Where Is Addie Mae Collins?

A Child Lost to Racial Hate, Lost Again in Birmingham

Addie Mae is one of the 4 little girls that died in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, AL on September 15, 1963. But, did you know it was discovered by Addie Mae's family in 1998 that the body is missing from her grave? The whereabouts of her remains is a mystery to this day and the family is still searching for answers. Click on the image or text link for more biographical information about Addie Mae and the circumstances that led up to this heartbreaking discovery.

Update 05/03/17: There is strong evidence to suggest that Addie Mae's remains have finally been found using underground radar. The family is reasonably satisfied with the outcome and feel they finally have closure. Click on the update link for more information. 

50 Years Ago Today...

Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Bombing - Birmingham, AL

Today is the 50th anniversary of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing that took the lives of these four innocent little girls. On Sunday, September 15, 1963, members of the Ku Klux Klan planted sticks of dynamite outside the basement of the church. At 10:22am, it exploded killing the four young girls inside and injuring 22 other people. The funeral for the victims was attended by more than 8,000 mourners, white and black, but no city officials. Click on the image or text link underneath for more details about this horrific event.

'4 Little Girls' May Receive Congressional Gold Medals

In April of this year, it was reported that by a 420-0 vote, the House passed a measure that will posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to Addie Mae Collins, Denise McNair, Carole Robertson, and Cynthia Wesley. It was then presented to the Senate for consideration and expected to pass without oppostion. Click on the image or text link undernearth to read the full story reported on April 27, 2013.

Congress to Present Gold Medal Honoring Birmingham's '4 Little Girls'

As is often the case, there is so much going on America right now that most of the country probably doesn't realize that the vote passed the Senate and the gold medal was actually presented five days ago on September 10, 2013, just in time for the 50th anniversary. If you missed it, watch the video or click on the text link underneath to read about the presentation. 

Continue to rest in peace, little angels. Please know that you haven't been forgotten and your deaths were not in vain. The struggle for civil rights and equal treatment under the law still rages on...

Come Out & Celebrate His Life & Legacy...

He was a great broadcaster, community servant, and friend of the people.

🕊 We Will Never Forget

A PROCLAMATION
By The President of The United States

Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance

Through the twisted steel of the twin towers of the World Trade Center, the scarred walls of the Pentagon, and the smoky wreckage in a field in southwest Pennsylvania, the patriotism and resiliency of the American people shone brightly on September 11, 2001. We stood as one people, united in our common humanity and shared sorrow. We grieved for those who perished and remembered what brought us together as Americans.

Today, we honor the lives we lost 9 years ago. On a bright September day, innocent men, women, and children boarded planes and set off for work as they had so many times before. Unthinkable acts of terrorism brought tragedy, destruction, pain, and loss for people across our Nation and the world.

As we pay tribute to loved ones, friends, fellow citizens, and all who died, we reaffirm our commitment to the ideas and ideals that united Americans in the aftermath of the attacks. We must apprehend all those who perpetrated these heinous crimes, seek justice for those who were killed, and defend against all threats to our national security. We must also recommit ourselves to our founding principles. September 11 reminds us that our fate as individuals is tied to that of our Nation. Our democracy is strengthened when we uphold the freedoms upon which our Nation was built: equality, justice, liberty, and democracy. These values exemplify the patriotism and sacrifice we commemorate today.

In that same spirit of patriotism, I call upon all Americans to join in service and honor the lives we lost, the heroes who responded in our hour of need, and the brave men and women in uniform who continue to protect our country at home and abroad. In April, I was proud to sign the bipartisan Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which recognizes September 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. Originated by the family members of those who lost loved ones on 9/11, the National Day of Service and Remembrance is an opportunity to salute the heroes of 9/11, recapture the spirit of unity and compassion that inspired our Nation following the attacks, and rededicate ourselves to sustained service to our communities.

Throughout the summer, people of all ages and backgrounds came together to lend a helping hand in their communities through United We Serve. As this summer of service draws to an end, we renew the call to engage in meaningful service activities and stay engaged with those projects throughout the year. Working together, we can usher in a new era in which volunteering and more service is a way of life for all Americans. Deriving strength from tragedy, we can write the next great chapter in our Nation's history and ensure that future generations continue to enjoy the promise of America.

By a joint resolution approved December 18, 2001 (Public Law 107-89), the Congress has designated September 11 of each year as Patriot Day, and by Public Law 111-13, approved April 21, 2009, has requested the observance of September 11 as an annually recognized National Day of Service and Remembrance.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim September 11 as Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance. I call upon all departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the United States to display the flag of the United States at half-staff on Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance in honor of the individuals who lost their lives as a result of the terrorist attacks against the United States that occurred on September 11, 2001. I invite the Governors of the United States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and interested organizations and individuals to join in this observance. I call upon the people of the United States to participate in community service in honor of those our Nation lost, to observe this day with other ceremonies and activities, including remembrance services, and to observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46am eastern daylight time to honor the innocent victims who perished as a result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fourth.

Barack Obama

Back-to-School Prayer

❤️ It's National Grandparents Day!

If the shoe fits, enjoy your special day!

Click on the image to read about the history of this day on Wikipedia.

Celebrating A Happy Birthday w/ The Grands

Make a wish and blow out the candles!

I Was Born On This Day!

As of September 4, 2013 @ 12:00 AM ET:

* I am 55 years old.
* I am 660 months old.
* I am 2,869 weeks old.
* I am 20,089 days old.
* I am 482,136  hours old.
* I am 29,453,030 minutes old.
* I am 1,767,181,084 seconds old.

Fun Facts & Trivia:

* My date of conception was on or about December 12, 1957.
* I was born on a Thursday under the astrological sign Virgo.
* My opposition sign is Pisces.
* My ruling planet is Mercury.
* The moon's phase on the day of my birth was waning gibbous.
* My birth flower is Aster.
* My birth tree is Weeping Willow.
* My birthstone is Sapphire.
* My lucky day is Wednesday.
* My lucky dates are the 5th, 14th, and 23rd.
* My lucky number is 5.
* My opposition number is 3.
* My Life Path number is 9.
* I'm most compatible with people with the Life Path numbers 3, 6, and 9.
* I'm least compatible with people with the Life Path numbers 4, 8, and 22.
* My age is the equivalent of a dog that is 7.43326810176125 years old.
* My fortune cookie reads: Something you lost will soon turn up.

55 Candles:

The number of candles on my birthday cake produce 55 BTUs or 13,860 calories of heat and that's only 13.8600 food calories. I can boil 6.29 ounces of water with that many candles.

Celebrities Who Share My Birthday:

Henry Ford II (1917)
Jason David Frank (1973)
Mitzi Gaynor (1930)
Paul Harvey (1918)
Beyonce Knowles (1981)
Dan Miller (1980)
Mike Piazza (1968)
Dr. Drew Pinsky (1958)
Ione Skye (1970)
Tom Watson (1949)
Damon Wayans (1960)
Richard Wright (1908)
Dick York (1928)

Top Songs of 1958:

"At the Hop" by Danny & The Juniors
"It's All In the Game" by Tommy Edwards
"The Purple People Eater" by Sheb Wooley
"All I Have to Do Is Dream" by The Everly Brothers
"Tequila" by The Champs
"Don't" by Elvis Presley
"Volare" by Domenico
"Modugno Sugartime" by The McGuire Sisters
"He's Got the Whole World In His Hands" by Laurie London
"The Chipmunk Song" by David Seville & The Chipmunks

1958 in the United States:

* The President was Dwight Eisenhower.
* The Vice-President was Richard Nixon.
* It was not a leap year.
* The date of Ash Wednesday was February 19th.
* The date of Passover was Saturday, April 5th.
* The date of Easter was Sunday, April 6th.
* There were approximately 1,667,231 marriages and 385,144 divorces.
* A new person was born approximately every 8 seconds.
* There were approximately 4.0 million births.
* The population was approximately 150,697,361 people.
* One person died approximately every 12 seconds.
* There were approximately 1,452,000 deaths.
* Click here for more information about 1958...

Disney Dream Portrait of Princess Tiana

Jennifer Hudson looks absolutely beautiful as Princess Tiana from 'The Princess and the Frog'. This photo is from the Disney Dream Portrait photo shoot by photographer Annie Leibovitz for Disney Parks. Click on the image to see the photo shoot video!

Jennifer Hudson Sparkles Under the Moon as Princess Tiana in this portrait called 'Where You Always Follow Your Heart'. It is the latest addition to the collection of Disney Dream Portraits by photographer Annie Leibovitz for Disney Parks. Click on the image to see the 'First Look' article!

The Story Behind Labor Day

What it Means

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country.

Founder of Labor Day

More than 100 years after the first Labor Day observance, there is still some doubt as to who first proposed the holiday for workers.

Some records show that Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a cofounder of the American Federation of Labor, was first in suggesting a day to honor those "who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold."

But Peter McGuire's place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that Matthew Maguire, a machinist, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday. Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, N.J., proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York. What is clear is that the Central Labor Union adopted a Labor Day proposal and appointed a committee to plan a demonstration and picnic.

The First Labor Day

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.

In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a "workingmen's holiday" on that date. The idea spread with the growth of labor organizations, and in 1885 Labor Day was celebrated in many industrial centers of the country.

Labor Day Legislation

Through the years the nation gave increasing emphasis to Labor Day. The first governmental recognition came through municipal ordinances passed during 1885 and 1886. From them developed the movement to secure state legislation. The first state bill was introduced into the New York legislature, but the first to become law was passed by Oregon on February 21, 1887. During the year four more states — Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York — created the Labor Day holiday by legislative enactment. By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 other states had adopted the holiday in honor of workers, and on June 28 of that year, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and the territories.

A Nationwide Holiday

The form that the observance and celebration of Labor Day should take were outlined in the first proposal of the holiday — a street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations" of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day. Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.

The character of the Labor Day celebration has undergone a change in recent years, especially in large industrial centers where mass displays and huge parades have proved a problem. This change, however, is more a shift in emphasis and medium of expression. Labor Day addresses by leading union officials, industrialists, educators, clerics and government officials are given wide coverage in newspapers, radio, and television.

The vital force of labor added materially to the highest standard of living and the greatest production the world has ever known and has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pay tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership — the American worker.

Enjoy your day off today!

Sometimes, Clothes Can Make The Man...

"Black Tie Week" Website

Television host and former reality TV star Teck Holmes and “Burn Notice” star Eric Bivens-Bush have partnered up to launch a new movement called Black Tie Week.

Black Tie Week was created in an effort to change the perception of Black men in America and get people to continue speaking out on the inequality in the criminal justice system after the verdict in the George Zimmerman trial.

Holmes and Bush aim to make a visible statement from September 3-8, 2013, by having Black men, young and old, wear suits.

“The Trayvon Martin case has inspired the men to come together to encourage a solution for improving the public perception of Black Americans. How a person dresses is how they are perceived. Black Tie Week brings our entire community together to change the perception of young black men,” said Holmes, who hosts Cartoon Network’s game show “Hole in the Wall.”

A group of Black Hollywood talent has come together for the campaign including Wesley Jonathan, Edwin Hodge Shawn Carter Peterson, Aldis Hodge, Nicholas “The World Famous N.I.C.” Demps, Dennis L.A. White, Malik Barnhardt, Toryan Rogers and director/writer Terry Gingles, according to a report in Jawn Murray’s AlwaysAlist.

The Black Tie Week photo campaign was shot by photographer Lanisha Cole and there were also contributions by makeup artist Hanna Morrow and publicist Sherise Ford.

The week-long Black Tie Week tribute campaign aims to raise the national consciousness of the devastating racial profiling problem in the United States, and to recognize the ongoing commitment to addressing the urgent needs of our African-American youth.

For additional information about this campaign, click on the image or the text link underneath to visit the website.