August 8 in Black History

 Today in Black History: Meagan Good

Born on August 8, 1981 Meagan Good was born in the Los Angeles area.  From her early acting days to her breakout roles and heartfelt performances, she's left her mark on Hollywood  

Meagan Good fearlessly took her first steps into acting at the tender age of four. While most kids were struggling with shoelaces, she was already making her way in the industry.  

But her journey was just beginning! From side-splitting comedies like "Think Like a Man" to adrenaline-fueled adventures in "Waist Deep," she fearlessly tackles every genre with finesse. And let's not forget her dramatic prowess, earning accolades in films like "Eve's Bayou" and "The Intruder." She's a true chameleon, captivating us in every role.

Meagan Good isn't just a force in entertainment; she's a force for change. She uses her platform to champion noble causes, supporting organizations like the Starlight Children's Foundation and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation. She fearlessly advocates for mental health awareness and body positivity.

Sources:

- Biography.com. "Meagan Good Biography." Retrieved from: [link]

- IMDb. "Meagan Good." Retrieved from: [link]

March in Black History

March in Black History

Each month we'll list daily black history notes for the month.  Here's what happened in March in Black History:


On March 31 in Black History…
In 1999, Toni Morrison wins the Pulitzer Prize for her novel Beloved
In 1901, U.S. Navy Seaman Alphonse Gerandy, serving on the US Petrel, risked his own life to safe crewmen during a fire. His Medal of Horor was presented in 1902.
In 1895, Lizzie Miles was born.

On March 30 in Black History…
In 1870, the Fifteenth Amendment was ratified, securing voting rights for all male U.S. citizens.

On March 15 in Black History…
In 1933, Leon H. Washington founded the Los Angeles Sentinel.

On March 12 in Black History…
In 1982, Charles Fuller wins the Pulitzer Prize for A Soldier's Play
In 1773, Jeanne Baptiste Pointe de Sable founded settlement now known as Chicago, Ill, 1773. 
In 1912, Dorothy Height was born.
In 1936, Virginia Hamilton, juvenile fiction writer, born
In 1962, Darryl Strawberry, New York Mets controversial star outfielder was born in Los Angeles.

On March 7 in Black History…
In 1965 - Civil Rights March in Alabama
In 1985, " We Are the World" single is released to benefit African famine.
In 1945 - Anthony Bonair, photographer, born
In 1917 - Janet Collins, ballerina was born in New Orleans, Louisiana
In 1859 - Blacks Declared Non-Citizens of US - The Acting Commissioner of General Lands for the United States, J.S. Wilson, stated that blacks were not citizens of the United States, and therefore were not legally entitled to preempt public lands.In 1539 - Estavanico Dorantes, a black Moorish slave, led a Spanish expedition to the southwestern North Ameican continent in search for El Dorado, the lost City of Gold. Their search is unsuccessful and Estavanico is later killed by native peoples.

Black History Month...Always Relevant

“Those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history”

Carter G. Woodson, Founder of Black History Month

When Carter G. Woodson established Negro History Week in 1926, aligning it with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, he knew that this recognition was more than just a time for touting achievements.  

Black History Month is not only about detailing traumatic experiences.  Black history does not begin with slavery and end with Barack Obama.  Long before colonialism of African countries, Africans have always built civilizations and enjoyed diverse cultures of their own.  Since the history of Africa is seldom taught in schools at any level much beyond the beginning of the slave trade, the lives, experiences and global influence of African people is not commonly known or ignored.  So we use this month to celebrate Black History.

Often we focus on celebrating history moments or “firsts”.  Celebrating firsts is important, not because it is a token event or an attempt to pacify the call for comprehensive, systemic change.  It is important so that we do not take for granted that it is possible to change the status quo. It is important that we remember that we have to continue to work to keep hard won change.  It is important because firsts are the steps forward and up to NEXTS.

In addition to looking back, we also celebrate by exploring and experiencing our current culture.  There is so much negative and incorrect news about Black people, we celebrate the full culture which is diverse, influential and globally impactful.  Here are some facts and figures from Diversity Best Practices about Black people in the US:

So this Black History Month we are celebrating firsts, nexts and what’s to come in our culture, our heritage and the world.

https://www.diversityincbestpractices.com/meeting-in-a-box-black-history-month-2505488095.html

https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/steve-king-shows-why-we-need-black-history-month

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/michele-elam/why-black-firsts-matter_b_1084719.html

Melanin Monday Motivator - Bozoma Saint John

Every single day, cite a woman of color" Melissa Harris Perry....Soooo now I'm loudly quoting them (again) on Mondays...

Today's #melaninmonday motivator:  BOZOMA SAINT JOHN

"Let me say it again for those in the back. I’m the best at what I do. I’m not in the job because I’m a black woman but BECAUSE I’M THE BEST AT WHAT I DO. And being a black woman is just the sauce!" Bozoma Saint John

#justthesauce

Melanin Monday Motivator - Dr. Janet Helms

"Every single day, cite a woman of color" Melissa Harris Perry....Soooo now I'm loudly quoting them (again) on Mondays...

Today's #melaninmonday motivator:

Janet Helms


"There is a reciprocal relationship between my life and my work. My life sometimes reveals to me fights that still need to be won, and my work helps me understand people sufficiently enough to allow me to remain in the battle."
Janet Helms, Life Questions

Janet E. Helms, PhD,  is the founding director of Boston College's Institute for the Study and Promotion of Race and Culture. Helms's research has driven new theories of how race and gender identity and cultural factors influence counseling practices, assessment and personality development.

Her work has provided empirical evidence that it is not race or gender per se that affects people's mental health, but the psychological effects of being treated in certain ways because of one's ascribed membership in these categories. Source

In Helm's 1993 publications of "I also said 'White racial identity influences White researchers.'" she discusses how usually when discussing racial and cultural issues only groups of color have the focus. So, she decided to argue how white racial identity theory (her theory) can influence how white researchers conduct their scholarship. Helms describes the white racial identity first by saying that "stages of racial identity be viewed as levels of racial complexity within the individual, with higher or more advanced stages representing greater sophistication in one's conceptualization skills with regards to one's own racial characteristics as well as those of other racial group members." [6] According to Helms, each stage is present in a person, but the level of maturity within the individual shows if they can control a person's attitude, feelings and behavior. Source

Celebrating 25 Yearsof the Janet E. HelmsMentoring Award:A Conversation WithLillian Comas-Díaz and Janet E. Helms