Sidney Poitier was born on February 20, 1927. He was a pioneer for diversity in the American film industry. He started his career in acting on the Broadway stage at the Ethel Barrymore theatre in 1959. Sidney was not only a great actor, but was also the first African American to win an Academy Award for Best Actor. The first movie that he acted in was called No Way Out, where he portrayed a doctor who treats a criminal.

By 15 he had moved to Miami and while living there faced racism. Sidney eventually decided to move away to Harlem, New York were he lied about his age to enlist in the military. He served ten months and decided to get out after seeing how poorly veterans were treated after he worked on Long Island for shell shocked veterans. Sidney Poitier said “The army was not heavily into the mental health business."

In his thirties he made it big in acting and became famous. Sidney Poitier cut out a great acting career and was in many great movies despite the racism and difficulties he had to face. He is a man that will be remembered for his contributions to culture. He sadly passed away January 6, 2022 at the age of 94.

By: Rhett F.

Students in Mrs. Tell's Advanced Nutrition courses practiced mindfulness by making "grazing boxes" for different administrators. This project allowed each student to work with someone and make a positive impact by showing gratitude. The message this sends to all of us is clear: we are in control of the conversation when it comes to thankfulness. People might work in different jobs, speak varying languages, or live entirely unique lives compared to our own. This doesn't mean we can't practice gratitude just the same in our own daily experiences.

Mary Shelley is a woman many know, the author of Frankenstein. But who came before Mary Shelley? Mary Wollstonecraft, a name you have most likely never heard, was the mother of Mary Shelley and a profound author in her time. She wrote many books, such as A History Of The French Revolution, various children's works, and A Vindication Of The Rights of Woman.

Though she had such a brilliant mind, her work was not appreciated purely because she had an illegitimate daughter. Mary Wollstonecraft fought for women's rights and gave the world books that should have stuck through history, but the world rejected her largely because she did not meet their qualifications of a woman. As a woman in our world today, I see many parallels between Mary Wollstonecraft’s life and others around me.

I see women treated badly for who they are and who they choose to be with. I see bright minds being shattered by the hateful words of those who judge based on their own predetermined images of a person. Mary Wollstonecraft’s name should be heard and her work should be appreciated with the same enthusiasm she made it with and the respect she deserves. The world should not disregard her work based on who wrote it.

By: Penelope B.

Aaliyah was an American singer, actress, dancer, and model who was born in Brooklyn. Her first appearance in the world of show business was at the age of 10 when the talented young lady was on Star Search. At the age of 12, Aaliyah signed to Jive Records and Blackground Records.

While signed, Aaliyah released her debut album, Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number. This album was so successful that it sold over 3 million copies in the United States and over 8 million worldwide. Aaliyah worked with Timbaland and Missy Elliott in 1995 while she was signed with Atlantic Records. Together they worked on her next album, One in a Million.

When this album was released it received many positive reviews and it debuted at number 20 on the US Billboard 200. It sold 40,500 copies during its first week. Although Aaliyah was off to such a great start and had accomplished so much at a young age, her life was cut short on August 25th, 2001 when she died in an airplane accident. Thankfully, many of her albums have been re-released and her name is still celebrated to this day. Aaliyah created great music and brought people together no matter their ethnicity, background, or gender. As of 2022, the Princess of R&B would have been 42 years old. Her legacy lives on.

By: Nakeia J.

Music has and will always be a large part of Black history. During slavery days and in instances of segregation, music kept humans of color together and assisted them in looking for brightness in the dark. The sacred songs they sang helped Black humans keep pushing in life. The melodies within the hymns and spirituals they sang have been filled with hope that God would free them from their oppressors. Slaves sang spirituals and hymns while they worked, dealt with their masters, and they sang as they marched for freedom and justice.

After slavery, Black human beings still continued to sing spirituals, normally in churches, about their struggles together. Their music continued to strengthen into different genres, such as blues and jazz. Their songs about the struggles of living as a man or woman of color touched the lives of Black people and those of other races, including whites. They grew to be widely popular when such track genres were popular and particularly spiked in popularity as the Civil Rights Movement started to pick up speed around the late ‘50s and ‘60s.

After segregation laws were done away with, the struggle of living as a black character continued and still exists today. Albeit, as before, as the genres of music come about and evolve over the years, music is still a full-size representation of Black life in America. Hip Hop touches the darkish parts of life and the splendor of being a Black person in all. This further raises the Black community’s self assurance and helps them look at life with an extraordinary light. One filled with love, a sense of belonging, and community.

Pictured: B.B. King, Diana Ross, Jay-Z & Beyoncé

By: Jordan J.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, also known as the NAACP, was founded in 1909. It was founded by many amazing people, with two known founders being W.E.B Du Bois and Ida B. Wells. This organization was created for African Americans so they can have the rights they deserve(d) and so they could have legislation and litigation powers. There were riots and anti-black violence in America and someone wanted to put that to an end. This is why the NAACP was created.

The NAACP tried to abolish segregation and discrimination in voting, education, housing, employment, and transportation. This organization was made to promise equal rights and get rid of racial prejudice. In 1917, a march in New York City, organized by the NAACP, was a part of the first mass demonstrations in America against racial violence. The NAACP played a big role in the civil rights movement in the 1950’s and 60’s. The organization has more than 2,200 branches and millions of members worldwide. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People played, and still does today, an important role in this world today.

Pictured: Ida B. Wells (top) and W.E.B. Du Bois (bottom)

By: Quinterria A.

Tyler Perry was born in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1969. Tyler grew up in a very difficult childhood with an abusive father. His childhood was so rough he even attempted suicide. Tyler also dropped out of high school but then came back to finish later on.

Tyler began to write in his journal which had different plays in it. He starred in his first play which got zero recognition, but it was a great place to begin working on his skills. In 1998, Perry wrote another play which sold out for eight days in a row and was very well received.

Perry started film production in 2005. He created the character Madea and made films about her various adventures. The films about Madea made millions of dollars. Since then, Perry has acted and produced other films which has allowed him to become an influential Black billionaire.

By: Daijon D.

Bryson Tiller is a very significant singer, and with all his songs he gives meaningfulness and motivation. He makes sure to never let down the public and leaves us with this motivational idea: “I want to inspire people to change the world. That’s something that I feel that I’m meant to do here . . . really going to change the world. I asked God to make me immortal so I can do it.” His inspiration is life and the experiences it brings for all different types of people.

His struggle is what makes him take music seriously. He noted that "It's hard for me to write without having anything to say, or anywhere to draw inspiration from.”

Living out experiences is the only way he is able to make his music so impactful. He is a giving soul and has impacted his community effectively. Tiller was given the opportunity to make a new basketball court in his hometown. There he gave a speech with motivational words to his community:

“If anybody on this court right now has a dream, if you believe in yourself, you can do it. You can do this too.”

Bryson Tiller is now 29 years old and has a beautiful daughter, Halo, who is also gifted with a unique voice. He has posted videos singing with her and has a song on his album “A Different Christmas” called Winter Wonderland with her. He is a great example of a person who believes everybody can make it in this life no matter where they came from. His music is a great platform to spread encouragement and motivation.

By: Cassandra B.

Oprah Winfrey can be described as one of the wealthiest and most influential African American women in history. She is an actress, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and media guru. Before fame, she was born in the town of Kosciusko, Mississippi, on January 29, 1954. After struggling with a difficult adolescence, she was sent to stay with her father. As a light in Oprah’s life, her father had a great influence on who she was to become. Oprah attended Tennessee State and began working in media broadcasting.

As a young adult, Oprah Winfrey moved to Baltimore, Maryland and she was made a reporter and co-anchor for ABC News. Eventually she hosted Baltimore’s morning show People Are Talking. The show took a trip to success and became a hit. During the broadcasting of People Are Talking, many realized the great potential that Oprah had. She was recruited by a Chicago TV station to begin her own morning show, called A.M. Chicago. Success on top of success, Oprah eventually launched her greatest show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, in 1986. Earning several Emmy Awards, Oprah’s talk show became the highest-rated television talk show in the United States . Taking place on over 100 channels, seating over 10 million viewers, the show earned more than 125 million dollars within its first year.

Starting out African American, poor, and abused, Oprah has created more than a name for herself. Throughout her journey, she has inspired and motivated millions of people. Many successes like building a school in Africa, donating to charities, creating lucrative book clubs, and much more. She is notorious for having a generous heart and is an all-around well respected woman. Her story has shown that you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it. She accumulated success because she had no fear of showing who the real Oprah Winfrey is.

By: Lauren H.

How can someone inspire another person from a different time? Well, they can do this through multiple ways. But in my case, it was as simple as my aunt telling me about Louis Armstrong in the sixth grade. I had just joined band, and I told her that I was going to play the trumpet, and the way she had described him and talked about him, I knew that I wanted to know about him. It started simple, the basics of every search, when he was born or what he did.

What popped up was multiple photos of him and a trumpet - it occurred to me that she had told me about Louis because he was an amazing trumpet player and she wanted me to know more. I quickly learned that not only was he a player, but he was a singer too. I instantly fell in love with his voice because it was a voice that stands out. For musicians it is hard to do, but for him his voice was deep and it had a raspiness to it that not many people have. And for the 1920’s, singers were supposed to have more of a smooth, jazzy voice.

But not only was he going against what other singers did, when he played the trumpet he would blow out his cheeks and play as forcefully as he was able to. Now something they did teach us in beginner band was how to play correctly, and it amazed me that he was able to play the way he did. Nonetheless, he was what inspired me, and I looked up to him as a young child and knew that I wanted to keep playing the trumpet.

Now years later, I’m finally a senior. And now it's time to make the final judgment call of what I do with my music career in school. And I’m still in love with him, and even more than that, I appreciate the fact that I was able to discover him. Even though he has been gone for 51 years, his music continues to not only inspire people but touch lives.

By: Savannah B.

In today’s time, hair extensions and braids are used as protective styles and a new look to freshen up appearances. Although, in the past it was used to symbolize tribes and helped African people know their way through The Middle Passage and enslavement.

Braids used to be completed with specific patterns based on events like weddings, ceremonies, and even wars. Tribes were able to identify their ally with the pattern of the braids on every member. Braids also had a huge importance to African American slaves as it promoted escaping enslavement and boosted hope and freedom in different styles. Braids transferred messages and kept items to help survive during their escape, and used various beads or man-made jewels to show preparations to mate or show off wealth. Box braids were worn to show patience and fortune as a woman could sit for hours for extensions to be installed.

As time passed, women found that they could keep their hair more healthy by braiding their hair during different seasons. Crochets, box braids, cornrows, passion twists, micro braids, and crown braids were just one of the few styles that could hold in grease and allow hair to grow and flourish over harsh weather. This method carries on to younger generations as braids are worn during the summer and winter to keep hair from becoming frizzy and hold in certain oil in hair to prosper.

By: Abigail C.

Princeton University, an elite institution famous for not only being a part of the Ivy League but its acclaimed alumni network. This network includes names like Sonia Sotomayor, Jeff Bezos, John F. Kennedy and Former First Lady Michelle Obama. To be accepted into such a prestigious school with such notable thinkers would be a remarkable feat for many that could only hope to attend such a university. However, for a young black girl who grew up on the South Side of Chicago and split the family room at night with her brother, Princeton is not a place that you become easily acquainted with.

Michelle Obama attended Princeton University during the early 1980’s and graduated in 1985. At this time, Princeton was very white and male dominated. This did not leave much space for Michelle to feel included and ultimately caused her to cling to other students of color on campus. Although Obama graduated in the top 10% of her class, as she navigated through Princeton, the fear of being looked at as a product of affirmative action plagued the back of her mind.

“. . . The burden of assimilation is put largely on the shoulders of the minority students.” Michelle Obama in her autobiography “Becoming”

During Obama’s freshman year at Princeton, she had been assigned two roommates, one of which moved out during the middle of the year. It wouldn’t be until years later that Michelle would find out that her old roommate's mother had her forcibly rehoused after discovering she had a black roommate. This was the experience of a young black girl from the South Side of Chicago trying to navigate a predominantly white environment.

Those who blended into the majority of Princeton University likely had a very different recount of their time at the school. After all, they had been given access to a world-class education with renowned faculty and cathedral-like libraries that were hundreds of years old. Although they all walked the same hallways, ate in the same dining hall, and slept in the same dorms, they did not do so with the cloud of estrangement constantly following them as it had the minority students. They all lived lives parallel to each other - looking so perfectly similar but never intersecting. This had been Michelle Obama’s Princeton experience.

By: Makyla P.