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Volume 48, Number 45
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THURSDAY, July 14, 2022
‘Summer on Liberty’ concert series draws large crowd
Photos by Alphonso Abbott Jr.
On Saturday, July 9, more than 500 people gathered to hear the smooth sounds of R&B, Beach, Motown/Oldies, Pop, Dance, Funk and Jazz at the “Summer on Liberty” concert series. The series is produced by The Downtown Partnership of Winston-Salem and will happen every Saturday through Aug. 27. For weather updates, go to https://www. facebook.com/downtownWS.
Summers named assistant coach at Toccoa Falls College After a few years away from the court, WinstonSalem native Javon Summers is returning to the sideline as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Toccoa Falls College (TFC) in Georgia.
Summers takes his coaching talents to Taccoa Falls College. Summers, who is an alumni of Carver High School, had a successful playing career at Piedmont International University (now Carolina University) helping the Bruins capture
its first conference championship in over 20 years. After a successful playing career, Summers returned as an assistant coach at his alma mater, under his former coach Grant Walker
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and former NBA All-Star Josh Howard, who was head coach from 2016 until 2019 when he took the head coaching job at the University of North Texas. Summers credited both
Walker and Howard for helping mold his coaching style. After a few years away from the sideline, Summers said he’s eager to get to Georgia and get to work. Summers said he had interviews at other schools but he had a relationship with TFC head coach Dwayne Felder and after the interview, he knew it was the right place for him. “He gave me a phone call and gave me an opportunity … I couldn’t just not take that chance, so I had to get out of my comfort zone and get out of North Carolina and it’s taking me to Georgia.” Summers will officially make the move to Toccoa Falls, which is about an hour and a half drive from Atlanta, this Thurs-
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day, July 14. He said he looks at coaching as an opportunity to help talented student-athletes who have been overlooked get the opportunity to develop on and off the court at the collegiate level. “I’m just trying to give that chance to young guys who may have been overlooked in high school, especially some of the guys from the city (WinstonSalem),” Summer said. “A lot of talent in the city gets overlooked and I’m going to always be the one to give that kid a shot because that was me. I went to Carver and we didn’t win and I didn’t get recruited like that … so I had to do a lot of the work myself and Piedmont gave me See Summers on A8 6 89076 32439 7
BY TEVIN STINSON THE CHRONICLE
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WSSU Powerhouse Red and White Cheerleaders featured in Ciara’s video for ‘JUMP’ WSSURAMS.COM
Ciara broke the Twittersphere when she posted a video of her and her dancers on top of a Ford Bronco to preview her new song “JUMP.” She followed that up with intensity, releasing a stunning new visual for the single, which dropped on July 8, that features the WSSU Powerhouse of Red and White Cheerleaders. On an early spring morning, nine cheerleaders and their coaches, Ne’Sheila Washington and Tevin Allen, arrived at the set in Los Angeles, California. It didn’t look that way at first. “When the sun came up, it looked like we were in New York City,” Washington said. With some Hollywood magic, the set transformed
Washington said when the team arrived on the set, she could see that the dancers had done their homework. “Ciara’s team was fantastic. The thing that impressed me most is that they had watched our videos on Instagram and TikTok and were very familiar with our moves. They even knew each of the cheerleaders’ names and the positions that they usually held during Powerhouse routines,” Washington said. Johnson said, “This made for a magical collaboration. Ciara and her team didn’t treat us like cheerleaders; they treated us as a full part of the project.” Martin says the team exchanged dance moves with Ciara’s dancers, creating a show-stopping routine worthy of any viral TikTok
WSSU cheerleaders pose for group portrait and the team was whisked away to hair and makeup to prepare for the day. “They had a different crew member assigned to each cheerleader. Seeing crew members swoop in throughout the day to touch up make-up or provide little water bottles with straws was so cool. It made me feel like a proud mom watching all of this happen,” Washington said. The trip to California was all business, but the team says Ciara’s dancers made them feel like family. For Dance Captain Destiny Martin and Team Captain William Johnson, the trip was more than they could ever dream. Martin said, “My background is in dance, not cheer. Seeing all the dancers that I’ve been watching on Instagram since middle school was incredible. Being in the studio with these dancers was amazing. It was also great to see that these professional dancers started exactly where we are and now have successful careers.” Red Team Captain Johnson said, “Being there was very inspiring. I’ve wanted to be a back-up dancer since I was very young. I come from a small town, so the dance programs there were not great. Being so busy and focusing on my schoolwork at WSSU made me feel that I may never achieve my dream of being a professional back-up dancer. “This trip and the experience working with Ciara made me see that achieving my dream is really possible.” Like most interactions in this day and age, this opportunity blossomed with the help of social media. One of Ciara’s dancers saw the team online and knew they would be an excellent fit for the song.
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Challenge. “Ciara and Jamaica kept pulling me over to watch the dancing and the playbacks. They were giving me too much power in Hollywood, and I loved it!” Washington said. This is not the first time social media has put the WSSU Powerhouse of Red and White in the national spotlight. Video of their natural curls, dynamic steps, and it-girl/it-guy confidence has landed the team on “The Real” and Martin with her own deal with Champion. In a world where many young people are focused on filters, influence, and lives where people live as caricatures of themselves, Washington says it’s incredible that the team is getting their due recognition for being authentic. The best part is these young show-stoppers are learning tangible skills they can use once they graduate. Creating a strong presence on social media has given the team opportunities to learn about marketing, tech, and graphics. “They are bringing many skills to the table and learning so much,” Washington said. While going to Los Angeles to showcase their talents was undoubtedly a whirlwind experience, the student-athletes remained focused on their primary goal, school. “We went to LA during finals week.” cheerleader Tiffany Jacobs said. “I woke up at 5 a.m. to take a final exam. Waking up early, being on set all day, and still being able to do a great job with my coursework made me feel like anything is possible. “We did one of our finals in an Uber on the way to the beach. We always have to make sure to plan and to have school be our number one priority.” The team says the ex-
perience motivated them to trust the process and fine-tune their skills, both in and out of the classroom. Johnson said, “This whole experience taught me about being a better leader. I’m upping my game even more. This year I set impossible goals for myself and reached them. I just want to keep elevating and improving.” Washington said, “I left coaching to raise my
family and then returned to the field. I’ve learned that we all need to trust that we are capable and that we should embrace new opportunities,” Washington emphasized, “This is just the beginning of these relationships and opportunities.” The coach has big dreams for the team. “I want Powerhouse to appear on awards shows. Or maybe have their own re-
ality show. This has shown me that there is no ceiling to what they can do.” The high-energy track features hip-hop group Coast Contra and is sure to be the song of the summer. Still, the team says this experience will stay with them beyond the warm weather season. “Seeing the whole thing come to life, it was amazing to be there really doing this, creating, and seeing our
work materialize. We really bonded on this trip,” Martin said. Johnson said, “This opportunity showed me that I could really be successful. It opened my eyes that a career in dance is something that I can truly pursue. It’s right there for us. We just need to keep going.” You can watch the video at https://youtu. be/3OByv5luEjc.
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Comcast pushing program offering free Internet service for millions of households BY STACY M. BROWN
After the White House announced a plan to expand access to affordable high-speed Internet for millions of Americans, particularly low-income families, it didn’t take long for Comcast to ensure its customers took advantage. The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), created under the historic bipartisan infrastructure bill, has allowed Comcast to offer free and discounted Internet service to customers. The program provides $30 per month toward the cost of Internet or mobile service to eligible low-income households. Maryland has agreed to provide an additional $15 per month. “The impact means for eligible households, there’s no reason anyone should have to pay for Internet service,” said Misty Allen, the vice president of government affairs for Comcast’s Beltway Region. “In Baltimore, eligible households can get $30 applied through the federal government, and the state of Maryland is providing an additional $15, so that’s up to $45 each month,” Allen remarked. “So, when you talk about impact, we know that there are three major barriers to Internet subscription. One is relevancy, where people ask, ‘Why do I need Internet service when I have a phone?’ ‘Do I have the skills?’ ‘Maybe I don’t have a computer.’” The third is affordability. This takes affordability off the table because Internet service effectively can be free for Maryland residents.” According to a release from Comcast, Customers who qualify also can apply ACP credits to any tier of Xfinity Internet, including Internet Essentials or Xfinity Mobile. Comcast and its community partners in the Beltway Region – including Montgomery Housing Partnership, The Green Beret Project, and The Senior Zone – are hosting ACP awareness events throughout the summer where residents can learn about eligibility, benefits, and how to sign up. The ACP program should help households of color where government officials provided statistics that show Latino Americans are 15% less likely to have high-speed Internet than their white peers, while Black families are 9% less likely. Additionally, about 35% of all people living on Tribal lands lack access to broadband services. The Biden-Harris administration estimated that 48 million households qualify for the ACP, accounting for about 40% of all households in the U.S. Qualifying households either earn below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level or have a member who receives other government benefits such as SNAP, Medicaid, or Supplemental Security Income. “The success of the program is highly dependent upon people being aware that it’s available,” Allen stated. “We are emailing our customers, running television commercials, and doing everything we can as providers, but we’re working with community leaders, elected officials, and nonprofits. “We’re getting that information out to them and asking them to help us spread the word. We are working with the Ys, the Boys & Girls Clubs, Catholic Charities of Baltimore, Fight Back, and the Baltimore Digital Equity Coalition has a hotline to help people who call in looking for resources.” Allen continued: “We are working the social fabric of these communities to help get the word out because these are the folks doing it every day to help their communities.” For more information or to sign up for the ACP program, visit www.Xfinity.com/ACP. NOTE: The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), created under the historic bipartisan infrastructure bill, has allowed Comcast to offer free and discounted Internet service to customers in its Beltway Region – Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and parts of Delaware, North Carolina, and West Virginia. Stacy M. Brown is the NNPA Newswire senior national correspondent. Reach him at @StacyBrownMedia.
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR What are the Democrats afraid of? To The Editor: As I sit here on this July 4th holiday, I ponder the future of politics here in NC. I wonder if there is still any validity to our system and how fair and inclusive it actually is considering the recent Board of Elections (BOE) denial of the petition certification of the Green Party for the upcoming election. With a 3-2 vote, Democrats guaranteed that one less voice would be heard at the ballot box, even when the petition requirements were met! The BOE’s justification was that they were “suspicious” that some of the remaining petitions were not valid, so in order to be cautious they denied Matthew Hoh’s rightful spot on the ballot line. The BOE had a good month to vet the signatures but failed to do so! Their failure to discharge their duties in a fair and objective way should be disturbing to all of us. Thirtysix percent of voters (a majority I might add) in NC are Unaffiliated! Whatever happened to democracy? Over a third of our population has been effectively silenced. Does this describe a system that wants, and advertises, that we all get out and vote? It is pretty obvious that the well-moneyed duopoly has a lock on our political process!
Remember in our beginning as a nation when the rallying cry was “No taxation without representation”? Well, we certainly have the taxation but the representation? Not so much … unless you are wealthy! The inconvenient truth is both major parties could not care less about the indigent or working poor in our state. Isn’t freedom of choice paramount to our way of life? King George wanted to tax us AND deny us our rightful liberties as a people. Sound familiar? We said no to that, let’s say NO to the rigging of our politics so the wealthy alone can be served. Our stringent ballot access laws were written by the two big parties with the intention of shutting out any challenge to their power. If they were to run on their merits, it wouldn’t even be close! Is this acceptable to you, the people of NC? We used to be a people of fairness and equity but now it’s “Win at any cost.” The People’s Party of North Carolina and the Green Party call forth a new reality, one where new ideas and sustainable solutions can be proposed and implemented to make a better NC and nation. I’m calling on all people of NC to stand up for and defend EVERYBODY’S right to vote their preference in our elections. Once again, what are the Democrats afraid of? DEMOCRACY perhaps? Scott Gillentine Winston-Salem
Speaking of reparations … Oscar H. Blayton
Guest Columnist To many Americans, “reparations” is a dirty word when applied to Black folks. Numerous obstacles are thrown up, like so many stone walls surrounding European castles, when it comes to discussing reparations for losses suffered by African Americans due to slavery, segregation and institutional racism. For years, policies have been designed to keep Black folks from the enjoyment of life made possible by economic progress. And arguments against reparations for African Americans are thrown up by whites with such hubris and self-assured righteousness that it is hard not to believe those arguments are born out of notions of white supremacy. A brief survey of the history of reparations easily exposes the weakness of those arguments. Five of the arguments raised against reparations are: (1) They are logistically impossible. (2) They would worsen the national debt. (3) Reparations for slavery won’t help the Black community. (4) Slavery did not benefit white America financially very much. (5) “Race hustlers” would end up with the money and continue to demand more. While objections have been raised against Black reparations, Native Americans and Japanese Americans have received reparations for their losses. And according to the Brookings Institution, after World War II, “the Marshall Plan helped to ensure that Jews received reparations for the Holocaust, including making various investments over time.” There are those who say, “It is too difficult to provide reparations to the enslaved.” But it was not too difficult for England to provide reparations to
British subjects who were slave owners. Four years after Parliament passed the Slavery Abolition Act in 1833, Great Britain’s Slave Compensation Act was signed into law in 1837. This act authorized the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt to compensate slave owners for the loss of their slaves in its colonies in the Caribbean as well as in Mauritius and the Cape of Good Hope. The sum of money granted to more than 40,000 slave owners was so great that some of the payments were converted into 3.5% government annuities that lasted until 2015. But not one penny was ever paid to the formerly enslaved. After the Spanish National Assembly abolished slavery in Puerto Rico on March 22, 1873, the Spanish government paid reparations to slave owners by compensating them with 35 million pesetas per slave. The slaves received nothing, except a requirement that they remain “loyal” and continue working for their former enslavers for three more years. In 1849, the government of France passed legislation compensating former slave owners for the loss of their slaves in the French colonies. The average sum per slave is reported to have been approximately $97. But the demise of slavery in the French colonies is a bit more complicated than that. In 1804, the enslaved people of Haiti rose in revolt and freed themselves. They defeated not only their enslavers, but also the French troops sent to extinguish their revolution. However, in 1825, a fleet of French warships entered Haitian waters and demanded that the young republic pay reparations to their former enslavers. That demand resulted in payments totaling $21 billion over the years. So, we should not give any credence to the argument that providing reparations to large groups of people who have suffered loss is impossible or too difficult. Too many reallife examples prove otherwise.
Despite historical evidence of reparations being mandated for losses created by public policies, there remains opposition to reparations for Black folks in America. In 2021, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act, but the $4 billion provision in the act to cancel the debts of farmers of color is stalled by accusations that it is a form of reparations and unfair to white farmers, despite clear evidence that farmers of color were disadvantaged by public policies and past injustices designed to give advantages to white farmers. Despite vigorous pushback by white supremacists, movements are underway to realistically consider reparations in ways that address the real deprivations suffered by people of color due to racism. In California, an interim report by the state’s Reparations Task Force calls for implementing a “comprehensive reparations scheme,” including policies to “compensate for the harms caused by the legacy of anti-Black discrimination.” This plan calls for compensating individuals who were forcibly removed from their homes for park or highway construction; providing reparations to families who were denied inheritances because of anti-miscegenation laws or precedents; and compensating individuals whose mental and physical health were permanently damaged by health care system policies and mistreatment. The city of Evanston, Illinois, agreed last year to pay reparations to people affected by discriminatory lending, zoning laws and other unfair practices related to real estate ownership between 1916 and 1969. According to this plan, residents or descendants of those who were discriminated against are eligible for up to $25,000 in grants to purchase a home, upgrade their existing home or assist with their mortgage. Taxes generated from the sale of recreational cannabis will fund this effort. Asheville, North Carolina, and Greenbelt, Mary-
land, also have created reparations commissions, and Detroit, Michigan, has created a reparations task force to consider the issue. The Brookings Institution has urged Nashville, Tennessee, to provide reparations to help ameliorate harm caused by the routing of Interstate 40 through the North Nashville neighborhood in the late 1960s that wiped out a once thriving Black community. The routing of that highway was planned so as not to affect the property of the whites living around Vanderbilt University. Reparations is not a dirty word. It is a process that has been used for centuries and can be an effective tool for social justice. Addressing a broad range of injustices impacting a broad range of individuals and groups of people should be the focus of reparations. It should not just be a matter of addressing chattel slavery. The many injustices suffered by people of color are carved deeply into American history. We only need to design ways to provide compensation for those injustices and to permanently address them in ways that will be equitable and just going forward. We need well-thoughtout calls for reasoned and inclusive reparations that can withstand the attacks of any fallacious arguments of ambiguity and impossibility. Too many people are due reparations to not have our best minds applied to realistic solutions. Various descendant communities and constituent communities are due reparations for various reasons, and different methods of compensation can be fashioned into fair and equitable solutions to begin the healing from America’s unjust past. This is something we all should be thinking about and acting on. Oscar H. Blayton is a former Marine Corps combat pilot and human rights activist who practices law in Virginia. His earlier commentaries may be found at https://oblayton1.medium.com/
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Numbers tell the story of what’s happening today. They aren’t pretty. Dr. James B. Ewers Jr.
Guest Columnist
Numbers give us a perspective. They don’t lie. We use them in almost every facet of our lives. Probably more so today than ever before in our lifetime. There are some that we gladly accept and others we cast an alarming eye. What are numbers telling us about our nation today? Let’s take a look and see. Numbers-wise, COVID-19 has been with us for over two years. It has taken the lives of
many of our family members and friends. According to reports, over one million people have passed away from this deadly illness. Since the vaccines, we have seen a significant drop in new cases and deaths. Do you still wear your mask? We do. Pain at the pump has become a commonly used expression. It is fitting because of the price of a gallon of gas. The numbers that glare at us at the filling stations simply make us shake our heads. It was just a few years ago that we gave a casual wink at the cost. Now our eyes are wide open. The average cost for a gallon of gas is now $4.69. Some states are higher as it depends upon where you live. We found gas just recently for $3.99. What a bargain! Owning a home is a part of the American dream. It has al-
ways been that way. Just last year, the interest rates were more manageable. Now, they are climbing and hovering around 6% in some areas. Again, the numbers matter. A number that is disheartening and disappointing to talk about is the number of mass shootings that have occurred during this period. A report in the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit, says there have been 314 mass shootings in this nation so far this year. Hate, mental health, copycat and not valuing life are all reasons why we are seeing these heinous crimes committed. This same report says that more than 22,000 people have died because of gun violence this year. We have come to a point in our beloved country where we watch where we go. Being in a crowded area has now almost become a recipe for instant disaster. Parades and outdoor celebrations
have become favorite targets for these would-be killers. The 4th of July has always been a holiday filled with joyous activities of all kinds. This 4th of July was tragic and life-ending for some citizens in Highland Park, Illinois. At a parade, seven people were killed and 46 people were injured by a lone gunman. Robert Crimo III, the shooter, now faces seven charges of firstdegree murder. He was shooting his victims from a rooftop with a high-powered assault rifle. He is 21 years of age. What kind of vile and vicious thoughts build up in the mind of a guy of that tender age? We will probably never know the answer to that question. Now this community outside of Chicago is left to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives. R. Thurman Barnes, the assistant director of Rutgers University’s New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center and
faculty at the Rutgers School of Public Health said, “In a country like ours, we have a lot of guns.” He added, “And when you have as many guns as we have, which we have more guns than people, you’re going to have more gun violence in all of its forms.” Sometimes, it seems as if we are waiting for something to happen to us. That cannot be our only course of action. Stronger gun laws is a course of action that more Americans want now. James B. Ewers Jr., Ed.D., is a former tennis champion at Atkins High School in WinstonSalem and played college tennis at Johnson C. Smith University, where he was all-conference for four years. He is a retired college administrator. He can be reached at overtimefergie.2020@yahoo. com.
Independence Day: Should we celebrate Juneteenth or the Fourth of July? Or both or neither? Felecia Piggott-Long Guest Columnist
The celebration of the Fourth of July 2022 is especially problematic for all Americans in light of policing problems, the believed shortage of independence for women following Roe v. Wade reversal, the January 6 hearings regarding the insurrection at the Capitol, mass shootings around the nation, as well as violence and racism in the wake of the death of George Floyd in 2020. For African Americans, other issues have arisen, such as the national observance of Juneteenth. Although the nation finally experienced the recognition of Juneteenth as a federal holiday in all 50 states, the question arises: Should we celebrate Juneteenth, or the Fourth of July, or both, or neither? I contend that historically, the Fourth of July has been a time for African Americans to assert their rights as American citizens through protest, starting with Crispus Attucks, the first martyr of the American Revolution, on the night of March 5, 1770, during the Boston Massacre, according to Lerone Bennett, Jr. in “Before the Mayflower.” Why should we stop now?
We should celebrate both holidays and any other event that allows us the opportunity to discover more about ourselves. Since 1776 when the signing of the Declaration of Independence became front-page news in the New York Gazette, during the 1700s and the 1800s African Americans, such as Sojourner Truth, Frederick Douglass of The North Star, and William Wells Brown, used the national celebration of the Fourth of July as an opportunity to convince and remind white Americans that Blacks are worthy of freedom and citizenship. On July 4, 1776, or 246 years ago today, America broke away from British rule and Americans were finally able to celebrate independence as a nation. However, for more than 400 years, more than 400,000 African people were stolen from their homelands and forced to build this country, which became this “free” America. But was America truly free? Since April 9, 1865, and June 19, 1865, or 157 years ago today, when the Confederacy surrendered to the Union, and Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and declared General Order Number Three respectively, all enslaved Americans were declared free. Therefore, Juneteenth or Jubilee Day became Independence Day for enslaved Americans. Should African Americans celebrate their independence on the Fourth of July or on the 19th of June or honor both holidays? For some African Americans,
this year’s Fourth of July resonates with greater meaning than usual because this year’s Independence Day observance comes on the heels of our nation’s willingness to reckon with the past and acknowledge Juneteenth as a federal holiday. It was acknowledged nationwide. However, for other African Americans, only Juneteenth now symbolizes their Independence Day. In fact, some African Americans never celebrated the Fourth of July. For them, the Fourth of July holiday is just a day for a cookout because they, like abolitionist Frederick Douglass, contend that the Fourth of July meant nothing to the enslaved, and thus it means nothing to freed African Americans today. On July 5, 1852, Frederick Douglass asked a question at the Ladies Anti-Slavery Society of Rochester, New York, during his Fourth of July speech in Corinthian Hall. His question was, “What to the slave is the Fourth of July?” How can someone who is not free celebrate freedom? Douglass advances an argument against the existence of slavery in the United States. While the Declaration of Independence and the U. S. Constitution celebrate the American values of liberty, citizenship, and the pursuit of happiness, how can the enslaved feel positive about what he has not attained? While the fathers and founders of the nation are celebrated as great statesmen and honored as patriots of this great nation by some, Douglass brands them as hypocrites who have betrayed all
of these values because true freedom cannot exist in America if all men in America are not free. Douglass asks, “What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence? Are the great principles of political freedom, national justice embodied in the Declaration extended to us?” Of course, the answer is nay. Children of the enslaved are auctioned away like cattle and chattel. Douglass says that if Americans believe slaves are men, they should be treated as men, not as victims of violence and inhumanity. Douglass says that the Fourth of July is a “sham,” that your sounds of rejoicing are “empty and heartless,” that your prayers and sermons and hymns, your thanksgivings, with your religious parades, are “deception and fraud.” Douglass denounces the Christians and the church members for failing to uphold their own Christian values. Why should the church own slaves? When the church owns slaves, they turn religion into a vehicle of “barbaric cruelty.” Douglass admonishes Christians, “You profess to believe that of one blood, God made all nations of men to dwell on the face of all the earth and commanded all men everywhere to love one another, yet you hate and glory in your hatred of all men whose skins are not colored like your own.” Douglass explores the heinous harshness of enslavement. He cites the slave-whip, the screams, the weight of the chains, the slave auction, the women be-
ing exposed to the “shocking gaze of American slave buyers” and other forms of oppression, mockery, and torture waged against Black people. Frederick Douglass charges America with the sin of hypocrisy for excluding African Americans from the values of liberty, citizenship, and the pursuit of happiness. What will we do now that we have the knowledge of Juneteenth and the limitations of July 4? One segment of the African American population has observed June 19 as the Juneteenth holiday for freedom in America. Another segment of the African American population has observed the Fourth of July as a form of patriotic protest. Still another segment of the population observes both holidays. Others refuse to celebrate the Fourth of July at all. They would rather boycott it because of the complicated issues involved. What have you decided? Ultimately, the decision is up to each of us. Dr. Felecia (Joseph) PiggottAnderson is the pastor of Alpha and Omega Church of Faith, Inc. She earned her Ph.D from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in English and African American Literature and wrote her dissertation on the Black Arts Movement and the North Carolina Black Repertory Company. She currently teaches AP English, journalism and theatre arts at Carver High School.
The nuclear superpowers and true self-interest Winslow Myers Guest Columnist
A number of nuclear strategy experts have agreed that the only sensible response to China’s alarming new buildup of nuclear weapons is for the U.S. itself to build more and better weapons. The apparent purpose of this buildup on our part is first to ensure that our deterrent is ironclad, and second, it is argued as the only viable way to force the Chinese (and perhaps even the Russians, eventually) to the arms control table. After all, it worked before, when President Reagan outspent the Russians and helped end the first cold war. There are three factors suggesting that this supposedly thoughtful establishment policy is performatively contradictory and growing more so year by year, decade by decade. First, there is the dark paradox of having the weapons at the ready on hair-triggers precisely
so that they will never be used. It is already a kind of miracle that we have been able to make it through decades of nuclear confrontation without making a fatal mistake (though the catalog of known near-misses is profoundly sobering); how much longer can our good fortune last? As the delivery vehicles move from supersonic to hypersonic, windows of decision become ever smaller and opportunities for misinterpretation ever larger. Second, nuclear winter. Carefully designed computer models predict that it would only take about a hundred detonations over large cities to raise tons of soot into the upper atmosphere sufficient to cause a global freeze that would destroy most agriculture for a decade. This inconvenient truth not only cancels out any advantage afforded by competitive numbers of warheads but also throws deterrence strategy in general into disarray. If one hundred weapons can kill the planet, what’s the point of thousands more? And third, opportunity costs. Together, the three superpowers are planning trillions in spending to upgrade their arsenals both in terms of quantity and “qual-
ity” (reliability, speed, ease of launch, variety, precision etc.) when the world is crying out for funds to feed the starving, find homes for refugees, vaccinate against COVID, get beyond fossil fuels, and heal a degraded environment. If nuclear weapons could resolve the present tensions over Taiwan and in Ukraine, someone would presumably already have used them. But we all know that these weapons are completely useless as part of a winning military strategy. The game is up, but because of the international obsession with credibility, the game continues, no matter how meaningless, crazy, immoral, criminal, silly, and stupid ordinary citizens around the globe are convinced that it is. From the institutional perspective of nuclear nations, obviously the system of nuclear deterrence is not seen as stupid, because each nuclear power is certain it would be subject to blackmail if it showed weakness by any unilateral disarmament initiative. Without the U.S. nuclear deterrent, perhaps the Chinese would more likely risk invading and subsuming Taiwan, or Putin would be even less re-
strained in his push for empire than at present. These suppositions do not even include the self-perpetuating momentum provided by the profit motive of the arms manufacturers. The nuclear nations are stuck in a system which has no exit, no good outcome - unless they realize their common interest in change. As of today 86 countries have signed, and 66 nations have come to their senses and ratified the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Good news for all of us. What will drive the nine nuclear nations toward the realization that they and their citizens share together a probability of annihilation unless they move together toward reciprocal, verifiable arms control? But someone must make the first move that initiates a possible virtuous circle. Why not the U.S.? As former Secretary of Defense Perry suggests, we could retire our entire land-based fleet of ballistic missiles without any loss of security. The Chinese are said to be unwilling to engage in disarmament talks at the moment. But things can change as the selfinterest of nations changes. And
every day that the nine cling to their bombs, some other nations feel compelled to seek them. Strategists know that the arms race and the unfolding of current events in general is an ever-surprising unstable state. But it is clearly difficult for them to look down the time-stream and see that unless we change the nuclear paradigm by aggressively building agreement around the futility of the game, there is a waterfall ahead toward which the world is drifting. Nuclear arms control will inevitably take place in a context of conflicts large and small, including apparent Chinese intransigence and continuing war in Ukraine. But once strategists disenthrall themselves of the supposed necessities of deterrence, a new picture of a shared self-interest in moving beyond the nuclear age may come into focus. Winslow Myers, syndicated by PeaceVoice, author of “Living Beyond War: A Citizen’s Guide,” serves on the Advisory Board of the War Preventive Initiative.
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The C hronicle
The Girlfriend Getaway: Sistahs at the Well retreat encourages healthier way of life Nationwide — After an early diagnosis with high blood pressure and diabetes, 59-year-old Jacqueline Glass from Harlem, New York City, began her journey toward transformative health. Through diet and exercise, she was able to change her trajectory and reverse her diabetes, eliminate all prescription medications, and ultimately save her life. This led Jacqueline, an ordained minister, to tell her story and inspire others to embark on a healthier way of life. Jacqueline Jacqueline Glass began holding health and What began in New wellness conferences and Jersey has since transsymposiums that were atformed into intense retended by countless womtreats in beautiful Saint en looking for direction Maarten. In 2021, Jacand a path forward to imqueline held the inaugural prove their mental, emoThe Girlfriend Getaway: tional, and physical wellSistahs at the Well. Last being. year, women from around As the founder of At the country gathered for the Well Conferences, Inc., five days of healing and for over 13 years, Jacquewellness in the environline has created special ment of a tropical oasis. conferences and leaderThis intimate gathering ship academies for women focused on developing nuand girls of color that have trition, meditation, fitness, changed their lives. For emotional therapy, and over eleven years, one of creating a safe sister comher early prolific endeavmunity to improve overall ors was the prominent At health and wellness. The the Well Young Women’s event was attended by noLeadership Academy, a table celebrities, influencpowerful summer enrichers, and practitioners from ment program for excepacross the country, includtional Black teen girls at ing DJ Spinderella, Patrick the prestigious Princeton and Nicole Kodjoe, Cheryl University. The academy Woods, guest speaker, created a special place for Brandi Harvey, Karli Hargirls and women that gave vey Raymond, host, and them tools to help improve many more. their lives. This year, The GirlTo create a safe space friend Getaway: Sistahs at during the pandemic, the the Well is back and promLeadership Academy went ises to be better than before virtual to ensure access for with exciting sessions you more young women and do not want to miss. It will girls when they needed it lead to greater outcomes most. After 34 years of serfor Black women and girls! vice with New York State On Saturday, Oct. 8, Supreme Court, Jacqueline through Wednesday, Oct. continued her passion for 12, 2022, they will return health and wellness, enonce again to the beautiful suring that women had the island of Saint Maarten at critical support needed to the all-inclusive, five-star, live full lives. Sonesta Maho Beach Re-
WS/FCS names new executive director of child nutrition
Ekta Patel SUBMITTED ARTICLE
The Winston-Salem/ Forsyth County Board of Education has appointed Ekta Patel as the executive director of child nutrition. She will oversee the nearly 550 child nutrition employees and school cafeterias across the district. Patel has served as the health and nutrition manager for Family Services in Winston-Salem since 2013 Prior to that, she was a health and safety instruc-
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tor for the American Red Cross in Greensboro. She was a catering supervisor at Winston-Salem State University and a quality assurance specialist in Gujarat, India. She earned a master of public health degree from the University of New England. She has a bachelor of science degree from Winthrop University and from Maharaja Sayaji Rao University in India. Patel will begin her new role on August 1.
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sort, Casino & Spa. This dynamic event will offer life-changing health and wellness sessions facilitated by a dream team of nutritionists, fitness and wellness experts, dedicated
physicians, psychologists, and speakers. Activities will include relationship coaching, health, physical and emotional wellness discussions, financial coaching, personalized fitness profiles, customized workouts, spa treatments, massages, meditation, yoga, an island tour, and a famous All-White Party with a special guest DJ. The lineup this year will be Chef Babette; Brandi Harvey; Karli Harvey Raymond; Dr. Barbara Joy Bryant, physician; Dr. Alduan Tartt, psychologist; Mecca Moore Tartt, wellness expert; Linda Peavy, body positivity leader; Romy Toussaint, yoga instructor; Norman Leslie, financial advisor; Danny Crawford, fitness expert; Patrick
Kodjoe, fitness expert; Nicole Kodjoe, breathwork expert, and many more, soon to be announced, important featured speakers and special guests. Special partners include the nationwide 40+ Double Dutch Club founders, Pamela Robinson and Catrina Dyer Taylor. Please stay tuned for more exciting updates and upcoming announcements, as you will not want to miss this unique experience! This year, she is hosting The Girlfriend Getaway Giveaway where four lucky recipients suffering from chronic disease will have the chance to join us for a transformative experience at The Girlfriend Getaway. She is seeking highly motivated women who want to change their
health and lifestyle. Watch Jacqueline and Chef Babette’s recent appearance on ABC’s “Here and Now” show: https:// bit.ly/3N9B7OX. “Our mission is to promote the health and wellness of African American women through a supportive community that encourages transformative behavior leading to better health. We want to help women effectively understand how to improve their health.” — Jacqueline Glass, founder, Sistahs at the Well For more information, to purchase tickets and learn about our VIP packages and sponsorship opportunities, please visit TheGirlfriendGetaway. com.
T he C hronicle
J uly 14, 2022
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BUSTA’S PERSON OF THE WEEK
Winston-Salem native Katlin Sherman is training for the Olympic Trials BY BUSTA BROWN FOR THE CHRONICLE
Winston-Salem track star Katlin Sherman has her eyes on the prize: an Olympic gold medal in the 100 meters. “Katlin knows the uphill battle that comes with training for the Olympics,” said Olympic gold medalist Coach Derrick Speas. He believes if anyone from Winston-Salem can do it, it’s Katlin Sherman. Sherman’s accolades and accomplishments are very impressive, but they didn’t come easy. During her junior year at Parkland High School, she said everything kind of exploded on her. The track superstar’s father, Brian Sherman, inspired her to become an all-around athlete. “He thought it was very important for me to enjoy my childhood and have fun playing different sports,” said Katlin. But her track coach presented a different challenge. “Coach Hughes, who I love and respect very much, said it would be much harder for me to be the track athlete I want to be if I didn’t do it full time.” So, during Katlin’s junior year, track became her main focus and she dominated her opponents, winning the state’s 100m and 200m and receiving the MVP award. The following year she suffered a major ankle injury during the middle of the season. Fortunately, with the support of her two heroes, the superstar athlete was back on track. “With Coach Hughes’ training and Coach Speas’ gifted rehabilitation skills, I was able to help my team by scoring a total of 18 points individually and winning the 100m. My talented teammates and I went on to win our 4th state championship.” Parkland’s track team also won the 4x2 at nationals, and Katlin placed in the top five in the 200, adding to another successful year and along with AllAmerican status. She holds the record in high jump, 200 meters indoor, 100 and 200 meters outdoor, and 55 meters indoor. After graduating from Parkland High School, she was faced with an extremely difficult deci-
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Katlin Sherman, track superstar sion. “I was offered a chance to run with Coach Speas and train to go pro, but I politely declined and continued my education.” Katlin attended The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill on a full athletic scholarship. Sherman is a bold woman and doesn’t shy away from the truth. “I’ll be honest with you. I was failing at Chapel Hill and that was a hard transition, because I was also one of the top students academically at Parkland.” She said failing in college was due to trying to learn time management “and learning how to communicate with professors was new to me, along with dealing with people from all walks of life,” said Katlin as she continued sharing her experience at UNC Chapel Hill. What was most heartbreaking to me was how other Black students treated this intelligent,
talented and beautiful queen. “People that looked like me, treated you like you’re less than because I was there on an athletic scholarship. They felt like I wasn’t academically smart enough to stay in class and compete with everyone else.” She showed up and showed out! The superstar athlete graduated with a degree in exercise and sports science. The college life did take a toll on Katlin. Between the heavy work load from her classes and training for track, Katlin said college broke her spirit. “I barely slept due to studying all night. The stress of trying to balance school and track caused me to stop eating. I lost weight and that made it hard for me to keep up during track practice.” She said the coaches expect the athletes to stay on point because they’re on a full scholar-
ship, and all of those challenges began to weigh on her mentally and physically. “I couldn’t do it anymore. Track was my first love. It was my sanctuary and peace, yet it became everything except that,” said Katlin. During her senior year in college, she decided to retire from running. In 2021, she received a message from Coach Speas; “We should have run at the USA Olympic trials.” Katlin replied, “I know.” Speas asked her to come back. Katlin said it took her a few months to think it over. When they finally spoke again, she asked her coach and mentor, “Where are we going?” To which he replied, “To the top.” And then the training began. “I personally saw something more in her, and I always knew she had the ability to run professionally or even make the USA Olympic Track Team. So, now here we are,” said Coach Derrick Speas. He said with his Olympic training, and Katlin’s personal desire to succeed, the sky’s the limit. “Katlin possesses the work ethic, focus and speed to pull this off. Her journey will inspire other female and male athletes in Winston-Salem to pursue personal athletic goals after college,” said Derrick. Katlin credits her mother, Jennifer, and father, Brian, for her unwavering confidence and strength. Although her full scholarship at UNC Chapel Hill wasn’t a smooth ride, because of her parents, she never gave up on her dream of being an Olympic gold medalist. “There isn’t much you can do if you don’t have confidence in yourself. They did an excellent job instilling confidence and always reminding me that I am strong and powerful.” Shortly after a few powerful conversations with Coach Speas, Katlin’s fire to run again was lit. So, I asked the high school phenom what makes a great coach? “They speak life and power into the athlete. You may be confident, but haven’t reached your full potential.” She added that there’s so much more depth in an athlete, and a great coach sees
that and knows how to bring it out. “At one point I stopped running for a couple of years. Then one day I was in a good spirit, so I went outside and started running. It was the best feeling ever!” She said while running, you go into a twilight zone. “When you’re running for a while, your body gets exhausted. You have to decide, either you’re going to stop or run through a wall. If you run through that wall, eventually your second wind will come, and you’ll be able to finish your workout.” Katlin said she ran through the wall and realized that is what made her different from everyone else. “At Parkland Coach Hughes used to say, all gas and no breaks, and I forgot that in college.” Today, Katlin is back on track. Every day of training is one step closer to accomplishing her dream as an Olympic gold medalist in the 100 meters. Monday through Saturday, she trains from 6 – 11 a.m. Then again from 4 – 9 p.m. “Rehab is also a part of my training, and every day doesn’t require six to eight hours of training,” said Katlin. Between COVID and working at Amazon for two years, I’m playing catch up,” said Katlin. Yet, her confidence remains unwavering. I asked the 25-year-old, after training for two years, on a scale of one to ten, how confident is she with winning the gold? “A ten! No matter what the circumstances are, I will always bet on myself.” The Twin City native said making it to the USA Olympics trials with only two years of training will say a lot. She continued, “Making it to the Olympics says wow, I’m good. Winning a medal, especially a gold medal, with two years of training means that I am great.” My phenomenal Person of the Week is Katlin Sherman. If you would like to show your support for Katlin, send her an email to Katlin.sherman@alumni.unc. edu. For financial support, Cash app: $AlphaKate.
W-S Street School receives a second-year portion of Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust grant SUBMITTED ARTICLE
The Winston-Salem Street School is pleased to announce it has received the second-year portion of a grant award from Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust to grow support for Forsyth County youth who have been disconnected from school and work and help them move into living wage jobs. This project will improve the lives of local high school students and young adults by providing expanded opportunities to earn their diplomas and gain the necessary tools for future success. The $220,000 grant award (two years - $110,000 per year) has allowed the Street School to expand service capacity in both their high school and adult online programs by 30%.
“This grant from Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust has already made a tremendous impact on our ability to serve more students, which means more lives will be forever changed through our program,” said Mike Foster, Street School ex-
ecutive director. During the first year of this grant, the Street School went from serving 50 students in their high school and adult programs to 85, and experienced their largest graduating class ever, with 28 students making up the Class of 2022.
The Winston-Salem Street School is a private, nonprofit school that serves high school students in Forsyth County who have not found success in the public school environment. The reasons are many; behavioral, mental health and anxi-
ety, bullying, becoming teen parents, poverty, broken homes and families, among others. This population of students are welcomed at the Street School and given a second chance at earning their high school diploma and a “road to hope” for a brighter future. Since 2004, nearly 300 students have not only graduated from the Street School, but have received support with food and necessities, counseling, legal support, and help with preparation for life after high school, such as furthering their education and career readiness skills. Currently, Megan Lawson serves as the Winston-Salem Street School’s Board president. The Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust was established in 1947 and
is now one of the largest private trusts in North Carolina. The mission of the Trust is to improve the health and quality of life of financially disadvantaged residents in North Carolina. The Health Improvement in North Carolina program area supports community-wide health solutions across the state. The Local Impact in Forsyth County program area fosters equitable and sustainable solutions to improve the quality of life in Forsyth County. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. serves as the sole trustee. For more information on this project or to learn more about the Street School or to see how you can become involved, call 336-721-1110 or visit: www.wsstreetschool.org.
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J uly 14, 2022
The C hronicle
WSSU, other HBCUs are rolling steady BY JOHN RAILEY
A recent front-page story in the New York Times confirmed what’s long been known on the WSSU campus: There’s a lot to like about HBCUs. In the story, https://www. nytimes.com/2022/06/11/ us/hbcu-enrollment-blackstudents.html, Erica L. Green wrote: In the past few years, the nation’s HBCUs have experienced a boom. From 2018 to 2021, for example, applications for a cross section of Black schools increased nearly 30%, according to the Common App, a platform for students to submit one application to multiple colleges, outpacing the increases of many other schools. Submissions using the Common Black College Application, solely for HBCUs, are projected to reach 40,000 this year, quadruple the total in 2016. And enrollment has soared at some of the schools, even as it declined nationally. Applications and enrollment have remained steady at Winston-Salem State University. In the fall of 2021, 5,392 students applied, and 4,397 of those
Jonathan Lindsay applicants were accepted in the freshman class, according to the WSSU website. One beneficial factor HBCUs offer is their high rates of upward economic mobility among gradu-
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ates. A recent analysis of Harvard data by Zach Blizard, the research manager at WSSU’s Center for the Study of Economic Mobility (CSEM), found that HBCUs have higher
percentages of their lowincome students achieving upward mobility than nonHBCUs. Of the 2,203 universities and colleges nationwide with mobility estimates, WSSU is in the 88th percentile for the upward mobility of lowincome students, and 5th among all North Carolina colleges and universities for economic mobility among its graduates. The state’s HBCUs lead in that statewide ranking, with seven of them in the top ten, Blizard found. One WSSU graduate who has experienced that economic mobility is Jonathan Lindsay. “Winston-Salem State definitely helped me get to where I am, and I am pleased to see that others are doing the same thing,” he has said. Lindsay was the first in his family to attend college when he arrived at WSSU. He graduated in 1996 with a degree in computer science. Now, Lindsay, who grew up in a two-bedroom apartment, is an operations manager with Microsoft in Charlotte. He and wife, Nikita, a doctor whom he met at WSSU, enjoy a fine
quality of life. He noted that one reason for the high rate of mobility is that many HBCU students “have a lot further to go.” “I chose WSSU primarily for financial reasons initially,” he said recently. “As a first-gen college student, I didn’t want to take on too much debt for my education, as I knew that carrying so much debt would be detrimental as I tried to build wealth. In addition, I saw the opportunity to be involved in the accreditation process for the WSSU Computer Science department and was excited to be on the ground floor of something that was being built. “The relationships that started at WSSU, especially the one with my wife of 22 years, are some of the most valued that I have to this day. My friends from WSSU are truly ‘Ramily’. I am happy to say that, after more than 20 years in the IT industry, choosing WSSU was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.” One of their two children is a student at N.C. Central University in Durham.
Guidance counselors at South Mecklenburg High School led Lindsay to WSSU, he said, where he had a full scholarship. The school’s career development efforts were not perfect. Now, WSSU Chancellor Elwood Robinson emphasizes those efforts. Lindsay works to build a pipeline for WSSU graduates to his company. CSEM complements such efforts through its support of the Playbook for Entrepreneurial Excellence, run by Tate Consulting, which helps WSSU students and business veterans with business networking. “It’s all about who you know, and there is no way around that,” Lindsay has said. “I got to my opportunity here not because of what I know but because someone could introduce me to someone in this space. The key is to take advantage when opportunity meets preparation.” John Railey, raileyjb@ gmail.com, is the writerin-residence for CSEM, www.wssu.edu/csem.
Novant Health opens new breast surgery clinics in Winston-Salem and Kernersville SUBMITTED ARTICLE
To expand access to the latest in specialized breast cancer care for patients in and around the Triad, Novant Health opened a new breast surgery clinic on July 1 at 2825 Lyndhurst Ave. in Winston-Salem, and a satellite care location at 1710 Kernersville Medical Parkway in Kernersville. The goal of the new multidisciplinary care clinic is to serve as an extension of the Novant Health Cancer Institute, by providing patients with a dedicated care location focused exclusively on breast cancer surgery. The new clinic, Novant Health Breast Surgery, will be staffed by three longtime breast cancer surgeons Dr. Jennifer Christman, Dr. David Carr and Dr. Lori Kellam. “One in eight women will develop breast cancer at some point during their lives,” said Christman, lead clinician, Novant Health Breast Surgery in Winston-Salem and Kernersville. “We also know that it’s the second leading cause of cancer-related death in women. Ultimately, it’s a disease that affects not just the patient, but the entire family. For these reasons and more, we’re very excited to open new breast surgery care locations to serve patients and their families across the Triad. While not every patient requires surgery, our goal is to provide laserfocused attention, care, support and treatment for those who do.” For each new patient, the new clinic will take a multidisciplinary team approach by partnering with the patient’s primary care physician and medical on-
Summers From page A1
an opportunity and that’s what I’m doing.” Staying true to his word to give athletes from his hometown a shot, one of Summers’ first recruits to Toccoa College was 6’3 combo guard Anthony Williams, who was a standout athlete at Winston-Salem Preparatory Academy. In his only season at Clinton College during the 20192020 season, Williams averaged 13 points per game, shot nearly 60% from the field and 80% from the free throw line. “That was my first signing,” said Summers when asked about Williams. “He sent us a film and I was on him from that moment on … I spent hours getting to know the kid because I’m the type of coach who likes
cologist to develop a customized and patient-specific treatment plan. This may include a combination of radiation therapy, medical oncology and innovative surgical approaches. Along the way, each patient is also paired with a breast nurse navigator to answer questions and to help remove any barriers to care. The new Novant Health Breast Surgery location in Winston-Salem will be staffed by Christman, Carr and Kellam, who are all board-certified. The satellite clinic will be staffed by Christman. Christman earned her medical degree at Medical College of Ohio and completed her internship and residency at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Ohio. Christman has more than 10 years of experience in surgery and has been serving the Winston-Salem and Kernersville communities for her entire career. She feels a special connection with breast cancer patients and is passionate about providing care and treatment. Outside of work, Christman is proud to be a wife and mother of two homeschooled daughters. She also enjoys gardening, tending to her small flock of chickens and beekeeping. Carr earned his undergraduate degree at Davidson College, medical
degree at Duke University and completed his internship and residency at the University of Florida in Gainesville. He chose to focus his career on surgery because of the acute nature and immediacy of relief that it provides for his patients. He has 30 years of surgical experience with over half of his career solely dedicated to surgical and nonsurgical interventions for breast cancer patients. He is a member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons. Carr also pioneered the sentinel node biopsy and MammoSite partial breast irradiation procedure in the WinstonSalem area. Since 2018, Carr has been the top enrolling nationwide investigator of a scientific probe (Lumicell) to facilitate the removal of all cancer cells from lumpectomy cavities. Outside of work, Carr enjoys spending time with his wife, adult children and their expanding family. Kellam earned her medical degree from Wake Forest University and completed her residency at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. As a board-certified general surgeon, she has more than 20 years of experience and is a member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons. Kellam’s motivation to enter the medical field came from her father, a retired and well-respected general surgeon. When
to know who the kid is … I know how good he is on the court, but I care about what’s going on in their day-to-day life.” The TFC Eagles are a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). When asked about the upcoming season, Summers said if the players come in and put in the work, fans can expect a lot of wins. “We recruited hard and heavy from Florida to Cali. We got a lot of talented guys who can do a lot of things,” Summers said. “It’s every coach’s mindset that you’re going to go in and win a lot of games, but I got a group of guys who are gritty, skilled and good in the classroom. We’re going to have a team that’s going to be successful. I don’t know how far that success will lead, but
I’ll always have a National Championship mindset and Coach Felder is already instilling that mindset in our guys.” On Feb. 11, 2023, the Eagles are scheduled to face Carolina University here in Winston-Salem, and for the first time Summers will be a visitor in the gym that was home for years. “I’m going to embrace the moment of stepping back in that gym and seeing our guys compete against the school I played for, the school I gave my heart and soul to … It’s going to be a moment,” Summers continued. “I don’t really know how to express it until it happens, but I know I’m excited that we get the opportunity to compete against them.”
not at work, she enjoys spending time with her three children, cheering on the Atlanta Braves, running road races and serving on medical mission trips. Novant Health Breast Surgery in Winston-Salem will see patients Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To schedule an appointment, call 336-277-6300 or visit NovantHealth.org/BreastSurgery. Novant Health Breast Surgery in Kernersville will see patients Tuesday, from 8 a.m. to noon, but will also be available to take calls or to schedule visits at other locations all other days of the week. To schedule an appointment, call 336-277-6300 or visit NovantHealth.org/BreastSurgery. The area’s first Novant Health Breast Surgery clinic opened in Greensboro last year. It is staffed by Dr. Judy Tjoe, a boardcertified surgeon who specializes in breast cancer. Tjoe is also a member of the American Society of Breast Surgeons. The clinic sees patients Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To schedule an appointment, call 336-660-5540 or visit NovantHealth.org/BreastSurgery. Dr. Tjoe will also start seeing patients at Novant Health Cancer Institute in Thomasville beginning
July 14. While this clinic specializes in treating all cancers, Tjoe will specifically see breast cancer patients Thursday mornings.
To schedule an appointment, call 336-481-1950 or visit NovantHealth.org/ CancerThomasville.
THURSDAY, July 14, 2022
Also Religion, Community News, and Classifieds Timothy Ramsey Sports Columnist
Baker Mayfield comes to Carolina The Carolina Panthers saw all they needed to see from Sam Darnold last season. Based on his lackluster play, many figured the Panthers were looking for an upgrade at the position this offseason and they did just that by trading for former No. 1 overall draft pick Baker Mayfield. The Panthers worked out a deal with the Cleveland Browns to trade a conditional 2024 draft pick to the Browns in exchange for Mayfield. That is a steal for the Panthers as the pick was only a fifth round that could turn into a fourth based on Mayfield’s playing time. To make the deal even better for the Panthers, the Browns will pay $10.5 million of Mayfield’s salary, while the Panthers will be on the hook for $4.85 million. The remaining $18.8 million of his salary was converted into incentives to help facilitate the trade. Mayfield can earn the money back based on team performance, according to a source. Mayfield and Darnold both were selected in the first couple of selections in the 2018 NFL Draft. Mayfield went No.1 to the Browns and Darnold went No. 3 to the New York Jets. Darnold fell out of favor with the Jets after a few mediocre seasons with them. Mayfield, on the other hand, had some flashes of being an above average starter in the league. Mayfield had a bad year last season because of injury, but his 2020 season was the best of his career when he threw for 3,563 yards, 26 touchdowns and only eight interceptions, while leading the Browns to the playoffs for the first time since 2002. If Mayfield can return to his 2020 form, the Panthers will definitely be a playoff team. The Browns had to find a way to get Baker out of town after bringing in Deshaun Watson and giving him a five-year $230 million fully guaranteed contract, the richest deal in guaranteed money in the history of the league. Even though Watson is facing some legal issues, having Mayfield on the team could cause some issues if Watson is suspended or begins to play poorly. It seems the Browns were never sold on Baker and cut their losses. “We want to thank Baker for all his contriSee Baker on B6
Photos by Alphonso Abbott Jr.
BY TIMOTHY RAMSEY THE CHRONICLE
As the outdoor track and field season comes to a close, many runners
are attempting to drop their times as they gear up for national championship meet appearances. This is the most pressure-filled time of the season for a lot of track and field athletes.
Antwan Hughes Jr. making his mark on the field and the track BY TIMOTHY RAMSEY THE CHRONICLE
Everyone has heard the old saying that you can’t teach speed. For Antwan Hughes Jr., he has utilized his speed on the football field and the track. The rising junior for the Parkland Mustangs is track standout and plans to acheive more goals over the next two years for the Mustangs. Injuries have derailed Hughes’ plans on the football field thus far, but he has dazzled on the track, dropping some of the best times in the state competing against runners two years his elder. “I had a lot of goals that I wanted to accomplish, because the COVID year, which was my freshman year, I hurt my hamstring and my groin at the same time. Coming off of that, I just had a lot that I wanted to do because I know that I could have done more my freshman year, but I was hurt so I couldn’t really show myself. I had all that mentality coming into my sophomore year and I just knew that I could be on top, so I have just been working toward that.”
Hughes Jr. (Center) is one of the best track and field athletes in the state of North Carolina. Hughes broke his collarbone the first football game of the season, so he was not able to display his skills on the field much this season, which was a disappointment for him. “I was a little bit disappointed because I already knew that I hurt myself freshman year during track season and then football season came and I hurt myself again, so that was tough,” he said. Because he lost almost an entire season on the field and most of the previ-
ous track season, Hughes was determined to stay healthy for track season this year and really showcase his talents. “My thoughts really were to just drop my times and just get better because my times that I had were not good at all,” he said about his season. Hughes not only dropped his times; he has put up some of the best times in the state this outdoor track season. He has set personal records in the 100-meter dash at
10.54 seconds and in the 200-meter dash with 21.73 seconds this season. He finished third in the state championship track and field meet last month. “I wanted to prove that I was meant to be there because in the prelim race, I didn’t run well at all. Me and my dad talked and he told me that I needed to get out of the blocks and drive and my momentum would carry me through and I did that in the finals, and I got third,” he said about the state championship meet.
Submitted photo
Getting back out on the football field is a high priority for Hughes. His goal is to put on a few pounds to protect himself from the hits he will take on the field. He says the Mustangs had a down season last year and he is eager to get out there and contribute at the wide receiver position. “I am more comfortable in the slot position and I feel like we will have a good season because I See Hughes on B2
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July 14, 2022
T he C hronicle
QEA to bring middle school football to county BY TIMOTHY RAMSEY THE CHRONICLE
One thing missing from Forsyth County sports has been middle school football. Many of the surrounding counties all have middle school football available and now the kids of Forsyth County have
zation within Winston, but if they could play at their own school, that would be great.” QEA was able to put together a seven-game schedule this fall with area teams. Their first practice will be Aug. 8 and their first game is slated for Sept. 14. The school will
rick Jordan. “I would love to reach out to the community and build relationships and partnerships within the Pop Warner realm there and maybe pull a couple young guys from there because they know the kids,” said Kirkpatrick. Jordan has years of ex-
Photo by Timothy Ramsey
Patrick Jordan (left) and Antonio Kirkpatrick are two coaches from the staff at the newly formed middle school team at QEA. that option at Quality Education Academy (QEA). There has been a push at the school for middle school football after their varsity football efforts didn’t pan out the way the school had originally envisioned. Now their goal is to start with a middle school team and then pursue a varsity team over the next few years as the kids mature. “It was a lot of support and it was me, Coach Gould, others in the school and just the interest of the kids,” said Antonio Kirkpatrick, the middle school football head coach and assistant sports director. “Most of our kids play for some Pop Warner organi-
be holding a parent interest meeting on Thursday, July 28, at 6 p.m. in the high school auditorium for those who are interested in their children playing. Kirkpatrick and sports director Devane Woodruff worked together to compile a schedule that was logical for the kids. They reached out to their contacts and fellow athletic directors in other counties and found a schedule that worked best for them. They will play all of their games on the road this season. Kirkpatrick is still looking to fill out his coaching staff. The only position filled thus far is assistant head coach and offensive line coach Pat-
perience playing the game at the collegiate level, as well as coaching for several years. He is eager to show the young men the fundamentals of the game to prepare them for higher levels of play. “We will oversee conditioning and we don’t want to introduce them to weights this early, and we are excited about the opportunity to build something in the community and put our fingerprint on it,” said Jordan. “We also want to expose the community to our culture.” Kirkpatrick also played college football and has coached for several years. He says their goal is to not replace youth football in
Winston for the kids, but more so to provide additional training and experience for kids to enjoy the game of football. “A lot of kids don’t play much or need some fine tuning and I think that’s something we can help with,” Kirkpatrick continued. “Our goal is to be more like a developmental program, especially with the linemen because everyone is looking to work out the skill guys, but the linemen get left out.” Jordan and Kirkpatrick coached for several years on the Dudley coaching staff and collected multiple state championships while there. Jordan feels their most valuable experience is going to come from their time at Ben L. Smith High School, where they had to build the program from the ground up, which is similar to what they will have to do with QEA. Jordan feels middle school football is very important to the development of players. He has nothing against Pop Warner or AYF, but thinks the kids benefit more with middle school football because the coaches are afforded more time with the kids. “I think it’s the equivalent of elementary school to kids in regard to that’s where the foundation is built and that’s where you set the tone,” Jordan said about middle school football. “It’s the same thing with football. You start with middle school and hopefully kids get the right type of coaching on and off the field and that stuff carries over once they get to high school.” To contact Kirkpatrick or Woodruff, please email them at dwoodruff@qeschools.org and akirkpatrick@qeschools.org.
Hughes From page B1
am playing where I need to play this year,” he said about football season. “When you are playing the slot position, you are on your own, you’re on an island, so you just do what you have to do to get in that box.” Hughes loves both football and track. Because of his smaller stature, his path will likely take him the way of track, but he is not giving up hope of playing football on the next level either. “I was more dedicated to football at first, but track is what it is right now for me,” he said. Hughes picked up the sport of track because many of the people in his family ran track as youths. He realized that he was an elite track athlete at a young age but prefers to stay humble by knowing that there is always someone out there faster than you. That mentality keeps Hughes hungry and striving for more. Antwan Hughes Sr., Hughes Jr.’s dad, is the head track and field coach for Parkland High School. Hughes says he enjoys having his father as his head coach because his father and the rest of the staff will push him to reach his full potential. “It’s not bad, but at the same time it’s not great,” Hughes says jokingly. “At practice, my dad is hard on me and I have never really experienced anyone else as my coach, so I can’t really tell you the pros and cons on that.” Hughes Sr. was an elite track and field athlete in
his day. He hoped his son would follow in his footsteps and is elated to see how much success his son has had so far. Hughes admits there is more work to be done to get better. Hughes Sr. says he is leaning toward track as the sport for his son because of his smaller stature. He says they will revisit things and could possibly play both if Hughes Jr. is able to gain some weight and keep in on. Hughes Sr. feels his son has the potential to leave a good legacy with the Mustang track and field program. “Like I tell all the kids, you have to stay humble and do the small things. You can’t forget about things that you did that got you running really fast,” Hughes Sr. said. “If you keep doing all the things you are supposed to do, the sky is the limit for him. I would say he has a chance to run maybe 10.2 or high 21 in the 200. He just has to get stronger and keep working hard.” As the head coach of the track team, Hughes Sr. says it’s not difficult to separate the roles of father and coach. He admits that he is harder on Hughes Jr. than he is on the other athletes, so they know he is not showing any favoritism toward his son. With two more years of prep sports remaining, Hughes Jr. has plenty of time to solidify his name in the record books of not only Parkland High School, but also Forsyth County. If he stays on this trajectory, he will have his pick of colleges to attend when he graduates high school
T he C hronicle
Elder Richard Wayne Wood
J uly 14, 2022
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Church World Service launches new office in Charlotte SUBMITTED ARTICLE
Sunday School Lesson
The Word Resurrects the Dead Scriptures: John 11:17-27, 38-44 By the end of this lesson, we will: *Explore Mary and Martha’s faith relationship with Jesus; *Embrace with the confident expectation that Jesus has the power of God to save, heal and raise people from the dead; *Engage with Jesus honestly and faithfully even when faced with impossible situations. Background: John’s is the only Gospel that recounts the raising of Lazarus. This particular miracle is one of the most vivid and tells the most about the ministry and purpose of Jesus. Jesus allowed Lazarus to die “for God’s glory so that God’s Son might be glorified through it.” (John 11:4) This miracle caused many to believe in Jesus and set the stage for Caiaphas’ plot that gave Jesus the opportunity to prove once and for all that He had spoken the truth when He said, “I am the resurrection and the Life” (11:25) And by the power of God He overcame death, and now reigns forever in His eternal kingdom. Lesson: Jesus Is in Control (John 11:17-20). “So, when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days.” (verse 17). Because the Jews did not embalm after four days, the body of Lazarus would have been in a state of rapid decomposition. It’s significant to note too, according to the Jewish superstition, the soul stayed near the grave for three days, hoping to return to the body. But, after four days they believed the soul had definitely left the body. Verses 18-19 suggest that Lazarus’ family was well known and the fellow mourners present was an expected courtesy within Jewish religious practice. “Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him, but Mary stayed at the house.” (verse 20). Martha is the one who takes the initiative to seek Jesus’ aide. Mary stayed home – to take care of the many guests. Jesus is Always on Time (verses 21-24). “Martha then said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.’” (verse 21). Martha’s words contain a complaint here, but in the next statement – “Even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” (verse 22). Here she expresses confidence. Even in the face of death she knows that God will listen to Jesus. Jesus responds, “…, Your brother will rise again.” (verse 23). “…I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” (verse 24). Because Jesus gives no time frame to His words, it’s clear that Martha has very little consolation from the fact of a distant and general resurrection, which is what Martha hears in Jesus’ statement. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life (verses 2527). Jesus responds: “… I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die…” (verse 25a). Jesus announces that the promise of the resurrection is not lodged in some distant event, but is available now in Him. His statement of “I am” says See Word on B6
CHARLOTTE – Church World Service (CWS) announced today the opening of a new office in Charlotte to support and welcome unaccompanied children as they arrive in the United States seeking safety. In November of 2021, CWS launched a Home Study and Post Release Services (HSPRS) program in Charlotte to provide safety and stability for children as they reunify with their families. The newly opened office will provide a brick and mortar space to continue this vital, child-centered programming. “We are thrilled to have a space to continue to support and welcome unaccompanied children as they become part of our community here in Charlotte,” said Gricelda de la Cruz, site director of the CWS Charlotte office. “We have children who have been forced out of the place they have called home. They are alone, afraid, and in need of safety and support. This program will allow us to play a part in helping the young people who come through our doors regain a sense of security and hope.” The HSPRS program assesses potential sponsors for unaccompanied children, and organizes safe, stable placements for them with the help of the Office of Refugee Resettlement within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Submitted photo
The Charlotte office will join with 21 other sites across the CWS network in providing these valuable services to this vulnerable population. CWS staff assist children through the placement process through intensive case management, and connect them with sponsors, community-based resources, and trauma informed care. This support continues throughout the process of children being reunited with relatives and sponsors, as well as their journey to become invested, flourishing members of their new communities. The Charlotte office will join with 21 other sites across the CWS
network in providing these valuable services to this vulnerable population. Gricelda de la Cruz is the daughter of Mexican immigrants. She received her MPA from UNC-Charlotte and has supported unaccompanied immigrant children since 2014 in the Charlotte region. For more information or to speak with her, email media@cwsglobal. org.
Correction
In an article published in our 7-7-22 issue, we inadvertently printed the wrong picture for the story, entitled Dr. Felecia Piggott-Anderson celebrates her first pastoral anniversary at Alpha and Omega Church of Faith, Inc. This is correct photo that carries the caption: Dr. Felecia Piggott-Anderson, pastor, and Minister Joseph Anderson from Alpha and Omega Church of Faith, Inc. at the first pastoral anniversary celebration held on Sunday, June 26.
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RELIGION CALENDAR
Thursdays and Saturdays Free Meals Christ Rescue Temple Church, 1500 North Dunleith Ave., will serve hot meals as part of the People Helping People Feeding Program. Meals will be served every Thursday and Saturday from noon until 1 p.m. at the church’s location. For more information, call 336-7229841.
Each Sunday Worship services Green Street United Methodist Church, 639 S. Green St., Winston-Salem, invites you to join online worship services on Sundays at 11 a.m., or in-person services at 8:45 a.m. The 11 a.m. service, which is available via Facebook and YouTube, is a celebration of the diversity of the human family, a no-frills service that is thoughtful, personal, and deeply spiritual. The 8:45 a.m. service is a quiet, contemplative space including prayer, scripture, preaching, and communion; masks and social distancing will be in effect in the sanctuary. Join us at www. greenstreetumc.org, on YouTube, or on Facebook.
Each Sunday Sunday service Transformation Ministries will have service every Sunday at 10 a.m. We are located at 4880 Burnette Drive. Masks are required. 3rd Friday of each month Women’s fellowship The Antioch Baptist Church (ABC) Women, 5061 Lansing Dr., cordially invites all women to join us the third Friday of each month at 7 p.m. for conversation as we share and embrace each other in these challenging times. Join us via conference call. Dial in: 267-807-9601 Access Code:189545592#. Rev. Frederick L. Barnes, Jr. is the senior pastor. For more information, call 336-9923751. July 17 First Waughtown Baptist Church (FWBC) Dr. Dennis W. Bishop, Senior Pastor of First Waughtown Baptist Church (FWBC), will deliver the sermon on Characteristics of the Holy Spirit (scriptural reference -Acts 13:1-3). Front doors open at 9:15 a.m. for
screening, devotion, and announcements prior to the 10 a.m. service. Completed waiver forms and masks that cover the nose and mouth are required. The form can be submitted electronically on the FWBC website – www.firstwaughtown.org -- RE-ENTRY 2022 link, and printed copies will be available in the lobby prior to service. Other in-person protocols and information about 6 p.m. virtual Sunday School are accessible via the FWBC homepage RE-ENTRY link. Persons who prefer to worship virtually can find the service on YouTube, https:// www.youtube.com (First Waughtown); Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/FirstWaughtown/; and the First Waughtown website, https://www.firstwaughtown. org. (NOTE: Services are posted on a one-week delay.)
How to submit items to the Religion calendar: The deadline is Sunday at 11:59 p.m. to have all calendar items submitted for that week’s paper. Send your calendar items to news@wschronicle.com. You can also drop them off, Monday through Friday before 5 p.m., or mail your items to Winston-Salem Chronicle, 1300 E. Fifth St., Winston-Salem, N.C. 27101; or send them via our website, www.wschronicle.com.
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July 14, 2022
T he C hronicle
Community Calendar July 15-17 Summer camp production The Little Theatre of Winston-Salem will present a summer camp production of Rock of Ages (Youth Edition). July 1517 at Reynolds Place Theatre, located in the Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts, 251 N. Spruce Street in Winston-Salem. Performances will be Friday, July 15 at 7 p.m., Saturday, July 16 at 7 p.m., and Sunday, July 17 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $14, including all taxes and fees. Call (336) 7254001 for tickets (box office hours: 12-4 p.m., MWF) or purchase them online at www.LTofWS.org. July 16, Aug. 10 & Aug. 20 Movie in the park series The WePLAY Movies in the Park series will show “Encanto” on July 16 at Sedge Garden Park, 401 Robbins Road, and “Sing 2” on Aug. 20 at Crawford Park, 4226 Oak Ridge Drive. Also this year, Recreation and Parks will offer a free showing of “Luca” on Wednesday, Aug. 10, at Bolton Pool, 1590 Bolton St. The movie series is being sponsored by Recreation and Parks, Community Development and the Winston-Salem Fire & Police departments. For more information send an email to WePLAYevents@ cityofws.org. July 17 Big Chill 2022 The Shalom project invites the community to celebrate National Ice Cream Day by joining them on Sunday, July 17, at Industry Hill from 3-6 p.m. for The Big Chill 2022. Annually the Shalom Project hosts The Big Chill which is their annual fundraiser that takes the form of a community wide ice cream party. The event takes place in the WinstonSalem Junction, Wiseman Brewing, and in the parking lots in between. Entrance is free and donations are welcome to support the programs of The Shalom Project. Visit https://theshalomprojectnc.org/thebigchill for all the details and related links or call the office directly - our event staff would be happy to chat! July 18-19 Play auditions Auditions for the following roles will be held July 18 and 19 starting at 6 p.m. in the Authoring Action Writing Room, 624 W. 6th Street, Winston-Salem: *for “Clearing the Air” (comedy): male, age 40s; female, age 40s; male, teens; female, teens. *for “The Short Tim-
ers” (comedy): male, age 70s, female, age 70s; male 40-60; male, any age. * for “The Cleansing Act” (drama): two males, age 70s; female, age 70s. *for “Baling Wire and Desperation” (drama): two males, age 40s. *for “The Brooch” (drama): male, age 60s; female, age 70s; female, age 18. *for “Dick and Jane Get Old” (comedy): male, age 70s; female, age 70s. Admission to the performances will be $15. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance on the Arts Council’s website (intothearts.org/events-info). According to the Arts Council COVID-19 safety policy, masks are encouraged but not required. This is the eleventh anniversary of Winston-Salem Writers producing plays by North Carolina playwrights. Aug. 6 Celebration of cultures Join Historic Bethabara Park as we explore the connections between Indigenous peoples and the early Moravians on Saturday, August 6, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. A park guide will lead two informative tours regarding Indigenous peoples to 1800; and the Felt and Soul Puppet Theater will perform throughout the day. Admission is free. For more information, please visit historicbethabara.org or call (336) 924-8191. Aug. 19, Sept. 2, 14 Cinema Under the Stars Reynolda House Museum of American Art is excited to announce the line-up for the 2022 season of Cinema Under the Stars. The films showcased this season have been curated by a/perture cinema and evoke the imagery and expression of Reynolda’s fall exhibition, Chrome Dreams and Infinite Reflections: American Photorealism. Cinema Under the Stars kicks off Friday, August 19, with Spike Lee’s “Crooklyn,” the semiautobiographical film that follows the joys and heartbreaks of Troy Carmichael and her family as they navigate life in Brooklyn, New York during the summer of 1973. On Friday, September 2, the spotlighted film is “The Apartment,” the 1960 romantic comedy starring Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine. The season concludes on Friday, September 14, with “La La Land.” Released in 2016, this colorful, whimsical and musical film chronicles the highs and lows of struggling artists in Los Angeles. Beer and wine will
be available for purchase on the grounds beginning at 7:30 p.m. and the movie will begin at sunset, around 8:30 p.m. Guests are encouraged to bring their own chair and/or blanket. In case of inclement weather, the showing will move indoors with limited seating. Aug. 26-27 10-Minute Play Contest Winners Winston-Salem Writers is pleased to announce the winning entries in its 2022 10-Minute Play competition. The following six plays have been selected for performance: “Clearing the Air” by Lynn Hall and “The Short Timers” by Ed Robson, both of WinstonSalem; “The Cleansing Act” by Jonathan Stephens of Greensboro; “Baling Wire and Desperation” by Larry Bliss of Raleigh; “The Brooch” by Lawson Caldwell of Charlotte; and “Dick and Jane Get Old” by Lela Chesson of Rocky Mount. Performances are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, August 26 and 27, at 7:30 p.m. in The Mountcastle Forum in the Milton Rhodes Center, 251 N. Spruce Street, WinstonSalem. How to submit items to the community calendar: We appreciate your community news. Here’s how you can help us to process your news more efficiently: *Please give us complete information about the event, such as the sponsor and address, date, time and place of the event and contact information so that the public can contact someone for more information if needed. *Please submit items in document form in an email or Word or PDF attachment. *Submit photos as attachments to emails as jpegs at least 4 inches wide by 6 inches deep rather than sent on documents. Please send captions with photos. *Please do not send jpeg fliers only, since we cannot transfer the information on them into documents. The deadline is Sunday at 11:59 p.m. to have all calendar items submitted for that week’s paper. Send your calendar items to news@wschronicle.com. You can also drop them off, Monday through Friday before 5 p.m., or mail your items to Winston-Salem Chronicle, 1300 E. Fifth St., Winston-Salem, NC 27101; or send them via our website, www.wschronicle.com.
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T S U G AU 3TH 1
WASH AND CLEANSE YOUR FACE A mild soap + warm water
Wednesday, July 20 to Friday, July 22, 2022 9:00A to Noon High School Students only Audition Deadline: July 15, 2022 Audition link: BluesKids.com/EarlyBird
Monday, August 1 to Friday, August 5, 2022 | DO NOT SCRUB 9:00A to Noon WHILE WASHING Ages 12 -18 YOUR FACE Audition Deadline: July 15, 2022 Audition link: BluesKids.com/EarlyBird
T he C hronicle
July 14, 2022
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July 14, 2022
T he C hronicle
Black women’s double student debt whammy: twice as likely to owe more than $50K BY CHARLENE CROWELL
In mid-June the Federal Reserve, nation’s central bank, raised interest rates in hopes of curbing rising inflation and deterring a full-blown recession. Chief among its responsibilities, the Fed’s duty is to develop “appropriate monetary policy.” For much of Black America, many would welcome money itself – funds to provide stable day-to-day living, the ability to get rid of debt without worrying whether families will have enough money to last the month’s expenses, and even a bit more left over to face what the future may hold. Student debt remains a stubborn obstacle that prevents Black Americans from securing financial stability in the short-term and financial wealth in the long-term. According to The Institute on Assets and Social Policy, after 20 years in repayment, the typical Black borrower still owes 95% of their cumulative borrowing total, while similarly situated white borrowers have reduced their debt by 94% - with nearly half of white borrowers holding no student debt at all. After more than two years of the COVID-19 pandemic complicating family finances, the ability of many working Americans to maintain economic stability is nearing a breaking point. Further, due to historic racial wealth inequities, these and other impacts are felt hardest by Black America in general and Black women in particular. New research from the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) analyzes how women’s finances have changed over the past two years. The study, entitled Resilient But Deeper
in Debt: Women of Color Faced Greater Hardships Through COVID-19, shows how these women’s lives dramatically changed as a result of the pandemic and deepening student debt. The report states that Black women faced a “double whammy of increased debt and decreased savings.” CRL analyzed publicly available data and additionally commissioned four focus groups of ethnically diverse women with varied educational levels who lost their job or were furloughed during the pandemic. For context, it is relevant to note that: *Between December 2019 and March 2022, 1.2 million women left the labor force; *Between February 2020 and April 2020, almost 22 million jobs were lost; and *In 2021, Black and Latina women were twice as likely as white men to report being behind on rent or mortgage payments. Overall, findings indicate the widespread disruption in employment due to the pandemic has had a profound impact on women, their families, and their finances, states the report. “While a typical white male borrower pays off
almost half of his balance within 12 years of starting college, the balance of a typical Black female borrower grows by 13%.” Further, about twothirds of the $1.7 trillion federal student debt burden is borne by women. Black women are twice as likely to owe more than $50,000 in undergraduate student debt compared to white men. Both Black and Latina borrowers typically have higher loan balances than white women. Hence, student loan repayment challenges for women of color are higher and strain the ability to cover daily living expenses for their families, particularly due to rising costs of food and housing. “Because of persisting pay disparities, and little or no generational wealth, women of color have fewer opportunities to pursue a debt-free education or to withstand an economic or personal crisis,” added Sunny Glottman, a CRL researcher. Research found that 60% of Black women and 40% of Latina participants owed more than $50,000 in student debt. By comparison, only 29% of white participants owed more than $50,000 in student loan debt. Although focus group participants found the cur-
Book Review “Black Skin: The Definitive Skincare Guide” by Dija Ayodele, foreword by Caroline Hirons
c.2021, HQ, a division of Harper Collins
$29.99
288 pages
BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER
Inside and out. That’s where you wear your beauty. Your eyes glow with warmth and your smile is sunshine, your heart touches people and lets them know they’re loved. The body you’ve been blessed with is strong and comfortable. Now what about your largest organ? In “Black Skin” by Dija Ayodele, you’ll see how you can care for it best. Short shorts, tank tops, bare shoulders, barely-there sleeves. You want to wear them all this summer, and you want to look good doing it. So how do you make sure your skin is in the best shape possible? Dija Ayodele is a skin care expert and the first thing you should know, she says, is that “flawless skin is for babies.” You’re an adult and you’ll never achieve a “flawless” complexion again. But she has advice on how you can turn heads with a glow. For centuries, Black women have been “actively told that Black is not beautiful.” Ayodele offers history to prove it: more than a hundred years ago, slaves were treated like they “were beastly and put on show as spectacles ...” For many Black people in the past, that led them to reach for chemicals to lighten their skin, which breaks Ayodele’s heart. She hopes today’s readers can learn to love their skin by becoming experts on it. There are many similarities between Black skin and white skin; the differences are cultural and “physiological.” Black skin has more melatonin that helps protect from the sun, but don’t get lazy: Ayodele says you should use sunscreen because Black skin is still prone to sunburn. Also, “Black will crack if you’re slack!” so use a really good moisturizer. Know the difference between skin type and skin condition. Stop smoking, quit your bad diet, cut down on alcohol, stop stressing, and get some sleep. Be prepared for the things that can go wrong with your skin, and learn about keloids and hyperpigmentation. Bust some myths, know which products to leave in the store and how to find a professional if
rent federal pause on payments and interest accrual helpful, few felt financially prepared to resume payments when the payment pause expires on August 31, and many fore-
Baker
From page B1
butions to the Cleveland Browns,” owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam said in a statement. “From the moment he was drafted, he gave his all for this organization and this city. With his fierce competitive spirit, he excited the fanbase and accomplished things that no player at his position had done in Cleveland for a very long time. He also made a difference in the community, whether it was hosting events at the Boys and Girls Club, honoring our troops, supporting the Special Olympics, as well as countless other charitable endeavors. We are grateful for everything he did for this organization and wish him and Emily well in the future.” I understand that Watson is an upgrade at the position, but people are acting like Mayfield was not a very productive player at the quarterback position for the Browns. Now that he is healthy, he should be able to return to his 2020 form with all the weapons the Panthers have offensively. With playmakers like Christian McCaffrey, Robby Anderson and D.J. Moore at his disposal, Mayfield should be able to come right in and immediately put up good numbers with Carolina. I am not saying he is going to take the Panthers to the Super Bowl, but I do believe they will be a playoff team this
Word
From page B3
you need one, and build a regiment. Your skin will thank you for it. Show your shoulders, flash your fingers, flaunt your feet. Summer fashions practically demand that you do, but what if your skin isn’t ready for all that? Reach for “Black Skin” and get some help that will take you far beyond your surface. But this book isn’t just for those who are looking for beauty. Author Dija Ayodele helps you understand why you sometimes believe your skin has a mind of its own. She tackles acne, skin tags, and vitiligo, as well as ashiness and over-dry spots, and her advice is wide-ranging and easily understood. Best of all, she makes readers feel like their skin is a precious gift. Having that kind of information doesn’t at all replace a dermatologist, but it’s the next best thing. Not just for women, this book also includes a chapter for men and children, too. Reading “Black Skin” is something you’ll want to do, from the inside out. Terri Schlichenmeyer is The Bookworm. Terri has been reading since she was three years old and she never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a prairie in Wisconsin with one man, two dogs, and 16,000 books.
that He shares completely in God’s ability to give life. As the resurrection and the life, Jesus defeats the power of death in the future and in the present. “… Do you believe this?” (verse 26b.) Jesus challenged Martha to believe. She must believe Jesus was who He said He was and that He could do what He said He could do. “… Yes Lord;” (verse 27). Martha answered correctly. Jesus was and is indeed the Messiah (the Christ). Jesus was and is God in human form among us (the Don of God). Jesus is Lord over Death (verses 38-44). Mary and Martha are now with Jesus as He prepares for the miracle. Note there are similarities here with Lazarus’ tomb and Jesus’ tomb – “…Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it.” (verse 38). And in both cases the stone was removed – “… Jesus said, ‘Remove the stone.’” (verse 39a.) Martha, remembering he had been in
saw worsening financial challenges. CRL is among a growing number of consumer advocates calling for $50,000 of student debt forgiveness per borrower. Additionally, CRL also recommends greater higher education investments at both the federal and state levels to support public and private HBCUs. For example, doubling the annual Pell Grant award that serves many students of color would keep better pace with the rising costs of college educations. Additional forms of support could provide research contracts and internships. Implementing retroactively Income Driven
Repayment (IDR) plans to remove lifetime debt repayments and offering improved access to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program are additional federal actions that would relieve the nation’s unsustainable student debt. Inaction on student debt relief must not be an option. Instead, policies must be implemented to relieve, as the report terms, “an albatross perpetuating a baseline of financial anxiety.”
upcoming season. There have been positive and negative comments about the Mayfield trade. Former Panther great Steve Smith Sr. gave his opinion of the trade on his Twitter page last week saying, “We have Baker Mayfield, whatever the compensation is it doesn’t matter,” he said. “We hope for the best, and we pray the worst never happens, but ultimately, if you’re going with your team, you’ve got to roll with him. And I’m rolling with the Carolina Panthers so that’s what I’ve got to do is go with my team.” Smith is one of the more transparent analysts we have on television right now. Back in March, Smith did criticize Mayfield for the way he handled the Browns showing interest in a top tier quarterback. “He [Mayfield] wears his emotions on his sleeve; I do too,” said Smith. “I was an emotional player. But the difference between Baker and I is, one, I won triple crown—I led the league in something besides crying.” That assessment by Smith is accurate. He definitely played with passion, but he also brought tremendous production along with that passion and was one of the best to ever play the wide receiver position. Before the Panthers traded for Mayfield, wide receiver Robbie Anderson didn’t seem like he was very happy about that possibility when he com-
mented “Nooooo” to a social media post in May that stated the Panthers were the team Mayfield would most likely land. Anderson said he was just trying to defend his then starting quarterback Sam Darnold. “Just trying to be a good teammate to my quarterback. That’s it,” Anderson said. “Just trying to defend the guy who is my quarterback in a sense. You know what I’m saying? That’s it.” Anderson says he doesn’t have an issue with Baker, and he wishes people would stop trying to paint that narrative. The Panthers should be in good shape when it comes to their quarterback room. Not only do they have Mayfield and Darnold, they also drafted Matt Corral in the third round of this year’s draft. Many analysts felt that Corral had the highest ceiling out of all the quarterbacks in this year’s draft class. At least with Mayfield on the team, the Panthers don’t have to throw their rookie quarterback out there. Now he can sit behind two veterans and learn the position. Panther fans should be very excited because the acquisition of Mayfield feels like the perfect partnership for both parties. Mayfield is looking to prove he is still an above average starter in the league and the Panthers are looking for some stability at the position that they haven’t had since Cam Newton left the first time.
the tomb four days, says “Lord, … there will be a stench…” (verse 39b.). Jesus responds, reminding her and all those listening of the revelation of the miracle that is about to happen. – “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” (verse 40). Jesus then prayed at the open tomb in the traditional posture of prayer – hands raised; eyes open upwards as if looking toward heaven. He indicates in His prayer that the real author of the miracle is God and that the real reason for the miracle is to authenticate His claims to be the Messiah and Son of God. “… so that they may believe that You sent me,” (verse 42). Jesus calls Lazarus by name and breaks the power of death. (Special note)- The visual image of Lazarus still wrapped in the burial clothes makes concrete the hold that death has had on Lazarus. It also contrasts with the description of the burial clothes that Jesus will leave behind at His resurrection. Jesus will
arise completely free from the bonds of death (verses 43-44). (The UMI Annual Commentary 2021-2022, The MacArthur Study Bible, The Wiersbe Study Bible, The New Interpreters Study Bible, The Jesus Bible, and The Oxford Bible Commentary). For Your Consideration: Why do we, like Martha, object when God wants to work a miracle for us? Application: Think about some of the times that you have given up hope and the Lord came in and “resurrected” the situation. Think about the effect this had on you and what effect it should have on your faith. What would it look like for you to trust Jesus to resurrect the situation today? FYI: Forsyth County Sunday School Union will meet “virtually” every third Sunday, at 3 p.m. with teaching and programs. You may join using the following “Zoom” credentials: ID 819 7872 9662, Passcode 787444, Phone: 1-301-715-8592.
Charlene Crowell is a senior fellow with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at crowell@responsiblelending.org.