Black Improvement Media (BIM) is a multimedia resource for the Black Improvement Movement. This blog is served by Seko Varner. On this site you may find media programming that support our mission of improving the lives of people of African descent. The views expressed in the media presented on this site are not necessarily the views and opinions of Seko Varner or Positive Vibes Inc.
Chike Akua - Alkebulan Sacred Science and Civilization
Mr. Chike Akua is a leading authority on increasing the achievement of today's students, especially those labeled "at-risk."
As recognized master teacher, Mr. Akua has been an invited keynote presenter (and co-presenter) at regional and national conferences, school systems, colleges and universities.
With a culturally relevant approach toward closing the achievement gap, he is known for his dynamic, interactive presentations to teachers, parents, and students.
Chike Akua has been called "an educational revolutionary" and is recognized as a leading authority on culturally relevant educational materials and instructional approaches. He has lectured and given keynote addresses at a number of colleges, universities and educational conferences around the country including Minnesota State University's annual Pan-African Student Leadership Conference. He is a 1992 graduate of Hampton University and a 2003 graduate of Clark Atlanta University. Selected as one of Ebony magazine’s “50 Leaders of Tomorrow,” Akua is a former “Teacher of the Year” and has facilitated workshops for the Tavis Smiley Foundation’s annual “Youth 2 Leaders” Conference. In addition, Mr. Akua has assisted in leading over 800 youth and adults on study tours to Egypt and Ghana through the D’Zert Club’s Teen Summit 1000 program. He has authored and produced several books and DVDs including:
*The African Origins Of Writing & Mathematics (DVD)
*African Sacred Science & Civilization (DVD)
*The Miracle of the Maafa (DVD)
*The African Origins of Our Faith (Book & DVD)
*SuccessQuest!: The Journey From Ordinary to Extraordinary (Book/DVD)
As a prolific author and dynamic speaker and trainer, Mr. Akua keeps a demanding schedule traveling nationally and internationally presenting at colleges, universities and conferences. FREE DOWNLOAD of Chike Akua's Speech (Click here)
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If you are receiving this correspondence via email and are not able to view the accompanying video please visit http://www.blackimprovementmedia.blogspot.com to watch the video described in the above text. The views expressed in the media presented on this site are not necessarily the views and opinions of the Imani Foundation, our members, staff, or sponsors. Find us on FACEBOOK under the name "The Black Improvement Movement". Subscribe to our posts by emailing imanifoundation-subscribe@yahoogroups.com .
Dr. Martin Luther King
"This is what happened to the Black Man in America........ He was left penniless and illiterate.................Emancipation to the Negro was to be freedom from hunger.......... It was Freedom and famine at the same time and it's a miracle that the Negro has survived."
To Black Radio Dr. King said “In a real sense you have paved the way for social and political change by creating a powerful cultural bridge between black and white. School integration is much easier now that they share a common music, a common language, and enjoy the same dances. You introduced youth to that music and created the language of soul and promoted the dance that now sweeps across race, class and nation.”
This is the full speech, a rare find of Dr King addressing the National Association of TV and Radio Announcers (NATRA).. here King talks about the important role Black radio played in furthering the Civil Rights struggle.. He also drops gems that many associate with his famous Transforming a Neighborhood Into a Brotherhood speech.. This is the Dr King that has been hidden from us and downplayed..He's on point with both his analysis and spirit.. He talks about how white folks were given free land when they moved out west while the sons and daughters of slaves were left penniless via Jim Crow laws and other forms of discrimination thus putting us far behind.. This is an incredible speech.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wxBCl1RDwA
The Honorable Dr. King who challenged Jim Crow laws and discrimination was considered by his enemies to be a rabble rouser who was creating a dangerous climate with ‘incendiary’ words. His words were so powerful that former FBI head J Edgar Hoover saw fit to follow him and try to disrupt his activities via a program called Cointel-Pro.
There were many including some Black preachers who did not want King to come to their towns and speak because he would stir things up. His ability to move the masses was threatening.
Now at the end of the day, King was able to help push through the Civil Rights Bill of 1964 which put an end to most Jim Crow Laws. He was able to help get the Voting Rights Act of 1965 passed which ended discrimination practices at the polls. At the same time Kings powerful words so enraged folks, that he was constantly receiving death threats. He also ruffled the feathers of powerful people including President Lydon Johnson after he spoke out against the Vietnam War.
If Kings words were seen as important weapons against discrimination, why are we not seeing the words of today’s far right punditry weapons to support oppression and draconian behavior and policies?
The other thing to keep in mind about Dr King was his shrewd understanding of media in particular radio and what a powerful tool it was. many do not talk about the special relationship King had with Jack ‘Jack tha Rapper Gibson and the nations first Black owned radio station WERD founded in 1949 which was housed in the same building as King’s SCLC headquarters on Auburn street in Atlanta.
Gibson is credited with being the first to broadcast King and other Civil Rights leaders on public airwaves. There are stories about how when rallies and special events were unfolding, King would bang on the ceiling with a broom to the studio housed above him, the disc jockey would lower the boom mic and King would speak to the people via radio.
In 1967 Dr King delivered a rare and powerful speech in Atlanta to NATRA ( National Association of Television and Radio Announcers). The members of this important African American organization were very appreciative as King laid out the indispensable role Black radio had played in shaping and furthering the Civil Rights struggle. King names off some of the key unsung radio heroes who he says there would not have been a Civil Rights movement had they not reflected the mood of the people and brought critical information to the masses.
King also talks about how radio is the most important and predominant medium in the Black community. It has far more reach and influence than television. He also talks about how the music these Black radio announcers played. King asserted that it helped united people. King pointed out how Blacks and Whites were listening to the same songs and doing the same dances and that the Soul Music these disc jockey’s played had served as an important cultural bridge.
He also talks about how some of them were vilified for ‘creating a climate’ that led to the unrest in American cities. Most notable was the radio announcer named Magnificent Montague who had coined the phrase Burn Baby Burn to describe a hot record, but was later used a rallying cry for the Watts Riots of 1965.
Montague who was good friends with Malcolm X who had been assassinated earlier that year, was on the air at KGFJ was accused of riling the people up and causing the mayhem. He had done no such thing, nevertheless LAPD paid him a visit. Montague was made to drop the slogan Burn Baby Burn to Have Mercy Baby.
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If you are receiving this correspondence via email and are not able to view the accompanying video please visit http://www.blackimprovementmedia.blogspot.com to watch the video described in the above text. The views expressed in the media presented on this site are not necessarily the views and opinions of the Imani Foundation, our members, staff, or sponsors. Find us on FACEBOOK under the name "The Black Improvement Movement". Subscribe to our posts by emailing imanifoundation-subscribe@yahoogroups.com .
