Category Archives: feel good friday

Disney Wants to Create More Shuri’s

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Happy Friday, Blinkers.

We’ve got a lot to feel good about. For one, Black Panther continues to snatch our edges and our wallets with it’s message of melanin magnificence.

So much so that the mouse company has donated $1 million to the Boys and Girls Club of America to expand their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) youth programs.

The Walt Disney Company’s CEO Robert Iger couldn’t help but gush about the movie’s influence on, well, everyone, releasing this statement:

Marvel Studio’s Black Panther is a masterpiece of movie making and has become an instant cultural phenomenon, sparking discussion, inspiring people young and old, and breaking down age old myths.

Prompting him to create more real life Shuri’s.

It is thrilling to see how inspired young audiences were by the spectacular technology in the film, so it’s fitting that we show our appreciation by helping advance STEM programs for youth, especially in underserved areas of the country, to give them the knowledge and tools to build the future they want.

The grant will also be used to build STEM centers in Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Harlem, Memphis, New Orleans, LA and Oakland, Orlando, Philadelphia and Washington D.C.

The youngsters have a lot to look forward to because they’ll be doing work similar to what Princess Shuri slayed at in the movie. Sans the car chase.

They’ll be tinkering with “3-D printers, robotics, high-definition video production and conferencing equipment” through group exercises and individually, using real apps.

Jim Clark, CEO of Boys and Girls Clubs of America says this is just the beginning.

From hands-on interactive programs to critical thinking, Boys & Girls Clubs of America is committed to providing thousands of young people with the tools they need to prepare for a great future.

Wakanda won’t be the only one churning out tech princesses.

 

Colin Kaepernick Completes Million Dollar Donation Challenge

Here’s how you roll into Black History month, fam.

Colin ‘our black prince’ Kaepernick has hit the one milly mark on his pledge to donate to underserved communities around the country.

When I started my #MillionDollarPledge and committed to donate $1,000,000 towards various programs – my original intent was to help the organizations on the ground doing much needed work within our communities.  The goal was to help those helping others. To touch those impacting lives in a real way and to make sure that those in need benefited from the dollars donated.  While on the journey, what I realized was the person that benefited the most from this pledge was myself. I've learned about and had the privilege to work with so many quality organizations fighting for Social Justice daily. I've met so many people that work with so many great non-profits that do amazing work. I've been humbled by the appreciation from places like Assata’s Daughters, United We Dream, and Standing Rock to name just a few of where my contributions from my pledge were able to help. The #MillionDollarPledge was never for me, or about me – It has, and always will continue to be for, and about the people. Perhaps what I've learned most is that we can all enact change. Not everyone has to donate monetarily. Some organizations need volunteers and time just as much as they need a donation. Head over to Kaepernick7.com to learn more about all the programs that have been a part of my #10for10 as well as my #MillionDollarPledge. While there, you can see where all the donations went as well as learn more about all these amazing organizations and how you can help contribute. We have work to do, and the only way to get it done is if we all work together.

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Before getting across the finish line, he challenged famous pals to donate $10K to an org of their choice and he’ll match it. Dubbing it the 10 for 10 challenge.

Usher heed the call Wednesday and donated $10,000 to Helping Oppressed Mothers Endure Inc., a Georgia-based non-profit that helps single and divorced mom’s adapt to a new life.

I am happy to announce that I have completed my #MillionDollarPledge. For this final #10for10 joining me is, multiple Grammy Award winner, singer, songwriter and hitmaker…My brother @usher! He is donating $10k to match my $10k for $20k going towards H.O.M.E from Lithonia, Georgia. H.O.M.E. stands for Helping Oppressed Mothers Endure and they provide furniture to single mothers and their mission is to extend love to the home; restore hope in the heart, and offer help through healing hands to single mothers facing hardship. It has been an honor for me to serve the people with my #MillionDollarPledge. The thanks and gratitude from each organization has been immense. Being able to learn and see how each organization used the donations was a key part of the Pledge. I wanted to make sure that every dollar was going towards making real change in our communities. Thank you to everyone who has supported me, matched me and my pledge and most importantly the people. I know that we still have a lot of work to do, however, by getting everyone involved, I truly believe that we can all achieve and move mountains towards our goals for Social Justice. Please head over to Kaepernick7.com for a complete list of my $1,000,000 if donations as well as others like my brother, @usher who have matched with their generous donations as well.

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Rapper Meek Mill, who is currently incarcerated, donated $10K to Youth Services, Inc, a Philly based charity that supports at risk youth.

Jesse Williams, Steph Curry and Nick Cannon also took part in the #10for10 challenge.

Colin started the one million pledge after opting out of his contract with San Francisco 49ers.

And vows to keep the good works going even without the NFL behind him.

With or without the NFL’s platform, I will continue to work for the people,” he said while picking up the 2017 Sports Illustrated Muhammad Ali Legacy Award in December, “because my platform is the people.”

Rumble, baby, rumble <<in my Dave Chappelle voice>>>

This Puerto Rican School is Lit

Let there be liiiigggghhhttt (in my Oprah voice).

Lord knows we need some cheerful stories out of P.R. and we’re finally being blessed with one this week. Oh dia feliz!

Electricity was finally, finally restored at Academia Bautista de Puerto Nuevo, a private Christian school, in San Juan last week.

Students, teachers and faculty couldn’t contain their excitement after the fluorescent lights started beaming down. The viral video shows students breaking out in song, racing out of classrooms to chanting cheers. One teach even rang a bell to show her excitement.

Who wouldn’t dance a jig of joy when you’re in the dark for five months. Yup, five months. Academia Bautista hasn’t had power since Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in September.

Yet, the school–which covers preK to high school–reopened three weeks after the hurricane and has been making do without air conditioning, lights, classroom projectors and smart boards for 900 students that returned.

Let’s hope this small ray of light will touch other areas of the island that still don’t have power.

 

 

 

The Black Panther Movie is a Must See for Kids and This New Yorker is Footing the Bill

To say that Marvel’s “Black Panther” movie is highly anticipated is like saying Oprah kinda killed it at the Golden Globes.

Y’all know this movie is everything.

So it should come as no surprise that everyone should be able to see this Black superhero on the big screen, especially our impressionable kids.

Fredrick Joseph is making it possible.

The New Yorker started a Go Fund Me campaign to raise enough money for 300 kids from Boys & Girls Club of Harlem to see Black Panther.

Frederick says the movie is a “rare opportunity for young students (primarily of color) to see a black major cinematic and comic book character come to life.”

The marketing consultant told the TODAY show the movie is more than entertainment.

It’s my opinion that inclusion and representation really are fuel for children to dream — not just to dream, but to dream big. It’s important that young people see themselves in roles they couldn’t even imagine… for a little girl to see herself as Wonder Woman, or for a young child of color to see himself as the leader of Wakanda.

Frederick, 28, does not have kids but wants to give back to reinforce that melanin magnificence in young people.

“I knew I wanted to do something so that I can give that opportunity for representation to an underrepresented group.”

Frederick’s Go Fund Me requested $10K and received $39,641. Well done!

But it’s far from over. Frederick is going national–challenging others to follow his lead by using Go Fund Me to raise money for the kids in their community to see the movie.

SportsCenter anchor Jemele Hill showed Frederick love on his important mission.

Consider yourselves #BlackPantherChallenged