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Racial Dis-Identification Dr. Umar Johnson

November 2014

35 Richest Hollywood Black Actors

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Selma

#Blackout Black Friday(Photo: Hopkins, Karen)

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IN THIS ISSUE

Publisher/CEO Sharon S. Gordon

Page 6

The Illusion of Inclusion

Editor-at-Large Alicia (“A.C.”) Dunlap

Page 9

V.P. Sales & Marketing Lisa Freeman-Williamson Sales Leonette Robinson

How Students Can Get Ahead: What Colleges And Companies Want

Page 11

3 Tips to Help Small Businesses Save at Tax Time

Contributing Writers Delois R. Wright Brenda Spencer Mykayla Bryant Production/Graphics Mayda Sanchez Online Ashley Corry

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New Martin Luther King Jr. Biopic “Selma” Due in Theatres December 25th 2015 Vacation Ideas

Distribution Cobre’ Gordon UTS Grind & Go Street Team Copyright Urban Trendsetters is published monthly and distributed the first Thursday of every month as a complementary publication by Myshbre’ Media and Communication, LLC,5773 Emporium Square, Columbus, OH 43219. Publisher reserves the right to edit, reject or cancel any advertisement or editorial

GET YOUR Free Business Listing Premium Directory Launch Specials Available Including,,,,, ADDITIONAL PHOTOS / VIDEOS / AUDIO COUPONS / DIGITAL / PRINT & MORE What is the BEE Business Directory? The BEE (Black Economic Empowerment) Business Directory is a community resource for locating African Americans in business and to communicate additional businesses, resources and services available to build and enhance opportunities in the community. Our first edition of The BEE (Black Economic Empowerment) Business Directory will launch in Central Ohio. The BEE Business Directory will be published in print and online. The printed version will be available for distribution July 2015. Our goal is to register over 500 businesses by submission date May 1, 2015. Join Us!

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Publisher ’s Message Is Your Business Ready for the 4 Busiest Shopping Days of the - Don’t Miss the MOMENT! The holiday season accounts for between 20 percent and 40 percent of typical retailers' total annual sales. The busiest shopping days, Thanksgiving Day (after the dinner has digested), Black Friday, Small Business Saturday (powered by American Express) and Cyber Monday have the ability to create a massive amount of sales for retailers both big and small, with the right amount of planning and an aggressive advertising.

based on the NRF consumer survey.

than they spent on Cyber Monday 2012.

•Between Thanksgiving Day (November 29) through Black Sunday (December 1st), 76.4% of shoppers purchased something for themselves, according to consumer survey data collected by the NRF.

•Cyber Monday 2013 sales rose 20.6%, compared to Cyber Monday 2012, according to IBM Benchmark reports.

•Mobile devices were used to make 17% of Cyber Monday 2013 purchases, which is an •ShopperTrak reported that total sales in increase of 55.4% compared to sales that physical stores for the four-day Black Friday originated from mobile devices on Cyber weekend, starting with Thanksgiving day Monday 2012, the IBM Benchmark reported. Here are the four day weekend sales rewere $22.2 billion, which is an increase of sults from Thanksgiving Day through 1%, compared to the same time period in Don’t miss the opportunity to increase your Cyber Monday Week November 28 - De- 2012. sales and services during this holiday season. cember 1, 2013: After holiday sales are an additional way to Last year, consumers spent around $5.7 Bil- boost end of the year revenue. Sharon S. Gordon •141 million shoppers visited stores or web- lion at independent merchants around the Founder / Publisher sharon@urbantrendsetters.com sites from Thanksgiving Day November 28th country on Small Business Saturday. through the Cyber Monday Eve, December The holidays are a great time to play catch up 1st, according a survey by the NRF (National Cyber Monday Sales Results and Statistics for November 28 & 29, 2013: and celebrate with family and friends. Dur- Retail Federation (NRF) survey). Based on •Cyber Monday, December 2, 2013 was the ing this time we are reminded of what we are consumer survey responses, the NRF estimated that $57.4 billion was spent over the single biggest day for e-commerce sales for thankful for as well as anticipate what we U.S. based Internet retailers, according to want accomplish in the new year. For retail- four-day Black Friday weekend, which, if correct, is 2.9% less than 2012. ComScore. Cyber Monday 2013 sales were ers, the holiday season means something so $1.735 billion, which represents an 18.4% much more. Retailers recognize the holiday •59 million consumers shopped online beincrease compared to 2012. season as the opportunity to increase their business bottom line and end the year with a tween Thanksgiving Day and the Sunday after Black Friday and spent an average of •Visa card holders spent $2.6 billion on BANG! $177.67 per person, according to estimates Cyber Monday 2013, which was 28% more

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TRENDSETTER SPEAKS

The Illusion of Inclusion: Raven-Symoné and the Politics of Racial Dis-Identification precedent. Historically, even esteemed scholars such as W.E.B. Dubois have, at one time or another, attempted to dis-identify from their Blackness, ridiculously claiming that they were the sum total of far too many different racial genotypes to affirmatively identity with their predominate Afrikanity. Although disidentification has been a problem for Blacks since the end of slavery, we have seen a dramatic increase in this strategy since the election of President Obama Umar Johnson is a Doctor of Clinical Psychology and Certified and the birth of the School Psychologist. He is author of “Psycho-Academic Holoalleged, and deficaust: The Special Education and ADHD Wars Against Black Boys.” As a special education expert and consultant he helps Black nitely hypocritical, parents around the world advocate for their children. He is amidst “post-racial society.” How can a soa $2-Million-Dollar fundraising campaign to acquire the HBCU St.Paul’s College in Virginia to be purchased and re-opened as the ciety that proclaims Frederick Douglass & Marcus Garvey (FDMG) RBG International to be post-racial Leadership Academy for Black Boys. explain the recordwww.DrUmarJohnsonSchool.com breaking suspension and expulsion rate of kindergarten Nationwide — Recent comments made Black boys, or the highest incarceration by Raven-Symoné may have been igno- rate in the world that disproportionately rant and self-depreciating, but were not, targets Black men and women. by any stretch of the imagination, uncommon. On national television she stat- The belief that anyone in this country ed, “I’m an American, not an Africanwill cease to identify you with your parAmerican. I don’t know where my roots ticular race just because you hate your go (in Afrika), I don’t know how far membership within that particular group back they go, and what country they go is ridiculous. All politics in America are to… but I do know that I have roots in race based. Every job and dollar spent is Louisiana.” As if this wasn’t insult in neglect of, or support for, one racial enough to her ancestors, and all selfgroup or the other. Raven-Symoné, and respecting Black people in this country, other Negro victims of white supremacy this African-American actress, who is haven’t the slightest clue about the true undeniably of African ancestry, goes on significance of race in this country. to say, “I’m an American, and that’s a However, their frequent comments, excolorless person… I have a lot of things pressing their desires not to be Black, running through my veins.” Increasingly only adds to the argument on whether we are seeing more and more politically “Blackness” is still relevant in a society undereducated and self-hating Africanwith a Black president, and millions of Americans attempting to dis-identify African-Americans who prefer not to be from their Blackness. identified with their most obvious physical and biological characteristic, their racial background. The question on whether Blackness is still relevant in a society based on white privilege is rather However, this behavior is not without

ridiculous in a country where White police officers kill at least two unarmed Black men a week, without probable cause, and aren’t even brought in for questioning. If you think America is post -racial then go ask the parents of Trayvon Martin or Michael Brown their opinion. Still further, visit anyone of America’s prisons where a plethora of Black men and women await life sentences for no other reason than not having enough money to hire a decent attorney.

who are actively trying to be what they are not. African-Americans are the only active proponents of integration and a color-blind identity, and both are the logical consequences of a people not wanting to be unashamedly who they really are. In her conversation with Oprah, a confused Raven-Symoné stated “I don’t label myself, I have darker skin, I have a nice interesting grade of hair. . .” These comments reveal her obvious hatred for self, and yet her simultaneous approval of Eurocentric standards of beauty, which is usually at the core of most Black persons’ reasoning for wanting to The recent movement spurred by many Blacks to dis-identify from their race has escape their Blackness in the first place: inadvertently supported the rise in atten- notably not being physically attractive tion being paid to the political agendas of according to White standards, and also other minority groups, who don’t have a not being socially desired by White peoproblem being who they are, most nota- ple. bly, gays and Latinos, both of whom are aggressively championing their causes Since the beginning of human history on the local, state and national level. The most groups have valued their culturalAmerican social order has definitely historical uniqueness, and most still do. done its part to confuse the descendants When was the last time you found an of enslaved Afrikans by recently adding Anglo-Saxon, European Jew, Asian, Arto the legal nomenclature additional ra- ab, East Indian or Native American trycial categories, such as bi-racial and mul- ing to be something other than themti-racial, which gives 21st century Blacks selves. These are very proud people who a false belief in the so-called “post-racial represent and identify with their collecAmerica.” These new racial descriptors tive racial experience wherever they go. do nothing more but sow even more dis- Only because of self-hatred is the Afrisension within a group of people whose kan trying to be what he or she is not. In only solution lies in their identification the past, African-Americans would deal and unification as a distinct racial group. with racism by confronting it dead on. The psychological consequences of call- However, in the Obama era, rather than ing oneself biracial and multiracial lie in fight against racial oppression, many the false sense of separateness it gives Blacks have simply chosen to disthe victim from the rest of their African- identify from being Black altogether. American in-group. Still further, it pro- The politics of racial invisibility and colmotes an attitude of “less Black” and or-blindness is certainly a welcomed “more White,” which spells disaster for change of tactic by the United States internal racial harmony amongst African- government as it would help to expedite Americans still suffering the vestiges of their agenda of wholesale mass incarcerPost-Traumatic Slavery Disease (PTSD) ation and extermination of Africanand light-skinned supremacy. Not to American people. mention the fact that for hundreds of years White Americans paid to attention to the bi-racial parentage of neither its free or enslaved Afrikans, which begs the question as to why they claim to be so concerned about mixed parentage all of a sudden. If running away from being Black is impossible, if one’s racial identity is biologically fixed at birth, then why do so many Blacks try anyway? The answers to this question are too numerous to be addressed here, but for the sake of discussion, we will reduce it to two simple answers: self-hatred and political deception. Let it not be lost on you that Blacks Continued on page 7 are the only people in the United States 6

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TRENDSETTERS SPEAKS Continued from page 7

tural prefix that anchors them somewhere else in the world (i.e., ItalianAmerican, Chinese-American, ArabAmerican, etc.) For the American Negro to eliminate their cultural prefix would eliminate them from the map of human geography and would paradoxically justify America’s neglect of them as the only people in the country who have no clue as to where they come from, and just how they arrived in America.

played out as a consequence of the 1964 Civil Rights Bill that saw the inclusion of the words “minority” and “gender” as a replacement for “Negro” and “Black” as it related to the groups that would be protected within the scope of the soon to be new law, at that time. By allowing the public discussion to include all nonwhite peoples under a general descriptor of “minority,” rather than continuing to assert they were fighting exclusively for the rights of Black people, Negro leaders “Historical amnesia” as a strategy, postu- gave consent to the stealing of rights and lated by Raven-Symoné and other incentives away from their own Black Blacks, seeks to forget one’s history and communities in deference and preference culture as a strategy for being accepted to Asians, Mexicans and other groups. by American Whites will not work for Still worse, none of these other racial one primary reason: self-respecting peo- groups did anything to advance the cause Actress Raven Symone’ ple who embrace their culture and histo- of Blacks during the civil rights struggle. The entire purpose of the “Post-Racial ry cannot respect another people who do In fact, upon arrival in America, many of America” Campaign is to convince the not. That is to say historical amnesia these ethnicities fought for the right to foremost victims of white supremacy, would ironically increase the contempt identify as white people, and away from American Blacks, that their skin color, or that America has for the Black man or Black people. Trying to blend in with more accurately that their culturalwoman, and not lessen it, as it underother groups, all of whom practice their genetic uniqueness, is no longer consid- scores racist antebellum beliefs about own unique form of prejudice against the ered a threat to European ambitions, in Blacks that have existed for centuries, African-American, is no solution to the hopes that they forego their racial identi- chiefly that they are animals who have Black man’s problem in America. ty so that it can be conceptually amalga- no history or culture. mated into the larger imaginary political For Blacks to fall for this dangerous ploy Simply stated, America wants the Black construct of simply being an would give the government the chance to man and woman to abandon their racial “American.” This would be quite an erase Black people, and their critically identity in order that Black issues can be anomaly since every other American’s important issues, from public discussion removed from the public agenda. This identity in this country is afforded a cul- altogether. This scenario has already has been the primary purpose of biracial

and multiracial campaigns: to get enough Black people to dis-identify from being Black in preference of some new socially -acceptable racial designee so as to render Black people and their issues irrelevant altogether. Any student of military history knows that a propaganda campaign against a particular group in public is always the precursor to a military campaign against them physically. Black people who hate being Black are playing right into the extermination agenda of the United States government that seeks to remove Black issues and Black people from the political landscape altogether. Now is not the time for AfricanAmericans to hide behind an elusive and indescribable “American” identity that has never, and will never, apply to them. Now is the time to stand up unapologetically and proclaim their uniqueness as a people, and the uniqueness of the Black plight in America.

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EDUCATION TRENDS

How Students Can Get Ahead: What Colleges And Companies Want So if you were to have, say, a compelling story about how you traveled the world and connected with other cultures, it's likely you'd get that experience noticed by admissions officers. What Companies Want After college, the right sort of educational travel can also boost your career. A recent study led by professor William W. Maddux of the international graduate business school INSEAD reveals that those who travel may enjoy more job opportunities. He discovered that an MBA student's intercultural experiences predicted the number of job offers received, even when controlling for such variables as demographics, personality and the like. NAPSI)—If your family is like most, you want a college education for your children— today, 75 percent of Americans have their eyes set on a college education. That's a good thing. Over a lifetime, college graduates average about a million dollars more than high school graduates.

Students who adapted to and learned about new cultures demonstrated more openness and initiative. They were seen as being able to bring seemingly unrelated ideas together into meaningful wholes. As a result, they were better able to navigate the interview process and received more job offers.

A problem is that most colleges haven't significantly increased the size of their freshman classes. As a result, acceptance rates are declining to as low as 5.69 percent.

In an article for management- issues.com, Dr. David Livermore, president of the Cultural Intelligence Center, explained that some of the most promising correlations found between international travel and job prospects are:

What Colleges Want Many admissions officers look at the "whole student," trying to determine character, creativity, leadership, sense of humor and moral fiber. Qualities like these can't be conveyed in grades and test scores, so more weight is being given to letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities and essays.

3. Creativity and Problem Solving: In a new environment, everyday tasks have to be done differently and you might even pick up new approaches to common problems. A proven ability to innovate makes for a strong advantage in a job search.

survey of 1,500 CEOs worldwide found the quality they most prize—and that's most lacking in the workforce—is creativity or innovation.

Stephan Turnipseed, president emeritus of LEGO Education North America, advocates Travel by itself, however, won't ensure imfusing the traditional 3 Rs with the 4 Cs: proved cultural intelligence (CQ™) or incritical thinking, communication, collaboracreased job offers. There are important varia- tion and creativity. Those skills, Turnipseed bles: says, often blossom beyond the classroom. In particular, he cites People to People Ambas• The nature of the experience: Those who sador travel as an activity uniquely suited to venture out to discover the food, transporta- spark students' global thinking and creative problem solving. tion and people of the places they visit are likely to enhance their CQ. Turnipseed notes, "To be successful in People to People, you're going to need to collab• The number of experiences: Individuals orate—not just with your peers and leader, with multiple experiences in a variety of but with host families," as well as service places see more of the benefits of travel. providers, experts and other students encountered during travel. • Age: Exposing kids to other places can be very influential, helping them build their People to People has been a leader in guided sense of self and a unique worldview. educational student travel for over 50 years, helping students experience new cultures and • The cultural interpreter: If a trip's leaders encounter new places. focus on the negative aspects of a culture, CQ can actually decrease. The individual who interprets what's going on plays a large Learn More role in bringing about positive effects from To learn how your child can be a People to travel. People Ambassador, check out an information meeting near you. Visit • Reflection and debriefing: Many study abroad programs emphasize pre-trip training www.PeopletoPeople.com or call (800) 6697882 for meeting dates and locations. but the most important insights come from reflecting in the midst of the experience and upon returning home.

1. Strong Sense of Self: Travel helps you become aware of your own values and priorities. Organizations want to hire professionals Simply listing international travel as a part of who are self-aware. your résumé is unlikely to yield many benefits. But using travel to expand your view of 2. Increased Trust: Another study found self, integrate ideas from different cultures that how much you trust a stranger is posiand creatively solve problems helps you to tively correlated to the number of places stand apart from other candidates. you've visited. Companies want team members who can develop trusting relationships Business leaders seem to agree. An IBM across virtual and international borders.

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BUSINESS TRENDS Nielsen 2014 Holiday Forecast Shows Multicultural Consumers Drivers of Increased Spending This Season – African-American consumers expected to spend the most of all three groups – Trends such as rising consumer confidence in the economy, lowered inflation and falling gas prices indicate that consumers overall are eager to spend more this holiday season than last year. Multicultural households are projected to account for 43% of the increased spending this holiday season. AfricanAmericans are expected to be the heavier spenders this season, accounting for 17%, spending more than other multicultural groups.

New York, NY — Multicultural consumers are expected to drive this year’s increase in holiday spending with African-Americans making up the largest percentage of the increase, according to the 2014 Holiday Sales Forecast released today by Nielsen, a leading global proTwenty-two percent of shoppers have vider of information and insights. already begun shopping compared to 65% of the general population who plan

to delay their holiday shopping excursions. While African-Americans, plan to spend more, 70% plan to shop later during this holiday season.

with music and pop culture. In addition, higher academic achievement has translated into increases in household income – 44% of all African-American households now earn $50,000 or more and 23% earn above $75,000. And these So where are African-Americans shophigher household incomes, coupled with ping? With multicultural households overall population growth, are driving driving this year’s online growth, African-Americans plan to spend 20% more the substantial purchasing power of the African-American consumer, which is online compared to last year. AfricanAmericans also plan to spend 15% more expected to reach $1.3 trillion in a few at electronics retailers and grocery stores short years. this season. The 2014 Holiday Sales Forecast inAfrican-Americans’ holiday lists are di- sights were derived from two custom studies: a consumer survey of more than verse as well. Electronics including 25,000 U.S. households in September smartphones, TVs and laptops will account for 17% more spending by African 2014 and sales forecasts from an analysis of 92 categories covering five depart-Americans compared to 10% of total ments representing more than $100 bilhouseholds. Other product areas where lion in sales. increased spending is planned include 17% more on food and 15% more on To read more about this year’s holiday apparel. shopping findings, please visit African-Americans – at 44 million strong www.nielsen.com. and approximately 14.2% of the country’s population – make up a powerful group with a growing impact on American culture and business. This demographic is largely young—53% are under the age of 35 – giving them an oversized influence on the latest trends, especially

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BUSINESS TRENDS 3 Tips to Help Small Businesses Save at Tax Time While running a small business and being your own boss can be satisfying indeed, it can also be tricky come tax time. To ensure that you keep more money in your pocket than the government’s, check out the following tax tips: 1. Deduct everything. The IRS has given dozens of concessions to small business owners, but many don’t take full advantage of all that they can claim. For instance, if there’s a space in your home dedicated exclusively for business, you can deduct some of your housing costs. For a 2013 return, you can claim $5 per sq. ft. of your office up to 300 sq. ft. Additionally, you can also deduct monthly Internet charges, electricity, gas and phone (cell or land line) expenses.

3. File on time. Many small business owners end up paying more than is necessary because they file late, resulting in the IRS charging interest, late fees, and penalty fees. Missing deadlines in any circumstance is inexcusable (be it for a customer or a government agency) and is likely due to an owner being disorganized and more focused on their customers than their books.

To this end, many owners are using technology to their advantage and using cloud-based systems like FreshBooks (www.freshbooks.com), which makes it easy to stay on top of accounting tasks like invoicing and expense tracking. Such systems also allow the owner to send their accountant all the reports and Other deductions you might be eligible dictate how much or how little you pay information they need with the click of a in taxes. Most small businesses choose to mouse. Mileage is often another overlooked ex- for as a small business owner include travel expenses like tolls and parking, 50 operate as a sole proprietor, limited liapense. You can deduct the miles you percent of meals with clients, as well as bility company, or corporation. A tax drive for business, such as client meetspecialist or accountant can advise you supplies, and furniture for your office. ings or picking up supplies. Every trip as to which structure is best for your counts, even the short ones, so it pays to business, but as a rule of thumb, if your keep track of your mileage. Small busi- 2. Use the right business structure. business generates more than $50,000 in nesses are allotted 56 cents for each mile There are various ways to structure a profit, you save taxes by incorporating. small business, and how you do so will travelled.

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BUSINESS TRENDS

35 Richest Black Actors

Will Smith

Jamie Foxx

Martin Lawrence

Acting is a business that has proven to be profita-

#6: Denzel Washington Net Worth – $140 Million #10: Jamie Foxx Net Worth – $85 Million

ble for quite a few actors and actresses, some of

#7: Ice Cube Net Worth – $140 Million

#11: Eddie Murphy Net Worth – $85 Million

them black. One thing to notice about this list is

#12: Chris Rock Net Worth – $70 Million

that Tyler Perry is at the top of it, but he ’ s proba-

#13: James Earl Jones Net Worth – $45 Million

bly been famous for the shortest amount of

#14: Ice T Net Worth – $40 Million

time. For example, if you compare him with Mor-

#15: Forest Whitaker Net Worth – $40 Million

gan Freeman and Denzel Washington, there real-

#16: Danny Glover Net Worth – $40 Million

ly is no comparison.

#17: Don Cheadle Net Worth – $35 Million #18: Sidney Poitier Net Worth – $25 Million

Also, if you were to lay out a list of the wealthiest

#19: Eriq La Salle Net Worth – $25 Million

people in Hollywood, these numbers might be

#20: Dennis Haysbert Net Worth – $22 Million

dwarfed by those who either make their own films

Tyler Perry

or run their own businesses. For example, Byron

#21: Laurence Fishburne Net Worth – $20 Million #22: Terrence Howard Net Worth – $20 Million

Allen isn ’ t nearly as well known as anyone on

#8: Martin Lawrence Net Worth – $110 Million

#23: Michael Clarke Duncan Net Worth – $18

this list, but he ’ s earned several hundred million

#9: LL Cool J Net Worth – $100 Million

Million

dollars by making his own television shows and

#24: Ving Rhames Net Worth – $16 Million

distributing them nation-wide.

#25: Cuba Gooding Jr Net Worth – $15 Million #26: Idris Elba Net Worth – $12 Million

Check out the list and ask yourself: Where does

#27: Djimon Hounsou Net Worth – $10 Million

this money come from, and who ends up getting

#27: Charles S. Dutton Net Worth – $9 Million

paid the most?

#29: Blair Underwood Net Worth – $8 Million #30: Billy Dee Williams Net Worth – $7.5 Million

The 35 Richest Black Actors in the World:

#31: LeVar Burton Net Worth – $6 Million

#1: Tyler Perry Net Worth – $400 Million

#32: Robert Guillaume Net Worth – $5 Million

#2: Bill Cosby Net Worth – $350 Million

#33: Larenz Tate Net Worth – $4.5 Million

#3: Will Smith Net Worth – $200 Million

#34: Dule Hill Net Worth – $3.5 Million

#4: Samuel L. Jackson Net Worth – $170 Million

#35: Michael Ealy Net Worth – $3 Million

#5: Morgan Freeman Net Worth – $150 Million

Ice T

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DIET FREE LIFE PROUD SPONSORS OF THE NEW UTS FITS & TRENDY MAGAZINE

Health and Wellness

7 Fitness Myths, Debunked (NAPSI)—With the New Year rapidly approaching, there’s no shortage of advice on the best ways to achieve your resolutions. Yet, when it comes to fitness and weight loss goals, it can be difficult to tell fact from fiction. Stay on the fast track to keeping your New Year’s resolutions. Here are Bowflex Fitness Advisor and author of “Beat the Gym,” Tom Holland’s top seven fitness myths exposed: Myth #1: You need to spend at least an hour in the gym to see results.

Myth #4: Fitness shakes are just for people who want to bulk up. Many people confuse fitness shakes with “mass gainers”—products used to aid in bulking up. Protein shakes, however, can actually be a great way to achieve the healthy diet necessary to reach fitness goals. For instance, the new line of Bowflex Body™ (www.bowflexbody.com) fitness shakes activates the metabolism and helps build muscle, burn calories and boost energy, all while refueling the body.

Research shows you can actually achieve better results doing 15 minutes of interval training Myth #5: Do cardio on an empty stomach to three times a week than by jogging on a tread- burn the most fat. mill for an hour. Many people believe if you work out on an empty stomach, your body will use its stored Not sure where to start? Consider this: The fat supply to fuel the exercise. However, renew Bowflex Max Trainer® search shows fat burn is consistent whether (www.bowflexmaxtrainer.com) burns up to 2½ times the calories as do other cardio exer- you eat before a workout or not. cise equipment in 14 minutes and engages the upper body 80 percent more than a traditional If you’re looking for cardio motivation, the elliptical. Plus, it’s designed specifically for new Nautilus® 616 cardio series the home, so you can work out anytime. (www.nautilus.com) includes a treadmill, elliptical, upright bike and recumbent bike. Features include groundbreaking technology for Myth #2: As long as you exercise, you can eat whatever you want. better connectivity and customizable workouts with the innovative Nautilus® Trainer™ app. Whether you want to maintain, gain or lose Myth #6: Crunches are best for getting weight, you need to make sure your caloric intake matches your goals. To lose weight, you great abs. need to eat fewer calories than you burn. For example, if you burn 500 calories during your No matter how many crunches you do, you workout and then eat two or more slices of won’t see six-pack abs until you lose the laypizza (topping 500 calories), you’ll end up ers of fat covering your abdominal wall. The gaining weight. best way to lose fat is to stick to a strict diet and scorch major calories with interval trainYou can determine how much to eat by testing ing and compound weight-lifting exercises— your metabolic rate, since your metabolic rate which use more than one major muscle group. is the energy you use in order to be alive plus the energy needed for daily activities. You can Myth #7: I can’t reach my fitness goals beuse this measurement to accurately identify cause I can’t afford a trainer. how many calories your body needs. Myth #3: Organic or gluten-free foods are best for weight loss.

Personal trainers are a great resource to help motivate and take you to the next level. But if you can’t afford a personal trainer, don’t be discouraged. There are many great (free!) resources online you can use to aid your fitness regime, including the Bowflex Insider blog at www.bowflexinsider.com.

There are many benefits of eating organic or gluten-free foods. For example, they have more antioxidants, less pesticides and food additives. However, overeating is still overeating. Make sure to evaluate your overall caloric “Don’t let yourself be fooled by these common intake and expenditures to stay within the fitness myths,” advises Holland. “The tips bounds of your goal. above can help you reach your fitness New Year’s resolutions.”

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BEAUTY & FASHION TRENDS

In The Bag — Budding Black-Owned Handbag Brand Grows Sales Beyond $350K in a Little Over a Year Gregory Sylvia Handbags, created by husband and wife duo, Gregory and Terri “Sylvia” Pope Americans producers in the leather goods industry they felt that it could be a place where they could be successful and make an impact. Soon after, the couple went to work on their brand- developing a vision, establishing a brand name, drafting logos, designing products, etc.

Charlotte, NC — Mr. Sylvia is the name that many call him; however, designer Gregory Sylvia is not a single designer at all. Founded by a husband and wife duo, Gregory Sylvia is the brain child of Gregory and Terri “Sylvia” Pope. The Popes officially started sales in 2012 and has experienced a steady growth ever since. After a year and a half, company sales surpassed $350K and the couple has been busy implementing new growth strategies to continue the incline.Gregory and Terri “Sylvia” started their brand as a means to fill a gap that they noticed in the marketplace. After noticing a lack of presence of African

dreams and bring marriage and family to the forefront.”

Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, Gregory Sylvia is a designer brand of leather goods and accessories namely handbags and wallets. Officially starting sales in 2012, Gregory Sylvia products are now featured on the The Gregory Sylvia brand focus has been official Gregory Sylvia website as well as 2 the mid to high end handbag and accesso- e-tail websites. Furthermore, the company ries market with current sales exclusively has been featured in several blogs and digionline. tal lifestyle magazines. The company is dedicated to providing beautifully designed pieces that uphold high standards of quality For the company, there are now plans to craftsmanship while providing excellent embed their brand further and into more markets. In addition to continued expansion customer service. For additional inforinitiatives for online growth, the company is mation about Gregory Sylvia, call 980-2728770, email admin@gregorysylvia.com, or also looking to expand its sales channels visit www.GregorySylvia.com. with offline sales to retail stores and boutiques. As stated by Gregory, “From our start we saw the lack of black-owned producers in this arena and we wanted to bring some diversity…and not just diversity, but excellence along with the diversity.” Terri adds “We also saw us doing this together as a means to encourage people to follow their

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ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Oprah Winfrey, David Oyelowo Deliver Amazing Performances in New Martin Luther King Jr. Biopic “Selma” — Due in Theatres December 25th Nationwide — Media mogul/actress Oprah Winfrey and actor David Oyelowo are starring in an amazing new biopic about the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The film, Selma, is due in theaters on Christmas day December 25, 2014, and critics are already giving the film two thumbs up. Directed by Ava DuVernay and produced by Oprah Winfrey herself and Brad Pitt, the film is already creating an Oscar buzz. It’s being co-produced by Harpo Productions and distributed by a division of Paramount Pictures. Winfrey and Oyelowo co-starred together already in the hit 2013 film The Butler, which starred Forest Whitaker. But this time, the two are the stars themselves. Oyelowo plays Dr. King, one of the most well-known civil rights leaders in history, and Winfrey plays one of his avid supporters.

In Selma, Oprah Winfrey’s character is seen struggling with police as she is restrained on the ground.

Actor Tom Wilkinson plays President Lyndon Johnson, rapper Common plays Bevel, and actress Carmen Ejogo plays the character of Coretta Scott King. The film also co-stars Cuba Gooding, Jr. as famed civil rights attorney and activist Fred Gray, and Niecy Nash who plays Richie Jean Jackson, the wife of Dr. Sullivan Jackson. Selma focuses on a time period just 2 years after Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his famous “I Have A Dream” speech. The film covers three civil rights protest marches that all took place in March 1965 in Selma, Alabama, and essentially paved the way for the historic Voting Rights Act to be successfully passed. Because the film will be released this year, it will be eligible for a 2015 Oscar nomination. WATCH THE TRAILER ONLINE

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TRENDY PALETTE

Stuffed clams make a great party appetizer or main dish NAPSI)—Whether you’re welcoming lastminute guests in from the cold at Christmas, ringing in the New Year, or gathering round the grill to watch the fireworks on July 4th, here’s a hint from Registered Dietitian and lifestyle expert Erin PalinskiWade on how to have a successful holiday party in nearly no time, at any time of the year:

Style.

They’re even easy to prepare. Simply place on a baking sheet into a preheated 450° oven and cook for 30 minutes; or wrap clams in a foil pouch—leave it open for a crispy top or closed for softer, moister clams—place on the grill preheated to medium and heat until hot throughout. Serve with butter, lemon and hot sauce and let the “Be sure to stock your freezer with conven- party begin. ient and delicious options like Matlaw’s Stuffed Clams, that won’t leave you stuck Discover more great recipes, food pairing in the kitchen while your guests are celeideas, menu recommendations, special ofbrating in the other room.” fers and coupons at www.Matlaws.com/ setsail. An excellent party finger food, the Stuffed Clams come elegantly served in a natural clam shell and in a variety of delicious flavors including Bacon and Cheese, Chili Lime, Chorizo, and classic New England

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TRAVEL TRENDS

2015 Vacation Ideas: Hawaii One of the reasons why you are advised to search for low-cost Hawaii trips is because they are out there; they do exist. Unfortunately, there are some individuals who just donâ€™t try hard enough to find them. These individuals are likely the ones who thought that they knew how much a Hawaii trip should cost. Many times, what happens is that vacationers find what they believe to be a good deal and they snatch it up. Of course, there is always a chance that it really was a Are you interested in taking a Hawaii trip? If good deal, but, without looking any further, so, do you know how much you should have you never really know. That is why you are to pay for that trip? Unfortunately, a large advised to get it in your mind that low-cost number of individuals try and answer that Hawaii trips do exist and that you can find question. Of course, you could probably gen- them. erate an estimate, but you are advised against doing so, especially if you have yet to start If you are interested in finding low-cost Hamaking your Hawaii vacation reservations. If waii trips, you are advised to use the internet. you have yet to make your reservations, you Although your first impulse may be to use are advised to take everything that you know the services of a professional travel agent, or may assume about the cost of a Hawaii you will, almost always, have better luck vacation and throw it right out the window. with the internet. This is because online you Instead of searching for what you believe to can find an unlimited number of online travel be a good deal, you are advised to search for websites. These online travel websites spethe lowest costing deal. cialize in selling vacation reservations and vacation packages to travelers. Since you are

interested in planning a Hawaii trip, it is advised that you turn to a Hawaiian travel website. These websites are like all other online travel websites, except for the fact that they have a focus on Hawaii, including all of the popular Hawaiian Islands. If and when you decide to use a Hawaiian travel website, to find low-cost Hawaii trips, you will need to start searching for what you will need. For instance, if you would like to stay in a vacation home, you will want to tailor your search to vacation homes and so on. What is nice about most Hawaiian travel websites is that many not only allow you to pick which Hawaiian Island you would like to visit, but many also allow you to set a price range for yourself. If you do choose to use the price range feature, you are advised to start as low as you can go. As mentioned above, it is important to seek out the lowest costing Hawaii vacation deals, not necessarily the ones that you think are the good deals. If your low price search does not return any results, you can continue to up your price range until you find something that meets your expectations. Another mistake that many vacationers make, when booking a trip to Hawaii, is thinking that they need to book all of their reservations separately. While you may be able to find great deals by purchasing your airline tickets, hotel reservations, and car rental separately, you may also be able to

find great deals by purchasing them all together. You can do this with a Hawaii vacation package. It, honestly, all depends on what you need while on vacation. Regardless of what you want or need to get out of your vacation, it may be a good idea to just take a few minutes and examine Hawaii vacation packages. Since your goal is to find a lowcost Hawaii trip, you are advised to give it a shot; you really have nothing to lose. Whether you examine booking all of your Hawaii trip reservations separately or with the purchase of a vacation package, it might be best to record all of your findings. By writing down all of the offers that you are given, you could easily compare those offers and find the lowest costing Hawaii trip around. Taking a few extra minutes to do this may very well save you hundreds of dollars or more. To plan your next holiday call Delois Wright at Wright Way Travel at 614-891-5293.

CROSSING CULTURES TRAVEL AND TOURS Vision Statement Crossing Cultures Travel and Toursâ€™ vision is to be the most creative gateway to the African Diaspora for all. Mission Statement To celebrate the African Diaspora, to grow eco-tourism and to ensure comfortable travel though regular end-to-end service for all. Commitment Statement Crossing Cultures Travel and Tours commits to share our knowledge freely while respecting your specific desires and to do so in a manner that encourages a long-term commitment from both parties. All of our services meet the highest standards of professionalism and are delivered in a personable manner at all times

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CAREERS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Blacks and Hispanics Not Getting Hired For Tech Jobs — Even Those With Tech Degrees Ebay, Facebook, Google, Twitter, Yahoo and Apple all declined to comment on the issue, but many of them have released data in the past year showing that they have very few tech workers among their staff. Even LinkedIn says that they are “[addressing] the need for greater diversity.” So what’s the solution? -According to Wired Magazine, tech companies usually only recruit at major universities such as Stanford, UC-Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon, UCLA and MIT. Meanwhile, the elite computer science departments that graduate larger numbers of African-American and Hispanic students get less visits by recruiters. Experts say that the solution is obviously to recruit more at universities where minority students attend and graduate from. And why should tech companies care about diversity? -It’s simple. If you lose touch with an ethnic group and they start to view you as bias or discriminative, they will stop supporting your brand as customers. That could cost any one of the tech giants billions of dollars in annual revenue if it were to happen.

Nationwide — A USA Today report says that only 2% of technology workers at seven major tech companies in Silicon Valley are Black, and just 3% are Hispanic. This is so despite the fact that thousands of Black and Hispanic students graduate with computer science and computer engineering degrees every year from the top universities.

Who’s making changes? -Google, whose popular search engine is used by millions of African Americans and Hispanics daily, was the first major tech company to admit their lack of diversity. They were also the first to publicly release a workforce demographics report earlier this year. They were commended for doing so, and so far, experts say they are the most aggressive at addressing the issue.

Meanwhile, Apple recently broke headlines by pledging $100 million to President Obama’s So who is to blame? -The tech companies say the pool of job applicants are insufficient, but ConnectED initiative which aims to bring cutting-edge technologies to schools in low-income areas. Darrick Hamilton, professor of economics and urban policy at The New School in New York, says that doesn’t hold up. “If you look at the empirical evidence, that is just not the case,” he said.

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