ONYX Magazine May/June 2021

C E L E B R AT I N G B L AC K AC H I E V E M E N T T H RO U G H O U T F L O R I DA

Volume 24 – Number 3 MAY/JUNE 2021

COMMUNITY ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR

RICH BLACK & ONYX MAGAZINE TAKE THE LEAD

GEORGE FLOYD GETS JUSTICE, BUT POLICING NEEDS WORK

URBAN MYSTIC Florida Crooner Returns to R&B While Nation Honors Black Music

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FLORIDA HIGHWAYMEN: IN LINE FOR LICENSE PLATES

+ ENTREPRENEURISM STORIES REFLECT WINS AND CHALLENGES IN OWNING A BUSINESS

F E AT U R E D CONTRIBUTORS

CONTENTS 6 Publisher’s Column 7 ONYX Salutes Rich Black ONYX Magazine named Advocate of the Year 10 Commentary: Reform — Police reform needed in the U.S. 12 Business: How Black businesses can make a comeback

Patricia Brown Denis is a writer and educator in Tampa who pens the ONYX Reads column. She owns Patricia Brown Denis Consulting, Inc., helping you to Write it Right.

Damani Dickerson is a freelance writer in Orlando whose stories have been featured nationally.

14 ONYX Reads: How we persevere – books that move us forward 15 SAGE: Help older people beat the blues 17 Real Estate: Companies where you can buy Black 18 Urban Mystic Returns to R&B 20 Black History Black Music History 22 Health & Wellness 24 On the Rise: Student Juggles Books and Business 25 The Quad 26 Money Matters: Small businesses, your money matters 28 Technology: What is cryptocurrency?

30 Relationships: have more Sex 31 Black Owned

Laura Dorsey, is the CEO of LLD Consulting, an associate editor of ONYX Magazine and author of the ONYX Magazine Money Matters series. Laura lives in Upper Marlboro, Md.

Vickie Oldham, is the president of the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition.

32 Florida Scope: News From Florida 33 Politics: Legislature votes to have Highwaymen license plates 34 Community 35 ONYX on the Move 38 Food & Wine: A Sweet Take on Lemon Cake

De’Ja Stokes is a senior from Jacksonville studying at Florida A&M University’s School of Journalism and Graphic Communications.

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FEATURE

JUSTICE

IT’S TIME FOR POLICING IN THE U.S. TO MAKE SOME DRASTIC CHANGES.

COVER PHOTO COURTESY OF URBAN MYSTIC

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Rich Black VICE PRESIDENT Marianne Eggleston, M.B.A. MANAGING EDITOR D. Shenell Reed, M.B.A. EXECUTIVE STRATEGIST Lena Graham-Morris EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Maria Barnes

RICH BLACK

ASSOCIATE EDITORS Gayle Andrews Laura Dorsey Sharon Fletcher Jones Trina Ryan

MAY/JUNE 2021 Dear Family, Welcome to this issue of ONYX Magazine, where we turn our attention to business and entrepreneurship. Since the start of the pandemic, many Black-owned companies took sharp hits to their revenue, and others closed their doors—more than 42%. ONYX Magazine thanks you for your continued support to ensure that this Black-owned business stayed open for our community. Please keep the momentum by purchasing a one-year subscription and asking five of your friends to do the same. Thank you in advance for playing your part in keeping our community entertained, inspired and informed.

In addition to talking about business in this issue, we celebrate African American Music Appreciation Month. Formerly called Black Music History Month, June reminds us of how our music helped shape this nation. When acknowledging the history of Jazz, Gospel, Rap/Hip Hop, you have to give credit to our Black ancestors. Born out of them is music that fills us today—and it continued to grow into more genres, like Rhythm and Blues. In this issue, we feature R&B singer Urban Mystic from Fort Lauderdale, who is releasing his second album in June. He pays tribute to forefathers (and mothers) who have upheld our beautiful tradition of making people dance.

We need music to lift our spirits, because the reality Black people face daily can be stressful. Our community still experiences senseless police violence, disproportionate unemployment, higher rates of poverty— the list goes on. But justice is coming and we can see the light—but policing in the U.S. needs a facelift. When the jury found Derek Chauvin guilty of murdering George Floyd, we celebrated the adjudication without becoming complacent. We still need to do the work to gain equity and equality and as a community, we have to be ready to do it.

There are a lot of batons to pass—are you ready to take one? On your marks. Get set. Go!

DESIGN DIRECTOR Jason Jones GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jon Burton BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Matt deJager CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Patricia Brown Denis Abril Green Damani Dickerson Ruthie Hawkins Professor Laura Dorsey Thaddeus L. Johnson Aria Ellise Natasha N. Johnson

Vickie Oldham Larissa Runkle De’Ja Stokes

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Red Huber Photography By Najah ONYX ADVISORY COMMITTEE Deidre Parker, Chair Michelle Tatom, Immediate Past Chair Dick Batchelor Bob Berryhill Dr. Lavon Bracy Bryon Brooks Marva Brown Johnson Hon. Mable Butler Yolanda Cash Jackson Dr. Cynthia Chestnut James Clark

John Crossman Gary Hartfield Barbara Hartley Tony Hill Alma Horne Rodney Hurst Ann Jenkins Connie Kinnard Larry Lee, Jr.

Brenda March Marisol Romany Nancy Port Schwalb Margaret J. Thompson Gail Thomas-DeWitt Hon. Alan Williams Carla Williams Dr. Samuel Wright Lady Dhyana Ziegler

FOUNDERS

As always, ONYX Magazine enjoys bringing you the news that entertains, inspires and informs. Thank you for continuing to receive it.

Sincerely, Lester and Lillian Seays

Rich Black

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ONYX Magazine is published by ONYX Communications and Media Group, Inc., Address: P.O. Box 555672, Orlando, Florida 32855-5872. Phone 321-418-7216. Subscription rate is $19.95 for six issues. For subscriptions and notification of address change, contact ONYX Magazine at the above address or e-mail us at info@ onyxmagazine.com. Letters to the editor are encouraged. Copyright 2021 by ONYX Magazine. All rights reserved. No part of the publication may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. Opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the writer or interviewee and not necessarily those of the publisher.

Manuscripts, photos and art should be submitted with a self-addressed stamped envelope. The publisher does not assume responsibility for any materials not submitted in manner advised. Unsolicited materials are not subject to payment from ONYX Magazine.

ONYX MAGAZINE SALUTES

RICH BLACK AND ONYX MAGAZINE NAMED COMMUNITY ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR

MaskUp, Stop The Spread Sponsors

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ublisher Rich Black and ONYX Magazine received the Community Advocate of the Year Award presented by the African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida (AACCCF) in April. The Award “recognizes an individual or a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to the improvement of the African American community in Central Florida. Further, the individual or nonprofit organization has demonstrated leadership through charitable or public service work and an unselfish commitment to the African American community,” according to AACCCF. “On behalf of ONYX Magazine, thank you to (AACCCF President) Tanisha Gary, her management and staff at the African American Chamber and to all who were nominated. We really are very pleased and very proud to receive this award.”

The nominating committee tapped Black and ONYX for its execution of the “MaskUp, Stop the Spread” campaign, which educated Black communities about the dangers of COVID-19. Last year, Black thought of his community first when the coronavirus pandemic struck. He and his team developed the effort which reached tens of thousands of people across Central Florida through a billboard campaign in Orange County’s Black communities; a series of virtual town hall meetings with federal and state medical experts; a Public Service Announcement; social media posts; and virtual talks with community leaders that were viewed nationwide. ONYX Magazine also published a special issue to educate the community on 2020 ballot items and encouraged people to vote at Vote Fest.

Additional awards were presented to: JPMorgan Chase & Co-Corporate Recognition Award; Building Black Daily Founder Russell Drake — Small Business Advocate of the Year; Votum Construction President and CEO Vernice Atkins-Bradley — Legacy Award; and Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings –MLK Humanitarian Award.

ONYX Publisher Rich Black and Managing Editor D. Shenell Reed at Vote Fest

ONYX Publisher Rich Black, ONYX Advisory Committee Chair Dee Parker, supporter Marisol Romany, ONYX Co-founder Lester Seays

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CO M M E N TA RY

JUSTICE

FOR AMERICA TO EXPERIENCE REAL JUSTICE, POLICING WILL HAVE TO MAKE SOME DRASTIC CHANGES. he guilty verdicts delivered against Derek Chauvin on April 20, 2021, represented a landmark moment—but courtroom justice cannot deliver the sweeping changes most Americans feel are needed to improve policing in the U.S. As America continues to grapple with racism and police killings, federal action over police reform has stalled in Congress. But at the state level there is movement and steps toward reform are underway in many U.S. cities, including Philadelphia; Oakland, Calif; and Portland, Ore. Many of these efforts are geared toward ending specific practices, such as the granting of qualified immunity, through which officers are shielded from civil lawsuits, and the use of certain police neck holds and no-knock warrants. Mayors and city councils nationwide have also pushed reforms emphasizing accountability and transparency, with many working to create independent oversight commissions.

It is too soon to expect substantial improvement from these recently proposed remedies.

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But as scholars of criminal justice—one a former police officer of 10 years—we know America has been here before. From Ferguson to Baltimore and Oakland to Chicago, numerous city police departments have undergone transformation efforts following controversial police killings.

But these and other reform movements haven’t lived up to their promises.

RESISTING CHANGE After the shooting death in Missouri of unarmed teen Michael Brown in 2014, police in Ferguson agreed to a reform program that included anti-bias training and an agreement to end stop, search and arrest practices that discriminate on the basis of race.

But five years into the process, a report by the nonprofit Forward Through Ferguson found the reforms had done little to change policing culture or practice. This was backed up by a Ferguson Civilian Review Board report in July 2020 that found the “disparity in traffic stops between Black and White residents appears to be growing.”

UNSPLASH/MUNSHOTS

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BY THADDEUS L. JOHNSON AND NATASHA N. JOHNSON

Similarly, concerns over the quality of Baltimore’s police services persist despite federal oversight and reforms brought in after the death of Freddie Gray in police custody in 2015.

Commentators have pointed to a resistance to change among officers and an inability to garner community buy-in as reasons for the slowdown in progress in Baltimore.

Part of the problem, as seen with Baltimore, is that federal intervention does not appear to guarantee lasting change. Research shows that Department of Justice regulations aimed at reform only slightly reduce police misconduct.

There is also no evidence that national efforts targeting the use of force alone mitigate police killings.

COMMUNITY-LED REFORM One beacon of hope is the Cincinnati Police Department. Twenty years ago, residents in Cincinnati experienced events similar to what many cities have faced in more recent years. An unarmed Black man, Timothy Thomas, was shot dead by officers in 2001, sparking widespread unrest. It led Cincinnati to enter into a different model of reform: a collaborative agreement.

Touted by former U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch as a national model for community-led police reform, the collaborative agreement saw the police department, civic government, police unions and local civil rights groups act in partnership for a reform program backed by court supervision.

The resulting changes to use-of-force policies, a focus on community-based solutions to crime, and robust oversight brought about improved policing. A 2009 Rand evaluation of the collaborative agreement found it resulted in a reduction in crime, positive changes in citizens’ attitudes toward police and fewer racially biased traffic stops. There were also fewer use-of-force incidents and officer and arrestee injuries under the collaborative agreement.

But it isn’t perfect. Cincinnati’s Black residents continue to be disproportionately arrested – likely owing to the concentration of crime, service calls and police deployments in predominantly Black neighborhoods. Figures from 2018 show Black Cincinnati residents were roughly three times as likely to be arrested as their White counterparts.

Cincinnati’s collaborative agreement contained a number of elements that experts say are needed if police reforms are to be successful: strong leadership, flexible, goal-oriented approaches, effective oversight and externally regulated transparency.

Moreover, it depended on police officials’ ability to cultivate community investment and overcome resistance from police officers and police unions.

Community confidence is critical to police reform and community safety. When citizens view police as legitimate and trustworthy, they are

more likely to report crimes, cooperate during police investigations, comply with directives and work with police to find solutions to crime.

BEYOND COLLABORATION Efforts like that in Cincinnati that put community engagement at the heart of police reforms undoubtedly are strides in the right direction. But they can go only so far. A noticeable shortcoming in most police reform programs is a focus on what is the right thing to do during confrontations with the public, rather than on trying to avert those situations in the first place.

Fatal police shootings often happen during police stops and arrests— situations that carry increased risks of citizen resistance and violent police response.

Scaling back low-level enforcement, such as arrests for vagrancy and loitering—much of which has little public safety advantage—and having police partner with civilian responders for mental health, homelessness and drug-related calls, could mean fewer opportunities for violent police encounters.

Some departments have begun to change their enforcement policies along these lines. The Gwinnett County Police Department in Georgia, for example, stopped making arrests and issuing citations for misdemeanor marijuana possession.

A 2018 study of traffic stops in Fayetteville, North Carolina, found that redirecting enforcement away from minor infractions—such as broken taillights and expired tags—toward the more serious violations of speeding and running traffic lights resulted in reduced crime and a narrowed racial gap in stops and searches.

REMOVING THE TRIGGER Low-level infractions have often been the triggers for police interventions that end in citizen deaths. Eric Garner—who died in 2014 after a New York police officer put him in a banned chokehold—was stopped for selling loose cigarettes.

Devoting less time to policing such activity would also free up officers’ time to devote to such endeavors as analyzing crime trends, conducting wellness checks on elderly residents and mentoring community youth. I (Thaddeus Johnson) felt this as a police officer on the street, and I see it as a criminal justice scholar now.

The examples of Cincinnati, Ferguson and Baltimore show that getting community buy-in is crucial if attempts to improve policing are to be successful. We believe that evaluating officers’ performance and rewarding them based on community-oriented activities—rather than just the number of stops and arrests—could foster the support necessary for lasting reform.

Note: During his presidential address, Mr. Biden called on Congress to pass the police reform bill by May 25, the one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s death.

Thaddeus L. Johnson is an assistant professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology and Natasha N. Johnson is a clinical instructor of Criminal Justice and Criminology, both at Georgia State University. This story first appeared in The Conversation and has been reprinted with permission.

ONYX MAGAZINE 11

BUSINESS

BLACK BUSINESS COMEBACK The U.S. House of Representatives Small Business Committee conducted and released a report showing that more than 41% of Black-owned businesses closed between February and April 2020. The report identifies reasons for the challenges and offers suggestions to help Black-owned companies get back on track.

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merica’s 31 million small businesses drive job creation and are fundamental to the country’s economy and our local communities.

They are essential engines of growth, as they generate two-thirds of all net new jobs, produce nearly half of America’s annual economic activity, and are the vehicles of American innovation and competitiveness. For every $1 spent at a small business, around 67 percent stays in the local community and creates an additional 50 cents in local business activity due to employee spending and businesses purchasing local goods and services.

Entrepreneurship is a vital to building community wealth, for small businesses and their employees alike.

With that said, in 2018, approximately 18.3 percent, or 1 million, of all employer firms in the U.S. were owned by minorities. Black Americans owned 124,551 employer businesses, representing 2.2 percent of all employer businesses. Small businesses constitute the majority of these firms given that small firms, defined as independent businesses with less than 500 employees, comprise 99.9 percent of all businesses in the U.S. While America’s population continues to become more racially and ethnically diverse, the percentage of Black-owned employer firms suggests business ownership has not kept pace with population growth. Closing the 12 ONYX MAGAZINE

Black-owned small business gap is essential to economic growth, increasing American prosperity, and closing the racial wealth gap.

BEFORE COVID Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Black business ownership and entrepreneurship was trending upward with Black-owned businesses with employees increasing by 31.2 percent from 2002-2017. Equally important, Black-owned businesses without employees increased 36.3 percent between 2007 and 2012. However, it is worth noting that approximately 58 percent of Blackowned businesses were at risk of financial distress before the pandemic, compared with about 27 percent of White-owned businesses.

CHALLENGES Research suggests that minority-owned small businesses are more likely to hire locally and create jobs within their communities. Yet, institutional discrimination and social inequalities make it more challenging for minority small business owners, and specifically Black-owned businesses, to get the support they need, leaving billions of potential revenue unrealized each year. Below, we discuss three significant challenges facing Black-owned

small businesses. While this list is not exhaustive, research has shown that inadequate access to capital, mentorship, and business opportunities are persistent issues plaguing the Black small business community.

• ACCESS BARRIERS Deep and persistent discrimination in the economic system has disproportionately impacted Black entrepreneurs and small businesses. Black entrepreneurs and small business owners are more likely to face increased requirements for bank loans than their White counterparts while simultaneously being more likely to have their loan applications rejected. On average, Black households have lower income levels and less collateral than White households, resulting in less traditional forms of credit.

Historically, banks and other financial institutions have viewed Black entrepreneurs as high-risk candidates for mortgages and other loans.

Indeed, the valuations of risk used by lending institutions, credit scores and loan to value ratios, disproportionately limit credit availability to borrowers of color. As a result, Black loan applicants are more likely to have their small business loans rejected with only one percent of Black business owners receiving a bank loan within their first year of business.

• MENTORSHIP GAP Having a mentor is an invaluable resource when creating and developing a small business. In a 2018 survey, 92 percent of respondents stated that having a mentor is vital to business success. Despite this belief, Black entrepreneurs are less likely to have access to mentorship networks and are also less likely to seek out professional services from lawyers or accountants for business assistance.

• INADEQUATE ACCESS TO BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES Black-owned businesses are often underutilized. For example, the almost 125,000 employer firms owned by Black Americans in the U.S. account for an estimated $128 billion in receipts, and thus participated in only 0.33 percent of the total receipts received by all employer firms. In comparison, the 4.8 million employer firms owned by White Americans account for $13.3 trillion in receipts or 34.6 percent of all employer firm receipts.

COVID’S IMPACT In addition to the historic challenges and barriers experienced by Blackowned small businesses, the pandemic has contributed further burdens, pushing 41 percent of Black-owned U.S. businesses into closure from February to April 2020, the largest closure rate of any racial group. In a May 2020 McKinsey survey, more than 50 percent of surviving Black-owned businesses reported being very or extremely concerned about the viability of their business. SCORE, one of SBA’s largest Resource Partners, also conducted a client survey in August 2020. Of the roughly 3,500 responses, they found that Black-owned businesses were significantly more disrupted than their White counterparts and were more likely to seek, but less likely to receive, additional private or government assistance.

SOLUTIONS As the country continues to understand the challenges faced by Blackowned small businesses and seeks to Build Back Better after the pandemic, Congress and the Administration should dedicate the necessary resources to supporting the agencies and programs that assist Black-owned small businesses and work to level the playing field for Black small business owners.

• INCREASED ACCESS TO CAPITAL — Increasing financial resources is paramount to Black-owned small business survival during the pandemic and to their future success. Black-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs must have access to more varied financing options including seed-funding, investors, and responsible online borrowing options where race may play less of a factor in loan approval. If additional federal COVID-19 relief is approved, Congress should take into consideration the set-asides that will directly impact Black-owned small businesses and entrepreneurs. Continuing to set aside additional PPP funding for minority-owned small businesses may compensate for challenges faced at the outset of the program.

• INCREASED MENTORING SUPPORT Congress should consider increasing funding for minority small business counseling and training outreach. In particular, increases in resources should be directed to the MBDA’s MBDC program. MBDC’s connect small business owners and entrepreneurs with experts that will help grow their business, secure capital, compete for contracts, and answer other business-related questions. The MBDA has existed for more than 50 years but has never been statutorily authorized by Congress. Authorizing this agency would give it the security necessary to meet its goals and the counseling and training needs of minority-small business owners. In addition, when adjusted for inflation, the MBDA has seen a sharp drop in its funding levels since the 1970’s. It is past time for Congress to increase its annual appropriations and prove the U.S. prioritizes minority small business ownership.

This is an excerpt from a 10-page report by the House Small Business Committee Majority Staff released in February 2021. To read this report in its entirety and review all sources, visit ONYXMagazine.com.

ONYX MAGAZINE 13

ONYX READS

HOW WE PERSEVERE BOOKS THAT MOVE US FORWARD

BY PATRICIA BROWN DENIS

MOVING FORWARD: A STORY OF HARD WORK AND THE PROMISE OF AMERICA

THE ORIGINAL BLACK ELITE: DANIEL MURRAY AND THE STORY OF A FORGOTTEN ERA

BY KARINE JEAN PIERRE This book sheds some light on the hard workers behind the scenes of political campaigns and the personal choices that drive an individual to work in this type of field. Pierre raises the one question many of us have had to consider as we labor through our day, “I wondered: Are you a star if no one sees you shine?” It is an excellent question that Pierre answers in a mantra she has used for years. As a runner, the answer she gives is always “Yes.” This book might be just the persuasive peek behind the curtain we all need to keep striving for our next big win.

BY ELIZABETH DOWLING TAYLOR We are introduced to Daniel Murray through a careful chronology of his family heritage and associations, including a who’s who of the African American establishment—from the founders of the African Methodist Episcopal church to the founder of Howard University. The author states, “they were living proof that African Americans did not lack the ability to become useful contributors to mainstream society.” His details include an excellent resource of well-researched memorabilia.

OUR TIME IS NOW

BY STACEY ABRAMS Abrams had more than the will to win, she had the force of generations behind her and tells us just how to make the most of our power as people. She says, “I use this story as a warning of the fear that even the most stalwart can feel about exercising the power of the vote.”

Abrams shares her insight and the sting of realizing that so many people have been convinced to see the “obstacle course to forfeit the race without even starting to run.” But because she is Stacey Abrams, she believes that “winning doesn’t always mean you get the prize, sometimes you get progress.”

The more you read the more you see who Abrams really is as a person and not just a politician.

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MEN WE REAPED—A MEMOIR

BY JESMYN WARD This memoir is a patchwork of stories that are connected by tragedy and history. The author paints an incredible picture of a world many of us have never had to consider. “I wonder why silence is the sound of our subsumed rage, our accumulated grief,” she says. It is hard to tell a story of an African American family forming in the south, in the late sixties, in America without the Klan, church bombings, the war in Vietnam, and suffering. To tell their story is to return to the place and time just before their death. Ward shares her raw pain in the pages of her memoir.

PINNED

BY SHARON G. FLAKE This coming-of-age story takes girl power to the next level in the antics of the main character, Autumn. She not only has girl power, but a healthy amount of Black girl magic as a formidable female wrestler on a boys wrestling team. On top of her non-traditional sport, she has a crush on a not so willing and unusual young man named Adonis.

Adonis is in a wheelchair, but he has not let that keep him from feeling athletic as the wrestling team’s manager. Sparks fly between these two in more than the usual, straight-forward, romantic way. Adonis has a difficult time admitting any feelings for Autumn. The banter between them keeps you wondering if there is to be relationship between them at all.

SAGE

BEAT THE BLUES A SURVEY FINDS SOCIAL ISOLATION IS MORE PREVALENT AMONG THE OLDER GENERATION.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES

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ven before COVID-19 limited social contact with friends, family and colleagues, many adults experienced loneliness and depression due to limited contact with others. Now, a year after the pandemic forced many people into even greater levels of isolation, the issue of social isolation is especially prevalent in Americans over the age of 50.

Despite the physical implications of a global pandemic, research shows the mental health stakes are high, too. A nationwide survey, commissioned

by Barclays, found that half of Americans over the age of 50 said the isolation from their friends and family has been more challenging than concerns over health risks they may face.

Social isolation has provided plenty of time for Americans to reflect on their priorities. The majority of Americans surveyed (90%) have re-evaluated their post age-50 goals and put spending more time with family at the top of their lists. In fact, the most common first thing 50-plus Americans will do once COVID-19 is over is to see and spend time with their families (41%).

“While restrictions are beginning to ease, many older adults are still isolated from friends and family, and that takes a toll on their mental well-being” said Lisa Marsh Ryerson, president of the AARP Foundation. “We must do all we can to help older adults, who have suffered greatly during COVID19, strengthen the social connections that are so essential to their ability to lead longer, healthier lives.”

For example, AARP Foundation’s Connect2Affect platform equips older adults with the tools they need to stay physically and mentally healthy and connected to their communities. The AARP Essential Rewards Mastercard from Barclays is helping fund the foundation’s work to increase social connection with donations based on new accounts and eligible purchases, up to $1 million annually.

A little creativity and a commitment to filling time productively can help reduce the strain of being alone until it is safer to resume social activities.

USE TECHNOLOGY TO CONNECT WITH LOVED ONES

when you can’t be together in person. While a drop-in call can be fun, consider arranging regular visits with kids and grandkids. If you schedule calls throughout the week, you’ll have something regular to look forward to and can benefit from a check-in that affirms everyone is healthy and safe.

MAKE TIME FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY Staying closer to home may mean you’re not getting the exercise you once did, but it’s important for your health to stay active. Regularly using your muscles helps keep your body strong, and even light physical activity a few times each week can help keep your cardiovascular system fit for better heart health. Regular exercise can also provide a range of positive mental health outcomes, including reduced stress, anxiety and depression, and improved memory.

VOLUNTEER IN YOUR COMMUNITY OR CONSIDER VIRTUAL VOLUNTEERING Helping others is a way to release feel-good endorphins for yourself. While your limited social calendar may afford you some extra time, inquire with local nonprofits about how you can contribute to their causes. Especially as funding for charitable organizations has dropped, volunteers are still essential to most nonprofit organizations, whether the help comes in person or virtually. Even from a distance, you may be able to help with tasks like making calls to donors, assisting with mailings or planning fundraising campaigns.

LEARN A NEW HOBBY OR SKILL Another way to fill your free time, and reap some positive energy, is to explore a new hobby or skill. The personal satisfaction of learning and focusing your mental energy on something that interests you can help offset the disappointment of being away from those you love.

Find more resources that support older adults at connect2affect.org.

Video chats and traditional phone calls can help you feel connected even ONYX MAGAZINE 15

R E A L E S TAT E

BUY BLACK

HERE ARE SOME BLACK-OWNED SHOPS TO SUPPORT DURING YOUR NEXT DÉCOR BINGE.

BY LARISSA RUNKLE

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tsy has long been a top destination to shop for unique, handmade decor, but it’s easy to get lost in the pages and pages of clickable products. So we wanted to take this moment to showcase the work of some of our favorite Black artists. These decorations from around the world are sure to spruce up your home.

MACRAME MAGIC Macrame has been making a comeback in home decor for quite some time now, but you’d be hard-pressed to find another collection of whimsical designs quite like the ones by Nosse Ovienmhada of NossbossCreations. With unique potted-plant hangers and wall art (also custom orders), these pieces are hard to pass up—especially if you love macrame. “Fiber art adds natural texture and earthy accents to any space,” Ovienmhada says. “It’s a great way to balance hard lines and surfaces.”

HAND-POURED CANDLES You can never have too many candles, especially when they look like the ones created

by Tina Walter of Soulful Bliss Spa & Boutique. With scents like cactus flower and jade, mimosa, and raspberry sangria, these candles are also topped with thoughtful details, including flower petals and crystals.

“The crystals I top my candles with are all for grounding, uplifting, and removing negativity,” Walter says. “I wanted them to be as beautiful as they are relaxing and soul-lifting—to bring a level of whimsy and warmth to any part of the home you choose to place it in.”

BOHEMIAN DREAM TEXTILES If you have an obsession with bohemian textiles, you’re going to need to brace yourself for this collection of mud cloth throws, wall hangings, and pillow covers created by Kedji Makoli of AisheaHOME. At Makoli’s shop, these beauties are made from scratch using authentic textiles, coming in a wide variety of patterns and color palettes. “We like textiles that tell stories, those that have been made using ancestral techniques, those that sustain and unite communities,” says Makoli. “The textiles are like witnesses of our trips, of the endless hours in markets looking for that piece that thrills us.”

EARTHY ART PRINTS Looking for something fresh to adorn the walls of your place? Look no further than these art prints created by Karina Daniel Parris out of her studio LovelyEarthlings. Parris has always been drawing, but decided to put some downtime to good use by taking her art to the next level and sharing it with the world. “Because I lived in these metropolitan cities— like Atlanta, New York, and Miami—you can see why my art includes tropical weather, fashion, and diversity,” she says. With a range of prints and greeting cards featuring women set in lush green landscapes, these designs might just be the perfect summer vibes your place needs.

FARMHOUSE-INSPIRED FURNISHINGS Nothing tugs at our heartstrings quite like a gorgeous piece of furniture. But what we love about the tables and decor designed

by Ntebo Archer of ArcherHomeDesigns is that they’re actually made with your family in mind. “Our pieces are rustic and wellworn so that life can be enjoyed without worrying about how the coffee table is holding up,” Archer says. Add to your farmhouse collection with tables that won’t mind a little spilled lemonade this summer.

VIBRANT LIGHTS If you’ve been trying to decide how to upgrade from your boring lampshade, you’ll find more than one solution in the London-based studio of Natalie Manima, also known as BespokeBinny. These African-inspired lampshades, pillows, oven mitts, and table sets are all made using waxprint fabric and come in a variety of vivid colors and designs. And if you were worried about ordering from across the pond—don’t be. Despite the distance (and the pandemic), Manima still ships worldwide in just three to four business days.

Larissa Runkle writes for real estate, finance, and lifestyle publications, and is also at work on several fiction projects. This article appeared in Realtor.com and has been reproduced with permission.

ONYX MAGAZINE 17

M U S I C & E N T E R TA I N M E N T

URBAN MYSTIC SOULFUL CROONER RETURNS TO R&B

BY PERCY LOVELL CRAWFORD

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&B music seems to be headed in a more up-tempo/ genre-bending direction, with its artists getting assists from rappers and others to create hits. As a result, this appears to be the perfect time for the return of one of the more underappreciated vocalists in the game: Urban Mystic, and his undeniably powerful voice.

He has consistently showed off his pipes throughout his career. His “Ghetto Revelations” and “Ghetto Revelations II” albums both charted very well. His last release, in 2015, “Soulful Classics” really showed off his range, and he covered a number of classic hits from musical giants.

Now, fresh off a six-year hiatus, Urban Mystic is using Instagram Live to draw his fans back in from his break while providing brief performances to remind them what he’s capable of—in time for African American Music Appreciation Month in June.

Percy Lovell Crawford spoke with the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native, who is currently working on a single titled “Emotions,” as well as a follow-up album to drop later this year and a return to the stage.

Urban Mystic: I’ve been good, bruh. I appreciate that. It’s been crazy. Everything came to a halt. We had to put the tour on hold, and pretty much just go along with everything that was going on. It’s been all good. I took the time and used it for

18 ONYX MAGAZINE

PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID DAVIS

I love your voice and your music, brother.

How have you been?

good. I got back in the studio and did some recreating, getting my album done that I will be releasing this year. I made the best of it, man. It’s just good to be getting back out on the road, seeing the fans and being on that stage again. I miss that.

You haven’t released a full project since 2015. How has music changed since then and are you sticking to your formula no matter the changes?

UM: Music changes with time, as does everything—music, fashion, movies.

It’s usually for the good, so I go along with it. As far as music goes, it’s hard to take the soul out of it. That’s what I tell a lot of artists. I don’t care what you do, whether it’s hip-hop, or whatever, keep the same vibes.

Whatever I do, it’s going to always have that soul inside of it. I go along with the times, and I enjoy the new music that’s out there right now. I see a lot of these guys doing their thing. Rod Wave, for example: I love that song and what he’s doing. I’m here for it, man. I just love good music.

You have that deep baritone voice that we don’t hear a lot of anymore. Why is that?

I love seeing you use social media to really interact with your fans. How important has that become in delivering your messages?

UM: It’s highly important. I was one of the artists that came in the early 2000s, so social media wasn’t a thing back then. Being that that’s where it’s at now, that’s where everybody hanging out at, I had to switch gears and get over there. I wanted to find my fans. I love it because it gives me a closer relationship with my fans. It’s beyond reading fan mail that’s coming from a record label, you know what I mean. It’s definitely a plus with social media and I encourage all of my fans to holla at me, follow me, because it’s definitely me on there.

When can we expect your new project?

UM: We’re getting ready to wrap the album up by the end of next month (June). We’re dropping the first single next month; it’s called, “Emotions.”

The album gonna be coming later this year. A specific date hasn’t been selected yet, but keep following me and I will make sure everybody knows what’s going on.

UM: I grew up listening to groups like Ruff Endz, Jodeci, K-Ci and JoJo. Their sound helped mold me and my sound. And I can say that ain’t nothing like that going on in the industry right now. I hear it all the time: “Nobody’s got that raspy sound like you, it’s time for you to bring it back.” So, I’m going to bring it to you then. This goes back to the Temptations/David Ruffin days, a sound that everyone gravitates to. I’m happy to be a part of being able to keep that sound alive.

Will it be the same Urban Mystic sound that we’ve grown accustomed to?

You mentioned the Temptations. You made a “Soulful Classics” album that became a classic itself. How did you choose the tracks you covered and was it a difficult process?

I’ve always been impressed with how you’ve stayed true to your essence. You had a song with Paul Wall, and you let him do his thing while you brought the vocals. You didn’t feel the need to try and rap or anything like that.

UM: Ah man, it was so crazy. That was one of the hardest albums to come up with. We recorded about 80 songs. I performed different songs in different places, and I went with what gave me the most positive feedback. A lot of those songs that I recorded, were songs that I knew of, but I didn’t grow up listening to them. But the people loved them, such as Lou Rawls’ “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine.” Those were huge records and the people loved them. I felt it was an honor and a pleasure to pay homage to those artists and those records.

Your hit song “I Refuse” is an amazing example of “conversational R&B.” Tell us more about that approach.

UM: Ah man, I appreciate it. It’s something about real R&B, that music that makes you feel like you are a part of it. That’s one thing that I tell all my fellow artists: Whatever you do, don’t take the realness out. Make the people feel the music. When I’m writing the music, I come up with a subject that might not be something that I’m going through but might be something that somebody I know is going through. I’m going to sing about it and talk about it because I know they can relate. That’s what it’s all about with music, making tunes that people can relate to.

UM: The sound that everyone expects from me, that’s the sound we are going with. But with this album, we’ve also got some new tracks on there with some of the new vibes and beats that are up to date. Those are mixed in with some of that soul singing and soulful vibe. Never taking away the urban in the mystic; it’s always going to be there.

UM: Dope man. I appreciate that. It’s always good to have people respect and appreciate good soul music. It’s still alive.

You had a track on one of your early albums titled, “Where Were You?” where you rap, “Where were you, when you first heard Biggie or Pac and you knew you were blessed with the best of hip-hop?” Unfortunately, we have suffered a lot more tragic losses, especially recently in the hip-hop community. You ever think about doing a sequel to that song?

UM: It’s crazy you say that—my son said the same thing. He was like, “Dad, you could remix that record and just change the Tupac and Biggie and use some of the newer people.” With all this tragedy and stuff that’s going on, man, you’re right. It is a timeless record.

That was my first record. Shouts out to [DJ] Kay Gee from Naughty By Nature, who helped produce and wrote that record for me. We definitely into re-creating that. Somebody mentioned the “I Refuse” part two and I said, “OK, I can just remix the whole first album.” Everybody was feeling that.

Percy Lovell Crawford writes for “Zenger News,” where this article first appeared. It has been republished with permission. Edited by Matthew B. Hall and Judith Isacoff.w ONYX MAGAZINE 19

BLACK HISTORY

GROOVIN’ AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSIC INSPIRES SO MANY OTHER GENRES.

J

une is African American Music Appreciation Month! Created

by President Jimmy Carter in 1979, this month celebrates the African American musical influences that comprise an essential part of our nation’s treasured cultural heritage.

Formerly called National Black Music Month, this celebration of African American musical contributions is re-established annually by presidential proclamation. Though by no means exhaustive, the National Museum of African American History & Culture prepared a primer that will guide you through some of the different genres that African Americans have created, inspired and fostered.

SACRED MUSIC This includes spirituals and gospel music.

FOLK MUSIC African American folk music links back to African cultural traditions.

THE BLUES The blues form the foundation of contemporary American music.

MILITARY MUSIC Beginning with the Revolutionary War, African Americans have always held a significant role in the armed services’ military band tradition.

JAZZ Jazz evolved from ragtime, an American style of syncopated instrumental music.

RHYTHM AND BLUES The predecessor to soul music, R&B is another stylistically-diverse genre with roots in jazz, the blues and gospel music.

ROCK AND ROLL Rock ‘n’ Roll music incorporates elements from all African American music genres and combines them with American pop and country music components.

HIP-HOP AND RAP Hip-Hop and Rap are musical traditions firmly embedded in African American culture.

Read more at nmaahc.si.edu.

20 ONYX MAGAZINE

Louis Armstrong Park in New

JOIN OUR TEAM ONYX Magazine celebrates 23 years of entertaining, inspiring and informing African Americans throughout Florida. Join our team as we continue to expand. We are seeking experienced and enthusiastic Sales Representatives and Writers. Send your resume’ and writing clips (for writers) to info@onyxmagazine.com or call 321-418-7216.

CELEBRATING BLACK ACHIEVEMENT THROUGHOUT FLORIDA

ONYX MAGAZINE 21

H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S

INTIMACY HOW CAN YOU AND YOUR SWEETIE DEEPEN THE BOND?

W

BY ABRIL GREEN

e know sex is this complicated, multi-tiered subject and deserves to be dissected before indulging straight in. So, when it comes to dating, like, actually getting to know someone, do we want to complicate that even the more by adding sex to it? While intercourse is a highly tempting thing, there are other ways to express and share intimacy, especially while dating.

Emotional Intimacy: Learning someone and their mind; falling in love with their personality and listening to their innermost thoughts can create an undeniable closeness. The goal, when we are dating, is learning someone. Simply having conversations about life, things we love/dislike, what makes us happy/sad, the joys and pains of our childhood, can open doors to honesty and build bridges of trust needed for the relationship to advance.

In dating, this can look like going out for ice cream and sharing personal experiences; discussing our passions and things we advocate for. This can heighten our interest in someone and draw us closer to them.

Experiential Intimacy: Experiences! What better way to grow connected to someone than through experiences? Sure, a nice dinner is great as a first date, but what about an experience? Have you ever taken a walk along the beach as a first date? Maybe a bike ride? Had a homemade picnic in the park?

These aren’t our typical first dates but can make great first experiences and leave lasting first impressions. Having someone to cook for you, instead of going out to dinner is experiential intimacy. And this is reciprocated both

22 ONYX MAGAZINE

ways: It’s doing something for someone that they’ve never had, and it’s doing something you’ve never done.

Physical Intimacy: This is not to be mistaken for sexual intimacy. The difference is there’s no sex involved. Physical intimacy is our hugs and kisses and holding hands. Once we learn to like someone good enough through emotional intimacy, we become comfortable enough with them to be physical.

Holding hands can actually be a stress reliever. It decreases the level of cortisol, which is a stress hormone and releases oxytocin which is the hormone that strengthens empathy and communication. Being comfortable and relaxed around people can open doors of honesty and strengthen communication.

Spiritual Intimacy: For a lot of people, being equally-yoked is important.

This simply means sharing the same faith and being a believer in a higher power. Through this form of intimacy, you are allowed to share your beliefs and morals in regard to how you perceive life and its obstacles. It’s being able to worship together and pray for each other.

These intimacies are extremely important forms to navigate through when dating. It covers everything and leaves nothing left to the imagination. Unlike sex, it isn’t temporary. When invested in properly, these can win successfully for your dating experiences.

Abril Green (Edwards) is an author, spoken word artist and motivational speaker.

UNDO THE WEIGHT

I

f you’ve gained weight during the COVID-19 pandemic, you aren’t alone. The “Quarantine 15 —weight gain some folks have experienced since stay-at-home guidelines went into effect—is most likely due to the disruption in your daily routine.

“People’s habits have changed quite a bit since we’re spending more time at home,” said Donald Hensrud, M.D., the medical director of the Healthy Living Program at Mayo Clinic, which has a presence in Jacksonville.

“Those changes in habits can lead to health and medical issues down the road,” he said. His suggestion? Find new habits.

• Craft Healthier Versions of Old Favorites. Instead of giving in to large amounts of comfort food, this can be an opportunity to eat foods we may not think of as healthy. Make burritos, bean burritos or even pizza.

If you make it in the correct way, it can be a healthy food.

• Invest Some Time. Planning is key. If you plan ahead rather than just grabbing something at the last moment, you’re more likely to eat healthier meals.

• Raise Your Culinary Skills. Cook more. You can make healthier versions than the ones restaurants deliver.

• Squeeze in Activity. Even if it’s only 10-minute bursts of exercise, find ways to incorporate movement into your day. Teleworking? Walk around your living room while on conference calls. Play tag with your family in the backyard after dinner. Do a squat challenge while you binge watch your favorite show.

“Eating healthy and eating well don’t have to be drudgery. It can and should be an enjoyable way to live,” Hensrud said. “If we can do that, we can better manage our weight and our overall health during this pandemic.”

And drop that quarantine 15 before it tries to hang around all summer.

196849195 –BlackHealthMatters.com

MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS

F

rom May through July, national organizations will shine a spotlight on mental health. According to the Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health, Black adults in the United States are more likely than White adults to report persistent symptoms of emotional distress, such as sadness, hopelessness and feeling like everything is an effort.

Black adults living below the poverty line are more than twice as likely to report serious psychological distress than those with more financial security. Despite the needs, only one in three Black adults who need mental health care receive it. According to the American Psychiatric Association’s Mental Health Facts for African Americans guide, they are also less likely to receive guideline-consistent care, less frequently included in research, more likely to use emergency rooms or primary care (rather than mental health specialists).

Research shows that these barriers can escalate the issue: Socioeconomic Disparities Socioeconomic factors can make treatment options less available. In 2018, 11.5% of Black adults in the U.S. had no form of health insurance. The Black community, like other communities of color, are more likely to experience exclusion from health, educational, social and economic resources. These disparities may contribute to worse mental health outcomes.

Stigma One study showed that 63% of Black people believe that a mental health condition is a sign of personal weakness. As a result, people may experience shame about having a mental illness and worry that they may be discriminated against due to their condition.

Provider Bias and Inequality of Care Provider bias, both conscious and unconscious, and a lack of cultural competency can result in misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment. This ultimately can lead to mistrust of mental health professionals and create a barrier for many to engage in treatment. Black people may also be more likely to identify and describe physical symptoms related to mental health problems.

For example, they may describe bodily aches and pains when talking about depression. A health care provider who is not culturally competent might not recognize these as symptoms of a mental health condition. Additionally, Black men are more likely to receive a misdiagnosis of schizophrenia when expressing symptoms related to mood disorders or PTSD. While the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) recommends seeking help from a mental health professional, a primary care professional is also a great place to start. Community and faith organizations may also have a list of available mental health providers in your area. If finances are preventing you from finding help, contact a local health or mental health clinic or your local government to see what services you qualify for. You can find contact information online at findtreatment.samhsa.gov or by calling the National Treatment Referral Helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357).

–NAMI

SAMPLE QUESTIONS TO ASK PROSPECTIVE MENTAL HEALTH PROVIDER • Have you treated other Black people or received training in cultural competence for Black mental health? If not, how do you plan to provide me with culturally sensitive, patientcentered care?

• How do you see our cultural backgrounds influencing our communication and my treatment?

• Do you use a different approach in your treatment when working with patients from different cultural backgrounds?

• What is your current understanding of differences in health outcomes for Black patients?

• Did my provider communicate effectively with me?

• Is my provider willing to integrate my beliefs, practices, identity and cultural background into my treatment plan?

• Did I feel like I was treated with respect and dignity?

• Do I feel like my provider understands and relates well with me?

ONYX MAGAZINE 23

ON THE RISE

STUDENT JUGGLES SKINCARE BUSINESS AND BOOKS

BY DE’JA STOKES

I

t may be hard to maintain a business and be in school, but that is not the case for London Averyhart. With a passion for seeing others happy and content, she is juggling her own skincare business, all while being a full-time college student.

Averyhart, 19, is a health science student from Atlanta, Ga. She developed the idea of her business the summer before starting her first year of college. What started out as London Averyhart making personal concoctions for her own blemishes, eventually became the motivation to start her own skincare brand: Pretty Glow Essentials. For some, the quarantine took a negative toll on them, but Averyhart’s business amidst it.

“I kind of slept on the idea for a while to get used to college. But during quarantine, I had time to take a real initiative to start my skincare brand, featuring those same simple ingredients that helped better my own skin,” said Averyhart.

Every Pretty Glow Essentials product is hand-made specifically by Averyhart. Most of the products’ ingredients come from wholesale retailers, organic markets and a few are even homegrown. Some of the main ingredients used in the products include aloe vera, argan nut oil and manuka honey. The process consists of preparing the product, sanitizing, labeling and then sealing. She acknowledges that the process of creating the products is wearying, but the outcome is worth it.

Averyhart tries to be an adaptable and transparent business owner, being that she also experienced issues with hormonal acne. She understands and will always acknowledge how it feels to go through such a confusing, yet humiliating experience.

“Acne is tough on a lot of people’s self-esteem and confidence as it was on mine. It’s such an embarrassing chapter for most but I try to remind everyone that real skin has texture and flaws and that it’s okay,” said Averyhart.

As most business owners experience, launching her skincare brand was not an easy task. Averyhart faced many challenges while trying to get her business off the ground. The challenges she faced included testing the products, attempting to gain more clientele, shipping issues and how to 24 ONYX MAGAZINE

market her brand strategically. As of now, marketing to more of the male audience and younger adults is a challenge.

“Six months in and running a business of course still isn’t easy, but I’m learning things as I go, which I love,” said Averyhart.

To her peers, it is amazing to see how Averyhart balances her business and a full-time school schedule. Aspen Humes, a friend of Averyhart, says, “Her work ethic definitely inspires me. I love seeing her work hard for something she is so passionate about.” As a customer, Humes said Averyhart’s passion makes her more inclined to try her products.

In the beginning, it was quite a challenge with balancing schoolwork and her business. But now, she has a schedule and more structure to help her, even though sometimes there are nights she still must stay up late.

“London will stay up all day and night making products, making posts and making sure that her customers get what they need, all while maintaining her schoolwork,” said Caleb Reynolds, her boyfriend and customer.

Averyhart has a lot more on her plate than the usual college student but she does not let it deter her from succeeding and growing in every way possible. She is committed to seeing her customers happy and satisfied with their skin, while constantly reminding herself of the bigger picture to keep her motivated.

Completing school and having a thriving business are the main goals.

Even if it means she must wake up early, create schedules and have great time-management to get through this process for the remainder of her college career.

De’Ja Stokes is a senior from Jacksonville studying at Florida A&M University’s School of Journalism and Graphic Communications. This story originally ran in FAMU’s “Journey Magazine” and has been reprinted here with permission.

THE QUAD B-CU INSTRUCTOR RECEIVES FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR AWARD Adjunct Instructor and former Chair and Professor at our Bob Billingslea School Of Hospitality, Dr. Desmond O. Brown was awarded a Fulbright U.S. Scholar award to Sierra Leone. Dr. Brown will be providing and sharing his extensive expertise with the Milton Margai College of Education and Technology (MMCET) to help them improve and overhaul their existing hospitality and tourism curriculum. He will also be providing training to their existing faculty so that the school may expand upon their faculty base.

This Scholarship is a tremendous accomplishment and will greatly benefit The Milton Margai College of Education and Technology, and Bethune-Cookman University.

The Fulbright Scholar program is the most widely recognized and

Outgoing SGA President Xavier McClinton, second from right, with Acting U.S. Attorney Jason Coody, center, and McClinton’s father Dominic, brother, Jordan, and mother, Vickie.

FAMU STUDENT HONORED FOR LEADERSHIP

Dr. Desmond O. Brown

prestigious international exchange program in the world, supported for more than half a century by the American people through an annual appropriation from the U.S. Congress and by the people of partner nations.

Florida A&M University (FAMU) outgoing Student Government Association (SGA) President Xavier McClinton was recognized for his leadership role in the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida Office’s community outreach program. McClinton, a Brunswick, Ga., native, who recently received his bachelor’s degree in Economics was honored for “leadership and outstanding contributions in sup-

port of community engagement roundtable.” McClinton was one of the community participants in the U.S. Attorney Office’s “A Seat at the Table” program. As part of the community engagement roundtable, McClinton said the group had an agenda to focus on three areas: efforts for diversity inclusion, set new standards and policies across the enterprise and build relationships between the African American community and law enforcement.

USF AWARDS 19 SCHOLARSHIPS

WOMEN’S GOLF RETURNS TO EWC THE PLAYERS Championship announced a $50,000 donation to help reinstate the women’s golf program at Edward Waters College (EWC). Located 30 minutes from the PGA TOUR’s flagship property and global home, the state’s first private Historically Black College

and University (HBCU) is now one of only two HBCUs in Florida (the other is Bethune-Cookman University) to offer a dedicated women’s golf program. THE PLAYERS’ grant will help EWC recruit and select a coach, fund student-athlete scholarships and assist with overall operational expenses as the program plans for a 2022 launch date.

The 2021 Kente Awards and Scholarship Ceremony at the University of South Florida, sponsored by Amgen, with ONYX Magazine as the Media Sponsor, recognized 19 student scholarship recipients. All proceeds from this annual event benefit diversity scholarships at USF. The Kente Awards, presented by the African American Advisory Committee, Black Faculty and Staff Association, Institute on Black Life, and Ruth and Jerry Bell, recognize leadership in resolving educational and social problems as they relate to individuals of African American heritage. The event also recognized former Florida Chief Justice Peggy Quince with the Joyce

Russell Kente Community Leader Award and former Tampa Bay Buccaneer the late Vincent Jackson ’16 with the Joyce Russell Alumni Award. The keynote speaker for the virtual event was Jewel Burks Solomon, the head of Google for Startups in the U.S. ONYX MAGAZINE 25

M O N E Y M AT T E R S

SMALL BUSINESS ENTREPRENEURS: YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH MONEY MATTERS

M

BY LAURA DORSEY

ost people believe if they start a new business, they must be good capitalists and love money. The reality is many business owners and entrepreneurs do not succeed because they do not have a good relationship with money. To make money, it must become a prominent part of every business day. With the current economic situation, it is natural for small business entrepreneurs to have a growing concern about surviving. One of the critical ways for entrepreneurs to survive is to find innovative sources of income.

A transformation in the way businesses function is not certainly a bad thing. It launches new opportunities. “Entreprneur” suggests asking yourself, ‘How can I operate a business and offer customers our services in this new business lifestyle?’ Adapting to the changes in the economy is how businesses make it through difficult times. According to “Entrepreneur,” this time is a new opportunity for businesses to evolve in a new, unfamiliar market. Research provides a few suggestions for a changed mindset of entrepreneurs to increase that relationship with their money.

FOOD TRUCKS Food trucks are mavericks, bringing restaurant cuisine to where no chef has cooked before. “Forbes” estimates that this $985-million industry 26 ONYX MAGAZINE

is noticeably missing from relief aid. Food trucks were created out of a need for change: food trucks could reach a wider range of customers less expensively. Trucks are having to think outside the box yet again. Their usual customers—pedestrians strolling the streets and office workers checking out for lunch—are confined to their homes. Pivoting is part of the food truck life if you ask any food truck owner. The fundamental idea with food trucking is to go where people are. Some food trucks are striking deals with businesses or property owners to let them park in their lots. Diners can find some of the tastiest BBQ in Central Florida in neighborhood food trucks.

CREATIVITY Creativity is at the foundation of every business. It may appear sufficient just to keep the doors open, shelves stocked and business staffed in challenging times. However, it is the scalability and fluidity unique to small businesses that allow owners to react quickly and flex their creative muscles. The pandemic has, without question, put creativity to the test. One of the Orlando area’s major entrepreneurs who flexed their creative ideas was CB Bistro, owned by Monica May and George Ashford. Caterings Best Events was a high-end event planning entity catering to large parties in multiple venues Caroline and Justini Carter staffed by skilled professionals. Creativity changed the venue to CB Bistro.

traffic, pop-up shops are an excellent way to increase sales. You can search for a list of pop-up shops in Orlando, and you will usually find them in the parks, like Lake Eola. They are also hugely popular in South Florida, specifically in Ft. Lauderdale and Miami.

MONEY MATTERS

CB Catering and Events owners George Ashford and Monica May

To be profitable as a small business entrepreneur, you have to make money your everyday reality. It is necessary to develop your relationship with money just as you would with any other relationship in your life or business.

Remember that money, though green, really exists in black and white, and you should be reviewing your books regularly. Entrepreneurs should use money as a tool for prioritizing what is most important in your business and what will help you achieve your goals. Statistics show that the most successful small business entrepreneurs are the ones that have a healthy relationship with their money. Being fluent in the relationship between your business and your money matters to your business’s bottom line: profit.

This small business now caters to a crowd of 60 people or fewer, in an outdoor setting, with live entertainment on the weekends by reservation only.

BRINGING THE BUSINESS TO THE CUSTOMER When customers in North Florida wanted tasty treats, JuDeas Creations in Carolina was just a drive away. However, with the current business climate, people were not traveling as much. JuDeas Creations knew they had to do something different. If business was not coming to them, then they need to bring the business to the customers. With that thought, they revamped their business using USPS (United Postal Service), which is the go-to-service for small business shipping. According to “Parcel Magazine,” for packages under five pounds, USPS will almost always offer the best rate.

JuDeas Creations put their homemade cakes and pastry products online and shipped them to their customers in Northern Florida. UPS generally provides the best rates for a business that needs delivery of larger and time-critical packages.

COURTESY OF XXXXXXXXXXXX

POP-UPS Pop-up retail is becoming more common, challenging the traditional brickand-mortar retail of long leases and large transaction-based flagship stores.

Storefront gives the term “pop up” to “a shop or store that is deliberately temporary. It is a store that “pops-up” for a limited period of time to achieve a particular goal.” A pop-up store looks like a standard store. Still, many brands use them to generate unique and appealing physical shopping experiences because they provide flexibility and the opportunity to experiment with less risk. Pop-up merchandising is hugely beneficial for customers, retailers, and landlords alike. Often positioned in places with high foot ONYX MAGAZINE 27

TECHNOLOGY

CRYPTOCURRENCY THIS RECENT FORM OF PAYMENT IS ON EVERYBODY’S LIPS. BUT WHAT EXACTLY IS IT? ONYX STAFF REPORT

WHAT ARE CRYPTOCURRENCIES AND HOW DO THEY WORK? Cryptocurrency is a form of payment that can be exchanged online for goods and services. Many companies have issued their own currencies, often called tokens, and these can be traded specifically for the good or service that the company provides. Think of them as you would arcade tokens or casino chips. You’ll need to exchange real currency for the cryptocurrency to access the good or service. Cryptocurrencies work using a technology called blockchain. Blockchain is a decentralized technology spread across many computers that manages and records transactions. Part of the appeal of this technology is its security. NOTE: Cryptocurrency is an incredibly speculative and volatile buy. Stock trading of established companies is generally less risky than investing in cryptocurrencies. NerdWallet

WHY ARE THEY SO POPULAR? Low Fees - There are very few fees associated with using it compared to other forms of payment.

No Association With World Governments - This means that cryptocurrencies have the potential to remain stable even when there is turmoil in a specific country. Some investors see cryptocurrencies as a good way to protect their wealth.

Potential For Profit - If you buy a cryptocurrency while it’s at a low price, then you can potentially profit when that price rises. Many who invested in cryptocurrencies before they got hot made huge profits.

Ease of Use - More online companies are adopting it and more websites are starting to accept cryptocurrencies as payment. Now, cryptocurrency debit cards popping up in certain places.

Security – According to experts, using cryptocurrency to pay for things online is actually a lot safer than many other traditional payment options.

28 ONYX MAGAZINE

Ease of Access – It is possible to get the cryptocurrency that you want from reputable sources and the ease of getting cryptocurrency has helped it to grow in popularity.

It Is The Future - People who adopt cryptocurrency now are also adopting major technological innovations such as blockchain, which is supposed to make trading a much more transparent process. World Financial Review

ARE THEY A GOOD INVESTMENT? It is possible to get filthy rich by investing in cryptocurrency. But you could also lose all your money. How can both of those things be true? Well, like most investments, crypto assets come with a host of risks but also vast potential rewards. Cryptocurrency is a good investment if you want to gain direct exposure to the demand for digital currency and the projects or businesses they facilitate. Whether crypto assets pay off for investors will ultimately be determined by whether they achieve widescale adoption. The Motley Fool

HOW DO I PROTECT MYSELF? If you’re looking to buy a cryptocurrency in an ICO (Initial Coin Offering), read the fine print in the company’s prospectus for this information: • Who owns the company? An identifiable and well-known owner is a positive sign.

• Are there other major investors who are investing in it? It’s a good sign if other well-known investors want a piece of the currency.

• Will you own a stake in the company or just currency or tokens? This distinction is important. Owning a stake means you get to participate in its earnings (you’re an owner), while buying tokens simply means you’re entitled to use them, like chips in a casino.

• Is the currency already developed, or is the company looking to raise money to develop it? The further along the product, the less risky it is.

HOW MANY CRYPTOCURRENCIES ARE THERE? According to data from CoinMarketCap, there are currently more than 7,800 in existence. New tokens are popping up all the time–each with a different use case and backstory. Currency.com

ARE CRYPTOCURRENCIES LEGAL IN THE U.S.?

It can take a lot of work to comb through a prospectus; the more detail it has, the better your chances it’s legitimate. But even legitimacy doesn’t mean the currency will succeed. That’s an entirely separate question, and that requires a lot of market savvy.

But beyond those concerns, just having cryptocurrency exposes you to the risk of theft, as hackers try to penetrate the computer networks that maintain your assets. One high-profile exchange declared bankruptcy in 2014 after hackers stole hundreds of millions of dollars in bitcoins.

Those aren’t typical risks for investing in stocks and funds on major U.S. exchanges. NerdWallet As with any financial investment, “ONYX Magazine” recommends that you speak with a professional advisor and study on your own before making any decisions.

Unlike dollar bills and coins, cryptocurrencies are not issued or backed by the U.S. government or any other government or central bank, according to the National Conference of Legislatures. While it is difficult to find a consistent legal approach at state level, the U.S. continues to make progress in developing federal-level cryptocurrency legislation. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) does not consider cryptocurrencies to be legal tender but considers cryptocurrency exchanges to be money transmitters on the basis that cryptocurrency tokens are “other value that substitutes for currency.” The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) does not consider cryptocurrency to be legal tender but defines it as “a digital representation of value that functions as a medium of exchange, a unit of account, and/or a store of value” and has issued tax guidance accordingly. Cryptocurrency exchanges are legal in the United States and fall under the regulatory scope of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA). Comply Advantage

HOW DO I BUY CRYPTOCURRENCIES? The easiest way to acquire cryptocurrency is to purchase on an online exchange like Coinbase, where you can buy major cryptocurrencies. For some cryptocurrencies, Coinbase offers opportunities to earn some for free. Keep in mind that you do not need to buy a whole coin.

On Coinbase, you can buy portions of coins in increments as little as $2 or your local currency. Coinbase ONYX MAGAZINE 29

BLACK HISTORY

JUNETEENTH XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXX

BY XXXXXXXXXXX

A

ccording to the official website of the historical event, Juneteenth is ‘the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.’

Other than marking a pivotal date of significance in American history, Juneteenth also serves as an opportunity for African Americans to cherish their culture and heritage.

More than 155 years old, Juneteenth celebrates the liberation of African Americans from slavery in the U.S. The reason for it being celebrated on June 19 is because, on this day in 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger of the Union Army landed in Texas, he brought the news that the Civil War had ended and all slaves were free.

The proclamation declaring the abolishment of slavery was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, in the nation’s third year of an ongoing civil war. Known as the Emancipation Proclamation, it declared that ‘all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State […] shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.’ Granger’s arrival at Texas was to enforce this decree, which had originally gone into effect two years earlier.

The news had come as a shock to more than 250,000 slaves in Texas who were unaware of it.

30 ONYX MAGAZINE

On June 19, in the city of Galveston, Granger publicly read General Order No. 3, which stated: ‘The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.’

As to why the news of the abolition of slavery reached Texas so late, there are varying accounts. One story states that the messenger bearing the news was assassinated on his journey. Some historians believe that the report on the Emancipation Proclamation was withheld by slave owners in Texas on purpose so that they can go about their business as usual and keep the labor force working. Historians also note that, until 1865, Texas remained a Confederate State, so Lincoln’s proclamation could not have been enforced until Robert E. Lee surrendered to the Union Army and they took over.

Either way, Granger’s arrival with the grand news stirred the air with jubilance and massive celebrations across the state. A former slave named Felix Haywood gave his recount of the first celebration in 1865 in the book “Lone Star Pasts: Memory and History in Texas” — ‘We was all walkin’ on golden clouds […] Everybody went wild […] We was free. Just like that, we was free.’

National Today

BLACK OWNED

WHAT’S THE 411?

ID’ING BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES JUST GOT EASIER

BY RUTHIE HAWKINS

T

he Black 411™ relaunched in May and they are signing up new businesses now. They also have new features and new pricing plans to meet all customer needs. The Black 411™ is a “Targeted Information Service” that allows consumers to use their smart phone to find and locate Black-owned businesses instantly across the country. In the past, Black consumers could not easily find Black-owned businesses. That caused a tremendous imbalance in how we spend the $1.5 trillion we earn.

In this climate of Black Lives Matter, and Black Dollars Matter, The Black 411™ provides an easy and cost-effective tool to help consumers search for the businesses.

How does the service work? With The Black 411 you simply text or call and they do it all. A user simply texts the type of business, product, or service they are looking for to the access number, along with the city or state, and The Black 411™ will instantly (within 5 seconds) provide the listings of Black-owned business matches.

Black Excellence Technology Group has done several upgrades to The Black 411. Users now can receive reports on how many businesses were referred and get contact information for future marketing initiatives. Users may pay per lead instead of signing up for an annual plan. These are all new features.

The Black 411™ is currently free for consumers to use. Ashley Spear, Chief Marketing Officer said, “What makes the service great is that we help connect consumers and businesses at the point of sale and interest. Ashley continued, “The Black 411 will provide consumers a simple, fast and immediate tool to find a business when they are looking to purchase a specific

product or service. Business owners will reach their potential customers when that consumer is looking to buy and asking for that type of business.”

The Black 411 will change the economic climate of this country. According to Nielsen’s African American Consumer report, Black consumers spend over $1.5 trillion dollars each year and less than 3% of that goes to Black-owned businesses. The Black 411 will help to provide a more targeted way to spend those dollars with Black-owned businesses.

Black Excellence Technology Group

YOUNGEST BLACK CEO SNAGS DEAL WITH WALMART

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ix-year-old entrepreneur Lily Adeleye has become the youngest Black CEO of a major company and she now has a deal with Walmart.

That’s right, she’s only 6!

Her company, Lily Frilly, was started three years ago with an emphasis on hair bows, but apparel and accessories have since been added. What started as a creative outlet turned into a business after Adeleye showed some of her designs to her mother’s social media followers.

Four styles of her hair bows are being sold. This is the second major retailer that she has made inroads with for distribution. Last year Lily Frilly was introduced at Target. The mother-daughter team hopes that the Walmart Inc. deal will inspire the next generation of girl-run start-ups.

The Cutest Executive Officer (CEO) is the daughter of beauty and lifestyle entrepreneur Courtney Adeleye, who built The Mane Choice, a multimillion-dollar hair care business. A registered nurse and a University of Michigan graduate, Courtney took a science-based approach to developing natural hair care products. She has a range of products made for all ethnicities and has

generated more than $100 million in sales in the past seven years.

According to Courtney, “Lily Frilly started out as a brand my daughter Lily and myself created, as I have always believed it’s important to let your children follow their passions, whether that be art, sports or in this case, growing a business.” She continued, “Now, Lily Frilly has become so much more than just that – it’s become a brand children love, as well as a symbol of inspiration and confidence for young girls as well as for the black community. It’s amazing to see what kids can do, and we’re so glad Walmart is providing this platform to give Lily Frilly the room and attention it warrants.”

BlackDoctor.org ONYX MAGAZINE 31

FLORIDA SCOPE

COUNTRY HONORS THE LIFE OF CONGRESSMAN ALCEE HASTINGS Congressman Alcee L. Hastings died on April 6. He was 84. Congressman Hastings was the first African American from Florida since the post-Civil War era to be elected to the United States Congress. As a senior leader in the Democratic Caucus, Hastings served in the 116th Congress as Vice Chairman of the powerful House Rules Committee and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Legislative and Budget Process, Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (known as the Helsinki Commission), Senior Democratic Whip, and Dean and Co-Chairman of the Florida Congressional delegation.

Throughout his lifetime, Hastings championed the rights of minorities, women, the elderly, children, and immigrants.

Born in Altamonte Springs, Fla., he attended Florida’s public school system and graduated from Fisk University in 1958.

He then earned his law degree from Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.

Known to many as “Judge,” Hastings distinguished himself as an attorney and civil rights activist. In 1979, he became the first African American Federal Judge in the State of Florida, when President Jimmy Carter appointed him to the bench.

He served in that position for 10 years. In 1992, Hastings was elected to the United States House of Representatives, where he established himself as an outspoken leader for making our country safer and more secure. He has worked fund Head Start and other education programs, and provide family and medical leave to all workers. Hastings also worked to strengthen Social Security, protect the rights of voters, create tax incentives for small businesses, provide job training for displaced workers, ban assault weapons, and advocate for environmental protections to keep Florida safe for future generations.

STATE HONORS THE LIFE OF FIRST BLACK FLORIDA SUPREME COURT JUSTICE Justice Joseph Hatchett, who pioneered a legal career that took him to Florida’s highest court and the federal judiciary, died on April 30 at age 88.

Hatchett, who graduated from Florida A&M with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1954, became the first African American to serve on the Florida Supreme Court. He was appointed to Florida’s highest court by Gov. Reubin Askew in 1975 and in 1979, President Jimmy Carter named him to the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Twenty years later, after retiring in 1999, Hatchett took on another challenge when he joined with the NAACP to be lead attorney in the fight to preserve statewide preference programs for minorities and women in Florida.

The Clearwater, Florida native served as a second lieutenant in the United States Army and entered Howard University School of Law in 1956, where he earned both his law degree and bar admission.

Hatchett first went into private practice in Daytona Beach where he practiced criminal, civil, administrative, and civil rights law in state and federal courts.

Florida A&M University News

GOVERNOR SIGNS RESTRICTIVE VOTING BILL Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in May signed into law a controversial voting bill to slice access to mail-in voting in the state, joining other GOP-led states pushing new limits in connection with former President Donald Trump’s baseless claims of fraud in the 2020 election.

In signing the bill during an appearance on “Fox & Friends,” the Florida Republican highlighted provisions of the bill including stricter voter ID requirements for voting by mail, creating limits on who can pick up and return a voter’s ballot, and banning private funding for elections.

“Me signing this bill says: Florida, your vote counts, your vote is going to be cast with integrity and transparency and this is a great place for democracy,” DeSantis said after signing the bill.

Some of the restrictions created by the bill, Senate Bill 90, also include expanding partisan observation power during ballot tabulation and creating additional restrictions for drop box use. The new Florida voting law faced immediate pushback. A coalition that includes the League of Women Voters of Florida and the Black Voters Matter Fund announced it had filed a lawsuit within minutes of DeSantis signing the law.

News Reports

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POLITICS

Doretha Hair Truesdell, Larry Lee and Delores Hogan-Johnson hold a sample of what the license plate would look like.

LICENSE LEGACY THE FLORIDA HIGHWAYMEN COULD SOON BE RECOGNIZED ON LICENSE PLATES.

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BY D. SHENELL REED

hen Alfred Hair was a young man, an art teacher at Lincoln Park Academy in Fort Pierce, Zenobia Johnson, saw a spark in him. She believed he could become a great painter, and her private instruction and that of artist “Beanie” Backus nudged him in that direction. But it was his own passion that inspired a movement—one that is generations long and has the respect of art critics worldwide: The Florida Highwaymen. This group of Black painters who sold their art along Florida’s busiest roads used their art to create a business.

Now, the Florida legislature has made a move that punctuates the importance of their legacy. In April, members of the House and Senate approved a new specialty license plate that honors the group. All the Bill needs now is 3,000 presale vouchers purchased by October 2022.

First introduced by Rep. Larry Lee, the Bill passed in the House. However, the 2018 shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland and a busy hurricane season put the Bill on the back burner, and the Senate did not have a chance vote. Fast forward a few years, Lee left the House, so Rep. Delores Hogan-Johnson reintroduced the Bill, and it passed.

“This extolled their talents, their virtues. These were early entrepreneurs in the 50s, 60s, 70s. That original group of men and women, they were out there serious. I would see them,” Johnson said. “So (having the Bill passed) was really a labor of love. We got support all across the legislature.”

Fees from the specialty plate would go toward the creation of a Highwaymen Museum and African-American cultural center in Fort Pierce.

“The money goes to the City of Ft Pierce…and nobody can take the money and use it for something other than what we intended—and that is to help develop and help operate a museum,” said Lee. “The City donated a building named after the first Black Commissioner in Fort Pierce, Jackie

Caynon, to house the museum.”

The project will be worth the wait. Known for painting vibrant strokes that beautifully capture Florida’s landscape on canvas, the Highwaymen came up during the Jim Crow era when mainstream museums would not feature Black artists’ work. But Alfred Hair was not deterred. He painted and sold his creations along Florida’s highways. Later, others joined him taking their canvases on road trips that could result in quite a financial haul.

“When it started, all the young men could do was either pick tomatoes or climb trees to pick oranges, and this was a way out of it,” said Doretha Hair Truesdell, who joined her then-husband, Alfred, on trips and started painting also. “Even though the paintings were selling for only $25-$30, if you sold four or five paintings, during that time, $100 a day was nothing to sneeze at. So, people saw Alfred was making money; they thought, ‘if he can do it, I can do it.’ And people just started painting and selling. (It expanded) when Al Black, who can sell anything, became our salesperson.

He was going everywhere!”

Today, the Highwaymen’s paintings can be seen all over the world—in exhibits throughout North America, displayed in the Lithuanian Embassy.

Mary Ann Carroll, the only woman among the 26 original Highwaymen, presented one of her paintings to First Lady Michelle Obama during the First Lady’s Luncheon at the Congressional Club in Washington, D.C., in 2011.

That exposure will grow if the 3,000 pre-purchases happen. In 2023, we could see the Poinciana tree, which has become somewhat of a Highwaymen trademark, on license plates throughout the state and along the nation’s highways. Hair Truesdell said that would suit Alfred just fine.

“He’d say ‘yes, this is the way it is, and it’s how it should be.’”

Presale vouchers are $39.95 at myfloridaspecialtyplate.com.

ONYX MAGAZINE 33

COMMUNITY

BOUNCING BACK ORLANDO BUSINESS GETTING BACK INTO ACTION DURING PANDEMIC.

BY DAMANI DICKERSON

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hen little CJ went to school on his birthday, he was confident he was the real Spider-Man. So when the actual Spider-Man walked into his class that day, he was completely mind blown.

Fortunately for him and many other Central Florida kids, one business is genuinely passionate, dedicated and consistent about entertaining children and spreading love throughout the community.

“I am a very picky mom, and I only want the best for my child even when it comes to entertainment. 4 The Kids truly created a magical day for my son, “ CJ’s mom Sara Queen said. “Very professional staff, on time, and extremely engaging with the kids. It was a pleasure to see my son so happy and to see other kids happy as well.”

Bound to make a difference, local business owner Eli Salhab embarked on a journey to help build the community by purchasing a single bounce house around six years ago. Over 1,000 parties and 600 special events later, his company, 4 The Kids Entertainment, is more than just a bounce house company. It’s an entertainment company for kids determined to bring that positive vibe back to the area.

“We started with one bounce house and now we have 13 bounce houses, 30 mascots, and concessions (cotton candy, snow cones, popcorn),” the 2009 Ocoee High graduate said. “We decided to focus on the kids because when you do it for the kids, you do it for everyone. They are the future, the next generation.”

4 The Kids Entertainment is a fully licensed & insured company devoted to the people. Over the last six years, they have become one of Central Florida’s most trusted entertainment providers. They specialize in providing a fun, safe and upbeat atmosphere while offering a wide variety of services and equipment, including an array of bounce houses, waterslides, face painting, balloon twisting, character mascot appearances, DJ and equipment rentals.

Their mission is to innovative children’s amusement through heartfelt commitment and to seek opportunities to serve the community by partnering with schools, faith-based organizations, hospitals, and children’s service agencies. The company’s objective is to help kids find their true superpower.

“We all are gifted at something. Our goal is to help kids believe in themselves and become who they want to become,” the father of four said.

Like most businesses, 4 The Kids Entertainment recently toiled through some tough growing pains navigating the pandemic. The company went through long stretches without any business. Although things slowed down with COVID-19, Eli a man of faith, acknowledged that sometimes a break is good and that he needed the break.

He used the time to refurbish and work on himself. The energetic Orlando native also concentrated on the company, including cleaning and repairing all equipment, training staff on properly sanitizing equipment, and initiated new safety protocols before and after every event.

Now that spring is in full swing, many families are eager to get out and have fun. This summer, all kids’ activities will have limited capacity and 34 ONYX MAGAZINE

Owner Eli Salhab

“We all are gifted at something.

Our goal is to help kids believe in themselves and become who they want to become.”

—Eli Salhab

encourage social distancing and wearing masks. Experts say families still need to follow precautions, but that there are many activities that can be enjoyed with low risk. Eli is looking forward to the opportunity to entertain.

With COVID-19 cases declining, more people getting vaccinated every day and new relaxed Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention guidelines for fully vaccinated people, things are slowly getting back to normal.

“We have turned a corner,” said Dr. Vincent Hsu, an epidemiologist and Advent Health’s chief infection control officer. “The hospitalization numbers have definitely gone down, and I expect that they’re going to stay low.”

Eli is optimistic about the future and plans to remain on the cutting edge of children’s entertainment by listening to the needs of customers, and continuously increasing and evolving their entertainment services.

The company recently turned its logo into a character mascot named “Kid.” Kid is kindhearted, inspiring, driven, and dedicated to spreading his positive message to kids around the world.

ONYX ON THE MOVE

BIKERZ READY FOR JAMBOREE

Visit Tampa Bay President and CEO Santiago Corrada stands in front of a Polaris Slingshot, a three-wheeled motor vehicle.

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isit Tampa Bay and the City of Tampa kicked off the upcoming United Bikerz Jamboree in April. Our friend Sherri Brown, the vice president of Multicultural Sales and Development at Visit Tampa Bay, was successful in booking the gathering, which will host 10,000+ bikers in July.

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor applauded Jamboree organizer Chris “Top” Hill for safely hosting a scaled down version of the event during the pandemic in 2020.

“Since then, we have shown how…we can have safe events. We can look out, first and foremost, for the health of our community and we can also, not only lift up economically, but lift our spirits up as well,” she said.

The City estimates the event will bring about $8 million in revenue. Bikers from clubs across the nation will attend the Jamboree. One is Retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major Anthony Smith who joined the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club in 2011.

“I’ll tell you, it’s an experience,” Smith said of belonging to the club. “We have been all over the world.” The Buffalo Soldiers have 122 chapters across the world, including eight in Florida. The club gets its moniker from the 1866 Black Calvary of the same name. Dubbed “Buffalo Soldiers” by the Native Americans who fought in the Indian Wars, the six all-Black calvary and infantry were a part of the 10th Calvary Regiment of the United States Army, formed at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Bikers are not only known for riding, but also for their philanthropy.

They donate food, clothes, toys, and money throughout their communities.

The Jamboree will be held July 1-4, 2021, and admission will be $40.

Bikerz Chris “Top” Hill and “Duba D” Visit Tampa Bay VP Sherri Brown, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle and Troopers President Anthony Smith.

BASEBALL GREAT BUCK O’NEIL EXHIBIT BRINGS FOLKS TOGETHER

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irst baseman, manager and the first Black Major League Baseball coach who became one of the game’s brightest stars, Buck O’Neil returned home to Sarasota in February in an exhibition. Titled “Buck O’Neil: Right On Time,” the presentation was on loan to the Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition (SAACC) from the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum in Kansas City. And while reception guests had to say goodbye to the late Kansas City Monarch’s player when the show closed, they got to say hello to an MLB outfielder: Ian Desmond.

Desmond, a former Colorado Rockies player, grew up in Sarasota.

COVID-19 brought him back to the area. Struck with a desire to give back, he recently created Newtown Connection, a baseball program in Newtown Estates Park for kids 6 to 12 years old.

“Walter Gilbert was my coach. Buck O’Neil’s a coach,” he said, pointing to Kansas City Monarchs player Leon Harris, who was coached by O’Neil.

“And now I’m coach to kids in Newtown Estates Park. The way that we’ve all intertwined and the way that Buck O’Neil is at the center of this is exactly who Buck was. No one is talking about Buck’s stats and hopefully one day

Dr. Lawrence Miller, Mrs. Laura Harris, Leon Harris, Kansas City Monarchs player during the 1953-54 season, and Colorado Rockies Major League Baseball player Ian Desmond attended the reception.

no one’s talking about my stats. We’ll be talking about the men that we are and the men that we’ve raised up.”

SAACC will host more traveling exhibits. “Beaches, Benches and Boycotts,” a show about Civil Rights history in Tampa Bay presented by the Florida Holocaust Museum, is upcoming. An exhibition and series of workshops featuring Florida Highwaymen artists will be showcased in partnership with Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota.

Story By Vickie Oldham. Photos courtesy of Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition ONYX MAGAZINE 35

ONYX ON THE MOVE

ONYX MAGAZINE PRESENTS

A STELLER VIRTUAL CELEBRATION: 2021 WOMEN ON THE MOVE ONYX MAGAZINE STAFF REPORT

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year of the coronavirus pandemic did not stop ONYX Magazine from presenting 18 of Florida’s trailblazers, women who make significant strides every day in their communities and professions. In March, ONYX Magazine’s sixth annual Women on the Move (WOTM), with Founding Partner Orlando Health and Presenting Sponsor Mercedes-Benz of Orlando, recognized these impactful and influential Black women during a virtual awards celebration which can now be viewed on ONYX Magazine’s YouTube Channel and Facebook page.

Keeping the Women’s History Month theme, “Refusing to Be Silent,” the event stressed the importance of women standing together for our communities while recognizing women who have shattered the glass ceiling in their professions and persevered against all odds. ONYX Magazine was excited to collaborate with its sponsors to present these phenomenal women—trailblazers who are leading major businesses to succeed on national and international levels in several professional disciplines.

“These powerful and innovative achievers are contributors to a thriving economy every day,” said Richard “Rich” E. Black, ONYX Magazine’s Publisher, CEO and Editor-in-chief. “Our sponsors and other supporters are pivotal to making Women on the Move one of the most prestigious events to recognize women across Florida.”

ONYX Magazine’s Women on the Move gave a special Woman of the Year salute to Carolyn Fennell, a communications leader who is responsible for external and internal media and public relations at Orlando International Airport and Orlando Executive Airport. In her role as primary spokesperSaxophonist Ricky Jackson gets ready for his performance during the recording of the show.

36 ONYX MAGAZINE

WOTM host Sarah Vaughn rehearses.

son, she oversees all domestic and international media relations, including crisis communications for both airports. At the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, she has held various roles in international marketing, customer service and community outreach.

During the virtual presentation, each honoree thanked ONYX Magazine for the special recognition and said a few words about the importance of giving Black women the credit they deserve for contributing to society in critical ways.

Orlando City Commissioner Regina I. Hill, District 5, was a special guest during the show. She encouraged viewers to take steps to make positive differences in their own communities.

“When ONYX Magazine Publisher Rich Black founded Women on the Move, he did so in a spirit of excellence so that the presentation of each honoree would inspire another Black woman to do more, to be more. Each of us can commit to making a difference: but it’s not enough only to commit; we must execute,” she said. “So, I encourage each of you watching to identify one thing you can do every day to make your communities stronger—and then do it. To be silent is to stand in agreement. Speak up and change the status quo. Each of us could be a woman on the move.”

Orlando City Commissioner Bakari Burns, District 6, promoted the significant strides Black women have made to reach back and bring others along.

“Black women have long been vital to the quality of life for their families and critical to the impact their communities make. Through their enormous

Founding Partner Orlando Health Presenting Sponsors Mercedes-Benz of Orlando Disney Parks, Enterprises and Products Sodie Doces Visit Tampa Bay Event Sponsors Baptist Medical Center Health Becker Commissioner Bakari Burns, District 6 Commissioner Regina I. Hill, District 5 FAMU College of Law Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau Greater Orlando Aviation Authority Homes Direct Orlando Magic The Sisterhood University of Central Florida University of South Florida Office of Supplier Diversity West Lakes Partnership 90.7 WMFE

Woman of the Year Carolyn Fennell with Orlando City Commissioner Bakari Burns, District 6, at the filming of the virtual show.

efforts, they create opportunities for others and influence groundbreaking change. Yet, their significance often goes unnoticed; their work pushed aside while they are marginalized by others. That’s why Women on the Move is so important,” he stated. “This is our chance to put our sisters on a pedestal and show the whole world what they have accomplished. We also take the time to note that excellence among Black women is the norm.”

Perhaps the most poignant words came from Woman of the Year, Carolyn Fennell.

“Now, more than ever, we need the presence of strong women to address the core issues of our country: economic parity, violence against women and children, racial justice,” she said. “All of these women can make a difference in them and help to solve the issues. Every year, I set aside a mantra, an affirmation that guides me throughout the year, and that mantra is, ‘I am.’ There’s work to be done in many areas and women can do it. Start by saying I am.”

She closed by quoting 2021 Presidential Inauguration Poet Amanda Gorman. “…The new dawn blooms as we free it, for there is always light if only we are brave enough to see it,” she quoted. “So, I say to you, Women on the Move, you are brave and bright enough to pursue it.”

This year’s leadership was WOTM Chair Nancy Port Schwalb, the president of Schwalb Public Relations, and the WOTM Committee. To see the honorees and event sponsors, visit www.onyxwotm.com.

2021 WOTM COMMITTEE Rich Black ONYX Magazine Publisher, President and CEO Nancy Port Schwalb 2021 WOTM Chair D. Shenell Reed, M.B.A. ONYX Magazine Managing Editor Tanika Bango Maria Barnes Sherri Brown Laura Dorsey Marianne Eggleston, M.B.A. Judie Gilliam Donna Gilmer Barbara Hartley Lenny LaRusso Tzvia LaRusso Brenda March Bertha Cooper Rousseau Samuel L. Wright, Ed.D.

ONYX MAGAZINE 37

FOOD & WINE

A SWEET TAKE ON LEMON CAKE

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here is no better way to say “welcome home” than with a tempting dessert everyone will love. Easy to make and delicious, this lemon cake from Sweet Jalane’s & Co. is the perfect sweet to serve up as we slowly gather with family again.

Ingredients 2 and 1/2 c cups (354g) sifted cake flour* (spoon & leveled) 2 and 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup (230g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature 1 and 3/4 cups (350g) granulated sugar 3 large eggs, at room temperature 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk, at room temperature 1 heaping Tablespoon lemon zest (about 2 lemons) 1/4 cup (80ml) fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons) Icing 1 cup (230g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature 8 ounces (224g) full-fat brick style cream cheese, softened to room temperature* 10 cups (600g) confectioners’ sugar 3 Tablespoons (30ml) fresh lemon juice 3 Tablespoons of whole milk 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract pinch salt, to taste

38 ONYX MAGAZINE

5. Make the frosting: In a large bowl using a hand-held mixer or stand mixer fitted with a whisk or paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy, about 2 minutes. Add the cream cheese and beat until completely smooth and combined. Add confectioners’ sugar, lemon juice, and vanilla extract with the mixer running on low. Increase to high speed and beat for 3 minutes. Add more confectioners’ sugar if frosting is too thin, more lemon juice if frosting is too thick, or add a pinch of salt if frosting is too sweet. (I always add a pinch of salt!)

Prep Time: 30 minutes Cook Time: 25 minutes in round pans; 40 minutes in Bundt pan Total Time: 2 hours Yield: serves 10-12 Sweet Jalane’s & Co. owner entrepreneur Sherronda Daye cooks up tempting delights in South Florida.

Visit www.thesweetexchangemiami.com for more yummy desserts.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SWEET JALANE’S & CO.

Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Grease cake pans, line with parchment paper, then grease the parchment paper. Parchment paper helps the cakes seamlessly release from the pans.

2. Make the cake: Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together. Set aside.

3. Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar together on high speed until smooth and creamy.

Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed. Beat in the eggs one at a time and vanilla extract on high speed until combined, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides and up the bottom of the bowl as needed. With the mixer on low speed, add the dry ingredients just until combined. With the mixer still running on low, add the buttermilk, lemon zest, and lemon juice and mix just until combined. You may need to whisk it all by hand to make sure there are no lumps at the bottom of the bowl. The batter will be a little thick.

4. Pour batter evenly into cake pans. Bake for around 21-26 minutes or until the cakes are baked through. To test for doneness, insert a toothpick into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean, it’s done.

Allow cakes to cool completely in the pans set on a wire rack. The cakes must be completely cool before frosting and assembling.

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