George Washington Carver created at least 300 products from the peanut, 118 products from the sweet potato, and 75 products from the pecan.
Black History Fact Of The Day
Month: June 2013
Quote Of The Day
“I asked a man in prison once how he happened to be there, and he said he had stolen a pair of shoes. I told him if he had stolen a railroad, he would be a United States senator.” -Mother Jones; Labor Organizer
Anecdote Of The Week: What Are The Movements Of A Great Leader?
“One of the ways I measure a good leader is by assessing the strength of the number two person. Would the organization function if the leader was not present? Insecure leaders make it difficult for the number two person to grow to their full potential.
I have had the privilege of observing geese fly south for the winter. It is amazing to see them fly. It is majestic the way they fly so effortlessly. If you look closer at geese, you will find that there is an order, a science, in the way they position themselves when they fly. They fly in a “V” formation.
There is a scientific reason for this. Researchers found that as each goose flaps its wings, an updraft is created for the bird immediately following. Studies show that this “V” formation adds at least 71 percent greater power than if the birds had flown alone.
There really is benefit in doing thing together. The real beauty is not just the strength that they gain from each other in the “V” formation, but the lead geese on both sides of the “V” are encouraged by each other. The noise being made are geese cheering for the leaders to keep the faith and keep the speed. When the lead geese are tired, they rotate to the back of the “V” and others will assume the point position. It is truly remarkable to observe.
If one goose becomes ill…and falls out of formation, two other geese will follow and nurture the goose hopefully to health. Wouldn’t it be nice if people would function the same way?” -From, “Sankofa: Stories of Power, Hope, and Joy”
Black History Fact Of The Day
Eatonville, Florida is reportedly the first town in the United States to be incorporated by African-Americans.
Quote Of The Day
“Television has changed a child from an irresistible force to an immovable object.” -Author Unknown
Book Excerpt Of The Week, “The Rose That Grew From Concrete” By: Tupac Shakur
“Government Assistance Or My Soul
It would be like a panther
asking a panther hunter
4 some meat, all
High school dropouts R not DUMB
All unemployed aren’t lazy
and there R many days I hunger
But I would go hungry and homeless
Before the American Government gets my soul” -From, The Rose That Grew From Concrete” By: Tupac Shakur
TODAY IS BUY BLACK FRIDAY
PLEASE PASS THIS ON! (EACH ONE TEACH ONE OR TWO!) THIS IS PHASE ONE ON HOW WE CAN HELP TO STRENGTHEN & EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY:
The 2008 not guilty verdict in the Sean Bell case evoked outrage, emotion, and debate. It is not an anomaly that the police officers involved in the Sean Bell slaying were acquitted of all charges on all counts in State Supreme Court. I could run out of ink printing the names of people who have been victimized by the inaptly named justice system.
The American justice system has been especially terroristic towards the African American community. Many community members can cite historic and personal accounts to prove this. Therefore, it would be foolhardy (at the least) to turn to a system that has methodically oppressed us, and request that they free us. We can only free ourselves through extreme discipline and intelligent planning.
As a community we have been too compliant with leaders who organize ineffective, delayed reactions. The only strategy that can save us in this last hour is one that calls for a collective code of conduct that will be conducive to improving the conditions of our community, and shifting the paradigm of how we are treated by outside entities. The first step of this code of conduct should be based on economics.
The old adage of “money talks,” still reigns true in the new millennium. Any political scientist worth his or her library card will tell you that: “Economic powerlessness equals political powerlessness,” and conversely “economic power equals political power.” This means that if we continue to allow our wealth to be extracted from our community, we will remain impotent.
The power of the collective “Black Dollar” is often discussed. However, that power has been left unchanneled. Today is the day to change that. A one-time boycott is not going to bring long-term change and respect to our community. Our community has launched boycotts before. Our success and ascension will be based on what we consistently do. For this reason, we should initiate “BUY BLACK FRIDAYS.”
BUY BLACK FRIDAYS is a small step towards our community acquiring power via controlling our economics. Every Friday, people who acknowledge the injustice and oppression that the African American community has been consistently subjected to should do one of the following:
Option #1: Spend $0 on Friday
Option #2: Spend no more than $10 on Friday
Option #3: Only Shop at Black Businesses on Friday
[PLEASE NOTE THAT THE ABOVE OPTIONS CAN & SHOULD BE EXERCISED ON A DAILY BASIS. However, we can all at the very least focus on Fridays. This way we can take a collective stand and build our collective discipline. Please remember that this is only Phase 1!].
To the people who are tempted to label “BUY BLACK FRIDAYS” as racist, I say this: In the big scheme of things, this is about right & wrong, justice & injustice. The African American community is a strong, proud community that has endured the brunt of America’s iron fist. We must stop the pounding. I feel that any fair-minded individual will concur, and join in.
ANY business that is privileged to enjoy the support of the African American community MUST return that support.
I thank you in advance for your effort and dedication.
-Elsie Law AKA Starface
Black History Fact Of The Day
Elbert Frank Cox was the first African-American to earn a doctorate degree in math. He received his degree from Cornell University in 1925.
Quote Of The Day
“And if I know anything at all, it’s that a wall is just a wall and nothing more at all. It can be broken down.” -Assata Shakur
