The Black Russian is the incredible story of black American Frederick Bruce Thomas, born in 1872 to former slaves who became prosperous farmers in Mississippi. A rich white planter’s attempt to steal their land forced them to flee to Memphis, where Frederick’s father was brutally murdered.
After leaving the South and working as a waiter and valet in Chicago and Brooklyn, Frederick sought greater freedom in London, then crisscrossed Europe, and—in a highly unusual choice for a black American at the time—went to Russia in 1899. Because he found no color line there, Frederick made Moscow his home.
He renamed himself Fyodor Fyodorovich Tomas, married twice, acquired a mistress, and took Russian citizenship.
I forgot to write a post about this blog, but better late than never. 
Hair product Cadiveu Brasil launched a controversial campaign were various white people were photographed using huge afro wigs and holding a sign that says “eu preciso de Cadiveu (I need Cadiveu)”. Check the whole story at www.blackwomenofbrazil.co 
Ebony — Hans Massaquoi, the former managing editor of Ebony magazine who wrote the distinctive memoir "Destined to Witness: Growing up Black in Nazi Germany", has died. 
Amsterdam Mayor Eberhard van der Laan has sent an invitation to the First Lady of the United States to come to Amsterdam and speech during the ceremony of the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery, according to Het Parool. 
It's my picture of 2012, the drawing "Renaissance City" by Harlem Part Elementary/Middle School Students in US. They made the drawing after a visit from a museum educator, who introduced them to work of the exhibition Revealing the African Presence in Renaissance Europe of the Walter Art Museum. Students were asked to bring the portraits to life and give them a voice. 
