I LOVE HER!!

RIHANNA
I admit, she is my girl crush... but can you blame me, she is gorgeous, talented, and the girl has style!! (not to mention she has a great haircut... hehe)

GETTING TO KNOW BLACK HISTORY: ERNIE DAVIS

Ernie Davis aka The Elmira Express was a 2 time All American and the first Black Heisman Trophy winner. He played football at Syracuse University, where he led the Orangemen to a National Championship in 1959. He was the first round draft pick in the 1962 draft, going to the Redskins, but was almost immediately traded to the Cleveland Browns. Tragically, he was never able to play a professional game because he was diagnosed with Luekemia, and died at the young age of 23, less than a year after being drafted. Although he never played a game with them, the Browns retired his #45 jersey. I just watched The Express, which is the story of his life, and I really recommend you rent it to. It is an inspirational yet tragic story about Ernie Davis.

GETTING TO KNOW BLACK HISTORY: ZORA NEALE HURSTON

"I belong to no race nor time. I am the eternal feminine with its string of beads"

Zora Neale Hurston is the author of my favorite book of all time,

Their Eyes Were Watching God

If you have not read it, I suggest you go out and get it right now. I do not know much about her life, accept she was a part of the Harlem Renaissance era, and she is an amazing writer. Although, I don't know much about her history, she was the first writer to make me love reading, and so for that alone, I must give her some shine. I think I will go research her and her other writings now!!

GETTING TO KNOW BLACK HISTORY: FREDRICK DOUGLASS

"I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong."

Fredrick Douglass has such an impressive life story. He was born a slave, and while enslaved, he learned to read and write, and even began teaching secret classes so other slaves could read and write. He escaped from slavery at the age of 20, and moved north. He got involved as an abolitionist, and became an anti-slavery lecturer. Later in life he wrote his autobiography Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, it became an instant success and was a best-seller. Within 3 years, his autobiography was translated and sold throughout Europe, and remember, this was in the 1800’s, and slavery was still legal, so for a former slave to accomplish all of this, is pretty amazing. He published 2 other autobiographies and was the editor of an abolitionist newspaper, and eventually created the Fredrick Douglass Paper. His speeches and writings played a big part in the abolishment of slavery, and opened many people’s eyes to how brutal and inhumane slavery was. For more info, go to...

http://www.winningthevote.org/FDouglass.html

GETTING TO KNOW BLACK HISTORY: HUEY P. NEWTON

"The first lesson a revolutionary must learn is that he is a doomed man. Unless he understands this, he does not grasp the essential meaning of his life." - Huey P. Newton

Huey P. Newton is the co-founder of the Black Panther Party. He believed that through armed self-defense, the Black community could fight oppresion. He studied law at Oakland City College and the San Fransisco Law School. He learned that everyone has the right to bear unconcealed arms. So this is how the Black Panthers rolled, they were organized and disciplined, they openly and legally carried guns. They protected their community from the abuse of the Oakland PD. The Black Panthers eventually got a false rep for being dangerous and violent, when in reality, they were only trying to get equal justice and resources for their people. Newton was also responsible for starting many community programs. One of those being the Free Breakfast for School Children Program, where the Black Panthers cooked and served breakfast for poor, inner-city kids. This became so popular, the Black Panthers opened kitchens all across the country and ended up feeding over 10,000 kids everyday. That was just one of the over 35 Survival Programs that the Black Panthers and Huey P. Newton provided for Black communities across the country. For more information you can google his name of course or you can check out

http://www.blackpanther.org/legacynew.htm

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH

In honor of Black History Month, for each day of the month, I am going to post about important African American figures in History. I am going to try to think out of the box and write about people who aren't always given credit for their importance in history. I am not going to write an entire biography, I am only going to write things that I find particularly important. I hope that you will research and learn more about each person :)

FRIDAY FLOWS

I could probably do a Bob Marley song every friday, because he has so much amazing work. But I will try to give other artists some shine as well. However, today, I was feeling a little "DAM THE MAN" so I had to put this song up... It is so meaningful and I think it is especially deep considering the times we are in.

REDEMTION SONG

Old pirates, yes, they rob I;

Sold I to the merchant ships,

Minutes after they took I

From the bottomless pit.

But my hand was made strong

By the 'and of the Almighty.

We forward in this generation

Triumphantly.

Won't you help to sing

These songs of freedom?

-'Cause all I ever have:

Redemption songs;Redemption songs.

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;

None but ourselves can free our minds.

Have no fear for atomic energy,'

Cause none of them can stop the time.

How long shall they kill our prophets,

While we stand aside and look?

Ooh!Some say it's just a part of it:

We've got to fulfil de book.

Won't you help to sing

These songs of freedom?

-'Cause all I ever have:

Redemption songs;

Redemption songs;

Redemption songs.

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;

None but ourselves can free our mind.

Wo! Have no fear for atomic energy,

'Cause none of them-a can-a stop-a the time.

How long shall they kill our prophets,

While we stand aside and look?

Yes, some say it's just a part of it:

We've got to fulfil de book.

Won't you help to sing

Dese songs of freedom?

-'Cause all I ever had:

Redemption songs

-All I ever had:

These songs of freedom,Songs of freedom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjzY0lXlrj0

By the way, this is probably my favorite song of all time.