Late May 2024 Updates.

Five of the organizers of the John Brown raid escaped. At least 22 men were involved in the raid too. Some of the escaped people were Francis Jackson Merriam, Barclay Coppock, and Owen Brown who escaped across Pennsylvania They took refuge in Astabula County, Ohio, where John Brown Jr lived. They were described as voters in the location. By November 1859, Governor Wise offered a reward of $500 (or $16,956 in 2023) each for the apprehension of the four white escapes. Charles Plummer Tidd was a lumberman from Maine. He met John Brown in Kansas who died during the American Civil War in 1862. He died of a fever while being in the Union Army. Owen Brown lived in Ohio for a time He raised grapes on an island in Lake Erie or the Chicago market. He died on January 8,1889 in Pasadena, California. His funeral was an event with a marching band. His burial site is atop a peak named Brown's Peak being a local tourist attraction today. Albert Hazlett, 23, fought in Kansas, escaped following the raid but was captured and hanged on March 16, 1860. He was buried John Brown Burial grounds.  Osborne Perry Anderson escaped capture following the raid. He died in 1873. Osborne Perry Anderson is both the only Black escapee and the only escapee that had been in the engine house. He is also the only raider to publish a memoir about the raid. He served as a recruiter for the Union Army and died in poverty in 1872. He is buried unknown grave at the National Harmony Cemetery Park Cemetery, Hyattsville Maryland. Barclay Coppoc, 19, escaped capture following the raid. He fought in the Civil War. He died September 4, 1861, in a train crash caused by bushwackers; buried Mount Aurora Cemetery, Leavenworth. Kansas. Francis Jackson Meriam, 22, grandson of Francis Jackson was a leader of Antislavery Societies. Meriam was an aristocrat. He escaped during the raid. Captain Meriam led an African American infantry group during the Civil War. He died on November 28, 1865; New York County.

 

We live in a new era of time On Sunday, May 19, 2024, President Joe Biden gave the commencement address to the graduates of Morehouse College. He spoke his words during the Middle East crisis. Many students protested him by turning their backs on him, raising their first in the air, showing a Palestinian flag, and showing a Congolese flag (as the war in Congo continues). President Biden cited his accomplishments as President to the black community (like cutting the poverty rate, decreasing unemployment to record lows, and growing black businesses to record levels), and desiring an immediate ceasefire to the conflict in Israel and Gaza. The problem is that Netanyahu is so far right that he wants no compromise, and he desires to invade Rafah, which is a densely populated location. There have been massive war crimes done by Hamas (what Hamas did was not resistance, but rape, murder, and kidnapping against innocent men, women, and children. Anyone who supports Hamas's actions is a hypocrite and a liar), and the Israeli government (Netanyahu's regime is complicit in bombing civilian locations, killing journalists, and ruining civilian infrastructure). These are facts. 

President Biden said that he wants billions of dollars to be invested in HBCUs. HBCUs or Historically Black Colleges and Universities have a large historical and cultural role in the black community. Many of my relatives have graduated from HBCUs, and I took classes inside a HBCU in real life before too. President Biden's commencement address was mostly a political speech. I have no problem with that because free speech is free speech. Yet, Biden faces tons of challenges from polling, the youth protests in colleges, and debates about strategies in trying to win the 2024 election. We all want Trump to lose the 2024 election, but pushing President Biden to be more progressive on certain issues is very much fair. There are MAGA extremists who are wrong, and those who refuse to vote in 2024. People who refuse to vote ignore how voting influences our schools, our environment, our voting rights, our education, and other rights that some take for granted. Our ancestors bled and died for voting rights, and I will vote. Voter suppression laws in Florida, Texas, Georgia, etc. represent the necessity to vote reactionary extremists out of office.

 

The Middle Ages of world human history lasted from 500 to 1500 AD. This era of time saw the expansion of Kingdoms in the world, the growth of agriculture, and the expansion of international trade (including from the Great Silk Road). Many scholars have called this time that Post Classical Era. Trade networks among regions began to increase. We saw the spread of international religions like Christianity spreading in Europe (some people forget that early Christians were heavily persecuted in Europe and throughout the world in vicious ways), Islam spreading into Asia, Europe, and Africa, and Buddhism spreading in Asia too. We saw the split of the Catholic Church in Western Europe and the Eastern Orthodox Church in Eastern Europe which facilitated more religious and cultural diversity in the world. The Islamic Empire grew from Saudi Arabia to North Africa, southern Spain, and to parts of the Middle East. The Mound Cultures, the Inca, Aztecs, and Mayan civilizations were the Americas. The sub-Saharan cultures of Ghana, Mali, and Songhai had infrastructure, religious institutions, governments, and universities. Gunpowder was formed in China and the Mongol Empire was from Europe to the Middle East The world's population doubled during this time from ca. 210 million people in 500 A.D. to 461 million in 1500 A.D. There was the Plague of Justinian, the Mongol invasions, the Black Death, and the Crusades. Empires spread in Africa and other parts of the world too. While tunics were very common in the Middle Ages, there were a variations of tunics back then too. 

As time went on during the Middle Ages, we saw more colors being found in garments, belts, dresses, and other accessories being more complex. By this time of world history, migration of culture including fashion was commonplace. Many rulers had scepters and crowns. Linens and amulets were very prominent and displayed by Vikings, African peoples, and the Kingdoms of China too. Like in ancient times, nobles, kings, queens, working class people, and poor people had different styles of clothing. For example, an Anglo-Saxon King wearing a silk tunic, and the King of the Mali Empire wears clothing with advanced clothes and gold items. Gold, diamond, and enamel jewelry were in existence back then too. Knights of the four corners of the Earth back had swords and armor made up of various metals. Many women wore skirts and other forms of dress. Hats and turbans were used by many in Muslim communities during the Middle Ages. Many women and women during that time wore cloaks to play instruments like string instruments. There were the Cote Hardie dresses worn by women during the Middle Ages. Shoes back then were made up of leather. By the end of the Middle Ages, there were complex gowns worn by women. 

 

By 1980, Diana Ross released her most successful solo album to date called Diana. Chic's guitarists Nile Rodgers and bassist Bernard Edwards were involved in hits like I'm Coming Out and Upside Down. The latter song was her fifth chart topping single in America. Ross scored a Top 10 hit in late 1980 with the theme song to the film It's My Turn. Continuing her connections with Hollywood, Ross recorded the duet ballad "Endless Love", with Lionel Richie. The song would become her sixth and final single to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100. Ross began negotiations to leave Motown at the end of 1980. After over 20 years with the label, Ross received US$250,000 as severance. RCA Records offered Ross a $20 million, seven-year recording contract, which gave her complete production control of her albums. Before signing onto the label, Ross allegedly asked Berry Gordy if he could match RCA's offer. Gordy stated that doing so was "impossible". Ross then signed with RCA on May 20, 1981. At the time, Ross's was music history's most expensive recording deal. In October 1981, Ross released her first RCA album, Why Do Fools Fall in Love. The album sold over a million copies and featured hit singles such as her remake of the classic hit of the same name and "Mirror Mirror". Shortly thereafter, Ross established her production company, named Anaid Productions ("Diana" spelled backwards), and also began investing in real estate and touring extensively in the United States and abroad.

Before the release of Why Do Fools Fall in Love, Ross hosted her first TV special in four years, Diana. Directed by Steve Binder, the concert portions of the special were filmed at Inglewood, California's 17,500-seat The Forum indoor stadium and featured performances by Michael Jackson, Muhammad Ali, Dallas actor Larry Hagman, music impresario Quincy Jones, and members of the Joffrey Ballet. In early 1982, Ross sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" at Super Bowl XVI and appeared on the musical variety show Soul Train. The episode, devoted completely to her, featured Ross performing several songs from Why Do Fools Fall in Love.

On May 6, 1982, Ross was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She followed up the success of Why Do Fools Fall in Love with Silk Electric, which featured the Michael Jackson-written and -produced "Muscles", resulting in another Top 10 Grammy nominated success for Ross. The album eventually went gold on the strength of that song. In 1983, Ross ventured further out of her earlier soul-based sound for a more pop rock-oriented sound following the release of the Ross album. Though the album featured the Top 40 hit single, "Pieces of Ice", the Ross album did not generate any more hits or achieve gold status. On July 21, 1983, Ross performed a free concert on Central Park's Great Lawn, aired live worldwide by Showtime. Proceeds from the concert would be donated to build a playground in the singer's name. Midway through the beginning of the show, a torrential downpour began. Ross tried to continue performing, but the severe weather forced the show to be stopped after 45 minutes. Ross urged the large crowd to exit the venue safely, promising to perform the next day.

The next day's concert suffered no rain, but the memorabilia that was supposed to be sold to raise money for the playground had already been destroyed by the storm. When journalists discovered the exorbitant costs of the two concerts, Ross faced criticism from Mayor Ed Koch and the Parks Department commissioner. During a subsequent mayoral press conference, Ross handed Koch a check for US$250,000 for the project The Diana Ross Playground was built three years later. In 1984, Ross released Swept Away. The album featured "All of You", a duet with friend Julio Iglesias. The single was featured on both Ross's album and Iglesias's 1100 Bel Air Place, his first English-language album. It became an international hit, as did the Lionel Richie-penned ballad "Missing You", composed as a tribute to Marvin Gaye, who had been killed earlier that year. Swept Away garnered gold record sales status. Eaten Alive was her 1985 album being produced by Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees. It has the song Chain Reaction. She worked with Michael Jackson and Gibb on the album too. In 1985, she was in the USA for Africa's We Are the World charity song that sold 20 million copies worldwide. Money from the song went to fight famine in Africa. On January 27, 1986, Ross hosted the 13th annual American Music Awards. Ross returned the next year to host the 14th annual telecast. She came back to Motown and won the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Supremes (along with Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard). She has the song of If We Hold Together song from the film The Land Before Time in 1988. Her 1989 album was Workin' Overtime. 

 

The Legue of Nations lasted from January 10, 1920, to April 18, 1946. It was a group that wanted world peace made up of many countries after World War I. The League of Nations failed, and it was a foundation for the modern-day United Nations. The League's primary goals were stated in its eponymous Covenant. They included preventing wars through collective security and disarmament and settling international disputes through negotiation and arbitration. Its other concerns included labor conditions, just treatment of native inhabitants, human and drug trafficking, the arms trade, global health, prisoners of war, and protection of minorities in Europe. The Covenant of the League of Nations was signed on June 28, 1919, as Part I of the Treaty of Versailles, and it became effective with the rest of the Treaty on 10 January 1920. Australia was granted the right to participate as an autonomous member nation, marking the start of Australian independence on the global stage. The concept of a peaceful community of nations had been proposed as early as 1795, when Immanuel Kant's Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch outlined the idea of a league of nations to control conflict and promote peace between states. Kant argued for the establishment of a peaceful world community, not in the sense of a global government, but in the hope that each state would declare itself a free state that respects its citizens and welcomes foreign visitors as fellow rational beings, thus promoting peaceful society worldwide The first meeting of the Council of the League took place on January 16, 1920, and the first meeting of the Assembly of the League took place on 15 November 1920. In 1919, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson won the Nobel Peace Prize for his role as the leading architect of the League. It had as many as 58 members. The League didn't have an armed force. It depended on the victorious Allies of World War I (Britain, France, Italy, and Japan were the initial permanent members of the Executive Council) to enforce its resolutions, keep to its economic sanctions, or provide an army when needed. The Great Powers were often reluctant to do so. Sanctions could hurt League members, so they were reluctant to comply with them. During the Second Italo-Ethiopian War, when the League accused Italian soldiers of targeting International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement medical tents, Benito Mussolini responded that "the League is very well when sparrows shout, but no good at all when eagles fall out." The League of Nations moved its headquarters from London to Geneva by November 1, 1920. French and English were the official languages of the League of Nations. In 1939, a semi-official emblem for the League of Nations emerged: two five-pointed stars within a blue pentagon. They symbolized the Earth's five continents and "five races" (we know that race is a social construct). A bow at the top displayed the English name ("League of Nations"), while another at the bottom showed the French ("Société des Nations").

The League of Nations failed because of many reasons. It could not handle the imperialism of the Axis Powers during the 1930's, America never joined the League of Nations, and it lacked the enforcement power to promote its policies and reforms that it desired. Japan and Germany left in 1933, Italy left in 1937, and Spain left in 1939. The Soviet Union only joined in 1934 and was expelled in 1939 after invading Finland. Furthermore, the League demonstrated an irresolute approach to sanction enforcement for fear it might only spark further conflict, further decreasing its credibility. One example of this hesitancy was the Abyssinia Crisis, in which Italy's sanctions were only limited from the outset (coal and oil were not restricted), and later altogether abandoned despite Italy being declared the aggressor in the conflict. The onset of the Second World War in 1939 showed that the League had failed its primary purpose; it was largely inactive until its abolition. The League lasted for 26 years; the United Nations (UN) replaced it in 1946 and inherited several agencies and organizations founded by the League. Current scholarly consensus views that, even though the League failed to achieve its main goal of world peace, it did manage to build new roads towards expanding the rule of law across the globe; strengthened the concept of collective security, gave a voice to smaller nations; fostered economic stabilization and financial stability, especially in Central Europe in the 1920s; helped to raise awareness of problems like epidemics, slavery, child labor, colonial tyranny, refugee crises and general working conditions through its numerous commissions and committees; and paved the way for new forms of statehood, as the mandate system put the colonial powers under international observation. Professor David Kennedy portrays the League as a unique moment when international affairs were "institutionalized", as opposed to the pre-First World War methods of law and politics. 

 

In terms of video games, they have changed the world in incredible ways. It shows the incredible human imagination and intellect involving the creation of imagery, graphics, and storylines that have inspired people for generations. Computing systems have existed for millennia, but modern-day video games have existed for a few decades. Back in the day, video games were highly expensive, and reserved mostly for upper middle-class and rich people during the 1970's. By the 1980's, video games had become more affordable for all people. The paradox of video games is that the more profits that companies have from selling video games, the more complex that exists as time goes on. We went from Pong to Minecraft. We went from arcades in various locations to virtual reality headsets that allow human beings to enact video gaming systems. In the 21st century, diverse people of every color embrace video game culture, anime, music culture, and various conventions that celebrate the art of video games. Balance is one key fact of the Universe. People have the right to use video games, but we shouldn't let video games define every personality characteristic of our lives. Our human lives relate to love, family, jobs, diverse hobbies, and other functions of human living. 

 

An overview of the 1930's is key to understanding the Presidencies of Herbert Hoover and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The 1930's was a decade of chaos, wars, resistance against tyranny, prominent people, and other events. There was the political and global economic crisis of the Great Depression that came after the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the largest stock market crash in American history. The Great Depression caused widespread poverty and unemployment globally, not just in America. Germany experienced a massive recession after struggling to pay off the reparation for the First World War. The Dust Bowl further exacerbated the financial crisis. U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who took office in 1933, introduced a program of broad-scale social reforms and stimulus plans called the New Deal in response to the crisis. The Soviet Union's second five-year plan gave heavy industry top priority, putting the Soviet Union not far behind Germany as one of the major steel-producing countries of the world, while also improving communications. First-wave feminism made advances, with women gaining the right to vote in South Africa (1930, whites only which is disgraceful), Brazil (1933), and Cuba (1933). Following the rise of Adolf Hitler and the emergence of the NSDAP as the country's sole legal party in 1933, Germany imposed a series of laws that discriminated against Jewish people and other ethnic minorities. When Nazi Germany rose up, they remilitarized the Rhineland in 1936, stole Austria in 1938, and stole Sudentland (by 1938).  Italy likewise continued its already aggressive foreign policy, defeating the Libyan resistance (1932) before invading Ethiopia (1935) and then Albania (1939). Both Germany and Italy became involved in the Spanish Civil War, supporting the eventually victorious Nationalists led by Francisco Franco against the Republicans, who were in turn supported by the Soviet Union. The Chinese Civil War was halted due to the need to confront Japanese imperial ambitions, with the Kuomintang and the Chinese Communist Party forming a Second United Front to fight Japan in the Second Sino-Japanese War. Lesser conflicts included interstate wars such as the Colombia–Peru War (1932–1933), the Chaco War (1932–1935) and the Saudi–Yemeni War (1934), as well as internal conflicts in Brazil (1932), Ecuador (1932), El Salvador (1932), Austria (1934) and British Palestine (1936–1939). Severe famine took place in the major grain-producing areas of the Soviet Union between 1930 and 1933, leading to 5.7 to 8.7 million deaths. Major contributing factors to the famine include: the forced collectivization in the Soviet Union of agriculture as a part of the First Five-Year Plan, forced grain procurement, combined with rapid industrialization, a decreasing agricultural workforce, and several severe droughts. A famine of similar scope also took place in China from 1936 to 1937, killing 5 million people. The 1931 China floods caused 422,499–4,000,000 deaths. Major earthquakes of this decade include the 1935 Quetta earthquake (30,000–60,000 deaths) and the 1939 Erzincan earthquake (32,700–32,968 deaths). During the 1930's, we saw new sound films and novels like The Three Stooges, and Marx Brothers Judy Garland starred as Dorothy Gale in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. Dozens of black film companies existed by the 1930's, including Oscar Micheaux's institutions. Hattie McDaniel, Bill Robinson, Lena Horne, Paul Robeson, Nina Mae McKinney, Mildred Washington, Edna Mae Harris, Dorothy Van Engle, Ruby Elzy, Fredi Washington, Elisabeth Welch, Dorothy Dandridge, The Nicholas Brothers, and other black actors and black actresses shown forth their talent to the world. 

By Timothy