The Courage of One Man

As I'm sure you are aware, Hotel Rwanda is the story of the courage of one man, Paul Paul Rusesabagina, who stood up as an individual at a time when group mentality threatened his life, and hundreds of thousands of people were killed. Rusesabagina saved the lives of hundreds of people during the Rwandan genocide. There are other stories of individual courage we have not yet been told.

To read more, see Hotel Rwanda.

See also Black History International.

I talk about the individual vs. the group in my ebooks What They Don't Want Us to Know and The Key to Everything.

Black History International

This year, with the election of President Obama, we have more to celebrate than usual. Check out this article about Black History International.

It includes

• Harriet Tubman


• Harriet Jacobs


• Rosa Parks


• Malcom X

African and African American freedom fighters, writers, entertainers and more.

President Obama is aware of the history of Kenya and how it affected his family. To read more, visit Obama's Inauguration.

Check it out: Black History International.

Articles Wanted: Michelle Obama as a Positive Role Model

I am seeking articles on Michelle Obama. For more info, see Is Michelle Obama a Positive Role Model?

You may also be interested in:

Ebony Intuition: Michelle Obama Covers Vogue March 2009

African American Relationships Guides

Is Marriage for White People?

Personally, I don't think marriage is for a particular race, culture or group. It's for anybody who wants it. Many people see marriage as a sacred trust. I certainly do. I was brought up in the church. However, being a Buddhist challenges this. For us, marriage is not a sacrament.

To me, marriage is different from any other type of relationship. It is different from living with someone (I've done both). It is a commitment acknowledged publicly by one's friends and family.

Anyway, check out this somewhat distubing article on "Marriage Is for White People".

Clearly, marriage is a choice. It'snot something anybody has to do. I'm looking to explore this more in my forthcoming African American Relationships Guides. Please submit an article if you would like to. I want to know what you think.

Black History Virtual Book Fair

Ella D. Curry of the Black Authors Network has launched her second annual Black History Virtual Book fair, which celebrates African American cultural heritage.

Storytellers, librarians, historians, teachers, parents and motivational speakers are invited to participate in this event, the theme of which is "Give the Gift of Knowledge".

To read more, visit: http://www.edc-creations.com/blackhistorybookfairthemes.html

Today Only: Launch of Love Letter to Black People

Today - Tuesday, February 10, 2009 - is the official online book launch for the powerful new book by Brian McClellan entitled A Love Letter to Black People: Audaciously Hopeful Thoughts on Race and Success. You are invited to join the party and purchase you copy of "Love Letter" at the following URL:
http://www.readerviews.com/Launch-McClellan-index.html

What they are already saying about Love Letter

Brian has truly created a masterpiece -- meticulously researched, beautifully written, uncompromisingly insightful, and 'get-out-of-your-chair' motivating. - André Taylor, Entrepreneur and Author of You Can Still Win!

I strongly recommend this book to anyone - of any race - whether as an interesting sociological study or an inspiring handbook for success. - Kristen Galles, BookClubClassics.com A Love Letter to Black People

When you buy A Love Letter to Black People TODAY (Tuesday, February 10, 2009) by visiting the following URL (http://www.readerviews.com/Launch-McClellan-index.html), you will get it at a great discount and receive many gifts and bonuses with it such as exclusive excerpts of books from Larry Coleman, Judy Lubin, Hillary Roy and Rose Mitchell - and me. Also, your purchase will automatically enter you into a drawing to win one of 20 autographed copies of books from critically acclaimed author Gary Unger and even Brian McClellan's first book, The Real Bling. Get your bonus chapter on "Achieving Success" from my ebook What They Don't Want Us to Know.

So I strongly urge you to check it out and claim your free bonuses.

Elvis Costello and Smokey Robinson

Channel surfing the other day, I came across a programme in which Elvis Costello was interviewing Smokey Robinson on stage at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem. Two music legends in conversation.

It was a magical moment. Smokey told the story of when he met Ray Charles for the first time and Charles helped him out of a difficult situation. In fact, it would have been a disaster had it not been for Charles's intervention. Read all about it at Celebrating the Legend that Is Motown.

Smokey also talked about working with Marvin Gaye and how he "Marvinised" every song he sang - he made every song his own.

In this Black History Month/African Heritage Month, we may be very aware of the suffering we have endured and our fight for survival. It's also important to remember and celebrate the good times.

Then I saw the end credits. And who produced this TV gem? Among others, David Furnish and Sir Elton John.

New Respect for Ainsley Harriott

I love Ready, Steady, Cook. It's a great show.

And I gained new respect for the presenter, Ainsley Harriott, yesterday after his appearance on The Wright Stuff. While professing his respect for Carol Thatcher, he also said, "people think because they [gollywogs] are cute and cuddly, it's okay to use that word. It's not on".

See also: Carol Thatcher and the Gollywog Remark. She has been sacked from one of her shows on the BBC after refusing to apologise for comparing someone's hair to that of a gollywog. She insists this was not a racist remark.

Carol Thatcher and the Gollywog Remark

Apparently, Carol Thatcher made a remark at work, at the BBC, comparing someone's hair to that of a gollywog. This was being discussed on The Wright Stuff this morning. Carol Thatcher is a frequent panel member on the show. Remember, this is the same show on which Henry Bonsu used to be a panel member before they got rid of him with no explanation. He talks about this in my book Black Success Stories.

The panel pretty much agreed that this is a storm in a teacup, as Thatcher's remark was made privately. Sanjeev Bhaskar is making jokes about it.

These kinds of grotesque images were widely circulated in the African colonies to reinforce negative stereotypes about African people, as the the late Len Garrison, founder of the Black Cultural Archives explains in Black Success Stories.

I don't think anyone should have to work in a workplace where these kinds of remarks are being made.

One of the key areas in which Black people were taught to have negative thoughts and feelings about ourself was around our hair. To read more about this, read The Key to Confidence and Self-Esteem. See also What They Don't Want Us to Know.