The Blackman Who Reads Aloud
The Guiding Principles Of The UNIA
Marcus Garvey
132 Years Of Magnificent Excellence

On November 25, 1922, in New York City, Marcus Garvey delivered this speech which outlined the major objectives of the Universal Negro Association(UNIA).

Today, "The Black Blogger" represents​ the voice of Marcus Garvey as he goes back 97 years to deliver the words of that historic speech, on this the 132nd birthday of Mr. Garvey.

Although Mr. Garvey never in his lifetime visited the shores of Africa. Although his vision of Pan-Africanism was ​motivated many coming generations of black leaders to see Africa as an extension of our communities economic and social power.

​May God Continue To Provide Rest and Continue To Bless The Spirit of This Great Man, As We Continue To Search The Whirlwind For Mr. Garvey dynamic spirit.

Happy Birthday, to the Honorable, Esteemed, Cherished, Supreme Leader of Black International Independence Marcus Garvey. I salute you today and remember by speaking ​your own words the majesty of your efforts to unite the black people of this world. Although we still struggle for unity both here in America and abroad on foreign​ shores as well as in Mother Africa. The dream of Garvey unity's candle of hope still flickers. We shall stand together as a people united in the principles of the Universal Negro Improvement Association.

Robert Leroy Johnson, it is said sold his sold to the Devil Man for the gift of blues genius, women, and fame. Well, fame would only come after his death. Today, on August 16, 1938, at the age of 27, the Devil Man came'a calling for his price of Robert's poor soul.

That was 81 years ago today and by my count ain't no one played that guitar like Robert L. Johnson since, cause me's guess that no ones sold their poor soul to that Devil Man. If you appreciate black genius you have to appreciate Robert Johnson although I think that Robert's persistence and a desired for greatness deserves the credit, not the Devil Man.

Robert Leroy Johnson born May 11, 1911,​ and died Agust 16, 1938, he was simply the greatest that ever was, and ever will be.

Eudora Welty wrote this story for the New Yorker Magazine after the murder of Medgar Evers in Jackson, Mississippi on June 12. 1963. She didn't use the names of either Medgar Evers or his murderer. Nor did she use Jackson, Mississippi as the city where the murder occurred. However, her first-person​ account coming from the perspective of the white racist assassin​ details what Byron De La Beckwith may have been thinking prior to and after his murderous deed. I am reading this story today because on The Blackman's Read Aloud Hour I am reading How To Be An Antiracist. Surely Medgar Evers was an antiracist murdered by the worst of bigots. We still suffer in this nation from men who think as​ Medgar Evers murderer thought. It must get better, it has to get better, doesn't it?

The Democratic Convention Atlantic City, New Jersey
Fannie Lou Hamer
Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party

On August 22, 1964, Fannie Lou Hamer spoke before the Credential Committee at the Democratic National Convention. This was before the Voting Rights Act of 1965 had passed. During this remarkable speech Fannie Lou Hamer, a former sharecropper spoke about the life of a black person seeking political justice in the state of Mississippi.

The very nature of Fannie Lou Hamer's presence at the Democratic National Convention was amazing in itself. Fannie Lou Hamer wasn't an educated person with scholarly degrees. Fannie was simply, a black woman who wanted to be a citizen in this nation. She wanted the right to participate along with every other black person in the state of Mississippi in the electoral process.

The state of Mississippi had denied blacks the right to vote in 1890 when they created a stranglehold on the constitutional rights of blacks to be anything other than second and third-class citizens. That became unacceptable to Fannie Lou Hamer, so she put her life on the line to pursue her full citizenship rights.

On this August day in 1964, Fannie Lou Hamer demanded that the entire delegation of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party be seated as the valid representatives for the state of Mississippi. The all-white Democratic delegation didn't reflect the state of Mississippi's population because blacks weren't allowed to vote in 1964 in the process of choosing national delegates.

So powerful was Fannie Lou Hamer's presentation that day it caused such a disruption that President Lyndon Baines Johnson attempted to take away the televised audience's attention by scheduling an impromptu news conference. Fannie Lou Hamer's shadow of black independence, black awareness, black pride, black love, and black determination resides in every living black person today. We owe Fannie Lou Hamer's spirit an uncollected debt of gratitude to continue to fight for the equality in that nation that Fannie sought in her lifetime.

If that means fighting for reparations, then we must fight for that sacred debt payments as Fannie Lou Hamer would've fought for them tirelessly. If that means going to the ballot booths to vote then we must actively participate in the voting process religiously. If that means loving your brothers and sisters like Fannie Lou Hamer then we must do so unconditionally. You see although Fannie Lou Hamer left us 42 years ago, her spirit resides in every molehill, hamlet, town, and city in this nation. Fannie Lou Hamer loved this nation not for what it was but for the infinite possibilities this nation could offer if it simply walked past the bigotry and hate. ​