You Think What?

John Hope Franklin a revered American academic, teacher and historian died last week at the age of 94.

Among his academic achievements and scholarly awards:

The first black man to deliver a paper to  Southern Historical Association. In 1970 he was elected president of the previously segregated organization.

The first black president of the American Historical Association.

He was instrumental in the opening of the first chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa “honor society” – a national organization which inspires academic excellence – at  historically black university, Fisk University, where Franklin began his own higher education.

In Britain, he held the Pitt professorship of American history and institutions at Cambridge University.

Franklin taught all over the world – in China, the Soviet Union, Australia and Zimbabwe. (more…)

February is the month in which many Americans, especially Americans of African descent, celebrate the history of coming to America.

February was chosen , not because it is the shortest month, but because it is the month of the birth of Abraham Lincoln the president who emancipated all the slaves.  Not every person who was a slave was Black or Native American. Many whites were indentured slaves.  Today the  financial institution executives have made many of our citizens modern day indentured slaves.

Included in that history are the trials and tribulations of being enslaved; but the joyful part of the history is the celebration of the achievements of the progeny of former black slaves.

At YouThinkWhat we acknowledge the successes and the triumphs in the face of extreme adverse conditions faced by men and women who despite those obstacles have contributed to the culture that is known around the planet as being uniquely American in its style.

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Blanche Africa Reilly Dark continues her report on the King Birthday celebration last week in Daytona Beach, Florida.

We gathered outside the church behind Father Phil and a sanitation truck as we prepared to march to the foot of the Sea Breeze Bridge.  The pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes carried one of the sails from the pulpit to guide the group. The sanitation truck was symbolic of the last crusade Dr. King led for the sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee. We marched to the foot of the bridge to remember those who participated in the march to Selma. Many workers were injured and some lost their lives on the day known as “Bloody Sunday”. There were several people in the march who had been with Dr. King at Selma, and Montgomery; they shared their stories of what it was like to be a young person of teenage years making and witnessing history in demonstrating for equal rights for black people in the United States. (more…)

Myron Rolle wants to be a professional football player, and a neurosurgeon, as well as a successful Rhodes Scholar.

Many have said Rolle is over-hyped and over-rated.  Even FSU’s defensive coordinator, Mickey Andrews, last year criticized Rolle for, get this, studying too much! (more…)

MARDU , one of our most popular contributing writers, in previous articles has reminded us what time it is in America; he’s shared his expressed his anger over 700 billion dollars to save the financial markets; In October, when most of us were expecting a surprise, he told us of his optimism. Today MARDU tells us what he thinks of the American auto industry and what he thinks should be done if the government gives more money to the companies...and now MARDU speaks.

The decades old arrogance of America’s auto-makers, has finally come home to roost.

Since I was a child in the middle-ages, Detroit has treated its clientele like chattels. Dragging buyers around by the nose, incrementally up-scaling its products to increase revenue in its captive market.

After WWII, you’ll remember it, It was in all the papers. Europeans began to invade the market with low cost autos with tiny more fuel efficient power plants and Spartan accommodations. They were largely ignored by Detroit as a nuisance. Over the years we have seen the Japanese and now other Asian sources capture a large slice of the domestic auto market. Still, Detroit ignored the hand-writing on the wall, billboards, the news, and the American roads.
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CONGRATULATIONS! It’s official. The winner of the local Volusia County Florida District 2 contest between neophyte Josh Wagner and incumbent (soon-to-be-former) Ponce Inlet mayor, Nancy Epps for the Volusia County Council District 2 seat is our choice Josh Wagner. We look forward to having Josh Wagner, who is an accomplished attorney, represent us on the Volusia County Florida Council.

We also say a hearty congratulations to Tony Goudie the newly elected mayor of Ponce Inlet, Florida. We’re happy our own highlander will be leading the town and its council to maintaining the cozy small town feel of our precious historic location while bringing us into the 21st Century.

We wish much success to our choices of winning candidates.

The video you see displayed here is President-elect Barack Obama’s first weekly  address. The new administration is planning to primarily use the Internet as well as radio to provide updates to the nation on the progress of its agenda for change. We think this first address is a reminder to all citizens Obama’s administration will begin January 20, 2009. George W. Bush is still in charge. (more…)

Read more about the South African songbird Miriam Makeba who died in Italy following her collapse
during a concert.

During the campaign he was called terrorist, Marxist, communist, socialist, elitist, and a host of other insulting names, Senator Barack Obama can now be called, Mr. President.

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We’re endorsing Joshua Wagner for Volusia County Council District 2. Why? Because we like the positions he holds on the issues, and we like him. We find him to be personable, polite and intelligent.
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