Canada is making important history. Civil rights pioneer Viola Desmond is being honored on the Canadian $10 bill. In 2016, Canada’s national bank announced plans to put a non-royalty woman on their currency for the first time and appealed to the public for suggestions. While many wonderful names poured in, Desmond rose to the top…
On March 8, the United States will join other UN nation states in celebrating International Women’s Day. This day is a celebration of the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women around the world. It’s also meant to encourage further progress. Although progress has been made when it comes to women’s rights and gender…
What were you doing when you were 12? Egypt “Ify” Ufele, a remarkable 12-year-old from Queens, is CEO and designer of her own fashion line while tirelessly standing up against bullying. As if that weren’t impressive enough, she’s a Jr Ambassador of Peace for the United Nations and she teaches other kids how to follow…
‘Becoming’ is a word full of possibility and hope; it’s a word about change and transformation, filled with intention and creative energy. It is this word that Michelle Obama has chosen for the title of her forthcoming memoir. And as we continue to get new details about the book, we are becoming more and more…
The abolition of slavery in the United States is an important topic of discussion during African-American History Month. Although the abolitionist movement is often said to have started when the Mennonite and Quaker communities of Pennsylvania published a pamphlet condemning slavery in 1688, organized resistance by Africans was recorded as early as 1522. By the…
The film Black Panther, part of the Marvel Comics Universe, is breaking global cinema records beyond expectation, and influential figures are taking notice about the positive messages young people can derive from this movie. Michelle Obama, former First Lady of the United States, took to Twitter to express her gratitude to the Black Panther production team…
Black Panther has been one of the most hotly anticipated films in years, especially for black moviegoers. By all accounts, it’s lived up to the hype and then some. At the official premiere, attendees walked the purple carpet in fashion inspired by African royalty. At the film’s huge opening weekend, a large portion of the…
According to a 2016 report published by the United Nations Development Programme, African women who work in the informal sector earn 30 percent less than their male counterparts; furthermore, less than 30 percent of small and medium businesses in the Continent employ women as managers. As in other regions of the world, gender inequality presents…
As the United States and Canada observe African American History Month in February, educators and historians are busy collaborating with artists, community leaders and activists for the purpose of preparing lessons, exhibits and events to highlight the importance of African ancestry and history to the development of North American society. Traditionally, African American History Month…
At the premiere for the hotly anticipated film Black Panther, star Chadwick Boseman told reporters, “It’s not just a movie.” He’s right. It’s an exciting blockbuster, sure, but the story of superhero T’Challa and the African nation of Wakanda is also a celebration of Africa and its rich history and culture. We knew Black Panther was going to…
