● Black History Month ●

Black history month, in America, is an annual observance in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom for remembrance of important people and events in the history of the African diaspora. From the event's initial phase, primary emphasis was placed on encouraging the coordinated teaching of the history of American blacks in the nation's public schools. The expansion of Black History Week to Black History Month was first proposed by the leaders of the Black United Students. The first celebration of the Black History Month took place at Kent State one year later, in February 1970. Americans have recognized black history annually since 1926, first as "Negro History Week" and later as "Black history month." 

What you might not know is that black history had barely begun to be studied-or even documented-when the tradition originated. Although blacks have been in America at least as far back as colonial times, it was not until the 20th century that they gained a respectable presence in the history books.

Langston Hughes was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist. He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form jazz poetry. Hughes is best known for his work during the Harlem Renaissance. He famously wrote about the period that “the negro was in vogue” which was later paraphrased as “when Harlem was in vogue."

Langston Hughes is widely regarded as “the Bard of Harlem” for vividly capturing the literary ethos and artistic spirit of the Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s and 30s. He was one of the most prolific black writers of the twentieth century and possibly the first to earn his living entirely by means of his craft.  Although he wrote in nearly every genre, he was primarily a poet and two of Hughes’s poems, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” and “I, Too (Sing America)” have become important parts of the American literary canon.  For his poems, plays, essays, novels, and short stories that together number in the hundreds, Langston Hughes stands as one of the most important American writers of the last century.

Here's one of his poems: I, too.

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.

They send me to eat in the kitchen

When company comes,

But I laugh,

And eat well,

And grow strong.

Tomorrow,

I’ll be at the table

When company comes.

Nobody’ll dare

Say to me,

“Eat in the kitchen,”

Then.

Besides,

They’ll see how beautiful I am

And be ashamed.

I, too, am America.

♥ Pancake day ♥

Shrove Tuesday in the United Kingdom is commonly known as Pancake Tuesday. It is a time for people to eat pancakes or participate in pancake races. Pancakes in the United Kingdom have some variations. For example, Welshcakes or light cakes are eaten in Wales while many pancakes in Gloucester are made with suet.People who take part in the pancake races carry thin pancakes in frying pans and must race to the finish, flipping pancakes as they go. The winner is the first to the finish line with a pancake that is not burnt. Some people may take time off work to participate in the pancake races.

The Olney Pancake Race is held at Olney in Buckinghamshire on Shrove Tuesday. It is one of the best known pancake races in the United Kingdom. The course for the Olney Pancake Race is about 415 yards long (about 379 meters). Competitors must wear traditional costumes that include a skirt, apron and head covering to run the race. Official Olney and Liberal prizes are then presented at a Shriving service in the parish church after the race is finished.

In Olney, England, the Pancake Race tradition dates back more than 500 years to 1445. A woman engrossed in using up cooking fats (forbidden during Lent) was making pancakes. Hearing the church bells ring calling everyone to the shriving service, she grabbed her head scarf (required in church) and ran to the church, skillet and pancake in hand and still apron-clad. In following years, neighbors got into the act and it became a race to see who could reach the church first and collect a "Kiss of Peace" from the verger (bell-ringer.) 

Magic Mike. ☺♥

In 1989, a director called Steven Soderbergh suddently became famous for his movie "Sex, Lies and Videotapes". His next films were about something different, but in 2013 he returned to the subject of sex with the film "Magic Mike" starring Channing Tatum and Alex Pettyfer.
Channing Tatum said that Soderbergh is a fantastic director. It's a person that is really smart and empowers the actors. 

"He's quick, the way he shoots is phenomenal" said Alex Pettyfer. 

Soderbergh is loved by everyone, even by an actor as Matthew McConaughey, infact he said that he doesn't say much, just what's needed. The film is about male strippers, but especially about Mike, the best one.