Run DMC, Jam Master Jay, Kool Moe Dee, and Special K on Friday

"I am one of the chosen few, so when you need that lift to get you through... all you have to do  is say Special K and help is on the way."  ~ Special K of the Treacherous Three

Happy Friday everyone.  I hope that all of my family and friends here in the states had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I know I did.  My wife cooked plenty of good food.  Now, I'm relaxing and jamming to some old school Hip-Hop from my generations era -- the 1980s.  It was back when I wish I had a "fresh" pair of Cazals to go with my burgundy, suede pumas, and matching burgundy and grey wind breaker.  Haa haa!  Don't laugh.  Back then, it was just good clean fun -- NATURAL FUN!  Have a great weekend.  ~Peace

Excerpt from "Judge Priest" (1934)

Stepin Fetchit: Hero or Hinderance

Comedic actor, Stepin Fetchit, was born Lincoln Theodore Monroe Andrew Perry on May 30, 1902 (maybe as early as 1892). There is little know about Mr. Perry’s early life, but he was born near Key West, Florida to immigrant parents. Personally, this surprised me; the man who would personify the southern jive-talkin’ “coon” was the son of a Jamaican father and Bahamian mother. Until I looked up his info, I had him growing up with Ma Rainey (see: redhotjazz.com/rainey) in Alabama or Mississippi somewhere.

Mr. Perry was better known for his stereotypical, foot shuffling, slow talkin’ – yassa bossin’ character that became synonymous with uneducated blacks in the Southern United States. It appalled and offended many African Americans, while entertaining much of white America. In fact, it entertained white America so much that Mr. Perry became the first actor in history to become a millionaire.

Interestingly, despite all the criticism and accusations for setting black folks back about a hundred years, Mr. Lincoln Theodore Monroe Andrew Perry (AKA Stepin’ Fetchit’) was praised for his part in opening doors for black actors, and notably received the Special Image Award by the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). Also, he was elected to the Black Filmmakers Hall of Fame in 1978. Mr. Perry died from congestive heart failure in Los Angeles on November 19, 1985. He was 83.

Photo source:  slate.com
Source info:  imdb.com, and redhotjazz.com

Vote Aqui!

Good morning.  I was just at the polls a couple of hours ago.  Being a student of history, I couldn't help but think of the struggles many had to go through in order to vote.  I especially thought of my own ancestors realizing that many feared for their lives at the mere thought of voting.  They had to put up with all sorts of threats and clauses like the Grandfather Clause that was put into place to discourage the African American vote.  My grandfather voted in the 2008 presidential election.  He was 90 years old at the time, and never "thought that he would ever see a colored president."  Sorry Mr. President, he was 90 years old.  To him, everyone was either white or colored.  Now, my grandfather has gone home to glory, so he left this basic and very important civic duty up to his children and grand children.  So, once again, I exercised that right this morning for my grandfather and his grandfather.  It felt good.  Please vote today.  Peace~

Source:  Black Past.org