ONYX Magazine September/October 2020

C E L E B R AT I NG B L AC K AC H I E V E M E N T T H ROUG H OU T F LO R I DA

Volume 9 – Number 46 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

Dean Deidré Keller CASTING VISION FOR FAMU LAW

HALTED HOMECOMING “BLACK FAMILY REUNION” ON HOLD

BLACK WEALTH GAP BROTHERS

WEIGH IN ON CLOSING IT

FIRST OF FIRSTS BLACK WOMEN VYING FOR THE WHITE HOUSE

VOTE! A PARTY SHIFT MAY DEPEND ON THE YOUNG, GIFTED AND BLACK $3.50 onyxmagazine.com

FEATURED CONTRIBUTORS

contents 6 Publisher’s Column

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.

Mildred A. Graham is the director of Advancement and Alumni Affairs at the FAMU College of Law in Orlando.

7 ONYX Salutes Chadwick Boseman 8 First of Firsts – Black women who vied for the White House 10 Elevate – Elevating the warrior spirit in Black men 12 Travel – Flexcation, a new way to travel 14 Education – 4 ways to get ready for school no matter where you’re learning 15 SAGE – Circle of Love 16 Florida Scope/Beyond Florida 17 On the Quad

Reggie Grant is an associate professor of journalism at Tallahassee Community College and co-founder of Just Be Cool, an anti-hate campaign.

Zelda Jones is a writer in Orlando who was a librarian and teacher at the historic Jones High School.

18 Money Matters – The Black wealth gap (and how to close it) 20 On the Rise – Millennial votes matter 22 Technology – It’s time for diversity in STEM 24 Library Resources – Healthier at home 26 ONYX Reads – Books with grit 28 Feature – Dead Deidre’ Keller casts vision for FAMU Law 30 Sports – Halted Homecoming 32 Personal Finance – 5 common questions about life insurance

Rumaasha Maasha is an engineer based in Huntsville, Ala.

Quantavia McKay is a senior Broadcast Journalism student at Florida A&M University from Miami. She enjoys writing stories about women empowerment, community and news.

34 Real Estate – Can you buy a house entirely online?

35 Commentary – Good trouble, necessary trouble 36 Health & Wellness – 6 reasons your diet is not working 38 Entrepreneurship – Wine Down 41 Family – Don’t let COVID-19 affect your credit score 42 Medically Speaking – Signs of prostate cancer; early breast cancer screening ma save lives 44 Opinion – The color of credibility

Nancy Port Schwalb is the founder and president of Schwalb Public Relations in Orlando.

46 Food & Wine – Backyard girllin’

Trina Ryan is a freelance writer in Orlando and the grants manager of the Orlando Museum of Art.

28

FEATURE

Dean Deidre’ Keller: Casting Vision for FAMU Law

Kevin Washington, Ph.D., is an academician and psychologist who leads the Department of Psychology at Grambling University in Baton Rouge, La. Kevin is the author of ONYX Magazine’s Elevate series.

4 ONYX MAGAZINE

Cover photo by Derrious Robinson, RTW Photography

FROM THE PUBLISHER PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Rich Black VICE PRESIDENT Marianne Eggleston, M.B.A. MANAGING EDITOR D. Shenell Reed, M.B.A.

RICH BLACK SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020

EXECUTIVE STRATEGIST Lena Graham-Morris EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Maria Barnes ASSOCIATE EDITORS Gayle Andrews Laura Dorsey Sharon Fletcher Jones

Family, In a few weeks, on Tuesday, November 3, 2020, we will go to the polls to vote. Florida voters can also vote before election day. The early voting period runs from Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020, to Saturday, Oct. 31, 2020.

Dates and hours may vary based on where you live, so check before you go and see you at the polls. “Don’t boo—vote.”

In our story titled “First of First,” we share about women who made history in their own rights as they raced toward the American throne. Who sits in that coveted spot may be decided by the young, gifted and Black.

This group of millennials is not necessarily sold on one party or the other party, though, and their choice could be a tell-tale sign for all of us. What message would each party have to send to win the confidence of this swing group? A story inside this issue has some interesting thoughts about it.

While the general election is a hot topic in 2020, COVID-19 still leads the news lineup. Numbers of positive cases continue to rise; businesses re-open and close after cases are reported; and the first round of vaccines has no date. Meanwhile, ONYX Magazine continues to be on the front lines with our “MaskUp! Stop the Spread” campaign in Orlando. We are working with Bank of America and Orange County Government to distribute 100,000 masks, 20,000 hand sanitizers and 20,000 informational flyers to our communities.

Helping us in this effort are local businesses who distribute the personal protection equipment (PPE) among their customers.

Our hope is that you and your families are staying safe.

This is a sobering time, but we have strong communities in Florida, and we will get through it—one day at a time. As we move forward, ONYX Magazine will always bring you vital information that entertains, inspires and informs and we are grateful to have you by our side.

DESIGN DIRECTOR Jason Jones GRAPHICS INTERN India Johnson BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Matt deJager CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Reggie Grant Sharon Austin, Ph.D. Dee Parker Mildred Graham David C. Barker Trina Ryan Amy Goyer Patricia Brown Denis Nancy Port Schwalb Dan Holly Jamie DePolo Melissa Tees Zelda Jones Laura Dorsey Mary Toscano Rumaasha Maasha Sam Fullwood, III Kevin Washington, Ph.D. Quintavia McKay CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Orah L. Reed Derrious Robinson, RTW Photography 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

Sincerely

Lester and Lillian Seays

Rich Black

6 ONYX MAGAZINE

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 2018 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 Salutes Chadwick Boseman

The superstar was an inspiration to Black people everywhere.

W

hen it looked like 2020 couldn’t get any worse....

I woke up to the tragic news that actor Chadwick Boseman had died. After confirming it was true, I felt lost. It is the same feeling of despair I experienced shortly after my dad died. Back then, I had a dream, like the ones in “Black Panther,” that felt so real. In it my dad was still alive. When I woke up and came back to reality, I was inconsolable.

Boseman was incredibly inspirational to Black people like me. He reminds me of Sidney Poitier, a pioneering Black actor who holds a special place in my heart. Poitier, who became the first African-American to win an Academy Award for Best Actor, refused to play stereotypical Black roles. Both actors portrayed strong, positive Black characters, combating stereotypes perpetuated by Hollywood for decades.

In the mid-1990s, I had my own brush with Hollywood. I responded to a call for extras for the movie “Palmetto,” which was being filmed in the Sarasota area where I was living. “Palmetto” starred Woody

By Reggie Grant

Harrelson and Elisabeth Shue, and I accepted the invitation to play an extra in a scene being shot at a local prison. I was cast as an inmate.

While I have been in prisons, I have never been imprisoned, even though the movie’s casting agents thought I looked the part. As a student journalist, I toured Florida State Prison’s (FSP) Death Row. Not long afterward, I returned to FSP to witness a convicted murderer’s execution in Florida’s electric chair. He looked nothing like me. (He was White.)

The point is that Blacks, especially Black men, are very often seen as criminals. This stereotype, which is frequently reinforced in the media, is one that Boseman actively rejected. In fact, he reportedly lost his first major acting role on the soap opera “All My Children” because he refused to perpetuate the stereotype of a gang member.

“I remember going home and thinking, ‘Do I say something to them about this?’”

Boseman is quoted as saying in a January 2019 story. “Do I just do it?’ And I couldn’t just

Chadwick Boseman, the beloved actor who played many of the greatest Black characters in history, including one of his most notable, “Black Panther,” died on August 28 at 43. A statement on his official twitter account read, “It is with immeasurable grief that we confirm the passing of Chadwick Boseman,” the statement read. “It was the honor of his life to bring King T’Challa to life in Black Panther…. Chadwick was diagnosed with stage III colon cancer in 2016, and battled with it these last four years as it progressed to stage IV.” Before he was cast as the Marvel Studios superhero, Boseman’s career first exploded with his portrayals of Black American icons Jackie Robinson (in 2013’s “42”) and James Brown (in 2014’s “Get on Up”).

Boseman also appeared in Spike Lee’s “Da 5 Bloods,” and played Thurgood Marshall in 2017’s “Marshall.”

Boseman was a graduate of Howard University.

do it. I had to voice my opinions and put my stamp on it.”

With everything going on today with protests over inequality and injustice, it is especially devastating to lose Boseman now. He is someone whose mere presence has been so important to the struggle.

Much of that struggle is external, but it is also internal. We strive to measure up to the standards of our ancestors and do better for ourselves and our children. Those are some of the issues T’Challa wrestled with in “Black Panther,” Boseman’s defining role.

His performance as T’Challa portrayed our struggle with dignity and grace. His co-star Michael B. Jordan was quoted as saying he couldn’t imagine anyone else being cast in that role. Boseman’s signature line, “Wakanda Forever,” encapsulates the pride felt by Black people around the globe for enduring hundreds of years of oppression.

The term also serves as a rallying cry in our continuing struggle for equality and justice.

Wakanda Forever, Chadwick. Long live the king. You served your people well and will be forever missed.

ONYX MAGAZINE 7

COMMUNITY

FIRST OF FIRSTS

Sen. Kamala Harris is part of a long history of Black women vying for the White House.

By Sharon Austin, Ph.D.

Sen. Kamala Harris at a roundtable discussion in February 2020. Photo courtesy of harris.senate.gov.

U Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm ran for U.S. president in 1972.

.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, the American daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, is Joe Biden’s choice for vice president. If Biden wins in November, Harris would break three centuries-old barriers to become the nation’s first female vice president, first Black vice president and first Black female vice president.

Geraldine Ferraro was the first female vice-presidential candidate on a major party ticket, in 1984. In 2008, Alaska’s then-governor Sarah Palin was Republican John McCain’s running mate.

Before Harris was picked as Biden’s running mate, she was his competitor for the Democratic presidential nomination. She is one of many Black American women who have aimed for the highest office in the land despite great odds.

Hands That Once Picked Cotton African Americans have endured many hurdles to political power in the United States, among them slavery, Jim Crow and disenfranchisement.

Black women, in particular, have hit barrier upon barrier. Women didn’t gain the right to vote in the U.S. until 1920, and even then Black people—women among them—still couldn’t vote in most of the South. In the 1960s, Black women helped organize the civil rights movement but were kept out of leadership positions.

Black women have a history of political

8 ONYX MAGAZINE

ambition and achievement. As the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr., said in 1984 about the progress Black voters made last century, “Hands that once picked cotton will now pick a president.”

Today, Black female mayors lead several of the United States’ biggest cities, including Atlanta, Chicago and San Francisco.

Black women are police chiefs, gubernatorial candidates, and, in growing numbers, congresswomen.

Now, Black women, who once had no chance of even voting for president—much less being president—will see one of their own a step away from the Oval Office.

Biden allies have reportedly suggested that he would only serve one term if elected because of his age—Biden would be 78 on Inauguration Day—but his campaign officially denies that possibility. Either way, his vice president would be in a powerful position for the 2024 campaign.

Harris is also of Indian descent, making her place on the ticket a meaningful first for two communities of color.

‘Unsuitable’ for the Job? Kamala Harris is a registered Democrat who served as California’s attorney general and later one of the state’s U.S. senators. But, historically, most Black female presidential candidates have run as independents.

In 1968, 38-year-old Charlene Mitchell of Ohio became the first Black woman to run for president, as a communist. Like many other African Americans born in the 1930s, Mitchell joined the Communist

Party because of its emphasis on racial and gender equality. Black female communists fought Jim Crow, lynchings and unfair labor practices for men and women of all races.

Mitchell’s presidential campaign, which focused on civil rights and poverty, was probably doomed from the start. In 1968, many states didn’t allow communists on the ballot. Media outlets from the “Boston Globe” to the “Chicago Tribune” also discussed Mitchell’s “unsuitability” as a candidate because she was both Black and female. Mitchell received just 1,075 votes.

Other independent Black female presidential candidates include community organizer Margaret Wright, who ran on the People’s Party ticket in 1976; Isabell Masters, a teacher who created her own third party, called Looking Back and ran in 1984, 1992 and 2004; and teacher Monica Moorehead of the Workers World Party ticket, who ran in 1996, 2000 and 2016.

In 2008, the year Barack Obama was elected president, Cynthia McKinney, a former U.S. representative from Georgia, was a nominee of the Green Party. And in 2012, Peta Lindsay ran to unseat President Obama from the left, on the Party for Socialism and Liberation ticket.

Only one Black woman has ever pursued the Republican nomination: Angel Joy Charvis, a religious conservative from Florida, who wanted to use her 1999 candidacy to “to recruit a new breed of Republican.”

Unbought and Unbossed These Black female presidential candi-

Charlotta Spears Bass was the first Black woman in the U.S. to own and operate a newspaper, the “California Eagle.” She was an educator, Civil Rights activist, and women suffragist. In 1952, Bass became the first African-American woman nominated for vice president, as a candidate of the Progressive Party.

dates were little known. But as the first Black female member of Congress, Shirley Chisholm had years of experience in public office and a national reputation when she became the first Black American and the first woman to seek the Democratic presidential nomination in 1972.

Chisholm’s campaign slogan: “Unbought and Unbossed.” Chisholm, who mostly paid for her campaign on her credit card, focused on civil rights and poverty.

She became the target of vehement sexism. One “New York Times” article from June 1972 described her appearance as, “[Not] beautiful. Her face is bony and angular, her nose wide and flat, her eyes small almost to beadiness, her neck and limbs scrawny. Her protruding teeth probably account in part for her noticeable lisp.”

The Black women who followed in Chisholm’s footsteps from Congress to the Democratic presidential primary, including Illinois Sen. Carol Moseley Braun and Harris herself, have seen little more success.

Challenges for Black Women Why did these candidacies and those of other Black women who aimed for high office fail?

In most cases, my research finds, America’s Black female presidential candidates haven’t made the ballot. Those who did had trouble raising funds.

And because their candidacies weren’t taken seriously by the media, they had trouble getting their messages heard. Historically Black female presidential candidates have received no real support from any segment of American voters, including African Americans and women. Generally, people—even those who might have been heartened by the idea that someone who looked like them could aspire to the White House—thought they couldn’t win.

As a vice president for two terms who had a major role in governing under President Barack Obama, Joe Biden knows what the office entails. He has now selected a woman who he believes can not only help him win the election but also to govern if he is elected. It is a watershed moment for African Americans, Asian Americans and women who’ve so long been excluded from so many aspects of politics.

Sharon Austin, Ph.D., is a professor at the University of Florida. This story first appeared in “The Conversation.”

ONYX MAGAZINE 9

ELEVATE

Elevating the Warrior Spirit in Black Men

By Kevin Washington, Ph.D.

Warrior Spirit Elevation Message for Black Men Black men are forced to face a plethora of challenges while living in a race-conscious society. The impact of these on one’s mental and physical well-being cannot be understated.

In light of the negative effects of racism, oppression and racialized terrorism against Black men, efforts to keep their inner essence aligned with their divine purpose for being on Earth must be daily activity. The realignment process must be systematic and organized to ensure they stay on the road of proper Black consciousness and manifest all power on Earth. By organizing their environment and activities, Black men can attain greater harmony within self and with others.

Mentally Read books that will serve to

remind you of your essence. Whatever we put on our mind we will be able to yield. An Afrikan proverb suggests, ‘the mind is like a garden, whatever you plant, you will be able to harvest.’ Be mindful of what you listen to because music and conversation can be inspiring or toxic. Negative, depressive and derogatory talk can serve to manifest these same feelings and behaviors in your life, while the opposite will yield positive thoughts and feelings. Plant the best, because you are the best version of yourself ever created, and you will yield/harvest the best that the universe has to offer. Know the power of the mind.

Free your mind and your behind will follow.

10 ONYX MAGAZINE

Spiritually Feed your spirit positive thoughts, ideas, beliefs, and affirmations daily. This can be done through reading or listening to spiritual material, such as the Bible, Koran, Torah, The Book of the Dead and/or listen to positive Soul, R&B, Rap, Jazz, Afro Beat, Reggae and/or Gospel.

Engage in daily meditation. Awaken at sunrise and observe daybreak while participating in prayer, meditation and deep-breathing exercises. Kemetic Yoga is great addition to spirit and soul healing/ elevation. Remember that it is spirit that animates the body and without spirit, the body would have no real function.

Acknowledge the seasons of the year with various affirming rituals. Recognize the ancestors or those who have paved the path you are following. Acknowledge that you are paving a path for those yet to come. In order to pave a divine path, you must live a life that is reflective of the Divine.

Physically Your body is a temple that works to perfection (seeing, hearing, food digestion, etc.) to the extent that it

is nourished with whole foods and given proper exercise and rest. (Read “Pyramids of Power” by John T. Chissel and “Heal Thyself ” by Queen Afua.) Keep your temple clean by exercising regularly, doing yoga and drinking plenty of clean water.

This cleanses the body of impurities while concomitantly providing energy for the body. Additionally, consume more life through your food by eating natural fruits and vegetables and you enhance the life functioning of your body. When you put life into your living body, you are able to powerfully accomplish those things that extend life in the universe.

Understanding the Power of Family Family is the basic unit of

civilization and is central to our existence.

Within each of us flows the blood of our mothers and fathers. You are living by the power of their divine blood. You are here because others were here before you.

Many of these people loved you in their special way and you must give thanks for their love, life and sacrifices. You must

also recognize that you are a love agent for others. As you give love, you shall receive love.

Understanding the Power of Community. Know the power of

positive “brothas” and “sistas” in your life. Toxic people will poison your life, just as nourishing people will fortify your life. Surround yourself with those people who are favorable to your optimal, spiritual, physical, and mental growth and development. If you find that toxic people surround you, then check yourself to make sure that you are not the one who is toxic. You draw to yourself that which you are in the world many times.

Understanding the Power of Self.

Self is comprised of all those who have gone before us, all of those who surround us, and those who are yet to come. Self is also the vehicle that is in constant interaction with our spirit and soul.

Use a process of Afrikan Self (Spirit) Illumination:

Process of Self Illumination • Self-Exploration. When you engage in the process of self-exploration, ask yourself some critical questions.

Am I being all I could be? Am I being all that my family wants me to be? Am I living up to the highest principle and values that my family and Creator have established for me? Are my thoughts, words and action for the greater good of the community?

• Self-Cultivation. At this point you begin to weed out those thoughts, actions and people that are inconsistent with your life’s purpose. This process is making the way for a new reality.

• Self-Development. Development occurs by bringing forth those elements that promote optimal growth and development. This process occurs by researching activities that are consistent with your spiritual journey.

You can assess the benefits of engaging in mentally and spiritually stimulating activities such as: 1) reading a variety of books, papers, magazines and journals; 2) Prayer and meditation; 3) Study groups and 4) eating healthfully and having a healthy lifestyle.

• Self-Government. This is when you act like you know. You live to uphold the principles of MAAT (righteousness) and demonstrate Iwa Pele (gentle character). You operate in a manner consistent with your higher calling.

ONYX MAGAZINE 11

TRAVEL

FLEXCATION A New Way to Travel

D

Save Money and Avoid Crowds.

Prices for vacation rentals typically drop during shoulder season, the time period after Labor Day and before the holiday travel season. Families not tied to strict in-person school or work commitments can benefit from fewer crowds and lower prices by choosing later travel dates. For example, you can find drops of at least 20% in average nightly rates for vacation homes in popular destinations like Cape Cod, Massachusetts; Cape May, New Jersey; and Ocean City, Maryland, through October compared to prime summer travel dates.

See Familiar Places in New Ways.

Traveling during a different time of year lets you see favorite destinations from a different perspective. It’s a chance to create new family experiences together, like seeing the leaves change colors or visiting the beach when temperatures are milder.

Stay Longer. Travel data from Vrbo indicates families want to take longer vacations.

With the ability to work remotely or com-

plete online assignments anywhere there’s a Wi-Fi connection, there’s no need to cut a weekend trip short to get back in time for class or punch the clock on Monday morning. If a full week isn’t realistic, you might consider an extra-long weekend, extending your trip from Thursday-Monday instead of the more traditional Friday-Sunday.

Enjoy a Change of Scenery. According to a study from New York University, people feel happier when they have more variety in their daily routines, such as going to novel places and having a wider array of experiences. After months of sheltering in place, a flexcation may be an ideal way to reestablish a healthy sense of balance.

Before you go, be sure to research how COVID-19 might affect your travel plans, including any travel restrictions, quarantine policies or changes in hours and access to popular attractions in the area. It is also a good idea to make sure you understand and verify details about your accommodations before you make reservations, such as enhanced cleaning procedures at the property and flexible cancellation policies

PHOTO COURTESY OF GETTY IMAGES

espite the COVID-19 pandemic, families are still finding ways to make the most of unusual schedules to plan a getaway. With more flexible work and school arrangements, many families are embracing the idea of a “flexcation,” an emerging travel trend where families rent vacation homes later in August, September and October, consider staying longer to mix work and play, and often get better value in high-demand locales.

“Though this year has been incredibly difficult for families, it’s inspiring to see how they have become resilient and resourceful by choosing alternative ways and dates to take vacations,” Lish Kennedy, vice president of brand marketing at Vrbo, shared with “Family Features.” “More flexibility in our work and school schedules is allowing families to enjoy a welcome change in their surroundings and a relaxing break together.”

If you missed out on your family’s annual summer trip this year or just want to take advantage of more flexibility in your work and school routines, consider these reasons to take a flexcation.

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EDUCATION Add a cool lamp to help brighten up their space or a fun desk accessory, like a plant to add some color and life. Finally, boost connectivity with routers such as this eero router to ensure you have top-notch Wi-Fi throughout the house, making any room a perfect classroom.

Upgrade your tech

4

Ways to Get Ready For School No Matter Where You’re Learning

T

he new school year will look different for everyone this year, but whether students are gearing up for an in-person, online or hybrid learning experience, the right school supplies can help keep them motivated and productive all year long.

Now more than ever, teachers and parents are heading online to prepare for the school year. In fact, according to the National Retail Federation, online school supply shopping is on the rise, with more than half (55%) of K-12 shoppers planning to buy their supplies online this year.

If you’re setting up an at-home learning space or preparing for a safe return to the classroom, online stores like Amazon make it easy to get everything you need.

Here are some tips on how you can prepare for the new school year: Stock up on essentials

Start the year off fresh and organized with a new planner, an ample supply of notebooks and fun, colorful folders. A mesh desk organizer will help your kids stay organized so they never misplace their pens 14 ONYX MAGAZINE

and pencils (or their homework). Sparkle Mechanical Pencils will have them feeling stylish and eliminate pencil shavings which is especially helpful if your kitchen is doubling as your classroom this year.

For younger students, stock up on crayons, markers and colored pencils, to give them a chance to unleash their creative side. Amazon’s Ready for School store offers low prices on these essentials and more, all shipped safely to your door.

Additionally, if the kids are at home all day, you may need to load up on more snacks this year. Try something that comes in single-portion servings for an easy snack that won’t leave a mess in the kitchen.

Set up an at-home learning space

An organized and productive learning space can help keep students motivated while learning from home. With Amazon’s Educator Shop, teachers - and parents-turned-teachers - can easily find everything they need to set up their learning space.

Upgrade your student’s setup with a desk, a comfortable chair and a printer like the all-in one HP printer, to start.

A whopping 40% of parents are looking to invest in digital resources to supplement school education, according to the 2020 Deloitte back-to-school survey. Whether it’s full-time, part-time or supplemental, digital learning is an important part of education.

Start by checking out Amazon’s digital education center, which includes educational content and workbooks for students.

Or with the All-new Fire HD 8 Kids Edition Tablet, students and parents can research and download educational apps to supplement school in a fun and engaging way. The device comes with a kid-proof case to protect from drops and bumps and has a built-in stand for hands-free use.

Finally, remember to manage screen time by setting rules for usage and providing children with Kids Blue Light Blocking Glasses to protect developing eyes from harsh light.

Set up healthy routines

Getting out of “summer mode,” especially this year, can make sticking to a routine difficult. With the start of the new school year fast approaching, start easing back into healthy routines now by setting earlier alarms or having family reading time in the evening.

As the school year gets going, make quick, healthy lunches extra fun by packing things ahead of time in colorful, reusable lunch containers like these Bento boxes. And don’t forget hydration - keeping a durable water bottle with your kids whether they’re at home or school is important. The Contigo Water Bottle is perfect for keeping kids hydrated and provides water in a personal, sanitary container that won’t leak. But if your kids are spending their days learning from the kitchen table, don’t forget to take breaks throughout the day. Just taking a few breaks during the day to stretch or go for a walk can keep your family moving and active!

Find all of your school-year essentials and more at amazon.com/readyforschool.

Circleof Love

SAGE

By Amy Goyer

A

lmost 42 million Americans identified as caregivers for an older adult prior to COVID-19. Overnight, it is likely that millions more have joined their ranks.

With COVID-19, there are added complications, notably physical separation.

Some people are supporting older relatives who live far away while others may be close by, but are maintaining a safe distance. The goal is to maintain social closeness while also practicing physical distance.

“As the primary caregiver to my parents, I know well that the ways we support the older adults in our lives have changed,” says Ray Spoljaric, CEO and co-founder of Aloe Care. “Caregivers are resilient, committed people and will go to any lengths to provide for those they care for. Now more than ever, communication and collaboration are key to providing the highest level of care.”

If you’re a new caregiver, or concerned about COVID-19 for someone you support, consider these five tips from nationally recognized expert Amy Goyer:

Establish a Care Circle – Identify the people who can help. It may be a combination of professionals, family members, and/or friends. Collect names, phone numbers, and email addresses of everyone in your care circle. This is also a good place to store elders’ information, particularly what you would need in case of an emergency (i.e., medications, pre-existing conditions, home access details).

Stay Connected – Next, establish reg-

ular check-ins. With new physical distancing guidelines, social connection is more important than ever. Prepare a schedule of remote check-ins by the care circle. Consider leveraging technology in a solution like virtual conferencing, which facilitates easy check-ins and care collaboration.

Maintain Medical Care and Support – Telehealth is a rapidly advancing

option for safe care. In fact, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently expanded coverage and loosened poli-

cies and regulations regarding telehealth.

Many pharmacies have mail-order options and are expanding support for caregivers to manage medications.

Cover the Essentials – Assess the

food, household, and personal supplies the elders have at home and what they need to keep in stock. Many grocery stores now offer contactless delivery or pick-up. A quick online search should reveal the best local option. Additionally, the Area Agency on Aging’s Eldercare Locator is a great resource, as is Meals on Wheels.

Well-Rounded Health – While it may

take some creativity during COVID-19, everyone needs stimulation physically, cognitively, and emotionally to maintain their well-being (including you, dear caregiver).

Find ways to keep your loved ones and yourself active with technology, puzzles, letter-writing, exercises and more.

ONYX MAGAZINE 15

Scope FLORIDA

AND BEYOND FLORIDA

Nikki’s Place in Orlando distributed masks to customers.

MaskUp! Stop the Spread ONYX Magazine teamed up with Bank of America who donated 100,000 disposable masks; and Orange County Government, who donated 20,000 hand sanitizers, to provide personal protection equipment (PPE) to communities across Orange County. The distribution is a part of ONYX Magazine’s MaskUp! Stop the Spread campaign that kicked off on July 1. Local businesses are helping by sharing the PPE with their customers and clients. Special thanks to the Experience Christian Center and Pastor Derrick McRae for bagging the items; and to all who helped distribute masks: Orlando Commissioner Regina Hill, District 5; Oley’s Restaurant; P&D Soul Food; West Lakes Partnership; Washington Shores Neighborhood Association; Caribbean Sunshine Bakery; Nikki’s Place Soul Food; Pine Hills United Community; United Foundation of Central Florida. We also thank all our campaign sponsors.

National Sickle Cell Awareness Month September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month, designated by Congress to help focus attention on the need for research and treatment of sickle cell disease. Sickle Cell Disease Association of America’s (SCDAA) theme for this year is Sickle Cell Matters. “We encourage everyone to be a part of this national effort to increase awareness about sickle cell disease and sickle cell trait during the month of September,” the organization stated in a release. Although sickle cell disease can affect people of any race, it is more common in African Americans, according to HealthyChildren.org.

Remember Who You Are African Ancestry, Inc. (AfricanAncestry.com) announced its one-of-a-kind Remember Who You Are (RWYA) campaign created to remind and educate people of color on the collective power woven in African DNA. More than a one-off, empty promise, Remember Who You Are intermixes past and present iconic people, places and spaces of cultural significance; identity-stacked virtual events; historic ancestral Reveals; and charitable ties supporting Black pride-building organizations, among other components. Remember Who You Are kicks-off today and culminates in mid-2021. Nichole Taylor South Florida to Reopen Restaurants “USA Today” reported that some coronavirus restrictions will start to ease up in September in parts of South Florida. “In Miami-Dade County, restaurants were allowed to welcome back diners to indoor seating for the first time in almost two months, provided masks were worn and the establishments operated at 50% capacity. In Palm Beach County, officials issued an order allowing tattoo and body piercing parlors, as well as tanning salons, to reopen starting Monday. In Miami-Dade County, most indoor dining has been banned in the county since early July to stop the spread of the coronavirus,” the newspaper reported.

EPCOT Food & Wine Festival opened early this year and will run through the fall.

Florida Theme Parks Back in Business Florida theme parks drive significant dollars to the state’s tourism industry, so when COVID19 shut them down in March, a lot of residents felt the pinch. As cities used more coronavirus precautions, parks reopened with new sanitation and social distancing policies in place.

ONYX Magazine visited EPCOT in August and noted obvious changes: fewer visitors in the park; hand washing and sanitizing stations throughout; directional signage of where to stand in lines; rules to wear masks at all times, unless guests are actively eating and drinking; rules to remain stationary while eating and drinking; and no attractions to encourage large gatherings—including fireworks. Other large theme parks, like Universal Studios, are now open with similar standards, according to a news release.

Moffitt Cancer Center Names New CEO World-renowned tumor immunologist Patrick Hwu, M.D., has been appointed the new president and CEO of Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, according to a Center news release. He joins Moffitt from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he is the division head of Cancer Medicine. Hwu brings 33 years of oncology experience to Moffitt and will begin his new role on Nov. 10.

16 ONYX MAGAZINE

ON THE

QUAD FAMU Launches Chatbox for Quick Coronavirus Responses

Florida A&M University (FAMU) is launching a new tool to answer common questions about the University’s Coronavirus response and reopening. The chatbot leverages artificial intelligence (AI) to provide users the latest information on COVID-19 related safety protocols and associated resources at the University. This time-saving tool will help concerned Rattlers navigate hundreds of pages of safety plans to find the answers they need to prepare for a safe return to campus. The FAMU Information Technology Department partnered with woman-owned tech companies, VB Consulting and RockIT Data, to build, customize and launch this solution in four short weeks.

“This application reflects our latest effort to ensure that our students, parents and other stakeholders are able to easily access the information they need to make important decisions during our reopening,” said President Larry Robinson, Ph.D. “As fall semester classes begin, we hope this chatbot facilitates a smooth and successful return to campus for our students. We’re happy to have them back and want to keep them informed.”

FAMU News

Atty. Yolanda Cash Jackson Creates UF Law’s Largest Endowment Scholarship Fund Becker, a multi-practice commercial law firm with attorneys, lobbyists, and other professionals at offices throughout the East Coast, announced that Management Committee Member and Government Relations Shareholder Yolanda Cash Jackson created The University of Florida Levin College of Law’s (UF Law) largest endowed scholarship fund.

Ms. Jackson, who received her J.D. from UF Law in 1990, had long envisioned a program designed to recruit the academically talented graduates from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to UF Law. With Ms. Jackson’s initial gift plus other alumni contributions in the Spring of 2020, the HBCU Pathway to Law fund quickly surpassed $100,000 in commitments. As the country mourned the passing of civil rights icon John Lewis in July, Sarasota developer Hugh Culverhouse donated $1,000,000 to the new scholarship fund in Lewis’s memory.

The HBCU Pathway to Law fund will help UF Law enroll at least five HBCU graduates annually with full tuition scholarships. These students will be known as John Lewis Scholars and receive enhanced engagement opportunities with the UF Law Black Alumni network. UF Law will undertake a year-long campaign to match the Culverhouse gift and grow the fund to $2,000,000 before 2022.

Ms. Jackson said, “Hugh and I hope that our donations will motivate additional contributions from UF Law alumni, friends of the law school, law firms, bar associations, corporate entities and charitable foundations in honor of John Lewis and the strong traditions of America’s HBCUs.” –Becker

Bethune-Cookman University to Restructure Academic Programs The Bethune-Cookman University Board of Trustees has unanimously voted in support of a comprehensive overhaul of the University’s academic structure. The Trustees approved the consolidation of the University’s eleven colleges and schools into three colleges. This transition comes upon the recommendation of President E. LaBrent Chrite, following a thorough analysis by a faculty committee under the leadership of Dr. Herbert Thompson, Dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Mathematics.

The move reflects the University’s commitment to consolidate critical resources, and more vitally, to articulate through the new structure, an academic enterprise that is more intuitively aligned with B-CU’s academic history and mission. In support of the plan, Belvin Perry, Esq., Chairman of the B-CU Board of Trustees asserted “This academic restructuring plan will facilitate the next chapter in B-CU’s ongoing quest to provide students with a quality educational experience which equips them to be successful in their chosen professions and in their lives.”

–B-CU News

ONYX MAGAZINE 17

MONEY MATTERS

THE WEALTH GAP Financially savvy brothers advise on how to close it.

By Professor Laura Dorsey

T

here are multiple reasons for systemic racism, none more noteworthy than money. Since we know that wealth inequality is an issue, how do we close

the wealth gap? This issue of “ONYX Magazine� has assembled a diverse group of men to provide their perspective answers to the question.

18 ONYX MAGAZINE

Cecil L. Thomas, Chief Asset & Portfolio Mgr., Defense Health Agency, Falls Church, Va. I believe closing the wealth gap starts with a generational sacrifice and commitment that is centered on parenting. Raising our children in an environment of excellence and expectation is the most effective agent in closing the wealth gap. As fathers, we must make a conscious choice to break the cycle of poverty by ensuring our children are educated. As a father of three girls, my commitment was to ensure all of my children graduate from college. We know that a college graduate, on average, makes more money. But it also affords other wealth-building opportunities like a compounding 401K, health insurance, and a pathway to homeownership. It also facilitates disposable income to invest in other long-term asset developments like stocks, bonds and real estate. Unfortunately, the wealth gap widens over time. At 30, Whites have 3.5 times more wealth as people of color, and it doubles by the time we are in our 60s. If college is not an option, then promoting our children to become entrepreneurs is encouraged.

Eugene Franklin, President of Florida Black Chamber, Pensacola, Fla.

Rodney Jones, President, Business Plans Plus, Tampa, Fla.

Booker T. Washington focused on creating wealth for African Americans by organizing them around two fundamental foundational principles: education and business development. One, to serve our cultural needs and two, to produce jobs and opportunities. Washington’s cultural, economic development belief was, “If we just build our businesses and only do business with each other, we not only will survive but prosper.” This foundational principle led to the creation of many Black towns and communities, i.e., Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Okla., that prospered, even while Jim Crow and segregation reigned. The Florida Black Chamber is recreating virtual networks using the principles of cultural economics. We assist small and micro-enterprise businesses in securing access to capital and marketing opportunities, which are the primary weaknesses in the creation and development of Pan African Cultural Heritage businesses. These two actions, and the creation of a global marketing network, will allow African American businesses to market their products and services to others across the diaspora, in Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Americas. This will allow us to prosper as a people and improve the wealth and asset development opportunities.

Most people fully understand the Black and White wealth gap is a byproduct of centuries of racially biased public policies from slavery to segregation to redlining.

This allowed White households to accumulate wealth through opportunities that were systematically denied to people of color. The outcomes of past injustices are carried forward as wealth is handed down across generations. The racial wealth gap issue needs to be aggressively addressed on both the public policy side and the collaborative Black economic empowerment side. On the public policy side, free college tuition, student loan forgiveness, zero down payment for homes, and zero-interest business loans should be considered in any discussion about relief to underserved and underrepresented communities that have been directly impacted by racist policies. On the collaborative Black economic empowerment side, we can borrow examples from Asian, Middle Eastern, and Indian business cultures that have thrived in the U.S. by establishing collectives for the purpose of lending capital, exchanging goods and services, referring clients, and establishing group purchasing collaboratives to lower costs.

Ken Bradshaw, Prudential Advisors Financial Planner, Orlando, Fla. The immediate intentional action is to address and demand that our “financial industry,” Dow Jones, NASDAQ, S&P 500 companies and others, revise their board of directors to include African American and women members across the industry. This is something that investors and consumers can demand. This will allow those board members to identify more diverse leaders within those organizations. We need people in senior positions to assist with and change this huge financial disparity. It also allows us to have a seat at the table concerning investments in our communities and organizations that will provide equity in our homes and communities. The other element of this process is “financial wellness and literacy.” Every African American family should be teaching their children about budgets, life insurance, credit scores, investments, taxes, and tax-efficiency, retirement planning, and ultimately wealth planning and generational wealth building. At a minimum, our families should have at least three wealth-building classes or seminars that we attend each year as a family. Wealth accumulation, income planning in retirement, and tax-efficient legacy building are phrases that we must understand and become laser-focused on.

Thaddeus Jefferson, Director of Admissions, Rust College, Holly Springs, Miss.

African American households have far fewer economic opportunities. They are deprived of social advancement due to a lack of personal empowerment. Culture and ethical priority are two main factors that contribute to this ideal. I believe education has to be the foundation of self-preservation and liberation for African Americans. Statistics show that African Americans and Hispanics have the lowest percentile rate of college attendees than any ethnic group, which also indicates they are the least likely to obtain available jobs. There are more African Americans and Hispanics with jobs below livable wages than any other race. Although there is a clear divide in opportunity for White and Black America, it is of the utmost importance that African Americans do not contribute to their own social genocides by refusing to make a personal investment educationally. While social classes can be denied, knowledge cannot. Knowledge is the key to opportunity, and its importance should never be diminished. In the words of William Alin, “Education is not the answer to the question; education is the means to the answer to all questions.”

ONYX MAGAZINE 19

ON THE RISE

Millennial Votes Matter A party shift may depend on the young, gifted and Black—IF they vote Democrat.

By Sam Fullwood III and David C. Barker

M

ost political analysts define “swing voters” as those who swing their support from one party to the other between election cycles—determining winners and losers in the process.

According to this conventional wisdom, the “swingiest” voters are working-class Whites in the Midwest, who supposedly hold the keys to the White House.

Meanwhile, by contrast, pundits often portray Black Americans as an undifferentiated mass—loyal Democrat-supporting foot soldiers who will execute their mission for The Team on Tuesday as long as some preacher provides the right marking orders on Sunday.

If these depictions have not already expired, they are certainly growing stale.

Having studied electoral trends for decades, we can tell you that those undecided voters of the past are an endangered species—in the Midwest and elsewhere.

These days, the only choice that most Americans make—indeed, the choice that typically “swings” the election outcome— is whether to vote at all.

That brings us to the characterization of Black Americans as Democratic loyalists.

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Our new survey of 1,215 African Americans in battleground states—conducted July 1-9 in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia—reveals that while those over 60 remain among the most reliable of Democratic voters, and those between 40-59 are still pretty locked in as well, those under 30 (whom we oversampled to comprise half of our sample) are anything but.

Not Sold on Biden Only 47% of those Black Americans younger than 30 who we surveyed plan to vote for the presumed Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden. (The survey was conducted before Biden announced Sen. Kamala Harris as his running mate.)

That’s roughly the same percentage who have anything positive to say when asked what “one or two words come to mind” about the former vice president.

Cathy Cohen, a professor of political science at the University of Chicago who studies Black youths’ political views, summed up this attitude in a recent Big Brains podcast: “They’ve seen the election

of Black mayors, they’ve seen the election of the first Black president, and they’ve also seen that their lives have not changed.”

Not Sold on Voting These young Black Americans may well sit things out in November, just as many of them did in 2016 when their behavior swung that election to Trump as much as anything else did.

In our poll, 31% of Black Americans under 30 say they probably won’t vote in this election. That may sound pretty good, given the average U.S. voter turnout of around 60% in recent elections.

But survey respondents of all stripes tend to wildly overestimate their intention to vote. Indeed, about half of our Black survey respondents under 30 say they don’t often vote because it “doesn’t make a difference,” providing a somewhat more realistic estimate of the percentage who will probably just stay home—and not search for a stamp to mail in their ballot, either.

And that number does not even take into account the turnout-depressing effects of voter suppression efforts across the

country, the pandemic, or the heavy distrust of mail-in voting that young Black people tend to express. Only 64% of young people in our sample say they trust the state to report their vote accurately, and only 30% say they plan to take advantage of mail-in voting.

Not Sold on the Democratic Party Such cynicism on the part of young Black Americans is reflected in the lukewarm feelings they tend to have toward the Democratic Party more generally.

Only 47% of them say that the party is welcoming to Black Americans, and only 43% say they trust Democrats in Congress

to do what’s best for the Black community.

Perhaps most strikingly, unlike their older counterparts, only half of those under 30 view the Democrats as any better than the Republicans on these scores.

In both the survey responses and in the focus groups we conducted of young Black Americans in these same states, we heard repeated frustration toward what they view as a Democratic Party that expects their vote but doesn’t really do anything to deserve it other than claim to be “less racist” than the alternative.

As one of our focus group respondents put it, “I think at the end of the day, they all have the same agenda.”

In short, it appears that for Black America, the future is not necessarily “blue.” Electorally speaking, it is not necessarily anything at all. Moving forward, young Black Americans may be the real swing voters in the only way that term really makes much sense anymore.

Sam Fullwood, III is a fellow in the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies at American University. David C. Barker is a professor of government and director of the Center of Presidential Studies.

This story originally was published in The Conversation and Yes! Magazine and has been reproduced with permission.

ONYX MAGAZINE 21

TECHNOLOGY

Participants at a Black Orlando Tech meetup.

STEM It’s Time for Racial Diversity in

Black men are absent in STEM, but these guys are showing the world what the field could look like.

I

f technology was a driver of the economy before, then the coronavirus pandemic hit the accelerator on that demand. STEM jobs— those specializing in science, technology, engineering and math—are, and will continue to be, increasingly necessary in the modern age, especially as we adapt to this new and daunting world in the shadow of COVID-19. Zoom, FaceTime, online shopping—such are the minutiae of the current moment. But as we gamely embrace what lies ahead, whatever that may be, one thing is certain: We have become dependent on the STEM 22 ONYX MAGAZINE

industry, and we are long overdue for diversity in the field.

But like the national quagmire of racial injustice in which we find ourselves, the solution isn’t clear-cut. It involves impacting different age groups and addressing weaknesses in different pillars of society, namely education and employment. When asked for a solution, several professionals, all of whom are Black STEM workers, said the root of the problem is more systemic than individual; because Black children rarely see people in STEM who look like them, they are less likely to be interested in and pursue these subjects from

an early age. It’s human nature to go where one feels welcome.

“I think there needs to be more people of color who are working STEM jobs, who can be mentors to these children, so that they can see themselves in these roles,” said Chris James, 31, a videographer at the Orlando Museum of Art. “They may have the passion, but no one is stoking the fire.”

Despite the rapid growth of the sciences and technology over the past three decades, White people constitute nearly 70% of the STEM workforce, with Black people accounting for a mere 9%, according to a 2018 Pew Research Center

study. Perhaps one explanation for such a low percentage is the inequitable disparity in pay.

The annual median earnings of White workers holding STEM occupations are between $71,000 and $90,000, whereas Black STEM workers typically earn an average of $58,000 annually, thus disincentivizing and discouraging their peers from entering the field.

Who suffers? Everyone. Different minds offer a fresh perspective, and it makes sense that a company would want to provide a service that broadens its constituency and widens appeal, which has great potential to increase profits. Diver-

Photo Courtesy: Kelda Senior

By Trina Ryan

Photo Courtesy: Ralph Smith

sity in STEM will be especially important in the next five to 10 years, as the pandemic impels technology and science to take another seismic shift.

COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter protests have marked a crucial turning point for the U.S.: Just as the coronavirus has prompted wholesale online engagement, the movement to end police brutality and racial discrimination against Black people has spurred a cultural awakening that compels, among other things, a reexamination of the labor market.

Investment in Black STEM workers is not only an investment in the Black workforce; it’s an investment in the economy and in the future generations who in a mere couple of decades will be the face of it.

“There’s a certain type of individual that a (STEM) career is very good for: people who like math, who are introverted, who are curious and want to create things,” said Ralph Smith, 68, founder and executive director of Computer Mentors, a Tampa-based nonprofit that prepares young people for careers in information technology and computer programming. “The thing with African Americans is that no one looks for that in them. So that’s what we do, turn kids on to technology and impact their self-esteem by showing them that they’re good at it.”

While the majority of his students are Black, Smith, who is Black himself, does not specifically cater to one race.

Still, Black students flock to his programs because in him they find a sense of hope, comfort, inspiration. “If they can see somebody who looks like them in these fields, and talk to somebody who looks like them and learn that they’re just regular, real people, then they say to themselves, ‘I can do that too.’”

2020 Teen Business Challenge winners with Computer Mentors.

Joshua Walker

Ralph Smith

Likewise, Black adults need to feel assured that they can also find representation in STEM. Topping the list of reasons why so few Black people choose STEM as a vocation, according to the Pew Research Center study, is “poor education” and “less encouragement.”

What this implies is that far too many institutions are not willing to take the necessary steps to adequately educate Black students in STEM and implement onboarding programs that promote workplace diversity. Additionally, companies need to recruit, hire and retain Black employees; level the wage gap (especially for applicants who have similar professional and educational backgrounds as those who are White); and

encourage employees to speak up when they observe racial bias.

The Black-equality movement is a start. “People I know feel empowered by this moment in our history, and companies are beginning to have those hard conversations internally,” said Joshua Walker, 32, vice president and co-founder of Black Orlando Tech, a hyperlocal nonprofit that offers mentorship and finds job opportunities for Black people who want to pursue tech or for seasoned workers who want to advance in the industry. Walker says that since Black Orlando Tech was founded in 2016, he has stayed busy, not least because the organization provides a valuable resource to the community: a place that rep-

resents Black Americans, understands the difficulties they face, and introduces them to a field that can elevate their social and economic status.

“If you look at the job stats, there are millions of jobs that don’t get filled that Black people could be filling,” Walker said. “Learning any type of discipline opens a lot of human potential. But from a financial and well-being standpoint, tech offers more freedoms than other traditional roles that African Americans occupy.”

It’s difficult to say what STEM will look like in the near future, but what is apparent is that America is better positioned than ever before to dismantle the status quo, to take a hard look at all facets of racial discrimination. The key will be to invest in younger generations, who have the power to shape the very foundation and infrastructure of our society.

“The pandemic is not going anywhere anytime soon,” said Chris James, the videographer.

“These children are going to grow up in a world where things are completely different, and they’re going to need options in this new environment.”

ONYX MAGAZINE 23

ONYX READS

Page Turners Stories with Grit

By Patricia Brown Denis

The Sellout Paul Beatty The story reminds me of what I think every time I am sight-seeing in any urban city. I wonder why we call other places “third-world” due to their socioeconomic status or abject poverty. This is a 21st-century novel, but you could easily parallel the descriptions with those in stories written decades ago.

Subtle innuendo and several choice words in—and I cannot put the book down. Despite the coarse language, which is obviously intentional, this book is a look inside the mind of the man on trial.

26 ONYX MAGAZINE

So Much Blue

The Ways of White Folks

Percival Everett This novel is a self-published collaboration with a publisher for online use. As confused as I was initially, the writer has an excellent storytelling ability. One experience shared in the novel: “My father contended common sense has nothing to do with good sense, just as common fashion has nothing to do with taste.” Such insight is there if you take a little time to sit back and read. I encourage it.

Langston Hughes Langston Hughes describes conditions in the 1930s and 1940s that sent a chill down my spine. To unravel the conundrum we have about race relations, I believe we have to look back at what got us here in the first place.

Langston Hughes’s work is a great place to start.

His writing takes the edge off of difficult content.

Even if you read this years ago, most of his work is worth a second and third read.

The Preacher’s Son, Book 1

Miracle’s Boys

Carl Weber “What has happened to family values in this community? In this country?” he shouted, then paused again, as if expecting a response from his audience.” In this story based in New York City, the main characters encounter the classic dilemma for children of “church folk” explained in classic form by one of the key characters. Weber captures the church back story very well.

The explicit language is one drawback of the book, but it shouldn’t deter you if you are looking for the details.

Jacqueline Woodson This novel is for young adults, but older adults find it enjoyable, too.

It is the tale of two brothers who have to navigate life and the system on their own. Readers will empathize with their challenges and their personal struggles.

FEATURE

D

Casting Vision for FAMU College of Lawww

By Nancy Port Schwalb and Mildred Graham

28 ONYX MAGAZINE

ONYX Magazine: What motivated you to become a lawyer and to pursue legal education?

Dean Deidré Keller: My family had encouraged me to become a lawyer since I was a very small child. I remember being as young as 3 or 4 in my grandmother’s garden in Key West, peppering her with questions about every little thing and her finally exhorting, “you should be a lawyer when you grow up.” I was 10 years old when my mother earned her bachelor’s degree. She was the first in my family to earn a degree.

That inspired me to pursue higher education. After college, I worked in law firms for four years, first as a secretary and then

PHOTO BY DERRIOUS ROBINSON, RTW PHOTOGRAPHY

Dean Deidré Keller

eidré A. Keller is the new dean of the Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Law. Prior to joining FAMU, she was the associate dean for Academic Affairs at the Ohio Northern University Claude W. Pettit College of Law where she taught for 10 years. In this exclusive interview with ONYX Magazine, Keller talks about her vision for the Law School, its students and how they impact the community.

as a paralegal. Ultimately, my three children are the reason I went to law school. I wanted to make a living that could support them well and I wanted to leave the world better than I found it for them. Pursuing a J.D., in my estimation, was the best way to achieve both of those goals.

OM: What unique skillsets do you bring to the FAMU College of Law to help the institution fulfill its mission and goals?

DDK: I have done every client-facing job

in a law firm. Those experiences provided me with great problem-solving skills and an ability to manage up. My experiences practicing law in large firms provided great opportunities to build teams and work collaboratively toward shared goals. And, my prior experience in legal education gave me the deep and broad understanding of higher education institutions, generally, and law colleges in particular, that allows me to identify areas where the College is excelling and promote those and areas where the College must improve.

OM: What is your vision for the FAMU College of Law? DDK: My vision for the College is that

it will realize its potential of transforming the lives of not just its students, many of whom may not have had access to the legal profession in the College’s absence, but also the lives of those in the communities they will leave here and serve. If we can realize that potential, the College can play an important role in advancing the project of racial and social justice in America.

OM: What will be your focus over the next 12 months?

DDK: Over the next 12 months, the Col-

lege is focused on building sustained success through community. More specifically, we are focused on recruiting and retaining the strongest student body we can while staying true to our mission of access to the legal profession for those underrepresented in it. We are also focused on supporting our students to improved success on the bar exam and enhancing their job opportunities as they graduate.

“The fight for social justice is in the DNA of this institution.

You need look no further than the history of this College” OM: What role do you see FAMU College of Law playing in the fight for social justice in our nation and in our region?

DDK: The fight for social justice is in the

DNA of this institution. You need look no further than the history of this College to know that. The FAMU College of Law came to be because Black residents in Florida fought for the right to a legal education here in Florida and the College was reestablished in 2000, welcoming its first incoming class in over 35 years in 2002, in recognition of the fact that there was still a need for an HBCU College of Law in Florida. I see the College in the years to come utilizing that foundation for the benefit not only of its students but of the communities of which it and they are a part.

Through the Florida Law School’s Consortium for Racial Justice, we are planning to provide support to existing racial justice organizations. The aims of the Consortium include policy reform and strategic advocacy in areas including economic justice and criminal justice reform.

OM: What role do you see FAMU College of Law playing in the post-pandemic, economic recovery in Central Florida?

DDK: Given that the pandemic has had

such a devastating impact on black and brown communities, the FAMU College of Law can play a significant role in the post-pandemic, economic recovery in Central Florida. I, along with another member of the faculty, Prof. Jeremy Levitt, am currently working on a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion task force assembled by the Orlando Economic Partnership. In

addition, the College previously had an Economic Development Clinic and it is considering re-envisioning that initiative as a broader Economic Justice Clinic.

OM: Tell us about FAMU Law’s community involvement.

DDK: Over the years, our new students

have been recruited to work at numerous nonprofits where they prepare meals for the homeless, and sort clothes, food and toiletry items for community service centers. For more than a decade, Prof. Patricia Broussard has served on the Orlando Mayor’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Commission, organizing a clean-up Parramore event that draws more than 200 members of the community. Our student organizations also venture out into the community to directly work with programs that improve the lives of children and families.

OM: Why should future lawyers attend FAMU Law? DDK: Future lawyers should consider

FAMU College of Law because we are consistently ranked as one of the most diverse law schools in the nation and we’re located in the hub of Orlando, just blocks from courthouses, law firms and corporations.

Our tuition is a remarkable value, among the lowest of law schools in the state of Florida. We offer a full-time program for the traditional student and a part-time program for working professionals. And we have an alumni network willing to open doors and provide guidance in the legal industry.

OM: Will there be a focus on expansion with respect to student body and physical structure in the near future?

DDK: Right now, the focus in the College

is on quality rather than quantity. We are laser-focused on recruiting and retaining a student body that the College can support to success and on further enhancing the learning environment at FAMU Law to ensure that all of our students are ready for the rigors of the bar exam and the practice of law. Growth will come as we meet and exceed those measures of success.

Read the entire article at ONYXMagazine.com.

ONYX MAGAZINE 29

SPORTS

D E T L A H

HOMECOM For many, the “Black family reunion” will have to wait another year.

ING

By Quintavia McKay

I

n the midst of COVID-19, colleges and universities have halted their normal operations, leaving students and faculty in a state of the unknown.

Some announcements of fall school re-openings came with startling adjustments: no sports, no Classic games—including the 76-year-old Florida Classic between Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) and Florida A&M University (FAMU) where B-CU holds a nine-game winning streak—and a stunner to the culture of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), no homecomings.

“Although it’s unfortunate that I won’t be able to experience homecoming my senior year of college, I think it serves as a reminder of how important it (homecoming) is for the culture,” said Kayla Clark, a Miami native.

Clark, a senior at Howard University (HU), expected to join her cohorts on campus in the fall.

However, an unexpected notice from the university thwarted her plans. The note stated HU’s classes would be held virtually and campus housing was closed, leaving Clark and her classmates to complete fall 2020 courses at home.

30 ONYX MAGAZINE

PHOTO BY JASON JONES

HU announced the canceling of homecoming 2020 in July, adding to a growing list of higher learning institutions following suit: FAMU, Spelman College, Morehouse College, North Carolina A&T University, and others with highly anticipated homecomings.

HBCUs are widely known for attracting a high volume of people—even those who did not attend—from around the nation during their homecoming season and yearly sports festivities. Homecoming, in the African American culture, is parallel to family reunions. They serve as a time for alumni to come back home and reconnect with those who played intricate roles in their growth as young adults—classmates and professors. It would be challenging for a crowd of nearly 10,000 to follow social distancing and sanitizing guidelines.

“Homecoming, and my college experience itself, has shown me the diversity of Black culture and the essence of Black excellence,” Clark concluded.

Where there is homecoming, there are the royal courts. Courts are iconic to Black homecomings. The students are positioned as leaders on their campuses and across the nation during their reign. Serving as the face of a university, FAMU’s newly elected Miss Junior Winslyn Parrish is just getting started on how she plans to navigate her reign against COVID-19.

FAMU’s administration informed the royal court it would not partake in any recruitment trips or in-person appearances.

So far, Parrish has continued her reign by hosting virtual events for her student body class, working on branding and LinkedIn events to help her class get a jumpstart into the world.

“Plans are still up in the air and nothing has been decided; therefore, we are just going with the flow,” Parrish said.

Though she was excited and looking forward to the festivities of homecoming and the reign she had dreamt of since her freshman year, she says she hopes things will start looking up soon.

Homecoming, in the African American culture, is parallel to family reunions. They serve as a time for alumni to come back home and reconnect with those who played intricate roles in their growth as young adults— classmates and professors.

As quickly as homecoming activities were canceled, so was fall semester sports.

An announcement made by the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) in July suspended sports and non-championship competitions to ensure the health and safety of student athletes.

Florida Memorial University (FMU) took a different approach. After canceling football for more than 60 years, FMU continued with plans to debut its football team in the fall, giving alumni a chance to include a homecoming game in their schedules.

“We are playing football this fall at Florida Memorial,” stated FMU Director of Athletics Ernest T. Jones.

The team has been practicing since Aug. 12. FMU is a part of the National Association Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and affiliate of The Sun Conference, and agrees to participate in fall sports along with the remaining schools in the conference.

The FMU Athletics faculty and staff have been ensuring safety for themselves and students by conducting frequent temperature checks at multiple checkpoints of the institution and the sports facility; offering COVID testing before and after games; providing questionnaires for students to take before deciding to participate or arrive on campus; and providing face coverings and proper sanitizing of the buildings. There are no specific mandates on crowd size; that is up to the discretion of the institution. FMU’s first game of the season takes place Sept. 12 against Keiser University and homecoming is set for Oct. 10.

“We thought as administrators that it would be safe to play because all our teams are here in the state of Florida,” said Jones.

“The forefront of the decision was the health and safety of the student and the staff.”

Plans are rolling to resume fall sports in spring 2021, including NCAA, MEAC, SWAC, and other national sports conferences.

Though these plans are contingent upon the status of COVID-19, it gives a gleam of hope to athletes, directors, students, and alumni. Individual institutions may opt out of participating in the spring.

Though many campuses across Florida have opened their doors for selective in-person course instruction, some universities have decided to keep campuses closed. Implementing measures like temperature testing, social distancing in classrooms and dining areas, and personal safety questionnaires helps. It is safe to say college life and social interaction may never be the same.

ONYX MAGAZINE 31

PERSONAL FINANCE

5

Common Questions About Life Insurance

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1. Can you get life insurance during the pandemic? Most healthy people can still purchase coverage but there may be a different process, as insurance companies are making changes to provide quotes while maintaining social distancing. Others may offer insurance that doesn’t require a medical exam. For example, Erie Insurance offers a policy called ERIExpress Life that was designed to serve people who may have thought the process was too lengthy or complicated. It offers affordable life insurance in as little as a few minutes with a simple application and no physical exam.

2. Why is life insurance important? Maybe you just got married, had your first child, bought a house or are thinking about putting a child through college. Whatever major life change is happening, that’s usually when people think about life insurance. Life insurance can provide peace of mind and ensure your loved ones are able to handle not only final expenses, but also pay off debts, such as credit cards and even a mortgage.

32 ONYX MAGAZINE

3. How much does life insurance cost?

The cost will vary based on the type and amount you purchase, but it is often much more affordable than many people think.

Depending on the type of policy and amount of coverage, a policy can cost less than $15 per month.

4. Is it taxable? Most of the time the death

benefit from a life insurance policy is not taxable for beneficiaries, which is one of its advantages when it is part of an overall financial plan.

5. What’s the difference between term and whole life insurance? Term provides coverage for a specific number of years and is

generally the most affordable option. For example, some people may buy a term life insurance policy so it’s in effect just long enough to pay off a mortgage or cover a child’s college tuition costs, but later it is no longer needed. Whole life insurance is designed to last a lifetime and builds cash value.

“Now that you have some basic information under your belt, a next step is to have a deeper discussion with your insurance agent to find out whether you need life insurance and if so, what type and how much,” says Colaizzo. “When it comes to life insurance, the only wrong choice is doing nothing at all.”

This story is provided by StatePoint Media

PHOTO COURTESY OF MONKEYBUSINESSIMAGES / ISTOCK VIA GETTY IMAGES PLUS

OVID-19 has significantly impacted our lives in many ways. It has even led some people to start reconsidering the importance of life insurance to protect loved ones who would be left behind should something happen.

“If you’re researching life insurance for the first time, don’t be surprised if you find it intimidating and confusing. Life insurance can be complex, and everyone’s needs are different -- there is no one-size-fits-all,” says Louis Colaizzo, senior vice president of Erie Family Life. “The best advice is to talk with your insurance agent who can walk you through how the various coverages work and help you determine the type and amount that’s right for you and your family.”

In the meantime, here are answers to five of the most common questions people have about life insurance from Erie Insurance:

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.

ENTERTAINS, INSPIRES AND INFORMS

ONYX MAGAZINE 33

REAL ESTATE

Can You Buy a House Entirely Online?

by Ashley Sutphin

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ven before the coronavirus pandemic, we were a society that liked to do things online. From group exercise classes streamed live to our homes, to on-demand delivery of our groceries, there are few things we actually have to leave home for. So, what about buying a new house? It seems like that’s something that we can now do entirely online as well, and some buyers prefer it.

Demand for Digital Tools There was a recent report from Zillow that found both buyers and sellers are likely to purchase or sell a home completely online.

There is even more motivation to do so it would seem because of the pandemic.

The Zillow survey found 36% of Americans said the COVID-19 pandemic makes them more likely to buy a home entirely online, and another 30% said they would do the same even after the end of the outbreak.

As far as sellers, 43% said they would be more likely to try and sell their home entirely online. Thirty-three percent said they’d try to do the same after the pandemic.

34 ONYX MAGAZINE

Virtual tours allow buyers to avoid shopping in-person, or at a minimum, they can narrow down their options before they ever leave home.

What are the Pros and Cons of Online Homebuying?

The biggest pro is, of course, convenience.

When you buy a house online, you can go through videos, virtual tours, and high-quality images that are going to make the experience nearly the same as being there.

There is something to be said about seeing a home in person before you commit to buying, and that’s the big drawback of doing everything online. There might be something you can’t fully grasp when you’re looking online only. With that being said, a great real estate agent can guide you and ensure you make the right decision for you.

How Do You Buy a Home Online?

First, choose a real estate agent. It’s overwhelming to start a home search online or in-person without someone to help you and advocate for you. Some people think

that buying online means you don’t need an agent, but the reality is that having a great agent you can trust may be more important when you buy online.

When you’re doing an online home search, your real estate agent should be experienced with remote home viewings, as well as the most advanced sales technology. They should be responsive as well, including if you’re in a different time zone.

You’ll need to find a mortgage lender, and if you have a real estate agent first, that person may be able to point you in the right direction.

The most efficient way to get a mortgage and ultimately buy a home is to get preapproved.

Once you’ve been preapproved for a mortgage and selected a real estate agent, you can start touring the homes that make your shortlist. Agents can either do a realtime virtual tour, or they can show you a prerecorded tour. Your agent should go through the home with you, just as they would if you were in person.

Your agent will likely have a preferred platform if you’re doing a live walkthrough, such as Zoom.

The agent will be in the home during a live tour, and they will go over things like scale and size to help you gain an understanding.

Once you choose a home, you make an offer. If the seller accepts, the process for buying a home is what it would be like whether you did it all virtually or not. If your seller accepts your offer, you may wire earnest money to an escrow account or title company.

Then, you’ll go through the inspection and appraisal as well as title research.

This article by Ashley Sutphin is endorsed

by Dee Parker, president of Parker Realty Group and chair of the ONYX Magazine Advisory Committee.

Dee Parker contributed to this article. Parker is the owner of Parker Realty and the chair of ONYX Magazine’s Advisory Committee.

COMMENTARY

Good Trouble, Necessary Trouble Congressman John Lewis’s last penned words inspires one writer to movement.

By Zelda Jones

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hen I read the opinion by Congressman U.S. Rep. John Lewis, published on the day of his funeral in “The New York Times,” I was struck by the title, “Together, You Can Redeem the Soul of Our Nation.” I was struck hard by a blow from beyond the grave of not only the words and activism of John Lewis, but that, too, of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Medgar Evers. The pronoun “you” in the title hit me with such velocity that I barely had time to shake the notion that the reference in the title applied solely to me.

Upon recovery and reflection, however, I quickly surmised that the late congressman was challenging all of us to pick up the gauntlet and to move forward with the spirit of nonviolence that defined the Civil Rights Movement. I understood the title’s implication of a singular solidarity in which the actions of individuals collectively serve as a change agent for the betterment and greater good of our society.

A society dependent on the voice and the vote of its people.

John Lewis writes so eloquently of the inspiration and hope that he felt from seeing multitudes of people of all ages, races and genders coming together to protest the horrendous act perpetrated upon George Floyd, who was killed while expressing his

inability to breathe. He goes on further to write about his visit to Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, D.C., and of his hospitalization that followed shortly thereafter.

John Lewis was a great man, who, during not so great times, demonstrated a love for this country that will reverberate throughout the history of our great land. For we know that he was brutally attacked while he and others attempted to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., to reach the state capital to protest for the right to vote for African American citizens. Certainly, the right to vote must be honored, guarded and defended if true democracy is to be the law of the land; however, I submit that Black Lives Matter must be true in every aspect of democratic

life. Indeed, the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness is the foundation of our democracy.

I think this is what the congressman saw and wanted to communicate to all of us as evidenced in his writing. He speaks of the everyday pleasures of life, such as a stroll to the store or a jog down a road—reflecting on African American lives that were tragically cut down by those who judged them by the color of their skin. John Lewis, who lived during the turbulent 1960s and who was born in the Jim Crow South, saw there are still bridges to be crossed. Thus, he admonished us to stand up to right that which continues to be wrong, to stand up and confront violence against humanity, and to see that Black Lives Matter everywhere in our society.

John Lewis was a man who lived a life of peaceful, nonviolent protest for the soul of the nation. A soul at peace with all of its members working together, harmoniously to hold truths that are self-evident that all men are created equal. Equality in every aspect of life including education, economics, housing, and healthcare must permeate every law, every policy and every reform moving forward. It is then and only then that freedom will ring and together we can stand as one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

ONYX MAGAZINE 35

HEALTH & WELLNESS

6

Reasons Your Diet Is Not Working

By Mary Toscano

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ant to know the best way to gain weight? Go on a diet.

Sad, but depending upon the diet, this is sometimes scientifically true.

In a review of long-term diet studies by UCLA, researcher Traci Mann found that although most people lose five to 10 percent of their weight on a diet, the weight comes back for most. Over four to five years, a third to two-thirds of dieters gain back more than they lost.

“Doomed,” you’re thinking. “I’m doomed.” But nothing can be further from the truth. Except for your DNA, which may genetically wire you to carry a little extra weight, all the reasons your diets don’t work are within your power to change. You just need to know what they are and the steps to take to thwart them.

36 ONYX MAGAZINE

1. You Think of Yourself as “On a Diet.”

If you’re on a diet, you can go off it. This is a major reason diets don’t work: They are temporary. Eating right is for a lifetime.

You can lose weight eating only cabbage soup, foods that aren’t white or low-calorie, low-fat meals, etc., but if you think that once you lose the weight you can go back to your old ways, you’re sunk.

Fix: Turn your weight loss diet into a learning experience so you can maintain your healthy weight. Learn portion control, for example. Practice creating your own healthy and delicious meals to learn how satisfying they can be.

2. You Deprive Yourself of Food.

Unlike booze and cigarettes, which you can live without, you need food for sur-

vival. Your body is hardwired to avoid hunger and you can get anxious if you’re, for example, cutting out whole food groups, skipping meals or eating less than 1,200 calories a day. When you’re trying to lose weight, stress is not your friend. Studies have found that the hormones your body produces under stress, such as cortisol and insulin, actually make you eat more. Stress also makes you reach for “comfort foods” that are full of fat and sugar.

Fix: Simple: Don’t deprive yourself. All your favorite foods—even your comfort foods—can be tailored to fit on a weight loss diet. Experiment with recipes that scale down fat, sugar and calories on all your favorites for your flex meal options so you’re armed when you’re in your lifelong maintenance phase. Also, consider learning to meditate or practice relaxation.

good advice and cheer you back on the wagon if you fall off. Try it with a spouse, partner or friend.

4. You Aren’t Exercising.

While studies have shown that exercise isn’t as important as cutting calories in losing weight, it is one of four major factors in weight maintenance among the thousands of successful weight losers in the National Weight Control Registry, an ongoing study of how people keep off the weight they’ve lost. An awe-inspiring 90 percent of them exercise about an hour a day—walking.

Another bonus is regular low-intensity exercise like walking reduces the stress hormone cortisol, which has been linked to overeating, a precursor to the whole “diets don’t work” theory.

Fix: Find an activity you enjoy doing and do it every day. Walking is one of the most convenient exercises: You can do it anywhere, from your neighborhood, the local track or the mall. A good pair of sneakers is all you need. Change up and walk longer or faster. It’s so versatile, you can turn walking into hiking and climbing, too.

One 2009 study published in the “Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics” found that learning relaxation training skills helped a group of women significantly reduce their episodes of emotional eating.

5. You’re a Diet Perfectionist.

Successful maintainers excuse a slip-up now and again and just pick up their healthy choices afterward. For perfectionists, one extra slice of chocolate cake is a catastrophe

that makes them throw up their hands, berate themselves for their weakness and quit dieting altogether. That “all or nothing” attitude is a weight loss killer. It sabotages your efforts in many ways, including convincing you that you can’t possibly lose weight and also eat chocolate, leading to a death spiral of deprivation. It’s no wonder these folks assume that diets don’t work.

Fix: Give yourself a break. One mistake is not a catastrophe. Accept that you’ve strayed a bit from plan and move on.

Also, be sure to keep recording your intake using free online tools. Seeing what you’ve eaten every day is a great way to hold yourself accountable.

6. You Let Your Scale Gather Dust Granted, stepping on the scale, particularly after a weekend, is daunting. But self-monitoring is an important factor in the success of the ‘biggest losers’ on the National Weight Control Registry. They weigh themselves once a week and more than half continue to track their food intake daily even though they’re in the maintenance phase, not the losing phase.

Fix: Weigh yourself regularly. It’s much easier to lose a few pounds than a weight gain of 10 or 15 pounds. Make sure to keep track of your food, as well.

Mary Toscano is BlackDoctor.org nutritionist and contributor.

3. You Try to Go It Alone.

Self-help is a noble undertaking, but you’ll lose more weight if you do it with the help of others. One study found that people on a structured commercial weight loss program lost three times more weight than those who tried to do it solo. Having a cheering section or someone with whom you can share problems and tips can not only help you stay the course, it can help reduce the stress that can cause you to overeat. Plus, if you’ve already convinced yourself that diets don’t work, having a positive buddy along for the ride can be a major boost.

Fix: If you’ve already chosen a specialized program, you’ve increased your chances of losing weight and keeping it off. Nutrition counselors can encourage you, offer you ONYX MAGAZINE 37

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Wine Down Two doctors shopped for a summer home 40 years ago. Now their children oversee more than 20 employees at the family’s vineyard and winery.

By Dan Holly

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hen Bassett and Marcela Brown went shopping for a summer home in 1980, the two doctors never dreamed the abandoned walnut orchard in Napa Valley would one day become the only black-owned vineyard in the heart of California wine country.

But that’s the story behind Brown Estate Vineyards, a better one than a trained MBA could craft. Despite the property’s choice location, the winery came about almost as an afterthought for the couple, who had founded a pioneering medical practice in South Central Los Angeles in the late 1960s.

“They didn’t have any preconceived ideas about what they were going to do out here. They just fell in love with the place.

It was only after meeting and talking with neighboring grape farmers that they started thinking about planting a vineyard,” said their daughter Deneen Brown, the president of the family’s winemaking business.

The couple fixed up the crumbling Victorian home that came with the property and eventually established a vineyard, seeing it more as a hobby than as a business, she said. It was “a way of life … less about making money or a name for yourself than it was about love for the land, craftsmanship, and a cooperative spirit,” she said.

When Deneen and her siblings Coral and David took over the vineyard in 1995, they didn’t intend to make their own wine.

“Mom and Dad did not intend for us to break into the wine business,” she said.

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The offspring of the Browns are now running the vineyard.

“They were continuing to run their medical business in Southern California and expected all of us to get our M.D.s and join their practice. After we’d been growing and selling grapes for about five years, we understood that our fruit was something special based on how it was being handled by the producers who were buying it. We literally had a, ‘We should bottle it and sell it ourselves!’ moment.”

But when the family did fully set their minds on starting a winery, a disaster almost ruined the business. The warehouse where the wine was stored caught fire in 2000. Nearly all the wine was destroyed shortly after the product had debuted.

“As luck would have it, prior to the fire we’d sent two bottles of our 1998 [Zinfandel] to Robert M. Parker, Jr., widely regarded as the most influential wine critic in the world.,” the family says on the vineyard’s website. Parker’s glowing review created “tremendous enthusiasm” for the wine’s return to restaurants and store shelves and allowed the winery to be revived like “a veritable phoenix from the ashes.”

The three siblings have succeeded well beyond their expectations. Brown Estate Vineyard is a private, family-owned busi-

The Browns became owners of the vineyard while shopping for a summer home.

ness and they declined to disclose financial figures, but has clearly grown and expanded. They started out making one wine, its flagship Napa Valley Zinfandel.

In 2000, they added cabernet sauvignon; in 2002 came chardonnay; Chaos Theory, a red blend, debuted in 2004. Subsequently, they expanded their zinfandel offerings and added a few more varietals.

“We produce a lot more wine now than we did when we started,” Deneen Brown said. They now have about 20 employees.

In Napa Valley, Brown Estate Vineyards is one of a kind: the only black-owned business that grows, produces, and bottles wine on one contiguous property that they own. Brown is not sure why more African Americans are not involved in the winery business but believes cost is a factor. “ ‘I’m

wide. According to Napa Valley Vintners, a trade association, 95% of the valley’s 475 wineries are family owned.

The learning curve is steep, too.

“The lessons learned in one vintage do very little to prepare you for the challenges you will face in the next,” said David Brown, whose title is winegrower, in a Q&A on the winery’s website. “As with so many things in life, success comes from being able to accurately predict what is coming next, which is something I am still trying to figure out how to do.”

Deneen Brown admits her family has been lucky. “Our entrance into this space was in many ways accidental and largely on our parents’ shoulders,” she said.

But she said hard work and determination have carried the business through.

They have courted customers through wine tastings and special events, and the winery is especially active on social media.

“We are focused on doing our thing with integrity and humility,” she said.

“Our learning curve as far as growing and evolving the business has been 25 years and counting. … It’s a very long game.”

Dan Holly is a writer for “Zenger News” where this story first appeared. It has been republished with permission.

going to start a winery,’ is more than a notion,” she said.

According to a University of California study, the cost of establishing a vineyard in Napa Valley, where Brown Estates is located, is more than $37,000 per acre for the first three years.

Experts say it will be at least that long before the winery begins to make a profit. So even a small 10-acre vineyard would need an investment of more than $1 million to get started.

The valley itself is small, just 30 miles long and five miles ONYX MAGAZINE 39

FAMILY

Don’t Let COVID-19 Affect Your Credit Score Since March, the COVID-19 pandemic has turned millions of Americans’ financial situations upside down.

T

he economy is showing signs of recovery, but with many Americans still unemployed and having to dip into their savings to cover basic living costs, the question remains: How do you protect your credit score? Read on for some answers.

Call Your Lender Contact your lender ASAP if you can’t make a payment. On-time payments are the largest factor affecting your credit score.

Many lenders have agreed to emergency support such as deferral or forbearance options that may allow you to reduce or suspend payments for a fixed period. If those terms are set to expire soon, you should “call your lender to discuss what options are available,” said Rod Griffin, senior director of consumer education and advocacy for the credit reporting agency Experian.

Boost Your Score Find ways to boost your credit score.

Building credit can be challenging, especially if you have limited credit history.

Many free tools can help raise your FICO score instantly by giving you credit for on-time utility, phone and streaming service payments. This type of alternative financial data, known as “consumerpermissioned data,” allows you to manage your data with confidence and qualify for better credit. In fact, two out of three users of this tool see an increase in their credit score with an average increase of about 12 points. That’s enough to make a significant difference when applying for a loan or any type of credit.

Check Credit Card Offers Consider getting a balance transfer credit card or one with an introductory offer.

Handled responsibly, this actually has the potential to increase your credit score while either buying you time to pay off your debts or getting a “welcome bonus” of perhaps hundreds of dollars. If you’re looking for personalized credit card options, some tools can help you get the right card based on your financial profile.

Know Your Ratio Pay attention to your utilization ratio. Your credit score is based on your total balanceto-limit ratio (a.k.a. “utilization rate”).

Adding a new credit card increases your total available credit. As long as your total credit balance remains the same, you’d be decreasing your utilization rate, which can potentially boost your credit score. Be sure to transfer balances to the card with lower interest and be mindful of temporary low interest rates.

While any balance can cause scores to decline, you should keep your utilization under 30 percent, both overall and on indi-

vidual accounts. Shooting for a top credit score? “Keep your utilization in the single digits, or even better, pay your credit card balances in full each month,” said Griffin.

Fight Fraud Fight fraudsters by checking your credit report regularly. There’s been a huge jump in attempted credit- and debit-card fraud since the pandemic hit; consumers have lost more than $100 million to COVID19-related fraud, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

You can receive free weekly credit reports from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion through April 2021 by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com. Credit companies also offer free credit monitoring services that include real-time alerts, credit score tracking, and an updated report every 30 days.

NewsUSA ONYX MAGAZINE 41

MEDICALLY SPEAKING

Know the Signs of Prostate Cancer

A

lthough about one in seven men will be eventually be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime, the warning signs of the disease are often vague and may be confused with other conditions, experts say. September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month and an ideal time to revisit what you need to know about the disease.

Prostate cancer can be serious but it is often not fatal. Men should talk to their doctor about the risks and benefits of getting screened for the disease, advised Dr. Alexander Kutikov, an oncologist at one of America’s top cancer centers.

“Considering how often prostate cancer occurs in men, every man should familiarize himself with its signs and risk factors,” Kutikov said in a news release. “Ultimately, the decision to get screened needs to be weighed in terms of the advantages and disadvantages of screening. Men should familiarize themselves with the trade-offs of prostate cancer screening and discuss both their risk factors and personal preferences with a provider whom they trust,” he said.

Prostate cancer symptoms may be confused with signs of other common but noncancerous disorders, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, Kutikov said.

Symptoms of prostate cancer may include: • Trouble starting to urinate • Weak or interrupted flow of urine • Urinating more often, particularly during the night • Trouble emptying the bladder • Pain or burning during urination • Bloody urine or semen • Chronic pain in the back, hips or pelvis • Painful ejaculation or sudden erectile dysfunction Some men are at greater risk for prostate cancer. Those who are older are more likely to be diagnosed with the disease.

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Prostate cancer is rare in men younger than 40 years old, but once they reach 50, the risk increases. Nearly six out of 10 men with prostate cancer are older than 65, experts say.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), showed that Black men are more likely than men of other races and ethnicities to be diagnosed with prostate cancer and die from the disease. Black men are also more likely to develop advanced disease and have the condition at a younger age, Kutikov said.

Genetics may also play a role in why some men develop prostate cancer, Kutikov added. Men whose father or brother have the disease are more than twice as likely to also be diagnosed, he said.

The risk increases if several family members are affected and if these men were diagnosed at a younger age. Men who are 55 and older should discuss their risk factors for prostate cancer with their doctor and determine if screening is right for them.

American Cancer Society Prostate Cancer Screening Guidelines • Age 50 for men who are at average risk of prostate cancer and are expected to live at least 10 more years.

• Age 45 for men at high risk of developing prostate cancer. This includes African Americans and men who have a first-degree relative (father or brother) diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early age (younger than age 65).

• Age 40 for men at even higher risk (those with more than one first-degree relative who had prostate cancer at an early age).

MEDICALLY SPEAKING

Earlier Breast Cancer Screening May Save Lives

By Jamie DePolo

S

tarting screening mammograms at age 40 instead of age 50 saves women’s lives, according to a British study. The research was published online on Aug. 12, 2020, by “The Lancet Oncology.” The researchers did this study to provide more information on the benefits of screening mammograms for women age 40 to 48 to help clear up the confusion about when screening mammograms should start.

A number of large studies, including a review by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force in 2009 and a study on the causes of death in the United Kingdom in 2013, have questioned the value of screening mammograms and ignited debate over when screening mammograms should start.

Public health experts who question the value of screening mammograms say that while mammograms do save lives, for each breast cancer death prevented, three to four women are overdiagnosed, meaning a screening mammogram finds a suspicious area that would have been eventually diagnosed as cancer by other means, without any effect on prognosi; or a screening mammogram finds a suspicious area that never would have affected a woman’s health if it hadn’t been found or treated.

False-positive results from screening mammograms also have helped fuel the debate about the value of breast cancer screening and when it should start. When a mammogram shows an abnormal area that looks like a cancer but turns out to

be normal, it’s called a false positive. Ultimately the news is good: no breast cancer.

But the suspicious area usually requires follow-up with more than one doctor, extra tests, and extra procedures, including a possible biopsy. There are psychological, physical, and economic costs that come with a false positive.

The studies led a number of organizations to revise their breast cancer screening recommendations for women at average risk of breast cancer. The recommendations are all slightly different.

Here are the current recommendations as of August 2020: The American Society of Breast Surgeons says:

• All women age 25 and older should have a formal risk assessment for breast cancer.

• Women with an average risk of breast cancer should start annual screening mammograms at age 40.

• Women with a higher-than-average risk of breast cancer should start annual screening mammograms at an earlier age and should be offered additional imaging each year.

The American Cancer Society says:

• Women age 40 to 44 should have the choice to start annual breast cancer screening with mammograms if they wish to do so.

• Women age 45 to 54 should get mam-

mograms every year.

• Women age 55 and older should switch to mammograms every 2 years, or can continue yearly screening.

• Screening should continue as long as a woman is in good health and is expected to live 10 more years or longer.

• All women should be familiar with the known benefits, limitations, and potential harms linked to breast cancer screening.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force says:

• Women age 50 to 74 years should have screening mammograms every 2 years.

• The decision to start screening mammography in women younger than age 50 should be an individual one. Women who place a higher value on the potential benefit than the potential harms may choose to begin screening every other year between the ages of 40 and 49 years.

Breastcancer.org says:

• All women should have a screening mammogram every year, starting at age 40, and continue as long as they are in good health and would want the breast cancer to be treated.

• All women also should have a physical exam of the breasts by a doctor every year and do a breast self-exam every month.

Jamie DePolo is a senior editor at breastcancer.org.

ONYX MAGAZINE 43

OPINION

The

COLOR of Credibility

Do the falsehoods of one race override the truth of another?

By Rumaasha Maasha

44 ONYX MAGAZINE

The killings of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and countless others are each small manifestations of this ugly American truth that add up to a formidable mountain when taken together with past history. justice system, our society and so on. The credibility bar for a person of color to successfully make a case for the truth is ridiculously high whereas the credibility bar for a White person telling a lie in opposition is absurdly low. The end result is a warped reality that permeates our workspaces, our communities and our leadership, leading many of our citizenry individually and our nation collectively to make fateful decisions that substantially impede our success

and hobble our future as a nation.

The killings of Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and countless others are each small manifestations of this ugly American truth that add up to a formidable mountain when taken together with past history. It took three White men less than 15 minutes after seeing a Black man jogging to become jury, judges and executioners. It took, however, three months with video evidence on hand for

PHOTO BY ORAH L. REED

A

s Black Lives Matter protests continue across the country, what remains obvious is that there are still far too many Americans who do not fully appreciate how consequential and enduring a threat racism is to this nation.

More so than Russia, China, COVID-19, or any threat we currently spend billions to mitigate, racism is an existential threat because it attacks, corrodes and weakens basic objective truth critical to the function of a peaceful and equitable society. In the minds of far too many Americans, falsehoods from a White person “by default� trump the honest truths and reality of/ from a person of color.

I am, of course, speaking in generalities, but the overall pattern is prominent in our history and observable present-day in our

A mural of Ahmaud Arbery, who was killed by gunmen while taking a jog in Brunswick, Ga., is painted outside the upcoming Brunswick African American Cultural Center on Albany Ave.

the murderers to be taken into custody.

Just imagine what the outcome would have been without the video. Several investigators and district attorneys saw the video of the murder while the family of Ahmaud Arbery clamored for justice for months, yet it took most of America seeing the video to finally get justice moving. It is not yet accomplished. It was no less than the president of the United States who, after seeing the horrific video, suggested, “You know, it could be something that we didn’t see on tape,” in essence, attempting to still somehow justify the shooting.

It took a roughly eight minutes for Officer Derek Chauvin to choke the life out of George Floyd over a counterfeit $20 bill, yet even with video evidence, it took the better part of a week to “build the case”

to simply arrest Chauvin for murder. It was comfort in this ugly American truth that led Amy Cooper to call the police on bird-watching Christian Cooper in New York’s Central Park, even though she was the one breaking the law. Why? Because the Carolyn Bryants of our history and countless others like her never suffered any repercussions for falsely accusing Black people. She is alive today, 65 years later, whereas Emmett Till’s brutalized remains sit in a cold grave. Her lie was deemed far more credible than Emmett Till’s truth.

I think of that line in the Gospel of John 20:29: “Jesus said to him (Thomas), “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Indeed, blessed are those who do not require a video to be convinced of unjust killings and brutality.

Exploitation of this credibility gap is how businessmen have made billions off the backs of migrants of color all the while these same migrants doing back-breaking labor for a pittance are vilified. Their stories of exploitation are routinely ignored for the lie of “they’re taking American jobs.” Of course, certain American employers deliberately hire migrants at lower wages to make greater profits, American job loss being a consequence of this.

And we Black folk know this all too well because before it was the Central American immigrant, it was US doing those jobs slaughtering chickens, working the fields, cleaning buildings and doing manual labor for a pittance. We were accused of taking good-paying jobs from Whites when we sought to do more than menial labor. The solution is not draconian policies to keep out Brown people, it should be harsh penalties for those who exploit them.

This ugly American truth is also part and parcel of our political system. While this issue merits a much longer discussion, the following can be stated: We know that many Americans feel far more comfortable chalking up the increased social divide in our country to differences in politics (socialism!) rather than racism because rac-

ism is a much harder topic to talk about honestly. However, what gets missed is that our adversaries are very observant; they also see this weakness and a few have even made successful attempts at exploiting it.

Our adversaries realize that America today will tolerate a thousand lies from a White political leader than one difficult truth from a Black one; that many are willing to be believe that Russia did not illegally interfere in our elections but a Black president’s administration did (deep state!); that many will howl about Black welfare recipients and Mexican immigrants bankrupting their country while completely ignoring the wealthy elite banking billions off their ignorance. And exploiting this weakness is the easiest and cheapest way to weaken America compared to any investment in weaponry.

My wise momma would say, “The reason the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was killed wasn’t because he was fighting for equal rights for Black people. He was killed because he was getting poor Blacks and poor Whites to unite together to fight for equal rights.” In the context of this discussion, Dr. King was a threat because he sought, using arguments of faith and reason, to lower that ridiculous credibility standard for Black folks to the point that regular White folks would believe Black folks’ truths, the truths about the struggles and injustices they face, the truths about their desire to live peacefully, and not automatically accept the cheap lies of White segregationists.

We have done much to lower that bar over the decades and while there is still a way to go, thankfully more Americans are now engaged than ever before. We must continue to speak out, share, be willing to listen, be willing to walk in another’s shoes and hear their truths, and be vocal advocates for lasting and effective change.

That last part is important as silence means acquiescence to the status quo; we can no longer be quiet bystanders. People of color might bear the brunt of racism; however, racism ultimately ensnares and hobbles us all as a nation.

ONYX MAGAZINE 45

FOOD AND WINE

BACKYARD GRILLIN’ Whether or not you can tailgate this year shouldn’t stop you from starting a fire and throwing some tasty morsels on the grill. As the weather cools down and we gather with our family and friends—safely—here are two grilling favorites that will keep them coming back for seconds and thirds.

Not So Fancy Burgers Ingredients • 2 pounds ground beef • 1 egg, beaten • ¾ cup dry breadcrumbs • 3 tablespoons evaporated milk • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce • ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper • 2 cloves garlic, minced Directions Step 1 – Preheat grill for high heat.

Step 2 – In a large bowl, mix the ground beef, egg, breadcrumbs, evaporated milk, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne pepper, and garlic using your hands. Form the mixture into 8 hamburger patties.

Step 3 – Lightly oil the grill grate. Grill patties 5 minutes per side, or until well done.

46 ONYX MAGAZINE

Kickin’ Grilled Corn Ingredients: • ½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves • 3 cloves garlic, pressed • Zest of 1 lime • ¼ teaspoon chili powder • ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste • 8 ears corn • 1 tablespoon canola oil • 1 lime, cut into wedges Directions 1. In a medium bowl, combine butter, cilantro, garlic, lime zest, chili powder and paprika; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Set aside.

2. Preheat grill to medium heat. Peel back outer husks, leaving them attached at the base of the ear; do not remove inner husks. Remove and discard silks; rinse corn and pat dry using paper towels.

3. Brush corn with canola oil; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add corn to grill; cover and cook, turning occasionally, until husks are slightly charred and corn is tender, about 12-15 minutes.* 4. Peel down husks and spread with butter mixture.

5. Serve immediately with lime wedges.

You Leave Home For Us. We’ll Stay Home for You. ONYX Magazine honors the front line and essential workers across Florida. Your commitment and dedication makes us stronger. We salute you for being the engine that keeps our communities moving forward. Thank you.

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