www.blackwomenconnect.com is a new social networking site for professional African American women. It functions like facebook or linkedin…you can create a profile and network with like minded sistahs! Though business and career are the main focus, this site is also a platform for us to discuss relationships, family, health, and religeon. Can you believe it? A social networking site just for US!
Did you know that African American women with breast cancer have a 36% higher mortality rate than white women? Susan G. Komen for the Cure started the “Circle of Promise” (www.circleofpromise.org), an initiative lead by prominent African American women, to educate and engage African American women about the disease. On May 29, 2008, they announced that Gabrielle Union, Lalah Hathaway, and Synthia Saint James will become National Ambassabors for the Circle of Promise, joining Xernona Clayton, Patti Labelle, Rene Syler and others. [PR Newswire]
“Unnatural Causes” is a four part documentary that examines inequality in wealth, geography, race and other social differences that may have some causal relationship to poor health. One part of the documentary focuses on Black women having premature babies at a rate that is twice that of White women. They study noted that since the normal factors that lessen the likelihood of premature babies (mom in great health, high quality of life, wealth, etc.) don’t decrease the numbers much for Black women, race must be a factor. They essentially concluded that the racist treatment of Black women puts stress on our auto immune system, which increases our chance for having premature babies. Not sure if they said it that plainly, but I will. The documentary will be on PBS this week…check local listings or times or go to www.pbs.org. Also, check out the documentary website at www.unnaturalcauses.org.
The Smithsonian Institute has just started a traveling exhibit entitled “Freedom’s Sisters,” which honors 20 African American women that fought for civil rights. It’s currently in Cincinnatti, but will go to 8 other cities. The honorees are: Ella Jo Baker, Mary McLeod Bethune, Shirley Chisholm, Septima Poinsette Clark, Kathleen Cleaver, Myrlie Evers-Williams, Fannie Lou Hamer, Frances Watkins Harper, Dorothy Height, Charlayne Hunter-Gault, Barbar Jordan, Coretta Scott King, Constance Baker Motley, Rosa Parks, Sonia Sanchez, Betty Shabazz, Mary Church Terrell, Harriet Tubman, C. Delores Tucker, and Ida B. Wells-Barnett. Check here for exhibit info…and make sure that you don’t miss it!
BlackSuperwomen.com 