This really is a fascinating story!
As a white person, I think a lot of white people would be surprised to see black people on tv playing piano, walking the dog, watching Wheel of Fortune, whatever. There are so few black characters on film and the ones that are are often involved in fixing some problem of blackness. That's not to say there shouldn't be black people on tv striving to fix racism, but characters should be much more complicated. I love Regina King's family on The Leftovers as an example.
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I look forward to reading this book and seeing the movie. I'd like to see Ms. Shetterly and "Hidden Figures" become media darlings and get the Oscar push that are going to Nate Parker and his movie. Enough with slave narratives and using rape as a plot device; more focus on black achievement!!
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Yes! The stories need to be told. The lives and stories of African descended people have been and are to crushed, ignored and forgotten. If we don't tell this story, plus the many others, how will our children and the world know of all the content of who they and we are, plus our contributions to America and the world. Africans (and Native Americans) taught Europeans agriculture in this land; taught them about cross-ventilation in architecture; the list is too long to list here. So, thank you for telling this story-how many of our children will be inspired to be the next mathematians!
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Black female Civil Engineer posting here. This story gave me a little bit of pep in my step this morning!
We need more stories like this. Contributions from black, white, brown, male, female, Native American, European, Asian, African, you name it. If you think American history and achievement is amazing now think about how much it will be elevated when we have a more complete picture! Hopefully stories like this will start to change how we view one another.
One can hope.
We need more stories like this. Contributions from black, white, brown, male, female, Native American, European, Asian, African, you name it. If you think American history and achievement is amazing now think about how much it will be elevated when we have a more complete picture! Hopefully stories like this will start to change how we view one another.
One can hope.
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My general views on this subject and not necessarily on this specific story...
While discrimination against any group should be rectified and watched and the discriminated group encouraged to take their place in society there is a fine line between this and "playing the card", ie they become a protected class that hurts themselves and the rest of society.
After a group's discrimination has been rectified, at least legally, it is better not to dwell on race, gender, ethic background etc. but other demos.
Case in point is the current poor white male angry backlash that Trump has grabbed onto.
Well there are plenty of poor black males they are doing much worse than most people including black females.
It is better to look as these two male groups as lower income, lower educated Americans who are having a tough time and address that demographic instead of race or gender.
It is one of the keys why Obama was elected president and not Hillary. He ran as an American first and not a Black, she ran as a woman first and not an American.
While discrimination against any group should be rectified and watched and the discriminated group encouraged to take their place in society there is a fine line between this and "playing the card", ie they become a protected class that hurts themselves and the rest of society.
After a group's discrimination has been rectified, at least legally, it is better not to dwell on race, gender, ethic background etc. but other demos.
Case in point is the current poor white male angry backlash that Trump has grabbed onto.
Well there are plenty of poor black males they are doing much worse than most people including black females.
It is better to look as these two male groups as lower income, lower educated Americans who are having a tough time and address that demographic instead of race or gender.
It is one of the keys why Obama was elected president and not Hillary. He ran as an American first and not a Black, she ran as a woman first and not an American.
6
The older I get, the more I'm reminded of what I was not taught as a child. This is an awesome piece of this country's history; considering the context of the lives of most Black Americans during this period.
Maybe if this was common knowledge on a 'national' level - outside of Virginia, it could help to lift that veil of limited possibilities amongst young Black women. They can be more than video vixens, star athletes, baby-mamas, or entertainers. Thanks for this article NYT!
Maybe if this was common knowledge on a 'national' level - outside of Virginia, it could help to lift that veil of limited possibilities amongst young Black women. They can be more than video vixens, star athletes, baby-mamas, or entertainers. Thanks for this article NYT!
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