Did You Know Black History Month Started in Chicago?
February 1st, 2012 by Shorty
Carter G. Woodson - The Father of Black History
Black History Month actually started as Negro History Week in 1926, but it has roots in Chicago beginning in 1915.
One of my historical heroes, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, started Negro History Week to celebrate the post-slavery accomplishments of the race. He was the first person to acknowledge and record black people’s progress in politics, education, economics and other aspects of society since 1865. He conducted studies and recorded them in the Negro History Journal. People started to acknowledge his findings, and the study of Negro history grew. In fact, it was actually taught in schools around the country. In 1976, exactly 50 years after the initial celebration of Negro History, Black History Month was created. Of course, this is a condensed version of the story. But I wanted to recognize Chicago’s role in this historical event.
People always ask why Black History Month is celebrated during the shortest month of the year. Because Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln- two people Dr. Woodson admired – were born and celebrated during this month.
I also want to encourage people to join in the celebrations around the city during the month, but also keep it alive throughout the year. I know that DuSable Museum of African American History, Museum of Science and Industry and the Chicago Public Library have events lined up. Where are other events taking place?
Lastly, I am reading The Mis-Education of the Negro by Carter G. Woodson this month. Feel free to join me.
How are you going to observe Black History Month? What are you going to do to make sure young people know about the contributions of African Americans past and present?
Let’s Stop Complaining and Start Grading with Community Report Cards
January 26th, 2012 by Shorty
We all have opinions about people and organizations that should be serving us – police, Mayor, Alderman, etc. Unfortunately, very few of those opinions actually reach those places because we tend to complain amongst ourselves and NEVER share it with those people. And when we do get our chance, we end up complaining without providing solutions.
To remedy this situation, I would like to suggest creating community report cards for each of those entities. Instead of complaining all the time, this is YOUR opportunity to do actually step up and do something. I will take the lead in creating the report cards, but you are responsible for using them. If you have a problem with someone or something, you will have the report card so you can have a tangible document to present when you have an issue.
Here are just a few of the reports cards I think need to be created.
- Mayor
- Alderman
- State representative
- Library
- Police department
- 911 operators
- 311 operators
- Teachers
- Administrators
- Community organizations
- And anyone else who is PAID to service you, especially those whose salaries you are paying with your tax dollars
Ok, I can’t do this alone. Your suggestions and input are needed. We can create one form at a time. What other report cards need to be created? What are some of the criteria that is common to all of these entities that should be graded? Share your thoughts in the comment box below.
Image: discoveryeducation
Have Questions about Blogging? Get them Answered on January 31,2012
January 24th, 2012 by Shorty
Are you a small business, community organization, cultural center, church, community newspaper or educational institution wanting to expand your reach? Have you considered a blog but don’t quite understand how it works?
Well, you’re in luck.
Marcie Hill ~aka~ Shorty: Your Chicago South Side Resource will be holding a Blogging Q & A session on Tuesday, January 31, 2012. The event will be held from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Woodson Library at the corner of 95th & Halsted.
See you there!!
Image: soulati
Learn WordPress at this 1-Day Workshop
January 22nd, 2012 by Shorty
Presented by Dante Hamilton, Founder, Chicago WordPress Meetup Group and Scott Winterroth, Pro Blogger and Chicago WordPress Consultant, this hands-on workshop is guaranteed to give you a full-fledged WordPress education in just one day on January 28, 2012.
Lessons attendees will learn include
- WordPress 3.3 and the WP Dashboard
- Web hosting
- Selecting Themes
- Uploading Content
- Social Media for WordPress
- Ecommerce
- Search Engine Optimization
- And much more…
In addition to this full-day education, you will get a boxed lunch, beverages and individual coaching. The workshop will be held at the University Center Conference Chicago, 525 South State Street, 2nd Floor in Chicago.
Visit the Chicago WordPress Meetup page for more details and to register for the WordPress 1-Day Workshop.
Shorty is Celebrating 10 Years in 2012!
January 3rd, 2012 by ShortyIt’s hard to believe that Shorty has been around for 10 years! What started as a 2-page document to share the good news about a new job with my friends and family grew into a six to eight page community newsletter. It was then turned into this blog in January 2010. Did I mention that it was a monthly newsletter? I wrote, designed and edited Shorty In Da House every month. I only missed a couple of months in later years because of conferences and other activities. I’m still here, though!
I’ll have some activities planned later on this year; feel free to provide suggestions on how I should celebrate. But, please join me in celebrating. Read the very first issue of Shorty In House now.
Happy 2012….I’m Back!!!
January 1st, 2012 by Shorty
Happy New Year, Chi-Town! Hope you had a great and safe holiday. My blogging break was great, and I’m looking forward to a more fun and engaging 2012. I had time to reflect on ALL my ventures, and good things are on the way.
Although my focus is on the South Side, my experiences are not limited to my side of town. Therefore, more information will be shared about the entire city.
What to expect in 2012:
- Employment opportunities will be posted on Shorty: Your Chicago South Side Resource Facebook page
- More Chicago and Chicago Black History will be shared
- More live blogging
- Still collecting resources and stories about Funtown, the amusement park that was located on 95th Street east of Stony Island
- More interviews with people doing good stuff in Chicago.
- There will be 3 – 4 posts per week as opposed to the daily posts
- More education Shorty style– blogging, social media, writing and community stuff
- And it would be especially great if readers would contribute stories and comments
Those are my plans for this year. What would you like to see on Shorty in 2012?
Image: freeislamicwallpaper
Last Call for December Events
November 21st, 2011 by Shorty
Only a week and some change before December and I’m putting in a call for December events. I will be taking a hiatus during the month of December, so if there is anything else you want to post on Shorty, please submit them ASAP.
Image:
Notes from the Conversation Between The Black Media & The Black Community
November 12th, 2011 by Shorty
Steve Franklin, Glenn Reedus, Natalie Moore, Richard Muhummad, Aminah Hanan, Matt McGill
On Tuesday, November 8, 2011, there was a panel discussion between the Black media and the Black community held at Little Black Pearl. Aminah Hanan from Blogging While Brown; Glenn Reedus from the Chicago Crusader; Richard Muhammad from the Final Call, and Matt McGill from WVON 1690 were the panelists for the evening and WBEZ reporter Natalie Moore was the moderator. It was sponsored by the Chicago Headline Club.
Some of the discussions for the evening included what types of stories make news, how the community should approach the media, the types of stories the community would like to see covered as well as the future of the Black press.
Following are some of the tips, advice and thoughts shared by the panelists. I will share my thoughts on the event in a different post.
What makes news?
- Anything that’s new and different in our community
- The sooner you report the story to the media, the better
- What do you like to hear stories about?
How to approach the media
- The first thing you should ask: Why should anyone care about this?
- Do not spell the reporter’s name wrong
- Do research. Know what the reporter covers
- How does the reporter prefer to be contacted?
- What is the best time to contact the reporter? They are all on deadline
- Do not go up the organizational ladder if your story is not immediately accepted
- Have knowledge about the publication and the writer
- Keep initial contact to two paragraphs or less
- There are no Black daily newspapers, and they cannot respond to requests on short-notice
The state of the Black press
- There is a fight for the Black audience by all media sources
- The Black press will be much stronger through partnerships
- Economics is squeezing out advertising, which is the financial foundation of many media sources
- Many Black media sources are no longer Black-owned i.e. BET and Essence
What do Black people want?
- Let the Black press know what you want
- BUT you have to support them. Don’t expect them to give it to your for free
How can the Black press engage young people intellectually?
- Glenn & Richard shared their addresses so young people could come to their offices to help share report stories
- Matt said that he asks a provocative question to get conversations started among young people
What needs to be done going forward?
- The Black press needs to embrace technology. There are many stories not being told because Black media sources are not utilizing their online space effectively
- Glenn Reedus encouraged audience members to submit their stories and videos to help the news staff out
- Many Black newspaper sites are not updated frequently which is not a good look because news is happening all the time
Those are just some of the things I picked up from the panel. Like I said, it was good to start that conversation, but I think it needs to continue and the relationship between the Black media and the Black community needs to be stronger.
What are your thoughts on the relationship between the Black media and the Black community?
Find Out About the Relationship Between Black Media and the Black Community Tonight!
November 8th, 2011 by Shorty
Marcie & Zondra Hughes, My Favorite Media Person
Find out tonight at the African American Media Panel given by The Community Media Workshop of Columbia College.
Learn how you, your nonprofit or community group can be a resource to these local media outlets and what kinds of stories they are looking for. WBEZ reporter Natalie Moore and its South Side Bureau Chief will moderate the discussion between journalists and the community.
PANELISTS include: Glenn Reedus-Chicago Crusader, Richard Muhammad-Final Call, Aminah Hanan-Blogging While Brown and Matt McGill – WVON
Where: The Little Black Pearl
1060 East 47th Street
Chicago, IL 60653-3600
Click here to see map of the location
Light refreshments and snacks will be served
Note: Zondra Hughes will not be a panelist and I don’t know if she’s going to attend. I used her image because she’s my favorite media person.