Inclusivity Thread!!! 💗💗

[lovely_xm07]

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH!! ✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾

The word “woke” or phrase “stay woke” came from Black American English. Woke is an adjective that describes being aware of the reality of racial oppression or social justice issues. The word woke was recorded back in 1938 by Black American musician Huddie “Lead Belly” Ledbetter saying, “I’d advise everybody be little careful when they go along through there. Best stay woke, keep your eyes open.” He was advising Black people traveling in Alabama to be careful! In 1931, nine Black teens known as the Scottsboro boys were falsely accused of raping two white women on a freight train in Alabama. This sparked a movement further encouraging the use of the word from then on, the word meant to alert of racial injustice.

 

70 years later in 2008, “stay woke” remains part of the Black American vocabulary. It was used in a song called “Master Teacher” by Erykah Badu and writer, Georgia Anne Muldrow. Stay woke was eventually popularized by Black social media users, particularly Black Twitter, as a rallying cry against anti-Black police violence. But, then unfortunately, the phrase was co-opted by racists. 
 

Beginning in the 2010s, it became used to refer to a broader awareness of social inequalities such as racial injustice, sexism, and denial of LGBTQIA+ rights. Today woke is used as a code word for anyone who is Black, young, socially conscious, educated, or simply just anyone who is against oppression. Just like DEI and critical race theory. The rampant misuse of these terms just demonstrates a lack of understanding or in other cases a blatant hatred for social progress and Black people. There are many people that are upset with the social conscious that comes with the term “woke” (looking at you Trump, Musk, and MAGAts in general) but one has to wonder why they are so against teaching about racism, what it is and what it looks like, and how to fight it. It’s almost as if they are on the racism side! 👀👀👀

 

By 2019, the word was used to sarcastically as a pejorative among many on the political right and some centrists in Western countries targeting various leftist and progressive movements. Terms like woke-washing and woke capitalism emerged to criticize organizations who advertise their commitment to social injustice for financial gain, also referred to as “performative activism.” 

 

In other words, the term woke comes from Black culture and the oppression we faced! There is absolutely nothing wrong with being woke. In conclusion, STAY WOKE!!! STAY AWAKE!! For all marginalized groups but Black people especially!!! Don’t let these right wing idiots gaslight you into thinking it’s wrong, bad, or problematic. 

[Barbio]

I saw a truck the other day that had a bumper sticker that just said, "Not Woke". And my first thought was, "You mean you're driving while you're asleep?! That's dangerous!"

[daveb]

13 hours ago, lovely_xm07 said:

In other words, the term woke comes from Black culture and the oppression we faced! There is absolutely nothing wrong with being woke. In conclusion, STAY WOKE!!! STAY AWAKE!! For all marginalized groups but Black people especially!!! Don’t let these right wing idiots gaslight you into thinking it’s wrong, bad, or problematic. 

Thanks for the info! Right on! It's like they don't even think about what the alternative is. To be asleep, unaware, ignorant? I guess some really do prefer that, at least for the masses, as it's easier to control them that way.

[daveb]

On a happier note, Maiya May is an awesome science communicator. She has some fun and informative videos on YouTube, as part of some PBS content.

 

For more info, here's her own website: https://maiyamay.com/about

Edited February 14 by daveb

[lovely_xm07]

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH!!!
 

Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner (May 17, 1912 — January 13, 2006) is an American inventor most known for her development of the adjustable sanitary belt. Kenner received five patents, which includes a carrier attachment for invalid walker and bathroom tissue dispenser. Kenner, a Black woman, invented the first generation of the menstrual pad. She patented an improved sanitary belt in 1957, leading to advancements in modern sanitary pads.

 

Kenner was born in Monroe, North Carolina, and came from a family of inventors. Her father was Sidney Nathaniel Davidson. In his lifetime, he patented a clothing press which would fit in suitcases, though he ultimately made no money on the invention. Her maternal grandfather, Robert Phromebeger, patented a stretcher with wheels for ambulances and invented a light signal for trains, though his invention was stolen from him by a white man. Her sister, Mildred Davidson Austin Smith, invented, patented, and commercially sold board games.

 

Kenner’s sanitary belt meant that you could go in public without fear of blood getting anywhere. When she first patented it, a company sent a representative down to speak with her. When they found out she was Black, they lost interest. Kenner never made money from her sanitary belt because her patent expired and became public domain, allowing it to be manufactured freely. She later invented a modification of the sanitary belt that included a “moisture resistant pocket.”

Between 1956 and 1987, she received five total patents from her household and personal items creations which was the largest number of patents held by a Black woman at the time. She shared a patent on the toilet tissue holder with her sister. She also held a patent on a back washer that could be mounted on the shower or bathtub wall, also known as the backwash.

 

Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner is the unsung pioneer of the women’s health. I thought it would be nice to mention her not just because it’s cool how a Black woman invented the menstrual pad but yesterday was National Inventor Day! So to celebrate we are celebrating Kenner and her contributions to America through her inventions that are used worldwide! 

[lovely_xm07]

 

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH!! 🖤❤️🕷️

 

Today, we are honoring fictional character Miles Morales from the Spiderverse films. Miles is a young, Black, Puerto-Rican teenager from Brooklyn. He is not a side character or a stereotype, he is the main character. The hero. A character with a story full of challenges that feel real. Whether it’s dealing with school, family, or learning how to be Spider-Man, his life feels like something many kids can relate to. When Black kids see Miles, they see someone who looks like them, talks like them, and lives in a world that feels familiar. His story reminds that they don’t have to change themselves to be heroes.

 

Too often, Black characters in media are cast as villains, sidekicks, or comic relief. Miles flips the script. He’s the main character, the one with the power to save the day. He’s smart, brave, and full of heart. Everything a superhero should be. When Black kids see Miles, they see that they don’t have to fit into someone else’s idea of who they should be. Like Miles, they can be leaders, problem-solvers, and heroes in their own right. 
 

Miles’ Afro-Latino heritage makes him even more special. For kids who come from mixed backgrounds, it can be hard to see their full identity represented in once person. Miles shows that you don’t have to choose between your cultures. You can embrace them all. He’s a reminder that your identity makes you unique and being proud of where you come from. 
 

In a world where Black kids often face challenges and injustices, Miles stands as a symbol of hope. His journey as Spider-Man isn’t perfect. He struggles, makes mistakes, and learns along the way. But through it all, he keeps going. For kids watching his story, he’s proof that no matter how hard life gets, they can overcome anything. Miles Morales isn’t just a character in a comic book or movie.  He’s a reminder that Black kids deserve to see themselves as the main heroes in their stories they love. He’s proof that being different isn’t a weakness — it’s a strength. 
 

[lovely_xm07]

 

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH!! 🖤
 

Since today is Valentine’s Day, I thought we could honor couple Barack and Michelle Obama. ❤️
 

As we know, Barack Obama and Michelle Obama were the first Black president and First Lady of the United States of America! Making history in it of itself. Separately these two have accomplished much but together these two have made multiple accomplishments. Here’s a cute story of how they met. 🥰

 

“I met Michelle in 1988, after my first year of law school, when I took a summer job at Sidley & Austin, a law firm in Chicago. A year earlier I had been working as a community organizer in some of Chicago's poorest neighborhoods, and I struggled with the decision to go to a large firm. But with student loans mounting, the three months of salary they offered wasn't something I could pass up.

Michelle worked at Sidley, too, and, in the luckiest break of my life, was assigned to be my adviser, charged with helping me learn the ropes. I remember being struck by how tall and beautiful she was. She, I have since learned, was pleasantly surprised to see that my nose and ears weren't quite as enormous as they looked in the photo I'd submitted for the firm directory.

Over the next several weeks, we saw a lot of each other at work. She was kind enough to take me to a few parties, and never once commented on my mismatched and decidedly unstylish wardrobe.

I asked her out. She refused. I kept asking. She kept refusing.

‘I'm your adviser,’ she said. ‘It's not appropriate.’ Finally, I offered to quit my job, and at last she relented. On our first date, I treated her to the finest ice cream Baskin-Robbins had to offer, our dinner table doubling as the curb. I kissed her, and it tasted like chocolate.

I had known those student loans were going to get me a great education, but I had no idea they'd get me my first date with the love of my life.” - Barack Obama

 

The two would go one to do extraordinary things together. Barack in politics and Michelle in advocacy all while raising their two daughters. The Obamas are THE power couple especially in the political. The relationship between them continues to capture the adoration of many. 

[daveb]

13 hours ago, lovely_xm07 said:

She, I have since learned, was pleasantly surprised to see that my nose and ears weren't quite as enormous as they looked in the photo I'd submitted for the firm directory.

 

 

13 hours ago, lovely_xm07 said:

The relationship between them continues to capture the adoration of many. 

Indeed!

 

(my computer screen got all fuzzy for some reason)  

[lovely_xm07]

 

This is Ernestine Eckstein (1941-1992) who was one of the first Black activists in the LGBTQ movement. Eckstein got involved in the Black Freedom Movement and the Daughter of Bilitis, the very first lesbian civil rights organization in the United States. Eckstein was a leader and vice principal in the New York chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis. She marched in Philadelphia at the first “Annual Reminder Day,” a series of picket protests organized by LGBTQ groups on July 4 in 1965. She also marched in front of the White House. She was frequently one of the only women and was the only Black person demonstrating at that time. Both pickets marked some of the very first protests for LGBTQ rights. 

 

She majored in journalism at the Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, where she also got a minors in government and Russian. She was the officer of her school's NAACP chapter during her senior year. She moved to New York City three years after graduation. She told The Ladder "that she was surprised to learn that there wasn’t much activism going on to further the rights of LGBTQ folk," added that she was “disturbed” that some described homosexuality as a “sickness.” She noted that many other women in the LGBTQ movement were afraid to protest, despite supporting the protestors. "Any movement needs a certain number of courageous people, there's no getting around it,” she maintained. “They have to come out on behalf of the cause and accept whatever consequences come." When she posed for the cover of The Ladder, she made history by being the first Black person to be photographed as a gay activist. They noted that she did it despite the potential risk of being found out and fired from her civil service job.

 

Eckstein also advocated for transgender people to be included in the gay rights movement —which was called the "homophile movement" at the time. “I feel the homophile movement is only part of a much larger movement of the erasure of labels. I think the right of a person to dress as he chooses must necessarily follow when we expand our own philosophy of bringing about change for the homosexual,” she told The Ladder. “I see no reason why we cannot begin to expand into other areas. And this one is so closely aligned with our own.” She said that she'd "like to find a way of getting all classes of homosexuals involved together in the movement."

In the 1970s, Eckstein became involved in the Black feminist movement and was involved with the organization Black Women Organized for Actions. "She was a visionary who predicted and foreshadowed so many of the issues that would face the LGBTQ community in the decades to come," according to the ‘Making Gay History’ podcast.

 

Her trailblazing efforts should not be forgotten and will not be. She stepped up when others were too scared. She fought to be seen and to be heard. She viewed the fight for civil rights and the LGBTQ rights as intrinsically linked. She was a fearless, bold woman who represented!! RIP Ernestine Eckstein. Thank you for your bravery and all that you did! 
 

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH!! 🖤

[lovely_xm07]

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH!!! 💜🖤

 

Today is SoulACE Day where we celebrate African American asexuals to embraced the intersectionality of the ace community. In honor of that, I’d like to celebrate one of the founders of SoulACE Day, Marshall John Blount. 
 

 

Blount is an asexual activist also known as Gentle Giant Ace within the ace community. Blount became involved in asexual activism after negative reactions to his asexuality. He became a board member for Asexual Outreach, a nonprofit organization in 2020. He was involved in Erie’s LGBTQ council until June 2020, when he left in protest due to the mayor’s negative response to a local protest for George Floyd. Blount later joined the Pennsylvania commission on LGBTQ affairs to continue his work on a government level. Blount runs a YouTube channel where he regularly posts about asexuality and his experiences through society as someone who is openly asexual. 
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsw6zzoKlskACsfRs0sZ20g

"Being a Black Asexual person in this world has landed me between two spaces,space number one being a predominantly White space with little to no representation,and space number two being assumed to be Heterosexual in my own community (African American) because of our cultural expectations and stereotypes (which is perpetuated by general society/media outside of our community)...This is why it's important to created spaces for us to be open and free from such experiences because it can be harmful to our well being...There is absolutely nothing wrong with being Black Asexual and it needs to be said loudly.” - Marshall John Blount

 

Today marks the first day where we celebrate SoulACE Day!! It will continue to be spread and talked about to include Black asexual folk. We will continue to celebrate us, our culture, and how our Blackness affects our identities and orientations. ✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾💜💜💜

[lovely_xm07]

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH!! 💚🖤

In honor of Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week, today I’d like to represent Michaela Coel. 


 

Michaela Coel is writer, director, and actress known for creating Chewing Gum and I May Destroy You. Coel began identifying as aromantic in 2018, after stumbling across the term on the internet. On being aromantic, Coel says: “If you tell me to dress up nicely because we’re going to go to a dinner with candles, it’s not going to mean a lot to me. It’s a waste of money and I have ingredients at home. Things like weddings and the expense of these things — I would rather settle for the rest of my life with a person… I am OK being by myself. I like having intimate relationships but I don’t want to change people or want to be changed by anyone. Diamond rings don’t make me happy. Flowers don’t make me smile. I can’t smell them. I don’t have a sense of smell. I want to know who you are.”

Born in 1987, Coel grew up on an estate in Tower Hamlets in east London, with her Ghanaian immigrant mother and sister, surrounded by the cultures and characters who influenced her TV show Chewing Gum. She would later recall how after entering the media industry, she would often find herself in rooms where she was the only person who looked like her and felt great anxiety. Coel grew up watching TV, and didn’t think working in media was possible for her due to the overwhelming absence of Black and working-class characters. 

As a young adult, Coel started studying English Literature and Theology at the University of Birmingham, but eventually moved toward performing arts, enrolling in drama school at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. While at Guildhall, she experienced racist verbal attacks by fellow students and was described as ‘the elephant in the room’ by the head of the school.

 

 

In the mid-2010s, Coel began working on capturing her experiences in what would become her first TV masterpiece, Chewing Gum. Based on her 2012 play Chewing Gum Dreams, the process was not easy, as the pilot script went through 41 drafts before it reached TV screens. Being faced with a long list of white collaborators who weren’t sure how to publish her vision, Coel persisted in the pursuit of Black media representation. 

After airing, Chewing Gum earned her a British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Award for Best Female Comedy Performance in 2016 and one for Breakthrough Talent for her screenwriting, also receiving overwhelmingly positive reviews in the U.S. once streamed on Netflix. Aside from Chewing Gum, Coel has flexed her acting muscle in projects like Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Black Mirror, also releasing two albums of original music. Continuing her success of Chewing Gum, I May Destroy You became one of the highest critically rated series of 2020. A series she wrote, directed, and produced.
 

Coel is determined to keep writing and producing projects that boost representation of marginalized communities, saying “people don’t know these jobs exist – especially when you go to schools like mine. These are not options. Being a writer is not a thing. But I would plant that seed in the head of every child, especially working-class children, women of color, men of color, [and] the queer community.”

It’s thrilling to see a creator at Coel’s level who isn’t preoccupied with romance. I can’t wait to see more from this aromantic icon! 💚🤍🩶🖤

[lovely_xm07]

 

This is the Black Heritage Flag! It’s an ethnic flag that represents the culture and history of African American people. Each color and symbol on the flag has a significant meaning that has developed to instill pride in Black Americans, and provide them with a symbol of hope for the future in the midst of their struggle in the civil rights movement. 
 

Melvin Charles and Gleason T. Jackson designed the flag in 1967. Charles described the story behind the design of the Black American Heritage Flag when it was raised at City Hall. The gold colored blunted represents “the feeling of having pride and also knowing, when you have a blunted sword, when you blunt it, you learn to [curdle] the earth…” The sword is also a symbol of leadership carried by the great Moorish leaders of the 8th Century. The sword represents the strength and authority exhibited by a Black culture that made many contributions to the world in mathematics, art, medicine, and physical science, heralding the contributions that Black Americans would make in these and other fields. Superimposed on the black stripe is a golden wreath of fig leaves. The cultivated fig is a native of Africa, and ranks as one of the most ancient of life-sustaining fruits. The color black represents the pride in our pigmentation and race. The color red reminds us of the rich blood Black men have shed for freedom, justice, equality, and human dignity throughout the world. The gold color represents intellect, prosperity, and peace. 
 

 

The idea to create the flag came about during the civil rights era when Charles realized that every other group of people had a flag at parades except Black Americans. He saw how connected they were to their national flags, but didn’t feel the same connection towards the American flag due to the negative historical and political implication that the American flag held in the minds of the Black American people. Creating a national flags was still just an idea in mind until he pitched the idea to Gleason T. Jackson. He designed the flag alongside Jackson where they bounced ideas off each other and going to the library for extra inspiration for designs and symbols. The flag received some opposition from some people, but was eventually accepted and supported by the mayor. It was officially hoisted onto a flag pole at the City Hall in Newark, New Jersey on March 5, 1967.

 

Amidst the 2020 George Floyd protests, the Black American community showcased pride for their race and culture throughout the streets of various cities in the United States. They also were extremely vocal about it on social media platforms like Twitter and TikTok. The heavy usage and discussion of the Black American Heritage flag during that time eventually led to the increased recognition of the flag and its colors all over the country.

 

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH!!! 💛❤️🖤

[Barbio]

I like this thread because I'm learning so much history that I didn't know before!

[daveb]

1 hour ago, Barbio said:

I like this thread because I'm learning so much history that I didn't know before!

ditto  

[lovely_xm07]

 

HAPPY AROMANTIC SPECTRUM WEEK!! 💚🤍🩶🖤 This is Moses Sumney. He is a Ghanaian-American singer and songwriter known for his genre defying music that blends soul, jazz, and art-rock. His genre also includes alternative/indie and he is also and actor and has appeared in The Idol and MaXXXine. 

Summey’s first full length album, Aromanticism was released on September 22, 2017 by Jagjaguwar. It received acclaim from Rolling Stone, The Guardian, and The New York Times, which also named it one of the best albums of 2017. He stumbled across the term “aromantic” when began writing it back in 2014 and found the term resonated with him.

 

 

It is a concept album about “lovelessness as a sonic dreamscape” that “seeks to interrogate the idea that romance is normative and necessary.” The record was written and produced by Sumney. For an album centered around lonesomeness, Aromanticism feels warm. The album was named “Best New Music” with Pitchfork reviewer calling it “a musical detoxification from the exhausting stream of information that now constitutes a normal day of news.”

[daveb]

I just learned about this guy today.

 

 

 

Quote

Edward Joseph Dwight Jr. (born September 9, 1933) is an American sculptor, author, retired test pilot, and astronaut.

source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Dwight

 

Shameful move on the government's part meant he was passed over back in the early days of the space program. Finally, in 2024, with the help of many people he became the oldest person to go into space (even older than Shatner was).

[Gentle Giant]

Dr. Heather Cox Richardson. American historian, author and professor. I’ve been watching her videos and any other video shows that have her on as a guest. I admire her and learn a lot from her. She helps with dealing with these terrible times we are in with T back in office. Here is her youtube page.

 

https://m.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson/videos

[lovely_xm07]

1 hour ago, Gentle Giant said:

Dr. Heather Cox Richardson. American historian, author and professor. I’ve been watching her videos and any other video shows that have her on as a guest. I admire her and learn a lot from her. She helps with dealing with these terrible times we are in with T back in office. Here is her youtube page.

 

https://m.youtube.com/@heathercoxrichardson/videos

Oh hey, I’ve actually subscribed to her channel! You uploaded one of her videos once in the “Living in a Theocratic Fascist Dictatorship!” I found her video to be very calming. I mean, I know what’s going on is all bad, but it’s something about her voice and overall, vibe that is very soothing for me. It’s comforting but also grounding with the way she talks. Her advice and the way she ties it into history is very informative to where it helps you understand why and how this is all happening. Anyway, I subscribed because I love hearing her talk. I learn a lot from her videos. 

[Gentle Giant]

@lovely_xm07 i totally agree. You described her exactly the way I feel about her too.

[lovely_xm07]

Happy ASAW!! 💚🤍🩶🖤

Today I’d like to recognize some fictional characters that you may recognize in media that are confirmed to be aromantic!!

 

 

Alix Kubdel from the popular TV show Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir has been confirmed to be aromantic by the creator, Thomas Astruc, commenting on Twitter that she was “rather aro”. Alix is a French-Arabic, tomboy teenage girl who is tough, stubborn, self confident, and isn’t afraid of challenges. On the show, she is also a superhero by the name of Bunnyx that has the ability to travel through time with the help of the Rabbit Miraculous, a white blue pocket watch.
 

 

Willow from The Angry Birds Movie has been confirmed to be aromantic! It was confirmed officially in 2024 during Pride Month. Willow is a free-spirited artist with a gentle soul and deep love for nature. She is shy by nature and feels safest when wearing a large, oversized hat which she tends to hide under. She hates it when someone disturbs her when she has a creative art session. She has a few insecurities, such as having multiple colorful feathers on her head that she covers with her hat due to embarrassment. However, she is still confident, friendly, and stands for what she believes in.

[lovely_xm07]

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH!! ❤️🖤⚒️

 

So I’ve been wanting to post and share this story with you guys for a while now. When I was a kid, I was IN LOVE with the Disney short John Henry. I thought it was so cool! This short played a significant part of my childhood. I rewatched it recently, and I am happy to stay that it still hits. The music and story is not only good, but nostalgic and reminiscent of the good old days that I had. Anyway, I really want to share the short with you because it is a part of Black folklore, and it’s really cool. I’ll be sharing some history as well.

 

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x8j5793

John Henry is an American folk hero. An African-American freedman who is said to have worked as a steel driving man. The story of John Henry is told in classic blues folk song about his duel against a drilling machine, which exists in many versions, and has been the subject of numerous stories, plays, books, and novels.

 

According to legend, John Henry’s prowess as a steel driver was measured in a race against a steam powered rock drill, a race that he won only to die in victory with a hammer in hand as his heart gave out from stress. There were various locations that have been suggested as the site of the contest such as Big Bend Tunnel in West Virginia, Lewis  Tunnel in Virginia, and Coosa Mountain Tunnel in Alabama. The contest involved John Henry as the hammerman working in partnership with a shaker, who would hold a chisel-like drill against mountain rock, while the hammerman struck a blow with a hammer. Then the shaker would begin rocking and rolling: wiggling and rotating the drill to optimize its bite. The steam drill machine could drill but it could not shake the chipping away, so its bits could not drill further and frequently broke down.

 

 

John Henry was actually a real person, however, the historical accuracy of many of the aspects of the legend is up for debate. The actual John Henry was born in New Jersey in 1848 and died from silicosis, a complication of his workplace, and not due to exhaustion of work.

In the 2006 book Steel Drivin' Man: John Henry, the Untold Story of an American Legend, historian Scott Reynolds Nelson detailed his discovering documentation of a 19-year-old African-American man alternately referred to as John Henry, John W. Henry, or John William Henry in previously unexplored prison records of the Virginia Penitentiary. At the time, penitentiary inmates were hired out as laborers to various contractors, and this John Henry was notated as having headed the first group of prisoners to be assigned tunnel work. Nelson also discovered the C&O's tunneling records, which the company believed had been destroyed by fire. Henry, like many African Americans, might have come to Virginia to work on the clean-up of the battlefields after the American Civil War. Arrested and tried for burglary, John Henry was in the first group of convicts released by the warden to work as leased labor on the C&O Railways. 
 

According to Nelson, objectionable conditions at the Virginia prison led the warden to believe that the prisoners, many of whom had been arrested on trivial charges, would be better clothed and fed if they were released as laborers to private contractors (he subsequently changed his mind about this and became an opponent of the convict labor system). In the C&O's tunneling records, Nelson found no evidence of a steam drill used in Big Bend Tunnel. The records Nelson found indicate that the contest took place 40 miles away at the Lewis Tunnel, between Talcott and Millboro, Virginia, where prisoners did indeed work beside steam drills night and day. Nelson also argues that the verses of the ballad about John Henry being buried "in the sand" somewhere that locomotives roar, mean that Henry's body was buried in a ditch behind the so-called white house of the Virginia State Penitentiary, which photos from that time indicate was painted white, and where numerous unmarked graves have been found.

 

Regardless of which, John Henry’s story stands as a symbol of hope, resilience, and strength. His tale was used as a symbol in many cultural movements such as the labor movement and the Civil Rights movement.

 

 

[lovely_xm07]

Happy ASAW!!! 💚🤍🩶🖤

Today, I’ll be recognizing some more fictional characters in media that have been confirmed to be aromantic!

 

 

This is Deuce Gorgon from the third generation of Monster High. This is the newest version of Monster High with it getting a reboot show on Nickelodeon. Deuce was confirmed to be aromantic in the show. In the episode “The Deuce Date,” he says he is not into romance, and that he is happy not having a partner. He did previously date Cleo, but he mentions they were better off as just friends. In the previous generations (1 and 2) Deuce was just straight, but this third generation has lots of new diversity with many main members representing racial minorities, LGBTQIA+, and disabled communities. Deuce is calm, cool, and friendly. He is very kind and helpfulespecially towards his friends. However, the snakes in his hair often give him advice that can get him into trouble.
 

 

Peridot from the popular show Steven Universe from Cartoon Network has been confirmed as aromantic and asexual. She was confirmed by a storyboard artist who worked on the series Steven Universe Future. This was shown beforehand by her disinterest in fusion, although fusion is not a direct metaphor for such relationships. However, in Peridot’s case, it likely represents a disinterest in such relationships. With the artist sharing on Twitter, “…Peridot’s interest in shipping and romance is anthropological, and she’s not about fusion. She’s the ace and aro rep. It wasn’t something that I knew before I worked on the show, but I have for a while, and I don’t want to be coy about a character who shares my identity anymore. I don’t want to make that representation secondary priority to shipping anymore.” Peridot is seen to be cold-hearted and ruthless. She is rather self-centered, and makes it clear that she believes she is better than everyone. Her narcissistic attitude is likely a cover up for her insecurities. Despite this, she is very passionate, calculating, independent, and loyal. 

[lovely_xm07]

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH!! 🖤📺

Today, we are celebrating Chester Middlebrook Pierce (1927-2016) who was a Black psychiatrist that helped shape Sesame Street to uplift Black children. Sesame Street was created in 1969 by Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett through the Children’s Television Workshop, now Sesame Workshop. Cooney, a television producer, believed TV could be used as an educational tool for children, while Morrisett, a psychologist wanted to use media to close the learning gap for underserved children. Their goal was to create a show taught on literacy, math, and social skills to kids who had limited access to preschool education particularly in urban communities. 
 

 

Dr. Chester Pierce, a Harvard trained psychiatrist, was a senior consultant during the development of Sesame Street. As an expert in racial identity and the effects of racism on children, he ensured that the show provided positive representation for Black children, who were often ignored or misrepresented in media. He pushed for authentic Black representation through characters like Gordon and Susan, who modeled positive Black family life, ensuring that Black children saw themselves reflected in nurturing and intelligent roles.
 

 

Recognizing the power of media in shaping perceptions, he championed diverse friendships between Black and white children, directly challenging segregationist attitudes and promoting racial unity from an early age. Additionally, he emphasized an educational approach tailored to the learning needs of Black children in underserved communities, ensuring that Sesame Street was not just entertaining but also an effective tool for closing the racial education gap.
 

 

During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Black children had limited access to quality preschool education due to systemic inequalities. Many entered school already behind their white peers in literacy and math. Sesame Street was revolutionary because it provided free, structured learning through television, helping Black children build essential skills before starting school. Beyond academics, the show gave Black children positive role models and a sense of belonging. Seeing Black adults as teachers, parents, and community leaders on TV helped counter the negative stereotypes that were common in media at the time. The integrated friendships shown on Sesame Street normalized racial unity for young viewers during a period of intense civil rights struggles. 
 

 

Over the decades, Sesame Street has continued to be a leader in Black representation and social justice messaging. It has featured Black Muppets, such as Roosevelt Franklin, one of the first Black muppets, Wes and Elijah, a Black father and son duo introduced in 2021 to discuss race and identity, and Gabrielle, a young black girl who helps children understand racial fairness. The show also tackled racial injustice, police violence, and Black identity in a way that young children can understand. It has helped normalize Black excellence, promote self-worth, and reinforce that Black children are valuable, intelligent, and loved.
 

 

This is Megan Piphus Peace became the first Black woman puppeteer on Sesame Street in 2020 and has played the role of Gabrielle, 6 year old Black girl muppet, since 2021. I thought we honor her as well. ❤️

[lovely_xm07]

 

Dr. Chester Pierce’s vision ensured that Sesame Street would not just educate children academically but would also affirm Black children’s place in the world. His impact is still felt today, as Sesame Street remains a symbol of inclusivity, education, and empowerment for Black families worldwide.

 

Thank you, Dr. Chester Pierce for vision, your advocacy, and commitment to ensuring that Black children saw themselves reflected with dignity, intelligence, and love. Your work helped shape Sesame Street into more than just a children’s show. It became a powerful tool for education, representation, and racial equity. RIP Chester Pierce. You will be loved and missed!
 

SHOUT OUT to Sesame Street for continuing to uplift, educate, and empower Black children and families for generations. Your commitment to inclusivity and social justice has changed lives and will continue to shape the future! 
 

Some other facts about Dr. Chester Pierce: 

He was an American psychiatrist and tenured professor of education and psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. He was the first African-American full professor at Massachusetts General Hospital and past president of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the American Orthopsychiatric Association. He was a fellow in the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He also coined and developed the term microaggression. 

[daveb]

That's good to learn about all of that! As a Muppet fan, I am glad they are part of that, too.  

[lovely_xm07]

Happy ASAW!! 💚🤍🩶🖤 I thought we could highlight some of the underrepresented aromantic terms on here today. 🙌🏾🙌🏾

Aegoromantic  - describes those who enjoy the concept of romance but do not have a desire to participate in romantic activities. Aegoromantic individuals may have romantic fantasies, enjoy romantic media, or engage in shipping in fandoms, but they tend to feel little to no romantic attraction in real life and typically do not desire a romantic relationship.

 

Autoromantic - describes people who elicit romantic attraction from themselves, by themselves. They may not desire romantic activities with others but may enjoy being romantically intimate with themselves.

 

Bellusromantic - involves having an interest in conventionally romantic things without desiring a relationship.

 

Desinoromantic - people do not experience "full-on" romantic attraction, but do experience "liking" someone instead of loving them romantically; the attraction then goes no further.

 

If you identify as or with any of these terms more power to you!! You are living proof that not all aromantics are the same and that the spectrum is real and valid! Not every thing is black and white and these identities prove it!! 🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾

[lovely_xm07]

Happy ASAW!! 💚🤍🩶🖤 Let’s highlight some more orientations on the aromantic spectrum.

Cupioromantic - describes those who do not experience attraction but do desire a romantic relationship. The term “cupio”, as a verb, is the Latin word for “I desire.”

 

Demiromantic - describes people who do not experience romantic attraction until they have formed a deep connection with someone.

 

Frayromantic - people only feel romantic attraction to people they don’t have a strong emotional bond with. Once they form an emotional bond with that person, that attraction disappears or fades. This identity may be seen as a counterpart to demiromantic.

 

Greyromantic - includes, but is not limited to, people who feel low amounts of romantic attraction, rarely feel romantic attraction, only feel romantic attraction under specific circumstances, or are not sure if they experience romantic attraction.

[daveb]

Here's something fun for the month.  

Stephen Colbert's First Drafts, with one of his writers.

 

 

[lovely_xm07]

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH!! 
 

 

These four girls are known as the “New Orleans Four”. Four six-year old girls faced intense hostility including violent white mobs armed with chains and clubs while courageously integrating all-white elementary schools in New Orleans in 1960. The New Orleans school desegregation crisis was a period intense public resistance in New Orleans that followed the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education that racial segregation of public schools was unconstitutional. The conflict peaked when U.S. Circuit Judge, J. Skelly Wright, ordered desegregation to begin in New Orleans to begin on November 14, 1960.

On that day, Leona Tate, Tessie Prevost, and Gail Etienne enrolled at McDonogh 19 Elementary School, while Ruby Bridges  enrolled at William Frantz Elementary School. All four schools were met with racial slurs, death threats, and taunts. Widespread boycotts began immediately, and by the end of the day, few white children remained at either school.

 

On November 16, a race riot broke out in front of a meeting of the Orleans Parish School Board. Following the riot, United States marshals began accompanying the four girls to their respective schools while death threats continued. During the next few days, white parents began returning their children to school.

 

 

Dorothy Prevost, mother of Tessie Prevost, recalls the fear and anxiety she experienced when her daughter began attending McDonogh 19 Elementary School escorted by U.S. Marshals. Frightened by angry crowds that gathered at the school to protest her child’s presence, she was often upset when U.S. Marshals would come to pick up Tessie. 
 

“Sometimes I’d be crying. My only child, scared, with those white people chanting, ‘Two, four, six, eight. We don’t want to integrate,’ and calling us all kinds of names,” said Mrs. Prevost. “I was so afraid, I used to pray every morning when my baby would leave. One of the Marshals told me, ‘Mrs. Prevost, this child is in my hands. Nothing will happen to this child.’” As a child, Tessie did not fully comprehend the weight of the day’s events, and she remembers how, at the time, the large crowd of protesters in front of McDonogh 19 reminded her of a Mardi Gras parade.

 

It took ten more years for the New Orleans public schools to fully integrate. These girls were incredibly brave for what they did. Although they were young and did not quite understand, they were making history and advocating for change! What they did meant so much and each legacy will not be forgotten!! ✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾

 

More information on their experiences here:

https://voicesofthecivilrightsmovement.com/articles/new-orleans-4

[Barbio]

3 hours ago, lovely_xm07 said:

Although they were young and did not quite understand, they were making history and advocating for change!

I can only imagine how scary that must have been for the children and their families, especially when they were so young and didn't quite understand the significance of it all. It's remarkable how hateful and cruel people can be, even towards children.