Black History: Special Delivery!!
106 Year old Virginia McLaurin never thought she would live to see a black president…..Let alone get a chance to meet him. This White House video says it all. Virginia was dancing with pride and joy. She was born less than 50 years after the Emancipation Proclamation and the end of the Civil War. She has lived through segregation, wars, and many other triumphs and tragedies! Check out this White House video!
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Black History: Special Delivery!!
Chakaia Booker (1953 – ) is a visual artist whose art focuses on ecological concerns, racial issues, economics, global issues, and gender. Booker’s artwork using tires also represent issues related to consumerism and environmental concerns. Her works of art are often developed by recycling discarded rubber tires into complex statement pieces. She also recycles other found objects and materials into works of art as well. She began using discarded tire and construction materials in the early 1990’s. Booker views tires, in particular, as being a versatile art medium. Her works of art are displayed both in indoor and outdoor settings. Her sculptures can sell for up to $300,000 each. Continue reading “Visual Artist Chakaia Booker: Transforming Rubber Into Works of Art”
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Born in 1776, Gabriel Prosser was enslaved on the Prosser Plantation near Richmond, VA. He was one of 53 slaves on the plantation. Gabriel was a skilled blacksmith. Unlike many of the other slaves on the Prosser Plantation, Gabriel could read and write. At that time, only 5% of slaves could read and write. He devised a plot to liberate himself and other slaves from the oppression they were subjected to by Virginia’s white merchant class. Continue reading “Betrayed By Pharaoh: Gabriel Prosser’s Slave Revolt”
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The 13th Amendment ended slavery. However, Southern whites quickly found a way to attempt to control the freedom of blacks. They did so through the Black Codes. The codes continued to perpetuate a system of unequal treatment. Continue reading “The Black Codes: A Continuation of Unequal Treatment After The Civil War”
John Francis (1946 – ) is known as the Planet Walker. Francis witnessed a massive oil spill in the San Francisco Bay in 1971. He was deeply impacted the event. It caused him to reflect on how as a society, we are so dependent on oil for transportation Francis decided that he would no longer use any sort of motorized transportation. For 22 years, he walked everywhere. His travels would take him across the United States and most of South America. He hoped that his efforts would highlight American dependence on oil and petroleum.
Continue reading “John Francis: An African American Environmentalist and “Planet Walker””
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Edward Davis (1911 – 1999) was born in Shreveport, Louisiana. He came to Detroit at the age of 16 and moved in with his aunt and uncle; seeking a better life. He was the oldest of 10 children. As a child, he became fascinated with his father’s Model T Ford. This sparked his interest in cars. He would make history by becoming Detroit’s first African American to open a “Big Three” auto franchise as well as the first African American to open a used car dealership. He would also make history in the public sector when he was appointed by Detroit Mayor, Roman Gribbs to be the general manager of the City of Detroit’s Department of Street Railways (DSR) . Continue reading “Edward Davis: 1st African American To Own A “Big Three” Auto Franchise”
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Thomas Moorehead is the world’s first African-American Rolls Royce car dealer. Moorehead is 71 year old native of Monroe, Louisiana. Moorehead earned a bachelors degree in business administration from Grambling State University (an HBCU) in 1966. He earned a masters degree in social work from the University of Michigan. Prior to his success as an auto dealer, Moorehead worked as an analyst for Mobile and Chrysler and also as a director of community services at the University of Michigan. With just a few credits, and his dissertation remaining to obtain his Ph.d, he decided to leave his doctoral program and pursue a career in the automobile industry. Morehead’s mentor and Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity brother, James Bradley (Bradley Automotive Group) encourage him to pursue the opportunity. He told Moorehead that he could become a millionaire within 5 years if he was willing to step out and take a chance. Continue reading “Thomas Moorehead: The World’s 1st African American Rolls Royce Car Dealer”
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Denise Matthews aka “Vanity” has passed away at the age of 57.
Multiple sources including MC Hammer and Minneapolis-based singer Jill Jones have confirmed via social media that Denise “Vanity” Matthews has died. She was reportedly 57 and had been battling a number of illnesses for the past several years.
According to TMZ, she passed away at a hospital in California on Monday.
A few months ago she set up a GoFundMe page, and said she’d been diagnosed with sclerosis encapsulating peritonitis — an inflammation of the small intestines. She also battled crack addiction in the 90s, and after a 1994 OD her kidneys were shot. She had to undergo nearly daily dialysis treatments.
She eventually ditched Hollywood, quit drugs and became a born-again Christian in the mid ’90s. She remained active in her local church up until her death. We’re told she was in church on Saturday evening and told the congregation she was “ready to go home.”
For more information, check out the BlackAmericaWeb article below
Source: BREAKING: Denise ‘Vanity’ Matthews Has Died
Black History: Special Delivery!!
The child of escaped slaves, Mary E. McCoy was born in 1846 at an Underground Railroad station Mary E. McCoy became a philanthropist, and advocate for women’s rights. While her husband, black inventor, Elijah McCoy is more well known for obtaining patents on over 50 inventions, Mary E. McCoy also deserves recognition.
Continue reading “Mary E. McCoy: Philanthropist & Community Leader”
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