Language Translator

Saturday, May 31, 2025

The Delectable Negro

May 31, 2025


Scholars of US and transatlantic slavery have largely ignored or dismissed accusations that Black Americans were cannibalized. Vincent Woodard takes the enslaved person’s claims of human consumption seriously, focusing on both the literal starvation of the slave and the tropes of cannibalism on the part of the slaveholder, and further draws attention to the ways in which Blacks experienced their consumption as a fundamentally homoerotic occurrence. The Delectable Negro explores these connections between homoeroticism, cannibalism, and cultures of consumption in the context of American literature and US slave culture.

Utilizing many staples of African American literature and culture, such as the slave narratives of Olaudah Equiano, Harriet Jacobs, and Frederick Douglass, as well as other less circulated materials like James L. Smith’s slave narrative, runaway slave advertisements, and numerous articles from Black newspapers published in the nineteenth century, Woodard traces the racial assumptions, political aspirations, gender codes, and philosophical frameworks that dictated both European and white American arousal towards Black males and hunger for Black male flesh. Woodard uses these texts to unpack how slaves struggled not only against social consumption, but also against endemic mechanisms of starvation and hunger designed to break them. He concludes with an examination of the controversial chain gang oral sex scene in Toni Morrison’s Beloved, suggesting that even at the end of the twentieth and beginning of the twenty-first century, we are still at a loss for language with which to describe Black male hunger within a plantation culture of consumption.


Available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Delectable-Negro-Consumption-Homoeroticism-Cultures/dp/0814794629

Edible People: Consumption of Slaves and Foreigners

May 31, 2025

 While human cannibalism has attracted considerable notice and controversy, certain aspects of the practice have received scant attention. These include the connection between cannibalism and xenophobia: the capture and consumption of unwanted strangers. Likewise ignored is the connection to slavery: the fact that in some societies slaves and persons captured in slave raids could be, and were, killed and eaten. This book explores these largely forgotten practices and ignored connections while making explicit the links between cannibal acts, imperialist influences and the role of capitalist trading practices. These are highly important for the history of the slave trade and for understanding the colonialist history of Africa.


Available on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Edible-People-Consumption-Cannibalistic-Anthropology/dp/1800736134

Did King James Kill his Mother

May 31, 2025

Did Kings James Kill his Mother


The statement "Rain king james kill mother" is incorrect. It's a misinterpretation of historical events involving King James VI of Scotland (later James I of England) and his mother, Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary Queen of Scots was executed by Queen Elizabeth I of England, not killed by her son James. James was King of Scotland when his mother was executed and he did little to intervene.

After 19 years of imprisonment, Mary, Queen of Scots is beheaded at Fotheringhay Castle in England for her complicity in a plot to murder Queen Elizabeth I.

In 1542, while just six days old, Mary ascended to the Scottish throne upon the death of her father, King James V. Her mother sent her to be raised in the French court, and in 1558 she married the French dauphin, who became King Francis II of France in 1559 but died the following year. After Francis’ death, Mary returned to Scotland to assume her designated role as the country’s monarch.

In 1565, she married her English cousin Lord Darnley in order to reinforce her claim of succession to the English throne after Elizabeth’s death. In 1567, Darnley was mysteriously killed in an explosion at Kirk o’ Field, and Mary’s lover, the Earl of Bothwell, was the key suspect. Although Bothwell was acquitted of the charge, his marriage to Mary in the same year enraged the nobility. Mary brought an army against the nobles, but was defeated and imprisoned at Lochleven, Scotland, and forced to abdicate in favor of her son by Darnley, James.

In 1568, Mary escaped from captivity and raised a substantial army but was defeated and fled to England. Queen Elizabeth initially welcomed Mary but was soon forced to put her friend under house arrest after Mary became the focus of various English Catholic and Spanish plots to overthrow Elizabeth. Nineteen years later, in 1586, a major plot to murder Elizabeth was reported, and Mary was brought to trial. She was convicted for complicity and sentenced to death.

On February 8, 1587, Mary Queen of Scots was beheaded for treason. Her son, King James VI of Scotland, calmly accepted his mother’s execution, and upon Queen Elizabeth’s death in 1603 he became king of England, Scotland and Ireland.

Was King James Gay?

May 31, 2025


King James I's life and reign provide a significant lens through which to examine the history of homosexuality in 16th and 17th century England. While same-sex relationships were not explicitly legalized or recognized, they were also not universally condemned. The king's close relationships with male favorites, particularly Robert Carr and George Villiers, have been interpreted as evidence of homoerotic attraction, although this interpretation is still debated.

Historical Context and Debate:

Limited Legal Framework:

The term "homosexuality" did not exist in the way it does today. Laws focused on "sodomy," which was defined as sex with a male and specifically excluded sexual acts between women.

Social Norms and Interpretations:

Male-male relationships, especially in courtly settings, were often viewed as public expressions of friendship and patronage rather than necessarily sexual. Sharing beds, exchanging kisses, and other displays of affection were common practices, even among heterosexual men, and these actions are often cited as evidence of King James's sexual preferences, but can also be interpreted as displays of intimacy within the context of his court.

Historians' Perspectives:

Historical accounts of James's life have varied. Some have focused on moral condemnations of his supposed homosexuality, while others have re-evaluated his reign and separated his sexuality from broader judgments about his character and leadership.

Impact of the Civil War:

Some historians, like Michael Young, argue that King James's homosexuality, particularly his spending of state funds on his favorites, may have contributed to the tensions and unrest that led to the English Civil War.

Key Figures and Relationships:

Robert Carr:

A close confidante and advisor to King James, Carr was known for his beauty and was the object of the King's affections.

George Villiers:

Another favorite of King James, Villiers became the Duke of Buckingham and held significant political power.

In Conclusion:

King James's life and relationships provide valuable insights into the complexities of same-sex relationships and the evolving understanding of sexuality in early modern England. While historical accounts often focus on moral judgments and the King's relationships with his male favorites, it is crucial to consider the broader social context and the ambiguities of interpretation in order to gain a more nuanced understanding of this historical period.

If Donald Trump Kicks Out Blacks

May 31, 2025

 Trey Knowles’ “If Donald Trump Kicks Out Blacks” If Donald Trump makes every black or brown person in the United States leave for a master race. It could be a blessing. The Bible says 1/3 of the earth was burn up. If think God does not love his people, then you don't know God. Test and see God mighty power.

Negus" translates to "king"

May 31, 2025


 In the context of Ethiopia, "Negus" (ንጉሥ) is a title signifying a ruler, king, or emperor, particularly within the Axumite and Solomonic Dynasties. It's a Semitic term related to "king" or "ruler," with cognates found in various other Semitic languages like Aramaic and Akkadian. The most famous usage is "Negusa Nagast" (ንጉሥ ንጉሥ), meaning "King of Kings" and the title held by Ethiopian emperors.

Here's a more detailed explanation:

General meaning:


"Negus" translates to "king" or "ruler" in the Ge'ez language, an ancient Semitic language of Ethiopia.

Historical context:


Prior to the Solomonic Dynasty, many Axumite and Zagwe rulers were known as "Negus".

Negusa Nagast:


This title, meaning "King of Kings" or "Emperor," is the most prominent usage of the word, particularly associated with the Solomonic Dynasty. The most famous holder of this title was Haile Selassie, whose full title was "By the Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah, His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, King of Kings of Ethiopia, Lord of Lords, Elect of God," according to Wikipedia.

Regional titles:


"Negus" could also be used for regional rulers within the Ethiopian empire. For example, "Bahr Negus" (ባሕር ንጉሥ, "King of the Sea") was a title for the ruler of the territories north of the Mareb River, according to Wikipedia.

Melanin 666 Theory

May 31, 2025

Melanin 666 Theory

The "melanin 666" phrase appears to be a connection made by some individuals between the concept of melanin, the pigment that gives skin its color, and the number 666, often associated with the Mark of the Beast in religious contexts. This connection is often linked to the idea that carbon, the element of life, has 6 protons, 6 neutrons, and 6 electrons, which can be equated to the number 666.

Here's a breakdown of the ideas surrounding "melanin 666":

Melanin and Carbon:

Melanin is a pigment, and carbon is a fundamental element in the building blocks of life. The connection to 666 is made by some who see a parallel between the atomic structure of carbon (6 protons, 6 neutrons, 6 electrons) and the number 666.

Afrocentric Melanin Theory:

In some Afrocentric circles, a theory exists suggesting that people with higher melanin levels have superior abilities or powers. This theory is considered pseudoscientific.

Symbolism and Interpretation:

The number 666 is often associated with the "Mark of the Beast" in religious texts, representing evil or the Antichrist. Some see the "melanin 666" phrase as a way to reframe this number, perhaps attributing positive or alternative meanings to it.

Clothing and Imagery:

The phrase "melanin 666" is sometimes seen on clothing, such as t-shirts and tank tops, often with imagery related to carbon, melanin, or the Eye of Horus.


Melanin is 6 Protons, 6 Neutrons, and 6 Electrons which creates the carbon Atom which is Melanin. The number 666 relates to the carbon atom, and man. Carbon-12; one of 5 elements in the human DNA is composed of 6 protons, 6 electrons and 6 neutrons, which equates to 666. The English name carbon, comes from the Latin carbo for coal and charcoal, also comes from the French charbon, meaning charcoal. They put fear in our knowledge in attempt to keep us away from what we may not know.


Melanin refines the nervous system in such a way that messages from the brain reach other areas of the body most rapidly in Black people, the Original People. Black infants sit, stand, crawl and walk sooner than whites, and demonstrates more advanced cognitive skills than their white counterparts because of their abundance of Melanin.

Exposure to the sun has the potential to cause premature aging of the skin, as well as various skin cancers. Your ability to withstand the potentially damaging effects of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation depends on the amount of melanin in your skin, which is determined by the number of melanocytes that are active beneath the surface of your skin. Melanin is an effective absorber of light; the pigment is able to dissipate more than 99.9% of absorbed UV radiation.

Martial Law? Prepare For The War Against Blacks

May 31, 2025
Seems like we have finally arrived to the point of no return. Martial law existing when not officially declared as such.


 

Friday, May 30, 2025

Song: Killing The Flesh

May 30, 2025


 

Trey Knowles’ “Killing the Flesh” is a powerful song about resisting the temptations of the flesh by living in the Spirit. It emphasizes the life-changing power of following Jesus Christ, who gives victory over sin and death. Through Him, the pull of the flesh has no control, and spiritual life prevails.

Woe to You Law Enforcement

May 30, 2025

Roman Soldiers

Trey Knowles’ “Woe to You Law Enforcement” delivers a strong warning: if innocent people are harmed by police or mistreated in jail, the responsibility lies with law enforcement—and ultimately with their leader, Donald Trump. Just as Roman soldiers followed orders to crucify Jesus Christ, today’s officers risk becoming the modern equivalent if they blindly follow unjust commands.

See The Devils Image

May 30, 2025




In Trey Knowles' "See The Devil's Image," the author urges a complete rejection of European influence—refusing to work for them, use their currency, or rely on their weapons. If you do this and allow them to reveal their true intentions—through acts of colonization, violence, and imprisonment—you will clearly see their true nature. Knowles asserts they reflect the character of their spiritual father: the devil. He describes this figure as a murderer from the beginning, devoid of truth, and the originator of lies—lying comes naturally to him, as it is his native tongue.

Based on John 8:44


Thursday, May 29, 2025

Song: A Woman Is Free

May 29, 2025




In "A Woman is Free," Trey Knowles emphasizes that God gave women free will, and no man—especially one who is not her husband—has the right to control her. Since God is above man, a woman should not be forced to cover her head or face if she chooses not to.




Album: Wisdom Calls

May 29, 2025

Wisdom Calls

 

Trey Knowles' album "Wisdom Calls" is a powerful musical journey from darkness and destruction into light and life. Centered on the transformative power of wisdom, the album portrays wisdom as a guiding force that offers protection, blessing, and direction, shielding listeners from harm and leading them toward purpose and clarity.

Trey Knowles - "Wisdom Call" Album Release 5/30/2025






Hugo Black

May 29, 2025



Trey Knowles’ message in "Hugo Black" speaks to young people about how the system can be biased against them, highlighting how some members of the Ku Klux Klan have been appointed as judges, reinforcing systemic injustice.


Hugo Lafayette Black (February 27, 1886 – September 25, 1971) was an American lawyer, politician, and jurist who served as a U.S. Senator from Alabama from 1927 to 1937 and as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1937 to 1971. A member of the Democratic Party and a devoted New Dealer, Black endorsed Franklin D. Roosevelt in both the 1932 and 1936 presidential elections.


Before he became a senator, Black espoused anti-Catholic views and was a member of the Ku Klux Klan. An article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that he temporarily resigned from the Klan in 1925 to bolster his senatorial campaign, before quietly rejoining in 1926. In 1937, upon being appointed to the Supreme Court, Black said: "Before becoming a Senator I dropped the Klan. I have had nothing to do with it since that time. I abandoned it. I completely discontinued any association with the organization."

Black served as the secretary of the Senate Democratic Conference and the chair of the Senate Education Committee during his decade in the Senate. Having gained a reputation in the Senate as a reformer, Black was nominated to the Supreme Court by President Roosevelt and confirmed by the Senate by a vote of 63 to 16 (six Democratic Senators and ten Republican Senators voted against him). He was the first of nine Roosevelt appointees to the court, and he outlasted all except for William O. Douglas.


The fifth longest-serving justice in Supreme Court history, Black was one of the most influential Supreme Court justices in the 20th century. He is noted for using historical evidence to support textualist arguments, his position that the liberties guaranteed in the Bill of Rights were imposed on the states ("incorporated") by the Fourteenth Amendment, and his absolutist stance on the First Amendment, often declaring "No law [abridging the freedom of speech] means no law." Black expanded individual rights in his opinions in cases such as Gideon v. Wainwright, Engel v. Vitale, and Wesberry v. Sanders.


Black's views were not uniformly liberal. During World War II, he wrote the majority opinion in Korematsu v. United States (1944), which upheld the internment of Japanese Americans ordered by the president Franklin Roosevelt. During the mid-1960s, Black became slightly more conservative. Black opposed the doctrine of substantive due process (the pre-1937 Supreme Court's interpretation of this concept made it impossible for the government to enact legislation that conservatives claimed interfered with the freedom of business owners),: 107–108  and believed that there was no basis in the words of the Constitution for a right to privacy, voting against finding one in Griswold v. Connecticut (1965).  241–242  He also took conservative positions in cases such as Shapiro v. Thompson, Goldberg v. Kelly, Tinker v. Des Moines, and Cohen v. California where he distinguished between "pure speech" and "expressive conduct".


Early years

Black was born in Harlan, Clay County, Alabama, on February 27, 1886, the youngest of eight children born to William Lafayette Black and Martha (Toland) Black. In 1890 the family moved to Ashland, the county seat. The family came from a Baptist background.


Black attended Ashland College, an academy located in Ashland, then enrolled at the University of Alabama School of Law. He graduated in 1906 with an LL.B. degree, was admitted to the bar, and began to practice in Ashland. In 1907, Black moved to the growing city of Birmingham, where he built a successful practice that specialized in labor law and personal injury cases.


As a consequence of his defense of an African American who was forced into a form of commercial slavery after incarceration, Black was befriended by A. O. Lane, a judge connected with the case. When Lane was elected to the Birmingham City Commission in 1911, he asked Black to serve as a police court judge – his only judicial experience prior to the Supreme Court. In 1912, Black resigned to return to practicing law full time. In 1914, he began a four-year term as the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney.


During World War I, Black resigned to join the United States Army. He served in the 81st Field Artillery, and attained the rank of captain as the regimental adjutant. When the regiment departed for France, its commander was ordered to return to Fort Sill to organize and train another regiment, and he requested Black as his adjutant. The war ended before Black's new unit departed the United States, and he returned to law practice. He joined the Birmingham Civitan Club during this time, eventually serving as president of the group. He remained an active member throughout his life, occasionally contributing articles to Civitan publications.


In the early 1920s, Black became a member of the Robert E. Lee Klan No. 1 in Birmingham, and he resigned in 1925. In 1937, after his confirmation to the Supreme Court, it was reported he had been given a "grand passport" in 1926, granting him life membership to the Ku Klux Klan. In response to this news, Black said he had never used the passport and had not kept it. He further stated that when he resigned he completely discontinued his Klan association, that he had never resumed it, and that he expected never to resume his membership.


On February 23, 1921, he married Josephine Foster, with whom he had three children: Hugo L. Black, II (1922–2013), an attorney; Sterling Foster (1924–1996), and Martha Josephine (1933–2019). Josephine died in 1951; in 1957, Black married Elizabeth Seay DeMeritte.

Monday, May 26, 2025

THE LOST YEARS OF JESUS

May 26, 2025

What happened to Jesus between the ages of 12 and 30? In this revealing episode of the Black Jesus series, we explore how the Ethiopian Bible holds the missing pieces—details that were erased, hidden, or ignored in modern translations.

Black Jesus uncovers ancient texts preserved only in the Ethiopian Bible, shedding light on Jesus’ early teachings, travels, and spiritual development. These lost years carry powerful truths that change everything we thought we knew.

For centuries, the Ethiopian Bible has preserved stories the West kept buried—stories that align with the mission and message of Black Jesus. Now it's time to reclaim this knowledge and understand why the world was never meant to know it.

Unleashing the Police

May 26, 2025

Trump's Plan to 'Unleash' Police Risks More Abuses of Everyone's Rights

President Donald Trump's executive order empowering local cops will create bad incentives that could prove costly for law-abiding citizens.


"unleashing" the police



It wasn't a surprise when President Donald Trump penned his recent executive order that calls "for cities to unleash high-impact local police forces." In 2017, the president told a police audience about handling crime suspects: "When you see these thugs being thrown into the back of a paddy wagon. You just see them thrown in—rough. I said, 'Please don't be too nice.'"


The official line was that he was just joking, but even some police officials were uncomfortable with making light of police brutality. In the ensuing years, Trump's rhetoric has only gotten worse. His recent use of the word unleashing wasn't by accident. Unleash means "to let happen or begin something powerful that, once begun, cannot be controlled."


The purpose of the Constitution is to put the leash on the government and its agents. In the Declaration of Independence, colonists complained that the British king "sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance." Police officers are the front line between the government and the people—and few others have such power to deprive us of our liberties and lives.


Many conservatives applauded the order, arguing that he's merely empowering police to do their jobs. But police and prosecutors have plenty of tools. Similarly, this administration has mocked the constitutional process of due process, whereby the accused get their day in court. That protects the innocent more than the guilty by simply requiring the government to prove its case.


As someone who has covered police-abuse cases, I can guarantee that officers make mistakes, can be overly aggressive, and on occasion are corrupt. After the 1980s-era War on Drugs, police often have used tactics more appropriate to an occupying military force rather than to civilian police officers. If you think police should be unrestrained, get back to me after a SWAT team gets the wrong address and invades your house instead.


This is not about letting police do their jobs. Let's say a President Kamala Harris or Gavin Newsom—or whichever potential Democratic politician keeps you awake at night—issued an executive order calling for the feds to "unleash high-impact" Internal Revenue Service, Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, or Environmental Protection Agency officers. Would you say, "That's great, they're just cracking down on tax cheats, illegal guns, and environmental scofflaws"?


Of course not. You'd instead fear they are going to tread on the rights of honest taxpayers, legitimate gun owners, and law-abiding business owners. You'd believe the purpose of the executive order would be political. In 2023, for instance, a Republican-controlled House subcommittee called on the IRS to end "unannounced field visits" because they believed the agency was targeting conservative groups, abusing its power, and harassing ordinary citizens.


I expect this argument to fall on deaf ears, given the inconsistent positions taken by members of each political tribe. As an aside, I saw a pickup truck with a "don't tread on me" flag bumper sticker and one of those blue-striped flags symbolizing support for police. Who, exactly, does the driver think will tread on his rights? We're all supportive of police who honestly and legally use their authority to battle crime, but only the most naïve person would believe that unleashing them from legal constraints will only hobble gang-bangers and felons.


In many ways, police have already been unleashed from reasonable limits. Consider the issue of civil asset forfeiture, whereby police officers, FBI agents, and other law enforcement officials take the homes, cars, and cash of people who have never been accused of a crime. That also started with the War on Drugs. Federal officials argued that the best way to stifle criminal gangs was to take their assets.


That's a fair point, provided it's bound by normal, legal standards—i.e., forcing the government to prove an underlying crime before engaging in a taking. Unfortunately, police take what they want based on their own claims—and then force the owners to prove their innocence to reclaim their life's savings. This is what unleashing looks like in the real world.


As one of the founders of that program has argued, it "has turned into an evil itself, with the corruption it engendered among government and law enforcement coming to clearly outweigh any benefits." And that abuse only involves our property. Imagine the abuses that will result when police are free to use whatever violence they deem necessary—and when those who abuse their powers are given even more protections from accountability.


Sure, most police officers are honorable, which makes it all the more appalling to incentivize bad ones. "Bad cops are the product of bad policy," wrote Radley Balko, author of Rise of the Warrior Cop. "And policy is ultimately made by politicians. A bad system loaded with bad incentives will unfailingly produce bad cops." These Trump actions provide all the wrong incentives—and law-abiding citizens have much more to fear from them than criminals.


Sunday, May 25, 2025

Yes We Can Be Holy

May 25, 2025


 Yes, We Can Be Holy

11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,

Song: America Cancel the Culture

May 25, 2025

America Cancel the Culture


Trey Knowles' "America Cancel the Culture" is a powerful song that exposes the toxic elements of American culture and how they have harmed Black, Brown, and White communities—along with the broader global society. The lyrics portray America as a destructive force, a "beast" that manipulates and exploits minorities, causing deep psychological damage to countless lives around the world.

Saturday, May 24, 2025

Project 2025 Completion Tracker

May 24, 2025


 


Project 2025 is a conservative policy initiative led by The Heritage Foundation, aiming to provide a blueprint for governance should a Republican administration take office in 2025. The checklist outlines key actions and policy shifts across various government departments, focusing on areas like economic policy, immigration, education, and federal administration.

The plan emphasizes reducing the size of the federal government, rolling back regulations, strengthening border security, and reshaping education policy to align with conservative principles. It also advocates for changes in leadership across federal agencies to ensure alignment with its agenda.

Song: Birth Defects

May 24, 2025




Trey Knowles’ “Birth Defects” explores how the enemy disrupts your path, striking at your foundation and placing obstacles meant to drain the life out of you. The song draws a powerful metaphor, showing that when people are abused, mistreated, or pushed out of their natural state of being, it causes deep emotional and psychological damage—likened to taking a wild animal from its natural habitat and forcing it into an unfamiliar, hostile environment.

Friday, May 23, 2025

The Gravitational Pull

May 23, 2025


Tides are primarily caused by the moon's gravitational pull on Earth's oceans, which creates bulges of water on both the side closest to and farthest from the moon. The sun's gravity also contributes to tides, but to a lesser extent. The moon's gravity is the main driver of tides, especially when the moon and sun are aligned, resulting in higher tides during full and new moons.


Here's a more detailed explanation:

1. The Moon's Gravitational Influence:

The Moon's gravity exerts a differential force on Earth, pulling water towards it and creating a bulge on the side of Earth closest to the Moon.

Because of inertia, water also bulges out on the opposite side of Earth, away from the Moon.

These bulges are the high tides, and the areas between them are the low tides.

2. The Sun's Influence:

The Sun also has a gravitational effect on Earth's tides, but it's less powerful than the Moon's due to the Moon's closer proximity.

The Sun's gravitational pull contributes to higher tides during full and new moons, when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned.

3. Spring Tides:

When the Sun, Earth, and Moon are aligned (during full and new moons), their gravitational forces combine, leading to higher high tides and lower low tides, called spring tides.

Spring tides are typically 20% higher than normal and occur twice a month, coinciding with the full and new moons.

4. Neap Tides:

When the Sun, Earth, and Moon form a right angle (during the first and third quarter moons), their gravitational forces partially cancel each other out, resulting in lower high tides and higher low tides, called neap tides.

5. Other Factors:

The shape of the Earth's coastlines and the depth of the ocean also influence tide patterns.

Tidal friction between the Moon and Earth is also slowly slowing down Earth's rotation.


Olmecs

May 23, 2025



The Olmecs (/ˈɒlmɛks, ˈoʊl-/) or Olmec were an early known major Mesoamerican civilization, flourishing in the modern-day Mexican states of Veracruz and Tabasco from roughly 1200 to 400 BCE during Mesoamerica's formative period. They were initially centered at the site of their development in San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán, but moved to La Venta in the 10th century BCE following the decline of San Lorenzo. The Olmecs disappeared mysteriously in the 4th century BCE, leaving the region sparsely populated until the 19th century.


Among other "firsts", the Olmec appeared to practice ritual bloodletting and played the Mesoamerican ballgame, hallmarks of nearly all subsequent Mesoamerican societies. The aspect of the Olmecs most familiar now is their artwork, particularly the colossal heads. The Olmec civilization was first defined through artifacts which collectors purchased on the pre-Columbian art market in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Olmec artworks are considered among ancient America's most striking.


Origins:

Pre-Olmec cultures had flourished since about 2500 BCE, and it has been speculated that the Olmecs derived in part from the neighboring Mokaya or Mixe–Zoque cultures which developed during this time. The beginnings of Olmec civilization have traditionally been placed between 1400 BCE and 1200 BCE. Past finds of Olmec remains ritually deposited at the shrine El Manatí near the triple archaeological sites known collectively as San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán moved this back to at least 1600–1500 BCE.  It seems that the Olmec had their roots in early farming cultures of Tabasco, which began between 5100 BCE and 4600 BCE. These shared the same basic food crops and technologies of the later Olmec civilization.


What is today called Olmec first appeared fully within San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán, where distinctive Olmec features occurred around 1400 BCE. The rise of civilization was assisted by the local ecology of well-watered alluvial soil, as well as by the transportation network provided by the Coatzacoalcos river basin. This environment may be compared to that of other ancient centers of civilization such as the Nile, Indus, Yellow River and Mesopotamia. This highly productive environment encouraged a densely concentrated population, which in turn triggered the rise of an elite class.


The elite class created the demand for the production of the symbolic and sophisticated luxury artifacts that define Olmec culture. Many of these luxury artifacts were made from materials such as jade, obsidian, and magnetite, which came from distant locations and suggest that early Olmec elites had access to an extensive trading network in Mesoamerica. The source of the most valued jade was the Motagua River valley in eastern Guatemala, and Olmec obsidian has been traced to sources in the Guatemala highlands, such as El Chayal and San Martín Jilotepeque, or in Puebla, distances ranging from 200 to 400 km (120–250 miles) away, respectively.


The state of Guerrero, and in particular its early Mezcala culture, seem to have played an important role in the early history of Olmec culture. Olmec-style artifacts tend to appear earlier in some parts of Guerrero than in the Veracruz-Tabasco area. In particular, the relevant objects from the Amuco-Abelino site in Guerrero reveal dates as early as 

1530 BCE.