Issuu

w w w. v i n e g a r h i l l m a g a z i n e . c o m | V I N E G A R H I L L M A G A Z I N E 1

When do you need to think about colorectal cancer screening? It could be sooner than you think.

You can reduce your risk of colorectal cancer by:

Getting screened

Eating a healthy diet

Avoiding alcohol

People without a family history of colorectal cancer should begin screening at age . If you have a family history, you may need to start screening sooner. There are many options for screening, including lower-cost at-home tests. Talk with your healthcare provider about when to start screening and the best screening option for you.

Not smoking

Exercising

Learn more at uvahealth.com/colonscreen or email your questions to crcscreening@virginia.edu. Maintaining a healthy weight

VINEGAR HILL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021 ISSUE

CONTENTS 5 SURVIVING ATTITUDES Rev. Dr. George Bates gives us insights into some of the surviving attitudes of slavery. 10 TECHNOIRLOGY Broadus says that Level Up In Tech is creating a ‘Pipeline or Ecosystem of Tech talent.’

22 BASKETBALL IS BACK Patti Medina covers the return of the BCBA Basketball league at Tonsler Park.

Virginia Press Association awarded for Vinegar Hill & Charlottesville Tomorrow for the Determined Series collaboration. Determined received First Place Multimedia Report, First Place for Illustrations, Best in Show for Online Digital, and Best in Show Illustrations. One of the judges commented that “I was impressed with [their] ability to use a combination of illustration, photos, and graphics to tell this story. Clearly, the most important story of our lifetime told in a way that showed the emptiness of our cities and states due to the pandemic. Congratulations to Jordy Yager, Journalist; Lorenzo Dickerson, Photographer; Sahara Clemons, Artist.

Vinegar Hill Magazine is a space that is designed to support and project a more inclusive social narrative, to promote entrepreneurship, and to be a beacon for art, culture, and politics in the Central Virginia region. | Contributing Writers Patti Medina, Sonia Montalvo and Brande McCleese l Advertising and Sales Manager(s) SteppeMedia Publisher Eddie Harris Layout & Design Sarad Davenport © 2021 Vinegar Hill Magazine. All rights reserved. w w w. v i n e g a r h i l l m a g a z i n e . c o m | V I N E G A R H I L L M A G A Z I N E 3

SIZES

ONE TIME 4-7 ISSUES 8-16 ISSUES WEB BANNER

Center Spread Back Cover Back Front Cover

$600 ea.

$500 ea.

$400 ea.

+25

$400

$300

$250

+35

$300

$200

$125

+50

Full Page

$200

$150

$100

+65

½ Page

$100

$75

$50

+70

¼ Page

$50

$35

$25

+80

$35

$25

$20

+90

Business Card

434-886-0250

VINEGAR HILL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021 ISSUE

survival Master-

the of

servancy attitudes Rev. Dr. George A. Bates, JD

have often wondered how come racial hostility and/or apathy still has a firm grip upon the American society. Given the 250 years of American enslavement of Africans and the 100 years of Jim Crow and brutal segregation, you would think that the American psyche would have generated a healthy rebuke of the racial attitudes of the 19th century! The more I thought of the racial history of the U. S., I saw the answer to my query. The racial attitudes prevalent in America from 1619 to 1965 are still alive and well! The common denominator in the master-servant philosophies of the 19th century is that a large portion of the American society has not allowed 50 years of multi-cultural exposure, civil rights law and religious repudiation of racism to impact their centuries’ old attitudes about the racial superiority of Caucasians. There is no better demonstration of this phenomena than the familiar exchange between some white police officers and black-brown and tan citizens. Before these citizens become suspects they are typically viewed as a dark servant to a white master. These police officers routinely demand/want full and immediate compliance to any of their requests/commands as if they are the slave masters of the servant. Whites citizens are allowed at least some leeway to ask a question or proffer an explanation. Secondly, white officers will not tolerate any comment, question or objection from the dark-skinned citizen just as the slave master would require. This is the old zero tolerance for “back talk” or “don’t sass me boy” rule prevalent during the first three centuries of this nation. The next observation of the exchange from some whites and dark-skinned citizens is the reluctance of the white person to receive any advice from a person of color. Too many whites noww w w. v i n e g a r h i l l m a g a z i n e . c o m | V I N E G A R H I L L M A G A Z I N E 5

adays still do not believe that people of color possess the mental faculties to process, retain and analyze any useful information, that is, they cannot think above the natural desires of food, water, shelter and intuitively, sex! Naturally, if you harbor the aforementioned attitude, then you may show only contempt for an educated person of color or one with a white-collar skill (law, medicine, engineering, architecture, etc.). Another area that is still problematic in our society is the interaction of a male person of color and a white female. It does not matter if the contact was coincidental, accidental, random, friendly or unfriendly some whites are offended by this brief or slight nexus. A rumor that a white female was unduly harmed by this contact has sparked many deadly riots and acts of violence by white mobs! In 1955, a 14 year old black male from Chicago may have whistled at a pretty white girl in Mississippi that costed him his life over an adolescent practice common to teenage white boys. However, this behavior was not to be tolerated by black boys toward white females. This syndrome is representative of a standard that was strictly enforced during slavery, that is, black males could not have any untoward contact

with white females! Consequently, today, many whites find the growing life-style of interracial dating as repugnant to the very ideals of purity for whites. Many may not voice their objection publicly but privately express their objection to this practice! These are just a few recitations of the social practices of the 19th century that are still prevalent today. If you harbor these thoughts, desires and mores, you may have a racial prejudice that has not been resolved in your mind and heart despite much effort to eradicate them. Unfortunately, for the whites who were born prior to 1950, there may not have not been an opportunity for them to receive any education on racial tolerance. And, for the ones born after 1950, peer and social pressure may have hindered any desire or thought of a radically different racial disposition. Then, the case of Dylann Roof comes to mind. Here we have a 19 year old white male who committed mass murder in black church in Charleston, S. C. in the hope of starting a race riot on June 17, 2015. How could someone so young grow up to be a white supremacist? The sad answer is the following: someone taught this man intense racial intoler-

VINEGAR HILL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021 ISSUE

ance and hatred! There is an element in the American society that is fostering, sponsoring and instilling white supremacy under our very noses. Besides the lingering general attitudes about race, someone gave Roof a heavy, sustained dose of racist theology! Could it be that the silence of too many whites to rebuke these unhealthy attitudes about race is the fertilizer that allows these white supremacists to thrive or be tolerated in our midst? Most parents would instruct their children about the moral consequences of lying, stealing and cheating. Why would you not do the same when it comes to racial hostility in your children?

With millions of citizens harboring these attitudes, naturally they will surface in our governments, businesses, civic structure, education, justice and political system in policy, procedure, rules, regulations and even law! What people believe

pressive society to an inclusive one, look at South Africa in their struggles to extricate the “whites only” mentality from their nation. The stain of oppression permeates everything in this country and it will take a very in depth and totally extensive measures to eradicate these policies from their fabric. The U. S. is still in the early stages of their eradication. Even after we revamp our laws, policies and procedures, the hearts and minds of the former “majority culture” advocates will resist change for centuries to come.

Our history of racial bigotry, hatred and violence has stained our society comprehensively. will affect how they think, react and conduct their affairs. Our history of racial bigotry, hatred and violence has stained our society comprehensively. For a recent example of the slow progress from a slave or op-

w w w. v i n e g a r h i l l m a g a z i n e . c o m | V I N E G A R H I L L M A G A Z I N E 7

ng ri e

pea r l

nd c la a is t

the fl

BRING THE FLAVOR OF THE ISLANDS TO YOUR NEXT EVENT!

ORDER ONLINE FOR CARRY-OUT + CURBSIDE

pearlislandcatering.com/cafe

CHECK OUT OUR CATERING MENUS ONLINE:

pearlislandcatering.com/catering

FULL-SERVICE CATERING

(434) 466–0092

Jefferson School City Center 233 4th St. NW

VINEGAR HILL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021 ISSUE

(434) 305–4238

w w w. v i n e g a r h i l l m a g a z i n e . c o m | V I N E G A R H I L L M A G A Z I N E 9

Tech |NOIR| logy

Finding His Way and Building An Ecosystem of Diverse Tech Talent

by Sarad Davenport | Photos contributed by Broadus Palmer Just outside of Charlottesville is Fluvanna County and nestled inside of it is the rural area of Palmyra. This is where Level Up In Tech founder, Broadus Palmer is from. “Believe it or not, Fluvanna has some of the same issues that Charlottesville has— it’s just in a more rural location,” said Broadus. He spoke of the issues of substance addiction that runs rampant and sometimes unnoticed in the rural areas and how getting caught up in the criminal justice system was something he was determined to escape. “I always had a vision for making it out,” he said. Broadus is a recognized voice in the world of cloud engineering. This is so much the case that LinkedIn recognized him as

a top voice for job searches and careers in tech. But there are so many questions. How did this unassuming young man from Palmyra Virginia become an influencer in the world of cloudbased technology? And what’s more, what the f*#k is cloudbased technology? B. Palmer To make the conversation light and to look for an entry point, I asked Broadus if he played any sports growing up or did any extracurricular activities. He replied with a resounding, ‘No!’ Broadus, moving us beyond the awkward silence then said, “What people know me for is music. They know me for rapping and doing R&B.” As many of us can attest, the most viral technology for anyone born in

the 1970s and 80s was Hip-Hop and it’s no surprise that Broadus and many people of our era wanted to take a serious chance at the business of it. Broadus then, going under the moniker B. Palmer and his music associates actually made some real inroads in the music industry—picking up some press in both the Source and XXL magazines. They were doing lots of shows and traveling, but what he found quickly was that supporting a career in music required financing—a lot of financing. “I tried my hand in the streets during this time to fund my dreams in music,” he remembered. But at some point B. Palmer felt like the risks of mixing the streets and music weren’t worth it and decided

VINEGAR HILL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021 ISSUE

w w w. v i n e g a r h i l l m a g a z i n e . c o m | V I N E G A R H I L L M A G A Z I N E 1 1

and live shows and not necessarily off of the music—at least early on. So instead of doing the music, he and a partner decided to put their energy into merch. Prosper had a good run but ran into an issue when creative differences arose between Broadus and his partner. In retrospect, he chalks up the problems in the short-lived partnership to his own immaturity and unwillingness to listen. “[My partner] was the older and wiser one.” Inevitably they decided to part ways. (By this time, I’m asking myself (as are you) what is the throughline? How do we get from these things to Level Up In Tech? Hang tight. It’s coming.) So when he departed from the merch game, Broadus then moved into the sneaker game. One thing for certain is that brother Palmer is always trying to secure the bag—and there is definitely a bag in the sneaker game. In a July 2020 report, investment firm Cowen estimated the global sneaker resale market to be worth about $6 billion in 2019, while total sneaker sales were more like $100 billion.

to close the curtain on his music career—permanently. “I just didn’t want to do music anymore, and I thought I would try my hand at something else.” Prosper and the Sneaker Game After exiting the stage of his music career, Broadus partnered up with a friend to start a clothing company called Prosper. One of the things he learned while in the music business was that artists make a lot of their money off of merchandise

Brodus started a sneaker resale company called the ‘Daily Flexx Club’ and had clients such as Boosie, Safaree, and Demetrius Shipp, Jr. to name a few. The sneaker game was very lucrative but what shifted Broadus into the tech space was something with something he learned while in the sneaker game. Above the Cloud The key to winning in the sneaker game is being able to be the first to access limited inventory. To catch these sales online before everyone else is nearly impossible unless of course you use robots better known as bots. During this era of Broadus’ trek towards tech, he partnered with a company that used cloud servers to deploy bots to make

VINEGAR HILL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021 ISSUE

purchases of shoes much faster than humans could. For those who are wondering, cloud computing is the delivery of computing services—including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence—over the Internet (“the cloud”) to offer faster innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale. Think of your iPhone and your ability to save and run applications from your cloud. Broadus and his partners were able to deploy robots as applications in the cloud to be the first to purchase the most valuable sneaker inventory when it was released before individual purchasers could ever have a chance. At this point, it wasn’t the sneakers that were capturing Broadus’ attention, it was the cloud. He was hustling shoes. Working at the bank. But he heard through one of his colleagues that cloud engineers could make $140,000.00 per year or more. “How do I do it? I thought,” said Broadus. “Is this even for me?” he questioned. “I asked myself, ‘Is this something I am going to stick with?” But this was intriguing because as Broadus put it, “You mean to tell me I can make triple my income without a college degree?” Broadus buckled down and knocked out 3 cer-

tifications: AWS Solutions Architect, Certified Developer, and SysOps Associate. Even though Broadus had the certifications, he admits that he had no real-world experience and had ‘no skills’. “I needed to build myself up.“ So, he entered a Linux training academy and upon finishing the academy applied for a job at the training academy. Broadus got rejected for the position, but his value proposition was that if he was good enough for the academy, he should be good enough to work there. Inevitably, they heard his proposition and created a position for him. He was in. Zero to 60 just like that. He multiplied his salary in a matter of months and not a matter of years and without a massive load of debt. Leveling Up This is where the launch of Level Up In Tech begins. Broadus wondered, “How could I share my journey with others?” He was deeply interested in helping people who came from places where he came from — places that were filled with substance addiction, lack of resources, and hopelessness. Level Up In Tech was the answer, and what he saw as his purpose to help other people escape. “The amount of money we can make in

w w w. v i n e g a r h i l l m a g a z i n e . c o m | V I N E G A R H I L L M A G A Z I N E 1 3

tech can change our lives forever.” He used to think, “There’s no way I can do that. I’m from Bremo Bluff, but I made it in tech and I’m going to be there to help others.” Level Up in Tech is a guided curriculum with instructors and mentors that help people without any technical abilities become Amazon Web Services (AWS) Cloud Engineers in 6 months or less. “It started out with just two people, but now we have over 20 people per cohort.” He went on to note that during COVID, students enrolling in Level Up In Tech increased by 500%. They have had people who want a more stable career with a more stable income join the ranks. “We’ve had former police officers, wait-

resses, and people from other less stable careers.” Broadus says that Level Up In Tech is creating a ‘Pipeline or Ecosystem of Tech talent.’

He simply said, “It is understanding the needs of people and creating solutions to problems. That’s what technology is. That’s who I am.”

The 6-month course prepares students for a possible six-figure annual salary for just a $5,500.00 investment. When we think of the hundreds of thousands of dollars people spend on college, not to say that anything is wrong with going to college, but this expands the options that are on the table— for young people and career changers alike.

Level Up in Tech is hosting a virtual open house on July 22, 2021. For more information on how to participate go to: www.levelupintech.com

So I asked Broadus, through this journey to tech, what is the common thread in the music, the merch, and the sneakers.

VINEGAR HILL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021 ISSUE

by Sonia Montalvo and Brande McCleese

he Girls Are Alwrite, established in 2018, is a Charlottesville Virginia based organization that creates and provides creative writing workshops to Black and Brown girls in the area, through intensive writing workshops. Prior to its inception, The Girls Are

Alwrite existed only as an idea and was kept alive on scrap pieces of paper. This idea, or rather a question was simply, “What if Black and Brown girls had a space that belonged solely to them to tell their own stories?”

The Girls Are Alwrite (TGAA) was birthed as a proclamation that the minds and imaginations of Black and Brown girls deserve to be recognized. Seven girls, a small grant, and a bunch of pens was all it took to create the space that was once just a question scribbled

w w w. v i n e g a r h i l l m a g a z i n e . c o m | V I N E G A R H I L L M A G A Z I N E 1 5

VINEGAR HILL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021 ISSUE

w w w. v i n e g a r h i l l m a g a z i n e . c o m | V I N E G A R H I L L M A G A Z I N E 1 7

through written expression. Through Poetry, Fiction, and Nonfiction workshops, participants are able express themselves without judgement and explore the world of storytelling. We seek to implement creative writing workshops curated to provide in depth small group coaching and writing critiques for girls who are interested in exploring creative writing as an art form.

on paper. With funding from UVA’s equity center, donations from community residents, and a lot of faith, The Girls Are Alwrite has been able consistently thrive as a community-based organization with a passion for advocacy and a focus on the narratives of girls of color. Since the inception of The Girls Are Alwrite, we have had the pleasure of witnessing the growth and development of 40 Black and Brown young and upcoming writers in the community, garnered over $35,000 in grant funding and have had the pleasure of employing Black women authors and creators to teach the genres of Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Poetry. TGAA has worked to build a platform in which young girls could come to produce writing that is of importance to them through our annual summer workshops. It is our aim to foster a space for girls to explore the beauty of their creativity and imagination

In our third year of programming, we are excited about the ways in which we are growing as an organization. Our upcoming summer workshop, taking place July 26th-30th 2021 will feature the new addition of songwriting as genre to our coaching practices, as well as an increased capacity of students we will serve. Outside of programmatic additions, we are excited to announce that This summer, readers will have the opportunity to see the work TGAA does through a collaborative magazine issue with both Vinegar Hill Magazine and The Girls Are Alwrite. This issue will be curated by and feature original works from our participants. Readers will have an opportunity to become acquainted with this community’s next generation of writers and thinkers. It is our hope that this issue allows the Charlottesville community to see the talent our youth possesses as well as allow new and fresh perspectives of an ostracized and oppressed demographic to be heard. It is time we acknowledge that Black and Brown girl voices apart of us and their imaginations are to be respected.

VINEGAR HILL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021 ISSUE

yourlifematterscville.org • Your Life Matters Cville

DEAR BLACK MAN,

The world is constantly pulling you down and attempting to dim your light but please don’t stop shining. We need you, we love you, we care for you. We support you. We hear you and we are listening. We see you. Keep taking up space because we need your existence—your strength, your style, your handsomeness, your swag, your soul, your smile, your eyes, and your mind.

Thank you Black Man. – a Black Woman named Rai

Visit us on Facebook at Your Life Matters Cville for a list of Free Wellness Resources. For general information, please contact Jackie Martin at jgmarti1@sentara.com or 434-984-5655.

CARES Act Funding distributed by www.sentara.com

w w w. v i n e g a r h i l l m a g a z i n e . c o m | V I N E G A R H I L L M A G A Z I N E 1 9

We help you grow your brand exponentially.

#growyourbrand

—STEPPEMEDIA

• SEO

SteppeMedia locally owned and operated, was launched to assist small business owners to expand and make the best use of their digital presence. We use our corporate advertising experience to your benefit while you focus on running your business.

• SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT • MARKETING STRATEGY • WEB DEVELOPMENT • WCAG 2.0 COMPLIANCE • GRAPHIC DESIGN

steppemedia.com

(434) 290-1270

info@steppemedia.com

9,000

individuals in the Charlottesville/ Albemarle area cannot read above a 5th grade reading level. At Literacy Volunteers, we believe that every adult should have the opportunity to improve their lives through literacy.

donate • Support • Volunteer Literacy Volunteers of Charlottesville/Albemarle located on the second floor of the Jefferson School City Center

www.literacyforall.org • (434) 977-3838 • info@literacyforall.org ad paid for by C’Ville loVerS

VINEGAR HILL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021 ISSUE

w w w. v i n e g a r h i l l m a g a z i n e . c o m | V I N E G A R H I L L M A G A Z I N E 2 1

Summer basketball

league returns to

Tonsler Park

Contributed by PATTY MEDINA @ChattyPattyDC pmedina@cvilletomorrow.org

unday afternoon, Charlottesville residents young and old took to the sidelines as 10 teams battled it out on the Tonsler Park basketball court.

Those Sunday games have been a Charlottesville summer staple for eleven years, since Damien Banks founded the Banks Collage Basketball Association in 2010. Players and supporters alike are so committed, they come from as far as Maryland to attend the games. Banks, known in the community for his basketball skills, played for sport in his formative years, and he established the BCBA after recognizing an absence of pickup games in the community. “People weren’t playing that much pickup ball

anymore,” Banks said. “So I decided to put a league together to get some more people to come out and play, and it just got bigger and bigger.” The BCBA is currently made up of 10 teams, but has had as many as 16 teams in previous seasons. All teams play every Sunday, vying for one of six spots in the playoff games later in the season, leading up to a mid-August Championship game. Matches can get intense, with the teams competing for the coveted trophy and championship banner, as well as the ultimate prize: bragging rights.

VINEGAR HILL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021 ISSUE

w w w. v i n e g a r h i l l m a g a z i n e . c o m | V I N E G A R H I L L M A G A Z I N E 2 3

“The games get such a large draw because we have some of the top talent, and our online presence is strong,” said Banks.

and pursued a college education just off of highlights from the summer league.”

He also credits the Tonsler Park location for the large community turnout.

The league, which didn’t play last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has also provided a much-needed outlet on the heels of the pandemic for all who attend.

“We started at the outdoor courts at the Dell at UVA,” he said. “My friend Joe Mallory helped us transition to Tonsler Park. It’s the drive through traffic, people like to stop and see what’s going on.” Although Banks created the league for entertainment, it has had a profound effect on many people. Jerel Carter, a baller from reigning BCBA champions,Team Takeover, shared the influence that Banks has had on his life. Carter grew up in Madison County and joined the league as a college sophomore in 2013. “Damien Banks needs to get his flowers while he can because this league has changed so many lives for the better,” Carter said. “I went

“People have been missing this. The African American community in Charlottesville really needed it,” said Carter. “I know that the games have done wonders in the last 2-3 weeks for my mental health.” Fantashia Cooper, who moved to Charlottesville in August 2020, agrees as she finds community at the games. “It’s a time to release bottled up energy,” Cooper said. “Having an event that’s about community, just having fun and doing what people love, and what they love is basketball.” Cooper, a sports enthusiast, is also the Collegiate Representative for Women’s Sports for the Fellow-

VINEGAR HILL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021 ISSUE

either. His wife manages the Elite Empire dance program, which prepares more than 30 young women for competitions. Banks wouldn’t tell us his favorite BCBA team, but he let us in on who the fans love most “Striker’s is definitely a crowd favorite and Team Takeover are the defending champs,” Damien said with a chuckle.

ship of Christian Athletes. She has not missed a game of the BCBA 2021 season. “Being from Atlanta, you don’t get this kind of experience anywhere else unless you’re going to a big city,” she noted.

The Banks Collage Basketball Association league runs every Sunday through mid-August, with games beginning at 2pm. Find more information on the league’s website.

Cooper enjoys watching the other attendees cheer from the sidelines and occasionally take on ad hoc coaching roles, yelling commands in support of their favorite teams. “I’m usually like that when it comes to supporting my athletes,” Cooper said of the crowd. “So for them to do it definitely made me feel great!” BCBA grew most of its following via word of mouth, but it’s got a digital presence as well. On its website, the league hosts an show where guests and fans debate game highlights, recap plays and discuss upcoming games. “Nobody wants to lose and sit on their loss for a whole week, especially with everyone talking on Facebook,” said Carter. “You’ve got to win out there, or it’s going to be a sad week.” Banks is also beloved off the Tonsler Park courts: he coaches track for the Charlottesville Area Track Club, and football for the Monticello Mustangs Youth League. Banks isn’t the only athletic coach in the family, w w w. v i n e g a r h i l l m a g a z i n e . c o m | V I N E G A R H I L L M A G A Z I N E 2 5

Circa 1956 at The HIPP on the famous 2nd Street in Richmond, Virginia

Hidden In Plain Site: Richmond is a VR exploration of distinct but easy to overlook sites around Richmond, VA, that tells the story of the Black experience throughout history. hiddeninplainsite.org The HiPS™ VR Experience is curated by: TM

Just visit hiddeninplainsite.org and

EXPERIENCE HiPS™ IN THREE WAYS!

LET’S MAKE HISTORY ™

VINEGAR HILL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021 ISSUE

OCULUS

DESKTOP

MOBILE

Have you been previously incarcerated? Do you need money to get your driving license, start a business, or pay initial rental deposits?

THE FOUNTAIN FUND MAY BE ABLE TO HELP

We provide low-interest loans (3-5%) to provide the elevation you need.

Located in the Jefferson School City Center, the Fountain Fund’s mission is to improve the lives of the formerly incarcerated through lending, financial education and community support.

To learn more, call Martize Tolbert, our Client Partner Navigator, at 434-234-3600.

w w w. v i n e g a r h i l l m a g a z i n e . c o m | V I N E G A R H I L L M A G A Z I N E 2 7

A Higher Connection

A Conversation with Miquel & Morris by Sarad Davenport Sometimes in the unlikeliest of scenarios, people meet and it seems like the encounter is much more than coincidental. This was the case with Miquel and Morris, the hip-hop duo that inevitably found their musical giftedness at the intersection of hardcore rap and their Christian faith. In the following, they talk about their personal stories and how the connection turned into a powerful musical collaboration. “I grew up in the church,” said Miquel. “Music has always been a part of my life.” Growing up in Ruckersville, Miquel expressed how music was very much a part of his life for as long as he can remember. “My father wasn’t there,” he said in a reserved tone and discussed how music was able to fill a void in his life, a story that is all too common with young African-American males. Miquel talked about how his musical influences ranged from the sacred music he heard as a child growing up in the

church to “Tupac, Nas, and WuTang.” This combination made him know as early as 11-years old that music was going to be something that he pursued. “I remember at the parties growing up, I used to just grab the mic,” said Miquel. He reminisced on a time when hip-hop was about the cypher (rappers standing in a circle and taking turns rapping) and freestyling. Freestyling is impromptu improvisational rapping without written or memorized lyrics. This came somewhat easy to Miquel because he said he ‘was a good student in English at school’ and he was able to transfer his skills with language into the music game. The other half of the duo, Morris, began rapping at 12 years old when someone gave him some lyrics to recite. Morris has lived in several places in the Charlottesville area but calls

Buckingham home. “I spit a verse that someone had written for me at a yard party,” said Morris, who by age 17 was performing at open mics and yard parties all across Central Virginia. But while Morris was trying to find his way in music and in life, he had one foot in the streets at the same time. “I put a lot of stress on a lot of people,” Morris said, indicating that while he was trying to provide for his family he was taking a lot of chances. “It was a very risky time. By that time I was married with a son and a daughter, it was a very risky time,” he reiterated. He discussed how he put his family in some dangerous situations and how he wasn’t the best husband. That all changed when his wife became gravely ill. “Either you are going to answer or ignore the call,” Morris said. And the illness of his wife came to him as a call from God to

VINEGAR HILL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021 ISSUE

w w w. v i n e g a r h i l l m a g a z i n e . c o m | V I N E G A R H I L L M A G A Z I N E 2 9

change his ways and get his life in order. It was around that time that Morris said that he became a changed man and gave his life to God. In the midst of all of this transformation that was happening in Morris’ life, Miquel was a part of a hip-hop group called Black Odyssey. Even though Black Odyssey had street credibility, Miquel remembered that “I was raised up right. Doing the right things. When I talked about street life, it was always about showing the way out.” So even when Miquel was doing secular music, he was still spiritual. I was raised up right. Doing the right things. When I talked about street life, it was always about showing the way out. Also, like Morris, Miquel had his own struggles and demons to overcome. “I had a lot of addictions,” he said. Miquel talked about how alcohol took

him on a downward spiral, so much so, that he said, “I didn’t even know who I was anymore.” The transformation of his life from a place where he struggled with alcoholism has been what he describes as “A blessing from God.” He went on to say that his God-given gift of music had in fact saved his life. What started as a friendship between two fathers who met on their children’s school field trip appears to be something altogether deeper and higher. There appears to be a higher connection going on that neither Morris nor Miquel could fashion on their own. From admiring each other as artists, even back in their secular days and developing mutual respect for each other, it seemed inevitable and ordained that they would work together.

are pushing one of their newest singles “Big Stepping.” Although Morris and Miquel still have friends that are still struggling to escape the life of the streets and addiction, Morris says that he doesn’t judge anyone because he himself is still growing. Miquel added that those that are still struggling out there are the ones they “want to touch.” In addition to the music, Miquel and Morris have cast a vision that includes mentoring, tutoring, and afterschool programs for area youth. They want what they are doing to be more than music. They want it to be a ministry—on a higher level. Find out more and keep up with Miquel & Morris at www. akingsnation.com.

They recently performed in Atlanta back in early May and

VINEGAR HILL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021 ISSUE

VINEGAR HILL

www.vinegarhillvintage.com w w w. v i n e g a r h i l l m a g a z i n e . c o m | V I N E G A R H I L L M A G A Z I N E 3 1

virginia silverbacks win the UEAFL Championship

Contributed by the Virginia Silverbacks

The Virginia Silverbacks avenged a 2019 loss in the UEAFL Championship game by soundly defeating the Virginia Crusaders 28-13 to bring home the 2021 UEAFL crown on Saturday night in Williamsburg. Bryan “Keke” Shepherd opened the scoring by returning an interception 53 yards for a touchdown on the Crusaders’ second possession. Allen Lynch converted the PAT to give the Silverbacks an early 7-0 lead. The Crusaders answered with a 50 yard drive but failed on a two-point conversion to leave the score at 7-6 at the end of the first quarter. The Silverbacks then took control of the game with a 21 point 2nd quarter. Ottawa Anderson, the championship MVP, threw a perfect strike to Ray Brown in

the back corner of the end zone and a successful two-point conversion opened the Silverback lead to 15-6. Another Anderson strike over the middle to Shakur Mason made it 22-6 after another Lynch PAT. The Silverbacks then added an Anthony Hunter touchdown run late in the quarter to open daylight with a 28-6 halftime lead. The Silverbacks victory was marred only by an injury to Hunter in the first minute of the second half when the league’s leading rusher suffered what appeared to be a broken ankle. After the game was delayed a half an hour while emergency crews were called to the field to safely secure the injury (which turned out to be a severe dislocation) and take Hunter to

the hospital the Silverbacks temporarily lost focus and the Crusaders scored to close the gap to 28-13. With momentum clearly on their side the Crusaders appeared on the brink of scoring again after a Silverbacks botched punt attempt but an interception by Luke Elliot in the end zone turned the Crusaders away and the Silverbacks righted the ship and held the defending champs at bay the rest of the way. Revenge was sweet for the new champs who had lost the last UEAFL Championship on their home turf to these same Crusaders in 2019. This time, however, the ‘Backs went into 757 Territory and returned the favor, bringing the crown back to Charlottesville and Central Virginia.

VINEGAR HILL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021 ISSUE

w w w. v i n e g a r h i l l m a g a z i n e . c o m | V I N E G A R H I L L M A G A Z I N E 3 3

(Black PR Wire) Dallas, Texas – The growing and open discussions around the Black Wealth Gap, Black Wall Street, and overall racism as a public crisis have created new interest in learning about Black American history. ansrsource, a global leader in learning design and accessibility services, is partnering with Angel Rich, Founder of CreditRich and author of the best-selling History of the Black Dollar, to create a new Black history online curriculum in honor of Juneteenth. The History of the Black Dollar GEM™ (Granular Education Module) series is an online curriculum for schools and corporations to offer an unbiased review of Black American history highlighted from an economic perspective. Segmented into 10-minute learning experiences, the GEM courses provide a dedicated

learning solution, including games, to promote economic equity. The first GEM, A Return to Black Wall Street, releases Thursday, June 17th, and is available for pre-order today. “One of my core life missions is to have this curriculum taught in every American history class and at every Fortune 500 company,” says Angel Rich, Vice Chair of the DC Financial Literacy Council. Rich was recently featured in Forbes. “These courses are critical to coming together to close the wealth gap. How can we be on the same page as a country if we are not reading from the same book?” ansrsource’s GEM library is built to empower learning by leveraging bite-sized units of topical, relevant content in key areas. The granular learning approach also offers paths for organizations who

wish to upskill and refine their workforce, providing transformative learning modules that inform and educate while inspiring change in perspective and behavior. Explore the complete library of GEM courses here. ansrsource CEO Rajiv Narayana says, “ansrsource’s GEM approach enables timely, relevant, and accessible learning when it is needed most, and our partnership with Angel Rich and creating learning experiences about racial equity and Black history exemplify why such an approach is desperately needed.” For more information on ansrsource, visit: http://www. ansrsource.com/

VINEGAR HILL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021 ISSUE

PACKAGES Full-Page Annual Package -4 Print full-page ad (black and white) -2 online banner ads (728x90, 970x90, or 300x500) full color- these rotate online and can be switched out throughout the month. -4 printed magazine copies

-Total cost for the year $908.00 Half-Page Annual Package -4 Print half-page ad (black and white) -2 online banner ads (728x90, 970x90, or 300x500) full color - these rotate online and can be switched out throughout the month. -4 printed magazine copies

-Total cost for the year $628.00 1/4 Page Annual Package -4 Print 1/4 page ad (black and white) -2 online banner ads (728x90, 970x90, or 300x500) full color- these rotate online and can be switched out throughout the month. -4 printed magazine copies

-Total cost for the year $508.00 NEW -Video News Post (appears in line with articles) $150.00 -Social Media (FaceBook, Instagram, & Twitter) $75.00 -Newsletter/Email Campaign (1-3 weekly) $75.00 -YouTube Page $75.00 -Total cost for the year $1,080.00

Ad Designs Print and online banner ad designs are $325.00 A la carte $150.00 2 Mock ups 2 Revisions

Vinegar Hill Magazine | www.vinegarhillmagazine.com | 434.466.5718

w w w. v i n e g a r h i l l m a g a z i n e . c o m | V I N E G A R H I L L M A G A Z I N E 3 5

VISIBLE RECORDS IS A STUDIO SPACE & ART GALLERY OFFERING CENTRAL VIRGINIANS ARTIST RESIDENCY OPPORTUNITIES AND PROGRAMMING WITH AN EMPHASIS ON COMPELLING CONTEMPORARY ART

ARTIST STUDIOS STARTING AT $162/MO NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR STUDIOS AND A FULLY FUNDED YEAR LONG ARTIST IN RESIDENCY PROGRAM VISIBLE RECORDS IS ARTIST RUN AND DEDICATED TO EQUITY AND INCLUSION INQUIRE HERE: STUDIO@VISIBLE-RECORDS.COM INSTAGRAM: @VISIBLE_RECORDS

VINEGAR HILL MAGAZINE SUMMER 2021 ISSUE