On Sunday (Oct. 16), President Barack Obama dedicated the Martin Luther King Memorial after touring the monument with First Lady Michelle Obama, their daughters, Sasha and Malia, and family members of Dr. King.
The event included speeches from noted individuals including Congressman John Lewis, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, among others. Musical and spoken tributes were also made by Mary Mary, Nikki Giovanni, Aretha Franklin (SEE PERFORMANCE VIDEO BELOW) and more.
“An earthquake and hurricane may have delayed this day, but it was a day not to be denied,” the president said, opening his dedication:
For this day, we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s return to the National Mall. In this place, he will stand for all time, among monuments to those who fathered this nation and those who defended it; a black preacher with no official rank or title who somehow gave voice to our deepest dreams and our most lasting ideals, a man who stirred our conscience and thereby helped make our union more perfect. Continue
Earlier this week, two women got into a heated argument with a McDonald’s cashier shortly after ordering their food. The three of them exchanged many profane words, causing the disagreement to escalate. During the confrontation with the employee, one of the 24-year-old women slapped the 31-year-old man in the face and things took a turn for the worse:
Just past midnight on Thursday the argument began between employee 31-year old Rayon McIntosh and two friends, a 24-year-woman from Queens whose family ask we not use her name and 24-year-old Rachel Edwards of Brooklyn. Continue
Steve Jobs the co-founder of the game changing Apple Inc, as well as Pixar has died. He had reportedly been fighting cancer for years. He was 56.
The college dropout turned multi-billionaire leaves a legacy that includes the Apple II, Macintosh, iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad. Apple announced the death of Jobs on Wednesday evening with this statement:
“We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today,” Apple said. “Steve’s brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.”
Make sure to check out Jobs’ 2005 commencement speech to Stanford University below..
Civil Rights Leader, Icon and pioneer Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth passed away in Birmingham, Alabama Wednesday afternoon (October 5). He was 89.
Shuttlesworth worked alongside Rev. Martin Luther King in the 1950s and 60s with the SCLC organization and was arrested numerous times for his non-violent Civil Rights protests in the South. As the pastor of the Bethel Baptist Church, he survived two bombings, as well as a bombing at his home which almost killed him. He was also badly beaten by KKK members in 1957, while attempting to enroll his children in an all-white school.
Mr. Shuttlesworth received the Presidential Citizen’s Medal in 2001 from President Clinton for his leadership and also met with then Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama in 2007 to commemorate the 1965 ‘Bloody Sunday’ Voting Rights march in Selma, Alabama. After a stroke in 2008, Shuttlesworth moved from Ohio back to Birmingham.
Make sure to check out this video below of Rev. Shuttlesworth in his own words.
Rest in Peace to this true Civil Rights Icon and leader.
“An earthquake and hurricane may have delayed this day, but it was a day not to be denied,” the president said, opening his dedication:
Shuttlesworth worked alongside Rev. Martin Luther King in the 1950s and 60s with the SCLC organization and was arrested numerous times for his non-violent Civil Rights protests in the South. As the pastor of the Bethel Baptist Church, he survived two bombings, as well as a bombing at his home which almost killed him. He was also badly beaten by KKK members in 1957, while attempting to enroll his children in an all-white school.
