Fall 2021
OVERCOMER Tamela Mann steps into the spotlight as songwriter and producer on latest album − Overcomer.
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* Rollin’ with Roland Martin * When the Seasons Change * Protect The Bag * B2B x Patreon
CONTENTS Fall 2021
ON THE COVER 05 B2B Feed 06
Rollin’ with Roland Martin
08
When the Seasos Change
14
Reasons to Give Thanks to God
16
Recipe
17
Work It Out
18
Protect The Bag
20
B2B x Patreon
10 Overcomer with Tamela Mann
Features
06
Rollin’ with Roland Martin
08
When the Seasons Change
18
Protect The Bag
Fall 2021, Vol. 9, No. 1 Publisher Brittany N. Winkfield Contributors Kim Farmer, Letitia Wright LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER
B2B TIP: Thy Will Be Done. May Your Kingdom come soon. May Your Will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10 NLT Here we are just living in a global pandemic. If I haven’t learned anything else, I know faith is all about trusting God and believing that He can do what we cannot. It is choosing to trust that God is always at work whenever my faith feels weak. In this issue we talk to Tamela Mann about her triumphs and down falls and her latest project, Overcomer. How fitting of a title as we all push through the year. It’s a reflection of our life and the things we deal with, trying to learn from those things, and doing what we can to overcome them. The person who is focused on knowing Jesus in a growing relationship is one who overcomes. Work and worries will constantly try to distract you from your walk with Christ. Don’t let them steal your joy and perspective. Look where you are and what you’ve endured. If it is in the will of God, He’s got you!
Photographers Reginald Brown Web Development Marcus Winkfield Advisory Board Tracy Augustin, Philip Baptiste, John Boston, Ramona Davis, Juanita Farmer, Kymone Hinds, Marisa Daniels, Timothy Olaore, Terri Roston, Jennifer Stone Editorial and Advertising Inquiries info@back2basicsmag.com Information is correct at press time. Signed articles do not necessarily reflect the official company policy. Copyright © 2021. All rights reserved. Reproduction in part or whole without permission is prohibited. Back2Basics Magazine is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the United States of America. In Loving Memory of Dorthy Davis
A Christian lifestyle magazine designed to inform and inspire young people in their walk with Christ.
Be encouraged today and everyday. 4 FALL 2021 BACK2BASICSMAG.COM
@back2basicsmag
b2b feed If You Don’t Know, Now You Know
<< In “Trauma Talks,” Mariam Kazadi breaks down short stories of how trauma can show up long after a traumatic experience has passed. Kazadi shares how we can overcome our trauma through meditation, prayer and other coping techniques as we embark on our life journey. In this book, you will find that trauma does indeed talk, shout and even scream for our attention... but are we willing to listen? Available on Amazon. BACK2BASICSMAG.COM FALL 2021 5
Rollin’ with
ROL AND Martin
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s a fellow journalist and great voice of our generation, Roland S. Martin says the biggest mistake people make is operating outside of God’s Will and wondering why they are not happy. Over the course of his journalistic career that has included interviews with multiple U.S. presidents to the top athletes and entertainers in Hollywood, Roland Martin is a man who has always maintained a clear sense of his calling in this world. “Faith is not a part of what I do, it is the essence of who I am,” says Martin.
Martin is the CEO and owner of Nu Vision Media, Inc. a full-service media firm that produces and distributes his daily digital show, #RolandMartinUnfiltered. The first daily online show in history focused on news and analysis of politics, entertainment, sports, and culture from an explicitly African American perspective, Martin also serves as the show’s host and managing editor. “Living contently means I am thankful for what I have, but still ambitious enough to go to the next level.” Watch the Daily Digital Show Live @ 6PM EST | Replays @ 10PM, 2AM, 6AM, 10AM
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When the seasons change Excerpts and Quotes from Overcoming with Letitia Wright
FALL HAS THE POWER TO MAKE YOU FEEL ALIVE AND TAKE YOU TO YOUR PAST BOTH AT THE SAME TIME. A FALLEN LEAF IS NOTHING MORE THAN A SUMMER’S WAVE GOODBYE. “So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today — to love the Lord your God and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul — then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil. If we love God and serve Him how He asks, His love and mercies will be with us in every season, renewing us.” Deuteronomy 11:14 In life, we’re faced with so many trials and difficult times. Oftentimes we really want to get a quick way out—we really want to do it our way. I found that this Scripture really brings me back to the center of trusting God with all of my heart — back to the basics. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 NLT When I did lean in and trust Him, He worked everything out. I want to encourage you today in whatever you may be going through or trying to overcome. Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. When you trust in Him, everything will just come together. During this time, God has been telling me that His thoughts toward me are of good, of peace, of love, and not of evil—but to give me a future and a hope. This enables me to be confident in myself, and to focus my mind on my future knowing the way that God is thinking about me. His thoughts are really precious and loving. It gives me confidence to overcome the situations that I as going through, and to have hope that my future is going to look bright. Sharing our faith is surprisingly simple, but sometimes we can get deterred by anxiety or uncertainty. In our conversations, we can get caught up in the weeds, when we allow others to overcomplicate and distract us from the simple beauty of God’s saving grace. 8 FALL 2021 BACK2BASICSMAG.COM
Whatever you’re going through or whatever situations you’re trying to overcome, know that His thoughts towards you are amazing—they’re precious. There’s a Scripture that speaks about the way he thinks about us and you can’t even count it— it doesn’t compare to the sand that’s on the seashore. It’s endless. And that gives me confidence that Father loves us and He cares for us. And the very hairs on your head are numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. Luke 12:7 NLT Every Christian today is also faced with the question of, “What is the one thing that saves us?” Is it observing the Sabbath on a certain day? Is it obeying a set of rules or laws? Is it doing enough good deeds? In other words: Are you saved by God’s grace, working through your faith and belief— or are you saved by works of the law? Trusting or trying? Trying or trusting? The two will always be at odds, so if you’ve wandered into a spiritual desert of works and the law, it’s time to turn to the Living Water. Embrace the sweet salvation that flows from Christ alone.
You are not reading this by accident. This is your confirmation. You are going to make it. No matter what it looks like right now. God is going to send blessings, solutions, healing, love and positive change your way. So hold on, be strong, and don’t give up. You are next in line for your miracle! Today, let that truth marinate in your spirit. BACK2BASICSMAG.COM FALL 2021 9
TAMEL A Mann
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fter several years of evolution and change in her life, Grammy® Award-Winning Artist, NAACP Image® Award-Winning Actress, Songwriter, and Producer, Tamela Mann, is ready to share the strength and purpose she has found. After taking some time to work on her health and wellness, and a fresh creative mindset, she’s stepping forward a changed woman to express her heart and soul. “This is new music for a new time and a new me,” she says. “I’m so grateful to God that my love for what I do is still here. I’m still in love with singing, still in love with being before God’s people.” Some albums are destined for a certain time. Overcomer was conceived to bring healing and hope to a world resetting after a tumultuous chapter in its history. Tamela, who underwent surgery to have both of her knees replaced in the summer of 2019, describes this as coming out of her cocoon again, energized and on fire. “I think I’ve grown a whole lot as an artist because I used to just stand with my eyes closed. Well, I sing with my eyes open now and I am able to talk to the people and just let them feel my heart and not be afraid.” She describes still being nervous as she stands before the people, “my bottom line is to make Him proud and never let the Lord down.” As the latest accomplishment and centerpiece in Tamela’s busy career, Overcomer is her seventh studio album and is said to be Tamela’s best work to date. Each song stands on its own as a masterful production, mostly written by Tamela. “I poured my experiences into the lyrics, putting my heart and soul into the words on this album,” Tamela says. “It’s me looking at my life and the things I was dealing with, trying to learn from those things, and doing what I can to overcome them.” She talks about overcoming menopause, weight loss/gain, and even building up her faith and relationship with the Lord, She would pray, “Lord, I don’t want to be in the same place I was 10 years ago or a year ago. I want to do better, I want to make you proud.” What’s next for Mrs. Mann? In Tyler Perry’s Assisted Living (BET+), she reprises her role as “Cora,” which she originated in Perry’s successful “Madea” plays, films, and hit television show, Tyler Perry’s Meet The Browns. She and and husband, David, released their first book and joint album, the NAACP Image® Award-winning Us Against the World. She is starring in two upcoming films: the Tyler Perry “Madea” movie coming to Netflix and Soul Santa airing this Christmas on BET, which she executive produced with David. Tamela also launched her own successful athleisure apparel line, the Tamela Mann Collection (tamelamann.com). The line has become a popular staple in the athleisure apparel space. “If you’re faithful to Him, God will be faithful to you, that’s what I want to leave people with.. Let’s be faithful to Him. He will be there for us. He won’t forsake us.”
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The album was executive produced by Tamela and her husband, Music Producer and NAACP Image® Award-Winning Actor/Comedian, David Mann, with production quarterbacked by a cadre of allstar producers and writers. Special guests include Kirk Franklin and Wyclef Jean on the stand-out track melding R&B, reggae, rap, and gospel, “Hello God;” Todd Dulaney on the worshipful “Finished Work;” Travis Green, the co-writer and producer of the anthemic “Finished;” and The Fellas, on her current single, “Help Me.” “Touch From You,” the debut single from the album, added to Tamela’s bank of personal bests; the track was her seventh No. 1 on Billboard’s Gospel Airplay chart. “Source” and “He Did It For Me” are two other standouts. If someone were to ask the singer/songwriter what her greatest wish was for this album, says Tamela Mann: “My heart’s desire is to give people hope and let them know there’s still compassion in the world. It’s the opportunity for me again to show God’s love and His grace. That’s my purpose in life and for Overcomer.” Tamela Mann is a Grammy® Award Winner, BET Award Winner, Billboard Music Award Winner, NAACP Image® Award Winner, Gospel Music Stellar Award Winner, actress, songwriter, producer, and businesswoman. Her Billboard No.1 album Best Days includes the No. 1 Platinum single “Take Me to The King” and received Billboard’s “Album of the Decade” for 2010-2019, in the Gospel category. Tamela’s Billboard No. 1 album, One Way, garnered two No. 1 singles, including “Change Me” and “God Provides,” which earned the singer her first Grammy® Award in 2017. In 2018, Tamela and her husband, NAACP Image® Award winning actor David Mann, released their first book and joint album, Us Against the World. The book won an NAACP Image® Award for Outstanding Literary Work and the album continues to garner top-charting singles including the Urban AC track, “Ups & Downs.” Tamela and David together helm Tillymann Entertainment. They starred in the NAACP Image® Award-winning docu-series The Manns, the hit comedies Mann & Wife and Meet The Browns, along with other fan-favorite films and television shows. Facebook: @DavidTamelaMann Instagram: @DavidandTamela Twitter: @DavidandTamela Website: TillyMannMusic.com 12 FALL 2021 BACK2BASICSMAG.COM
Tamela Mann Collection,
the athleisure line is for women sizes 12-32 that loves the comfortability of athletic wear. It’s for the everyday woman, mother, sister or aunt. Each piece that is produced have the woman in mind, the fabric is breathable and firm in all the right places.
TamelaMann.Com
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Best vegetarian chili in the world Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 1 Hour | Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins | Servings: 8
Ingredients • • • • • • • • • •
1 tablespoon olive oil 1/2 medium onion 2 bay leaves 1 teaspoon ground cumin 2 tablespoons dried oregano 1 tablespoon salt 2 stalks celery, chopped Celery 2 green bell peppers, chopped 2 jalapeno peppers, chopped 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• • • • • • • • •
2-4 oz cans chopped green chile peppers, drained 2-12 oz. packages vegetarian burger crumbles 3-28 oz. cans whole peeled tomatoes, crushed 1/4 cup chili powder 1 tablespoon ground black pepper 1-15 oz. can kidney beans, drained 1-15 oz. can garbanzo beans, drained 1-15 oz. can black beans 1-15 oz. can whole kernel corn
Directions Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Stir in the onion, and season with bay leaves, cumin, oregano, and salt. Cook and stir until onion is tender, then mix in the celery, green bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, garlic, and green chile peppers. When vegetables are heated through, mix in the vegetarian burger crumbles. Reduce heat to low, cover pot, and simmer 5 minutes. Mix the tomatoes into the pot. Season chili with chili powder and pepper. Stir in the kidney beans, garbanzo beans, and black beans. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer 45 minutes. Stir in the corn, and continue cooking 5 minutes before serving.
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Work it out Mile High Fitness & Wellness
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Grammy Award-winning recording artist, Lecrae, has partnered with Experian North America, a leading information services company, to present, “Protect The Bag,” a six-part web series, that provides viewers with a blueprint for building a financial legacy. The video series produced by Lecrae’s production company, 3 Strand Films, premieres Fall 2021, and guides audiences through the ins and outs of financial health. Through short sketches and the help of some highprofile special guests, Lecrae will break down the basics of financial literacy and credit education to help viewers understand how to balance their financial needs of today, with those of tomorrow. “I am on a mission to spread the word on financial education because I wasn’t educated about money and didn’t know about budgeting,” Lecrae explained. “I didn’t know to think about the cost of things or what to pay off first because I just didn’t have a strategy.” He believes that through his unique vision, partnered with Experian’s expertise, the message of financial health and inclusion will be embraced. Each episode will cover a key point of building a financial legacy starting with understanding money and utilizing checking and savings accounts. Other topics include budgeting, saving, protecting one’s identity, debt, and investing. This partnership is part of Experian’s United for Financial Health, a global financial recovery initiative that helps educate and empower vulnerable consumers around their finances and minority business owners around financial health. Under this program, Lecrae previously supported the Home Preservation Grant, an Experian partnership with the NAACP to provide mortgage relief to homeowners negatively impacted by COVID-19.
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