Who Do We Think We Are (Official Video) John Legend

I love this song welcome back John I'm ready for this new album.

Sounding Off.... Black Music Month

Banjo Lesson Henry Ossawa Turner

Gospel, Spirituals, Jazz, Blues, Soul, R&B, Rock N Roll, New Jack Swing, Rap/Hip-Hop these are just a handful of genres that African Americans have created and impacted. June is known as African American Music Appreciation Month formerly Black Music Month. I love Obama but I'm going to continue to call this "Black Music Month."

Jimi Hendrix

Black Music Month began in 1979 when Kenny Gamble, Ed Wright, & Dyana Williams developed the idea to set aside a month dedicated to celebrating the impact of black music. They successfully lobbied President Jimmy Carter to host a reception on June 7th, 1979 to formally recognize the cultural and financial contributions of black music.

Black Music Heroes

In 2000, US-Representative Chaka Fattah sponsored House Resolution 509, which formally recognized the importance of Black music on culture and the economy during President Bill Clinton's administration. Nine years later, President Barack Obama further defined June as African American Music Appreciation Month who declared the start of summer as a celebration for all the black musicians, composers, singers, and songwriters who have made enormous contributions to our culture.

Luke James

" The music of our Nation has always spoken to the condition of our people and reflected the diversity our Union. African American musicians, composers, singers, an songwriters have made enormous contributions to our culture by capturing the hardships and aspirations of a community and reminding us of our shared values." President Barack Obama

Nas

Toni's Thoughts: I love music and I still write song lyrics I can listen to Marvin Gaye, Little Richard, The O'Jays, Jodeci, H-Town the list goes on. One of my favorite slow jams discussing a broken heart "Ain't No Way" Aretha Franklin she sang that song so well and Cissy Houston was killing it in the background she passed that gift down to her daughter  the late Whitney Houston. I am proud of the contributions African Americans have made in music and I am sad to see my generation does not understand what we have done and many African American artists are not aware of this either. At the moment one song I have had on repeat is "Who Do We Think We Are" John Legend this is pure R&B I feel as though Rick Ross's verse was not needed but the song is still great I am posting that video next.

All That Lady, All That Lady Liberty

Are you familiar with the Statue of Liberty and the meaning behind it? Well I'm here to tell you the truth once more and provide some more insight on hidden aspects of history.


What You Were Taught About the Statue of Liberty Before.... According to American history taught in school you probably told the " Statue of Liberty" was created to commemorate the friendship or forced bond between the US & France during the Revolutionary War. The words inscribed on the statue state of the following "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddles masses yearning to breathe free." The meaning behind this quote essentially is saying that America was haven created and used by refugees and immigrants from every corner of the world. I guess this is the precursor to the "melting pot theory."

Original Intent Behind Lady Liberty... The Statue of Liberty was originally a Black woman, the original concept of the Statue of Liberty, Black soldiers played in the ending of Black African Bondage in the United States. French historian Edourd de Laboulaye, Chairman of the French  Anti-Slavery Society, who together with the help of sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, proposed to the French government that the people of France give the citizens of the United States through the American Abolitionist Society, the gift of a Statue of Liberty in recognition of the fact that Black soldiers won the Civil War in the United States.

The statue was given to the United States, the Minister of France  in 1884  he believed that the dominant view of broken shackles would be offensive to  the Southern region of the United States, because the Statue would be pose as a reminder of Blacks winning their freedom. This accomplishment was a reminder to the South that they lost to the French and their despised captives defeated them as well.



Sources of Proof
Book: The Journey of the Songhai People

New York Times Magazine Part II 1986 Issue article by Laboulaye

Original dark face of the Statue of Liberty in New York Post June 17, 1986 French Embassy

Original model with broken chains at her feet and in her left hand

 I Love Black People (Facebook Group)

Memorial Day History Lesson

Disclaimer: I apologize for not posting any blog posts I have been busy and going through writer's block. But hey I'm back guys I'm back to present you with some more knowledge. So here we go today I am giving a history lesson on the origins on Memorial Day. I just learned this interesting fact recently and I wanted to post this information.

Did You Know the Origins of Memorial Day? Memorial Day was started by former African American slaves, therefore African Americans are the reason Memorial Day exists but of coarse the American school  system purposely left this piece of information out. I'm sure some parts of the United States teach this lesson but I know from personal experience growing up in Louisville, KY I was never taught this.

The Truth About Memorial Day and African American Contributions.... According to David Blight a Professor at Yale University, the Memorial Day Event began on May 1, 1865. A group of former slaves in Charleston, SC gave a proper burial to 257 Union soldiers who'd been put into a mass grave.

The African American community of Charleston, SC then consecrated the new cemetery with " an unforgettable parade of 10,000 people." The event was initially called "Decoration Day" and was led by 3,000 black school children who began singing the song " John Brown's Body." They were then followed by hundreds of black women with baskets of flowers and crosses. After that, black men marched behind them in cadence, followed by Union infantry. The Union soldiers lived in horrible conditions, and 257 of them died from exposure and disease. This was the reason for the creation of the mass grave site. There was a total of 28 black men that went to the site and re-buried  the men properly largely as a thank you for helping fight for their freedom. They also built a fence around the cemetery and on the outside, put the words, "Martyrs' of the Race Course."

Toni's Thoughts: This is a wonderful piece of history you need to share with your kids because most schools are not going to take the time to teach them about this story. Wake up  and Wise Up.


Sources: The Grio,  Black Blue Dog, & David Blight