Anniversary of Jim Kelly's Death

“When it comes I won’t even notice… I’ll be too busy lookin’ good” - Jim Kelly

(Jim Kelly)

Jim Kelly was born as James Kelly on May 5th, 1946 in Millersburg, Kentucky, USA. In high school Kelly played basketball, football and track. He attended the university of Louisville where he played football. He left his freshman year and he began to practice Shorin ryu karate. He began practicing karate in Lexington, KY. In 1967 Kelly got married.

(Kelly’s wedding)

In 1968 Kelly got divorced.  He also trained in Okinawan karate.

(Kelly in the early 1970’s)

In the early 1970’s Kelly became one of the most decorated world karate champions. In 1971 Kelly won four prestigious championships. He also won the World Middleweight Karate title at the 1971 Long Beach International Karate Championships. Kelly then opened his own dojo. Kelly taught actor Calvin Lockhart karate for a role in a film.

(Kelly in Melinda(1972))

Kelly was also a professional tennis player on the USTA Senior Men's Circuit.

(Kelly with a tennis racket)

Kelly became the 1st Black martial arts film star. In 1973 he was featured with Bruce Lee in the movie Enter The Dragon (1973).

(Kelly (Left) with Bruce Lee (Right))

In 1974 Kelly starred in the movie Black Belt Jones (1974).

(Kelly (Left) and Gloria Hendry (Right) in Black Belt Jones (1974))

Also in 1974 Kelly was in the film Three The Hard Way (1974).

(Kelly (Center) with Fred Williamson (Left) and Jim Brown (Right) in Three The Hard Way (1974))

In 1975 Kelly got married again. In 1976 he starred in Hot Potato (1976). From 1977 to 1978 Kelly starred in Black Samurai (1977), Death Dimension (1978), and Tattoo Connection (1978).In 1977 Kelly got divorced. In 1980 Kelly got married for the last time. After appearing in the movie One Down, Two to Go(1982) Kelly rarely appeared in movies. His last movie appearance was Afro Ninja (2009).

(Kelly in Afro Ninja (2009))

On June 29th, 2013 Jim Kelly died of cancer in San Diego, California, USA. He was 67 years old.

(Kelly in 2013)

Today is the 4th anniversary of his death. Take time to remember this great martial artist and actor today

Films Starring Jim Kelly

• Melinda (1972) as Charles Atkins
• Enter the Dragon (1973) as Williams
• Black Belt Jones (1974) as Black Belt Jones
• Three the Hard Way (1974) as Mister Keyes
• Golden Needles (1974) as Jeff
• Take a Hard Ride (1975) as Kashtok
• Hot Potato (1976) as Jones
• Black Samurai (1977) as Robert Sand
• The Tattoo Connection (1978) as Jones
• Death Dimension (1978) as Lt. Detective J. Ash
• The Amazing Mr. No Legs (1979)
• One Down, Two To Go (1982) as Chuck
• Stranglehold (1994) as Executive #4
• Ultimatum (1994) as Executive
• Macked, Hammered, Slaughtered and Shafted (2004) as Executive #4
• Afro Ninja (2009) as Cleavon Washington

Videos of Jim Kelly

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tB-QGOChuQc  “Enter The Dragon (1973 Trailer)”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYFgoh4YTE8  “THREE THE HARD WAY crooked cops scene JIM KELLY 1974 action movie jim brown Fred Williamson”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CYHzi7jDG8  “Jim Kelly talks about Bruce Lee's Sparring Ability”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=null7aDTkGo  “Black Belt Jones (1974) - Theatrical Trailer - Blaxploitation Movie Trailers”

Anniversary of Jack Johnson's Death

“An individual action, multiplied by millions, creates global change” - Jack Johnson

Jack Johnson was born as John Johnson on March 31st 1878 in Galveston, Texas, USA. As a child he helped his family financially. He then moved to Dallas, TX. He then began to start boxing. At 16 he moved to New York. After beating a stronger man in a fight he believed he could become a boxer. In 1898 he made his professional debut. In 1901 Johnson was arrested due to prize fighting being illegal in Texas.

(Johnson (Middle) in 1901)

The sheriff let Johnson and the man who he was fighting with spar in jail for a reduced bail. In 1903 he won the World Colored Heavyweight championship. In 1908 he won the world heavyweight title. After winning the title media attacked Johnson with racist comments and called for a “great White hope” to defeat Johnson and take the title back.

(Johnson in 1908)

In 1910 Johnson fought James Jeffries and Johnson won which caused racial riots in Texas, Colorado, New York, Washington D.C. and 22 other states.

(Johnson (Right) in 1910)

Johnson refused to fight Black boxers due to the fact he felt he could make more money fighting White boxers. In 1913 he finally fought another Black boxer.

(Johnson in 1913)

In 1915 Johnson lost the title to Jess Willard.

(Johnson in 1915)

Johnson fought professionally until 1938. He did his last fight in 1945.

(Johnson in 1945)

On June 10th, 1946 Jack Johnson died in a car crash in Franklinton, North Carolina, USA. He was 68 years old.

(Johnson’s grave)

Today is the 71st anniversary of his death. Take time to remember this great athlete today.

Videos of Jack Johnson

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAzuDJQkxis  “Jack Johnson KOs Burns This Day In Boxing History - December 26, 1908 -”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnMJL36_oCs  “Jack Johnson vs James J. Jeffries (1910)”

P.S. sorry for the late post

Happy Birthday Jim Kelly

“When it comes I won’t even notice… I’ll be too busy lookin’ good” - Jim Kelly

(Jim Kelly)

Jim Kelly was born as James Kelly on May 5th, 1946 in Millersburg, Kentucky, USA. In high school Kelly played basketball, football and track. He attended the university of Louisville where he played football. He left his freshman year and he began to practice Shorin ryu karate. He began practicing karate in Lexington, KY. In 1967 Kelly got married.

(Kelly’s wedding)

In 1968 Kelly got divorced.  He also trained in Okinawan karate.

(Kelly in the early 1970’s)

In the early 1970’s Kelly became one of the most decorated world karate champions. In 1971 Kelly won four prestigious championships. He also won the World Middleweight Karate title at the 1971 Long Beach International Karate Championships. Kelly then opened his own dojo. Kelly taught actor Calvin Lockhart karate for a role in a film.

(Kelly in Melinda (1972))

Kelly was also a professional tennis player on the USTA Senior Men's Circuit.

(Kelly with a tennis racket)

Kelly became the 1st Black martial arts film star. In 1973 he was featured with Bruce Lee in the movie Enter The Dragon (1973).

(Kelly (Left) with Bruce Lee (Right))

In 1974 Kelly starred in the movie Black Belt Jones (1974).

(Kelly (Left) and Gloria Hendry (Right) in Black Belt Jones (1974))

Also in 1974 Kelly was in the film Three The Hard Way (1974).

(Kelly (Center) with Fred Williamson (Left) and Jim Brown (Right) in Three The Hard Way (1974))

In 1975 Kelly got married again. In 1976 he starred in Hot Potato (1976). From 1977 to 1978 Kelly starred in Black Samurai (1977), Death Dimension (1978), and Tattoo Connection (1978).In 1977 Kelly got divorced. In 1980 Kelly got married for the last time. After appearing in the movie One Down, Two to Go(1982) Kelly rarely appeared in movies. His last movie appearance was Afro Ninja (2009).

(Kelly in Afro Ninja (2009))

On June 29th, 2013 Jim Kelly died of cancer in San Diego, California, USA. He was 67 years old.

(Kelly in 2013)

Today is his 71st birthday and we would all like to say happy birthday and rest in peace Jim Kelly.

Movie Starring Jim Kelly

• Melinda (1972) as Charles Atkins
• Enter the Dragon (1973) as Williams
• Black Belt Jones (1974) as Black Belt Jones
• Three the Hard Way (1974) as Mister Keyes
• Golden Needles (1974) as Jeff
• Take a Hard Ride (1975) as Kashtok
• Hot Potato (1976) as Jones
• Black Samurai (1977) as Robert Sand
• The Tattoo Connection (1978) as Jones
• Death Dimension (1978) as Lt. Detective J. Ash
• The Amazing Mr. No Legs (1979)
• One Down, Two To Go (1982) as Chuck
• Stranglehold (1994) as Executive #4
• Ultimatum (1994) as Executive
• Macked, Hammered, Slaughtered and Shafted (2004) as Executive #4
• Afro Ninja (2009) as Cleavon Washington

Videos of Jim Kelly

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tB-QGOChuQc  “Enter The Dragon (1973 Trailer)”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYFgoh4YTE8  “THREE THE HARD WAY crooked cops scene JIM KELLY 1974 action movie jim brown Fred Williamson”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CYHzi7jDG8  “Jim Kelly talks about Bruce Lee's Sparring Ability”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=null7aDTkGo  “Black Belt Jones (1974) - Theatrical Trailer - Blaxploitation Movie Trailers”

Happy Birthday Steve Biko

“The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed” - Steve Biko

(Steve Biko)

Steve Biko was born as Stephen Biko on December 18th, 1946 in Ginsberg Township, South Africa. In 1950 his father died. In 1964 he attended a prestigious boarding school in Alice, Eastern Cape. Biko was expelled from the school due to his political views.

(Biko as a teenager)

He then attended St. Francis college in Mariannhill, Natal. He studied in the medical field to be a doctor. In the 1960’s Biko was apart of the National Union of South African Students. He later founded the South African Students' Organization (SASO). In 1968 Biko was elected its president. SASO then evolved into the Black Consciousness Movement (BCM).

(Biko on 1968)

In 1970 he married Ntsiki Mashalaba. In 1972 he was expelled from St. Francis for his political views.

(Biko in 1972)

In 1973 the Apartheid government banned him from speaking to more than 1 person at a time in public. In 1976 he organized protests in Soweto.

(Biko in 1976)

In 1977 Biko was arrested under the Terrorism Act No 83 of 1967. When he was interrogated he was beaten and tortured. They then put him in the back of a police wagon naked and drove him 680 miles to a prison with hospital facilities. On September 12th, 1977 Steve Biko died of his injuries from the police officers in Pretoria, South Africa. He was 30 years old.

(Biko’s Funeral)

Today is his 70th birthday and we would all like to say happy birthday and rest in peace Steve Biko.

Videos of Steve Biko

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNmAcgdO2Ck  “Steve Biko - rare TV interview”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MoNGCSgWQEQ  “The Life and Death of Steven Biko”

(P.S. sorry for the late post)