The Color of Heroes

Historic Markers are There to be Found, If you're Looking

                                               

Traveling around the country you might have seen markers in places that have some  historic significance. My own great grandfather, Luke Grady, was elected to the North Carolina State Assembly in 1885. The picture above shows the marker placed in his hometown. These markers are  significant, particularly in the south, where our accomplishments do not get the same attention as those of  whites.

You can find historic makers honoring a wide cross section  of African

the color of history: CLANDESTINE – The Times & Secret Life of Mariah Ot...

the color of history: CLANDESTINE – The Times & Secret Life of Mariah Ot...: CLANDESTINE – The Times & Secret Life of Mariah Otey Reddick Mariah's Story Needs To Be Told...and We Need Your Help Most Americ...

CLANDESTINE – The Times & Secret Life of Mariah Otey Reddick

CLANDESTINE – The Times & Secret Life of Mariah Otey Reddick

Mariah's Story Needs To Be Told...and We Need Your Help
Most American-born Black & Brown people have African Roots, whether they want to accept it or not. Some of us are extremely proud of our ancestors and strive to make certain that their accomplishments, as well as their suffering are honored. 
Mariah Otey Reddick is one of our "forgotten or hidden" heroes.  It is her story that her descendants want to highlight and preserve. Her story is OUR story. We should all aspire to do this within our own families, but also within our larger community. 
Here is a brief account of her story:

CLANDESTINE: THE TIMES AND SECRET LIFE OF MARIAH OTEY REDDICK is a riveting story of resistance & espionage, freedom & terror, family & dignity, blackmail & death, grief & joy, faith & love, vengeance & justice, treachery & unexpected allies, depravity & innocence as well as spirituality and devotion.
What would you do if - after years of research - you discovered that your enslaved Ancestor was a human wedding gift? Could YOU forget about it? PLEASE HELP GET THE WORD OUT!
On May 01, 2018, Ms. Reddick's descendants began a crowdfunding campaign to help defray the costs of publishing a book inspired by her life story - Clandestine: The Times and Secret Life of Mariah Otey Reddick.

The campaign ends on May 31, 2018. Please help out. NO gift is too small.

To learn more and perhaps contribute, please go to:
Igg.me/at/ClandestineBook 

Thank you.

"The Worst White Man...?" Is That What You're Sayin'

That's right. There is a feeling in America, held by some, that "...the worst white man is better than the best black man". For example, James Earl Ray, is a better man than Dr. Martin Luther King. 

Someone is obviously crazy.

You may have seen a recent news report about the firing of a white Ohio school teacher who was dismissed for his disparaging comments to one of his young African American students.

The young student expressed aspirations to someday become President

America's National Parks and The Buffalo Soldiers

Celebrating
African Americans in 
the National Parks Day

                        The Presidio in San Francisco 2014            

A recent news report focused on the lack of African Ameican visitors to America's National Parks. The TV report reminded me of a PBS documentary I viewed recently that proved that African Americans have every reason to visit the parks, and to be proud of their ancestors.

The documentary tells the story of the deployment of the US Calvary's 9th Regiment, the fierce Buffalo Soldiers, under the command of Captain Charles Young(1864-1922).Young was only the 3rd African American to graduate from the West Point Military Academy at that time. He was also the first African American to be put in charge of a national park. The year was 1903.

To understand how these facts came about we need to realize that the park rangers we see today had not yet been formed. Since the country was not at war, army units were sent to safeguard the parks.They were, in fact, America's first park rangers. 

In 1903 Captain Young and his regiment was sent to Sequoia National Park, in California. The army units were deployed to protect the parks from, livestock grazing in the parks natural habitats, poaching, and dangerous forest fires, like we see every year in California. 

For more info go to: outdoorafro.com, facebook.com/pages/African-American-Nature, and pbs.org

Historic Karamu House Celebrates 100 Years

The Karamu House Theater in Cleveland, Ohio is the oldest Black theater company in America, founded in 1915. 

This is the 100th year celebration of the The Karamu House. 

The word Karamu comes from a Swahili word meaning "a place of feasting and enjoyment." Today, Karamu continues to offer experiences in the visual and performing arts for all ages. The mission of it's founders, Russell & Rowena Jellife was eloquently stated by John Selby in his 1966 book, Beyond Civil Rights. Selby wrote, "...the concept of the Jellife's purpose was simply the belief that the bridge to racial understanding lay most immediately in the active fellowship in the arts".

Famous playwrights associated with the Karamu Theater include Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Lorraine Hansberry. Among Karamu Alumni are, James Pickens and Ron O'neal.  As a teen I was priviedged to see Dizzy Gillespie and Ruby Dee, among others at Karamu. 
During my childhood my mother was an actress, and a member of the Karamu Dancers for 25 years.  

Karamu House is an institution that needs your support. Please help keep the legacy alive for another century and beyond.

For more info go to: karamuhouse.org