black history month
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How Ford Inspired Young Black Girls to Believe They're 'Built Phenomenally' to Create Production Magic
For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a creator. Whether it was making mini-movies with the cast of my Barbie dolls or writing down short stories that often danced around in my head, I’ve always managed to find a way to express the goings-on in my rich imagination. That’s why I…
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1st Grade Teacher Brings Black Excellence to the Classroom by Dressing Up as Historical Figures During Black History Month
LaToya McGriff is here to make a difference. While educators throughout the country have spent their February schooling students on the importance of historical black figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, the first-grade teacher from Suffolk, Va., has gone the extra mile of ensuring that her students have the opportunity to meet…
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Black Movie Fridays: A Fun Story About Cool Runnings, 'Gummies' and a New York City Evening in 2017
I’d like to tell you a fun story about one of my favorite black movies, Cool Runnings. If you don’t know, Cool Runnings (released in 1993) is the “based on a true story” movie about the Jamaican bobsled team’s journey and ultimately their debut appearance at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It’s…
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UT Arlington's Men's Basketball Team Honors Black Historical Figures With Pre-Game Shirts: 'We Want to Educate, We Want to Inform'
With their uninspired 13-16 record, many would pass on watching UT Arlington’s men’s basketball team. But for those who have been watching, they’ve been treated to more than just hoops. In the days leading up to February, Matt McGann, the team’s video coordinator, decided to capitalize on the team’s elevated profile in order to raise…
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Black to the Future: This Scientist May Hold the Key to Time Travel
Imagine if we could send information back to ourselves to warn ourselves of natural disasters, anomalies, earthquakes, the thousands of lives you can save, or even on a more personal level, to try to change our own destiny by sending information back, perhaps to warn loved ones to stay out of situations that might lead…
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The 'First Black' Fact I Look Forward to Hearing About During Black History Month
Hiram R. Revels became the first African-American senator in America in 1870. Also that year, Jonathan Wright, in South Carolina, became the first African American to serve on a state’s Supreme Court. In 1950, Earl Lloyd became the first African American to play in a regular-season NBA game. Franklin D. Raines is the first African-American…
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BIST, or the 'Black EGOT': Celebrating the Elite Who've Won a BET Award, NAACP Image Award and Soul Train Award
Two—that’s the number of black people who have an EGOT, that is, at least one Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony award. Whoopi Goldberg and John Legend are a part of that elite 15-member club. Cynthia Erivo, Billy Porter and Viola Davis are almost there. Unfortunately, we can’t count on irregular trends that may arise when…
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Racing Champion Willy T. Ribbs Reminds Us All of His Place in Black History With Brilliant Victory Lap Uppity
Throughout the course of history, we’ve been taught that there is a clear hierarchy in regard to a black person’s place in society. As such, the term “uppity”—which first surfaced in the 1800s as the snarky descendant of its equally demeaning predecessor “ungrateful”—has served to both dissuade and disparage those of us who’ve dared to…
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Spotify Proves Black History Is Now With Phenomenal Black Music Campaign
Contrary to white-washed belief, black folks have had a profound impact on the evolution of the entire musical landscape. From country crooner DeFord Bailey injecting the Grand Ole Opry with a taste of the blues as one of its very first stars in the 1920s, to funk metal gods Bad Brains revolutionizing contemporary punk, our…
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A Blazer for Black Royalty: Crown Royal Released a New Slick Blazer, and Ya Boy Tried It
Black folks love Crown Royal. We hold this truth to be self-evident. But what happens when one of our most beloved brands veers into the wonderful world of fashion? Inspired by Crown Royal’s XR Extra Rare series, celebrity designer ALBA has unveiled a limited-edition bespoke blazer—one of which I was blessed enough to receive—that’s equal…