W.E. A.L.L. B.E. TV: Triumph BEyond MEasure: ‪#‎HillaryClinton‬'s Dress Designer, #MarthaDixon, INcredible Story!!!~11/18/2011

    

 

W.E. A.L.L. B.E. TV: Triumph BEyond MEasure: ‪Hillary Clinton‬'s Dress Designer's, Martha Dixon, INcredible Story!!!

WATCH NOW:

http://youtu.be/DnhGnPKBk2A

"Martha Dixon is wonderful, wise, gifted, and tough-an amazing woman with an awe-inspiring story. This is a book any person of any age will learn from and enjoy. After you read it, you'll find it harder to feel sorry for yourself, easier to get on with your life and go after your dreams and impossible not to be grateful that Martha shared her story with you. She has been a blessing to Hillary and me, and she will be to you."
~William Jefferson Clinton, Former U.S. President

About Triumph Beyond Measure
From the backbreaking work of picking cotton in the hot Arkansas sun, the daughter of a poor sharecropper, to the dressmaker for the First Lady of the United States, Martha Dixon's story is uniquely American. Starting with nothing but an entrepreneurial drive, Ms. Dixon rose to the peak of her profession. Triumph Beyond Measure is an impossible story that became possible. A tale of a woman who believed in herself and set her sights high. Inspirational, motivational, and steeped in lessons learned along the way. Triumph Beyond Measure will leave you cheering. "They said you need to crawl before you can walk," writes Ms. Dixon, "but I didn't want to walk. Nor did I want to run. I wanted to fly." Rags to riches. From the poorhouse to the White House. Triumph Beyond Measure is a story everyone should read.

About Sis. Martha Dixon
Recognized as one of the "Top 100 Women of Arkansas" by Arkansas Business Magazine, and the recipient of numerous awards for her entrepreneurship, political work, and community service, Martha Dixon rose from abject poverty to the height of her profession. Founder of Dixon Manufacturing, as well as other successful enterprises, Ms. Dixon's meteoric career took her all the way from the cotton fields of Arkansas to the Lincoln Bedroom of the White House and beyond. Dress designer for First Lady Hillary Clinton (her presidential Gala gown remains on display at the Truman Library), Ms. Dixon's stellar reputation and entrepreneurial spirit combined for one of the great success stories of our time. One of twenty siblings born and reared in rural Arkansas, near a place called Hope, she overcame early hardship to become an accomplished businessworman and state political party leader, a friend of a future President, William Jefferson Clinton, and his wife, former U.S. Secretary of State & 2016 U.S. Presidential Hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton. This is her story.

Buy Book @ Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Triumph-Beyond-Measure-An-Autobiography/dp/1463430442

***

Support The W.E. A.L.L. B.E. Movement!!!

Donate online:

http://bit.ly/VfaE1N

Or send a money order to

the following address:

Attn: Ron Herd II

The W.E. A.L.L. B.E. Group Inc.

P.O. Box 752062

Memphis, TN 38175

Support The W.E. A.L.L. B.E. 100,000 Strong Fundraising Campaign!!!

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http://weallbe.blogspot.com/2014/08/we-all-be-100000-strong-fundraising.html

W.E. A.L.L. B.E. TV: "'Hallelujah!': First Hollywood All Black Talkie...Made IN Memphis & Nominated For An Oscar!!!"

    

 W.E. A.L.L. B.E. TV: "'Hallelujah!': First Hollywood All Black Talkie...Made IN Memphis & Nominated For An Oscar!!!"  

Sis. Rubye Carter INterview (Daughter Of "Hallelujah" Actor/Singer & Memphis Gospel Music Great Sis. Georgia Woodruff)~1/2009

WATCH NOW:

 http://youtu.be/MgI4qQZS4Hc

"Advertised as an "all-colored" production, the movie was arguably the first major-studio attempt to present the lives of African-Americans with sensitivity and artistry. Although its racial stereotyping may trouble or embarrass viewers today, it remains probably the most significant movie ever shot in the Mid-South, and a milestone on the road that led from Stepin Fetchit to Sidney Poitier to Spike Lee."
~John Beifuss of The Memphis Commercial Appeal
 

'Hallelujah!' Not 'Hustle And Flow' was the film that put Memphis on the cinematic map. This episode highlights the first ever Hollywood produced All Black Cast Talkie Movie featuring the first Black Hollywood Sex Symbol, the great Nina Mae McKinney. W.E. A.L.L. B.E. INterviewed Rubye Carter, the daughter of Georgia Woodruff, a singer in the film and well known Memphis Gospel Music Great, about her mom’s role as well as the historical and cultural significance of the Academy Award nominated film (BEst Director nod for King Vidor) itself.

The majority of the film was shot in South Memphis near what is now known as LeMoyne-Owen College and the Wilson Plantation just across the Mississippi River IN Arkansas...According to the Library of Congress press release, the all-black-cast film "Hallelujah!" was a surprising gamble by normally conservative MGM, allowed chiefly because director King Vidor deferred his salary and MGM had proved slow to convert from silent to sound films. Vidor had to shoot silent film of the mass-river-baptism and swamp-murder Tennessee location scenes. He then painstakingly synchronized the dialogue and music. Around themes of religion, sensuality and family stability, Vidor molded a tale of a cotton sharecropper that begins with him losing his year’s earnings, his brother and his freedom and follows him through the temptations of a dancehall girl (Nina Mae McKinney). The passionate conviction of the melodrama and the resourceful technical experiments make "Hallelujah" among the very first indisputable masterpieces of the sound era.
http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2008/08-237.html

In 2008, the vintage 1929 poster for 'Hallelujah!' film was used in a U.S. Postage stamp designed to honor the film as a part of the U.S. postal Service's "Vintage Black Cinema" series. That same year 'Hallelujah' was named along with 24 other films to the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress, which preserves historic and significant films.

The Legendary Dr. Eva Jessye, recognized as the first Black woman to achieve international distinction as a choral director, founded and led the Dixie Jubilee Singers. She was the music director for 'Hallelujah' and later Dr. Jessye was also active in the American Civil Rights Movement. Her choir was named the official choir for the historic 1963 March On Washington. Active well into her 80s she later taught music at the Univ. of Michigan.

The film was directed by legendary Hollywood film director King Vidor. ‘Hallelujah!’ was Vidor’s first ‘talkie. He Was Nominated For A 1930 Best Director Oscar For 'Hallelujah!' It starred the underrated and vivaciously talented 16 year old Nina Mae McKinney, arguably Hollywood’s first Black Sex Symbol as the seductress known as Chick. She was dubbed ‘The Black Garbo’ by the press because her stage presence and sex appeal was reminiscent of white actress Greta Garbo. McKinney was discovered by King Vidor in Lew Leslie’s Blackbirds of 1928 Revue. The great Daniel L. Haynes played the male lead as the religious and troubled sharecropper Zeke Johnson who falls for Nina’s character while his life around him falls apart. Early Jazz & Blues great Victoria Spivey was also in the film and played Zeke’s fiancée. Zeke’s father was played by a 86 year former slave named Harry Gray. Zeke's mother was played by veteran Black entertainer Fanny Belle DeKnight. Also featured in the film was the popular Curtis Mosby's Blue Blowers Orchestra. Two of the musical numbers in the film, “Waiting at the End of the Road” and “Swanee Shuffle,” were written by Irving Berlin. Many of the actors who were IN ‘Hallelujah’ were everyday working people living in Memphis. Another Memphis local, Beale St. tap dance performer and comedian, Robert "Bones" Couch, was also featured IN the film. He later BEcame the partner of Memphis music legend Rufus Thomas IN their popular show business duo act known as ‘Rufus & Bones.’

See Also...

All-Black Memphis Film Honored: 1929 Talkie Named 1 Of '25 Important Motion Pictures'...
http://weallbe.blogspot.com/2009/01/all-black-memphis-film-honored-1929.html

***

Photos Are Courtesy Of The 'Hallelujah!' Collection Of The  Memphis & Shelby County Room Of The Memphis Public Library & INformation Center...To Learn More Please Visit The 'Hallelujah!' Collection Online:http://memphislibrary.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/p16108coll9
 
***

Support The W.E. A.L.L. B.E. Movement!!!

Donate online:

http://bit.ly/VfaE1N

Or send a money order to

the following address:

Attn: Ron Herd II

The W.E. A.L.L. B.E. Group Inc.

P.O. Box 752062

Memphis, TN 38175

Support The W.E. A.L.L. B.E. 100,000 Strong Fundraising Campaign!!!

CLICK THE LINK FOR DETAILS:

http://weallbe.blogspot.com/2014/08/we-all-be-100000-strong-fundraising.html

W.E. A.L.L. B.E. TV: The Last At Bat: Negro Leagues Star Art 'Superman' Pennington Interview~2/15/2010

    

W.E. A.L.L. B.E. TV: The Last At Bat: Negro Leagues Star Art 'Superman' Pennington Interview~2/15/2010

WATCH NOW:

http://youtu.be/4mOyQLP48Yo

***Art 'Superman' Pennington Bio***

Arthur David Pennington
Nickname: Art, Superman

Career: 1940-1950
Positions: of, 1b, 2b, 3b, ss, p
Teams: Chicago American Giants (1940-1946, 1950),
Pittsburgh Crawfords (1946), Mexican League (1946-1950), minor leagues (1951-1959)

Bats: Both
Throws: Right

Height: 5' 11'' Weight: 195
Born: May 18, 1923, Memphis, Tennessee

Playing for the Chicago American Giants, "Superman" compiled batting averages of .299 in 1944 and .359 in 1945 while finishing second to Sam Jethroe in stolen bases with 18. In 1950 he hit .370 with good power and started the 1950 East-West All Star game, getting a hit in three at-bats. He was the MVP of the 1950 East/West All*Star Game with a game winning bases loaded triple. Art Pennington was an All*Star during the Golden Era of the Negro Leagues when the talent was at its highest. That marked the third All Star appearance for the switch-hitter, having participated in the 1942 and 1946 games respectively. Pennington had a lifetime batting average of .336 in his eight years in the Negro Leagues. The last of these came after a three-year Mexican League hiatus, beginning in 1946 with Monterrey, where he hit .314, and continuing with marks of .291 and .294 with Puebla.

Although playing mostly in the outfield or at first base,Pennington was a versatile player and also could play any infield position, and because he had a strong arm and could throw so hard, he sometimes was utilized as a relief pitcher for a 2-inning stint.

In addition to his summers in Mexico, he played winter ball there,playing in three seasons (1948-1951) in Culiacan. He also played winters in Caracas, Venezuela, and in Cuba, where he hit .234 in 1947-1948. Highlights of his performance in each of the last two leagues include grand-slam homers, with the last one netting him a $500 prize. During his career he also homered off Dizzy Dean in an exhibition contest.

After the breakup of the Negro Leagues, the outfielder-first baseman played in organized ball for an additional nine years but never made it to the majors. A partial season with Portland in the Pacific Coast League in 1949 is the closest he came to the top rung, and he managed only a .208 batting average in the 20 games he played. His greatest success in organized baseball came in the Three-I League in 1952-1954. With Keokuk the first year he won the batting title with a .349 average (a record which stood for over 30 years) and slugged 20 home runs. The next two seasons he batted .329 and .345, the last year with Cedar Rapids. His last two years were with St. Petersburg in the Florida State League (.339) and with Modesto in the California League (.256). He retired following the 1959 season.

After leaving baseball, he worked at Rockwell Collins for twenty-three years, and two years on the railroad in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, before retiring in 1985.

Baseball Career Highlights:
"Hitting a home run off of Dizzy Dean and Sal Maglie in an exhibition game and playing in the 1942, 1946 and 1950 East-West All Star games." Pennington or "Superman"posted batting averages of .299 in 1944 and .359 in 1945 and finished second with 18 stolen bases behind Sam Jethroe. Pennington hit .370 in 1950 and was named to start in the East-West All Star game.

Professional/Personal Accomplishments:
In addition, Pennington played baseball in the Cuban, Mexican and Venezuelan Leagues. Posting
a.349, he was the batting champ in the Three-I League (1952-1954). As a 25-year employee with Rockwell Collins, Pennington also played on Rockwell's company team. He retired in 1985.
Mr. Pennington retired from baseball following the 1959 season and settled in South East side of
Cedar Rapids, IA where he still lives today. He ran for several political offices including sheriff,
mayor and safety commissioner. Mr. Pennington also opened the Home-Run Club, the first
Mixed Race Establishment in Cedar Rapids.

Sources:
NLBM Legacy 2000 Players' Reunion Alumni Book, Kansas City Missouri: Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, Inc., 2000.

James A. Riley, The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues, New York: Carroll & Graf Publishers, Inc., 1994.

Official Websites:
http://artpenningtonbaseball.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Art-Superman-Pennington-Negro-League-Baseball- AllStar/118552204880714

***

Support The W.E. A.L.L. B.E. Movement!!!

Donate online:

http://bit.ly/VfaE1N

Or send a money order to

the following address:

Attn: Ron Herd II

The W.E. A.L.L. B.E. Group Inc.

P.O. Box 752062

Memphis, TN 38175

Support The W.E. A.L.L. B.E. 100,000 Strong Fundraising Campaign!!!

CLICK THE LINK FOR DETAILS:

http://weallbe.blogspot.com/2014/08/we-all-be-100000-strong-fundraising.html