Equal Rights

One of the leaders of the Harlem Renaissance, Langston Hughes was a poet, activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist. Known as a poet of the people, his pieces mainly focused on the Black experience. Through his writings he explored African American culture, spirituality, and condemned racism and discrimination.

His well known pieces include “I, Too”, “Harlem” (also known as “A Dream Deferred”), and “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” which he wrote when he was still a teenager!

Here’s a testament to how wide his reach was: Martin Luther King reciting Hughes’ poem, “Mother to Son” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko7w_cFvbO0

American ophthalmologist, inventor, humanitarian, and academic. Celebrating Patricia Bath, an American Ophthalmologist, inventor, laser scientist, and educator, was the first african-american woman to receive a medical patent. She discovered and invented a new device and technique for cataract surgery known as laserphaco. With her advancements, she was able to restore eyesight to several patients who had been blind for over 30 years.

February 20th is World Day of Social Justice!
The UN coined this day in 2007 with the aim to end poverty, exclusion, gender inequality, unemployment, bolster human rights, and strengthen social protections. Let's continue to follow the General Assembly's lead and take steps to create a world with less discrimination! 
#NFBPWC #WorldDayofSocialJustice

Roe vs. Wade has been struck down by the Supreme Court.  Women and their allies in the US need to see this as a defining moment: if we are not present in holding our government accountable, we cannot expect to be invulnerable to change. Do we lose the right to privacy in our home next?

Women in the US already have less rights over their own bodies than women in many other countries. It is not about abortion and whether you believe in it or not, but it is about a woman’s (and a couple’s) right to make significant safe and informed life choices. Separation of church and state is a foundation for this country – and no religious consideration can be allowed to inform our legal decisions. This is a call to action – think for yourself, talk with others, understand that our bodies are our own – help men step up, discuss this as well, and take full responsibility for the children they generate. With DNA testing, we now know who the fathers are.  If un-affordable, unwanted babies are to join our society – let us then fund health, education, childcare, and all of the services needed to build up children into high-functioning, proud American Citizens.

Men who helped create the babies must become equal partners in the care of the children, covering costs, health care, education, responsibility at all levels, and be obliged to act as full fathers. Any man whose DNA is present in a child is fully responsible for that child.