Melissa Bray
@melissabray.bsky.social
Higher ed instructional designer, dog lover, chocoholic, bargain shopper, Orangetheory addict.
This. All day, every day. “What we’re really scared of is that the people in power have not got our back and they don’t give a shit about whether we survive or not.”
www.theguardian.com/wellness/ng-...
www.theguardian.com/wellness/ng-...
Systems are crumbling - but daily life continues. The dissonance is real
If everything feels broken but strangely normal, the Soviet-era concept of hypernormalization can help
www.theguardian.com
May 23, 2025 at 1:51 PM
This. All day, every day. “What we’re really scared of is that the people in power have not got our back and they don’t give a shit about whether we survive or not.”
www.theguardian.com/wellness/ng-...
www.theguardian.com/wellness/ng-...
The featured individual for this last day of Black History Month is Amanda Gorman. You may remember her poem "The Hill We Climb" from Joe Biden's inauguration four years ago (www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ05...).
WATCH: Amanda Gorman reads inauguration poem, 'The Hill We Climb'
YouTube video by PBS NewsHour
www.youtube.com
February 28, 2025 at 4:43 PM
The featured individual for this last day of Black History Month is Amanda Gorman. You may remember her poem "The Hill We Climb" from Joe Biden's inauguration four years ago (www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ05...).
Today's Black History Month post honors the 655 women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion (aka The Six Triple Eight). This group of WACs was the only African-American battalion sent to Europe during the war.
February 27, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Today's Black History Month post honors the 655 women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion (aka The Six Triple Eight). This group of WACs was the only African-American battalion sent to Europe during the war.
On this date in 1964, at the age of 22, Cassius Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali, but most people simply refer to him as "The Greatest." Ali stood by his principles when in 1967 he refused to be drafted to fight in Vietnam.
February 26, 2025 at 4:53 PM
On this date in 1964, at the age of 22, Cassius Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali, but most people simply refer to him as "The Greatest." Ali stood by his principles when in 1967 he refused to be drafted to fight in Vietnam.
Today's Black History Month post honors Roberta Flack, who passed away yesterday (02.24.2025) at the age of 88. Flack cut her teeth in music by accompanying the Lomax African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church choir on the piano.
February 25, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Today's Black History Month post honors Roberta Flack, who passed away yesterday (02.24.2025) at the age of 88. Flack cut her teeth in music by accompanying the Lomax African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church choir on the piano.
Today's Black History Month honoree comes courtesy of my husband Andrew Bray. Horace Silver is Andrew's favorite jazz pianist. In addition to playing the piano, he also played the tenor saxophone and was a composer and arranger of the "hard bop" style of jazz that was popular in the 1950s.
February 24, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Today's Black History Month honoree comes courtesy of my husband Andrew Bray. Horace Silver is Andrew's favorite jazz pianist. In addition to playing the piano, he also played the tenor saxophone and was a composer and arranger of the "hard bop" style of jazz that was popular in the 1950s.
Today's Black History Month post features Indianapolis' own Madam C.J. Walker. Walker is recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records as the first female, self-made millionaire in America. She earned her fortune by developing and selling cosmetics and hair-care products for African-American women.
February 23, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Today's Black History Month post features Indianapolis' own Madam C.J. Walker. Walker is recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records as the first female, self-made millionaire in America. She earned her fortune by developing and selling cosmetics and hair-care products for African-American women.
Sticking with the music theme...Today's Black History Month post features DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (aka Will Smith) who won the first Grammy for Best Rap Performance in 1989, the first year that rap was included in the awards.
February 22, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Sticking with the music theme...Today's Black History Month post features DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (aka Will Smith) who won the first Grammy for Best Rap Performance in 1989, the first year that rap was included in the awards.
I'm behind on my Black History Month posts. I was at a conference yesterday. So, here's the one for 02.21.2025.
Quincy Jones, the producer behind Michael Jackson's Thriller and Bad albums and the "We Are the World" collaboration, was an EGOT (winner of an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award).
Quincy Jones, the producer behind Michael Jackson's Thriller and Bad albums and the "We Are the World" collaboration, was an EGOT (winner of an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award).
February 22, 2025 at 4:54 PM
I'm behind on my Black History Month posts. I was at a conference yesterday. So, here's the one for 02.21.2025.
Quincy Jones, the producer behind Michael Jackson's Thriller and Bad albums and the "We Are the World" collaboration, was an EGOT (winner of an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award).
Quincy Jones, the producer behind Michael Jackson's Thriller and Bad albums and the "We Are the World" collaboration, was an EGOT (winner of an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award).
To pick up from yesterday's post about Ruby Bridges, today we'll take a look at Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American to serve as a Supreme Court Justice (1967-1991).
February 20, 2025 at 6:44 PM
To pick up from yesterday's post about Ruby Bridges, today we'll take a look at Thurgood Marshall, the first African-American to serve as a Supreme Court Justice (1967-1991).
On November 4, 1960, a 6-year-old Ruby Bridges was escorted by federal marshals into William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, LA, as a result of the Supreme Court's ruling in Brown v. the Board of Education against segregated schools.
February 19, 2025 at 4:09 PM
On November 4, 1960, a 6-year-old Ruby Bridges was escorted by federal marshals into William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, LA, as a result of the Supreme Court's ruling in Brown v. the Board of Education against segregated schools.
Along with Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison is one of my all-time favorite authors. Morrison was born on this date (02.18) in 1931 in Lorain, OH. Her works earned her numerous accolades including the Pulitzer Prize for Beloved and the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993.
February 18, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Along with Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison is one of my all-time favorite authors. Morrison was born on this date (02.18) in 1931 in Lorain, OH. Her works earned her numerous accolades including the Pulitzer Prize for Beloved and the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993.
Today's Black History Month post celebrates our first Black president Barack Obama (today is also President's Day). While he wasn't a perfect president (no president has been), he brought joy and hope to the office and the country.
February 17, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Today's Black History Month post celebrates our first Black president Barack Obama (today is also President's Day). While he wasn't a perfect president (no president has been), he brought joy and hope to the office and the country.
Today's Black History Month post celebrates the birthday of @levarburton.bsky.social, who was born on this day in 1957. Burton is known for his roles of Kunta Kinte in the ABC miniseries Roots and Geordi La Forge in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
February 16, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Today's Black History Month post celebrates the birthday of @levarburton.bsky.social, who was born on this day in 1957. Burton is known for his roles of Kunta Kinte in the ABC miniseries Roots and Geordi La Forge in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Today's Black History Month post honors the artwork of Faith Ringgold. Ringgold was a painter, author, and activist, who was probably best known for her narrative quilts, including "The Sunflower Quilting Bee at Arles."
February 15, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Today's Black History Month post honors the artwork of Faith Ringgold. Ringgold was a painter, author, and activist, who was probably best known for her narrative quilts, including "The Sunflower Quilting Bee at Arles."
Since today is Valentine's Day, my Black History Month post honors Loving v. Virginia, the 1967 Supreme Court case that ruled against laws banning interracial marriage. Richard and Mildred Loving were married in Washington, D.C. in 1958.
February 14, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Since today is Valentine's Day, my Black History Month post honors Loving v. Virginia, the 1967 Supreme Court case that ruled against laws banning interracial marriage. Richard and Mildred Loving were married in Washington, D.C. in 1958.
For you sports fans out there...Today (02.13) in 1923, the first all-Black professional basketball team in the U.S. was founded by Robert Douglas in Harlem. The New York Renaissance, or the Rens or the Big R 5, traveled the country through the '20s and '30s, often competing against all-white teams.
February 13, 2025 at 4:25 PM
For you sports fans out there...Today (02.13) in 1923, the first all-Black professional basketball team in the U.S. was founded by Robert Douglas in Harlem. The New York Renaissance, or the Rens or the Big R 5, traveled the country through the '20s and '30s, often competing against all-white teams.
On this date 117 years (02.12.1909), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded. One of the founding members was W.E.B Du Bois. Du Bois was a prominent intellectual of the time and was the first Black person to earn a Ph.D from Harvard.
February 12, 2025 at 2:32 PM
On this date 117 years (02.12.1909), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was founded. One of the founding members was W.E.B Du Bois. Du Bois was a prominent intellectual of the time and was the first Black person to earn a Ph.D from Harvard.
Since South Africa is again in the news, today's Black History Month post honors the release of Nelson Mandela from jail on this date in 1990. Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years for organizing an "illegal" strike as he stood up to the racist practices of apartheid.
February 11, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Since South Africa is again in the news, today's Black History Month post honors the release of Nelson Mandela from jail on this date in 1990. Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years for organizing an "illegal" strike as he stood up to the racist practices of apartheid.
Maya Angelou is one of my favorite authors. Her autobiographies paint a picture of her life (and the many struggles she overcame), but they read like works of fiction. She was also a renowned poet and a civil rights activist, and for these reasons, she is today's Black History Month honoree.
February 10, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Maya Angelou is one of my favorite authors. Her autobiographies paint a picture of her life (and the many struggles she overcame), but they read like works of fiction. She was also a renowned poet and a civil rights activist, and for these reasons, she is today's Black History Month honoree.
Reposted by Melissa Bray
USAID was founded by John F. Kennedy in 1961.
The Kremlin has wanted to destroy it ever since then.
So if you're seeing or repeating anti-USAID talking points -- remember that you're consuming or spreading propaganda from Moscow.
The Kremlin has wanted to destroy it ever since then.
So if you're seeing or repeating anti-USAID talking points -- remember that you're consuming or spreading propaganda from Moscow.
February 9, 2025 at 9:22 PM
USAID was founded by John F. Kennedy in 1961.
The Kremlin has wanted to destroy it ever since then.
So if you're seeing or repeating anti-USAID talking points -- remember that you're consuming or spreading propaganda from Moscow.
The Kremlin has wanted to destroy it ever since then.
So if you're seeing or repeating anti-USAID talking points -- remember that you're consuming or spreading propaganda from Moscow.
For this Super Bowl Sunday Black History Month post, I decided to honor the best half-time show (IMHO) - Prince's performance at Super Bowl XLI. Seriously? Purple Rain in the rain - amazing! As an added bonus the Indianapolis Colts won.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WYY...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WYY...
Prince - Super Bowl XLI 🏈 | Halftime Show 2007 FULL SHOW HD
YouTube video by Music Entertainment
www.youtube.com
February 9, 2025 at 2:32 PM
For this Super Bowl Sunday Black History Month post, I decided to honor the best half-time show (IMHO) - Prince's performance at Super Bowl XLI. Seriously? Purple Rain in the rain - amazing! As an added bonus the Indianapolis Colts won.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WYY...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WYY...
Reposted by Melissa Bray
this website shows you how many jobs NIH funding creates for your state along with the overall economic activity generated
www.unitedformedicalresearch.org/nih-in-your-...
www.unitedformedicalresearch.org/nih-in-your-...
NIH In Your State - United For Medical Research
Select a state on the map to see the impact of NIH funding across America.
www.unitedformedicalresearch.org
February 8, 2025 at 10:02 PM
this website shows you how many jobs NIH funding creates for your state along with the overall economic activity generated
www.unitedformedicalresearch.org/nih-in-your-...
www.unitedformedicalresearch.org/nih-in-your-...
Encouraging words from an amazing woman.
To learn more about Harriet Tubman, see www.nps.gov/people/harri...
To learn more about Harriet Tubman, see www.nps.gov/people/harri...
February 8, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Encouraging words from an amazing woman.
To learn more about Harriet Tubman, see www.nps.gov/people/harri...
To learn more about Harriet Tubman, see www.nps.gov/people/harri...
Reposted by Melissa Bray
One of the key points of non-violent direct action is to force the authorities to stop you -- to force their hand, to make them arrest you, and yes, perhaps even make them lash out in violence -- and to broadcast those images to an otherwise apathetic public.
Be confrontational, not compliant.
Be confrontational, not compliant.
February 7, 2025 at 3:46 PM
One of the key points of non-violent direct action is to force the authorities to stop you -- to force their hand, to make them arrest you, and yes, perhaps even make them lash out in violence -- and to broadcast those images to an otherwise apathetic public.
Be confrontational, not compliant.
Be confrontational, not compliant.