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Saturday, April 28, 2018

Little Known Black History Fact: Ohio State University Takeover, April 26, 1968

https://blackamericaweb.com/2018/04/26/little-known-black-history-fact-ohio-state-university-takeover/

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I don't recall this event. I was probably obsessing over my Barbies instead. But my dear, militant, youngest uncle, who when his hand wasn't holding an iron to press his jeans was usually clenched in Black Power fist, definitely would have recalled every detail. He was a news-hound extraordinare.

This uproar at Ohio State University was over the lack of a curriculum devoted to Black Studies. This incident led to colleges and universities re-examining why they ONLY taught the dominant culture's legacy and finally implementing a curriculum which told the story of a huge part of the population that had never been considered..

On April 26, 1968, Black students, and those in solidarity, fed up with the absence of any literary or historical, or for that matter, any accurate mention of Black people in the materials being taught, rebelled and took over the Administration Building at OSU. They did so until they got the attention of campus authorities. This was not the only occurrence. This scene was repeating itself across U. S. campuses rapidly. So, university authorities had to cooperate or have protests and stale-mates on their campuses indefinitely as the black students were not backing down.

Hence, the birth of Black Studies as a viable, crucial course of study in institutions of higher learning in the U. S.

What's that they say about squeaky wheels?

I say squeak on.

https://library.osu.edu/innovation-projects/omeka/exhibits/show/civil-rights/sections/minority-relations-at-the-ohio

Related imageMug shot of John C. Evans. Due to his leadership in the take-over of the Administration Building at OSU, he was the only student charged in 1968.. He eventually had all charges dropped against him and graduated in June 1970. I hope his life was not negatively impacted for standing up.


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Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Flora Batson -19th-century African-American opera and popular singer who was comparable to the Swedish songbird Jenny Lind

https://blackamericaweb.com/2018/04/16/little-known-black-history-fact-flora-batson/

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Flora Batson (1864 - 1906) was a phenomenon in her day. Her nickname was "Double-Voice Queen of Song" because of her soprano-baritone range. A contemporary of Jenny Lind, she toured like her rival and filled music venues around the globe.

Born in D. C. on April 16, 1864, her career began humbly with church singing. It progressed from there. Discovered by John C. Bergen, the manager of the all-Black Bergen Star Concert Company, they worked together and eventually wed. It was an interracial marriage and the tabloids never let up on that fact, or as it was quaintly called "curiosity."

Her career expanded as she performed around the world, including singing before Queen Victoria and Queen Liliuokalani of the Hawaiian Islands. Widowed and remarried,  as musical tastes changed, Flora turned to giving recitals for philanthropic causes and for churches.

Having come full circle in her life, she passed at the young age of 42 in Philadelphia on December 1, 1906. 
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Wednesday, April 4, 2018

On the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDl84vusXos

King's "I've been to the Mountaintop" full speech. As you this is the speech I admire.THIS is the King I honor. THIS is the King who'd had enough. THIS is the King they killed. The King who was demanding what he wanted not asking permission THIS was the MAN who had completely transformed into a prophet.Look at his face in the video. The man KNEW something was going to go dowm. He KNEW he was a marked man. The FBI KNEW too.

James Earl Ray (his "killer") was a patsy.

Oh. Did I say that?

King had been asked to come to Memphis to give support to striking Black sanitation workers who were being treated like crap by the city. Black Trash workers were relegated to collecting only the most filthy, disgusting GARBAGE throughout the city; they also were given the most dilapidated garbage trucks to drive. In fact, one of the reasons King came to Memphis was to demand justice for two Black workers who'd gotten CRUSHED TO DEATH in a malfunctioning trash truck and whose families were not ever going to be compensated by the city for their deaths! White workers did not do such work and were not treated in such a manner. The misery was reserved for Blacks. Fair? I do not think so. These guys simply wanted decent wages and respect. They wanted to be treated like MEN.

Many remembrance ceremonies are being held. Some started this past Sunday and many will continue all this week.


https://blackamericaweb.com/2018/04/04/roland-martin-the-sanitation-workers-that-mlk-fought-for/

https://blackamericaweb.com/2018/04/04/little-known-black-history-fact-mlk-50/

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