Month: November 2015

Some Thoughts For The Day

November 30, 2015 · 1 Comment ·

Before you all get into reading my latest whopping 10 posts; I would like to share my thoughts. I usually would post thoughts like this on my other blog fighting misogynoir, but I decided that I would post it here since this relates to some upcoming posts that I will be doing more of here on this blog. My heart breaks (like a thousand times a week) every time I hear or read Black Women and Girls make statements such as this:

Is it bad that I sometimes feel envious or sub-par compared to lighter skinned women or non-black women? I think I look nice, I’ve had other people tell me that I was pretty or beautiful, but I don’t feel really beautiful, I always feel like I’m somewhat invisible to beauty because of me being Black. It’s like with lighter skin or not being Black, that’s automatically points…

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Queen Charlotte, (nee Duchess Sophia Charlotte of Meckelenburg- Stretlitz: Second Black Queen of England consort to King George III of the United Kingdom

November 30, 2015 · 1 Comment ·

Portrait of Queen Charlotte Sophia by Sir Allan Ramsay, ca.1770. Artists of that period were expected to play down or even obliterate "undesirable features" in a subject's face. Ramsay's paintings of the Queen were the most African of all her portraits. He was an anti-slavery intellectual. His wife's uncle, was the English judge who started the process to end slavery in the British Empire. Also, Ramsay was uncle, by marriage, to Dido Elizabeth Lindsay, who was half black.: — **Pinterest**

Portrait (above) of Queen Charlotte Sophia by Sir Allan Ramsay, ca.1770. Artists of that period were expected to play down or even obliterate “undesirable features” in a subject’s face. Ramsay’s paintings of the Queen were the most African of all her portraits. He was an anti-slavery intellectual. His wife’s uncle was the English judge who started the process to end slavery in the British Empire. Also, Ramsay was uncle, by marriage, to Dido Elizabeth Lindsay, who was half black.

Princess Sophie Charlotte was born on May 19, 1744. Charlotte was the eighth child of the Prince of Mirow, Germany, Charles Louis Frederick, and his wife, Elisabeth Albertina of Saxe-Hildburghausen. In 1752, when she was eight years old, Sophie Charlotte’s father died. As princess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Sophie Charlotte was descended directly from an African branch of the Portuguese Royal House, Margarita de Castro y Sousa. Six different lines can be traced from Princess Sophie Charlotte back to Margarita de Castro y Sousa. She married George III of England on September 8, 1761, at the Chapel Royal in St James’s Palace, London, at the age of 17 years of age becoming the Queen of England and Ireland.

Their were conditions in the contract for marriage, ‘The young princess, join the Anglican church and be married according to Anglican rites, and never ever involve herself in politics’. Although the Queen had an interest in what was happening in the world, especially the war in America, she fulfilled her marital agreement. The Royal couple had fifteen children, thirteen of whom survived to adulthood. Their fourth eldest son was Edward Augustus, Duke of Kent, later fathered Queen Victoria.

Queen Charlotte made many contributions to Britain as it is today, though the evidence is not obvious or well publicized. Her African bloodline in the British royal family is not common knowledge. Portraits of the Queen had been reduced to fiction of the Black Magi, until two art historians suggested that the definite African features of the paintings derived from actual subjects, not the minds of painters.

Princess Sophie Charlotte was born on this date in 1744. She was the first Black Queen of England.Mulatto Queen: England's Black Queen: Gary Lloyd: Amazon.com: Kindle Store: — **Pinterest**

In Queen Charlotte’s era slavery was prevalent and the anti-slavery campaign was growing. Portrait painters of the royal family were expected to play down or soften Queen Charlotte’s African features. Painters such as Sir Thomas Lawrence, who painted, Queen Charlotte in the autumn of 1789 had their paintings rejected by the royal couple who were not happy with the representations of the likeness of the Queen. These portraits are amongst those that are available to view now, which could be seen as continuing the political interests of those that disapprove of a multi-racial royal family for Britain. Sir Allan Ramsey produced the most African representations of the Queen and was responsible for the majority of the paintings of the Queen. Ramsey’s inclination to paint truer versions of the Queen could be seen to have come from being ‘an anti-slavery intellectual of his day. The Coronation painting by Ramsey, of the Queen was sent out to the colonies/commonwealth and played a subtle political role in the anti-slavery movement. Johann Zoffany also frequently painted the Royal family in informal family scenes.

Queen Charlotte was a learned character, her letters indicate that she was well read and had interests in the fine arts. The Queen is known to have supported and been taught music by Johann Christian Bach. She was extremely generous to Bach’s wife after Bach’s death. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, at aged eight dedicated his Opus 3 piece to the Queen at her request. Also an amateur botanist, Queen Charlotte helped to establish Kew Gardens bringing amongst others the Strelitzia Reginae, a flowering plant from South Africa. The Queen who had the first one in her house in 1800 introduced the Christmas tree to England. It was said to be decorated with, ‘sweetmeats, almonds and raisins in papers, fruit and toys. Also the Queen Charlotte Maternity hospital was established in London. Set up as a charitable institution, it is the oldest maternity care institution in England.

Queen Charlotte died on November 17, 1818 at Dutch House in Surrey, now Kew Palace, in the presence of her eldest son, the Prince Regent. She is buried at St George’s Chapel, Windsor. The only private writings that have survived are Queen Charlotte’s 444 letters to her closest confidant her older brother, Charles II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. On 23 May 1773 in a letter, the Queen felt she was in a position of privilege yet a task. Her Christian faith was a protection and a method of endurance, as she quotes from the Bible and recognizes her role as a royal of God beyond her royal role on earth. An exhibition took place in 2004, at the Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace displaying Charlotte and George’s collections and tastes in the arts. Queen Charlotte was the great great-great grandmother of the present Queen Elizabeth II who still lives in the expanded Buckingham House, now Buckingham Palace. Kew gardens still flourishes and is always being expanded, also the Queen Charlotte maternity hospital and many other places still carry her name in honor globally such as Charlotte town, Canada and Fort Charlotte, St Vincent, West Indies.

"Queen Sophia Charlotte was queen consort of the United Kingdom and wife to King George III of Britain. She is a direct descendant of the Sousa family, a black branch of the Portuguese Royal House. Her appearance was black, with full lips and distinct facial features. Artists of the 18th century were asked to tone down “extreme” features of their subjects, but Sir Allan Ramsay, an anti-slavery artist, always painted Queen Charlotte in her actual appearance.": — **Pinterest**

White washed pictures of Queen Charlotte:

Queen Charlotte: Known to many as the first Black Queen of England, Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, was married to King George III. Although many argue over Queen Charlotte’s ambiguous racial background, it was discovered that she was a direct descendent of Margarita de Castro y Sousa, a Black branch of the Portuguese Royal family. Throughout history many have commented that she had Black/African features.: — **Pinterest**

Queen Charlotte, wife of the English King George, III Princess Sophie Charlotte was born in 1744. She was the first Black Queen of England. [More...]: — **Pinterest**

Sources:

African American Registry

ProudToBeBlack.Synthasite.com

Black Motherhood

November 30, 2015 · 3 Comments ·

Scroll down…….

Twa natural hair tapered cut mother daughter 4c. Photo Credit: Kamms TheAce:

Twa natural hair tapered cut mother-daughter 4c. Photo Credit: Kamms TheAce

http://hiphopsoul-jalen.tumblr.com/post/71572658671/blvckpvssy-chanel-and-louboutins

Mother and daughter love:

Mother and Daughter Love http://itsafricaninspired.tumblr.com/?og=1

To cute! MOTHER & DAUGHTER /MOWHAWK HAIRSTYLE / SCALP.BRAIDS / HAIR DO / UP DO / BRAIDS / HAIRSTYLES /:

To cute! MOTHER & DAUGHTER /MOWHAWK HAIRSTYLE / SCALP.BRAIDS / HAIR DO / UP DO / BRAIDS / HAIRSTYLES / Pinterest

http://black-family-matters.tumblr.com/post/133877017469/luvisblack-beautifulblackwoman

Mommy & Son Love. I love their outfits ❤️: — **Mother and son. I love their outfits! Ana Gomez, Pinterest**

http://black-family-matters.tumblr.com/post/133877019449/luvisblack-beautifulblackwoman

http://afro-art-chick.tumblr.com/post/22987920950

http://black-family-matters.tumblr.com/post/133877013039/je-vous-conseille-le-compte-de-notjustmom

Generations - Whitney Houston, her mom and daughter: — **Generations: Bobbi Kristina, Cissy Houston, and Whitney Houston, Pinterest**

Black Woman Empowerment Music: Prof Griff’s “Sista, Sista”

November 30, 2015 · 3 Comments ·

Queen Phillipa (1327-77): First Black Queen of England Mother to The Black Prince

November 30, 2015 · Leave a comment ·

From ProudToBeBlack.Synthasite.com

Daughter of William of Hainault a Belgian Lord, she was chosen at the tender age of 9 years old, by the then King of England Edward II to marry his son Edward III.

She was described by the Bishop of Stapledon as follows

” The Lady we saw has not uncomely hair, betwixt blue-black and brown. Her head is clean shaped; her forehead high and broad and standing somewhat forward. Her face narrows between the eyes and the lower part of her face is still more narrow and slender than the forehead. Her eyes are blackish brown and deep. her nose is fairly even and smooth, save that it is somewhat broad at the tip and flattened, yet it is no snub nose, her nostrils are also broad, her mouth fairly wide. her lips somewhat full especially her lower lip… all her limbs are well set and unmaimed, and nought is amiss so far as a man may see. Moreover she is brown of skin all over and much like her father, and in all things she is pleasant enough, as it seems to us.”

Philipa and Edward were married 5 years later and were crowned King and Queen in 1330, at this time she was 17 years old and already heavily pregnant with their first child, Edward (The Black Prince).

Many say that he was called this because of the colour of his armour, but there are records that show that he was called “black” when he was very small. The French called him ‘Le Noir’

A very remarkable woman she was wise, known and loved by the English for her kindness. When the King was abroad she would rule as his Regent.

Queens College in Oxford University ws founded under her direction by her chaplain in 1341 when she was just 28 years old.

When she died Edward never really recovered, and she was much mourned by him and the country. King Edward had a beautiful sculpture made for her tomb which you can see today at Westminster Abbey in London.

Legacy

Through her children, Philippa reintroduced the bloodline of an earlier English King, Stephen, into the royal family. She was descended from Stephen through Matilda of Brabant, the wife of Floris IV, Count of Holland. Their daughter Adelaide of Holland married John I of Avesnes, Count of Hainaut, Philippa’s paternal great-grandfather. Matilda of Brabant in turn was the great-granddaughter of Stephen through her mother Matilda of Boulogne, the wife of Henry I, Duke of Brabant.

Philippa was also a descendant of Harold II of England through his daughter Gytha of Wessex, married toVladimir II Monomakh of Kiev. His bloodline, however, had been reintroduced to the English royal family by Philippa’s mother-in-law, Isabella of France, a granddaughter of Isabella of Aragon, the wife of Philip III of France. Isabella of Aragon’s mother, Violant of Hungary, was a daughter of Andrew II of Hungary, a grandson of Géza II by Euphrosyne of Kiev, herself a granddaughter of Gytha. Through her maternal great-grandmother, Maria of Hungary, she was descended from Elisabeth of Bosnia (born before 1241), a daughter of Kuthen, Khan of the Cumens and his Slavic wife, Galicie of Halicz, thus bringing Western Asian blood into the English royal line.

Children of Queen Phillipa

Philippa and Edward had fourteen children, including five sons who lived into adulthood and whose rivalry would eventually bring about the long-running civil wars known as the Wars of the Roses. Their sons are listed below:

Edward, the Black Prince (1330-76)

Lionel of Antwerp, 1st Duke of Clarence (1338-68)

John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster (1340-99)

Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York (1341-1402)

Thomas of Woodstock, 1st Duke of Gloucester (1355-97)

Another three sons and two daughters died in infancy. There were four surviving daughters, listed below:

Isabella of England (1332-1379)

Joan of England (1334-1348)

Mary Plantagenet (1344-1362)

Margaret Plantagenet (1346-1361)