A new motion picture called Black Knight featuring Martin Lawrence premiered recently. In it, the actor-comedian plays the part of a modern day African-American transported back to medieval Europe. There he becomes dubbed "The Black Knight" and puts a "soulful" black twist on the European Middle Ages.

Since the movie premiered, I've heard a lot of negative comments directed towards it. Many say it is typical Hollywood need to portray blacks as buffoons. And they assert that Martin Lawrence is playing the fool for white America. The very idea of a black man in medieval Europe they say is ludicrous. And given that Hollywood approaches the idea with a smirk, shows that the average person probably thinks much the same.

But in fact, medieval Europeans may not have been acquainted with large numbers of blacks---but they knew a few. And though the movie is comedic, it does approach some telling of truth with the name 14th century Europeans call Martin Lawrence's character: The Moor.

In 711AD Islamic troops poured into Spain. For the next 700 years they would become entrenched in a great deal of European culture and society. Called Moors by the local natives these invaders were a mixture of Arabs, North African Berbers (whose racial identity could vary from "tawny" to "black" depending on clan affiliation and origin) and black west Africans (from as far south as Senegal). The very word Moor, originally from the Roman "Mauri" meaning "black" or "swarthy", has changed definitions repeatedly to indicate either race, culture or both. Though probably never numbering in the majority, it is the black Moors (or black-a-moors) that medieval Europeans seemed most fascinated with. They appear often in the literature of the period, artist depictions and more.

These black-a-moors are portrayed as saints. Probably the most famous is St. Maurice, the Knight of the Holy Lance, regarded as the greatest patron saint of the Holy Roman Empire. Rumored to be a Roman commander of Egyptian descent, Maurice gains sainthood after refusing to have his legion massacre a Christian uprising. Worshipped as early as 460AD, St. Maurice has had numerous artworks and structures - even a castle---dedicated to him. The existence of nearly three hundred major images of the black St. Maurice have been catalogued, and even today his worship is seen within numerous cathedrals in eastern Germany.

Black-a-moors are portrayed as devils. The medieval Spanish Cantigas, a collection of didactic-religious poems, portray contingents of black Moorish soldiers in league with the anti-Christ---part of a negative propaganda campaign against Muslims.

Black-a-moors are portrayed as noble warriors. The Romance of the Cid speaks of black Moorish female warriors, shrewd master archers with the Turkish bow. The Viking saga the Orkneyinga describes fierce sea-battles with blacks whom the Norsemen praise for their bravery and skills.

They are portrayed as fierce giants and leaders of armies. In the medieval Song of Roland the 14th century Christian knight faces off against a black giant Moor named Vernagu. In the Sowdone of Babylone, Alagolfare is a black Moorish giant who leads a black army. And in a legendary account, William of Orange fights another black giant named Ysore.

These black-a-moors continue on as cavalry, foot soldiers, servants, nobles, princes, dancers and more throughout the medieval European literature, history and art. From the black Moorish troops in Sicily used by Frederick II of the Hohenstaufen dynasty to the black Elen Moore who waited on the Queen of the Tudor court and had a knightly tournament in her honor, black-a-moors were far from unknown in medieval Europe. As far back as Roman times, accounts told of black soldiers sent by the Roman Empire to guard Hadrian's Wall against "barbarian Britons". Add in the black-a-moors and later African slave importation (though far less than shipped to the West) and its no wonder modern genetic tests reveal 1 in 4 Britains have African blood.

But getting back to the root of this article, lets return to Martin Lawrence's Black Knight. Because if you haven't guessed by now (as corny as it may sound), the Black Knight of the King Arthur's Legends---was black. Well, at least he was according to the Dutch.

In the Dutch version of Lancelot, an entire section (some five thousand lines) is dedicated to the Black Knight: a one Sir Morien. Of Morien it was stated, “He was all black, even as I tell ye: his head, his body, and his hands were all black, saving only his teeth. His shield and his armour were even those of a Moor, and black as a raven”. Sir Morien, the Black Knight, first battles Sir Lancelot and then saves the knight Sir Gawain. At first a type of mysterious villain, he manages to win the respect of King Arthur's men and come to embody the finest principles of chivalry and knighthood.

Another Black Knight was the black-a-moor of Greco-Christian mythos, Pallamedes who also became associated with the Arthurian legends. Whether he is one in the same with Morien is uncertain.

So in the end, is Martin wrong for the role? I suppose that is up to the viewers to decide. It should be pointed out that Black Knight is nothing more than a modern rendition of the oft recreated A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. And Martin Lawrence is a comedian, not a historian or dramatic actor. In the end it comes down to balance.

Perhaps there would be less criticism of Martin's role, if there were more of a balance in black movie portrayals. If one is going to make a humorous movie about a Black Knight, it would be nice to also see someone like Sir Morien featured in at least one of the numerous Arthurian movie epics. The closest we've gotten is Morgan Freeman's role as a black-a-moor in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. But unfortunately, as comedic roles for blacks seem more popular with moviegoers, the real Sir Morien and the rich information of blacks in medieval Europe gets lost. I'm not angry with Martin for his role. In fact I applaud the comedian for providing a stepping stone into a little known and neglected portion of black history, even if through humor. So by all means see Black Knight. Laughter is good for the soul. But at the end of the day, go out and find some actual information to compliment the movie. Martin took you as far as he could. The rest is up to you.

MORPHEUS- Exposin Fake Shyt