The Gist of Freedom Preserving American History through Black Literature . . .

Join The Gist of Freedom at www.blackhistoryBlog.com as we welcome Janine Hausif, the Around The Way App creator with host Preston Washington!Janine's app, uses smartphone's GPS to locate Black-Owned Businesses within a defined radius of the user's location. Janine, 29, forged a 15-month exclusive partnership last January with the U.S. Black Chamber Inc. which will offer its 240,000 members premium listings beginning this spring.

a white gentleman then came and said to Mr. Wheeler, ' I want to speak to your servant, and tell her of her rights ;' Mr. Wheeler rose and said, 'If you have anything to say, say it to me she knows her rights;' the white gentleman asked me if I wanted to be free; I said 'I do, but I belong to this gentleman and I can't have it;' he replied,  'Yes, you can, come with us, you are as free as your master....  

Sarah Quigley ~Manuscript Archivist Rare Book Library Emory University   Join The Gist of Freedom as we welcome Sarah Quiqley! The following is a brief outline of topics she will cover.  Brief history of  Southern Christian Leadership Conference, SCLC   Overview of the collection of SCLC records at Emory University Luminaries of the Civil Rights Movement The Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. SCLC and Economic Justice (programs such as the Poor People’s Campaign and Operation Breadbasket) SCLC and Global Human Rights (for example, Anti-apartheid activism, Ethiopian famine relief) SCLC and the Health of the Mind, Body and Spirit (specifically programs combating urban violence, drug abuse, and promoting

The Gist of Freedom is pleased to present you the William Still Underground Railroad book reading…  Part 3~ The Shoot out of Wesley Harris and the Matterson Brothers!  and The Penniless Former Slave-holder: James Mercer, William H. Gilliam and John Clayton.   The young aspirants for liberty were betrayed, and in an attempt made to capture them a most bloody conflict ensued. Both fugitives and pursuers were the recipients of severe wounds from gun shots, and other weapons used in the contest.     

Adrena Ifill has over 20 years of experience in marketing, public relations and documentary video production. In 2002, she founded DoubleBack Productions, LLC (www.doublebackproductions.com) As a consultant, Ms. Ifill managed the creation of Avoice, the virtual library project of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. As a filmmaker, Ms. Ifill produced and directed a historical documentary chronicling the life of Congressman Robert Smalls, formerly enslaved in South Carolina, who served in the US Congress for five terms during the Reconstruction era. This documentary, Congressman Robert Smalls: A Patriot’s Journey from Slavery to Capitol Hill, is one of the few productions that uncover the dynamics of the role of African Americans in the history of American political leadership. 

The Gist of Freedom is pleased to present to you the reading of William Still's Book The Underground Railroad. Part 2 Henry Box Brown and William Peel   The White Abolitionist Who Boxed Henry Box Brown - Jailed for Boxing two additional Freedom Seekers For five long months, in hot weather, he was kept heavily chained in a cell, though he received five dreadful stabs, aimed at his heart, by a bribed assassin, nevertheless he still rejoices in the motives which prompted him to.. let the oppressed go free."   Henry Box Brown~ I was again placed with my head down, and in this dreadful position ... I felt my eyes swelling as if they would burst from their sockets; and the veins on my temples were dreadfully distended with pressure of blood upon my head. In this position I attempted to lift my hand to my face but I had no power to move it; I felt a cold sweat coming over me which seemed to be a warning that death was about to terminate my earthly miseries, but as I feared even that, less than slavery, I resolved to submit to the will of God, and under the influence of that impression, I lifted up my soul in prayer to God, who alone, was able to deliver me. My cry was soon heard, for I could hear a man saying to another, that he had travelled a long way and had been standing there two hours, and he would like to get somewhat to sit down; so perceiving my box, standing on end, he threw it down and then two sat upon

Join The Gist of Freedom as we welcome Pompey Fixico and William L. Katz.  Pompey Fixico ancestors fought US slave-catchers and military units for 42 years in Florida.   Mr. Katz and Mr.Fixico will discuss the three Seminole wars, their goals courage and achievements as seen through his ancestors.   The legacy of  Wild Cat and John Horse will also be discussed as it relates to how they brilliantly led the Seminoles!   Mr. Katz's book Black Indians has three chapters on this unknown American story. Their current leader, William Dub Warrior, has said:       "Black Indians is not only one of the most  thoroughly researched and accurate book on the subject, it is he best written account I have come across."      William “Dub” Warrior, Chief of the John Horse Band,                       Texas and Old Mexico Seminoles William Loren Katz williamlkatz.com    

The Gist of Freedom is pleased to present to you the reading of William Still's Underground Railroad, 1871!   William Still was the Black abolitionist from Philadelphia who was described by the New York Times as  "The Father of the Underground Railroad". He commissioned Harriet Tubman's rescue missions. This famous abolitionist literally wrote theUnderground Railroad book.  The book  which explained the story, narratives  often in the words of the participants in the effort to escape slavery.   This first reading of William Still's Book The Underground railroad, will recount the story of his reunion with his long lost enslaved brother Peter Still, formerly known as Peter Gist. It  also tells the story of Peter's very own John Brown like martyr, Seth Conklin.   Still also campaigned to end the racial discrimination in Philadelphia.  In 1859 he organized the effort to end black exclusion from Philadelphia streetcars.  This campaign was described in Still’s first publication, Struggle for the Civil Rights of the Coloured People of Philadelphia in the City Railway Cars in 1867.  

Jean Libby is the radio interview guest on Lesley Gist's American History through Black Literature series, The Gist of Freedom, on May 9 at 8 p.m. EDT.  Jean Libby will reprise the reading of the last chapter of Benjamin Quarles' Black Abolitionists discussing John Brown . Libby will describe how Professor Quarles research and encouragement was formative in her John Brown studies beginning in 1977 and continuing with naming the ad hoc group which wrote and published John Brown Mysteries in 1999 Allies for Freedom in his honor.

Black Indians Author, William L. Katz is the radio interview guest on The Gist of Freedom's American History through the Black Experience series,  www.blackHistoryBLOG.com, on May 8 at 8 p.m. EDT.    William L. Katz will discuss his book Black Indians as it relates to African and Indian resistance to colonization and slavery. ------------   Don't forget to VOTE  TO SAVE THE CARTER G. WOODSON HOME, FOUNDER OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH!!   https://www.preservedmv.com/ ------------   Topics -Republic of Palmares, Genga  -Pope’s Revolt, -Pueblos unite   Santa Fe statue The Black Seminole  Mexican President Vicente Guererro,   

Join The Gist of Freedom and host, Shellie Gaines as we welcome  Brooke  Alford!   “The Viosocalist” Brooke ALford is a  contemporary national performer  and recording Artist of the Violin.  Brooke plays in styles including, but not limited to Contemporary Jazz, Gospel, Pop, and R&B.  She has opened for national and international recording artists such as Najee (Nah-G), Will Downing, Paul Taylor, Eric Darius, and Rick Braun, and has shared the stage with James Ingram, Kenneth Edmonds (better known as “Babyface”) and Alex Bugnon (Boon-yun). Brooke has also been featured on Trinity Broadcasting Network’s (TBN). 

 the Gist of Freedom host Shellie Gaines?  Welcomes Dr. Ishmael Griffin, Medical Doctor and Missionary of ELAM!   US Pastors for Peace Friend a Caravan, created in 1992 by the leader of the Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro, trains very professional doctors with a high sense of solidarity and human sensitivity of which 34 American ELAM graduates are an example.   Cuba is addressing the question of sustainability of its global health programs through scholarships to International students in its program. ELAM educates and trains youth from oppressed nations all across the world, mainly from Africa and Latin America, providing them with a free education in medicine. Upon graduation, ELAM students are not asked to pay back tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in debts, like most U.S. students. Rather they are merely asked to provide health care to those without access in their home countries.

Join the Gist of Freedom for a live performance, Dr. David Anderson is Shields Green! Mr. Green was one of the five black men that rode with John Brown! As a young man he escaped through the Underground Railroad network to Rochester, New York, where Frederick Douglass provided shelter and introduced him to brave abolitionists like John Brown.  Frederick Douglass- "While at my house, John Brown made the acquaintance Negro man who called himself by different names-sometimes "Emperor," at other times, "Shields Green." He was a fugitive slave, who had made his escape from Charleston, South Carolina; a State from which a slave found it no easy matter to run away. But Shields Green was not one to shrink from hardships or dangers. He was a man of few words, and his speech was singularly broken; but his courage and self-respect made him quite a dignified character. John Brown saw at once what "stuff" Green "was made of," and confided to him his plans and purposes. Green easily believed in Brown, and promised to go with him whenever he should be ready to move. Dr. Anderson's Contact Info: Telephone: 585-389-5140, or 585-482-5192 (Nazareh College) P.O. 181 Royleston Road,Rochester, New York 14609? You can learn more at: http://www.yourfavoritestorytellers.org/sankofa.html

Due to Blog Talk Radio's Technical Difficulties- The Gist of Freedom is re-scheduling the interview with  Dr. Ishmael Griffin, of  ELAM a Cuban- International Medic Scholarship program!   Pre-recordings - Maya Angelou, Leonard Jeffries and Alex Haley!

Join The Gist of Freedom as we welcome Historian and Author, William Katz. Mr. Katz will discuss his latest book Black Indians and the Afro Mexicans in who fought in the  Mexican American War like Colonel Carmen Amelia Robles. Mexico, what is now known as Texas was a safe haven for escaping enslaved Africans from America.   Learn More about William L Katz's 40 books at http://williamlkatz.com!