Washington Informer

c.2013, Visible Ink Press

$24.95 / $27.95 Canada

833 pages, includes index

Long and slow. That's how you'd describe every line you've ever stepped into.

Don't you hate that? You're waiting in line and you see a chance to go to a shorter queue so you change lanes. Suddenly, the line you just left looks like the Indianapolis speedway. And you know what happens if you switch again ...

There are definite advantages to being first. In the new book "Black Firsts" by Jessie Carney Smith, you'll find information on tens of thousands of folks who've gone before you – in a good way.

In your lifetime, you've seen a lot of big milestones: the first Olympic gold-winning African-American gymnast; the first black head of National Security and, of course, Barack Obama as the first black U.S. President.

But Mr. Obama wasn't the first African American to make White House news.

Read this book and you'll see that pianist Thomas Greene Bethune was the first black artist to perform there in 1858. A baby named Thomas was the first black child born at the White House in 1806. Booker T. Washington was the first black American to be entertained at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and Sammy Davis, Jr. was the first known black entertainer to sleep there.

Speaking of entertainment, Ray Charles was the first person of any race to perform at the Georgia Assembly. This book will also tell you who was the first black singer to appear on TV and when the first recording of black music happened.

You'll learn that your grandma's favorite cartoon was drawn by America's first black cartoonist. Both Dave Chapelle and Chris Rock broke comedy records in this century. America's first black insurance company opened its doors in 1810 and the first black-owned car dealership opened 160 years later. The first known black bookseller started his business in 1834. The world's first black professional model walked the catwalk in the 1950s and the first black Playboy bunny hopped on the scene in 1965. A black chef was reportedly the creator of potato chips. America's first black Mormon elder gained the priesthood in 1836.

And America's first black Millionaire lived in New Orleans in 1890.

It's hard to imagine anything missing from "Black Firsts." It's so hard, in fact, that author Jessie Carney Smith challenges readers to find and notify her of other milestones in Black history – but not just in North American black history. You'll find entries here of things that happened to African Americans, as well as black firsts in other countries around the world, too.

But don't think for a minute that "Black Firsts" is dry and boring. There are lots of entries that will surprise you and others that will stop an argument in a hot minute. Everything's well-indexed, informative, thorough enough, and as addictive as buttered popcorn.

This is the kind of book you can happily browse. It's also one you'd want on your shelf, one you'd reach for during those know-it-all emergencies that happen – and when they do, "Black Firsts" should be the first book in line.

We Need Black History Taught in D.C. Schools!

Hats off to The Washington Informer newspaper for your weekly Black history lesson – the "Black Facts" column. Thank you also for the editorial on "Django Unchained" and why Jamie Foxx deserves high honors for his role in the film. Indeed, he should be nominated for an Oscar for his role as a man determined to free his wife from the horrors of slavery. In actuality, his story was not just a one-time, dramatic episode. It was a recurring pattern of courage and victory of runaway slaves, resistance and rebellion of Black men and women over the horrors of that "peculiar institution."

The Informer goes on the say that "the American slavery story needs to be told, over and over again, so that every American is familiar with its horrific details." True again. But may I suggest a few further steps.

Readers should be aware that Black history and culture are not taught in D.C. public schools. Understandably, the D.C. school system is concentrating on the basics of reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic (the three R's) to bring our students up to proficiency in these skills. But what about educating our students' self-worth and pride on who they really are as individuals and a people. What about educating them on the courageous history of Black people over the institution that tried to deny their soul and their self-worth? I celebrate Black History Month too, but Black history (and culture) is much more extensive and uplifting than devoting a few hours a year in February to listening to Dr. King's speeches.

For over 346 years, Black people won victories over slavery (1619-1865) and Jim Crow (1866-1965), yet very few of our students have ever learned about the courage, strength, creativity and tenacity it took to go from slavery to freedom and from Django to Barack Obama. This knowledge of one's history builds self-worth and self-esteem.

D.C.'s own Carter G. Woodson taught us long ago that not to know one's history and roots is to lose one's soul. Our children are struggling with the three R's today partly because they do not know their own soul, their own glorious history and their innate strengths and historic accomplishments.

Each of our youth has a keen mind. But do they also know their historic brilliance? Slavery and Jim Crow should not be a shameful history. It should be taught from the opposite perspective: How Black people overcame a system that tried to deny their personhood and how they went from a system that tried to deny their history and culture to a history and culture today that is admired worldwide, except in our D.C. public schools.

Bernard Demczuk

Washington, D.C.

Dr. Bernard Demczuk is a scholar of African American history and culture who teaches at The School Without Walls in Northwest. He is also chair of The Spirit of Black DC, an online website devoted to preserving and celebrating the extensive Black history and culture of Washington, D.C. For more information, visit the website at www.thespiritofblackdc.com.

Extend Library Hours!

One of the best teachers my daughters ever had in elementary school some years ago required her 5th grade students to find answers to a monthly list of questions. To do most of this, the students had to go to the library. By successfully completing these assignments, the students became more and more familiar with how to navigate the reference resources and how to work the various search engines as they found the answers. These activities at the library helped students develop life-long skills, which followed them to university and professional research projects.

Therefore, I praise the D.C. City Council for its consideration of extended library hours and days, "Bill to Expand D.C. Library Hours Garners Support" by James Wright, which appeared in the January 17, 2013 edition. This consideration is long overdue in the nation's capital, where literacy and intellect are so revered.

Truthfully, investment in public schools should always be tied to commensurate consideration of our city's libraries. If not, the library system will probably just fade away.

Lauren K. Godfrey

Washington, D.C.

There were many highlights from Monday's inauguration, including the president's speech and the poem by openly gay poet Richard Blanco. But few grabbed as much attention as first lady Michelle Obama's bangs.

The president joked about his wife's chic hairstyle, saying "and to address the most significant event of this weekend, I love her bangs."

Now that Mrs. Obama has revealed her new do, it's left to wonder if the appealing hairstyle will be as stylish as when her bare arms became all the rage early on during the presidenrt' first term. At that time, among countless fashionistas began toning their upper arms in order to jump on the "sleeveless is in" bandwagon.

In the meantime, had more to say about the first lady's style. He reportedly stated during a candlelight reception held over the weekend at the National Building Museum Northwest D.C., that: "I love Michelle Obama . . . She looks good, she always looks good."

In a small, private ceremony on Sunday, President Barack Obama who surrounded by his family, took the official oath for his second term in office.

As he recited the 35-word oath administered by U. S. Chief Justice John Roberts, Obama placed his hand placed on a family Bible.

"I did it," Obama,51, said immediately afterward as he hugged his wife, Michelle, and daughters Sasha and Malia. "Thank you, sweetie," he said to his wife when she congratulated him.

Obama will be sworn in publicly on Monday on the steps of the U. S. Capitol where a crowd of between 600,000 and 800,000 people are expected to gather.

He won a second four-year term on Nov. 6 in a campaign against former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. 

However, as the country's first African-American commander-in-chief, Obama begins this new term facing many of the same problems that have previously hounded his administration. They include high unemployment, crushing government debt and a deep partisan divide over how to solve the issues.

(Reuters)

With a slate of activities and events ranging from impressive inaugural balls and Saturday's National Day of Service, to the official swearing-in Sunday of President Barack Obama and his public inauguration Monday on the steps of the U. S. Capital that will be follolwed with a festive parade down Pennsylvania Avenue, there's plenty over this three-day weekend to keep the nation's capital abuzz as droves of special guests and spectators gather to witness history.

President Obama will take the oath of office for his second term at 11:55 a.m. on Sunday in the Blue Room of the White House. The commander-in-chief will then participate in the public traditional swearing-in ceremony at 11:30 a.m. on Monday.

This year's inaugural celebration will be low-key compared to 2009, when more than 1 million people were in D.C. to witness Obama take the oath of office. At that time, 10 official inaugural balls were held. However, just three official balls are being held this time around, and a crowd of between 600,000 and 800,000 people are expected to attend the 57th inauguration, where Beyonce will perform the National Anthem.

Here's a list of events:

Saturday, Jan. 19

Kids' Inaugural Concert, Washington Convention Center, 6 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 20

Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. Official Swearing-In, Naval Observatory, 8:15 a.m.

President Barack Obama's Official Swearing-In, White House — Blue Room, 11:55 a.m.

Monday, Jan. 21

Ceremonial Swearing-In Ceremony, Capitol West Front, 11:30 a.m.

Musical Selections: U.S. Marine Band, PS 22, Staten Island, N.Y., and Lee University Festival Choir, Cleveland, Tenn.

Call to Order and Welcoming Remarks: Sen. Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y.

Invocation: Myrlie Evers-Williams

Musical Selection: Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

Oath of Office Administered to Biden: Justice Sonia Sotomayor

Musical Selection: James Taylor

Oath of Office Administered to Obama: Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr.

Inaugural Address: President Barack Obama

Musical Selection: Kelly Clarkson

Poem: Richard Blanco

Benediction: To Be Announced

The National Anthem: Beyoncé

Inaugural Luncheon, Statuary Hall, immediately following swearing-in ceremony

Inaugural Parade, Viewing stands and bleachers are along Pennsylvania Avenue; estimated start time: 2:35 p.m.

The Commander-in-Chief's Inaugural Ball, Washington Convention Center; doors open at 6 p.m.

The Inaugural Ball, Washington Convention Center; Halls A, B and C — doors open at 6:30 p.m.; Halls D and E — doors open at 7 p.m.

Pledges to Make Service to the Community a Major Priority

The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) has elected Howard University history professor Dr. Daryl Michael Scott as its 27th national president.

Scott, former chairman of the Department of History at Howard University, received his Ph.D. in history from Stanford University. As a historian, he specializes in American history since the Civil War. Scott received the James A. Rawley Prize of the Organization of American Historians for the best work on race relations history in the United States in 1998. He has authored numerous articles in scholarly publications on social policy and the origins of multiculturalism, and edited Dr. Carter G. Woodson's Appeal for the ASALH Press in 2008.

"I am delighted and honored to be the new president of ASALH," said Scott. "We at ASALH are all about service. Our founder, Dr. Carter G. Woodson, believed mightily in service, and in his famous commentary, "The Mis-Education of the Negro," he criticized so-called educated blacks for their failure to serve the community."

Scott added that one of his goals as president is for ASALH rededicate itself to providing the opportunity for others to serve.

"Our most stalwart members are those who have read and taken to heart the need for them to serve the cause of spreading knowledge about people of African descent," Scott said.

Sports Photos Tell the Story!

I really enjoyed the photographs in this week's Sports section, January 10, 2013 edition. Washington Informer photographer John De Freitas' photographs of the Washington Redskins and the Washington Wizards are excellent.

I like the way he always captures the action in his photographs. His photographs can make you feel as if you are right there on the field or on the court next to the players. I think he does such a great job, all I can say is thanks, Mr. De Freitas!

Bobby Langhorne

Brentwood, Md.

Positive Coverage Makes a Difference

The article "Art-Based Program Helps Groom Young Males," by Elton Hayes, January 10, 2013 is exactly the kind of story that keeps me reading The Washington Informer week after week. Stories like this one are so refreshing to read, especially when our young black males are involved. If we only read the other papers in the city and listened to the mainstream media outlets we would think that all of our black males are either in jail or on their way to jail.

I know we have a tremendous amount of work to do in our community to combat crime and poverty, and that goes double for our young folks, but there is work being done and we are making some progress based on the article. Keep reporting on those positive stories Washington Informer; let everyone know they are out there.

William Eubanks

Washington, D.C.