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On the Height Media publishes and distributes the Vinegar Hill Magazine four times a year. It is mailed to our members, and is placed at businesses and public venues throughout the city and county. Readership, including pass-along for each issue, is nearly 3,000 people and growing. The magazine sees large growth in our online/ digital readership. There are a variety of sizes in which your business ad can be published, including business card, 1/4- page (vertical or horizontal), 1/2-page (vertical or horizontal) and full-page, all based on an 8-1/2 x 11 page. Advertising can be bought in consecutive frequency blocks of one through four. We can design an ad for you in any of the above-mentioned sizes for a nominal fee. The On the Height Media is dedicated creating a platform that is inclusive of all voices.
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CONTENTS 4 YOUNG ACTIVIST Explore some of the work of young activist Zy Bryant as she makes waves on the national stage. 12 DR. CAMERON WEBB This is our cover story about Dr. Cameron Webb who is running for 5th District representative in the US Congress. 19 BRAND CENTRAL Check out this section about some of the hottest brands to follow headquarted in Central Virginia. 28 NATHANIEL STAR Delve into the sounds of Nathaniel Star and his new album Eros. We get a chance to talk to him about it here.
On Muvas who was recently featured on our partner ‘In My Humble Opinion’ radio show joins the lineup of podcasts on the Vinegar Hill Podcast Network. These two moms are bringing you their unfiltered opinions. All truth, no sugar coating. On muvas! Go to https://www.vinegarhillmagazine.com/podcast-network Vinegar Hill Magazine is proud partners with Charlottesville Tomorrow and In My Humble Opinion radio show on 101.3 Jamz FM At Vinegar Hill Magazine, we believe in the value of human life and we stand in solidarity with the family of Breonna Taylor and those who are again traumatized by the miscarriage of justice. We refuse to be silent when our platform reaches more and more people daily. We will continue to do everything in our editorial power to recognize the fundamental humanity of people and to normalize justice, equity, and inclusion for all.
Vinegar Hill Magazine is a space that is designed to support and project a more inclusive social narrative, to promote entrepreneurship, and to be a beacon for art, culture, and politics in the Central Virginia region. | Contributing Writer Sam Heath l Advertizing and Sales Manager Cindy Richardson Publisher Eddie Harris Layout & Design Sarad Davenport Feature Photography Derrick Waller © 2020 Vinegar Hill Magazine. All rights reserved. w w w. v i n e g a r h i l l m a g a z i n e . c o m | V I N E G A R H I L L M A G A Z I N E 3
ONE OF THE NATION’S
FOREMOST YOUNG ACTIVISTS Charlottesville Anti-Racist Zyahna Bryant Reimagines Race & Space
Contributed by Sam Heath | Photos by Derrick Waller My favorite image of Zyahna Bryant is of her standing before Charlottesville’s statue of Robert E. Lee, seeming to face it down and anyone who might oppose her demands to have it removed. That is where it started in 2016, when Bryant, then a freshman at Charlottesville High School, began a petition to remove the monument. This culminated in the city council voting for its removal, followed by the Unite the Right rally in the summer of 2017 that drew white supremacists to our city’s streets. One counter-protestor, Heather Heyer, was murdered. That was Bryant’s introduction to the national conversation, a space she has not left since. But that image of her before Lee is not from 2016. It is from this summer. Three years later and the Lee statue still stands, though its time as part of the city’s central landscape may be ending soon. For Bryant, the statue is an important symbol of a false narrative that needs to be torn down, yet she noted, “My personal work is bigger than just statues.”
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The Momentum of the Moment Bryant is a protestor, but not only. She coordinates protests, drives, and events. She is on panels, has written a book, and was featured in Teen Vogue. Bryant is also a student at the University of Virginia, where she serves on the Virginia African American Advisory Board as the education subcommittee co-chair. She is the youngest committee member, something that does not hold her back at all from making space for what she often calls “the work.” “There’s always work, right?” she told me. She is willing to serve but not to be a puppet, eager to lend her expertise and voice but not to remain silent when people do not do the hard work of truth-telling, as evidenced by her resignation from the Council on UVA Community Partnerships when the university president, James Ryan, had a muted response following the death of George Floyd. He has since issued a second statement.
While she is active and engaged, she is not overworked. “I’m more a less-is-more kind of person,” and I believe her, since she expresses such an awareness of the necessity of the fight for racial equity to continue beyond her efforts. Momentum can only be maintained if people can “sustain these conversations for more than just a moment.” Race & Space Bryant speaks with a dancer or architect’s awareness of space. “Our collective politics…are what offer a framework for how we maneuver through space and how we organize.” She understands the importance of protest being performative. Yet protest combines people and policy, with the former as agents calling for the latter. Whether in Charlottesville or Richmond or elsewhere nationally, Bryant captures the urge of the youth to insert themselves into spaces for the sake of turning the conversation.
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We spoke about churches as significant spaces for advocacy. Bryant, being “a person of faith,” has familiarity and fervor with the religious landscape. She believes in a distinction between that which is political and that which is partisan, and churches need to do the hard work of parsing that out. Yet churches should be vocal spaces, for “it’s no longer adequate to straddle the fence.” Silence is endorsement of the status quo, an unacceptable position considering that “human rights, human life, and equity and equality are all political things.” To the church that says sacred spaces should be free of politics, Bryant said, “I don’t think there’s a way to separate what’s political and what’s not.”
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One’s religion should be neither hindrance nor tool in the public square. “Faith can be a guiding factor for your politics,” and Bryant thinks it should. “Knowing that my faith also aligns with my politics is so important,” for it gives an identity deeper than a shifting political party platform. With Robert E. Lee’s image still looming, with George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor’s bodies separated from their souls, Bryant feels little ability to ignore white supremacy, mass incarceration targeting Black and brown individuals, and the schoolto-prison pipeline that still flows. To those who look away from the need for racial justice, she cries, “What within your politics grants you privilege to compartmentalize certain issues and to turn the other cheek? I think that’s very political.”
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Black Lives Matter as the New Civil Rights Movement Black Lives Matter signs heavily sprinkle Charlottesville city lawns. Just outside the city in Albemarle County, a host of Trump-Pence signs seem to be in conversation with BLM. “Right now social activism is marketable,” Bryant said, which was not a knock on the signs. Instead, it was to emphasize the importance of “sustained conversations,” even when the hype dies down. “You can’t just pick and choose when you’re gonna do the work. And you can’t just pick it when it makes you feel comfortable or when it is rewarded.” Bryant met two of the founders of the Black Lives Matter network, Patrisse Cullors and Alicia Garza,
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www.literacyforall.org • (434) 977-3838 • info@literacyforall.org ad paid for by C’Ville loVerS in 2019, so she is familiar with the network’s ideals. But she has no affiliation with the Charlottesville chapter of BLM, one of 16 across the nation. It is worth noting the difference between the BLM network versus the BLM movement, Bryant pointed out to me. The BLM network is small in comparison to the movement itself, one of if not the largest in US history. Language and nuance are important, Bryant believes, for “when people make the mistake of conflating all of it, it does a disservice to those organizers.” Organizers in movements demand and bring about change. They can
bring that change to institutions. Bryant recognizes this historical pattern: “For every institutional shift that we see…it is the direct result of activists and organizers doing work on the ground.” No institutional change comes without mass movement, what Bryant referred to as the “blood, sweat, and tears of organizers and activists demanding space within these institutions.” Her drive is to create space and to make more of it for others.
rights, and while “civil rights is strictly talking about issues within the nation…white supremacy is a global issue.”
Are we living in the midst of a new civil rights movement? “Maybe,” Bryant said. “I don’t believe in the civil rights movement as just being the sixties.” This is about human
Stand Up & Stare Down Calling the movement “Black Lives Matter” does not mean white people have no role. Bryant
Bryant’s work begins with awareness, then an insistence on space in the places where decisions are made, then a direct application of those decisions to her community. She knows the art of balancing protest and policy.
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certainly admitted, “There is a need for white allies.” Depending on the makeup of the space, this role will look differently. “[White] people need to show up, decenter themselves, and to listen to the work and experiences of Black people.” There are also “times when white people need to call out themselves” and educate themselves so that Black people do not have to. Should whites be leading? I asked. “In white spaces”—something like SURJ, or Showing Up for Racial Justice—“white people can lead.” But if it is a mixed environment, white people should not be leading. In a mixed environment
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whites can listen and step aside for those who have been historically sidelined. Whites need to show up to “stand up and stare down white supremacy” and “believe that white supremacy is well and alive and is a fragile system that is killing all of us really. It’s killing white people too. It’s just killing them a bit slower.”
than you because then you start to see your politics shift a little and see where people are coming from. [Those individuals] question my ability to reimagine space and reimagine certain systems. Your imagination is a product of what you’re surrounded by. Realizing that and putting that in the context of organizing is important.
Though Bryant has been on the streets and engaged for years, she still sees herself as a lifelong learner of the art of organizing.
Protesting in COVID has helped her efforts, since so often in preCOVID days she would plan an event but then have to “pop out because of class” at UVA. This spring and summer provided her the ability to remain in spaces, particularly in Charlottesville and Richmond.
I learn a lot from organizing and being in spaces. It’s also really powerful to be around people who have way more extreme views
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Organizing: The Next Generation I wanted to know about how she processes the myriad opinions she surely encounters, whether there are days when she just feels crazy and doubts herself. She freely admitted that there are “definitely days when we’re tired” but “the work will continue and issues will prevail whether we show up or not.” This does not mean she is able to decompress and relax. “Black people don’t have that luxury,” because there is “a new normal once you understand how all of these systems work together against people like you.” Such conditions require “finding joy and
finding happiness in the things you can control and in the communities you’re a part of.” When I asked her what gave her hope, she replied, tellingly: I don’t know that there is really any hope left for some of us. More so I remain committed to seeing equity. I remain committed to centering the voices of people who have been erased. That makes me feel empowered and makes me feel powerful because I know that new narratives are being told.
community.” This is done in partnership with and for the sake of her community. She works in spaces, “finding ways to build relationships across communities, across neighborhoods” to let others know that “there are people in the community that will work on the issue.” It comes back to making room for others, “to just have some space to be free.” After all, she concluded, “the struggle continues, so the work will continue.”
Her end goal is a resolute “commitment to see better and to want to be better as a
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At the Intersection of Health and Equity A CONVERSATION WITH DR. CAMERON WEBB
“Between his parents’ rootedness in the community to the relationships he developed on and off the basketball court, Dr. Webb is homegrown and one of our own.” by Sarad Davenport “I’m surprised I have made it through thirteen months of campaigning without mentioning this,” said Dr. Webb. What you may not know about Dr. Bryant Cameron Webb is that he got cut from his 9th-grade basketball team. What is more, this event proved to be a critical inflection point in the life of the man now vying to represent the 5th District of Virginia in the United States, House of Representatives. “I got cut from the basketball team in ninth grade,” Dr. Webb emphasized and was
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sure to state upfront that he would never compare his story to that of Michael Jordan, but revealed that he had a similar experience. “My response to being cut was that I would take 300 to 400 jump shots every day after school. Every day, without fail.” In what could have been a psychologically crushing blow to an adolescent to whom, ball was life; Webb transformed that experience into something that made him a better player, but more importantly a better person and ultimately—leader. Young Cameron made the team his sophomore year
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and became the team captain in his senior year of high school. Dr. Webb went on to say, what he learned through this was the power of ‘work ethic.’ “It showed me that I could outwork anybody, and that—hard work created opportunity.” Many of us have borne witness to Dr. Webb’s work ethic as he leads as father and husband, practices medicine, and relentlessly campaigns to be called congressman. Beyond the Court Not only did Dr. Webb excel on the basketball court, he also excelled academically. “I went to public school my
whole life, and I am a champion for public school education,” said Dr. Webb. Part of the reason that Dr. Webb is such a supporter of public schools is because of the specific experiences he had. Dr. Webb was in the first-ever class of students selected for the Commonwealth Governor’s School which is a school-within-a-school model half-day program ‘designed to challenge students in four major academic content areas, through problem-based instruction… for gifted and highly motivated learners.’ “It was great because I got to take all advanced placement courses. I was in classes with kids who were identified as the most gifted in several different counties,” said Dr. Webb. He went on to discuss how much confidence that experience gave him as a young Black male going into college—fighting against so many “forces that try to undercut your confidence.” This gave me pause as a writer, understanding that much of what young Black males in America face are ‘the
Ally
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forces that try to undercut [their] confidence.’ The experience at the Governor’s School was something that a young Cameron could take forward as he went on to be a pre-med student at the University of Virginia. “This gave me the confidence to know that I was capable of performing at a high level.” Family What was key to helping Dr. Webb in his becoming was and still is family. His family came to Virginia years ago from the central Louisiana city of Alexandria when his dad started graduate school at Howard University and inevitably took a job in law enforcement with the DEA. “My parents came here and picked Spotsylvania County as the place to raise their family very deliberately,” said Dr. Webb. Bryant Cameron was the 3rd of 6 kids. “We all rode around in what looked like a church van, and everyone around town knew us as the Webb kids.” Dr. Webb went on to talk about how his mother was a career ed-
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A young Cameron Webb. Provided courtesy of the campaign.
ucator in Orange County and how his family has deep connections throughout the Central common that I’ll have a patient from say, CulVirginia region. peper and I’ll mention a player that I used to play [basketball] against with their last name, Between his parents’ rootedness in the com- and they’ll say, ‘Yeah, that’s my cousin.’” munity to the relationships he developed on and off the basketball court, Dr. Webb is Long before he became a medical student at homegrown and one of our own. “It’s not un- Wake Forest University, Dr. Webb was think-
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ing about becoming a doctor. When young Cameron was just a 4-year old, his family doctor was a man named Timothy Yarborough. “He was at the time, a young Black man in his mid-30s. Seeing a Black man in a white coat was powerful—transformational.” Then Dr. Webb dropped something that demonstrates the power and importance of seeing what you can eventually become. He said, “When I was 5-years old, I said I was going to become a doctor and eventually when I applied to medical school, I wrote about Dr. Yarborough.” Dr. Webb talked about how his family poured into his goal of becoming a doctor when he was growing up. “My paternal grandmother was a nurse and the head nurse on her unit.” She was a well respected medical professional in that part of Louisiana and heard that her 5-year old grandson wanted to become a doctor. “That Christmas, she bought me a stethoscope. The next year my parents bought me an anatomy book. And
the next year they bought me Ben Carson’s “Gifted Hands” to see about this Black neurosurgeon.” What was fascinating about this segment of the interview was the importance of supporting the dreams of our children and young people at the earliest ages and seeding their growth until it becomes a reality. Education and Beyond What some people may not know is that in addition to a medical degree, Dr. Webb also holds a law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law. Curiously enough, what led Dr. Webb into the legal and policy realm was an Anthropology class he took as a freshman. In that anthropology class, Dr. Cameron learned about the disparities in healthcare, namely diabetes, heart disease, infant mortality, and HIV/AIDS, and how they had a more pronounced effect on communities of color. “It just didn’t make sense to me,” said Dr. Cameron. “This was 2001, and we had just completed
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the Human Genome Project and we knew that there was more variation within races than across races. It didn’t add up.” Understanding that race was a social construct and these outcomes had more to do with systems than genetics, this anthropology class led pre-
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med Dr. Webb to conclude that health disparity was, in fact, a ‘social justice’ issue. That’s what made him certain that not only did he need a degree in medicine but he also needed a law degree. Meeting Leigh-Ann While matriculating as a stu-
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dent through the intellectual ecosystem that is the University of Virginia, a young woman caught the eye of soon to be Dr. Webb. “She was in my ‘Intro to Chemistry’ class and I thought to myself right away, that she is real cute.” The thing is, his now-wife, Dr. Leigh-Ann Webb, wasn’t all
that interested in dating. She was too a pre-med student and had her own academic and life goals as her central focus. What many may not have already known is that Dr. Webb is also what is colloquially termed a ‘sneakerhead’ — meaning that he is a connoisseur of choice athletic shoes and namely those under the Nike and Jordan brand. When returning to school one fall, Webb came sporting his fresh Jordan 17 Lows, and across the lecture hall, he noticed Leigh-Ann with the same sneakers on.
A perfect time to strike up a conversation, he thought. “She looked down and saw my shoes and said, ‘Oh you’re corny,’ but it sparked a conversation. It did result in me getting friend-zoned for about 2 years though.” Dr. Cameron talked about how he is the great hope of every guy out there who has been friend-zoned before because, by his third year of college, the inevitable Dr. Leigh-Ann agreed to a date. When speaking about his wife, Dr. Webb takes a very serious and affectionate tone. He said, “She is my best friend.” He goes on to talk
about how serious she was about her studies as they matriculated through pre-med together. “Leigh-Ann was better than me in every class. She could buckle down in ways that I couldn’t. We are very complementary in that respect. She is a very impressive woman.” You couldn’t help but be inspired by their story of love and his admiration of his wife. As he spoke, he came across as beyond grateful and appreciative to have her as a wife and also as his ‘best friend.’ CONTINUED ON PAGE 35
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A N I N - D E P T H L O O K AT B R A N D S T H AT S TA RT E D H E R E I N C E N T R A L V I R G I N I A
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D.R.E.A.M Apparel is a clothing and apparel brand based out of Virginia. The acronym stands for dreams reinvented everything around me. Our brand is focused on using its platform to give back to the community through philanthropy projects and community outreach. We are dedicated to using a portion of our funds to help stimulate the inner city economy. We have a commitment to inspire those around us to use their creativity to acquire their dreams. By helping the people around us, we all benefit. When you shop with us you’re helping give back to the community. It’s much more than a brand it’s a movement. Follow us on Instagram @_dreamclothing and check us out on the web at www.dream-apparel.com
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My name is Kandi Merrick (pictured on right above) and I am the creator of the AirBorn Aeronautis brand. My grandmother used to always take me and my brother shopping every Christmas spending thousands of dollars on fashion. But It was always difficult for me to find exactly what I liked no matter how many stores we went to. So as a young child, I was always thinking I would like to create my own clothing designs and things I would like to wear. As I got older, I continued to stay in fashion wearing all the hottest brands and clothing lines. My brother was very creative and started his brand. He inspired me to create mine. In 2008, my mother passed of cancer, So I decided to use her death as my motivation to create a brand that would make her happy watching down on me. So on her birthday, March 8th 2018
we created the brand AIRBORN. At the time when the brand was created I was at a high point in my life financially , mentally and physically. So, I felt that the brand represents “engaging in quality living while on you’re journey to success.” That’s something I live by whether you’re at the top or not long as your striving to get there and living the best life you can while on your way up represents you being “AIRBORN” I always have dreams Of the brand blowing up and being able to utilize a lot of celebrities, models and famous brand ambassadors to help with the marketing for the brand. We are very selective in choosing our manufactures and believe in Quality over quantity spending more money to be sure you get the best material and clothing from our company. We will continue to strive to provide the best designs hoping that you enjoy our BRAND. http://www.airbornaeronautics.com/
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At Glitterati Global we stand for unity amongst diversity creating our own opportunities. Curated in 2010 by a local to Charlottesville, CEO Mark Jones, his goal is to unify the masses through expression ofart, music, and fashion. Mr. Jones brand started as a vision and that vision represents uniqueness and individuality while seeking the freedoms of life (equality, love, ownership, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, spirituality, and truth). Glitterati Global is more than fashion it is a vibe, a ball of positive energy you can feel and know that it is divinely charged. https://glitteratiglobalstore.com/collections/all
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HER stands for “Hustle to Earn Respect”. This motto derived from Lebron James, “Nothing is given, everything is earned.” As female athletes, we have to work much harder to gain respect, to gain interest, to gain support and even media exposure more so than our male counterparts from our own communities. Based on research, these are just a few obstacles that affect overall participation in girls sports. So as a female athlete and coach, I felt that an organization specially focusing on increasing participation in girls sports was needed. The mission for HER Sports is to provide a unique holistic experience to young girls by empowering, engaging, and educating positive youth development through sports. When I say holistic, I mean overall health and wellness (physical, mental/emotional, and social). HER Sports is grounded on its core value of HUSTLE: Health is Wealth, Unity is Community, Strive for Excellence, Trust the Process, & Earn Respect. To put focus on HER Sports clothing brand, I believe that as a non-profit, being innovative in ways to fund your program appears to be necessary for sustainability. So why not a clothing line. Our girls love new and attractive gear to sport around. HER Sports Activewear is an up and coming brand inspired by young female athletes in our communities. HER Sports Activewear is a funding source for HER Sports non-profit organization. HER Sports Activewear is a brand that will promote creativity, inspiration, and individuality centered around our young girls. Follow on IG: @ h.e.r_sports
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It’s pronounced 7-7-7. 3 different ways to spell seven. 7 characters total. SVN-7-VII. My brand was born back in 2009 during the darkest time in my life. Locked up on distribution of a schedule 2 substance charges already with 2 prior felonies all of this at the young age of 24. I was going 200 mph down the road straight to the penitentiary. I’ve been incarcerated countless times before this current charge, but this time for me was different. I knew in my heart I needed a change, but not just a change in my behavior...a change in my soul. I gave my life to Christ and dedicated myself to doing the work that I needed to change myself for good. I’m an hip hop artist as well, and I even stopped rapping about foolishness and started speaking more about my faith when I would write. So much so, all the inmates I spent time with would request certain songs by name for me to perform to help them get through their day. Fast forward to my trial and I was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years with all but 2 years and 6 months suspended. I ended spending exactly 777 days incarcerated. Hence where the SVN7VII comes from. I honor that time of transition with my brand. SVN7VII is about pursuing your passions - the things you know you were created for - while honoring both God and the road traveled to get there. I’ll never forget those days I spent locked up that created the foundation for me to become the man I am today... I’ll never forget the dreams, guidance, protection or favor I know God gave me during those days either.... now I won’t stop until the world knows. Follow on insta @SVN7Vllbrand_ Facebook: Shadee Shad Gill Gilliam
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Tha Bully was co-founded by 26-year-old Laqueshia Burgess. Born and raised in Charlottesville, VA. The brand is about anti-bullying. Tha Bully is a mindstate. It’s about chasing your dreams and being a bully about it. Whatever you want to do, be a bully about it and make it happen. IG: @ tha_bully17
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The Chef G logo was inspired to mix the fashion of hip hop with my greatness of cooking. Being a chef has always been my love but my passion for hip hop has now came full circle as I work harder then ever to provide people with great music. As you can see it has the iconic chefs hat over top of a very cool spelling of my Artist name. This logo was provided by Christopher Johnson better known as Doughman. Follow on IG: @chefg_va
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“It’s not only a brand, it’s a lifestyle”, is the slogan CEO Dezmine Fitzgerald would use when describing her business, Be Great LLC. Be Great was established to support, motivate, and inspire males and females of all ages. Dezmine’s goal is to circulate the comfort of knowing no matter how many times you fall, getting up is what makes it great. Be Great was first created in Charlottesville, Va March 2019. With plans of expanding all across the world, Be Great held its first Pop-up shop in July 2020 that included other small businesses in the Charlottesville area. You can find Be Great apparel for women, men and children on Facebook at “Be Great LLC” and Instagram at Begreat_by_begreatdez. Apparel includes hats, swimsuits, t-shirts, hoodies and more.
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back to love A SLAP IN THE FACE OF HATRED
by Sarad Davenport On August 12 of this year, artist Nathaniel Star released his sixth studio album ‘Eros’ with the intent of confronting the hate memorialized by the events of August 12, 2017 in Charlottesville— with love. As you may already know, eros is one of four ancient Greek words meaning “love”. More importantly, this love called eros is related to a more passionate and romantic love. These ideas and concepts align with Nathaniel Star’s effort to penetrate the atmosphere with the sounds of love to shift the soul and consciousness of people to something altogether higher. l“At this present moment, we need positivity,” said Star. “There is nothing more positive than love. Right now we really need it.” Just as America has seemingly slipped into a trancelike state under the emotion of hatred. Songs like w w w. v i n e g a r h i l l m a g a z i n e . c o m | V I N E G A R H I L L M A G A Z I N E 2 9
“I Knew” take listeners deep into the trancelike state of love. The truth is I’m listening to the album as I am writing this and it definitely has taken me to another place. It reminds me of the golden era of Neo Soul when we were introduced to Brown Sugar and Baduizm. Star describes himself as a ‘genre-less’ artist who has been inspired by a broad range of artists and performers. He is a multi-instrumentalist but is at home on the guitar and his first love — percussion. “I dabble with the guitar. I dabble with the piano, but my first instrument was the drums for sure.” Star performs what others consider Neo-Soul or Hip-Hop Soul if we were to put him into those boxes, but he draws his musical inspiration from a place that may seem unusual to some. “Man, I’m inspired by Beethoven.” We both laughed in unison, not because of Beethoven, but likely because of the recognition of how eclectic musically us Charlottesville cats can be. He quickly reminds me of his credentials and let me know even though he is inspired by Beethoven, he is still, “a little black boy from South First Street.”
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Even though he hails from one of Charlottesville’s oldest public housing developments, he still can get with the likes of the classical music composer Beethoven. He goes on to say that yes, he’s inspired by the Notorious B.I.G., and Sam Cooke and others but, “In classical music, there is power. Even though it has this innocent and pure power, it is still sweet.” The way he explained it had me almost like, ‘A yo Alexa shuffle some Beethoven right quick.’ But I digress. Star says, you can feel the love in it. There he goes. Back to love—once again. As Black Lives Matter and other social movements continue to lift up the humanity of all people, Nathaniel Star is right there in the mix with his album Eros. “In every movement, there is the soundtrack to the movement,” says Star. Appropriately, in the face of hatred, the soundtrack that Star is providing to this movement is of love— Eros. Purchase the album here on Bandcamp Eros by Nathaniel Star | Follow Nathaniel Star on IG @ nathanielstarmusic
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To learn more, call Martize Tolbert, our Client Navigator, at 434-234-3600.
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Postgraduate Fellowship and Extension UNCF, Bristol Myers Squibb Announce Second Cohort of the Ernest E. Just Postgraduate Fellowship and Extension of Partnership Through 2026. The fellowship program honors Dr. Just, a pioneering biologist and one of the most prominent African American scientists of the twentieth century. (Black PR Wire) WASHINGTON & PRINCETON, N.J.--The UNCF and Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY) today announced the second cohort of the Ernest E. Just Postgraduate Fellowship in the Life Sciences, as well as an extension of the organizations’ innovative partnership that was initially established in 2017. Antentor Hinton Jr., Ph.D. and Cornelius Taabazuing, Ph.D. are the latest outstanding recipients of this highly competitive fellowship. Dr. Hinton is a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Iowa conducting research at the Francois M. Abboud Cardiovascular Research Center, and Dr. Taaba-
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zuing is an American Cancer Society Research Fellow working in the Chemical Biology Program at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. UNCF and Bristol Myers Squibb have also agreed to extend this partnership through 2026. Over that time, eight cohorts of African American scientists will be selected to participate in this fellowship program and engage with Bristol Myers Squibb scientific leaders to learn about biopharmaceutical drug research and development. “We are very excited about the opportunity to extend our partnership with Bristol Myers Squibb and expand the
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number of E. E. Just fellows in the program with the second cohort of African American scientists,” said Chad Womack, Ph.D., founder of the Ernest E. Just Life Science initiative and the Senior Director for STEM Programs and Initiatives at the UNCF. “Drs. Hinton and Taabazuing are outstanding scientists who have clearly demonstrated a very high level of scientific accomplishment and leadership with their cutting-edge research in their respective fields.” Womack continued, “We are greatly appreciative of the tremendous support that Bristol Myers Squibb has and continues to provide for this
program. It gives us a unique opportunity to assist our fellows in their transition into independent careers as academic scientists or R&D professionals in the biopharma industry. Through this initiative and additional commitment, we will continue to build a community of outstanding African American biomedical scientists.” Dr. Hinton earned his bachelor’s degree at Winston Salem State University and Ph.D. from the Integrative Molecular Biomedical Sciences program at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Hinton’s work is focused on elucidating interactions between mitochondrial lipids and OPA-1 in skeletal muscle. The award will help move his research towards a human
model with primary skeletal muscle cell lines and will assist his investigations into how the mitochondrial contact site and cristae organizational system proteins interact with OPA-1 and participate in regulating lipid-mitochondrial dynamics. Dr. Hinton’s research has direct implications for understanding the underlying pathophysiology of Type II Diabetes – a disease that disproportionately affects African Americans.
disorders and inflammation. The award will help Dr. Taabazuing further his cutting-edge translational research to identify and characterize novel caspase-1 substrates with the goal of providing novel insights into pathogenic mechanisms that will potentially serve as a platform for drug design and pharmacotherapeutic intervention.
“Bristol Myers Squibb is proud to continue our support of Dr. Taabazuing earned his the E. E. Just Postgraduate bachelor’s and Ph.D. degrees Fellowship program and we at the University of Massachu- congratulate Drs. Hinton and setts at Amherst. His postdoc- Taabazuing on this achievetoral research at the Memoment,” said Rupert Vessey, rial Sloan-Kettering Cancer M.A., B.M., B.Ch., F.R.C.P., Center is focused on the role D.Phil., Executive Vice Presicaspase-1 plays in the immudent and President, Research noregulation and pathogen& Early Development, Bristol esis of cancer, autoimmune Myers Squibb. “Partnering w w w. v i n e g a r h i l l m a g a z i n e . c o m | V I N E G A R H I L L M A G A Z I N E 3 5
with organizations like the UNCF is critical because scientific discovery and advancement is dependent on diverse perspectives and experiences.” Drs. Hinton and Taabazuing join the inaugural recipients, Bianca Jones Marlin, Ph.D. and Elizabeth Ransey, Ph.D., as E. E. Just fellows. Dr. Marlin is a neuroscientist and postdoctoral researcher at Columbia University’s Zuckerman Institute; and Dr. Ransey is a postdoctoral scientist in the Laboratory of Psychiatric Neuroengineering at Duke University. Drs. Marlin and Ransey were hosted and celebrated at the Bristol Myers Squibb Lawrenceville site in October 2019, where they showcased their research and networked with scientific leaders and mentors at the company. “Bristol Myers Squibb has supported UNCF for many years because we know the value programs like the E. E. Just Postgraduate Fellowship can bring not only to the individual recipients, but to the community and global companies like ours,” added David L. Gonzales, Global Chief Diversity Officer, Bristol Myers Squibb. “Having critical new ideas and perspectives that are valued leads to a sense of belonging and collaboration that drives both scientific innovation and business performance. Clearly, when diversity is celebrated and inclusion is intentional, everyone wins, especially our patients.”
careers in research and translational medicine. About UNCF UNCF (United Negro College Fund) is the nation’s largest and most effective minority education organization. To serve youth, the community and the nation, UNCF supports students’ education and development through scholarships and other programs, strengthens its 37 member colleges and universities, and advocates for the importance of minority education and college readiness. UNCF institutions and other historically black colleges and universities are highly effective, awarding 20 percent of African American baccalaureate degrees. UNCF annually awards $100 million in scholarships and administers more than 400 programs, including scholarship, internship and fellowship, mentoring, summer enrichment, and curriculum and faculty development programs. Today, UNCF supports more than 60,000 students at more than 1,100 colleges and universities across the country. Its logo features the UNCF torch of leadership in education and its widely recognized trademark, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.”® Learn more at UNCF.org, or for continuous news and updates, follow UNCF on Twitter, @UNCF.
About the Ernest E. Just Postgraduate Fellowship Program The Ernest E. Just Postgraduate Fellowship Program in the Life Sciences was created in 2017 as a partnership between UNCF and Bristol Myers Squibb. It aims to accelerate the career development of African American scientists pursuing research careers in academic or biopharmaceutical industry R&D. Named in honor of Dr. Ernest Everett Just, a pioneering biologist and one of the most prominent African American scientists of the twentieth century, the three-year fellowship includes a stipend, research budget, travel award for research conferences, and access to mentors and professional networks. The program also provides fellowship recipients with opportunities to engage with Bristol Myers Squibb scientists in the company’s research and early development division to learn about biopharmaceutical
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CONTINUED DR. CAMERON WEBB
Getting Back to Washington So as Dr. Webb looks to secure a seat in congress, many may not know that he has significant experience working in the nation’s capital. During the Obama administration, Dr. Webb was selected as a White House fellow. “I was able to put together some events for the president and write briefings for him and it was a really special experience being in that administration.”
time in the Obama administration, he worked on things central to healthcare and also the ‘My Brother’s Keeper’ initiative to name a few. In his six months in the Trump administration, Dr. Webb was able to work on and lead a drug pricing task force. “This is an issue that I’m passionate about, which is reducing the cost of prescription medications. I was able to work closely with the late Congressman Elijah Cummings on some bipartisan work that they were aiming to do.”
Those being, improving rural broadband access, increasing teacher pay, expanding job training programs, and making college more affordable and much more. Dr. Webb describes himself as a man of faith who is committed to his wife Leigh-Ann of 11 years and their two children: daughter Avery, 9; and son Lennox, 5. Dr. Webb enlists equity and justice as his ‘true north’ and has a simple and singular aim in life, that when it’s all said and done, his creWhat really might bake your ator will say, “Well done, thy noodle is that The White good and faithful servant.” House Fellows program is There are many things that Many of us get the inclination non-partisan, and Dr. Webb’s Dr. Webb would like to do for that the doing has just befellowship extended across the 5th District if given the gun for Dr. Bryant Cameron administrations. During his opportunity by the people. Webb. w w w. v i n e g a r h i l l m a g a z i n e . c o m | V I N E G A R H I L L M A G A Z I N E 3 7
Lola Flash’s Exhibit “SALT” is a Celebration of Aging and Beauty by Destinee Wright Much of Lola Flash’s work takes a come-as-you-are approach to challenge traditional beauty standards and gender norms. Flash uses her work to create striking images that spark conversations about stereotypes surrounding race, gender, sexuality, and identity. As Flash told Gallery Blue Door, “My projects are an insiders’ account of the many ways Black and gay people are perceived and how selected images have affected our psyche.” Lola Flash is a New York-based image-maker and gay rights activist committed to amplifying the work, struggles, and beauty of the LGBTQIA+ community. Many of Flash’s creative works focus on portraiture and has been featured
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in various exhibitions worldwide and multiple publications, including an article in the New York Times. Flash currently works as an artist and teacher in the US and UK, whose diverse background privileges and unique perspective translate into her work. Flash first became well-known in 1989 with her feature in “Kissing Doesn’t Kill,” a political art action that documented ACT UP’s work to raise awareness and challenge stigma about AIDS. Since then, Flash’s work has been featured in galleries worldwide–from the Albert Museum in London to Brooklyn Museum. Later this month, Flash’s exhibition “SALT” will be featured at the Jefferson African American Heritage Center as part
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of the series “Seeing Black: Disrupting the Visual Narrative.” This series aims to amplify community work and art from renowned Black creators and local leaders. Media representations of Black people across the diaspora are often created by white men. Racial barriers exist for Black creators across the board, meaning that the images, video, and content we consume are usually controlled by predominantly white gatekeepers. The “Black experience” that is vast, robust, complex, and substantial gets dwindled down to caricatures and stereotypes, perpetuating harmful stereotypes about Black people. Flash’s work challenges these stereotypes. In her series, “SALT,” Flash captured
Photos courtesy of Lola Flash. See full array of Afrofuturist photos at www.lolaflash.com
images of Black women over seventy who remain active in their industries. Each portrait features powerful women who have accomplished great things in real estate, activism, art, and design. These images challenge the norms around gender, sexuality, aging, and identity and disrupt how ageism is presented in popular media. Positive representation of older women and femmes–especially Black older women and femmes–is not seen outside of harmful tropes attached to shame and fear of aging. “SALT” increases awareness around ageism in society and counters the notion that vibrancy is only for the young.
profoundly rooted ageism and disrupts the young/old binaries. “This series aims to combat the invisibility that some older women experience, and to highlight the deep-rooted cultural and societal biases that remove older women from the public sphere,” says Flash on her website lolaflash.com. Each subject brings her own flair and personality to each striking image. In her artist statement on her website, Flash says, “I believe that this process conveys the importance of the sitting to the subject, and yields a truer image, transmitting the energy, spirit, and seriousness of both the women and this endeavor” (lolaflash.com).
Flash’s subjects are portrayed in classical poses in their homes, which evoke a sense of power, poise, and vivacity that challenges
Hailing from New York, it may come as a surprise to know that Flash has familial ties to Charlottesville’s Charles H. Bullock, a
prominent community leader in the early 20th century, and Flash’s cousin, Edwina St Rose, spearheaded the Preservation of the Daughters of Zion Cemetery project. From her various works that address LGBTIA+ rights to AIDS activism, Lola Flash is a photographer you need to know. “SALT” opens on October 17th at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center with a virtual reception at 6:30 PM. This reception will be followed by a virtual conversation between Flash and writer Jessica Lynn at 7 PM. Lola will be speaking (virtually) to about 60 Charlottesville High School photography students this Wednesday, Oct. 14 @ 1:25 pm 2:10 pm.
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