February is Black History Month
This focal celebration presents a special opportunity to recognize the bold and daring achievements of African Americans. 2007 is the 50th anniversary of a pivotal event in the Civil Right Movement that challenged racist segregation and moved history forward for all Americans --the integration of Central High in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Fifty years ago, the doors of Little Rock's Central High School became gates of change, when on September 4, 1957, nine African American students came to school for class - for the first time. Turned away by Arkansas National Guard soldiers under orders from the Governor, the students finally entered safely three weeks later when the President of the United States sent the 101st Airborne to enforce the Supreme Court's desegregation rulings.
The historic events of the integration of Central High School and the re- opening of all of Little Rock's schools a year after the Governor closed them are quintessential women's history. Women's bold actions made both events possible.
Civil Rights activist, Daisy Bates,
The Long Shadow of Little Rock gave the nine students (two boys and seven girls) the information, encouragement, and support they needed to enroll in Central High School. When the Governor resorted to closing the schools in Little Rock to prevent integration, it was the women of the "Women's Emergency Committee to Open Our Schools" who with daring courage organized the effort to open the schools and in so doing changed themselves and the community. The Giants Wore White Gloves DVD
One of the 2007 NWHP Honorees, Minnijean Brown Trickey, (http://www.nwhp.org/whm/trickey_bio.php) was only sixteen years old when she became involved in the integration of Little Rock's Central High School. In 1957, along with eight other black teenagers she defied death threats, hostile white demonstrators, and even the Arkansas National Guard to attend the all-white Central High School. Rising above the adversity, these students took a courageous step that not only changed their lives and education but the lives and education of African Americans around the country.
African American history is essential to American History and needs to be merged in the telling of the story. Until that time, we need to use the important focal celebration of Black History Month to inform and expand our society's knowledge of African American history.
The Long Shadow of Little Rock
The Giants Wore White Gloves DVD
Warriors Don't Cry
Black History Month Featured Items
Celebrating 50 Years of Integration: The Memory Project Central High students today are collecting the personal stories of family and neighbors who lived through historic and current civil rights struggles, not only at Central but across Arkansas, America, and the world. Students are creating this website, The Little Rock Central High Civil Rights Memory Project, to serve as a permanent online resource for students, teachers, historians and the families of those who share their stories. It is the hope of Central's students that this website and these personal narratives, can open a door into history and encourage students today to continue the process of change in race relations and civil rights in their own lives and communities.http://www.lrchmemory.org/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page
Voices from the Days of Slavery The Library of Congress's American Folklife Center online collection: Voices from the Days of Slavery: Former Slaves Tell Their Stories, available at Library's American Memory.
Standing on My Sisters' Shoulders An award-winning documentary about courageous women in Mississippi during the Civil Rights Movement. Check out www.sisters-shoulders.org for additional information.
Please join the National Organization for Women Venice/North Port Chapter in Celebration of Black History Month. We are all equal under the law.
We are Free at last!
For more information visit or contact:
National Women's History Project
3343 Industrial Blvd. Suite 4
Santa Rosa, CA 95403
http://www.nwhp.org
(707) 636-2888
nwhp@nwhp.org
This eloquently written piece is brought to us via: Jennifer Cohen
Thursday, February 15, 2007 6:00PM - 8:00PM Black Business Professional Network 3rd Thursday Networking Event
"Network Mixer"
Location: Metro Cafe and Wine
711 South Osprey Ave.
Sarasota, Florida 34236
941.365.1800
$10.00 per person (Food/Drink)Join us... meet new people... grow your business and professional contacts in a relaxed social atmosphere.
- Come out and meet Sarasota's finest in Black business owners, professionals and community leaders.
- Get to know who's who in Sarasota's "premiere" Black Business and Professional Network.
- Exchange information, business cards, and professional expertise amongst your peers
- Get the buzz - what's going on in Sarasota for Black business owners, professionals and community leaders.
SPACE IS LIMITED RESERVE YOURS TODAY
Click Here to RSVP: info@blackbusinesspro.com (insert RSVP into the Subject line)
RSVP by Phone: 941.366.8403
Thursday, February 8 - 17, 2007 Fences Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe a the Historic Asolo
The Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe is staging one of August Wilson's Pulitzer winning plays, Fences, set in Pittsburgh in the 1950s. At the center of the drama is garbage man Troy Maxson, a onetime baseball star in the Negro Leagues, embittered that he never had a chance to play in the segregated major leagues. James Earl Jones played Troy on Broadway and won a Tony Award.
The Fences cast includes, Dionndra Kinsey, Jeff Cange, and Derek Jefferson, who plays Troy. The play opened last Thursday night to rave reviews! It runs through Feb. 17 at the company's new home, the Historic Asolo Theater at the Ringling Museum of Arts in Sarasota. Performances are at 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday. $22, $28. (941) 360-7399.
Coming in March
MARCH 8 - 24, 2007 - DREAMGIRLS
DREAMGIRLS, winner of six Tony Awards follows the journey of three talented singers as they gain fame and stardom. The show features the musical style of the 60's infusing it with Broadway style which tells a riveting story of glamour, ambition and heartache. See it LIVE ON STAGE in the inimitable style the WBTT is becoming noted for.
Performance dates are as follows: 3/8 - 3/24, 2007 (TH, FRI, SAT,) at 8:00 PM, 3/10, 3/17 & 3/24 (SAT) at 2:00 PM. Tickets: Evenings- $28 EACH Matinees-$22 For Tickets and Information CALL (941) 360-7399. Student Rate and Group Rates available. ALL CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED
Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) African American Heritage Scholarships for $2500
Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) is a company-sponsored diversity organization dedicated to supporting the continued growth and development of African-American employees at Microsoft Corporation. Each year, BAM awards two $2,500 scholarships to outstanding high school seniors who are interested in pursuing careers in technology. The scholarships are renewable, so winners who continue to meet the criteria can receive an annual $2,500 award for up to four years.
Applications must be received by March 30, 2007. Responses will be returned by May15, 2007. For the application document and instructions click here: Download the BAM Scholarship application (Microsoft Word document, 838 KB) For further questions and information e-mail: bamship@microsoft.com
Saturday, February 17, 2007 8:30AM Manatee County Branch NAACP Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Breakfast
Location: Palmetto Youth Center, 501 17th St W Palmetto, FL 34221
Speaker: The Honorable Frank Peterman, "In Unity, Making the Dream a Reality"
Table of 8: $160.00
Individual tickets: $20.00
Call for tickets: Arthur Jefferson, Chairman 941.321.3224, Edward Bailey, President 941.504.2421
Limited Seating Reserve Yours Now
URGENT!!! Need African-American Students for FREE Engineering Camp!!!Summer Program in Houston in Engineering for High School Juniors
Need students that are currently in the 11th grade to attend a FREE engineering camp at the University of Houston. We need more African-American students. Please send the attached application information to as many students/teachers and have them to mail them in ASAP at the address listed on the brochure.
This is camp is coed. Students in this camp have been known to get summer jobs for college just for attending the camp. Help students help themselves. This camp helps students develop good study habits and learn about the various facts of engineering careers. We need at least 15 more students or we will lose funding for next year's camp. Please help us keep this camp alive.
Students are welcome from anywhere in the United States. Transportation
is not provided, but the camp is free. We will pick up and return out of
town students to the bus station, train station or airport for free. If you need further information please contact John Matthews, 713-743-4226.
For more information: http://www.egr.uh.edu/promes/ pubs/meset2006. pdf http://www.egr.uh.edu/promes/?e=camps choose camps or summer camps.
Sunday, February 25th, 2007 Love, Florida Style 3rd Annual Singles ExpoLove - Relationship Experts come to Sarasota
Nationally recognized from guest appearances on Syndicated Shows Dr. Phil, 48 hours and the BBC media, Relationship Experts come to Sarasota to speak to area Singles. Sponsored by local event company SOU (Singles Organizations Unite). It is a melding of workshops in the morning, expo/tradeshow in the afternoon and a singles dance in the evening. The event is open to singles in The Englewood, Venice, North Port, Sarasota, Bradenton and Port Charlotte area and singles of all ages, men or women!
Six renowned speakers will address a variety of topics: Author and Keynote Speaker Lynn McDonald will be speaking on “How to Use Your Shopping Skills to Get a Man.” Michelle Valentine will share her tips on “How to Find Love Online”. Relationships Experts Conni and Howard Olson will speak on “Take Off Your Blinders and Make the Next Relationship, The One!” Motivational Speaker, Christine Liska will speak on “The Importance of Dating Differently with Today’s New Courtship.” Singles Expert Dr. Robyn workshop will be a question session of “Ask the Doctor”. Author Lisa Daily will be speaking on “How to Become a Dreamgirl (or attract one) at any age”. Our Mistress of Ceremonies is Judy Dean President of The Finer Places. Tickets may be purchased online at www.srqboxoffice.com. Attendance is by RESERVATION ONLY. The workshop hours are from 9:00 to 4:00 PM.
Get up close and personal with celebrity “foodie” and chef Judi Gallagher as she prepares a romantic treat during the Expo. The Expo will feature over 50 exhibiting companies and singles organizations. The Expo doors open from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. The Sunday Singles Dance Party begins at 7:00 and continues on until 11:00 PM. For more information contact: Patti Hirsch 941. 955.1494 or singleorganizationsunite@juno.com. Sarasota Cay Club is located at 7100 North Tamaimi – 2 miles north of the SRQ Airport. Portion of the proceeds benefit Habitat for Humanity Women’s Build program.
 |
empowered quote: "Everybody wants to do something to help, but nobody wants to be the first."- Pearl Bailey
BLACK BUSINESS PROFESSIONAL NETWORK
15 Paradise Plaza,
Box 335 Sarasota, Florida 34239
941.366.8403 info@blackbusinesspro.com
www.blackbusinesspro.com
View this newsletter online.
