Lesley "Esley" Riddle (June 13, 1905 - July 13, 1980) was an African-American musician whose influence on the Carter Family helped to shape country music. Riddle was born in Burnsville, North Carolina. He grew up with his paternal grandparents near Kingsport, Tennessee, not far from the Virginia border. … [Read more...] about Tuesday Open Thread: The Blackness of Country Music
Tuesday Open Thread
Tuesday Open Thread: African-American Generals
Cecil Eugene Diggs Haney (born December 1, 1955), is a retired United States Navy admiral who previously served as Commander, United States Strategic Command (STRATCOM) from November 15, 2013 through November 3, 2016. Prior to STRATCOM, he served as Commander, United States Pacific Fleet. He received the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, … [Read more...] about Tuesday Open Thread: African-American Generals
Tuesday Open Thread: African-American Ballet Dancers
Nora Koito Kimball-Mentzos or simply Nora Kimball is a ballet teacher and former American ballerina, who is often overlooked for being one of the first African American female soloists—the second -- [at American Ballet Theatre (ABT). She danced with the ABT in the mid 1980's and as an African American who is also Asian American,preceded Misty Copeland, who is often credited as … [Read more...] about Tuesday Open Thread: African-American Ballet Dancers
Tuesday Open Thread: Black Music Composers
Florence Beatrice Price (April 9, 1887 – June 3, 1953) was an American classical composer. She was the first African-American woman to be recognized as a symphonic composer, and the first to have a composition played by a major orchestra. … [Read more...] about Tuesday Open Thread: Black Music Composers
Tuesday Open Thread: Black Romance Authors
Brenda Jackson (b abt 1953) is an American novelist who writes contemporary multicultural romance novels. She was the first African-American author to have a novel published as part of the Silhouette Desire line, and has seen many of her novels reach the New York Times and USAToday Bestsellers lists. Brenda reached a milestone in her career in October, 2013 when she published … [Read more...] about Tuesday Open Thread: Black Romance Authors