Things we did not learn in school about 20th Century Black American History

1901
First African American invited to dine at the White House: Booker T. Washington


1902
First African-American professional basketball player: Harry Lew (New England Professional Basketball League) (See also: 1950)


1903
First Broadway musical written by African Americans, and the first to star African Americans: In Dahomey
First African-American woman to found and become president of a bank: Maggie L. Walker, St. Luke Penny Savings Bank (since 1930 the Consolidated Bank & Trust Company), Richmond, Virginia


1904
First Greek-letter fraternal organization established by African Americans: Sigma Pi Phi First African American to participate in the Olympic Games, and first to win a medal: George Poage (two bronze medals)


1906
First intercollegiate Greek-letter organization established by African Americans: Alpha Phi Alpha (ΑΦΑ), at Cornell University


1907
First African-American Greek Orthodox priest and missionary in America: Very Rev. Fr. Raphael Morgan (Robert Josias Morgan)


1908
First African-American heavyweight boxing champion: Jack Johnson
First African-American Olympic gold medal winner: John Taylor (Track and field medley relay team). (See also: DeHart Hubbard, 1924)
First intercollegiate Greek-letter sorority established by African Americans: Alpha Kappa Alpha (ΑKΑ)


1909
First African-American scholar to address the American Historical Association: W.E.B. Du Bois

Whitney Houston Dead at 48

George Rose/Getty Images

A voice of a generation has been silenced too soon.

Whitney Houston, the soaring singer whose Grammy-winning, chart-topping career was derailed by drug abuse and a troubled personal life, including a tumultuous marriage to R&B star Bobby Brown, has died at age 48.

The news was confirmed to E! News by the singer's publicist, Kristen Foster. No further details were immediately available.

MORE: News, photos and clips of the late singer
Last October, Houston's camp blamed exhaustion on a tiff with a flight attendant during a trip to Detroit. The incident came a few months after Houston confirmed she was participating in an outpatient rehab program for drugs and alcohol.
Also last year, the singer's rep batted down a report the star was battling emphysema, a lung disease.
Long believed to have a substance-abuse problem, Houston was arrested for marijuana possession in 2000. A year later, her gaunt appearance at a concert marking Michael Jackson's 30th year in show business fueled a rumor, just days after 9/11, that she had fatally overdosed.

In 2002, a very-much alive Houston told ABC News' Diane Sawyer that, yes, she had done drugs: alcohol, marijuana, cocaine and prescription drugs. She had "partied," she said, and the party was over.
"I am not self destructive," Houston said at the time. "I'm a person who has life, and wants to live."
Houston's survivors include Bobbi Kristina Brown, her 18-year-old daughter with Brown, whom she divorced in 2007.
(Orignally published at 5:14 p.m. PT on Feb. 11, 2012.)

N.J. governor meets with gay lawmaker over marriage fight

Openly gay New Jersey Assemblyman Reed Gusciora met with Gov. Chris Christie this week, and afterward said that, even though they don't see eye to eye on a pending marriage equality bill, they agreed to respect each other's views. Christie wants a statewide vote on whether same-sex couples should be able to marry, but Gusciora said it wouldn't be proper to decide one group's civil rights through a popular vote. "It goes along with the reasoning of the [California] court of appeals that you pit one group of people against another, that you put people like myself up on the ballot for scrutiny, and I don't think that is right," Gusciora said.Philly.com (Philadelphia)/The Associated Press (2/10)

Virginia OKs adoption measure allowing discrimination

Private adoption agencies that receive public funds will be able to discriminate against prospective adoptive parents based on sexual orientation, religion, age, gender, disability, family status or political beliefs, under legislation passed by the Virginia Senate this week. A similar bill was also adopted in the House. Metro Weekly (Washington, D.C.) (2/9)

SAVE THE DATE

The United Nations’ (UN) International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed with a series of events and activities worldwide on March 21 each year. The day aims to remind people of racial discrimination’s negative consequences. It also encourages people to remember their obligation and determination to combat racial discrimination.

The Gay Black Man who was the brains of the Civil Rights Movement

By James Creer, BBINT Magazine Managing Editor




A master strategist and tireless activist, Bayard Rustin is best remembered as the organizer of the 1963 March on Washington, one of the largest nonviolent protests ever held in the United States. He brought Gandhis protest techniques to the American civil rights movement, and helped mold Martin Luther King, Jr. into...

Click here to read more: Bayard Rustin

Rev Dr. Martin Luther King, and Bayard Rutin
at the Montgomery Bus Boycott, circa 1956

"One cannot fight for peace. It is like fucking for virginity, to paraphrase the ole protest slogan at peace rallies spanning time and a range of conflicts."

#10- 10 White Singers We Once Thought Were Black

Well people we searched high and low and wanted to break a hot new artist who is blowing up the air waves with his soulful sound.  So you don't have to be confused we're letting you know this white boy can sing and with a NEW SOUL style.

Luca Dimoon Born in Milan (Italy) in 1982, first son of a Sicilian painter (ex-Jazz musician) L. started his relationship with music, breathing his father’s collection of Motown and Blue Note records. Lately he has been producing tracks for other artists, and at the moment as well as performing live around the globe, Luca is working on his new studio projects. If you listen intimately to the songs, their message transcends the emotions provoked, he explains: “ I paint lyrics with sounds to amplified the meanings ” Check out Luca’s new music on his website. *RECOMMENDED Tracks* “Stroking & Stricking” is that joint you play on a Sunday afternoon drive just cruising. Also ‘Hostage’ another mid-tempo feel good jam…Watch out Robin Thicke..  enjoy.