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CenteredConsciousness: KeepingYourEnergy Strong
Keepingourenergystrongandpurethroughoutthe dayisvital especiallyforthosewhoaresensitive I cametothisrealizationrecentlyafterspeakingwitha colleaguewhopointedoutthatthewordsensitive carriesverydifferentmeaningsacrossgenerations.
She explained that when she was growing up, beingcalledsensitivemeantyouwereweak Iwas surprised. I shared that I had been a crybaby up untilIturned30 Icriedeasilyifmyfeelingswere hurt Whenthehusbandofmyyouthwouldsay somethinghurtfulduringaconversation,itwasn’t thewordsthemselvesbutthelackofunderstanding that made me cry. Feeling misunderstood was alwaysthetrigger
Still,welongtobepartofgroupinteractions smallor large andtodosowithoutbecomingoverwhelmed or exhausted With a few simple strategies, we can socializeorentertainathomewithoutlosingourselves insomeoneelse’senergyorgivingourownawayThis oftenhappenstothosewhoarenottunedintotheir inneralarmsorwarningsignals.
Being a sensitive person in today’s world especiallynow,whensomuchisshiftingandwhen harmful energy can feel constant can be very draining. Sensitive people are highly receptive to the energy of those around them and to the environmentitself Yetwearerarelytaughttopay attentiontothat.Withtheriseofthedigitalworld, many of us are disconnected from what’s really happeningaroundus.We’vegivenupournatural sensitivity to our surroundings, often without realizingit
Being conscious means being aware of one’s surroundings and maintaining control over one’s emotional state. Developing that awareness takes timeandpractice acommitmenttoself butthe effortiswellworthit.Whenyouareconsciousof yourenergyandmanageyouremotionalbarometer, engagingwithotherswillnolongerdepleteyou
The purpose of this self-care ritual is to cultivate an inner calm, especiallyinsituationsthatmightotherwisebedraining Forexample, ifyouarehostingaparty,prepareyourinnerbeingasyouwouldyour home Justasyouclean,cook,andarrangeyourspace,taketimeto readyyourselfspiritually.Thismightmeantakingamindfulwalk,a relaxingsoak,oracleansingbathwithsaltsorotherhealingproducts
Youmightchooseanyactivitythatenergizesyou sittingquietly, tuningintoyourownenergy,andconnectingwithyourselfsoyouare less easily carried away by the energy around you. That is what meditationisabout:clearingyourmindtomakespaceforflow
OnOctober18,aquarterofamillionbodies flooded Grant Park in what organizers called the largest single-day of protest in AmericanhistoryChicagobecameground zero for a national reckoning not just against federal overreach, but against the machineryofsurveillanceandsuppression thathasturnedthenation’sthird-largestcity intoatestinggroundforauthoritariantactics
The “No Kings” protest arrived as the inevitable crescendo of weeks of mounting tension. Since September 8, whentheTrumpadministrationlaunched “OperationMidwayBlitz,”federalagents have arrested over 1,500 people across Illinois and surrounding states But the numberstellonlypartofthestory.What’s unfoldinginChicagoneighborhoodsfrom Little Village to South Shore resembles less a law enforcement operation and more a coordinated campaign of intimidation complete with Black Hawk helicopters, unmarked vehicles, and tactical gear that would make a battlefieldcommandernodinapproval.
The South Shore raid on September 30 crystallized the administration’s methods Three hundred federal agents descended on a five-story apartment building at 1 am, dragging families including US citizensandchildren fromtheirbedsin zip ties The Department of Homeland Security claimed they were targeting the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua The reality? Of 37 people arrested, only two wereconfirmedgangmembers.Therest were swept up in what amounts to a warrantlessfishingexpeditionthatdetained American citizens for hours without explanation, destroyed property, and traumatizedanentirecommunity.
Daysearlier,anICEagentfatallyshot38year-old Silverio Villegas Gonzalez in Franklin Park after stopping him near his children’s school DHS claimed the agent fearedforhislife(afterbeingdraggedby VillegasGonzalez’svehicle Butbodycam footage obtained by Reuters paints a differentpicture) theagentdescribedhis injuries as “nothing major,” just cuts and scrapes,whileVillegasGonzalezlaydying onthepavement Thediscrepancybetween official narrative and documented reality hasbecomeapatterninOperationMidway Blitz
Mayor Brandon Johnson joined protesters in GrantPark,askingthecrowd:“Areyoureadyto fightfascism?”Itwasn’trhetoricalflourish The federal government has effectively occupied neighborhoods,deployingwhatIllinoisGovernor JB Pritzker called, “an invading army” Little Village, the city’s second-busiest commercial corridor, has become a ghost town Business ownersreportsalesdropsof50-60% Familiesare afraid to send children to school or leave their homestoshop Theeconomicdevastationripples outward what happens when fear replaces commerce, when surveillance replaces community?
Law enforcement’s surveillance toolkit has evolvedfarbeyondcamerasandnotepads.Facial recognition technology now allows agencies to scan protest footage and match faces within moments,evenwithoutpriorrecordsChicagohas extensiveCCTVinfrastructure,andmultiplelocal departments use facial recognition with laws governingitsusevaryingbyjurisdictionInRussia, similarsystemshavebeenusednotjusttoarrest protestersafterdemonstrations,buttoapprehend thempreemptively
Cellphonesurveillancepresentsanotherthreat “Stingrays”orIMSIcatchersdeployedbylaw enforcement impersonate cell towers, interceptingidentifyingdetailsandpotentially calls and messages from phones in the area Yourphone’smerepresenceataprotestcreates adigitaltrailthatcanplaceyouatthescene, evenifyounevermakeacall
Social media monitoring allows agencies to track participants long after demonstrations end.Posts,check-ins,andevenphotostakenby others can link you to protest activity
Immigration enforcement has weaponized these tools specifically noncitizens have faced removal proceedings based on their speechandactivism.
The threats extend beyond surveillance. Federalagentshaveusedteargasandpepper ballsonprotesterswithoutwarning,prompting U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis to expand her restrainingordertomandatebodycamerasand restrictcrowdcontrolmethods
IfyouattendedanyprotestrelatedtoICEoperations,considerthese implications:AnyinteractionwithlawenforcementcanleadtoanICE encounter,evenwithoutcommittingacrime Ifyou’reundocumented andICEagentsbecomeawareofyourstatusatprotests,theymay arrest you though ICE’s Sensitive Locations Memorandum theoreticallyprotectsdemonstrators,ithasn’tstoppedICEpresenceat protests Evenwithlawfulimmigrationstatus,aconvictionforprotestrelatedoffensescantriggerdeportationproceedings.
Digital security experts recommend encrypted messaging apps like Signal,whichstoresminimaluserdatathatcanbesubpoenaed.Avoid postingprotestphotosonline Knowthatautomaticlicenseplatereaders can track vehicles to and from demonstrations Consider whether bringingyourphoneatallisworththeriskofhavingyourmovements, contacts,andassociationsexposedifyourdeviceisseized
Chicago’s “No Kings” uprising wasn’t just a protest it was a declarationthatsurveillanceandfearwillnotreplacedemocracyand communityButmakenomistake:thestateiswatching,documenting, andpreparingitsresponse.Thequestionisn’twhetherthey’retracking youThequestioniswhetheryou’repreparedforwhatcomesnext
“I’m proud to announce that my memoir ”Plain Jayne” is now available.I’vebeenworkingonthis,mylivingprocesspiece,for over20years.InfindingJayne,itwasataskofupsanddownsthat brought me through self-discovery a chance to celebrate my careerachievements,exploretheunderbellyofshowbusiness,and most importantly, to honor who I am and what made me that way my family Join me on my journey by tapping the link belowtopre-orderyourcopy I’mthankfulfortheblessingsyou havesentmywaythroughtheselast50years
The book marks a defining moment as Kennedy, an actress, model,andbroadcaster,takesbackherlifestory,divingdeepinto the challenges and triumphs of her career in her new memoir, PlainJayne.
Neo-SoulLegendD’Angelopassesaway
Neo-soulpioneerD’Angelo,theacclaimedvocalistwhoroseto fameinthe1990sandearly2000s,captivatedaudienceswithhis lush,sensualsound afreshyetfamiliarrebirthof1970sR&B. His bold artistry, including his now-iconic risqué music video, madehimapopculturephenomenon Butthesameintensitythat fueledhisartledhimintonearlyadecadeofseclusionasheturned inwardtorediscoverhimself.
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Fanshavelongawaitedhisreturn,butD’Angelopassedawaylast weekfromprostatecanceratage51 Whenheemergedonthe musicscene,hissoundbecameabeaconforaneweraofsoul a seamless blend of the seductive melodies of Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Prince, Maxwell, and Curtis Mayfield, fused with the rhythm and urgency of hip-hop His influence reshaped the direction of modern R&B, inspiring a generation of artists who followed.
Keaton anactress,filmmaker,andauthor wasbestknownforher iconicrolesinAnnieHall,TheGodfathertrilogy,FatheroftheBride, and the Book Club films. Her death leaves co-stars, fans, and cinephiles heartbroken by the loss of one of Hollywood’s most distinctiveandenduringtalents
TheLastWord...
The Trump administration has authorized a $20 billion financial lifelineforArgentinaasthecountryfacesadeepeningeconomiccrisis. Thedealhassparkedmajorquestionsandcriticism,givenrecentcuts totheAmericanworkforceandhealthcarerisingcosts Thepresident saidtheaidiscontingentonArgentinePresidentJavierMilei’sparty winningelectionslaterthismonth
TheCityofChicagohasjoinedeightotherlocalgovernmentsin filing a federal lawsuit against the Trump Administration, challenging new restrictions on US Department of Homeland Security(DHS)andFEMAgrants.Thesuit,filedintheNorthern District of Illinois, seeks to block what the city calls “unlawful conditions” that threaten tens of millions of dollars in federal fundingusedforemergencypreparednessanddisasterresponse ThenewDHSruleswouldrequirecitiestocertifythattheydonot operate programs promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, or accessibility(DEI/DEIA) orrisklosingcriticalfederalsupport.
TheCityofChicagohasjoinedeightotherlocalgovernmentsin filing a federal lawsuit against the Trump Administration, challenging new restrictions on US Department of Homeland Security(DHS)andFEMAgrants Thesuit,filedintheNorthern District of Illinois, seeks to block what the city calls “unlawful conditions” that threaten tens of millions of dollars in federal fundingusedforemergencypreparednessanddisasterresponse.
“Chicago will not stand by while the federal government weaponizesemergencyfundingtoattackourvalues,”saidMayor BrandonJohnson “Wewillfighttoensureourfirstrespondershave thetoolstheyneedandthatourcommitmenttoequityandinclusion remainsstrong”
Corporation Counsel Mary B. Richardson-Lowry said the city’s legalactiondefendsbothitsconstitutionalrightsanditspublicsafety infrastructure “Thefederalgovernmentcannotdemandthatcities dismantleDEIprogramsinexchangefordisasterrelief,”shesaid
The lawsuit argues that the new conditions violate the constitutional separation of powers and are “arbitrary and capricious,”lackinganyrationalconnectiontothepurposeofthe grants.Chicago’slegalchallengeseekstohavethecourtdeclarethe restrictions unlawful and prevent DHS from enforcing them, preservingfundingvitaltoemergencyresponse,training,andlifesavingequipment
CHICAGOMADE
Dr. Pamela Joy Blackman is rewriting what it means to lead with heart, faith, and fearless purpose.
Before anyone knew her name before Blackman led one of Chicago’s longest-standing community institutions, before the galas andgovernorsandphilanthropyembracedher shewasalittleBlack girl in North Lawndale, trying to understand why love felt like somethingshehadtoearn
“If you met my six-year-old self,” she says, “you would’ve met a woundedchild searching,seeking,wanting,desiringlove,attention, affection”
Her father left before she was born. Her mother, lost in her own heartbreak, shut down emotionally “When she told him she was pregnantwithme,helefther Soitwasasifsheblamedmeinthe heartbreak,”shesays.There’snoangernow justrelease.
She grew up in a house where resilience wasn’t a slogan it was necessity Expectationswerehigh Mistakesweren’teasilyforgiven Silence said as much as words. But adversity didn’t drown her; it refinedher.
“Igraduatedinthreeyears,neversmoked,nevergothigh,didn’thave childrenoutofwedlock sixdegrees overachiever Idideverything right,hopingtowinmymother’saffection,”shesays.Notproud just honest.
“People don’t understand we have to spend money before grants reimburse.Ifwedon’thavethemoneyupfront,programsstop.That’s notanoption.”
Inside Building Brighter Futures, programs don’t just keep kids busy they change lives From workforce development and performing arts to mentorship, counseling, and scholarships, everything is designed to build confidence and open doors There’s food when a child is hungry, a coat when they’re cold, therapy when its required, loveandprotectiontheyneedsafety
The center now serves more than 700 youth each year, offering over 20 arts and leadership programs for ages 8–24. More than 80 percent of program graduates pursue college, trade certification, or full-time employment within a year evidence that the work is not charity but transformation.
Then came the degrees six in all including a Master of Social Work and a Master of Psychology, followed by an honorary doctorate recognizing her humanitarian leadership Eachdiplomawasmorethanpaper itwasarmor
She didn’t just study; she built She opened daycare centers, mentored women, and hired people who needed a chance “Peoplewouldwalkinandtellmethemostpersonalthings I listened. I cared. And I found myself giving direction naturally.”
Growth hasn’t been easy Funding is scarce Competition among nonprofits is constant Yet Blackman insists on collaborationovercompetition.
PamelaJoyBlackmanasalittlegirl
COVERSTORY
“There is power in partnership,” she says. “Chicago has too many silos too many peopletryingtodoitalone That’snotus We buildtogether”
“There is power in partnership,” she says “Chicago has too many silos too many peopletryingtodoitalone That’snotus We buildtogether”
Underherleadership,BBFhaspartneredwith schools,businesses,andcorporatesponsorsto expand without losing its mission This is Chicago legacy work built brick by brick, relationshipbyrelationship
WhenactorJussieSmollettsettledhislegalcase withtheCityofChicagoin2025,hedirecteda $50,000donationtoBuildingBrighterFutures. Headlines debated the politics, but in North Lawndale it meant something simpler: someonebelievedenoughtoinvest
EveryOctober,BlackmanleadsGalaween,the organization’s signature fundraiser a masqueradecelebrationwithamissionThe4th Annual Galaween Masquerade Ball, held Saturday,October25,2025,atVenueWest,will blend elegance and empowerment for an eveningthatfuelstheworkahead
Aleta “Englewood Barbie” Clark – founder of HugsNoSlugs
Qadir“GoaldenChyld”Hakim–founderofUnity Movement
DerekBrown–BoxingOutNegativity
Ta’RhondaJones–actressandrecordingartist
Pha’talPerkins–CEOofThinkOutsideDaBlock
“Galaweenispartyingwithapurpose,”she says “We honor people who fight for the underdog becausethat’swhoweare”
Butmakenomistake:Galaweenisn’tglitter it’s oxygen Fundraising is survival Grants don’t cover the heart of the work; communitydoes
TheWomanBehindtheWork Blackman’sleadershipisanchorednotinego but in empathy. She doesn’t just run programs she runs toward people. Her backgroundinpsychologyandsocialwork weren’t just academic pursuits; they were survivaltools firstforherself,thenforthe thousandsshenowserves.
“Atitle doesn’t make you a leader; service does,”shesays.
She believes in accountability wrapped in love,inhardtruthspokengently,inshowing upnotforapplausebutforimpact.
Thelittlegirloncestarvedforlovenowpours itintoothers Thewomanoncesearchingfor belongingnowcreatesaspacewheremany belong cultivating an extended family for thousands Herstorydoesn’terasethepast itredeemsit
Blackmanbelieveseverychilddeservesthe righttodreamandtheresourcestobuildShe seestheWestSidenotasaproblemtofix,but as a promise to protect BBF isn’t just a building it’saresponse
It refuses to let statistics speak louder than potential. It refuses to let trauma define destinyItrefusestoletyoungpeoplebelieve greatnessskipstheirblock
Everyteenwhogetsamentor.Everychild whodancestheirwayoutoffear.Every studentwhofindstheirvoiceintheater. Everyyoungmanwhosetsdownanger because someone finally listened. Every young woman who sees herself in her ownfutureforthefirsttime.
“We are doing the work,” she adds. “Come see us. You don’t need an appointment. Just walk in and you’ll feel it.”The masks at Galaween are for celebration.Themissionbehindthemis notdisguised.
“Some women walk in carrying things they’ve never spoken out loud,” she said. “Unforgiveness,hurt,shame,trauma theyarestillholdingontoitWeletthemknowthis isasafespace”
WhyChicago?
AfterhostingHerSoulinHoustonandAtlanta,sheaskedwomenonlinewhereitshouldgo next “Chicagowasthetopresponse,”sheshared “Womenhereaskedforit SoIam comingtomeetthemwheretheyare.”
Heart disease, cancer, unintentional injuries, and stroke remain the leading causes of death for BlackAmericans, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention While these largely mirror national trends, Black communities face additional and often sharper health challenges from gun violence and maternal mortality to chronic disease that reflect long-standing systemic inequities
PersistentHealthDisparities
StacyLee-ContributingWriter
Heart disease and cancer are the top two killers among BlackAmericans, as they are across the generalpopulation.ButBlackpeopledieathigher ratesfromtheseandotherillnessesduetoamixof social,economic,andenvironmentalfactors
Expertspointtoseveralkeydrivers:lowerratesof health insurance and reduced access to quality medical care, leading to delayed diagnoses and limitedtreatmentoptions;discriminationandbias within the healthcare system that can affect the quality of care; and environmental risks tied to neighborhoodswithhigherpollutionlevels
Many predominantly Black neighborhoods are also“fooddeserts,”areaswithfewornogrocery storesofferingaffordable,nutritiousfood Limited access to fresh produce and healthy options contributestodiet-relatedillnessessuchasobesity, hypertension,anddiabetes
MaternalMortalityCrisis
The United States continues to face a maternal mortalitycrisis,andthenumbersaremostdirefor Blackwomen Theyarenearlythreetimesmore likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than whitewomen,accordingtoCDCdata
This gap persists across income levels and education,suggestingthatracismandimplicitbias within the medical system play a central role. Black women also experience higher rates of chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes,whichincreasepregnancyrisks
TheRoleofObesity
Obesityremainsoneofthemostsignificantpublic health challenges in Black communities It increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain cancers, all of which contributetohigherratesofprematuredeath.
Researchers emphasize that obesity inBlackpopulationsisnottheresult ofindividualfailingsbutofsystemic conditions including poverty, foodinsecurity,lackofgreenspace, and unequal access to quality healthcare.
The health consequences are farreaching:
- Cardiovascular disease: Black Americans are 30% more likely to die from heart disease than white Americans. Obesity contributes to highbloodpressure,Type2diabetes, andhighcholesterol,whichtogether elevate the risk of heart attack and stroke
- Type 2 diabetes: Black adults are about 60% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than white adults Researchers link this to obesity and structural barriers, including poor access to healthy foodsandsafeplacestoexercise.
-Cancer:Obesity-relatedcancers includingprostate,colon,pancreatic, ovarian, and kidney cancers are more common in the Black population Rising childhood and adult obesity rates are expected to worsenthosedisparities.
- Other conditions: Obesity also raisestheriskofsleepapnea,kidney disease,andosteoarthritis,conditions that disproportionately affect Black Americans
Mentalhealthdisparitiesfurthercompoundthesechallenges. Depression and anxiety often go untreated due to stigma, limitedaccesstoculturallycompetentcare,andcostbarriers Theseissuescanleadtohigherratesofsuicide,substance use,andotherhealthcomplicationsthatdriveupmortality rates.
LookingAhead
Publichealthexpertssayprogresswilldependonaddressing the structural roots of these disparities from unequal access to healthcare and nutritious food to environmental andeconomicinequality
Flyinghighundertheradarisn’taboutluck it’s about knowledge, timing, and knowing how to take advantage of the informationavailable.Manyseniortravelers havetheirroutinesdownfrompointAtoZ They visit familiar airline websites, check the same fare calendars, and often book flightsusing“incognitomode,”convinced thiswillhelpthemfindthelowestprice.But thatpredictabilityisexactlywhattheairlines counton
Airlinesandotherlargecorporationsspend millions training their target markets to believethey’regettingthebestpossibledeal. The reality is that travelers are often the puppets, guided by marketing algorithms designedtomakethemspendmore.
Thetruthissimple:airlinesrarelyrevealtheir lowest fares first Doing so would cut into profits. Instead, they prioritize revenue hidingordelayingtheirbestpricestoensure theysellhigher-pricedseatsfirst Theprices most travelers see are often carefully manipulatedtomaximizeairlineprofits
Ifyou’reseriousaboutsavingmoneywhiletraveling,informationis your greatest ally One increasingly popular tool is Capital One Shopping,afreebrowserextensionthatautomaticallysearchesfor betterpricesasyoubookflights,hotels,andrentalcars.
Onceyoulearntobooksmart,there’snoneedtostressoverairfare pricesManymajorhotelchainsalsooffersignificantonlinediscounts whencombinedwithprice-comparisontools.Hilton,forexample, sometimesoffersupto40%offroomrates,withanadditional15% backinrewards.Pricelinehasbeenknowntoofferasmuchas20% backoncertainbookingsWhencombinedwithairfaresavings,these discounts can add up quickly sometimes enough to afford a business-classupgradethatonceseemedoutofreach.
CapitalOneShoppingisafreetoolwithnosubscriptionsorhidden feesthathelpsusersfindbetterpriceswithoutobligation.Informed consumerscansavesignificantly,especiallyseniorswhomaybenefit from exploring new options Adding the extension can uncover savingsandenhancetravelexperienceswithoutoverspending.
This country adopted methods for delivering violence in ways that would allow for plausible deniability Violence now presents itself in economics, education and environmental ways among others Public schools enjoy different per pupil funding thus presenting opportunities to under-resource schoolsincommunitiesofblackandbrownpeopleiseducationalviolence.
Concentrated pollution in certain black, brown, and poor communities representsenvironmentalviolence Payingawomanafractionofthedollara manispaidforthesamejob/workisfiscaloremploymentviolence These violentactshavetheimpactofunder-educating,disproportionatelysickening, and fiscally suppressing targeted groups of citizens in the same way that physicalviolenceoncedid
An honest review of history will reveal violence perpetrated against citizensofthiscountryandallovertheworld,usuallyformoneyand control EvenintheinstanceofDrKingandnonviolentmarches,itwas theviolentreactiontothemarchesthatmadeittothetelevisionsof otherwiseinsularpeoplethatbegantomovetheneedletowardscivil and voting rights legislation With voting and civil rights, and when videosofphysicalviolenceontelevisionprovedtobeabadlook,this countrymodernizeditsmethodsofviolence,allofwhichgivescitizens theopportunitytodeliverBrotherMinister's"bloodlessrevolution."
Citizens in this country, with these modes of violence, have the opportunity to deliver a violent reaction to make change The MontgomeryBusBoycott,fiscalviolence,practicallybankruptedthe publictransportationsysteminMontgomeryAssoonasthemoneygot funny,theyresortedtotheiroldphysicalviolencebuteventually,fiscal violencewon TherecentTargetboycottdemonstratedthepowerof fiscalviolence ImagineifeveryBlackNFLorNBAathletedecidednot toplayuntilwegotMedicareforallorthenationalminimumwagewas raised to a living wage Imagine if the entire country took Mayor Johnsonuponhiscallforanationalgeneralstrikeuntilweabolishthe electoralcollege andthecountrystucktoituntilthedemandswere met Yes,violenceisandhasalwaysbeentheanswerWejustneedto expandourdefinitionofviolence,makedemandsandcommittoit..
Today’s article is for my women — yes, my women — and it’s about that thing. You know the thing. The one people comment on, critique, misunderstand, and throw back in our faces over and over again.
That thing is your tone of voice.
Ifyou’reanythinglikeme,your tone has been misread, misjudged,andtakenwayoutof contextmoretimesthanyoucan count The other day I was watching @vaginarehabdoctor (Dr.JanelleHowell)onInstagram as she shared a story about her husbandtellingherthathertone sucked.Andlisten assomeone who has lived through this mischaracterization, my face tightened. My inner monologue went,“IhopethisDOCTORisn’t about to shrink herself down to makeamancomfortable.”
Honestly, I didn’t even finish thevideo Icouldn’t Iwatched this strong, powerful, gaptoothedgoddessstarttoexplain howsheloweredhervoiceand adjusted her tone and her husbanddidn’tevennoticeuntil shepointeditout Buthere’sthe thing: the lesson was in the details
Whether it’s family, lovers, friends, or coworkers, relationshipsarebuiltonhow ourwordsland notjusthow wedeliverthem So,forallmy strong women who carry themselves with purpose whether you intend to offend or you’re just trying to be heard thisisforyou
Sometimes your tone is too much Andno,ithasnothing to do with volume It’s the sharpness.Theclippedreplies. The heavy sigh before you speak The way you overexplain like you’re defending yourselfincourt Thewayyou try to appeal to logic and reasonwhentheotherperson isdeepinemotion It’snotthat you’re wrong it’s that sometimes it just doesn’t land
Buthearmeclearly:whoyou aredoesnotneedtochange
How you express yourself mightneedalittleadjusting not to please others, but to protectyourownpeace
That armor we strap on in the boardroom? That commanding voice we use to lead a team or run a room? That tone born from survival, competence, and exhaustion?Sis thatisnotthe voice you need for every moment Especiallynotwiththe peoplewhoclaimtoloveyou Itellmydaughterandmysister this all the time: “Power is not loud”
Yourpowerlivesinyourdignity and your flare, absolutely. But real power also lives in your ability to pause to breathe and listen before responding. It lives in the grace you extend even when the person across from you is acting like a straight-up jerk That softness isn’t weakness That restraint? That is power. But don’t get it twisted
that can become armor too if you start performingsoftnessjusttokeepthepeace Sometimes, your strength is loud But sometimes,yourpowerissoft.
If you’re always on defense, always proving, always explaining, always arguing to be seen maybe the problem isn’t your tone Maybe you’re in spaces whereyoursoftnessisn’tsafe.Andifthat’s the case, the tone isn’t the issue the environmentis
You deserve to exist in rooms where you canspeakwithclarity,softness,power,and grace without being policed.You deserve to be fully heard without shrinking Youdeservelovethatlistens
Your tone is not your enemy It’s your instrument.Andlikeanyinstrument,itjust needstuning nottaming So speak, woman But don’t just be heard beunderstood
TheannouncementthatMTVwillno longer exist as a traditional cable channel feels symbolic, but not surprising For many, the moment feelsliketheendofsomethingbigger thantelevision MTVwasmorethana network. It was a cultural compass, onethatshapednotjusthowweheard music,buthowwesawourselves Yet if we are being honest, the music stopped years ago This headline is onlyafinalconfirmation
Much will be said about media consolidationandshiftingprioritiesat ParamountGlobal,formerlyViacom. ButMTV’slegacyisnotcorporate It is emotional, cultural, and social When the network launched on August1,1981,openingwith“Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll,” it changedthewaymusicexistedinthe world Sound became story Artists becameicons.Imagebecameidentity. Michael Jackson did not simply release “Thriller” he premiered a globalevent.
MTVquietly
Hechangedthegameanduppedthe ante.Hisvideoswereshortfilmsand everyone followed That move created an added revenue stream in the music world Micheal did not simply sing he challenged and redefined cultural expression through performance MTV shaped music, fashion, language, and youth imagination.
But the story was not perfect. In its early years, MTV refused to play videos from Black artists until CBS Records president Walter Yetnikoff threatened to pull his company’s entire catalog unless they aired MichaelJackson’s“BillieJean”That decision did not just open a door It changedpopularculture.Fromthere, Blackmusicdidnotentermainstream America itbecamethemainstream Hip-hop, R&B, and soul evolved from“genre”tofoundationMTVdid notdothisalone
BET built its own movement with showslikeVideoSoul,TeenSummit, and later 106 & Park, while VH1 embraced storytelling through music nostalgia and artist documentaries Thesespacescreatedconnection.
ThatiswhatmakesthelossofMTV more meaningful than the loss of a channel Itrepresentsaquietfadingof collectiveyouthspaces MTVcreated shared moments. After school, teens would run home to watch Total Request Live the way people once tuned in to major sports finals. Cultural premieres felt like national events Even if you watched alone, you knew millions of others were watching with you There was a rhythmtoyouthculture,andeveryone couldfeelit.
Today, young people have access to more content than any generation in history. But they have fewer spaces thatbelongtothem Teenmagazines like Word Up!, Right On!, and Seventeen Magazine are gone or irrelevant Therearenowidelyshared teenageTVexperienceslikeMoesha, My So-Called Life, or The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air that once sparked nationalconversationsaboutlife,love, identity,andgrowingup.Evenmusic has lost its moment Songs drop at midnight, trend for a few days, and disappear into the algorithm. TikTok makes music travel faster than ever, butitturnshitsintobackgroundaudio Discovery has become a solo experience
Itisnotsurprisingthatyoungpeople nowreportfeelingmoreisolatedthan generations before them. When sharedculturedisappears,connection follows According to a 2025 study fromtheCentersforDiseaseControl and Prevention, adolescents who spend four or more hours a day on recreational screen media report significantlyloweremotionalsupport, fewer close friendships, and higher levels of social isolation In other words,constantaccesstocontenthas not made young people feel more connected It has made them feel alonetogether
NowIwanttohearfromyou.What doestheendofMTVreallymeanin thebiggerpictureofmusicandyouth culture? Some people believe MTV stopped mattering years ago, while others feel something important disappeared when we stopped discovering music together Maybe today’s teenagers are more powerful because they build their own platformsonline
Ormaybethealgorithmquietlytookawayaunified voicebeforeanyonenoticed Doyoungpeoplestill needasharedculturalhome,orhasthatideafaded for good? This is not just a story about a channel goingdark Itisaquestionofwhethersharedculture stillmattersatall
Like the beautiful colors of fall, this butternut squash recipe is vibrant, bursting with flavor and nutritional value It’seasytoprepareandfillsyourhomewitha wonderful aroma that creates great anticipation and thankfully,itdoesn’tdisappoint.Thedishdeliversboth tasteandsatisfaction.Still,you’llwanttomakeenough forsecondsorthenextday’slunch
Butternut squash is often overlooked by those who would likely enjoy it most It’s healthy, tasty, easy to prepare,andinexpensive Myfavoritewaytomakeitis simply to roast it Golden brown, caramelized, and seasonedwithsaltandpepper,roastedbutternutsquash has a delectable sweet-and-salty flavor and a buttery texture Ifyou’veneverroastedbutternutsquashbefore, youhavetotryitthisfall!
Here’s how to do it. Follow this easy butternut squash recipe—it requires just four ingredients (squash, salt, pepper, and olive oil) and ten minutes of active prep—and it’s delicious and beautiful. It’s good enough to enjoy on its own as a side dish, but it also enhances the fall flavor in all sorts of recipes: bowls, salads, soups, and more. So, let’sdoit!
Ingredients
- ½ small butternut squash, halved verticallyandseeded
-Seasaltandfreshlygroundblackpepper
- 2 shallots, coarsely chopped (about ⅔ cup)
-3garliccloves,unpeeled
-¾cupwater
-½cuprawcashews
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus morefordrizzling
-1tablespoonnutritionalyeast
-1tablespoonbalsamicvinegar
-10freshsageleaves
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, plus moreforgarnish
2.Drizzlethesquashwitholiveoil,sprinklewithsalt and pepper, and place cut-side down on the baking sheet Wraptheshallotsandgarlicclovesinfoilwitha drizzleofoliveoilandapinchofsalt,andplaceonthe bakingsheet Roastfor30minutes,oruntilthesquashis soft
3. Measure 1 cup of the roasted squash flesh and transfer to a blender with the shallots, peeled garlic, water,cashews,oliveoil,nutritionalyeast,vinegar,sage, thyme,¾teaspoonsalt,andseveralgrindsofpepper Blenduntilcreamy
4 Cookthepastaaccordingtopackagedirectionsina pot of salted boiling water. Reserve 1 cup of the hot pastawater.
5 Drainthe pasta andreturnit tothe pot Stirinthe sauce,adding½to1cupofthereservedpastawaterto loosenthesauceandcoatthepasta Seasonwith¼to½ teaspoonsalt Topwithfreshlygroundblackpepper,a fewthymeleaves,andsautéedbroccoliifdesired.
Establishedin2021,herfashionlineSELASIwasofficiallybornfrom thatfreedom Designingassheenvisions,McKenzie’screations primarilyreflectwhatshewantstowearandwhatmakesherfeelher best
