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Here are some interesting links for you! Enjoy your stay :)Pages
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Black History Month Movies, Books, Events
The last few years, I’ve started a tradition of watching a film during Black History month that educates, inspires and often challenges me about our country’s racial history. I have been moved beyond words by the fabulous films, Eyes on the Prize (about Martin Luther King) and Good Trouble (about Congressman John Lewis). Last weekend I watched Selma which was about the campaign to secure equal voting rights led by Martin Luther King. Each movie gave me an important shock. In Selma, it was the vision of those four young black girls being killed by a bomb as they were walking down the stairs of their church; and also the sanctioned police brutality of attacking marchers on the Pettus bridge on horseback while white onlookers cheered on. In my head was: THIS HAPPENED DURING MY LIFETIME! We so are NOT past racism and racial reckoning. And sadly, we are moving backwards.
I’m less of a reader, but will share that the book Waking Up White was a powerful, moving read. This may be small, but I was impacted by the story of how a black person felt like they couldn’t take the garbage out wearing a bathrobe to not create a negative impression, while we white people would think nothing of it. A small example of every day white privilege that I think of often.
Of course, there are many events each year to celebrate Black History Month. Since we are mid-month, the list in the links below will have some old ones. One more related to African roots is what I’ll be attending on March 23. If you like singing, drumming and dancing, check this out: https://www.pittsburghyouthchorus.org/thula-sizwe
What might you put on your movie, reading and event list to add meaning to your life and to support understanding our shared history? See some ideas in links below.
25 films with Oscar nominations and awards
Films with spiritual perspective
Books recommended by Black booksellers
Virtual Black History Month Events
Pittsburgh Black History Month Events
One more story and tribute to President Carter
You’ve probably been asked the question at some point: What public figure do you most admire? Though there are so many admirable choices over centuries, I always came back to contemporaries, Fred Rogers and Jimmy Carter. On the one month marking of President Carter’s death, I want to share some tidbits that struck me as I listened to stories about this man of character, service and intellect.
But first, my connection to his warmth and authenticity began in 1976 when I heard him speak at my hometown Beaver Valley Mall the summer before my senior year in high school. I was so inspired that I did phone banking for his campaign that fall. Fast forward to 2018, I made a pilgrimage to Plains, Georgia to hear him give a Sunday School talk before church, which he’s done for decades and attracted people from many states and countries. At the end of the talk, he asked everyone to commit to reaching out to someone in need in the next month, even a small act of calling someone who is lonely. This experience is one I’ll always treasure.
My tribute in tidbits:
Last week I stumbled on the magazine, a Life commemorative edition, Jimmy Carter: A Noble Life. Of course, I bought it. I’m sure there will be many more interesting tidbits to learn, but I want to share quite a synchronicity that at the end of the night on Monday, January 20, I decided to resume my reading. The next article up? His inauguration speech.
Some of his speech was specific to the times, so I am choosing to share these two paragraphs that show insight to his spirit:
I’m well aware of President Carter’s flaws, described by himself and others. He could be impatient, stubborn and micromanage details. And, of course, he was not good at dealing with the Washington DC politics, almost disdaining it….which didn’t help in navigating his presidency. I think history will mark his presidency more favorably than now, and it is hard to imagine his post-presidency achievements ever surpassed.
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Post script For Myers-Briggs Type Indicator aficionados: I will share that after several books, CDs, and documentaries, I am going against already diverse public opinion and posit that his personality type is an INTJ: Introverted (the one I’m less sure of; going with this both because ENTJ’s are more forceful and this also is connected to his intense reading and science/submarine background); Intuitive (love of learning, ideas and reading, even though he also likes carpentry); Thinker (strong logic orientation; don’t let his service values trick you into the “Feeling” personality category); and Judgement (this doesn’t mean judgmental, but passion for having things decided, ordered and done).
More than anything, I think Jimmy Carter exemplifies a “renaissance man” which is why his personality is so hard to pin down.
INTJ descriptor: Have original minds and great drive for implementing their ideas and achieving their goals. Quickly see patterns in external events and develop long-range explanatory perspectives. When committed, organize a job and carry it through. Skeptical and independent, have high standards of competence and performance – for themselves and others.
A Holiday Gratitude Story: Meet Christine
Like in the movie, It’s a Wonderful Life,” we often don’t know the impact of our presence. This could be with work, family or friends. Sometimes it’s just small and special.
I missed seeing Christine’s smiling face at the Residence Inn this Thanksgiving morning. She greeted us multiple times during our annual visit to State College relatives. The first year, she invited guests to write what they were grateful for on cut-outs of autumn leaves and vegetables and posted them in the eating area. I loved this! So much so that I took a photo.
Then she remembered us after that, bringing out the gratitude messages that she saved.
When I didn’t see Christine this Thanksgiving morning, I was going to dig out her photo and ask about her at the front desk. I was a bit worried. To my happy surprise, she was there on Friday morning and greeted me with a hug like family. She had the holiday off. Good for her!
We reminisced a bit about the past gratitude project, then she disappeared into the kitchen for a bit while I talked to a longer-term resident she befriended. Christine came back with a photo of the two of us on her phone and shared that the Thanksgiving gratitude messages were still hanging up back in the kitchen. How cool!
I asked how she was doing, and with a bright smile, she said “awesome.” I told her, of course, that is because her attitude is awesome. Christine went on to say she loves her job, and meeting the people is what makes it special. That reminded me of why I love my work….as a career counselor I get to help others find something they might love…or at least like.
May this little holiday story remind us that we touch everyone we come into contact with. May we remember to share warmth and kindness with our presence and with our actions. And may this positive energy help spread light during dark times.