Curio Cabinet

Just because a war is undeclared doesn't mean it's not real. Just take a look at the Falkland Island War, a conflict between Argentina and the U.K. that began on this day in 1982. As its name implies, the Falkland Island War was fought over which nation had sovereignty over the islands, which are located 300 miles from the coast of Argentina. For most of their history, the Falkland Islands were uninhabited, but by the early 1800s, there were Argentine residents living there. Then, in 1833, Britain took control of the islands and forced out their inhabitants, establishing a population of British residents. After that, the island was recognized as belonging to the U.K., despite objections over the years from the government of Argentina.
 
In 1982, tensions finally boiled over after negotiations between the two countries fell through, and the Argentine military junta launched an invasion of the islands. The decision to reclaim them was partially motivated by the junta's declining grip on Argentina, and they believed that taking back the islands would garner support. British troops were also sent to the islands, and fighting commenced. The conflict lasted over two months and claimed nearly a thousand lives (649 Argentine and 255 British and Falkland Islanders), yet neither England nor Argentina officially declared war. The Falkland Islands remain under British control today, and their residents have rebuffed any attempts by the Argentine government to incorporate them into Argentina. Of the over 2,500 people currently living on the islands, nearly all are English-speaking and of British descent. The island's economy depends largely on a modest agricultural industry and tourism, without much in the way of natural resources. The dispute over the islands’ ownership is mostly just a matter of national pride for both sides. Who knew island life could be so controversial?

 
[Image description: The flag of the Falkland Islands, featuring a dark blue background, British flag in the upper left, and a seal with a sheep and a sailing ship in the lower right.] Credit & copyright: Government of Great Britain, Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain.

This wasn’t an April Fools joke, but it almost seems like one. The state of Illinois recently allowed its citizens to vote on a new design for their state flag, and by far the largest share of the votes went to the existing design. Last year, Minnesota voted to adopt a new design for their state flag, and maybe Illinois was feeling a little left out. In the end, the state’s redesign contest came down to 10 finalists, and out of around 385,000 voters, 43 percent wanted to keep the same old-same old.
 
Illinois originally adopted their flag in 1915, and it's not exactly known for its vexillological beauty. It features an eagle atop a rock and a shield decorated with the stars and stripes with the setting sun in the background. Next to the eagle, a banner shows the state motto—"State Sovereignty, National Union”—and on the rock are two dates. One is 1868, the year the state seal (the eagle design featured on the flag itself) was adopted, and 1818 for when Illinois became a state. While it may seem strange to hold a flag-design contest, Illinois’ current flag was actually chosen via a similar contest in 1915 organized by the Daughters of the American Revolution, and that wasn't even the first time someone tried to come up with a different state flag for Illinois. A few years prior to that contest, a man named Wallace Rice designed a flag featuring blue and white stripes, 20 blue stars, and one white star. The 21 stars were meant to represent the fact that Illinois was the 21st state to be added to the Union, but no matter the symbolism, the flag was never approved by the state legislature. Other flags considered in the past included banners created for the state’s Centennial and Sesquicentennial celebrations in 1918 and 1968 respectively, and those two were also among the 10 finalists in the latest vote. Even with flags, it seems most people agree: if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

 
[Image description: The Illinois state flag: a white flag with an eagle in the center. The eagle holds a red banner reading “NATIONAL UNION” and “STATE SOVEREIGNTY" while standing on a rock listing the years 1868 and 1818. There is a yellow setting sun in the background.] Credit & copyright: Public Domain.

Rags to riches is an understatement. Madam C.J. Walker, the daughter of two former slaves, worked her way up the ladder of a prejudiced society to earn enormous riches as an entrepreneur. Today we're celebrating her birthday with a look back at her remarkable career.
 
As a young black woman living in St. Louis in the 1890s, Walker didn't start out looking for the "next big idea." She was eking out a living for her and her daughter as a washerwoman. It wasn't until she found a job as a sales agent with a haircare company that things started taking off. The role was personal for her, as she suffered from scalp rashes and balding. Plus, her brothers worked in the hair business as barbers.
 
Walker was successful selling other people's hair products, but employment was getting in the way of her dream. Literally: a man who visited her in a dream inspired her to start her own company, selling hair and beauty products geared towards black women. The Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company, of which Walker was the sole stakeholder, made its fortunes on sales of Madam Walker’s Wonderful Hair Grower. 19th-century hygiene called for only infrequent hair washing, which led to scalp infections, bacteria, lice, and—most commonly—balding. Walker's Hair Grower combatted balding and was backed by Walker's own guarantee that she used it to fix her own hair issues. A marketing strategy focused on black women, a neglected but growing portion of consumers, was a key ingredient for success.
 
As the business grew, Walker revealed bigger ambitions. “I am not merely satisfied in making money for myself," she said. "I am endeavoring to provide employment for hundreds of women of my race." Her company employed some 40,000 “Walker Agents” to teach women about proper hair care. Walker stepped beyond the boundaries of her business as a social activist and philanthropist. She donated thousands to the NAACP and put her voice behind causes like preserving Frederick Douglass's home and fighting for the rights of black World War I veterans.
 
It's often claimed that Walker was America's first black female self-made millionaire. But when she passed away in 1919, assessors found out her estate totaled around $600,000. Not that the number matters at all, really; Walker's legacy is priceless. We're guessing the businessmen and women she inspired could more than make up the difference.