5 minute read
Book Review
By Angela Haigler
Start the Fall Off Right with These Provocative Books
by Michael W. Twitty
Michael W. Twitty first wrote a food blog called Afroculinaria. Then he wrote an award-winning book about the cultural context of food for Black Americans called The Cooking Gene. Now he’s written a book detailing his experiences bridging the difference between Jewish and African American food traditions. In Twitty’s view, there are many similarities between the two cultures. Twitty learned from experience when he converted to Judaism at the age of 25, about 20 years ago. Since becoming Jewish, he became a teacher, leader and expert on his new faith. This book chronicles his personal journey between both palettes and traditions.
by Megan Giddings
In a world where women’s bodies and actions are regulated, Jo must decide her future as she nears the age of 30. Will she get married or succumb to society’s rules that say her movements must be monitored? Jo wishes she had her mother’s guidance, but that’s not to be for reasons she is determined to explore. In this dystopian novel, Meghan Giddings’ sophomore effort builds on the premise that an unmarried woman is a dangerous woman. For Black women, it seems as if the danger is doubly so.
by Kianna Alexander
Perseverance and overcoming are words that come to mind when you think of Josephine Napoleon Leary, a Black businesswoman from Edenton, North Carolina. Her story is one that too few have heard about. Born into slavery, but free after the Civil War at the age of nine, she eventually married Sweety Leary and the couple moved to Edenton. The book details the struggles Leary experienced as a wife, mother, and bearer of the culture. Despite her challenges, she became a real estate mogul, amassing several properties and battling cancer along the way. Leary never gave up on her dreams and because of her successes, she left behind a dynamic legacy and blueprint for those who would follow her.
by Jonathan Escoffery
This one is for readers who appreciate a good short story collection. In his debut book, Jonathan Escoffery slaps us to attention with this series of stories about a Jamaican family living in Miami, fighting for their piece of the American pie. The collection centers around Trelawny, the son of immigrant parents who sought the United States as a place of refuge from the devastation of Hurricane Andrew. Often hilarious, sometimes poignant, and always realistic, this book is an excellent way for Escoffery to make an entrance. As a new author, he won the 2020 Plimpton Prize for Fiction, a 2020 National Endowment for the Arts in Literature Fellowship and the 2020 ASME Award for Fiction. P
SPONSORED CONTENT
Center for Health Sciences
Dedicated to Diversity in Healthcare
Northeastern University in Charlotte has become home to a variety of university offerings but is particularly focused on preparing the health science professionals of tomorrow as technology, innovation, and patientcentered care converge in this rapidly growing sector.
The Center for Health Sciences - anchor of all health-focused programing at Northeastern University in Charlotte - is focused on improving healthspan for all, so that people live not just longer but better-quality lives.
Our demographics are changing, and local healthcare providers are searching for nurses that reflect their changing patient population. Lack of diversity and inclusion in healthcare has become one of the many reasons that minority groups receive inadequate medical care. Northeastern University in Charlotte has brought together different cultures, ideas, and perspectives to spearhead collaboration and innovation, leading to better patient care.
“While the nursing profession has employed various strategies, a vital tool for reducing health disparities involves diversity in nursing” said Angela Hosking, CEO and Dean at Northeastern University in Charlotte. “Patients who see themselves represented in the nursing staff are likely to be more transparent, more confident in their treatment, and more willing to engage in recommended care plans. This all helps improve patient outcomes.”
Meet Naadirah Douglas
Naadirah Douglas, from Hillside, New Jersey, moved to Charlotte in August of 2020. She earned her first bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Health and Science from Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina. “My interest has always been nursing. It wasn’t until I got to Johnson C. Smith that my goal became a little bit more structured, and I specifically knew that I wanted to become a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. My advisor and I made sure that the classes I enrolled in would put me in a better position to become a nurse. I genuinely enjoy educating and serving others.” Douglas shared.
“When you think of mental or behavioral disorders, there’s often a battle between nature vs. nurture. I want to be able to approach my patients with a strong background in health, from a broad standpoint.”
Douglas’ empathetic nature allows her to selflessly put herself in someone else’s shoes. Her goal is to provide support and help in any way she can. Growing up, her older sibling encouraged her to speak up and advocate for herself. Now, it’s not hard for Douglas to see things from someone else’s perspective. She hopes to be an advocate for others.
At 13-years old, Douglas spent time in a psychiatric hospital. Throughout this experience, she met nurses and social workers that helped her become the woman she is today. That is the kind of provider she hopes to be.
“I wanted to become a psychiatric nurse because mental health has become a taboo, especially in the AfricanAmerican community.”
She hopes to become a nurse that her patients remember while using her platform to let her community know that there are providers who care and have a God-given purpose to serve.
Naadirah Douglas
Why did you choose Northeastern University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program?
Douglas: “Immediately after applying I was put in contact with an admission counselor. She was extremely helpful. It really feels like Northeastern puts you in a position where you are ready for your next journey, and you don’t have any fear that you won’t know what you’re doing. I wanted a program would give me that real world, hands-on experience so that after graduating, I’d have no fear. Northeastern’s program prepares us for those real-world situations, showing us what we can expect.”
Students who hold a non-nursing bachelor’s degree are eligible for our ABSN program in Charlotte. Now transfer students with a minimum of 62 nonnursing college credits are also eligible for the ABSN program in Charlotte.
To learn more about the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program and other degree programs at Northeastern University in Charlotte, visit charlotte.northeastern.edu or call 980.224.8466 or 866.892.3819.
