Biography of the Late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe

Dawal Yah'El

Biography of the Late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe

Nnamdi Azikiwe was one of the leading Nigerian and West African nationalists, as well as the first president of Nigeria. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, born on Nov. 16, 1904, of Ibo parents in Zungeru, Northern Nigeria, where his father worked as a clerk in the Nigerian Regiment was truly Nigerian.

Dr. Azikiwe, an Ibo from southeast Nigeria, presided over a democratic Government. This group was in power for a mere three years before the regional tensions that have marked the country’s politics ever since.

The tensions led to the first of many military coups. He got involved and would make a lasting mark.

He began as a lawyer, went into political science, and went decided to become a journalist.  This led him to become a political activist, and eventually the first President (and for many years Nigeria’s elder statesman).

Dr. Azikiwe towered over the affairs of Africa’s most populous nation. He attained the rare status of a truly national hero who came to be admired across the regional and ethnic lines dividing his country.

Former President Nnamdi Azikiwe, Life

As was written in an obituary in a 1996 issue of Jet,

“Known as a vigorous champion of African independence from European colonial rule, Dr. Azikiwe attained the rare status of national hero, admired across the regional and ethnic lines dividing his country.”

For much of his life, Azikiwe was a staunch defender of his Ibo people, and he helped to end the Biafran civil war that oppressed his tribe in the late 1960s.

His Wife Said He Would Stay in the House 24 Hours

Fiercely independent, he was never afraid of openly expressing his thoughts and opinions. His devotedness to the cause of a stable, unified and prosperous Nigeria is an eminence a few can attain.

Throughout his life, Dr. Azikiwe’s alliance with northerners put him at odds with Obafemi Awolowo, a socialist-inclined leader of the Yoruba, the country’s other important southern group. It is and was difficult to manage three different ethnic groups.

biography of dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe

As the first President of Nigeria died in 1996, he was 91, he lived a long full life. But of course, people continue to remember him up until this day.

It is impossible to forget what he did for the country.

Nnamdi Azikiwe remains a legend in Nigeria, and in African politics. One distinguished historian Max Siollun once said that there would be no Nigeria without him. He had a tremendous influence on the unity of Nigeria.

Dr. Nnamdi “Zik” Azikiwe, black radical

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Medgar Evers Life Story

Chief Radical

Medgar Evers Life Story

Medgar Evers was a civil rights activist who organized voter-registration efforts, demonstrations and boycotts of companies that practiced discrimination. Born in Mississippi, he served in World War II.

He did this before going to work for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Prior to his civil rights crusade, he fought in a different kind of battle. In June 1944, Evers’ unit was part of the massive, post-D-Day invasion of Europe, not to mention, he served in both France and Germany. This was until his honorable discharge in 1946. It was there he realized the harsh incongruency in America and the Jim Crow law.

Back in the States

In August 1955, a Chicago-born Emmett Till (just 14 years old and visiting relatives in Money, Mississippi) was kidnapped by a group of white men, after reportedly flirting with the wife of a local shopkeeper. Evers spoke up diligently about this matter, bringing him into the limelight.

During the early 1960s, the increased tempo of civil-rights activities in the South created high and constant tensions. And in Mississippi, conditions were often at the breaking point. On the morning of June 12, 1963, around 12:20 a.m., Medgar Evers arrived home from a long meeting at the New Jerusalem Baptist Church located at 2464 Kelley Street.

He was assassinated by KKK members.

On the 40-year anniversary of Evers’s assassination, hundreds of civil rights veterans, government officials, and students from across the country gathered around his grave site. This was at Arlington National Cemetery, they celebrated his life and legacy.

The Life Story of Medgar Evers

On June 15, 1963, Evers’s funeral was held at the Masonic Temple, with Charles Jones, Campbell College chaplain, officiating the service. In 1969, Evers’ brother Charles was the first black man elected mayor of Mississippi.

“Medgar and I said many years ago, if we ever end the violent racism in this state, it’ll be the greatest state in the world to live,” he tells Peeples. “And now, Medgar, I know you’re gone, but I’m telling you, son, it’s come to pass.”

medgar evers life story

Evers’s wife, Myrlie, became a noted activist in her own right later in life. She eventually serving as chairwoman of the NAACP. Medgar’s brother Charles returned to Jackson in July 1963 and served briefly in his slain brother’s place.

Medgar Evers a Black Radical

Evers was featured on a nine-man death list in the deep South as early as 1955; as a matter of fact, he and his family endured numerous threats and other violent acts. This made them well aware of the danger surrounding him because of his activism.

It takes a radical to face uncertainty, threats, and other misgivings in pursuit of freedom, justice, and equality. It takes a radical to face this and to continue to move forward.

This is why Medgar Evers is a true black radical.

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Mayor Harold Washington the Black Radical

Dawal Yah'El

Mayor Harold Washington the Black Radical

If you did not know the very intelligent and Charismatic former mayor of Chicago, Harold Lee Washington, and then you didn’t know Chicago politics. Harold Washington started off as an American attorney and then went into politics from there, in the state of Illinois.

Bold moves, a strong personality, and his like-ability thrust him into becoming the 41st selected mayor of the city of Chicago.

​Mayor Harold Washington the Black Radical

Washington is also the first African American mayor to be elected in Chicago. He served from 1983 until the time of his unexpected death in 1987.

Harold Washington is certainly considered a black radical, his bold stance on equality for all people cemented his iconic image and legacy. The fact that he was an African American gave him much more popularity and notoriety.

A True Chicago Black Radical, Mayor Harold Washington

It also gave him much strife and conflict from the Chicago Democratic political machine. Harold brought the hope President Obama’s campaign brought to the country, to Chicago. And that is why he is a true Chicago black radical.

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Chinua Achebe Things Fall Apart Radical Author

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Chinua Achebe Things Fall Apart Radical Author

The great Nigerian author, Chinua Achebe wrote a classic and literary powerful book that told a story of colonialism in a light that was not seen or heard of prior to. Caucasian European historians had dominated the field in telling the story of Africa from their isolated and often, biased point of view.

When Chinua Achebe published his book, Things Fall Apart, he told of the harsh reality of colonialism that nearly every country in the world, who’d been colonized (inappropriately) resonated with.

Because of this resonation, Achebe received countless letters, even from Korea regarding their ability to relate to the story. Korean women felt Achebe told their story. Revealing colonialism is a worldwide conundrum put in place by Caucasian (white) Europeans with evil intent.

the Radical Author of Things Fall Apart

Chinua Achebe Things Fall Apart Radical Author

A Black Radical in his own right, Achebe was a novelist, poet, professor, and activist. His first book or novel, Things Fall Apart, is considered the most read book in modern African literature.

Radical Author Follows His Heart

He won the Man Booker International Prize in 2007, for authors that is a big deal. Established in Igbo town in Nigeria and was a top student. He won scholarships to study medicine but ultimately decided to follow his heart and study English literature.

The Biafra war broke and he supported the Biafran independence, even presented himself as an ambassador.

Achebe believed colonialism was a vicious attempt to take a nation from the responsible elders and put it into the hands of the lesser responsible youth. This is where fight and struggle, violence, destruction, and war comes from. The destruction is perpetrated and staged by the oppressor.

BlAcK RaDiCal Achebe Had Tough Times with Publishers

The black radical talks about his tumultuous relationship with publishers and with politics in general. He was loved all over the world where people appreciate a humanitarian, writer, fighter-for-the-people, and a voice for the oppressed. Enjoy this video of a true #blackradical.

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The Negro Movement and Muhammad Ali

Dawal Yah'El

The Negro Movement and Muhammad Ali

This video showcases the wisdom, knowledge, and speaking quality of the great black radical Muhammad Ali. Being interviewed by William Buckley on a show called firing line, they talked about the black or negro movement in America.

One thing that is great is that Ali didn’t focus on the black movement but on the equal justice and freedom movement for all peoples.

Ali talked about the white race method of divide and conquer in this interview. He also talked about following Elijah Muhammad and Malcolm X’s demise and fall from the “Black Muslim” organization.

Muhammad Ali and the Negro Movement

William Buckley made a great point that not all white people are not the problem, but that there are groups of people who lead racist movements. It is a great interview that people should enjoy.

Muhammad Ali and the Negro Movement

#blackradicals

Paul Mooney Cracks Up Tavis Smiley

Dawal Yah'El

Paul Mooney Cracks Up Tavis Smiley

Paul Mooney cracks up Tavis Smiley on the show telling him to hire more dark skinned people. Tavis replied, “You missed the dark-skinned guy, he’s in the control room.” Funny comeback, but why does the dark-skinned brother have to be in the control room.

Mooney doesn’t think he has a gift, but that timing is everything in comedy. The audience can become one, and they can turn on you in a moment. Paul, the comic great said, he stopped caring about pleasing the audience. Paul didn’t do drugs because of his grandmother.

Paul Mooney Black Radical

Even being a friend of a prolific drug user, Richard Pryor, Paul still didn’t do drugs. Richard never offered him drugs, and that made him great friends with Mooney. Richard understood himself and knew he wasn’t the type of comedian Richard was or Eddie Murphy.

paul mooney cracks up tavis smiley

Paul Mooney kicked a lot of doors down for comedians and entertainers to do the things they do today!

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Malcolm X Explains Some of His Reasons for Departure​

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Malcolm X Explains Some of His Reasons for Departure

This is a sad implication and story from the great black radical Malcolm X. In the video above, brother Malcolm shares why he was slowly yet rapidly separated and out of the Black Muslim organization lead by the honorable Elijah Muhammad.

Malcolm addresses the fornication being presented by Elijah Muhammad’s son. In addition to this, the hypocrisy of the handling of the situations really frustrated brother, Malcolm. The hypocrisy dealt with the women. The secretaries for Elijah Muhammad were mysteriously coming up pregnant.Malcolm X Explains His Reasons for Departure

When they were found pregnant with no apparent husband, they were brought before the congregation, shamed and isolated.

Nevertheless, the men or man whom they’d been impregnated by were never brought forward, nor shamed. After this occurred with the fourth or fifth secretary, suspicions grew.

It can be presumed that the man impregnating these women was also paying them off to keep them silent. After a few years, when the number grew past seven women, two of the women rebelled.

They began spreading their story in the streets of Chicago, getting the attention of Elijah Muhammad’s own grown son.

Malcolm X Explains His Reasons for Departure

Elijah’s son gets the information to brother Malcolm. The man impregnating these women was indeed the “honorable” Elijah Muhammed. Brother Malcolm contacts Elijah, who admits to it, but gives Malcolm a reason why it was okay or necessary.

Obviously, with brother Malcolm becoming a whistle-blower for righteousness, and his whistle was blowing against the leader of the Black Muslim movement in America; this would cause troubles for the whistleblower. Brother Malcolm’s life became endangered by the very organization he was a part of to champion the black cause.

This is a disheartening story of the bonds being broken among negro people, yet it is a true one. What are your comments on the video?

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