Hi,
and welcome! This is where I pay tribute to those folks past and present
who have inspired me. Most of these people figure prominently in African
and African American history. I'll also provide links to information on
Black History Month and other items of interest. Let us begin, shall we?
The
Prophets
There
are three people who have inspired me most in my life, to the point where
I often ask, "What would they have done had they been in my situation?"
These three are Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and Nelson Mandela.
All of them fought for the rights of Blacks and People of Color. Dr. King,
and Nelson Mandela both won the Nobel Prize for Peace. Dr. King, and Malcolm
X would ultimately give their lives for The Struggle, while Nelson Mandela
spent 27 years in prison, later becoming South Africa's first Black president.
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Quotes from Dr. King--Check out this site that someone put together. It has some wonderful thoughts from the mind of Dr. King!
The King Center--The official living memorial of Dr. King, began by his widow, Coretta Scott King, in order to continue his legacy.
MLK Online--Here is another site for information and resources on Dr. King. You'll find pictures, quotes, and other gems here.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Papers Project--This venture is a collaborative effort of Stanford University and The King Center. The goal is to put together a fourteen volume edition of all of his speeches, papers, sermons, and lectures, and to use these as teaching materials to study Dr. King, and the social justice movements that he participated in.
Nobel
Prize Presentation Speech--Dr. King won the Nobel Peace Prize for 1964.
At age 35, he was the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize since
its inception.
Malcolm X, or El Hajj Malik el-Shabazz
Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little. His family were followers of Marcus Garvey. Malcolm endured many hardships growing up, including the murder of his father at the hands of the Klu Klux Klan. While serving time in prison, he converted to Islam, joined the Nation of Islam, and helped foster it's growth. He fought for the rights of Black Americans, but felt that Blacks needed to be separate from Whites. He later experienced a profound change when he made the Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca, the Holy City. All Muslims are required to make this pilgrimage once in their lives, if they can. While in Mecca, Malcolm discovered that all people are sisters and brothers regardless of race or color, and he brought this principle back with him when he returned to the United States. He was working on these issues of unity when he was assassinated in February of 1965.
Malcolm
X.org--Here is a good site about Malcolm X, with speeches, writings
and quotes.
Nelson Mandela
I'll just come on out and say it: I feel that Nelson Mandela is the world's greatest living Black hero, and that he is among the greatest Black heroes of all time! It is shameful that the United States has no Black leaders that are anywhere near the equal of him. Of course, Madiba would beg to differ, but that is simply his nature. He'd tell me, as I've read that he's told others, that he is just an ordinary man with faults. That view only serves to deepen my admiration for him, as many great people would never make that admission publicly.
It
is interesting that there has been more stuff (books, songs, poems, plays,
etc.) written about Nelson Mandela than any other figure in history, except
Jesus Christ!
The Mandela Page--A link to all kinds of information about Madiba, including pics, writings, speeches, and other resources.
A Biography of Nelson Mandela--A biography link from the Nobel e-Museum site.
Nelson Mandela and the Rainbow of Culture--An article about Madiba on the Nobel site.
Nelson
Mandela's Nobel Lecture--Madiba's acceptance speech upon winning the
Nobel Peace Prize for 1993.
Other
African Heroes
Archbishop Desmond Tutu--Visit the Desmond Tutu Peace Centre, a site and museum with lots of resources on Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for 1984 for his fight against apartheid.
Chief Albert Lutuli--Chief Lutuli was a Chief of the Zulu people. He was born in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) in 1898, and died in South Africa in 1967. He won the Nobel Peace Prize for 1960 for his fight against apartheid.
Mohandas K. Gandhi--Yes, Mahatma Gandhi was an African! He was born and reared in South Africa, and practiced law there. Like many Indians in South Africa at the time, he endured bigotry and cruelty, and was imprisoned for fighting for the rights of Indians. This led him to India, where he developed and used nonviolent and peaceful methods to fight against the colonization of India by the British government. His philosophy and methods have inspired many world leaders including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Nelson Mandela, and Aung San Suu Kyi. I personally believe that Gandhi was the greatest leader of the 20th century! His work will continue to inspire others for all time.
Stephen Biko--Stephen Biko was an anti-apartheid activist. He was a leader in the Black People's Convention, a political party in South Africa, and co-founder of the Black Consciousness Movement, which promotes equality, and Black pride by addressing the many issues that Black people face in South Africa. Stephen Biko was the first Black South African leader killed while in detention.
Nelson Mandela -- On Stephen Biko--A tribute speech by Madiba on the 20th anniversary of Stephen Biko's death.
Wole
Soyinka--A Nigerian playwright, poet, and political activist. He was
imprisoned for speaking out against the policies of the Nigerian government.
He won the Nobel
Prize for 1986 in Literature.
The
Women Of Wonder
Here
are links to information about the women who have inspired me, and whom
I look up to. They make me proud to be a woman!
Harriet Tubman--Harriet Tubman was an abolitionist who fled slavery to Canada along the Underground Railroad. She returned to the U.S. many times to help hundreds of people escape to freedom. She eventually settled down in New York.
Sojourner Truth--Sojourner Truth was an abolitionist and suffragist. She fought for voters rights for women. Click on the link to read bout her life.
Angela Davis--Angela Davis is a political activist, author, and teacher, who served time in prison for her political activities and beliefs.
Maya Angelou--Maya Angelou is a poet, author, actress, ambassador, professor--in other words--renaissance woman. Visit her amazing site!
Aung San Suu Kyi--Aung San Suu Kyi is a freedom fighter from Burma, also called Myanmar. She fought for democracy and ethnic unity among the peoples of her country. She is still under house arrest in her country for her political beliefs, even though she has been democratically elected to be it's leader. She has been highly influenced by the principles of Gandhi, and won the Nobel Peace Prize for 1991.
Rigoberta Menchú--Rigoberta Menchú has been a fighter for the rights of indigenous people in Guatemala. She and her family faced so much horror and abuse from the government that she has gone into hiding. She won the Nobel Peace Prize for 1992.
Nadine Gordimer--Nadine Gordimer is a novelist from South Africa. She was an outspoken opponent of apartheid, and many of her novels deal with the issues of Blacks in South Africa, and their relationship to Whites. She won the Nobel Prize for 1991 in Literature.
Alice Walker--Alice Walker is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and teacher. She is best know for her novel, "The Color Purple", but she has written many books and poems that cover a wide range of women's topics. Visit this lovely site put together by Anniina.
Shirin Ebadi--Shirin Ebadi is a lawyer and human rights activist from Iran. She was one of the first woman judges in Iran, and has spent her life standing up for the rights of women, children, refugees, and dissidents. As a Muslim, Ebadi feels that Muslim law should be reformed to be in harmony with basic humans rights. Her political views and activism have landed her in prison many times. She won the Nobel Peace Prize for 2003.
Wangari
Maathai--Professor Maathai was born in Kenya in 1940. She is a scientist,
environmentalist, and peace activist who stood up to the oppresive regime
that formerly ruled her country. When she obtained her PhD in Anatomy in
1971, she became the first woman in Kenya to receive a doctorate degree.
Her commitment to the environment lead her to found the Green
Belt Movement in 1977. Because of her work in this organization, she
is known as the Tree Woman of Africa. In 27 years, she and the Green Belt
Movement has planted over 20 million trees in Kenya and East Africa! Professor
Maathai has won many awards and honors in her life for her commitment to
peace, the environment, and her leadership. In 2002, she was elected to
become a Member of Parliment in her country. For her achievements, she
has won the Nobel Peace Prize for 2004, the first African woman to do so.
Other sites of interest
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
Black Inventors
Black Scientists and Inventors--From Infoplease. A few profiles of Black inventors and scientis from the past.
African
American Inventor Series--A comprehensive, and extensive list of African
American inventors from the past to the present, including the year(s)
that they received their patents. You will be amazed to learn that many
common, everday things that we use today, as well as many scientific and
technical inventions were invented by African Americans!
Black History
Little Known Black History Facts--From the Tom Joyner morning radio show.
Biography.com--Black History
120 Trivia Questions--See if you can answer these 120 questions about African Americans in science put together by The Franklin Institute. You will be amazed at what you will learn!
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