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TABLE OF CONTENT 4
Editors Note
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Definition Of Adversity
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Athlete Of The Month
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Breastfeeding Awareness
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Brown Beauty Of The Month
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The Top 5 Things Verzuz Taught Us
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There Is a Time And Place for Everything
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Sickle Cell Anemia
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Deborah Risper
Andrew King
Marreon Risper
Deborah Risper
Sheila Marie Anderson
Jaleesa Robinson
Christina Marie
Robin Newsome
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EDITORS NOTE Deborah Risper
Happy Amazing August!
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OW…..yall we are in August?! Can you believe it’s August already? That means that we are nearing summer and gearing up for a few things. One of the things that I hope everyone has gotten the moment to do is enjoy being outside. Last year this time we were all home trying to fall in love with our surroundings. For me, I have thoroughly enjoyed the beach and being near the water. Water for me symbolizes tranquility and peace. I am sure to keep quiet and listen as the ocean speaks. While the summer may be coming to a close, let’s embrace the remaining by enjoying the ones we love, soaking up the sun, and living our BEST life! This edition is packed with some great awareness this month that we hope you can find of assistance and encouragement. XoXo, Deborah
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DEFINITION OF ADVERSITY Andrew King
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state or instance of serious or continued difficulty or misfortune showing courage in the face of adversity
The Trifecta: Black... Male... Inner City We do not enter this world with the option of what nor where we would like to be once we’re born, the only option is to handle it as given. To be introduced into the world as a newborn baby, along with what some would say an ADVERSITY, being BLACK! My favorite color before I even knew other hues, to be BLACK wasn’t an option but a privilege as well as a blessing. But you later discover that some look at your skin tone as your flaw. As an innocent child, you know of no ADVERSITIES, besides curfew. If at some point during your educational journey you are enrolled in a school that offers a mixed environment, you begin to see the possibility of your skin tone leading to a trail of ADVERSITIES. This is not to say as a young child you haven’t already witnessed it, this is also not to say it’s going to happen in your school, but at some point in your melanin life, it will. Rather it’s at school, the mall, or while simply enjoying a day with your family. No matter the location, never let it stunt the growth of who you are.
can be a scary journey you aren’t aware of until it happens. I’ve seen the racial profiling, I’ve been racially profiled, and I smile in the eyes of hatred! Look at me, a BLACK man, raised without a father, living on the West Side of Chicago, what are my chances to survive this? Slim to none most may say! What are the chances of growing up without a father, yet becoming a hero of a father to your children? As I hope to set the tone for my kids to never let ADVERSITY distract them from anything. We tend to minimize the struggles and true ADVERSITIES of our ancestors and forefathers, in which they had it beyond worse than us. Any ADVERSITY is only a part of your journey, part of your growth, part of your fight, never let it become a place of discouragement. I beat the odds, but unfortunately, the ADVERSITY will forever be there due to my skin tone. Therefore continue to fight to be the strongest of whatever shade of melanin you are! Andrew King...
To grow from a BLACK boy to a BLACK man
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ATHLETE OF THE MONTH Marreon Risper
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.O.E Magazine had the pleasure of speaking with Marreon Risper as our Athleten Of The Month. Marreon is 12yrs old and is in 7th grade. He is no stranger to the court. While he may be young, Marreon has taken components by storm. Marreon has a small frame but he is not to be underestimated. When a ball touches him, he becomes unstoppable. Take a look at what Marreon had to share with W.O.E.
a shooting guard. It is important because I get to watch for the offense play and use my skills to score. W: What has this sport taught you? M: Basketball has taught me to work hard and trust my teammates. W: What does teamwork mean to you? M: Teamwork means everyone works together to win.
W: Outside of your sport, who are you?
W: Do you see yourself playing this sport for life or as a professional?
M: I love to play games and hang out with my big brother.
M: Yes I want to be a professional basketball. I love the game.
W: Why/how did you choose your sport?
W: What are your goals for this sport now and in the future?
M: I like basketball because it’s fun to play and I get to hang with friends. W: How long have you played your sport? M: I have been playing basketball since I was 7. W: What is your position and how important is it to your team?
M: I want to be the best lefty on the court, always! W: What advice would you give to newbies in your sport? M: I would tell them to keep trying their hardest to get better each game.
M: I play two positions. I am a point guard and
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BREASTFEEDING AWARENESS Deborah Risper
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reastfed is the best fed! Babies that are breastfed in my experience have a great overall quality of life. In
this new era, many women are opting to breastfeed their children. If I could be honest, I don’t blame them one bit! Too many chemicals and harmful substances are being added to food. As a Mom of four, I wish I had all of the great knowledge with my first two children as I did with the last two. One of the things I learned that separates those two times in my life is having access to more information and maturity allowed me to see the benefits of breastfeeding my last two children. Outside of feeding my children, bonding was everything. The bond & trust build between baby and Mom is like no other. As a Mom you always want your children to feel safe while with you. The breastfeeding experience offers this. I can recall as my baby girl got older and no longer desired to nurse, I felt a sense of separation or a bond that was broken. While I was feeling like I had conquered a huge task, my baby girl was becoming a “big” girl. The time spent nursing her and pumping milk when I was
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away was worth it all. With breastfeeding being a controversial conversation I believe many perish from a lack of knowledge. Breastfeeding is not for the faint at heart. I recommend every woman to at least try breastfeeding once. Breastfeeding not only requires knowledge but support from family and friends. If you are an expecting Mom I encourage you to learn more about breastfeeding and the benefits. Humans are the only species that feed their infants other species’ milk. Our body produces for a reason and by providing your baby the same nutrients your body uses to stay healthy, you are giving them a great quality of life. Below you will find a few key reasons to breastfeed. Please talk to your local maternity ward about classes and other support to assist you during your breastfeeding journey.
Happy Breastfeeding!
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Five great benefits of breastfeeding. 1. Breast milk is the best source ofnutrition for most babies. As the baby grows, the mother’s breast milk will change to meet her baby’s nutritional needs. Breastfeeding can help protect babies against some short- and longterm illnesses and diseases. 2. Breastfed babies have a lower risk of asthma, obesity, type 1 diabetes, and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Breastfed babies are also less likely to have ear infections and stomach bugs. Breast milk shares antibodies from the mother with her baby These antibodies help babies develop a strong immune system and protect them from illnesses.
go without worrying about having to mix formula or prepare bottles. When traveling, breastfeeding can also provide a source of comfort for babies whose normal routine is disrupted. 4. Breastfeeding can reduce the mother’s risk of breast and ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure. 5. Breastfeeding has health benefits for the mother too! Some cancers, type 2 diabetes, and high blood pressure are less common among women who breastfeed. Source: https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/ dnpao/features/breastfeeding-benefits/ index.html
Check out these links to learn more: 3. Mothers can breastfeed anytime and anywhere. Mothers can feed their babies on the
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BROWN BEAUTY OF THE MONTH Sheila Marie Anderson
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heila Marie Anderson (SMA) was born on the west side of Chicago and is the middle child of 5. She is the mother of 5 daughters and works full time in corporate America. Because of this, she learned very quickly how to become perfect in the art of analytics, project management, multitasking, and getting things done.
Connect with Sheila today! Website: http://www.eliminatingexcuses. org/ or http://www.executewithsma. com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ executewithsma/ Instagram: @executewithsma
Sheila is the author of “Eliminating Excuses, Strategies in Tragedy” and soon to be released, “Not Easily Offended”. She is the owner of Execute with SMA and Eliminating Excuses, nfp. She holds a Bachelors’s in Management and is Six Sigma Certified. SMA is an individual dedicated to the success of those she partners with. Not only is she capable of supporting multiple people simultaneously, but she is also the iron fist of accountability you will need to no longer be in a position of delay concerning your life and/or business ventures.” W.O.E salutes you Sheila for being excellent in the many ways that you are. We are so happy to feature you!
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THE TOP 5 THINGS VERZUZ TAUGHT US Jaleesa Robinson
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020: the year of virtual school, zoom meetings, TikTok dances, and the end (or at least pause) of life as we knew it! But one great thing that came out of 2020 was our beloved Verzuz battles. What’s Verzuz? I’m so glad you asked. Super producers Swizz Beats and Timbaland decided to rock out on IG live one night, playing songs back and forth from their amazing catalogs, and what we thought was just fun and games birthed one of the greatest musical exhibitions of our generation, VERZUZ! Some of our favorite artists have gone head to head. Brandy and Monica 112 and Jagged Edge Snoop Dogg and DMX (Rest in Peace) and we can’t forget our Aunties and Uncles, Gladys Knight Verzuz Patti LaBelle and Earth, Wind, and Fire Verzuz The Isley Brothers. Verzuz has been a reminder of how dope our culture is, and with great impact comes great lessons. So it’s only right I share a few lessons that Verzuz has taught me.
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1. It doesn’t have to be either/or There is enough love to go around and no matter what anyone tells you, you can root for everyone. We have to get out of the mindset that if you like Erykah Badu, you automatically don’t like Jill Scott. That doesn’t have to be true! You can love and respect the differences in people and their gifts and support them all. The either/or mindset robs us of beautiful moments because we are too busy trying to keep unhealthy competition alive.
2. Music conveys a message when our words fail us. I vividly remember how heavy my heart was after the murder of George Floyd. I also remember the Verzuz that came in the midst of it, Gospel Legends Fred Hammond and Kirk Franklin. Music has always been a healing balm for our community, a language used by our ancestors, and a way to connect with our Creator. I bet there’s a song that can take you to a special place; both happy and sad. I’m also willing to bet that even when you hear that song today, you remember the memory connected to it. For me, it’s Destiny’s Child’s “Jumpin’, Jumpin’’ as I tried out for the middle
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This Verzuz lesson shows us that securing the bag comes in different forms. Camera shy? Like playing in the background? There’s a place for you! Your pen (writings, ideas, concepts) can and will produce a paycheck.
5. The Show Must Go On 3. What’s for you is for you. While we all enjoy the music of Verzuz, it’s the banter and back and forth that makes the best memes. One of my favorite moments was given to us by Keith Sweat and Bobby Brown. Keith poked fun at Bobby talking about how he would have liked to be a part of the Ghostbusters soundtrack too. A similar conversation was shared between Brandy and Monica when Monica shared how, unlike Brandy, she didn’t get the call to work on the Waiting to Exhale Soundtrack. The important lesson here is, what’s for you is for you! There may be people who have similar styles and may even sell the same product as you. But remember you bring a certain flair, expertise, and experience that can’t be duplicated. There are opportunities with your name on them, don’t be intimidated by others in your field. It’s already yours!
Some may remember the Verzuz with Brown Sugar singer, D’Angelo and if you do, you may also remember that he didn’t have a Verzuz partner. Well, this wasn’t always the case. According to an IG conversation with Timbaland and Swizz, the Verzuz was supposed to be D’Angelo and Maxwell! The Verzuz creators never told us why Maxwell couldn’t make the battle, but what they did share was that D’Angelo still wanted to participate, even if he had to do it alone. Would I have loved to see the Pretty Wings singer go head to head with D’Angelo? Absolutely! But I also value what D’Angelo taught us here. Even if they don’t show up, even if the plans change, and no matter the behindthe-scenes circumstances…The show must go on! Simply put: Stop waiting for people to show up, you are the main attraction! No matter your profession or personal path, I hope you can apply these lessons to your life.
4. “I didn’t know they wrote that!” One component about Verzuz is, artists are allowed to include the songs they wrote and/or produced. So for anyone who may be wondering why Kandi and Tiny of Xscape featured TLC’s “No Scrubs”, it’s because they wrote the hit.
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Verzuz has also taught me that there are faithful fans that have rocked with you from the beginning. All you have to do is show up. Show up sis, the world is waiting! --
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THERE IS A TIME FOR AND PLACE EVERYTHING Christina Marie
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he message in this passage of poetry centers on God’s ultimate authority in heaven and on earth. Humans have mastered many things in this world, but some elements of our existence are beyond our control. We cannot conquer time. God is the one who appoints each moment. Our lives contain a mixture of joy and sorrow, pleasure and pain, harmony and struggle, and life and death. Each season has its appropriate time in the cycle of life. Nothing stays the same, and we, as God’s children, must learn to accept and adjust to the ebb and flow of God’s design. Some seasons are difficult, and we may not understand what God is doing. In those times, we must humbly submit to the Lord’s plans and trust that he is working out his good purposes.
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. (NIV) Quoted by Mary Fairchild
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (New International Version) There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,
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SICKLE CELL ANEMIA Robin Newsome
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hat is sickle cell anemia? A severe form of anemia, which causes the red blood cells to become distorted and crescent-shaped and causes pain in the joints. Sickle Cell disease is most common in African American descent, it is not a contagious disease. I am Robin Newsome, a mom of one, medical professional, and sickle cell warrior. My mother found out I had sickle cell at the age of two, I would not stop crying for an entire day, she took me into the emergency room and that is when she found out and first time hearing of this illness, we had to learn and grow together with gaining knowledge of the newfound life. I fight every day with some sort of pain, I manage to always push through and most times control the pain at home, and when I can’t I get admitted for a crisis and pain management, which consists of intravenous fluid high doses of narcotics, and oxygen. My typical crisis time varies, depending on the severity of my pain and if I need to have blood transfusions. Blood transfusions help to one replenish the blood cells I’ve lost, and to move oxygen through the cells, this is where other people can help. Please consider blood donations at any Red Cross office. There has been a shortage of donations over the Covid year, and in the African American communities making it hard for some people who need blood for urgent matters to get it and live. The importance of having more African American donors for sickle cell patients like me helps cut down on adverse reactions and allergies during the transfusion. I am thankful for those who have already donated and will donate. We thank you. After being told I would not make it past 18, I give the Most High praises for letting me see 49 this month, and for letting me be able to share my STORY… Thank you W.O.E for this platform. Robin Newsome, Thrifted Candle Company Owner
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Thank You August Writers Sheila Anderson Christina Marie Marreon Risper Drew King Jaleesa Robinson Robin Newsome
Thank You Advertisers Eye For It Organizing-Nyla Wright Transparency Motivator-Mikkita Moore The Sparkle Specialist-Brandi Readus Make It Mines-Jessica Rankins-Williams Heaven Has A Heart-Christina Marie
Thank You Designers Cover Photo-Perfect Capture Photography Cover Makeup-Decarah Myers Hair-Arrogant Dame (Mz.CeCe) Front & Back Cover Design-TA Media Co Informational Credit: https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/features/breastfeedingbenefits/index.html
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