MAHONING VALLEY
LETTERS, From Page 6
Feb. 3 workshop to cover critical race theory
retary of the Department of the Interior, Secretary Haaland is entrusted with the caretaking of our natural spaces and the species that live in them. She is not living up to that mandate. Please join me in writing to the Department of Interior at doi.gov and ask that Secretary Haaland finally act to stop this unsustainable killing of gray wolves in the Northern Rockies before it is too late. It took our nation decades to bring these wolves back. Idaho and Montana can destroy this progress in just months if the Biden Administration continues to ignore them. Sincerely,
The Community Foundation of the Mahoning Valley and the Dr. James Dale Ethics Center at Youngstown State University will present a workshop on critical race
Brett Kengor
Struthers
Senate must pass Freedom to Vote Act Dear Editor,
One year ago, we witnessed an attack on our country: an insurrection by political extremists at the U.S. Capitol. A mob of violent rioters defaced the Capitol Building and threatened the lives of the elected officials and staff working there—the core of American democracy. This was a pivotal moment for America and our fundamental promise of free and fair elections. One year out from that horrible day, Congress has yet to secure the right to vote and the integrity of our elections—while state and county governments are passing laws to make it harder to vote. Hours-long lines and oppressive I.D. requirements are only the beginning, unless Congress acts. The Senate must pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act; both bills are essential to the survival of the American experiment. The House of Representatives has already passed them. We can’t let made-up Senate rules stand in the way of protecting our democracy. Fighting for our democracy by passing voting rights legislation is one of the most important actions we can take as we commemorate this attack on our country. Sincerely, Nancy Zaitzew
Youngstown
PHOTOGRAPH BY NASIR H. WATSON-WALKER
The Anatomy of a Drop Fade BY ZION ADISSEM
A
medium-sized flat-screen TV is sitting up in the corner while a March Madness game between Ohio State and Michigan is being played. The volume is turned up loud, and the persistent sound of 20 sneakers squeaking over hardwood nearly dominates the play-by-play. But nobody’s watching it. Instead, they’re preoccupied with something “P” did. Laughing wildly, and doing their best impressions of him. Meanwhile a hand applies pressure. And the blades do their work. Clippers buzz and hum. Click on, and off again. Buzz, hum. Click on, then off again. As conversation carries on in the foreground. A boar-bristle brush moves neatly across curl patterns. Laying waves in place. Preparing the way for the buzzing clippers to carve out deep, cascading ridges. There’s a subtle chish-chish as the bristles sift through hairs. Like the sound of a push broom sweeping over a smooth, dusty concrete floor. The blades are adjusted. Lines are cut. Alternate clippers take over and the brush returns—revealing immaculate fades. A pair of boys are fussing over something by the storefront windows while afternoon traffic races by on the other side. We’re gathered in a shop, positioned on a slope, just outside the foot of the Hill District in Pittsburgh.
The chairs inside weigh a ton. Carrying clients and their expectations. Sons and brothers. Filled with countless nodes of Black American arcana. As a slew of tools are used in concert; exchanging passes at the temples, around the ears and below the crown. Sometimes it’s like alchemy is being done in here. And every week, or two weeks, the entire process is repeated without fail. They’re architects – occupying a space between art and design. Their place of business has a distinctive milieu. They’ve been described as safe and therapeutic. They’ve been to Hollywood. LeBron James and company brought them to HBO. They manufacture luxury—in its most honest, immediate, and accessible form. Like a testament to the edict that we are “created … in his own image.” Reformed appearances are held into mirrors. A quiet sense of righteousness settles into the air. Dead presidents and daps exchange hands, we depart, and the day begins anew. n Zion Adissem is a writer and YSU alumnus currently living in Pittsburgh. His writing ruminates on his experiences with cultures and people, traveling to cool places, and always finding something good to eat. Past projects include the development of the metro30 podcast. Discover more of Zion’s work and subscribe to his newsletter at endnotes.substack.com.
theory as part of Black History Month. “What is Critical Race Theory?” occurs 2-5:15 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 3 at The Williamson College of Business Administration, Room 3422, 221 N. Hazel St., Youngstown 44503. How did an obscure academic label become a hotly contested, partisan How did an political issue? The obscure academic session will examine label become a the controversy, ex- hotly contested, plain the historical partisan political background and ex- issue? The session plore the fundamen- will examine the tal issues at stake in controversy, an interactive pre- explain the historical sentation. The workshop is background free, but space is and explore the limited. To regis- fundamental ter, email Rachael issues at stake in an interactive Chacon (rchacon@ presentation. cfmv.org) or call 330-743-5555. The program will be led by Attys. Marie B. Curry and Brant T. Lee. n Atty. Marie B. Curry (Juris Doctor/ Master of Public Health) is managing attorney of Community Legal Aid’s Health Education Advocacy and Law (HEAL) Project and Immigration practice. n Atty. Brant T. Lee (Juris Doctor/Master of Public Policy) is professor of Law and Director of Diversity and Social Justice Initiatives at University of Akron School of Law. The workshop was rescheduled from last year. The course has been approved for Continuing Legal Education Credits and Accountancy Credits. The workshop has been approved by the Accountancy Board of Ohio for 3.0 CPE hours for specialized knowledge. It has been approved by the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Continuing Legal Education for 2.50 total CLE hours, with 2.00 of attorney professional conduct instruction. Masks are required to be worn indoors on the YSU campus and will be required during the workshop.
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