Page 113 - STOLEN LEGACY By George G. M. James

This New Philosophy of Redemption consists of a simple proposition as follows:

'The Greeks were not the authors of Greek philosophy, but the Black people of North Africa, The
Egyptians.' Now, in order to explain the value of this proposition, three questions must be asked
and answered.

(a) As a simple proposition, what is its significance?
Its significance lies in the fact that it is a statement of an important truth, which is the exposure
of Greek dishonesty.

(b) Why is this proposition called a philosophy?
A philosophy is an accepted belief, and this proposition is a philosophy because it is offered as a
belief, worthy of acceptance.

(c) What is a philosophy of redemption?

A philosophy of redemption is not merely an accepted belief; but a belief that is also lived in
order to enjoy the benefits of its teaching. This proposition will become a philosophy of
redemption to all Black people, when they accept it as a belief and live up to it. This brings us to
our final question and that is, how to live up to this philosophy of redemption? In other words,
how shall the Black people work out their own salvation?

From the outset my readers and co-workers in the solution of a common problem, must be
reminded that our philosophy of redemption is a psychological process, involving a change in
belief or mentality to be followed by a corresponding change in behaviour. It really signifies a
mental emancipation, in which the Black people will be liberated from the chain of traditional
falsehood, which for centuries has incarcerated them in the prison of inferiority complex and
world humiliation and insult. This mental emancipation or redemption, it must be remembered,
has two functions. It is general, when, on the one hand, the phenomenon of our unwholesome
race relations is regarded as a general problem needing a general emancipation of both races in
order to affect a solution. In this general sense emancipation transcends the limitations and
boundaries of race, and therefore includes the whole world, White and Black people, since we
are all victims of the same chain of the traditional falsehood, that has incarcerated the modern
world. On the other hand, emancipation or redemption is specific, when we refer to the effects of
the phenomenon of unwholesome race relations upon the Black people. It is freedom from such
conditions that constitutes the specific function of emancipation or redemption.

We digressed somewhat in order to explain the terms philosophy and philosophy of redemption,
believing it to be necessary before proceeding to answer the next question: how to live up to this
New Philosophy of Redemption? How must it be worked out?

112

Stolen Legacy: Greek Philosophy is Stolen Egyptian Philosophy by George G. M. James
The Journal of Pan African Studies 2009 eBook