http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/OBITUARIES/2009-06/1246061818
Many of us our familiar with the calls for Reparations made by Black Luminaries such as Dr. Ray winbush, The Honorable Elijah Muhammad, The Minister Louis Farrakhan, The Republic Of New Afrika, and others. But how many know about Mrs. Callie House? Based out of Nashville, Tennessee & Rutherford County, House launched the The National Ex-Slave Mutual Relief Bounty and Pension Association in 1897. Seventy years before the Civil Rights organizations we all know about fought against Southern Jim Crow Laws, Callie House set up a nationwide network of former slaves demanding Reparations for services rendered over the course of 250+ Years of slavery. What's unique here, is that the Reparations would be structured out in the form of pensions for aging individuals formerly held in slavery, their surviving spouses, caregivers, and heirs-similar to the pension plans set up for former Union Army Soldiers. House traveled across the southern states building up support for the movement, and setting up Local Chapters in multiple cities & towns. it is unclear how many people actually joined the movement; but it was clearly large enough that she would soon draw the ire of the U.S. Government. Much like Honorable Marcus Mosiah Garvey, once the government realized how strong the movement was, she was accused of Mail Fraud & sent to Prison. The charge was "justified" based off of the assertion that she was using the mail to send off pamphlets of information pertaining to something that the Federal Government would never do. After serving approximately one year in prison, Callie House returned to her life as a Wash-Woman in South Nashville-where she remained-until her death in 1928. Many of her followers would be absorbed into Garvey's Universal Negro Improvement Association. Among those followers was Queen Mother Moore, one of the most famous fighters in the cause for reparations (payment for the forced labor under american Chattel slavery). For more information on Callie House, peep the link & video below: http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/OBITUARIES/2009-06/1246061818
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Beatriz Nascimento (1942-1995) was an Intellectual Militant, Poet, Teacher, Researcher, and Historian in Brazil. An Authority on All Things Black History & Culture, Nascimento helped found Grupo de Trabalho André Rebouças (André Rebouças Working Group) A Student Movement designed to address Racial Issues from an Academic Perspective. Between 1974 & 1995, Beatriz Nascimento became increasingly well known for for her lectures, Research Projects, and Documentary Work ("ORI" 1989). Her writings on the history of The "Quilombo," (people of African origin, Quilombolas, Maroons, etc) & her Ideas in regard to the experiences of Blacks in the Diaspora "Trans-Atlanticity" became highly touted works of intellectual & Revolutionary Genius. She was the face of Brazil’s "Movimento Negro" or black movement & was also well-known for her poetry-which was said to have had a very sensitive & unique take on the life of a Black Woman. On January 28th 1995, Beatriz Nascimento was killed in Rio de Janeiro after intervening on behalf of a friend in a violent relationship. She was shot five times. While her ending seemed to have more with Brazil's notorious culture of Domestic Violence, one must note that four other members of the Movimento Negro to be killed that year. Her assasination would have been the fifth.
#SaluteToAllFreedomfighters Percy Lavon Julian was a Pioneer in the Field of Chemistry-holding more than 138 U.S. Patents on chemicals created from the synthesizing of Plants & their Elements. His efforts in pioneering the Large-Scale Production Processes in extracting human hormones and steroids from plants Led to Advancements in the use of therapeutic drugs and steroids for glaucoma, rheumatoid arthritis, and several other diseases. His work was also instrumental in the development of Birth Control Pills and a number of other drugs that we take every single day. Possibly most important, his success in that area made the treatments more affordable and more widely available to the public. Undeterred by Alabama Segregationist policies that put obstacles in the way of Black Students desiring more than an Eighth Grade Education, Percy Julian still was able to graduate 1st in his class from DePauw University in 1920 (PHI BETA KAPPA). Julian would go on to earn his Masters Degree from Harvard-before earning his Doctorate from The University of Vienna in 1931. Still facing roadblocks from universities & Companies not ready to remove the "Glass Ceiling," would move around numerous times before founding Julian Laboratories & The Julian Research Institute in the 1960's. Passing away on April 19, 1975, Percy Julian had risen to become one of the Most Wealthy and Admired Black Men in the history of this country. He is in The NATIONAL INVENTORS HALL OF FAME, has numerous school facilities & streets named after him, and was honored with a U.S. Postal Stamp in 1993. From at least the 1950's up to this day, the imagery of what BEAUTY is has been a rather divisive issue to deal with. Imagine the insecurities that can come from being told that Beauty applied only to any number of Caucasian Women-usually with Blonde Hair & Blue Eyes??? Don't get me wrong, I've got a Jones for Scarlet Johansson & a few others-but For the Black, Latino or Asian child, where does that do to how One views Self-One's Mother, Sister, Aunt, etc? Why aren't they beautiful too??? Look closer & see the deeper meaning and impact here. Self-Worth. Pride in One's Self & Identity. Back in the day, and unfortunately still today, women of color frantically permed/still perm their hair and did/do all they could/can to emulate the looks of another. Ironically an "Other" that goes out of their way to look like US??? It's simply insanity to want to look like someone that wants to look like YOU! So for the sake of current & future generations, we must again remember & assert with force, the understanding that BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL. Comments & Feedback Encouraged... Since the seventies, we’ve been locked in a battle for our minds, hearts, & souls. Probably longer than that; but shit got real in the sixties!!! What constitutes a Real Man? What exactly is a Strong Woman? What is life really all about, and what should we be striving for? Once upon a time it was that Brother that fought against the odds-no matter how tough the fight! Once upon a time, it was that sister that provided that spiritual & emotional support-no matter what! What happened to the times when we tried to model ourselves after Malcom, Huey, Angela, Assata, Ossie & Ruby, Heathcliff & Claire, Martin & Coretta??? Now we base our lives off comedians & staged so-called reality shows. If he works hard; but has scuffs on his shoes, he is somehow less than? If she’s been in a couple of bad relationships, then she’s somehow a hoe? Really??? Every time we as a people start to fight for a better existence, we take out eyes off of the wheel, and the very power structure we are supposed to be fighting takes over our tools in which we spread the message. From Movies, to Television, to Music, to Political Movements... We once had that One Bad Brother or Sister that stood for something & would not bend. Now we just have bad weaves, skinny jeans, and over the top comedy that satisfies every stereotype that has been used against us since the very moment that we arrived in this country. Our media spoke on life lessons, learning, and growth. Now it's all about that dramatic moment. What are we teaching our children??? When one of ours is lost, we're angry initially, but seek no real options to ensure that those who seek to harm us will at least thin twice before doing it again-but we will “turnup” on any one of our own that even slightly disrespects us. Smh. Our celebrities quietly bleach their skin-totally oblivious to the fact that many celebrities, of other races are doing all that they can to get thicker & darker. When will the madness end? More importantly, will that ending coincide with OUR Ending??? Time will Tell. Let US Control Our Lives, and the imagery that defines Our Lives; so that no one else can again define us as less than human or somehow prone to savagery. Remember the past, and learn the necessary lessons for our FUTURE-before it's too late.
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