Thanks to Michelle Pillow, I've discovered a fun, new website to use for graphics. It's SparkleTags.com. Check it out:
Ida Bell Wells-Barnett was born in 1862, the oldest of eight children of the slave couple Jim Wells and Lizzie Warrenton. Raised in the postbellum South, her parents believed in the education of their children.
In 1879, Ida and two of her younger siblings moved to Memphis to live with an aunt, and Ida became a teacher. In 1889, she bought one-third interest in the Memphis Free Speech and Headlight. Arguing that inadequate buildings and improperly trained teachers contributed to the mediocre education of black children, she alienated conservative black leaders and lost her teaching position. Forced to rely on her own resources, she canvassed the South for subscriptions to her newspaper.
A life-altering event occurred in 1892. Three of her colleagues--Thomas Moss, Calvin McDowell, and Henry Seward, successful managers of a grocery business in the black section of town--were lynched. Until this time, like so many other Americans, Ida had accepted the common place charge that black men were lynched because they had tried to rape white women. However, this time Ida knew the true story behind the lynching of Moss, McDowell and Seward, and it was greed. The white owner of a competing grocery store wanted to eliminate the competition. Questioning her long-held belief, Ida investigated the cause of lynchings throughout the South and concluded "lynching was a racist device for eliminating financially independent Black Americans."
In her editorial, Ida urged black citizens of Memphis to leave the town that would protect neither their lives nor their property, nor give them a fair trial in the courts when accused by a white person. She also wrote a scathing editorial attacking white female purity and suggested it was possible for white women to be attracted to black men. (You go, girl!)
Her newspaper office was was destroyed and threats made against her life. Luckily she was enroute to Philadelphia for a conference when this happened. She never returned to Memphis. Instead, she moved to New York and continued her expose on lynching, culminating in the story "Southern Horrors: Lynch Law In All Its Phases."
She went on to become a leading national figure in African-American civil rights and women's rights movements, as well as the fight for economic rights for all. Active in the women's suffrage movement, Ida repeatedly forced white women to face the racism in their suffrage organizations. Believing that white people could not be relied upon to give equal opportunities for black people, she supported the movement of blacks to organize themselves and take the lead in fighting for their own equality.
Active in the women's club movement, Ida opened the Negro Fellowship League (1910) to provide lodging, recreational facilities, a reading room, and employment for black migrant males, work that eventually was taken over by a better funded Young Men's Christian Association (1913) and the Urban League (1916). Also active in the Civil Rights movement, Ida signed the call for the national conference that led to the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Ida Bell Wells-Barnett was another woman who saw a need, and stepped up to the challenge.
P.S. Don't forget to come over to The Raven and read some really great excerpts today through Sunday. And if you're not a member of my readers group, get thee over to Indulge Authors right now and join!
Mandy Roth and Michelle Pillow have opened up their readers group once again for outside authors to come in and talk about their books, post excerpts and *hint, hint* have contests. The Bash runs from March 10-12. If you're not already a member of The Raven Vampire Nightclub (Mandy & Michelle's readers group), get on over and join. Mandy and Michelle are two of my favorite authors, on my "automatic" to buy list.
I'll be posting excerpts and holding a contest. The only thing you'll need to do to be entered is join Indulge Authors' readers group--the author group of Jenna Howard, Kate Lang and myself. Anyone who is already a member is automatically entered; anyone new who joins between now and midnight on Sunday March 12th will be entered as well.
What's the prize? you ask. Well ... I'm going to have a few chances to win free downloads of my available books, as well as second place prizes. So, lots of chances to win!
So, come on over to The Raven to read excerpts of lots of great books, but don't forget to join Indulge Authors!
On the news last night, they ran a story about people who love animals. (Remember that line from The Truth About Cats & Dogs? "It's okay to love your pets, just don't luuuuuuuv your pets."?)
Well, I'm talking about people who luuuuuuuv animals. Apparently it isn't illegal in Arizona.
Ick.
Ew.
Gag.
Here's the news story: Arizona is one of only 14 states that doesn't have specific laws dealing with bestiality. In this most recent case, a 55-year old man in Mesa attempted to have sex with a lamb that belonged to his neighbor. Because it's not illegal in Arizona, he's only being charged with trespassing.
Okay. Look at this little guy and tell me the first thing that comes to your mind is, "Oh, he's hot. I'd like to have sex with him." NOT!
The Mesa man was apparently caught with his pants down. Literally. Although lots of criminal statutes exist in this state, one that applies to sex with animals doesn't. A spokesperson for the humane society said sex crimes against animals happen more often than we'd guess, and are directed primarily against dogs. The last animal sexual assault case happened last year. Sheriff's deputies tried to arrest a man who tried to have sex with a six-month old puppy.
Again, ick.
Eeeeeewwwwww.
Gag. Gag. GAG.
Say it with me: It's okay to love your pets. Just don't luuuuuuuv your pets.
(I'm hoping to get another 4,000 words (at least!) written today. Wish me luck!)
I came across some more sites that have fun quizzes to determine what type of (insert creature/being/etc. here) you are. (The spelling on these things leaves a lot to be desired, but the quiz results are fun.)
Try this one: What Fantasy Creature Are You?
I, being whimsical and ethereal (snort), am a phoenix. I am "wise, powerful, and beautiful. People look up to you in all issues, relying on your advice. Make sure to think before you speak, as your words affect people's very lives."
You can also try this one: What Mythological Creature Are You?
I am a wood sprite. I help things grow--people and plants alike--and am the type most come to for advice on sensitive areas.
Well, that's enough procrastinating for one day. I'm off to (hopefully) write at least 4,000 words on my current WIP.
As I mentioned in a previous post, March is National Women's History Month. I'll be doing a few blogs that deal with women who have been pivotal in influencing events of their time that had far-reaching effects.
Susan B. Anthony was born in 1820 in Massachusetts. She was the second oldest of eight children born in a very strict Quaker family. While other children were playing games and having fun, Susan and her siblings were being instructed by their father in self-discipline, principled convictions, and belief in their own self-worth. This instruction was to become the foundation for Susan's fight in the temperance movement and later the suffrage movement.
After the Civil War, Susan demanded that women be given the same civil and political rights that had been extended to black males under the 14th and 15th amendments. She led a group of women to the polls in Rochester to test the right of women to vote. Two weeks later she was arrested. After being tried and convicted of violating the voting laws, Susan was able to fight--and win--against paying the fine. From then on she campaigned endlessly for a federal woman suffrage amendment.
She wasn't always politically correct, however, especially when she was angry over the language in the 15th amendment. For the first time the word "male" was written into the constitution in permitting suffrage for freedmen. She sometimes argued that educated white women would be better voters than "ignorant" black men or immigrant men. (Her point being, I'm sure, that having an education was more important than possession of a penis. Men may have a different opinion here.)
Susan also campaigned for equal pay for women. It's rather sad that over a hundred years later we still don't have that. While women enjoy bigger salaries in professional positions, I can say I personally observed male executives being paid more than their female executive counterparts. (And, unfortunately, I had occasion to use the following sentence: "I'm dickless, not brainless.") Which would go back to Susan's point about educated women being a better choice for a voter than an uneducated man.
Although she didn't live to see the consummation of her efforts to win the vote for American women, the establishment of the 19th amendment is largely due to her tireless efforts.
