For Black History Month it is usually the norm to celebrate those with the biggest names like Rosa Parks and Malcolm X. But there are others who created milestones in Black history that deserve to be celebrated. One such trailblazer is fashion designer Ann Lowe.
In 1953, Lowe designed Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ wedding dress for her marriage to John F. Kennedy. The iconic dress was constructed out of 50 yards of ivory silk taffeta. As the story goes, just ten days before the wedding ceremony a water line broke in Lowe’s New York City studio and ruined the former First Lady’s gown along with all of her bridesmaids dresses. But that didn’t stop Lowe, she worked tirelessly to recreate all eleven designs in time for the Rhode Island nuptials! Yet the only mention Lowe received by name was a blurb in the Washington Post where fashion editor Nine Hyde simply wrote “… the dress was designed by a Negro, Ann Lowe.”
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Samantha Knowles, 22, surrounded by the subject of her new 25-minute movie.
Sometimes, a doll is not just a doll. It’s a reminder of a child’s beauty and potential. No one understands that better than 22-year-old director Samantha Knowles, whose experience growing up as an African-American in a predominantly white community was the inspiration for her new documentary, “Why Do You Have Black Dolls?”
The 25-minute debut film about the significance of black dolls has been accepted at five film festivals and a trailer for “Why Do You Have Black Dolls” can be seen on Youtube.com.
“When I was 8, a white friend came over and innocently asked, ‘Why do you have black dolls?” remembers Knowles, who was raised in Warwick, N.Y., and now lives in Prospect Heights. “At the time, I obviously couldn’t really answer the question.” Fourteen years later, she can. Knowles, who initially made the film as her honors thesis at Dartmouth College, spent $6,000 and interviewed more than 20 dollmakers and historians, mostly in New York and Philadelphia.
“When I was 8, a white friend came over and innocently asked, ‘Why do you have black dolls?” remembers Knowles, who was raised in Warwick, N.Y., and now lives in Prospect Heights. “At the time, I obviously couldn’t really answer the question.” Fourteen years later, she can. Knowles, who initially made the film as her honors thesis at Dartmouth College, spent $6,000 and interviewed more than 20 dollmakers and historians, mostly in New York and Philadelphia.
Tracy Reese has relaunched her e-commerce website, TracyReese.com, and on it the fashion designer is not only going to offer her latest collections from both Tracy Reese and Plenty by Tracy Reese, but some of her inspirations as well. The section Tracy Loves features some of the hottest items and trends Reese is currently falling for like mixing bold colors and patterns. She also spotlights Butterscotch by Sally Hansen nail polish, which she’s used for her show and says that “romantic blue roses inspired a number of items in this collection.”
Her blog, Reese’s Pieces, shows sneak peeks and behind-the-scenes coverage as she travels around the world, chooses colors for her latest collection, dresses the First Lady, and preps for fashion shows.
Speaking of shows, New York Fashion Week is upon us and Reese recently shared her inspiration behind the Fall 2013 collection she’ll be sending down the runway Feb. 10. The New York-based designer was influenced by city’s “harshness and beauty” and will attempt to liven up the typically all-black ensembles New Yorker’s tend to fall for with pops of scarlet, cerise, teal, aubergine, tan and lychee. Expect feminine silhouettes in floral patterns, long skirts, sweater tunics, and vibrantly-hued outerwear.
article by Dorkys Ramos via bet.com
article by Dorkys Ramos via bet.com
Patience Lehrman; Janice Jackson; Pamela Green-Jackson
The Presidential Citizens Medal is the nation’s second-highest civilian honor. This year, three African Americans made the list of recipients, thanks to the serious and selfless work they do for their communities — from promoting childhood health to mentoring women and girls to helping immigrants live the American dream. It’s always great to give back, but it must be even better when the White House notices. Each of them will receive the medal during a Feb. 15 ceremony. Meet the honorees:
Pamela Green-Jackson (Albany, Ga.)
Green-Jackson is the founder and CEO of the Youth Becoming Healthy project, a nonprofit organization committed to reducing the epidemic of childhood obesity through nutrition, fitness education and physical-activity programs. YBH was created in memory of Pamela Green-Jackson’s only brother, Bernard Green, who died in 2004 from obesity-related illnesses. YBH provides resources for wellness programs, both during and after school, for elementary and middle school students as well as a summer wellness camp where students learn about exercise and nutrition and can participate in martial arts, a walking club and dance programs.
Janice Jackson (Baltimore)
Jackson is the creator and program director of Women Embracing Abilities Now, or W.E.A.N., a nonprofit mentoring organization serving women with varying degrees of disabilities. She is also a professor at the University of Baltimore. Jackson has actively advocated on behalf of people with disabilities and currently sits on the board of directors for the League for People With Disabilities, the Hoffberger Center for Professional Ethics at the University of Baltimore and the Image Center of Maryland. She is also a member of the Community Advisory Council at the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities at Kennedy Krieger Institute and is a counselor at Kernan Rehabilitation Center. In addition, she founded two support groups: We Are Able People, or W.R.A.P.; and Women on Wheels & Walking, or W.O.W.W.
Patience Lehrman (Philadelphia)
Lehrman, an immigrant from Cameroon, is the national director of Project SHINE (Students Helping in the Naturalization of Elders), an immigrant-integration initiative at the Intergenerational Center of Temple University. SHINE partners with 18 institutions of higher learning, community-based organizations and county and city governments across the country. It also engages college students and older adults to provide language and health education, as well as citizenship and civic-participation lessons, to immigrant communities. Lehrman mentors inner-city high school students, provides free meals to low-income children in the summer and serves as an election official. She holds three master’s degrees from Temple University.
article by Jeneé Desmond-Harris via theroot.com
Pamela Green-Jackson (Albany, Ga.)
Green-Jackson is the founder and CEO of the Youth Becoming Healthy project, a nonprofit organization committed to reducing the epidemic of childhood obesity through nutrition, fitness education and physical-activity programs. YBH was created in memory of Pamela Green-Jackson’s only brother, Bernard Green, who died in 2004 from obesity-related illnesses. YBH provides resources for wellness programs, both during and after school, for elementary and middle school students as well as a summer wellness camp where students learn about exercise and nutrition and can participate in martial arts, a walking club and dance programs.
Janice Jackson (Baltimore)
Jackson is the creator and program director of Women Embracing Abilities Now, or W.E.A.N., a nonprofit mentoring organization serving women with varying degrees of disabilities. She is also a professor at the University of Baltimore. Jackson has actively advocated on behalf of people with disabilities and currently sits on the board of directors for the League for People With Disabilities, the Hoffberger Center for Professional Ethics at the University of Baltimore and the Image Center of Maryland. She is also a member of the Community Advisory Council at the Maryland Center for Developmental Disabilities at Kennedy Krieger Institute and is a counselor at Kernan Rehabilitation Center. In addition, she founded two support groups: We Are Able People, or W.R.A.P.; and Women on Wheels & Walking, or W.O.W.W.
Patience Lehrman (Philadelphia)
Lehrman, an immigrant from Cameroon, is the national director of Project SHINE (Students Helping in the Naturalization of Elders), an immigrant-integration initiative at the Intergenerational Center of Temple University. SHINE partners with 18 institutions of higher learning, community-based organizations and county and city governments across the country. It also engages college students and older adults to provide language and health education, as well as citizenship and civic-participation lessons, to immigrant communities. Lehrman mentors inner-city high school students, provides free meals to low-income children in the summer and serves as an election official. She holds three master’s degrees from Temple University.
article by Jeneé Desmond-Harris via theroot.com
Madame Tussauds has turned its attention to Whitney Houston, remembering the legendary singer who died last year with not one, but four separate wax figures. “We were extremely honored when Madame Tussauds approached us about doing four figures of Whitney from different points in her 30-year career,” Houston’s manager and sister-in-law Pat Houston said in a statement on behalf of the family. “This is something we are excited to do for the fans.”
The unveiling marks the first time in 200 years that the museum has simultaneously created so many different figures of the same subject. While each took shape at the Tussauds studio in London, they will be displayed in separate cities.
Brooklyn, NY native Christopher Julius “Chris Rock” III was born on February 7, 1965 and began to build his stand-up career by working at New York City’s Catch a Rising Star in the 1980s, earning small parts in movies like Beverly Hills Cop II and I’m Gonna Git You Sucka and landing a featured role on NBC’s late-night comedy juggernaut Saturday Night Live in 1990. Rock went on to write and star in rap mockmentary CB4 before re-inventing himself through a series of HBO comedy specials starting with 1996’s Emmy Award-winning Bring the Pain. Rock later went on to produce the television show Everybody Hates Chris for UPN/CW and star in feature films such as Death at a Funeral, Down to Earth, The Longest Yard and I Think I Love My Wife. To learn more about his life and career, click here.
article by Lori Lakin Hutcherson
Rodney Bennett has been selected as the next president of the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. He will be the first African-American president of any of the five predominantly White state universities in Mississippi.
Dr. Bennett has been serving as vice president for student affairs at the University of Georgia in Athens. He previously was dean of students and interim provost for institutional diversity at the University of Georgia. Earlier in his career, Dr. Bennett was dean of students at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
Ed Blakeslee, president of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning in Mississippi, stated, “With a student-centered approach grounded in experience in all facets of the university, Dr. Bennett brings a tremendous depth of knowledge of higher education, its challenges and how to meet the challenges to help more students succeed in the classroom and beyond. I believe the Board of Trustees has made an excellent choice for the next leader of the University of Southern Mississippi.”
Dr. Bennett holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. He earned a doctorate in educational administration at Tennessee State University in Nashville.
article via jbhe.com
Nelson Mandela with his youngest great-grandson, Zen Manaway. Family says photo was taken Saturday February 2, 2013. (Photo courtesy ‘Being Mandela’/COZI TV.)
Nelson Mandela’s granddaughters are currently in New York City promoting their new reality show Being Mandela. During an interview with the Grio, the sisters gave an update on their 95-year-old grandfather’s health.
“His health is very good. He’s surrounded by family,” Nelson and Winnie Mandela’s granddaughter Zaziwe Dlamini-Manaway said. “We go to the house all the time. He’s really happiest the most when he spends time with his great grandchildren. So before we came on the trip we literally went to go see him to say bye. So he’s in really really good spirits. We’re very happy.”
Donald Driver #90 of the Green Bay Packers on the sidelines against the Tennessee Titans at Lambeau Field on December 23, 2012 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Tom Lynn /Getty Images)
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Donald Driver rewrote the Green Bay Packers record books and on Wednesday morning, the wildly popular wide receiver might’ve rewritten the book on how a player should call it a career.
Officially retiring after 14 seasons – all with the Packers, something that was extremely important to him – the franchise’s all-time leading receiver celebrated his career during an unprecedented event inside the Lambeau Field atrium with 1,500 fans, his family, Packers coaches, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Green Bay mayor Jim Schmitt and a handful of teammates.
Driver says it was a tough decision but he’s ready for the next chapter in his life. He retires after catching 743 passes for 10,137 yards, making the team as a seventh-round draft pick out of Alcorn State in 1999.
Officially retiring after 14 seasons – all with the Packers, something that was extremely important to him – the franchise’s all-time leading receiver celebrated his career during an unprecedented event inside the Lambeau Field atrium with 1,500 fans, his family, Packers coaches, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Green Bay mayor Jim Schmitt and a handful of teammates.
Driver says it was a tough decision but he’s ready for the next chapter in his life. He retires after catching 743 passes for 10,137 yards, making the team as a seventh-round draft pick out of Alcorn State in 1999.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press via thegrio.com
When outgoing defense secretary Leon Panetta lifted the military ban against women serving in combat, a common phrase heard in response to his decision was this: women have been serving for decades in combat zones indirectly, and risking their lives. The lifting of the ban was merely a formality that in many ways acknowledged the bravery and sacrifices women in the military have been making for decades.
New York’s Daily News has published an essay with a similar theme in honor of black women to commemorate Black History Month. Much as women in general have been contributing without appreciation for their level of service, the significant participation of African-American women in the military has been largely overlooked — perhaps to an even greater extent.
“According to the Indiana-based Buffalo Soldiers Research Museum, African-American women have played a role in every war effort in United States history,” writes Jay Mwamba of the Daily News. “And black women participated in spite of the twin evils of racial and gender discrimination.”
Nwamba goes on to recount the heroic feats of black women who fought for the American way in creative, mind-blowing ways, pushing themselves to the limit to enhance various military efforts. Harriet Tubman, who acted as a spy, nurse and scout during the Civil War. Cathay Williams, who, after being freed from a plantation by a Union contingent, pretended to be a man so that she could enlist in a peacetime army.
“For two years — until she fell ill and her ruse was discovered — Williams served as a Buffalo Soldier with the 38th U.S. Infantry Regiment,” Mwamba relates.
Now that is truth being stranger than fiction.
But we don’t have to go back to 1866, the year Williams enlisted, to find African-American sheroes engaging in daring feats. As recently as 2009, U.S. Navy Vice Admiral Michelle Janine Howard used military might to wrestle with forces of darkness. The first black woman to command a Navy combat ship, Howard made headlines when her vessel tangled with Somali pirates in the process of rescuing the captain of a merchant ship from captivity.