black history
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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…
-
White Amateur Historian Says He Stole Slave Auction Block Plaque Because It Didn't Do Enough to Honor Descendants of Slavery
When a plaque disappeared off a sidewalk in Charlottesville, Va., earlier this month, it raised alarm bells. The sign, though small, was significant: It marked the site of an auction block where enslaved Africans were sold. As The Washington Post reports, some assumed it was done to protest a proposed state law that would allow…
-
As EGOT Status Draws Near, Double Oscar Nominee Cynthia Erivo Commends Joaquin Phoenix For Condemning Hollywood Racism
Can I get a soul clap for Cynthia Erivo. She’s just one award from gaining the much coveted EGOT status and she’s not tip-toeing around the racism that continues to permeate throughout Hollywood. Last Monday, the Harriet star – who’s the lone black nominee in the lead actress and original song categories at this year’s…
-
Black History Month Is for White People
I don’t know a lot about white history. I also don’t know much about green bean casserole, Creedence Clearwater Revival or shampoo-and-conditioner-in-one. I am, however, familiar with seasoned salt, the nuances of Blue Magic vs. Dax vs. Pink Oil Lotion, and the musical stylings of Frankie Beverly and Maze. And, unlike many of my educated…
-
Returned: A Journey Through Ghana
Ghana has such a rich history and culture, one that makes it a prime gateway into connecting those in the diaspora to their West African roots. There was much to see, do, learn, and savor. My friends and I joined a travel group that included tour guides to take us through an itinerary filled with…