By Myra Wallace-Walker For over 400 years black people have had the essence of who they are smothered by racism. The attempt to eradicate the civilization of black people has simply enhanced our desire to celebrate who we are. The failed efforts to strip us of our character only reminds us of the rich culture we embody. Be it our rhythmic sounds that inspired the many genres of the music we listen to. Our innovative minds that have produced the various inventions that have given us the conveniences we enjoy today. Our unique etymology of language that gave birth to slang. Our creative use of ingredients to bring soul to the food the world loves. Our uncompromised style that continues to define the direction of today’s fashion. Our ability to move our bodies to music creating art in motion. Our exceptional agility, which produces incomparable athleticism. Our intuitive minds that permit us to adapt to any setting we find ourselves. Our undying faith that keeps us covered by our divine creator. Our strength to stand amid our ruthless oppressors. Our courage to fight for the freedom the constitution owes us. Our ability to love when surrounded by indifference. The way we live our truth when persecution awaits us. Yes, we are a unique people, wonderfully made for a time such as this. In spite of the world’s attempt to strip us of our treasured heritage, rob us of our rich culture, hijack our literature, copy our music, plagiarize our creativity, conceal our history, divide our families, devalue our children, bankrupt our communities, oppress our advancement, incarcerate our men, rape our women, repudiate our humanity, sabotage our intelligence and silence our voice, HERE WE ARE: still believing, still achieving, still thriving, still surviving, and still standing because we know that Black Lives Matter.
By Travis Lacy I can't Breathe Black bodies pillaged from their land of birth Black bodies thrown into the depths of the ocean I can't Breathe Black bodies for sale Black bodies sold Black bodies raped and beat young and old I can't Breathe Black bodies run for freedom Black bodies sing sorrow songs all day long I can't Breathe Black bodies used to hang from trees . . . are hanging from trees . . . will hang from trees Black bodies I can't Breathe Black bodies claw and scratch and reach for freedom Black bodies are covered and squeezed and mashed by whiteness I can't Breathe Black bodies are told to act civil Black bodies are cursed and slapped and punched and cuffed and slammed on the ground I can't Breathe Black bodies are desired Black bodies weighted will themselves to stand tall I can't Breathe Black bodies get no justice Black bodies get shoved into the smallest of spaces I can't Breathe Black bodies are indeed fragile Black bodies are feared by police I can't Breathe Black bodies leap in the air Black bodies are sometimes always never fair I can't Breathe Black bodies are shot sleeping and kneeling and sitting and standing and walking and jogging and running Black bodies are killed looking and smiling and laughing and frowning and yelling and screaming and gasping for air I can't Breathe Black bodies can't survive white supremacy Black bodies are huddled by white bodies I. Can't. Breathe! Blog: Justsoulyouknow.wordpress.com Facebook: travis.lacy.56 Instagram: @travislacyday
By Stacy McClendon Dear Life Taker What’s your deal? Who gave you permission to discombobulate, destroy and kill? Families and Friendships Hopes and Dreams Strangled by fears tactics of Racism Anger Hatred Greed While the devil tosses you internally Fighting and throwing you about Day after Day Night after Night Deciding to take matters into your own hands Thinking you’re a game winner instead Reviewing chained and good ridden ages of old While eternal hell wages war in your soul Could’ve chosen different and went within Used time to destroy your radioactive damaged soul instead Left unable to run amok Never to return again Been effective With a trail that saves and cherishes lives instead Or A space eternally saved for your empty soul below For taking vengeance from God and making it your own Reciprocity lives forevermore for endangered ones The Pendulum swings wildly Awaiting your decision Hoping you choose to change years and years of oppression Email: stacluv@gmail.com Facebook: Stacy Mc Instagram: butterflyfree73 Twitter: @butterflyfree73
By Dr. Janice R. Love I grew up in a time where the first thing you did on Saturday mornings was wake up early so you could watch the cartoons. The cartoons I watched always had an element of fun to them and often taught me some valuable lessons as well. One of my favorites was Popeye. I can probably still sing the song that went along with the cartoon. Funny, as much as I like the cartoon, I still wasn’t a fan of spinach. After all, wasn’t that the goal of the show to get young children to eat spinach so that they could become big and strong? Maybe what ruined it for me was Popeye eating spinach right out of the can. Not a fan. In each episode, Popeye’s focus was working hard, enjoying life and loving the woman in his life, Olive Oyl. Isn’t that just like us? We just want to be able to work hard, enjoy life and enjoy our loved ones. However, somehow in every episode something would happen to upset the apple cart. Whether it was a threat to him or a threat to the woman he cared about, there was an enemy that showed up weekly known as Bluto. Yes, the sailor and outlaw also known as Bluto the Terrible looked like he had everything going for himself on the outside: being tall, well built and super strong, physically. The truth is Bluto was really a bully who wanted to win at all costs. He often used force, intimidation, chauvinism, trickery and the like to get what he wanted. What exactly did he want? What he wanted was to destroy Popeye’s world and take what was most important to him. Week after week he came back to do whatever he could to destroy Popeye. Bluto sounds a lot like somebody we know right? What I learned from that cartoon and what I have learned in my own life is that the enemy will stop at nothing to have things his way or to win. We all at some time reach a level of anger, frustration or hurt that leads us to say “enough is enough”. This level of vexation comes when you can’t sit back any longer but have to get up and do something about it, now! In other words, we move into action. For Popeye, when Bluto tried to dominate or destroy him, kidnap Olive Oyl or that baby, Sweet Pea (we don’t know whose child that was), he would say… “That’s all I can stands, I can’t stands no more.” This is called a “Popeye Moment”.
I first heard of the term “Popeye Moment” while reading Bill Hybels’ book Holy Discontent. In his book, Pastor Bill Hybels describes his Popeye moment when he got tired of seeing people sit through church unengaged and unmoved. His frustration led eventually to action. I have been intrigued by the term ever sense and have experienced my own Popeye Moments. There was something about saying the words, ”That’s all I can stands, I can’t stands no more,” that transformed an average guy like Popeye into a super human. His frustration then gave him the strength to crack open a can of spinach with one hand, eat it in one gulp and emerge with enough muscle to put a hurting on whoever or whatever was causing the extreme aggravation. In the past few weeks following the untimely deaths of African Americans George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and countless others before them, Americans are now standing up along with the Black community and saying “That’s all I can stands, I can’t stands no more.” What African Americans have struggled with for centuries was brought to the forefront by watching 8 minutes and 46 seconds of a Black man being murdered at the hands of heartless police officers. Watching this video led people by the hundreds of thousands in cities all over the world to come together to demand change. As I watch television and have endless conversations about what is going on across our nation and internationally, I am reminded of a conversation God had with Moses in the third chapter of Exodus when the cries and the affliction of a people led God to action. Perhaps God had one of those moments when he decided he could no long sit idly by and let his people continue to suffer without doing something to deliver them. When a true Popeye Moment arrives in your life the following three (3) stages will occur. The first thing that must happen is acknowledging that there is a problem and that whatever needs to be done you are willing to do your part. Secondly, in order to do something one must prepare and strengthen themselves to conquer the challenge. Finally, one has to use that strength along with passion and drive to fix the problem. For too long being Black in America meant having to deal with racism, discrimination, police brutality and the fear of being killed for just being Black. Now you understand why people will protest in large crowds of people for hours even in the hot sun to make their voice heard. The time has come where we all should say, “that’s all I can stands – I can’t stands no more. Won’t you join us? #Blacklivesmatter Dr. Janice R. Love, The First Lady Coach Email: pearls@janicerlove.com Website: http://thefirstladycoach.com Facebook: https://Facebook.com/pearlsperfected/ Private FB group: http://yesiammarriedtoministry.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefirstladycoach/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janicerlove Twitter: https://twitter.com/JaniceRLove10
By Sheila A. Taylor Times are intense for sure. The last time I recall times being this hot was during the civil unrest of the 1960s. I grew up in Detroit and what I witnessed through the lens of a ten-year old in 1967 shaped my views about racial injustice and civil rights. Fast forward to 2020 and I see parallels between then and now. Police brutality and other systemic injustices are at the core of the violent and peaceful protests that we are witnessing worldwide. It seems that like defibrillation, the hearts of people are being shocked into the realities of being Black in America. The world had a front row view of the life being drained from George Floyd as the knee of a police officer cavalierly pressed against his neck for nearly nine minutes. In the 60s it took the open casket of Emmet Till and the vicious dog attacks of protesters in the South to open the eyes of America to its deeply rooted bigotry and hatred against Black people. Has the needle moved at all over a generation since the Civil Rights movement? Indeed, it has as anti-poverty and anti-discrimination laws have been enacted to provide some federal protections from discrimination in employment and education. However, there have been astounding and disheartening reversals in attitudes, commitment to change and in public policy that have eroded many advancements. Law enforcement and its entire infrastructure enables police violence and killings of Black and Brown people with little to no accountability. The criminal justice system is a contributor to perpetual poverty through financially crippling fines and court costs. Smart phone cameras and social media posts that go viral provide a public display of the abuses of power and the disregard for life that occur at the hands of law enforcement often with little or no justice for victims and their families. With each death of an unarmed black person and as the list of victims grows longer, rage has intensified. No one should really be surprised by these current circumstances. The continuous abuses by law enforcement fed the beast of injustice for so many years. Time after time these occurrences provided kindling to an already slowburning flame of frustration and rage in this country. The feelings of anger and helplessness when a Black person is killed by the police, which usually results in an acquittal or no arrest and charges filed against them, have intensified with each incident. Politics has played a major part. When Donald Trump became the GOP candidate, white nationalists recognized that their time had come to “Make America Great Again”. That phrase along with “All Lives Matter” is very telling of the times to come. To meet the declaration—“Black Lives Matter” with “All Lives Matter” caused a lot of hurt and offense in the Black community. Whether White people said it out of sincere ignorance, conscientious stupidity, or as a racist swipe, they clearly didn’t get the point.
I believe that many of us knew in our hearts that the election of the 45th president spoke volumes about the state of America regarding race. We saw leaders of White supremacists groups like David Duke boldly endorse him and the POTUS did not denounce him. We saw Whites become more embolden to commit racist acts including calling the police on black people minding their business. We also saw White evangelical leaders rally in support of him despite all that he represented that is the opposite of the teachings of Jesus. I wept at the news of his election because in my soul I could feel the evil days to come. The response of the White Evangelical Church My post-election reaction in 2016 was visceral mainly because of the White evangelical church. I began to question the hearts of Christian evangelical church leaders. While I was firm in my faith in Christ, I no longer saw the White evangelical church as a place of solace. Their silence regarding the injustices of Black and Brown people at the hands of law enforcement cut deeply into my soul. I struggled to understand what Jesus they sang about in their worship services and what passages of scripture were they reading to justify their beliefs about God. Between the COVID-19 pandemic and police violence that has disrupted massive protests, America is facing a period of reckoning. The evangelical church is being placed front and center, with nowhere to hide. As it should be. It is to this base that the president shamelessly upheld a Bible in front of a church while just before ordering law enforcement and the military to teargas peaceful protesters. There is a call to accountability for their silence in the face of such injustice over the years. Christians are being challenged to search their hearts, repent and to truly follow Christ. So here we are‌ While I am heartened by the acts of solidarity and an overwhelmingly strong response to dealing with racial injustice, I am not the idealistic young woman that I used to be. There were fruits of change from the Civil Rights movement and from the riots during the 1960s. We elected Barack Obama as the first Black president. But we must accept that hard fought victories must continue with vigilance to protect them. It may seem exhausting but that is the reality if systemic changes are to really happen. It will require strategy, consensus, patience, and vigilance. It will require education on the history of the foundation upon which America was founded and to never forget the fight is never over. Facebook:
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By Million Heir-Williams As a result of the heinous acts of the police officers involving our dearly beloved brother, George Floyd, who suffered a noose (knee) around his neck, the United States of America is forced to deal with racism head on. In Matthew 11:12, "From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force (New American Bible). Additionally, Revelation 13:9 -10 says, “If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.” There is a day of reckoning for us all, and America is not above the law of God. I know this country would love to think slavery, discrimination, bigotry, racism, intimidation, control, unfairness, injustice, inequity, favoritism, prejudice, hatred, partiality, animosity and every other word I left out would last for all eternity without recompense. However, this country is gravely mistaken to think that unrighteousness does not have a pay day in sight. Well, I think America you have been just served your pay day. This is an excerpt from my upcoming book, Military Mom on a Mission, that parallels what we are dealing with as a nation. This chapter certainly lends to the signs of the times as our country is struggling with Racism, Discrimination, and Bigotry; the attitude that governs the fabric of America. It speaks to the psychological effects and treatment of people due to discrimination. There is a specific field of counseling titled “Multicultural Counseling Therapy” (MCT). It is a fact that the foundation of Psychology is derived simply from a Euro-Western based philosophy, which totally negates the customs, values, culture, ideas, beliefs, attitudes of minority ethnicities. As a result of these practice techniques in modern Psychology, the field of Multicultural Counseling poses a threat to the institutionalized teachings that have been handed down generation after generation. Mental health professionals must realize that “good counseling” uses White Euro-American norms that exclude most of the world's population. In a hard‐hitting article, Arnett (2009) indicates that psychological research, which forms the knowledge base of our profession, focuses on Americans, who constitute only 5% of the world's population. He concludes that the knowledge of human
behavior neglects 95% of the world's population and is an inadequate representation of humanity. It is clear to us that good counseling takes into consideration the cultural context in which counseling occurs and the cultural realities of the client and counselor. Standards of helping derived from such a philosophy and framework are inclusive. Thus, clinical or “counseling competence is multicultural counseling competence” (Ridley, Mollen, & Kelly, 2011, p. 841), (Sue, Sue, Neville, & Smith, Chapter 8). This definition of cultural competence in the helping professions makes it clear that the conventional one‐to‐one, in‐the‐office, objective form of treatment aimed at remediation of existing problems may be at odds with the sociopolitical and cultural experiences of clients. Like the complementary definition of MCT, it addresses not only clients (individuals, families, and groups) but also client systems (institutions, policies, and practices that may be unhealthy or problematic for healthy development). Addressing client systems is especially important if problems reside outside rather than inside the client. For example, prejudice and discrimination such as racism, sexism, and homophobia may impede the healthy functioning of individuals and groups in our society, (Sue, Sue, Neville, & Smith, Chapter 8). Many ethnic and racial groups experience higher rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as compared to White Americans. One explanation for this is the experience of racism, which can itself be traumatic. When traumatization is due to experiences of racism it is sometimes called racial trauma. Racial trauma can result from major experiences of racism such as workplace discrimination or hate crimes, or it can be the result of an accumulation of many small occurrences, such as everyday discrimination and microaggressions. An article by Williams and colleagues, published in Practice Innovations, aims to provide a context for understanding how racism can lead to a diagnosis of PTSD according to the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), (Williams, 2019, Chapter 1).
It is clear from the excerpt that not only are the effects of racism and discrimination far reaching, but the treatment must be just as comprehensive and culturally sensitive as well. This is not saying that White doctors cannot treat Black patients. However, it is saying that cultural competency is a prerequisite for the treatment of a people who have suffered in this way for this long.
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By Settie Crowell Social distancing has slowed down today’s dating process a lot. Hooking up is not an option as cases of COVID-19 are not really decreasing. This pandemic doesn’t seem to have any boundaries. Anybody can get it. So with that in mind, daters have to proceed with caution. Re-prioritizing conversation, sex and intimacy is becoming the new dating normal because getting too close too soon can have dire consequences. In order to assist those of you who are finding it challenging to take it slow, BCF enlisted the help of someone who had made a conscious decision a few years prior to this outbreak to practice celibacy. He is not a shy, introverted man who lacks confidence. He is considered by most to be a healthy, handsome normal male who has no problem attracting the opposite sex. He is Timothy Jones. Actor, TV Host, Producer and Stellar Award winner. He was most recently the host of the television show, Hidden Hikes, on PBS. Tim is celibate. I didn’t want to hurt anyone else in my attempt to heal. My decision to become celibate was born out of pain. I was hurting after the end of a relationship. And I didn’t want to use anyone else to help me to get over it. I needed to focus on me in order to process my pain and grow. Sex wouldn’t have helped me to do that. The decision was about self-care and being fair to others. I wasn’t initially trying to be Godly. But as time progressed, my motivation changed and here I am. Celibacy is not about deprivation. Just as fasting is not about starving yourself, celibacy is not about deprivation. I strongly encourage single people to have a clear goal before you start dating. Write down the benefits to achieving that goal, and be willing to eliminate anything and anyone who attempts to distract you. When we are fasting, we're focused on prayer. If you choose to be celibate, focus on intimacy. One day you'll meet someone with the same mindset, someone that you're compatible with (spiritually, physically, etc...). They'll want to be a partner in your life's purpose (and vice versa) and you can start building. Focus on what you're building...not on what you're missing. For so many years of my life I focused on intercourse, and now I recognize the value of intimacy. I've been celibate for 3 years. I'd like to remarry one day, and I believe that if sex is introduced in a relationship prematurely it can become a distraction from laying a firm foundation.
I'm also trying to honor God with my body. It is not easy, but I believe it'll be worth it if I can get to know a woman instead of getting to know her body. I've realized that there are things that are more important that sex...and one of them is communication. The challenges of being celibate stem from just being a man. Being horny. Being in a world where masculinity sometimes masquerades as promiscuity. Being in a world where sex saturates the airwaves. I have to be very intentional in my actions and associations. It's not easy, but I want to show my teenage daughters that you can be strategic about navigating temptation. You can build strong relationships. And you can respect yourself and others also. I don't regret my decision to be celibate, and I've learned from all of the mistakes that I've made in my life. I heard someone say that with God we don't win or lose, we win or learn. I'm grateful for the process that's preparing me to be the husband that I need to be. I've learned that we need to stop trusting ourselves, and assuming that we have the "will power" to resist all temptation. Sure...I'm human. I've been in situations where I've had to "push pause" and leave...or else the temptation would have been too strong for me to handle. Sometimes we all need to avoid certain situations instead of putting unnecessary confidence in ourselves. This is not just about being single and celibate. If I'm married, I don't need to be in a hotel room with a woman who is not my wife. That's asking for trouble. So, if we all need to exercise more wisdom and discipline, why not practice now? The reactions of women vary, so be prepared. Some truly respect a man who respects God, himself, and women. Others have thought I was joking. Because men have been stereotyped as predators in the dating world, it's hard for some people to believe that we want the same thing too: respect, honesty, and love. You’re a reflection of the company that you keep. My friends all think like me...that's why we're friends. I don't hang out with guys who have a predatory mentality. I try to follow the advice that I give my kids: "you're known by the people that you hang out with". So my male friends are good husbands, faithful, committed, and have strong marriages. So they celebrate my decision to be celibate, and it's not abnormal to them that I'm making every effort to do it God's way. They know I'm not perfect. I'm just trying to lay a firm foundation for a solid marriage.
During this journey, I have discovered how much discipline I have. I have celebrated intimacy (talking, listening, holding hands...) and it's made me a better man. I've found that asking questions and truly listening can reveal both qualities and "red flags". When I was young and promiscuous, I wasn't listening. I didn't care if she was good for me, and I could have cared less about holding hands. I just wanted one thing. Now, I'm a grown man, with grown man goals and dreams. And I have found that who you "do life" with can make you or break you. I've become much more selective and I feel like I got my power back after becoming celibate. Superman wasn't strong when kryptonite was around. For me, celibacy is not about sex...it's about priorities and discipline. I'm just a man who is trying to get it right in this thing called life. I do like who I am now. When I fall down, I get back up, dust myself off, and keep going forward. I just don't want to get comfortable in the pig pin, and start doing anything I feel like with anyone that let's me. That's self-destruction. So, I'm practicing loving myself more, making sure that my heart is healed completely before I remarry, and trying to be the type of man that I want my daughters to marry one day. I'm in my 40's now and I can do whatever I want to do with whoever is willing, but I've learned that just because something is permissible doesn't mean that it's beneficial. I'm proud of who I am today, and by God's grace I'm still growing.
A Candid Conversation with The Pocket Queen, Taylor Gordon By Danielle Bradford
In a world where Sheila E., Cindy Blackman, Bobbye Hall, and Meg White have dominated music as the industry’s top female drummers for decades, is there room for another? This writer humbly submits to you that there is. The bible says in Proverbs 18: 16 that “A man’s gift will make room for him.” Taylor Gordon is a gifted. She has played with major artists like Beyoncé, Fifth Harmony, Michelle Williams and Daya. She has also had the opportunity to sit in as the drummer for a week-long stint with the 8G band on Late Night with Seth Meyers. Move over girls, here she comes. The drums chose me. My name is Taylor Gordon. My stage name is the Pocket Queen. I am 29 years old and I am originally from New Orleans, Louisiana. I didn’t necessarily choose the drums. I was born with a love for the drums and my parents noticed it. Even in my life where I tried to pursue other things that didn’t have anything to do with it, it still seemed to chase me. Soooo, I have been playing since I was three (3) years old. I think I started playing at church, playing by ear, at about five (5), and those were my lessons. I was going there every Saturday because I grew up as a Seventh Day Adventist. I was learning from the drummer there at church and he would teach me things. At the time, I would only play ballads doing all of the soft little slow songs, but I wanted the fast songs (LOL). So after my parents saw that I was growing in my talent, they decided to put me in lessons and further my talent even more.
I attended Berkley College of Music. I have a Bachelor’s in Professional Music and I moved to L.A. in 2013. I felt L.A. originally because after college. I wanted to pursue learning more about music production and creating songs. I noticed that in L.A. that there is a very big scene for music production and composition. I also play guitar, bass and keys. I took guitar and bass lessons for 3 years but the drums feel more natural to me. I would say that my popularity is literally from God. My first tour that I was offered was by Musiq Soulchild when I was 18. I think it was through a video his people might have seen that only had about 500 views. The Beyonce Super Bowl performance happened through a decision to go eat at Chick-Fila. Her musical director was there and I got the call a year later. I have many influences… My influences, musically, are Stevie Wonder, Earth Wind & Fire and Zigaboo, drummer for the Meters. I’d add to the list Bernard Purdie famous for the Purdie Shuffle too. There’s also a drummer for the Dave Matthews Band named Carter Beauford that I admire. I love drummers who are very musical and don’t necessarily focus on their own instruments but actually think about how their instrument can be a tool for everyone. I stick out. I’m not something that you’re used to seeing everyday. You’re used to seeing guys who play very hard and have that certain aggression. But when you run into a woman who actually keeps her feminine nature and still plays aggressively, it is somewhat surprising. It’s like seeing a unicorn. In that way, being a woman works out great. However, I do notice that the problem that I do have is people trying to underpay or undercut me for the same amount that a man would do for higher pay. And also it’s such a song and dance when working with the opposite sex on a job with not trying to be too intimidating, especially when you’re at a place where you are asking for certain things or even demanding certain things. Sometimes you get those guys who question your authority. And I’m like, “Would you really do this if I were a guy?”
What distinguishes me from all of the other drummers is making sure that I am complimenting everyone else around me. Most of the time you find that just less is more. We often overthink what our role is. We underestimate the importance of just being consistent on your instrument and what it can do a lot for the composition as a whole. We don’t have to do something fast or showy. Just really be a team player. I think that is the number one thing that I try to be, especially in a band setting. I still have a few goals. Working with Timbaland is a goal, because he’s one of the first people that inspired me to go deeper into being creative. In his music, you hear so many sounds that you wouldn’t normally hear. He is my constant reminder that my own limitations exist only in my mind. That’s going to be his legacy. I want my legacy to be to heal. To play music that heals people and has a bigger purpose is what I need to do. The world needs healing physically, spiritually and emotionally, especially right now. BCF believes that healing will be the legacy of Taylor Gordon aka “The Pocket Queen.” Take a listen for yourself…
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By Chris L. Gilrath II It has steeped and stepped in our society like a tea bag. The stench of racism and hate against people of color lingers like the smell of fish after being warmed over in the microwave. And the murder of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. It has stirred up something in all of us. You are seeing protests from not just people of color in The United States, but White Americans and countries such as New Zealand, Germany and even Iran. It seems like everyone has had enough of America’s racism. I have had enough. I am tired. But not only am I tired of attacks on us, I am also tired of Central Park Karens and Barbecue Beckys calling the police on us, and people seeing my color as a threat. I am tired of the excuses and the talking points that continue to come up every time we cry out, every time we get angry and shout “Enough!” These tired arguments are meant to distract, take us off topic, and silence our voices. These are the talking points that you see from some news outlets, social media personalities, White people, and sadly even people who share my melanin. I am sure you have heard, seen, agreed with, disagreed with, and/or posted some of these yourself. Let us take a look, shall we? “What about Black-on-Black crime?” This talking point has come up every time we have someone die at the hands of the police or are killed by the hands of a racist. The thought behind it is that, how do we expect the police to not murder and kill us when we are out here killing ourselves. Well the answer to that is there is no such thing as Black-on-Black crime, no more than White-on-White crime or Asian-on-Asian crime. Michael Coard, who wrote the article “No Such Thing as Black on Black Crime” pulled some receipts from the Department of Justice Bureau of Statistics such as:
• •
Less than one percent of Black folks and only about 2 percent of Black men commit a violent crime in any given year. Poor urban whites have a higher rate of violence toward each other at a rate of 56.4 per 1,000 compared to poor urban Blacks at a rate of 51.3 per 1,000.
This talking point is dangerous because it implies that somehow George Floyd, Botham Jean and countless others’ deaths were warranted, just because two Black people killed each other in an incident that had nothing to do with them. It is like telling a woman that if she had dressed more conservatively, she would not have gotten sexually assaulted. It is a form of victim blaming and has absolutely nothing to do with being murdered by those paid to protect and serve us. It is bad enough when White people say it, but it is even worse when people of color buy into it and agree. “All Lives Matter!” There have been countless explanations that have been broken down to a kindergarten level for people to understand, yet people continue to shout this out. In Luke 15:3-7, even Jesus says, "Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn't leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it?” We know “all lives matter” but right now Black lives are in jeopardy and we are calling for America to go into the wilderness and go after us and save us. “There is one race, the human race!” & “I Don’t See Color!” While these are well intentioned, they do not help. When I see people posting these types of phrases or share a meme that says them, it does not help me at all. Telling me you do not see my color is in essence insulting. You need to see my color. You need to see that I am different from you. That means you understand that my reality and your reality are two different things. These kinds of statements show your privilege or ignorance. It’s also a passive-aggressive way of saying, “I’m uncomfortable talking about race, so I will just say this and hope it’s ok.” It’s really turning a blind-eye to the problem. “What is the rage over?” A friend of mine said he saw someone with a picket sign saying, “Why is there no rage over drunk drivers? I actually saw someone post this on Facebook the other day too. Let us remember there was (is) rage. Remember Mothers Against Drunk Driving? It was a mother’s rage that started MAAD and their protests and push for change which led to tougher legislation and polices that now have created tougher sentences for those who choose to drink and drive similar to what the Black Lives Matter movement is doing now. “The media is creating the racial tension!” The media? So, the media killed Ahmaud Arbery? The media broke into Botham Jean’s house and shot him while watching TV? The media didn’t put its
knee on George Floyd’s neck. While I don’t disagree that the media plays a role in fanning flames, it is not the media who’s killing people. They are reporting what they see. These are just a few that continue to come up, but there are many more. We should not have to defend asking for justice, equality and safety. To those that continue to bring these things up, we no longer have the time to rebut these talking points. America is in danger because it has a cancer in its core called racism. These talking points just metastasize the tumor rather than shrink it. Are you going to help us eradicate racism or continue to let it spread ‘til our death is imminent? The choice is yours.
Email: clgil77@gmail.com
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A healthier life begins with healthier food choices. In addition, health research and advanced technology has created innovative solutions to help accelerate the process to resolve some of our major health issues. Some of these innovative treatments is I.V. Therapy and Injections. For decades, when a person was admitted to the hospital for any issue that involves them needing hydration or nutrition, they were immediately hooked up to an IV. Why is that? Because the I.V. can deliver hydration and nutrition directly into the bloodstream. Because there is no delay or digestion required, there is no loss of potency. It is an ideal way to get the job done in a quick and efficient way. It is the equivalent to a B12 shot that gives immediate resolve to fighting a nasty cold. Although these techniques have existed for years, we can now take advantage of them in a way that pumps the fuel we need, directly into our bodies. The fuel that we’ve neglected to take in through our daily diets. The fuel that these God given bodies were built to run on. The fuel that helps us function at our optimal level. So that fuel is now available through a new treatment called Intravenous Therapy (I.V Therapy. I.V. Therapy is a new way to get what your body needs, or more accurately, what it requires. I.V. Therapy uses the same two techniques mentioned above where vitamins and nutrients are delivered directly into the bloodstream, be it by injection or I.V. drip. Not only is it offered in an array of formulas to custom fit your health needs, but it is delivered in beautiful serene lounges. Although these I.V. lounges can be found across the nation, I will share from my personal experience at the Vita-Lounge, in Orlando, Florida. The Vita Lounge specializes in both I. V. and Injection therapies, administered by a professional and knowledgeable staff. More importantly all services at these lounges are performed by Registered Nurses. A popular therapy is the Signature Drip with a boost of Glutathione. These terms may sound a bit foreign to you, but it is intriguing when you think about the benefit of having 100% of these vitamins, amino acids and antioxidants inserted directly into the bloodstream. As stated earlier these treatments are popping up across the nation and each of them offers a variety of therapies to serve your individual health needs. Injections range from $15 to $65, while I.V. drips run between $90 to $200. These therapies are custom made to address your health need. For instance, because I lead an extremely active lifestyle, I am constantly on different eating and sleeping schedules. In addition to that, I am a diabetic with high cholesterol. I do not always take the vitamins I need, and I am menopausal. In addition to my personal needs, our country has been battling the COVID 19 pandemic that has threatened everyone’s mortality. Considering all of this, I needed a healthy dose of vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants and that is what the Signature Drip with Glutathione gives me. Take a look at what it includes:
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A healthy dose of Vitamin C, the essential nutrient for immune support and many other benefits. A mineral blend that promotes strong bone health and helps lower stress and treat anxiety. A variety of B vitamins, which promote energy, a healthy metabolism, mental clarity and mitochondria support (the powerhouse of our cells). Antioxidants, which help fight free radicals, reduce signs of aging, prevent disease and remove harmful toxins.
Then there’s the boost of Glutathione, the most powerful antioxidant, that supports healthy liver function, improves brain function, heals damaged nerves, improves skin complexion and repairs cells. So how does this help me? It helps to improve chronic fatigue, nutrient deficiencies, stress, diabetes, high blood pressure, liver disease, viral and bacterial infections, heart disease, asthma and over all general wellness. All the lounges offer different combinations of drips and injections, many of them include some treatments to address some of the leading ailments our nation faces. Such things as increasing metabolism for weight loss, removal of toxins, improve mental focus, prevention of viral and bacterial infections, immune boosters, rehydration and tons more. At the end of the day, what we all want is to be well, so that we can live happy, healthy long lives. *References: The Vita Lounge website www.vitalounge.com
By Gerald Harris As we encroach upon this national day of Independence and a supposed unparalleled sense of liberty for any nation past or present it’s a national shame that my heart won’t let me see. It’s the picture of that man with a knee on the neck of another man, another human being who had committed no crime. This picture of (then officer / now murderer) Derek Chauvin, virtually rendering the body of George Floyd lifeless. Shameful is all I can say or see. The national cry should be “Shame!” We are a nation steadfast on regression, doing all we can to face backward, to go to a place that is long gone never to be returned to. Oh, some may try as we bear witness to their futile efforts that do not go by without the tragic decimating implications that too many families of young black men must suffer through. For the record, I’ll say this much. It was a total of 8 minutes and 46 seconds that this man had his knee on the neck of another human being. Two (2) minutes and 53 seconds of that time he was unresponsive. Now here is where and why my heart will not stop crying. Two minutes and fifty-three seconds this man held his knee on a dead man and nobody there did a thing to stop him. Nothing at all. At least three people employed by the local law enforcement agency in response (whose name is not worthy of mentioning to me) were there, and they were on the clock getting paid to serve and protect the citizens of that community. Think about that! Serve and protect. Getting paid. 2 minutes and 53 seconds…! This is repugnant, to put it most mildly. Yet who is to blame? The officer turned murderer? The three paid onlookers meant to serve and protect that just watched a murderer at work right in front of their very own eyes? Perhaps the Chief of Police and the antiquated training tactics that they still deploy right now? The Mayor? The Governor? The current Executive Administration? Take your pick, but they’re all to blame I say. This nation is to blame. Silence is a serial killer and we here in this country have watched and tolerated this lowly vermin for way too long in silence. The list of names in just the last five years is entirely too extensive and still too psychologically volatile to revisit for me, so let me not expound on that at all. However, what I would like to revisit is what ignited the whole civil rights movement in 1955, and that was the terrible lynching and murdering of one 14 year old Emmitt Till. There is a correlation here with these two tragic events that we should take a look at.
In today’s world of instant coverage by camera, phones and satellites everywhere, we get instant visuals and livestreams like never before. Yet the mother of Emmitt, one Mamie Elizabeth TillMobley had the strength and courage in 1955 to stand up to the crooked police department in Money, Mississippi and have her baby’s body sent home to Chicago. He had been tortured, shot, wrapped in barbed-wire, weighted with a 75-pound Gin fan, and sunk in the Tallahatchie River. He was mercilessly killed for virtually nothing at all. As anticipated, the perpetrators were surely soon acquitted of any wrongdoings. Yet she insisted on a casket with a glass top in order for the whole world to see what the monsters in Money, Mississippi had done to her child. When she initially saw him she collapsed and said: “Lord take my soul.” After she composed herself, she made her mind up that she would indeed allow all to see through this glass top coffin the torture her innocent 14year-old son endured. It’s because once people saw those horrid results of racisom that the Civil Rights movement began. And here it is now 2020, some 65 years later, and it’s the same thing. People saw this travesty. They saw and heard it and they were moved to action. All people came together in protest. Black, white, brown, red, and yellow. They stood together in solidarity like never before over the wrongful death of a black man. But this ain’t 1955, and this deviltry has got to stop! It’s gonna take the courage and conviction of a Mamie Till-Mobley personality to continue to permeate this land and encourage people to all come together and continue to take a stand against all forms of racial injustice. We need mothers, fathers and the universal family to continue to sing out in protest. Please make note that any color/race of mother can give birth to a black son by way of a black father. This is why the power and strength of women as a whole are so strong and resilient. They will do what they must to protect their children. That’s just the way it is. It’s the way nature planned it. A pigeon will fight a hawk ‘til the death in order to protect her nested babies. People, we need to support the mothers of today that are raising young black men on their own. Now more than ever we have to come together and protect the progress that has been made in the last 65 years. We cannot afford to let this slippage continue. Together we can and will overcome the evil that comes over some hardened hearted people of this world. All lives matter, but Black lives are now at the highest risk of danger and we need everyone’s support when injustice raises its nasty head. ‘Til next time, take care.
Gerald Harris
By Antionette Ross Okay so we have protested and things are changing. We have seen companies like Google, Facebook, Amazon, Target, Nike and Apple commit millions to the Black Lives Matter movement and racial injustice reform, in general. We have also seen racially offensive statues removed from public places, police departments be defunded, and laws like Breonna’s Law being passed. This is all great and much needed. But what are we going to do to close the economic gap between Blacks and the rest of the ethnic groups? We need an agenda and that much is very clear. We cannot wait for other people or entities to try and right the wrongs of the past their way. We have to drive the agenda about what’s best for us ourselves. Moreover we must think about what is best for African Americans as a whole such as: adding, changing and repealing legislation that has been harmful; student loan forgiveness; predatory loan forgiveness; defunding police departments; repealing the 13th amendment; prison reform; and reparations. This list is not meant to be exhaustive, but to demonstrate things that have been discussed lately to correct the 401 years of oppressive behavior that African Americans have suffered. For the purposes of this article, this author is only concerned about our bottom line. In the words of The O’Jays in their hit song, For the Love of Money, “I’m talking dollar bills y’all.” Make Homeownership Very Accessible Now the first thing that should be put on this agenda is homeownership. Adam Levitin in a recent article said, “The gap between white and black homeownership rates today is the largest it has been since 1890. Because homeownership is perhaps the critical way in which Americans build wealth and transfer it to their children and grandchildren, the racial homeownership gap is a central component of the racial wealth gap.”1 We need to acquire land. The barriers to homeownership need to be eradicated. This is an action item for the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the federal government as a whole. Are we going to put their feet to the fire? Darn right!
Increase the Options for Affordable Housing Affordable housing period will help to close the wealth gap. If people have access to housing, and not just low-income housing, they have an opportunity to save money. This gives people the ability to not only dream of economic advancement opportunities (i.e. entrepreneurship), but provides real access to them. This is also a matter that should be put on the agenda of the Department of Housing and Urban Development and our local congressional and senate members should be holding them accountable for making this happen. If things related to this action item are not a priority, then their positions in November should be up for grabs. Agreed? Annual Increases to the Minimum Wage Ensuring that the federal and state minimum wages are constantly increased to meet the market demands is required. Nominal wage growth since the recovery officially began in mid-2009 has been low and flat. This isn’t surprising—the weak labor market of the last seven years has put enormous downward pressure on wages. Employers don’t have to offer big wage increases to get and keep the workers they need. And this remains true even as a jobs recovery has consistently forged ahead in recent years.2 Federal agencies such as the Social Security Administration increase the benefits annually by adding a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). This branch of government understands that the recipients cannot be expected to make those payments/benefits stretch as the cost of living goes up, so they make the adjustment. Why would this be a debate or discussion point on a stagnant minimum wage? Mandatory Financial Literacy Courses in Secondary School Kids need to know how money works before they enter the workplace. They are now being taught soft skills through linked learning environments as early as middle school to help them to decide what fields interest them and to help them to acquire certifications in those chosen fields of interest. To that end, learning about money, credit, investing and doing related real world assignments and projects would only increase their linked learning skillsets. This is something that the Department of Education should mandate for all schools, especially those in urban communities.
Lending and Financing Education for Potential Homeowners Acquiring a home is wonderful, but knowing how to keep it, flip it or make it a legacy for descendants is a whole ‘nother thing. According to the authors of a 2016 research study from the National Bureau of Economic Research, “even after controlling for general risk considerations, such as credit score, loan-to-value ratio, subordinate liens, and debt-to-income ratios, Hispanic Americans are 78 percent more likely to be given a high-cost mortgage, and black Americans are 105 percent more likely.”3 This is a problem, but we must be knowledgeable in order to solve it. The Consumer Federal Protection Bureau and the Federal Reserve handle the problems and complaints against predatory lending and problems with mortgage companies. If the loan offered to you is extremely high then it is time to pull a Karen and report them! Next Steps Now that we have some major things on the agenda, we have to move forward. We can’t just sit on them like we have done in years past. We need to contact our congressional representatives by using https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials. You can use the web address to find out who your representative is and let them know your concerns. You should also ask them about committees that they are on that can further our economic agenda. They are supposed to be our lobbyists. Let’s hold them accountable for taking action on our behalf or vote them out. We owe it to our ancestors. We owe it to ourselves. We owe it to our children. That is the bottom line.
1
https://prospect.org/economy/how-to-start-closing-the-racial-wealth-gap/
2
https://www.epi.org/nominal-wagetracker/?gclid=CjwKCAjw57b3BRBlEiwA1Imytkwf3CrJbKdqgd9BxQK4VCsE7lx39NG5XxmBOPjHSqqlK_50yEjNdBoCfM0QAvD_Bw E 3
https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/02/blacks-hispanics-mortgages/471024/
LEAVING A LEGACY OF HEALTH By Lanette White
During this very uncertain time we are busier than ever, even if we are just at home. We are taking care of the kids, worrying, cooking and managing everyone else’s life. It’s time that we, as brown-eyed people, learn to manage our own lives so that we can create generational health. This writer came across Dr. Verrett virtually, while seeking help for stress and knew that what she shared with me would be good for the entire BCF community! Dr Keeley W. Verrett is a holistic healer. She is one of the few Holistic eye doctors in the world and is certified in Optometry, Iridology & Holistic Health Coaching. According to her bio, Dr. Verrett is also a graduate of Xavier University of Louisiana, University of Houston College of Optometry and Integrative Nutrition in Manhattan, New York. She has been in clinical practice for 22 years working with brown-eyed people everywhere. Her life's work has been to understand how the body and the eye are connected, and how to easily implement natural healing plans into the lives of busy, brown-eyed people. I have been doing this a long time. 22 years, in fact. I started my holistic practice about 10 years ago. And I got really interested in iridology and learning what the eyes can tell you about the body, specifically for people with brown eyes. Everything that I have done was related to this. Even when I’d gotten all my certifications and all of my education, nothing was out there specifically talking about natural healing for people with brown eyes. So that has been my passion for the last ten years, if not longer.
I think brown-eyed people staying healthy during this pandemic is a real concern. We have very unique needs as people with brown eyes. Like we are very connected to the tribe and we are not really wired to take care of ourselves first. And so what that means for me as a doctor and a healer is, when I get a call from a person with brown eyes I know that they have already been suffering for a long time. Because we are so strong, it is not like us to ask for help. We are not really wired in that way, especially women because they are going to take care of everyone else first.
I see people, even before COVID, who are pushing through an amazing amount of grief, exhaustion, pain and anxiety. The problem with that is that there is no medication to cure exhaustion. There’s no medication to cure anxiety. Most people that I meet don’t want to be on pain medication, so they are like pushing through pain levels that are extraordinary. So they’re still out there working and coping and still being extraordinary. So with that said, I think that COVID is a phenomenal time for us to stop and check in with ourselves. Because it really kind of stops this train for a minute and helps you kind of slow down and check in. So I would definitely say that, first of all, it is more than about what you eat. Certainly what you choose to eat is very very important. But we also have to check in with our emotional health, our mental health, our social health, our sexual health, and our spiritual health. And really kind of check in with those things individually and find out what’s out of balance at this particular time. Then you create a lifestyle and a routine around that. So that this time can be used so that you can effectively implement this new routine. Because the danger is that we’re going these long periods of times without taking care of ourselves and it’s only going to get worse. You must create your own kitchen pharmacy. One of the real important tenets of creating a kitchen pharmacy is creating a space where you can sit down peacefully and eat your food. Your body cannot digest your food if you are not relaxed. So you can spend a whole bunch of money in these major health and wellness markets, but if you’re running through and standing up to eat your food and not in a relaxed state of mind, it’s all for nothing. Physiologically your body has to be in a relaxed state to digest your food. So creating that space where you are relaxed and peaceful is key. Next, looking at your ingredients is important. If you can get down to just using regular salt, pepper and some onion powder, that’s best. Those are things that you know don’t have a whole bunch of stuff in it. All of the seasonings and salad dressings that we use have to be taken into account because they have so much other stuff in them. When you are having a glass of wine you basically know what’s in it, but when you are shaking all of these other seasonings and condiments on your food, you don’t know what types of toxins you are actually shaking into your body. You can actually see the fresh stuff. On a physical level one of the things that brown-eyed people suffer with is imbalance. Mineral imbalance. Blood imbalances. This is outside of getting the specific foods that are right for you. Or the specific herbs that are right for you. Just on a very base level it is a matter of pulling out your cutting board and cutting up some fresh stuff and eating it. Foods from the earth are important. You would be surprised how many of us go days, weeks and months without getting anything nutritious in our lives on just a basic food level. Anything that your grandmothers taught you about getting earth foods in your body and as many of those as you can, not even being specific about it, do that. A lot of us, when we are stressed out, don’t like to eat or either we grab junk. So really taking the opportunity when you are hungry to get in as many earth foods as you can is vital. Get something that grows in the ground and get it in your body. When you do that and you continue to do it over time, you tend to not have as many cravings for the other stuff. But it is important that you don’t fill those times of hunger with junk because your body will tell you that you are full but you are really starving on the inside. Here’s how that trickles down.
When you’re starving in your physical body, which is when you have not had enough foods that your body can use, then your body is going to start taking resources from other places. It will start taking resources from your brain, so there’s the anxiety. It’s going to start taking resources from your joints which produces arthritis, joint pain, etc. It will start taking resources from your heart which produces chest pains, panic attacks, and those kinds of things. So on a very base level really understanding our blood constitution and making sure that you are getting in good mineralized foods. That doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. The key is to learn how to take care of yourself no matter how busy you are. Most of us have already taken care of a loved one who’s sick and we’ve felt very, very powerless when we see our loved ones die or get sick. So we have to understand that if we are pushing through amazing amounts of exhaustion, pain and anxiety that’s your body’s way of saying “Hey you need to slow down and figure this thing out.” Or you going to go down the same road that you’ve seen your loved ones go down? The real key is that the routine has to be sustainable. It has to be something that you can do when you don’t have any money. It also has to be something in your everyday life that doesn’t cost a lot of time either. This writer feels that we, as a society, have focused a lot of our energy on leaving a legacy of money and education, and all of that is good. But if we don’t leave the future generations a legacy of healthy living (physically, mentally, emotionally, etc…), all of the other legacies won’t really matter.
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By Settie Crowell
This quarantine has given us all new ways to communicate. Video-conferencing has become second nature to most of us, whether it is a work norm or a way to stay connected to your friends. We all do it. We WebEx, Google Meet, Google Hangout and God knows we Zoom. Now we have been doing this for almost four months as an entire society and we are still having some problems adjusting. So, let me offer a few tips on what not to do during the video conference call. #1: Don’t unmute unless you are the speaker… We can hear your dog barking, your neighbor’s lawn being mowed, and the other conversations going on in your house. I was just on a call with Colleague #1 who doesn’t like to be “controlled”, so when he entered the Zoom he automatically unmuted himself, because the host had muted all of the participants upon entry. Good rule, right? No, not for homeboy! So here we go listening to his television show and his phone constantly beep for five (5) minutes signaling that he had text messages or emails. So what did one very irritated co-worker do? He sent a message in the chat to Everyone saying “Spoiler Alert: Joey’s going to ask her out. Just saw that episode of Full House last night.” It was hilarious! The guy turned completely red; everyone was laughing (body language); and he has never unmuted himself again. I was there for it too, low key. LOL! #2: Don’t come half-dressed… Although we all realize that you are at home, you’re still at work fam. Come on now. Comb your hair and for God’s sake put some clothes on! Case in point, Colleague #2 was looking flawless: full make-up, perfectly coiffed hair, and a very cute blouse. We all complimented her on her look that day too! She was beaming!
Well while she was speaking, we all heard something break. She understandably jumped up to handle the emergency, but as she did, we saw that her bottom did not match her top. I mean she only had on sleep shorts that were really, really short and had formed a wedgie. You could hear the audible gasps, even through the muted screens. We all got to know a lot more about her booty than we ever wanted or needed to know. Every dimple, crease and blemish was on public display. The next day we received an email about appropriate dress during video conference calls. Yeah…a little too late. I can hardly look her in the eye when we are conversing in meetings now. I can never unsee that. Yep, I’m pretty much scarred for life. #3: Don’t bring Lassie… Please PETA supporters don’t come for me, but the workplace, which is now your home office, is not the place for pets. I don’t want to see your cute little Yorkie, Poodle, Lab, Collie or St. Bernard during the meeting. He is disturbing my ability to focus. When we were in the face-to-face meetings I could barely focus, now it is even more difficult just being in my own environment. Then you go and bring the dog and hold him up for everyone to approve and compliment and extend the meeting time even more. He’s moving around in your lap. He’s grabbing things out of your hand. He’s licking you. It’s a lot. I’m watching you now. I don’t want to listen to the boss at all anymore, but I’m being paid to. Know that I dislike you very much at this point. It’s all fake love over here now fam…
So I encourage you to do what you would do when you would go into the office. It’s not that hard. Because if you do not, you will eventually become the covert subject for a written directive and that’s not the kind of public recognition you want… Or is it?
y Steffanie Rivers, THEE Travel Diva I saw a father and his daughter riding a bicycle built for two the other day. I had not seen one of those bikes since I rode one with my mother 45 years ago. I watched parents fishing in a nearby lake with their small children, while others laid out on blankets in the park, in the middle of the week. I’ve been told family movie night has re-emerged. And the dining room tables in many homes have been cleared of clutter to make room for – wait for it – eating dinner together like families of old. If this is what a world pandemic can do – get families to spend more quality time together and to rethink their priorities – it hasn’t been for naught. Still, if cabin fever has you wanting to reinstate summer vacation plans or at least jump-starting any travel routines keep these ‘new normal’ practices in mind: Pack your protective masks with your passport, swim wear and sunscreen. Most airports require everyone to wear protective masks once you pass through security. It is just a matter of time before all Transportation Security (TSA) Agents start to add electronic temperature checks to the screening process. If your temperature is above 99 degrees you might not be allowed to start your journey. If you make it through security, all passengers older than six (6) must wear masks for boarding and throughout flights. The safety of the general flying public is the first priority for Homeland Security and for commercial airlines. Depending on how long the flight is, food and beverage services have been curtailed to help crews practice social distancing. Bottled water and lite snacks are distributed upon boarding. And beverage service is available upon request during the flight. If your routine is to fly just once or twice a year, for summer vacation and the Christmas holidays, you will be surprised to find most airports – even major hubs – are operating at reduced capacity. They are akin to modern day ghost towns. Most airport restaurants and other storefronts are closed because airlines’ ridership has dropped dramatically. So pack food that travels easily, such as fruit and cold cut sandwiches. Even during challenging times such as these, great discounts on airline tickets have coaxed travelers back to the friendly skies. And those who considered air travel out of their price range are showing up in record numbers. My book, The Do’s And Don’ts Of Flying: A Flight Attendant’s Guide To Airline
Travel Secrets, is a great reference to help passengers have the best flying experience at 30,000 feet. While some international vacation spots have remained open to tourists throughout the pandemic, in many areas patrons are required to wear masks inside retail establishments. So know before you go. In Hawaii, for example, officials required a 14-day quarantine for everyone arriving to the islands, never mind that your vacation wasn’t planned for that long. Potentially your entire visit to the islands would be spent inside the hotel room, only leaving for food and other essentials. That means you might as well have stayed at home, if all you’re allowed to do is look out the hotel room window and order pizza. Cities that have had larger numbers of its residents to contract COVID 19 have imposed their own methods for trying to curtail the spread in their jurisdictions. So don’t wait until you arrive at the airport in Hawaii or other locales to realize those restrictions. One couple was arrested for twice defying the quarantine after they posted photos on social media of them having fun at the beach. Two words of advice: Call ahead. Ignorance of the rules is no excuse. If you don’t plan to follow local ordinances, don’t go. Or an arrest record could be your latest vacation story. Did you say road trip? If you thought being quarantined at home with family members has been a test of your patience and love for each other, maybe a long car ride is not for you. That’s the bad news. The good news is depending on where you live, a short car ride could be the start to a great family adventure. The best thing about living along the east coast and the Interstate-95 corridor is the Atlantic Ocean, the mountains and other attractions are within a day’s drive. A road trip along I-40 can take you across the country from the east to the west coasts in a few days with endless tourist spots along the way. And I-10 will take you along the Pacific Ocean. Living near one of these major interstates offers scenic views and countless opportunities to stop, shop and sample different cuisines.
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By Chef Kymmy Ingredients: 2 tbsp. Olive Oil 2 Carrots (diced) 3 Celery Stalks (diced) 1 Medium Onion (diced) 2 tbsp. Salt 2 tbsp. Curry Powder 2 tbsp. Cumin 2 tbsp. Turmeric 2 tbsp. fresh Thyme 1 tbsp. ground Ginger (minced) 2 cloves Garlic 1 32 oz. can Diced Tomatoes 10 cups Vegetable Broth 1 lb. bag Golden Lentils 5 oz. bag Spinach Lime Zest of 2 Limes Cilantro for garnish Directions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Medium heat a stock pot with Olive Oil then add Carrots, Celery, and Onions and cook until onions pearl; add Garlic. Add in Curry Powder, Cumin, Turmeric, Thyme, and Ginger and stir around for about 3 minutes until fragrant. Add Tomatoes, cook for another 3 minutes Add Vegetable Broth and Lentils. Bring to a boil, and then turn heat to low simmer. Let simmer for about an hour and a half or to desired tenderness. Once soup is done, throw in fresh Spinach to wilt and Lime Zest. Garnish with Cilantro and serve. Delish!!! Facebook: Instagram:
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Making Power Moves By Lanette White Breanna Taylor, Bettie Jones, Tiara Thomas, Nuwnah Laroche, Sandra Bland, Natasha McKenna, Atatiana Jefferson, Pamela Turner, Korryn Gaines, Yvette Smith, Miriam Carey, Shelley Frey, Darnisha Harris, Malissa Williams, Shantel Davis, Rekia Boyd, Tarika Wilson, Kathryn Johnston, Kendra James, Tyisha Miller, and Aiyanna Stanley-Jones were all unarmed Black women killed by police in the last five years. And although we won’t rest until their killers are either arrested or fired for their crimes against humanity, there has to be more than we can do than say their names. In order to figure out how to navigate our way during this climate of civil unrest, let us look to our leaders both past and present.
Abolitionists We had our sister, Harriet Tubman aka “Moses”, who was an abolitionist and modeled how the work may take sacrifice. Harriet, like Moses, was a freedom fighter when she, herself, should have been a slave. She took it upon herself to continuously come back and put her life at risk for others. Her power moves allowed her to assist about 70 slaves to freedom. Another sister, Mary Richardson Jones, worked alongside her husband to abolish slavery. They harbored slaves and held abolitionists’ meetings at their homes.1 She was actually brought up on charges and taken to court for harboring slaves in Maryland in 1860. The charges were dropped because her mother was a white woman.2
Civil Rights’ Movers & Shakers Dorothy Height was known as the “Godmother of the Civil Rights Movement” because of her depth of work the fight for civil rights since the 1930s. Ms. Height helped to organize events during the Modern Civil Rights Movement, such as the 1963 March on Washington. Diana Nash, a student attending Fisk University in 1959, joined the civil rights movement in Nashville, Tennessee. By 1960, she was one of the most celebrated and respected student leaders in the city. She was key in forming the Nashville sit-ins. She also helped maintain the Freedom Rides through the Deep South. 3
Black Lives Matter Patrisse Khan-Cullors is an artist, organizer, and freedom fighter from Los Angeles. She is a co-founder of Black Lives Matter, Founder of Dignity and Power Now, author, and a Sydney Peace Prize awardee. She is a strategist and helps to steer the efforts to change national policy and legislation. Alicia Garza is an organizer, writer, public speaker, and freedom fighter who is currently the Special Projects Director for the National Domestic Workers Alliance and a co-founder of Black Lives Matter. Her focus has been ensuring that the issues of gender, gender bias and sexual orientation are not lost in the quest for racial equality. Opal Tometi is a New York-based Nigerian-American writer, strategist, and community organizer. Opal is a co-founder of #BlackLivesMatter. Opal is known for creating the online platforms and initiating the social media strategy.4
What Can You Do? Most of the women named here are not well-known by the public or referred to in our history books, but they made phenomenal contributions to movements that have changed the lives for many Black people. All of the women mentioned used their passion for their people and natural talents to help change the world. You have to be you, queen. Whether you get out and raise a sign at a protest or make masks for protesters, fight. If you are not sure about what you can do, then join your local chapter of Black Lives Matter, the NAACP, Change.Org or even the Color of Change organizations and they will have plenty of volunteer opportunities for you. There are plenty of other organizations collaborating in this work as well. Doing nothing is not an option. Come on queen. It’s time to get up off of your throne, make some power moves and to say their names!
1 https://www.civilwarinart.org/items/show/64 2
https://www.lib.umd.edu/civilwarwomen/womens-histories/free-black-women https://nmaahc.si.edu/sites/default/files/images/black_women_civil_rights_movement_5.pdf 4 https://blacklivesmatter.com/our-co-founders/ 3
Lanette White