History 101
Jeru the Damaja Lyrics

Plans are made destined to change the course of history
The actions of people can have a profound effect on the course of history.

In 1441 two Portuguese captains pick up twelve Africans
The Portuguese began the slave trade by taking Africans captive in 1441.

Brought them to Cabo Branco Portugal the slaves,
The Africans were taken to Portugal to be sold into slavery.

This is the beginning of the slave trade
The event in 1441 marks the start of the transatlantic slave trade.

There were so successful that just four years after,
The Portuguese were successful in their slave trade operations, as evidenced by their rapid expansion.

A tax-collector from Lagos set up trade with Africa
A Portuguese tax collector created a trade connection between Africa and Europe in 1444.

This was in number 1444,
The new trade route was established in the year 1444.

Don't go nowhere cause there's a whole lot more
There are many more examples of European exploitation of Africa and the Americas.

In 1452 the first time sugar was planted on an isle in Portugal
The Portuguese began cultivating sugar in 1452.

That's the year Pope Nicholas V proclaims
Pope Nicholas V issued his proclamation in 1452.

That if you're not a Christian, your ass can be put in chains
The Pope authorized the enslavement of non-Christians in his edict.

For years the Portuguese monopolized the slave game
The Portuguese controlled the slave trade industry for a long time.

there were so large they set up shop in Seville Spain
The Portuguese were so successful that they opened a trading post in Seville, Spain.

Now in 1476 despite papal opposition the Spanish got down with this shit
The Spanish began participating in the slave trade in 1476, despite resistance from the Pope.

It was a captain named called Carlos de Valera
A Spanish captain named Carlos de Valera was involved in the slave trade.

He brought back 400 men from Africa
Valera brought 400 men from Africa to be sold into slavery.

1481 Diogo de Azambuja
Diogo de Azambuja is notable for an event in 1481.

Builds a castle at Elmina, that’s modern day Ghana
Azambuja constructed a castle in modern-day Ghana in 1481.

Not only was it one of the days busiest ports
The castle was located in a busy port city.

It was also one of the slavery‘s most notorious forts
The Elmina castle was known for its role in the transatlantic slave trade.

1483 the discovery of the Congo river,
The Congo River was first discovered in 1483.

A goldmine if your goal was enslaving niggas
The Congo River region was a valuable source of enslaved African labor.

1492 Columbus sails the ocean blue
Christopher Columbus set sail in 1492.

After months and months of sea, death and all types of drama
Columbus's voyage was challenging and involved many obstacles and hardships.

Chris stands on San Salvador, modern day Bahamas
Columbus arrived on San Salvador, which is now known as the Bahamas.

1493 on Columbus' second voyage
Columbus embarked on his second voyage in 1493.

He starts the transatlantic trade enslavin‘ the Taino village
Columbus enslaved members of the Taino village on his second voyage.

He brought them from Hispaniola, that’s the D.R. to Spain
Columbus brought the Taino people he enslaved from present-day Haiti and the Dominican Republic to Spain.

It gets even more insane
The atrocities of the slave trade continue to become more horrific.

1499 Vespucci and Hojeda take natives from South America this time
Amerigo Vespucci and Alonso de Ojeda enslaved indigenous people from South America in 1499.

When Columbus did it there were legal issues in the past
Columbus had encountered legal problems with his slave-trading activities in the past.

This time he had no problems selling their native ass
The slave trade became more normalized and accepted over time.

1500 it starts to get real ill,
The slave trade becomes even more inhumane and immoral at this point.

Pedro Cabral sets foot on Brazil
Pedro Cabral arrived in Brazil in 1500.

1502 a guy named Juan Córdoba
Juan Córdoba plays a role in the slave trade in 1502.

It’s the first merchant of record to send Africans over
Córdoba is the first merchant on record to transport Africans for sale into slavery.

He was only allowed one by Spanish authorities
Córdoba was limited in his ability to transport Africans due to Spanish regulations.

But other dirty merchants sent two or three
Other traders found ways to circumvent the Spanish regulations and transport even more slaves.

1509 Columbus son Diego Colón governor of the empire at that time
Diego Colón, Columbus's son, was the governor of the Spanish empire at this time.

Said the native slaves were lazy and they worked too slow
Diego Colón disparaged the work ethic of the indigenous slaves under his rule.

1510 fifty black slaves are shipped to Santo Domingo
Fifty enslaved Africans were transported to Santo Domingo in 1510.

1513 Ponce de Leon the first European to touch American soil
Juan Ponce de León was the first European to arrive on what is now mainland United States in 1513.

He landed on the coast, modern day Florida as it‘s known to most
Ponce de León arrived on the coast of present-day Florida.

1516 on a ship a huge native slave rebellion
A massive rebellion by enslaved indigenous people occurred on a ship in 1516.

They killed the crew and sailed back home 1519 here comes Magellan
The enslaved people on the ship killed the crew and returned home in 1519. In the same year, Ferdinand Magellan embarked on his famous voyage around the world.

1521 Cortés slaughtered the Aztecs,
Hernán Cortés led the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire in 1521.

1522 two slaves in Espanola break their masters necks
Two enslaved Africans in Hispaniola killed their masters in 1522.

1526 the Germans put slaves on ships,
The Germans began transporting enslaved Africans on ships in 1526.

1532 the Pizarro kills the Incas and shit
Francisco Pizarro led the Spanish conquest of the Inca Empire in 1532.

1532 the English get into the mix,
English merchants became involved in the slave trade in 1532.

John Hawkins brought back blacks, potatoes and tabacco from his trips
John Hawkins transported enslaved Africans, potatoes, and tobacco on his voyages.

1579 the united provinces is formed
The Dutch Republic was established in 1579.

and the trading machine of the Dutch is born
The Dutch became heavily involved in the slave trade and other exploitative industries.

Now I can dope on and on and on and on,
There are many more examples of the slave trade throughout history.

but for practical reasons it‘ll take to long
It's not practical to enumerate all the details of the history of the slave trade.

To all my brothers claiming that they‘re Hispanic and Latino
The artist addresses people who identify as Hispanic or Latino.

You’re African, Aztecs, Indian and Taino
The artist argues that people who identify as Hispanic or Latino have roots in Africa, Aztec culture, Indigenous and Taino cultures.

Now that I showed you how this nations gained their wealth
The artist has shown how many nations accumulated wealth through the slave trade and exploitation of other cultures.

I hope I keep your interest so check it out for yourself
The singer encourages listeners to explore the history of the slave trade for themselves.