February - Celebrating Black Women Successes and a reflective book read-along

Alexr al'Petros

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This month, the Servant of All Team (SOAT), wanted to change it up. Here in this main topic thread, we invite our TVN community to share and learn about the massive contributions of Black women. We will also conduct a book read-along / discussion in a separate thread. Hopefully, we will all learn a bit more about each other and the giants that walk among us.

In this main February thread, we are going to maintain a list of Black Women success stories. (SOAT suggestions will be modern, but we invite you to share your favorite Black Woman success story, whomever and whenever they are in this thread.).

Also, we will be reading a book together this month. So go! Dust off those library cards and check out a copy of "How to be an Antiracist" by Ibram X. Kendi. Throughout the month, (starting 1 Feb), in the other separate thread, we will post discussion topics related to the book read-along. You can share comments and thoughts there in that other thread. On February 10th, 18th, and maybe another day or two, we will meet up on Discord and have a discussion about the book. From time to time (during the month) in that separate thread, we will post some additional thoughts to consider while reading the book AND we hope you will share with us some of your thoughts, experiences, insights about the book by posting responses in that separate thread.

Finally, at the very bottom of this first post (below our first Successful Black Woman), we have some great signatures and badges for you to show support for this celebration and read-along

Modern Black Women Success Stories

Starting our list.....
(c'mon TVN, whom else should we add?)

Opal Tometi

Award-winning human rights defender; co-founder of #BlackLivesMatter; founder of the new digital digest Diaspora Rising; one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Women of the Last Century

*******************************************************​

Cool Badges and Sigs here!

Signature
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Badge
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Alexr al'Petros

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Octavia Butler

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(1947-2006) Born in Pasadena, California, USA, Octavia Butler is considered a pioneer of science fiction writing. As one of the first Black women science fiction writers, Butler inspired a new generation of modern fantasy and science fiction writers with her prescient themes of injustice, climate change, and women’s rights. Some of her works include the well-known Parable series and Kindred, all works considered to be classics of the genre. For more information about Butler’s life, visit her biography page at the National Women’s History Museum.

Well TVNers, who's a successful Black woman that you know?
 

Polegnyn Nemeara

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Not as prolific in the same way as Opal Tometi or Octavia Butler, but there was one lady in my hometown who was so influential to so many over her 60 years of teaching. She was so devoted to her students that she eventually needed to take a year sabbatical which, being the first time I'd ever heard of anyone doing that, was amazing. Basically a very local celebrity that everyone loved. It was a sad day when she passed in 2009.

So, again, not the same definition of "success" as the two amazing women above, but nonetheless a role model who inspired and positively influenced my (and many others, I hope) worldview long before learning about Tometi or Butler.
 

Idine Espanyas

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My friend Gloria is an amazing black woman. She’s a talented artist and educator who raised her first daughter while completing her Masters degree. She pivoted to a new career in the middle of the pandemic while raising her daughter, twin babies, and being a first-time homeowner. She’s not a celebrity, but she’s awesome and she makes a difference in the community and for her family.
 
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I follow Soroya Tinker. She's a professional hockey player in the Premier Hockey Federation, staunch supporter of Black Girls Hockey, and a mentor to many young women.
You can learn more about her at her website.

I also went to college when Dr Shirley Ann Jackson was president of RPI. She is the first black woman to receive a doctorate in physics from MIT. She's done a lot over the years and it would be quite the wall of text to go over everything. You can learn more about her here.
 

Dianna Melear

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If you know me, you know I'm a connoisseur of reality TV. So is it any surprise that I would like to highlight a successful black woman from that genre? :wink:

Taylor Hale​

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Before going on the most recent season of American Big Brother (BB24), Taylor was crowned Miss Michigan in 2021 and also won Miss Congeniality during the Miss USA 2021 pageant. In 2022, Taylor joined the cast of BB24. Despite her sweet personality, she was almost immediately ostracized by her fellow house guests and nominated for eviction the first two weeks in a row. She joined an alliance dubbed "The Leftovers," but continued to be the victim of ridicule and microaggressions from many of her fellow cast-mates. Despite being nominated for eviction four more times, Taylor went on to win BB24, and became known as "the Sword" of her season. She also won American's Favorite House Guest. In doing so, Taylor made history twice over: by becoming the first black woman to win American Big Brother and by winning the most money of any houseguest in the history of the series.

As someone who followed Taylor's season of Big Brother avidly and was a Taylor fan from week one, I have to admit that last summer's season of Big Brother was incredibly stressful and tough to watch. But it was all worth it to see Taylor take that final prize.

Here's Taylor's speech for why she should win Big Brother, a pitch which she made to her fellow contestants before they voted for her to win. It's beautiful, and still brings tears to my eyes.
 

Alexr al'Petros

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Whose cutting onions in here!!

(and I don't even watch Reality TV. Thank you @Dianna Melear for this inspiring story.). Can't wait to read and see more stories of successful black women. Bring'em!!
 

Idine Espanyas

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Go Taylor!!! That was a powerful speech.
 
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In regards to the UK literature scene I think it would be remiss to overlook Malorie Blackman.

Malorie Blackman​


Malorie Blackman is a British author with over 60 published works for children. Malorie broke a lot of fresh ground: Malorie was the first Black British Children's Laureate (2013-2015) and the first person of colour to work on Dr Who. Malories work often includes difficult themes and addresses issues regarding race and ethnicity. Malorie is the recipient of multiple awards and accolades and has worked tirelessly to bring education and literature to more children - something I am sure we can all agree is a laudable aim.

Apologies I struggled to get an image to post in here.

From my own point of view, I remember reading Thief! at a very young age and the premise of the book really made me think about morality and its a book that always stuck with me.

So I think, if we want our children educated and interested to learn about the world, explore their opinions and their moral centres, engage intellectually and generally find enjoyment in the written word, then we should definitely celebrate the successes of Malorie Blackman.
 
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Alexr al'Petros

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In regards to the UK literature scene I think it would be remiss to overlook Malorie Blackman.

Malorie Blackman​


Malorie Blackman is a British author with over 60 published works for children. Malorie broke a lot of fresh ground: Malorie was the first Black British Children's Laureate (2013-2015) and the first person of colour to work on Dr Who. Malories work often includes difficult themes and addresses issues regarding race and ethnicity. Malorie is the recipient of multiple awards and accolades and has worked tirelessly to bring education and literature to more children - something I am sure we can all agree is a laudable aim.

Apologies I struggled to get an image to post in here.

From my own point of view, I remember reading Thief! at a very young age and the premise of the book really made me think about morality and its a book that always stuck with me.

So I think, if we want our children educated and interested to learn about the world, explore their opinions and their moral centres, engage intellectually and generally find enjoyment in the written word, then we should definitely celebrate the successes of Malorie Blackman.
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An image of her and a wonderful article from the Guardian about her life, her resiliency and her series "Hope is the Spark"
 

Idine Espanyas

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Awesome!! Go, team, go, let’s keep sharing those stories.
 

Morrighan Daghdera

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February is also heart health month. I know this because of my dear friend, Rolanda Perkins. We were colleagues at the time of her heart attack. Upon recovery, she has become a spokesperson on the national level for American Heart Association with the GO RED campaign, and WomenHeart advocating for heart health. She especially encourages women and specifically BIPOC women. She’s been featured on radio, print, and as a speaker. She’s been in Women’s Day and on multiple platforms including Washington DC as part of the Go Red campaign.

Here’s a link to a fairly recent interview with her so you can hear her voice:
Interview

And here’s a lovely picture from when she was our featured speaker at my church in 2017:



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Please Google her if you want more information, and do learn more about heart health. ❤️❤️❤️
 

Idine Espanyas

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Beautiful photo. I am glad your friend survived the heart attack and is now turning her adversity into advocacy for this issue that is too often overlooked for women and especially black women. Heart disease runs in my family so it is also something I worry about way too often.


I would like to share about another successful black woman: Kandyce Perry, who is the Director of the Office of Environmental Justice in NJ. We interviewed her last year as part of our Women’s History Month celebration, and she does fantastic work with EJ communities in New Jersey.

“Kandyce Perry serves as Director of the Office of Environmental Justice under Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette.

Kandyce is responsible for the management and oversight of the OEJ, which provides guidance to the DEP and all New Jersey state departments and agencies on how they can incorporate environmental justice into their statutory and regulatory responsibilities, policies, programs and core functions. She also oversees the convening of the State’s Environmental Justice Interagency Council and Environmental Justice Advisory Council, while acting as a key contact for overburdened communities.

Prior to joining the department, Kandyce worked at a Trenton-based nonprofit, where she directed policies and programs aimed at reducing flooding, improving water quality and ensuring equitable funding of stormwater infrastructure upgrades in the state. She also had worked on brownfield redevelopment for the Camden Redevelopment Agency.

Kandyce holds a master’s degree in environmental studies from the University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Spelman College. She believes that environmental justice for our must vulnerable and overburdened communities brings about justice for all of Earth’s inhabitants.”
 

Alexr al'Petros

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Yaa Gyasi - another SUCCESS!

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(1989- )

Born in Mampong, Ghana and raised in Huntsville, Alabama to a university professor and a nurse, Gyasi was a voracious reader from a young age. Gyasi earned a BA in English from Stanford University and an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. When she was just 26 years old, her debut novel Homegoing was published to critical acclaim, including the American Book Award, PEN/Hemingway Award, and the National Book Critics Circle’s John Leonard Award for best first book. Gyasi’s second novel Transcendent Kingdom was an instant New York Times Bestseller. Visit this page to learn more about Yaa Gyasi’s life and work.
 
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This might be a slightly personal call out to Black Women of Success but My cousin Julie (May she rest in peace, as I met her when she was rather aged.) Was the first and only African-American female in her Culinary program when she went to college. I remember the stories that she told me where she had to fight her way in. Even though BIPOC were now allowed in the Colleges, she was barred and many of her classmates were not helpful towards her. She went on to open a restaurant for a many decade, where she served food to her underserved community for free. Sometimes I wish I could of retained more of her stories, and hold on more to her lessons as well.


Another note, and this may also seem a tad sappy but, I work in a hospital on a Labor and Delivery Unit, I am just a secretary. Yet, I have noticed a slight divide between my co-workers and who uplifts who. Well, I would just like to give a shout out to all my nurses of color and Doctors as well. Yet, my favorite thing, even though Doulas can be a interesting experience is, and we do let them leave business cards on our unit..We have a Doula community targeted towards women of color, started by two sisters, and staffed with all Bipoc staff. They are constantly doing things in and for the community such as baby item drives, and giving away things to moms in need in my local underserved areas of town. The only reason I wanted to Shout these groups out is because I see them, and I see what they go through in my local area. (Oh shout out to midwives too.) But this does not mean that I am not thankful to all medical professionals. (Thank you for your work and service.)


I honestly could go on about Various people I know, and a good chunk of them even in my family, but, I would probably be typing for ages. But I will be back with some people that are more searchable!
 

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That’s awesome, thank you for sharing. I think the personal stories are just as and maybe even more important than the famous stories. People who make changes in their families and communities and never get famous for it- they are making such a huge difference.

I would love to hear more information about the community based doulas and maternal healthcare. I’ve done some reading about mainstream maternal healthcare for black women and it is so, so awful in America.

One of my college friends became a doula- her instagram handle is @mamatreedoula. She has tons of reels about her services for expectant and new mothers, they do many rituals with them and focus on mental health. It’s such important work that seems to be forgotten by the mainstream healthcare system- even for people with decent health insurance.
 
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