Primary Sources, Black History

Join The Gist of Freedom as we discuss Black Abolitionists and their rescues from Benjamin Quarles book, "Black Abolitionists" Chapter 4. Rev. Samuel Ringgold Ward and Frederick Douglass established the first black American labor union The American League of Colored Laborers (ALCL)  It was formed in New York City in 1850 as a collective for skilled free craftsmen, and sought to develop agricultural and industrial arts skills among its members, and to encourage African American business. The same year, The Slavers passed a the Fugitive Slave Law which targeted Black Abolitionists. The new law deputized and paid anyone who helped capture and enslave a Free black they suspected of being a fugitive, run-away slave. The law arrested anyone involved in the rescue of a "suspected fugitive slave". Ward a well known abolitionist, became involved in the rescue of a fugitive slave, William "Jerry" Henry October 1, federal marshals accompanied by the local police, arrested William "Jerry" Henry. Word of the arrest qu

Experience the beauty, drama, and life-changing power of the Bible like never before! Inspired By … The Bible Experience breaks new ground in the presentation of the Bible. Unique among audio Bible products, The Bible Experience is a captivating performance of the Bible presented by a stellar ensemble of almost 400 of today’s award-winning actors, musicians, clergy, directors, and producers. features a star-studded cast of almost 400 performers, including 23 Grammy winners, 8 Emmy winners, 5 Golden Globe winners, and 3 Oscar winners. Highlighting the cast is 2007 Academy Award-winning actor Forest Whitaker as the voice of Moses, along with Angela Bassett (Esther), Cuba Gooding, Jr. (Jonah), Denzel and Pauletta Washington (Song of Songs), LL Cool J (Samson), Eartha Kitt (Serpent), Bishop T.D. Jakes (Abraham), Blair Underwood (Jesus), Samuel Jackson and (God, NT only), among others.  This historic production features an original musical underscore by the Prague Symphony Orchestra and Hollywood-style sound desig

Black Methodists and Baptists celebrate Watch Night, December 31, 1862: the Emancipation Proclamation would go into effect at midnight. This is why the celebration continues in African American churches today, striking a more joyous note than prior penitential Watch Nights.  The Emancipation Proclamation applied only to enslaved Africans of the Confederate States. The prayer meeting congregation depicted in Carlton’s painting consists of former enslaved Africans that migrated to Union territory during the Civil War  Carlton’s painting is variously called “Watch Night — Waiting for the Hour” or ” Watch Meeting–Dec. 31st, 1862.” It was sent to President Lincoln by abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison  The makeshift pulpit is made of boards salvaged from crates. The minister’s timepiece reads 11:55. Carlton’s painting is variously called “Watch Night — Waiting for the Hour” or ” Watch Meeting–Dec. 31st, 1862.” It was sent to President Lincoln by abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison    The painting now han

Juneteenth Holiday Lobbyist Rev. R. Meyers M.D. on The 150th Emancipation Proclamation Celebration.  Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger of the Union Army announced to the assembled crowd at Ashton Villa in Galveston, Texas, "In accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free." It was June 19, 1865. Juneteenth, started as a celebration of emancipation day in Texas and with the help of  Rev. Meyres it  spread to other states. The celebration dates back to 1866. "America cannot understand its own history unless the African-American experience is embraced as a central factor in shaping who we are and what we have become as Americans," writes Lonnie G. Bunch, founding director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History and Culture in Washington.Set to open in 2015, the museum will be the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African-American life, art and culture.

The Gist of Freedom is pleased to present to you the Reading of the Historical Book, Black Abolitionists  by Benjamin Quarles! Chapter 2, The Militant Abolitionists- David Walker's Appeal, The Amistad, Black Women abolitionists and Organizations, and Abolitionists Publications and National Organizations! Chapter 2- Black Sowers of The Word    Listen to the reading and Join The discussion with Author and Genealogists, Ty Gray-El (A Black Woman's Smile) and Preston Washington, President Kansas City Black Genealogy organization. While much is known about the white men and women who were involved in the anti-slavery movement, the black abolitionists have been largely ignored. This book, written by one of America’s leading black historians, sets the record straight. As Benjamin Quarles shows, blacks were anything but passive in the abolitionist movement. Many of the pioneers of abolition were black; dozens of black preachers and writers actively promoted the cause; black organizations were founded to support t

Listen to Michelle Alexander Live!  Ms. Alexander, the author of "The New Jim Crow is the keynote speaker at a Banquet Honoring Trayvon Martin's parents.   ~There are more African Americans under correctional control today-- in prison or jail on probation or Parole-- then were enslaved in 1850, a decade before the Civil War began~   Michelle Alexander ----- A people who do not know their history quickly beome history----  The New Fugitive Slave Law was established in 1850, in exchange for the Gold in California's 1849 (49ers) Gold Rush. The pro-slavers led by Kentucky Senator, Henry Clay agreed to allow the North to admit California and it's gold into the Union as a Free Slave State in exchange for rewarding, paying the slaveholders for the capture of their "Fugitives". 

Join Stephanie Gilbert, a descendant of an Underground Railroad passenger turned abolitionist. Stephanie Gilbert will discuss her great grandfather Oliver Cromwell and his daring  escape with the assistance of Abolitionist Thaddeus Stevens- (Steven Spielberg's film Lincoln) on The Gist of Freedom with host, Preston Washington.

The Gist of Freedom presents The Lincoln Movie Review with BrownEyez Publishing Group at Union Square's Think Coffee, Restaurant in New York.   Young NYU, New York University students were also present, discussing the Re-Election of President Obama and their vision for young republicans.

Join The Gist of Freedom live on location, UNESCO Cnference with attorney Harvey Herman, as we discuss attorney Activist, Virgil D. Hawkins and visit his monument in Florida.   In 1949, Civil Rights Activist, Attorney Virgil D. Hawkins, as a student  applied to the University of Florida (UF) law school but was denied entry because of his race. He was urged to attend law school outside Florida but refused and sued the state, which responded by establishing a law school at FAMU. While he was admitted to FAMU’s law school, Hawkins continued his fight for acceptance at the University of Florida. Although he was unsuccessful, Hawkins’ long-fought battle led to the ultimate desegregation of the University of Florida. Hawkins received his law degree from the New England College of Law more than 20 years after applying to UF. The FAMU College of Law was founded in 1949 on the main campus in Tallahassee. After graduating 57 lawyers, the law school was closed by the state of Florida in 1968. The Florida Legislature v

Join The Gist of Freedom at The UNESCO ST Florida Conference - Live on Location Dr. Dunn, author  "The Beast In Florida" Presentations: Descendants of Rosewood Survivors and Victims. Topics:  The Rosewood Massacre- Self sustaining and Thriving African American town, Raided by Racist Murderers  Harry T. Moore and Harriet T. Moore, NAACP's First Civil Rights activist Couple Murdered. In 1951 after celebrating Christmas Day, civil rights activist Harry T. Moore and his wife Harriette retired to bed in their white frame house tucked inside a small orange grove in Mims, Florida. Ten minutes later, a bomb shattered their house, their lives and any notions that the south's post-war transition to racial equality would be a smooth one. Harry Moore died on the way to the hospital; his wife died nine days later.   As we celebrate and Congratulate America on their re-election of President Obama- we must never forget the historic significance of the struggle and to honor our legacy by making  a pledge to our God an

Join The Gist of Freedom as we broadcast Malcolm X's daughter,Ilyasah Shabazz's (ISE) Election Night Watch Party-Live From one of Harlem's most historic sites, The Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial Educational Center!   To View The Video Click Here   Ilyasah Shabazz Enterprises (ISE) invites you to this historical Election Night Watch at The Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center (located at 3940 Broadway @ West 165th Street, New York, NY), beginning at 8:00PM.     

The Gist of Freedom is pleased to present in the wake of Hurricane Sandy...The Reading "Every Vote Counts"Produced by Writing the Election 2012:      Playwrights Address the Nation With Readings of Their New Works !  Postponed due to the Hurricane,  Producing Artist Yvette Heyliger agreed to broadcast the reading on The Gist of Freedom WWW.BlackHISTORYblog.com   Please join us as we enjoy listening to Harlem 21 Playwrights very own Bill Beasley's "EVERY VOTE COUNTS"  ---------537 voters made election history in 2000 when President George Bush stole 537 votes from Floridians and in turn stole the Presidency from .every  American citizen, voter!    On November 26,  2000, Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris, who doubled as state campaign cochair for Bush, certified voting results that gave Bush a 537-vote lead!     Candidate Gore asked for a recount Bush appealed for a stay and on December 12 the U.S. Supreme Court stopped the Recount!  

The Gist of Freedom presents~From indentured to Chattel enslavement, volunteer temporary enslavement to forced life time slavery~ One of the places we have the clearest views of that "terrible transformation" is the colony of Virginia. In the early years of the colony, many Africans and poor whites -- most of the laborers came from the English working class -- stood on the same ground. Black and white servants/slaves worked side-by-side in the fields. But in the mid 1600's the laws began to differentiate between races: the association of “servitude for natural life” with people of African descent became common. Re Negro John Punch (1640) was one of the early cases that made a racial distinction among indentured servants.3   In  1640, John Punch, an African indentured servant , is sentenced by a Virginia judge to serve for all his natural life." One of the few recorded histories of an African in America that we can glean from early court records.   Free Blacks- "Antonio the negro," as he was named in th

Join The Gist of Freedom as we welcome The New HARLEM PLAYWRIGHTS 21    Members: Bill Beasley, Tom Mitchelson, Count Stovall, Faizul Khan, Laurence Holder, Sabura Rashid, and Charles White  Congratulations Harlem Playwright William Beasley!  Come Out and Support Bill's Play Writing the Election 2012: Playwrights Address the Nation With Readings of Their New Works    Monday, October 29th at 7:30pm at  National Black Theatre, 2031 Fifth Avenue

Malcolm X's Daughter Ilyasah Shabazz, ISE, host Harlem, Debate Watch Party! View the Party on Youtube! Join The Gist of Freedom as we cover the historic presidential debate in Harlem  with Malcolm X's daughters Ilyasah and Malaak!~ This is President Obama's final Presidential Debate!

Join The Gist of Freedom as we discuss Breast Cancer in observance of Breast Cancer month with Debbie A. Mirander! Minister Debbie Mirander, R.N., B.S.N. Holistic Intergative Health Educator Disease Management R.N. Consultant. Debbie Mirander- Called to teach about mind, body and soul! Minister Mirander encourages us to produce fruits in every area of our lives.  As we nourish our mind, body and soul, we become that strong tree we were created to be. With our branches spreading and producing fruits in our lives and in the lives of our loved ones.

W.E.B. DuBois' grandson, Arthur McFarlane and The Gist of Freedom live from Denver as we cover the 1st Pres. Debate, President Barack H. Obama and Romney. Romney's Cheat Sheet Romney: Jim, the president began this segment, so I think I get the last word.   (CROSSTALK)   LEHRER: Well, you’re going to get the first word in the next segment.   ROMNEY: All right. Well, but he gets the first word of that segment. I get the last word (inaudible) I hope. Let me just make this comment.   -------- President Obama: But under Governor Romney’s definition, there are a whole bunch of millionaires and billionaires who are small businesses. Donald Trump is a small business. Now, I know Donald Trump doesn’t like to think of himself as small anything, but -- but that’s how you define small businesses if you’re getting business income.   ----ROMNEY: ... to oil, to tax breaks, then companies going overseas. So let's go through them one by one.   First of all, the Department of Energy has said the tax break for oil companies is

  No doubt you heard about how fabulous WOMEN IN THE PIT is!   Join The Gist of Freedom and host Shellie Gaines as she welcomes Harlem Playwright, Joyce Sylvester!   After several unsuccessful attempts, two deacons and two elders charged with the selection of a new pastor are at odds with one another when it appears that the most qualified candidate is a woman! This drama addresses the age-old controversial issue of women being silent in the church and will take you on a journey full of twists and turns.

Join the Gist of Freedom and host Preston Washington as we welcome curator, Mark E. Mitchell, www.AfricanAmericanCollection.com Mark and Preston will discuss  the exhibit "From Slavery to the White House" . The exhibit at the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building in Harlem celebrates our journey, retracing our steps, "From Slavery to the White House". Join us for a fabulous evening, Where ART, MUSIC & HISTORY Meet., Friday, September 28, 2012 from 6 - 9 p.m.

Join The Gist Of Freedom as we welcome Earl Pinto, Founder of New York African American Historical Society. Earl will discuss the exhibit "From Slavery to the White House" which includes is a 1964 letter from Malcolm X to Alex Haley from Cairo, Egypt, courtesy of the Mark E. Mitchell Collection. The exhibit held at the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building in Harlem celebrates our journey, retracing our steps, "From Slavery to the White House". Join us for a fabulous evening, Where ART, MUSIC & HISTORY Meet, Friday, September 28, 2012 from 6 - 9 p.m.. It's free, so come early!