opinion

History was made this past weekend at the 61st annual Grammy Awards with Childish Gambino having the first hip-hop song to win both record and song of the year, and Cardi B becoming the first female artist to win best rap album.Shortly after the ceremony, I scrolled through social media and saw an article posted via BET News entitled, “Cardi B Is The First Solo Female Rapper To Win Best Rap Album, And Fans Are Weeping” with the post caption that read “Meanwhile, Nicki Minaj is being dragged by her lace front.” I cringed.In response to the negative social post, Minaj announced that she and Lil Wayne will no longer play the BET Experience concert in the lead-up to the 2019 BET Awards. Unfortunately, this is not the first-time BET has disrespected a Black woman in hip-hop. During the 2012 BET Awards, they shaded Lauryn Hill with a poorly written joke about her unpaid taxes, that was delivered by the teen singing group Mindless Behavior while they presented the award for Best Female R&B Artist.I was super excited to see both Cardi B and Nicki Minaj headline The BET Experience, but I can’t blame her for bowing out. Hate her or love her, Nicki Minaj has been a staple in hip-hop for 10 years and has sold 100 million units worldwide. She has achieved historic greatness and should be treated with respect. With a new album and tour on the way this year, Nicki Minaj is showing no signs of slowing down.In all fairness, the disparaging posts were likely curated by an intern manning BET's social channels over the weekend, but I expected more from the network that pioneered Black visibility in a time when networks like MTV refused to showcase our talent. How and why would you use Nicki Minaj to sell tickets and disrespect her all at once? It’s Black History Month, the month where we celebrate the accomplishments of our own. It’s counterproductive to our culture to perpetuate division amongst women of color. We must celebrate and respect each other in the same way we ask others to.Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking...

Written by Vincent Adejumo, University of FloridaThe financial crisis of 2009, the worst since the Great Depression, was hard on all Americans. But arguably no group felt its sting more than African-Americans, who were already the most economically and financially vulnerable segment of the population going into it.Even today, a decade since the Great Recession hit, blacks still haven’t fully recovered and remain in a precarious financial condition. What’s worse, Wall Street and policymakers are beginning to worry another downturn may be on the horizon.I teach a class at the University of Florida called “Black Wall Street,” in which we explore the issue of capitalism as it pertains to African-Americans and examine historical data on income and wealth. In a nutshell, the numbers show blacks are woefully behind other groups and may never emerge from their rut if political leaders don’t do something about it soon.Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. often spoke of economic justice.‘He merely exists’The notion that blacks are especially prone to financial instability in the U.S. economy is hardly a new revelation.Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., for example, often highlighted the particular plight of African-Americans in his crusade for civil rights. In 1967, during a speech in Harlem, he said, “If a man doesn’t have a job or an income, he has neither life nor liberty nor the possibility for the pursuit of happiness. He merely exists.”The data before the Great Recession of 2008-2009 tell a stark story. In 2007, the average black family earned US$55,265, just 64 percent of a white, non-Hispanic household income of $86,732. For the poorest fifth of African-American families, the situation is even worse. They earned just 43 percent of the income of their white peers in 2005.Furthermore, more than 20 percent of African-Americans earned less than $15,000 a year in 2008, nearly or more than double that of whites, Asians and Hispanics.African-Americans are also far more likely to be unemployed. In the years before the Great Recession hit in 2008, for example, the jobless rate among blacks was typically around 10 percent, more than double what it was for whites.Enter the Great RecessionOf course, the financial crisis was hard on everyone.Millions not only lost their jobs but also had to contend with the prospect of defaulting on student loans and unpaid credit card debt, and even foreclosure on their homes.And yet again, the Great Recession hammered blacks harder than other Americans because of their financial vulnerability.The unemployment rate, for example, peaked at 10 percent in 2009 for all Americans. For African-Americans, it exceeded 16 percent – compared with a little under 9 percent for whites.African-American family incomes also suffered more than whites’. The average black household earned $50,654 in 2010, 61 percent of a white family.And even today, although black incomes have recovered, African-Americans are still making only 63 percent of what whites earn. Coupled with the net worth and homeownership figures not recovering and even regressed since the recession officially ended, it means that blacks are still vulnerable to future economic downturns.In 2016, an African-American household had an average net worth of just $138,200, compared with $933,700 for a white family. This number is particularly high due to the fact that the vast majority of American billionaires are white.This can be partly explained by a sharp difference in the rate of homeownership – one of the key pathways to secure, long-term financial stability. For blacks, it’s just 42 percent – down from a high of 48 percent in 2004 – compared with 73 percent for whites.In addition, blacks tend to own less valuable homes worth just $94,400 on average, versus $215,800 for whites.As was the case during past recessions, houses with the least amount of equity and worth are ripe for foreclosure and owners of these houses have less opportunity to use their home as collateral in an emergency.This lack of capital also forces African-Americans to incur more credit card debt than whites. And so even the slightest emergency in an economic downturn would result in a weakened ability to meet financial obligations.Dismal dataBut beyond income and wealth, if you look at post-secondary education attainment, business and enterprise development, rates of divorce, single parent-headed households and health disparities, you’ll see the same picture of African-Americans being left behind.If these trends continue, the median wealth of black households – as opposed to the average or mean figures mentioned above – would fall from $1,700 as of 2013 to zero by 2053. For whites, median wealth is forecast to climb from $116,000 to $137,000.I believe the central link tying all these data points together are the racist policies that have been entrenched in America’s financial, economic and educational fabric since the beginning. Examples include Jim Crow laws as it pertains to legal separation by race in public institutions and redlining policies concerning housing, which further allowed legal barriers to be put in place to impede the upward mobility of African-Americans.If these problems aren’t addressed, I fear African-Americans may not have another chance to ever becoming equal economic players in this country. The further they slide financially, the harder it will be to reverse the decline. Another recession may make it irreversible.And in Dr. King’s words, blacks would merely be existing. Vincent Adejumo, Lecturer of African American Studies, University of FloridaThis article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking...

Love is in the air and Valentine’s day is on the horizon. However, so many women, especially entrepreneurs, are making major mistakes in their relationships or marriages leading up to the big day of love. Their money is running in the black, but their love life is in the red for all the wrong reasons.The Founder of CEO Chicks, Coleen Otero, has been married for more than 18 years and admits she’s been guilty herself of letting work get in the way of romance. She shares three mistakes women are making after leaving a busy day at the office.1. Trying to make our husbands like usSome alpha women tend to think that their husbands should be as busy, outspoken or entrepreneurial as they are. We can sometimes make the mistake of thinking our spouses are not as successful if they’re not operating at the same "level" we see ourselves on. The truth is an alpha woman would bump heads and clash with an alpha male. Strong women in business need someone who is supportive, understanding and quite the opposite. I wouldn't say polar opposite, but someone who is confident in who they are, can bring her balance, wisdom, all while still progressing in his professional and personal development. This is my definition of a power couple — what one lacks the other has in abundance!2. Running their home life like their business lifeAs women in business, we have to learn to take off the CEO hat and put on the wife hat. Regardless of our roles out of the home, we must become a soft and safe place for our partners. One of my favorite scriptures says husbands are to love their wives, but wives need to respect their husbands. I always grin when reading that; it is basically saying men say they want love, but they really want respect. They want a wife who honors them, makes time for them, acknowledges even the little things they do. I wonder if God knew that women are wired to naturally love what they can appreciate?  I truly believe a man's ego is like glass, easy to break and hard to repair. In my 18 years of marriage, I had to learn how to speak life to my husband even when his ego was shattered. We can do that by cooking their favorite meals, giving them time to process, initiating sex (that's major) and doing our best to pray with them and for them (privately).3. Not making time to dateAs business women, we can over work! We can fail to make time for our families and marriages. It is important to schedule dates and trips with our spouses, to continue to invest in the marriage like you did in the beginning. I will also say I do understand there are times opportunities will present themselves and it may look as if we have to sacrifice our families to get things done, but let me present a new concept. Find a way to include the family in these moments. We must teach our children what it means to be entrepreneurs. My husband and I include our family in some of our business dealings so they can learn the skills that our school system may not teach them.Lastly, I would like to add that all couples are paired uniquely and marriage counseling is a big part of what has helped my marriage. We must do whatever it takes to keep our marriages and families unified.Ladies, to get your love lives on track and to continue this conversation, join Coleen Otero and her CEO Chicks team at the 2019 Dominate Conference in Orlando. She’s curated a panel conversation, "Married to a CEO Chick," to help women in business thrive in love at home.Click here to learn more about Coleen Otero and her business network, CEO Chicks.Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking...

In life we negotiate from dawn to dusk, and we agree or disagree in many situations. Sometimes disagreements stop us from understanding each other. Conflict doesn’t bear fruit; conflict fuels anxiety and tensions simmer or boil over.Analyzing the situation to reach an alternative outcome that favors everybody is beneficial. When we experience issues, efforts should be made to come to a mutual understanding rather than being rigid and uncompromising.Negotiation is not only necessary in the corporate world, but also in our day to day lives. By developing good negotiation skills, we minimize misunderstandings, both at work and within the family setting. You can nurture your negotiation skills by participating in a negotiation training course.Understanding NegotiationA negotiation typically involves two or more people holding a meeting, discussing various matters and coming to a mutual understanding that covers the needs of everybody. Imagine a situation you are likely to face at work, like contributing to a project or attending a meeting.Perhaps you held discussions with your colleagues. Are your colleagues ready to agree with your input? Have you given each person a chance to share their views? How have you arrived at a conclusion? Daily negotiations involve discussing ideas, sharing ideas and achieving favorable outcomes.Few people can negotiate easily, whether they’re meeting their seniors at work or approaching a retailer to discuss a deal. Some firms organize negotiation workshops to help develop negotiating skills in their employees. Attending a negotiation training gives you the confidence you need to negotiate more comfortably.At some point, you’ll need to bargain for a price cut or increase, or a better benefits package. How can you negotiate amicably? For some people, the thought of negotiating is scary, while to others, negotiation comes naturally. Often, you aren’t sure whether or not you’re ready to take a chance. According to research conducted by the Atlantic, negotiating techniques for millennials vary depending on the risks involved.For most, being bold enough to demand your worth is a learned skill. You can enhance your skills by registering for a negotiation class if you’re focused on scaling your business. In order to avoid anxiety and fear, you require a strategic plan.Balance Your ExpectationsYou won’t always get what you anticipate. Remember, different groups of people will present their opinions and expectations. Start discussions, and make agreements on neutral grounds. For instance, you can request a seller to adjust product prices if you can’t afford the current price. By overcoming fear and engaging fear, you can negotiate and arrive at a mutual agreement.Concentrate on Value as Opposed to PriceA vendor may opt to provide quality products rather than slash prices. You get more service value when you purchase quality products. With sufficient negotiating training, you’ll learn how to walk into the negotiating room with a strategy that prepares you to seal the deal. Remember, if you give something up, you should receive value in return. Here are a couple of advantages to negotiating.Enhances Effective BuyingYou need to have savings for an emergency, and everyone knows the importance of spending money wisely. Negotiate for the best price cut from the retailer. Failure to negotiate exposes you to unnecessarily paying higher prices.Improves RelationshipsWe’re likely to disagree every now and then. Instead of arguing and finding faults among ourselves, we will reach more agreements faster by instead seeking to understand and appreciate each other.Assume you find your neighbor’s car in your parking lot. Do you go fight with your neighbor? You likely instead choose to talk to your neighbor with effective negotiation training, you are able to solve conflicts with more ease. Enrolling in a negotiating course prepares you to address conflict more confidently and competently.FinallyIn a negotiation class, you’ll learn how to remain composed and courteous when negotiating. Discussing the best price with your seller helps you develop a working relationship. The seller will be happy to make a sale and connect with customers. Negotiating in the family setting helps you create stronger bonds with your family members. If you feel you deserve a better benefits package, approaching your employer could be what you need to accomplish your goals.Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking...

For every Marilyn Monroe and James Dean, you will find a Pam Grier and Billy Dee Williams. Sex symbols of the yesteryear, there were plenty to go around, but only a few earned true mainstream success. Checkout this list of stars who our parents, and our parents' parents, were thirsty over. 1. Lola Falana Photo: lipstickalley Sammy Davis Jr. gave Ms. Falana her first big break. This dancer, singer and actress would take her talents to Broadway and eventually to Italy in the 1960's and 1970's. Sticking with show business well into the late 1980's, Lola entertained her way into the object of every man's affection. 2. Dorothy Dandridge Photo: theredlist.com Sultry moves and a voice to match, Dorothy Dandridge is credited as the first African-American to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress thanks to her show-stopping performance in Carmen Jones. Ladies, this is red lip goals. 3. Richard Roundtree Photo: Shaft Mary Jane Paul's daddy used to be fine. Yes, the patriarch on Being Mary Jane once thrilled and took out jive turkey criminals in the cult classic blaxploitation film, Shaft. The former model turned actor had a way with the ladies. In real life, Roundtree was a bad mother (shut your mouth) with sex appeal for days. 4. Lena Horne Photo: Evans/Ronald Grant A smile that lit any room she entered. Lena Horne was a Cotton Club alum and civil rights activist. Just before a World War II performance, Lena refused to go on because the soldiers were segregated. Woke and sexy. Our modern day example of bae goals. 5. Jayne Kennedy Photo: ozy.com Jayne Kennedy's resume includes plenty of Jet, Ebony and Essence covers. And, she has a spot in history as the first Black woman to win the crown of Miss Ohio and one of the first black woman sportscasters in the country. 6. Eartha Kitt A purr and prowl like no other. Eartha Kitt is the voice that seduced Santa Claus and brought Batman to his knees as Catwoman. And, she was very outspoken about the Vietnam War. Her social conscious levels were at peak levels and most notable are her eyebrows, always perched to the heavens. 7. Teddy Pendergrass Photo: Getty Images OG panty dropper. Teddy Pendergrass had so many draws thrown at him, that he could've opened his own Victoria's Secret. Every R&B male vocalist to follow has taken notes from Teddy P. His voice was as smooth as silk. And his stage presence, whew, like no other. Teddy made it okay to Turn Off the Lights, baby. 9. Lonette McKee Photo: lipstickalley.com The beauty and rawness as lead in Sparkle are what made heads turned for Lonette McKee. A string of film and music credits is what made her a Black household name. Dawning a slim figure and full body hair, Lonette performed with desirable confidence. 10. Jim Brown Photo: 100 Rifles From NFL player to lead actor, Jim Brown did a 180 in his career during the late 1960's. His love scene opposite Raquel Welch is known as one of the first interracial romances on screen. This Pro Football Hall of Famer showcased his strength on and off screen, for many decades. There's just something about that strong jawline. Whew. 11. Taimak Photo: iamtaimak.com Is there an Oscar for "Best Aged Actor"? If so, Taimak would blow out the competition. Remembered primarily for his sleek martial arts moves in The Last Dragon, Taimak is a skilled actor and black belt. Appearing in small TV roles over the years, he maintained that toned physique. 12. Phyllis Hyman Photo: mtv.com Her plump, vivacious lips deserve a hall of fame all their own. Phyllis Hyman captivated audiences with her glamorous wardrobe and soulful music throughout the 1970's and 80's. Starting off her career as a fashion model and actress, this Tony award nominee soon blew the industry away with her beauty and ballads. 13. Frankie Lymon Photo: Getty Images Don't let his size fool you. Frankie Lymon had women throwing themselves at him, even beyond the grave. The inspiration behind Why Do Fools Fall in Love immediately stole the spotlight at a young age. His choir boy routine kept the ladies weak at the knees. 14. Tamara Dobson Photo: LIFE Magazine Meet Cleopatra Jones. Standing at 6' 2'', Tamara Dobson is one of the queens of Blaxploitation. Her racy wardrobe and on-screen fighting tactics left men wondering if they were in love or needed a protective order. Mother did not play. Although her acting career was short-lived, Dobson modeled in a slew of photos. Her curves and long legs were instant show stoppers. 15. David Ruffin Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Collectively, The Temptations were R&B sex symbols, but it was David Ruffin who gave the others a run for their money with the ladies. Maybe it was his ego or possibly the voice, yet D. Ruffin often capitalized off of his swag to win over audiences. 16. Big Daddy Kane Photo: Warner Bros. Big Daddy Kane is one of the few rappers from the golden age who exuded a sexual persona with edgy lyrics. With his stream of provocative photos (I can't unsee them) and smooth flow, women threw themselves at him before, during and after shows. And, he was there for the touchdown. Big Daddy Kane made no qualms about his mission to please the ladies. 17. Ron O'Neal Photo: Super Fly Before you knew him as Whitley Gilbert's personal money bags (her daddy), Ron O'Neal burst on the scene as the slick talking Super Fly. He is in the original gangsta clique. As a talented writer, director and actor, O'Neal kept busy in the 70's glory years of Blaxploitation films. His strut, laid relaxer, and ways with the ladies, became a persona all its own and was quickly replicated his films. 18. Fred Williamson Photo: Tumblr Mr. Williamson aka "The Hammer", like Jim Brown spent his years pre-Hollywood as a pro-football player. He played the macho, charismatic guy that exuded a little bit of sexy. Williamson wasn't afraid to go shirtless, time after time, which was never too much. 19. Josephine Baker Photo: jawbreaker.nyc Where to begin? Josephine Baker was every man's pin-up dream come true. Unafraid to go bare, she presented many risque moments in her public and personal life. As one of the first Black women to appear on film, Ms. Baker entertained with her voice and sensuality. But, she was more than just a beauty. She is well known for her international activism. The NAACP named May 20th, "Josephine Baker Day". France showed her love, too. She became the first American woman buried in France with military honors. Another woke bae. READ NEXT: Why I Bottle Black Girl Magic for my Future...

Bill Cosby, R. Kelly and Brett Kavanaugh are men who are cut from the same cloth, and their women supporters are the thread that binds them, helping to stitch rape culture into the fabric of America. The sexually charged, predatory behavior they have been accused of is trash, and they've been put on full blast with good reason.Recently, each has been forced to deal with a reckoning of sorts, in an effort to hold them accountable for their treatment of women and girls. Bill “Pudding Pop” Cosby received a three to 10 year sentence for his somnophiliac practices against his victim Andrea Constand. Robert “Seems Like Your Ready” Kelly has been feeling the wrath of #MuteRKelly; the campaign has affected the singer’s ticket sales and concert performances. Brett “Beerhead” Kavanaugh’s exploits were made public to the entire nation from the Senate floor, as Dr. Christine Blasey-Ford recounted her encounter with the brazen, soon-to-be Supreme Court justice. Their detractors are relentless in seeing justice served. We’ve seen this in the overwhelming number of Cosby accusers who have come forward; the #MuteRKelly, #MeToo and #TimesUp movements; and — à la Ana Maria Archila, who ran up on Senator Jeff Flake to confront him about his nomination of Kavanaugh.However, supporters of these men are equally dogged. Both Cosby and Kelly’s takedowns have been compared to, or referenced as “public lynchings,” and #TeamRKelly remains adamant that the accused pedophile is not guilty. Meanwhile, Senator Lindsey Graham's insolent defense of Kavanaugh speaks for itself. Interestingly, in all three cases, many of their cheerleaders are women who appear to dismiss the allegations of assault and abuse, perceiving the accused as the victim of lies and negative press. They have even become aggressive toward complete strangers, all in defense of these men.According to The Associate Press, a group of right-wing women flooded Senate phone lines, and even showed up to the Hart Senate Office Building in full support of Kavanaugh, outfitted in disturbing T-shirts that said things like “women for Kavanaugh” and “I stand with Brett.” One of these supporters, who was interviewed by AP, questioned the validity of Ford’s allegations, claiming they were “too timely and strategic.” This display made it painstakingly clear where these women stood on the issue of rape culture.The opinions of Kavanaugh’s supporters are not far fetched from women who continue to be die-hard R. Kelly fans. With every allegation that comes to light, misogynoir is sure to follow. When blog site the Jasmine Brand published an Instagram post that featured the accounts of a Kelly accuser, the victim-blaming erupted as his defenders swarmed the comments: View this post on Instagram Written by Miata Shanay :: #AsanteMcGee, one of the many women who has come forth to accuse #RKelly of sexual assault, isn’t done sharing her story. She and fellow alleged member of R. Kelly’s sex ring, #KittiJones, first told their stories to Buzzfeed. They then sat down for the Megan Kelly Show, and Asante is recanting some of the horrific details of her past in a new interview. On the singer’s harsh rules for the “members of his family” (what he called the women involved in his alleged sex ring) she says, “I took him very seriously. When he’s joking you know he’s joking. He wasn’t playing. When he said ‘every time a king enters the room, you stand up’ — you stand up…I don’t care if he goes back and forth ten times, you better stand up and kiss him each time he comes in and out of that room.” Asante continued, recalling needing permission to enter different areas in his Atlanta home. “If we wanted to go in the hallway, we knock on the wall and wait for ...” See the full story on #theJasmineBRAND.com A post shared by the Jasmine BRAND (@thejasminebrand_) on Aug 24, 2018 at 5:48pm PDTOne user, @na.kailya, declared herself “team r Kelly”:But the trolling did not end there. In another IG post, user @carmencaboom went in on alleged Kelly captive Azriel Clary and her family, slut shaming Clary and accusing her family of extortion. She also had quite the advice for the R&B scoundrel:Blavity reached out to both women to get a better understanding of why they would direct such vitriol toward women who have already been traumatized enough, in defense of a celebrity with a reputation for sexual deviance. While @na.kayla did not responded to this request, @carmencaboom initially agreed, but then backed out of the interview, citing impatience. It appeared as though she deleted her comments from the above post, till a colleague was able to access them, thus confirming I had actually been blocked. However, like diamonds, herpes and McDonald's french fries, screenshots are eternal.Oronike Odeleye, co-founder of #MuteRKelly, did share her insight on the oddity of women defending sexual perpetrators.“It starts with a conversation. And I try as best as I can to come from a non-judgemental place, because we're not all sharing the same information. So when I encounter women online who are vehemently telling me, ‘Leave that man [Kelly] alone; y’all just messing with him,’ l first ask that they research his full history, and then come back to me,” Odeleye told Blavity. “And let’s start from there. Can we get on the same plain of information, and then have a loving conversation?” she asked rhetorically.“What’s been transformative for me in the process is when I get other kinds of reactions. It is surprising the amount of women — once you have a conversation with them — end in a whole other place of blame  from where they started,” Odeleye continued. “Many don’t even realize their own trauma. That’s when I realized the importance of engaging in these conversations with people, and not having a knee-jerk ‘you a fool out here supporting a rapist’ type of thing. It really is that some people have never thought about the concept of [sexual misconduct] in a different kind of way.”In Cosby’s case, we cannot forget how the allegations of his victims once fell on the deaf ears of our beloved Phylicia Rashad, Whoopi Goldberg, Jill Scott, Keshia Knight Pulliam and Raven-Symoné. Also, Attorney Monique Pressley seems to have a curious predilection toward defending controversial, problematic men; she has represented both Cosby and Kelly against sexual predatory claims. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, women who’ve been quick to jump to the defense of accused abusers, appear to lack the empathy one would expect them to have for their fellow woman, and seem to underestimate how difficult and risky it is to expose such famous, powerful men.Although Jill Scott and others later changed their tune about Cosby, the rationale behind their initial support seems to be a commonly shared belief among those who choose to blindly defend these men: The accusers are merely motivated by a hidden, self-serving agenda — attention, money and so on. But what those who support and defend these men don’t seem to fully understand is that a man who actively seeks out underage girls is also operating with a secret agenda — to boost his ego by taking advantage of their naiveté. A man who drunkenly overpowers a young girl, pinning her to a bed while ignoring her cries to stop, is also running his own agenda — to fuel his ego and feed his carnal urges by asserting dominance over a vulnerable, young girl. A man who disarms women by drugging them has a hidden agenda — to f**k them without getting their consent.Yes, in a court of law, people should be considered innocent until proven guilty. However, women who claim to be the victim of a sexual assault also deserve the benefit of doubt, in the same manner that it is extended to their accused assailants. But no — humanity and compassion is too tall of an order for women affected by sexual violence. We may never fully understand how or why some women can support men who’ve been accused of sexually abhorrent behavior, and outwardly dismiss, disbelieve and disrespect their alleged victims. But we do know that when it comes to patriarchy and misogyny, they are one and of the same...

February 1 marks the start of Black History Month—a chance to recognize Black men and women who have made significant advancements across the United States and worldwide in sports, entertainment, science, politics and many other fields.According to History.com, Black History Month originated in 1915, nearly 50 years after the 13th Amendment, which prohibiting slavery in the United States, was ratified in the Constitution. Revered historian Carter G. Woodson first dubbed it as "Negro History Week." However, it wasn't until 1976 that the U.S. president officially recognized the entire month of February as Black History Month. Thanks to technological improvements, it's now easier than ever to rediscover one's family lineage or identify where some of the first African immigrants settled stateside. Several museums and history centers across the country are also commemorating the month with signature events of their own, and one institution plans on celebrating Black accomplishments in February and onward.The Jamestown Settlement and American Revolution Museum at Yorktown (JSARM at Yorktown) is a history-focused interactive museum located in Williamsburg, Virginia. Loaded with artifacts hundreds of years old, the JSARM at Yorktown aims to remember some of the earliest settlers, who arrived to the Commonwealth of Virginia in the 17th and 18th centuries.For Black History Month, officials at the JSARM have gone above and beyond in order to memorialize Black figures in Virginia's history. During the month, they are also observing a pivotal moment in Black history: 400 years since the arrival of Africans in  Jamestown, Virginia. Blavity had a chance to speak directly with individuals from the foundation, and they provided us with much more insight on how their February displays will reflect this milestone.One of their first objectives include celebrating women with an exhibit titled "TENACITY: Women in Jamestown and Early Virginia," which will feature personal anecdotes from African and Powhatan Indian women. This exhibit runs for the entire year and into next year, with a current end date set for January 5, 2020.The JSARM will also present "After Angelo: Celebrating Black Women in America," a special event later in the month on February 23. They plan to honor the legacy of Angelo, the first African woman mentioned by name in historical records at Jamestown.According to Nancy Egloff, a historian at the JSARM, Angelo was given her name when Portuguese inhabitants baptized her in Angola, before transferring her to the ship. She is originally from Ndongo, the kingdom from which she originated in the Portuguese territory of Angola, which is located in West Central Africa. Portuguese colonists felt they were called to convert and baptize Africans before enslaving them and shipping them to their future homes. Angelo arrived to Virginia in 1619 from Angola. Unfortunately, there are so few details surrounding Angelo's life in America, except for a cameo in the recording, "Muster of the Inhabitants of Virginia," which was published in 1625, which is available for listening at the JSARM. After that, Angelo's story is virtually untraceable.To really understand the plight these eventual settlers made from Africa to the United States, Dr. John Thornton and Dr. Linda Heywood, along with former JSARM senior curator Dr. Thomas Davidson, ventured to present-day Angola, and completely immersed themselves in the culture, taking photos along the way.As part of the event, keynote speaker Dr. Cassandra Newby-Alexander, who serves as the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Professor of History at nearby HBCU, Norfolk State University will deliver a lecture centered on developing a Black community. The lecture will be followed by a moderated panel discussion from 12pm to1pm. Titled "Re-interpreting History through the Lives and Eyes of Black Women," panelists will discuss how examining key moments in Black history is better understood when explained by African-American women. The day will also include live music, dramatic performance and historical presentations from 9am to 5pm, followed by a jazz and blues concert from 6pm to 10pm.Egloff told Blavity that Africans in Virginia came in August 1619, arriving on the English privateering ship White Lion. The Portuguese supplied African slaves to the Spanish colonies in the Americas. The White Lion and a few days later the privateering ship Treasurer, also transporting some of the 50 or so Africans they captured, ultimately docking at Point Comfort, or modern-day Hampton, Virginia. Upon arriving, some of these first Africans were traded to Governor George Yeardley and the cape merchant Abraham Piersey, for supplies. While 20 to 30 of these Africans were left in Virginia, the remainder traveled to Bermuda.If you're unable to travel to JSARM this February to learn about Angelo, the institution has other expositions available for viewing until March 2020. The “Forgotten Soldier” exhibit profiles the narratives of both enslaved and free Black individuals, who fought on both sides of the American Revolution, and their endeavors in constituting the United States. Soldiers who enlisted for the Americans did so because they too believed in a free and sovereign country. Slaves who preferred to serve on the British side were coerced with the promise of their own liberation.African Americans in the United States don't need a reminder of how important understanding our societal beginnings are to our modern-day accomplishments. While just a small part of a greater push to highlight some of the hidden figures from centuries past, the Jamestown Settlement and American Revolution Museum at Yorktown,Virginia are doing their part to initiate the conversation of tracing our past and linking it to the present.Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news.Now, check these out:7 Great reads to celebrate Black History Month15 Moments of Black History That Have Occurred Since The Last Black History MonthWhy African Immigrants Should Celebrate Black History...

Since the 45th President of the United States was elected, the country has been engrossed in turmoil. The impact of the 2016 election is like something straight off the big screen. Many incidents have occurred that are reminiscent of times past. Racism without fear of persecution is becoming more and more visible. Individuals who would have never revealed their true feelings about racism during President Obamas’ administration are now coming forward.Most recently actor James Woods tweeted: “The media onslaught against 'white privilege,' Christianity, 'male toxicity,' all the liberal nonsense, reveals a misstep by those uneducated in the power of history. The one sure thing history has taught us, never declare a race war against a majority. It won’t end well.”The media onslaught against “white privilege,” Christianity, “male toxicity,” all the liberal nonsense, reveals a misstep by those uneducated in the power of history. The one sure thing history has taught us: never declare a race war against a majority. It won’t end well.— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) January 26, 2019These comments are becoming more and more popular by white men and women in prominent positions. Why? Because the current state of the union indicates that it is acceptable to blatantly disregard marginalized populations. NBC News reported in 2017 that there has been a 20 percent increase in hate crimes since the 2016 election. According to new data reported by the NAACP in 2018, hate crime totals in the country’s 10 largest cities are on the rise. The reported numbers are the highest that this country has seen in the last decade.University campuses are receiving increased reports of student initiated hate crimes. Black face, nooses, cotton and bananas have made their rounds on a host of campuses. Just a year ago, an African American student at Cornell University was physically assaulted. In the Washington, D.C. metro area, students have reported being harassed. Bowie State University graduating senior Richard Collins III was stabbed as he waited for his Uber at the University of Maryland. He was stabbed by an unknown white assailant by the name of Sean Urbanski.Could all of these incidents be purely coincidental? Certainly. However, most of these incidents directly line up with the election of the 45th U.S. President. Having the knowledge of these incidents, why hasn’t the current administration identified these homegrown terroristic acts? Why has the President not directly spoken out against these acts? The Twitter finger gangster-in-chief is always silent on issues dealing with racism and his supporters. He refuses to acknowledge attacks on black lives or the heroes who sprang into action to save them. For an individual who always has something to say, even when he is loud and mostly wrong, his silence is deafening. His blatant disregard to acknowledge an aggressively oppressive time that he has helped to usher in is audacious.James Shaw Jr. is yet to be recognized by the President. However, he thought it appropriate to extend an invitation to Covington High School after they harassed a Native American veteran. Could his favoritism, constant use of white privilege and white supremacy values be any more blatant?When I view the MAGA hat and those who wear it, I’m deeply triggered. The recent attack on Jussie Smollet and the trolling of democratic elected officials by MAGA supporters is evident. The hat is racist and there is certainly no mistaking it. The MAGA hat allows racists to walk boldly among us.I don’t claim to believe that all republicans are racist. However, republicans who don the red hat of hatred are certainly “racism friendly,” in my opinion. Until the GOP and the President acknowledge what is obviously happening in this country, we are headed toward the bloodiest time in our lives. I don’t for one moment think that people are going to continue to sit back and wait until it is their turn to be violated. The 2020 election is an opportunity for us to feel the pulse of America and what her citizens are truly made of.As of now the lines are certainly not blurred. Either you’re pro red hat or you’re not. Either way, there will be no sitting this one out, the red hats have already decided that for all of us. God speed.Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking...

Recently, news broke of Governor Ralph Northam's racist yearbook page. Northam issued an apology in which he tries to convince Americans that the “photo and the racist and offensive attitude it represents does not reflect that person I am today or the way that I have conducted myself as a soldier a doctor and a public servant.”But the issue at hand goes beyond an old yearbook photo. I can’t help but wonder how beliefs that led him to be in pictures of him in either blackface or KKK garb (or neither, now) in his medical school yearbook have impacted Black people he encountered over the years as a doctor, soldier and public servant.During Northam's 2017 run for governor, his campaign spent $9 million on Get Out the Vote (GOTV), including literature featuring all of the democratic candidates to mobilize Virginia voters. But Justin Fairfax, the current Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, was left off of the coordinated campaign literature (lit).Black voters — who make up one-fifth of the voting electorate in Virginia, were a key voting block for Northam in what would prove to be a tight race. As the only Black statewide candidate running for statewide office, having Fairfax on the coordinated campaign lit would have been key to turning out Black voters.Northam’s decision to leave Fairfax off the ballot prompted Black led political organizations, such as Collective PAC, to fill in the void. And when the campaign was called out, democratic leaders and advisors dismissed the complaints as “blown out of proportion." Even the president of the local NAACP dismissed the issue, instead urging democrats and Black voters to “stay focused on the goals ... that Ralph wins …”The campaign didn't apologize for leaving Fairfax off the ballot, stating “we are making a historic investment in the coordinated campaign, including giving or raising $9 million in Get Out The Vote efforts for the entire ticket without asking for any additional investment from the ticket mates.” The campaign basically said “you ain't put in on this, man,” opting to leave Fairfax off the lit at the risk of losing the very votes they would need to win — the Black vote.How have the young white assailants during the Woolworth lunch counter sit in, the young white women booing Black women participating in the women's suffrage march, the young white parents who berated six year Ruby Bridges on her first day of school and young white bystanders who stood in silence as these acts took place, impacted the lives Black people they’ve encountered over the years? What comes of young white people who’s past racist actions have gone largely unchecked and unnoticed?They grow up to be doctors who provide medical advice based on age old racist stereotypes that leave Black mothers facing death unnecessarily when giving birth, high infant mortality rates and Black patients without the care they need. They grow up to be the Secretary of State of Florida (also caught wearing blackface back in the day ) where they oversee elections processes in a state that has a long and well documented history of voter suppression that continues today. They grow up to be people who would call the police on young Black entrepreneurs selling water or mowing grass. They grow up to be police who use deadly force on Black men ad women, and teachers who over discipline Black girls and boys. They grow up to be voters and elected leaders who would see this country's government shut down for over a month for border wall funding.His unwillingness to step aside for the Black Lieutenant Governor, who would be only the second Black governor in the state's history, doesn’t surprise me. Northam, like many before him and even today, have been able to live life free of consequence for their past transgressions. Northam has grown up to become an entitled, selfish and disgraced elected official clinging on to a governorship he doesn’t deserve at the expense of the Black voters who put him in office. And this is why he must step down and face the consequences of his actions, so that racist behavior no longer goes unchecked. He must step down so that Virginians can have leadership they truly deserve — the leadership of Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax.Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking...

This year, Black History Month holds special significance.2019 marks 400 years since some of the first enslaved Africans -- all of whom were subjected to horrendous conditions and many who didn’t survive them --  arrived on ships to Jamestown Colony in Virginia in 1619.This marked the beginning of Black life in America.As we look back on the last four centuries, we must recognize the tireless journey Black people have faced in a country that saw and treated us as less than human -- and still does. We must pay homage to the slaves who were lynched, brutally beaten, separated from their families and endured horrific conditions to build the foundation of a country that never loved them. We must acknowledge the tireless work of freedom fighters who fought for true liberation because they knew emancipation never meant true equality. We must reflect on the lives -- both past and present -- that were lost to brutal acts of hatred fueled by racism. And we must give praise to the legacy of our ancestors who were left out of history books but battled the beast of overt and systemic racism to make life better for the generations that came after them -- both for the families they built and the Black families who have since immigrated to America and call this country home. It is undeniable that Black history has defined our Black present -- and we must honor that. Always, in all ways.That’s why this February, we at Blavity, Inc. are reflecting on how Black History Made Us.It has made us bold, resilient and strong beyond belief. It has made us feel angry, motivated and ready for more change. And, perhaps most importantly, it has fueled us to fight for access and mobility in a country that continually fails to see our full humanity and is determined to hold us back.It is our duty to make our ancestors proud; to continue to fight against the systemic ways we are continuously marginalized and misrepresented; and to forge ahead to strive for the liberation we were promised by supporting each other, our businesses and our community.That’s what we are committed to doing each day at Blavity, Inc., and especially during February.Watch the video below to see some of the people at Blavity, Inc. share how they believe Black history has made us feel and tell us in the comments:How has YOUR Black history made you feel? View this post on Instagram Happy Black History Month, Blavity fam ✊🏿 This year holds special significance because 2019 marks 400 years since enslaved Africans arrived to Jamestown. In commemoration, join us as we at @blavityinc reflect on how we feel #BlackHistoryMadeUs as we continue to honor our illustrious legacy. YOUR TURN: Tell us, how has Black history made you feel? Comment 👇🏿 and tag a friend! #BlackHistoryMadeUs #BHM #BlackHistoryMonthA post shared by Blavity News (@blavity) on Feb 1, 2019 at 9:03am PST Happy Black History Month, fam.Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking...