Oyo, a pre-colonial kingdom in present-day Nigeria, was founded in the 1300s. Established by Oranmiyan of the Yoruba people of West Africa, Oyo quickly grew to become one of the most powerful states in the Yoruba-speaking region. From its capital city at Oyo-Ile, this weak state in the early 1500s, had by 1550 conquered two neighboring kingdoms, Borgu and Nupe, to become the most dominant political … Continue reading KINGDOM OF OYO (CA. 1500-1837)
The Hunter’s Point Uprising in 1966 began on September 27 and lasted for three days. At that time, it was the largest riot in San Francisco, California since the anti-Chinese riots almost 90 years earlier. The uprising began when police chased and attempted to arrest three teenagers—Darrell Mobley, 14; Clifton Bacon, 15; and Matthew “Peanut” Johnson, 16—who were joyriding in a stolen car in Hunter’s Point, a mostly black neighborhood at the southeast corner of San Francisco. After their car stalled, the teenagers split up and ran from the police. Police officer Alvin Johnson gave chase and, according to an official city report, told Matthew Johnson to “Stop! Hold it, or I’m going to shoot!” Unarmed, Matthew Johnson continued to run and Officer Johnson shot him four times killing him almost immediately. Continue reading Revisit: HUNTER’S POINT, SAN FRANCISCO UPRISING (1966)
The Poor People’s Campaign (PPC) was created on December 4, 1967, by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) to address the issues of unemployment, housing shortages for the poor, and the impact of poverty on the lives of millions of Americans. Unlike earlier efforts directed toward helping African Americans gain civil rights and voting rights, SCLC and its leader, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., now addressed issues that impacted all who were poor regardless of racial background. Their immediate aim was to secure federal legislation ensuring full employment and promoting the construction of low-income housing to raise the quality of life of the nation’s impoverished citizens. Continue reading POOR PEOPLE’S CAMPAIGN (DECEMBER 4, 1967 – JUNE 19, 1968)
The story of Black History Month begins in Chicago during the late summer of 1915. An alumnus of the University of Chicago with many friends in the city, Carter G. Woodson traveled from Washington, D.C. to participate in a national celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of emancipation sponsored by the state of Illinois. Continue reading Today’s Lesson: THE HISTORY OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Black Art Story 