Celebrating Woman's History Month

Men typically don’t celebrate WHM, the significance in the
celebration is the accomplishments and historical achievements
of women nationally and globally. Throughout history recorded
and otherwise women have played a pivotal role in helping to
shape the building of this nation (United States of America).
Let’s not forget woman’s contributions in building and
supervising Kingdoms, Dynasties, Governments, Empires,
Principalities, Cities and Villages. It must be highlighted
that women managed homes, families and businesses while men
went off to military service, religious callings, civil/civic
responsibilities, divorce, through abandonment, and death of
the man. This is not a minority or Black thing, but women of
all nationalities, colors, races and cultures have experienced
similar situations and circumstance. This creates a dynamic
sisterhood that has voyaged over time.

In the 19th, 20th and 21st century it is not uncommon for
women to be on City Councils, Chairpersons on
Executive Boards, Mayors of cities, Physicians, Judges,
Law Enforcement Directors, CEO’s, CFO’s, Presidents of
Fortune 500 businesses; there are currently 15 Fortune 500
companies run by women, and 28 Fortune 1000 companies
(http://money.cnn.com/).

In metaphorical terms the glass ceiling has holes, crevices,
in some places smatterings that have changed perceptions of a
woman’s ability to lead and inspire. In business, technology,
science, education and Armed Forces circles it is taboo to
compliment women on their managerial styles and accomplishments.
Thus in the eyes of self imposed denial and incorrect perceptions
by men; men are not always the best managers. Data of businesses,
military records and educational graduations of students reflects
the successes of women in managing businesses and people.
The perfect example of women’s success is in the classrooms,
hospitals, on battlefields, in courtrooms, on Judges Benches
of this nation. Women have managerial skills, intuitions,
perceptions, instincts, and emotional interpretations that
are better than many men. Our next President maybe Michelle
Obama because of her sharp intellect, down to earth
rationalization, dedication as a mother, role model,
community activist, and quick wit and humor (no disrespect
to President Obama intended).

In the areas of education, industry, business, science,
economics, the opportunities to advance in these growing
and influential areas have resulted in prospects that have
granted women to gain necessary education skill sets,
managerial abilities, critical thinking and decision making
skills to take administrative positions of leadership
successful. Women especially minority women value education
and the empowerment it brings. Their presence is evident on
the college campuses and digital classrooms of our colleges
and universities. For 2009 high school graduates, the college
enrollment rate was 73.8 percent for young women and 66.0
percent for young men nationally. Women’s enrollment is
increasing while in some cases men are declining
(U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Women have become more
aggressive in obtaining an education because they realize
that they cannot always depend on a man to take care of them.
At the graduate level, the percentages of degrees awarded to
women have been steadily increasing, reaching 21.1% of master’s
degrees and 17.6% of Ph.D.’s in 2004 (National Center for Women
& Information Technology). Men having children out of wedlock
and are being forced to support these children so their ability
to have access to finances becomes limited. When involved in
other relationships or seeking to continue their education men
find their options are limited because of financial responsibilities.
Education allows women to have options, they are not left to “pick”
from what is left over or scramble to find a mate for fear being
alone or having someone take care of them. Women are now taking
care of themselves, their children and their man (if they choose to have one).
Woman’s ability to manage a business is already embedded in a woman.

The level of intelligence, critical thinking skills, and
organizational abilities are present. Learning to communicate
on multiple levels is not always a learned skill, but an instinctive
asset that many men grow to respect, fear and admire in women.
The recent conferences Keystone Leadership Conference of
Boys and Girls Club of America (over 800 girls approx.),
Keepin It Real 3: For Girls and Women (over 150 girls),
and the upcoming Blogging While Brown in
Jacksonville, Florida headed by Tiffany Duhart (Managing Director/
Marketing/Media of BlinkVirtualBuzz ) are showing the growing
influences of women in business, science, education and technology.
There are similar groups locally and nationally that work to build
girls to women;

In the local environment; Girls Inc., Girl Scouts, YWCA,
Project: Woman To Woman, Inc, local TEAM UP programs
in schools, The Bridge and others. Women such as Melinda Henry
owner of DEEN Wellness Center, a nationally recognized Fitness
and Health Professional. Teaching a certified and nationally
recognized Diabetes education program. Elexia Coleman-Moss,
Executive Director and Founder of Empowerment Resources Inc.,
“Journey Into Womanhood” has influenced girls to graduate
from high school and seek higher education degrees.
She models to her girls in the organization by her community
involvement as President of JCCI Forward and involved
in other community initiatives. These organizations are
mostly not for profit, but have a mission and vision
to empower girls and women of diverse ages, cultural and
ethnic backgrounds. The responsibility is to teach girls,
young women, teens and in the case of Project: Women
to Women for older women 18 and up,
to become leaders and positive role models in their
schools, communities and places of worship.

The Future Is Now
Increasing opportunities in STEM
(Science Technology Engineering Math)
are waiting for women to be involved and take the lead in
research/development in areas of aerospace, cancer research,
deep sea exploration, biomedical research, space exploration,
robotics, environmental sciences and new careers that have
not been developed yet. Technology empowers women to
accomplish future historical feats that will influence the world.
These careers are allowing women to gain higher salaries,
professional rewards in education (PhD. Degrees) and
positions of leadership in government and international
business. Bill Gates has commented about
growing involvement of girls and women in technology
world-wide. His comment in Saudi Arabia about women
being half the work force there that, "...if you're not fully
utilizing half the talent in the country (women), you're not
going to get too close to the top," the
top being leaders in futuristic fields that are saturated with STEM.

The United States should take notice of the talents and gifts in
girls and women if they are to be competitive in the global economy.
Daddies little girl (if there is a father present) are building robots,
making scientific discoveries, building futuristic cars, performing
surgery over the Internet, curing diseases, remotely flying space
craft to far off worlds, exploring deep oceans, are making the world
and soon the universe take notice of their presence.
Celebrations for Women’s History Month goes beyond
just a single month, but growing weekly by the achievements
and accomplishments of women.
Cheryl Williams a single mother raised three boys, a
Registered Nurse for 25 years, business owner
(Sister2SisterCatering of Jacksonville, Florida),
mentor and involved in her church comments that,”
this new generation of women will have the opportunity to solve
many global issues; medicine, health care, energy, environmental
concerns, just to name a few. Given this the missing ingredient
is a better knowledge of STEM and strong reading ability.
These gifts and talents provide the power to solve
challenges in our world.

Technology will continue to change this world we live in.
So women you are the force behind the force…
So may the force be with us as women and as a force of nature."

Girl and Women Power is Awesome and Growing.

Music In Our Schools is Black History

It is ironic that the very things African Americans use
to educate are being taken out of schools. Music,
The Arts, Physical Education, Vocational Education
and other academic areas are being lost. Music importantly
has been built and defined by Spirituals and Vocalizations
of the past.
Music influences the learning of all children especially
African American's. Allowing learning to be powerful,
continuous, and transformational. Music has played a
key role in telling the story of African American people.
The singing of gospel spirituals defines the essence and
passion of the Soul of African Americans in this country
and around the world.

In the 21st century after decades of slavery, segregation,
continuous attempts at societal validation, African
American's continue to strive for equality and acceptance
in a land that itself was stolen from a native people who
share a rich musical background. Words cannot match the
emotional and spiritual acknowledgment that songs, hymns
and rhythmic vocalizations create. Songs and hymns'
resonate of independence, family values, education and
the history of generational families.

The descendants of Africans;  no matter their shades of
complexions learned thousands of years ago to use the
intricate tones, inflections, sonatas, pitches and melody
transformations to be emotionally expressive, communicate
ideas, thoughts and  converse educational and spiritual
values.

Vocal adaptations used in the singing of gospel spirituals
or Negro slave spirituals, these culturally reflective
melodynamic words dripping with emotions; seething
with the passions of people, even the beating by slave
owners couldn't stop the love of freedom, value of family
and desire to be educated, the slave song expressed
these feelings.

Black spirituals sung with conviction, yearning for the
honey of freedoms long lost, but not forgotten. I can
only imagine a similar connection with the children of
Israel, did they sing spiritual songs? Do the pages of
history record vocalizations of freedoms from Egypt
and Pharaoh? The unknowing is not the case with
African American songs and storytelling. Music has
told the story of who are African Americans; where
they came from and the importance of education,
freedom and independence. African Americans cannot
deny their African heritage. If they choose to deny
their past musical and cultural history they choose
to solidify the cultural destruction of great, great
grandparents and ancestors before them. 

Blacks that claim they are not Black or African
American, but some other seminal concoction, are
lost in a cultural metaphorical darkness, denying
their cultural background and rejecting the songs
of a homeland where life itself started. No matter
how light skinned or "red" a person or how dark
skinned or "Negro", they are denying  they are
descendants of Kings, Queens, great historical
figures. These are historical and educational facts
shared in music, songs and story-telling. Songs
were verbal/vocal maps of the rivers, lakes, oceans
and seas of life. Math was even sung to measure
the building of great cities.

History has shown that songs, music and dance
is important to the quality and appreciation of
education in our youth and the appreciation to
the quality of our lives. The richness and
spirituality of music and songs were carried
here to America, in the bellies of slave ships,
carried across the Atlantic and other seas before
arriving in the Colonies.

These songs were dreamt, inspired and
orchestrated to tell stories, share thoughts,
express emotions and to educate.
Remarkably even in these songs were embedded
scriptures from the Holy Bibles like the Quran'.
Not all slaves practiced Christianity, that came
later; Christianity was one religion of many
at that time, equally of value was the Holy Quran'
in some cases. It must be noted that not all
Europeans where Christians and practiced other
religious doctrines.

African American history is taught through song,
our journey through time, our heritage, culture
and historical significance is passed down through
lyrical ensemble that embodies passions of
Black people. The lyrical dynamics that create
emotional responses from the awesomeness of
Mother Africa of centuries ago, the very birth
place of all men. Listen to the songs of past
from the slave journeys across the Atlantic, to
the colonialist's slavery on plantations, to the
freedom railroads, to the Emancipation Proclamation.

The songs of established Black Churches in the
deep South, the songs that helped build HBCU's
(Historical Black Colleges and Universities),
the songs of the civil rights movement, to the
assassinations of Black Leaders and of those
who are unknown in unmarked graves, resting
in river beds, grassy fields or left hanging from
trees who fought for our freedom. 

The songs of the Freedom Riders of the South
to the Million Man Marches, to the inauguration
of an African American President, the songs are
still there. Blacks should learn why we sing in
church and why we sang in schools, where those
songs came from and our connection to music.
Music is a reminder that we cannot allow our
past to be forgotten, assimilated into a European
mindset where we forget the songs, lyrics;
who/where we came from.  If we choose to
forget the songs, stop singing the hymns we
kill the song makers who worked in the
fields picking cotton, tobacco, corn, greens,
and serviced animals they could not own
themselves.  If we allow songs/gospels to be
forgotten we justify forgetting the Black men
and women that made accomplishments in
medicine, science, technology, education and
Civil Rights.

We must not forget the humming melodies of
our past grandmothers and the singing/calling
of past grandfathers. The celebration of Music
In Our Schools is a wonderful opportunity to
share with our young Black men and women
they do not need to use profanity to be
expressive in music. Young Blacks need to
hear the music, raps, lyrics from the past to
"learn" how to teach with music, how to build
and bless their families, and community.

Music should not be used to devalue our women,
music should not be used to promote illegitimate
children, glorify drug use and glamorize imprisonment.
Slavery should have taught Blacks something
other than self-destruction. Even though the
Constitution of America may hold truths of the
equality of men, African American songs sends
an equally if not more powerful vocal and
spiritual message that allows a "people" not
just a group of men, but a "people" who
recognize struggles, the birth of
freedoms and educational opportunities
achieved. Gospels and spirituals help to
define Blacks, move us and empower us as
Black people.

This Music Month allows for praise to begin
and continue to "Lift Every Voice and Sing
Til Earth and Heaven Ring, Ring with the
Harmony of Liberty."

Edited by Cheryl Williams
(Sister2sister Catering Jacksonville, Florida
http://sister2sistercatering.tripod.com/