Happy Birthday Emperor Menelik II

“Enemies have now come upon us to ruin our country and to change our religion. Our enemies have begun the affair by advancing and digging into the country like moles. With the help of God I will not deliver my country to them. Today, you who are strong, give me your strength, and you who are weak, help me by prayer” - Emperor Menelik II

(Emperor Menelik II)

Emperor Menelik II was born as Abeto Menelik on August 17th, 1844 in Shewa, Ethiopia. In 1855 he was named successor to the throne of Shewa. Menelik declared himself Negus. Since he did not take part in the 1868 expedition to Abyssinia his rival was able to benefit with gifts of modern weapons and supplies from the British. In 1878 his rival took control of Menelik’s land but gave him gifts such as cannons, rifles and ammunition.

(Menelik II in 1878)

In 1883 he got married to Taytu Betul. In 1888 the great famine started. In 1889 after his rival died in battle Menelik became ruler again. He was then crowned “Nəgusä Nägäst”. Also in the same year he signed a treaty with the Italians. Since there was 2 versions of the treaty the Italian version gave the Italians more power in the treaty. Menelik then rejected the treaty once he found out about it. The Italians the invaded Ethiopia. Eritrea sided with Ethiopia when Italy attacked.

(A Drawing of Menelik II in 1889)

In 1893 he made an alliance with Russia. In 1894 he authorize the making of a railroad in the country. In 1896 the Ethiopians defeated the Italians at the battle of Adwa. He then signed another treaty with Italy so that Italy would recognize Ethiopia as an independent nation.

(A Painting of Menelik II in 1896)

In 1895 Menelik was suppressing the slave trade. In 1898 Menelik crushed a rebellion within the country.

(Menelik II in 1898)

He also brought together many rival areas to coexist with each other. He also established the 1st modern hospital, modern bank and modern postal system in Ethiopia. In 1909 Menelik suffered a stroke which made him unable to lead Ethiopia making his wife in charge of the country.

(Menelik II in 1909)

On December 12th, 1913 Emperor Menelik II died due to failing health in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He was 69 years old.

(A Statue of Menelik II)

Today is his 173rd birthday and we would all like to say happy birthday and rest in peace Emperor Menelik II.

Anniversary of Jesse Owens' Death

“We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort” - Jesse Owens

(Jesse Owens)

Jesse Owens was born as James Owens on September 12th 1913 in Oakville, Alabama, USA. When he was 9 years old Owens and his family moved to Cleveland OH. Owens got the name Jesse when a school teacher misheard him and thought his name was Jesse. Owens started to run track while in middle school. In 1933 Owens matched the world record for 100 yard dash and the long jump. In 1935 Owens married Ruth Solomon and had 3 daughters together.

(Ruth Solomon and Jesse Owens)

Owens then attended Ohio State University.

(Owens in 1935)

Owens won a record eight individual NCAA championships, four each in 1935 and 1936. Also in 1935 Owens set three world records and tied a fourth. In 1936 Owens went to the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, Germany to represent the US. Owens had to be escorted everywhere while in Berlin due to many fans trying to rush him. Owens won 4 gold medals while at the Olympics.

(Owens (Middle) in 1936)

When he returned to the US after the Olympics there was a parade in his honor and at the parade he received $10,000 in cash from a random person in a paper bag. Later at a reception honoring Owens couldn't enter through the front door of the Waldorf Astoria New York and instead forced to travel up to the event in a freight elevator to reach the reception honoring him due to segregation laws.

(Owens in 1936)

In 1936 Owens spoke at a Republican rally held in Baltimore, MD on October 9, 1936, Owens said "Some people say Hitler snubbed me. But I tell you, Hitler didn't snub me. I am not knocking the President. Remember, I am not a politician, but remember that the President did not send me a message of congratulations because people said, he was too busy.” Due to racial discrimination Owens was prohibited from amateur sporting appearances to bolster his profile. Owens then found out that the commercial offers had all disappeared. In 1946 Owens  joined Abe Saperstein in the formation of the West Coast Baseball Association (WCBA), a new Negro baseball league. Owens became the Vice-President and the owner of the Portland Rosebuds franchise.

(Owens (Left) running at a WCBA game)

The WCBA disbanded after only two months. Owens tried to make a living as a sports promoter he would give local sprinters a ten- or twenty-yard start and beat them in the 100-yd dash. He also challenged and defeated racehorses; as he revealed later, the trick was to race a high-strung thoroughbred that would be frightened by the starter's shotgun and give him a bad jump.

(Owens racing a horse)

Owens later ran a dry cleaning business and worked as a gas station attendant to earn a living, he eventually filed for bankruptcy. In 1966, he was successfully prosecuted for tax evasion. The government appointed him as a US goodwill ambassador. Owens traveled the world and spoke to companies such as the Ford Motor Company and stakeholders such as the United States Olympic Committee. After he retired, he owned racehorses. In 1968 Owens initially refused to support the black power salute by African American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Summer Olympics. He told them, “The black fist is a meaningless symbol. When you open it, you have nothing but fingers weak, empty fingers. The only time the black fist has significance is when there's money inside. There's where the power lies”. Four years later in his 1972 book I Have Changed, he changed his opinion, “I realized now that militancy in the best sense of the word was the only answer where the black man was concerned, that any black man who wasn't a militant in 1970 was either blind or a coward”. In December of 1979 Owens was hospitalized with an extremely aggressive and drug resistant type of lung cancer.

(Owens in 1979)

On March 31st, 1980 Jesse Owens died of lung cancer in Tucson, Arizona. He was 66 years old.

(Owens’ funeral)

Today is the 37th anniversary of his death. Take time to remember this great athlete today.

Books by Jesse Owens

• I Have Changed (1972)

Videos of Jesse Owens

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCmvDwDocrw  “Jesse Owens, Hitler reaction”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jB0n35UIv-s  “1936, 100m, Men, Olympic Games, Berlin”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQIe4JKjYn4  “Race Official Trailer #1 (2015) - Stephan James, Jason Sudeikis Drama HD”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLGj3JnblqA  “Jesse Owens Berlin Olympics interview”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hLFgTFfzhE  “Jesse Owens Rare Interview”

Anniversary of Harriet Tubman's Death

“I freed a thousand slaves I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves” - Harriet Tubman

(Harriet Tubman)

Harriet Tubman was born as Araminta Ross on an unknown date in 1822 in Dorchester County, Maryland, USA. She was born into slavery. There is a discrepancy as to what exact year she was born. Ross took care of her younger siblings because her mother worked in the slave master’s house and didn't have too much time for the children. During childhood she would find ways to resist by wearing layers of clothing as protection against beatings and fighting back. As she grew older she was assigned to working in the field. One day Ross was sent to go get supplies from a store. At the store she saw a dispute between a slave and a slaveowner. The slave tried to run out of the store away from his master and his master threw a 2 pound weight at him but he struck Ross on accident. The injury caused disabling epileptic seizures, headaches, powerful visions, and dream experiences, which occurred throughout her life. Around 1844 Ross married a free Black man named John Tubman. Soon after the marriage she changed her name to Harriet Tubman, Harriet being her mother’s name. In 1849 Tubman’s master died and there was an increased likelihood that she was going to be sold and her family broken up. On September 17th, 1849 Tubman and her 2 brothers escaped. Her brothers had second thoughts about escaping so then they all returned back. Tubman escaped again this time alone. Tubman used the Underground Railroad to help her get North. She traveled through Delaware then through Pennsylvania. While in Philadelphia, PA she worked jobs to save up money.

(A painting of Tubman)

In December of 1850 Tubman went to Baltimore, MD to help in the assistance of her niece and her kids escape. In the spring of 1851 she returned to help more families escape including one of her brothers. She was given the name “Moses” by abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison due to the connection of Moses from the Bible leading the Hebrews from slavery and Tubman leading African-Americans from slavery. She had a lot of help freeing slaves throughout Maryland. In the Fall of 1851 she returned to her place of birth to find her husband John Tubman. She found out that her husband had remarried and instead she found a group of slaves that she helped escape to Pennsylvania. In December of 1851 Tubman guided a group of 11 slaves into Canada due to the US’s Fugitive Slave Act of 1850. On the way to Canada they stopped at the home of abolitionist Frederick Douglass. Over 11 years Tubman freed 70 slaves from Maryland in 13 expeditions. She mostly worked in the Winter months due to the fact the nights were longer. She risked being seen by her former masters many times while going back to Maryland. She also had visions of herself speaking with God and she stated that God would protect her during her expeditions. Tubman carried firearms with her aswell for protection from slave catchers and to use if any slave she was helping was going to sell her out and get her caught.

(A painting of Tubman (Left))

A lot of slaveholders thought a Northern White abolitionist were enticing slaves to run away or that John Brown was aiding in the escape of slaves. There has been an estimation of between $12,000 and $40,000 for Tubman’s capture. Tubman was never captured and none of the slaves she helped escaped were ever captured. Abolitionist John Brown worked with Tubman to recruit supporters for an attack on slave owners. Tubman was supposed to be with John Brown on his Raid on Harper’s Ferry in 1859 but she wasn't able to be contacted. In 1859 Tubman returned to the US and lived in Auburn, New York. In November of 1860 Tubman conducted her last rescue mission and brought a group of slaves to New York. During the Civil War, Tubman brought together a group of former slaves for a regiment of black soldiers.

(A drawing of Tubman)

Tubman served as a nurse during the Civil War in Port Royal, SC. In 1863 she began to lead scouts through South Carolina. Tubman became the 1st woman to lead an armed assault in the Civil War. This assault involved freeing slaves from several plantations. More than 750 slaves were rescued. After the confederacy surrendered in 1865 Tubman returned to her home in New York. On her way back she was forced into the smoking car of the train she was riding and she suffered a broken arm from it while the White passengers wanted her thrown off the train. She never received any salary for her work during the Civil War. On March 18th, 1869 she was married to  a Civil War veteran named Nelson Davis. Also in 1869 a biography was written about her.

(Tubman in 1870)

In 1873 Tubman was involved in a gold swindle. In 1886 another biography about her was written. In 1896 Tubman became a speaker for the National Federation of Afro-American Women. In 1899 she finally received pension for her service in the Union Army.In the late 1890’s Tubman underwent brain surgery to help with her constant seizures, headaches, and suffering from her childhood head trauma. She didn't use anesthesia, preferring to bite down on a bullet like soldiers did in the Civil War while having limbs amputated.  In 1900 she became involved with the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. In 1908 a parcel of real estate that Tubman donated to her church became the Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged.

(Tubman (Left) with her family)

In 1911 she was admitted into the rest home. On March 10th, 1913 Harriet Tubman died of pneumonia in Auburn, New York. She was about 91 years old.

(Tubman in 1911)

Today is the 104th anniversary of her death. Take time to remember this great abolitionist today.

Books relating to Harriet Tubman

• Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman (1869) by Sarah H. Bradford
• Harriet Tubman: The Moses of Her People (1886) by Sarah H. Bradford
• Harriet Tubman (2004) by Catherine Clinton

(P.S. sorry for the late post)

Happy Birthday Rosa Parks

what must be done does away with fear” - Rosa Parks

(Rosa Parks)

Rosa Parks was born as Rosa McCauley on February 4th 1913 in Tuskegee, Alabama, USA. As a small child she suffered from chronic tonsillitis. McCauley attended the Industrial school for girls. As a kid she often fought White kids who would bully her.

(McCauley as a kid)

Also as a kid the Ku Klux Klan would march down the street in front of her house and her grandfather would be on the front porch with a shotgun. She later dropped out of school to take care of her sick grandmother. In 1932 McCauley married Raymond Parks. She changed her last name to “Parks”.

(McCauley (Right) with her husband Raymond Parks (Left)

In 1933 Parks went back to finish high school. In 1943 Parks joined the Montgomery chapter of the NAACP. She was elected secretary. In 1944 she had a job at Maxwell air force base. In 1955 Parks attended a mass meeting at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery that addressed the killing of Black teenager Emmett Till. Also in 1955 Parks sat on a city bus and was told to move to the colored section of the bus. She refused to move to the colored section and she was arrested. She was charged with a violation of Chapter 6, Section 11 segregation law of the Montgomery City code.

(Parks in 1955)

She was bailed out of jail the next evening by the Montgomery NAACP president. After this a bus boycott was planned.

(Parks (Right) with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Left))

The bus boycott lasted for a year. Parks then became an icon within the civil rights movement.

(Parks in 1956)

In 1957 she moved to Virginia. Parks constantly received death threats. She later moved to Michigan. She also met and befriended Malcolm X. In 1965 Parks joined the Selma to Montgomery march.

(Parks in 1965)

In 1967 during the Detroit riots Parks lived a mile from the epicenter of it. Also in 1967 Parks served on a "people's tribunal" investigating the killing of three young men by police during the 1967 Detroit uprising. Parks also supported and visited the Black Panther school in Oakland, CA. In the early 1970s Parks organized for the freedom of political prisoners in the United States. In 1977 her husband died of throat cancer. In 1979 her mother died of cancer.

(Parks in 1977)

In 1980 Parks co founded the Rosa L. Parks Scholarship Foundation. In 1987 she co founded the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development. In 1992 Parks published her autobiography.

(Parks in 1992)

In 1994 Parks’ home was robbed and she was assaulted. Also in 1994 she had a highway named after her in MO.In 1995 she published Quite Strength.

(Parks in 1995)

In 1999 Parks cameoed in the TV series “Touched by an Angel”. In 2002 she received an eviction notice of her apartment. Her rent was paid by the Hartford Memorial Baptist church in Detroit.

(Parks in 2002)

On October 24th, 2005 Rosa Parks died of natural causes in Detroit, Michigan, USA. She was 92 years old.

(Parks’ funeral)

Today is her 104th birthday and we would all like to say happy birthday and rest in peace Rosa Parks.

Videos of Rosa Parks

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2DraWv6vmU  “December 1, 1955: Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzTkHrRkhpA  “Rosa Parks - Interview”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1rsmgKnpdc  “Rosa Parks - To Tell the Truth (1980)”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM6G2seofbQ  “Rosa Parks - One Day of Peace, Stockholm November 1994”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Denb3DwJc0  “Rosa Parks Speech at the Million Man March on October 16, 1995”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGvx_crHiyE  “Rosa Parks and Bill Clinton at CBC 1999”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tuCAAPOZQQ  “The Rosa Parks Story - Trailer”

Anniversary of Emperor Menelik II's Death

“Enemies have now come upon us to ruin our country and to change our religion. Our enemies have begun the affair by advancing and digging into the country like moles. With the help of God I will not deliver my country to them. Today, you who are strong, give me your strength, and you who are weak, help me by prayer” - Emperor Menelik II

(Emperor Menelik II)

Emperor Menelik II was born as Abeto Menelik on August 17th, 1844 in Shewa, Ethiopia. In 1855 he was named successor to the throne of Shewa. Menelik declared himself Negus. Since he did not take part in the 1868 expedition to Abyssinia his rival was able to benefit with gifts of modern weapons and supplies from the British. In 1878 his rival took control of Menelik’s land but gave him gifts such as cannons, rifles and ammunition.

(Menelik II in 1878)

In 1883 he got married to Taytu Betul. In 1888 the great famine started. In 1889 after his rival died in battle Menelik became ruler again. He was then crowned “Nəgusä Nägäst”. Also in the same year he signed a treaty with the Italians. Since there was 2 versions of the treaty the Italian version gave the Italians more power in the treaty. Menelik then rejected the treaty once he found out about it. The Italians the invaded Ethiopia. Eritrea sided with Ethiopia when Italy attacked.

(A Drawing of Menelik II in 1889)

In 1893 he made an alliance with Russia. In 1894 he authorize the making of a railroad in the country. In 1896 the Ethiopians defeated the Italians at the battle of Adwa. He then signed another treaty with Italy so that Italy would recognize Ethiopia as an independent nation.

(A Painting of Menelik II in 1896)

In 1895 Menelik was suppressing the slave trade. In 1898 Menelik crushed a rebellion within the country.

(Menelik II in 1898)

He also brought together many rival areas to coexist with each other. He also established the 1st modern hospital, modern bank and modern postal system in Ethiopia. In 1909 Menelik suffered a stroke which made him unable to lead Ethiopia making his wife in charge of the country.

(Menelik II in 1909)

On December 12th, 1913 Emperor Menelik II died due to failing health in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He was 69 years old.

(A Statue of Menelik II)

Today is the 103rd anniversary of his death. Take time to remember this great emperor today.  

(P.S. sorry for the late post)      

Anniversary of Rosa Parks' Death

“I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear” - Rosa Parks

(Rosa Parks)

Rosa Parks was born as Rosa McCauley on February 4th 1913 in Tuskegee, Alabama, USA. As a small child she suffered from chronic tonsillitis. McCauley attended the Industrial school for girls. As a kid she often fought White kids who would bully her.

(McCauley as a kid)

Also as a kid the Ku Klux Klan would march down the street in front of her house and her grandfather would be on the front porch with a shotgun. She later dropped out of school to take care of her sick grandmother. In 1932 McCauley married Raymond Parks. She changed her last name to “Parks”.

(McCauley (Right) with her husband Raymond Parks (Left)

In 1933 Parks went back to finish high school. In 1943 Parks joined the Montgomery chapter of the NAACP. She was elected secretary. In 1944 she had a job at Maxwell air force base. In 1955 Parks attended a mass meeting at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery that addressed the killing of Black teenager Emmett Till. Also in 1955 Parks sat on a city bus and was told to move to the colored section of the bus. She refused to move to the colored section and she was arrested. She was charged with a violation of Chapter 6, Section 11 segregation law of the Montgomery City code.

(Parks in 1955)

She was bailed out of jail the next evening by the Montgomery NAACP president. After this a bus boycott was planned.

(Parks (Right) with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Left))

The bus boycott lasted for a year. Parks then became an icon within the civil rights movement.

(Parks in 1956)

In 1957 she moved to Virginia. Parks constantly received death threats. She later moved to Michigan. She also met and befriended Malcolm X. In 1965 Parks joined the Selma to Montgomery march.

(Parks in 1965)

In 1967 during the Detroit riots Parks lived a mile from the epicenter of it. Also in 1967 Parks served on a "people's tribunal" investigating the killing of three young men by police during the 1967 Detroit uprising. Parks also supported and visited the Black Panther school in Oakland, CA. In the early 1970s Parks organized for the freedom of political prisoners in the United States. In 1977 her husband died of throat cancer. In 1979 her mother died of cancer.

(Parks in 1977)

In 1980 Parks co founded the Rosa L. Parks Scholarship Foundation. In 1987 she co founded the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development. In 1992 Parks published her autobiography.

(Parks in 1992)

In 1994 Parks’ home was robbed and she was assaulted. Also in 1994 she had a highway named after her in MO.In 1995 she published Quite Strength.

(Parks in 1995)

In 1999 Parks cameoed in the TV series “Touched by an Angel”. In 2002 she received an eviction notice of her apartment. Her rent was paid by the Hartford Memorial Baptist church in Detroit.

(Parks in 2002)

On October 24th, 2005 Rosa Parks died of natural causes in Detroit, Michigan, USA. She was 92 years old.

(Parks’ funeral)

Today is the 11th anniversary of her death. Take time to remember this great activist today.

Videos of Rosa Parks

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2DraWv6vmU  “December 1, 1955: Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzTkHrRkhpA  “Rosa Parks - Interview”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1rsmgKnpdc  “Rosa Parks - To Tell the Truth (1980)”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM6G2seofbQ  “Rosa Parks - One Day of Peace, Stockholm November 1994”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Denb3DwJc0  “Rosa Parks Speech at the Million Man March on October 16, 1995”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGvx_crHiyE  “Rosa Parks and Bill Clinton at CBC 1999”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tuCAAPOZQQ  “The Rosa Parks Story - Trailer”

(P.S. sorry for the late post)