African American History Nugget - Frances E. Harper (Short Story) - 2/23/2016 8:07:18 AM
Thank you for bringing to us these very important historical women who have been lost to most of us through the dimming of time and neglect of history.
Ron
African American History Nugget - Fannie Lou Hamer (Short Story) - 2/21/2016 7:03:06 AM
Thank you for telling us about Fannie Lou Hamer. I have not heard of her before but I have heard of the role that the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party played in changing attitudes in the South during the civil rights movement.
I attended the quadrennial conference of the Methodist Church in Lincoln Nebraska over the after Christmas period 1964-65 as a college student. Martin Luther King was the keynote speaker on New Year's Eve. Mississippi sent an all white delegation of students and ministers. I believe, but I'm not sure, that the black Methodist churches also sent a delegation.
Anyway, during the conference the conferees declared that they were solidly behind and would endorse the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party over the traditional, all-white Democratic Party of Mississippi. It was a major blow to the Mississippi delegation. I heard that some of the students cried when they learned that their privileged superior position had been undermined and they no longer could continue to oppress fellow citizens of Mississippi.
Ron
African American History Nugget - Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher (Short Story) - 2/18/2016 9:37:20 AM
So right. Without her case, the momentum of the civil rights movement would have been slowed by years. A great accomplishment. A similar suit in Texas led to the formation of Texas Southern University, where I worked 30 years among brilliant people.
Ron
African American History Nugget - Julia Anna Cooper (Short Story) - 2/17/2016 6:32:36 AM
From the little you shared here, you make me wish that I knew more about Anna Julia Cooper. She certainly lived through some turbulent times. And if my calculation is correct, to the age of 106. That alone is testament to her strength and tenacity.
Ron
African American History Nugget: Shirley Chisholm (Short Story) - 2/14/2016 8:02:54 AM
Shirley Chisholm stands out as a woman of firsts. Someone has to be the first, and she certainly had the strength of character and courage to do just that. She should be remembered, especially by young black women trying to break through the glass ceilings above.
Ron
African American History Nugget - Mary McLeod Bethune (Short Story) - 2/12/2016 4:56:44 AM
I am fortunate to have known a strong woman like that. She graduated from West Virginia State University at Institute in biology. But, unable to obtain a job in her field, she settled for teaching elementary school in inner-city Detroit. She taught her children science, entered them in science fairs to win awards, and followed some of them through graduate school and their careers.
Esther Cadell and her autoworker husband retired and returned to West Virginia to Morgantown, "to be close to West Virginia University. With my assistance, she got a small grant from the Department of Education to continue working with children and science.
Ron
African American History Nugget - Ella Baker (Short Story) - 2/8/2016 5:20:56 AM
I have not heard of Ella Baker before, but I can't deny that people like her made the civil rights movement possible, some with great sacrifice. I recall that I wouldn't have gotten involved if it hadn't been for church leaders in the North joining in the movement and going against their counterparts in the South.
Ron
Career Management In a Minute - Embracing Change (Article) - 2/3/2016 8:04:49 AM
Some very good advice to keep from being trapped. It is so easy to become obsolete today with jobs requiring changing skills and fewer and fewer well-paying jobs out there.
I consider myself a change agent until I tried to reenter industry after being in higher education and found that I wasn't even able to get an interview. With my disability limiting my options, I kept initiating change (computer systems and productivity tools) where I worked that wasn't very often appreciated, but kept me working well until retirement age. For example, late in my career, I took small steps and taught myself how to construct computer databases. It took two years but was well worth it. And then, I taught myself how to construct and maintain a website.
Ron
Career Management In a Minute - Manage Your Career Like You Mean It! (Article) - 7/4/2015 11:30:18 AM
For good tips on how to be successful in almost any endeavor. I would caution people not to think in terms of material accomplishment like the corner office, but rather a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment that may include mentoring and helping others move forward as well.
Ron
I Am Enough (Poetry) - 2/6/2016 3:48:47 PM
A journey filled with work and realization, but worth every step. I applaud your "daily reinvention" and your persistent imagination... a good dose of self confidence sure does go a long way in the dance of life.
Thanks,
Chris
I Am Enough (Poetry) - 2/5/2016 10:47:22 AM
It's hard to find a more uplifting poem! It could be a good prescription for life.
Ron
I Am Enough (Poetry) - 2/4/2016 10:02:15 PM
Timeless poetic TRUTH here!
"I have discovered that what is really holding us back is our inability to believe in our own greatness."
LOVE IT!
I Am An Individual (Poetry) - 1/10/2016 6:57:33 AM
We certainly are unique. And while we are different, each of us has a contribution to make to this world and we need support in order to do it.
On the other hand, the poem seems to come from someone who lacks confidence and thereby has to announce loudly their confidence just to feel worthy at all. Truly confident people do not have to shout it to the rooftops. Their confidence is in their actions and not their pronouncements.
Ron
I Am An Individual (Poetry) - 1/9/2016 11:39:07 PM
Wonderful poem. Yes we are all created for a purpose and no two are exactly alike. People and the media like to use labels but there are so many differences among people who seemingly agree about similar things. If we would just treat folks like they are all made which is unique and special. Then this world might be a better place without all the labels. Amen.
I Am An Individual (Poetry) - 1/9/2016 8:19:44 PM
Easy to read and so true. Most of us fail to appreciate how unique we really are. Enjoyed. Bob
I Am An Individual (Poetry) - 1/9/2016 12:23:57 PM
Ahhh . . . And so you are, La Shawn, and so you are! I know someone else that fits this description . . .
Purpose (Poetry) - 7/1/2015 9:26:49 AM
Great, true write,and you have expressed it so beautifully.
Thank you for sharing-
Barbara J. Henry
