January 15, 2023
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
Vol. 27, Issue 52
African-American News&Issues
“Addressing Current & Historical Realities Affecting Our Community”
Jack & Jill Preserving Black Cultural History
By: Crystal LaShan
Legacy, tradition, brilliance, beauty, pride, and joy are a few words that come to mind when experiencing a Jack and Jill Debutante Ball. Many people believe this tradition is outdated, unnecessary, and archaic, but in a time of Black Lives Matter movements, HBCUs value revalidation and consistent distress for Black people. keeping the Black Debutante tradition is essential for celebrating the legacy of Black Excellence in our Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. culture now and for generations to come. Jack and Jill of America, Inc. boast 252 chapters nationwide, representing more than 40,000 family members. Each chapter plans annual programming activities guided under a general five-point programmatic thrust: cultural awareBy: Roy Douglas Malonson ness, educational development, health (education and advocacy), civic (legislative advocacy and In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 1877 after the Civil War and was an attempt service), and social/recreational areas. Through “Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to address the many inequities that Blacks service projects, Jack and Jill of America created to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will had to face. It was the chance to “reintegrate a medium of contact for children to stimulate make a better person of yourself, a greater nathe Southern states from the confederacy and their growth and development. Through lobbytion of your country, and a finer world to live four million newly-freed people in the United ing, educational programming, dissemination in.” Every year we celebrate the life and work of States.” Even though many slaves were freed, of educational materials, and the the great late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He is a there were still many slaves living in the south organization of community and person who will always be remembered for his under Black codes, which kept the slaves charitable events, Jack and Jill have courage, persistence, bravery, compassion, and enslaved and continued to use them as a labor so much more. He worked tirelessly to help source. In fact, many slaves in the south didn’t promoted the public awareness and interests of children, includchange the life of Black folks so that we could know they were free until sometime later. The ing child development, growth, have equal rights and be treated like the husouth did not want to recognize For more visit man beings we are. But are we truly equal? Equality cont. quality of life, childcare, and the that the slavery was abolished. promotion of children’s rights. The Reconstruction Era occurred from 1865- Slavery was a money maker for aframnews.com on pg. 3
Equality For All