Louis Armstrong Lesson

                              Louis Armstrong (1901-1971)

Yesterday took me back to school.  My good teaching friend Peggy Kaeser continues to find ways to share Black History throughout the year with not only her Kindergartners but with their buddy classes.  I applaud her for inviting me into her school community once a month to share lessons in Black history.  Yesterday, equipped with records, a poster, books, and a special guest visitor Timothy Mueller, Kindergarten and Third grade buddies learned about Louis Armstrong and heard live music.  They listened to record excerpts and live music from Timothy as he demonstrated the bugle, cornet, and trumpet complete with different mutes.  The performance brought history to life for students and teachers.  Timothy shared the story of growing up in England and hearing a Louis Armstrong CD and beginning at a young age to play.  A huge Armstrong fan, Timothy has gone on to continue to share the jazz tradition in the U.S. and around the world keeping alive the music of Louis Armstrong and King Oliver.

On the Air-Live!

                                                Pop!  The Beat Bubble Burst on KDHX

"Black History Month Celebration on Pop! The Beat Bubble Burst continues with more great stuff to show the impact the music of African Americans had on the music of Pop!  The Beat Bubble Burst:We'll hear from Dusty Springfield, Georgie Fame, Little Joe Cook, The Searchers, Harry Nilsson, Alex Chilton, The Animals, Gary Lewis and the Playboys and more. Also, Deborah Nelson Linck will be in to talk about The Hands On Black History Museum.  Hope you can tune in ...1--noon on KDHX or at KDHX.org."

Many thanks to Rich Reese for inviting me for a return visit to promote the exhibit at Christ Church Episcopal Cathedral "Two Artists, Two Visions: Our Collective Story" highlighting and contrasting the works of Allan Rohan Crite and Cbabi Bayoc. (The exhibit is on display through the first week of March 2015).  Also, for letting me share information about the Hands on Black History Museum and thoughts about the importance of educating and giving credit to African American musicians whose contributions are the root of many Pop songs.
 Let's keep the celebration going!

Kadir Nelson

Kadir Nelson

born May 15, 1974

If you are not familiar with the work of Kadir Nelson please learn more about this amazing multi-talented artist, illustrator, author and storyteller.  His work is focused primarily on African-American culture and history.  To date, Kadir Nelson has authored/ illustrated 30 books.

 One of my favorite books that I use quite often is Henry's Freedom Box, but I love each book in my collection.  Pictured are a few of my books.   I was fortunate to meet Mr. Nelson at a St. Louis Public Library sponsored event where he graciously signed several books.  

An interview with Kadir Nelson

Morrie Turner creator of Wee Pals

Morrie Turner

                         December 23, 1923 - January 25, 2014

(Creator of the first African American syndicated strip with an integrated cast of characters)

Morrie Turner is best known for his creation of the "Wee Pals"comic strip in 1965. The 60's were a difficult time for bringing Black characters to comics.  When he began to question why there were no minorities in cartoons and comic strips, his mentor, Charles M. Schulz of Peanuts fame, suggested he create one.  Morrie's hope was to create characters and a world without prejudice, a world in which people's differences--race, religion, gender, and physical and mental ability--were cherished not  scorned.  In 1965, only five major newspapers published the strip.  In 1968 after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Wee Pals achieved nationwide acceptance.  Within three months of King's death, the strip was appearing in over 100 newspapers nationwide.  Morrie Turner went on to create several books featuring the Wee Pals characters.  

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Henry Box Brown

Today I was excited to share the story of Henry Box Brown with a small group at the Ferguson library.  No matter the size of the group I knew by the end of Story time a few more folks would know the amazing story of Henry Brown.  

An Author's note in "Henry's Freedom Box" by Ellen Levine with illustrations by Kadir Nelson reads-

"When Henry Brown climbed into his Freedom Box , he hoped he's be carried to a safe world.  He brought along a small tool to make air holes, a little water, and a few biscuits.  His only worry was about being caught.  Henry arrived safely in Philadelphia, having traveled 350 miles from Richmond, Virginia, in twenty-seven hours.  His story made newspaper headlines in America and Europe, and Henry "Box" Brown became one of the most famous runaway slaves on the Underground Railroad-the man who mailed himself to freedom. "

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Sit-In

David Leinail Richmond, Joseph Alfred McNeil, Franklin Eugene McCain, and Ezell A. Blair Jr. were students at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, a historically Black college.  Frustrated by segregation and eager to bring about a change, they sparked a series of sit-ins that lasted for a period of years, and spread from the South to the northern and western states throughout America.  By August 1961, more than 70,000 people took part in sit-ins.  They were black and white, men and women, young and old, all passionate about the cause for equal rights.

During the sit-ins, the student demonstrators left Woolworth's each evening and returned the following day.  The first set of four friends-David, Joseph, Franklin, and Ezell, who became known as the "Greensboro Four"- sat down on February 1, 1960.  On February 2, 1960, more students joined the protest.  This was the beginning of a groundswell of friends, coming together, making a difference, changing the world.
excerpt from  Sit-In  by Andrea Pinkney and Brian Pinkney

*"There had been sit-ins previously in other communities in the South, most notably in 1957 in Durham at the Royal Ice Cream shop.  The Rev. Douglas Moore from Asbury Temple Methodist Church and six others sat at "white only" booths at the Royal.  When they refused to leave, they were arrested, charged and found guilty of trespassing.  In 1958, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear their case.  "  excerpt from "Icons of the Civil Rights Movement."

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The Case for Loving

The Loving Story 

Loving v.Virginia was an important Supreme Court case, but it was also the story of a real couple.  Mildred Jeter and Richard Loving grew up in Caroline County, Virginia.  They fell in love and decided to get married.  Unfortunately, getting married was not as simple in 1958 as it was today.  Mildred was black and Richard was white.  There were laws that forbade people of different races to marry each other.  This was true in many states, including Mildred and Richard's home state of Virginia.  However, interracial marriage was legal in Washington, DC at that time.  Therefore, they decided to drive to DC, get married, and return to Virginia to begin their life together.  
This proved to be a short term solution.  The law in Virginia not only forbade interracial marriage ceremonies, but it also forbade interracial couples from getting married elsewhere and returning to Virginia.  One night, while they were asleep, the newly-married Lovings were awakened by the police in their bedroom  The Lovings were taken to jail for the crime of being married.

The Trial  

When they went to trial, the judge found them guilty and sentenced them to a jail term of one to three years.  However, the judge told the Lovings that he would suspend the sentence if they agreed to leave Virginia for a period of twenty five years.  Given the choice between imprisonment and banishment, they chose banishment.  The Lovings moved to Washington DC. 
Life was both difficult and unpleasant for the Lovings in Washington.  They were having difficulty supporting their children.  In desperation, Mildred sent a letter to Robert F. Kennedy, Attorney General of the United States.  Mildred's letter was forwarded from the Attorney General's office to the offices of the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union)  in New York.

The Victory
The Loving's case not only won them their freedom to love, but it also granted the same freedom to every interracial couple in every state in America.  

excerpts from the Loving Day website. Read the whole story.  

The Case for Loving is now a beautiful children's book.  

                                         Thank you to the Lovings.