The history of Africans sold in slavery has been distorted to resemble the history of their slave masters, and anyone who believes that masters' and slaves' destinations are the same is doomed to stay in slavery, said a speaker for Black History Month last night.

"If you don't know your history, you don't know the responsibility to your people," said black activist Kwame Toure.

Toure, formerly Stokely Carmichael, spoke on "Improving the African-American Diaspora for a Better Tomorrow" in the HUB Ballroom

Toure was involved in the Student Non-violence Coordinating Committee in the 1960s and helped popularize the concept of "Black Power."

He was given a brief introduction by Black Caucus President Walter Moseley and Jamil Bey, chairman of the Caucus' Political Action Committee.

The speech was sponsored by the Caucus, the Equal Opportunity Council, the Black Graduate Association, the Paul Robeson Cultural Center and the University's School of Communications.

"Anyone who is ashamed of Africa is ignorant about Africa," Toure said.

World history must forever be grateful to Africa's contribution to civilization, he said.

"Africa's contribution to religions in the world is outstanding," Toure said. "The first sacred book of the world, The Egyptian Book of the Dead, was found there 7,000 years ago."

Other religious contributions to civilization include the first monotheistic religion, the foundation of Judaism and the stabilization of Christianity, he said.

"What man or woman knowing these facts couldn't appreciate Africa?" Toure said.

He further commented on how European imperialism distorts the history of many minorities.

When European imperialism came to America, it did not acknowledge the Native American religion. "The Mother Earth was their god," he said. "We must come to respect religion. The masses of people aspire to it.

"Abraham Lincoln didn't make our history. Everyone was telling him to free the slaves since 1861. He didn't make the Emancipation Proclamation until 1863," Toure said.

"History is made by the masses. One man doesn't make history. People who are willing to die for ideas make the difference," Toure said. "The masses of the people must be thanked for freeing Mandela," he added.

"If you do not work for your people's freedom, you can't think about your people's freedom," Toure said. "If your people are being exploited and you have nothing to do about it you are against your people."

Throughout his speech Toure condemned the capitalist system, because it brutalizes black people by confusing their minds.

"Capitalism is a backwards and stupid system. It makes you look at the fog instead of the essence," he said.

An example he gave to clarify his point is how the media distorts the truth about the low level of black consciousness in the 1990s.

Toure said black people are much more conscious about their African heritage and the continuing struggle to be treated equal, because conditions are worse now than in the 60s.

The problem is the lack of organization within the community and its leaders, he said.

"Our people will be free. The question is what contribution will you make to free our people?" he asked. "Only the people properly organized can free the people."

An enthusiastic audience of 250 attended the speech.

"I remember when Desmond Tutu was here and you couldn't even get in the door. I think people need to listen to this man's speech," said Stephen Lewis (senior-education).

''I feel a lot of what he said is valid. As people of African-American descent, we must organize the struggle to liberate Africans and African-Americans," VonEric Saunders (senior-psychology) said.