Were We Tricked?

In 1852, Frank W. Woolworth was the original USA based chain of five and dime stores. Woolworth was much like a Walmart, because the products ranged from bedroom sheets to electronics. I have fond memories shopping with my mother at Woolworth as a little girl.

(The Greensboro Four seen above)

February 1, 1960 in Greensboro, North Carolina, four African American students sat at a 'White's only' lunch counter in a Woolworth department store. The students were from North Carolina’s Agricultural and Technical College: Ezell Blair Jr., Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, and David Richmond. 

The four men ordered food but received no service, so they remained sitting at the lunch counter until the store closed. Students began coming everyday to protest at the lunch counter -- in which the count amounted to 300 hundred protesters by the 5th day. Woolworth still wouldn't integrate; some students were even arrested and charged with trespassing. 

The arrests fueled more protests and caused a snowball effect, as students launched boycotts at segregated lunch counters across the city. 

Store revenue fell sharply and store owners were ultimately forced to give in. Six months later those same four students returned to that same lunch counter and was served food. 

These courageous acts led to the integration of many stores before the Civil Rights Act was signed into law. In 1933, an eight foot section of the lunch counter from Woolworth was moved to the Smithsonian Institution to forever mark this moment in history.

Racial tension between Black people and the Woolworth department store was even more evident, which in turn triggered a massive boycott. 

As a little girl, I remembered that the Woolworth department store suddenly disappeared and I didn't know where it went or what happened to it, all I knew was that the store in which I had become accustomed to had vanished. 

Over time I found out what happened to Woolworth, would you like to know?

Since revenue sharply declined due to poor sales as a result of the boycott, in order to get and keep the black dollar something had to be done. Woolworth decided to re-invent themselves and changed their name to Venator Group; their name was then changed to Footlocker which we all know to be a major department store today.

Woolworth decided to change its focus to athletic clothing, and even started an athletic retailer mail-order catalogue titled, East Bay. 

Altogether, there are 596 Woolworth stores worldwide and all of them are now under one corporate entity. And although the Woolworth name has been masked in America, there are plenty overseas in New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Canada, and Mexico City doing very well in profit. 

Were we tricked?

Woolworth had gone out of business in America, due to its racist attitude and the owners knew if they continued with this name they'd lose more money. 

So now we're tricked into thinking that Footlocker is a totally different store, but it's really all the same. Same people, same store, and probably the same racist agenda.

Now that I am aware of these changes will this stop me from shopping at Footlocker? 

Without a blink of an eye the first word that comes to mind is, absolutely!

2008 LA

American Corporations Built From The Slave Trade

Below is a list of American companies that developed from slavery:

*JP Morgan

*Chase Bank

*Bank of America

*Aetna insurance company

*Wachovia Bank

*Amoco Oil

*CSX

Is it fair for companies to retain wealth that has been acquired through the slave trade, especially when slavery brought about pain and suffering for many black Americans that continues to wreak havoc on future generations? And although many of these companies still exist -- shouldn't they be made to relinquish the funds that is unfairly in their possession?

In my searches I found another corporation from the slave trade, and it has been around for over 300 hundred centuries! 

The company is called Unilever.

William Hesketh Lever, born in 1851 (seen-r) was the founder of Lever Brothers, a company that would soon make up one big corporate entity in the year 1930. 

The company produces products made of oils and fats -- principally soap and margarine, and is now one of the worlds biggest companies.

On the company's website it reads that William Hesketh Lever, wanted to help people look good, feel good, and get more out of life with his products. Apparently, he made cleanliness and hygiene very popular in Victorian England. 

What the company website fails to tell you is that this same man William Hesketh Lever, used forced labor of slaves to build his empire. 

Lever built a community and called it Port Sunlight, which housed and supported all his workers. In order to live at Port Sunlight workers had to comply with Lever's intrusive rules and mandatory participation in activities; working for him.  

Lever conned his worker's into working for him by offering them things that they didn't have, like housing and wages. However, the catch 22 was that if these worker's decided to move away, so then would their housing and wages.

You have to hand it to Lever, he was smart enough to think of a way to get his projects done all while getting his money back in the process, while making it appear as if he didn't harbor forced labor. He invested wages into laborers who became his tenants, and then received the wages right back when it came time for the laborers to pay their rent!

During the early 1900's, Lever used palm oil produced in British West African Colonies and when his supply ran out, he traveled to other colonies in search of more. 

In 1911, Lever visited the Belgian Congo to use his slaves to retrieve palm oil; his attitude towards the Congolese were reportedly very racist, controlling, brutal, and is very well documented. 

Belgian administrators, missionaries, and doctors protested against the practices at the Lever plantations, and although the Belgian Socialist Party were called to investigate the matter -- the forced labor continued up until the 1960's. 

Should this company not be investigated and made to pay for its divisive, racist, and unreasonable acts? It is documented that Lever was a liberal man, but apparently only "liberal" when it came to his pockets. 

   

2008 LA

A Few of My Favorite Things: Black Inventors

When I think of slavery the question that often pops in my head is, "How many black inventors had their ideas stolen by the "oppressor" for personal gain?" This thought propelled me to research Black inventors.       

*Everyone has a smoke detector in their home to alert them should the house catch on fire, right? But did you know a black man by the name of Sidney Jacoby, invented the smoke and heat detector?  

Is Sidney Jacoby's Estate and family receiving royalties for his invention?

*Black inventor Henry Blair born in 1807, made the first seed planter in 1834, and the first cotton planter in 1836. There was much land to maintain and from dusk to dawn slaves maintained it. Selling cotton was profitable for masters in the South, however, profit was almost non-existent for the slaves who grew and picked it. 

Is Henry Blair's Estate and family receiving royalties for his invention?

*Black inventor Dr. Patricia Bath (seen-r), an Ophthalmologist from New York, was the first African American woman doctor to receive a patent for a medical invention. 

Bath's invention was called the Cataract Laser Phaco Probe. This extraordinary discovery helped to remove cataract lenses accurately with a laser device, while restoring sight to people who had been blind for over 30 years!

*Sarah Boone invented the ironing board. 

*In 1839 Edmond Berger, invented car spark plugs to enable automobiles to start up.

*In 1899 John Albert Burr invented the lawn mower. 

*In 1896 Charles Brooks invented improvements to street sweeper trucks, adding revolving brushes and front fender scrapers for snow pick up. Charles also designed the part of the truck which collects garbage and crushes it, using a special power lifting mechanism. Finally, Brooks invented the hole puncher which is widely used by train conductors, schools, businesses, and in homes. 

Are these inventor's families receiving royalties for their contributions to society?

*Mr. Andrew Beard was born a slave on a plantation in Woodland, Alabama. In 1881, Beard invented the field plow and in 1892, he invented a rotary engine. In 1897, Beard invented the Jenny Coupler which is a carefully structured hook that connects train cars together. Amazing isn't it!? 

Is Mr. Andrew Beard's family receiving royalties for his inventions?

*George Washington Carver (seen-r), was a Agricultural Chemist in the 1800's. Carver discovered 300 uses for peanuts and over 100 uses for soybeans, pecans, and sweet potatoes! 

Carver suggested his recipe of inventions to Southern farmers for adhesives, axle grease, bleach, buttermilk, chili sauce, fuel briquettes (which would promote sustainable human development, and preserve our environment with renewable energy if we invest in it now), ink, instant coffee, linoleum, mayonnaise, meat tenderizer, metal polish, paper, plastic, pavement, shaving cream, shoe polish, synthetic rubber, talcum powder and wood stain.  Although Carver invented all these products, he only received 3 patents for only 3 inventions!

Who currently owns the rights to Carver's other products, and is his estate and family receiving royalties for his inventions?

*Do you have 24 hour TV surveillance in your home? You can thank black inventor Marie Brown, who created the first video home security system on December 2, 1969. 

*If you have a boiler in your home or apartment building, vacuum pumps, central air conditioning, and refrigerators, you can thank black inventor David Crosthwait. He invented the heating system for New York's famous Radio City Music Hall and Rockefeller Center. 

Crosthwait was an expert with heat transfer, air ventilation, and central air conditioning. The current owner's of David Crosthwaits' inventions are 'Dunham-Bush' Inc., and has a main headquarters sitting in West Hartford, Connecticut.  

Who is Dunham-Bush and how did they receive the rights to Crosthwait's inventions?

*Futuristic thinker and black inventor George Carruthers (seen-r), invented the far Ultraviolet Camera Spectrograph, which was the first of its kind to be taken to the moon by Apollo 16 and astronauts in 1972. 

The camera allowed researchers to examine the Earth's atmosphere for concentrations of pollutants. Carruthers built the first telescope during young school years with teacher's often telling Carruthers, that his ideas and ways of thinking were "out in space". Ha! I guess they were right about the space part!

Whether there is documentation of negotiation on patent ownership or not for these black inventors, we know for a fact the contracts couldn't have been fair given the time period in history. An investigation should be conducted into patent ownership rights regarding slave inventors, to make sure future generations of these successful inventors are rightfully receiving their inheritance, and if not contract negotiation should be on the table. 

I find it disheartening that I wasn't taught any of this in school, but I'm overjoyed of my discovery -- and hopefully yours as well. 

2008 LA

Are There Good Qualities To Gain From Being Poor?

Are there good qualities to gain from being poor? Or should I say less fortunate? 

It may sound a bit crass, but it's ever so true. Just think about it for a minute; if a person was born into wealth it might be hard identifying with someone of limited means, especially if you've never been around it. Wealthy people could possibly only hang with other wealthy people; same goes for the less fortunate -- which helps you understand the disconnect. People usually hang with those in their immediate surroundings.

A wealthy person is use to eating the finest foods, sleeping in the finest homes and hotels, wearing the finest clothes, vacationing whenever the mood hits them, while spending excessively without a budget. This person is financially stable and will never understand the struggle and pain of not knowing how their bills will be paid, where they'll get their next meal, or how they'll survive. The only way they'd understand is if they too have come from humble beginnings.

Then there's "Skid Row" where people are so use to struggle, that it becomes a common ritual. These people live paycheck to paycheck, struggle to put food on the table, and have break downs from built-up stress and depression. These people work 2-3 jobs just to care for their families. These people never have enough time to spend with their children, and so desperately need a helping hand. But these same people have the best quality of character and heart therefore, retaining the number one spot of compassion.

Qualities gained as a result of being less fortunate:

1) Humbleness - comes through struggle and sacrifice. When you're not use to having, you learn to appreciate what you do have. When you do better, you never forget the struggle that got you where you are. 

2) Creativity - stems from your imagination. When you have limited means and can't afford lessons or activities, you adapt by making up your own fun things to do. Can't afford piano, guitar, or swimming lessons, so you invent/create things therefore -- becoming self-sufficient.

3) Unique Sense of Style -  Name brand clothes? Ha! Yea, okay. So you buy what you can afford or "create" your own outfit, ultimately creating your own style.

4) Self-Expression - Some of our best music have come from struggle, and wonderful poetry and books. When you listen to artists' songs, you hear their stories of struggle and pain and how they used their experience through self-expression to dig them out of their hole.

5) Hardworking - The less fortunate works the hardest to catch up. Their jobs usually don't pay enough and are close-ended career wise, so another job is added to balance the rising costs of products.

6) Spiritual - Always and forever giving God the glory for allowing you to make it another day. For allowing you to wake up, to have all your 5 senses, and workable limbs, to bless you with a roof over your head, food in your belly, and clothes on your back. Most people know there is a higher power; and for that the lord is praised for lifting the load when it becomes to much to bare.

7) Loving - In less fortunate homes love is your riches. Love is what holds a family together in good times and in bad. If the struggle becomes to much, the love of family and good friends will keep a smile on your face. It's the family gatherings at Grandma's house, or a big family cook-out in the park that keep us close at heart and bonded in the family traditions of our ancestors.

These are qualities I've discovered through personal experiences and research. It would be interesting to see a fortunate person and less fortunate person, switch environments so their experiences can be used as a study guide.

2008 LA

Looking For Great Black History Movies?

Now that Senator Obama has announced he's running for president, Americans have become extremely interested in Black history -- yearning to learn the culture behind the man. I've received many hits to this page, from curious individuals searching for more knowledge about Black life.

So, I decided to link a list of great Black movies. These films range from slavery, to modern day slavery, to Blacks in the military and plenty of racism to go along with it. Many of the films are true documented proof of American history, and I recommend these films for educational purposes; the footage is very blunt and direct so viewer discretion is advised.

These films can also be purchased at Amazon.com, or check them out at your local library. I hope you enjoy my choices and research to find even more great Black films.

2008 LA

The Oppressor Verses The Oppressed

Pondering over the last few months, in less then forty days the American people are electing a new president.

We've come a long way with debates, speeches, interviews, ads, and the rude awakening of blatant in-your-face racism.

Over the course of the election, there were things learned about the black race that had never been known before; sad that it took having an African American running for president to begin these discussions -- but it's a starting point. 

Through it all I've realized that this presidency is obviously the battle of the fortunate verses the less fortunate; or shall we say the oppressor verses the oppressed?

The oppressor makes it painfully obvious that their agenda is to keep others downtrodden, in order to make themselves priority at all times. Researching Black history, American history, and governmental history, everything began to connect like dots as I followed the "yellow brick road" all the way up to the current Bush administration and it hit me, that everything the oppressor tries to brand minorities as -- they really are themselves.

Example 1: Since the first slaves were brought to America the oppressor has worked tirelessly to form negative images of black people, so that eventually all who listened would come to believe it. 

In fact one of the first films depicting black people in a negative light was a movie directed by Dixon Griffith, and it was titled 'The Birth of A Nation'. 

The film portrayed people of color as thugs, gangsters, and rapers of white women. However, because the oppressors were wrong to enforce slavery while raping black women, and forcing cruel treatment upon blacks -- wouldn't that then characterize the oppressors as thugs, gangsters, and rapers? 

Maybe the oppressors assumed if Blacks were cast in a negative light, it would give them an excuse to treat them the way they always have and still do? Remember, everything has a history behind it.

Example 2: The oppressors dismiss people of color while branding them as welfare and charity cases. How can one brand a race of people knowing full well the history behind the struggling race?

If the oppressors' ancestors were forced to another country while being treated worse than a dog, and enslaved for over 500 years and after slavery was abolished -- still looked upon as a second class citizen with no chance to realize true opportunities, I'm sure the oppressors would need some sort of financial assistance as well. After all, being oppressed is having everything taken away from you, including your pride and dignity and as a result, the struggle can transfer to future generations making them the product of a painful and misplaced history. Try bouncing back from that one.

Instead, the oppressors gain wealth from the blood, sweat, and tears of other races while using their money to pass onto future generations; this keeps wealth within the oppressors circle. The oppressors creating wealth from the efforts of other races can also be considered as corporate welfare; a form of welfare for the rich.

Example 3: The oppressors want all to believe that people of color are illiterate and incapable of learning, and are less intelligent then other races. This is why books and intelligent Negroes, were kept away from the illiterate ones as it was discovered early on that knowledge is power, so they took the minds of the slaves and left the bodies. 

If a slave was caught reading or writing they were either beatup or sold off. This same method has carried over into the 21st century, but instead of beatings we have broken public school systems, and states trying to erode the very unions put in place to protect our teachers. For some reason minority children are thought of as low class, and not good enough for top of the line education.

Example 4: And then there is the skin color issue that seems to infuriate the oppressors and ignorant like-minded individuals. But obviously having brown skin doesn't make a person all that inferior, if that were the case then Senator Obama wouldn't be whooping John McCain's a** right now in the presidential election; but just an observation.

No one can understand the oppressed better than someone who has been oppressed, and John McCain couldn't be oppressed especially when he commented that, "The fundamentals of the economy are strong." 

Huh?! What?!

Exactly. Completely out of touch with the American people, and totally in-touch with the occupation of oppression.

Click here to view original slave document.

2008 LA

The Ku Klux Klan: Moments In History

A recent documentary that aired on the History channel taught all who tuned in that day, about the founding of the Ku Klux Klan; a racist, anti-Semitic movement, with a commitment to extreme violence in order to achieve its goals of racial segregation and white supremacy. 

My awareness of the Ku Klux Klan never stops my infinite curiosity from checking out any footage I come into contact with, just in case something new is learned -- and as always it completely blows my mind to see how hateful and evil some humans can be.

The documentary displayed rallies all across America, but mostly in the Southern states where Ku Klux Klan preachers and white supremacists, intentionally teach others to hate. During a segment in the documentary, a group of KKK members came together in front of a burning cross while yelling, "We hate Jews, Niggers and Spics!"

The members continued screaming that minorities are the enemies, and are disruptive to the white race which is the reason they yelled,"Niggers should go back to Africa and Jews are taking over!"

News flash! If Africans were never kidnapped, tortured, and forced to come to America, maybe black people wouldn't be here right now. 

How can the Ku Klux Klan tell black people where to go, when America isn't their original homeland either? Native American Indians (or indigenous people) were the original founders of American land and because the Native Indians wouldn't conform to the European way of living, it triggered a mass genocide that ended with a death count in the millions for both races and resulted in the Native Americans land being stolen. 

C. Edward Foster made an appearance as the "Grand Dragon" and "American Knight" of the Ku Klux Klan. Foster stated that, "since 1915 the burning cross has been a Klan ritual"; the cross burning signifies eternal light of the KKK. The leaders went around in a circle asking members, "Do you accept the light," while chanting, "For God, for the white race, for our children, for American Knights of the KKK!" The children at the rallies were told to "let the crosses burn into their souls."

During a point in the documentary it showed that slavery was eventually abolished however, white supremacists wanted to keep black people as second class citizens and in order to make this happen the Ku Klux Klan, decided to gain momentum for their cause by adding more KKK members and expanding their group efforts across the Southern states, as a way to keep black people away from the voting booths.

The KKK's master plan was to terrorize, intimidate, and lynch African Americans to attain power and control. Millions of African Americans lost their lives as a result of this barbaric behavior. Tombstones of the Black victims read: Killed By The Ku Klux Klan.

The documentary concluded with the information that the Ku Klux Klan was indeed founded by our American Congress. In order to recruit more members they discovered that their mission and message needed to change, as they found it difficult to garner support when being honest about their intentions. 

I'm sure their message of  "Join the KKK and we'll lynch a Black or burn a building", wasn't exactly working in their favor anymore. So their messages were disguised with patriotic values and leadership opportunities for "whites only."

You know you're doing something wrong when you have to sneak, hide, and manipulate others to carry out a mission.

Click here for more information on "Birth of a Nation."

2008 LA

Thomas A. Dorsey (1899-1993)

Thomas A. Dorsey, known as The Father Of Gospel Music had two careers: composer of religious gospel songs, and a low down blues performer.

In 1908, the Thomas moved to Atlanta where he was exposed to all kind of secular music, including the urban blues of Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey. He grew up in Villa Rica, Georgia, in the musical wealth of the black church where his father was a preacher.

By 12 years old, Dorsey was a piano genius and in his late teens he went on his quest to the North; settling in Chicago in 1916. Thomas Dorsey studied music at Chicago's College of Composition, where he continued arranging while making music. Songs he was most famous for are, "If you don't believe I'm leaving, count the days until I'm gone", and gospel hymn "If I don't get there".

Dorsey gave his heart to Jesus a long time ago by promising not to sing urban blues, but the real money was in secular music so he stayed. Before long he worked with a band called, "The Whispering Syncopators".

Jazz musician Joe "King" Oliver recorded Dorsey's composition "Riverside Blues", which became his first single. The next two years he worked with legendary blues singer, Ma Rainey and the Wild Cat Jazz Band. Dorsey went on to write sexually suggestive songs titled, "Pat My Bread" and "It's Tight Like That" which sold 7 million copies.

When Dorsey was done with his tour, he settled back home and wrote a song that was inspired by the death of his wife and infant child. The song became nationally known as, "Precious Lord Take My hand".

In 1933, Dorsey co-founded the "National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses", therefore establishing the first Black gospel music publishing company named, "Dorsey House of Music". 

After the death of his family Dorsey, only composed religious songs for the rest of his life. He eventually married again and fathered another child. He continued his life of writing and promoting gospel music, until his death at the age of 93 years old.

Thank you Thomas A. Dorsey for your creative style and brilliant mind. You left a legacy of timeless songs still being heard in the 21st century. 

Question: Do you think the Black Church still has a strong influence on the music of certain Black artist's?

2008 LA

Unshackled

"There is in this world no such force, as the force of a person determined to rise. The human soul cannot be permanently chained.”
~ W.E.B. Du Bois ~ 


Moments in life aren't to be feared, they're to be conquered. Growing up life seemed to be as easy as breathing air, but when you become older and experiences become more prevalent, it's easy to see how self-doubt can settle in.

Children are usually less fearful than adults, as their little minds haven't caught up with the rest of their bodies in understanding all the complexities of the world. This in turn allows children to dream their biggest dreams, and more often then not, little ones know exactly what they want to be in life -- because their natural talents can shine bright at an early age. With age comes wisdom which makes you aware of your limitations, which doesn't make your big dreams seem smaller but instead inconceivable. 

As a result, we can limit ourselves due to the power of negative thoughts; and why? Because the funds aren't in place for college so why even apply; not knowing that you could easily qualify for grants and/or scholarships? Or is it our insecurities that make us feel that there is no hope, therefore, no effort should be put into it?

What was your passion when you were a kid? Was it playing basketball, singing, acting, writing, playing doctor, drawing? 

9x out of 10, what you loved doing then is exactly what you love doing now. You were able to tap into you talents at an early age, so when you became older you'd be well on your way. 

For many limited means is what holds us back; but let me tell you something money can't stop your voice from being heard if you're a singer, actress, teacher, or motivational speaker. Money can't stop your fingers from moving if you're a writer, photographer, or painter. And money sure can't stop you from being creative and intellectual to the best of your ability.

Yes, having money would make some things a lot easier, but having your natural gifts are priceless and is something that can be used to touch the world. So concentrate on your gifts and as they mature, watch yourself bloom like the flower you are.

2008 LA