Strong Black Woman of the Week: Eboni Boykin

On Sunday's MSNBC Education Nation Student Town Hall, NerdLand host, Professor Melissa Harris-Perry brought together students, teachers, and lawmakers for a frank discussion about the state of education in America. Some of the best ideas and most inspiring stories came from the students themselves.

One of these students was Eboni Boykin, a first year at Columbia University. Boykin graduated from Normandy High School in St. Louis, Missouri. The honor student was a varsity cheerleader, chief editor of the school newspaper, and a member of the student council. 

But unlike many of her peers who shared similar accomplishments, Boykin grew up homeless. She moved from state to state with her mother and mostly lived in homeless shelters or on the floors of acquaintances. She attended around 15 schools through out her childhood as they bounced around in Maryland, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Missouri.

Boykin says she was able to stay focused because her mother always told her that education can create a better life. 

That's exactly what she did and she received a full scholarship to the Ivy League institution. "Getting into Columbia definitely teaches me that just keeping the faith and not giving up pays off. And it just teaches me if you hang in there you can have anything you want if you are willing to work hard for it."

She plans to become a journalist and SBW thinks she's off to an amazing start. Kudos to you, Ms. Boykin. 

Top 100 Black Achievers and Influencers of the Year 2012 - According to The Root

The Root has released its list of 100 Honorees for 2012, which includes top Black influencers and achievers between age 25 and 45. Its criteria included media mentions, internet mentions, Twitter followers, reach, influence, and substance.

SBW favs include Tulane Professor Melissa Harris-Perry, Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Van Jones of Color of Change, Tamron Hall of MSNBC, Ta-Nehisi Coates of The Atlantic, Olympic Swimmer Cullen Jones, Comedian Wyatt Cenac, Chef Marcus Samuelsson, Artist Hank Willis Thomas, and the Williams Sisters. 
  
In order, the Honorees are:

@mharrisperry 
@corybooker                   
@benjealous 
@serenawilliams 
@attorneycrump 
@KasimReed 
@KingJames 
@S_C_ 
@shondarhimes 
@anthonyfoxx 
@frank_ocean 
@cdc_drfenton 
@octaviaspencer 
@johnlegend 
@Beyonce 
@charlesmblow 
@venuseswilliams 
@rashadrobinson 
@tristanwalker 
@baratunde 
@VanJones68 
@itsgabrielleu 
@kerrywashington 
@tylerperry 
@MiaBLove 
@jbouie 
@hankwthomas
@iamwill 
@avaetc 
@iamdiddy 
@valeisha 
@stefbrown33 
@tamronhall 
@abenton 
Michelle Alexander  
@MellodyHobson 
@cornellbelcher 
@TeamJeffries 
@jsquidward 
@npraudie 
@taras2cents 
 Troy Carter 
@RepAndreCarson   
Ta-Nehisi Coates 
@wesmoore1
@Wade_Davis28 
@raphaelgwarnock 
@liyakebede  
@khalilgmuhammad
@mwseibel 
@akilproductions  
@issarae
@esglaude 
@MajoraCarter
@EspeSpalding 
@amhicks01
@beverlybond 
@AdamSerwer
@window 
@kehindewileyart
@marcuscooks 
@Cullen_Jones
@stevestoute 
Russlynn Ali
 @amydbarnett
@dambisamoyo 
Destinee Hooker
@MelanieDNC 
@morethan88
@mrmikeblake
 Rosario Dawson
Roland Fryer Jr. 
@TheRealRobHardy
@DeeTwoCents 
@allysonfelix
@davidasutphen 
@tjholmes
@rolandsmartin 
@kaymadati
@seth4da 
@delmancoates
@AyannaPressley 
@bryantterry
@tinacwells
@drsteveperry 
@jennydeluxe
@toure 
@angela_rye
Wyatt Cenac
 @ericasheltonla
Olajide Williams 
@F_Gary_Gray
Levi Garraway 
@DrJuanGilbert
@devon_franklin 
@outdoorafro
@mavcarter 
@marioarmstrong
@nataliaallen
Debo P. Adegbile

Movie Review Website Renames "The Help" as "White People Solve Racism - You're Welcome, Black People"

A British movie review site tweaked the movie posters for some of the 2012 Oscar nominations. Click here to see more.

We believe Strong Black Woman of the Week Melissa Harris-Perry might approve of this title change.

[It won a Screen Actor's Guild Award today, too - for best ensemble cast, Shame, shame.

Strong Black Woman of the Week: Melissa Harris-Perry

"Jim Crow was never like big fun in the kitchen."

Last night, Tulane Professor Melissa Harris-Perry appeared on the Colbert Report.  She was promoting her recent, critically-acclaimed book Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in America [Yale University Press].  In it, she discusses the Jezebel stereotype, the Mammy stereotype (ahem, The Help), the Angry Black Woman stereotype, and, perhaps most importantly, the Strong Black Woman. 

You can watch her interview here.

 

You can buy the book here.   [Can't wait to read it!]