“To me, we have a culture that is surpassed by no other civilization, but we don’t know anything about it…My job is to somehow make [the black youth] curious enough or persuade them by hook or crook to get more aware of themselves and where they came from and what they are into and what is already there and just to bring it out. This is what compels me to compel them, and I will do it by any means necessary.” -Nina Simone, c. 1969

1: Hidden Figures

In many ways, Hidden Figures, was a perfect movie to start this project with. This film tells an incredible story of three inspiring women (each in their own ways) who work at NASA in the 1960′s, during a heated time in American history and the Space Program itself. The audible gasps of the crowd during the movie - and the discussions I heard after leaving the theatre - made it clear to me that the message of this story came across beautifully and its themes may resonate now more than ever. Highly recommended!

Added bonus: the movie started late so we didn’t have to watch any previews!

- This is a part of my MotionPictures project, a series where I see a movie every week in 2017 and create a GIF based on it. 

Dear insecure black boys,

Be you fam. People who genuinely care about you look past the things you don’t like about yourself.

Be the best you and people will gravitate your way. Facts.

Trevante Rhodes photographed by Geordie Wood for DuJour magazine

Yes.

and more….

Pataki of the three sisters: Oshun, Yemaya and Oya

Long ago in a tribe lived three sisters:Yemaya, Oshun and Oya, who, though very poor, they were happy. Yemaya was the eldest and kept her two sisters by fishing in the sea. Oya was the smallest and Oshun took care of her while she fished in the river and collected stones, which they sold. Very great was the love between the three sisters. 

One day the tribe was invaded by enemy troops. Oshun could not hear the screams of Oya nor heard Yemaya, which was far from the coast. Thus, the enemies took as captive Oya. Oshun when she discovered the loss of her beloved sister, suffering from melancholy began slowly consumed. However, she managed to know what they asked enemies to rescue Oya and slowly began to keep copper coins, until she had enough money to rescue Oya. 

The tribal chief, who was madly in love with Oshun. knew they were in great poverty and doubled the price of rescue while negotiations were done. Oshun knelt, cried and pleaded, but the boss asked her virginity in exchange for the freedom of her sister. For the love she professed for Oya, Oshun agreed.

When he returned to the house with Oya, they told Yemaya all that had happened. and the older sister in recognition of the generous gesture  of Oshun and so that Oya may never forget the sacrifice of his sister, adorned her head and arms of this copper coin.

While Oya was captive, Olofin distributed among the people of his tribe worldly goods : Yemaya made absolute mistress of the seas, Oshun, rivers; Oggún, metals, and so on. Long ago a tribe living in three sisters:

Yemaya, Oshun and Oya, who, though very poor, they were happy. Yemaya was the eldest and her two sisters kept fishing in the sea.

Was the smallest Oya and Oshun took care while doing this also fished in the river and collected stones, which they sold.

Very great was the love between the three sisters.

One day the tribe was invaded by enemy troops. Oshun could not hear the screams of Oya, which tied for not doing his usual antics lost as he was submerged in the river, nor heard Yemaya, which was far from the coast. Thus, the enemies took as captive Oya.

Oshun when he discovered the loss of his beloved sister, suffering from melancholy began slowly consumed. However, he managed to know what they asked enemies to rescue Oya and slowly began to keep copper coins, until he had enough money to rescue Oya. The tribal chief, who was madly in love with Oshun poverty and knew this, doubled the price of rescue while negotiations were done. Oshun knelt, cried and pleaded, but the boss asked her virginity in exchange for the freedom of her sister. For the love he professed for Oya, Oshun agreed. When he returned to the house with Oya, Yemaya told him all, and the older sister generous gesture in recognition of Oshun and Oya to never forget the sacrifice of his sister, adorned head and arms of this copper coin .

While Oya was captive Olofin worldly goods were distributed among the people of his tribe: Yemaya made absolute mistress of the seas, Oshun, rivers; Oggún, metals, and so on. But as Oya was not present, she did not receive anything. Oshun implored her father not omit his earthly representation. Olofin, realizing the fairness of the request and noted that there was only one place without leader: the cemetery. Oya gladly accepted, and thus became mistress of the graveyard. 

Oya uses copper tools to show their eternal gratitude to the sacrifice of Oshun and eats the riverbank, in memory of her childhood.

Maferefun Oshun, Maferefun Yemaya, Maferefun Oya! Ache!

TidBit Poetry

Burn me like a witch return me to Yemaya.

- Zoe Blaq

💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙

BITCH!!!!!😭😭😭😭😭😭

“As I bounce to the next dick boy!”

Ain’t nothing like an athlete 10 years younger than ya hubby 😉

😬 window shopping...

yeah we know

I bet

U aced that.

Black girl hair appreciation thread on Twitter 💕

Non black people this is not for you

This shit is for us, this shit you can’t touch 😌

Working on this...

WHY YALL DONT GIVE MY PLANTS LOVE 😡😡😡😡😡😡

I’m a black man that LOVES to garden. I’m studying plants in school for crying out loud. Y'all should see the shit I can grow.

My specialty is fruit trees. I currently have:

3 peach, 1 apricot, 1 plum, 10 apple trees, 2 lemon trees. And I’m germinating clementine seeds right now and I’ll be cross pollinating with the Lemon trees pretty soon

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 GOOD FOR YOU BABY… IM HERE FOR THE GROWTH OF YOU FRUIT TREES.. ESPECIALLY PEACH CUZ ITS MY FAVORITE FRUIT ND COLOR 😁

Heres a few of my trees:

Peach tree, 15 years old (my very first plant)

My baby peach tree named after @pooppride , she is 6 months old and only 3 feet (I neglected to put her in the ground so she became dormant…but she’ll grow again)

My apricot named Zion, named after @freakheauxs.

My lemon tree named Courtni!!! Mind you, I live in Baltimore and its cold but I proved a lot of people wrong about growing citrus and my tree is proof that I did it

My pineapple :3 theyre really interesting to watch grow. They grow like cactus so it’s a super slow process.

Excuse me, look at my brother’s plants.

I’m inspired. I ain’t got no green thumb but I wanna try again 😩

Nonsense! My grandma would always tell me black people have natural gifts for plants cause most of the plants in the US were brought here by slavery (especially watermelon so thats why we get that stereotype). If you ever need tips just ask!

Btw i found a few more pics of my stuff I grew (most I gave away):

My lovely lovely little apple tree. Shes a little baby but I believe in her! The cool thing about apples are that if you get a seed form the fruit and grow it, theres a HUGE chance that it wont be the same kind. i.e. if you have Granny Smith seeds they could become Gala or Pink Lady!

Another pic of another peach tree I have to give away (IF ANYONE YOU SEEING THIS IS IN BALTIMORE, HMU IF YOU WANT THIS TREE!)

Here’s a comparison of how peach trees look when theyre REALLY fresh from their seed. Them so cute smol 

And finally (i talk a lot im sorry :/) a watermelon I picked off with me in it, tho it wasn’t even ready Lol

I hope you can garden with me sometime 🌸🌺🌻💐🌷🌹🍏🍎🍐🍊🍋🍈🍓🍇🍉🍌🍒🍑🍍🍅🍆🌽🌶

I wish I could grow fruit

Your plants are beautiful!

Thank you :). I forgot to mention I have a mango tree, too. Her name is Lauren and Ive been neglecting her :/ SO I SHALL CONTINUE TO GROW HER

Im gonna get some more mango seeds today and show yall how to grow stuff like citrus and tropical fruit and other fruits n veggies 

This is so beautiful and pure. Ohmygod.

This man out here repopulating the garden of Eden and I can’t even keep my cilantro plant alive 😭😭😭. Bless up sir.

Don’t be discouraged! It took me bout 20 peach seeds to get my smallest tree to grow 😁. Gardening with me is literally trial and error.

Black boys and plants, ftw!

friendly reminder

did ANYONE talk about Flint after Bernie was rigged out of the race? No!

BLACK AND BRITISH: A FORGOTTEN HISTORY

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