Accomplishment Over the Six Weeks

For the past six weeks, we went to Charles Blockson Collection every morning. We would bring out Ebony Magazines from every year starting from 1945. Our job there was to put them back in order by months. After we have done this task, we would look through the magazines to find things that caught our eye or something we would want to write about in our blog. This was going to give us our ideas for what we should do with our project. What we chose to do was to compare and contrast different things from the past to the present. What our project was about was to go through the magazines, and compare what happened in the past up until now.

We figured that each of us would come up with a topic and focus on it. Each of us came up with topics such as the civil right movement, beauty, fashion, and African Americans in Philadelphia. From that moment on, we would look for information in Ebony Magazines that focused on our topic. From there we would pick something specific from our topic, go to the computer lab, and write a blog post about it. Each of us would do a blog post every week. We also made maps that would show specific things on our topic and where it happened. We also made a podcast that had us speaking about what our project was about. And now that we have finished our six weeks of the program, we will be having an open house and show case the work that we have done.

Our purpose of this project was to show different types of products, people, or events that made a difference in our country, and how they have changed over time. We hope what we have created with the maps and blog posts will let everyone know how things changed from the past to the present.

For information about our map go to:
http://maps.google.com/maps?tab=ml

Freedom Rides

In 1961, blacks undertook a new tactic aimed at desegregating public transportation throughout the south which was called the Freedom Ride. The first Freedom Ride took place on May 4, 1961 when seven blacks and six whites left Washington, D.C., on two public buses bound for the Deep South. Within the first few days, the riders encountered minor hostility, but in the second week the riders were severly beaten. Outside Anniston, Alabama, one of their buses was burned, and in Birmingham several dozen whites attacked the riders only two blocks from the sheriff's office.

The group traveled from Birmingham to Montgomery without incident, but when they get to Montgomery they were severely attacked by a mob of more than 1000 whites. The extreme violence and the indifference of local police prompted a national outcry of support for the riders, putting pressure on President Kennedy to end the violence. The riders continued to Mississippi, where they have further brutality and jail terms but get more publicity and inspired dozens more Freedom Rides. By the end of the summer, the protests had spread to train stations and airports across the South. In November, the Interstate Commerce Commission issued rules prohibiting segregated transportation facilities.

For more information, go to:
http://www.ibiblio.org/sncc/rides.html

Our Map!

Over these last six weeks, our group has been working on creating a map using the four different categories we each focused on. The map shows where fashion and beauty pruducts were first introduced, where key events took place in the civil right's movemnt, and shows important African Americans in various locations of Philadelphia. Each point on our map has a picture and further and information on the subject.



View Blockson Collection in a larger map

How Advertisers Make Cigarettes Look Good But They Pollute Our EARTH!
In this 1989 issue of Ebony magazine it has a couple of advertisements that talks about cigarettes. Not only are they polluting our air they pollute our bodies also. Advertisers tried to make them smell good in the Chelsea cigarette advertisement. They tried to make them look good in the Capri advertisements. They also tried to make cigarettes feel good in the Newport advertisements. Advertisers tried to get their audience to buy smokes by getting them to think and feel like cigarettes are beautiful and refreshing with their good looks, pretty names like Capri or Chelsea, and their slim shapes., "Like cigarettes are human species trying to be sold". "LOL".

Make The Environment Better.

In one of the Ebony Magazines, Van Jones wrote:

"Some how we bought into the thought that it was a hippie thing. It was really our commitment to be good stewards of the Earth. Our great grandmother's values are coming into vogue. We should be leading the charge on fighting against pollution and poison. These are not White values. These are universal values."

Black folks should go green because healthy environments effect their life, their family, their pocketbook and their community. Neighborhoods are serving as dumping toxic waste. It shows that the average Black resident of a major city lives in a more polluted part of town than a White person. These are the neighborhoods where children play and develop such disorders such as autism, asthma, or cancer. This should be the time and place where everyone starts doing everything they can to control this pollution and make it go away somehow.

Many people have transformed their lives by making their world cleaner and a greener place. There are many ways that we can make the world safer, conserve energy, and save money. We just need to work together as one to make this change happen before it is too late.

For more information, go to:

http://books.google.com/books?id=P9MDAAAAMBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Look from page 96-106 for this topic

Black&Green

Black & Green is the title of one of the articles in Ebony Magazine. The article talks about how we can be environmental friendly and save money. By doing simple things such as drinking tap water instead of bottled water we can help save the environment. The articles also show people how much they can save a year if they cut back on certain things.

In the article people talk about what they have done to change the world. People like Van Jones has helped to pass the Green Jobs Act of 2007. The act is basically to help people with green collar jobs. These jobs are green collar because they are are blue collar jobs that respects the environment. The jobs can include labor in solar energy,organic food, and wind power. Other people also concentrated on solar energy.

Think about it. If you want to save money, go green. Think of ways that you can both save money and the environment. Doing simple things such as using less electricity, walking the few minutes to save gas, and using less chemicals.

We just did our podcast. We starting recording yesterday and was able to complete that part. After recording we went to edit and had trouble. The trouble was as we were putting the clips in order, we kept cutting off another persons words. We were getting annoyed and decide to forget the whole thing until today. Today we managed to put the clips in their correct order without messing up. We then uploaded it to Talk Shoe.com. Our podcast is short and simple but it explains what we are doing for our project. You can listen to our podcast below!



Or click on this link if the podcast isn't appearing

WHAT IS BLACk BEAUTY

In the November 1980 issue of the Ebony Magazine they had a special addition on African Americans. And on page 159 they defined what Black Beauty is? It opened with a quote from W.E.B Dubois which stated:

" I have known the women of many lands and nation- I have known and seen and lived beside them, but none have I known more sweetly feminine , more unswervingly loyal, more desperately earnest, and more instinctively pure in body and in soul then the daughters of my BLACK mothers. This, then a little thing to their memory and inspiration" .

Then and even still to this day African American women do not realize they worth or some for that matter. There are still women who think a lighter skin is the "perfect" skin and may bleach them selves, there are women who get plastic surgery on their noses because society tells us that fare skin, petite, long hair and thin noses are whats in. But in history those big noses were found on statues of Kings and Queens in Egypt. Today you may see different cultures taking on our assets, like tanning trying to get darker complexion or getting botox for bigger lips, butt implants and our style of fashion. We must remember that it all started with us the BLack women. We as African American females need to be proud of who we are and where we come from and of our natural look. That's why I praise Ebony magazine for what they do for African American women and our society as well. They give us something positive to look to, advice to guide us and something to be proud of. But not just Ebony magazine gives us that there is Essence and Jet and many more.

Also there is a My Black is Beautiful movement which I proudly hold my fist high testifying what my beauty is. The My Black is Beautiful celebrates the diverse collective beauty of African-American women and encourages black women to define and promote our own beauty standard — one that is an authentic reflection of our indomitable spirit.
Recognizing that beauty and self-confidence are intrinsically linked, My Black is Beautiful is designed to ignite and support a sustained national conversation by, for and about black women — the way we are reflected in popular culture and how we serve as the catalyst for a movement that effects positive change. So I say to every Black woman out there what is your black. My Black is loving, different, spiritual : everyday I wake up and I am happy, My Black is proud to be who I am.

Ruby Bridges Story: First African American Girl In A Desegregated School

On the morning of her first day at William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Ruby Bridges' mother told her: "Now I want you to behave yourself today, Ruby, and don't be afraid." Ruby and her mother went to the school where so many people were outside shouting and throwing things, that the little girl thought it must be Mardi Gras. Despite the fact that it was 1960, there were U.S. marshals walking beside her, and she was the first black child to enter an all-white school in the history of the American South.

It was in 1960 that a federal court ordered the desegregation of schools in the South. The first year Ruby was in the school, parents pulled out their children from the school because they thought it was wrong to have a black girl in that school. So from that, Ruby was the only student in the class left. The teacher, a woman from Boston, was one of the few white instructors who was willing to teach a black child. She and Bridges showed up for school every single day that year, and they held class as if there were no angry mob outside, no conflict over a little girl attending first grade.

From all this drama about Ruby going to the all white school William Frantz, her father lost his job, and her grandparents lost their place as tenant farmers. The Bridges gathered together, and friends would come in the morning to help Ruby get ready for school, or to walk with her to her classroom. By this time, nobody can deny Ruby's heroism. She has demonstrated the value of education to many others. Bridges, who is now 44 years old devoted herself to the education of children. She also started the Ruby Bridges foundation "in the hopes of bringing parents back into the schools and taking a more active role in their children's education."

For more information about Ruby Bridges, go to:

http://www.rubybridges.com/

Chucks/Converses

Converse shoes are one of the most popular shoes. They tend to go with a lot of outfits. These days they come in different styles and colors. Even with all this, they all have the same logo located somewhere on that shoe.
Converse got their start back in 1917. When basketball player Chuck Taylor started to wear them, the shoes became popular. After a few changes the shoe was ready for the crowds. The Chuck Taylor All Stars was born. By the 21st Century over 750 million pairs had been sold worldwide.
In 2003 the Converse was bought by Nike. So next time you buy a Converse think about the style of the shoe and why they are called Chucks.

Lets Leave These Shoes In The Past

I can sure say, from looking through the old issues of Ebony magazines, fashion has really changed for the better. I mean look at the shoes men wore back then. I think we can all agree high heels are now gracefully for us ladies. Men's foot wear are still fashionable and some what more expensive. In 1973 they had men shoes for 34.95 just a tad bit cheaper.







http://books.google.com/books?id=Kd4DAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA4&pg=PA147

Africans Americans In HOLLYWOOD

Before Denzel Washington and Halle Berry starred a civil rights leader, a federal agent, a boxer, or a famous singer, there were struggles for Blacks to obtain more diverse roles in Hollywood movies back in times like 1940's. Their roles were all the same; they either played a butler, maid or a secretary. Now, as some things have changed in our society, you still find African Americans, more so African American females, portraying stereotypical roles in the mainstream today of either the ghetto black mother, the "hoochie", a black female with a bad attitude who despises the African American male. There are still borders that has to be crossed but you have to also pay homage to the woman like Ruby Dee, Angela Bassett, Sanaa Lathan, Taraji P. Henson, and Kerry Washington, and more.

For More Info Follow Link Below:
http://books.google.com/books?id=QdQDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA36&dq=actresses&as_pt=MAGAZINES

The Wonders Of Beauty

Beauty now here in 2009 or beauty back in the 1960's? That's a question to ask ourselves. Back then they had bleaching creams to get rid of the darkness of skin complextions because the lighter you were, the more beautiful you looked. Now we are in the new millinium where being dark is beautiful or should I be more specific, black is beatuiful! Instead of people bleaching away beauty, we are now expressing black as being beautiful, triumphant, radiant, and fierce!

For more information on bleaching the skin go to

http://ezinearticles.com/?Natural-Ethnic-Black-Skin-Bleaching-Cream&id=1309729

The Ebony Story

The creator of Ebony Magazine is John H. Johnson, and he was 27 years old. At the time it was November 1945. Ebony was founded to project all dimensions of the Black personality in a world saturated with stereotypes. They wanted to give a new sense of self-respect and somebodiness. Johnson wanted to tell the black community how they were and what they could do. He believed then and now that Blacks needed positive images to fulfill their potentialities.

Ebony began chipping away at old stereotypes and replacing them with positive Black images by highlighting the achievements of Black men and women that had been ignored by the general press. In the past, people had serious doubts about Blacks performing as well as the White communities. Ebony helped that. With pictures and articles, it shows how the Black communities triumph poverty and racial barriers. Blacks had history all the way to slavery, and Ebony magazine wanted to show the history.

While civil rights were going on in the 50's and 60's, Ebony became the mirror of the struggles such as segregation in lunch counters, buses, and public schools. At Ebony Magazine's own risk, they showed photos and articles about the murder of Medgar Evers, Emmett Till, and the four little girls killed in the bombing of a church. Ebony was around to pick up all of the historical events in the 50's and 60's, such as the March on Washington. They wanted everyone to see what Blacks have achieved and how they can also change the future as the years pasted on until the present time.

Since Ebony was started 60 years ago, its circulation has risen from its original press run of 25,000 to 1,700,000. As a result, Ebony reaches more Black men, more Black women and more Black professionals than any other magazine, Black or White.

John Johnson passed away August 8, 2005 at 87. His daughter Linda Johnson Rice has vowed to continue building her father's inspiring legacy and "will move forward with courage, conviction, confidence and indomitable spirit."


For more information on John Johnson and Johnsons Publishing Company, Go to:

http://www.johnsonpublishing.com/assembled/home.html

FASHION,FASHION FASHION!!!!

Fashion is every girl's thing. We all like to look our best, especially at the right times. Think about the parties and other special events you go to. The way you look matters, from your hair to your toes. Fashion has come a long way over the decades. But still we go back to the earlier decades and look for inspiration.

Ebony magazine has shown people over the years the styles of the day. Looking back at the old Ebony (and I mean old, think 1945 old) magazines you can see the difference in how people dress. In a special edition of Ebony, the 60th Anniversary November 2005 issue, they showed the styles over the decade.

Ebony has come along way with women's fashion. So have their readers. Women, and men, have evolved their fashion sense over the decades. I mean we went from modest in the 40s to what Ebony calls the uninhibited look. Fashion has sure come along way. So next time you go to fun affair and wear a dress, just remember that, that same dress was probably worn back in the day. Fashion does repeat itself.

For more info you can check out the website at
http://books.google.com/books?id=wsoDAAAAMBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0

Introduction

Charles L. Blockson is a historian dedicated to Black history. He has published a massive collection of books and publications that has been donated to Temple University in 1984. Within this collection are accounts of African American history, narratives, and illustrations of such things like the underground railroads. Charles Blockson has worked to promote the preservation of landmarks central to African-American history. Blockson continues to lecture internationally and is considered one of the foremost experts on the Underground Railroad.

As a part of the B.I.T.S.(Building Information technology Skills) program with Temple University, we plan to take one piece of African American History and explore it from past to present, through its growth throughout the many changes in the world. With the help of the Charles Blockson collection, we will look into past EBONY magazines in see the changes from social, media, style, politics, as well as how African Americans see themselves now and compare them with the present.

To check out more information on Charles Blockson collection click on the following link below:
http://library.temple.edu/collections/blockson/;jsessionid=E3FDFAE0F981B10E9343EFB02FBDA1F8?bhcp=1