Sister Rosetta Tharpe

I discovered this while surfing Youtube.
Sister Rosetta Tharpe-Strange Things Happening Everyday... Recorded in 1944, this song has been considered by some the first rock and roll song, you be the judge

  It never ceases to amaze me just how far the internet has come

since I first started using it in the late 80s.  

 

 I was unaware of Sister Rosetta Tharpe until this morning and

I've been around for quite a while. I thought I'd share this with

the rest of you. I just have a quick wikipedia reference here but feel 

free to do your own research and add to this.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rosetta Tharpe (March 20, 1915 – October 9, 1973) was a pioneering Gospel singer, songwriter and recording artist who attained great popularity in the 1930s and 1940s with a unique mixture of spiritual lyrics and early rock accompaniment. She became the first great recording star of Gospel music in the late 1930s and also became known as the "original soul sister" of recorded music.

Willing to cross the line between sacred and secular by performing her inspirational music of 'light' in the 'darkness' of the nightclubs and concert halls with big bands behind her, her witty, idiosyncratic style also left a lasting mark on more conventional gospel artists, such as Ira Tucker, Sr., of the Dixie Hummingbirds. While she offended some conservative churchgoers with her forays into the world of pop music, she never left gospel music.

Birth name Rosetta Nubin
Born March 20, 1915
Origin Cotton Plant, Arkansas
Died October 9, 1973 (aged 58)

Harlem Heritage Highlighted

I was sifting through iTunes recently and dug up in iTunes U.

a very interesting course called ; 

Harlem's Heritage -Harlem Digital Archive.

Instructor - Manning Marable

It includes a dozen podcasts in the form of lectures, that will prove very interesting to anyone interested in Black American history.

These podcasts can be downloaded freely and would make a rich source of material for anyone wishing to share this part of our history with children, discussion groups or however your imagination permits.

A dozen podcasts presented by Columbia University's Center for new media, teaching and learning. (CNMTL)

Taken from classes and events at Columbia University on and related to Harlem, these podcasts are part of the Harlem Digital Archive. A repository
for teaching and learning materials that can be taught in the University, libraries and Museums.

Professor Leith Mullings

Professor J. Yolande Daniels

Professor Samuel Roberts

Sandhya Shukla

Professor Kimberly Johnson

Professor Manning Marable

Professor Farah Jasmine Griffin

Professor David J. Maurrasse

Malcolm X's Political Thought and Legacy

Malcolm X, Women and Gender

Whose Book is This?

The Assassination of Malcolm X and it's Aftermath

This material is taken from the rich and extensive archive at Columbia University about 

Black Americana and Harlem in particular. 

The material found at Columbia on iTunes U is just the tip of the iceberg visit:

The Harlem Digital Archive:

A Television, Education, and Library Project
A collaborative project of
The Columbia Center for New Media Teaching and Learning
Intelligent Television
Digital Knowledge Ventures and
Columbia University Libraries

Obama is Elected the Community Work Must Continue

I am excited to have had the opportunity in my lifetime, to have witnessed the election of a Black man to the office of POTUS. As far as I can see looking around me, I am not alone. Black folks not just in the US but the world over, are charged up and inspired and expressing positive thoughts about themselves and the race as a whole. I've seen quite a few interviews where people are already saying that they feel like if he can do it they can likewise achieve their loftier goals.

I am a firm believer in the idea that things happen because people expect them to happen and thus take steps to bring about the reality.
On the other hand when people expect things to happen because others are going to make them come about, disappointment often follows.

If Obama does nothing else he has supplied us, at
least for the present with a focal point and a suitable mantra that everyone is capable of understanding (Yes We Can).

We are way behind on the scoreboard but for the moment the ball is in our possession I hope we don't get distracted and fumble right away.

excerpt
Community organizing redeemed

from Seattlepi.com

By AMY GOODMAN
SYNDICATED COLUMNIST

There are two key camps that feel invested in the Obama presidency: the millions who each gave a little, and the few who gave millions. The big-money interests have means to gain access. They know how to get meetings in the White House, and they know what lobbyists to hire. But the millions who donated, who volunteered, who were inspired to vote for the first time actually have more power, when organized.

Before heading over to Grant Park in Chicago, Obama sent a note (texted and e-mailed) to millions of supporters. It read, in part: "We just made history. And I don't want you to forget how we did it. ...

Congratulations President elect Barack Hussein Obama

From now on there will be no sideways glances when a Black child says,
"I want to be President of The United States".

 President elect Obama delivered a speech after his victory that I can

only describe as perfection.  

He acknowledged those who helped him with the election, which included

his family, his campaign team and the voters. 

He acknowledged his opposition and their concerns and started right away 

by offering an olive branch to start the healing process. 

He spoke of the work that lies ahead for all of us and  tasked all to be

prepared to work and sacrifice to restore the republic to it's place in 

the sun.

The speech was not about himself at all but about all of us. I loved it

and even teared up.

 I am still  wondering where these multi millions of dollars in 

campaign money came from though.

Pinch Me. Barak Obama is really the top Democrat on the ticket.

  I can honestly say that I didn't think I'd  live to see this day even if Obama doesn't win. If he does, well then that goes double. All this has me very apprehensive about the events to come in the not too distant future.

 I'm not one who has a lot of confidence in the political mis-leadership we've had to endure over the years, so while I'm surprised at the current turn of events, I'll be even more surprised if Obama is elected and actually does bring about major change. Then again the mere fact of his election would repressent a major change in itself. Wouldn't it? Obama '08?