A Different World: HBCU College Tour 2024 (Behind The Scenes)
The beloved cast of the critically acclaimed television show of the late 80s and early 90's A Different World stopped by Atlanta University Center home of the illustrious HBCUs Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, and Spelman University to talk to auditoriums of students.
"WHAT'S YOUR PART IN THE REVOLUTION?": Phil Moore's Journey with "A New Green Book"
I had the opportunity to chat it up with Phil following the finale of the series about the origins of the show and what was the motivation behind curating content such as this. As I was blessed to be a part of the Atlanta leg of this production I was afforded the opportunity to experience Atlanta's Blackness in an immersive way. That was due to Phil's vision for the show, as the "Branded Development Lead" at Tastemade a position that he pretty much created and "fought for" was one of the determining factors for this show's genesis.
The Negro Motorist Green Book
The Negro Motorist Green Book was a travel guidebook for Black Americans during the Jim Crow era. It was created to help Black motorists find safe and welcoming places to eat, sleep, and refuel while traveling through the United States. The book was first published in 1936 by Victor Hugo Green, a Black postal worker from Harlem, New York, and continued to be published until 1967. The Green Book played a significant role in helping Black Americans navigate the treacherous landscape of racism, segregation, and discrimination during the Jim Crow era.
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.