Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick was among eight people saluted by Harvard University for contributions to black history and culture
All eight recipients of the prestigious W.E.B. Du Bois Medal were honored in a ceremony held Thursday, October 11, afternoon by the Hutchins Center for African and African American Research at Harvard “in recognition of their contributions to African and African American culture and the life of the mind.”
As requested by Kaepernick, his speech at the ceremony was not broadcast live (there was a live stream of the event available).
In his speech, Kaepernick encouraged further protests against racial inequality.
P!nk took viewers on a trip through her long, hit-laden song history on Sunday night during MTV’s Video Music Awards. It was a wild, impressive ride. From the classic 2001 hit “Get The Party Started” to her emotional new single “What About Us,” the star singer managed to fit many of her most memorable tracks into an ambitious, old-school – and fun – medley.
Introduced by Ellen DeGeneres, P!nk took home the night’s Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award for her decades-spanning career in the spotlight.
“Recently I was driving my daughter to school and she said to me ‘Mama, I’m the ugliest girl I know,'”
“I know I don’t have a lot of time, but if I may tell you a quick story. Recently, I was driving my daughter to school and she said to me, out of the blue, ‘Mama?’ I said, ‘Yes, baby?’ She said, ‘I’m the ugliest girl I know.’ And I said, ‘Huh?’ And she was like, ‘Yeah, I look like a boy with long hair.’ And my brain went to, ‘Oh my god, you’re six. Why? Where is this coming from? Who said this? Can I kick a 6-year-old’s ass, like what?’
But I didn’t say anything.
Instead I went home and I made a Powerpoint presentation for her. And in that presentation were androgynous rockstars and artists that live their truth, are probably made fun of every day of their life, and carry on, wave their flag and inspire the rest of us. And these are artists like Michael Jackson and David Bowie and Freddie Mercury and Annie Lennox and Prince and Janis Joplin and George Michael, Elton John, so many artists – her eyes glazed over. But then I said, ‘You know, I really want to know why you feel this way about yourself.’ And she said, ‘Well I look like a boy,’ and I said, ‘Well what do you think I look like?’ And she said, ‘Well you’re beautiful.’ And I was like, ‘Well, thanks. But when people make fun of me, that’s what they use. They say I look like a boy or I’m too masculine or I have too many opinions, my body is too strong.’
And I said to her, ‘Do you see me growing my hair?’ She said, ‘No, mama.’ I said, ‘Do you see me changing my body?’ ‘No, mama.’ ‘Do you see me changing the way I present myself to the world?’ ‘No, mama.’ ‘Do you see me selling out arenas all over the world?’ ‘Yes, Mama.’
‘OK! So, baby girl. We don’t change. We take the gravel and the shell and we make a pearl. And we help other people to change so they can see more kinds of beauty.’
And to all the artists here, I’m so inspired by all of you. Thank you for being your true selves and for lighting the way for us. I’m so inspired by you guys. There’s so much rad shit happening in music. And keep doing it. Keep shining for the rest of us to see.
And you, my darling girl, are beautiful, and I love you. Thank you, MTV. This is a really special night. Thank you, Ellen. I couldn’t love you more.
Pink Gives POWERFUL Speech About Her Daughter & Self-Acceptance
At 2017 MTV VMAs
~~Published on Aug 27, 2017~~
Following P!nk’s medley VMA performance, she took the stage to accept the coveted Michael Jackson MTV VMA Vanguard Award, and delivered quite possibly the most powerful speech of her career.
~~P!nk Performs “Get The Party Started”, “Raise Your Glass”, & More!~~
~~Published on Aug 27, 2017~~
P!nk performs a whole medley of “Get The Party Started”, “Raise Your Glass”, “So What”, “Just Give Me a Reason”, “Perfect”, “What About Us”, “Don’t Let Me Get Me”, “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)”
The Cecil B. DeMille Award winner tore into the president-elect in a moving oration without mentioning his name once
“It was that moment when the person asking to sit in the most respected seat in our country imitated a disabled reporter – someone he outranked in privilege, power, and the capacity to fight back. It kind of broke my heart when I saw it, and I still can’t get it out of my head because it wasn’t in a movie; it was real life. And this instinct to humiliate, when it’s modeled by someone in the public platform, by someone powerful, filters down into everybody’s life, because it kind of gives permission for other people to do the same thing.”
~Meryl Streep’s Powerful, Anti-Trump Golden Globes Speech~
The Presidential Medal of Freedom is an award bestowed by the President of the United States and is – along with the comparable Congressional Gold Medal – the highest civilian award of the United States.
It recognizes those individuals who have made “an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors”.
The award is not limited to U.S. citizens and, while it is a civilian award, it can also be awarded to military personnel and worn on the uniform.
“IOTD” is image of the day, a concept I came up with. I teach visual meditative therapy – or in easy terms – a mini mental holiday. For some people it is very difficult for them to get their image right. I post an image a day for people to use in their mini mental vacay. Some are serious, some are silly, and some are just beautiful!”
Sometimes I wonder, as I sit at my PC every day, if there’s anyone out there somewhere, who benefits from my attempt to bring information, data, music, history, politics, featuring Puerto Rico (my country) …. into their electronic devices.
There’s always the question, in my mind, if it does.
Sometimes I don’t know what topic to address. Others I wonder if the post is good enough.
Yet I post and post and post, hoping that, in any way, someone is helped, entertained, informed and smile.
It’s always an eye opener in the sense that there IS someone out there who may “stumble” into this spot and find something that resonates with them and may even be helpful.
This award was created by a very dear friend, Ms. Barbara Mattio
To quote the “IdealisticRebel”
Blogging, some say, is losing ground on the Internet.
Many people are now using Twitter or Snapchat or Instagram to convey their thoughts, leaving the more ‘old-fashioned’ blog behind.
But there are those who understand that, sometimes, a long form is best.
Who know that it takes time, and craft, and WORDS as well as images to convey a thought, and to start a conversation.
This Award is dedicated to those bloggers who consistently provide wisdom, inspiration, kindness, gentleness and truth to the world through their blogs.
In this blogging world, which I have been lucky enough to “traverse” through since I retired from my lifetime job, I have found incredible bloggers who definitely make this world a better place. I’m here learning new things everyday related to every topic that you may think about. And this is all because of you.
“It Is What It Is” has received an award from one such amazing person.
As I sit at my PC and write words, attempt to put together a post, gather info, graphics and videos, I often wonder what the effects of my effort will be. I believe that this feeling may be shared my many who also blog.
Receiving any kind of award is always an honor. It’s always humbling. It’s always an eye opener in the sense that there IS someone out there who may “stumble” into this spot and find something that resonates with them and may even be helpful.
Blogging, some say, is losing ground on the Internet. Many people are now using Twitter or Snapchat or Instagram to convey their thoughts, leaving the more ‘old-fashioned’ blog behind.
But there are those who understand that, sometimes, a long form is best. Who know that it takes time, and craft, and WORDS as well as images to convey a thought, and to start a conversation.
This Award is dedicated to those bloggers who consistently provide wisdom, inspiration, kindness, gentleness and truth to the world through their blogs.
This is a my “thank you” to you.
Please, pass it on!
~~GRAPHIC SOURCE~~
IdealisticRebel Blog
We would like to pay this forward. Keep in mind that there’s no obligation. Just know that we admire the work that you do.
If you can accept this recognition and pass it on.
It Is What It Is 