Remember to support Black people! Not just famous black people, but Black people in your everyday life. Elevate their voices. Listen to them. Black men, women and nonbinary people. Lightskin and darkskin Black people. Disabled Black people, Black people with all sorts of conditions.
Not just February, but every day of every month, every year.
Singer and songwriter Nina Simone wowed audiences as the “High Priestess of Soul” and an advocate for social justice. These inspiring quotes reveal her love and loyalty to the fight for change during the height of segregation:
✊ “It is an artist’s duty to reflect the times, as far as I’m concerned.”
✊ “Music is a burden and a gift I have had since my childhood.”
✊ “You got to learn to leave the table when love is no longer served.”
✊ “You don’t have to live near me; just give me my share of equality.”
✊ “The worst thing about prejudice is that while you feel hurt and angry, and all the rest of it, it feeds your self-doubts. You begin thinking, perhaps I’m not perfect.”
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PushBlack is a Black-led nonprofit dedicated to raising up Black voices. We are a small team but we have an outsized impact:
We reach tens of millions of people with our BLACK HISTORY STORIES every year.
We fight for CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM to protect our community.
We run VOTING CAMPAIGNS that reach over 10 million African-Americans across the country.
And as a non-profit, we can’t do it without you! Click here to subscribe to a small monthly donation to help support our work.
Whether it be the expansion of knowledge on deep-sea coral species or the modern usage of online mapping tools, Black and African American scientists have played a crucial role in propelling marine science to new levels.
Here we recount some of their achievements throughout history as NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries celebrates African American History Month. We highlight three scientists who were pioneers within their fields and paved the way for modern day marine scientists, and introduce three scientists currently conducting research that improves our knowledge and ability to manage resources in marine sanctuaries.
Here is a Black History Month post I made featuring 8 Black womxn in history you may not be familiar with but absolutely should be.
Something most all of these women have in common is that they were/are dark skinned. Most of these women experienced hardship, abuse, and trauma after trauma, literally laboring most of their lives in survival mode to be (almost) forgotten to history. Those who had celebrity or stardom didn’t have it easy, either. We must not romanticize the struggles these women faced and fought against for liberation. We must keep their names elevated and give them their roses while they’re still here.
Black women are the backbone of every movement. Past, present and future. This is why reparations are owed; why it is not enough to merely say you’re “not racist,” but to be actively anti-racist and to divest in whiteness and anti-Black racism and invest in Black lives.
Thank and pay a Black woman TODAY, and not only because of or during #blackhistorymonth Also, if you learned something from this post, save it, share it, or comment your support! You should also pay me for my labor; the information is included in the last slide.
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ID: Black text on yellow background that reads “8 Black Womxn in History (That You Should Know But Probably Don’t). There are 10 slides total. On the slides, in order, are Fannie Lou Hamer, Miriam Makeba, Marsha P Johnson, Ella Baker, Claudette Colvin, Celia Cruz, Gladys Bentley, Miss Major Griffin Gracy. The last slide is a reference page with the author, Ericka Gail, Mentalhealthfemme, payment information and ways to support.]
A debut young adult rom-com about an African American ballerina who finds love on the road to an audition.
When Chloe Pierce’s mom forbids her to apply for a spot at the dance conservatory of her dreams, she devises a secret plan to drive two hundred miles to the nearest audition. But Chloe hits her first speed bump when her annoying neighbor Eli insists upon hitching a ride, threatening to tell Chloe’s mom if she leaves him and his smelly dog, Geezer, behind. So now Chloe’s chasing her ballet dreams down the east coast―two unwanted (but kinda cute) passengers in her car, butterflies in her stomach, and a really dope playlist on repeat.
Filled with roadside hijinks, heart-stirring romance, and a few broken rules, Kristina Forest’s I Wanna Be Where You Are is a YA debut perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Sandhya Menon.
Kristina Forest is the author of YA romance novels, including I Wanna Be Where You Are and Now That I’ve Found You. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing with a concentration in Writing for Children at The New School. She lives in New York City with two huge bookshelves. .
My visual interpretations of the original pride flag colors’ meanings and a tribute to BLM.
A loving prayer to black queer women, black trans women, black trans femmes, black trans mascs and black enbies anywhere in between or beyond below the cut.
Edit (June 2, 2021): I changed “womxn” to “women”; I don’t see it necessary anymore to use an alternate word.
Today in Black Excellence: Dapper Dan—the underground fashion icon who made history as the first Black designer to receive CFDA’s lifetime achievement award.
“I don’t give a damn about failure. I was born part of failure. We are the phoenix—all of us here in America, every black man, woman, and child are part of the phoenix, still rising from those ashes. All my life is about getting knocked down and getting back up. I don’t care. It’s fun!”—Dapper Dan.
What’s Dapper Dan’s story?
Born Daniel Day on August 8, 1944, in Harlem, New York City, into a working-class family. By 13, he was making thousands a day after teaching himself gambling. By the 70s, Dan first sold items out of his car, and in 1982, the iconic Dapper Dan’s Boutique had its grand opening —open 24/7.
Dan is self-taught—from his fabrics and leather printing, to his creations of unique textiles featuring Louis Vuitton and Gucci logos. His designs became synonymous with 80s hip-hop—but Dan was neglected by the fashion world, and his illegal use of major label logos led to police raids. Local attention became Global; European luxury fashion companies like Fendi caught wind and promptly took legal action. Dapper Dan’s Boutique was shut down in 1992. Ever the hustler, he continued working underground.
How did he come to win the CFDA award?
Ironically, to say the least, and on his own terms in true Dapper Dan style. Fans were outraged when they noticed Gucci steal one of his classic designs for a major show. The coat was first made for Olympian Diane Dixon, and she posted on Instagram: “Give Dapper Dan his credit. He did it first in 1989!” Incredibly, Gucci accepted its wrongdoing and sparked his career into new life when it offered a partnership.
At age 77, he made history as the first Black fashion designer honored with the CFDA’s Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award. He is also the first designer to receive the honor without ever doing a solo fashion show. Truly the epitome of Black excellence.
There’s a quote by Faith Cummings that says, “We still struggle to garner a seat at the table. Even though we’ve oft built the table ourselves.” As a Black Creative, this is a reality many of us face. And Dapper Dan is a modern representation of just that—Black Excellence. He exemplifies how and why our contributions to culture often define culture. It was an honor dedicating this piece to him, as an extension of my gratitude and appreciation for the path he has paved for all Black Creatives. Thank you Dapper Dan.
