Goodbye, February:

Spotlight on Us

Black history covers a wide range of fields and subjects, from doctors and lawyers to surfers and ballerinas, inventors and politicians. Just like every other race, black people are diverse in interest and accomplishment. The blacks featured here for the past month illustrate not only how blacks have affected society but the power of inner-strength. Many of the men and women discussed this month were born in an era when being black was a crime enough and punishable by death. Some of these people were born slaves, others confined by the Jim Crow laws of the south.

Picture from Black Enterprise

This not only means people expected them to continue with the status quo, but that it was illegal for them to go against the grain.Others featured this month are part of the newer generation. Unfortunately, they still face the same discriminatory attitudes our forefathers endured, but thanks to those older men and women, many changes have been made to the justice system which allow them (us) more freedom in obtaining their (our) goals.

Growing up, I was amazed that my grandmother—a black woman with no more than an 8th grade education—and my grandfather—a black man born in 1903 and raised in the south—could work hard enough to buy land and houses. The fact that they could raise 5 children and send them to college, even though they probably couldn't help with homework or college applications was a resounding message to me. As a child I would look up at my parents and my aunts and uncles of whom very few ever attended a desegregated school, yet they were still able to became successful businessmen/women, educators, doctors, etc. I know they went through struggles, from the stories of their childhood to the look in their eyes, and all of the problems I've experienced in life—racial or otherwise—seem pale in comparison. I had teachers tell me I couldn't achieve something, but it's never been illegal for me to try. I've had people call me the n-word, but I've never had to actually give up my seat for that person...

Our struggles are far from over and  it often feels like little or no progress has been made, but those of us lucky enough to be here now enjoy freedoms our ancestors didn't have. It's amazing how much a person can accomplish when they refocus their minds from negative to positive. Whether you're taking a chance on something you love that's seen as a "white" activity, bridging the gap between races, furthering your education, or doing something else entirely, remember that just because you have to struggle to achieve doesn't mean you can't achieve a victory. These people did, and both the cards and the law were stacked against them. If they can overcome obstacles, so can we. An easy victory may be easy, but a hard fought victory is worth so much more.

Dignity and pride are two traits these people all have in common from their struggles. When I'm gone, I hope someone will say the same about me because we are the future. We are the ones that can change the curriculum to make history inclusive. We are the ones that can change how we are viewed. We are the ones that can achieve the highest goals. We are the ones people will talk about. It's up to us to remember, to understand, and to move forward.

Impossible Dreams:

Spotlight on Paul R. Williams

Don't let anyone tell you
Your dreams are impossible--
Because they will; and it may be true
But miracles are made possible.
Born in the wonder of stubbornness
And cultivated with persistence
A little hard work can be the spark
To an arsenal of fireworks...
The bursting of potential
Lit by the fire of accomplishment
Blazing in the sky for all to see
And you can gloat or remain humble
Knowing you've done the unthinkable.

Paul R. Williams

Who Was Paul R. Williams?

Paul R. Williams was told as a child that he couldn't be an architect; he quoted his teacher as saying "Who ever heard of a Negro being an architect?" [1] Orphaned at the age of four, Williams went on to study at the University of Southern California where he won an architecture competition at 25 years old [4]. Against the odds, Williams opened his own practice in 1922 and became the first black member of the American Institute of Architects in 1923. In 1957, he would become the first elected black Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. Managing to avoid a hard hit during the Great Depression, Williams became known as the architect for Hollywood stars [2]. Among these stars were Frank Sinatra, Betty Grable and Cary Grant, from whom he designed homes [3]. He designed approximately 3000 buildings [2]. Williams also had a hand in the design of LAX (the Los Angeles Airport) [2][4]. In 2004, USC's Black Alumni Associated opened the first exhibit to be devoted entirely to Williams [1]. He is quoted as saying "If I allow the fact that I am a Negro to checkmate my will to do, now, I will inevitably form the habit of being defeated." [4]

References

1. Shashank Bengali. "Williams the Conqueror". USC News. February 1, 2004
2. "Paul R. Williams, Architect". The Paul R. Williams Project; visited 2014
3. Richard K. Dozier. "Black Architects Have a Rich American History"; African American Registry; visited 2014
4. Jackie Craven. "Biography of Paul Revere Williams". ThoughtCo; visited 2014

Difference:

Spotlight on the Current State of Race in Public Schools

Differences are the definition of each
And without those subtle and overt changes
We are mere clones of one entity--
Boring and without value...
There's nothing wrong here.
This makes me, me and you, you
So what is it that drives us apart
Consciously and subconsciously--
Is this a remnant of old traditions
Buried deep in our culture
And rooted in intangible filth
We can't seem to clean?
A scientific wiring of our brains
Or a Biblical curse we can't escape?
Yet some are comfortable anywhere...
And you wonder, what happened there?
Our differences, so subtle and small
Why do they control us so?
Will it ever change,
Will we ever just get along?

Segregated Schools

2014 marks the 60th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education; though in my hometown, desegregation didn't begin until 1968. That's 14 years after the landmark ruling, and I wondered "When was the last school in the US desegregated? Has the last school in the US been desegregated?" A timeline of events concerning Brown v. Board of Education says that laws to prevent work arounds (such as private/religious schools discriminating) had to be made even in the early '80s. Shortly after, in 1986, the Supreme Court declared that once a school meets the Green factors it could be released from its desegregation plan and control could be restored to local authorities. Just 2 years later, the "peak" of desegregation--described as 45% of blacks attending a majority white school--occurred (I personally would considered a school desegregated as blacks, whites, and any other ethnicity/races attending it regardless of the make up). The '90s would see the end of most desegregation plans and in 2002, The Harvard Civil Rights Project concluded that US schools are re-segregating [1]. One reason given for this is the fact that Brown v. Board of Education prevents schools from banning a student based on race within his/her school district; yet, 60 years later and many cities are in fact still made up of segregated communities (see America's 10 most segregated cities here) [2]. The right that was fought for was the opportunity to coexist and not to be banned from this or that neighborhood or school because of skin color. From here, the question is not if this segregation is a problem (there should be nothing wrong with a black person living by a black person, a white person living by a white person, or a black person living by a white person), but what will be the ramifications of this segregation? How will it effect our society going further?

References

1. "BROWN V. BOARD: Timeline of School Integration in the U.S.". Teaching Tolerance. 2004
2. Anthony B. Bradley. "Harvard's Civil Rights Project misses the mark". Acton Institute. August 21, 2002
3. "The Green Decision of 1968". Virginia Historical Society; visited February 26, 2014
4. Erica Frankenberg and Chungmei Lee. "Race In American Public Schools: Rapidly Resegregating School Districts". The Civil Rights Project Harvard University. August 2002
5. Harry Bradford. "America's 10 Most Segregated Cities". Huffington Post. June 7, 2011

Confessions of a Shoe Fiend:

Spotlight on Jan Matzeliger

My closet is bursting at the seams:
Sneakers, pumps, and boots galore--
Different styles for different seasons
Every color of the rainbow
Dripping in to the soles
Of countless shoes
Tailored to every outfit...
The smell of new leather
Aromatizing my room
A soft touch enveloping my feet,
It's an addiction I couldn't shake
Even if I wanted to...

Jan Matzeliger

Jan Matzeliger was born in what is now Suriname in 1852. He moved to the US in 1873, settling first in Philadelphia then Massachusetts. It in the US that he took up the trade of shoe maker. Just 10 years after taking up the trade, Matzeliger invented the Lasting Machine.  His machine sped up the shoe making process such that in one day, 10 times as many shoes as the human hand was capable of making could be produced. This not only enabled a lower cost for higher quality shoes but allowed less skilled workers to be eligible for jobs in the shoe factory. He received a patent on March 20, 1883, though the Consolidated Lasting Machine Company would mass produce and sell the invention. Although Matzelinger did not own the company (and died shortly after it opened), he was able to receive some amount (often described as large) of stock in the organization [1]. The machine is estimated to have cut the cost of shoes by 50%! Sickness ended his life in 1889 at the young age of 37, so he was unable to fully enjoy the success of his machine [2]. In 1991, the US created a Black Heritage postage stamp in Matzeliger's honor [1, 3].

References

1. "Jan Matzeliger". Biography; visited February 25, 2014
2. "Inventions Still Used Today". African American Registry; visited February 2014
3. Jan E. Matzeliger. "Inventor of the Week: Jan Matzeliger". MIT Inventor of the Week; visited February 2014

Sci-Fi Legend:

Spotlight on Octavia E. Butler

The fusion of ideas,
Blended into a world of possibility--
Uncontradicted and unheard of
Science and mythology combined,
Soaring above and beyond
The usual fantasy...
Jumbled letters and words
Breathe!
This isn't the usual story
And I'm determined to sort it out
Add my own flavor
To create some place no one else can reach
Somewhere I want to go.

Octavia E. Butler was a best selling science fiction author and the first science fiction author to receive a "genius" grant from the MacAuthur Foundation (in 1995). Her books were known for their blending of African-American spiritualism and science fiction concepts. Her first novel was published in 1974 and went on to become a 5 volume series, thriving in a genre generally reserved for white males. Butler soared to the ranks of best selling author from the disadvantage of dyslexia, by cultivating her skills regardless of the difficulty [1]. Awarded both the Hugo and Nebula twice from prominent science fiction societies. In 1998, Butler said "I'm black, I'm solitary, I've always been an outsider." She passed away on February 24, 2006 [2].

References

1. "Octavia E. Butler". Biography; visited 2014
2. Margalit Fox. "Octavia E. Butler, Science Fiction Writer, Dies at 58". New York Times. March 1, 2006

When I'm Gone:

Spotlight on NC Mutual Life Insurance Company

Who will mourn me when I'm gone,
Stand over me to whisper prayers,
Forgotten memories and experiences
Depict the ripples of my existence, hear
In the words of the community I leave behind...
Adorn my casket in sweet scented flowers
Look after the family I leave behind,
Worry not at my expenses
As they lay me down to rest
But remember my worth
My words, my laugh, my smile--
Be at peace with a life lived and passed away
In the hopes of continuing on our legacy.

In 1898, North Carolina became home to the first black owned and black serving insurance company. Founded by John Merrick and Dr. Allen McDuffie Moore, North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company is the only insurance company based in North Carolina with a founding date before 1900 and is the largest black life insurance company in the US. Merrick was a former slave and brick mason who came up with the idea based on the mutual benefit societies of the south. Dr. Moore, who was born free, attended medical school and was the first black medical practitioner in Durham, NC. He started many other enterprises such as a hospital, drug company, and library [1]. The two men pooled their own money to personally finance the company from its inception in 1898 until 1903. The company was able to expand by absorbing fallen companies and buying into Mechanics and Farmers (another black owned business). Friends with Booker T. Washington, Dr. Moore and Merrick based their company on his philosophy of self-help advocacy and adhered to the principle of mutual aid, supporting the National Negro Business League [2].  As blacks began migrating north to Chicago, Frank L. Gillespie saw the need to provide northern blacks with insurance coverage as well. In 1919 he started Liberty Life Insurance (now Supreme Life Insurance) which would become the first black owned and serving insurance company in the north. Pictured above is the Supreme Life Building in Chicago which was built in 1921 and designated a Chicago Landmark in 1998 [3].

References

1. "North Carolina Mutual". NC Mutual Life; visited February 2014
2. Rodney D. Barfield and John F. Ansley. "North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance". North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company. 2006
3. "Supreme Life Building". Chicago Landmarks; visited 2014
4. "African Americans in the Insurance Business: Supreme Liberty Life Insurance Co.". Black History Heroes; visited 2014
5. "Mechanics and Farmers". Mechanics and Farmers; visited February 2014
6. "Booker T. Washington". Biography; visited 2014

Justice for All:

Spotlight on Charles Hamilton Houston

To be just in all actions--
Fair in every thought uttered and every step braved...
A journey past prejudice
Over the hills of wrongs never righted
Through a valley of forgiveness.
Far away, beyond the known world,
In a meadow flowered of each color
And each flower growing in its own light
Treated for it's own need
Basking in of love for it's own being.
Where no flower is judged for another flower
And a rose is not exalted above a daisy;
Held accountable for their own deeds
Forgiven but not forgotten
When they can  coexist in beauty.

Charles Hamilton Houston

The Man Who Killed Jim Crow

Nicknamed "The Man Who Killed Jim Crow," Charles Hamilton Houston was a black lawyer who fought for equality during the early civil rights movement. He was also the mentor and teacher of future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Houston played an active part in almost every civil rights case that went before the Supreme Court from 1930 until his death in 1950, just before Brown v. Board of Education in 1954 (though his ideas would still influence the case). Houston earned his Bachelor and Doctorate of Law from Harvard Law School and was the first black to serve as an editor for the Harvard Law Review. Houston served as the Dean of the Howard Law School and stated that "a lawyer is either a social engineer or ... a parasite on society." His legacy is left in the form a professorship at Harvard as well as the namesake of the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice at Harvard Law School and the Charles Houston Bar Association [1, 2, 3, 4].

References

1. "NAACP History: Charles Hamilton Houston". NAACP; visited February 2014
2. Douglas O. Linder. "Before Brown: Charles H. Houston and the Gaines Case". via University of Missouri-Kansas Law; visited February 2014
3. Charles Houston Bar Association; visited February 2014
4. "Our History". Harvard University School of Law; visited February 2014
5. "Thurgood Marshall Biography". Biography.com; visited February 2014

Prime Time is My Time:

Spotlight on Hattie McDaniel

Four shows in,
    and not a colored face--
Not a black, or a Latina, an Asian or Indian--
So I turn to something more ethnic,
Something a little more like me
And it's funny
     that I can enjoy both,
But only the colorless gets the spotlight.
Then message boards condemn
     the all black cast
You want to cry foul
When the rest of the network is whiter than rice
And I miss the days of UPN...
Weird, as I think back:
My favorite TV shows are either white or black
Never both; so tell me:
Where does the post star
In post-racial America?

In 1925, Hattie McDaniel made history as the first black woman on the radio. In 1940, she continued to make history by becoming the first black to win an Oscar from her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind [1]. After the death of Marlin Hurt in 1946, McDaniel took over the role of Beulah on Beulah, becoming the first black to be cast in a lead role for a television show [2]. Though McDaniel pioneered many firsts for black actors and actresses, many shows today are still either black shows, following in the vein of Amos 'n Andy (the first black sitcom) [3] or the black character (if any) is not a leading role. Sadly, many black sitcoms and black roles have come under fire for stereotypical behavior and their portrayal of the black community [5]. When Kerry Washington took the role of Olivia Pope in ABC's Scandal in 2012, she became the first black female lead on network television in 38 years [4] (Beulah also ran on ABC [2]). In 2013, NBC followed ABC's lead and cast Meagan Good as the lead in their new show Deception [6]. While some progress is better than no progress, America still has a ways to go in casting not only black actors/actresses in leading roles but minorities in general.

References

1. "Hattie McDaniel". Biography; visited 2014
2. "Beulah". Archive of American Television; visited 2014
3. Edward. "The Tragedy of Famous Comedy Series". Ebony. October 1961
4. Sarah Hughes. "American Television's Real Scandal". The Guardian. October 22, 2012
5. * Jonathan P. Huggins. "Why Hollywood’s Portrayal of Black Women Is Problematic". The Root. November 24, 2016
6. "IMDB: Deception". IMDB; visited 2014

*Original source (Miss Representin': the Historical Analysis of the Images of African-American Women in SitComs) has gone missing.

Keepin' It 100:

Spotlight on the One-Drop Rule

Black faces all around me,
From coffee to the color of sand
A rainbow shining through eyes
Blue, green, bright shimmering brown,
Short 'fros, locks, curls, and waves--
Pin my face in this sea of faces,
Do I look the same?
I am them; we are the same...
Past the eye's limited view
Internally and emotionally we are
Connected the same...
A few percents here and there
Unknown variables and equations,
Since when is algebra the definition of me?
Questions of lineage and descent
Overshadowing the here and now
One drop, one box
An argument for the ages
Who is the blackest box?
Simplify your equations,
Ignore or solve for the unknowns--
It's a personal choice.
But a personal choice is a public face
And I wonder if you already assume,
Why do I check this box...
Maybe I fudge the math
Make it add up to 100--
Maybe I don't want to exist outside the box
Or, maybe I do,
But what does that mean to you?

What is the One Drop Rule

The "One-drop rule" became legal in 1910, with questionable origins rooted in American slavery and proclaimed anyone with African ancestry was to be considered black or African-American (funny, considering science has proven we are all from Africa...).  This "rule" of identification has propagated through time, leaving quite the confusion surrounding the definition of black. Upon meeting someone of black and white ancestry, most likely they will identify as black, possibly biracial but it is very unlikely that they would identify as white (that would be considered passing). Most blacks (Americans in general actually) are probably multi-racial with African, European, and Native-American ancestry. This mixture is the reason the image of black spans a range of features and complexions. Yet there is still an "image" that comes to mind when one identifies as black. If one does not fit that image, the typical question "What are you mixed with?" will be asked. Due to the one-drop rule however, a person could easily have no knowledge of non-black ancestry and be genetically biracial. Step back into the era of slavery. Many slave master had children with their slaves, but these children were still black. If two biracial slaves had children, their children would have been considered black, but they too would have biracial DNA. And if those children married someone of similar origin... Easily these traits could be passed   down several generations without another "white" addition to the family. This leads to numerous people who may not "look black" but are adamant that they are black. It also leads to multi-ethnic people who feel pressured to identify one way or the other. At the end of the day, the one-drop rule makes us all black. Otherwise, the term is quite subjective and dependent on both how the world perceives a person and how how the person perceives themself. 

References

1. F. James Davis. "Who is Black? One Nation's Definition". PBS.
2. Jason Plak. "The One Drop Rule: How Black Is 'Black?'". Psychology Today. April 7, 2011
3. Sarah Barness. "Striking Photos Challenge The Way We See Blackness". Huffington Post. February 13, 2014
4. Steve Bradt. "One Drop Rule Persists". Harvard Gazette. December 9, 2010
5. Shifting the Lens on Race". 1ne Drop; visited February 2014

La Belle et la Bête:

Spotlight on Saartije Baartman

La Belle et la Bête...

Admire me from afar and take note—

My skin, my hair, my face, and my curves

Forget the heart beating in my chest

Judge me, if you will—

Berate and condemn as you "ooh" and "ahh"

Born and bred, incubated in the womb of envy

Your unwanted eyes may hasten my steps

Or give rise to second thought
Even if I know where your hatred lies...

A second glance in the mirror

Maybe I have to stand there for a minute,

Gather my composure before I step away

Convince myself of my worth 

And know I am not limited to your standard.

I am more than what you see—

More than my skin, my hair, my face, my curves...

And while I may not be your beauty

I am certainly not your beast.

Sara "Saartije" Baartman

The History of Saartije Baartman

Saartije (also known as Sara) Baartman was born in South Africa and taken to London, England where she was put on display as the "Hottentot Venus." Hottentot is a derogatory name given to the inhabitants of South Africa that had cattle [2], while Venus is the Roman goddess of love. Unlike Venus, Baartman would receive both admiration and abuse throughout her life (and even death). Baartman was both orphaned and widowed before leaving her teens causing her to become a servant. Later, she was smuggled to London by a British military doctor hoping to make money by displaying her "abnormal" body features. Placed on stage in almost no clothing, Europeans admired, ogled, laughed and otherwise obsessed over her anatomy (particularly her butt). Faced with the choice of continuing to be exploited as a source of entertainment but receiving some pay and a tiny bit of freedom or return to South Africa and servitude, Baartman chose to stay in London. To cope with her decision, she took to alcohol [1]. It is unknown however, if she ever received the payment she was promised. Eventually she left London for Paris; at the waning of her popularity in France, she was forced into prostitution [2]. Shortly after, she died in December 1815 and even in death her remains were used for a hypersexual and grotesque post-mortem dissection [1]. For 160 years, her remains—which consisted of several jars containing pickled body parts—were left on display at the Musee de l'Homme in Paris. In 1974, her remains were finally removed from public display. In 1994, Nelson Mandela requested her remains be sent back to South Africa, but it wasn't until 2002 that they were returned and buried [2].

While women in general  face exploitation even in our current society, 2013 was a year that sent people reeling in controversy over the exploitation of black women. Two of the most covered issued came from Miley Cyrus' already controversial VMA performance and Lily Allen's video for her single "Hard Out Here." Both performances consist of the artist surrounded by black women who are obviously being objectified. Whether from Miley smacking their rear and "popularizing" the twerk craze or the scantily clad and still twerking dancers ala Lily Allen's video. Of course both artist deny any mal-intent, but that didn't stop many from being upset and concerned that black women will always be objectified [4, 5, 6, 7]. Whether these artists were simply ignorant and naive to their actions or intending to make the point many accused them of, the truth is we as women should be united in the fight against our exploitation and objectification.

References

1. Caroline Elkins. "A Life Exposed". New York Times January 14, 2007
2. "Sarah Baartman to be honoured". Brand South Africa. February 27, 2009
3. "Sara "Saartjie" Baartman". South African History Online. August 16, 2013
4. Laura Cox. "Lily hit by race row over sexist video 'parody': Singer faces controversy after using scantily-clad black women in promo for latest track". Daily Mail. November 14, 2013
5. Ray Rahman. "Lily Allen defends her new video against racism charges". Entertainment Weekly. November 13, 2013
6. Roxxxie Maneater. "Solidarity is For Miley Cyrus: The Racial Implications of her VMA Performance". Jezebel. August 26, 2013
7. Tressie McMillan Cottom. "Brown Body, White Wonderland". Slate. August 29, 2013

Decoding My Own Thoughts:

Spotlight on the 1870 Brick Wall

I feel like my mind is blank...
When really, it's so jumbled with thought
It can't find its baring,
Thought after thought piled higher and deeper
Merging into a homogeneous blob
Until one thought is another thought
And I'm confused--
Am I full or empty?
High alert: my brain wants to decipher
Some internal code I've created
But I've forgotten the password to my own mind,
Locked it away so I'm locked out
Barred from entry
Lost in my own sanctuary.

The Trouble of Tracing Lineage in African-American Families

Known as the 1870 brick wall, the census of 1870 is a critical point for black/African-Americans researching their roots. Prior to 1870, slaves were not recorded by name, thus making it difficult to locate information on these ancestors. Since many families did not initially relocate after the civil war, the 1870 census is the best and only place for descendants of slaves to begin tracing their family roots [1]. The 1870 census was the first census in America to include freed slaves by name, previous censuses listed only ages and gender making them impossible to glean information from. While many believe that using a surname to trace the final slaveholder of an ancestor to find records, an estimated 20% are all that adopted the slaveholder's surname as their own [2]. The progress of the internet has led to various cites and more availability to documents pertaining to genealogy as well as in increase in interest. Some of us may never find those missing pieces, but that doesn't mean we can't continue to search.

References

1. msualumni. "The Criticality of the 1870 Census". Reclaiming Kin. May 27, 2013
2. "The 1870 Brick Wall". Low Country Africa; visited February 2014
3. Kenyatta D. Berry. "Slave Ancestral Research". PBS; visited January 2018

Imagination Frees:

Spotlight on Morrie Turner

Imagination creates the image,
But the image is what inspires--
Reaches out to visitors
Captures their attention,
Whisks them away
    into the depths of the creator's mind--
Here they can be swept up
Drawn into a dream of a perfect world
And visualize the possibilities.
The images don't fade;
But burn into the brain
Leaving smoke trails back to perfection,
A memory embedded in the visitor's soul
Ready to be visited,
     ready to be realized
           ready to come true.

Morrie Turner

Who was Morrie Turner?

Morrie Turner was the cartoonist the introduced black characters to comic strips. In1965, he created Wee Pals, a strip he designed to portray a world of equality and devoid of prejudice. Only 5 newspapers would run the comic. After the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., over 100 papers picked up the comic. In 2000 Turner was awarded the prestigious "Sparky Award" [1]. Eventually his comic went on to become the first syndicated comic with integrated characters. Turner passed away in January of this year (2014) [2].

References

1. "About Wee Pals". Creators; visited February 2014
2. Michael Cavna. "RIP, MORRIE TURNER: Cartoonists say farewell to a friend, a hero, a ‘Wee Pals’ pioneer". Washington Post. January 31, 2014

What About Everyone Else?:

Spotlight on Dr. George Franklin Grant

Often you wonder,
If only half the country was enslaved,
Then half the country was free...
And if the free were free
Why is it that we only hear about the slave?
While the south relegated us to fields,
Harvard was graduating black PhDs
And while the south was beating us in the ditch,
Blacks up north were moving ahead--
But history teachers have us believing
Slavery is our only legacy:
Three-fifths of a person,
Not whole individuals...
How can that be?
First shot in the revolutionary war
And still bound to the image
Some alter-er of history created
To blind us of our own accomplishments
Our true strength, our true potential

Dr. George Franklin Grant

Dr. George Franklin Grant received his degree from the Harvard Dental School in 1870 and went on to become the first black professor at Harvard. Along with practicing dentistry and educating others on the practice, Grant's love of golf led him to invent the wooden tee.^[1] While it is unknown who the first black to take up the sport was, it is speculated that it happened on the coast of South Carolina. With one of the first golf clubs to appear in the US being located in Charleston, SC, thus leaving people to assume that slaves acted as caddies. From studying history, there is reason to argue that blacks were involved with golf from its birth in the states.^[2]

References

1. "George Franklin Grant. Center for the History of Medicine; visited February 2014
2. Calvin H. Sinnette. "Forbidden Fairways: African-Americans and the Game of Golf". via NY Times. 1998
3. "Timeline of African-American achievements in golf". PGA. February 4, 2011

Suppressed Voices:

A Spotlight on Hip Hop

People are judgmental--
Quick to pass judgement on things
They know nothing of
Based on hear say
Coated in rash generalizations
And topped with assumption...

There are two sides to every story--
Two pictures on every coin,
A positive and negative,
Opposite but equal reactions
Stem from this one point of origin.

A sea full of voices
But the radio only plays a few,
The media, the news, the charts
Slave to shock and awe,
Controversy sells...
Mainstream insanity; nonsense
To prevent messages of truth and inhumanity

Voices suppressed and hidden
Squeezed between vulgar hooks
Or money maker tracks...
And while one's out broadcasting violence
Rapping about money and sex,
      sex and money--
      drugs, money, and sex
The whole world's missing the beauty
Lyrical revelations of struggle
A poetic empowerment of invisible voices
Alive and brave behind microphones.

Favorite Lyrics

2Pac

"You know what makes me unhappy
When brothas make babies, and leave a young mother to be a pappy
And since we all came from a woman
Got our name from a woman and our game from a woman
I wonder why we take from our women
Why we rape our women, do we hate our women?
I think it's time to kill for our women
Time to heal our women, be real to our women
And if we don't we'll have a race of babies
That will hate the ladies, that make the babies
And since a man can't make one
He has no right to tell a woman when and where to create one
So will the real men get up
I know you're fed up ladies, but keep your head up"2 Pac - "Keep Your Head Up"

Tupac/2Pac

"Come on come on
I see no changes. Wake up in the morning and I ask myself,
"Is life worth living? Should I blast myself?"
I'm tired of bein' poor and even worse I'm black.
My stomach hurts, so I'm lookin' for a purse to snatch
Cops give a d*** about a negro?
Pull the trigger, kill a n****, he's a hero.
Give the crack to the kids who the h*** cares?
One less hungry mouth on the welfare.
First ship 'em dope and let 'em deal to brothers.
Give 'em guns, step back, and watch 'em kill each other.
"It's time to fight back," that's what Huey said
2 shots in the dark now Huey's dead.
I got love for my brother, but we can never go nowhere
Unless we share with each other.
We gotta start makin' changes.
Learn to see me as a brother 'stead of 2 distant strangers.
And that's how it's supposed to be.
How can the devil take a brother if he's close to me?
I'd love to go back to when we played as kids
But things changed, and the's the way it is."2Pac - "Changes"

Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five

A child is born with no state of mind
Blind to the ways of mankind
God is smiling on you but he's frowning too
Because only God knows what you'll go through
You'll grow in the ghetto, living second rate
And your eyes will sing a song of deep hate
The places you're playin', where you stay
Looks like one great big alley way
You'll admire all the number book takers
Thugs, pimps, pushers and the big money makers
Driving big cars, spending twenties and tens
And you wanna grow up to be just like them, huh,
Smugglers, scramblers, burglars, gamblers
Pickpokets, peddlers even panhandlers
You say "I'm cool, I'm no fool!"
But then you wind up dropping out of high school
Now you're unemployed, all non-void
Walking 'round like you're Pretty Boy Floyd
Turned stickup kid, look what you've done did
Got sent up for a eight  year bid
Now your manhood is took and you're a may tag
Spend the next two years as a undercover f**
Being used and abused to serve like h***
Till one day you was found hung dead in a cell
It was plain to see that your life was lost
You was cold and your body swung back and forth
But now your eyes sing the sad, sad song
Of how you lived so fast and died so youngGrandmaster Flash & the Furious Five - "The Message"

Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopes

Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes

I seen a rainbow yesterday
But too many storms have come and gone
Leavin' a trace of not one God-given ray
Is it because my life is ten shades of gray
I pray all ten fade away
Seldom praise Him for the sunny days
And like His promise is true
Only my faith can undo
The many chances I blew
To bring my life to anew
Clear blue and unconditional skies
Have dried the tears from my eyes
No more lonely cries
My only bleedin' hope
Is for the folk who can't cope
With such an endurin' pain
That it keeps 'em in the pourin rain
Who's to blame for tootin' 'caine into your own vein
What a shame
You shoot and aim for someone else's brain
You claim the insane
And name this day in time
For fallin' prey to crime
I say the system got you victim to your own mind
Dreams are hopeless aspirations
In hopes of comin' true
Believe in yourself
The rest is up to me and you.TLC - "Waterfalls"

Common

Common

Knowin' you the best part of life, do I have the right to take yours
'Cause I created you irresponsibly
Subconsciously knowin' the act I was a part of
The start of somethin', I'm not ready to bring into the world
Had myself believin' I was sterile
I look into mother's stomach, wonder if you are a boy or a girl
Turnin' this woman's womb into a tomb but she and I agree, a seed we don't need
You would've been much more than a mouth to feed
But someone I would've fed this information I read
To someone my life for I would've had to lead
Instead I led you to deathCommon ft. Lauryn Hill - "Retrospect to Life"

Lil' Wayne

Lil' Wayne

With everything happening today
You don't know whether you're coming or going
But you think that you're on your way
Life lined up on the mirror don't blow it, woo.
Look at me when I'm talking to you
You looking at me but I'm looking through you
I see blood in your eyes
I see the love in disguise
I see the pain hidden in your pride
I see you're not satisfied
And I don't see nobody else
I see myself I'm looking at the...

Mirror on the wall, here we are again
Through my rise and fall
You've been my only friend
You told me that they can understand the man I am
So why are we here talkin' to each other again?Lil' Wayne ft. Bruno Mars - "Mirror"

Eve

Eve

Hey yo, I don't even know you and I hate you
See all I know is that my girl friend use to date you
How would you feel if she held you down and raped you?
Tried and tried, but she never could escape you.
She was in love and I'd ask her how? I mean why?
What kinda love from a n**** would black your eye
What kinda love from a n**** every night make you cry?
What kinda love from a n**** make you wish he would die?
I mean s*** he bought you things and gave you diamond rings
But them things wasn't worth none of the pain that he brings
And you stayed, what made you fall for him?
That n**** had the power to make you crawl for him
I thought you was a doctor, be on call for him
Smacked you down cause he said you was tall for him, huh?
That wasn't love, babygirl you was dreamin'
I could have killed you when you said your seed was growin' from his semen

Love is blind, and it will take over your mind
What you think is love, is truly not
You need to elevate and findEve - "Love Is Blind"

K'Naan

I start out, just to vibe out
I ain't about to bow out
I'm more gangsta than you are
But I ain't about the rou' rou'
My season'll come, it has to
Honestly I feel like I'm ten months pregnant or somethin'
I'm passed due. Sincerely I'm touchy these days
I can't take nothin', I'm tryna treat my record like the law
S***, I'm dying to break something
And mostly, I'm up and stressin'
When other folks sleep
Believe me, I know struggle, and struggle knows me
My life owes me, like an overdose
I'm slowly, drifting in the arms of trouble
Then trouble holds me
And nothing else is close to me
More than pain unfortunately
Like a self fulfilling prophecy, I'm supposed to be

Strugglin', and it's trouble in
In the circumstance I'm dwelling in
I find myself in the corner huddling
With some angry men and I gotta settle s*** again
Before they gotta kill againK'naan - "Strugglin'"

Loving You With All My Heart:

Spotlight on Richard and Mildred Loving

Love is an infinite, colorless void
Wrapped deep in the human soul--
It is patient and kind,
    committed and selfless
An act of devotion to another half of one's self
Pure and beautiful,
A gift, given freely
To those patient and open to its charm
Unapologetic and unconditional
    always trusting, always protecting
An anchor in the worst storm
It brings out the best in us,
    and lifts us high.
The ability to look beyond one's self
Worry, care, reject survival instincts
To put another life before your own
And be fulfilled by it's magic.
A magic that cannot be explained
And so we fight for it
    all our lives, hoping
Wishing and praying
Like starstruck teens on shooting stars,
For that rare occurrence
For the pop and bang
    of colorful fireworks
The missing piece that completes us
Makes us stronger,
    surer,
        better...

Who Were the Lovings?

The Lovings

In 1958, when Richard Loving and Mildred Jeter wanted to marry, 16 states including their home state of Virginia considered interracial marriage illegal. Loving and Jeter were forced to travel to Washington D.C. to become legally married, but were promptly thrown in jail upon returning home. The couple plead guilty and were sentenced to jail. The original sentence of 25 years was reduced under the condition that they not return to the state together for 25 years.  Separated from their families and barred from the state, the Lovings sought legal help from attorney Bernard Cohen. Eventually the case reached the Supreme Court, and on June 12, 1967 the Supreme Court declared the Racial Integrity Act of 1924 (which banned interracial marriage) unconstitutional along with all other interracial marriage bans in the United States. 

The United States has always been a melting pot of mixing; many slaves had children for their owners (whether consensual or not) creating the myriad of skin tones and features that populate the American population today. Until 1967, the idea that the races were separate and should remain separate was being staunchly upheld in the south even though a great deal of mixing had already occurred and elsewhere in the states interracial marriage had been happening for years (re: Fredrick Douglass and Helen Pitts, 1884). The victory of Loving v. Virginia was one of many steps needed to promote the ideas of equality and uphold the premise of freedom. However, even now, 47 years later people still have a problem with the idea of two people loving each other for who they are regardless of their skin color. In 2013, a simple Cheerio's commercial sparked a frenzy of outrage over the interracial family featured, proving that America is not post-racial and still has a ways to go.

References

1. Paul Holtum. "10 Fascinating Interracial Marriages in History". Listverse. January 25, 2011
2. Jessica Cumberbatch Anderson. "‘The Loving Story’ Takes Intimate Look At Virginia’s First Legal Interracial Marriage (PHOTOS)". Huffington Post. January 18, 2012
3. Scott Williams. "Timeline of Fredrick Douglass". African American History of Western New York; visited February 2014
4. Braden Goyette. "Cheerios Commercial Featuring Mixed Race Family Gets Racist Backlash (VIDEO)". Huffington Post. May 31, 2013
5. Ree. "Mr. & Mrs. Loving Legalizing Interracial". PSALMS to God. March 27, 2015

A Voice as Smooth as Silk:

A Spotlight on Jazz

Smooth--
All the way back to the beginning
A merging of worlds,
A collision of souls
Poured over ivory keys
Exploding in brass bellies
Under moon lit streets
As the beat steadies steps...
Evolution at its finest
Telling story after story
Note after smooth note,
Playing in my ears...
Out of darkness, beauty is born:
A voice smooth and pristine
Belted out of saxophone rifts
And trumpet glisses

Jazz is a genre of music started in the southern part of the United States by blacks and is known for its blending of African and European music traditions. Jazz spawned the creative talents of artists such as Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Holiday. It was through jazz that these artists were able to express emotions and talents that stemmed back to their roots. Bringing to light musical techniques such as syncopation, improvisation, and swing, Jazz has had a lasting effect on modern music. Since its creation, Jazz has spawned numerous sub-genres and styles as well as creating a new style of dance. Jazz is not only a voice created by blacks but an art that brings to mind the image of an American era.

References

1. "What is Jazz?". Jazz in America; visited February 2014
2. David Baker. "The Influence of Jazz". National Public Radio. 1999
3. "The History of Jazz". Scholastic; visited February 2014
4. "Duke Ellington Biography". Biography.com; visited February 2014
5. "Louis Armstrong Biography". Biography.com; visited February 2014
6. Estate of Billie Holiday. "Billie Holiday Biography". Billie Holiday Official Website; visited February 2014
7. Universal Music Enterprise. "Ella Fitzgerald Biography". Ella Fitzgerald Official Website; visited February 2014

Victim of the Hive Mind:

Spotlight on Jordan Davis

Why am I not like the others?
You ask as though we're bees
    forever clumped together
Following some Queen Bee--
A hive mind unable to think.
Independence is a luxury
We can't possibly have...
And then they wonder
Why is she not like us?
Why am I the lone bee
Away from the honey hive
Out enjoying the flowers
Seeing something
     the other bees don't see
And I wonder,
Is something wrong with me
Am I supposed to be
     just another honey bee
Yellow with black stripes
Is that the definition of me
Or am I free to be someone else
The individual God created,
A product of experience
    dreams and ideas--
Different and unique
An independent and autonomous
Member of this group--
Not a clone of the others...
When will you see
That I am simply me?

What Happened to Jordan Davis

At just 17 years old Jordan Davis was killed in Florida over "loud music" just before the world erupted over the case of Trayvon Martin.  His killer,  47 year old Michael Dunn, was in town for a wedding when he stopped at a local convenience store. Dunn parked next to the SUV Davis and his friends were in and requested that Davis and his friends turn down their music. An argument ensued when the teens refused to lower their music.  What followed was Dunn shooting at the vehicle not once, not twice, but ten times. One of these shots was the shot that ended Davis' short life. Unlike George Zimmerman (Trayvon Martin's murderer), Dunn left the scene of the crime, went back to his hotel room, and then back to is hometown as though nothing happened. While Dunn claims he saw a gun in the teens' car, his own fiancee testified that Dunn never mentioned a gun. Neither witnesses, nor police found any evidence of the teens being in possession of a weapon (or exiting it their car for that matter), yet Dunn is pleading self defense and claiming stand your ground [1, 2, 3].  Sure, the argument could be made that turning the music down wasn't that hard, but neither is parking in a different parking space--besides how long did he intend to stay at the gas station anyway? Regardless, the reason for Davis' death is about as solid as the death of countless blacks (particularly men) during the Jim Crow era. Deliberation for a verdict on Dunn began today. This verdict will shed light on whether we have truly moved forward, or if it will always be ok to murder our young black men.

References

1. Closing Arguements Start in Michael Dunn Murder Trial
2. Florida Jury Starts Deliberations in Rap Murder Trial
3. Why Florida's Loud Music Trial A Zimmerman Sequel

Cyborg Nation:

Spotlight on John Thompson

Sleek and slim
Robotic limbs and
   instant networks,
Disguised as ordinary...
Common.
We are inseparable
And I cannot function
Without my attachments.
Gadgets and widgets
    replace faces and places
An ordinary cyborg
Living in an ordinary world
With extraordinary components
Plug me in--
    let me charge
Then let me work

John Thompson is replacing Bill Gates as Microsoft's new chairman. This makes Thompson the first and only chairman of a technology company of such caliber [1]. He will be advising Microsoft's new CEO Satya Nadella (also a minority) who is a first time CEO. Previously the CEO of Symantec for 10 years and IBM employee for 28 years, Thompson brings 38 years of experience to the position. Symantec enjoyed prosperous years, increasing annual revenue from $600 million to $6 billion, under Thompson's lead. Thompson is an alumni of Florida A&M University, a historically black university [2]. Thompson is estimated to have a worth of $72 million dollars and also owns a 20% share of the Golden State Warriors NBA team [1].

References

1. "Who is John Thomspon". Microsoft; visited 2014
2. Verne Kopytoff. "Who is John Thompson?". Fortune. February 8, 2014

Ebb and Flow of the Tide:

Spotlight on Nick Gabaldon

Water is universal,
Blue and white waves
Breaking...
Warm sand and broken shells...
A universal poem
Whispers of carefree days
And legendary creatures
Promises of happiness
Churning in watery smiles
Cast off worries and fears,
Let the tide take you.

Nick Gabaldon

Nick Gabaldon is noted as the first black (and Mexican^[2]) surfer. Paddling from "Inkwell"--a black beach--to Malibu (which has the best waves in California) roughly 12 miles away, Gabaldon broke racial barriers and ignored the bounds of segregated beaches in California. During his years he befriended and impressed many of the white surfers who were saddened when Gabaldon died in an unfortunate surfing accident^[1]. June 1, 2013 was declared Gabaldon day and several organizations hosted events in honor and memory of Gabaldon. A documentary, 12 Miles North, has also been made to tell his story^[2]. Gabaldon proved that some times, all you need is a common language.

References

1. Zach Weisbery. "Celebrating Nick Gabaldon, the First “Documented” African American Surfer". Huffington Post. February 16, 2012
2. "Nick Gabaldon Day 2017". Heal The Bay; visited February 2014
3. Ree. "Nick Gabaldon: Surfing the Waves". PSALMS to God. June 1, 2015

Do What You Do:

Spotlight on Charley Pride

Some things come naturally,
Like a spider spinning silk
And natural tendencies shine.
No matter how you hide--
Tuck it deep in the trunk of life
Drape it in black-out shades
And it still illuminates
Natural energy burns naturally,
It cannot be dimmed.
No matter how you contain it--
The force that exists naturally
Will be, however it chooses to be
Strong willed, long lived...
An uncontrollable light

Charley Pride was born in 1938 and grew up to be one of the few successful black artists in the country music genre. Pride was the first black artist to ever to play at the Grand Ole Opry.  He would go on to become the first black inductee of the Grand Ole Opry stage show in 1993. Pride taught himself to play the guitar at 14 years old. Though his first dream was to play baseball (which he did for some time with the Negro American League), Pride kept up with his music while traveling with the team by joining several bands onstage. After signing with RCA, Pride sold 36 #1 hits. Listed as one of the top twenty best selling country music artists of all time, Pride has only been bested in sales by Elvis Presley. Pride has since been inducted in to the Country Music Hall of Fame, the highest honor possible in Country Music  [1, 2].

Charley Pride's first #1 hit

References

1. "Charley Pride Biography". Charley Pride Official Website; visited 2014
2. "Charley Pride." Biography; visited 2014