Actress, author, and civil rights advocate,
Donzaleigh Abernathy, daughter of the late civil rights icon Rev. Ralph Abernathy, has unwrapped her vocal gifts to pay homage to a historic speech by her godfather, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who she called Uncle Martin. Donzaleigh’s voice as lead soloist is heard on the social justice recording titled, “
The Listening.” The music project is the brainchild of songwriter and composer, Cheryl B. Engelhardt, who was inspired by King’s 1967 speech, “Beyond Vietnam: A Time To Break Silence.”
The social justice corral project was released via audio and video on Feb. 12, 2021. According to Donzaleigh’s publicist, Kaytee Long, “The Listening” is now available on all major online-digital music platforms, like Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, and others. The video is available on YouTube.
On this day in Black History…
In 1865, Henry Highland Garnet (December 23, 1815 – February 13, 1882) an African American abolitionist and orator becomes the first black minister to preach to the United States House of Representatives.
In 1900, For a Lincoln birthday celebration, James Weldon Johnson writes the lyrics for “Lift Every Voice and Sing”. With music by his brother, J. Rosamond, the song is first sung by 500 children in Jacksonville, Fla. It will become known as the “Negro National Anthem”.
In 1903, American baritone opera singer Todd Duncan, the first performer of the role of Porgy in Porgy and Bess, is born in Danville, Kentucky. Duncan would be the first African American to sing with a major opera company and the first black person to sing in an opera all white cast, when he performed the role of Tonio in Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci with the New York City Opera.
Top Chef debut this spring. (Photo by Amir Abdul-Shakur) Oakland chef Nelson German cooks on Top Chef Season 18 + more good news around the Bay Area
By
Feb 12, 2021
AlaMar chef/founder Nelson German is about to show them how it s done in The Town on the new season of
Top Chef.
Plus, the SFMTA honors Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott; Levi s collection of limited edition garments designed by local disabled artists has nearly sold out; and more Bay Area stories to make you smile.
SF Honors Civil Rights Icon Rosa Parks w/ Muni Plaque, Funcheap
Sixty-six years after the Montgomery Bus Boycott, SFMTA has installed a plaque on a bus in Rosa Parks honor. Throughout Black History Month, expect to see more bus cards detailing her contributions. Read more.
Childrenâs Books for Black History Month
Historical titles celebrating men and women who can inspire our families
Author:
Historical titles celebrating men and women who can inspire our families
Throughout the year, and especially during Black History month, my children and I read books about African-American history and extraordinary Black Americans. The books we’ve read have spanned the struggles of enslavement and segregation, the triumph of Black artists, celebrations, and achievements, and history aside stories of Black kids just being kids. When possible, I try to share with them books whose author and/or illustrator are Black, so we can support and learn from authors and illustrators telling the story of their own heritage.