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James Van Der Beek’s Death at 48 Is a Wake-Up Call About Colorectal Cancer

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Today we’re pressing pause on Black History Month. We’ll resume tomorrow with quiet Black figures who deserve recognition. But today, we need to talk about something else. The C word. James Van Der Beek has died at 48 after battling colorectal cancer. His wife, Kimberly Van Der Beek, shared the heartbreaking news. His brother has spoken publicly about the pain their family is experiencing. He was 48. And from what has been shared, he didn’t initially think this was something that could happen to him. Because he was young. How many of us have thought that? “It’s Probably Nothing.” That’s what so many people say when symptoms first show up. Bowel changes? “It’s the coffee.” Stomach discomfort? “It’s stress.” Blood in the stool? “Probably hemorrhoids.” Here’s the problem: colorectal cancer often starts quietly. The symptoms can feel small. Dismissible. Easy to explain away. Until they aren’t. And by the time many younger adults get diagnosed, it’s already advanced. Colorectal Cancer Is Ri...
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You’ve Probably Never Heard of Ella Baker — And That’s a Problem

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Be honest: had you ever heard the name  Ella Baker  before today? If not, you’re not alone. And that’s exactly why her story matters. Ella Baker was a Black woman who helped  build  the civil rights movement as we know it. Not from a podium. Not with fame. But from the ground up — organizing everyday people, especially young folks, and teaching them how to lead  themselves . So… Who Was Ella Baker, Really? Ella Baker (1903–1986)  was a civil rights activist, organizer, and strategist who believed that real power lives in communities, not in one “great” leader. Her most famous belief? “Strong people don’t need strong leaders.” That idea was revolutionary — and still is. What Did Ella Baker Actually Do? Ella Baker worked with almost every major civil rights organization you’ve heard of, including: The  NAACP , where she organized local chapters across the South The  Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) The  Student Nonviolent Coordin...
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Claudette Colvin Refused Before Rosa - So Why Was She Forgotten

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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 ...
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