Paul Robeson was reared by a former slave who later became a minister and taught his children to excel in every area of their lives. A multilingual actor, athlete, concert singer and civil rights activist, Robeson was acclaimed for his renditions of old spirituals, such as "Go Down Moses." He is probably best known for his rendition of "Ol Man River," which he sang in the film Show Boat. Over 3000 people gathered in Carnegie Hall to celebrate Robeson's 75th birthday. Because of ill health he was unable to attend; however, he taped a message to be shared with the crowd: "Though I have not been able to be active for serveral years, I want you to know that I am the same Paul, dedicated as ever to the worldwide cause of humanity for freedom, peace and brotherhood."
SCRIPTURE:
1 Peter 2:17
Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the King.
Black History Bulletin - Marian Anderson
SKU: U7811
TEXT:
Marian Anderson (1897-1993)
Marian Anderson, the first African-American to perform at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City, broke several racial barriers during her career. The Daughters of the American Revolution's refusal to allow Anderson to sing in Constitution Hall prompted First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt to resign from the organization. She arranged a free Easter morning concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial where Ms. Anderson sang to a crowd of 75,000 people.
SCRIPTURE:
Psalm 104:33
I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
Black History Bulletin - Mary Church Terrell
SKU: U7812
TEXT:
Mary Church Terrell (1863-1954)
Born of parents who were both former slaves, Mary Church Terrell became a writer and civil rights and women's rights activist. In 1884 when she received her bachelor's degree from Oberlin College in Ohio, she was one of the first African-American women to earn a college degree. Four years later she received her master's degree from Oberlin, and in 1948, the institution conferred an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters on Mrs. Terrell.
Mary Terrell was an active member of the National American Women Sufferage Association, being greatly concerned that the organization continue to fight for black women to be able to vote. In 1909, Terrell was one of two Negro women invited to sign the "Call," to be present at the organizational meeting of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and to become a founding member of the NAACP.
SCRIPTURE:
Proverbs 21:21
He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
Black History Bulletin - Kenneth Clark
SKU: U7813
TEXT:
Kenneth Clark (1914-2005)
Dr. Kenneth Clark was the first African-American to earn a doctorate in psychology at Columbia; the first to become a permanent professor at the City College of New York; the first to join the New York State Board of Regents and the first African-American to serve as a president of the American Psychological Association. He also assisted corporations in establishing racial policies and minority hiring programs.
In 1954 Clark's findings on the adverse effects of racial segregation were instrumental in the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas landmark Supreme Court decision, helping overturn the "separate but equal" doctrine that had legalized segregated schools for decades. The court ruled that public-school segregation was unconstitutional.
SCRIPTURE:
1 Corinthians 13:2
Though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
Black History Bulletin - Martin Luther King, Jr.
SKU: U7814
TEXT:
Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)
On April 3, 1963, King began his campaign to desegregate the deep-south city of Birmingham, Alabama. Intense white opposition to marches and demonstrations caught the attention of the nation and the world and landed King in jail. From that jail, like a modern day Paul, King wrote to the white clergy of Birmingham--and to the churches of today:
"If today's church does not recapture the sacrifical spirt of the early church it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning..."
