Unfortunately there is no appropriate television reference to mark the celebration of Juneteenth. And in the Addy series of the American Girl books, she definitely found out on April 10th....not June 19th (Yes I remember that from years ago). But in comradeship with my people down in Galveston, Texas let's all reflect on the importance of freedom and the struggles that continue until today.
I wrote this up over on RBMVibes as my perfect Juneteenth/Caribbean American Heritage Month song. Check it out here. Also peep the Black Music Month coverage they've been doing.
If we could light a candle for everything he's done, For everything he's bettered, (for everything he's promised) For every victory won, Then that light would shine brightly, For all the world to see All he did for peace and freecom and equality (all the beauty of peace, freedom and equality) Happy Birthday Dr. Martin Luther King ---the old McDonald's Martin Luther King Day commercial, (the version that existed in my memory)
I just want to wish everyone a very Happy MLK day...even as it draws to a close.It's been acknowledged that today is a very special Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, particularly in light of tomorrow's inauguration of the first black president of the United States. I'm hesistant to say the dream has been fulfilled, but we must not deny the importance of this ocassion. My president is black! Personally, I'm even more touched since I visited Atlanta this year and was able to visit the King Center and Ebeneezer Baptist Church.
Speech highlighted this year: "God's Truth is Marching On" Read Full Text Here: http://www.writespirit.net/inspirational_talks/political/martin_luther_king_talks/our_god_is_marching_on/
Random thought of the year: Ever wonder about the identities of all the men in white caps behind Dr. King in the "I Have a Dream" video.
Last year, I wrote about some of my fave MLK moments. Check it out here: http://vanitydark.blogspot.com/2008/01/happy-birthday-dr-martin-luther-king-jr.html
In my head the "it's a new day" fitness center commercial is playing. After sleeping through the pivotal turn of midnight moment, I still feel great.
But as we send out the old, check out the" 2008 Rap-Up" from Skillz. It covers a good portion of urban pop culture for the 08 as well as national news.
Rotflmbo @ "A-shoe-sinnated" and Frankie being the real star of The Keyshia Cole Show...
In true Vanity Dark style, here's a holiday appropriate tv clip to start off the year remembering. The last part of the final episode of Living Single. What a way for a show to end!
Wishing you a Healthy, Prosperous and Dancehall New Years! HAUL, Kim
Apparently it's a holiday weekend out in the States, so Happy Independence Day! In lieu of Independence Day, I celebrated Guy Fawkes day back in October. Exciting I know.
This clip is from the Will Smith old enough to be a throwback film (before he got anywhere near the Scientology juice), Independence Day. I never watched it, not even when they played it on the bus ride to Philly in high school, so I couldn't really tell you what its about, but from the clip it sounds a whole lot like the premise to what September 11th became for the world. Except that the September 11th terrorists were not aliens from another planet.
We celebrated out here in the UK in October, but you know, I follow the US calendar mostly. This is the 22nd year of the expansion of what was previously Negro history week into an entire month. There are concrete reasons for choosing February: the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. However, we'll start off the month with a (not so serious) examination of whether or not February should be the month in which black history is celebrated.
I present to you, the original drug abuser: Gil Scott Heron in a recent performance at New York's SOB's (Sounds of Brazil...cool shows, often). The revolution may not be televised, but this "luminary" has been put on You Tube.
Okay, so his birthday was actually a few days ago, but this is the day set aside by the United States government to honor his birthday. Unfortunately ther eis no day set aside for his recognition out here in the UK and this is a break from a twenty page paper that I need to finish, but I thought I'd leave you all with a dedication to this great man with a few of my favorite clips that celebrate the man. (and to think all of this from you're home computer without going to the Dream Concert)
I had great plans for this post, but that dream must now be deferred. Instead I'll leave you with some of my favorite Martin Luther King tributes and a clip to the famous "I Have a Dream" Speech. It's been a rough two days for me..sorry.
Oh yea, and my undergraduate thesis which examined the I have a dream speech as a hundred year fast forward of blacks still capitalizing on the memory of Abraham Lincoln.
Quote of the I Have A Dream speech that stuck out for me this time: "We cannot be satisfied as long as the negro in Mississippi cannot vote and the Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote."
Slightly disturbing: The first YouTube link for Martin Luther King is for Ron Paul.
There is no such thing as American history, only a frontier. -Don Draper, Mad Men.
They did the same thing to Jesus. They did the same thing to Martin Luther King. They do the same thing to every great leader. --Po-Prah, "I Want To Work For Diddy" Episode 2.
Morning conversations)Mommy: What did you have for breakfast? Kimmy: cookies! Mommy: Cookies aren't breakfast, unless they're oatmeal raisin. But I know you and you had chocolate chip. Kimmy: I had chocolate chocolate chip cookies. Mommy: (sigh) Alright my child, I have to get ready for work.
