Black History Exhibit at Learning Virtualē

 

 In August 2009, I established LV, a learning center, in Second Life. The Black History Exhibit has been a permanent, evolving exhibit since 2013 while Black History Month has been observed at LV since 2010. The 2024 theme for Black History Month, as determined by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), is “African Americans and the Arts.” Below are some pictures of the Black History Month section of the Black History Exhibit at LV which tie into the annual theme.

 

 

(LV Black History exhibit )
A presentation about the development and purpose of Black History Month.

Scenes from the 2024 Black History Month section:

This section includes summaries of major African American arts movements: Coming to America, the Harlem Renaissance, the Black Arts Movement, Hip Hop, and Afrofuturism.

 

This section includes presentations with biographies and summaries of honors/recognition for 5 featured artists in each category: Performing Arts (Alvin Ailey, Aretha Franklin, Jimi Hendrix, Billie Holiday, and Prince), Visual Arts (William Artis, Margaret Burroughs, Edmonia Lewis, Henry Tanner, and James Van Der Zee), and Literature (James Baldwin, Gwendolyn Brooks, Octavia Butler, Phillis Wheatley, and August Wilson).

This section has the first few paragraphs of the annual Presidential Proclamation for Black History Month plus a visitor can touch the object for a notecard of the full proclamation from President Biden. A visitor can touch the other board to access the 2024 ASALH Black History Month Theme brochure (an online PDF file).

In this section, visitors can touch the image for a notecard with a list of African American artists that have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame by year.

The rest of the Black History Exhibit covers Slavery and Emancipation, the Civil War, Why We March (Jim Crow Laws) and the March on Washington (the Civil Rights Movement), Civil Rights and Voting Rights, and a general reference room with a timeline 1600s-present of major events and other information. Historical documents, images, and notecards share the stories of black history, an integral part of U.S. history. The permanent exhibit will continue to be available and the 2024 Black History Month section will be available until at least the end of 2024 when preparations are made for the 2025 theme.

 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Serena%20Balmoral/214/32/28

Thanks for your consideration.

Addison Loxely

 

 

Lorivonne Lustre/Lorraine Mockford of VWBPE Has Died

 

Some sad news for the Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education (VWBPE) group in Second Life. Lorivonne Lustre, also known as Lorraine Mockford or just LV, has passed away.

 

 On Friday, February 2, 2024, Lorraine Mockford (LV / Lorivonne Lustre) passed away. Lorraine has blessed the educational community and numerous charitable organizations within Second Life for over 17 years. Her involvement in Second Life and Open Simulator extended to numerous organizations including Virtual Abilities Inc., Nonprofit Commons, SL Midwives, and Rockcliffe University Consortium, which runs the Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education Conference. 

Lorraine was part of the original organizing committee for the Second Life Best Practices in Education conference in 2007. Since 2009, she has been an instrumental Director of the Virtual Worlds Best Practices in Education including Communications and Programs.

We are all saddened by the loss of a beautiful soul that was taken far too soon.

More information from the family and an in-world celebration of life will be coming soon.

There will be an open memorial to LV on Thursday February 8 at Rockcliffe Village. It will take place at 11 AM and again at 5PM. http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Rockcliffe%20Village (181/157/1728). The event is organized by the VWBPE Organizational Committee.

Hat tip: Bevan Whitfield

Bixyl Shuftan