A true Black Women Who Knows Her Worth: Angela Bassett

The day is not over. We would like to wish the amazing, beautiful, inspiration Angela Bassett a Happy Birthday. She turns a wonderful 55 years young today.

Angela Bassett was born in Harlem, New York, but raised in North Carolina and Florida. She is a graduate of Yale University, where she received her B.A. degree in African-American studies. She later gained a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Yale School of Drama. Basset has starred in many notable films and such as What’s Love Got to Do with It, Waiting to Exhale, The Rosa Parks Story, The Jacksons: An American Dream, and Notorious.

Angela Basset(L) as Tina Turner (r)

I love Angela Bassett. She has always portrayed the epitome of woman to me. She has portrayed on film and in person as a woman of strength. A woman, who has had her bruises and mistakes, but has overcome them and come out stronger than before.

Angela Basset in Waiting to Exhale.

I will never forget what she said in an interview a few years back. She was asked first to play the lead female role in the movie “Monsters Ball” that won the actress Halle Berry an Academy Award. However, she turned down the offer because of the nudity, graphic sex scene, and the degradation she felt the woman would be portraying.

Halle Berry in Monsters Ball

I respect that. I respect that she did not cave into money and acclaim. She held her morals and beliefs high and disregarded materialism or vanity from changing her mind. She also expressed that she has turned down many movie offers that wanted her to take her clothes off, or play a victim. She is someone who knows who she is. Although, she is an actor, she does not accept roles that do not express or portray who she is, or send messages that she believes in.

Angela Basset as Rosa Parks.

Wow, she truly is a black woman who knows her worth. She is an actor. She makes her livelihood from acting. However, despite that she stays true to who she is. She does not succumb to others and that is a skill we can all use. Family, do not succumb to the beliefs and wants of others. Stay true to who you are. At the end of the day you have to be happy with who you are and what you are about. Do not let others quantify or create who you are or what you are about.

Remember you create the best and only vision of you. Like Angela embrace yourself shamelessly and love who you are. Happy Birthday, Angela Bassett. Thank You for being a champion of black women who know their worth. ~Know Your Worth~ -M. Millie

P.S. If 55 years old looks this great, I want to be 55 now!  LOL!

 

Rebecca J. Cole: Pioneering Physician

Drawing of Rebecca Cole.

Today we celebrate the life of Rebecca Cole. Rebecca Cole was an American doctor. In 1867, she became the second African-American woman to become a doctor in the United States after Rebecca Crumpler‘s achievement three years earlier. Everyday is Black History. Cole then interned at Elizabeth Blackwell‘s New York Infirmary for Indigent Women and Children. Everyday is Black History.

Cole was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Cole attended the Institute for Colored Youth, graduating in 1863. She then went on to graduate from the Woman’s Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1867, under the supervision of Ann Preston. Her graduate medical thesis was titled The Eye and Its Appendages. Afterwards Cole interned at Elizabeth Blackwell’s New York Infirmary for Indigent Women and Children.

In the autobiography of physician Elizabeth Blackwell she states “In addition to the usual departments of hospital and dispensary practice, which included the visiting of poor patients at their own homes, we established a sanitary visitor. This post was filled by one of our assistant physicians, whose special duty it was to give simple, practical instruction to poor mothers on the management of infants and the preservation of the health of their families. An intelligent young coloured physician, Dr. Cole, who was one of our resident assistants, carried on this work with tact and care. Experience of its results serve to show that the establishment of such a department would be a valuable addition to every hospital.”

Cole went on to practice in South Carolina, then returned to Philadelphia, and in 1873 opened a Women’s Directory Center to provide medical and legal services to destitute women and children. In January 1899, she was appointed superintendent of a home, run by the Association for the Relief of Destitute Colored Women and Children in Washington, D.C.. The annual report for that year stated that she possessed “all the qualities essential to such a position-ability, energy, experience, tact.” A subsequent report noted that: Dr. Cole herself has more than fulfilled the expectations of her friends. With a clear and comprehensive view of her whole field of action, she has carried out her plans with the good sense and vigor which are a part of her character, while her cheerful optimism, her determination to see the best in every situation and in every individual, have created around her an atmosphere of sunshine that adds to the happiness and well-being of every member of the large family.Although Cole practiced medicine for fifty years, few records survive, and little to no images of her remain.

Rebecca J, Cole was a remarkable woman. Lets honor her today. She had to work through the severe racial and gender biases that existed at the time to become one of the first black female physicians. She is also a woman who knew her worth. Racism and sexism did not stop her from attain success. Black women we must also do the same. We endure racism and sexism now, but should it stop us. No! It should not. It should propel us farther, for we know that little is expected of us. However, their expectations do not define our ability to become the greatness we cultivate. Strive to define you and become great despite the odds. ~Know Your Worth~ -M. Millie

Only surviving image of Rebecca Cole.

Europe is Not Racist! Who Lied to You?

Have you all been following the Oprah story? She was in Switzerland for the wedding of Tina Turner. She was in a store and was checking out a bag. A sales representative then came up to her and said “You cannot afford that bag.” I guess Oprah realized yes, you may be a famous, powerful black women in America. However, outside of this country everyone will view as black women. That means that you will be treated with the same disrespect and discrimination the color of our skin brings.

Tina Turner wed to Erwin Bach in Switzerland.

I cannot stand when people say that Europe is not racist. Yes, they are. Who colonized people in Africa and brought slaves to America? Europeans did. Who first robbed Africa of its natural resources? It was Europe first. Now, America and Asia have joined in on the raping of the African continent. Where do white people in America come from, Europe. White supremacy and racism is a global epidemic. Everywhere in this world black people are discriminated against.

This is not a message of hate or resentment. No this is a message of truth. This is a message of reality. We need to take of the fog filled glasses and look clearly at our situation. Europe created the systematic racism America followed during slavery. They are not exempt from racism and oppression. They created it. American whites adopted the model and tweaked it where, necessary.

I know that Oprah got a reality check. No matter how rich, powerful, or influential she may be, she is still black and that will still contribute to her mistreatment.

Yes, it is a somber reality, but we have to remember that until we demand, rally, gain economic power, unify and build we will not get more and there will be little progress. We have to realize our power, intelligence and worth and truly rally towards change. –M. Millie

Family, what are your thoughts on Oprah Winfrey‘s discrimination claims?