Black History 365 | # 64 Florence Flo-Jo Griffith Joyner

Famously known as Flo-Jo, Florence Griffith Joyner still holds the world record for the Women’s 100 meter dash (10.49) and the 200-meter dash (21.34). She was a gold and silver Olympian from Watts, California. She was also styling her own track uniforms, and the nails stayed on point too. She even designed the Indiana Pacers jerseys after she retired. She died at 38 years old from an epileptic seizure in 1998. Rest in peace and major respect to the legacy of Ms. Flo-Jo

Black History 365 | # 50 The Coloured Hockey League

Did you know the first organized hockey league was for and by black people? Yes Canada’s first organized hockey league was The Coloured Hockey League formed by original teams like Africville Sea-Slides, The Halifax Eurekas, The Dartmouth Jubilees, and The Halifax Stanley. It was formed in 1895-1930, pre-dating the formation of the NHL by more than 20 years. It has been kept a secret for century and some change. CRAZY!

lack History 365 | # 87 Jesse Owens

Approx 1.5 hours

Did you know Jesse Owens won 4 gold medals at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany? 100 meters, long jump, 200 meters, and 4 x 100-meter relay. Before that he set 4 world records in less than an hour in 1936 at the Big Ten track meet. Bro was siiick!! And he went to OSU. TUFF!!

Black History Month 365 | # 119 Mike Tyson

Did you know Mike Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion in history at the age of 20? Defeating Trevor Berbick in 1986 to claim the WBC title. And he won in outstanding fashion.

Black History 365 | # 118 Ancient Africa

Did you know that ancient African people were the first people to observe the nighttime sky and to chronicle their observations? They noticed that the stars rose from East to West just like the sun. And through their observations they were able to define time. In fact there are Kemetic solar calendars in Egypt (formally called Kemet) documenting these discoveries. They also accurately calculated the circumference of the earth. Greek scientist Claudius Ptolomy spent decades in Kemet studying at the feet of African scholars. His works represented everything ancient Greeks knew about astrology. Modern astrology is based on his writings. In Africa there were the Fathers and Mothers of advanced science, spiritual ideas and practices — writing, mathematics, philosophy, art, medicine, architecture, biology, chemistry, and astronomy. After more than 3,000 years of relative peace and prosperity, Alexander of Macedon a Greek general wasn’t satisfied with solely gaining ancient knowledge from Kemet. He wanted to control the entire civilization. It was renamed Egypt and all those years of ancient indigenous knowledge was taken under European control. You know what they say, to the victor goes the spoils. And the winner gets to write the history we come to accept as facts. Even if fabricated. Your research results might reveal that ancient Africans would throw bones in the air and whichever way they fell is how they knew the time. 😭 Which is hilarious if ignorant stereotypes are your humor. Lord knows I was tickled at how wicked this sh*t can get. But that’s egregiously ignorant and untrue. Protect ya neck!! Melanated people really ruling out here. And if you’re paying attention, you might see history repeating itself. 👀

Black History 365 | # 84 Martin Luther King Jr

Approx 1 hour

Did you know Martin Luther King Jr regretted his “I Have A Dream” speech? Reflecting upon it he feared he was integrating his people into a burning house. He felt that America was not being true to what America’s founding father’s wrote on paper. His perspective started to change, he started to see riots as necessary and as durable social phenomena. He spoke less about “dreams” and more about action. He spoke to and supported sanitation workers that were on strike and spoke about boycotting Coca Cola and other businesses. He spoke about sticking together and never stopping until actionable change was made. He spoke of Egyptian history, Greek, and Roman history. He was still non-violent, but there was clearly a shift in his energy. He was assassinated within 24 hours of making his last speech.

Black History 365 | # 89 Marsha P. Johnson

Approx 1 hour

Did you know Marsha P. Johnson is slowly being written into American History as a gay rights and liberation activist? In the 1960s same-sex relationships were illegal in New York City. Night clubs and bars were where gays would gather in privacy from the law. Police would still conduct raids because many bars were owned by the Mafia and operated without liquor licenses. For me, it’s presumable the Mafia could still make their money from the gay community and then allow the police to still do their job and kick them out. But that’s not historically accurate because I have no proof of there being deals between the Mafia and New York Police…lol. Anyway, an event cited as the Stonewall Riots took place after a raid happened at a club in the arts hub, Greenwich Village in 1969. Police roughly hauled employees and patrons out the bar. No deaths. Thankfully. That led to six days of protests and violent clashes with the law. It served as the catalyst for the gay rights movement in the United States and around the world. It was said that Marsha P Johnson “really started it” according to others. It was said that she threw a brick, but that history is fuzzy. What isn’t fuzzy is Marsha P Johnson died mysteriously and was found floating in a river in 1992 after a gay pride parade.

Black History 365 | # 73 Patrice Lumumba

Approx 1.5 hours

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

Approx 1.5 hours

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 | # 75 Sylvia Robinson, the godmother of the Hip-Hop industry

Approx 1 hour

Did you know a black woman, Sylvia Robinson is the Godmother of Hip-Hop? At least within the industry…conceiving and producing the first successful rap record in the summer of 1979, “Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugarhill Gang. That record singlehandedly transformed the genre from a regional activity to commercially viable art form. We can thank her for that.

Black History 365 | # 70 Ebo Taylor

Ebo Taylor is a Ghanian musician and Afrobeat and Highlight music legend. He has been actively making music plus years and was cool with a wide variety of musicians from Fela Kuti to The Beatles band, all of who were peers. Heavily influenced by Jazz music Ebo was largely responsible for introducing it to Ghana, a lot like Fela did with Nigeria. He is 88 years old and still rockin! Much respect.

Black History 365 | # 82 The Kemetic (Egyptian) Peace Sign

Approx 1 hour

The origin of splitting your index and middle finger while throwing up the “peace” sign is actually the hand signal used by allied nations during World War II. It’s a V, for victory. Victor de Laveleye, a Belgian refugee working for the BBC, shortwaved the following announcement to his countrymen: “I am proposing to you as a rallying emblem the letter V…” Although anti-war activists later adopted it as a symbol of peace the Kemetic aka Egyptian peace sign meant oneness. And your index and middle fingers are to be brought together. Makes sense. Pretty cool stuff. Peace.

Black History 365 | # 56 Timbuktu

Approx 1 hour

Did you know Africa in the 14th century was an educational hub for the world? When the European Renaissance was starting, Timbuktu was already booming as a cultural, religious haven with high literacy. There were as many as 80 large private libraries. During the beginning of Europe’s medieval times, Africa had manuscripts that included poetry by women, legal reflections, and scientific treatises — reshaping civilizations throughout the world.

Black History 365 | # 86 The Origin of Hushpuppies (Fact or Fiction?)

Approx 2 hours

Did you know the appetizer Hushpuppies come from enslaved Africans? Yes. They were fried balls of cornmeal and were thrown out to distract the hounds from tracking them. It worked. They’ve been called Hush Puppies ever since. A chef & historian interviewed by Harvard magazine denies this as a popular fable, assuming that slaves would not have time to cook & that the onions in the recipe are obnoxious and noisome. This denial of the origin story does not take into account the fact that the recipe could’ve have changed depending on the situation that called to it. Whether you to choose to believe the widespread documented history or the griots of communities across the diaspora is up to you, the reader.

Black History 365 | # 67 The American History of Cornrows

Approx 2.5 hours

Did you know that cornrows were used by escaping slaves as braided route maps? Enslaved Africans would hide escape plans in songs and escape maps in cornrows. Women would use seeds as declaration in their hair and these seeds were then used to start and grow crops after liberation. Ingenuity at its finest!

Approx 2 hours

Laila Ali, daughter of Muhammad Ali is a legend in her own right. She is a four-time undefeated boxing world champion, with 24 wins and zero losses. Easily one of the most successful females in the history of women’s boxing. Keeping that Ali legacy alive. Respect.

READ UP! 📚 [www.friendscallmep.com/blog]

Black History 365 | # 63 Johnnie Cochran

Approx 1.5 hours

Did you know before the O.J. Simpson trial that while a student at Loyola Law School, Johnnie Cochran became the first black law clerk hired by the Los Angeles City Attorney? He had quite the list of high profile clients as well — Michael Jackson, Tupac Shakur, Todd Bridges, Snoop Dogg, Riddick Bowe, & even Rosa Parks. But most notably, Cochran himself considers one of his most important trials was his work on the case of Geronimo Pratt, who spent a quarter century in prison for a crime he did not commit. Do your homework on J Mane, it hit different.