C Jam Blues- Ellington

Here's a combo of Duke Ellington's Orchestra doing C Jam Blues, a classic. This film short, probably filmed as an extra added attraction for theatrical presentation. For you folks who remember saturday afternoons at the theater, with newsreels and shorts. Have fun. CH

Got My Mojo Workin'

Uncle Mud doin' his thing.

Paris liberation made 'whites only'

Papers unearthed by the BBC reveal that British and American commanders ensured that the liberation of Paris on 25 August 1944 was seen as a "whites only" victory. So, the "whites only" troops marched through Paris as the great liberators, though the Free French forces had been made up of a considerable portion of African troops ( West, Central and North African, who died in large numbers) the only "colored" troops allowed to march in the parade were North African and Middle Eastern who were light complected. They were allowed because the French could not make a full division of white troops.
All of this took place at the insistence of the Allied command, who also eliminated African- Americans, as well as a considerable number of British troops who were Indian, West Indian, African and Middle Eastern. It's particularly interesting to read the contemporary responses at Digg (click through for those.) Some people of European descent continue to excuse and rationalize the behavior, ostensibly for the mental health of those of European descent. The image of liberators of color, having saved Europe from itself, German decimation, was unacceptable to some.

read more | digg story

Stew: "Black Men Ski", TED 2006

Atomic Dog, Late Parliament

French Tv-Avec some younger Hip Hop talent.

Stand by Me...Playing for Change

A medley of street musicians doing Stand by me.

Film maker Mark Johnson talks with Bill Moyers about the film.

Wake Up Everybody 2008