Part three of the Big Six, A. Philip Randolph. He brought the power of the union in his fight for fair wage and fair employment to African Americans in the long struggle for dignity. His influence became a part of the March on Washington, but moreover he brought hope to our cousins to live decent and prosperous lives.

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Our cousins held onto traditions that no doubt reach back to the Mother Land to maintain the quality of life. 

Apothecaries were a part of their health and wellness for the time. Improvisation was the rest. 

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We celebrate our ancestors. We tell their stories and prepare their recipes. We reflect upon their hard times and bad times giving them honors and plaques and street names. What better way to honor our cousins who paved the way for us, in blood, than to vote.

Our 20th century history draws a picture of systematic oppression and outright refusal to allow everyone to vote.

Fight back with the power of the ballot. 

Our series continues on the Big Six with Whitney Young. Handsome and charismatic man who was able to reach across to corporate America in an effort to open doors for African Americans economic freedom. He brought his voice and passion to the March on Washington, 1963 as Americans from all different walks of life were committed to eradicating Jim Crow, poverty and illiteracy. 

We know about his I Have a Dream and Mountain Top speeches that sends chills down the spine. We know about the boycotts and marches.

What about his perspectives we don't hear about on MLK Day? He addressed uncomfortable truths that America didn't want to hear then and do not want to hear now.

Dr. King was one of the 'Big Six'. Six men who converged on the 28th day in August, 1963 to set a foundation for jobs and freedom. Kinda like now.

It doesn't matter what genre you like. The root of American music is in The Blues. It comes from despair and joy. It talks back to oppression and betrayal and celebrates wisdom. Every dimension of humanity has a note in the twelve bars blues. It is the roux in music that we enjoy today.

After a lifetime of economic, social and political poverty there comes a time when enough is enough. Our cousins had fought in World War I, endured lynching and fires; lost people during the Red Summer of 1919 and still had a hard time trying to find a decent level of existence in the Land of the Free. The New Negro pumped the brakes on fear, submission and oppression and gave birth to a new consciousness of what it meant to be black in America.

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Starting a new season of stories, prose and narratives reflecting upon our humanity. 

That's Who we Are

 We are not just struggling and angry. We are innovative and caring and loving and at times nerve-wracking. The entirety of who we are should be constructively embraced not just to be a nuisance but to be a beacon for toward the light of love, peace and freedom.

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Picture art by Annie Lee

If you care to support These Cousins of Ours, you can make a small donation. Always appreciated

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Washing and ironing and cooking and cleaning all day long. Some of our cousins commuted while others 'Slept In'. aside from nursing or teaching it was about the only employment black women had before World War II. Excuse the background noise please. Fireworks were quite annoying. I may do a re tape at some time in the future. Enjoy.

If you care to make a small donation to These Cousins of Ours, it will be great appreciated.

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The onset of Reconstruction after the Civil War brought a level of prosperity for Freedmen.  Our cousins were closer to equality in the land of the free. The ominous reality of Redemption wasn't far behind. It included the systematic withdrawal of all that had been accomplished, and America did its level best, including murder, to bring the African American back to slavery.  

If you care to make a small donation to These Cousins of Ours, it is greatly appreciated

paypal.me/TLyons515