I am intrigued by Carter G. Woodsom, Mary McLeod Bethune, Frederick Douglas and Ida B. Wells, great thinkers in history.  As I think about today, who would be considered a thinker?

If anyone gets a hold to the original edition of The Journal of Negro History by Carter G. Woodson, not the series that have been broken down in paperback, let me know. I would love to have it.  There is a copy on Amazon for $325.00 which I am sure is an original, however, this original pricing is not in my spending plan.  So, $100 or less if possible will be great.

Thanks.

I have had the most edumacated week ever!  My lessons included

• What going green means and how to address it
• This history of housing projects and how they came to be 
• Why our global environment is as bad as it is today
• How everyone is affected by capitalism which is contributing to the demise of our communities
• An extensive lesson in Black history starting from the 1600s through the 1930s from Dr. Timuel Black (that was today).  By the way, Dr. Black is 90 years old.  He had a Master’s degree and could not get a job because he was Black.
• How black communities that were created after The Reconstruction were destroyed by enemies who didn’t want them around but didn’t want them to have anything
• The U.S. Federal Reserve Bank is privately owned
• Mr. Hugo Black was a judge who joined the KKK to advance his career.  However, he was a liberal in Black and women issues

From everything I learned, I gathered that everything that happens in America is based on race and/or class.  If anyone know of anything differently, let me know so we can discuss.

I interviewed Dr. Market Burroughs today.  It was such a wonderful experience.  She was very soft-spoken and very humble.  She was absolutely amazing.  She has the sweetest spirit.  I felt great being in her presence.

The information I gained will be used in my oral history program with the young people over the summer.  I’m going to figure out how to share her story on AS NOT SEEN ON TV.

Anyway, my interview with Dr. Burroughs is an indication that I am on the road to writing greatness.  It’s exciting, yet scary.

Ms. Loretta Martin will be teaching FREE R&B line dance classes at Chicago Public Libraries for Black History Month.   Check her out at one of the following locations.  You will enjoy it!

This post was started on Tuesday, January 20th and was completed today.  I’m a little behind on this one.

1st Family at Inauguration Ceremony

 Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States today. What a joy to see the melting pot of diversity which is truly representative of the United States.  There were women and men; young and old; Christians, Muslims, Jews, and other religious orders; different color people from different nations.  It was great.

The news reports state that nearly 1.5 million people visited Washington to witness the event.  That says alot about the expectation and support of change.  I hope that he does what he says that he’s going to do, and change does occur.

Photo Source: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2009/01/the_inauguration_of_president.html

I know I am a little behind with this posting, but yesterday would have been Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 80th birthday.

I am not going to go into all that he did and what he stands for in my life.  However, I do have a question for all readers.  Do you think that African Americans really have progressed since the Civil Rights years?

I personally think that progress has been made in some ways, but not so much in others.  So, what do you think?

Senator Barack Obama was elected the 44th and first Black president of the United States.  (Well, the first one who was willing to admit his heritage anyway.)  He beat out John McCain with 52 percent of the popular vote. The 47-year-old Illinois Senator and his family will move into the white house next year. 

In the words of Mr. Obama: “If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.”

This is definitely a defining moment in history!

Big School, Bigger Meaning

Above is a picture of the Little Rock Central High School.  This huge building has earned its place in history, particularly Civil Rights History.  This is the school where nine black teenagers fought through a crowd of angry white protesters against integration.  It was also integral in determining the validity of the the 1955 Brown v. Board of Education decision.

The meaning behind this building is greater than its massive structure.  Think about it.  In 1957, nine black students in an overly-racial community fought to get an education.  They had to pass mobs of angry white people to get to the doors of the school.  And, once inside those doors, they had to face people that did not like them for no reason other than the color of their skin.  I’m sure the educators were not too happy about teaching these people that did not look like them.

Fast forward to 2008.  The school doors are open every day, and children are not walking through them at the rate that they should.  The Little Rock Nine fought for an education, and some of the young people of today could care less.  It’s really disappointing and sad.  What’s even worse is that it costs more to hold a child in juvenile prison (up to $96,000 per youth inmate per year at Kewanee, IL) than it costs to send a child to a Chicago Public School ($10,555 per student per year).  So, I guess it can be said that the mob is no longer the angry, raucous group of white faces boldly protesting integration. The mob is now a cowardly group of white faces hiding behind an unjust legal system.

State Department of Corrections

Bernie Mac

Mac, born Bernard Jeffrey McCullough, is a comedian and actor from the South Side of Chicago.  Known as one of the Original Kings of Comedy, Mac entertained audiences of all ages on screen and stage.  He had a unique style of performing and dress.  Brotha man was sharp!  He died on Saturday, August 9, 2008.

Isaac Hayes

Isaac Hayes was also a bad brother.  His deep voice could increase the heartbeat of any red-blooded female.  He was “the first black composer to win the Oscar for best song” for the theme some of the 1970-something hit, Shaft.  The sultry voice could be heard as Chef on the animated South Park TV show.  Hayes died on August 10, 2008.

I just had to give respect where it is due.  I also want to thank these guys (even though they are not here) for opening doors for my generation.  I am going to do what I can to fill these shoes with my creative writing talents.  I know they are big shoes to fill, but I believe that the work will be worth it.

Read more on Isaac Hayes at http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN1029123920080810

Read more on Bernie Mac at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Mac.