While the nation may not agree on whether his dream has been realized, the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King lives on and is now forever immortalized with the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial, the first African-American memorial on or near the National Mall, which opened to the public last Monday and was to be dedicated with a weekend of ceremonial events, culminating on Sunday, which marked the 48th anniversary of his “I Have a Dream” speech, but was postponed indefinitely due to Hurricane Irene.
As we celebrate his life and legacy, take a look at Dr. King as he describes “the new Negro” opening with: Continue
Check out these photos of Bessie Coleman ( 1892 – 1926 ), who became one of the most famous women in aviation history.
Bessie graduated from the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale, the world’s air sports federation, making history as not only the first black person to earn a pilot’s license but also the first American to earn an international aviation license after being forced to study abroad because, as a black woman, she could not study at any American flight school.
The pioneer aviator died at the age of 34 after falling 500 feet from an aircraft during a routine practice run.
Check out these dope photos of the one & only Sam Cooke ( 1931-1964 ). All the pics were taken in the early sixties while he was at the height of his career.
♫ Sam Cooke – You Send Me
♫ Sam Cooke – A Change is Gonna Come
Known for his songs “You Send Me” and “A Change is Gonna Come”, this soulful singer was the first African American artist to reach #1 on both the R&B and the pop charts.
A lot of people don’t know this, but Sam was also one of the first black artists to own his own music publishing and record label, where he wrote songs for Aretha Franklin & Otis Redding. However, his groundbreaking career was cut short in 1964 when he was gunned down at a motel (more info) at the age of 32.
I’m so loving this throwback photo of the one and only Aretha Franklin. The pic was taken back in 1961 when she was rehearsing for an upcoming show and she is pictured with famed choreographer Cholly Atkins (1913 – 2003).
Aretha (who was just 19 years-old at the time this photo was taken), would go on to break records, release hit after hit and get the title ‘The Queen of Soul’.
The living legend is now 67 years-old and is still performing and trendsetting (Presidential Inauguration, anyone?). More photos of Aretha in the studio back in the early 60s below. She was rockin’ that leotard, huh?
