Fannie Lou Hamer-Sick and Tired and Uncompromising

Fannie Lou Hamer fought for representation of the African-American voters of Mississippi within the Democrat Party. Hamer was beaten and lost her job when she decided to stand up for what she believed in, the right to vote. Hamer lead a group of African-Americans, belonging to the Mississippi Freedom Democrats Party, to become delegates to the Democratic Convention floor to represents African-Americans. that would cause President Lyndon Johnson felt so threaten by the action of Hamer that he called a press conference to block out the power of this woman.

Hamer, the voice of the Mississippi civil right struggle was famous for the words I am sick and tired of being sick and tired.


"We didn't come all the way up here to compromise for no more than we’d gotten here. We didn't come all this way for no two seats, 'cause all of us is tired."

"I am sick and tired of being sick and tired."



Some in the Afrosphere is suggesting that Obama is getting the same type of treatment from the superdelegates that Hamer received from the late President Johnson. The same discussion is now taking place with other bloggers such as Cuba Journal and within the Democratic Party.

"The job of putting a candidate over the top would then fall to superdelegates -- the nearly 800 party leaders who can cast ballots for the candidate of their choice.

Asked whether she would be troubled by a brokered Democratic convention in which superdelegates would determine the party's nominee, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi defended her party's system.

"These superdelegates are all part of their state delegation, so that state will speak," Pelosi said. The superdelegates "work out their preference, working with the people of their state."

Superdelegates were established, Pelosi explained, to allow grass-roots Democratic activists to attend the nominating convention without having to compete with high-ranking Democratic party officials for a coveted spot on the convention floor.


'So, again, I don't think that members of Congress, governors and senators are not attuned to what's happening in their states and in their districts,' Pelosi said."

Donna Brazile is threatening to leave the Democratic Party if it is left up to the Superdelegate to determine the nominee.

"CNN political analyst Donna Brazile railed against the scenario.

"If 795 of my colleagues decide this election, I will quit the Democratic Party. I feel very strongly about this," Brazile said.

And Hilliary is battling for certain delegates to be seated on the floor.

The second fight is likely to be over seating delegates from Michigan and Florida. The Democratic Party has already voted not to seat their delegates because they held early primaries.

Clinton won both contests, and she wants those delegates seated.

Virginians :Why Hillary Clinton is not African-American women first choice

This article is for the brothas who do not understand African-American women not automatically choosing Hillary Clinton. If brothas did not get it when hillary told all America that it is raced white people who got African-Americans their civil rightsthey should have got it when Bill suggested that the media needed to go after Obama and stop making Hillary cry. This was enough to bring out the first wave, out of the kitchen women voters for Hilliary and fuel the fire in the belly of the second wave women libbers, and confuse the genderless third wave women activists. But many of the African-Americans women have not forgotten Anita Hill..and her treatment by raced white women to push raced white women agenda.

“The [African-American] woman has occupied a unique if unenviable position in the United States. Historically she has borne the weight of inferior status ad prejudice derived from her [gender] as well as her color.” Treated as less than human, viewed as servant and not quite woman, but a breeder of enslaved children. Unlike raced white women, laws were not created to protect her as the better half of mankind. Although the African-American female suffered humiliate right along with the African-American male, and fought to secure his freedom, she was relegated to remain in her counter part male shadow. But not willing to remain behind, the African-American women had to step from the shadows and seek her own protection for her existence within the society that had casted her simply as invisible.

Through their experience as an African-American and a woman, African-American women have the special role of identifying with two oppressed group. Thus naturally, African-American women essence was more inclusive of others than the other two groups. African-Americans women related to both raced white females and African-American males. The African-American woman understood the African-American man had only been elevated up from slave to the stagnate role of servant. And with that understanding, that the African-American male was settling for less than full citizenship when compared to the raced white woman citizenship, African-Americans would be second class citizens.

African-American women would not settles for being a footstool for raced white women or African-American males.

Through this struggle, of existing in the shadow of both raced white women and African-Americans males,, African-American women were able to craft a political agenda that would meet the future needs of all African-American. In getting there, she had to overcome both race and gender, cby reating some political independent women, “By whatever unstated, immeasurable, invisible standards the American people applied to candidates for Congress, women have seldom been their choice.”

If this was true for raced white women, African-American women were never to be considered a part of the political equation. Three women spoke to the power of African-American women expressing their opinions. In doing so, speaks to the shaping of the history of African-American women in their contributions to the history of America.

Shirley Chisholm-inclusion--outsider- fought for immigrants' right to become citizens and to participant in the electoral process through democracy..a vote for the people by the people. Chisholm, a child of immigrants, in 1968 became the first African-American woman to serve in Congress, served seven terms. Chisholm saw that the political powers were not in recognition of the interest of the people. Chisholm ran on a platform created by the people and for the people by not following the procedure for entering the political arena. Chisholm credibility was established by staying connected to the people and not by who she knew. Chisholm remained with the people as an outsider. In 1972, she ran as the first African-American and African-American woman for President, a hundred years after the first raced white woman, Victoria Woodhull.

Barbara Jordan—diversity inclusion through the Constitution amendment
Jordan believed in the Constitution. Jordan's rally cry was in gratitude for the amendment of the Constitution. The amendment that allowed her to fully participate as a citizen. Jordan had something to contribute in the political and private sphere as an African-American born in the United States. Jordan believed that the constitution laws were color blind and that they applied to all Americans and should be enforced and upheld. Believing so, we was confronted to its greatest challenge, to impeach the former President of the United States, Richard Nixon. In doing so, reaffirmed the rock solid foundation in which the Constitution was drafted for all the people.

Lani Gunier-Dialogue-understanding the meaning of the voting right act purpose. The voting right act purpose was beyond having access to the ballot box. It would provide enough votes to elect African-Americans to political office. Once in political office these individuals would have an insider view in changing the laws that continue to support the exclusion of African-Americans from fully enjoying citizen rights. The voting right act of 1965 would serve a higher purpose than access to the ballot box to elect African-American candidates, it could used to influences legislature to improve the lives of African-Americans by electing those candidates who supported such interests. The interest of African-Americans included so many others.

The ability to influence lawmakers would be through political mobilization of voters creating a majority that supported African-Americans interest. A convergent of an interest group would have the ability to offset the tradition majority rule that excluded so many. This would be a group organized around interest that impact others beyond race.

Gunier, was an African-American Jewish academia who made her argument among her peers for the inclusion of the people who she had earlier represented. Academia encouraged her ideas, however, when her ideas for empowered African-Americans in the public arena, Gunier was silenced, by her long time friend, former President Bill Clinton. Gunier learned that in spite of her academic and professional accomplishment she was discredited as being on the fringe and not part of mainstream for standing up for what she believed in. The price is steep, but the African-American history never said it would be easy.

Read more on gender and race debate here

H/T to Blacksmythe

Also read Read Dr.Marc LamontHill post, February 8, 2008
Why Black Women Don’t Support Hillary

Colin Powell for Vice President

From CNN Political Ticker:

Colin Powell may support Democrat or Independent in ‘08
Posted: 08:12 PM ET


Click on link to Watch Colin Powell discuss the presidential race.
WASHINGTON (CNN) – Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, a Republican who served under President Bush, said Friday he may not back the GOP presidential nominee in November, telling CNN that “I am keeping my options open at the moment.”

“I have voted for members of both parties in the course of my adult life,” Powell, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer. “And as I said earlier, I will vote for the candidate I think can do the best job for America, whether that candidate is a Republican, a Democrat, or an Independent.”

Powell also offered praise for Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, who is seeking the Democratic presidential nomination, calling him an “exciting person on the political stage.

“He has energized a lot of people in America,” said Powell, who briefly weighed his own run for the White House in the mid-1990s. “He has energized a lot of people around the world. And so I think he is worth listening to and seeing what he stands for.”

Powell, who has largely steered clear of politics since leaving the administration in 2004, noted that the next president will need to work to restore America’s standing in the world.

“I will ultimately vote for the person I believe brings to the American people the kind of vision the American people want to see for the next four years,” he said. “A vision that reaches out to the rest of the world, that starts to restore confidence in America, that starts to restore favorable ratings to America. Frankly, we've lost a lot in recent years.”

Programming note: Tune in for the full interview with Colin Powell on “Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer,” airing this Sunday, 11-1 PM, ET.

Obama coming to Virginia

From VirginiaDem.org


RICHMOND, VA – U.S. Sen. Barack Obamawill criss-cross Virginia in the days leading up to the Potomac Primary, making stops in Richmond, Alexandria, Virginia Beach and Roanoke to talk directly to voters about his plans to bring people together to deliver change we can believe in.

Obama will hold a Sunday “Stand for Change” town hall event at TC Williams High School in Alexandria, a rally in Virginia Beach and a Monday morning town hall in Roanoke. (Details on the Roanoke event will be announced soon.) He will also be attending tomorrow night’s Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner in Richmond.

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9 Richmond, VA

DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF VIRGINIA JEFFERSON-JACKSON DAY DINNER

AlltelPavillion at the Stuart C Siegel Center 1200 West Broad Street Richmond, VA Doors Open: 6:00 PM Tickets are required for more information visit the Democratic Party of Virginia website

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10 Alexandria, VA

“STAND FOR CHANGE” TOWN HALL MEETING

TC Williams High School Gym 3330 King St Alexandria, VA 22302 Doors Open: 12:30 PM The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required. Free tickets can be picked up at either of Obama for America’s Northern Virginia offices, listed below. Tickets are limited to two per person. Tickets will be available beginning at 5:00 PM Friday. ***For security reasons, no bags are allowed and please limit personal belongings. No signs or banners permitted. Parking is limited, so please car pool or take public transportation. ***


Ticketing Locations: Falls Church Field Office 6066 Leesburg Pike, 4th Floor Falls Church, VA Open 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Phone: 703-778-6866 and the Falls Church Phone Bank 400 North Washington St, 3rd Floor Falls Church, VA Open 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Phone: 703-778-6866



SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 10 Virginia Beach, VA

“STAND FOR CHANGE” RALLY WITH BARACK OBAMA

Virginia Beach Convention Center 1000 19th St Virginia Beach, VA Doors Open: 5:30 PM Program Begins: 7:30 PM The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is strongly encouraged. To RSVP or for more information, please visit va.baracakobama.com. An RSVP does not guarantee admission. Admission is on a first come, first served basis. Seating is extremely limited. ***For security reasons, no bags are allowed and please limit personal belongings. No signs or banners permitted.***


MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11 Roanoke, VA

“STAND FOR CHANGE” TOWN HALL MEETING Location To Be Announced Doors Open: 7 AM The event will be free and open to the public, but tickets will be required. Ticketing information will be released soon. ***For security reasons, no bags will be allowed and please limit personal belongings. No signs or banners permitted. Parking is limited, so please car pool or take public transportation. ***



UpdateStand for Change Rally with Barack Obama

University of Maryland
Comcast Center
1 Terrapin Trail
College Park, MD 20742

Monday, February 11, 2008
Doors Open: 10:30 a.m.

Will Obama do a Fannie Lou? Feel the heat !

The Afrosphere dropped the goblet in asking if Obama would be a Fannie Lou for the Democrat Party. According to Cnn in an article titled Democratic delegate fight heats up, [t]hat's because unlike recent conventions, when the party tickets were firmly established, Obama and Clinton could conceivably end up short of the 2,025 delegates needed to secure the nomination.

So now what?

Yobachi of Black Perspective.net started the discussion in the Afrosphere.

AAPP chimed in with a post called tipping-point-superdelegates-obama

Obama and Huckabee in College Park, MD

From baltimoresun.com:
Obama, Huckabee plan events in College Park
Clinton also plans to campaign in state on Monday, aides say
By a Baltimoresun.com staff reporter

12:25 PM EST, February 8, 2008

Presidential candidates Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee plan to hold rallies in College Park in the coming days, and Hillary Clinton's campaign said the candidate will be in Maryland on Monday.

Huckabee, one of two remaining major candidates for the Republican nomination, announced today that he will speak Saturday at noon at the Stamp Student Union Building on the campus of the University of Maryland, College Park.

Obama will be in College Park on Monday to host a "Stand for Change" rally at the University of Maryland. The event is set to take place at the university's Cole Field House on Campus Drive. Doors will open at 10:30 a.m. The event is free and open to the public, but an RSVP is strongly encouraged. To RSVP, click here. For security reasons, no bags are allowed inside the event. No signs or banners are permitted.

Obama is also expected to attend a town hall meeting on Sunday at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria. Doors open at 12:30 p.m.

A rally for Sen. Hillary Clinton is planned today at noon outside the Maryland State House in Annapolis, with Gov. Martin O'Malley and Sen. Barbara Mikulski planning to attend.

Clinton isn't planning to be at the event, but aides said that she will campaign in Maryland on Monday, one day before the primary.

For a complete list of scheduled campaign events and appearances, click here.

The Associated Press contributed to this article

Carol Channing

Carol Channing, a famous actress played in Gentlemen prefer Blondes and Hello Dolly. Channing is an African-American who never disclosed this fact until she wrote about this fact in her book, Just Lucky, I Guess, that her father was an African American who passed by adapting to living in two worlds, one black and one white.

Her father learned to portray himself one way in public that was different from who he was at home by changing his speaking mannerism. Channing herself, was famous for her mannerism, which more than likely was art imitating life. How fitting.

Channing decided to race herself "white" to take advantage of "raced white privilege". Channing was nominated for many awards and won a Tony Award. Channing taught us that as a society we are not colorblind. Looking at a person color we assume ethnic background, when in fact we are simply guessing based on skin color.

Here is a picture of Carol Channing, an African-American raced white, like many African-Americans who chose to take advantage of white privilege based on skin color. This practice continues today.

Henry Gates at IPFW Omnibus Lecture Series

IPFW Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs and the Omnibus Lecture Series at Indiana Purdue University Fort Wayne during Black History presents Henry Louis Gates, Jr to the local community. Gates lecture is entitled, Genealogy and Genetics and the African-American Experience . Gates was born on Sept. 16, 1950, is a scholar, college teacher, critic, writer and chairperson read more about Gates below.

From the IPFW Website:

Henry Louis Gates Jr, one of the United States’ most influential cultural critics, is both an eloquent commentator and formidable intellectual force on multicultural and African American issues. He is widely acknowledged for taking African American studies beyond the ideological bent of the 1970s and 80s black power movement, and bringing it into a scholarly sphere that is the equivalent to all other disciplines. He is currently the W. E. B. Du Bois Professor of the Humanities and the director of the W. E. B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Studies at Harvard University.

In 1997, Gates was named one of Time magazine’s “25 most influential Americans.” He is a prolific writer who has authored, co-authored, edited, or co-edited several books and written numerous articles. His books include Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Black Man and The Future of the Race with co-author and Princeton professor Cornell West. His articles have appeared in The New Yorker, Time, The New Republic, and The New York Times. Gates is also the editor of Transition magazine, an international review of African, Carribean, and African American politics.

In 2006, he wrote and produced the PBS documentary African American Lives, the first documentary series to employ genealogy and science to provide an understanding of African American history. His current projects include a sequel to African American Lives, as well as a documentary titled Finding Oprah’s Roots, where he expands on one of the most popular individuals featured in African American Lives.

Gates’ honors and grants include a MacArthur Foundation “genius grant” and the George Polk Award for Social Commentary, a national humanities medal. Gates has also received more than 40 honorary degrees.


African DNA
African Ancestored Genealogy

Family Treemaker

African DNA
project

Who Is Christopher Riley?

Christopher Riley, you will never forget him. Riley is focused and committed. Riley serves as Coordinator of Student Success and Multicultural Affairs at IPFW: Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs. When you meet Riley, he is extremely attentive and committed to getting things done. Committed, it may appeare to be an overused word, but when you meet Riley, who is currently serving as co-chair of the Fort Wayne-Allen County #3049 Freedom Fund Banquet, the word fits him like a tee.

Repub Mitt Romney suspend campaign

ABC News reports that Mitt Romney is suspending his campaign. CNN reports,

"Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney will suspend his bid for the Republican presidential nomination, GOP sources tell CNN.


Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is suspending his campaign Thursday, sources say.

Romney had won 270 delegates in through the Super Tuesday contests, compared with front-runner John McCain's 680.

Romney had no public events Wednesday and instead met with aides to discuss strategy to stay in the race through March 4.

"It is tough to saddle up this a.m.," one Romney adviser told CNN the morning after his disappointing Super Tuesday finish.

Although he outspent his rivals, Romney received just 175 delegates on Super Tuesday, compared with at least 504 for McCain and 141 for former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, according to CNN estimates."

What does this mean for his delegates?

Obama says you have the right to vote the candidate of your choice

Barack Obama, the Constitutional scholar is teaching young people about the power of the individual vote. In Virginia more than 22,000 new register voters under 25 will have an opportunity to participate in what the founding father hatched to keep certain individuals from being a part of the governing of the new United States.


Many do not believe Senator Barack Obama qualifies to be president in 2008. Simply because Obama is an African-American. Obama standing on the steps of the capital was gentle reminder thatthe United States years ago excluded African-American from its state's constitution as simply citizens. Lincoln's country revised its constitution to include African-Americans as a citizens, based on the rights protected under the United States Constitution. The Constitution in which Barbara Jordan was so fond of saying excluded her.

Obama standing on Illinois state capitol steps, was a reminder of not long ago history. A not so long ago history when African-American were not considered citizens. These same African-Americans battled and died so that other African-Americans could become citizens with rights. Today, many groups enough citizenship rights because of these long gone African-Americans that now an African-Americans can run for President.

Obama has the right to run for president as one of those citizens. Obama is the right age to qualify to run. But there are folks suggesting that today's African-American citizens are only voting for Obama because of his skin color.

To the contrary, many of these citizens believe that Obama should not represent the United States simply because of his skin color. And these same folks will tell you they do not have a racist bone in their body. have the right to vote their choice and the Obama selection is not who they would like to see represent the United States of America. Obama running for president's remiinds these folks every day that America is not colorblind nor are many of America policies.

It was Justice John Marshall Harlan,who stated in his dissenting opinion, a lone voice, in Plessy,[It is]

Our Constitution [that]is color-blind and neither knows nor tolerates classes among citizens. In respect of civil rights, all citizens are equal before the law. The humblest is the peer of the most powerful. The law regards man as man and takes no account of his surroundings or of his color when his civil rights as guaranteed by the supreme law of the land

. People are not colorblind when it comes to equal rights for all its citizens, and our state laws are a reminder of that fact. One vote, one voice, yes, we can.





Below you will find my perspective on the denial of African-Americans to live in Indiana and to become a citizens in the United States.

Indiana territory was part of the larger Northwest Territory. But by 1816 Indiana territory's population was large enough to become a state. Becoming a state in the in the Northwest Territory required a Constitution. And the governing document for the state would require a provision forbidding slavery and indentured servitude. not outlawed, but forbidden in order to become a state. In essence, the provision banning slavery was not simply because of sympathy towards enslaved African-Americans, but to discourage settlers from bringing more African-Americans into NWT. Matter of fact, George Washington's, the surveyor,envisioned a place for raced white males to govern without British rule and excluding slave labors and the stealing of land from the Native to sell to raced white males.

This new place would be populated with raced white male laborers. Laborers who would outnumber the raced whites in the southern states which were full of enslaved laborers. Washington plot was to give land belonging to hostile Native to entice raced white males to the new territory. The governing document, The Northwest Territory Ordinance, had a provision in it governing the distribution of land to these new settlers.

The new world would become a place ruled by those who were privileged, raced white man only. The NWTO required five thousand free men to began the territory transformation. Those males who were allowed to participate in a leadership role in this ruling class had to own at least two hundred acres of land. Those who owned at at least fifty acres of land were not allowed leadership position but they were allowed to vote for leadership.

This voting right was important because under the NWTO, voting would be only by the raced white male population who owned a certain amount of land.

This meant that foreigners and others could count for growing the population but would not have any say in the development or ruling of the state. To become a state, a territory only had to have sixty thousand people living in its borders, not all landowners. Some foreigners came over to the new territory with a dream as indentured servants, to help work the land, in hope of owning their own land. These indentured servants would be bonded by contract for seven years, to pay off their debts. But these folks could not be elible to vote. These raced whites were disenfranchised right along with freed African-Americans. Even those they owned the necessary amount of land, they were not allowed to vote. This re-enforced the governing body could only be raced white males with large land holdings. This policy would create conflict among the various class of raced white folks. But that would not be the only conflict. The brass ring was the right to become a citizen and gain the right to vote.

Some of the earlier settlers were not pleased with restrictive policies. The reason for the discontent was that some of these settlers had enslaved laborers and were not willing to give up their enslaved laborers. This right to own laborers or not would grow as new raced white settlers were bringing in slave labor from the south violating the provision forbidding slavery. While at the same time the earlier settlers could not purchase any new enslaved laborers. This conflict grew among the settlers, who pointed at the provision in the governing document that forbid slavery was not being enforced equally amongst all settlers.

Governor Arthur St. Clair decided to avoid the issue of these earlier settlers and ignored violations of the governing document. The next Governor saw that the preferential treatment of the first settlers would discourage new landowners who owned enslaved laborers. So Governor William Henry Harrison opened the door to a new type of slavery, called contracted indentured servitude for life. Under the scheme of contracts, landowners would have their enslaved African-Americans agree to labor for these landowners for a specific time frame. This was a form of sponsorship into the free world, as a different type of enslaved labor.

lContracts for long term servitude that were not entered into freely. Many African-Americans could not read and the contract were for a life time and included the binding of their children to such illusory contracts. This meant that those African-Americans coerced into signing these contracts would be enslaved for life. The dispute under the Indiana Constitution would not addressed until a new governor of Indiana, Jonathan Jenning is questioned about the constitutionality of the practice of slavery under the Indiana Constitution.

It would be an African-American woman that would challenge the practice. In 1820, Polly, challenged the legislators' meaning of the the clause forbidding slavery. Polly, an African-American was the daughter of a woman who was enslaved. Antione Lasselle gave Polly to Hyacinth Lasselle. a french fur trader. Polly was the daughter of a woman who was bought by Isaac Williams who lived at Kekionga, a slave owner. Polly believed that birth from an enslaved mother did not determine whether or not she was enslaved. Polly believed because she was born in Indiana, a state that forbid slavery determined her status in the new world. The Judge of the newly established Indiana Supreme Court agreed with Polly and stated she was not considered enslaved.

This ruling was not necessarily in Polly best interest as much as it was in the best interest of the State of Indiana. Indiana wanted to rid the territory of French settlers. This ruling freed the French enslaved laborers. To protect their property rights, the French began to migrate toward Canada. The court did not honor the French rights under the Deed of Cessation to own slaves. The French abandoned land would be confiscated and sold to raced white males. But the court did not stop at driving out the French. The African-Americans population would be the next group that would be targeted for exile.

Mary Clark took on the challenge of the racialist practice of coercing African-Americans into slavery with slave like terms embedded in the indentured servant contract. In 1821, Clark believed her long term contract was a form of indentured servitude. The Indiana Supreme Court agreed. The Court found that her binding contract was odious to the purpose for establishing the provision forbidding indentured servant and ordered Clark discharged from her contract. This ruling addressed the state's laissez-faire lack of enforcement toward migrating slave labor. And at the the same time freed Mary Clark, and other African-Americans indentured servants. Two African-Americans women fought for their own freedom long before Abraham Lincoln's election as President in 1860.

However, after these battles were won,a movement began to rid Indiana of these free African-Americans. The movement would speed up the ousting of the French. It discouraged new settlers from bringing in enslaved laborers from the bordering states. This Back to Africa movement would take care of the problem of the south, discarding of the old and unwanted African-Americans onto Indiana soil.

Governor James Ray required certificate of freedom for African-American coming to Indiana to prevent slave labor. If African-Americans did not voluntarily return back to the south, Indiana would send them back to Africa. Later, a bond would have to be paid by those attempting to bring African-Americans into Indiana. If Indiana could no longer have non paid African-Americans workers, they did not want them on the land. Indiana did not want African-Americans competing for paid laborers positions.

The Indiana Constitution was revised in 1851 with strong language, to exclude African-Americans from the soil of Indiana, making it a crime for African-Americans to set foot in Indiana. By 1857, Chief Justice Roger Taney issued a ruling under the Dred Scott case that allowed even free African-Americans in northern state to be forcefully returned to the south back into slavery. Three years later, Lincoln would support this back to Africa movement theme, in his expressed sentiment of wanting to maintain the new republic without African-Americans during his time as President.

This was to discourage African-Americans from migrating to the north. However, after African-Americans from the south participated in the Civil War and help save the union. But in 1862, after news of the emancipation proclamation, national freedom, African-Americans from the south became their journey to the north. The North was not prepared for the number of African-American flowing into their towns and did not want them. The south wanted African-Americans as non paid laborers. African-Americans found themselves battling for full participation in the new world as citizens. Citizenship that was so easy given to others coming to the new world.

Many do not want Senator Barack Obama for President, simply because he is an African-American. in 2008. Obama standing on the steps of the capital that excluded African-American from its state's constitution had to be revised to include African-Americans as a citizen, based on the United States Constitution. The Constitution in which Barbara Jordan was so fond.

Obama standing on Illinois state capitol steps, is a reminder, that African-Americans can run for President. Lincoln's Constitution states Obama is a citizen, he is the right age, he is therefore qualified. Justice John Marshall Harlan,stated in his dissenting opinion, a lone voice, in Plessy,

Our Constitution is color-blind and neither knows nor tolerates classes among citizens. In respect of civil rights, all citizens are equal before the law. The humblest is the peer of the most powerful. The law regards man as man and takes no account of his surroundings or of his color when his civil rights as guaranteed by the supreme law of the land

. People are not colorblind when it comes to equal rights for all its citizens, and our state laws are a reminder of that fact. One vote, one voice.

WSJ-Tuesday Night Lights

Online Wall Street Journal online gives a review and outlook on Super Tuesday.

"So much for the best laid plans of Terry McAuliffe. The former Democratic Party chairman helped to design the first national Presidential primary in the expectation that its sheer expanse would sink any challenger to Hillary Clinton. Instead, the most important result from Super Tuesday is that Barack Obama showed how broad his appeal to Democratic voters really is." Read the rest here.

It was nice to see my link to my blog there as well as on CNN.

Virginia prepares for Obama

We are the United States, inspite of our race and gender. This appears to be the message coming from young folks seeking a change from the old vanguard. A better United States to improve their life chances. A United States that will provide them with a living wage for their education and labor. This change they see in someone like Barack Obama an African-American. An African-American who is young and not the old civil right leaders of yesteryears who refuse to address the economical problems befalling young African-American males and others day. The economic crisis.

Changes is the message young folks are embracing from Obama not the color of his skin. This does not mean young folks are colorblind, it just means they are listening to the messenger.

In Virginia over 22,000 young people under 25 registered to vote. In the first 14 days of January young folks decided to get equipped with the right to vote to usher in change.

Obama is part of that change. Enough promises that America is ready for an African-American, young people are ready to prove their are ready for a President who just happens to be an African-American.

Had Obama taken California or New York, history would have been already written. Instead we wait. It did not matter that Obama won Georgia, Alabama, Delaware, Minnesota, Connecticut, Kansas, North Dakota, Colorado, Alaska, Missouri, Utah and Idaho. While Hilliary Clinton capture 8 states, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Massachusett, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee. Nevertheless, the second coming of Bill Clinton won with the most delegates.

But this should not deter Obama from moving forward, because Obama did a photo finish. Hillary captured only 582 delegates to Obama 562 delegates.

Matter of fact, According to Obama's website Raising Kaine a Virginia blog is now officially endorsing Barack Obama for President and encourages all Virginians to vote for him in the Commonwealth's presidential primary this Tuesday, February 12, 2008. This endorsement is based on the unanimous support among the Raising Kaine editors as well as overwhelming support from our community."

Obama's Kenya Grandmother tells Obama to keep trying

(AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

Obama's Kenya village looks to US vote by Katy Pownall, Associated Press Writer, writes:

"KOGELO, Kenya — Barack Obama's Kenyan grandmother listened to primary election results under the shade of a mango tree, none too bothered to learn that the U.S. presidential contender was neck-and-neck with his chief rival..." Re/ad more click here

Obama on Fire

The Obama and Hillary Battle is close. If anyone thought it was a given for Hillary in winning the nomination, they were sadly mistaken. CNN reports the total number of delegates to get the party's nod is 2025 delegates. Hillary after Super Tuesday is leading with 823 to Obama's 731. Amazing. Obama's first time out of the box, compared to John Edwards second run, is less than 100 delegates away from taking the lead from the well branded second Bill Clinton.

According to CNN, on Super Tuesday, the votes were spit 582 for Clinton and 562 for Obama. Talk about closing the gap, Hillary captured only 20 more delegates than Obama. And this was after Edwards dropped out of the race !!!

The next round of caucuses should have Hillary's fan worried. On Super Tuesday Obama won 13 states and Hillary won only 8. This means the closet Obamaholics must stand front and center in supporting a victory for Obama. According to CNN, althought Obama lost both California and New York, money is on his side. Four states hold contests this weekend; three other races set for next Tuesday

"Heading into the next states ... Barack Obama has a money advantage," Borger said. "And now Hillary Clinton wants to debate every single week because she doesn't have the money to compete with him for paid media. I think we'll be seeing a lot more Obama and Hillary Clinton one-on-one."

The Democratic campaigns now turn their attention to the Louisiana primary and Nebraska and Washington caucuses Saturday, the Maine caucuses Sunday and the so-called Potomac primaries in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia next Tuesday.

The candidates also have circled February 19 when Wisconsin holds its primary, March 4 when voters in Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas and Vermont head to the polls, and April 22 in Pennsylvania.

While failing to win the biggest prizes of California and New York, Obama should see many positive trends in the Super Tuesday results as he battles Clinton, the presumptive nominee a few months ago."


For those folks who doubted Obama ability to win, it appears Obama is in it to win.

First Tiger Wood now Lewis Hamilton

Yeah, I told you about the shutterbuggers bugging Tiger, but now we got folks messing with Lewis Hamilton. Of course, I am not a racing fan and faintly heard of Hamilton but that's not the point. Read the story over at the afrospear think tank.



"Lewis Hamilton told today of his torment after being subjected to racist abuse as he tested his new Formula One car in Spain.
Fans at Barcelona’s Montmelo circuit shouted “black s***”, “black whore” and “f****** blacks” whenever the British driver, 23, made a pit stop.
Several others mocked him by wearing black make-up and wigs.
Hamilton, a hate […]"

Sweet Georgia! Obama Wins!

Read the story by David Espo, special correspondent:

WASHINGTON - Barack Obama won the Georgia primary Tuesday night, the leading edge of a coast-to-coast struggle with Hillary Rodham Clinton for delegates in the grueling Democratic presidential campaign. Arizona Sen. John McCain challenged his remaining rivals for control of the Republican race.



It was Obama's second straight Southern triumph, and like an earlier victory in South Carolina, was built on a wave of black votes.

The Associated Press made its call based on surveys of voters as they left the polls.

The 87 delegates at stake in Georgia's primary were divided between the two candidates in rough proportion to the votes.

After an early series of low-delegate, single-state contests, Super Tuesday was anything but — its primaries and caucuses were spread across nearly half the country in the most wide-open presidential campaign in memory.

Overall, Clinton was winning only a slight edge among women and white voters, both groups that she has won handily in earlier contests, according to preliminary results from interviews with voters in 16 states leaving polling places. Obama was collecting the overwhelming majority of votes cast by blacks, and Clinton was gaining the votes of roughly six in 10 Hispanics.

In Georgia, blacks cast slightly more than half the votes, and Obama was winning nearly a 90 percent share of those. Clinton was supported by nearly six in 10 white voters, according to the exit polls.

In the GOP race, McCain had a small edge among voters calling themselves Republicans, a group he had not won in any of the earlier races. As usual, he was running strongly among independents. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was getting the votes of about four in 10 people who described themselves as conservative. McCain was wining about one-third of that group, and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee about one in five.

Democrats and Republicans alike said the economy was their most important issue. Democrats said the war in Iraq ranked second and health care third. Republican primary voters said immigration was second most important after the economy, followed by the war in Iraq.

The survey was conducted in 16 states by Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International for The Associated Press and television networks.

McCain was the Republican front-runner, all but unchallenged in winner-take-all primaries in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. He looked for a home-state win in Arizona, as well.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, struggling to sustain his candidacy, concentrated on Missouri and California as well as several caucus states.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee concentrated on a swath of Southern and border states. Texas Rep. Ron Paul had the fourth spot on the ballot.

In the first contest decided Tuesday, Huckabee won all 18 delegates at the West Virginia GOP convention after McCain's supporters sided with him in a successful attempt to deprive Romney of a victory.

Democrats Obama and Clinton conceded in advance that neither was likely to emerge from the busiest day in primary history with anything more than a relatively narrow edge in convention delegates.

"Senator Clinton, I think, has to be the prohibitive favorite going in given her name recognition, but we've been steadily chipping away," said Obama, seeking to downplay expectations.

As she voted in Chappaqua, N.Y., Clinton said, "The stakes are huge."

Her aides conceded in advance that Obama might win more Super Tuesday delegates than the former first lady.

Already, both campaigns were looking ahead to Feb. 9 contests in Louisiana, Nebraska and Washington state and Feb. 12 primaries in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. And increasingly, it looked like the Democrats' historic race between a woman and a black man would go into early spring, possibly longer.

Democrats had 1,681 Super Tuesday delegates to allocate in primaries in 15 states and caucuses in seven more plus American Samoa.

Clinton led Obama in the delegate chase as the polls opened, 261 to 202, on the strength of so-called superdelegates. They are members of Congress and other party leaders, not chosen by primary voters or caucus-goers. It takes 2,025 delegates to win the Democratic nomination.

Republicans had 1,023 delegates at stake in 15 primaries, six caucuses and one state convention.

The evening began with McCain holding 102 delegates, to 93 for Romney, 43 for Huckabee and four for Paul. It takes 1,191 to win the Republican nomination.

The de facto national primary was the culmination of a relentless campaign that moved into overdrive during Christmas week.

After a brief rest for the holiday, the candidates flew back to Iowa on Dec. 26 for a final stretch of campaigning before the state's caucuses offered the first test of the election year. New Hampshire's traditional first-in-the-nation primary followed a few days later, then a seemingly endless series of campaign days interspersed by debates and a handful of primaries and caucuses.

Along the way, the poorest performers dropped out: Democratic Sens. Joe Biden and Chris Dodd, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio; and Republican Reps. Duncan Hunter and Tom Tancredo, and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson.

Former Sen. John Edwards pulled out of the Democratic race last week, and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani left the Republican field.

Edwards offered no endorsement as he exited, instead leaving Obama and Clinton to vie for help from his fundraisers and supporters.

But Obama benefited from an endorsement by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who made a series of campaign appearances in California as well as his home state of Massachusetts.

Giuliani quit the race and backed McCain in the same breath, clearing the way for the Westerner in New York and New Jersey.

Giuliani's departure also made it possible for California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to back McCain. Schwarzenegger said he would not have done so as long as the former mayor was in the race.

Obama and Clinton spent an estimated $20 million combined to advertise on television in the Feb 5 states.

Obama spent $11 million, running ads in 18 of the 22 states with Democratic contests. Clinton ran ads in 17, for a total of $9 million.

Neither advertised in Illinois, Obama's home state.

Super Tuesday ---Afrosphere blogging and talking

Below you will find Dallas South Live Blogging




Tips for Readers

There’s nothing to do during a live blog other than read, watch and occasionally send in a comment or vote in the polling questions.

It’s not a chatroom. You go to largely find out what the writer has to say. An open chat with thirty or more readers turns into poor, disjointed content very quickly.

Your comments are published at the writer’s discretion. They see everything sent to them but only they can publish your comments for everyone to see.
Our ‘autoscroll’ feature ensures you’re always shown the newest content without having to refresh or scroll your screen. You can toggle this on or off by using the controls at the bottom of the live blog.

Subtle sound effects alert you to new content as the writer publishes it. This can also be toggled on or off as you like.

Viewers will be able to comment as things happen throughout the
evening. The live blog will start at 8 PM. If not, stop by Dallas South
and check us out. We'll stay on as long as we have to. Hope to see you
there.


And for you Blog talk radio listeners:

1. africanamericanpoliticalpundit blog talk radio
Blog Name: aapoliticalpundit.blogspot.com
Time of your live event:* 2/5/2008 11:00 PM E.T.*
Short description of what will be happening. *Super Tuesday Rap Up with
African American Political. Call-in Number: (718) 508-9867 if your service

2. whataboutourdaughters blog talk radio
whataboutourdaughters
we are podcasting live from 8:30PM to 10:30PM CST and I would
like to give a shout out the WAOD Podcast -one of the most popular
political podcasts on Blog Talk Radio (according to them). The call
in number is (646) 478-4750

History of black voting rights-when we vote we win

Excerpt from History of black voting rights

"Political Parties

The Democratic Party had become the dominant political party in America in the 1820s, [30] and in May 1854, in response to the strong pro-slavery positions of the Democrats, several anti-slavery Members of Congress formed an anti-slavery party – the Republican Party. [31] It was founded upon the principles of equality originally set forth in the governing documents of the Republic. In an 1865 publication documenting the history of black voting rights, Philadelphia attorney John Hancock confirmed that the Declaration of Independence set forth “equal rights to all. It contains not a word nor a clause regarding color. Nor is there any provision of the kind to be found in the Constitution of the United States.” [32]

The original Republican platform in 1856 had only nine planks – six of which were dedicated to ending slavery and securing equal rights for African-Americans. [33] The Democratic platform of that year took an opposite position and defended slavery, even warning that “all efforts of the abolitionists [those opposed to slavery]. . . are calculated to lead to the most alarming and dangerous consequences and . . . diminish the happiness of the people and endanger the stability and permanency of the Union.” [34] The next Democratic platform (1860) endorsed both the Fugitive Slave Law and the Dred Scott decision; [35] Democrats even distributed copies of the Dred Scott ruling to justify their anti-black positions. [36]"

Read the whole article here

Super Tuesday-Tour of Selma Voting Right Museum

http://selmavotingrightsmuseum.org/


http://www.aclu.org/votingrights/

http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/voting/intro/intro_b.htm

http://www.civilrights.org/issues/voting/


Not another George Bush..defective touch screen voting machines may be hanging out in your community.

The Don Imus of BasketBall steps down-Bobby Knight

Bobby Knight steps down from his Texas Tech coaching position and passes the job onto his son, Pat Knight. Ain't that America, reminds you a little bit about the Bush fathter and son tag team, huh? Knight is known as the winningest divison I basketball coach. But Knight is known in Indiana not only for his coaching skills but also for his lack of anger management as reported by Rivals.com:

"Knight perhaps is as well-known for his temper and behavior as he is for his win total. He was fired at Indiana on Sept. 10, 2000, by then-IU president Myles Brand for what Brand termed a continuing pattern of "defiant and hostile" behavior."

To read more of the article click here

College Goal Sunday and FAFSA

Wane.com Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) is one of 36 sites statewide to host College Goal Sunday 2008. College Goal SundaySM is a charitable program of the Indiana Student Financial Aid Association (ISFAA) that provides free information and assistance to Indiana families filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

This year's event is Sunday, Feb. 17, beginning at 2 p.m. in the lobby of Neff Hall. Gerald Curd, associate director of IPFW's financial aid office, says financial aid professionals walk through the online FAFSA line-by-line and are available to answer families' individual questions. This year, select sites offer FAFSA online capabilities and Spanish interpreters. To locate that information, visit www.CollegeGoalSunday.org.

Eli Manning wins a Super Bowl Peyton Manning

I am not a Peyton Manning fan nor am I an Eli Manning's fan. I did not watch the game and if asked, the team I would have selected for a win would have been the New England Patriots. I am sure all of New York is celebrating the Giants' victory over the Patriots.

Dr. Willie Wilson-Footsteps are not ordered by Man

Willie Wilson, Chicago philanthropist and successful entrepreneur is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of four very successful companies: Omar Medical Supplies, Willie Wilson Productions, and recently sold Kenya Incorporated.

From Omar website:

According to society, Willie Wilson was born a underprivileged African American child with no hope for the future but God has shown the world that: "Society and it's circumstances does not determine one's future." Wilson took God's Word over man's words and became a very wise man. Through wisdom, he entered into the land of more than enough!

After working many years in McDonald's Restaurants, Mr. Wilson received several awards including the Outstanding Store Award and Top Sales Performer Award for his hard work. He later became an owner operator of several McDonald's Franchise. He is the recipient of Doctoral Divinity from Mt. Carmel Theological Seminary, A Doctor of Humane Letters from Chicago Baptist Institute, Honorary Doctorate in Humanitarism from Swisher Bible College and Doctorate in Humanitarism from Denver Institute of Urban Studies and Adult College.

In 1987, he founded Willie Wilson Productions: a television productions company where he produced the first nationally syndicated Gospel Entertainment Show ever seen on network television! The show, "Singsation" is seen today in over 40 million homes around the world.

After singing with the legendary Norfleet Brothers, Mr. Wilson produced four recordings: I'm So Grateful, Lord Don't Let Me Fail, Just A Closer Walk With Thee and I'll Fly Away. His latest, I'll Fly Away is distributed by Universal and is available in stores throughout the United States.

By the end of 1997, Wilson still a mover and shaker, founded Omar Medical Supplies and Gemini Electronics. Both companies are successful and through these companies, many needy individuals are supported. He gives generously to Churches and countless underprivileged neighborhoods.

In addition, Mr. Wilson has been recognized for his unlimited contributions.

These Women are more powerful than Hillary

Hillary and Bill it tis a little scary, checking out the number of bodies that are falling out for Obama. Michelle, Carolyn, Maria (Oprah's neighbor) and Oprah on the same team is a force to be reckon with. It seems like Bill, (my soul brotha )playing the saxophone is just a little of the you can fool some of the people some of the times, but not all the people all the times.

Tiger Woods wins Dubai Classic under par 65

Photo by Peter Dixon

Even Tiger Woods can't believe he is as good as he is, it seems. The Press Association quotes Woods as saying,"[i]t is about playing well at the right times and getting lucky and having everything going your way."

Tigers calls a win an element of luck, when in fact, Woods is just simply the best, better than all the rest. Woods got skills!!!!!

Mark Soltau of Tiger Woods webpage writes:

"DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Tiger Woods knew he had to do something special on the back nine Sunday to win the Dubai Desert Classic. And that's just what the top-ranked Woods did, blazing a 6-under-par 31 capped by birdies at 17 and 18 to register a stirring one-stroke victory over Martin Kaymer of Germany.

Woods, who began the final round tied for fifth, four strokes behind Ernie Els, received a little help at the end. Needing a birdie to force a playoff, Els knocked his second shot in the water at the par-5 18th hole and settled for third place.

'It was a pretty neat finish,'said Woods, who closed with a 7-under-par 65 at Emirates Golf Club and finished at 14-under 274. 'I thought I had to shoot 30 on the back nine to win it.'

It marked the fifth-consecutive stroke play win and seven triumph in the last eight starts for Woods, who previously won this event in 2006, and is only the second player (Els) to win it more than once. Woods earned $416,660 for the victory.

He is also 2-0 in 2008, capturing last week's Buick Invitational by eight strokes. It's the third time in his career he has begun the season with two-straight victories.

'It's an ideal start,' Woods said. 'I just go out there and play to win.'

Wood has now won 72 tournaments world-wide, including 62 on the PGA Tour.

His chances didn't look good Sunday after a three-putt bogey at the ninth hole. But Woods regrouped with a birdie at 10, chipped in for birdie at 12, made a short birdie at 13, then drained a 15-foot putt for another at 14.

After parring 15 and 16, Woods ripped a driver just left of the green at the short par-4 17th, then nestled a sand wedge nine feet behind the hole. He made the birdie putt to climb into the lead at 13-under.

With Els playing several groups behind, Woods figured he needed at least one more birdie to hold him off. After a nice tee shot, Woods went for the green with a 5-wood and got a touch unlucky when the ball rolled through the green and hung up just above a back bunker.

'I just absolutely flushed it,' he said of his second shot, a high fade that wouldn't hold the firm green. "'I thought it was going to be perfect but it flew even further than I thought.'

Faced with an awkward stance that forced him to place one foot in the bunker and choke down on his sand wedge, Woods caught the ball a little heavy out of the thick grass and left it 25 feet above the hole.

'I could easily chip the ball it in the water,' said Woods. 'You have to make your mistake short.'

Woods didn't take much time on the birdie putt, a slick, downhill slider from left-to-right. The putt looked good from the start and disappeared into the center of the cup, Woods pumping his right fist. It was the third time in four days he birdied the 18th hole.

Woods also felt sympathy for Els, having hit his second shot into the water at 18 on Saturday.

'I did the same thing,' he said. 'If you up-shoot it in the wind, it kills it.'

Tiger felt sympathy for Els, hell who felt sympathy for Tiger with all the shutter bugs flashes shots messing up his concentration. No excuses, Tiger you won fair and square.

Women battling for civil rights-Amelia Boynton Robinson and Marie Foster

Voices of the Struggle

Women don't just sit with their arms folded and watch their children get beat down, sistahs in the struggle, Amelia Boynton Robinsonand Marie Foster having her say.

A place to never forget, Selma, Alabama.

Superman-John Lewis, the Freedom Rider

Mountain get out of the way..Congressman John Lewis is fire!!

Never forget

Feed the Hungry-Reverend Hosea Williams, Sr.

Feed the hungry food for the mind.

A Goode yesterday and A Goode today

Sarah Goode was the first African American women to receive a U.S. patent. Patent #322,177 was issued on July 14, 1885 for a cabinet bed. Sarah Goode was the owner of a Chicago furniture store. Below you can view the patent issued to Sarah Goode.

According to Black Inventors website, "Her claim to fame is that she was the first Black Woman to receive a patent.

In an effort to help people maximize their limited space, Goode invented a Folding Cabinet Bed. The Cabinet Bed when folded up resembled a desk which included compartments for stationary and writing instruments. Goode received her patent on July 14, 1885."








Preston Goode, formerly of Gosport, is celebrating his 106th birthday today, Thursday, Nov. 29, at a Camden nursing facility.

Goode lived on a farm in Mobile until 1934 when he moved to Gosport. "There was no work in Mobile. I was not making any money. I was raised on a farm and I figured I could raise something, so I moved to the country to farm.

"In 1935 I didn't have the land to raise cotton so I farmed another man's land and raised bale cotton. Back then they came out with a stamp you had to have to sell cotton. The man had a stamp to sell the cotton and he was supposed to give me half of his allotment, but he only gave me a little bit. I went to Grove Hill to the to the office and asked them to give me a stamp to sell my allotment. They made the man give me more of his allotment. That made him mad so he wouldn't let me farm his land any more. The next year Mr. Gordon of Grove Hill let me raise a bale of cotton on the Rayborn field," Goode said.

Goode and his wife, Autherine Berries, were married in 1927 and lived happily together for 55 years before she died.

"We didn't have no problems. We got along together good. I was working and she was saving. She saved and cooked and didn't waste nothing. I missed her very much when she died," he said.

Goode said he enjoyed farming and contiued to farm until he was too disbaled to perform the work. He also loved to fish and hunt. "I've done a lot of fishing. I've got rods and reels hanging on the walls in my house in Gosport. I used to fish at the Claiborne Lock and Dam until my knees got too bad to make it down the rocks.

"I loved to hunt. I killed coons, possums and turkeys. I had a lot of turkey callers."

Goode provided the first "bus" for black school children in Clarke County. He began providing them with transportation in 1947.

"I carried a lot of children to school. Some of them from the first grade until they graduated the 12th grade."

Scott Wims' track star Wall paper lift as you climb

To get Scott Wims' Wallpaper click here. To read more about Wims click here and here And if you feel like singing after reading, click on the youtube below:

Carter Godwin Woodson- Black History Month 2008

In honor of our Ancestors, I will start with the father of Black History, Carter Godwin Woodson.


"Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history." Carter Godwin Woodson 1875-1950.

No record of what their forebears have accomplished...



lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching




of biography and history.


Attention Deficit

Get Inspired Black History happens every day.

From the NAACP website:

"These are the words of Dr. Carter Godwin Woodson, distinguished Black author, editor, publisher, and historian (December 1875 - April 1950). Carter G. Woodson believed that Blacks should know their past in order to participate intelligently in the affairs in our country. He strongly believed that Black history - which others have tried so diligently to erase - is a firm foundation for young Black Americans to build on in order to become productive citizens of our society.

Known as the "Father of Black History," Carter G. Woodson holds an outstanding position in early 20th century American history. Woodson authored numerous scholarly books on the positive contributions of Blacks to the development of America. He also published many magazine articles analyzing the contributions and role of Black Americans. He reached out to schools and the general public through the establishment of several key organizations and founded Negro History Week (precursor to Black History Month). His message was that Blacks should be proud of their heritage and that other Americans should also understand it.

Carter G. Woodson was born in New Canton, Buckingham County, Virginia, to former slaves Anne Eliza (Riddle) and James Henry Woodson. Although his parents could neither read nor write, Carter G. Woodson credits his father for influencing the course of his life. His father, he later wrote, insisted that "learning to accept insult, to compromise on principle, to mislead your fellow man, or to betray your people, is to lose your soul."

His father supported the family on his earnings as a carpenter. As one of a large and poor family, young Carter G. Woodson was brought up without the "ordinary comforts of life." He was not able to attend school during much of its five-month term because helping on the farm took priority over a formal education. Determined not to be defeated by this setback, Carter was able "largely by self-instruction to master the fundamentals of common school subjects by the time he was seventeen." Ambitious for more education, Carter and his brother Robert Henry moved to Huntington, West Virginia, where they hoped to attend the Douglass High School. However, Carter was forced to earn his living as a miner in Fayette County coal fields and was able to devote only a few months each year to his schooling. In 1895, a twenty-year-old Carter entered Douglass High School, where he received his diploma in less than two years.

From 1897 to 1900, Carter G. Woodson began teaching in Winona, Fayette County. In 1900, he returned to Huntington to become the principal of Douglass H.S.; he finally received his Bachelor of Literature degree from Berea College, Kentucky. From 1903 to 1907, he was a school supervisor in the Philippines. Later he traveled throughout Europe and Asia and studied at the Sorbonne University in Paris. In 1908, he received his M.A. from the University of Chicago, and in 1912, he received his Ph.D. in history from Harvard University.

During his lifetime, Dr. Woodson developed an important philosophy of history. History, he insisted, was not the mere gathering of facts. The object of historical study is to arrive at a reasonable interpretation of the facts. History is more than political and military records of peoples and nations. It must include some description of the social conditions of the period being studied.

Woodson's work endures in the institutions and activities he founded and promoted. In 1915, he and several friends in Chicago established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. The following year, the Journal of Negro History appeared, one of the oldest learned journals in the United States. In 1926, he developed Negro History Week and in 1937 published the first issue of the Negro History Bulletin.

Dr. Woodson often said that he hoped the time would come when Negro History Week would be unnecessary; when all Americans would willingly recognize the contributions of Black Americans as a legitimate and integral part of the history of this country. Dr. Woodson's outstanding historical research influenced others to carry on his work. Among these have been such noted historians as John Hope Franklin, Charles Wesley, and Benjamin Quarles. Whether it's called Black history, Negro history, Afro-American history, or African American history, his philosophy has made the study of Black history a legitimate and acceptable area of intellectual inquiry. Dr. Woodson's concept has given a profound sense of dignity to all Black Americans.

2008 Black History Month Theme:
Carter G. Woodson and the Origins of Multiculturalism

Books By Dr. Woodson
THE EDUCATION OF THE NEGRO PRIOR TO 1861: A HISTORY OF THE EDUCATION OF THE COLORED PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES FROM THE BEGINNING OF SLAVERY TO THE CIVIL WAR. New York: Putnam's, 1915. Repr. Ayer Co., 1968 LC2741.W7
A CENTURY OF NEGRO MIGRATION. Washington, D.C.: ASNLH., 1918. Repr. Russell, 1969. E185.9.W89
THE HISTORY OF THE NEGRO CHURCH. Washington, D.C.: Associated Publishers, 1921. BR563.N9W6
THE NEGRO IN OUR HISTORY. Washington, D.C.: Associated Publishers, 1922. E185.9 .W89 1970
FREE NEGRO OWNERS OF SLAVES IN THE UNITED STATES IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1830: TOGETHER WITH ABSENTEE OWNERSHIP OF SLAVES IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1830, ed. Washington: ASNLH., 1924; Repr. Negro Univ. Press. E185.W8873
FREE NEGRO HEADS OF FAMILIES IN THE UNITED STATES IN 1830: TOGETHER WITH BRIEF TREATMENT OF THE FREE NEGRO. Washington: ASNLH., 1925. F185.W887125
NEGRO ORATORS AND THEIR ORATIONS, ed. Washington: Associated Publishers, 1926. Repr. Russell, 1969. PS663.N4.W6
THE MIND OF THE NEGRO AS REFLECTED IN LETTERS WRITTEN DURING THE CRISIS, 1800-1860, ed. Washington: ASNLH., 1926. Repr. E185.W8877 1969b
NEGRO MAKERS OF HISTORY. Washington: Associated Publishers, 1928. E185.W85
AFRICAN MYTHS TOGETHER WITH PROVERBS: A SUPPLEMENTARY READER COMPOSED OF FOLK TALES FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF AFRICA. Adapted to use of children in the public schools. Washington: Associated Publishers, 1928. PE1127.G4 W7
THE NEGRO AS A BUSINESSMAN, joint author with John H. Harmon, Jr. and Arnett G. Lindsay. Washington: Associated Publishers, 1929. E185.8.H251
THE NEGRO WAGE EARNER, joint author with Lorenzo J. Greene. Washington: ASNLH., 1930. Repr. AMS Press. E185.G79
THE RURAL NEGRO. Washington: ASNLH., 1930. Repr. Russell, 1969. E185.86.W896
THE MIS-EDUCATION OF THE NEGRO. Washington: Associated Publishers, 1933. Repr. AMS Press, 1972. LC2801.W6 1977
THE NEGRO PROFESSIONAL MAN AND THE COMMUNITY: WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON THE PHYSICIAN AND THE LAWYER. Washington: ASNLH., 1934 Repr. Negro University Press, 1969. Johnson Reprints E185.82.W88
THE STORY OF THE NEGRO RETOLD. Washington: Association Publishers, 1935. E185.W898
THE AFRICAN BACKGROUND OUTLINED. Washington: ASNLH., 1936. DT351.W89
AFRICAN HEROES AND HEROINES. Washington: Associated Publishers, 1939. DT3525.W66 "



Carter G. Woodson and the Origins of Multiculturalism