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 25 ISSUE 6 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022
QB JEREMY MOUSSA QB JALON JONES
THE ART OF GIVING – CRAFTING THE PERFECT GIFT
FLORIDA CLASSIC LET THE FAMU/B-CU SHOWDOWN BEGIN
HBCU EDITION
SURVIVING IAN
STORM BRINGS COMMUNITY TOGETHER
STUDY:
BLACK PEOPLE WHO PRAY ARE HEALTHIER
$7.99 onyxmagazine.com
18 COVER STORY
HBCU EDITION
CONTENTS 6
From the Publisher
8
Higher Education – On the Upswing – HBCU enrollment increases
10 HBCU – Florida A&M University 12 Commentary – Leveling Up – HBCUs must reclaim place as original teachers of the world 14 Travel - Homeschooling on the go 16 HBCU - Bethune-Cookman University 17 Sports - Changing the Game 18 Student Leadership – Students walking the talk on campus 20 HBCU – Florida Memorial University 22 Education – Jones High School presents “Messiah” 24 HBCU - Edward Waters University 26 Workplace - Avoid holiday burnout 28 Health & Wellness – November is colon cancer awareness month 30 Black Nursing Association celebrates 40 years 33 ONYX Reads – Stories to wrap you holidays in 34 Art & Culture – Christmas gifts with a twist 36 Music & Entertainment - Mahalia Jackson biopic 38 Black History – Black people a part of St. Augustine’s beginnings 40 Florida Scope/ONYX on the Move – Community stories 42 Holiday Table - Sweet potato cornbread 43 Family - Should you get a dog for Christmas? 44 Holiday Table - Cut out cookies 46 Wealth & Finance - Five financial goals for 2023 48 Real Estate - How to calculate your property taxes 51 Neighborhoods – Lift Orlando builds in West Lakes, Orlando 52 Community - Hurricane Ian brings community together 53 SAGE – Medicare enrollment 54 ONYX Profile – Elroy Smith 55 ONYX Profile – Lyra Logan 56 2022 Men of Honor 58 Elevate – Study shows Black people who prayer are healthier 60 Kwanzaa - Celebrate your beliefs 62 Food & Wine - Victoria & Alberts
Cover image of Jeremy Moussa by Kyrease Desseau/Florida A&M University Athletics. Cover image of Jalon Jones courtesy of Bethune-Cookman University.
4 ONYX MAGAZINE
IT’S MORE THAN A GAME. IT’S AN EXPERIENCE.
RATTLERS WILDCATS NOVEMBER 19 • ORLANDO FLORIDACLASSIC.ORG Can’t be there live? Support these two HBCUs through the all-new Florida Classic 50/50 Raffle. Proceeds will support educational initiatives at FAMU and B-CU.
FloridaClassicRaffle.com
SCAN TO BUY TICKETS
H I G H E R E D U C AT I O N
Dillard University’s campus in New Orleans, La.
ON THE UPSWING HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ARE SEEING A STEADY INCREASE IN APPLICATIONS AND ENROLLMENT. BY KATTI GRAY
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hirty days into her new presidency at Dillard University, Dr. Rochelle Ford remarked on how the New Orleans campus had been ahead of the curve, creating online courses after Hurricane Katrina’s destruction made in-person learning impossible. This was years before the COVID-19 pandemic prompted a global surge in virtual instruction, setting off a frenzy for less-prepared institutions, says Ford. She credits those online classes with helping to place Dillard among a relative shortlist of colleges that, against the tide of declining U.S. college enrollment in recent years, have seen an uptick in their enrollment. “The fact that we are holding steady is a positive,” Ford says of Dillard’s current roster. The university has 1,252 students, up from 1,213 students a year ago. She expects the enrollment numbers to increase this fall. “Some of our students are still your 18- to 21-year-olds, but many also are working full time,” she observes. “Some of them are parents. The valedictorian in the cohort that just graduated, one of our top students, was a working mother in that online and evening program. Many students need that greater flexibility. And we are accommodating the whole student." Ford and other observers contend that such accommodations, alongside a general embrace of Blackness, may account partly for rising enrollments some historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are experiencing. While campuses are not due to send their official enrollment data to federal statisticians until after the fall semester is solidly underway, 8 ONYX MAGAZINE
some education watchers and campus leaders are attributing HBCU enrollment spikes to, among other triggers, today’s racial turbulence. There is a multiplicity of reasons, according to Dr. Michelle Purdy, an education professor and researcher at Washington University in St. Louis. She says the social justice movement, Black Lives Matter, gained momentum as young people were deciding where to go to college. “Those who identify as Black Americans are grappling with 17 years, 18 years of what it has meant to grow up Black in the United States,” Purdy said. “They were learning about a Black president in day care, in pre-K and kindergarten and lower school. They have felt that sense of pride, of promise. These kids also have come [of] age with Trayvon, Michael Brown, Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor.”
BOMB THREATS CONTINUE Among other HBCUs where enrollment has surged are South Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T University, Prairie View A&M University and Howard University, according to news reports. This, in a time when the FBI clocked bomb threats against two dozen HBCUs on a single day last February, allegedly made by white juveniles. Yet, The Washington Post wrote in February 2022 that its analysis found that several HBCUs last spring had been enrolling students at pre-pandemic rates, during a period when the head count at predominantly white schools was falling.
Students at Howard University in Washington, D.C.
The surge in Black enrollment at HBCUs roughly extends back to, at least, 1976. Between then and 2020, when there were 52 public and 49 private HBCUs, Black student enrollment at HBCUs spiked 11%, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Between 1976 and 2010, there was a 57% rise in the overall number of HBCU students, roughly a quarter of whom are not Black. During the next decade, that overall figure had fallen by 15% to a total of 279,000 in 2020. By comparison, according to the education center, there was a 91% enrollment spike at all the nation’s colleges and universities, combined, between 1976 and 2010, followed by a 10% drop during the next decade. In 2020, enrollment at all those institutions was 19 million. Additionally, U.S. undergraduate enrollment dipped 4.7% from spring 2021 to spring 2022, according to the National Student Clearing House Research Center, resulting in an undergrad student body that was 1.4 million students short of its previous count. Community colleges suffered the most loss. And when graduate students were added to the mix, the decline was 4.1% during the same period. Dr. Michael Sorrell, president of Paul Quinn College, said that his Dallas campus has endured its own enrollment ups and downs, including during the pandemic. Sorrell was No. 34 on Fortune’s 2018 list of The World’s 50 Greatest Leaders, partly for shoring up the previously struggling college. He says it is reasonable to ask if these racially fraught times have driven more Black students to HBCUs, which have drawn a certain kind of Black student. He says an HBCU acts as both a refuge and fortress to students.
SEEKING SAFE SPACES “Some want to attribute these increases to politics and to what is a particularly hostile environment in this country right now,” Sorrell says. “African American and Latino students want to be in safer, more nurturing places. But, for us and other campuses, there has always been a significant amount of students who’ve been passionate about being in this space, about being at an HBCU.”
Between 1976 and 2020, when there were 52 public and 49 private HBCUs, Black student enrollment at HBCUs spiked 11%, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. HBCUs also appeal to students' efforts to closely couple work and college experiences. At Paul Quinn, every undergraduate earns college credit while employed in a job related to the student’s studies and career goals. That is one part of a multi-pronged strategy and sensibility aimed at keeping students from graduating from Paul Quinn with more than $10,000 worth of debt. Tuition and fees for bachelor’s degree candidates learning online amount to roughly $15,000 a year at Paul Quinn. The college rethought its mission and audience when the pandemic shuttered in-person classes. “What we are seeing is an interest in our product that transcends the applicant who, immediately, is just out of high school,” Sorrell says. “There’s an uptick in interest from adult learners, even while we also are maintaining interest from those traditional-age students...But we’ve been totally surprised by the interest in the online space, including by those adult learners.” Ford gives a similar assessment, noting that part of Dillard’s slowly, steadily rising enrollment stems from its Acadeum collaboration. Acadeum is an online course-sharing platform aimed at helping colleges and universities retain students and offer them a wider array of classes. Ford says such ventures are critical to HBCUs even as they continue to set themselves apart in the eyes of Black collegians who prefer the ways in which HBCUs differ from predominantly white institutions. This article is reprinted with permission from “Diverse: Issues in Higher Education magazine, www.DiverseEducation.com.
ONYX MAGAZINE 9
A R T & C U LT U R E
CHRISTMAS GIFTS WITH A TWIST CONSIDER THESE ART-INSPIRED GIFTS THAT WILL KEEP ON GIVING. BY TRINA RYAN
C
hristmas is fast approaching, which means it’s time to get innovative. Decorating, cooking and baking, planning family get-togethers—these typical holiday activities can be gratifying but also anxiety-inducing. Perhaps most stressful of all is thinking of the perfect gifts to give those special people in your life. Sure, gift cards are a safe bet, but everyone appreciates a thoughtful expression of love or gratitude. Material objects offer transitory pleasure, while personalized gifts make a lasting impression, resonating for years or even a lifetime. Flex your creative muscles this holiday season by adding a dash of artistic flair to your gift-giving. Read on for a list of art-inspired gift ideas that will give you and your loved ones something to look forward to in 2023.
A DIGITAL PLAYLIST In the days of yore, when we had such things known as CDs and cassette tapes, we would make personalized playlists and give them as gifts. Welcome to 2022, where CDs and cassettes have become so anachronistic that many cars don’t even have the equipment to play them. But not to worry, because if you still want to gift a playlist you are not out of luck. Apple now offers the option of sharing music via email. Open the latest version of iTunes on one of your Apple devices, select the songs you want to gift, then go to the dropdown arrow next to “Buy.” Click the arrow and select the gift option. After you’ve selected this option, you will be prompted to enter the recipient’s email address. You can then personalize your gift message and send immediately or at a later date.
A CHRISTMAS PHOTO BOOK Creating a photo album is one of the easiest and most personalized gifts you can give someone. Not to mention taking a walk down memory lane is fun and will encourage you to be grateful for the people in your life and the adventures you’ve shared with them. There are no rules and infinite options when it comes to crafting your own photo album. You can buy a plain photo album from the store and dress it up with heartwarming messages, or, if you’re feeling tech savvy, you can make a photo book online at sites like Shutterfly. No matter what you decide, the person receiving it will no doubt be thankful for the time and effort you put into making such a thoughtful gift. 34 ONYX MAGAZINE
ADULT COLORING BOOKS You might be thinking, Aren’t coloring books for kids? Not necessarily! Adult coloring books have been all the rage lately—and for good reason. According to Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic, they offer an array of mental health benefits. Think back to when you were a kid, how the simplest activity could keep you occupied for hours. Adult coloring books, often using intricate designs like mandalas, flowers, and geometric patterns, employ the same concept: forcing your mind to focus intently on one thing so that you become fully engaged with what you’re doing. This is what’s known as “mindfulness,” or being present in the moment. Other notable benefits include helping relieve stress and practicing self-acceptance. There’s no right or wrong way to color. You are free to explore, unleash your creativity and imagination. This is especially a great exercise for perfectionists who avoid artistic endeavors lest they fail to meet their own impossibly high standards. Adult coloring books may seem a silly idea at first, but inspiring others to get in touch with their inner child will give them the priceless gifts of peace and joy. And that’s what the holiday season is all about.
A MUSEUM MEMBERSHIP Your loved one doesn’t have to be an art lover to appreciate a museum membership. Museums, especially of late, have become much more inclusive—not just in terms of artistic diversity but in making their services more accessible to a wider swath of people. Many museums offer arts education classes, public events, concerts, and much more. Not only will a museum membership be something to enjoy year-round, but you will be contributing to an important charitable cause. During the height of the pandemic, museums worldwide suffered a major financial blow. According to the most recent International Council of Museums report, of the 840 museums across five continents that participated in the council’s survey, “almost 70% reported a loss of more than 50% of their annual visitors.” Now that museums are open and offering more diverse exhibitions, why not create some magical memories with someone special while supporting your local arts community?
RESERVATIONS TO PAINT AND SIP CLASSES What could possibly make painting with a friend more enjoyable? Drinking wine! Painting classes offering libations have exploded in popularity—so in demand that you shouldn’t have too much difficulty finding a location near you. The concept of these classes is simple: An instructor guides a group of inexperienced artists through a painting session while participants have the option to drink alcohol, a humorous take on traditional painting classes. Part of the fun is that everyone is in unfamiliar territory together, with a little booze to leaven the awkwardness. Best of all, participants get to take their artwork home, a memento of the evening. Who knows? You and your companion may be better artists than you think.
REVAMPED PICTURE FRAMES
TICKETS TO AN ARTS AND CULTURE FESTIVAL Gifts don’t have to be all about material objects. They can also be experiences, which are far more valuable. Look up festivals near you, or maybe you and your loved one can travel, making it an adventurous road trip. One exciting event that might be happening in your area is the 23rd Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival, a 10-day celebration of African American arts and culture, featuring local and nationally known speakers, musicians, artists, poets, writers and artisans. The event, scheduled for January 6-15, will be offering a two-day music fest and the wildly popular play “Hamilton” on January 8. For more information, visit tampablackheritage.org. Also taking place, from June 14-18, is the 27th American Black Film Festival, held in Miami Beach. This event brings together Black artists, executives, and content creators from around the world for five days of screenings, panel discussions, exclusive parties, and high-powered networking opportunities. For more information, visit https://www.abff.com/miami/.
If you have some old picture frames lying around the house, you might be able to put them to good use by refurbishing them. If you don’t have frames on hand, buy inexpensive ones at your nearest arts and crafts store. To get that elegant, vintage look, we recommend ornate or Baroque-style picture frames. A few other items you’ll need: chalky paint (buy several different colors if you’re planning on painting more than one frame), light satin varnish, crème wax, some paintbrushes, and an old cloth. Cover the glass with a newspaper, taping it in place and trimming the edges. Paint the frames and let dry for 30 minutes. Then add the varnish and let dry for 30 minutes. Last, add the crème wax, wiping away the excess. It’s okay if it smears; this will give your frames a rustic finish. Let the wax dry for 30 minutes. Viola! You have a beautiful set of picture frames that your loved one can fill with memories or use to create a stunning gallery wall. Trina Ryan is a freelance writer and fundraiser in Orlando. She writes the Art & Culture department in ONYX Magazine. ONYX MAGAZINE 35
E LE VAT E
PRAYER: C
A MATTER OF THE HEART A NEW STUDY SHOWS BLACK AMERICANS WHO PRAY HAVE HEALTHIER HEARTS.
BY D. SHENELL REED
58 ONYX MAGAZINE
hristmas. ‘Tis the season when more believers flock to church and pray for miracles. But a new study shows the practices of prayer and church going should span beyond the celebration of Jesus’ birth. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic discovered that Black Americans who have a steady pattern of spiritual and religious activities are more likely to have healthier hearts. The “Journal of the American Heart Association” published the results in August 2022. With analyzed data from nearly 3,000 participants, the study found that those who claim to have regular religious or spiritual habits were more likely to score higher on the American Heart Association Life’s Simple 7 metric. Life’s Simple 7 shows a quick view of someone’s overall heart health using determinants like blood pressure, cholesterol level, body mass index, cigarette smoking, diet, exercise, and fasting plasma glucose, which measures blood sugar and can help diagnose diabetes. The metric showed that Black Americans who participate in church and like activities had “intermediate or ideal” levels of heart health. The “religious” scale researchers used considers the frequency of church atten-
dance and private prayer, along with religious coping or reliance on such practices to adjust to tough life issues. “The cause of the association between religiosity, spirituality and heart health among Black Americans could lie in access and exposure to education about physical wellness,” said LaPrincess Brewer, M.D., a preventative cardiologist with the Mayo Clinic and first author on the study. “Attending religious services may expose individuals LaPrincess Brewer, M.D. to more health and wellness-related information through sermons and Bible studies, which ultimately encourage people to increase practices such as exercising regularly or maintaining a healthy diet,” Brewer said. For consistency, researchers used the Daily Spiritual Experience Scale to assess how often participants said they felt God’s presence, desired a
closer relation with God, and felt God’s love. They also measured nontheistic encounters like “feeling strength in one’s religion, feeling deep inner peace and harmony, and feeling spirituality touched by creation.” Specifically, researchers associated increased church attendance with more physical activity; and associated private prayer with a more satisfactory diet and less smoking. They associated total spirituality with more physical activity and less smoking. The study reported that churches were important as social communities and that church attendance could also be associated with reduced exposure to harmful substances that increase the risk of cardiovascular problems. “Social support and optimistic outlook may also encourage individuals to practice healthy behaviors,” Brewer added. “Some individuals may be more likely to practice healthy behaviors, such as refraining from alcohol or tobacco use, due to their religious beliefs.” A similar study served as background research for the Mayo Clinic report Brewer and other researchers conducted. In the late 1990s, the “Jackson Heart Study” in Jackson, Miss., provided community-based responses to examine the risk of cardiovascular disease in Black adults in Jackson. More than 5,300 men and women participated to help investigators uncover the environmental and genetic factors surrounding Black Americans’ disproportionate rates of heart disease. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), Black Americans are 30% more likely to die of cardiovascular disease than the general population in the United States. Heart disease impacts about half of all Black adults during their lifetimes. In 2017, the “Journal of the American Heart Association” published that hypertension—or blood pressure above 130/80 mmHg—is likely the greatest risk factor for cardiovascular disease among Black Americans, as well as the most easily targeted area for disease prevention through treatment and management of the condition. Rates of undiagnosed hypertension among Black men and women in the U.S. are among the highest in the world and the disparity begins in youth. AHA reports Black boys and girls are more likely to have high blood pressure than their white peers. Ultimately, disproportionate rates of hypertension have major implications for mortality in the Black community. Brewer says she believes the results of the new study could better equip clinicians to address racial disparities in heart health in a health care setting. “Providers should consider religiosity and spirituality as an important sociocultural influence on cardiovascular health in this particular population,” she said. “Health disparities researchers may also apply this data as they develop culturally relevant lifestyle interventions.” Brewer also admonishes churches to use their influence as cornerstones of many Black communities to promote healthier habits among members. “African American churches can use this information as well to develop health and wellness programs and encourage healthy lifestyle practices in their ministries,” she said. To improve heart health, the American Heart Association recommends people follow Life’s Simple 7. The steps include eating a healthy diet, getting physical activity, losing excess weight, managing blood pressure, controlling cholesterol, lowering blood sugar, and refraining from smoking. D. Shenell Reed, M.B.A., is the managing editor of ONYX Magazine. ONYX MAGAZINE 59