Brave. Black. First.: 50+ African American Women Who Changed the World

Published in collaboration with the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, discover over fifty remarkable African American women whose unique skills and contributions paved the way for the next generation of young people. Perfect for fans of Rad Women Worldwide, Women in Science, and Girls Think of Everything.

Harriet Tubman guided the way.

Rosa Parks sat for equality.

Aretha Franklin sang from the soul.

Serena Williams bested the competition.

Michelle Obama transformed the White House.

Black women everywhere have changed the world!

Published in partnership with curators from the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, this illustrated biography compilation captures the iconic moments of fifty African American women whose heroism and bravery rewrote the American story for the better.

They were fearless. They were bold. They were game changers.

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Charles Vernon Bush: First African American to graduate from the U.S. Air Force Academy

Charles Vernon Bush was the first African American to graduate, in 1963, from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Bush entered the Academy with two African American classmates, reporting as a cadet in June 1959.

Even before entering the Academy, Bush was making history. In 1954, he was selected by Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court Earl Warren for appointment as the first African American page of the court.

He distinguished himself as a squadron commander, a member of the Academy’s debate team, and a member of the Cadet Wing champion rugby team.

Having received academic course credits from Howard University, Bush was accepted into a special joint Academy/Georgetown University master’s program, commencing with graduate courses in his senior year, which included his oral comprehensives in the Russian language. Graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1963, Bush received his Master of Arts degree in International Relations from Georgetown University in June 1964, and was inducted into the Georgetown chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society.

He then attended Air Intelligence Officers School, and served at Westover Air Force Base, Mass., where, among his other activities, he taught undergraduate political science courses at American International College. After becoming fluent in the Vietnamese language at Sanz Language School in Washington, D.C., he was assigned to Vietnam in 1967 as an intelligence officer.

In Vietnam, he was responsible for the deployment and operations of six intelligence teams operating from a number of sites, including Saigon, Bien Hoa, Nha Trang, Pleiku, Da Nang and Can Tho. The teams were involved with significant intelligence operations, particularly involving the attack on Tan Son Nhut Air Base during the Tet Offensive of 1968, and the defense of the Marines and South Vietnamese at the Battle of Khe Sanh.

Returning to the United States in May 1968, Bush was again assigned to Headquarters Air Force Special Projects Production Facility, at Westover AFB, Mass., as chief of the technical analysis division. He resumed teaching political science courses at American International College. In 1970, Bush resigned his commission and then attended Harvard Business School, majoring in finance. Bush received many accolades in both his military and civilian careers. While in the Air Force, he received the Bronze Star Medal, Joint Services Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.

Bush passed away at his Montana home on Nov. 5, 2012.

Then-Academy commandant, Lt. Gen. Mike Gould, said “A member of the Class of 1963 and the first African-American graduate, Mr. Bush’s courage and commitment to enhancing diversity in the United States military will pay itself forward for many generations.” Gould continued, “The Academy family is truly proud to call Mr. Chuck Bush one of our own.”

Inaugural class at LeBron James' school to receive free tuition to Kent State University

The inaugural class of LeBron James' I Promise School in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, has received some amazing news.

All 193 students, who are high school juniors, will be receiving free tuition to Kent State University. The kids, who were visiting the Kent State campus, erupted in cheers when they were told of the news, while their parents, watching from a live feed in a separate room, burst into tears.

The students will be guaranteed free tuition for four years as well as one year of a free room and meal plan.

The students will be eligible for the package as college freshmen for the 2021-2022 academic year. To be eligible, they must be admitted to Kent State, fill out required financial aid forms and have completed a required number of community service hours each semester.

To remain eligible, students need to remain in good academic standing, take part in a required number of community service or volunteer hours and complete a minimum number of credit hours per year.

"We have so many options, and I just know that so many kids in my community just don't have many options," James said. "So for me to be able to be in a position where I can give these kids options to decide what they want to do with their future, it's probably the best thing I've ever done."

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[SOURCE: CNN]

Rep. Gregory Meeks endorses Mike Bloomberg for president

Democratic Congressman Gregory Meeks of New York has endorsed Mike Bloomberg for president, touting his plan to invest in all Americans – especially those that have been abandoned by President Trump. He applauded Bloomberg’s vision for improving our nation’s infrastructure and transportation systems, saying America deserves a pragmatic leader who will deliver.

“The most vulnerable communities in America cannot weather another four years of a Donald Trump presidency. Too much is on the line to allow that to happen,” said Congressman Gregory Meeks. “We need someone in the White House who will unite us behind the common purpose of rebuilding our nation’s infrastructure and driving our economy forward into the 21st century. Mike Bloomberg will do exactly that. As mayor, he made promises with concrete plans to see them through. As president, he will do the same. I look forward to working with Mike as we revitalize overlooked communities, enable wealth creation for working families, and fight back against Donald Trump who continues to threaten our fundamental American values.”

“Congressman Meeks knows we need to rebuild America, starting with the infrastructure that President Trump has allowed to crumble and the health care system Trump is trying to destroy,” said Mike Bloomberg. “I worked with Congressman Meeks during my time in City Hall, and his efforts in Washington helped New York City rebuild after Hurricane Sandy. He knows the importance of investing in sustainable infrastructure and building on Obamacare to make sure every America has access to affordable health care. I’m excited to welcome him as a Co-Chair for the Mike for Black America National Leadership Council. As President, I’ll work with Rep. Meeks to get both done — after we send the Queens native in the White House on a permanent vacation to Mar-a-Lago.

Congressman Meeks has devoted his energy and skill to serving one of the most diverse constituencies in the nation. Throughout his tenure in Congress, Meeks has fought to make New York City accessible and full of opportunity for all New Yorkers. He has prioritized revitalizing the economy and creating quality jobs. As Representative of the Fifth District, which was hit hard by Superstorm Sandy, he has focused on investments in transportation, housing, and environmental infrastructure.

Meeks is Chair of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions. The Subcommittee oversees the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, bank regulators and all matters pertaining to consumer credit and the stability of the banking system. Meeks is also a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where he serves on the Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia, Energy and the Environment and is Vice Chair of the Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security and Trade.

Meeks is Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus PAC and the Queens County Democratic Organization.

Black History Month Person Of The Day: Martin Kilson

Martin Kilson Jr. was an American political scientist. He was the first black academic to be appointed a full professor at Harvard University, where he was later the Frank G. Thomson Professor of Government from 1988 until his retirement in 1999.

Kilson returned to Harvard and accepted a lectureship at the university in 1962; he was appointed assistant professor in 1967. Two years later, he became Harvard's first fully tenured African-American academic. Kilson was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1975 and became the Frank G. Thomson Professor of Government at Harvard in 1988. At the start of his academic career, Kilson became known for his research into African American studies, and became an adviser for the Association of African and Afro-American Students at Harvard. Kilson also compiled works relating to comparative politics, focusing within the field on African studies.Kilson's 1966 book, Political Change in a West African State: A Study of the Modernization Process in Sierra Leone, was reviewed extensively.

After retiring from teaching in 1999, Kilson continued to write and occasionally lecture. In 2002, he wrote a review for The Black Commentator critical of Randall Kennedy for the title of his book, Nigger: The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word. In 2010, Kilson was featured in Harvard's annual W. E. B. DuBois lectures. He also wrote his final book, The Transformation of the African American Intelligentsia, 1880–2012, which was published in 2014.