Happy National Women's History Month

Our History is Our Strength

Our shared history unites families, communities, and nations. Although women’s history is intertwined with the history shared with men, several factors - social, religious, economic, and biological - have worked to create a unique sphere of women's history.

Just in case you didn't know that March was National Women's History Month, now you know! elleELLEeye will be sharing posts on some phenomenal women that have gone without recognition, along with those who have made a tremendous impact in our history.

The stories of women’s achievements are integral to the fabric our history. Learning about women’s tenacity, courage, and creativity throughout the centuries is a tremendous source of strength.

Until relatively recently, this sphere of women's history was overlooked and undervalued. Women’s achievements were often distorted, disdained, and denied. But, knowing women’s stories provides essential role models for everyone. And role models are genuinely needed to face the extraordinary changes and unrelenting challenges of the 21st century.

Spread Love. Live life. Be Inspired.
Source

Continue Entry»

BHM Little Known Fact: Buffalo Soldiers

"I'm just a buffalo soldier in the heart of America. Stolen from Africa, brought to America, said he was fighting on arrival, fighting for survival...said he was a buffalo soldier win the war for America."

If you know those words, you know they come from the late, Bob Marley. I never actually listened to the lyrics of the song but reading them today let's you know the history behind the term "Buffalo Soldier".

Did you know: Buffalo Soldiers is the name given to the all-black regiments of the U.S. Army started in 1866?

More than 20 Buffalo Soldiers received the highest Medal of Honor for their service — the highest number of any U.S. military unit. The oldest living Buffalo Soldier, Mark Matthews, died at the age of 111 in 2005. Incredible!

This give's Marley's song a whole new meaning, huh?

Find out more about Buffalo Soldiers here.

Spread Love. Live life. Be Inspired.
Source
Photos: Buffalo Soldiers, MM

Continue Entry»

BHM SPOTLiGHT: Mary Ann Shadd Cary

Mary Ann Shadd Cary

October 9, 1823 – June 5, 1893

What an inspiring woman Mary Ann Shadd Cary is! She is a pioneer in Journalism, and co-founded "The Provincial Freeman" newspaper in 1853. The paper folded, but was revived in 1859. It promoted temperance, moral reform, civil rights & black self-help; while attacking the racial discrimination blacks faced within North America. In 1883, graduated as a lawyer from Howard University School of Law.


If that's not inspiring, I don't know what is. 

Spread Love. Live life. Be Inspired.

Continue Entry»

BHM: The Gift of Giving

It's an amazing thing to give. But it's an even better gesture to give on a day where you're meant to receive. You may know that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4th, 1968. But...

Did You Know: That his friend Maya Angelou's birthday is on April 4th?

After Dr. MLK Jr.'s death, Angelou stopped celebrating her birthday for many years, and sent flowers to King's widow every year until Mrs. King's death in 2006. Simply touching.

Spread Love. Live life. Be Inspired.

Continue Entry»

Return to Substance with 'Winnie'

What happened those good ole good black films? You know the ones I'm talking about, those of a classic/powerful nature. Where are the movies like Waiting to Exhale, The Best Man, Soul Food, Brown Sugar, Ali, Above the Rim, and Malcolm X, where are those movies that told our story in so many variations? Now I would be remiss if I didn't give credit where credit is due. Tyler Perry has done his part to carry the torch lit by the likes of Melvin Van Peebles, The Hughes Brothers, and John Singleton. And now, Darrell James Roodt is honoring Winnie Mandela.

It is up to us to inspire the creative minds amongst us, and support those who share their energy with us. This is where initiative comes to fruition, and legacy can be maintained. Similar to the story of one of the most recognizable and influential black women in history.

Based on the relationship of Winnie and Nelson Mandela; starring Jennifer Hudson and Terrence Howard, Winnie focuses on the untold story of Winnie Mandela. There is no release date has been set as of yet. Check out the trailer for the biographical film, 'Winnie':

Video Link

- Basquiat

Spread Love. Live life. Be Inspired.

eyeAsk: What does OK really stand for?

I'm in school, writing a paper, and I was about to write "ok" but then I couldn't because "ok" is not a word. We use it all the time, but what the heck does it mean and where does it come from? So i took a little break from my schoolwork and googled it. Its actually pretty interesting so ill share it with all the knowledge seekers.


"The letters,OK, stand for "oll korrect." They're the result of a fad for comical abbreviations that flourished in the late 1830s and 1840s. Read buttressed his arguments with hundreds of citations from newspapers and other documents of the period. As far as I know his work has never been successfully challenged.

The abbreviation fad began in Boston in the summer of 1838 and spread to New York and New Orleans in 1839. The Boston newspapers began referring satirically to the local swells as OFM, "our first men," and used expressions like NG, "no go," GT, "gone to Texas," and SP, "small potatoes."

Many of the abbreviated expressions were exaggerated misspellings, a stock in trade of the humorists of the day. One predecessor of OK was OW, "oll wright," and there was also KY, "know yuse," KG, "know go," and NS, "nuff said."

Most of these acronyms enjoyed only a brief popularity. But OK was an exception, no doubt because it came in so handy. It first found its way into print in Boston in March of 1839 and soon became widespread among the hipper element."

Pretty cool huh? this is kinda like our internet lingo way back in the day! There's more to this article than just this little blurb, so read on at TheStraightDope.com


Deuces,
DANiE
Spread Love. Live life. Be Inspired.
Proud supporter of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Continue Entry»

Hispanic Heritage Month: Luis Muñoz Marín

Luis Muñoz Marín
Governor of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rican
1898–1980
After holding many offices in Puerto Rico and improving ties with the U.S., Luis Muñoz Marín was the first governor elected by the people of Puerto Rico in 1947. He was one of the people who drafted Puerto Rico's constitution and helped lead Puerto Rico in becoming a self-governing Commonwealth. Muñoz Marín worked for the cause of poor people to own land and also to draw businesses to Puerto Rico.

Deuces,
DANiE
Spread Love. Live life. Be Inspired.
Proud supporter of

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Source:Scholastic

Continue Entry»

Black August

Every month has its significance. In January, a new year begins. February is Black History Month, October, is the National month for Lupus awareness, and the list goes on and on. The same goes for August. The Black August tradition was established during the 1970s. It started in the California prison system by men and women of the Black/New Afrikan Liberation Movement. This was done as a means of acknowledging and studying the legacy of Afrikan resistance in the Americas, and honoring fallen freedom fighters like George and Jonathan Jackson, Khatari Gaulden, James McClain, Williams Christmas and Fred Hampton.

Black August promotes a "non-sectarian mass based" resistance culture inside and outside the prison walls across the United States. The brothers who participated in the collective founding of Black August wore black arm bands on their left arm and studied revolutionary works, focusing on the works of George Jackson. The brothers did not listen to the radio or watch television in August. Additionally, they didn't eat or drink anything from sun-up to sundown; and loud and boastful behavior was not allowed. The brothers did not support the prison's canteen. The use of drugs and alcoholic beverages was prohibited and the brothers held daily exercises, because during Black August, emphasis is placed on sacrifice, fortitude and discipline. Black August is still a time to embrace the principles of 1) unity; 2) self-sacrifice; 3) political education; 4) physical training; and 5) resistance.

Traditionally, Black August is a time to study history, particularly our history in the North American Empire. The first Afrikans were brought to Jamestown as slaves in August of 1619, so August is a month during which Blacks can reflect on our current situation and our self-determining rights.

August 1619 - Arrival of first African slaves in 13 colonies
August 21, 1791 - Haiti slave uprising for independence
August 30, 1800 - Gabriel Prosser's slave revolt discovered
August 21, 1831 - Nat Turner's slave rebellion
August 1850 - Underground Railroad
August 17, 1887 - Birth of Marcus Garvey
August 24, 1943 - Birth of Russell "Maroon" Shoatz
August 30, 1948 - Birth of Fred Hampton
August 8, 1949 - Birth of Dr. Mutulu Shakur
August 1963 - March on Washington
August 1965 - Watts Rebellion
August 25, 1967 - FBI circulates internal order to "disrupt" Black
Liberation groups
August 7, 1970 - Courthouse Slave Rebellion
August 18, 1971 - Capital of Republic of New Afrika attacked by FBI and
police
August 21, 1971 - Assasination of George Jackson
August 28, 1971 - Jalil Muntaqim and Nuh Washington captured
August 8, 1978 - Police raid on MOVE
August 17, 1995 - Mumia scheduled for execution; stopped by resistance

♥ t i f f a n y
"Spread the love and live your life; while seeking to inspire and be inspired."
Proud supporter of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Continue Entry»

Building The Dream

This past Easter (April 4th) marked the 42nd anniversary of the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. And with that, the National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc. are commemorating the life and work of Dr. King by creating a memorial in our nation's capital. The Washington, DC, Martin Luther King, Jr., National Memorial will honor his life and contributions to the world through non violent social change.

The Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial will be the first on the National Mall to recognize a person of color and a man of peace, not a president or a veteran of war. In 1996 Congress authorized the Memorial Foundation to raise funds to establish a national memorial to honor the legacy of Dr. King on the National Mall. The memorial’s very existence signifies that we as a people believe Dr. King and his legacy deserve this esteemed placement in what can be considered America’s “Hall of Fame.” So, we bet there are some things you're wondering right? Here's a Q&A:

When will the Memorial be completed? The Ceremonial Groundbreaking occurred on November 13, 2006. The Dedication of the Memorial is tentatively scheduled for the Fall of 2011.

What can I do to help? Individuals as well as corporations can add their financial support to this effort. Contributions, large and small, are needed to attain our goal of $120 million. Spread the word to your friends, neighbors and acquaintances that their donations are urgently needed.Most major employers match employee donations, so if you donate to the Memorial Foundation your employer may double that amount.

Why build the Memorial now? Dr. King once reminded the nation of “the fierce urgency of now” while warning against “the tranquilizing drug of gradualism.” The time is now a historical perspective. Many young people have heard of Dr. King, but are unaware of the significance of his contributions to America and the world. The design has been established; the site is secured; the fundraising teams are already at work; and more than $106 million of the campaign goal has been raised. The time is now.


Video Link

Find out more information by visiting:
MLK Memorial News or Build the Dream
Spread Love. Live Life. Be Inspired.

♥ t i f f a n y
Proud supporter of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Continue Entry»

eff BLACK Friday

Hello elles & eyes!

I'm sure your tummies are filled and you're ready take the longest nap ever after eating (see urban dictionary for itis)...BUT WAIT, it's Friday! No,
So what does that mean? All it really means is that a bunch of stores will open with a line of people who ate with their families and went directly to your store to camp out like Michael Jackson came back and was giving a free concert. With stores opening as early as 5AM, this day is the day that you can get some of the best deals you've never seen before. Right? Well kind of. Many people wonder why it's called Black Friday and not blue, pink, or green for that matter. Here's THE HISTORY OF BLACK FRIDAY!

Did you go shopping today? What did you get? COMMENT!

Spread Love. Live Life. Be Inspired.

♥ t i f f a n y
Proud supporter of The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

Continue Entry»