Harry Belafonte Wins NAACP's Springarn Medal

February 1, 2013 marks the arrival of Black History Month 2013 and the 44th Annual NAACP Image Awards. This year's awards show was  televised live on NBC and hosted by Blessings, himself, Steve Harvey (inside joke for SHMS listeners). The big winner of the night was Harry Belafonte, who was presented the Springarn Medal by longtime friend and fellow actor, Sidney Poitier. Since 1915, the Springarn Medal has been presented to an American of African decent who has exhibited the highest achievement in their chosen field.  Belafonte is an American singer, songwriter, actor and social activist.  Belafonte's career took off with the film Carmen Jones (1954). Soon after, he had several hits—"The Banana Boat Song (Day-O)" and "Jamaica Farewell."  Throughout his career he has been an advocate for civil rights and humanitarian causes.  Despite the injustices that Belafonte has seen around the world, he still believes in man's basic humanity,  and has dedicated his life to making the world better for its children.

                             

My black History Month Contribution

Good Day All -- Yes I realize I waited until the last day of Black History Month to make this post but hey, better late than never, right? I came across this poem while studying about the "certain women" of the bible who were disciples of Jesus Christ. There are also "certain women" in our own rich Black "Herstory" This poem from Alice Walker sums it up best for me

"Women" by Alice Walker

They were women then
My mama's generation
Husky of voice- Stout of
Step
With fists as well as
Hands
How they battered down
Doors
And ironed
Starched white
Shirts
How they led
Armies
Headdragged Generals
Across mined
Fields
Booby-trapped
Ditches
To discover books
Desks
A place for us
How they knew what we
Must know
Without knowing a page
Of it
Themselves.

Happy Black History Month!