Black History: Special Delivery!!
Aretha Franklin (1942 – ) was THE FIRST woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame! Her iconic sound remains timeless!!
ALL HAIL: THE QUEEN OF SOUL!!
Black History: Special Delivery!!
Patrick H. Raymond (1831 – 1892) was born in Philadelphia, PA. He was the son of Rev. John Raymond and Susan Raymond. His father was from Virginia and was formerly enslaved until he ran away. His father was also a well known abolitionist in New York City and pastored the African Meeting House in Boston. Around 1847, the family relocated to Cambridge, MA where they resided in the “Lower Port” which was considered one of the first African American neighborhoods in that area. Patrick Raymond worked as a shoe maker and then became a journalist working for the Boston Herald and the Boston Advertiser. Ray and his siblings were very fair skinned and could pass for white. He and his brother joined the Navy in 1862 to service in the Civil War. Continue reading “Patrick H. Raymond: 1st African American Fire Chief In The U.S.”
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“No true protest has ever been oppressor approved” -Enid Gaddis
©2017 All Rights Reserved
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Carole Simpson (1940 – ) is an award winning pioneer in the field of broadcast journalism. As an African American female journalist, she has achieved many “firsts” in the field.
Simpson was born in Chicago, IL in 1940. She excelled in school was encouraged to go into teaching because of the lack of opportunities available to women and people of color in the field of journalism.
Simpson attended the University of Illinois and then transferred to the University of Michigan where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 1962. She was the only African American journalism major in her graduating class. Her first job after college was working at Tuskegee University as a journalism instructor as well director of the university’s information department.
She began her broadcast career at WWTW, a public access station in Chicago. Simpson would go on to achieve several “firsts” throughout her 40 year career in journalism:
- Simpson became the first woman to broadcast radio news in Chicago in 1965
- She was also the first African American woman to anchor a major television network evening newscast when she joined NBC Nightly News in 1970
- Simpson was also the first woman or minority to be the sole moderator of a presidential debate in 1992.
Simpson ended her broadcast career in 2003 but continued to work for ABC as an ambassador, traveling on behalf of the network visiting schools to educate students on the changing media landscape. She officially retired in 2006.
Throughout her career she experienced, racism sexism; still she persevered and continued to excel. In 2007, Simpson joined Emerson College, in Boston, MA as a journalism instructor and leader in residence.
Simpson married James Marshall in 1965. They have one daughter, Dr. Mallika Joy Marshall and one son, Adam Marshall.
Sources:
http://www.diversityjournal.com/10122-news-lady-the-carole-simpson-story/
http://www.blackenterprise.com/event/carole-simpson-legacy-journalism/
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Time to educate ourselves on the racist history of the national anthem. The Star Spangled Banner was written by Francis Scott Key. He wrote the song shortly after being in a battle with the British Colonial Marines. The Colonial Marines were a group of enslaved black soldiers who were promised their freedom in exchange for being in the British Army. Key was apparently a little salty about the encounter even though his troops won. Key was pro slavery and thus, probably was none to happy about engaging in combat with blacks whom he thought were inferior.
Sources:
http://www.theroot.com/star-spangled-bigotry-the-hidden-racist-history-of-the-1790855893
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A powerful quote from our Black Mail founder, Enid Gaddis.
Something for my sisters to ponder……..
“When the public you collides with the private you……. My dear sister, whatcha gonna do?”
Stop hiding behind true lies.
Watcha gonna do when your sleeping giants rise?
The cape is ripped.
Your wings are clipped.
That shiny halo was just a disguise.
Whatcha gonna do when you sleeping giants rise.
Enid Gaddis ©2017 All rights reserved.
We must not “lose” or “loose” ourselves to be anything less or more than who we actually are. Sometimes, being your authentic self is a radical and defiant response to the demands that society and individuals will place upon you.
Remember you are wonderful. But you are not Wonder Woman. So excel at being your own brand of wonderful.
You are beautiful, but not Beyonce beautiful. Excel at being your own brand of beautiful.
Revel in, and relish your own complicated, complex, imperfect, got-it-going-on, one-of-kind, phenomenal self!
-Enid Gaddis, Black Mail
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“If the time is not ripe, we have to ripen the time.”
-Dorothy Height
This quote powerfully speaks to the life and legacy of Dorothy Height.
Dorothy Height (1921-2010) was a commanding leader of the civil rights movement. She was a strong advocate for women’s right; particularly African American women. She is perhaps best known for her leadership of The National Council of Negro Women. She led this organization for 40 years. Height is also known for her work with “Wednesdays In Mississippi” which created opportunities for black and white women from the north and south to increase dialog and collaboration. Height also was employed by the the YWCA and was instrumental in helping the organization’s integration efforts.
Born in Richmond, VA, Height was raised in Rankin, PA. She received a $1,000 scholarship from The Elks, an African American social and benevolent organization, which helped her pursue a college education in the field of social work. Height was also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and served as its national president from 1947-1956.
Height never married and had no children. She died at the age of 98.
Sources:
http://www.encyclopedia.com/people/social-sciences-and-law/social-reformers/dorothy-i-height
http://www.blackpast.org/aah/height-dorothy-irene-1912
https://www.google.com/amp/www.latimes.com/local/la-me-dorothy-height-20100420-story,amp.html
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In September 1955, the murderers of Emmett Till were acquitted. Till was brutally beaten and murdered for whistling at a white woman in Money, MS. His mother Mamie Till-Mobley (1921-2003) held an open casket funeral. She wanted the world to know what happened to her son.
Mamie Till-Mobley became an advocate for racial justice and continued to be active in advocating for civil rights. She died at the age of 81, in 2003.
Sources:
http://www.anb.org/articles/15/15-01388.html
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It’s been more than 3.5 years and Flint is still reeling from the impact of its PREVENTABLE water crisis. Research recently made available by David Sluslky (University of Kansas) and Daniel Grossman (West Virginia University) details the devastating impact the water crisis is having on Flint’s children. The research has identified a 58% increase in fetal deaths along with a 12% decrease in fertility rates.
An urban community with approximately 99,000 residents, Flint’s population is approximately 53% black, 38% white, and 6% other ethnic groups. 42% of Flint’s residents have incomes below the poverty line.
15 state employees have been indicted and may face criminal prosecution related to their involvement with the Flint water crisis.
Sources:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/news/wonk/wp/2017/09/21/flints-l
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