CrossFit Harlem http://www.crossfitharlem.com CrossFit Harlem--CrossFit Harlem en Copyright 2012 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Nat Turner's Revolt... http://www.crossfitharlem.com/blog.php?id=24608 In August 1831, Nat Turner struck fear into the hearts of white Southerners by leading the only effective slave rebellion in U.S. history. Born on a small plantation in Southampton County, Virginia, Turner inherited a passionate hatred of slavery from his African-born mother and came to see himself as anointed by God to lead his people out of bondage. In early 1831, Turner took a solar eclipse as a sign that the time for revolution was near, and on the night of August 21, he and a small band of followers murdered his owners, the Travis family, and set off toward the town of Jerusalem, where they planned to capture an armory and gather more recruits. The group, which eventually numbered around 75 blacks, murdered some 60 whites in two days before armed resistance from local whites and the arrival of state militia forces overwhelmed them just outside Jerusalem. Some 100 slaves, including innocent bystanders, lost their lives in the struggle. Turner escaped and spent six weeks on the lamb before he was captured, tried and hanged.

Oft-exaggerated reports of the insurrection–some said that hundreds of whites had been killed–sparked a wave of anxiety across the South. Several states called special emergency sessions of the legislature, and most strengthened their slave codes in order to limit the education, movement and assembly of slaves. While supporters of slavery pointed to the Turner rebellion as evidence that blacks were inherently inferior barbarians requiring an institution such as slavery to discipline them, the increased repression of southern blacks would strengthen anti-slavery feeling in the North through the 1860s amd intensify the regional tensions building toward civil war.

May the legend of Nat Turner live on!!!

 

May the legend of Nat Turner live on!!!

 

Black History Wod: Nat Turner’s Revolt; Thrusters 65/45 and Double Unders 25,100,20,75,15,50,10,25

]]> http://www.crossfitharlem.com/blog.php?id=24608 Mon, 06 Feb 12 01:00:00 -0500 The Three-Fifths Compromise... http://www.crossfitharlem.com/blog.php?id=24607 The Three-Fifths compromise was a compromise between the Southern and Northern states reached during the Philadelphia Convention of 1787 in which three-fifths of the population of slaves would be counted for enumeration purposes regarding both the distribution of taxes and the apportionment of the members of the House of Representatives. (Wikipedia contributors, 2008)

Basically its the question is whether slaves should be counted as people or property to determine each states financial contribution to the central government?

 

]]> http://www.crossfitharlem.com/blog.php?id=24607 Sun, 05 Feb 12 01:00:00 -0500 Crossing The Mississippi River http://www.crossfitharlem.com/blog.php?id=41273

The Mississippi River is an important part of African American history. The Mississippi River stood as a symbol of both liberation and bondage for Blacks in the Deep South during slavery. The ports of the Mississippi River provided as a place to import African Slaves and also served as a place where Slaves were sold on the auction blocks.  It also provided as an escape from the entrenched bondage and slavery that categorized the Deep South. Many slaves took to the Mississippi River in their quest from freedom.  In fact, it has been established that a large portion of the Underground Railroad aided escapes in the western slaves states involved travel along the Mississippi River.  Escaping slaves used the Mississippi River to flee north into Illinois and Ohio. It is estimated that at least 40,000 people used the system to escape slavery. Northern abolitionists, black and white, and escaped slaves raised funds and acted as guides in helping fugitives flee north. Harriet Tubman, the most famous of these guides, led 300 slaves to freedom, making 19 trips south during her lifetime. She carried a price on her head of $40,000, placed there by slaveholders who wanted her captured dead or alive.

Black History Wod: Crossing the Mississippi River; Row 250m, Run 200m 12 Rounds

 

 

 
]]> http://www.crossfitharlem.com/blog.php?id=41273 Sat, 04 Feb 12 01:00:00 -0500 The Underground Railroad... http://www.crossfitharlem.com/blog.php?id=24606 The Underground Railroad, a vast network of people who helped fugitive slaves escape to the North and to Canada, was not run by any single organization or person. Rather, it consisted of many individuals many whites but predominently black who knew only of the local efforts to aid fugitives and not of the overall operation. Still, it effectively moved hundreds of slaves northward each year according to one estimate, the South lost 100,000 slaves between 1810 and 1850.

An organized system to assist runaway slaves seems to have begun towards the end of the 18th century. In 1786 George Washington complained about how one of his runaway slaves was helped by a "society of Quakers, formed for such purposes." The system grew, and around 1831 it was dubbed "The Underground Railroad," after the then emerging steam railroads. The system even used terms used in railroading: the homes and businesses where fugitives would rest and eat were called "stations" and "depots" and were run by "stationmasters," those who contributed money or goods were "stockholders," and the "conductor" was responsible for moving fugitives from one station to the next.

For the slave, running away to the North was anything but easy. The first step was to escape from the slaveholder. For many slaves, this meant relying on his or her own resources. Sometimes a "conductor," posing as a slave, would enter a plantation and then guide the runaways northward. The fugitives would move at night. They would generally travel between 10 and 20 miles to the next station, where they would rest and eat, hiding in barns and other out-of-the-way places. While they waited, a message would be sent to the next station to alert its stationmaster.

The fugitives would also travel by train and boat conveyances that sometimes had to be paid for. Money was also needed to improve the appearance of the runaways a black man, woman, or child in tattered clothes would invariably attract suspicious eyes. This money was donated by individuals and also raised by various groups, including vigilance committees.

Vigilance committees sprang up in the larger towns and cities of the North, most prominently in New York, Philadelphia, and Boston. In addition to soliciting money, the organizations provided food, lodging and money, and helped the fugitives settle into a community by helping them find jobs and providing letters of recommendation.

The Underground Railroad had many notable participants, including John Fairfield in Ohio, the son of a slaveholding family, who made many daring rescues, Levi Coffin, a Quaker who assisted more than 3,000 slaves, and Harriet Tubman, who made 19 trips into the South and escorted over 300 slaves to freedom.

Underground Terminology

  • People who helped slaves find the railroad were "agents" (or "shepherds")
  • Guides were known as "conductors"
  • Hiding places were "stations"
  • Abolitionists would fix the "tracks"
  • "Stationmasters" hid slaves in their homes
  • Escaped slaves were referred to as "passengers" or "cargo"
  • Slaves would obtain a "ticket."
  • Just as in common gospel lore, the "wheels would keep on turning"
  • Financial benefactors of the Railroad were known as "stockholders"

Growing up and learning how the Underground Railroad functioned always intrigued me and always reminded me that it took a community of people to make it successful, that includes all races, creeds and religions. The Underground Railroad was a true community effort to free the slaves.

 

Here are the routes of the Underground Railroad

 

Black History Wod: "Underground Railroad" For Time 100 foot Bear Crawls, 10 Push-Ups, 10 Cycles of the Bear Complex (135/95) 10 Rounds

]]> http://www.crossfitharlem.com/blog.php?id=24606 Fri, 03 Feb 12 01:00:00 -0500 Slavery... http://www.crossfitharlem.com/blog.php?id=24416 It’s probably one of the saddest times in American History right along World Wars and the Holocaust. Slavery is not a happy topic and its one that makes the most liberal of people run for cover.

 

In August 1619 the first Africans as slave labor are introduced in America. A Dutch trader exchanges his cargo of 20 Africans for food in Jamestown Virginia, in August of 1619. It is believed that these Africans were sold into conditions similar to indentured servitude - a common practice in England and colonial America. The American slavery system became more developed and codified in its inhumane treatment around 1680.

 

Although African slaves were denied the usage of certain cultural elements - such as their native language, the use of drums, and many other traditions, some practices were retained and became an important part of the American way of life.

 

Rice - Africans introduced the rice plant to North America and taught the English settlers how to cultivate and irrigate the crop. Rice became so important to South Carolina's economy that it continued to be the colony's major crop long after the rest of the South had turned to cotton farming in the 19th century.

 

The worst part about Slavery for me is that no one is alive that could give us true step by step accounts of there life as a slave. So were forced to reference movies, books and stories that have been passed down as our points of reference…

 

Black History Wod "Slavery": For time: 30, 25, 20, 15, 10, 5 reps of: Virtual Shoveling and Burpees (With an Olympic bar holding only one plate (men use 45 pound plate, women use 25 pound plate), touch the plate on one side of the barrier then the other side for one "rep." Barrier is 24inches

 

]]> http://www.crossfitharlem.com/blog.php?id=24416 Thu, 02 Feb 12 01:00:00 -0500 Black History Month http://www.crossfitharlem.com/blog.php?id=41093  

It’s that time of year again February 2012, for some its just another month but for others it’s a time to remember Black History. Now the word Black may give the impression that this excludes people other than those that are referred to as black, but Black History is everyone’s history.

This is quite simply because we are all one family of human beings on this planet. So I will be putting out a Brutality of the day in remembrance of Black History. Also I will have blogs from different people on there opinion of either Black History as a whole or various topics on Black History. So please complete the workouts that appeal to you, if you video them I will post them to my FaceBook page or my various fan pages. This is a time for all of us to learn something we didn’t know about Black History…Enjoy!!!

 

If you would like to participate please chose a workout, video it and send it to AfroBrutality@gmail.com

]]> http://www.crossfitharlem.com/blog.php?id=41093 Wed, 01 Feb 12 01:00:00 -0500 $5 Brutality Saturdays http://www.crossfitharlem.com/blog.php?id=40761  

Starting last Saturday in January, CrossFit Harlem will have a $5 trial class once a month.

We will do this after our regular Saturday classes, so mark this time in your calendars

12-1PM-LAST SATURDAY each month.

January 28th.  February 25th, March 31st to begin with.

The class is bookable online and limited to 10 people max – first come first serve. Commit in time.This is for non-members only and one time per person.

We would love to see some new faces at the box so please invite your curious friends, family members, co-workers, distant cousins or secret crushes  to $5 Brutality Saturdays.

See ya’

$5 Brutality Saturdays
]]> http://www.crossfitharlem.com/blog.php?id=40761 Fri, 20 Jan 12 01:00:00 -0500 CrossFit Harlem's New Home http://www.crossfitharlem.com/blog.php?id=40514 After a long search CrossFit Harlem has found a home, we are excited to to share this news since it has been a long time coming - and we have overcome parks, basements and other temporary locations, now nobody gets out of workout just because of a little rain!

The search was long and adventureous. After being offered Washington Heights locations, Upper West Side locations and Inwood locations we made sure we stayed in Harlem.  Our birthplace and home.

 

We are the only gym in NY C where you can drop the weights  all day long, train hard on rowers, yoke, Airdyne bikes, with weight vests and the lovely 100lbs straight jackets ...and we are the only gym that keeps our chalk in a giant skull.  So.....we still use the great out doors of NYC  but we are very excited to have the luxury of 'home'.

 

So if you are local to NYC or just passing trough - come train with us.

 

]]> http://www.crossfitharlem.com/blog.php?id=40514 Fri, 13 Jan 12 01:00:00 -0500 Making changes that you stick to. http://www.crossfitharlem.com/blog.php?id=40211  

What is that thing that makes you stick to certain things and what is it that makes you go off the deep end?

How do you find a balance ?

Have you thought about what makes you stick to something?

Is it a promise to someone?

Is it that someone is checking on you?

Are you one of those who can manage without any help ?  

Most people have some sort of middle ground, we need to have made a comitment to ourselves but it helps if someone is checking in on us and call us on our BS…..

Figuring out what tools you need to stick to your resolutions / changes can make a world of difference - so take a moment and think about what would make your changes/ resolutions stick. 

We have different options that can make your resolution/change stick.  Look into our programs at http://www.crossfitharlem.com/page/index.php?menu=schedule&page=brutality_camp

 

and

 

http://www.crossfitharlem.com/page/index.php?menu=schedule&page=pricing

 

Make it stick.

 

 

]]> http://www.crossfitharlem.com/blog.php?id=40211 Tue, 03 Jan 12 01:00:00 -0500 Kwanzaa http://www.crossfitharlem.com/blog.php?id=39938 The name Kwanzaa is a Kiswahili word for "the first fruits of the harvest". Kiswahili was chosen because it is a non-tribal African language which encompasses a large portion of the African continent. As an added benefit its pronunciation is rather easy. Vowels are pronounced as they would be in Spanish and consonants, with few exceptions, as they are in English. For example: A=ah as in father; E=a as in day; I=ee as in free;O=oo as in too. One last note, the accent or stress is almost always on the next to last syllable.

This holiday is observed from December 26th through January 1st. Again its focus is to pay tribute to the rich cultural roots of People of the African Diaspora. Though first inspired by African-Americans, many of African descent celebrate this occasion today.  Its reach has grown to include all whose roots are in the Motherland.  Its’ concept is neither religious nor political, but is rooted strongly in a cultural awareness. This is not a substitute for Christmas; however, gifts may be exchanged with the principles of Nguzo Saba always in mind. Gifts are given to reinforce personal growth and achievement which benefits the collective community.

 

 Each of the seven days of Kwanzaa is dedicated to one of the following principles, as follows:

  • Umoja (Unity): To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
  • Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves stand up.
  • Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems, and to solve them together.
  • Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
  • Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
  • Kuumba (Creativity): To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
  • Imani (Faith): To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

Practice these every day.

 

]]> http://www.crossfitharlem.com/blog.php?id=39938 Thu, 29 Dec 11 01:00:00 -0500