✨”Please try to remember that what they believe, as well as what they do and cause you to endure, does not testify to your inferiority, but to their inhumanity.” ✨ James Baldwin, scholar, author, human rights leader

Concentrate on You! Happy New You!

This year, consider putting the focus on self-confidence and “trusting your struggle.”

This may sound revolutionary, but self-love is important in a country founded in racist ideology. Mindfulness helps you lock in on you, so you can begin a real search for a good life fueled by “liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Say it to yourself: “I love me!”

Yes, Black man, you too—practice mindfulness!

Education and Liberation

Happy Black History Month!

Why did Dr. Carter G. Woodson focus on Black History?

Since they commercialized Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. last month, let’s find the real Dr. King

Do you know the real Dr. King—the radical, authentic Dr. King?

Prefer to listen? Ever wonder what Dr. King would think about all the violence in, and swirling around, American culture today? Here’s a great healing podcast on the real Dr. King who said America is “the biggest purveyor of violence” in the world. Considering what is happening in the world today, it’s important to learn the lessons of the “Apostle of Peace.”

That time Dr. King, Harry Belafonte, and Dr. Spock led a protest march against the Vietnam War. His brilliant wife, Coretta, had already taken a stance against war.

Also, we must say goodbye to Dr. King’s youngest son: RIP Dexter King. Here’s a comprehensive article on Dexter and the traumas and trials of being a child of such a renowned leader.

Scholar’s Corner

Long ago in 1683, Pennsylvania’s William Penn crafted the blueprint for American cities, and it was riddled with infrastructure racial inequalities that still plague American cities to this day.

Five Black towns, you may have never heard of, that were submerged under lakes (and a park) and obscured from history.

✨ “Such is beauty. Its variety is infinite, its possibility is endless. In normal life all may have it and have it yet again. The world is full of it and yet today the mass of human beings are choked away from it, and their lives distorted and made ugly. This is not only wrong; it is silly. Who shall right this well-nigh universal failing? Who shall let this world be beautiful? Who shall restore to men the glory of sunsets and the peace of quiet sleep?” ✨ “Criteria of Negro Art” (1926) by Dr. W. E. B, Du Bois, eminent scholar, educator, author, human rights activist ” ✨ 

Culture

In the Spotlight:

Check out just a small number of the many, many awe-inspiring inventions and scientific wonders Black people have developed and discovered.

Cinema

What a Valentine’s gift! “Bob Marley: One Love,” will be in theatres on February 14th! Here is the trailer. Peep this also. The actor playing Bob Marley, Kingsley Ben-Adir, turned in a brilliant portrayal of another great—Malcolm X—in Regina King’s One Night in Miami. Here is Kingsley on Stephen Colbert’s show.

Books

Last year, the so-called new “definitive” book came out about Dr. King. It has been heralded for including an examination of new documents that have been released and uncovered about him, including more unredacted material from the FBI, the government organization that terrorized him. Jonathan Eig’s book gives some insight into Dr. King’s depression (which Tavis Smiley addressed in his book, Death of a King.) This is good news as it helps normalize the fact that we need to pay more, and better, attention to mental health. Considering the unfathomable strain Dr. King was under, who wouldn’t be depressed and anxious? 🍁

Art

In Memoriam:

Remembering iconic sculptor, Richard Hunt.

“Manifest Destiny” was a horrible doctrine of white supremacy. What happened to innocence?

Food

Meet the Black woman who cooked for President Lyndon Baines Johnson, advised him on racial inequities, and influenced his thoughts on civil rights: Zephyr Wright.

Science

Brothers, please attend to your health! In light of Dexter King’s death, Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin’s diagnosis, and all the talk about Black men and prostate cancer, do not fail to get regular health check-ups and screenings.

What’s the connection between the capital (Washington, DC) and a pioneering Black man? Remembering the great Benjamin Banneker, mathematician, astronomer, surveyor, and inventor.

Sports

Tour de France? Taylor would have won it, if it had existed! Major Taylor, whose father served in the Civil War, was reportedly the first Black global superstar athlete—and, sadly, most have never heard of him. Read this and change that! Also, here is a book about him, The World’s Fastest Man.

Kid’s Corner

Teach them about Carter G. Woodson—so they will know him, his mission, and his sacrifice.

Mental Wellness

Here’s an article tying the celebration of Black History Month and Mindfulness together (from last year)

 Note from Dr. Rhonda Sherrod: Dr. Megan Poe is a psychiatrist, educator, and friend. We met while completing our respective clinical trainings at Harvard Medical School. Her work focuses on many things, including love, art, and self-care. Here’s her talk on Love and Human Connection at TEDx NYU, and here’s a longer video of her presentation at the 2017 Responsive Conference.

Humor

Dick Gregory was legendary comedic royalty. He was one of the most brilliant humorists ever, a comic that made you think about the absurdity of racism, and the first Black man to garner big paychecks for standup comedy. That began to happen when he played the then iconic Playboy Club in downtown Chicago. (It was the 1960s and misogyny was rather unchecked, so a “Playboy Club” could flourish.) The club owner, Hugh Hefner was known to be progressive on the “race question” in the 1960s. For example, writer, journalist Alex Haley (who wrote the blockbuster book, Roots) became famous interviewing important people for the very popular Playboy Magazine “Q and A” section. He interviewed Malcolm X, Miles Davis, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., among others. (When Dr. King balked about appearing in what was then called a “skin” magazine, they convinced him that he would reach a wide audience of better educated, upper-income whites). The same was true regarding the club, so, like Harry Belafonte, Dick Gregory was able to donate big money to the civil rights movement. He also made appearances, gave benefit performances, and participated in social movements to the point where his activism began to supersede his comedy career. He wrote several books, including the bestselling “Nigger,” and became a health guru, advocate, and entrepreneur. Dick Gregory deserves massive applause for elevating social, political, and economic issues and injustices with his cogent and perceptive comedy. Here is a short, informative “documentary” on him with his comedy interspersed.

Heal Our Community: Group Therapy

Listen to this excellent podcast from the History and Healing series that encourages us to have a strong understanding of the history of our ancestors as a potent healing tool.

Speaking of Black History Month

The SHE Newsletter encourages the understanding that Black History Month is EVERY month. The more we know about ourselves, our culture, our history, our accomplishments (worldwide), and our struggle, the greater and grander our personal evolution toward self-love, achievement, and better relationships. Most of all we encourage the joy that comes with discovering your authentic self through comprehending history. Since we know that “Black history” is world history—there is nowhere you can go where Black people have not been already —we can understand why the world is as it is through the knowledge of history! Again, our history is world history. Happy Black History All Year Round!

SHE (Surviving, Healing, and Evolving)

“Unlocking Healing, Fearlessness, and Freedom”

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