Insight ::: 04.08.2024

aside to appreciate the contributions

women have made to the human journey through time and across the world. Women have touchpoints in world history that changed the course of civilizations. Women have taken an ounce of courage and reflected compassion, intelligence, curiosity, and determination to whatever cause they are championing. So many women through time have looked at their position in their homes, communities, and the world and decided to change the rules of engagement. Every day, I wake to take on the role and responsibilities of a Chief Executive Officer at a century’s old organization started by a woman yet historically run by men. Frances Wisebart Jacobs sought to help a neighbor in dire straits 137 years ago. This act of kindness became the foundation for United Way Worldwide. As a woman, I feel especially tasked with building on the culture and service of her legacy.

they can also give us a glimpse of the spirit and soul of the person. Such is the case of Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith, a superager (https://bit. ly/ERSsuperager) who is still going strong today at 109 ½ years old. Born in Grinnell, Iowa, Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith is the first Black woman to graduate from Grinnell College, class of 1937. With a major in psychology and minors in sociology and economics,

she made institutional history during the fiscal austerity of the Great Depression and three decades before Civil Rights Movement. “She knows how to take a picture,” says Libby Eggert’25, a Grinnell College junior, who worked with me as we examined family photographs of Mrs. Renfrow Smith’s girlhood. Eggert was commenting on a pair of 1915 photographs. Even as a toddler, Edith Renfrow was standing tall and proud. These images are part of the Renfrow family’s long tradition of photographic record keeping. Lovingly preserved for over a century, they provide important clues to Mrs. Renfrow Smith’s determination. They help us understand how in 1933, a young 18-yearold Edith Renfrow “recruited myself” to the elite liberal arts college in her hometown.

If I were to make a list of the people who have shaped my life, it would be an even split of men and women. So many of the experiences that shaped my life have a root in service – and many of these service opportunities were defined by women leaders. I benefited from women in my community who volunteered to be Sunday School teachers, Scout leaders, and program leaders for social clubs like Junior Achievement. I saw how the world took shape around the leadership of women. I never felt women were in competition with men. I have always seen women as equal when set to a task. The civil and women’s rights author Sojourner Truth said, “I have as much muscle as a man and can do as much as any man.” Since the time of my youth, I have seen women take on every task required of men successfully. Successful societies have successful women. Women’s History Month brings so many trailblazers to mind. Women who built lasting legacies. Amelia Earhart was an aviation pioneer. She made no excuses and brokered no argument about her right to conquer the skies. She knew what she wanted and once summed it up simply – “courage is the price that life exacts for granting peace.”

Think on that for a moment –

Louis Gossett Jr., the groundbreaking actor whose career spanned over five decades and who became the first Black actor to win an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor for his memorable role in “An Officer and a Gentleman,” has died. Gossett, who was born on May 27, 1936, in Brooklyn, N.Y., was 87. Recognized early on for his resilience and nearly unmatched determination, Gossett arrived in Los Angeles in 1967 after a stint on Broadway. He sometimes spoke of being pulled over by law enforcement en route to Beverly Hills, once being handcuffed to a tree, which he remembered as a jarring introduction to the racial tensions of Hollywood. In his memoir “An Actor and a Gentleman,” Gossett

industry. Despite the hurdles,

talent shone brightly, earning him acclaim in groundbreaking productions such as “A Raisin in the Sun” alongside Sidney Poitier. His Emmy-winning portrayal of Fiddler in “Roots” solidified his status as a trailblazer, navigating a landscape fraught with racial prejudice. According to the HistoryMakers, which interviewed him in 2005, Gossett’s journey into the

limelight began during his formative years at PS 135 and Mark Twain Junior High School, where he demonstrated early leadership as the student body president. His passion for the arts blossomed when he starred in a “You Can’t Take It With You” production at Abraham Lincoln High School, catching the attention of talent scouts who propelled him onto Broadway’s stage in “Take A Giant Step.” His stellar performance earned him the prestigious Donaldson Award for Best Newcomer to Theatre in 1952. Though initially drawn to sports, Gossett’s towering 6’4” frame and athletic prowess led him to receive a basketball scholarship at New

York University. Despite being drafted by the New York Knicks in 1958, Gossett pursued his love for acting, honing his craft at The Actors Studio under the tutelage of luminaries like John Sticks and Peggy Fury.

In 1961, Gossett’s talent caught the eye of Broadway directors, leading to roles in acclaimed productions such as “Raisin in the Sun” and “The Blacks,” alongside legends like James Earl Jones, Cicely Tyson, Roscoe Lee Brown, and Maya Angelou. Transitioning seamlessly to television, Gossett graced small screens with appearances in notable shows like “The Bush Baby” and “Companions in Nightmare.” Gossett’s silver

screen breakthrough came with his role in “The Landlord,” paving the way for a prolific filmography that spanned over 50 movies and hundreds of television shows. From “Skin Game” to “Lackawanna Blues,” Gossett captivated audiences with his commanding presence and versatile performances.

However, his portrayal of “Fiddler” in Alex Haley’s groundbreaking miniseries “Roots” earned Gossett critical acclaim, including an Emmy Award. The HistoryMakers noted that his golden touch extended to the big screen, where his role

recounted the ordeal, noting the challenges faced by Black artists in the

Gossett’s

Photos Capture the Spirit and Soul Photographs capture not just images;

Photos courtesy of Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith Edith Renfrow Smith with portrait of self (2007).

By Tamara BeauboeufLafontant, EdD

Louise R. Noun ’29 Chair in Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies, Grinnell College

Irma McClaurin Edith Renfrow Smith with Tamara Beauboeuf-Lafontant.

The U.S. Small Business Administration has named De’Vonna Pittman of Nature’s Syrup Beauty the 2024 SBA Minnesota Women in Business Champion of the Year. In recognition of National Small Business Week, SBA’s Minnesota District will recognize its 2024 state winners locally in the weeks ahead.

“We are thrilled to recognize De’Vonna Pittman for her efforts in uplifting Minnesota’s women-owned small businesses,” said SBA’s Minnesota District Director, Brian McDonald. “De’Vonna has demonstrated a profound commitment to community and charitable causes, serving as an inspiration to us all.”

De’Vonna Pittman, founder and CEO of Nature’s Syrup Beauty, transitioned from a career in public service to embark on a journey in the beauty industry. After cutting her chemically relaxed hair, she founded her brand, emphasizing care for textured hair. In 2022,

she joined the Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women: Black in Business Cohort, reaching the finals and securing 3rd place in the pitch contest.

Recognized as the Emerging Business of the Year in 2023 by the National Association of Women Business Owners, De’Vonna’s 18 years of public service included roles in housing, community works, transit, public safety, and administration at Hennepin County. As a social entrepreneur and three-time author, she founded the Minnesota Black Authors Expo in 2016, fostering a space for African American literature. As a 2015 Josie R. Johnson Leadership Fellow and a University of St. Thomas graduate with a master’s in public safety and law enforcement, De’Vonna was appointed to the Emerging Entrepreneur Board by Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flannagan in 2022.

De’Vonna received funding from Neighborhood

Business

Development Center, an SBA microlender, to start and scale

Nature’s Syrup Beauty. By providing carefully curated and sourced hair and skincare products, Nature’s Syrup Beauty has not only established a strong local presence but has also successfully penetrated major online retail platforms. This versatility allows the brand to serve diverse customers, with a range of beauty needs.

Nature’s Syrup Beauty has experienced significant growth since its founding in 2017, transitioning from formulating products parttime in De’Vonna’s kitchen, to operating out of a flexible warehouse space spanning 300 square feet. In February, operations relocated to a nearly 1000 square foot space.

In 2023 alone, De’Vonna contributed financially to various impactful initiatives, including creative artist communities and nonprofit organizations, working toward the sustainability of

small businesses. Notably, she actively participated in a cohort of community builders curated by the Black Collective Foundation and granted over $750,000 to 25 local businesses and individuals dedicated to enhancing the lives of Black people in Minnesota.

National Small Business Week 2024 is taking place the first week of May

Two property tax refunds are better than one.

At least that’s the idea behind HF4826, a bill sponsored by Rep. Kristin Robbins (R-Maple Grove) that would establish a system by which seniors could receive an advance payment of half of their homestead credit refund in the spring and the rest in the fall.

The House Taxes Committee laid the bill over, as amended, Tuesday for possible inclusion in a larger tax bill.

“This fall, I heard from so many senior homeowners in my district whose homes are totally paid off,” Robbins said. “They want to stay in their homes, and they struggle with cash flow. I wondered what to do, and then

when we made the advance credit payment for the child credit, I thought, ‘Why couldn’t we do that for seniors?’”

While those seniors wouldn’t get a check from the state, they might be writing a smaller one, as it’s a reduction in their property tax bill. Instead of paying the full amount of their property taxes in the spring and having their fall payment reduced by the homestead credit refund, the proposed change would result in a smaller sum being sent the government’s way both early and late in the year. And it doesn’t mean that they’re cutting into the operating budgets of their municipality or school district: They’d get the same amount of money, but the state would be covering part of their payment.

The change would be effective for property taxes paid in 2026, with applications for the advance credit beginning in 2025. Those eligible would need to be age 65 or older, or, in the case of married claimants filing a joint claim, one spouse must be 65 or older and the other 62 or older.

extended family has long documented itself in stories, photos, and artifacts.

Both Mrs. Renfrow Smith and her daughter, Miss Alice Frances Smith, a retired preschool teacher, are keepers of what I call the Renfrow Family Archives. And as interest has developed in their family’s deep roots in Grinnell, Iowa, they have graciously shared with the town and College over 150 images spanning almost a century and a half. Among the photographs are both professional studio prints and family snapshots, with several visually chronicling Edith Renfrow’s

development from a girl to a young woman. It was Edith Renfrow Smith’s far-seeing mother, Eva Pearl Craig Renfrow (1875-1962), who arranged to have professional studio photographers preserve key life events, like her daughter’s Grinnell College graduation in 1937. What is captured in this posed commencement photo is a 22-year-old Edith Renfrow standing proudly with her regalia in full view. Mama Renfrow knew the significance of record-making, and she ensured that her daughter’s achievement would be visible. Despite being the only Black student on campus during her four years and the first Black woman graduate, there is no Grinnell College photo of Edith Renfrow’s accomplishment.

The majority of family photos of Edith Renfrow taken as a girl are snapshots and along with other Black feminists, I see these as “critical records” of a person’s everyday

life. Paul, her younger brother and primary playmate, took most of the informal pictures of her using the newly-developed handheld Kodak Brownie camera that was marketed to children at the turn of the 20th century. The resulting images offer a powerful lens into Edith Renfrow’s becoming, and they help us to fill in the silences and gaps of institutional archives. The images of Edith Renfrow as a schoolgirl and teenager feature a familiar stance – her back is straight, her shoulders square, and her eyes meet the photographic moment. How she carries herself resonates deeply with her sense of self. She grew up knowing her maternal grandparents who were born into slavery and recalls this of them: “Grandma stood straight…. I don’t think people, unless they had osteo[porosis], I think they all had straight postures. They never were bent over. That wasn’t [their way]; they weren’t from a bent over generation.”

The riches of a family home

The informal snapshot photographs of Edith Renfrow also reflect her upbringing in her family home. “Mama’s house” still stands. Bought in 1917 and owned by Mrs. Renfrow Smith until 2004, it was a space of proud home ownership and self-possession. 411 1st Avenue nurtured Edith Renfrow over the first 22 years of her life. It is where she heard her mother’s affirmation on a daily basis. [Mama] said, ‘I don’t care who it is. There is no one born any better than you are. They may have more money and they may be more beautiful. They may have outward things. But there’s no one any better.’ So naturally if you’re taught there’s no one any better than you are, why you think you’re pretty special. And so, I think that that made a great difference.

Renfrow Smith

From 4

This motto is what historian Tiya Miles calls a Black maternal “care package” and it is loaded with what sociologist Tara J. Yosso terms “aspirational capital,” a form of community richness defined as “the ability to maintain hopes and dreams for the future, even in the face of real and perceived barriers.”

Mama Renfrow was also “dyed in the wool” for the college education she herself had been too poor to pursue, and she insisted that all six Renfrow children earn bachelor’s degrees. By the time Edith Renfrow entered Grinnell in 1933, she had the example of her four older siblings attending college – Fisk University, Iowa State University, the University of Iowa, and Hampton Institute (now Hampton University). It was from her mother’s hosting of the few Black men who attended Grinnell College for Sunday dinners in the 1920s that Edith Renfrow the schoolgirl “caught a vision” of pursuing her mother’s educational

WHM

why did women throughout time describe the need for courage? As women, do we face uniquely dangerous headwinds when we seek opportunity?

Gossett Jr Jr. From 3

expectation in their hometown. Filled with this confidence and bold desiring, an 18-year-old Edith Renfrow stands in the crook of her family’s porch. She is radiant and comfortable in her skin. While she was a Black girl in a white rural town, growing up as a member of the working poor during the Great Depression, she was also guided by a sense of possibility. Like her siblings, Edith Renfrow had to work to support her educational dreams, and she strategically delayed her enrollment at Grinnell College by a semester to improve her secretarial skills. This allowed her to support herself through two on campus office jobs rather than the domestic work most Black women in Grinnell had no choice but to take on.

For over a century, Edith Renfrow Smith has carried and shared her mother’s profound message of inherent worth. Such was the deep lesson she taught her 5th and 6th grade students over the 22 years she was a Chicago Public School master teacher, and it was the value she brought to her almost three decades of volunteering in her retirement.

Recovering a first: The Grinnell College Edith Renfrow Smith ’37 Archival Project

From 3 as Sergeant Emil Foley in “An Officer and a Gentleman” earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, making him a trailblazer in Hollywood history. Beyond the glitz and

Although Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith is a proud graduate of Grinnell College, who recruited Grammy and Academy Award winning composer and jazz pianist Herbie Hancock ’60 to attend, she has been a “hidden figure” over most of the nearly nine decades she’s been an alumna. Throughout the 20th century, she regularly attended reunions, but she has only recently entered the institution’s narrative. In fact, even the president who handed her diploma in 1937 failed to include her in his 1953 history of the College.

It took the labors of a Black alumna, Alphanette White Price ’57, to bring initial and well-overdue recognition to the groundbreaker, and in 2007, the Edith Renfrow Smith ’37 Student Art Gallery was dedicated. (See the Summer 2007 Grinnell Magazine story, “A woman worth knowing: Edith Renfrow Smith ’37).

At Commencement in May 2019, just shy of turning 105, Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith received an honorary doctorate of human letters from her alma mater (https://www. grinnell.edu/news/edith-renfrow-smith-37-doctor-humane-letters#:~:text=Edith%20 Renfrow%20Smith%20’37%20 received,at%20Grinnell%20

In some cases and places, yes. Women have died seeking access to their dreams, desires, and dignity. Never forget that. Many women walked a lonely road while others benefited from collaboration with other women. The late author and poet Maya Angelou spoke to being part of an unnamed sisterhood when she said, “each time a woman stands up for herself without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.” As an undergraduate, I came to recognize and appreciate the collective work of sisterhoods like sororities and social clubs. These collaborative women take on an array of challenges facing their communities. It’s amazing that some of today’s sororities are more than a century old and

glamour of Hollywood, Gossett was deeply committed to community activism. In 1964, he co-founded a theater group for troubled youth alongside James Earl Jones and Paul Sorvino,

College%20Commencement%202019 ).

In the 12 years between these events, however, she was forgotten and then discovered again. In 2014 when visiting her hometown with her daughter, Mrs. Renfrow Smith stayed at a local bed and breakfast. It was the inn’s owner who learned of her standing as the College’s first Black alumna and telephoned the president’s office. Dr. Raynard Kington, the first Black and openly gay president of Grinnell College, then learned about and met the first Black woman graduate of Grinnell College, halfway into his tenure.

I joined the Grinnell faculty in fall 2019, and in summer 2021, I launched the archival project, “A first among us: The undergraduate experience of Edith Renfrow Smith ‘37.” Too often Black women’s achievements are overlooked or trivialized. As a Black feminist scholar, I knew Mrs. Renfrow Smith was not just a first but a groundbreaker. I knew she had entered a space not prepared for her when she enrolled at Grinnell College. I knew that she had to have a network of support to pursue her coursework as the only Black student on campus. And, I knew that she

had a story worth knowing and telling because it was a story of resilience, imagination, and change.

Over the last three years, I’ve led Team Renfrow, an undertaking of students, alumni, and townspeople, to recognize Mrs. Renfrow Smith’s presence at Grinnell College and her extended family’s significant roots in the town of Grinnell. Since fall 2021, I’ve curated a website – http://edithrenfrowsmith.sites. grinnell.edu – to promote her visibility.

No longer a hidden figure: Renfrow Hall Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith’s personal and ancestral legacy of Black accomplishments and perseverance will be enshrined forever with the opening of Renfrow Hall in Fall 2024. Focused on community engagement, Renfrow Hall speaks to her commitments to her hometown and to the importance of inclusive community (https://bit.ly/ERSgrinnellrenfrowhallnaming).

To me, Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith is a Black Girl Groundbreaker who was powerfully nurtured by her mother and extended family to carry her own light. We who follow in her footsteps appreciate that she defiantly imagined herself at

still operating impactfully today. At the end of the day, in order for women to lead others in any environment – board room or elected office – we must acknowledge that the ones who came before weakened the structures that once blocked our access. Learn their names and their stories – not just during the month of March but continually. As I’ve taken time to expand my understanding of these brave women, I will look to my own legacy as a leader, and seek ways to challenge the unnecessary barriers we still face. I will honor the words of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg – “Women belong in all the places where decisions are being made. It shouldn’t be that women are the exception.”

Grinnell College and know that she has made our own presence and belonging possible. Watch the live broadcast with Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith on The Conversation With Al McFarlane, March 17, 2024 (https://www.youtube.com/live/sQJxEMmce0g?si=Zmk9xSA6YorJOLZ9 ) Tamara Beauboeuf-Lafontant, EdD, https:// www.grinnell.edu/user/beauboeuf )is a womanist sociologist and holds the Louise R. Noun Chair in Gender, Women’s, and Sexuality Studies at Grinnell College. Her published work has examined the “politicized mothering” of Black women teachers, the embodied costs of being a strong Black woman (https://tupress.temple.edu/ books/behind-the-mask-of-thestrong-black-woman), and the liberal arts vision of “living abundantly” (https://ugapress. org/book/9780820361659/tolive-more-abundantly/) championed by Lucy Diggs Slowe, the first professionally trained African American student affairs administrator. She is at work on a book manuscript tentatively titled, ‘No one is better than you’: Edith Renfrow Smith and the nurturing of a Black girlhood in a white Midwestern town, 19141937

Again, I encourage you to discover the women from our past and present day who are using their voices and talents, and most importantly, their courage to shape the future for all women.

https://www. unitedway.org/blog/reflectionson-women-in-history

setting the stage for his lifelong dedication to mentoring and inspiring the next generation. Gossett’s tireless advocacy for racial equality culminated in the establishment of Eracism, a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating racism both domestically and abroad. Throughout his illustrious career, Gossett remained a beacon of strength and resilience, using his platform to uplift marginalized voices and champion social change. Gossett is survived by his children, Satie and Sharron.

I have never forgotten that moment—and all of the other moments of triumphs and tragedies, cases and controversies that we have experienced through the years—which is why I am so proud to support DP’s Florida Senate candidacy this year! To that end, I am humbly asking each of my Hobbservation Point subscribers to join me by contributing whatever amount you can to help in the

At 109 years-old, Edith Renfrow Smith, master teacher, reflects on a century of change

By Pulane Choane Contributing Writer

In the twilight of March, as the world pays homage to the indomitable essence of women during International Women’s Month, the airwaves of 90.3 FM KFAI serve as an outlet for the wisdom and experiences of Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith, a living testament to resilience and fortitude. Joined by her daughter, Alice Smith, age 78, who actively supports her centenarian mother, the Conversation with Al McFarlane, hosted by Al McFarlane and Dr. Irma McClaurin, Mrs Edith Renfrow Smith reflected on her extraordinary journey –one marked by perseverance and a steadfast commitment to education. Says Dr. McClaurin, “I had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Renfrow Smith in Chicago while I was at my alma mater for a month residency.” Mrs. Smith’s vitality belies her age of over a century, McClaurin said. At that visit, “Having spent about four hours with her, [at the end] I was tired and she was ready to keep going.” Against this backdrop of history and personal connection, Dr. McClaurin’s wrote a poem as a lyrical tribute to the resilience and wisdom of Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith: When Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith Speaks, the Voice of Our Elders Ring Clear

(excerpt) …Meeting her in 2024/ has lifted me up/ made me realize/that I can partake/ as a Black alumna, / Class of 1973, /in the Grinnell College legacy. / It is mine to claim/ now that I know/ that people like Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith/ came before me, / and that Black families once thrived/ in the town of Grinnell. / Her legacy of belonging in Iowa/ is now mine to claim. / Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith/ has become an anchor, / my anchor, / of Black pride/and resilience. / Her message, “not mine to carry,”/ is an inspiration for me, / for Black Grinnell students/ and Black Grinnell alum/today and tomorrow. / Her story lets us know, /whether we stand/ as one or many, / we have every right/ to be in this space/ called Grinnell College. / We belong here, / if we have the courage/ to believe/ that it is our Legacy to claim. / She is also the touchstone/ for ALL Grinnellians to feel they belong.

First Meeting: Mrs. Edith Renfrow

©Irma McClaurin

Mrs. Smith’s reminiscences offer a poignant window into the trials and tribulations of her upbringing in Grinnell, Iowa. “Ever watch people look at you like you’re strange?” she reflects, her words tinged with the weight of lived experience. This moving reflection encapsulates the isolation and alienation she felt as the one of the few Black families in her community, shedding light on the harsh realities of racial segregation in early 20th-century America. Amidst the shadows of this discrimination, Mrs. Smith found solace in the embrace of family and community. “My mother’s close relatives, we were all together within one block of each other,”

she recalls, her voice suffused with warmth and nostalgia. These bonds of kinship served as pillars of support, providing a sense of belonging amidst the agitated landscape of prejudice and discrimination.

The conversation pivots to Mrs. Smith’s transformative years at Grinnell College, where she found acceptance and camaraderie among the student body. “Grinnell College students were the ones that were playing with us, teaching us games,” she reminisces, her voice brimming with fond memories. This glimpse into her collegiate experience underscores the transformative power of education in fostering empathy and understanding across cultural divides.

After graduating, Mrs. Smith ventured to Chicago in search of opportunity amidst the Great Depression. Against the backdrop of the world’s longest and greatest economic recession periods, Mrs. Smith’s journey was an auspicious one, as the roads she ventured on led her to a successful path. “We came and all 12 of us got a job,” she reflects, her words resonating with the tenacity and resourcefulness that defined her generation. These words are even more resonant she confesses that “There were no jobs,” thus making her story a testament to the bravery of the human spirit in the face of adversity, offering hope and inspiration to future generations. As a teacher, Mrs. Smith dedicated over two decades to shaping young minds, leaving an enduring mark on generations of students. “The master teacher had to introduce many of these young teachers to their children,” she explains, emphasizing the importance of cultural understanding in education. Her commitment to providing a nurturing environment for learning speaks to the transformative impact of dedicated educators in shaping the trajectory of young lives. Mrs. Smith reflects on her own “master teacher”, a woman who she cites as the most influential woman in her life—Dr. Connor, a teacher at Grinnell College who ignited her passion for learning. Through her mentorship, Dr.

Connor instilled within Mrs. Smith a love of knowledge that would shape her journey for years to come.

Throughout her journey, Mrs. Smith drew strength from the timeless wisdom imparted by her mother, Ms. Eva Pearl. “When you go to school, you don’t know very much and children laugh at you. But mother always taught us before we left home, you are the most important person in the world. There’s no one like you. Nobody … Nobody is more beautiful ... But no one is better than you. There is one Edith Smith, and she is it”.

These words of encouragement instilled within her a sense of self-worth and heroism, guiding her through life’s trials and tribulations.

“Thank you for making me a part of the world,” Mrs Smith murmured, her voice filled with a quiet grace, as the conversation concluded. And in that moment, amidst the loudness many of voices, hers stood out as a clarion call to embrace the fullness of our humanity – a timeless reminder that in the drapery of life, each thread is precious, each voice, invaluable.

For the full interview with Mrs. Edith Renfrow Smith, Dr. Irma McClaurin and Dr. Tamara Beauboeuf, visit The Conversation with Al McFarlane on @insightnewsmn or Insight News MN YouTube: (https://bit. ly/renfrowinterview).

Groundbreakers: The Legacy of Edith Renfrow Smith in Iowa’s halls of black academia

By Pulane Choane Contributing Writer

Renfrow Hall, set to open its doors on the esteemed campus of Grinnell College in Iowa, stands as a profound tribute to the enduring legacy of Edith Renfrow Smith, a towering figure in the annals of Black excellence in higher education. Honored with the naming of the hall, Edith’s memory serves as a guiding light for Black students, embodying the resilience and fortitude requisite in navigating academia’s formidable challenges.

Edith Renfrow

Mrs. Renfrow Smith’s deep-seated connection to Grinnell, Iowa, is deeply rooted, stretching back to the 1880s when her grandparents made their home in the town. Born into a lineage of secondgeneration Black Iowans, she inherited a rich legacy of resilience and fortitude, though much of her story remained obscured until Dr. Beauboeuf’s inquiry. “Most of the responses I heard mentioned her name, mentioned that she was the first Black woman graduate of the college and mentioned her age, but there wasn’t much more to that,” Dr. Beauboeuf remarked, reflecting on the initial investigation into Mrs. Renfrow Smith’s life.

But Mrs. Renfrow Smith’s impact transcends the

Smith’s narrative, as unearthed by Dr. Tamara Beauboeuf, the R. Noun Chair in Gender Women’s and Sexuality Studies at Grinnell College, is one of remarkable courage and unwavering perseverance. In a poignant conversation with Al McFarlane on “The Conversation,” Dr. Beauboeuf shed light on the profound impact of Mrs. Renfrow Smith’s life and legacy.

confines of Grinnell, touching the lives of students worldwide, like Feven Getachew from Ethiopia, who found solace and inspiration in her journey. “When she applied to Grinnell College, she didn’t have the opportunity to visit the campus. But she found the name Edith Renfrow Smith and felt that because another Black woman had succeeded at Grinnell, perhaps it could be a place for her,” Dr. Beauboeuf recounted, illuminating the ripple effect of Mrs. Renfrow Smith’s legacy. Feven’s story mirrors countless others, where the indomitable spirit of Mrs. Renfrow Smith has kindled the flames of courage and determination, propelling them towards their aspirations. “Her story lets us know whether we stand as one or many. We have every right to be in this space called Grinnell College. We belong here if we have the courage to believe that it is

our legacy to claim,” Dr. Irma McClaurin, a fellow Grinnell alumna, reflected on her profound encounter with Mrs. Renfrow Smith. In conclusion, Mrs. Renfrow Smith’s narrative stands as a beacon of perseverance, resilience, and unwavering determination, immortalized in the edifice of Renfrow Hall—a testament to her enduring legacy and a source of hope and inspiration for Black students navigating the tumultuous seas of higher education. Additionally, Edith Renfrow Smith’s monumental contributions to academia were honored with an honorary doctorate, further solidifying her place in the annals of history. For the full interview with Dr. Beauboeuf and Edith Renfrow Smith, visit the Insight News YouTube channel @ insightnewsmn.

From runway to resurgence: Fashion, Feminism, and Full-Court Glory!

By Pulane Choane Contributing Writer

In a world pulsating with excitement for the upcoming Wellness, Wealth, and Winning conference, Coach Leah and Spann ignited anticipation with their discussion about the event’s highlight: The Tip Off Fashion Show. This dynamic duo shared insights into the meticulous planning and meaningful symbolism behind this extravaganza, set to captivate audiences on April 6th at the Lounges Content Studio in downtown Cleveland. Coach Leah, brimming with enthusiasm, set the stage for Crawley Spann’s unveiling of the fashion show’s intricacies, emphasizing the deliberate connection to basketball, evident in the chosen theme: the Tip Off Fashion Show. “It’s the same day as the Men’s Final Four,” Spann explained, “playing off the whole basketball theme.” The event promises to be a crescendo of style and substance, seamlessly blending athletic prowess with haute couture. Spann, the mastermind behind the event, divulged a tantalizing glimpse into the show’s structure, teasing surprises and special moments interspersed throughout. “We have the national anthem, we will have, well, the Black National Anthem,” she shared, underscoring the event’s commitment to inclusivity and diversity. From the first quarter designer to the halftime entertainment and beyond, every segment of the show brims with significance and spectacle. But perhaps the most poignant moment arrives with Spann’s revelation of her role as the lead designer for the Women’s Basketball League (WBL), set to launch in June.

Spann weaves a narrative of resilience and reinvention, honoring the past while embracing the future. The conversation, enriched by the presence of esteemed guests like Dr. Irma McClaurin and Dr. Tamara Beauboeuf, underscored the significance of storytelling in preserving women’s history. Dr. McClaurin’s poignant reflections on her niece’s athletic journey and Dr. Beauboeuf’s evocative words about the power of remembrance echoed the conference’s overarching theme of empowerment through collective memory.

Her designs, a fusion of past and present, pay homage to iconic teams like the Detroit Shock and the Cleveland Rockers, breathing new life into beloved franchises while paving the way for future stars. “His whole motto is commemorating the past while creating opportunities for the future,” Spann explained, echoing the league’s commitment to honoring legacies while fostering growth. The resurrection of the WBL holds profound implications for aspiring athletes, especially those from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Spann’s impassioned description of the league’s mission resonates deeply: “Creating new opportunities for the future players.” Indeed, the WBL emerges as a beacon of hope for talented athletes whose dreams of going pro now have a tangible path forward.

As Spann delved into the creative process behind the uniforms, her vision transcended mere attire, transforming into a celebration of identity and empowerment. “We’re mixing the new and the old,” she enthused, describing her innovative approach to design. With each stitch and

As the discussion ended, the resonance of the moment was palpable, a testament to the enduring legacy of women like Edith Renfrow Smith, whose contributions span generations. In a world crammed with promise and possibility, the Wellness, Wealth, and Winning conference stands as a testament to the resilience and determination of women everywhere. Through fashion, sport, and storytelling, this conversation illuminates the path forward, reminding us that our shared history is a tapestry of strength, courage, and triumph. As we celebrate Women’s History Month and look to the future, let us heed the lessons of the past and continue to champion the voices and visions of women everywhere –one stylish step at a time.

silhouette,

©Irma McClaurin

Courtesy of Dr. Irma McClaurin Feven with Edith Renfrow Smith

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Commentary

The Credit Card Competition Act would miss on our path toward Black economic liberation

By Chef Tomme Beevas

Amid the pandemic and civil unrest, the Black community encountered unprecedented challenges. However, we have demonstrated resilience and unity, working tirelessly to rebuild and support one another. It is with this mindset that I established Pimento Relief Services, a coalition serving to uplift the community and strive for a brighter future through economic, social, and political liberation for all Black people.

Recently, there was a settlement between payment networks and merchants, aiming to save small businesses an estimated $30 billion. It will allow them to enhance their competitiveness against larger chains and enable them to negotiate for lower interchange rates. This will undoubtedly have a positive impact on many small business owners, especially in minority communities where economic liberation remains as the last bastion of segregation. However, the Credit Card Competition Act could undermine this progress. It proposes to cap credit card interchange fees for all businesses, including the largest corporate retailers. These major retailers already control most of the negotiating power and have leveraged that power for higher profit margins at the expense of small businesses and consumers. While corporations would benefit from the Credit Card Competition Act, it would make credit services more expensive and less accessible. This same situation occurred over a decade ago when similar regulations were introduced for debit card transactions. Despite supposed exemptions for smaller community banks, three-quarters of those institutions experienced losses while corporate retailers gained an extra $90 billion through more profitable transactions.

The Tuskegee Airmen

By: W.D. Foster-Graham

By Carole Boston Weatherford Illustrated by Jeffrey Boston Weatherford

Weatherford’s poems bring us through World War II with celebrities such as Joe Louis and Lena Horne, heroes like Dorie Miller, and movers and shakers such as Judge William Hastie, Lt. Col. Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., and the NAACP. These poems speak powerfully not only about the challenges the Tuskegee Airmen overcame to garner an outstanding service and combat record, but the reality of dealing with a two-front war—the enemy abroad and the enemy of racism and discrimination at home.

The final poem in the

In every walk of life in the African Diaspora, we stand on the shoulders of the greatness that went before us. The military is no exception, given the mentality that African Americans weren’t considered fit for combat duty, to become officers, etc. in America’s past, much less fighting for a country that didn’t respect you. Against those odds, a group of Black men in the Army Air Corps (later known as the Air Force) proved those naysayers and obstructionists wrong, as illustrated in Carole Boston Weatherford’s You Can Fly: The Tuskegee Airmen. You Can Fly is a collection of poems by Weatherford and illustrated by her son Jeffrey Boston Weatherford which documents the history of this extraordinary division of men, from its inception in 1940 to the day former President of the United States Harry Truman desegregated the U.S. Armed Forces in 1948. Through her gift as a poet, coupled with her research, Weatherford takes us from the point where future Black pilots are dreaming, the Civilian Pilot Training Program which finally admitted Black applicants, training at Tuskegee to become the Fighting 99th and the pivotal role First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt played in challenging the belief that Blacks weren’t fit to pilot planes.

Additionally, many new entrepreneurs experienced limited access to capital and financial services, leading to fewer new businesses emerging in our communities. We cannot afford to repeat past mistakes and allow these consequences when our communities are making progress in the face of many challenges.

Progress within the Black community is fragile, and the Credit Card Competition Act could impede our ability to overcome financial barriers. It could even enable for the exploitation of our struggles. We deserve the right to shape our community’s future without jeopardizing our opportunities for empowerment.

Chef Tomme Beevas is founder and chief strategic officer of Pimento Jamaican Kitchen, Pimento Foundation, Pimento Political Action Committee and Pimento Relief Services.

Meanwhile, there was a decrease in free checking services and an increase in account fees. Numerous community banks were even compelled to shut down, often in minority neighborhoods. Community banks and credit unions serve as essential pillars of support for underbanked minority communities. The Credit Card Competition Act would restrict the revenue for these institutions, which supports their ability to provide services and opportunities in our local economies. Customers that support small businesses like mine could lose access to affordable credit and credit card reward programs, potentially dismantling economic prosperity in our communities. There were other noticeable effects that harmed our small businesses after the interchange fee limitations were implemented on debit card transactions. The power shift that occurred due to less access to capital disadvantaged many small businesses against the financial resources of large corporations, making survival even more difficult.

collection, “Epilogue,” gives us a look at what we as African Americans have accomplished “if you live long enough.”

As the son of a career military man—Air Force, in fact—these poems strike home.

Dad was in his early teens when World War II ended, so he was among the first wave of enlisted African American airmen following the desegregation of the Armed Forces. He retired from the Air Force as an officer and is honored now in the Air National Guard Museum here in the Twin Cities, but back in those days he had to walk the line between the military structure and not tolerating any mess from the whites around him. I am deeply grateful to Weatherford for keeping the memories of the Tuskegee Airmen alive and paying it forward to the younger generations.

You Can Fly is available through the Planting People Growing Justice Bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Thank you, Carole and Jeffrey, for reminding us on whose shoulders we stand, and how our history continues to make a difference in this nation.

If we don’t share our stories, who will?

Chef Tomme Beevas

By Alexander Olawaiye Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh

When Kate Middleton, the princess of Wales, announced in March 2024 that she was receiving “preventive chemotherapy” following abdominal surgery, many wondered what that entails. Formally known as adjuvant therapy, administering chemotherapy or other treatments after surgery is a common approach to treating certain types of cancer and is not necessarily intended to prevent cancer.

Oncologist Alexander Olawaiye of the University of Pittsburgh explains what factors doctors take into account when devising a cancer treatment plan.

Why are some cancers treated with surgery but not others?

There are many types of cancer treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy and hormonal therapy, among others. Sometimes doctors combine multiple types of treatment. Which is the best treatment approach depends on which organ the tumor originated from and how much the tumor has spread at the time of diagnosis.

Insight 2 Health

Broadly speaking, there are two types of cancers: solid tumors – or visible tumors that can be seen by the naked eye or through imaging – and liquid tumors, such as blood cancers. The primary treatment for solid cancers is surgery to physically remove the tumor, with the goal of getting rid of all tissues involved with the tumor.

For example, in ovarian cancer, surgery often includes removing the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the uterus, along with any visible cancer tissue in the rest of the belly.

Sometimes this requires removing the spleen or part of the small intestine or liver.

For skin cancers such as melanoma, surgery involves removing both the tumor and a good margin of normal-looking skin with it to capture any remaining cancer cells that may not be visible in the surrounding healthy skin.

Likewise, a surgeon may also remove nearby lymph nodes.

When solid cancer is diagnosed early, the success of treatment following surgery is typically high. For example, an estimated 91% of cervical cancer patients who are diagnosed early are still alive at least five years after diagnosis.

Endometrial cancer patients who are diagnosed early have an estimated five-year survival rate of 95%.

Why do some cancers recur?

what proportion of them had actually been diagnosed. Our finding was sobering: A mere 8% of the number of cases with mild cognitive impairment that we expected based on a statistical model had actually been diagnosed. Scaled up to the general population 65 and older, this means that approximately 7.4 million cases across the country remain undiagnosed.

Some

Despite surgical removal, many tumors come back. Researchers don’t fully understand why cancers recur, but there are certain red flags that indicate the potential for recurrence.

One is how different the cancer cells look compared with healthy cells. The more different, the more aggressive the tumor. When a tumor is more aggressive, it’s more likely to invade neighboring tissues and spread to other parts of the body.

Another is the extent the cancer has spread at the time of diagnosis. This is what determines the stage of the

ability to remember recent events and appointments, make sound decisions and master complex tasks. Failure to detect it might deprive patients of an opportunity to get treated and to slow down disease progression.

iStockphotos

cancer. For example, stage 1 cancer refers to a tumor that is confined to the organ it originally developed from.

Stage 4 cancer refers to a tumor that has spread far from its origins to grow on other organs. The higher the stage, the higher the risk for a worse outcome. A third factor is the organ where the cancer first originated. For instance, pancreatic cancers tend to be fatal even when diagnosed early because these tumors don’t respond well to therapy. Ovarian cancer can have symptoms that are difficult to recognize, leading to late diagnoses. On the

other hand, breast cancer and thyroid cancer tend to be less aggressive for longer periods of time, even when diagnosed at an advanced stage.

What is adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy?

For patients with tumors that can be surgically removed, they often also receive chemotherapy or radiotherapy before or after the procedure. Doctors prescribe this additional, or adjuvant, treatment depending on the patient’s risk of recurrence.

Recurrence typically happens when cancer cells escape from the tumor prior to or during surgical removal.

Adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation after the procedure is aimed at killing these cells so they don’t settle down and grow somewhere else in the body later on.

In some cases, surgical removal is not feasible or not advisable. This could be because the cancer has spread so much that completely cutting it out is impossible or the risk of complications or disability from the surgery is high.

For example, primary surgery often isn’t a good option for ovarian cancer, since most patients are diagnosed in advanced stages; complete surgical removal, even if possible, may involve removing important organs such as the rectum and colon.

Mild cognitive impairment – an early stage of dementia – is widely underdiagnosed in people 65 and older. That is the key takeaway of two recent studies from our team.

In the first study, we used Medicare data for about 40 million beneficiaries age 65 and older from 2015 to 2019 to estimate the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment in that population and to identify

In the second study, we analyzed data for 226,756 primary care clinicians and found that over 99% of them underdiagnosed mild cognitive impairment in this population.

Why it matters

Mild cognitive impairment is an early symptom of Alzheimer’s disease in about half of cases and progresses to dementia at a rate of 10% to 15% per year. It includes symptoms such as losing the

Mild cognitive impairment can sometimes be caused by easily addressable factors, such as medication side effects, thyroid dysfunction or vitamin B12 deficiency. Since mild cognitive impairment has the same risk factors as cardiovascular disease, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol, medication management of these risks combined with diet and exercise can reduce the risk of progression.

In 2023, the Food and Drug Administration approved the drug lecanemab as the first disease-modifying treatment for Alzheimer’s disease, the most common cause of mild cognitive impairment. In contrast to previous drugs, which can temporarily improve symptoms of the disease, such as memory loss and agitation, this new treatment addresses the underlying cause of the disease.

Lecanemab, a monoclonal antibody, reduces amyloid plaques in the brain, which are toxic protein clumps that are believed to contribute to the progression of the disease. In a large clinical trial, lecanemab was able to reduce the progression of earlystage Alzheimer’s disease. A similar drug, donanemab, also succeeded in a clinical trial and is expected to be approved sometime in 2024.

However, these drugs must be used in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, ideally when a patient has only mild cognitive impairment, as there is no evidence that they are

This can lead to the need for a colostomy or ileostomy, where stool is passed directly from the large or small intestine to a bag outside the belly. Surgical removal of breast cancer may mean losing the affected breast.

The risk of unwanted side effects from surgical removal can be reduced through neoadjuvant therapy, or administering chemotherapy or radiation before the procedure to shrink the tumor and reduce the amount of surgery required. Studies have shown that neoadjuvant therapy can help ovarian cancer patients avoid colostomies after surgery and allow breast cancer patients to opt for a procedure that conserves their breast.

Neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment can include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormonal therapy, radiation therapy or a combination of these treatments. Further advances in research will offer doctors and patients even more approaches to effectively treat cancer.

Alexander Olawaiye does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

effective in advanced stages.

What still isn’t known

Many factors contribute to the lack of timely detection. But researchers don’t have a good understanding of the relative importance of those individual factors or how to reduce the high rate of underdiagnosis.

While distinct, symptoms are subtle and their slow progression means that they can be overlooked or misinterpreted as normal aging.

A neurologist in China told our research team that diagnosis rates spike in China after the New Year’s holiday, when children who haven’t seen their parents for a year notice changes that are harder to pick up when interacting with someone daily. Doctors also commonly discount memory

Hennepin Healthcare professional profile Jessica Gipson – Registration Supervisor, Radiology

concerns as normal aging and doubt that much can be done about it. While cognitive tests to distinguish mild cognitive impairment from pathologic decline do exist, they take about 15 minutes, which can be hard to come by during the limited time of a doctor’s visit and may require a follow-up appointment.

What’s next

People, particularly those in their 60s and beyond, as well as their families and friends need to be vigilant about cognitive decline, bring it up during doctor’s appointments and insist on a formal assessment.

The Medicare yearly “wellness” visit is an opportunity to explore such concerns, but only about half of beneficiaries take advantage of it. Just as physicians ask patients about unexplained

weight loss and take those concerns seriously, we believe questions that explore a patient’s cognitive state need to become the norm.

The

Cancer often requires more than one treatment − an oncologist explains why some patients like Kate Middleton receive both chemotherapy and surgery “People embrace you here. I’m so grateful for the people I don’t even know that walk through the hallways and help patients. I love that patients don’t have to ask our staff for help. We can tell when someone is lost, and we’ll ask how we can assist them. That tells me I chose the right place.

We’re very hands-on in radiology. Our team must

make sure that the patient has been prepped correctly for the imaging they’re getting. Have they eaten? Have they drunk enough water? What allergies do they have? Are their wristbands correct? There are so many different components. It’s amazing that our team does all that and gets the patient checked into their appointment on time.”

Jessica Gipson

cancer patients receive additional treatment after surgery with the goal of eliminating any remaining tumor cells.

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