Every day I watched how a bare metal frame rolling down the line would come out the other end a spanking brand new car. Maybe I could do the same thing with my music … create a place where a kid off the street could walk in one door an unknown and come out another door a star.
There’s a lot of opinions about Berry Gordy. I personally believe he’s one of the most astute businessmen of our time. He founded Motown which developed a sound that lives on today. No one developed artists like Motown did and many a group has come along following the framework the label set up. I love Berry Gordy and his influence (and damn near passed out the first time I heard his voice on the phone lol). Pioneer, visionary, leader, entrepreneur, influencer, risk taker…all qualities I hope to embody as I become a producer. Oh yeah after he mastered the music game, he made a few amazing films including “Lady Sings the Blues,” and directed “Mahogany”. Here’s his story…
Berry Gordy, Jr., was born in 1929 and reared in Detroit. He was not the first businessman in the family; both parents were self-employed, his father as a plastering contractor, his mother as an insurance agent. Gordy dropped out of Northeastern High School in his junior year to pursue a career as a Featherweight boxer. Between 1948 and 1951 he fought 15 Golden Gloves matches, 12 of which he won, but his fighting career was clipped short when he was drafted to serve in the Korean War.
Upon his discharge from the Army in 1953, Berry Gordy returned to Detroit and used his service pay to open the Three-D Record Mart. His love for the jazz of Stan Kenton, Charlie Parker, and Thelonius Monk influenced his inventory more than his customers’ requests for “things like Fats Domino,” and his business soon failed.
Gordy worked for his father for a short period and then as a chrome trimmer on the assembly line at the Ford Motor Company. The monotony was formidable, and Gordy’s way of overcoming it was to write songs in his head, some of which were recorded by local singers. Decca Records bought several of his compositions, including “Reet Petite” and “Lonely Teardrops” (both recorded by Jackie Wilson), and when Gordy compared his royalty checks to what Decca made from the modest hits, he realized that writing the hits wasn’t enough. He needed to own them. Read More
Sometimes I get discouraged about finding being found by my true love. If I believed what I read or heard, I’d think as a black woman in America over the age of 25 I could never find a mate. Luckily I don’t believe the statistics. I trust that there’s someone for everyone and when I think of examples of “black love” my mind always goes to Ruby Dee and Ossie Davis. Their love lasted until Mr. Davis died. Here’s some info on the pair:
Although neither one of them can remember the actual moment they met one another, Ossie and Ruby met while performing in the Broadway drama “Jeb” at the Amsterdam Theater in new york City in December, 1946.
Wedding Date:
Three years after they met, Ossie proposed to Ruby by sending a telegram to her from Chicago. During one of their days off (a Thursday) from rehearsals, Ruby and Ossie rode the bus to Jersey City, New Jersey and were married on December 9, 1948 by a Baptist preacher.
Previous Marriages:
Ruby was married to Frankie Dee Brown, a midget, on August 31, 1941 in the Mother Zion AME Church by Reverend Benjamin Robeson.
Ages at Marriages:
First marriage, Ruby, nearly 17, and Frankie, ?? ;second marriage, Ruby, 24, and Ossie, a week shy of being 31.
Education:
Ossie Davis attended Howard University. Ruby Dee graduated from Hunter College in 1945.
Ossie first served in the Army during WWII in Liberia as a surgical technician working with wounded troops and local residents. He was later assigned as a writer and producer in the Special Services Department to both use and entertain military personnel in stage productions. He was honorably discharged in 1945. Ossie Davis has been a successful actor on screen, television, and stage. Additionally, he was a writer, film producer, television producer, and activist. Ruby is an actress and author.
The couple has been affiliated with the NAACP, the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). Davis and Dee also made recordings for the blind, raised money to fight drug addiction and to help with the legal defense of arrested civil rights workers. They founded the Institute of New Cinema Artists and also the Recording Industry Training Program. Together, with their three children, they formed the production company Emmalyn II Enterprises. Together, Ossie and Ruby have received many awards includig the Frederick Douglass Award from the New York Urban League in 1970, the Paul Robeson Citation from the Actors Equity in 1975, inducted into the NAACP Image Awards hall of Fame in 1989, Monarch Award in 1990, the Silver Circle Award by the Academy of Television Arts Sciences in 1994, the Presidential Medal for Lifetime Achievement In the Arts given at the White House by President and Mrs. Clinton in 1995, and the Kennedy Center Honors in 2004. Between the two of them, they have 10 Emmy nominations.
Ossie Davis was found dead in a hotel room at the Shore Club Motel in Miami Beach, Florida, on February 4, 2005. Known for his integrity, sincerity, talent, and warmth, the man considered to be a wise sage was 87 years old. He was said to be suffering from heart disease and had recently recovered from pneumonia. His body was discovered by his grandson and paramedics.
Today as I was getting my hair done (long hair don’t care for a while-pics to come) I began to think of my personal hair history and how many things I’ve tried to use to make my mane behave how I’d have it to. That made me feel so grateful there was a multitude of hair options for coarse, kinky, curly, wavy, sometimes straight, extra thick hair like mine. And to think, all the products I use were derived from Madame C.J. Walker’s pomade and heated tools developed in 1905. Her empire made her not only a pioneer in the hair care industry but the first self made female millionaire. That’s what I call a boss!
Madame C.J. Walker (1867-1919)
Entrepreneur and philanthropist. Born Sarah Breedlove on December 23, 1867, in Delta, Louisiana. Madam C. J. Walker was one of the first female African-American entrepreneurs. Orphaned at the age of seven, she was raised by an elder sister. Walker married to Moses McWilliams at age 14 in Vicksburg. Widowed at age 20 with a daughter, A Lelia, she moved to St. Louis and attended public night schools and worked days as a washerwoman.
Driven by her own struggles with hair loss during 1890s, Madam C. J. Walker began experimenting with different hair care treatments and products. In 1905 she invented a method for straightening African-Americans’ “kinky” hair: her method involved her own formula for a pomade, much brushing, and the use of heated combs. Encouraged by her success, she moved to Denver, Colorado, where she married Charles J. Walker. She promoted her method and products by traveling about the country giving lecture-demonstrations. Her business became so successful that she opened an office in Pittsburgh in 1908, which she left in the charge of her daughter. Read More
“It always seems impossible until it is done.” NELSON MANDELA
Nelson Mandela was born in a small South African village to a local chief and his third wife. He was the first person in his family to receive a western education, and was inspired to study law after witnessing the democracy of African tribal governance at an early age. Mandela became a sought after lawyer in Johannesburg, defending black South Africans against the government’s increasingly unfair treatment, and a key figure of the African National Congress, a political party that sought to unite all Africans and regain their rights and freedom. He participated in boycotts, organized protests, mobilized his people and in turn was labeled an enemy of the state: accused of treason, banned from political involvement, disbarred, and sentenced to life in prison. Mandela’s incarceration brought international attention to the racial injustices of South Africa’s apartheid government sparking the rally cry “Free Nelson Mandela” worldwide.
Mandela served 27 years in prison before his release in 1990 at the age of 72 and was elected the first black President of South Africa in 1994. Although he retired from political life in 1999, Mandela continues to lend his voice towards issues that affect his country and the world at large, such as the AIDS epidemic, poverty, and human rights. He was also instrumental in securing South Africa as the host of the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
Nelson Mandela is one of the world’s greatest and most admired political leaders and has been honored with numerous awards including the Nobel Peace Prize for he is a shining example of the incredible strength of the human spirit to persevere in the face of adversity for the pursuit of freedom.
This morning I was thinking of who I would cover for today’s Profile in Black. My Granny was talking about how she had to go get blood work done tomorrow so I immediately thought of Dr. Charles Richard Drew. Among his many accomplishment, Dr. Drew was the inventor of the modern blood bank. After all he achieved in his life, it was his death in 1950 that became a spectacle. What is certain is that he was injured in a horrible car accident on the way to a medical convention. The speculation comes with what happened next. TIME Magazine reported that he was taken to a segregated hospital that wouldn’t administer a blood transfusion, a process he helped to invent, because he was black. Other sources during that time reported that it wasn’t true and by the time he arrived at the hospital he was already near death and a blood transfusion would not have helped the injuries he received. We will never know what really happened that day, but we do know modern medicine is better as a result of his contributions.
Dr. Charles Richard Drew (1904-1950)
After graduation, Charles Drew was a coach and a biology and chemistry instructor at Morgan State College, Baltimore, Maryland. But a turning point in his life was at hand. It had become his ambition to enter the field of medicine. He resigned his job at Morgan State and went to Montreal, Canada, where he enrolled in McGill University’s Medical School. There he was granted two fellowships and was awarded his doctorate of medicine and master of surgery degrees.
For two years following graduation, Dr. Drew was an intern and resident in Montreal hospitals. In 1935, he returned to the United States to accept an appointment as instructor in pathology at the College of Medicine of Howard University in Washington, D.C. During the next two years, he advanced to become assistant professor of surgery. Read More
Last night my coworker and I were discussing Bill O’Reilly, Sarah Palin and those types who seem hell bent on a divisive view of America. When they spew rhetoric about how they want America back, I wonder if they care about how it makes minorities and disenfranchised citizens of this country feel. It reminds me of one of my favorite poems by Langston Hughes. Amazing how his stance so long ago captures exactly how I feel today. Enjoy the poem then get to know more about Langston Hughes.
I, TOO, SING AMERICA by Langston Hughes
I, too, sing America.
I am the darker brother. They send me to eat in the kitchen When company comes, But I laugh, And eat well, And grow strong.
Tomorrow, I’ll be at the table When company comes. Nobody’ll dare Say to me, “Eat in the kitchen,” Then.
Besides, They’ll see how beautiful I am And be ashamed–
I, too, am America.
JAMES MERCER LANGSTON HUGHES 1902-1967 
Poet, writer, playwright. Born February 1, 1902 in Joplin, Missouri. After publishing his first poem, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” (1921), he attended Columbia University (1921), but left after one year to work on a freighter, traveling to Africa, living in Paris and Rome, and supporting himself with odd jobs. After his poetry was promoted by Vachel Linday, he attended Lincoln University (1925–9), and while there his first book of poems, The Weary Blues (1926), launched his career as a writer. Read More
Yesterday would have been the 37th birthday of who most proclaim as the best hip-hop producer ever, J 
Dilla. He passed away in 2006 due to complications of the disease lupus. My godmother and cousin died of lupus but is a disease I can’t begin to explain or wrap my head around. When I lived in L.A., I was volunteer with the Lupus Foundation’s Handbag Luncheon every year. My good friend, Publicist Pam Sharp, put on the event and I was always so happy to lend my support. Here’s some stats on the disease and my favorite all-time J. Dilla beat (well my Vibrant Thing is my fav fav but that was a collabo w/QTip so I picked my fav track he did solo).
Lupus is an autoimmune disease. This means there is a problem with the body’s normal immune system response. Normally, the immune system helps protect the body from harmful substances. But in patients with an autoimmune disease, the immune system cannot tell the difference between harmful substances and healthy ones. The result is an overactive immune response that attacks otherwise healthy cells and tissue. This leads to long-term (chronic) inflammation. The underlying cause of autoimmune diseases is not fully known.SLE may be mild or severe enough to cause death. SLE affects nine times as many women as men. It may occur at any age, but appears most often in people between the ages of 10 and 50. African Americans and Asians are affected more often than people from other races.
Today I was in the mood for great poetry. I found some pieces of Paul Laurence Dunbar’s that spoke to my spirit. Please enjoy his poem, ACCOUNTABILIY, and his bio below.
ACCOUNTABILITY by Paul Laurence Dunbar
FOLKS ain’t got no right to censuah othah folks about dey habits; Him dat giv’ de squir’ls de bushtails made de bobtails fu’ de rabbits. Him dat built de gread big mountains hollered out de little valleys, Him dat made de streets an’ driveways wasn’t shamed to make de alleys.
We is all constructed diff’ent, d’ain’t no two of us de same; We cain’t he’p ouah likes an’ dislikes, ef we’se bad we ain’t to blame. Ef we’se good, we need n’t show off, case you bet it ain’t ouah doin’ We gits into su’ttain channels dat we jes’ cain’t he’p pu’suin’.
But we all fits into places dat no othah ones could fill, An’ we does the things we has to, big er little, good er ill. John cain’t tek de place o’ Henry, Su an’ Sally ain’t alike; Bass ain’t nuthin’ like a suckah, chub ain’t nuthin’ like a pike.
When you come to think about it, how it’s all planned out it’s splendid. Nuthin’s done er evah happens, ‘dout hit’s somefin’ dat’s intended; Don’t keer whut you does, you has to, an’ hit sholy beats de dickens,– Viney, go put on de kittle, I got one o’ mastah’s chickens.
Paul Laurence Dunbar was the first African-American poet to garner national critical acclaim. Born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1872, Dunbar penned a large body of dialect poems, standard English poems, essays, novels and short stories before he died at the age of 33. His work often addressed the difficulties encountered by members of his race and the efforts of African-Americans to achieve equality in America. He was praised both by the prominent literary critics of his time and his literary contemporaries. Read More
I graduated from Southern University Baton Rouge and our biggest rival is Grambling State University (like how do they put “state” in their name-I’ve never heard of the state of Grambling ewwww!). As an SU grad I don’t like anything GSU and curse the school’s existence EXCEPT when it comes to its legendary coach, Eddie Robinson, and Doug Williams, the graduate who became the first black player to quarterback the Super Bowl and be named MVP of the biggest game of the year!
Doug Williams was the first African-American quarterback to start and also win a Super Bowl when he produced a Most Valuable Player performance as the Washington Redskins defeated the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII.
Williams enjoyed a stellar college career at Grambling and just five games into his freshman year became the starting quarterback. He led the Tigers to an 11-1 record and the first of three Southwestern Athletic Conference championships during his four seasons as a starter as the Tigers had a 35-5 record overall.
In 1977, he led the nation in touchdown passes, 38, and passing yards, 3,286. He was named All-America quarterback by the Associated Press and was fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting. Williams was named the Black College Player of the Year twice. His career totals were NCAA records in passing yards, 8,411, total offense yards, 8,354, and touchdown passes, 93.
Williams was selected in the first round (17th overall) of the 1978 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a franchise that had never advanced to the playoffs until Williams arrived. In three out of the next four seasons the Buccaneers made playoff appearances, and in 1979 they played in the NFC Championship game.
Williams joined the USFL and played with the Oklahoma Outlaws who later became the Arizona Outlaws for four seasons until the league disbanded in 1986.
Williams returned to the NFL in 1986 and signed with the Washington Redskins and led his team to an opening day victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. In Super Bowl XXII as the Redskins routed the Denver Broncos 42-10, Williams completed 18 of 29 passes for 340 yards and four touchdown passes and was named Super Bowl MVP.
In 1997 Williams returned to Grambling as head football coach, succeeding the legendary Eddie Robinson. His team went 10-2 in 2000, 11-1 in 2001, and won the championship of the Southwestern Athletic Conference both years.
He rejoined the Buccaneers as a personal executive and in 2009 was promoted to the director of professional scouting. On June 21, 2010, it was announced that Williams would become General Manager of the Norfolk expansion franchise in the United Football League.
He and his wife, Raunda, have six children: Ashley, Adrian, Doug, Jr., Jasmine, Laura and Temessia.
Hollywood star Kevin Bacon introduced the theory that the world is smaller than we think and that we are all connected. While I don’t think the world goes through Mr. Bacon, I think we’re all more connected than even he thought. I’ve discovered than in the Kevin Bacon sense, I am connected to the incomparable Paul Robeson.
Here’s how: Paul Robeson starred as Joe in the 1936 version of ShowBoat. Showboat was directed by James Whale. James Whale was depicted by Ian McKellan in the the 1998 Best Picture Gods and Monsters directed by Bill Condon. Bill Condon is currently directing Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn. I happen to be one of the production secretaries on the film! That’s like 3 degrees!
Mr. Robeson’s contribution to the arts is way more intense than my quick six degree analysis. His performance in Showboat was so groundbreaking that during the premiere, they actually had to stop the film because the audience applause was so loud! The accomplished thespian never let his success stop him for speaking for what was right! He was placed on the governmental watch list for speaking out against injustices to Blacks in America. Watch the YouTube video of Paul Robeson singing “Old Man River” then read his bio below!
Paul Leroy Robeson April 9, 1898 – January 23, 1976 was an African American concert singer (bass-baritone), recording artist, athlete and actor who became noted for his political radicalism and activism in the civil rights movement. The son of an escaped slave, Robeson was the first major concert star to popularize the performance of Negro spirituals and was the first black actor of the 20th century to portray Shakespeare's Othello alongside an all white cast.
A nationally renowned football player from 1917 to the early 1920s, Robeson was an All-American athlete, Phi Beta Kappa Society laureate during his years at Rutgers University. In 1923, Robeson drifted into amateur theater work and within a decade he had become an international star of stage, screen, radio and film. Robeson went on to be a recipient of the NAACP's Spingarn Medal, the Stalin Peace Prize and of honorary memberships in over half a dozen trade unions. James Earl Jones, Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte have cited Robeson's lead film roles as being the first to display dignity for black actors and pride in African heritage. Though one of the most internationally famous people of the 20th century, blacklisting during the Cold War has largely kept Paul Robeson out of mainstream interpretations of history.
At the height of his career, Paul Robeson chose to become primarily a political artist. In 1950, Robeson's passport was revoked under the McCarran Act over his work in the anti-imperialism movement and what the U.S. State Department called Robeson's "frequent criticism while abroad of the treatment of blacks in the US." Under heavy and daily surveillance by both the FBI and the CIA and publicly condemned for his beliefs, Robeson was blacklisted, his income fell dramatically and he became very nearly a non-person. Robeson's right to travel was restored in 1958 and his already faltering health broke down under controversial circumstances in 1963. By 1965, he was forced into permanent retirement. He spent his final years in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, unapologetic about his political views and career. Advocates of Robeson's legacy have restored his name to history books and sports records, honoring his memory throughout the world with posthumous recognitions.
