As the Florida legislature takes the teeth out of AP African American Studies, and states across the nation ban books that celebrate Black life and call out racism, it is more important than ever to preserve and celebrate Black history and culture in schools and in families of all races and ethnicities. Here are eight Black history milestones from the past year to celebrate and remember.

 

 

Resources:

Connecting Black History to Joy (edutopia.com, great for educators & families)

23 Black Moments of Joy to Kick Off Black History Month (essence.com)

Stories to Celebrate Black History Month (Storycorps.org)

Black History Month and the Celebration of Black Joy (teenvogue.com)

Our inaugural Cinnamongirls Sister Chat was a great success! Twelve Cinnamongirls from all cohorts and age groups gathered to talk about mental health and how it impacts their daily lives. Specific topics included social media, body image, tokenism, and tools and coping mechanisms. Rylan Rosario, a Bay Area native, mental health coach, and Ph.D candidate at Howard University, led the session with the support of two mentors.  

 

A Cinnamongirl alumnae, Gabriel Battle of Duke University, joined in the conversation.

Therapy for Black Girls, a mental health podcast for Black women. Latest topic: Black Women and the Superwoman Schema

Teenager Therapy a pocdast where 5 teens discuss topics that affect the mental health of teens today

Headspace for Teens a mindfulness app tailored for teens

The Trevor Project (for LGBTQ teens) chat, call, or text 866-488-7386

 

Travelgirl kicked off the year with a 16 Personalities Master Class. The girls took the test, and the results led to a great discussion about how everyone has important strengths to contribute, whether we are introverts or extroverts, or logic-driven or emotion-driven people. We know our Cinnamongirls will grow in confidence and empathy from this exercise, and that this will help them prepare for their trips to Washington, D.C. and Japan this summer.

 

Travelgirl continues to fundraise! Help our girls experience the world by donating United frequent flyer miles or with direct donations. DC Cohort; Japan Cohort

 

The Write Your Story girls were treated to a Master Class in January on worldbuilding with Rena Barron, critically acclaimed author of Kingdom of Souls (for teens) Maya and the Rising Dark (for younger readers). In February, our Writergirls get to work with Nikki Shannon Smith on revision techniques; later in the month, Patrice Caldwell, literary agent to award-winning and New York Times bestselling authors, will share the secrets of the publishing industry.

 

Entrepreneurgirls kicked off 2023 with their first two classes. Program Leads Ms. Seema and Ms. Sobha introduced them to entrepreneurial mindsets and the process of identifying problems in your world and developing an original idea to address that issue. In their third class this past weekend, Cinnamongirl alum Ta Lynn Mitchell will discussed Creativity in Entrepreneurship and share the lessons she has learned in her career. Throughout the rest of the program – filled with master classes and workshops led by accomplished female entrepreneurs of color – the girls will learn to identify problems and possible solutions, explore their passions, and tell the story of their business to potential investors.

Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson. Winner of this year’s ALA Coretta Scott King Author Award, this book tells the story of 12-year-old Homer, who must leave his mother behind when he escapes Southerland Plantation with his little sister Ada. Homer and Ada make their way to Freewater, a magical hidden community of free Black people; Homer eventually decides to overcome his fears and return to Southerland to rescue his mother.
 

Standing in Need of Prayer by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Frank Morrison. The Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award winner for best illustrator. A deeply moving picture book based on the popular spiritual. The lyrics have been reworked to chronicle the milestones, struggles, tragedies, and triumph of African American history.
 

We Deserve Monuments by Jas Hammonds. The James Steptoe New Talent Author Award winner is about how racial violence can ripple down through generations. “A gripping portrayal of the South's inherent racism and a love story for queer Black girls." —Teen Vogue

Choosing Brave by Angela Joy, illustrated by Janelle Washington, winner of the James Steptoe Newcomer Illustrator Award. The story of Mamie Till-Mobeley and how she refused to allow America to turn away from what happened to her only child, turned paining into change that ensured her son's life mattered.