Women's History Month: VANESSA BRANTLEY'S NEW ATTITUDE.

Women's History Month: VANESSA BRANTLEY'S NEW ATTITUDE.

As it is Women’s History Month and this is my blog and I am a woman, an African-American woman, it seems only natural for me to document my history.  In reference to my “firsts” as an African-American woman, I would have to list the following accomplishments (Of course, this information is offered to the best of my knowledge.):

1.  I was the first African-American woman accepted in the Master of Science degree program in Textiles, Merchandising and Interiors from The University of Georgia.  I took a break after getting my thesis proposal approved.  Later, in 1996, I became the second African-American woman to graduate with a Master of Science degree in Textiles, Merchandising and Interiors.

2.  In 1999, I became the first African-American woman to graduate with a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Textiles and Apparel under the College of Human Sciences at Florida State University.

3.  In 1999, I was the first African-American woman at Florida State University to graduate as a Southern Regional Education Board [SREB] Doctoral Scholar.  I was also the second graduate and woman to represent Florida in the SREB Doctoral Program. 

4.  In 1999, I became the first African-American assistant professor hired in the Family and Consumer Sciences department at Southwest Texas State University [currently Texas State University-San Marcos]. 

*Please note, I could have other “firsts” unbeknownst to me.

If you really want to get to know me, then you should read all of my blog entries.  I reveal so much about myself in the writings.  Think about it.  If I don’t document my existence, who will?

FACT 1--You will find that I like to travel to well-known and little known places.  I like to meet interesting people and I LOVE to eat scrumptious-looking foods.  Oh, I also LOVE grand and fine clothing.

FACT 2—For the past 30 years, I have primarily drenched myself in BLACK clothing.  My weight kept increasing after I stopped exercising.  For me, wearing mainly black clothing looked chic and smart.  It also gave me confidence to feel sexier.  Sure, I could have just exercised, but for some reason designers always included great-looking black clothes in their collections.  I didn’t have a personal connection to any other hue.  Occasionally, I would wear cheetah or leopard prints, but nothing felt or looked as “right” as black apparel.

FACT 3—Vanessa Brantley has a new attitude!  Recently I turned 59 years old.  Accepting this is the last year to be called “middle-age,” I’m mentally and visually preparing for senior-hood.  I have a new outlook on life.  I am older and wiser.  I DO NOT want to be associated with youth.

What’s so great about being young?

I like knowing what I now know.  I know what I like.  I now know whom I like.  I now know what I want.  I now know and accept that I don’t have forever to get things done.

I now know the freedom of “not making decisions or not having a goal.”   

I’m not going to get richer.  I’m not going to find Prince Charming.  I’m not going to become a celebrity.  I’m not going to stress the rest of my life away.  I’m just not.

What I am going to do is stop wearing black all the time.  Stop being so serious about life.  Stop caring about what other folks need and want from me.  Stop hoping for a tomorrow of dreams that will probably not come, happen or manifest.

Yep, what I AM GOING TO DO is wear anything I want to wear, anytime and anyplace.  I am going to date any man for any reason I choose.  I might even find time to make a new friend…or not.  I might get yet another degree.  Who knows? 

I am going to live for me.  That’s it.  No goal in mind.  Just living out my days remaining on Earth.

See ya!

*Vanessa Brantley  Style395.blogspot.com, March 29, 2018, “Women's History Month: Vanessa Brantley’s New Attitude,” Volume 13, Blog 1b [vol. 13, 1a-1c].

Women's History Month: POWERFUL FEMALE STUDENT LEADERS OF SOUTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL

Happy Women's History Month

POWERFUL FEMALE STUDENT LEADERS OF 

SOUTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL

THANK YOU SOUTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL! YOU ENCOURAGED LEADERSHIP AND DEVELOPED OUR SENSE OF CIVIC PRIDE AND RESPONSIBILITY.

I became a freedom fighter at the age of 7, learning from young Black Panthers in my neighborhood and joining youth groups in church. From there, I was determined never to let the works of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X and all the active fighters in the Civil Rights Movement be forgotten or stopped. Even at Peyton Forest Elementary School, I knew how important our communities and neighbors were to the local movement.

Like Audrey Phillips Wilcox recently shared, the body of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. laid rest in public display at Spelman College for us to never forget what he and thousands of others stood for during our childhoods. Audrey, please consider posting your photos in this group. We need to be reminded of who we were and are as a student body of leaders, parents and grandparents. We come from COURAGE! We come from THE FIGHT...THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT!

We come from SOUTHWEST HIGH SCHOOL.

In Mr Johnson's homeroom class in 1972, I had to make a decision about who I would become at Southwest. Mr. Johnson supported and encouraged my sense of civic duty and responsibility. It was students--especially FEMALES-- like Evelynn Newman, Sheila Quarterman, Jennifer Freeman, Evangeline Brown Evangeline Colbert, Valya Souder, Valya S. Lee and countless others who gave me peer encouragement to STAND FOR FREEDOM and serve my class and the student body. We were not afraid to speak up as women, Blacks or people during those days.

WE ALL MADE OUR COMMUNITIES BETTER BY BEING STRONG.

So I'm saying to Southwest High School, we are the ones who must RISE again to correct the ills in this nation, this state, and this CITY. And yes, we MUST CORRECT the ills of this millennial generation. We cannot allow this generation--fully distracted by gangster culture; fast money; the degradation of women and the disrespect of our historical fight--to ignore the decades long battles of the Civil Rights Movement. For this millennial generation has emerged as a "Strip Club Addicted Court of 80% Poverty Dwellers." They are not US. Further, I don't believe they reside on the same mountaintop referenced in our valorous Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. dream.

I'm back, Atlanta. Thank you Jennifer for sending us posts on how to get involved on the Atlanta Planning Advisory Board. I will become active. I will also rejoin the Atlanta Democratic Party. Stacey Abrams will have my support and Keisha Lance Bottoms will have my watchful eye (and actions). Additionally, Southwest Atlanta must regain its position on the world stage. My focus will be on growing and supporting Black entrepreneurship. I will look to Maynard BMaynard Scarborough and Gina Rogers for direction on Education and Community Services.

Also, I will rejoin the Atlanta NAACP. They need our help and input. In other words, now that I have joined Facebook and learned in 2017 where my energies should go in 2018, I am resolving to return to the level and sense of civic pride and responsibility I had when I was at Southwest High School. I pledge once again my civic and social involvement to the people and city that made a path for me.

It's one thing to complain about the state of my Atlanta community. It's another to actively try to improve it. I was active in civic and social fights in other cities where I resided. Now it's time to once again join the fight for Atlanta.

My original 2018 mantra: Stand up for freedom. Sit at the table for equality. Take a knee against oppression.

I hope to see my fellow WOLVES in the new Civil Rights Movement.

I ain't scared. I'm back.
Vanessa Brantley, Ph.D.

*Vanessa Brantley  Style395.blogspot.com, March 24, 2018, “Women's History Month: Powerful Female Student Leaders of Southwest High School,” Volume 13, Blog 1a [vol. 13, 1a-1c].