Little Known Ratchet History Fact #2: "The FIRST Hook UP"

Join me on this 87th anniversary of Negro History Week as I share some little known facts about ratchet history throughout this month. Why? Because ratchets deserve history books and you will DEAL! In today's installment, we learn about The "Hook Up."

Cheryl "Peaches" Delaney of Englewood, NJ, was working the night shift at a McDonald's in 1974. The 16 year-old high school junior had just been severely reprimanded by her manager, one Albert Mahoney, over her Afro hairdo being unprofessional.

Mahoney gave her an ultimatum of wearing a clown hat or being fired, and Delaney, working to save money for cosmetology school, relented and wore the clown hat.

Hours later, she noticed several of her classmates at the drive-through window, on their way to a party. Luscious Jones, Fred Williams, Eddie James, and Derrick Clemmons were riding in a green AMC Pacer(pictured below). The four of them ordered four hamburgers, and were going to split three orders of fries and two Cokes.
Peaches, who was filling the order, noticing that Mahoney (the  manager) had taken his nightly thirty-minute bathroom break, had an epiphany. She locked eyes with Lawanda, who was on fries, and Fat Sam, who was on the register and in a blur of motion, they stuffed  4 jumbo bags with 15 hamburgers, 5 cheeseburgers and 6 orders of large fries accepting only $1.01 from Luscious Jones as payment.

Cheryl "Peaches" Delaney had invented. . ."The Hook-Up."

We salute you Ms. Cheryl "Peaches" Delaney..  . A Leader in Ratchet-American History!

Shout out to Rodney for sharing this. 

Twitter: @LegallyRatchet1

Facebook: Talented Generation

Email: TalentedGeneration@gmail.com

Little Known Ratchet History Fact #1: The "Twerk" Revolution

Happy Black History Month!!!   

I know your favorite blogs, radio shows and tv networks are doing the obligatory nod to great moments in black history. You're gonna hear stories about Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jim Crow and The Montgomery Bus Boycott among other things. This AIN'T what that is. The time is long overdue for us to salute ratchets for their contributions to American History. That time is now. 

Join me on this 87th anniversary of Negro History Week as I share some little known facts about ratchet history throughout this month. Why? Because ratchets deserve history books and you will DEAL. In today's installment, we learn about The "Twerk" Revolution. 

Twerk (v): A combination of dance moves that involve wining and gyrating one's hips and booty in a sexually provocative manner. Made popular by a group of Atlanta-based dancers called "The Twerk Team." 

According to their Facebook Fan Page (get into it!), the Twerk Team is an Atlanta based dance group that started in 2005. The two official members, Mizz Twerksum and Lady Luscious, got their start by dancing at house parties. The two got their big break after they posted a video of them dancing to Soulja Boy's "She Got a Donk" and it got over 1 million views on Youtube in the 1st week. 

Although the group currently has two official members, the ladies have added (and cut) other members like Betty Butt, Kandy Girl and Shawty Bear. Some time in 2009, they began building a following with their #TwerkTeamThursday booty shaking videos. At that time, Thursdays signaled the release of new videos by the three ladies "twerking" to different rap and hip-hop songs. When Waka Flocka Flames gave them props in his "Ass Clap" song with the line "Bounce that ass/shake that ass like the Twerk Team" he sent amateur twerkers into a frenzy and helped The Twerk Team take their career to the next level. 

Once the Twerk Team's career took off, the Twerking Revolution began.  The ladies began traveling nationwide to do shows and host/judge Twerking Contests. Thousands of women began uploading videos of themselves twerking in their underwear at home. A quick check of the site YouTwerk.com shows just how many "girls next door" are twerking. There have been twerking contests via Twitter, WorldStarHipHop and even Facebook (which is usually behind on the ratchet curve). If you don't have at least one person uploading videos of themselves twerking with captions like "just playing around" you're losing at using social media.

I'm from South Florida so I'm down with all kinds of dancing. The women (and men) in South Florida have been twerking since Morgan Freeman was a lil boy, but the Twerk Team has made it a "thing." iSalute them for that. Twerk Team's videos feature the women wearing form fitting clothes while twerking to popular songs in front of a large mirror inside of a home. Their videos average 1 million views. To the untrained eye, it appears the ladies merely throw on a pair of shorts in an empty house and dance the same damn dances to whatever song is getting the most radio play. And that's fine. 

You can follow them on twitter: @TwerkTeam 
So what do you think of the Twerk Revolution? Do you know any amateur twerkers? Do you or any of your friends twerk? I'm listening. 

Twitter: @LegallyRatchet1

Facebook: Talented Generation

Email: TalentedGeneration@gmail.com

WATCH THIS: Raising Gabrielle Douglas

P&G put a unique spin on the Olympics as they went behind the scenes with their Raising An Olympian series paying tribute to moms of Olympic athletes. Recently released is the story about Gabrielle Douglas' mom. Fans of Gabby learn about the sacrifice the two ladies made on the road to Olympic Gold. We hear two sides of the story: Natalie Hawkins as a mom and Gabby Douglas as an athlete. Many may not know Gabby moved away from her family in Virginia to Des Moines, Iowa to train. Her mom opens up saying, "Letting go of Gabrielle was one of the hardest things I've ever done in my life." Gabby discusses being homesick and the physical sacrifices she made to see her dreams come true. The stories of sacrifice and perseverance is a side of the Olympics rarely spotlighted. Touching series indeed. Watch below. 

I'm an OG (in my head) but I almost shed a tear. I'm so proud of Gabby!!! Congrats again to her and her family! Salute! 

MUST SEE: President Obama Gives Apollo Performance of "Let's Stay Together"

I know I know I know. There is so much going on in the world that I could choose to post about, but its my blog sooooooo I decided to ignore posting those other things and post this. Don't act surprised, ya'll know I luhs me some Prez Obama! ::swoon::


Last night, on the campaign fundraising trail President Obama made the first appearance by a sitting president at the world famous Apollo theatre. During his speech, he showed another side of himself when he jokingly belted out in song. Hope Cain is taking notes.

In the footage, you see him acknowledging Rev. Al Green's attendance and seamlessly belts out a few notes of Green's timeless baby-making hit, Let's Stay Together. I'm sure its not the first time the Rev heard someone flatter him with a little performance.

I know one thing, POTUS can hold a note WAY better than I can on my BEST shower days. In case you're wondering, the song is unlikely to appear on iTunes and compete with Baby Carter's numbers but it is cute nonetheless.

The President continues to remain poised and charismatic despite all of the personal attacks on his character and all of the lofty criticisms heralded at him which seem to forget the mess he's dealing with was inherited from a guy who's name rhymes with Large Douche. Maybe my grams was right in her prediction that the powers that would allow him to stay in office long enough to clean up their MESS before putting another robot in office. I digress.

If you're in the mood to hear some baby making music, listen to the full song here. According to my family, Al Green was *that dude* back in his prime.

P.S. I just got news that legendary (I think that word is WAY overused but it sooo fits her) At Last singer Etta James passed away today. May she RIParadise. My thoughts, prayers and condolences goes out to her family.

The Omega Psi Phi Conclave: I survived QUEpocalypse!

Ok so it wasn't bad enough to be compared to an apocalypse but it was a memorable experience. Before I go any further, I have to share that I am not "Greek" and this post should be strictly construed as a tribute to the Omegas and their visit to the D/M/V. Moving on. 


For those of you who do not live in the D/M/V area or who don't follow the goings-on of the Greek community, the men of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity (ΩΨΦ) Incorporated descended upon our nation's capital this weekend in celebration of their centennial. It is estimated that about 10,000 “Ques” from more than 700 chapters around the world made the pilgrimage as part of the organization's conclave. The men were here to pay homage to three Howard University students and their faculty adviser who established the first black fraternity at an all-black university on November 17, 1911. The two other all-black fraternities at the time had been founded at white institutions. Just as most of them have returned to work and are gleefully sharing stories of a wild weekend with their friends I too am reminiscing about the happenings of this past weekend. Where do I start?



The parties were ratchet, but good clean fun.
Parking was scarce.
Hustlers were everywhere selling everything from water to commemorative t-shirts.
Old dawgs learned new tricks.
Women in skimpy dresses and high heels were plentiful. 
There was a bountiful harvest of chocolate men in gold boots and purple sleeveless t-shirts.  
A dawg was hopping so furiously at the step show he hopped himself into a trip to the emergency room and was treated for exhaustion. 
Dawgs barked and scared unsuspecting yt folks. 
Fun times were had by all. 


The four day event featured a salute to education, leadership, military and scholarship. Admittedly, I didn't attend any of the official events. I just went to the parties so my perspective about the weekend is a bit skewed. All things considered, it was definitely not for the faint of heart. The campus of Howard University was a literal sea of purple t-shirts and gold boots starting from the corner of 6th and Howard and barked all the way to the Shaw-Howard metro station. I have to admit, the display of brotherhood was moving. Men who had never met each other were bonding over their journey and comparing their "hits" and sharing stories. The intense male camaraderie was obvious.


Once I got over the fact that the District would be overcrowded for a few days, I was able to appreciate the significance of their visit. The Que Dogs repped so hard, it was tough not to notice. The bruhs were throwing up hooks at each other in the clubs, on the street, in the mall, in restaurants, in hotel lobbies and in parking lots. They party hopped, barked, and played Atomic Dog so many times I have learned the words.


For the first time since I moved here, I managed to hang out in the district until 6am and I enjoyed every minute of it. For those of you not familiar with what party life is like in Miami, FL this may seem like an unusual feat but trust when I say it is normal for some. I may have been extremely tired the next day but it was worth it. I steered clear of the parties hosted by Shaquille O'neal and Terrance J of 106 & Park fame because I knew the crowds would be ridiculous. Still, I heard great things about them. I joined in on the reindeer games and told a few dawgs my name was Stacey. *giggles* Yea I admit, I rubbed a few brands too. I couldn't help myself. Go ahead and judge me, I had an awesome time. What were YOU doing?


The fraternity counts basketball stars Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal, entertainer Bill Cosby, and politicians L. Douglas Wilder — the nation’s first black elected governor — and Jesse L. Jackson among its members. The group also includes 20 military generals, Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes and media entrepreneur Earl Graves.


It wouldn't be a trill post about Ques without a music break featuring Atomic Dog. Check it below...





Congrats to the men of Omega Psi Phi!! 

Flashback: On this DATE in Black History...

February 10,



1868 - Republican conservatives drafted a new constitution which concentrated political power in the hands of the governor a limits the impact of the Black vote. This was made possible by Conservatives, aided by military forces, who seize the convention hall and establish control over the reconstruction process in Florida. 

1907- Grace Towns Hamilton, an African-American civil rights advocate, feminist, and politician was born. She became the first African-American woman to serve in the Georgia legislature (1966-1984). Described as “the quiet warrior,” she fought hard for better health facilities, improved education, help for the indigent, and rights for the disenfranchised. She brought the power to minority voters in the state of Georgia.

1909- “Chick” Webb , an African-American drummer and bandleader, was born. His dynamic drumming and easily recognized compositions arranged by Edgar Sampson earned him and his band an enthusiastic following. Stompin’ at the Savoy and Don’t Be That Way 1934 were signature selection of the times. Ella Fitzgerald, who would become the bands leading attraction, sang Webb’s hit recordings A-Tisket A-Tasket, 1938 and Undecided, 1939.
Chick Webb died on June 16, 1939, at the age of 30 from complications following an operation.
1927 - Mary Leontyne Violet Price, one of the world's greatest operatic talents, was born in Laurel, Mississippi. She amassed many operatic firsts, being the first African American to sing opera on network television and the first African American to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Among other honors, she received the NAACP's Spingarn Medal, three Emmys, and Kennedy Center Honors.

1937 - Roberta Flack, legendary American singer, was born in Black Mountain (Asheville), North Carolina. She began her professional singing career in Washington, DC. She won Grammys for "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," "Where Is the Love," and "Killing Me Softly with His Song."

1942 - Mary Lovelace O'Neal is born in Jackson, Mississippi. Educated at Howard and Columbia universities, she became a professor of fine arts and head of the Art Department at University of California at Berkeley. Academia allowed her the freedom to become a painter and she exhibited her work in museums in the United States, Morocco, and Chile.
1943 - Eta Phi Beta, the national business and professional sorority, is incorporated in Detroit, Michigan. It has chapters throughout the United States and number among its members civil rights activist Daisy Bates and artist Margaret T. Burroughs.

1945 - The United States, Russia, Great Britain, and France approve a peace treaty with Italy, under which Italy renounces all rights and claims to Ethiopia and Eritrea.

1945 - The Chicago Defender reports that over a quarter of a million African Americans migrated to California during the years 1942 and 1943. As the percentage of African Americans in California increases from 1 1/2% to more than 10% of the total population, so does the practice of racial segregation.
1971 - Bill White becomes the first African American major league baseball announcer when he begins announcing for the New York Yankees.

1989 - Ronald H. Brown, who had served as Jesse Jackson's campaign manager, became chairman of the Democratic National Committee, the first African American to hold the position in either party.

1990 - South African President, Frederik Willem de Klerk announces that Nelson Mandela will be set free on February 11th after 27 years in prison.

1992 - Alex Haley, author of "Roots," and "Autobiography of Malcolm X," passed away while on a lecture tour in Seattle, Washington at the age of 70.

1992 - Mike Tyson is convicted in Indianapolis, Indiana of raping a contestant in the Miss Black America competition and sentenced to six years in an Indiana prison.

1998 - Dr. David Satcher is confirmed by the U.S. Senate to become Surgeon General.
2007-Obama announces bid for presidency in Springfield Illinois. 


Sidenote: Happy 21st birthday to my younger brother MLD. Love you!

HUSL Today Salutes

Salute to Black Hollywood week continues with...

KeKe Palmer

KeKe Palmer was born Lauren Keyana Palmer on August 26, 1993, in Robbins, Illinois. Palmer's first big break came via her acting skills, making her big screen debut in Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004) as Queen Latifah's niece. In only a few years, she has appeared on an episode of the critically acclaimed CBS Show Cold Case (2003), booked a national K-Mart commercial, and was chosen from a nationwide search to play opposite William H. Macy in a TNT movie. Palmer's performance in The Wool Cap (2004) earned her a Screen Actors Guild Nomination, to date, she is the youngest actress (then at age ten) ever to receive a nomination in a Lead Actress Category.

Within 2 years, Palmer appeared landed a leading role as Akeelah Anderson in the critically acclaimed, award-winning film Akeelah and the Bee (2006).  Her debut single, "All My Girlz", is featured on the Akeelah and the Bee soundtrack. Later that same year, Palmer appeared in Tyler Perry's Madea's Family Reunion (2006), which was number #1 at the box office for two consecutive weeks.

Palmer went on to win a 2007 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for her breakout role in Akeelah and the Bee (2006). She also received a ShoWest Award for Rising Star of the Year. Shortly after, Palmer lit up the small screen starring in the Disney Channel's hit movie Jump In! (2007) (TV). KeKe also landed a role in the feature film, Cleaner in 2007.

In 2008, Palmer began her starring role as the title character in Nickelodeon sitcom True Jackson, VP. Palmer also performs the theme song for the series. Check out the theme song below.



At the 2010 BET Awards, Palmer was awarded YoungStars Award. She beat out Wizards of Waverly Place star Selena Gomez, 17; Willow Smith, 9 year; comedian/actor/musician Lil JJ, 19, and 17 year old Everybody Hates Chris star Tyler James Williams.

KeKe is making waves in hollywood as a young, black and beautiful young woman. Holding her own against acting giants like Angela Basset and Eva Mendez has helped KeKe make her mark as a household name in Hollywood. Palmer currently stars in Nickelodeon's True Jackson, VP. Follow her on twitter @KeKeinAction!

Random fact: Did you know my friends call me KeeKey (pronounced Key-Key)? Gotta love us!

HUSL Today Salutes KeKe Palmer!!!

HUSL Today Salutes

O'shea "Ice Cube" Jackson

O'shea Jackson was born on June 15, 1969, in South Central Los Angeles, California. He was educated in Los Angeles and that is also where he developed his love for rap music. 

Music:
Starting in 1987 with friend Sir Jinx, Jackson formed the C.I.A., and they performed at parties hosted by Dr. Dre. In 1987, Jackson and Dr. Dre released the single My Posse, under the alias CIA. The following year they teamed up with Eazy-E to release NWA's landmark album Straight Outta Compton.

Check out one of their singles form the album which shares its namesake. Warning: explicit lyrics

Throughout the 90s Jackson recorded several albums including AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted (1990). In the same year as AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted, Jackson released the acclaimed EP, Kill At Will which became the first hip hop EP to go both Gold and Platinum. The Predator was released in 1992 and became his best selling album with 3 million copies sold in the US. Jackson followed with Lethal Injection (1993). After 1994, he took a hiatus from rap and focused on film and developing the careers of other rappers like Mack 10. In 1996, Jackson formed Westside Connection with Mack 10 and WC, and together they released an album called Bow Down. Thanks, in part, to Jackson's contributions, gangster rap became a huge success in the '90s and west coast rappers earned respect in east coast markets. In 2006, Jackson released his seventh solo album, Laugh Now, Cry Later. He released his eighth studio album, Raw Footage, on August 19, 2008.

Movies.
In 1990, Jackson found himself in the role of 'Doughboy' in John Singleton's hood-based drama, Boyz N the Hood. Following his role as 'Doughboy' in Boyz n the Hood, in 1992 he starred alongside Ice-T, and Bill Paxton in Walter Hill's action film, Trespass, and then in The Glass Shield. After being encouraged by John Singleton, Jackson wrote the screenplay for what became the 1995 comedy Friday, in which he also starred, alongside then-upcoming comedian Chris Tucker. Jackson also released the title track for the movie (check it below). Friday became a hit, earning $28 million worldwide on a $3.5 million budget, and spawned two sequels, Next Friday and Friday After Next.

Friday


Read on for info on his credits as a director, writer and producer

HUSL Today Salutes

Garrett Morgan

Garrett Morgan was born in Paris, Kentucky on March 4, 1877. His early childhood was spent attending school and working on the family farm with his brothers and sisters.

Businesses
In 1907, the inventor opened his own sewing equipment and repair shop. It was the first of several businesses he would establish. In 1909, he expanded the enterprise to include a tailoring shop that employed 32 employees. In 1920, Garrett Morgan moved into the newspaper business when he established the Cleveland Call. As the years went on, he became a prosperous and widely respected business man.

The gas mask
On July 25, 1916, Garrett Morgan made national news for using his gas mask to rescue 32 men trapped during an explosion in an underground tunnel 250 feet beneath Lake Erie. Morgan and a team of volunteers donned the new "gas masks" and went to the rescue. After the rescue, Morgan's company received requests from fire departments around the country who wished to purchase the new masks. The Morgan gas mask was later refined for use by U.S. Army during World War I. In 1914, Garrett Morgan was awarded a patent for a Safety Hood and Smoke Protector. Two years later, a refined model of his early gas mask won a gold medal at the International Exposition of Sanitation and Safety, and another gold medal from the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

The traffic signal
After witnessing a collision between an automobile and a horse-drawn carriage, Garrett Morgan took his turn at inventing a traffic signal. Other inventors had experimented with, marketed, and even patented traffic signals, however, Garrett Morgan was one of the first to apply for and acquire a U.S. patent for an inexpensive to produce traffic signal. The patent was granted on November 20, 1923. Garrett Morgan also had his invention patented in Great Britain and Canada.

Garrett Morgan stated in his patent for the traffic signal,

"This invention relates to traffic signals, and particularly to those which are adapted to be positioned adjacent the intersection of two or more streets and are manually operable for directing the flow of traffic...In addition, my invention contemplates the provision of a signal which may be readily and cheaply manufactured."

Morgan invented a zig-zag stitching attachment for manually operated sewing machine. He also founded a company that made personal grooming products, such as hair dying ointments and the curved-tooth pressing comb.

Garrett Morgan was an inventor and businessman from Cleveland who is best known for inventing a device called the Morgan safety hood and smoke protector in 1914.

HUSL Today Salutes Garrett Morgan!!!

HUSL Today Salutes

James A. Emanuel

James A. Emanuel was born on June 15, 1921 in Alliance, Nebraska.  Emanuel is a published poet, scholar, and critic. As a poet, Emanuel has published more than 300 poems and 13 individual books. Emanuel has been called one of the best, and most overlooked, poets of his time. Critics have put forward several reasons for Emanuel's poetry being neglected by the larger literary world, including the fact that Emanuel writes more traditional poetic forms, that he no longer lives in the United States, and the fact that he refuses to take part in the politically correct world of Black academia. 

Emanuel is also credited with creating a new literary genre, jazz-and-blues haiku, which he has read to musical accompaniment throughout Europe and Africa. For this creation he was awarded the Sidney Bechet Creative Award in 1996. He was also awarded the Dean's Award for Distinguished Achievement in 2007 from Columbia University's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and has also been honored with a John Hay Whitney Award, a Saxton Memorial Fellowship, and a Special Distinction Award from the Black American Literature Forum.


His books include Jazz from the Haiku King (1999), Whole Grain: Collected Poems, 1958–1989 (1990), The Broken Bowl: New and Uncollected Poems (1983), Black Man Abroad: The Toulouse Poems (1978), and At Bay (1969). He is also the author of Langston Hughes (1967) and the editor, with Theodore L. Gross, of Dark Symphony: Negro Literature in America (1968).

You can check out a few of Emanuel's works by clicking here. An expatriate African-American, Emanuel lives in Paris.

HUSL Today Salutes James Emanuel!!!

HUSL Today Salutes

Duke Ellington

Image source: http://rhapsodyinbooks.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/duke_ellington_03.jpg

Edward Kennedy Ellington was born April 29, 1899, in Washington, D.C. Ellington began piano lessons at the age of seven. He credits his childhood friend Edgar McEntree with naming him "Duke" proclaiming,"I think he felt that in order for me to be eligible for his constant companionship, I should have a title. So he called me Duke." Duke began performing professionally at the age of 17. 

Ellington played throughout the Washington, D.C. area and into Virginia for private society balls and embassy parties. The band included Otto Hardwick, who switched from bass to saxophone; Arthur Whetsol on trumpet; Elmer Snowden on banjo; and Sonny Greer on drums. The band enjoyed the rarity of performing for both African-American and white audiences. Such a feat was uncommon in the racially segregated times.

After moving to New York in 1923, Ellington became one of the figures of the Harlem Renaissance. Ellington played mostly in Broadway nightclubs and led a sextet that grew in time into a 10-piece ensemble. He made 8 records in 1924, receiving composing credit on 3 including Choo Choo. In 1925, Ellington contributed 4 songs to Chocolate Kiddies, an all-African-American revue which introduced European audiences to African-American styles and performers.
Image source: http://www.metroactive.com/papers/sonoma/11.04.99/gifs/ellington-9944.jpg

Check out his early hits “East St. Louis Toodle-oo” and “Black and Tan Fantasy”:

Read the rest for more hits, and more info on Ellington. 

HUSL Today Salutes

Chuck "Father of Rock & Roll" Berry

Born in St. Louis on October 18, 1926 Charles Edward Anderson was destined for greatness. Berry gave his first performance while in high school and has been entertaining crowds ever since.

Berry played a major role in broadening the appeal of rhythm-and-blues music during the 1950s and he helped create rock and roll. Berry was signed to Chess Records and in the summer of 1955, and his first recording session yielded "Maybellene" which reached #5 on the Pop Charts and #1 on the R&B Charts. He drew upon a broad range of musical genres in his compositions. Berry continued his success with such hits as "Brown-Eyed Man," "Too Much Monkey Business," "Memphis," "Roll Over, Beethoven!" "Johnny B. Goode" and "Reeling and Rolling." Click here to find out how Berry's tunes fared on the charts.

"Of all the early breakthrough rock & roll artists, none is more important to the development of the music than Chuck Berry. He is its greatest songwriter, the main shaper of its instrumental voice, one of its greatest guitarists, possessing the clearest diction, and one of its greatest performers."

-Cub Koda

Maybelline.


Johnny B. Goode (widely considered Berry's masterpiece)

In the 1960s and 1970s, Berry's music was the inspiration for such groups as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Berry had a number of comeback recordings and in 1972 had the first and only #1 Pop Chart hit of his career with "My Ding-A-Ling. . In 1984 he was presented with a Grammy Award for lifetime achievement. 1986 fittingly saw him inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as the very first inductee in history. As a tribute to his pervasiveness in the realm of rock, a clip of "Johnny B. Goode" was played in the Voyager I spacecraft on a copper phonograph record attached to the side of the satellite. 1987 saw  the publication of Berry's book Chuck Berry: The Autobiography.


Chuck Berry is in his 80s today and continues to rock out crowds with his signature "duck walk."



In December 2008, Cadillac Records, a film chronicling the rise and fall of Chess records and its artists was released. Mos Def portrayed Chuck Berry. Check out one of the scenes below:

HUSL Today Salutes Chuck Berry!!!

HUSL Today Salutes

Tony Dungy

Anthony Kevin "Tony" Dungy was born October 6, 1955 in Jackson, Michigan.  Dungy attended Parkside High School, where he played guard position on the basketball team and the quarterback position on the football team

Dungy was recruited by University of Minnesota coach Cal Stoll. Dungy played for the Golden Gophers from 1973 to 1976. He entered the starting lineup as a quarterback during his freshman year and after playing for four years finished as Minnesota's career leader in pass attempts (576), completions (274), touchdown passes (25), and passing yards (3,577). He also finished fourth in career total offense in the Big Ten Conference. He received Minnesota's Most Valuable Player award twice. Dungy also played basketball as a freshman.

Dungy's career has included several notable firsts. Among them, Dungy is the first NFL head coach to defeat all 32 NFL teams.He was also the youngest assistant coach at age 25 and the youngest coordinator at age 28 in NFL history. Dungy was the 1st black head coach to win the Super Bowl (with the Colts' victory over the Bears in 2007). He was however the 3rd black head coach to win a pro football championship in North America, behind Darren Arbet of the San Jose Sabercats (Arena Football League) who won ArenaBowl XVI in 2002 and Pinball Clemons of the Toronto Argonauts (Canadian Football League) who won the 92nd Grey Cup in 2004.

Check out the footage below of the Colts bringing home the championship.

Check the footage below where Dungy becomes the first African American coach to answer "I'm going to Disney World" when asked the now-traditional post superbowl win question:

Dungy also became the 6th man to play in a Super Bowl and be the head coach of a Super Bowl team. He joins Dan Reeves, Sam Wyche, Mike Ditka, Forrest Gregg and Tom Flores. After the win in Super Bowl XLI, Dungy became the 3rd man to win Super Bowls both as a player and a head coach, following Ditka and Flores.

"Our young men today are falling into a trap... Society is telling them material success is what's important, but if we buy into that idea, we can spend a lifetime chasing that success and never really have the positive impact on people that would make our lives truly significant."

 More inspiration when you read the rest.

HUSL Today Salutes

Jackie Robinson

 Image source: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/Jackie%20Robinson%20sliding.jpg

Jack Roosevelt Robinson was born in Cairo, Georgia in 1919. By 1935, Robinson had graduated middle school and enrolled in high school at Muir Tech High School. At Muir Tech, Robinson played several sports at the varsity level and lettered in four of them: football, basketball, track, and baseball. He played shortstop and catcher on the baseball team, quarterback on the football team, and guard on the basketball team. With the track and field squad, he won awards in the broad jump. He was also a member of the tennis team.  Robinson graduated high school and enrolled at Pasadena Junior College.

Robinson continued his sports career at Pasadena Junior College, Robinson graduated in 1939 and transferred to UCLA. While enrolled, Jackie became the first athlete to win varsity letters in four sports: baseball, basketball, football and track. In 1941, he was named to the All-American football team. Due to financial difficulties, he was forced to leave college, and eventually decided to enlist in the U.S. Army. After two years in the army, he had progressed to second lieutenant. Jackie's army career was cut short when he was court-martialed in relation to his objections with incidents of racial discrimination. In the end, Jackie left the Army with an honorable discharge.

Image source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f7/Jackie_robinson_ucla_track.jpg

In 1945, Jackie played one season in the Negro Baseball League. In 1947, Brooklyn Dodgers president Branch Rickey approached Jackie about joining the Brooklyn Dodgers. The Major Leagues had not had an African-American player since 1889, when baseball became segregated. Because of this feat, Robinson is sometimes referred to as baseball's barrier breaker.

At the end of Robinson's rookie season with the Brooklyn Dodgers, he had become National League Rookie of the Year with 12 homers, a league-leading 29 steals, and a .297 average.


  
Watch Robinson in action as he steals home!

Over ten seasons, he played in six World Series and contributed to the Dodgers' 1955 World Championship. He was selected for six consecutive All-Star Games from 1949 to 1954. In 1949, he was selected as the NL's Most Valuable player of the Year, the first black player so honored,  and also won the batting title with a .342 average that same year.

Robinson also found success outside of the diamond. He was the first African-American television analyst in Major League Baseball, and the first African-American vice-president of a major American corporation. In the 1960s, he helped establish the Freedom National Bank, an African-American-owned/controlled financial institution based in Harlem, New York. In recognition of his achievements on and off the field, Robinson was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Congressional Gold Medal.

More footage of the Hall of Famer

Check out Robinson reciting the alphabet with the muppets.



The southern belle side of me loves that he says "dubya" *smiles*

Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. In 1997, Major League Baseball retired his uniform number, 42, across all major league teams. Robinson joined the ancestors on October 24, 1972. His legacy lives on in the baseball players we know and love today sans the steroids.

HUSL Today Salutes Jackie Robinson!

HUSL Today Salutes

Its another athlete salute today. The twist is you will have to read on before I tell you who it is.

Countless buzzer beaters
Epic dunks
Incredible endorsements
Electric performances


What you should know now:
Birthdate: February 17, 1963
Birthplace: Brooklyn, NY
Position: Shooting Guard
3 retirements
2 Olympic Gold Medal Basketball teams

Here's a hint (ok a blatant giveaway): His individual accolades and accomplishments include:
5 MVP awards
10 All-NBA First Team designations
9 All-Defensive First Team honors
14 NBA All-Star Game appearances
3 All-Star Game MVP awards
10 scoring titles
3 steals titles
6 NBA Finals MVP awards
1988 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award
He holds the NBA records for highest career regular-season scoring average (30.12 points per game) and highest career playoff scoring average (33.45 points per game). In 1999, he was named the greatest North American athlete of the 20th century by ESPN, and was second to Babe Ruth on the Associated Press's list of athletes of the century. He was elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame on April 6, 2009 and was inducted on September 11, 2009.

Read on to find out who it is.

RIP Lena Horne

As you all may have heard, legendary singer and incredible actress Lena Horne passed away Sunday (I know I'm a day late & a dollar short). Since I was away all day Sunday & yesterday, I didn't get a chance to do this the right way. I cannot in good conscience go on without paying tribute to her. Consider this a two-fer: a salute & a tribute.

I know I normally salute people by telling you facts about their life (birthdate, college attended, major accomplishments, etc.) but I believe Horne deserves an unconventional salute. I believe you get to see a special part of people when they are doing what they love. Hence, this salute will feature footage of Horne doing what she loved-performing.

                    Fast facts
Born: June 30, 1917 in Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York
Joined the ancestors: May 9, 2010
Why we love her: She broke down barriers in Hollywood by earning roles outside of what black actresses were assigned (cooks, maids, etc.). She was our first black sex symbol as a pinup girl during WWII.




Lena Horne sings "Someday my Prince will come" in 1967:


Check out footage of Lena Horne on Sanford & Son (still one of my favs):



Lena Horne sings the alphabet on Sesame Street:


Lena Horne on Flip Wilson in 1973:


Lena Horne on the Tonight Show in 1982:



Lena Horne on Rosie O'Donnell in 1997:



Lena Horne's Gap commercial:


Click here to see her appearance on A Different World
HINT: If you can't see the videos click the title of this post and voila! problem solved.  

President & Michelle Obama's statement expressing their condolences when you read the rest. 

HUSL Today Salutes

Shirley Franklin

Image source: http://thepioneerwoman.com/homeschooling/files/2009/12/who.jpg

Shirley Clarke Franklin was born on May 10, 1945. Franklin received her B.A. in sociology from Howard University and her M.A., also in sociology, from the University of Pennsylvania. Franklin served as the Commissioner of Cultural Affairs under Mayor Maynard Jackson. Subsequently, she was named Chief Administrative Officer and City Manager under Mayor Andrew Young.

"My dream as a child was to be a dancer. I wasn't the class president or the student government president or anything like that. The first time I ever ran for a major office was to be mayor."

The 58th mayor of Atlanta, she was the first female to hold the post and became the first black woman to be elected mayor of any major Southern city. Franklin was Atlanta's fourth black mayor. In 2005, TIME Magazine named Franklin of the five best big-city American mayors. In October of that same year, she was included in the U.S. News & World Report "Best Leaders of 2005" issue.

In July of 2009, Mayor Franklin (along with Frances Townsend and Judge William H. Webster) was appointed to an ad hoc Department of Homeland Security special task force for 60-day review of the Homeland Security Advisory System. Frances served as mayor of Atlanta, Georgia from 2002 to 2010. She is succeeded by Kasim Reed.

Mayor Franklin was the recipient of Profile in Courage Award in 2005, issued by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. The foundation praised her management of the city of Atlanta during the critical period of enormous deficit and loss of public confidence in government following the corrupt administration of Mayor Bill Campbell. She is an Honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

HUSL Today Salutes Shirley Franklin!!!

HUSL Today Salutes

Constance Baker Motley

 Image source: http://jameslogancourier.org/media/quotes/20080914-200px-Baker_motley_1998.jpg

Constance Baker Motley was born on September 14, 1921in New Haven, Connecticut. She initially attended Fisk University, a historically black college in Tennessee, before deciding to move to an integrated university. Motley graduated from New York University in 1943, then received her law degree from Columbia Law School in 1946. Her legal career began as a law clerk in the fledgling NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund (LDF), where she worked with Thurgood Marshall, Jack Greenberg, and others. The LDF's first female attorney, she became Associate Counsel to the LDF, making her the NAACP's lead trial attorney.

In 1950 she wrote the original complaint in the case of Brown v. Board of Education. The first African-American woman ever to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court, in Meredith v. Fair she successfully won James Meredith's effort to be the first black student to attend the University of Mississippi. Motley was successful in nine of the ten cases she argued before the Supreme Court. The tenth decision, regarding jury composition, was eventually overturned in her favor. She played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement, helping to desegregate Southern schools, buses, and lunch counters.

Image source: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3NHGO6tuELU/SrF_39ZcHz/AAAAAAAACo8/Vbx-PjOpwC /s320/motley_constance_baker.jpg

Read the rest to find out more.

HUSL Today Salutes

Benjamin Hooks

 Image source: http://fiskuniversity.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/dr-benjamin-hooks.jpg

Benjamin Hooks was born in Memphis, Tennessee on January 31, 1925.  Hooks enrolled in LeMoyne-Owen College, in Memphis, Tennessee where he undertook a pre-law course of study 1941–43. He graduated in 1944 from Howard University nd joined the Army working as a guard of Italian prisoners of war. He was discharged from the Army after the end of the war with the rank of staff sergeant.

After the war he enrolled at the DePaul University College of Law in Chicago to study law. He ventured to Chicago for his studies because no law school in his native Tennessee would admit him. He graduated from DePaul in 1948 with his Juris Doctor (J.D.). Hooks passed the Tennesee bar exam and set up his own law practice. He recalled in an interview with Jet Magazine “At that time you were insulted by law clerks, excluded from white bar associations and when I was in court, I was lucky to be called Ben...usually it was just ‘boy.’ [But] the judges were always fair. The discrimination of those days has changed and, today, the South is ahead of the North in many respects in civil rights progress.”

He was ordained as a Baptist minister in 1956 and began to preach regularly at the Greater Middle Baptist Church in Memphis, while continuing his busy law practice. He joined the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (then known as Southern Negro Leaders Conference on Transportation and Nonviolent Integration) along with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He also became a pioneer in the NAACP-sponsored restaurant sit-ins and other boycotts of consumer items and services.

In 1965 Tennessee Governor Frank G. Clement appointed him to fill a vacancy in the Shelby County criminal court. With this he became the first black criminal court judge in Tennessee history. His temporary appointment to the bench expired in 1966 but he campaigned for, and won election to a full term in the same judicial office.

On November 6, 1976, the 64-member board of directors of the NAACP elected Hooks executive director of the organization. Shortly after his induction, Hooks proclaimed, “The civil rights movement is not dead. If anyone thinks that we are going to stop agitating, they had better think again. If anyone thinks that we are going to stop litigating, they had better close the courts. If anyone thinks that we are not going to demonstrate and protest, they had better roll up the sidewalks.” Hooks assumed his position at a time when the NAACP was suffering a decline in membership but he managed to turn it around. Hooks maintained his position until 1992. 

 Image source: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2007/11/05/2003996140.jpg

In 1996, the Benjamin L. Hooks Institute for Social Change was established at the University of Memphis. The Hooks Institute is a public policy research center supporting the urban research mission of the University of Memphis, and honoring Hooks’ many years of leadership in the American Civil Rights Movement. The Institute works to advance understanding of the legacy of the American Civil Rights Movement – and of other movements for social justice – through teaching, research and community programs that emphasize social movements, race relations, strong communities, public education, effective public participation, and social and economic justice.

President George W. Bush awarded Hooks the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, in November 2007. "As a civil rights activist, public servant, and minister of the gospel, Dr. Hooks has extended the hand of fellowship throughout his years," Bush said.

"It was not an always ... easy thing to do. But it was always the right thing to do."

He passed away on April 15, 2010. The Tennessee House has cancelled its activities so lawmakers can attend the funeral today. He was an avid supporter of civil rights and he will be missed dearly. Benjamin was a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

HUSL Today Salutes Benjamin Hooks!!