Almost a century before Barack Obama made history as the first African American to become president of the United States in 2008, a black man by the name of George Edwin Taylor set his eyes on the White House in 1904.
Born in 1857 as the son of a free woman and an African American slave, Taylor worked as a professional journalist before getting involved in politics. However, he discovered that neither the Democratic nor the Republican Party represented th
Black history month has been celebrated in the United States each February since 1926 and each year new influential leaders in the community are born. Even last year alone was filled with endless melanin magic to rejoice over. In sports, Simone Biles became the most decorated gymnast in the world and Naomi Osaka became the first Jap
MAX ROACH
Week of January 9-15
January 9
PAUL LAWRENCE DUNBAR
1906—Poet and novelist Paul Lawrence Dunbardies. Born in Dayton, Ohio, Dunbar rapidly gained national recognition as a poet. Although he only lived to be 33, he was prolific—writing short stories, novels, plays and songs. In Dayton, he was a classmate of the Wright brothers of aviation fame. In fact, the Wright brothers helped Dunbar finance his newspaper—the Dayton Tattler.
1935—Black Enterprise magazine founder and publisher Ea
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – AUGUST 22: Stan Lee attends Extraordinary: Stan Lee at Saban Theatre on August 22, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Getty Images)
In 1968, Lee used Stan’s Soapbox, a monthly column which ran from 1965-2001 to publicly condemn racism.
“Racism and bigotry are among the deadliest social ills plaguing the world today,” Lee wrote. “But, unlike a team of costumed super villains, they can’t be halted with a punch in the snoot or a zap from a ray gun. T
Since this country began more than 240 years ago, people of color have had to fight for justice and equal rights. Although the struggle isn’t over, we can all be inspired by the men and women whose courage and sacrifice have made this country a better place. From former slaves Sojourner Truth and Booker T. Washington, to civil rights activists Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr., to those who were pioneers in their fields, such as Mae Jemison, the first black woman to travel in space, and
This fact may be oblivious to many Africans, but Africa is indeed the father of civilization. In fact, without the ancient Kemet, there would be no Greek philosophy; and if the Persians had not invaded Egypt or if the Greek had failed to access the ancient Egyptians’ Education, there would be nothing like Alexandria research center and Aristotle could not have written any book. But these are just but a few of African unknown facts that may form a topic of discussion on another day, but toda
The family of Botham Jean, the man killed by an off-duty Dallas police officer, is calling for the termination of the officer involved and is speaking out about what they call the “distasteful attempt to assassinate the character” of the 26-year-old.
During an afternoon news conference, the family’s attorney Lee Merritt spoke specifically about the Dallas police search warrant obtained after Jean’s murder.
“The warrant that was issued on the night that Botham Jean was killed… the warrant had
Since Aretha Franklin’s death on Aug. 16, the world has memorialized the soul icon in fitting fashion — as a Queen. Her voice “captured the experience of living through profound change and showed how to preserve integrity in its wake,” as Ann Powers wrote, an example that can
The Slavery Abolition Act was approved by Parliament on this day in 1833. The act abolished slavery in most British colonies, and freed more than 800,000 enslaved Africans in the Caribbean and South Africa, as well as a small number in Canada.
It may be the most rousing feminist anthem ever, but “Respect” — the song that made Aretha Franklin the “Queen of Soul” — was actually written about a man demanding a break from his wife.
Franklin’s genius was to turn the song — and the traditional values it espoused — on their head by some deft changes to the lyrics and by adding the
*“Angela Davis must go free. Black people will be free. I’ve been locked up. And I know you got to disturb the peace when you can’t get no peace.” I thought of Aretha Franklin’s words each time I was at one of her concerts. The last being at the Universal Amphitheater in 2005. Her words were not just the obligatory and hyperbolic spiel about the black struggle when she spoke to Jet Magazine in December 1970. This was at the height of the Black Power movement. She was even then a living, breathi
Celebrities are reacting to the death of Aretha Franklin.
The “Queen of Soul,” whose impassioned, riveting voice made her a titan of American music, died Thursday morning at her home in Detroit of pancreatic cancer, her niece Sabrina Owens confirmed to The Detroit Free Press. She was 76.
Here’s what stars are saying about the late legend.
President Trump called Franklin “a great woman, with a wonderful gift from God, her voice.” He added, “She will be missed!”
Donald J. Trump ✔@real
She is both a 20th and 21st century musical and cultural icon known the world over simply by her first name: Aretha. The reigning and undisputed “Queen Of Soul” has created an amazing legacy that spans an incredible six decades, from her first recording as a teenage gospel star, to her most recent RCA Records release, ARETHA FRANKLIN SINGS THE GREAT DIVA CLASSICS.
Her many countless classics include “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “Chain Of Fools,” “I Never Loved A Man (The Wa
Over the years, Aretha Franklin remained involved with the Detroit church her father pastored.
New Bethel Baptist Church is where Franklin got her start on the church stage.
“Singing all of her life. She’s always been on stage, she’s always singing the gospel of truth to the people of God,” said Pastor Robert Smith, Jr.
Smith says the singer contributed to the church in many ways.
“Without Aretha, the church wouldn’t still be here,” he said. “She’s the one who kept it alive these past 30-someth
Fifty years ago, Charlie Brown lost his beach ball.
It was found and returned to him by a boy named Franklin, and the two proceeded to build a sandcastle together.
The simple encounter of two boys on a beach was how cartoonist Charles Schulz introduced the first black character in his widely read comic strip, Peanuts. It was July 31, 1968 — just months after Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination — and the newest member of the Peanuts gang was a big deal.
It was especially defining for a 6-ye
As Black History Month commences, here are a few must-have books from Black authors, spanning time periods, themes and genres. However, one thing they have in common is critical acclaim and a strong command of tackling the Black experience with grace, courage, originality, and historical context, making them essential reads during Black History Month and throughout the year.
Ralph Ellison’s masterpiece novel is frequently included on the list of must-read Amer
Dope new Album! BUCK BARNABAS – THE LAZARUS EFFECT
Mike Ilitch paid for Rosa Parks' housing for more than a decade
Mike Ilitch was known for the charitable work he did throughout the city of Detroit, but some people may not know how he helped a civil rights leader.
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It’s no coincidence that three of the top 50 players in the history of the NBA have roots at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). That’s because historically black colleges, dating to the 1940s, gave the best of the best the opportunity to shine — to play the game with a flair and flamboyance that hadn’t been seen before.
When the names Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, Willis Reed or Sam Jones are mentioned, “HBCU” is hardly the first thought that comes to mind. Although the HBCU lan
