THE CULTURE CORNER

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“A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture, is like a tree without roots.”

 Marcus Mosiah Garvey (1887-1940)

Every year in October we celebrate BLACK HISTORY MONTH. Black history is with us every second, minute, hour, week, month and year. PANTHER NEWSLETTERS CULTURE CORNER will attempt to enlighten you with what they never told you in your history class. Our story will be told right here – So enjoy the journey of clarification.

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WHO IS THE REAL SANTA CLAUS?

As the Festive season draws nearer to us, whether you celebrate Christmas or Kwanzaa, the debate about who Santa Claus/St. Nicholas really was, pops up every year. Two recent articles have appeared and were quite interesting reads.

Aisha Harris recently wrote: “Santa Claus should not be white anymore. It’s time to give St. Nik his long overdue makeover…”: to read the full article; visit here…and watch the Fox News guests debate on Megyn Kelly’s Show about what they thought about Aisha’s article.

In another article, Melissa Harris-Perry had some tough questions for Santa. She asks: “I know it’s a busy time of year, but we need to settle a little debate that’s emerged in American media asking, ‘Are you white? Are you black? When you come in from the North Pole, do you have a legal visa or are you undocumented?’ “: read the full article here…

Well here he is. Know your history. The original Saint Nicholas was a Moore (A Black Man). He was known for his generosity. He was born in the 3rd Century in the village of Patara, in what is now known as the southern coast of Turkey. He was a very wealthy Israelite of the ancient Roman Empire, possibly the northen tribe of Israel.

Read more about the original St. Nicholas the Israelite here…

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THOMAS MORRIS CHESTER

Born Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The son of an escaped slave and oyster salesman, Chester’s childhood was relatively secure and very progressive. A man famous for his bravery serving as the first black war correspondent for a major newspaper during the civil war. He risked not only death but enslavement upon possible capture. Also, he would become England’s first black lawyer. Read more about him: visit here…

Get the book: Thomas Morris Chester; The Black Civil War Correspondent here…

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TRIBUTE TO OUR S/HEROES

Mary Ellen Pleasant – (1814 – 1904) – Born around 1814, on a plantation near Augusta, Georgia. There are a few facts and stories about Pleasant’s life that are still up in the air, but the major events of her life are generally agreed upon. She came from humble beginnings being born into slavery, but would be later freed and work as an indentured servant. Through this period, she helped with the abolitionist movement in the northeast through contacts at the store she worked at. Being of mixed heritage, she was often able to pass as White; read more visit here…

Nancy Green “Aunt Jemima” – (1834 – 1923) – The original Aunt Jemima Nancy Green was born into slavery on a plantation in 1834. She was discovered at age 59 in 1893. She was “the real  Aunt Jemima” until her death in 1923 when she was struck and killed by a car in downtwon Chicago Illonois; read more about her here…

Alice Coachman – (1923 – ) – Alice Coachman specialised in the high jump. An African/American, she became the first black woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the 1948 London games. “Winning that gold medal meant everything to me. I didn’t get to celebrate much after, because it was so crowded and everyone wanted to see me. But the one thing I did ask my coach for was a beer. I’d been with her for three years, so she knew that I didn’t drink or smoke. ‘You, a beer?’ she asked laughing. I think I only drank about half…”; read more about her visit here…

Nichelle Nichols – (1932 – ) – Nichelle Nichols played Uhura on the original Star Trek. She was one of the first black women on a major television show who was not playing a servant. Martin Luther King Jr actually persuaded her to stay on the show when she was thinking of quitting to pursue a Broadway career; read more about her here…

Bill Russell – (1934 – ) One of the most decorated sports legends in American history, he has quite a list of accomplishments; this includes winning 11 NBA Championships, a recorda for the most Championships won by an athlete in a North American sports league. He also broke barriers when he bcame coach of the Boston Celtics, being the first black coach in major U.S professional sports (and N.B.A). President Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011; Read more about him; visit here…

Henry Sampson – (1934 – ) – Born Jackson, Mississippi, he was the first Afrcan/American to earn a PH.D. for nuclear engineering in the U.S. He was behind a few notable breakthroughs, this included inventing the “Gamma-Electrical Cell”, which makes it possible to wirelessly receive and send audio signals through radio waves; this was a vital  contribution to the future of the cellphone industry; read more here…

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela – (1918 – 5 December 2013) – Born 1918, Mvezo, Cape Province, South Africa, a worldwide icon and inspiration to all (no matter what race you are). He is most famous as a South African Anti-Aparthied revolutionary and activist that became South Africa’s first black President in 1994 after serving 27 years of wrongful imprisonment. Achieving what some considered impossible at the time, his administration successfully tackled the challenge of dismantling the institutionalised racism and class inequality from the many years of aparthied; read more about him visit here…

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Here ends your history lesson for this issue

I trust each and every one of you will enjoy your festive holidays, wherever you are. For those of you celebrating Kwanzaa; Happy Kwanzaa and I pray your affirmations, the Nguzo Saba, guides you to a happy and prosperous New Year…

…And as it’s the season of Peace, Love and Goodwill to one and all, here’s a proper little Kwanzaa message to you the massives; visit here…

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Log on for more CULTURE CORNER in the next issue and remember…

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela

Sunrise: July 18 1918  Sunset: December 5 2013

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Til the next issue – Everyting  –  Bless.

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