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An easy way to get your children involved in family history is to have them write for things they want. It doesn’t even require family history software for them to do it. The easiest thing for young ones to write about is simply about what happened to them that day or that week, or what things they are looking forward to. Both of these things make for a great family record. What follows below will serve as an example for you because it is actually written by my tweenage son.

On Monday my cousins came over. On Monday it was a break from school because it was Martin Luther King Jr day and we all had school off. My cousins Peter and Joey were coming over. On Monday morning when I stirred from sleep I questioned my mother as to the hour they would be visiting. She said they would be over between 11:00 and 12:00 that morning. That morning we moved the Wii and Playstation downstairs with the TV. We were having some behavior problems that morning and so my dad gathered everyone around in the front room and he had sat down. He said in a calm voice, “We have been having some trouble this morning and I would like everyone to tell us something they will do today to make us all happier.” I said I would not bother my siblings because I have a problem with that. My sister May said she would help out our baby brother Ricky to not scream. My sister Samantha said she could help my mom clean the house. And my sister Haley said she would not make Ricky scream.

After the meeting I went upstairs and I grabbed my clothes. I went and took a shower because my hair was feeling oily. My mom had left to go run errands. Later when it was about 11:00, I had decided that I would hide in the bushes and scare my cousins when they came to the door. I realized they might take a while so I went back in and I asked Samantha if she wanted to come scare them with me. We went outside right as my mom pulled up. We helped her take groceries inside the house. Earlier that day I asked my mom what we were having for lunch and she said she will probably go pick up a pizza.

I told her I was quite tired of pizza and I asked if she could get hot dogs. When she got back from the store I looked through the bags as usual to see what she got. My mom had got hot dogs and barbecue chips (Hooray!). I asked when they were coming and she said she had just talked to my Aunt and they had already left and were on the freeway.

This ends part one. You can find worthwhile family tree software and a good family tree diagram if you take the time to look.

Technorati Tags: Baby Brother, Behavior Problems, Brother Ricky, Bushes, Calm Voice, Cousins, Dad, Downstairs, Easiest Thing, Family History, family history software, Family Tree, family tree diagram, family tree software, Joey, Little Ones, Martin Luther King, Martin Luther King Jr, Mom, Monday Morning, Ricky, Siblings, Wii, Young Ones

College Scholarship for Black Student: Passport to Success

He was the designated National Spokesman for Nation of Islam, a religious and socio-political organization founded in the United States which is aimed to resurrect the mental, social, spiritual, and economic condition of black men and women in the country as well as on other parts of the world.

He is Malcolm X.

He was the famous leader of the American civil right movement and won the Nobel Peace Prize because of his promotion of peace and equal treatment of different races throughout the world.

He is Martin Luther King, Jr.

He is the three-time World Heavyweight Boxing Champion and one of the best pound-for-pound boxers ever existed, which made his way towards the Boxing Hall of Fame.

He is Muhammad Ali, or Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.

Each of them has their own world to explore and own business to attend. But there is one thing that binds them as one.

All of them are African-Americans, or also known as Black Americans.

A Black American is considered to be one of the members of an ethnic group in the United States, whose ancestors are traced its roots predominantly in Africa. Majority of them are descendants of African slaves who were transported from Central Africa through the Middle Passage to North America and the Caribbean during the trans-Atlantic slave trade (1609-1807). Others are immigrants from European and African nations who are classified by the United States census as African-American demographically instead of socially.

Their population is estimated to be at 40 million and they are predominantly Christians and Muslims. Furthermore, due to hundreds of events that happened within the history of the United States, Black Americans rose from the ethnic ranks and proved themselves to be called a majority class instead of being in the ethnic class. They have triumphed, producing Black American personalities who succeeded in their respective field of endeavors.

And all black college students want to succeed in reaching their respective dreams.

Despite of the popularity of various Black American personalities, poverty is still within the ranks of several Black American families. They experience difficulties in sending their children to college, particularly in exclusive universities such as Harvard and Yale. They can withstand the discrimination that is still present despite of everything that has happened, yet poverty is what they cannot withstand anymore.

Is there any hope for a black student to study in college?

Yes, there is.

And it is through getting a black college scholarship.

There are hundreds of scholarships available that are not just open to White Americans, but are also intended for Black American students. There you have the scholarships for minority students, college scholarships provided by Black American and African organizations (whether civic or religious), and government-sponsored scholarships for black students. The United States Constitution clearly states that there should be no discrimination in terms of getting a solid and well-provided education to its citizens. Whether you are a white or a black, you are entitled to receive a high quality of education in the country.

With these scholarships for aspiring black college students, they will be able to fulfill their dreams of becoming one of the successful personalities, just like Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, and Muhammad Ali, who have already left a mark in their respective fields of endeavor. Poverty is just a minor obstacle?there is hope on anything, including for a black student who want to take a step higher and get himself to college.

Technorati Tags: African Slaves, Atlantic Slave Trade, Boxing Hall Of Fame, Cassius Marcellus Clay, Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr, Christians And Muslims, Civil Right Movement, College Scholarship, Economic Condition, Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Martin Luther King, Martin Luther King Jr, Middle Passage, Muhammad Ali, Nation Of Islam, National Spokesman, Nobel Peace Prize, Trans Atlantic Slave Trade, United States Census, World Heavyweight Boxing Champion

All About Holiday Cards

You may think of holiday cards as being Christmas or Seasons Greetings cards, but really there are many more holiday cards than this one holiday. There are holiday cards for Christmas, Hanukah, Easter (or Resurrection Day), Thanksgiving, Halloween, Columbus Day, President’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Independence Day, New Years, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Grandparents Day, and Administrative Assistants Day. As you can see, there are many holidays we celebrate, and each of them have their own holiday cards.

Holiday cards were not always so popular. Only in the last several years have holiday cards been created for all of the holidays we celebrate as Americans. I was surprised to find Halloween and Thanksgiving holiday cards when I went Christmas card shopping last year. I later discovered that holiday cards are becoming more and more popular, as people send holiday cards all year round to their friends and family. It is becoming increasingly popular to send holiday cards to all of you friends and family at every opportunity, just to let them know you care.

Holiday cards come in all shapes and sizes. You can choose holiday cards that are uniform and simple, and send one to everyone on your list. Or, you can choose individual holiday cards suitable for each person based on personality and what holiday they celebrate. For example, if you know people who are Christian and people who are Jewish, you may choose to send a uniform card that says simply “Season’s Greetings.” On the other hand, you can choose to send your Christian friends Christmas holiday cards, and your Jewish friends Hanukah holiday cards. This way everyone feels special, and knows that you are thinking of them specifically.

Holiday cards can come with fancy pictures or cartoons, sentimental poetry or funny phrases, or even music or pop up figures. You can get holiday cards specifically for each member of your family. There are holiday cards for children, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, husbands, wives, and friends. There are romantic holiday cards, funny holiday cards, sexy holiday cards, and sentimental holiday cards.

You can find holiday cards at any general store, retail outlet, discount store, or holiday store. You can also find holiday cards at wholesale outlets, dollar stores, and specialty shops. The funniest and most sexy holiday cards can be found at novelty stores such as Spencer’s, found in most shopping malls.

Alternatively, you can make your own holiday cards with a little bit of glue, construction paper, a pair of scissors, and a lot of creativity. Children rather enjoy making holiday cards for their friends and family. Buying a holiday card is not nearly so much fun as making one yourself. Also, the home-made holiday card from your favorite child means much more than a uniform holiday card purchased in a store.

Regardless of who you are sending a holiday card to, you are sure to find the perfect holiday card to suit that person’s interests and hobbies. From Harley Davidson to Disney, holiday cards are an absolute must in every season.

Technorati Tags: Administrative Assistants, Christian Friends, Christmas Card, Christmas Holiday, Columbus Day, Funny Phrases, Grandparents Day, Hanukah, Holiday Cards, Independence Day, Jewish Friends, Last Several Years, Martin Luther King, Martin Luther King Day, Quot, Resurrection Day, Seasons Greetings Cards, Sentimental Poetry, Shapes And Sizes, Thanksgiving Holiday

A Troubled Time

From 1955 to 1965 there was a war right in the middle of America. No, it wasn?t a war like World War II or the Revolutionary War. It was a war for the heart and soul of this country to determine once and for all if America was really going to be a land of equal opportunity for all. It is a war that eventually took on the name of ?The Civil Rights Movement.?

We must make no mistake, this was not just a shouting match. Some of the events that we even remember today became quite brutal and deadly. Those who fought in this war on both sides were deadly serious about the causes they represented and willing to fight and even die to see their cause succeed. The war waged for years and steady progress was made but not without tremendous sacrifice by the leaders of the movement who were committed to a giving a new meaning to the phrase ?set my people free.?

In all of black history, there may be no more significant a time since the Civil War when the rights of African Americans were so deeply fought and won. The tensions in the country had been building. When the Supreme Court mandated desegregation in the schools in the historic case Brown versus the Board of Education, the stage was set. But it was on December 1, 1955 when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama to a white man that the movement finally took shape and became a titanic struggle for the rights of African Americans in America. That first battle brought to the front line one of the most important figures to fight for Civil Rights of that era, the Reverend Martin Luther King.

This tremendous struggle for freedom was never easy and was often marked with violence. Over the next ten years some of the most important milestone in black history took place including?

* 1957 ? President Eisenhower had to send federal troops to Arkansas to secure admission to Central High School by nine black students.

* 1960 ? The sit-in at Woolworths lunch counter in Greensboro North Carolina set the stage for nonviolent protest that was used with great success for the rest of the struggle. Nonviolent protest and civil disobedience became a staple of the civil rights movement because of the influence of Martin Luther King.

* 1963 ? The historic March on Washington in which over 200,000 people gathered to hear Dr. Kings famous ?I Have a Dream? speech.

* 1964 ? President Lyndon Johnson signed the bill that was the most significant event of his presidency and one he believed deeply in, the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

* 1965 ? The assignation of Malcolm X and the Watts race rights.

* 1965 ? President Johnson takes another bold step to accelerate the civil rights movement implementing Affirmative Action when he issues Executive Order 11246.

This short list is just a few of the highlights of this troubled time in which the rights of all citizens of American, black and white and of all colors were being redefined both on the streets, in the courts and in the different branches of government. In the years to come there would be great steps forward. One by one, every area of American life would see breakthroughs by African Americans in the areas of sports, entertainment, education and politics. There were many proud moments and there were moments of tremendous shame and heinous acts committed by both white and black people. But through all that struggle, the society continued to grow and adapt to the will of the people as has always been the tradition in American culture.

The struggle is far from over. Discrimination and hate speech continue to be a problem to this day. And while it is easy to reflect on those days of struggle with regret, we can also look at them with pride. We can be proud of the great leaders who demonstrated tremendous courage and wisdom to lead this nation to a better way of life. And we can be proud of America because it is here where such a struggle can result in equality and freedom for all citizens, not just a few.

Technorati Tags: Black History, Black Students, Brown Versus The Board Of Education, Civil Rights Movement, Desegregation, Federal Troops, Greensboro North Carolina, Heart And Soul, Martin Luther King, Montgomery Alabama, President Eisenhower, Reverend Martin, Rosa Parks, Shouting Match, Steady Progress, Titanic Struggle, Troubled Time, White Man, Woolworths, World War Ii

Black Power

In the history of African Americans in this country, there have been some tremendous movements and images that seem to capture the mood of the country and the black community at that time. And this one phrase ?black power? is without a doubt one of the most simple and elegant statements of pride and unity in the black community. But it was also a phrase that came to represent the more violent and objectionable side of the struggle for equality in the black community. And that makes it a controversial phrase then and now.

Probably the greatest image of black power is the strong hand of a black man, clenched in a black glove and raised in the air in defiance and pride. Never has that salute been used so perfectly as it was at the 1968 Olympics when Tommy Smith and John Carlos raised the black power fist complete with black glove as they received their medals for their performances at those Olympic Games.

The phrase ?black power? was not coined in a march or riot as might be implied. It was actually created by Robert Williams, the head of the NAACP in the early sixties. But it really started becoming a ?street term? when it was adopted by Makasa Dada and Stokely Carmichael, founders of The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee which was the precursor to the famous Black Panther Party.

Sadly the black power movement became characterized by radical elements that went much further than seeking the goals of Martin Luther King and the rest of the civil rights movement?s leadership. These radical elements sought black separation and social change by violent means. And so in a time when there was tremendous turmoil in the country because of the violence in Vietnam and on the streets of America because of that social strife, The Black Panthers and other fringe groups sewed fear and hatred in response to racism which at times made it more difficult to achieve long lasting change.

But there is good to be seen even in some of the darker elements of black history and the leadership who looked to find the best way forward for African Americans. Sometimes it is necessary for the radical elements to make themselves known so reasonable members of a community can know the outer limits and find compromise. This was a value to the black power movement because it did charge the discussion, albeit with violence and made the importance of reasonable Americans to come together to seek peaceful change all the more important.

But there is another good that came from the black power movement. Those images of the raised fist were images of a pride and a willingness to stand up for the rights of black Americans. They inspired a generation of young people to become more politically active, to stand up in their own world and make that statement made famous by James Brown ?Say it Loud. I?m Black and I?m Proud.? That pride is an important thing and for young people to find. They have to find it in their communities and in their heroes. So if black youth took pride and courage to face their own circumstances from the bold stance of leaders who, albeit radically, said loud that black America was now going to be a force to be reckoned with, the resultant call to action to the black community produced many more positive effects than negative ones. The fringe voice does speak what is in people?s hearts and by getting that anger and frustration out, it became part of the movement. That energy could be captured and used for good instead of evil. And the end result was a movement that was energized for change and to make life better for all of black America. And that was what everybody wanted.

Technorati Tags: 1968 Olympics, Black History, Black Panther Party, Black Panthers, Black Power Fist, Civil Rights Movement, Elegant Statements, Fear And Hatred, Fringe Groups, History Of African Americans, Makasa, Martin Luther King, Naacp, Radical Elements, Social Strife, Stokely Carmichael, Streets Of America, Strong Hand, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Tommy Smith

Finding Your Roots: African American Genealogy

It’s always fun finding out who you really are and the internet is one of the best tools available to do this. Although you may consider that you already know about yourself, the internet can be a very useful tool to let you find out a little bit of history about your family. You have to consider that it’s a great thing to know about your family’s past and know about relatives you didn?t even know existed.

The internet has numerous genealogy websites that you can use to find out about your family, who you were related with, and what kind of person you are. Some people use these websites for many reasons. Some say to find out about themselves and some even find out about their family just for fun. Whatever your reasons are, you have to consider that finding out about where you came from can be quite a thrilling experience. Just imagine, you may be related to Martin Luther King Jr. and you and your family doesn’t even know about it. Or, it can also be quite a surprise if you find out that you are a distant cousin of a famous African American superstar athlete, such as Kobe Bryant or Tiger Woods.

You have to consider that traces of your family ancestry can be lost in time. There are a lot of reasons why a family’s history die out. Some were affected by quarrels inside the family circle and others were affected by historical events that separated them from other members of the family. This is why some people retrace their ancestry in order to find out what happened to their long lost relatives.

Although the internet doesn?t contain all the necessary information about your family and the essential records, you have to consider that it is a useful tool to use in order to point you to the right direction. This will save you a lot of time finding those different vital records, such as marriage, death, and birth records.

African Americans have played a vital role in the United States of America’s history. They suffered from slavery, years of war and some migrated from Africa. If you are an African American and you wish to know more about your family’s history, you should try and find it on the internet. It will point you to where you should find the essential documents and guide you in obtaining seemingly unobtainable documents.

Although it is a fact that the path to your family’s history may seem like a rough path, you have to consider that knowing about your past will give you that sense of pride on knowing about your proud family history.

As you can see, it is always fun to know about your family’s ancestry. It will not only give you detailed reports on what happened to all your lost relatives all these years but it will also tell you who they are and what they achieved in life. Who knows, maybe you are a distant relative of a world famous African American.

Technorati Tags: African American Genealogy, African Americans, Best Tools, Birth Records, Distant Cousin, Essential Records, Family Ancestry, Family Circle, Historical Events, Kobe Bryant, Long Lost Relatives, Martin Luther King, Martin Luther King Jr, Members Of The Family, Quarrels, Right Direction, Superstar Athlete, Tiger Woods, Vital Records, Whatever Your Reasons

College Scholarship for Black Student: Passport to Success

He was the designated National Spokesman for Nation of Islam, a religious and socio-political organization founded in the United States which is aimed to resurrect the mental, social, spiritual, and economic condition of black men and women in the country as well as on other parts of the world.

He is Malcolm X.

He was the famous leader of the American civil right movement and won the Nobel Peace Prize because of his promotion of peace and equal treatment of different races throughout the world.

He is Martin Luther King, Jr.

He is the three-time World Heavyweight Boxing Champion and one of the best pound-for-pound boxers ever existed, which made his way towards the Boxing Hall of Fame.

He is Muhammad Ali, or Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.

Each of them has their own world to explore and own business to attend. But there is one thing that binds them as one.

All of them are African-Americans, or also known as Black Americans.

A Black American is considered to be one of the members of an ethnic group in the United States, whose ancestors are traced its roots predominantly in Africa. Majority of them are descendants of African slaves who were transported from Central Africa through the Middle Passage to North America and the Caribbean during the trans-Atlantic slave trade (1609-1807). Others are immigrants from European and African nations who are classified by the United States census as African-American demographically instead of socially.

Their population is estimated to be at 40 million and they are predominantly Christians and Muslims. Furthermore, due to hundreds of events that happened within the history of the United States, Black Americans rose from the ethnic ranks and proved themselves to be called a majority class instead of being in the ethnic class. They have triumphed, producing Black American personalities who succeeded in their respective field of endeavors.

And all black college students want to succeed in reaching their respective dreams.

Despite of the popularity of various Black American personalities, poverty is still within the ranks of several Black American families. They experience difficulties in sending their children to college, particularly in exclusive universities such as Harvard and Yale. They can withstand the discrimination that is still present despite of everything that has happened, yet poverty is what they cannot withstand anymore.

Is there any hope for a black student to study in college?

Yes, there is.

And it is through getting a black college scholarship.

There are hundreds of scholarships available that are not just open to White Americans, but are also intended for Black American students. There you have the scholarships for minority students, college scholarships provided by Black American and African organizations (whether civic or religious), and government-sponsored scholarships for black students. The United States Constitution clearly states that there should be no discrimination in terms of getting a solid and well-provided education to its citizens. Whether you are a white or a black, you are entitled to receive a high quality of education in the country.

With these scholarships for aspiring black college students, they will be able to fulfill their dreams of becoming one of the successful personalities, just like Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, and Muhammad Ali, who have already left a mark in their respective fields of endeavor. Poverty is just a minor obstacle?there is hope on anything, including for a black student who want to take a step higher and get himself to college.

Technorati Tags: African Slaves, Atlantic Slave Trade, Boxing Hall Of Fame, Cassius Marcellus Clay, Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr, Christians And Muslims, Civil Right Movement, College Scholarship, Economic Condition, Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Martin Luther King, Martin Luther King Jr, Middle Passage, Muhammad Ali, Nation Of Islam, National Spokesman, Nobel Peace Prize, Trans Atlantic Slave Trade, United States Census, World Heavyweight Boxing Champion

Capricorn

If you are a Capricorn (December 22 to January 20), you are a personality to be reckoned with, but in a quiet, subtle way. These are people who will achieve whatever goal they set for themselves. They have the grit and determination to see out a project or an objective, no matter how long it takes. They are surprisingly witty, when they allow themselves to be, although they?re not the fiery, flashy kind. A Capricorn will always be on time, will always have positions of responsibility. They make good psychologists because of their ability to listen to short-tempered people or people on a rant. They have an ability to stay calm and reasoned in a disagreement or conflict, even though the other side may be more passionate.

They are deep thinkers who have good memories and a never-ending intellectual curiosity. In their relationships, they can have a tendency towards unhappiness. Capricorns set very high standards for themselves, and can be easily disappointed if others don?t set equally high standards.

Professionally, they are strongly attracted to music, although their logical side also makes them excellent bankers. Some famous Capricorns include Anwar Sadat and Martin Luther King. Paul Cezanne and Henri Matisse were also Capricorns. Other famous Capricorns include Richard Nixon, Simone de Beauvoir and Edgar Allen Poe.

After the Age of Aquarius in the zodiac Great Year (approximately 2000-4000 CE) will come the Age of Capricorn. It?s hard to predict what the human condition will be by then. Will we have moved on to other planets and solar systems. If the Age of Aquarius is to be marked by humanitarianism and greater understanding among the people on Earth, (we hope!), what will define the Age of Capricorn. Will we achieve the goals of Aquarius. Many people look towards the new millennium and the beginning of a new era in the Great Year with hope that we will have learned from the mistakes of the past. Hopefully we will continue to learn and in the Age of Capricorn will have evolved to even greater human potential.

Technorati Tags: Age Of Aquarius, Anwar Sadat, Capricorn, Deep Thinkers, Disagreement, Edgar Allen Poe, Famous Capricorns, Grit, Henri Matisse, Humanitarianism, Intellectual Curiosity, Martin Luther King, New Era, New Millennium, Paul Cezanne, Psychologists, Richard Nixon, Simone De Beauvoir, Solar Systems, Unhappiness