C E L E B R AT I NG B L AC K AC H I E V E M E N T T H ROUG H OU T F LO R I DA
Volume 9 – Number 45 JULY/AUGUST 2020
CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF WOMEN’S RIGHT TO VOTE
EDUCATION
THE GREAT EQUALIZER FOR SUCCESS
CONGRESSWOMAN VAL DEMINGS: BORN FOR THIS
A LOOK AT HER JOURNEY
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EMOTIONALLY PREPARING YOUR CHILD TO RETURN TO SCHOOL
MASKUP! STOP THE SPREAD ONYX MAGAZINE KICKS OFF COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN
$3.50 onyxmagazine.com
FEATURED CONTRIBUTORS
Patricia Brown Denis is a writer and educator in Tampa. An avid reader, Patricia is the author of the ONYX Reads column.
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.
contents 7 ONYX Magazine Salutes Congressman John Lewis and Rev. C.T. Vivian 8 MaskUp! Stop the Spread. ONYX Magazine kicks off billboard campaign 10 Health Tip: How to properly wear masks 12 Special Report: How to get mutual aid to those most in need 14 Education: The new normal. Making the best out of online learning 15 Elevate: And how are the children? 17 On the Quad: Stories that impact Black college students 18 Money Matters: Education, the great equalizer
Harvey Fialkov is a freelance sports and feature writer based in South Florida.
Sharon Fletcher Jones is a writer, coach and a creator at Women of a Certain Age (certainagewomen.com) in Orlando, who also pens feature stories for ONYX Magazine.
20 On the Rise: Is social media a friend or foe of the protest? 22 Arts & Culture: Lessons of the Highwaymen 24 Your Library: Ready to Read 26 ONYX Reads: Books for young people 28 Val Demings: Born for this 30 Black History: Celebrating 100 years of women’s right to vote 32 Parenting: What parents need to know about e-cigarettes 34 Real Estate: How to support anti-racism with your home buying dollars 36 Health & Wellness: Fighting the COVID 15
Quintavia McKay is a senior Broadcast Journalism student at Florida A&M University from Miami. She enjoys writing stories about women empowerment, community and news.
Trina Ryan is a blogger and ONYX Magazine features writer in Orlando. She is the in-house editor and executive assistant to the CEO at the Orlando Museum of Art.
38 Medically Speaking: Shifting resources to address the Black public health crisis 41 Family: Emotionally preparing your children for the back-to-school season 42 Closer Look: The move for Black lives has always been spiritual 44 Commentary: A culture shift can only happen with reparations and truth telling
8 Kevin Washington, Ph.D., is an academician and psychologist who leads the Department of Psychology at Grambling University in Baton Rouge, La. Kevin is the author of ONYX Magazine’s Elevate series.
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FEATURE
ONYX Magazine Launches Community Campaign
Cover photo by AdobeStock
FROM THE PUBLISHER PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Richard “Rich” E. Black MANAGING EDITOR D. Shenell Reed, M.B.A. EXECUTIVE STRATEGIST Lena Graham-Morris
RICH BLACK
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Maria Barnes ASSOCIATE EDITORS Gayle Andrews Laura Dorsey Sharon Fletcher Jones
JULY/AUGUST 2020 Dear Family, Since March, we have listened to experts tell us how to stay safe during the coronavirus pandemic. Many of us adhered: we sheltered in place, stayed six feet from our loved ones and practiced better hygiene. However, others failed to do what every medical professional has recommended: wear a face mask. As a result, the number of positive cases continue to spike, particularly in the Black communities. ONYX Magazine did not put this issue on the back burner. We immediately jumped into action with virtual town hall meetings and public education, encouraging our community to take steps to stay safe. In our biggest effort, we launched “MaskUp! Stop the Spread,” a billboard campaign to help slow the transmission of COVID-19. ONYX Magazine’s “MaskUp! Stop the Spread” grassroots campaign comes at a time of resurgence of coronavirus cases in Florida. When Florida relaxed safety guidelines in May and began to reopen businesses, people socially distanced less and stopped wearing masks. ONYX Magazine knew we had to be that trusted voice that was lacking in our communities to make our residents know how critical this health crisis really is. Inside this issue, we share how our campaign is taking off and offer important tips that could potentially save lives. While we fight this invisible foe, another is right before our eyes. Systemic racism has plagued African Americans since our ancestors arrived to what is now the United States in the 1600s. Today, much of what we read about in our history books can be witnessed on our smart phones. Black men are being killed in plain sight; as a people, African Americans still haven’t reached financial equality; and we lead in many of areas of disparity. In this issue, take a look at reparations, also, who has always been at the forefront helping us in our struggle. Plus, what will the school year look like for our students? Will the “new normal” soon be what we come to view as everyday life?
DESIGN DIRECTOR Jason Jones GRAPHICS INTERN India Johnson BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Matt deJager CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Amanda Abrams Harvey Fialkov David Ragland Anna Almendrala Ben Gunther Tyler Read Lawrence Burnley Sharon Fletcher Jones Keith Reid-Cleveland Patricia Brown Denis Quintavia McKay Luis Rivera Dee Parker Trina Ryan Laura Dorsey Kevin Washington, Ph.D. CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS City of Orlando Orange County Government Tariq Gibran Lance Walker, Jr. Office of Congresswoman Val Demings 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 Nancy Port Schwalb Margaret J. Thompson Gail Thomas-DeWitt Hon. Alan Williams Carla Williams Dr. Samuel Wright Lady Dhyana Ziegler
FOUNDERS
More than ever, it is important for us to stand together as a community. ONYX Magazine is your community partner and we are dedicated to bringing you information your whole family can use: information that entertains, inspires and informs. Thank you for being there for us, so we can be there for you. Sincerely
Rich Black
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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 2018 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 self-addressed 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.
ONYX Magazine Salutes Congressman John Lewis and Rev. C.T. Vivian
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he nation lost a formidable opponent of injustice in America. Congressman John Lewis lost his battle with pancreatic cancer on July 17, 2020. He was 80 years old. Lewis dedicated his life to protecting human rights, securing civil liberties, and building what he calls “The Beloved Community” in America. U.S. Rep. Lewis was born the son of sharecroppers on February 21, 1940, outside of Troy, Ala. He grew up on his family’s farm and attended segregated public schools in Pike County, Ala. Inspired by the activism surrounding the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the words of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., he remained at the vanguard of progressive social movements and the human rights struggle in the United States. As a student at Fisk University, Lewis organized sit-in demonstrations at segregated lunch counters in Nashville, Tenn. In 1961, he volunteered to participate in the Freedom Rides, which challenged segregation at interstate bus terminals across the South. Lewis risked his life on those Rides many times by simply sitting in seats reserved for white patrons. At the age of 23, he was an architect of and a keynote speaker at the historic March on Washington in August 1963. During the height of the Movement, from 1963 to 1966, Lewis was named chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), which he helped form. Hosea Williams, another notable Civil Rights leader, and John Lewis led over 600 peaceful, orderly protestors across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala. on March 7, 1965. The marchers were attacked by Alabama state troopers in a brutal confrontation that became known as “Bloody Sunday.” Lewis was elected to Congress in November 1986 and has served as U.S. Representative of Georgia’s Fifth Congressional District since then. He was Senior Chief Deputy Whip for the Democratic Party in leadership in the House, a member of the House Ways & Means Committee, a member of its Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support, and Ranking Member of its Subcommittee on Oversight. www.johnlewis.house.gov
A leader in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s has left an indelible mark on American history. Cordy Tindell Vivian, 95, died on July 17, 2020. He was an American minister, author and organizer. Vivian resided in Atlanta and founded the C. T. Vivian Leadership Institute, Inc. Vivian was born in Boonville, Mo. and lived in Macomb, Ill. He attended Western Illinois University in Macomb. His first professional job was recreation director for the Carver Community Center in Peoria, Ill. There, Vivian participated in his first sit-in demonstrations, which successfully integrated Barton’s Cafeteria in 1947. Vivian studied for the ministry at American Baptist Theological Seminary (now called American Baptist College) in Nashville, helped found the Nashville Christian Leadership Conference, and helped organize the first sit-ins Nashville in 1960 and the first civil rights march in 1961. In 1961, Vivian participated in Freedom Rides. He worked alongside the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as the national director of affiliates for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. During the summer following the Selma Voting Rights Movement, Vivian conceived and directed an educational program, Vision, and put 702 Alabama students in college with scholarships (this program later became Upward Bound).[9] His 1970 “Black Power and the American Myth” was the first book on the Civil Rights Movement by a member of Martin Luther King’s staff. In 2008, Vivian founded and incorporated the C. T. Vivian Leadership Institute, Inc. (CTVLI) to “Create a Model Leadership Culture in Atlanta” Georgia. The C. T. Vivian Leadership Institute conceived, developed and implemented the “Yes, We Care” campaign on December 18, 2008, and over a period of two and a half months, mobilized the Atlanta community to donate in excess of $500,000 directly to the financially stressed Morris Brown University as “bridge funding.” That effort saved the Historically Black College (HBCU).
ONYX MAGAZINE 7
COMMUNITY
ONYX Magazine Launches “MaskUp! Stop the Spread” Billboard Campaign By Harvey Fialkov
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s Florida reopens restaurants, bars, vacation rentals, theme parks and beaches, the invisible enemy—aka COVID19—thought to be vanquished, instead, has grown stronger, attacking anyone in its path. While COVID-19 seems to be an equal-opportunity killer virus, there’s no question that African Americans have been a favorite target as a quarter of Americans who have died were Black. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that African Americans make up roughly 13 percent of the U.S. population but account for nearly 23 percent of this country’s COVID-19 patients. So rather than play the victim, Orlando-based ONYX Magazine, recognizing how the ongoing virus has disproportionately affected African Americans, has launched a grassroots billboard campaign: “Mask Up! Stop the Spread” to remind people of color and those with underlying health conditions to remain vigilant and don masks when venturing into public places. The 30-day initiative with Clear Channel Outdoor was unveiled on July 1 in a press conference . “It’s been said that when America catches a cold, the African American community catches pneumonia,’’ said Rich Black, the publisher of ONYX Magazine. “Many African Americans in our communities don’t have insurance or funding that could assist them if they’re out of commission. So, we have to be proactive and do what we can do on the front end to survive COVID. We have formed a united front to defeat the enemy and not allow the disease to cross-contaminate.’’
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The campaign’s launch was held in front a spaced-out, masked up crowd of media and community members on the steps of Orlando’s City Hall. Passersby also stopped to hear the critical messages from speakers. “If we don’t mask up, then we continue this pandemic, we continue to infect those that we love. The very life you save might be your mamma’s. COVID is not just real, it kills,” said Orlando City Commissioner Regina I. Hill, District 5. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer noted health disparities and said now is the time to do something about it. “We know that it (COVID-19) has disproportionately impacted people of color and we know absolutely that simple face coverings are one of the more critical tools in combating the spread.” “Orange County continues to see a surge in new cases and the pandemic has adversely impacted communities of color all across America, and this community is no different,” said Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings. “We’re doing our best to educate the community that the coronavirus is still around and that wearing a mask can help keep you and your neighbors safe and healthy,’’ said Bakari F. Burns, commissioner of District 6 in Orlando. Prior to the billboard campaign, ONYX Magazine, in conjunction with Hill, distributed informative door hangers and yard signs, spreading the message that just because the government has “opened up” to stimulate the economy, African Americans must continue to protect themselves and their loved ones by taking intelligent precautions.
“COVID-19 has taken the lives of hundreds of thousands in the African American communities,’’ Hill said. “We must continue to take preventative and safety measures to protect ourselves and surroundings from this deadly virus. We must continue to wear masks and not allow ourselves to become relaxed.” ONYX Magazine and Hill also conducted a fourpart virtual community town hall series on how COVID-19 is impacting the Black community. Expert panelists advised on healthcare, economics, employment and business ownership and how they are impacted in the pandemic. Paula Hoisington, co-chair of ONYX Magazine’s MaskUp! Stop the Spread campaign, thanked the sponsors and reminded the audience that we have to remain community-minded about slowing the spread of the virus. “We stand here together speaking to our Black and Brown community, with people that look like us, please mask up, said Hoisington, who also is the chair of the Central Florida Urban League Board of Directors. “Each one reach one, each one teach one, the importance of masking up.” So, Mask Up! Stop the Spread!
MaskUp Sponsors
D. Shenell Reed contributed to this article
Local businesses are supporting the campaign and will be featured on the billboards and will share the message with their constituents: MaskUp! Sponsor Orlando Health; Stop the Spread Sponsor Orange Blossom Family Health; Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer with City of Orlando Parramore Kidz Zone; Orange County Government; Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, founder, the 5000 Role Models of Excellence; Orlando City Commissioner Regina I. Hill, District 5; Orlando City Commissioner Bakari Burns, District 6; African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida; Bailey’s Medical Equipment & Supplies; Bank of America; Bronze Kingdom African American Art Gallery; Central Florida Urban League; Crealde School of Art/Hannibal Square Heritage Center; The CORE HORUS Construction Team with Jones High School; Dick Batchelor Management Group; Downtown City Arts; Downtown Development Board; The Experience Christian Center; Orange County Health Department; and Orlando Magic; United Foundation of Central Florida.
Rich Black, ONYX Magazine Publisher
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer
Rich Black, Commissioner Bakari Burns, District 6, and ONYX Magazine Advisory Committee Chair Dee Parker
Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings
Commissioner Regina I. Hill, District 5
Paula Hoisington
ONYX MAGAZINE 9
HEALTH TIP
A Guide to Wearing Masks By Keith Reid-Cleveland
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ace masks used to be reserved for healthcare professionals, construction workers and a select few who were cautious of germs and bacteria. After the outbreak of COVID-19, they’ve become an integral part of everyday life and likely will remain so for the foreseeable future. Experts claim that people will likely have to wear them until there’s a vaccine, which may take up to a year. With wearing face masks becoming more of a requirement than a suggestion, here is what you need to know about doing so in the most effective way. How wearing masks helps The most common way the coronavirus is spread is through respiratory droplets that are produced through coughing, sneezing or other acts in person-to-person contact. The primary reason that wearing masks is so effective against spreading the disease is that they prevent these droplets from escaping and coming into contact with anyone else. This is the case for medical masks, cloth masks or anything else that covers the mouth and nose. This is especially important because a significant number of people who are positive carriers of the coronavirus are asymptomatic—meaning they show none of the listed symptoms—and totally unaware of their status. A recent study from the University of Hong Kong and the University of Maryland found that people infected with a viral illness leave droplets in the air 30 percent of the time after breathing while not wearing masks. On the other hand, all participants who wore masks blocked nearly 100 percent of the droplets. Face masks are being recommended (or required) as a way to keep the wearer from infecting anyone they come into contact with. This doesn’t mean that wearing a mask makes you invulnerable to being infected by someone who isn’t. So it’s essential that everyone still practices social distancing and other measures, mask or no mask. 10 ONYX MAGAZINE
How to wear masks and how NOT to wear them To be used effectively, face masks should be worn so that they cover both your mouth and nose. If either of them are exposed, that largely defeats the purpose of wearing one in the first place. Tip: You should always wash your hands before applying or removing a mask to avoid the spread of germs. Because face masks are new and can sometimes feel inconvenient—for example, when they fog up glasses—people tend to try and find shortcuts. You may have seen—or done—these yourself. Peter Hessler, a writer for “The New Yorker,” came up with names for the most common ways people try to cheat with masks: The Holster: When someone pulls their mask down below their mouth or chin. The Flapjack: When someone has their mask hanging off of one ear. The Low Rider: When someone has their mask covering their mouth but under their nostrils. As tempting as they may be, do your best to avoid using these methods. And, whatever you do, don’t cut a hole in your mask because it’s “hard to breathe.”
Where to get masks You may be wondering where everyone’s been getting face masks to begin with. After all, if buying one is something you never thought about before no one can blame you. When the COVID-19 outbreak first made national news, there was an immediate rush to buy face masks. Which led to a shortage that even impacted people on the front lines who are coming into contact with infected people on a daily basis. Fortunately, enough time has passed where numerous companies are producing enough masks to meet demand, including local department and convenience stores. As a matter of fact, many of them are even coming out with new designs that allow customers to show off more personality. However, if you need a more accessible solution, you’re in luck. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has come out with a detailed guide on how to make effective masks out of other items you can find easily, such as t-shirts and bandanas. Wearing masks will likely become the norm as governments work to lower the number of COVID-19 infections and could even become a mandatory part of everyday life as people get back to work in the future. This story first appeared in BlackDoctor.org and has been republished with permission.
SPECIAL REPORT On March 18, 2020, Project South and Hunger Coalition of Atlanta staff gathered to assemble personal care and hygiene kits for residents of Atlanta, a couple of days after schools and businesses closed in response to the novel coronavirus in Atlanta, Georgia.
How to Get Mutual Aid to Those Most in Need
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he appeal was heartbreaking, but not particularly unusual these days. “I am writing with a need. I am currently in a position where I am not able to pay my half of the rent for several reasons. I have four small children too. Does anyone know of any resources at all that can help with rent?” The writer had posted it on a new Facebook page for residents in Durham, North Carolina, that aims to connect residents in need with those who might be able to help. In her case, it worked. Within a week, readers had contributed enough cash to cover her rent, and she’d received so much donated food that she’d started giving some away to others in need. Durham isn’t unique. Over the past month, hundreds or maybe even thousands of homegrown assistance networks like this one have sprung up around the country. Most call themselves “mutual aid,” and their goals are generally to meet needs that have arisen during this scary time of quarantines, social distancing, and 12 ONYX MAGAZINE
sheltering in place. For every person who has lost a job and is now worried about how to make ends meet, who can’t go to the grocery store because they’re immunocompromised, or who is simply desperate for a little one-on-one contact, there’s likely someone else who’s been relatively unscathed by the crisis and can help— wants to help, in fact. It’s a beautiful impulse, and one that makes immediate sense. Ultimately, we’re neighbors; we should lean on one another. But that enthusiasm and goodwill masks an unpleasant reality. With much of our interactions confined to online spaces during this novel coronavirus/COVID-19 outbreak, only some people are gaining access to that assistance—and it’s generally not the folks who need it the most. Although there have been some tech gains toward closing the digital divide, most lower-income people, especially those who are elderly, don’t have regular access to WiFi or familiarity with a range of relevant websites. Forums for assistance advertised on
social media, in emails or texts may never make it to people living in generational poverty, and segregated by income. At this time in our recent history, like no other, we are witnessing how our circles are limited to our own socioeconomic statuses. Where mutual aid efforts are organized around neighborhood “pods” to facilitate direct neighbor-to-neighbor engagement such as those in Seattle, or municipalities around Boston and other affluent areas, people in the poorest communities wind up with little contact with those who have ample means to help out. The problem, however, isn’t endemic to this particular time. “Income inequality readily translates into information inequality in the United States,” wrote James Hamilton, a Stanford University professor, and Fiona Morgan of Branchhead Consulting, in a 2018 report on the topic. “Low-income individuals who are not connected with the web or communicating via smartphones miss out on this online network of expression and thus miss opportu-
PHOTO FROM PROJECT SOUTH
By Amanda Abrams
nities to share and receive information and tell their stories.” According to a 2019 study by the Pew Research Center, almost a third of U.S. adults in low-income households don’t own smartphones; more than 40% lack high speed internet or a computer. “The people who are most vulnerable don’t have broadband; they can’t go to a library [now],” Morgan says. “So how do we adapt to social distancing, and still not only rely on the low-hanging fruit of social media, when the people we most need to help aren’t part of our social network?” That’s a critical, eternal question, says Shirin Senegal, who’s behind the mutual aid project in Long Beach, Calif., “It’s always been the biggest issue, whether it’s the mortgage crisis or day-to-day struggles—that digital divide and not meeting people where they are,” she says. Like many other mutual aid groups around the country, Senegal began her efforts by creating a Google form where residents could enter their specific needs, and others could respond with assistance. But she’s a longtime community organizer, which means that she has a deep understanding of how to work with vulnerable communities. “I hit the pavement,” says Senegal, explaining how she created fliers advertising the initiative and distributed them to small businesses, community members, and places that lower-income people might visit, such as laundromats. She also established a 24-hour phone line where people can leave a message; she or other volunteers respond within a day. But above all, Senegal says, it’s about collaboration. Getting in touch with neighborhood groups that help the elderly. Contacting nonprofits that work with the homeless. “It’s really important to create those on-the-ground networks,” she continues. “By empowering community members like that, the reach is much bigger and broader.” Using those relationships is key, say organizers from the Highlander Center, a social justice training center in Tennessee that’s been around since 1932. Highlander
recently held giant public conference calls on mutual aid, emphasizing that the practice has been around for centuries among marginalized communities like formerly enslaved Africans and poor immigrants who have lacked access to conventional services. “Real mutual aid is bottom-up,” says Highlander’s co-director Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson. “It’s about talking to people and engaging them in the work. Allowing those who are directly affected to be empowered to help others.” In Atlanta, Project South has been doing that from the start. Unlike many other efforts around the country, its mutual aid initiative started back in 2017, long before the current crisis, to support and strengthen the community there. As a result, its organizers already have connections among residents. “A lot of our communication, because of access issues with the internet, is more phone and door-to-door communication,” says Project South’s co-director Emery Wright. He and other organizers are making sure they have accurate phone lists for everyone in the neighborhood, and created a survey to ensure that residents have the medication, food, or hygiene products they need. “It’s a 21st century challenge: How social movements are able to become powerful enough to respond to scales of disaster, even on this global scale,” Wright says. Every mutual aid effort is a little different. Some have existing deep roots; others never realize how important those roots are. And some aim to build them from scratch. That’s true for the Berkeley Mutual Aid Network, which recently formed serendipitously among a handful of unconnected people. They realized they needed to work hard to connect with the poorest members of the community. “There’s never really any overcoming it—it’s a basic inequity in our society,” says Dave Peattie, one of the project’s organizers, of the digital disconnect. But they’re trying. He and the other leaders put up roughly 6,000 posters in English and Spanish around the city. They’re collaborating with a large affordable housing
organization that will distribute fliers to its 1,400 housing units. And Peattie is aiming to reach out to every church and synagogue in Berkeley, to encourage them to share information about the initiative with congregants. Berkeley’s program has a unique element. Rather than helping to fill one-off requests, the organizers match up those in need with those who want to help on a longer-term basis—a buddy system, if you will. “So each person making a request has someone checking in with them on a regular basis,” explains Helen Marks, who’s in charge of matching pairs of residents. She and others try to find the best fit possible: among needs and abilities, personal styles, and geographic location. They ask that the pairs be in touch at least once a week, to stay on top of a situation that’s still evolving for everyone. “[The requester] knows someone will keep checking in on them,” Peattie says. “We want to make sure everyone is being cared for as much as possible.” The matching feature has been extremely successful, with residents on both sides of the equation gushing over their partners and discussing plans to remain in contact later. It’s a very clear, tangible way to improve people’s lives—both those in need, and those with help to give. And in a more subtle way, those pairings are helping the community become a little less stratified, couple by couple. In an America where different socioeconomic groups can barely find footing to communicate, that’s an incredible feat. “For volunteers, it’s just seeing what it must be like to have an empty fridge, or what it’s like to be immunocompromised or struggling for money—this exposure to different lives, different people who you wouldn’t have met otherwise,” Marks says. “Probably the No. 1 thing that gives me hope for the future is how everyone’s learning.” Amanda Abrams is a freelance writer who focuses on gentrification, poverty, and religion. This article first appeared in Yes! Magazine and has been republished with permission. ONYX MAGAZINE 13
EDUCATION
The New Normal How to make the most of online learning
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he flexibility to learn and earn a degree online allows students nationwide—from full-time employees to single parents and more—to achieve goals while managing family and life. Millions of students study online today, and those numbers are only increasing. While online education provides students with a range of opportunities, it also can present challenges of learning in a new environment. Nationwide, staff and students who teach and study online offer their tips to help ensure your success. Set yourself up for success Before starting a degree program online, plan ahead. Give yourself space and time to study, as well as technology tools to do your best. Give yourself space “A quiet workplace without any interruption from roommates or family is necessary for success in an online course,” advises the Arizona State University’s director of student services, Joseph Chapman. If your space isn’t completely quiet, noise-canceling headphones can help you focus. For shared spaces, let roommates or family know when you’re in study mode.
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Check your tech One online coordinator recommends using a desktop or laptop for all your studies, as a tablet or phone may not be the best tools for most tasks. Familiarize yourself with your school’s learning platform and keep information about tech support handy. Ensure that you have multiple browsers (such as Chrome or Firefox) available, as one might work better for some programs than others. Organize your time Time management is key to learning online, as you must take the initiative and be accountable for your own work, without instructors or parents looking over your shoulder. A master’s degree graduate said her first task at the beginning of each semester is to review every class syllabus and put due dates for papers, assignments and exams in her calendar - plus reminders a few days ahead of each due date. “My advice is to start your assignments ahead of time,” she says. “It’ll be so much less stressful than waiting until the last minute to do it.” Students say they treat every online class like an in-person class, scheduling it in her calendar as an important appointment. They set reminders and alarms for study time—building in breaks for snacks and resting.
Communicate Stay connected to your instructors, classmates and school community. Take advantage of opportunities to collaborate, share insights and ask questions. Students advise to join social media groups and participates in class discussions as much as possible. Add your instructors’ virtual office hours in your calendar, so you know when they’ll be available. Email instructors or use class discussion boards to ask questions or offer comments. Instructors like seeing student engagement and participating will improve your overall experience. Communicating regularly with your “offline” support network—your friends, family and/or coworkers who may need to be patient as you devote more time to completing your coursework. Find the right program for you If you haven’t begun your studies, or you’re looking to transfer, find a program that meets your needs. Research universities that offer the degree or certification program you’re looking for online, and that are specifically designed and have dedicated resources to work with online learners. Find an accredited degree program associated with a reputable university that offers the same curriculum and instructors as ground schools. “U.S. News and World Report” provides helpful rankings of universities and degree programs. Look for a program offering a support system, one that provides a comprehensive support system for online students: clinical and personal care, as well as legal and financial assistance—plus success coaches who work with students to help them meet their academic goals. Be persistent When things get challenging, remember the reasons why you’re pursuing your education. Post verbal or visual reminders near your workspace to keep your goals top of mind. Story by Brandpoint Media
ELEVATE
Kasserian Ingera: And How Are the Children? Seeing our descendants as sovereign nations By Kevin Washington, Ph.D.
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mong the Masai Warriors of present-day Kenya and Tanzania, there is a greeting the men give to one another: Kasserian Ingera, “And how are the children?” The response: Sapati Ingera “All of the children are well.” This greeting assumes the pre-eminent importance of children to the life and well-being of Masai society. These men, who have been heralded as the some of the fiercest warriors in the world, greet one another with a pronouncement of concern for their progeny. Even if one does not have biological children, he responds that the children are well. The warrior is fighting for and defending against that which would cause harm to their future. How comforting must that be for the Masai children to know they have so much value that warriors are willing to fight on their behalf. The greeting implies the essential role of the warrior. They are to make sure that all is well for their most valued members of the community, their children. Each child belongs to everyone, therefore, there is no separation between the value of the children. An extremely puzzling part of the greeting is ‘how can the men answer the question in the affirmative, that the children are well, when they are not in the presence of the children?’ Ultimately, they are saying. “we are on post and nothing has penetrated the perimeter, therefore, the interior is well.” Within our community in America, something very destructive has penetrated our Black community and as the Creator and the ancestors would have it, our children are crying out. Mabrak JAJA Murray is a 15-year-old living in Metro Orlando. His mother, Dr. Alecia Blackwood, said her son was having some real issues with the coronavirus pandemic and police brutality. He shared that he was concerned about how he should
respond to the immediate issues of looting and rioting in the midst of a pandemic and the blatant dehumanization of Black people. This young man has two strong parents who are very active in his life. His father, Burt Murray a.k.a. Asafo Weedamiah, is a true warrior like the Masai; he makes sure the children are well. His mother advances a culturally-responsive model for educating Black children. So, Mabrak comes from a strong tree. He said he can go to Africa and live, but that would not address the immediate issues of his personal safety, nor would it address that safety of people like him in America. Mabrak believes that if he takes a stand in the streets, then he could be killed or arrested. Conversely, he contends that if he stays inside he will be in prison and could die. Not only was he alluding to a mental death but a physical one. He was concerned that law enforcement could come to his house and cause harm to him and his family. He expressed feelings of helpless and hopeless. Like other children,
he was calling for action to address the situation. Mabrak emphasizes the power that comes from declaring oneself to be a sovereign nation. Being sovereign means to have supreme rulership over oneself. Every nation has a declaration of independence which clearly states what is permissible and what is not. Mabrak’s sovereignty is grounded in African values of the community being important. Just like the Masai who focus on the children, Mabrak knows about the African axiom, “I am because we are we; therefore I am.” Mabrak states that he is unapologetically sovereign. He reminds us of the power of declaring yourself to be human and to never let a condition or situation dissuade you from making a difference.
ONYX MAGAZINE 15
ON THE
QUAD
PHOTOS COURTESY OF FAMU COLLEGE OF LAW AND THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF NEGRO WOMEN, INC.
EWC Partners With Follett Higher Education Group
In April, Edward Waters College (EWC) and Follett Higher Education Group (Follett) finalized an innovative and progressive new partnership aimed at reducing overall student costs while also significantly enhancing student access to relevant technology necessary to promote optimum student academic performance and support overall student success. The new collaboration called the EWC/ Follet ACCESS Program will not only continue providing students access to course materials via an e-textbook platform but will now provide those materials at a reduced cost thereby further enhancing the College’s already existing extraordinarily high value as the State of Florida’s most affordable private Historically Black College or University (HBCU). Per the 2015 U.S. Census and an attendant national report conducted by the U.S. Department of Commerce, some 43% of African-American households are without a desktop or laptop computer. As a response, this dynamic new partnership seeks to bridge that existing technological access chasm for EWC students as beginning this coming Fall every new first-time-in-college full-time Edward Waters College student will be issued their own brand new personal Chromebook computer equipped with the complete Microsoft 365 software suite while being fully e-book download capable.
FAMU Law Appoints New Dean Florida A&M University (FAMU) has named Deidré Keller, J.D., as the new dean of the College of Law in Orlando. She began work in July. “Professor Deidré Keller is a highly regarded scholar whose leadership vision aligns strongly with FAMU’s strategic priorities and initiatives,” said President Larry Robinson, Ph.D. “We look forward to all of the ‘great things’ the College of Law students, faculty and staff will accomplish under her leadership.” A native of Georgetown, Guyana, Keller grew up in the Bronx, N.Y. She earned a juris doctor with honors from Emory University School of Law as well as a Bachelor of Arts in English and Sociology from Yale University. “My family and I are thrilled to be moving to Orlando and joining the College of Law FAMUly,” she said. “The College’s location in one of the country’s fastest growing cities, with thriving business and legal communities, plus the University’s illustrious history, make FAMU Law an ideal place to continue my work.”
Bethune-Cookman University Partners With the National Council of Negro Women, Inc. The National Council of Negro Women Inc. (NCNW) and Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) have launched “Advancing the Legacy,” a celebration of the accomplishments of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, founder of both the NCNW and B-CU. NCNW National Chair and President Dr. Johnnetta Cole, joined by B-CU President Dr. LaBrent Chrite, announced the initiative as an effort to protect the vision and mission Dr. Cole of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, an influencer who was ahead of her time. Cole and Chrite were joined by Judge Belvin Perry, Ret., and Chair, B-CU Board of Trustees; Janice Mathews, Esq., and NCNW Executive Director; students from B-CU along with members of the B-CU Washington, D.C. Metro alumni chapter. “Advancing the Legacy,” is a compelling awareness and fundraising initiative created to provide ongoing support of Dr. Bethune’s lifelong mission of ensuring access to higher education for African American students. Dr. Bethune will be formally recognized later this year when her statue will become part of the National Statuary Hall Collection in the Capitol Rotunda. Her inclusion marks the first African American to have a state-commissioned statue in Statuary Hall. The University has achieved one-third of its $12M campaign goal with $8 million needed to close the gap in scholarship funding. The Advancing the Legacy campaign includes a digital element, asking advocates to make a financial contribution online at advancingthelegacy.com and to share their support on social media using the hashtag #AdvancingBCU. All funds will be allocated in support of students, to reduce the cost of access and to strengthen retention and graduation rates.
ONYX MAGAZINE 17
MONEY MATTERS
Education: The Great Equalizer Get to the head of the line for your child’s future
T
By Professor Laura Dorsey
he Declaration of Independence told us that all men are created equal. Well, they must have forgotten to mention it to 2020. We are only at the halfway point of the year, and the African American community has been beset disproportionally. Blacks are dying from COVID-19 at greater numbers than other races. The economic fallout from the virus has resulted in 16.7% of African Americans out of work. Black-owned businesses are far less likely to receive financial relief from the CARES Act. Now, the racial inequality that has plagued African Americans for decades has reared its ugly head once again, sparking protests across this nation and the world. The trifecta—COVID-19, economics, and racism— has spawned long lines. There have been lines for food giveaways that had lasted for blocks and occasionally ran out before everyone was serviced. There have been lines as the Central Florida Diaper Bank sought to provide diapers for members of the community that could not afford them. There have been lines, virtual and physical, for peo18 ONYX MAGAZINE
ple trying to apply for the unemployment benefits they so desperately need. Also, there have been lines to protest the racial injustice. I contend that there is going to be a new line that you may not see coming. The world of higher education is currently in a state of uncertainty. Parents, if you have a student in high school that was anticipating going to college in the 20/21 school year, get prepared. This is where we become the great equalizer. Double-digit unemployment is going to affect all of America, not just African Americans. The ability to access a good education was already uneven nationwide and more difficult for many people of color. We cannot continue to be at the back of the line. This article was written with an opportunity for you to get in front of the line when it comes to providing our children with quality education. The economics of education is what divides the haves from the have nots. Education can give you a sense of power. Education can be the ultimate equalizer. It is not too early to start. We must pay attention to what’s happening in elementary school, middle school, and high school. We must take responsibility for our children being educated. Financial hardships are often the biggest hindrance to minority students earning a degree. Your Money Matters when it comes to financing your child’s education. Knowing that you are busy, I
have done some of the work for you. The attached chart is a list of resources that you can use regarding educational financing. This list is specifically for parents because I contend that students do not send themselves to school, their parents do. I also reached out to some experts to provide you tax and financial advice (or you can use your own) when it comes to completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). You need your past taxes to complete this form. If your income has been affected by the economics of this year, you will want to know about a modified adjusted gross income. Ken Bradshaw, a financial planner with Prudential Advisors, is registered in 23 states as a wealth management expert. He can be reached at ken.bradshaw@prudential. com. Bradshaw can also offer advice for those you that are taking advantage of the chart and starting early. We know that it is more important than ever to focus on the educational goals of your children or younger family members. With the provided information, you will get a head start to the front of the new line called scholarships and the financial planning of our future generations. President Barak Obama said, “If you think education is expensive, wait until you see how much ignorance costs in the 21st century”. Professor Laura Dorsey is the SE Regional vice president of Infinite Scholars Program.
ONYX MAGAZINE 19
ON THE RISE
Social Media: Friend or Foe of the Protest? By Quintavia McKay
F
ollowing the death of George Floyd and the continuous advancement of technology, social media spectators cannot help but notice what’s going on in the world. Whether people watch the news or simply turn to their nearest mobile app, the information is at the palm of their hands. Social media has become the highlight of technology and continues to define new ways of communication at the fingertips of its constituents. In a time where America is reliving the consequences of its systematic racism, the media steadily remains.
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So I took to social media itself to gather the thoughts and feelings of my followers by asking them one question: ‘Does social media harm or help the efforts of protesting?’ Many participants had similar responses and I found examples from my own experience engaging with social media. Social media may be the best representation of the free marketplace of ideology under the First Amendment. The free marketplace of ideology for the First Amendment presents the idea of places like social media being the epitome of all forms for freedom of expression.
It grants the freedom of press, speech, assembly, petition, and religion. It is a place designed to have the freedom of discrimination unless you’re younger than 13, in order to cultivate ideas and discussions that range in race, religion, age, culture, geography, gender and many other demographics. Friend “It spreads awareness and gives people a voice,” said Kyler Tucker, a student at Bethune-Cookman University. As a student who does not speak on many topics because of the judgmental environment of
“Many people think the movement is over because they don’t see much on the news anymore after the first week.” —Taylor Harrington.
social media, she constantly uses it as a way to educate herself and develop her own opinions and thoughts of Black Lives Matter (BLM) movements and police brutality. Platforms such as Twitter, Instagram and Facebook have increased in involvement with posts that vary from the trending topics of equality, BLM movements and police brutality. A tool to learn from and discuss despite the negativity that may surface, these platforms provide a voice for the people and those against. See Both Sides “I think it helps and, in a way, harms. It harms because those against protesting for BLM and cops have a heads up and can plan to disrupt it,” said Jai Paytee. Lately, social media has been flooded with posts and exploitations filled with propaganda for and against the movement. Theories and video footage of police offi-
cers allegedly causing damage to their own properties and escalating peaceful protest have been shown all over. There is no doubt that social media is run by the daily lives and the minds of its participants generating discussions and ideas or even displaying content that have discrepancies from the news and calls into question who is truly telling the news. Protestors have taken it upon themselves to uncover the action the news wouldn’t show. A twitter post made by user@drivenbyboredom showed how a kneel in solidarity between the NYPD and New York protestors turned sour a few moments later as NYPD bombarded them on video, with shields and batons while making an arrest of one protester with nearly five officers surrounding him. Ally “Many people think the movement is over because they don’t see much on the news anymore after the first week,” said Taylor Harrington. Protest have been going on for a strong involving all 50 states and some other countries fighting worldly injustices. The
trending period for protest lasts a steady week or two on social media until the topics change depending on who a user is following. But there is always work to be done because reform and arrests made does not improve the fixated system of racial inequality. And because the social media feed changes does not mean the fight is over for cases that have been pushed aside or have not received the same coverage as other national cases like the shooting of Jamee Johnson. Harrington was a friend of Johnson, a former Florida A&M Student who was killed at the hands of Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) in December. Johnson has become one of the many faces for the movement since Trayvon Martin. The fight alone for Johnson’s case is still ongoing and recent efforts of petitioning and protesting has caused the JSO to finally release the body cam footage from that evening. How could it be that a platform encompassing two first amendment freedoms be harming its very participants. There is always a hint of evil in something good and social media can only do so much when users abuse their freedoms to demonstrate hate speech, racial slurs and any harmful or abusive content. Much of social media users have shown their solidarity with the BLM movement and continue to monitor users’ activity. One bad apple cannot rotten the whole bunch, so the judgment and mentality of the user is the harmful aspect to such an innovative medium to spread news. Social media has made a tremendous contribution to advancements in BLM and police brutality awareness increasing support in petition signage and making a change in one’s community: Passing the ‘Breonna Taylor’ Law, re-opening multiple cases, encouraging the support of Blackowned businesses, implementing the ‘Amy Cooper’ law, and building a united front between the Black community, People of Color and several white counterparts. ONYX MAGAZINE 21
ARTS & CULTURE
Al Black (center), one of the core Highwaymen, takes a photo with Elevate Orlando’s middle school students, following a painting workshop.
These African American artists show it pays to be a visionary. By Trina Ryan
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W
PHOTO COURTESY OF LANCE WALKER JR., BOARD MEMBER OF ELEVATE ORLANDO AND ORLANDO MUSEUM OF ART
Transcending Art: Lessons of the Highwaymen
hen Sherry Newton Lumpkins began teaching art to grades K-5 at Suncoast Christian Academy, a predominately Black early education and elementary school in Lake Worth, Florida, she asked her students if they knew the name Pablo Picasso. Her fourth and fifth graders were familiar with the artist; the kindergarteners and first graders were not. Then she asked if they had heard of Vincent van Gogh. She received a similar response. The older students knew the name; the younger ones looked bemused. Next she asked if they knew the Florida Highwaymen. This time all the students replied with a blank stare. “That floored me,” said Newton Lumpkins, 47, who joined the fold at Suncoast in January but has been teaching art for more than eight years. The realization came as a shock, but also as a disappointment, not just because her father, Harold Newton, was one of the 26 Highwaymen, but because these African American artists are an important part of history—“our history,” Newton Lumpkins emphasized to her students. Though the Highwaymen were consummate and prolific artists, some painting up to 20 works a day, their resourcefulness in a time of racial ferment is what merits their place in art history. Theirs is a story of entrepreneurship that knew no bounds—a story, especially for young Black people, that anything is possible. Known for their iconic images of Florida—vibrant-hued skies, windblown palms, serene backwaters—the Highwaymen painted their way out of the fate awaiting them in the citrus groves and packing houses of the Jim Crow era. Emerging in the 1950s, the East Coast Florida natives taught themselves how to paint, and,
COURTESY OF ORLANDO MUSEUM OF ART. PHOTOGRAPHY BY TARIQ GIBRAN
more importantly, how to make their work salable. Virgin landscapes depicting idyllic, natural beauty, this was the archetypal paradise patrons wanted to associate with Florida. With their artworks priced, on average, at $25 apiece, the Highwaymen weren’t afforded the luxury of time, contrary to their white counterparts, and so had to paint at a furious pace to earn a living. They carted their work along the eastern seaboard, selling their still-wet paintings door-to-door—restaurants, offices, courthouses, bank lobbies, anyplace with money. This method of sales led to their controversial yet undeniably apt moniker: Highwaymen. Indeed, life was good for this cadre of 20- and 30-somethings. Their pockets flush with cash, some drove big-finned Cadillacs; others spent their nights at Eddie’s Place, a local juke joint; while still others simply enjoyed the resources to support their families. From 1960 to 1980, the Highwaymen’s peak years, it’s estimated they produced some 200,000 paintings. “It’s phenomenal to think about,” said Gary Monroe, the leading authority on the Highwaymen who has published several books and delivered hundreds of public lectures about the artists. “They were a loose association of like-minded friends who burst on the scene. … They had no organization, no rules; it was very amorphous. They invented this game and played it well.” But the popularity of Highwaymen paintings waned in the 1980s, due in part to the state’s growing tourism economy and subsequent developments. No longer did residents want to imagine Florida as paradise but rather as a burgeoning city, with changing skylines and theme parks. Then in the mid-1990s, the Highwaymen craze resurfaced, thanks to a new generation of collectors who rescued the artworks from garage sales, flea markets, motels and thrift stores. A groundswell of interest emerged and, with it, valuations soared. Exhibitions followed. The Highwaymen were finally earning a place in the fine arts establishment. In 2004, based on Monroe’s nomination, all 26 artists were inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame. “They were the underdogs who succeeded,” Monroe wrote in the Orlando Museum of Art’s Highwaymen catalog. Whether owing to their strong, religious upbringings or gregarious personalities or the tropical settings that were their backyards, “it makes sense,” he added, “that these young people would be the artists to do the unimaginable, to rise above institutional racism and live fairy-tale lives.” One would be remiss, however, to think the Highwaymen’s success came by happenstance—the right place, the right time. To be sure, a local desire to capture the romantic beauty of what some call “old Florida” spurred sales. But the artists’ business acumen and preternatural ability to churn out paintings gave them the spark they needed to thrive in a White-dominated market. More than appreciating art, perhaps the greatest lesson the Highwaymen story can teach young people today is one of self-confidence. “I tell my students,” Newton Lumpkins said, “that if you can believe in yourself and your talent, and you go forth in the task with that talent, then you are good enough.”
Untitled and undated landscape by Harold Newton
This notion of being “good enough” is a hard sell to Black students, Newton Lumpkins noted. “They tell themselves they can’t before they even try. People don’t realize how much society beats up on you when you have brown skin.” Sherry Paramore, president of Elevate Orlando, a nonprofit that provides mentorship to at-risk youths, echoed this sentiment, saying that defeat holds powerful sway over Black culture. On Feb. 1, before social distancing and face masks and lockdowns, middle school students with Elevate met at the Orlando Museum of Art for a tour of the Highwaymen exhibition (which opened in January and has been extended, because of COVID19 closures, to Aug.16, 2020). Afterwards, they participated in a painting workshop facilitated by Al Black, one of the core Highwaymen. A similar workshop for Elevate’s high school students took place Feb.12, led by Al Black and second-generation Highwaymen artist Kelvin Hair. At first, the students doubted their ability, muttering, “I can’t,” but with the guidance of Black and Hair, living art legends, they were up for the task. “They were amazed at their own talent,” Paramore said, laughing. “What I love is that they were able to learn about the incredible talent in our community by people who look just like them. I think that had a huge impact.” One sunny morning in early March, Newton Lumpkins and her 19-year-old daughter visited the Orlando Museum of Art. Her daughter was doing a sound check for a song she planned to sing at the ambassador luncheon on March 18, in remembrance of Mary Ann Carroll, the only woman of the Highwaymen cohort, who died on Dec. 4, 2019, at the age of 79. Capturing her daughter’s performance on her camera phone, like a proud mother, Newton Lumpkins noticed a docent leading a group of students from around the corner. He stopped at one of her father’s paintings, elaborating on the artwork and the artist’s life. She fought tears, promising herself she wouldn’t let the students see her cry. She thought of something she said at her father’s funeral, nearly 16 years ago: “The world will never know what a great artist he was.” Now, watching the children a few feet away, their eyes wide and intrigued as the docent spoke, she realized that, at last, his story was being told. ONYX MAGAZINE 23
ONYX READS
Summer Reading List Books for Young People By Patricia Brown Denis
A Good Kind of Trouble Lisa Moore Ramee A new author’s first novel for young people about relationships, and how to persevere as they change individually and within a group. Her characters wrestle with challenges of a diverging peer group while finding her own niche. Ramee’ highlights how incidental, casual interactions can lead to lifelong decisions and lasting friendships.
The Little Black Book of Success: Laws of Leadership for Black Women Elaine Meryl Brown, Marsha Haygood and Rhonda Joy McLean This guide hits specific points that matter for black women who want to be successful in the corporate world, as leaders in their workplace as entrepreneurs. Suggestions include “get angry someplace else not at work… give yourself twentyfour hours to cool down.” These are trying times, and many find themselves in the position of marketing themselves to new employers, generating new capital and establishing fresh contacts. This book would make a timely purchase.
Citizen: An American Lyric Claudia Rankine. The words in this collection of narrative poetry are strikingly relevant. Rankine’s lyric makes several poignant statements, “Certain moments send adrenaline to the heart, dry out the tongue and clog the lungs.” She also quotes Zora Neal Hurston, “I feel most colored when I am thrown against a sharp white background.” This is a collection of carefully constructed words with subtle, impactful and effective nuances.
This Side of Home
We Cast a Shadow: A Novel
Renee Watson This book is an excellent choice for young readers. The main character reframes her own history in favor of one she doesn’t mind telling. A more common practice than any of us is ready to admit. As in real life, there are many instances of resilience on the part of the young people.
Maurice Carlos Ruffin This novel is classified as satire. The story itself and the activities of the main character would be incredulous until you realize the author’s purpose. He pokes at the ideals of racism. The main characters provocative journey from law school to corporate America demonstrates the incredible stresses transition for the African American man. The author has created characters that navigate the system and learn to move or be left behind.
Better Than I Know Myself Virginia Deberry and Donna Grant Deberry, et. al introduce three young ladies from different parts of the United States who make their college choice for different reasons. Your background can color your experience wherever you go. You meet Carmen, resolved to beat the odds; Regina, who doesn’t accept how fortunate she is; and Jewell who is a provocative character. The author has made a compelling argument for the wise adage to keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
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BORN FOR
THIS
A candid talk with Congresswoman Val B. Demings By Sharon Fletcher Jones
V
al B. Demings represents Florida’s 10th District as a member of the United States Congress. Currently she is being vetted along with other women as a possible running mate for presumptive Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden. Born the youngest of seven children in Jacksonville, Fla., Valdez Butler Demings’ mother, Elouise, a maid and father, James, who worked as a janitor did everything they could to support their seven children while instilling in them the value of hard work. Taking their lessons seriously, Val started working in her first job at the age of 14. She was the first in her family to graduate college, receiving a B.S. in Criminology from 28 ONYX MAGAZINE
Florida State University. Demings began her career as a social worker helping foster children in Jacksonville. In the early 1980’s, she moved to Orlando to join the police force where she saw very few women. After graduating from the police academy as class president and receiving the Board of Trustees’ Award for Overall Excellence, Demings quickly earned the reputation of a tenacious, no-nonsense cop. In 2007, she made history by becoming Orlando’s first female chief of police. As chief, Demings led the department through financial crisis without reducing the number of officers on the streets, championed policing strategies that put her community first and oversaw a 40% reduction in violent
crime. During her 27-year tenure, she served in essentially every department, including as Commander of Special Operations where she was responsible for many high profile events and dignitary protection. Now in her second term and seeking re-election, Demings serves as a member of the House Homeland Security and Judiciary Committees. She rides her Harley-Davidson classic motorcycle in her very limited spare time. In a recent interview with ONYX Magazine, Congresswoman Demings shared the following: ONYX Magazine: What was your initial reaction to your appointment as an impeachment manager and
given the outcome, what is the most important work to be done now? Congresswoman Val Demings: While it was an
absolute honor to be 1 of 7 and the only non-lawyer chosen… we go through processes all the time that don’t turn out the way we’d like. Looking at Minnesota…we have to continue to do what we know in our hearts is right, we have to stay the course no matter what the outcome is. We don’t always have control of the outcome but we do control the journey. Whether you’re in congress or not, we sometimes have to do what is unpopular. But, we have to continue to do what we know in our hearts is the right thing to do.
OM: Thank you for fully supporting the Heroes Act and the Affordable Health Care Act especially during these uncertain times. Are there other initiatives that we should support to help get us through the COVID 19 crisis? CVD: Yes, this pandemic has pointed out the vulnerabilities in our healthcare system. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Of all these un-justices, the lack of healthcare is the most unjust.” If this [the United States] is the greatest country in the world then everyone should have access to healthcare including those 20 million here in Florida who would not have healthcare. For almost a million people here in Florida, we’d asked that the governor expand Medicaid and address those two million people who are experiencing problems with unemployment. The CARES Act was introduced to try to bridge the gap between people and resources, to respond to those vulnerabilities and to take care of the people who ARE our most precious resources. OM: As you know you’re being touted as a possible running mate for Joe Biden. Georgia is pulling for Stacey Abrams while California is cheering Kamala Harris on. But here in Florida, and in Virginia you are the number one choice. You’ve stated and moreover demonstrated that you WILL serve if and when you get the call. What would be your response if chosen? CVD: I would be honored to serve, of course. OM: Regarding the Democratic Party and the fact that it has historically depended on Black women voters, where do you think we now stand with the party?
CVD: Membership [in the Democratic Party] should have its privileges. Black women do it all—we see it all—we’re like good quarterbacks—that’s what black women do—the party is blessed to have the overwhelming support of Black women. History calls for what is needed at the time and history is calling for Joe Biden, for more African American women in the Senate and in Congress and for a Black woman to be appointed to the Supreme Court. Any chance we have [of achieving that] rests with Joe Biden. OM: What lessons as a public servant, now two-term member of Congress would you pass on to other women seeking political office? CVD: Well, there are more women serving than ever before and we see remarkable results of women in leadership. But, you know I was recruited to run [for congress] and lost the first time. I say that to say that women generally have to
be asked seven times then we go around and ask for permission—am I ready? Have I paid my dues? Men look in the mirror and say, “God, I’d be a great—you fill in the blank.” Right now, we need women’s leadership, dedication, passion and commitment. Women know it’s not all about us— we’re used to taking care of everyone else—in leadership. The advice I’d give…number one—believe in yourself—have the confidence to know you can do the job—talk to others and get the good, the bad, and the ugly, the joy and the pain [of the job]. Number two—know your ‘why.’ Be sure of it. It has to be connected to those you represent—know you represent everybody including those that don’t look like you. And, three—take the job seriously— not yourself. Get in touch with your strength, beauty and talent that God gave you and use them in a special way.
CVD: Regarding Mr. George Floyd—I had four brothers and I have three sons. My heart goes out to his family and other families who have lost loved ones to senseless murders. We have got to, my brothers and sisters in blue, focus on the ability to go out and help people—I loved it. (The former police chief takes a long pause) What happened should not have happened. We need to get the best hearts and minds for law enforcement. We need standard training programs regarding use of force and we need to look at the recruit trainers—what they are putting into the recruits. Remember, you get what you pay for—if you want the brightest and the best. When I was OPD (Orlando Police Department) an early warning system was implemented—we looked at red flags—maybe the officer needed counseling or re-assignment. Maybe that officer needed to be moved from downtown and undercover assignments that were too long and came with extra stress. We need national standards to help our communities win. OM: Lastly, do you have a favorite song; a theme song for your life? CVD: (Laughing) I would have to choose…I have two. “May The Work I’ve Done Speak for Me” and “Amazing Grace.” The first one, it helps lead and guide me to good, solid, passionate work. Amazing Grace, when I look at my life and upbringing, I know the opportunities I’ve had are due to God’s grace. OM: Clearly, you were born for this.
OM: Any final comments or shares for our readership? ONYX MAGAZINE 29
BLACK HISTORY
The Value of the Black Female Vote In August, women will celebrate 100 years of the right to vote. What difference can Black women make? By Sharon Fletcher Jones
I
n the movie “Iron Jawed Angels,” about the women’s suffrage movement, there is a scene where hundreds of women from all over the United States are marching down Pennsylvania Avenue towards the White House in protest. The women, many of them wives of prominent businessmen, high-powered politicians and industry leaders, are wearing white and carrying signs demanding their humanity be recognized and demanding the right to vote. As their protests grew louder and wider you see, in the film, Black women begin to march along the sidelines. Seen, but not seen yet adding to the number; ultimately contributing to the impact of the movement. In the current race for the White House, presumptive Democratic nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden has stated he will choose a woman as his running mate for the position he once held. The list includes an impressive showing of female elected officials who have triumphed over adversity and ushered in positive change in the communities they serve. In his campaign oratory, Biden stalwartly supports the Black Lives Matter movement while outlining his platform for the changes this country so desperately needs. He acknowledges and demonstrates that the support of a Black female constituency is tantamount to winning the upcoming crucial presidential election. African American voters have consistently supported Democratic candidates over Republicans by stunning margins of approximately 90 percent to 10 percent. It should be noted that no other major demographic has ever come close to this level of support for any party. Conversely, according to the Pew Research Center, Black voter turnout dropped in the 2016 election even as a record number of Americans cast their ballots. The Black voter turnout rate declined for the first time in a 20-year history of presidential elections, falling to just under 60% in 2016 after reaching an all30 ONYX MAGAZINE
time high of 67% in 2012. Among Black women, voter turnout decreased to 64% in 2016 versus 71% in 2012. In a recent interview with “ONYX Magazine,” Orlando’s own Congresswoman Val Demings said, “The Democratic Party is blessed to have the support of African American women.” She went on to say, “Membership [in the Democratic Party] should have its privileges.” Demings further suggested that history is not only calling for Joe Biden to perhaps choose a Black female running mate in his bid for the presidency but for African American women who are just as qualified to join the senate and congress. Michael Harriot, in a recent article for “The Root” expressed similar views writing, “Black people are more invested in the outcome of this election because we have given the most to the Democratic Party and have benefitted the least. We cannot ask America to fulfill its promise to the Constitution while the Democratic Party ignores its debt to us,” Harriot wrote. In a more recent “New York Times” article titled “Black Voters Are Coming for Trump,” Fox News analyst Juan Williams wrote that the Black vote now defines American politics. Since 2000, the citizen voting-age population (CVAP) of women of color has increased by 59%--a gain of more than 13.5 million potential voters. Today, more than 14 million Black women can cast their ballots in US elections. The numbers of black women voters who turn out in the critical swing states of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin could quite possibly decide who the next president of the United States will be. With Black voters representing 12 percent of the national electorate, we are most certainly set to make that determination. With what is at stake in the November election and the primaries and caucuses leading up to it, the impact of African American women voters will undoubtedly be far-reaching and great.
PARENTING
What Parents Need to Know About Kids and E-Cigarettes Did you know that 1 in 4 high school students uses e-cigarettes?
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ationally, 5.3 million middle and high school students use these products, which means that even if your children are not using e-cigarettes, they almost certainly have friends who are. Rates of youth e-cigarette use more than doubled between 2017 and 2019, to the point that the U.S. Surgeon General declared the problem an epidemic. Parents need to understand how prevalent e-cigarettes are—and the serious health risks they pose to young people - in order to protect kids from this growing threat. Many of these products look like pens or flash drives, and they can be disguised as watches or tucked into the sleeve of a hoodie. These disguises help kids hide them from parents and teachers, but just knowing what to look for puts you one step ahead. E-cigarettes are also sold in a huge variety of kid-friendly flavors, from gummy bear and banana ice to mango and mint. Studies have found that most youth e-cigarette users use flavored products and say they use these products because “they come in flavors I like.” These flavors hide the fact that e-cigarettes can deliver massive doses of nicotine, which is a highly addictive drug. Popular brands such as Juul deliver as much nicotine as a whole pack of cigarettes. A 2016 Surgeon General’s report concluded that youth use of nicotine in any form, including e-cigarettes, is unsafe, causes addiction and can harm adolescent brain development, which impacts attention, memory and learning. E-cigarettes can also expose users to harmful and carcinogenic chemicals such as formaldehyde and lead. Studies have found that young people who use e-cigarettes are more likely to become smokers. To prevent youth e-cigarette use, health advocates are calling for a comprehensive ban on all flavored e-cigarettes. You might
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have seen President Trump’s announcement restricting certain flavored e-cigarettes, but what you may not know is that this policy contains loopholes that exempt thousands of flavored products that appeal to kids. These include cheap, disposable e-cigarettes with bright colors and sweet flavors, and vials of nicotine liquid in nearly every imaginable flavor. We need a complete ban on flavored e-cigarettes to protect our kids from harm.
This is a lot of scary news, but there are people fighting this problem and you can too. A growing number of states and cities have passed laws banning flavored e-cigarettes and other flavored tobacco products. Congress is considering a bill to do the same, called the “Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act.” So contact your elected officials at all levels and urge them to take action to protect kids. It’s also important to talk to your kids about the health risks of e-cigarettes and create an open dialogue with them. Know the products, know the risks, know the signs of use, and make sure you can protect your children against this growing health crisis in America. For more information, visit tobacofreekids. org/ecigarettes.
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REAL ESTATE
How To Support Anti-racism With Your Home Buying Or Homeowner Dollars
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he country was rocked by the murder of George Floyd on May 26, and protests have been erupting all over the world ever since. In the aftermath of Floyd’s death, many companies have spoken out to decry racism and commit their dollars—and their activism—to equality. In that vein, experts created a list of companies that have been outspoken in their support of racial equality. For the purpose of this article, we’re focusing on those that are in some way related to buying or selling a home, renovating, decorating, and even celebrating a purchase or home-related milestone. But you can track 34 ONYX MAGAZINE
corporate donations and see a growing list of companies across nearly every type of industry who have taken a stand. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list, and we invite you to add anyone we missed in the comments. Look to Your Lender Choosing between financial institutions for a purchase or refi? “Bank of America pledged $1 billion over four years to help communities across the country address economic and racial inequality and said the commitment will include programs such as virus testing and other health ser-
vices, especially focusing on communities of color, support to minority-owned small businesses, and partnerships with historically Black and Hispanic educational institutions,” said Forbes. Buy Some Appliances or New Flooring The home improvement store has given $25 million in grants “to help minority businesses reopen,” said CNBC. The company’s CEO has also challenged other executives to “do our part.”
Consider Your Cellular Carrier When it comes to cellular companies, so far it’s Verizon leading the way. The company has committed $10 million, which will be split between The National Urban League, NAACP, National Action Network, Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights, Rainbow Push Coalition, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
Get Some Custom Décor Etsy donated $1 million, which will go to the Equal Justice Initiative and Borealis Philanthropy’s Black-Led Movement Fund.
Get Your Sweat On Since it’s not super safe to be in the gym right now, anyway, get a piece of home equipment for your new place instead. Peloton’s $500,000 donation to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund makes this an easier decision.
Keep Reading Magazines Architectural Digest’s online portal has been using its platform to highlight and showcase black-owned design and décor businesses. “If you’re looking for more ways to support black-owned businesses, shopping with them is a direct way to make an impact. We’ve compiled this list—which is by no means exhaustive—of some of our favorite black-owned brands and new finds.”
Order Some Dinner Get a meal delivered from your fave new restaurant by DoorDash, who has announced they’re donating $1 million to the cause. Support your Favorite Million-Dollar Lister You may not be in New York or in the multi-million-dollar price range to use super-agent Ryan Serhant’s services, but you can support him from afar (and perhaps you’ll learn a few things about negotiating by watching his show, Million Dollar Listing New York). Serhant has pledged to “personally [match] any individual donations up to $5,000 per person,” adding that he’s listening when it comes to any other ideas in which he can help. Book an Airbnb Once it’s safe to travel again, keep in mind that Airbnb is donating $500,000 to be split between the NAACP and Black Lives Matter. Get Some New Sheets Brooklinen already has some of the most coveted sheets out there, and the company has now announced plans “to donate an undisclosed amount of money to the ‘right partner(s)’ as ‘the needs of the movement change,’” said Yahoo.
Buy Some Legos “The Denmark-based Lego Group said it will donate $4 million to organizations dedicated to supporting black children and educating all children about racial equality,” said Forbes.
Keep Watching HGTV You likely weren’t going to stop anyway, but you can feel even better about watching shows like Property Brothers with star Jonathan Scott’s proclamation that he will “use my voice, my platform and my vote to affect lasting change,” said House Beautiful. He also vowed to donate “to four nonprofits working nationwide: the NAACP, Fair Fight, The Conscious Kid, and the ACLU.” His brother and co-star, Drew, commented that he believes, “We can use this rage to fuel change and justice, peacefully. It’s hard to find words... but I have a duty to learn all that I can to help. Donate if you are able, have conversations that might be uncomfortable, help the helpers.” Celebrate With Some Ice Cream If you’re looking to celebrate your accepted offer, or drown your sorrows because you can’t find the right house, for that matter, how about some Ben & Jerry’s? The company’s public statement about Floyd’s death is some of the strongest messaging out there. “Four years ago, we publicly stated our support for the Black Lives Matter move-
ment,” they said in a manifesto that begins: “We must dismantle white supremacy. Today, we want to be even more clear about the urgent need to take concrete steps to dismantle white supremacy in all its forms.” Carefully Consider Your Agent or Real Estate Partner Some agents and real estate companies are being loud about their feelings and their plans to better support racial equality among others and detailed steps their companies are taking to address racism in the real estate industry and inside their offices,” said Inman. As a black-owned, woman-owned real estate brokerage and in the business just shy of 20 years, the experiences have been hard, eye-opening and awarding. There are far too many stories of covert racism that Black real estate agents have had to face, not only with buyers and sellers but also with white-owned brokerages. There are times when neighbors call the cops on you for simply doing your job! Sometimes it is buyers backing out and choosing to work with White real estate agents instead. Or your agent profile being buried in search results on the major online platforms despite your stellar reviews and performance. Discrimination, exclusion and casual bigotry are facts of life for Black real estate agents, but so is success. To be sure, the price of success is higher for African Americans, who must cope with persistent doubts about their competence. It is an old problem for African Americans in every field, and Florida Black real estate pros respond with an array of successful strategies. Words can only take us so far. Now is the time to act. So, support a Black-owned real estate company today, tomorrow, and always.
Dee Parker contributed to this article. Parker is the owner of Parker Realty and the chair of ONYX Magazine’s Advisory Committee.
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HEALTH & WELLNESS
Fighting the “COVID 15” COVID-19 adding an extra 15? Get moving and drop the pounds. By Tyler Read
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elf-isolation and quarantine have led to reduced movement and less engagement in any physical activity. Most people are stuck at home with a fridge full of foodstuff but without access to the gym. Hence, it is increasingly becoming difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle when you are sitting most of the time; working from home. For some of us, the result has been unexpected weight gain that can casually be referred to as “the COVID 15,” much like the infamous freshman 15 pounds college typically gain during their first year. Despite the situation, it is important to remain active, stay fit, and eat healthy meals. Staying consistent with your health goals is vital for your physical and mental health. It strengthens your immune system, which is crucial during this pandemic. So, how do you keep up with your fitness and nutrition goals without the energetic atmosphere of the gym? Let’s find out. Tips to Help You Stay on Track With Your Nutrition Goals During these uncertain times, you may find it challenging to maintain a healthy diet when the kitchen is a stone’s throw away.
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You may hover around the kitchen more than expected to prepare meals for your loved ones. Sometimes, boredom can drag you into mindless eating without realizing it. Staying indoors can be tough, but this shouldn’t stop you from meeting your nutritional goals. To help you stay on course, these easy to implement techniques will guide in keeping up with your health goals. Plan Your Meals in Advance It is important to plan your meals in advance so that you are not tempted to pick snacks every time you wander in the kitchen. Creating a meal plan every week makes your work easier. You don’t have to ponder for ages what to prepare only to get discouraged and settle for unhealthy foods or starve for long hours. The proper diet helps to keep your energy up and ease stress. Have Regular Eating Schedule It is important to schedule your eating times at the same time every day to avoid skipping meals or unnecessary snacking throughout the day. Have a designated eating place where everyone converges for a meal. Always take your meals at the right time.
Have a Balanced Diet As you plan your meals, ensure each meal has the right nutritional content. Proteins, fiber, carbohydrates, and healthy fats are essential for overall health. Such a diet is high on nutrients. You’ll stay full for a long time, hence reducing the urge to indulge in high-calorie foodstuff in between meals. Normalize homemade food and reduce home deliveries. Keep Your Meals Fun To spice up your healthy eating routine, try out different meals. You can have a great family time experimenting with different ingredients and recipes to come up with creative and delicious meals. Also, stock up healthy snacks like nuts, yogurt, or popcorn. It would be best if you took the snack in portions and avoid eating directly from the bag. Seek Virtual Assistance If you are finding it difficult to establish and stick to the above recommendations, maybe a nutritionist can help you get started. A virtual nutritionist can help you tailor a nutritional plan ideal for you and help you stick to it. They understand nutrition and precision nutrition review. They can address your concerns and help you reach your dietary goals. Techniques to Help You Stay on Track With Your Fitness Goals For gym enthusiasts, exercising at home is tedious. And those who haven’t been working out find it even more challenging to adopt an exercise routine. However, this is an opportunity to tame your habits and train your mind to adopt a healthy lifestyle. For starters, you can easily start implementing fitness activities and keep track of your fitness goals by integrating these simple tips. Have a Training Schedule Given the lack of zeal when you are bored indoors, you must come up with a training plan to help you consistently exercise every day at the same time and place. Such a program helps your body to switch into a workout mood. You can plan the exercises you are going to do a day earlier and put in place the pieces of equipment you’ll need. It is easy to follow a routine. Thus, you’ll remain motivated and stick to your goals with a clear plan.
Find an Accountability Partner Finding a partner to help you keep up with your goals every day is essential. Someone to call or text you when it’s time for exercise. You can do the same for them. The thought of giving negative feedback alone is enough to get you to work out before the third party calls to confirm. Have Enough Sleep Enough Sleep is crucial for your body to function at an optimum level. Sleeping for 8 hours, relaxes your body and mind. You recharge, and you can better concentrate and handle your daily routines with renewed strength. Stroll Indoors When you sit for long hours, your muscles become stiff. You might experience pain and discomfort on your joints and spine. A brief break to walk around the house and stretch your muscles make a huge difference. Have small breaks in between work to relax your mind and relieve your muscles of any tension. Enroll for Free Online Exercise Programs Online platforms have a variety of exercises. Whether your focus is a full-body workout or you want to concentrate on a
particular part, you’ll find a training tailored just for you. The trainer’s motivation inspires participants to keep up. You can try new routines, stay motivated, and be consistent. YouTube is the perfect place to start. Some apps can help you with workouts too. Over to You Yes! Quarantine sucks. But it shouldn’t be the reason to overlook the most critical part of your life, which is your health, yet you have all the time you need. The benefits of staying healthy during this time are unmatched. You’ll be able to stay active, reduce anxiety and stress, boost your mood, strengthen your immune system, and maintain an overall healthy lifestyle. Incorporating these tips into your daily routine will go a long way to ensure you come out of quarantine healthier than you went in. You might find yourself adapting to a healthier lifestyle in the long run. So, take charge of this golden opportunity and rewrite your health status. Tyler Read is the owner of ptpioneer.com which is a website dedicated to helping people get started in the personal training industry. This article first appeared in BlackDoctor.org and has been reprinted with permission. ONYX MAGAZINE 37
MEDICALLY SPEAKING
Officials Seek To Shift Resources Away From Policing To Address Black ‘Public Health Crisis’ By Anna Almendrala
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round the country, communities across the U.S. are declaring racism a public health crisis. Fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic’s disproportionate impact on communities of color, as well as the killing of George Floyd in the custody of Minneapolis police, cities and counties are calling for more funding for health care and other public services, sometimes at the expense of the police budget. It’s unclear whether the public health crisis declarations, which are mostly symbolic, will result in more money for programs that address health disparities rooted in racism. But officials in a few communities that made the declaration last year say it helped them anticipate the COVID-19 pandemic. Some say the new perspective could expand the role of public health officials in local government, especially 38 ONYX MAGAZINE
when it comes to reducing police brutality against Black and Latino residents. The declarations provide officials a chance to decide “whether they are or are not going to be the chief health strategists in their community,” said Dr. Georges Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association. “I’ve had a firm view [that] what hurts people or kills people is mine,” said Benjamin, a former state health officer in Maryland. “I may not have the authority to change it all by myself, but by being proactive, I can do something about that.” While health officials have long recognized the impact of racial disparities on health, the surge of public support for the Black Lives Matter movement is spurring calls to move from talk to financial action. In Boston, Mayor Martin J. Walsh declared racism a public health crisis on
June 12 and a few days later submitted a budget that transferred 20% of the Boston Police Department’s overtime budget — $12 million — to services like public and mental health, housing and homelessness programs. The budget must be approved by the City Council. In California, the San Bernardino County board on Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution declaring racism a public health crisis. The board was spurred by a community coalition that is pushing mental health and substance abuse treatment as alternatives to incarceration. The coalition wants to remove police from schools and reduce the use of a gang database they say is flawed and unfairly affects the Black community. The city of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, made similar declarations in June and May, respectively, while Ing-
ham County, Michigan, passed a resolution June 9. All three mention the coronavirus pandemic’s disproportionate toll on minority residents. Those localities follow in the footsteps of Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, which last year became the first jurisdiction in the country to declare racism a public health crisis, citing infant and maternal mortality rates among Blacks. The county’s focus on the issue primed officials to look for racial disparities in COVID-19, said Nicole Brookshire, executive director of the county’s Office on African American Affairs. Milwaukee County was training employees in racial equity and had launched a long-term plan to reduce disparities in health when the pandemic hit. “It was right on our radar to know that having critical pieces of data would help
shape what the story was,” said Brookshire. She credits this focus for the county’s speedy publication of information showing that Black residents were becoming infected with and dying of COVID-19 at disproportionate rates. Using data to tell the story of racial disparities “was ingrained” in staff, she said. On March 27, the county launched an online dashboard containing race and ethnicity data for COVID-19 cases and began to reach out to minority communities with culturally relevant messaging about stayat-home and social distancing measures. Los Angeles County and New York City did not publish their first racial disparity data until nearly two weeks later. Declaring racism a public health crisis could motivate health officials to demand a seat at the table when municipalities make policing decisions, and eventually lead to greater spending on services for minorities, some public health experts say. The public is pressuring officials to acknowledge that racism shortens lives, said Natalia Linos, executive director of Harvard’s Center for Health and Human Rights. Police are 2½ times as likely to kill a Black man as a white man, and research has shown that such deaths have ripple effects on mental health in the wider Black community, she said. “Police brutality is racism and it kills immediately,” Linos said. “But racism also kills quietly and insidiously in terms of the higher rates of infant mortality, maternal mortality and higher rates of chronic diseases.” The public health declarations, while symbolic, could help governments see policing in a new light, Linos said. If they treated police-involved killings the way they did COVID-19, health departments would get an automatic notification every time someone died in custody, she said. Currently, no official database tracks these deaths, although news outlets like The
Washington Post and The Guardian do. Reliable data would allow local governments to examine how many homeless or mentally ill people would be better served by social or public health workers than armed police, said Linos. “Even symbolic declarations are important, especially if they’re accurately capturing public opinion,” said Linos, who is running to represent the 4th Congressional District of Massachusetts on a platform of health and equity. “They’re important for communities to feel like they’re being listened to, and they’re important as a way to begin conversations around budgeting and concrete steps.” Derrell Slaughter, a district commissioner in Ingham County, Michigan, said he hopes his county’s declaration will lead to more funding for social and mental health as opposed to additional policing. Slaughter and his colleagues are attempting to create an advisory committee, with community participation, to make budget and policy recommendations to that end, he said. Columbus City Council members coincidentally declared racism a public health crisis on May 25, the day Floyd died in Minneapolis. Four months earlier, the mayor had asked health commissioner Dr. Mysheika Roberts for recommendations to address health issues that stem from racism. The recent protests against police brutality have made Roberts realize that public health officials need to take part in discussions about crowd control tactics like tear gas, pepper spray and wooden bullets, she said. However, she has reservations about giving the appearance that her office sanctions their use. “That definitely is one of the cons,” she said, “but I think it’s better than not being there at all.” This story first appeared in Kaiser Health News and has been reprinted with permission. ONYX MAGAZINE 39
EDUCATION
Emotionally Preparing Your Children for Back-to-School Season
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etween sheltering-in-place, online learning and time away from friends, many children will need a little extra support as they head back to school this fall. Consider these tips from the experts at KinderCare to help you emotionally prepare your children to return to school with confidence, optimism and excitement. Address Your Feelings— and Theirs Children often take cues about how to react from their parents. Think about what it takes for you to feel calm and prepared (or even excited) for the start of a new school year. That could mean talking with your child’s teacher or school about the safety precautions they’re taking so you can feel more at ease, taking a few minutes to establish a morning routine or stepping away from news that makes you anxious. Focus instead on the positive aspects of school, like the opportunity your child will have to learn, make friends, interact with others and grow into his or her own person. “Children need a sense of belonging, and school provides an important connection point for them,” said Dr. Elanna Yalow, chief academic officer for KinderCare Learning Centers. “Nothing builds a
sense of community like personal contact with friends and teachers. That connection is essential in supporting a child’s growth and development.” Set Expectations About What to Expect Before the First Day Some children may feel ready to go and eager to explore, while others can be more reserved or even fearful of new places, faces and routines. When your child knows what to expect, it can go a long way in soothing any worries he or she may have about leaving home and going to school. It’s also important to respect your child’s growing independence and empower him or her to help others. As you explain safety precautions like covering the mouth when sneezing or coughing, or proper hand washing, emphasize how your child’s actions can help keep family, friends and teachers safe. “Children may already be apprehensive about returning to school, let alone trying to cope with new safety practices,” said Dr. Joelle Simpson, a pediatric emergency medicine physician and medical director for emergency preparedness at Children’s National Hospital. “Explaining these precautions ahead of time can help your
children see them as part of the school day routine instead of something to fear. For parents, remember that while children can get sick from this virus, it occurs less frequently than in adults and at lower rates than the flu.” Celebrate the Start of a New School Year Try to plan a special activity or some extra family time the week before school starts and encourage your child to participate in the planning. “Remember, children didn’t have time for a clean break and celebration at the end of the last school year, and this can help your child mentally adjust to a new routine and schedule,” Yalow said. Let your child know how proud you are to see him or her growing up, learning how to be a good friend and exploring and learning about the world. Be sure to talk with your child each school day – what was learned, funny things friends said, the things that seem little but are important to your child. For more tips about how to help your child prepare for the new school year, visit kindercare.com. Family Features ONYX MAGAZINE 41
CULTURE
The Movement for Black Lives Has Always Been Spiritual By Lawrence Burnley
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hen the Rev. Al Sharpton implored White America to “get your knee off our necks� at the memorial of George Floyd, his words were carried by news outlets across the globe. Meanwhile in the United States, the Rev. William J. Barber II has been an ever-present voice in the protests, prompting some to place him as the successor to past civil rights greats. That people of the cloth are at the forefront of the current protests over police brutality should not be a surprise. From the earliest times of the U.S. history, religious leaders have led the struggle for liberation and racial justice for Black Americans. As an ordained minister and a historian, I see it as a common thread running through the history of the United States, from Black resistance in the earliest periods of slavery in the antebellum South, through the civil rights movement of the 1960s and up to the Black Lives Matter movement today.
As Patrisse Cullors, one of the founders of Black Lives Matters, says: “The fight to save your life is a spiritual fight.” Spiritual Calling For many Black religious leaders, civil rights and social justice are central to their spiritual calling. Their respective faith traditions place religion within the Black American experience while also being informed by African culture and the traumatic experience of the Transatlantic slave trade of African people. We see this in Malcolm X’s 1964 exhortation that Black Americans should form bonds with African nations and “migrate to Africa culturally, philosophically, and spiritually.” Malcolm X’s desire to internationalize the struggle in the U.S. after his 1964 pilgrimage to Mecca also speaks to the role he saw Islam having in the civil rights movement. “America needs to understand Islam, because this is the one religion that erases from its society the race problem,” he wrote in a letter during his visit to Saudi Arabia. The struggle of Black Americans informed Malcolm X’s reading of the Quran. Similarly, the interaction between religious text and real-world struggle informed earlier Black civil rights and antislavery leaders. Slave revolt leader Nat Turner, for example, saw rebellion as the work of God and drew upon biblical texts to inspire his actions. As historian and Turner biographer Patrick Breen noted in an article for Smithsonian Magazine, “Turner readily placed his revolt in a biblical context, comparing himself at some times to the Old Testament prophets, at another point to Jesus Christ.” In his “Confessions,” dictated to a White lawyer after his 1831 arrest, Turner quoted the Gospel of Luke and alluded to numerous other passages from the Bible. Turner had visions he interpreted as signs from God encouraging him to revolt. Visions Such prophetic visions were not uncommon to early antislavery leaders—Sojourner Truth and Jarena Lee were both spurred
to action after God revealed himself to them. Lee’s antislavery preaching is also an early example of the important role that Black religious female leaders would have in the civil rights struggle. In arguing for her right to spread God’s message, Lee asked: “If the man may preach, because the Saviour died for him, why not the woman? Seeing he died for her also. Is he not a whole Saviour, instead of a half one?” These early antislavery activists rejected the “otherworld” theology taught to enslaved Africans by their White captors, which sought to deflect attention away from their condition in “this world” with promises of a better afterlife. Instead, they affirmed God’s intention for freedom and liberation in both this world and the next, identifying strongly with biblical stories of freedom, such as the exodus of the Hebrew community from Egyptian enslavement and Jesus’ proclamation to “set the oppressed free.” Incorporating religion into the Black antislavery movement sowed the seeds for faith being central to the struggle for racial justice to come. As the church historian James Washington observed, the “very disorientation of their slavery and the persistent impact of systemic racism and other forms of oppression provided the opportunity—indeed the necessity—of a new religious synthesis.” At Heart, A Preacher The synthesis continued into the 20th century, with religious civil rights leaders who clearly felt compelled to make the struggle for justice central part of the role of a spiritual leader. “In the quiet recesses of my heart, I am fundamentally a clergyman, a Baptist preacher,” the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. wrote in a 1965 article for Ebony magazine. Racial justice remains integral to Black Christian leadership in the 21st century. In an interview earlier this year, Barber said: “There is not some separation between Jesus and justice; to be Christian is to be concerned with what’s going on in the world.” Recognizing the rich legacy of Black religious leadership in the struggle of racial justice in the United States in no way diminishes the role of historic and contemporary secular leadership. From W.E.B. DuBois to A. Philip Randolph, who helped organize the 1963 March on Washington, and up to the current day, the civil rights movement has also benefited from those who would classify themselves as freethinkers or atheists. But given the history of religion in the Black protest movement, it should be no surprise that the killing of George Floyd has unleashed an outpouring of activism from Black religious leaders—backed by supporters from different faith traditions. Lawrence Burnley is the vice president for diversity and inclusion at the University of Dayton. This article was originally published by The Conversation. It has been published here with permission.
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COMMENTARY
A Culture Shift Can Only Happen With Reparations and Truth Telling By David Ragland
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he COVID-19 global pandemic sent us to our homes in our respective corners of the earth, causing us to stop and take stock of the material, spiritual, social, and systemic violence imposed on us all by the powers that be: our local, state, and federal governments. No force, no other tragedy or pandemic has ever made the whole world stop all at once. And now—with the COVID pandemic still a threat to our very lives—global uprisings, sparked by the ruthless police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, have brought tens of thousands of people to the streets. 44 ONYX MAGAZINE
Similarly, no other tragedy or act of the pandemic that is anti-Black racism has ever moved the world all at once. George Floyd’s death was the proverbial straw. Before him were too many others. Say their names: Breonna Taylor. Ahmaud Arbery. Tony McDade. Manuel Ellis. Emantic Fitzgerald Bradford. Sandra Bland. Terence Crutcher. Aiyana Stanley-Jones. Renisha McBride. Philando Castile. Michael Brown Jr. Eric Garner. Tamir Rice. Charleena Lyles. Jordan Davis. John Crawford III. Walter Scott. Sean Bell. Trayvon Martin. Freddie Gray. Amadou Diallo. Oscar Grant. Anton Sterling.
Malice Green. And countless others whose names may escape me at the moment, and whose names we do not publicly know. Some of us thought COVID was the great equalizer. Everyone was ordered to shelter in place and social distance because people of all races and ethnicities were testing positive, many dying. In three months, more than 100,000 people in the United States died from the disease. But we quickly learned that the disparities among African Americans were among the highest. These manifestations of violence—the killings of unarmed Black people and the rate of COVID cases and deaths among
Our children—children all over the world—are learning from this culture we’ve created for them, and what they’ve learned so far is violence against our communities. us—are not anomalies, but are part of a pattern of behaviors and practices common in our society dating back to the enslavement of African people in this country. Slavery created, and Deconstruction, Black Codes, Jim Crow, mass incarceration, police and community violence, along with redlining, lack of resources, and poverty, cemented the post traumatic enslavement culture from which Black people continue to suffer. These experiences are part of a culture that sees buildings and nonhuman capital as having more value than people. Many of the leaders on this planet warn of impending doom if we stop working, producing, extracting, traveling, and shopping to maintain the system of capitalist extraction of raw materials and labor from vulnerable populations. But what we’ve seen is the opposite. In the first three months of COVID, we witnessed, around the world, the Earth begin to heal as the air and water quality has improved, carbon emissions have decreased, wildlife is returning to its natural habitats. For this healing shift to continue, we as a country have to acknowledge the truths that the combination of COVID and police violence has surfaced for us over these past several months, apologize for past harms, and educate ourselves about the true history of this nation’s founding sin—genocide and slavery, as well as the global history of European complicity and profit from slavery. The United Nations refers to this as the satisfaction component of reparations. This component also includes construction and/or removal of memorials. Protesters are removing statues of racist people, globally making room for satisfaction. And there has over time been a changing of street names—most recently,
a two-block span of 16th St in downtown Washington, D.C., was renamed Black Lives Matter Plaza. Book sales on race and racism have skyrocketed—let’s hope folks are actually reading and internalizing. We are shifting. So, what’s next? How do we keep the momentum going? We need a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, rooted in repair, focused on reparations, that holds hearings around the country to tell the true history of this country—not the untruths we’ve been told in history books, but the theft of Indigenous peoples’ land, of the violent horror of chattel slavery, denial of opportunities in every aspect of American life, police violence and mass incarceration, resourcepoor schools, health disparities, unaffordable housing, etc. If we’re going to heal and move on, it is crucial that these developments are a part of the new normal. Our children—children all over the world—are learning from this culture we’ve created for them, and what they’ve learned so far is violence against our communities. So many of our children, our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, and cousins have seen this violence repeatedly. They’ve seen their loved ones killed, the life choked out, shot out, snuffed out, in the same way the world saw George Floyd’s life taken from him by an officer who pressed his knee on Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. George Floyd’s story has been the story of Black folks, Al Sharpton said while giving the eulogy at Floyd’s funeral. “Because ever since 401 years ago, the reason we could never be who we wanted and dreamed of being is you kept your knee on our neck. We were smarter than the underfunded schools you put us in, but you had your knee on our neck. We could run
corporations and not hustle in the street, but you had your knee on our neck. We had creative skills, we could do whatever anybody else could do, but we couldn’t get your knee off our neck. What happened to Floyd happens every day in this country, in education, in health services and in every area of American life. It’s time for us to stand up in George’s name and say, “Get your knee off our necks!” In this new movement of mass protest against police violence, against anti-Black racism, against white supremacy and the racist institutions it upholds, we are saying no more reforms. We will settle for nothing less than total transformation. Just as the New Deal sprang from the Great Depression and public health best practices were born in response to a previous plague, we need to embrace the bold transformative thinking that is arising in this moment. I think the term “satisfaction,” used by the UN is appropriate. Satisfaction suggests a mental shift through multiple means including culture, formal education of every institution, and for the world, but explicitly centering how we’ve been miseducated about each other. The future is upon us, but it must be one that we can choose and see ourselves in. This requires a local, national, and global effort. Maybe then, reconciliation will be possible. But let us deal with truth and repair first. DAVID RAGLAND is one of the co-directors and co-founder of the Truth Telling Project and is the Director of the Campaign for Truth and Reparations. This article originally was published in Yes! Magazine and has been published with permission. ONYX MAGAZINE 45
FOOD AND WINE
SWEET TREAT STRAWBERRY LEMONADE Nothing says ‘take it easy’ like a tall glass of lemonade. Pour on some strawberries for a sweet, fruity kick and you’ll have a treat beverage the whole family is sure to savor. This recipe is easy enough to get the kids involved after a day of home school; but if you want to take it up a notch, stir in a little rum to taste and make it a fun adult drink. Enjoy.
Ingredients 8 large strawberries, halved 2 tablespoons white sugar 7 cups water, divided 1 cup white sugar 2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice
Directions Place strawberries in a blender; top with 2 tablespoons sugar. Pour 1 cup water over sugared strawberries. Blend until strawberry chunks transform into juice. Combine strawberry juice, 6 cups water, 1 cup sugar, and lemon juice in a large pitcher; stir until blended. Chill before serving.
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You Leave Home For Us. We’ll Stay Home for You. ONYX Magazine honors the front line and essential workers across Florida. Your commitment and dedication makes us stronger. We salute you for being the engine that keeps our communities moving forward. Thank you.
MASKUP!
STOP THE SPREAD
