Dave Travis Now

Black History Month–February 15–#BHM2011–J.C. Watts

This is installment 15 in the Black History Month series. This series contains inspirational quotes from Black Americans that are good for all people. While some friends will want me to use “African American History Month”, I will use the traditional name to identify it with American born and raised leaders.

The blog post is to give a little background, while my twitter @davetravis – will get regular updates of the posts.

The first week’s theme was historical figures, last week, Civil Right’s Leaders. This week we get more contemporary. I call this week – Entertainer and politics week.

Today’s twitter for #BHM2011:

“Everyone tries to define this thing called Character. It's not hard. Character is doing what's right when nobody's looking.” J.C. Watts

J.C. Watts is from Oklahoma, a former Sooner and professional quarterback, who ultimately served in the U.S. Congress as a Republican. He eventually held a leadership position in that caucus. He was ordained as a Baptist pastor and was well known for his more conservative views.

Since his retirement from the House, he has remained in Washington D.C. as a lobbyist and businessman serving on several corporate boards.

Watt’s life and views again prove that there is no monolithic Black culture or political party or political view. Watts was elected with strong majorities of all races.

Black History Month–February 14–#BHM2011–Oprah Winfrey

This is installment 14 in the Black History Month series. This series contains inspirational quotes from Black Americans that are good for all people. While some friends will want me to use “African American History Month”, I will use the traditional name to identify it with American born and raised leaders.

The blog post is to give a little background, while my twitter @davetravis – will get regular updates of the posts.

The first week’s theme was historical figures, last week, Civil Right’s Leaders. This week we get more contemporary. I call this week – Entertainer and politics week.

Today’s twitter for #BHM2011:

“Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.” Oprah Winfrey

While I am not a viewer of her television program or now her own television network, one cannot help but admire this beautiful, smart businesswoman and her abilities to reach a broad audience with positive messages. Some credit her with a re emergence of literate society with her book club selections that get readers of all backgrounds reading common books. Her production companies and media companies promote generally wholesome values to people of all races. (with a few exceptions – we all can’t agree all the time)

In addition to her businesses she has led a philanthropic network to share her blessings with others.

She is now one of the few people on earth that can be known only by her first name, though my mother would be greatly disappointed in me if I was not proper in my addressing her.

A bonus quote from Ms. Winfrey:

Excellence is the best deterrent to racism or sexism.

February 13–Black History Month–#BHM2011 – Jesse Jackson

This is installment 13 in the Black History Month series. This series contains inspirational quotes from Black Americans that are good for all people. While some friends will want me to use “African American History Month”, I will use the traditional name to identify it with American born and raised leaders.

The blog post is to give a little background, while my twitter @davetravis – will get regular updates of the posts.

Last week’s theme was historical figures, this week - Civil Right’s Leaders. While logically, he could also be included in the Politician category, I choose to remember his other contributions.

Today’s twitter for #BHM2011:

“At the end of the day, we must go forward with hope and not backward by fear and division.”

While most of my quotations have come from my native south, I will use the Chicago leader’s life and quotes as well. (But it must be remembered that he was born in South Carolina) Jackson was a lieutenant to Martin Luther King, Jr. and was in Memphis when he died.

While he led organizations of his own making and acted as a informal mediator and power broker in high profile situations, I think he made his biggest name when he upended several higher profile and well funded candidates in the 1984 Democratic Primaries for President. This led to a further campaign in 1988.

For my generation he is best remembered for the speech he gave to the 1984 Democratic National Convention. Regardless of your politics, and I do not share many of his views, it was probably the most powerful piece of oratory of the late 20^th century. (See the text and clips here: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/jessejackson1984dnc.htm) [And note the mention of Hubert Humphrey, one of the “bad guys” in the 1964 convention]

A bonus quote from Rev. Jackson:

“Both tears and sweat are salty, but they render a different result. Tears will get you sympathy; sweat will get you change.”

Black History Month–February 12–#BHM2011–Fannie Lou Hamer

This is installment 12 in the Black History Month series. This series contains inspirational quotes from Black Americans that are good for all people. While some friends will want me to use “African American History Month”, I will use the traditional name to identify it with American born and raised leaders.

The blog post is to give a little background, while my twitter @davetravis – will get regular updates of the posts.

Last week’s theme was historical figures, this week - Civil Right’s Leaders.

Today’s twitter for #BHM2011:

“I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired.”

Fannie Lou Hamer is one of the people also mostly forgotten during this month. If you have never seen the television series, “Eyes on the Prize” go buy, rent or borrow it from your library and watch. It will show how strong a leader she was.

She first made herself known by hymn singing to movement leadership, showing how powerful music is to any movement. In Mississippi she helped organize and lead Freedom Summer and in 1964 helped lead the famous delegation to the Democratic National Convention who challenged that party’s seating of an all white body to represent a state with so many black Democrats.

Ultimately, this led to a change in Democratic Party politics to become more inclusive of African Americans during that era.

While not an educated or person of notable background, she showed how determination and pluck can lead to wholesale change.

The bonus quote for the day reminds us of a much harder time in our country:

“We serve God by serving our fellow man; kids are suffering from malnutrition. People are going to the fields hungry. If you are a Christian, we are tired of being mistreated.”

Black History Month - February 11–#BHM2011 Rosa Parks

This is installment 11 in the Black History Month series. This series contains inspirational quotes from Black Americans that are good for all people. While some friends will want me to use “African American History Month”, I will use the traditional name to identify it with American born and raised leaders.

The blog post is to give a little background, while my twitter @davetravis – will get regular updates of the posts.

Last week’s theme was historical figures, this week - Civil Right’s Leaders.

Today’s twitter for #BHM2011:

“Each person must live their life as a model for others”

Considered by many to be the key catalytic act of the modern Civil Rights Movement, Rosa Parks refused to move to the back of the bus to give up her seat for a white woman. While others had done so previously and won court cases, her actions led to her arrest and a wide scale boycott of the bus system by black patrons. While she had previously been very involved on a volunteer basis in local NAACP and other activities, on that day she was just tired and had had enough.

The quiet act, arrest and resulting 381 day boycott of the transit system led to the further adoption of similar tactics to move the cause forward. She illustrates the power of ordinary people to act and become leaders in complicated situations.

A bonus quote by the late Rosa Parks:

“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.”

Black History Month - February 10 - #BHM2011 - Ambassador Andrew Young

This is installment 10 in the Black History Month series. This series contains inspirational quotes from Black Americans that are good for all people. While some friends will want me to use “African American History Month”, I will use the traditional name to identify it with American born and raised leaders.

The blog post is to give a little background, while my twitter @davetravis – will get regular updates of the posts.

Last week’s theme was historical figures, this week I bridge over to Civil Right’s Leaders.

Today’s twitter for #BHM2011:

“Influence is like a savings account. The less you use it, the more you’ve got.”

Andrew Young is a testament the power of what seems to be downward mobility. He was the leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference during the 1960’s and a close ally of Martin Luther King, Jr. In this role he could help shape the movement in partnership with churches across the country. He then became a congressman from the city of Atlanta where he served two terms before being named Ambassador to the United Nations under President Carter.

He then came back to Atlanta and led as Mayor for several terms. He helped lobby and lead the effort for Atlanta to serve as host of the Centennial Summer Olympic Games in 1996.

He now runs a consulting firm – GoodWorks International focused on helping businesses incorporate the greater good through business opportunities. He has multiple schools and other community efforts named in his honor.

Young was educated as a pastor/preacher as many of his contemporaries in the Civil Rights movement, but used his influence in global affairs.

My bonus quote for the day from Andrew Young:

“I have concluded that wealth is a state of mind, and that anyone can acquire a wealthy state of mind by thinking rich thoughts.”

Black History Month - February 9 - #BHM2011 - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr

This is installment nine in the Black History Month series. This series contains inspirational quotes from Black Americans that are good for all people. While some friends will want me to use “African American History Month”, I will use the traditional name to identify it with American born and raised leaders.

The blog post is to give a little background, while my twitter @davetravis – will get regular updates of the posts.

Last week’s theme was historical figures, this week I bridge over to Civil Right’s Leaders.

Today’s twitter for #BHM2011:

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is probably the most famous civil rights leader of his era. Still the only Baptist Pastor and Preacher to have a National Holiday in his honor. It is remarkable for me to consider that had not been killed he could have still been with us today to see the first African American President take office.

The quote I have chosen to remember him today:

“A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus”

This quote reminds us as leaders that we have to help shape the conversation to persuade others to join our cause. Many times in his life Dr. King was criticized by colleagues for compromising. He did not compromise his core beliefs but in a search for a peaceful, non violent way sought to use tactics that always moved him toward the ultimate goal while accepting some annoyances along the way. He was not an “all or nothing” person, but a leader who sought to move toward the best for all.

I will give you a bonus quote for him as well:

“All progress is precarious, and the solution of one problem brings us face to face with another problem.”

This one reminds us that true leaders are never done.

Black History Month - February 8 - #BHM2011 A. Philip Randolph

This is installment eight in the Black History Month series. This series contains inspirational quotes from Black Americans that are good for all people. While some friends will want me to use “African American History Month”, I will use the traditional name to identify it with American born and raised leaders.

The blog post is to give a little background, while my twitter @davetravis – will get regular updates of the posts.

Last week’s theme was historical figures, this week I bridge over to Civil Right’s Leaders.

Today’s twitter for #BHM2011:

Freedom is never given; it is won. -  A. Philip Randolph

This name has slipped from history somewhat I fear. Randolph was a union organizer who became the head of the Sleeping Car Porters Union in the 1920s as well as other unions. As train travel was ubiquitous as air travel is today, this was a very important position to advance the cause of civil rights.

During World War II he and other union leaders pressured President Roosevelt to open employment in War factories and the military to black Americans.

He was one of the prime movers behind the famous March on Washington in the 1960s.

Black History Month - February 7 #BHM2011–W.E.B. DuBois

This is installment seven in the Black History Month series. This series contains inspirational quotes from Black Americans that are good for all people. While some friends will want me to use “African American History Month”, I will use the traditional name to identify it with American born and raised leaders.

The blog post is to give a little background, while my twitter @davetravis – will get regular updates of the posts.

Last week’s theme was historical figures, this week I bridge over to Civil Right’s Leaders.

Today’s twitter for #BHM2011:

Education is that whole system of human training within and without the school house walls, which molds and develops men. – W.E.B. Du Bois

In many ways WEB Du Bois is a transition figure that led to the modern civil rights movement. While the struggle for Civil Rights began when slaves were forcibly brought to this country and continues yet today, the foundation that Du Bois and his contemporaries laid became what is now known as the Civil Right’s Movement. As mentioned in a previous post, Du Bois begins the era moving away from accommodationist views.

He was the first Black Harvard PhD and with others, founded the NAACP.

Bonus saying of the day: The cost of liberty is less than the price of repression.

Black History Month - February 6–#BHM2011 - Booker T. Washington

This is my sixth installment in the Black History Month series. This series contains inspirational quotes from Black Americans that are good for all people. While some friends will want me to use “African American History Month”, I will use the traditional name to identify it with American born and raised leaders.

The blog post is to give a little background while my twitter @davetravis – will get regular updates of the posts.

This week’s theme is historical figures

Today’s twitter for #BHM2011:

Few things can help an individual more than to place responsibility on him, and to let him know that you trust him. Booker T. Washington

Born of a slave mother he went on to great fame as the first leader of what is now known as Tuskegee University. But his fame and skills were widely acknowledged by many as a great leader in the last part of the 1800s and early 1900s. He built a network for good and educational advancement among wide and multi racial constituents.

He was an inventor, educator, speaker and fundraiser. It is said that he was the first invited black guest to the White House. He is also the first Black American with a portrait on a postage stamp.

He was not without controversy in the black community due to some seeing his views as accommodationist. (see tomorrow’s post)

There are hundreds of great sayings from Washington but I will include this one as the bonus today:

I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has had to overcome while trying to succeed.