Marshall). She was named to the Second Circuit in 1979. She is also a world-class bridge player.
Find more Badass Trailblazers in Politics & Law on pages 83 and 171.
What Have You Done Well in the Past?
“There have been so many people who have said to me, ‘You can’t do that,’ but I’ve had an innate belief that they were wrong. Be unwavering and relentless in your approach.”
—Halle Berry, American actress
Dear Badass Black Girl,
Go back in time. Give yourself two or three hours. Bring out everything and anything that will help you travel back to the past: old calendars and diaries, photo albums, letters, cards, souvenirs… (You should probably also take out your phone to explore some of your social media shares, but remember to stay focused.) Relax, and look for moments in your life when you have felt a strong positive emotion—pride, joy, satisfaction—after making something verbally, artistically, intellectually, with your hands or physically, that you know (or feel) was the expression of your deep being.
You produced it effortlessly, and it gave you great pleasure.
List these different moments, and find a common denominator: I animated a group, I prepared a meal, I listened and advised a friend, etc. Create a Pinterest board, and pin images that symbolize these successful moments. Create another board with skills that are meaningful to you but still need to be sharpened. Commit to work on these skills regularly in order to fully develop your talent.
Kenbe,
MJ
Black people are often accused of having a “victim mindset.” You might hear things like: “Slavery ended more than 150 years ago, when are you people going to get over it?” and, “Oh, every race has had slaves at some time in history. It’s not just Black folks.” Then there’s, “Did you know Africans were slave-owners before white people?” and, “Who do you think sold Black people to the whites? It was Africans selling off their own people.” It’s enough to make you want to throw things.
What do you think? Has a victim status become our collective identity? Or is there more to the history than just victimhood? Why is it important to remember that many Black people in the United States (and elsewhere) have a history with roots in slavery? How does that history impact you today?
Google It!
AFFIRMATION: I am amazing. There is no one better to be than who I am right this minute—and I can become who I want to be. Because I am complete, I enrich the lives of my family and friends just by being myself. I am capable of greatness.
“I always believed that when you follow your heart or your gut, when you really follow the things that feel great to you, you can never lose, because settling is the worst feeling in the world.”
—Rihanna, Barbadian singer, businesswoman, fashion designer, actress, and philanthropist
1864 Rebecca Davis Lee Crumpler was the first Black woman in the United States to earn a Medical Degree and practice medicine. She is also believed to be the first Black American and the first American woman to write a medical book. Her Book of Medical Discourses was published in 1883.
1879 Mary Eliza Mahoney was the first Black woman in the United States to formally study nursing, earn a degree, and practice nursing as a licensed nurse.
1884 Judy W. Reed was the first Black woman to file and receive a US patent. Her invention is called a “Dough Kneader and Roller.” No other information exists about her in historical records.
1933 Ruth Ella Moore became the first Black American woman to earn a PhD in natural science. She studied bacteriology and taught at Howard University.
1943 Euphemia Lofton Haynes was the first Black American woman to earn a PhD in mathematics.
1973 Shirley Ann Jackson is the first Black American woman to earn a PhD from MIT and the second Black American woman to earn a doctorate in physics in the United States.
1986 Patricia Bath invented the laserphaco probe for cataract treatment in 1986. She is the first Black American to complete a residency in ophthalmology at New York University and the first Black American female doctor to receive a medical patent. Her device enabled surgeons to restore sight to many people who were blind for as long as thirty years.
1992 Mae Carol Jemison is an engineer, physician, children’s author, and NASA astronaut. She became the first Black American woman to travel into space in 1992 when she served as a mission specialist on the space shuttle Endeavor. Since retiring from NASA, she has written several children’s books and made an appearance on Star Trek: The Next Generation among other television appearances.
2019 Dr. Venita Simpson became the first Black woman to complete a Neurosurgery residency at Baylor College of Medicine since the program began in 1956. She’s also a Lieutenant Commander in the US Navy.
Find more about Badass Trailblazers in STEM on page 158.
“Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher.”
—Oprah Winfrey, American media executive, actress, talk show host, television producer and philanthropist
Dear Badass Black Girl,
Despite my time partying as a teenager, I’ve always played by the rules. While I spent hours reading Victor Hugo and writing short stories—and brought home the good grades my parents expected—my friends Lola and Estelle snuck into nightclubs and smoked cigarettes on forbidden road trips. They smoked pot together and wore black lace under their school uniforms. I was too boring—a girl who kissed and told. I even sinned and told. We left a store once with Twix bars that hadn’t been paid for. I was the one to hike back into the supermarket in the pouring rain, plunk my buck down on the counter, and tell the cashier, “I don’t think I paid for this.” I had an innocent look about me too. Wide-eyed and sweet.
Now, as a badass Black woman running her own company, these values hold up the foundation of my business: my clients trust me because I am dedicated and honest. It’s important to remember that it’s never too late to change if you’ve resorted to cheating in the past. You can make things right for yourself by shifting directions and doing things honestly.
Reconnect with the child in you. Think for a moment about what you liked to do as a child: What games did you like to play? Which activities gave you pleasure? This exercise may seem futile, but it will help you figure out your deepest likes and dislikes. Close your eyes and imagine some scenes from your everyday life, back when you were in elementary school. What gave you the most pleasure? What did you find the most fun? Did you enjoy group activities or prefer to work
