Transfer: Black History Month Cultural Icon/ Don Cornelius

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Black History Month- Cultural Icons

Black History Month Cultural Icons is a look at different Black role models and leaders that deeply impacted American culture not only for Blacks but also Whites! These people are not your traditional Black leaders but still are very important to Black culture in America.

                                                       Cultural Icon Don Cornelius

Don Cornelius inventor and host of Soul Train. Soul Train the first nationally syndicated dance and music show were new Black artist could get national attention and have their careers lunch on to the national scene.

                                                                  Don Cornelius Bio

Don was born and rasied in Chicago on the south side. After graduated from high school Don joined the mariners and fought in the Korea War. After returning home from the war Don held many jobs from selling tires and cars also insurance. Don was also a police officer for the Chicago police department.

Don was married twice and had two sons by his 1st wife Tony and Raymond.

Don became frustrated with the string of low paying jobs, then quit his job and join broadcasting school for three (3) months. He then got a job with Chicago radio station WVON. Soon after Don joined Chicago television station WCIU as a anchorman, hosting "Blacks views of the news".

He then launched Soul Train as a daily local dance and music show on Chicago television station 1970. The show was a immediate hit and was moved to Los Angeles in 1971 as a nationally syndicated show.

Don was instrumental in launch mostly all the Black artist from 70s to the mid 90s. Soul Train is one of the longest running syndicated television show in American history! Don promoted the creative of young people from their dance styles and trends, to their clothes and hairstyles.

The promoting of hairstyle was a extremely profitable business for Don's sponsor George Johnson owner of Afro Sheen. In the late 70s Afro Sheen gross up to 40 billion annual!

Don was the first Black man to own and produce his own show! Don not only gave many Black artist a big break in their careers, but also many Blacks behind the scene, cameramen, sound check, editors and etc.

Don was the original suit guy before Steve Harvey and many others you see today! Don is largely responsible for launching the careers and record sells of all the Black artist over the last 30 years!!!

Don Cornelius, Thank you

Black History Month- Cultrual Icon- Russell Simmons

Friday, February 8, 2013

Black History Month- Cultrual Icons

Knowthyself11, takes a look at nontraditional Black Cultural Icons for Black History Month. These personalities give us a different look at what we define as role- models and leaders in the Black Community.

                                                    Cultural Icon Russell Simmons

Russell Simmons founder of Def Jam Records. Founder of Phat Farm apparel. Co- Founder of Baby Phat Apparel. Found of Rush Credit Card. Movie producer "Krush Grove".

                                                          Russell Simmons Bio

Russell grew up in Queens, New York. He is the 2nd of three (3) boys, older brother Daniel Jr. and younger brother Joesph {Run of Run Dmc}. Russel was married to Kimora Lee and had two (2) daughters Ming Lee and Aoki Lee.

Russell is a strong activist practising Buddhism {Ahimsa}. He is a vegetarian. He is big animal rights. He is a  ambassador to the U.N. Slavery Memorial. He was the official sponsor of the Muslim Jewish Conference of 2011. Russell also participant in occupy wall street.


*Tip
Ahimsa: Is Buddhism. non- violence towards all life especially animal life. {not eating animal products}

Russell Simmons is what as a business magnet. He makes money in a lot of different industries! Music, Clothing apparel, financing, advertisement, management, movies, television production and journalism.

Russell was a pioneer in giving new Black Hip- Hop artist record contracts in the early days of Hip- Hop. He was also known for giving artist fair deals. Russell has used his money and influence to open a lot of new doors for young Blacks to go into, that where not open nor welcome for Blacks before Russell Simmons.

Russell Simmons, Thank you

Transfer: Black History Month- Cultrual Icons of Hip- Hop

Black History Month- Cultrual Icons

When you talk of Cultural Icons these next three (3) guys are huge! They do not get the credit they truely deserve. But they truely are old school in thought and heart, because they did, what they did out of love and not money! This is why I honor them as Black History Cultural Icons!

                                             The Creators of Hip Hop/ Rapping Music

                                     Dj Kool Herc, Coke La Rock and Afrikan Bambaata

These three (3) guys saved a whole generation of inner city Black males from gang violence!

Example:

As inner city condition continue to get worse after World War II and the slowing down of light manufacturing in America due to oversea cost and cheap labor. Many Blacks whom had moved from down south {rural} America and the Caribbean countries looking for work and a promise of a better life for their family, had become trapped by mid and late 1960s!

Many of the inner city children started to join street gangs all over America, especially on the east coast.

*Tip
Gangs in Los Angles were started or heavily influence by gang members from Chicago, whom had been sent their by family members to get away from gang life in Chicago, but subsequently started their own gangs when they came to Los Angles.

By the 1960s New York City had a out of control gang problem. One of the hardest hit areas by gang violence was the South Bronx borough of New York City.

Dj Kool Herc {Clive Campbell} and his sister Cindy and friends start giving and host parties for young people to have safe fun and get off the streets.

Dj Kool Herc is Jamaican born. He remember the style of the Jamaican Dj in the dance halls of Jamaica. The breaks {playing the instrumental part of the song repeatedly} and what is known as toasting {giving a shout out}. He started to do this with records his dad bought him like James Brown!

Dj Kool Herc friend Coke La Rock would do the Mcing {Master of Ceremonies}, with toasting and repeating the hooks {catchphrase of song} thus rapping was born. These parties became so big that the parents had to help supply the parties with snacks and refreshments!

Coke La Rock aka Coco La Rock is credit with being the first Rappper! His stage name was Coco La Rock, but as time went on it changed to Coke La Rock, coming from the street slang word dope in Hip Hop meaning good or the best!

La Rock states "that they were kids playing around looking for something to do to get off the streets and have fun, and it sort took off from there". La Rock left the Hip Hop scene in the late 1970s to raise his son!

**Tip
Coke La Rock is not related Scott La Rock of Criminal Minded rapp group! {KRS One}
Only influnced, but this is disputed also?

Afrikan Bambaata also join up with the duo of DJ Kool Herc and La Rock and would host parties all over town! Afrikan Bambaata "Bam" for short would heavenly influence Africa Culture into Hip Hop influence by a recent trip to Africa, from a essay he had won at school!

Afrikan Bambaata {Kevin Donovan} also from the Bronx, was pushing for a non- violent way for young people to get off the streets! The three (3) came together and started what we will call Hip Hop!

I want to personally thank these (3) guys because of Hip Hop before gangster rapp was a huge influence on my life! Hip Hop was such a movement by the late 70s and early 80s that it started to open my eyes up to the world, and gave me a voice on the world stage of what it felt like to young and Black in the inner city!

Thank you!