Velvet

Idk write who's pov this😭

I’m not going to stop feeling strongly about it in the same way I still feel strongly seeing centuries of my people’s history buried under Catholic churches. I understand the dome is there now, and I don’t think it should be destroyed because I understand the significance it holds now.

But I’m not going to stop being angry about it. Especially since my people are not even allowed to go there. I can’t imagine the rage we Mexicans would justifiably have if Spaniards suddenly decided we aren’t allowed to visit our own ancient cities and temples becuase the land is “their’s now” since they built their churches there. The patience and understanding of the Jewish people is so fucking undermined. We have time and time again been expected to and have bent over backwards for others becuase we fundamentally believe in uplifting everyone, even at the cost of ourselves. Even in our own fucking country. Even in the country everyone accuses of being “Jewish supremacist” do we still face blatant discrimination, and allow ourselves to face it for the sake of our muslim neighbors and muslim Israeli citizens.

jewish woman of the day: pioneering actress, writer, filmmaker, jewish tunisian haydée chikly tamzali.

born in 1906, by the time she was 16, she had starred in tunisia’s first fiction film (titled zohra) directed by her tunisian jewish father and written by no other but her. she and her father worked together to build tunisia’s film industry, being the first tunisians to make a film in tunisia.

in 1924, still at 16 years old, she was offered a contract to move to hollywood where she would’ve been able to start an acting career but her father did not allow it. she continued her passions, not letting anything demotivate her or bring her down. she would later marry an algerian man and move to algeria where she became president of social works, secretary of the red cross, and president of the league against cancer. before leaving tunisia, she had written short stories and articles for the tunisian national newspaper la presse, as well a 1992 book of true stories called lost images. she passed away on august 20, 1998.

“i do not want a quiet and easy life, i want to fight, strive and struggle” (tamzali 1992, 11). that was the statement made by chikly in 1918 when she was a little girl sitting on a terrace in carthage, contemplating people going out for a walk on a sunday and observing the routine activities performed by the girls of her generation.

the girl from carthage is the dramatic story of a young girl forced by her family into marriage written by mrs. chikly herself.

about the story of the film, haydée said: “i wrote this story to show how badly women were treated when they were just sold off with an arranged marriage into a man’s world”. the screenplay of the film presents a feminist point of view embodied by a courageous heroine who takes her destiny in her own hands and decides to escape from her family-imposed fate. forced marriage would later became the main topic of the tunisian feminist movement. in the early 1980s, the girl from carthage’s script was removed from the family archives when the ministry of tunisian culture planned to open a museum of cinema. unfortunately, the material was then lost.

unfortunately, no other tunisian films were shot during the silent era. although the girl from carthage and zohra remained isolated experiences, they were harbingers of future themes for the tunisian cinema, such as the role and conditions of tunisian women. between 1924 and 1925, haydée held a column in le petit matin, a french newspaper of that time. haydée and her father remain trailblazers in the world of middle eastern film.

Veronica Franco (1546 - 1591)

Mistress of: King Henry III of France, among others Tenure: 1574. Royal Bastards: None. Fall From Power: The King left the country.

Veronica Franco was among the most respected courtesan in Venice by the time she had turned twenty. Belonging to the highest class of courtesan known as the cortigiana onesta, her skills in bed – coupled with her beauty, intelligence and strong personality - skyrocketed her popularity in a short amount of time. Veronica learned the finer art of seduction from another onesta: her mother, who taught her how to use her natural assets to attract wealthy men. The only daughter amongst three sons, Veronica was educated in the same manner as her brothers by a private tutor. In her mid-teens, Veronica was married to a wealthy physician quite a bit older than she, but the marriage ended a few years later in divorce. Veronica was left to support both herself and her infant child when her now ex-husband refused to return her dowry. Undaunted, Veronica splendidly managed her own household and the other children she eventually bore (a total of six by various men, though only three survived childhood). Many years later she would also care for her nephews, who were left orphaned.

Veronica began to seek patrons “among the learned” and by the 1570s, she belonged to one of the more prestigious literary circles in the city. From an early age, Veronica showed great skill in writing, though much of her contributions and literary accomplishments are now forgotten. Veronica would publish some 50 letters, 18 poems and two sonnets, the latter of which were dedicated to her former flame King Henry. She unsuccessfully petitioned the city to create a home for poor women (of which she would be administrator).

Despite her fame, Veronica’s only known royal conquest was that of King Henry III, whom she had a brief affair with when the King passed through Italy on his way to France to accept the French crown. Henry had heard of her talents and “requested an evening with the city’s most famous courtesan.” His request was granted and the pair spent a few hot and steamy nights together before Henry left Italy to finish his journey west.

Things took a downward turn in 1575, when plague ravaged Venice and Veronica was forced to leave the city, losing much of her wealth and possessions due to looting. Upon her return, she was met with a charge of witchcraft, but was able to “[defend] herself with dignity” and the charges were dropped. There is some evidence that her connections with several important Venetian nobles helped get her the acquittal. Veronica was never able to attain the same level of wealth that had before leaving the city, and she died in relative poverty at the age of 45.

Sources

Portrait of a ”Lady Baring her Breast”, thought to be a portrait of Veronica Franco by Jacopo Tintoretto, c. 1555 (left image) and another ”Portrait of a Lady” often identified as Veronica, by the same artist, c. 1575 (right image).

Robin, Diana. Encyclopedia of Women in the Renaissance: Italy, France, and England. ABC CLIO (2007). ISBN: 1851097724.

Russell, Rinaldina. Italian Women Writers: A Bio-bibliographical Sourcebook. Greenwood Press (1994). ISBN: 0313283478.

Herleva of Falaise (c. 1003 – bef. 1050)

Mistress of: Robert I, Duke of Normandy. Tenure: c. 1027 – c. 1030. Royal Bastards: Two (Disputed). Fall From Power: The Duke married her off.

One day in 1027, a lovely young lady by the name of Herleva was working in the stone dyeing trenches. If you are unfamilair with the work, traditional dyeing meant trampling barefoot on the garments and many ladies would have to pull up thier dresses a bit to prevent them from getting soiled. Herleva’s fine ankles caught the attention of Robert, Duke of Normandy, as he was walking atop his castle tower. Herleva noticed Robert’s gaze and decided to hike up her dress a bit more that necessary, sending poor Robert into a fury of passion at the sight of her naked legs. The Duke immediately ordered his guards to bring the woman to him but Herleva refused to be dragged through the back doors as if she were a servent, insisting instead that she enter the front gate on horseback. Robert agreed and, a few days later, Herleva was presented to Robert in the finest clothes her father could afford upon a glorious white horse (she certainly knew how to make an entrance). Herleva soon thereafter became Robert’s semi-official mistress and gave birth to a son the following year who would grow up to become the legendary William the Conqueror, though his illegitimate status would plague him throughout his life. Herleva is also considred by some as the mother of one Adelaide of Normandy, born about 1030, though there is scant evidence either way on the matter.

Herleva and Robert were very much in love, though the Duke always knew that he would be unable to marry Herleva, despite his “great love for [her]”, and so he did the next best thing: her married Herleva to Herluin de Conteville, a favorite nobleman, around 1031 in an attempt to give his mistress a respectable and good life. She would have two further sons and one daughter by her husband and there is no mention of the affair continuing after her marriage. Herleva died sometime before 1050, and is possibly buried in the Abbey of Grestain, which was founded by her husband.

Much about what we know (or think we know) about Herleva reads like more of a legend or myth; no one is quite sure what is fact and what is fiction. Tradition says that Herleva was a low-born woman from Falaise, in Normandy. Her father was a tradesman named “Fulbert”, though exactly what trade depends on your source. Fulbert is recorded as being a tanner, furrier, an apothecary or an embalmer – or perhaps he just laid out corpses before burial. Other historians argue that her father was a member of the burgher class instead, perhaps even serving as the Duke’s chamberlain, which is supported by Herleva herself, who was appointed by the Count of Flanders as guardian of one of his daughters (surely he would not allow a peasant woman to have this work). To make matters more confusing, Herleva is also known by several other names, including Arlette, Arlotte and Herlotte.

Sources

”Robert Of Normandy Paying Court To The Lady Sibylla”, reminiscent of another Robert and Herleva, from Cassell’s History of 1100 AD England, Vol I (left image) and ”Arlette de Huy”, a statue representing William’s mother, erected 1986 by André Fanneau de La Horie (right image).

The Gesta Normannorum Ducum of William of Jumièges, Orderic Vitalis, and Robert of Torigni, Ed. & Trans. Elizabeth M.C. Van Houts, Vol. I (Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1992), p. lxxv.

In many cases immigrants seek refuge in America for a better life. Their countries are either being taken over by dictators, or are led by governments trying to exterminate them as a minority group.

This is the case for many refugees from Europe in the 20th century, and Middle East in the 21st century. Jews for example came here not because they were making Europe bad. But because European governments tried to Holocaust them. Instead, they gave us great gifts by leading and revolutionizing several musical genres, entertainment industries, newspapers, etc. They still contribute greatly today and are proud to be Americans and thankful America saved them! Despite us 🇺🇸 having crazy quotas and turning away all but a few Holocaust survivors 💔.

Iranians are another powerhouse immigrant community but more recent. They escaped the Islamic Revolution and appreciate America because they share our values of freedom of expression. They don’t want to wear mandatory hijabs and fear being killed if they protest 🪧. But the CEO of Sephora is Iranian, many actresses and journalists (like Christiane Amanpour), and the founder of eBay.

Texas has many immigrant communities as our state is huge. I’m half-Kenyan. My dad’s generation fled because of drought/famine and AIDS. Things that don’t reflect their cultural or political values at all, and solely their environment. Every single one I know in my family and neighborhood work as nurses or doctors.

We take menial jobs for granted too. Imagine your life in TX without cheap tasty Korean donut shops, Tex-Mex or authentic Mexican food, no rodeos, no brisket, no bagel shops, no nail salons, and every hospital barely staffed.

Seriously, with the Voting Rights Act being absolutely gutted and seeing everything this racist-ass White-nationalist loving administration is currently doing regarding Black Americans. Be it easing and trying to banned Black history or whitewash slavery to make it seem like it was a "Good thing" and that Black slaves were treated " nicely ",

What's currently happening in the south with Black voters with the GOP and the rest of these shitty Republicans trying so desperately to bring back Jim Crow 2.0 and do everything they can to stop Black political power and send us back to the 1920s and even further than that when it comes to black Voting and civil rights.

All the bullshit that this heinous administration is trying to destroy and make worse day by day or month by month. Sorry, but truly not fucking sorry about putting my very basic rights and voting rights as a Black woman in this country above what's going on in damned Gaza or anything else.

I still can't believe that some idiots still think Black Americans should ultimately just give up all of our rights and everything we've fought and bled, died for, and are still FUCKING FIGHTING FOR!? Over a foreign Middle Eastern conflict that most average regular median Americans aren't that concerned with or wasn’t a major top issue in the first fucking place!

How can Islamists take over Africa easier if indigenous Africans take Black Americans lead and vice versa? It was helpful for them truly that Malcom X though inspired by radical African groups also favored Islam. People still will preach Islamist causes today and twist his words and make it seem they’re being #radicals and racially woke today.

But each decade we move farther away from his era… and influence. So now they paint Khamenei as some great purveyor of Black rights ✊🏽 laughing while they set his photo in the middle of a line of Black assassinated activists and civilians. 😐

It’s just crazy. Because how many of y’all have also dealt with being called slurs/ and ESPECIALLY “slave” by these groups the minute you don’t prioritize Islamist/Arab nationalist groups blindly??? 🙋🏽‍♀️ yea, right here!! All the time.