On Tuesday, July 26, 2022, in recognition of the 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA), my agency sponsored an event that included a screening of Signing Black in America. Before opening the invite completely, I read the subject line that read “Signing in Black.” I thought to myself, what the heck is […]
One year ago, I and three hundred thirty million Americans experienced the first ever federally recognized Juneteenth. Regular readers might remember that mine began less than exceptionally. When I heard two days prior that Juneteenth had been declared a federal holiday, all I could think about was how little of an impact that news would
Reflections on My Second Federally Recognized Juneteenth Read More »
How I Celebrated Juneteenth through Soul Food, and How You Can Too! My grandmother’s home always smelled of soul food. Some of my fondest childhood memories were created at her kitchen table over a bowl of greens or in her den with a plate of baked chicken and black-eyed peas not far away. The food
History Juneteenth just became a federal holiday last year. What many people don’t know is that Juneteenth has existed for a long time. Juneteenth has existed for over 100 years, and it has been a state holiday in Texas since 1980. So, Juneteenth is a significant holiday for Black people with a long history. The
Acknowledging the Mental Health Traumas Our Mothers Passed Down May was Mental Health Awareness month and Mother’s Day was on May 8th – two differing themes, yet if you think about it, so tightly knit together. Mental Health is a subject all too often ignored by the African American community, and your Mother is one of
Women are not only breaking glass ceilings in the corporate and business world, but women are also making inroads at previously male-dominated fields, from sanitation workers, police officers to fire fighters! Yes, firefighters! And so, my featured story begins. On Mach 8, 2022, in Brooklyn, New York, the FDNY welcomed 291 probationary firefighters at a
Television shows have captivated our attention since the birth of television in the 1930s. Storylines that involve complex characters and dramatic events create timeless memories that span generations. Unfortunately, a vast majority of programming was produced, written, and created by white men. America did not see a woman produce a national TV show until the
Highlighting Black Women Who Are Shaking Up The TV Industry Read More »
The 19th Amendment In 1920, the 19th amendment was ratified, prohibiting the United States from denying any American citizen the right to vote based on sex. This included recognizing women’s right to vote. To get here, many women had to contribute to the women’s suffrage movement, but it is important not to forget the contributions
African American Women: The Voices That Lift Us Up Read More »
When did “Black Love” become a thing? What do I mean by that? Well, something that has to be qualified. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been taught about love. Just…love. Not Black love. Just…love. Let’s think about this. For anyone who was reared in a community with most people having the same
A Social Band-Aid Even though free Black people found more sustainable livelihoods in the North, the remnants of slavery still strongly influenced American society. The 13th Amendment ensured that slavery was illegal, unless under punishment for a crime. A glaring loophole that opened the flood gates for incarcerating Black people at alarming rates. As federal
