James Earl Jones brings Frederick Douglass’s searing 1852 oration “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?” to life—forcing a reflection on liberty, hypocrisy, and the ongoing struggle for justice. A must-watch for #FourthOfJuly and everyday.

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On this day in 1940, Wilma Rudolph was born in Tennessee. Once told she’d never walk again, she became the first American woman to win 3 gold medals in a single Olympics (1960). A champion on the track and for civil rights.

Today we celebrate Juneteenth, a day to reflect on freedom delayed—and freedom fought for. On June 19, 1865, the last enslaved people in Galveston, Texas were finally told they were free—over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
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🧵THREAD: Essential Books on the Black Press
The Black Press has long been a powerful voice for truth, justice, and self-determination in Black communities. Here are some essential reads that explore its rich legacy and ongoing impact.

🏳️‍🌈📚 Founded in 1988, BLK magazine became a groundbreaking voice for Black LGBTQ people during the AIDS crisis—documenting joy, struggle, and resistance when few others would. Its legacy is a testament to the power of telling our own stories. #Pride #BlackLGBTQHistory #BLKmagazine

Born on May 26, 1926, Miles Davis transcended the barriers of segregation to revolutionize American music. His trumpet wasn't just an instrument—it was a voice of defiance, innovation, and Black excellence. From Kind of Blue to Bitches Brew, his legacy endures.

The Black Press has long been a pillar of truth, resistance, and empowerment—telling our stories when others wouldn’t. It’s not just history, it’s a lifeline for justice and visibility. 📰✊🏾

The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, founded in 1925 by A. Philip Randolph, was the first Black-led labor union to gain a collective bargaining agreement. It not only fought for fair wages but helped lay the groundwork for the civil rights movement.✊🏾🛤️ #LaborHistory

On April 14 1865 President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth while attending a play at Ford's Theatre in Washington DC. Booth, a Confederate sympathizer, shot Lincoln in the head during the play, Our American Cousin. the president died the following morning at the Petersen House.

On this day in 1931, educator, journalist, and early civil rights leader Ida B Wells-Barnett passed away at the age of 68. Wells, born enslaved in 1862, Wells-Barnett would begin her activist career after moving to Memphis after refusing to vacate her seat on a train in 1883 and again in 1884.

On this day in 1933, Civil Rights activist and journalist Myrlie Evers-Williams was born. Evers-Williams got her start during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s when she and her husband, Medgar Evers, opened and managed the first NAACP office in the state of Mississippi. 1 of 2

In 1926 Carter G. Woodson began Negro History Week to promote and celebrate Black history. In 1976, Negro History Week became Black History Month.

Yesterday, we honored the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In April 1963, King wrote his famous Letter from Birmingham Jail, detailing people's moral responsibility to break unjust laws. In August of that year, Ebony Magazine ran a piece on what they called a modern classic.

Born on January 17, 1942, Muhammad Ali was a professional boxer and social activist. In April of 1967 Ali was stripped of his Heavyweight title and boxing license for refusing to step forward during his scheduled induction into the US Armed Forces.

Known for her powerful vocals and large frame, Willie Mae Thornton, affectionately known as Big Momma, was born on December 11, 1926, in Ariton, Alabama. Thorton's music was also highly influential in the development of rock and roll.

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Excited to speak with the Black Beyond Data reading group at Noon today! Register for the talk (and other great talks and discussions) at bit.ly/BBD-Reads

"We didn't exist in the other papers. We were neither born, we didn't get married, we didn't die, we didn't fight in any wars, we never participated in anything of a scientific achievement. We were truly invisible unless we committed a crime...

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The Freedom’s Journal was the nation’s first newspaper owned and operated by African Americans. Only lasting two years, from 1827-1829, the Freedom’s Journal was pivotal in becoming an outlet that allowed African Americans a voice of their own.