The American Spy

Mary Elizabeth Bowser



Mary Elizabeth Bowser was a freed slave woman who eventually became a spy working for Union Army during the Civil War.



Some Interesting Facts
* It isn't known when Bowser was born or when she died.

* Mary Elizabeth Bowser was inducted into the U.S. Army Military Intelligence Corps Hall of Fame in 1995 by the U.S. government.

* It is believed that Bowser kept a diary, but it is unclear whether or not it was destroyed.

* In 1865 she tried to burn down the Confederate Capitol. She was unsuccessful.

* She worked with Elizabeth Van Lew, her former owner's daughter.

* Her disappearance is still unexplained.

Some Quotes on Mary Elizabeth Bowser
- "...as she was working right in the Davis home and had a photographic mind. Everything she saw on the Rebel president's desk, she could repeat word for word. Unlike most colored, she could read and write. She made a point of always coming out to my wagon when I made deliveries at the Davis' home to drop information."

- "Ms. Bowser certainly succeeded in a highly dangerous mission to the great benefit of the Union effort. She was one of the highest placed and most productive espionage agents of the Civil War. ... [Her information] greatly enhanced the Union's conduct of the war. ... Jefferson Davis never discovered the leak in his household staff, although he knew the Union somehow kept discovering Confederate plans."

- "Slave power crushes freedom of speech and of opinion. Slave power degrades labor. Slave power is arrogant, is jealous and intrusive, is cruel, is despotic, not only over the slave but over the community, the state." (Elizabeth Van Lew quote on Slavery)

Rosa Parks

I want to know what the hell is wrong with this nation that we degrade and drag people through the mud? Where we have no respect for others and devour people's dirty laundry.

I want to know what is wrong with us that we enjoy pulling people down and destroying heroes for the younger generations. Where we worship music that idolizes violence and sex with random girls and boys. We are a sick, twisted nation, with no hope for the future generations because we have not learned anything.

What kind of time have we come to when young people make vile comments against people like Rosa Parks on YouTube and no one cares? How is that acceptable behavior?! How is that right?

Everyone is human, we all have our flaws and our imperfections, that is what makes us human. Since when do we have the right to destroy someone for those same flaws we ourselves have?

When is it right to say that heroes are not heroes, but are actually the villains? What is there left to believe in after we have destroyed everything good? What is there left to hope for when the people to follow us; the people who will be our doctors, our lawyers, our presidents and pastors; have learned nothing about the struggles of humanity and are too ignorant to learn from our mistakes?

What dreams are left to a country such as ours, where children are parents and those children raise themselves? What kind of life is it where people spew infectious venom and everyone around them spews their own? What kind of people are we that even Rosa Parks cannot escape without being called a "cocksucker" and "a bitch" for not giving her seat up to a white man?

We have no respect, no gratitude, no honor for those before us and without that we are doomed to a generation of ignorant racists who have learned nothing from the mistakes of the previous generation and worship only themselves and destruction.

The Duke of "American Music"

Duke Ellington



Duke Ellington was a Jazz composer and band leader during the early to mid 1900's.



Some Interesting Facts
* Ellington is considered one of the Originators of Big-Band Jazz.

* Was honored by the Pulitizer Prize Board posthumously.

* He received 13 Grammy Awards for his music.

* Ellington toured Europe in 1933 and 1939.

* Composed the musical suite Black, Brown and Beige (1943), which portrayed African-American history and was the first in a series he composed.

* He composed the motion picture scores for Anatomy of a Murder and Asphalt Jungle, as well as composing music for ballets and the theatre.

Some Quotes from Duke Ellington
- "You've got to find a way of saying it without saying it."

- "My men and my race are the inspiration of my work. I try to catch the character and mood and feeling of my people."

- "A man is a god in ruins."

- "By and large, jazz has always been like the kind of a man you wouldn't want your daughter to associate with."

- "Gray skies are just clouds passing over."

- "Love is supreme and unconditional; like is nice but limited."

"Satin Doll" by Duke Ellington

A Fabulous Evening

AKA: L.E.D.'s Birthday Party

First there was Dinner

We had originally planned to go to O'Charley's for dinner. When Kid, L.E.D. and myself arrived the front of the store was packed and we were told it would be about an hour before we would be able to get a table. So, we stood outside (freezing our asses off) and wondered what we should do.

We looked across the highway and saw Domo Steak and Sushi. We call and they say we can have a table right away (we were expecting a few others). We go over there and meet the rest of our party, only to discover that they cook everything with rice, which I am severely allergic to (yes, it majorly sucks).

So we go back over to O'Charley's. Lira (one of our friends) makes it there just in time to get our table that we were waiting for. We all get to the business of eating and enjoying one another's company. We see Adam (our favorite waiter), he teases L.E.D. about her birthday and we all laugh. She waves her butter knife at him and he playful acts scared. He is fun and I love going to O'Charley's not just for the food or the great alcohol, but for seeing Adam and him being funny as hell.

It was wonderful.

Then there was the Bar

After dinner we decided to go out to a bar downtown. It is the only place that can classify as a dance club in our town. Which is depressing considering how it is a college town.

At the club we meet up with two of Lira's friends, Robin and Sam. We all chit-chat a little, mostly just waiting for the upstairs to open for dancing as we are all itching to listen to some music and just let loose. Robin and Sam take a blow-job (a mixed alcoholic beverage with whipped cream on top) off of Lira's lap and then she takes one off of theirs. Which, was definitely amusing, to say the least.

L.E.D. got a free t-shirt saying "Blow Me, Its My Birthday". Kid bought her a Vanilla Vodka and Coke and Lira bought her a Flaming Dr. Pepper. She liked the Vanilla Vodka and Coke, but apparently the Flaming Dr. Pepper had beer in it, which she didn't like. And the cupcake on her shirt looked more like a muffin, but it was pink and looked fabulous on her.

Also there was the outrageously gay guy. S.S. (one of our friends from High School who had come with us) and I were coming out of the bathroom when we saw this guy walk by in a, dangerously low, bright green, v-neck shirt (that showed off some beautifully sculpted pectoral muscles) with a cut out piece in the back to show off his shoulders. As he walked by he said, in an outrageous valley girl/gay guy accent,

"Hey! What are we doing tonight?!"

I looked at S.S. and she looked at me, both of us stunned into silence for a moment. Finally, after a second or two, I said,

"I'm not sure what just happened there, but we are going to go with it."

After that Lira and I made jokes about making out, including me asking her fiance if he would care if I just started kissing her. He smiled and said he wouldn't care at all, to which Lira said she loved us both even more.

Finally (after waiting for what seemed like years) we head upstairs to the dance section of the bar. We stand around and chat for just a little bit. We are dancing some, but the music isn't ready yet. The D.J. is still setting up his playlist and we are just waiting for him to let it rip.

The Music FINALLY Begins

The beat is reverberating through my chest, my head, my body is moving with it. We are one heartbeat, one body moving in and out of sync. The music is like an explosion building heat at my core and expanding outward, faster and faster. The lights are flashing and we are dancing. It was magnificent, glorious and wonderfully freeing. And, believe it or not, Sarai (as in ME) got low on the dance floor!

We danced to Ke$ha, Sir Mix-A-Lot, Katy Perry, Lynrd Skynrd and Usher. I felt like a part of a movie. I have never experienced something so wonderful!

One of the greatest moments was when two guys (brothers) that I used to go to High School with showed up. They somehow cleared a portion of the floor and they began break dancing! I kid you not, they were break dancing on the floor. We all stood there screaming our consent and watching mesmerized by the sight of them. Then this beautiful girl began dancing in the middle of them so that it looked like she was being fought over by the brothers and it was as if they had purposefully planned this little drama for us. Then everyone crashed back into each other, dancing and moving with the music as it thrummed through all of our bodies.

The greatest break dancing I've seen (the only break dancing I've seen in person) and James (the oldest brother) actually lost his shoes while dancing and didn't miss a beat. They flew off and he didn't even lose his balance!

The Miscellaneous details

It got way too hot and way too crowded after a little bit so we moved outside onto a porch built onto the club. We all sat in a shaded area and shouted above the music pounded out of the club. Sam, one of Lira's friends, complained about her feet hurting, because she was dancing in heels (which I was also doing!). I offered to rub her feet. She said yes and imagine her surprise when I actually pulled her feet into my lap and began rubbing them.

She was really cute too, so I was perfectly happy, and very flattered, when every few moments she moaned how she was in heaven because of my foot rubbing skills. She even told me that if I get a license in Massage Therapy she will pay me $50/half hour a week to rub her feet.

I also rubbed Robin's shoulders. She was also quite pleased with my skills. Then it was 1:30am and Kid, L.E.D., S.S. and I were leaving and headed back home.

Home Again

Once home I had to tell Donnie all about my adventures and he told me about his day. We laid down for bed and I fell asleep sometime after 3:00am. I didn't even move! I woke up at 9:18am in the same position I had gone to sleep in (which is UBER rare for me, since I roll a lot). And I hadn't woken up in-between at all. In fact, it was the best sleep I've had in a long time.

So, that was the crazy, beautiful, eventful, fabulous evening we had celebrating L.E.D.'s birthday.

Freedom isn't Free

Rosa Parks



Rosa Parks has often been credited as being the spark that lit the fire of the Civil Rights Movement. With one simple act of defiance, the unknown seamstress in Montgomery, Alabama, became the Statue of Liberty for an entire race.



Some Interesting Facts
* Rosa Parks appeared in an episode of "Touched By An Angel" in 1999. It was her last television appearance.

* She received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, presented by President Clinton in 1996.

* In 1999 a lawsuit was filed (on Rosa Parks' behalf) against the group OutKast for using her name without permission in their song "Rosa Parks".

* In 1994 Parks was assaulted in her home by a young man by the name of Joseph Skipper, who robbed her and struck her in the face.

* She received the Congressional Gold Medal, which was pushed through by Julia Carson, the senator for Indiana.

* Parks is most famous for refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus to a white man. She was removed from the bus and arrested, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Some Quotes from Rosa Parks
- "At the time I was arrested I had no idea it would turn into this. It was just a day like any other day. The only thing that made it significant was that the masses of the people joined in."

- "Each person must live their life as a model for others."

- "Memories of our lives, of our works and our deeds will continue in others."

- "I would like to be remembered as a person who wanted to be free... so other people would be also free."

- "I'm tired of being treated like a second-class citizen."

- "Racism is still with us. But it is up to us to prepare our children for what they have to meet, and, hopefully, we shall overcome."

A Video on Rosa Parks

The Justice

Thurgood Marshall



Thurgood Marshall was a lawyer and a civil rights activist who became famous for being a member of the Supreme Court.



Some Interesting Facts
* He was the Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

* He attended Howard University Law School. He graduated first in his class in 1933 at the age of 25.

* He was named chief of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund in 1940.

* During the 40's and 50's, Marshall won 29 of 32 cases tried before the Supreme Court.

* President JFK nominated Marshall to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in 1961.

Some Quotes from Thurgood Marshall
- "I have a lifetime appointment and I intend to serve it. I expect to die at 110, shot by a jealous husband."

- "In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute."

- "Our whole constitutional heritage rebels at the thought of giving government the power to control men's minds."

- "Sometimes history takes things into its own hands."

- "What is the quality of your intent?"

- "A child born to a Black mother in a state like Mississippi... has exactly the same rights as a white baby born to the wealthiest person in the United States. It's not true, but I challenge anyone to say it is not a goal worth working for."

A Video about Thurgood Marshall's most famous case

Beauty is in the Eye of the Entrepreneur

Madam C.J. Walker



Also known as Sarah Breedlove, Madam C.J. Walker was an African-American entrepreneur who created various beauty products and hair products.



Some Interesting Facts
* Walker has been inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame, the National Cosmetology Hall of Fame, The National Women's Hall of Fame and National Direct Sales Hall of Fame.

* Invented a method for straightening "kinky" hair in 1905.

* She is listed in the Guinness World Book of Records as being the first woman to become a millionaire by her own work.

* In 1910 Walker moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, where she built a factory and established her headquarters.

* Made the largest contribution to saving Frederick Douglass' house in Washington D.C.

* She died on May 25th, 1919 from complications of Hypertension.

Some Quotes from Madam C.J. Walker
- "I am a woman who came from the cotton fields of the South. From there I was promoted to the washtub. From there I was promoted to the cook kitchen. And from there I promoted myself into the business of manufacturing hair goods and preparations….I have built my own factory on my own ground."

- "I got myself a start by giving myself a start."

- "I had to make my own living and my own opportunity. But I made it! Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them."

- "I am not satisfied in making money for myself. I endeavour to provide employment for hundreds of the women of my race."

- "There is no royal flower-strewn path to success. And if there is, I have not found it for if I have accomplished anything in life it is because I have been willing to work hard."

- "Perseverance is my motto."

Educational Video about Madam C.J. Walker

Dear Non-Conformist,

Dear Non-Conformist living in my tiny closet of a soul,
I just want to say that we need to hang out more often, you are losing yourself somewhere amongst the name brands and size 5's. Its a crazy world that wants you to be thin, perfect and beautiful. You have to learn to be those things on your own time, not because you feel the pressure. So, feel free to leave that tiny closet of a soul and venture forth like the beautiful knight that you are, destroying the dragons of people-pleasing.
Sincerely,
Me.

For the Love of Tennis

Arthur Ashe



Arthur Ashe was a renowned tennis player during the 60's and 70's.



Some Interesting Facts
* Ashe was the first African-American player to be picked for the United States Davis Cup team.

* Was the first African-American man to win a Grand Slam Tournament.

* He retired in 1979 due to a heart attack, which required a quadruple bypass surgery.

* After his retirement Ashe wrote for Time Magazine, the Washington Post and Tennis Magazine.

* Ashe was arrested during a protest in front of the South African Embassy in Washington DC. The protest was for Anti-Apartheid in South Africa.

* He was diagnosed with HIV in 1983, after a blood transfusion.

Some Quotes from Arthur Ashe
- "Racism is not an excuse to not do the best you can."

- "Success is a journey, not a destination."

- "I believe I was destined to do more than hit tennis balls"

- "I respected the way they stood tall against the sky and insisted on being heard in matters other than Track and Field -- on matters of Civil Rights and social responsibility. I couldn't help but admire them."

- "You are never really playing an opponent. You are playing yourself, your own highest standards, and when you reach your limits, that is real joy."

- "True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost."

Arthur Ashe does the Alphabet on Sesame Street

A Heroine for Indianapolis

Julia Carson



Julia Carson was a United States Congresswoman and Indiana Representative. She was a member of the House of Representatives for Indiana's 7th Congressional District.



Some Interesting Facts
* Was not only the first Woman to represent the 7th District, but she was also the first African-American.

* She was the second African-American woman to be elected to Congress from Indiana.

* She worked for Rosa Parks to receive a Congressional Gold Medal.

* She was the first person to receive the Frank O'Bannon Award from Indiana Stonewall Democrats.

* Her grandson, André Carson, is now the Congressman for Indiana.

* She worked for the Center Township as a trustee, creating a $6million surplus from the office's $20million debt.

Some Quotes from Julia Carson (and two about her)
- "Julia Carson overcame much and accomplished much, and devoted her life to helping other people do the same," - Senator Evan Byah on Julia Carson

- "Truly, it is all in the name of greed and truly in the name of war,"

- "We have such a wide array of people, of cultures, of interests, of talent, of abilities,"

- "I love Indianapolis."

- "So, I called over to see if Rosa Parks had ever received a Congressional Gold Medal, I knew she didn't remember it. And they assured me that she had not. And I said, 'She may not have, but she's getting ready to get one'."

- "Julia Carson is all about getting things done." - Mayor Bart Peterson

Ad Campaign Video for Julia Carson

Buckaroo Banzai across the Eighth Dimension

This is something new I'm trying out. I am going to be posting a blog (every now and then) about some 80's movies I have seen and enjoyed. They are all ridiculous (mostly because of bad 80's fashion), but some of them are ridiculous in a good way. Take, for example, the following movie.

If you have never heard of the movie "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension" you don't even know what you are missing. Besides who could resist a title like that?

Here is a sample of what you are missing:
* Romance
* Aliens
* A bunch of people with the name John
* Worst Eighties styles ever
* Un-real Science
and...
* Peter Weller when he was young and fucking hot.

The Trailer


If that didn't impress you here are some quotes from the film:
- "May I pass along my congratulations for your great interdimensional breakthrough. I am sure, in the miserable annals of the Earth, you will be duly enshrined." - Lord John Whorfin (played by John Lithgow)

- "Sealed with a curse as sharp as a knife. Doomed is your soul and damned is your life." - Lord John Whorfin

- "I've been ionized, but I'm okay now." - Buckaroo Banzai (played by Peter Weller)

- "Why is there a watermelon there?" - New Jersey (played by Jeff Goldblum)

- "You're like Jerry Lewis, you give me hope to carry on, then you leave me in the lurch while you strap on your six-guns..." - Penny Priddy (played by Ellen Barkin)

- "Buckaroo, I don't know what to say. Lectroids? Planet 10? Nuclear extortion? A girl named 'John'?" - President Widmark (played by Ronald Lacey)

- "Buckaroo, The White House wants to know is everything ok with the alien space craft from Planet 10 or should we just go ahead and destroy Russia?" - Mission Control (played by Kent Perkins)
"Tell him yes on one and no on two." - Buckaroo Banzai
"Which one was yes, go ahead and destroy Russia... or number 2?" - Mission Control

- "No, she's not. Now, let her out and give her your coat." - Buckaroo Banzai
"Why me?" - Perfect Tommy (played by Lewis Smith)
"Because you're perfect." - Buckaroo Banzai
"You have a point there." - Perfect Tommy

Some things you must know about this movie (besides what I already told you)

*SPOILERS*
Buckaroo Banzai is not only a Neurosurgeon, but he is also a Rock star, Crime fighter, Superhero, Genius who is half Japanese (even though Peter Weller doesn't look Asian at all). Did we mention that he is an inventor too?

His wife died, but that's okay because he falls in love with her twin sister, Penny Priddy, who didn't even know that she had a twin! Don't you love those 80's twists?

Perfect Tommy is Perfect.

Apparently all Aliens are named John. Even the girls.

What kind of name do these wonderful crime fighters have for their group? The Hong Kong Cavaliers. ^^

And one of my favorite parts of the movie is the Credits. Why? Because I like the music and its fun to watch the entirety of the crew walking in their bad 80's clothes. Did I mention Perfect Tommy was perfect? Well, he is also shirtless... O.O So, for your enjoyment, the credits!!

Credits


Thus concludes my blog. I'm Sarai, this is my blog and I am out like the Eighth Dimension.

The Real McCoy

Elijah McCoy



Elijah McCoy was an African-Canadian inventor known for his 57 patents and his inventions that helped lubricate locomotive parts.



Some Interesting Facts
* It is believed that the phrase "The Real McCoy" came about because of one Elijah McCoy's inventions. It means "The real thing".

* McCoy's second wife, Mary, was one of the founders for the Phyllis Wheatley Home for Aged Colored Men.

* The National Inventors Hall of Fame in Akron, Ohio, inducted him in 2001.

* One of McCoy's inventions was an automatic lubricator for oiling the steam engines of locomotives and boats.

* He worked as a fireman on trains, where he was responsible for filling the firebox with coal and lubricating the moving parts of the train during stops.

* McCoy's parents were slaves who had escaped to Canada before the Civil War. They moved back to America shortly after the end of the Civil War.

I apparently have a knack for picking people who don't have any quotes to put in the quotes section. However, whether or not Elijah McCoy has any quotes he was still an excellent inventor who changed how locomotives worked during the late 1800's and early 1900's.

Shemar Moore Talks about Elijah McCoy

In Space!

Dr. Mae Jemison



Dr. Mae Jemison is an African-American Astronaut who participated in an eight day mission as a Science specialist aboard the Endeavour.



Some Interesting Facts
* Dr. Jemison was the first African-American woman to be an astronaut.

* She appeared in an episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation".

* She was the Area Peace Corps Medical Officer for Sierra Leone and Liberia in West Africa.

* She is a doctor as well as a former astronaut.

* She became an astronaut after being inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. and Nichelle Nichols, who played Uhura in "Star Trek".

* Inducted into the Women's National Hall of Fame in 1993.

Some Quotes from Dr. Mae Jemison
- "Greatness can be captured in one word: lifestyle. Life is God's gift to you, style is what you make of it."

- "More women should demand to be involved. It's our right. This is one area where we can get in on the ground floor and possibly help to direct where space exploration will go in the future."

- "Never be limited by other people's limited imaginations. If you adopt their attitudes, then the possibility won't exist because you'll have already shut it out...You can hear other people's wisdom, but you've got to re-evaluate the world for yourself."

- "There have been lots of other women who had the talent and ability before me. I think this can be seen as an affirmation that we're moving ahead. And I hope it means that I'm just the first in a long line (of astronauts)."

- "The thing that I have done throughout my life is to do the best job that I can and to be me."

- "Don't let anyone rob you of your imagination, your creativity, or your curiosity. It's your place in the world; it's your life. Go on and do all you can with it, and make it the life you want to live."

Dr. Mae Jemison talking about her desire for Space

Welcome to Dentistry

Robert Tanner Freeman



Robert Tanner Freeman was born to former slaves in 1846. He became the first African-American Dentist.

(I know, I cheated, I posted the same picture in differing sizes twice. But the problem is there is apparently only one known picture of Dr. Freeman.)

Some Interesting Facts
* He was the first African-American to graduate from Harvard School of Dental Medicine.

* He is believed to be the first African-American to receive a dental degree.

* He was born in Washington D.C.

* His grandson, Robert C. Weaver, was the first African-American to serve as a member of the Presidential cabinet.

* He was hired as a clerk in a dentist's office by Dr. Henry Bliss Nobel.

* He died at age 27, 4 years after attaining his dental degree.

Unfortunately, there don't seem to be any quotes from Dr. Freeman, let alone quotes on him. All that is really known is that he was one of two African-American students to belong to the Harvard School of Dental Medicine. The other being George Franklin Grant.

The American Scandal

Sarah "Sally" Hemings



Sally Hemings is possibly one of the most famous (and controversial) African-American women of the 17 and 1800's because of her alleged (and most recently more concrete) relationship with Thomas Jefferson. There are no actual pictures of Sally Hemings, so I have posted a picture from the cover of Barbara Chase-Riboud's book "Sally Hemings" (one of my favorite books, actually) and a picture of an actress who played Sally Hemings.



Some Interesting Facts
* Hemings is believed to have been the half-sister of Martha Jefferson, Thomas' wife.

* She spent some time in Paris, France as a servant to Jefferson's youngest daughter Polly.

* Hemings had six (living) children all of whom were supposedly fathered by Thomas Jefferson.

* She is believed to have been a "quadroon" an African-American who is three-quarters white.

* Eston Hemings, one of Sally's children, was the first child to be almost positively identified as Thomas Jefferson's child.

* In Jefferson's will he freed all of Hemings' children, but not Sally herself.

Some Quotes on Sally Hemings
Seeing as there are no existing quotes from Hemings herself, I have dug up a few about her.

- "His conduct was toward her was predatory and exploitative.... When Thomas Jefferson took Sally Hemings to his bed, he made her his victim." - Christian Science Monitor (What do you think? Maybe, because I am a romantic I believe, they were in love with each other. I know that white owners often forced themselves on black women, because of the power trip, but I want to believe that sometimes it was love and not just rape.)

- "seems fond of the child and appears good naturd." - Abigail Adams (She is speaking of Sally's attitude towards Jefferson's daughter Polly while they were in Paris)

- "mighty near white. . . very handsome, long straight hair down her back." Isaac Jefferson (another slave of Thomas Jefferson's)

- "light colored and decidedly good looking." Thomas Jefferson Randolph (as told to Henry S. Randall)

- "Her name is Sally." James Callender

Ken Burns' film about Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings

I just shot John Lennon

Your song of the day today is called "I just shot John Lennon" a tribute song by the Cranberries, an Irish band. I realized we didn't have enough diversity in our music department so here you are, IRISH! And I am hoping to find something Russian or Latvian (or some other country) soon. :D

The Cranberries

Harlem Renaissance Man

Romare Bearden



Romare Bearden was an African-American artist famous for his collages.



Some Interesting Facts
* Had his first solo exhibition in 1940 in Harlem.

* Worked as a lead cartoonist and art editor for The Medley, a monthly journal.

* Received the National Medal of Art in 1987, the year before he passed away, from President Ronald Reagan.

* Bearden experimented with all different types of art including: Collages (which is what he became most famous for), Chinese landscape and calligraphy, Byzantine mosaics, Japanese prints and African art.

* Recurring themes in Bearden's work are ritual, music and family.

* He sometimes designed sets for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Company.

Some Quotes from Romare Bearden
- "We look too much to museums. The sun coming up in the morning is enough."

- "Practically all great artists accept the influence of others. But... the artist with vision... by integrating what he has learned with his own experiences... molds something distinctly personal."

- "What you don't need is just as important as what you do need."

- "Painting is a self-disciplined activity that you have to learn by yourself."

- "Every artist wants his work to be permanent. But what is? The Aswan Dam covered some of the greatest art in the world. Venice is sinking. Great books and pictures were lost in the Florence floods. In the meantime we still enjoy butterflies."

- "When I conjure these memories, they are of the present to me, because after all, the artist is a kind of enchanter in time."

A couple of Art Pieces by Romare Bearden

The Pearl

Pearl Bailey



Pearl Bailey was an actress, vaudevillian star and singer, as well as starring on Broadway.



Some Interesting Facts
* She won a Tony Award for her role in an all African-American version of Hello, Dolly!

* She made her stage debut at 15.

* During the 1970's she had her own TV show "The Pearl Bailey Show".

* She was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Ronald Reagan in 1988 (the year I was born!).

* President Gerald Ford made her the special ambassador to the United Nations in 1975.

* In her later years she wrote several books on various topics, including a cook book.

Some Quotes from Pearl Bailey
- "What the world really needs is more love and less paper work."

- "To talk to someone who does not listen is enough to tense the devil."

- "A man without ambition is dead. A man with ambition but no love is dead. A man with ambition and love for his blessings here on earth is ever so alive."

- "Everybody wants to do something to help, but nobody wants to be first."

- "No one can figure out your worth but you."

- "We look into mirrors but we only see the effects of our times on us -- not our effects on others."

A Video of Pearl Bailey

La Amistad

Joseph Cinqué



Joseph Cinqué was the leader of a slave revolt aboard the ship "La Amistad". He was later defended by our 6th president, John Quincy Adams.



Some Interesting Facts
* Joseph Cinqué was from what is now Sierra Leone, Africa. Not much is known about his early life or his life after the famous case United States v. Libellants and Claimants of the Schooner Amistad.

* Cinqué and his fellow slaves were tried for mutiny aboard the ship "La Amistad" on which they were being illegally transported for slavery. They were defended by the former 6th president of the United States, John Quincy Adams.

* Cinqué and his fellows won the case and were allowed to return to Africa.

* A statue of Cinqué was erected in New Haven, Conneticut.

* There have been suggestions that, after his return to Africa, Cinqué participated in the slave trade, though this has not been proven.

* Lewis Tappan, an abolitionist, helped fund the slaves and Cinqué's return to Africa.

Some Quotes from Joseph Cinqué (This was the only quote I could find that has been directly attributed to Joseph Cinqué)
- "Brothers, we have done that which we purposed, our hands are now clean for we have Striven to regain the precious heritage we received from our fathers. . . . I am resolved it is better to die than to be a white man's slave . . ."

The Movie Trailer for "Amistad"

In Honor of Love

Because it is Valentine's Day and I may or may not have ruined it for some of the people out there with my previous post (who ever expects the Valentine's Day Massacre?) I am going to post a song about Love.

Yes, Love. Because in the end we are a culture and a world in love with the idea of love. Always chasing it and never quite getting it. We search for it in the perfect bodies and sex and fame, but in the end it isn't what we expected because it isn't truly what you get.

Love by John Lennon, performed by Gackt (if you don't want to hear Gackt just talking in Japanese [there are no subs on that part] then let the video load and go to 1:37)

A Diamond in the Rough

Mary McLeod Bethune



Mary McLeod Bethune was an African-American teacher. She is best known for her civil rights activism and the founding of Bethune-Cookman College.



Some Interesting Facts
* Bethune originally wanted to be a Missionary in Africa, she even attended the Moody Bible Institute to achieve this goal.

* Eleanor Roosevelt called Bethune "her closest friend in her age group."

* Bethune served as president of Bethune-Cookman College, one of few women to do so during that time period.

* Served as an advisory on Minority Affairs with FDR.

* Founded the Daytona Literary and Industrial School for Training Negro Girls which later became Bethune-Cookman College. When it was started it had 6 students.

* A statue of Mary McLeod Bethune stands in Lincoln Park in Washington D.C.

Some Quotes from Mary McLeod Bethune
- "Invest in the human soul. Who knows, it might be a diamond in the rough."

- "If our people are to fight their way up out of bondage we must arm them with the sword and the shield and the buckler of pride."

- "Faith is the first factor in a life devoted to service. Without it, nothing is possible. with it, nothing is impossible."

- "I have had more than half a century of such happiness. A great deal of worry and sorrow, too, but never a worry or a sorrow that was not offset by a purple iris, a lark, a bluebird, or a dewy morning glory."

- "If we have the courage and tenacity of our forebears, who stood firmly like a rock against the lash of slavery, we shall find a way to do for our day what they did for theirs."

- "I never stop to plan. I take things step-by-step."

A Video about Mary McLeod Bethune

In Honor of St. Valentine's Day

For those with significant others this is a major holiday. Completely massive, filled with love and hearts, flowers and chocolates, sex and romance. Or a huge fight because your significant other completely spaced it was Valentine's Day and got you absolutely nothing.

If you are completely unattached this is generally the suckiest day of your year. Why? Because it only seems to amplify the fact that you are completely alone, unattractive, unloved. Unless you enjoy being single and are totally okay with being alone on the most "romantic" holiday of the year.

But how did this holiday start up? Did it always have cute chubby babies with wings flying around and shooting people with heart shaped arrows? Did it always have a shit-ton of cards and chocolate being sold for ridiculous prices that we pay to satisfy loved ones? I think not.

There are many legends surrounding St. Valentine and who he might have been. In Catholic tradition there are three St. Valentines, all of whom were martyred during the early AD. The most popular reason for St. Valentine's death is that he helped young couples marry during a time when marriage had essentially been outlawed by the emperor.

The real reason for St. Valentine's Day though, probably stems from Lupercalia, a Roman holiday of both fertility and matchmaking. During Lupercalia (which started on the 15th of February) young women would put their names into an urn and bachelors would pick out a name. Whomever they picked they were paired with during the festival. Sometimes this lead to being paired for a year, sometimes it lead to marriage.

However, as was the case for most holidays during that time, Lupercalia was deemed Pagan by the church and Christians were forbidden from participating. The "Roman Lottery" was banned during the Medieval period as being un-Christian. In hopes of finding a holiday fit for Christians to celebrate, the church did what I call "Sprucing up the Bum".

The church takes the essence of a pagan holiday (for example "love") and adds some Christian figures here and there and next thing you know it has been turned into a Christian Holiday. Essentially taking a dirty bum off the street and putting a big red bow on his head and declaring him a Christian.

All of that still does not explain why we send cards and candy to one another during this day. Or why a chubby baby is associated with it.

It is believed that the first Valentine was sent by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife. It is the oldest known Valentine, a poem written in 1415, sent while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London.

St. Valentine's Day was quite popular during the Middle Ages, the era of Courtly Love and Medieval Romance. And during that time little tokens or "Valentines" were sent. Sometimes they were little cards or small rings or other small items. This tradition continued to the 18th century when the first printed cards were made. I'm assuming candy just came in where the small rings and other such items left off.

The chubby baby that we see floating around during this time is supposed to be Cupid, the son of Venus (goddess of Love) and Mars (god of War) (at least in Roman Mythology), the god of Desire, Erotic Love (hence sometimes being called Eros) and Affection. He is almost always portrayed as either a nude young man or a nude baby, though there are portrayals of him as a handsome man in his twenties. He was known to shoot golden arrows to inspire romantic love and be quite mischievous.

The most common myth about Cupid is that he was ordered by Venus to cause a young woman, named Psyche, to fall in love with something/someone vile. While trying to do this Cupid was scratched by his own golden arrow and fell deeply in love with Psyche. After that he visited her every night, but forbade her to look at his face. One night she could resist the temptation no longer and gazed upon his face, angering the god so that he left. Psyche, in love with him, searched everywhere for him so that Jupiter (also known as Zeus) gave her immortality so that she and Cupid could be together forever.

Ever since then Cupid has been associated with this holiday as a bringer of love and desire. Piercing many hearts with his golden arrows.

But you want to know my favorite part of this holiday?

The St. Valentine's Day Massacre!

In 1929 on February 14th, 7 men were gunned down in a garage, all but one were killed instantly and the only man still living died three hours later, saying absolutely nothing useful. It is believed that this crime was perpetuated by Al Capone, although he had a fairly solid alibi for the time. Why Al Capone you may ask? Because the men that were gunned down were members (or past time members) of Bugs Moran's gang, a rival to Al Capone.

But the truth of the matter is, no one actually knows who killed these guys or why. There are a lot of assumptions and ideas, but nothing concrete. Everyone who was thought to be involved either died or was cleared by Chicago police. Who doesn't love a good mystery and bloody massacre on their romantic holiday?

Abolition for an American Slave

Frederick Douglass



Frederick Douglass is probably one of the most famous African-Americans of the Slavery Era. He worked tirelessly for the abolition of Slavery and equality for every man, woman and child, regardless of race or gender.



Some Interesting Facts
* He was just as interested in Women's Rights as he was in Civil Rights. Douglass even attended the First Women's Rights Convention in 1848.

* Started his own Anti-Slavery newspaper called "The North Star."

* During the Civil War he was a consultant to Abraham Lincoln.

* Was appointed Marshal in the District of Colombia and U.S. Minister and Consul General to Haiti.

* Douglass wrote three autobiographies describing his life as a slave and his fight for equality and human rights.

* In 1884, he married a white woman named Helen Pitts, two years after the death of his first wife Anna Murray.

Some Quotes from Frederick Douglass
- "Without a struggle, there can be no progress."

- "The soul that is within me no man can degrade."

- "I am a Republican, a black, dyed in the wool Republican, and I never intend to belong to any other party than the party of freedom and progress" (I wonder how he would feel about the Republican party now?)

- "It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men."

- "In thinking of America, I sometimes find myself admiring her bright blue sky-her grand old woods-her fertile fields-her beautiful rivers-her mighty lakes and star-crowned mountains. But my rapture is soon checked when I remember that all is cursed with the infernal spirit of slave-holding and wrong; When I remember that with the waters of her noblest rivers, the tears of my brethren are borne to the ocean, disregarded and forgotten; That her most fertile fields drink daily of the warm blood of my outraged sisters, I am filled with unutterable loathing."

- "I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence."

An Excerpt of a Speech by Frederick Douglass, as read by James Earl Jones

Little Rock Nine

Daisy Bates



Daisy Bates was a Civil Rights Activist and Journalist who was instrumental in the Little Rock Incident. Daisy and her husband, L.C. Bates, started up their own newspaper, the first issue appearing on May 9th, 1941.



Some Interesting Facts
* An elementary school in Little Rock, Arkansas, was named in her honor.

* Her memoir, "The Long Shadow of Little Rock", won a National Book Award in 1988.

* She was an adviser to the "Little Rock Nine", nine African-American students who became famous after attempting to go to Central High School (an all Caucasian school) in Little Rock, Arkansas.

* The Newspaper started by Bates and her husband was called "The Arkansas State Press"

* Due to the desegregation and racism to follow, "The Arkansas Sate Press" was forced to close as a result of financial loss.

* During the struggle to desegregate Central High School a rock was thrown into the Bates' home with a note attached "Stone this time. Dynamite next."

Some Quotes from Daisy Bates
- "The man who never makes a mistake always takes orders from one who does."

- "No man or woman who tries to pursue an ideal in his or her own way is without enemies."

- "Opinions differ most when there is least scientific warrant for having any."

- "From without, no wonderful effect is wrought within ourselves, unless some interior, responding wonder meets it."

- "What plays the mischief with the truth is that men will insist upon the universal application of a temporary feeling or opinion."

- "Jailing our youth will not solve the problem in Little Rock."

A Video about Daisy Bates

Peanut Butter

George Washington Carver



George Washington Carver was a scientist, inventor and botanist. He is commonly given credit for inventing Peanut Butter, though something similar to peanut butter has been eaten for centuries.



Some Interesting Facts
* Carver first began researching peanuts and sweet potatoes as alternate crops for poorer farmers not only for their own food, but also to improve their quality of life.

* Went to Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, to study art and piano.

* He transferred to Iowa State Agricultural College, where he was the first African-American student and later the first African-American faculty member.

* He developed 300 different uses for peanuts including: milk, coffee, flour, ink, dyes and cheese.

* He developed 118 uses for sweet potatoes including: molasses, rubber, ink and postage stamp glue.

* Carver spoke before the Ways and Means Committee (of the United States House of Representatives) in favor a peanut tariff.

Some Quotes from George Washington Carver
- "Now to be branded as a liar and party to such hellish deception it is more than I can bear, and if your committee feel that I have willfully lied or [was] party to such lies as were told my resignation is at your disposal." (to Booker T. Washington)

- "Fear of something is at the root of hate for others, and hate within will eventually destroy the hater."

- "I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only tune in."

- "Nothing is more beautiful than the loveliness of the woods before sunrise."

- "Where there is no vision, there is no hope.'

- "Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom."

A Video on George Washington Carver

Just Like a Ghost

So most recently I have been on a huge Fefe Dobson kick. This coming about after I found out that Fefe Dobson wrote and, originally, performed one of my favorite Jordin Sparks' songs. (Which is "Don't let it go to your head", by the way)

In honor of this kick I have decided to post one of my favorite Fefe Dobson songs, entitled "Ghost". You may be asking why "Ghost" when I just said that I really loved "Don't let it go to your head". The reasoning is this:
- In "Ghost" she acts more genuine and into her own song.
- In "Don't let it go to your head" she is trying way to hard to be dark and punk, at least in my opinion. I love the way she sings it though. Truthfully speaking.
- Also, I'm going to post both videos anyway, so HA! (giggle)

Ready, set, GO!

Ghost


Don't Let it Go to Your Head


Don't you think she looks a little too stiff in that last video? Like she is trying really hard to act like she doesn't care, but she really does? I like her a lot, but don't like the video for that last song.

Anyway, that's all for now, just thought I'd pop in with a song or two of the day. Enjoy!

Pistachio Pudding Pie for the Win

Okay, so mine doesn't look as awesome as that one, but it is damn close!

Yes, I made a pistachio pudding pie. (Mmm Pie!) For no reason other than to try it. It is my first pie making experience. And it wasn't homemade. Which makes me sad, but next time it will all be from scratch.

Speaking of pies, I'm thinking of trying to make a Rose Petal Pie. Yes, a pie made from rose petals (well in my mind, in real life it is completely different). My friend, Jo, and I came up with that idea for a game we used to play. I don't know how I'll go about it, but I want to do it. Of course all the recipes I find for it involve strawberries and only a tiny bit of Rose Water.

I also thought about it as being like a pudding filling and that each pie was specific to the color of the rose. White rose pie was creamy white, Black rose pie was dark like chocolate. And each pie varies by the color of the rose. Lighter colored roses are sweeter and Darker colored roses are more like cinnamon and nutmeg, spicy with a bite of sweet. I have a very good imagination, apparently.

Also my mother said the most epic thing ever!
Me: I have 21 dollars in one dollar bills.
My mom: Its okay, people will just think you are a waitress. (pause) Or a lap-dancer.
Me: MOM!

That is my tangent for the moment. Hope you enjoyed it!

The Little Warrior

Willie Barrow



Reverend Willie T. Barrow is a pastor and civil rights activist from Texas.



Some Interesting Facts
* Barrow studied at Warner-Pacific Theological Seminary in Portland, Oregon.

* She was a field organizer for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

* In 1997 a street in Chicago was renamed after her.

* She was one of the founders of Operation Breadbasket during the 1960's which provided spiritual guidance and practical assistance for various communities.

* She holds an honorary doctorate of divinity degree from Monrovia, Liberia. And also holds a certificate in leadership from Harvard University.

* She was married 56 years to Clyde Barrow, before his death in 1998.

Some Quotes from Willie Barrow
- "I love my brother, Minister Louis Farrakhan. The devil don't like it, Chicago don't like it the world don't like it, but we love it."

- "I support Barack because exemplifies a real man. He is a Christian, husband and father."

- "This whole idea of putting our hopes and energies into "leaders" who tell us to seek common ground with fascists and religious fanatics is proving every day to be a disaster, and actually serves to demobilize people."

- "It's all right to get married, but it is better to stay married,"

- "When choosing marriage, one should think in terms of choosing a partner first: then lover. Suppose your love life ended on a dead-end street? You can still survive as partners in a ship of things: home, children, grandchildren, business, church, work, companionship,"

- "Money is a big problem in marriages. But you can solve that problem by having a budget,"

A Video featuring Rev. Willie T. Barrow

Martyr of the American Revolution

Crispus Attucks



Not much is known about Crispus Attucks, though it is known that he was involved in the Boston Massacre of 1770.



Some Interesting Facts
* Attucks was the first person to die during the Boston Massacre.

* Was more than likely of both African and Native American descent.

* May have spent time on a whaling ship as a harpooner.

* He is buried along with James Caldwell and Samuel Gray in the Granary Burying Ground

* A monument to Attucks was built in Boston in 1888.

* A coin was struck in 1998 to recognize Crispus Attucks as a hero of the Revolution.

Quotes about Crispus Attucks
There are no actual existing quotes from Crispus Attucks, partially because no one even knew who he was at the time of his death. Even historians are still unsure of who he is exactly. So, I present the only two quotes that I could even find ABOUT Crispus Attucks.

- "He is one of the most important figures in African-American history, not for what he did for his own race but for what he did for all oppressed people everywhere. He is a reminder that the African-American heritage is not only African but American and it is a heritage that begins with the beginning of America." - Martin Luther King Jr.

- "...and to honor Crispus Attucks who was the leader and voice that day: The first to defy, and the first to die, with Maverick, Carr, and Gray. Call it riot or revolution, or mob or crowd as you may, such deaths have been seeds of nations, such lives shall be honored..." - John Boyle O'Reilly

A picture of the Crispus Attucks Memorial

If all else fails...

Make your waiter blush horribly.

Which is exactly what I did last Friday night (the name of a Katy Perry song).

Kid, L.E.D and I went drinking. It happened. And we have discovered that when L.E.D and I have been drinking we get silly. (The Friday night before this last one we had played Miss Merry Mack at our table, to my everlasting humiliation.) Okay, I get silly. Very silly and very unscripted.

Waiter Blush #1:
I ordered a Frozen Mudslide. Tastes just like a chocolate milk shake and is even better because you get a buzz. Plus, the glass looks gorgeous until you stir. Anyway, I always get a spoon so I can eat the whipped topping. With said spoon I scooped up said whipped topping and popped all of it into my mouth. Yes, my mouth was full of creamy white stuff.

Our waiter gave me a look. I mean, I just took a whole spoonful of whipped cream in one bite, I'm surprised more people weren't staring. My response to the staring?
"You know you like seeing me with white stuff in my mouth."

Did I mean for that to slip out? No, but I think the whipped cream and liquor lubed things up and out comes Miss Unscripted and Inappropriate.

Waiter Blush #2:
Our waiter convinces me that I should order a Sauza Gold Margarita as it is on special. I say, sure why not? What's the worst that could happen right?

Well, I chugged it. Yep. Took a sip to taste it and then downed the rest. Well I did it a little quickly and choked a little. At that moment he comes up and says,
"You know you are supposed to chew before you swallow."

And who should make a guest appearance right then? Miss Unscripted and Inappropriate. I reply with all the wit of a 6 year old.
"That depends on what you are trying to swallow."

He not only blushed so bad that he had to walk away from our table, he also face palmed. That's right, who is the girl? Me.

There you have it, the adventures of Sarai and her friends when they have been drinking. By the way, Frozen Mudslides are the bomb! I may, or may not, be a little in love with them. Just sayin'.

In fact here is a picture of one, not the exact same kind as the one I had (mine was cooler, just sayin').


Also, if you have the desire to make one of these babies at home here is a handy-dandy recipe.
2 oz Svedka® vanilla vodka
2 oz Kahlua® coffee liqueur
2 oz Bailey's® Irish cream
6 oz vanilla ice cream

Blend alcohol with ice-cream. Serve in a frosted glass.

Okay, now that I have posted all of that about drinking and partying (did I mention the gay bar dance scenes afterward? Or the brand new high heels I got?) I want to go out. Too bad it is the middle of the week and I have to work on Friday.

Well, that is all from me for now. Hope you enjoyed my craziness.

I am Sarai, this is my blog and I am out like my bottle of Vanilla Vodka.

Illuminati (Illuminated)

Harlequin dances about the floor, surrendering to Demons
and Angels, silhouettes and innocent shadows. She stands,
mythical and poetic, spinning her dreams out like darkened
spider webs. Caught by her own vanishing nightmares.

Violent and gentle, she spins and twirls, the ribbons flying
up and fluttering to the floor. Above her the sky seems to
burn, the horizon is downcast and she is tied to this hideous
form. Circled by Hell's vicious dogs.

Silky are the voices that call her inside, bluer than the moon
outside the painted glass. They tease her, push and pull her
down. Violet sunlight floods the circle that divides Heaven from
her Hell, tied to the knives spinning round.

Lacy snow falls in the midst of summer's tears. Pink and Ivory
against the erratic world flowing into her. She studies the
imperfections of a rose, standing before the Court of the moon
and her lovers. Dulcimers play at the edge of her sanity.

Fiery kiss upon her cursed lips, a virescent larkspur to
resurrect her. Now fanged, she lets the blood flow, the
honeyed lies and sweet brokenness take control. Her womb
is bleeding, rape the soul. Shatter the glass, make it whole.

Adorned in bloody rubies, glittering in the darkness of the sun.
She stands, new born. Two has become one, Harlequin no
more. Let the walls that have imprisoned her vanish as she
rises to shine. Illuminated by her own silver tongue.

To the King's most Excellent Majesty

Phillis Wheatley



Phillis Wheatley was a slave in Colonial America, just before and during the Revolution. Educated by her owners, she showed a great proclivity for the literary, being able to read both Latin and English.



Some Interesting Facts
* Phillis Wheatley was the first female African-American to have a book published. Her book was entitled "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral."

* After she gained some recognition as a poetess she was given freedom by her owners, John and Susannah Wheatley.

* Her poetic style consisted of Epic Couplets and her topics usually centered around the Revolution, religion and people.

* She went to England with Nathaniel Wheatley at the approximate age of 20, where her book was first published.

* After writing a poem about George Washington, Wheatley actually got to meet him along with Benjamin Franklin.

* A statue of Wheatley stands on Commonwealth Avenue and Fairfield Street in Boston, Massachusetts.

Some Quotes from Phillis Wheatley
- "The world is a severe schoolmaster, for its frowns are less dangerous than its smiles and flatteries, and it is a difficult task to keep in the path of wisdom."

- "in every human Breast, God has implanted a Principle, which we call Love of Freedom; it is impatient of Oppression, and pants for Deliverance."

- "Imagination! who can sing thy force?"

- "Some view our sable race with scornful eye;
'Their colour is a diabolic dye.'"

- "let us imagine the loss of a parent, sister, or brother, the tenderness of all these were united in her."

- "No more, America, in mournful strain Of wrongs, and grievance unredress'd complain, No longer shalt thou dread the iron chain, Which wanton Tyranny with lawless hand Had made,"

A Video about Phillis Wheatley by a guy with a rockin' mustache

To Sir, With Love

Sidney Poitier



Sidney Poitier is a Bahamian-American actor known for roles in films such as "To Sir, With Love", "The Defiant Ones", "In The Heat of the Night" and "A Raisin in the Sun".



Some Interesting Facts
* Though he was born in the US, Poitier grew up on Cat Island in the Bahamas.

* In 1963 Poitier won the Academy Award for his role in "Lilies of the Field". He was the first African-American man to win this award.

* He speaks Russian fluently.

* On June 23, 1967 Poitier was the first African-American actor to place his autograph, hand and footprints in the cement of Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

* He survived Prostate Cancer.

* He has written two books.

Some Quotes from Sidney Poitier
- "History passes the final judgment."

- "I never had an occasion to question color, therefore, I only saw myself as what I was... a human being."

- "I was the only Black person on the set. It was unusual for me to be in a circumstance in which every move I made was tantamount to representation of 18 million people."

- "I'll always be chasing you... Glory."

- "So much of life, it seems to me, is determined by pure randomness."

- "We all suffer from the preoccupation that there exists... in the loved one, perfection."

The Trailer for My favorite Sidney Poitier movie