Cultural and Religious Information.

Dorothy Dandridge's role in Carmen Jones further solidified her legacy as one of the greatest actresses of all time. Back in 1953, a nationwide talent search came about as 20th Century Fox started to cast the all-black musical film adaption of Oscar Hammerstein II's 1943 Broadway musical of Carmen Jones. It came from Georges Bizet's opera Carmen updated to a World War II-era African American setting. Under consideration, but available to director and writer Otto Preminger to view for suitability was Dandridge's starring role from the previous year of the film Bright Road. Dorthy Dandridge had to fight for her role of Carmen. At first, Preminger didn't want Dandridge to play Carmen but the role of the quieter person Cindy Lou. Dandridge dressed down for her role in Bright Road. For Carmen Jones, Dorothy Dandridge worked with Max Factor to dress up for the part. She performed her case for the role of Carmen directly to the director Preminger in his executive office. Later, after giving appearances in the soundies material, Preminger gave her the role. Many of the cast were like a Hall of Fame of African American actors and singers like Pearl Bailey, Brock Peters, Harry Belafonte, Diahann Carroll, Olga James, Madame Sul-Te-Wan (born Nellie Crawford) and Joe Adams. Dorothy Dandridge was a singer, but the film wanted a more operatic voice. Dandridge's voice in the movie was dubbed by operatic vocalist Marilyn Horne. Carmen Jones opened to favorable reviews and a strong box office returns on October 28, 1954. It earned $70,000 during its first week and $50,000 during its second. Dandridge's performance as the seductive leading actress made her one of Hollywood's African American sex symbols. She earned positive reviews for her role. By November 1, 1954, Dorothy Dandridge was the first black woman featured on the cover of Life magazine. Carmen Jones was the worldwide success earning over $10 million at the box office and becoming one of the year's highest earning films.

Dorothy Dandridge was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. She was the first African American nominated for a leading role. During the 27th Academy Awards, which was held on March 30, 1955, Dandridge shared her Oscar nomination with actresses like Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Judy Garland, and Jane Wyman. Although, Kelly won the award for her performance in The County Girl, Dorothy Dandridge was highly popular. During the 1944 Oscar ceremony, Dandridge presented the Academy Award for Film Editing to On the Waterfront editor Gene Milford. On February 15, 1955, Dandridge signed a three movie deal with 20th Century Fox starting at $75,000 a film. Darryl F. Zanuck, the studio head, had personally suggested the studio sign Dandridge to a contract. Zanuck had big plans for her, hoping that should would evolve into the first African American screen icon. He purchased the film rights to The Blue Angle and intended to cast her as saloon singer Lola-Lola in an all-black remake of the original 1930 film. She was planned to play Cigarette in the remake of Under Two Flags. Dandridge agreed to play the role of Tuptim in a film version of the King and I and a neighbor The Lieutenant Wore Skirts. Her former director Otto Preminger suggested that she accept only leading roles. By this time, Preminger was committing adultery against his wife by having an affair with Dandridge. Dorothy Dandridge was an international star. She rejected the two other roles and they were given to the famous Puerto Rican actress Rita Moreno. On April 11, 1955, Dorothy Dandridge was the first black performer to open at the Empire Room inside New York's Waldorf-Astoria hotel. Her success as a headliner led to the hotel to book other black performers like Count Bassie Orchestra with vocalist Joe Williams, Pearl Bailey, and Lena Horne. In 1957, Dandridge sued Confidential for libel over its article about an incident. This incident never happened and by May 1957, she received an accepted out of court settlement of $10,000. She also testified at the 1957 criminal libel trial of Hollywood Research, Inc., the company that published Confidential as well as all of the other tabloid magazines from that era. Dandridge and O'Hara's testimony proved that Hollywood Research committed libel at least twice against both women. By the late 1950's, she was in many roles.



During this era of time, it is certainly right to present to the world the history of Secret Societies chronologically from the start of human history to the year of 2020. I did similar research a long time ago about this subject. Now, we live in a new generation with much more accurate information about how Secret societies function and the history of them. That is why it is important to get the facts right and to make sure that real facts are made available to the people. One common debate among Secret Societies are among Christian conservatives and the New Age crowd. Both groups accuse each other of being false. The big irony is that the New Age crowd claims to be so tolerant, but many of them are intolerant of Christians who disagree with occultism and paganism. The fact is that people have the free speech right to disagree with the agenda and dogmas of many secret societies like the Skulls and Bones and the O.T.O. Many people like Robert Hieronymus (who demonizes anyone who disagrees with Freemasonry and like-minded groups) omit that some of the strongest opposers of slavery in history were believers in God. Robert wants to promote the falsehood that conservative Christians (who research conspiracy issues) collectively view the Framers as worshipers of Satan which is ludicrous and hilarious. Although, many Framers were wicked slave owners and oppressors of black people. While I disagree with many conservative Christians on omitting the need to address and eliminate racial injustice, the need to end police brutality, the necessity to advance labor rights, and I disagree with them on other important issues (some, not all, conservative Christians are outright bigots and racists who support the overt racist Donald Trump. Loving your neighbor as yourself means the human race as all humans are created equal in the image of God), all of them aren't monolithic in their views. I do agree with conservative Christians on many issues like condemning adultery, exposing Scientology and other cults, disagreeing with the New Age movement, and believing in the existence of one God. Likewise, I don't agree with conservative Christians on every single issue as justice and human equality are meant for all regardless of one's background. Me personally, I don't agree with Freemasonry and witchcraft because of my personal reasons not because I want them to be oppressed. No one should experience oppression. What people from across the political spectrum do agree upon is that institutional racism, economic inequality (select families, world banks, and other entities have inordinate power in the world), corporate corruption, and imperialism are realities in the world that must end. Thousands of years ago, many secret societies had different functions. Many of these organizations were the keepers of the secrets of medicine, government, science, technology, and spirituality. They shared this knowledge to the next generation. These secret groups existed in Africa, Europe, the Americas, Asia, and other places of the world. Numerous Secret Societies followed the Universal Religion that teaches that man can use steps or rituals to rise to achieve higher consciousness from lower consciousness (which is taught in the modern day New Age Movement). It is the belief that humans can be God or like a god. This doctrine relates to the mysteries and paganism. This is what they call the "ancient wisdom," which is why many dominant religious institutions persecuted secret society members. For the record, I don't agree with persecution against anyone. This pagan concept has been preserved for thousands of years. This is why by the 1800's, there was a hijacking of numerous secret society movements. Many corporations and elite groups copied the symbolism of ancient secret societies and made them their own (when the origin of these symbols go back thousands of years). Also, you have extremists who view any symbol as of the Devil. Of course, that is not true as symbols have multiple levels of meaning (symbols can conceal or reveal hidden information). The Framers and architects of Washington, D.C. used many pagan and Masonic imagery in art, architecture, etc. in order to send a clear measure about what they believed in. Many Framers like Thomas Jefferson weren't Christians, but believed that Jesus Christ was a great teacher of morality and ethics. Christians believe that Jesus Christ was the Son of the living God and therefore God. New Agers believe that Christians are right that Jesus is God, but they believe that the human race is God too. I of course reject the idea of mere humans being gods or God. Jesus Christ was right to say that the Kingdom of God is within you. I do believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God.

The problem with the New Age crowd is that many of them blame Christianity collectively for the evils of the Inquisition, the Maafa, and the Salem witch trials when those acts of evil have nothing to do with the message of Jesus or true Christian doctrines. Murder, religious persecution, kidnapping people, controlling people against their wills, and coercion are evil. We know that Osama bin Laden is not representative of all Muslims. We certainly know that many Middle Eastern pagans were involved in the oppression of Hebrew people, and some Roman pagans were complicit in the murder of thousands of Christians during the first few centuries after the birth of Jesus Christ. Do I blame all pagans for these atrocities? No. Yet, I find it interesting that many New Agers don't talk about the massive persecutions that Bible believing Christians have gone through from Felix Manz to the early followers of Jesus Christ. The Catholic Church leadership hypocritically criticized Freemasonry for years (for accusing Masonry of promoting paganism and the occult. I of course disagree with Freemasonry for various reasons), but Roman Catholicism is filled with doctrines from the Mysteries and paganism like purgatory, the veneration of statues, and other doctrines. Therefore, sincere people have desired truth for the ages of time. The problem is that today America and other places of the world have been hijacked by international elitists, large corporations, and other geopolitical entities that desire centralized control, economic exploitation, imperialism, and corporate domination of our lives. That is the problem. Once you see the truth, you can live in the truth. Ancient religions found in Egypt, Etruscan lands, other places of Europe, Babylon, Mayan lands, etc. do have similarities with each other. The pagan concepts from the ancient world passed down into the Gnostics, those in the Renaissance, and other movements. While I don't believe that a human can be God or is God, I do believe in the greatness of human dignity, human curiosity, and human intellect. Our human greatness is not superior to God's divine power. The lie of many occultists is that every Secret Society is just good old wholesome fun. The reality is that many secret societies through the ages had human sacrifice, false doctrines, debauchery (as found in the Hell Fire Club), and rituals of a mock human sacrifice (like in the Bohemian Grove which will be exposed once again). The passing down of knowledge involving math, science, and other matters by the ancients was good. What was bad was the hijacking of legitimate wisdom by the elitists (made up of the super wealthy families controlling the majority of the wealth on Earth) and large corporate power bases in harming the lives of the common people. One example is that the nation of America is made up of righteous people and evil people. Secret Societies are very diverse. Yet, they are related heavily in human history. In the near future, I will write about Secret Societies in a chronological order.


The Ark of the Covenant is one of the most important religious objects of Judaism and other monotheistic religions. Originally, the Ark of the Covenant was housed in the Temple of Solomon. The Temple of Solomon was destroyed many times. It was destroyed completely by 70 A.D. by the Roman forces after the prophecy of Jesus Christ saying that Solomon's Temple will have all of its stones gone. The Bible stated that after Solomon's Temple was completed, as part of the dedication ceremony the Ark was seated within the Kodesh Hakodashim or the Holy of Holies. Within the Holy of Holies, there are two massive statues of the cherubim or angels who attend to God in the Abrahamic tradition, stood overlooking the Ark. The Old Testament of the Bible described many detailed depictions of how the Ark of the Covenant was to be built. Much of the ark was made up of acacia wood. The wood was covered with gold and a lid was fashioned with the Cherubim on the lid. Moses and Arron worked together as Aaron was Moses' brother. In the Bible, God commanded Moses that each of the 12 tribes would put forth a rod to determine which tribe would be the priests of the Ark of the Covenant. The tribe connected to the rod that bloomed over night would be the priests. Aaron put forth his rod for the Levites. Over the right, his rod was blooming and almonds came from it. Many traditions say that the Israelites used the Ark in Bible. The location of the Ark of covenant is unknown. For decades, researchers and scholars have tried to find the Ark in Ethiopia, Israel, and other places of the world. The symbol of the Ark of Covenant is found in synagogues, Churches, and in Masonic artwork (as Freemasonry copy concepts from the OT). The 2 cherubim images on the Ark represents God's glory. The Ark had the golden pot filled with manna (as a memorial for future generations about how God fed them in the wilderness as found in Exodus 16:32-33), Aaron's Rod (that was a sign of God's continued choice of Aaron as priest as found in Numbers 17:5), and the 10 Commandments. It was lost during the destruction of the First Temple by the Babylonians.


The Golden Age of hip hop taught the world about many things. It has shown the world that regardless of the lies and stereotypes about hip hop in general, hip hop is an artform that is here to stay. The sounds of MC Lyte and the lyricism from Rakim during the Golden Age of hip hop expanded many people's minds about its value. Also, the time from 1986 to 1994 wasn't all filled with sunshine and roses. We witness racial injustices like the murder of our Brothers and Sisters by the police. We witness the Rodney King beating which led to the 1992 rebellion. We saw the growth of the prison industrial complex and the era of the Crime Bill. During the time, I was in elementary school. It was the time of my early childhood when I listened to many hip hop music. Also, it was a time where many progressive and freedom loving human beings stood up against racism, against economic injustice, and against oppression in general. Massive sampling of music existed during this time too. You can make the case that the Golden Era of hip hop had some of the most diverse forms of hip hop available of all time. Fore example, there was conscious music from Public Enemy, dance hip hop from MC Hammer, more hardcore songs from N.W.A., and music with universal praise from A Tribe Called Quest. It was a time of balance of music forms, and it had hip hop for people of every age, background, color, and nationality. That time wasn't a dull moment from the controversies to the awards given to artists. It was a time also of the growth of corporate control of mainstream hip hop. New record labels existed, and artists had to fight for their masters, publishing, and other components of their contracts. The end of this era saw the development of 2 great hip hop artists. They were born in the same city, and they were very popular. To this very day, people either hate them or idolize them. They represent legendary hip hop history. They are Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G.





You can't talk about hip hop without discussing about debates and controversies in hip hop. These debates continue to this day. The controversies of hip hop started during the birth of hip hop. Back in the 1970's, many people didn't view hip hop as music. A lot of people don't know that many R&B artists hated hip hop as a fad or not real music. We know that hip hop is music as it has sounds, lyrics, melody, poetry, and other components of musical expression. Later, hip hop's lyrical content would be criticized. It wasn't as scrutinized during the 1970's, because the vast majority of hip hop back in the day didn't have a lot of profanity. That would change by the 1980's. Groups like 2LiveCrew had to go to court over their content. Judges in the court ultimately permitted them to show their music in any fashion because of First Amendment protections. Uncle Luke said that he helped a lot of artists to say what they say on records. He also wanted southern hip hop to be respected, because as late as the 1990's, many narrow-minded people wanted to disrespect any rap music from the South. By the late 1980's, sexually explicit music became commonplace in hip hop. Artists, who show these lyrics, issue many justifications on why they do it. Some say that it's free speech, some say that they are reporters of what happen in the ghettos, they say that they talk about some women not all women, and other weak excuses. I have heard them all. The truth is that any musician or artist can easily describe the harsh conditions of poor neighborhoods without calling black women, black men, or black people in general every name under the sun. They may have free speech rights, but we have free speech rights to disagree with demeaning women or demeaning black people in general in music.

The irony is that corporate heads permitted this to happen. If the capitalists running the mainstream music industry said that they would not promote any album degrading black people, many musicians would not do it. C. Deloris Tucker, Rev. Butts, and Jesse Jackson criticized these types of anti-black, anti-black women lyrics in some (not all) hip hop music. These people aren't perfect. Many of them were not revolutionaries, but part of the old school, mainstream bourgeois civil rights institution. I don't agree with Tucker allying with a conservative extremist William Bennet. We know of their imperfections. Their views were caught up in generational debates among the black community. Yet, they are right that degrading black people in music is not a long term solution to develop our communities. Many children imitate these lyrics. The stickers on the albums are of course a joke. An adult can buy these albums and send them to a child. Now, these imperfections found in some music is not limited to hip hop. Many other genres had controversial lyrics. During the 1920's, many early jazz records had extremely sexual lyrics. Hip hop is not to be blamed for violence, crime, police brutality, racism, sexism, etc. We know that white racist, imperial control of capital and exploitation of Africans and people of the black African Diaspora contributed heavily to the bad conditions of many of our communities not hip hop. It would be silly for anyone to blame music for these issues, but anti-black lyrics have been the gasoline on a fire that perpetrates false stereotypes about black people. I will guarantee you that these musicians, who show anti-black lyrics, would never tolerate a person calling their sons or daughters those names. Back in the day, it was taboo to show these critiques in public. Today, it is more accepted to outline criticism of anti-black lyrics, because of the Black Lives Matter movement and other movements for social change. Large corporations make billions of dollars to peddle anti-black, anti-woman, and anti-community rap lyrics. This was said by C. Deloris Tucker, and she's right on that point. Also, it is important to note that hip hop is not monolithic. C. Deloris Tucker gave a powerful statement to the Senate in 1994 that advocated solutions in the midst of oppressed communities and the glorification of violence in music. Tucker was clear that she wasn't against rap. She was against gangster rap and misogynistic lyrics. C. Deloris Tucker was an elder in our community who sacrificed a lot. She didn't live to see her arguments readily praised, but her views are readily honored today. For that, we honor her as a courageous black woman. Now, we know that the corporate establishment hyped up gangster rap over more positive forms of hip hop. Hip hop originated with a positive sense of community, togetherness, and a love of musical expression.




Hip Hop from 1994 to 1997 has been every powerful and influential. The hip hop of 1996 included some of the greatest hip hop music of all time. By 1994, Nas, Biggie, Tupac, Lauryn Hill, and other artists were on the rise. Magazines like Vibe and The Source were key instruments of promoting hip hop culture. Also, the conflicts of hip hop grew with the attempted murder of Tupac Shakur in 1994 by cowardly gunmen  at Quad Studios. This propelled the conflict among Bad Boys Records and Death Row Records. Tupac and Biggie were the most powerful hip hop artists at the time. They had the biggest hip hop lyrical battle in history. Their conflict was personal with allegations shown by both sides. They were former best friends. The real truth is that outside influences expanded the tensions, and both men would have reconciled if not for the agitation by corporate funded record labels plus the mainstream media. The media fueled tensions for money basically. Cowards murdered both men unjustly in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Tupac was a poet who talked about a wide ranging amount of issues, while Biggie was a person who mastered the flow of rap in his lyrical wordplay. Tupac Shakur was the son of a Black Panther member, so consciousness was part of his upbringing. Biggie was the son of a very courageous mother from Jamaica who instilled in him the values of courage and resiliency. Also, 1994 to 1997 had an explosion of both mainstream and underground artists. Digiable Planets, Tribe, the Fugees, Coolio, Westside Connection, Busta Rhymes, Jay Z, Outkast, Scarface, Master P, Snoop, and other musicians flourished during this time period. Nothing would the same with hip hop by the time of 1997. The tragedy of 2 legends losing their lives was so great that many wondered if hip hop would survive. Now, we know that hip hop did survive. The stories of Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G. show us that life is very precious, and we have to make sure to live it filled with determination and righteousness.

 By Timothy

Cornel West on this moment.

https://www.salon.com/2020/06/26/cornel-west-on-this-moment-of-escalating-consciousness-and-the-need-for-radical-democracy/

Friday News on late June of 2020.

One important news is that Bill Barr or the Attorney General will testify amidst calls of some for him to resign. One former prosecutor told Congress many things. The prosecutor is Aaron Zelinksy. Barr is scheduled to testify on July of 2020. John Elias and Aaron Zelinksy said that Barr is abusing his office in dealing with Roger Stone in order to promote political favor with Donald Trump. Zelinksy said that the Justice Department sentencing guidelines for Roger Stone (or Trump's friend) was watered down due to the Justice Department and because of Stone's relationship with Trump. Barr is only testifying after Nadler said that he will subpoena Bill Barr. Former U.S. Attorney Berman refused to sign a Justice Department letter criticizing NY's COVID restrictions. Elias accused Barr of ordering the investigations of 10 mergers of cannabis companies, because he didn't like the industry. Elias said other comments too. Donald Ayer said Bill Barr is a big threat to the concept of the rule of law in acting biased toward legal matters. The House Committee will interview Bill Barr on July 28, 2020.


Some wild news is that the Siberian Arctic records temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. This is more than 32 degrees above average temperature during June in the city of Verkoyansk, Russia. Similar news worldwide confirm that we witness a crisis of monumental proportions. 2020 started in January 2020 with the hottest month of January in recorded history. Since the 1960's, scientists and researchers have warned the world about climate change. Thawing permafrost in the Arctic represents signs of climate climate, the release of methane (being a greenhouse gas), and other factors. We have seen that the only solution is the international organization of humanity in creating energy, transportation, and agriculture in stabilizing the Earth's climate.

Today, protests existed in Frankurt, Kentucky in desiring all cops involved in the death of Breonna Taylor to be tried and convicted. 3 NC cops have been fired for making anti-racist rants. Black Lives Matter is beyond a slogan. It's a movement that details the truth all black lives on this Earth have worth and value. Recently, agent provocateurs (who are total agents) have brought down statues of even abolitionists. While I agree with bringing down statues of Confederates, I don't agree with getting rid of the statues of abolitionists (like Hans Christian Heg who lived from 1829 to 1863. He was a Norwegian immigrant who died fighting for the Union) who were involved in the anti-slavery movement. These actions are no different than the evil burnings of Hindu temples and Muslim mosques in India and Pakistan. The desecration of the statue of the black 54th Massachusetts Union army group that occurred in Boston is totally disrespectful including racist. The 54th Regiment were made up of black heroes who helped to win the Civil War for the Union side. This group was commanded by Shaw. That is why we are clear to be anti-Confederate and pro-human liberation.

One racist was caught. His name was U.S. Army private Ethan Melzer of Louisville, KY. He is charged with passing sensitive troop information to a fascist organization in order to cause an insider attack against his Army unit while deployed in Turkey. He is charged with sending electronic messages to the occult Neo-Nazi group called the Order of the Nine Angels. He has been in contact with the hate group. The Nazi group is anti-Semitic in denying the Holocaust and believing in a lot of other wicked views. Melzer has been caught having links to ISIS. This story shows the growing threat of fascism in the world. Fascism didn't die in World War II. These white racist groups have been caught doing internet collaboration in America, Canada, and in Russia. Years ago, when I did my research, I found out that the Al-Husseini person decades ago worked with Hitler in murdering Jewish people. Also, many of these anti-Semites regularly work with those who hate us black people, Jewish people, and anyone who isn't of white European descent. This comes when Trump signed a proclamation that restricts immigration. This harms legal immigration. This proves that Trump is xenophobic.


Yesterday was the 11th year after the passing of Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson was one of the greatest entertainers of all time. 2009 was when I was in my 20s. Michael Jackson fought for more black representation in the music industry. He was involved in some of the greatest humanitarian efforts in history. Always in love with music, he performed greatly from Off the Wall to Thriller. His influence and talent helped to break down barriers and cause more human beings to accept themselves. With music like Beat It, Earth Son, Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', Remember the Time, You Rock My World, Jam, Can You Feel It, etc., he had tons of items of classic music. Hope, joy, and honor to legendary artists were part of his history. He always gave praise to James Brown and Jackie Wilson including Sammy Davis Jr. as these people motivated his career to develop into new heights of prominence. Janet Jackson, who is his sister, supported him including the rest of his family. His lifelong friend was Diana Ross and so many other individuals who stood by him.

Rest in Power Brother Michael Jackson.

By Timothy

Black Agenda Report News.

https://www.blackagendareport.com/yes-defund-cops-and-put-them-under-community-control

https://www.blackagendareport.com/freedom-rider-democrats-move-right-and-towards-defeat

https://www.blackagendareport.com/movement-abolish-police-must-place-politics-command

https://www.blackagendareport.com/responsibility-protect-bipartisan-crimes-against-humanity-us

https://www.blackagendareport.com/notes-coloniality-peace

https://www.blackagendareport.com/burundian-president-pierre-nkurunziza-1964-2020

https://www.blackagendareport.com/bar-book-forum-nadine-ehlers-and-shiloh-krupars-deadly-biocultures

https://www.blackagendareport.com/bar-book-forum-lola-olufemis-feminism-interrupted

https://www.blackagendareport.com/elite-deploy-spy-hi-tech-against-people

https://www.blackagendareport.com/new-generation-same-struggle

https://www.blackagendareport.com/moment-or-movement-blowback-will-tell

https://www.blackagendareport.com/will-blacks-oppose-or-defend-us-empire

https://www.blackagendareport.com/zero-degree-rage-focuses-black-minds

The Truth.

Trump has praised Andrew Jackson, because they share ideological similarities. Both of them are hostile to the general welfare (as both of them believe in small government), both support austerity policies, and both are racists. Andrew Jackson illegally forced Native Americans off their lands from the Southeast to forcibly send them into Oklahoma. Trump has threatened an executive order to target protesters who oppose and try to take down racist monuments. The Confederates were traitors, and these Confederate statues were placed up to distort history (and to outline racism). Real history must be advanced. Trump calling Obama a traitor outlines his racism (as hate crimes has increased in America since 2016) once again. Trump is obsessed with Obama, because Obama has much more greater character than Trump, and Obama is a person who isn't white. Therefore, as the demographics of America continue to change, we should celebrate our diversity while promoting justice.

Trump loves a border wall, but Trump ignores the complexity of immigration issues, the massive cages housing migrants, and his total xenophobic policies. Trump refuses to eliminate the cages near the border. We know that the border wall doesn't work, but it only forces more immigrants to go into the more dangerous areas of the border risking harm. Trump presided over the separation of families on the border. Also, record spikes in coronavirus infections are found in meatpacking plants as well. This is found in at least 23 meat processing plants in North Carolina alone. This occurs in Germany, in Wales, and in Brazil. The possible eliminating of the $600 addition unemployment benefits to workers by July 25 might cause millions of people to go into destitution. This happens with record Wall Street profits.

It is important to expose 2 traitors. The late Maya Angelou is right to say that when people tell you how they feel, believe them. I will expose these people not only to make a point to defend the truth. We want to make sure that young people don't follow in their twisted footsteps. First, Muhammad Ali Jr. lied and called Black Lives Matter racist. He also said that he supports Donald Trump, and that he praises the police institution unconditionally. Trump is an overt racist by calling the coronavirus an anti-Asian racist slur, by calling Maxine Waters as having low IQ, by praising raising Confederate statues, saying that a Mexican American judge can't judge an immigration case fairly because of his Mexican heritage, and calling nations (with a majority population of black African descent) profane terms. Muhammad Ali Jr. defended Derek Chauvin in that he said he was doing his job in murdering George Floyd. Derek is a murderer who violated human rights. Muhammad Ali Jr. is a person who is just reprehensible. This is the same hypocrite who was stopped and detained twice by immigration officers at a Florida airport in 2017 during Trump's Muslim travel ban.

Therefore, Muhammad Ali Jr. (who left his own family nearly destitute like a coward) is wrong, and he had the nerve to say that Muhammad Ali would agree with him on the BLM movement and on racial topics. Muhammad Ali explicitly defended his black heritage. When Muhammad Ali opposed the Vietnam War, during the 1960's, Ali made it clear that he wanted to support the black community. He also supported the poor and wanted the human race to be liberated. Just because we, who are black people, love our black culture & our Blackness, doesn't mean that we hate other people.

We just love our own black African identity in opposition to systematic oppression. The other sellout is the so-called hip hop artist named Boosie (who is from Louisiana). Boosie is known for disrespecting his son by doing things that I can't mention here, and he said other bigoted nonsense for a while now. He recently said the lie that black women hate black men involving child support. He is totally wrong. The women who have supported black men the most throughout human history are always black women. Boosie has some nerve to disrespect black women when he came from a black woman. Only a coward would scapegoat black women for his own insecurities. That is why our responses to both of these selfish ingrates are to not fund them, not to support them, and to give our support to anyone who respects black people. Laila Ali, instead of Muhammad Ali Jr., is the real champion of human justice. I have great admiration for Sister Laila Ali.

By Timothy

Kobe Bryant's Life and Legacy.

https://www.scribd.com/document/466704556/Kobe-Bryant-1978-2020

The Truth Must be Shown.

It is no secret that anti-immigration views, and nativism are related to racism and eugenics. I have studied this topic for years. Over a century ago, the Chinese Exclusion Act was an xenophobic law that wanted no Chinese people to come into America. The various laws of the 1920's, didn't want immigrants from Southern Europe and other places to come to America. Trump's immigration ban is the direct fruit of the racism found in America for centuries. As we know, the anti-immigrant Federation for American Immigration Reform has been caught receiving its start up money from the nonprofit Pioneer Fund (which has a long history of promoting eugenics and racism). The Pioneer Fund also aid researchers who push the myth of white genetic superiority. Even the Southern Poverty Law Center and the ADL has condemned FAIR and the Pioneer Fund for advancing hateful, racist views. Eugenics is the belief that there are superior and inferior genes. Therefore, it is the belief that certain people must have children to increase the chance of having "superior" genes than inferior genes. Many eugenicists believe that white people are superior to black people. That is false. Eugenics, forced sterilization, forced incarceration, and other evil actions were once legal in many American states like Indiana, North Carolina, even California, etc. The Nazis were well known advocates of eugenics. That is why the Nazis used the Nuremberg Laws to promote both racism and eugenics. The Pioneer Fund promoted eugenics based laws for decades in America. That is why the Nazi Nuremberg Laws were influenced by the American-based eugenics laws. Political leaders like Henry Cabot Lodge believed that Anglo-Saxons were the superior "stock." Theodore Roosevelt and especially Woodrow Wilson embrace eugenics/racist tenets. E.A. Ross and John R. Commons promoted the lie of the inferior intellectual capacity of racial/ethnic minorities. Madison Grant with his The Passing of the Great Race and Lorthrop Stoddard's The Rising Tide of Color were overt racists and eugenicists.  These wicked ideologies grew nativist thought and the anti-immigrant movement that we witness today. The truth is that regardless of one's color or nationality, all humans are created equal by God. There are geniuses and great people among the spectrum of the human race. Nazis wanted to grow the population of North European descent and decrease the population of Jewish people and people of color. The racist 1924 Immigration and Restriction Act reduced immigration from people who came from Eastern Europe, Russia, Jewish people, and other places of the world. Calvin Coolidge believed in this 1924 law. Henry Hamilton Laughlin promoted eugenics. John Tanton and Peter Brimelow are extremists. John Tanton recently died. Tanton believed in radical population control too. NumbersUSA, VDare, and other extremists promote even reduction of legal immigration. Daniel Okrent's book entitled, "The Guarded Gate: Bigotry, Eugenics, and the Law that Kept Two Generation of Jews, Italians and Other European Immigrants Out of America" exposes the racist, eugenic character of the 1924 anti-immigrant law. Today, Trump wants a wall built on Mexico. Trump questioned a Mexican American judge's bias involving an immigration case (which is the textbook definition of racism). Trump's rhetoric has saw an increase of hate crimes against immigrants, Muslims, black people, Jewish people, Asian people, etc. since 2016.

Today, we have a reactionary ADOS movement. The ADOS movement is strange in the sense that they have progressive critiques of the wealth gap between black and white Americans and the system of racism harming black Americans, but they merge that with their far right conservative views on immigration embracing xenophobia against non-American members of the African Diaspora. A simple refutation of the ADOS movement is that you can't claim to love black people without loving black people worldwide. It's that simple. Black people in Europe, Africa, Asia, and other places of the world are our Brothers and our Sisters too. They seek to limit unity among black people globally when freedom is meant for all black people worldwide. ADOS stands for the American Descendants of Slaves. ADOS lovers forget that black history existed before the Maafa. Black history started in Africa where we came from. ADOS promotes the canard that since American slavery was unique and represents a distinct lineage, then only black Americans should have reparations in America (and everyone else in the Diaspora should separate and fight for reparations in various nations). The truth is that black Americans should fight for reparations in America and internationally. ADOS was created by the problematic Antonio Moore (who said that a white American woman has more cultural ties to him than Lupita Nyong'o when Lupita has lived in America for years and defends black people constantly) and Yvette Carnell (who wants the birthright citizenship part of the 14th Amendment banned, and she wore an American flag across herself). Carnell was once a Democratic Party consultant, and now she is an anti-immigrant extremist who has ties to PFIR (or the Progressives for Immigration Reform group. This group has ties to the white nationalist, pro-Trump FAIR group). Many ADOS folks have attacked the Roma human being Ms. Imani for exposing the PFIR links to Carnell and ADOS falsehoods in general. PFIR is a far right group despite Carnell's denials. Yvette Carnell said the lie that Pan-Africanism is dead when it is alive an well. Carnell is overt in her bigoted contempt for Africans and Africa. She and Moore stereotype Africans as slave traders, billionaires and pirates. This rhetoric is exactly the same repugnant views I heard from white racists for over 10 years. Antonio Moore was a lawyer and obsesses with data. He said that we have the data. Moore is not wrong in everything that he says.

He is that right that far too often, the working and class and poor African American plight is readily minimized and ignored by some wealthy capitalists including some wealthy African Americans. His problem is that he uses that fact as an excuse to scapegoat immigrants or Africans when they are the same victims of the 1% just like us (who are African Americans). Dwayne Wong wrote great articles in refuting Antonio Moore's false claims. Wong exposed the fact that Moore lied in one video about Moore saying that chattel slavery did not exist in Caribbean. We know that is a lie, because I read books and sources documenting slavery in the Caribbean. Mary Prince and Olaudah Equiano wrote about slavery in the Caribbean. Clairmont Chung and other scholars document the link of slavery in North American and slavery in the Caribbean. That is why black Americans and Afro-Caribbean deserve reparations. In fact, the Caribbean islands were commonly the first stop of many Africans before coming into America. Moore even suggested that people in Africa don't refer to themselves as African. That is a lie as Moore is readily ignorant of African history and culture. Tons of Africans call themselves Africans. For the record, many Caribbeans and many Africans support the black American cause for reparations. Moore and Carnell cite movies to promote xenophobic rhetoric about movie roles. The ADOS believes the lie that Africans and others come to America to exploit the sacrifice of African Americans in the civil rights struggle to get a piece of the action for selfish gain. They stereotype African and Afro-Caribbean immigrants as collectively hating us black Americans. This is like Trump demonizing majority African nations. History teaches us that all black people are one. Our ancestors may land on America, the Caribbean, or Brazil, but we are one black African people. Malcolm X told us that we are the victims of America and we are Africans who happen to be in America. The Maafa harmed black Americans, Africans, and other black people of the world. The enslavement of African people was global. Capitalism contributed to genocide of black people globally too. The Western oligarchs continue to exploit the resources of Africa and black people in the Americas too. The only difference between an African American, a Haitian, an Afro-Latino, an Afro-Brazilian, and an Afro-Cuban is the boat stop. The ADOS omits the crimes of American imperialism for centuries in order to have a lust for the empire's crumbs. ADOS' stereotyping of black immigrants (in claiming that black Americans have a distinct lineage, but many black Americans came from the Caribbean like Denmark Vesey. The African Diaspora has one African lineage period) is no different than a white racist view of black immigrants. That is why the system of colonization (that stripped Africans of music, traditions, religion, names, foods, etc.) is not limited to black Americans. Everyone of the African Diaspora are victims of colonization as well. There is a long history of Afro-descendant immigrants working with black Americans against white racism like Marcus Garvey, Kwame Ture, etc. The ADOS' embrace of American exceptionalism is troubling, but it outlines that even some of our people can be brainwashed to except a sugarcoating of the American empire (which was involved in the pogroms of black Americans, the genocide of American Native Americans, the end of Puerto Rican sovereignty, the overthrow of South American nations, and Africom). You can't have freedom for black Americans without freeing all black people of the world. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere as Dr. King (who visited Africa before) has said. ADOS advocates ignore Pan-Africanists, Black Nationalists, and other black revolutionaries, because these people go against the ADOS' limited, nationalist goal. Revolutionaries want global revolutionary change. ADOS just wants reparations primarily. There is nothing wrong with reparations for black Americans (I agree with reparations), but we want more than that. We want total black liberation worldwide without exceptions. The first black owned newspaper in America was created by black Jamaican immigrant John Russwurm. The Gullah-Gechee people in North Carolina, South Carolina, George, and Florida are related to the Caribbean people of the Bahamas. Afro-Cuban Artuo Alfonso Schomburg recorded black American history in he New York Library. Regardless of ADOS says, Afro-Caribbeans made outstanding contributions to African American culture. This fact is what Moore and Carnell won't tell their followers.  Freedom can never come by compromising with the American empire or dividing black people based upon nationality. It comes by uniting with the African Diaspora (in a Pan-Africanist fashion), demanding change, using organization, establishing social and economic programs (that can fight poverty, homelessness, and economic inequality) and fighting the system to make a system a justice. Unity works.

Salt-N-Pepa was one of the most innovative, greatest hip hop groups in history. They came about during the midst of the development of many women hip hop groups like JJ Fad. Also, Salt-N-Pepa believed in women's empowerment, fashion, love, and standing up for their own dignity plus worth. They fought for their value in an industry that was and still is filled with sexism plus false stereotypes about women. They started during the Golden Age of hip hop. They were created in 1985. Their members are Salt (Cheryl James), Pepa (Sandra Denton), and DJ Spinderella (Deidra Roper). They sold over 15 million records worldwide, making them one of the best selling rap groups of all time. They won the 1995 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for their song "None of Your Business." Queen Latifah won during the same year too. The group Salt-n-Pepa have been called The First Ladies of Hip hop. Cheryl James was from Brooklyn and Sandra Denton was from Queens. Both of them were studying nursing at Queensborough Community College. They were friends and co-workers at Sears. Both of them made a record called The Showstoppa as a response to Doug E. Fresh's "The Show." The group was originally called Super Nature with DJ Latoya Hanson. Their debut album was called Hot, Cool, and Vicious on December 1986. By 1985, they gained DJ Spinderella, who was a 15 year old high school student after Hanson left the group. They existed and grow. Back as late as the 1980's, many thought hip hop would be a fad, and some companies didn't sign hip hop artists. Salt-n-Paepa had to record for independent labels. The paradox was that much of the artists in the hip hop were sexists, but Salt-in-Pepa wanted to control their own sexuality by showing their own personal records like "Let's Talk about Sex." In their music, they promote their own human autonomy as women.  The album was produced by Hurby Azor, Salt's boyfriend at the time and the group's manager. Years later, the women found themselves with legal issues with Azor as they accused him of paying unfair royalties. Hot, Cool & Vicious provided some moderate R&B hits with the singles "My Mic Sound Nice", etc. The album sold over 1 million copies being the first woman rap group to go platinum in selling 1.4 million copies worldwide.

Salt-N-Pepa's next album A Salt with a Deadly Pepa was released on July 26, 1988, contained the top 10 R&B hit "Shake Your Thang", featuring the go-go band E.U. A top 20 R&B hit and a minor pop hit were seen in "Get Up Everybody (Get Up)" and "Twist and Shout", respectively; with "Twist and Shout" becoming a major hit in the UK (#4), and several European countries. The album became certified gold-status, for excess sales of 600,000 copies sold in the U.S. and a total of 800,000 copies sold internationally.

The group's third album Blacks' Magic was released on March 19, 1990. Pepa became the first group member to become pregnant. Azor produced some songs on the album. As he was producing other acts, he agreed to let the artists work with different producers to finish the album. James and Roper took on producing assignments themselves, and the trio hired different producers, such as Invincible's producer Dana Mozie. This was the first album to feature Roper on vocals as well as DJing. The result was six singles released by Next Plateau Records, several of which became hits: "Expression" (US #26, UK #40 in 1990, UK #23 in 1992), a platinum single that had been certified gold before it even cracked the U.S Hot 100 as it had already been #1 on the R&B Chart for 8 weeks, and produced by Salt; "Independent"; "I Don't Know" (featuring Kid 'n Play); "Do You Want Me" (US #21, UK #5), etc. Very Necessary was Salt-N-Pepa's groundbreaking album from October 1993. It had songs like Shoop, Whatta Man, and None of Your Business. It sold 7 million worldwide and 5 million in America. They are the first women hip hop group to go multi-platinum. They toured, Salt was in the movie Who's the Man?, Pepa was in the movie Joe's Apartment, and they had great success. Brand New was their album in 1997. The Best of Salt-N-Pepa was released in 2000. They broke up temporarily. The reunion of Salt and Pepa came in 2005 when they were honored in VH-1's Hip Hop Honors. They performed with En Vogue the song, Whatta Man. Spinderella worked with them too. On October 14, 2007, The Salt-n-Pepa Show debuted on VH1. Pepa initially started the formation of the series as she previously appeared on the network in The Surreal Life. The Salt-n-Pepa Show chronicled events in the lives of Pepa and Salt as they work out past issues and return to the recording studio. Spinderella has been featured in several episodes. Later in 2008, the trio performed with MC Lyte, Yo-Yo, and Lady of Rage at the BET Hip Hop Awards. Pepa released an autobiography titled Let's Talk About Pep in August 2008. The book was co-written by Karen Hunter. It features an introduction by Queen Latifah, and an epilogue by Missy Elliott. To accompany the book, she launched her own social network for her fans and also starred in the reality TV series Let's Talk About Pep on the VH-1 network. They toured with many artists recently from SWV, Debbie Gisbon, Naughty by Nature, etc. Some sad news is that Spinderella parted ways with the group over contractual disagreements that both Salt and Pepa deny to this day. DJ Cocoa Chanelle (who was in BET and HOT 97) is the replacement DJ. Salt-N-Pepa along with DJ Spinderella remain icons of hip hop history and hip hop culture. Their contributions will never be forgotten.


One of the most important and sometimes complex mathematics in the world are trigonometry and precalculus Both items are used in science, architecture, engineering, technology, class assignments, and other arenas. Some of the greatest mathematicians in human history studied or use innovation in both types of mathematics. When I was a child, I studied both styles of math greatly. It was certainly fund to learn about formulas, equations, and how applications related to various realms of research. To find distance formulas, the slope of a line, the slope-intercept equation, logarithms, and exponential plus logarithmic functions, you have to be in love with mathematics.  Doing that gave me a better awareness and understanding about how the universe functions. You have to learn about trigonometry to have a greater appreciation about the travel plus the force of objects involving physics. You have to love pre-calculus in order for anyone to comprehend complex algebraic expressions.


The 1970's and R&B go hand in hand. The 1970's was filled with funk, soul, and black self-expression. While the 1960's was the start of many social and cultural changes in the world, the 1970's was the first generation where the manifestation of the changes took place in their full fruits. Disco, Soul Train, and Parliament Funkalic were on the scene. Afro were prominently displayed by men and women like Pam Grier and Richard Roundtree. Geniuses like Stevie Wonder, Roberta Flack, Rufus, and Chaka Klan, Gloria Gaynor, Donna Summer, and other human beings expanded their talents to describe love, romance, justice, passion for life, and other themes of society. It was a time of political music from Marvin Gaye's song, "What's Going On." The 1970's R&B evolved to be more diverse. It expanded the boundaries topics being discussed. By the end of the 1970's, there was the growth of contemporary R&B with legends like Shalamar, Michael Jackson, Prince, Luther Vandross, the Pointer Sisters, etc. who would continue to explode in the future of the 1980's.



The end of the Knights Templar started in 1305. This was when the new Pope Clement V (from Avignon, France) sent letters to both the Templar Grand Master Jacques de Molay and the Hospitaller Grand Master Fulk de Villaret to discuss the possibility of merging the two orders. Neither was amenable to the idea, but Pope Clement persisted, and in 1306 he invited both Grand Masters to France to discuss the matter. De Molay arrived first in early 1307, but de Villaret was delayed for several months. While waiting, De Molay and Clement discussed criminal charges that had been made two years earlier by an ousted Templar and were being discussed by King Philip IV of France and his ministers. It was generally agreed that the charges were false, but Clement sent the king a written request for assistance in the investigation. According to some historians, King Philip, who was already deeply in debt to the Templars from his war against England, decided to seize upon the rumors for his own purposes. He began pressuring the church to take action against the order, as a way of freeing himself from his debts. By dawn on Friday on October 13, 1307 (which is linked to the Friday the 13th superstition), King Philip IV ordered de Molay and scores of French Templars to be arrested at once. The arrest warrant started with the phrase: "Dieu n'est pas content, nous avons des ennemis de la foi dans le Royaume" ["God is not pleased. We have enemies of the faith in the kingdom"]. The Templars accused of spitting the Cross, denying Chris, and engaging of certain sexual acts including worshiping idols. These allegations were made udner duress. Also, the Templars were charged with financial corruption, fraud, and other forms of secrecy. Many of those accused confessed these charges under torture (even though the Templars denied being tortured in their written confession). This caused a scandal in Paris. Many of the prisoners were forced to confess that they spat on the Cross, etc. Some of them were accused of idolatry by worshiping a figure of Baphomet or a mummified, severed head they recovered among other artifacts found form the Temple Mount. Relenting to Phillip's demands, Pope Clement then issued the papal bull Pastoralis praeeminentiae on 22 November 1307, which instructed all Christian monarchs in Europe to arrest all Templars and seize their assets. Pope Clement wanted papal hearing to see if these allegations were true or false. The pope appointed the  archbishop of Sens, Philippe de Marigny, to lead the investigation, Philip blocked this attempt, using the previously forced confessions to have dozens of Templars burned at the stake in Paris. Philip threatened military action against the pope unless he complied with his wishes. Pope Clement agreed to disband the order. He issued bulls like Vox in excelso in 1312 that banned the order and Ad providam that turned over Templar assets to the Hospitallers. Grand Master Jacques de Molay retracted his confession after the torture.  Geoffroi de Charney, Preceptor of Normandy, also retracted his confession and insisted on his innocence. Both men were declared guilty of being relapsed heretics, and they were sentenced to burn alive at the stake in Paris on 18 March 1314. De Molay reportedly remained defiant to the end, asking to be tied in such a way that he could face the Notre Dame Cathedral and hold his hands together in prayer. According to legend, he called out from the flames that both Pope Clement and King Philip would soon meet him before God. His actual words were recorded on the parchment as follows: "Dieu sait qui a tort et a péché. Il va bientot arriver malheur à ceux qui nous ont condamnés à mort" ("God knows who is wrong and has sinned. Soon a calamity will occur to those who have condemned us to death"). Pope Clement died only a month later, and King Philip died in a hunting accident before the end of the year.

The remaining Templars around Europe were either arrested and tried under the Papal investigation (with virtually none convicted), absorbed into other Catholic military orders, or pensioned off and allowed to live out their days peacefully. By papal decree, the property of the Templars was transferred to the Knights Hospitaller except in the Kingdoms of Castile, Aragon, and Portugal. Portugal was the first country in Europe where they had settled, occurring only two or three years after the order's foundation in Jerusalem and even having presence during Portugal's conception.

The Portuguese king, Denis I, refused to pursue and persecute the former knights, as had occurred in all other sovereign states under the influence of the Catholic Church. Under his protection, Templar organizations simply changed their name, from "Knights Templar" to the reconstituted Order of Christ and also a parallel Supreme Order of Christ of the Holy See; both are considered successors to the Knights Templar. The Chinon Parchment was found in the Vatican Secret Archives by Barbara Frale on September 2001. It was date August 17-20, 1308. It has been filed in the wrong place in 1628. It shows the trial of the Templars. It showed by Clement absolved the Templars of all heresies in 1308 before disbanding the order in 1312. There was another Chinon Parchment dated August 20, 1308 showing information addressed to Philip IV of France, also mentioning that all Templars that had confessed to heresy were "restored to the Sacraments and to the unity of the Church". This other Chinon Parchment has been well known to historians, having been published by Étienne Baluze in 1693and by Pierre Dupuy in 1751. The leaders of the Catholic Church say that the medieval persecution of the Knights Templar was unjust and didn't condemn the order today. The Catholic Hierarchy say that Philip IV of France, also mentioning that all Templars that had confessed to heresy were "restored to the Sacraments and to the unity of the Church". This other Chinon Parchment has been well known to historians, having been published by Étienne Baluze in 1693 and by Pierre Dupuy in 1751. King Philip IV of France was Merovingian (as he was a direct descendant of Charlemagne), and he was related to Pope Clement V, who was another Merovingian.



Stax Records is one of the most underrated record labels of R&B and soul music. It is based in Memphis, and people called it the area of Memphis soul. It has been part of a large movement of musical expression. It was founded in 1957, and shared its operations with Volt Records. Southern soul music was common back in the day. Stax helped to release gospel, funk, and blues records too. Jim Stewart and his sister Estelle Eaxton founded the record label. It had many ethnically integrated bands like Booker T & the M.G.'s. It also had a multiracial groups of artists and writers that was unprecedented during the 1960's. According to ethnomusicologist Rob Bowman, the label's use of "one studio, one equipment set-up, the same set of musicians and a small group of songwriters led to a readily identifiable sound. It was a sound based in black gospel, blues, country, and earlier forms of rhythm and blues. It became known as southern soul music." Otis Redding was the biggest on the label. He passed away in 1967. Its main rival was Motown Records in Detroit. Al Bell controlled Stax in 1968. It ended in 1975 because of financial solvency issues. Stax issued new singing acts again  in 1978. It was reactivated in 2004. Current R&B and soul performers released material there. The Veltones made Fool in Love during the early years. Rufus Thomas and his daughter Carla made music. Their song was Cause I Love You. In 1962, Booker T. Jones (who could play many instruments) helped to expand Stax into the next level with drummer Al Jackson Jr., bassist Donald Dunn, and others. Isaac Hayes was also in the label back in the 1960's. Redding's first single, "These Arms of Mine," issued in October 1962, hit both the R&B and the pop charts. Though the label had enjoyed some early hits with the Mar-Keys and Booker T. & the M.G.'s, Redding became the first Stax/Volt artist to consistently hit the charts with each release—in fact, each of Redding's 17 singles issued during his lifetime charted. (Carla Thomas also charted with some consistency, but her pre-1965 releases were on Atlantic, not Stax or Volt.). Between January 1962 and December 1964, Stax and Volt released several chart hits each by Otis Redding, Rufus Thomas, and Booker T. and the M.G.'s. However, despite dozens of other releases, only three other Stax/Volt singles charted during this time, and all just barely: William Bell's "You Don't Miss Your Water" hit #95 in early 1962; the Mar-Keys' "Pop-Eye Stroll" hit #94 in mid-1962 (although it was a big hit in Canada, hitting #1 on Toronto's CHUM Chart), and Barbara & the Browns' "Big Party" made it to #97 in mid-1964.

Beginning in 1965, when the label formalized its distribution agreement with Atlantic, Stax/Volt artists made the charts much more frequently.  Later, Sam and Dave, the Mad Lads, and other artists came on the scene. Don Covay and Wilson Pickett recorded at the label too. Stax artists toured across America and in Europe. Stax broke with Atlantic records in 1968.  Johnnie Taylor gave Stax its first big post-Atlantic hit in 1968 with "Who's Making Love", which became the label's best-selling single to that point. Producer and songwriter Isaac Hayes stepped into the spotlight with Hot Buttered Soul. Originally seen just as a solo artistic project for Hayes to make up the numbers, it went on to sell over three million copies in 1969. Stax had the Staple Singers too. Al Bell worked with Rev. Jesse Jackson and funded Operation PUSH. People know about Wattstax that was organized by the Stax label on August 20, 1972. It featured Richard Pryor when he was a young man. It was called Black Woodstock with over 100,000 mostly African American people there. It was made into a film released by Columbia Pictures in February of 1973. Artists as diverse as Shirley Brown and Elvis would work at Stax Records. Stax made an iconic movement that we appreciate to this day.



During the Golden Age of hip hop (from 1986 to 1994), a new generation of artists rose up to not only express themselves. They wanted to show that the evolution of hip hop music is here to stay. The art-form came from the New York City area, but the new school hip hop movement is never limited to one city. This age saw the diversity, quality, and innovation of hip hop grow in many ways. This time saw many types of subject matter expressed, music being experimental, and sampling of older records being commonplace. In 1986, James Smith of Houston, Texas made the Geto Boys, which helped in the growth of southern hip hop. The original people in Geto Boys were MC Raheim, Jukebox DJ, Ready Red, and Sir Rap-A-Lot. Erik B. and Rakim released Eric B. is President in the same year. The Beastie Boys released "Licensed to Ill" on Def Jam which was executive produced by Rick Rubin. In 1987, Criminal Minded was released by Boogie Down Productions (which had KRS-One in it). This came about Scott LaRock was killed in the South Bronx after trying to solve a dispute. In 1987, Public Enemy made their first album called, "Yo! Bum the Show." Their music increased politically conscious hip hop into the next level. Their original members were Chuck D (Carlton Ridenhour), Flavor Flav (William Drayton), Professor Griff (Richard Griffin), and DJ Terminator X (Norman Rogers). In 1988, Yo! MTV Raps was shown by MTV after years of MTV rejecting hip hop videos. In 1988, the gold album "Straight Outta Compton" was released by N.W.A. N.W.A. called their music reality rap, and the media called it gangsta rap. Def Jam founders Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin go their own ways. In 1988, more landmark albums was released like Ultramagnetic MC's Critical Breakdown, Kane's "Live the Kane," and Eric B. and Rakim's "Follow the Leader." Cowboy of the Grandmaster Flash's Furious 5 died at the age of 28 after struggling with crack addiction in 1989. In 1989, high school friends join the Native Tongues movement in promoting Afrocentric themes in African American culture. In 1989, friends would form A Tribe Called Quest with Q-Tip, Ali Shaheed Muhamamd, Phife Dawg, and Jarobi. D.O.C. was from Dallas. In 1989, he was one of the great hip hop producers who worked with Dr. Dre. D.O.C. released, "No One Can do It Better." D.O.C. survived a car crash and continues to produce. In 1990, Tupac Shakur joined Digital Underground as a dancer and made music. The Stretch and Botbito Show was released in 1990. 1990 was the time when Luther Campbell was arrested in Florida over the 2 Live Crew's album named, "As Nasty as They Wanna be." Later, Luther won the case by citing the First Amendment. In 1991, N.W.A's sophomore album sells over 954,000 copies in it first week of release. Busta Rhymes was on the A Tribe Called Quest's "Scenario." Cypress Hill released their debut album in 1991. The Notorious B.I.G. was on the Unsigned Hype column of the Source magazine. In 1993, A Tribe Called Quest had their third album, "Midnight Marauders" with many artists. In the same year, Dr. Dre's The Chronic had multi-platinum status. In 1993, the Wu Tang Clan released 36 Chambers. Mobb Deep released Juvenile Hell in 1993 in their debut LP. In 1994, Nas' released Illmatic being one of the greatest hip hop albums ever. Common released Resurrection as a conscious lyricist. Warren G's Regulate: The G-Funk Era was certified quadruple platinum. The end of the Golden era was the time when hip hop exploded, and new situations would change hip hop forever.


By Timothy

Happy Juneteenth 2020.

Juneteenth is an important African American celebration and holiday. It has a long history. Long ago, the Confederacy was defeated by Union forces, black heroes, and other people who defeated the immoral bondage of slavery. Most of the Civil War ended by April of 1865. By June 19th, 1865, something happened. Union Army General Gordon Granger (who led 2,000 federal troops to occupy Texas via the federal government) read the federal orders of proclaiming freedom for black Americans at Galveston, Texas. He said that all of the people of Texas are now free. Immediately, black human beings praised this joyful occasion. The Emancipation Proclamation freed black people in the Confederacy in 1863. The end of the Civil War totally ended slavery nationwide along with the 13th Amendment by December of 1865. Juneteenth has been called Freedom Day, Jubliee Day, and Emancipation Day. This day is now an official state holiday in the state of Virginia. Back then, black people celebrated freedom on the day. Many black people from Texas took Juneteenth Day to celebrate it to Los Angeles, Oakland, Seattle, and other places of America via the 2nd Great Migration (from ca. 1940-1970). Juneteenth is our day of celebration. With the events going on, we have a long way to go, but our cause for justice is always just.

The Supreme Court today made another historic decision in striking down Trump's attempts to eliminate DACA protections. Trump tried to use an executive order to stop the DACA program, but the Supreme Court said that Trump went too far. One surprising thing about this decision is that Justice John Roberts sided with the progressives. This miracle shows us that we don't know what to expect at times with this court. One of the great signs of a nation is how its treats the sojourner. We know that immigrants have made long lasting contributions in American society. Immigrants are also made up of people of every color. Yes, there are black immigrants too. This decision by the Supreme Court represents not only honor but compassion. Diversity is always part of our strength. The evils of xenophobia and racism should not only be condemned but eradicated in the world.

The fall of Confederate including other statues in America and in other places of the world represent the words of "ye shall reap what you sow." For centuries, statues of barbarians, racists, enslavers, and murderers have been all over the world. I will not sugarcoat what I say on this issue, because it's a real thing to say. That is why I felt nothing when protesters took down many of these statues. The Confederate Robert E. Lee enslaved black men, black women, and black children. Leopold of Belgium was involved in the murder of 15 million black Congolese people. Winston Churchill was not only an advocate of imperialism, but he said that he wanted the blood of Indian people to be shed. Conquistadors exterminated Native American people. Christopher Columbus was so wicked that I can't cite a lot of graphic stuff that he and his allies did to the Taino and Arawak people of the Caribbean.

These statues of these wicked men represent false idols. Once those false idols are removed and real history is taught to people (along with structural change coming forth), then you can have justice and healing. No one should glorify mass murderers like Columbus and Leopold. International white racism is not just about slurs. Racism is about the idolization of the images of oppression, and it is systematic in its nature. Those, who did crimes against humanity, are not heroes but wicked foes of freedom. Churchill wanted to gas Iraqi people during World War I. Governor Cuomo is wrong to defend the statue of Columbus in NYC. Therefore, those monuments celebrate genocide. Them coming down should be celebrated by us.


John Bolton tell-all book is not surprising. Bolton called Trump ignorant, corruption, doesn't understand basic information like how certain places aren't part of Russia (i.e. Trump didn't know that Finland wasn't part of Russia), etc. Bolton accused Trump of wanting President Xi of China to help him be re-elected. It is no secret that Trump is not fit to continue to be in the Presidency. The irony is that Bolton is the neo-conservative involved in bringing America into the unjust Iraq War, but he wrote his book criticizing the policies of Donald Trump. Trump is trying to block the release of the book because of political reasons. Bolton said that the House should have investigated Trump for impeachable actions beyond Ukraine. When you have critiques about the Trump Presidency from people from across the political spectrum, then you witness the malfeasance and corruption of the Trump White House. Bolton accused Pompeo of cursing Trump behind his back. Bolton accuses the White House of White House misconduct of making obstruction of justice a way of life. Trump is the same person who supported police forces to tear gas and assault with pepper bags against peaceful protesters on July 1, 2020 at Washington, D.C. That is why leadership matters. That is why you don't run a government like a corrupt business. You run the government with the people in mind. People are criticizing Bolton (who is a neo-con) for not revealing information critical of Trump earlier, especially during the time of the impeachment hearings. That is a fair criticism, because that would be brave to put a spotlight on the current corrupt administration.




By Timothy

Mehrsa Baradaran and Nathan Connolly Talk the #MOBP

Say Its Name: Genocide!

https://www.blackagendareport.com/say-its-name-genocide

https://www.blackagendareport.com/bar-book-forum-kristen-r-ghodsees-second-world-second-sex

https://www.blackagendareport.com/bar-book-forum-samantha-n-sheppards-sporting-blackness

Building Power to Win is the Revolutionary Approach to Bourgeois Electoralism”

https://www.blackagendareport.com/building-power-win-revolutionary-approach-bourgeois-electoralism

The Rebellion Against Police Repression Must Guard Against ALL Enemies, Whether Red, Blue, or Green

https://www.blackagendareport.com/index.php/rebellion-against-police-repression-must-guard-against-all-enemies-whether-red-blue-or-green

Freedom Rider: Churchill, Columbus and Leopold Fall Down (Amen).

https://www.blackagendareport.com/freedom-rider-churchill-columbus-and-leopold-fall-down

Reforms and What is Next.

Yesterday, Trump signed his executive order on policing. Like usual, it was a moderate order that doesn't address systematic racism or systematic economic oppression. It condemns the police use of chokeholds. It creates a federal database of police officers with a history of using excessive force. He said that police brutality against African Americans are done by a tiny amount of officers. Over 1,000 police killings a year in America alone is not tiny, and the suffering of families is definitely not tiny. The order encouraged police officers to adopt the highest and strongest professional standards. He publicly opposed defunding police departments that use funds to invest in the infrastructure of communities. He demanded law and order. That is a coded phrase to make the police control communities as an occupying force instead of advancing community development. The problem is that many cops are acting lawless and creating disorder. That is why protests are worldwide as this problem in an international problem. There are police killings of black people in France, in Toronto, in the UK, in Brazil, and in other places of the world not just in the United States. Police brutality harms people of every color and of every background, disproportionately harming black people in America. Trump said that without the police, there is chaos. Trump refuses to support dismantling and banning Confederate statues and symbols. He's a racist, so he does glorify Confederate traitors and wicked enslavers who have brutalized black people. Trump can say words about equality, but deeds are more important than words. You can't just condemn racism by words. You can to use deeds in being an anti-racist activist.

In New Mexico, reactionary extremists fought protesters over the statue of a conquistador. Later, one protester was shot and one militias person was arrested along with others. This shows that we face not only the evil of bigotry and historical revisionism (that celebrates imperialists like conquistadors). We also face far right extremists who seek to shoot at protesters. Congress (when Mitch McConnell refuses to support legislation banning racial profiling) should act to advance bold solutions to real problems. There is more news coming about like 2 black men lynched in California (whose names are Robert Fuller and Malcolm Harsch), a woman activist abused and murdered (whose name is Oluwatyoin Salau), and the landmark Supreme Court decision. All of these stories show how we have to follow the Golden Rule. Many officers are quitting in America. If they can't handle common decency in promoting human rights, then they don't deserve to have a badge in the first place. While I oppose the views of reactionary, far right extremists, I realize that foundation money and NGOs fund many of the liberal establishment (not true progressives) groups. So, we should be progressive in our thinking while embracing our independence ideologically.

The news in Atlanta, Georgia is tragic. We see a massive protest in the Capitol of Atlanta. Many people are calling for justice. The emotional words of the family and friends of Rayshard Brooks calling for justice signify the era that we see. There is a serious epidemic of the mistreatment and killing of black people worldwide. There is massive racism, colorism, sexism, and other injustices in the world too. Therefore, we aren't naive about the real world. Racists criticize black culture (when real black culture is about innovation, invention, creativity, and building community power), but they ignore the reactionary aspects of policing culture that seeks to shoot first without using alternative methods in de-esclating situations. Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms said that she would enact a series of police reforms in response to the killing of Rayshard Brooks. Trump plans on signing an executive order on policing tomorrow. We shall see what it is. It is rumored that it would be a moderate measure. This problem is beyond just policing problems. It is about a system that is filled with capitalist exploitation, imperialism, international racism, and other evils that harm humanity. The only way a solution will come is diverse actions coming about. Also, funds in the billions of dollars must address poverty, health care inequalities, economically distressed communities (as over 40 years have taught us that austerity measures and massive neoliberal policies don't work), racial injustices, and other complications. Dr. King was right to say that there must be a radical redistribution of economic and political power.

The events in Atlanta is not limited to Atlanta. We have America in crisis. For years and decades, we have many communities of America experiencing economic dislocation, health care disparities, police brutality, and other evils. We have more than 20 days of protests across America after the unjust death of George Floyd. The issues that remains on the minds of us deal with race and policing. For centuries, black people have told America that we have a serious policing problem. In 2020, more people have woken up about it. The incident of Rayshard Brooks was about Brooks parking a car. Brooks fell asleep in his car. The police told him to park the car in another location. Brooks did. When the police encountered him again, there was a struggle. Brooks took a taser form one officer. Brooks ran, and one officer shot and killed Brooks.

Immediately, protests existed in Atlanta and across America. Most of the protesters have been peaceful (executing their First Amendment rights) despite what anyone says. Then, a Wendys restaurant was burned to the ground. Do I agree with all of the actions of Brooks? No. Do I agree with a Wendys being burned? No. Yet, human life is more valuable than property. One Atlanta police chief resigned, one officer was fired, and an investigation is on ongoing. The officers picked up shell castings instead of immediately seeing if Brooks is alive or not. The Fulton DA County office said that he's not ruling out Officer Rolfe being charged. Brooks is one person whose death shouldn't have existed. Video footage have shown a lot of what has taken place. Some say that we must be perfect in order for us to live in the midst of the police institution (which relates to the promotion of the lie of respectability politics). Imperfection is no justification for unjust death or murder.

 By Timothy

Goodbye, Columbus: Bree Newsome Bass on the Movement to Topple Racist St...

"Black Mecca"? The class disparity between Atlanta's Black politicians &...

Protests Intensify in Atlanta over Police Killing of Rayshard Brooks

https://www.democracynow.org/2020/6/15/headlines/protests_intensify_in_atlanta_over_police_killing_of_rayshard_brooks

Trump’s Illegal Use of Military Against Anti-Racist Uprisings Portends Battles Ahead

https://www.globalresearch.ca/trump-illegal-use-military-against-anti-racist-uprisings-portends-battles-ahead/5715944

USA Plan: Militarized Control of Population. The “National Covid-19 Testing Action Plan”

https://www.globalresearch.ca/usa-plan-militarized-control-population/5713839

Diverse Topics.

For thousands of years, the Scriptures have existed for many functions. Some individuals use them for spiritual purposes. Some human beings value them as an integral part of Bronze Age, eloquent literature. To this very day, researchers, genealogists, and archaeologists investigate its words. In other words, we know that Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nineveh, Ur, and Elam are real places as mentioned in the Bible too. The book of Daniel was named after the Jewish prophet and scholar Daniel. Its words are very similar to the Book of Revelation (which was written by the apostle John) with its symbolism and predictions of the future. Many years ago, I understood a lot of its message. Today, I have discovered more about the book of Daniel. Daniel saw Jewish people oppressed by the Babylonian Empire. The First Temple of Hebrew people was destroyed by Babylonian forces. Later, many Jewish people were kidnapped and sent to Babylonia unjustly. These human beings still follow their belief in the Most High God. The Jewish Diaspora spread globally as predicted in the Bible. Nebuchadnezzar was involved in the destruction of Jerusalem by ca. 586 B.C. Jerusalem was conquered. The 12 tribes of Israel would be split up. Later, Nebuchadnezzar (or the King of Babylon) had a vision. The astrologers, scholars, etc. couldn't decipher his dream. Only Daniel, the scholar, did. Daniel said that he was the head of gold (in describing the vision of the armored man). The vision had the head of gold, the breast of silver, the thighs of brass, the legs of iron, and the feet of iron mixed with clay. The vision was about the future empires ruling Jerusalem until the coming of the Messiah. After thousands of years after Daniel's birth, isn't it obvious that we are in this generation of the fig tree. Therefore, researchers have documented the prophecies of Daniel as a historical document of great importance. In our time, mysteries are being revealed all of the time.



For the eons of time, people know about the Knights Templar. From a group of people guarding Christian pilgrims in the Holy Land to being the large international bankers of Europe, the Knights Templar have a large legacy involving world history. The Knights Templar were made up of Catholic travelers involved in the bloody Crusades. They were a Catholic military order which was founded in 1119. They had a headquarters at Jerusalem through 1128. The Knights Templar readily wore a red cross and fought in the Middle East. They created possibly the world's 1st multinational corporation. They grew in so much wealth, and they negotiated with the Vatican constantly. Legends and rumors existed about the group from occultism, greed, and to various sexual rituals. Scholars debate to this day whether these rumors are true or not. What is true is that they ended officially by the 1300's. The Templars, like the old building guilds of Europe, built structures like churches and castles across the European continent. The old guilds evolved into modern day Freemasonry. There is a difference between speculative Freemasonry and operative Freemasonry. Operative Freemasonry relates to masons who use tools to build buildings and to study geometry. Speculative masonry relate to Freemasonry who didn't use tools per se but studied philosophical concept. Modern day Freemasonry existed long before 1717, but the Grand Lodge of 1717 is an example of speculative Masonry. They studied the philosophical studies of life in order to evaluate the meaning of how the Universe functions. Masons like 33rd Degree Freemason Albert Pike wrote about the Knights Templar constantly. Masons may not be an ideological ancestor of the Knights Templar, but Freemasonry utilized many of the words and imagery of the Knights Templar in their degrees and rituals. The Knights Templar remains a mysterious group that ended under the veil of controversy.


The start of the Knights Templar began during the start of the Crusades. By the First Crusade, the Franks captured Jerusalem from Muslim people in 1099. Many Christians started to make pilgrimages to many sacred sites in the Holy Land. Many people targeted the Christian visitors. Many of the Christian pilgrims were slaughtered by hundreds of people at times. That is why in 1119, something happened. The French Knight Hugues de Payens approached King Baldwin II of Jerusalem and Warmund, Patriarch of Jerusalem, and proposed forming a monastic order for the protection of Christian pilgrims. King Baldwin and Patriach Warmund agreed to the request, probably at the Council of Nablus in January of 1120. The King granted the Templars a headquarters in a win of the royal palace on the Temple Mount in the captured Al-Aqsa Mosque. The Temple Mount has been believed to the the site of Solomon's Temple. So, the Temple Mount have always had a religious, spiritual mystique for a long time. The Templar Knights were called the Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon. Later, Freemasonry would always praise Solomon Temple as a representation of the components and imagery of the Masonic Lodge of the modern era of time. Originally, the Knights Templar had 9 people including Godfrey de Saint Omer and Andre de Montbard. The logo of the group showed 2 knights riding on a single horse, representing the group's poverty. Pope Innocent II allowed the Knights to travel via his papal bull of Omne Datum Optimum. The Knights Templar was a military brigade too. The defeated Saladin's army of more than 26,000 soldiers in 1177 during the Battle of Montgisard (where 500 Templar knights helped several thousand infantrymen). Bernard de Clairvaux, in his 1135 work, praised the Knights Templar as fearless and secure. Many Knights Templar worked in financial affairs, some sworn to individual poverty, and some handled the money of noblemen. Their business dealings and donations make them very wealthy. They owned lands in Europe and the Middle East. They developed farms, vineyards, cathedrals, and castles. They manufactured goods, imported goods, exported goods, and had their fleet of ships.  In Chapter XXX, “Knight Kadosh” of Morals and Dogma, Albert Pike wrote of the Crusader Knights of the Temple:

"...In 1118, nine Knights Crusaders in the East, among whom were Geoffroi de Saint-Omer and Hugues de Payens, consecrated themselves to religion, and took an oath between the hands of the Patriarch of Constantinople, a See always secretly or openly hostile to that of Rome from the time of Photius. The avowed objective of the Templars was to protect the Christians who came to visit the Holy Places: their secret object was the re-building of the Temple of Solomon on the model prophesied by Ezekiel..."


*There is a Merovingian link to the Crusades and the Knights Templar. Godfrey of Bouillon was one of the leaders of the First Crusade. He was the first ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem from 1099 to 1100. He apparently avoided using the title of king, choosing instead that of princeps. Godfey of Bouillon was a descendant of the Merovingian Charlemagne of France. Therefore, Godfrey was a Merovingian. Godfey of Bouillon's allies were the Knights Templar. Pope Urban II was a French pope who ordered the Crusades from the beginning. There is no question that many Merovingians were involved in the Crusades.

Massive anti-Semitism including anti-Jewish pogroms existed during the Crusades. During the late spring and summer of 1096 (during the People's Crusades), crusaders destroyed most of the Jewish communities along the Rhine in a series of unprecedentedly large pogroms in France and Germany in which thousands of Jews were massacred, driven to suicide, or forced to convert to Christianity. Twelve Jewish people were murdered in Speyer, where the Bishop saved the rest of the Jewish people in return for a large payment from them, but in Worms some 800 were murdered. In Mainz, over one thousand Jewish people were murdered, as well as more in Trier, Metz, Cologne, and elsewhere. Others were subjected to forced baptism and conversion. The preacher Folkmar and Count Emicho of Flonheim were the main inciters and leaders of the massacre. The major chroniclers of the 1096 killings are Solomon bar Simson and Albert of Aachen.

Estimates of the number of Jewish men, women, and children murdered or driven to suicide by crusaders vary, ranging from 2,000 to 12,000. Julius Aronius put the number killed at 4,000, regarding other figures as too high. Norman Cohn puts the number at between 4,000 and 8,000 from May to June 1096. Gedaliah ibn Yahya estimated that some 5,000 Jewish human beings were killed from April to June 1096.  Edward H. Flannery's estimate is that 10,000 were murdered over the longer January-to-July period, "probably one-fourth to one-third of the Jewish population of Germany and Northern France at that time."  The clergy and nobility of Europe condemned the killing of Jewish people, and forbade it on subsequent crusades



The decline of the Knights Templar started as early as the 1200's. During the mid 12th century, the tide started to run in the Crusades. The Islamic world had become more unified with effective leaders like Saladin. Dissension grew among many Christian factions in and concerning the Holy Land. The Knights Templar at times were at odds with 2 other Christian military orders named the Knights Hospitaller and the Teutonic Knights. Decades of internecine and feuds weakened these forces, both politically and military. The Templars were involved in many unsuccessful campaigns like the pivotal Battle of Hattin. Then, Jerusalem was recaptured by Muslim forces under Saladin in 1187. The Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II reclaimed the city for the Christians in the Sixth Crusade of 1229 without Templar aid. Yet, it held for a little more than a decade. In 1244, the Ayyubid dynasty together with the Khawarezmi mercenaries recaptured Jerusalem, and the city didn't return to Western control until 1917 (when during World War I, the British captured it from the Ottoman Empire). The Templars were forced to relocate their headquarters to other cities in the north, such as the seaport of Acre. They held it for the next century. It was lost in 1291, followed by their mainland strongholds in Tortosa (Tartus, Syria) and Atlit in present day Israel.

Their headquarters then moved to Limassol on the island of Cyprus, and they also attempted to maintain a garrison on tiny Arwad Island, just off the coast from Tortosa. In 1300, there was some attempt to engage in coordinated military efforts with the Mongols via a new invasion force at Award. In 1302 or 1303, however, the Templars lost the island to the Egyptian Mamluk Sultanate in the Siege of Award. With the island gone, the Crusaders lost their last foothold in the Holy Land.

With the order's military mission now less important, support for the organization began to dwindle. The situation was complex, however, since during the two hundred years of their existence, the Templars had become a part of daily life throughout Christendom. The organisation's Templar Houses, hundreds of which were dotted throughout Europe and the Near East, gave them a widespread presence at the local level.The Templars still managed many businesses, and many Europeans had daily contact with the Templar network, such as by working at a Templar farm or vineyard, or using the order as a bank in which to store personal valuables. The order was still not subject to local government, making it everywhere a "state within a state" – its standing army, though it no longer had a well-defined mission, could pass freely through all borders. This situation heightened tensions with some European nobility, especially as the Templars were indicating an interest in founding their own monastic state, just as the Teutonic Knights had done in Prussia and the Knights Hospitaller were doing in Rhodes.

 

The 1960's soul and R&B music reflected the times of optimism, social change, pain, joy, and creativity at the same time. The start of the 1960's was massively different than the late 1960's. Early 1960's music had a Motown touch with men and women wearing their Sunday-best clothing. Ballads about love plus romance was commonplace from the Supremes, the Temptations, Stevie Wonder, and the Four Tops. With the growth of the Civil Rights Movement, the counterculture, and the anti-war movements, music did evolve to promote more political causes like the songs from the Impressions (whose lead singer Curtis Mayfield change music forever). The 1960's expressed diverse styles of R&B , even proto-funk by the 1960's with people like Sly and the Family Stone. Aretha Frankin spoke about the dignity of a woman with songs like Respect. Aretha was an active member of the Civil Rights Movement. With the Tet Offensive, assassinations of heroic people, protests, and rebellion, everything that we see now in 2020 is a reflection of the 1960's.  Militancy was the order of the day by the late 1960's. The activism of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense captivated our people plus others. Love of Blackness was shown in James Brown's revolutionary song of: "I'm Black and I'm Proud." That song would inspire the youth to love their God-given Blackness a great deal. Dynamic soul encompass the expression of musicians from the Marvelettes to Odetta. There is no way that any human being can have a comprehensive look at music in general without listening plus studying the music of the the 1960's. Staxx Records and Jimi Hendrix's sounds flourished during that time period too. The demand for social changed outlined the essence of the human urge to be free. Oppression of any kind is wrong, and the 1960's R&B have shown the power of the black human spirit. In 2020, we continue to fight for the prize of liberation.


Motown is a word that stood the test of time as a large part of music. It showed music made by African Americans, and its songs have been beloved by people of every race or color. It broke down barriers and has been embraced by human beings globally. Also, it gave many musicians opportunities to not only tour the world. It gave them the chance to fully express their own personal identities. When you think of the music of the 1960's, you think of Motown constantly. It was created by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on January 12, 1959. It was Incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. It was originally an American American owned record label. It promoted soul music, pop, and R&B. Universally, people from across genres of music loved Motown. By 2018, Motown was inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in a ceremony held at the Charles H. Wright Museum at Detroit, Michigan. Berry Gordy is a businessman. He made a record store called the 3D Record Mart. Gordy visited Detroit's downtown nightclubs to study music. Later, he was a songwriter. He, his sister Gwen Gordy, and Billy Davis wrote songs for Jackie Wilson. Wilson's first hit was Reet Petite from November of 1957. Gordy helped to write Lonely Teardops in 1958.  Berry Gordy and his siblings Ann, Gwen, and Robert helped to write many forms of music for artists. Smokey Robinson met Gordy in 1957. Smokey was just 17 when he was in the group called the Matadors. Gordy loved doo-wop. Smokey was in the Miracles too. Anna Records was made by Gordy and his sister Gwen on April 1959. Gordy and secretary Janie Bradford wrote Barrett Strong's Money (That's What I want). Smokey Robinson was the vice President of Talma. Hitsville USA was the first headquarters of the Motown company. Motown signed Mable John, Eddie Holland and Mary Wells. By 1960, the Miracles' Shop Around was the first number R&B hit in 1960. The Marveletts hit Please Mr. Postman was famous in 1961. From 1961 to 1971, Motown had 110 top 10 hits. By 1960, Marvin Gaye signed with Motown. The Twist was popularized by Chuby Checker. In 1961, the Temptations signed with Motown. They were once the Elgins. Stevie Wonder signed with them too. The Supremes signed with Motown, and they were once called the Primettes. Eddie Holland recorded "Jamie." In 1962, Brian Holland, Eddie Holland, and Lamont Dozier started to work as songwriting, music production team. Motown toured the East Coast and the South with their Motor town Revue. Groups like the Miracles, Martha and the Vandellas, the Supremes, Mary Wells, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, the Contours, the Marvelettes, and the Choker Campbell Band. The Contours released Do You Love Me. Demos grew by 1963. Mary Wells was on American Bandstand with Dick Clark in 1963. Martha and the Vandallas were nominated for Love is Like A Heatwave. The song was written by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Edward Holland Jr. The Motown's Artist Personal Development started in 1964. Maurice King, Maxine Powell, and Cholly Atkins worked with artists. The Miracles perform in London in the same year. Smokey Robinson and Bobby Rogers of the Miracles wrote the Temptations hit The Way You Do the Things You Do. In 1965, Motown reached into new heights of power. Motown had its foreign label, Tamla-Motown in London. Brenda Holloway performed with the Beatles on their North American Tour. Motown released its first 8 track tapes. The Four Tops' I Can't Help Myself was released and the Supremes' "Stop in the Name of Love" was released in 1965. James Brown recorded, "Papa Got a Brand New Bag" in 1965 too.


By Timothy