#black-excellence — Public Fediverse posts

https://www.fogolf.com/1383252/charlie-woods-lands-first-nil-deal-with-multi-billion-dollar-golf-equipment-giant/ Charlie Woods lands first NIL deal with multi-billion-dollar golf equipment giant #BlackExcellence #CharlieWoods #TigerWoods

Reposted from @myskincolorisnotacrime The first episode of 'Living Single' premiered on this day in 1993 📺🎬

#August22nd #LivingSingle #TVShow #Classic #90s #QueenLatifah #KimColes #KimFields #ErikaAlexander #BlackExcellence #BlackEntertainment #BlackHistory #BlackEmpowerment #BlackKnowledge #BlackCulture

#FreedomHouseAmbulance

A documentary about the true superheroes of America - a bunch of black men from #Pittsburgh - who have laid the foundation of #EMS that has saved countless lives ever since.

https://www.wqed.org/freedomhouse/

#BlackMastodon #BlackFedi #BlackExcellence #BlackHistory #history #UShistory #AmericanHistory #paramedics

"The #FirstResponders - The black men from Pittsburgh who made up #America’s original paramedic corps wanted to make #history and save lives—starting with their own."

by Kevin Hazzard

https://magazine.atavist.com/2019/the-first-responders-paramedics-pittsburgh-civil-rights-ems

#longform #writing #atavistmagazine #amreading #BlackMastodon #BlackFedi #BlackHistory #BlackExcellence #AmericanHistory #EMS #paramedics

Celebrate Culture, Community, and Creativity at Liberation Station and Juiced! This Weekend

Liberation Station & Juiced! Raleigh Weekend Guide: Events and Community Activities June 19-21, 2026

Looking for meaningful ways to celebrate Juneteenth weekend in Raleigh? Two of Southeast Raleigh’s most vibrant community spaces, Liberation Station Bookstore and Juiced!, are hosting events that bring together culture, literacy, entrepreneurship, poetry, and community engagement throughout the weekend.

Whether you’re looking to support Black-owned businesses, connect with local authors, enjoy spoken word performances, or celebrate freedom and culture, here’s what you need to know.

Friday, June 19: Community, Culture, and Celebration

Visit Liberation Station Bookstore

Liberation Station Bookstore continues its mission of centering Black stories, literacy, and community through its ongoing programs and bookstore experience. As North Carolina’s only Black-owned children’s bookstore, Liberation Station serves as both a bookstore and a gathering space for families, educators, and community leaders. (Liberation Station Bookstore⁠)

Visitors can browse culturally diverse books, support local authors, and prepare for Saturday’s Juneteenth celebration.

Juiced! Community Gathering Space

Juiced! continues to serve as a creative hub for artists, poets, entrepreneurs, and community members throughout the weekend. The venue regularly hosts spoken word events, youth programs, and community-centered activities that celebrate Black culture and creativity. (Instagram⁠)

Saturday, June 20: Juneteenth on Da Hill

All-Day Juneteenth Celebration at Liberation Station

The highlight of the weekend takes place Saturday with Juneteenth on Da Hill, a day-long celebration honoring freedom, history, community, and joy.

When: Saturday, June 20, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Location: Liberation Station Bookstore

Guests can expect:

• Community activities
• Cultural programming
• Family-friendly experiences
• Black-owned vendors
• Educational opportunities
• Food and fellowship
• Juneteenth celebrations honoring African American history and resilience

The event is free and open to the public. (Liberation Station Bookstore⁠)

BLACKOUT Author Showcase

Independent authors will have the opportunity to connect with readers during the BLACKOUT Author Showcase.

When: Saturday, June 20
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

This recurring event provides a platform for emerging and established authors to share their stories, network with readers, and promote their work. (Liberation Station Bookstore⁠)

Sunday, June 21: Continue the Celebration

The weekend continues with opportunities to support local businesses along the historic Hill Street corridor. Visitors are encouraged to explore the growing cultural district surrounding Liberation Station and Juiced!, connect with local creatives, and support Black-owned businesses that are helping shape Raleigh’s future.

Why Liberation Station Matters

Founded by Victoria Scott-Miller, Liberation Station has become a nationally recognized destination for families seeking diverse books and educational resources. The bookstore’s mission is to create spaces where Black children can see themselves reflected in literature while fostering literacy and community engagement. (Liberation Station Bookstore⁠)

Plan Your Visit

As Juneteenth celebrations take place across the Triangle this weekend, Liberation Station and Juiced! offer a unique opportunity to celebrate Black culture, entrepreneurship, literacy, and community in the heart of Southeast Raleigh.

Whether you’re attending Juneteenth on Da Hill, supporting local authors, or simply exploring one of Raleigh’s most important cultural spaces, this weekend promises opportunities to learn, connect, and celebrate.

Follow DoRaleigh.com for More Local Events

Stay connected with DoRaleigh.com for the latest updates on festivals, community celebrations, local businesses, arts, culture, and things to do throughout Raleigh, Durham, Cary, and the Triangle.

Advertise With Us: Interested in Advertising click here.

Connect With Us: Instagram | Facebook | BSky | Linkedin

Share With Us: Post your community News, Events, on our Submissions Page. 

Published by Bryan Tomlinson | DoRaleigh.com

Loving Michelle and Barack Obama’s first official portrait in the lobby of the Obama Presidential Center, created by acclaimed artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby. #ObamaPresidentialCenter #BarackObama #MichelleObama #NjidekaAkunyiliCrosby #PresidentialPortrait #BlackExcellence #BlackHistoryIsUSHistory

Loving Michelle and Barack Obama’s first official portrait in the lobby of the Obama Presidential Center, created by acclaimed artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby. #ObamaPresidentialCenter #BarackObama #MichelleObama #NjidekaAkunyiliCrosby #PresidentialPortrait #BlackExcellence #BlackHistoryIsUSHistory

This Month in African American History: June Celebrations, Milestones, and Legacy Across the United States

June is a significant month in African American history, culture, and celebration across the United States. From Juneteenth commemorations to African American Music Appreciation Month, communities nationwide honor the achievements, resilience, and contributions of Black Americans who have shaped the nation’s history.

Juneteenth: America’s Second Independence Day

The most recognized African American observance in June is Juneteenth, celebrated annually on June 19. The holiday commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that enslaved African Americans were free—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. Today, Juneteenth serves as a celebration of freedom, family, culture, education, and community. In 2021, Juneteenth officially became a federal holiday in the United States. (National Museum of African American History⁠)

Across the country, communities celebrate with festivals, parades, educational programs, concerts, cultural exhibits, and family gatherings that honor the ongoing journey toward equality and justice. (National Museum of African American History⁠)

African American Music Appreciation Month

June is also recognized as African American Music Appreciation Month, a national observance established in 1979 to celebrate the profound impact African American musicians have had on American culture and music. Genres such as jazz, blues, gospel, R&B, hip-hop, rock and roll, soul, and house music all trace their roots to African American artists and innovators. (National Museum of African American History⁠)

Throughout June, museums, theaters, community organizations, and cultural institutions host performances, film screenings, educational events, and exhibitions highlighting the enduring influence of Black music on the world. (Houston Chronicle⁠)

Historical Milestones Remembered in June

June also marks several important moments in African American history:

• June 19, 1865 – Juneteenth and the announcement of freedom for enslaved African Americans in Texas.
• June 1963 – Civil rights leader Medgar Evers was assassinated, becoming a symbol of the struggle for voting rights and racial justice.
• June 1967 – The landmark U.S. Supreme Court case Loving v. Virginia struck down laws prohibiting interracial marriage.
• June 2021 – Juneteenth became the newest federal holiday in the United States. (National Museum of African American History⁠)

Honoring the Past, Building the Future

June provides an opportunity for Americans to reflect on the contributions of African Americans in every field—from civil rights and education to business, science, sports, government, and the arts. It is a time to celebrate progress, acknowledge challenges, and continue learning about the people and events that have shaped the nation.

Whether attending a Juneteenth festival, supporting Black-owned businesses, visiting museums, or exploring African American history with family and friends, June serves as a powerful reminder that Black history is American history.

As communities across the nation gather this month, they continue a tradition of remembrance, resilience, and celebration that honors the past while inspiring future generations. (National Museum of African American History⁠)

Historic African American Locations in Raleigh, North Carolina

Raleigh is home to several important African American historic sites that tell the story of freedom, education, entrepreneurship, civil rights, and community building.

1. Oberlin Village Historic District

Founded by formerly enslaved African Americans after the Civil War, Oberlin Village became one of the most successful Black communities in North Carolina. It is recognized as the state’s longest-surviving Reconstruction-era freedmen’s colony and was home to schools, churches, businesses, and community leaders.  

Location: Oberlin Road area, West Raleigh

2. Latta University Historic Park

The site preserves the legacy of Reverend Morgan London Latta and Latta University, a school that provided educational opportunities for African Americans during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The park features interpretive exhibits highlighting Black education and community development.  

Address: 1001 Parker Street

3. Dr. M.T. Pope House Museum

The only African American house museum in North Carolina, the Pope House was home to Dr. Manassa Thomas Pope, physician, veteran, businessman, and the first African American to run for mayor of a Southern capital city during the Jim Crow era. The museum contains original furnishings and thousands of artifacts from the Pope family.  

Address: 511 S. Wilmington Street

4. Shaw University

Founded in 1865, Shaw University is the oldest historically Black university in the South. The university played a major role in African American education and the Civil Rights Movement, including hosting the founding meeting of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC).  

Address: 118 E. South Street

5. Saint Augustine’s University

Founded in 1867, Saint Augustine’s University has educated generations of African American leaders and professionals and remains an important part of Raleigh’s Black history.  

Address: 1315 Oakwood Avenue

6. Oberlin Cemetery

Established in 1873, this historic cemetery served the residents of Oberlin Village and contains the graves of many of the community’s founders, educators, veterans, and church leaders. It remains one of Raleigh’s most significant African American burial grounds.  

Address: 1014 Oberlin Road

7. City Cemetery

One of Raleigh’s oldest cemeteries, City Cemetery includes sections associated with enslaved and free African Americans. The cemetery provides insight into the lives of Black residents during the 19th century.  

Address: 110 Montague Lane

8. Historic South Park Neighborhood

South Park emerged as one of Raleigh’s most important African American neighborhoods during segregation. The community became home to Black churches, businesses, professionals, and civic leaders and remains a center of African American heritage.

Location: South of Downtown Raleigh

9. John Chavis Memorial Park

Named for educator and Revolutionary War veteran John Chavis, this historic park opened in 1938 as one of the premier recreational facilities for African Americans during segregation. Today it remains one of Raleigh’s most important cultural landmarks.

Address: 505 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

10. Mount Hope Cemetery

One of Raleigh’s historic African American cemeteries, Mount Hope contains graves of prominent Black citizens, veterans, educators, ministers, and community leaders dating back generations.

Address: 120 Prospect Avenue

Suggested African American Heritage Tour of Raleigh

1. Dr. M.T. Pope House Museum
2. Shaw University
3. Saint Augustine’s University
4. John Chavis Memorial Park
5. South Park Historic Neighborhood
6. Oberlin Village Historic District
7. Latta University Historic Park
8. Oberlin Cemetery

Together, these sites tell the story of Raleigh’s African American community from Reconstruction through the Civil Rights era and into the present day. They represent education, entrepreneurship, faith, political activism, and community resilience that helped shape Raleigh and North Carolina.  

Learn More

For additional educational resources and historical information about Juneteenth and African American history, visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture⁠.

Follow DoRaleigh.com for daily updates on government meetings, local festivals, and community happenings — your one-stop guide to everything Raleigh!

Post your community News, Events, on our Submissions Page. If you interested in Advertising click here.

Follow Us: Instagram | Facebook | BSky | Linkedin

#Congratulations!🎓⭐️🎓🎓

#DebbieAllen Pours Wisdom, Power, And Purpose Into The Class Of 2026 At #ClarkAtlantaUniversity. “Do not wait for permission to be great.
#Bahdlexempire #Bahdlex #Bahd #lex #ClarkAtlantaUniversity #CAU #HBCU #Commencement #ClassOf2026 #BlackExcellence

Getty: Getty Awards $1.8M to Increase Access to Black Visual Arts Archives. “The Getty Foundation announced today it has awarded $1.8 million for eight grants through its Black Visual Arts Archives initiative, a national, multi-year program to enhance access to archival collections related to Black artists and arts organizations.”

Yale Library: Mohamed Diallo ’26 reassembles the story of Yale’s early Black students with archival research and ArcGIS mapping. “As a Community Engagement intern at Beinecke Library, Mohamed Diallo ’26 played a central role in the creation of the online resource ‘Shining Light on Truth: Early Black Students at Yale.’ The website features profiles of Black students who attended Yale from […]

Young, Black, and Powerful: Black Youth as Agents of Change

The Bounce Black Team

At the 5th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, one message came through clearly: young people of African descent are not just future leaders, they are rights-holders and changemakers now.

This framing matters.

Because too often, Black youth are spoken about in terms of deficits: barriers in education, limited access to opportunity, overexposure to systems of punishment, and underrepresentation in decision-making spaces.

These things are real, and they are systemic.

But they are not the full story.

Beyond Barriers: Recognising Agency

The Forum highlighted what many of us already know through lived experience:

Young people of African descent are actively shaping change in their communities, online, in workplaces, and across global movements.

They are:

• Organising and mobilising
• Creating new economic pathways
• Challenging harmful narratives
• Building communities of care and resistance

Yet, their ability to do so is often constrained by the very systems they are trying to transform.

To call young people “changemakers” without addressing structural inequality is incomplete. To address inequality without recognising agency is also incomplete.

Both must exist together.

Where Bounce Black Stands

At Bounce Black, this intersection is where we work.

Our programmes are grounded in a simple but powerful belief:

Black young people deserve not just access, but the tools, support, and environment to thrive.

Through initiatives like the Roots: Career Foundations Programme, we support Black students and early career professionals to:

• Navigate complex and often exclusionary systems
• Build confidence and clarity in their career pathways
• Develop skills that translate into real opportunities
• Prioritise wellbeing in the face of racialised experiences

This is more than standard professional development. It is structural intervention at the level of lived experience.

From Global Dialogue to Local Impact

We were also featured in a Forum side event titled Tomorrow’s Trailblazers: Youth Leadership Across the UK’s African Diaspora hosted by our friends at the Young Africa Centre.

The virtual event showcased YAC, its collaborators and the collective impact of youth-led organisations in London, UK.

Our contribution focused on:

• The realities Black students and professionals face in education and employment
• The impact of racial trauma on confidence, performance, and progression
• The importance of holistic, trauma informed support
• The need to move beyond “access” towards sustainable thriving

We shared how community-led, culturally responsive programmes can:

• Bridge the gap between policy and lived experience
• Equip young people with both practical tools and internal resilience
• Create spaces where growth, healing, and ambition can coexist

The response reinforced something important, namely that this work is needed, and it resonates globally.

What Needs to Happen Next

If young people of African descent are to be truly recognised as rights-holders and changemakers, then:

1. Systems must change
Education, employment, and justice systems must move beyond performative inclusion towards structural transformation.

2. Investment must follow
Community-led organisations doing this work need sustained funding and support. (If you’re feeling generous, consider donating to our crowdfunder here)

3. Young people must be meaningfully included
Not as tokens, but as partners in shaping policy and decision making.

4. Wellbeing must be prioritised
Thriving is not just economic; it is emotional, psychological, and social.

From Recognition to Reality

The conversations at the Forum are important. They set the tone. They shape global priorities.

But the real test is what happens next.

At Bounce Black, we remain committed to ensuring that these global commitments translate into something tangible.

In classrooms, workplaces, and our everyday lives.

Because Black young people are already changemakers.

The question is whether the world will meet them with the support, recognition, and structural change they deserve.

At this point, we’re done asking.

We’re demanding it and building for ourselves.

🫶🏾 look 🫶🏿 #BlackExcellence

RE: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:yifpqamzwvp3g4szr44mz37r/post/3mihczmzkak24

Black Brilliance Across Borders: My first Black History Month in Canada

Nikki Adebiyi, Founder, Bounce Black

This February marked my first Black History Month in Canada, and my first Canadian winter!

Aside from the fact that I’ve never seen this much snow in my life, nor have I ever been so cold that my face hurts…it’s been wonderful, I promise.

In the words of one speaker at an event I attended, “I’m all blacked out”.

As a speaker and event producer myself, that is a sentiment that applies everywhere because I typically feel the same during October, which is Black History Month in the UK. It’s busy and exhausting, but all in the best of ways!

This year, Canada celebrated 30 years of Black History Month with the theme: ‘Honouring Black Brilliance Across Generations — From Nation Builders to Tomorrow’s Visionaries’.

There was no shortage of events, to say the least. There were certainly much more than I was able to attend. But the ones that I did go to have left a profound impression on me, and I’d love to tell you about them…

Black people play hockey? On ice!?

I kicked off my February at the A Different Booklist store in the Blackhurst Cultural Centre. In the middle of the historically Black neighbourhood of Bathurst, people of all ethnic backgrounds gathered in a gorgeous Black bookstore for the launch of Black Aces by The Athletic’s NHL staff writer Julian McKenzie.

Black Aces is McKenzie’s debut book, featuring a collection of stories about renowned Black hockey players, which, as you can imagine, is a huge part of winter sporting in Canada.

As curious and as open as I can be, ice hockey is a sport that I have yet to acquaint myself with. Unless you count PE at school, where we sometimes ran around the sports-and-lunch hall, whacking plastic pucks into makeshift goalposts.

Still, different gear, different climate and a different arena makes for a different experience entirely.

After the book launch, and a few conversation primers on the rules of the game, it’s now on my list of essential things to do in Canada.

Side note: I love that people who look like me have ventured into activities that I probably wouldn’t even think to try. Not only do you have to be excellent at hockey, you have to be competent at skating on ice! That’s an impressive level of hand-eye coordination, so kudos to them for doing it well enough to merit recognition. I love that for us!

Further side note: How much Julian knows about Black British culture tickled me, and further confirmed my belief that Black London and Black Toronto are much like identical twins who were separated during childhood, but when later reunited, it’s uncanny how alike they are.

I also later returned to the Blackhurst Cultural Centre for the free headshots they were offering to young Black creatives. Here’s my favourite one:

Word, Sound & Power Showcase

Next, I visited York University for its Word, Sound & Power event which showcased, and paid homage to, an array of Black talent in the arts, including musical composition, singing, dance, poetry and dramatic monologues.

To my great surprise, we were honoured to be joined by Toronto’s poet laureate Lillian Allen (pictured), as well as Canada’s first Black female MP, the Hon. Jean Augustine herself, who is responsible for passing the law that made Black History Month officially recognised across the nation.

Overeall, it was an eventful night of warm reflections, riveting stories and powerful calls to action. I especially enjoyed Ms. Augustine’s reflections on her life, career and social progress in Canada. The question she centred her speech on, “are we there yet?”, remains with me even now.

Living In Colour Symposium

Downtown at the University of Toronto, the Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC) held their Black History Month Symposium on ‘Black Life, Law and Belonging in Canada’.

The organisation itself is remarkable, being the only legal clinic in the province of Ontario that is dedicated to tackling anti-Black racism through legal advocacy.

Their additional focus on public education and community engagement resulted in an impactful itinerary of powerful speech after speech interspersed with thoughtful panel discussions.

The sessions covered a range of topics, including:

• Black history in Canada
• The role of legal advocacy in advancing justice and equity for Black comunities
• The complexity of belonging and integration in immigration
• The work required for Black longevity and equity in Canada
• The changing landscape of advocacy in the age of AI

Speakers included MPs, lawyers, other legal professionals, and grassroots activists.

Although, unfortunately, I missed out on most of the talks due to commute time and weather-related delays on public transport, what I did gain during my time there was an insight into how similar the issues of racial justice are across the Black diaspora.

As ever, as always, this is both comforting and infuriating.

That there is a shared language of racialised experiences across borders and cultuers is helpful as I could immediately make sense of the discussion despite not being a Black Canadian.

However, it is not fun learnng that people who look like me struggle in similar ways wherever we are in the world.

Still, I left the event encouraged by the work being done and the shared understanding of the cultural, spiritual and intellectual shift that is going to be necessary for us to move forward collectively.

The Power of Community Symposium

On the penultimate weekend of Black History Month, I returned to the City Hall area for the Black Founders Network Power of Community Symposium. This was a whole-day affair, that I missed a lot of due to commuting issues again, but what I caught of it was powerful.

The theme was ‘The Next Era: Sustaining the Momentum’ as a nod to the last three years of the Symposium’s gathering of Black founders, investors, professionals and other ecosystem partners.

Having attended only once and left with a profound impression of the lesson that I need to bet on myself more, I certainly hope to see more from the BFN team.

Their BeHer Summit on March 6th, too, was spectacular and inspiring. I made sure to be there on time as I could not risk missing out on the wisdom and networking opportunities with powerhouse women from all over the GTA. And sure enough, it did not disappoint!

BFN events embody the message of refusing to play small because they certainly know how to do it big. Both events fed me more than just physically, but the food, too, was wonderful, with Caribbean cuisine at the Symposium, and soul food at the Summit.

It was also wonderful to meet some of the team behind the Black Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Map (BEEM), and learn more about both the background and the future of the project.

Overall, I was inspired to bet on myself and see this entrepreneurial journey through, and not only for my good but for the good of the community I serve. Legacy was a running theme, and I have begun thinking more about what it would look like for my work to outlast me.

Black Talent Initiative’s Ignite Conference

My Canadian Black History Month concluded with the Black Talent Initiative’s Ignite conference, which I had heard about before arriving in Canada, and I was grateful that I won a sponsored ticket to attend.

Between the keynotes, the firesides, the panels and the workshops, gem after gem was shared by the speakers. I took pages and pages of notes, both paper and digital. And weeks later, I am still meditating on the insights and reflections of the sessions.

In particular, Suzannah Kelly’s workshop on intentional leadership and legacy left a profound impression on me. She led a powerful session that inspired much reflection, with questions based on the premise that legacy is built through our daily choices, not by chance.

A good leader’s legacy is less about results and more about the culture, access and opportunities we create for others.

Our legacy shows up in the small moments, such as what we challenge, who we elevate, and how people feel after encountering us.

Every interaction leaves an impact, and the impact that we leave behind is our legacy.

True leadership, she also stressed, is measured by what changes because we were present. That is, who grows, what shifts, and what becomes possible for others. This requires clarity of values, courage to use our voice, and a willingness to be visible. Ultimately, legacy is what remains because we chose not to stay silent.

This, in addition to the other talks, guaranteed that I came away with much to think through, much to hope for and much to be proud of.

I also enjoyed the RBC photo booth, which had one of the best lighting setups for candid photography of Black skin that I have seen in a long time. All the photos came out great!

Lastly, as with most of the events I attended, there were a number of Black-owned businesses on display, from beauty and jewellery brands to authors and coaches.

One particular brand that made an impression on me was Blaque Wellness, whose Matriarch of the family-run business drew me in. A beautiful Black grandmother who showered me with care and compliments, seeking to understand my skincare needs, and offered me a hands-on demonstration of how their products could be embedded in my regimen.

It reminded me of how warm and wonderful it is to be seen and thought of from start to finish, including in product design.

Final Thoughts

The previous sentiments are exactly how I would summarise my experience of my first Canadian Black History Month, namely that it catered for and catered to me. I was the target audience for whom an experience was specifically designed and curated, and I came away from it with abundance. I received so much more than I expected, and I am inspired to implement my learnings, so that other people can benefit from them too.

The first being sharing what I learned with you all here in this blog.

Although it is March, we celebrate Black history all year-round. I hope you found something useful in this post to help you champion Black futures!