Blurbs about current events and the wonderful histories of black men and women who changed the world in spite of adversity. These are individuals that are invited to the cook-out and are allowed to bring a dish.
The third Monday of January is recognized as a federal holiday to celebrate the birth and life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The enactment of the law to celebrate his birthday was not without a fight. Born January 15, 1929, King was assassinated at the age of 39 in 1968. While legislation for a…
Mae Jemison (1956 – ) was the first African-American woman astronaut to go into space in 1992. She went into space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour as a Mission Specialist. Space Shuttle Endeavour was built to replace Space Shuttle Challenger which exploded seconds after lift-off in 1986. Aboard the fatal Space Shuttle Challenger was Ronald…
Coleman A. Young (1918 – 1997) was the first African-American mayor of Detroit, Michigan. He served as mayor for 20 years from 1974 – 1994. Coleman served in World War II as a Tuskegee Airman as a second lieutenant. He was known for being outspoken against injustice and racial segregation. He protested against segregation while…
We have chosen a new leader between the lesser of two evils. The problem with choosing between the lesser of two evils is that you’re guaranteed to select evil. The United States has made many promises to African-Americans. Promises made with one hand in support while the other hand held a knife behind its back….
Hattie McDaniel (1893 – 1952) made history as the first African-American to win an Oscar. McDaniel was born in 1893 to parents who were former slaves. She was born in the Gilded Age which was after the Reconstruction Era. The Gilded Age was a time when the country experienced rapid growth. However, African-Americans were suffering…
The country has elected a new leader. The options to select from were not good to begin with. It’s head or tail of the same coin. The same script, just a new Aunt Viv trying to make us believe that everything will improve now that they’re on the set. The entire year has been history…
Stevie Wonder released the single “You Haven’t Done Nothin‘” in August 1974. The single features background vocals from The Jackson Five. The song and lyrics were aimed directly at then Republican President Richard Nixon. Nixon resigned to avoid impeachment and removal from office two days after the song was released. Not surprisingly, the lyrics and…
Jesse Jackson is a civil rights activist, minister, and politician. Jesse Jackson marched with Martin Luther King Jr. and was at the hotel with King when he was assassinated in 1968. After King’s death, Jackson continued to fight for black civil rights through the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). When Jackson split from SCLC in…
The year of 1987 was spectacular for two reasons – LL Cool J and Michael Jackson. Both were at the top of their game and both released singles proclaiming their badness. Back then, being bad was cool and tough. Both artists were in different genres and under different labels, but shared some of the same…
In the month before the March on Washington, there was the Stolen Girls in July of 1963. The Stolen Girls were approximately 15 black girls aged 12-15 who were imprisoned for 45 days without charge. They were imprisoned for marching against the segregation of a movie theater in Americus, Georgia. The march was orchestrated by…
Emmett Louis Till (1941 – 1955) was a 14 year old African-American boy who was lynched in Mississippi. Originally from Chicago, his mother Mamie Till-Mobley, sent him to Mississippi to vacation with extended family members who were sharecroppers. Emmett, his cousin and some local teenager boys went to the corner store for candy. It was…
The Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic has created hardships in nearly every sector of society, but especially for black families and those who are financially fragile. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists African-Americans or minorities who, due to long-standing systemic health and social inequalities, are at an increased risk of getting sick and dying from…
Mega companies such as Amazon Prime, Netflix, Google, Walmart, Hilton Hotels, and Target have made recent advertisements and statements supporting Black Lives Matter and African-Americans. They have put signs up in their stores and statements on their websites. They’ve highlighted black movies on their platforms, and made donations to various organizations in support of racial…
Shirley Chisholm (1924 – 2005): Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm was the first African-American woman to be elected to the U.S. Congress. In 1972, she was the first African-American to have a serious nomination for President of the United States. Before Jesse Jackson, there was Shirley Chisholm. One of Ms. Chisholm’s famous quotes was “If…
