Melissa Bray
@melissabray.bsky.social
Higher ed instructional designer, dog lover, chocoholic, bargain shopper, Orangetheory addict.
Beyond being a boxer, Ali was also a humanitarian and philanthropist. He donated time and money to feed the hungry and support the United Negro College Fund. He understood the importance of an education.
To learn more about Muhammad Ali, see alicenter.org
To learn more about Muhammad Ali, see alicenter.org
February 26, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Beyond being a boxer, Ali was also a humanitarian and philanthropist. He donated time and money to feed the hungry and support the United Negro College Fund. He understood the importance of an education.
To learn more about Muhammad Ali, see alicenter.org
To learn more about Muhammad Ali, see alicenter.org
Before hitting the charts, she was a junior high music teacher and taught private piano lessons. She also spent her nights singing in D.C. jazz clubs, where she was ultimately "discovered."
February 25, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Before hitting the charts, she was a junior high music teacher and taught private piano lessons. She also spent her nights singing in D.C. jazz clubs, where she was ultimately "discovered."
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.
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.
Her books shed light on the consequences of racism in the U.S., which we are still (sadly) experiencing today, and the Black American experience.
February 18, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Her books shed light on the consequences of racism in the U.S., which we are still (sadly) experiencing today, and the Black American experience.
He strove to make lives better for all Americans and successfully (although imperfectly) guided the country out of the Great Recession. He is a champion of the arts and sciences. Nothing brought me more joy during his presidency than watching him interact with little children - our country's future.
February 17, 2025 at 4:21 PM
He strove to make lives better for all Americans and successfully (although imperfectly) guided the country out of the Great Recession. He is a champion of the arts and sciences. Nothing brought me more joy during his presidency than watching him interact with little children - our country's future.
For me, though, his most pivotal role was as the host of Reading Rainbow. You can still watch episodes at www.readingrainbow.org . You might also enjoy Burton's Podcast, often dubbed "Reading Rainbow for Adults," where he reads short stories by well-known authors - levarburton.com/podcasts/ .
February 16, 2025 at 2:17 PM
For me, though, his most pivotal role was as the host of Reading Rainbow. You can still watch episodes at www.readingrainbow.org . You might also enjoy Burton's Podcast, often dubbed "Reading Rainbow for Adults," where he reads short stories by well-known authors - levarburton.com/podcasts/ .
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.
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...
Today's Black History Month post features Jesse Owens, the track and field Olympian who shattered Hitler's racist ideology at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. He certainly embodied the Olympic motto "Citius, Altius, Fortius – Communiter," which translates to "Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together."
February 7, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Today's Black History Month post features Jesse Owens, the track and field Olympian who shattered Hitler's racist ideology at the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. He certainly embodied the Olympic motto "Citius, Altius, Fortius – Communiter," which translates to "Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together."
Today's Black History Month post features Alice Walker, most famously known as the author of The Color Purple and an American activist and poet.
February 6, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Today's Black History Month post features Alice Walker, most famously known as the author of The Color Purple and an American activist and poet.
In honor of Lt. Col. Harry Stewart Jr., who passed away on Sunday at the age of 100, today's Black History Month post focuses on the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of primarily African-American pilots who fought valiantly during World War II.
February 5, 2025 at 3:55 PM
In honor of Lt. Col. Harry Stewart Jr., who passed away on Sunday at the age of 100, today's Black History Month post focuses on the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of primarily African-American pilots who fought valiantly during World War II.
Today's Black History Month moment honors Rosa Parks, who would have been 112 today. Rosa sat so others could stand. To learn more about Rosa Parks and her activism, which extends beyond remaining seated on the bus, you can check out en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_Pa... .
February 4, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Today's Black History Month moment honors Rosa Parks, who would have been 112 today. Rosa sat so others could stand. To learn more about Rosa Parks and her activism, which extends beyond remaining seated on the bus, you can check out en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_Pa... .
In honor of the start of Black History Month, which this white girl is going to celebrate in honor of all the contributions minorities have made to this country, here are some wise words from the late John Lewis.
February 1, 2025 at 12:52 PM
In honor of the start of Black History Month, which this white girl is going to celebrate in honor of all the contributions minorities have made to this country, here are some wise words from the late John Lewis.
A timeline cleanse...Someone was determined to get the last pieces of popcorn out of the bag.
January 26, 2025 at 1:05 AM
A timeline cleanse...Someone was determined to get the last pieces of popcorn out of the bag.