July 18th is Mandela Day!!!
"Following the success of Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday celebrations in London’s Hyde Park in June 2008, it was decided that there could be nothing more fitting than to celebrate Mr Mandela’s birthday each year with a day dedicated to his life’s work and that of his charitable organizations, and to ensure his legacy continues forever.
The Mandela Day campaign message is simple: Mr Mandela gave 67 years of his life fighting for the rights of humanity. All we are asking is that everyone gives 67 minutes of their time, whether it’s supporting your chosen charity or serving your local community.Mandela Day is a call to action for individuals – for people everywhere – to take responsibility for changing the world into a better place, one small step at a time, just as Mr Mandela did." Thank you Mr. Mandela for all of your contributions and inspiration! Please click the link below and learn more about Nelson Mandela.
http://www.nelsonmandela.org/content/page/biography/
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela
July 7th is Satchel Paige Day!!!
"It is estimated that Leroy "Satchel" Paige was born on July 7, 1906. The mere idea that his birthday is an estimate provides perfect evidence to the mystery that was Satchel Paige. In 1965, 60 years after Paige's supposed birthday, he took the mound for the last time, throwing three shutout innings for the Kansas City Athletics. Joe DiMaggio called Satchel Paige "the best and fastest pitcher I've ever faced". His pitching was amazing and his showboating was legendary. His career highlights span five decades. Pronounced the greatest pitcher in the history of the Negro Leagues, Paige compiled such feats as 64 consecutive scoreless innings, a stretch of 21 straight wins, and a 31-4 record in 1933. For 22 years, Paige mauled the competition in front of sellout crowds. Sure, he liked the attention, but to him, there was only one goal. That goal would be to pitch in the Major Leagues." Thank you Mr. Paige for all of your contributions and inspiration! Please click the link below and learn more about Satchel Paige.
http://www.satchelpaige.com/bio2.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TA3TLzWAOE0
"Work like you don't need the money. Love like you've never been hurt. Dance like nobody's watching." - Satchel Paige
July 6th is Frida Kahlo Day!!!
"Frida Kahlo de Rivera (July 6, 1907 – July 13, 1954; Magdalena Carmen Frieda Kahlo y Calderón) was a Mexican painter, born in Coyoacán. Perhaps best known for her self-portraits, Kahlo's work is remembered for its "pain and passion", and its intense, vibrant colors. Her work has been celebrated in Mexico as emblematic of national and indigenous tradition, and by feminists for its uncompromising depiction of the female experience and form. Mexican culture and Amerindian cultural tradition figure prominently in her work, which has sometimes been characterized as Naïve art or folk art. Her work has also been described as "surrealist", and in 1938 one surrealist described Kahlo herself as a "ribbon around a bomb"."
Her paintings are some of my favorite pieces of art of all-time!!! I love her work because it is REAL, no matter any exaggeration or artistic liberties the TRUTH and REALNESS always jumps out at you! She was a very creative and eccentric person and lived a very different life, but the originality, vibrancy, and intelligence of her work made it certain that she would be celebrated and acknowledge for her work for many generations! Thank you Ms. Kahlo for all of your contributions and inspiration! Please click the link below and learn more about Friday Kahlo.
http://www.fridakahlo.com/
"I never paint dreams or nightmares. I paint my own reality." - Frida Kahlo
July 2nd is Patrice Lumumba Day!!!
"Patrice Lumumba was the first prime minister of the Republic of the Congo. He was a leading figure in the Congo as that country established its independence from Belgium, which had controlled the Congo since the late nineteenth century. Lumumba's murder in 1961 has made him a symbol of struggle for champions of African nations' attempts to unite and to break free of the influence of the European powers that once colonized (held territory in) the continent."
Mr. Lumumba is another victim of the racism and elitism of the world! Killed because he stood up for what is right and what is right for his people, he was not going to be controlled by people from outside his country!!! Again, we need more people like this in the world and we need to somehow break through the European elitism and it needs to be known that every human being deserves the same respect and rights! First and foremost though Africa needs to be given back to Africa and then maybe Africa would open their arms again, but I truly believe everything that belongs to Africa should be given back NOW!!!! If there is no continuation to do this then people like Mr. Lumumba lived and died in vain because no one is there to carry on the legacy and fight!!! Thank you Mr. Lumumba for all of your contributions and inspiration! Please click the link below and learn more about Patrice Lumumba.
http://www.notablebiographies.com/Lo-Ma/Lumumba-Patrice.html
“We are proud of this struggle, of tears, of fire, and of blood, to the depths of our being, for it was a noble and just struggle, and indispensable to put an end to the humiliating slavery which was imposed upon us by force.” - Patrice Lumumba
July 2nd is Thurgood Marshall Day!!!
"Thurgood Marshall studied law at Howard University. As counsel to the NAACP, he utilized the judiciary to champion equality for African Americans. In 1954, he won the Brown v. Board of Education case, in which the Supreme Court ended racial segregation in public schools. Marshall was appointed to the Supreme Court in 1967, and served for 24 years. He died in Maryland on January 24, 1993."
I really think Mr. Marshall was an absolutely amazing man - one in very few that actually use their knowledge of the law and legal system to do something good and positive! More people coming up within the system should look up to him and want to be like him. We need more people like him in the world, people that will stand-up for what is right, not just what is convenient and what they can manipulate the law to be.Thank you Mr. Marshall for all of your contributions and inspiration! Please click the link below and learn more about Thurgood Marshall.
http://www.biography.com/people/thurgood-marshall-9400241
"None of us got where we are solely by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps. We got here because somebody - a parent, a teacher, an Ivy League crony or a few nuns - bent down and helped us pick up our boots." - Thurgood Marshall
July 2nd is Medgar Evers Day!!!
"Civil rights activist Medgar Evers was born on July 2, 1925, in Decatur, Mississippi. In 1954, he became the first state field secretary of the NAACP in Mississippi. As such, he organized voter-registration efforts, demonstrations, and economic boycotts of companies that practiced discrimination. He also worked to investigate crimes perpetrated against blacks. On June 12, 1963, Evers was assassinated outside of his home in Jackson, Mississippi."
The death of Mr. Evers is still one the most despicable things that has happened with government set-ups and shady shit with the USA government. It is too bad that even with his death there is still ignorance and stupidity! Hopefully more people can continue to get more education as to what the REAL truth is and actually live it! Thank you Mr. Evers for all of your contributions and inspiration! Please click the link below and learn more about Medgar Evers.
http://www.biography.com/people/medgar-evers-9542324
"You can kill a man but you can't kill an idea." - Medgar Evers
July 1st is Benjamin O. Davis Sr. Day!!! "Benjamin Oliver Davis, Sr., was the first African-American general for the US Army, after starting as a volunteer in the Spanish-American War. Following many years of service he became an adviser for the military on racial discrimination, pushing for full integration of the armed forces. He earned a Bronze Star Medal and Distinguished Service Medal." Thank you Mr. Davis Sr. for all of your contributions and inspiration! Please click the link below and learn more about Benjamin O. Davis Sr. http://www.biography.com/people/benjamin-o-davis-sr-9267726
June 30th is Lena Horne Day!!!
"Actress and singer Lena Horne was born June 30, 1917, in Brooklyn, New York. She left school at age 16 to help support her mother and became a dancer at the Cotton Club in Harlem. She later sang at Carnegie Hall and appeared in such films as Stormy Weather and The Wiz. She was also known for her work with civil rights groups, and refused to play roles that stereotyped African-American women." Thank you Ms. Horne for all of your contributions and inspiration! Please click the link below and learn more about Lena Horne.
http://www.biography.com/people/lena-horne-9344086
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHzx2P4x63c
"Always be smarter than the people who hire you." - Lena Horne
June 29th is James Van Der Zee Day!!!
"Born on June 29, 1886, in Lenox, Massachusetts, James Van Der Zee developed a passion for photography as a youth, and opened up his own Harlem studio in 1916. Van Der Zee became known for his detailed imagery of African-American life, and for capturing celebrities such as Florence Mills and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Following hard financial times, Van Der Zee enjoyed a resurge in his career during his later years. He died in 1983 in Washington, D.C." Thank you Mr. Van Der Zee for all of your contributions and inspiration! Please click the link below and learn more about James Van Der Zee.
http://www.biography.com/people/james-van-der-zee-9515411
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSLMZ3igO-c
"Happiness is perfume, you can't pour it on somebody else without getting a few drops on yourself." - James Van Der Zee
June 29th is Bob Haro Day!!!
"Back then……Bob Haro started Haro Designs in the late 1970′s to create products and services for the emerging BMX scene. Bob was originally a motor cross fanatic, but graduated towards Bicycle Motor Cross when his Honda motorcycle gave up mechanically, and his funds to fix it ran dry. BMX Racing was booming in Southern California, so using his artistic talents and his keen eye for design, he began to produce hand made custom numberplates for local racers. The plates were uique and proved popular, and provided an income when the alternative was working in a supermarket as a box boy. This modest beginning would bloom into a business that changed the shape of BMX, leading the developing market in different directions. From the early beginnings on tour with the BMX Action Trick Team, to the mid 1980′s, the name “Haro” simply dominated the world of BMX Freestyle with products, accessories and a team of riders who were almost undefeatable in competition.
As a rider on tour with his team, as a designer and as a pioneer of the sport, Bob Haro sits proudly in the fabric of BMX and without him, it just wouldn’t be the same….Modern Times…Bob continues to indulge his eye for design and has enjoyed success in other areas of action Sports with his modern day Company; Haro Designs. He maintains a keen interest in the modern day sport of BMX and can be seen regularly at events across the United States, Europe and Asia." Thank you Mr. for all of your contributions and inspiration! Please click the link below and learn more about .
http://www.harobmxcollector.com/history-menu/history-haro-designs/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psRDk3r5w2g
"I was a kid like any other kid - I just wanted to ride my bike." - Bob Haro
June 23rd is Wilma Rudolph Day!!!
"Wilma Rudolph was a sickly child who had to wear a brace on her left leg. She overcame her disabilities through physical therapy and hard work, and went on to become a gifted runner. Rudolph became the first American woman to win three gold medals at a single Olympics in 1960, at the Summer Games in Rome, and later worked as a teacher and track coach. She died in Tennessee in 1994." Thank you Ms. Rudolph for all of your contributions and inspiration! Please click the link below and learn more about Wilma Rudolph.
http://www.biography.com/people/wilma-rudolph-9466552
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igl8DmcKRhQ
"Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us." - Wilma Rudolph
June 23rd is United Nations Public Service Day!!!
"The UN General Assembly, in its Resolution 57/277, designated 23 June as Public Service Day (A/RES/57/277). The UN Public Service Day intends to celebrate the value and virtue of public service to the community; highlight the contribution of public service in the development process; recognize the work of public servants, and encourage young people to pursue careers in the public sector. Since the first Awards Ceremony in 2003, the United Nations has received an increasing number of submissions from all around the world."
Please click the link below and learn more about United Nations Public Service Day.
http://www.unpan.org/DPADM/UNPSDayAwards/UNPublicServiceDay/tabid/92/language/en-US/Default.aspx
June 22nd is Katherine Dunham Day!!!
"Katherine Dunham was an American dancer, choreographer and anthropologist noted for her innovative interpretations of ritualistic and ethnic dances." Not only did she learn through her studies and travels the history and roots of African people, but she brought this experience to her dancing and choreography. Making sure that generation after generation can see and realize the true beauty and history of the roots of humanity. Thank you Ms. Dunham for all of your contributions and inspiration! Please click the link below and learn more about Katherine Dunham.
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/freetodance/biographies/dunham.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeHzW5M0bTo
"I used to want the words 'She tried' on my tombstone. Now I want 'She did it'." - Katherine Dunham
June 19th is Juneteenth Day!!!
"Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation - which had become official January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive Order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance.
Later attempts to explain this two and a half year delay in the receipt of this important news have yielded several versions that have been handed down through the years. Often told is the story of a messenger who was murdered on his way to Texas with the news of freedom. Another, is that the news was deliberately withheld by the enslavers to maintain the labor force on the plantations. And still another, is that federal troops actually waited for the slave owners to reap the benefits of one last cotton harvest before going to Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation. All of which, or neither of these version could be true. Certainly, for some, President Lincoln's authority over the rebellious states was in question For whatever the reasons, conditions in Texas remained status quo well beyond what was statutory."
Please click the link below and learn more about Juneteenth Day.
http://www.juneteenth.com/history.htm
June 17th is Salem Poor Day!!!
I am celebrating him on this day because there is no record of his actual birth day. This day in history is the day of the Battle at Bunker Hill and I think it fitting to celebrate him on this day. "Salem Poor was a distinguished military hero who fought valiantly in the American Revolution. This courageous African American made a significant contribution to thestruggle to create an independent United States of America. But in a sad commentary on the plight of Blacks of that time, he was unable to enjoy any fitting recognition or reward despite a distinguished record of service." Thank you Mr. Poor for all of your contributions and inspiration! Please click the link below and learn more about Salem Poor.
http://blackhistorynow.com/salem-poor/
June 17th is James Weldon Johnson Day!!!
"James Weldon Johnson was born on June 17, 1871, in Jacksonville, Florida. He founded the Daily American newspaper in 1895. In 1897, he passed the bar and, two years later, wrote the song, "Lift Every Voice and Sing." In the early 1890s, he wrote an autobiography. He published his first poetry collection in 1917. In 1920, Weldon became the first black manager of the NAACP." Thank you Mr. Johnson for all of your contributions and inspiration! Please click the link below and learn more about James Weldon Johnson.
http://www.jamesweldonjohnson.emory.edu/sub-james.htm
"You are young, gifted, and Black. We must begin to tell our young, There's a world waiting for you, Yours is the quest that's just begun." - James Weldon Johnson
June 12th is Loving Day!!!
"A global network of Loving Day celebrations commemorate the anniversary of the Loving decision every year on or around June 12th. The Loving Day name comes from Loving v. Virginia (1967), the landmark Supreme Court decision that declared all laws against interracial marriage unconstitutional in the United States. We found it quite perfect that a couple named Richard and Mildred Loving won their right to marry, and we know a good thing when we see it. So, Loving Day refers to two kinds of loving: the couple in the Supreme Court case, and the original definition of loving."
Even though this day is celebrated as a step forward and in the right direction for equal rights to make something legal, which is a very positive thing, there is still to this day problems with this and a lot of other human rights. The legality of marriage is not important to me personally, but the right to love and be with whoever you want to without being ridiculed or persecuted for it is!!! This is something the courts cannot solve because it is a pure hatred and evilness that lives in the heart of many people around the world that will do anything in their power to not accept other's lives and do what they can to make them miserable, that is really what was happening to the Loving family - they could not go anywhere or do anything ever, they couldn't even live in the same house!!!! This had nothing to do with the court deciding this was the evilness that lived in the heart of the people that would and could not accept them being together based on ignorance and bigotry. This is the root of the problem and unfortunately the world will never be rid of it, but on days like this we can acknowledge and teach others so that one-by-one and for future generations they are taught correctly and grow-up with love in their hearts and not hate!!!!!
Please click the link below and learn more about Loving Day.
http://www.lovingday.org/what-is-loving-day
June 11th is Vince Lombardi Day!!!
"Vincent Thomas Lombardi is arguably the greatest football coach of all time, and is on the short list of history’s greatest coaches, regardless of sport. His ability to teach, motivate and inspire players helped turn the Green Bay Packers into the most dominating NFL team in the 1960s."
So, not only was Mr. Lombardi the greatest football coach, but he was just a good coach for life in general. No, the man was not perfect and no man is, but he literally lived his life to help and guide as many boys become as possible - no matter who they were. He is a true inspiration and mentor. Still to this day many look-up to his words and advice. A man wise beyond his years and a talent in coaching that is untouchable! Thank you Mr. Lombardi for all of your contributions and inspiration! Please click the link below and learn more about Vince Lombardi.
http://www.vincelombardi.com/about.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjYeREIHCsw
"The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary." - Vince Lombardi
June 11th is Gene Wilder Day!!!
"Gene Wilder began his career in the 1967 film Bonnie and Clyde, but he became famous as a favorite of writer/director Mel Brooks. His roles in Young Frankenstein and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory made him eternally famous. In his later years, Wilder became a serious novelist, writing a memoir and several fiction novels." My favorite performances and movies of his though are the ones he did with Richard Pryor. The combination of them together was comedic genius and acting performance that was something magical. If you have not seen any of these movies you definitely need to watch them!!! Thank you Mr. Wilder for all of your contributions and inspiration! Please click the link below and learn more about Gene Wilder.
http://www.biography.com/people/gene-wilder-17191558
"So my idea of neurotic is spending too much time trying to correct a wrong. When I feel that I'm doing that, then I snap out of it." - Gene Wilder
June 11th is Kamehameha Day!!!
"Kamehameha Day was established by royal decree on December 22, 1871 by King Kamehameha V as a national holiday. Kamehameha Day was created to honor the memory of Kamehameha, the king’s great grandfather, who united the Hawaiian Islands in 1810 and became Hawai‘i’s first king. The first celebration occurred on June 11, 1872, during this early period celebrations occurred on each island and were grand and festive consisting of carnivals, fairs, and foot, horse, velocipede (bike), and canoe races. However, following the overthrow of Queen Lili‘uokalani and the Kingdom of Hawai‘i in 1893, Kamehameha Day continued to be recognized as a holiday, but the celebratory aspect (understandably) fell to the wayside.After Hawai‘i became a territory of the United States in 1898, Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana‘ole restored the Royal Order of Kamehameha I (Royal Order) in 1903. The Royal Order subsequently reestablished the celebration of Kamehameha Day on June 11, 1904. The Kamehameha Day celebrations in Hawai‘i were conducted exclusively by the Royal Order from 1904 until 1912. In 1912 respective chapters of the Royal Order began to collaborate with island communities and local governments to present Kamehameha Day celebrations."
Please click the link below and learn more about King Kamehameha.
http://www.kamehamehafestival.org/about/39/kamehameha
