Today in art class my son heard about Alma Thomas who was a expressionist artist. We did our play on one of her paintings.
If you would like to find out more about her, please click here
I love when they teach kids about different people in history!!
Maxwell Roach was born to Alphonse and Cressie Roach on January 10, 1924 in Pasquotank County, North Carolina. Max’s mother was a gospel singer, so music was always in his home growing up.
Max started playing the bugle in parade orchestras very young, it wasn’t until he was 10 years old that he started playing the drum for in gospel bands. At age 18, fresh out of school he was called upon to fill in for Sonny Greer who worked with the Duke Ellington orchestra. From there he started playing in the jazz clubs. Max landed his 1st professional recording on December 1943, he worked with Coleman Hawkins.
Max was known for his bebop style of play. He played alongside many of the major names in jazz, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, Miles Davis and Coleman Hawkins.
Max furthered his knowledge by studying classical percussion at the Manhattan School of Music in 1950 to 1953. In 1952, Max and Charles Mingus founded Debut Records releasing a record on May 15, 1953, known as “Jazz at Massey Hall”. Max also released “Percussion Discussion”.
Max musical talents allowed him to present to solo concerts, proving the he could satisfy an audience on his own merit. This opened the door for many opportunities like recording a duet with the oration by Dr. Martin Luther King, “I Have a Dream”. Max also wrote music for theater, he was known for working with Sam Shepard.
Max also worked with Hip Hop Artist Fab Five Freddy and the New York Break Dancers. Max shared that there was a direct link between the two. The expression of these young black artists and the art form in which he had pursued his whole life.
Max was given the MacArthur Foundation grant in 1988. He also was recognized and awarded for his many contributions to music. Max was also elected to the International Percussive Art Society Hall. In 1986, London name a park in Brixton after him which he went do to officially open it. In 2009, he was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame.
On August 16, 2007 Maxwell Roach passed away in Manhattan. He was buried in the Woodlawn Cemetery, in The Bronx, New York City.
John S. Rock was born to free African American parents John and Maria in Salem, New Jersey on October 13, 1825.
Although attending school in his formative years was rare for African American children, his parents pushed him to focus on his education. John did exactly what his parents required him and earned enough to allow him to become a teacher. In 1844, he landed a job in a Salem class from where he would continue for four years.
John had an amazing work ethic, so much so he got the attention of fellow teachers. He began teacher classes longer and offered private tutor classes. Dr. Shaw and Dr. Gibson, two distinguished medical doctors taught him all they knew about medicine. John started his apprenticeship, to that he could gaining the appropriate medical training to pursue his career. In 1848, John applied to medical school but was denied due to his race.
In 1849, John transferred to a dentistry and started his apprenticeship under Dr. Harber who had recently opened a dental practice in Philadelphia in 1850. A year after he was awarded a medal for his work on a set of silver dentures. John applied to American Medical College in Philadelphia and was admitted. In 1852, he graduated becoming the f1st African American earn a degree in medicine.
John was proud of his accomplishments, at the age of 27 he had established himself and was well-respected as a teacher, dentist, and physician.
John was also known as a passionate abolitionist and civil rights leader. John became a part of the national Equal Rights League, along with many other famous abolitionist including Fredrick Douglass, Henry H. Garnet and many others.
John is known for coining the phrase “Black is Beautiful” during a speech in March 1858 at Faneuil Hall. It was later said that although he did not speak those exact works, rather saying something similar like “the beautiful, rich color of the negro”.
In 1856, John traveled to Paris seeking medical attention after being denied a passport. Upon his return doctor’s orders stated that he needed to cut his workload to remain healthy. During this time, he decided to study law. John passed and was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar. He began to work even harder for the rights of African Americans.
John felt as though he was not making any head way for his fellow African Americans and strive to achieve another level in which he could make more of an impact. February 1, 1865, congress approved the 13th Amendment ending slavery. Charles Sumner put forth a motion that made John the 1st African American to be admitted to the bar of the US Supreme Court and also the 1st African American to be received on the floor the US House of Representatives.
The Civil Rights Acts which enforced the 13th Amendment was passed on April 9, 1866. John was excited and happy, but shortly after fell ill. On December 3, 1866 he passed away in his mother home at the age of 41. He was laid to rest and buried in Everett’s Woodlawn Cemetery.
Unreservedly Me 