By today’s Trumpian standards he seems mild. Even Obama praised him. Along with Lincoln, Republicans trot Ronald Reagan out every time Democrats praise their greats: Obama, LBJ, Kennedy, FDR or Truman.
Republicans regularly rate him their greatest after Lincoln.
In reality, the “great communicator,“ as he was called, was an impenetrable facade of congeniality who was hostile to civil rights.
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.
The G.I. Bill created the prosperity & laid the groundwork for the American superpower. But the postwar boom stopped at the color line. Black American frustration at discriminatory distribution of G.I. benefits would soon erupt into the modern Civil Rights Movement. These discriminatory practices and systemic barriers faced by Black-American veterans under the G.I. Bill had far-reaching consequences that persist today.
John Brown was known for his militant tactics in the fight against slavery while Frederick Douglass, the slave who became a powerful orator & writer, used the power of words and alliances to end that barbarous practice. Although the two men shared the same goal, their approaches were vastly different, and their relationship was often strained. In fact, John Brown's actions almost got Frederick Douglass killed.
British Caribbean slavery, cornerstone of the British empire, was characterized by extreme & brutal exploitation. It yielded substantial wealth for a privileged few and the British government, but inflicted immense suffering on the majority of enslaved individuals, making them the most overworked & harshly treated people in the eighteenth-century Atlantic world. This history had enduring consequences.
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.
“For the horrors of the American Negro’s life,” wrote James Baldwin in 1962, “there has been almost no language.” The history is clear. America gave Black Americans nothing. What freedom we have was earned through blood, toil, grit, perseverance, & courage. After the deadliest insurrection in American history, Black-New Yorkers rebuilt their lives, shaped their destinies & contributed to the ongoing freedom struggle.
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.
160 years ago, in July 1863, a 4-day reign of terror descended upon NYC Black-Americans, who faced targeted violence, persecution & destruction. The riots exposed the deep-rooted racism that permeated Northern society, as Black men, women, & children were brutally attacked and subjected to horrific acts of cruelty. It was the deadliest riot in American history, but it showcased again the resilience of Black America.
A significant number of white Americans opposed fighting in a civil war that would grant freedom to Black Americans. Their concern was former slaves, whom they considered inferior, would compete for jobs at lower wages. Consequently, in July of 1863, a white mob, furious with conscription, targeted Black New Yorkers in an attempt to eradicate them from the landscape. The Union was not as united as it is often portrayed.
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!
The perception of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X is one where the two men are diametrically opposed figures in the battle against white supremacy (political insider vs. political renegade). The truth is more nuanced. King and Malcolm X shared "convergent visions" for the betterment of Black America. However, their strategies to attain their shared goal were shaped by their disparate upbringings.
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.
On July 5, 1852, Frederick Douglass delivered his greatest speech, "What to the Slave is the 4th of July?" Resonating with principles of freedom & equality, this speech was a powerful indictment of American hypocrisy & moral decay, as a nation simultaneously celebrated freedom while it enslaved millions. He compelled white Americans to confront the inherent moral contradictions in their society or face dire consequences.
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.
In 1961, a mob of armed KKK attacked the Monroe NC neighborhood of NAACP leader, Robert F. Williams. But they messed with the wrong ones that day. Williams & his followers engaged in an intense confronration that sent the Klan bolting. Contrary to the prevailing narrative that they were hapless victims of violence, Black Americans regularly handled business protecting themselves & their families from KKK & other racist mobs.
In 1920, Mamie Smith became the FIRST Black American to record a Blues song. "Crazy Blues” ushered in a new era of "race records.” Previously, white singers copied Black vocal styles in blues recordings, while Black entertainers like Ma Rainey, Ethel Waters, & Bessie Smith were confined to the "Chitlin Circuit." Mamie Smith’s success paved the way for black blues & jazz musicians to thrive.
In 1943, U.S. forces in Britain expected to export racial segregation. When white American Military Police (MPs) insisted a local pub segregate, the owner said he would. When MPs returned next day, they were met with “Blacks Only” signs & British barmaids telling white soldiers to wait their turn when they thiught they would be served before black soldiers. This set the stage for the epic Battle of Bamber Bridge.
"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.
If you were Black and woke up in NYC on Monday, July 13, 1863, things got terrifying quick. For Black New Yorkers, there was no reprieve. Black life was dispensable to white mobs & law authorities. The Civil War, poverty, & rabid racism in 19th-century New York explains the events of that week. For Black Americans, the NYC Draft Riots were a heinous episode in an already brutal age. But it didn’t happen in a vacuum.
The 1980s brought rising poverty, unemployment, gang activity, drugs & violent crime to the poorer neighborhoods of Los Angeles, CA. Repeated violent encounters between police officers and civilians led many minority communities to believe that LAPD brass were not holding officers accountable, Thus, the stage was set for one of the most significant civil uprisings in American history.