SAY IT LOUD...

I'M BLACK AND I'M PROUD!
Hi guys! I am so excited to be back to share an amazing experience with you all. :) Yesterday, I went on a historic, black history tour of Atlanta with the African American Student Alliance at my university. So today I decided to recap all of the sites and share them with you!
Let's get cultured!

Stop One- The Apex Museum

This museum is located in the heart of Atlanta and it is packed with so much history. A lot of times, we are taught that black history began in slavery; that all we have ever been was mentally and physically enslaved. I'M HERE TO BUST THAT MYTH! African people were kings and queens before the transatlantic slave trade. We ruled empires, had successful governments, and prospering tribes. The Apex museum begins THERE. It tells the true story of our people and how powerful we've always been.

Stop Two- The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center

How can you learn about black history without including the greats? It is simply impossible. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his powerful team of advisers CHANGED THE WORLD! He had the courage to stand up for his people. One of my favorite MLK quotes is, "An injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

Stop Three- The Southern Christian Leadership Conference

Here, we were blessed to meet Dr. Charles Steele who gave me years of knowledge in less than 30 mins. Dr, Steele is the current president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. He was so intelligent and so real. He told us about jealously and hatred within the black community...something we still experience, something that enslaved us in the 15th century, and something that keeps us shackled now. We have to break free.

Stop Four- Paschal's Restaurant & Bar

Ain't nothing like soul food and history! This restaurant was started by the Paschal's brothers in a tiny building, with no stove, that held 20 people. NOW it is a two-story, thriving, favorite place to many. People come from all over the world to have that famous fried chicken (of course, I didn't have any, because I am pescatarian now), mac 'n cheese, and peach cobbler. You HAVE to go there. I was so full I nearly rolled up out of there. Lol. :)

The Final Stop- A Historic Tour of the AUC

Atlanta, Georgia is home to some of the most prestigious African American Universities in the United States- Spelman College, Morehouse College, and Clark Atlanta University. Two men of Morehouse gave us a tour of their campus, dropping interesting and unknown facts every other sentence. Now I love my PWI, but it's something about learning the history of amazing universities like this that make me so very proud to be a black woman.

I hope you have enjoyed this recap of my wonderful experience during our Black History tour. PLEASE remember that black history shouldn't only be learned during the month of February and it definitely shouldn't be confined to a book. Learn more about your culture EVERY DAY.

Stay Black and Remain Proud!
I'll see you next week!
~naturallykbiggie

10 Things I've Learned in 20 Years!

First off, I miss you guys so much! I know it's been about two weeks since I've posted a blog, but I've just been extremely busy.  Let me catch you up...
~ I was blessed to attend the Southwestern Black Student Leadership Conference two weeks ago. The African American Student Alliance at my university invited me to go with them and it was an amazing experience. There is nothing like being around so many other smart, beautiful, and gifted sistas and brothas.

~ I've been applying for a Summer Communication internship. THAT has been taking up so much of my time, but I am working hard to do what I have to do in order to be where I want to be. You feel me?! :)
~ I had the amazing opportunity to hear the one and only Dr. Angela Davis speak and I met Hill Harper!

~ Oh, I had a birthday. A very big one if you ask me. I turned 21 years old! It's crazy right! I had an amazing birthday. I celebrated with everyone I love- my family and friends! I AM FOREVER GRATEFUL. My parents worked so hard to spend this monumental moment with me. I can't express how amazing that day was!

NOW let's get on to the good stuff- this week's blog is in honor of my 21 years on this beautiful earth. Lol. I want to share with you guys 10 Things I've Learned in 20 Years. Please remember, this is MY story and MY journey so these things are what's relevant to me. :)

1. PRAY. God's love is so real. Did you wake up this morning? Do you have food to eat? Clothes to wear? You are blessed beyond the imaginable. Recognize that you would be nowhere without him. Give him praise; you didn't do anything alone.

2. TREAT PEOPLE BETTER THAN YOU WANT TO BE TREATED. Being a bully has never been cute. Be kind and like they say, If you don't have anything nice to say keep your mouth shut! Your words and actions should be encouraging. Understand though, that you are human. If you feel yourself slipping up, apologize and refer back to number one.

3. READ. Every intelligent person I have ever met is an avid reader. Read..about your community, about your people, about your heritage. Read every book you can and soak up all it's information. Spend your money on great books. Save for a bookshelf and store away.

4. BE PRESENT. Trust me. I know there is a lot to do, people to see, tasks to complete, but be present in everything you do! Life is so beautiful and it's all about the journey. Be present. Have sincere conversations. Develop real relationships. When you are in a room, absorb all of the knowledge and keep it in your arsenal!

5. BUDGET. Do what you can. Sacrifice. I am STILL struggling with this one! Stop spending like a CEO on a secretary's salary.

6. TRAVEL. It sounds like I'm contradicting myself, huh? I'm not. Budget so that you CAN travel. It doesn't have to be far and it surely doesn't have to be expensive. Go on day trips, with friends, by yourself. Just get out there. The world has so much to offer!

7. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. Health and Happiness go hand in hand. Stay healthy. Stay happy.

8. TAKE A LOAD OFF. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither will your empire. Relax. Make a to-do list and conquer things as they come! You can do it, but you have to take a load off every now and then.

9. DREAM AS BIG AS YOU CAN. And then dream bigger. No goals are too big. It's not too far-fetched. Understand that there is a difference between short term and long term goals. Never stop dreaming! Little girls with dreams become women of goals and ambition. (Same for my brothas.)

10. BE YOU. Unapologetically. Be so you that it both scares and empowers you! Be you, please. I cannot stress that enough. You are who you are. Be proud and bold and strong. Be you.

That's all folks! Here are some pictures from the last two weeks and I promise to be back next Friday with another naturallykbiggie blog post. As always, thank you for reading and allowing me to openly share my journey.