In Pursuit of Perfection

Quotations From Abraham Lincoln

I have come to trust and enjoy Brother Peacemaker's writings.  Here is a recent piece from his site. B.

“I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the states where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so.” – Abraham Lincoln in his first debate with Stephen Douglas in the campaign for the United States Senate at Ottawa, Illinois on August 21st of 1858.

“I am not, nor ever have been in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races. I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of Negroes, nor qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people. And I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will ever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. … And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race.” – Abraham Lincoln in his fourth debate with Stephen Douglas in the campaign for the United States Senate on September 18th of 1858.

Read more here.

African American Lives 2 - with Henry Louis Gates

Black History Celebrations at Virginia State University

I'm very excited to see what VSU has going on next month.  For sure I'll be going to see Amiri Baraka, someone who has just come into my consciousness in the past year.  I'll post more of their events as I become aware.

 

clipped from www.vsu.edu Poet Amiri Baraka Visits Virginia State University for Annual Read-In   On Monday, Feb. 4, internationally renowned poet, playwright and activist Amiri Baraka will serve as the keynote presenter at the 19th Annual African-American Read-In at Virginia State University. The program begins at 4 p.m. in the Anderson-Turner Auditorium, located in Virginia Hall. A book signing and performance by VSU Sankofa Dance will follow Baraka’s presentation. This event is free and open to the public.   Baraka, considered by many to be the “dean” of the Black Arts Movement (BAM) of the 1960s, is the author of over twenty books. His film adaptation of the groundbreaking, Obie Award wining play, Dutchman won the coveted Best Picture award at the 1967 Cannes Film Festival. In 1994, he retired as Professor of Africana Studies from the State University of New York in Stony Brook and was named Poet Laureate by the state of New Jersey and Newark Public Schools in 2002. This event is co-sponsored by the VSU Honors Program, Institute for the Study of Race Relations and the Department of Languages and Literature in conjunction with the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE).   For additional information, please contact Dr. Pamela Reed at (804) 852-9196.