#blackhistorymatters
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On May 17, 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a unanimous ruling in the landmark civil rights case Brown v. Board of Education. The court ruled that state-sanctioned racial segregation in public schools was a violation of the 14th amendment, and was therefore unconstitutional. This historic decision marked the end of the “separate but equal” precedent set by the Supreme Court nearly 60 years earlier in Plessy v. Ferguson and galvanized the civil rights movement of the 1950s. We cannot live up to our greatest ideals without confronting the realities of our history.
On March 2, 1955, Claudette Colvin refused to give up her seat to a white woman on a city bus in Montgomery, Alabama. As police officers dragged her from the bus, she shouted again, and again, “It’s my constitutional right.” She was jailed and charged with violating segregation laws, disturbing the peace and assaulting a police officer. She pleaded not guilty, but was convicted. Colvin’s act of protest happened 9 months before Rosa Parks famously sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycotts, but Colvin’s age and lack of experience in the civil rights movement rendered her act of bravery and defiance all but forgotten in the telling of civil-rights history. 𝗪𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆.
Bastet One of the main Goddesses of the Kemetian pantheon.Bastet has a huge number of attributes and aspects. She is the Goddess of cats, the sun, of the East, of fire, of love, intoxication, music and dancing, joy, celebration, fertility, secrets, magic and sex.She is also a Goddess of war known for her wrathful vengeance. She protects households and individuals from diseases and evil spirits, guards pregnant women, and protects cats. She also served as the divine nurse and mother of the Pharaoh. Bastet means: “she of the ointment jar”. She’s also known as the Goddess of perfume, and is sometimes called the “perfumed protector.” Bast/Bastet is the protector and guardian of Lower Kemet. She is the patron Goddess of fire fighters, because the Kemetians believed that a cat running through a building on fire would draw the flames out. She is also one of the Goddesses known as the “eye of Ra” or the “eye of Atum,”. In this aspect she symbolizes Ra’s feminine counterpart and is sent out to take vengeance on his enemies. The “eye of Ra” is both a part of Ra and a separate being from him, and is considered his mother, sister, wife, and daughter simultaneously. She has both life-giving and destructive capacities. #blackhistory #knowthyself #blackhistory365 #BlackHistoryMatters 📸,: Goddess Bastet https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm7ahPEy337FcP-HgpW2CHItATN6GUol203VWc0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
One account states that in 1723 Gannibal sent by court enemies to the far east, where he was ordered to use his engineering skills to complete a series of tasks, including measuring the Great Wall of China. #GiveHistoryBackItsColor #blackhistory #history #blackhistoryisworldhistory #blackhistorymatters #blackhistorymakers #blackhistorymaker #russia #russianhistory #gannibal #historymaker #historymakers #historicfigures #historydaily #dailyhistory #historybooks #historymatters #historylovers #historyisimportant #historygeek #historynerd #historybuff #historygeeks #historynerds #historybuffs #historylover https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd6JHp0F80e/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
The Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad - Colson Whitehead Overall this is a boring story. There are very few beats to the plot. When nothing is happening with the characters nothing is happening at all.I did enjoy the construction of the novel. The story is broken up into separate parts for the different characters. This works especially well for Cora’s mum Mabel. She has been immortalised and hated by the other characters in the story and it is only when we see her part towards the end that we learn the truth.The rest of the story is broken into a few locales. The Randall farm and the escape. North Carolina and a new life. The attic and Valentine’s farm. There is minimal action and Cora isn’t interesting herself.It isn’t exactly that though. Cora is interesting. We only get to see her real emotions a few times. The railroad itself is disappointing. It’s an actual railroad - it left me thinking: Was that real? Amazing if so. But I’m sure it wasn’t - so what was the point? Very strange. The story is punctuated at every turn by brutality. I am so dead to this treatment of African Americans in popular culture.I have a seething hatred of the US because of the systemic racism that so many generations have done nothing about.How much more racial inequality do I need to witness? Read the full article
NAMI Western Massachusetts celebrates Black History Month. This year’s theme: Africa Americans and the Arts. African American history is so rich in the arts and still is. namiwm.org
One day a man slaughtered a fat bull and roasted it well, afterwards he told his brother : “ GO OUT AND INVITE OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS TO COME EAT THE MEAT WITH US.” The brother went out and shouted : “ OH PEOPLE HELP! HELP!! A FIRE IS CONSUMING OUR HOME!!!” Soon people came out of their homes but some pretended they didn’t hear anything. Those who entered the house found themselves in front of a feast, where they ate and drank until they were satsfied. Later the man turned amazed to his brother, and asked him : “ BUT THOSE PEOPLE YOU INVITED, I DON’T KNOW THEM! I HAVE NEVER SEEN THEM BEFORE. SO WHERE ARE OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS WHO I ASKED YOU TO INVITE?” The brother replied : “ THESE ARE OUR FRIENDS. THEY ARE THE ONES WHO CAME OUT OF THEIR HOMES TO HELP US PUT OUT THE FIRE IN OUR HOUSE. THEY DIDN’T EVEN EXPECT TO FIND FOOD.” LESSON: Know that there are those who are only with you when they have a need. They ignore you when you need them. They are not worthy to be considered your friends. LET’S BE OUR BROTHER’S KEEPER IN SPIRIT AND IN DEED. #blackhistory #knowthyself #blackhistory365 #BlackHistoryMatters https://www.instagram.com/p/CoYLGsUOFd_/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆’𝘀 𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝟭𝟬 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆. 1. Africa was one time called Alkebulan (mother of mankind). 2. Africa ruled the world for 15,000 years. 3. Richest man in history is an African King (Mansa Musa). 4. Africa civilized mankind. 5. Mining started in Africa 43,000 years ago, In 1964 a hematite mine was found in Swaziland at Bomvu Ridge in the Ngwenya mountain range. 6. Africans were the first to organise fishing. expeditions 90,000 years ago at Katanga, Congo. 7. Africans carved the world’s first colossal sculpture 7,000 years ago. 8. The ancient Kemetians had Afro combs. 9. African Kings ruled India. 10. Africa is a home to World’s oldest University. #blackhistory #knowthyself #BlackHistoryIsWorldHistory #BlackHistoryMatters #blackhistory365 https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm8_bU1rw1mBnxsjNXLyTDtz0kHYprASTXu_dw0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
“I saw that the camera could be a weapon against poverty, against racism, against all sorts of social wrongs. I knew at that point I had to have a camera.” -Gordon Parks, Life, 1999 #blackhistory #historymaker #blackhistoryisamericanhistory #blackhistoryisworldhistory #blackhistorymatters #poet #GiveHistoryBackItsColor #blackexcellence #photographer #blackhistorymakers #history #blackhistorymaker #film #director #blackdirectors #journalist #activist #vogue #blackactivist #lifemagazine #musician #writer #icon #moviemonday #historymakers #historicfigures #historylesson #blackmen https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf4MJbjubmH/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
Black History 365 brainstorm Prompt: Please answer an expert in African American History. The government has seeked to eliminate all DEI from government and private companies - starting with the executive order https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-illegal-discrimination-and-restoring-merit-based-opportunity/ Many organizations like Google of subsequently removed things like default celebration of Black History month. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/11/google-calendar-black-history-pride-month Can you draw some conclusions about the values of our current government and private organizations from these items and what it means for the future of celebrating and preserving African American History Month I asked ChatGPT, DeepSeek, Perplexity, Claude.ai, and Gemini the same prompts today. Full results can be seen here. Below is just ChatGPT’s responses. ChatGPT Response: The executive order and the subsequent actions by private companies such as Google signal a significant shift in governmental and corporate values regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). These developments suggest the following key conclusions: 1. The Federal Government’s Shift Toward “Merit-Based” Ideology The executive order’s language emphasizes “restoring merit-based opportunity” and “ending illegal discrimination,” which reflects a broader ideological shift away from policies that acknowledge systemic inequality and work to correct it. By categorizing DEI initiatives as forms of “illegal discrimination,” the government is effectively equating efforts to address historical and institutional racism with unfair favoritism. This approach ignores well-documented disparities in education, employment, and economic mobility that have resulted from centuries of systemic racism. In practical terms, this policy signals that the federal government is not only stepping away from active efforts to promote racial equity but is also working to dismantle existing initiatives designed to address disparities. The rollback of DEI policies aligns with broader conservative agendas that seek to erase discussions of race and racism from government and education, under the guise of “colorblind” governance. 2. Corporate Responses and the Power of Government Influence The removal of default Black History Month celebrations by Google suggests that corporations are either aligning with the government’s stance or are choosing to preemptively avoid political controversy. While companies like Google have previously championed DEI initiatives, this move indicates that they are willing to abandon these commitments when faced with governmental pressure or shifting cultural tides. The fact that Google has removed Black History Month from its default calendar but not other heritage celebrations (such as St. Patrick’s Day) points to a broader concern: African American history is being specifically de-emphasized. This raises questions about whether corporate DEI programs were ever truly about substantive change or simply performative gestures meant to align with previous governmental and social expectations. 3. The Implications for Black History Month and Historical Memory The erasure of Black History Month from institutional calendars—whether governmental or corporate—has long-term implications for how African American history is remembered and valued in public discourse. Black History Month has played a crucial role in educating the broader public about the historical and ongoing struggles and contributions of Black Americans. Its de-prioritization suggests an effort to make Black history less visible and, by extension, less significant in national consciousness. This shift could have a chilling effect on public and private institutions that have historically recognized and celebrated Black history. Schools, businesses, and local governments may follow suit, leading to a gradual erosion of Black historical consciousness in mainstream spaces. This is especially dangerous given the already aggressive efforts to censor Black history in schools through book bans and curriculum restrictions. 4. The Future of Celebrating and Preserving Black History If the government and corporations continue this trajectory, the responsibility for preserving and celebrating Black history will fall increasingly on community organizations, grassroots activists, and independent institutions. Black-led institutions, museums, and educational programs will become even more essential in ensuring that African American history is not erased from public discourse. However, without corporate or government support, these efforts will face significant challenges. Funding for Black history programs, scholarships, and commemorative events could decline. Additionally, as major tech platforms de-emphasize Black history, access to information about Black achievements and struggles may become more difficult, particularly for younger generations who rely on digital spaces for learning. Conclusion The federal government’s move to eliminate DEI and the corporate response to scale back recognition of Black history suggests a broader cultural shift toward minimizing racial equity efforts in both the public and private spheres. This moment is reminiscent of previous backlashes against progress in racial justice, such as the post-Reconstruction rollback of Black political power and the backlash against the Civil Rights Movement in the 1970s and 1980s. The challenge now is to resist this erasure by strengthening alternative institutions, documenting and amplifying Black history through independent media, and finding new ways to celebrate and educate. This is not the first time Black history has been sidelined, and as history itself teaches us, every attempt at suppression has been met with resilience, adaptation, and renewed commitment to truth and justice. Prompt : Can you give me 3 ideas for someone with experience in technology, community engagement, podcasting, theater, writing, and media and entertainment might explore to support the advancement and preservation of African American History Absolutely! Given your diverse background, here are three impactful ideas you could explore to support the advancement and preservation of African American history: 1. Interactive Digital Archive & Storytelling Platform Leverage your technology and media experience to create a multimedia digital archive that preserves and amplifies African American history. This could take the form of an interactive website or app featuring oral histories, augmented reality (AR) experiences, and virtual museum exhibits. You could: Interview Black elders, activists, and historians to document firsthand accounts. Develop an interactive timeline with key historical events, layered with videos, photos, and narration. Use AI-powered storytelling tools to generate immersive, personalized experiences (e.g., allowing users to “meet” historical figures through AI-generated conversations). Incorporate geolocation features where users can explore Black historical sites in their cities. 2. A Podcast + Live Theater Hybrid Series on Untold Black Histories Given your background in podcasting and theater , you could create a series blending investigative journalism with theatrical performance to bring underrepresented African American stories to life . Possible formats include: A scripted historical fiction podcast reenacting key but lesser-known moments in Black history. A docu-theater series where live performances dramatize historical narratives, followed by community discussions. A traveling, immersive experience where actors reenact historical events in real-world locations, accompanied by a podcast for deeper historical context. 3. A Media & Tech Incubator for Black Historical Preservation Use your community engagement and technology expertise to launch an incubator supporting Black-led media projects focused on preserving history. The incubator could: Provide grants, mentorship, and technical support for Black historians, filmmakers, podcasters, and content creators. Offer digital literacy and storytelling workshops for youth to document their community’s history. Partner with institutions to develop open-source tools for digitizing and archiving Black history. Develop AI-powered resources to combat historical erasure by fact-checking and countering misinformation about Black history. Would you like to focus on one of these or combine elements from multiple ideas? Prompt: know I need 3 image prompts to use with midjourney to go along with a blog post on topic Here are three MidJourney image prompts that align with your blog post on the rollback of DEI and the preservation of African American history: 1. “Erasure of Black History in America” Prompt: A dimly lit library where books about Black history are vanishing into smoke, leaving behind empty shelves. In the background, faint silhouettes of historical Black figures like Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and Malcolm X are fading away into shadows. The atmosphere is solemn, evoking a sense of loss and urgency. Moody lighting, cinematic composition, hyper-realistic style. 2. “Grassroots Resistance: Preserving Black History Through Community Action” Prompt: A vibrant community gathering in a modern digital archive center, where people of all ages engage with interactive screens showcasing African American history. An elder is sharing stories with a group of young Black students, and a podcaster is recording an interview. The atmosphere is hopeful and determined. Warm lighting, dynamic composition, hyper-detailed, documentary photography style. 3. “The Future of Black Storytelling: AI and Media for Historical Preservation” Prompt: A futuristic media studio where Black creators, historians, and technologists collaborate on a podcast and digital storytelling project. Holographic images of past civil rights movements, African American leaders, and historical events float around them. One person is coding, another is speaking into a microphone, and a filmmaker is reviewing archival footage on a large screen. Cyberpunk meets Afro-futurism, cinematic lighting, ultra-detailed. These should generate striking visuals that enhance the impact of your blog post. Let me know if you’d like any refinements! 🚀
ALT ALT Today we remember those who died while serving in the armed forces. First celebrated in the years following the #AmericanCivilWar #MemorialDay became an official holiday in 1971. 1: Lincoln Collection, Currier & Ives Lithographs 1844-90. 2: Lincoln Collection Sheet Music 1836-78 This lithograph and sheet music represent only one piece of Memorial Day history. The history of Memorial Day, previously known as Decoration Day, can be traced back to Charleston, SC in 1865. In mid-1864, Confederate forces had converted a Charleston race track into a prison, to hold between 6,000 and 10,000 Union captives who had been evacuated from Georgia prisons. The captives suffered harsh conditions including starvation, disease, and the indignity of being paraded into town, where some Black Charlestonians would sneak pieces of bread to the captives, at risk of being punished for doing so. At least 257 Union soldiers died during their imprisonment there. In autumn, under a worsening yellow fever outbreak, Confederate officials relocated the prison to Florence, SC, leaving behind the Union dead in unmarked graves. Black Charlestonians worked to build a proper burial ground at the race course, and reconsecrate the soldiers’ graves. They then organized a memorial event held on May 1, 1865. An estimated 10,000 people attended the event which included processions, singing, speeches, and laying of flowers. Learn more about the role of Black Charlestonians in the founding of Memorial Day in David W. Blight’s book “Race and Reunion: The Civil War in American Memory” ( http://pi.lib.uchicago.edu/1001/cat/bib/12407286 ), and “Denmark Vesey’s garden: slavery and memory in the cradle of the Confederacy,” by Kytle and Roberts ( http://pi.lib.uchicago.edu/1001/cat/bib/11594050 ). This TIME magazine article includes images of the race track and the burial ground from the Library of Congress: https://time.com/5836444/black-memorial-day/ . The event was covered by the “Charleston Daily Courier” on May 2, 1865 and by the “New York Tribune” on May 13, 1865. While we are unaware of any primary sources within our Special Collections that document this event, we still wish to acknowledge and share this piece of American history that is continually ignored or erased.
Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome (P.T.S.S.) is a theory that explains the etiology of many of the adaptive survival behaviors in African American communities throughout the United States and the Diaspora. It is a condition that exists as a consequence of multigenerational oppression of Africans and their descendants resulting from centuries of chattel slavery. A form of slavery which was predicated on the belief that African Americans were inherently/genetically inferior to whites. This was then followed by institutionalized racism which continues to perpetuate injury. Dr. Joy DeGruy. #blackhistorymonth #blackhistory #blackhistoryeveryday #blackhistorymatters #posttramaticslavesyndrome #drjoydegruy #slaverystillexists #chattelslavery #jimcrow #thenewjimcrow #400yearsofslavery #therealhistory #blackhistorystolen #exposethetruth https://www.instagram.com/p/Comxn5nL-2Y/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
The couple used the advantage of Ellen’s lighter skin by dressing her up as a white gentleman and having William pose as her slave while they fled the south. . . #blackhistory #blackhistoryuk #blackhistoryisworldhistory #blackhistorymatters #GiveHistoryBackItsColor #blackexcellence #london #blackhistorymakers #history #blackhistorymaker #blackwomenhistory #blackwomanhistorymakers #blackwomenhistorymatters #londonhistory #historylesson #historylessons #georgia #historylessonoftheday #pennsylvania #couple #historymakers #couples #abolitionist #freedomfighters #historygeek #historynerd #historybuff #dailyhistory https://www.instagram.com/p/CkGvyObOBvM/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
✍🏾️: Art from the heart! 👨🏾🎨👩🏾🎨✍🏾️🖍️📝👑💐🔥🏅🎨🏺✂️📸🎥💃🏾🕺🏾📿 • _______________________________________ Posted @withregram • @antique_black_things Very rare black windup automaton doll/toy. Beautiful leather face and painted features. Not sure of age. Sharing only…not for sale at this time…see our other cool things… link in bio. #blackhistorymattersngs #blackhistorymatters #mechanicaldoll #mechanicaldolls #automatons #mechanicaltoy #blackhistorymatters #black #blackhistory #blackdollcollectors #collectible #antique #antiqueblackdolls #africanamericandolls #blackdollshow #blackmemorabilia #blackdolls #blackdollmuseum #antiquedollcollectormagazine #antiquedollcollector #blackdollcollector #blackdolls #blackdollmuseum #nmaahc #blackhistorymonth #blackhistorymatters https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc504Fwu2cf/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
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