By lalareina • 14 years ago

Introducing Valaida Snow

This a woman I discovered over the summer and I have been sharing with all that will here:Valida Snow, a legend waiting to be discovered.

Valiada was born Tennesee on June 6, 1905 and by the time she was 15 she could play 8 musical instruments at a professional level including: the bass, violin, cello, clarinet, harp, sax, mandolin, but it was the trumpet she was most noted for. Louis Armstrong said she was “the second greatest trumpet player in the world”.

A singer, dancer, as well as musician and bandleader, Valiada performed with the largest bands on her era but turned down a chance to be a full-time featured performer with Duke Ellington in order to front her own all-female band as well as tour the world with other orchestras. While touring Europe singer Josephine Baker warned her it was time to go back to the US but Valaida ignored her. She was arrested by the Nazis in Denmark trying to buy morphine and placed in a concentration camp where she was held 18 months. Released weighing only 65 pounds in a prisoner exchange she was never the same. She died May 30, 1956 hours after a performance in NY. Valaida Snow, talent who ought to be remembered.

Here is a short piece on her

Disclaimer: This post was written by a Feministing Community user and does not necessarily reflect the views of any Feministing columnist, editor, or executive director.

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By Nia Evans • 6 years ago

Dear Betsy DeVos: Fighting for Survivors of Sexual Violence Is a Racial Justice Fight

For the past few months, I’ve seen several articles — almost exclusively written by white women — arguing that we shouldn’t enforce Title IX protections for survivors of sexual assault because the authors believe Black men are more likely to be accused. The narrative has been picked up by numerous media outlets and used by Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to strip protections for survivors.

The idea that survivors’ rights are a threat to Black men leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Let me be clear: that’s not because I’m not worried about race discrimination in school discipline. We have no data to support the argument that Black men are more likely to be accused of or ...

For the past few months, I’ve seen several articles — almost exclusively written by white women — arguing that we shouldn’t enforce Title IX protections for survivors of sexual assault because the authors ...