Happy Birthday Stokely Carmichael

“Our grandfathers had to run, run, run. My generation's out of breath. We ain't running no more” - Stokely Carmichael

(Stokely Carmichael)

Stokely Carmichael was born on June 29th, 1941 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. In 1952 he moved to Harlem, NY, USA. He then moved to the East Bronx. He attended Bronx High School of Science. In 1960 he attended Howard university.

(Carmichael in 1960)

While at Howard he joined Nonviolent Action Group (NAG). In 1961 he participated in the Freedom Rides of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). With 8 other activists Carmichael traveled by train from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Jackson, Mississippi, to integrate the formerly "white" section on the train. they encountered white protestors blocking the way. The activists were charged with disturbing the peace, arrested and taken to jail. He served 49 days with other activists at the Parchman State Prison Farm.

(Carmichael's mugshot)

In 1964 he graduated with a philosophy degree. He also joined SNCC. Throughout Freedom Summer, he worked with grassroots African American activists, including Fannie Lou Hamer. During a protest in Maryland Carmichael was hit directly in a chemical gas attack by the National Guard and had to be hospitalized.

(Carmichael in 1964)

In 1965 he participated in the Selma to Montgomery marches. Also in 1965 working as a SNCC activist in the black majority Lowndes County, Carmichael helped to increase the number of registered black voters from 70 to 2,600.

(Carmichael in 1965)

In 1966 Carmichael became chairman of SNCC. Carmichael joined Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Floyd McKissick, Cleveland Sellers and others to continue James Meredith's march.

(Carmichael (Right) with Dr. King (Left))

After the march Carmichael made a speech using the slogan “Black Power”.

(Carmichael making his “Black Power” speech)

Under Carmichael's term, SNCC continued to maintain a coalition with several white radical organizations, most notably Students for a Democratic Society (SDS). SNCC conducted its first actions against the military draft and the Vietnam War under Carmichael's leadership. Carmichael popularized the oft-repeated anti draft slogan, "Hell no-We won't go!".

(Carmichael making a speech)

In 1967 Carmichael left SNCC. Also in 1967 he wrote the book Black Power. He also visited Guinea, North Vietnam, China, Cuba and the UK in 1967.

(Carmichael (Left) with Kwame Nkrumah (Center) and Shirley Dubois (Right))

In 1968 Carmichael was targeted by FBI COINTELPRO. Also in 1968 after Dr. King’s assassination Carmichael led a group through the streets of Washington D.C., demanding that businesses close out of respect.

(Carmichael in 1968)

Also in 1968 he married Miriam Makeba. In 1969 they moved to Guinea.

(Carmichael (Right) with his wife Miriam Makeba (Left))

He then changed his name to Kwame Ture. In 1971 he published his collected essays in a second book, Stokely Speaks: Black Power Back to Pan-Africanism.

(Carmichael in 1971)

In 1986 Ture was arrested for his past association with Ahmed Touré, and jailed him for three days on suspicion of attempting to overthrow the government. Ture worked with the All-African People's Revolutionary Party (A-APRP) for the rest of his life. He spoke on its behalf on several continents at innumerable college campuses, in community centers and other venues. Great Britain and Trinidad & Tobago banned Ture from speaking there for fear that he would arouse African descended people in those countries. In 1996 Ture was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Ture was treated for a period in Cuba, while receiving some support from the Nation of Islam.

(Ture in 1996)

Benefit concerts for Ture were held in Denver, New York City, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C.,to help defray his medical expenses. On November 15th, 1998 Kwame Ture died of Prostate Cancer in Conakry, Guinea. He was 57 years old.

(Ture in 1998)

Today is his 76th birthday and we would all like to say happy birthday and rest in peace Kwame Ture.

Videos of Kwame Ture

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zxrzTsfpPfM  “STOKELY CARMICHAEL POWERFUL SPEECH”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKP5_qyGs8c  “Stokely Carmichael "We Ain't Going" Speech”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToPcoNwEGW4  “Clips of Kwame Ture Stokely Carmichael and H Rap Brown Speaking At The Free Huey Rally 1968”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_QbWDoJBvk  “Stokely Carmichael - Passive Boycotts”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOILkkjtg6Y  “Stokley Carmichael interview-excerpt”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOLrPQkQR8o  “RBG| Kwame Ture (fna Stokely Carmichael) The Importance of Studying History”

Anniversary of Muhammad Ali's Death

“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” - Muhammad Ali

(Muhammad Ali)

Muhammad Ali was born as Cassius Clay Jr. on January 17th, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. In 1954 Ali made his made his amateur boxing debut.

(Clay in 1954)

He won six Kentucky Golden Gloves titles, two national Golden Gloves titles, an Amateur Athletic Union national title, and the Light Heavyweight gold medal in the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome.

(Clay (Middle) in 1960)

Clay's amateur record was 100 wins with 5 losses. Also in 1960 he made his professional debut. In 1962 Clay met Malcolm X.

(Clay (Left) and Malcolm X (Right))

The 1963 fight between Clay and Doug Jones was called the fight of the year. Clay vocally belittled his opponents and vaunted his abilities. In 1964 Clay faced Sonny Liston for the heavyweight championship. Clay won the fight and became the heavyweight champion. Clay became at age 22 the youngest boxer to take the title from a reigning heavyweight champion.

(Ali (Standing) and Sonny Liston (Laying down))

Clay then changed his name to “Cassius X” after joining the Nation of Islam. In 1965 X had a rematch with Liston where X won by KO. He then changed his name to “Muhammad Ali”. Also in 1965 Ali defended his title against former heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson. In 1966 Ali was drafted in the Army. He indicated that he would refuse to serve, commenting to the press, "I ain't got nothing against no Viet Cong; no Viet Cong never called me nigger.”

(Ali being arrested for not registering into the draft)

Ali traveled to Canada and Europe and won championship bouts. He then moved back to the US. In 1967 Ali fought Ernie Terrell. Terrell was billed as Ali's toughest opponent since Liston. Ali won the match while taunting Terrell over, Terrell’s refusal to call Ali by his new name. Ali then was stripped of his title due to refusal of entering the draft. His boxing license was also suspended by the state of New York. He was sentenced to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. He paid a bond and remained free while the verdict was being appealed. Ali could not fight from 1967 to 1970. His conviction was overturned in 1971. The 1st fight between Ali and Joe Frazier was named the fight of the century. Ali lost the fight making it his 1st professional defeat.

(Ali (Right) and Joe Frazier (Left))

In 1973 Ali got his jaw broken during a fight causing the 2nd loss of his career. In 1974 Ali had a rematch with Frazier. Ali won the fight. Ali then had a fight against Heavyweight champion George Foreman in Zaire called “Rumble in the Jungle”. Ali beat Foreman making Ali the Heavyweight champion again.

(Ali (Standing) and George Foreman (Laying down))

In 1975 Ali had another fight with Frazier called the “Thrilla in Manilla”. Ali won by TKO.

(Ali (Right) and Joe Frazier (Left))

In 1976 Ali fought Ken Norton at Yankee Stadium. Ali won the fight. Also in 1975 Ali converted to Sunni Islam. In 1978 Ali faced Leon Spinks.

(Ali (Right) Leon Spinks (Left))

In 1979 Ali announced his retirement but it was short lived. In 1980 Ali fought Larry Holmes and Ali lost the fight horribly to Holmes. In 1981 Ali had his final fight against Trevor Berbick and Ali lost.

(Ali (Right) and Trevor Berbick (Left))

Also in 1981 Ali talked a man out of committing suicide. In 1984 Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Syndrome. In 1985 Ali was a guest referee at Wrestlemania I.

(Ali (Right) with Hulk Hogan (Left))

In 1983 Ali met with President Reagan. In 1991 Ali went to Iraq and spoke to Saddam Hussein to negotiate the release of US hostages.

(Ali (Left) and Saddam Hussein (Right))

In 1996 He lit the Summer Olympic flame.

(Ali in 1996)

In 2001 Will Smith portrayed Muhammad Ali in the movie Ali.

(Ali (Left) and Will Smith (Right))

In 2002 Ali went to Afghanistan as a UN messenger of peace. In 2012 Ali was a titular bearer of the Olympic Flag during the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olympics.

(Ali (Left) and his wife (Right) in 2012)

In 2014 Ali was hospitalized for Pneumonia. In 2015 he was hospitalized for a urinary tract infection. On June 3rd 2016 Muhammad Ali died due to septic shock in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA. He was 74 years old.

(Ali in 2016)

Today is the 1st anniversary of his death. Take time to remember this great boxer and activist today.     

Videos of Muhammad Ali

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DkLQiijQos  “Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay) Wins Olympic Boxing Gold - Rome 1960 Olympics”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaGImMGti0M  “Elijah Muhammad and Muhammad Ali @ Harlem, June 28, 1964”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzWynvBLJ4I  “Muhammad Ali vs Sonny Liston 1965”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeFMyrWlZ68  “Muhammad Ali on the Vietnam War-Draft”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLWYnTFz9PE  “Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier I: Round 15 (Knockdown.)”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0qsQmZ2TLg  “Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier II (Highlights)”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bVseoF1-p3M  “Muhammad Ali vs George Foreman (Highlights)”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1R6WSAJGS5A  “The Thrilla in Manila HD”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6UTDI0DC1g  “The Racialist Views of Muhammad Ali ~ Interview 1971”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_--4_zeUBQY  “Muhammad Ali makes his presence felt at WrestleMania I”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9bQfOSvkfM  “Muhammad Ali & Will Smith Talk About Islam & 9 11 1 محمد علي عن احداث 11سبتمبر الارهابيه”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cipn_UIy0Vs  “Muhammad Ali Makes A Special Appearance At The Opening Ceremony - London 2012 Olympics”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30uElw6PNV0  “Ali Trailer (2001) Dir: Michael Mann”

Happy Birthday Malcolm X

“We declare our right on this earth...to be a human being, to be respected as a human being, to be given the rights of a human being in this society, on this earth, in this day, which we intend to bring into existence by any means necessary" - Malcolm X

(Malcolm X)

Malcolm X was born as Malcolm Little on May 19th 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. In 1926 his Little and his family moved to Lansing, MI. Little’s family was harassed by a group of white supremacists. In 1929 his home was burned down by the white supremacists. In 1931 Little’s father was killed by the white supremacist group and it was covered up to be a street car accident. In 1938 Little’s mother had a mental breakdown and she was committed to a mental hospital. Little and his siblings were sent to foster care.

(Malcolm X as a child)

At age 14 Little moved to the Roxbury section of Boston, MA. In 1943 he moved to the Harlem section of New York City, NY. There he engaged in multiple illegal activities such as drug dealing, gambling, racketeering, robbery, and pimping. He had the nickname of “Detroit Red” which he got because of his red hair.

(Malcolm X as a young adult)

In 1945 Little and 4 others committed a series of burglaries. In 1946 he was arrested and began serving an 8-10 year sentence at Charlestown State Prison for larceny and breaking and entering.

(Mugshot of Malcolm X)

While in prison Little began to learn about the Nation of Islam. In 1948 Little wrote to the leader of the NOI, the Honorable Elijah Muhammad. Elijah Muhammad convinced Little to convert to Islam and to renounce his past. Also while in prison Little read a vast amount of literature. In 1950 Little started to call himself Malcolm X. The X expressing the unknown since his real last name was lost due to slavery. In 1952 Malcolm X was released from prison and went to visit Elijah Muhammad in Chicago, IL.

(Elijah Muhammad (Left) and Malcolm X (Right))

In 1953 Malcolm X was appointed as assistant minister of the Nation's Temple Number One in Detroit, MI. Later that year he established Temple Number 11 in Boston, MA. The FBI started to watch him in 1953. In 1954 he expanded Temple Number 12 in Philadelphia, PA. He was then selected to lead Temple Number 7 in Harlem, New York City, NY. In 1955 he established 3 more temples, one in Springfield, MA, Hartford, CT, and Atlanta, GA. Also in 1955 he met Betty Sanders and after she joined the NOI in 1956 they started to date. In 1957 4 NOI members were beaten and arrested by police for intervening in an act of 2 police officers brutally beating a man. One of the men was beaten so bad that it caused brain hemorrhaging. When Malcolm X heard of this he organized a group and demanded that the man be sent to the hospital. At 1st the police denied that the man had been arrested but after the crowd grew to about 500 they let the man go to the hospital. After this incident the NYPD kept surveillance on Malcolm X. The NYPD also sent officers in to infiltrate the NOI.  In 1958 he proposed to Betty Sanders and they were married 2 days later.

(Betty Shabazz (Left) and Malcolm X (Right))

They had 6 daughters together. In September of 1960 he was introduced to the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, NY. He met many leaders including Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, Ahmed Sékou Touré of Guinea, Kenneth Kaunda of the Zambian African National Congress and, Fidel Castro of Cuba.

(Fidel Castro (Left) and Malcolm X (Right))

During Malcolm X’s time with the NOI he was accused of many things such as a hate monger, a black supremacist, prejudice, a violence-seeker, a segregationist, a threat to improved race relations and anti semitic. In 1963 he called the March on Washington the “Farce on Washington” and he heavily criticized people who took the non-violence stance in the Civil Rights movement, because he believed in self defense against violence that were brought upon him. Malcolm X inspired boxer Cassius Clay (Later known as Muhammad Ali) to join the NOI and mentored Louis X (Later known as Louis Farrakhan).

(Muhammad Ali (Left) and Malcolm X (Right))

When Malcolm X was asked about the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963 he described it as  "chickens coming home to roost" which meant that he was killed because of some actions which he has done in the past is now catching up with him. After making these comments the NOI suspended Malcolm X from preaching for 90 days. The NOI also started to see Malcolm X as a threat because he was getting bigger than the organization. On March 8th, 1964 Malcolm X left the NOI. He then converted to be a Sunni Muslim. Malcolm X then founded the Muslim Mosque Inc. and the Organization of Afro-American Unity. On March 26th, 1964 he met with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

(Dr. King (Left) and Malcolm X (Right))

In April of 1964 Malcolm X took a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia (which is where muslims go as part of their religious duty). Going to Mecca and seeing different races practice Islam, changed his views of racial problems in the US. He also traveled to several other countries including Egypt, Ethiopia, Tanganyika, Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea, Sudan, Senegal, Liberia, Algeria, Morocco, France and the UK.

(Malcolm X (Center) during his trip to Africa and the Middle East)

Throughout 1964 Malcolm X received many death threats from the NOI. On February 14th, 1965 Malcolm X’s house was destroyed by a fire lit by an arsonist.

(A picture of Malcolm X with a rifle looking out of a window from Ebony magazine)

On February 21st, 1965 Malcolm X was going to make a speech in Manhattan's Audubon Ballroom. In the audience there was a disturbance, while Malcolm X’s bodyguards went to settle the disturbance 3 armed men ran up and shot Malcolm X. All 3 of the gunmen were arrested. Malcolm X was 39 years old.

(Malcolm X’s funeral)

Today is his 92nd birthday and we would all like to say happy birthday and rest in peace Malcolm X.  

Books of Malcolm X

• The Autobiography of Malcolm X (1965) by Malcolm X and Alex Haley

Movies of Malcolm X

• Malcolm X (1992)

Videos of Malcolm X

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKD1XdWf0qM  “MALCOLM X OUR HISTORY WAS DESTROYED BY SLAVERY”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCSOiN_38nE  “Who Taught You to Hate Yourself - Malcolm X”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSMEtloKj38  “MALCOLM X THE KU KLUX KLAN KILLED MY FATHER”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df5kaol1lCs  “MALCOLM X BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx4sEvhYeVE  “Malcolm X (1992) Official Trailer - Denzel Washington Movie HD”

Happy Birthday Louis Farrakhan

“There really can be no peace without justice. There can be no justice without truth. And there can be no truth, unless someone rises up to tell you the truth” - Louis Farrakhan

(Louis Farrakhan)

Louis Farrakhan was born as Louis Wolcott on May 11th, 1933 in The Bronx, New York, USA. Wolcott never knew his biological father due to his parents splitting up before he was born. His family then moved to Barbados while Walcott was a child. In 1936 after Wolcott’s step father died his family moved to Boston, MA in the Roxbury neighborhood. In 1939 Wolcott learned to play violin. In 1946 Wolcott was one of the first black performers to appear on the Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour, where he also won an award.

(Wolcott in 1949)

Wolcott completed three years at Winston-Salem Teachers College, where he had a track scholarship. While in college Wolcott married Betsy Ross. In the 1950’s Wolcott started his music career. One of his songs was on the Billboard top 100 chart for 5 years in a row. Wolcott and his wife was invited to a Nation of Islam mosque where Elijah Muhammad was speaking. In 1955 Wolcott joined the NOI. Wolcott last name was then changed to “X”.

(Louis X (Left) with Elijah Muhammad (Right))

Louis X then became assistant minister of the Boston mosque. Louis X was taught by Malcolm X. After Malcolm X was killed Louis X was promoted to Malcolm X’s position.

(Louis X (Right) with Malcolm X (Left))

From 1975 to 1978 became a Sunni Imam. In 1978 Louis X was given the last name “Farrakhan”. In 1979 Farrakhan’s new group made the newspaper “The Final Call”.

(Farrakhan in 1979)

In 1981 Farrakhan and his supporters held their first Saviours' Day convention in Chicago, Illinois, and took back the name of the Nation of Islam. In 1995 Farrakhan led the Million Man March in Washington D.C. Speakers such as Maya Angelou, Rosa Parks, Jesse Jackson, and Cornel West was in attendance.

(Farrakhan in 1995)

In 2005 Farrakhan led the Millions More Movement where speakers such as Malik Shabazz and Al Sharpton were in attendance.

(Farrakhan in 2005)

Also in 2005 Farrakhan was voted BET person of the year. Also in 2005 Farrakhan implied that the levees in New Orleans were deliberately sabotaged to break during hurricane Katrina, he also said the God was punishing the US for years of warmongering and racism. In 2007 Farrakhan had abdominal surgery. In 2008 Farrakhan supported Barack Obama for president.

(Farrakhan in 2008)

In 2012 Farrakhan stopped supporting Obama due to Obama’s intervention in Libya. In 2013 Farrakhan had a heart attack. In 2015 Farrakhan led a 20th anniversary of the Million Man March.

(Farrakhan in 2015)

In 2016 Farrakhan offered to give Beyonce protective service while touring since police forces refused to.

(Farrakhan in 2016)

Today he turns 84 years old and we would all like to say happy birthday Louis Farrakhan.

Books by Louis Farrakhan

• Back Where We Belong (1989)
• The Secret Relationship Between Blacks and Jews (1991)
• A Torchlight for America (1993)
• Let Us Make Man (1996)

Videos of Louis Farrakhan

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ol3BIfAKqPI  “The Million Man March Pledge”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfiUg2iKoEc  “Justice Or Else - 10.10.15 - Million Man March 2015 Anniversary”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tueyNHYV2Os  “Young Farrakhan Violin on TV”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8Ei2XwrEnA  “Louis Farrakhan performs Mendelssohn Violin Concerto”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Epjb-A6vOhQ  “Minister Louis Farrakhan handles the Donahue audience!”