Diversity Training

04/03/2023

A BRAND NEW WORD…especially for coffee lovers.

https://fb.watch/jGD6gGKhXz/?mibextid=0NULKw&fs=e&s=TIeQ9V

01/07/2023

MY INTEREST in BLACK HISTORY was launched in earnest about 42+ years ago in 1980 when some Black pro athletes asked me questions about the role ancient Africans played in biblical and extra biblical history.

I didn’t have a clue. I began researching the topic so that I could at least respond somewhat intelligently to the plethora of topics that came up.

I was one of the first chaplains in the history of the NBA, starting in 1978 with the Washington Bullets and retiring 20 seasons later in 1998.

I had heard of Ivan Van Sertima (pictured below) and had seen some old, grainy VHS videos of Ivan either in a debate or lecturing. I knew that he was a professor of Africana Studies at Rutgers University and was revered as a man of great intellect and integrity.

In the early 1990s I somehow got ahold of his home phone number and I called him. This was during the pre-digital era. His wife, Jaqueline, answered. I asked to speak to Ivan. Even though she put her hand over the receiver, I could hear her whispering to him about some White gentleman wanting to talk with him.

When he came on the phone, I said, “Hello, Ivan, I have heard a lot about you and I would like to get to know you. I have much to learn from you. And I would hope that you would like to get to know me also.”

We talked for at least 45 minutes in that first encounter. A great conversation. He made me feel at ease and extremely comfortable. Near the end of the conversation, he asked for my home address. I didn’t think anything of it and gave it to him.

Approximately 3 weeks later a big box filled with at least 15 volumes of his books arrived unexpectedly in the mail. I was blown away. There were topics about Black presence in Asia, the Olmec civilization, they came before Columbus, the Moors and so much more.

The one book that immediately grabbed my attention was “Egypt Revisited”. Reading that book and seeing the images was kind of like wrapping my brain around a telephone pole at 130 mph. A life changing experience. So much so that, after a few chapters, I called Ivan.

After thanking him profusely for such a kind gift of knowledge in literature, I asked him if he would consider becoming my primary historical guide and mentor. To my great surprise, he consented.

Wow!! The many conversations we had as the months and years passed!! I only wish I could explain the essence of hours upon hours of discussing wide-ranging topics germane to ancient African history. He was extremely patient with me, allowing me to ask any and all questions ricocheting about in my little pea brain.

In the video taped presentations I had seen, Ivan was powerful and authoritative, holding the audience in the palm of his hand. In our phone conversations he was almost shy. I had to “prime the pump” with questions and then he would go into great, elegant detail with me. I’d listen and take notes.

Our friendship deepened. For instance, it was a great privilege and honor when Ivan opened up with me about some of the struggles and disrespect he was experiencing in the world of academia. I will not go into detail, but he was very sad at times by the way some powerful leaders actively sought to marginalize him. Even though we never met physically (which I regret), we became very good friends. He gave me a front row seat to his journey.

Every Christmas I would receive a signed card from him and Jacqueline.

One memorable conversation was when I asked him about his view of the Jesus of the Bible. Many Afrocentric scholars point to a number of legitimate, historically documented problems they have with how Christianity was used to justify enslavement and the Slave Trade itself.

Frankly, I wasn’t sure how Ivan would respond. There was a moment of silence and then he said quietly and with great emotion, “Oh yes, I love Jesus with all my heart.”

That meant more to me than anything else he could’ve said at that moment. He then went on to eloquently describe the impact & influence of Augustine, Cyprian, Tertullian and other 2nd to 4th century Christian scholars — especially in North Africa — long before the travels of European explorers into central Africa starting in the mid-1800s.

Ivan passed away in 2009. Thirteen years have gone by and I still miss him greatly — our conversations and our friendship…

MORE INFO: https://WhiteMansJourney.com

02/12/2022

BILLIE HOLIDAY "Strange Fruit" -- one of the first anti-racism, anti-lynching songs. Though it was originally written by someone else as a protest song of sorts, this is one of those songs with lyrics that a singer totally owns from the start.

“Strange Fruit” was shocking to many people when it came out in 1939. Even Ms. Holiday herself was initially reluctant to sing it, fearing retribution. Though many people knew that lynchings of African-Americans in the South were common, there was much resistance to ending it, since it was an effective means of social control and political intimidation by Southern whites.

She said she always thought of her father when she sang this song; he died at age 39 after being denied medical treatment at a Texas “whites only” hospital.

Because the song was so powerful and poignant for Holiday, there were some rules when she performed it: She would close the evening with the song, the waiters would stop service when the song began, and the room would be in total darkness except for a spotlight on Billie Holiday’s face. And there would be no encore.

"Strange Fruit" was written by Abe Meeropol, AKA Lewis Allen. Lady Day's original performance here was broadcast in 1957 on the CBS program "The Sound of Jazz."

This clip was found on YouTube. There's another version (audio only) from earlier in her career, when her voice was purer and clearer, but the gravelly quality in this clip fits the song better. Her voice is strong and impressive in this clip, but just look at the incredible expressiveness in her eyes as she sings the haunting lyrics.: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4ZyuULy9zs
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For more info about the truthcentric Black History curriculum that is sweeping across America — www.BH365.org
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LYRICS: "Strange Fruit" -- Sung by Billie Holiday

Southern trees bear strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the Southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees

Pastoral scene of the gallant south
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh

Here is fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop

02/11/2022

ELLA FITZGERALD + MARILYN MONROE CONNECTION -- If asked “Who played an important role in the musical career of Ella Fitzgerald?” you might respond with names like Chick Webb, Louis Armstrong, Norman Granz, and Dizzy Gillespie.

The name Marilyn Monroe, however, might not come to mind.

While touring in the ’50s under the management of Norman Granz, Ella, like many African-American musicians at the time, faced significant adversity because of her race, especially in the Jim Crow states. Granz was a huge proponent of civil rights, and insisted that all of his musicians be treated equally at hotels and venues, regardless of race.

Despite his efforts, there were many roadblocks and hurdles put in to place, especially for some of the more popular African-American artists.

Once, while in Dallas touring for the Philharmonic, a police squad irritated by Norman’s principles barged backstage to hassle the performers. They came into Ella’s dressing room, where band members Dizzy Gillespie and Illinois Jacquet were shooting dice, and arrested everyone. “They took us down,” Ella later recalled, “and then when we got there, they had the nerve to ask for an autograph.”

Across the country, black musicians, regardless of popularity, were often limited to small nightclubs, having to enter through the back of the house. Similar treatment was common at restaurants and hotels.

ENTER MARILYN MONROE

During the ’50s, one of the most popular venues was Mocambo in Hollywood. Frank Sinatra made his Los Angeles debut at Mocambo in 1943, and it was frequented by the likes of Clark Gable, Charlie Chaplin, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall and Lana Turner.

Ella Fitzgerald was not allowed to play at Mocambo because of her race. Then, one of Ella’s biggest fans made a telephone call that quite possibly changed the path of her career for good. Here, Ella tells the story of how Marilyn Monroe changed her life:

“I owe Marilyn Monroe a real debt … she personally called the owner of the Mocambo, and told him she wanted me booked immediately, and if he would do it, she would take a front table every night. She told him – and it was true, due to Marilyn’s superstar status – that the press would go wild. The owner said yes, and Marilyn was there, front table, every night. The press went overboard. After that, I never had to play a small jazz club again. She was an unusual woman – a little ahead of her times. And she didn’t know it.”

LEARNING FROM ELLA

Ella had an influence on Marilyn as well. Monroe’s singing had a tendency to be overshadowed by dress-lifting gusts of wind and the flirtatious “Happy Birthday, Mr. President,” not to mentions her movies and marriage to Joe DiMaggio. But years prior to the Mocambo phone call, Monroe was studying the recordings of Ella.

In fact, it was rumored that a vocal coach of Monroe instructed her to purchase Fitzgerald’s recordings of Gershwin music, and listen to it 100 times in a row.

Continued study of Ella actually turned Marilyn into a relatively solid singer for about a decade, but again became overlooked as her famous birthday tribute song to JFK in 1962 ends up being the vocal performance that is widely remembered.

-- Learn more about a Black History curriculum that’s sweeping across America — www.BH365.org

02/10/2022

HARRIET TUBMAN (Araminta Ross) was born a slave in Bucktown, Maryland about the year 1820. She would later take her mother's name, Harriet, and in 1844 she would marry a free black man named John Tubman.

Five years later, in 1849, fearing that she would be sold further south, Harriet Tubman escaped, making her way north to Philadelphia. In Philadelphia, Tubman found employment and found herself working with abolitionists like William Still and John Brown (who would refer to Tubman as "General" and call her "the bravest person on this continent").

Within a year she returned to Maryland to help members of her family escape. She would eventually lead hundreds to freedom by the same route, via an extensive network known as the Underground Railroad. Her grit, faith, and determination as a "conductor" on the Underground Railroad, earned Tubman the admiration of leading abolitionists, including Frederick Douglass.

One little known fact is that Harriet suffered from temporal lobe epilepsy. This meant that she would fall asleep in the middle of a sentence and wake up 5-10 minutes later completing the sentence. It happened when she was 15. She had gone to a store when she noticed a slave escaping from his/her owner. the slave owner threw a weight or brick at the runaway slave but it instead struck Tubman in the head, most people think it was the frontal lobes.

Can you imagine living your life...never knowing when a sleeping spell would strike? Most of us would have NEVER attempted to rescue other slaves with such a condition. Just another glimpse into the character of this remarkable woman...

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Learn more about the Black History 365 curriculum project: www.BH365.org
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Of her forays into the South to free slaves, William Still, in his 1871 book, The Underground Railroad, wrote:

"Her success was wonderful. Time and again she made successful visits to Maryland on the Underground Rail Road, and would be absent for weeks at a time, running daily risks while making preparations for herself and her passengers. Great fears were entertained for her safety, but she seemed wholly devoid of personal fear. The idea of being captured by slave-hunters or slave-holders, seemed never to enter her mind. She was apparently proof against all adversaries. While she thus maintained utter personal indifference, she was much more watchful with regard to those she was piloting. Half of her time, she had the appearance of one asleep, and would actually sit down by the road-side and go fast asleep* when on her errands of mercy through the South, yet, she would not suffer one of her party to whimper once, about "giving out and going back," however wearied they might be by the hard travel day and night. She had a very short and pointed rule or law of her own, which implied death to any who talked of giving out and going back. Thus, in an emergency she would give all to understand that "times were very critical and therefore no foolishness would be indulged in on the road." That several who were rather weak-kneed and faint-hearted were greatly invigorated by Harriet's blunt and positive manner and threat of extreme measures, there could be no doubt. After having once enlisted, "They had to go through ordie." Of course Harriet was supreme, and her followers generally had full faith in her, and would back up any word she might utter. So when she said to them that "a live runaway could do great harm by going back, but that a dead one could tell no secrets," she was sure to have obedience. Therefore, none had to die as traitors on the "middle passage." It is obvious enough, however, that her success in going into Maryland as she did, was attributable to her adventurous spirit and utter disregard of consequences. It is probable that no one like her was never known before or since."

01/19/2022

"Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men." -- MLK, Jr.

Click here: www.BH365.org

10/16/2021

MUHAMMAD ALI'S Advice To His Daughters (worth your time) -- An incident transpired when Muhammad Ali’s daughters arrived at his home wearing clothes that were quite revealing. Here is the story as told by one of his daughters:

“When we finally arrived, the chauffeur escorted my younger sister, Laila, and me up to my father’s suite. As usual, he was hiding behind the door waiting to scare us. We exchanged many hugs and kisses as we could possibly give in one day. My father took a good look at us. Then he sat me down on his lap and said something that I will never forget. He looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Hana, everything that God made valuable in the world is covered and hard to get to. Where do you find diamonds? Deep down in the ground, covered and protected. Where do you find pearls? Deep down at the bottom of the ocean, covered up and protected in a beautiful shell. Where do you find gold? Way down in the mine, covered over with layers and layers of rock. You've got to work hard to get to them.” He looked at me with serious eyes. “Your body is sacred. You’re far more precious than diamonds and pearls, and you should be covered too.”

— www.BH365.org

10/08/2021

A SOLUTION to the EDUCATION GAP in AMERICA -- This short BH365 video was used as the opening for an educational Zoom event attended by NBA employees. NBA great, Phil Chenier served as MC. Dr. Milton and Dr. Freeman shared their journey in creating a solution to the education gap in America -- BH365.org

https://vimeo.com/617231783

This BH365 video was used as the opening for an educational Zoom event attended by NBA employees where NBA great, Phil Chenier served as MC. Dr. Milton and Dr. Freeman…

09/07/2021

UNBOXING VIDEO — Blown away by this unsolicited review of the Black History 365 textbook and curriculum by an attorney|author|educator — https://youtu.be/FUocLRU6uKM

: An inclusive Account of American History - The Unboxing, Purchase your copy of Black History 365: A...

08/05/2021

EXPANDED — We now have enlarged the Black History 365 curriculum to included 3-8.

Is your school ready? Look at these beautiful new covers!! K-2 textbooks will be ready Spring 2022.

• 3rd — African American Life and Culture

• 4th — African Americans Shaping the Nation

• 5th — African Americans and the Arts Throughout History

• 6th — Modern Day Africa

• 7th — Black Influence from Ancient Africa to Modern Times

• 8th — The Black Experience in America: 1619 - Reconstruction

• 9-12 — An Inclusive Account of American History (plus…15 colleges have already adopted this textbook)

Tell your public/private/home schools the good news — www.BH365.org

01/29/2021

MUSIC — It’s happening. We have 41 songs that are “dropping” on February 6th. Because we start in ancient Africa and end with John Lewis, it has become an anthology of Black History in Hip Hop form — with the lyrics inspired by our Black History 365 book.

Some musicians are calling this album, “the next Hamilton.”

Get ready to download the music in February (Spotify, iTunes, et al). And together...let’s watch the BH365 album climb up to #1 on the Billboard charts.

www.BlackHistory365education.com/joelfreeman

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01/18/2021

FREE Q&A about Black History 365 on Monday, January 18 @ 7pm EST — Hope to meet you at this special event. Register here: www.BlackHistory365education.com/bhconference

12/30/2020

MARK HENRY, the WORLD’S STRONGEST MAN and WWE SUPERSTAR, communicates his thoughts and feelings about the Black History 365 textbook.

Order your book/ebook “heirloom” edition here — www.blackhistory365education.com/joelfreeman

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12/20/2020

In 9 seconds, JAMES MEREDITH (1960s civil rights activist) says what’s on his mind about Black History 365. Watch below.

Then click here — www.BlackHistory365education.com/joelfreeman

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06/25/2020

QUESTIONS about Black History 365? K-12 curriculum for public schools across America. Bring your curiosity to our VIRTUAL TOWN HALL — June 26th (12 noon and/or 3pm EST). Register Here -- http://virtual.blackhistory365educationorder.com/

Website — www.BlackHistory365education.com

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04/09/2020

INNOCENTS ABROAD — Back in 1869, Mark Twain published a huge bestselling book about his travels around the Mediterranean. Twain provides an incredible glimpse into life and culture at that time. A great read. Here are some self-captioned images from a first edition copy I own.

READY FOR AN ADVENTURE? Plan on being a part of our upcoming epic cruise/tour this November, visiting many of the same regions Twain visited over 150 years ago: Egypt, Israel, Rhodes, Cyprus, Ephesus, Greece and more — www.GreeceCrazy.com

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness and many of our people need it sorely on those accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime." -- Mark Twain, 1869

03/29/2020

VIDEO CONTEST: Know of any students (12-18) going stir-crazy? Help them channel their creative energy. Check out rules. Be the first to enter. Someone is going to win big!!! SHARE.

$3,000 -- 1st Prize
$1,500 -- 2nd Prize
$500 -- 3rd Prize
* 25 runner-up prizes

RULES (contest ends June 19th): https://www.blackhistorymatters.org/contest

Black History 365 is a U. S. History textbook documenting the unique stories of Black persons, groups, and cultures in North America, beginning in Ancient Africa continuing to modern events and movements. This interactive history/social science textbook can be used independently or as supplemental.....