Billy Preston
Dance! It's Friday!
Posts
African Native American
On May 28, 1830, the United States put forth legislation that would lead to the “Trail of Tears ” in 1838. U.S. President Andrew “Stonewall” Jackson signed The Indian Removal Act of 1830 , which eventually forced many Native American tribes such as the Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, Choctaw, and Seminole Indian tribes off their land in the southeastern United States. According information on PBS.org: "By 1837, the Jackson administration had removed 46,000 Native American people from their land east of the Mississippi." Interesting Finding: The African American Registry (aaregistry.com) says that “It is estimated that one-third of the members of these tribes involved in this removal and the ensuing trek to Oklahoma were of African descent.” Note from Stephen: Listen, I know that many Afrian Americans feel that they are part Cherokee, Blackfoot, etc. and some may in fact be part Native American. However, the predominant truth is that most of us are genetically connected to Su...
American Tradition: The origins of Memorial Day
African American History fact: On May 1, 1865, more than twenty black carpenters and laborers, in cooperation with white missionaries, teachers, and Union troops, started the first Memorial Day Service in Charleston South Carolina. Read more… Enjoy your weekend and remember those Union soldiers of African descent who gave their lives and made it possible for us to be here. God bless them. Photo: African American Civil War Memorial, Washington, D.C.
Max Robinson: American Anchor
On this day in 1979, Max Robinson became the first African American network news anchor for ABC's World News Tonight. Unfortunately, sometime in the mid 80s, Max Robinson was diagnosed with HIV. He would later succumbed to AIDS in December of 1988. Today, the Whitman-Walker Clinic’s Max Robinson Center, located in the Anacostia section of Washington, D.C., provides HIV/AIDS services to the predominantly African American citizens residing east of the Anacostia River. Max Robinson -- an American Anchor . Sources: Bet.com and wwc.org
Happy Mother's Day!
Good morning and Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers. I wanted to share a poem from my recently published chapbook, Liquid Lunch . This little poem goes back to Sunday mornings in North Carolina when I would wake up to sound of my grandmother singing church hymns in the kitchen. It was her way to give thanks to the almighty, while she prepared Sunday dinner. This poem represents one of my most cherished memories of her. God bless her soul. Enjoy your day everyone. Here is my poem: Eunice Best Faith Sunday morning snooze Sunday morning blues Momma singing in the kitchen Sunday morning news Jesus is the top story Faith is her morning glory. Note: To purchase copies of Liquid Lunch click on the buy now button in the right margins (Hwy 125). Thanks.