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Labor Day

Labor Day was founded after the Pullman Strike of 1894, when President Cleveland was hoping to gain political allyship by honoring railroad workers. However, the story about the involvement of the Black Pullman porters in the labor movement is not always told. “Pullman porters were black men who worked in the train cars attending to their mostly white passengers, performing such tasks as shining shoes, carrying bags, and janitorial services. During this period, this profession was the largest employer of blacks in the nation and constituted a significant portion of the Pullman company’s workforce…” -Theodore R. Johnson Despite Black porters being a significant part of the Pullman’s workforce, they were not allowed to strike and were also denied access to the labor union. This led Black railroad workers to form their own union, the Brotherhood of the Sleeping Car Porters, which was the first Black union in America. A. Philip Randolph was the first president of the union, and he was also
Recent posts

Happy Birthday

What a time it has been. These last 8 years have been nothing short of change. When collectively we came together as one and focused on what was not best for "I" but what was best for "US".  "US" meaning "We the people". (LoL!! I can hear my friend John right now starting one of his many rants with those particular words.) I watched a clip of local retired Minister/Civil Rights Activist Paul McDaniel last night on our local news station. He spoke about being  a young man and attending Morehouse College with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  While highlighting all the phenomenal things that Rev. McDaniel has done, the one thing that stuck out the most for me is when he stated that he wishes Dr. King could have seen all the work that he had done was not in vain. The main statement that struck a cord was "Now no one would look at a black child and laugh because they said they wanted to be President of the United States." I

Monday Motivation

Living in this world can be the hardest challenge at times. I just wrote a little something for ALL my Sistah's this Morning. A little motivation. Even if your day is off to a great start and even if it's not. .we can all use this affirmation. I hope this lifts your spirits. I hope this adds to your joy. Lorean~* TheSophisticateChronicles  IG: @SophisticateChronicles Twitter: @SophisticateChronicles Facebook: The Sophisticate Chronicles 

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Losing my grandmother to Breast Cancer and complications from a severe Stroke was one of the hardest things I've faced in my life. She battled the disease for over 6 years, had a single mastectomy (right breast), and see her cancer go into remission twice before returning for the last time. Watching my mother take care of her day end and day out was truly life changing. My mother who is a RN (BSN) made sure that her every need was met. My mother is the epitome of what a daughter should be to her mother!! I remember the day she died vividly. I can still feel her hand in mine and see her smile. I remember my grandmothers doctor calling my mother after 3 am to tell her (us) to get to the hospital. Earlier that day my mother was able to recall having the BEST day ever with my grandmother. They had breakfast and lunch together. They later sat around filled with laughter/love as they talked about me, my cousins, and my aunt. One thing that was never a question was that she truly

Life. .Reflection

I knew this trip was coming up and I wouldn't be going with a team of people but with a new mission and purpose. All alone to share my testimony. I chose not to announce it, post where I was, or Go Live (on Facebook) No one knew but my Mother and a select few. My Mother seems to always come up with the coolest ideas. I know a lot people who carry around precious items from their loved ones who have passed away. It's a way of keeping their spirit close. I  wanted to carry things from the women in my family because without them, I wouldn't be who I am.  I think about how hard they worked, all the sacrifices they made, and I wanted to just feel them with me so that I knew I wasn't alone.  My mother came up with pinning the rings of my grandmother and both my great grandmothers to the inside of my dress.  My "Ugly Cry " moment came when I walked up to President Obama and he said to me "If you are what everyone in Chattanooga i

Monday Motivation

Monday had become one of the most dreaded days of the week. Why? For most it's a slap back into reality. That reality includes work, school (for those who are currently enrolled or those with children), and the realization that the weekend is OVER. LoL!! Some of us have coping mechanism to get us through until Friday and well. .some of us as they say simply just "Push Through". The reality for a lot of us is that we may not be living up to what we feel is our  potential. Working a 9 to 5 or simply chasing a degree that won't satisfy every aspect of our creative being. That's a hard pill to swallow day in and day out. We deal with the reality of this in many ways. Some of us are even dealing with internal emotional, mental, and physical battles within due to this very thing.  I myself have dealt with many levels of feeling that I don't have enough time in the world to fulfill all that I know I have been created to do. Many talents. Not enough time. Plus the fac

Thrifty Finds

Back at it!! I've Blogged about one of my FAVorite things to do and that is "Thrifting". Now "Thrifting" can be classified as many things shopping at Thrift Stores, Goodwill's, or Consignement/Resale Shops. Most of these places serve as a means of helping a certain Non Profit Organzation, don't want to to use EBay, Etsy, etc. or for those who simply don't have a way to sell their clothes Today I'm excited to post a pic featuring one of my NOW favorite TShirts. While shopping at a local Thrift Store this Sunday (Sept 4) the cashier at the register told me about a "Free Container" full summer shirts. Now you don't have to tell me anything is FREE more than once for me to check things out. She told me to check it out and see if I found anything I liked. I began to look and found a few things. But OH LET ME TELL YOU!! Low and behold I found a Jewel!! Straight from "Brooklyn Mint" a Notorious B.I.G. "Brooklyn's Finest&