Since Scenester is an electronic music online and print magazine I’ll stick to this platform and add some important pieces of history.

Musically and through the written word we have many wonderful artists and activists who need to be remembered for what their contribution is and/or was.

Music artists such as, Ella Fitzgerald, Aretha Franklin, Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, B.B. King, Bob Marley, Afrika Bambaattaa, Michael Jackson and Green Velvet.

Writers such as, Anthony Davis, Virgina Hamilton, Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou and Walter Mosley.

Activists such as, Harriet Tubman, Josephine Baker, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Rosa Parks and Jesse Jackson.

And the first Black Canadian woman elected to Parliament, the Honourable Jean Augustine, M.P. of Etobicoke-Lakeshore in Toronto, Canada. And of course Barack Obama, who could very well be the first American black president.

To remember the strength of the families that were divided and sold on the blocks like cattle when they arrived on American shores,

Remember the courage of those who endured separatism, beatings and hangings from hooded riders in the dead of night.

Remember those who were killed just for holding a book or learning to read!

It is to remember whose children persisted, and became great inventors, writers, doctors, scientists and musicians.

Remember none of them gave up!

This is why Black History Month is celebrated.

The “Underground Railroad” consisted of secret routes, transportation, meeting points, safe houses and assistance maintained by abolitionist sympathizers.

It was a strong black woman by the name of Harriet Tubman who was the ‘Conductor’, another code name, who fearlessly led the slaves from the States to Canada.

And she never left a ‘passenger’ for if she could not take one, she would let them know when to catch the next North Star.

Upon this journey a lantern on a hitching post meant a ‘safe house’ run by ‘Quakers’, another code name for white people who didn't think there should be slavery.

They used their houses as ‘stations’, another code name. Just as trains have stations,

Once inside a warm welcome and hot food was given by the ‘Quakers’.

Terror still haunted the runaway slaves as they slept at night and could hear the calls of the bloodhounds ready to take their chance of freedom away.

Once the treacherous trek was finally over and the slaves landed on Canadian soil freedom, the right to vote and own land was at their hands. It was another struggle to get a job and buy land but when compared to making some farmer rich working as his slave, this feat of seeking a job and thus being able to buy land was a struggle welcomed.

On August 28, 1833 the Act for the Abolition of Slavery throughout the British Colonies received Royal Assent and became law throughout the British Empire. The Act came into force on August 1, 1834. It was a long campaign by abolitionists, Evangelical Anglicans and Quakers led by William Wilberforce, M.P.

Bringing you back to music and it’s prominent seat in Black History let’s remember without the sounds of R & B, Blues and Jazz there would be no Disco thus no umbrella of electronica, hence no House that Jack built..

It has now been well over 20-years since the conception of House and the first piece of wax hit a turntable. Thank House music legends, Frankie Knuckles, Jessie Saunders, Farley 'Jackmaster' Funk, Fingers Inc.(my inspiration for, JaXx HouZe – Enchanted Tribal Platoon), Ron Hardy, Marshell Jefferson and so many more who are all now considered the Godfathers.

Greg Botelho of CNN.com wrote, “Over the years, African-American music has voiced powerful emotions and messages, bringing people together while forcing them to think about themselves and their society. More simply, it has also been a source of joy and spirit for both blacks and whites. “

You can watch “electronica” only on bpm:tv during the whole month of February 2008 as Miss Raquel hosts a special edition called, Black History Month electronica Style. www.bpm:tv – Canada’s only dance channel.