Author: Maleigh Crespo

In honor of National Poetry Month, I will be doing a blog related to poetry and/or writing each week during the month of April.

For this week, I am doing a literary version of Vogue’s 73 Questions. I will ask each of the junior literaries 9 questions and 1 from Mrs. Sibley, which will total to 73 questions. I hope you enjoy— Happy National Poetry Month!

Azya Lyons

1.) Favorite book?

My favorite book is I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson.

2.) How does poetry make you feel?

Poetry feels very freeing. There’s no specific plotline, so it’s okay if you write something that’s in one place doing one thing.

3.) If you could choose another discipline, would you? If so, which one?

If I could be in another discipline, it’d probably be vocal because I have a background in singing and being overall musical.

4.) How would you describe your writer’s voice?

My writer’s voice is very natural. I write how I speak.

5.) What is your editing/revising process?

That depends. When revising something like a script, I print out the play and read it to myself and highlight what I like and underline what I don’t like. When revising a story or something, I just reread it and edit as I go.

6.) Do you think grammar is important?

With English, grammar is very important.

7.) Is writing draining?

Honestly, it can be. Most of the work we do is mental, and that can be very tiring.

8.) What age do you typically write about (teens, elderly, middle-aged)?

I normally write about teens/young adults.

9.) Why do you write?

I write because I’ve always loved creating stories and expressing myself through words. 

Brianna Cox

10.) Favorite poet?

Rupi Kaur

11.) What is your ultimate goal for your writing?

Inspire other people or make them feel something.

12.) Sonnet or Haiku?

Haiku

13.) Google Docs or Word?

Google Docs

14.) What’s something you find unique about your writing style?

Maybe not super unique, but I never let a story end on a bad note, but I usually write poetry about heartbreak.

15.) What usually comes first to you— plot or characters?

Plot

16.) If you could have dinner with anyone in the literary field, dead or alive, who would it be?

John Green, hands down. 

17.) Magazine or book?

Book, for sure. I love following a story for a long time and getting invested in the characters. I like the feeling I get when I finish a book; it’s like I left a part of myself in it. 

18.) Do you think visual art and literary art go hand in hand?

I think they can. There are picture books, and those go hand in hand, but a novel doesn’t have pictures. It really depends. 

Callie Matthews

19.) How do you like your coffee? 

I’ll drink coffee if it’s coffee. I’ve had black coffee when I had no sugar or creamer; I’ve had dark roast; I’ve had iced; etc. But I usually drink plain coffee with 2/3 spoonfuls of sugar and enough creamer that it’s not as black as an endless abyss of apathy and lost dreams.

20.) Spiral notebook or Composition book?

Spiral for stories, random ideas, and math…Composition for poems, thoughts, journaling, everything I love, blah blah blah. So, obviously, composition notebooks for the win. And this is because I can establish a nice friendship with them. The spiraled ones don’t like me, and I don’t like them.

21.) Literal or metaphorical?

Metaphorical all the way, unless I would rather solve math problems that day. Some days are math days, you know? And then other days rhetorical analysis is more therapeutic. But when I write, I like metaphors a lot. Actually, if I think about it, I used to sneak as many literary devices in my research essays as I could…no regrets.

22.) What’s the best book you’ve read recently?

Hm, best book…I’ve read a lot of books lately, but I didn’t think any of them really clicked with me. So I have to go back to Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton because I picked it up yesterday to find a character description. Just looking at the book makes me happy and obsessed.

23.) How do you keep yourself motivated and hyped up doing such repetitive work?

Finding motivation definitely proves a challenge. But I make a to-do list (for school) and make sure I complete something off of it every day. And then I have a list of goals that I try to keep in mind. But I mainly stay motivated by lying to myself and saying that I’ll get a break sometime. 

24.) What does your writing space look like outside of the literary classroom?

Hah, this is kind of funny. Well, sometimes I write while sitting outside, on my floor on a rug, or on my bed. But most of the time I like to write at a desk. Wherever the desk is (dorm or home) I try to keep it bright and lively and encouraging. I like decorating my desks with memories (items of significance), plants, and plastic dinosaurs. At school, I even have taco lights. Having all of this keeps me resilient and inspired.

25.) What famous literary artist do you wish could be your mentor?

If I could have a famous literary artist for a mentor, I would choose Markus Zusak. The Book Thief is my favorite book ever, and I love Zusak’s language in the book. I would ask him a hundred questions about plots and skies and moods and words.

26.) As a writer, what is your spirit animal?

Well, if I had to choose a spirit animal for my writing personality, it would be a bee. I was going to say a sloth to be funny, but I feel like a bee is more fitting. I don’t know what type of bee, but it would have to be something really plump. Because I just drag around, float from one idea to the next, and fly repeatedly into windows before randomly zooming around without a destination.

27.) What is the best research method for you?

When it comes to research, I have to deceive myself into being enthused by my topic. If I care about something, I will spend hours researching relentlessly and not notice. So I find it best to first immerse myself in my topic before immersing myself in research.

Hannah Hays

28.) When did you start writing?

When I was around 7 or 8.

29.) Journal or Blog?

Journal because I feel like I can get my thoughts out more/ decompress in my journal.

30.) Paperback or ebook?

Paperback because I like the feeling of having the real copy.

31.) What inspires/propels you to write?

I am inspired to write by things around me, such as nature.

32.) Music or no music, while writing?

Music, yes, because it gets me pumped up and ready to write.

33.) What time of day do you prefer to write?

Probably in the afternoon because it is when my mind is most fully awake.

34.) If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

Strong, loyal, and caring

35.) How do you deal with the isolation of being a writer?

Well, when I’m not writing, I’m out socializing, and that helps.

36.) Journalism or Short Fiction?

That’s a hard one because  I kind of like them both. On one side, you can get someone’s point of view, and on the other side, you can make your own.

Katie Spiers

37.) Do you plan on doing anything in the literary field in your future?

Yes, I want to go to UCLA to be a screenwriter.

38.) Do you write from experience or imagination?

It really depends on what I’m writing. If it’s poetry, then experience because that’s where I can find my deepest thoughts and feelings. If it’s a short story or anything else, then I write from imagination because I find it to be more interesting.

39.) Favorite quote?

“You cannot give all the good the world needs, but the world needs all the good you can give.” – Jana Stanfield 

40.) How do you overcome writer’s block?

I go for a run and clear my head. No music, just the sound of my feet rhythmically hitting the pavement. Things usually come to me when I run.

41.) What are your writing strengths?

I’d say my writing strengths are plays and dialogue. I find the human connection to be one of the most important things in my life, and I’ve been studying for a while so I can write it very easily.

42.) What is the most difficult part about writing for you?

The most difficult part about writing is being confident with my writing. It’s confidence that motivates me a lot in writing, and sometimes I struggle with feeling like it’s not good enough and wanting to give up on it.

43.) Coffee or tea?

I don’t prefer either, but I’d say tea is better than coffee.

44.) Is it difficult to write about characters of the opposite sex?

No, I love creating characters that are guys. Growing up, I had mostly guy friends and I saw into their minds a lot, so I have an understanding of how they think. I feel like guys don’t like to show emotion, and I like creating guys that capture that aspect. I’ve had a lot of guys hurt me in the past, and I feel like one way to forgive them is to try and see it from their view and write as if I were them.

45.) What book from your childhood has shaped you most as a writer?

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. I was required to read it in 6th grade and that was the first time I ever felt moved by a book. I began looking at things differently: food waste, human inequality, poverty—just more mature things that 12-year-olds don’t typically think about, and I think it has helped make me the appreciative person I am today.

Maleigh Crespo

46.) Fiction or nonfiction?

Definitely, nonfiction because things that have actually happened are SO fascinating to me. I love watching documentaries, biographies, etc. 

47.) Vignette or ekphrastic?

Vignette! I don’t dislike ekphrastic writing, however. I just enjoy the list-type style of a vignette. 

48.) What books or authors have most influenced your writing?

Last year, around this time, actually, I purchased Mary Lambert’s first book. It’s a collection of poems about trauma, body acceptance, and mental illness, and it changed my life. I had never read anything that spoke candidly about these issues and yet, was still so beautiful. So, Mary Lambert has influenced my writing significantly, as she inspires to push the boundaries and write my truth. 

49.) What’s your writing process like?

Well, I usually open a blank Google doc, turn on some sad music (usually Mary Lambert), and start typing. There’s really not much to it, but I do like to be alone when I write, and I am usually snacking as I write. I also read aloud as I am typing. 

50.) What are your writing weaknesses?

I  think my biggest weakness right now is fiction. I am not great at it, and it does not come easy for me, at all, but I am working towards becoming better at it.

51.) Do you enjoy spoken word?

Yes, I do! I love watching Button Poetry on Instagram. It is such a beautiful art form that I wish I could be good at. 

52.) Paperback or audiobook?

Audiobook, hands down. Okay, so I have a confession to make… I don’t like reading  :/ I know that sounds crazy because I am a literary, but if it’s not an article or poetry of some sort, I dread reading. I can’t just sit and read a novel. I just don’t have the patience, which is why I love audiobooks because they allow me to listen and be doing something with my hands. If you’re not good at multitasking, I would not suggest them, but for me, I love them. 

53.) Would you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?

Uh, no. I wouldn’t simply because my writing is a reflection of me, not my alter ego or something. If I were to release work that wasn’t a reflection of me, then, I would consider it. 

54.) How do you balance the demands of writing with other responsibilities at MSA?

MY PLANNER. In my planner, I write down everything: deadlines, chores, events, assignments, etc., and it allows me to be sure that I am completing everyday things, like laundry, while still having time to write and meet deadlines. If you are coming to MSA, I strongly suggest getting a planner, and it doesn’t have to be a fancy one like mine either. I’m just extra hahaha. 

Morgan Love

55.) Iced or hot coffee?

Hot coffee because I like the feeling of the warmth in my chest.

56.) Would you rather read an anthology of poems or a novel?

Novel. I like to be in one world at a time. Anthologies are cool, but a novel will always have my heart.

57.) Pen or pencil?

Pencil. I make a lot of mistakes when I write.

58.) Do you enjoy workshopping? 

Ahhh, I don’t enjoy nor loathe it. I guess it depends on the type of mood I’m in. 

59.) What does your family think of your writing? 

 I actually don’t let them read much of my work. More so because it’s important to me and I don’t think I’m ready to share that part of my self with them just yet.  I believe in the future I will let them see every piece of writing I do.

60.) How do you handle literary criticism?

I’ve gotten much better at handling it with care. Each critique is meant to better my work, not to hurt me.

61.) Does writing energize or exhaust you?

A little bit of both. When I’m completely out of energy and I have to write, it is extremely exhausting. If I have an idea or concept that I really wanna write about, it’s quite exciting and energizing to write.

62.) How do you choose your character names? Are they based on real people?

Honestly, I just pick the first name I think of when I think of the character traits I picked. Some are real names, some made up. I actually use a lot of creole names for my characters, for some odd reason.

63.) What’s your favorite thing about writing?

I like the feeling of being in the world I create. I like how good I feel, how purposeful I feel.

Stephyne Weathersby

64.) Poetry or short fiction?

Short fiction because I love the moments where I get lost in creating a story and it hits me that I can take this anywhere I want it to go.

65.) What is your favorite thing about being a literary?

My favorite thing about being a literary is being around such talented people all the time. Being a junior literary feels like being apart of a sisterhood.

66.) What kind of writing do you enjoy most?

I enjoy all writing, but I recently have become fond of writing plays. There is just so much you can do with plays. You can tell your story but also, show it, which I enjoy tremendously. One of my goals as a writer is to tell and show other people stories because I believe everyone has a story living inside them.

67.) Do you think workshop is beneficial?

I definitely think workshop is beneficial because there have been pieces I have brought to workshop, and when I left workshop, I had a different vision for it. And I believe that’s a good thing because, without workshop, I wouldn’t have the help of my peers and Mrs. Sibley to take my work to another level.

68.) What do you think makes a good story?

What makes a good story is a story that has a lot of passion. What I mean by that is: when any reader can get lost in the story and see themselves there, that’s what I classify as a good story.

69.) Book or movie? 

Wow, a great question, but I can’t decide. I believe there are pros and cons to both.

70.) What’s some advice you’d give to aspiring writers?

My advice would be to just write. When you have a need to tell a story and you feel like something is holding you back, that thing that’s holding you back is yourself, so just write. And also, create unapologetically. Don’t apologize for your work, don’t be afraid of showing people your work, and don’t censor yourself. Just write.

71.) What is your artistic process?

 Usually, when I write I have to be away from people and have a notebook and pen. I’m just now finding out that my phone can distract me. So now, I’m starting to turn off my phone when I write, which is kinda sad because that takes away music. Because when I write, I usually listen to jazz, classical, instrumentals, or anything without lyrics because I can get distracted by listening to the lyrics in music.

72.) What writing resources are the most helpful to you?

I love reading the works of African-American writers. Because as an African-American writer, I know that the community that I want to reach is black youth. So, to read black works such as Toni Morrison’s ”Beloved” and Maya Angelo’s ”Phenomenal Woman” or Tupac’s “The Rose that Grew from Concrete” and many others. It provides me guidance and comfort that I am able to do it and really that’s all I need.

Mrs. Sibley

73.) What does literary success look like to you? 

Finding your voice and staying true to it, all while maximizing time. That’s literary success, in my opinion. 

Thanks for reading! 🙂

By the time this is posted, it will be April 1st, and Women’s History Month will be over, but since we missed a week for spring break, I figured I’d do just one last post to celebrate this wonderful month. Besides, it’s still March, as I’m typing this.

Little Miss Flint

In 2016, at just 8 years old, Mari Copeny wrote to President Barack Obama about the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. In response, Obama visited her in the town of Flint and brought national attention to the crisis. 

Since then, Copeny worked to donate thousands of bottles of water to her hometown— resulting in her nickname, Little Miss Flint. Copeny is also the is the youngest Women’s March Youth Ambassador. In the video below, she stated, “If I had a superpower, it would be to change the world,” and I think she is definitely doing that.

Malala Yousafzai

In 2007, The District of Swat Valley was taken over by the Taliban, and experienced many drastic changes. Girls were no longer allowed to attend school, dancing and other cultural activities were banned, and even watching television was prohibited. Yousafzai was 10 years old when the changes were implemented. As a young girl, she valued education and yearned for knowledge. This could be a result of her father being an educator. Either way, Yousafzai was devasted by not being allowed to attend school. To make matters worse, in just a year, the Taliban had destroyed nearly 400 schools and had made the outlaw for education the foundation of their rule.

However, Yousafzai didn’t stay silent. Together, she and her father protested the orders of the Taliban and fought for girls’ right to education. She started an anonymous blog and wrote about life under the administration of the Taliban and having her rights taken away. Her activism and bravery were known widely. In 2011, she received the International Children’s Peace Prize and Pakistan’s National Youth Peace Prize. However, despite her efforts, not everyone supported Yousafzai. One day, while riding the bus, the Taliban found her and attempted to kill her. They shot her in the head and left her for dead. She was only 15. Fortunately, she pulled through and had a full recovery, and just 2 years after the event, she became the youngest person to receive a Nobel Peace Prize. When accepting the award, she said, “This award is not just for me. It is for those forgotten children who want education. It is for those frightened children who want peace. It is for those voiceless children who want change.”

Malala Yousafzai is a remarkable young woman whose story is inspiring and profound. She has been creating change since she was very young and faced adversity through most of her life and has lived to keep creating change and to tell her story.

April Ryan

April Ryan has been a White House correspondent for the last 23 years. She is also the bureau chief for American Urban Radio Networks. In 2017, she became a political analyst for CNN. She has made headlines for being the only correspondent asking tough questions and shedding light on urban issues. She has also been known to scuffle with the Trump administration, or in other words, calling him out on his “bullcrap”. Also, in 2017, Ryan was named “Journalist of the Year” by the National Association of Black Journalists for telling the truth about political issues, supporting, and keeping African-Americans informed.

America Ferrera

America Ferrera is most known for her role in the 2006 series, Ugly Betty, in which she won an Emmy for Outstanding Actress, making her the first Latina to do so. However, lately, Ferrera has been activating and advocating. She was a speaker at the 2017 Women’s March on Washington, a founding member of the 2018 Time’s Up movement, a partner in The North Face’s Move Mountains initiative, an advocate for the protection of people in the DACA program, and much more. In 2018, she published a collection of stories titled: American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures that features first-person narratives of life experiences between cultures. In doing all this, Ferrara also found time to star in the NBC comedy, Superstore, and have 2 children. She is, by definition, a “superwoman”. Ferrera may have played ugly Betty on screen, but she could never be anything less than phenomenal.

Tamika Mallory

Tamika Mallory is the daughter of  Stanley and Voncile Mallory. Her parents instilled a passion for equality and activism in her at an early age. They were a part of the National Action Network (NAN), founded by Al Sharpton. It was the leading civil rights organization at the time. Following in her parents’ footsteps, Mallory began early in her activist work. She became a member of NAN at age 11, and in 2011, she became the youngest executive director of the organization. After nearly 15 years, Mallory stepped down to pursue other activism opportunities. She helped create the New York City Crisis Management System, a gun violence prevention program. She then went on to serve as co-chair of Gun Violence Awareness Month, an initiative created by the NYC Crisis Management System.

However, she is most known as one of the leading organizers of the 2017 Women’s March. Approximately, 500,000 people attended the march. Not only was it to advocate for women’s rights, but for immigration reform, LGBTQ+ rights, healthcare reform, environmental reform, racial justice and equality, and also, for the protest of the inauguration of Donald Trump.

Mallory is also a big advocate for the Black Lives Matter movement. She has been advocating for equality and social justice her entire life and she’s made tremendous strides in doing so.

Aly Raisman

Aly Raisman is an Olympic gymnast. In 2012 and 2016, she led the Women’s gymnastics teams, and has won numerous gold medals. Raisman is also one of the few women to speak out about the U.S. gymnastics team’s doctor. In 2018, she, along with other members of the team, publicly shared about the sexual abuse they experienced from the former doctor. She also gave an impact statement during the trial. Shortly after, Raisman filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Gymnastics saying that they knew or should’ve known about the ongoing abuse.

In 2018, she stood alongside other survivors and received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award for speaking out. ESPN called them “sister survivors”. Upon accepting the award, Raisman said, “My dream is that one day everyone will know what the words #MeToo signify. But they will be educated and able to protect themselves from predators like Larry so that they will never ever, ever have to say the words, ‘me, too.'”

Now, she has teamed up with Aerie for a body positivity campaign that advocating against Photoshop.

Yara Shahidi

You may know Yara Shahidi from Freeform’s Black-ish, or the spin-off, Grown-ish. However, Shahidi is not just an actress. She is using her platform to inspire and encourage young voters. She says, “There are two major problems: information dissemination and voter registration.”

In 2017, Shahidi founded Eighteen x 18 with social media influencer, NowThis, to help Gen Z to understand the importance of their voice and voting. Her work was brought to the attention of former First Lady, Michelle Obama. Consequently, she wrote her a letter of recommendation to Harvard University, where Obama’s eldest daughter, Malia, attends, as well.

Shahidi also has a partnership with the Young Women’s Leadership Network— Yara’s Club; it is an organization that provides online mentorship to help end poverty through education.

Shahidi is a passionate and outspoken young woman with a bright future ahead of her— on screen and academically.

Women’s History Month has come to an end, and it’s bittersweet. I am so happy that we have a month in which we can come together and commemorate the woman who’ve made strides to get us where we are today. I am so grateful for the strong woman who came before me and the ones that will sucede me.

Happy Women’s History Month! I hope everyone learned something that they didn’t know before and got a chance to honor an incredible woman who’s influenced them.

Hey guys! I hope everyone is enjoying their time off amidst the worldwide chaos. Fortunately, it is still Women’s History Month, and I’m still celebrating, so for this week’s blog, I will be discussing 9 women who inspire me (in no particular order).

Ashley Graham

Plus-size model and body activist, Ashley Graham has been one of my “she-roes” for quite some time now. She rose to fame in 2016, after appearing on the cover of one of Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issues as the first plus-size model. However, I first discovered her on social media. I was 14, and summer was fast approaching, so I was searching for bathing suits that I thought would hide the fact that I didn’t have a perfect “bikini body”.  Naturally, I took to Pinterest, and searched for “plus-size swimsuits”. As I was searching, I kept seeing this woman in all these cute bikinis. The best part— she looked like me. I’d never seen anything like it— a woman who was not a size 2, in a bikini, loving her body. For some reason, the concept was foreign to me, to actually love my body even though it wasn’t a certain size or shape. After that, I Insta-stalked her for hours. I even printed out photos and news articles and hung them everywhere in my room. Ashley Graham was the first stop on my journey to loving my body, and if weren’t for her, I might not be the person I am today.

Most recently, she’s just given birth to her first child and become a mother. While pregnant, Graham didn’t skip a beat. She was working nonstop with modeling, her podcast, her swimsuit line, and staying healthy and taking care of herself for her unborn child; Graham did it all. Now, she’s taking the mommy game by storm and documenting it on social media every step of the way. She has no shame is sharing in her “mommy struggles” as she is seen breast-pumping in an Uber, changing her son in the middle of a Staples store, and even breastfeeding at a coffee shop. Baby Graham has one phenomenal mom, and I can’t wait to see him grow up, as she raises him in the best way possible.

Chrissy Teigen

Similar to Graham, Teigen has also been featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated and is #Mommygoals. However, despite her very successful modeling career, I only learned of her as John Legend’s wife. My mother is huge fan of him, so I also became a fan. I remember watching his music video for his song,  “Stereo,” and thinking it was risque, but also how strangely captivated I was by the woman who starred alongside Legend. I didn’t think too much of it though, and eventually, I had stopped listening to Legend. A few years later when Legend released his hit “All Of Me,” I watched the video, and I realized that it was the same woman who had been in the video for “Stereo”— Chrissy Teigen. Except this time, I knew they had to be a couple with the song’s lyrics and their behavior on screen; it went beyond acting for a video. From then on, I Googled everything there was to know about Legend and his leading lady. I fell in love with their love story, and soon after “All Of Me” was released, the couple wed. I purchased their wedding issue of People magazine as soon as it was released, and I cut out photos and hung them on my wall with all the other people who’d inspired me.

Now, Teigen is known as the clapback queen on Twitter for her witty tweets and sarcastic comebacks, especially with President Donald Trump, or lack thereof now that he has her blocked (if you know, you know). Teigen is also the mother of two, and has been open about her fertility struggles and IVF journey. She is truly killing the mom game and adding some humor along the way. She’ll forever inspire to me to love unconditionally, to be transparent, and to laugh often.

Priyanka Chopra

One of my more recent stans, Priyanka Chopra, is one of the most successful actresses in India, starring in over 50 movies since her career began. Chopra got her start when she won Miss World in 2000. After that, the movie roles started piling in. Currently, Chopra is one of India’s highest-paid celebrities, but more recently, she’s starred in some American films and is known for her role on the television series, Quantico. However, I learned of her in 2018, after her marriage to The Jonas Brothers star, Nick Jonas. People magazine covers most celebrity weddings, so it was no surprise that the Jonas-Chopra wedding was plastered on the front cover of the magazine. The couple had two ceremonies— traditional, Christian and Hindu, meant to serve as the two cultures uniting, honoring both of their beliefs. The wedding not only honored them both, but it was quite possibly the wedding of the century. The couple exchanged vows in a Christian wedding set in India. They both wore Ralph Lauren, and Chopra had a 75-foot veil that was carried by 6 people. Following, they had a traditional Hindu reception where Chopra wore a red lehenga.

As a person with multicultural heritage, seeing a wedding like this is inspiring. It’s so beautiful to see two people from different backgrounds and faiths come to together, bound by love and mutual respect for one another. Not to mention, the 10-year age gap, Chopra and Jonas share. With so many reasons that could be interpreted as incompatibility, the two embrace it and love each other regardless.

Mariska Hargitay

Mariska Hargitay has had quite an impact on my life. In 1999, she made her debut as Olivia Benson in the Law & Order spin-off— Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Despite airing before I was even born, the show was an early favorite, as my mother and I share a love for crime shows. This show, however, is more than just another crime show; it’s life. The stories depicted in each episode are stories in which many people can relate. As the #MeToo movement is progressing, the show is too. It’s talking about things that aren’t being talked about enough in times like this, and it’s been doing so for the last 20 years. The cast just recently celebrated their 21st season, making it the longest-running series in America, and they have signed on to  do 3 more seasons (which my mother and I will be faithfully tuning in to every Thursday night).

Hargitay says the show turned her from “actor to activist”. Outside of the show, she is a rape crisis counselor. In 2004, she started the Joyful Heart Foundation, a nonprofit that aids victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse. Hargitay may play Olivia Benson on screen, but she has a little of her off screen, as well.

Mary Lambert

Mary Lambert is a singer/songwriter, poet, and advocate for crying, body positivity, and LGBTQ+ equality. When I first heard Lambert, it was in collaboration with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. She performed their LGBTQ+love anthem, Same Love, alongside Madonna, at the 2014 Grammy Awards, where 33 couples wed. I was just 10 years old watching the ceremony, so I didn’t have a clue what was going on, but I was still vibing with the music. It wasn’t until a few years later that I heard Lambert’s song “Body Love“. I’d never heard a song with spoken word or that had so much depth and so much honesty. I listened to it almost every day after that, and I remember immediately downloading every song she’d ever released after that. I even watched every interview and poetry slam she’d ever done on YouTube. Then, I stumbled across her performing her piece, “Epidemic,” that was about sexual assault. I remember crying and thinking that that’s what I wanted to do. I always thought writing about trauma made me damaged or like there was something wrong with me, but when I heard Lambert turn her trauma into something beautiful, I knew then that I wanted to write poetry.

In 2018, Lambert released her book, Shame is an Ocean I Swim Across. I went to my local Books-a-Million the week it was released and bought a copy. I read every single poem twice in two weeks. Then, I bought the audio book, and it changed everything. To hear her words in her voice with the soft piano playing added so much depth to her art. It meant so much more. Her book inspired and continues to inspire me every day.

In 2019, Lambert released an album after 5 years of having no record label. She recorded and produced the album all on her own. It is entitled Grief Creature, and it is quite possibly the best record ever released, or at least, the most beautiful. Of course, these are my opinions, but the album features spoken word with songs about trauma and healing. Although it’s not mainstream, it is valuable and honest. Listen to the album on YouTube— you won’t regret it (be sure to bring tissues).

America Ferrera

From Real Women Have Curves to The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, America Ferrera has taught me to love and appreciate not only my body, but my culture. However, she is most known for her role in the 2006 series, Ugly Betty, in which she won an Emmy for Outstanding Actress, making her the first to do so. However, lately, Ferrera has been activating and advocating. She was a speaker at the 2017 Women’s March on Washington, a founding member of the 2018 Time’s Up movement, a partner in The North Face’s Move Mountains initiative, an advocate for the protection of people in the DACA program, and much more. In 2018, she published a collection of stories titled: American Like Me: Reflections on Life Between Cultures that features first-person narratives of life experiences between cultures. In doing all this, Ferrara also found time to star in the NBC comedy, Superstore, and have 2 children. She is, by definition, a “superwoman”. Ferrera may have played ugly Betty on screen, but she could never be anything less than phenomenal.

Lina Esco

Lina Esco is an actress, director, producer, and activist. She’s not very well known, but some may know her for her role as Miley Cyrus’ best friend in the film, LOL. You may have also seen her star in the movie, Free the Nipple. However, many people don’t know that Esco founded the Free the Nipple campaign and directed and starred in the indie film inspired by it. The campaign advocates for the accepting of women baring their breasts, both legally and socially, as there is a double-standard. It is okay for men to walk around shirtless in public, but women aren’t allowed to in most states and even if they are, they’re shamed for it; women are even often shamed for breastfeeding in public. These are the things the campaign fights against. In Esco’s film, based on true events, a group of vivacious women come together to fight the marginalization of women and they do so by forming rallies and protests backed by prominent figures. From the message, the impact, and the cinematography, it is a truly inspiring film, and I encourage you to watch it; however, there is nudity, so be cautious.

Esco is one of those phenomenal that isn’t talked or heard enough about. She is creating change in our society, and it should be recognized more. Esco inspires to fight for what I believe in and to use my art to further my advocacy.

Amina Mucciolo

Amina Mucciolo is an Instagram influencer and YouTuber. Mucciolo is quite the woman. She is fabulous, fierce, and unafraid to be herself. Before she was an influencer, she was an aspiring writer. However, when that didn’t pan out, she moved to L.A. where she now owns and operates a design studio that sells party favors, tutus, and other crafty knickknacks. However, it wasn’t all rainbows and unicorns for Mucciolo, as she battled with bulimia and depression most of her life. Mucciolo is open about her struggles and how she turned her life into a “pastel paradise” after facing hardship.

Mucciolo is so incredible and quite possibly, another me. Her story and confidence inspires so much. It’s not often that you see a grown woman wearing rainbow dresses and tutus just to go to Target, but with Mucciolo, that’s her norm.

Kesha

Kesha Rose Sebert, more commonly, Ke$ha, is a singer/songwriter who is most known for her hit single, “Tik Tok”. However, to me, she’s an absolute queen. From glitter her on her eyes to Jesus on her necklace, Kesha is unapologetically herself. She’s known as the “party girl” with her electro, dance pop music. However, Kesha went on hiatus in 2014, after entering rehab for an eating disorder. Shortly after she was released, she filed a lawsuit against her producer, Dr. Luke, for sexual assault and battery. This has been an ongoing public lawsuit for years, but Kesha returned to music scene in 2017 with the release of her album, Rainbow, that not-so subtly said that the 30-year-old was no longer that party girl the world once knew. When the first single, “Praying,” released, the world was taken aback, as it was the first music she’d released in years, it was not her usual style, and the song lyrics strongly suggested it was about her legal battle with Dr. Luke. In an interview, the singer said this about the album, “I felt like Rainbow was a time and place to address some more serious things.”

Now that Kesha’s addressed these issues, she hasn’t slowed down any. In January, the singer released another album— High Road. This album is different from her party girl style, but not quite the same as Rainbow. In this album, Kesha has dark brown hair and her style is a bit grown up, as if saying that she’s still that party girl, but she’s grown up now. On one of the tracks, she even featured “old Kesha” with the dollar sign in her name.

No matter which direction Kesha decides to take her musical stylings, she will forever be an icon to me. She has always inspired me to be myself and to love myself. I still remember 10-year-old me listening to “Tik Tok” on repeat with glitter on my eyes. I’ll always be a #Animal.

Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo has been a role model of mine for as long as I can remember. I don’t know I learned of her because she’s not someone you learn about in school, which is really saddening, because she’s such an amazing woman.

You might know her as a famous Mexican painter or as Diego Rivera’s wife, but these weren’t always the roles she inhabited. Being disabled by polio, as a child, Kahlo beat the odds and had a bright future ahead of her. When she was 18, she was on her way to med school to be a doctor, but then she was in a terrible bus accident. This left her unable to walk or move for a year. While she was bedridden, her father bought her a paint set and easel, as she had mobility of her hands. While healing, Kahlo continued to paint. When she learned to walk again, after being told that she wouldn’t, she continued painting. She said that it was her passion and it distracted from her pain.

In 1929, Kahlo married Diego. Their tumultuous relationship is one that is studied by many historians and anthropologists. Kahlo’s art reflected their marital problems, as well. One of her more famous pieces, “Henry Ford Hospital,” is an evocative one that portrays her miscarriage and feelings of being unable to have children due to her ailments. This piece was so powerful because, at this time, women didn’t talk about issues like this or the feelings they felt, and Kahlo painted it— and with so much emotion and truth.

Frida Kahlo was an incredible woman, artist, and activist. From her scarf-braided her to her signature unibrow, Kahlo was a woman ahead of her time. Her art was powerful and raw; it explored themes that weren’t being talked about or explored. Her work inspires me to write and talk about the things that aren’t being done already, to create change, to fight for peace, and to embrace my heritage.

These are just 9 women who inspire me daily. There are billions of inspiring women, and if I could write about them all, I would. But since I can’t, I hope this piece inspired you to write about the women who inspire you or taught you about an inspiring woman that you didn’t know about. Happy Women’s History Month!

The First Female Presidential Candidate

In 1872, history was made when suffragist, Victoria Woodhull, ran for President of the United States. She was a candidate for the Equal Rights Party, and her opponent, Frederick Douglass. Woodhull was a leader in the women’s suffrage movement, a magnetic healer, and an advocate for labor reforms. As well as, what she called “free love”, meaning the freedom to marry, divorce, and have children without interference from the government. Despite her efforts, Woodhull’s candidacy was not taken seriously, and she did not win. However, she paved the way for women after her to run for president.

Belva Ann Lockwood was one of the first women to practice law. In 1879, after graduating from law school, she petitioned Congress to practice before the Supreme Court and won. She was the first female attorney to do so. Not long after, in 1884, Lockwood followed in the footsteps of Woodhull and ran for president. Her running mate was also a woman— Marrietta Stow.

Marrietta Stow was an American women’s rights, suffragist, and she was the first woman to run for vice president of the United States. Just as Woodhull, both Lockwood, and Stow were a part of the Equal Rights Party, and their main focus was women’s suffrage.

In 1964, Margaret Chase Smith, the first woman to serve in both houses of Congress and the— at the time— longest female Senator, announced

her candidacy in the Republican party. Thus, making her another first, as the first woman to run for the presidency as a major party candidate.

Almost 10 years later, in 1972, Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman to be elected into Congress, announced her presidential bid as a Democrat. Thus, making her the first African-American to run for POTUS as a major-party candidate, and the first woman to run for the Democratic party. During her campaign, Chisolm said, “I have certainly met much more discrimination in terms of being a woman than being black, in the field of politics.”

Continuous Strides

In 2016, Hillary Clinton became the first woman to be nominated for president by a major party after winning a majority of delegates in the Democratic Party. She also became the first woman to win the popular vote. However, Clinton did not win the election. Nevertheless, she made history.

Furthermore, 2 other women have won the vice presidential nominations in previous years.  Geraldine Ferraro for the Democratic Party in 1984, and Sarah Palin for the Republican Party in 2008.

Making History

Flash forward almost 50 years, and America is making history. In the 2020 election there were 6 women running for president.

(L-R)

Tulsi Gabbard,

Kirsten Gillibrand,

Amy Klobuchar,

Elizabeth Warren,

Kamala Harris,

and

Marianne Williamson.

These were the 6 women running for president in the 2020 election, and they have made some big impacts politically. Before this year, only 5 women made it to the debate stage: Shirley Chisholm (Democrat; 1972), Carol Moseley Braun (Democrat; 2004), Hillary Clinton (Democrat; 2008/2016), Michele Bachmann (Republican; 2012), and Carly Fiorina (Republican; 2016).  Furthermore, there has never been more than one woman on the debate stage at a time, and there had never been more than two women running in a single party at one time.  During the Democratic primary debate, there were at least three women on the debate stage.

Will America Ever Have a Female President of the United States?

It was a close run in 2016 with Clinton, but some Americans are hopeful that this will be the year America has its first female president. However, as of January 2020, only 2 of the 6 female candidates remain— Warren and Klobuchar.

According to Politico.com, “Sexism costs every woman candidate votes, but Hillary Clinton did not lose the presidency in 2016 because she is a woman. She was the wrong candidate for the time. Still, Clinton has certainly succeeded in making it easier for other women to run for office. Perhaps, the seeds of change may have been planted in Clinton’s defeat.”

What do you think— will Madam President be moving into the White House this fall? Would our country benefit from a woman running it? Why or why not? Comment your thoughts down below.

Thanks for reading!

Happy Women’s History Month, and be sure to vote when the time comes!

This is my last post of Black History Month, and I wanted to end it in a special way. Now, we all now Martin, Rosa, Malcolm, Harriet, etc. Those are the people that usually come to mind when most think of black history and activism. They left their mark and now have this tremendous legacy, but what about the people who are following in the paths that they paved? In no way am I minimizing the accomplishments of these great people, but I figured in this blog, instead of talking about the same people that are always talked about, I’d shed some light on those who are making a difference and creating change in our world today.

Kimberly Bryant

In 2011, Kimberly Bryant founded Black Girls Code, an organization created to provide technological opportunities for African-American girls. Bryant started the organization after her daughter had a bad experience at a computing summer camp, as one of only a handful of girls there. Being in biotech for 20 years prior, Bryant knew the struggle of being a woman in the male dominated industry, so she set out to create Black Girls Code with hopes of her daughter and other girls like her having a better experience in the technology field.

“Imagine. Build. Create. – Imagine a world where everyone is given the tools to succeed, and then help us build ways for everyone to access information and create a new age of women of color in technology.”

Tony Weaver

At 23-years-old, Tony Weaver, made Forbes’ “30 under 30” list in 2017. He is the founder and CEO of Weird Enough Productions. He created the company because of the misrepresentation of African-Americans in the media. His latest project, “Shades and Hues: The 21st Century Black Experience” deals with institutionalized racism.

“We are targeting minority groups who look at the media and don’t see themselves represented and those who are afraid to be themselves because they don’t want to be judged.”

Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi

These 3 women started the movement and hashtag #BLACKLIVESMATTER in 2013, after George  Zimmerman was acquitted for the murder of Trayvon Martin.

The movement was started to end violence and systematic racism against African-Americans. The organization also tackles other issues such as: racial profiling, police brutality, and racial inequality in the criminal justice system. Inspired by the Black Power and Black Feminist movements, the movement holds many protests and rallies to fight for their beliefs, as well as, using social media— by using the infamous hashtag.

“Could it be that we matter?”

– Patrisse Cullors,  When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir

Bryan Stevenson

Bryan Stevenson is the founder the Equal Justice Initiative (1989). The organization was started for people who were denied their right to a fair trial, were been misrepresented, or wrongfully-convicted to have effective legal aid. It allows defense to anyone in the state of Alabama in a death penalty case. In 2019, the organization recorded 125 cases in which people were saved from the death penalty.

“You don’t change the world with the ideas in your mind, but with the conviction in your heart.”

Beverly Bond

Beverly Bond is a DJ and model, but she is most known for her organization, Black Girls Rock! It began as a simple t-shirt design, but then grew as a mentorship program for young black girls. In 2006, Bond started the BLACK GIRLS ROCK AWARDS; the ceremony honors the accomplishments of black women in several categories: music, acting, politics, literature, and more. In 2010, she reached out to BET to broadcast the ceremony nationally, and it’s been an annual event since.

“Own your magic, walk in your purpose, and rock in your truth.”

Julieanna Richardson

Julieanna Richardson is a lawyer. She is also the founder of The HistoryMakers, which is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to preserving the history of African-Americans— well-known and unsung. The organization has over 2,000 oral history interviews (8,000 hours of footage) in its archives.

“It wasn’t about names, but about finding history in places where people didn’t know history existed.”

Marley Dias

Marley Dias is proving that you can be an activist and make a change at any age— even 10! I guess age really is just a number. In 2015, she started a book drive to help bring attention to more books with African-American female protagonists with the hashtag, #1000BlackGirlBooks. Her goal was only to get 1,000; however, she exceeded her goal tremendously by collecting over 9,000 books. The campaign also brought more attention to the lack of diversity in children’s books. In 2019, Dias even wrote her own book, Marley Dias Gets it Done: And So Can You, which encourages and empowers young girls to use their passions to make a difference.

“As members of society, we should always be pushing our girls to strive to be the best and to speak up and out about issues we see.”

The people listed in this blog are just a few of the MANY African-Americans who are following in the paths paved by previous activists and creating change to build a better world for African-Africans.

If you want to learn about more of the black people who are making a difference today, follow the links listed below:

25 Black Women Who Are Changing the World

10 of America’s Most Daring Young Black Activists

5 Black Men Making a Difference in Your Community Today

The New Civil Rights Leaders: Emerging Voices in the 21st Century

I hope everyone had a wonderful Black History Month, and that you were educated and celebrated. I hope you enjoyed this month’s series, as a tribute to black history.  (Don’t forget to tune in next week, as my blogs will be a tribute to women’s history.) Thanks for reading!

Almost 11 years ago, in 2009, President Barack Obama, took office and became the first African-African President of the United States. This was a major advance in African-American political leadership. However, before this tremendous stride, there were many other excellent political gains made in the black community.

In 1870, Hiram Rhodes Revels made history by becoming the first black man to serve in Congress. He was a Republican senator who represented the state of Mississippi.

Nearly 100 years later, in 1969, Shirley Chisholm became the first black woman to be elected into Congress. She represented the 12th district of New York. This was not Chisholm’s only political accomplishment. In 1972, she announced her presidential bid as a Democrat. Thus, making her the first African-American to run for POTUS as a major-party candidate and the first woman to run for the Democratic party. Chisholm called herself a representative of the people, saying, “I am not the candidate of black America, although I am black and proud…. I am the candidate of the people and my presence before you symbolizes a new era in American political history.”

In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson appointed Robert C. Weaver secretary of housing and urban development in his Cabinet, making him the first African-American Cabinet member. Following his Cabinet position, Weaver became the president of Baruch College. Also, under administration of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Weaver helped established the Black Cabinet, a nonofficial group of African-American public policy advisers.

11 years after Weaver, Patricia Roberts Harris was appointed as Cabinet member under the Jimmy Carter administration in 1977, becoming the first black woman to be a Cabinet member. She was Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Then, 1979, she became Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. Prior to this, Harris served as United States Ambassador to Luxembourg under President Lyndon B. Johnson, making her the first black woman to be an Ambassador. Harris was also the first to be in the line of succession to the presidency.  Harris achieved many political accomplishments, but she was also the first woman to head a law school (Howard University, 1969).

In 2004, under the presidency of George W. Bush, Colin Powell was the first African-American man to be appointed Secretary of State. Despite this big achievement, Powell is most known for his military career, in which he received distinguished medals and honors.

Succeeding Powell, Condoleezza Rice was the first African-American woman to serve as Secretary of State. Also, during George W. Bush’s first term, Rice served as National Security Advisor; she was the first woman to hold that position.

Serving from 2009 to 2017, Barack Obama was the first African-American to serve as President of the United States. During his presidency, Obama worked towards improving LGBTQ+ rights, healthcare reform, and gun control.

Michelle Obama was the first African-American First Lady of the United States. As first lady, she was a role model for women and advocated for poverty awareness, education, nutrition, physical activity, and healthy eating. She was also considered a fashion icon.

Thanks for reading!

Black History Month is from February 1st- February 28/29th, but you probably already knew this—many people do. However, what people don’t know is how this month came to be and why we celebrate black history, which is what inspired me to write this blog.

Origin

In 1926, Carter G. Woodson and the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History created “Negro History Week” as way to recognize and celebrate the progress of African-Americans. The event was set to be the 2nd week in February because it coincided with both, President Lincoln and Frederick Douglass’ birthdays, and their birthdays had already held significance in the black community since the 19th century.

Woodson created the week because he believed that black history was important, especially at a time when no one else was recording it. This resulted in The Journal of Negro History , which was one of the first texts that contained the history of African-Americans. After the ten year journey writing the book, Woodson said,

“If a race has no history, it has no worthwhile tradition, it becomes a negligible factor in the thought of the world, and it stands in danger of being exterminated. The American Indian left no continuous record. He did not appreciate the value of tradition; and where is he today? The Hebrew keenly appreciated the value of tradition, as is attested by the Bible itself. In spite of worldwide persecution, therefore, he is a great factor in our civilization.”

The release of the book caused a surge in popularity of Negro History Week for many decades, and mayors all over the U.S. declared it a holiday.

Because of Woodson’s work and dedication to the teaching of black history, at a time when it wasn’t even acknowledged, he was deemed the “Father of African-American History”. His early efforts have resulted in the Black History Month we know today.

Black History Month

In February 1969, students and teachers at Kent State University proposed that Negro History Week be an entire month. The following year, Black History Month was born and celebrated annually at Kent State.

Just 6 years after Kent State’s first celebration, colleges and schools across the country were celebrating the month of black of history. Even President Gerald Ford was in support of the month, encouraging people to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history” at the U.S. Bicentennial.

Conflict Arises

Despite the tremendous strides Black History Month has made, some people disagree with it entirely. In 2006, Morgan Freeman had an interview with 60 Minutes in which Mike Wallace asked him about Black History Month.

Freeman says that Black History Month is ridiculous and that “Black history is American history,” but he’s not the only celebrity who believes in this.

In 2016, ten years after Freeman’s interview, Clueless star, Stacey Dash, tweeted, “Either we want to have segregation or integration. And if we don’t want segregation, then we need to get rid of channels like BET and the BET Awards and the Image Awards, where you’re only awarded if you’re black. If it were the other way around, we would be up in arms. It’s a double standard.”

Why Do We Still Need Black History Month?

Do you think that Black History Month shouldn’t exist, like Freeman and Dash? NowThis News says, “No, we need it [Black History Month] for the same we needed it in 2019 and every year before that… In US news and current events today, in 2020, Black History Month is important more than ever. In short: America has a loonnng way to go for equality, black rights, and eradicating racism. ” In the video, the news outlet asks people why they think we still need Black History Month; here’s what they had to say:

Why Isn’t There White History Month?

One of the many disputes about Black History Month is the fact that there’s not history months dedicated to other races and nationalities. However, this is just a misconception. There are months dedicated to commemorating different races, nationalities, gender, and sexuality. Besides, you have to think about why Woodson created “Negro History Week” in the first place: people weren’t acknowledging the history of black people.

Similarly, the same argument applies to that of the dispute of W0men’s History Month. At some point in time, change occurred as a result of strides made by phenomenal women, so we celebrate their efforts and progress in that month. It’s not to say that men aren’t great, but that men didn’t have to overcome the same obstacles as women, and the same applies for why we don’t have a white history month. As stated in the video, “Even though words like “black” and “white” seem the same, they function quite differently. ” So, it isn’t actually as black and white as it may seem.

The Importance of Black History Month

According to a blog by the National Museum of African-American History and Culture,

“Carter G. Woodson’s vision for black history as a means of transformation and change is still quite relevant and quite useful. African American history month is still a beacon of change and hope that is still surely needed in this world. The chains of slavery are gone—but we are all not yet free. The great diversity within the black community needs the glue of the African American past to remind us of not just how far we have traveled but lo, how far there is to go.”

Thanks for reading!

As I mentioned in my previous blog, every post in the month of February will focus on black history in honor of Black History Month. The same goes for Women’s History Month in March. There won’t be a specific format for each post; it will most likely vary based on the topic.

Miss America was the first national pageant dating back to 1921. It all started when 16-year-old, Margaret Gorman, was named “The Most Beautiful Bathing Girl in America”. She was then recognized as “Miss America”.

However in 1950, Yolande Betbeze,  refused to pose in a swimsuit, even after she won the title of Miss America. Because of the controversy her refusal caused, there was no Miss America pageant in 1950, so Betbeze won the crown in 1951. This was a pivotal time in the pageant world; it is said to have been the point in which pageants began to focus on intellect, morality, and leadership abilities rather than just beauty. From then on, the pageant has focused more on scholarship than beauty, and Betbeze continued to fight for change in pageantry being active in the feminist movement, NAACP, CORE (Congress of Racial Equality), and SANE (The Committee for a SANE Nuclear Policy). Nevertheless, the shift in the pageant world caused the creation of the Miss USA and the Miss Universe pageant in 1952.

The End of Rule Number 7

When the Miss America pageant was established in 1921 there were rules set in place. One rule was that contestants had to be in “good health and of the white race.” In 1950, that rule was abolished. However, there were no African-American contestants in the pageant in 50 years (they appeared in musical numbers, but only cast as slaves).

In 1971, Cheryl Browne, competed as the first African-American in the pageant. Browne faced discrimination for competing, and although she did not win, she paved the way for other African-American women.

Nearly a decade later, in 1983, Vanessa Williams became the first African-American woman to win the Miss America pageant. She, too, faced discrimination, and a few weeks before the end of her reign, Williams was pressured into giving up her title due to a scandal that arose when a magazine bought and published unauthorized nude photographs of her. In 2015, thirty-two years later, while she was serving as head judge of the Miss America pageant, former CEO, Sam Haskell, publicly apologized to her during the pageant for the events that occurred in 1984.

According to Wikipedia, “Miss USA has been held annually since 1952 in select states.” It began as a result of before-mentioned Yolanda Betbeze’s refusal to pose in a swimsuit. Pageant sponsor, Catalina, agreed with Betbeze and created Miss USA along with Miss Universe.  It is currently operated under the Miss Universe Organization, which also operates Miss Teen USA. The pageant was owned by current president, Donald Trump, from 1996 to 2015, and is now owned by WME/IMG.

In 1990, Carole Gist was crowned Miss USA; she was the first African-American to do so. She then went on to win first runner-up in the Miss Universe pageant. Since then, there have been nine African-American women to win the title, with the latest being Cheslie Kryst in 2019.

The Miss Universe pageant is under the operation of the Miss Universe Organization. The current president of the Miss Universe Organization is Paula Shugart, who has held this position since 1997.

In 1977, 25 years after the pageant’s start, Trinidad native, Janelle Commissiong was the first African-American to win the title of Miss Universe. Since then, only 4 African-American women have won the title. Most recently, Zozibini Tunzi won the title for 2019.

Miss World is the longest-running international beauty pageant. It began in 1951, when Eric Morley created a bikini contest at the Festival of Britain celebrations; he called it the Festival Bikini Contest. It gained popularity and became a pageant; it was later named “Miss World”. It faced many controversies due to its beginnings as a bikini contest. The fact that the first winner of the pageant was crowned in a bikini added to the controversy. As a result, in 1976, swimsuits were replaced by evening gowns for the crowning; the first winner of the pageant remains the only one to have been crowned in a bikini.

50 years later, in 2001, Agbani Darego, became the first African-American woman to win the Miss World pageant and represent Nigeria.
In 1968, J. Morris Anderson created Miss Black America before Cheryl Browne broke the racial barrier in 1970. However, it was still a time when women of color weren’t necessarily unable (Rule #7 had been abolished) to compete in the Miss America pageant, but it was still frowned upon. Creator of the pageant, J. Morris Anderson, told The Post, “Many Black people had been convinced that Black skin was ugly, that curly hair was bad hair. There were kids who might have seen their mother pinching their nose so it wouldn’t be broad and would be more European.” As a result, the pageant thrived. Black women started seeing themselves as beautiful, and soon after, the #BlackIsBeautiful movement began. Despite all of the good the pageant brought, it went on hiatus from 1996 to 2009 due to a scandal in 1991 with boxer, Mike Tyson. However, the pageant has been supported and praised by many influential people, such as Curtis Mayfield who wrote the pageant’s theme song, Oprah Winfrey, who competed in 1971, and Stevie Wonder who has sung at event numerous times.

In 1983, Miss Teen USA was created for girls aged 14-19. Eight years after the pageant’s start, in 1991, Janel Bishop became the first African-American to win the title of Miss Teen USA. The pageant was held in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Pageantry in Mississippi

The Miss Mississippi pageant was created in 1934, and has been held in Vicksburg since 1958. Since the pageant’s start, four women have won the Miss America title from Mississippi. In 1987, Toni Seawright (Pascagoula , MS) became the first African-American woman to receive the crown; she was 4th runner-up in the Miss America pageant.

Two decades later, in 2007, Kimberly Morgan (Oxford, MS) was crowded as the second African-American woman to win the title of Miss Mississippi.

In 2014, one of own, MSA alum, Jasmine Murray (Columbus, MS), became the third African-American woman to win the Miss Mississippi title. Previously, she won Miss Mississippi’s Outstanding Teen in 2006 and competed in the Miss America’s Outstanding Teen pageant in 2007 where she placed in the Top Ten. She also competed on American Idol in 2009.

In 2018, Asya Branch (Booneville, MS) became the fourth African-American woman to be crowned Miss Mississippi. Recently, she became the first African-American to win Miss Mississippi USA, and she will represent our state in the 2020 Miss USA pageant.

Black Women Reigning in Pageants

In 2019, history was made. For the first time ever, top beauty pageants: Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, Miss America, Miss Universe, and Miss World have all crowned black women as their winners simultaneously. From women of color being banned from participating in pageants at all to having all black women crowned at the same time is astonishing; pageantry has come along with equality. And these 5 girls show some real #BlackGirlMagic.

Thanks for reading!

**MSA’s annual Black History Month production is this week: February 7-8 at 3:30pm in the Enochs Black Box Theatre.**

Hi guys,

I’m back, and today, you’re going to be getting some male fashion perspective, and he just happens to be one of my favorite people! Keep reading to get a “taste” of what goes on behind the scenes of MJ Coleman‘s signature fashion statements.

On this look, I was actually on a field trip with Coleman celebrating the day of racial healing. Here’s what he had to say about this look, “I figured if we were going to that particular event, I didn’t wanna wear, like, super dark colors, but I also didn’t wanna wear too, too bright colors, that would distract from what we were talking about. But, I wanted to wear something that would catch people’s attention without being flashy.”

“When I put clothes together, I find something that I really, really wanna wear, like on that day, I really wanted to wear those shoes. So, I had to find clothes to go with the shoes. That’s mostly how I pick my outfits. Or if it’s a particular scarf I wanna wear, I’ll center my whole outfit on that scarf.” In this photo, I noticed that Coleman had a number of rings and a necklace paired with his outfit. This is his response to how he accessorizes his ensembles, “Well, I wear the rungs every day whether I’m dressed up or not. And the necklace, that just kinda… it depend on the look I’m going for that day. Like a business casual look, I’m not gon’ put on 12 necklaces, but if I’m going for a really flashy look, I will. That day, the colors were neutral, and not really bright, so I didn’t wanna wear a lot of jewelry. That just looks weird… dull colors with big, bright, gold jewelry… no.”

You may not be able to see the pattern of the pants, so I included a close-up photo of a pair of pants similar to Coleman’s. Here’s what Coleman said about infamous, embroidered pants, “I bought ’em because I knew nobody else here was gon’ have ’em. They were $100, and I knew nobody was gon’ pay $100 for them pants; that’s why I bought ’em.” When Coleman revealed how much he paid for these pants, my jaw DROPPED. If you’ve read the fashion blog I did on myself, you should know that I am very… frugal, to put it nicely (haha). So, I asked Coleman why he didn’t just DIY his pants. I mean, all it would’ve taken was some cheap, navy blue pants, and some iron-on patches. To this he responded, “I could have… but POLO did it for me.” (And I oop-) Coleman then went on to say his entire outfit was by POLO… except his shirt, which was Hanes. Now, he’s speaking my language. Coleman says, “My mama bought me those shoes, so I had to find something to go with the shoes because I don’t wear yellow, but I was like, ‘These pants got a  lil’ yellow in ’em. Let me get ’em.’ And the shoes got a white base around the sides, so I put on a plain white t-shirt because I didn’t wanna have on an extra shirt because the pants make enough statement.”

About this look, Coleman says, “I was scared of pulling that one, but I’m glad I did.” (Me too!) “I got that shirt from Amazon. I was actually looking for turtlenecks, but I didn’t wanna go to a really expensive store, so I looked on Amazon, and I got the best sellers. ”

What is your opinion on men in fashion?

Um, I really like when dudes take pride in what they look like. And I hate when boys feel like putting on a collared shirt and some khaki pants is dressing up because it’s not.” (Period!) “That’s like 2007 dressing up, and we’re in 2020, so I mean, I also feel like you don’t have to spend a million dollars to care about what you look like. I just feel like everybody has their own niche, their own style. They just have to tap it into it. Some people really live off of Walmart clothes, but you would never know. Not me, but some people. I shop at the big stores, but I’m saying that everybody doesn’t have to do that.” By “big stores” Coleman means, “Dillard’s, Macy’s, ExpressMen…”.

With this outfit, I was really curious to know how Coleman made a fairly simple outfit look so stylish. This is what he said, “I really wanted to wear that shirt, but I didn’t feel like dressing up that day, so I put on jeans, but I also wanted to make a statement, so I put on the jeans with holes in them. And then, it was cold as I don’t know what outside, so I put on boots.”

This look is one of my FAVORITE looks. I mean, from the embroidered flowers on the collar to the red shoes— a ‘fit! “This day, I was at school, and I wanted to pull a look that day. But I wanted to pull a look, but I didn’t wanna do too much, so I just put on black and white. And then, I was like ‘Ew’. Because I actually hate black and white… everybody wears that. So I had to put a little pop of color in there with the red shoes.

I don’t know about you guys, but this was one of my favorite interviews to do. It was really nice to hear fashion perspective from a male’s point of view.

Up Next:

Since February is Black History Month, I will be doing my blogs for the month based on that. The same goes for March with Women’s History Month, so the fashion series has to come to a halt. But rest assured that this is not goodbye but see you later. The fashion series WILL continue in April!