Valerie Hawkins

Still seeking a #NonMLS library and/or social media job opportunity. See my Libraries by LibrariesVal website bit.ly/librariesval See my Social Media Portfolio librariesval.medium.com/social-media-p…

For nearly 30 years, journalists have relied on the Internet Archive to see how stories were originally published, before edits, removals, or changes. We need to safeguard that. eff.org/deeplinks/2026…

Howard University honored Black Press Day 2026, recognizing the legacy of Freedom’s Journal and the pioneers who made it possible for Black stories to be told, on our terms. From 1827 to today, the mission remains the same… document truth, uplift community, and shape the narrative when others won’t. At Howard, that legacy isn’t just remembered, it’s lived through the next generation of journalists, storytellers, and truth-tellers carrying it forward. We don’t just study history… we continue it. Full Story on the Dig: thedig.howard.edu/all-stories/ho… #HowardUniversity

In the 1920s, getting a pilot's license in the United States was impossible due to racism; so Bessie Coleman moved to France to get her flying certification, and became the first Black woman to earn a pilot's license. ❤️🖤💚

Oscar winner Ryan Coogler and nominee Zinzi Coogler celebrate his Best Original Screenplay win for SINNERS! #Oscars

Michael B. Jordan, and the B is for Best Actor. #Oscars

Best winner portraits ever? Congrats to our acting winners Jessie Buckley, Amy Madigan, and Michael B. Jordan! #Oscars

She did it! Autumn Durald Arkapaw is the first woman and woman of color to win Best Cinematography for her work on SINNERS. #Oscars

#Sinners DP Autumn Durald Arkapaw just made #Oscars history. She is the first woman to ever win the Academy Award for best cinematography. variety.com/2026/artisans/…

A comeback no one saw coming. After stepping away from the American Ballet Theatre and undergoing a major hip surgery, Misty Copeland left many wondering when she would dance again. Tonight she stunned audiences with a surprise return to the stage during the Sinners performance at the Oscars. #Oscars #MistyCopeland #Sinners

'A new exhibition at New York’s Poster House celebrates the work of Black performers on the stage and screen from the 1880s to the 1940s. Many of these posters are the only surviving documentation of certain shows, with no recordings of plays and certain films having been lost over time. They offer a history of Black Americans trying to counter harmful stereotypes and provide vital and humanizing contributions to a growing Black culture.' theguardian.com/artanddesign/g…

For-profit colleges are deliberately targeting Black students and leaving them in debt, report says theeduledger.com/students/artic…

For many Black women, the Target boycott is not over. It may never be. A faith leader announced the end of a yearlong “Target fast,” but many Black women who helped launch the boycott say the movement wasn’t his to call off. 19thnews.org/2026/03/target…

This Women’s History Month, we recognize the extraordinary women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion (“Six Triple Eight”), the only all-Black, all-female Women’s Army Corps (WAC) unit to serve overseas during World War II. Their mission was to clear a massive, 2 to 3-year backlog of an estimated 17 million pieces of undelivered mail for millions of U.S. service members and civilians in Europe. Led by Major Charity Adams, working 24/7 in 3 shifts with the motto “No mail, low morale”, they sorted and processed an estimated 65,000 letters per shift, reconnecting millions of service members with letters and packages from home. A most cumbersome feat accomplished in merely three months - notably in half the time anticipated. Their efforts not only boosted morale across the front lines, but proved the capability, discipline and determination of Black women serving in the Armed Forces at a time where segregation, racism, and sexism informed daily life. For decades, their story had largely gone untold, however, 80 years later, in a U.S. Capitol ceremony on April 29, 2025, the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion was formally awarded the Congressional Gold Medal expressing the highest national appreciation awarded to citizens/ groups for distinguished achievements and contributions greatly impacting American history and culture. As of September 2025, of the 855 women serving in the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, Major (Retired) Fannie Griffin-McClendon is the last surviving member at age 105. Romay Davis passed away at age 104 in 2024. Let us all take a moment to salute, honor, and show appreciation for all of the women both past and present that have sacrificed to serve in the U. S. Armed Forces. 🎖️🙌🏾👩🏽‍🦱🛡️🎖️ #womenshistorymonth #Blackwomenveterans #womenveterans #wesaluteyou

Guys… my painting was commissioned for a movie poster! Still feels surreal.❤️

We love π around here. In the Great Room at the Internet Archive, the first nine digits of π are mounted on the wall. A small #PiDay tribute to a very big number. 🥧📚 Here’s Brewster Kahle with 3.14159265… proof that π is part of our architecture. @InternetArchive #PieAndPi

.@WGNNews's Robert Jordan interviews Tommy Lee Jones during the filming of the St. Patrick's Day Parade chase scene from The Fugitive (1993). #chicago #StPatricksDay @nuzman9

🎶 3.1415926535… 🎶 For #PiDay, enjoy the first 50 digits of Pi, sung to the tune of the Battle Hymn of the Republic. 𝝅 It’s one of 56 delightfully nerdy readings of The First Fifty Digits of Pi by LibriVox volunteers, performed in styles & languages from Hebrew & Chinese to Gilbert & Sullivan to Cylon. Real Pi, served with a side of silliness. 🎧 Listen to the full collection ⤵️ archive.org/details/pi_080… #HappyPiDay #March14 #3Point14

Getting into the St. Patrick's Day spirit at one of Chicago's most beloved institutions — Old St. Patrick's church. Thank you for the warm welcome.

We have more than 3.14 reasons to love Pi Day—no rounding needed.

In Era of Book Bans and War on History, Sinners Reveals What US Tries to Forget Sinners deserves to win Oscars: It’s a blues poem, a freedom cry, and a love letter to powerful culture. truthout.org/articles/in-er… | @truthout