Where wellness and wholehearted lifestyles merge.

I want to first say “Thank you.”  Your support of myself and the brand means more than the time I have to write it.  Sharing our journey to wellness physically, mentally, and spiritually puts us on the path to living full out wholeheartedly.

Our goal here is to share information about how God and his creation have what we need to heal ourselves.  The fact that we are created by God, causes us to look to him and the created world around us for answers.  3 John 1:2 “My friend, I pray that God will help you to live well.  I know that you are well in your spirit.  I pray that your body will also be well. (Easy Version.?)  So, here we are endeavoring to live well.

Historical Black Woman Creative Entrepreneurs

What an honor to have our first newsletter be about the contribution of Women.  Add even more brilliance to the fact of them being black.  After all, it’s black history month.

God’s word talks about giving honor to whom honor is due. These ladies lived wholeheartedly.   When we see them no matter your skin color, you should beam with pride.   They did what it took, they went above and beyond the call of duty to make something amazing out of their lives.

Edmonia Lewis African-American and Native American sculptor to achieve national and then international prominence. She began to gain prominence in the United States during the Civil War; at the end of the 19th century, she remained the only Black woman artist who had participated in and been recognized to any extent by the American artistic mainstream. In 2002, the scholar Molefi Kete Asante named Edmonia Lewis on his list of 100 Greatest African Americans.

Her work is known for incorporating themes relating to Black people and indigenous peoples of the Americas into Neoclassical-style sculpture.

Martha Jones: inventor, first known African-American woman to be granted a U.S. patent.

She received the U.S. patent number 77,494 on May 5, 1868, for her Improvement to The Corn Husker, Sheller becoming the first known African-American woman to receive a U.S. patent for her invention.

Her invention was able to husk, shell, cut up, and separate husks from corn in one step. This represented an advancement in the automation of agricultural processes.

Marie Van Brittan Brown was a brilliant African-American inventor ahead of her time.

She created a home security system that became the first surveillance device in a long line of surveillance devices that continue to populate the security market today.

Marie Van Brittan was born in Queens, New York City on October 22, 1922. The crime rate in her neighborhood in Queens was very high and police tend to have a slow response to emergency calls.

Marie and her partner, Albert Brown, who was an electronics technician, applied for a patent for their invention on August 1, 1966. Their patent was filed for their Home Security System Utilizing Television Surveillance, a closed circuit television system, known today as CCTV system.

Their patent was granted on December 2, 1969.

Dr. Patricia Bath is a pioneering ophthalmologist, inventor, and academic who is known for inventing a tool and procedure for the removal of cataracts using a laser beam called the Laserphaco probe.

The daughter of the first African-American motorman to work for the New York City subway system and a domestic worker mother who saved her money for her children’s education, Patricia was born in 1942 in Harlem, New York.

Patricia’s interest in science became evident at an early age and her mother bought her a chemistry set. Dr. Bath describes herself as being a curious child.

“I was what is called a nerd.” -Patricia Bath

“Striving for excellence, working hard, and giving back to the community,” Patricia Bath said during an interview with Good Morning America. Patricia Bath graduated with a medical degree from Howard University in 1968.

Patricia Bath’s life has been a series of “firsts.” In 1973, Patricia Bath became the first African-American to complete a residency in ophthalmology.

Sarah Boone was an African-American known for inventing and patenting the iron board.

Sarah Boon was born in 1832 in Craven County, North Carolina. In the 19th century, a woman who was an inventor was a rarity, let alone a female African-American inventor.

When Boon filed the application to patent her invention she described the purpose of it as “to produce cheap, simple, convenient, and highly effective device, particularly adapted to be used in ironing the sleeves and bodices of ladies’ garments.” 

Marjorie Joyner Stewart Permanent wave design 

In 1939, Joyner started looking for an easier way for women to curl their hair, taking her inspiration from a pot roast cooking with paper pins to quicken preparation time. Joyner experimented initially with these paper rods and soon designed a table that could be used to curl or straighten hair by wrapping hair. This method allowed hairstyles to last several days. At the beginning of her invention, there were complaints from people that it was uncomfortable.

That was when Joyner improved it with the simple idea of having a scalp protector while the lady is curling her hair. Her patent for this design, (U.S. pat. #1,693,515) established her as the first African American woman to receive a patent. This claim is disputed by some who say that Sarah E. Goode was the first African American woman to hold a patent. It is sometimes falsely cited that Joyner was the original inventor of this type of machine, called the permanent wave, or perm. Joyner's design was an alternative version of Karl Nessler's groundbreaking invention, invented in England during the late 19th century and patented in London in 1909 and again in the United States in 1925. (U.S. Patent 1,522,258) 

Joyner's design was popular in salons with both African American and white women. The patent was credited to Madame Walker's company and she received almost no money for it.

Eunice Johnson

In 1958 black beauty pioneer 

 Eunice Johnson, organized an annual fashion event for black Americans: the Ebony Travelling Fashion Fair. Noticing a distinct lack of foundation and complexion products for the black models attending the event she, along with the support of her husband, began creating cosmetics for the models in their shows. In 1973 she launched Fashion Fair Cosmetics, which has since grown into the world’s largest black-owned beauty brand.

Annie Malone

Development of mail-order process for beauty care products.

In 1918, she established Poro College, a cosmetology school and center. The building included a manufacturing plant, a retail store where Poro products were sold, business offices, a 500-seat auditorium, dining and meeting rooms, a roof garden, dormitory, gymnasium, bakery, and chapel. It served the African-American community as a center for religious and social functions.

The college's curriculum addressed the whole student; students were coached on personal style for work: on walking, talking, and a style of dress designed to maintain a solid persona. Poro College employed nearly 200 people in St. Louis. Through its school and franchise businesses, the college created jobs for almost 75,000 women in North and South America, Africa, and the Philippines.

Her business thrived until 1927 when her husband filed for divorce. Having served as president of the company, he demanded half of the business' value, based on his claim that his contributions had been integral to its success. The divorce suit forced Poro College into court-ordered receivership. With support from her employees and powerful figures such as Mary McLeod Bethune, she negotiated a settlement of $200,000. This affirmed her as the sole owner of Poro College, and the divorce was granted.

What is the take away;

 These were amazing women who made it easier for us to be accepted as women and as black women with intelligence. The next time you envision something in an unique way.  Move forward with it.