Primary Sources, Black History

Join The Gist of freedom and host Roy Paul at The Still Family's 145th Reunion! The Underground Railroad First Family ~The Still Family William Still, Dr. James Still and Peter Gist-Still The Gist of Freedom is Still Faith chronicles the faithful ties that bound three incredible families of activists; all from an array of generations and races.  The Still Brothers of The Historical Underground Railroad Family; Peter Gist-Still, Self-emancipated and authors Dr. James Still (The Recollections of Dr. James Still and William Still 1821-1902 (The Underground Railroad); Dr. James Still's book http://archive.org/details/earlyrecollectio00stil Peter Gist-Still's book http://docsouth.unc.edu/neh/pickard/menu.html William Still's book http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/15263  

EURweb’s Lee Bailey caught up with Dr. Yamma Brown  James Brown's daughter on the red carpet at the Essence Festival in New Orleans. She talks about the film,  “Get On Up” the new James Brown bio-pic the family’s reaction to it, her father’s legacy. ------. Portside Article: James Brown belongs to us, the black masses, and for us to be excluded from the creative team that made this movie is an obscenity. I'm aware that Spike Lee was involved briefly. James Brown was a civil rights icon. Put James in the pantheon of the most impactful black men of the 20th century, and he would not be out of place. How can I make such an assertion? One song: "I'm Black and I'm Proud." Before that song, if you wanted to start a fight with a man of color, all one had to do was call him black. Up until the mid-sixties, we were trying define ourselves: not colored anymore, now Negro. But black was not something we called ourselves. And along comes this little man and proudly states, "I'm black and I'm proud!" He took the thin

Join The Gist of Freedom as we talk with Lak, Hip Hop at it's best! Larry “LAK” Henderson is the founder of Smart Music Entertainment, and the creator of a new sound of hip-hop music that is used as a tool to educate and awaken the consciousness of youth and people in our communities. His album, Lesson One: Hip-Hop & Education, has hit Amazon bestseller lists (#1 in Hot New Releases and #8 in Educational Music), and has received airplay on major radio stations around the world, due to his combination of deep, historical insights and authentic hip-hop sound. The album features songs about African and African-American history, politics, geography, money management, and commentary on the social war raging in our urban communities. CBS calls Lesson One “creative, innovative, and informative.” Dominion of New York Magazine says, “Most people who use hip-hop to educate do so badly. Lak does it so well.” Lak is a social critic, history and religion intellectual, and an innovative education advocate. Through h

Join The Gist of Freedom as we listen to Chapter 6, Music for Jesus Lyrics of Freedom and a lively discussion with Pan-Africanist Dr. Sidney and Pianki. Evangelical preaching had caused some whites to question the justness of slavery, but still more were all the more careful to censor what messages from the Bible slaves could hear. Born in 1800, Nat Turner was identified as a bright youth who developed a zeal for Scripture, though this did not prevent his masters from employing him merely as a common field hand. Turner also became a preacher to slaves from surrounding plantations and farms, preaching against slavery to his brethren but carefully keeping up the appearance of the respectful, dutiful slave to whites. Turner’s spirituality and reputation took on a mystical quality as an adult, and during this time he secretly began dreaming of revolution, believing God had specially chosen him to smite the institution of slavery. Because previous conspiracies had been discovered when members had informed on them,

Bordentown School -volunteers needed - restoration underway with volunteer electrical contractor John White! A museum on the once thriving black school's cam[us kknown as The Tuskegee of The North  is John's Mission. The Bordentown school, was originally established in 1886 by Rev. W. A. Rice, a minister of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, as a private institution under the name of New Brunswick Technical School. It was later called  "The Ironsides Normal School." in honor of Commodore Stewart the benefactor of t Bordentown's Campus, his 350 acre estate    . Reverend Walter A.S. Rice of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in New Brunswick founded the Bordentown School in 1876 as New Brunswick Technical Institute a privately supported educational entity. Reverend Rice’s mission was to educate African American students of both sexes and train them “in such industries as shall enable them to become self-supporting”. The school was founded just five years after the famous Tuskegee Institute in Alabama

Have you ever watched the blockbuster hit movie, Lean on Me, starring Morgan Freeman? Have you ever wondered what happened to the REAL students from the Lean on Me movie?  Well, Dr. Pinky Miller is a graduate along with the producer of The Gist of Freedom, Lesley Gist.  Dr. Pinky  is telling OUR story about the experiences at Eastside High School (1982-1986) and the impact that leadership had on students, teacher, and administrators—good, bad, and indifferent! Join The Gist of Freedom host, Roy Paul for a candid discussion with Dr. Pinky www.BlackHistoryUniversity.com Documentary coming soon!!!

Listen in now, Freedom Summer Survivor, Harvey Boyd, formerly of The Washington Post! Image: Reporters for the New York Amsterdam News at work in the newsroom, 1936. Photo by Lucien Aigner. Harvey Boyd reflects on his extraordinary life and opportunities as an African American man during the time of segregation. He begins by describing his childhood home--which is still his current residence--in Crestdale, North Carolina, located southeast of Charlotte in Matthews. During the interview, Harvey emphasizes his passion for art, and the black community’s view that becoming an artist was not an option for an African American man at the time. Harvey decided to transfer to West Charlotte High School in order to take art classes, and afterward he attended CPCC, acquiring an Associate’s degree in graphic design. ----------- Listen in now to The Gist Of Freedom, Black History Internet Radio Show www.BlackHistoryUniversity.com and www.BlackHistoryBlog.com Click here http://bit.ly/The_Gist_Of_Freedom_Summer_Survivo

Chet Whye, Charles Rangel's Campaign Consultant, Talks about The Victory w/ Roy Paul "Rangel defeated his main challenger Adriano Espaillat by fewer than 2,000 votes in Tuesday's Democratic primary for the 13th Congressional District. Campaign consultant Chet Whyte says voters did not abandon the congressman who has represented Harlem for more than 40 years." The Associated Press.. Campaign Diretor: Harlem4Obama, Exec Dir:The HARLEM4 Center for CHANGE, "Chet Whye, the leader of Harlem for Obama, has hosted Gillibrand and Rep. Charles Rangel at separate press events and town hall meetings, and has converted the Harlem for Obama headquarters into an advocacy non-profit called “Harlem4.” HARLEM4 is a nonpartisan research and advocacy organization dedicated to providing a forum to generate bold new ideas and policy proposals for the great Village of Harlem in particular and urban America in general. Chet Whye is the founder and executive director.  

Vicente Guerrero, Mexico’s first black president Texas President Sam Houston lamented  that " two valuable negro boys for which I had paid in cash $2100 previous to my visit to Nashville, ran away last spring to Mexico. Thus you can see I am in bad luck." Just two and a half months after Mexico abolished slavery, officials were uneasy about the numbers of new Americans settling within Mexico and they attempted to curb the number of newcomers. In 1830, Mexico decreed that foreigners could not cross the border without obtaining a passport issued by Mexican agents.Texans did not respect the MEXICAN border in their pursuits of Freed Blacks. In 1855, Captain James Callahan of the Texas Rangers entered Mexico in an attempt to recapture self-emancipated Africans. Callahan insisted that the purpose of his excursion was to pursue Indians rather than recapture fugitive slaves. The Mexican government with the help of Native Americans, however, forced him to retreat and withdraw without any Freed Blacks. Consequently

Vicente Guerrero, Mexico’s first black president Texas President Sam Houston lamented  that " two valuable negro boys for which I had paid in cash $2100 previous to my visit to Nashville, ran away last spring to Mexico. Thus you can see I am in bad luck." Just two and a half months after Mexico abolished slavery, officials were uneasy about the numbers of new Americans settling within Mexico and they attempted to curb the number of newcomers. In 1830, Mexico decreed that foreigners could not cross the border without obtaining a passport issued by Mexican agents.Texans did not respect the MEXICAN border in their pursuits of Freed Blacks. In 1855, Captain James Callahan of the Texas Rangers entered Mexico in an attempt to recapture self-emancipated Africans. Callahan insisted that the purpose of his excursion was to pursue Indians rather than recapture fugitive slaves. The Mexican government with the help of Native Americans, however, forced him to retreat and withdraw without any Freed Blacks. Consequently

Peter Gist Still the long lost enslaved brother of the Father of The Underground Railroad,  William Still. After 40 years Peter is reunited with his mother Charity Still! Samuel Gist was a resident of Great Britain and Virginia. In his will, Gist insisted his daughter free all the slaves she owned on the Gould Hill Plantation in Virginia. She complied and establish 6 free Gist Settlements throughout Ohio. Many of the descendants of the enslaved Gist settlers still live on the settlement. Samuel Gist was orphaned.  In 1739,  he was shipped to Virginia where he was indentured.  Sequoyah (George Gist) created the Cherokee alphabet, the syllabary. Secessionist South Carolina Governor – William Henry Gist, 1858-1860 The first to secede  

NAACP-Riverside Branch’s 2014 Freedom Fund Celebration & Listen tonight to Ida B. Wells' Speech read by Ruby Dee!**  The event recognizes those who have made significant contributions in the community. NAACP Riverside will host its 2014 Freedom Fund Celebration on Wednesday, May 14, 2014 from 5:00-9:30 p.m.  Tickets are $75 per person or $750 per table. Tickets can be purchased online at www.naacp-riverside.org. Ms. Waudieur “Woodie” E. Rucker-Hughes is an outstanding community leader, dubbed “Women we Admire” by Riverside Magazine, who has served for over 12 years as the President of the NAACP Riverside Chapter. She is also the Area Director for the Southern Region on behalf of the California State Conference NAACP. She holds a Master of Arts Degree in Educational Administration from University of Redlands. She received her undergraduate degree from D.C. Teachers College, with a major in History, and a minor in Geography.  For information, email rivnaacp@gmail.com and visit www.facebook.com/Riverside

Louise Dente, Cultural Caravan TV, Producer and Founder

Irene Northrup-Zahos, is the great, great granddaughter of Solomon Northup, the author of 'Twelve Years a Slave'. She is related to Solomon via his son, Alonzo; Alonzo's son, John Henry ('Zip') Northrup, Solomon's grandson and my grandfather; John Henry's son, my father, John Calvin Northrup. She has written the essay, 'Absent From the Table', which can be accessed via www.twelveyearsaslave.org which is a website that Frank Eakin has.  She has  been hesitant in pursuing contact with media outlets being guarded of her family's (Solomon's) responsibility and the legacy of her 2x great grandfather. The primary reason for this hesitancy is obvious when someone views her from upfront as I she is White! Her immediate family is of diverse ancestry and lineage.   

“THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD” Written by Leslie Gist & William Beasley  The play has been a dream of Leslie’s for quite some time and now it is coming to fruition. Ms. Sherry Jackson, past foreman of The National Park Service asked Leslie to write a play about the Underground Railroad in a manner that kids could relate to. The theme is that kids in an Underground Railroad Safe House are going on a journey. This reading pulls the audience in as it covers two eras: the past and the present.  Mrs. Gist is working with Harlem Actors. For this rendition, the actors will be seated on the stage in their street clothes, and reading the script. While this is not a full blown production, it is a prelude to what is next.  The Saturday Academy is honored that Mrs. Gist asked our John Wesley family and friends to be the first audience. You are encouraged to come out with our kids and youth, use your imagination, digest some of our history in an alternative manner, and look forward to the next chapter.  Leslie contin

Tonight at 8pm learn more about William Lambert on The Gist of Freedom as we resume our reading of William Katz's book Breaking The Chains, Chapter 12 "Black Militias"  William Lambert created the “African American Mysteries; the Order of the Men of Oppression,” a complicated set of rituals that protected the very existence of the Underground Railroad. Lambert was a friend and confidant of well known abolitionist John Brown, who Lambert insisted was a sane and reasonable man who voluntarily sacrificed himself to fan the flames of liberty. Blackburn, Thornton and Ruth (or Lucie)  The Blackburns successfully and bravely escaped slavery from Louisville, KY. They had been settled in Detroit, Michigan, for two years when, in 1833, Kentucky slave hunters captured and arrested the couple. The Blackburns were jailed but allowed visitors, which provided the opportunity for Ruth to exchange her clothes - and her incarceration - with Mrs. George French; Ruth escaped to Canada. The day before Thornton was to be retur

Black Whalers,  with genealogist Earl Depass! Whaling: Opportunities for African Americans  Four Whalers of African Descent The whaling industry, created several black abolitionists, entrepreneurs & philanthropists! Whaling Centered until the 1870s in New Bedford, employed a large number of African Americans. This was in part due to the Quaker tradition of tolerance in the New Bedford area, but more importantly, to the large demand for manpower in an expanding industry requiring unusually large crews. Some black seamen in the business were Americans, from the Northeast and the South, some were from the West Indies, and a significant group was from the Cape Verde Islands off the African coast. Whatever their origin, black seamen found acceptance as hard workers and skilled mariners in an industry that was physically demanding, dirty, and often financially unrewarding. When the center of the industry moved to San Francisco in the 1870s, African Americans continued to form a large percentage of the c

Join William Jackson as he welcomes Malcolm X's 3rd daughter, iLyasah Shabazz!  ilyasah Al-Shabazz is a community organizer, activist, motivational speaker, and author of the critically acclaimed Growing Up X . She is co-editor with Herb Boyd, The Diary of Malcolm X , worked with illustrator AG Ford, The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X (Simon & Schuster, 2013) and with Kekla Magoon, X . Ilyasah promotes higher education, interfaith dialogue, and building bridges between cultures for young leaders of the world. She produces The WAKE-UP Tour™ and participates on international humanitarian delegations. She is the founder of Malcolm X Enterprises and is a Trustee for The Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center. Ilyasah serves on the Board of the Harlem Symphony Orchestra, is a member of the Arts Committee for the New York City Opera at Lincoln Center, and a Project Advisor for the PBS award-winning documentary, Prince Among Slaves. Ilyasah holds a Master of Science degree in Edu

Join The Gist of Freedom as we welcome Pompey Fixico and William L. Katz.  Pompey Fixico ancestors fought US slave-catchers and military units for 42 years in Florida. Mr. Katz and Mr.Fixico will discuss the three Seminole wars, their goals courage and achievements as seen through his ancestors. The legacy of  Wild Cat and John Horse will also be discussed as it relates to how they brilliantly led the Seminoles! Mr. Katz's book Black Indians has three chapters on this unknown American story. Their current leader, William Dub Warrior, has said:       "Black Indians is not only one of the most  thoroughly researched and accurate book on the subject, it is he best written account I have come across."  William “Dub” Warrior, Chief of the John Horse Band,   Texas and Old Mexico Seminoles William Loren Katz williamlkatz.com

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