history
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Rest is Revolutionary
“Do revolutionaries rest?” I laughed at Kathy’s question as we boarded the elevator to find something to wrap up my locs before I got in the water. It was a line from Spike Lee’s film Malcolm X (or something to that effect). I was enjoying some much-needed time away at Kathy’s pool party in Florida.… Continue reading
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Mine
The way my “no” used to get scrapedoff the platelike it didn’t belong there. I used to think saying no was dangerous.That my voicewas optional.That my boundariescould be bentby someone else’s appetite. So I chewed and I swallowedsociety’s thoughts of what I should be.It lingered in the bite I didn’t want to takebut did anyway.… Continue reading
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My Poetry
Black History does not just live in textbooks,but on the tongues of poets. Every stanza is a stepping stonelaid by those who came before me.It echoes of cotton fields, jazz clubs,freedom songs, and community. This is more than poetry.This is preservation.This is protest.This is legacy.This is poetic justice. These words be the revolution my ancestors… Continue reading
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A Historical Moment: Meeting Michelle
I am no longer surprised to find purpose in the people I meet. I am being guided to certain people for a reason. When I complimented Michelle on her Afro at the She Wins Conference last year, I had no idea she had such a rich backstory. When I did a video about the real… Continue reading
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Black History Fun Fact Friday – Juneteenth
In honor of Juneteenth, I am reposting this from a few years ago. It was written before it became an official holiday and then updated after. I hope you can still glean something from it. Enjoy! Many Black Americans are replacing their fourth of July celebrations with Juneteenth. For many, the day is a celebration… Continue reading
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Black History Fun Fact Friday – Emmit McHenry
The internet. We all know it, and in 2024, babies are born with it in their hands. In today’s world, looking something up on the web is normal behavior, and for some, the first thing they do when they wake up in the morning. Whether you grab your phone or use the computer to log… Continue reading
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To Be, Or Not to Be, a Historian
As I read the latest review of my new book, I stumbled across the word historian and paused. “Historian? Me? Nah.” “Yecheilyah Ysrayl is a renowned author and historian known for her commitment to uncovering and sharing the untold stories of Black history. Her expertise and passion for the subject matter are evident throughout the… Continue reading
The PBS Blog 