Spotlight Interview with Black Historian and Educator Robert Whiting

Robert Whiting is a native of Washington, DC. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of the District of Columbia with a degree in Business Administration and received an MBA with a concentration in Finance and Investments from George Washington University.

Mr. Whiting earned a black belt in karate and was a certified martial arts instructor. He is also an accomplished musician and has a jazz band.

Mr. Whiting worked most of his career in the federal government in several agencies such as the General Accounting Office, Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service and various agencies within the Department of Agriculture. He rose to the rank of Senior Executive and retired from the government in 2001.

After Mr. Whiting retired from the federal government, he worked in the private sector ascending to the rank of a Vice President. He retired again in 2005.

For over 40 years, Mr. Whiting has conducted research on Africa, particularly Nile Valley Civilizations. Mr. Whiting studied the Medu Neter (Egyptian Hieroglyphs) under the tutelage of Ankh Mi Ra, who wrote a grammar book on this ancient African language. In addition, Mr. Whiting has “sat at the feet” of some of the world’s most preeminent African scholars and went on a study tour to Kemet (Egypt) with Dr. Charles Finch, an internationally renowned Nile Valley Civilization scholar and lecturer.

Mr. Whiting has lectured in a variety of settings including universities, schools, churches, and community groups along the East Coast of the United States and in Africa.

I recently conducted an interview with Robert Whiting to deepen my knowledge of Africa.

The first solar calendar was developed by Africans approximately 4,240/41 BCE (Before Common Era) and was aligned with the natural flow of the solar year in the Northern Hemisphere. The calendar used in most parts of the world today was developed in Africa, copied and modified by the Romans.

The African American Cultural Center and Museum of Palm Coast is hosting a celebration of the original African New Year on June 21, 2024, at 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. For more information visit www.aacspalmcoast.org.

Melba Carter and Robert Whiting provided the voice track for the AACS African New Year celebration video. (Photo courtesy Jake Montgomery, Observer Media Group Inc.)