Staff Reports
In a world increasingly shaped by social media, the latest trend in the wild west of online education comes straight from TikTok, where logic often gets left behind in favor of shock value. Enter our fearless TikTok educator, armed with a flair for the dramatic and an eye-popping claim that has left many scratching their heads—white people allegedly indulging in cannibalism, devouring black folks like they were the main course at a Victorian dinner party.
Let’s briefly break down the situation. This particular instructor insists that cannibalism was a social norm, suggesting that white folks were not only making meals out of their slaves but were also chomping down on black citizens long after they were supposedly emancipated. Now, when most folks think of black history, images of inspiring leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and incredible achievements spring to mind—not ghoulish dinner parties where people might serve up “brain stew” or “fried fingers.”
Can we pause to appreciate the absurdity of the situation? If what she speaks about was, in fact, a universal truth, where are all the history books detailing the culinary trends of the past? The fact that we don’t hear about this alleged culinary tradition in our history classes might suggest that either our educators are holding out on us or, more likely, this simply isn’t a thing. People have survived throughout centuries without resorting to cooking their fellow human beings. Seriously, why bother with that when there’s a perfectly good recipe for fried chicken lying around?
But this TikTok teacher doesn’t stop there, reaching for the ridiculous and claiming that the reason we don’t have many Egyptian mummies left is that white people were too busy hosting late-night snacks featuring their ancient relatives. It’s hard to swallow such claims without raising a skeptical eyebrow, especially considering the facts that Egyptian mummies were held in high regard, often being revered in culture and history, rather than turned into a bizarre casserole.
What this dives into, however, points to something more profound within society—the commercialization of outrage and the process of using fearmongering to create an audience. By spinning narratives that play into fear, some educators (and let’s face it, grifters) find a way to profit off the stories they tell, often steering away from the empowering and uplifting messages that black history typically encompasses. Instead of celebrating the groundbreaking achievements of black individuals, these narratives may inadvertently serve to cast a shadow over the progress that continues to be made.
In the end, the essence of education should spark curiosity and growth rather than fear and division. True black history is about upliftment, resilience, and the celebration of achievements against all odds. Those are the stories that resonate and should take center stage. Cannibalism? That’s a horror story for a different genre. It seems the critical takeaway here is not that we should fear one another but that we need to stay vigilant against misinformation dressed as education, all while celebrating the rich tapestry of genuine history and the remarkable contributions of black individuals throughout time.
