be careful not to fall into this trap, its real seductive. The same principle is in effect when the media covers "black on black crime"-conclusion: whats wrong with us; and contentions that blacks are inferior, like the coverage of The Bell Curve. Sure it was controversial, but the main message being repeated and received was that blacks where dumber.
Links to info on Availability Bias:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Availability_heuristic
They discuss the principle: http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/hjenkins/?id=110010947
Here is a video about memes. It attempts to explain how the narratives we tell have a powerful effect on the reality we create.
http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/116
Another video on the power of story.
http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/155
One of the consequences of European narrative and myth.
http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/193
Availability Bias: the propensity for one to judge the validity of an argument by how easily it comes to mind. Propagandists, politicians, and advertisers are skilled at this. The more times something is repeated, the easier it is to believe. I know sistas who swear that they are no good black men out there. Is this really true? Doubt that. But its been repeated so many times that it is taken as fact, so when a "good brotha" comes their way some really can't see it. Be careful not to fall into this trap, its real seductive. The same principle is in effect when the media covers "black on black crime"-conclusion: whats wrong with us; and contentions that blacks are inferior, like the coverage of The Bell Curve. Sure it was controversial, but the main message being repeated and received was that blacks where dumber.
Links to info on Availability Bias:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Availability_heuristic
They discuss the principle: http://www.opinionjournal.com/columnists/hjenkins/?id=110010947
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James Gates Interview
He is one of the leading theoretical physicsts in America. He wrote the first paper on supersymmetry. He started the movement. And by the way, he black.
http://www.pbs.org/kcet/wiredscience/video/185-james_gates_extended_interview.html
He is one of the leading theoretical physicsts in America. He wrote the first paper on supersymmetry. He started the movement. And by the way, he black.
http://www.pbs.org/kcet/wiredscience/video/185-james_gates_extended_interview.html
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http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/shows/brazil2/
About the affirmative action movement in Brazil and its effects.
About the affirmative action movement in Brazil and its effects.
The principles underlying math may be universal, but their expression isn't. The Europeans, for example, did not innovate the concept of zero, its Hindu. The concept traveled to the West through Arabs. The Maya also had a concept of zero. As accomplished as the Egyptians were at engineering, they did not use the arch, Roman, or the Dome,Muslim, in their architecture. Engineering is simply the application of mathematical knowledge. Math is a cultural expression like music, also universal, not absolute.
Here is a video that discusses how world view is shaped by cultural experience.
http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/69
Great post!!! Has anyone heard of Dr. Gabriel Oyibo?
I have now. thanks.
That video clip blew my mind. I am actually kind of sad that so much money was obviously spent researching the fractals in Africa but you never hear anything about it. Sort of like "Oh no, black people might be advanced after all." If research uncovered evidence that beats and rhythm cause violent behavior, that would be a nightly news special.
I am passing this video to a few math and engineering instructors I know at the county colleges in NJ.
I am passing this video to a few math and engineering instructors I know at the county colleges in NJ.
Bluekid
Banned
forgot to say thanks for this.
You referencing Dr. York by any chance? He was big on conflating KMT and Sumeria, which I do not agree with, among other things. BTW to the OP--GREAT post.
You should look up something called Afrofuturism which is heavily into African fractals...
...among other things.
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I use to play this game at a recreation center when I was a kid.
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B
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Mancala refers to a group of related counting games played across the continent. Its comparable to chess in complexity and reliance on strategy. I am going to learn this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mancala
http://webfacil.tinet.org/jtc/aWQ9NTM0JnRocmVhZD01MzQ=
http://users.tkk.fi/~vkorkiak/mancala/doc/html_rules/chapter3.html
I use to play this game at a recreation center when I was a kid.
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