Black History Month Salute

Why am I saluting Black Month? Every year I see or hear a Black person in a complaining tone ask, “Why is Black History in the shortest month of the year?”. I annoyingly sigh and explain. The “man” is not the cause of all the decision of black folks. I decided to explain Black History Month in a blog post. I know there is someone reading this shocked that someone Black does not know why February is Black History Month. Good for being shocked but just like the other heroes and sheroes in Black History that are not taught and/or learned about. The History of the month celebrating it is not taught or learned also.

Carter G. Woodson is known as the Father of Black History Month. He with the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History announced the second week of February to be "Negro History Week.", in 1926. That week in February was chosen because it marked the birthday of both Abraham Lincoln (the President that sign the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing the slaves) and Frederick Douglass (a Great Black American social reformer, orator, writer and statesman). The purpose of the event was to place emphasis on the teachings of the history American Black in the public school system. The first year was lukewarm. Only the school systems to cooperate were the states North Carolina, Delaware, West Virginia and the cities of Baltimore & Washington DC.  At the time of Negro History Week's launch Woodson contended that the teaching of black history was essential to ensure the physical and intellectual survival of the race 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 is attested by the Bible itself. In spite of worldwide persecution, therefore, he is a great factor in our civilization.”

Three years after Negro History Week was started, The Journal of Negro History commented on two officials with the State Departments of Educations of "every state with considerable Negro population" had made the event known to that state's teachers and distributed official literature associated with the event.". Churches were also (still are) instrumental in the awareness of Negro History Week. Soon enthusiastic response grew because of the efforts of the afore mentioned, other black organizations and progressive White interests and support. Negro History Week grew in popularity throughout the following decades, with mayors across the United States endorsing it as a holiday.

Black History Month was first proposed by The Black United Students at Kent State University in February of the year 1969. In the following year, the first celebration of Black History Month began. Six years later, as part of the United States Bicentennial, the informal expansion of Negro History Week to Black History Month was officially recognized by the U.S. government. President Gerald Ford spoke in regards to this, urging Americans to "seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history."

Now that is the history of Black History Month. In researching my facts, I found out the USA is not the only country that celebrates it. Canada celebrates it in February, starting in 1995 and being unanimously officially approved by its Senate in 2008. The UK started celebrating 1987, in the month of October.

The video above is my nephew at his church miming this past Sunday. They were civil rights protestors. He is the third solo part with the faux hawk hair. Yes, I’m a proud aunt. Not only did he do a good job, All of the children were great. I also know that he is learning a little about his cultural history in church like his mom and I did as children.

One more Black History Salute to end the month. Figured out what happened to the Buffalo Soldiers yet.

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

I Like..Black Romance (Movies)

(It’s some movie spoilers in here. Proceed with caution)

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

It’s Valentine’s Day, you cannot be shocked that I did a Black Romance blog post. At first, I started to do a Black Love Songs post but that started to become too long. I like too many love songs. Many of them are by black musical artists. As long as it doesn’t praise adultery (Saving All My Love by Whitney Houston, Piece of My Love by Guy) (Hmm, Blog Idea?) I more than likely like it.

I am a sucker for a love story, especially that shows Black people being loving. Here is a list of some of my favorite more recent movies that are love stories or contain a love story that features black people.

Trust me "Claudine" by far is the best classic black romance movie there is. Pure story, good acting, Gladys Knight & the Pips on the soundtrack and James Earl Jones' voice (don't act like you don't know) makes me love it forever.

First up is My Favorite Movie of All Time “Amour Infinity” Yes I introduced it in a previous Blog (link) about my like of Indie Films. I more than like this movie I am in Love with this Movie. So many lessons can be learned from this movie. Man can touch stuff and ruin it every time. Who wins in the contest of Love vs. Fate? Also, the lesson of Prince has dated some of the best looking women in pop culture. You laugh but it comes up. When you watch this movie, Let Me Know. If you liked this movie you Must Let Me Know.

Also from the, I Like Independent Films Blog is “I’m Through with White Girls”.

Yes, my initial reason for watching this movie is because Lamman Rucker is in it.  It’s not a secret that he and another person this will be talked about later run neck and neck on topic spot my Eye Candy List. So, Rucker got me to watch but his role didn’t make me like it as I do. When you say It’s Me, not You when you break up with someone, guess what it could really be you. You may not see it when you breaking up with someone but along comes “the One”. You will see it then. That is an essential theme of this movie. There is also a wedding reception that is a must-see. Spoiler Alert to Line in the movie, “Your Girl is Ghetto, Dawg. Like Tootsie Pops and Pickles”. That line cracks me up.

Okay, I have a thing for weddings. If you follow me on Twitter you might see me live tweet with some wedding shows on Fridays. In “Madea’s Family Reunion”, Frankie says that best wedding vows I have ever heard.

You are my light.
And it doesn’t matter what happens in this life, as long as you're with me.
When I look at you, I know that there's a God
and that he loved me so much
that he took the time to create you...just for me.
I love you....past my mind....beyond my heart....
I love you for my soul.
And that's the space where only you and God dwell (heart swelling up typing that)

I am not of fan of “Doing Your Own Vows” but Tyler Perry almost (keyword almost) made me change my mind.  I love the Frankie and Vanessa love story in one of my favorite Tyler Perry movies. Here you are dragging you broken heart life along your day to day motions, in steps God to send you someone to show you, life with a broken heart is not a life at all. That is so refreshing.

Since we are talking about Tyler Perry (Yes, I am a Fan. The only thing I don’t watch is “The Have and Have Not”. Too daytime soap-opera-like for me.) I will be remised if I didn’t put “Why Did I Get Married” on the list.

This movie has college-educated professionals married and trying to make it work. Even if it didn’t, somebody in the relationship was trying to make it work. As the saying goes, I can forgive Failure but Not Trying is unacceptable.  It also helps that Perry made Jill Scott (one of my Favorite singers & Plus Size Style Icons) and Lamman Rucker (been a fan since Half & Half) a couple, Yep another Eye Candy movie.

Okay, the other man that battles Lamman Rucker for the top spot of my Eye Candy list is Wayne Brady. He got divorced so I could openly like him. (my Eye Candy list is as Unique as I am and it has No married men on it) He has a movie called “The List”

 Mild manner guy gets jilted after proposing in public. He decides to make a list of his qualities in a woman. He meets her. Y’all know this movie is not that cut a dry like that. You have to watch it. Yeah, Brady got me to watch it. The pure storyline made me like it. One will believe somebody could go through this. Also, it introduced me to Ecco Domani wine. It’s not bad for inexpensive wine.

I know you expected to see pop culture favorites, “The Best Man” & “Love Jones” on the list. I’m not a big fan of these nice little movies like most people. I always want to shake Harper of “Best Man” and say “You didn’t think if you wrote a book Nothing Bad would happen”. I know it is said in the movie but that really bothers me. I just want to see the “Murch” chant, the fight & the Electric Slide dance in “The Best Man”. Then Love Jones breaks my heart when Nina started seeing Hollywood. I follow the “Friendship Code” That is never acceptable to me. Yes, we all wrestle with admitting having feelings for somebody. I get the movie’s theme. But once Nina & Hollywood had a romantic rapport, I only want to watch it for the poems & the soundtrack at this point.

I do like “The Wood”.

The storyline of remembering a lost love is so sweet and enduring. He fell in Love with Inglewood and the girl too. Plus there is a wedding and the processional song is “Latest, Greatest Inspiration’ by Teddy Pendergrass. That song is on my “Wedding Possibilities” song list. I love that song.

Oh, and there is "Think Like a Man". I read the book. I learned some things (5 important questions). Some things I could not believe someone had to tell ladies about (chirp chirp girl, I wish I would). Once, my friends who saw the movie opening weekend that called and said that there was a character that reminded them of me, I knew I would probably like it.

Before you ask, I remind people of the 90-day Lady but we all know 90 days ain’t crap compared to me. I am upfront about my decision. Also, Romany Malco is the Player, 90-day lady's love interest He is on the Eye Candy list (been a fan since Weeds), also. This is a solid story. I also like that it's not just the men that were romantically mess up. The Alpha-Woman was a piece of work. I also like this movie showed and talked about Heterosexual Men Reading. I love a reading man. I hope in the sequel, that I wished would be called "Act Like A Lady", show more men reading.

I know its set in Vegas but, they can read on the plane.

Finally the movie “Love & Basketball” rounds off the list. It reminds me of older people who met their spouses as children. It’s something many of us wanted but it didn't happen. I liked how both went on with life and careers in Basketball and nobody was hooked on drugs, alcohol, desperately depressed or suicidal because the other person wasn't in their life.

The best line is "Are they cussing their mamas in Spain, now” in that movie. The romantic showdown is to die for. She played him for his heart” *swoon*

So that’s my list. What’s on your list? Let me know. Don’t let my criticism of “Love Jones” & “The Best Man” deter you, either. Comment Below. *wink*

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

FYI: Never Text a Confession (or Any Major Life Changing Info) to Me

Okay anyone I have an offline relationship with know I am not a Major fan of text messaging. I do it because everyone else does it. I’m more of a pick up the phone and talk person. I believe I am a dying breed. *smile* Today I read an article about Michael Sam and his father says he was told by his son “I’m Gay” via text message. The article is Here . I was appalled. Why was a “dead beat” father drug up to be interviewed? That was messy. But more in importantly, why did the son Text his father? If he going to Tell his father His Truth, why didn’t he call his father and open his mouth and tell his father. He opened his mouth to tell the world, he could open his mouth and tell his father. (Now I say this presuming that this text is the truth. The article was one sided. If the father is lying, I’ll recant my rant about Michael Sam texting something important).

Yes, I have had my share of people text me “Life Changing” events. I had an ex officially stop dating me via text. Oh he introduced the idea to me with his mouth but the actually “I just want to be Friends” came in a text. Friend we are and he Knows not to tell me anything like that via text (I used to give him hell. Thank God for true forgiveness).

I also had a former best friend tell me she was gay via text. That text message is a why she and I have not talked since. Not the content of the text message but the fact that she texted me. She could have told me. She ended a conversation with me just to text me she was gay. That was low to me. She was one of the people I cried to when the afore mentioned ex broke up with me via text. So she knew how I felt about that. I guess my feelings didn’t matter in the end. My heart ached for a while because of that. It probably still has a tender point in it because of it. She will have to speak first (But because of other things she has done/not done since then, its best I don’t speak. What I will choose to say will make the devil tell me I’m wrong (Still working forgiveness there)). No, I will not text her response. That would be something wouldn’t it.

Texting important stuff is cowardice to me. In my opinion, when one text confessions, admission, & breakups, they are to chicken to tell the information. This is not a casual “Hey, It’s Hump Day” moment. This is “Life Changing” material. And if one thinks “Life Changing” stuff should be told in an “Oh Yeah” manner, then apparently one feels the text recipient’s feelings should be in a casual manner. That is how it was sent. Text messages show no feeling, emotion or mood. LoL’s & Emoji’s mean nothing. I have sent some mean spirited text and to soften the blow sent a smiley face. But was I really trying to soften it??? You know the answer. I can “dry text” with the best of them Oh emails and social media is not a way to tell me anything either. So don’t get cute. Open your mouth and tell me if it is important for me to know about. I want feeling behind the statement. Let me hear your emotions because trust me you will hear mine.

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

Ronald McNair, Ph.D Salute

On day in 1986, I was in lower elementary school but I was sick that day (it may have been what as now called a "Mental Health" day (my mother allowed some of those)). I was sitting there watching TV and the news was all a buzz because a Space Shuttle, The Challenger, was going up. That was exciting to me because a black man was on that shuttle. I went to an all-black elementary school & all-black church in a predominantly black area so that was a big deal. Also he was going to play music up there. They did the count down and it went up but it was an explosion. My grandmother explained to me that the shuttle blew up and the astronauts died. Even as a child that hurt my little heart. I still get sad thinking about that day. Also, to top it all off in an isolated event 30 minutes our neighbors’ house caught on fire and burned. That sad day will always stay with me.

The black astronaut was named Ronald McNair. He was not the 1^st black astronaut (actually the 2^nd to fly in space). The 1^st was a man named Guion Bluford. McNair was the first black astronaut to die on a mission. Many schools, scholarships (local, state & federal), buildings are named after Ronald McNair but very few know who he was.

Born in 195 in South Carolina, Ronald McNair was the valedictorian of his high school class and was magna cum lade with a bachelors in engineering physics. He had a Ph. D. from MIT in physics. He was also a member of the historical Greek fraternity Omega Psi Phi. In 1978, Dr. McNair was carefully chosen as one of thirty-five applicants from a pool of 10,000 for the NASA astronaut program. McNair was an accomplished saxophone player. Actually before the fateful shuttle blast, he worked with composer Jean Michel Jarre on a piece of music for his upcoming album named Rendez-Vous. McNair playing his saxophone was anticipated to be recorded on the Challenger. It would have made McNair's solo the first original piece of music to have been recorded in space. The last of the Rendez-Vous, Last Rendez-Vous was re titled Ron's Piece in his honor.

Yes, a harmonica was played on the Gemini earlier but a saxophone played in space would have been so cool. So, I salute Dr. Ronald McNair on today. Maybe there is a future Ronald McNair that will get to play their saxophone in space, one day. I think he would be proud.

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

 

NACWC Salute

We often hear NAACP, Jack & Jill, and the Greek organizations. But what about other organizations in the trenches working alongside them. Let me salute of them.

In the Fall of 1997, I became a member of the first college chapter at The University of Texas at Arlington (founded in Fall 1996), of a wonderful organization. Through this organization, I learned to further my volunteering & fundraising skills, another meaning of sisterhood and even met one of my lifelong friends. That wonderful organization is the National Association of Colored Women Clubs (NACWC).

Founded by Josephine St. Pierre in 1896, the National Association of Colored Women Clubs is the oldest black secular organization in America. It was founded to moral, mental, and material progress made by people of color through the efforts of our women. They organized to disprove a letter written by James Jacks, of the Missouri Press Association, African-American women were not respectable and referred to them as thieves and prostitutes. Mary Church Terrell became the organization first president of the National Association of Colored Women in the United States. Charter members include Hallie Quinn Brown, Victoria Earl Matthews, Josephine Silone Yates, and Margaret Murray Washington. Evelyn Rising is the current president with chapters and members from every state in the United States of America.

NACW has helped all people by working on issues of education, civil rights and injustice of the past, such as women’s suffrage, lynching, and Jim Crow laws and presently sexism, voting rights of citizens, and, health care reform. In 2010, it was named as one of the top 10 non-profit organization in the country by Ebony Magazine

Club Objectives
 1.To work for the economic, moral, religious and social welfare of women and youth.
 2.To protect the rights of women and youth.
 3.To raise the standard and quality of life in home and family.
 4.To secure and use our influence for the enforcement of civil and political rights for African Americans and all citizens.
 5.To promote the education of women and youth through the work of the departments.
 6.To obtain for African American women the opportunity of reaching the highest levels in all fields of human endeavor.
 7.To promote effective interaction with the male auxiliary.
 8.To promote inter-racial understanding so that justice and good will may prevail among all people.
 9.To hold educational workshops biennially at the Convention

Though I am no longer a current member, I know many active members. These ladies work with the local youth & homeless in the areas of education & self-awareness. I also know the UTA chapter is still an organization on campus still promoting and doing the works of its founders.

So I tip my hat off to the fabulous & strong women of the National Association of Colored Women Clubs. Continue “Lifting as We Climb" like you always have!

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

Alright, A February Rant (Sorry, Not Sorry)

Oh doesn’t that video just scream the 1990s? My sister and I used to love that video. And if you don’t know the song and you are Black, African American or whatever the brothers & sisters are calling themselves these days, Shame, Shame, Shame, on you. This song is “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by James Weldon Johnson and his brother, John Rosamond Johnson in 1900. It is The Black National Anthem. The first verse is

Lift every voice and sing, till earth and Heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of liberty;
Let our rejoicing rise, high as the listening skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.

Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;

Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won.

"Lift Every Voice and Sing" was publicly performed first as a poem as part of a celebration of Lincoln's Birthday on February 12, 1900, by 500 school children at the segregated Stanton School. Its principal, James Weldon Johnson, wrote the words to introduce its honored guest, Booker T. Washington. The poem was later set to music by Johnson's brother John in 1905.

In 1990, singer Melba Moore released a modern rendition of the song, which she recorded along with others including R&B artists & and gospel artists. That is the video to the song.

Alright, that is the history. Here is the rant. Why don’t we as a people know this song? I was at a Step Show in college and the signing of the Black Anthem started and people were scrambling to read their programs for the words.  The mental brakes went off in my head so hard. I was appalled and shocked. Now, I know everyone’s church does not sing that song every February like my foundation church did. But I am shocked that schools are not teaching this song. Okay, wait maybe at this point in history. But when I was in school in the 1980s and the 1990s, our school taught us the Black National Anthem. I know I went to an all-black student school in elementary school. But I went to multi-cultural middle & high school and we were learned, “Lift Every Voice and Sing”. Which is interesting for my High School because for the 1^st three years my school was a high school geared towards the health sciences. Yet, we sang the Black National Anthem for every Black History Program. Maybe that was just my black cultivated life.

We worry about not knowing our history and here is one of the most important facts we have. I don’t know any other American race that has their own Anthem yet we don’t all know it. (Side Note: Other races, if Y'all have an anthem and we don’t know about it, let us know and You better know the words) That is so sad. We have to do better. Oh and saying “We don’t know the American National Anthem either” is a gross excuse. We should know that also. (Didn't Renee Fleming do a great job singing that at Super Bowl this year? She hit "that note".) We have to Do Better. So I challenge all of us to learn “The Black National Anthem and put it to memory.  Rap it, Croon to it, Do runs with it, whatever. Well, don’t twerk or booty bounce to it. Just Learn it and Teach the future before the words and meaning die. James Weldon Johnson & John Rosamond Johnson, I Salute You. And those of you who know the words and sing the song, I Salute You, also.

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

Dr. Joycelyn Elders Salute

Before I became a Nutritional Consultant, I was on the path of becoming a School Nurse. Before that I wanted to be Pediatric Nurse and before junior year of high school, I wanted to be a Pediatrician. I started wanting to be in a pediatrician at age 6 after I realized ballet dancers don’t make a lot of money and to learn to play the organ, I had to learn how to play the piano (yeah the mind of a child). No one ever deterred my dream of being a doctor. I even had a black female pediatrician. She was encouraging then. She is still encouraging. So, I knew it could be done. So, you know when Joycelyn Elders was appointed Surgeon General during the Clinton Administration, I was ecstatic. The first black woman became Surgeon General and I hung on every word she said.

Minnie Joycelyn Elders was born Minnie Lee Jones on August 13, 1933 in Arkansas. She changed her middle name to Joycelyn in college. She earned a B.S. in Biology from Philander Smith College in 1952. The following year she joined the US Army and trained as a physical therapist. She obtained her M.D. degree in 1960 from the University of Arkansas Medical School. After completing an internship at the University of Minnesota Hospital and a residency in pediatrics at the University of Arkansas Medical Center, Elders earned a M.S. degree in Biochemistry in 1967. Elders has received a National Institutes of Health career development award, also serving as assistant professor in pediatrics at the University of Arkansas Medical Center from 1967. She was promoted to associate professor in 1971 and professor in 1976. She received board certification as a pediatric endocrinologist in 1978, becoming the first person in the state of Arkansas to do so.

Bill Clinton was the Governor of Arkansas when Elders was appointed as Director of the Arkansas Department of Health. While in this position there was a tenfold increase in early childhood screenings & doubled the rates of vaccinations received.  In 1992, she was elected President of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officers.

In 1993 Governor Clinton became the President of America and he appointed Joycelyn Elders to the position of Surgeon General. She became the 1st African- American to hold the position and she was the 2nd woman since Antonia Novello. As surgeon general, Elders quickly established a reputation for controversy. Like many of the surgeons general before her, she was an outspoken advocate of a variety of health-related causes.

She argued for an exploration of the possibility of drug legalization (suggested that legalizing drugs might help reduce crime and that the idea should be studied) and backed the distribution of contraceptives in schools. In 1994, she was invited to speak at a United Nations conference on AIDS. She was asked whether it would be appropriate to promote masturbation as a means of preventing young people from engaging in riskier forms of sexual activity, and she replied, "I think that it is part of human sexuality, and perhaps it should be taught."

This remark caused great controversy and resulted in Elders losing the support of the White House. Elders was dismissed of her post in December 1994. A collection of her professional papers are held at the National Library of Medicine in Bethesda, Maryland.

Since leaving office, Elders has received a D.Sc. degree from Bates College in 2002. She has returned to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences as professor of pediatrics, and is currently professor emerita at UAMS. She has appeared on TV in "Penn and Teller: Bullshit!" during the episode on abstinence, where she says that she voiced her opinion against abstinence-only programs and discussed her opinions on teenage sex education, masturbation and contraceptives. I

n 2010 with David Chanoff, she wrote "Joycelyn Elders, M.D.: From Sharecropper's Daughter to Surgeon General of the United States of America". She was interviewed in the 2013 documentary "How to Lose Your Virginity" on her opinions regarding comprehensive sex education versus abstinence-only sex education. She is also active on the lecture circuit speak against teen pregnancy.

Also since Elders leaving office, 2 states have legalized sales, 7 states have legal medical sales, 6 states have decriminalized the sale and 6 other states have medical sales and decriminalization laws in marijuana distribution. I felt with her being slated controversial for suggesting legalizing drugs, that information should be included. Oh and in 2013 reports say the rate of births to teen mothers dropped by 25% from 41.5 per 1,000 teens between the ages of 15 to 19 in 2007 to a record low of 31.1 births per 1,000 teens in 2011. Glad she still active on the lecture tour.

Well despite being ousted from a prestigious job, this former future doctor salutes Dr. Joycleyn Elders the 1st Black Surgeon General. This job is amid many controversies, her opinions was just part of the job. 

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms