OURStory: Tulsa Race Riot (1921)

Today is the anniversary of the "deadliest mass shooting" or "deadliest shooting rampage" in our nation's history occurred on May 31, 1921 in the Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The Tulsa Race Riot, also known as the 1921 Race Riot, the Tulsa Race War, or the Greenwood Riot, was a large-scale civil disorder. During the 16 hours of rioting, over 800 people were admitted to local hospitals with injuries, an estimated 10,000 were left homeless, 35 city blocks composed of 1,256 residences were destroyed by fire, and $1.8 million (nearly $17 million after adjustment for inflation) in property damage.

Our glorious Black Wall Street was destroyed in the carnage of that day.

39 people were officially reported killed, although most experts agree that the actual number of Black citizens killed during the riot to be around 300. You can read about it yourself here, here, or here.

We must never forget. I hope that supporters of the Electronic Village will ensure that OURstory isn't ignored or forgotten as others write HIS-story. National columnist Jim Clingman recently wrote about his experience with eight of the survivors of the Black Wall Street murders.

We ask you not allow the Tulsa Race War murders to be swept under the rug of distorted, revised, and repressed history. We must never forget, and we must not allow others to forget either.

Rest In Peace: Gil Scott-Heron (1949-2011)

This blog has shared the music of Gil Scott-Heron many times in the past. He is one of my favorite artists of all time ... and has been an influential poet and musician who many think sparked the cultural revolution known as 'hip-hop'.

Gil Scott-Heron died on May 27, 2011. He is best known for "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised".

Scott-Heron was born in Chicago in 1949. He spent his early years in Jackson, Tenn., attended high school in The Bronx, and spent time at Pennsylvania's Lincoln University before settling in Manhattan. His recording career began in 1970 with the album "Small Talk".





Scott-Heron continued to record through the 1970s and early '80s, before taking a lengthy hiatus. He briefly returned to the studio for 1994's "Spirits". That album featured the track "Message to the Messengers," in which Scott-Heron cautions the hip-hop generation that arose in his absence to use its new-found power responsibly.

Scott-Heron struggled publicly with substance abuse in the 2000s, and spent the early part of the decade in and out of jail on drug possession charges. He began performing again after his release in 2007, and in 2010 released a new album, "I'm New Here", to widespread critical acclaim.

Rest in Peace Gil Scott-Heron!

OURstory: Joseph Phillippe Lemercier Laroche is Only Black Man to Die on the Titanic

Joseph Laroche was the only Black man to perish in the Titanic; that's after he saved his wife and kids. Laroche was born in Cap Haitien, Haiti, on May 26, 1889.

Joseph Laroche was born into a powerful family. His uncle, Cincinnatus Leconte, was the president of Haiti. When Joseph was fifteen, he left Haiti to study engineering in Beauvais, France. Several years later, he met Juliette Lafargue, the 22-year-old daughter of a local wine seller. The two eventually married.

Despite having an engineering degree, Joseph's skin color left him unable to find employment in France. The Laroches decided to return to Haiti and booked second-class reservations on the Titanic. After the ship struck an iceberg, Joseph loaded his wife and children onto a lifeboat and he went down with the ship. His body was never recovered.

Click here to read the full story

We need to share OURstory 24/7/365. If we don't spread the word within our villages ... who will do so? What did you think of this bit of history from the Titantic?

Rest In Peace: Randy 'Macho Man' Savage (1952-2011)

How many villagers will admit that they were fans of televised wrestling at some point in their life? I admit that I was a big fan of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) back in the day. My favorite wrestler was The Undertaker. However, I also enjoyed the antics of Ravishing Rick Rude and and Randy 'Macho Man' Savage.

That is why I was very sad to learn that the Randy Savage died on this day in 2011 from a car accident. It appears that he suffered a heart attack while he was behind the wheel ... and lost control of his vehicle. He was killed as a result of his injuries. His wife, Lynn, was rushed to a local hospital and she appears to have suffered only minor injuries.

I suppose that many of you may not remember the 'Macho Man'. Here is a video that may give you an idea of what he used to do in the ring:

Rest in Peace Macho Man!

Trayvon Martin's Mom Shares Powerful Mother's Day Message

Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin's mom, released a video asking parents nationwide to support the Second Chance campaign, a new national campaign working to reform, repeal and prevent passage of new Florida-style "Shoot First" laws around the country.





The Second Chance campaign launched after Martin's death with the NAACP, the National Urban League, the National Action Network, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, VoteVets and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to oppose reckless Shoot First laws that are on the books of 26 states and pending in 10 more.

Happy Mother's Day

Your Mother is always with you.

She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street, she's the smell of certain foods you remember, flower you pick and perfume that she wore, she's the cool hand on your brow when you're not feeling well, she's your breath in the air on a cold winter's day, She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep, the colors of a rainbow, she is Christmas morning.

Your Mother lives inside your laughter. And she's crystallized in every tear drop. A mother shows every emotion.....Happiness, sadness, fear, jealousy, love, hate, anger, helplessness, excitement, joy, sorrow.....and all the while, hoping and praying you will only know the good feeling in life.

She's the place you came from, your first home, and she's the map you follow with every step you take. She's your first love, your first friend, even your first enemy, but nothing on earth can separate you.

Not time, not space....not even death!

Obama's Weekly Address: 'Congress Must Act on To-Do List'

President Obama is calling on Democrats and Republicans to come together and act on his Congressional “to-do list,” which will create jobs and help restore middle class security. In this make-or-break moment for the middle class, these five initiatives have bipartisan support and will help create an economy that is built to last.

Taser Death: Damon Abraham (Baldwin, LA)

It happened again! This time we discover that 34-year old Damon Abraham is dead after being electrocuted multiple times with 50,000 volts of electricity from the taser gun of an unidentified Baldwin Police officer. Abraham was unarmed and handcuffed in police custody ... but, now he is dead at the hands of the police.

The incident happened Thursday evening and now his family is in mourning and searching for answers. According to family members, Damon Abraham was at the police station following up on a restraining order that was filed against him. [SOURCE]

According to family members, Damon Abraham was at the police station following up on a restraining order that was filed against him, and when authorities told him he had warrants for his arrest, he took off on foot. Family members say a Baldwin Police Officer repeatedly used a taser on Abraham and hit him over the head with a baton after he ran from police.

Abraham was held at police headquarters after being tased but then began showing signs of physical distress. He was transported to Franklin Foundation Hospital and was then being moved to a Lafayette hospital when he died en route.



Louisiana State Police have been called in to investigate the death of Mr. Abraham. An officer was placed on administrative leave while the investigation takes place.

Unique Building * Ideal Palace (France)

Fact is often stranger than fiction. Have you heard of the 43-year old French postal worker who started the foundation of a structure in 1879 ... worked alone for 33 years ... and the result was a fairy-tale place known as the Ideal Palace. It goes to show what can happen when you look inside your soul for your dreams ... and act on them even when others doubt you.

The entire Electronic Village salutes Ferdinand Cheval (1836 - 1924). Is there a dream within your soul waiting to be released?

Happy Cinco de Mayo: Hold On To Your Dream (Gil Scott-Heron)

This seemed like the perfect day to share this musical gem from Gil Scott-Heron!





I guess that not every villager may know what Cinco de Mayo is all about. Cinco de Mayo ... or the fifth of May ... commemorates the Mexican army's 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867). A relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the United States Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with large Mexican-American populations.

Unique Building * Wonderworks (Orlando FL)

Oddly enough, I had never heard of this building until seeing this photo. There are alot of amusement sites in Orlando, however it is unlikely that any of them are UPSIDE DOWN! Inside the unique building you will find over 100 interactive exhibits.

Have any villagers been to this building?