John Hope Franklin, one of the most prolific and well-respected chroniclers of America’s torturous racial odyssey, died of congestive heart failure Wednesday in a Durham, N.C., hospital. He was 94.
It was more than Franklin’s voluminous writings that cemented his reputation among academics, politicians and civil rights figures as an inestimable historian. It was the reality that Franklin, a black man, had seen racial horrors up close and thus was able to give his academic work a stinging ballast. Franklin was a young boy when his family lost everything in the Tulsa race riot of 1921. The violence was precipitated by reports that a black youth assaulted a white teenage girl in a downtown elevator. In the end more than 40 people died, mostly blacks, although some reports put the death total much higher.
Franklin was among the first black scholars to earn prominent posts at America’s top — and predominantly white — universities. His research and his personal success helped pave the way both for other blacks and for the field of black studies, which began to blossom on American campuses in the 1960s.
2 comments:
I apologize for jacking your post but this is a call to arms.
I am posting this to every AA website and newspaper I can find. I appreciate any help w/ local newspapers.
In Saturday’s London Times the following picture of First Lady Michelle Obama: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/template/2.0-0/element/pictureGalleryPopup.jsp?id=5968736&&offset=0&§ionName=PoliticsG20
I found it insulting to the country, the President and the First Lady. I wrote to the London Times and the Charge d’Affairs Richard LeBaron in London protesting the photo, demanded its removal, the posting of a suitable one and an apology. I expect nothing from the Times given it is owned by Rupert Murdoch whom has already shown his ass to the President. I do expect an action from the Charge d’Affairs.
I would ask that everyone email the embassy, the White House, the Secretary of State’s office and anyone else you think should know demanding action. Here is my letter to them: To Charge d'Affairs Richard LeBaron:
The Times of London has published a picture of First Lady Michelle Obama that is so insulting to the American People, the President and above all the First Lady that is so insulting that if you were a gentleman you would have no choice but to challenge both the editor and the owner to a duel to the death. Here is a copy of the most offensive picture:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/template/2.0-0/element/pictureGalleryPopup.jsp?id=5968736&&offset=0&§ionName=PoliticsG20
Since it is too much to expect a meager man such as yourself to uphold the First Lady and the country in this manner a simple beat down will do. the purpose of this beat down is to gain an apology for the people of the USA, the President and the dearly beloved First Lady, Michelle Obama and the publication of a more suitable picture.
On that same note in the cause of improving FrancoAmerican relations you might find the time to have them post a more suitable picture of Madame Sarkosy. The one published gives her the appearance of Prime Minister Sarkosy’s slattern as opposed to his wife.
I would appreciate a prompt action of your part.
Thank you
The email address is SCSLondon@sstate.gov
Hi, very interesting post, greetings from Greece!
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