Dear Readers,
Please find attached a copy of the Blacknificent Life newsletter. Each month, the editor Mwangaza Bandele, devotes a good deal of curatorial energy, gathering and publishing some of the most positive information about the Black community that can be found. Knowing the editor, I reached out with the offer to share her newsletter with the Black Classic Press email list. I've never done this before, but i feel the people on our list is an informed body, and as a group want to be more informed. The light this sister is shining on us is powerful and important at this critical time. I hope you'll enjoy the Blacknificent newsletter, and find it important enough to share with your friends and relatives. I have.
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May 2022 Issue No.33
Acknowledging the beauty, power, and genius of Black people in a world trained not to see
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photo credit : https://www.britannica.com/
Kandake Amanirenas, Great African Queen
Protected Kush From Rome
After multiple attempts, a Roman army overtook KMT/ Egypt in 30 BC and continued south, hoping to assert their influence and control over more Africans. When the new Roman governor of KMT/Egypt attempted to impose authority over territories controlled by the kingdom of Kush, a war began. When the King of Kush was killed in battle, his wife--Queen Amanirenas--was left to defend and preserve the kingdom.
One in a series of Kushite Queens known as Kandakes, Amanirenas provided leadership from the capital city of Meroe and on the battlefield. As a result, Kush defeated Rome in many battles. One notable victory involved the destruction of a statue representing a Roman emperor. Kandake Amanirenas ordered the head of the statue buried at the entrance to her palace. Thereafter, each person who walked into the palace stepped on the likeness of the emperor's face.
After five years of conflict, the Romans realized they could not defeat Kush. The two nations entered into a peace agreement that recognized the sovereignty of each kingdom, neither to pay tribute to the other.
Click below to learn more about Kandake Amanirenas—the formidable African queen who successfully resisted Rome's early attempts to subjugate the kingdom of Kush. Become more familiar with her remarkable leadership that spared African people centuries of European domination.
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photo credit : https://www.nps.gov/index.htm
The Black Panther Party, An Extraordinary
Source of Historic Lessons
The adage "Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it” reflects wisdom that could well-serve today's efforts to end police violence and other injustices prominent in Black communities. This is especially true considering how the Black Panther Party was organized more than 50 years ago to address many of the same challenges Black folks face today.
The Party's Ten Point Plan provides an entry point for understanding the organization's unprecedented reach and impact on Black communities across the United States, and beyond.
From 1966 through the 1970's, the Black Panther Party operated a multitude of Black self-help programs that included ambulance services, free breakfast programs, voter education and registration drives, child-care services, youth education programs, clinical health care, clothing give-a-ways, transportation services, family grocery provisions, school books and supplies donations, and many other services. Self-defense was one among a cascade of Black empowerment and well-being services provided.
The Black Panther Party's expanded operational footprint produced great successes and failures. Inside those past experiences can be found invaluable lessons. Studying, identifying, and applying those lessons is essential to Black uplift progress--if people of African descent are to avoid the peril and doom reserved for "those who fail to learn from history."
Click below to learn a bit more about the Black Panther Party. Be introduced to an organization and the amazing learning-lab its past offers.
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photo credit : https://blacknews.com/
Tope Awotona Creates Calendly Scheduling App Worth $3 Billion
Meet Tope Awotona, the founder and owner of Calendly, a wildly successful tech company delivering business software that streamlines the process of scheduling meetings. Established in 2013, the company employs more than 400 people, serves over 10 million users, and last year reported generating more than $100 million in revenue.
The 40-year-old native of Nigeria immigrated to the United Sates as a teenager, just a few years after witnessing his father's murder. Awotona brought with him the memory of a hard-working parent whose work ethic he proudly emulates.
Click below to learn more about Tope Awotona, the brilliant African who persevered through life challenges and multiple business failings to achieve highly. Be reminded that success is often found just beyond temporary defeat.
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photo credit : https://blackenterprise.com
Teen Pilot Flies Solo to 7 HBCUs
To Honor Black Aviation History
Zaire Horton, a 16-year-old student at Chicago's Dunbar Vocational Career Academy, was utterly inspired to become an aviator after taking an instructional flight. Now that he has earned a private glider license, Zaire has embarked on a solo flight to the home states of seven HBCUs that once trained Black pilots. He created a flight tour to honor the historic, and often unknown role of HBCU's in Black aviation history.
Click below to learn more about Zaire, a brilliant and conscientious Chicago teen connecting his life path to the work of his ancestors. Be reminded of how Africana history can enliven dreams and aspirations—when we know it.
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10% Discount Coupon For First-Time Buyers
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photo credit :Dylan Buell / Getty Images
10 Black Newspaper Owners Unite,
Create Dynamic On-Line News Portal
Some twenty years ago—as the need for print media gave way to digital demands—more efficient and cost effective methods of operating newspapers were needed. That's why owners of 10 Black newspapers joined together and created 1 shared on-line publication, Word in Black. Launched in 2021, the news outlet is designed to " . . . amplify the Black experience by reporting, collecting, and sharing stories about real people . . . "
The collective includes The New York Amsterdam News, The Houston Defender, The Washington Informer, The Dallas Weekly, The Baltimore-based AFRO, Michigan Chronicle, The Seattle Medium, The Sacramento Observer, St. Louis American, and The Atlanta Voice.
Working together has sustained people of African descent throughout time. Despite common assertions that Black folks do not work together, a closer examination of the frequency of such business, organizational, and personal collaborations may reveal more Black unity than often perceived. Most certainly—what is expected and searched for is more likely found.
Click below to learn more about Word In Black--a powerful news hub and demonstration of Black unity.
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photo credit : https://cnn.com
Black Women Horse Owners
Win Historic Kentucky Oaks Race
When 5 Black women joined forces to own race horses, they set their sights on winning. That's exactly what they are doing as owners of the horse that won the 2022 Longines Kentucky Oaks race. The event is one of the most highly attended races in the United States, second only to the Triple Crown of horse racing; the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.
One of the horse owners, Dr. Tiffany Daniels, captured the sentiment of the group when she explained “We’re not only owners, we’re winners. We’re showing up at the tracks, we’re representing and we’re taking home prizes." The women are inspired by amazing aspects of Black race horse history, like the little-known fact that Oliver Lewis--a Black jockey--won the very FIRST Kentucky Derby in 1875.
Click below to learn more about the winning journey of 5 Black women horse owners. Be inspired by the amazing things Black people working together DO accomplish.
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photo credit : https://becauseofthemwecan.com
Melanin Cafe Celebrates Black History,
One Cup At A Time
In Opelika, Alabama, Jax and Catrice Nixon opened a coffee shop that makes learning Black history a real treat. At the Melanin Cafe, customers order a variety of coffees and other beverages named after noted Black people and historical occurrence.
From the tea menu customers can choose the "Power to the People" black tea infused with passion fruit, or the "Bluest Eye" green tea—whose name was taken from the title of a classic Toni Morrison novel. Varieties of lattes include the "Black Panther," "Garveyism," and a host of other milk infused coffees with added chocolate, caramel, and other delectable flavor enhancers.
Click below to learn more about the Melanin Cafe and the wonderful way its owners are keeping Black history alive. Note that the shop is located just 25 miles from the historic city of Tuskegee.
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One More Thing...
Please forward this newsletter widely to the people in your network. Invite them to join the Blacknificent Life! family at www.BlacknificentLife.com to be sure to receive a consistent dose of information and inspiration for living greatly, while Black.
Note: Because reports of the great things Black people do are often obscured beneath trained in-perception, time taken to unearth stories often renders dated reporting. For that reason the Blacknificent Life! Newsletter includes both newer and older stories.
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