black history
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Miriam Makeba (4 March 1932 – 9 November 2008)
I’m not a political singer. I don’t know what the word means. People think I consciously decided to tell the world what was happening in South Africa. No! I was singing about my life, and in South Africa we always sang about what was happening to us — especially the things that hurt us. Read more
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The Measure of a Man/Sidney Poitier
I have always respected Sidney Poitier. Even before I learned of his humble beginnings in this country as a dishwasher, he always appeared to symbolize the strength and dignity that all too often eludes roles written for black actors. I had hoped that reading this book would give me insight into the character of the Read more
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New York Burning by Jill Lepore
Othello’s loved ones’ options were limited where his funeral was concerned. In West Africa, night funerals are common. He couldn’t be buried at night. The Common Council had ruled that because funerals present the opportunity for uprisings to be planned, slaves had to be buried during daylight. Pallbearers were not allowed to carry his coffin. Read more
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Ida B. Wells
Last year I did one or two biographies for Black History Month. I don’t think I’m going to do that for the most part this year, but since I neglected to publish my biography for my favorite historical African American figure, I figured why not start things off right? When I first learned about Ida Read more
TJs Things 