BLACK HISTORY MONTH: MARTIN LUTHOR KING JNR.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

MARTIN LUTHER KING JNR (1929-1968)

To end my series of prolific Black people through history, I wanted to include the man who comes first to mind when I think of inspiration. I chose Martin Luther King Jnr because he led change but without violence. Considering the battle and task laid before him, this must have been incredibly difficult at the height of segregation. Martin Luther King Jnr was incredibly brave to put himself in the spotlight like he did. He gave people hope for change and a person to believe in during such a tense and scary time. The 1963 march to Washington where he delivered his “I have a dream” speech on the steps of the Abraham Lincoln Memorial is one of the world’s most iconic and defining moments.

Nothing I can say can match his words on that day, so I am ending my series with a condensed version of that speech. If you get a chance, I strongly recommend doing a quick google search and having a read. It is also available on YouTube.

‘I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

          Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

          But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself in exile in his own land. And so, we’ve come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

          There is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: in the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow  our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again, and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvellous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny, and they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

          And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, “When will you be satisfied?” We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating for whites only. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

          I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”

          I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

          I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

          I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.

          This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

          And when this happens, and when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: “Free at last!

          Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!” ‘

                                                                                MARTIN LUTHER KING JNR

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: MOTHER ABIGAIL

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Literary Character: MOTHER ABIGAIL

Book: THE STAND by STEPHEN KING

There are many great characters in literature I could have chosen; Crooks in Of Mice and Men, Hortense and Gilbert from Small Island, August from The Secret Life of Bees, Abileen and Millie from The Help, and so many more.

               But I chose Mother Abigail, not just because The Stand is one of my favourite books (and an excellent comic book series) but because her character is unlike any other in literature. As Randall Flagg represents the devil, Mother Abigail represents the good as a strong believer in God. The Stand has grown in popularity since lockdown as its plot involves a deadly virus called Captain Trips that has wiped out all but less than 1% of the human population.  

               All of the main characters (apart from Randall Flagg and Mother Abigail) are also lost, wandering through the devastation aimlessly struggling to survive, who to trust, craving human interaction. Until they have a dream about Mother Abigail, and they know they have to find her. 

               Surrounded by cornfields, in an old house, they come together and this woman over a century old welcomes each person and gives them comfort and guidance. Mother Abigail knows hardship, she outlived three husbands and seven children. Thirty-two grandchildren, ninety-one great grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren who all perished under Captain Trips.

               But she is strong, devout to God, and a guitar player. She farms fresh food and gives the travellers good home cooked meals. Mother Abigail is the opposite to Randall Flagg, the evil man who represents the devil. He is powerful, terrifying, and dangerous, he tries to scare and torment her; but she stands her ground, and he backs off. She believes God will protect her and God does.

               If I told you there was a woman, over a hundred years old who played guitar on her porch you wouldn’t expect much other than a sweet old lady who was kind of cool. And that’s the way most old women are written, usually offering a pearl of wisdom at a pivotal moment. But Mother Abigail is the driving force of the story, she is fierce, bitter that she’s still living, she brings the one thing that the survivors all need the most: a feeling of home. Without Mother Abigail, the characters wouldn’t all meet, they wouldn’t travel to the next town and create a community, and most importantly they wouldn’t stand up to Randall Flagg. A firm believer in God, she acts like his messenger and shows them the path they need to take. They are given a purpose, a plan, and hope for a future, a new beginning. A chance to remake the World. A way to survive. Mother Abigail shows them how they can live.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: NINA SIMONE

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

NINA SIMONE (1933-2003)

I chose Nina Simone as not only do I love her music, but I discovered a story about her that I never forgot. She was a classical pianist. In fact, that’s originally what she wanted to be. A classical concert pianist. Originally from a poor family, she had seven brothers and sisters and relied on Scholarships to attend schools of music.

               So, her passion for music, talent and dedication was clear from the start, but this is the story that made me admire her. When Nina Simone was 12, she was giving her concert debut. Her parents were sitting in the front row, waiting to hear her play. Then a white couple came in. Her parents were moved from the front row to the back.

               This amazing, brave little girl of 12 years old, about to make her mark, refused to play until her parents were sitting back in that front row. At the age of 12! That seems just incredible to me.

To celebrate Nina Simone, I have a small selection of song lyrics and quotes and to prove she keeps great company, I also found a photo of her with another person I chose to profile, Otis Redding. I love the picture of them both together so I thought you might like it too.

“It is an artist’s journey to reflect the times in which we live.”

“Baby, my baby don’t care for shows, and he don’t care for clothes.  He cares for me.” MY BABY JUST CARES FOR ME.

“I think that the artists who don’t get involved in preaching messages probably are happier-but you see, I have to live with Nina, and that is very difficult.”

“One of these mornin’s you goin’ to rise and singin’

Then you’ll spread yo’ wings an’ you’ll take the sky.” SUMMERTIME

“Anything human can be felt through music, which means that there is no limit to the creating that can be done with music. You can take the same phrase from any song and cut it up so many different ways-it is infinite. It’s like God… you know?”

“But oh, I’m just a soul whose intentions are good. Oh Lord, please don’t let me be misunderstood.” DON’T LET ME BE MISUNDERSTOOD

“I’ll tell you what Freedom is to me: no fear.”

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: CHARLES IGNATIUS SANCHO

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

CHARLES IGNATIUS SANCHO (1729-1780)

Ignatius Sancho was described in his time as “The extraordinary Negro”. Although he was known as a British writer and composer, Ignatius Sancho was so much more than just that.

               Born into slavery, he lost both his parents by the age of two. His owner took him to England and gave him to three sisters where he stayed until 1749. Whilst there he impressed Duke John Montague with his intelligence and the Duke took him under his wing, encouraged him to read and lent him books from the Duke’s own library. Ignatius Sancho went to work at the Montague House as a butler for the Duchess of Montague. Whilst there he studied music, poetry, writing and reading. He was held in such high regard, she had his portrait painted, and after her death he was left a generous sum in her will.

               Around the 1760s, Ignatius became a husband and a father. He would go on to have seven children and he worked for the Montagues again as a valet to the Duke and Duchess’s Son-in-law. In 1766, Ignatius Sancho wrote letters about the salve trade that so well-written they were later published so the public could read them. He became widely referred to as a “Man of Letters”. He had incredible friends including actors, musicians, sculptors, and novelists who were all very well-known at the time.

               Ignatius Sancho became financially independent by opening his own shop selling goods such as tea, sugar, and tobacco.  As a result of this, he qualified to vote and became the first person of African Origin to do so in Britain. He became friends with Charles Fox and with him they helped bring a resolution through Parliament to abolish the Slave trade. They worked on the Foreign Trade Bill in 1806 which stopped people contributing to trading of slaves. This cut two thirds of the slave trade that passed through the ports of Britain.

               When Ignatius Sancho died, he was the first person of African descent to receive an obituary in the British press.

The reason I chose Ignatius Sancho is because he came from the most tragic of beginnings. Born on a slave ship, his mother died soon afterwards, and his father took his own life rather than facing carrying on living as a slave. Ignatius Sancho was moved around like cargo into a new country to live with and serve three strangers. But from those beginnings, he became a great man. His mind shone through his skin colour and circumstance and he worked hard to become respected and well revered amongst society. He didn’t just stay hidden; he spoke out and tried to change things for the better. I admire that so much. He inspired by becoming the first African to vote and even received an obituary in the Country’s press, something unheard of for a person of African descent. I always tell my children you can become anything, which my mother also told me when I was little. When I read Ignatius Sancho’s story it makes that theory true. Ignatius Sancho left a legacy of creative works, he changed history, he paved the way for other people and showed what could be achieved no matter where you came from. Even as a tiny orphan on a slave boat. I think he is as he was described, extraordinary.  

“Consider Slavery. What it is-how bitter a draught, and how many millions are made to drink it.”  IGNATIUS SANCHO

s intelligence, and became a driving force within Ignatius Sancho’s

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: IRENE MORGAN KIRKALDY

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

IRENE MORGAN KIRKALDY (1917-2007)

On July 16th, 1944, I boarded the bus to Baltimore, I had enjoyed spending time with Mama, I needed time to escape reality. My husband Sherwood and I lost our baby, I had to recover. It was time to go back to work now, back on the production line.

               I paid my fare and found a seat next to another woman with a child on her lap. We started talking, and she was a nice lady. Her child was sweet. We stopped in Middlesex County and a white couple got on. The bus driver turned and ordered me and the nice lady to the back of the bus. There were no white and black sections on this bus. The mother and child moved as soon as he spoke to us, but I said ‘No.’ I was not going to give up my seat. I have a right to sit here. I stayed. Defiant. I was not moving.

               The Bus Driver started to get angry with me, but I stayed put. He got off and came back with a Sherriff who handed me a piece of paper. I took it from him, it was an arrest warrant. For me! For sitting! I tore up the paper and threw it out of the window.

               He reached and grabbed me trying to pull me away. As soon as “he touched me, that’s when I kicked him in a very bad place. He hobbled off, and another one came on. I was going to bite him, but he looked dirty, so I clawed him instead. I ripped his shirt. We were both pulling at his nightstick. I said, ‘We’ll whip each other’” The second Sherriff went to get the Deputy.

               They arrested me, charging me with resisting arrest and for violating Virginia’s transit law. I paid the $100 fine for resisting arrest but not the violation. I had a right to sit on the bus. Instead I took that violation charge and took it right up to Virginia’s Supreme Court. They ruled to keep it, so I took it further right up to the US Supreme Court in 1946. They agreed with me, I won the case. I didn’t violate the law; it was enforcing that charge that was violating our constitution!

                “When something happens to you which is wrong the best thing to do is have it corrected in the best way you can. The best thing for me to do was go to the Supreme Court.”

I chose Irene Morgan Kirkaldy because she remained true to herself. She knew what was happening wasn’t right and so stood up to members of authority and stated so. It’s true it was an emotional time in her life, but it took a lot of courage for a black woman traveller on her own to make that stand. I don’t condone violence, but I must admit I like she kicked the Sheriff in the privates and then battled against the other one. That shows how feisty and strong she was.  Obviously, she paid the fine, so she didn’t believe in violence either. Even when Virginia Supreme Court tried to tell her she was wrong, she still believed in herself. In the end, she fought the arrest up to the highest power she had; the Supreme Court and won.

               Everyone knows the name Rosa Parks, and I believe in every man or woman at that time who stood up and said ‘No.’ It must have been an incredible thing to do. Everyone sees her as a strong woman for her act nine years after the US Supreme Court ruling, and I do also. But in my mind Irene Morgan Kirkaldy also deserves to be a household name. She fought her belief not just against a bus driver, but also two Sheriffs and two Supreme Courts. A daunting task for any black person at the height of segregation in America. Irene Morgan Kirkaldy inspires me to have courage to know my own judgement, listen to it and stand firm. If I know something is wrong, don’t hide away and accept it is happening (or happened), DO SOMETHING! That is one amazing trait to inspire people to have and live by. I hope I can do the legacy of  Irene Morgan Kirkaldy justice and remember it.

*“ are direct quotes of Irene Morgan Kirkaldy

All actions listed above happened as described.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: OTIS REDDING

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

OTIS REDDING (1941-1967)

The reason I chose Otis Redding is quite simply because he is my favourite musician of all time. To me, the job of an artist of any form, whether you produce music, stories, photos, paintings, sculptures, film, is to make your audience feel something. Whether its an urge to dance, cry, get  angry,  or be happy, art should bring out a reaction. Otis Redding pours his soul into his music. He feels every word he sings, you believe him and his music impacts you. To me, he does this better than anyone I’ve heard, and this is the reason why he’s influenced some of the biggest artists of our time including George Harrison, Led Zeppelin, The Doors, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, and of course Aretha Franklin. It is because of Otis Redding’s song ‘Respect’ that Aretha Franklin became famous. Her cover of his hit (which he also wrote) showed her voice perfectly and of course made her into a legend.

Otis Redding inspires me by proving you can achieve greatness if you put your heart and soul into what you are passionate about. It doesn’t have to be complicated, keep it simple, all you need is you. Without Otis Redding the music world would be incredibly different than it is today. He made his mark within such a shockingly short time by hard work, passion, natural talent, and charisma. At the time of his death at just 26 years old, Otis Redding was already an inspiration and would continue to be for generations to come, over 50 years later.

‘These arms of mine, they are yearning

Yearning from wanting you

And if you would let them hold you

Oh, how grateful I will be

These arms of mine, they are burning

Burning from wanting you.’ THESE ARMS OF MINE by OTIS REDDING

BLACK HISTORY MONTH PROFILES: Intro & Harriet Tubman

To celebrate Black History Month in the UK, I profiled six people and one character from fiction on my author page on Facebook (Search for Melanie Stephens Author if you wish to follow). The series was really well received and I had some amazing feedback, messages and comments. so, I thought I would share the series on here. First up is Harriet Tubman.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

HARRIET TUBMAN (1822-1913)

Harriet Tubman was born into slavery. 

She escaped.

Returning on missions to rescue others.

Seventy slaves freed thanks to Harriet.

“She never lost a passenger.”

Harriet Tubman helped more.

Guiding to safety.

Helping new freed slaves find work.

Helping others survive and find new ways to live.

Harriet Tubman worked in the Civil War.

A cook, spy, nurse, and armed scout.

The First Woman to lead an armed expedition.

Giving 700 people their liberty.

Harriet Tubman retired.

But did not rest.

She joined the cause for Women’s Rights

And fought until illness came.

The reason I chose Harriet and admire her so much is her passion for helping others. She did everything she could (no matter how much danger it put her in) to give people freedom. She escaped but instead of carrying on running, she went back to free other enslaved people. She changed lives. Right up until her death, she was passionate about human rights and fought for it. Harriet’s unrelenting drive to do the right thing, and incredible courage makes me want to become a better person. I want to be kinder, give support and comfort, and fight for others.  

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” HARRIET TUBMAN

Wakanda Forever

This morning like many others, I heard the devastating news about Chadwick Boseman, known to many as the Black Panther. I cried when my husband told me of his Cancer, how he had been fighting for 4 years , undergoing chemotherapy and surgeries, yet no one knew.

Immediately I thought of all the press tours he had to do for Avengers, one of the most anticipated Part II films in cinematic history. The media circus was immense and yet he was charming, charismatic, relaxed and happy. At least that was how he came across. I had no idea the battle he was fighting. I have seen Chemo and what it does and how much it absolutely drains you virtually to nothing.

Chadwick Boseman was known for his physical roles, I saw 21 Bridges about a month ago and his performance was excellent. Again, very physical. My attention of him came when I saw clips of Get On Up, the James Brown biopic. He sounded and moved just like him. He made me sit up and take notice, and wonder, who was this guy?

Then I saw him in Black Panther it went to another level. Every actor looks great in a suit for a Marvel movie, astounding physiques (they put it in contracts). But when you saw T’Challa you saw a king. He commanded your attention, in fact he demanded it just by standing there.

He was strong, powerful, courageous, noble and he looked like no other Marvel Hero you had ever come across. He was an incredible force.

Black Panther broke ground in a lot of ways, it was the highest grossing film by a Black Director, it was the first superhero film to receive a Best Picture Oscar nomination and the first one in the MCU to win an Oscar. It is the 9th highest grossing film of all time.

Black Panther was one of my all-time favourites, and to be honest I just thought he looked so frickin cool! The suit was amazing and when he fought, he was slick, precise and so awesome. I want to live in Wakanda and after seeing the film for the first time, Shuri became one of my favourite female Marvel characters. I loved her! The exchanges and scenes with her brother were class! And she made being a geek fantastic.

I am so thankful that he carried on working so I could see him like that. Powerful, commanding, a king. I guess he kept the cancer quiet because he didn’t want to be seen as a victim, have people make up their own minds through his body of work.

If that was his plan, then it worked. When I heard, all I saw was strength and courage. He fought and then he fought on screen, he was determined to be defined on his own terms. For that reason amongst others, he left me with awe.

Chadwick Boseman is my Black Panther, he will always be a King. He said it was his honour to portray the Black Panther, well, it was my honour to witness it. It shows us once again that you can never guess what is going on behind the shell of person you see.

RIP. Wakanda Forever.

Chadwick Boseman 29.11.1976-28.08.2020

A Night of being Out Out-post lockdown

Being in lockdown has given everyone a chance to chill, spend their days in pyjamas, maybe even just underwear to the office and its been fun. But now things are getting back to normal a bit, restrictions are being lifted (albeit with the need for additional facial garments), and any degree of normality is welcomed.

However, its the first time you do it that is now the nervous part as its what we are familiar with but lots of added twists. A bit like Ghostbusters and its remake decades later but with out the boys. We don’t actually know what to expect. We just know its not what we remember.

So, one of my best friends invited me to a restaurant. She says its actually a bit better. Privacy, no waiting straight to the table, and thanks to the government scheme 50% off for every diner. I jumped at the chance.

Not because I have particularly missed restaurants; although they are nice. But because I get to do something I haven’t done in months. Dress up.

So, the plans began. First the dress:

Next, and very importantly the shoes:

Preparation:

I have one Lush bath bomb i had been saving, I sorted out my makeup and treated myself to a new eyeliner. Although it was only a restaurant, the main thing is to feel nice after all these months of lazy dressing.

If you go out, I hope you think about your own prep and what you wear, how to prepare so you feel the best you possibly can. And most importantly, I also plan to embrace any changes that come my way. Otherwise, our lack of social lives could turn us into a world of Greta Garbo and Howard Hughes (in their later years) . And the world is strange enough right now, don’t ya think?

Design a site like this with WordPress.com
Get started