17 minute read
LACK OF SLEEP CAN KILL
SEA MOSS TO THE RESCUE
For those looking for an all-in-one remedy and an effective alternative to medicine and multiple solutions, sea moss might be the ingredient you’re looking for. by Bowling Smith
As people look for ways to stay young longer and live a better life, sea moss dominates the current conversation and trends as the go-to remedy for a large number of health benefit factors. Sea moss is a type of seaweed that has recently become popular as a natural remedy for a variety of conditions. It is high in nutrients, including vitamins A, C, and E, as well as minerals. Sea moss has been shown to have antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties, making it helpful for treating conditions like arthritis, asthma, and even cancer. In this guide, we will explore a number of sea moss benefits in detail!
Sea moss is a source of iodine, carotene, and sulfurcontaining compounds. These nutrients are thought to Sea moss has an extensive list of health benefits, including boosting thyroid function, immunity, gut health, weight reduction, heart health, digestive system health, and skin beauty. It’s worth noting that more research is needed to determine its impact. Here are ten benefits of taking sea moss: GUT HEALTH – Because sea moss contains alginate, it can promote gut health by binding to toxins and bad bacteria in the gut and preventing them from being absorbed by the body. Additionally, it’s a reliable
contribute to the health advantages of sea moss. Some people take sea moss for its minerals and vitamin content, including potassium, calcium, selenium, magnesium, manganese, and iron. When used on the skin, sea moss is thought to hydrate and soothe irritated skin. It is also sometimes used as a natural laxative or diuretic. Sea moss may offer some health advantages, such as improving thyroid function, boosting energy levels, and supporting healthy skin. source of fiber, which helps promote healthy gut bacteria and prevent constipation. OVERALL HEALTH – Sea moss is rich in vitamins A, C, and E, as well as has anti-inflammatory properties, which are known to:
promote healthy skin and can help reduce the risk of acne and other skin conditions, reduce the risk of chronic illnesses, relieve colds and flu, and can help reduce the risk of infection,
However, there is little scientific evidence to support these claims. More research is needed to determine whether sea moss is effective for these or any other health purposes. detoxify your body, and can help reduce the risk of disease, and
Dr. Sebi, an herbalist, and healer from Honduras declared sea moss the best agent to combat any health issue a person might have. Dr. Sebi rose to acclaim in the 20th century in America for his practices. He famously helped Michael Jackson overcome his addiction to painkillers and was considered an innovator in herbal medicine. A strong advocate of sea moss, Dr. Sebi helped establish the foundations of many healthcare practices today.
increase energy levels and can help reduce the risk of fatigue. EXPELS MUCUS FROM THE BODY – Sea moss is rich in iodine, which is known to promote the expulsion of
Brown and Phillips keep each other motivated as they work towards a better lifestyle.
mucus from the body, thereby helping reduce the risk of infection.
HEALTHY DRINK OPTION – Sea moss is a healthy drink option. Its anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce the risk of disease. GREAT MOUTH WASH – Sea moss is rich in iodine, which is known to promote oral health. Its antiinflammatory properties can help reduce the risk of gingivitis and other periodontal diseases. GOOD FOR WEIGHT LOSS – Sea moss contains a compound called alginate, which is known to promote weight loss by binding to fat cells and preventing them from being absorbed by the body. Additionally, sea moss is a thorough source of fiber, which helps to promote satiety and prevent overeating.
Sea Moss is a natural herb with healing qualities. helps the body burn fat rather than carbohydrates, making it easier to develop strong, lean muscles. Consult with a doctor if you intend on using sea moss to ensure you don’t have allergic factors that could impact your health. Finally, make sure to use a reputable supplier when you purchase any sea moss products. ●
For men, sea moss can be used as a natural sexual enhancement product. Many say it can increase testosterone levels and sperm count, giving fertility a boost. Additionally, sea moss contains a specific acid called “taurine” that helps the body burn fat and build muscle. When working out, this acid
KEEPER OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CULINARY HISTORY
Toni Tipton-Martin comes to Cleveland September 18th to inspire us to use food as inspiration. Inspiration for living, eating and getting the most out of our culinary experience. by Kaleiah Veasey and Leah C.K. Lewis
Toni Tipton-Martin is a culinary journalist and award-winning author, currently acting as the Editor in Chief of Cook’s Country Magazine and its accompanying television show. She has earned awards like the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP) Trailblazer Award and has even been a guest instructor at the Whole Foods Culinary Center. Moreover, Toni combines her passion for food with cultural heritage to show the impact food and tradition have in our communities. Jubilee: Recipes from Two Centuries of African American Cooking, is an example of Toni shining a light on the unsung African American heroes who inevitably shaped American cuisine as we know it. Jubilee soon became a James Beard Award winner and was dubbed one of the “Cookbooks You Need for 2020” by The New York Times. This is also the book that earned Toni the International Association of Culinary Professionals award! No surprise really. The cookbook is an awe-inspiring collection of photography and immersive storytelling. In fact, prior to Jubilee, Toni wrote The Jemima Code: Two Centuries of African American Cookbooks. Another awardwinning cookbook, The Jemima Code was also recognized by The New York Times, as one of the “best cookbooks of the century so far.” The Jemima Code not only earned Toni the 2016 James Beard Book Award, but also the 2016 Art of Eating Prize and a Certificate of Outstanding Contribution to Publishing from the Black Caucus of the Library Association! What an amazing way to begin a legacy and set the stage for another masterpiece like Jubilee. Toni’s impressive feats in the literary world don't stop there. She was the first African American Food Editor of a major daily newspaper, The Cleveland Plain Dealer, a contributing editor to Heart and Soul Magazine, and the nutrition writer for The
Los Angeles Times. Toni is also the co-founder and former president of both Southern Foodways Alliance and Foodways Texas. In addition to those accomplishments, she has over 30 years of experience teaching cooking on media platforms like, but not limited to, CBS and PBS. Her 30-year reign also includes her being a featured speaker at universities, food organizations, museums, book festivals, and libraries. Some speaking engagements of note are the Library of Congress, Duke University, the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill and Charlotte), Austin History Center, the Longone Center for American Culinary Research, William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan, Roger Smith Cookbook Conference, Foodways Texas, Culinary Historians of Southern California, International Association of Culinary Professionals, Les Dames d’Escoffier, Webster College, Prairie View A&M University, Women Chefs and Restaurateurs, the College of Charleston, Mississippi University for Women, and Austin Foodways, just to name a few. It’s clear that Toni’s work to encourage cohesiveness between wellness, food, and culture has left a lasting impression on many people, African American or not. Her skill set and passion even led to her being invited to the White House by none other than former First Lady Michelle Obama! She visited twice during the First Lady’s outreach campaign, Let’s Move, to help encourage families to adopt healthier lifestyles. Coupled with the First Lady’s emphasis on physicalactivity, Toni was the perfect resource for finding the best meal choices for any family. Although her achievements are amazing, Toni continues to take it a step further and founded the SANDE Youth Project in 2008. The goal of her not-for-profit is to use her knowledge of cultural identity and culinary wellness to combat childhood hunger, obesity, and disease within impoverished communities. SANDE was created with the understanding that a major part of a family’s development, as a whole and as individuals, is nourished by what’s served and shared at the kitchen table. Selfesteem, identity, community awareness, respect, and morality are only a few of the important values that can be served, one meal at a time.
The program utilizes a three-part strategy based around “Culture, Cuisine, Community,” and has hosted two signature events, the Soul Summit, and the Children’s Picnic. The Chil-
dren’s Picnic is co-presented with Edible Austin Magazine and is a free event for the community to learn about the local, healthy food that is available. The Soul Summit’s first symposium, “A Conversation About Race, Identity, Power, and Food,” was the first symposium to exclusively celebrate and bring awareness to how much African American food and culture have impacted the country. Toni has played a huge role in different avenues of nutrition and wellness, so it’s great to see that she has compiled that knowledge into a cause that can stand the test of time, with or without her. And let’s not forget that among her long list of accomplishments and contributions Toni is also a mother of four! So, she’s busy, to say the least! Without question, Toni Tipton-Martin is one of today’s leading culinary journalists, authors, and historians of African American cuisine. As such Toni is a keeper of our culture During Cleveland Book Week, the Great Lakes African American Writers Conference, or GLAAWC (pronounced “glossy”), will host a Sunday brunch that is honored to have Toni TiptonMartin as its featured guest and speaker! GLAAWC celebrates the impact African American literature has on the world by creating a communal and inclusive space for lovers of literature of all ethnicities to learn and share. GLAWWC is also happy to have celebrity chef Eric Wells on board to share his culinary talents! Having these two individuals at the brunch is an amazing way to end GLAAWC’s fifth year! ● Join us on Sunday, September 18, for a celebration of culture, food, legacies, and literature! Tickets are $150 available for purchase at www.GLAAWC.us. The event takes place at Landerhaven Executive Caterers, 6111 Landerhaven Dr., Mayfield Heights, Ohio 44124 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
Tipton-Martin can be seen in Cleveland on September 18th.
Photo by Ulysses Muñoz
WALTER MOSLEY: NOT YET DONE
Photo by Masterclass.com
Living legend author Walter Mosley has published over 60 works in his 70 years. His best work continues to be ahead of him as he visits the Fifth Annual Great Lakes African American Writers Conference in Cleveland, Ohio.
by By Leah C.K. Lewis and Vince Robinson
T
o say that novelist Walter Ellis Mosley is the most prolific writer of African American literature is not hyperbole, it is a fact. Mosley, at only 70 years old, has published over 60 works of literature — many award-winning — and a bevy of social commentary. A number of his original works have been adapted for television and film.
In 1995, Denzel Washington starred in Devil in a Blue Dress, which was adapted from Mosley’s titular 1990 novel. Recently, Samuel L. Jackson was the leading man in Mosley’s The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey for Apple TV. Currently, Mosley is at
work on another season of the late John Singleton’s FX TV series Snowfall, where he serves as executive producer and writer.
Mosley has even more range: His expertise spans from crime novels to literary fiction, nonfiction, political essays, and young adult and science fiction. In his career as a writer, Mosley has demonstrated the power of the narrative in multiple genres. His gift is an ability to tell stories with Black characters in a way that exemplifies the multidimensionality of the Black experience, spanning decades and crossing centuries, while providing a historical context that permits readers to obtain a perspective of the nuanced lives lived in an America where they are often confronted by racism and other challenging issues.
In the tradition of the griot, Mosley stands shoulder to shoulder with the exemplary African American storytellers of the 21st century, such as Toni Morrison and August Wilson, breathing life into words translated onto the page and on screens large and small. Through fiction and non-fiction, his craft speaks to the inadequacies of the current societal systems that lead to oppression, with a critical eye and analysis that cuts through conformity and convention. With this ability, Mosley defies the customary label of “great Black writer” and ascends to the lofty class of great American writers with few counterparts. His versatility has enabled him to tackle novels, plays, and screenplays that clearly illustrate that he is one of the most prolific writers this country has ever seen.
The literary world has recognized Mosley’s genius with some of the most prestigious awards in the field. He has received the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters from the National Book Foundation — the first Black man to receive this honor. Notable literary figures, including Toni Morrison and Arthur Miller, have also received this award. So many awards have graced Mosley, just as he has graced readers with his captivating writing. In 1998, Mosley won the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, which honors writers who craft works celebrating diversity, humanity, and the indomitable human spirit. Established in 1935 by Cleveland poet and philanthropist Edith Anisfield-Wolf, the Cleveland Foundation administers the award and has since 1963. Prior to that, the Saturday Review served as the administrator.
In 2020, he released The Awkward Black Man, a collection of poignant short stories. The NAACP acknowledged The Awkward Black Man with the Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work–Fiction.
Still very active, Mosley is a sought-after public speaker. He speaks on a plethora of topics, including “Black Male Heroes,” “Black Lives Matter,” “The Only True Race Is the Human Race,” and other pressing social issues. A man of both Jewish and African American descent, Mosley identifies as both. His work reflects this particular experience. Furthermore, his commitment to social justice, articulated through his literature and public remarks, may stem from the fact that his parents could not legally obtain a marriage license — even in California, a state that recognized their union. Injus-
tice and inequity are the legacies Mosley’s literary prowess has sought to overcome. He attributes his keen and probing intellect to his father, Leroy, and his mother, Ella, who encouraged his love for reading and writing. His parents provided him with a quality education throughout his upbringing in South Central Los Angeles. A graduate of Johnson State College, Mosley did not take up writing until he took a writing course at City College in Harlem. It was Alice Walker’s The Color Purple that inspired him, and a tutor, Edna O’Brien, who encouraged him to write. W.W. Norton & Company published his first book, Devil in a Blue Dress. His career received a boost when former President Bill Clinton listed Mosley as one of his favorite authors.
It is a wonder that Mosley has written so many books. Apparently, he only began writing at the age of 34. Since the inception of his writing career, he has typically published two books a year; this is after careers in computers and corporate America. It is stunning to think what the literary world would be like without the work of Walter Mosley. From his public presentations to his literary compositions, Mosley celebrates African American culture. He has been a fan favorite since the days of Easy Rawlings and Fearless Jones, the main characters in two of his mystery book series. His numerous New York Times bestsellersfortify his standing as a literary North Star, particularly for male writers, writers of Jewish descent, and those who love accessible, but excellent literature.
Still engaged in writing — both literature and in TV and film — and public speaking, Mosley still has time to wow us. What tales will he spin? What characters will he bring to life on the page and on small and large screens? What lessons will we glean from his personal experiences and his creative mind? Which two new books of his will be published in 2022-2023?
The world of Walter Mosley continues to emerge and engage. At his core, he wields critique as a weapon of mass destruction of the norm. Black lives, culture, and literature matter and Mosley embodies these truths. Mosley remains a beacon, way-maker, and literary juggernaut. ● Walter Mosley will appear at 3:00 pm via Zoom during the Fifth Annual Great Lakes African American Writers Conference (GLAAWC, pronounced “glossy”) on Saturday, September 17, 2022. GLAAWC takes place at the Cleveland Public Library, in the Louis Stokes Auditorium, located at 525 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio, 44114. Doors open at 10:00 am. The conference begins promptly at 10:30 am. Denne Michele Norris, editor of Electric Literature, will appear via Zoom at 2:00 pm. This is a hybrid (i.e., a combination of inperson and virtual) event, but registration is required. Register at https://www.glaawc.us/register-for-glaawc-2022/.
Walter Mosley
Photo by David Burnett
SURVIVAL THROUGH MUSIC
Mafia Summa suffered a great deal of pain as a child. Her music today reflects her ability to thrive continue to love life. by John Horton
Known to fans as “Mafia Summa,” Analicia Ciera Townsend was born into the privilege of creativity and faith. While adjusting from being estranged from her parents at the age of seven, she invested here energy into writing, singing, recording, and designing apparel at the age of eight. She lived with her grandparents until the age of thirteen. Most recently in 2017, she suffered the tragic loss of her only sister, to whom she passionately looked up. She and her brother-inlaw took on the supporting role to care for her three nieces alongside raising two of her own. A tough year indeed, but she continued to pursue her goal of becoming a recording artist.
With focused energy towards her education and musical artistry, she thrived and earned an associate degree in 2019. Today, Mafia Summa has more than one hundred recorded songs and is currently promoting her newest hit, Red Lipstick. Her dedication and endurance have proven to be a part of the many strengths and visions that made her the artist she is.
“If there is any reason for my purpose, its touching people I can’t physically reach through my music.” Mafia Summa said.
“I want the world to feel my energy and know that time can be hard, but we have to live now because forever is not promised.” ● Mafia Summer’s music can be heard on https:// nervedjsmixtapes.com/.
Today’s children can feel intense societal pressures and want to hide.
COLOR COMFORT CLOTHES
With fall comes color. And with color comes incredible opportunities to take dressing up to another level. Let’s celebrate the end of summer in style with expectational clothing.
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/
BRADLEY CANDY
J’NAE IN BLUE
ROXANNE IN RED
