Just maybe the remnants of pain and loss linger in St. Louis. The worst race riots in our country’s history took place in southern Illinois, just across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri. The loss of life and property isn’t easy to forget. The New York Times’ chilling headline, “Race Rioters Fire East St. Louis and Shoot or Hang Many Negroes”. According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, the violence stemmed from the hiring of black …
Moral Mondays is an idea that originated in North Carolina, in April of 2013. The grassroots group protests are in response to the policies of the recently elected Gov. Pat McCrory and the swift and, what many perceived, far right movement of the newly elected state legislator. Many assume the “tea party” movement and Republican or conservative victories in 2010 were a response to the election of President Barack Obama. North Carolina is a great …
The tragic events that have taken place in Ferguson, Missouri since August 9th of this year, beginning with the killing of an unarmed teenager by a law enforcement officer, to many seem extraordinary. Michael Brown’s murder, as many in the African American community well know, is unfortunately just the latest event that was caught within view of eye witnesses. All Americans can recount the video of the now infamous beating of Rodney King in 1991. …
We owe so much to Dave Chappelle’s sketch comedies. Those seemingly outrageous parodies in many situations illuminated and parroted real life situations. For those that don’t remember the character, Clayton Bigsby, a blind spokesperson noted for his enthusiastic right wing, minority hating followers. Occasionally leading the chant “white power” for the faithful. The “catch” was that Clayton Bigsby was black. In South Carolina for all to see is the manifestation of the popular Clayton Bigsby …
The 1970’s were difficult times economically and socially. Rampant inflation, an oil embargo and the Iranian hostage Crisis. Maybe it’s Watergate, the Viet Nam War or perhaps the only presidential resignation that seem to make it a memorable decade. All those events set the stage for the Reagan presidency of the 80’s. Partisans ignore the Iran-Contra Scandal, that the national debt, unemployment (10.8% in 1983) and the largest percentage drop in the stock market since …
The Edmund Pettus Bridge, the scene of Bloody Sunday. If your driving from Atlanta toward Selma, Alabama, you probably will take highway 80 (US-80) when you head west from Montgomery. It’s a pretty long drive. As I remember, its nearly 50 miles. If you’re doing a civil rights trail pilgrimage, you will think about the marchers that made the trip in the opposite direction, east from Selma to Montgomery, the state capital. On my first …
Maynard Holbrook Jackson, Jr. (March 23, 1938 – June 23, 2003). I first met the Honorable Mayor Jackson in the fall of 1976. He was already the mayor of Atlanta, I was a young transplant from New York City. The last time I spoke with “hizzoner” was in Memphis, TN in the late 90′s. Impressive is an understatement. In a class all his own. Driven by his own rules and traveling his own course. His …
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Malcolm X remains an iconic figure in the Black community. His original positions on race, government and economics in the United States still resonate. Take the Quiz below to recount important facts in the life of an American legend.
On May 13, 1862, the crew of the Planter went ashore for the evening, leaving Smalls to guard the ship and its contents. Smalls loaded the ship with his wife, children and 12 other slaves from the city and sailed it to the area of the harbor where Union ships had formed their blockade.
Bessie Coleman is the first African-American to hold an international pilot license. Traveling to Europe, Coleman took part in airshows. Continuing to perform in shows upon her return to the United States, Coleman was very popular, she was known as “Queen Bess”.
