Category: Celebration

Posted in Black Joy, Celebration, Feature Spotlight, On the Desk..., On The Radar

Dr. G’s Weekly Hot Topics

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

New Month and New Hot Topics!!

We are jumping right out the gate with this one!! A new documentary from Shonda Rhimes/Shondaland and Netflix tells the story of how the first Black Barbie doll came to be in 1980. Directed by Lagueria Davis and produced by Shondaland’s Shonda Rhimes, Black Barbie “shows the impact of three Black staffers at Mattel on the doll’s debut, and how they influenced generations of young Black girls and the Barbie brand as a whole.” 

Want to get some fashion inspiration? Or find out just how top stylist Law Roach has created a fashion legacy… Well stylist to the stars Law Roach is dropping his first book, How To Build a Fashion Icon: Notes on Confidence. It’s available for pre-order on Banks Square Books and Amazon and will hit shelves, on September 24, 2024.

A Black Feminist icon has been immortalized with a statue in the very spot where she gave an empowering speech. On May 29th the city of Akron and the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund unveiled a plaza and statue dedicated to abolitionist Sojourner Truth. In 1851 Sojourner Truth gave the seminal speech “Ain’t I a Woman?” to a crowd gathered at the Universalist Old Stone Church in Akron for the Ohio Women’s Rights Convention. This statue and plaza represent a space to tell one of America’s inspiring story of faith, truth, justice, and freedom!

In more inspiring news, the Kenyan government has partnered with several HBCUs to help boost STEM Education across the waters. Representatives from Clark Atlanta University, Spelman College, Morehouse College, Howard University, and executives from higher education and business circles signed a framework agreement pact to establish an exchange between Kenyan universities and HBCUs. With many STEM programs on the rise here in the U.S., Kenya has established itself as the “Silicon Savannah of East Africa”and according to Kenyan president  Dr. William Samoei Ruto, it has also “been a global player in shaping the growth of the technology industry.”

This next feature is all about food and nourishment! Whether you are going for the first time or revisiting an oldie but goodie food spot….Check out these Black-owned restaurants that can be found all across the U.S.:

As an extra bonus, with June being Black Music Month each week I will bring you the latest Tiny Desk concerts featuring some of the hottest Black musical artists!! This year’s Black Music Month-Tiny Desk Concert series features Black women artists all across the spectrum from “veterans who’ve paved the way for what we hear today in Black music, to those who are carving out their own paths.”

Posted in Celebration, Holiday Celebration!!

We are halfway through 2024…Welcome June!!

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

Can you believe it, we are halfway through the year!! Summer is right around the corner!!

As the month begins, check out what you can celebrate:

  • Black Music Month
  • LGBTQ Pride Month
  • National Cheese Day (June 4th)
  • National Ice Tea Day (June 10th)
  • National Loving Day (June 12th)
  • Father’s Day (June 16th)
  • Juneteenth (June 19th)
  • Summer Solstice (June 20th)

These are just a few holiday/observances to celebrate during the month of June!

And to kick off the and get you in the mood check out these smooth jazz tunes!

Posted in A Professor's Thoughts..., Celebration, On The Radar

Reclaiming Her Time: The Book Journey

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

Today starts a new personal and professional journey! Over the next couple of months, I will be sharing my writing journey as I begin the completion of my first book manuscript project. As part of being a university professor, I have embarked on an evaluation process called tenure and promotion. Thus, writing and completing the book is essential to the evaluative process.

Now I will say this I am a mix of emotions from excited, to anxious, to nervous, to invested, to even being curious! So with each post, this will be like a check-in or place for accountability. Writing these posts will help me to focus and be honest with myself. Some days will be good, some days may be just blah, and some days will be a mess. Each day will bring me closer to the final goal, which is a completed book project!

Photo by Jessica Lewis ud83eudd8b thepaintedsquare on Pexels.com

So today’s post is to bring you along on this journey, give you some insight, and prepare you for a roller coaster ride (hopefully you hang in there with me)! Coinciding with this new beginning, I also started on another journey, something like a journey within in a journey. While there is a larger journey and goal, I will also take some small ones that will definitely go towards the larger end goal. With that said, I completed my first day of a Summer Writing Sprint that I am participating in with Well Academic! For two weeks during a dedicated time I will be writing with other scholars across the map. Nothing like being with a group of like-minded thinkers and writers getting together for a structured time to get the work done!!

You know what?? I made it through!! Day 1 was a success, I completed my daily goals and was able to map out what I will do on tomorrow!

Photo by Monstera Production on Pexels.com

Not too much more to say, except I look forward to taking you on this journey! Keep in mind the days will vary, so just think of each day as a new surprise! Feel free to drop any words of wisdom, inspiring quotes, or just to say hello!

See you all tomorrow!! ~Dr. G

Posted in Celebration, Monthly Book Recommendations, On The Radar, Resources

Dr. G’s Monthly Book Recommendations-March 2024

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

It’s Women’s History Month and what better way to celebrate than by highlighting a few books by some AMAZING women writers!! Even put in a few extra ones for you!! And as always, Don’t forget to support your local bookstores!!

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

Check out March’s Monthly Book Recommendations below:

  • How to Live Free in a Dangerous World ~Shayla Lawson
  • Colliding With Fate ~A.E. Valdez
  • Under the Udala Trees ~Chinelo Okparanta
  • So Let Them Burn ~Kamilah Cole
  • The Black Girl Survives in This One ~Edited by Desiree S. Evans and Saraciea J. Fennell
  • With Love, Miss Americanah ~Jane Igharo
  • Believe ~Leigh-Anne Pinnock
  • Tiffany Sly Lives Here Now ~Dana L. Davis
  • Pride: A Pride & Prejudice Remix ~Ibi Zoboi
  • Night Wherever We Go ~Tracey Rose Peyton
Photo collage of March Book Recommendations

As an Extra Bonus…Got a ton of books, but need to organize them? How about “Quotes by Iconic Women Bookends” created by Kristen and Lindsey Archer! Some of the icons available to purchase include, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Michelle Obama, Louisa May Alcott, Jane Austen, Katherine Johnson, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Angela Davis, Sojourner Truth, Kamala Harris, Sonia Sotomayor, and Gloria Steinem. You can find these at Uncommon Goods.

And as always, remember you can always go back and check out 2023’s lists and past recommendations in the “Resource” section of the website!

Posted in Celebration, Holiday Celebration!!, On The Radar, Resources

It’s International Women’s Day!!

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

Happy Friday and Happy International Women’s Day!!

This year’s theme for International Women’s Day 2024 is Inspire Inclusion.

When we inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, we forge a better world, and when women themselves are inspired to be included, there’s a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment. Collectively, let’s forge a more inclusive world for women.” 

~IWD 2024

In the spirit of today, check out a few facts about the day:

  • March 19, 1911 was the first celebrated International Women’s Day with more than 1 million people in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland taking part.
  • The symbol for International Women’s Day is a female gender symbol. It is usually accompanied by the following colors purple, green and white. Purple stands for dignity and justice, green for hope, and white for purity.
  • In some countries like Albania, Macedonia, Serbia and Uzbekistan, International Women’s Day has been combined with Mother’s Day, a merger to highlight the importance of women as mothers.
  • Integral to the fight for women’s rights and suffrage, International Women’s Day has been a platform for advocating voting rights and combating discrimination in various forms.
  • In 1975, the United Nations celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8 for the first time. Since then, the UN has become the primary sponsor of the annual event and has encouraged even more countries around the world to embrace the holiday and its goal of celebrating “acts of courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.”

To find out more check out the following links:

Posted in A Professor's Thoughts..., Celebration

It’s March and it’s Women’s History Month!!

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

As we close out one month of celebration we continue and celebrate another one, Women’s History Month!!

Women’s History Month runs from Friday, March 1, to Sunday, March 31.  

Similar to Black History Month, Women’s History Month started out as a local celebration in Santa Rosa, California — Women’s History Week.

In 1980, the National Women’s History Project (now known as the National Women’s History Alliance) led a consortium of women’s groups and historians in their efforts to lobby for national recognition. By February of that year, President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation declaring the week of March 8, 1980, as National Women’s History Week. 

While International Women’s Day, held on March 8, came first, Women’s History Month serves as an extension of ongoing campaigning to achieve gender equalitythroughout our world.

Presidents after Carter continued this proclamation of National Women’s History Week in March, until Congress passed Public Law 100-9 in 1987 designating March as Women’s History Month.

Every year, the National Women’s History Alliance chooses a theme to celebrate Women’s History Month. This year’s theme is:

This year’s theme recognizes women throughout the country who understand that, for a positive future, we need to eliminate bias and discrimination entirely from our lives and institutions.

Women from every background have long realized that an uneven playing field will never bring equality or justice. Many feel the critical need to speak up and work harder for fairness in our institutions and social interactions.

From Mae Jemisin to Frida Kahlo to Ruth Bader Ginsburg a number of important women from history are celebrated during this month, as well as emerging figures in the female rights and gender equality space.

So if you are looking for more information and ways to celebrate make sure to visit: Womenshistorymonth.gov, NEA, National Women’s History Alliance, and Womenshistory.org

Posted in A Professor's Thoughts..., Celebration, On the Desk...

Upcoming Events for Dr. G!!

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

Nothing like closing out the month with a couple of Black History Month events!! This week I am excited to share two events happening this week in which I’m taking part in!

First on the list is an event in which I will be celebrating with my sorors for “Delta Week” and serving as the featured speaker for their event, “Black Women in Hip Hop.”

This event takes place on today February 26th at 7:13 pm on the Virginia Commonwealth University campus (Richmond Salons I-II). Excited to take part in this annual event and drop some knowledge about a few Black women icons in hip hop!

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The next event takes place on Wednesday!! My department is hosting our annual Black History in The Making awards ceremony in which we recognize African American students at Virginia Commonwealth University, who exhibit what it means to be “Black History in the Making!”

The Black History in the Making Awards were founded in 1983 by Dr. Daryl Dance, the distinguished scholar of African American and Caribbean literature, who served as program coordinator during the 1983-84 academic year. Dr. Dance established the Black History in the Making Awards to recognize the achievements of African American students. In the founding year, Dr. Dance invited academic units and organizations to recognize a student who has made an important contribution. The nominating units established criteria for selecting recipients. Since the inaugural awards, more than 550 students have been recognized by more than 50 departments and organizations.

In addition to recognizing VCU Black students, this year our keynote speaker will be none other than Richmond-native, VCU alum and Chief Diversity Officer for the U.S. House of Representatives Dr. Sesha Joi Moon!

For more information, see here!

If you would like to tune into the ceremony, but unable to be in person, you can also view it via Zoom.

Remember sharing is caring!!

Posted in Celebration, Holiday Celebration!!

Happy Valentine’s Day!!

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

Happy Valentine’s Day to all my BFF Family and Friends!! As a way of sharing my appreciation, here is a music playlist to get you in the spirit!! Enjoy!!

Here is a playlist I created called “Black Love Through Song” on Spotify:

Just a little something to get you in the mood for today and even for the rest of the week and month!! Happy V-Day!! Enjoy and Spread the Love!!

Posted in Celebration, Feature Spotlight

It’s Super Bowl Sunday!!

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

The time has come to see who rises to the top of football’s biggest game!!

Who’s your pick for tonight? Are you ready for an explosive halftime performance from Usher? Or are you just here for the commercials?

Either way I’m here for a good game, jam to some musical goodies, and laugh at a commercial or two!!

The action starts at 6:30 pm/ET and will be broadcast on CBS, Nickelodeon, and streaming on Paramount+.