_Google+____


Monday, February 29, 2016

Black History is Over, and Now What . . . Hibernation or A Wake Up Call?

Not long after this is written, February 2016 will be History, and so will be "Black History Month" for this year.  The shortest month of the year will be over.  It is possibly the month that experiences the most  weather cancellations of planned events. Those things considered, it is likely the period of time that our learning will once again be deferred.   But because this is Leap Year, we got an extra hour!  

There is a tendency, or perhaps I must call it a trend, to look upon the end of February as a justifiable reason for an 11-month hibernation from Black History. I would suggest the opposite.  I would suggest looking to March as the opportunity to March forth toward a new mindset, elevating Black History to the level of "American" History, jarring it from its normal state of denial, exclusion, misrepresentation and ultimate dysfunction.   

Of course Black History is a part of American History, and some would suggest that because of this reality, celebrations that focus on Black History should not be.  Please forgive me, but another reality is that the teachings of American History fail miserably the test of inclusion, and in fact there have been many (and recent) attempts to expel from History Books the realities that sometimes make America uncomfortable.  I would suggest that now is NOT the time to pause, but the time to multiple our efforts at passionately telling the American story with the truth that has for so long been hidden, distorted, ignored, watered down,  maligned and misinterpreted.  Truth crushed to the earth shall rise again, but much more quickly if we will make it, share it, promote it, and be proud of it.

There is no reason to believe or expect that 400 years of misrepresentation will suddenly give way to a future of objective recording, reporting and reinforcing.  This is especially true if at the end of February, we return the pen and the podium back to the same people, processes, and institutions that caused us to need Black History Month in the first place.

Many years ago I attended a Cleveland area event that celebrated Black Males.  One of the award recipients was Dr. Julian Earls, now a retired Director of NASA Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio.  Those who know Dr. Earls, know that he has the ability to speak faster than a speeding bullet, and deliver messages that are clear as crystal.  But he kept it short and simple with these impactful words; “If ANYONE should write my life story let it be me.”  We are responsible for our own stories.  If we leave it to others to live and promote and share and celebrate our stories, the results will almost always be void of the realities and fall short of the possibilities

We need more authors, speakers, publishers, and OH YES, more readers and attentive listeners.  We need a generation that knows as much about their ancestors, themselves, and the boy and girl next door as they do about Television’s Scandal.  OOPS, sorry; I know I may have the lost some folks, but I need to keep it real.

If you have good news, then “Go tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere.”  If you don’t want to do that, at least tell us, and we will attempt to share it. 


Inspirations - Tue., Mar. 1, 2016


We may encounter many defeats but we must not be defeated.

Maya Angelou

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Inspirations - Mon., Feb. 29, 2016


Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.

Wilma Rudolph, U.S. track and field athlete

DREAM BIG Black History Video Clips 2-27-2016

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Test

W3.CSS

Inspirations - Fri., Feb. 26, 2016


One thing is clear to me: We, as human beings, must be willing to accept people who are different from ourselves.

Barbara Jordan
Lawyer, Educator, Civil Rights Activist
U.S. Congressional Representative from Texas, Civil Rights Activist

TO HEAR BARBARA JORDAN, PRESS HERE!

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Inspirations - Wed., Feb. 24, 2016


The price of hating other human beings is loving oneself less.

Eldridge Cleaver
American Writer, Political Activist
Early leader of the Black Panther Party

Scam Tracker

Monday, February 22, 2016

Inspirations - Tue., Feb. 23, 2016


Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly.

Langston Hughes

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Inspirations - Mon., Feb. 22, 2016


The battles that count aren't the ones for gold medals. The struggles within yourself--the invisible, inevitable battles inside all of us--that's where it's at.

Jesse Owens, U.S. track and field athlete

Friday, February 19, 2016

Video Clips from African American Read-In at Cuyahoga Community College Eastern Campus

TO HEAR EXCERPTS, CLICK ON SELECTED SPEAKER PHOTO

_
Mayor Bradley Sellers, City of Warrensville Heights, Ohio
_


Phillip Morris, Columnist, The Plain Dealer
_

Dr. John Marr, Dean, Academic Affairs
_

Dr. Alex Johnson, President, Cuyahoga Community College
_

Dr. Christopher Hawkins, Associate Professor, Counseling

-

Arron Mitchell, Tri-C Student
_
TO HEAR EXCERPTS, CLICK ON SELECTED SPEAKER PHOTO

Thursday, February 18, 2016

African American Read-In at Cuyahoga Community College Eastern Campus

To VIEW this album CLICK HERE!
To VIEW this album ON FACEBOOK CLICK HERE!
To VIEW THE AGENDA in PDF Format CLICK HERE!
To VIEW VIDEO CLIPS CLICK HERE!


To VIEW this album CLICK HERE!
To VIEW this album ON FACEBOOK CLICK HERE!
To VIEW THE AGENDA in PDF Format CLICK HERE!
To VIEW VIDEO CLIPS CLICK HERE!

Inspirations - Fri., Feb. 19, 2016


Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody's going to know whether you did it or not.

Oprah Winfrey

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Inspirations - Thur., Feb. 18, 2016


Next to God we are indebted to women, first for life itself, and then for making it worth living.

Mary McLeod Bethune - 1875-1955
A leading educator and civil rights activist. She grew up in poverty, as one of 17 children born to former slaves.

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Inspirations - Wed., Feb. 17, 2016


I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.

Michael Jordan

Former NBA Player
Member of the Basketball Hall of Fame
Businessman

Monday, February 15, 2016

Inspirations - Tue., Feb. 16, 2016


In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.

Thurgood Marshall
1st African American on the U.S. Supreme Court

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Inspirations - Mon., Feb. 15, 2016


If your reality is as large as your dream, your dream is smaller than your possibilities.

Henry Ford
Author - Speaker - Consultant - Publisher

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Black History Program - February 27th - Twinsburg (Northeast Ohio)


CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD IN PDF FORMAT

Please REGISTER at 330-425-4268 
 - 



Please REGISTER at 330-425-4268 

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD IN PDF FORMAT

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Inspirations - Fri., Feb. 12, 2016


One day our descendants will think it incredible that we paid so much attention to things like the amount of melanin in our skin or the shape of our eyes or our gender instead of the unique identities of each of us as complex human beings.

Franklin Thomas
Author

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Inspirations - Thur., Feb. 11, 2016


If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude.

Colin Powell
Son of Jamaican Immigrants
Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Former Secretary of State

Tuesday, February 09, 2016

Inspirations - Wed., Feb. 10, 2016


Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.

President Barack Obama

Monday, February 08, 2016

Inspirations - Tue., Feb. 9, 2016


If you are called to be a leader you must leave the comfort of the crowd. It may be more comfortable to blend in, but the conviction of your calling demands that you STAND OUT!

Danita Harris
Television News Anchor

Sunday, February 07, 2016

Inspirations - Mon., Feb. 8, 2016


Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.

Wilma Rudolph
1st 3-Time Olympic Gold Medal Winner

Thursday, February 04, 2016

Humanitarian Award from DeeDee Records

A BIG THANK YOU to Deedee Records for blessing me with a 2015 Humanitarian Award, despite the fact that obligations prevented me from attending the Awards Ceremony. I am humbled to be recognized among the other distinguished Honorees.

Inspirations - Fri., Feb. 5, 2016


Hate is too great a burden to bear. It injures the hater more than it injures the hated.

Coretta Scott King (1927-2006) 
Civil Rights Activist

Upcoming Black History Month Activities in Cleveland

A BIG THANK YOU to Beverly Peterson for sharing the following information:

Upcoming Black History Month activities in Cleveland.
Please send us details of any events we may not have listed.  You can see this list in both the African American section http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/africanamerican/africanamerican.htm 
of ClevelandPeople.Com and the combined Calendar of Events. http://www.clevelandpeople.com/calendar.htm
***

Cleveland: The Faces of Sacrifice

THURS, FEBRUARY 4TH - CLEVELAND: THE FACES OF MEDIA
12 PM, CITY HALL ROTUNDA
Honorees: Craig Brooks, Sr. & Bele Wondwossen
Food samples provided by Sky LaRae’s Catering 
(Free, Open to Public)

SAT, FEBRUARY 6TH - FLAG RAISING11AM, CITY HALL ROTUNDA
42nd Annual Black History Flag Raising
For more information contact Coalition for a Better Life at 216-486-1699 or 216-538-4043

WED, FEBRUARY 10TH - CLEVELAND: THE FACE OF ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT & BLACK CULTURAL BAZAAR12 PM, CITY HALL ROTUNDA
Honoree: Mia Jones, Actress, Artist
Food samples provided by Beckham's B&M Bar-b-que
(Free, Open to Public)

FRI, FEBRUARY 12TH - CLEVELAND: THE FACE OF CULINARY ART HEALTHY SOUL FOOD12 PM, CITY HALL ROTUNDA
Honoree: Vel Scott
Food samples provided by Vel Scott
(Free, Open to Public)

WED, FEBRUARY 17TH - CLEVELAND: THE FACE OF WOMEN'S HEALTH11 AM - 2 PM, CITY HALL ROTUNDA
Go Red for Women - heart health information, vendors and activities, Guest Speakers
For more information contact Sandy Wood at 216-857-7474 
(Free, Open to Public)

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH - CLEVELAND: THE FACES OF CLERGY9 AM, EDWINS RESTAURANT - 13101 SHAKER SQUARE
Honorees: Minister Roland Muhammad & Dr. Robin Hedgeman and Special Guest Speakers
(Invitation Only)

SAT, FEBRUARY 20TH - CLEVELAND: THE FACE OF GOSPEL MUSIC6 PM, MT ZION CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, 10723 MAGNOLIA DRIVE
Featuring local gospel artists
(Free, Open to Public)

SAT, FEBRUARY 20TH - CLEVELAND: THE FACES OF SENIORS12 PM, CITY HALL ROTUNDA
Honoree: The Pye Family, Fairfax Nursing Home
Lunch provided by Taste of Memphis
(Free & Open to Public, Limited Seating)

WED, FEBRUARY 24TH - CLEVELAND: THE FACE OF SMALL BUSINESS12 PM, CITY HALL ROTUNDA
Honoree: The Trotter Family, Trotter’s Cleaners
Guest Speaker: Lamont Mackely, Senior Advisor, JumpStart, Inc.
Food samples provided by Chic-fil-A
(Free, Open to Public)

FRI, FEBRUARY 26TH - THE CROWNING EVENT RECEPTION HONORING THE FACES OF SACRIFICE6 PM, CITY HALL ROTUNDA
Special Guest Speakers
(Invitation only)

SUN, FEBRUARY 28TH - CLEVELAND: THE FACE OF AN ABOLITIONISTJohn Parker, His Promise Land
3PM, RAINEY INSTITUTE - 1705 EAST 55TH STREET, CLEVELAND
Food samples provided by Beckham's B&M Bar-b-que
(Free, Open to Public)

***

Want to learn about ethnic and cultural events in Cleveland?  Sign up for the free ClevelandPeople.Com eNews and every Wednesday morning you will receive a free e-mail listing the next week's events.  It's easy and free. Select 'WEEKLY' when you fill out the form at http://www.clevelandpeople.com/enews.htm for the free weekly eNews.  You can select specific group(s) too.

PS Be sure to send us your upcoming events for our Calendar and weekly eBlasts.  Over 40,000 people view the Calendar of Events each month.


--------------------------------------------------
Dan Hanson 
ClevelandPeople.Com
2800 Euclid Ave. Suite 325
Cleveland, OH 44115
216-781-1757
dan@clevelandpeople.com
http://www.clevelandpeople.comhttp://twitter.com/ClevelandPeoplehttp://www.facebook.com/cleveland.people-------------------------------------------------

Wednesday, February 03, 2016

Inspirations - Thur., Feb. 4, 2016


We should emphasize not Negro History, but the Negro in history. What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race hate, and religious prejudice.

Carter G. Woodson - Historian

Tuesday, February 02, 2016

Inspirations - Wed., Feb. 3, 2016


Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations.

Dr. Mae Jemison, first African American female astronaut

Community Meeting: It's time for the talk about heroin. 2-1-2016

THANK YOU to Mike Cook for the invitation to "It's time for the talk about heroin". The important and informative meeting was one of a series presented throughout Northeast Ohio. Also, just a note about an event this evening (Feb 2nd)
--
This Slide Show is also available on Facebook by PRESSING HERE!
































Monday, February 01, 2016

Inspirations - Tue., Feb. 2, 2016


There will always be men struggling to change, and there will always be those who are controlled by the past.

Ernest J. Gaines

Ernest James Gaines is an African-American author whose works have been taught in college classrooms and translated into many languages, including French, Spanish, German, Russian and Chinese. Four of his works have been made into television movies.