Words To Remember ~ Black History Month

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Black History Month, Michelle Obama, Words To Remember

”Don’t ever underestimate the importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.”

~ Michelle Obama ~

 

Lovely Lyrical Lines ~ Black History Month

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Alicia Keys, “Underdog”, Black History Month, Lovely Lyrical Lines

 

 

 

Literary Lines ~ Black History Month

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Black History Month, Caged Bird, Literary Lines, Maya Angelou, Poetry, Shaker Why Don’t You Sing?

Photograph courtesy of https://fragglerocks.smugmug.com

Caged Bird

A free bird leaps

on the back of the wind

and floats downstream

till the current ends

and dips his wing

in the orange sun rays

and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks

down his narrow cage

can seldom see through

his bars of rage

his wings are clipped and

his feet are tied

so he opens his throat to sing.

 

 

The caged bird sings

with a fearful trill

of things unknown

but longed for still

and his tune is heard

on the distant hill

for the caged bird

sings of freedom.

 

The free bird thinks of another breeze

and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees

and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn

and he names the sky his own.

 

But a caged bird stands on a grave of dreams

his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream

his wings are clipped and his feet are tied

so he opens his throat to sing.

 

 

The caged bird sings

with a fearful trill

of things unknown

but longed for still

and his tune is heard

on the distant hill

for the caged bird

sings of freedom.

Black History Month 2020 ~ 60th Anniversary of the Greensboro Sit-In

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Black History Month, Civil Rights, Goggle Doodle, Greensboro Sit-in

Today begins Black History Month, and it also happens to be the 60th anniversary of the Greensboro sit-in.

If you’re not familiar with this important moment in the battle for civil rights, after being denied service at a Greensboro, North Carolina Woolworth’s lunch counter because of their race, four African-American college students sat down and refused to leave. They were also upset about the murder of Emmett Till, who was murdered five years previously for supposedly whistling at a white woman. Their peaceful protest was inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and the Freedom Riders, and Mohandas Gandhi.

Despite an ugly racial backlash, they also gained a lot of support, and by the third day over 300 protesters had joined them. Thanks to their courage, not only did Woolworth stop segregating its dining area on July 25, 1960, but they helped spark additional protests, making this a monumental part of the Civil Rights Movement.

Google is marking the occasion with this magnificent diorama by artist Karen Collins of the African American Miniature Museum.

When asked what she hopes people will take away from the Doodle, she responded:

“I hope that everyone, especially young people, will go on to learn more about the sit-in, and their personal histories as a whole. A lot of people sacrificed and died for the freedoms we enjoy today, and we should remember that and honor them. My goal is to show the strength of the people. We are not weak. We can keep going and strive to do better.”

Words To Remember ~ Black History Month

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Alicia Keys, Black History Month, Hazel Scott, Words To Remember

At the Grammy Awards a few weeks ago, Alicia Keys dazzled everyone away not only by hitting the perfect notes as a host, but also by playing a medley of hit songs spanning five decades on TWO pianos! 

This was in tribute to Hazel Scott (1920 – 1981). Hazel was a jazz and classical pianist, singer, and actress. In addition to Lena Horne, Trinidadian-born Scott was one of the first Afro-Caribbean women to be given major film roles. She also was a courageous advocate for civil rights and was blacklisted during the McCarthy witch-hunt. 

To find out more about this talented and courageous woman, please visit: 

https://narratively.com/this-black-woman-was-once-the-biggest-star-in-jazz-here

And check out this amazing performance:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Words to Remember ~ Black History Month

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Black History Month, Matthew Alexander Henson, Words To Remember

1866 – 1955

Matthew Alexander Henson was the first African-American Arctic explorer. He accompanied Robert Peary on eight Arctic voyages, where his technical skills and ability to communicate with the Eskimo were indispensable. While Peary received worldwide fame and recognition for their famous 1909 discovery expedition to the North Pole, Mr. Henson was largely ignored for years by the white-dominated society. 

His account of the famous expedition, “ A Negro Explorer at the North Pole”, was published in 1912. He later became a member of the distinguished Explorers Club and received honorary degrees from Howard University and Morgan College. In 1988 Mr. Henson’s remains were moved to Arlington Cemetary where so many American heroes and soldiers are buried. In 1996, the Navy ship, the USNS Henson, was named for him. And the National Geographic Society, in 2000 awarded him its highest honor: the Hubbard Medal, for distinction in exploration, discovery, and research. 

There can be no conquest to the man who dwells in the narrow and small environment of a groveling life, and there can be no vision to the man the horizon of whose vision is limited by the bounds of self. But the great things of the world, the great accomplishments of the world, have been achieved by men who had high ideals and who have received great visions. The path is not easy, the climbing is rugged and hard, but the glory at the end is worthwhile.

 

Black History Month 2019

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Black History Month, Harriet Ann Jacobs

Today marks the beginning of Black History month and I’d like to do something a little different. Usually I share quotes from well known historical figures like Sojourner Truth, Martin Luther King Jr, Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, and Rosa Parks. While there is no denying their important sacrifices and accomplishments, I thought I’d focus this year on some heroes who aren’t quite as well known today.

Harriet Ann Jacobs (1813-1896), escaped from slavery and was eventually freed. She became an active abolitionist speaker and writer. Her autobiography, “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl,” was first serialized in a newspaper, and then published in 1861 under the pseudonym Linda Brent. It’s considered one of the first books to not only focus on the struggle for freedom by female slaves, but also their fight against sexual harassment and abuse, while maintaining their roles as women and mothers. 

Reader, did you ever hate? I hope not. I never did but once; and I never shall again. Somebody has called it ‘the atmosphere of hell’; and I believe it is so.

~ Harriet Ann Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl ~

Black History Month Carter G. Woodson ~ ”Father of Black History”

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Black History Month, Carter G. Woodson, Inspirational quotes

Google Doodle ~ 2/1/18: Illustrated by Shannon Wright

Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history.

~ Carter G. Woodson ~

1875 – 1950

Image Courtesy of Ancella Buckley Collection. West Virginia State Archives.

Words To Remember ~ Black History Month

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Black History Month, Booker T Washington, Inspirational quotes

Of all the forms of slavery there is none that is so harmful and degrading as that form of slavery which tempts one human being to hate another by reason of his race or color. One man cannot hold another man down in the ditch without remaining down in the ditch with him.

~ Booker T. Washington ~

Words To Remember ~ Black History Month

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Black History Month, Inspirational quotes, Phillis Wheatley

In every human Beast, God has implanted a Principle, which we call Love of Freedom; it is impatient of Opression, and pants for Deliverance.

~ Phillis Wheatley ~