Jumping the Broom - Black History

A tradition celebrated by many African-American couples that dates back to the 19th century (some believe that it may date back as far as the 17th century).

In many African-American wedding ceremonies, the marrying couple will jump over a broomstick to symbolize their union. During the times of slavery, unions between African-American slaves were not recognized and formal marriages were not permitted.  In the absence of formal ceremonies, jumping the broom became the open declaration for a marriage-like union.  Jumping the broom was always done before witnesses as a public announcement to other members of the slave community that a couple had joined in union.

Other ethnic groups also celebrate traditions similar to jumping the broom.

Pt. 1 Garrett Morgan - Saving lives one invention at time. #BlackHistory

Garrett Morgan was born to former slaves on March 4, 1877 in Kentucky. At an early age Garrett set out to find opportunity for a better life. Garrett found work as a sewing machine repair man and was known for fixing things. Through the years he saved up enough money to start his own sewing machine equipment-repair business. Garrett invented the zig-zag stitching attachment for manually operated sewing machines, established a tailoring business as well as personal grooming business (which is responsible for creating the curved tooth pressing comb and black oil air hair dye). Garrett’s creative thinking allowed him to employ over a dozen employees and was a great business leader who overcame many obstacles and all with a 6th grade education.

Newsboys for the Cleveland Call & Post

Garrett later on went to work with a team of people to establish a newspaper called the Cleveland Call & Post, which served the black community in Cleveland. BUT what changed the game for Garrett was his invention of the safety hood better known as the gas mask.

There was an terrible explosion in an underground tunnel beneath Lake Erie. Not only did Garret go in with a team of volunteers to rescue the victims but they also used his new gas mask. Garret invented a gas mask that would be used by many fire departments and during WWI. Garrett’s mask was known as the Morgan Gas Mask/Safety Hood. Garrett Morgan invented the Safety Hood and Smoke Protector and later refined his early gas mask. He won a medal at the International Exposition of Sanitation and Safety, and another medal from the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

 

Stay tuned to Part 2 of Garrett Morgan’s invention... saving one life at a time.

 photo source: Encyclopedia of Cleveland History, The Western Reserve Historical Society

Hip Hop - #BlackHistoryFact

Hip Hop is a culture that was created during the 1970s by blacks and latinos residing in the South Bronx area in New York. Hip Hop is comprised of four distinct parts: rap music, turntablism/DJing, b-boying/break-dancing and graffiti. 

Rap music can be broken down into different components, such as "content", "flow" (rhythm and rhyme), and "delivery".  Although rhyming is a key component of rap music, rap differs from poetry in that it is delivered and timed with the beat of the music. Graffiti is considered the visual expression of hip hop.  B-boying or break dancing is considered the physical expression of hip hop culture.   DJing is not only the ability to play  music but you must be a skilled turntablist. DJing is the technique of manipulating sounds to create music using turntables and a mixer. 

The four Elements of Hip Hop

Hip Hop culture has spread to both urban and suburban communities throughout the world.

Shirley Chisholm - 1st African American woman elected to the House of Representatives

Shirley Chisholm...have you heard of her?  If not let's provide some great facts about this visionary.  In 1968 Shirley Chisholm was the first African American woman elected to the House of Representatives.  Shirley represented the state of New York.  During Shirley's 2nd term in the House, she decided to run for the US Presidency.  She became the 1st black woman to run for president!  Although she did not win Shirley was determined to make a change.

Shirley served 14 years in Congress and she will always be an inspiration to many.  She retired in 1982 but her work was not done.  Chisolm continued to teach and educate the masses.  She co-founded the National Political Congress of Black Women.  Unbossed and Unbought was a well know quote and she lived her life just that way.  Thank you Shirley Chisolm. 

Check out her book Unbought and Unbossed. 

Click here to read more about Shirley Chisolm check out this site 

picture source 

Freedom Riders - #BlackHistoryFact

Freedom Riders wait to board a bus in Montgomery, AL in 1961

"On May 4, 1961, a group of 13 African-American and white civil rights activists launched the Freedom Rides, a series of bus trips through the American South to protest segregation in interstate bus terminals. The Freedom Riders, who were recruited by the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), a U.S. civil rights group, departed from Washington, D.C., and attempted to integrate facilities at bus terminals along the way into the Deep South. African-American Freedom Riders tried to use “whites-only” restrooms and lunch counters, and vice versa. The group encountered tremendous violence from white protestors along the route, but also drew international attention to their cause. Over the next few months, several hundred Freedom Riders engaged in similar actions. In September 1961, the Interstate Commerce Commission issued regulations prohibiting segregation in bus and train stations nationwide."

Violent Response. The first Freedom Riders manage to escape their burning bus outside Anniston, Ala., a Ku Klux Klan stronghold, after a mob shot out its tires, smashed its windows, and threw an incendiary device into it on 14 May 1961.

"Freedom Rides" History.com, 2010. January 28, 2015. http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/freedom-rides

Did You Know? #BlackHistoryFact

Barack Obama was America's 1st African-American President to be elected to the White House in 2008! That's was a historical event we will never forget! BUT did you also know... (Our current President) Barack Obama is also a Grammy Award WINNER!! YES!! President Obama won a Grammy for not 1 but 2 of his audio books. 

Best Spoken Work Album was received in 2006 for Dreams from My Father and the second Grammy award was received for Best Spoken Word Album, The Audacity of Hope: Thought of Reclaiming the American Dream.  You can find his works on Amazon, iTunes or any of your favorite online stores. 

1st African-American President of the United States + Nobel Peace Prize Winner + Grammy Award Winner! 

WOW! Isn't that awesome!

Who is Cathay Williams? - #BlackHistoryFact

Cathay Williams was the one and only female Buffalo Soldier, WHO POSED AS A MAN! Yes...she posed as a man named William Cathay to enlist in the 38th infantry in 1866.

Cathay served for 2 years before a doctor discovered that she was a woman.  This finding led to her discharge.