Author's posts
Soundtrack to the Struggle: Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit”
Early 1939. The lights go down at New York’s Cafe Society. The waiters hush the drinking audience, a single small spotlight shines on her face. And Billy Holiday begins to sing. “Southern trees, bears strange fruit blood on the leaves, blood at the root.” The song ends, and the spotlight goes out. Billy leaves the …
News Digest 2-26-24
Nikki Haley vows to continue her campaign despite her latest loss in a GOP primary…Governor Reynolds used an assessment with a very small sample size to justify proposed changes in Iowa AEAs.
Clean Up Your Act 2-26-24
A new book – Zero Carbon Industry – calls for decarbonizing industry to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Soundtrack to the Struggle: Louis Armstrong – Caught Between Two Worlds
It’s 1925, and Louis Armstrong hits the music scene with a splash. With trumpet in hand and a wonderfully unique voice, he took on popular songs and stretched the boundaries of their rhythms and melodies so profoundly that American music hasn’t been the same since. Indeed, Louis Armstrong was America’s first “pop star,” whose appeal …
News Digest 2-23-24
A US-made spacecraft has landed on the moon…the Iowa House has approved a 3% increase in public school funding.
Soundtrack to the Struggle: Lester Young – The Fall of the President
September 1944, and saxophone legend Lester Young arrives at Fort McClellan, Alabama, for basic training. Young is a jazz star, and he expects to be placed in a military band, like white musicians Glenn Miller and Artie Shaw. Instead, he’s assigned to a combat unit. Here marks the beginning of the end for the “President …
News Digest 2-22-24
The US prepares to announce new sanctions against Russia…Kirkwood Community College holds inauguration ceremonies for President Kristie Fisher.
Soundtrack to the Struggle: Lena Horn’s Sweet Voice for the People
Lena Horne left school at 16 to help support her family. She became a dancer at Harlem’s Cotton Club was soon a sought-after performer – a role she would maintain throughout her life. A long run at the Savoy-Plaza boosted Horne’s career even further. She was featured in Life magazine, and listed as the highest-paid …