Learn how
to Swirl
How to date, mate and relate. Mixing race, culture and creed.
Do any of you in BB&W land really see yourselves under one of these seven labels?
Just because Autism Awareness Month is coming to an end doesn’t mean that we will just stop talking about it. Research is being done, positive results are being seen and some are actually recovering. But the picture is still far too bleak for most children on the spectrum. One has to recognize the signs and get a child the intervention as soon as possible for the best outcomes. This is not always easy even for those who live in this country. The more time lost, the harder it will be to catch up like the young boy in the story that follows.
This is for the people who no matter what truths you show them, they refuse to see or acknowledge what is right before them and maintain the same thoughts no matter what. This is a sickness for which I use the code words: “I Say Hot Salt!”
In honor of Women’s History Month, I wanted to profile a special swirling black woman. I could not think of a more fitting role model, outstanding leader and phenomenal woman whose official title is Vice Admiral Michelle Janine Howard, three star ranked Deputy Commander of the United States Fleet Forces Command. Having aachieved so many “firsts” for a woman, a black woman, her graduating class from the US Naval Academy (1982), and family life.
I know that I installed the word “VET” into my vocabulary as I found myself coaching more and more women on finding suitable mates. What if someone does all the right things, asks all the right questions and still ends up with a shyster? Well, Joy Richardson, a dear friend thought she married the man of her dreams and in just two weeks it started unraveling. I would venture to say that it started before that.
April 2 was World Autism Awareness Day. I have been one re-tweeting fool over the last couple of days doing my part to get the word out. But when I retreat back into mommy-hood, I return to the -what ifs and what will happen when- thoughts relating to my own son Elyjah who is autistic. Constant joys and worries take up permanent residence in the mind of a parent who has a child with autism.
We needed to lighten up the mood so I thought I would present some swirls in the animal world. It seems that animals are getting along better than humans these days. The law of the Jungle is all they have. No Supreme Court to implement or overturn anything. They just do what they do. Check out some swirls!
Although America was ready for a black Bachelorette, The ABC Bachelorette franchise passed on a grand opportunity to select Dr. Misee Harris who was poised to be the first. Oh well, its their loss. Dr. Harris launched a social media campaign that took her on a whirlwind tour of television and radio talk shows and a myriad of magazine and blog interviews. On the way to becoming a super reality (and actual) star, this beautiful dentist inspired many Americans and garnered some 50,000 Facebook and Twitter fans to cheer her on. As well, Dr. Harris got some hate mail but she always kept it real without breaking a sweat.
I came across this post shared by a member of a private group I belong to on Facebook. She was seeking our thoughts on the issue and I had to chime in. Spare the Kids is a blog run by Dr. Stacy Patton, dedicated to provided black parents and families alternatives to corporal punishment. A white man wrote in to seek advice about his black wife’s family over the issue of spanking. Their differences have led to heated discussions as her family is are determined to do it no matter what he says.
It is no secret that black women have always been desired for marriage by men of all races for centuries. I am always looking for images whether photographs or oil canvas like these Casta paintings. These are gems of black women of various shades with white males. I only found a few of these fascinting art and history collections. So if you know of any more, please add the links. I have included credits when available as these portraits all came from the Internet. My focus is black woman interracial unions, not the names of the offspring they produced. By today’s standards the children of such unions would simply be biracial or multiracial, not assigned to some one drop, racist label.
Anta Majigeen Ndiaye or Anna Madgigine Jai Kingsley was not always the free Senegalese woman who eventually became a plantation and slave owner. At 18 years old, her owner Zephaniah Kingsley, one of the most powerful men in Florida freed the 18 year-old woman mother of his 3 children and married her. As Florida was under Spanish colonial rule where manumission laws were more liberal than American. Her husband saw slavery as a temporary condition related to economics more than race. Anna learned to operate the plantations as effective as Zephaniah.
A white racist father instructed her supervisor that he did not want any African American’s caring for his sick baby. The hospital complied and even posted a note on the child’s chart reinforcing the order. What the cuss?
Eletha Finch was so gracious and humble accepting her late husband, Peter Finch’s Oscar. It is logical that the widow of an actor should accept any award in honor of her husband (or vice versa). But in 1977, race definitely was a factor in Eletha NOT being asked to accept the award on her husband’s behalf.
Mahala Lynch Davis, married her former slave owner Isaac P. Davis in 1857. On the right is their daughter Martha Davis Wilson (b. 1848) holding her baby Julia Wilson (Car). Davis freed Mahala and then married her moving from his former Virginia plantation to Chilicothe, southern Ohio.