First published on: Movie Tells… Reality Shocks: Who Is The Real Zombi? Movie Tells … Reality Shocks: Who’s Jack Sparrow?
by Omnia Khaled
We all know Zombies. We all feel scared while watching their movies. Dead people raise from their graves with horrible looks. They return to life by black magic and incantations. So weird, right? Do you think that Zombies are here on the earth? It’s out of the question. But in fact one day there were Zombies on the earth. How come? Let’s see.
Who is the real Zombi whom we really mean?
His name is Zumbi, he was a man from an African origin. He was a legendary black hero and freedom fighter.
Let’s engage in history to know what is behind the scenes
From the very beginning, North and South America were under the control of the Christian Europeans. Brazil was controlled by Portugal. In order to despoil all their wealth, they started by killing the native people: the approach that was always followed by invaders. It wasn’t enough for them, so they attacked the Muslim countries in west Africa in order to make them slaves to move the huge amount of gold to Portugal. What a scandal! Carrying free men on big ships and putting them in the basements. They captured them as slaves for the first time in 1538. It was just the beginning. Then, the Africans brought to Brazil were from different ethnicities and from different African regions.
Africans as reformers
The occupation government always claimed that Africans were ignorant, barbaric, and worthless. However, the famous historian Gilberto Freyre said that some Africans in Brazil were Islamic, spoke Arabic and many of them could read and write in this language. Freyre noted that many slaves were better educated than their masters, because many Muslim slaves were literate in Arabic, while many Portuguese Brazilian masters could not even read or write in Portuguese. These slaves of greater Arab and Berber influence were largely sent to Bahia. As well, the Africans had developed agriculture, raised livestock, domesticated animals such as goat, chicken, and dogs and produced sculptures in wood.
Zumbi’s role in Brazil
The Portuguese government oppressed the Africans and tried all ways to make them revert their religion (Islam) and convert to Christianity. They thought that they succeeded in their mission and got rid of Islam and Muslims forever. Suddenly, a great Muslim hero appeared in the scene. Zumbi gathered with the good imams to teach people Islam, Quran (i.e The final scripture revealed from The Creator) recitation and the real principles of freedom. Therefore, people became aware and united to rebel against oppression and terrorism. Then, Zumbi dropped the bombshell by announcing the declaration of the Islamic state of Brazil in 1643. The Constitution of the state was mainly based on the following: freedom is the very essence of the rule. Subsequently, Portugal declared war against the Muslims’ state, but Zumbi’s forces won the war. The Muslims’ state made a lot of advancements and this state lasted more than 50 years. Zumbi was able to get rid of the slavery in Brazil.
Zumbi’s end
He was finally captured on 20 November 1695. He was immediately beheaded and his head was put on public display to convince the locals that there is no freedom anymore and welcome back to slavery.
How Brazilians see Zumbi
Zumbi is regarded as a national hero and a symbol of the struggle for freedom.
In Brazil, Black Awareness Day or Black Consciousness Day (Portuguese: Dia da Consciência Negra) is observed annually on November 20 as a day “to celebrate a regained awareness by the black community about their great worth and contribution to the country”.
Black Awareness Day has been celebrated since the 1960s and has amplified its events in the last few years. Originally, it was celebrated on May 13 (the date of abolition of slavery in Brazil). It was later moved to November 20 to honor Zumbi’s death and is sometimes called Zumbi Day.
To conclude, our hero Zumbi is far away from zombies nowadays. Be alert, don’t follow media blindly. Reality may shock but it’s better than illusions.
Movie Tells … Reality Shocks: Who’s Jack Sparrow?
Do you know the Pirates of the Caribbean? Did you hear before about Jack Sparrow? I am sure that you definitely know him. He was a famous pirate who had a funny character and a strange look. Sparrow was drunk, always carrying a bottle of wine and he loved women…or was he?! Well…. forget all what the movie said! Are you baffled? This is the target!
Sparrow’s real name
Leaving Hollywood movies aside, the real name of Jack Sparrow is Jack Ward. He was born in the UK, then he fled to Tunisia in the late 16 century as he and the crew of his ship converted to Islam. He was called Sparrow as he loved and accompanied a sparrow. After converting to Islam, he quitted drinking alcohol forever and changed his name to Yusuf (Joseph).
Newborn baby (Sparrow converted to Islam)
After converting to Islam, one emerges from his or her sins as they were the day they were born. God is the All-Forgiving as He forgives who repents. But people don’t forget one’s past. The movie maker forgot all the good sides in Sparrow’s character and just focused on his habit of drinking alcohol that he has already quitted. The movie presented him as a madman with a very weird look and personality. They made fun of him to ruin his reputation .
But every cloud has a silver lining 😀
Thanks to the media for making Sparrow a very familiar name, but no thanks if it doesn’t make you curious to know his reality. Regarding his early life, a pamphlet written by a fellow sailor, as well as numerous songs and ballads, offer a glimpse into his life, his mannerisms and physical appearance. At the time of England’s invasion, attempt against the Spanish Armada had recently failed. When the war came to an end, so did the duties of the privateers, however most of them did not want to leave their livelihoods of plunder. Thus, Jack Ward returned to his hometown. After a short period of time, he was under pressure to accept a new task requested by the King. Still, he didn’t choose the legal route, choosing instead to desert his colleagues in exchange for a completely new life. Jack became one of the most infamous and fear-evoking pirates.
Later known by his nickname Jack Birdy, this young man quickly became famous among all sailors, especially in England, where balladeers sang about him. While attacking merchant ships in the Mediterranean, Jack Birdy made arrangements with a Muslim sailor to use a naval base in Tunisia which would allow him to capture more merchant ships more easily.
After this quest, he asked for a royal pardon from England’s James I but his request was denied. He was forced to return to Tunisia. Osman Dayi (who held the highest title of the Ottoman Empire ruler in the Algiers region) offered a safe haven to Captain Jack in Tunisia and Osman Dayi kept his word. The next year, Captain Jack converted to Islam with his entire crew and he started to be known as Yusuf Reis.
Sparrow as a superhero
Sparrow was not a very liked hero, as he helped Muslims and Jews trying to escape Spain due to death threats. In Andalusia (now known as Spain), the Islamic rule then has just collapsed . Muslims and Jews experienced one of the barbaric genocide by the Inquisition to force them to leave their religions and convert to Christianity. Sparrow played an important role in rescuing Muslims and Jews. As he sailed at night to the coastal shore of Spain and carried a number of Muslim and Jew captives and moved them to Algeria to rescue them as fast as possible. Was it “mission impossible”? Yes, it was. To what extent Sparrow was human! He is one of the bravest men that I am really proud of. He really deserves to be known for his legendary personality.
Media manipulates!
Sparrow’s reputation was ruined just because he changed his belief and moved. Where is the freedom of belief that the media always speaks about?! Sparrow isn’t the only person who experiences attack from the media …For instance, do you really know Captain Barbossa or even who is the real Zombie? Our coming articles will talk about these people … My only demand is don’t always believe what the media says. Seek the truth on your own.
