Do The Right Thing...@vnona

When you want to do the right thing, you will find a way to do it.

--Nona

We Have Come A Great Distance...John Lewis

"We have come a great distance in this country in the 50 years, but we still have a great distance to go before we fulfill the dream of Martin Luther King, Jr."

--Congressman John Lewis (D-GA), August 28, 2013

Yesterday and this past Saturday, some 50 years after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legendary “I Have A Dream” speech, two of his children that he referred to in the speech, together with other civil rights organizations and tens of thousands of individuals celebrated moments in history that helped America to come to grips with words from its 1776 Declaration of Independence,

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”[1]

On Saturday, August 24th, Martin King III and his sister, Rev. Bernice King, along with Rev. Al Sharpton, president of the National Action Network and co-convener of the 50th Anniversary of the 1963 March On Washington, and a host of other civil rights organizations marched from the Lincoln Memorial to the newly erected Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial to remember and honor what happen on August 28, 1963. (See pictures from the 8/24/13 March On Washington)


Fifty years to the day of the actual 1963 March On Washington, many of the “march veterans” and foot soldiers who had participated in the original march locked arms with college students, and led thousands down the original path to the Lincoln Memorial to hear President Barack Obama, John Lewis and others speak about this watershed moment in the history of the Civil Rights movement. President Barack Obama told...


To read more, click here.

Happy Women Equality's Day!

“Men of quality are not threatened by women of equality”

How To Make Life Work...Micah

But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women.  It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be compassionate and loyal in your love, And don’t take yourself too seriously—take God seriously.

Micah 6:8, The Message Bible

Today We Remember And Honor...Nona

Today we remember and honor the sacrifice of those who gave so much to help this nation live up to its creed that "ALL are created equal." As we pause to reflect, we strengthen our resolve to keep contending for freedom and equal opportunity for ALL.

--Nona

Pulling Someone Down

Pulling someone down will never help you reach the top.

--Kush and Wizdom

Leadership Tuesdays: Civil Rights and Women Voices...Melissa Harris-Perry

“Citizenship is more than an individual exchange of freedoms for rights; it is also membership in a body politic, a nation, and a community. To be deemed fair, a system must offer its citizens equal opportunities for public recognition, and groups cannot systematically suffer from miser ignition in the form of stereotype and stigma.” 

-- Melissa V. Harris-Perry, Professor, Television Host, and Author, "Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America"

http://tv.msnbc.com/shows/melissa-harris-perry/

Every other Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY presents Leadership Tuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. On this coming Saturday, America will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the 1963 March On Washington. There on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial Dr. King delivered his famous "I Have A Dream Speech". Although there was a speech intended as a tribute to women, no women spoke that day. In pictures of Dr. King delivering the last speech of the day, we clearly see the late Dr. Dororthy I. Height, then president of the National Council of Negro Women, visible on the platform. Dr. Height is credited with being one of the leading women who behind the scenes orchestrated strategy and held the Civil Rights Movement together. Often seen wearing one of her signature hats, Dr. Height constantly used her voice to advocate for civil rights and equal opportunities for women and African Americans.

Today, women are more visible and have greater access to national platforms enabling them to have a greater impact on current issues. One of those women is Melissa Harris-Perry. A host of her own show on MSNBC, she is a professor of political science at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana and an author of Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America. Melissa uses her voice to bring attention to stories that both raise our nation's consciousness and challenge political views that are harmful to women and others who are at risk in today's society. Today we highlight Dr. Harris-Perry, one of those women leaders who is using her voice and platform to make a difference. For more information on Dr. Harris-Perry's show, click here.

To read past Leadership Tuesdays' features on leaders like Lisa Price-Entrepreneur and Founder of Carol's Daughter, Laura Sen-President of BJ's Wholesale Club, and others, click here.


For more information on the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington taking place on August 24, go to: http://50thanniversarymarchonwashington.com


To read my personal reflections of my first March on Washington during the summer of 1983 and my subsequent involvement in civil right activities, click here. Coming up tomorrow on womenatliberty.com , "Now, 50 Years Later... Has The Dream Been Fulfilled?"

Innovator or Imitator..Which One Are You?

Creative people innovate, others imitate.  Innovator or imitator? Which one are you?

--Nona

God's Love...The Message

"The deeper your love, the higher it goes; every cloud’s a flag to your faithfulness. Soar high in the skies, O God! Cover the whole earth with your glory!"

--Taken from Psalm 108:3-6, The Message Bible

A Pure Heart...Criss Jami

“A pure heart does not demean the spirit of an individual, it, instead, compels the individual to examine his [her] spirit.” 

--Criss Jami

Encourage Someone Today...Claire Gilliam

“Encouragement from any source is like a drop of rain upon a parched desert. Thanks to all the many others who rained on me when I needed it, and even when I foolishly thought I didn't.

― Claire Gillian

Good Advice For Life...Eleanor Roosevelt

“To handle yourself, use your head; to handle others, use your heart.” 

-- Eleanor Roosevelt

Thirty years ago, I celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington in August 1983. The summer of 1983 was a poignant moment in my life as I finished my first year of college at Howard University in Washington, D.C. and witnessed my first college graduation. 

I welcome you to join me in reflection as I look back at the events that led up to my first "Civil Rights" experience in the Nation's Capital. 

Click the link to read, Reflections...30-25-Now! The Summer of 1983.  Feel free to leave a comment.

Wisdom...Deborah Day

“Wisdom comes from reflection.” 

--Deborah Day, BE HAPPY NOW!

Thirty years ago, I celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington in August 1983. The summer of 1983 was a poignant moment in my life as I finished my first year of college at Howard University in Washington, D.C. and witnessed my first college graduation. 

I welcome you to join me in reflection as I look back at the events that led up to my first "Civil Rights" experience in the Nation's Capital. 

Click the link to read, Reflections...30-25-Now! The Summer of 1983. Feel free to leave a comment.

Leadership Tuesdays: Using Our Influence To Effect Change...John Maxwell

“Leadership is not about titles, positions or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another.” 

--John C. Maxwell, Best-selling Author and Leadership Expert

Every other Tuesday, WOMEN AT LIBERTY presents Leadership Tuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. At this very moment, I am moved by John Maxwell's quote listed above and another one of his quotes that states, 'everything rises and falls on leadership'. In a few short days, August 24, the United States will mark the anniversary of one of the most powerful Civil Rights demonstrations in its history.  On August 28, 1963, 50 years ago, an estimated 250,000 people of all races conducted a peaceful demonstration in Washington, D.C. that began at the Washington Monument and ended at the Lincoln Memorial. The March was organized by Civil Rights leaders to bring attention to injustices and discrimination that the African American community was suffering. "The organizers of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom also demanded decent housing, adequate and integrated education, a federal jobs program for full employment, and a national minimum wage of over $13.001 an hour in today’s dollars."(1)

Tomorrow I will publish the first of a two-part blog series that talks about my experience in attending the 20th Anniversary of the March on Washington in 1983 as a young college student.  I will also share some of the subsequent civil rights experiences I have had.  In the second part of the blog, I will provide some key statistics that characterize African American life then and now. Although we have made major and significant advances that we should well be proud of, as the statistics and our current news headlines show, we still have work to do.

Going back to John Maxwell's quote, I will leave you with this: Martin Luther King's dream was one of a world where there would be equality for all and people would be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin.  If everything rises and falls on leadership and as Myles Munroe asserts, we are all called to be leaders, do we have a leadership problem?  Are we doing enough to effect change through our influence and actions.  Could "we" be both the problem and solution for what needs fixing in "our" community?

For more information on the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington, go to:
http://50thanniversarymarchonwashington.com

To read past features on leaders like Laurel Richie-WNBA President, Ruth J. Simmons-former President of Brown University, Toni Blackman-2012 Dove Role Model, and others, click here.

Note:
(1) Algernon Austin, The Unfinished March: An Overview, Economic Policy Institute, June 18, 2013 http://www.epi.org/publication/unfinished-march-overview/

The Type Of Courage We Need...Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires some of the same courage that a soldier needs. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and women to win them.”

--Ralph Waldo Emerson

What's Important To God...The Cloud Author

It is not what you are or have been that God looks at with his merciful yes, but what you would be. 

--The Cloud Author

Bravery...J.K. Rowling

“It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.” 

--J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Abuse Is Never Justified...Nona

Abuse is never justified. Only deprave people rationalize abuse.

--Nona

By All And Any Means...Vincent Van Gogh

If you hear a voice within you say “you cannot paint,” then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced. 

--Vincent Van Gogh

New Season, New Rules!...@HollaWalla

ALERT! If your past shows up in your future, make sure it plays by the new rules!

--@HollaWalla, Media Personality (Check him out at Holla365.com)

Leadership Tuesdays--Successful Leaders...Dan Rockwell

The more uncomfortable the conversation the more important it is. The more it matters, the tougher it is. Weak leaders choose manipulation over honest exchange. Wise leaders choose tough conversation over mediocrity. Successful leaders address issues others avoid.

--Dan Rockwell (@LeadershipFreak)

Every other Tuesday, womenatliberty.com presents Leadership Tuesdays, a platform for a variety of voices and resources to develop, encourage, and strengthen women leaders. 

Today we present an article by Dan Rockwell, "10 Power Tips for Dancing with Elephants". Being a good leader is a tough job that requires self-development, humility, good coaching and execution. In this article, Dan gives great tips on how to approach and have difficult conversations. Check out the article here.

To read past features on leaders like Ursula Burns, Indra Nooyi, Shelly Lazarus, Sara Blakely, Harriette Cole and Bishop Vashti McKenzie, click here.

What Will Your Legacy Be...Oprah Winfrey

I think that the work that you've done speaks for you. Your legacy is what you do every day. Your legacy is every life you touched. It's every person whose life was either moved or not. It's every person who you have harmed or helped. That's your legacy.

--Oprah

Oprah Winfrey Network

God Is Forgiving...@SherriEShepherd

"The thing I want to really say is that I still mess up. I still go out there and say things on TV that I know the Lord is like, 'Sherri what are you doing?' but I know I can go back and get on my knees and say, 'Lord forgive me.' I know he will never leave me nor forsake me. The wonderful thing is He answers my prayers in spite of me."

--Sherri Shepherd 

Comedienne, Actress, Talk Show Host
SherriShepherd.com 

Get Started...Walt Disney

The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. 

--Walt Disney

Advice On How To Avoid Criticism...Artistotle

There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing. 

--Aristotle

Pay It Forward...Nona

Somewhere in the world someone is making a positive difference in the life of someone you love.  Will you pay it forward and make a positive difference in the life of someone else?

--Nona