A Message from Karyn

Happy New Year! 

We hope 2018 is off to a great start! Sweet Blackberry would like to take this time to thank our community for their continuous support in 2017. We look forward to continuing projects and getting to know the Sweet Blackberry community through our fundraising activities and volunteer opportunities. 

This month, we are continuing to push our Bessie Coleman project to the finish line with a finished script and story with our animator and illustrators! Keep an eye out for additional updates on social media and Kickstarter. 

Last but not least, Sweet Blackberry if open to school visits! If you or an organization you know if interested in having Sweet Blackberry come to speak please contact admin@sweetblackberry.org. 


Best, 
Karyn

Each year we celebrate the legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. made for this country and the timeless values he taught us through courage, truth, justice, compassion, dignity, humility and service. 

Last week,  this country took the time to reflect on how far we've come as a nation and the many miles ahead.
 
This month, Sweet Blackberry will commemorate Dr. King's legacy with this amazing Civil Rights Activity Book from the Southern Poverty Law Center aimed at sharing Black Americans' fight for equal justice and opportunity under the law.
 
Click here to see all the fun activities it has to offer. 
What  We're R eading 

Cosmopolitan - Viola Davis' Women's March Speech Will Bring You to Your Feet 

HuffPost - Why This Black Girl Will Not Be Returning To The Women's March

Black Enterprise - African American Workers' Productivity Steadily Increasing, While Wages Remain Stagnant 

Newsweek - NASA Removes Astronaut Who Would Have Been First African American ISS Crew Member From June Launch

The Root - New Picture Book Tells Story of Raven Wilkinson, the 1st African-American Ballerina to Dance for a Major Company
Congrats to all the Golden Globe Winners! 
With television in its "golden age" and many films with strong diverse casts gaining the recognition they deserve, this year's Golden Globes truly encompassed the potential of minority actors, filmmakers and composers have when given a chance to show the world what they're capable of. 

From Sterling K. Brown becoming the first African American actor to win Best Actor in the drama category to Oprah Winfrey becoming the first African American woman to be honored with the Cecil B. de Mille award this was an amazing year for Black entertainers and role models and we could not be more proud!  
Bessie Update

Our Bessie project is well underway with a finished script and concept currently under review with our animator and illustrator! 

Our next Kickstarter update should include some images from Illustrator R. Gregory Christie as well as an update on project timing and completion. 

In addition, Kickstarter rewards are well on their way. If you have a change of address, please let us know. 
Book of The Month: 
Little Leaders - Bold Women in Black History

This beautifully illustrated book introduces readers of all ages to 40 women who changed the world.

Featuring forty trailblazing black women in American history,  Little Leaders educates and inspires as it relates true stories of breaking boundaries and achieving beyond expectations. Illuminating text paired with irresistible illustrations bring to life both iconic and lesser-known female figures of Black history such as abolitionist Sojourner Truth, pilot Bessie Coleman, chemist Alice Ball, politician Shirley Chisholm, mathematician Katherine Johnson, poet Maya Angelou, and filmmaker Julie Dash. 

Buy it on Amazon Smile here. 

#SweetBlackHistory
I am the first Black woman to win a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series 
I am a graduate of The Julliard School
I was born in St. Matthews, South Carolina

Who am I? 
Tweet your answer to  @SwtBlackberry  for a shout out in next month's newsletter! 

The answer to last month's trivia question was Darlene Love! Congratulations @ValSadie for answering correctly. 
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