JayKnight Life: Running, Reviews, Photos

      I love American History... Even the dark embarrassing parts because that's what makes us strong.  I know that February has passed us.. we are now in March... but b lack history month is a time to reflect on those that labored, struggled, and suffered to make this world a better place. It's a time to remember a part of our American history that is often times forgotten. The Civil Rights Act       As in years past... I like to go digging for more information about this time period that includes slavery, Jim Crow and the Civil Rights era.      The library of congress has been a great resource for me. In Connecticut, Yale University's online library was also a great resource for me.       So after my move to North Carolina, I began looking for resources -- here that could help me.     To be fair, I knew nothing about this area when I moved here. I had no prior interests or connections he...

So I finally got my film developed from the Moral March from last week. you'll have to refer to my previous post for the digital prints and the reason behind the march.   But, I absolutely love this first picture. The guy with the  American flag, american flag jacket... waving it in front of all the people gathered on Fayetteville street in Raleigh and all the people peering out over from the building across the street- which is actually just a parking garage disguised as a building. I took some of these pictures from up in that parking garage. All of these pictures were simply scanned into the computer and posted. no editing at all. However, I'm going to see if there is a good way to edit these.

   BHM stands for Black History month.  As you can tell... I've very interested in what Raleigh's African American community looked like at certain periods after the Civil War.      As it turns out there was a black middle class growing and thriving in Raleigh at the turn of the 19th century. That growth in the community gave rise to Jim Crow Laws, segregation and racism.

So, I have some left over pictures/stories from black history month. This is a group of them.   I'm not going to get too much into it. North Carolina Central reminds me of FAMU in a lot of ways. It sits in the same city as another large, well-known and highly funded University (Duke = FSU). The obvious: it's an HBCU. Great programs that draw students from all around the globe. Big Campus with a lot of new buildings.. and NO Parking. It was hard to find a place to park. I don't think i found a lot that you didn't need a sticker to park in. I just happened to stop by on the same day as a Career fair, .. I took the chance that i wouldn't get ticketed and towed. Anyway, I love how their Track & Field and Football stadium sit right in the middle of campus. I can only imagine what their homecoming looks like. 

Richard Etheridge, far left, and the Pea Island Life-Saving crew in front of their station, circa 1890. U.S. Coast Guard photo      Every year around black history month we talk about the great "firsts." Those who broke through racial barriers to become the first African-Americans to do something. In every case there was a lot of pain  and heartache leading up to success. In this next story, The "first" accomplishment only scratches the surface of what this man was able to do in his life. Pea Island Station - Library of Congress         Richard Etheridge was the first African American "Keeper" or Commander of a Life Saving station. He was also commander of the first all-black Coast Guard crew.      He was promoted from the lowest to the highest position. His all-white crew quit... so Etheridge recruited an all African American crew from nearby stations.    His stati...

Durham near the bus station May 1940- Library of Congress         Even with all that the African-American community was capable of at the turn of the century in Durham.. they were still at some levels facing a glass ceiling. They may have been successful in their own right... Jim Crow was real and ugly. Many of the pictures of Durham from the Library of Congress show Whites Only or Colored signs everywhere. But still it was home to the world's largest African-american business... America's largest hoisery run by African-Americans and staffed by African-Americans.     History doesn't make sense sometimes.. it just is, what it is. It shows that no matter how successful you are -- can i say it simply -- "haters gonna hate." A Cafe' near the Tobacco Market, May 1940      North Carolina Mutual Life was founded in 1898. It still operates today. It still has a bank branch ring on Black Wall Street. It is the oldest and largest Afri...