#Walter Booker

[jazzplusplus]

1988 - Ray Bryant Trio - Education Hall in Yokohama (Japan)

Ray Bryant (p), Walter Booker (b), Ben Riley (dr)

[danwhobrowses]

WWE Royal Rumble 2023 - Review

It's that time of the year where throwing someone over the top rope is the most difficult thing in the world

Royal Rumble sets the stage for the Road to Wrestlemania, the card looks obvious, but with Vince's returned leering eyes hovering over Trips, what can he pull off?

Spoilers for the Event

Kick-off Kick-off is still kinda pointless, no matches, no fun. Plus Jerry and Booker, you can't get a panel with any Royal Rumble winners huh?

We get clips of Roman on the Tonight Show too, plus a SD recap reacted to by the full Bloodline, Jey took the fall (by telling the truth) which had Roman decide to focus on the night, Sami will be beside Roman all night.

JBL's segment is unneeded, Gabriel Iglesias showing up with an all gold world title was to confirm him being at Wrestlemania. We did have a sequence of the competitors drawing numbers, but it was like stickers on a wall, miss the old tombola.

Main Card

Pat McAfee came back, Cole acted like Steve Austin had shown up. Pat's a good commentator but like, that's what you start with? He almost fell off his chair too.

Men's Royal Rumble Cody Rhodes [30] wins the Men's Royal Rumble (Last eliminating GUNTHER [1]) Interesting but not a bad choice to have Sheamus and GUNTHER renew hostilities at 1 & 2, Miz at 3 though was just to be smacked around until Kofi came in at 4 (liked the Super Mario Tron). Gargano got barely any pop for 5 which was sad. Miz was first to be eliminated due to 25 Beats of the Bodhran, a Gargano superkick and then a Brogue, then Xavier showed up for 6, fake teases of them fighting each other before Kross came in at 7.

See, Kross had a good start there, fighting GUNTHER and Sheamus, he needs physical fights. Gable came in at 8 shooshing everyone, Drew at 9 reminded me how bloody long this ramp is but he Claymored Kross over the rope for the second elimination, we're saving for Brock and Lashley aren't we? Santos Escobar at 10 (in kickoff he was happy with that, dunno why it's the early half) but a mention of Mil Mascaras was funny. Dawkins at 11. Woods and Kofi saved each other by doing Private Party's silly string, but Gunther eliminated Woods and then knocked over Kofi into a chair, his foot was floating over it though.

Out came Brock, eliminating Santos, Dawkins and Gable in succession, squaring off with Gunther until Lashley came out at 13, spearing dudes and eliminating Brock quickly. Brock threw a fit as Corbin came out and got wiped out by Brock. One of my top 3 picks, Rollins at 15, threw in Corbin to eliminate him, Otis at 16, Rey at 17, nice small pop for him still but he didn't come out...Rollins eliminates Lashley, Dom at 18 wearing Rey's mask and ripping it (off camera) as Otis was eliminated. Elias at 19 guitar in hand to hit over GUNTHER, but ate a simul-Claymore/Brogue (why not call it the Double Banger?) before being thrown out. Balor backed up Dom at 20, double intercepts helped eliminate Gargano to no fanfare.

Ugh, Booker T at 21. Pretty shit Spinaroonie before eliminated by GUNTHER (who has been 2v1'd by Sheamus and Drew for a long time, the sores on that man's back), Priest at 22 meant it's a 3 on 1 advantage for JD, 23 is Montez Ford, skins the cat but Chokeslammed out by Priest, wasteful. Edge comes back at 24 so of course JD go one at a time, Priest and Balor eliminated but they come back to save Dom and eliminate Edge, all of these are taking less than a minute. Austin Theory at 25 as Edge fights JD, Rhea attacks so Beth comes out to Spear her. Omos at 26, is Cody 29/30 I wonder? Another GUNTHER standoff but he eats a chokeslam, Braun at 27 to standoff with his old rival and eliminate Omos, 28 is Ricochet to help team up with Braun briefly, GUNTHER eliminated both Drew and Sheamus after Drew attempted to save Sheamus from falling.

Ugh x2, Logan Paul is 29. Still can't change his fucking gear, everyone beats him down, he finally hits a Buckshot without screwing his knee (the lariat was shit), Braun had to save him from falling before Cody returned at 30. It's nice to see him healthy but what's the point of announcing it if he's 30? Eliminates Dom. Logan and Ricochet do a double springboard clothesline to try and highlight reel, Cody eliminates Strowman trying to save Ricochet, Theory eliminates Ricochet. They say final four but I did not see Logan get eliminated, which means he is fucking final four. Cody eliminates Theory after comboing with Rollins, they argue but combine to eliminate GUNTHER, Cody hitting the Pedigree that should've been a storied heel turn. Logan eliminates Rollins, which bites because I feel like Rollins winning could've been the true swerve win, he eats a Cross Rhodes and is eliminated by Cody.

So technically it comes to 1 and 30 (WWE with their first time evers), even though we never truly confirmed that Kofi was eliminated nor did Rey Mysterio get eliminated. The ending was more than textbook after that, GUNTHER using chops and his power but Cody trying to pull babyface fire. Cody cutter only puts GUNTHER on the apron, he uses Shattered Dreams, but then eats a Powerbomb, he hits a Cross Rhodes then eliminates GUNTHER.

*sigh* It of course had to be Cody didn't it? This was an okay Rumble, no love for NXT, no real shock value, no Zayn, no forbidden door, many lasting less than a minute and they keep trying to make Logan Paul a thing. Also technically, since Cody then jumps over the top rope to leave, Rey Mysterio should've won the Rumble just sayin. Big praise for GUNTHER, besting Rey's rumble time record though Rey keeps his record for longest time and winning, but he was sadly never gonna win it, I feel like we're gonna do Rollins/Logan for the mania paycheck which saddens me though, which really means we spent an hour to essentially set up Seth/Logan and more Edge/JD, the rest is all stuff we expected or was already active.

Mountain Dew Pitch Black Match Bray Wyatt def LA Knight (Pinfall via Sister Abigail) Having no expectations for this match could've worked in or out of its favour, it was a kinda 'wait to see how it played out. Bray seems to have borrowed Ronda Rousey's make up artist for the overdone mascara job XD Pitch Black was more Neon Lights match with skeletal neon paint, neon confetti and a neon kendo stick.

It was practically a squash, Knight hit a flying clothesline into the announcer's table and hit Bray with a Kendo stick but that was about it, a practically worthless match whose aesthetic was wrong for the match name. The neon lights do look cool but it doesn't match the theme, we could've used this somewhere else and not slapped Mountain Dew's name on it. Post-match Bray put on a new mask and chased Knight out to the backstage, no-selling Kendo shots and hitting the Mandible Claw, Uncle Howdy showed up and did a flying senton to Knight onto pyrotechnics while four other minions in masks (Firefly Funhouse masks) watched above like muppets.

Wrestlemania trailer after that, no reenacting hollywood scenes though like WM21 so -5 points.

Raw Women's Championship Bianca Belair (c) def. Alexa Bliss (Pinfall via KOD) Michelle McCool (Mrs Undertaker shown in a match with potential Uncle Howdy implications?) was ringside for the only women's championship match of the night. The affair was to and fro, there was barely any pop from Bliss hitting her DDT for 2 though. After attempting the Mandible Claw and Sister Abigail, she was lifted to a KOD and that was it.

Sadly it was tough to get into this match because it felt like such a foregone conclusion, the intrigue wasn't even centered around the women themselves. Post match there was evil Alexa clips with Uncle Howdy and a playground spliced in there.

Elimination Chamber trailer, I wonder what it would be for though? For the women I'd guess it's for the other titleholder but for the men are we splitting the belts? Making it a triple threat? Or using it to the midcard titles?

Women's Royal Rumble Rhea Ripley [1] wins the Women's Royal Rumble (Last Eliminating Liv Morgan [2]) Rhea started also nursing the spear from early, coming up against her former partner Liv Morgan - who wanted to be first, why couldn't we have swapped the numbers? They both got entrances. No. 3 is Dana Brooke, 4 was Emma who got all of the competitors to team on Rhea. No. 5 was Baszler, left high and dry after Ronda backed out, Bayley at 6 narrowly evaded elimination after eating ObLIVion. B-Fab at 7 meant more Top Dolla botch references, first to be eliminated by Rhea not without being busted open. NXT Women's Champion Roxanne Perez reps NXT at 8, Dakota Kai at 9, Iyo Sky at 10 completing Damage CTRL, who eliminated Dana Brooke, Emma and Roxanne. Natalya at 11 went for Baszler, Candice at 12 had no pop. Damage CTRL feigned allying with Shayna to eliminate her and Natalya before Zoey Stark came out for 13. Xia Li came out at 14, dumbly letting go of the staff she carried after the ref stupidly tried to prevent her from bringing it into a no DQ battle royal. Candice eliminated by Iyo's blindside before Becky came out at 15, using similar gear to the one she wore during her first rumble.

Becky brawled with Damage CTRL having not been eliminated but outside the ring, before being thrown into the Announcer's Table. Tegan Nox was next, followed by Asuka with a huge pop, a huge pop erupted for 17, that's not Asuka: that's KANA! Sadly though she eliminated Tegan, now de-Droudropped Piper Niven made a return at 18, Tamina at 19 to stare her down, Becky came back to rage at Damage CTRL before Chelsea returned at 20 (not a surprise, Cole)...and eliminated by Rhea, Becky eliminates Dakota and Iyo, but Bayley eliminated Becky, then Liv eliminated Bayley meaning Damage CTRL contintued to brawl with Becky to backstage. Zelina came in Street Fighter Gear, announcing that she'll be a commentator in the new game, she had a little street fighter moment fighting Xia Li on the apron, kicking Li out, Raquel Rodriguez at 22, Mia Yim at 23 still trying to make Michin a thing, Lacey at 24, McCool at 25 from the crowd landing the Faithbreaker (Styles Clash) and eliminating Tamina, Indi Hartwell at 26 reminding me that Dexter Lumis didn't even show up tonight, Sonya Deville at 27 eliminating Zoey Stark, Lacey used the Cobra Clutch to eliminate Zelina, Shotzi at 28, Sonya eliminates Indi to nothing, Nikki Cross charges into the ring at 29.

A botch for 30 seemed almost poetic since it was Nia Jax's return, her music hit 7 seconds early and barely got a pop. Everyone ganged up on her, Rhea couldn't do the powerslam but hit a Riptide before everyone eliminated her. Raquel eliminated Lacey, KANA on the apron eliminated Sonya, Ripley eliminated McCool, Mia eliminated Shotzi, Piper eliminated Mia, Raquel booted Piper out but was eliminated by Rhea, Liv eliminated Nikki for the final 3. It's worth noting that Liv and Rhea broke their record for Sasha Banks erasure, but all 3 ended up on the apron, Rhea dodged the mist which Liv was hit by, and used a 619 to sweep KANA off, a blinded Liv left Rhea dangling with a Codebreaker but Rhea won with a headscissors.

I think that was better than the men's, another unsurprising winner but the final 3 made it that it wasn't a foregone conclusion, KANA and Liv could've easily won it too, unlike Cody we built to Rhea earning the spot. Still, Nia at 30 was meh and we did shorthand the likes of Tegan and Roxanne plus we buried Chelsea Green's third debut for the company, while also not really developing more on Becky vs Damage CTRL, since KANA didn't really affect the 3v1 situation, but the match felt more tight-knit. We redebuted Piper Niven properly and the right person won.

Undisputed WWE Championship Roman Reigns (c) [w/ Sami Zayn & Paul Heyman] def. Kevin Owens (Pinfall via Spear) We return to yesteryear with two men once again facing each other, only this time there's not a botch with the handcuffs we never really followed up on. With nearly 30 minutes left on the clock when the bell rang and chants of 'Sami Uso' rang in the arena there was the air that things will get down to business.

Kevin Dunn was at it with the wild camera cuts like he's jimmying a combination lock, Cole also making sure to use a quiet voice on calling Reigns' uranage a Rock Bottom. Owens controlled much of the early stages of the match though, including two Frog Splashes one to the floor and one in the ring but only a 2 count, he did kick out of a Superman Punch too, there was an unfortunate botch where he slipped attempting a pop-up Moonsault (he lost his footing on the twist) but they repeated the spot for Reigns to dodge again and Spear him for 2.

After pushing KO away from a Stunner attempt, we had our deflating ref bump so Owens could get the visual pin via Pop-up Powerbomb, Reigns then low blows Owens and tells Zayn to get a chair, Sami's hesitation nearly cost Reigns as he ran into a Stunner for 2, Reigns gets his own 2 by hitting the Superman Punch and the Spear in succession, Owens and Zayn then talk outside, Zayn imploring Owens to stay down as Reigns then spears him through the barricade, then a pretty gnarly steel steps spot twice. Hesitation again from Zayn as he raised his 1, but Owens' last attempt to fight back led to a Spear for 3.

The Bloodline appear post-match, Roman stops Jey from putting the lei on him as the Usos hit a 1-D on Owens and set him up for a Pillmanizing hip attack from Sikoa. Out come handcuffs to set up defenseless Superkicks, as Sami squirms at the abuse. As Reigns prepared a chair shot, Sami gets in the way, begging Reigns to stop and it's beneath him, so Reigns gives Zayn the chair reminding him that they're family. Further hesitation though prompts Reigns to get in Sami's face, so Sami winds up, and hits Reigns in the back instead. Jimmy superkicks Sami as he apologizes to Jey, Jimmy and Sikoa then beat Sami down but Jey refuses, so Reigns rains chair blows over Sami and leave.

It's hard one to call because like the women's title match the result felt like a foregone conclusion, but the main drama revolved around another character. Unlike the women's match though, Sami was in more direct involvement to the match and Owens put up more of a fight. Honestly I feel that the post-match segment went a bit too long, but it was perhaps the best thing on the show, Sami turning on Roman was well executed, even though they followed it up with a beatdown on him. I do worry though, because this feels more like Sami will fight Roman at Elimination Chamber, lose the match due to Jey interference and then him and Owens will win the tag titles, which I maintain is still a downgrade compared to giving Sami a chance at the main event of Wrestlemania, you heard the pop, it was louder than what Cody got, but I do fear that WWE will once again opt for the salesman rather than the storyteller.

Conclusion Overall it was an alright Rumble, the Pitch Black and Women's title match were low spots and the respective rumbles could've been executed better with making it seem like the most predictable option may not in fact win.

But it was fine, the predictable winners aren't bad shouts and we developed on the key storylines, we'll see how it builds to wrestlemania

Congrats again to Rhea Ripley and Cody Rhodes Rey Mysterio.

[projazznet]

Cannonball Adderley – Phenix

Phenix is an album by jazz saxophonist Cannonball Adderley recorded in 1975 at the Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California, featuring performances by Adderley’s Quintet with Nat Adderley, Michael Wolff, Walter Booker and Roy McCurdy with guest percussionist Airto Moreira and sessions featuring past Quintet members George Duke, Sam Jones, and Louis Hayes.

[houseofbrat]

Remember ten days ago when Trump was almost assassinated?

What will the political landscape look like ten days from now?

Things are moving and moving fast.

Walter & Matt do the best breakdown of the last 24 or perhaps last 96 hours.

But as Matt wrote in his substack post today, "Who's Running the Country?"

WHO’S IN CHARGE? After Biden’s cryptic letter came out yesterday, a slew of elected Democrats, including rumored potential candidates like Gretchen Whitmer, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Pennsylvania’s Josh Shapiro, California’s Gavin Newsom, and both Bill and Hillary Clinton, all swiftly endorsed Harris. Harris instantly had her own campaign site, suggesting significant lead time and planning. Even JoeBiden.com immediately became a mirror to the Harris site, while Biden’s Twitter face page was refashioned to feature a Harris 2024 banner. For all the world, it looked as if the party had unanimously decided to throw its weight behind Kamala, and well before the weekend, too. However, Barack Obama did not endorse Harris, nor did Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, or Cory Booker. We’re being told in numerous press accounts by more “people familiar with the matter” that this is all a mere formality, and the party leaders are “firmly” and “without reservation” behind Kamala Harris. But are they? Some sources aren’t sure.

Although the top candidates seem to be publicly coalescing around Harris, I heard late last night this may be a temporary stance, held until the Democrats are sure Joe Biden’s $239 million war chest will transfer to Kamala’s hands without issue. The Republicans are preparing a legal challenge if Democrats attempt to pass on Biden’s cash, arguing the pair needed to be officially nominated before such a handoff could legally take place. “Biden can’t transfer his money to Harris because it was raised under his own name, and there is no legal mechanism,” said GOP lawyer Charlie Spies. Eugene Munin, a former General Counsel for the Chicago Transit Authority who’s worked on election law issues, said the status of the Biden funds represents a bit of a “gray area” legally. “I don’t think it’s definitive at all that she can just declare that she’s now a candidate for president and start spending that money as a candidate for president,” Munin says.

At least one Democratic consultant and several Republicans believe the fate of Harris is tied to two factors: how well the public responds to her in the next week or so, and whether or not the funds issue can be resolved quickly enough to allow her to begin aggressively advertising her candidacy. Despite the quick endorsements there have been signs of unease. Just this past Friday afternoon, Harris held a conference call for top donors to what was then still the Biden-Harris campaign. She showed up a half-hour late and said little except that they were going to win. “Everyone was pissed after the call,” one donor told the Washington Post, recalling the disastrous end of Harris’ 2020 run, also marked by internal frustrations about the future Vice President’s behavior (“I have never seen an organization treat its staff so poorly,” one Harris official wrote in a letter published by the New York Times). Rumors that have persisted since Biden’s own Hindenburg debate performance that top-level Democrats are less than thrilled with the prospect of a Harris run. The Times ran a long house editorial yesterday rejecting the idea of anointing Harris, hinting at electability issues and calling for a candidate to emerge from “process of public scrutiny” instead. Senior Democrats will watch to see how Kamala holds up under a few weeks of Internet fragging — millions are about to become introduced to the phrase “what can be, unburdened by what has been” — and then decide. How that decision is made, however, will tell us a lot about the question that matters more than anything right now: who’s America’s president right now? Obama? The Clintons? Politico’s “Why Biden Dropped Out”account claimed congressional leaders (“Chuck, Hakeem, Pelosi”) left the horse head in the president’s bed, while multiple Republican sources also pointed to Pelosi and Obama’s non-endorsements, reflecting a belief on the Trump side that the key to gauging Democratic strategy going forward will involve watching those two politicians. The only person we know for sure isn’t currently running things is Joe Biden.

But is Kamala about to get shanked in a week or two?

This is what the folks in my inbox don't seem to get.

As i noted earlier today, plenty of people behind closed doors don't think Kamala can win.

And it was less than a month ago that the Biden-Trump debate happened.

Things are moving fast folks.

Hold on to your seatbelts!

[atonalginger]

Through Plasma and Flames, update 4

the 4th chapter, Back into the Fire, is now live on ao3 and you can find it by clicking here!

You can start from the beginning by clicking here.

A preview for the new chapter is below as always and thanks for reading:)

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“We do what we can,” Dawn said while she studied Preston’s face, “first we find that patrol with the Hellfire armor, then we clear the yard. Slow and steady we should manage fine. Des, you and me can keep eyes on the rooftop while Emmett, Walter, Booker, and Rips deal with the ground forces. Once it’s quiet outside we reassess and either retreat and wait or push inside.”  

He nodded, “even if we don’t push inside, culling their numbers will weaken their position.”  

“Fuck that, we need to cut out their heart,” Ripshank interjected, “Slag has hurt too many people for us to leave him there.”  

“Kid, we might not have the power,” Walter shot back, “no reason to get ourselves killed being reckless.”  

Ripshank looked like he might come off the cot. For a moment Preston thought he saw steam rolling off the kids ears as he leaned forward, his nose scrunched up baring the faintest hint of teeth.   

Dawn stood up and walked over to the cot and placed her gloved right hand on his shoulder, “Slag will get his, don’t you worry. It may take more time but he will get what’s coming to him.”  

“You’re too young to have a death wish that strong,” Walter wagged his finger at Ripshank, “can’t go running into everything headlong like that.”  

“That’s enough,” Dawn raised her voice, “everyone start going over your gear. We move out in fifteen.”  

There was a flurry of voices answering, ‘yes, General,’ as the squad moved to grab their guns and other essentials. Ripshank went to get up but Preston watched as Dawn kept him seated for a moment, the pair sharing whispers while she stroked the teen’s choppy flopped over mohawk. The young man eventually got up and gathered his gear while Dawn stood at the cot staring at her ruined backpack on the floor.  

Preston stepped in and placed a hand on top of her gloved hand rested on the cot, “slow and steady.”  

“That is what wins the race,” she allowed herself a small laugh.  

“You going to be okay in the power armor?” Preston asked, “I only ask because I remember you calling it a metal coffin a few weeks back and know how adverse you are to using it before then.”  

“I’m making an exception for the the death trap this time,” Dawn turned and leaned against the cot, “using it will be the difference between me making it to the Ironworks or not. I’m feeling better but I’m not arrogant enough to think I’m capable of all that yet. I’m still human after all.”  

“That’s good to hear,” Preston fixed his hat, “Rips going to be alright?”  

“I believe so,” Dawn sighed, “he’s worried about this Jake Finch. He remembered the bullshit Slag fed his family and how that all turned out. Jake was fed a lie that’s going to get him maimed if he’s lucky.”  

“Big heart in that kid,” Preston knelt down to gather Dawn’s gear for her, “he’ll be one hell of a Minutemen someday.”  

“Glad to hear you come around so fully,” she playfully knocked his hat off his head, “he will.”  

Preston chuckled as he picked up his hat, placing the hunting rifle Destiny had retrieved for Dawn on the cot before scooping up the ammo belt and pistol and standing up. He placed his hat on his head with a playful wink before adjusting his coat and dusting his knees.

[lboogie1906]

Bishop Alexander Walters (August 1, 1858 – February 2, 1917) was born into an enslaved family in Bardstown, Kentucky, the sixth of eight children. By the age of ten, he had shown such academic progress that he was awarded by the African Episcopal Zion Church a full scholarship to attend private schooling. In 1877, he received his license to preach and began his pastoral duties in Indianapolis, Indiana. In his career as a pastor, Walter served in cities across the country including Louisville, San Francisco, Portland (Oregon), Chattanooga, Knoxville, and New York. In 1892, as a minister at the Seventh District of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, he was selected as bishop.

In 1898, he began to devote his attention to the ongoing African American civil rights struggle. In partnership with T. Thomas Fortune, the editor of the New York Age, he founded the National Afro-American Council and served as its president. This organization focused primarily on challenging racially discriminatory legislation and in particular the “separate but equal” Plessy vs. Ferguson U.S. Supreme Court ruling. He challenged Booker T. Washington’s ideas of accommodation to segregation and discrimination.

In partnership with W.E.B DuBois, he was a member of the 1908 Niagara Movement from which he helped in organizing the founding conference of the NAACP. He became vice president of the NAACP in 1911. He declined an invitation by President Woodrow Wilson to be a minister (ambassador) to Liberia to prompt AMEZ Church education programs in the US.

Until his death, he continued to remain active in his leadership of AMEZ Church affairs and maintained his devoted support as a formidable civil rights advocate of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

His first wife, Katie Knox Walters, died in 1896; his second wife, Emeline Virginia Byrd Walters, died in 1902. He was survived by his third wife, Lelia Coleman Walters. The couple’s son, Hillis Walters, was an actor and composer. His most successful composition was the song “Pass Me By” (1946), with lyrics by Mercer Ellington. It was recorded by Lena Horne, Carmen McRae, and Peggy Lee. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[mogai-sunflowers]

MOGAI BHM- Day 2!

happy BHM! today i’m going to talk about the history of prominent Black organizations! throughout the history of America, Black people have banded together to confront the racism and anti-Blackness that lies at the heart of so many American organizations, by forming their own organizations! Many of these organizations have led to advancements, progress, and change, so I’m going to be giving a run down on the history and impact of a few of these key groups!

The NAAL-

[Image ID: A newspaper clipping. The clip is a black-and-white photo of a fairly large group of people, most Black and some white, all grouped together on the steps of a brick building, posing for a group photo. They are all dressed in semi-formal clothing. There are two captions of the photo, one above and one below. The top caption reads: ��Members of the Afro-American Council, in session at St. Paul.” The bottom caption reads: “Rt. Rev. Alexander Walters of New Jersey, is in the center of the front row, and Booker T. Washington stands at his right. Mrs. Ida Wells Barnett stands at President Walter’s left.” End ID.]

The first major Black civil rights organization that formed in America was the Afro-American League (the AAL), which changed its name to the National Afro-American League (the NAAL) two years later, in 1890. The AAL was formed by two men- an editor at the New York Age named Timothy Thomas Price, and Bishop Alexander Walters of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in Washington, D.C. 

The NAAL was primarily formed to address issues of Black citizenship, especially in the South (though it had branches in the North as well). Although the 14th and 15th Amendments had technically expanded the protections of citizenship to Black Americans, the reality was that those protections were rarely actually enforced. Fighting the legality of Jim Crow laws was therefore the primary goal of the NAAL, and it did see some initial success. In one case, Fortune was refused service at an NYC bar, and his case which he brought against the bar was successful. Although this success was short-lived, with the NAAL being forced to disband in 1893, its formation marked the first major Black civil rights organization in America.

The Niagara Movement and the NAACP-

[Image ID: A black-and-white photo of a fairly large group of people sitting and standing together for a group photo in front of a building and beneath a white banner which says “Welcome, NAACP- June 26, Headquarters, July 2.” End ID.]

Today, the NAACP is still considered one of, if not the most, large and influential civil rights organizations in America. It has a rich history, one that starts with another organization- the Niagara Movement.

A very well-known figure from Black history, W. E. B Du Bois was a very prominent activist who advocated strongly against ideas that Black Americans had to be pallatable to white Americans in order to be acceptable. He believed that Black Americans did not have to be toned down to acceptable parts in order to deserve respect, and that was a key spark in his founding of the Niagara Movement with co-founder William Monroe Trotter. A demonstration of this is in the “Declaration of Principles” that it drafter, which stated: “We refuse to allow the impression to remain that the Negro-American assents to inferiority, is submissive under oppression and apologetic before insults.”

After Du Bois, Trotter, and a group of Black teachers, scholars, and clergy were denied access to hotels in New York, they formed a group in Niagara in 1903, where they aimed to powerfully demand equal economic, educational, and suffrage rights for both Black men and Black women. The Niagara Movement met until 1908, when co-founder Trotter left to form his own group because he disagreed with Du Bois’s desire to include women in the Niagara Movement.

However, Trotter’s departure was not the major event that spurred the disbanding of the Niagara Movement- it was the realization that a much stronger organization was needed in response to the increased racial violence that was breaking out across the country, culminating in the violent race riots of Springfield Illinois. W. E. B Du Bois moved from the Niagara Movement to become a founding member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the NAACP.

After the Springfield race riot, a group of white liberals issues a call for racial justice which was signed by 60 people and released on the centennial anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s birth- and thus marked the formation of the NAACP. The NAACP had, and still has, a strong focus on local activism and organization. By 1919, its growth had blossomed rapidly, with 90,000 members and 300 local branches across the country. 

Very early on, the NAACP established its legal premises and prowess, through key legal victories like that of the 1910 case Guinn v. States, which successfully challenged a racist voting regulation in Oklahoma. In 1915, it also successfuly promoted great backlash against the movie Birth of a Nation, which was demeaningly racist and glorified the KKK.

A key focus of the NAACP was to fight against lynching. Although its many legal battles against lynchings were sadly unsuccessful due to suppression and filibusters from Congress and the Senate, the NAACP was able to reduce public lynchings and their influence through a report they published called "Thirty Years of Lynching in the United States, 1889-1919.”

Another key figure in the NAACP’s history is Walter. F. White, a Black man whose efficacy as leader of the NAACP was unparalleled. He conducted essential research on lynching and succeeded in blocking the nomination of a segregationist judge to the Supreme Court. In 1930, the NAACP released the Margold Report, which became the basis for the successful reversal of the separate-but-equal doctrine that had governed public facilities since Plessy v. Ferguson (1896).

Throughout the Great Depression, which severely hurt Black Americans and their communities, the NAACP fought for racial equity among labor unions and successfully influenced FDR to create thousands of jobs for Black Americans.

The NAACP continued to gain great legal victories throughout the next few decades, and were active during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s. One key function they served during this time period was providing legal representation to Black Americans who had been arrested during protests, sit ins, and notably, hundreds of freedom riders (which will be discussed in another post this month). Under the leadership of Roy Wilkins, the NAACP successfully organized the famed March on Washington of 1963 as well as the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

The NAACP continued, as it does to this day, to be at the forefront of anti-racist activism in America, and is to this day a thriving, influential civil rights organization. 

The National Urban League-

[Image ID: A black-and-white photograph of two men, one white and one Black, both in the same attire of a black suit with a white shirt, sitting together at a table cluttered with microphones for a press conference. They are with the National Urban League, whose symbol, and equal sign inside a white circle, is on a flag-like banner behind the two men beneath the words “Urban League”. End ID.]

In 1910, a group known as the National Urban League (the NUL) was formed as a merger of three smaller civil rights groups to become one of the most notable civil rights organizations in the country. Its first leader was a man by the name of George E. Haynes, who established the guiding principles of the NUL.

Headquartered in New York City, the NUL formed as a way to help Black Americans who had migrated north, to adjust to life in the North and to advocate for themselves in their lives, especially in terms of economic and social development. The NUL offered programs to help prepare Black youth for all levels of school, promoted equitable housing for Black communities, train social workers how to help Black communities, and many other forms of helping Black Americans in northern cities find employment.

Under the leadership of Lester B. Granger, the NUL began to start tackling pressing civil rights issues like segregation. In fact, Granger played a pivotal role in influencing President Harry Truman’s decision to desegregate America’s Armed Forces in 1948, and during the 1960s it became one of five key civil rights organizations that drove the Civil Rights Movement.

To this day, the NUL remains a key organization for Black Americans- it offers job training, preparation for school and life beyond it, opportunities for housing, as well as other social initiatives.

The Brotherhood Of Sleeping Car Porters-

[Image ID: A black-and-white photograph of five Black men standing next to each other in front of a black railroad car on some train tracks. They are all dressed in the same uniform- a black bucket hat, black leather shoes, black pants, and white collared shirts underneath black button up jackets. End ID.]

A common struggle for many Black Americans in the workplace is being taken advantage of and mistreated by their employers. Therefore, labor unions have been and still are an integral part of racial justice in the workforce.

The first Black labor union to be recognized and chartered under the American Federation of Labor was formed in 1925 by renowned Black socialist and activist A. Philip Randolph as a labor union for Black workers at the Pullman Company, and railcar company. The union fought for an end to mistreatment of the Company’s Black workers, as well as for safer working conditions. 

Although the union was met with strict backlash by the Pullman Company’s corporate officials, it was wildly successful, amassing 18,000 members across both America and Canada and producing activists who would go on to lead such important events as the Montgomery Bus Boycott, among others.

Congress Of Racial Equality-

[Image ID: A black-and-white photograph of five men, some white and some Black, all dressed in suits, carrying large signs in front of a store building. The first two signs say “Segregation is morally wrong!”. The third sign says “We support southern sit ins!”. The last two signs say “We walk for human dignity!” All the signs say “CORE” in smaller text at the bottom. End ID.]

One of the most important and impactful organizations of the Civil Rights Era was the Congress of Racial Equality, or CORE. It was formed by a group of Black and white students in Chicago in 1942. CORE’s initial focus was on nonviolent action, which later changed after MLK Jr’s assassination.

CORE was behind some of the most influential parts of the Civil Rights Movement- sit ins, marches, bus boycotts, and the famed Freedom Rides. CORE activists worked with Martin Luther King Jr. on the Montgomery Bus Boycott, perhaps one of the most influential parts of the Civil Rights Movement. 

Another key goal of CORE was to integrate businesses and restaurants, and CORE members successfully did so in Chicago. They also focused on voting rights and worked with other organizations like the Southern Christian Leadership Conference to incentivize, empower, and protect Black voters.

When Martin Luther King Jr. was murdered, power struggles occurred within CORE as many members became rightfully disillusioned with principles on nonviolence. From this point on, CORE became dedicated to the Black Power movement and advocated for Black individualism and self-determination.

Southern Christian Leadership Conference-

[Image ID: A black-and-white image of Martin Luther King Jr. surrounded by a black-outlined white ring filled with curved black text that reads “Southern Christian Leadership Conference.” End ID.]

The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, or the SCLC, grew out of a need to coordinate and connect southern efforts towards civil rights. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., an officer of the SCLC, became a founding member after his success with the Montgomery Bus Boycott. The SCLC formed to coordinate efforts across the South among different organizations.

The SCLC worked with other groups like the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee to promote forms of nonviolent protests. Although many civil rights organizations eventually evolved into Black Power movements and Black separatism, the SCLC and others initially operated through a lens of nonviolence.

Sources-

https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/national-afro-american-league-1887-1893/

https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/niagara-movement-1905-1909/

https://naacp.org/about/our-history 

https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/haynes-george-edmund-1880-1960/

https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/national-urban-league-1910/ 

https://nul.org/mission-and-history 

https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/sleeping-car-porters/ 

https://aprpullmanportermuseum.org/about-museum/union-history/3/ 

https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/encyclopedia/congress-racial-equality-core#:~:text=Founded%20in%201942%20by%20an,in%20America's%20civil%20rights%20struggle. 

https://www.thecongressofracialequality.org/the-civil-rights-movement.html 

https://nationalsclc.org/about/history/ 

[hklnvgl]

I love getting to ask you about books because you've always got something interesting to talk about!

For the end-of-year book ask: 2, 3, 6, 15 & 18.

omg hiiii i love talking about books with you too! if you think about it it was books that first brought us together ✨

2. Did you reread anything? What?

i did reread volume 4 of mdzs twice before volume 5 came out because i didn't know what to do with myself while i waited. i meant to reread the letter by walter somerset maugham but never got around to it

3. What were your top five books of the year?

hmmm i usually make a list the last days of december but for now i'd say the layover by lacie waldon, the master and margarita by mikhail bulgakov, the makioka sisters by tanizaki junichiro, the mercies by kiran millwood hargrave and of course dial a for aunties by jesse q sutanto. but i also loved here lived nefertiti by mary chubb and love for lydia by h e bates.

6. Was there anything you meant to read, but never got to?

yes! tons! to live by yu hua has been sitting in my shelf for a year or so 🫣 last winter i wanted to read doctor zhivago but then i never did. and i bought it last month so i thought somewhere this month i'd fit it in but then i put a hold on war and peace in the library and it's coming next week so i guessed it'd be just too much russian lit all together so i'm waiting a bit on dr zhivago 😅

15. Did you read any books that were nominated for or won awards this year (Booker, Women’s Prize, National Book Award, Pulitzer, Hugo, etc.)? What did you think of them?

i have no idea let me check. i did read half of a yellow sun by chimamanda ngozi adichie, that won the women's prize in 2007, and absolutely loved it (though i had a hard time reading it!)

18. How many books did you buy?

omg too many! counting only physical copies because i've definitely bought lots of ebooks too: 28 i think, though a couple i might have bought in 2022? cant' remember 🙃

end of year book asks

[scenefromthesidewalk]

"THE RABBIT HOLE"

by DISTORT

"There's no such thing as too much art." —NOLA Mural Project

In 2017 New Orleans saw a new mayor sworn in and a new mural ordinance enacted. NOLA Mural Project was formed to "show what can happen when artists are allowed to just create." Combining classical training with the intense creative energy of graffiti Jersey City artist DISTORT has completed murals from Los Angeles to Istanbul. When he approached NOLA Mural Project and introduced himself this new project was born. At the end of 2018 and into 2019 DISTORT spent some time in New Orleans painting Stooges Brass Band leader Walter “Whoadie” Ramsey, early blues legend Lizzie Miles, and "the Black Liberace" R&B keyboardist James Booker on the side of New Orleans event space, The Rabbit Hole.

LOCATION: 1228 OC Haley Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70113

@Distoart/   @nolamuralproject/

[fredseibertdotcom]

Junior Cook Good Cookin’ Muse Records MR 5159

Produced by Fred Seibert

Recorded by Rudy Van Gelder

Junior Cook – tenor saxophone

Bill Hardman – trumpet, flugelhorn

Slide Hampton – trombone, arranger

Mario Rivera – baritone saxophone

Albert Dailey – piano

Walter Booker – bass

Leroy Williams – drums

Click here for my entire discography

[kwebtv]

Richard Arnold Roundtree (July 9, 1942 – October 24, 2023) Film and television actor and model, who was best known for his portrayal of private detective John Shaft in the 1971 film Shaft as well the eponymous television series (1973–1974). He was also known for his features in several TV series, including Roots, Generations, and Desperate Housewives.

In the 1986-1987 season he starred in the short lived series Outlaws.

During the 1990's Roundtree kept featuring in TV series: on September 19, 1991, he appeared in the episode "Ashes to Ashes", from the second season of Beverly Hills, 90210. Around 1997 he played a leading role as Phil Thomas in the Fox ensemble drama, 413 Hope St; in 1999, he portrayed Booker T. Washington in the 1999 television movie Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years.

In 2004, Roundtree guest-starred in several episodes of the first season of Desperate Housewives as an amoral private detective.

Starting from the same year, Roundtree appeared in the television series The Closer as retired colonel D. B. Walter; in 2006, he starred in the science fiction drama series Heroes as Charles Deveaux, the terminally ill father of main character Simone Deveaux (Tawny Cypress). He then appeared as Eddie Sutton's father-in-law in several episodes of family drama series Lincoln Heights. In 2008 he also appeared in the TV series Knight Rider as the father of FBI agent Carrie Ravai (Sydney Tamiia Poitier). Starting from 2013, he co-starred as the father of lead character Mary Jane Paul (Gabrielle Union) in the drama series Being Mary Jane, aired on BET.

In 2019 Roundtree had a recurring role on Family Reunion. (Wikipedia)

IMDb Listing

[projazznet]

Abbey Lincoln – Straight Ahead

Straight Ahead is an album by American jazz vocalist Abbey Lincoln featuring performances recorded in 1961 for the Candid label.

The editors of AllMusic awarded the album 5 stars, and reviewer Scott Yanow stated that “this is one of Abbey Lincoln’s greatest recordings”.

Abbey Lincoln — vocals Booker Little — trumpet Julian Priester — trombone Eric Dolphy — alto saxophone, bass clarinet, flute, piccolo Walter Benton — tenor saxophone Coleman Hawkins — tenor saxophone Mal Waldron — piano Art Davis — bass Max Roach — drums Roger Sanders, Robert Whitley — congas

[theoriginalmarke]

SATURDAY'S SOULFUL STRUT

Anyone else remember the classic instrumental Soulful Strut by Young-Holt Unlimited? Just me? Alrighty then.

Anyone else remember when instrumental songs could become hits? The Miami Vice Theme by Jan Hammer was probably the last to hit number one.

Anyone else remember Green Onion by Booker T and the MGs? Frankenstein by Edgar Winter? Wipe Out by The Safaris? Love's Theme by Love Unlimited Orchestra? Tequila by the Champs?

Can anyone else listen to Tequila without picturing Pee-wee Herman dancing on a bar?

Van Halen's Eruption was a classic. Baby Elephant Walk by Henry Mancini always brings a smile to my face. Herb Alpert and The Tijuana had a good one with A Taste of Honey.

Anyone else remember the album cover to Whipped Cream and Other Delights? Rawr.

Duane Eddy had some great ones like Rebel Rouser and Peter Gunn. Link Wray's Rumble is awesome. It's one of my favorites. I could pontificate forever on how underappreciated rockabilly music is. I'll save that for another blog, though.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to listen to Percy Faith's Theme From A Summer Place, followed by Walter Murphy's A Fifth of Beethoven, and then Meco's Star Wars Theme.

I love you, baby. Maybe we can recreate the Herb Alpert album cover sometime. Rawr!

Y'all have a great weekend, and enjoy the music.

[meret118]

HOMEGOING BY YAA GYASI (PEN/HEMINGWAY AWARD, AMERICAN BOOK AWARD, 2017)

This was Gyasi’s debut in historical fiction and immediately garnered both awards for the title and devoted readers for the author. The story follows Maame, an Asante woman, and her descendants across generations. This sweeping book captures the futures of multiple lines of Maame’s family as the plot weaves from Ghana to America.

HAMNET BY MAGGIE O’FARRELL (NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD FOR FICTION, WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR FICTION, 2020)

This fictionalized account of the life of Hamnet, the son of Shakespeare who died in childhood, was everywhere the year it came out. Combining Farrell’s genius with prose and emotionally resonant storytelling, this story weaves in themes of family, love, plagues, and culture throughout.

FINGERSMITH BY SARAH WATERS (BRITISH BOOK AWARDS AUTHOR OF THE YEAR, 2003)

This gothic historical novel explores themes of feminism and lesbianism in the Victorian era, and it incorporates historical texts. Sue Trinder has been raised as an orphan and is sent by her benefactor, Mrs. Sucksby, to help Gentleman, a well-known conman, seduce Maud, a wealthy heiress. As the story progresses, we begin to hear Maud’s side of the story as well as see how the relationships between Sue, Maud, and Gentleman shift.

[byneddiedingo]

Ralph Fiennes and Kristin Scott Thomas in The English Patient (Anthony Minghella, 1996)

Cast: Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Willem Dafoe, Kristin Scott Thomas, Naveen Andrews, Colin Firth, Julian Wadham, Jürgen Prochnow, Kevin Whately, Clive Merrison, NIno Castelnuovo. Screenplay: Anthony Minghella, based on a novel by Michael Ondaatje. Cinematography: John Seale. Production design: Stuart Craig. Film editing: Walter Murch. Music: Gabriel Yared. 

The "prestige motion picture" is a familiar genre: It's typically a movie derived from a distinguished literary source or a biopic about a distinguished historic figure, with a cast full of major actors, but designed not so much to advance the art of film as to attract critical raves and awards -- particularly Oscars. There are plenty of examples among the best-picture Oscar winners: A Man for All Seasons (Fred Zinnemann, 1966), Chariots of Fire (Hugh Hudson, 1981), Gandhi (Richard Attenborough, 1982), Amadeus (Milos Forman, 1984), Out of Africa (Sydney Pollack, 1985), and The Last Emperor (Bernardo Bertolucci, 1987). (The 1980s seemed to be particularly dominated by prestige-seekers.) The trouble is that once the initial attraction of these films has faded, few people seem to remember them fondly or want to watch them again. I'd rather watch The Battle of Algiers (Gillo Pontecorvo, 1966) today than sit through A Man for All Seasons, and I would say the same for Atlantic City (Louis Malle, 1981), Blade Runner (Ridley Scott, 1982), Starman (John Carpenter, 1984), Prizzi's Honor (John Huston, 1985), and Moonstruck (Norman Jewison, 1987) when put in competition with the prestige best-picture winners of their respective years. So I watched The English Patient last night to test my theory that prestige movies don't hold up over time. It fits the category precisely: It's based on a Booker Prize-winning novel by Michael Ondaatje; it has a distinguished cast, three of whom were nominated for acting Oscars, including Juliette Binoche, who won; it earned raves from The New Yorker, the New York Times, and Roger Ebert; it raked in 12 Oscar nominations and won nine of them -- picture, supporting actress, director Anthony Minghella, cinematographer John Seale, art direction, costumes, sound, film editor Walter Murch (who also shared in the Oscar for sound), and composer Gabriel Yared. And sure enough, there are films from 1996 that I'd rather watch again than The English Patient, including  Fargo (Joel Coen and Ethan Coen), Lone Star (John Sayles), and Trainspotting (Danny Boyle). But I also have to say that of all the "prestige" best picture winners, The English Patient makes the best case for the genre. It's a good movie, with a mostly well-crafted screenplay by Minghella from a book many thought unfilmable, though it still tries to carry over too much from the novel, such as the character of David Caravaggio (Willem Dafoe), whose function in the film, to provoke Almásy (Ralph Fiennes) into uncovering his story, could have been served equally well by Hana (Binoche). But the performances still seem fresh and committed. Binoche, though designated a supporting actress, carries the film by turning Hana into a kind of central consciousness. I was surprised at how much heat is generated by Fiennes and Kristin Scott Thomas as Katharine, considering that they are both usually rather icy performers. There are some beautifully staged scenes, like the one in which Kip (Naveen Andrews) "flies" Hana so she can view the frescoes high in a church. And Murch's sound editing gives the film a marvelous sonic texture, starting with the mysterious clinking sounds at the film's beginning, which are then revealed to be the bottles carried by an Arab vendor of potions. Murch's ear and Seale's eye make the film an enduring audiovisual treat.

[lboogie1906]

The American Negro Academy was the first organization in the US to support African-American academic scholarship. It operated from 1897 to 1928 and encouraged classical academic studies and liberal arts. It was formed to provide support to classic scholarship, in contrast to Booker T. Washington's approach to education at Washington's Tuskegee University where vocational and industrial training for southern African Americans was emphasized. Washington thought these areas of study were more practical for the lives most would live in the segregated South, where most African Americans lived in rural areas. The founders of the ANA were primarily authors, scholars, and artists. They included Alexander Crummell, an Episcopal priest and Republican from NYC; John Wesley Cromwell DC; Paul Laurence Dunbar, poet and writer in DC; Walter B. Hayson, and Kelly Miller. Crummell served as the first president. Their first meeting on March 5, 1897, included eighteen members: Blanche K. Bruce, Levi J. Coppin, William H. Crogman, John Wesley Cromwell, Dr. Alexander Crummell, W.E.B DuBois, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, William H. Ferris, Francis J. Grimké Ph.D., Benjamin F. Lee, Kelly Miller, William S. Scarborough, John H. Smythe, Theophilus G. Steward, T. McCants Stewart, Benjamin Tucker Tanner, Robert Heberton Terrell, Richard R. Wright #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence https://www.instagram.com/p/CpaFkFOrFVk/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=