Latest news with #TheLibraryofCongress
Black America Web
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Soul Brothers: 10 Black Male Singers We Lost This Decade
Christian Rose It never gets easy saying goodbye to the music icons of our culture. Some singers we lost prematurely, either right before they were about to show us their best talents or in the midst of their rise to the top of the charts. Others actually got the chance to live fruitful lives and reach an apex in their career that gives their posthumous legend status merit. Either way, the loss is felt immensely each time. 10 years ago to the day (May 14), we experienced just that when blues legend B.B. King tragically passed away from vascular dementia after suffering a handful of small strokes resulting from his type 2 diabetes. The only thing that makes it bittersweet is that he left us peacefully in his sleep. No matter how long it's been, the world will forever remember the name B.B. King. RELATED: RIP: Black Singers Who Died in the Last 10 Years There aren't many musicians who can make claim to what King was able to accomplish in his 89 years of life. He's released a whopping 48 studio albums that span from his debut LP in 1957 to the final one released during his lifetime in 2008, which went on to win the GRAMMY for 'Best Traditional Blues Album' back in 2009. Speaking of GRAMMY trophies, the guy has an impressive 15 wins under his belt that range from 'Best Male R&B Vocal Performance,' his first one back in 1970, to the six times he won in the aforementioned 'Best Traditional Blues Album' category. His accolades also include a Blues Hall of Fame induction in 1980, getting added to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, GRAMMY Lifetime Achievement that same year, Kennedy Center Honors in 1995 and, while he was still alive, a Living Legend Medal from The Library of Congress at the turn of the century just to name a very small few of his honorific achievements. Although 'the thrill is gone' when it comes to having King here in the physical, we will always remember the music he gave us and the inspiration as a Black male in music who defied the odds and became extraordinary. Reminiscing on the 10-year anniversary of a fallen icon had us thinking about a handful of other male soul singers who we lost over the last 10 years. From the ones who are still living in our hearts and on our airwaves to a few that may be a bit more unsung, we implore you to look these men up and their timeless music if you truly want to put yourself onto greatness. We miss each of them in a way that's unique to what each fella contributed to the culture, and we can only hope this continues their respective legacies. SEE ALSO Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
New Book about the History of the Library of Congress from Jefferson's Vision to the Digital Age, published in partnership with the Library of Congress
"An impressive and well-written introduction to a unique and important American institution whose fascinating history is still relatively unknown. General readers will appreciate Aikin's compelling historical anecdotes. Scholars and future historians will find the scope and depth of her analysis both authoritative and valuable, along with her rich documentation." —John Y. Cole, Library of Congress historian, 2016–21 WASHINGTON, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Library of Congress is the research arm of Congress, home of the US Copyright Office, and a public forum for artistic and literary culture. It is generally considered the national library of the United States, and it has influenced cultural affairs worldwide in myriad ways since its founding more than two centuries ago. In The Library of Congress, Jane Aikin draws on a wealth of primary and secondary sources to weave a narrative of the individuals, events, and controversies that have shaped the history of this venerable institution. Punctuated by stories about key donors and pivotal performances by poets, authors, and celebrities, this engaging and informative narrative sheds new light on the world's largest library and its global impact on knowledge and culture. Jane Aikin served as director of the Research Division at the National Endowment for the Humanities. Her publications include The Nation's Great Library: Herbert Putnam and the Library of Congress, 1899–1939 (1993) and, as coeditor with John Y. Cole, Encyclopedia of the Library of Congress: For Congress, the Nation & the World (2005). Media Contact Stephanie Rojas, Georgetown UP, 202.687.9298, View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE The Library of Congress Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Cinco de Mayo is a bigger deal in the U.S. than in Mexico. Here's why, holiday's history
Cinco de Mayo, a day often confused for Mexico's Independence Day, is next week. To many Americans, the fifth of May is a day for discounted tacos and margaritas and is often punctuated with cheesy, Americanized versions of traditional Mexican accessories – like ponchos and sombreros. But what does the holiday really commemorate? And who actually celebrates it? Here's a quick breakdown of the history of Cinco de Mayo, when it falls in 2025 and why it's celebrated more in the U.S. than it is in its country of origin. In Spanish, 'Cinco de Mayo' means 'Fifth of May.' The day is an anniversary of a battle in Puebla, Mexico, not Mexico's Independence Day. The day celebrates and commemorates the Mexican army's victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, more than 50 years after Mexico was liberated from Spanish rule. This didn't mark the end of French forces in Mexico, though, as the French would later set out to recapture Puebla and successfully capture Mexico City in 1863. Cinco de Mayo is important to Mexicans, specifically those in Puebla, but it isn't Mexico's Independence Day, which falls in September. Today, Cinco de Mayo is more celebrated in the U.S. than it is in Mexico and is a day for Americans and Mexican-Americans to honor Mexican culture and heritage as a whole. What is Cinco de Mayo? What to know about the holiday in New York This year, Cinco de Mayo falls on a Monday. Cinco de Mayo 2025 will be next Monday, May 5. As mentioned above, Cinco de Mayo commemorates a specific battle in Mexico's fight for independence, but it doesn't mark the day the country became independent from colonization. By the time May 5, 1862 came, Mexico had already been liberated from Spain. 'Early on the morning of September 16, 1810, Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla summoned the largely Indian and mestizo congregation of his small Dolores parish church and urged them to take up arms and fight for Mexico's independence from Spain,' according to The Library of Congress. 'His El Grito de Dolores, or Cry of Dolores, which was spoken — not written — is commemorated on September 16 as Mexican Independence Day.' Many countries in Central America celebrate their independence days in September, which is also the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month. Mexico celebrates its liberation from Spanish rule and Independence Day on Sept. 16, which is a Tuesday this year. Many in the U.S. see Cinco de Mayo as a day to drink tequila, party and maybe eat some tacos. But the American celebration of the day has much deeper roots than a day to party, and started as a day of resistance. 'The celebration of Cinco de Mayo began as a form of resistance to the effects of the Mexican-American War in the late 19th century. The holiday gained popularity during the Chicano Movement of the 1960s and 1970s,' USA TODAY reported on Cinco de Mayo 2023. Like with many other minor holidays in the U.S. (Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Mother's Day, etc.), it only took a decade or so to morph into a highly commercialized opportunity for big companies to rake in some extra cash. 'By the 1980s, companies began commercializing the holiday, especially by beer companies and restaurants that will offer Cinco de Mayo specials and cocktails.' Taco Bell has yet to announce how they're celebrating Cinco de Mayo this year, but last year the chain ran a deal for loyalty rewards members to get five tacos for $5 on the holiday. Tex-Mex chain Chuy's is celebrating big this year, with deals on food and drinks all day on Monday, May 5. Here's what Chuy's is offering customers on Monday, May 5: 'On 5/5 we're offering deals on our house rocks and frozen 'ritas (Lime, Strawberry, Swirl or Dot only). Order a Regular House 'Rita for $6 or start big with a Grande House 'Rita for $10 and keep the giveaway cup, while supplies last! You can also level up our world famous 'ritas with $1 floaters all day long — that's an extra pour of tequila, Cointreau or Grand Marnier. On top of that we're doing $5 Chips 'N' Dips all day on Monday 5/5! Choose from Queso, Queso Compuesto, Lil' Chuy Gooey or the Boom-Boom Pow.' Tijuana Flats, another Tex-Mex restaurant chain, has also not yet announced its plans for Cinco de Mayo 2025, but offered a ton of deals last year. For Cinco de Mayo 2024, the restaurant chain had a $5 menu that included the Tijuana Trio, chips and queso or guac, two-for-$5 beers, two-for-$5 Mexican Cokes and Jarritos, two-for-$5 street tacos with chips and more. Moe's Southwest Grill is celebrating this year by giving away a free side of queso with the purchase of an entree, along with the opportunity to win a free T-shirt. Chili's Cinco de Mayo deal this year is for tequila lovers. On Monday, May 5 only, participating locations will be offering margarita specials and a $5 Tequila Trifecta, with El Jimador Silver, 1800 Reposado and Jose Cuervo Gold with Triple Sec and house-made sour. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Cinco de Mayo 2025: Why it's more celebrated in the U.S.
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Where did April Fools' come from? The history, origin and some April Fools' Day deals
The day that some pranksters look forward to all year long is here. It's April Fools' Day! April Fools' Day is an unofficial holiday centered around pulling pranks on your friends and family that falls on the first day of April each year. No one knows for certain how or where the holiday truly began, but there are some theories. Another fun, lesser-known thing about April Fools' Day, is that it brings freebies with it. A few chain restaurants have some April Fools' Day-only deals this year. Do you dare to trust them? Here's the history of April Fools' Day and which restaurants are running April Fools' Day price cuts instead of pranks today. Today, Tuesday, April 1, isn't just the first of the month – it's April Fools' Day 2025. Someone pull a fast one on you today? How April Fools' Day got started and why According to the Encyclopedia of American Folklore, the exact origins of April Fools' Day are uncertain – it most likely comes from multiple sources. April Fools' Day is most often attributed to France's switch from the Julian calendar, to the Gregorian calendar in the 1500s, according to The Library of Congress and the History Channel. 'In the Julian Calendar, as in the Hindu calendar, the new year began with the spring equinox around April 1,' the History Channel says. 'People who were slow to get the news or failed to recognize that the start of the new year had moved to January 1 and continued to celebrate it during the last week of March through April 1 became the butt of jokes and hoaxes and were called 'April fools.'' Another potential origin is a New Year's tradition from the Middle Ages called the 'Feast of Fools,' which predates France's switch to the Gregorian Calendar. In medieval churches, hierarchy was inverted every New Year's Day and lower members of the clergy would swap duties with the higher-ranking priests and bishops. Outside of the church doors, chaotic celebrations would carry on. You might recognize this idea from Disney's 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' movie. 'Officially banned in the 15th century, the Feast of Fools had its origins 300 years before, in the 1100s, and continued as a tradition well into the 16th century,' Atlas Obscura says. 'It was memorialized in church documents condemning its excesses and in paintings depicting streets full of merry chaos. It appears in Victor Hugo's famous 19th century novel, 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame,' when Quasimodo is swept up in the festivities and crowned King of Fools.' Another theory says that April Fools' Day could have gotten its start in ancient Rome, with Hilaria, which was a day of joy marking the end of an annual festival that honored the goddess Cybele. These aren't the only April Fools' Day origin stories and legends, but they're among the most popular and well-known. April Fools' Day freebies: Dunkin' has free coffee, more deals from Burger King, Cheesecake Factory April Fools' Day is commonly misspelled as 'April Fool's Day.' If you're trying to keep from looking like a fool (pun intended) in your Instagram or TikTok caption today, stick with the plural possessive version when you're spelling it out. After all, it isn't just a day for one fool — it's a day for all of them! If you're looking to soften the blow of being the butt of someone's joke today, there are some April Fools' Day deals that might ease the pain. Dunkin', Burger King and Cheesecake Factory are all celebrating with price cuts for their rewards members, instead of pranks. Free Dunkin' coffee for rewards members - 'Do you trust us? Because you definitely should,' Dunkin's April Fools Day Instagram post said. According to the post, today only, Dunkin' Rewards members can open their rewards app and enter promo code 'ThisIsNotAJoke' for a free hot or iced coffee of any size (offer good while supplies last). Free onion rings for Burger King rewards members - Burger King Royal Perks loyalty program members can get a free order of any size onion rings with a purchase of $1 or more on April Fools' Day only. To get the deal, you have to order with the Burger King app or online. Mystery freebie with Cheesecake Factory loyalty program - Cheesecake Factory's loyalty program members have a free mystery reward waiting on them in their app today, which can be anything from a free slice of cheesecake with your purchase, to one free slice per month for the rest of 2025, to discounts or dine-in credits of up to $25. Anyone who signs up for Cheesecake Factory's loyalty program today, April 1, will get the 'Slice, Slice Baby' reward, which is a free slice when you buy one to either dine-in or take out. Personalized Oreos at half-off: No loyalty program membership required for this one. If you have a graduation, birthday or any celebration coming up soon, you can save on a unique (and edible) custom party favor today only. Oreo is giving customers 50% off on personalized OreoID cookies ordered Tuesday from the Oreo website. Just use code APRIL by midnight on Tuesday, April 1. Contributing: Mike Snider, USA TODAY; Michelle Spitzer, FLORIDA TODAY This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: April Fools' Day 2025 pranks, history freebies, food deals April 1
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Where did April Fools' come from? Here's the history, origin and some April Fools' Day deals
The day that some pranksters look forward to all year long is here. It's April Fools' Day! April Fools' Day is an unofficial holiday centered around pulling pranks on your friends and family that falls on the first day of April each year. No one knows for certain how or where the holiday truly began, but there are some theories. Another fun, lesser-known thing about April Fools' Day, is that it brings freebies with it. A few chain restaurants have some April Fools' Day-only deals this year. Do you dare to trust them? Here's the history of April Fools' Day and which restaurants are running April Fools' Day price cuts instead of pranks today. Yes! Today, Tuesday, April 1, isn't just the first of the month – it's April Fools' Day 2025. Someone pull a fast one on you today? How April Fools' Day got started and why According to the Encyclopedia of American Folklore, the exact origins of April Fools' Day are uncertain – it most likely comes from multiple sources. April Fools' Day is most often attributed to France's switch from the Julian calendar, to the Gregorian calendar in the 1500s, according to The Library of Congress and the History Channel. 'In the Julian Calendar, as in the Hindu calendar, the new year began with the spring equinox around April 1,' the History Channel says. 'People who were slow to get the news or failed to recognize that the start of the new year had moved to January 1 and continued to celebrate it during the last week of March through April 1 became the butt of jokes and hoaxes and were called 'April fools.'' Another potential origin is a New Year's tradition from the Middle Ages called the 'Feast of Fools,' which predates France's switch to the Gregorian Calendar. In medieval churches, hierarchy was inverted every New Year's Day and lower members of the clergy would swap duties with the higher-ranking priests and bishops. Outside of the church doors, chaotic celebrations would carry on. You might recognize this idea from Disney's 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' movie. 'Officially banned in the 15th century, the Feast of Fools had its origins 300 years before, in the 1100s, and continued as a tradition well into the 16th century,' Atlas Obscura says. 'It was memorialized in church documents condemning its excesses and in paintings depicting streets full of merry chaos. It appears in Victor Hugo's famous 19th century novel, 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame,' when Quasimodo is swept up in the festivities and crowned King of Fools.' Another theory says that April Fools' Day could have gotten its start in ancient Rome, with Hilaria, which was a day of joy marking the end of an annual festival that honored the goddess Cybele. These aren't the only April Fools' Day origin stories and legends, but they're among the most popular and well-known. April Fools' Day freebies: Dunkin' has free coffee, more deals from Burger King, Cheesecake Factory April Fools' Day is commonly misspelled as 'April Fool's Day.' If you're trying to keep from looking like a fool (pun intended) in your Instagram or TikTok caption today, stick with the plural possessive version when you're spelling it out. After all, it isn't just a day for one fool — it's a day for all of them! If you're looking to soften the blow of being the butt of someone's joke today, there are some April Fools' Day deals that might ease the pain. Dunkin', Burger King and Cheesecake Factory are all celebrating with price cuts for their rewards members, instead of pranks. Here's a list of April Fools' Day 2025 deals to cash in on: Free Dunkin' coffee for rewards members - 'Do you trust us? Because you definitely should,' Dunkin's April Fools Day Instagram post said. According to the post, today only, Dunkin' Rewards members can open their rewards app and enter promo code 'ThisIsNotAJoke' for a free hot or iced coffee of any size (offer good while supplies last). Free onion rings for Burger King rewards members - Burger King Royal Perks loyalty program members can get a free order of any size onion rings with a purchase of $1 or more on April Fools' Day only. To get the deal, you have to order with the Burger King app or online. Mystery freebie with Cheesecake Factory loyalty program - Cheesecake Factory's loyalty program members have a free mystery reward waiting on them in their app today, which can be anything from a free slice of cheesecake with your purchase, to one free slice per month for the rest of 2025, to discounts or dine-in credits of up to $25. Anyone who signs up for Cheesecake Factory's loyalty program today, April 1, will get the 'Slice, Slice Baby' reward, which is a free slice when you buy one to either dine-in or take out. Personalized Oreos at half-off: No loyalty program membership required for this one. If you have a graduation, birthday or any celebration coming up soon, you can save on a unique (and edible) custom party favor today only. Oreo is giving customers 50% off on personalized OreoID cookies ordered Tuesday from the Oreo website. Just use code APRIL by midnight on Tuesday, April 1. Contributing: Mike Snider, USA TODAY; Michelle Spitzer, Florida Today This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: April Fools' Day origins, history and a list of freebies today
