"In the year 1830, the state of North Carolina adopted into law the Act to prevent all persons from teaching slaves to read or write. The teaching of slaves to read or write has a tendency to excite dissatisfaction in the minds of slaves and will produce insurrection and rebellion, to the manifest injury of citizens of this state of North Carolina. Any free person, who shall hereafter teach, or attempt to teach, any slave within the state to read or write or give or sell such slave any books or pamphlets, shall be liable to an indictment in any court of record in this State of North Carolina. And the slave shall be imprisoned; and whipped at the discretion of the court, not exceeding 39 lashes and not less than 20 lashes.
"Act Passed" by the General Assembly of North Carolina at the Session of 1830 (Raleigh:1830). Despite the racism of North Carolina and other united states in America, slaves did learn to read and write. Even though many slaves were not literate, they would sign documents using ascribed "X" in lieu of a signature. The courts permitted this as long as the X-mark was witnessed.
The individual signatures enclosed in this unique presentation are not a critique of their "penmanship." On the contrary, our intention is only to show an individual style of "handwriting" their name. Iconic as these African-Americans are, their signatures reveal a vibrant brand attached to their personality.
Inspired by my grandchildren, I remember how proud they were to show me how they could write their name; this book was created. And like a fingerprint, their signature is their only."
Title: Signature: Legendary African American Distinctive Signatures
Author: Rubin Benson / Bashir
Publisher: BookBuzz.net, First Impressions Design
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"Signature" by Rubin Benson/Bashir
My Opinion:
"Legendary African American Distinctive Signatures noun. The Act of signing one's name, or distinctive mark."
We find this author is quite a 'creative director...an avid collector of original African-American fine art and Memorabilia.' What a good job that was done as he 'thirsts to give focus to recognizing and authenticating various African-American signatures.'
This author did an excellent job of collecting through research as many handwritten reproductions of 'Famous Black folks' as possible that took up to three years to complete. What was unique about this process was that this signature 'could be used to equal their own personal fingerprint.
As I was reading through 'Signature,' I found this author's search included 239 signatures. One will have to admit this was a lot of good work that was able to be done. What an exciting story as you read about each of these signatures and the process in which it was all done.
I made a list of some of the signatures that caught my interest:
Starting with Legendary African American Distinctive Signatures... Miles, innovation to the elevator industry
on to Alexander Murry Palmer Haley, American writing and the author of Roots
Althea Gibson, an American tennis player, professional golfer, and the first black athlete to cross the color line of international tennis.
Alvin Childress as Amos and Spencer Williams as Andy [Amos 'n' Andy] first radio comedy series
Andrew Jackson Young Jr... American politician, diplomat, and activist
Angela Evelyn Bassett...American Actress and activist
Arthur Ashe...nade a career out of tennis...won his first U.S. Open in 1968
Barack Hussein Obama... American politician who served as the 44th President of the U.S. 2009-2017
Riley B. King... professional as B.B. King...An American blues singer, electric guitarist, songwriter, and record producer.
Benjamin Oliver Davis Jr. American, the United States Air Force general and Commander of the World War II Tuskegee Airmen
I will stop here and just add the name...that I enjoyed reading about...you will have to pick up this good read and see how well this author presents all of this to the readers.
Bessie Coleman, Beyonce Giselle Knowles-Carter, Eleanora Fagan [Billie Holiday], Cab Calloway, James Charles Evers, Charles Wade Barkley, Cicely Tyson, Colin Luther Powell, Corette Scott King, Deborah Kaye [Debbie Allen],
Denzel Hayes Washington, Diana Ernestine Earle Ross, Diahann Carroll, Dick Gregory, Dorothy Jean Dandridge,
Edward Kennedy 'Duke Ellington, Ethel Waters, Frederick Douglass, George Washington Carver, Halle Maria Berry[born Maria Helle Berry]. Henry Louis Aaron [Hammer or Hammerin Hank], Harry Belafonte, Hattie McDaniel, Herbert Jeffrey 'Herbie' Hancock, Jack Roosevelt Robinson, James Joseph Brown, Shawn Corey Carter [Jay-Z],
Jesse Louis Jackson Sr., James Cleveland [Jesse Owens], Jimi Hendrix, Joseph Louis Barrow [Joe Louis], John William Coltrane [Trane], Josephine Baker, Horace Julian Bond, Kamala Harris Vice President of the United States, first Black person, and Asian to hold this position.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bean Bryant, LeBron Raymone James, Lena Mary Calhoun Horne, Richard Wayne Penniman [Little Richard], Louis Daniel Armstrong [Satchmo, Satch, & Pops], Louis, Farrakhan Sr. [Louis X], Sarah Breedlove [Madam C.J. Walker], Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., Maya Angelou, Miles Dewey Davis III, Michael Joseph Jackson, Michael Jeffrey Jordan ] M.J.] Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama American lawyer, and writer who served as the First Lady of United States from 2009-2017...married to the 44th U.S. President Barack Obama, and was the first African-American First Lady.
Morgan Freeman, Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. [Muhammad Ali], Nathaniel Adams Coles [Nat King Cole], Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, Oprah Winfrey, Sean John Combs [Puff Daddy], Pearl Mae Bailey, Prince Rogers Nelson, Ray Charles Robinson [Ray Charles], Robyn Rihanna Fenty, Rosa Louise McCauley, Samuel George Davis Jr., Samuel Leroy Jackson, Sarah Lois Vaughan, Serena Williams, Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal [Shaq], Shirley Chisholm, Sidney Poitier, Shelton Jackson [Spike], Lincoln Theodore Monroe...Andrew Perry [Stepin Fetchit], Stevland Hardaway Morris [Stevie Wonder], Thurgood Marshall, Eldrick Tont Woods [Tiger Woods], Tupac Amaru Shakur [Tupac], Venus Ebony Starr Williams, William Edward Burghardt ['W.E.B.' Du Bois], Whitney Elizabeth Houston, Willard Carroll Smith Jr., Winnie Madikizela-Mandela [Winnie Mandela], and Wynton Learson Marsalis.
As you read through 'Signature,' you get a short bibliography of their story...including a photo and their signature. The author did a fantastic job with his novel that I would highly recommend.
I didn't get everyone put into my review of this inspiring and motivational read, so you will have to grab a copy of what excellent work this author did in putting together all of this great information for the reader to take in and doing this for his grandchildren and letting them know the importance of one's signatures. One can only imagine what it was like for our slave ancestors to be denied the privilege of reading and writing. I can only imagine how hard this would be for me because I enjoy reading and reviewing what I read.
I would definitely recommend this read...the bibliography, photos, and signatures are really something to cherish.
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