Hilary Banks from "The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air" may not have been known as a fierce advocate for education. But the actress who played her sure is.
Last year, Karyn Parsons -- actress, mother, author and amateur historian -- founded Sweet Blackberry, a nonprofit devoted to teaching kids about some of the lesser-known figures of black history. The organization publishes books and videos on people like Henry "Box" Brown and Garrett Morgan, and facilitates school visits and children's workshops centered around promoting "creativity, literacy skills and social responsibility."
Sweet Blackberry recently launched a Kickstarter for its latest project, a short film that will tell the story of Janet Collins, the first African-American prima ballerina in the Metropolitan Ballet. Collins, who died in 2003 at age 86, rose to fame despite being shut out of dance theaters that refused to let her perform unless it was in whiteface.
On the eve of Wednesday's 50th anniversary of the signing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, The Huffington Post spoke with Parsons about Sweet Blackberry's history and its mission. As the Sweet Blackberry website proclaims: "This culture is American culture; this history is American History."
TO READ MORE VISIT http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/01/karyn-parsons-sweet-blackberry_n_5548597.html?utm_hp_ref=black-voices
Check out Karyn Parson on Who's That Lady Ent featuring 500+ Phenomenal Women In Entertainment http://www.whosthatladyent.com/#!karyn-parsons/zoom/c60z/imageg00 and Alfrie Woodard http://www.whosthatladyent.com/#!alfrie-woodard/zoom/c1x9v/image1fvy
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