Rising Queens Inc

Take it from someone who turned 20 years of incarceration into a life of impact, purpose, and recognition.

From prison walls to standing before the Mayor and the City of Milwaukee receiving awards — that’s what redemption looks like.

That’s what resilience looks like.

That’s what FREEDOM looks like.

This Juneteenth Day Beloit 2026 is more than a celebration. It’s a reminder.

A reminder that our past does not define our future.

A reminder that delayed freedom is not denied destiny.

A reminder that Black excellence rises — even after setback.

If you are working your way back… If you are working through something… If you are rebuilding, restoring, or reclaiming your life…

Know this: Your comeback can be greater than your setback.

This Juneteenth, we honor freedom, transformation, second chances, and the power of community to lift one another higher.

Freedom is not just a date in history — it’s a decision we make every day to rise.

Come out and listen to this young man talk about Mindset Change and the Shift....

👑 Meet Marie Van Brittan Brown

Before Ring cameras.
Before doorbell cameras.

Before alarm systems and surveillance apps…

There was a Black nurse and single mom who invented it first.

In the 1960s, Marie lived in New York City, working late-night shifts while crime in her neighborhood was rising.

Police response times were slow, and she often felt unsafe coming home alone.
So instead of waiting for someone else to fix the problem…

She built the solution herself.

💡 What she created:
She invented the first home security system, which included:

✔️ Cameras that slid up and down the door

✔️ A monitor to see who was outside

✔️ A two-way microphone to speak to visitors

✔️ A panic button to alert police
Sound familiar?

That’s because her design became the blueprint for:

• CCTV cameras
• Ring doorbells
• Intercom systems
• Modern alarm systems

Every time someone checks their door camera today…

They’re using her idea.

🖤 The wild part?

Most people have never heard her name.

Yet her invention protects millions of families worldwide every day.

Rising Queens Gem Drop:

Sometimes Black history isn’t just marches and speeches…

Sometimes it’s innovation, brilliance, and everyday problem solving.

Marie didn’t wait to be saved.

She created safety for her family and changed the world.

That’s Black excellence.

That’s leadership.

That’s boss energy.

📌 The Hidden History of Tulsa’s Black Wall Street (Greenwood)

🖤 What Was Black Wall Street?

Long before the Civil Rights Movement, Tulsa’s Greenwood District was one of the most prosperous Black communities in the United States — so successful that it was nicknamed “Black Wall Street.” It had thriving Black-owned businesses, restaurants, theaters, doctors’ offices, and more — built by African Americans who came seeking economic opportunity and independence during segregation.

🔥 The Tulsa Race Massacre — Not Just a “Riot”

In 1921, a white mob attacked Greenwood, burning and looting more than 35 blocks of homes and businesses in just about 18 hours — destroying the wealth and legacy of this community. It’s now seen by historians as one of the worst incidents of racial violence in U.S. history.

Many survivors and descendants say “race riot” is too mild a term — it was a *massacre and coordinated assault on a Black community.”

Oklahoma Historical Society

📉 Suppression and Silence

For decades after 1921, the Tulsa story was not taught in schools, covered up in newspapers, and largely ignored in mainstream history books.

Many families never received insurance payments for the property destroyed because authorities labeled it a “riot,” which often voided insurance claims.
Museum of Tulsa History +1

✊ Rebuilding and Black Resilience
Despite unimaginable loss, the Black residents rebuilt Greenwood, and by the 1940s the district again featured hundreds of Black-owned businesses and establishments — a testament to resilience and entrepreneurial excellence even in the wake of devastation.

Oklahoma Historical Society

📌 Modern Context & Justice

Today, Greenwood is home to Greenwood Rising, a major history center dedicated to telling this story accurately and teaching future generations about both the brilliance and the tragedy of Black Wall Street.

Join the celebration the weekend of May 14th 15 and 16th and Greenwood's rebuilding Black Wall Street...