D. Elisabeth Glassco

Lecturer l Doctoral Candidate/ABD in History and Sociology of American Media Representation of Race, Class, and Political Culture, Rutgers, New Brunswick. NO JUSTICE NO PEACE >> BLACK LIVES MATTER. I always follow back. Just give me a bit of time. #histodon #historodons #journodons #Commodons #TwitterMigration

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2025-04-22 21:25:25

In 1775, hundreds of enslaved men in Virginia fled their plantations and joined the British in exchange for a single promise: freedom. They formed the Ethiopian Regiment—the first Black fighting force of the American Revolution. This is the story of how they marched under a banner that read Liberty to Slaves, and what became of them in a single, searing year.
Caption: Troiani, Don. Brave Men as Ever Fought. 2021. Oil on canvas. Museum of the American Revolution, Philadelphia.
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2023-09-17 20:49:10

Exactly 60 years ago, at 10:22 AM on a Sunday, 4 members of the Ku Klux Klan planted a bomb at the 16th Street Baptist Church, in Birmingham Alabama.The blast was so powerful that it blew a hole in the church’s wall, shattered windows, and caused damage to buildings nearby. It killed 6 children and injured more than 20 people. But why that church and that city? Read on.
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Image: Color poster of the four little girls killed in the 16th Street, Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham.
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2023-08-20 22:33:16

On July 15, 1944, in Bristol England, the "Park Street Riot" occurred as 400 Black soldiers confronted 120 MPs over pub access. Observers later recounted that locals rooted for the Black troops. Like the Battle of Bamber Bridge a year earlier, this event underscored the racism Black troops faced as well as the disconnect between how they were treated overseas vs in their own country.
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@npub13vy…lczv @npub1amh…t78z #BlackMastodon #Histodons #History #BlackHistory #Military
#WW2 #UK
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2023-08-15 20:53:55

In WW2, the movement of millions of American troops to Britain, known as the “friendly invasion,” brought to light stark differences concerning racial segregation. Many Britons struggled to understand or accept the institutionalized discrimination that Black soldiers faced in White America, leading to tensions between the two allied nations on the matter of civil rights.
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@npub13vy…lczv @npub1amh…t78z #BlackMastodon #Histodons #History #StillWeRise #BlackHistory #WW2
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2023-08-11 03:23:09

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Many black Americans felt that Louis Armstrong played into white stereotypes of Black people, particularly with his broad smile, joyful stage demeanor, and the often jovial nature of his performances. However, many of those mannerisms were genuine reflections of his personality, and he believed in the power of his music to bridge racial divides.
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2023-08-11 03:22:20

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“When you say your prayers every night, and within our heart you know you’re goin’ to treat everybody right, and you bless everything worth blessing, that finally gets you. But I guess those cats would rather I just keep blowin’.”
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2023-08-11 03:20:09

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Armstrong added:
“Only the colored Congressmen, and somebody like Sammy Davis--I don’t dig those guys. When they say I shouldn’t said what I did, I know they’re not up on those current events. I’ve toured through all them South states and I’ve seen it … you can’t say nothing to nobody--it’s that bad and that common.”
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2023-08-11 03:17:29

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“It had to stop. Somebody’s shootin’ your brother and it has to stop sometime. I don’t know--there was somethin’ about that morning. Suddenly I was just another Negro, scared to walk the street. I can’t do nothing but blow my horn, and that’s what I did.”
The interviewer reported, “He isn’t sorry that he blew off at Washington--because now they know where he stands.”
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2023-08-11 03:15:25

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In December 1957, Armstrong fervently defended his comments on Little Rock Nine:
“I don’t dig these politics. I had no business blowin’ off but when a newspaper reporter asked me how I was feelin’, somethin’ snapped.”
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2023-08-11 03:13:32

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In 1972, a year after Armstrong's death, Louis’ wife, Lucille Armstrong, continued to be deeply angered by these attacks, sharing with an interviewer:
“But the press, you know, they interviewed Adam Clayton Powell, they interviewed Sammy Davis--and I don’t mind calling names because it’s on record--they put Pops down because they said he was a musician, he didn’t know what he was talking about...He felt it deeply, he really did.”
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2023-08-11 03:09:16

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The New York Post reached out to Louis' manager, Joe Glaser, who stated:
“[Louis] doesn’t want to talk about Sammy Davis Jr. If Sammy Davis Jr. wants to talk about Louis Armstrong and get some publicity, let him. But Louis is not interested in getting into any argument with him. Who cares about Sammy Davis Jr.?”
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2023-08-11 03:07:05

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Leslie Matthews of The New York Age replied:
“Now who told Sammy Davis, Jr., he was a politician. His blast at Louis Armstrong was uncalled for and out of place. Louis made more friends with his statement than he has in a decade.”
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2023-08-11 03:04:42

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“For years Louis Armstrong has been important in the newspapers. They have always been ready to give space if he had anything to say that really was important, and he never has. Now this happens. I don’t think it’s honest. If it is, why didn’t he say it ten years ago? He doesn’t need a segregated audience.”
Davis's comment seemed to come from nowhere.
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2023-08-11 03:02:15

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Then, Sammy Davis Jr. piled on, telling Canadian reporters:
“You cannot voice an opinion about a situation which is basically discrimination, integration, etc., & then go out & appear before segregated audiences...which Louis Armstrong had done for many years.” Davis also complained about Louis singing the word “darkies” on “Mississippi Mud,” [confusing it with his 1951 recording of “When It’s Sleepy Time Down South].”
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2023-08-11 02:57:56

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Armstrong appeared taken aback, confiding in Ebony in 1961:
“When I made that statement, Congressman Adam Clayton Powell was interviewed over TV. He was asked about what I had said. He told the TV reporter he didn’t agree: ‘Louis Armstrong isn’t up on current events.’ Well, I may not be up on current events, but I’m up on head-whipping.”
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2023-08-11 02:56:47

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Suddenly, on October 12, another prominent Black critique emerged. Congressman Adam Clayton Powell informed a "Youth Wants to Know" TV show audience that “Satch… "didn’t know what he was talking about. He is not too conversant with what is happening in the world and current events.”
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2023-08-11 02:51:32

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Coming from “Mr. Civil Rights,” the architect of U.S. school desegregation, Thurgood Marshall's words were scathing.
His perception of Armstrong as "The No. 1 Uncle Tom!" was, for contemporaries, truly something to behold.
https://youtu.be/pGd6e5n3osY
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2023-08-11 02:45:31

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Wallace, "Do all Negroes feel this way?"
Marshall: "Well, there's a percentage of Negroes that believes that government action came too late. I do know the Negroes in NY all still say what Satchmo says.
They were so happy about Satchmo's outburst--because he's the No. 1 Uncle Tom!
The worst in the U. S.!
When Satchmo came out & said Eisenhower had no guts, & that the government could go to hell--that just made them all say, 'Well...Well!'"
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#BlackMastodon #Histodons #History
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2023-08-11 02:40:43

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Wallace then inquired about "the prevailing mindset of the American Negro at the moment."
Marshall said:
"Right now, the Negroes feel, for the first time since the Supreme Court decision came down, that they have the full support of the Federal Government. As for the Negro in the South, where the local police are against him, the state is against him, his only hope is the Federal Government.”
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2023-08-11 02:38:31

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"Well, I've always maintained that the time of the Supreme Court decision in 1955, it was the duty of the President to tell the entire country that the decision was the law of the land . . . would have to be obeyed . . and that he would use the full force of the executive power to support it. It was his obligation to do this--but he didn't."
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2023-08-11 02:34:52

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A particularly sharp critique of Armstrong appeared in the New York Post on September 30, 1957, and its origin might astonish many: Thurgood Marshall.
The Post published an interview between Marshall and Mike Wallace titled "Is a Civil War Brewing in the South?" Marshall started by criticizing Eisenhower for not enforcing the Supreme Court decision of Brown v. Board of Education, saying:
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2023-08-11 02:28:42

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Yet he faced accusations of being an “Uncle Tom” from his own community.
To this, Armstrong retorted to to an interviewer about his critics:
“They couldn’t have made it through what I went through.”
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2023-08-11 02:27:40

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Louis had alway been very fond of “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen” and recorded it more than one occasion .
The song was deeply symbolic to the jazz man.
It reflected hardship and sorrow, much like Louis’ life. In the 1930s, as a rising star, he experienced discrimination, racism, police brutality, danger, and other adversities.
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2023-08-11 02:24:10

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This caused an uproar, leading some citizens to write letters objecting to his representing the U.S. on good-will tours. The State Department clarified they hadn't arranged any tours for Armstrong.
Concerning his TV appearances, sponsors of CBS shows hesitated to feature Armstrong after his comments. However, CBS stood its ground, and Armstrong remained scheduled for the shows.
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2023-08-11 02:23:10

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On September 26, The Tampa Tribune featured a letter condemning Armstrong, labelling him a "seditionist and fool" for criticizing the President.
An editor from Muncie Evening Press was more direct, reminding Armstrong of his successful rise and suggesting he appreciate America's opportunities. Many believed ann untrue story that Louis had declined an official trip to Russia.
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2023-08-11 02:19:09

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Columnist Dorothy Kilgallen critiqued Armstrong's audacity, believing his criticisms were inappropriate and misinformed.
Other letters, like those to The Times of Richmond, Indiana and the Minnesota Star-Tribune, either criticized Armstrong's timing or supported his right to speak out. Another linked Armstrong's comments to past Republican support for Black-Americans.
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2023-08-11 02:16:00

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Many believed Armstrong's boldness influenced Eisenhower's actions. Max Kaminsky, a fellow trumpeter, credited Armstrong's words for motivating the President.
Some southern papers, however, criticized the move, insinuating Armstrong's influence on the President's decision was minimal.
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2023-08-11 02:12:53

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On September 24, President Eisenhower dispatched the 101st Airborne Division to Little Rock Central High, ensuring nine African-American students could attend. Louis supported this move, sending a telegram to the President expressing his appreciation, saying:
“If you decide to walk into the schools with the little colored kids, take me along Daddy. God bless you.”
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2023-08-11 02:09:08

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Some came to Armstrong’s defense, emphasizing that he, like all citizens, deserved equal treatment and opportunities.
Nevertheless, the majority of responses were negative. Some even questioned his musical prowess.
Yet, Armstrong wouldn’t back down.
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2023-08-11 02:05:20

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Negative responses to his remarks poured in. Some newspapers carried derogatory letters targeting Armstrong's ancestry and accomplishments. One criticized Armstrong for his statements against President Eisenhower, while another suggested his comments were causing division.
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2023-08-11 02:02:36

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The Pittsburgh Courier featured an article where Armstrong stated, “I wouldn’t retract my words,” reaffirming his commitment to racial justice. Louis also shed light on racial injustice he and his ancestors faced, stressing the importance of equality.
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2023-08-11 02:01:06

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However, by the evening of September 21, Armstrong responded via the United Press. The headline read, “‘Satchmo’ Confronts His Manager.” Armstrong emphasized he could represent himself—-didn’t need anybody to talk for him—-and was determined to fight for his rights.
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2023-08-11 02:00:18

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The editorial condescendingly mentioned that Armstrong’s mindset wasn't equipped for diplomacy. “Like most, he speaks his mind without considering potential global ramifications.”
Seeing the backlash potentially harming Armstrong’s career, his road manager Pierre “Frenchy” Tallerie reached out to the media. The United Press shared a story where Tallerie was quoted saying, “Louie isn’t holding any grudges. He genuinely appreciates Eisenhower.”
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2023-08-11 01:54:05

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The editorial said, “Louis Armstrong excels in trumpet playing rather than sociology. We have always held high regard for him, known fondly as Satchmo. Regardless, we wish he had solely focused on his music.”
The piece argued that Armstrong, despite his experiences as being Black oers in America, couldn't fully comprehend racial injustice since he wasn’t politically saavy.
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2023-08-11 01:51:16

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The day after, WBKJ radio in Hattiesburg, Mississippi announced they were removing all of Armstrong’s records, as well as those by Kitt and Horne. The backlash had started. An opinion piece in Indiana’s “The Muncie Star” on September 21 told Armstrong he ought to have remained silent.
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2023-08-11 01:50:07

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Prominent figures, including Jackie Robinson, Eartha Kitt, and Lena Horne, expressed their support. Robinson stated, “Now the Negroes are beginning to stand up and be counted.” Nat King Cole, more circumspectly, emphasized that the issue concerned all Americans, not just Black Americans, but affirmed Armstrong's sentiments.
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2023-08-11 01:49:06

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Louis’ words went global, with outlets emphasizing Armstrong's stand against discrimination. One editorial titled "Armstrong is Right" lauded his forthrightness, critiquing the government's passive stance.
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2023-08-11 01:47:57

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An interview Armstrong conducted on September 19 became a sensation.
People couldn’t believe it was Satchmo!
When he was questioned about the interview’s authenticity—whether it was something he really said---Armstrong reiterated: “don’t take nothing out of what I said.“
After that, the charges of “Uncle Tom” subsided a bit.
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2023-08-11 01:44:49

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A week later, still frustrated with the situation in Little Rock, Armstrong denounced both Arkansas Governor Faubus and President Eisenhower. When asked about touring Russia, Armstrong questioned how he could represent a country failing its own citizens.
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2023-08-11 01:43:57

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Announcer: Yet, in music, we find equality.
Louis: We play for our country, showing our loyalty.
In Edmonton, Armstrong's sentiments caught the interviewer by surprise, who then quickly changed topics. Armstrong stated, “You can't smile through all that.”
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2023-08-11 01:42:46

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Announcer: Do you think the situation will improve?
Louis: It has to. It's hard to believe people can sleep at night after such actions.
Announcer: Is this a growing phase for America?
Louis: We've made progress over the last decade, but why must we suffer for acceptance? Often, the ones we trust betray us.
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2023-08-11 01:41:10

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Interview:
Announcer: I’d like to discuss the integration issues, especially in Arkansas.
Your thoughts?
Louis: It's heartbreaking to witness such deceit. That Governor likely has a black caretaker for his child. To me, it seems like a publicity stunt. It's just a shame.
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2023-08-11 01:37:32

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Between September 4 and September 17, Louis Armstrong observed the events closely. Overwhelmed by the escalating violence, he finally spoke out. Louis conducted interviews from Spokane on September 8 and Edmonton on September 10. Though both interviews were meant for radio, neither grabbed headlines. In the Spokane interview:
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2023-08-11 01:35:37

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The "Little Rock Nine" saga began on September 4, 1957, when Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus used the National Guard to stop 9 black students from entering Little Rock Central High School. The nation watched in shock as angry white crowds harassed these students.
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2023-08-11 01:32:43

Because of his willingness to play for segregated audiences, throughout much of his life, Louis Armstrong was called a sellout and an Uncle Tom by many Black Americans, But, in 1957, Satchmo blew up-—blasting Eisenhower to bits for not condemning treatment of Black American students in the South. His passionate words made world headlines, alienated many white fans, and divided Black America.
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2023-08-09 13:11:59

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@npub1zdp…vqv8 Also, it helps to have money to invest, have the face of your channel be white, male, and, as a bonus, have a foreign accent. YouTube is a very challenging landscape for creators of color—-unless you’re making ratchet videos or willing to degrade your own people.

2023-07-26 22:33:54

Enslaved Africans brought diverse cultural practices with them to the Americas. Among these was the "ring shout,” a fusion of dance, music, & ritual. “Shouts” offered a way for the enslaved to preserve their culture, & find strength & connection during difficult times. This dance has been practiced for generations & has had a significant impact on Black-American religious & musical traditions.
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@npub13vy…lczv @npub1amh…t78z #BlackMastodon #Histodons #History #BlackMastodon #Slavery #Music
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2023-06-25 17:11:28

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The Chicago Defender reached its peak influence during World War I when it launched a campaign, starting in October 1916, to encourage black individuals to leave the South. The editorial page declared, "Farewell, Dixie Land," urging black men to relocate for the sake of their wives and daughters, seeking better treatment and recognition of their worth.
12/18
#BlackHistory #BlackMastodon #histodons #History
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2023-06-25 17:07:07

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Well-known writers like Ida B. Wells-Barnett, who covered lynchings and riots, joined the paper. Abbott and Smiley transformed the Chicago Defender by introducing sections on sports, theater, society, and editorials, a first for a black newspaper. The paper's circulation surpassed 100,000 readers per week.
11/18
#BlackHistory #BlackMastodon #histodons #History
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2023-06-25 17:05:53

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Despite facing threats from the Ku Klux Klan, who tried to seize the paper's bundles and intimidate its readers, the Chicago Defender gained significant popularity among black communities, particularly in the slave South. It eventually outsold its main rivals and expanded its distribution to 71 cities and towns by 1916.
10/18
#BlackHistory #BlackMastodon #histodons #History
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2023-06-25 17:04:17

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Since national distributors didn't support the paper due to its uncompromising stance, J. Smiley proposed a strategy of enlisting porters, theater people, and waiters to distribute bundles of the paper throughout the streets and across the country.
10/18
#BlackHistory #BlackMastodon #histodons #History
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2023-06-25 17:01:37

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To increase its readership, the Chicago Defender employed a militant and sensational approach, using bold headlines, graphic images, and red ink to highlight racial injustice and inequality. This style of journalism was known as yellow journalism. The paper boldly denounced acts of violence and discrimination against the black community.
9/18
#BlackHistory #BlackMastodon #histodons #History
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2023-06-25 17:00:07

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To gather news for his black readership, Abbott relied on printed materials left behind by passengers in the passenger cars, often collected by black railroad employees. In 1910, Abbott's circumstances changed as he could finally hire his first full-time employee, managing editor J. Hockley Smiley. Smiley's efforts helped expand the paper's audience by incorporating news from across the nation.
8/18
#BlackHistory #BlackMastodon #histodons #History
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2023-06-25 16:59:10

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The Chicago Defender played the role of a one-man printing press for several years, during which Abbott couldn't afford to pay himself or the contributions of others. These contributions included outside reporting, news gathered from out-of-town sources, and occasional editorials.
7/18
#BlackHistory #BlackMastodon #histodons #History
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2023-06-25 16:57:58

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As the Defender teetered on the brink of folding in its early months, Henrietta, Robert’s landlady, came to the rescue. She relocated his newspaper to her apartment's dining room. Slowly, the Defender regained its footing and expanded, outgrowing the dining room. Eventually, it encompassed the entire building at 3159 State Street, serving as its official headquarters for the next 15 years. In 1918, Abbott purchased Henrietta an 8-room brick house.
6/18
#BlackMastodon #histodons #History
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2023-06-25 16:54:44

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Despite the presence of three established black newspapers in Chicago—the Broad Ax, the Conservator, and the Illinois Idea—Abbott was convinced he could add his unique voice to the mix. But, it would take another 7 years before newsstand sales materialized. Undeterred, Abbott pursued newsworthy content with determination, seeking advertising partnerships, and recruiting others to assist in the distribution efforts.
5/18
#BlackHistory #BlackMastodon #histodons #History
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2023-06-25 16:53:36

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With just 25 cents, he embarked on an initial print run of 300 copies of the Chicago Defender. Operating from a small apartment owned by his landlady, Henrietta Plumer Lee, Abbott single-handedly wrote, printed, and folded the four-page, six-column paper. He then distributed copies door-to-door within the burgeoning black community of Chicago.
4/18
#BlackHistory #BlackMastodon #histodons #History
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2023-06-25 16:49:06

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At age 21, Robert Abbott pursued his education in the printing trade at Hampton Institute in Virginia. After 4 years, he completed the printing course and fulfilled the academic requirements for a bachelor's degree in 1896. Following a brief stint as a part-time printer and teacher, Abbott's unsuccessful legal venture led him back to Chicago and the printing industry.
3/18
#BlackHistory #BlackMastodon #histodons #History
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2023-06-25 16:47:45

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Despite earning a law degree from Chicago's Kent College of Law in 1898, Robert Sengstacke Abbott's aspirations of becoming a lawyer were thwarted by racial discrimination. His attempts to establish private law firms in Gary; Topeka; and Chicago, proved unsuccessful, compounded by failure to pass the bar exam in IL. Before law & inspired by his stepfather, Abbott acquired skills in printing, working as an apprentice at a printing company.
2/18
#BlackHistory #BlackMastodon #histodons #History
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2023-06-25 16:44:12

Established on May 5, 1905, by Robert S. Abbott with 25¢, Chicago Defender was the foremost Black newspaper of its day. Boldly proclaiming itself "The World's Greatest Weekly," it had a profound impact nationwide. 2/3 of its readers lived beyond Chicago. Abbott ingeniously expanded by enlisting Pullman porters, who established a distribution across America, especially the hostile South—a catalyst for the Great Migration.
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#BlackMastodon #histodons #History  @npub13vy…lczv @npub1amh…t78z
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2023-06-17 16:11:06

In WW 2, millions of women, called "Rosies," supported the forces. Often overlooked are "Black Rosies," 600,000 Black women who joined various industries. Racism, sexism, & other obstacles hindered them. Despite these adversities, they made significant contributions to the war effort. Given the challenges, these remarkable women are some of the most significant figures of the 20th century. They have earned their place in history.
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#BlackMastodon #History @npub13vy…lczv @npub1amh…t78z 
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2023-03-18 18:51:20

Now the media know doggone well most people only read the headlines.Carrying Trump’s water to a second insurrection. They have learned nothing from the first!
#[0] #[1] -#[2] #[3]
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