Prohibition Hangover: 100th Anniversary of It in 2020

From the January 19, 2020, Chicago Tribune by David Crary, AP.

LESSONS LINGER A CENTURY AFTER ILL-FATED DRY ERA BEGAN.

In this era of bottomless mimosas, craft beers and liquors, ever-present happy hours, it's hard to think that 100 years ago the United States imposed a nationwide ban on the production and sale of all types of alcohol.

The Prohibition Era, which lasted from January 17, 1920, until December 1933, is now viewed as a failed experiment that glamorized illegal drinking, but there are several intriguing parallels in current times.

Americans are consuming more alcohol per capita now than at any time leading up to Prohibition, when alcohol opponents successfully made the case that excessive drinking was ruining family life.

But, today, more states are moving toward decriminalizing marijuana (and even selling it in stores with high taxes)

And, in this time of heightened racial division of today, Prohibition offers a poignant history lesson on how restrictions targeted Blacks and recent immigrants more harshly than in white communities.  That treatment eventually caused many of these people to join the Democratic Party, which engineered Prohibition's Repeal.

--CootDrink

In Honor of Veterans Day 2021: The Last Spanish-American War Survivors, Jones Morgan,

From the Spanish-American War  Centennial Website.

The last surviving veteran of the war was a black man named Jones Morgan who passed away in Richmond, Virginia,  on August 29, 1993, at the incredible age of 110.  His records, however, were lost in a fire.

He was born on October 23, 1882, in Newberry County, South Carolina, and ran away from home at age 15 to join the Army which he did in 1897, signing up with the  9th U.S. Cavalry, known as the "Buffalo Soldiers, an all-black unit.

He served for two years before his family located him  and had him discharged.  Since he had runaway and was underage, it is likely that he used an alias when he originally enlisted, making his records nearly impossible to find.

He served as a cook and as a horse wrangler and was in Cuba and at the assault on San Juan Hill although he apparently did not take part in it.  He also indicated that he helped  wrangle horses for the Rough Riders.

He was buried in Section 16 of Forest Lawn Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia, Section 16.

Blacks in the Military-- Part 5: World War I

Many Blacks joined the U.S. military after the entry of the United States in World War  in 1917.  Of the 200,000 Blacks who served in the regular army, most did so in support roles within segregated units.  Some 170,000 never even left the country.

There were notable exceptions, though.  The 369th  Infantry Regiment, The Harlem Hellfighters, fought alongside the French Army for six months, during which 171 of its members earned the French Legion of Merit honor.

One member of the 369th also received a Medal of Honor, one of only two recipients of that honor among black troops during that war.

--Old Secesh

Blacks Serving in the Military-- Part 4: Spanish American War and Aftermath

In April 1898, following a period of rising tension over Spanish treatment of native Cubans, the United States declared war on Spain.

The Navy had enough manpower, but the Army only had 28,000 soldiers.  Enlistees, volunteers and National Guard units soon added 220,000 more, including 5,000 black men, but the only black troops to fight in the war were the Buffalo Soldiers.

The bloodiest and best-known battle in Cuba was the Battle of San Juan Hill, during which the most difficult fighting was by the Buffalo Soldiers, five of whom received the Medal of Honor for that action.

They would go on to achieve fame and distinction in the Philippine Insurrection (1899-1903), Mexico (1914), World War I (1916-1918) and World War II (1944-1945).

Blacks Serving in the U.S. Military-- Part 3: The Civil War and Post War, the Buffalo Soldiers

Feb. 23 War 1812 search

Of course, some 180,000 Blacks served in the Union Army during the Civil War.  I will write about the black experience in this war in my Saw the Elephant: The Civil War blog.

After the Civil War, Congress organized the Army into ten cavalry regiments and forty-five infantry ones.  When the Army pared back to 25  regiments of infantry in 1869, the four black regiments were consolidated into two.  The two were the 24th and 25th, which came to be known as the "Buffalo Soldiers" and were posted mostly to the Southwest and West.

Their job was primarily to battle Indians who gave them that name.

Buffalo Soldiers would serve in the U.S. military for the next fifty years, primarily in the Indian Wars , for which thirteen enlisted men and six officers received the Medal of Honor.

Blacks Serving in U.S. Military Over the Years-- Part 2: The American Revolution and the War of 1812

American Revolution

Southern colonies, fearing  that armed slaves would lead to revolts, opposed the use of slaves in Patriot militia, though some would serve in isolated instances.

The British, however, recruited heavily in the South, promising freedom for any slave who fought for them with the Loyalists.   Consequentially, while an estimated 9,000 black soldiers and sailors fought for the Americans, some 20,000 fought for the British.

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Post Revolution and War of 1812

After the American revolution, Blacks were pushed out of the U.S. military.  The Federal Militia Acts of 1792, specifically  prohibited black service in the U.S. Army.

As a result, few Blacks  participated on the side of the United States during the War of 1812.  Only Louisiana  was allowed to have separate black militia units in that conflict.

Due to a severe manpower shortage, the U.S. Navy accepted free black recruits.  Some 15% to 20% of Navy manpower  was made up of them.  Some slaves also served in the British Army and Navy in anticipation of freedom.

Blacks Serving In U.S. Military Over the Years: The American Revolution

From the Feb. 23, 2021, U.S. Army "African American service and racial integration in the U.S. military" by Dr. Paul-Thomas Ferguson.

Formal black service in the U.S. military dates from the American Revolution.  Many freemen and some slaves already served in Northern colonial militias to protect their homes against Indian attack.  Their numbers rose in 1770 after Crispus Attucks, a black man believed to be the first casualty at the Boston Massacre, was killed.

Commanding general of the Continental Army, George Washington, was initially against recruiting black soldiers, but military necessity later made him relent.

 The most prominent group of black soldiers served in the 1st Rhode Island Regiment.   Enough black and Indian soldiers were recruited to eventually make up half of its 225 men.  This regiment achieved its greatest fame protecting  the Continental army's withdrawal from Aquidneck island during the Battle of Rhode Island in 1778.

Black History: General Benjamin Oliver Davis, Sr. (1877-1970)

He was the first black general in the U.S. Army.  While a student at Howard University the Spanish-American War started and he entered the military service on July 13, 1898, as a temporary first lieutenant of the 8th United States Volunteer Infantry.

His military decorations include the bronze Star and he Distinguished Service Medal.

His son, Benjamin Oliver Davis, Jr. became the first black general officer in the U.S. Air Force.

I would put the Davis family in for one of the renamed U.S. Army bases.

Negro Leagues Become Major League Baseball League and 'Hammerin' ' Hank's Death

One thing I am glad to see is that the old Negro Leagues have finally been given their due as Major League Baseball, something long overdue.  These players were as good as the white players, but were not allowed to compete with them because of the color of their skin.

Also, I was sad to see the recent death of Hank Aaron on January 22 of this year.  He was excitement.  But, I never knew the amount of hate mail and death threats he received as he neared the home run record of Babe Ruth.

Maybe we are not all the way we should be when it comes to race relations, but things are much better for Blacks than they were in the first half of the 20th century.

Black History: Jack Roosevelt Robinson... You Might Know Him Better As...

But you probably know him better as Jackie Robinsson.

JACK ROOSEVELT "JACKIE" ROBINSON (1919-1972)

The first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era when he made his 1947 debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers and ended some sixty years of baseball segregation.

Robinson went on to have an extraordinary baseball career and in 1962 was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

He not only battled racism in sports, but also he was an officer in the highly segregated U.S. Army during World War II.  I'll write about his WW II career in my Tattooed on Your Soul:  World War II blog.

Black History, Into Space: Guion 'Guy' Bluford, Jr., Ronald Erwin McNair and Frederick Gregory

GUION "GUY" BLUFORD, JR. (1942-present)

A retired United States Air Force colonel.  he was the first black astronaut into space as a member of the Challenger Space Shuttle crew in 1983.

He took part in four space shuttle flights between 1983 and 1992.

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RONALD ERWIN McNAIR  (1950-1986)

Ronald Erwin McNair was the second black person into space and sadly, was on the ill-fated  Space Shuttle Challenger and met his death January 28, 1986.

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FREDERICK D. GREGORY (1941-present)

A veteran of 3 space shuttle missions.

Black History: Ruth Carol Taylor

RUTH CAROL TAYLOR (1931-present)

Became the first black flight attendant in the United States when she was hired Feb. 11, 1958, by Mohawk Airlines.

Only six months after breaking that historic barrier, Taylor's career ended due to another discriminatory barrier, the airline's practice of not employing married flight attendants.

Black History: Carl B. Stokes and Louis Stokes

CARL B. STOKES (1927-1996)   

Is known for being Cleveland, Ohio's 51st mayor and the first black mayor of a major American city.

He was also a soldier, lawyer, a member of the Ohio House of Representatives, a broadcaster and a judge.

In 1994, President Clinton appointed him U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Seychelles.

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LOUIS STOKES  (1925-2015)

Brother of Carl P. Stokes.  Grew up in Cleveland in the Outwaite Public Housing Project.  First black U.S. Congressman elected from Ohio.  Served 15 terms in the House of Representatives.

Black History: Mr. A and Herb Kent 'The Cool Gent'

While on the subject of black deejays, here are two of my favorites whom I listened to a whole lot back in the day.

Mr. A broadcast a night show on Chicago's WNIB, a classic music station, and played some of the best blues and R&B you could ever want to hear.  If I woke up in the wee hours, I would pop a cassette in the recorder and record his show and listen to it later.

Herb Kent, the "Cool Gent" deejayed on Chicago's WVON from 1963 to his death in 2016.  Loved his Dusties and Old School music.

Two of the greatest.

Black History: Harold Baron 'Hal' Jackson, Disc Jockey and Radio Personality

HAROLD BARON "HAL" JACKSON (1915-2012)

American disc jockey and radio personality who broke a number of color barriers in radio broadcasting.

He began his radio career as the first black radio sports announcing, broadcasting Howard University home baseball games and local Negro League baseball games.

In 1939, he became the first black host at WINX Washington with the bronze Review, a nightly interview program.  He moved to New York in 1954 and became the first radio personality to broadcast three daily radio shows on three different New York stations.

Four million listeners tuned in nightly to hear Jackson's mix of music and conversations with jazz artists and celebrities.

Black History: William Grant Still, Classical Composer

WILLIAM GRANT STILL  (1895-1978)

He was a black classical composer who wrote more than 150 compositions, including operas, ballets, symphonies, chamber works and folk arrangements.

He was the first black to conduct a major American symphony orchestra, the first to have a symphony of his own performed by a leading orchestra, the first to have an opera  performed by a major opera company and the first to have an opera performed on national television.

He is often referred to as "The Dean" of black composers.

Black History: Elizabeth 'Bessie' Coleman, Aviator

ELIZABETH "BESSIE" COLEMAN (1892-1926)

Popularly known as "Queen Bess," was the first black woman to become an airplane pilot.

She had to travel to Europe for flight training because no American flight school would accept her because of her race.

Upon returning, she intended to start a flying school for black pilots.  She toured the country, giving lectures at black schools, churches and recreational facilities in an effort to encourage Blacks to enter the field of aviation.

Preparing for an airshow in Jacksonville, Florida, she was killed when she was thrown from a crashing aircraft while riding as a passenger.

Black History: Mary Eliza Mahoney, Nurse

From the Feb. 7, 2021, Chicago Tribune "Leading the way."  Stories of Blacks who overcame to succeed.

MARY ELIZA MAHONEY (1845-1926)

Was the first Black to study and work as a professionally trained nurse in the United States.  She graduated from the New England Hospital for Women and Children Training School for Nurses in 1879.

She was one of only three people in her class to complete the sixteen-month program.

In 1908, she co-founded the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses, which in 1951 merged with the American Nurses Association.

--Cooter

Chicago's Mother of Black History, Vivian Harsh-- Part 2: 300 Essential Black Books

Using her $500 grant from Julius Rosenwald, Vivian Harsh visited libraries serving black communities in New York, Washington, D.C., Cleveland, Detroit and Newark, New Jersey.  From these, she drew up a list of 300 essential books for readers interested in black literature and history.

To acquire them for her Chicago library, she solicited donations and appealed to booksellers.  And, she continued adding volumes above that number.  When she retired in 1958, her library's Special Negro Collection had 2,000 books, plus newspaper clippings, pamphlets and manuscripts.  All this accomplished while she ran the library.

And, she was a neatness person.  En route to her desk each morning, she would stop and pick up even the smallest scrap of paper..  She was constantly telling her employees about the importance of keeping the premises neat and clean.

Sadly, she was extremely private about her personal life and never wrote anything about it.  That is why her archives are now being examined to piece together her life.

Chicago's Mother of Black History, Vivian Harsh-- Part 1: Education the Key

From the February 2, 2020, Chicago Tribune by Ron Grossman.

She didn't write a book, but her name is on a special collection in the Carter G. Woodson Regional Library in Chicago.  When she died in 1960, the Chicago Defender's obituary was headlined:  "Historian Who Never Wrote."

Vivian Harsh once said:  "If we as Negroes knew the full truth about what we, as a race, have endured and overcome just to stay alive with dignity, our respect and hunger for education would triple overnight."

Her devotion and dedication to all things history began back when she was at high school at Wendell Phillips in Chicago, where she joined the Herodotus History Club.  The ancients called Herodotus the "Father of History."

Vivian Harsh was the "Mother of Black History."

After the George Cleveland Hall Branch of the Chicago Public Library opened on the South Side, with Harsh as the head librarian, the Rosenwald Fund gave her a $500 grant to study libraries serving black communities in other cities.  Julius Rosenwald, a philanthropist and president of Sears, Roebuck & Co. was responsible for making the Hall Branch a reality in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood.  Not to mention all the hundreds of Rosenwald schools built in the South to educate black children.