Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806)

Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806) Raised on a farm in Maryland, Benjamin Banneker wanted to learn everything he could about the world around him. After his grandmother taught him how to read the Bible, he ready any other book he could find. He taught himself literature, history, and math. When Banneker was in his 20s, he built a clock He had never seen one before – but he had seen a pocket watch. Using math ratios, he figured out how big each piece should be and then carved the gears and wheels from wood. It was so well made that it ran for over 50 years. While managing the family farm, Banneker learned how to play the flute and violin. He tended beehives, correctly predicted a solar eclipse in 1789, and answered any math problem he was given Banneker also helped President George Washington survey the land that would become Washington, DC, thus becoming the first black employee of the government.

A student of astronomy, Banneker published his discoveries about stars in a series of almanac. Thomas Jefferson loved Banneker’s work, and sent copies around the world for others to study. Banneker’s last years were spent on his family farm entertaining friends and other scientists. Highlight text taken from "Discover the Adventures & Achievements of 60 Great Black Americans!"

Walter F. White (1893-1955)

TODAY'S BLACK HISTORY MONTH HIGHLIGHT

(1893-1955) Because Walter White had blue eyes, blond hair, and a light complexion, he was often mistaken for a white man. This gave him the chance to go to the Deep South and see what was happening in rural work camps. He saw countless murders and lynchings. In 1929, he wrote about his experiences, bringing the horrors of these crimes to the nation’s attention. White also wrote two power novels about racism, The Fire in the Flint and Fight. He was a founder of the Harlem Renaissance, a time when writers and artists explored black culture. In addition to work, White helped defend a number of blacks in well-known legal cases such as the 1919 Chicago Race Riot. He held several important position in the NAACP. Under his leadership, the organization grew, created a legal division, and put an end to all-white election primaries and housing discrimination. White became a close personal friend of Eleanor Roosevelt; through her, he was able to share many of his ideas with the president. Highlight text taken from "Discover the Adventures & Achievements of 60 Great Black Americans!"

Rosa Parks : 1913-2005

It's been a LONG TIME since I last blogged and what better way to try to start again but to bring to you daily Black History Makers and/or facts.

TODAY'S BLACK HISTORY MONTH HIGHLIGHT: Also in honor of what would have been her 100th Birthday today, Rosa Parks, (1913-2005) Known as the "mother of the Civil Rights Movement, " Rosa Parks refused to give her seat and started a struggle for freedom that rippled throughout the country. It had been a long day at work, and Rosa Parks was eager for the bus to come and take her home. When it finally pulled up, however, there were not any seats left in the back where blacks sat. Weary, Parks sat down in the white section. When the bus driver asked her to give up her seat for a white passenger, she refused. Parks was arrested. She and her husband lost their jobs. Blacks throughout the Montgomery, Alabama area took up her cause and started a boycott of the bus system. This unofficially started the Civil Rights Movement, which was led by minister Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The boycott ended a year later when the US Supreme Cort declared that bus segregation was unconstitutional. Her refusal to give up her seat was not Park's first involvement with civil rights. Twenty years earlier, she and her husband unsuccessfully worked to free nine black men who had been falsely accused of attacking two white women. Later, she worked as a secretary for the NAACP. Toward the end of her life, she wrote three autobiographies and won many honors and awards, including the Congressional Gold Medal. Also, today the United States Postal Service issued "Day of Courage" Stamp that you see featured in the photograph. If you would like to purchase this please go to : https://store.usps.com/store/browse/productDetailSingleSku.jsp?productId=S_470404&categoryId=subcatS_S_Sheets Highlight text taken from "Discover the Adventures & Achievements of 60 Great Black Americans!"

Today... a Fabulous day!

All too often do we tend to write about things to complain. I would like to take a moment and tell you about my Fabulous weekend.

On Friday I worked with a group of young people connecting them with alumni... a networking initiative. There, an opportunity presented itself for me to ask a company that was present to assist in one of my fundraising goals... they said yes! Took my mama to our homecoming pep rally and put final touches on a project I was working on for a wonderful lady.

On Saturday, I hosted 4 alumni and their guest in our box at the university, while at the same time scheduling them a tour of a few areas in which I thought they may show interest. During one of the tailgates we visited I got a verbal commitment from a fraternity to help me with one of my fundraising goals... Left our game a little after half time to go to a friend's family reunion. There I saw her children who I had either met or talked to and met many of her family members that were funny and sweet, boy do i cherish time with loved ones. That evening I also met her nephew who is well known in this day and age. He was a rather down to earth gentleman that I wish I would have had more of an opportunity to talk to but I didn't want to be "that girl" ... in every attempt to respect his family time. If it is truly meant for me to talk with him my belief that other opportunities will appear... it has happened before ...

On Sunday I traveled with the family to tour their land ... that was home to an ancestral cemetery ... and the inner nerd in me took over...wanting to take pictures of the toombstones and research them to "tell their family story" ...

all in all a blessed weekend!

Liza Corrine

Adult Truths (REPOST)

I received this in an email from a dear college friend earlier this month. I thought it would make many of your laugh. Have a great week!


1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. How the heck are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.

17. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

18. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

19. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?

20. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

21. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

22. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

23. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time.

24. The first testicular guard, the "Cup," was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important. Ladies.....Quit Laughing ;)

Do it Anyway : My Inspirational Motivation for You Today

As I stood in a store just outside Seattle Washington I read the following inspirational passage credited to Mother Teresa. My research indicates that the following version is found written on the wall in Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta. The original version is known as The Paradoxical Commandments written by Dr. Kent M. Keith in 1968.

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

Attempt to Blog Frequently yet again..TOPIC: Love, Money, or Education

I have a dear friend who has started blogging frequently and asks me why do I not do so. I have tried many times to make it a daily or even weekly accomplishment but I tend to blog when the mood hits me. So here is my attempt yet again to start blogging frequently...

Years ago as I prepared for a pageant. One of the prep questions that has stuck with me through the years is ...

"Love, Money, or Education. What would you want most and why?"

So that is the question I ask you... As I grew older my answer has changed. I initially responded education... because a good education leads to money ... and somewhere along the way you hope to find love.

However, today I cannot say my answer is the same... let me here your responses... and then I will share where my head is with this question today...

I look forward to reading your responses!