I have always know about Malcolm X since I was a child, but didn’t really know much beyond him being a strong Black leader, in the same era of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. As I have gotten older, more specifically, the last 5 years, I have grown to LOVE everything about Malcolm X. From his struggle in his adolescent years, to the wise beyond his years man we all knew. It’s hard not to feel in your soul, the entire story behind who Malcolm X is, and how he became Malcolm X in the first place. Read More
Black History Month 2017
Today is February 1st, which means it is officially, Black History Month! Black History Month is one of my favorite times of year to be on social media. Many people on my friends list share awesome facts and information about important Black historical figures and events throughout the month. It’s so nice to get on Facebook and/or Instagram to read educational posts about my own culture and heritage.Read More
Women's March- Helena, MT
Yesterday, I attended the Women’s March in Helena, MT. It was such a beautiful and empowering day. I marched with my friends, Charelle and Stephani, and we had such a great time. One of my favorite parts of the march was seeing how many women, specifically white women, were holding up signs with the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter and #NativeLivesMatter. Considering the very small population of Black people in Montana, and the usual mistreatment of Natives, it was beautiful to see so many allies. I hope this causes more allies for both movements and that we will see a march of this size, by women from all over, at the next Black Lives Matter march/protest. My favorite part of the march yesterday was a special Native America n ceremony and song. It was powerful and sent chills through your body. Oh, and did I mention they estimated approximately ten thousand people showed up yesterday? Yeah, it was intense and insane.Read More
January 20th, 2017: Good News!
If you’re feeling like most of us are feeling, today, we could all use some good news. I believe this entire week was a slow torturous countdown to this day. The band-aid was finally ripped off and here we are trying to see how long it’ll take this wound to heal…if it heals at all.
I’ll be completely honest though, I was upset for about half an hour this morning, and I’ve since moved on. I’ve decided these next four years (hopefully sooner) I need to start putting more of my money where my mouth is. We can’t expect any President to “save us” from ourselves, but we sure as hell can work our behinds off to make the changes we want to see in this country.
I was too busy, out and about, running errands with my daughter and the dog this morning to take any time to watch the Inauguration. I’m actually happy I decided to do this, because I honestly believe it protected me from feeling so much negativity, today. Not the type of feeling of wanting change because of racism, sexism, etc, but the negativity of watching something that doesn’t make me happy, for no good reason. I hope you all did something to make yourself happy as well. If you didn’t…here go some great things that happened today to brighten your January 20th, 2017!
House Of Cards (season 5) promo:
Not only did House of Cards finally drop a date for season 5, the entire promotion is perfect marketing for this day. It’s an eerie version of the Pledge of Allegiance with a dark, upside down, American flag, outside of the U.S. Capitol. Check out the promo here.
Obama.org (Presidential Center) announcement:
President and First Lady (I’m not ready to say “former” yet) Obama shared a video on their Obama Foundation page talking about their next moves post Presidency. They are asking for people to send them ideas and suggestions for the new Presidential Center in Chicago, IL. If you want to get involved and make a difference…here’s a good start!
Women’s March countdown:
The Women’s March on D.C. will be held tomorrow afternoon. Oh man, what a big deal and show of solidarity this will be. Not only will this march take place tomorrow, but over 250 sister marches all over the world will be taking place in solidarity with everyone in D.C. I’m so excited to march here in Montana tomorrow afternoon with two of my close friends. If you would like more details on the march and how you can get involved, click here.
Black-ish Spinoff:
It has been said there will be a spin-off show around Yara Shahidi’s character, Zoey, while she is in college. The inspiration for the show is my favorite show of all time A Different World. DO YOU KNOW HOW EXCITED I AM FOR THIS? I really hope it all works out and ends up being everything I imagine it can be!
National Cheese Day:
I found this out on Twitter earlier this morning. It may seem trivial to some of you, but to me, it’s awesome, because y’all….I love cheese. Like, ridiculously love cheese. If I could add cheese to everything I eat I would. So…happy National Cheese Day y’all!
What good news what you like to share with all of us, today? It doesn’t have to be anything major just something that makes you happy. I will say this, even if none of these activities and events happened today; I woke up healthy, my loved ones are healthy, and life is good.
Happy Friday folks! Have a fun and safe weekend!
(Wishing my little one and I were in D.C. tomorrow so here’s a photo of us when we were there this past October)
Brie <3
[01.20.17]
MLK Day 2017
“I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizens Councilor or the Ku Klux Klanner but the white moderate who is more devoted to order than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
"Glory"
Tomorrow, January 15th, is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. He would’ve been 88 years old. Isn’t it crazy to think Dr. King could still be alive had his life not be STOLEN from us so soon?
A few years ago the movie Selma was released. This song “Glory” was the official released track on the soundtrack for the movie. To this day, this song gives me chills, and gives me a feeling I can’t really explain. Since visiting the National Museum of African American History and Culture back in October, this song holds so much more weight.
But I won’t get into too many emotional details on this post. I’ll save all of the emotions and words for my Dr. King tribute post on, Monday evening. Until then, enjoy this song. Listen to the words. Let it resonant with you and really hit you deep in your heart. Although the song was written for a March years ago, this song very much so is for today, and how far we still have to go.
Have a safe (long) weekend everyone!
Brie <3
[01.14.17]
Wisdom Wednesday: Maya Angelou
My January Wisdom Wednesday post is about the one and only, Maya Angelou. (Birth name: Marguerite Annie Johnson) Maya Angelou was an extraordinary woman, many people, from different generations have admired for years. Her list of credentials are nothing short of amazing. From Pulitzer Prize recipient, to well-known activist in multiple countries, Ms. Angelou was a woman who lived by the definition of compassion and courage.
Although Ms. Angelou’s resume trumps a majority of the human race, there was one particular title she held that inspired me when I was in middle school. The title was, poet. Her poetry is what many people know her for, but there was something about the words in the poem “Still I Rise” that gave a younger me such a feeling of empowerment. Which for any young girl in her soon-to-be early teens, couldn’t have enough of at the time. It was at the moment I read “Still I Rise” I realized I wanted to read more of her writing.
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is still to this day one of the most emotionally driven, beautifully upsetting, books I have ever read. If you have not read it, I would encourage you to read the book and learn in detail what made Maya Angelou such a remarkable person, at an extremely young age. As many people know, she was raped at the age of eight by her mother’s boyfriend at the time, and when his punishment didn’t fit the crime, (as most of us would say) it is suspected her uncles took matters into their own hands and killed the man days later. Maya became a mute and didn’t speak for over five years, because she believed using her words to name the man who raped her are what had gotten him killed.
By the time I had made it to high school my favorite poem by Ms. Angelou, and still to this day is Phenomenal Woman. The poem makes me love everything about being a woman. It makes me love every curve and flaw on my body, as well as, make me appreciate the difference and beauty of every woman’s body. If for some reason you have not had the pleasure of hearing or reading this poem before, please do so.
Ms. Angelou died on May 28th, 2014. I read the news of her passing as I got off of the plane in Denver Airport from Chicago, IL, to board my next plane back to Great Falls, MT. I remember feeling an instant wave of sadness because the world had lost such a beautiful person. Maya Angelou inspires me because her life journey proves life is about the choices we make, and how we overcome mistakes we make. She is the definition of learning to stand for what we believe in, and how our words can change lives positively if we use them lovingly and wisely. I’m thankful I was alive during the last 25 years of her life to see her work in action. I will be sure to teach my daughter about her so she can learn the same life lessons I did from Ms. Angelou at a young age through her beautiful words.
R.I.P. Maya Angelou
Brie <3
[01.07.15]