ONYX Magazine January/February 2021

C E L E B R AT I N G B L AC K AC H I E V E M E N T T H RO U G H O U T F L O R I DA

Volume 24 – Number 1 JAN/FEB 2021

BLACK HISTORY MONTH TRAILBLAZERS SET OUR PATH

PROFESSIONAL MENTOR WHY YOU NEED ONE AND HOW THEY HELP

GOODBYE,

2020

FRIENDS SHARE THEIR HOPES FOR 2021

BENJAMIN CRUMP

“ BLACK AMERICA’S ATTORNEY GENERAL”

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SWIPE RIGHT? PEARLS AND PERILS OF ONLINE DATING

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F E AT U R E D CO N T R I B U T O R S

CONTENTS Keisha Boyd, is the owner of Pickett Public Relations Group and offers more than 20 years of industry experience. She is a proud FAMU graduate and member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. www.pickettpr.com

Patricia Brown Denis is a writer and educator in Tampa who pens the ONYX Reads column. She owns Patricia Brown Denis Consulting, Inc., helping you to Write it Right.

Laura Dorsey, is the CEO of LLD Consulting, an associate editor of ONYX Magazine and author of the ONYX Magazine Money Matters series. Laura lives in Upper Marlboro, Md.

Zelda Jones is a writer in Orlando who was a librarian and teacher at the historic Jones High School.

Stephen King, author, sommelier and critic.

Nancy Port Schwalb is the founder and president of Schwalb Public Relations in Orlando.

Allysen Kerr is the principal and creative director at Prymel Elements. As a branding and consulting agency, Prymel Elements specializes in branding, strategy and design solutions for culture-bending brands.

6 From the Publisher 7 Perspective: You Are Never Alone 8 Your Thoughts: Goodbye, 2020 10 Travel: How Family Travel Has Changed in 25 Years 12 Black History: Because of Them…

16 Florida Scope: News from Florida 17 Beyond Florida: National News 19 The Quad: University Stories 21 ONYX Reads: Passion and Pain 22 Page Turner: New Novel “The Kindest Lie” 24 Music & Entertainment: Oleta Adams and Mykal Kilgore 26 Economy: Post-COVID Optimism 28 ONYX Profile: Gary Hartfield Gives Big 30 Workplace: New Year, New Career 31 Medically Speaking: Health Briefs 32 Health & Wellness: Heart Healthy 33 Personal Finance: Tax Tips for Entrepreneurs 37 Education: Why You Need a Professional Mentor 38 Money Matters: Encouraging Black Students to Study Abroad 40 Relationships: The Pearls and Perils of Online Dating 44 Real Estate: Shut Out - Discriminatory Practices in Lending 46 Wine & Food: Dark Chocolate and Cognac

34 FEATURE

BENJAMIN CRUMP, “BLACK AMERICA’S ATTORNEY GENERAL” COVER PHOTO COURTESY OF BEN CRUMP LAW

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FROM THE PUBLISHER PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Rich Black VICE PRESIDENT Marianne Eggleston, M.B.A. MANAGING EDITOR D. Shenell Reed, M.B.A. EXECUTIVE STRATEGIST Lena Graham-Morris EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Maria Barnes

RICH BLACK

ASSOCIATE EDITORS Gayle Andrews Laura Dorsey Sharon Fletcher Jones Trina Ryan

JAN/FEB 2021 Dear Family, Welcome to 2021! The new year comes with new hopes. We lost so much in 2020: family members, friends, colleagues, taken by the scourge of the coronavirus. Unemployment was at a high. Businesses folded and our country’s division was more visible than it has been in 60+ years. Through it all, ONYX Magazine carried a torch on the frontlines in our community. Partnering with the experts, we dove in to bring you the latest information on COVID-19 and our stories reflected the sentiments of our nation’s people: from Black Lives Matter to other political issues, we made sure you stayed informed. Thank you for returning the generosity by supporting us.

In our first cover story of 2021, Attorney Ben Crump shares his ambitions and what he believes about social justice.

Heralded as “Black America’s Attorney General,” he has represented families in some of America’s landmark cases— cases that have divided us in some ways and brought us together in others. His compelling words will inspire you. Also in this issue, we encourage professionals to find a mentor.

Just because you’re at the top of your game does not mean you can’t seek wise counsel. The article tells you what to look for. February is Black History Month and we share some trailblazers who we don’t always hear about. Because of them, we can do anything. In a story referencing Valentine’s Day, we introduce you to a few individuals who chose to swipe right!

Read what inspired them to try online dating.

Thank you for supporting us for more than 23 years. As always, we are dedicated to bringing you entertaining, inspiring and informative information that celebrates us! At ONYX Magazine, we are stepping into 2021 with a boldness that we are making a critical difference in the lives of our community members—you.

DESIGN DIRECTOR Jason Jones GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jon Burton OFFICE ASSISTANT Mikayla Rich BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Matt deJager CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Patricia Brown Denis Allysen Kerr Professor Laura Dorsey Stephen King Lakelyn Hogan Nancy Port Schwalb Zelda Jones Clare Trapasso

Keisha Boyd Clare Corbould Percy Crawford Steve Davis

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Nancy Brown Grafi James Brion Price Warren Smith/Blakk Rabbit Photography ONYX ADVISORY COMMITTEE Deidre Parker, Chair Michelle Tatom, Immediate Past Chair Dick Batchelor Bob Berryhill Dr. Lavon Bracy Bryon Brooks Marva Brown Johnson Hon. Mable Butler Yolanda Cash Jackson Dr. Cynthia Chestnut James Clark

John Crossman Gary Hartfield Barbara Hartley Tony Hill Alma Horne Rodney Hurst Ann Jenkins Connie Kinnard Larry Lee, Jr.

Brenda March Marisol Romany Nancy Port Schwalb Margaret J. Thompson Gail Thomas-DeWitt Hon. Alan Williams Carla Williams Dr. Samuel Wright Lady Dhyana Ziegler

FOUNDERS

Enjoy!

Rich Black

Lester and Lillian Seays ONYX Magazine is published by ONYX Communications and Media Group, Inc., Address: P.O. Box 555672, Orlando, Florida 32855-5872. Phone 321-418-7216. Subscription rate is $19.95 for six issues. For subscriptions and notification of address change, contact ONYX Magazine at the above address or e-mail us at info@onyxmagazine.com. Letters to the editor are encouraged. Copyright 2021 by ONYX Magazine. All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the writer or interviewee and not necessarily those of the publisher. Manuscripts, photos and art should be submitted with a selfaddressed stamped envelope. The publisher does not assume responsibility for any materials not submitted in manner advised. Unsolicited materials are not subject to payment from ONYX Magazine.

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PERSPECTIVE

You Are Never Alone

BY ZELDA JONES

T

he New Year is a time of reflection and resolve. We look back on the previous year and vow to make changes to improve or enhance our lives and the lives of others. Last year gave us a hard look at some of the issues we face as a nation. Many of those issues prompted positive discourse and peaceful protesting. There is one issue, however, that may not have been given the attention that it needs and deserves: Loneliness.

According to a 2020 study by Cigna, loneliness has become an epidemic—an epidemic that spreads across gender, age, race, and socioeconomic backgrounds. No one is wholly immune to its ravages or its grip. Even though this study focuses on loneliness in the workplace and its impact on productivity, it also highlights some of the key determinants of loneliness such as social isolation and lack of social support.

Lack of frequent and meaningful interactions with others can lead to poor physical health and mental health.

According to mental health therapist Gerri Tartt, Ed.D., “loneliness can bring about an awareness that one’s social or personal relationships are deficient. Aloneness oftentimes breeds loneliness, however, being in a relationship does not negate loneliness. Dutch psychologist Jenny de Jong-Gierveld has speculated that the emphasis on individual fulfillment, the downgrading of stable relationships, and commitment to others are loneliness provoking factors.

During the recent pandemic, many areas of the country had to shut down their businesses and social venues. Many people found themselves experiencing—for the first time—feelings of loneliness. Some people expressed frustration and disappointment. Yet, some people had experienced loneliness long before the pan-

demic. They were all too familiar with feelings of loneliness and many of them lived alone with little to no social interactions with others. They represent a broad array of demographics.

In the 2020 study by Cigna, the younger generation expressed feelings of loneliness at a higher percentage than the older generation.

Men reported at a slightly higher percentage than women of loneliness and respondents with lower incomes stated that they experienced feelings of loneliness more than the respondents with higher incomes. Latino respondents expressed feelings of loneliness at a higher percentage followed by African Americans. I think it is interesting to note here that Cigna fielded a survey of 10,000 U.S. adults. So, it is a small representation of Americans.

Regardless, loneliness is a big problem for many people and its consequences are dire.

Suicide, substance abuse, unemployment, and homelessness are among the most serious by products of loneliness. So, what are some solutions? How do we combat this scourge?

If you could ask my dear, departed, mother, she would say, “You are never alone.” She was referencing Deuteronomy 31:8, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” I would add Ecclesiastes 4: 9-10, “Two are better than one;

According to a 2020 study

by Cigna, loneliness has become an epidemic

because they have a good reward for their labor.

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.”

Loneliness may always exist, but we can resolve to minimize it through volunteering or donating to charities and organizations that provide social support to those in need. Recognize however that social support is not enough.

People need people. So, reach out to neighbors, family, and associates in a pure, sincere gesture of friendship. Resolve this year to make phone calls, text messages, email, and send cards to the people in your life. Make it a Happy New Year!

The 2020 U.S. Report can be found at Cigna.com.

ONYX MAGAZINE 7

YO U R TH O U G HT S

LOOKING FORWARD GOODBYE, 2020, AND HELLO TO SOMETHING BETTER IN 2021.

BY D. SHENELL REED

I

n January 2020, we were just learning about COVID-19 for the first time. We did not know the severity of the virus nor did we know it would cross the waters and ravage our country. When scientists labeled this coronavirus a pandemic, some of us immediately understood it was a real threat and heeded expert advice. Others thought it was a hoax and continued risky behavior that caused it to spread quickly. As a result, people died—more than 318,000 in America before Christmas, the most of any country in the world.

COVID entered an already divided nation. With the brutal killings of African Americans at the hands of White law enforcement and vigilantes, our country appeared to have reverted to the 1600s. Voter suppression, racial slurs, caustic administration. Needless to say, we were ready for 2020 to end.

Responding to the devastation of 2020, the nation, with African Americans at the helm, fought for and won more inclusion for Black people; we voted in a new administration that promises to put the people first; and, by year’s end, two major pharmaceutical companies launched vaccines to combat the coronavirus. Although we don’t know what 2021 holds, we have reason to believe something better is coming. In this story, a few of our friends across three generations share their hopes for the new year.

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Shaynae Smith Customer Service Supervisor Jacksonville 2020 was filled with loss, depression and isolation. Instead of meetings, dates, outings with friends, and family gatherings, our human interactions were reduced to technology-based tools. 2020 brought racial tensions and injustices to the forefront of America which ironically created a diverse and monumental presidential election. Simultaneously, 2020 has brought much success. Goals were set and dreams came true. My hopes for 2021 are for people to remember what transpired in 2020, learn from it and aspire to be better. Photo of Shaynea Smith by Warren Smith/Blakk Rabbit Photography James Moran, Ph.D. Philanthropy Director Tallahassee Prior to the Joe Biden and Kamala Harris win, I humbled myself in prayer and allowed faith and patience to prevail. Their leadership offers positive change, peace and hope to “Build Back Better.” This can be accomplished by reaching across the aisle to mend our divided nation. I look forward to the enthusiastic greetings, the uncontrollable laugher, the giggles of innocent children, and the ability to embrace friends and break bread in an intimate space without restrictions.

Tabatha McDonald Public Relations Manager West Palm Beach I hope our divided nation will have the courage to move forward and heal in a democratic and responsible manner and continue to implement solutions for the COVID-19 pandemic. I hope some of the precious time that families have spent during the pandemic will become the norm, especially for the sake of children. I hope Americans will have a greater appreciation for the invaluable things that mean the most, including health and relationships, more so than material possessions.

Savion Moore IT Support Specialist Deland My hope for 2021 is to have stability in as many aspects of my life as I can. I learned a lot in 2020, but in order for me to effectively use what I learned to better my life and really make a difference for the people around me, I need to work on being mentally stable, emotionally stable and financially stable. And my other hope is that I am able stay in an environment that enhances my growth.

Vickie Oldham Research Director Ellenton 2020 was a year of divisiveness in politics, race baiting coming from the White House, death caused by COVID-19, and uncertainty. For me, it was a time to reaffirm my purpose in this life. In 2021, I’m hoping for calm and the toning down of rhetoric that only aggravates. I’d like for leaders and residents in our communities to figure out ways to stop the senseless killings of African Americans by police. Peace and goodwill toward each other is my prayer.

Samuel L. Wright, Ed.D. Education Consultant Tampa My hope for 2021 is that we will return to some normalcy in Washington politics, witness a new administration that respects “Black Lives Matter,” and protect the American people from COVID19. My health is better, but I have other issues to which I must attend. I will work to improve my consulting business that has suffered from the pandemic and serve as a conduit to see that my children and others are successful in their undertakings. We serve a mighty GOD and I trust young people will learn to follow Christ! Afterall, “Joy cometh in the morning.” (Psalms 30:5).

Jordyn Jerry Junior at The Great Jones High School Orlando My hopes for 2021 are to better balance my time with school, volleyball, work, and studying/taking the SAT and ACT. By the second week of January, I hope to have a routine down that allows me to be successful in school and outside of school. I also hope to earn my driver license and a car. I hope that by the end of my volleyball season that I receive a scholarship. My hope is to be better.

St. Clair Murraine Editor/Sports Talk Show Host Tallahassee As I look forward to the new year, I’m not thinking resolutions or anything of that sort. I just hope to be more optimistic that we could see change for better. The past 12 months have been a lesson in how to change my perspective and be optimistic.

So many inequities have been exposed in 2020: race relations, lack of diversity in the workplace, unfair housing, and lack of healthcare in underserved neighborhoods. My hope is that I could contribute to making life better for someone.

ONYX MAGAZINE 9

TR AVE L

HOW FAMILY TRAVEL HAS CHANGED THROUGHOUT THE LAST 25 YEARS

W

hile 2020 brought some definite and dramatic changes to the way people travel, there have actually been numerous changes in the travel industry throughout the course of the last 25 years.

Travelers have become increasingly savvy, thanks to technology that allows them to thoroughly research their destinations and plan vacations to an unprecedented level of detail.

Consumer reviews have also changed the way people travel, as insights from others heavily influence decisions on everything from attractions to local restaurants.

Here are some of the most notable changes in the travel industry over the past 25 years: TRANSPORTATION AND ROUTE GUIDANCE: A couple of decades ago, airfare was significantly more expensive. Now, due to lower fuel costs and larger planes that allow for efficiency, fares are considerably lower than in the past. Other changes in transportation include the return of

family road trips. Although gas prices have created some fluctuation, Americans still tend to appreciate the flexibility of road trips and the ability to set their own pace. Newer technologies such as GPS and other route guidance resources have also made it easier to take a road trip, from not only finding directions from one point to the next, but also attractions, lodging, food and more along the way.

ACCOMMODATIONS: When thinking about lodging, traditional hotels and quaint bedand-breakfasts automatically come to mind.

However, vacation rentals and holiday homes have been around for decades, too. Thanks to online platforms, access to private, whole-home accommodations like condos, cabins and other homes has grown exponentially. For example, Vrbo started as a modest classified ads-style website for online vacation rentals and today offers more than 2 million unique places to stay across the globe.

COMMUNICATION AND PHOTOGRAPHY: A few decades ago, it was common to drop a postcard in the mail for loved ones while on a trip so you could share the scenery and say a quick hello (although the postcards didn’t always arrive before you returned home). Today, between smartphones and social media, it’s possible to share moments from your journey with family and friends back home instantaneously. Phones and digital cameras are now the primary tools for photography, so there’s no more waiting for film to develop and hoping you captured that sunset just right.

BOOKING AND COMPARISON SHOPPING: In the past, booking travel meant looking at classified ads for rental properties or contacting travel agents or visitor centers to gather information about a destination. Now, you can compare prices for everything from car rentals to flights and accommodations online, read reviews from former guests and book and pay for those reservations with a few taps on your keyboard or smartphone. For example, Vrbo began as a website for vacation homeowners to list and advertise their properties for travelers to find and rent, and now offers a multitude of tools such as search filters, Trip Boards, Virtual Tours and reviews to help you compare vacation rentals and find the perfect one for your trip.

ATTRACTIONS: Travel used to be largely driven by must-see destinations and stand-out attractions at popular places. More recently, travelers seek out unique experiences that align with their personal interests and look to explore places off the beaten path. There’s also an increased focus on learning about new places and embracing how the locals eat and live.

Learn more and get started planning your next vacation at vrbo.com.

(Family Features)

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BLACK HISTORY

TRAILBLAZERS SET OUR PATH ALEXANDER MILES

ALICE AUGUSTA BALL Alice Augusta Ball was an African American chemist who developed an injectable oil extract that was the most effective treatment for leprosy until the 1940s. Chaulmoogra oil had previously been used for leprosy, however Alice Ball revolutionized it and made it injectable by discovering the ester ethyl form, meaning that it was water-soluble and able to dissolve in the bloodstream. She was the first woman and first African American to receive a master’s degree from the University of Hawaii, where she developed the treatment; and she was also the first female chemistry professor at the university. Ball also studied chemistry at the University of Washington where she earned a bachelor’s degree in pharmaceutical chemistry and two years later received a second degree in pharmacy. With her pharmacy instructor, she published a 10-page article in the prestigious “Journal of the American Chemical Society” titled “Benzoylations in Ether Solution.”

This kind of accomplishment was very rare for not only African American women, but women of any race. Alice Augusta Ball died on December 31, 1916, at the age of 24. (Source – “Scientific Women)

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Alexander Miles was an American inventor and business person, best known for being awarded a patent for automatically opening and closing elevator doors. He was awarded U.S. Patent 371,207 on October 11, 1887. After a move to Winona, Minn., he met and married Mrs. Candace J. (Shedd) Dunlap, of La Porte, Ind., a widow with two children, who was four years his senior and a native of New York. Together they had a daughter, born in 1876, named Grace. It is believed by some that Alexander got the idea for his elevator door mechanism after Grace accidentally fell down a shaft, almost ending her life. Shortly after her birth, the family relocated to Duluth, Minn.

Here, Alexander became the first Black member of the Duluth Chamber of Commerce. In 1888, he moved to Chicago where he founded The United Brotherhood as a life insurance company that would insure Black people, who were often denied coverage at that time. The family moved to Montgomery, Ala. by 1889, where Miles was listed in the city directories as a laborer. Around 1903, they moved again, to Seattle, Wash., where he worked in a hotel as a barber. Miles died in 1918, and was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2007. (Source – National Inventors Hall of Fame)

PATRICIA ROBERTS HARRIS Patricia Roberts Harris was dedicated to public service, civil rights and the promotion of social justice. A woman of many firsts, she was the first African American woman to serve the nation as Ambassador, the first African American woman to become dean of a law school, and the first African-American woman to serve in a Presidential cabinet. Patricia Roberts excelled academically and won a scholarship to Howard University, graduating in 1945. She earned her law degree from George Washington University and was admitted to the District of Columbia Bar and to practice before the United States Supreme Court. Harris was appointed co-chair of the National Women’s Committee for Civil Rights by President John F. Kennedy. In 1965, Harris accepted an appointment as Ambassador to Luxemburg. She then served briefly as Dean of Howard Law School in 1969.

In 1977, Harris was appointed as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. At her confirmation hearing, she was queried as to her ability to represent the interests of the poor. Her response was: “I am one of them.

You do not seem to understand who I am. I am a Black woman, daughter of a dining-car worker. I am a Black woman who could not buy a house eight years ago in parts of the District of Columbia. I didn’t start out as a member of a prestigious law firm, but as a woman who needed a scholarship to go to school. If you think that I have forgotten that, you are wrong.” In 1980, Harris was appointed Secretary of the Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Patricia Roberts Harris died on March 23, 1985. The Patricia Roberts Harris stamp was issued in Washington, D.C., on January 27, 2000, and 150 million stamps were produced. This stamp is part of the Black Heritage Stamp Series. (Source – Women’s Hall of Fame)

Jean-Michel Basquiat: One Master Artist / Two Masterpieces exhibition at the Tampa Museum of Art in September 2019. Photo by Jessie Stehlik.

JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT Jean-Michel Basquiat was an American artist of Haitian and Puerto Rican descent. Basquiat first achieved fame as part of SAMO, an informal graffiti duo who wrote enigmatic epigrams in the cultural hotbed of the Lower East Side of Manhattan during the late 1970s, where rap, punk, and street art coalesced into early hip-hop music culture. By the early 1980s, his neo-expressionist paintings were being exhibited in galleries and museums internationally. At 21, Basquiat became the youngest artist to ever take part in Documenta in Kassel. At 22, he was the youngest to exhibit at the Whitney Biennial in New York. The Whitney Museum of American Art held a retrospective of his art in 1992. Basquiat’s art focused on dichotomies such as wealth versus poverty, integration versus segregation, and inner versus outer experience. He appropriated poetry, drawing, and painting, and married text and image, abstraction, figuration, and historical information mixed with contemporary critique. Basquiat used social commentary in his paintings as a tool for introspection and for identifying with his experiences in the black community of his time, as well as attacks on power structures and systems of racism. Basquiat’s visual poetics were acutely political and direct in their criticism of colonialism and support for class struggle. Since his death at the age of 27 from a heroin overdose in 1988, his work has steadily increased in value. At a Sotheby’s auction in May 2017, Untitled, a 1982 painting by Basquiat depicting a black skull with red and yellow rivulets, sold for $110.5 million, becoming one of the most expensive paintings ever purchased. It also set a new record high for an American artist at auction.

(Source – Basquiat.com) Basquiat art courtesy of the Tampa Museum of Art

ONYX MAGAZINE 13

SAGE

SAFE HOME

AT

CARE OPTIONS ABOUND FOR AGING IN PLACE

BY LAKELYN HOGAN

I

n the COVID-19 pandemic, home has been reinforced as the center of the universe for many of us. It has evolved into our office. It has doubled as our children’s classroom. It has transformed into our vacation destination. And it continues to be where we eat, sleep and unwind every day. As the safest place we can be during an ongoing global health crisis, our homes have never been more central to our lives.

For the oldest among us, this is only magnified, as eight out of every 10 COVID-19 deaths reported in the United States have been people 65 and older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Statistics like these underscore how vital practices such as social distancing and sheltering in place are for older adults.

Fortunately, regardless of the pandemic, home is where most people want to be as they grow older. In fact, research conducted for Home Instead, Inc., finds that 90 percent of older adults hope to age in place at home. But most can’t do so without help—70 percent of older adults in the 65+ age group will need assistance at some point.

So how can we honor the wishes of older generations in the pandemic, keep them safe and ensure they receive the care they need? The good news is that there are more options than ever for care for aging adults.

Outside of the home, options such as retirement villages and senior apartments can provide a great deal of independence, particularly for those who are unable to age within their home. For those with specialized care needs that require higher-acuity care, alternatives such as nursing homes and memory care facilities are worth considering. However, none of these alternatives can provide the flexibility and affordability of home care. Home care keeps people in the safety of their own homes and offers services

that span the spectrum of assistance for older adults—from transportation and companionship to medication management and around-theclock care.

If your loved one requires specialized care— whether rehabilitating from an injury or living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias— home care allows for a range of options to match your specific needs. You can work with your provider to figure out the right fit.

If you’re caring for a loved one from a distance, home care can provide peace-of-mind by simply having someone visit for a few hours, a couple times a week. Families can work with their provider to determine the appropriate level of care and stay closely connected to stay on top of changing needs. During difficult financial times, a team approach to home caregiving is an especially smart choice. Family members, friends, neighbors and providers can divide responsibilities to ensure your loved one is looked after. This is very important for anyone who feels overwhelmed by caring for a relative.

Ask for help. The pandemic has never made the need for a break more apparent among family caregivers.

When considering available care choices, cost is certainly a factor that rises to the top of the

list for most. Unfortunately, far too many people assume resources such as Social Security and Medicare will pick up the entire tab. Beyond private pay or self-insurance, which are the most common ways people pay for care, long-term care insurance is a great option and, for those who qualify, Medicaid or Veterans Assistance could help.

Before the pandemic, family caregivers were spending nearly $7,000 per year to care for an aging loved one by reducing savings for their own retirement or their kids’ education, delaying their own health care expenses and even taking loans or early withdrawals from their retirement nest eggs. COVID-19 has only exacerbated the situation. What these people are experiencing underscores the importance of planning ahead.

But the truth is, only half of older adults have taken the time to do so. And the key to choosing the right approach for yourself—or a family member—is planning and discussing the alternatives before they’re even needed.

Lakelyn Hogan, MA, is a gerontologist and caregiver advocate for Home Instead who writes for “USA News.”

ONYX MAGAZINE 15

FLORIDA SCOPE

STATUE OF DR. MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE ON ITS WAY

A message from U.S. Representative Kathy Castor in September read: “After years of work by so many, I am proud to share that Master Sculptor Nilda Comas is now able to travel to Pietrasanta, Italy, and “put hammer to chisel to marble” on Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune’s statue to represent Florida in the U.S. Capitol. In a remarkable feat of industriousness that Dr. Bethune would surely love, Nilda is using the last marble hunk of its size pulled from the historic quarry also used by Michelangelo for his sculpture of “David” 500 years ago.

The hope has been for Florida to send an 11-foot-tall marble statue of Mary McLeod Bethune to the Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C. Finally, those who endured the journey for 10 years found out the master sculptor chosen for the project has been given the official OK from Washington, D.C., to begin chiseling.

"I was thrilled," said sculptor Nilda Comas. "I was very, very happy and relieved."

"This is fabulous news!" said Nancy Lohman to the “Daytona Beach News-Journal.” Lohman leads the local committee that's been trying to raise $550,000 for the project. If all goes well, the statue will make its way into the hall by the end of July 2021.

Nilda Comas standing with a model she made to sculpt the statue of Dr. Mary McLeod-Bethune. Photo courtesy of Nilda Comas

JOHN DAVIS APPOINTED SECRETARY OF THE FLORIDA LOTTERY

John F. Davis was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to be the Florida Lottery's tenth Secretary. Secretary Davis is an accomplished leader with more than 20 years of service in the public and private sectors. He previously served as the Executive Vice President of the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce, where he established solid organizational structures that accelerated revenue and growth. He was also the President of the African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida, overseeing businesses and organizations in six counties. In 2018, Orlando Magazine named Secretary Davis one of the Top 15 Leaders to Watch.

Prior to his career in the public sector, Secretary Davis co-founded a private business aimed at offering professional training services and youth sport programs. A native of Pahokee, he earned his bachelor's degree in political science from Florida State University where he was a standout safety for the Seminole football team.

Today, Secretary Davis continues to be an active member of his community, volunteering his time with the United Way, Valencia College, Volunteer Florida, and the Kappa Alpha Psi Achievement Foundation.

The Florida Lottery's mission to maximize revenues to enhance education in Florida is something that Secretary Davis holds near and dear to his heart. His previous leadership roles in the greater Orlando community were rooted in supporting youth and students to help them achieve their dreams. Every decision made by the Florida Lottery is done so with the welfare of Florida's students and schools in mind. Over the past 32 years, the Lottery has provided funding for more than 880,000 Bright Futures Scholarships, benefitting students statewide.

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B E YO N D FLO RI DA

PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENTELECT TAP BLACK TALENT FOR TOP JOBS THE NEW ADMINISTRATION WOULD “LOOK LIKE AMERICA” IF THESE APPOINTEES ARE CONFIRMED IN JANUARY. Wally Adeyemo, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury - Wally Adeyemo currently serves as the president of the Obama Foundation.

General Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Defense - General Lloyd Austin was the 12th Commander of the U.S. Central Command, retiring as a four-star general in 2016 after more than 40 years of military service.

Hartina Flournoy, Chief of Staff to the Vice President - Tina Flournoy currently serves as Chief of Staff to former President Bill Clinton.

U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development - Congresswoman Fudge currently serves on the Committee on House Administration, House Committee on Agriculture, and House Committee on Education and Labor.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT-ELECT; PHOTO COURTESY OF MERCK

Shuwanza Goff, Deputy Director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs - Shuwanza Goff served as Floor Director for the House of Representatives under House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer.

Karine Jean-Pierre, Principal Deputy Press Secretary - Karine Jean-Pierre was Senior Advisor to President-Elect Joe Biden and Chief of Staff to Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris on the Biden-Harris Campaign.

Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith, COVID-19 Equity Task Force Chair - Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith currently serves as Associate Professor of Medicine, Public Health, and Management and Associate Dean for Health Equity Research at the Yale School of Medicine.

Cedric Richmond, Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement - Congressman Cedric Richmond was National Co-Chairman of the Biden-Harris Campaign and is currently a Co-Chair of the Biden-Harris Transition Team.

Symone Sanders, Senior Advisor and Chief Spokesperson for the Vice President - Symone Sanders served as a Senior Advisor on the Biden-Harris campaign.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations - Retired Ambassador Linda ThomasGreenfield, a career diplomat, is returning to public service after retiring from a 35-year career with the U.S. Foreign Service in 2017.

Companies Vow to Hire One-Million Black Workers

A group of U.S. companies has agreed to hire 1 million Black Americans over the next 10 years in an effort to shut down barriers that cause economic strife in Black communities. The startup, OneTen, is made up, so far, of 37 companies like Target, Verizon, Nike, Bank of America, Ken Frazier and Comcast. The new hires will be people without a fouryear degree to help them gain access to and keep good jobs. “Many times, companies require four-year degrees for the kinds of jobs that really do not require a four-year degree,” Merck CEO Ken Frazier, OneTen’s co-founder, told CBS News. “We’re trying to urge companies to take a skills-first approach rather than a credentials approach, which will eliminate some of the systemic barriers African Americans have faced.”

OneTen is intended to be a “comprehensive system” that connects companies with local education and skill-building organizations — such as community colleges and nonprofits — to not only hire Black people, but also intentionally invest in their success at the businesses.

Ambassador Susan Rice, Director of the Domestic Policy Council – Ambassador Rice served as National Security Advisor from 2013-2017, where she directed and implemented the Obama-Biden Administration’s national security policy in all areas Cecilia Rouse, Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers – Cecilia Rouse currently serves as Dean of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.

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THE QUAD FAMU JOINS PHARRELL WILLIAMS ON STARTUP INITIATIVE Florida A&M University (FAMU) President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., joined Pharrell Williams to announce the launch of the Grammy Award winning artist’s Black Ambition, a non-profit initiative to provide a launching pad to success for Black and Latinx entrepreneurs developing startups in technology, design, healthcare and consumer product services.

The centerpiece of the initiative are two prize competitions, The Black Ambition HBCU Prize and the Black Ambition Prize, which culminate in one major national event.

“Recent events and tragedies have illustrated the always existent stark divisions in the American experience, and while entrepreneurship has long been a tenet of the American dream, marginalized people have faced long-standing barriers to success,” said Williams, a producer, songwriter, entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist.

“With Black Ambition, the goal is to help strengthen the pipeline of talented entrepreneurs and close the opportunity and wealth gaps derived from limited access to capital and resources.”

In partnership with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), the Black Ambition HBCU Prize will offer prizes and mentorship for current and former HBCU students as they develop or seed early-stage ideas and launch companies in technology, design, health care and consumer products and services. The grand prize winner will receive up to $250,000 and at least nine additional teams will receive smaller prizes.

The goal is to address the Black and Latinx wealth gap by creating entrepreneurship opportunities for HBCU students and former students. It will also provide mentorship, which Williams called the “strategic scaffolding,” that enables talented entrepreneurs to succeed. President Robinson said FAMU students and alumni are perfectly positioned to benefit from this project.

Marc Williams

FMU DEVELOPS NEW STEM ESPORTS PROGRAM Florida Memorial University (FMU) recently appointed sports marketing pioneer Marc Williams, Ph.D., as the Global Scholar-Practitioner to lead the first comprehensive STEM esports program at a historically Black university. A leading esports and Sport Marketing educator and thought leader, Williams will be responsible for creating an innovative STEM program that focuses on coding, technology, production, communications, esports, marketing and entrepreneurship, among other areas. FMU’s movement into esports is a component of an ambitious plan to expand enrollment and elevate the university to global preeminence developed by FMU President Jaffus Hardrick, Ph.D. “At FMU, we offer students the opportunity to transform themselves and their communities by

equipping them with a high-quality education and preparing them to capitalize on economic opportunities,” said President Hardrick. “We have confidence that Dr. Williams will help FMU students’ cash-in on the $1.11 billion esports market.”

Williams brings more than 25 years of experience in the entertainment, education, and retail sectors, including tenures at three of the world’s largest sports brands: Champs Sports, Footaction, and Reebok. He led a team that helped Champs Sports become a billion-dollar brand and was one of the catalysts to create the sports retail industry’s first monumental partnership deal with hip hop icons Jay Z and 50 Cent.

He also secured sports retail’s first product placement deal within the videogame industry in the 2003 iconic Streethoops Basketball Game by Activision/Blizzard.

Pharrell Williams

ONYX MAGAZINE 19

VOICES & CONVERSATIONS EXPRESSIONS OF INDIVIDUALITY AND COMMUNITY IN CONTEMPORARY ART NOW ON VIEW THROUGH MAY 2, 2021

INSTALLATION SHOT OF VOICES & CONVERSATIONS INCLUDING: SOUNDSUIT. NICK CAVE, 2011. Ceramic birds and figures, metal flowers, gramophone, wig, beads, metal armature, appliquéd, knitted and crocheted fabric on mannequin. 112 1/2 x 58 x 47 1/2 in. (foreground).

Untitled, 1999. Kerry James Marshall.

8-color woodcut, 12 panels; 243.8 x 1,524 cm. Collection of the Orlando Museum of Art, Purchased with funds provided by the Acquisition Trust. (background).

ORLANDO MUSEUM OF ART 2416 N. MILLS AVE. LEARN MORE AT WWW.OMART.ME/VOICES

20 ONYX MAGAZINE

ONYX READS

PASSION AND PAIN BOOKS THAT TUG AT THE HEART

BY PATRICIA BROWN DENIS

LOST ALONG THE WAY

BY ERIN DUFFY Sometimes the greatest threat to a relationship between two people is the other people, friends and family members who are around the couple.

This short book covers the time that passes and the impact that time has on the way we feel about our significant other as well as the other people in our circle. This book covers the challenges of growth and how growth can separate us as we sometimes get “Lost Along the Way.” This would make a great book club addition with guiding questions for group discussion included at the end.

THE NIX

BY NATHAN HILL The opening of this book cites a quote “Inspired Utterances of Buddha,” which attempts to explain why nations fight. The Utterance suggest the obvious that different perspectives cause conflict because each party holds their truth as sacred and infallible. This quote is a perfect launch for the relationships in this novel. The characters share their challenges from their own perspective.

The fact that people in the same relationship, can hold opposing truths about their relationship is the catalyst for most breakups.

This novel handles the encounters with oneself as the most important aspect of the relationship with others.

CAN I GIVE MY HUSBAND BACK?

OTHER PEOPLE WE MARRIED

BY EMMA STRAUB This collection of stories covers off beat, taboo relationships and adventures in dating. It also addresses the questions we all ask when we hear about situations involving circumstances that we would never consider in our own relationship. The stories confirmed for me that dating is difficult with any race of people. Because of the pressure we apply to the end game, any relationship can be difficult to start. The complexity is especially true if, like the characters in this book, you work in an environment where no one minds their own business; especially if your personal business is more interesting than your peers.

THIS IS NOT A LOVE SONG

BY BRENDAN MATHEWS The various stories within this short novel showcase the nuances of relationships as one might experience an amusement park. Some people like the thrill of the ride, others like watching others ride, and still others only want to see what they can bring home. We all must decide if we want to take the ride in a relationship like an adventure seeker or a spectator.

BY KRISTEN BAILEY As a happy newlywed myself, the title of the book piqued my interest.

It never occurred to me to even consider the question posed by the title. Reading this book requires a sense of humor and a desire to understand dialogue from a British perspective.

The characters are familiar even if some of the suggestions are completely foreign considering the setting is in London. The chapter titles give away the fact that the stories are intended to be taken with a grain of salt, sarcastic and funny.

A marriage breakdown is difficult to watch. It is even more painful to experience while attempting to maintain cordiality for the sake of the children. I encourage you to read the book and laugh out loud. I did.

TOO GOOD TO LEAVE, TOO BAD TO STAY

BY MIRA KIRSHENBAUM This book encourages, cautions, and offers sound advice for individuals at a crossroad in their relationship. This is a workbook to help people determine the stage of their relationship and establish the necessary boundaries for themselves. The book begins by asking the tough questions that, when answered, will help people to sustain themselves where they are, or help them decide to leave. It provides the information necessary to develop the courage to be honest about their decision. This book will give you the basis to know where to start the relationship evaluation.

If nothing else, it is a chance to take a healthy second look.

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XXX XG X EX XT X XXX PA UX RX NX ER

THE KINDEST LIE I

A DEBUT NOVEL BY NANCY JOHNSON

t is 2008, and the rise of Barack Obama ushers in a new kind of hope. In Chicago, Ruth Tuttle, an Ivy-League-educated Black engineer, is married to a kind and successful man. He is eager to start a family, but Ruth is uncertain. She has never gotten over the baby she gave birth to—and abandoned—when she was a teenager. She had promised her family she would never look back, but Ruth knows that to move forward, she must make peace with the past.

Returning home, Ruth discovers the Indiana factory town of her youth is plagued by unemployment, racism and despair. While her family is happy to see her, they remind her of the painful sacrifices to give Ruth a shot at a better future—like the comfortable middle-class life she now enjoys.

Determined, Ruth begins digging into the past. As she uncovers burning secrets her family desperately wants to hide, she unexpectedly befriends Midnight, a young White boy who is also adrift and looking for con-

22 ONYX MAGAZINE

nection. When a traumatic incident strains the town’s already searing racial tensions, Ruth and Midnight find themselves on a collision course that could upend both their lives.

“The Kindest Lie” examines the heartbreaking divide between Black and White communities and plumbs the emotional depths of the struggles faced by ordinary Americans in the wake of the financial crisis. Capturing the profound racial injustices and class inequalities roiling society, Nancy Johnson’s debut novel offers an unflinching view of motherhood in contemporary America and the never-ending quest to achieve the American Dream.

A native of Chicago’s South Side, Nancy Johnson worked for more than a decade as an Emmy-nominated, award-winning television journalist at CBS and ABC affiliates nationwide, including in West Palm Beach and Tampa.

HarperCollins Publishers - Publish Date, Feb. 2.

JOIN OUR TEAM ONYX Magazine celebrates 23 years of entertaining, inspiring and informing African Americans throughout Florida. Join our team as we continue to expand. We are seeking experienced and enthusiastic Sales Representatives and Writers. Send your resume’ and writing clips (for writers) to info@onyxmagazine.com or call 321-418-7216.

ENTERTAINS, INSPIRES AND INFORMS

ONYX MAGAZINE 23

M U S I C & E N T E R TA I N M E N T

MUSICAL ROYALTY OLETA ADAMS FINDS HER ‘PLACE OF PEACE’

BY PERCY CRAWFORD

O

ne of the most beautiful voices to grace a microphone, Adams, was nominated for a Grammy in 1992 for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for her song “Get Here.” Now, the fourtime Grammy-nominated artist’s new single, “Place of Peace,” is a soothing melody of hope, a passionately performed, heartfelt offering that is needed now more than ever. “Place of Peace” epitomizes everything about Adams’s career, including the belief that music can heal, offer peace and make difficult times seem conquerable.

During my recent conversation with Adams, she shares her inspiration for providing music to fans, the importance and impact of “Place of Peace” and discusses her purpose as an artist.

HOW HAVE YOU BEEN, MRS. ADAMS? ADAMS: I’ve been very, very well.

My husband and I have been locked up in this house, except for going out for groceries or the post office.

We pretty much stay at home.

We’re used to being together 24/7 because he’s my drummer as well, so we travel all the time together and work together. So, it’s been exciting for us. We like creativity, 24 ONYX MAGAZINE

and it just feels good…a musician has to do something with their art.

They can’t just sit around, or else it’s like dying a slow death. That’s been great.

YOU HAVE TRAVELED THE WORLD AND GAINED MANY EXPERIENCES THROUGH THAT TRAVEL. IS IT TOUGHER TO CREATE BEING STUCK IN THE HOUSE AND NOT TRAVELING ABROAD, OR DO YOU FIND CREATIVITY IN SECLUSION? ADAMS: Well, our creativity happens every night we’re on stage because I have musicians like that, that I’m working with. They are so amazing. The times that we play really is different; the space we give and sharing a moment, the answer to an adlib, the response to improvisation, trying to reach a place each night that touches not only our hearts but the hearts of the people who are listening. So, that entire performance is an opportunity to be creative. And at home, unfortunately, I haven’t written a lot of songs. I worked with my guitarist in trying to create something to at least get us going. So, we have been kind of busy doing those things—

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

and doing these instrumentals for our church, I’m not singing a lot for our church. I am going to do something for Christmas.

IS THERE A BALANCE THAT YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND HAD TO FIND TO SEPARATE THE MARRIAGE FROM THE MUSIC? ADAMS: Absolutely! We make time for each other. We set aside time. There are times where we don’t want to hear any music. There are times where we have special holidays, a lot of special holidays.

John is a hopeless romantic. So, he may wake up before I do and look at the “Food Network;” he’ll decide he wants a special meal, and then he’s going to make a special occasion out of it.

He’ll say, ‘You know what, tonight we’re going to have, blah-blah-blah,’ and it becomes that special moment. We have always done that. It became even more important as we were isolated here.

We read materials that inspire us. We’re very much into Richard Rohr, who is a monk and

someone who has written a whole lot of books about the Christian life. And we get so much inspiration from his daily writings. It keeps us balanced. I think that’s the important word.

WHEN YOU RELEASED “PLACE OF PEACE,” IT WAS AROUND APRIL WHEN THINGS WERE BEGINNING TO SHUT DOWN BECAUSE OF COVID19. OBVIOUSLY, YOU DIDN’T PLAN IT THAT WAY, BUT YOUR TIMING TO RELEASE A SONG ABOUT A “PLACE OF PEACE” WAS IMPECCABLE.

who was going to deliver them out of tough times, times of oppression…. So, he went to that garden to pray…. And he was like, ‘I don’t want to have to go through this alone.’ And that’s how I wrote that song. When you’re going through stuff, and you don’t want to pour all this stuff on everybody else, but you’re like…pray with me through this difficult time.’

Percy Crawford writes for Zenger News where this story first appeared. It has been republished with permission. For the entire dialogue, visit www.onyxmagazine.com.

ADAMS: Yes, it was perfect timing for it. When I wrote that, it was meant for times like these.

If you understand that at the time when Christ went to the Garden of Gethsemane, it was a very turbulent time for him. He was a social activist.

And the Hebrews were looking for somebody

ORLANDO NATIVE MYKAL KILGORE NABS FIRST GRAMMY NOD

S

inger, songwriter, artist, and activist Mykal Kilgore has made history as the first openly gay, male artist to earn a nomination in the GRAMMYs Best Traditional R&B category. Kilgore received the nomination for his single “Let Me Go,” which is the first release from his debut album, “A Man Born Black.” This is Mykal’s first GRAMMY nomination. The live show is scheduled for Sunday, January 31 on CBS. “I am overwhelmed with joy to be counted among these incredible artists and to represent the male sound of R&B in this category,” said Kilgore. The Orlando native is also an award-winning Broadway performer, passionate community activist and well-recognized music influencer.

“A Man Born Black” is the debut release from Mykal Kilgore and indie label, Affective Music. “To be recognized with a GRAMMY® nomination for our first release is beyond my wildest dream. I am incredibly grateful to Mykal, Jamison Ross, the Affective Music team, and the Recording Academy,” said Affective Music CEO David S. Hargrett. The album also netted Mykal an NAACP Image Awards® nomination for Outstanding New Artist.

On “A Man Born Black,” Mykal wields his expertise as a multifaceted performer and songwriter to steal hearts yet again, as he masterfully tells the story of a man navigating American life—an experience Kilgore himself embodies. “I tried to write songs that helped express the truth of myself—the pretty and the ugly. I wanted people to see a whole human being, not a stereotype or a picture-perfect image—something true to myself. I wanted to speak about the world that I actually live in,” said Kilgore.

For more information on Mykal, please visit www.AffectiveMusic.com/amanbornblack.

Keisha Boyd, Pickett PR ONYX MAGAZINE 25

E C O N O M Y/ C O M M E N TA RY

HOPE ON THE HORIZON

IN GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT, THERE ARE REASONS FOR POST-COVID OPTIMISM.

BY STEVE DAVIS

T

he U.S. election results are in, but ugly political divisions still confront us. Vaccines to vanquish COVID19 are on the horizon, but we’re not quite there yet.

And we know the economic, social, and political toll of this pandemic will ripple far into the future. No wonder Americans are exhausted and confused about what is happening in our country, and tempted to shut out the rest of the world.

And yet, this moment calls for the trait that has always kept humans fighting for social change: optimism. Maybe that sounds like a strange concept to advance right now. But from the perspective of my long experience in global health and development for PATH, the World Health Organization, and the Gates Foundation, the post-pandemic rebuild will offer unprecedented opportunities for more people, and a greater diversity of people, to get involved with global development.

And to do that with a new social activism approach.

What makes me optimistic? Rather than obsessing over grim headlines, I focus more on key trend lines: the surge of

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people climbing out of dire poverty; the increase in worldwide literacy; the sharp decline in maternal and infant deaths. Those numbers, even now, look pretty great. And as we move into this next decade of the 21st century, it’s worth noting some macro-trends beneath the surface that can be harnessed for good. Consider: PYRAMID TO DIAMOND. The global economy has changed dramatically in the past few decades, and that shift is accelerating. Traditionally depicted as a pyramid with wealthy countries at the apex and a wide base of the desperately poor, the world’s economy is fast morphing into a squat diamond as hundreds of thousands of people move into the middle class every day. This change portends greater capacities for human, family, and community development across much of world, and it should fundamentally alter our approach as activists. Greater economic wherewithal will create more room for entrepreneurs to provide new products and services to this growing

group of consumers. It also means that we must broaden our focus to encompass struggling communities everywhere, not only in poor countries.

COMMUNITIES ARE THE CUSTOMERS. A shifting pyramid means we need to stop viewing developing nations as passive beneficiaries of aid.

Instead, we must listen to and elevate struggling communities that exist within each—including middle- and high-income countries. This change will necessitate working more closely with local groups, responding to their demands for agency and self-determination. Ultimately, it will force global development workers to be more like activists, to think about their “customers” differently, with an increased focus on community-centered solutions and a dismantling of the colonial-era architecture that has traditionally framed global development.

EQUITY. The #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter movements are not passing trends. They signal a shift in fundamental beliefs toward leveling the field for people of all genders, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and physical abilities. How global development workers, social entrepreneurs, and activists engage with communities to ensure full inclusion and participation will shape the agenda.

This will give rise not only to new policies and strategies for advancing health, education, and

economic goals, but also to new leaders within the field.

DIGITAL DISRUPTION. New data tools and the digital revolution will continue to accelerate social development across every sector, from health to agriculture, financial services to education. These powerful technologies, properly harnessed, could supercharge prospects for well-being among many more people. Of course, they also bring challenging questions around privacy, ethics, bias, and misinformation, which must be managed. But, overall, digital and data tools will unlock powerful new prospects for human well-being.

THE SURPRISINGLY SEXY MIDDLE. The key to improving millions of lives long term lies less in inventing new formulas and tools than in adapting proven innovations for use at scale. In many cases, we already have the technologies to make a difference, but they sit unused on laboratory shelves. In the coming decade, more activists from every sector—public, private, and social—should aim their talents toward building out those ideas and bringing them to everyday people.

I explore these five concepts in my book, “Undercurrents: Channeling Outrage to Spark Practical Activism” (Wiley, 2020). One of my favorite examples from it highlights the work

of Keller Rinaudo, who co-founded the social enterprise Zipline. Trained in engineering and robotics, Rinaudo invented a system for using battery-powered drones to deliver medical supplies to remote locations. His company, Zipline, is a for-profit firm created in 2014 with social impact in mind. Already, it is serving the health-supply needs of an entire country, Rwanda, with projects underway in the rural U.S. too. This kind of entrepreneurial activism makes me optimistic.

It uses technology, scaling know-how, and the growing economic power of a once-struggling nation to help people live healthier lives. And its founder, Rinaudo, is only 33.

For all of these reasons, now is no time to hide from issues within our own country or the rest of the globe. Rather, this is the time to build on the powerful undercurrents empowering more of us to keep bending the arc of human endeavor toward social justice. This is the moment to put cynicism on the shelf and find encouragement in the lessons of history that show, again and again, the ability of people to lift new solutions out of chaos.

Steve Davis lectures at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. This story first appeared in Yes! Magazine and has been republished with permission.

ONYX MAGAZINE 27

ONYX PROFILE

BUILDING A LIFE OF

SERVANT LEADERSHIP

GARY HARTFIELD’S MOTHER INSPIRED HIM TO SERVE OTHERS—AND HE’S DOING IT BIG!

BY ALLYSEN KERR

I

t’s an overcast 77 degrees on Saturday, October 3, 2020.

Empower Florida is in Clearwater, Fla., at Big Storm Brewery. The team is in the middle of the final installment of the Big Give Back event series. And where is the nonprofit’s CEO, Gary Hartfield—not standing in front claiming the spotlight. No, Gary is almost invisible, kneeling his 6-foot-2 frame next to a picnic table full of well-traveled attendees. What he is doing: simply having a conversation, taking the time to get to know the people the organization serves and distributing sanitization wipes. That’s Gary Hartfield, a servant first, leader second.

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Out of all the titles and accolades stacked behind Hartfield’s name: father, multifigure serial entrepreneur, author, community builder, investor, mentor, speaker, the one that he lives by is ‘servant leader.’ He credits his success to living by the principle of ‘service first’ taught to him by his mother, Norma Jean Hartfield.

“My mother passed down a spiritual legacy that taught me that it is always better to give than to receive,” Hartfield said. “Whether it was her jail ministry or feeding a friend, she was always giving to others who could never pay her back and treated them like family. I try to do the same.”

Mrs. Hartfield passed away in June 2020. Even while she was ill and hospitalized, Gary continued to push through. He showed up for media interviews, oversaw business deals, attended meetings, made calls for donations in between hospital visits, traveling between his hometown of DeFuniak Springs and Tampa for several weeks. Although Hartfield’s mother is no longer here, he is determined to carry on her legacy through his work.

“I’ve had to walk through some difficult times, but losing my mother was one of the hardest,” Hartfield said. “But Nelson Mandela, one of my heroes, said, ‘difficulties break some men but make others.’ Everything that has happened this year (2020), the difficult and the good, continues to shape me.”

Another one of those difficulties has been watching the eruption of racial injustice toward Blacks in America. In a time where the value of Black lives is again in question, Hartfield has made it his mission to be a positive example to others and do what he can to alter the wrongly held perceptions of Black men in America.

His methods of choice: education and financial empowerment.

The youngest of six, the Florida Agriculture & Mechanical University alumnus was the first in his family to obtain a college degree. Hartfield furthered his education by earning his master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of West Florida and a leadership certification from Cornell University.

He used the knowledge he acquired in the classroom and the corporate world to eventually launch his first venture, Serenity Village, with his sister, Tammy Hartfield. Tammy’s passion was to work with the elderly and the developmentally/ intellectually disabled. Sadly, she never had the

My mother passed down a spiritual legacy that taught me that it is always better to give than to receive.

GARY HARTFIELD

opportunity to see her vision come to life. She passed away in 2002, just 16 hours after closing on their first assisted living facility (ALF), at the tender age of 34.

However, her brother has expanded her dream beyond that initial vision. What started with two employees and eight residents has grown to include more than 80 employees and 170 clients and six assisted living facilities. In 2018, Hartfield acquired a multimillion-dollar facility which would become Serenity Village’s headquarters and house an adult day training center.

In 2012, Hartfield launched Serenity Village Insurance & Consulting (Serenity Insurance) to provide affordable insurance options to individuals and business owners.

Serenity Insurance partners with hundreds of providers and ALF owners to provide the products and solutions needed to protect the things that matter most. These products include liability insurance, workers’ compensation, commercial auto, commercial property insurance, and more.

To date, Serenity Insurance has grown to serve more than 1,000 clients in Florida and Georgia.

Besides his entrepreneurial endeavors, Hartfield has made it a point to sow the seeds of success into others through empowerment. He details his success principles in his memoir and mentorship guide, “STAND,” which celebrated its fifth anniversary in 2020.

In addition to the book, he has worked with local organizations like Parramore Kidz in Orlando and Hillsborough County Public Schools to help prepare the next generation for life and the workforce.

Hartfield’s desire to empower others would lead him to found Empower Florida, Inc., in 2015.

“The tragic loss of my sister compelled me to develop a legacy in her honor in this area. I saw an opportunity to empower and inspire the providers, who work tirelessly to serve the elderly and developmentally disabled.” There are more than 20,000 providers and group homeowners in Florida. The organization hosts monthly webinars, training, and during COVID-19 has stepped in to provide personal protective equipment to those serving our most vulnerable populations.

As a member of the Board of Directors for the Tampa Organization of Black Affairs (TOBA), Hartfield co-led the TOBA Leadership Institute (TLI) development and implementation, a novel professional development program focused on the empowerment and advancement of young Black professionals. The first cohort, established in 2020, was challenged with identifying socio-political issues within Tampa’s Black community and developing thoughtful solutions to these issues. The cohort presented their findings to key stakeholders, including community activists, corporate partners, and elected officials.

The second class will commence in February.

Hartfield believes that change comes through empowerment and education. Empowerment frees individuals to reach their highest self, he said.

While serving others and building profitable businesses are motivations for Hartfield, his ultimate goal is a legacy he can pass down to his three children. He also hopes that his example will inspire them and others to reach their fullest potential.

ONYX MAGAZINE 29

WORKPLACE

NEW YEAR, NEW CAREER 2020

IT’S TIME TO GET BACK OUT THERE, BUT THINGS LOOK A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

gave us some solid punches to the gut. Among the hardest to swallow was job loss. This too shall pass. Soon, you’ll get back in the race and score a perfect job that fits your new lifestyle. If you are not among the millions who have become unemployed during the pandemic, you might have seen some new opportunities brought on by the massive community changes. Either way, when you get back out there, you may find things are not quite as they used to be. Perfecting a resume and nailing the job interview can be daunting in normal times. With many companies conducting business remotely, this often extends to interviews.

So, here are some tips to help smooth your transition.

RESUMES SHOULD BE CONCISE. The first thing you should do is look carefully at the job posting you are applying for. Look for any specifics that they are looking for in an applicant, and use the same wording they do in your resume, if it is applicable. You do not need to have paragraphs explaining every little detail about previous jobs and duties. Stick to the high-level details that seem important and make sure it is readable. Highlight your main job responsibilities, if you received any recognition, and impressive metrics that you may have achieved.

PUT THE MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION NEAR THE TOP OF THE RESUME. Use a professional, easy-to- read font like Arial or Times New Roman in size 10 - 12. If you are having trouble thinking about what to 30 ONYX MAGAZINE

focus on or how to design your resume, do a search for example resumes relevant to the industry you are applying in. Those may help you think of something in your history that you may not have considered including before.

So you’ve got your resume primed and ready to go. Now you have an interview, but it’s remote. One of the most important things about a remote interview is being able to get to it. Find out which video chat service your potential employer is using and familiarize yourself with it before the interview. Just as with an in-person interview, how you present yourself is of great importance. Make sure you have a clean, orderly, quiet backdrop and that you dress appropriately for the interview.

You want to give the impression that you are ready to work remotely if necessary, or if not necessary, that you are taking the interview just as seriously. Make sure you close everything on your computer except the program you are using for the interview. This will prevent notifications from going off and help you remain focused on the interviewer.

When it comes to resume writing and interviewing, practice makes perfect. Find a free resume review or even a mock remote interview service.

Small business development centers and universities may offer them.

– USA News

M E D I C A L LY S P E A K I N G

Medic Briefs

is observed each year on February 7 to highlight the continuing disproportionate impact of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) on the U.S. black or African American (Black) population. Blacks represent more than 13% of the U.S. population but account for 43% of all newly diagnosed HIV infections. In February 2019, a new national initiative, Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America (EHE), was proposed. The plan calls for intensified efforts to diagnose, treat, prevent, and respond to HIV infections in the United States, with an overall goal of reducing new HIV infections by ≥90% by 2030.

HIGH HEELS DON’T HAVE TO HURT

PHOTO COURTESY OF IFUNDWOMEN.ORG

TREATING ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION NATURALLY Life science news source “BioSpace” reported late in 2020 that the numbers of men with erectile dysfunction continues to grow. With so many more men being diagnosed with erectile dysfunction (ED), it can no longer be one of those subjects that is not talked about in the Black community. Based on research and other evidence, BlackDoctor.org offers the following self-care steps: QUIT SMOKING Men who smoke have an increased ED risk.

PANAX GINSENG Called the herbal Viagra, Panax ginseng (red ginseng) has solid research behind it. In a 2008 report, researchers reviewed seven studies of red ginseng. Dosages ranged from 600 to 1,000 milligrams (mg) three times daily. They concluded there was “suggestive evidence for the effectiveness of red ginseng in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.”

ACUPUNCTURE Though studies are mixed, many show positive results when acupuncture is used to treat ED. A 1999 study, for example, found that acupuncture improved the quality of erections and restored sexual activity in 39 percent of participants.

TRY YOHIMBE AND DHEA With the help of a doctor experienced in these treatments, take an herbal extract of yohimbe containing 15 to 30 mg a day of yohimbine to increase blood flow, or 50

mg a day of the supplement dehydroepiandrosterone to improve hormone levels GET A CHECKUP ED can be caused by some diseases and may be a side effect of certain medications.

CONSIDER COUNSELING Psychological issues can be a cause, or an effect, of ED.

COVID-19 VACCINE COMES TO AMERICA Medical workers prepared to give the first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, with deliveries arriving at administration sites on December 13. Thousands of vials of the vaccine were collected for distribution across the country after it passed its last regulatory hurdle. According to CNN, it will be up to states to allocate their share of vaccines, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that frontline health care workers and residents of long-term care facilities get the vaccine first. Officials warn it could be months before the vaccine becomes available to many Americans as the virus continues to surge, breaking grim state and national records. Keep checking www.onyxmagazine.com for more coronavirus updates.

Shoes that hurt your feet could lead to numerous medical issues: back and pelvis problems, foot pain, etc. The average woman who owns high heels has nine pairs. And when asked what they do when shoes hurt their feet, 38 percent of women said they would “wear them anyway if I like them.” That’s where scientist Jazmine Davis comes in. Davis founded her shoe company Jazmine Kionna, because she felt style should not be sacrificed for comfort. She learned the key components of a high-heeled shoe. Eventually, she was awarded a grant from The Black UpStart, a company that teaches aspiring Black entrepreneurs how to start a successful and profitable business. Throughout her journey, Jazmine Kionna was created to provide an alternative shoe option that is both affordable and comfortable. According to the website, the company builds shoes around our proprietary insoles that mold to your feet’s specific pressure points, cushions every step, and minimize the impact of walking and standing (even dancing)!

– BlackDoctor.org

NATIONAL BLACK HIV/AIDS DAY IS FEBRUARY 7 National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD)

Jazmine Davis with her no-hurt heels

ONYX MAGAZINE 31

H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S

HEART HEALTHY HABITS

BY KELLY N. WOOD

F

ebruary is American Heart Month! This month’s health awareness is a good reminder to focus on your heart health.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States, however, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk. Keep heart disease at bay. Making good choices about your health will lead to a healthy heart. You can start by focusing on one or more of these goals.

1. GET ENOUGH SLEEP Sleep is essential for your health. During sleep your mind and body recharge, repair, and recover. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults who sleep less than seven hours each night are more likely to have health problems, including heart disease. Sleep deprivation leads to higher stress hormones such as cortisol and inflammatory markers which are associated with cardiovascular disease. To reduce your risk, getting seven to eight hours of sleep should be a priority.

32 ONYX MAGAZINE

3. MOVE MORE The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity or a combination of both. Being more active helps you maintain your weight, improve your sleep, reduce your blood pressure, and lowers your risk of heart disease.

4. REDUCE BLOOD PRESSURE Hypertension, or high blood pressure, increases the workload of the arteries supplying your heart and causes your heart muscle to stiffen. This increases your risk of having a heart attack. High blood pressure has no symptoms so the only way to know is to have it checked. A normal blood pressure reading is less than 120 systolic and less than 80 diastolic. You can control your blood pressure by eating a healthy diet, exercising, and maintaining a healthy weight.

5. QUIT SMOKING 2. REDUCE YOUR STRESS LEVELS When you are stressed, your body releases the hormone adrenaline which causes your heart rate to increase, your breathing to become more rapid and shallow, and your blood pressure to rise. If you are chronically stressed, your body remains in “fight or flight” mode. Over time, this can lead to the development and progression of coronary artery disease. We also tend to turn to harmful habits such as smoking, alcohol and overeating when we are stressed, and these behaviors will also increase the risk of heart disease. We will all experience stress, so the key is knowing how to manage it with healthier habits like exercise and meditation.

Smoking increases the risk of heart disease by two to four times and causes approximately one of every four deaths from cardiovascular disease. The more cigarettes you smoke per day and the longer you’ve been a smoker, the higher your risk. Even exposure to secondhand smoke causes heart disease in non-smokers. Smoking increases your heart rate and blood pressure. It also makes your platelets sticky and promotes atherosclerosis, the build-up of fats, cholesterol, and other substances in and on the artery walls.

If you quit smoking, your risk of a heart attack drops within a year.

Dr. Kelly N. Wood, MD is an internal medicine physician, board-certified in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism.

PERSONAL FINANCE

SIX TAX SAVERS FOR ENTREPRENEURS

BY D. SHENELL REED

J

anuary is here and you’re probably receiving paperwork to file your taxes—and you’re probably looking for new ways to push off filing your taxes until April 15. But don’t. The earlier you get started, the better off you’ll be. 2020 saw many financial enhancements and changes that will affect how you file your taxes this year: stimulus checks, government loans, business grants, etc. All of that has to be accounted for. One fact that has not changed, however, is you still have time to maximize it all. And for entrepreneurs, the tax savings can be big.

Working for yourself has its benefits: You can choose your clients, set your own hours and determine your own goals. But there are some other great benefits, too. Being an entrepreneur means that you may pay less in taxes because of some of the deductions you can make. While employees’ taxes are pretty simple—the employer takes taxes before you get your check—as an entrepreneur, you see 100% of your earnings and then pay Uncle Sam. The good news is, since you take taxes from your own pay, there are a few extra benefits you can leverage. Wealthfit.com has these tips.

1. RETIREMENT SAVINGS – If you are at least 18 years old, not claimed on another person’s return and not a student, you are eligible for the retirement savings contribution credit, according to the IRS. Your adjusted gross income determines the amount of the credit. These contributions include those you make to an IRA; 401(k), 403(b), SARSEP or SIMPLE plan; voluntary after-tax employee contributions to a qualified retirement plan; 501(c) (18)(D) plan; ABLE account for which you are the designated beneficiary.

3. BUSINESS EXPENSES – You can deduct money you spend to make your business tick, but you have to research to know what counts. It’s best to allow an expert to comb through your expenses and show you how you can save. Meanwhile, take a look at the IRS website under Business Expenses so you’ll have some idea of what to tell your professional consultant.

4. HEALTH INSURANCE – Did you pay for your medical treatments, dental visits and qualified long-term care this year? If so, you may be able to deduct to those expenses—for yourself, your spouse and child. Laveniir can show you how.

5. LEGAL ENTITY – What kind of business do you have? Are you a Sole Proprietor, Partnership, Limited Liability Company (LLC), S Corporation or C Corporation? Depending on your business entity, the savings can be great.

6. YOUR PAYCHECK – Separate your personal and business finances; and make sure you’re paying yourself in a structured fashion.

No matter how you file taxes this year, be sure to have an expert look over your paperwork so you can maximize your savings and returns. Or, read, read, read! Professional articles on filing can show you all the tricks of the trade and you will win in the end.

2. HOME OFFICE – As a homeowner or a renter, the home office deduction may be for you. If you meet the specific requirements, you will be able to deduct mortgage interest, insurance, utilities, maintenance, depreciation and rent. For your home to qualify as a deduction, there must be exclusive use of part of the home for conducting business on a regular basis; and the home must be your principal place of business. Speak with an expert about this opportunity and watch the refunds roll in.

ONYX MAGAZINE 33

“BLACK AMERICA’S ATTORNEY GENERAL”

BY NANCY PORT SCHWALB

34 ONYX MAGAZINE

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BEN CRUMP LAW

BENJAMIN CRUMP

I

njustice has met its biggest foe. When Benjamin Crump was a little boy, he already was thinking about social justice. Inspired by the work of the nation’s first Black Supreme Court justice, Thurgood Marshall, young Crump envisioned himself standing in the place of those who couldn’t stand for themselves. Never did the destitution that clutched his family become a barrier. Instead, it fueled him to study law and BEN CRUMP KNEW HE WANTED TO FIGHT FOR fight for the marginalized in America. His stamina JUSTICE AS A YOUNG BOY. has earned him the moniker “Black America’s Attorney General,” so says the Rev. Al Sharpton.

Some of the country’s most gripping cases have called Attorney Ben Crump to the floor. He represents the families of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breona Taylor; and Jacob Blake. In each tragic case, innocent African American blood was shed at the hands of White police and vigilantes in 2020. All, except Jacob Blake, were killed.

“Ben Crump has been on the forefront of justice for Black Americans as long as I can remember and evolved into covering high-profile cases,” said U.S. Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, who has worked with Crump for civil rights. In 2006, Crump represented the family of Martin Lee Anderson, a 14-year-old boy beaten to death by guards at a Florida bootcamp as a nurse watched. Initially, a coroner reported sickle cell trait as the cause of death. With his family outraged, Wilson and Crump stood together until then Florida Gov. Jeb Bush ordered that Anderson’s body be exhumed and another autopsy performed. The death ruling changed to suffocation. After that, Florida shut down bootcamps and replaced them with more humane programs. “When families sought the kind of justice we see now, the first people called were Crump and Al Sharpton, and for decades, I called him too,” she said.

With his infectious smile and heart of compassion, Attorney Crump approaches each case with gentility, like the victims are members of his own family. But he roars like a lion to ensure that justice is served. In America’s first trial conducted on Zoom in October 2020, Crump fought for a motorcyclist who was paralyzed in a 45-vehicle interstate pileup in 2018. The jury returned a cool $411,726,608 in favor of his client.

Attorney Crump often wins big—and with his big heart, he gives big. He has endowed scholarships to Florida A&M University, Livingston College, Florida State University, and Bethune-Cookman University for minority law students. He also serves as the president and co-founder of MyDad360, a

Benjamin L. Crump, a lawyer for five of the 13 women who testified against an Oklahoma City police officer accused of sexual assault in 2015, with Jannie Ligons, one of the women.

mentoring program for fathers endorsed by former U.S. Secretary of State General Colin Powell and lauded by President Barack Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper initiative.

The nationally renowned lawyer took some time with ONYX Magazine to share his inspiration, his ambitions and what social justice means to him.

ONYX MAGAZINE: PLEASE TELL US ABOUT YOUR UPBRINGING. BEN CRUMP: I was born and raised in Lumberton, N.C., by my mother with the help of my grandmother. My mom supported me and my two little brothers by working two jobs as a hotel maid in the morning and at a factory in the evening. My mother indoctrinated me with this edict: She told me that life wasn’t fair. She said life was hard. You make it fair by what you bring to the table. She said if you don’t bring anything to the table, don’t expect anybody to let you sit down at the table. When I graduated from college at Florida State University, the first thing I said to my mama was that I was bringing something to the table.

From left, Talley Kaleko, Duane Washington, Ben Crump, Robert Cox. Attorney Crump won $411m+ for motorcyclist Washington in America's first Zoom trial.

OM: WHO WOULD YOU SAY WAS AN INSPIRATION? BC: For me as a young boy, Thurgood Marshall was that role model. He was my North Star who inspired me to think about racial justice, to learn our history, to study law, and to devote my career to be a voice for the voiceless. The example of his life was the inspiration and blueprint for me, a poor boy on the wrong side of the tracks in North Carolina. My mother told me the reason I was able to be bused to the better endowed White school with new books and technology was because of Thurgood Marshall and the Supreme Court’s decision in Brown v. Board of Education. It was then I decided I wanted to be a warrior for justice and help people in my community who look like me.

I endeavor to fight for those who are marginalized in our country to gain access to equal justice. We have so far to go to level the playing field for Black people in America. For my part, that means advocating for change in our entrenched institutions like our policing system, but it also means achieving justice in the civil court system—whether it’s correcting discrimination by banking institutions or holding companies accountable for dangerous products, especially when they target voiceless, powerless and disenfranchised people. That is why I humbly accept it as a badge of honor when my mentor, Rev. Al Sharpton, and others refer to me as “Black America’s Attorney General.” It crystalizes for me my duty to fight our people all over America.

ONYX MAGAZINE 35

OM: WHAT LESSONS HAVE YOU LEARNED? IF YOU HAD SOMETHING TO DO OVER IN YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE? BC: I don’t believe in regrets. We can only live our lives in one direction— forward, so we must do everything in our power to make the days before us count, because none of us knows how many we’ll have. I feel so blessed by the life I’ve lived. I grew up financially poor but in a family that was rich with love. I had the opportunity to get an education, which has been the key to anything I’ve been able to accomplish. I’ve gotten to know so many amazing people and to work with them to make the lives of others better.

The chance to do meaningful work and have an impact—both on the big issues but especially on the lives of those around you—that, to me, is the definition of a life well-lived.

Ben Crump fights for Flint, Mich., residents to have clean water.

Ben Crump has been honored numerous times for his commitment to fighting injustice in America.

Here, he is with his mother, Helen Crump, at the Triumph Awards.

OM: WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO DO IN THE FUTURE TO MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE? BC: This year, incidents of violence against Black people, many captured on video, shocked the nation’s conscience and galvanized a movement for racial justice. Certainly, we need to reform how police interact with minority communities and build in more transparency and accountability. I hope that’s an outgrowth of the high-profile cases like George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and Jacob Blake. But racial justice takes many forms. When Black children are more likely to die from asthma because they’re breathing polluted air pumped out by a coal plant dropped on the poor side of town or having to drink in bathe in poisonous water like my clients in Flint, Mich., that also cries out for justice. And when Black farmers are never informed of the dangers of using a product like Roundup pesticides and forced into a form of economic slavery to companies like Monsanto and Bayer, that cries out for justice, too. When financial institutions continue to deny Black people access to capital to buy a home or start a business, that’s a racial justice issue. I hope the awareness and activism generated in 2020 leads to justice and genuine progress on all these fronts in 2021.

OM: WHAT IS YOUR BEST EXPLANATION OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND HOW CAN EACH OF US PRACTICE THAT ETHIC? BC: To me, social justice means that the people my grandmother would call “the least of these,” from the biblical text, have the same opportunity to achieve the “American Dream” as those born into privilege.

To this day, it breaks my heart to see what marginalized people living on the wrong side of the tracks are exposed to. I’ve spent a lot of time with the people in Flint, Mich., in the past few years, and it makes me so angry to see all these children with brain damage and learning disabilities because their own government gave them poisoned water. That doesn’t happen in the affluent neighborhoods.

As “Black America’s Attorney General,” I go into courtrooms all over America and argue to predominantly White juries because America is 73% White and only 13% Black. I tell them that I know they can quote the preamble to the Declaration of Independence, but do they really believe it when they say, “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Well, America, that means Black people too!

Penny Dickerson and D. Shenell Reed contributed to this story.

36 ONYX MAGAZINE

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BEN CRUMP LAW

OM: ON A GLOBAL OR NATIONAL BASIS, WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR HEROES? BC: There are so many people I admire, but I have to say that one personal hero I believe is going to change so many young lives is my dear friend Kamala Harris. As a girl dad, it makes my heart leap to know that my daughter, Brooklyn, at the influential age of 8, just learned that her horizons are unlimited.

When she sees Kamala Harris sworn in as the first woman, the first Black person, the first Asian, the first HBCU graduate, to serve as vice president of the United States, my daughter and little girls across our country may see themselves and their futures a little differently.

How many young women, young girls of color, will decide to aim higher because of the example of Kamala? It brings a tear to my eye to think that the intractable problems we face today—problems like racial injustice, police brutality, discrimination, and environmental racism—may well be transformed by the little girls who watch the history playing out on our television screens when Kamala is inaugurated with Joe Biden.

E D U C AT I O N

WISE COUNSEL FINDING THE RIGHT PROFESSIONAL MENTOR CAN BE BENEFICIAL TO YOUR CAREER. ONYX STAFF REPORT

B

eing successful does not preclude you from having a mentor. Corporation presidents and CEOs often seek wise counsel from others they believe can help them flex their business muscles. January is National Mentoring Month, the perfect time for you to focus on your goals for 2021 and find clever ways to achieve them. A mentor might help you get there quicker.

Seeking a mentor might be a little intimidating to start. But if you take the time to identify what you want the results of the relationship to be, it would be that much easier. “Forbes Magazine” offer these tips to help you get started.

CLARIFY YOUR GOALS Identify the role you want the mentor to play in your career. Are you looking to learn more about your industry or boost your network. Knowing the answer will help you find the right person.

DON’T RESTRICT YOUR SEARCH Look outside your workplace. What about professional associations, chambers of commerce, your church? A great question to ask yourself is ‘who do I want to meet?’ Then, find a person who may be able to help you.

SCHEDULE TIME TO MEET When you identify a potential mentor, ask to meet him or her to discuss the relationship. Make sure the person wants to take on the responsibility of guiding your career—or helping you meet the goals you have set.

BE CLEAR Once you have your mentor, set guidelines together and be sure you both have the same understanding of them. Also, be clear about the time required and availability and establish a regular meeting schedule with topics you both agree to before meeting.

So, if you are looking outside your workplace, where do you find mentors? “Entrepreneur” has some ideas. Below are a few.

NETWORKING EVENTS Many of us attend networking events, but fail to work the room. Try to

talk to as many people as you can, but be careful about being too forward.

Let the conversations flow organically and you will be able to determine if someone is the right fit for your goals.

HOT SPOTS Where do the entrepreneurs hang out? Check out those in startup incubators or think tanks. They are constantly doing the work to advance.

PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITES LinkedIn and Twitter connect professionals in smart ways. Touch up your profile and start seeking your mentor.

SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTERS SBDCs offer great, free advice from funding to other invaluable resources.

Remember, your mentor does not always have to be one person. It could also be a center with expert help.

EXPOS Don’t forget to check out expos and symposiums. Many professionals who attend them are seasoned and have walked the walk. Here’s another opportunity to network.

INDIRECT COMPETITORS Those in your field may be reluctant to give you practical advise on how to succeed. But those in your industry who have a slightly different focus from yours might be willing to help.

VOLUNTEERING Become a volunteer in an organization that inspires you. You might be surprised by who the other volunteers are. You might even meet a retired professional who has done what you do.

There is no secret sauce to finding a mentor, but these tips can help you shape your conversations for that person who might be the right fit for you. Once you tap the right person, stay invested and get all you can out of it. Don’t forget to offer something back.

ONYX MAGAZINE 37

M O N E Y M AT T E R S

FOREIGN

XCHANGE

THIS COUPLE STRESSES THE VALUE OF STUDYING ABROAD AND HELPS STUDENTS SEIZE OPPORTUNITIES.

BY PROFESSOR LAURA DORSEY Fourteen for the 14th: The HayesXChange Passport Initiative

“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, [including former slaves who were freshly freed after the Civil War under the 13th amendment via the Emancipation Proclamation.] and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside.” In light of those words, either a birth certificate or a naturalization certificate is all that is needed to prove U.S. citizenship and to gain all the rights that come along with it—to vote, to hold public office, and to enter and remain in the United States.”

I

n May 2021, the HayesXChange will award passports to students from underserved backgrounds between ages 16 and 21 who have never traveled abroad. Students must write a 500-word essay about the importance of gaining an international education and why they would benefit from having a passport.

Fourteen finalists will be selected and notified of the steps to complete their passport applications.

This issue of ONYX is dedicated to Black History/Love/Mentorship. My charge was how could I related these issues and still cover the Money Matters section that I usually pen. Then I was introduced to Calvin and Kindall Hayes, who exemplified everything this issue is about: Black History, love, and mentorship.

BLACK HISTORY July 28, 2020, marked 152 years since the adoption of the 14th Amendment, and for African Americans, this Reconstruction Act was a watershed moment, which laid the framework, although hugely imperfect, for a legal basis for citizenship and the right to own and travel on a passport. In an era where African Americans have the right to fly from Thailand to Timbuktu to “flex for the 38 ONYX MAGAZINE

‘gram,” one can easily forget that this privilege was severely contested just in the last century.

The imperfection of the 14th Amendment was embodied in the practice of denying black passports to critics of racial discrimination—even internationally-known black leaders such as Paul Robeson and W.E.B. Du Bois were denied passports. However, the Amendment did create the legal ramifications by which African Americans could constitutionally travel on an American passport, a right that had been denied to many black lives that mattered previously.

LOVE For many people in Florida, the annual Florida Classic is a time of celebration. No matter where you are from, the buzz regarding the Florida Classis is contagious. However, in 2011, it was memorable for another reason. On that day, a video captured the Florida Classic Marriage Proposal of Calvin Hayes, former Vice President of Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) SGA, to Miss Kindall Johnson, former Miss FAMU. Of course, she said yes. Their love story is documented in their podcast titled “Meet the Founders.” The story of these college sweethearts started as they exchanged ideas on travel and study abroad.

Now they see the world together.

MENTORSHIP People of influence have a responsibility and a platform. The Hayes motto is “What you see is what you can be.” Did you know that less than 7% of African American students study abroad per year? Did you know that only 5% of foreign diplomats are African American? Whether through studying abroad, working abroad, or living abroad, the HayesXChange brings together stories and experiences to inspire the next generation to make a global impact. They want to create a culture that says, abroad is the new Black.

The founders of the HayesXChange implore everyone to exercise their constitutional right to own a passport and for African American students to prioritize studying and interning abroad.

If you are an African American, full-time high school or university student enrolled in a four-

If you ever want proof that money matters, travel with a U.S. passport to a foreign country. year institution in the state of Florida; you can apply for a scholarship to cover the fees for your passport application at https://hayesxchange. com/passportinitiative

MONEY MATTERS Talking with Calvin and Kindall Hayes exposes us to the financial values of having a passport. According to this duo, having a passport improves your value to the world and increases your net worth. Therefore, it comes as little surprise that two-thirds of Americans consider international travel to be as valuable as a college education. Many passport holders who have recently traveled internationally say doing so has given them opportunities they would not have otherwise and a deeper understanding of the world at large.

If you want further proof of the value of a passport, look at Calvin and Kindall. Calvin Hayes is a U.S. Diplomat who has traveled to more than 40 countries. His experiences range from East Africa to South Asia to Latin America and the

Middle East. Calvin works relentlessly to promote and defend universal human rights, bolster foreign investment to the U.S. economy, and build education and cultural linkages between America and the international community. As a Consulate Professional for the U.S. Department of State, Kindall has worked on immigration and citizenship issues in Bangladesh, Djibouti, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Egypt, and most recently Bogota, Columbia. Kindall is a former presidential appointee to the Obama Administration. She served in the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

If you ever want proof that money matters, travel with a U.S. passport to a foreign country. I can personally attest to the fact that your money matters differently in a foreign country!

ONYX MAGAZINE 39

R E L AT I O N S H I P S

SWIPE RIGHT? THE PEARLS AND PERILS OF ONLINE DATING: PART 1 – TESTING THE WATERS

BY D. SHENELL REED

S

asha meandered her way along a winding trail adorned by single women dressed in their finest and seeking the perfect mate. The destination was a crowded dimly lit venue in Tallahassee where a popular group of women was prepping for an auction. On the block was not the traditional wine basket or golf foursome you find at typical fundraisers. Up for bid were the most eligible bachelors in the area. Fine, taut, handsome fellows with big pockets and equally matched egos. Sasha eagerly escaped her apartment for some much-needed girl time and the auction and a few cocktails, she thought, were the perfect blend for an exciting evening. But when she got there, she changed her mind— somewhat.

“It was absolutely degrading,” she said.

“Women sweating and screaming and pawing at somebody’s child. Don’t get me wrong, they were fine! But it made me think of slavery and I just sat there and didn’t make a sound.”

That was until Deek graced the stage.

Sasha had seen him around the way and with his smooth cocoa brown skin and carved features, he “made her giggle and tingle.” On this night, she learned he was the father of a young daughter and he managed a beeper emporium on Tennessee Street. At 23, she subscribed to “he has a good job and a college degree, so he must be all right.”

Much to her surprise, she flipped her paddle for this fine specimen of masculine pulchritude and was successful in her bid of $128.

They went on one date, he was a jerk and she wiped her hands of love at first sight.

40 ONYX MAGAZINE

Twenty years later, after many failed relationships and as online dating sites were becoming increasingly popular, she built a profile and got nudged—from a far less chiseled Deek. They met for coffee and she quickly assessed he had graduated from jerkdom. This time, he held the door open for her and looked above her neck. By their 10th date, they both knew they could have coffee together for as long as they both shall live. They were wed within a year—his second, her first— and they have enjoyed 13 years marital bliss.

“It worked for me after meeting about 12 not so great guys online,” Sasha said. She explained that she chose online dating because it was too hard to meet men in clubs or even at church, where there were still women sweating and pawing over the same man. “But in the quiet silence of the internet, you don’t see your competition and it’s a little less intimidating.”

Many people agree that online dating is the way to go for one reason or another. There are now more than 1,500 dating apps or websites, according to Toptal.com, and a study from Pew Research Center reported in February 2020 that 30% of U.S. adults say they have used a dating site or app. With Valentine’s Day approaching, dating sites will be very active. However, not everyone will be as successful as Sasha and Deek. The Pew study showed only 5% of people view relationships that start online as more successful while 38% view them as less successful. The remaining 57% view them as equally as successful, or didn’t provide an answer.

“Online dating has not only disrupted more traditional ways of meeting romantic partners, its rise also comes at a time when norms and behaviors around marriage and cohabitation also are changing as more people delay marriage or choose to remain single,” the Pew study cited.

The research aligns with what Courtney and Alvin discovered they had in common when they met online in Winter Park. Both 34, neither want marriage, but they both want a life mate.

Courtney says he believes it is easier to find your match online, because their desires are embedded in their profiles.

“When you go out and meet or get introduced to somebody, you have to filter through and play 20 questions to find out what they’re looking for,” he said. “But when people are being honest in their profile—and that’s a risk you have to take—you can see it plainly and decide if you even want to take that chance.” Alvin chimed in.

“I have horror stories meeting people online,” he said. “Men lie, they’re married, sometimes they

don’t even look like their profile picture when you meet them in person. Even then, it’s easier to search online and if you hang in there, the right person might show up.”

Ellen is still waiting for that right person. At 75, she likes having a man around—if he can keep up with her. The active septuagenarian has very expensive hobbies: she is an avid skier who loves sailing and traveling internationally (she took 11 trips in 2019). “The right man for me is one who says ‘pack your toothbrush, I’m taking you to breakfast and Paris,’” she declares.

However, the man who gets most of her attention now is 17 years younger and his money is funny; but he makes her feel good. She dated a man who met her extensive list of “must haves,” and he turned out to be all wrong. Both men she met online from one of nearly 10 sites she has explored. Although she has some success finding men online (she’s “talking to” three now), she knows it is not for everyone—sometimes not even for herself.

“I would rather date traditionally, because there are a lot of scammers out there,” said Ellen who met her husband of five years in a traditional way. Their marriage ended after they spent most of those years in separate countries.

Online dating certainly has its ups and downs.

Only 14% of the people in the study spoke positively of the experience; and only 32% said they felt more confident using the sites. Nearly half of

When you go out and meet or get introduced to somebody, you have to filter through and play 20 questions to find out what they’re looking for. the participants felt very frustrated after online dating. Even so, it still has value to some.

“You’re taking a chance dating online. It’s like gambling, said Ellen. “Be willing to have a lot of disappointments, but also be willing to put yourself out there and see what comes your way.”

The people in this story have opted to use alternate names.

ONYX MAGAZINE 41

R E A L E S TAT E

Shut Out

THE SURPRISING WAYS RACE REMAINS A FACTOR IN MORTGAGE LENDING.

BY CLARE TRAPASSO

44 ONYX MAGAZINE

T

he American dream of homeownership is something that millions aspire to achieve, a gold standard for success. It has catapulted generations into the middle class, as owners have reaped the rewards of rising real estate prices. But that dream has proved elusive for countless people of color.

As the nation grapples with the legacy of systemic racism, it has forced many to take a harder look at the racism embedded in the housing industry.

More than half a century after the Fair Housing Act banned housing discrimination, Black Americans still trail behind other races when it comes to owning a home. When they do purchase homes, they are more likely to be offered more expensive mortgages—despite earning significantly less money than other ethnic groups.

Home buyers in predominantly Black communities are being issued loans with mortgage interest rates that are 13 basis points higher than in predominantly white communities, according

to a realtor.com® analysis of 2018 and 2019 purchase mortgage data from Optimal Blue, a real estate information company. (One basis point equals 1/100 of 1%. The difference between a mortgage rate of 3.52% and a rate of 3.62% is 10 basis points.)

“It’s a tax on being Black in this country. It’s a tax on being poor or financially vulnerable,” says Brett Theodos, a senior fellow at the Urban Institute, a nonpartisan research group based in Washington, D.C. “At every turn, Blacks are paying more than whites to borrow money or to access money.”

While 13 basis points may seem like a drop in the bucket, the combination of that rate difference and a smaller down payment adds about $43 a month to a mortgage payment for a $281,000 home (the median U.S. home sale price in June, according to Optimal Blue). It also tacks on roughly $9,869 of interest over the life of a 30-year fixed-rate loan.

Those higher costs are in part a byproduct

of systemic racism that has resulted in higher unemployment and poverty rates in Black communities, with less wealth passed down from previous generations—wealth that would often be used to help children and grandchildren buy their own homes or pay for college.

But other factors are also at play, which may not at first glance appear linked to race but that are more likely to affect borrowers in Black communities. These include requirements for credit scores and down payments that can be harder for those without good-paying jobs to meet.

There is also an absence of local lenders offering competitive rates in communities of color as well as individual lender discretion, where bias has the opportunity to seep in.

PAYING MORE TO BORROW MONEY Lenders have become notoriously risk averse in the aftermath of the Great Recession, which led to a foreclosure crisis that decimated many Black neighborhoods. If borrowers don’t have sterling credit and ample cash reserves, they’re seen as more likely to default on their loans, and charged more.

That’s one explanation for why buyers in Black communities may be issued more expensive loans.

In addition to putting less money down, they have lower credit scores, 687 compared to 727 in predominantly White communities. They also carry more debt, with debt-to-income ratios of 41.4% versus 38%. Nationwide, Black households earned a median $41,511—roughly 39% less than white

ones, at $67,937, according to 2018 U.S. Census Bureau data.

However, even when looking at borrowers with similar credit profiles, buyers in Black communities were still charged more to take out loans. Borrowers from White communities with FICO scores of 700 and higher got mortgage rates that were 8 basis points lower than the median for their particular metropolitan area.

Meanwhile, borrowers in Black communities with similarly high credit scores didn’t get the same discounts.

HISTORIC DISCRIMINATION STILL AFFECTS BLACK BORROWERS These problems have deep roots that stretch back many generations. The federal government, developers, banks, and many others made it difficult—in some cases impossible—for many Black Americans to become homeowners until the late 1960s.

Barred from buying in White neighborhoods, Black buyers with their hearts set on homeownership purchased property in less desirable neighborhoods at often inflated prices, with fewer resources. Homes in White areas have generally appreciated significantly over the ensuing decades. Meanwhile, property values have risen much less in value in Black communities that haven’t been gentrified.

Today, almost three-quarters of White Americans, 73.7%, are homeowners—compared to

just 44% of Blacks in the first quarter of 2020, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

LIMITED LOCAL OPTIONS FOR LENDERS Lower-income, minority communities have long struggled with a lack of resources that define attractive and convenient places to live, such as banks and grocery stores. That dearth of resources can cost them dearly when it comes time to purchase a home.

With the absence of a bank or credit union in the community, many prospective home buyers will go to local mortgage brokerages for help in getting a loan. The overwhelming majority aren’t predatory. But in areas where there aren’t other options, there is potential for exploitation.

CREDIT PROFILES CAN HURT LOWER-INCOME BUYERS OF COLOR The lack of traditional banks in communities of color can also hurt residents’ credit profiles.

Poorer neighborhoods tend to be richer in check-cashing services, which can charge higher fees than traditional banks and don’t help residents build the kind of credit that traditional lenders are seeking.

Lenders carefully scrutinize applicants’ finances when deciding whether to grant loans.

They want to make sure borrowers have steady employment, low debt, and an excellent credit history that shows they’re likely to repay their loans on time—with interest.

BIAS IN LENDING PERSISTS TODAY Refusing to grant a mortgage or charging higher fees based solely on the color of applicants’ skin has long been illegal, but it still happens today.

Some of it is conscious racism, while in other instances lenders may not even realize that they are effectively discriminating by race.

Wherever mortgage lenders have discretion to influence the terms of the loan, they can charge larger down payments or even offer mortgages that are so expensive in certain, less desirable areas that borrowers are forced to go elsewhere for their loans.

“My experience is that discretion leads to racial differences,” says economics professor and author Ross. It “contributes to discrimination.”

Clare Trapasso is the deputy news editor of realtor.com. Read the entire article at www.onyxmagazine.com.

ONYX MAGAZINE 45

WINE & FOOD

Intimate Darkness

DARK CHOCOLATE AND COGNAC SWEETEN ANY VALENTINE’S DAY

BY STEPHEN KING

N

ational Dark Chocolate Day revs up February, the month many of us associate with love. This Valentine’s Day, forego the traditional milk chocolate and advance to the sexy bitterness of dark chocolate. This cocoa-enhanced sweet dances on mature palates—and your honey will thank you for the change.

Dark chocolate is less sweet than milk chocolate and may cause you to pucker up when you taste it, which actually works for Valentine’s Day! But how do you tame the chalky texture and bitter taste of dark chocolate? Usually chocolatiers add cream and sugar to a dark chocolate base and end up with milk chocolate. However, dark chocolate is for the serious chocolate connoisseur, milk chocolate is for amateurs.

Dark chocolate history goes back at least 3,000 years. In the beginning, dark chocolate was the only form of chocolate available. Around 1900 BC it was developed as a beverage. That beverage allowed the first chocolate amateurs to dilute chocolate with honey and milk, giving it a sweet flavor.

46 ONYX MAGAZINE

Alas, I digress. Let’s get back to the question at hand. How do you tame dark chocolate’s taste?

Dark chocolate pairs exceptionally well with an aged cognac.

Did you know that all cognacs are brandy but not all brandies are cognac? Brandy can be produced in any country while cognacs are from the territory Cognac in France. Cognac is a city with narrow winding streets and old houses.

Those homes are frequently covered with “black velvet,” a microscopic fungus that feeds on the city’s alcohol vapors. Cognac proofs range from about 70 to 86 depending on the year and maker.

Most cognac sold in the United States have three distinct categories and they are: V.S. (Very Special) V.S.O.P. (Very Superior Old Pale) X.O. (Extra Old) Ninety percent of cognac is produced by four companies: Courvoisier, Hennessy, Martell, and

Rémy Martin. Older and bolder cognacs go with the intense flavor of dark chocolate. The combination of sips and sweets make for an excellent Valentine’s Day experience.

Frankly, I can only indulge the bitterness of dark chocolate when paired with an aged cognac.

Since I frequently enjoy the smooth creamy taste of milk chocolate, I am self-admittingly a chocolate amateur.

If you have a question about food and wine drop me a line at sking@onyxmagazine.com.

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