Charles Six graduated from Michigan State University's Honors College. Before his fourth year of college he was given a full-time position working for the Michigan House of Representatives.
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. He oversaw roughly 40 employees.
Six founded Ending Stereotypes for America in 2005.
Why Six Created Ending Stereotypes for America
When Six entered his freshman year of high school, the senior class had many overt racists (Confederate Flags everywhere and frequent use of the "N word"). Ironically, some of those racists had close friends who were black and 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 black people were mentally and morally inferior overall. When he asked why they believed that, he was told: "look at Africa; they were all primitive hunters and gatherers," and that "black people have never invented anything."
Those notions had been reinforced in school and by 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 so-called 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-Saharan black Africa. Some of these kingdoms had castles, currency, advanced metal working techniques, advanced medical techniques, long distance trade with Europe, Asia and the Middle East. 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 and our world.
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 and world.
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.
