ONYX Magazine_September_October_2023

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

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

Orthopedic Leaders.

Introducing Florida’s first dedicated orthopedic hospital.

VOLUME 26 ISSUE 5 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023

BLACK MEN:

TAP INTO YOUR WARRIOR SPIRIT

VOLUME 26 ISSUE 5 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2023

BLACK MEN: TAP INTO YOUR WARRIOR SPIRIT Dr. Richardson

GLOBAL LEADERSHIP BAHAMIAN PRIME MINISTER PHILIP “BRAVE” DAVIS TAKES THE WORLD’S STAGE

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Prime Minister Davis

MEN OF HONOR choose well.

ONYX RECOGNIZES THE TALLEST TREES IN THE FOREST

EXPLORING THE DYNAMIC OF POWER VS. CONTROL

CALLED TO SERVE MAN OF THE YEAR DR. W. FRANKLYN RICHARDSON LEANS ON FAITH TO LEAD

POWER VS. CONTROL: EXPLORING THE DYNAMIC

BEST 10 WAYS TO PREPARE FOR RETIREMENT

MEN OF HONOR $7.99 onyxmagazine.com

ONYX RECOGNIZES THE TALLEST TREES IN THE FOREST

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FOR HIM

B E C A U S E Being a leader is not without its challenges. It often requires that you beat impossible odds, stand alone, face adversity head-on, make unpopular decisions, and be strong when others are not. ONYX Magazine recognizes the fastidious care each stalwart takes in his quest to improve the world around him. That is why we celebrate Black men who are relentless and successful in their efforts to do so. The fourth annual ONYX Magazine’s Men of Honor presents “The Tallest Trees in the Forest,” Black men who excel in their professions and community work and inspire others to follow their lead. Encouraged by a quote from Dr. Mary McLeod-Bethune, “The Tallest Trees” stands for strength, resilience, and humble power. ONYX Magazine, along with Founding Partner Orlando Health and Presenting Sponsor McCoy Federal Credit Union, introduces 27 "tall trees" who exceed this notion. Join us as we celebrate them in an event that will motivate you to do more and incline you to stand tall.

H E

M A T T E R S .

Discover must-haves for your daily grooming regimen. Meticulous natural-based ingredients combine with stylish fragrances to create daily luxe experiences to give you healthy, moisturized skin.

HONOR Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings HONORARY CO-CHAIR Alvin Cowans

From body lotions to shower gels, and body oils to face products; you deserve amazing skin.

PUBLISHER Rich Black MEN OF HONOR CHAIR Deidre “Dee” Parker MEN OF HONOR COCO-CHAIR CHAIR Nancy Port Schwalb

Founding Partner

Presenting Sponsor

Souvenir Book Sponsor

Entertainment Sponsor

Global Impact Leader of the Year Sponsor

Radio Sponsor

Medallion Sponsor

Event Reception Sponsors

Event Sponsors Patty E Mason MST EA Mason Accounting & Consulting

Honoree Soiree Sponsor

Billboard Sponsor

Jones & Rose

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10 COVER STORY

BRAVE

Prime Minister Davis Fearlessless Stands Up for The Bahamas

CONTENTS 6

From the Publisher

37 ONYX Reads – Books from

7

Elevate - Tap Into Your

Acclaimed Black Male

Warrior Spirit

38 MOH - Maxwell Frost

Minister Philip Davis

39 MOH - Howard Gentry

12 Called to Serve: Rev. Dr.

40 MOH - Calvin Gibson

Franklyn Richardson 14 Travel Roots: Traveling to Connect with Earth and Ancestors

4 ONYX MAGAZINE

Through Space and Rhyme 47 MOH - Johnny Magic Hill 48 MOH - Mac Jean

Black businesses make up

49 MOH - Curtis Johnson

small share of U.S. firms

51 Real Estate - Easy DIY

to Give Back

Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson Leans on Faith to Lead

44 Music & Entertainment 46 MOH - Larry Handfield

22 MOH - Harris Rosen

CALLED TO SERVE:

43 ONYX on the Move

After Prostate Cancer

21 SAGE - Ways for Seniors

COVER STORY

41 MOH - Kenneth Goodwin

16 Medically Speaking – Life 18 Business - Room to Grow:

12

Authors

10 Brave: Bahamian Prime

Projects 52 Health & Wellness - Health & Wellness Stories

23 MOH - Nero Ughwujabo

54 MOH - Phillip Laws

24 MOH - Terry Prather

55 MOH - Reginald McGill

25 MOH - Tory Dandy

56 MOH - Michael Meares

26 Perspective – Power v.

57 MOH - Tyrone Nabbie

Control 28 Walt Disney World Disney

58 Wealth/Finance – 10 Ways to Retire

Dreamers Academy

62 MOH Jeffrey Newton

30 MOH - Derryl O. Benton

63 MOH Melvin Philpot

31 MOH - James A. Bradford, Jr.

64 MOH Elroy Smith

32 MOH - Jonas Cayo

65 MOH Gerald Sombright

33 MOH - Cleveland Ferguson

66 ONYX Foundation Scholars

34 Florida Scope/Beyond –

68 Salute Mayor Jaylen Smith

Stories from Around the State/Nation 35 The Quad – Stories from College Campuses

69 ONYX Profile – Steven Johnson 70 Wine & Food – The Old Fashioned

ONE NATION, UNITED & INDEPENDENT

As The Bahamas marks 50 years of independence, we rejoice in what makes us uniquely and undeniably Bahamian. Forward, Upward, Onward, and Together, we invite you to share in the celebration of our Golden Anniversary.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

E LE VAT E PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Rich Black

TAP INTO

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Janet Pal

YOUR WARRIOR SPIRIT

VICE PRESIDENT Deidre “Dee” Parker MANAGING EDITOR D. Shenell Reed, M.B.A.

RICH BLACK

ASSOCIATE EDITORS Gayle Andrews Penny Dickerson Sharon Fletcher Jones Nancy Port Schwalb

Dear Family, Welcome to this edition of ONYX Magazine. For 26 years, your unwavering and continued support has sustained our ability to advance Black excellence and remain a trusted community voice.

With heightened enthusiasm, on Sept. 9, we will produce the fourth celebration of ONYX Magazine’s Men of Honor, a black-tie event and prestigious occasion that bestows worthy recognition to Black men in Florida (and beyond) whose significant contributions and leadership are the hallmark of so many communities throughout the peninsula being great. They represent 27 visionaries, stalwarts, pacesetters, and trailblazers who have been nominated, vetted and ultimately selected as the finest among their peers.

This year, we introduce a new award: The Global Impact Leader of the Year! This presitious recognition will go to Prime Minister Philip E. “Brave” Davis of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. He has taken the world’s stage by fearlessly leading his country during COVID-19, making Bahamian people stronger and more acutely aware of health precautions. He also is out-front on critical issues like climate control and carbon credits and has been a leader among the world’s leaders on the topics. As a descendant of The Bahamas, I am particularly humbled that we are presenting him with such an award.

Also, we recognize W. Franklyn Richardson, D.Min., the senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Mount Vernon, N.Y., and a trustee of the National Convention of Black Churches. This organization represents millions of Christians around the nation and the Rev. Dr. Richardson is a solid voice that moves the masses toward success. We congratulate them both. Finally, I would be remiss if I did not recognize that Orange County, Fla., Mayor Jerry L. Demings, the 2021 Man of the Year, is this year’s honorary event chair leading this effort; and Alvin Cowans, the president of McCoy Federal Credit Union, and among the 2022 Men of Honor, is the honorary co-chair. We thank them for their leadership.

BY KEVIN MWATA WASHINGTON, PH.D.

The Conscious Warrior is Powerful.

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Jon Burton Damonic Robertson BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Matt deJager CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Penny Dickerson Rebecca Leppert Tyrone Olander Jasmine Osby Kevin Washington, Ph.D. Roy Whitaker Special thanks to the Honorees

Dick Batchelor Bob Berryhill Dr. Lavon Bracy Bryon Brooks Sherri Brown Marva Brown Johnson Hon. Mable Butler Yolanda Cash Jackson

Dr. Cynthia Chestnut John Crossman Quibulah Graham Gary Hartfield Barbara Hartley Ann Jenkins Eugene Jones

Connie Kinnard Larry Lee, Jr. Brenda March Gail Thomas-DeWitt Hon. Alan Williams Carla Williams Dr. Samuel Wright

FOUNDERS W/PHOTOS Lester and Lillian Seays FOUNDERS

Sincerely, Lester and Lillian Seays

6 ONYX MAGAZINE

The Conscious Warrior is Profound.

Others listen to a conscious man’s words of deep insight and insightful understanding as he allows himself to be a vessel for the Divine to pour out greatness.

Affirmation: I am profound in my thoughts, words and actions.

ONYX ADVISORY COMMITTEE Nancy Port Schwalb, Chair Deidre Parker, Immediate Past Chair

You are our champions, and as always, we thank you in advance for embracing each article in the pages that follow as they have been uniquely designed to entertain, inspire, and inform.

Rich Black

When a man is conscious, he knows that he is full of power to be an agent of positive growth and change within himself and his community. This power to do or to make accomplishments comes from the Divine. For the conscious man, there is nothing more ungodly than apathy, helplessness and inactivity. The Conscious Warrior lives life with boldness, passion and power. Affirmation: I am plugged into the Source of All Power and I can only do powerful things

MAGAZINE DESIGN TEAM Design2Pro

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 2022 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.

The Conscious Warrior is Righteous.

T

here is a real attack on the powerful warrior spirit in Black men. This spirit has found ways to survive and thrive when the odds are not in his favor. The warrior spirit continually seeks to extend, defend and protect the Black community. The warrior spirit in Black men creates a fortress around that over which he has been given dominion. The hedge of protection allow all within the barriers the opportunity to manifest its unique purpose and therefore serve its divine function. As it carries out its function, the warrior spirit has supported the Afrikan genius with building pyramids, creating mathematics and science, developing calendars and clocks, charting the stars, creating the farmer’s almanac, created oral and written

We must heal the Warrior Spirit by acknowledging what it is.

One who is aware of their divinity is righteous in all that they do because they understand the law of reaping and sowing. The Conscious Warrior plants the best seed, so that he may yield the best harvest.

Affirmation: I speak truth; I act justly; I give as I have been given; I interact with others in a proper manner: I seek agreement within myself and others; I respect the relationship of all things within the universe; I strive to promote the relationship of all things within the universe.

The Conscious Warrior Exhibits Peacefulness.

A Conscious Warrior Knows He is on Earth to be Productive.

language, as well as setting the stage for human moral conduct or all of the world’s religions. The Afrikan/Black Warrior is awesome and it will not be denied.

When you examine the creation and community development, you find that during times of peace “Blacknificence” is advanced.

Affirmation: I am a peaceful warrior (Kamau) championing the case of peace for me and my people.

Productivity captures the essence of a conscious man. He knows that all there is to his life is to do in accordance with power and capacity that he has been given.

Affirmation: I produce as I have been given the Power to produce from that which created me.

ONYX MAGAZINE 7

The Conscious Warrior is Compassionate.

A Conscious Warrior is Truthful.

Being truthful is one aspect of a conscious man that makes him illuminate. In the midst of lies, deception and half-truths, the conscious man radiates the truth of God. The truth is not always comfortable, however, the redeeming factor of truth is liberating. It has been written that you shall know the truth and the truth will make you free.

Affirmation: I am liberated from the weight of lies for words spoken in falsehood are a great burden to the soul.

A Conscious Warrior is Kind, A conscious man manifests kindness. He knows that through kindness people change.

According to the Kemetic Book of Amenomope – Let us steer a righteous course so that we may carry the wicked across without becoming like them. Raise them up, give them your hand and then, leave them in the hands of God. Fill them with the food of your kindness that they might be satisfied and repent.

Affirmation: I will provide random acts of kindness at all times. I will open the doors of opportunities for others as well as listen to and embrace my sistas and brothas. I will be gentle with speech by providing for others. I will be responsible as I demonstrate ubuntu, kindness and respect to others.

The Conscious Warrior is Patient.

Although he operates as an agent of change, a conscious man knows that God’s greatness unfolds over time. Just as a human infant gestates in the womb for approximately nine months, a man’s vision requires time to reach maturation.

8 ONYX MAGAZINE

Affirmation: I am patient with myself as I grow to become more aligned with my divine purpose. I am patient with others as they grow and adjust to my growth.

The Conscious Warrior is a Purveyor of Knowledge.

The ancients of Kemet (Egypt) held that the basis of all knowledge is self-knowledge. This dictum suggests that man is a microcosm and the universe is a macrocosm. If man wants to understand himself better, he needs to study the universe, and if he wants to understand the universe better, he needs to study himself. The conscious man is conscious because he is constantly engages in the process enhancing his knowledge base through observation of, reading about and interacting with the universe.

Affirmation: I am reservoir of knowledge.

Infinite knowledge flows through me and from me.

The Conscious Warrior is a Provider.

The God of the universe provides all that we need in timely manner. This attribute of is obvious in a conscious man. He can be seen making provisions for himself, family and community.

He possesses the willing spirit to quench the thirst of the thirsty, provide food for the hungry, to be a friend to the friendless, a father to the fatherless and support to the widow (alienated).

Affirmation: I have been provided with all that I need to succeed and there is no excuse for me not to produce. As God has provided me with all, I am able to provide others with godliness.

To have compassion is to have genuine concern for others. The conscious man is full of tenderness and concern for others. A man of compassion knows that the hurt of others is tied to his hurt, and his joy is connected to the joy of others. Among the Zulus it is called Ubuntu, which means your humanness is tied to my humanness and that we can only by human together. The Conscious Warrior lives Ubuntu Affirmation: As God has shown compassion to me, I am able to be a vessel of compassion others.

The Conscious Warrior is Forgiving.

To forgive is to cease feeling resentment against those who may have committed a wrongful act. This includes one forgiving oneself.

A conscious man knows how to forgive self and others for their erroneous behavior. To forgive does not mean forget, however, it does mean to not harbor negative feelings about oneself or for someone who committed a wrong due to their ignorance of truth.

Affirmation: I forgive others and myself with a peace of mind that the best decisions were made under the conditions at hand.

The Conscious Warrior is Humble.

The conscious man functions with a great deal of humility. Because his existence is based on divine laws of the universe, the conscious man is humble. He is clear about the fact that the process of his conception, the union of sperm and egg, was divinely inspired by the Creator. For that, he is humble.

Affirmation: I humble myself to a power greater than myself.

Kevin Washington, Ph.D., is a professor of psychology and head of the Psychology Department at Grambling University in Baton Rouge, La.

COVER STORY

Prime Minister Davis flanked by children at an event. Davis focuses on the future of The Bahamas.

Photo courtesy of the Office of the Prime Minister.

BRAVE PRIME MINISTER PHILIP DAVIS

FEARLESSLY STEPS UP FOR THE COMMONWEALTH OF THE BAHAMAS BIOGRAPHY INTERPRETED BY TYRONE OLANDER

P

hilip Edward "Brave" Davis, KC, MP, the fifth Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, has garnered worldwide attention. Prime Minister Davis, also known as “Brave,” lays an uncanny resemblance to the mystical warrior Braveheart for his bravery in leading his people against the establishment. In the country’s 50th anniversary as an independent

nation, leaders across the globe are taking notice.

His success has led him to be named ONYX Magazine’s Global Impact Leader of the Year.

Since taking office as prime minister, Davis quickly took the reins in leading his country out of a serious crisis. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, he lifted the curfew, ended the travel visa, ended the emergency orders, implemented

free COVID testing, expunged records for minor breaches of the emergency orders, and safely reopened both the economy and schools—all while stabilizing the nation’s finances, and raised the minimum wage.

But Davis then took on the world. In his first address to the United Nations General Assembly, he seized the opportunity to lay the wounds of his country on the table and boldly stated how best the world can help make a change. He told the world, "We're victims of your mistakes!”

He addressed global warming headfirst, and the battle against climate change was next on his mind. He immediately put the world on notice that The Bahamas was not going to be anybody's doormat. Davis took on a crusade to make the world accountable especially those countries that are the major producers of emissions.

"I’m telling you to get smart and act quickly to address the systemic risk of climate change," said Davis. "Multilateral banks must play a crucial role in scaling up financing options that will provide real solutions. I’m not here to tell the private sector to give up caring about profits," he continued.

Davis took on rock star status when he challenged developing countries on climate change.

Some believe that many silently screamed, ‘How dare he address us?’ But Davis was undaunted and continued his quest, now bringing carbon credits to the forefront and exposing the incredible finances involved. Since then, the cry has been heard by other world leaders, and many of them join PM Davis and his charge to bring awareness.

To put it bluntly, Davis has changed the world.

With the crisis of climate change and the exposure of carbon credits now in the forefront, many have credited Davis with bringing this global awareness.

He is now being considered one of the world's leaders despite coming from this small commonwealth country in the Caribbean.

In the Bahamas, Prime Minister Davis has impacted the entire country. His government has started an affordable housing program and a catastrophic healthcare fund, launched the nation’s Youth Guard, invested in their athletes and sports, signed 19 labor agreements, undertook promotions regularizations throughout the public service, and grew the tourism industry with record-breaking tourist arrivals never before seen.

His party's “Blueprint for Change” continues to provide the foundation for their

Prime Minister Davis and his wife, Anne-Marie Davis. (photo coutesy of Philip E. Davis).

progress, as they create jobs and ownership opportunities for Bahamians while investing in food security and in the Family Islands, advancing infrastructure and renewable energy, and strengthening the borders against smuggling and illegal migration.

The country is moving in the right direction.

There is still so much more work to do, and in the new session of parliament, to begin on October 4, they will prioritize legislation and policies that address the high cost of living while lifting the people up and strengthening the economic and national security.

But just who is this Philip Edward Davis, the fifth prime minister of The Bahamas, also known as Brave? Well, he was born on Cat Island in the Bahamas. He was the first child of eight born to his parents, Brave Edward Davis, a firefighter from Old Bight settlement in Cat Island, and Dorothy Smith Davis, a housekeeper from Alexander, Great Exuma, another island in The Bahamas.

Davis began his education at Old Bight All Age School for children on that island. When his parents moved to the capital, Nassau, and the island of New Providence, he began high school at St. John's College, an Anglican High School. He was an active student and excelled in baseball, softball, and swimming. He went on to study to be a lawyer, and after his success, he was called to the Bahamas Bar and became a partner in the now-famous law firm of Christie and Ingraham, who incidentally became the second and third prime ministers of the Bahamas.

Davis is married to Trinidadian-born Anne-Marie Davis, who is a licensed chartered accountant.

They have six children: Philice Davis, Phillipa Davis, Philip Davis, Jr., Philmore Davis, Christopher Davis, and Christian Davis.

In 2002, Davis was elected a member of the Bahamian parliament for the constituency of the islands Cat Island, Rum Cay and San Salvador. He made his impact during those years, and after a stint of being out of the parliament, he again won his seat and was a winner ever since. From 2012 to 2017, he held the position of deputy prime minister and also minister of Works and Urban Development in the Progressive Liberal Party-led government. From 2017 to 2021, he served as Leader of the Opposition, and then finally, in 2021, his party won the government, and he became prime minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

Soon after he was sworn in as prime minister, he led a delegation to the United Nations General Assembly, and there he made that life-changing speech where he put the world on notice that the Bahamas is here and will no longer be treated as anyone's doormat. His stance and that of his address at the UN's Climate Change Summit elevated him to rock star status and is now in demand worldwide.

ONYX Magazine says they are honored to name Prime Minister Philip Davis as the inaugural Global Impact Leader of the Year. Congratulations again Prime Minister Philip Davis!

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and Prime Minister Davis (photo courtesy of Philip E. Davis)

10 ONYX MAGAZINE

ONYX MAGAZINE 11

COVER STORY

T

A CALL TO SERVE ONYX MAGAZINE’S MAN OF THE YEAR, REV. DR. W. FRANKLYN RICHARDSON, LEANS ON FAITH TO OPEN DOORS AND EVOLVE

BY PENNY DICKERSON

12 ONYX MAGAZINE

he 2023 ONYX Magazine's Man of the Year hails from Philadelphia—one of America’s most historic, vibrant and progressive cities. It was June 14, 1949, when W. Franklyn Richardson was born in what’s now known as a thriving suburb called “West Philly.”

The influence of Richardson’s birthplace and cultural roots ignited his rise to later become chairman of multiple organizations and institutions, a magnanimous theologian, and a senior pastor globally known as the Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson.

The ascension of Richardson’s rich legacy wasn’t a quantum leap but rather a divine odyssey of entering the world before the civil rights era. He was born in the right place at a wellpaced time.

The City of Brotherly Love was home to the country’s first zoo, first hospital and first medical school. In 1949, the city morale was at a celebratory high after the Philadelphia Eagles won their second consecutive NFL franchise championship against the Los Angeles Rams.

Black Americans also saw Philadelphia as a new landscape for a big win. The city was a terminus for migrants arriving from southern states along the Atlantic seaboard. It was an attractive location for many who sought opportunities for better jobs and the right to live more freely.

The latter mindset served as bookends for Richardson, who set a plan in motion to achieve a stellar academic pedigree that includes a bachelor’s degree from Virginia Union University (VUU) in 1972; a master’s degree from Yale Divinity School; and a Doctor of Ministry degree from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, as a Wyatt Tee Walker Fellow.

than 10,000 people annually. Over 3,000 individuals in the city of Mount Vernon benefit from the 800 units of affordable housing that Grace has constructed through its community development corporation.

At the young age of 74, Richardson is more than just a momentous pulpit presence; he is a community stalwart who lives a rather traditional life fulfilled by a wife, Inez, three children, and five grandchildren. He cites good fried chicken as a food fave and is a self-proclaimed late-night ice cream fanatic. Reading a good book soothes his soul, and repeated vacations to France top his destination list. One thing Richardson would love to do that most people would never imagine is captain a boat.

“I’m highly honored to be selected as the ONYX Man of the Year,” Richardson told ONYX Magazine. “I’m even more proud that there is a Black magazine reserving and perpetuating the preservation of our people. I’m grateful to be in the moment and to take this honor as fuel to go foward."

Meditating on the path ahead is a mainstay for Richardson, who says he begins each day with a reflection and prayer. He then starts on his day building from the day before and being directed by commitments to justice, fairness, and righteousness.

“I was at a young age when my faith journey began, and I embraced it and allowed it to open doors to take on new experiences,” Richardson said. “Now, I have a 70-year tapestry of serving God. My faith is not stagnant, and that has been the source of my future. My faith walk has allowed me to both open doors and evolve.”

THE MAN BEHIND THE MISSION

In 1972, Richardson earned his bachelor’s degree from VUU, and in 2011, he was elected the university’s chairperson of the board of chair trustees.

The years between personify how Richardson exudes the fortitude to defy the odds and sees no obstacle as a barrier to success.

“When I entered VUU, I was placed in remedial courses because I couldn’t read,” Richardson said.

“I was admitted under a conditional matriculation in 1967, and now, 45 years later, a kid who couldn’t read became chair of the board and signed every degree for every person receiving a degree from a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or a doctorate degree.”

Virginia Union University is an HBCU (Historically Black College & University) founded in 1865 by the American Baptist Home Mission Society to give

Richardson currently resides in Scarsdale, N.Y., and for 48 years has served as an activist, religious and civil rights leader. He is senior pastor over the historic Grace Baptist Church in Mount Vernon, N.Y., and has led the growth of the congregation to a weekly attendance of more than 4,000 people in three locations.

Under Richardson’s leadership, Grace has built a ministry that focuses on six primary community-focused pillars: 1. Children and youth development; 2. Educational enrichment; 3. Health awareness and prevention; 4. Housing and community development; 5. Music, arts, and culture; 6. Workforce development.

These six pillars comprise more than 80 ministries, programs, and services impacting more

REMEDIAL TO CHAIRPERSON

Dr. Richardson and members of the Convention of National Black Churches did their part to slow the spread of COVID-19 by receiving vaccines.

newly emancipated enslaved people an opportunity for education and advancement. It is a premier liberal arts urban institution of higher education and center of excellence for preparing students and developing leaders for tomorrow’s world. Richardson said he chose to attend because he had very few options, and it offered him hope in a time of great despair.

“When you live out a central faith and surrender, you are not distracted by momentary disappointments,” said Richardson. “The heartaches become part of the journey. Everything is a crisis when you first encounter it, but then it becomes a reference."

Richardson said he served as chair of VUU because it was an opportunity to pay back so much of what he received.

“I have a sense of indebtedness to Virginia Union,” Richardson said. “Having been blessed with so many opportunities and resources. I felt that the best use of my life at this point was to be available to serve as chairman.”

The servant leader served his alma mater as chair for 11 years, and today, VUU offers a broad range of educational opportunities that advance liberal arts education, teaching, research, science, technology, continuing education, civic engagement, and international experiences.

THE GREATEST CALL TO SERVE Richardson has received a bevy of accolades

and chair appointments that speak to his commitment to serving communities, and many believe his crowning achievement was serving as chairman of the Conference of National Black Churches (CNBC).

CNBC—an interdenominational religious-advocacy organization—is comprised of the eight largest historically Black denominations in America, representing more than 65,000 churches and over 20 million individuals, equating to 70% of Black Christians in the United States.

The CNBC's core mission is to speak with a unified voice of Black religious bodies that seeks to improve the quality of life for Blacks as they seek to reach their full potential in American society. CNBC is committed to a national strategy of Black Church intervention in four key areas: social justice/public policy, criminal justice reform, health (including supporting hunger initiatives), and education, especially advancing academic excellence for children in marginalized communities.

“I wouldn’t say chairing the CNBC was the pinnacle for me,” said Richardson.

“We need to uplift upcoming generations to join the battle. It takes a collection of people, so I celebrate a continuum. It’s an ongoing struggle.

The battle is not for the swift and mighty but for the one who endures to the end. I am not distracted by momentary battles or victories.”

ONYX MAGAZINE 13

TR AVE L

ROOTS

TRAVELING TO CONNECT WITH EARTH AND ANCESTORS

BY JASMINE OSBY

B

lack culture runs deep throughout every city and town in America.

Although modernity fuels cities today, most places in the U.S. have a rich connection to the African diaspora.Incorporating historical exploration into your travels can be exciting and enriching. Here are some U.S. destinations with a history rooted in Black culture.

and cultural institutions thrive around the city of Chicago. There is a plethora of restaurants, landmarks, and cultural experiences to dive into making it a favorite destination for American travelers.

TULSA, OKLA. Before racial discrimination and white terrorism destroyed Tulsa’s Greenwood District, it stood as the Black Wallstreet of America. It sat in the heart of the Midwest and African Americans from around the US moved there with hopes of a better life In 1921, white community members set Tulsa ablaze, destroying the most prosperous Black community in the country. This included the destruction of 35 city blocks and the death of 300 Black people.Today, Tulsa is a popular tourist destination in Oklahoma. The city is still defined by Blackness and is built on the foundation the Greenwood District left behind.

SOUTH CAROLINA LOW COUNTRY Black culture in South Carolina Low Country goes back to slavery. The area spreads across the state and into parts of Georgia where some of the first African slaves reached American shores. Low Country is where the Gullah Geechee people called home.Today, the Low Country is some of the most beautiful land in the country. Visitors come from all over to experience the richness of Black culture that dwells there. From natural attractions and landmarks to museums and southern cuisine, Low Country has a little bit of everything for the traveler hungry for Black history.

CHICAGO, ILL. According to Choose Chicago, the first permanent settler in Chicago was a Black man from Haiti. Since then, the Midwest city has continued to be a destination rooted in Black culture. There are many Black neighborhoods in Chicago, including Hyde Park and Bronzeville. Throughout the city, there are remnants of Black history around every turn. Black-owned businesses

In the 1920s, Harlem was a hub for Black excellence. Harlem became known as the “Black Mecca,” and Black creatives, innovators, and families flourished there. The Harlem Renaissance was signified by timeless music, artistic expression, and Black pride. This renaissance reinvigorated Black culture across the country. Iconic Black figures, like Langston Hughes, WEB DuBois and Josephine Baker emerged from this movement. Today, Harlem still shines bright as a symbol of Black culture on the East Coast. Black-owned food spots, like Sylvia’s and Melba’s, serve up hot soul food daily. Festivals and celebrations honoring Black culture happen year-round in Harlem, as it stands as a center of Black excellence.

NATURALLY CONNECTED

BY JOSHUA RODGERS

Black person self-care is a real thing, and there isnot just one way to catch the vibe. From the classic relaxation of a mani-pedi to the guys’ or girls’ trip that creates lasting memories, the options for wellness are limitless.But what if the next best self-care routine was just steps outside your front door? This is the intersection where EcoWellness enters the chat.

EcoWellness is a growing movement touting the benefits of communing with nature and overall wellness. According to a post from Oregon State University, ecowellness has seven associated aspects: 14 ONYX MAGAZINE

• Physical Access • Sensory Access • Connection • Protection

• Preservation • Spirituality • Community Connectedness

Having a relationship with nature is not new to Black people. Whether relaxing on the beach, making inedible mud pies in grandma’s backyard, or taking a bike ride down the community trail, Mother Nature has been the convening force for people for decades.No matter your geographic location and active interests, there is always a way to bring some much-needed Vitamin D to that melanated skin.

Stories, Travel Noir

HARLEM, N.Y.

M E D I C A L LY S P E A K I N G represented by the prevalence of prostate cancer. From accessing early screenings to the affordability of advanced treatment innovations — a full-bodied gap exists that differentiates prostate cancer health services between men of color and white counterparts.

An American Cancer Society literature review titled: Racial Disparities in Black Men with Prostate Cancer, states Black men are disproportionately affected by prostate cancer with earlier presentation, more aggressive disease, and higher mortality rates versus white men.

Further, Black men have less access to treatment and experience longer delays between diagnosis and treatment. Less access to clinical trial participation among Black men with prostate cancer was noted along with racial disparities and institutional racism. Cultural factors include generalized mistrust of the health care system, poor physician-patient communication, lack of information and treatment options, fear of prostate cancer diagnosis, and perceived societal stigma of the disease.

a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Just as an example, if I were to say "stand against racism" or "stop racism," I think most folks would know or have a general idea of what that meant in an interpersonal way, and urology.weillcornell.org so I think it's really important that we continue to define what health equity means, and I think that's why I've loved what we've done here at ZERO…,” said Bennett.

Bennett shared that health equity means everyone has a fair and just opportunity to prevent, find, treat, and survive prostate cancer. ZERO is committed to finding ways to eliminate prostate cancer for anybody with a prostate; but in order to achieve their mission to end prostate cancer, the organization must first zero out racial disparities by eliminating the gap between Black folks, racial groups and prostate cancer.

PROSTATE CANCER: Know The Facts

ACCEPTING SUPPORT

Cobb is now a 77-year-old retiree who relocated to Jacksonville, Fla., in 2017. During his treatments, he and his wife were separated which left him PROVIDING ANSWERS without a strong support system. They have since divorced.

ZERO Prostate Cancer is a leading national nonprofit with the mission to Cobb’s local urologist introduced him to ZERO’s Black Men's Prostate end prostate cancer and help all who are impacted. It advances research, Cancer Initiative Virtual Support Group that is facilitated by social workers. provides support, and creates solutions to achieve health equity to meet The group meets via ZOOM bi-monthly for nearly two hours and invites the most critical needs of our communities. patients to share unfiltered concerns. Cobb said he has been a participant In the United States, 1 out of every 9 men will be diagnosed Based in Alexandria, Va., the organization's goal is to create Genera- since March 2023 but does not attend every meeting. with prostate cancer in his lifetime. tion ZERO — the first generation free from prostate cancer. ZERO is an "Through all of this process, I thought the health care professionals were award-winning organization committed to achieving health equity so that treating the cancer but not the person," said Cobb. "I felt there was a lack everyone has a fair and just opportunity to prevent, find, treat, and survive of services to provide emotional support. No matter how many people you prostate cancer, regardless of race, the financial resources one has or has talk to, no one understands unless they walk in your shoes." access to, or where one lives. * A recent podcast episode centered around health equity and ZERO's The patient mentioned in this feature article requested that his real name Black Men's Prostate Cancer Initiative Support Groups, included hosts Dr. not be used.

Reggie Tucker-Seeley, ZERO's vice president of health equity, and Kris BenPenny Dickerson is an innovation and entrepreneur reporter for the JackThe older you are, the greater your chance of developing it. net, ZERO's director of health equity, community organizing and engage- sonville Business Journal. Reporting for this story in ONYX Magazine was Nearly 60% of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in possible men overby a health equity fellowship sponsored by The Commonment. made the age of 65. "…I think when we generally hear the term "health equity," it can mean wealth Fund and the Association of Health Care Journalists..

PROSTATE CANCER IS THE MOST COMMON NON-SKIN CANCER IN AMERICA.

LIFE

PROSTATE CANCER INCIDENCE INCREASES WITH AGE.

AFTER PROSTATE CANCER RELIABLE RESEARCH AND SOUND SUPPORT ARE KEY.

95% OF ALL PROSTATE CANCERS ARE DETECTED WHEN THE CANCER IS CONFINED TO THE PROSTATE

BY PENNY DICKERSON

16 ONYX MAGAZINE

and knew how to navigate complexities often associated with healthcare systems.

"I measured each choice and immediately ruled out surgery due to potential side effects like erectile dysfunction," Cobb said. "Surgery also would have you at risk of incontinence, and who wants to wear a diaper for the rest of your life?"

Ultimately, Cobb chose noninvasive radiation therapy. He said doctors informed him that the recommended radiation course for Stage I prostate cancer was a nine-week succession for five days per week. However, through participation in a clinical trial, Cobb's treatment was shortened by an increase in radiation dose that required just five treatments over three months.

FOCUSING ON THE PROBLEM

September is dedicated to prostate cancer awareness and represents a time to help people learn about the disease and those affected. Healthcare disparities among Black men are monumental but none as profoundly

Treatment success rates are high compared with most other types of cancer in the body.

Weill Cornell Medicine

W

hen Cornelius Cobb* was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2010, the 63-year-old graduate of the University of Chicago said he freaked out. He was both scared and anxious about potential future treatment plans and side effects related to each option.

Cobb was a resident of Raleigh, N.C., and attended his scheduled Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA exam) appointment at Duke University Medical Center. The test measures levels of PSA produced by normal and malignant cells of the prostate gland. An analysis of Cobb's returned blood work was the initial cancer alarm; a biopsy confirmed prostate malignancy.

"My diagnosis was the first time I ever thought of my mortality," said Cobb. "My prognosis was good because it was stage I, and the options I were given included surgery, radiation, or surveillance, which meant that we'd just sit and watch for changes."

Cobb had an advantage rare to some Black men. His mother was a registered nurse, his sister a pharmacist, and he was a master’s degree-educated professional who held numerous human resources positions for universities on both coasts. Further, Cobb maintained private health insurance

THE 5-YEAR SURVIVAL RATE IN THE UNITED STATES FOR MEN DIAGNOSED WITH PROSTATE CANCER IS 99% However, prostate cancer comes in many forms and some men can have aggressive prostate cancer even when it appears to be confined to the prostate

ONYX MAGAZINE 17

BUSINESS

ROOM

TO GROW WHILE THE NUMBER OF BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES IN THE U.S. IS ON THE RISE, IT STILL REPRESENTS A SMALL SHARE.

BY REBECCA LEPPERT

N

early six-in-ten Black adults (58%) say supporting Black businesses, or “buying Black,” is an extremely or very effective strategy for moving Black people toward equality in the United States. While Black-owned businesses in the U.S. have grown significantly in recent years, they still make up a small share of firms and revenue in the country, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of Census Bureau data.

In 2020, there were an estimated 140,918 U.S. firms with majority Black or African American ownership, up 14% from 124,004 in 2017, according to the latest available data from the Census Bureau’s Annual Business Survey (ABS). Those 18 ONYX MAGAZINE

firms brought in an estimated $141.1 billion in gross revenue in 2020, an 11% increase since 2017.

Despite this growth, businesses majorityowned by Black or African American people accounted for only 3% of all U.S. firms that were classifiable by the race and ethnicity of their owners in 2020. And Black-owned firms accounted for just 1% of gross revenue from classifiable companies that year. By comparison, Black adults comprised 12.4% of the overall U.S. population in 2020, according to the Census Bureau.

As has long been the case, White Americans accounted for a large majority (86%) of firms whose ownership was classifiable by race and ethnicity in 2020. These firms brought in 93% of

all revenue from classifiable companies that year.

U.S. firms with Asian majority owners accounted for 11% of all classifiable firms and 6% of revenue in 2020. Those majority-owned by Hispanics accounted for 7% of classifiable companies and 3% of revenue.

It is important to note that not all U.S. businesses are classifiable by the race or ethnicity of their owners. A business is classified as “majority Black-owned” if a Black owner has at least 51% equity in the firm. (The same is true for business owners of other racial and ethnic backgrounds.)

In 2020, only about 4% of all businesses in the U.S. were not classifiable by the race and ethnicity of their owners–but these firms accounted for 62%

of total revenue. For that reason, ownership and revenue figures in this analysis refer only to the roughly 5.6 million firms that are classifiable by the race and ethnicity of their owners, most of which are smaller businesses.

SMALLER PAYROLLS COMMON AT BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES Majority Black- or African American-owned firms provided income for more than 1.3 million workers in 2020, with overall annual payrolls at these businesses totaling an estimated $42.2 billion that year.

Most Black-owned businesses have relatively small payrolls. Roughly two-thirds (66%) had fewer than 10 employees in 2020; 14% had 10 to 49 employees and just 3% had 50 or more. (In the ABS, employment size is determined by the number of paid workers during the March 12 pay period each year, which coincided with the start of the U.S. coronavirus outbreak in 2020. During that 2020 pay period, an additional 17% of majority Black- or African American-owned firms reported no employees.)

For most Black or African American business owners in the U.S., their firm is their main source of income. Among those who reported data about their primary source of personal income in 2020, 69% said their business was their primary income source, while 31% said it was not, according to ABS data.

BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES ARE MORE COMMON IN HEALTHCARE SECTORS AND IN CERTAIN STATES The greatest number and share of majority Black- or African American-owned businesses are in the healthcare and social assistance sector. In 2020, more than 38,000 of the nearly 141,000 U.S. companies with majority Black or African American ownership, or 28% of the total, were in this sector.

Looked at a different way, 7% of all classifiable U.S. businesses in the health care and social assistance sector had Black or African American majority owners that year.

Professional, scientific and technical services was the second-most common sector, accounting for 14% of majority Black- or African American-owned businesses in 2020. Other common sectors included administrative and support and waste management and remediation services (9%) and construction (7%).

An overwhelming majority (88%) of Black- or African American-owned businesses are located in urban areas. Just 6% are in rural areas–that is, places with fewer than 2,500 inhabitants, under the Census Bureau’s definition. Three of the four most populous states also lead in the number of estimated businesses with majority Black or African American ownership: Florida had 15,149 such businesses in 2020, California had 13,729 and New York had 12,636. But majority Black- or African American-owned businesses made up the great-

est share of all classifiable firms in the District of Columbia, Georgia and Maryland.

MORE THAN HALF OF BLACK BUSINESS OWNERS ARE MEN The gender divide among all U.S. business owners extends to Black or African American business owners, though by a smaller margin. Among all U.S. firms whose ownership is classifiable by gender, 63% were majority-owned by men in 2020, while 22% were owned by women and 15% had equal male-female ownership that year. By comparison, 55% of majority Black- or African American-owned businesses in 2020 had male owners, while 37% were owned by women and 8% had equal male-female ownership.

Roughly half (52%) of Black or African American business owners who reported their age grouping were 35 t0 54 in 2020; an additional 25% were ages 55 to 64. A majority of those who reported their educational background had an undergraduate degree or more education. About a quarter (26%) had a bachelor’s degree, and another 34% had some form of degree beyond a bachelor’s.

Rebecca Leppert is a copy editor at Pew Research Center, where this research was conducted and reported in 2023.

Read more at pewresearch.org.

ONYX MAGAZINE 19

VOTER ALERT! VOTER VOTER ALERT! ALERT!

If you plan to vote by mail, you must re-request a vote-by-mail ballot even if Ifyou’ve you plan to vote by mail, must re-request a vote-by-mail ballot voted by mail in theyou past.

To request your ballot, scan this QR even code.if Ifyou’ve you plan to vote by mail, you must re-request a vote-by-mail ballot even voted by mail in the past. To request your ballot, scan this QR code.if you’ve voted by mail in the past. To request your ballot, scan this QR code.

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ONYX ON THE MOVE BAHAMAS GOLDEN JUBILEE This past July 10 marked The Bahamas’ 50th Anniversary of Independence, an incredible half-century milestone for the resilient Caribbean destination defined by its astounding natural beauty, rich culture, distinctive traditions, and unflappable pride in its heritage.

To celebrate this landmark occasion, celebrations around the world brought light to the significant milestone. From the pulsing rhythms and brilliantly vibrant sights that accompany the bi-annual Junkanoo festival across Nassau, Grand Bahama and the Out Islands to the bold col-

ors of the Bahamian flag beaming from the surface of New York City’s iconic Empire State Building, The Bahamas’ Golden Jubilee celebrations extend far beyond its shores.

ONYX Magazine Publisher Rich Black attended such a celebration in Miami with Prime Minister Philip E. “Brave” Davis, Bahamian Consul General Curt Hollingsworth, U.S. Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, film creator, director, producer Will Packer, and others who turned out for the jubilee.

Yolanda Cash Jackson, Rich Black, Prime Minister Davis, guest, and Curt Hollingsworth

Rich Black, second from left, attends the gala with Prime Minister Davis and his wife, Anne-Marie Davis, center

Rich Black meets with US Congresswoman Frederica Wilson.

Will Packer and Rich Black

KAPPA MEETING MARKS FIRST FOR TAMPA BAY Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., became the first of the Divine 9 Black Greek-lettered organizations to hold its annual meeting (86th Grand Chapter Meeting) in Tampa Bay. A highly anticipated, the “Kappa Konclave” attracted more than 15,000 members and their families. Events included a donation of $80,000 to the Skills Center, an organization that

Check Presentation to The Skills Center

Kappa Leadership

Sponsor Aetna VP Cherisa Murphy and Nephew Tommy at the Family Outing

helps develop youth; health, career and vendor fairs with nearly 4,000 in attendance; a family outing at Julian B. Lane Park on the Tampa Riverfront; workshops, educational luncheons, parties and networking. networking.

ONYX Magazine sponsored this event.

White Party at the Florida Aquarium

Panel Discussion with Lee Green, Ph.D.

BOOK REVEAL

FUNDRAISER

ONYX Magazine’s 2023 Woman of the Year unveiled her book, “Unbroken,” at a party in her home in July. Hundreds gathered to celebrate her debut title and nosh on delicious appetizers and delectable beverages.

From left, Dick Batchlor, Dee Parker, Mayor Buddy Dyer, Brenda March, guest and Rich Black

ONYX Magazine attended an event to support Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. Dyer is the 32nd mayor of Orlando, first elected in 2003. He is seeking his sixth term in November.

ONYX MAGAZINE 21

Harris Rosen

Nero Ughwujabo

HUMANITARIAN AWARD

INTERNATIONAL MAN OF HONOR

As president and COO of Rosen Hotels & Resorts, Harris Rosen is Florida’s largest independent hotelier. Born and raised on New York City’s lower Eastside, Rosen received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1961 from the School of Ho-tel Administration at Cornell University. He served for three years in the United States Army as an officer in Germany and South Korea.

Afterward he completed the Advanced Management course at the University of Virginia’s graduate school of business on a Hilton Corporate Scholarship.

Nero Ughwujabo is the senior strategy adviser of Equality,

Founded in 1974, Rosen Hotels & Resorts currently features a collection of seven Central Florida hotels providing 6,336 guestrooms—approximately six percent of the Central Florida inventory. The award-winning collection includes four leisure hotels—the 728-room Rosen Inn International, 1020-room Rosen Inn at Pointe Orlando, 315-room Rosen Inn (closest to Universal Orlando Resort®), and 640-room Rosen Inn Lake Buena Vista. Three luxury convention prop-erties — the 800room Rosen Plaza, 1334-room Rosen Cen-tre and 1501-room Rosen Shingle Creek—combined feature 700,000 sq. ft. of versatile meeting and event space.

and stakeholder engagement, emphasizing engaging civil

President & COO Rosen Hotels & Resorts

“You’ve achieved more success than you ever imagined. It’s time now to recognize that you’ve been blessed…to be thankful and to share your good fortune with others.”

Harris Rosen

22 ONYX MAGAZINE

Rosen began his career at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City as a convention salesman. He joined the Disney Com-pany in California in 1968 as Director of Hotel Planning for Walt Disney World in Orlando. During his tenure, he was inti-mately involved in overseeing the design and development of the Contemporary Resort Hotel, the Polynesian Village Hotel, and the Fort Wilderness campground as part of the team that opened Walt Disney World in 1971. Rosen left Disney and in 1974 and began the Rosen series of hotels.

Since 1993, Rosen’s Tangelo Park Program has provided free preschool for all 2-, 3-, and 4-year olds who live in the Orlando-area underserved neighborhood. All neighborhood youngsters who graduate from high school and are accept-ed to a trade school, community college, or 4-year public college or university in Florida are provided with an all-expense paid college education to include: tuition, books, room and board— paid for by Rosen. To date, approximately 250 Tangelo Park youth have received full college scholar-ships.

Rosen has four children, Jack, Joshua, and Shayna who live in Orlando, and Adam Michael Rosen, who passed away on November 23, 2018.

Senior Strategy Adviser Prince’s Trust & Prince’s Trust Group, London, England

Diversity, and Inclusion for the Prince’s Trust and Prince’s Trust Group in London, England. He previously was a special adviser to England’s Prime Minister Theresa May, the first person of African descent to hold this position.

Ughwujabo’s portfolio focused on social justice, young people, and opportunity. It extended to external relations society and Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities.

Ughwujabo’s experience includes leading the prime minister’s special project, the Race Disparity Audit, a global firstof-its-kind audit of all public services. The unprecedented release of government data described the experiences and outcomes of people of all ethnicities across public services. Those studying the project could learn lessons and translate information into practical steps for effecting real change within the industry.

Ughwujabo has worked closely with national and international stakeholders and leaders, including former U.S. President Barack Obama and the Obama Foundation. He was a guest speaker at Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper Rising event in the U.S. He spoke on the issue of diversity and inclusion at the European Union, the U.S. Congress, and the U.S. Congressional Black Caucus. Ughwujabo’s experience includes many years of working on regeneration matters across local, national, and international governments. He

“This above all: to thine own self, be true” From Hamlet, by William Shakespeare

was a leading member of Croydon’s chief executive group to regenerate the London borough. When Ughwujabo left the government, he consulted on the international program Future Cities, developing urban regeneration guidelines for emerging economies.

ONYX MAGAZINE 23

Terry Prather

Board Chair, Dr. Phillips Foundation Board Chair, Visit Orlando Senior Advisor, Lift Orlando

PUBISHER’S AWARD

“Invest in yourself. The more you understand yourself and are true to yourself, the more helpful you are to the people you serve.”

Terry Prather

24 ONYX MAGAZINE

Terry Prather retired from SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment in 2015, where he served as president of SeaWorld Orlando for several years. His SeaWorld career started in maintenance and water quality for SeaWorld San Antonio in 1988.

He is the first African American to serve as a president of any major theme park in the world, SeaWorld-Orlando.

Prather is a man of many firsts. He made history, becoming the first African American to serve as the board chair for Visit Orlando, the official tourism association for Orlando, while simultaneously serving as board chair for the Dr. Phillips Charities. This philanthropic organization supports critical projects in Central Florida.

Prather is a senior advisor to Lift Orlando, working toward holistic neighborhood revitalization. As a founding board member of Lift Orlando, Prather worked with residents, business leaders and community partners toward neighborhood revitalization in the communities surrounding Camping World Stadium. He joined the Lift staff in February 2016 and served as the Chief Operating Officer.

Prather has been active in Florida tourism, working with Visit Florida, the state’s official tourism marketing corporation. In 2016, he served on the board of directors and as the executive director for the Florida Council of Tourism Leaders, a group of former Visit Florida board chairs who provide support to board of directors.

Prather served on the Bethune-Cookman University Board of Trustees from 2013 until 2018, where he passionately supported the thousands of students who attend this HBCU. He believes in the mission of B-CU “to develop global leaders committed to service, life-long learning, and diversity by providing a faith-based environment of academic excellence & transformative experiences.”

In 2016, Prather was named “Father Of The Year” by the American Diabetes Association. He served on several community boards and associations, including Florida Citrus Sports, Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission, and Smithsonian National Zoo Board of Advisors in Washington, D.C. In 2019, Prather co-chaired the “Housing For All Task Force” for Orange County, Fla., to develop an action plan that received unanimous approval by the Orange County Board of Commissioners.

Prather and his wife, Shayla, have five adult children and 10 grandchildren

Tory Dandy

Co-Head and Managing Partner CAA Sports Football Division

RICH BLACK VANGUARD AWARD Tory Dandy has been close to football his entire life. Dandy’s experience as a college football standout at South Carolina State University and Tusculum College allows him to relate to his clients on and off the field. As an NFLPA agent, Dandy is very passionate about supporting his clients and their families personally and professionally.

Dandy earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Management with a minor in Sports Management from Tusculum College in 2002. He earned his master’s degree in Business Administration from Webster University in 2004.

Dandy is actively involved in the community, where he tours numerous schools and churches, speaking to and positively encouraging youth. He also serves as a youth mentor of the CDC Mentor Program of the Carolinas. In 2013, he established The Tory Dandy Educational Scholarship, an annual program for seniors graduating from his high school, Woodruff High, in South Carolina.

Dandy began his professional career in 2004 and advanced to director of Recruiting at Synergy Sports. In 2006, he transitioned to director of Recruiting with Maximum Sports with veteran agents Eugene Parker and Roosevelt Barnes.

In 2009, at the young age of 29 years old, Dandy signed the No. 3 overall pick with client Tyson Jackson. Dandy helped represent numerous clients while at Maximum Sports. After a very successful career at Maximum Sports, he joined the Relativity Sports Family in 2013. As a certified NFLPA agent, Dandy engages in all aspects of his clients’ representation, with his primary focus being contract negotiation, client services, and the pre-draft process.

In August 2020, Dandy became the Managing Partner/CoHead at CAA Football. So far in his career, he negotiated over $1 billion in active NFL contracts; received 40 Under 40 recognition from Sports Business Journal; represented the top five NFL draft picks for back-to-back years; represented eight NFL first-rounders in the past three years; became a 2018 Made Man of Charlotte Honoree; appeared in Black Enterprise, Forbes and Sports Illustrated; and made a cameo appearance in the movie What Men Want starring Taraji P. Henson.

“How bad do you want it?”

Eric Thomas

ONYX MAGAZINE 25

PERSPECTIVE

HEADLINE HERE

“As a culture, we seem to suddenly be occupied with pulling at the fibers of our foundation as a nation, and as humanity. Among these threads are the constructs of racism and gendered norms.”

SHIFTING PLATES: XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXXXX

EXPLORING THE DYNAMIC OF POWER VS. CONTROL

BY EBONY KENNEY

V

iva La resistance cries out from my heart every time I pull up in a busy Chic-fil-A drive-thru line, only to be asked for my order without a menu in sight. I get the same feeling when I arrive at the checkout area of a store I’m visiting for the first time and there’s no signage to identify the register entrance, “waiting” area, or designated exit.

Somehow, a line of cars behind me and a friendly, but impatient attendant standing at my window expecting my loyalty by way of my memorization of the menu strikes me as a dog whistle.

Corporations benefit when you demonstrate that level of commitment.

You’re quicker to serve, you are likely a vocal ambassador, and your loyalty is for life, less you have to memorize and demonstrate some other symbol of acclimation to American culture. My ability to get extremely present in that at the risk of feeling left out is a risk they seem willing to take.

Something so simple as their ability to control where people can review the menu, has the power to affect my belongingness.

Three years ago, I attended Landmark Forum, an intensive program geared toward raising your integrity and self-expression. One particular technique I adopted from that experience was a philosophical practice of delineating similar words and categories, however Landmark didn’t invent Ontological Distinctions. An "ontological distinction" is an investigation of the distinction between categories of being. An example might be the distinction between honesty and integrity or being and beings, according to “The Theory of Categories.” One I consider when I think about my adamant

26 ONYX MAGAZINE

refusal to acclimate to the Click-Fil-A way, is the distinction between power and control. There are enough similarities between the terms that it takes a moment to really understand where the two words diverge.

As a culture, we seem to suddenly be occupied with pulling at the fibers of our foundation as a nation, and as humanity. Among these threads are the constructs of racism and gendered norms. As much as some hate to have the conversation, it’s only because of past abuses that we are even forced to reconcile what we’ve built and baked into our culture with what will sustain us for future generations and in hindsight be on the right side of history. As a crutch, we have normalized classifications that have led to both limitations and abused liberties. Our children are given messaging other than that they are perfectly and wonderfully made. We have adopted epigenetic survival tactics such as Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome, as identified by Dr. Joy DeGruy in Esubulletin, a tendency to undersell and even degrade outside opinion of our children as a means of protecting them from, during slavery, being sold or separated from loving, albeit withholding, parents. In that same vein, our cultural norms of gendering have been to groom a young girl for finding a mate that will provide for her while she maintains a sense of vulnerability. For a young man, it was to preserve his prowess at all costs, even to the extreme of toxically withholding his emotions. These have helped us exponentially advance the evolutionary line of societal progress and maybe we’re only now going back to fill in what we skipped. “Don’t sit in the sun,” “Ladies cross their legs,” “You think you’re

smart,” “be seen but not heard,” “smile and nod,” and “let the man lead,” are ideals we’ve heard, adopted, and recited. Advertising, for example, for many years was based on the female head of household and her decisions, while by far, many career paths never imagined anything but a man in them by indication of their name (ex. mailman, longshoreman, congressman, salesman).

As we purge detrimental gendered ideals, we have to look at the concepts that might not withstand the turn. The role of the “man” and “woman” in relationship, if power is strength, if power is “masculinity”, if control is “feminity”, or if both are “masculine” traits. If power and control are preserved for the man, what protects the “feminine” and how does she access what she needs to break her glass ceiling, win Olympic gold medals, or care for her provider who has neglected his health? It occurs to me that of all the things we control and limit, we might do so out of a perceived lack of power. For example, the power to stop eating when I’m no longer present to a meal is always available to me; whether I access it or not is another story. It’s so much easier to use control and limits, like a set list of foods I’m “allowing” myself to eat.

My sister's Airedale Terrier is a spoiled, beautiful pup that demonstrates his power on walks outside, yet he cannot control his urge to lick the inside of his leg. In the mechanics of a car, it is the control of air, in this case lots of it forced into the engine, that allows the car to have horsepower. At work there is a corporate executive or attorney that exerts power in the way

of policy, but it is the frontline workers that control whether those directives are followed and how closely they are adopted. And in a relationship dynamic, there can be two extremes: having power over one another, and exerting control over the actions of our mates. Even our inconsistent use of the terms indicates the need for evolution.

We collapse the two concepts as much as we see the differences. Afterall, control is a power in and of itself. If you determine your child must eat vegetables, and then they refuse to eat them, they have usurped the power of the adult by living in what they can control. And as the parent, you can control how long they sit at the table waiting for reprieve, which makes you the “all powerful”. Within the self, choosing to operate in a demonstration of power, which can look like the immediacy of addressing things in the moment, effective force to make things go the way you intended, and compelling rallying of support, often pulls traits out of us that are very different than those we see when we operate in control. Control can be stillness, withholding and discipline.

As society restructures to support foundations of diversity and respect across race and gender, we have the task of restructuring our thinking as well.

Weightlifting gives us a keen illustration of the relationship between control and power. “The main difference between Power Training vs Strength Training is that strength refers to the ability to overcome resistance, while power refers to the ability to overcome resistance in the shortest period of time,” according to physio-pedia. This is a very tactile definition for what we naturally know, which is that power and control are both luxuries for the human. We are not all born in situations or stations where we can navigate the play between the two. At times the only demonstration of our power is on another fellow human. In this moment, you have the opportunity to lord the illusion of control over someone else’s narrative, in so much as it’s within your power. Or you can allow others to explore their own self-acceptance through your gaze, releasing control and evolving your own understanding of self and the relationship dynamic. The margins and the menu are no longer in sight. You have only your instinct and your morality. In a world of shifting plates, if we can get present enough, what we create now can drive us toward a future we can all accept, no matter where we stand.

Ebony Kenney is a studied writer, trained graphi designer and professional Market and User Experience researcher. She enjoys exploring the scientific method as it occurs in everyday life.

ONYX MAGAZINE 27

DREAM BIG DISNEY DREAMERS ACADEMY ENCOURAGES TEENS WITH BIG DREAMS TO APPLY.

W

alt Disney World Resort announce the opening of applications and nominations for the 2024 Disney Dreamers Academy in July. The transformational program, which includes a four-day annual event in March at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, is designed to broaden career and personal development for a select group of 100 teens from Black and underrepresented communities across America.

Students looking to achieve their dreams can apply and, for the first time this year, be nominated for the program at www.DisneyDreamersAcademy.com. The application process runs through October. The 100 selected students will receive an all-expense-paid trip along with one parent or guardian to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida to experience a combination of inspiration, education and fun at The Most Magical Place on Earth.

“We’re seeking the next generation of big dreamers to bring to Walt Disney World for the 17th year of this life-changing program,” said Disney Signature Experiences Vice President Tracey D. Powell, who is also the program’s executive champion. “Any teen in your life who aspires to achieve their goals should apply. You never know where it could take them!”

Pastor Mike Jr., dubbed “The New King of Urban Inspiration,” is an 11-time Stellar Award Gospel Artist, best known for his songs “I Got It” and “So Good.” As one of several celebrity speakers who took part in last year’s Disney Dreamers Academy, he motivated the students through his inspiring storytelling and musical performance.

“Inspiring others is my passion, and it is also the core of Disney Dreamers Academy, which is why I’m so proud to affiliate myself with this program,” said Pastor Mike, Jr. “I’ve seen how passionate these students are and I would encourage all students to apply or nominate a fellow Disney Dreamer for this once-in-a-lifetime transformative event.”

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Students receive commencement rings to round out the four-day Disney Dreamers Academy. (Charlene Morrison, photographer) The impactful Disney program introduces the teens to an array of new opportunities, such as sessions teaching valuable life tools, leadership skills, effective communication techniques and networking strategies.

Students attend in-depth workshops in a variety of disciplines aligned with their dreams. These workshops introduce the Disney Dreamers to diverse career paths within business, entertainment, and sciences, including career opportunities within The Walt Disney Company.

In her role as Disney Dreamers Academy Ambassador, actor and singer Halle Bailey, who plays the lead role as Ariel in the live-action remake of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” was part of many special moments during the 2023 event, sharing her own personal struggles and lessons on her path to success. She also personally hosted two aspiring filmmakers from the class at the world premiere of “The Little Mermaid.”

Flanked by her mother amid a sea of confetti, Mosope Aina, an aspiring neurosurgeon, was surprised by Mickey Mouse and Disney Dreamers Academy executive champion Tracey Powell on national TV on January 13, 2023 at her school in Newark, N.J. with the news of her selection to Disney Dreamers Academy. (ABC/Michael Le Brecht II)

Over the years, Disney Dreamers Academy has inspired more than 1,500 students from across the country. Each year, graduates have gone on to become doctors, engineers, performing artists, entrepreneurs, Disney Cast Members and more, and some have transitioned into mentors to the Disney Dreamers who followed them.

The Disney Dreamers Academy program is an important part of Disney’s commitment to supporting diverse communities by encouraging the next generation to think big and to use what they learn in their relentless pursuit of their dreams in hopes of making a difference in the lives of others.

For more information, visit DisneyDreamersAcademy.com, or follow on social media at Facebook.com/DisneyDreamersAcademy, Twitter.com/DreamersAcademy and Instagram.com/ disneydreamersacademy/.

“Disney’s The Little Mermaid” star and Disney Dreamers Academy celebrity ambassador Halle Bailey shares words of wisdom with the 2023 Disney Dreamers Academy class.

(Charlene Morrison, photographer)

Disney Dreamer Academy students march down Main Street U.S.A., at Magic Kingdom in a celebratory parade to kick off Disney Dreamers Academy in 2023. (Charlene Morrison, photographer)

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Derryl Benton Chief Development Officer Executive Vice President, Business Development HMSHost

Derryl Benton is the chief development officer and executive vice president of Business Development at HMSHost, a global restaurateur and world leader in delivering innovative dining solutions in travel venues. HMSHost operates in more than 120 airports around the globe and at more than 100 travel plazas in North America. The company has nearly $3.3 billion in annual sales and employs more than 41,000 associates worldwide. Darryl is responsible for overseeing the winning and extending of industry contracts.

Benton joined HMSHost in 2014. Before HMSHost, he was senior vice president of Business Development at Hudson Group, where he was responsible for identifying and developing new business opportunities in North America and working with the company’s Government Affairs department in maintaining relationships with the nation’s city mayors, city councils, and other public officials.

Before Hudson, Benton was director of Concessions/Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) for the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, where he oversaw the operations of a $500 million concessions program that included rental cars, food & beverage, news, and specialty retail. He also administered the authority’s small business procurement policies in this role. Before becoming Director of Concessions, he was Director of Minority/Women Business Enterprise (MWVE) Programs for the Authority, during which he received the FAA’s DBE Liaison Officer Certification.

“What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

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Benton also held the position of vice president with SunTrust Bank, NA, for 10 years, and before that, had the positions of mayor, mayor pro tem, and city commissioner for the City of Eustis, Fla. Florida Gov. Bob Martinez appointed him to the Florida Black Business Investment Board, the Florida Economic Growth and International Development Commission and the Regional 14 Coordinating Council for Vocational Education. Benton was responsible for the dayto-day operations of the Minority/Women Business Enterprise Program at the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.

Benton serves as vice chair of the Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) World Business Partners/ Associates Board of Directors. He received his education in Business Administration from Lake-Sumter State College and the University of Central Florida. He works in Maryland and resides in Florida with his wife, Jackie. They are the parents of three grown children.

James A. Bradford, Jr. Chief Operating Officer Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority

James A. Bradford, Jr., has worked in the public transportation industry for over 25 years. He is the chief operating officer for the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA). He serves as the second vice president for the Central Florida chapter of COMTO (Conference of Minority Transportation Officials). Mass Transit’s national magazine named him as one of its top 40 under 40 recipients in 2009, and he proudly graduated from two of the nation’s top-tier transit leadership & developmental programs: the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and the ENO Center for Transportation, both located in the greater Washington, D.C., area.

Bradford began his public transportation career while attending college at the University of Massachusetts, where he worked for the university’s transit system (UMass Transit). He progressed through the ranks to become the University of Massachusetts’s Transit operations supervisor, overseeing the bus operations for the entire campus and surrounding communities until his college graduation when he obtained a degree in Operations Management and Public Transportation in 2003.

Bradford worked in various executive management positions of increased responsibility for public transportation agencies located in Charleston, S.C., (CARTA), Concord-Kannapolis, N.C., (RIDER), Arlington, Va., (ART), and Connecticut (CT Transit), where he oversaw operations for three major metropolitan bus divisions in the state: Hartford, New Haven, and Stamford.

Bradford, his wife, Kanika, and their 6-year-old son, James III, reside in Saint Petersburg, Fla. As the C.O.O. of PSTA, Bradford oversees the agency’s daily fixed-route, trolley, paratransit, and door-to-door mobility and paratransit operations while ensuring PSTA remains in compliance with state and federal regulations as well as local city ordinances. He oversees the departments of Transportation, Maintenance, Safety & Training, Mobility, and Customer Service--a staff of 35+ managers and supervisors as well as more than 500 frontline employees made up of bus operators, maintenance technicians, and customer service representatives, who together operate public transportation services for Pinellas County, the No. 1 most densely populated county in Florida.

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Maya Angelou

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Jonas Cayo, Jr.

Cleveland Ferguson, III

Jonas Cayo is president of ELEVATE Orlando, the Central Florida non-profit organization that equips and empowers underserved youth with in-school instruction, 24/7 mentoring and post-secondary preparation. ELEVATE Orlando has programs in three Orange County public high schools, Oak Ridge, Jones, and Evans, and the feeder schools for each.

Cleveland Ferguson, III, is senior vice president and chief administrative officer (CAO) for the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) in Jacksonville, Fla. He is charged with improving Northeast Florida’s economy, environment and quality of life through JTA’s administrative, technological and economic development initiatives. Some highlights include reducing food deserts, developing affordable housing opportunities, and bringing healthcare to the homebound using partnerships throughout the pandemic.

President ELEVATE Orlando

Cayo carries out ELEVATES beliefs by ushering the team to create relationships, not just with the students they work with every day, but also with principals and school leadership, forging meaningful partnerships that can change entire communities for the better. ELEVATE addresses 38 of 40 developmental needs of students while most programs address fewer than 10. It builds community by giving students the tools, confidence, connections, and hope to succeed at every level.

ELEVATE Orlando has a “Secret Sauce,” that includes employing a holistic approach to meet each child’s needs. This means full-time salaried teacher-mentors, year-round programming, cross-age mentoring, and a long-term relational approach in four areas: accredited classes, mentoring, adventure, and college & career.

Cayo embodies the ELEVATE mission and beliefs and has always had a passion for giving back to his community. As a native of Pine Hills and a Haitian immigrant, he is aware of urban youth’s daily struggles. Like many students in ELEVATE, he is a graduate of Evans High School and a first-generation college student. Cayo holds a B.A. in Computer Information Systems from DeVry University and previously worked at Orlando Health and Lockheed Martin.

“You can either be a star or be a maker of stars.”

Author Unknown

Cayo has worked with urban youth in non-profit organizations and Orange County Public Schools for more than 15 years.

During his tenure at ELEVATE, he has held multiple positions, including Teacher/Mentor, Pipeline Coordinator, and Operations Director. He is affectionately known as Mr. ELEVATE throughout the community.

Cayo’s view on community engagement is summed up by his philosophy: “It takes people from the community to solve problems in the community.” Cayo serves as the campus pastor of the Kingdom Church. He lives in Ocoee, Fla., with his wonderful wife, Dr. Ketia Cayo, and their sons, Justus and Kyrell Cayo.

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Senior Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer Jacksonville Transportation Authority

Ferguson has successfully represented the JTA at congressional hearings and the U.S. Department of Transportation on federal support for safety-sensitive operations, housing and transit, autonomous vehicle technology, workforce development initiatives, and enhancing analytics in public transportation. He provides subject matter expertise through industry panels at the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and Florida Public Transportation Association (FPTA). His leadership has contributed to the JTA’s recognition as a forward-leaning mid-size agency, including earning Outstanding Public Transportation Agency of the Year in 2016 and 2020.

He previously served as Jacksonville’s Deputy CAO. He was a tenured law professor and led a summer abroad program in France to accreditation by the ABA. His scholarship on contracts and constitutional law has been translated into four languages. He has a distinguished record of board service in civic, nonprofit, legal, and international associations.

He is a member of Leadership Broward Class XXIII, Leadership Jacksonville (2010), Leadership Florida Class XXXIII, the 2017 ENO Transit Senior Executive Program, The Florida Bar, and the U.S. Supreme Court Bar. Ferguson received his Juris Doctor from Florida State University College of Law and a B.S. from Nova Southeastern University (NSU). He was conferred with a Doctor of Humane Letters by NSU in 2018. Additionally, he is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Conflict Resolution and Analysis.

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”

Peter 4:10 ESV

Ferguson is married to Jacquelyn Jeanine Ferguson, and they have two sons, Cleveland IV and Jackson.

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THE QUAD

FLO RI DA SCO PE / B E YO N D FLO RI DA

HISTORICAL BLACK THEATRE TO CELEBRATE 110 YEARS Mark your calendars! The Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater will commemorate 110 years of history, culture, and entertainment excellence on November 18, 2023, at the iconic theater located at 819 NW 2nd Ave., in Miami.

More details about the celebration will be announced in the coming weeks. Under the theme “The Crown of Overtown,” the Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater is celebrating this historic milestone, paying tribute to its timeless legacy as a cherished community staple.

The Lyric Theater opened in 1913, quickly becoming a major gathering place for the African American community in Miami, serving as a community space, vaude-

Highlights from Florida’s number one position include: • • •

•

• • • • •

Florida ranks number one for higher education for the 7th year in a row.

Florida boasts the lowest higher education in-state tuition and fees among all states.

The state’s high school graduation rate was 3.7 percentage points above the national average according to U.S. News & World Report.

Florida came in second for completers of two-year degree programs and ranked fourth for four-year graduation rates at higher education institutions.

Florida’s college graduates had less debt at graduation than the national average by nearly $5,000.

Florida ranked 12th overall for the percentage of children enrolled in a preschool program.

Florida improved from third to first in education since Governor DeSantis took office. Also: Florida boasts the No. 1 public Historically Black College/University – Florida A&M University Florida is home to the No. 5 public university – University of Florida.

Florida Department of Education

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THREE HBCUS RECEIVE FUNDING TO ADDRESS HEALTH DISPARITIES

BlackPRWire

UNCF AWARDS EWU

FLORIDA RANKS NO. 1 FOR EDUCATION Florida is ranked as No. 1 in education by U.S. News & World Report. The ranking methodology uses a variety of metrics to measure the overall quality of each state’s education system from prekindergarten through higher education. The report incorporated data from higher education, including graduation rates, population with advanced degrees, debt at graduation and the cost of tuition and fees. College readiness, high school graduation rate, preschool enrollment and results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) were the metrics used to evaluate the effectiveness of education from prekindergarten through grade 12.

grant. “Compared with other HBCUs, FAMU has ranked one or two in these award metrics over the last four years. We are optimistic that FAMU will reach Carnegie R1 in 2024.” – Andrew Skerritt, FAMU

ville playhouse, a movie theater and finally, a church.

“This milestone highlights the strong legacy of the Historic Lyric Theater propelled by the mission of the Black Archives,” said Kamila Pritchett, executive director of The Black Archives History & Research Foundation of South Florida, Inc. “We encourage everyone to save the date and plan to join us for this unforgettable celebration, and see why it is important for us to continue to preserve and protect our community’s historic spaces.” For more information, contact Kamila Pritchett at kpritchett@bahlt.org.

Edward Waters University (EWU) was awarded the UNCF ICB Unite 2023 Student Champion Award, recognizing the University’s superlative work in providing exemplary student success support! Congratulations to the collective EWU community for being honored as champions of student success. Powered by the United Negro College Fund, UNITE is the nation’s premier annual gathering for accelerating strategies for Black higher education and support for the institutional transformation of Black colleges and universities. UNITE is organized each year

by UNCF’s Institute for Capacity Building, whose mission is to partner with Historically Black Colleges & Universities and Predominantly Black Institutions to help them propel student success, community impact, and the advancement of educational equity and racial justice.

NEW FLORIDA LAW HAS UNIONS SCRAMBLING FOR MEMBERS A state law that went into effect July 1 is threating the existence of collective voices that negotiate everything from wages to workplace protections throughout Florida. The law, SB 256, requires public sector unions to enroll at least 60% of eligible employees or risk decertification by the state. Local governments may no longer deduct monthly dues from paychecks, forcing unions to reenroll existing members in a new payment system and recruit any new members needed to meet the 60% threshold.

Gov. Ron DeSantis has said the law gives workers more control over their paychecks. But it exempts police, firefighters and correctional officers, leading many to criticize it as a politically driven union buster for groups not aligned with the governor’s agenda. The deadline to meet the 60% threshold varies because it corresponds with each union’s annual renewal date, according to Tampa labor attorney John C. Getty. If a union fails to meet the threshold, its certification can be revoked. But it can petition the state’s Public Employee Relations Commission for recertification within one month.

Tampa Bay Times

FAMU ANNOUNCES RECORD $96.4M IN RESEARCH AWARDS

Florida A&M University (FAMU) reported a record $96.4 million in research awards for the fiscal year ending June 30, as the University pushes for Carnegie R-1 status.

President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., a scientist and principal investigator on a five-year, $30 million National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration research grant, called the University’s research accomplishments impressive. He applauded FAMU faculty, along with Charles Weatherford, Ph.D., vice president for Research, and his staff, for making this possible. Among the areas of strongest showing were administration, which includes Title III and the FAMU Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative (MMERI), secured $28.7 million in research funding; the College of Agriculture and Food Sciences – $22 million, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering- $16.1 million, and the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Science, Institute of Public Health – $8.9 million. “Comparing with existing R1s, FAMU is well within the R1 criteria on these research metrics,” said Weatherford, who is the principal investigator on a five-year, $1 million per year National Nuclear Security Agency

Honoring the legacy of former congressional leader and civil rights icon John Lewis, the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) has recently awarded grants to six institutions through the John Lewis NIMHD Research Endowment Program. Totaling $60 million, these grants will create institutional endowments that propel the development and expansion of the research capacity and infrastructure within the recipient institutions. Additionally, the institutional endowments will support research education for students from diverse backgrounds, particularly those from underrepresented groups, and encourage faculty members to pursue research in basic biomedical, behavioral, population, and clinical/health services fields.

Three of the six institutions receiving these grants are historically Black.

Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles will establish the Endowment for Learning Health Systems and Learning Health Communities Core. The LHSC Core will enhance the university’s capacity to conduct health services and community participatory research on cancer, HIV/AIDS, cardiometabolic health, mental health, substance abuse, and health services and policy.

Meharry Medical College in Nashville will establish the Endowment for Cardiometabolic Health Disparities Research. The goal is to expand the capacity of Meharry Medical College to enhance research and research training in minority health. The program will address health disparities in cardiometabolic health disproportionately prevalent in the local African American communities. The endowment will support the hire of a senior magnet cardiovascular scientist, and the development of a bachelor’s to master’s to Ph.D. pathway program, a research leadership program for postdoctoral fellows, a seminar program, and research infrastructure to study health disparities of cardiometabolic disease.

Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans will develop the Precision Medicine, Education, Data Informatics, and Community Translation (PREDICT) Institute. The program will create a holistic and replicable framework for the utilization of electronic health data and community translation to affect the decision-making process to improve health outcomes. The initiative will include training of current and future underrepresented researchers on health informatics best practices to diversify the research workforce and leverage community-based approaches to enhance clinical research efforts in vulnerable populations.

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ONYX READS

ACCLAIMED BOOKS THAT INSPIRE BY NOTABLE BLACK MALE AUTHORS

Installation view, Reframing Haitian Art: Masterworks from the Arthur Albrecht Collection, 2023. Photographer: Paige Boscia

REFRAMING HAITIAN ART: MASTERWORKS

FROM THE ARTHUR ALBRECHT COLLECTION

THE FIRE NEXT TIME

By James Baldwin A national bestseller when it first appeared in 1963, The Fire Next Time galvanized the nation and gave passionate voice to the emerging civil rights movement. At once a powerful evocation of James Baldwin’s early life in Harlem and a disturbing examination of the consequences of racial injustice, the book is an intensely personal and provocative document. It consists of two “letters,” written on the occasion of the centennial of the Emancipation Proclamation, that exhort Americans, both black and white, to attack the terrible legacy of racism. The Fire Next Time stands as a classic of our literature.

THE BEAUTIFUL STRUGGLE: A FATHER, TWO SONS, AND AN UNLIKELY ROAD TO MANHOOD

By Ta_Nehisi Coates An exceptional father-son story about the reality that tests us, the myths that sustain us, and the love that saves us. Paul Coates was a wily tactician whose mission was to carry his sons across the shoals of inner-city adolescence — and through the collapsing civilization of Baltimore in the Age of Crack — and into the safe arms of Howard University, where he worked so his children could attend for free. Among his brood of seven, his main challenges were Ta-Nehisi, spacey and sensitive and almost comically miscalibrated for his environment. The Beautiful Struggle follows their divergent paths through this turbulent period, and their father’s steadfast efforts to keep them whole in a world that seemed bent on their destruction.

THE SOULS OF BLACK FOLK

By W.E.B. Du Bois “The problem of the Twentieth Century is the problem of the colorline.” When The Souls of Black Folk was first published in 1903, it had a galvanizing effect on the conversation about race in America — and it remains both a touchstone in the literature of African America and a beacon in the fight for civil rights. Believing that one can know the “soul” of a race by knowing the souls of individuals, W. E. B. Du Bois combines history and stirring autobiography to reflect on the magnitude of American racism and to chart a path forward against oppression, and introduces the now-famous concepts of the color line, the veil, and double-consciousness.

LONG TIME COMING: RECKONING WITH RACE IN AMERICA

By Michael Eric Dyson The night of May 25, 2020, changed America. George Floyd, a 43-year-old Black man, was killed during an arrest in Minneapolis when a white cop suffocated him. The video of that night’s events went viral, sparking the largest protests in the nation’s history and the sort of social unrest we have not seen since the 1960s.

While Floyd’s death was certainly the catalyst, (heightened by the fact that it occurred during a pandemic whose victims were disproportionately of color) it was in truth the fuse that lit an ever-filling powder keg. Long Time Coming grapples with the cultural and social forces that have shaped our nation in the brutal crucible of race.

STAMPED FROM THE BEGINNING

By Ibrim Kendi Some Americans cling desperately to the myth that we are living in a post-racial society, that the election of the first Black president spelled the doom of racism. In fact, racist thought is alive and well in America — more sophisticated and more insidious than ever. And as award-winning historian Ibram X. Kendi argues in Stamped from the Beginning, if we have any hope of grappling with this stark reality, we must first understand how racist ideas were developed, disseminated, and enshrined in American society. In this deeply researched and fast-moving narrative, Kendi chronicles the entire story of anti-Black racist ideas and their staggering power over the course of American history.

THE NEGRO SPEAKS OF RIVERS

By Langston Hughes Langston Hughes has long been acknowledged as the voice, and his poem, The Negro Speaks of Rivers, the song, of the Harlem Renaissance. Although he was only 17 when he composed it, Hughes already had the insight to capture in words the strength and courage of Black people in America.

Artist E.B. Lewis acts as interpreter and visionary, using watercolor to pay tribute to Hughes’s timeless poem, a poem that every child deserves to know.

On view through June 23, 2024 The Arthur R. Albrecht Collection includes over 75 artworks from Haiti’s most prominent painters including Rigaud Benoit, Wilson Bigaud, Préfète Duffaut, and Philomé Obin. Rarely seen by the public, the works present an overview of the major developments in Haitian painting from the 1960s-80s.

Highlights from the Albrecht Collection include paintings by the first generation of artists to train at Le Centre d’Art, Haiti’s premier art school in Port-au-Prince, and a selection of Cap Haitian works by the Obin Family.

A PASSION FOR HAITIAN ART: THE ALBRECHT AND HELLER COLLECTIONS On view August 17, 2023 through March 17, 2024 A Passion for Haitian Art: The Albrecht and Heller Collections looks at the art and dedication of collecting Haitian objects through the Albrecht and Heller Collections. Organized by guest curator Edouard Duval-Carrié in collaboration with the Tampa Museum of

Funds for the conservation of the Arthur Albrecht Collection were generously provided through a grant from the Bank of America Art Conservation Project.

TampaMuseum.org Hours: Monday – Sunday: 10am – 5pm Thursday: 10am – 8pm

Exhibitions supported in part by:

Art, Reframing Haitian Art and A Passion for Haitian Art present a rare opportunity to view master artists of Haitian painting.

SNAP Benefit Recipients get free admission to the Tampa Museum of Art! Presenting Sponsor: Also sponsored by:

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Maxwell Alejandro Frost Congressman United States House of Representatives

The first member of Generation Z elected to Congress, Maxwell Alejandro Frost is proud to represent the people of Central Florida (FL-10) in the United States House of Representatives. As a young member of Congress and Afro-Latino, Congressman Frost brings a fresh, progressive perspective to an institution formerly out of reach for young, working Black and Latino Americans.

Frost was adopted at birth and raised in the community he now represents. His mother, a Cuban-American, came to the U.S. during the freedom flights in the late 1960s and became a special needs teacher in Central Florida, inspiring his advocacy for supporting future generations through education. His father, a full-time musician, taught Frost his love for music, gifting him his first drum set and igniting his passion for the arts.

The tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary that claimed the lives of 26 innocent people inspired the 15-yearold Frost to get to work. Frost dedicated his life to fighting against gun violence and empowering communities across Florida and the U.S. to get behind gun reform.

In 2016, Frost became a survivor of gun violence after witnessing a shooting in downtown Orlando. The experience only further committed Frost to fight for commonsense solutions to this senseless loss of life through leadership roles at ACLU and eventually March for Our Lives, where he served as National Organizing Director.

“We have to see the world through the eyes of the most vulnerable.”

Dr. Cornel West

Frost has been appointed to the powerful Committee on Oversight and Accountability, where he will deliver on his mission of ushering justice and transparency to Floridians while fighting against House Republicans’ extremist attempts to politicize the work of the committee by attacking democracy and promoting ridiculous MAGA conspiracies.

Frost will use his post on the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, to support Central Florida’s burgeoning status as a simulation tech hub, which employs a strong workforce across major industries in Orlando, such as aerospace, defense, healthcare, and aviation.

Frost is laser-focused on working to deliver change and results on issues of housing affordability, healthcare, abortion rights, LGBTQ+ rights, voting rights, transportation, justice reform, climate change and more.

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Howard Tate “Flute” Gentry Founder & Director Young Blacks in Action

Howard Tate “Flute” Gentry has for 44 years worked with Orlando’s youth through the community youth organization Young Blacks in Action, Inc (YBA). In 1979, Gentry addressed his concern for the lack of constructive afterschool activities for young children and teens. He believed this was his calling for true volunteerism. He invited children from the predominately African American communities of Washington Shores, Lake Mann Homes, Murchison Terrace, Richmond Heights, Carver Shores, and Malibu to participate in afterschool activities, including practicing routine marching, perform rhythmic steps with precision, play drums, and step to the music. The group began drill, practice, and genuinely have fun learning marching and rhythmic skills. The YBA Community Band and Dancettes have performed excellently in numerous parades and churches throughout the United States.

An Orlando native, Gentry attended Orange County Public Schools. He started playing the trombone in seventh grade.

Later, he participated in the Jones High School Tiger Band, where he was first exposed to band marching in precision formation. He graduated from Jones High School in 1973 and attended Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Fla. There, he participated in the Marching Men of Cookman Band.

Under his leadership, YBA has won numerous awards, including the Best Performance Award, Best Youth Group, Best Band, and others. Gentry has been honored by the Tom Joyner Morning Show as one of the Real Fathers, Real Men. He won the City of Orlando’s Community Service Volunteer of the Year Award, the Jones High School Alumni Historical Society Community Service Award, The City of Orlando Police Department Citizenship Award, the Arthur “Pappy” Kennedy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, the Channel 13 Volunteer Hometown Hero of the Year, and the BET Community “Shine-A-Light” Award. YBA has participated in MLK celebrations in Tampa, Orlando, and Eatonville and multiple cultural events.

Gentry is well known for his community service and commitment to helping young people realize their potential, purpose, and power. He is a son, husband, father, and grandfather who believes in family and the power of family connections. “Mr. Flute” resides in the place he has always called home, Orlando.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”

Psalms 23:6, The Holy Bible

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Calvin Gibson, M.D.

Kenneth Goodwin, J.D., P.H.M., G.C.D.F.

Calvin Gibson, M.D., joined Orlando Health Physician Associates in 2011. Board certified in family medicine, he specializes in comprehensive care for patients of all ages, providing preventive care as well as management of complex and chronic conditions.

Kenneth Goodwin, J.D., P.H.M., G.C.D.F., is the executive director of Homes In Partnership, Inc. (HIP), a 501c3 nonprofit affordable housing development company based in Eustis, Fla. HIP constructs more than 50 single-family homes valued at over $13 million annually. The self-help program, which requires homeowner training and participation, is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture.

Goodwin considers this role his proudest achievement in his more than 40-year affordable housing career because HIP helps low-income clients achieve wealth.

Physician Orlando Physician Associates

After earning his medical degree from the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville, Dr. Gibson completed his residency in family medicine at the Univer-sity of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Dr. Gibson is certified in the Diabetes Recognition Pro-gram and the Heart/Stroke Recognition Program by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Addi-tionally, he is a member of the American Board of Family Practice.

Executive Director Homes in Partnership, Inc.

Goodwin entered the affordable housing field after earning his bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and his law degree from the Valparaiso University College of Law. He has served as director of the City of Gary, Indiana’s Mayor’s Office of Housing Conservation and deputy director/director of Operations of the Housing Authorities of the City of Gary, Ind., and the City of Orlando for more than 20 years. He managed staff teams of more than 100 after attaining senior management professional certifications required to lead affordable housing programs, including public housing management, financial management for public housing, public housing modernization, and family self-sufficiency certifications.

A certified Florida Workforce Professional, Goodwin served as director of Special Projects for Workforce Central Florida, which oversees the State of Florida’s workforce development programs in five Central Florida counties, and vice president and executive director of the Housing and Neighborhood Development Services Agency (HANDS, Inc.), a nonprofit affordable housing development agency.

“A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don’t necessarily want to go, but ought to be.”

Rosalynn Carter

40 ONYX MAGAZINE

Goodwin has led in affordable housing and workforce development for more than 25 years. He also led in government relations and supplier diversity in the private sector.

Goodwin is vice chair and commissioner for the Winter Park Housing Authority, where he has served since 2005. He has been a Homes In Partnership Board of Directors member since 2016. His volunteer efforts include mentoring youth and supporting causes in which he and his family believe.

Goodwin is happily married to Marcia Hope Goodwin, Orlando’s chief service officer and director of the Office of Community Affairs. He is the proud father of two amazing daughters, Nia Hope Bess and Imani Dionne Hope, and the grandfather of his awesome grandson, Alexandre Bess, Jr.

“A genuine leader is not the searcher for consensus, but the molder of consensus.”

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

ONYX MAGAZINE 41

s y a 3W SAGE

SENIORS CAN REDEFINE RETIREMENT THROUGH COMMUNITY CONNECTION

E

SENIORS HAVE OPTIONS TO LIVE STRONG AFTER RETIREMENT THROUGH COMMUNITY CONNECTION.

veryone benefits when older adults remain engaged, independent and included.

Instead of letting age define their circumstances, older Americans are embracing change, pushing boundaries and transforming their communities through creativity, commitment and service.

As a first stop for anyone looking to explore volunteer opportunities, AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors connect individuals and orga-

nizations through service and volunteering.

AmeriCorps Seniors matches Americans 55-plus with opportunities to improve their communities through the contribution of time, passion, skills and experience.

“AmeriCorps Seniors is tailor-made for those aged 55 and older,” said Atalaya Sergi, director, AmeriCorps Seniors. “It provides a space for older adults to take charge of their ‘second act’ and use their time in valuable and impactful ways. All of

our volunteers share a goal of making a difference in their communities, and many see their involvement as a chance to make friends and form meaningful connections.”

More than 140,000 Americans are matched with volunteer opportunities each year through three programs: RSVP, the Foster Grandparent Program and the Senior Companion Program.

Consider these ways older adults can get involved in their communities.

PROVIDE A HELPING HAND TO OTHER OLDER ADULTS

RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF YOUR COMMUNITY With more than 115,000 volunteers, RSVP is the largest of the programs.

The program partners with national, state and local organizations to offer volunteers a wide range of service opportunities, from building houses to delivering food.

“All the people you meet when you’re a volunteer tell you their stories and experiences,” said Srini Srinivas, a volunteer serving with the RSVP program.

“You find that very rewarding and it enriches your life. Doing this service is a way of paying it forward.”

SERVE AS MENTORS For older adults interested in working with children, the Foster Grandparent Program pairs volunteers with local schools and other programs focused on children, caring for and working with classes, groups or individual students.

“My motto is, ‘There is never a never, you can always accomplish something.’ I’m here to help the kids learn, be there for them and teach them as much as I can,” said volunteer Priscilla Tsethlikai, who has been involved with the program since 2016. “They’re teaching me, and at the same time, I’m teaching them.”

Fostering relationships with other older adults is also a rewarding, and needed, option.

Volunteers serving with the Senior Companion Program give about 20 hours each week and spend time with older adults in need of companionship or help with day-to-day tasks such as grocery shopping, getting to appointments or paying bills.

“Volunteering has changed me, it keeps me grounded,” volunteer Carmen Swanson said. “When you help others and do for others, you enrich your life. My favorite part is being available and of service to them. Whatever their desire is, whatever they’d like to achieve – if I can execute the task, follow it through and accomplish it then it makes my day.”

While it may mean different things to different people, the idea of choosing our own paths as we age provides one overarching sentiment: growing older can and should be empowering.

“We know there are stereotypes surrounding older adults, but we want people to shift their thinking,” Sergi said. “See the ways older adults continue to contribute to your life and communities, appreciate their wisdom and lived experiences, and join them in new endeavors. When the older adults in our communities are engaged, valued and genuinely included, we all benefit.”

For more information, and to find volunteer opportunities near you, visit AmeriCorps.gov/YourMoment.

ONYX MAGAZINE 43

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

and

SPACE RHYME

Through

HOW HIP-HOP USES AFROFUTURISM TO TAKE LISTENERS ON JOURNEYS OF EMPOWERMENT

I

BY ROY WHITAKER

t is perhaps only natural, as hip-hop celebrates its 50th anniversary, that people look to the genre’s future. But for some rappers, the future has always been part of the story.

Ever since August 1973, hip-hop artists have turned to Afrofuturism – a mix of science fiction, politics and liberating fantasy – to inform their lyrics and their look.

As a professor of African diaspora religious philosophies and a fan of hip-hop, I’ve long been interested in intersections between Afrofuturism and hip-hop. I have found that hip-hop artists from the 1970s onward have employed Afrofuturism as a means to help Black Americans overcome isolation and racism.

They do so by taking listeners on journeys in and beyond the here and now, from an often imagined past to an imaginative future. And through that journey comes greater self-clarity, selfempowerment and self-determination.

George Clinton, Motor City Sound Board, concert show, party event — Photo by JDunbarPhoto

44 ONYX MAGAZINE

Hip-hop artists influenced by Afrofuturism have long been aware that American society made many Black, Indigenous and other people of color feel different – less than human, or even like aliens – and expressed this through their art. And like socially conscious hip-hop, Afrofuturism has always had a political element.

Commentator Taylor Crumpton explains, “Afrofuturism has been woven into social movements that worked against white supremacy to move toward a future where radicalism is viewed, not as something to be fought, but a societal good.”

Numerous Black hip-hop songs that portray strange settings, space travel or life on other planets reinforce Afrofuturism’s emphasis on difference and otherness.

Take, for example, Public Enemy’s “Fear of a Black Planet,” Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force’s “Planet Rock” or Ras G’s “Brotha From Anotha Planet.” Similar to experimentalist jazz bandleader Sun Ra, who claims aliens selected him to preach cosmic enlightenment on Earth, the Atlanta-based duo Outkast – whose very name suggests alienation – refer to themselves as “ATliens”.

Such hip-hop artists offer mesmerizing messages, sounds and beats that seem to come from another world. They help listeners see life as an outsider. In so doing, the artists reclaim the alien moniker as an act of resistance.

HIGHER LEVELS OF CONSCIOUSNESS

BLACK DIASPORA ANCESTORS Author and lecturer Mark Dery is credited with coining the term “Afrofuturism” in his 1994 essay “Black to the Future.” In it, he describes the concept as “speculative fiction that treats African-American themes and addresses African-American concerns in the context of twentieth century technoculture.”

More broadly, he adds, Afrofuturism uses tech-filled imagery to envision a better future.

ALIENS AND ALIENATION

Octavia Estelle Butler signing a copy of Fledgling after speaking and answering questions from the audience. The event was part of a promotional tour for the book.

(Creative Commons)

Academics have since further explored the meaning of Afrofuturism. In her 2013 book “Afrofuturism: The World of Black Sci-Fi and Fantasy Culture,” independent scholar Ytasha Womack describes the cultural phenomenon as “an intersection of imagination, technology, the future, and liberation.”

Although the term appeared in the 1990s, Afrofuturism has been applied retroactively to describe Black writers, artists and musicians. In the United States, Afrofuturism was shepherded by generations of Black visionaries from the time of institutional slavery to the Civil Rights era. In fact, it predates hip-hop’s beginnings in 1973, and it developed independently from hip-hop throughout the years.

Octavia Butler, for example – the “mother of Afrofuturism” – decided that it was necessary to write her lived experience into science fiction, which was dominated by white male authors.

From the 1970s to 2000s, she combined African mythology with social activism to conjure images of alternate Black worlds.

But perhaps more important in terms of its influence on hiphop is the music of those associated with Afrofuturism, especially George Clinton, leader of the funk band Parliament-Funkadelic.

Clinton blended sonic sounds, wore ornate Pan-African clothing and incorporated spaceship stagecraft called “The Mothership.”

Hip-hop artists often include snippets of Clinton’s music, such as on rapper and producer Dr. Dre’s album “The Chronic.”

Afrofuturism aims to elevate human consciousness. Like Sun Ra’s jazz fusion ensemble “Akestra,” which deliberately designed music to help people see themselves and the world differently, Afrofuturism seeks to decolonize human minds.

Cultural critic Greg Tate describes how Afrofuturism entered mainstream public awareness in 2018 with the release of the Marvel movie “Black Panther.” The film depicts an African kingdom whose advanced technology leads to a better world.

Kendrick Lamar, winner of the best rap album at the 2023 Grammys, recorded five of 14 songs on the Afrofuturist “Black Panther” movie soundtrack. One of them was “All the Stars.”

Journalist Taylor Hosking noted that in the music video for the song, “Lamar is on a voyage to (and through) Africa that starts in an ark-like vessel with a sea of hands waving below. The hands might call to mind the bodies of those who drowned during the Middle Passage, as well as a crowd of fans at a concert.”

Indeed, Lamar fuses African Americans’ desire to know what Africa was like prior to colonization to a futuristic pilgrimage that reimagines what it would be like to return to one’s ancestral roots.

The journey home may be different for everyone, but knowing the past can enhance one’s understanding of the present and outlook on the future.

LOS ANGELES - AUG 27: Kendrick Lamar at the MTV Video Music Awards 2017 at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, CA — Photo by Jean_Nelson]

TAKE NOTHING FOR GRANTED In “Africa As an Alien Future,” academic Ruth Mayer observes how Afrofuturism’s collapsing of past, present and future results in “strange sights – alien, aquatic, artificial – which force us not only to reconsider the past, but most of all the present we like to take for granted.”

Tupac Shakur and Dr. Dre’s dystopic video for “California Love,” for example, which was set in California in 2095 and includes a cameo appearance by George Clinton himself, evokes vivid images of turf war battles in a post-apocalyptic, climate change-ridden, desert wasteland with sparse water.

Afrofuturists challenge societal assumptions about Black Americans’ role in their country’s history, both then and in the future. This is a reason why I teach in my “Hip-Hop and Religion” class Tupac’s “Thugz Mansion.” In the song, Tupac not only reaffirms a core tenet of Afrofuturism – Black people will in fact survive and thrive in the future – he also visualizes a realm for them where peace is pervasive: Dear mama don’t cry, your baby boy’s doing good / Tell the homies I’m in heaven and they ain’t got hoods / Seen a show with Marvin Gaye last night, it had me shook / Drinking peppermint Schnapps, with Jackie Wilson, and Sam Cooke / Then some lady named Billie Holiday / Sang sitting there kicking it with Malcolm, ’til the day came / All in all, Afrofuturism counsels marginalized peoples to reassess past wounds and present injustices, while reassuring them that there are possible futures where they can feel they belong.

Roy Whitaker is an associate professor of Africana Philosophy of Religions and American Religious Diversity at San Diego State University.

In Margin This story from TheConversation is being reprinted under a creative commons license.

Tupac Shakur graffiti. Vlasotince, Serbia

ONYX MAGAZINE 45

Larry R. Handfield, Esq.

Johnny Magic

Miami native Larry R. Handfield, Esq., graduated from Bethune Cookman University and Howard University School of Law, earning his Juris Doctorate. Handfield blazed legal trails throughout his career from 1994 to 2012, becoming the fi rst in many vital roles across the state: Florida Gov. Lawton Chiles appointed Handfield as the fi rst Black to sit on the statewide Sentencing Commission. Some of his responsibilities include setting sentencing guidelines for crimes committed in Florida.

Johnny Magic is a radio personality and philanthropist.

Attorney Handfield Law Group

Governor Chiles also appointed Handfield as the fi rst Black on the Judicial Nominating Commission, where he served as chairperson. In that role, he interviewed, screened and submitted names of lawyers to be appointed judgeships for Miami-Dade County.

“Service is the rent we pay for the room here on Earth.”

Muhammad Ali

46 ONYX MAGAZINE

“Johnny’s House” Radio Host iHeart Media

Born and raised as John Hill in Charlotte, N.C., he was the youngest of five children.

Johnny’s journey in the radio industry began during his college years at Shaw University in Raleigh, N.C., where he worked at WSHA while on a track scholarship. Johnny started his radio career in Charlotte. His passion for broadcasting led him to sign on with WXXL in Orlando.

Johnny Magic is a devoted single father to his 14-year-old son. He has been the Morning Radio Host of “Johnny’s House” at WXXL XL 1067 for 33 years. Johnny was recently

As the fi rst Black to be appointed chairperson over the Jackson Hospital Health System in Miami-Dade County, one of the nation’s largest public hospital systems, he oversaw a yearly budget of $2.5 billion. He led the board to expand healthcare delivery in the region by purchasing additional hospitals: Jackson North and Jackson South.

nominated to the National Radio Hall of Fame.

Appointed by Florida Gov. Charlie Christ and confi rmed by the state senate, Handfield served as the fi rst Black on the Florida Ethics Commission. There, he sat on a nine-mem-ber tribunal where he heard cases of misconduct involving elected and appointed offi cials.

need during the holidays and throughout the year.

Handfield is the fi rst B-CU graduate appointed chairman of the Board of Directors, and he is the only person with two buildings named in his honor on the campus: the Larry R. Handfield Music Building and the Larry R. Handfield Athlet-ic Training Center.

award from Orlando Weekly Magazine for 7 out of 10 years.

Each May since 2012, Handfield has hosted 100 inner-city youth at Joe’s Stone Crab on Miami Beach. He provides the participants with a police escort and red-carpet experience.

The purpose is to demonstrate that youths’ history does not determine their destiny.

dollars for children battling cancer in Central Florida.

Dr. Handfield and his wife, Cynthia Babbs Handfield, share two adult children: Crystal Handfield Wade of Washington, D.C., and Dr. Chelsea Handfield, a resident doctor at Mayo Hospital in Rochester, Minn.

they need to succeed. This coming school year, Johnny’s

Johnny is the Founder and CEO of Baby DJ, Inc., an organization that has helped the Central Florida community for 30 years. Through Baby DJ, Inc., Johnny has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support local families in Johnny received the Best Morning Show in Orlando award from Orlando Magazine for more than 10 years. He has also been honored with the Best of Orlando Morning Show An avid philanthropist, Johnny Magic volunteered for 114 charities in one year. He serves on the Board of Directors for Runway to Hope, an organization that raises millions of For the last 15 years, he has purchased backpacks and

“Do the right thing and it will always work out.”

Johnny Magic

school supplies for all students in multiple Title One schools in the region, ensuring every child has the tools Baby DJ program will help eight schools with school supplies for all students.

ONYX MAGAZINE 47

Mac Jean

Public Health Epidemiologist Gilead Sciences

Mac Jean is a Community Liaison at Gilead Sciences covering Tampa, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, and the Panhandle. As the son of Haitian immigrants, Jean is fluent in three languages and has experience working with a diverse demographic in Florida. He has over a decade of technical and supervisory expertise in environmental health, protocol implementation and sexually transmitted disease (STI) intervention, community organizing, and working in the public, private and nonprofit sectors.

He helped establish and led one of Florida’s largest HIV prevention clinics and facilitated the uptake of 2,500 individuals on pre-exposure prophylaxis--an HIV prevention medication, in the first three months of the clinic. Today, this clinic has more than 8,000 people benefiting from prevention medication ad STI treatment. Jean has implemented and collaborated on sexual health programs in more than 20 counties in Florida and presented on various topics in public health and disease trends.

As an epidemiologist, Jean chose to work in the HIV area because of the misleading guidelines in the late 1980s that suggested Haitians brought about AIDS and were at the root cause of the HIV epidemic. He also lost an aunt to complications due to HIV in the mid-2000s. The stigma and shame associated with HIV drove him to establish a home testing prevention program in Central Florida, with 700 Black and Brown individuals tested in its first year. His program targeted the minority population impacted by HIV and opportunistic infections.

“The obstruction you take is the journey you wish to create.”

Author Unknown

48 ONYX MAGAZINE

In 2021, Jean provided emergency response to mitigate the COVID-19 risks for minority immigrants and helped strengthen the public health system in Texas during one of the most unprecedented times in history.

Jean co-founded Get-plugged in Ministry, a nonprofit organization giving back to young Haitians in South Florida. He also is an avid musician who performed across the states and participated in piano recitals in the U.S. and abroad. When not at work, he spends time bowling and giving back to the community with his wife and son through volunteering opportunities.

In 2022, he received the Most Collaborative Community Partner Award in Jacksonville and Tallahassee.

Curtis E. Johnson, Jr.

President, The Cuvey Group, LLC Commissioner, City of Fort Pierce

Curtis E. Johnson, Jr., is the proud father of two adult children, Curtis, III, and Cheyenne. Johnson is a servant leader elected to the Fort Pierce City Commissioner, District 1, in November 2020.

Johnson is the founder and CEO of The Cuvey Group, LLC. He brings over two decades of experience to help organizations and individuals overcome challenges and uncover opportunities. Johnson brings his professional experiences, along with emerging technologies, to assist his clients in accelerating their performance. Before founding The Cuvey Group, Johnson forged a path through corporate America, excelling in multiple industries in business-to-business sales.

Johnson earned a business degree from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University. He also earned a master’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing from the University’s School of Business. He is a Society for Human Resource Management SHRM Certified Professional, DISC certified workshop facilitator, and a John Maxwell Certified Speaker, Coach and Trainer.

Johnson became the 19th president of the Florida A& M University National Alumni Association in 2022 and avidly supports his alma mater. He also actively champions his local community as a city commissioner by serving on numerous Ft. Pierce community boards and committees. He often volunteers with civic organizations to create positive outcomes for the underserved. Johnson is a proud member of the Indian River State College Foundation Board, which has raised millions of dollars and fostered community partnerships to provide a stable financial pathway for community youth along the Treasure Coast.

Johnson is a charter initiate and founding member of Jalil Temple #265. He also is a Life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and president of The Phrozen Pharaoh Foundation. This 501(c)3 organization believes in the power of mentorship to help young people in St. Lucie County and the surrounding areas learn and grow educationally, socially, emotionally, and physically.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Philippians 4:13, New King James Version

Johnson is a proud native son of Fort Pierce who loves the community and wants to do whatever he can to move Fort Pierce forward with growth and financial prosperity for all of its residents.

ONYX MAGAZINE 49

R E A L E S TAT E

UPGRADE BUDGET-FRIENDLY DIY PROJECTS YOUR HOME WILL LOVE.

D

o you want to transform your outdoor space while saving money? There are plenty of hands-on projects you can do yourself to eliminate expensive labor costs. The following ideas can be tailored to your budget and personal preferences:

INSTALL A PARTY PAD

Statepoint Media

Make your backyard more fun and functional with a low-maintenance patio for entertaining and relaxing. Based on your budget and experience level, there are a variety of styles and materials to choose from, such as brick, concrete and stone. You'll also need gravel to create a sturdy foundation.

If you’re building on an existing lawn, clear out the grass and dirt first and dig an area deep enough, so the new surface will be even with the ground. Once you’ve prepped the ground and poured the gravel, use sand to hold the blocks in place and fill any gaps between the blocks once the layout is complete. Search online for step-bystep installation instructions and use a project calculator to determine the cost.

INCREASE SEATING CAPACITY A built-in seating wall near a fire pit, pool or patio offers more places to lounge and adds depth to the space. There are plenty of DIY-

friendly materials to build with, including interlocking concrete blocks, which won't need to be recut and are heavy enough to stay in place without cement, or larger, flat stones that look more natural and can be laid in various ways.

If you use concrete blocks, add capstones as top piece to give the design a finished look.

Watch tutorials online before starting the project for inspiration and to ensure you complete all the necessary steps.

REPAIR OVER REPLACE Fix up something old to make it new. If you have an above-ground pool or spa with a slow leak, easily repair it with the highly-rated T-Rex Waterproof Tape. The tape has a waterproof backing enhanced with R-Flex Technology for greater durability. It’s also UV-resistant, can stretch up to 700% of its original length and is strong enough to be used underwater.

Locate the leak and then measure and cut a piece of tape with scissors (this tape is too tough to tear by hand). Remove the liner from the back and apply it to the crack to form a leak-proof seal. Press down firmly and smooth any creases by hand.

HIDE OUTDOOR EYESORES A privacy screen is an easy project for begin-

ner DIYers and will hide unsightly air conditioning units, garbage bins and utility boxes. You’ll need weather-resistant wood slats, like cedar wood, fence posts, a drill, screws and paint or stain.

Use your “eyesore” to determine how tall to make the screen. Then, anchor fence posts into the ground and drill your first slat about an inch above the ground. Continue adding boards all the way up. For air conditioning units, leave space between each slat to ensure proper air circulation. Add a finish—dark for a modern style or clear for a natural look—and enjoy.

GIVE IT A GLOW Use lighting to give your backyard a bistro-like atmosphere. Rather than using a drill to hang solar or string lights, use transparent, double-sided T-Rex Clear Mounting Tape to permanently and discreetly decorate.

Whether placing the lights across wooden beams or on brick or vinyl fencing, make sure the surface is clean and dry before applying the tape. Stick one side to the surface and the other to mount the lights. The adhesive will build over time, achieving full strength after a 24-hour period.

Once you tackle these budget-friendly DIY projects, you’ll be ready to relax in your outdoor oasis.

ONYX MAGAZINE 51

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

PREVENT SLOUCHING

New COVID-19 Vaccine On the Way

T

The newest version of the COVID-19 vaccine will be available by the end of September, according to the CDC. The updated vaccine still needs final signoffs from the FDA and the CDC. “We anticipate that they are going to be available for most folks by the third or fourth week of September,” Director Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH, said on a podcast last week hosted by former White House COVID adviser Andy Slavitt. “We are likely to see this as a recommendation as an annual COVID shot, just as we have an annual flu shot. I think that will give folks more clarity on whether they should get one or not.”

For people who are considering now whether they should get the cur-

AT THE DESK

rently available COVID vaccine or wait until the new one comes out, Cohen said that depends on a person’s individual risk. People who are 65 or older or who have multiple health conditions should go ahead and get the currently available shot if it’s been more than 6 to 8 months since their last dose. For all other people, it’s OK to wait for the new version.

“If you have questions, talk to your doctor,” she said.

Analysts expect low demand for the updated vaccine. About 240 million people in the U.S. got at least one dose when vaccines first became available in 2021, Reuters reported, but that number dropped to less than 50 million getting the most updated shot in the fall of 2022.

WebMD

W

hat if there was a way to prevent chronic pain before it hits?

Chronic pain is not only annoying but debilitating. Vinh Pham, a physical therapist, new book “Sit Up Straight: Futureproof Your Body Against Chronic Pain with 12 Simple Movements” does precisely that. He shares a set of exercises to prevent chronic pain due to injury, bad posture, etc., and how to relieve it. He states that consistently practicing these movements can extend your range of motion and increase flexibility.

“There’s research to support the decrease in the incidence of chronic pain with the addition of exercise,” says Christopher Bise, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.

“Exercises that are going to balance the body front to back [such as mobility training] are going to be the ones that help over time.”

One form of bad posture most of us deal with is computer slouching.

Computer slouching is hunching over computers, tablets, and laptops, which causes your head to come down and forward and your shoulders rounded. You probably slouch without realizing it, especially if most of your day is behind a computer. Computer slouching causes bad posture because the muscles in the front of your shoulders become tighter and shorter, and the muscles in the upper back become overstretched and weaker.

GIVE BLOOD, SAVE LIVES

STAYING UP LATE

P

MAY BE A KILLER

eople who prefer to go to bed and get up later—a sleep chronotype known as being a night owl—may die early from bad habits they develop when they stay up late, according to a new study.

“The increased risk of mortality associated with being a clearly ‘evening’ person appears to be mainly accounted for by a larger consumption of tobacco and alcohol. This is compared to those who are clearly ‘morning’ persons,” said study first author Christer Hublin, a researcher from the Finnish Institute of Occupational 52 ONYX MAGAZINE

Health in Helsinki, in a statement.

The study, published Friday in the journal Chronobiology International, was a follow-up to the 2002 Finnish Twin Cohort study. The new study followed nearly 24,000 twins from 1981 to 2018 in an effort to tease out the causes of health-related behaviors and disease.

When the study originally began, each twin was asked to pick one answer from the following questions: I am clearly a morning person; I am to some extent a morning person; I am clearly an evening person; or I am to some extent an evening person.

Here are Pham’s top exercises to prevent and relieve computer slouching pain.

Rotate Your Spine – This movement seeks to relieve that stress and encourage flexibility by mimicking the natural movements of the spine — side bending, bending backward, and rotating.

Floss Your Spine – This exercise also helps to relieve the stress of the slouch position you may find yourself in a while working at your desk. But instead of rotating your spine, as you did in the last movement, you’re going to move your upper torso forward and backward — exposing your spine to the opposite motion of hunching over.

Teach Your Body How to Bend Safely – This exercise aims to protect the lower back from those movements by mobilizing your hamstrings and your sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back down your hips and hamstrings.

Extend Your Big Toe – This exercise, called the Big Toe Extension, aims to relieve or guard against discomfort you might feel in your foot and calf.

So, try these moves out the next time you find yourself slouching behind that monitor or before you log onto a computer. You’ll be happy with the way your body feels!

Black Health Matters

E Only about 10% of the twins described themselves as definite evening people, while 33% said they somewhat preferred staying up late. Over 29% were clearly morning people, while another 27.7% described themselves as somewhat inclined to prefer mornings.

For the new study, researchers looked at death records of a subset

(8,728 participants) of the original study. After adjusting the data to account for educational level, use of alcohol, smoking, the level of body mass, and sleep duration, the study found that being a night owl increased the risk of an early death by about 9% compared with morning types, who are often called early birds.

CNN

very two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. It could be because of surgery or cancer treatments. Or maybe they have a blood disorder or have lost a lot of blood. Whatever the reason, there’s always a need for donated blood. Even a single donation can save lives.

Blood gives us energy by bringing oxygen and nutrients to the body’s cells. It also carries waste products to the liver and kidneys for removal.

Blood contains different types of cells and other components. Just two drops of blood can include millions of red blood cells, which carry oxygen and carbon dioxide. Blood also includes white blood cells (which fight disease), platelets (which help form blood clots), and plasma (the liquid portion of blood).

Blood has a short shelf life, so blood donations are always needed. Platelets can only be stored for five to seven days, and red blood cells for up to 42 days.

Blood donation is safe and simple. It usually takes only about an hour of your time. But only 3% of Americans give blood each year.

You can donate blood if you’re in good health and are at least 16 or 17 years old (depending on where you live). Learn more about blood donations.

Blood contains different types of cells and other components. Just two drops of blood can include millions of red blood cells, which carry oxygen and carbon dioxide. Blood also includes white blood cells (which fight disease), platelets (which help form blood clots), and plasma (the liquid portion of blood).

National Institutes of Health ONYX MAGAZINE 53

Phillip Laws Director of PhilanthropyInstitutional Advancement Nemours Children’s Health

Phillip Laws is an accomplished corporate leader with extensive experience in the top Fortune 10 companies. Before joining Nemours Children’s Health as the director of Philanthropy-Institutional Advancement, Laws held several global leadership roles, including Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion senior manager for Amazon, executive director for Starbucks Coffee Company, leadership roles with a Japanese pharmaceutical sales/marketing firm, and Mobil Oil Corporation.

Laws is a man of deep faith who speaks freely about his relationship with God. He is grateful to God for the platform he has to help others. “I stand on a lot of shoulders, so I make sure I give back,” he said. He also attributes his wide grasp of corporate experience to making him a strong leader, which also assists him in helping others. Laws is proud of never compromising two things: being a Black man and Christianity. Born and raised in Chicago, he won an athletic (football) scholarship to the University of Kentucky. After sustaining a sports injury, Laws transferred to Southern University and A&M College where his academic prowess won him a scholarship.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

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Laws holds a master’s degree in Business Management from Orlando College, a bachelor’s degree in Business Marketing from Southern, and executive leadership credentials from Harvard University. He is a board member at several important community organizations: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Florida, Career Source Central Florida, United Arts of Central Florida, and Lake Nona Chamber of Commerce, and he serves on the ONYX Magazine Advisory Committee. Law is a member of the Black Speakers Network, the Orlando Regional Realtor Association, and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Laws and his wife, Emma, have three amazing adult children. During his leisure time, Laws enjoy working out, cycling, traveling, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Reginald B. McGill

Director of Constituent Services Office of the Mayor, City of Orlando

Reginald B. McGill serves as the City of Orlando’s Constituent Services director in the Office of the Mayor. An alumnus of William R. Boone High School, he obtained his associate degree in Arts from Valencia College and his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of South Florida. He has completed graduate courses at Rollins College and Nova Southern University.

Over his 40 years of professional service, he has worked chiefly in the financial and governmental arenas. His resume includes manager of the West Colonial Branch of First Federal of Orlando; analyst for Barnett Bank of Central Florida; financial planner of MONY Companies; special assistant/Office Manager for the Office of Congressman Jim Bacchus; Central Florida director for the Office of Congresswoman Corrine Brown; director of Government and Community Affairs for Greenberg Trauig, P.A, and human relations director for the City of Orlando.

McGill is an active member of the board of directors of the American Cancer Society; Seniors First, Inc.; Aspire Health Partners, Inc.; NPHC of Metro Orlando, Inc.; Preserve the Eatonville (P.E.C), Inc.; 100 Black Men of Greater Orlando, Inc.; mayor’s representative to Florida A & M University College of Law Board of Visitors; Bethune-Cookman University Board of Visitors; life member of the National Alumni Association of B-CU; past chairman of the Black Advisory Committee; past president of the Alumni Association of Valencia College; Orange County Democratic Executive Committee. He graduated from Leadership Florida, Leadership Central Florida, Leadership Brevard, and Leadership Orlando.

Additionally, he is Life Member #4636 of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity for over 40 years. He has served as staff or a delegate to the past seven Democratic National Conventions.

He is active at St. Mark AME Church in Orlando, where he is a pastor’s steward of the Board of Stewards and serves in other vital roles.

“In order to receive a blessing, you must be a blessing to others!”

He is the only son of the late Roseborough and Doris M. L. McGill and has been the husband for the past 38 years to Deborah L. M. McGill. They are the proud parents of one adult daughter, Danielle Lauren McGill.

ONYX MAGAZINE 55

Michael Meares, M.D.

Tyrone W. Nabbie

Physician Orlando Health Physician Associates

President, CEO and Managing Partner Superior Hospitality Management, LLC

Michael J. Meares, M.D., is the third child of Isaac and Bettye Meares. He was born in Miami and attended schools in the Dade County Public School System. He graduated from Miami Palmetto Sr. High School with honors and was a National Merit Finalist. He was awarded a full scholarship to Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he graduated with honors. Afterward, he attended the University of Florida School of Medicine in Gainesville. Upon completing medical school, he furthered his training at Tallahassee Memorial Regional Medical Center in Tallahassee, Fla.

Tyrone W. Nabbie is an award-winning entrepreneur, business owner, hospitality expert, traveler, and active community member whose compassion and drive have earned him a reputation as a service-centered leader. He has garnered extensive executive experience within the hospitality space for over four decades. Since 1994, he has served as the president, CEO, and managing partner of Superior Hospitality Management, LLC, where he has successfully spearheaded the daily operations of the company and its domestic and global subsidiaries.

Dr. Meares has practiced in Orlando, Fla., for over 35 years.

He founded Orlando Family Practice with a classmate in 1988. He combined with several other area primary care physicians to form Primary Care Specialist, LLC, a large group of primary care physicians operating as a clinic without walls. He served as the president of Primary Care Specialist and coordinated the merger of Primary Care Specialist, LLC, with Physicians Associates P.A. As part of Physician Associates, he served on the board of directors and was a part of the committee that negotiated the sale of Physician Associates to Orlando Health. Dr. Meares is a Fellow of the American Board of Family Practice and is Board Certified in Family Practice. He is a staff member of Orlando Health.

“Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.”

Jack Welch

Dr. Meares has been a member of Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist church for 34 years, serving as a deacon and teaching Sunday school. He is a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and a member of 100 Black Men of Greater Orlando, Inc., through which he worked to raise over $2 million for Jones High students to attend college. He also is a member of Beta Xi Boule. Dr. Meares was a 2017 Homegrown Achiever Honoree recognized by the mayor and board of Dade County Commissioners.

He has been married to his college sweetheart, Joy, for 42 years, and they have two sons, David, and Brian, and twin granddaughters, Ava, and Raya. His hobbies include golf, more golf, fishing, reading, and traveling with friends.

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In addition to his in-depth expertise and unwavering passion for the hospitality industry, Nabbie obtained associate and bachelor’s degrees in Hotel, Travel, Food, and Beverage Management from Bahamas Hotel Training College and Florida International University (FIU). Due to his outstanding academic achievements, he also received the FIU Touch Award.

Nabbie is a well-respected industry consultant and operator with decades of experience in the areas of development, designing concepts, and construction and development; managing, restructuring, and operating financially sound and profitable food and beverage operations; leveraging and brokering business opportunities to develop diverse markets; and attracting qualified investors for project development and operation.

Nabbie has been the successful operator of many franchises such as Outback Steakhouse, Bennigan’s, Chili’s, Pei Wei, Food Network Kitchen, Steak and Shake, Villa Pizza, and many others. He also has developed several proprietary brands such as Kafé Kalik Caribbean Bar Grille, Island Dutch Oven, Passion Tea and Coffee Company, Bonfire Beach Grille, Buccaneers Rum Bar, Bootleggers Rum Bar, Goombay Marketplace, and Yankel and Nabbie, and Coral News & Gifts.

Before founding and operating several highly successful food service ventures, Nabbie worked his way from private general in the hospitality industry. He has successfully spearheaded the daily operations of the company and its domestic and global subsidiaries, including operations in Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF), Tampa International Airport (TIA), Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).

Nabbie mentors small and minority-owned companies, joint venture partnerships and community-based organizations to assist with leadership development and capacity building. He supports youth and senior citizen organizations. Over the past 15 years, Nabbie has remained actively engaged in corporate and civic initiatives throughout the communities in which he operates and has served in various leadership roles.

“Leadership is the capacity to influence others through inspiration motivated by passion, generated by vision, produced by a conviction, ignited by a purpose.”

Myles Monroe

ONYX MAGAZINE 57

MMERI

MEN’S MENTAL HEALTH:

The Pros and Cons of Using Cannabis as a Treatment

S

ome say men have a habit of refusing to ask for help, especially when it comes to confronting medical or mental health issues they may be experiencing.

“Men don't want to seek any type of medical support, whether it be mental health or physical health. A lot of studies and surveys show that men are afraid; that there is some sort of belief that they are weak if they go to the doctor,” says Dr. Delvena Thomas, a board-certified psychiatrist and qualified medical marijuana physician based in Fort Lauderdale.

Changing this potentially detrimental behavior among men is a long-term project that starts with parenting, says Dr. Michael Railey, Sr., a psychologist with a private practice based in Tallahassee.

When it comes to men taking care of their mental health, Dr. Thomas advises them to be self-aware of signs of behavioral changes that could warn of impending psychological distress.

“Anything that's different than their usual routine is typically a red flag. Maybe they're eating a lot more or they're eating a lot less than they usually do. They’re having difficulty falling asleep. They might appear sad. Their libido decreases.

That is a telltale sign of depression in men,” she says.

Dr. Thomas describes medical cannabis as a drug of limited use in her psychiatric practice, mostly helping patients cope with anxieties and overcome sleep

disorders. But she says it’s safer than some pharmaceuticals prescribed to treat the same issues.

Both she and Dr. Railey strongly warn against self-medicating with non-medical marijuana. With its higher THC levels, recreational marijuana “can cause latent psychotic features to come to the surface really quickly,” says Dr. Railey.

A recent National Institutes of Health report linked “cannabis use disorder” to an increased risk of schizophrenia, especially in young men.

Anyone in a state of psychological distress should seek professional help, says Dr. Thomas, who recommends starting with a primary care physician for guidance. Other resources to consider are healthcare insurers’ lists of in-network mental health practitioners, a community mental health center or calling the free 211 referral service.

Visit https://bit.ly/CannabisAndMensMentalHealth to watch MMERI’s Conversations on Cannabis Virtual Forum featuring Dr. Delvena Thomas, a Board-certified psychiatrist and qualified medical marijuana physician based in Fort Lauderdale, and Dr. Mike Railey, a licensed psychologist based in Tallahassee discussing how cannabis use can impact a man’s mental health.

Editor’s note: This commentary is provided by the Medical Marijuana Education and Research Initiative (MMERI) of Florida A&M University.

Educate. Learn. Talk About Cannabis in Florida.

Learn and talk about cannabis in a safe space.

Explore FAMU’s free online cannabis education modules

MMERI.FAMU.Edu/Educate

Get relevant information about marijuana in Florida

MMERI.FAMU.Edu/Learn

Join Conversations On Cannabis each month on YouTube and Facebook

MMERI.FAMU.Edu/Talk

Follow ‘Conversations on Cannabis’ on

58 ONYX MAGAZINE

@MMERIForumRadio

JEFFREY J. NEWTON, Esq.

Melvin Philpot

Orange County Attorney Orange County Government

Products & Services Manager Duke Energy

Jeffrey Newton is a native of White Plains, N.Y. With a burning desire to receive an education, he graduated from Rippowam High School in Stamford, Conn., attended Norwalk Community College, earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Bridgeport, and a Juris Doctorate degree in 1984 from the University of Connecticut. Newton was admitted to the Connecticut Bar in November 1984 and became a sole practitioner. Later, he merged with three firms to create the largest full-service, predominately African-American-owned firm in Connecticut.

Melvin A. Philpot has served in Duke Energy for 41 years and is the product & services manager in Lake Mary for the nationally renowned “Neighborhood Energy Saver Program.” He is a servant leader who lends his talent and time to 100 Black Men of Greater Orlando, Florida Housing Coalition, board of directors of Rescue Outreach Mission, and more. His service is surpassed only by numerous honors including the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Steering Committee Brotherhood Award. Among his additional industry and community memberships are: • Member, American Association of Blacks In Energy • Board of Directors, Agriculture & Labor Program Inc. • Chairman, City of Sanford Martin Luther King Jr. Steering Committee • Chairman, Board of Commissioners, Sanford Housing Authority • Chairman, DEO Weatherization Policy Advisory Committee • Board of Directors, Suncoast Housing Connections • Secretary, Central Florida Urban League • Board of Directors, Goldsboro Front Porch project • Executive Committee, Florida Housing Coalition • Member, Goldsboro Choice Neighborhood Initiative • Co-founder, Florida Youth Energy Academy • Member, Duke Energy Florida Diversity Cabinet

In 1991 he relocated to Orlando and was hired by the Orange County Attorney’s Office in 1992. As an Assistant County Attorney, he served as chief labor union negotiator and counsel to the Fiscal and Business Services Division. In September 1997, Newton was promoted to deputy county attorney. He was instrumental in the Orange County Attorney’s Office’s selection to receive the 2001 Jefferson Fordham Law Office Accomplishment Award from the American Bar Association.

In April 2005, Newton accepted a position as County Attorney for Broward County, Fla. As the first African-American county attorney for Florida’s second-largest county, he was responsible for a $7.2 million budget, 38 attorneys, and 30 support staff. The Florida Association of County Attorneys recognized Newton for his leadership in fostering proper ethics and rules of professional conduct.

“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”

Author Unknown

In February 2011, Mayor Teresa Jacobs appointed him as the first African-American Orange County Attorney. Mayor Jerry L. Demings reappointed him in December 2018.

Newton has served as general counsel for and/or board member of the Urban League of Southwestern Connecticut, Inc., George Washington Carver Foundation, First District Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and Valencia Community College Black Advisory Committee. As a member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Beta Xi Boule, he is actively involved in the Young Black Men of Excellence program. Newton has taught Business Law and lectured on diverse topics ranging from Tourist Development Tax to Minority/Women Business Enterprises.

Newton and his wife, Charlene, enjoy traveling and have two adult children.

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Philpot has been recognized by several organizations for his outstanding work in communities and businesses throughout his long career. A stalwart in energy, he received the 2003 Progress Energy Pinnacle Award. The Pinnacle Award is designed to honor today’s leaders of the offshore industry, those who have made significant contributions in moving the standards of the industry forward. The Pinnacle Award recognizes outstanding individuals who have taken today’s leading-edge tools and technologies and applied them to real world challenges. In 2017, he was bestowed the American Association of Blacks in Energy’s Distinguished Service Award for his longevity in the industry, and he also received the Central Florida Urban League Cornerstone Award.

For his public service, Philpot received awards from United Love Center & Darnell Fryar Foundation and the Seminole County chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Other awards include: 2014 Duke Energy, James B. Duke Award; 2018 Goldsboro Front Porch Trailblazer Award; 2019 City of Sanford, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Steering Committee Brotherhood Award; 2023 Agriculture, Labor and Program Inc. Corporate Support Award; and 2023 Westside Mentoring, Lifetime Achievement Award.

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

Winston Churchill

ONYX MAGAZINE 61

Elroy Smith

Executive Chef Gerald Sombright

Director of Branding and Programming Star 94.5 Orlando, Power 106.1 and Hot 99.5 in Jacksonville Director Of Urban Content Cox Media Group

Executive Chef at Troon, Naples First African American Man in America to Earn a Michelin Star

Elroy Smith was born on the small but culturally rich island of Bermuda. He graduated from Graham Junior College in Boston with an associate degree in Broadcast Journalism, then transferred to Emerson College, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications. He earned a master’s degree in Business Management from Cambridge College.

While creating at Orlando’s Ritz-Carlton, Executive Chef Gerald Sombright became the first Black man in America to earn a Michelin Star. His journey began at 19, working prep and washing dishes. Inspired by Chef Patrick Clark, a Black chef in New York, Sombright has become a culinary rock star who competed on Top Chef Season 14 in Charleston and the inaugural season of “The Globe” on Food Network.

He is now executive chef and manager at the five-star resort Troon in Naples, Fla., a motivational speaker and television celebrity chef.

He also has graced the James Beard House as a featured guest chef.

Upon graduating from Emerson, Smith landed a full-time job as a disc jockey (DJ) at W.I.L.D. radio, Boston. Three years later, he became the program director. He has program stations in Dallas, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Chicago, and recently, Orlando and Jacksonville. He was the head of Radio One’s gospel radio stations. Smith was the first program director to play “Candy Girl” by R& B group New Edition and the first programmer to play, “Ice, Ice Baby,” by Vanilla Ice. Alicia Keys gave Smith and WGCI-Chicago a shout-out at The Grammy Awards for playing her music. He took a risk as a program director by playing Kirk Franklin’s “Why We Sing,” a pure gospel song, in heavy rotation amidst an R&B and Hip-Hop playlist.

Born in St. Louis, Mo., Sombright fell in love with the process of cooking at a young age. In Food & Wine Magazine he said, “In 1999 when I was 19, I started my kitchen career working prep and washing dishes. I didn’t know a brunoise from a baseball, yet I was intrigued. Georges Auguste Escoffier’s (and other famed chefs) photo hung on the wall next to the schedule, and it was impossible to escape his gaze as I dropped something, messed up, or even thought about taking a shortcut. None of these men looked like me.

None of them grew up Black in America. Yet my aspirations were set by their achievements.” In less than eight years’ time, young Sombright earned the top spot as chef de cuisine of the same restaurant.

Smith has coached and worked with notable radio personalities, such as Charlamagne of the Breakfast Club, Tom Joyner, and the late Doug Banks. Steve Harvey began his radio career with Elroy.

“But first, seek His Kingdom and his righteousness, and all of these things will be given to you.”

Matthew 6:33

Smith’s career highlights include the Midwest Radio Music Association Icon Award; Living Awards Foundation Honoree; R&B Hip Hop Operations Manager/ Program Director of the Year for Billboard Magazine; State of the District Media Award by U.S. Congress 2006; Urban Programmer of the Year at the Radio Music Awards in 2005; and Smith was ranked recently as one of the top radio programmers in America by Radio Ink publication.

Of all the industry distinctions, Smith is most proud of his family and lives in Orlando with his wife of 27 years, Vonda Smith. They have three children. He is a member of the Orlando Church of Christ.

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Biography, in part, provided by Troon, writer Joëlle Creamer.

Smith is currently the director of branding and Programming for Star 94.5 Orlando and Power 106.1 and Hot 99.5 in Jacksonville, and he is the director Of Urban Content for Cox Media Group.

From there, he went on to work under the direction of award-winning and Celebrity Chef Michael Mina at the acclaimed Wit & Wisdom restaurant at the Four Seasons Baltimore Waterfront. He later opened PB&G at the Four Seasons Resort in Orlando, led by Chef Fabrizio Schenardi, as well as multiple restaurants at JW Marriott in Marco Island, including the celebrated tapas-style Mediterranean dining experience, Tesero.

“Make it nice.”

We attribute it to Chef Daniel Humm

Nowadays, Sombright gives back, showing the culinary world that celebrated chefs belong in the club industry and sharing his experiences with younger chefs who might be searching for a familiar face, while also dishing up truly outstanding cuisine for members of The Dunes and the city of Naples. Leaving a legacy is what Sombright does wherever he goes.

ONYX MAGAZINE 63

O N Y X F O U N DAT I O N S C H O L A R S

E D U C AT I O N

PREPARING FOR COLLEGE

Punctuating the importance of education, the ONYX Foundation launched two scholarships, provided by Orlando Health, in 2022. This year, the Reginald Alexander Maycock Black & Everett Braynen Hope Scholarship will be awarded to four male students who show academic promise at high schools, colleges and universities in Florida. The scholarship is named in honor of Publisher Rich Black’s father and uncle. The late Reginald Black and his wife, the late Udell T. Black, were the proprietors of the first Black-owned restaurant in downtown Orlando in the 1960s. The late Braynen and his wife, Linda Y. Braynen, were real estate entrepreneurs in Fort Pierce.

When is the best time to apply for higher education?

BY REBECCA SAFIER

M

any students start college in the fall after they graduate high school, but their planning and applying starts years before. Application deadlines may be in the fall or winter of senior year, and completing each step on the path to college might start as early as high school freshman year.

SOLOMON AMEYIBOR Jones High School Solomon Ameyibor is a Jones High School senior who is involved within different clubs and activities at school as well as in the community. He is a candidate for the International Baccalaureate Program, a rigorous academic program where he strives to challenge himself academically while also learning about world problems and how to help solve them. He is also a part of the National Honor Society, Beta Club and Rollins College Upward Bound. He serves as the president and ambassador of student affairs for Upward Bound. Outside of class, he has volunteered at Clean the World through programs at Rollins College. He enjoys include, playing soccer, football and tennis for his high school. He is a member of his church’s choir where he plays the drums.

WHEN DO THE MAJORITY OF STUDENTS APPLY TO COLLEGE?

appreciate early notification. If you're planning to apply early, when do you complete each step of the process?

WHEN DO YOU APPLY FOR EARLY ADMISSIONS?

YOUR COLLEGE PLANNING TIMELINE FOR EARLY DEADLINES

Early admissions includes two options: early decision and early action. While early decision and early action differ in terms of their requirements and conditions, they share similar timelines. Both plans have a deadline in November and allow you to hear back about your admissions decision in mid-December.

Some schools with early decision now also offer an Early Decision II deadline, which is in January. Like Early Decision I, this binding option lets you hear back an early decision from your first-choice school, usually in February. The main advantage of applying Early Decision II is that you will have a little extra time to polish up your application before submitting it.

Early admissions can be a great option for students who are prepared to apply early and

You need to take time filling out your application, thoughtfully writing about your extracurricular involvement, and proofreading all the information for errors. Three requirements that demand the most planning and time are your personal essay, recommendation letters, and SAT or ACT scores.

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PERSONAL ESSAY You should spend a few months thinking about and writing your personal essay. Giving yourself space to brainstorm and mull over ideas is an important part of the writing process that can take weeks. Since your essay is such an important part of your application, you should spend a couple of months drafting, getting feedback, and revising it until it feels precise and authentic, almost like a work of art.

DEVIN GLYMPH Florida A&M University College of Engineering

RECOMMENDATION LETTERS A second piece of your application that requires your attention early on is your recommendation letters. You should ask your counselor and teachers at least a month before your deadlines, likely by the end of September. You might also ask your junior year teachers at the end of 11th grade.

Outline your accomplishments, so that your recommenders have some thoughtful material to consult when they begin to write.

TEST SCORES Finally, you want to leave yourself plenty of time to take the SAT or ACT. You might take the tests two or three times to achieve your target scores.

You also would benefit from several months to study and improve. To apply for an early deadline, you'd ideally have your test scores all set by the end of junior year. You might be able to take the tests in September or October of senior year.

The time is now. Walk into your destiny.

PrepScholar

Most students apply to college in their senior year of high school. Most schools offer multiple options for when to submit your applications.

These different options are known as admissions plans, and each plan usually has its own deadlines, requirements, and, sometimes, restrictions. The admissions plans that you’ll encounter as you research different schools include the following: early decision, early action, regular decision, and rolling admissions.

Most schools will require you to submit applications for early action or early decision by November of senior year. To meet a regular decision deadline, you would apply a few months later in January or February.

Devin Glymph was a Merit Scholar at St. Lucie West Centennial High School in Port St. Lucie, Fla. While in high school, he enrolled at Indian River State College’s Dual Enrollment Program. During this period of coursework at Indian River State College, he was able to successfully pass several advanced courses in general chemistry, college algebra, pre-calculus. These courses helped me to successfully earn college credit hours toward receiving a bachelor’s degree. Glymph was a student athlete where he competed in varsity football and varsity track and field. As a senior, he qualified for a chance at a district championship in the long jump event. His extra-curricular activities also included volunteering with the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., LampLighter Youth Group. This youth group offers mentorship and a means for volunteering within the community through food drives and roadside cleanups. Upon graduation from high school in June 2023, he was accepted into the engineering program at the Florida A&M-Florida State University College of Engineering, where he will major in Mechanical Engineering. He also plans to compete once again in the long jump event as part of the Florida A&M University Track and Field Team and will maintain a presence in the community through volunteering.

KEISHAUN ROBINSON Jones High School Keishaun Robinson is a Jones High School senior who is involved in different clubs and activities at school as well as in the community. Robison is a member of National Honor Society, Student Government Association (SGA) and varsity basketball. He currently is Mr. Jones High School for the 2023-2024 school year.

Outside of the classroom he is an active member of the My Brothers Keepers (MBK) program and volunteers with the City of Orlando Paramore Kids Zone (PKZ). His enjoys playing basketball, and volleyball for his high school. After graduation, he plans to persue a sports career and major in sports management.

GERALD ANTHONY SMITH, JR. Jack Hayward Senior High School Freeport, Grand Bahama, The Bahamas In 2017, Gerald Anthony Smith, Jr., graduated from the Jack Hayward Senior High School, Freeport, Grand Bahama, The Bahamas.

Thereafter, he commenced his studies at the University of The Bahamas Northern Campus, Freeport, Grand Bahama, to pursue an associate degree in Criminal Justice.

In 2019 after Hurricane Dorian, Smith relocate to Nassau to continue his education at the main campus. Since his relocation, he became a member of Bahamas Youth Network and serve as a Bible study leader. I am the president of Phi Mu Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., which is the fraternity’s only active international collegiate chapter. In spring 2023, he received the Upsilon Zeta Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Bajina Marshall Academic and Leadership Award. I have served for the past three years as a residential assistant at The University of The Bahamas residential campus. In May 2024, Smith will graduate with an associate degree in Law and Criminal Justice Studies and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. With a GPA of 3.16, Smith plans to attend graduate school to pursue a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology. “I am honored to have been selected for this inaugural ONYX Magazine Book Award for students attending the University of The Bahamas.

ONYX MAGAZINE 65

ONYX PROFILE

Jaylen Smith Mayor Earle, Arkansas

STEVEN JOHNSON

AMERICA’S YOUNGEST MAYOR Jaylen Smith a native of Earle, Ark., for 18 years, is the mayor of the city of Earle, Ark., elected in December 2022.

Prior to becoming mayor, Smith served as president of Earle High School’s Student Government Association; class president; a member of career and technical student organization Family, Career, and Community Lead-ers of America, and acted as President of Student Voice.

He is currently known and globally rec-ognized as the youngest African Amer-ican mayor in the history of the United States Government and this momen-tous achievement has opened doors for appearances on the Jennifer Hud-son Show, the Towanna Murphy Show and the Roland Martin’s show, amongst others.

Smith currently lives in Earle, Ark., where he is surrounded by the love, respect and support of his family and a team of governmental colleagues. Faith and focus are priorities for Smith therefore he believes that individuals are never too young to want to make a difference in their communities and looks forward to working on building a better chapter for Earle during his term.

“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”

U.S. President Barack Obama (2009 - 2017)

66 ONYX MAGAZINE

BAHAMAS MINISTRY OF TOURISM

S

teven Johnson is a veteran sales and marketing professional with over 35 years’ experience in the tourism and hospitality sector, Johnson brings a wealth of knowledge in public relations, event planning, marketing, and advertising.

Since 1986, Johnson has served the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism in various capacities in Grand Bahama, New York, and Canada; and has worked on several marketing plans to increase The Bahamas’ stopover arrivals from major areas, such as New York, Boston, Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia. Johnson currently serves the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism as the Director for Canada and China, based in Toronto.

In Johnson’s new role he will be the director for the SMERF market, specializing in fraternal and religious tourism, and the African American and multi-cultural markets. Johnson is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Prince Hall Masonic Lodges – (Shriners, Knights Templar, and the Royal Arch). His wealth of knowledge in these areas will bring millions of dollars to the Bahamian economy as he increases business development opportunities for Nassau, Grand Bahama, and the Out Islands.

In addition, Johnson holds a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree, cum laude from the historical Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Tx., and a Master of Science degree from the International Management Centres Association in Buckingham, UK.

Johnson has served on the previous Caribbean Tourism Board (CTO) in Canada, as a vice president and advisor. He is the founder of Well-Groomed Youth Mentorship Organization, where he mentors young men between the ages of 12-18 to be become gentlemen and assisting them in polishing their skills and preparing them for higher education and the corporate boardroom.

ONYX MAGAZINE 67

FOOD & WINE

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68 ONYX MAGAZINE

INGREDIENTS • 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar • 2 dashes bitters • 1 strip orange zest • 2 ounces Bourbon or whiskey • 1 brandied cherry, optional • Ice cubes

DIRECTIONS Muddle together the sugar, bitters and orange zest in the bottom of an oldfashioned glass.

Pour over the whiskey and add the cherry, if using. Top with ice cubes.

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