Because of his willingness to play for segregated audiences, throughout much of his life, Louis Armstrong was called a sellout and an Uncle Tom by many Black Americans, But, in 1957, Satchmo blew up-—blasting Eisenhower to bits for not condemning treatment of Black American students in the South. His passionate words made world headlines, alienated many white fans, and divided Black America.
In WW2, the movement of millions of American troops to Britain, known as the “friendly invasion,” brought to light stark differences concerning racial segregation. Many Britons struggled to understand or accept the institutionalized discrimination that Black soldiers faced in White America, leading to tensions between the two allied nations on the matter of civil rights.
Although sparked by the acquittal of 4 white police officers who beat Rodney King, the roots of the 1992 Los Angeles riots can be traced back through decades of racial, economic, & political tensions. Therefore, to understand the magnitude & depth of anger that fueled the riots, one must consider the historical context that set the stage for this tumultuous event.
Paul Robeson’s courage in front of the House Un-American Activities Committee made him a symbol of resistance for subsequent generations of civil rights activists & dissenters, who saw in his actions a model of courage in the face of political intimidation. He stood firm for his beliefs, despite the significant cost, and pushed back against the violation of civil liberties.
The Exodusters were Black Americans who migrated westward, particularly to Kansas, in the late 19th century fleeing southern violence & discrimination. In 1879, 1000s of Exodusters embarked on an arduous journey, hoping to finally find freedom, land, & economic independence. It is known as the Exoduster Movement and it was the first great migration of Black Americans after the Civil War.
Rodney King suffered a fractured skull and cheekbone after being beaten by 4 Los Angeles, CA police officers, who were charged with a number of offenses. Many Angelenos felt certain of a conviction. After all, there was irrefutable proof in the form of a video captured by George Holliday, then, blasted across the airwaves. Wrong! Not guilty!
On July 15, 1944, in Bristol UK, the "Park Street Riot,” saw 400 Black soldiers confront 120 U.S. Military Police (MPs) over pub access. Observers later recounted that locals rooted for the Black troops. Like the Battle of Bamber Bridge a year earlier, this event underscored the racism Black troops faced as well as the disconnect between how they were treated overseas vs in their own country.
Born 122 years ago this week, Louis Armstrong's charisma & warmth captivated audiences globally. But, by the 1950s and 1960s, many Black Americans perceived him as outdated, out of touch with civil rights, and hesitant to voice his opinions—labeling him an "Uncle Tom." This deeply wounded Armstrong. But he was a far more complex & nuanced man than they knew.
Onesimus, a Boston enslaved man, saved hundreds of people from the horrors of smallpox in 1721. His contributions to science reverberate to this day b/c his knowledge led to what became the 1st vaccine-related study in America. Onesimus’s story illustrates the degree to which reputable men of science depended on the testimony & experience of Africans in dealing with a dreaded disease.
When they were called before the House Un-American Activities Committee, athletes Jackie Robinson and Paul Robeson were compelled to advocate for the loyalty, value, and patriotism of Black Americans to a predominantly white society riddled with pervasive racial prejudice. As symbolic representatives for the entire Black community, they bore a burden heavy with expectations and public scrutiny.
"40 Acres and a Mule" symbolizes the enduring struggle of Black Americans. This phrase originated in the Civil War era when the U.S. government initiated a land redistribution program to aid newly freed Black Americans, only to have it foiled by Southern powerbrokers & racists as well as clueless administrators. It reveals the challenges faced by Black folks in the ongoing pursuit of equality & justice.
102 years ago, on June 15, 1921, Bessie Coleman achieved a significant milestone as the FIRST Black woman in history to earn a pilot's license, 2 years before Amelia Earhart. With great courage and determination, “Brave Bessie,” as she would later be called, pursued her own path, striving always to fulfill her mother's aspiration for her children to “amount to something.”
60 years ago this week, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, delivered “I Have A Dream” at a seminal event in American history. The idea of a march of thousands of people united in the search for justice, equality, and equal opportunity percolated in the minds of organizers for decades. Years before Black Americans had been thinking and strategizing.
While history often remembers John Brown’s assault on the Federal Arsenal at Harpers Ferry, Virginia, it forgets 5 Black Americans who joined him, including a man named Dangerfield Newby. Dangerfield Newby’s motivation for joining Brown was rooted in his love for his family,. His story is a powerful reminder of the enduring struggle for freedom by ordinary people. They are worthy of remembering.
Both Rosa Parks and Claudette Colvin were “rebellious,” the white and Black establishment BOTH looked down on them, and neither was the first Black person to refuse to give up their seat for a white passenger in Montgomery. The fight for equality and against injustice was long and difficult and it was a collective struggle, not an individual one.
While figures like Martin Luther King Jr. & Rosa Parks are well-known, there were countless local leaders who galvanized their communities. People like Fannie Lou Hamer (MS), Ella Baker (VA), and Amelia Boynton (Selma AL), who emphasized the importance of grassroots organizing, were pivotal to the success of the Civil Rights Movement in America.
Image: Amelia Boynton knocked unconscious during Bloody Sunday.
The March on Washington did not happen, spontaneously. It grew out of decades of interconnected efforts by myriad civil rights stakeholders. Among these were the founding of the NAACP, the flowering of the movement known as the Harlem Renaissance, and the monumental court case, Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka,
Buffalo Soldiers represent the triumph of Black soldiers in the face of adversity. Their contributions spanned military achievements, nation-building, & the advancement of civil rights. Whereas, exact origins of the term, “buffalo soldier” is debatable, by the 20th century, through both world wars, “Buffalo soldier “ was a term of honor used to describe all Black Americans enlisted in the military.
Louis Daniel Armstrong's relationship with racism influenced not only his music but also the broader discourse on race in America. The barriers he broke as a Black musician are undeniable. The “Uncle Tom” criticism levied at him by some prominent Black Americans of the day was a reflection of the complex & sometimes contentious relationship between art, politics, & race in the United States.
59 years ago, Pres. Johnson signed the 1964 Civil Rights Act, shaping America as we know it today. 60 years ago, everyday activities like dining, hotels, & public trans were pockmarked by segregation & discrimination. This Act is the most comprehensive civil rights legislation since Reconstruction, & we owe it all to the tireless efforts of ordinary citizens in the American civil rights movement.
"Dear Dangerfield, you cannot imagine how much I want to see you. Com as soon as you can, for nothing would give more pleasure than to see you. It is the grates Comfort I have is thinking of the promist time when you will be here. Oh, that bless hour when I shall see you once more.”
So wrote Harriet Newby to her husband Dangerfield.
Her sacrifice , like so many millions of others, was only just beginning.
The March on Washington was the product of a long and arduous journey. Each moment built upon the previous one, generating momentum and solidarity among civil rights activists. By the time the march occurred in 1963, it stood on the shoulders of decades of activism, struggle, and resilience.
Born today in 1940, the FIRST American woman to ever win 3 Olympic gold medals, survived polio, pneumonia, & scarlet fever. Wilma Glodean Rudolph, “the fastest woman in the world,” set world records in 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash & 4 x 100 meter relay. She cemented her mark in the record books, and, in the process, inspired the world with her life story.
Two Southerners serving in the U.S. Army in 1861 made different choices when the Civil War began.
Robert E. Lee has been looked on as a source of pride by White Southerners.
But perhaps, according to historian Christopher Einolf, a better source of pride today would be Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas – another Virginian, who honored his oath to defend the Constitution.