Black History Month ....

[Melissa Madyson]

[BootyfulGia]

I'd like to celebrate with u P!!!!!

[Guest123018]

^I'm soon heading your way

[Guest123018]

A young, beautiful Maya Angelou with Langston Hughes, not long after her career as a sex worker—guess she didn’t think his joke was that funny?


Dr. Maya Angelou, American Poet Laureate, most famous for authoring I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, passed away at age 86 on May 28th, 2014. Her literary agent Helen Brann confirmed the news to press, and thus began a worldwide outpouring of grief. The top trending tag on Twitter was “RIP Maya Angelou” and, at the time of this writing, it is one of four Maya Angelou-related trending hashtags. She is hailed as a national best selling author, a genius, a spiritual God-, Grand-, and mother. She is lauded as everything Black women should aspire to emulate in life. So why is it very few of us know she was a sex worker in her youth? Why is it, even in her death, as in her life, it’s such a guarded secret? Why was this secret kept by seemingly everyone except Dr. Angelou herself?

We can, once again, boil it down to respectability politics and stigma. I am angry about it. I find myself ruminating, considering, wondering: If her work had been talked about as much as her dancing with James Baldwin or even her considerable, commanding and lovely height of six feet, what would the sex work community look like today? If we had talked about her wonderful compassion for sex workers, how she never looked down on them, and her refusal to be intimidated by invasive and obnoxious questioning about her sex working past, what would sex workers around the world be saying today in memory of her life?

Instead, we read post after post, obituary after tribute, calling her a “pimp” and saying she had “an unsuccessful stint as a prostitute.” The most detailed accounts currently online are making sure to emphasize that she spent a “brief stint,” a “short time” in the sex industry, so as to, without explicit words, solidify the shame they believe she should have felt, the shame we should feel as well. The media uses inflammatory terms to get clicks and to emphasize the terrible and shameful secret that was, in actuality, never a secret at all.

Dr. Angelou herself says she was never ashamed.

I wrote about my experiences because I thought too many people tell young folks, “I never did anything wrong. Who, Moi? – never I. I have no skeletons in my closet. In fact, I have no closet.” They lie like that and then young people find themselves in situations and they think, “Damn I must be a pretty bad guy. My mom or dad never did anything wrong.” They can’t forgive themselves and go on with their lives. So I wrote the book Gather Together in My Name [about her past as a sex worker]. [source]

In interviews, Dr. Angelou used the term “prostitute” to refer to her previous employment without rancor or shame. She spoke candidly to her family about it. She told her mother, brother, and son she would redact the information from the book, but only if they were uncomfortable with it. She had no issue whatsoever with speaking her truth. So why do we not know about it, save for hushed whispers and the occasional salacious reference in reports about and interviews of her? What’s so wrong with our beloved and lovely Maya Angelou having been a sex worker and brothel manager?
Go read this book now if you haven't already!

Go read this book now if you haven’t already!

Respectability politics no doubt play a role in the erasure of her history as a sex worker. With a wide brush, details on it have been painted over by those who won’t acknowledge such a thing, brushing past it to talk about her awards and accolades. But she had no problem stating plainly: “There are many ways to prostitute one’s self.”

It comes to this: there is no way, in the minds of most people, to have worked as a prostitute and not be ashamed of it. Most people believe there is no way to have held this job (and it is a job), move onto other things, and not consider it a “seamy life” or “shameful secret.” To most people, there is no way a woman of Maya Angelou’s caliber could ever have performed as a sex worker. The idea just won’t gel for them, but that doesn’t mean it’s not the truth. Maya Angelou: Poet Laureate, Pulitzer nominee, Tony Award winner, best selling author, poetess, winner of more than 50 honorary degrees, mother, sister, daughter, wife, National Medal of Arts winner, Presidential Medal of Freedom winner, consummate and powerful woman, artist, and former sex worker. Yes, the woman you love, the woman we all love, the incomparable Dr. Maya Angelou was a sex worker and she proved, in her life and her stories, that there’s nothing wrong with it.

To quote her:

Now you understand
just why my head’s not bowed.
I don’t shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing,
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It’s in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
the need for my care.
‘Cause I’m a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That’s me.
(Phenomenal Woman)

Indeed, we are proud of you, Dr. Angelou. Thank you for everything you’ve so shamelessly shared with us, for your truth needs no shame and deserves acknowledgment, acceptance, and a warm, loving embrace. Words can never express my gratitude to you and my grief at your death. Thank you.

[Guest123018]

First Female African American Porn Star, Desiree West



In 1976, the month of February was officially designated as Black History Month as a way to recognize and celebrate the countless contributions African Americans have made to our nation and our culture. Every aspect of the American society has been touched by these pioneers and their accomplishments – and the porn industry is no exception to the rule!

In 1973, the adult industry, and the world, was introduced to Desiree West, a stunning young woman of African American/Asian descent who would later go on to shatter barriers and become widely recognized as the first female African American porn star.

West’s career began with her break out role in the hardcore film, Teenage Runaway. She became known not only for her enthusiastic and earnest on screen sexual performances, but also for her unique ability to dive into a character and deliver believable dialogue, adding depth to all of her roles.

Thanks to her stunning, wide-eyed, exotic look, as well as her voluptuous 36DD-24-36 figure, West is often ranked as one of the most beautiful women to ever perform within the industry. Specializing in interracial, lesbian and masturbation scenes, she appeared in over 90 films during her seven year career, including Spirit of Seventy-Sex, Sex World, and Female Athletes. She is also known for her many performances alongside fellow industry legend, John Holmes.



Unfortunately, West was often relegated to secondary roles in many of these films due to her race and eventually retired in 1980. She was officially inducted into the XRCO Hall of fame in 1997 and currently resides with her husband in North Carolina.





During her career, West generally was relegated to secondary roles. In 2004, she finally got top billing when a compilation of her scenes was released as Double-D Soul Sister: A Desiree West Collection

[myren1900]

Never heard of Desiree West before, but geez, she was fucking HOT !
Some of the sexiest tits I ever saw !

[OldGent]

I had all of her videos back in the days. She was awesome. The black female porn star in Boogie Nights was based off of her.

[cockalatte]

Seeking ~P, Thank you for educating me on the first black pornstar. I immediately looked her up and was amazed on her photos and films!

[Guest123018]

Madam C. J. Walker
First Self-Made Female Millionaire

Sarah Breedlove (December 23, 1867 – May 25, 1919), known as Madam C. J. Walker, was an African American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and a political and social activist.

Eulogized as the first female self-made millionaire in America, she became one of the wealthiest African American women in the country, "the world's most successful female entrepreneur of her time," and one of the most successful African-American business owners ever.

Walker made her fortune by developing and marketing a line of beauty and hair products for black women through Madame C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company, the successful business she founded.

Walker was also known for her philanthropy and activism. She made financial donations to numerous organizations and became a patron of the arts.

[SoSexyMsT]

Great thread!

[Lena Duvall]

Last night at the Oscars, Moonlight became the lowest budget film (inflation considered) to win Best Picture.

[Guest123018]

Janelle Monáe was beautiful

[Guest123018]

Eartha Kitt - The Greatest Catwoman Of Them All (1st black female)

Eartha Mae Kitt (January 17, 1927 – December 25, 2008) was an American singer, actress, dancer, activist, voice actress and comedian, known for her highly distinctive singing style and her 1953 recordings of "C'est si bon" and the enduring Christmas novelty smash "Santa Baby", which were both US Top 10 hits. She starred in 1967 as Catwoman, in the third and final season of the television series Batman. Orson Welles once called her the "most exciting woman in the world".

Kitt began her career in 1943 and appeared in the 1945 original Broadway theatre production of the musical Carib Song. In the early 1950s, she had six US Top 30 hits, including "Uska Dara" and "I Want to be Evil". Her other notable recordings include the UK Top 10 hit "Under the Bridges of Paris" (1954), "Just an Old Fashioned Girl" (1956) and "Where Is My Man" (1983). In 1968, her career in America suffered after she made anti-war statements at a White House luncheon. Ten years later, she made a successful return to Broadway in the 1978 original production of the musical Timbuktu!, for which she received the first of her two Tony Award nominations. Her second was for the 2000 original production of the musical The Wild Party. She also played Lady Eloise in 1992 film Boomerang, starring Eddie Murphy.

Kitt found a new generation of fans through her roles in the Disney films The Emperor's New Groove (2000), in which she voiced the villainous Yzma, and Holes (2003). She reprised the role as Yzma in the direct-to-video sequel Kronk's New Groove (2005), as well as the animated series The Emperor's New School (2006–2008). Her work on the latter earned her two Daytime Emmy Awards. She posthumously won a third Emmy in 2010 for her guest performance on Wonder Pets.


Purr-Fect!

[Guest123018]

Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander
First African-American woman to receive a Ph.D.



Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander (January 2, 1898 – November 1, 1989), was the first African-American woman to receive a Ph.D. in economics in the United States (1921), and the first woman to receive a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. She was the first African-American woman to practice law in Pennsylvania. She was the first national president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, serving from 1919 to 1923.

In 1946 she was appointed to the President's Committee on Civil Rights established by Harry Truman. She was the first African-American woman appointed as Assistant City Solicitor for the City of Philadelphia. She and her husband were both active in civil rights. In 1952 she was appointed to the city's Commission on Human Relations, serving through 1968. She was President of John F. Kennedy Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law (1963).

[MrGiz]

I just so happen to be white... (not by choice... it just happened). . . SO WHAT ? ? ? ?

My absolute, all time favorite hobby playmate EVER , ANYWHERE, (Garcelle) just so happens to be black ...
SO WHAT ? ? ? ?

She is easily, THE MOST SEXUALLY TALENTED... THE MOST GENUINE... THE MOST GENEROUS... THE MOST FRIENDLY FEMALE I have EVER met... anytime , anywhere!!

Does anyone REALLY think I could give less of a fuck, what the color her skin is???? Really????

If humans could become (even if, accidentally) "color-blind"... perhaps these types of So Socially Important Threads could become obsolete! Actually... they already are!

Wednesday is March 1st.
SO WHAT ? ? ? ?

I gotta admit though.... Earth Kitt has always been a personal , lust-filled, dream!!

Happy Mardi Gras!! 😎👍