President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs a bill officially establishing the fourth Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day. The tradition of celebrating the holiday on Thursday dates back to the early history of the Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay colonies, when post-harvest holidays were celebrated on… read more »
“The Mousetrap,” a murder-mystery written by the novelist and playwright Agatha Christie, opens at the Ambassadors Theatre in London. The crowd-pleasing whodunit would go on to become the longest continuously running play in history, with more than 10 million people to date attending its more than… read more »
The United Nations General Assembly passes a resolution designating November 25 the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The resolution, which was introduced by the Dominican Republic, marked the anniversary of the death of three sisters, Patria, Minerva and María Teresa Mirabal
, who were murdered there in 1960. While women in Latin America and the Caribbean had honored the day since 1981, all UN countries did not formally recognize it until 1999.
Many organizations, including the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), had been pushing for international recognition of the date for some time.
A year earlier, Noeleen Heyzer, the director of UNIFEM, gave a speech at a fundraising breakfast in Toronto, Canada, encouraging men and women to participate in 16 days of activism against gender violence. The voluntary effort was to begin on November 25 and last through December 10, the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was passed in 1948 as a response to the genocidal terror of the Nazi regime. This 16-day period had particular significance for Heyzer’s Canadian audience, for one of Canada’s most horrific tragedies occurred on December 6, 1989, when Marc Lepine went on a shooting spree at Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal. Lepine had entered the college with a shotgun and murdered 14 female engineering students before turning the gun on himself in what later became known as the “Montreal Massacre.” In his suicide note, Lepine declared his murdering spree to be an attack against feminism.
Many countries adopt causes or a special interest groups to promote during a calendar month. The United States is particularly prolific at creating “national month” events to promote business interests. Showing your support of causes that are important to you is a great way to brand your business in your local community as a business with a heart.
Any business that sells healthy foods, cookbooks, diet services, exercise equipment, or supplements is perfectly situated to offer coupons, freebies, and consultants. It’s a great time for potential clients to get to know you.
Hunger Awareness Month
Even in the wealthiest communities, there are people who need help with access to healthy food. Your business has an opportunity to publicly give products, raise funds, or promote the work of your local food pantry.
National AIDS Awareness Month
Fundraisers and awareness campaigns can win your business friends, particularly in the LGBTQ community.
National American Indian Heritage Month
If you’re located in an area with a strong Native American presence, consider partnering to create programs, products, fundraisers, or other offerings to honor local Native people.
National Diabetes Awareness Month
This very common disorder, is often treated with special diets and exercise. If you offer healthy food or exercise programs/products, now is a great time to reach out to the diabetes community.
National Georgia Pecan Month
Sell pecans or pecan-based foods? Celebrate your southern roots this month with offerings such as pecan pie, praline ice cream, Georgia-themed cookbooks, and more.
National Long-Term Care Awareness Month
If your business offers services or products for long-term care, this is a good time to make your community better aware of your business and the quality of your offerings.
National Novel Writing Month
Get creative with this fun celebration by offering reading and writing corners, celebrating local novelists, decorating with book covers, or otherwise making the readers and writers in your community feel welcome.
National Peanut Butter Lover’s Month
Got peanut butter? Coupons, recipes, free samples, and even history lessons are a great ways to celebrate. You might also want to donate peanut butter to your local food pantry.
National Pepper Month
Here’s a chance to get your community excited about spicy foods by celebrating different types of peppers, selling pepper plants, or offering samples of peppery foods.
National Red Ribbon Month (Anti-Drunk Driving)
Conduct public awareness-raising and fundraising events to support this important cause in your community.
Vegan Awareness Month
Many people have no idea what a vegan is or what they eat to stay alive. Help them discover the richness of the vegan diet by offering samples, coupons, recipes, books, talks, and other products and events around this increasingly popular lifestyle diet.
Some people ask: Why do we still need the Voting Rights Act? Didn’t we win that fight in 1965? The truth is, discrimination didn’t end—it adapted.
Main Points
Historic victory: The Voting Rights Act tore down barriers like literacy tests and poll taxes that once silenced Black voices.
Modern suppression: Today, voter ID laws, polling place closures, and gerrymandered maps still target Black communities. These tactics are quieter, but their impact is just as loud.
Court setbacks: In 2013, the Supreme Court weakened the Act in Shelby County v. Holder, removing federal oversight. Since then, states have rushed to pass laws that make it harder for Black citizens to vote.
Representation at stake: Without strong protections, Black voters risk losing fair representation in Congress, state legislatures, and city councils. That means less influence over schools, healthcare, housing, and justice.
Living safeguard: The Voting Rights Act is not a relic of the past—it is a living safeguard for democracy. Every generation must defend it, because every generation faces new forms of suppression.
Closing So when we say Black Americans still need the Voting Rights Act, we are saying that democracy itself still needs it. Because until every voice is heard, until every vote counts equally, the struggle for freedom is not finished.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():saturation(0.2):brightness(10):contrast(5):format(webp)/Cayenne-566b13055f9b583dc32fcf73.jpg)
Be a Seed for Change 
You must be logged in to post a comment.