Black Excellence Month: Day 2

Ruby Bridges
1954 - 
Activist. Civil Rights Leader. 

At six years old, she made history by being the first black student to go to an all white school in the South. Her bravery inspires us to keep moving forward through negativity. Her story reminds us that our access to education is something that we should always value.

"I believe that history should be taught in a different way. History definitely should be taught the way it happened—good, bad or ugly. History is sacred. For me history is a foundation and the truth."

-Ruby Bridges

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Recommended Reading: 
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•  Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges
•  Ruby Goes to School by Ruby Bridges
•  Fifty Years of Segregation 
• Brown V. Board of Education Decision
• First Step Taken to Ending Segregation
• The Story of Ruby Bridges by Ruby Bridges
•  In a Class of Only One by Toby Mac and Michael Tait
• A Class of One 

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Recommended Watching:
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•  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_R2P-6j_5h4 
•  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzuS8CI-sSI
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecBORXfap9A
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CgTYGI2mi8
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKyQV0-z6HE
• Disney’s Ruby Bridges (1998)

Black Excellence Month: Day 1

Audre Lorde

Black Feminist Visionary Warrior Lesbian Poet 
1934 - 1992

 

 "I am a Black Feminist. I mean I recognize that my power as well as my primary oppressions come as a result of my blackness as well as my womaness, and therefore my struggles on both of these fronts are inseparable."

 -Audre Lorde

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Recommended Reading:

•  Zami: A New Spelling of My Name by Audre Lorde
• Sister Outsider: Essays and Speeches by Audre Lorde
• Uses Of The Erotic: The Erotic As Power by Audre Lorde
• The Cancer Journals by Audre Lorde
• Warrior Poet: A Biography of Audre Lorde by Alexis De Veaux
•  Indo-Caribbean Feminisms and Heteronormativity http://sta.uwi.edu/crgs/march2013/journals/Pragg.pdf
•  Conversations with Audre Lorde by Joan Wylie Hall
• The Master's Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master's House

I read Audre Lorde’s Zami: A New Spelling of My Name last year on a train ride from New York to Florida. It holds a special place in my heart. Her writing is so beautiful and touching. I feel so grateful to get a glimpse into her younger life. I felt a great connection to her in this book. It reminds me that I come from greatness and of the unique struggles of the women who lived before me for I would not be who I am today if it were not for them. It left me completely inspired.

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Recommended Watching:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eMvnxxFhbM
•  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_KYZkRY9pA 
•  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HBD4VRqnh4
•  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diHzbQNyO2k

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Links:

• ·      http://alp.org/
• ·      http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/audre-lorde

 

Miss Celie's Blues

From one of my favorite movies, The Color Purple.

Motivation Monday!

I love how this song just makes me want to smile and dance around. I also can't help but love all the videos of people dancing around happily, especially this one below from Howard University. I just love how this song has motivated people to celebrate being happy and sharing their happiness with the world!

Pampering Days!

One of my favorites things to do to take care of myself is treating myself to a personal spa and pampering day. I love going out to get my nails done. I really love being pampered at the salon and I love pedicures especially because I find the jets in the water to be very soothing. I just love the experience in general. However, those cost money so I don't go as often but I also enjoy my personal spa days at home which usually only include a facial and I love it.

I think that they're a great break from my day. It's time that I can just focus on myself and my needs. They really do make me feel better about myself. I feel like I'm not only cleaning my face my cleansing myself of negative energy. They are so relaxing and my face is smooth and clean when I'm done!

I start off with the Apricot facial scrub, follow that with an olive oil masque, and then I use Mary Kay's botanical effects: hydrate as a moisturizer after my face is clean and smooth!

Make sure you're taking care of yourself! Listen to your mind and body. Take breaks if you need to and treat yourself any chance that you get! You deserve it. You're worth it. ♥

Quote of the Day

"Remind thyself, in the darkest moments, that every failure is only a step toward success, every detection of what is false directs you toward what is true, every trial exhausts some tempting form of error, and every adversity will only hide, for a time, your path to peace and fulfillment."

-Og Mandino

My Happiness Jar

 

I got crafty today and decorated my happiness jar! I really wanted it to reflect me. I wanted it to be something that makes me smile when I look at it. I'm quite pleased with my final product!

A happiness jar is a great way of staying positive. Throughout the year, you write down good things that happen and put them in the jar. It can be good thoughts, things that you're thankful for, moments that made you smile, daily thoughts, or anything that you think is special that you want to remember. On New Years' Eve you open the jar and read all the notes you put in there. I think that this is an amazing way to stay positive. It's a reminder that there can be good in every day and we should remember that.

Today's Positive Affirmation.

I deserve to be here; I deserve to feel beautiful; I matter.

Words of Wisdom

In Oprah's magazine, there was a wonderful piece called "Dr. Phil's Words to Live By." It was great. I found it really inspiring and motivating. They're meant to inspire you everyday. I'll list my favorites below and what they mean to me. This article was in Oprah's "O" magazine from January 2014, Volume 15, Number 1.

• Everybody has a personal truth. Your personal truth is what's true for you. You're responsible for yours and yours only. It's what you believe about yourself. It's your life goals. and your life path. It's unique to you and that's what your focus should be on--your truth.
•  Happiness isn't one size fits all.  Remember that what makes one person happy may not make you happy. Just because it's right for you doesn't mean it's right for them and that's no one's fault. You can't expect someone's source of happiness to bring you happiness as well. Everyone is different and what's best for them is different. What I think is most important about this is that means that you can't, or shouldn't, judge someone for what makes them happy. Be supportive and remember that this thing that's making them happy could also be keeping them alive.
• The universe rewards action. If want to something, work to make it happen! Work. Work Work if you want to see results. If you have a goal you want to reach, make plans to get there.

Quote of the Day

"I am learning every day to allow the space between where I am and where I want to be to inspire me and not terrify me."

-Tracee Ellis Ross
♥