Each year Defiance College BASA puts on activities and events to celebrate this special time of the year.
This year, though, BASA will not have events every day, but they will still maintain the month-long celebration with various workshops, documentaries, and discussions.
Last year, the theme of their Black History Month celebration was heavily centered on self-care, wellness, and spirituality as a means of holistic healing. The college encouraged mindfulness and prioritizing oneself through an array of activities that were five days a week for every week in February.
Noelani Schmidt, a DC student, helping prepare the BASA’s BHM events, told the Defender about how the focus for this year will be on the significance of hair and what that means to an individual in terms of spiritual identity and self-expression. Hair plays a prominent role in many Black lives and is often more criticized than celebrated.
This year, BASA will be promoting hair love through workshops, a curated playlist, and they are hoping to install an art exhibition centered around the history of Black hair in the United States.”
They are also curating a workshop that discusses hair and perhaps a small class on protective styles so students can learn to maintain their hair with the changing seasons.
BASA is also hoping to initiate a Black History Month fitness challenge for DC students and collaborate with Dr. Steven Engel to release a special edition of the Progeny at the end of the month.
They are also hoping to collaborate with Live Light Fitness for our fitness challenge.
They will be working with AJ Ramirez to host a photoshoot for students to include their photos in the spread.
BASA hopes to collaborate with TTA Healing Studios for dance, mindful movement, reiki, and divination workshops.
Black History Month is an annual celebration that started in the US in 1926. It was conceived by historian Carter G Woodson who proposed marking a time to honor African Americans and raise awareness of Black History. Black History Month is celebrated in February because the second week of the month coincides with the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Black History Month is celebrated annually from February 1st through March 1st.
Black History Month is a time to recognize African Americans and Blacks for their accomplishments and achievements throughout history.
Whether it is Black History Month or not, it is always important to recognize the works and accomplishments of Black people. Today, however, we are showcasing some great musicians.
Camille Lively, Director of Music Programs and Head of Choral and Vocal Studies here at DC, said, “I love Nina Simone and Moses Hogan.”
Here are some more Black musicians that are pretty neat.
Harriet Gibbs Marshall (1868-1941) Harriet Gibbs Marshall, a pianist, spent most of her early life in Oberlin, Ohio. She even graduated from Oberlin College with a music degree. She was the first African American woman to graduate from that school with a music degree. She was also the first African American woman to graduate with a music degree in the United States. In 1903 she founded the Washington Conservatory of Music and School of Expression, where African Americans learn music. It was open until 1960, and it is the longest running music school for African Americans.
Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) Ella Fitzgerald, also known as “The First Lady of Song,” was a jazz singer who won 13 Grammy Awards and sold over 40 million albums. Her voice range was vast, so that she could sing a variety of different music types. Fitzgerald worked with many other jazz musicians like Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, and Nat King Cole. She also traveled all around the world doing concerts. By the end of her life, she had recorded over 200 albums, and her last concert was at Carnegie Hall. It was also her 26th time performing there.
Barry White (1944-2003) Barry White is one of the best-selling music artists of all time. To be the best selling music artist, one has to sell over 75 million records, and he sold over 100 million. Some of his hits include “You’re the First, the Last, My Everything” and “Can’t Get Enough of Your Love, Babe.” Because of his appearance and voice, he is known as “The Walrus of Love.” Barry White also won two Grammy Awards, is in the Dance Music Hall of Fame, and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Rosa Parks is a historical figure and an inspiration to many. She helped pave the way during the civil rights movement by refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus. However, not many know about a 15-year-old girl who did the same thing nine months before Rosa.
This 15-year-old girl is Claudette Colvin, and she is still alive today at the age of 82. Claudette was born on September 5, 1939, in Montgomery, Alabama.
In 1955, Claudette was a student at the segregated Booker T. Washington High school in the city. Claudette relied on the cities buses to get to school and home. However, the busses were segregated at the time, and those of color had to sit in the back of the bus. Claudette was part of the NAACP youth group, learning about the civil rights movement. On March 2, 1955, Claudette went on a bus and sat in the colored section. At a bus stop, a white customer came onto the bus.
The bus driver commanded Claudette and three others to give up their seats. Claudette, who had learned about the Civil rights movement, knew she had rights, and decided not to give up her seat.
The cops were called, and she was forcibly removed from the bus and arrested. She was bailed out by her minister, who told her that she brought the revolution to Montgomery.
Claudette was convicted of three charges in juvenile court; however her cause was appealed to the Montgomery Circuit Court on May 6, 1955, and the charges of disturbing the peace and violating the segregation laws were dropped.
Although her conviction for assaulting a police officer was upheld. Claudette never assaulted a police officer, which means she was convicted for something she never did. Later there would be a case of Browder V. Gayle, which would go to the courts and eventually ended bus segregation in Alabama.
Claudette didn’t get the recognition she deserved for many reasons. Right after standing up for her rights, she became pregnant. This made a huge controversy which sadly led to the civil rights leaders refusing to help her. They were afraid it would cause more harm than good. Even though Claudette didn’t get the recognition she deserved, she did so much to pave the way for people’s rights today, and she left an amazing legacy to inspire many.
Black History Month is upon us. Here are three black scientists you should know about.
Dr. Alexa Irene Canady (1950-present)
In 1981, Alexa Canady became the first black woman to become a neurosurgeon. She received her medical degree from the University of Michigan. From 1987 to 2001, she was the chief of neurosurgery at a children’s hospital in Michigan. Canady also worked on research and was a professor at Wayne State University. Before retiring, she was a part-time neurosurgeon at the Pensacola Sacred Heart Hospital in Florida from 2001 to 2012. Alexa Canady also received the American Medical Women’s Association President’s Award, the Distinguished Service Award from Wayne State University Medical School, the Candace Award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. She was also inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame.
Dr. Gladys Mae West (1930-present) Gladys West created the model of the Earth that is used as the basis for the Global Positioning System or GPS. She also became the second black woman to work at the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division in 1956. While she worked there, she was a programmer and a project manager. Before that, she was a math and science teacher. West received her Bachelor of Science in mathematics and her Master of Mathematics at Virginia State University. She also received another master’s degree in public administration and a Ph.D. in public administration. In 2018 Gladys West was inducted into the United States Air Force Hall of Fame and won Female Alumna of the Year at the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Awards. She also received the Prince Philip Medal from the UK’s Royal Academy of Engineering in 2021.
Dr. Walter Lincoln Hawkins (1911-1992) Walter Lincoln Hawkins was a chemist and engineer who worked at Bell Laboratories, where he was the first black person to be on the technical staff. He received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering, a master’s degree in chemistry, and a doctorate in chemistry. While working at Bell Laboratories, he became the supervisor of applied research and became head of his department. Hawkins also developed the plastic coating for telephone wires, making universal service possible. Because of his studies, he won many awards, including the National Medal of Technology, the International Medal of the Society of Plastics, the Burton C. Belden Award, the Percy L. Julian Award, the International Award of the Society of Plastics Engineers, and the Honor Scroll of the American Institute of Chemists.
The Defiance College Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams had a weekend full of gameplay as the regular season dies down. In doubleheader action, the Yellow Jackets swept the visiting Franklin College Grizzlies on Saturday, January 22nd. On Saturday, the women’s team faced off with tip-off set for 2 pm in the Karl H. Weaner Center against Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) opponent, the Franklin College Grizzlies (5-12, 3-7). The Yellow Jackets were led by junior Taylor Steinbrunner and senior Taylor Day. Both Steinbrunner and Day chipped in 11 points for the Yellow Jackets victory. Day recorded 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals, while Steinbrunner added 4 rebounds and 2 steals.
Another key factor in the Yellow Jacket’s big win is the bench. Junior, Lexie Sparks recorded 8 points off the bench. In total, the DC bench outscored Franklin’s bench 19-17. The Yellow Jackets won the HCAC contest, 65-60. The women’s team would face off next on Sunday, January 23rd, at home against the Hiram Terriers. The men’s team quickly faced off at 4 pm in the Karl H. Weaner Center against the Franklin Grizzlies (8-9, 4-6), soaring past them to round out the day of HCAC action.
The Yellow Jackets defeated the Grizzlies 65-52. The Yellow Jackets were led to victory by a strong starting bench. Seniors Tyler Andrew and Marell Jordan chipped in 12 and 7 points. Andre Edwards added 10 rebounds, and sophomore Dejsani Beamon added 9 points. Other key components to this big Yellow Jacket win include the bench outscoring the Grizzlies bench 31- 27, shooting 26 of 63 as a team from the field and outscoring the Grizzlies 11-2 off turnovers.
The energy within the Karl H. Weaner Center also helped to excel the Yellow Jackets to a win. The Yellow Jackets improve to 6-8 overall. The Yellow Jackets will hit the road for their next three games, looking to collect wins at the HCAC competitors Mt. St. Joseph University (6-10-0), Hanover College (13-2-0), and Manchester University (7-10-). Rounding out the weekend, the DC Women’s team continued to play again on Sunday, January 23rd, versus a non-HCAC opponent, the Hiram Terriers (4-11).
The Yellow Jackets played a tough game, losing the game 70-69 to a buzzer-beater shot made by the Terriers in the final seconds of the fourth quarter. The Jackets fought tooth and nail with a big-time performance from junior Taylor Steinbrunner. Steinbrunner surpassed her career-high of 25 points from earlier this season against HCAC opponent Mt. St. Joe, recording a total of 26 points against Hiram. Steinbrunner also added 7 rebounds and 3 assists. Other significant game contributors include junior Lexie Sparks adding 9 points and 5 rebounds off the bench, sophomore Kylie Brinkman adding 8 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals, and senior Nysha Speed adding 8 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals. The Yellow Jackets move to 9-6 overall and 6th in the HCAC.
You can catch more Yellow Jacket action this Wednesday, January 26th, at home as they take on HCAC opponent, Mt. St. Joseph. Tip-off is scheduled to start at 6:00 pm.
On November 30, 1924, a strong, intelligent woman who wasn’t afraid to break down barriers was born in Brooklyn, New York. This woman is Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm.
Shirley was the oldest of four sisters, and her parents were immigrants. When she was five years old, she and two sisters were sent to their grandmother’s house in Barbados, where they could be taken care of.
Shirley once said, “Granny gave me strength, dignity, and love. I learned from an early age that I was somebody. I didn’t need the black revolution to tell me that”.
Shirly lived on her grandmother’s farm and attended a one-room schoolhouse until 1934, when she returned to the United States. In 1939 Shirly attended Girls’ High School in Brooklyn, where she thrived in academics and became Vice President of the Junior Arista Honor Society.
After high school, Shirley attended Brooklyn College, where she didn’t have to pay for tuition due to scholarships and could live at home and commute to school.
Shirley graduated college in 1946, majored in Sociology, and minored in Spanish. Shirley was a member of Delta Sigma Theta and the Harriet Tubman Society. In the late 1940s, Shirley met Conrad O. Chisholm, and they would later wed in 1949.
After graduating from college, Shirly began working as a teacher’s aide at the Mt. Calvary Child Care Center in Harlem. While she was teaching, she attended night classes at Teachers College Columbia University and earned her masters in Childhood Education in 1951.
Shirley entered the political world in 1953, where she joined Wesley “Mac” Holder’s effort to elect Lewis Flagg Jr. to the bench as the first black judge in Brooklyn. Later, Shirley left the Flagg election group in 1958 after they transformed into the Bedford–Stuyvesant Political League (BSPL).
Shirley left due to clashing with the group, where she wanted to push to give more female members of the group more input, but the group didn’t agree. Shirley worked and volunteered in clubs like the Brooklyn Democratic Club and League of Women Voters.
Photo from history.com
In 1960 Shirley joined the Unity Democratic Club, where she helped campaign Thomas R. Jones run for an assembly seat and won after their second try, which made Jones Brooklyn’s second black assemblyman. Shirley was a New York State Assembly member from 1965 to 1968.
Then in 1968, Shirley was elected as the Democratic National Committeewoman. In 1960 Shirley ran for the US House of Representatives for the New York 12th Congressional District. Quickly Shirley gained organizational support, and her slogan was “Unbought and unbossed.”
On June 18, 1968, Shirley won the primary election in an upset election beating James Farmer, making Shirley the first black woman elected into Congress.
When Shirley entered into Congress, the Speaker of the House assigned Shirley to serve on the House Agriculture Committee even though she represented an urban district.
Shirley found this placement irrelevant to her constituents and was very angry about the placement. Shirley confided in Rebbe Menachem M. Schneerson about her anger about the placement. Schneerson suggested that Shirley use surplus food to help the poor and hungry. She would go on to do just that.
Shirley worked hard on expanding the food stamp program. She played a critical role in creating the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
She finally was rewarded a place on the Education and Labor Committee, which was the committee she wanted all along.
Later, Shirley was assigned to the Veteran’s Affairs Committee.
During Shirley’s days in Congress, she only hired women for her Washington DC office and Brooklyn District office, and half of them were black. In the later years of her term, she did hire some men, but most of her employees were women. Shirley would later state that she faced more discrimination due to her gender than her race.
In 1971 Shirley joined the Congressional Black Caucus as its founding member. In the same year, she was also a founding member of the National Women’s Political Caucus. On January 25, 1972, in a baptist church in Shirley’s district in Brooklyn, Shirley announced her presidential bid.
Shirley became the first African American for a major party’s nomination for the President of the United States. This also made Shirley the first woman to ever run for the Democratic Party’s Presidential Nomination.
Shirley stated, “I am not the candidate of black America, although I am black and proud. I am not the candidate for the Women’s Movement of this country, although I am a woman and equally proud of that. I am the candidate of the people, and my presence before you symbolizes a new era in American political history”.
Unfortunately, Shirley wasn’t taken seriously as a candidate and didn’t win the nomination to be the Democratic Nominee for the Presidential election.
In February of 1982, Shirley announced her retirement. Even though she was retired, she was still involved in politics and returned to teaching.
On January 1, 2005, Shirly Chisholm passed away, leaving an inspiring legacy behind as well as her slogan “unbought and unbossed.”
I am excited and proud to introduce you to Taylor Day. Taylor is currently a senior at Defiance College and is from West Mansfield, Ohio.
She currently has a major in business administration with a minor in sports management. After finishing her undergrad, she plans to continue at Defiance College to get her MBA.
After she graduates, she plans to get a job in marketing for a sports team or coaching. Taylor’s dream job would be to live out in Los Angeles, California, and be part of the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team.
She decided to commit to Defiance College because of the people; she came to a different town and felt like she had never left home.
Photos take from DC Athletes page https://www.defianceathletics.com/sports/wbkb/2021-22/bios/day_taylor_yn7o?view=photos
Some advice she has for the first- and second-year students include: attending every one of your classes and developing time management skills early on so you can get a schedule for yourself that allows you to do what you want to do.
Taylor is involved in the women’s basketball team and Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC).
Taylor’s favorite part of being a member of SAAC is that it allows student-athletes to have a voice in what goes on around them and how students can make improvements to make being a student-athlete better while being on campus. As a result of also being on the basketball team, she has learned many lessons such as controlling the controllable. Taylor believes that there are so many situations that a student-athlete can be placed in but if you control what you can control, you can then make the best out of it.
Being on the basketball team here at Defiance College has led Taylor to make some memories that she will never forget. One of her favorite memories is that her first year, they were playing Anderson, and they won the jump, and she was so excited that she went the wrong way and ended up turning the ball over to them as a result of the over and back violation.
Her whole team and she joked about that for a while, but then her sophomore year, when she played against Anderson, it was a close game to the end, and there were ten seconds left on the clock in the fourth. They had the ball and were running a play called Strong and ended up messing it up a little bit but eventually figured it out.
Taylor got the ball on the free-throw line and made the game-winning layup to put them up by two points, resulting in a win rather than playing overtime. Taylor believes that her whole team celebrated after the game accordingly, and it ended up being a better highlight than her first year incident with Anderson.
Some of Taylor’s favorite non-sport memories here at Defiance College are the friends that she has made. In her first year, she met Briawna Francis. On the first day in McReynolds, they walked up and down every hallway and said hello to everyone and anybody they saw or encountered. They still talk about it to this day how open they were to make new friends on the first day.
To conclude, by being involved in the basketball team and SACC, she has made memories that will last a lifetime.
Kellemes Ünnepeket, or in English, Happy Holidays.
Something that many don’t know is that I am Hungarian-American. Many years ago, my great-great-grandfather and great-great-grandmother came to the United States from Hungary in hopes of a better life, not only for themselves but for their children and the generations of children to come.
In Hungary, our family’s last name was Varga, but when they came to America, they changed the name to Vargo to fit in and not stick out like a sore thumb. Over the years, traditions of our culture were lost and forgotten, but my father was determined to show me my Hungarian heritage.
December 5 and December 6 is a very exciting time for many people, especially in Europe and those of the Catholic faith. Growing up, I was told that on December 5, you put your shoes out on the windowsill. While you are sleeping, Szent Mikulás, also known as Saint Nicholas in English, comes door-to-door and puts chocolate, small toys, and fruit in your shoes if you were good, but if you were bad, he would put coal, onions, and potatoes in your shoes.
It wasn’t uncommon to find a potato or onion in your shoe besides a bunch of goodies to symbolize that no one is really good all the time. I decided to do some research, and I found some things left out in the childhood stories. Many countries celebrate Saint Nicholas Day in Europe and around the world.
Each country has different traditions, which makes finding information quite difficult because the traditions start blending together, but in reality, each country is different. In some countries, if you were bad, you receive a stick painted in gold paint rapped in a red paper that was put in your shoe with coal. In others, the children had to clean their rooms and polish their shoes before they could be placed on the windowsill.
When I was looking at traditions in Hungary, I found that there are old tails of an evil devil that accompanies Saint Nicholas called Karampuz, who takes away the bad children. I knew growing up that in other countries, especially in Germany, Karampuz was an evil devil, but I had no clue this was a thing in Hungary.
I found out that during the 1800s, late into the night on December 5, men would put coal on their faces and walk down the streets with shackles to scare the women and children. This was eventually banned because too many kids thought they would die, and people saw how terrified this was making the children. When it comes to the holidays, every family celebrates them differently. Everyone has the traditions that make the holidays special to them.
This year my family and I will eat chocolate and fruit on December 6 as our way of celebrating Saint Nickolas day. Then on Christmas Eve, we will eat a traditional Hungarian fish soup called halászlé and many Hungarian baked goods. After dinner, we will then go to the Christmas Eve church service. When we get home, we will watch Mickey Mouse Once Upon a Christmas.
On Christmas day, we will open presents, eat a bunch of food, and watch a bunch of Christmas movies. The Christmas holiday has always been special to me. Especially when it comes to learning about my Hungarian heritage. This holiday season, spend it with those who you love and hold dear.
If you can, take the time to ask questions about your family heritage and cherish the beautiful traditions that your family has created. I hope that everyone has a wonderful and happy holiday, and I hope it is filled with joy and happiness.
Did you know, according to Firstcry Parenting 24 Interesting Facts and Information About Christmas for Kids states that “Alabama was the first state in the US to recognize Christmas as a holiday in the year 1836?”
Christmas Day has been a federal holiday across the United States since 1870. As Americans began to embrace Christmas as a family holiday, old customs and traditions were changed. People started to look towards immigrants and Catholic churches to see how the day should be celebrated.
Throughout the next several years, Americans built a Christmas tradition all their own that included pieces of many other customs, including decorating trees, sending holiday cards, and gift-giving.
To celebrate Christmas in other countries, people give gifts to friends and loved ones, symbolizing the original offerings by the Magi of Gold.
In Mexico, during the several days leading up to Christmas, there are reenactments of Mary and Joseph’s search for an inn where they believed Jesus was born.
On Christmas Day, children throughout Mexico take turns batting a pinata stuffed with toys and holiday-themed candy. Even though Christmas is celebrated all over the country, different countries celebrate Christmas in different ways based on their beliefs and traditions.
In America, Christmas is celebrated annually on December 25 and is both a religious holiday and a worldwide cultural phenomenon. Christians worldwide celebrate Christmas Day as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus.
Some popular traditions that Americans will celebrate Christmas include exchanging gifts, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends, and most importantly, waiting for Santa Claus to come.
Christmas in America is a time of year for families and friends to get together and put up Christmas decorations, have gift exchanges, go Christmas caroling, go Christmas shopping and watch Christmas movies. Some of the most popular Christmas movies include National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, The Santa Claus, Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, Elf, A Christmas Story, and Frosty The Snowman.
There is also a wide variety of different Christmas carols that are popular. Some of the most popular Christmas carols include White Christmas, Jingle Bells, The First Noel, Away in a Manager, This Christmas, Jingle Bell Rock, Feliz Navidad, Rockin Around the Christmas Tree, All I Want For Christmas Is You, and Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer.
To conclude, Christmas is a time of year where families and friends gather to celebrate Christmas and their beliefs.
What is the best way to get in the spirit of Christmas? According to Elf, “The best way to spread Christma cheer is singing loud for all to hear!” There are many types of Christmas music you should check out to help get in the spirit of the holiday season!
Carols Carols can be traced back to the 12th century in Europe. They also began as folk songs and hymns that observed winter and were not religious pieces.
In the 1400s, Jon Audelay created a list of 25 Christmas carols, and this list would be sung by people who would go around and sing to others, also known as carolers. Eventually, these songs were published, and the music became more accessible to everyone.
Classical Music Some examples of classical Christmas music songs are “While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night” and “Joy to the Word.” Many classical Christmas music songs were commissioned by the church to be used for their services. The songs were also written by many classical music composers like Bach, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, and Vivaldi.
Contemporary During the 1800s, carols and classical music were still very well-liked. Then, from the 1930s to the 1950s, Christmas music went through its kind of revival or rebirth. Songs began to shift from a religious point of view to other holiday themes. These themes included Christmas trees, Santa Clause, snowmen, and more. Christmas music during this time also started to be performed by well-liked musicians like Bing Crosby and Judy Garland. This led many musicians like Bob Dylan, Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys, The Jackson Five, The Supremes, and Wham! to record Christmas songs after the 1950s.
Check out this recent list of the 70 best Christmas songs of all time https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/christmas-ideas/g2680/christmas-songs/?slide=1
