Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: A.G. Gaston

Entrepreneurship is an amazing tool if you have the lifestyle, work ethic, and perseverance to support it. Black Americans have always faced difficulties in owning businesses simply because of the unjust system that permeates society. There have been individuals here and there that have gotten ahead and built successful organizations over the years, but they were oftentimes sabotaged to their demise. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on businessman A.G. Gaston and the impact he had on the local Birmingham community.

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Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: Juneteenth

Many people think of February as one of the most important months for Black Americans since it’s Black History Month. While it’s definitely an important time to look back on the inventions, advancements, and struggles of our ancestors, it’s only one part of our overarching history. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on our true independence day, Juneteenth.

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Historical Spotlights, Sports Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights, Sports Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: Jim Brown

Black Americans have participated in and made numerous contributions to sports throughout history. Oftentimes, athletic progress and achievement for Black Americans has come from “breaking the color barrier” in professional leagues to force widespread cultural change. However, there’s a long history of racism, segregation, and discrimination that most Black athletes have had to endure. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on one of the greatest running backs of all time, James Nathaniel Brown.

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Health, Lifestyle Jessica Marie Smith Health, Lifestyle Jessica Marie Smith

Slumber Thoughts

From an early age, kids idolize superheroes and villains in shows and aspire to have certain special abilities. Some want to fly over cities or have superhuman strength to fight crime while others want to be part spider and swing through the sky to save the world. I never connected deeply with one particular superhero over another, but if I had a superpower, I would want the ability to control time just so I could get more sleep.

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Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: Star-Spangled Symbols

With Memorial Day right around the corner, many people are planning festivities to honor the brave men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.They took an oath of allegiance to the country and stood to protect the strength of our nation. The American Flag and Star-Spangled Banner are perceived differently across all segments of the population depending on historical implications, social status, and other factors. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on the origins of the U.S. Flag and the original lyrics of the national anthem.

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Finances Jessica Marie Smith Finances Jessica Marie Smith

New Car Madness

Living in a large city without reliable public transportation like Atlanta or Los Angeles makes having a car a necessity. Going to work, dropping your kids off at school, and running simple errands would be incredibly inconvenient if you didn’t have a car to get around. The price of new cars has risen an average of 32% since 2018, making it incredibly important to know how to responsibly purchase a new vehicle without putting your financial livelihood at risk.

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Food & Cooking, Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith Food & Cooking, Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: Aunt Jemima

I’ve always loved pancakes. My mom would always make me one big fluffy pancake and she would very rarely burn them. Even now that I’m older, I either make pancakes or waffles for breakfast every single weekend as a tradition in my household. Aunt Jemima pancake mix has always been a trusted go-to for perfectly fluffy and golden pancakes. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on the racial implications of the famous brand.

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Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: Cowboys of the Wild West

Popular shows like Yellowstone, Westwood, Bonanza, and many others pay homage to the cowboys of the Wild West. While most of them feature Caucasian actors, it’s actually estimated that 25% of cowboys from 1866 to 1886 were actually Black Americans. Despite being underrepresented in popular society, the Black cowboys played a vital role in settling the untouched land of the West. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on the Black ranchers, cowboys, and settlers that helped shape the nation.

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Lifestyle Jessica Marie Smith Lifestyle Jessica Marie Smith

New Life Hurdles

It’s crazy to think that just 5 years ago, I was a sophomore in college trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. Fast forward to now, and I would’ve never guessed I’d be married with two dogs by now. I also never thought I’d have my own small business and publishing a weekly blog. While I’m still figuring things out, I can say I understand more of what I want in my world and life.

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Sports, Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith Sports, Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: Dawn Staley

Women’s college basketball has exploded in popularity over the last few years. The sport has seen phenomenal teams and athletes really put everything on the line to beat opponents and make their sport more relevant. With the guidance of their coach, the University of South Carolina Gamecocks won this year’s NCAA championship game against Iowa and put a cherry on top of a perfect undefeated season. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on the great legend Dawn Staley.

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Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: Linnentown

As a proud alumna of the University of Georgia, I spent many years in Athens growing and developing into a young adult. I attended sporting events, played a vital role in my housing community as a Resident Assistant, and even met my husband while taking a journalism class. The very dorm I lived in for three years, unbeknownst to me, was actually a catalyst for decimating an entire thriving Black neighborhood not even 100 years ago. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on Linnentown.

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Lifestyle Jessica Marie Smith Lifestyle Jessica Marie Smith

Office Culture

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get an urge to make a big change in my life. I’ve recently been thinking about finding a new job. I don’t have the worst job in the world, but I would love the opportunity to experience a new organization and get a change of pace. Thankfully, we live in a world where leaving a company after just a few years isn’t unheard of. Long gone are the days of being loyal to a company for 20 to 30 years of your life.

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Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: John Brown

Black Americans have always had to fight for equal rights and treatment in America. Whether the fight was on a plantation, in a courtroom, or even at a place of education, there have been many brave and courageous people who have stood up against the massive bloodshed, treachery, and thievery experienced by the Black community. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on John Brown, one of the few white abolitionists in the 1800’s who fought against slavery and the unfair treatment of Black people.

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Health Jessica Marie Smith Health Jessica Marie Smith

Strengthening My Strands

One thing that I absolutely love is how versatile hair is. There are so many different styles, cuts, shapes, and techniques you can do to have fun with your hair. I also enjoy the fact that it can always be changed and you don’t have to permanently stick with a style that you don’t like. It’s one of the easiest, yet often slept on ways to accessorize different outfits for certain occasions.

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Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: Delilah Beasley

When I enrolled in college at the University of Georgia, I aspired to become a journalist. I enjoyed writing and envisioned myself delivering impactful stories for the millions of people who would watch me on TV. After going through my collegiate program, however, I quickly realized the journalism life wasn’t something I wanted to pursue long term. Black American heroes like Delilah Beasley broke the barrier for Black people to pursue the journey of journalism. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on Delilah’s 50 year career and the impact she left on society.

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Lifestyle Jessica Marie Smith Lifestyle Jessica Marie Smith

Journey of Learning

Every person we come across, situation we face, and conversation we have adds to our repertoire of knowledge. Everything we do helps us to learn more about ourselves, the world we live in, and the people around us. It’s important to pay close attention to hopefully avoid repeating certain lessons multiple times. Trust and believe, if you don’t grasp a concept the first time, the powers that be - the Lord, the Universe, whatever higher being you believe in - will present the lesson in different formats until you finally get the idea.

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Finances Jessica Marie Smith Finances Jessica Marie Smith

Smart Money Decisions

When I was young, my parents taught me the basics of finances at an early age. We practiced balancing a checkbook, recording transactions, and even went over the good, and bad, sides of accruing interest. It was extremely important to them that I kept a good grasp on the money I spent to ensure it didn’t surpass the amount of money I had available. I never knew just how expensive life was until I got older, and it continues to amaze me even now.

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Fur Babies Jessica Marie Smith Fur Babies Jessica Marie Smith

Allergy Mystery

Spring is right around the corner and with it comes the torrential storm of pollen, the constant sniffles, and the barrage of bees. The season is also filled with beautiful blooming flowers, longer and warmer days, and whispers of summertime to look forward to. Each year, more than 100 million people in the United States suffer from allergies caused by food, latex, pollen, seasonal changes, and prescription drugs. Did you know that the same allergies that give us grief, can also have an impact on our four legged friends? Join me as we take a dive deep into pet allergies and what we can do to give them some relief.

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Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: Powerful Protests

Happy Black History Month! When we think of Jim Crow Laws, Segregation, and The Civil Rights Movement, it’s sometimes easy to automatically assume it happened so long ago. However, when you really take a look at the dates, it’s astounding that most Black Americans fought for the freedoms we know today within the last 100 years. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on some of the protests during the Civil Rights Movement that eventually led to change and improvements for Black Americans in society.

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Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith Historical Spotlights Jessica Marie Smith

Historical Spotlight: Jerry Lawson

Online gaming is a hobby enjoyed by millions around the world. Some fanatics enjoy consoles like PlayStation and Xbox while others prefer handheld systems like the Nintendo Switch or even something more powerful like a gaming PC. No matter what games and devices you’ve played, you have one man to thank for inventing the very first gaming console in 1976. Join me as we shine a historical spotlight on Jerry Lawson.

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