Anne Frank

1929 – 1945

Birthplace: Frankfurt, Germany

• Diarist who documented the persecution of Jews by the Nazis

• Author

I created "Anne holding her diary" to honor Anne Frank on what would have been her 94th birthday. We remember what hate did, and remind everyone we must learn from history or we are doomed to repeat it.

Born Annelies Marie Frank on June 12, 1929, in Frankfurt, Germany, Anne dreamed of being a journalist. She grew up speaking both Dutch and German.

The Nazis came to power in 1933. Otto and Edith Frank, Anne's parents, no longer saw a future for their family in Germany. The same year, they moved to Amsterdam, where Otto had started a company called Opekta which manufactured and distributed the pectin-based gelling preparations to be used in the making of jam.

At 13 years old, Anne, a German-born Jewish girl kept a diary documenting life in hiding under Nazi Persecution. Living in Amsterdam at Prinsengracht 263, which now stands as a museum: the Anne Frank House. Her father Otto Frank, was the only survivor of the Holocaust of the families hiding in the secret annex of the attic. Margot (19), Anne (16), and their mother Edith Frank (44) died along with Fritz Pfeffer (55) and Hermann (46), Auguste (45), and Peter van Pels (18) at concentration camps.

(Personal photo taken in May 2016 Amsterdam 263 Prinsengracht as I entered the Anne Frank House museum)

Anne's older sister Margot received notice she had to report to a work camp. It was decided the Franks and their friends would hide in the annex in an upper room of Otto's business behind a bookcase. The family would hide for nearly two years in that room to try to survive the Nazis.

The families were discovered August 4, 1944 by the Nazis. It has been debated about who turned them in. Amsterdam was liberated August 15, 1945.

Miep Gies, along with several co-workers bravely risked their own safety and those they loved to help everyone hiding in the attic. After the attic was raided, Miep found and kept Anne's diary in hopes of giving it back to her.

Otto Frank returned June 3, 1945, 10 months after he was arrested, thankful to find the helpers of the secret annex still there and working. Otto Frank lived with Miep and her husband Jan for seven years after the liberation. Miep gave Anne's diary to Otto and for the remainder of her life, she ensured people learned about Anne Frank and tirelessly promoted the cause of tolerance.

The Diary of Anne Frank was first published on June 25, 1947, titled "Anne Frank's Het Achterhuis" (The Secret Annex). After several editions in different languages, it became popular around the world. Recently the "Diary of Anne Frank" has been the subject of bans in some Florida and Virginia schools for Anne's own references to her sexuality.

We must continue to learn and teach about the Holocaust. We must never forget what happened less than 80 years ago at the hands of an evil man who got away with atrocities for years.

Jewish people makeup 2.4% of the American population yet are on the receiving end of 10% of all religious hate crimes. #bluesquare #🟦

There were many people who tried to help the Jewish community. Ordinary people were doing extraordinary things to protect Nazi targets. The most concerning part of what happened during the Holocaust was the “Bystanders”. This catch-all term has often been applied to people who were passive and indifferent to the escalating persecution that culminated in the Holocaust.

If a minute was given in respect to each person lost during the holocaust it would take

eleven and a half years of silence to honor all the victims. Yes, you read that correctly.

There is a Nebraska Holocaust Memorial located at 3600 O St in Lincoln at the historical Wyuka Cemetery.

"A Small Light" is the story of Miep Gies. “She was a regular person who history happened to and she happened to step up“ – Joan Rader, author of "A Small Light."

If you would like to donate in memory of Anne Frank click here or

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Washington DC

Sources:

Anne Frank House Museum

NPR

The Diary of Anne Frank.

The History Channel

National Geographic

#Thewomen #AnneFrank #Annefrankdiary #Annefrankhouse #History #neverforget #bannedbooks #holocaust #bluesquare #needlefelting #needlefeltingartist #🟦

Amanda Gorman

1998-present

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California

• National Youth Poet Laureate of the United States

• Poet

• Activist

• Author

• Model.

Amanda Gorman was raised by a single school teacher mother, along with a twin sister and older brother. She was diagnosed with an auditory processing disorder and a speech impediment in kindergarten. She struggled with pronouncing “R” sounds which caused problems into her early adult years. Poetry recitals helped her overcome her impediment. Gorman used writing as a way to experiment with self-expression. By age nine Gorman became interested in civil rights. Inspired by Malala Yousafzai, the 15 year old Pakistani student shot by Taliban gunmen while riding on the school bus, Gorman became a youth delegate for the United Nations in 2013.

Seven years later, she graduated cum laude from Harvard. She accomplished her degree remotely due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dr. Jill Biden saw Gorman recite a poem at the Library of Congress and invited her to write a poem for the upcoming 2021 United States presidential inauguration. She was formally invited by the Biden Inaugural Committee December 2020.

Gorman was not told what to write for the inauguration, just that the theme was “America United”. She was halfway finished with her piece “The Hill We Climb” when pro Trump rioters stormed the US Capitol Building on January 6, 2021. She stayed up late the following night in the wake of the attack and finished writing. Some of her inspirations came from other historic times of division. Gorman’s body of work examines themes of race and racial justice, feminism, marginalization and climate change.

On January 20, 2021, Amanda Gorman became the youngest poet to deliver the time honored Presidential Inaugural poem. She was 22 years old.

During her reading of the inaugural poem, Gorman wore a ring with a caged bird, a nod to “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings” author, Maya Angelou. The ring was a gift from Oprah Winfrey. Angelou was an inaugural poet for William Jefferson Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States. I include this ring on my figure of Amanda Gorman. This ring was a challenge to recreate because it was so tiny, slightly larger than the size of a pea. (Did I mention I had to start wearing readers? This ring effort may have been why!) Her earrings represented a modern bird in a cage.

Gorman’s beautiful, yellow outfit was fun to recreate. I was so pleased with the yarn I found to create her hair along with the perfect little beads to paint gold and adorn her braids. Bringing everything together was an artistic thrill.

Amanda Gordon is the founder and executive director of One Pen One Page, an organization providing free creative writing programs for underserved youth.

“There is always light. If only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.”

— Amanda Gorman, inauguration poem, The Hill We Climb.

Source:

Poet.com

Theamandagorman.com

Harvard Gazette

biography.com

Encyclopedia Britannica

Misty Copeland

1982-present

Birthplace: Kansas City, Missouri

First African American principal dancer with American Ballet

New York Times Bestselling Author

As a child facing financial instability, sometimes living in a hotel room as one of six children her single mom worked many jobs to just feed them.

At age 13 Copeland and her siblings visited a Boys and Girls Club where ballet teacher Cindy Bradley discovered her and encouraged her to pursue formal ballet training. Very shy and reserved as a child, Copeland felt connected and knew she had a voice in ballet. Getting en pointe (supporting full weight on the tips of fully extended toes) would normally take a ballerina years to accomplish, Misty did in 3 months.

Misty Copeland started her professional ballet journey with the San Pedro City Ballet in San Pedro, California. But faced daunting challenges. She was told by one ballet company she would never “make it” in ballet. Others said that her legs weren’t right, or she should go to Las Vegas to be a professional dancer.

By age 19, Misty moved to New York and joined the American Ballet Theatre as the only black ballerina. She was a member of the corps de ballet in 2001. She made history as the first African American appointed soloist in 2007. During that time, Prince contacted her asking her to dance in a video of his version of the 2009 song Crimson and Clover. She did and solidified her confidence and determination in her career path. Prince helped Copeland see the power in being different in the world of ballet. This also led to a tour with Prince. In 2012 Misty was diagnosed with six stress fractures in her tibia and told she may never dance again. Seven months later with a plate in her leg she was back to dancing.

Promoted to principal dancer in 2015, this made her the first African American woman to ever hold the position in the company’s 75 year history.

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Surviving a career in a predominantly white field, Copeland has been an advocate for more diversity in ballet. She launched a new American Ballet Theatre program called “Project Plié” that recruits young dancers from diverse backgrounds.

Her memoir Life In Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina became a New York Times bestseller.

Black Ballerinas: My Journey to Our Legacy, is a best selling childrens book, along with Bunheads which also became a New York Times bestseller.

Copeland received an honorary doctorate from University of Hartford for her contributions to classical ballet and helping to diversify the art form.

She is a mother, wife, award winner, and one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people.

As a little girl I thought ballerinas were so elegant. My grandmother had a figurine I would sit and admire secretly wishing I could be a ballerina.

My favorite part of creating Misty for "The Women" was coming up with the dress and shoes for her ballet costume. I found some tulle and beaded her dress. I knew I wanted Misty in pointe shoes.

An interesting, sad fact about pointe shoes: they came in white and pink. Most Black, Indigenous people of color (BIPOC) ballet dancers used to have to paint them or use makeup to match their skin tone as darker flesh tone colors were not available to them. I remember the first time I learned about that detail. I was watching a TV program that captured a Black ballerina receiving a pair of pointe shoes which was matched to her skin tone. She opened the box and cried. That was only a few years ago. It was so moving.

Misty Copeland/Firebird leap

Photo by Rosalie O’Connor

Donate: Misty Copeland Foundation

"Be strong, be fearless, be beautiful. And believe that anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you." – Misty Copeland

#Blackhistorymonth #Blackhistorymonth2023 #womenshistory #mistycopeland #thewomen #ballerina #needlefelting #needlefeltingartist #americanballettheatre

Sources:

ABC news

Harvard Business Review

Mistycopeland.com

American Ballet Theatre

Encyclopedia Britannica