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Our Story

February is the official Black History Month but our (his)story is relevant throughout the year. It's good to have a reminder, a focal point that rejuvenates our inspiration. That focal point is like the sun, a ball of concentrated energy that radiates, warms, enlightens, nourishes and revives life millions of miles away. That's why although it is March I've pulled together all the people brotha oldsoul discussed during the OurStory Month. On this page you will find a brief Wikipediaor other biography and a list of pubications by and about each person. This is just a start. I plan to add more and if there is someone you feel is noteworthy enough to be listed here let me know

Note: external links will open in a new window. (Internet Explorer) or tab (Firefox) To return to Our Story sinply close that window or tab. I did not use the wikipedia entry for Amiri Baraka since the author of that entry seemed to have taken leave of his senses.

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The Exodusters
Publications
Exodusters: Black Migration to Kansas After Reconstruction by Nell Irvin Painter
The St. Louis African American Community and the Exodusters by Bryan M. Jack
The Exodusters: The Man From Texas by Nick Jones

The Exodusters
If you can read this then your browser does not support iframes. You can view the page by clicking <a href="http://www.kshs.org/cool3/exoduster.htm" target="_blank">here</a>

Vernin Johns
Nationality
African American
Publications
He was the father of the Civil Rights Movement yet I cannot find any writings by him in print. However here are some websites:
The Life and Times of the Prophet Vernon Johns
Johns the Baptist
The Vernon Johns Story ~ a movie
Oberlin College
Ralph E. Luker Dovumenting Vernon Johns

Vernon Johns
If you can read this then your browser does not support iframes. You can view the page by clicking <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernon_Johns" target="_blank">here</a>

Nationality
South African
Publications
Biko - Cry Freedom by Donald woods
Steve Biko Black Consciousness in South Africa by Steven Biko
The Testimony of Steve Biko by Steve Biko
Steven Biko (Changing Our World) by Diane Sansevere-Dreher

Steven Biko
If you can read this then your browser does not support iframes. You can view the page by clicking <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Biko" target="_blank">here</a>

Nationality
African American
Publications
The Collected Poems of Nikki Giovanni by Nikki Giovanni
Love Poems by Nikki Giovanni
Hip Hop Speaks to Children with CD: A Celebration of Poetry with a Beat (A Poetry Speaks Experience) by Nikki Giovanni
Ego Tripping and Other Poems for Young People by Nikki Giovanni
The Prosaic soul of Nikki Giovanni by Nikki Giovanni

Nikki Giovanni
If you can read this then your browser does not support iframes. You can view the page by clicking <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikki_Giovanni" target="_blank">here</a>

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Nationality
African American
Publications
Black Men, Obsolete, Single, Dangerous: The African American Family in Transition by Haki Madhubuti
YellowBlack: The Firs 21 Years of a Poet's Life by Haki Madhubuti
African-Centered Education: Its Value, Importance and Necessity in the Development of Black Children by Haki Madhubuti
Enemies: The Clash of Race by Haki Madhubuti

Haki Madhubuti
If you can read this then your browser does not support iframes. You can view the page by clicking <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haki_Madhubuti" target="_blank">here</a>

Nationality
African American
Publications
Transbluesency: The Selected poems of Amiri Baraka/LeRoi Jobes by Amiri Baraka et al
Tales of the Out & the Gone by Amiri Baraka
The Autobiography of LeRoi Jones by Amiri Baraka
Home: Social Essays by LeRoi Jones (Amiri Baraka)

Amiri Baraka
If you can read this then your browser does not support iframes. You can view the page by clicking <a href="http://www.amiribaraka.com/" target="_blank">here</a>

Chancellor Wililams
Nationality
African American
Publications
Destruction of Black Civiliztion by Chancellor Williams
The Rebirth of African Civiliztion by Chancellor Williams

Chancellor Williams
If you can read this then your browser does not support iframes. You can view the page by clicking <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chancellor_Williams" target="_blank">here</a>

Aonia Sanchez
Nationality
African American
Publications
Shake Loose My Skin: New and Selected poems by Sonia Sanchez
Homegirls and Handgrenades by Sonia Sanchez
Like the Singing Coming Off the Drums bySonia Sanchez
Does Your House Have Lions by Sonia Sanchez
sonia Sanchez
If you can read this then your browser does not support iframes. You can view the page by clicking <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonia_Sanchez" target="_blank">here</a>

Nationality
Senegalese
Publications
The Collected Poetry by Leopold Senghor and Melvin Dixon
Leopold Sedat Senghor: From Politics to Poetry by William Kluback
Leopold Sedat Senghor and the Politics of Negritude by Irving Leonard Markovitz
Black, French and African: A Life of Léopold Sedat Senghor

Leopold Senghor
<If you can read this then your browser does not support iframes. You can view the page by clicking <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9opold_S%C3%A9dar_Senghor" target="_blank">here</a> >

Nationality
African American
Publications
Divided Soul: The Life of Marvin Gaye by David Ritz
Marvin Gaye My Brother by Frankie Gaye
Listen

This player includes:
Ain't No Mountain High enough
Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing (Live)
Ain't That Peculiar
Got to Give it Up
How Sweet it Is
If This world Were Mine
I Heard it Through the GrapeVine
Inner City Blues
Let's Get it On
Mercy Me
Sexual Healing
What's Going Onbrp> Your Precious Love

Marvin Gaye
If you can read this then your browser does not support iframes. You can view the page by clicking <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Gaye" target="_blank">here</a>

Dambista Moyo
Nationality
Zambian
Publications
Dead Aid: Why Aid Is Not Working and How There Is a Better Way for Africa by Dambisa Moyo
Dead Aid: Destroying the Biggest Global Myth of Our Time by Dambisa Moyo

Dambisa Moyo
If you can read this then your browser does not support iframes. You can view the page by clicking <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dambisa_Moyo">here</a>.

Nationality
African American
Publications
What It Is: Poems and Opinions of Oscar Brown Jr. by Oscar Brown Jr.
Elegy (Plain Black Boy) Sheet Music Inscribed By Gwendolyn Brooks by GwendolynBrooks and Oscar Brown, Jr.
Rags and Old Iron "Aigs Ol' I-on" (Recorded by Oscar Brown Jr. on Columbia, and by Tennessee Ernie Ford on Capitol) by Jr. Lyric-Oscar Brown and Jr. and Norman Curtis
Oscar Brown Jr.s Joy. A musical come-together, etc. [Words and music by O. Brown and others. With portraits.] by Oscar Brown

Oscar Brown, Jr.
If you can read this then your browser does not support iframes. You can view the page by clicking <a href="http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:3pfrxqt5ldje~T1">here</a>.

Haold Lee Rush
Nationality
African American
Publications
MYSTORY: The Original Harold Lee Rush (USA Version) by Harold Lee Rush Jr
POETSTREET (Original) by Harold Lee Rush
Blackland.org
I Am Black Chicago

Harold Lee Rush
If you can read this then your browser does not support iframes. You can view the page by clicking <a href="http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:3pfrxqt5ldje~T1">here</a>. ">here.

Nationality
African american
Publications
Dancing the Dream: Poems and Reflections by Michael Jackson
Moon Walk by Michael Jackson
Listen
17 songs on 3 players

ABC, Dancing Machine, I Want You Back, I'll Be There, Just a Little Bit of You, Mama's Pearl

Ben, Don't Stop Til You Get Enough, Never Can Say Goodbye, Off the Wall, The Love You Save, Who's Loving You

Beat It, Got to be TThere, Rock With You, Shake Your Body Down to the Ground, Wanna be Startin Something

Michael Jackson
If you can read this then your browser does not support iframes. You can view the page by clicking <a href="hmjtribute.html">here</a>.

	Publications Exodusters: Black Migration to Kansas After Reconstruction by Nell Irvin Painter The St. Louis African American Community and the Exodusters by Bryan M. Jack The Exodusters: The Man From Texas by Nick Jones
The Exodusters If you can read this then your browser does not support iframes. You can view the page by clicking <a href="http://www.kshs.org/cool3/exoduster.htm" target="_blank">here</a>
Nationality African American Publications He was the father of the Civil Rights Movement yet I cannot find any writings by him in print. However here are some websites: The Life and Times of the Prophet Vernon Johns Johns the Baptist The Vernon Johns Story ~ a movie Oberlin College Ralph E. Luker Dovumenting Vernon Johns	Vernon Johns If you can read this then your browser does not support iframes. You can view the page by clicking <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernon_Johns" target="_blank">here</a>
Nationality South African Publications Biko - Cry Freedom by Donald woods Steve Biko Black Consciousness in South Africa by Steven Biko The Testimony of Steve Biko by Steve Biko Steven Biko (Changing Our World) by Diane Sansevere-Dreher	Steven Biko If you can read this then your browser does not support iframes. You can view the page by clicking <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Biko" target="_blank">here</a>
Nationality African American Publications The Collected Poems of Nikki Giovanni by Nikki Giovanni Love Poems by Nikki Giovanni Hip Hop Speaks to Children with CD: A Celebration of Poetry with a Beat (A Poetry Speaks Experience) by Nikki Giovanni Ego Tripping and Other Poems for Young People by Nikki Giovanni The Prosaic soul of Nikki Giovanni by Nikki Giovanni	Nikki Giovanni If you can read this then your browser does not support iframes. You can view the page by clicking <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikki_Giovanni" target="_blank">here</a>
Nationality African American Publications Black Men, Obsolete, Single, Dangerous: The African American Family in Transition by Haki Madhubuti YellowBlack: The Firs 21 Years of a Poet's Life by Haki Madhubuti African-Centered Education: Its Value, Importance and Necessity in the Development of Black Children by Haki Madhubuti Enemies: The Clash of Race by Haki Madhubuti	Haki Madhubuti If you can read this then your browser does not support iframes. You can view the page by clicking <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haki_Madhubuti" target="_blank">here</a>
Nationality African American Publications Transbluesency: The Selected poems of Amiri Baraka/LeRoi Jobes by Amiri Baraka et al Tales of the Out & the Gone by Amiri Baraka The Autobiography of LeRoi Jones by Amiri Baraka Home: Social Essays by LeRoi Jones (Amiri Baraka)	Amiri Baraka If you can read this then your browser does not support iframes. You can view the page by clicking <a href="http://www.amiribaraka.com/" target="_blank">here</a>
Nationality African American Publications Destruction of Black Civiliztion by Chancellor Williams The Rebirth of African Civiliztion by Chancellor Williams	Chancellor Williams If you can read this then your browser does not support iframes. You can view the page by clicking <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chancellor_Williams" target="_blank">here</a>
	Nationality African American Publications Shake Loose My Skin: New and Selected poems by Sonia Sanchez Homegirls and Handgrenades by Sonia Sanchez Like the Singing Coming Off the Drums bySonia Sanchez Does Your House Have Lions by Sonia Sanchez sonia Sanchez If you can read this then your browser does not support iframes. You can view the page by clicking <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonia_Sanchez" target="_blank">here</a>
Nationality Senegalese Publications The Collected Poetry by Leopold Senghor and Melvin Dixon Leopold Sedat Senghor: From Politics to Poetry by William Kluback Leopold Sedat Senghor and the Politics of Negritude by Irving Leonard Markovitz Black, French and African: A Life of Léopold Sedat Senghor	Leopold Senghor <If you can read this then your browser does not support iframes. You can view the page by clicking <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9opold_S%C3%A9dar_Senghor" target="_blank">here</a> >
Nationality African American Publications Divided Soul: The Life of Marvin Gaye by David Ritz Marvin Gaye My Brother by Frankie Gaye Listen This player includes: Ain't No Mountain High enough Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing (Live) Ain't That Peculiar Got to Give it Up How Sweet it Is If This world Were Mine I Heard it Through the GrapeVine Inner City Blues Let's Get it On Mercy Me Sexual Healing What's Going Onbrp> Your Precious Love	Marvin Gaye If you can read this then your browser does not support iframes. You can view the page by clicking <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Gaye" target="_blank">here</a>
Nationality Zambian Publications Dead Aid: Why Aid Is Not Working and How There Is a Better Way for Africa by Dambisa Moyo Dead Aid: Destroying the Biggest Global Myth of Our Time by Dambisa Moyo	Dambisa Moyo If you can read this then your browser does not support iframes. You can view the page by clicking <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dambisa_Moyo">here</a>.

Nationality African American Publications What It Is: Poems and Opinions of Oscar Brown Jr. by Oscar Brown Jr. Elegy (Plain Black Boy) Sheet Music Inscribed By Gwendolyn Brooks by GwendolynBrooks and Oscar Brown, Jr. Rags and Old Iron "Aigs Ol' I-on" (Recorded by Oscar Brown Jr. on Columbia, and by Tennessee Ernie Ford on Capitol) by Jr. Lyric-Oscar Brown and Jr. and Norman Curtis Oscar Brown Jr.s Joy. A musical come-together, etc. [Words and music by O. Brown and others. With portraits.] by Oscar Brown	Oscar Brown, Jr. If you can read this then your browser does not support iframes. You can view the page by clicking <a href="http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:3pfrxqt5ldje~T1">here</a>.
Nationality African American Publications MYSTORY: The Original Harold Lee Rush (USA Version) by Harold Lee Rush Jr POETSTREET (Original) by Harold Lee Rush Blackland.org I Am Black Chicago	Harold Lee Rush If you can read this then your browser does not support iframes. You can view the page by clicking <a href="http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:3pfrxqt5ldje~T1">here</a>. ">here.
Nationality African american Publications Dancing the Dream: Poems and Reflections by Michael Jackson Moon Walk by Michael Jackson Listen 17 songs on 3 players ABC, Dancing Machine, I Want You Back, I'll Be There, Just a Little Bit of You, Mama's Pearl Ben, Don't Stop Til You Get Enough, Never Can Say Goodbye, Off the Wall, The Love You Save, Who's Loving You Beat It, Got to be TThere, Rock With You, Shake Your Body Down to the Ground, Wanna be Startin Something	Michael Jackson If you can read this then your browser does not support iframes. You can view the page by clicking <a href="hmjtribute.html">here</a>.