The way slave owners try to justify their actions in _every. single. piece. of historical text_ is really telling of the fact that they _knew_ what they were doing was wrong. I mean every one of them is like "oh well i treat _my_ slaves better than _other_ slave owners treat theirs, so that must mean im a good person." They just wanted to convince themselves that what they did was fine, because they didnt want to lose the conveniency of owning people that would do labor for them free of pay. Its honestly scarily similar to todays wage slavery. "Well i pay _my_ employees 10 dollars an hour, which is way more than _other_ employers pay their employees, so that must mean im a good boss." Despite the the fact that they still dont pay their employees what their labor its truly worth, and they take the "leftover" money for themselves.

I pray that your career sky rockets from here you’re informing our people in a matter of fact and interesting and honest way. I love your channel

Your work deserves to be played in history classes

I homeschool my child. I will be adding you to his American history curriculum. Thank you for all of this very worthy information!

Best historian on KZfaq. You make information accessible, interesting, and applicable without watering it down. a powerful and rare combo

Went to a white church growing up with a white pastor who would come around to our neighborhood on Christmas & hand out $100 bills to all the kids….that part of your video made me go hmm….I always felt there was an ulterior motive lol

Kinda fucked up how little things have changed if you scratch the surface of modern life. Thank you for this.

As I've grown more indifferent to religious practices, I care less and less about the actual traditions of christmas. Especially with how much I learn about Christianity as a tool against black people. -Torrette

All the work you put into these videos does NOT go unnoticed. I also got so excited hearing all the NC related info as a fellow Carolinian myself, our historical ties to slavery are so rich and often aren’t discussed enough. This taught me so much.

I don’t get how some people think hearing this kind of holiday history cheapens the season. Christmas time in America is so much more complicated than baby Jesus and presents.

I would’ve never known that slaves were given “time off” or “vacations”. I only knew of them getting Sundays off for Bible study’s or church services. Every time I read something about slavery I’m still learning something new. It’s crazy to think that getting a month of Black history or reading a page in a history textbook suffices, when our history is so nuanced it often goes goes unheard. Thank you and Merry Christmas ❤️❤️❤️

We have Junkanoo in the Bahamas as well! It’s our way to honor our ancestors and we do it every Boxing Day (Dec 26th). We have a big parade with big floats and costumes with music. Love seeing our similarities across the diaspora ❤️❤️

I stopped celebrating Christmas 5 years ago as well as the rest of these holidays. BEST decision EVER!! Your video was great and gave a good history lesson that’s not taught in school

I love Eartha Kitts's version of Santa Baby! My favorite Christmas song is This Christmas by Donny Hathaway, his version only lol.

Queen of Lectures!! What a shame you're not my History teacher 😭

I love to hear you talk about our history.

I thought I couldn’t get my three sons age’s 10, 7 and 5 to sit down and enjoy a KZfaq video regarding history. Not only did they sit down and enjoyed it, they were engaged and asked questions which is extremely helpful and important. Thank you so much for your hard work, I thrive to create my own platform that engage people of all ages like yourself. Happy holidays and a wonderful blessed New Year 🙏🏾💰

I haven’t celebrated in 20 years but I didn’t learn about the weaponized Christianity until 10 yrs. It fueled me to stop subscribing to veiled abuse no matter what it’s called. Great work queen keep educating.

I'm not even halfway through and there's lots of great information. These videos get better and better

Watching this is also crazy because I’ve never heard much about Christmastime during slavery and slaves being given breaks. The nuance between how different plantation owners treated the enslaved really provides an even deeper perspective on it as a whole.

You show a side of history that'd i would never encounter in any school. Thank you for your gard work. Like seriously, the amount of research and hard work you put into the videos really shows. Thank you Lex

i swear, i pray KZfaq is still "around" when i decide to have kids and homeschool them! your videos are TOP TIER!!!!!!

“Black Jesus… I know she was crying and throwing up” I’m howliiiiiiing

I think I went to high school with you and I gotta say that as a lover of history I overly enjoy all of your videos. Your hardwork and research is very evident and appreciated!

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ the hardest working and most intelligent woman on KZfaq!

When that juicybot send me a Lexual video, I have no choice but to tap it

I’m from NC, too!! I feel like the history of slavery in our state is often glossed over in favor of a focus on trafficking and exploitation in the deeper south. At least in my public education experience, slavery seemed to be framed as an atrocity specific to the Antebellum south. I remember misunderstanding that North Carolina didn’t engage in trade of enslaved humans and exploitation of their labor. Thank you, as always, for covering difficult topics like these with such grace.

Such an excellent, well researched and delivered video as always! My face lit up at the mention of the Jamaican Christmas rebellion 🇯🇲 Your work is so appreciated ❤️

I love how you bring out the information that many of us myself included never learned in school.. I love it

I'm a mom that celebrates Kwanza with my family. I love it. Puts a nice bow on the end of the year and prepare us for the new onw

Can’t watch the video in its entirety at the moment but i always make sure to give you a thumbs up as soon as I see a notification. Just wanna say that your work is appreciated and you’ve relived me of so much ignorance. Please keep up the quality work and I can’t wait to see what new heights Intelexual Media soars to. 💜💜💜

I learned so much new information today. History buff and black history is a passion of mine. Black Americans build and build the culture and then the information is "lost". Thank you again!

love the holiday pieces! this and Halloween had so much to learn!

I’m going to play these in my History Class for my students!

I flipping love you. thank you for this . I poured myself a big ol glass of wine . I just closed on my first house and now that that's over I'm heading over to Pateron . I share with everyone I know your videos and knowledge and just love learning and confirming things I have read and learned before.

These are the kind of lessons that I teach my grandchildren

My grandma said that Junkanoo ended in the south because they banned our drums. Her grandparents were born in the 1850's.

Christmas is definitely one of those holidays where there is a lot of nuance to it, especially for black folks . Thank you for your videos !!

This was incredibly well-researched... I learned many new things. Thank you so much for taking the time to put such an interesting and informative piece together. I hope you enjoy your holiday in whatever way speaks best to you!

I was happy I went to schools that were majority black because we talked about Kwanzaa every year. When I went to university I realized how little others know about Kwanzaa. My family has never celebrated Kwanzaa but knowing about it gave a different feel to the holiday season.

Your content is valuable. Thank you for all of the hard work you put in to make these videos!

I hope a story is put out about Harry and Harriette Moore. Not many people speak on them. I live in Florida and in 8th grade we did Florida history and my teacher who was Black and went to Alabama State university was actually reluctant to speak on them.

I really just want to thank you so much for spreading very vital information about history and important elements that are key to black people. As a young black girl growing up in America, I cherish channels like this and black women like you, who take time out of their days to conduct adequate and top quality research about things that we as a people need to learn about. It really means a lot that I get to learn more at my young age. So thank you for this! Please don’t give up, your work is definitely not going unnoticed.

Thank you for shining a light on the parts of history that are often ignored and overlooked.

I. JUST. LOVE. WHAT. YOU. DO. HERE. please NEVER stop what youre doing. its so awesome, fun and relevant. Love it.

Woooww. Every praise and respect to you for educating me on something- I didn’t even conceptualize needing to know before now! The history of Christmas for black people. Crazy how i never thought about racial implications when it came to holidays. As you said “overlooked.” Great video as always. This channel needs beyond a million subs.

Really a testament to the power of crumbs after having nothing. The fact that those people that the energy to party after all that back breaking work.

I love your channel! The amount of research you put into this doesn't go unnoticed or unappreciated. Thank you for all you do!❤

17:56 I already know how this ends but GOD DAMN IT this BOILS my blood.

I sincerely applaud you for the amount of work and research you do for each and every video you write, produce, edit, and post! It does not go unnoticed! Thank you so much ❤️

I came here from your community post. The old pics you dig up convey an emotion I can't name. I look forward to these vids and always learn something.

I caught this video at the best time!! Just finished your “let’s talk about virginity” video & watched this one right after. I’m grateful to have you recommended on my feed. I’m literally learning so much of a more in-depth history of my peoples lineage, & historical topics in general. Thank you 💜 keep doing the God’s work.

I think my favorite Christmas song would have to be the Temptations version of Silent Night! Thanks for another great video Lex!

They way that you build your videos give me pause at the depth of your knowledge and your creative spirit. I subscribed after your femicide video kept getting recommended to me and I’ve been hooked. Your attention to detail is so inspiring and I hope that my KZfaq channel that I’m starting in the new year can someday hold a candle to yours! Cheers girlie you’re doing amazing work 💕

I loved this essay! In Newfoundland we have a very similar tradition to the 'John Kannaus' dancers called 'Mummering'. Folks dress up in crazy costumes, traditionally with things you would find around the house as there were no costume stores back then. They would mask their faces and disguise their voices. Even cross-dressing was done because the whole point was that when you visited a house they were supposed to try and guess who you are, and the Mummer wants to make that as hard as possible. So you might see a man wearing women's clothing or vice versa. The mummers would dance and would have a drink. Then move on to the next house. Mummering was even criminalized at one point because of how rowdy it became :D I love it when different cultures somehow end up with similar kinds of traditions :)

Her presentation made me imagine that I was back to in those times, like reading a captivating book and immersing one’s self. Very good narrative. Keep them coming.👍🏾

Omg, her southern belle voice just slayed me, lololol

Once again, much more than I ever learned in history class. Thank you for putting in all of the time and effort it takes to thoroughly research these topics and share the information ✨

I discovered your channel over the weekend and binged. Your my new favorite discovery. I’m a history/knowledge blurd. This was right up my alley. Keep going young lady!

This was fantastic. Thank you for making it.

I’ll have to listen to this more than once. There’s a lot of information in this. Lots of work on your part. Your channel showed up on my suggested channels with good reason. I’ve been on a quest to educate myself about racial issues for the last couple years and you, and many other channels I subscribe to, are playing a part in my self-education. Thank you.

This was so informative. The things we’d never learn in a history book. Thank you, Intellexual ❤️

Great vid & info as always. Me & my family has celebrated Kwanzaa for the last few years and love it. ❤🖤💚

Thank you for discussing aspects of our history that I wouldn't hear anywhere else. I'm in awe by the amount of care and research you put in every single video and I am greatful for this content. I'm especially grateful for the content about our enslaved ancestors because there are so many parts of their lives that are never discussed. Happy Holidays!

Was really excited to get this notification! Great video! I learned a lot from your content as always!

Ah KZfaq… the algorithm never disappoints. Premium content. Subbed. 👍🏽

I love your videos so much. I love to learn all day and you just have tons of content for me to learn from that I’ve been feening for it 😂. Thank you 🙏🏾

As many peeps are saying, thank you for your hard work to spread information that most of us weren't taught in history class.

I love her commentary. She is always on point.

Best Christmas themed show I've seen in decades. Well done.

As usual, this was amazing. I really hope your channel grows more because more people need to see your work!

If you want to home school your kids, then this is the channel. The amount of research that went into this unparalleled. THANK YOU!!!

You’ve done it once again! Your content is exactly what we need! Serving facts and looks! ♥️

Black Americans need to bring back Kwanzaa, it's such a nice cultural celebration!!!!

Wow how does this video not have a million views already? It’s so good it’s criminal. This channel is such a gem

This was an amazing video, I learned about so much I'd never heard anyone else touch on even studying colonial history in college. I would love if you made a sequel video about Christmas traditions in Caribbean cultures, it was touched on but that has to be such an interesting topic. Especially because of all the west African syncretic religions in the region.

I’m making an apple crisp and watching this video. Feels good. Love all your content and learning things my white washed history class wouldn’t teach me.

White nerd guy here. I appreciate your work considering I've been ignorant of the stuff youve covered since...well...forever. So yeah. Thank you. You're awesome.

Very well presented. Just goes to show that people celebrate the various calendar events throughout the year without really knowing their full meaning and the history of events that went beforehand. One ❤ and respect to you and blessings.

Great video! In Sweden we have recently changed parts of our old racist Christmas traditions. When my perents were young it was custom to dress children in gingerbread costumes that closely look like Jim Crow blackface. And on Christmas eve most families gather to watch an old school cartoon from the 50s, in the cartoon there are many hurtful racist blackface and anti-Semitic stereotypes. Brave nordic black life matters activists protested with success. Now the racist part of the cartoon has been cut out and schools and other festive gatherings don't allow the gingerbread costumes. The majority of people in Sweden like this change and have made new traditions that is kinder and more inclusive. So there is no reason for other countries not to replace their hurtful tradition for good ones.

I look forward to your content and you never disappoint! Thank you!

You never disappoint and do such an outstanding job. The references, photos, and quotes demonstrate how serious you take your craft as a historian and journalist. I appreciate and enjoy your channel. Thank you.

Something inside me told me that you were gonna bless us with this video and I'm glad you did it. Thank you for this and thank you for being such an informative queen. ❤️👑

Was listening to my head of school make comments on how he "hates the hypocrisy of Christmas," and I was very close to sending him this video because... just fucking honestly, the holiday has so frequently had a component of "hypocrisy" in how it's been celebrated. Giving a few "luxuries" to people (the enslaved, the poor...) has so frequently been a component. The so-called "hypocrisy of Christmas" that so many talk about is really just... an extension of what's been done. Thanks for this. There's a lot here I hadn't really engaged with before, and it leaves me with more spaces to explore as I continue learning.

Just as I was getting snacks, here you are! Love your educational content.

These videos are so good. When you talked about the different slave Christmas experiences for some reason I visualized what Twitter would have looked like: "your Massa (not) letting y'all drink? Mmm mmm"

Slayed! This will be my annual Christmas movie from here on. Bravo, sis, bravo. I kept waiting on you to miss something and learned 30 things. You nailed it. Sledge hammered it. I was riveted. 🤯 I have always felt sumtypaway about Christmas and you helped me to see what it was. Tbh, while I have the old "fear of missing out" syndrome each year, I haven't liked Christmas since I was 4yrs old (and that was a good, "traditional" Christmas with all the lights, bells and whistles, even a bike under the tree and cookies for Santa). Something about it just feels so wrong. At the end of the day, I do look forward to time I don't usually get to spend with family and friends... (Since ol' massa give us da time off)...and who doesn't like gifts? But much like the liquor and egg nog of old, I feel as if it's shoved down my throat as a yearly mandatory obligatory revelry. While neither employing the role of Scrooge or the Grinch, I like to have my great grandmother's dressing and hide out until new years, avoiding the world until it's over with my favorite comfort food: Keep the coon/croon music, keep your black santa, swarte Pete, and krampas, keep frosty, Rudolph, and even jack frost. I'm good. See you on the second of Janus of the Julian while I politely decline this unholy day season. Awaken me after the peach and the apple drops. If I was your black history teacher, you have earned your grade for the rest of the year. 🏆🥇

I absolutely LOVE your channel! Thank you for your time and dedication to creating quality content.

The Third Life of Grange Copeland was my first look inside how we celebrated Chrima back in the day. The book traumatized and inspired me cause I'm 31 now and to this day I have to give my nephews oranges, peppermint and peanuts as chrima gifts in honor of my family before me.

Thank you for you contributions to our history in this country, I have researched most of this but would have never been able to put it together so eloquently. You are amazing! When they say trauma isn't passed down thru your DNA....I beg to differ...many of us to this day behave this way towards work and business around these holidays... not even understanding we were programmed to be this way from generational strategic systemic oppression. We can make money..always have...but really need to reprogram our mindset around professional development and business etiquette. These skills were essential strategically removed from our mindset, thru fear tactics and government involvement, after our success during reconstruction.

Thank you so much for your content and how much time and research goes into your videos. I really appreciate is and I really hope to see your channel grow so more people can be better informed about history in such a direct and honest way. Thank you again and happy holidays!

Thank you for making such in depth videos on the stuff I never learned in school growing up!

Watched a short version of this video on twitter and decided to watch the whole thing, I have also added a BUNCH of your other videos to my watch later, all of this ir right up my alley

This is such high quality content, thank you for putting in the work. I feel like I just took a full on masterclass.

I truly appreciate the effort you put into the videos. You constantly putting us on history 🥰

I just joined your highest patreon tier! I love your work and I love history. Your delivery is superb. I’m so glad you popped up in my timeline! You rock!! 💃🏾

i remember being like 7 or 8, my afterschool play centre was run by black caribbean women, junkanoo was my favourite. we would walk around camberwell and brixton, all dressed up some people on stilts and wearing headpieces. banging drums blowing whistles, just enjoying this celebration of our heritage. it was great. i wish i could do that again.

Thank you for this. I’m white and grew up in a racist town. I’ve always been open to learning but rarely had the resources. The recent explosion of public black history and culture channels, books, and discussions online have helped me understand the true extend of the issues at hand. I was taught “racism is bad” but without understanding what racism was or what made it worse than using swear words or flipping someone off. Content like this is so important for me, so I can’t even imagine how valuable it is for black people and children.

Thank you so much for doing such an in depth overall history lesson up to today!! You covered so much and it was so enriching to take in. THIS is what we need to be teaching in schools!!

This was really cool to watch! Thank you for your hard work bringing these stories back to life