Celebrating Black History 365

Understanding Wisdom And FOREVER Appreciating The Past

Below are links that will enrich your knowledge of the past and present selfless contributions made by just a FEW of our MANY great African Americans.  As you read the wealth of information on this page, think about how our world would be today without the selfless contributions and what we have learned from the good and the bad.  Also,recognize the unbending focus and intensity of their efforts despite repeated rejections and unfulfilled expectations.

We must continue to remember and respect our heritage (even though one might not agree with the actions of some--it is still history) by never saying good-bye to yesterday, for we are still standing on their shoulders—yesterday made our present possible . . .

Source: http://www.ls.cc.al.us/blackhistory/blackhistory.html

On The Shoulder of Giants

The feature-length documentary On the Shoulders of Giants honors a group of sports pioneers who have been all but forgotten to time, and it celebrates the legacy of a magical game – and the shoulders that today’s players stand on. This story finds its footing in the rhythms of jazz, its roots in the Harlem Renaissance… and its voice in a group of players much too talented to be ignored.


Basketball today is a star sport, with the highly paid players, endorsements, and the fan base to prove it. But that wasn’t always the case. In the beginning, those who tried to make a living at it, black or white, had a hardscrabble life. But one immigrant from the West Indies, Bob Douglas, loved the new sport of basketball and was determined to make it profitable. To do this, he would not only have to fight for the game itself, but against the rampant racism that was determined to see him fail. His team, the New York Renaissance Big Five, affectionately known as the Harlem Rens, became the embodiment of a new attitude among African Americans who fought to be recognized for their abilities rather than for the color of their skin. They were the precursors to those brave men and women who, twenty years later, would found the Civil Rights Movement.

The story of the Harlem Rens blends almost seamlessly with the burgeoning popularity of a brand-new sound: jazz. Like jazz, the Rens were brash, young, strong, and black; all of which frightened the status quo. Which meant that, no matter how good they were, the Rens would not be given the opportunity to prove it by playing against a white team for a professional title. The best they could do was to finally arrange an exhibition game with a white powerhouse known as the Original Celtics. This pivotal game would have no official status but would show the world that the Rens – and African Americans in general – would no longer be ignored. And indeed, all of Harlem expected a win. The Celtics might be world champs, but the Rens – with jazz in their blood, and the moves to prove it – had an impressive win record.

Harlem expected a slaughter against their white opponents, and they got one: in reverse. The final score wasn’t even close. The Rens – the pride and the hope of Harlem – had lost. It was the Depression that began to turn things around, putting many basketball teams, black and white, on the road. The Rens, with their jazz-inspired moves, played the Original Celtics and other white teams, winning many more games than they lost. And though the constant contact turned former enemies – the Harlem Rens and the Original Celtics – into friends, racism was still a powerful nemesis. Bob Douglas’s goal, to have his team compete professionally against white teams, still seemed out of reach.


But in 1939, two mavericks decided to create the world’s first integrated professional basketball tournament. There had been other “world championships,” but what made this one closer to living up to its grandiose name was that this would be the first time both black and white teams would compete for a national title. Now the Rens would be forced to prove, once and for all, that they weren’t all talk: going up first against another black powerhouse, the Harlem Globetrotters, and then – if victorious – following that game with their first “official” contest against a white team: the previous year’s champions, the Oshkosh All-Stars. And nobody, but nobody, thought the Rens were ready.


Archival footage, innovative 3D graphics and reenactments, along with Interviews with celebrities and sports legends, all combine to tell the story of the greatest basketball team you never heard of – and of the heroes, both sung and unsung, who remind us that we are all standing On the Shoulders of Giants.

Source: http://kareemabduljabbar.com/osg/

Black History Showcase

The Black History Showcase features a diverse mix of enlightening exhibits and activities that use “real people, real objects and real stories” to accurately present important eras and extraordinary achievements or events in African American history. This tribute to Black History utilizes interactive, educational, inspirational exhibits, living legend history makers, award winning documentary films and lectures by African American history educators.

REAL OBJECTS

The Black History Showcase includes real artifacts, and replicas to connect the past and present. The Lest We Forget Exhibit features the most extensive collection of slavery artifacts and Jim Crow memorabilia ever assembled for public examination free-of-charge. This includes shackles, branding irons, documents and more. Our Black Inventions Exhibit shows the invaluable, intellectual contributions African Americans have made and continue to make to society. This includes replicas and other information about items invented by African Americans.

REAL PEOPLE & REAL STORIES

Attendees can meet “living legends” like Negro League Players, Tuskegee Airmen and Buffalo Soldiers. They will hear first hand accounts of the trials, tribulations and triumphs of people who have defied life’s obstacles to make positive contributions to the world.

Save The Date!

FREE ADMISSION & EVERYONE IS WELCOME

Date:  April 23rd & 24th, 2011

Time:  11am - 7pm

Place:  Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA @ 13th & Arch 


Event Details

Wi.U - Please Support!

Built with precision, intelligence and creativity, the Wi.U (Why You?) is the world's finest wireless charger. Complete with a belt clip for enhanced portability, the Wi.U Charger is not only easy to carry, it can stretch your phone's battery up to 3 days at a time. Wi.U is especially built for Smart Phones. While measuring your phone's battery, the Wi.U app activates charging, when needed.

Every Smart Phone deserves a Smart Charger.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wiu/wiu-why-you-charger-wireless-smart-charger-for-iph

FUBU: Daymond John

A young entrepreneur, an industry pioneer, a highly regarded marketing expert, and a man who has surpassed new heights of commercial and financial success are just a few ways people have described Daymond John. Over the last 20 years, Daymond has evolved from one of the most successful fashion icons of his generation to one of the most sought after branding experts, business, and motivational speakers in the country.

Daymond’s creative vision and strong knowledge of the marketplace helped him create one of the most iconic fashion brands in recent years. FUBU, standing for “For Us By Us”, represented a lifestyle that was neglected by other clothing companies. Realizing this need in the marketplace, Daymond created the untapped urban apparel space and laid the groundwork for other companies to compete in this newly established market.

Daymond grew up in the community of Hollis, Queens, quickly becoming known as the birthplace of the new genre of music called Hip-Hop, with acts like RUN DMC and Salt-N-Peppa rapidly making names for themselves. Being surrounded in this influential neighborhood helped spur the inspiration for his clothing line that would ultimately change the fashion world.

His first foray into the apparel market came when he wanted a tie-top hat he had seen in a popular music video but could not find one for a good price. With the sewing skills he had learned from his mother, Daymond started making the hats for himself and his friends. Realizing he was on to something, Daymond made a sizeable order of the tie-top hats, sold them on the streets of Queens one day, and made $800 in just a few hours. There was a buzz about Daymond’s products that simply could not be ignored.

Based on that early success, Daymond recruited some of his neighborhood friends and FUBU was born. They created a distinctive logo and began sewing the FUBU logo on all sorts of apparel, including hockey jerseys, sweatshirts and t-shirts. The brand hit a tipping point when Daymond convinced Hollis native and Hip-Hop superstar, LL Cool J, to wear FUBU for a promotional campaign. This was the catalyst behind the entire Hip-Hop community supporting the new brand and instantly giving it credibility. In need of start-up capital to keep up with demand, Daymond and his mother mortgaged the home they collectively owned for $100,000. Soon, the home was turned into a makeshift factory and office space.

FUBU gained even more nationwide exposure when Daymond and his partners traveled to the industry trade show Magic in Las Vegas. Despite not being able to afford a booth at the event, the FUBU team showed buyers the distinctively cut, vibrantly colored sportswear in their hotel room. The company came back to Queens with over $300,000 worth of orders. FUBU soon had a contract with the New York City-based department store chain Macy's, and it began expanding its line to include jeans and outerwear. A distribution deal with Korean electronics manufacturer Samsung allowed their designs to be manufactured and delivered on a massive scale. With the brand transcending into the mainstream markets, FUBU recorded annual sales of $350 million, placing it in the same stratosphere as designer sportswear labels such as Donna Karan New York and Tommy Hilfiger.

After focusing on FUBU’s international expansion, Daymond and his partners decided to bring back the brand that started it all, but this time with a slightly different style. They answered the call with the creation and launch of FB Legacy. Inspired by turn-of-the-century workman wear, the rebooted brand will become the mainstay in menswear in response to today’s ever-changing and expensive trending fads. The fashion line has already been embraced by the Hip-Hop community with artists like Rick Ross, Lil Jon, DJ Khaled, and SouljaBoy all seen wearing it.

In 2009, John joined the cast of the ABC entrepreneurial business show, Shark Tank, produced by acclaimed TV producer Mark Burnett. As one of the “Sharks”, Daymond and four other prominent executives listen to business pitches from everyday people hoping to launch their company or product to new heights. Investing his own money in every project, Daymond becomes partners with the entrepreneurs helping turn their dreams into a reality. Millions of viewers tune into the show as Daymond demonstrates his marketing prowess and entrepreneurial insights.

Due to the increasing amount of requests from major companies, Shark Branding was formed to provide companies with the marketing insights that have made Daymond’s companies successful over the years. The firm consults companies on innovative strategies to connect with their consumers more effectively by associating with the world’s most influential celebrities, musicians, and personalities. Whether it’s activating a celebrity endorsement or integrating product in a music video, companies rely on Shark Branding to utilize Daymond’s contacts and relationships to produce real results and sales.
Daymond entered the literary world with his first book Display of Power: How FUBU Changed A World Of Fashion, Branding And Lifestyle which tells the story of his awe inspiring journey and provides a roadmap for those who aspire to succeed in business and in life. Daymond followed up his with his second book, The Brand Within: How We Brand Ourselves, From Birth To The Boardroom, which examines the loyal relationships companies seek to establish with the public by attaching celebrities to their brands and the instantaneous impulses consumers exhibit when purchasing a product. Drawing on his cutting edge experiences in the fashion business, as well as his hard-won insights developed as a sought-after marketing consultant to trendsetters and tastemakers, the author argues that branding relationships have now seeped into every aspect of our lives.

In recognition of his contributions to fashion and the face of American business, Daymond has been celebrated with some of the most prestigious awards including: Brandweek Marketer of the Year, the Advertising Age Marketing 1000 Award for Outstanding Ad Campaign, Crain's Business of New York Forty Under Forty Award, and Ernst & Young’s New York Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Source: http://www.daymondjohn.com

Mc Hammer: Where is he now?

At the time of his first album, Hammer opened his own music management firm. As a result of the success of his third album, Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt 'Em, Hammer had amassed approximately US$33 million. US$12 million of this total was used to have his Xanadu-like home built in Fremont, California, 30 miles (50 km) south of where he grew up. Jet estimated that Hammer employed 200 people, with an annual payroll of US$6.8 million. He currently resides in a large ranch-style abode situated on a two-acre corner lot in Tracy, California with his wife Stephanie of 25 years (whom he met at a church revival meeting and married December 21, 1985) and their five children: three boys (Bobby, Jeremiah, Sammy) and two girls (Sarah, A'keiba), along with his nephew (Jamaris) and cousin (Marv).

In 1991, M.C. Hammer established Oaktown Stable that would eventually have nineteen Thoroughbred racehorses. That year, his outstanding filly Lite Light won several Grade I stakes races including the prestigious Kentucky Oaks. His D. Wayne Lukas-trained colt Dance Floor won the Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes and the Breeders' Futurity Stakes in 1991, then the following year won the Fountain of Youth Stakes and finished 3rd in the 1992 Kentucky Derby. He continues to attend shows as well as many sporting events along side celebrities.

Hammer had several costly videos, two in particular were Too Legit to Quit or 2 Legit 2 Quit (which many celebrities appeared in) and "Here Comes the Hammer".

In the late 1990s into the early 2000s, along with a new clothing line called "J Slick", Hammer began creating and working on M.C. Hammer USA, an interactive online portal.

In 2002, Hammer signed a book contract with publishing company Simon & Schuster which called for a release the following year. However, a manuscript for an inspirational book called Enemies of the Father: Messages from the Heart on Being a Family Man (addressing the situation of African American men), for which Hammer received advance money to write, was never submitted in 2003. This resulted in Hammer being sued by the book company over claims that he never finished the book as promised. The company's March 2009 lawsuit sought return of the US$61,000 advance given to Hammer for the unwritten book about fatherhood.

Hammer frequently posts about his life and activities on his blog "Look Look Look," as well as other social websites such as Facebook, Myspace and Twitter (being one of the earliest celebs to contribute and join).

As a result of his previous success, Hammer has now become somewhat of a popular web mogul and activist, currently involved in several Internet projects (such as the TechCrunch40 conferences and DanceJam). In early 2008, Hammer launched his newest project as co-founder and chief strategy officer of Menlo Park-based (Silicon Valley) DanceJam.com. This exclusive community site is only dedicated to dancing video competitions, techniques and styles which Hammer, and others, judge or rate.

In March 2009, Ellen DeGeneres made plans for Hammer to be on her show (The Ellen DeGeneres Show) via communication with Twitter. As a result of his popularity with the site, he has been considered a "Tweeter star".

On September 28, 2010, M.C. Hammer headlined at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference for an official after-hours party.

In July 2010, Hammer started a mixed martial arts management company to manage, market, promote, and brand-build for fighters such as Nate Marquardt, Tim F. Kennedy, and Vladimir Matyushenko, among others. According to MMAWeekly.com and Bizjournals, his new company is Alchemist Management in Los Angeles. It now manages 10 fighters. That same month, Hammer also announced his latest venture called Alchemist Clothing. The brand described as a colorful new lifestyle clothing line debuted during an Ultimate Fighting Championship fight in Austin. Middleweight fighter Nate "The Great" Marquardt wore an Alchemist shirt as he walked out to the ring. Hammer has shown an interest in boxing throughout his career.

Award recipient, appearances and recognitions

M.C. Hammer has sold more than 50 million records worldwide, demonstrating hip-hop's potential for mass market success. He has won three Grammy Awards (one with Rick James and Alonzo Miller) for Best Rhythm and Blues Song (1990), Best Rap Solo (1990) and Best Music Video: Long Form (1990) taken from Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em: The Movie. He also received eight American Music Awards, a People's Choice Award, an NAACP Image Awards and the Billboard Diamond Award (the first for a hip hop artist).

The International Album of the Year validated Hammer's talent as a world-class entertainer. Additionally, Hammer was also honored with a Soul Train Music Award (Sammy Davis, Jr. Award for Entertainer of the Year) in 1991.

Hammer appeared on gospel music's Stellar Awards show in 1997 and spoke of his renewed commitment to God. In the same interview, Hammer promised to unveil the "second leg" of his career.

In the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, Hammer made a surprise appearance in the middle of the show with best friend Jermaine Jackson.

On June 12, 2008, Hammer gave his support to Warren Beatty by attending the 36th AFI Life Achievement Awards.

In August 2008, at the World Hip Hop Dance Championships, Hammer won a Living Legends of Hip Hop Award from Hip Hop International in Las Vegas.

Hammer, Rick Sanchez and Shaquille O'Neal celebrated the Best of Twitter in Brooklyn at the Shorty Awards on February 11, 2009, which honored the top short-form content creators on Twitter.

Hammer attended the 2009 Soul Train Music Awards which aired on BET November 29, 2009. He has also been a presenter/performer at Soul Train's Music Awards several times, including The 5th Annual Soul Train Music Awards (1991), The 9th Annual Soul Train Music Awards (1995) and Soul Train's 25th Anniversary (1995).

On October 2 (aired October 12), Hammer opened the 2010 BET Hip Hop Awards performing "2 Legit 2 Quit" in Atlanta along with Rick Ross, Diddy and DJ Khaled (performing "MC Hammer" from the Teflon Don album).

In September 2009, Hammer made the "accomplishment appearance" in Zombie Apocalypse for the downloadable Smash TV/Left 4 Dead hybrid for the Xbox 360.

With nearly 2 million Twitter followers, his contribution to social media and as a co-founder of his own Internet businesses (such as DanceJam), Hammer has been announced as the recipient of the first Gravity Summit Social Media Marketer of the Year Award. The award will be presented to him at the 3rd Annual Gravity Summit on February 22, 2011 at the UCLA Covel Commons.

 Source: Wiki

Ties Required: Your Dress For Success Professionals

  Michael “Beau” Williams is an author and motivational speaker who believes that dressing for success is essential for young men and women seeking to achieve their professional goals. With over 20 years of experience in mens fashion and retail, Mr. Williams knows what it takes to impress a potential employer during the extremely important first impression.

  Mr. Williams seeks to reach people with his message of dressing for success through his books and speaking engagements. He has authored two books, How to Win in the Game of Dress for Success and Would You Hire Me?, and created an informative DVD entitled How to Tie a Tie, which teaches his audience how to tie five different types of tie knots in only fifteen minutes. He also has presented his presentation entlted, Seven Keys to Landing Your Dream Job to college students and young professionals, at Texas Southern University, Lone Star College, Houston Community Colleges and organizations like Education for Tomorrow Alliance, CPS, and the Work Connection in Houston and the surrounding areas.

  In addition to his writing and speaking engagements, Michael is a member of a Houston Area Toastmaster Club, where he has won numerous awards in his district for his speaking skills. Michael also serves on the board and is a volunteer for a nonprofit organization that helps men who are job-ready get outfitted with free suits for their interviews.

  Mr. Williams continues to pursue his first passion in men’s retail sales where he stays relevant in all the latest men’s fashion, which provides him an edge that he passes on to his audience. In addition to retail sales, Michael enjoys exercising, traveling, reading, and watching sports.

  A native of Beaumont, Texas, Mr. Williams presently resides in Houston.

Source: http://www.tiesrequired.com/

How To Tie A Tie

Would You Hire Me?

How to Win in the Game of Dress for Success

 

I'm M.A.A.D.

Hidden Colors

Hidden Colors is an upcoming documentary about the real and untold history of people of color around the globe. This film will discuss some of the reasons why the contributions of African and aboriginal people have been left out of the pages of history.For this film,we traveled around the country talking to scholars, historians, and social commentators who uncovered such amazing facts about things such as:


*The original image of Christ
*The true story about the Moors
*The original people of Asia
*The great west African empires
*The presence of Africans in America before Columbus
*The real reason slavery was ended
And much more.


Hidden Colors is executive produced by 
New York Times best selling author/radio host Tariq Nasheed.

Click Here for Showings

America I AM Pass It Down Cookbook

The smells in the kitchen, the unforgettable flavors—these powerful memories of food, family, and tradition are intertwined and have traveled down from generations past to help make us the people we are today. Now, Tavis Smiley’s America I AM exhibit has joined forces with Chef Jeff Henderson and Ramin Ganeshram to create the America I AM Pass It Down Cookbook. 

This special keepsake preserves African Americans’ collective food history through touching essays, celebratory menus, and over 130 soul-filled and soul-inspired recipes. There’s something for everyone—from traditional southern cooking like Apryle’s Seafood Gumbo, Craig Robinson’s Mom’s Buttermilk Fried Chicken, and Russel Honoré’s Barbecued Boston Pork Butt, to healthy new millennium twists, including the Duo Dishes’ Honey Dijon Spiced Pecan Coleslaw, Ron Johnson’s Crunchy Collards, and Scott Alves Barton’s Fragrant Jerk Chicken. Irresistible desserts like Mama Mabel’s Apple Dumplings and Saporous Strawberry Cheesecake, and beverages like Very Exciting Fruit Punch and Tom Bullock’s classic Lemonade Apollinaris are sure to delight.

As you read this book, you’ll discover the voices of real cooks and their triumphs in the kitchen, and the ways in which African Americans have impacted the way the whole nation eats.  You’ll learn healthy cooking variations filled with heart and soul, and how to make cooking with kids fun. There’s even a section for you to add your own family recipes and “pass it down” to the next generation.

It’s time to turn the pages and join us at the table. After all, our shared experience is the greatest feast of all.