As we continue to celebrate BLACK HISTORY MONTH...Did you know that Denzel Washington is considered to be one of the greatest American actors? Denzel is very popular for his engaging and powerful performances. Because of his consistent success, throughout his career, he was regularly praised by critics. He pursued acting as his career right after graduating from Fordham University. He has received a Tony awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, 2 Golden Globes. The highest honor for a screen actor is an Academy Award and he has won  2 so far for his roles in the movies Glory & Training Day. 

As we continue to celebrate BLACK HISTORY MONTH...Did you know that Beyonce is one of the most influential and iconic female artists of all time? She has performed in various singing and dancing competitions as a child. She rose to fame in the late 1990s as the lead singer of Destiny's Child, one of the best-selling girl groups of all time. She then launched a hugely successful solo career.  She is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of her time because of her music, image and lifestyle.

As we continue to celebrate BLACK HISTORY MONTH...Did you know that Tommie smith and John Carlos are known for their Black Power salute when they won Gold and silver respectively at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics?

This gesture took place at the height of the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S, and was among the most powerful public statements made during that time. The two athletes courageously used the world's biggest stage to take a stand against racism, injustice and equality. Prior to that event, Tommie Smith and John Carlos were student athletes at San Jose State University, and today a statue honoring them in that historic moments stands on campus.

As we continue to celebrate Black history month...did you know that Barack and Michelle Obama met in 1989 when they both worked for a Chicago law firm? Barack Obama became the first black president ever to be elected president of the United States in 2008. Now he and Michelle are known as one of the most powerful and influential couples in the world.

HAPPY Lunar New Year, everyone! Did you know that the Lunar New Year celebration actually lasts for 15 days? The reason for this is because the 15th day marks the full moon, which in China is known as the "first night of the full moon." And it is also known as "Lantern Festival Day." A reunion dinner which is held with lanterns and oranges, also a big part of the celebration.

As we continue with Lunar New Years, did you know that black and white are not appropriate colors to wear for Lunar New Year? According to tradition, black and white represent mourning and death which will bring "bad luck," so it's better to wear bright colors, particularly the lucky color red. Tomorrow marks the start of the Lunar New Year so don't forget to wear red for luck and SPIRIT POINTS TOMORROW!

As we continue with Lunar New Years, did you know that Lunar New Year on Friday will bring us into the year of the ox? The ox is known for it's earnestness, humility, hard work and honesty. People born in 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, and 2009 are considered to have ox like characteristics.

Did you know that Lunar New Years is based on the cycles of the moon? It's a holiday that is celebrated to honor household and heavenly deities as well as ancestors. It was also a time to bring families together for feasting.

As we continue to celebrate Black History Month, Did you know that Muhammad Ali was a heavyweight boxing champion with an impressive 56-win record? He is considered by many to be one of the greatest athletes of all time. He was also known for his brave public stance against the Vietnam War. In 1967, he famously proclaimed that he would not fight Vietnamese people because they hadn't done anything bad to him.

As we continue to celebrate Black History Month, did you know Madam C.J. Walker created specialized hair products for African American hair care and was one of the first American women to become a self-made millionaire? She was also known for her philanthropic endeavors, including a donation toward the construction of an Indianapolis YMCA in 1913. Walker's life was portrayed in the 2020 TV show called Self Made.