Black History Month: Celebrating Black Filmmakers, Storytellers, and Actors
On February 17, 2024, the National Black Movie Association observed National Black Movie Day (NBMD). The association urged everyone to celebrate by watching Black movies at home or in theaters. Viewers were also encouraged to share their favorite Black films, actors, directors, and screenwriters on social media. National Black Movie Association Agnes Moss founded the […]
Black History Month: Bessie Burke’s Education Legacy
In 1911, Bessie Bruington Burke made history as the first African American teacher in the Los Angeles, California, public school system. Just seven years later, she made history again when she became the school system’s first African American school principal. Top of Her Class Burke was born in Los Angeles in 1891. Several years earlier, […]
Developers Add New Skin Features to The Sims 4
Developers of The Sims 4 recently updated the options in the video game to give players the choice of adding a skin condition, known as vitiligo, to their characters’ appearance. The Sims is a popular series of video games where players create and control characters in a life simulation. What is Vitiligo? Vitiligo (vit•ill•EYE•go) is […]
Effects of Oil Spill Near Trinidad and Tobago
An oil spill near the Caribbean country of Trinidad and Tobago has been declared a national emergency. On February 7, 2024, the nation’s coast guard spotted oil coming from an overturned ship about 4 miles (6 km) off the coast of the island of Tobago in the Caribbean Sea. Oil has washed ashore and covered […]
Learning About Presidents Day
Each year on the third Monday in February, the United States celebrates Presidents’ Day. This holiday’s history began in 1885. That’s when Congress established February 22 as a day off for all federal government workers to honor George Washington’s birthday. The Holiday’s History This was the first federal holiday created to honor an individual’s birth […]
Remembering Aboriginal Leader Lowitja O’Donoghue
Lowitja O’Donoghue, a prominent figure in Australian history and Australia’s Aborigine community, passed away February 4, 2024, at age 91. Throughout her life, she was deeply committed to advocating for the health and rights of Aborigines. The Aborigines are the indigenous, or native, people of Australia. They have a rich cultural history dating back tens […]
Record HBCU Donation Made to Spelman College
A $100 million donation was made to Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, on January 18, 2024. It is the largest financial donation given to a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). The bulk of the record donation, $75 million, is to be used for scholarship endowments. The remaining $25 million will fund programs for public […]
Layoffs in the Tech Industry
In 2023, more than 260,000 jobs in the United States were lost in the technology industry. During the first four weeks of 2024, nearly 100 technology companies laid off about 25,000 employees combined. This included workers from Google, Amazon, TikTok, and Microsoft. Why are employees being let go in an industry that continues to innovate? […]
Image May Solve Amelia Earhart Mystery
In 1937 Amelia Earhart attempted to become the first woman to pilot a plane around the world. Unfortunately, Earhart’s plane disappeared over the Pacific Ocean about 1,650 miles (2,650 km) southwest of Hawaii. What happened to Earhart, her navigator Fred Noonan, and the Lockheed 10-E Electra airplane is a mystery. An ocean researcher, however, believes […]
Motel Renovation Highlights Role of A.G. Gaston in the Civil Rights Movement
The renovation of an important building in the American civil rights movement is nearly complete. The A.G. Gaston Motel in Birmingham, Alabama is now a part of the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. The motel served as a safe place for African American travelers who were discriminated against in the American South during the 1950s […]