celebrate

22Apr

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ENVIRONMENT

Celebrate Earth Day Every Day Not Just Today

The first Earth Day was a shot heard around the world. The first Earth Day protests, which took place on April 22, 1970 brought 20 million Americans – 10% of the U.S. population at the time – into the streets. Recognizing the power of this growing movement, President Richard Nixon and Congress responded by creating the Environmental Protection Agency and enacting a wave of laws, including the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act. But Earth Day’s impact extended far beyond the United States. A cadre of professionals in the U.S. State Department understood that environmental problems didn’t stop at national borders, and set up mechanisms for addressing them jointly with other countries. For scholars like me who study global governance, the challenge of getting n...

5 Ways To Celebrate Diverse Arts And Culture

9Mar

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CULTURE

5 Ways To Celebrate Diverse Arts And Culture

No matter where you live, there are plenty of opportunities to celebrate the culture of diverse communities, if you know where to look. To show your support for multicultural artisans, performers and businesses, here are a few ideas to get you started. 1. Check out diverse artists in your neighborhood — and online Do an internet search for art galleries in your area that showcase artists of color, then go and take a look at the work these artists are creating. You can also search for art fairs and festivals nearby that showcase multicultural artists and crafters that you can patronize. These kinds of events make for a great family outing, and you can usually find beautiful art, handcrafted gifts and home decor items. Many websites that sell artisan crafts will also highlight their minor...

Top 20 Quotations To Celebrate Black History Month

3Feb

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SOCIAL JUSTICE

Top 20 Quotations To Celebrate Black History Month

"I am America. I am the part you won't recognize. But get used to me. Black, confident, cocky; my name, not yours; my religion, not yours; my goals, my own; get used to me." -- Muhammad Ali The Greatest (1975) "Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise." -- Maya Angelou "Still I rise," And Still I Rise (1978) "Racism is not an excuse to not do the best you can." -- Arthur Ashe quoted in Sports Illustrated "Just like you can buy grades of silk, you can buy grades of justice. " -- Ray Charles "The past is a ghost, the future a dream. All we ever have is now. " -- Bill Cosby "There is no negro problem. The problem is whether the American people have loyalty enough, honor enough, patriotism enough, to live up to their ow...

Black Girls And Their Communities, Celebrate Prom Send-Offs

20May

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EDUCATION

Black Girls And Their Communities, Celebrate Prom Send-Offs

Danielle Nolen sat in her living room, looking glamorous in a baby blue robe and trying to preserve her new regal hairstyle as her family decorated the backyard in black and gold in anticipation of her grand appearance. Her grandmother began fanning her to keep her from sweating off her makeup as the day grew more humid. Once everything was in place outside, the women in her family made their way back to the living room, where they helped her into her emerald gown. As her mother made the final adjustments and zipped the back of the gown, we all sat back in amazement at how radiant she looked in her ensemble. We then gathered family and friends in front of Danielle’s home to await her appearance. The DJ cued up her favorite song. A wicker chair awaited her on the porch, but it might as we...

Reasons to celebrate: Where have all these ‘national days’ suddenly come from?

4Apr

By THEIRL1ADMIN01No Comments

Journalism

Reasons to celebrate: Where have all these ‘national days’ suddenly come from?

While many designations are quirky, others are beneficial — such as June 23 being National Hydration Day — or historic — Day of the Seafarer, June 25. June 20 was Ugliest Dog Day; the 22nd, National Kissing Day. June is considered the national month for candy, soul food, country cooking and dairy. Every day of every month, in fact, is a reason to focus on and “celebrate” something. While many designations are quirky, others are beneficial — such as June 23 being National Hydration Day — or historic — Day of the Seafarer, June 25. Just who decides these daily themes is a historic hodgepodge. From 1870 to 1983, U.S. Congress voted on 11 official “national” days, or federal days, some of which are recognized wholly by non-federal businesses while others less so: New Year’s Day, Martin Luthe...

6 Tips for White People Who Want to Celebrate Black History

12Feb

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Journalism

6 Tips for White People Who Want to Celebrate Black History

We’ve come a long way from Negro History Week to Black History Month and yet too often the celebrations that are planned in predominantly white spaces are nothing short of lackluster, rarely bringing a modern-day context to the celebration or acknowledgement that Black history is a continually evolving living history in which we all play a role. Part of the problem is that for non-Black people, too often there is a sense of being a passive celebrator. Yet, in this current climate there is immense opportunity. We can make real racial change by moving from passive observation to active engagement if we move past our own internal roadblocks and fears of messing up. Black history is more than just the named activists, agitators and changemakers—it encompasses the full scope of Black humanity...

11Sep

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Journalism

Black Fraternities and Sororities Step to Celebrate Their Culture

Stepping is a rhythmic performance art practiced by Black Greek-lettered fraternities and sororities across the nation. It combines intricate footwork, foot stomps, hand movements, vocals, and handclaps. Stepping is also an expression of unity. "When you come together in synchronized motions, you're becoming one," says Aurelius Butler, Treasurer of Alpha Phi Alpha, Mu chapter. "For us, stepping signifies brotherhood. We will never tell a brother he couldn't step. If he's a bad stepper, he's just going to have to try harder." Stepping evolved from the chants and dances that slaves did to remind themselves of their homelands. You can find stepping wherever you find African America Greek-lettered fraternities. Stepping is an age-old tradition among black fraternities and sororities. It inv...

9Feb

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SOCIAL JUSTICE

Why Do We Celebrate Valentine’s Day?

The roots of Valentine s Day can be traced back down to ancient Roman mythology for festivals honoring Gods and Goddesses for Women, Marriage and Fertility. On the top tier, we have Juno, said to be the Queen and mother of all Gods and Goddesses on Mt. Olympus. Her day was held on February 14. In continuity of the celebration for women, marriage and fertility, a festival called Lupercalia was held on the next day.But this festival was held in the honor of two other related Gods, who were Lupercus who lorded over the pastures and forests and Faunus for agriculture. They were described as very similar to the Greek version that is the half-man half-goat God called Pan. This festival began with sacrifice of a dog (for purification) and a goat (for fertility) and their skins when worn and also ...