TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF MEN
CREATING THE PERFECT WOMAN
SUMMER FASHION BLENDS
SUICIDE: WHY IT’S INCREASING AMONG
+
OUR YOUTH
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS CELEBRATE LARRY DOBY
THE BOOK OF
AWAKENING
JAMES PICKENS FROM KARAMU TO GREY’S ANATOMY Photographs by: Sal Owen
JUNE 2022 ISSUE
[ CLE ]
22 JUNE 2022 / CODE M
[ BUSINESS ]
[ NEWS ]
INSIDE
42
CREATING THE PERFECT WOMAN For a man to get the woman of his dreams he must be willing to mold and shape her into the woman he needs her to be. But in order to do that, he must be willing to remold himself first.
ON THE COVER
28
JAMES PICKENS: FROM KARAMU TO GREY’S ANATOMY James Pickens discusses the consistency of being on a show for 18 years and how his
development at Cleveland’s Karamu House launched his outstanding career.
12 MAN CODES
20 THE BOOK OF AWAKENING
Fatherhood.
Mark Nepo’s daybook covers the journey of finding peace and harmony. For those trying to find their way in the post-COVID world, this book just might be the answer to all your problems.
14 CLEVELAND STRONG: DUNN PEARSON COMPOSES A WINNING LIFE John F. Kennedy graduate becomes an award-winning composer and artist while working with some of the top artists in the country.
10 MOVERS AND SHAKERS
16 CLEVELAND GUARDIANS CELEBRATE LARRY DOBY
Get to know people who are making a difference in their careers and changing the world!
Larry Doby was the second Black to be drafted by a major league baseball team in 1947.
22 SUICIDE: WHY IT’S INCREASING AMONG OUR YOUTH There is a growing problem among the children in America where far too many are struggling without coping skills. How parents deal with this problem could mean life or death for their kids. CODE M / JUNE 2022 5
[ INSIDE ] 36 IF AN ENDANGERED SPECIES COULD TALK: PART II
47
JIM DENNIS: IN FRONT OF THE LENS Photographers spend most of their profession taking pictures of other people. Anthony Kirby felt it was time to praise one man who made a difference behind the lens of his camera.
4 JUNE 2021 / CODE M
For Black males ages 15 to 35, navigating their way to a successful existence depends on the surroundings they are developed under. 50 SUMMER FASHION BLENDS The ascot, born in England and perfected by Laron Harlem here for you to enjoy and consider the next time you are looking for something different to wear.
ADVERTISE WITH CODE M Blacks influence the latest trends of popular culture, fashion, and music more than any demographic. Reach this audience when you advertise with CODE M Magazine. Call 216-273-9400 to request a rate kit.
TRANSFORMING THE LIVES OF MEN
ENGINEER RADIO/PODCAST Kai Becker
PUBLISHER Bilal S. Akram
SOCIAL MEDIA Rachel Woods
PRESIDENT Brad J. Bowling SENIOR ADVISOR Alexandria Johnson Boone MANAGING EDITOR David Christel PAGE EDITORS Anthony Kirby-Lifestyles Laron Harlem-Fashion Paris Lampkins-Movers & Shakers GRAPHIC DESIGN Stiff Arm Media
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES David Williams Kevin Jones IT CONSULTANT Anthony Jones Digital Jetstream, LLC CONTRIBUTING WRITERS David Christel Anthony Kirby Brad J. Bowling Bolling Smith Bilal S. Akram Laron Harlem
MEDIA COORDINATOR Paula D Morrison EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
nce Burnley CODE MEDIA GROUP LLC
To the PUBLISHER STAFF
Ladonna “Lala” Dicks
Sharif Akram DIRECTOR OF RADIO/PODCAST
Darrell Scott
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Braylon Lee
RADIO/PODCAST HOSTS Darrell Scott Grace Roberts
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CODE M Magazine was created to be a guiding force in creating a dialogue for black men everywhere. Code M focuses on the conversations of advancement, mental health, career choices, the political landscape and relationships that define and shape the lives of black men everywhere.
Code M Magazine is published by CODE MEDIA GROUP, LLC © 2022 All Rights Reserved
[ TRAVEL ]
CODE M / JUNE 2021 9
MOVERS &
SHAKERS
J A N I E C E 10 JUNE 2022 / CODE M
Get to know people who are making a difference in their careers and changing the world!
S M A L L S
[ MOVERS & SHAKERS ] JANIECE SMALLS MITCHELL
ROMERO MOSLEY
Janiece Smalls Mitchell is a Senior Vice President - Chief of Staff with Peoples Bank, and Entrepreneur/Owner of Miraj Naturals; a beauty and skin care line that fosters healthy skin through handmade natural and organic products. Professionally, she leads her financial organization's strategic vision to be the best community bank in the nation.
As the son of a jazz saxophonist and gospel singer, Mosley was left no choice but to fully embrace a life in music. From being a drummer in multiple bands, to interning at radio stations and production companies in his hometown of Cleveland Ohio, to producing music for various artists, there was no getting around music.
Outside of the office, Janiece is active in the STE[A]M community through involvement in NSBE and SWE programs. As a budding entrepreneur and leader in her organization, Janiece is focused on economic advancement and equity in diverse communities around her.
Mosley has worked alongside Grammy Award-winning artists, has been recognized by a number of major music publications, and has worked in various aspects of music for film, TV, theater, and news media.
SHALEETA SMITH Shaleeta Smith is the Director of Family Health at Summit County Health Department. She is a graduate of the University of Toledo where she received her Bachelors of Science in Biology and her Master’s in Public Health, Epidemiology. Within her role, she oversees services and programming that focus on women, families, infants, senior services, harm reduction, housing, and minority health. Smith works closely with the City of Akron, social service agencies, grassroots organizations, and the hospital system to improve health outcomes in Summit County. She is also the CEO of Allynne Time, LLC, an event planning and photo booth company, established in 2018.
WARREN D. LAMBERSON JR. Warren D. Lamberson Jr. is an agent with New York Life. Recruited to join the company in 2014, his career has been built through serving small business owners and highly educated professionals of color. One of the ways he has been able to serve was being part of the national 50 Billion Campaign that successfully placed 50 billion dollars of life insurance coverage protecting the legacies of African American households. Born and raised in the city of East Cleveland, he knows firsthand what happens when financial literacy isn’t prioritized. He grew into a life insurance evangelist as his family was financially kept afloat by his father’s policy due to his passing in 2002.
CODE M / JUNE 2022 11
START
Dave Chappelle
MAN CODES:
FATHERHOOD Compiled by Bilal S. Akram
If you know his father and grandfather, don't worry about his son. - African Proverb
to biology, the whole earth would blaze with the glory of fathers and sons.” - James Baldwin
“One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters.” – George Herbert
“When I was a kid, I said to my father one afternoon, ‘Daddy, will you take me to the zoo?’ He answered, ‘If the zoo wants you, let them come and get you.'” — Jerry Lewis
“The nature of impending fatherhood is that you are doing something that you’re unqualified to do, and then you become qualified while doing it.” – John Green “My father told me 'Name your price in the beginning. If it ever gets more expensive than the price you name, get out of there.’” - Dave Chappelle “Being a great father is like shaving. No matter how good you shaved today, you have to do it again tomorrow.” – Reed Markham “If the relationship of father to son could really be reduced
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“Every dad, if he takes time out of his busy life to reflect upon his fatherhood, can learn ways to become an even better dad.” — Jack Baker “He adopted a role called being a father so that his child would have something mythical and infinitely important: a protector.” ―Tom Wolfe “24 The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.” Proverbs 23:24 (NIV)
CODE M / JUNE 2022 13
[ START ]
DUNN
PEARSON COMPOSES A WINNING LIFE John F. Kennedy graduate becomes an award-winning composer and artist while working with some of the top artists in the country.
w
by Leslie Logan Dunn Pearson
e all have a gift we’re given when we’re born. Some people honor that gift by pursuing the dream of working with their gift. Others develop a backup plan and fall short of their goals because of the backup plan. For Dunn Pearson, Jr., the goal of becoming an award-winning musician and composer was always his first choice.
Pearson knew what he wanted to do as a small child growing up in Cleveland. From an early age, Pearson, Jr. started piano lessons andThompson always knew that music was life’s calling. Studying Angela music theory and orchestration at Kent State University set the foundation for a musical lifetime. Cleveland’s rich history of creating and making some of America’s greatest hits helped Pearson develop his skills. After attending Kent State University, Pearson joined the O’Jays orchestra which began his world touring legacy. From those experiences Dunn knew that he wanted to continue to make beautiful critically acclaimed music, so he went to where the best was playing and he set out to live his dream, New York City.
16 14 OCTOBER JUNE 20222021 / CODE / CODE M M
That dream led to Pearson working with some of the most talented people in the music industry. He has worked on project after project as a pianist, composer, and arranger. “Quincy Jones was my mentor, so I had the perfect person teaching me how to produce and compose music,” Pearson said. Under the tutelage of O’Jays founder Bobby Massey, Pearson was also a part of the Ponderosa Twins Plus One, an American soul vocal group formed in 1970 in Cleveland. The group featured two sets of identical twins, Alfred and Alvin Pelham, and Keith and Kirk Gardner, along with Ricky Spicer. Later Kayne West would sample the B side of group’s hit, “Bound,” and the group would get a chance to experience fame all over again. Pearson is the recipient of the Decathlon of Music Award, lauded as one of the top African American music composers in an exclusive group that includes Quincy Jones and Bernard Drayton, who have major success in all genres of entertainment: movies, television, Broadway, music, and commercials.
[ START ]
Professionally known as the “Black Beethoven,” Pearson’s scoring credits include the Orlando Film Festival award-winning best docudrama Unhinged, the theme for the Fox TV smash New York Undercover, the HBO movie Head Office, Columbia Pictures box office hit The Professional, Miramax’s Ride, Mario & Melvin Van Peebles’ Identity Crisis, the faith-based movie Iniquity, and the Cinecom Int. film starring Oscar-winner Geraldine Page and featuring Oprah Winfrey, Native Son. Pearson has Amassed 26 gold and platinum awards. He has produced fitness video stars Jody Watley, Joannie Greggains, and Denise Austin’s ESPN show Getting Fit. He has also met the commercial hurdle of Madison Avenue with over a dozen commercials for McDonald’s, United Airlines, and the highly acclaimed SUPER BOWL XXI Wendy’s “Chicken Nugget” commercial featuring Kool and The Gang. He also produced and arranged for Rock-n-Rock Hall of Famers the O’Jays, Grammy winner D’Angelo (multiplatinum album), Grammy winner Mary J. Blige, Tony Awardwinner Melba Moore, Stephanie Mills, and Teddy Pendergrass. He orchestrated the Broadway musical Amen Corner and is the first African American composer to produce a hip-hop commercial for McDonald’s, and he’s a CEBA award winner for Wendy’s and Kellogg’s. Pearson is currently serving God with Pastor Jeremiah Jermaine Paul (second season winner of NBC’s The Voice) as the Music Minister at Hamden Plains Methodist Church where they continue to expand their ministry music base. Dunn Pearson, another CLE STRONG member setting the world, and music industry on fire. ●
CLE STRONG
Dunn Pearson has worked some of the top artists in the country.
CODE M / JUNE 2022 15
SPORTS
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS CELEBRATE LARRY DOBY Larry Doby was the second Black to be signed by a major league baseball team in 1947. by Anthony Castrovince/MLB.com
L
arry Doby got what shut eye he could, as the bus carrying him and his Negro League teammates made its trek from Wilmington, Del., to Newark, NJ, in the early morning hours of Thursday, July 3, 1947.
As Doby slept that night 75 years ago, he did not know about the newspaper report bearing his name. Didn’t know that his home would, in a matter of hours, be swarmed by inquiring reporters. Didn’t know that his life — and the entire structure of professional baseball — was about to be enduringly altered. By the time Doby disembarked the bus, driven his Ford convertible to his apartment in Paterson, NJ, and gotten into bed for a more proper rest, it was roughly 5:30 am. And it was just before 7 am. when Newark Eagles owner Effa Manley rang Doby’s phone and cut short his sleep with the big news. “Larry,” she said, “you have been bought by the Cleveland Indians of the American League and you are to join the team in Chicago on Sunday.”
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While Jackie Robinson’s color-barrier-breaking debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers eleven weeks earlier was a cultural touchstone and a vital precursor to the American civil rights movement, it is important to consider what the purchase of Doby’s contract meant not just for the now-integrated AL but for the very structure of professional baseball. Robinson, after all, had signed his contract with the Dodgers in October 1945 and spent the entire 1946 season in the Minor Leagues with the Dodgers’ Triple-A affiliate in Montreal. He was promoted to the Majors six days before the start of the 1947 season, unofficially debuting in an exhibition game at Ebbets Field four days before the real thing. Doby, on the other hand, arrived at the AL literally overnight, on a Pennsylvania Railroad train. So something more definitive was communicated by Doby coming to Cleveland. If Jackie was baseball’s experiment with integration, or the sewing of a seed, Doby was proof that the seed had taken root. There could be no denying now what was happening and what would happen. The death knell had been sounded — bittersweetly — for the Negro Leagues, with the best Black players plucked and rostered and finally able to display their talents on baseball’s
[ SPORTS ] biggest stage.
dreams.
“The entrance of Negroes into the Majors is not only inevitable,” Cleveland owner Bill Veeck told a reporter when the Doby signing became official, “it is here.”
In 1948, Doby, blocked at second by Gordon, was tasked by Veeck with moving to center field in order to carve out a regular spot in the lineup. The position change only added to the 24-year-old’s full plate. But the versatility that served Doby well as a four-sport athlete in high school also served him well in the move to the outfield. His bat caught on that year, too. With the help of Doby’s .301 average, 14 homers, 23 doubles and nine triples, Cleveland captured its first AL pennant in 28 years.
The desegregated MLB, which should have been in existence all along, was finally going to happen. And in Larry Doby’s case, it was going to happen fast. The difference between the respect Doby commanded in Newark and the cold shoulder he received from some in the Cleveland clubhouse — to say nothing of opponents — just 24 hours later could not have been more stark. When the Cleveland players trotted out to the diamond for pregame warmups, Doby found himself without a catch partner. He stood outside the dugout, humiliated, for mere minutes that felt like an eternity. In that moment, those feelings of loneliness that had pervaded Doby’s youth sprouted up again. But when, at long last, All-Star second baseman Joe Gordon tossed him a ball, Doby encountered his first player ally in his integration.
And Doby’s 7-for-22 showing in the World Series against the Boston Braves — including what turned out to be the game-winning home run in Game 4 — was instrumental in claiming what still stands as the franchise’s most recent championship crown. From that point on, there was never again a doubt as to whether Doby could make it in the Majors. He was selected to the AL All-Star team every year from
That afternoon, Cleveland trailed, 5-1, entering the seventh inning, when Doby was summoned with one out and two aboard to pinch-hit for pitcher Bryan Stephens. A crowd of mixed race cheered his arrival to the plate as he nervously dug in. “I didn’t hear a sound,” he later recalled. “It was like I was dreaming.” Doby swung and missed at White Sox pitcher Earl Harrist’s first offering, then fouled off the next. He let the next two pitches pass for balls but swung through the fifth pitch to go down with the K. “Well,” Boudreau told him upon his return to the dugout, “now you know some of what it is all about. You are now a big leaguer.” The strikeout was emblematic of Doby’s first partial season in the AL. He appeared in 29 games, made 33 trips to the plate, and hit just .156 (5-for-32) in 1947. Doby, though, had been raised to endure tough times and harsh changes. Just as he didn’t let his odd upbringing lead him down the wrong path, he didn’t let the strikeouts, the segregated hotels, the “whites only” taxicabs, the insults, the slurs, or the time he was spat on while sliding into second base deter him from his
Larry Doby celebrates with players from the Indians at a game several years ago.
CODE M / JUNE 2022 17
[ SPORTS ] 1949-1955 and finished in the top ten of the MVP voting in 1950 and 1954. After his playing career, he became a scout and a coach before Veeck, who by this point was owner of the White Sox, called upon him again in 1978 by making him MLB’s second Black manager, behind Cleveland’s Frank Robinson three years earlier. As was the case in his AL debut, Doby was thrust into that duty in the middle of the season. To be second, Doby learned, is to be generally underappreciated and acknowledgement can be a long time in coming. He went 39 years between his final game as a player in 1959 and his rightful induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998 — an honor that came just five years before his death from cancer at age 79. Doby though, set a template that not even Robinson could claim, for he was the first Negro Leaguer to jump directly into the big leagues. Imagine being cheered lustily one day at a ceremony in your honor and then having a teammate deny you a handshake the very next. For his part, though, Doby was glad to have had so little time to prepare for the “new and strange world” he penetrated.
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“I look at myself as more fortunate than Jack,” he once said of Robinson, with whom he became close. “If I had gone through hell in the Minors, then I’d have to go through it again in the Majors. Once was enough!” There was only one Lawrence Eugene Doby. No, he was not MLB’s first Black player. No, he does not have a day in which the entire league wears his No. 14, as they do for Jackie and his No. 42 each April. No, he is not the subject of dozens of books or a feature film. And no, he was not saluted as a firstballot Hall of Famer. But this much must be said and understood about the man whose legacy is too often neglected: The call came, rousing him from sleep and inviting him to do something he had never been done. And to the benefit of the many who followed in his footsteps, Doby answered. ●
Larry Doby Debut 75th Anniversary Celebration Saturday, July 2 Yankees vs. Guardians at 6:10 pm Doby 1947 Jersey, courtesy of Discount Drug Mart (15,000 fans)
[ CLE ]
CODE M / JUNE 2022 17
BOOK
REVIEW
THE BOOK OF
BOOK REVIEW
AWAKENING Mark Nepo’s daybook covers the journey of finding peace and harmony. For those trying to find their way in the post-COVID world, this book just might be the answer to all your problems.
N
o one is talking about it, but everyone can feel it — the inner unrest that society is falling apart. The constant dull worry that we might fall prey to our worst fears. We travel throughout our existence wondering if we, too, might have a nervous breakdown.
The average person living in the post-COVID world is struggling to make sense of our new world. Mark Nepo’s book, The Book of Awakening, attempts to help the reader get back to a central belief: how you can deal with your anxiety that will make a difference. The Book of Awakening is a playbook that offers scores and scores of examples on how to enjoy what you have and be OK with it. Nepo, a cancer survivor who was having his own struggle in finding peace and happiness, decided he would journal his process of how he discovered that he could control his mood, his pain, and eventually his happiness by simply living in the moment.
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The process of working to find inner peace resulted in him authoring The Book of Awakening. The book is the result of Nepo’s journey of the soul and will inspire others to embark on their own. He speaks of spirit and friendship, urging readers to stay vital and in love with this life, no matter the hardships. Encompassing many traditions and voices, Nepo's words offer insight in pain, wonder, and love. Each entry is accompanied by an exercise that will surprise and delight the reader in its mind-waking ability. Nepo writes about a student and a teacher who were discussing the level of bitterness the student had towards life. The teacher asked the student to pour some salt into a cup. The student did. “Drink it,” the teacher said. The student took a few sips. The teacher then asked the student to describe their taste. The student answered that the water was strong from the salt. The teacher then took the student down to a lake and asked him to pour the same amount of salt into the lake. The stu-
[ CLE ] dent took salt poured into his hand and spread it into the lake. The teacher asked the student to drink water from the lake. The student did. Then the teacher asked how did that water taste. “I couldn’t taste the water, teacher. What does this mean?” the student asked. The teacher explained that pain is pain. There is nothing we can do about it. But what we can control is the viewpoint of how we internalize pain. If we have a small perspective (the cup) then our pain is high, but if we can develop a large enough perspective (the lake), then our pain is reduced. One entry in the book described greed this way: “The greedy one gathered all the cherries, while the simple one tasted all the cherries in one.” Greed is self-destructive because of its excess. Equally disconcerting, and quite pertinent in today’s self-absorbed world, is our narcissism: “I tried so hard to please that I never realized no one is watching.” So much of Mark’s work points to one simple, all-embracing fact: “… we are more than what we reflect or love. This is the work of compassion: to embrace everything clearly without imposing who we are and without losing who we are.” Nepo’s personal journey toward healing contains this admission: “Hesitation, more than anything, has been the invisible hitch that has kept me from joy.” That is something for each of us to contemplate as we consider our own life circumstances. Finally, Mark states: “… when wholehearted and true, we are a sturdy conduit for love and care to keep the world going. There is something for everyone to gain from reading The Book of Awakening. For those who are trying to find peace in a world full of drama, this book might be the solution. ●
Mark Nepo went on his own healing journey in order to write and keep a daily journal.
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HEALTH
SUICIDE: WHY IT’S INCREASING AMONG OUR YOUTH There is a growing problem among the children in America where far too many are struggling without coping skills. How parents deal with this problem could mean life or death for their kids.
Written by DAVID CHRISTEL David has been ghostwriting books for well-known people since 1995. He is also the author of Married Men Coming Out: The Ultimate Guide to Becoming the Man You Were Born to Be.
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S
uicide is, without a doubt, one of the most confounding life traumas we can face. The majority of the time, a person’s suicide comes as a shocking surprise, and we’re left wondering what was going on in their lives that led them to that decision point. We also ask ourselves why we didn’t see the warning signs and how we might have helped intervene.
There’s a famous line from actor Robin Williams, who took his life in August of 2011, “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.” Generally, none of us knew what internal “battle” Robin was struggling with. What was made public is that he was suffering from severe depression and Lewy body disease. For most of us, we can’t figure out the “why” behind suicide. Of course, some suicides are considered understandable for reasons such as escape from painful medical circumstances or terminal illness, overwhelming abuse situations, unrelenting stress and anxiety, ongoing bullying, unbearable loneliness, ostracism by others, and unremitting racism and prejudice. An individual could also be suffering from debilitating low selfesteem and self-worth, trauma, depression, addictions, dementia, Alzheimer’s, or a mental disorder. Other times it’s about avoiding jail time, an impending divorce, a relationship breakup, unrequited love, loss of job and/or career, bankruptcy, unresolvable gambling debts, or financial
ruin. Or police a ment, “
The Cen report t untenab one’s lif •
an tho
•
3.2
•
suic
r it could be that a person refuses to be captured by the and they’ve bought into the old gangster pronounce“They won’t take me alive.”
nters for Disease Control (CDC) included in their 2020 that for 1.2 million Americans, life has reached a point so ble that no other options are left but a final one: to end fe.
estimated 12.2 million American adults seriously ought about suicide,
2 million planned a suicide attempt,
cide was among the top nine leading causes of death for
[ HEALTH ] people ages 10-64, •
suicide was the second leading cause of death for people ages 10-14 and 25-34, and that
•
almost 46,000 people died by suicide in 2020.
What is truly heartbreaking is what is occurring with young people. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, “Nearly 20% of high school students report serious thoughts of suicide and 9% have made an attempt to take their lives.” Researchers have also found that more teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza, and chronic lung dis-
CODE M / JUNE 2022 23
[ CLE ]
24 JUNE 2022 / CODE M
[ HEALTH ]
ease — COMBINED. Every day, there are an average of over 3,703 attempts by young people grades 9-12. Those are horrifying stats. Young people, who have so much to look forward to, are finding life so unbearable that they have determined that they can’t stay on this planet any longer. They feel utterly alone, adrift, disconnected, and isolated from the world. Family, friends, school, church, and health professionals don’t
spaciousness, and beauty of life no longer hold any meaning or value. All a person wants is to shut out life for good. Any sense of hope has completely disappeared down a rabbit hole of no return. Granted, life is hard, challenging, disappointing, hurtful, unforgiving, and even cruel for many people. Not everyone has the fortitude to withstand this kind of constant on-
“And if you’re part of the LGBTQ community or non-white, the larger societal push to reduce your civil rights and even right to live, weighs heavily on your ability to keep your head up, persevere, and thrive.” seem to offer the support and/or answers sought by a person contemplating suicide. And how many of us are equipped to come to the aid of a person contemplating suicide or who has survived a suicide attempt?
slaught. In today’s world, especially via social media, people can be shaming, ostracizing, vicious, hateful, and damning without a thought as to how the intended recipient will handle the vitriolic attack.
The journey toward suicide is a solitary, dark passage to a place where continuing one’s life is no longer worthwhile. The sanctity,
For many young people, social media is their preeminent means of communication, of being heard and seen — and
Cover and inside photo taken by Mychel Lilly.
CODE M / JUNE 2022 25
HEALTH
26 JUNE 2022 / CODE M
[ HEALTH ]
also how they’re perceived and judged by their peers. Bullying via social media has reached such an intense level that researchers and psychologists have included it as part of a new term: toxic socialization. From middle school through college, young people are trying so hard to figure themselves out and how they fit in the world. If you’re being bullied and put down in this formative period, your self-esteem and sense of self-worth are going to be hit hard. For many kids in this situation, escape doesn’t seem possible.
able to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. (1-800 -273- 8255) Most cities have agencies offering support from therapeutic to social welfare. If you are considering suicide, reach out. Emotional duress is not something to be ashamed of. You’re human and your feelings matter. You have value to the most important person in your life: you! You are here for good reason. Don’t let the world around you tell you differently. Ask for help. You’re worth it! ●
And if you’re part of the LGBTQ community or non-white, the larger societal push to reduce your civil rights and even right to live, weighs heavily on your ability to keep your head up, persevere, and thrive. Movements, like the “It Gets Better” initiative are very helpful, and there are many support groups, both online and inperson, available to listen, share, give support, and offer additional resources to help anyone considering suicide. Very importantly, reaching out will help a person to know that they’re not alone, that others are dealing with similar circumstances, and that others truly care about each person’s welfare and wellbeing. There is also the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a 24hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline avail-
Today’s children can feel intense societal pressures and want to hide.
CODE M / JUNE 2022 27
COVER
JAMES PICKENS FROM KARAMU TO GREY’S ANATOMY Photographer Sal Owen Groomer: Starlynn Burden Production Assistant: Liam Stahl Sweater: Sandro Paris Jersey: Vintage JPJ’s Personal Collection Sunglasses: Bamboo Sal www.salowen.com
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[ COVER ]
James Pickens discusses the consistency of being on a show for 18 years and how his development at Cleveland’s Karamu House launched his outstanding career.
Written by BRAD BOWLING Brad Bowling is the President of CODE Media Group, LLC. Bowling has his BA in mass media communication and an MBA in marketing. He contributes articles to the magazine continuing his love for writing.
CODE M / JUNE 2022 29
[ COVER ]
A
nyone from Cleveland understands who our national representatives are; Lebron James, Arsenio Hall, Steve Harvey, Halle Berry, and a host of others. But most people do not know that James Pickens Jr., who plays Dr. Richard Weaver, on ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, is a shining example of consistency in Hollywood.
Pickens, a 1971 graduate of East High developed his acting skills at Cleveland’s Karamu House, after graduating from college at Bowling Green University. Pickens began his acting career by doing small roles in college really did not know what he wanted to after returning to Cleveland. “After I graduated from college I came back home to Cleveland, and I really did not know what I wanted to do. Acting was the farthest thing from my mind, but I had dabbled in it while in college.” Pickens continued, “But a college professor playwright of mine, Dr. John Scott, told me that I needed to check out Karamu, so I did.” Scott suggested Karamu House because it was, and still is, one of the best places to learn how to act in the United
After arriving in Hollywood Pickens acted in several films and TV shows before landing Grey’s Anatomy. For anyone paying close attention, if you watch Dead Presidents is, a 1995 film about a group of military vets who decide to rob armored bank trucks, you will find Pickens playing the role as father to Lorenz Tate. In 1986, Pickens moved to the West Coast and began his Hollywood career playing Zack Edwards on the soap opera Another World from 1986 to 1990. He went on to have recurring roles on X-Files as Deputy Director Kersh, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The West Wing, Roseanne, Beverly Hills, 90210, JAG, and Six Feet Under. He also served a role in 42. In 1997, Pickens played the role of Stevens, head of NASA, in Disney’s comedy Rocket Man. In 2002, Pickens had a cameo appearance as the male zoo doctor in the film Red Dragon. In February 28, 2007, all-star benefit reading of The Gift of Peace at UCLA's Freud Playhouse, he portrayed a man whose life experiences lead him to volunteer in the peace movement, and played alongside actors Ed Asner, Barbara Bain, Amy Brenneman, George Coe, and Wendie Malick. The play was an open appeal and fundraiser for passage of U.S. House Resolution
“Shonda’s vision and incredible writing has allowed the show to maintain it attractive for viewers.” Pickens said. “I also think the fact that they rebooted the show on the streaming services gave younger people a chance to see the show who were not around when we originally aired.” Pickens said. States. “I went to Karamu, and I liked it. I learned all kinds of things when I studied at Karamu, and I realized that this is something that I wanted to do.” Pickens said. Pickens eventually went on to New York City and embarked on a 12-year career acting on stage in some of the biggest plays on Broadway. “I had no intentions on leaving the stage. I am a stage actor, and it is still my first love, but when my agent went to Los Angeles for a job, I cautiously decided to join him and started to act in film and TV.” Pickens commented. “I loved the stage, but the allure of Hollywood money made me want to take the risk. Hollywood and TV pay the bills, the state is for the soul.” Pickens commented.
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808, which sought to establish a Cabinet-level "Department of Peace" in the U.S. government, to be funded by a two-percent diversion of the Pentagon's annual budget. Pickens had several roles like that until he auditioned for Grey’s Anatomy, a medical drama from, at the time, newcomer producer Shonda Rhymes. Pickens contributes Rhymes's ability to adapt to the ever-changing Hollywood appetite for the longevity of the series which is going into its 19th season this fall. “Shonda’s vision and incredible writing has allowed the show to maintain it attractive for viewers,” Pickens said. “I also think the fact that they rebooted the show on the streaming services gave younger people a chance to see the show who were not around when we originally aired,” Pickens said. The 19-year run for Grey’s Anatomy makes it TV's longest-
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Pickens showing his Cleveland Pride by wearing Jim Browns 32 jersey.
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Boone celebrating the evening at 2021 Black Professional’s Foundation gala.
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running TV medical drama lasting longer than ER and M.A.S.H. For Pickens, it is not just a chance to have the consistency of a long TV career, but he is one of the only Black actors above 50 on a major network right now. And he takes that responsibility very seriously. “One of the things that I am most proud of is the fact that the show does an excellent job developing my character on the show. I feel like my character is fully developed and that keeps me engaged after 18 years on the show.” Pickens said. When Pickens is not acting, he is busy helping his wife and mother-in-law run their family restaurant, The Black Bottom Café. Pickens married Gina Taylor, a former member of Musique, on May 27, 1984, and has two children. “My wife saw that there is a problem in the Black community with obesity and wanted to do something about it.” Pickens continued. “So, we decided to start a restaurant that offers calorie-controls options that also were very good in taste.” The Healthy concept restaurant, mostly developed from original recipes, introduced the North L.A. area to a great concept of healthy foods. The restaurant tries to address the salt and sugar in foods that Black tends to be drawn to by reducing those ingredients in their offerings at the restaurant. https://blackbottomkitchen.com/
A promotional flyer from ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy.
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The Black Bottom Café has gotten rave reviews and continues to maintain a decent number of customers today. The future for Pickens looks bright after having announced a new production company with Morgan Freeman starting at the end of 2022. “We are very excited about our recent partnership with Amazon, and we are beginning to put together some options for our first production.” Pickens said. Who knows what will happen after Grey’s Anatomy’s 19th season this fall? But, whatever happens, Pickens consistency is a shining example of what happens when you follow your dreams, you do not take anything for granted, and you stop and make sure to celebrate wins. Pickens family is proud of everything he has accomplished, and Cleveland is too. ●
James Pickens and his wife started The Black Bottom Café to offer calorie-controlled meals to Blacks who need healthier foods.
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LIFE IF AN ENDANGERED SPECIES COULD TALK: PART II For Black males ages 15 to 35, navigating their way to a successful existence depends on the surroundings they are developed under. by Bolling Smith
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n the first article discussing the plight of young Black males between the ages of 15-35, the discussion was filled with the struggles they face in everyday life. Those struggles are often filled with life-altering events that create a bleak future and limited options for solutions. In the second part of this series, we will cover how Black men can be saved and why it is in the best interest of society to champion this cause. In understanding the problems that Black men face, one only need to look at the criminal justice system as one example of how desperate the situation is. Black men are unequally prosecuted in massive amounts and quite often do not have the resources to negotiate positive outcomes. The ripple effect of entering the justice system causes generational stresses on the person in the system and his family. There was an example of a Black man who was falsely accused of trying to cash his own paycheck. He was arrested and sat in jail for an entire weekend before the bank realized they had the wrong man. The person they were looking for was actually white, but with the same name.
The Black man was released without an apology, lost his job due to losing his security clearance, and he now has to sue, with his own resources, to get his credibility, name, record cleared, and humility back all just because of an error. This means lost wages for his retirement, lost income for his family and lost opportunity for his future. The cascading impact of being falsely prosecuted is devastating. The author of the acclaimed Chokehold: Policing Black Men writes on how the system treats African Americans with contempt: “If police patrolled white areas as they do poor Black neighborhoods, there would be a revolution.” A chokehold is a process of coercing submission that is selfreinforcing. A chokehold justifies additional pressure on the body because the body doesn’t come into compliance, but the body cannot come into compliance because of the vise grip being applied to it. Black men face a symbolic chokehold living in America due to the constant assault on their ability to live a life free from societal biases. This means removing the 40-pound backpack they walk around with that is a constant reminder CODE M / JUNE 2022 37
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The Phenomenal Food brand was started in 2019.
[ LIFE ] letting them know that they are Black.
between loneliness and poor decision-making.
The solutions to helping Black men succeed despite being hunted are aggressive and will take a huge financial commitment from society, but it can be done. But Black men cannot wait on society to fix the problem. If this endangered species is going to survive, Black men will need to device their own solutions for maintaining and growing in a society that fears them.
LIVING IN YOUR PURPOSE
Here are some self-help solutions that increase the rate of
Quite often, trouble can come from boredom. For Black youth, growing up with limited options can sometimes lead to poor decision-making. Finding your purpose as early as possible offers options on what paths to take to success. The earlier we find our purpose, the more focused we become to live in that purpose. Exposure to various kinds of purposes is important for young
Black men face a symbolic chokehold living in America due to the constant assault on their ability to live a life free from societal biases. success for any person. THE RULE OF THREE Making decisions in life is hard by yourself. For Black men, making a good decision can be critical to success. It is recommended that you consult with at least three people, who love you unconditionally before you make decisions. “I never make decisions without my crew,” John from Aurora said. “I also make sure that I check my feelings with my team because we all can make assumptions about things that can be detrimental to our success. My team of friends has saved me from making bad decisions several times.” Confiding in and having close friends can bridge the gap
adults to discover what they want to do. It is recommended that young people try as many different things as possible in order to eliminate careers and options so they can get to the things they like to do. “I didn’t know I liked football until I tried it,” Preston said. “I tried soccer and quickly knew that I didn’t like it. I also tried writing and learned I liked that, too. But I also found out that I didn’t like science as much after working on a project in our class.” Finding a passion for your purpose is the best way to create the kind of positive momentum one needs in order to determine their own success. ALIGNING WITH MENTORS
Mentoring can help save lives in the Black community for those that need the help. Trayvon Martin was murdered by someone who was biased against young Black males.
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LIFE
When children are growing up, the saying goes, “They will watch what you do, more than listen to what you say.” That statement rings true for anyone who has a mentor. The best way to increase anyone’s understanding of a specific passion is to have someone they can follow show them what to do. For young Black boys, the ability to have real-life mentors is critical to success. Mentors provide a real person to speak with, follow, and observe in real-world situations. In the book, Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki details the lessons he learned from living with his rich dad and poor dad. Those lessons gave Kiyosaki the foundation he needed to become the businessman he is today. The suggestions in this article are only a few of the ways that Black youth and men can control and ensure the outcomes they desire. There is no one thing Black men can do to equalize the playing field to gain the success they deserve. Challenging work and determination always lead the list when it comes to obtaining success. And while Black men are making incredible strides all over America, there are still too many people falling into the cracks of life in the race to achieve the goals Black families need to thrive. However, the more focus we put on this subject, the better off we will all be. ●
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Reality TV is creating a culture of jealousy and hate among young girls in America.
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CREATING THE PERFECT WOMAN For a man to get the woman of his dreams, he must be willing to mold and shape her into the woman he needs her to be. But in order to do that, he must be willing to remold himself first. By Brad Bowling
D
ating after 40 might be one of the hardest things single people can embark on. There are so many more factors than dating in your twenties. The fact that everyone has either been divorced or widowed
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creates a new layer of complexity that people quite often give up on or settle for something less than what they desired. Men, quite often, look for things in women that they only think they want. Because of misguided desires, they often either fail to find the woman that they want, or they lose a good woman because they don’t see her qualities until it’s too late. But there is a way that men can get what they are looking for: They can create the woman of their dreams. According to Dr. Myles Munroe, men can create the perfect woman they want by helping her reach her full poten-
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tial. Munroe, OBE, was a Bahamian evangelist and ordained minister, an avid professor of the Kingdom of God, author, speaker, and leadership consultant who founded and led the Bahamas Faith Ministries International and Myles Munroe International. He died in a plane crash in 2014 during a flight to the Bahamas. Before his death, Munroe authored books and created videos on how to find and create the kind of life that people want. Munroe was internationally known and respected in his field of study. He felt that men could acquire the women of their dreams by simply creating her. But what Munroe was really telling men is that they needed to recreate themselves first if they were ever going to find the woman of their dreams. Men have grandiose ideas of what they want in a woman.
Those ideas quite often counter to what they actually need. Munroe helps men redefine what they really need based on a new mentality that helps men discover, date, and grow the right woman into becoming the woman of his dreams. That redefinition is what creates an opportunity to find love. All people come with baggage and have had problematic relationships in the past. Munroe understands this and helps men forge a new path to dating and finding love by helping them open themselves up for change and mental change. “After reading and studying the teachings of Dr. Munroe I learned that if I was going to find the woman of my dreams, I needed to adjust my thinking on what I really wanted,” Brian from Aurora said. “That change in thinking helped me to start to date women who were better for me. And in return, I helped them become better, too.” CODE M / JUNE 2022 43
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O Successful Black women have it all: successful careers, nice homes, amazing cars, and great friendships. Yet finding romance seems to be the biggest challenge for Black women over forty. And the higher her IQ, the harder it is to find love. by Brad Bowling
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[ LIFE ] Munroe felt like all people are lacking something. It’s the man’s job to find out what that void is in the relationship and fill it. It sometimes can be filled with love, and other times it can be filled with compassion. Munroe expects men to lead the relationship by example. Munroe also expects men to create the environment they want with encouragement and support. Once women see this kind of effort, they begin to change and grow into the kind of person that the man was looking for all the time.
barriers threatening to limit their God-given purpose. Munroe preached that everyone could live in their purpose if they would only follow their hearts. Throughout his career, Munroe impacted millions of people and his videos still are some of the most-watched on YouTube. For men looking to create the perfect woman, Munroe simply said, “If you want a better woman, become a better man and she will develop into the woman you need her to be.” ●
The commitment of the man, first, is what creates the perfect woman, thus the perfect relationship. “I used to chase women for their looks and often would find a beautiful woman, who was not right for me,” Ron from Hudson said. “In the end, what I ended up doing was dating the wrong kind of people for me. That caused me nothing but problems, and I was never happy.” Munroe also instructed that men need to look beyond beauty when it comes to dating and finding love. He felt like men would put too much pressure on finding the right woman physically and give up on the woman who was right mentally and emotionally for him. The men who use Munroe’s process for creating the perfect woman sought women who had the qualities they were looking for and built the relationship around that, not beauty. “I’m looking for compatibility now. I want to be attracted to my woman, but I desperately need our paths, emotions, and desires to be the same. If we can connect on a mental level, it makes me more physically attracted to her. That is my perfect woman,” Brandon from Parma explained. Munroe authored scores of books during his career. One of his most successful books was Discover the Hidden You: The Secret to Living a Good Life. In his book, Munroe talks about living your best life with great decision-making, loving who you are, and getting the things you want out of life. In the book, Munroe discusses how men can fulfill their dreams. He encourages people to live their best life by realizing why they were born and working to break down the
Myles Munroe has written scores of books on how to become a better person.
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[ LIFE ] ver the last thirty years, Black women have risen to become some of the most powerful people on the professional landscape. Their accomplishments, across all sectors of business, are nothing short of pure determination. Today, Black women represent some of the largest corporations and lead some of the best organizations in the country. Her incredible success is happening despite the American corporate landscape being the worst for Black women. Based on McKinsey & Company’s “Annual Women in the Workplace” study, 49 percent of Black women feel that their race or ethnicity will make it harder for them to get a raise, promotion, or chance to get ahead compared to just 3 percent of white women and 11 percent of women overall. Despite obstacles in the workplace, Black women are excelling in numbers never seen before. And while those business accomplishments are good, Black women still struggle to find qualified Black men to date to complete the goal of having it all. There are many factors involved when discussing the problem of dating for Black women. Let’s examine several factors that impact finding success in the romance department. A HIGHER IQ MEANS FEWER OPTIONS Black women who benefit from high IQs struggle to find suitable Black mates. Black men with high IQs will date down to find love. Men often have other factors for dating than intel-
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LIFSTYLES
JIM
DENNIS: IN FRONT OF THE LENS
Photographers spend most of their profession taking pictures of other people. Anthony Kirby felt it was time to praise one man who made a difference behind the lens of his camera.
Written by ANTHONY KIRBY Anthony T. Kirby is the Lifestyle Editor for CODE M Magazine and has spent over 30 years in the menswear industry. He lives in Philadelphia, PA where he is the Creative Director for FINICKEY, an online men's haberdashery brand. (https://finickey.us)
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T
he world’s population that owns a smartphone is 94 percent, which equates to numerically 7.26 billion people who use some type of smartphone. Today’s smartphones are so digitally advanced with an assortment of apps like video chats, games, ordering dinners, requesting an Uber in real-time, even watching your home on your phone with a security camera app.
The biggest advancement to the smartphone is having the camera to capture those instant images we know as “selfies.” At any given moment of the day, someone is taking his/her own picture of themself or an event. It’s become part of a cultural phenomenon of everyone becoming DIY photographers. Well before selfies, we had a “Kodak” moment. We used professional photographers to capture and edit a true sense of artistry through a lens. One of the unsung, world-renowned photographers is Mr. Jim Dennis. A career that spanned over 50 years, Mr. Dennis, a native of San Francisco, has never put his camera down. His work has been featured in art venues, galleries, and museums. His photography work has also included both commercial and non-commercial. Mr. Dennis picked up photography at a noticeably young age around fourth or fifth grade borrowing his father’s little brown camera looking down and snapping pictures of his classmates. Mr. Dennis was fascinated with the process of having his film developed into pictures, which back in the late 1950s and ‘60s took about 3-4 days to have developed. Once he received and previewed his developed pictures, he followed his passion for photography. During the early stages of honing his craft, Jim had an ear for good music. It was the nightclubs in the Bay Area where he would go and see jazz artists like Dizzy Gillespie, Cannonball Adderley, and Miles Davis. At that time, you could go into the clubs and take pictures of the artists during their sets. What Mr. Dennis found out was that taking “flash” pictures of an artist was a no-no. He found that out very quickly with one look from Miles. It was a teachable moment. He never took a flash picture again in the clubs. Early on, Jim Dennis would be discovered and study under Ruth
Jim Dennis’s portraits can be seen in the gallery session of his website. Those images capture the years of his amazing work.
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[ LIFESTYLES ] Bernhard, a German American, world-famous photographer who was known for her women in the nude art form. In 1969, Mr. Dennis moved from the Bay Area to Rochester, NY, to take a position with Eastman Kodak. At that time, Mr. Dennis was the only young black staff photographer in the department. His job took him all over the world capturing the images of people and places. An exciting time for a young man from the Bay Area who was taking pictures just for the pure enjoyment of it. Jim never thought it would take him into far-off regions. His work has taken him to Haiti, Brazil, France, and the Ivory Coast. Some of Jim’s finest photography work highlighted by Kodak was an assignment that sent him to the Midwest to photograph cowboys in Wyoming. Jim also traveled to India for an Kodak project exhibit commemorating the 25th Anniversary of India’s independence. It was through his lens that the diverse culture of India’s people was captured. He was there for only two months. He could have stayed a year, and still wouldn’t have been able to fully capture such an event on camera. After fifteen years with Kodak, Jim relocated back home to
the Bay Area. He opened his own studio to continue working at what he loves most: taking images whether of musicians, executives, or corporate clients it keeps this young gentleman of 82 years of age still enhancing his legacy. Recently Mr. Dennis was overwhelmed with so many thank-you cards from the next generation of elementary students where he shared his years of work as a professional photographer. Yes, they all had smartphones to capture that allimportant “selfie” and “Kodak” moment. ●
Pete Escovedo shown here with his beautiful wife and kids.
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FASHION
SUMMER FASHION BLENDS The ascot, born in England and perfected by Laron Harlem here for you to enjoy and consider the next time you are looking for something different to wear. Written by LARON HARLEM
A wardrobe shopper, stylist and accessories designer who specializes in dapper looks that truly appeal to the most discerning eye. mailto:styledbydecar-lo@gmail.com, https://www.styledbydecarlo.com/
BRIAN WALKER: model STYLED BY DECARLO ASCOT BY STYLED BY DECARLO
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DALE CORDICE: Model STYLED BY DECARLO ASCOT BY STYLED BY DECARLO
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BRADLEY CANDIE: Model STYLED BY DECARLO ASCOT BY STYLED BY DECARLO
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