Strictly Inc. is the self-titled project album, released by Genesis keyboardist Tony Banks and Wang Chung lead vocalist Jack Hues , in 1995 on Virgin Records . Banks wanted the album release—as the title suggested—with no reference to the band members, but the record company went against his wishes. This was Banks' fifth studio album, his second issued under a band name, his seventh album overall and his most recent pop album to date.
31-515: It was released on 11 September 1995 in the UK. The album has never been released in the United States, although it is available for streaming. The album is called Strictly Inc. instead of Strictly Incognito because there was already a band in the UK named Incognito . Three outtakes from the recording sessions exist: two untitled instrumentals and the song "Back to You", which was released as
62-406: A B-side and which was co-written by Nik Kershaw . AllMusic praised "Tony Banks' distinctive, multi-layered keyboard playing", but contended that the album is a glaring failure due to a lack of memorable songs and the ineffectiveness of the combination of Jack Hues's vocals and Banks's music. All tracks composed by Tony Banks, except where indicated. Incognito (band) Incognito
93-574: A holiday. Black educators and Black United Students at Kent State University first proposed Black History Month in February 1969. The first celebration of Black History Month took place at Kent State a year later, from January 2 to February 28, 1970. Six years later, Black History Month was being celebrated all across the country in educational institutions, centers of Black culture, and community centers, both great and small, when President Gerald Ford recognized Black History Month in 1976, during
124-501: A music video for the track "You Are in My System." The deluxe reissue features a 52 page booklet with liner notes written by Charles Waring and a selection of the band's archive photos. In October 2022, the band was the first group to be honored as part of Universal Music Recording's "Black Story" series which honours black British artists as part of the UK's Black History Month . Black History Month Black History Month
155-667: A re-connection over the years in Light of the World with various former members, alongside their other commitments. Incognito has had intermittent success in the UK Singles Chart , with their breakthrough 1991 hit a cover version of the Ronnie Laws tune " Always There ", featuring Jocelyn Brown , which made No. 6 in the UK. The group's 1992 single, " Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing " saw similar success, reaching No. 19 in
186-424: A war of "northern aggression", and that Black people had been better off under slavery. Woodson wrote, "When you control a man's thinking you do not have to worry about his actions, you do not have to tell him not to stand here or go yonder. He will find his 'proper place' and will stay in it." Negro History Week grew in popularity throughout the following decades, with mayors across the United States endorsing it as
217-411: Is a British acid jazz band. Their debut album, Jazz Funk , was released in 1981. Jean-Paul 'Bluey' Maunick is the band's leader, singer, guitarist, composer, and record producer. The band has included Linda Muriel, Jocelyn Brown , Maysa Leak , Tony Momrelle , Imaani , Vanessa Haynes, Mo Brandis, Natalie Williams, Carleen Anderson , Pamela (PY) Anderson, Kelli Sae, and Joy Malcolm. Incognito
248-681: Is an annually observed commemorative month originating in the United States , where it is also known as African-American History Month. It began as a way of remembering important people and events in the history of the African diaspora , initially lasting a week before becoming a month-long observation since 1970. It is celebrated in February in the United States and Canada , where it has received official recognition from governments, and more recently has also been celebrated in Ireland and
279-458: Is attested by the Bible itself. In spite of worldwide persecution, therefore, he is a great factor in our civilization. In 1929, The Journal of Negro History noted that, with only two exceptions, officials with the state departments of education of "every state with considerable Negro population" had made the event known to that state's teachers and distributed official literature associated with
310-620: The Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), designates a theme each year. For example, "Black Health and Wellness" in 2022 focused on medical scholars, health care providers, and health outcomes. The Wall Street Journal describes Black History Month as "a time when the culture and contributions of African Americans take center stage" in a variety of cultural institutions, including theaters, libraries, and museums. Black History Month has garnered attention from
341-730: The Black German community began observing Black History Month. Programs have included discussions of black Europeans, international African perspectives, the history of civil rights in the U.S., and apartheid in South Africa. In 1995, after a motion by politician Jean Augustine , representing the riding of Etobicoke—Lakeshore in Ontario, Canada's House of Commons officially recognized February as Black History Month ( French : Mois de l'histoire des Noirs ) and honored Black Canadians . In 2008, Senator Donald Oliver moved to have
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#1732786993340372-635: The Lincoln Jubilee , a celebration of the 50 years since emancipation from slavery held in Bronzeville, Chicago . The summer-long Jubilee, which drew thousands of attendees from across the county to see exhibitions of heritage and culture, impressed Woodson with the need to draw organized focus to the history of black people. He led the founding of the ASNLH in Chicago that fall, toward the end of
403-558: The Senate officially recognize Black History Month, which was unanimously approved. Canada defines the festivity as an opportunity to celebrate "the achievements and contributions of Black Canadians and their communities who … have done so much to make Canada a culturally diverse, compassionate, and prosperous country". Ireland's Great Hunger Institute , at Quinnipiac University in Connecticut , notes: "Black History Month Ireland
434-624: The United Kingdom where it is observed in October. The precursor to Black History Month was created in 1926 in the United States, when historian Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) announced the second week of February to be "Negro History Week". This week was chosen because it coincided with the birthday of Abraham Lincoln on February 12 and that of Frederick Douglass on February 14, both of which Black communities had celebrated since
465-689: The White House as part of Black History Month. When asked by President Barack Obama why she was there, McLaurin said: "A Black president. A Black wife. And I'm here to celebrate Black history. That's what I'm here for." In the United Kingdom, Black History Month was first celebrated in October 1987 The year of 1987, recognized as the African Jubilee, was coincidentally the year of the 150th anniversary of Caribbean emancipation,
496-751: The African American community, was heralded as 'Album of the Year' by Time magazine. In 1996, the band contributed " Water to Drink " to the AIDS-benefit album Red Hot + Rio , also produced by the Red Hot Organization. Their song "Need to Know" is the theme song for progressive radio and television news program Democracy Now! . In 2021, the band reissued a celebratory, 40th anniversary, 106 track retrospective of their debut album, Jazz Funk . The Brit funk pioneers have released
527-518: The Jubilee. Early in the event's history, African-American newspapers lent crucial support. From the event's initial phase, primary emphasis was placed on encouraging the coordinated teaching of the history of Black Americans in the nation's public schools . The first Negro History Week was met with a lukewarm response, gaining the cooperation of the departments of education of the states of North Carolina , Delaware , and West Virginia as well as
558-743: The U.S. business community. In 2018, Instagram created its first Black History Month program with the help of its Head of Global Music & Youth Culture Communications, SHAVONE. Instagram's Black History Month program featured a series of first-time initiatives, including a #BlackGirlMagic partnership with Spotify and the launch of the #CelebrateBlackCreatives program, which reached more than 19 million followers. In February 2020, many American corporations commemorated Black History Month, including The Coca-Cola Company , Google , Target Corporation , Macy's , United Parcel Service and Under Armour . On February 18, 2016, 106-year Washington, D.C., resident and school volunteer Virginia McLaurin visited
589-617: The UK was held in London on October 1, 1987, when Dr. Maulana Karenga from the US was invited to an event by the Greater London Council about Black people's contributions to history. Some institutions have faced criticism for supporting Black History Month with images of people from British Asian backgrounds, using the term "black" to refer to political blackness encompassing all people of color. In Berlin in 1990, members of
620-551: The UK. They have also been a favourite of various re-mixers, including Masters at Work , David Morales , Roger Sanchez and Jazzanova , and have released several albums consisting almost entirely of remixes . In 1994, Incognito appeared on the Red Hot Organization 's compilation album , Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool . The album, meant to raise awareness and funds in support of the AIDS epidemic in relation to
651-735: The celebration of the United States Bicentennial . He urged Americans to "seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history". In the Black community, the creation of Black History Month was met with enthusiastic response; it prompted the creation of Black history clubs, an increase in interest among teachers, and interest from progressive whites. Since its inception, Black History Month has expanded beyond its initial acceptance in educational establishments. Carter Woodson's organization, now known as
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#1732786993340682-538: The centenary of the birth of Marcus Garvey and the 25th anniversary of the Organization of African Unity , an institution dedicated to advancing the progress of African states. Black History Month in the UK was organised through the leadership of Ghanaian analyst Akyaaba Addai-Sebo , who had served as a coordinator of special projects for the Greater London Council (GLC) and created a collaboration to get it underway. The first Black History Month celebration in
713-471: The city school administrations of Baltimore , New York City , Philadelphia , and Washington, D.C. Despite this limited observance, Woodson regarded the event as "one of the most fortunate steps ever taken by the Association", and plans for an annual repeat of the event continued. At the time of Negro History Week's launch, Woodson contended that the teaching of Black History was essential to ensure
744-510: The event. Churches also played a significant role in the distribution of literature in association with Negro History Week during this initial period, with the mainstream and Black press aiding in the publicity effort. Throughout the 1930s, Negro History Week countered the growing myth of the South's "lost cause" , which argued that enslaved people had been well-treated, that the Civil War was
775-565: The late 19th century. For example, in January 1897, school teacher Mary Church Terrell persuaded the Washington, D.C. school board to set aside the afternoon of Douglass's birthday as Douglass Day to teach about his life and work in the city's segregated public schools . The thought process behind the week was never recorded, but scholars acknowledge two reasons for its birth: recognition and importance. In 1915, Woodson had participated in
806-545: The month was dedicated to Josephine Baker , a dancer and member of the French Resistance during World War II born in the United States. In 2020, Black History Month was celebrated in seven African countries for the first time. Participating countries were Benin , Burkina Faso , Chad , Ivory Coast , Comores , Senegal and Cameroon . The event was initiated by the organisation Africa Mondo founded by Mélina Seymour . From 2021 onwards an African History Month
837-455: The original inspiration for Black History Month, which was a desire to redress how American schools failed to represent Black historical figures as anything other than enslaved people or colonial subjects, Black History Month could reduce complex historical figures to overly simplified objects of " hero worship ". Other critics refer to the celebration as a form of racism. Actor and director Morgan Freeman and actress Stacey Dash have criticized
868-412: The physical and intellectual survival of Blacks within broader society: If a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated. The American Indian left no continuous record. He did not appreciate the value of tradition; and where is he today? The Hebrew keenly appreciated the value of tradition, as
899-465: Was celebrated in March. When first established, Black History Month resulted in some controversy. Those who believed that Black History Month was limited to educational institutions questioned whether it was appropriate to confine the celebration of Black history to one month, as opposed to the integration of Black history into mainstream education for the whole year. Another concern was that, contrary to
930-489: Was founded by Paul "Tubbs" Williams & Jean-Paul "Bluey" Maunick in 1979, as an offshoot from Light of the World . Light of the World was a substantially sized group and following various changes to the lineup, the founding members Breeze Mckrieth, Kenny Wellington & David Baptiste – inspired by American funk bands such as Funkadelic forming offshoot bands like Parliament – formed Beggar & Co . Bluey & Tubbs went on to form Incognito. However, there has seen
961-660: Was initiated in Cork in 2010. This location seems particularly appropriate as, in the 19th century, the city was a leading center of abolition , and the male and female anti-slavery societies welcomed several black abolitionists to lecture there, including Charles Lenox Remond and Frederick Douglass ." In France, Black History Month was first organized in 2018 in Bordeaux . Since then, there have been celebrations in Paris , Le Havre , Guadeloupe , La Rochelle and Bayonne . In 2022