Entries from February 2009

February 28, 2009

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: CRIME, IN BLACK AND WHITE

Crime.
 
When raving, foaming-at-the-mouth diehard White supremacist racists speak of crime, they often attempt to invoke the fear factor of Black Americans running wild in the streets committing all manner of crimes, especially against White people. The meme of Black Americans committing more crimes than White Americans is not only a lie, but an irrational fallacy. [...]

February 28, 2009

ON THIS DAY IN BLACK MUSIC HISTORY: FEBRUARY 28

#1 R&B Song 1953:   “Baby, Don’t Do It,” the “5″ Royales
 
Born:   Barbara Acklin, 1942; Cindy Wilson, 1957
 
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1954   Spark Records of Los Angeles was formed and became home to the  R&B group the Robins.
 
1968   Frankie Lymon, the voice that helped launch rock ‘n’ roll as well as thousands of look-a-likes, died in his grandmoter’s apartment in [...]

February 28, 2009

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: BLACK HISTORY IS MORE THAN JUST A MONTH: DRUSILLA DUNJEE HOUSTON

 

 

An 1812 map of Africa by Arrowsmith and Lewis, printed in Boston by Thomas & Andrews. Source: [1]
DRUSILLA DUNJEE HOUSTON (1876-1941)
by Runoko Rashidi
It is rare in the field of African historical research and writing, that
African women are prominently mentioned.  The work of Drusilla Dunjee Houston
is not only worth mentioning, but should be highlighted as an [...]

February 27, 2009

ON THIS DAY IN BLACK MUSIC HISTORY: FEBRUARY 27

#1 Song 1961:   “Pony Time,” Chubby Checker & the Dreamlovers
 
Born:   Carl Anderson, 1945
 
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1954   The Moonglows’ magical “Secret Love” ($1,500) and the Royals classic “Work With Me, Annie,” (#1 R&B) were issued. The Royals went on to become Hank Ballard & the Midnighters.
 
1961   Aretha Franklin made her pop chart debut with “Won’t Be Long” on Columbia [...]

February 27, 2009

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: WHITE WOMEN CHALLENGING RACISM: PART 2

Post under construction.

February 27, 2009

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: WHITE WOMEN CHALLENGING RACISM: PART 1

Post under construction.

February 27, 2009

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: BLACK HEROINES: EPILOGUE

 
Then said the mournful mother,
If Ohio cannot save,
I will do a deed for freedom
Shalt find each child a grave.
 
—-Frances E.W. Harper, “The Slave Mother, A Tale of Ohio”
 
 
Aqualtune. Nanny. Dandarah. Zabeth. Carlotta. Margaret Garner.
 
Theirs are just a few of the known enslaved Black women who struck a blow for freedom against the savage [...]

February 27, 2009

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT: ‘THE TWILIGHT ZONE’

“There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man’s fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is [...]

February 26, 2009

ON THIS DAY IN BLACK MUSIC HISTORY: FEBRUARY 26

#1 Song 1983:   “Baby, Come to Me,” Patti Austin and James Ingram
 
Born:   Fats Domino (Antoine Domino, Jr.), 1928; Erykah Badu (Erica Abi Wright), 1971
 
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1983   Michael Jackson’s Thriller album reached #1 and stayed there for thirty-seven weeks, selling more than 40 million copies. It was #1 in every western nation.
 
1985   Tina Turner won Record of the [...]

February 25, 2009

ON THIS DAY IN BLACK MUSIC HISTORY: FEBRUARY 25

#1 R&B Song 1984:   “Encore,” Cheryl Lynn
 
Born:   Blues vocalist Ida Cox (Ida Prather), 1896
 
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1984   British jazz/R&B singer Sade charted in England with her debut “Your Love Is King,” reaching #6. It would be almost a year before she would become known in America, but for a different song, “Smooth Operator.”
 

 
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