Seat at the Table: The Journey of Black Politicians in the U.S.

When it comes to a seat at the table, the seating arrangement isn't just about who's invited—it's about who gets heard. Buckle up, folks, because we're going on a ride through the complex and riveting journey of Black politicians in the U.S. If you've got a seat, keep it. If you don't, this might just be your clarion call.

Imagine walking into a room filled with mahogany tables and leather chairs, where the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingles with the tangible scent of power. Now, look around you—what do you see? Let me guess, it's a room full of politicians that looks more like a still from Mad Men than a modern, 21st-century tapestry of America. Let's disrupt that image, shall we? I'm talking about an increasing—but not yet sufficiently represented—presence of Black politicians who've finally earned their seat at the table. But it ain't just about having a seat; it's about shaking that table until the silverware clatters.

Now, let's talk about a habit we should all adopt, like, yesterday. Every morning when you sip your dark roast, flip through the news, or—let’s be honest—scroll through LinkedIn, look for a name you've never seen before. Not just any name, but the name of a Black politician on the rise. Could be a city council member, a state rep, or even someone aiming for the big leagues. Take five minutes to read about what they stand for. By doing this, you're giving these politicians the one thing they need the most—your attention. Because a seat at the table is good, but an attentive audience? That’s power.

Ah, the thrill of potential, the awe of witnessing the tides change; these are not just daily habits, but the pulse of a society in motion. Get excited about these individuals who are quite literally rewriting history with every bill passed, every statement made, and every injustice called out. Share their achievements, engage in discussions about their policies. These aren't just feel-good stories for your social feed; they are the stepping stones toward a future that respects all voices.

Let's talk about Shirley Chisholm, shall we? Not just as the first Black woman elected to Congress but as the audacious contender for the Democratic presidential nomination back in 1972. She had a seat, but she wasn't content with just that. She saw that table, covered with its sterile white cloth, and she set it on fire with her convictions. That’s what a seat at the table is really about—it's not a destination, but a starting point. It's not about having a say; it's about making change. It’s the quintessential narrative of the journey of Black politicians in the U.S. So the next time you see a vacant chair in a room of power, don't just fill it—ignite it.

Black Immigrant Experience: Caribbean to California

 Picture it: You’re on a plane from Jamaica or Trinidad, leaving behind sun-soaked beaches and ancestral land, for the land of dreams—California. The palm trees are still there, but the context is worlds apart. That's right, folks, today we're talking about the Black Immigrant Experience, specifically Caribbean to California.

So let's get into it: Hollywood. Sunny beaches. Silicon Valley. When we talk California, we’re often talking the land of glamour, technology, and endless opportunity. Yet for the Black immigrant coming from the Caribbean, California isn’t just a stage for stardom; it's a complex ecosystem, rife with contradictions. I mean, imagine leaving an island where the majority looks like you to arrive in a place where suddenly, you're categorized, boxed, labeled—often by color, but also by your accent. It's like waking up from a dream to find out you're starring in a play you never auditioned for.

Now, let’s talk daily habits. The morning cup of Blue Mountain Coffee or Trinidadian Cocoa Tea is replaced by Starbucks—basic, I know. But here's a tweak—why not stick a miniature flag of your home country into that double espresso? Yes, make it a habit. Trust me, the feeling of seeing that flag, your heritage, standing tall amid the corporate generic brew—it’s revolutionary. It's a daily statement. It says, "I'm here, I belong, and I bring with me the richness of another world."

Do you feel that? That’s the excitement, the awe of embarking on this new journey while paying homage to your roots. It’s a small act, but potent. If done right, it could even become LinkedIn viral—imagine an army of executives parading their double espressos, each flag representing a narrative, a struggle, a triumph. The sharing wouldn’t just be about the caffeine hit but the culture hit. The narrative of struggle and triumph, the blend of old and new worlds—that’s LinkedIn gold, my friends.

Now, for a narrative. Picture Joan. Born in Haiti, educated in Kingston, but now she’s navigating board meetings in Silicon Valley. Each morning, she sticks her Haitian flag into her coffee and snaps a photo. The flag isn’t just fabric; it’s her story. It's her mother's prayers and her father's sacrifice. One day, her flag-photo reaches an influential CEO. Intrigued, he invites her for a meeting. Lo and behold, Joan isn't just another suit in the Valley; she’s a powerhouse with a distinct worldview. A worldview enriched by her journey from the Caribbean to California. A worldview that disrupts, challenges, and enriches.

In summary, the Black Immigrant Experience from the Caribbean to California isn’t just a geographical shift; it's a shift in narrative, a journey of identity. It’s a daily act of revolution—from that morning coffee flag to breaking boundaries in the boardroom. It is the potent blend of the personal with the professional, the infusion of the Caribbean spirit into the Californian dream, and the transformative power of blending worlds.

Pen and Purpose: Black Journalists Who Changed the Game

The power of the pen is undeniable, but what happens when that pen is wielded by someone who's been told their story doesn't matter? Buckle up. We're diving into the untold impact of Black journalists who not only reported the news but changed the narrative.

Let's cut to the chase: journalism isn't just about reporting facts. Oh no, it's alchemy, a transformative force that can transmute society's base metals into gold. If you think I'm overstepping, hold onto your coffee cups, LinkedIn mavens, because I'm about to turn your daily news-skimming habit into a quest for hidden treasure.

Imagine scrolling through your news feed every morning and instead of the daily humdrum or soul-crushing headlines, you pause to reflect on the narrative architects behind the articles. These are the folks who weave facts into stories that inform your perspective, and what if I told you that some of the most transformative narratives were penned by Black journalists? You see, the act of writing the news for many Black journalists hasn't just been a job—it's been a revolution, a subtle daily mutiny against the prevailing winds of societal narratives. These are the knights and dames in ink-stained armor, who used their quills like swords to cut through prejudices and stereotypes.

Now, imagine adding a twist to your daily routine. Instead of passively consuming news, become an active partaker. As you sip your latte or green tea, hunt for articles by journalists who've reshaped the landscape, writers who've stood in the fire and came out wielding flaming pens of change. Take a moment to share their articles, contribute to their platforms, and tag a thought leader or two, thereby adding depth and color to the often monochrome canvas of mainstream news. This isn't just about sharing an article; it's about sharing a movement.

I promise you, it's as thrilling as cliff diving in the Aegean Sea, as awe-inducing as standing on the edge of the Grand Canyon. Imagine your LinkedIn network lighting up with conversations that have an emotional core, where the stories discussed are as pivotal as quarterly earnings or the latest productivity hacks. It's not just business; it's personal. It's human. It's life-affirming and life-altering.

Picture this: Ida B. Wells, gripping her pen in the late 19th century, bringing the horrors of lynching to the American conscience. Fast forward to the civil rights era, when Ethel Payne wasn't just reporting news; she was the news, pushing U.S. Presidents on their stance toward civil rights during press conferences. Now, rocket ahead to the modern digital age, where writers like Nikole Hannah-Jones are dissecting the very DNA of America to expose the complexities and inequalities that persist. They don't just report the game; they've changed it. In every jot and tittle, in every published article, they’ve inked their purpose into the annals of time.

Unveiling Excellence: The Role of Black Architects in Shaping Skylines

When you gaze up at the architectural marvels that decorate our cities, the blend of concrete and sky that heralds both human achievement and nature's grandeur, have you ever considered the hands that molded these modern-day pyramids? Not just any hands, but those steeped in a rich tapestry of perseverance and creativity, tracing back centuries. This is not just an ode to architects but a revelation about a particular group of architects who've indelibly imprinted the skyline.

You think skyscrapers just shoot out of the ground like some kind of steel bamboo, huh? Or maybe you think they're hatched, fully formed, from golden eggs laid by futuristic cranes. Nah, these architectural symphonies—these skyline stalwarts—they have architects. But not just any architects. I'm talking about Black architects. Yep, these creators take more than just bricks and mortar to mold the silhouettes of our cities; they imbue them with history, courage, and resilience.

Picture your morning coffee. Whether you grab it from the corner café with the snobbish barista who insists on calling it an "Americano" or you brew it yourself to the soft whirring of a Keurig, there's a habit in there, a ritual. Now imagine if each sip reminded you of the marvels of our cityscapes, specifically, the contributions of Black architects. How, you ask? By seeing that cup as half full, not of coffee, but of untold stories, of underrepresented talent.

Mind blown? Let me turn that notch of awe up a little. Ever heard of Norma Merrick Sklarek? She was the first African American woman architect licensed in New York and California and the first female fellow of the American Institute of Architects. She was essentially the Aretha Franklin of architecture, belting out hits like the Pacific Design Center in Los Angeles. Queen of Soul meets Queen of Skylines. You'll find yourself humming "R-E-S-P-E-C-T" the next time you walk past a towering structure, I guarantee it.

So, let's weave this into a narrative, shall we? Imagine a young girl, perhaps your daughter, niece, or simply a curious kid next door. She's mesmerized by the tall buildings she sees in a magazine. Each page flip is punctuated by her wide-eyed "wows" and "awesomes." Then she stumbles upon a feature about Norma Merrick Sklarek or Paul Revere Williams—another legendary Black architect—and suddenly, her "wows" gain depth. Her eyes see possibilities, her mind imagines a future, and her heart soaks up the pride of representation. This is the magic of unveiling excellence. It's not merely the role of Black architects in shaping skylines; it's their role in shaping dreams, aspirations, and yes, even morning coffee musings.

Medical Mavericks: African American Innovators in Health Care

They say innovation is the child of necessity. But let's not forget its other parent: audacity. Today we're walking the corridors of history—sterile, glaringly white, filled with the smell of antiseptic—to meet the mavericks who donned their white coats and stethoscopes against the odds.

Let's talk about "Medical Mavericks" but before you yawn out of professional courtesy, think of it not as a sci-fi Netflix series you swipe left on, but as a visceral journey into unsung brilliance. Imagine the OR as a jazz lounge—scalpels and sutures as instruments, each incision a soulful note. Here, the unsung jazz musicians of the operating room are African American innovators in health care. Yes, the medical mavericks who jive to the bluesy rhythms of innovation.

Ah, daily habits! You sip that morning coffee, skim through emails, and maybe, just maybe, take that multivitamin you've been forgetting for weeks. Make it a habit to recognize the innovators who make those vitamins effective or that MRI scan possible. Celebrate a Medical Maverick each day, whether it's Dr. Charles Drew, who revolutionized blood transfusions, or Dr. Patricia Bath, the inventor of laser cataract surgery. Trust me, it's more refreshing than your kale smoothie and energizing as a double espresso. Make it a hashtag. Make it a movement. Make it a habit.

I know, you're not easily impressed. You've seen it all. But even you can't help but be gripped by a sense of awe when you consider Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, who performed one of the world's first successful open-heart surgeries. And he did it without a Google search or a YouTube tutorial. It's not just innovation; it's a lyrical composition in an era of static noise. If you can’t get excited about that, you might want to check your own pulse.

So let's wrap this narrative in a way that pays homage to our medical mavericks. Imagine if Dr. Alexa Canady, the first African American woman neurosurgeon, had shied away from her destiny because society had pre-written her script? What if Dr. Jane Cooke Wright, a pioneer in chemotherapy, had let systemic barriers turn her away? Each of them has inscribed their legacy, not as footnotes but as headlines, redefining what it means to be a Medical Maverick. They didn't just save lives; they changed the game.