Referred to by Malcolm X as “the greatest Black man who ever walked across the African continent.” Patrice Lumumba was the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Congo — an anti-colonist, anti-imperialist, & pan-africanist whose efforts were short lived, he was assassinated at the hands of The CIA & Belgium less than 7 months after the Congolese gained independence. In 1955 he became regional president of a Congolese trade union of government employees, this union was not affiliate with the main Belgian federations. So, in 1956 he was invited to a study tour in Belgium which he intended & was arrested immediately after returning to the Congo. With charges of embezzlement. He served a 12-month sentence and upon freedom he launched the Congolese National Movement, the first nationwide political party in the Congo. His speech at the All-African People’s Conference in 1958 ignited all the people who attended. The Belgium government saw this fire for independence on the rise across the continent and in 1960 held general elections for the Congo as a way to smother this fire. Lumumba’s Congolese National Movement boycotted this election and many Congolese did as well. This resulted in the murdering of 30 Congolese in Kisangani (Stanleyville under colonist rule) and Lumumba was arrested on charges of inciting a riot. The Congolese National Movement decided to change direction and join the election race which they did, and they won with a 90% vote. Upon winning they demanded the release of Lumumba. And Belgium forces released him. This all resulted in the Congo gaining independence in June 1960. Just six months later he was imprisoned and executed by firing squad.
Black History 365 | # 72 Dr. Lonnie Johnson
Lonnie Johnson is an engineer who invented the Super Soaker (which has generated over $1 billion in sales over its lifetime). He developed the toy after-hours while working as an engineer for NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA. He saw the promise of his super-powered water pistol and persuaded executives at Larami, a company that made knock-off toys, to produce his invention and pay him royalties. Even though that’s the invention he is most known for his accomplishments are well beyond water gun design. He enrolled at Tuskegee University and earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and a master’s degree in nuclear engineering. While with the Air Force, he got his first patent, for an invention he called the “Digital Distance Measuring Instrument.” It was an early version of DVD-reading technology. He recalls it as a missed opportunity because he didn’t pursue it further. He’s currently active on TikTok right now @drlonniejohnson looking like a bag of money. Nuff Respect.
Black History 365 | # 71 Betty Davis
Did you know the second wife of Miles Davis was a badass in her own right? She was a model, singer, songwriter, & she heavily influenced Miles’ creative direction on Bitches Brew. Born Betty Gray Mabry her college years she was enrolled in the Fashion Institute of Technology, but by night she was performing, meeting musicians like Jimi Hendrix (who she actually introduced Miles to) & Sly Stone. She also worked as a model for Ebony, Glamour, and Seventeen magazines. Now called The Queen of Funk, Ms. Davis died in her home in Homestead, Pennsylvania on February 9, 2022, She was 77.
Black History 365 | #53 The Taino People
It is an ongoing theme under the lens of colonialism that most (to all) peoples, places, and things in existence need to be identified, categorized, named, and more times than not exploited. That being said this group of people are historically identified as the Taino (meaning good or noble) people (as described by Christopher Columbus). The Taino people are (or were) part of a larger group of the Arawak people (originally from South America. Likely to have originated between the Orinoco and Amazon rivers, but now in the countries of Colombia and Venezuela) and the two biggest tribes within the Arawaks were the Taino & the Lokono (indigineous to South America - Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, the Falkland Islands, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Paraguay). The Taino more specifically are the indigenous people of the Caribbean, Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic , Puerto Rico & Florida. Now, when Christopher Columbus arrived on the Island of Hispaniola (near modern day Cap-Haïtien) in 1492 it wasn’t called that. It was referred to as Quisqueya or Bohio and it was a well-organized communal society divided among five different Kingdoms. Hispaniola or Española means “Little Spain” and that name comes from Columbus. The Taino chief Guacanagari, (the first to greet Columbus in fact to rescue him from shipwreck) allowed 39 of his crew to stay on the island while Christopher Columbus left the island for an extended period to return later. That decision by the chief proved to be fatal. On Columbus’ second voyage, he began to require tribute from the Taíno in Hispaniola. Each person over 14 years of age was expected to deliver a hawks bell full of gold every three months, or twenty-five pounds of spun cotton. If they failed to do so, the European-Spanish cut off the hands of the Taíno and left them to bleed to death. These cruel practices inspired many revolts, but history proves in the long-run were unsuccessful. Reports debate the amount of Arawak-Taino that inhabited the island upon Christopher Columbus’ disruptive arrival range from 400,000-100,000 on the low-end. This forceful takeover of the island resulted in murders, revolts turned wars, famine, disease (especially smallpox) & slavery. These were large part the reasons why these people did not survive. All for the European-Spanish exploitation of the island’s gold and other natural resources. Within twenty-five years of Columbus’ arrival, most of the Taíno had died from enslavement, massacre, or disease. By 1514, only 32,000 Taíno survived . Which is why in 1490 the slave trade was beginning where the European-Spanish brought African people from present-day Senegal and Gambia as slaves to the island. The Taino were declared extinct in 1565. But this was not before the enslaved people (Taino & African) were intermarrying.
Columbus wrote:
Modern day groups who most notably currently identify as a descendant of Taino heritage are Puerto Ricans, Cubans, Dominicans, & Jamaicans. Multiple sources do not include Haitians from that group, unfortunately, however, that doesn’t change what common sense will tell you. The island’s history is intertwined with more than 28 African tribes who were brought to Santo Domingo as slaves. Haiti & DR are one, even though they are not. There is an imaginary divide on the island. Recent research revealed a high percentage of mixed or tri-racial ancestry in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Those claiming Taíno ancestry also have African ancestry, European-Spanish ancestry and often, both. But we are in quite deep, a familial connection across the island as a whole is not recognized in modern day.
Black History 365 | # 68 Mister Cee
Calvin LeBrun better known as Mister Cee AKA The Finisher is a New York DJ who was responsible for discovering Notorious B.I.G. He was the official DJ for Big Daddy Kane and discovered Big through DJ, 50 Grand. who brought Big to his house. He also played a part in launching the careers of many artists including Alicia Keys, Jay-Z and 50 Cent. He unfortunately passed away last month April 2010, 2024 due to diabetes-related artery/kidney disease, the Hip-Hop community is still mourning. Much respect to his legacy.