JUNE 2017
THE MAGAZINE
FATHER’S DAY ISSUE
MANHOOD
Father, Leader, Trailblazer Eric Beamon • Josh Brewer Pages 6-9
Father’s Day Tributes Pages 16-18
Empowerment Conference Review Pages 20-21
All White Party Old School Party Review With a Purpose Review Pages 22-23
Pages 24-25
2 • WOMAN TO WOMAN WITH JOANNE: THE MAGAZINE • June 2017
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4 • WOMAN TO WOMAN WITH JOANNE: THE MAGAZINE • June 2017
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Publisher & Editor Joanne Bell CEO Joanne Bell Contributing Writers Alyssa Laubach Larissa Brewer Salmeilia Stewart Dr. Timothy Quinn JaMya Bell Nate Coleman Michelle Johnson Floyd Williams Funmi Franklin Cover Design by Latasha Willis Layout Design Latasha Willis Facebook: Woman to Woman with Joanne the Magazine Website: www.JoanneSBell.com Contact us at woman2woman.joanne@ yahoo.com 601-398-6733 P.O. Box 2031 Ridgeland, MS 39158 All rights reserved. No portion of Woman to Woman with Joanne may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. The management of Woman to Woman with Joanne is not responsible for opinions expressed by its writers. Woman to Woman with Joanne maintains the unrestricted right to edit or refuse all submitted material. All advertisements are subject to approval by the publisher. The production of Woman to Woman is funded by advertising and sponsorship.
Joanne’s Desk I
BY JOANNE BELL, FOUNDER
decided to feature two young fathers who chose to be the type of father that they longed to have while they were growing up. So, instead of taking what they missed out on as a child and allowing it to make them hateful or angry, they decided to use that to make them better - better men, better fathers and better mentors for the ones to come behind them. I am grateful to be able to share a part of them with you. It saddens me to see the lack of enthusiasm during the Father’s Day holiday. As I have always said, I think fathers are so important to children, especially young girls. They give identity, they give affirmation of how beautiful we are, they are our first loves and they give purpose to little boys. When that father or father figure is missing, we find ourselves going through life with insecurities, trying to fill that void with things that could never fill it. On my journey, I have found that God is the Father that we long for, the Father that we look for in all the wrong places. I have often wondered what would make a father leave his own children and not contact them, not reach out to them, not even call to check on them. What I have found is that there are several reasons that fathers choose to not be a part of their children’s lives. I say “choose” because even though these may be reasons, it’s all still about choice. The most popular reason, I believe, is guilt and shame. One of the other reasons could be that the mother will not allow the father to see the child, and to me this is the saddest reason because you may have a father who is desperately trying to see his children, and a mother who is being vindictive and vengeful and using the babies against him. The last reason could be that the father simply decided he did not want to be a father. Whatever the case may be, we all have to come to know God our Father, who will never leave us not forsake us. My advice would be that if you have a father who is still living among us, reach out to him, call him, go and see him, because at the end of the day, he is here and he is your father. If you don’t do it for him, do it for your own peace of mind because when that time comes and he’s no longer here, no “shoulda, coulda, woulda” will ever replace the time that you could have had with him. Love ya much!
Joanne
In This Issue
Cover Story: Eric Beamon .................................................................................................. 6-7 Cover Story: Josh Brewer .................................................................................................. 8-9 Our Queens Must Not Let Anyone Steal Their Joy! ....................................................... 12 It's Time .................................................................................................................................... 14 Father's Day Tributes ......................................................................................................... 16-18 Empowerment Conference Review ................................................................................. 20-21 All White Party Review .................................................................................................... 22-23 Old School Party with a Purpose Review .................................................................... 24-25 Mya's Corner ............................................................................................................................. 26 Recipe: Butter-Fried Sole ....................................................................................................... 28 Juneteenth .................................................................................................................................. 30 Dreams ....................................................................................................................................... 30 Can I Talk to You? ................................................................................................................... 30 Our Sponsors ............................................................................................................................. 35
6 • WOMAN TO WOMAN WITH JOANNE: THE MAGAZINE • June 2017
Eric Beamon BY ALYSSA LAUBACH PHOTO BY ALYSSA LAUBACH
WOMAN TO WOMAN WITH JOANNE: THE MAGAZINE • 7
E
ric Beamon could not have imagined his journey as a father beginning the way it did. For most, a picture-perfect arrival and delivery is expected. For Eric, it began when his daughter Callie Arie Beamon was born at just 29 weeks and one day old, weighing only one pound, eight ounces. Callie was rushed to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for a lengthy 64 days. Eric and his wife, Danyelle, were grateful to God for their miracle. Like most parents, Eric and Danyelle were anxious in the days following the birth of their child, only their anxiety was compounded. In the aftermath, Eric joined a support group as a means of helping him along his journey. The experiences navigated during the birth of Callie led Eric to found Manhood 805, a faith-based male empowerment group. He chose 805 to represent Callie’s birthday, August 5. The organization evolved into a faith-based community outreach program designed to help men reach a deeper state of connection to their heart, loved ones and purpose of life. Eric travels throughout the community offering trainings and activities to help fathers break negative cycles, learn
communication skills and learn to be active fathers. These trainings encourage the fathers to strive to be advocates and empowered men in the community. Eric uses a spiritual foundation to lead the men. The group prays at the beginning and end of each workshop. One of Manhood 805’s primary initiatives is the Barbershop Outreach Project (adapted from the “Barbershop Literacy Project”). It is an approach to get men of local communities to become more actively involved with their children and in the community. The project asks barber shops in local communities to create child-friendly reading spaces and designate an area to hold fatherhood workshops. The project is designed for fathers to not only get groomed while at the barber shop, but to also learn fathering, parenting and relationship skills. This project provides literacy skills by creating opportunities for fathers to bond and act as mentors for their children or other men, women or children. In order to participate, barber shops must agree to the following: • Believe that you can make a difference in the life of a child. • Be willing to share space in your barbershop with a bookshelf full of children’s books. • Encourage children to read. • Be willing to share what you know about literacy development with your patrons.
Eric travels throughout the community offering trainings and activities to help fathers break negative cycles, learn communication skills and learn to be active fathers.
• Allow “Barbershop Talks” (fatherhood workshops) to be held at your barber shop. Thankfully, Eric and Danyelle’s daughter, Callie, faced no major health issues and is currently eight months old! Their story brings hope to many families going through similar circumstances. Eric is now a trainer for Families First for Mississippi and leads trainings on fatherhood, parenting and youth development in the community. Families First for Mississippi provides programming on these topics and job readiness, workforce development and literacy to strengthen families in Mississippi. Families First for Mississippi is excited about partnering with Manhood 805. This will help continue the fatherhood program’s mission to empower fathers by emphasizing life skills, parenting skills, job readiness and money management. His wife, Danyelle Beamon, has a special Father’s Day message for Eric. Turn to page 18 to read what she and their daughter had to say. Alyssa Laubach is the media coordinator for the Mississippi Community Education Center. She can be reached at alaubach@mscec.org.
8 • WOMAN TO WOMAN WITH JOANNE: THE MAGAZINE • June 2017
Josh Brewer BY LARISSA BREWER PHOTO CURTESY OF PINELAKE CHURCH
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t is such a joy to do life with my husband and father of our three children, Josh Brewer. The first word that comes to my mind when I describe him is trailblazer. Webster’s Dictionary defines a trailblazer as “one who blazes a trail to guide others.” My husband is one of six children. His childhood had many heartaches, including not having a father for the majority of his youth and being in the foster care system. He spent many of his adolescent years lost, empty and angry. In one of his foster homes, Josh had a godly foster dad who taught him about worship, prayer and the Bible for the first time. Soon after, he met an uncle whom he never knew and eventually adopted him. He took him to church and gave him a consistency that he had never had. Shortly after that, Josh made the greatest decision a person could ever make - he received Christ as his Lord and Savior! He began to allow God to heal his heart. Over time, the faithfulness of God found in Psalm 68:5 was proven to be true: He is the father to the fatherless. Statistics would say that my husband should be abusive and an addict, but he chose God’s plan. Despite the odds, he lives a life full of love and freedom. He is in full-time ministry, and is an amazing husband and an incredible father. God the Father in His kindness has shown Josh how
to be a father through worship and studying the Bible. Josh courageously and wholeheartedly follows the Lord down unknown paths, blazing trails for our family and many others to walk through. The best part of all is that he never misses the opportunity to boast in all that the Lord has done in his life; he encourages others to do the same, too. Our seven-year-old, Audrey, knows she is loved and adored every day because her daddy affirms her beauty, talents and value. With him by her side, she conquers every fear and doubt. Audrey’s favorite things about her dad are “his grilling skills, and that he works hard.” Our five-year-old, Aaron, knows how to be a godly and loving boy because he sees his daddy’s example. Our son copies everything he does and desperately wants to be just like him. His favorite thing about his dad is that he “teaches me about God.” Our seven-month-old, Aly, lights up when he walks into the room. She smiles and hides knowing he is coming after her with kisses. Even at such a young age, she understands that she is loved and adored by her daddy. Josh Brewer loves us the way God has loved him. He fearlessly leads us through life with total confidence that God is going before him. He constantly encourages us to love, to forgive and to be thankful in all things.
Despite the odds, he lives a life full of love and freedom.
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Our Queens Must Not Let Anyone Steal Their Joy! BY DR. TIMOTHY QUINN
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iss Jones was a 35-year-old mother of two. She came to our clinic with the chief complaints of fatigue and headaches. As I evaluated her chart prior to entering the exam room, I noticed that her blood pressure and pulse were elevated. The patient’s weight was much greater than it should have been when considering her height. On the social section of the chart, I read that she was a bank teller and unmarried. In this section of the chart, she also reported drinking alcohol in excess and smoking cigarettes. As I entered the exam room, my nurse gave me a look that let me know that this was not going to be a fast encounter. As I entered the room, I introduced myself to a patient who was clearly unhappy. She spoke few words, but her tone was clearly of a woman going through a hard time. As the interview continued, she became more comfortable sharing her current situation, which led to her discontent. Toward the end of the encounter, I had my nurse to return to recheck her vital signs and schedule her to return a week later to interpret her lab results. I asked Miss Jones if she would consider seeing a therapist that
I felt could really help her. After she agreed, we scheduled her for the following day. As she left my office, I told Miss Jones that she just needed a plan and the motivation to execute her path to happiness. On her follow up visit the following week, all her lab tests were normal, and her vital signs were within normal limits. Miss Jones had seen the therapist and was optimistic about her therapy. After six months of therapy, Miss Jones returned for a follow-up visit. She told of how the therapist helped her develop a plan of action to achieve a happier life. The first objective was to get rid of the man in her life. He was a 40-year-old married school teacher who would secretly date Miss Jones and never take her to a public facility. Miss Jones explained how the therapist helped her understand that this was disrespectful to her, her two children, the wife of the cheater and her children, and to the cheating man. Miss Jones explained that the therapist helped her understand that this disrespect only caused her to have lower self-esteem and a lack of motivation to achieve what she deserved. Since ridding her life of the cheater, she has enrolled in
night school to obtain her degree, which she was only one year shy of obtaining. She started exercising and eating healthy, stopped drinking and smoking, and reported performing better at work. Miss Jones told of how her employers at the bank informed her that she would be promoted to the officer training program once she completed her college requirements to get her degree. Miss Jones excitedly told of how her children are behaving better, and doing better in school. Then, Miss Jones looked at me in the eyes for the first time and smiled from ear to ear. She happily reported that she had met an unmarried man who takes her to dinner and treats her like a queen. This scenario is all too common for our queens. I advise all to strive for the best life possible and not let anyone steal your joy. As in the story of Miss Jones, you must realize that you are being watched if you are a parent. Your children will feed on your happiness, and unfortunately, they will also feed on your discontent. I will end this article to urge all readers to consider doing it for your children if you won’t do it for yourself. For more information, visit www.askdrquinn.com
PHOTO CREDIT: SCOTT GRIESSEL/ADOBE STOCK
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14 • WOMAN TO WOMAN WITH JOANNE: THE MAGAZINE • June 2017
It ’s Time
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he sun is shining bright, kids are playing at the park, the smell of a fiery grill is in the air and once again my swimsuit and I are not getting along. Of course, you don’t have to guess summer is here! During the summer, the days are longer, hotter and busy with always somewhere to go and something to do. It’s the time of the year when everyone finds a way to get involved, active, explore, learn, love and grow. With that being said, there is no better time than now to get relentless and unapologetically go after your dreams. So, you have an amazing idea that only you and sweet baby Jesus know about. You love your idea so much you decided to think of more amazing ideas. You daydream about these amazing ideas. Somehow, you have created an entire universe of ideas that only you know about. You even have hidden talents to support these amazing ideas. Regrettably, you don’t believe these ideas are good enough, so they stay locked and forbidden to be birthed into the real world. You have someone now falling in love with the idea of having a dream but to share that dream would be a total nightmare. Yeah, I know this person very well. You may call it fear, and to someone else, it appears to be pure selfishness. I encourage you by saying that now is the time to write that amazing idea or dream down. It’s time to make your dream a reality. The Bible says, “Write the vision and make it plain upon tablets, that he may run that read it. For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and is hasteth toward the end, and shall not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not delay” (Habakkuk 2:2-3). God knew how important it was to write our visions and ideas down. The more we would see, the more we would believe, and the more we believe, we begin to take action. This is the basic principle of the Laws of Attraction. So, grab a piece of paper and write that million-dollar, earth-shattering, mind-blowing dream down now! Maybe you are the person who is a planner. You plan everything from top to bottom, side to side and everything in between. Nobody can plan a plan like you. Let’s take it a step further: You have no problem
talking about all the things you plan to do. Your plans are so amazing that it gets people excited - so excited that they take off running with your plans. Unfortunately, you were so busy planning to do something that somebody is now on social media with 1,500 likes of your plan. Once again, trust me - I know this person very well. Procrastination is a form of fear. “Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means” (2 Corinthians 8:11). One of the ways that I am able to eliminate procrastination is to focus on how my actions will provoke thought and change in someone else. The moment I take the attention away from myself and focus on how it will help someone in return, my fear is replaced with compassion. So, it’s great to always have a plan of action, but you have to remember the last part, and that is to take action. Next of course is my favorite person. You have a great idea, you have a plan, you prayed, you fasted, and you checked your horoscope and the Chinese calendar. The stars appeared as if they were aligning, you are excited, and something happened. Yeah, just simply not the way you planned. Instead of your plan leading you down a path of instant success, it took a detour to failure. Yes love, I know you too well. If you have made it to failure, then I sincerely say congratulations. You have done what most people in the world are afraid to do. Yes, right after attacking a lion, most people are afraid of failure. Let’s be honest, we are not born with fear. Fear is taught. Of course, there are things that happened to us that make us a bit apprehensive, but for the most part, fear has been taught. Our education system rewards us when we get it right and punishes us when we get it wrong. Failure is a great motivator and teacher if we allow it. Failure says, “Hey, there is another way to go about this. Let’s go explore another route.” I believe that when you get it right all the time, you limit your success and stunt your growth. You begin to duplicate what you have always done. When change comes along, you immediately feel defeated. Someone who has experienced failure knows
BY SALMEILIA JE' STEWART that success is near. When things begin to change, the person who has experienced failure has a better chance of adapting. Some of the greatest leaders, entrepreneurs and game changes were all once looked upon as failures. You can also become one of the greatest if you keep going. It may take some time adjusting to the cycle of getting up only to fall down, but over time, it will become second nature. When you experience failure, instead of spending time asking the question, “Why me?” you will begin to ask yourself the question, “What did this experience come to teach me?” You will not only have wisdom to not make the same mistakes again, but you will be able to pass it down to someone else. Failure is not enough to quit, but nevertheless an indicator to continue. I know that even as I am writing this, there are areas in my life that I must re-evaluate to continue on my journey. So, I say to you, love, I know your amazing plan didn’t go as planned, but the world is waiting for you. So, continue on your journey. I encourage you to make Summer 2017 the time to go after your dreams with all your heart. Give yourself permission to fail as many times as you need. Surround yourself around other people who are moving in the same direction as you. The only people who are critical are those who are standing on the sidelines with their ideas and plans. People who have a desire to be great are either too busy to care or full of empathy because they have once been in the same place as you. It is so important for you to dream big so that not only can you inspire someone but have compassion, wisdom and understanding to encourage those who need it the most. Your shortcomings, failures and setbacks will place you in the seat of compassion instead of judgment of other dreamers. If you have a great idea or dream, write it down, plan it out, take action, and when you fail, continue to push forward until you follow through. Remember, as a believer, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. You don’t have to face your fears alone. So, don’t waste another second or another moment. It’s time, my love, to be great, so go for it!
PHOTO CREDIT: ANTON GVOZDIKOV/GRAPHICSTOCK
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16 • WOMAN TO WOMAN WITH JOANNE: THE MAGAZINE • June 2017
Leonard Sandifer
I want to look back on the times when we were younger. I remember us sitting on the couch watching Woodie Assaf and waiting for Sanford and Son to come on as we would always watch it together. Those are the precious times that I hold dear, and those are the things I choose to think on. Whenever I'm feeling down or worried about something and don't know what to do, I pop in one of my Sanford and Son DVDs and laugh until I cry because I know that everything is going to be okay. Thank you for these memories. I love you always. Happy Father's Day.
Joanne
F A T H E R ' S
D A Y
T R I B U T E S
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Leyon Sandifer For my brother... You have been there for me in times when I needed you most, and I thank you. I will always remember the time I got so angry at one of our sisters that I cursed in front of Mom. You pulled me to the side (or snatched me) and told me that I better not ever do that again, and that I needed to be respectful at all times. Another time when I was young and foolish and said dumb stuff like young and foolish girls do because I didn’t get a gift for Christmas, you were always right there to show me the right way. I thank you for that and I will always remember it and love you for it. You are awesome and I wish you the happiest Father’s Day ever! Love,
“Bell ”
Lewis C. Davis Dad, what could I say to a man that already has every tangible thing a man could want and then some? You have made life so easy for me and I could never have the words to express how I feel! You set the standard so high throughout my life that even now as a grown single woman of God (waiting on her man of God), I still have reservations when men approach me. I’ll never forget the many lessons you’ve exemplified from an elementary child until now. I’ll forever listen intently the way you always listened to me. I’ll always look for that silver lining in every situation, and I’ll always remember if I can’t change the situation, I won’t stress about it. Thanks for always being that example of what a husband, provider, dad, father and friend should be. Dad, you have always had my best interest at heart, and I’ll never forget our talks and your encouragement. Thanks, Dad. Today, I honor you. Happy Father’s Day! - Darnisha Ramsey-James
F A T H E R ' S
D A Y
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Bishop Dan King My Spiritual Father...Thanks, Bishop, for always being that protector! You have really outdone yourself and have shown what it means to watch over your daughters in the ministry. You’ve gone above and beyond in many areas, and I’m so grateful for that! It means a lot for a single parent raising “boys to men” to have an extra godly, spiritual father to step up when it was necessary. You’ve impacted not only my life, but my sons as well. Thanks, “Uppercase Bishop.” I salute you this day and days to come! - Darnisha Ramsey-James
Eric L. Beamon Valuable. Unwavering. Committed. Loving. These are just a few words to describe Eric L. Beamon. He accepted his role into fatherhood on February 9, 2016, and later welcomed his daughter, Callie A. Beamon, into this world on August 5, 2016. Depending on God’s Word to lead him, Eric often says, “I don’t babysit, I RAISE.” He applies this daily when interacting with Callie. He has been “Mr. Mom” and an all-around SUPER dad. He’s been a blessing to his daughter, wife and family. Leading by example, Eric has implemented nontraditional parenting skills with Callie to prepare her for an excelled future. He’s a friend, disciplinarian, exemplar, provider, protector, teacher, spiritual leader and patriarch. He has taken his first year of fatherhood in stride with a seamless transition. He often states that fatherhood is his most prestigious honor to date. Much love and a big salute to Eric L. Beamon for his tireless efforts in being an exceptional father and husband! Happy FIRST Father’s Day. We love you. Your loving wife and daughter, Danyelle and Callie
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Woman to Woman with Joanne presents the
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Third Annual
Empowerment Conference
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oman to Woman with Joanne’s Third Annual Empowerment Conference took place at the Russell C. Davis Planetarium downtown Jackson Mississippi. It started off on Friday, May 5th, with A Night of Worship Through the Arts featuring Bridget Brazil, Tequila Barnes, Justin Ransburg and Kelvin “KC” Williams. The night was filled with worship through the many talents of the actors who performed a dramatization to the music of the conference choir. On Saturday, May 6th, the conference speakers came and shared with us in such a powerful way. The speakers were Maximus Wright, Kenya Parks, Felix Anderson and Joanne Bell.
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PHOTOS BY RASHIDA LONG OF R. LONG PHOTOGRAPHY
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Style Mississippi Magazine presents the
All White Release Party
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tyle Mississippi Magazine’s All White Issue Release Party on Thursday, June 1st, was a celebration of their second issue featuring Jackson’s best in Mississippi. The party included live performances from local artists in Jackson, Mississippi such as Bridget Shield, Meika Shante’, and Calligraphyx and his band, Outcast Society. This was also a birthday celebration for Bryan McKenny, one of the founders of the magazine. Awesome night!
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24 • WOMAN TO WOMAN WITH JOANNE: THE MAGAZINE • June 2017
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Allstate Steven James Agency presents the
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Old School Party with a Purpose 2017 benefiting Stewpot Community Services
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tewpot’s mission is to provide food, clothing, shelter and nurturing care to children, the elderly, the disabled and poor persons in our community. Their services include to: • Provide volunteer opportunities to those with heart and passion for service. • Recognize the giftedness in everyone who walks through our doors. • Affirm the value and uniqueness of every person as a child of God. • Uphold the importance of local ownership and control of our ministries. • Affirm the importance of interfaith and ecumenical cooperation. Special thanks and congratulations to the Steven James Agency for all you do.
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PHOTOS BY RASHIDA LONG OF R. LONG PHOTOGRAPHY
26 • WOMAN TO WOMAN WITH JOANNE: THE MAGAZINE • June 2017
MYA'S CORNER:
Father’s Day BY JAMYA BELL
C
an you believe that Father’s Day is almost here? Wow! The first half of the year has just gone by so fast. I’m pretty sure you ladies probably already have in mind what to get your fathers. Well, here’s the truth. I don’t have a clue what to get my dad. The reason I don’t know is because my parents got a divorce when I was only four. I basically don’t remember anything much with my dad that we did together when I was young, and that stinks. The only thing I know is that he likes the color red, the Redskins football team and barbecuing. I’m only 14 and that’s not good to me. I always think, “Man, those other girls are lucky that they get to have fun with their fathers and go to father-daughter dances. I would love to go to one, but it would be weird because I don’t have that kind of relationship with my father.” I also know that other girls have lost their fathers at a young age and don’t have a choice to see them or not, which also stinks and is devastating! That’s why I don’t make such a big deal about it because I know other people in the world have it worse than I do. I just want you girls to know that you are not alone with what you are dealing with, so don’t hold your feelings in and don’t be afraid. It will get better and you will be okay. Happy Father’s Day to all those amazing men!
JaMya Elisabeth Bell (Mya, for short) is a native of Crystal Springs, Mississippi, and currently lives in Gluckstadt, Mississippi. She loves to sing, act, cook and draw, and her favorite sports are basketball and track. In addition to stage performances, she has appeared on the TV show “Nashville” and the film “Soul Damage.” She is the daughter of Woman to Woman with Joanne’s founder and CEO, Joanne Bell. PHOTO CREDIT: RIDO/ADOBE STOCK
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Butter-Fried Sole BY CHEF NATE COLEMAN
Serves two with a 20-minute prep time and a 12-minute cook time. You will need: 1/2 cup milk 4 sole fillets, 6 ounces each, skinned 16 asparagus spears 6 tablespoons unsalted butter juice of ½ lemon, plus 1 lemon, cut into wedges, to serve salt and pepper to taste 2 tbsp. coarsely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, to garnish 1. Pour the milk into a shallow bowl at least as large as each fillet and put the flour on a plate. Season each fillet on both sides with salt and pepper. 2. Bring a saucepan of water to a boil, add the asparagus and cook for 3-5 minutes, then drain well and keep warm. 3. Working with one sole fillet at a time, dredge it quickly through the milk, then dip it in the flour, turn once to coat all over, and shake off the excess flour. Transfer it to a plate and continue until all fillets are prepared. 4. Melt half the butter in a skillet large enough to hold the fillets in a single layer over medium-high heat. Add the fillets, skinned side down, and cook for 2 minutes. 5. Turn over fillets and cook for 2-3 minutes or until the flesh flakes easily. Transfer to two plates, skinned side up, and set aside. 6. Reduce the heat to medium and melt the remaining butter in the pan. When it stops foaming, add the lemon juice and stir, scraping the sediment from the bottom of the pan. Spoon the butter mixture over the fish and garnish with parsley. Serve with the asparagus and lemon wedges. (Note: Look for sustainable fish caught the day you plan to eat it - the flavor will be much better. Frozen fish is also recommended because it’s often caught and frozen on the same day.)
BACKGROUND PHOTO CREDIT: CONSTANTINOS/ADOBE STOCK
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JUNETEENTH BY FUNMI “QUEEN” FRANKLIN
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uneteenth is not only a time to come together as a people to network and enjoy ourselves. It is the celebration of freedom. It’s also known as Juneteenth Independence Day, or my particular favorite tag, Freedom Day. As noted on the Juneteenth on Farish Facebook page, “Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers landed at Galveston, TX to announce that the war had ended and that all slaves in the rebelling states were now free.” There are celebrations all over the country. In Jackson, Mississippi, we will celebrate where our history sings loudest, on Farish Street. Farish Street Historic District was once the hub for black businesses.
It was named for a family that lived in the neighborhood and had businesses there for many years. In the early 1900’s, one third of Jackson was black owned. In 1915, Farish Street was home to Trumpet Records, Ace Records, and Speir Phonograph Company. Jackson State University rested briefly at the corner of Farish and Griffith. Also noted on the Facebook page, “Juneteenth serves as a historical milestone reminding Americans of the triumph of the human spirit over the cruelty of slavery.” It is important that we understand what we are celebrating so that we can continue to teach our children about the historical significance of this holiday. If we don’t understand how we got here, we certainly can’t fathom where we are headed.
We must embrace our history in full and it’s our duty to our ancestors to ensure that our children are fully informed as well. Juneteenth is a part of our history as is the legacy of Farish Street. Therefore, it is the sweetest homage to us that we celebrate our independence on the same street where our people thrived economically in unison. It’s our aim to bring businesses together as well as provide entertainment to bask in the beauty of our culture and our history. We tend to participate in many holidays that don’t particularly celebrate us. In fact, a few are celebrations that intentionally exclude us and we still celebrate. Well, this holiday is for us, about us. It is historically our day of freedom. Celebrate US with US. Peace and Power!
Funmi “Queen” Franklin is the founder, principal and CEO of HATHOR, LLC, Thick and Proud Sisters (TAPS) and Sisters Increasing Positive Progression, Inc. (SIPPI, Inc.). Learn more at www.franklinspeaking.webnode.com or www.thickandproudsisters.webnode.com. Funmi can be reached at hathor601@aol.com.
PHOTO CREDIT: ANDRII SALIVON/ADOBE STOCK
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Dreams BY FLOYD H. WILLIAMS
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reams are meant to awaken our potential and excite our abilities into action. They may serve as a conduit to visions perhaps not realized. They are necessary to our lives as were given to us by our Creator. There are countless examples of dreams and how God meant for them to be used to advance us further than our own imagination and expectations. The Bible encourages us to be mindful of what God has for us and move forward in our efforts to fulfill our purpose. Dreams alone will not bring us to our intended destiny, but with our commitment to prepare ourselves, we may achieve all that God has intended and become the followers who bless Him. It has been known that since man first walked upon the earth, dreams were the predecessors of achievements not yet realized. That brings us to this point: Dreaming alone will not produce success. Success is achieved when we plan, prepare and proceed. All who have accomplished any resemblances of success have either consciously or subconsciously understood these principles.
They have withstood the test of time. Without some combination of these, failure is sure to follow. It is important that we understand that without these simple but very profound principles, success will not only elude us, but the remnants of “what if ” will haunt us eternally. It is the great arbiter of the universe, God, who wants us to experience success in all we do. It is His will for us and when we deny His will, we deny ourselves the satisfaction that accompanies our intended purpose. It is sinful to discard our God-given talents and settle for what is not His desire for us. It should be recognized that God wants what is best for His children. As a father does, He provides what we need, but it is not forced upon the unwilling or the ungrateful. It is the effort that we put into ourselves and the realization that our dreams are the previews of what could be if we follow the aforementioned principles. It is an alignment into righteous behavior that will consistently reward our maximum effort for a job well done.
It is difficult to speak about success without at least considering the possibility of failure. Failure is not an “end all.” It is the beginning of something. Without at least some failures, there likely will be little success. Every great woman or man who has contributed substantially to society has experienced some degree of failure in their lives. These failures became the building blocks that launched their eventual successes. Mother Teresa, Maya Angelou, Albert Einstein and Martin Luther King have all failed at something. It is the fear of failure that led them to reject it and brought them instead to their rightful place in history. We prepare ourselves for success by not giving in to our failures or settling for the status quo. We are the children of intended purpose. Let even our failures become the beacons of light that illuminate our efforts. We must work with diligence and a focused intent, and God will reward our efforts with a more successful life. It will be a life worth living and a life remembered.
PHOTO CREDIT: SVETOSLAV SOKOLOV/ADOBE STOCK
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Can I talk to you? BY MICHELLE JOHNSON
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ow many times do we see people walking, riding in cars and sitting down with others focused on their cellphones? It is so commonplace that seeing people conversing in the absence of a cellphone is odd. That’s right: Odd. Have you ever been talking to someone or a person is talking to you, and one of you stops mid-sentence to check your phone for no apparent reason? I know what you are thinking: We all have heard the statistics, read articles and even feared for another person’s life because we passed them and noticed they were texting. How about people standing in lines, even waiting overnight for the next biggest and best device? This is proof that our current obsession with cellphones
may be getting out of control. Society may be able to ignore the issues related to extreme cellphone and social media use, but it has a cost greater than we know. I recently noticed young mothers ignoring their precious children seeming to be almost hypnotized by their phones, then becoming angry at the simple request of their children asking for water, a snack or attention. These little ones desperately need love, attention and guidance. What are we teaching them by our self-indulgent behavior? If genuine communication is lost, people become more anti-social. Humans need touch, to hear a voice and have eye-to-eye personal attention. This is how humanity remains human. At this rate, people will lose the ability to
talk to each other. It may also cause someone to be less caring, displaying less value on other people’s feelings. Texting is now the new easy way to tell people things that you would have possibly never said in person or even on the phone. Social media has caused young people to even commit suicide because of bullying. Listen, I love my phone and there is nothing wrong with technology if we use it wisely. The intriguing features, the practical uses and the world literally at your fingertips can have an intoxicating impact, but I think it is time to sober up. If you see yourself in this article in any way, please take the next few days to evaluate the time spent, or should I say, time lost. Can I talk to you? PHOTO CREDIT: BLACKZHEEP/ADOBE STOCK
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