Daily Health Bites

Before Rosa Parks, a 15-year-old Black girl named Claudette Colvin refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus . In March 1955—nine months before Rosa Parks’ arrest—Colvin was dragged off a public bus, handcuffed, and jailed for insisting on her constitutional rights. Her act of resistance helped lay the groundwork for the Montgomery Bus Boycott and later became part of the Supreme Court case that ended bus segregation. Yet history largely erased her name. This is the story of why. She was fifteen years old. A child, really. Full of questions. Full of fire. Full of the kind of courage that doesn’t ask permission. Nine Months Before Rosa Parks, a Black Teen Took a Stand Nine months before Rosa Parks became a household name, Claudette Colvin refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus. Not because it was planned. Not because it was strategic. But because something in her spirit said  enough . “I paid my fare. It’s my constitutional right.” Those were her words. The Forgotten ...

As promised, this is the next blog in our series highlighting  not-so-well-known but deeply important Black people who helped shape America . Not the usual history-book names. Not the ones everyone already knows. These are the people whose ideas quietly built the systems we use every day. This woman didn’t invent something to become famous. She didn’t have venture capital. She wasn’t trying to disrupt an industry. She was just trying to  feel safe in her own home . Long before smart doorbells, before security apps, before anyone imagined a television could protect you, a Black woman from Queens created the foundation of modern home security. Her name was  Marie Van Brittan Brown —and if you’ve ever checked a screen before opening your door, you’re using her idea. The Problem No One Was Rushing to Solve Marie Van Brittan Brown was born in 1922 in Queens, New York. She worked as a  nurse , often pulling long, unpredictable overnight shifts. At the same time, crime in h...

I didn’t blog in January—and instead of rushing past that, I’m using February to reset with intention. Black History Month is the perfect time to reflect on  where we’ve been, what we’ve built, and how we grow forward . This month’s focus is  past and present growth : learning from Black trailblazers whose work still teaches us how to move today. Not just famous names—but impactful ones. Let’s start with someone influential, foundational, and still under recognized. Black History Month and the Importance of Growth Black History Month is more than remembrance—its reflection and application. Understanding the past helps us identify patterns, strategies, and lessons that still matter today. One of the most powerful lessons we can learn is how growth becomes meaningful when it extends beyond ourselves. Let’s talk about Annie Turnbo Malone. Who Was Annie Turnbo Malone? Annie Turnbo Malone  (1869–1957) was one of the  first Black female millionaires in the United States ...