With still being the month of Black History, we’re already in full swing about the ongoing learning stuff about our black figures and events that we know and soon to be known. With the rise of the introverts are on full swing, many folks whom were and are black have made or making great strides of political achievements, sports, activism and other fields of choice.
We know their names like I said, but they were and are Introverts! So who were they? Who are they? Let’s go with it.
This introvert was apart of the Civil Rights Movement. She was as we know was one of the black women who sat on the bus and refused to be moved, but also working on as a Secretary of the NAACP and a Seamstress. Many have called her the mother of the Civil Rights Movement: Rosa Parks.
This introvert was a megastar of millions. Entertained millions of fans! Made a breakthrough of new Videos, broke millions of records. Even though was a bit shy, but when he was stage, he was at home: Michael Jackson.
This introvert is labeled as the “Greatest basketball Player in the World”. Won 6 NBA Championships, 2 Gold Medals, Multiple All-Star, did a video with Michael Jackson, and many are still buying his shoes. Yes, I’m referencing Michael Jordan.
These introverts are for the Social Conscious folks. Yes you can introverted and be apart of the struggle. Since the on going review of the Black Panthers has been a hot button topic for the last 50 years, this may be a shock to those are or were apart of the movement. Recently, I watched the PBS special on the Black Panthers, and there as question that popped in my mind: Were any of the Black Panthers Introverted, or Introverts? I combed through the net by the use of articles in which I googled the idea question. And yes like many things that pop up online, I got my guess. In a book article called, Unrelated Kin: Race and Gender in Women’s Personal Narritives, a name appeared in the page online by the name of Gloria Abernerthy. Now I have not heard of this woman, nor her upbringing of her family or extended contributions to black history, but part of this was indeed with the Black Panthers. According to the book, the author(s), Gwendolyn Etter-Lewis and Michèle Foster described Gloria at first a “natural introvert” by the time she turned 17 years old. Around the same time she joined the Black Panthers in 1968. And even though she was one of the “comrade sisters” in her support of the programs and assingments in the Party, she like many other African-American women in the Black Panthers supported the organization with the roles provided.
Another Black Panther Party member that was on the introverted side, was one of the co-founders himself: Dr. Huey P. Newton. According the article Stephen Shames, whom was a Black Panther member himself, described Huey in his words at the time during the era:
Huey was more introverted. He was the intellectual. He liked to think about abstract concepts, the ideology of the Panthers. He was more the professor.
So after looking at the article, and more extensive summary of Huey Newton being this radical leader of the Black Panther Party, there was a side of him that was introverted with his thinking, his mind perspective, and also his well being of thought while leading one of the still well known, and sometimes understood Black Organizations in the history of America. Speaking of that, in between the movement, he earned a Phd in Social Philosophy which also earned him the title of Doctor in 1980. Just two years shy of the Black Panther Party being disbanded. As a Introvert as described previously, Huey was a smart brotha! That knew his craft of activism in the era of Civil Rights, and his influence is often and reflected and reviewed today.
This introvert as we know is a first: First African-American President in the U.S. A One-Time senator from Illinois, Hawaii Born, Law Professor Educated, Picked two times, Married with 2 Daughters and I know whom we are talking about, that after 2016 is over, he’ll be missed: President Barack Obama.
Also, I am not a fan of this former NFL Running Back, and yes should have gotten the ball at the one at Superbowl 49. But in his preliminary interview Superbowl 48, NFL Network’s own and SB Champion, Deion Sanders (aka Prime Time) asked him these following questions in all:
Yes, that is the now former RB of the Seattle Seahawks, Marshawn Lynch. In the beginning he admitted that he’s not that shy per se, relaxed, kicked back kind of person. But he did say he was about that action. In a sense of the game. So maybe, I’m not assuming but I’ll believe that Marshawn might be an Introvert in his own right. I’m not saying that he is, but he seemed introverted in a sense of gathering thoughts in the footage. Which also led him to a Super Bowl Ring.
Whom else is introverted, and happy, face challenges everyday, and black? Reference Issa Rae. You know who she is right? We see her shows on YouTube, and HBO. She also has a book out now called “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl” in which the book pens her experiences going through awkward situations of relationships, love, eating out alone, and learning to accept yourself. And yes, she is a Black Woman that is an Introvert. Even though I have not read the book, but heard of her, I guess I’ll be buying the book to see and to read from a Black Woman’s perspective on being an Introvert.
Going back to music again: we’re all familiar with Cab Calloway. The man gave us “Minnie The Moocher” a household single jam. We all seen him in the first Blues Brothers Movie. And also other films and shows. But in his autobiography, “Of Minnie The Moocher and Me” with author Bryant Rollins, the author describe that Cab had a “inward” personality:
He’s a very introverted man; he has all the love in the world to give, but for some reason in personal relationships he keeps a lot of it inside.
Hold up! Cab Calloway? Introverted?! Wow. Yes, he had his thing with the music, but when it came to relationships away from the stage, he was introverted to keep more things to himself. That blew me away! You just never know.
As I summarize this blog story, yes there are and were Introverts of Color, pertaining to African-Americans that were mostly listening, mostly thinking and less speaking, and even thought that yes there are some extroverted elements in Introverts, but they were still and are introverted, and their gifts mattered and influenced and continue to influence to inspire.
So yeah, black introverts had and have exist! Who knows? There might be more Black Introverted Men and Women that will support loud voices and causes in between of the movements, eras, generations and current state of affairs.
Oh, and one more thing: #BLACKHISTORYMONTH4LIFE with #IntrovertsUnite!
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