This post, on X, demonstrates an appalling lack of effort on the part of one Crystal Johnson to rewrite history in an Afrocentric light. Either Crystal lost her crystal ball, or she has crystal balls, to allow her to post something this poorly vetted.
According to Ms. Crystal, Amelia Bassano was apparently affluent enough to pay for this portrait, shot on Kodak Gold 200 (which has seriously deteriorated after 400-plus years in her fanny pack, only discovered in 1962 at a flea market in Eyton upon the Weald Moors). In the late 1500’s, having your portrait photographed was inordinately expensive considering that Nicéphore Niépce would not be born for another 300 years or so, and darkroom supplies were devilishly difficult to obtain in Stratford-upon-Avon due to their nonexistence everywhere. Evidently she did not die penniless.
However, as Crystal might point out, my attempt at disproving the allegation falls short due to the fact that all the historical references were provided by white males. Considering the claim, made by some, that Africans invented airplanes during the European dark ages, there’s no reason to doubt that they also used photography for reconnaissance flyovers to capture members of rival tribes for transport, by locomotive, I imagine, to the coast to be sold to Barbary slavers.
So, it’s entirely possible that Bassano did write Shakespeare’s plays using what was in 1610, a crude form of DOS, which Bill Gates would later steal and market as his own creation making billions so he could conduct unethical medical experiments on Africans, some of whom might be descendants of Amelia Bassano herself. Except… Amelia was Jewish and not black.
But these are niggling (can I say that?) concerns. If an entirely phony historical record can be produced by dead white men, why can’t Crystal take a whack at it?
I have a niggling concern that you've been a baaad, baaad, boy. Tee hee.
I've written a full-length play about Bassano, and based on what I believe, Crystal's comment is a blend of truth, possible truths, and outright lies. Makes it impossible for anyone to agree or disagree.