✨”We do so much in this country to celebrate and honor folks who risk their lives on the battlefield. But we don’t remember that Black veterans were more likely to be attacked for their service than honored for it.” ✨ Attorney Bryan Stevenson, Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative

Today, we honor them… Happy Veterans Day

The Spanish American War — For starters, all that talk about “brave” Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders? The truth is that the Black Buffalo Soldiers were the real heroes in the Spanish-American War. Future president, Teddy Roosevelt, wholeheartedly admitted that until he wanted to run for president, and telling a racist lie became a better option to further his ambition.

Veterans Day Spotlight

During World War I, the “Harlem Hellfighters”, well…gave them hell. Here’s a documentary about them.

And just so you know, during World War II, the “Hero of Pearl Harbor” was a Black man named Dorie Miller.

Talk about heroism! Did you know that Olive Harvey City College in Chicago was named after two military heroes, including an 18 year-old Black kid who sacrificed his life to save his fellow soldiers in Vietnam?

Dr. Earl Wiley Renfroe was a pioneering Black pilot, dentist, college professor, global educator, military man, and freedom fighter. He is believed to have been the first Black professional to have an office in downtown Chicago. When he died, in 2000, at the age of 93, the then dean of the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry, Dr. Bruce S. Graham, declared, “Dr. Renfroe was a brilliant dental student, the best hands-on clinical orthodontics instructor of his time, a pilot, a soldier, a leader in the fight for racial equality, and a true gentleman.” Dr. Renfroe was buried at Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors.

Black veterans are denied VA benefits for PTSD more often than white veterans, according to research.

Offensively, Black veterans are still denied overall benefits more often than whites; so a lawsuit has been filed.

Racism, the Medal of Honor, and the push to honor Cpl. Waverly B. Woodson, Jr.

There is so much more Black military heroism to share…but there is only so much space and time! The SHE Newsletter salutes the iconic heroes and heroines (including the “Black Rosies”) who fought valiantly and decisively, and who worked tirelessly and tenaciously, for a country that was fighting them. We also know that these brave men and women were diligently working and fighting for justice, equality, dignity, and the full complement of human rights for Black people. We can never honor and thank them enough!

Education and Liberation

Someone You Should Know

Boston University has appointed accomplished and dynamic physician and educator, Dr. Melissa Gilliam, as its first Black female president. Her tenure begins July, 2024. Her background is an absolute study in what it means to translate one’s scholarship into community impact. Check her out!

Dr. Gilliam’s mother, Dorothy Gilliam was the first Black female journalist for the Washington Post and her father, Sam Gilliam, was a renown artist.

This news means that Dr. Gilliam will join Dr. Christine Gay, the first Black president of Harvard in the Boston area. Dr. Gay hasn’t even been president for six months, and already loud, outrageous voices have had the nerve to request that she resign because she refuses to shut down student protesters critical of Israel. What ever happened to free speech? Especially on college campuses which have always been rife with student protests. The notion that people cannot disagree on the most contentious sociopolitical issues is obviously dangerous. At Harvard, and other institutions of higher learning, student protests and dissent are traditions.

Every step of the way, Black thinkers have sought to help shape how this republic should be thought of and governed.

Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, in Washington, is a historic site known For its long-standing tradition of employing stellar faculty and graduating phenomenal intellects.

Now that it’s over, let’s examine Columbus Day in depth

Christopher Columbus never stepped into the borders of what we call “America”

Vicious violent mob rule and the origins of Columbus Day; and Theodore Roosevelt’s deplorable comments about “a rather good thing.”

The truth is hard: White supremacist ideology and war.

So why is Columbus so important to Italian Americans?

Should it be Indigenous Peoples’ Day?

Scholar’s Corner: A Global Humanitarian Crisis is unfolding right before our very eyes

Award-winning author, Ta Nehisi Coates, discusses his recent disturbing trip to the West Bank, as well as what is going on there regarding the Israeli Palestinian conflict.

A former top U.N. official resigns, calling the bombing of Gaza a “text-book case of genocide” and it goes viral

An author uses the same terms, calling the bombing of Gaza a “text book case of genocide.”

A Holocaust survivor says “Stop this madness” and calls for a cease fire

Rev. Dr. Bernice King takes comedian Amy Schumer to school about what her father, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would do in this critical historic moment.

People love to call this country a “nation of immigrants.” Is that real?

Culture

News

Game changer: A Black woman is now the president of XBox. Meet President Sarah Bond.

Entertainment

There was Wyatt Earp, and Wild Bill Hickok, and many more, but none were as great as Bass Reeves, the legendary Black U. S. deputy marshal. Long regarded as the inspiration and model for The Lone Ranger television series, Reeves was a bad mother shut your mouth who is finally getting his due. A courageous and fearless Old West frontier law man, who rode the Oklahoma range, Reeves’ exploits are legendary. So, Hollywood has come up with a miniseries (streaming on Paramount Plus), and here is the full series premier (first episode).

Eddie Murphy and Tracee Ellis Ross star in a holiday movie this season. The trailer is wild.

Sports

Basketball season is here, so the road to the championship has begun. College sports history tells us that March Madness was truly mad in 1963. The Mississippi State Maroons (now Bulldogs) had to sneak out of Mississippi in the dead of night to compete against the Loyola (Chicago) Ramblers. The governor of Mississippi had forbade the winning team to play against a team with Black players. (The Ramblers had four Black players.) Meanwhile, those winning Black Ramblers were receiving deadly serious mixed messages. White miscreants were sending hate mail warning them not to play against white teams, but members of the Black community were exhorting them to win. The game that was ultimately played was called “The Change Game.” (But was there really change?)

Science

Extreme heat will dramatically alter our way of life

Destructive heat waves ruled this summer in many places

Mental Wellness

Do you want to argue, or engage in a constructive, although difficult, conversation?

Issa Rae: Tap into what makes you you

Do you have an “inner monologue?” Because, according to research not every one does.

What does the research say about teacher stress? It’s as bad as you think. Checking for teachers.

Humor

The way the power structure would like African American Studies to be taught.

After all that brilliant service to this country, is this it? (Explicit language warning!)

Heal Our Community

With Your Child’s Education, The Little Things Really Do Count.

Dr. Rhonda Sherrod

As an educator, people often ask me some version of:  “How do you raise children to do well in school?”  I typically respond with a formal dissertation—a prescription that probably sounds difficult to execute for scuffling, hard-working parents who have very little time, but who are, nonetheless, deeply concerned about their children’s futures.

For these parents of young children, time passes so fast as they try to “get [themselves] together” economically, so they can “really help” their kids.  The problem is time never stops to accommodate their self-enhancement efforts.  Before they know it, the children are grown and out of the house.  Since we are in the midst of another school year and I, for one, have great expectations, I am dedicating this column to young parents who return home, at their wit’s end, from a hard day’s work, to eager young minds that need to be nourished.  The ideas I am suggesting here are hardly revolutionary, just gentle reminders that little things can make a huge difference.

First, recognize that simply being attentive is important.  On those days when you are really tired and find it difficult to be fully involved with your child, just listen to her while you prepare dinner, perform housework, or do whatever needs to be done.  Just having an “audience” is significant to a child because it conveys the notion that her thoughts are important, and it provides her with opportunities to confidently develop her own voice and opinions.  Moreover, you might be surprised at how often, in spite of your fatigue, you’ll be inspired to engage your child.  If she asks questions that you cannot answer, comment on how “good” the questions are and tell her that the two of you will “investigate” the answers on the weekend when you have more time – and then follow through.

I believe children come into this world full of wonder, promise, and intellectual curiosity.  Unfortunately, environments that are, unintentionally, less than nurturing so often suppress and disrupt that curiosity.  That’s why it is up to you to somehow construct a zone of psychological and emotional safety for your child to inhabit at home.  It’s also your job to build a bridge between your home and your child’s school, so don’t forget to introduce yourself to your youngster’s teachers.  Attend PTA and other school events, because it matters.  If nothing else, it conveys to your child that you are serious about his education.  It also suggests that a relationship has been formed between you and his teachers such that all of you are working in partnership to insure that there are no limitations placed on his future.  If you are uncomfortable interacting with school personnel, enlist the assistance of a family member, friend, or neighbor (who is not shy) to accompany you to the school.

Do not let television raise your child.  It’s tempting, but television cannot take the place of supervised activities that cultivate intellectual attainment and promote academic achievement. Instead of TV, consume kids’ time with homework and other assignments – and make it interesting, sort of like a quest.  The conversation might begin like this:  “I’ve always dreamed about going to Egypt to see the pyramids.  Could you please look up that country and tell me more about it?”  When the assignment is completed, ask questions while your child teaches you.  Young children love to mimic their teachers and educate others.  Encourage that behavior.

Remember that libraries, schools, park districts, recreational centers, the YMCA, and nonprofit after-school programs are usually major sources of consistent activities that your youngster can enjoy, and some fee-based programs offer “scholarships” so economically disadvantaged children can participate in their activities.  Ask school and public library personnel how to access other free educational opportunities; and check on Big Brother/Big Sister organizations, as well as sororities, fraternities, and area churches. Just make absolutely certain, and be absolutely sure, that responsible adults are running the programs! Be sure to know who is in charge, to meet that person, and to check in often. These are imperatives today, because your children’s physical and psychological safety are the first and foremost concerns at all times.

The point is don’t imagine it to be any more complicated than it has to be.  Focus on the small things and not the grand flourishes.  And remember there are resources out here and people who can help.  Again, happy (school) year and all the best to you and your little scholars!

 **Another version of this popular essay was first published in the Huntsville Times (Alabama) newspaper. It was posted on a School of Education bulletin board at a local college.

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Every single day engage in activities that serve your well-being!

Be Well

SHE (Surviving, Healing, and Evolving)

“Unlocking Healing, Fearlessness, and Freedom”

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