Good Morning my lovelies!
More "tea spilling" is to come today as we discuss discrimination in the 20's and 30's involving the Space Race. You see, with the Russians essentially beating the US in space related matters, we were rushing to send a man up there. Many calculations had to be made, and back then, there were no fancy computers and calculators so instead there were "human computers". These "human computers" were women who worked to calculate all the data for the men working on the spacecraft and launch itself. According to this link, "these women were every bit as capable as men despite toiling under less-than-favorable conditions." This was even worse for the African American women or the "West Computers". Until women like Katherine Johnson made their way in with the white technicians, African-American women were expected to use separate dining and bathroom facilities. Not only this, but to get anywhere they had to retake college courses despite having the same education as the white women and men. In the film 'Hidden Figures' you have women like Katherine working in the building with the technicians who have to make quite the journey to use the restroom. They were looked down upon for not only being women, but for having a different skin colour. To the men it "affected how they learn" as shown in the film when a black woman joins an all-male college course.
These women were the reason we got a man safely to and from space. Without women like Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, and Dorothy Vaughan, we may never have done what we did with John Glenn. These overlooked women made their mark, and they started coming out of the shadows. Mary Jackson, with recommendation from Kazimierz Czarnecki, she worked to become an engineer herself. Johnson proved that a woman, not only that but an African-American woman, can succeed and be right where the white men are. She was the first African-American female engineer, so she was not a hidden figure anymore. She was working with the big boys and making her mark. I am so proud of these brave women and what they did to prove themselves to the doubting white man. They may have been hidden, but movies like this bring them into the light and show that men are not the only ones that can get things done. This women came home from work and tended to their children and husbands all in a day. Now that is what I call a strong woman. They shot for the stars and made it.
Unfortunately my dears this is my last blog. I truly hope you enjoyed my musings on discrimination throughout History. It has been a lovely tea party. Do come back again sometime. We are all mad here!
Friday, June 9, 2017
Friday, March 31, 2017
Checkerboard
Good afternoon lovelies!
It is time for me to spill the tea on discrimination in the World War I era. Look at me making puns about tea! Truthfully spilling actual tea would not be particularly pleasant, especially if one were to spill it on oneself. But i digress. Today's topic will shine some light upon the African Americans that gave their service to fight in the Great War. As said in this article by Chad Williams, the chair of the African & Afro-American Studies Department, that even though they were overshadowed, "the African-American experience in World War I was a tranformative moment in black history." Their involvement in the war paved the way for the Civil Rights Movement that was yet to come.
Though these black soldiers were discriminated against during and after the war,even enduring hostility upon returning from war, they set the bar for future generations who will later fight for racial equality. Within the article it discusses how the involvement of African Americans in World War I helped broaden their horizons both socially, politically and culturally. These soldiers were able to discover new lands that they themselves have never set foot on before. It opened their eyes to different cultures including France in which these soldiers met fellow African soldiers that they formed bonds with. They also were able to open France's ears too when they introduced jazz music, which became a hit there.
After the war, African-Americans were able to start the Great Migration which transformed the demographics of our great nation. These people wanted to escape the shackles of the oppressive political and social environment that the South had placed upon them. So unlike migrating Geese, they migrated North for a better opportunity. It was said to be a whopping 500,000 people that made the journey. Now that is what I call a Movement!
Now we cannot forget about the ladies of the war effort! They were just as important as the men when it came to fighting the good fight. Thanks to black women organizations set on the national and communal levels, African American soldiers were given support while in rigorous training camps. Not only that, but these women were in organizations such as the Red Cross, YMCA (now don't start dancing! This is hardly the time), and YWCA that helped these men when discrimination reared its ugly head into the mix. Women aided the men's wounds and nursed them back to health when the brutal war had beaten them. No longer did women only just tend to the children, cook and clean, but they were out there fighting in their own way to aid their soldiers in battle.
Reading articles like this, it makes me truly grateful that African Americans were able to help fight alongside us in the Great War. This is one of the experiences that shows us that the colour of someone's skin does not dictate who they are or the abilities they possess . Without these brave men and women, our fight against the Central Powers may not have turned out the exact same. Their involvement in the war set the way for future movements that revolutionized our nation into the Melting Pot it was meant to be. Equality may still to be won in some areas in this day and age, but if we take the example our brave African American brothers and sisters set for us, we can accomplish it. Hats off to them!
It is time for me to spill the tea on discrimination in the World War I era. Look at me making puns about tea! Truthfully spilling actual tea would not be particularly pleasant, especially if one were to spill it on oneself. But i digress. Today's topic will shine some light upon the African Americans that gave their service to fight in the Great War. As said in this article by Chad Williams, the chair of the African & Afro-American Studies Department, that even though they were overshadowed, "the African-American experience in World War I was a tranformative moment in black history." Their involvement in the war paved the way for the Civil Rights Movement that was yet to come.
Though these black soldiers were discriminated against during and after the war,even enduring hostility upon returning from war, they set the bar for future generations who will later fight for racial equality. Within the article it discusses how the involvement of African Americans in World War I helped broaden their horizons both socially, politically and culturally. These soldiers were able to discover new lands that they themselves have never set foot on before. It opened their eyes to different cultures including France in which these soldiers met fellow African soldiers that they formed bonds with. They also were able to open France's ears too when they introduced jazz music, which became a hit there.
After the war, African-Americans were able to start the Great Migration which transformed the demographics of our great nation. These people wanted to escape the shackles of the oppressive political and social environment that the South had placed upon them. So unlike migrating Geese, they migrated North for a better opportunity. It was said to be a whopping 500,000 people that made the journey. Now that is what I call a Movement!
Now we cannot forget about the ladies of the war effort! They were just as important as the men when it came to fighting the good fight. Thanks to black women organizations set on the national and communal levels, African American soldiers were given support while in rigorous training camps. Not only that, but these women were in organizations such as the Red Cross, YMCA (now don't start dancing! This is hardly the time), and YWCA that helped these men when discrimination reared its ugly head into the mix. Women aided the men's wounds and nursed them back to health when the brutal war had beaten them. No longer did women only just tend to the children, cook and clean, but they were out there fighting in their own way to aid their soldiers in battle.
Reading articles like this, it makes me truly grateful that African Americans were able to help fight alongside us in the Great War. This is one of the experiences that shows us that the colour of someone's skin does not dictate who they are or the abilities they possess . Without these brave men and women, our fight against the Central Powers may not have turned out the exact same. Their involvement in the war set the way for future movements that revolutionized our nation into the Melting Pot it was meant to be. Equality may still to be won in some areas in this day and age, but if we take the example our brave African American brothers and sisters set for us, we can accomplish it. Hats off to them!
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
To Be a Lady
Good afternoon, lovelies!
Today we will be continuing our adventure in uncovering the topic of discrimination within our nation. And with this, I bring up the topic of women's rights in the Civil War Era. As stated in this link, women were seen as lesser in the eyes of men. Upon marriage, they were to surrender their rights of property to their husbands. Women were seen as housewives instead of equal beings. They could not even have the same educational benefits as men, much less work. Tending children and taking care of house duties was their work unfortunately. It wasn't until events such as the Women's Rights Convention that women finally got their voice. This caused things like state laws to be passed giving property rights back to women and eventually even the right to vote!
Another link I would like to bring up is one that I found very empowering. Within it is stories of women who became nurses in support of the soldiers in the war. Organized societies provided the troops with food, clothing, and even cash. They were there for the cause, and some even went farther by disguising themselves as men and fighting in the war! That is what I call a badass group of women! They took it upon themselves to both tend to the wounded soldiers and fight alongside the them. It shows how misunderstood the women were and how they were capable of so much more than they are given credit for. Articles like these prove how far these women went to prove themselves as equal. What inspirations they are!
I admire how these strong women stood up for equality and started a movement that is still in power today. Without them, being a woman would be seen as a flaw instead of a proud equal. Because of them I can vote, I can go to college, I can get a good job, and I can own my own property and have rights in a marriage. I am proud to be a woman, and I hope we can get even farther in equality by fixing things such as wages in the workplace. That is our next step!
Women finally stopped being the neglected Cinderella of the house and became their own Princesses. Here's to the ladies. *clink*
Today we will be continuing our adventure in uncovering the topic of discrimination within our nation. And with this, I bring up the topic of women's rights in the Civil War Era. As stated in this link, women were seen as lesser in the eyes of men. Upon marriage, they were to surrender their rights of property to their husbands. Women were seen as housewives instead of equal beings. They could not even have the same educational benefits as men, much less work. Tending children and taking care of house duties was their work unfortunately. It wasn't until events such as the Women's Rights Convention that women finally got their voice. This caused things like state laws to be passed giving property rights back to women and eventually even the right to vote!
Another link I would like to bring up is one that I found very empowering. Within it is stories of women who became nurses in support of the soldiers in the war. Organized societies provided the troops with food, clothing, and even cash. They were there for the cause, and some even went farther by disguising themselves as men and fighting in the war! That is what I call a badass group of women! They took it upon themselves to both tend to the wounded soldiers and fight alongside the them. It shows how misunderstood the women were and how they were capable of so much more than they are given credit for. Articles like these prove how far these women went to prove themselves as equal. What inspirations they are!
I admire how these strong women stood up for equality and started a movement that is still in power today. Without them, being a woman would be seen as a flaw instead of a proud equal. Because of them I can vote, I can go to college, I can get a good job, and I can own my own property and have rights in a marriage. I am proud to be a woman, and I hope we can get even farther in equality by fixing things such as wages in the workplace. That is our next step!
Women finally stopped being the neglected Cinderella of the house and became their own Princesses. Here's to the ladies. *clink*
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