Quote

This month will feature quotes from individuals who were born free.

Egbert “Bert” Austin Williams was one of the greatest entertainers in America’s history. Born in the Bahamas on November 12, 1874, he came to the United States permanently in 1885. Williams met George Walker in San Francisco in 1893 and the two formed what became the most successful comedy team of their time. When Walker retired in 1908 due to illness, Williams starred in Mr. Load of Koal (1909)–the last black musical on Broadway for more than ten years. Unable to continue producing shows without Walker, Williams signed on with the Ziegfeld Follies in 1910–the only black performer in this famous review. He explained this controversial move saying, “… colored show business is at a low ebb just now … it was far better to have joined a large white show than to have starred in a colored show, considering conditions.” Williams stayed with the Follies through 1919, after which he appeared with Eddie Cantor in Broadway Brevities (1920) and Under the Bamboo Tree (1921-22). While on tour with the latter show, his failing health caught up with him and he contracted pneumonia. Williams died in New York City on March 4, 1922.

https://www.loc.gov/item/ihas.200038860/

Art of the Month

By the 1700 The institution of slavery reached around the world. Captured Africans were not passive about the institution. They fought where they stood. In 1786 Governor Don Estevan Miro of New Orleans passed the Tignon Law that stated all Creole women of color must tie up their hair and dress as in the slave class whether they are slave or free. In trying to limit the standards of beauty to this section of the population, they shaped the way women of color would react for centuries.

Book of the Quarter

Welcome to third quarter. Next book is Dancing During the Storm Vol 2

Dancing During The Storm is a collection of short stories that represent people dealing with the storms of life. There are times when we have to decide are we going to lay down or fight. All of these stories tell of people who are either coming out of, in the middle of or going into a storm. In this second volume, the stories deal with justice, women’s issues and deception.

Available on Amazon.com

or Books2Read.com