Charles M. Six graduated from Michigan State University's Honors College in 2004. Before his senior year of college he was given a fulltime position working for the Michigan House of Representatives as a Public Relations Analyst.
Six also ran a successful canvassing organization; under his leadership the organization's budget was more than doubled after the first month and eventually quadrupled. When he left he oversaw roughly 40 employees.
Six founded Ending Stereotypes for America July 27 of 2005.
Why Six Created Ending Stereotypes for America
When Six entered his freshman year of High School the senior class was very racist (Confederate Flags everywhere and prevalent use of the "N word"). Ironically, some of those same racists had close friends who were black, some of the people they respected the most in the world were black. Clearly, the racism was not from personal experience. When Six asked why they were racist he was told that overall black people were inferior mentally and morally.
When Six asked why they believed that he was told, "look at Africa—they were all primitive hunters and gatherers," and "black people have never invented anything."
Those notions had been reinforced to Six in school and through popular culture (movies, TV, magazines, the news). In school he had been taught about the advanced kingdoms of every region of the world, yet taught only about the Bushman and Pygmies in Africa. He assumed, like most Americans, that the loosely organized and seemingly savage Zulu warriors he saw on TV were the height of African civilization. He also believed the only contribution a black scientist or inventor had made was peanut butter (which ironically wasn't even invented by George Washington Carver). Nevertheless, he realized how critical this issue was and decided to look into it.
Six was shocked to discover that almost any encyclopedia or book on world history had sections about the advanced kingdoms of Sub-Sahara black Africa. Some of these kingdoms had castles, currency, advanced metal working and medical techniques, long distance trade with Europe, Asia and the Mideast, some were praised by contemporary Arabs and Europeans for their prosperity, safety and military might.
He was equally stunned to discover the numerous contributions black innovators have made in helping build America.
Six realized the dangerous belief that certain groups are naturally inferior can lead to discrimination and violence, but could be preempted and dramatically reduced if people were simply taught the correct history.
Therefore he decided he was going to work to ensure that every American was aware that black Africa had advanced kingdoms and every American was aware that minority innovators have helped shape and change our great nation.
When Americans know that all groups are naturally equal America can finally live up to the ideals of its constitution and we will have truly reached the greatest point in our nation's history, perhaps human history.
