Afro e-Edition 03-15-2024

A call to action: Gender equality in 2024

By Wayne Campbell

In a world facing many crises, ranging from geopolitical conflicts to soaring poverty levels and the escalating impacts of climate change, achieving gender equality is more imperative than ever. The United Nations (UN) indicates that one of the key challenges in achieving gender equality by 2030 is an alarming lack of financing with a shocking $360 billion annual deficit in spending on gender equality. According to the United Nations Women, more than 342 million women and girls could be living in extreme poverty by 2030. The time for action is now in order to close the budget deficit concerning gender equality. Without a doubt the needs of women must be prioritized by their governments with a calculated and purposeful plan to incorporate gender-responsive financing as well as increase public spending on essential services and social protection. International Women’s Day (IWD), which is observed on March 8 each year, not only celebrates women’s achievements, but is an annual reminder that more action is needed to achieve gender parity. There are two themes this year for IWD.

The genesis International Women’s Day (IWD) grew out of the labor movement when in 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter working hours, better pay and the right to vote. The idea to make it an international event came from Clara Zetkin, a communist activist and advocate for women’s rights. In 1910, she raised it at an International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen. Her suggestion was unanimously backed by the 100 women from 17 countries who were at the conference. The first International Women’s Day was celebrated in 1911, in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. The United Nations (UN) started marking the event in 1975. The first theme adopted by the UN (in 1996) was “Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future.”

Gender disparities

gender equality, reproductive rights, and violence and abuse against women. Yet, gender equality continues to be one of the greatest human rights challenges– despite evidence outlining how it will improve the lives of not only women, but men also.

Gender parity speaks to relative equality in terms of numbers and proportions of women and men, girls and boys, and is often calculated as the ratio of female-to-male values for a given indicator. In the context of gender equality, gender parity refers to the equal contribution of women and men to every dimension of life, whether private or public. This year’s theme underscores the crucial role of inclusion in achieving gender equality. It calls for action to break down barriers, challenge

stereotypes, and create environments where all women are valued and respected.

Gender pay gap

The campaign’s theme this year is “Inspire Inclusion,” while the UN’s official theme is “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.” International Women’s Day is a global commemoration with the focal point being grounded in the women’s rights movement. IWD gives focus to issues such as

The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that women on average continue to be paid about 20 per cent less than men across the world. There are large variations between countries, from a high of over 45 per cent to hardly any difference. The gender pay gap has been reduced in some countries while in others there has been little change. The gender pay gap is a measurable indicator of inequality between women and men. Most governments have legislated

to guarantee equality of treatment between men and women in remuneration. The ILO Equal Remuneration Convention, 1951 is one of the most highly ratified conventions. Yet, the gender pay gap persists. Alarmingly, the World Economic Forum estimates it will take 202 years to close the global gender pay gap, based on the trend observed over the past 12 years. Additionally, it will take another 131 years to reach gender parity, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2023. The disparities along gendered lines are glaring. This is exactly why governments must invest more resources in the training of women and girls especially in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in order to close the gender pay gap. Research has indicated that far fewer women than men are in management and leadership positions, especially at higher levels. When women are managers, they tend to be more concentrated in management support functions such as human resources and financial administration than in more strategic roles. This brings down the average salary of female managers compared to that of male managers.

A gender-focused stimulus package needed

Unfortunately, the world is off track to achieve gender equality by 2030–this is according to the United Nations (UN). Gender equality is goal number five of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The UN adds that at the global level, none of the 18 indicators “met or almost met” the targets and only one is “close to target.” At the current rate of progress, it is estimated that it will take up to 286 years to close gaps in legal protection and remove discriminatory laws, 140 years for women to be represented equally in positions of power and leadership in the workplace and 47 years to achieve equal representation in national parliaments. Surging global crises have highlighted and exacerbated existing gender inequalities, such as unequal access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunities. See more on afro.com

Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. This week, he discusses gender equality in honor of Women’s History Month.

This Women’s History Month, Regional Philanthropist Leader Talks Career, Finances and Motivation

Women’s History Month is a time to come together to celebrate and recognize the achievements and contributions of women throughout the years. For this Women’s History Month, we sat down with Alicia Wilson, Head of Regional Philanthropy for North America at JPMorgan Chase to learn about her career journey, what motivates the work she does and how you can take charge of your career and finances.

1) What has been key to your success throughout your career?

• God. Trusting him to direct my career has been central to my success. This has allowed me to focus on not just doing the best job I can do, but to help make a significant impact to those I’ve been able to touch in my more than two decades in the workplace. Growing up in Baltimore I’ve always wanted my career to impact my community, so I’m conscious of how I can use my platform, position and the opportunities around me to help make a difference.

2) Looking back, what is one thing you wish you knew when you were first starting out in your career?

• I wish I knew that your career journey is about taking advantage of every single opportunity, and that no experience in your journey – good or bad – is a waste. Today, I try to take everything with a grain of salt and lean into any opportunity that is presented to me to learn and grow, even if it may seem scary. With a bit of dedication and hard work anything can be possible.

3) What are some tips for women to take charge of their career and finances?

My three tips are:

• Start wherever you are and take charge of your finances and career. Do not think it’s about lost time, or what you could’ve done when you were in your 20s. You’re the only person that can drive your growth and success.

• Get advice from people that are doing well financially and careerwise. While we might want to go to our “comfort circle” to get advice, it’s actually about going to the “circle of discomfort” – the people that are going to be critical advisors and help you move your career and finances forward.

• Be willing to take risks in your career. The people who are willing to take risks ultimately have the sort of career that they’ve been wanting and working towards. So start now!

4) How has your local community shaped you?

• Everything about who I am, how I lead, and what I do is inspired from the rich upbringing that I had in Baltimore. I still live in the same neighborhood I grew up in, and that’s by choice. Baltimore is a city of grit, passion, brilliance and authenticity, and this is what I try to bring to everything I do. Every single investment that I get to be part of and help craft, I’m reminded of what communities are in need of on a day-to-day basis. When I talk about philanthropy and impacting

communities, I talk from a sense of felt-need versus observed-need because I’ve witnessed the challenges and it gives me a lot of joy to be a part of the solution.

5) What woman organization has inspired you and your career?

• My community has been a lifelong collective network, including Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a historically African American sorority, founded by college-educated women dedicated to public service with an emphasis on programs that assist the African American community. This organization has been a

positive, motivating force in my life. I’ve been blessed to meet so many women that I can call on daily to get encouragement, council, advice and uplifted, and that I know are of service and scholarship who care deeply about the community.

6) How can people get involved to celebrate and support women at work?

• I regularly participate in the JPMorgan Chase’s internal employee Business Resource Groups, Women on the Move, Black Organization for Leadership Development and Black Executive forum which enable employees to share ideas, grow professionally and connect with colleagues who have similar interests. These employee initiatives are very powerful tools to helping people not feel alone but supported at work and beyond. If your company has a similar program I encourage you to get involved.

For more inspiration, whether it’s to help advance your own career or support women in your field, explore JPMorgan Chase’s Women on the Move initiative by visiting jpmorganchase.com/impact/ people/women-on-the-move.

Alicia Wilson manages JPMorgan Chase’s local Philanthropic plans across more than 40 markets in North America. She works with senior leaders in corporate responsibility to ensure the firm’s footprint is creating meaningful impact in Canada and the United States, and is based out of Washington D.C. and lives in Baltimore, MD.

Sponsored content from JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Alicia Wilson

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Vashti Turley Murphy: From Delta Sigma Theta founder to family ‘shero’

By Frances “Toni” Draper Word In Black

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, many of us can name countless women who had a profound impact on our lives. For some of us, it was a dedicated teacher or an attentive crossing guard. For others, it was a next-door neighbor or the cashier at the neighborhood grocery store. But for many, it was a family “shero” who taught us life’s lessons, who treated us kindly, who modeled for us womanhood at its finest. Women, who we declared at a young age, were the ones we most wanted to be like when we grew up.

For me, it was my maternal grandmother, Vashti Turley Murphy.

AFRO Photo

Dr. Frances “Toni”

Draper, publisher of the AFRO-American Newspaper, speaks on the legacy of her grandmother, Vashti Turley Murphy.

She was a soft-spoken, genteel woman, who rarely raised her voice. But, when she spoke, we –her 16 grandchildren at a total of eight boys and eight girls– stood at attention, ready to receive her pearls of wisdom. Sometimes it was in the form of a gentle admonition. Other times it was simply a raised eyebrow or a disapproving glance.

Grandmother Murphy was quite the teacher. She taught us how to set a table, how to sit with our backs straight and our ankles crossed, and she insisted that you can “catch more flies with honey than with vinegar” or that “beauty is, as beauty does” (it took me a long time to figure that one out). She also taught us to respect ourselves, to tell the truth no matter what and to advocate for what we believed was right.

A Washington, D.C., native, a graduate of D.C.’s famed Miner Normal School, and a D.C. public school teacher, Grandmother Murphy was one of the 22 Howard University students who cofounded Delta Sigma Theta Sorority on Jan. 13, 1913.

Two months later, she joined her fellow sorority sisters and

others, as they marched down Washington’s Pennsylvania Avenue in support of a woman’s right to vote. The “colored women” were relegated to the back of the line, but they continued to march with their heads held high — enduring slurs and insults along the way.

Isn’t it ironic (sad and disgusting) that here we are, more than 110 years later, still fighting for full voting rights for African Americans? Still witnessing the “lynching” of Black Americans? Still being judged by the color of our skin, rather than the content of our character? Still studying history books (those that are not banned) that gloss over the brutality of enslavement while minimizing the full contributions of the enslaved? Still fighting the structures and systems that privilege one race of people over another? Still having “The Talk” with our sons…and our daughters?

More than 60 years ago, in a speech for a Delta sponsored mother–daughter luncheon, Grandmother Murphy said, “As a founder, it has been my privilege to rejoice quietly in the growth of this child; to see it stretch north, south, east and west; to see it expand into regions, boards, committees and projects. It has been a joy to note its work in fellowship, libraries, and the creation of jobs; to discover that everywhere Delta goes, it encourages women to reach for the noblest, the highest and the best in our civilization, and shed its sweetness and light upon our communities.” She went on to say, “Wherever one Delta exists, graduate or undergraduate, wherever one Delta family is established, there should grow an outpost of freedom: firm, unyielding, accepting no compromise. What a tragedy it would be, if we should stand

by the Red Sea of Segregation, unwilling to advance up to our knees, up to our waists, up to our throats, up to our chins, up to our lips. What a tragedy it would be, as the history of this period is written, if it could be said that 15,000 of the besteducated women in the United States, the flower of American womanhood, stood in a struggling, hesitant mass, undecided, unwilling to take the first step. Daughters of Delta, show now that you are daughters of freedom and that you are worthy of redemption. Come, let us go forward into the sea to meet the God of our Father. Oh, God of our fathers, work thy miracle with Delta.”

Yes, Grandmother Murphy was quite the orator. She also was a double amputee, the mother of five daughters, the convener of several civic organizations, the wife of a busy newspaper publisher (her husband, Carl J. Murphy, was the publisher of the Baltimore AFRO for more than 40 years, and as I’ve already said, the grandmother of 16, yet she rarely complained. She, like so many strong Black women, was always fighting for one cause or another, refusing to give in or to give up; constantly sacrificing for her family, and often quoting her favorite hymn:

Be strong!

We are not here to play, to dream, to drift; We have hard work to do and loads to lift; Shun not the struggle, face it, ’tis God’s gift.

Be strong!

Say not the days are evil— who’s to blame?

And fold the hands and acquiesce— O shame! Stand up, speak out, and bravely, in God’s Name.

Be strong!

It matters not how deep entrenched the wrong, How hard the battle goes, the day, how long; Faint not, fight on! Tomorrow comes the song.

Grandmother Murphy died in 1960, yet her legacy lives on. She and countless other Black women of yesterday and today are the role models we need — and the role models that must be remembered and revered — not only during Women’s History Month, but all year long.

This week’s edition of the AFRO is dedicated to the women who, like my grandmother, have gone the distance to make positive change in their families and communities around the globe. Read about the first African-American woman to work as a transportation designer for Ford and the new generations of women seeking higher education at Bennett College. Aside from celebrating the Black woman in all her many forms, this week we also explored issues specific to women– like reproductive rights and the pay gap. From the bank to the stage and even in the courtroom, this edition highlights the work of women who are on the frontlines of the fight for equality and freedom.

Many thanks to all of the AFRO staff, freelancers and advertisers who made this edition possible. This month, take time to honor the shero in your life by saying “thank you,” and be sure to find a way to give back in the spirit of all the great Black women who have pushed us forward.

This commentary was originally published on Word In Black.

Women’s History Month: A look at some trailblazers in American gardening and horticulture

By Jessica Damiano The Associated Press

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Women have long been at the forefront of gardening, whether passing agricultural traditions from generation to generation, organizing garden clubs and beautification societies, or — in some cases — making significant contributions to science and landscape design.

Some of these “plant women” gained notoriety for their work. Many are not as well known.

Here are a few who have left permanent marks on American horticultural history:

Fannie Lou Hammer

A civil rights and agricultural activist, Hamer founded the Freedom Farm Cooperative in the late 1960s to provide land, livestock and vegetablegrowing resources to poor Black families and farmers in Sunflower County, Mississippi. The Cooperative facilitated crop-sharing, self-reliance and financial independence. Participating families were also loaned a piglet to raise to maturity, after which they would return it for mating and give the cooperative two piglets from each litter to continue the program. “If you have a pig in your backyard, if you have some vegetables in your garden, you can feed yourself and your family, and nobody can push you around,” Hamer said. Her Cooperative

became one of the earliest examples of modern community gardening and a precursor of today’s food justice movement.

Claudia ‘Lady Bird’ Johnson

First lady from 1963 to 1969, Johnson was an environmentalist and early native plants proponent who advocated for preserving wild spaces. She led the effort to secure the passage of the 1965 Highway Beautification Act during her husband’s presidency. The law sought to clear highways of billboards and to plant wildflowers along their shoulders to support plant and animal biodiversity and regional identity. Today, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas at Austin honors her legacy.

Marie Clark Taylor

In 1941, Taylor became the first Black woman to receive a doctorate in botany in the United States, and the first woman of any race to gain a Ph.D. in science from Fordham University.

As an educator, she applied her doctoral research on the effect of light on plant growth to change the way high school science was taught. She encouraged the use of light microscopes and botanical materials in the classroom for the first time. In the mid-1960s, President Lyndon B. Johnson enlisted her to expand her teaching methods nationwide. Taylor also served as chair of Howard University’s Botany Department for nearly 30 years until her retirement in 1976.

Waheenee

Also known as Buffalo Bird Woman, Waheenee was a Hidatsa woman born around 1839 in what is now North Dakota. She mastered and shared centuries-old cultivating, planting and harvesting techniques with Gilbert L. Wilson, a minister and anthropologist who studied the tribe in the early 1900s. During visits that spanned 10 years, Wilson, whose work was sponsored by the American Museum of Natural History, transcribed Waheenee’s words with her son serving as interpreter. The resulting book, “Buffalo Bird Woman’s Garden: Agriculture of the Hidatsa Indians,” first published in 1917, documented the Hidatsa women’s methods for growing beans, corn, squash, sunflowers and tobacco, as well as the tools they used and their practices for drying and winter storage. Her advice is still relevant today.

Personal collection of Frances Murphy Draper

Vashti Turley Murphy (center) with three of her five daughters. Shown here, twins Carlita (back, left) and Vashti, age 14 or 15, and Frances (front), age 13 or 14.

Photo courtesy of AP via Paul Cox/International Lady Bir Wildflower Center

Photo courtesy of Fordham University

Photo courtesy of National Park Service

Photo courtesy of centerforlearnerequity.org

WABJ establishes Community Impact Award in honor of Dr. Sheila Brooks

By SRB Communications Special Release

The Washington Association of Black Journalists (WABJ) recently honored SRB Communications’ legendary founder, president and CEO, Dr. Sheila Brooks, by establishing an award in her name.

Street Sense Media received the inaugural Dr. Sheila Brooks Community Impact Award during a recent awards gala at Howard University.

“I am thankful that the WABJ recognized my passion and will celebrate the achievements of worthy recipients for years to come.”

Brooks is a longtime member of WABJ and the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), who has more than four decades of outstanding service in journalism, communications and social impact in the community. She is a three-time winner of the prestigious NABJ President’s Award and has also won the Pat Tobin Media Professional Award and organization’s Ida B. Wells Award. Brooks was also inducted in the

NABJ Hall of Fame last year.

“I am honored to have my name on such an award,” Brooks said. “Using communications to make an impact in the community brings me great joy and it has been my life’s work. I am thankful that the WABJ recognized my passion and will celebrate the achievements of worthy recipients for years to come.”

Street Sense Media is a nonprofit that provides coverage of homelessness issues in the D.C. area. Through its multimedia platform and advocacy initiatives, the organization has established itself as an authority on issues related to the housing crisis, using media coverage to increase awareness, provide insight and offer solutions.

“Street Sense Media stands as a shining example of an organization that truly embodies the spirit of community service and the track record and legacy of Dr. Brooks, who is a shining example of a communicator who uses her influence in the community to effectuate change,” said Khorri Atkinson, WABJ president.

Brooks is a native of Kansas City, Mo. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, where she is in the Department of Communications Hall of Fame. She received her master’s degree and Ph.D. from Howard University.

SRB Communications is an awardwinning, full-service boutique marketing, advertising and communications agency located in downtown Washington, D.C. for 31 of its 33 years. SRB is the longest running multicultural agency in the MidAtlantic region owned by a Black woman.

Lord Baltimore Hotel welcomes Sandra Smalls as new human resources director

By Amy Burke Friedman Special Release

Lord Baltimore Hotel proudly announced the appointment of Sandra “Sandy” Smalls as the new human resources director. Smalls brings a wealth of expertise and a strong commitment to fostering a positive workplace culture.

Smalls brings more than 20 years of experience in human resources to her new role with the awardwinning hotel. She started her career in visitor services in Baltimore’s tourism industry, referring thousands of visitors to the Lord Baltimore Hotel. She then rose from executive assistant at the Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts to the executive director of Top of the World Observation Level and Museum. She held major roles in some of Baltimore’s greatest events like Artscape, Baltimore Book Festival, Light City and others until 2017. Most recently, Smalls served as the senior manager of special events for the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture. During the pandemic, Smalls thought of what made her happiest in her career and that’s when she decided to return to human side of business.

profound understanding of Baltimore’s cultural landscape make her an invaluable addition to our team,” said Sheila Wiegandt, managing director of Lord Baltimore Hotel. “Her extensive experience in human resources, coupled with her dedication to fostering inclusive and productive work environments, aligns perfectly with our commitment to maintaining a supportive and thriving workplace culture. We are excited to welcome her aboard.”

The Lord Baltimore Hotel is located at 20 W. Baltimore Street in the heart of Downtown Baltimore and within walking distance to many local attractions. The Lord Baltimore Hotel is a member of Historic Hotels of America, the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“Her extensive experience in human resources, coupled with her dedication to fostering inclusive and productive work environments, aligns perfectly with our commitment to maintaining a supportive and thriving workplace culture.”

“Sandy’s remarkable career trajectory and

Smalls’ expertise encompasses a comprehensive skill set that aligns with the demanding requirements of her new role. Her proficiency spans people-oriented and results-driven approaches, adept knowledge of HR systems, an in-depth understanding of labor laws and HR best practices, and exemplary communication, negotiation and presentation skills.

In her new capacity, Smalls will oversee various critical responsibilities within the human resources department at Lord Baltimore Hotel, including managing the staffing process; ensuring compliance with local, state and federal regulations; providing support to hotel management; and developing comprehensive strategies for employee retention and performance management.

Courtesy Photo

The Washington Black Journalists Association is aiming to invest in students with the establishment of a community impact award in honor of communications trailblazer Dr. Sheila Brooks.

Photo courtesy of Harry Bosk Sandy Smalls brings decades of experience and knowledge to her new role as the director of human resources at the Lord Baltimore Hotel.

Meet Ret. Lt. Cmdr. Brenda E. Robinson: The U.S. Navy’s first African-American female pilot

By Jannette J. Witmyer

Special to the AFRO

Ret. Lt. Cmdr. Brenda E.

Robinson, the U.S. Navy’s first African-American female pilot, has always had a fascination with airplanes. She can still remember her excitement as a child, watching as planes landed and passengers disembarked, during trips to Philadelphia International Airport with her parents. The experience was much different then.

“There was no TSA. You’d go into the gate, and sit there at the gate, and wait for the airplane to pull up, and they pull the stairs up to the airplane. And you know, these fabulous people walked down the stairs off the airplane, having come in from somewhere. And that was just amazing,” she recalls. “I didn’t care how I was going to do it. I wanted to get up in that airplane.” Her interest never waned, and in high school, she was accepted into an aviation career study program, which

introduced her to jobs that she had no idea existed. When she discovered air traffic controllers during an airport field trip, she decided that was the career she wanted and chose Dowling College to pursue her degree. She became the first Black woman to graduate from the college with a degree in aeronautics.

While in college, the aviation enthusiast also started flying and earned her private pilot’s license. When the military visited Dowling’s campus to brief aviation students about considering a military career, Robinson had no interest in the event and no intention to attend. But the Dean sent one of her fellow students to get her, and the rest is history.

While the other branches of the military didn’t seem ready for women pilots within their ranks, the Navy had a plan.

“I chose the Navy because they had the most compelling option,” Robinson told the AFRO. “They said, ‘If you can get through basic training you are pipelined straight into the

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flight program.’” To qualify for one of the 10 slots open to women each year, she needed a four-year-college

Empowering Women in Commercial Real Estate: The Role of CREWBaltimore in Driving Change and Your Opportunity for Growth

By CREWBaltimore, a member of

CREW Network, an organization founded in 1989

Despite the opportunities for women in commercial real estate, women represent only 36.7% of the industry, according to CREW Network’s 2020 Benchmark Study on Gender and Diversity in Commercial Real Estate. CREW Network Foundation has been working to change that statistic for over 25 years through programs like CREW Careers, a program that has introduced thousands of high school girls to the many career opportunities available to them in the commercial real estate industry, and UCREW, which helps college students find opportunities and develop their skills in commercial real estate.

The commercial real estate field is home to too many potential careers for women to count. These include architecture, engineering, construction, economic development, law, finance, banking, accounting, property management to name a few. In addition, there are a host of careers in trades that support commercial real estate, such as commercial cleaning, fireproofing, elevator maintenance, and more. These careers are often overlooked by young women because they aren’t taught in schools and focused on in social media or press. CREWBaltimore aims to change that. These careers offer exciting opportunities for young women to be part of a vibrant community of people that impacts the world around them every day. When you work in these fields, you can make an impact on the environment where people live, work, and play. You can also contribute in a meaningful way to environmental and social stewardship through sustainable development. This field thrives on

collaboration, innovation, and is a place where young women can hone their adaptability skills and develop resilience.

CREWBaltimore was founded in 1985 as the area’s local chapter established to further CREW Network’s mission to bring together women in commercial real estate as the industry’s premier business network dedicated to accelerating success for women in the industry globally. CREWBaltimore is committed to strengthening and expanding diversity, equity, and inclusion and promoting professional development throughout the Greater Baltimore area. We partner with local organizations, such as Morgan State University and Junior Achievement, to promote the opportunities for women in commercial real estate and facilitate the network connections vital to succeed. CREWBaltimore hosts events throughout the year to educate our members and the community on the local and national real estate market, support leadership development, and provide opportunities for networking and connection. If you are a young woman interested in exploring commercial real estate fields, or a seasoned professional keen to make meaningful connections, reach out to CREWBaltimore at CREWBaltimore@ crewnetwork.com. Join us as we propel women in commercial real estate forward and shape skylines.

CREW Network Foundation is the only organization dedicating its resources solely to accelerating success for all women in commercial real estate globally. It is committed to bringing more women into the commercial real estate fields with programs that educate women and girls about the career opportunities available to them and providing mentoring for those new to, and currently in, the industry.

science degree and some flight background. With a B.S. degree in aeronautics and a full-fledged pilot’s license, she was over-qualified. She was offered a slot. Robinson describes basic training as “brutal,” but she got through it, along with two other women in her group. In the end, her class of 32 students was whittled

down to 17 who successfully completed the training and were commissioned as officers and sent to flight school.

She became the first African-American woman to graduate from the United States Navy Aviation Officers Candidate School and earned her wings of gold in June of 1980 at the Naval Air Station in Corpus Christi, Texas.

In January 1981 she became the first AfricanAmerican female certified for C-1A aircraft carrier landings on the USS America. Her call sign was “Raven.” While she was the first African-American woman to land on an aircraft carrier, she was only the second woman in history to do so. The first woman was a member of her squadron. A few of her other firsts, of which there are many, include being the first African-American female VIP transport pilot, flight instructor and evaluator.

After 13 years full-time active duty and seven years in the Naval Reserves, Robinson retired from the Navy– but not from flying. She joined American Airlines as a pilot, and flew for the airline for 17 years. Still, her career didn’t end there. If anything, she has expanded it.

First, she began working, part-time, for Flyright, a company that

provides recurrent training to professional pilots from all over the world on FAA approved full motion simulators. Then, in 2014 she established Aviation Camps of the Carolinas (AviationCamps. org), and began taking kids to airports in hopes of introducing them to careers in aviation.

“Like I said, when I saw the air traffic control tower, I didn’t even know that that was a thing. And then when I saw it, it took me five minutes to realize that’s what I was going to do for the rest of my life,” she says. “Teenagers don’t need a bunch of time. They don’t need to be lectured. What they need to do is see stuff.”

Held four times a year, the camp is not just for kids interested in aviation. It covers confidence building, education, and exploring options and opportunities, which provides the direction needed to pursue any career. Robinson also gives each participant a copy of her book, Success Is An Attitude, Goal Achievement For A Lifetime, which she wrote specifically for teenagers to help them understand themselves and how to work with others.

In 2016, Lt. Cmdr. Brenda E. Robinson was inducted into the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame.

Courtesy photo

Shown here, Brenda E. Robinson at Corpus Christi Naval Air Station in Texas, where she earned her wings of gold in June 1980.

Sustaining the sisterhood: A look at the women of Bennett College

By Ariyana Griffin Special to the AFRO

For over 150 years, Bennett College, a private historically Black liberal arts institution, has advocated for education for women of color preparing them to excel and lead post graduation.

Bennett College was founded in 1873 in the basement of Warnersville Methodist Episcopal Church, which is now known as St. Matthews United Methodist Church. This historical college lies in the heart of Greensboro, N.C. and was established with the vital goal to provide education to formerly enslaved people. During its formative years, Bennett’s mission was to educate men and women to become the teachers of future generations.

In 1926 the college underwent a significant change and became a four-year women’s college. Bennett became one of two Historically Black College and Universities (HBCUs) solely dedicated to empowering and educating women in the United States, with Spelman College being the other institution.

The college continues to be a hub for Black excellence and innovative ideas, taking their motto, “Education for your future, Sisterhood for Life,” to new heights.

Funding has been a major issue for several HBCUs and Bennett College is one that is

also affected. Deemed to have inadequate financial resources, Bennett has been appealing motions for them to lose their accreditation, and the fight has been a long one. The college found overwhelming success with a fundraising campaign and proved to be a resilient institution.

On April 28, 2023 the college’s president, Suzanne Walsh, announced that the school was “awarded accreditation status by the Transnational Association of

Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS).”

“If you care deeply about the next generation of women of color leaders, Black women leaders, there are only a couple of places in the country where you can go and really focus on that group. I wanted to see if there was something that I could add to help to begin to address stabilization and matters related to enrollment and accreditation,” said President Walsh who joined Bennett College in 2019.

“I didn’t come here to save Bennett— I came to help to think about whether we could stabilize and then to help reimagine this incredible institution, to build on a fabulous legacy of women who are out in the world leading.”

The Bennett College campus is small by design. In 2021 there were 201 students enrolled and it is considered to be a microcollege, meaning having less than 1,000 students enrolled. For the Bennett Belles, in this intimate learning

environment, the sisterhood and bond created at the institution continues to be unwavering. The institution also has a 90 percent retention

“If you care deeply about the next generation of women of color leaders, Black women leaders, there are only a couple of places in the country where you can go and really focus on that group.”

rate and in 2022 the institution was named number one in social mobility amongst all national liberal arts institutions by US News and World Report.

“Our smallness is our strength. It allows us to be nimble and flexible. Bennett College was not built for more than about 840 students. We’ll never be in the 5,000-student place. This is who we are, and we are proud of it,” said Walsh. “Everybody usually focuses on

the number as if the number tells them something. But, if you’re not keeping the students or they’re not graduating, something’s not working.

It’s not about size, it’s about what kind of services you can provide.”

“A microcollege is about wrapping yourselves around students and giving them all the things that you would want in a boutique environment,” she continued.

The school focuses primarily on leadership, civic engagement, global citizenship, innovation, entrepreneurship and communications.

President Walsh explained the importance of these pillars and how they are all needed in order for the institution to run smoothly. The faculty/student ratio of 7 to 1 allows students to get a personalized college experience while building relationships and bonds with faculty and staff.

A smaller campus has a unique advantage of enabling students’ voices to be heard. For example, after the pandemic, students expressed that mental health support was crucial in returning to campus. They created a list of needs, and all were met. President Walsh even added more to the list to ensure the students felt supported and heard. Students also expressed the importance of sustainability and created a “Green Team.”

See more on afro.com

Bennett College continues to thrive after 150 years, despite efforts to challenge the institution’s accreditation and a lack of adequate funding. The college is one of two historically Black institutions to solely admit women as students.

Photo courtesy of Bennett College

Hown or at your primary care office.

Dr. James Baronas, a family medicine physician at GBMC Health Partners

Primary Care—Jonestown, located at 1017 E. Baltimore Street, reinforced regular checks, especially with a family history or if you have other chronic illnesses, as they can be precursors or run concurrent with hypertension.

“Blood pressure is an important modifiable risk factor for prevention of cardiovascular disease and frequent screenings are key to help prevent these

issues,” he said.

With hypertension, the heart is required to pump blood against a higher pressure than it is equipped to, stretching the walls of the arteries beyond its healthy limit and placing a strain on the body. This strain can be a leading contributor to heart failure,

is left untreated, the more likely a patient will experience the negative consequences. Men are more likely than woman to have hypertension and Black adults are more likely than white or Hispanic adults to be diagnosed.

Because blood pressure numbers can fluctuate, Dr. Baronas and his team will

“Lowering blood pressure takes a commitment to lifestyle changes.”

chronic kidney disease, including the need for dialysis, stroke and heart attack.

A normal blood pressure is considered 120/80 or lower, and high blood pressure is considered 140/90 or higher. The longer high blood pressure

take a comprehensive look at a patient’s medical history, blood pressure readings over time, other risk factors or chronic conditions being managed as well as circumstantial life events like stressful events, pregnancy or other short-term contributors to assess a patient’s overall

treatment plan.

“Particularly at GBMC Health Partners, our coordinated and comprehensive approach works with patients to help them manage chronic high blood pressure according to their own unique needs,” Dr. Baronas said.

Typically, Dr. Baronas prefers to start a treatment plan with lifestyle changes, such as increasing exercise/movement, establishing a healthy, low sodium diet with low preservative foods and lowering stress before moving to medications. But if medications are the way to go, they can be a helpful and effective way to manage high blood pressure.

“Lowering blood pressure takes a commitment to lifestyle changes,” Dr. Baronas said. “In cases where medication is needed, there are many safe and effective blood pressure medications with little to no side effects that can be prescribed.”

Though it can be scary if left undiagnosed, there are ways to manage hypertension. Find a provider you trust to manage your care with you.

Meet Emeline King: Ford’s first Black female transportation designer

By Mekhi Abbott Special to the AFRO mabbott@afro.com

Emeline King is responsible for designing the 1994 SN95 Ford Mustang. In doing so, she became the first Black women transportation designer for Ford Motor Company.

King’s father was a fabrication specialist at Ford and King had her eyes and heart set on exactly what she wanted to do from a young age.

“It all started at the age of 11,” said King. “[My father] introduced me to his coworkers and I noticed a set of blue doors. When I tried to open the door my dad told me I couldn’t go behind them because I wasn’t an employee and [because] behind those doors were men and they were called ‘transportation designers. They designed every car that you saw going up the road.’”

To keep her occupied, King’s father used to take her to a studio owned by the famous Black sculptor, Oscar Graves. Graves taught King how to make clay car models and King recalls Graves telling her she could make a great artist or sculptor some day. That is something King kept with her.

“I was so intrigued in hearing that, I decided that I wanted to become a car designer and I wanted to work at Ford designing cars,” said King. Although some of the men in her life spoke life into her dream of being a car designer one day, King also recalls times where others attempted to discourage her from achieving that goal.

“I was attending Keidan Elementary School and we would have ‘show and tell.’ I bought my car made out of clay and I would draw pictures of cars and such but it was my male teacher who told me that because I was a girl, I couldn’t design cars,” said King,who attended elementary school in Detroit. “He didn’t know my father was my big mentor. He introduced me to this world and I was being mentored from all angles.”

King knew she would be discouraged, but didn’t let it change her path. “I didn’t let that stop me from achieving my goals,” she said.

After completing her undergraduate studies in Transport Design at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Cali. and obtaining a BFA in Industrial Design from Wayne State University, King made

“As someone who loves classic cars, it’s cool to know that a Black woman designed the interior of one of my favorite models of cars.”

the decision that she only wanted to be hired at Ford Motor Company.

And her dream came true. King would eventually get hired and work there for 24 years, but even in that experience, she still felt pushback when trying to achieve some of her professional goals.

“From the time I was hired on Oct. 24, 1983 until I was let go in 2008, I was largely the only female car designer at the company. I was doing all this work but I was not getting promoted. I was watching Ford hire male designers and seeing them get promoted. They even started hiring female designers that were getting promoted before me,” said King.

After being overlooked on a lot of projects, King decided to go to management to request to be put on a “hot project.” Ford was in the process of redesigning the 1964 Mustang and King took this as an opportunity to finally be able to do what she had always dreamt of doing.

“I knew I had to come up with something different. So I said, ‘Okay, I’m gonna start thinking about females and how they design things and take into account things women would want in a car,’” said King.

Typically, male designers didn’t take into consideration things women would appreciate in the interior of muscle cars. King realized this and got to work.

“If I’m on this project, I will make sure it is designed with women in mind. So all the features were catered to a more broad audience. It

was still going to stay a muscle car but it’s just going to have more of a soft touch,” said King.

King made sure she paid attention to detail. She made sure the interior was more elevated. She made sure the knobs, switches, door handles and instrument panels were smooth and rounded surfaces so women wouldn’t break their nails. She made the seats more comfortable. She made sure that women would be able to get in and out of the vehicle tearing or ruining their gowns or skirts. She even brightened up the colors and made sure the fabrics weren’t as rough and didn’t cause as much friction.

Her work did not go unnoticed. While employed at Ford and even after, King recalls being invited to speak to a lot of women’s groups and hearing a lot of warm receptions for her contributions to the ‘94 Ford Mustang.

King would go on to write an autobiography titled “What Do You Mean A Black Girl Can’t Design Cars?” She was also recognized at the Detroit Institute of Arts back in 2022 for her contributions to the ‘94 Ford Mustang in an exhibit highlighting Detroit’s history as the hub of American car and automotive design.

“As someone who loves classic cars, it’s cool to know that a Black woman designed the interior of one of my favorite models of cars. What’s really amazing is that although she was told by male teachers that a girl couldn’t design cars, or that she ‘would be better at being a housewife,’ she had great Black male mentors within the car industry that took the time to teach her and assisted in helping her grow into the amazing car designer that she became,” said Cierra Brown, a sophomore at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. “She pushes the envelope by simply existing in a place that wasn’t ‘normal’ for women– let alone a Black woman!”

Shown here, Emeline King with her father, Rev. Earnest O. King Sr., and a copy of her book, “What Do You Mean A Black Girl Can’t Design Cars?”

Photo courtesy of Wayne State University

Emeline King displays her designs.

Photo courtesy of Wayne State University

“Reproductive Freedom

Vice President Kamala Harris’ fight for reproductive freedom

By Ben Jealous

It matters deeply that America has a woman as our vice president. That has never been truer than at this moment.

Nothing makes this more clear than Vice President Kamala Harris’s courageous decision to champion reproductive freedom in the midst of a full-on assault on the right to choose.

Right now, Harris is traveling the country on an extensive Reproductive Freedom Tour.

As noted by the New York Times, “The vice president has been the administration’s most forceful voice for abortion rights in the year and a half since Roe v. Wade fell.”

Even among those of us without a uterus, the impact of the vice president’s courage affects many of us personally in our lives.

It affects me as a girl dad, as a member of this country, and because the person who shaped me most as an organizer is my grandmother, Mamie Todd, who started her career in social change at Planned Parenthood in Baltimore. Even though abortion was illegal then, the basic mission was the same: reproductive health and freedom. And while the work

mainly focused on birth control, education, and some routine healthcare, it was not without its challenges – especially in a Catholic city in a Catholic state.

By the early 1940s when my grandmother was doing this work, things had come a long way since 1916 when Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger was arrested for opening the nation’s first birth control clinic in Brooklyn. But the Comstock Act was still on the books and enforced. That law defined contraceptives as obscene and made it a federal crime to send them through the mail or transport them across state lines.

In the pre-Roe v. Wade era, when abortions were illegal in most parts of this country, many still depended on them. Some required them in order to extricate themselves from abusive relationships or avoid other dire consequences. Being illegal, the procedure was risky. Abortions, forced to be conducted in secret, frequently resulted in death or injuries that would leave women unable to bear children.

Adding to the risk back then was that many of the people who performed these abortions were terrible doctors … or not even doctors at all. Yes, there were abortion providers who

Pennsylvania, speaks on efforts to protect reproductive freedom for women.

displayed their own courage, taking great personal risks to ensure that women would not have to stay in dangerous situations. But the reality was the patients were desperate. And there was no system for review of, or accountability for, this type of medical care.

From 1973 until 2022, when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, abortions were safe and legal. Now, the Supreme Court’s decision in the Dobbs case has created a flood of laws threatening to send us back to the dark ages. This goes for women who are attempting

to sever ties with dangerous men and those in other horrific situations many of us can only imagine. And it is not stopping. Just this month, the Missouri state Senate voted down two amendments to the state’s medieval abortion laws that would have allowed exceptions for rape and incest.

That’s why Vice President Harris’s leadership is so

important. It is easy to imagine that whoever was vice president in these times would be fighting these attacks … that a male with a similarly impressive resume as a litigator and advocate could too be a stalwart for this fundamental right. But the difference is evident when you watch Vice President Harris on the stump, speaking against these laws that would

Backlash: Women’s history month in a post-Roe world

By Martha Burk

It’s 2024, but it feels like we’re back in 1991 this Women’s History Month.

Back then, President George H.W. Bush was following in the footsteps of his predecessor Ronald Reagan by continuing to appoint conservative judges to the federal bench, and Roe v. Wade was expected to fall.

Radical anti-abortion activism had gained prominence and strength. Popular media was awash with stories pushing the myth that women were dissatisfied and unhappy — and feminist ideals of women’s empowerment were to blame.

Then a blockbuster book hit the streets: “Backlash” by Susan Faludi.

It came out just as the legal notion of “fetal personhood” was taking shape. Among other

things, the book captured the horror of giving a fetus, even a hypothetical potential fetus, precedence over an actual living person. Backlash posited that any so-called women’s unhappiness was not the fault of feminism, but the fact that the struggle for equality was far from finished.

Faludi anticipated by over 20 years the deadly choices that women and their doctors are now being forced to make in a post-Roe world.

She was distressed at the prospect of backward momentum — of a world that treated women as vessels for childbearing above all. “What unites women is the blatant, ugly evidence of oppression,” she said at the time, “that will come with the inevitable demise of Roe vs. Wade.”

Faludi was right. There’s

a new backlash, all right — but this time it’s not against women’s progress, but against the loss of women’s rights and their own personhood. Since Roe was overturned, at least three states have blocked new abortion bans, and 16 more have strengthened existing prostatutes with new protections.

Safeguarding women’s autonomy was also front and center in last November’s midterm elections.

Ohio was the epicenter. Advocates put forth a bold ballot question on whether to amend the state constitution affirming the right of individuals to make their own reproductive health decisions — including abortion. The outcome? No contest. Voters opted to enshrine abortion rights by a margin of 57 to 43 percent.

Abortion was also on the

ballot indirectly in Virginia.

Gov. Glen Youngkin was pushing voters to flip the state Senate to Republicans while keeping the Republican majority in the House of Delegates.

That would have allowed the anti-choice governor and his lackeys in the legislature to pass a 15-week abortion ban. That grand plan went down in flames — pro-choicers took full control of both houses of the General Assembly after two years of divided power.

The latest trend in the reproduction wars comes from Alabama. Another attack on women’s rights to self determination — but this time from the other end of the argument.

In a first-of-its-kind ruling, Alabama’s Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos are children and anyone who destroys them

can be held liable for wrongful death. At several facilities in the state, the decision has virtually stopped in-vitro fertilization in its tracks for women who are trying to conceive.

It’s reminiscent of struggles of the past. It took nearly a century and a half after independence for women to win the constitutional right to vote in 1919. Winning abortion rights took even longer — until 1973, when Roe guaranteed it under the 14th Amendment. But that ruling lasted only 49 years. One step forward, two steps back.

Women — both those who want abortion to be legal and those who want to become pregnant through in-vitro fertilization — are furious.

The upshot? Women are the majority of the population, the majority of registered voters, and the majority of those who

deny freedom to women who find themselves in the situation my mother was in back then. You cannot help but sense that she feels the urgency to help those women in her bones in a way that no man could. See more on afro.com

This commentary was

actually show up at the polls. It’s a good bet they’ll remember in November. Hell hath no fury like a woman deprived of her basic rights.

Empowering women: Championing reproductive justice amidst abortion bans and Black maternal mortality

By Sylvia Ghazarian

As we celebrate Women’s History Month focused this year on “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion,” we pay tribute to the remarkable and courageous women who have tirelessly advocated for equity, diversity and inclusion in all facets of society.

Among these champions are those who have dedicated their efforts to advancing reproductive justice, recognizing its pivotal role in achieving genuine equality and empowerment for women. At the forefront of this movement stand abortion funds such as the Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project (WRRAP), whose work epitomizes the intersectionality of reproductive

justice with broader struggles for social justice.

Equity in reproductive justice entails ensuring that all individuals have the resources, support and autonomy to make informed decisions about their reproductive health, regardless of their socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity or other identities.

Unfortunately, systemic inequalities often deprive marginalized communities of access to essential reproductive healthcare services, perpetuating cycles of oppression and injustice.

Amidst the onslaught of abortion bans sweeping across various states, particularly impacting marginalized communities, abortion funds like WRRAP that provide unwavering commitment

and financial assistance for emergency contraception and abortion services becomes even more critical. These bans disproportionately affect low-income individuals and people of color, exacerbating existing disparities in access to reproductive healthcare and perpetuating harmful narratives that undermine bodily autonomy.

Diversity within the realm of reproductive justice acknowledges the unique experiences and needs of individuals from various backgrounds. It emphasizes the importance of intersectionality, recognizing that factors such as race, class, gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability intersect to shape individuals’ reproductive experiences and

access to care. In the context of black maternal mortality rates, which are shockingly higher compared to their white counterparts, inclusive advocacy efforts must center the voices and experiences of Black women. Systemic racism within the healthcare system contributes significantly to this disparity, with black women facing discrimination, lack of access to quality care, and bias during pregnancy and childbirth. Holistic approaches to reproductive justice, like WRAPP’s, reflect this commitment to diversity by advocating for policies and services that address the specific needs and challenges faced by communities of color, including initiatives to reduce black maternal mortality rates and

improve access to prenatal and postpartum care.

Inclusion lies at the heart of reproductive justice, emphasizing the importance of creating environments where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered to participate fully in decisionmaking processes. Achieving genuine inclusion requires dismantling systemic barriers and challenging oppressive norms that marginalize certain groups within society. Women with disabilities, for example, often encounter inaccessible healthcare facilities and discriminatory attitudes that undermine their autonomy. In the face of such challenges, it is critical to promote inclusion by advocating for accessible and culturally competent

reproductive healthcare services, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their ability, feel welcomed and supported in exercising their reproductive rights.

See more on afro.com

Courtesy photo

This week, Ben Jealous, executive director of the Sierra Club and a professor of practice at the University of

Photo courtesy of Institute for Policy Change Martha Burk, director of the Corporate Accountability Project for the National Council of Women’s Organizations (NCWO), speaks on reproductive freedoms in 2024.

Courtesy photo Sylvia Ghazarian is executive director of Women’s Reproductive Rights Assistance Project (WRRAP).

From the AFRO Archives

An AFRO salute to the women of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority

By Ashleigh Fields AFRO Assistant Editor afields@afro.com

Women’s History Month marks a momentous occasion for the ladies of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. An organization founded on Jan. 13, 1913 by 22 collegiate women with the mission to serve. The founders were Osceola Macarthy Adams; Marguerite Young Alexander; Winona Cargile Alexander; Ethel Cuff Black; Bertha Pitts Campbell; Zephyr Chisom Carter; Mary Edna Brown Coleman; Jessie McGuire Dent; Frederica Chase Dodd; Myra Davis Hemmings; Olive Claire Jones; Jimmie Bugg Middleton; Pauline Oberdorfer Minor; Vashti Turley Murphy; Naomi Sewell Richardson; Mammie Reddy Rose; Eliza Pearl Shippen; Florence Letcher Toms; Ethel Carr Watson;

April 1979

Wertie Blackwell Weaver; Madree Penn White and Edith Motte Young.

The group was largely composed of women from the teacher’s college and more than a few were former members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the first Greeklettered organization for Black women. In search of more than just opportunities to climb the social ladder, the women formed a new organization aimed at making change. Together, they formed a sisterhood seeking to promote a more educated society.

To this day, the women of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority continue to push for change as legislators, lawyers, teachers, doctors, journalists, wives, mothers and as differencemakers in a host of other occupations. Key projects include the Jabberwock, an initiative launched in 1925 to raise scholarship funds and the National Library Project of 1945, an

June 1956

effort to supply Black children in the South with books. However, the organization will forever stand out in bold relief as the only Black sorority to participate in the Women’s Suffrage March on March 3, 1913. Just three months after their founding, the women–refusing to be silent on issues

regarding their gender- stood with White suffragists, demanding equality.

On April 20, 2024 the AFRO will celebrate members of the Divine 9 at the annual high tea. This week, the AFRO salutes the fortuitous women of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

Delta founders and national officers of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority cut the ribbon at the dedication of the historical archives of the Black Women’s Lives on April 28, 1979 at Howard University. Shown here from left to right: Dr. Ruth Taylor of Gary, Ind., national secretary; Bertha Pitts Campbell, of Seattle, Wash., a founder of the sorority; Thelma T. Daley, Baltimore, national president; Osceola McCarthy Adams, New York, founder; Winona Cargile Alexander, Jacksonville, Fla., founder; Grace White Ware, Cleveland; and Elsie Cooks, New York, second national vice president.

The Zeta Epsilon Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was established on Coppin State College Campus in Baltimore in May 1968. Shown here, first row from left: Misses Lynda Mathis, Margaret Walkins, Lorraine Breaux, Dannette Christmas, Rosemary Bachus, Peggy Moore; second row: Misses Deborah Chavis, Kendall Vaughn, Shirley Hunter; third row: Misses Jacqueline Blackwell, Jean Adams and Georgia Gosley.

‘Six-Triple-Eight: A New Musical’ to honor Black women of WWII’s European Theatre

By Ericka Alston Buck Special to the AFRO

Audiences are eagerly awaiting Tyler Perry’s new movie, “Six Triple Eight,” featuring Kerry Washington, but the Netflix movie isn’t the only thing in the works to remember the courageous Black women of WWII. The women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion will also be the subjects of a play coming to Broadway.

Recently, the AFRO had the opportunity to sit down with part of the creative team producing “Six-Triple-Eight, A New Musical.”

Tucked away in the annals of Black history, there are countless tales of heroism and valor. Some narratives remain buried beneath the weight of time, however, every so often, a beacon emerges to illuminate forgotten chapters and such is the case with “Six-TripleEight: A New Musical.”

Inspired by the remarkable true story of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, the musical promises to be a poignant tribute to the unsung Black women who doubled as heroes of World War II.

Led by the indomitable 26-year-old Major Charity Adams, the 6888th Battalion was a trailblazing force, composed solely of African-American and Hispanic women. Their deployment to Europe

amidst the tumult of war was fraught with adversity, as they battled not only the enemy abroad but also the insidious forces of racism and sexism within military ranks. Still, undeterred by these challenges, the 850 women of the 6888th accomplished their mission with unparalleled efficiency, ensuring that vital mail reached nearly seven million soldiers on the front lines.

The significance of their contribution cannot be overstated. In a time when their country failed to fully recognize their worth, these courageous women persevered, embodying the motto “No Mail, Low Morale.” Now, 76 years

later, the resilience and dedication of the women is finally being recognized. In 2022, the group was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.

The first observation of Maryland’s commemorative day to recognize the Black and Hispanic women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion took place on March

9. Audiences are also eagerly await Tyler Perry’s movie featuring Kerry Washington, but that’s not all that’s in the works for the women who valiantly went overseas during WWII. The AFRO had the opportunity to sit down with a part of the

creative team producing “Six-Triple-Eight: A New Musical.”

At the helm of this groundbreaking musical co-created by Holly Garman and Joe Trentacosta, is a team of visionary talents. The script is written by Morgan J. Smart, with music and lyrics by Ronvé O’Daniel and Jevares C. Myrick. “SixTriple-Eight” promises to be a captivating fusion of storytelling and music.

U.S. Army Col. Edna Cummings (ret.), who was named AFRO Person of the Year in January, is assisting the project as historical advisor. The musical will be executive produced by Blair Underwood, who is no stranger to the entertainment industry. In a recent interview, Smart shared her journey in bringing this remarkable story to life. Reflecting on her initial encounter with the tale of the 6888th Battalion, Smart expressed her immediate fascination and the profound impact it had on her. She delved deep into research, drawing inspiration from the stories of these trailblazing women and their quest for freedom amidst the constraints of Jim Crow America.

“I actually did not know a thing about this unit, these Black women being a part of World War II at all. When I was approached by the producers, Holly and Joe, I was immediately interested,” said Smart. “I immediately jumped into research and wanted to know more about them.”

As she delved deeper into the history of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, Smart was struck by the profound significance of their experience and “the fact that these women

were able to experience a freedom that they’d never gotten before in Jim Crow America.”

She highlighted their unprecedented opportunity to work in military positions, receive badges of honor and be celebrated

“It’s a story about Black women who contributed to the war effort. I think that’s just a huge push in the right direction and having them be honored and known for that achievement.”

by a whole different country. This newfound sense of freedom allowed them to explore, travel and contribute to the war effort in ways that were previously unimaginable.

The process of adapting such a rich historical narrative into a musical presented both challenges and opportunities for Smart and her team.

“I had to sift through the parts of the history that were found to be particularly important and extremely interesting,”

Smart told the AFRO

With a wealth of research at their disposal, they navigated the delicate balance of honoring the truth while crafting an engaging and entertaining narrative. Through meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to authenticity, they endeavored to shine a light on the multifaceted

experiences of Black women during wartime.

Central to the heart of “Six-Triple-Eight” is the celebration of Black womanhood in all its complexity. Smart aims to challenge stereotypes and showcase the myriad dimensions of strength, resilience, and joy embodied by the women of the 6888th. Through their journey, audiences will witness a powerful affirmation of identity and a testament to the enduring spirit of sisterhood.

“It’s a story about Black women who contributed to the war effort. I think that’s just a huge push in the right direction and having them be honored and known for that achievement,” said Smart. “We’ve been working as closely as possible with some of the families of surviving members to make the story as true as possible, and to get it to audiences in a way that they’re able to really absorb [it].”

As anticipation builds for the premiere of “SixTriple-Eight: A New Musical,” audiences can expect to be transported on a journey of discovery and inspiration. With its infectious melodies, compelling storytelling, and powerful themes of courage and resilience, this musical promises to leave an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of all who experience it.

In honoring the legacy of the 6888th Battalion, “Six-Triple-Eight: A New Musical” not only pays tribute to the past but also serves as a beacon of hope for the future. It is a reminder that even in the face of adversity, the human spirit remains unbreakable, and the voices of those who have been silenced will always find a way to be heard.

Morgan J. Smart is the enthusiastic researcher and writer behind “Six-Triple-Eight: A New Musical.”

Photo courtesy of 6888musical.com

The women of the 6888th Postal Directory Battalion are subjects of a play currently being developed for Broadway. In this photo, provided by the U.S. Army Women’s Museum, members of the 6888th battalion stand in formation in Birmingham, England, in 1945. On Feb. 28, 2022, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to award the only all-female, Black unit to serve in Europe during World War II with the Congressional Gold Medal.

U.S. Army Women’s Museum via AP

Janet Currie President, Bank of America Greater Maryland

A time to lead: Five organizations pushing Black women and girls to the forefront

By Aziah Siid Word In Black

Black women who are a force to be reckoned with aren’t just in films like “Hidden Figures” or “Black Panther.” They’re the real-life brains behind NASA’s Mars Curiosity Rover, and the creative intellects crafting the

architectural wonders of the modern world. But there’s no denying the road to such massive success is tough for Black women, who deal with constant racism and sexism throughout their K-12 school years.

As Word In Black has previously reported, Black girls experience damaging “adultification.” In addition,

plenty of research has shown that Black girls are often erased in school and disciplined more harshly than their White peers for the same infractions. Instead of being seen as leaders, Black girls are often viewed as having an attitude and being disruptive.

That’s why programs that nurture and empower the next generation of Black girls to rise

400 Forward

In 2020, Detroit’s own Tiffany Brown had a vision sharper than the skyline of her hometown: she was going to carve a direct path for Black girls into the world of architecture. Naming her initiative

400 Forward, she spotlighted a stark reality — as of 2017, there were only 400 licensed Black female architects. With a $50,000 matching grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation in her toolkit, Brown set out to change the blueprint.

400 Forward is more than a program; it’s a launchpad providing mentorship, professional exposure, and a treasure trove of resources for young, aspiring female architects of color. From the whir of woodworking classes to the creativity of a free art and architecture summer camp, girls in the program are getting a holistic education that’s about building dreams as much as it’s about building structures.

National Coalition of 100 Black Women

On a winter day in 1970, 24 visionary Black women led by Edna Beach met to discuss the turbulent conditions that were plaguing the Black community — specifically Black women — all throughout the 1960s. By the end of the meeting, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women had been formed.

With 63 chapters in 25 states, NCBW delivers support services that help youth achieve their educational goals. In supporting positive experiences and fostering a positive self-perception and self-respect, they encourage excellence at all levels of education. Their programs focus on eliminating disparities, improving outcomes, increasing graduation rates, focusing on vocational/ college preparation, STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics), enrollment into HBCUs and affordability access.

NCBW stands as a beacon of support, guiding youth toward their educational North Stars. They’re not just about hitting the books; they’re invested in crafting experiences that uplift, foster self-love and champion excellence from the classroom to every arena of life.

up as leaders in society matter. Indeed, from entrepreneurship to STEM, there’s a movement nationwide of organizations carving out space for the next generation of Black women to not just enter professions, but to lead them. They work to equip Black girls with the leadership skills and self-confidence they need to break barriers and take

their rightful place in society. Here are five organizations whose efforts to uplift and empower are a blueprint for creating a future where Black girls not only dream of reaching for the stars, but also lead the way there.

This article was originally published by Word In Black.

Black Girls Leadership Academy

In 2020, a powerhouse group of Black women leaders from diverse professional arenas across the U.S. united with a singular, powerful vision: to uplift and empower young Black girls and women.

And so, Black Girls Leadership Academy was born.

Amid the upheaval of COVID-19, the group zeroed in on the unique challenges faced by young Black girls — navigating the rough waters of educational disparities, mental and emotional turmoil and economic uncertainties unleashed by the pandemic’s new normal.

Girls for Change

Launched into action in 2000, Girls for Change hit the ground with a mission: elevate young women by diving into social change projects that mirror the very challenges they confront daily in their own communities. Snagging nonprofit status by 2004, they’ve been on a roll, unleashing initiatives left and right. Among them, the Girl Ambassador Program (GAP) stands out, carving out pathways for Black girls to blaze trails in “economic opportunity, technology, and entrepreneurship.”

Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network (WEEN)

WEEN, short for Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network, is where powerhouse women are shaping the future queens of color in entertainment, business, and tech.

This organization isn’t just talking the talk; they’re leading the charge to mold young women of color into the leaders and innovators our world needs.

With a global impact touching over 80,000 young women through dynamic outreach, engaging programming, and their hallmark summer intensive, WEEN is on a mission to change girls’ lives. Since

entertainment industry’s most accomplished execs and

Photo courtesy of girlsforchange.org

Girls for Change Coach Nicky McMullin(left) and CEO Angela Patton pose on the red carpet of their event, the Black Girl Rally. The celebration had a theme of “I Make My Joy: Unlocking Expressions of Creativity Can Bring You Joy.”

Photo courtesy of weenonline.org

WEEN founders Kristi Henderson (left) Lauren Lake, Sabrina Thompson Mitchell, Valeisha Butterfield Jones pave lanes for BIOPIC women in tech, entertainment and business.

Photo courtesy of 400Forward.org

The founder of 400 Forward, Tiffany D. Brown, works to open a direct line for Black girls and women to become architects.

Photo courtesy of ncbw.org

Elizabeth A. Jones is leading the charge for equality as president of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women.

Photo courtesy of Blackgirlslead.org

Black Girl Leadership Academy is an organization that provides a support system for participants looking to improve their mental and emotional health as they strive for greatness.

launching the WEEN Academy, in 2011, they’ve opened doors for students to learn from and rub elbows with the

celebs.

Women on the move: How the Bronze Villagers are tackling the literacy gap, one family at a time

By Tawanda W. Johnson Special to the AFRO

Roughly one year before the pandemic, a group of volunteers assembled to do their part to ensure that African American children in Howard County, Md. were ready to succeed in kindergarten.

Now, five years later, the group, known as the “Bronze Villagers,” is still fulfilling their mission to improve academic supports for the students just beginning their time in the classroom.

“The Bronze Villagers are excited to celebrate five years as an organization making a difference,” said Gerry B. Taylor, chair of the organization’s board of directors. “We have toddlers saying the sounds of the alphabet and three- and four-year-olds reading on first- and second-grade levels.”

The Bronze Villagers meet virtually twice a month with parents of young, African-American children – birth to age five – to help them instill a love of learning and enhance school readiness within their children. Specifically, they help the parents

instruct their children on topics such as understanding sounds for reading, recognizing math quantities and learning information about science and Black historical figures.

The organization has 14 volunteers who regularly serve about 30 families with a total of nearly 60 children. The program is free and called Parents of African American Children Kollege (PACC Kollege). In addition to the learning activities, the program provides parents with resources that they can access to further aid their children.

Rachel Cook, a volunteer with the Bronze Villagers, is proud that her grandson Simon, age three, is a participant in the school readiness program and now an advanced reader. During a recent community event showcasing the Bronze Villagers’ activities, she was thrilled to share important tips she has learned.

“Work with your babies on their sense of touch,” she advised the parents in the audience. She added that parents should also consult the book, “The Formula: Unlocking the Secrets to Raising Highly Successful Children.”

“It’s research-based,” she explained.

Autumn L. Johnson, another volunteer, said she, too, enjoys coaching parents on reading activities to help their children.

“It’s so wonderful to watch the children as they improve their literacy and skills,” she said. “These foundational activities will go a long way in helping them to become successful not only in kindergarten but also later in life.”

Dawnita Burton, another volunteer with Bronze Villagers, spoke on her experience.

“It’s very rewarding to see the children grow and to watch their progress,” echoed Burton.

She uses her time with the parents to demonstrate how household items, such as paper bags and cotton balls, can be used to design and teach children about their digestive system and other bodily functions.

Rashidat Oliwo, a parent who attended the recent Bronze Villagers community event, said she was eager to learn how to help her children.

“I’m always looking for a way to engage my children,” she said.

Taylor said parents play crucial roles in aiding their children’s educational development. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “By five years of age, our brains have grown to about 90 percent of their adult size, but it’s important to note that while a five-year-old’s brain may be 90 percent of adult size, this does not mean that a child’s brain is 90

“The Bronze Villagers are excited to celebrate five years as an organization making a difference. We have toddlers saying the sounds of the alphabet and three- and fouryear-olds reading on first- and second-grade levels.”

percent finished developing by age five.

That said, there’s little time to waste in preparing children for success in school. Taylor said that the Bronze Villagers want to see the educational achievement closed in Howard County.

“The parent is the first teacher in a child’s life,” she said. “We must begin at home.”

To learn more about the Bronze Villagers, visit their website: https://bronzevillagers.org/

BGE proudly celebrates the women who make our world a better place to live and work. We remain committed to furthering the progress towards true gender equality, because WE’RE ALL IN at BGE.

Gerry B. Taylor (right), chair of the Bronze Villagers, chats with parent Rashidat Oliwo about ways to educate her children.

AFRO Photo / Tawanda W. Johnson

Rachel Cook, a Bronze Villagers volunteer, demonstrates ways parents can educate their children.

AFRO Photo / Tawanda W. Johnson

The cost of being a woman: A $1.6 trillion yearly wage gap

By Bria Overs Word in Black

On this year’s Equal Pay Day, recognized on March 12, there was little to celebrate. Although women now earn more than ever have, the gender wage gap persists. And they’re feeling the pain in this current economy and political climate.

In 2023, women earned, on average, 21.8 percent less than men, according to the Economic Policy Institute. While that’s better than 2022, where women made 22.9 percent less, it’s not necessarily because jobs are starting to pay better — and higher education and self-advocacy only improved wages so much. The EPI found that the pay improvement is likely because men’s wages have stagnated.

Research from the National Partnership for Women and Families found that women lose $1.6 trillion yearly because of the wage gap. “That’s a lot of money that we want in the pockets of women and their families,” Jocelyn Frye, president of the organization, says.

For Black, Latina and Indigenous women, the wage gap problem is compounded by racial and gender discrimination, along with occupational segregation. These factors not only contribute to pay disparity with white men, but also Asian women and white women. Because of the type of jobs these women work, many of which are

hourly positions with little to no options for retirement savings, health insurance, and other benefits, this pay discrepancy adds to the racial wealth gap for each racial and ethnic group.

“We know that centering women of color and the economic narrative is really critical to the economic growth of our families and our nation.”

Frye adds that Black and Latina mothers, in particular, are more often the primary or sole breadwinners of their families, making them the

“key to economic stability for their families.”

“When you ensure that they can participate in the economy equally, then they will do better, and their families will do better,” she says. “We know that centering women of color and the economic narrative is really critical to the economic growth of our families and our nation.”

The wage gap and reproductive justice

When women enter motherhood, they are hit with the “motherhood penalty” — a unique phenomenon where women see a decline in their earnings that can last the rest of their working years.

But beyond that, since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, several states have made women’s reproductive health a legislative target. So far, 14 states have banned abortions, while 11 states have gestational limits between six and 22 weeks, according to KFF.

Experts are calling for change when it comes to equal pay, as Black and Brown women continue to earn lower wages than their White counterparts.

“Many of the attacks we see, we believe, have multiple effects as we’ve seen across the board,” Frye says.

“It’s not just about abortion, it’s access to IVF, access to OBGYN care writ large, it’s maternal health. All of those things affect the economic stability of families.” Businesses could help solve the gap

Both Frye and the Economic Policy Institute believe federal and state policymakers should do more to close the pay gap. In 2017, the Trump administration suspended an Obama-era wage gap initiative that required companies with 100 or more employees to confidentially report to the Equal Employment

Opportunity Commission (EEOC) what they pay employees, categorized by job type, sex, race, and ethnicity.

The Salary Transparency Act and Pay Equity for All Act were introduced in Congress in March 2023, but there has been no movement in the year since. States like California, Maryland and New York have passed laws requiring salary ranges on job postings.

However state efforts only partially solve the pay gap issue because women could easily fall on the lower end of the salary range. Besides, some employers still ask for previous pay history, making it more challenging for women to negotiate pay that

reflects their worth. While the nation waits for legislation, business owners can help with this issue by examining and addressing how they pay women in their workplaces.

“We really have to rely on employers to do their own due diligence and to include race and gender into the analysis they do because many will say they are looking at their gender pay gap, but then won’t look deeper,” Frye says. They should “look at how they’re enforcing and ensuring they’re looking at their workforce on a regular basis to minimize inequality.”

This article was originally published by Word in Black.

Disturbing disparities in homicide rates highlight urgent need for action on Black women’s safety

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire

The startling and enduring differences in murder rates between Black and White women in the United States have been highlighted in a new analysis published in the Lancet medical journal, which serves as an eye-popping reminder of Malcolm X’s well-known observations on the struggles Black women in America endure.

In one of his most famous lectures delivered over 60 years ago, Malcolm X declared, “the most disrespected person in America is the Black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman. The most neglected person in America is the Black woman.”

Those words continue to echo today and are especially meaningful as this new data has revealed disturbing

trends in violence against Black women.

The Lancet’s report, released as African Americans observe Black History Month 2024, analyzed homicide rates among Black women aged 25 to 44 across 30 states.

The study, based on data collected between 1999 and 2020 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, highlights a stark reality: Black women in this age group are disproportionately murdered compared to their White counterparts.

In 2020, the homicide rate among Black women was 11.6 per 100,000, a stark contrast to the rate of 3 per 100,000 among White women. Shockingly, this inequity has remained virtually unchanged since 1999, prompting concerns about the efficacy of ongoing efforts to address racial and structural inequities.

The study revealed

“...Black women residing in the Midwest and Northeast were more likely to be killed with a firearm than Black women residing in any other area of the country.“

disturbing trends at the state level, with racial inequities in homicide rates increasing in 11 states since 1999. Wisconsin emerged as the state with the highest racial inequity, where Black women aged 25–44 were 20 times more likely to die by homicide than their White counterparts in 2019–20.

In Alaska, Black women had three times the homicide rate of White women in 1999–2003, and twice the homicide rate of White women in 2019–20. Of the 30 states included in the analysis, eight states (Oklahoma, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Florida, New Jersey, North Carolina and Texas) had no change in the disparity across the 20

years of inclusion. In six states (Indiana, Georgia, Maryland, Nevada, Alaska and Virginia) the disparity decreased, with the largest decrease in Maryland, where the homicide rate among Black women was four times higher than among White women between the years of 1999 and 2003, decreasing to 2 times higher in 2019–20. For ten states (Arkansas, Kansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Missouri, New York, South Carolina, and Wisconsin), the disparity increased.

One of the key findings of the research is the alarming increase in firearm-related homicides, with women in the United States having 2.44 times the odds of firearm-involved homicides

in 2019–20 compared to 1999–2003. This trend is disproportionately concentrated among Black women in every region of the country.

“Notably, Black women are murdered six times more often, on average, than their White peers,” the researchers wrote. “Further, Black women residing in the Midwest and Northeast were more likely to be killed with a firearm than Black women residing in any other area of the country. Importantly, we found the greatest inequities are in areas of the country where concentrated disadvantage is pronounced. This finding is a crucial initial step towards developing targeted solutions to reduce inequitable homicide rates among Black women.”

The researchers stressed the urgent need for action to address these disparities, suggesting that enacting federal legislation to reduce gun access is a crucial step. Additionally, they have urged policymakers to tackle long-standing structural factors contributing to elevated gun violence by implementing sustainable wealth-building opportunities, developing mixed-income and affordable housing, and increasing green spaces in communities

where Black women predominantly reside.

Lead author Bernadine Waller, a postdoctoral psychiatry research fellow at Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center, expressed her disappointment at the lack of comprehensive research on this issue. Waller emphasized the devastating impact of high homicide rates on families, especially considering that many Black families have women as heads of households.

Approximately 45 percent of Black women have experienced stalking and physical and sexual violence in their lifetimes, with an estimated 51 percent of Black female adult homicides related to intimate partner violence, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The Lancet’s report underscores the urgency of addressing these deeply entrenched issues to ensure the safety and well-being of Black women in America.

“Our findings underscore pervasive racial inequities in homicide rates among Black and White women aged 25–44 years across 30 US states between 1999 and 2020,” the authors concluded.

This article was originally published by NNPA Newswire.

In 2020, the homicide rate among Black women was 11.6 per 100,000, a stark contrast to the homicide rate for White women, which was three out of every 100,000.

Unsplash / Nadine Shaabana

Courtesy photo

Despite some progress on the gender wage gap, women still make less than men, with women of color suffering the most.

Unsplash / Towfiqu Barbhuiya

Laura Crandon battled breast cancer and won– now she’s fighting for a healthcare system that considers Black women

By Torrence Banks Special to the AFRO

Laura Crandon was 47 when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. The hard lump she found during a routine selfexam in the shower came only five months after she had an inconclusive mammogram. The year was 2016.

A year later, Crandon thought she had the disease defeated. But in 2018 it returned– this time metastasizing into her brain and altering the course of her life forever.

After her experience with the disease, Crandon began talking to her friends. The conversations gave her life a new meaning.

Crandon became alarmed when she realized none of her friends knew about the process of getting breast cancer screenings. She started thinking about the ways that she could help them and other women decrease their risk of dying from the disease.

Crandon knew that she had the power to promote change and she went to work.

In 2019, she started writing a business plan for her nonprofit to fill the gap for Black women like herself. She named it Touch4Life. The goal: to heighten breast health knowledge in underserved communities and communities of color.

Throughout that year, she started attending health fairs under

“Policies are made based on the clinical trials…the standards get set without us in mind, but apply to us.”

the organization’s name and passing out information on breast health to women. Touch4Life works with other nonprofits and community organizations to educate women on the risk factors of breast cancer and the types of testing they should receive.

In the last four years, the nonprofit has had a substantial impact on women’s lives. More than 2,500 women have attended community events that Touch4Life has been connected with. At the events that Touch4Life has been the sponsor at, 100 mammograms have been performed.

Touch4Life also communicates with pharmaceutical and genetic companies to ensure that companies are being inclusive in clinical trials as well as genetic and genomic testing.

The organization’s work has attracted more than a dozen funders, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and Johns Hopkins Medicine.

She uses her more than 15 years of experience as a healthcare executive to volunteer with Touch4Life. Crandon also serves on the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange board, an agency whose goal is to connect Marylanders to affordable healthcare coverage. She was appointed to the board by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore in 2023.

In a conversation with the AFRO, Crandon talked about the inspiration behind her work today, her experience dealing with cancer and her service to others through Touch4Life.

Q: Describe the moment when you first found that you had a cancer lump in 2016. What thoughts were initially in your head?

A: I found it myself doing a self-exam in the shower. It was on one side and not the other. It was more like a welt, sort of like a mosquito bite. I had to have an ultrasound-guided biopsy, and then I got the call from the doctor’s office that it was indeed cancerous.

Q: Can you talk about your “inner circle” you had to support you during your first battle with cancer?

A: I didn’t really tell anyone. I didn’t want it to define me as ‘Laura the cancer patient.’ I didn’t want people to have pity on me because I was really intent on surviving and healing and being healthy.

The treatment for that first diagnosis was really brutal. My hair fell out. [I tried] not to tell a lot of people at work either. I would take conference calls lying in the fusion center–things like that. My sister and my husband were at most of my chemo appointments.

Q: Did anyone from the job that you were working at the time notice that anything was going on?

A: I told my boss. She knew, and one of my close colleagues knew and kind of looked out for me. But, I really tried to not let it be all-consuming. I thought I did a pretty good job of hiding it. But obviously, I was weak and not myself. I remember being out at a team meeting in California. Coming back, I had to get the cart because there was no way I could walk from TSA to the gate. I was just too weak.

Q: At what point did you decide that you should let other people know?

A: My best friend told me that my husband was really struggling because I didn’t want people to know. When I told him not to tell anyone, he had no outlet–no one to talk to. She

told me that you’ve got to let people know. That really loosened it up. From that point on, I learned that it’s okay to let people love you.

Q: Did your mindset change when you had cancer a second time in 2018?

A: Definitely! I didn’t care who knew at that point. It was very scary because the prognosis at that time was literally 24 months.

Q: How did you go about treatment every day given your prognosis?

A: I had to have brain surgery, radiation to the brain, and then medication. So it changed everything because I had gone from being you know what I thought was cancer-free to being restricted to having this medication for the rest of my life. I also went into research mode, which was what is this? How do I attack this? How do I live? But the other key thing for me was getting connected with a behavioral health therapist who specialized in medical conditions. So that was key, from a mental health perspective.

Q: At the time of your first diagnosis, did you know anything about cancer? Did it run in your family?

A: My parents lived to be 97, 96. I always thought I had really good genes. Genetics only makes up a certain portion of your health. It’s still important because that portion that it does makeup can make a lot of difference. But no cancer didn’t run in our family.

Q: What made you want to start Touch4Life?

A: I had seen one of my sorority sisters at a regional conference and within a few months she was dead. It was “de novo,” meaning it was the first time she has been diagnosed with cancer, and it was metastatic. The first time she found out that she had cancer, it had spread. So that spoke to me.

I thought “What happened there? Why wasn’t there a screening of something that could have maybe prevented it or treated it early on when it’s more curable?

Q: What are the most important resources that Touch4Life offers?

A: We do a monthly series called SOS–that stands for Soulfilling Our Sisters. So we bring the top experts from around the country. It’s a webcast from around the country to talk about topics that are important to the traditionally marginalized community. We bring people with lived experience, so it’s one hour, once a month. And the topics vary.

Q: You received access to genetic testing and whole genome sequencing, which is the reason you’re here today. Why do you feel that more women of color need to get access to that type of testing?

A: Doctors don’t just offer it. At least that’s what the data shows. I asked a lot of questions and did a lot of research.

Q: On the Touch4Life website, it mentions that CDK inhibitor treatments are important in helping stop cell division, and research shows that Black women could benefit from getting that treatment earlier. What is the argument for preventing women from getting this treatment earlier?

A: I don’t know a valid one. In some cases, policies are made based on the clinical trials. And if we’re not in the clinical trials, these policies get set. For example, annual mammograms at the age of 40, let’s say that’s the standard. I mentioned that Black women get breast cancer under the age of 35 at a higher rate. What that standard procedure of testing at age 40 says to me is that there weren’t enough Black women in the trial because if they were, that age would probably come down. The standards get set without us in mind, but apply to us.

Q: Can you explain how the lack of inclusivity in clinical trials by pharmaceutical companies impacts African Americans?

A: One of the medications I took. I was sitting at the dinner table and my youngest son said, ‘Mom, why are your hands black?’ I looked and they were like black. I thought I was going into organ failure.

What that says to me is that no one melanated or not enough melanated people were in that clinical trial for the drug. So when I take it, does it work for me? When the drug companies are looking for the mutations that are driving cancer, if Black, biodata isn’t in the dataset, then what they’re looking for isn’t what’s driving us to have cancer at higher rates and younger ages.

Q: What are your long-term goals for Touch4Life?

A: I want to reach millions of people with the message that we have around the importance of family health history, genetic testing, and biomarker testing. So that people can get precision oncology. I also want to continue getting funding to continue to deliver the programs that the community tells us based on our survey data are really valuable, really informative and really change lives.

HBCU grad Tangela Parker receives Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award

By BlackNews.com

Tangela Parker, an awardwinning African- American global marketing executive, joined an elite group of female c-suite leaders when President Joe Biden

“I am passionate about investing in underserved communities and equipping others to rise above poverty. I am also incredibly fortunate to love my work and the communities we serve.”

and developed programming to improve their quality of life.

“I am passionate about investing in underserved communities and equipping others to rise above poverty,” added Parker, recognized as one of the nation’s top marketing experts and motivational speakers. “I am also incredibly fortunate to love my work and the communities we serve.”

Tangela Parker is a native of Brandon, Miss., and resides in Atlanta. She holds a bachelor’s degree in political science/pre-law from Alcorn State University and also graduated from the executive leadership program at Harvard Business School.

This article was originally published by Blacknews.com.

Tangela Parker is now a recipient

Joe Biden.

Courtesy

Laura Crandon works to empower women with information about breast cancer and how to detect and treat it. Her service is inspired by her own battles with the disease, in both 2016 and 2018.

Photo courtesy of Laura Crandon

A purpose fulfilled: Honoring the work of comedian and community activist Pamela “Ms. Maybelle” Leak

By Catherine Pugh Special to the AFRO

Pamela Renee Leak, known on stage as comedian Ms. Maybelle, as a philanthropist and a community activist, died February 29, bringing tears to many in Baltimore and beyond. News of the death sent shock waves among those who are familiar and supportive of her comedy as well as her philanthropy.

Leak, or Ms. Maybelle, as she was known and liked to be called, was born Aug. 19, 1967, to Vivian Thornton and Larry

Leak. Both her parents preceded her in death.

Ms. Maybelle suffered a massive heart attack and an aneurysm, leading to her death.

“It was unbelievable,” said her Aunt Sheila Smith, “and totally unexpected.”

Smith and most of Ms. Maybelle’s immediate family, including her three sons Antwon, Shawn and Nicholas, and her only sibling, Shelly Wallace, surrounded her bedside in disbelief at what they were experiencing.

“She was preparing for her Friday night comedy appearance and a calendar full of activities, which included the 20th Anniversary Big Girl Fashion Show with Travis Winkey,” said Smith. “Two years ago, she had a minor stroke, but had come back strong. She returned to radio six months ago, and was incredibly happy,” she said.

Ms. Maybelle has appeared on both the David Letterman and Steve Harvey Show.

For 27 years she has entertained audiences throughout the country, but concentrated her talent in Baltimore–her beloved hometown where she was born and lived. She debuted her One woman show at Baltimore’s Arena Playhouse last May. “She once worked

in the Clerk of the Court’s Office, [for] Frank Conaway Sr., but as long as I remember Pamela, wanted to be a comedian. She was the one that made us all laugh. She was doing exactly what she wanted to do and has been doing it for almost 30 years,” Smith.

Larry Young, former state senator and president of the National Action Network was among her most ardent fans.

“I met her over 20 years ago. I invited her to appear on The Larry Young Morning Show back in 2007. She was such a hit,” Young recalls. “Three years later she was hosting her own show

on WOLB. I named her Ms. Maybelle because she told me she was such a big fan of Moms Mabley and wanted to honor her style of comedy.”

This past September, the 2600 block of Robb Street was renamed after Ms. Maybelle.

“It is where I was raised by my father and have done food giveaways and donated to the school and recreation center in the area,” she told the media.

Two weeks ago, Ms. Maybelle was a recipient of one of the National Action Network Community Honor Roll Awards, hosted by AFRO Managing Editor, Alexis Taylor.

“I was the last one to give her a well-deserved honor. There were 14 of those awards given, but she was the only one who got a standing ovation,” said Young, of the audience’s reaction to Leak’s award.

Leak was well known in the community for feeding those in need and giving back however she could. “I’ve been hungry,” Ms. Maybelle was once quoted saying, which led to her hosting her food and clothing giveaways. Her presence in the community will surely be missed. “She never minded sharing

what she had,” said Lena Redmond, a family friend. “She was such a good mother. Whatever her family needed within her power she gave. She was especially attentive to her youngest son, Nichols,18, who faces health challenges. Her older sons, Antwan and Shawn helped her take care of him, ” said Smith.

“She was the one that made us all laugh. She was doing exactly what she wanted to do and has been doing it for almost 30 years.”

Young agreed. “She was a great mother. “We will continue the Arena Playhouse Annual Thanksgiving food give-away in her honor. I return to WOLB radio at 4 p.m. [in March] and I will dedicate my next few shows and my Wednesday 10 a.m. podcast to Ms. Maybelle. I know people in Baltimore want to vent and share their pain, sympathy and well wishes to her family.”

Pamela Leak is survived by aunts Sheila Smith, Bessie Gross and Joyce Culbreth; three sons, Antwan Spencer, Shawn Carter and Nicholas King; and a host of family members and friends.

Friends and family are still mourning the Feb. 29 death of Pamela Renee Leak, known on stage as comedian, “Ms. Maybelle.”

Courtesy photo

Pamela Renee Leak, is remembered

Misty Copeland: A life in motion

By Tawanda W. Johnson Special to the AFRO

Misty Copeland knows firsthand what it’s like to struggle to fit in the predominately white world of ballet. She fought against being criticized for having a curvy body and pushed back on being told to lighten her skin for a dance role.

Despite those struggles, Copeland, who became the first Black female principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre in 2015, said ballet has allowed her to be “seen and heard.”

During an appearance at the Enoch Pratt Free Library last year, she explained that becoming a ballerina was an identity that she fully embraced.

“Coming from a single parent…[I] didn’t always feel like there was a lot of hope… [dance] always made me feel like an individual,” she told the audience. “It was something that I worked for. It became my own.”

Copeland said she grew up as a “very shy, introverted” person, but dance provided a way out of her shell.

“It just always made me feel like I was an individual,” she recalled.

She also found inspiration from Arthur Mitchell, the first Black principal dancer at the New York City Ballet and the co-founder of the Dance Theatre of Harlem.

“I often think of…what he created in order for so many Black and Brown dancers to

have a space where they could thrive,” she said. Since taking on her historic role with the American Ballet Theatre, Copeland, 41, has also used her platform to open the doors of the art form to a diverse group of people. For example, The Misty Copeland Foundation, with the support of various partners, offers free, after-school ballet classes for girls and boys in under-resourced communities.

“Coming from a single parent… [I] didn’t always feel like there was a lot of hope…[dance] always made me feel like an individual.”

Copeland developed the curriculum, which aims to make ballet “accessible, affordable and fun,” according to her foundation’s website. Called the BE (Ballet Explorations) BOLD (Ballet Offers Leadership Development) program, it focuses on five components: introductory ballet, health and wellness, music for ballet, mentoring and tutoring. Her foundation reflects the opportunities Copeland was

fortunate to receive throughout her childhood. While growing up, Copeland benefited from local community programs, starting ballet lessons at a Boys and Girls Club in San Pedro, Calif. She was initially nervous about taking the lessons because she didn’t have the money for the proper attire. But she pressed on with the encouragement of a local coach, Cindy Bradley.

“It was as if I’d learned the movements in a past life, and it all came back to me when I was in Cindy’s class,” Copeland wrote in her book, “Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina” released in 2014. A prodigy, it took Copeland just three months to dance en pointe (when all of the body weight is supported on the toes).

While she ascended the ballet world in those early years, Copeland’s home life was fraught with instability

as her mother, a single parent, moved from place to place with her and her siblings. Amid a chaotic upbringing, ballet offered Copeland a respite.

After winning a ballet competition in Los Angeles at age 15, she caught the attention of acclaimed dancer Debbie Allen, who cast her in the lead role in the production of the “Hot Chocolate Nutcracker.”

In 2012, Copeland would dance in her most famous performance as the lead in “Firebird” for the American Ballet Theatre. Leading up to the performance, she practiced frequently, failing to get enough rest, leading to six stress fractures in her tibia (also called the shinbone, it is the weightbearing larger of two bones in the lower leg below the knee — among dancers, injuries to the tibia can be extremely painful and career threatening).

In 2015, Time Magazine named her as one of the most influential people in the world.

And last year, she received TheGrio Awards Trailblazer Icon accolade. GrioAwards are bestowed by theGrio.com, a news website, and honors those who are “shaping America’s future today” in categories ranging from the arts and culture, business, sports, health, education and the environment.

In 2016, Copeland married Olu Evans, an attorney, and they are parents to a son, Jackson, who was born in 2022. The family lives on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. These days, Copeland is known by many titles: dancer, stage actor, author and celebrity speaker.

Copeland’s latest book is available in stores internationally including Barnes and Noble and Amazon.

Anne Benna Sims: American Ballet Theatre’s first African-American ballerina

By Jannette J. Witmyer Special to the AFRO

Early on in her childhood, Anne Benna Sims, the first African-American ballerina to sign a contract with the American Ballet Theatre (ABT), wanted to take lessons in dance, but she had to wait a few years before she was allowed to start.

“My mother said that I could not,” said Sims. “I was five. She said that I couldn’t start until I was nine because my bones needed to be finished.”

According to Sims, once she was enrolled in classes at the Long Island Institute of Music in Queens, N.Y., she progressed quickly.

“My very first class was basically just running, jumping, hopping and listening to the music,” said Sims.

“Then I advanced into my beginning classes and moved right into first position, second position and all of that,” she shared, referencing beginner ballet technique.

Those classes served as the launchpad to her ongoing education in dance. Simms also had an interest in religious work and after a passing fascination with the habits and rosaries worn by the nuns at her Catholic school sparked a brief interest in becoming a nun, by age 13. However eventually her intuition led her to choose a career as a ballerina. Ironically, by the time she was 14, she had begun taking classes with the American Ballet Theatre School.

Growing up in New York allowed for access to a bounty of performances by what was considered “dance royalty.” She recalls being taken to see the Nutcracker with Suzanne Farrell, before she was 10; seeing “Firebird” with Maria Tallchief, “Prodigal Son” with Patricia Wilde, New York City Ballet and Arthur Mitchell; and attending a Saturday youth program at Queens College, where she saw “Carmen de Lavallade,” “Martha Graham,” “Alwin Nikolais,” and many others.

“My mom, God bless her soul, was very focused. And she

knew I loved dance and wanted to be a ballet dancer,” said Sims.

“So, by the time I was 16, I had seen all of these incredible dancers and companies. I saw and was exposed to everything, but I wanted to do ballet. That was it.”

Sims’ mother may have

“One thing has always stuck in my mind: ‘Black ballerina’ is not a profession. It is a description. Therefore, I was a ballerina.”

been responsible for most of her exposure, but when she was 13, her sister purchased tickets for them to see a Royal Ballet performance, in which her idols, Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn, danced in “Giselle.”

For her, the experience was a defining moment, which she describes, still somewhat in awe.

“At the beginning of the second act, he was dressed all in black. The doublet had slashes of white, and he wore white tights and white shoes, with this huge black cape and a bouquet of white lilies. And all he did was just walk diagonally across the stage,” she shared. “And then he walked straight across and just went off. It was the first time that I understood artistry. In that one little bit, he just radiated this sorrow, and this grief and regret… And all he did was walk. It was so beautiful.”

Sims says that she was excited to enter an apprenticeship with Harkness Ballet once she graduated high school. But after studying with the company for a year, following her audition, she was told that hers was a fruitless pursuit.

“David Howard, who was the director at the time, called me into his office and said, ‘Well, you know, Anne… You will

never get a job in this company. You’ll either have to go to Dance Theatre of Harlem, or Europe.’”

Sims says she went to the dressing room after that meeting and realized for the first time, while looking in the mirror, that she was the only Black dancer in the room.

She refused to be deterred, and when the opportunity arose, she auditioned for Les Grands Ballets Canadiens in Montréal and was accepted. She stayed with the company for a year and, at 19, traveled to Switzerland and joined the Geneva Opera Ballet at the invitation of the company director, Alfonso Catá. He became her mentor and invited her to join the Frankfurt Opera Ballet as a soloist, when he became its director. In 1977,

she returned to the U.S.

“A group of us left in 1977. When we had come back, I worked with Eglevsky [Ballet Company] and the Puerto Rican Dance Theatre,” she mentioned. “Alfonso did ballet on Broadway, and the thing that was so amazing was that I turned down Alvin Ailey and had no idea where I was going.”

Then, as fate would have it, she joined a friend taking classes at ABT who had hopes of getting in, but, instead, she was the one offered a contract.

“It was my friend, Diane, who wanted to get into American Ballet Theatre. I started taking classes with her because I knew I was never going to get into Ballet Theatre, and it wasn’t really high on my list. In fact,

it wasn’t on my list, at all,” she says, laughing. “And she was more excited than me. I was just going, ‘I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry.’”

Notably, Sims’ first principal role with ABT was in Anthony Tudor’s “Undertow” with Peter Fonseca, and she was a member of its first cast for the New York premiere of Paul Taylor’s Airs.

The accomplished, former danseuse, who now lives in France, says that she’s not danced in over 40 years and has never been phased by the notion of being “the first Black.”

“One thing has always stuck in my mind; ‘Black ballerina’ is not a profession. It is a description. Therefore, I was a ballerina. I was a Black woman dancing ballet,” she explained.

“For me, the most important thing is my predecessors, as Black women in dance. So, it’s not a question of ballet. It’s a question of the spectrum. My history goes back to Katherine Dunham, who introduced Afro Cuban dance to America. It goes back to Josephine Baker, who was a star at the Moulin Rouge.”

Anne Benna Sims performs as a soloist in “Dark Elegies.”

Photo courtesy of Anthony Tudor

Misty Copeland is the first Black woman to be named a principal dancer for the American Ballet Theatre.

AFRO Photo/ James Fields

Misty Copeland’s journey to the spotlight is detailed in her book, titled “Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina.”

Courtesy of The Associated Press

Anne Benna Sims shines in the principal role of Swanhilda for the ballet, “Coppélia,” at the Frankfurt Opera Ballet.

Photo courtesy of Anne Benna Sims

AFRO spotlight on Black excellence: How Anna Deavere Smith took a chance and found success

By Jannette J. Witmyer

Special to the AFRO

Award-winning playwright and actress Anna Deavere Smith could give a master class on stepping outside of one’s comfort zone to pursue a dream–even if their dream is still evolving. Exploring the unfamiliar and taking chances are actions that allowed her to forge her way to success in the world of stage and film, earning numerous awards and recognition, including nominations for a Pulitzer Prize for Drama and two Tony Awards. She has also received a MacArthur Fellowship and National Humanities Medal from former President Barack Obama.

When Smith graduated from Baltimore’s Western Sr. High School, the nation’s oldest single-sex public high school, she attended Beaver College (now Arcadia University), departing from the family’s established tradition of HBCU attendance. Then, after earning a bachelor’s degree in English literature, the daughter of a Baltimore City elementary school principal and coffee and tea merchant made another unprecedented decision by leaving her home town for California.

“I left Baltimore after I graduated from college with $80 and an overnight bag,” she explains. “I just committed myself to make my life without asking my mother, in particular, for one more dime because it was a really big sacrifice for her for me to go to the school that I went to. So, I left with this overnight bag and $80 with a bunch of friends, going to California with that commitment, ‘I’m not going to ask for any money, and I’m not going to go home until I can afford a plane ticket.’”

After establishing herself with life’s basic necessities, she began exploring her options, which led her to acting, instead of her intended profession as a linguist.

“When I achieved all of the things for survival, I looked around and said, ‘Well, what am I doing?’ And I went to an acting class, not expecting to be an actor, but just because I was kind of interested in it as something to do. I didn’t even know that where I was, was a real conservatory. And then it turned out that this was something I was good at.”

Los Angeles, 1992.” To write both works, she interviewed hundreds of individuals in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, N.Y. and in Los Angeles, respectively. The cities had served as the backdrop for major riots related to racial issues.

In her 2015 play, “Notes from the Field,” Smith addresses issues relative to the country’s school-to-prison pipeline, after conducting more than 200 interviews with students, parents, teachers and administrators. Again, her play references real-life events, with this one highlighting the death of Baltimore resident Freddie Gray.

While earning her MFA in Acting from the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, Smith got her union card, at which point she says, “Things got real.”

Acting allowed her to meld a love for language with her interest in social justice, both of which were inspired by family members and her Baltimore upbringing. Ultimately, it led to the creation of her highly-acclaimed, multi-award-winning plays, “Fires in the Mirror” and “Twilight:

We are proud to present a reprint of the AFRO book “This is Our War,” from seven AFRO war correspondents!

The war continued for Black soldiers when they returned home from WWII, and this war still rages today. “This is Our War” not only preserves our history but lives on as a testament to the ongoing pursuit of justice.

Smith is an expert when it comes to one-woman shows; transforming herself into each interviewed individual’s character.

“Because I’m a Black woman from Baltimore. And I grew up as what they used to call a ‘race woman.’ You grow up thinking that you are going to do something for your race and for me– beyond that– my country and for humans in general,” is her explanation for the direction of her work.

Often credited with creating the style of theatre in which she works, called “documentary” or “verbatim” theatre.

“When I achieved all of the things for survival, I looked around and said, ‘Well, what am I doing?’ And I went to an acting class…”

Smith will only take credit for developing her style of performing it. “I developed it, but I was influenced by a journalist named Studs Terkel, a Chicago journalist whose interviews became a play. Also, the performance artist Spalding Gray’s work influenced me. I took those influences, and then I created what I do, which is why some people credit me with having created a form of theater,” she said.

While many are familiar with Smith’s success in theatre, greater numbers have seen her perform in film and on television. Most notably, she’s recognized for recurring roles in popular television series “The Practice,” “The West Wing,” and “Blackish.” Her talent has also been featured in the hit Showtime series “Nurse Jackie.” Her movie credits include “Philadelphia,” “The American President,” “Rent,” “The Human Stain,” and “Rachel Getting Married,” among others.

Today, she continues to work in theatre, as Smith is a university professor at New York University Tisch School of the Arts and affiliated with the NYU School of Law. The honorary degrees, accolades and awards that she’s earned are too numerous to list.

All of this, from stepping out and taking a chance…

“If there’s a lesson for anybody young reading this, it is, ‘Take the chance. Make the jump–$80 and one overnight bag…that was it,” said Smith, offering advice to young people finding their way. “Take the chance, take the risk, make the jump, and you will be surprised if you find something that you love. That things will fall into place. Either that, or there really is a God, because I was really like Alice in Wonderland. I didn’t know what I was doing.”

Though her start may have been unsure, Smith’s path is clear as ever.

She had a play published in The Atlantic magazine at the end of last year in December 2023.

“This play, which is called ‘The Ghost of Slavery,’ is the first play that I’ve written about Maryland or about Baltimore. And so you know, that’s a kind of a big deal,” said Smith. “I took a long time to write about my own state and my own city. The Ghost of Slavery has to do with Maryland history. So, I hope Marylanders will look it up and read it.”

Photo courtesy of Jeff Riedel

Anna Deavere Smith, a staple of the performance art world, is revered for her work on the stage and on the big screen. Now the author and professor has a new offering, a play titled “The Ghost of Slavery,” focused on her home state of Maryand.

AFRO trivia: Do you know these quintessential queens of Black history?

March serves as a time to celebrate women in our culture who have trail blazed a path for leaders, successors and innovators alike. As Women History Month commences, we encourage our readers to take a chance at identifying some of the most prominent Black women in our society, both past and present.

A critically acclaimed opera singer who often performed in the United States and Europe. She performed for integrated audiences during segregation with the support of former President Franklin D. Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor during the late 1920s. Her staple events included a production on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, open-air Easter Sunday concert and on Jan. 7, 1955, she became the first African-American singer to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.

This woman was known for her outspokenness in the relentless pursuit of equality for Black people. As a community organizer, she worked alongside the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee to execute the Mississippi Freedom Project.

became the first woman of color to open her own legal practice in the city of Chicago. There she became the first African-American and woman to be appointed assistant prosecutor for the state. Most notably she was the first African-American woman to practice law before the United States Supreme Court on Jan. 29, 1926.

This Howard University student was one of 22 courageous women who founded Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the second Black Greek Letter Organization (BGLO) for women in history. She is well known for her work in the field of education. As her husband served as publisher of the AFRO-American Newspapers for decades, she also contributed her talents to the work of the Black Press.

An adamant education advocate for citizens in Washington, D.C. and far beyond. She served as president for the National Council of Negro Women for over 40 years which put her on the frontlines of justice during the 1963 March on Washington. In 1989, she received the Citizens Medal Award from President Ronald Reagan and in 2004, this woman was honored with the Congressional Gold Medal.

She was one of the founders of the first sorority for Black women, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Her legacy lives on as an educator with a hall in her namesake at Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University where she taught for 37 years.

She was one of the founding members of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and was known far and wide for her investigative journalism on lynchings in the deep South.

She helped found Zeta Phi Beta Sorority on Jan. 16,1920 at Howard University. This founder served as the second national vice president of the organization and currently has a fund in her name which supports intergenerational programming and service. She was an active member of the Alpha Zeta Chapter of her organization in Baltimore until she passed away on April 21, 1993.

This civil rights activist has a museum named after her in Baltimore. She helped spearhead the grassroots movement “Buy where you can work,” which began the trend of keeping the Black dollar in the Black community.

A dynamic woman of physical strength, mental tenacity and academic integrity. She was at the forefront of establishing the first Greek letter organization for Black women, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. She was also the inaugural principal of the first junior high in D.C. for African Americans and the first to hold the dean of women title on the campus of Howard University. Aside from her work in the classroom and on the equal rights front, in 1917, this woman became the first African American with a national title in the newly formed women’s title at the American Tennis Association’s (ATA) national tournament in Baltimore.

This woman is one of the founders of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority. She was a part of a group of seven women looking to not only be an educator, but an advocate for change by raising the standards for teachers. As a lifelong learner and educator, she embodied the core values of her organization until she passed in 1946.

She

This woman was one of the first “human computers” spending a three-decade long career at what would eventually become NASA’s Glenn Research center. This pioneer made a road for other people of color to get work and sustain careers in research and in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

She was one of the first women to try her hand at playing two professional sports. Before Venus and Serena there was this athlete, who in 1956, became the first African American to win a Grand Slam event. Once she conquered the tennis court, she set her eyes for the putting greens and decided - and succeeded- in becoming a professional golfer.

Photo: AP Photo

Photo is courtesy of arthurashe.ucla.edu

Photo courtesy of Nasa.gov

Photo courtesy of lpga.com

Photo courtesy of msamaryland.gov

Photo courtesy of Butler University

AFRO File

Photo AFRO File Photo

Photo courtesy of Lillie Carroll Jackson Museum

AFRO File Photo

Photo courtesy of The University of Chicago

Photo courtesy of National Parks Service

AP Photo/William J. Smith 1 2 3

Meet Verna Williams, CEO of the Equal Justice Project

By Ashleigh Fields AFRO Assistant Editor afields@afro.com

As Women’s History Month is a time to highlight the work of women from all walks of life, the AFRO is putting a special spotlight on women who are making change by becoming legal warriors for justice. Recently, Verna Williams, CEO of the Equal Justice Project, spoke with the publication about her path to legal advocacy.

Q: Can you talk about your upbringing and how it influenced you to go into the field of law?

A: I was born in D.C. and I grew up in the 60s– a time when lots of stuff was happening. I’m sure that affected the way I see the world. I remember my mom taking me to school when Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated. The SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference) continued its work around highlighting poverty, and they set up a big protest on the mall. I remember very vividly going by the spot right where it happened every day. I was growing up at a time where so much had happened. You were seeing all kinds of changes in the law as a kid at the time. I don’t think I fully understood how monumental the changes were. I knew if that continued my life was gonna be a lot different from my parents life. They didn’t talk a whole lot about the discrimination they had encountered, or about segregation.

In terms of probably a lot of Black families. Black parents did back down. It was their lives. My mom would say things like… ‘We like sitting in the balconies in the movie. That was the best place to sit.’ Of course, you look back and think that’s probably a rationalization. Turning the negative into the positive or to the palatable.

I was a Spanish major and had the great fortune of getting my first job as a reporter trainee at the CBS affiliate in DC. In that capacity, I saw many parts of the city then, I think I had been a bit sheltered from.

Q: Why and how did you get into the law field?

I worked in a law firm [and] encountered a lot of folks that were going to law school. It just became clear that I wanted to do something to make a difference, and that getting a law degree was a way to do that. That’s why I decided to go to law school.

Q: How did race affect your environment on campus at Harvard and Georgetown? Did you experience any discrimination there that sparked your interest in a career in equal justice under the law?

A: I think going to law school definitely was life altering and life shaping. I wanted to go to Georgetown, I wanted to study Spanish as I love languages. I didn’t want to go far from home. I was involved with the Black community, but I don’t recall there being a whole lot of activism before I arrived.

Black students had secured a Black House on campus at Georgetown. That was a place for us to meet and we were pleased to be in community with one another. There was a lot of activism that preceded me that resulted in [us] having that house.

I was one of very few Black students. At Georgetown, I was aware of what my identity was, but by the time I got to Harvard I was

An

much more cognizant of the power of being in community with other Black students. I was very engaged with the Black Law Students Association. I was much more engaged in the Black community at law school than I was when I was an undergraduate. And I found that to be really life changing, supportive and nourishing– just to be there. Harvard is a large law school. At the time, about 10 percent of the total, maybe a little bit less than 10 percent of the class was African American. I was one of 44 Black students in my class. And we had sizable numbers of folks. People were doing all kinds of really impressive things on campus and it was just, you could see the possibilities in a way that wasn’t quite as evident at my undergraduate institution, and certainly not not in high school, I was largely the only Black student in the college prep courses. I’m really grateful to have been at Harvard at that time. The people who I was in school with are amazing, like Michelle Obama, all kinds of judges and a former head of the EEOC (Equal Opportunity Employment Commission), who passed sadly. People have just gone on to do amazing things. It was really nourishing in that regard.

Q: You mentioned being in school with former First Lady Michelle Obama, that’s pretty cool. Did you guys ever cross paths or have a relationship or were you guys friends? Did one another?

A: Yeah. She and I were in the same law school section, and we were moot court partners in law school at the time. There’s a requirement that you do an advocacy project, and I wanted her to be my partner. I remember seeing her in class and she said something that made everyone know, ‘wow, she’s really smart.’ I knew everybody would want to be her partner so I asked her first and she said, yes. That was the beginning of our friendship.

We had a great time working on that together. It was just the right mix of fun and serious. She was amazing back then. I just remember watching her and being impressed with her demeanor within our mock trial setting. We became friends and we’ve remained friends over the years.

woman trailblazing a path at

By Kimyatta Newby

Special to the AFRO

Amy Goumbala is making moves at United Bank as she ramps up efforts to create a more diverse and inclusive company as the senior regional retail sales manager and senior vice president (SVP).

Goumbala has held the position for six years and supervises D.C., Bethesda-Chevy Chase, and Maryland Markets. However, Goumbala didn’t start as SVP.

“I was fortunate to have a leader who saw more in me than I did at the time, recommending me for leadership programs, partnering me with top-performing mentors, and setting high expectations that pushed me to perform beyond what I thought possible for myself,” said Goumbala, who started her career in finance as a part time bank teller for Capital One Bank in 2010.

Her story is far from average.

Born, raised and educated in Senegal, Africa, she faced harsh trials when immigrating to the U.S. Eventually, she was able to acquire student status in Maryland at Montgomery College, Rockville in an English Second Language (ESL) course. She studied at the institution for a few years before ultimately transferring to the University of Maryland. There, she earned a Bachelor’s of Science in computer and information sciences and support services.

“As an immigrant, and speaking English as my second language, I never imagined I’d be able to become a banker - let alone a branch manager turned regional retail sales manager.”

“As an immigrant, and speaking English as my second language, I never imagined I’d be able to become a banker - let alone a branch manager turned regional retail sales manager,” Goumbala said. Over the next few years, Goumbala’s talent was noticed by Wells Fargo by 2011 where she worked for five years and gained formal leadership training. By 2016 Goumbala had become senior bank manager of PNC Bank before moving to United Bank. She supervised two teams of banking professionals and supported their development which is something she continues to practice in her role presently “My goal in life is to add value to people, and I am very proud to have mentored young men and women over the years, throughout my career and here at the Bank,” said Goumbala. “Many of them

have followed me here to United and others have gone on to make a difference at some of the largest global financial institutions. It is so fulfilling to see them doing great things with their careers, becoming great leaders themselves and to know that I played a part in their growth.”

Her role provides her the space to do work as a leader to teams of banking individuals, engagement with employees, increasing revenue, and development. She has hosted events that celebrate and promote diversity such as Cultural Diversity Day that had 20 countries represented. The event established ways to produce inclusivity within the workplace. Another event was a two-day diversity, equity, and inclusion panel that allowed over 200 attendees in different departments and levels of the Bank to ask questions and find new ways to be executive leaders and what that truly means. Due to Goumbala’s extensive work at United Bank, she was honored as one of the leaders of Black History Month.

According to United she credits the Bank’s culture, local leadership, and commitment to community as to what grabbed her attention and prompted her to work there.

Goumbala states it hasn’t always been easy.

“Life is full of challenges - I have faced many but having a strong faith helps me navigate challenges and roadblocks,” she said. “When I complained to my late father about challenges he would always say ‘God will not give you anything you cannot handle.’ So when I hit a roadblock, I pray for strength and clarity. Every experience is a learning experience, so I make a commitment to learn from challenges

Q: How did your experience at Harvard shape your work as Dean of the University of Cincinnati College of Law?

A: One of the things that struck me at the time was that there were no clinical programs at the law school, and these are programs where students actually get to represent clients. That was a transformative experience for me. I did the criminal defense clinic when I was a third year law student, and I represented people who’d been accused of crimes. And there’s a classroom component in which I was taught by the legendary Charles Ogletree, who was an incredible mentor and presence in my life. It was such an eye opening experience.

Law school learning is very different from undergrad. In undergrad, you typically sit and you get lectured to, but in law school the professors are calling on you–they are eliciting the learning from the students. And you have to have read and be prepared to talk on your feet in front of your classmates. It’s a different kind of exam. It’s about taking legal principles and applying them.

Long story short, with my other colleagues, we were able to create a domestic violence clinic. And then we co-created a center for race, gender and social justice. I engaged in those things because I remembered as a law student how important it was to have your foot in the real world.

I knew that many students of color are interested in pursuing law because they want to make a difference. And it’s important to have opportunities for them to get that kind of experience. I also served as an advisor for the Black Law Students Association (BLSA), which, when I was a law student, I was the president of in my third year. I mean, for me the BSLA was a lifeline. I would always encourage students to participate in BSLA and to build up that community. It was especially important at the University of Cincinnati, because –unlike Harvard– it is a small school. These classes at the time were about 120 students. There may have been a good year, you have eight Black students in a class, but more typically it’d be more like five or six. Community would be vitally important to them and I know I encouraged them to do that. Those are the ways that I tried to provide the kind of environment that I found nourishing when I was a law student.

Q: With the recent Supreme Court rulings as they pertain to affirmative action, I was wondering how you think that will affect Black students’ ability to receive a quality legal education and graduate from these programs at the same rate, as they have before? How will this impact them as opposed to their other counterparts in communities of color?

A: One thing I want to make clear, is that for any Black student who is considering law school now and feeling like, “There’s no way I’m gonna get in, because there’s no affirmative action,” I want him to just dispel that notion. The Supreme Court didn’t say that schools can never consider race. They didn’t say that. And they know how to say that– right? We know that they know how to overturn decisions. They flat out overturned Roe versus Wade. But they didn’t do that for students for fair admissions– that’s the first thing to know about affirmative action. It’s not dead. It’s severely limited–but it’s not dead.

This article was edited for brevity and clarity.

See more on afro.com

so I can do better next time.”

She also has a commitment to community engagement, Goumbala works as the Bank’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities coordinator for D.C. She has recruited individuals from Howard University to United and developed a long standing relation with the University.

Goumbala also has a non profit organization that she established in 2015, the purpose of the non profit is to support underprivileged youth in West Africa. She has worked with the Montgomery County Coalition for the homeless, helping to serve meals and recruiting more individuals such as family and colleagues to get involved as well. She has also volunteered through the mosque to provide support to refugees in resettlement in the U.S. and has participated in Junior Achievement volunteer events.

Goumbala believes that staying involved in the community is essential to being a leader.

“On a personal level, being involved, helping and serving others is what keeps me humble and helps me practice gratitude,” she expressed. “On a professional level, being involved in the community helps us add value to our customers and open doors for new relationships and networking opportunities. The Bank’s commitment to community and mission of excellence in service perfectly aligns with my values which is rare.”

Goumbala stated that there are often challenges in the workforce that people face, especially women, and specifically Black women face such as lack of exposure and opportunities for growth but her support system such as her mentors, coaches, bank leaders and community were crucial for her growth and the interactions were meaningful for her journey.

Her advice to young leaders is to not give up and to not compromise yourself.

“Authenticity and integrity are two things that money cannot buy My advice to young people of color is to be true to oneself – work hard and don’t compromise your core values, and always embrace and celebrate what makes you different,” she said. “I know how it feels to be rejected or not supported for being a woman or being Black, but it should not define the rest of your career. You continue to learn and seek growth opportunities. Sometimes being rejected gives you a new perspective and motivates you to work harder so you can achieve your goals.”

Amy Goumbala, a Senegalese immigrant, is creating equity for a variety of communities through her role as senior vice president at United Bank.

Courtesy photo

Verna Williams is CEO of the Equal Justice Project. Recently, she spoke with the AFRO about what inspired her work in the law field.

Photo courtesy of Harvard.edu

HOUSING

The Housing Authority of Baltimore City (“HABC”) will issue an Invitation for Bids (“IFB”) for interested and qualified contractors to provide qualified technicians to complete a variety of maintenance work orders, including electrical, plumbing,

*

*

*

*

*ELECTRIC

SOLICITATION CAN BE VIEWED AND DOWNLOADED BY

https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/supplier/baltimorecity/SupplierSite

BIDS

The IFB may be obtained on or after Monday, March 18, 2024, at the

The

Questions

B-2004-24

IFB

The Housing Authority of Baltimore City (“HABC”) will issue an Invitation for

on

April 19, 2024.

A non-mandatory pre-proposal conference will be held on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at 10:00 a.m., which will be scheduled as a virtual meeting.

The IFB and all supporting documents may be obtained on or after Monday, March

A

pre-proposal

will be held on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at 11:00 a.m., which will be scheduled as a virtual meeting.

The RFP may be obtained on or after Monday, March 25, 2024, at the following location: Housing Authority of Baltimore City Division of Fiscal Operations, Procurement Department 417 E. Fayette Street, Room 414 Baltimore, Maryland 21202

Attention: Patrick Sullivan, Senior Buyer Tel: 443-984-1963 patrick.sullivan@habc.org

Questions regarding the RFP should be directed in writing to the address and individual indicated above and must include the reference: HABC RFP Number B-2005-24.

CITY OF BALTIMORE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

2.

3.