We remember American Jazz Icon Dizzy Gillespie!
Dizzy Gillespie, born John Birks Gillespie, was a jazz trumpeter, bandleader, and composer known for his virtuosity and innovative style. He was one of the leading figures of the bebop movement, a style of jazz characterized by fast tempos, complex harmonies, and improvisation based on the structure of the music rather than its melody. Gillespie was known for his bent trumpet and his signature puffed cheeks while playing. He also popularized the use of "scat singing," in which a vocalist improvises nonsense syllables in place of lyrics. Gillespie had a long and successful career, collaborating with many other famous musicians and performing around the world.
Message to the Grassroots by Malcolm X (Full Transcript)
Here we have the full transcript of one of Malcolm X's most important speeches of his lifetime “Message to the Grassroots”. In this speech that was given during Malcolm’s time during his tenure with the Nation of Islam. Our Brother talks about the mentality between the “house negro and the field negro” and how it was relevant to the modern struggle.
November 10, 1963.
We want to have just an off-the-cuff chat between you and me — us. We want to talk right down to earth in a language that everybody here can easily understand. We all agree tonight, all of the speakers have agreed, that America has a very serious problem. Not only does America have a very serious problem, but our people have a very serious problem. America’s problem is us. We’re her problem. The only reason she has a problem is she doesn’t want us here. And every time you look at yourself, be you black, brown, red, or yellow — a so-called Negro — you represent a person who poses such a serious problem for America because you’re not wanted. Once you face this as a fact, then you can start plotting a course that will make you appear intelligent, instead of unintelligent.
Today In Black History, May 10th 1930: The National Pan-Hellenic Council is formed
The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) is a collaborative umbrella organization composed of historically African American fraternities and sororities. The nine NPHC Greek-letter organizations are sometimes collectively referred to as the "Divine Nine (D9)". The member/partner organizations have not formally adopted nor recommended the use of this term to describe their collaborative grouping. The NPHC was formed as a permanent organization on May 10, 1930, on the campus of Howard University, in Washington, D.C. with Matthew W. Bullock as the active Chairman and B. Beatrix Scott as Vice-Chairman. NPHC was incorporated under the laws of the State of Illinois in 1937 and is headquartered in Decatur, Georgia.
Today In Black History February 8th 1986: Debi Thomas became the first African-American Women's Singles of the U.S. Figure Skating Champion
On Feb. 8, 1986, figure skater Debi Thomas became the first African-American to win the Women's Singles of the U.S. National Figure Skating Championship competition while studying as a pre-med student at Stanford University. She was the first Black woman to win a national figure skating title. Thomas also earned the distinction of becoming the first African-American to win a medal in any Winter Olympic sport when she won a bronze medal in the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.
Today In Black History February 7th 1926: Carter G. Woodson Launched Negro History Week
On Feb. 7, 1926, Carter G. Woodson, initiated the first celebration of Negro History Week which led to Black History Month, to extend and deepen the study and scholarship on African American history, all year long. Here is an essay on the history and purpose of Black History Month, followed by recommended articles and resources on Black history.
The Real Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
On this day that America loves to memorialize the great leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we at The Melanin Project would like to highlight the Man in his wholeness. From his philosophy of non-violent protest that America loves so much, to his self-revelation of leading us into “a burning house”. (United States of America) It is well documented that those around Dr. Martin Luther King were armed to the teeth and were more than prepared to protect the civil rights leader. Most known for his Dream Speech at the Capitol, there are many other speeches that detail the thought and radical approach to Dr. King’s aspirations for this country as well as his people. Most notable of those speeches was his talk of “The Other America”. The Capitol Riots in comparison to the Black Lives Matter riots just months earlier show case and point that there is very little difference from the 60’s to nearly 70 years later how America as a whole doesn’t see African Diaspora as equal culturally, monetarily, or legally.
Professor Bayyinah Bello speaks on the Haitian Revolution of 1791
This is Haitian Professor Bayyinah Bello’s full lecture on the Haitian Revolution of 1791. Led by Dutty Boukman, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, Toussaint Louverture the revolution toppled one of the greatest empires known to man and change the course of history.
Bayyinah Bello is a Haitian historian, teacher, writer, and humanitarian worker, who in her earlier career spent 15 years living and traveling in West Africa, including four years in Nigeria, as well as in Benin, Togo, and other countries in the region.