#HistoryFacts

[longliveblackness]

Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton was a blues singer and songwriter whose recordings of “Hound Dog” and “Ball ‘n’ Chain” later were transformed into huge hits by Elvis Presley and Janis Joplin.

She was born on December 11, 1926 outside of Montgomery in rural Ariton, Alabama. Her father was a Baptist minister and her mother was a church singer in his congregation. Thornton’s mother died when the singer was 14, and she left home to pursue a career as an entertainer. She joined the Georgia-based Hot Harlem Revue as an accomplished singer, drummer, and harmonica player and spent seven years as a regular performer throughout the South. Following her years as a traveling blues singer, Thornton moved to Houston in 1948 to begin her recording career.

In Houston, Thornton joined Don Robey’s Peacock Records in 1951, often working closely with fellow label artist Johnny Otis.

One of Thornton’s earliest and most popular recorded tracks was “Hound Dog,” initially released by Peacock in 1953. Thornton’s version of “Hound Dog” topped the R&B charts for seven weeks and sold over two million copies nationwide. Though the song brought acclaim to Thornton, it only yielded her about $500. The song became even more popular as Elvis Presley’s first hit record in 1956.

•••

Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton fue una cantante y compositora de blues cuyas grabaciones “Hound Dog” y “Ball ‘n’ Chain” luego fueron transformadas en grandes éxitos por Elvis Presley y Janis Joplin.

Nació el 11 de diciembre de 1926 en las afueras de Montgomery, en la zona rural de Ariton, Alabama. Su padre era pastor bautista y su madre, cantante en su congregación. La madre de Thornton falleció cuando la cantante tenía 14 años, y ella abandonó el hogar para dedicarse al arte. Se unió a la Hot Harlem Revue, con sede en Georgia, como una cantante, baterista y armonicista, y pasó siete años presentándose con regularidad por todo el sur. Tras sus años como cantante de blues, Thornton se mudó a Houston en 1948 para comenzar su carrera discográfica.

En Houston, Thornton se unió a Peacock Records de Don Robey en 1951, trabajando a menudo en estrecha colaboración con su colega y artista de sello, Johnny Otis.

Una de las primeras y más populares canciones grabadas por Thornton fue "Hound Dog", publicada inicialmente por Peacock en 1953. Su versión de "Hound Dog" encabezó las listas de R&B durante siete semanas y vendió más de dos millones de copias en todo el país. Aunque la canción le trajo gran éxito a Thornton, solo le ganó unos 500 dólares. La canción se hizo aún más popular al convertirse en el primer éxito de Elvis Presley en 1956.

[larimar]

facts

[girlactionfigure]

Try to refute those facts and answer those questions Also, Isn't it hypocrisy at its best?

the.land.of.israel

[illuminatingfacts]

Theodore Roosevelt advocated for gender equality in his 1880 Harvard thesis, arguing women should have equal rights to control property & earnings. Ahead of his time! 💡

[zentarablog]

How does someone even get the job of Pope? It's a fascinating, ancient process! 🤔

It involves a secret election called a conclave (meaning "with a key," like they used to be locked in!). Cardinals from around the world gather, pray, vote in secret, and the world watches for the white smoke that means a new Pope is chosen! Plus, the person picked usually takes a new name with special meaning.

Dive into the history and ritual behind becoming Pope! 👇

https://zentara.blog/2025/04/21/10-interesting-facts-about-being-the-pope/

[historyfactsimadeup]

Mr Fahrenheit was actually (his lesser known alias,) Freddie Mercury and none of you losers knew it

[history5sage]

🔥 Hey guys — I just launched my new YouTube channel! 🔥 If you're into real history, brutal punishments, and the dark side of what really happened back then… You have to check this out.

My latest video is about one of the most painful and horrifying punishments ever used in history: Boiling in Oil. Yes, it actually happened — and the story behind it is wild.

🎥 Watch here → https://youtu.be/2avv3JuH4Xg

I put a lot of time and effort into making these videos — editing, research, voice, everything. If you love true history with no myths or fluff, you’re gonna love this channel.

Thank you so much for your support 🙏 New videos dropping every week — subscribe if you're into dark history that actually happened.

[finallyviciousglyph]

"The Leper King: Baldwin IV of Jerusalem – A Warrior Against All Odds"

"Meet Baldwin IV — the ‘Leper King’ of Jerusalem."

"He became king at just 13… but was soon diagnosed with leprosy."

"Despite the disease destroying his body, Baldwin’s spirit never broke."

"At the Battle of Montgisard, he crushed the mighty Saladin, one of history’s greatest Muslim leaders."

"But Baldwin faced enemies inside his court, too."

"His sister and her husband plotted to steal the throne."

"At just 23, Baldwin died—a broken body, but an unshakable legacy."

"His death marked the fall of Jerusalem—but his courage made him unforgettable."

Thank you for watching. If you enjoyed this journey into the past, don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe.

[biographiness]

On August 11 Muhammad Ali Jinnah became the first President of Pakistan's Constituent Assembly, 🇵🇰🏛️, the Interim Government of India was also announced, 🇮🇳✊, and the last total solar eclipse of the millennium mesmerized millions 🌒.

[whencyclopedia]

Europe Transformed

In the span of just 35 years, from 1914 to 1949, Europe underwent a profound transformation. The era was marked by World War I, the collapse of empires, and the rise of powerful ideologies like fascism and communism. This period, which culminated in World War II and the subsequent rebuilding of Europe, reshaped the continent's borders and political structures, laying the groundwork for the modern Europe we know today. One surprising aspect is how these events, driven by both war and ideological shifts, created the foundation for contemporary Europe's political landscape.

Key Facts

First World War (1914-1918): Led to the collapse of empires such as the Austro-Hungarian and German Empires.

Between the Wars: Saw the rise of fascist Italy under Mussolini and Nazi Germany under Hitler.

Second World War (1939-1945): Involved a global conflict with far-reaching consequences, including the formation of the United Nations.

Post-War Era (1945-1949): Began with the division of Europe into Eastern and Western blocs during the Cold War.

Historical Context

The period between 1914 and 1949 was pivotal for Europe as it transitioned from a continent dominated by traditional empires to one where new ideologies held sway. The aftermath of World War I created a power vacuum that allowed fascist and communist regimes to flourish.

Historical Significance

The events of this era set the stage for modern Europe by establishing the political and geographical structures that still influence the continent today. The formation of the European Union, for instance, was partly a response to the devastating effects of conflict in this period, as nations sought to promote peace through cooperation.

Learn More: Europe 1914–1949: History Maps of the World Wars

[longliveblackness]

Congo is silently going through a silent genocide. Millions of people are being killed so that the western world can benefit from its natural resources.

More than 60% of the world's cobalt reserves are found in Congo, used in the production of smartphones.

Western countries are providing financial military aid to invade regions filled with reserves and in the process millions are getting killed and millions homeless.

Multinational mining companies are enslaving people especially children to mine.

•••

La República Democrática del Congo vive un genocidio silencioso. Millones de personas están siendo asesinadas para que la parte occidental del mundo pueda beneficiarse de sus recursos naturales.

Más del 60% de las reservas mundiales de cobalto se encuentran en el Congo, y se utiliza en la producción de teléfonos inteligentes.

Los países occidentales están proporcionando asistencia financiera militar para invadir regiones llenas de reservas y en el proceso millones de personas mueren y millones se quedan sin hogar.

Las empresas mineras multinacionales están esclavizando a la gente, especialmente a los niños, para trabajar en las minas.

Street Art and Photo by Artist Eduardo Relero

(https://eduardorelero.com)

[city-of-ladies]

"After the death of Olympias, Macedonian troops were commanded by yet a third woman general during the struggle of the successors: Cratesipolis. Cratesipolis was the wife of Alexander, son of the regent Polyperchon, who had been Olympias’ ally. Alexander first appears in the historical record in 317, towards the end of his father’s regency and at the climax of the struggle between Olympias and Adea Eurydice. Naturally he was an ally of Olympias vis-à-vis his father, Polyperchon. Following the death of Alexander the Great, Polyperchon had managed to control portions of the Peloponnese, particularly the ports of Corinth, Sicyon, and Patrae (Diod. 19.35.1; 54.3). In 317 BCE, this Alexander, the son of Polyperchon, was poised to attack Cassander, who himself was besieging Tegea. Cassander sped to Macedon, however, when he heard that Olympias had deposed Adea Eurydice and Philip III. After the death of Olympias, Alexander continued to fight Cassander but eventually switched over to Cassander’s side when Cassander offered him generalship over the Peloponnese, the prize for which he was fighting anyway.

Alexander’s wife, Cratesipolis, was highly esteemed by her husband’s army because she distributed largesse to those in need (Diod. 19.67.1). In 314 BCE, Alexander was assassinated by revolutionary Sicyonians, but Cratesipolis bravely assumed the command of Alexander’s troops and quelled the rebellion (Diod. 19.67.1–2). The Greek Sicyonians thought they had nothing to fear from a woman, and were surprised when Cratesipolis and her forces defeated them. Whereas the Greeks of Sicyon—like those in earlier Rhodes or Aeolis—were loath to be ruled by a woman, once again we see that Macedonian soldiers were willing to take orders from a woman commander. Like her male counterparts, Cratesipolis was shrewd. Whereas Plutarch (Demetrius 9) tells us that she was renowned for her beauty, Diodorus (19.67.2) relates that Cratesipolis was intelligent and possessed “daring [tolma] beyond that of a woman.” Writing almost 400 years later than Thucydides, Diodorus still saw tolma as a male quality, at least the kind of tolma needed to engage in warfare.

Nothing is known of Cratesipolis’ origins or family. Macurdy suggests that she was of the Macedonian nobility, since she married Alexander, the son of a high-ranking Macedonian official, the regent Polyperchon. Her name, Cratesipolis, is found on inscriptions in Larissa in Thessaly, perhaps suggesting a Thessalian origin. Or her name may have been awarded later in life, just as Olympias, Myrtale, and Stratonike were names given by the Macedonians to Alexander’s mother, who was originally called Polyxena (Plut. Mor. 401b). Cratesipolis does mean “ruler of the city,” after all.

Cratesipolis ruled the poleis of Patrae, Sicyon, and Corinth for seven years, but ultimately handed over Sicyon and Corinth to Ptolemy I, perhaps hoping that he would marry her (Diod. 20.37.1; Polyaen. 8.58). She was also no match in terms of military strength for Ptolemy, whose resources and wealth were certainly far greater. Ptolemy, however, tried to woo Cleopatra, the sister of Alexander the Great. Cleopatra was murdered by Antigonus’ machinations, and Ptolemy’s plan was ultimately frustrated. Marriage to Cleopatra might have included the throne of Macedon as a dowry, and Ptolemy was more interested in a royal bride than in Cratesipolis. Cratesipolis then tried to woo Demetrius, another of the warring successors and the son of Antigonus, also with no success as he was almost killed by his enemies trying to meet her, and was forced to flee (Plut. Demetrius 9). We do not hear of Cratesipolis successfully remarrying, nor do we hear anything of her after the incident with Demetrius. Despite her obscurity in both life and death, Cratesipolis’ ability to both govern cities and command armies places her among the ranks of an Olympias or Adea Eurydice."

Postcolonial Amazons, Female Masculinity and Courage in Ancient Greek and Sanskrit Literature, Walter Duvall Penrose

[larimar]

facts

🌼 Magnolia is an ancient genus. Appearing before bees evolved, the flowers are theorized to have evolved to encourage pollination by beetles. To avoid damage from pollinating beetles, the carpels of Magnolia flowers are extremely tough. Fossilized specimens of M. acuminata have been found dating to 20 million years ago, and fossils of plants identifiably belonging to the Magnoliaceae date to 95 million years ago.⁠ ⁠ Another aspect of Magnolia that represents an ancestral state is that the flower bud is enclosed in a bract rather than in sepals; the perianth parts are undifferentiated and called tepals rather than distinct sepals and petals. Magnolia shares the tepal characteristic with several other flowering plants near the base of the flowering plant lineage such as Amborella and Nymphaea (as well as with much more recently derived plants such as Lilium).⁠ ⁠

[versemile]

Why does Mona Lisa’s gaze feel so... personal? 👀 Is it just art, or is there a deeper mystery? 🤔 Let’s uncover the secret together! 🖼✨

[illuminatingfacts]

🍺🌳 Ever wondered why it’s called a beer garden? Discover the origins and history of this iconic outdoor drinking spot. Cheers to good times and great brews! 🍻 📖 Read more: (https://mentalitch.com/why-do-they-call-it-a-beer-garden/)

[zentarablog]

Did you know that long, long before Ukraine was Ukraine, its lands were home to incredible ancient people? One famous group were the Scythians – legendary horse riders, amazing archers, and masters of stunning gold treasures! 🤯 Their story goes back thousands of years and shows how deep the history of this land runs!

Dive into the ancient beginnings of Ukraine's journey!

Read more about the Scythians and Kievan Rus' in our latest article:

https://zentara.blog/2025/04/23/10-amazing-facts-about-the-history-of-ukraine-you-should-know/