2018 January/February "Men's" Issue

January - February 2018

The Mens Issue

New York Life

Helping to close the wealth gap

Charlotte’s African-American Magazine

Millennials

The pulse of the next generation

Autism in the Black Community Know the facts

CIAA Tournament Calendar and special section

STOP BY FOOD LION AND PICK UP YOUR MEN’S HAIR STYLING PRODUCTS, TODAY!

available in select stores

PROUD TO GIVE BUSINESSES A LIFT CATS is proud to provide opportunities for businesses to create local jobs through the advancement of transit projects. CATS also seeks to create an environment that gives small and socially or economically challenged local businesses the opportunity to compete for publicly funded contracts by participating in the Small Business Opportunity (SBO) and the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Programs. To date, 11 DBE firms have been awarded contracts of over $13 million to help build the CityLYNX Gold Line Streetcar. As the major provider of public transportation to Charlotte and the surrounding region, CATS relies on the communities we serve to build and operate the service every day. By working together on these new opportunities, we can all keep our communities moving in the right direction. For more information, visit ridetransit.org.

CATS. YOUR RIDE IS HERE.

Saving to buy a home? Let us help. The America's Home Grant® Program from Bank of America can help make buying a home more affordable if you are an eligible homebuyer in the Charlotte area. You may be eligible for up to $2,500 to help you pay for nonrecurring closing costs, such as title insurance and recording fees.1 Best of all, this is not a loan — it does not have to be paid back. To qualify for the America’s Home Grant Program, you must:

• Earn less than $56,560 per year • Live in the home as a primary residence • Fund your home loan with Bank of America Please note that you can’t use this lender credit for a down payment, escrowed taxes or homeowner’s insurance; nor can you use it to receive cash back.

Ask about our Affordable Loan Solution® mortgage This loan offers a down payment as low as 3% with no mortgage Insurance required (income limits apply).2 Visit bankofamerica.com/ affordableloansolution to learn more.

Get help from a local lending specialist Your lending specialist can help you apply for this program and also find a home loan that’s right for you. Visit bankofamerica.com/mortgage to find a lending specialist near you. America’s Home Grant Program is available for properties in the following counties: North Carolina: Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan and Union; South Carolina: Chester, Lancaster and York, and the maximum borrower/co-borrower annual qualifying income limit is $56,560 for properties not located in a low-to-moderate income census tract (LMICT). Qualifying income of $56,560 is 80% of Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) Area Median Income and is subject to change without notice. For properties in eligible counties and located within a LMICT, the maximum borrower/co-borrower annual qualifying income limit is $100,000. The home loan must fund with Bank of America. America’s Home Grant Program is only available with conventional, FHA and VA first mortgage loan products. Bank of America may change or discontinue the America’s Home Grant Program or any portion of it without notice. Please ask for additional details. 2 Available for fixed-rate purchase loans with terms of 25 or 30 years and on primary residences only. Certain property types are ineligible. Borrower(s) must not have an individual or joint ownership interest in any other residential property at time of closing. Maximum purchase loan-to-value is 97% and maximum combined purchase loan-to-value is 103%. For loan-to-values >95%, any secondary financing must be from an approved Community Second Program; ask for details. Homebuyer education may be required. Restrictions apply regarding co-borrowers. Maximum income and loan amount limits apply. Credit and collateral are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Programs, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. ©2017 Bank of America Corporation. | ARFP5Y5D | 11-2017 | AD-11-17-0164 1

JOIN THE VILLAGE HEARTBEAT MOVEMENT New Season Starts January 13, 2018 Mark Your Calendar for:

Jericho Walk – March 2018 VHB Faith 5k Walk/Run – April 2018

VillageHB.org

VillageHeartBEAT

For questions contact Cheryl S. Emanuel Phone: 980-314-9027 Email: Cheryl.Emanuel@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov

PRIDE AWARDS 2018

FRIDAY, JANUARY 26 The Westin Charlotte

will be a celebratory day bash/luncheon, commemorating 25 years of “Pride’’ in the Queen City. We’ll honor one of Charlotte’s amazing millennials and have a stimulating “Conversation with the Generations.”

Networking: 11:15 am Lunch and Program: 12:00 pm Attire: Business Casual

Visit prideawards.net for updates; Call 704-375-9553 to reserve seating

AMAZING MILLENNIAL FINALISTS:

Mario Shaw & Jason Terrell

Vanessa Vaughn

Clinton Jamal Covington & Devin Martin

Victoria Watlington

David Spellmon, Jr.

Profound Gentlemen, Inc.

Asfalis Consulting

Project: See My Voice

Rubies Rising, LLC

Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools

PRESENTED BY:

SUPPORTED BY:

January-February 2018

Departments 10 From the Publisher 12 Notable Names 13 By Faith 14 Mindful Parent 15 Family Notes 16 Book Review 45 Scene and Seen 46 Events Calendar

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Health 40 M ental Health

Breaking the wall of silence

41 A utism

It’s not just a white thing

Business 43 F YI News & Notes 44 C harlotte Regional

Realtor Association Introducing president Jason Gentry

For these stories and more, visit us on the web! www.pridemagazineonline.com

Features 17 N ew

York Life Building Multigenerational Wealth

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to Watch Male entrepreneurs improving the social scene

21 M aking

It Count How Shaun Corbett became a community leader

22 M illennial

Moment The pulse of the next generation

29 M eet

Dr. James A. Anderson CEO of Fayetteville State University

35 C ivil

Rights Activist Clarence Newsome Makes Charlotte Home

On the Cover

36 A frican

New York Life's Charlotte General Office Team.

39 T en

Photo by Vic LeDan Photography

Americans in Charlotte How they shaped the entire city Men Book explores the complexities of black men January-February 2018 | Pride Magazine

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A 3% down payment loan helps make buying a home more affordable1 Work with an experienced lending specialist at Bank of America to learn about low down payment loans and programs that can help eligible homebuyers in the Charlotte area. Affordable Loan Solution® mortgage1 • Down payment as low as 3% • No mortgage insurance required • An affordable option for modest-income homebuyers • Maximum income and loan amount limits apply (varies by location) bankofamerica.com/affordableloansolution Bank of America® Down Payment Resource Center • Find programs to lower your down payment even more • Programs can be combined with most mortgages2 bankofamerica.com/downpaymentcenter America’s Home Grant® Program • A lender credit up to $2,500 toward nonrecurring closing costs • For Charlotte area borrowers earning less than $56,560 per year 3

Learn more and get prequalified so you’ll know how much you can borrow.4

Visit bankofamerica.com/mortgage.

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Available for fixed-rate purchase loans with terms of 25 or 30 years and on primary residences only. Certain property types are ineligible. Borrower(s) must not have an individual or joint ownership interest in any other residential property at time of closing. Maximum purchase loan-to-value is 97% and maximum combined purchase loan-to-value is 103%. For loan-to-values > 95%, any secondary financing must be from an approved Community Second Program; ask for details. Homebuyer education may be required. Restrictions apply regarding co-borrowers. Maximum income and loan amount limits apply.

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Down payment and/or closing cost assistance programs may not be available in your area. Down payment and/or closing cost assistance amount may be due upon sale, refinance, transfer or repayment of the loan, or if the senior mortgage is assumed during the term of the loan. Some programs require repayment with interest, and borrowers should become fully informed prior to closing. Not all applicants will qualify. Minimum credit scores may apply. Sales price restrictions and income requirements may apply. Homebuyer education may be required. Owner-occupied properties only. Maximum loan amounts may apply.

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Qualified borrowers must meet eligibility requirements, including, but not limited to, being owner-occupants, meeting certain qualifying income limitations, and purchasing a home within a certain geographical area. Homebuyer education will be required if all borrowers on an eligible loan are first-time homebuyers. The America’s Home Grant Program is a lender credit and not eligible to be used for down payment, escrowed taxes or homeowner’s insurance. No cash back to borrower. America’s Home Grant Program is available for properties in the following counties: North Carolina: Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan and Union; South Carolina: Chester, Lancaster and York, and the maximum borrower/co-borrower annual qualifying income limit is $56,560 for properties not located in a low-to-moderate income census tract (LMICT). Qualifying income of $56,560 is 80% of Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) Area Median Income and is subject to change without notice. For properties in eligible counties and located within a LMICT, the maximum borrower/co-borrower annual qualifying income limit is $100,000. The home loan must fund with Bank of America. America’s Home Grant Program is only available with conventional, FHA and VA first mortgage loan products. Bank of America may change or discontinue the America’s Home Grant Program or any portion of it without notice. Please ask for additional details.

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Prequalification is neither preapproval nor a commitment to lend; you must submit additional information for review and approval. Credit and collateral are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Programs, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. ©2017 Bank of America Corporation. AR8PY5CK 04-2017 AD-12-17-0036

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Charlotte’s African-American Magazine

CEO/Publisher Dee Dixon

Editor-in-Chief

Lashawnda Becoats

Copy Editor Polly Paddock

Lead Writer Angela Lindsay

Design & Production SPARK Publications www.SPARKpublications.com

Creative Director Larry Preslar

Junior Art Director Genna Baugh

Distribution Watch Dog Entertainment®

©

Account Executive Nikelle Fesperman

Public Relations Nepherterra Estrada

Subscribe to Pride

$13.25. Please subscribe online at www.pridemagazineonline.com, mail to P.O. Box 30113, Charlotte, NC 28230 or call 704- 375-9553

Letters to the Editor

Eye Exams • Treatment of Eye Diseases Contact Lenses • Glaucoma & Diabetic Eyecare • High Tech Environment with Lots of Loving Care Most Insurances Accepted.

Please send an e-mail to info@pridemagazine.net fax to 704-375-9550 or mail to Pride Magazine 402 W. Trade St., Suite 102, Charlotte, NC 28202 www.pridemagazineonline.com

Copyright© 2018 Pride Magazine All rights reserved. Copying or reproduction, in part or in whole, is strictly prohibited. Pride Magazine reserves the right to deny any advertisement, listing or feature that does not meet Pride Magazine standards or that is outside the scope or mission of our magazine. Pride Magazine assumes no responsibility for information, products, services, or statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors.

Pride Magazine prints with soy ink. Vol. 26 No. 1 January - February 2018 All rights reserved for PRIDE Communications Inc. Find us on Facebook: Facebook.com/NCPrideMagazine

January-February 2018 | Pride Magazine

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FromTheCEO

By Dee Dixon

Pride Awards 2018 Luncheon to Explore Generational Differences and Celebrate 25 Years

Do you remember Pride Awards 2011?

L

et’s talk about the generations. This is a fascinating topic, because for the first time in history, we have the boomers, X’ers and millennials all in the workforce at the same time. Of course, the whole United States is abuzz about millennials, and so are we. After all, millennials, along with baby boomers, are on the rise in Charlotte. Data shows Charlotte has become a magnet for young college grads, moving here in large numbers. In fact, we will honor an “Amazing Millennial” at the Pride Awards 2018 in January – more about that shortly. Let’s take a moment to properly identify the generations, as it may be erroneous to assume everyone is up to speed on this, though there is some disagreement about exact dates. Generally speaking (and believe me, the following is not an exact science), baby boomers were born between 1946 and 1964, Generation X between 1965 and 1984 and millennials between 1982 and 2004. And, there is another generation on the scene – Gen Z – born 1996 or later. One could readily surmise, from the various

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age differences, that there’s bound to be generational conflict, especially in the workplace. But, is this true? OK, so here’s where it gets interesting. On the negative side, it is rumored that boomers are narcissistic, Gen Xers were the first to do worse than their parents and millennials act with a sense of entitlement. On the other hand, we tend to think the boomers value loyalty, Gen Xers value worklife balance and the Ys or millennials value innovation and change. So what about the Zs? Well, they are gaining the reputation of being less focused – due to technology, of course — ­ , but are better multitaskers and think more globally. So, where do we land with all this? Are the generations really so different? Is one better or more promising than the other? Quite frankly, it’s a mixed bag, and please don’t draw any conclusions from what I’ve just written. But, I will encourage you to attend our Pride Awards 2018 Day/ Bash Luncheon on January 26 to gain more insight. We are planning a unique “Conversation with the Generations”

panel discussion that will fire up your brain and have you sitting on the edge of your seat. (See Page 6 for details.) That’s not all. This year’s Pride Awards event will be chock full of fun and surprises, as we take a stroll down memory lane. After all, 25 years is a pretty good stint for a small, minority-owned business, and we have covered a lot of ground. It’s time to celebrate, and we would be remiss if we did not thank our loyal, presenting sponsors for their continued support: Bank of America, Carolinas HealthCare, Food Lion and Wells Fargo. In addition, we also thank WCNC, V101.9, Northeastern University and all of our silver and table sponsors for their support. May God bless you richly this year, enjoy this issue and I’ll see YOU at the Pride Awards Day Bash Luncheon.

At Atlantic Capital, we provide innovative financial solutions for middle-market and emerging growth companies. May 18-25, 2018 Knight Theater

Corporate Banking

SBA Loans

Franchise Lending

Commercial Real Estate Financing Corporate Financial Services

Tim Elleby SVP, Corporate Banking tim.elleby@atlcapbank.com 980.273.7991 Member FDIC.

www.atlanticcapitalbank.com

Equal Housing Lender.

Tickets: 704-372-1000 www.operacarolina.org

The 2017/18 Season is made possible by a generous sponsorship from The Wells Fargo Private Bank.

January-February 2018 | Pride Magazine

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NotableNames By Jimese S. Orange

SIDNEY MINTER

TAMI B. SIMMONS

KELLEN NIXON

RASHAAN PEEK

Sidney Minter is an honoree among the “2017 Leaders in Law” from North Carolina Lawyers Weekly. As an attorney with the Charlotte office of the national labor and employment law firm, Fisher Phillips, Minter was among 30 legal professionals licensed and practicing law in North Carolina who received the honor. Representing the most influential individuals within North Carolina’s legal community, these honorees were selected by a panel of independent legal professional leaders and peers. In addition to practicing law for the past six years, Minter serves as cochair of the North Carolina Bar Association’s Ask-a-Lawyer Day. He is also the cochair for Minorities in the Profession’s 2018 Pre-Law Conference. He is a proud member of the National Black Lawyers Top 100—an invitation-only professional honorary organization composed of exemplary attorneys. P

Kellen Nixon is the senior director of STEM Education & Discovery Place Education Studio at Discovery Place. The education studio provides customized professional development in science, technology, engineering and math, to educators across the region. Programs include a Summer Internship Institute, which provides an opportunity for educators and administrative staff to get hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology and teaching techniques. There is also individualized coaching, to help teachers grow their effectiveness in lesson planning andexecution and educational leadership. It also offers hands-on workshops on subjects including 3D printing, coding, robotics and early childhood engineering, as well as problem-based learning strategies that support literacy. Through partnerships with more than 150 schools, districts and organizations, the studio has reached more than 11,000 teachers throughout the Carolinas. Nixon and the studio continue to provide high-quality professional development, while producing strong relationships with the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools and the communities that its teachers and students call home. P

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Tami B. Simmons was appointed vice president of institutional advancement at Johnson C. Smith University. She will head the areas of fund-raising and development, communications and marketing and alumni relations. Previously, she spent five years at Susan G. Komen Charlotte and 19 years with Wells Fargo, leaving as senior vice president and director of corporate philanthropy. “JCSU has a history of being at the forefront of innovations in higher education, and it represents the best of intellectual rigor, applied research, arts and culture and social responsibility,” said Simmons. “I am honored to add my service to advancing the mission of this great institution. As a proud graduate of two outstanding HBCUs, I bring great respect for the traditions of HBCUs to my work as I collaborate with donors, alumni, faculty, staff, students and friends of the university.” P

Rashaan Peek is the new director of organizational affairs at MeckEd, an education-focused nonprofit with a mission to ensure that all children in Mecklenburg County have access to a public education that results in a diploma that matters, experiences they need and the success they deserve. Peek previously worked as a consultant with MeckEd, managing all aspects of the community engagement work associated with CMS’s search for a new superintendent and coordination of community conversations with residents, students and elected officials. Most recently, she was instrumental in the launch and successful growth of MeckEd’s Out of School Time initiative, Charlotte NEXT. “I want to make sure that all young people in our schools have access to opportunity. That is why I do this work, and why I am excited about the future,” said Peek. She has been in the nonprofit field for more than 20 years. Prior to joining MeckEd, Peek was the executive assistant at Charlotte Center City Partners, as well as a business owner who assisted nonprofits and small businesses with their organizational and operational needs. P

ByFaith

By Rev. Dr. Dwayne Bond

Living Wisely in the New Year

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re you asking yourself, “What’s in store for me in 2018? Will I get a promotion or a raise? Will my investments rebound? Will I lose those unwanted pounds? Is this the year I’ll be swept off my feet and get married? Will we finally start our family?” Anticipating a fresh start and wondering about new possibilities can be exhilarating. New beginnings bring renewal, expectancy and hope. Optimism increases. Goal‑setting becomes paramount. Minds become laser‑focused.

Consider your time

As you think about your goals for 2018 surrounding your health, family, relationships, career and finances, are you also praying about your relationship with God? Do you ask yourself, “How am I growing spiritually?” Reflecting on how you intend to use and leverage your time this year, are you making spiritual preparations in order to progress relationally toward God? Living spiritually wise in the new year is worth thinking about. Paul says in Ephesians 5:15 (ESV), “Look carefully then how you walk (live), not as unwise but as wise. …” Paul then gives three challenges to assist with self-evaluation regarding wise living: assess, deliberate and contemplate. He encourages Christians to make the best use of their time as they give explicit attention to how they are living in the midst of times that are evil. In verse 16, he emphasizes, “… making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” Paul encourages being mindful of available opportunities. You can decide to either use your time wisely or waste it away. Think about the opportunities in 2012 that you were presented with and took full advantage of. Now, ponder those opportunities you chose not to entertain and those you may have unknowingly squandered. As the world proliferates in evil, the Scripture is admonishing you to redeem (or buy up) the time God has given you. Every time God gives you opportunities in this evil-filled world that desperately need

Him, seize the moment. When you wake up in the morning, perceive your day not as time to simply get things done, but chances to display His goodness.

Read, learn … receive the best

Paul’s second challenge is to commit yourself to studying the Scriptures. In Ephesians 5:17 (ESV) he states, “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Paul literally warns his readers not to act like fools. But don’t simply settle for human wisdom; rather seek to understand what God’s will is for your life and its circumstances. Understanding the will of God means to discover God’s heart for your life based on what He has stated in the Scriptures. As you read and learn from the Bible, you are able to practice obedience and make choices that are aligned with what God wants. If, however, you go after your own

will, then you’ll miss out on God’s best and, consequently, be considered unwise. Finally, be filled (controlled) by the Holy Spirit. In Ephesians 5:18 (ESV) Paul says, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery (immoral), but be filled (controlled) with the Spirit.” The Scriptures do not prohibit wine, but simply warn that it’s better/smarter to be influenced by the Holy Spirit than wine (or any other vice like drugs, money, television or social media), because it’s unwise to allow anything other than God to control your life. Living wisely comes not from intellectual prowess, but from living under the power of the Holy Spirit … and it takes surrender, planning and preparation. Give your attention to your spiritual life and live wisely as you find hope and rest in Jesus Christ. P The Rev. Dwayne Bond is the lead pastor of Wellspring Church.

January-February 2018 | Pride Magazine

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TheMindfulParent

By Shavonda Bean

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The Adolescent Brain: Boys, Puberty and Health

arents of teenagers are all too familiar with the alien abduction of their sweet children during the process known as puberty. It helps to know what to expect beyond the development of sexual characteristics and physical changes in boys. For them, puberty can begin as early as nine, but typically starts around age 12.

The Brain:

The brain is fascinating and complex. Adolescent brain development involves rapid growth of brain matter, formation of new connections, loss of unused or unimportant neural connections and myelination or the insulation of brain pathways to speed up and stabilize neural connections. The brain matures in a back-to-front pattern, and therefore, the last connections to be fully established are those that link the prefrontal cortex (the judgment, planning, organization, impulse control and problem-solving center of the brain) with the emotional learning and self-regulation parts of the brain. A boy’s brain reaches its maximum size at about 14.5 years of age, while brain maturation continues for at least another 10 years. During this critical course of brain development, the opportunity for misconnections and problems such as the onset of psychiatric disorders exists. Although more research is needed to fully understand the links between brain development and mental health, we know some mental illnesses are evident in early childhood, while others appear in adolescence. Brain health is important. Early identification and treatment are important in managing symptoms and preventing worsening of conditions into late adolescence and early adulthood.

Normal Teenage Behavior:

Adolescence involves normal behavioral changes. It is normal for boys to experience mood swings, irritability, sadness, anger or fatigue. Teens engage in increased sensation-seeking or risk-taking behaviors without considering consequences. Teen boys will spend more time alone and with friends than with their families. Although it becomes even more critical to help

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guide peer influences and protect boys from exposure to unhealthy behaviors, this separation from parents helps develop independence and a sense of self. It is also normal for the level of concentration to change. So, if this is normal, determining when to be concerned about mental health can be complicated. Psychological wellness can be influenced by many factors, including the environment, genetics or life challenges. Consider the following distinctions when determining when to seek professional help.

Mood Changes:

Anxiety:

Cognitive Changes:

It’s common for teens to experience brief periods of worry and anxiety. However, if your son’s anxiety becomes overwhelming, does not improve and causes declining school performance or avoidance of activities or friends, he might be experiencing an anxiety disorder.

Inattentiveness:

Difficulty concentrating is normal during puberty and adolescence. However, ongoing inattentiveness, along with hyperactivity or low grades, extensive need of parental support with academics, fewer friendships and poor frustration tolerance is abnormal. Consider seeing a professional to rule out more serious problems that could be attributed to attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder.

Puberty involves increased moodiness. Be aware of extended periods of sadness and irritability lasting longer than two weeks, and accompanied by changes in sleep or increased physical complaints, substance use, fighting or aggression, changes in academic performance, worsening self-esteem and decreased enjoyment of activities or friends. This could indicate depression, a mood or behavioral disorder. Although schizophrenia and psychosis are rare, symptoms often appear in late adolescence or early adulthood, and can present in a manner similar to depression or mood disorders. A more serious concern is indicated if these symptoms also include significant changes in thinking, behavior or emotions such as paranoia, seeing or hearing things, extreme fearfulness, inappropriate emotional responses (laughing when inappropriate), poor personal hygiene, rapid shifts in topics of conversation and/ or odd behavior. P

Shavonda Bean is a licensed psychological associate and owner of Essential Assessments & Behavioral Health. Visit Essentialhealthnc.com for more information.

FamilyNotes Compiled by Lee McCracken

Gen X Dads The average age of first-time fatherhood — across all education levels and ethnicities — is now 30.9, according to a study published in August 2017 in the journal Human Reproduction. And, births to men over 40 make up almost one-tenth of all babies born in the United States. While older dads have increased resources and are more stable financially, the downside is that the quality of their semen decreases and children can be born with autism, psychiatric illness, neurologic disease, pediatric cancer and chromosomal abnormalities.

The Making of Muhammad Ali The film “And in this Corner: Cassius Clay” runs here February 2-18 and goes an extra, exhilarating round by exploring how remarkable communities inspire people to greatness. At the sound of the bell, young Cassius Clay Jr. takes his first step into the ring, and starts becoming the man the world will one day know as Muhammad Ali. This historical drama explores the iconic boxer’s early life in Jim Crow-era Louisville, KY. ImaginOn, 300 E. 7th St., Charlotte. For ages 8 and older; tickets $12-$28. Visit ctcharlotte.org.

Self-Cyberbullying A study by researchers at Florida Atlantic University, published in October in sciencedaily.com, shows a new form of self-harm in youth is increasing. The behavior is categorized as “digital self-harm” or “self-trolling,” in which teens post, send or share mean things about themselves anonymously online. The study was the first to examine the extent of this behavior and is the most comprehensive investigation of this understudied problem. Sameer Hinduja, PhD, study author, a professor in FAU’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice and codirector of the Cyberbullying Research Center, says the idea that kids would cyberbully themselves first gained public attention with the suicide of 14-year-old girl in 2013. “I was stunned to discover that about one in 20 middle- and high-school-age students have bullied themselves online,” says Hinduja. “This finding was totally unexpected, even though I’ve been studying cyberbullying for almost 15 years.” For more information, visit hinduja.org.

Sunshine for a Healthy Baby

At least 40 percent of U.S. infants and toddlers don’t get enough vitamin D, according to babycenter.com. This vitamin plays an important role in bone strength and development, and African-American babies are at a greater risk for a deficiency than white babies. The body produces vitamin D when the skin is exposed to the sun, but African Americans produce less because darker skin contains more melanin. Pediatricians suggest vitamin D drops (400 IU) daily. Not getting enough vitamin D can result in rickets (a bone disease in children caused by low vitamin D levels), as well as high blood pressure and heart disease in adulthood.

How-to Homeschooling A growing number of African-American parents have stopped waiting for public schools to get better. The rate of AfricanAmerican homeschoolers nearly doubled from 1999 to 2012, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (icher.org). George Noblit, an education sociologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, reports these parents are homeschooling to protect their children from drugs and bullying, as well as to ensure students get more individualized instruction. Here are some resources for more information: • africanamericanhomeschoolmoms.com • Facebook.com/hiphophomeschoolers • theblackhomeschool.com

January-February 2018 | Pride Magazine

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BookReview

By Angela Haigler

Jump into the New Year with These Juicy Reads

Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut

Sing, Unburied, Sing

by Derrick Barnes; illustrated by Gordon C. James

Scribner

Agate Bolden Whether you’re an admirer of a really great haircut, or someone who gets a fresh cut regularly, you’re bound to find Derrick Barnes’ poem-turned-lovesong-in-pictures about the barbershop experience a thing of beauty. Gordon C. James’ illustrations elevate Barnes’ words to something that must be read, heard and seen. And don’t let the fact that it’s a picture book stop you. This one is a masterpiece for all ages, that teaches a lesson about how good a fresh cut can make you feel. These two artists also reside in Charlotte.

by Jesmyn Ward There’s a lot of pain in this prose. Interwoven, there’s also beauty. and that’s what you expect from National Book Award-winner Jesmyn Ward. Her latest book takes readers along as a troubled mother journeys with her two children and a friend to visit their incarcerated, soon-to-be-released father. Ward’s writing is often compared to that of white Southern writer William Faulkner. That’s OK with Ward, as she has made it her mission to create Southern experiences that sing. With each breathtaking work that she’s shared over the years, including this one, we can safely say she succeeds.

When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Patrisse Khan-Cullors and Asha Bandele St. Martin’s Press What inspires a movement? Black Lives Matter cofounder Patrisse Khan-Cullors tells us, with help from journalist-novelist asha bandele. Angered by the acquittal of George Zimmerman after the murder of Trayvon Martin, Khan-Cullors founded the Black Lives Matter movement in 2013. It all started with a simple hashtag that touched a nerve across the nation, and then internationally, with both supporters and detractors. This is her story.

Black Fortunes: The Story of the First Six African Americans Who Escaped Slavery and Became Millionaires by Shomari Wills Amistad Their stories are little-known and seldom told, but author Shomari Wills seeks to change this, with an eye-opening history about six African Americans who were slaves and went on to know great wealth. Will’s great-great-great-grandfather, Napoleon Bonaparte Drew, was among them noted. Drew was the first black man in Powhatan County, Va., to own property in post-Civil War times. This account documents both men and women who used their creativity and tenacity to build a financial legacy for themselves and their families.

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BUILDING MULTIGENERATIONAL WEALTH

AMONG AFRICAN AMERICANS

New York Life's Charlotte General Office Team.

New York Life’s $50 Billion Promise

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hile most cultures use life insurance as a death benefit tool for generating multigenerational wealth, African Americans have generally viewed it as simply a means of covering burial expenses.1 “It is time to help close the wealth gap by making African American families aware of the ability to create financial stability, economic opportunity, and multigenerational wealth, with life insurance as the foundation” said Eugene Mitchell, Corporate Vice President of New York Life Insurance Company’s African American Market.

Building legacies

New York Life’s commitment to creating greater financial awareness among African Americans began in 1957 when it hired one of the industry’s first African American life insurance Agent, Cirilo A. McSween. Mr. McSween dedicated his life to empowering

1  McKinney, Jeffrey (2017, July 17). Multiple Ways Life Insurance Can Build Wealth for Blacks and Community. Retrieved from http://www.blackenterprise.com/money/ multiple-ways-life-insurance-can-build-wealth-for-blacks-andcommunity/

Agent Centario Grier with his clients Adrian and Deidre Baker.

January-February 2018 | Pride Magazine

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Agent Stan Banks with Austin Banks (son), Zoe Banks (daughter), Stan Banks Jr. (NYL Agent), Daphne Banks (wife), Avery Banks (son), Noelle Banks (daughter)

his community. He was adamant about helping African Americans create estates and leave legacies to financially empower the next generation. Today New York Life and its more than 1,300 African American agents2 around the country have pledged to help build on the legacy of strong leadership that Mr. McSween embodied. In 2011, the company launched its $50 Billion Empowerment Plan to help make dreams of college, homeownership, entrepreneurship, and retirement a reality for African Americans*. The Empowerment Plan is a promise to help generate $50 billion of generally taxfree, future income for the African American community, every five years. “With as little as $250,000** in life insurance coverage, a family can provide financial security for its children and a financial foundation upon which future generations can grow,” shared Mitchell. “Our goal is to touch the lives of at least 200,000 African American families every five years, and illustrate how life insurance can help ensure them the same financial protection and peace of mind that other cultures enjoy.”

local communities. As of 11/5/2017, agents in North Carolina have secured over $700 million of in-force life insurance protection and future income to help make financial security a reality for African Americans. Agent, Centario Grier leads some of the community building efforts on the ground, leveraging all opportunities to create awareness around financial literacy. He proudly states, “This business allows me to conduct educational workshops with churches, while working with lawyers and accountants - together we have an even bigger impact on the community.” One client at a time, Centario is on a mission to help individuals and families understand the importance of planning for their future, to break the cycle of poverty. African Americans suffer from the highest poverty rate compared to all other groups, 22% of African Americans live in poverty3. Single mothers are particularly at risk, single mom families account for 51% of all families in poverty.3 Financial literacy can help combat some of the economic issues disproportionately affecting African Americans nationwide.

Impacting local communities

Promises delivered

New York Life’s Charlotte office has fully embraced Eugene’s mission to drive the message of economic empowerment to individuals, families and businesses in their

2  As of October 31, 2017, New York Life has 1,310 African American Market agents

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As of August 25, 2017 the company’s African-American market agents have surpassed the milestone of $50 billion of in-force life insurance protection and future

3  U.S. Census Bureau. Income and Poverty in the United States: 2016; Issued September 2017

income to help families and businesses create financial stability for their loved ones.

Personal commitments

Mitchell acknowledged that the strength of New York Life’s initiative rests in the community’s willingness to reconsider the potential long-term impact of sound life insurance planning. “If we can rethink our perceptions about life insurance and make personal commitments to become wealth builders,” suggested Mitchell, “we have the collective power to change the financial landscape for the next generation of African Americans.” P

*Via policy loans. Loans against your policy accrue interest and decrease the death benefit and cash value by the amount of the outstanding loan and interest. **$250,000 in face amount. Hypothetical example for illustrative purposes only. Face amount will depend upon coverage needs and ability to pay premiums. Neither New York Life, nor its agents, provides tax, legal, or accounting advice. Please consult your own tax, legal, or accounting professional before making any decisions. This educational third-party article is provided as a courtesy of New York Life Insurance Company. To learn more about the information or topics discussed, please contact Managing Partner,Dean Diamond at 704-371-8547.

Men to Watch

TABU TERRELL

Entrepreneurs Who Are Improving Charlotte’s Social Scene By Angela Lindsay Photos by Michaella Neal

I

n a city with seeming multiples of every type of venue when it comes to socializing—bars, clubs, lounges, etc.—there are at least three entrepreneurs who saw an opportunity to improve upon that scene by going their own ways. That has lead to several unique new options for how Charlotteans can spend their downtime.

THE BREW DOCTOR Tucked away in an inconspicuous industrial complex in south Charlotte is a brewery with an owner who is just as unassuming. Former Carolinas Healthcare System board-certified emergency medicine physician Tabu Terrell, 45, first learned the art of home brewing while in residency training in Indianapolis, after a program director suggested picking up an indoor hobby during the winter months of his intern year. The Champaign, Illinois, native opened Three Spirits Brewery in November 2015 and became Charlotte’s first Black brewery owner amidst a sea of white local craft beer businesses. The Three Spirits name is a take on Terrell’s favorite holiday movie, “A Christmas Carol,” based on the Charles Dickens novel. He says he was at a point in his medical career where it was not bringing him as much joy as it used to, and he was becoming an unlikable character, like Ebenezer Scrooge. He realized that he and his wife, also an emergency medicine physician, were missing out on quality time raising their children. Then, an alarming event quickened the course. “I had an unexpected illness that landed me in the ICU,” he says. “That changed my priorities pretty quickly. With the support of

Tabu Terrell, 45, owner of Three Spirits Brewery. (Right) Three Spirits Brewery located is south Charlotte.

my wife, the post-retirement career became a right-now option. I got to be a stay-athome dad while I tried to get the brewery off of the ground, and since it has opened, she [his wife] has been able to alter her career path slightly and work from home.” Terrell describes the atmosphere at Three Spirits as “chill, laid back, welcoming and warm.” Its décor is reflective of an English pub. His award-winning beers are served in the 2,500-square-foot taproom, while the beer is made in a 9,000-squarefoot brew house. While he says many people think that breweries have only white guys with big beards, the Three Spirits crowd is very diverse. He has hosted parties for African Americans, alternative lifestyle groups and bridal showers. His goal, he says, is “to be a community space where everyone feels welcome and to change the perception of

what it means to go to a microbrewery and who you will see.”

THE GAME CHANGER Feeling unfulfilled by corporate America, High Point native Markus Hunter, 38, decided it was time for a change. That decision became what is now commonly referred to as an “adult playground.” Recess Charlotte, a 3,800-square-foot venue, is located in the Belmont community and provides an escape into a grown person’s entertainment wonderland. “Recess, I feel, is whatever the customer wants it to be—whether it’s a bar hangout or a place to grab food, network and mingle,” explains Hunter, its owner/general manager. His own childhood of playing interactive, physical games led to the concept of the

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venue, which includes swings, shuffleboard, tetherball, cornhole, giant Jenga, giant Connect Four, air hockey, foosball and several big-screen TVs. The dog-friendly venue can hold upward of 200 patrons. Its outdoor patio area offers shareable appetizer plates as well as “creative and fun drinks.” Hunter proudly welcomes the diverse crowd Recess Charlotte draws, and says he chose the nearby Plaza Midwood area for that very reason. His customers appreciate the venue’s creativity and uniqueness, and he is very receptive to change, based on their desires. Although Recess Charlotte is Hunter’s first venture, having just opened in August of 2017, he is not counting out the possibility of other opportunities in a year or two. But for now, he is focused on the current one. “I just want to make this (location) as sufficient and comfortable and as great of a spot as I can make it right now, and then we can look at maybe expanding from there.”

MARKUS HUNTER

THE BUSINESSMAN

Marcus Hunter, 38 , owner of Recess Charlotte located in the Belmont community. (L) Inside Recess Charlotte.

CLARENCE BOSTON

Clarence Boston, 40 owner of Fire House and Secret Society Cigar Bar and Lounge.

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Clarence Boston is building an empire. The Reidsville native, 40, is already the owner of seven businesses in the region, including a mortuary service, crematorium, cemetery, burial vault manufacturing service and Secret Society Cigar Bar and Lounge. It is his Fire House Bar & Lounge that has quickly become one of the go-to spots for young professionals. Located on the site of a former crematorium, Fire House is a bottle-service lounge specializing in an assortment of exotic hookah, including pineapple fruit head hookah (using the rind of the fruit as the hookah bowl), which Boston say no other venue in Charlotte is offering. The Fire House name is derived from a food truck he purchased, which used to be a fire truck and operates outside the lounge. The interior of Fire House seats a little more than 100 people within roughly 1,900 square feet with swings hanging from the ceiling by the bar. While Charlotte has no shortage of bars and lounges, Boston had a particular reason for wanting to add his concept to the mix. “I got tired of going places where they didn’t really respect the Black dollar,” he explains. Looking to further capitalize on Fire House’s success, Boston is considering opening a pool bar called Wet next summer P

MakingItCount

Cuts and Conversations How This Barber Became a Community Leader

By Tonya Jameson

S

haun “Lucky” Corbett didn’t plan to be a community leader, but owning a barbershop left him little choice. People from all walks of life visit Da Lucky Spot on North Tryon Street between East Craighead Road and Atando Avenue. It’s on a side of town where Charlotte Mecklenburg police officers see way too much action, and law-abiding residents try to make honest lives for themselves. Corbett hears from them all, such as the mother trying to keep her son out of trouble, and the woman who is so proud that her son is on the honor roll. There’s also the ex-con looking for a fresh haircut to help him land that job he’s been trying to get. There’s no way the 38-year-old couldn’t become a community leader. He’s a husband and proud father of four, ages 10-21. What happens in the community not only affects his business, but also affects his family. “My aim is to never forget my humble beginnings, work twice as hard to improve the quality of life and make a difference where I live and work,” he said. “I grew up knowing what it’s like to not have.” And knowing that led Corbett to the streets. A few bad decisions to get quick money kept him in and out jail when he was in his 20s. He was following a path all too familiar in the Black community. It was a path that led to heartache or worse, but Corbett wanted something more for himself. Corbett got his GED and turned his life around. He got a string of minimum-wage jobs, but that wasn’t getting him anywhere. He enrolled in No Grease Barber College in Charlotte and paid his way by working at a Fuel Pizza. After graduating in 2006, Corbett landed a job at a barbershop. Four years later, he bought the shop and renamed it Da Lucky Spot. Corbett didn’t keep his success to himself. The barbershop hosts various annual community events, such as its backpack drive, turkey drive, coat drive and health fair. The shop’s latest effort is the new youth report card reward initiative that awards honor roll students with free haircuts and new shoes. He also returns to No Grease Barber College to speak to

Shaun "Lucky" Corbett owner of Da Lucky Spot says "You own a business, you give back to the community."

students about life in the barber industry. “You own a business, you give back to the community,” Corbett said. The aftermath of Michael Brown’s shooting death inspired Corbett to do even more. Although Brown was fatally shot by police in Ferguson, Mo., Corbett knew that tensions simmered here in Charlotte, as well. He also worried about the safety of his own sons, dealing with the police department here. Charlotte held its breath in 2015 as the city watched the trial of former CMPD officer Randall Kerrick, who is white, and was charged in the shooting death of 24-year-old Jonathan Ferrell, who is black and was unarmed. The case ended in a mistrial. Corbett created and organized the Cops & Barbers initiative, along with the NC Local Barber Association and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department. The idea was to host community forums in which cops and young black people talked at barbershops.

The successful program earned Corbett an invitation to the White House to speak with President Barack Obama’s Task Force on 21st Century Policing. He also accompanied CMPD Chief Kerr Putney to a police chiefs’ conference in Washington, D.C. to talk about the program. Corbett was awarded the “Charlottean of the Year” by Charlotte magazine in 2015. He was among a small group of young AfricanAmerican men who spoke with Hillary Clinton during one of her visits to Charlotte during the 2016 election campaign. His community events are widely attended by elected officials and candidates eager to talk to everyday people about issues in Charlotte. It’s quiet at the shop on a recent Tuesday. Only a couple of barbers are there, and Corbett is trying to update his calendar and knock out a few to-dos. He takes a moment to reflect on his success from jail to community advocate. “The real value is how many lives you touch,” he said. P

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MILLENNIAL MOMENT: TAKING THE PULSE OF

THE NEXT GENERATION

Millennials (persons between the ages of 18 and 34) are having a moment right now. They’re running for office, running businesses, running marathons and are poised to, well, run the world. And Charlotte is full of them. In fact, Charlotte was recently ranked No. 18 on the Forbes list of the 25 best cities for millennials, with Third Ward named as the best neighborhood in the city for them. They are often referred to as the “entitlement generation” or “generation me.” However, they are actually quite creative, talented, curious, innovative and engaged. But do we really know who these young people are? What do they think? What makes them tick? What are their fears, concerns, joys, opinions? We wondered. So, we asked a bunch of them in connection with the 25-year celebration of the Pride Awards, will honor an outstanding millennial in our community. While the honoree is a shining example of the power this generation has, there are hundreds of thousands more millennials that are changing the dynamics and shaping the future of this region. They have a strong voice. We invite you to listen.

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BY ANGELA LINDSAY

Dr. Justin Harlow 29, owner and general dentist at Harlow Dental at Steele Creek/Charlotte City Council—District 2 In what area(s) do you think millennials have had/ could have the biggest impact in Charlotte? “Millennials are very creative and have had an immense impact on our startup and entrepreneurial community. However, our biggest impact can be on local politics. We just elected six millennials to city council, which constitutes a voting majority. Charlotte’s public policy agenda and growth can now be shaped by its fastestgrowing population.”

John Bellard 25, billing analyst What’s the best thing about living in Charlotte? “Being able to travel to different areas of the city and experience a completely unique scene. Gives me options, depending on what I’m going for that night or event.” What’s the worst thing about living in Charlotte? “Besides no one using their turn signals? I would say rent-to-income ratio, especially for young adults my age is pretty disparaging. I also think paying property tax

Millennials are creating their own language daily, it seems. Here are some of their most commonly spoken words: Savage: Something that is really cool but with a hint of ferociousness. Woke: Someone who is keenly aware of what is going on around him/her and is plugged in about trends, events or a particular topic (often political or cultural). Sus: A truncated version of the word suspect, used to describe a situation or person who is acting shady. Yas: Shows extreme agreement or support of someone or something. On Fleek: Describes being on point with what’s cool, trendy or desirable. Lit: 1) exciting or excellent, especially when used in reference to a party or social event; 2) intoxicated or under the influence. Shade: Usually a part of the phrase “throwing shade,” meaning to critique or talk down to or about someone or a situation. #Blessed: Having great things going on in your life. Adulting: Learning to grow up, accept responsibilities and become mature.

on our cars is outrageous. Full adults can probably agree on that one, right?” What is one thing Charlotte could do to better help/cater to millennials? “Fortunately, I think millennials are looking for a change in the way things are done from the top down. Topics such as public transportation and environmental awareness come to mind, so looking at an expansion of both of those would be a step in the right direction. Not everyone can afford Uber and Lyft, and this may free up some of the horrendous 485 traffic.”

CeQuan Person 18, UNCC student As a millennial, what is your biggest concern for the future? “Since I have recently started college and am only a freshman, right now my biggest concern for my future would be will I be able to find a job.” What is the most important thing you have learned so far and who taught it to you? “When I was younger, my mom taught me that not everybody is going to like you, nor do they have to. To me, that was an important lesson to learn, because I wanted everyone to like me, so I would try hard to make sure everyone liked me, when in reality it doesn’t matter as long as you can get along well enough to work together.”

Millennials are described by the U.S. Census Bureau as persons between the ages of 18-34 as of 2015.

In Mecklenburg County, which has a population of about a million people, more than 240,000 are between the ages of 20 and 34.

Millennials have surpassed baby boomers as the nation’s largest living generation.

Four-in-10 millennial workers ages 25 to 29 had at least a bachelor’s degree in 2016 (Pew Research Center).

Melonie Lindsay, 31, cake decorator Is saving for the future something you have thought about or even started doing? Why or why not? “I am definitely thinking about saving, and I hate to say that I just recently started saving more than I was before. I’m not getting any younger, and I have a lot of things that I want to accomplish, such as homeownership and traveling.” What do you think about the entertainment/ nightlife options for millennials in Charlotte? How would you change it, if at all? “I think that there are a lot of great nightlife options, but I don’t actually go out much, because I’m preparing for my next day at work most of the time. I do enjoy mixers and bar crawls from time to time, though.”

Millennials’ main sources for news: Television

65%

Internet

59%

Newspapers 24% Radio

18%

(USchamberfoundation.org)

80 percent of millennials sleep with their cell phone next to the bed. (USchamberfoundation.org)

Heather Slugaski 30, clinical social worker As a transplant to Charlotte, do you feel the city is a good landing spot for millennials? Why or why not? “As a newcomer to Charlotte, I feel like the city is a perfect location for millennials. The job market is flourishing, and there are tons of networking and social opportunities for young people. From breweries to tons of restaurants to hiking mountain trails, I think everyone can find something that appeals to them.” How do you generally consume your daily news and why? “I use the CNN app on my phone and also subscribe to The Skimm for my daily news. I always have my phone with me, so it’s easy access to get up-to-date information on what’s going on in the world.”

Ramon Perez 27, regional theater company manager The American dream used to be to get married, buy a house with a white picket fence, have a couple of kids, work at the same job for 40 years and retire. What do you think the American Dream is for millennials now? “I believe each generation changes what the American Dream means to them and makes it their own. I think that if the millennial generation wanted to achieve and label something such as an American Dream, it would be to have a successful career more than anything. Owning a property and starting a family are probably secondary goals, if they are goals at all. I think that’s why we see a tendency to see people having children in their late 20s and early 30s these days as opposed to late teens and early 20s, like we saw in our parents’ generation.” What do you think is the biggest issue facing millennials right now? “I think student loan debt is the biggest issue millennials face right now. I can only speak for myself, but I’m sure a good number of millennials deal with crippling debt. Part of the reason people wait to start families and buy houses is probably because they are dealing with repaying student loans once they graduate [from] college. I hope to see a day where people who choose to go to college aren’t faced with the challenge of crippling debt once they graduate.”

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Paolo Newman 34, attorney How important is overall health and fitness to millennials, and how do you think that differs, if at all, from your parents’ generation? “I do watch what I eat. My parents didn’t know anything about diet and caloric intake growing up, but since [I have reached] adulthood, my mom has been enlightened and is an advocate of healthy eating—probably due to the information age. Plus, my dad passed away in 2005 from a stroke, so education about healthy eating could have prolonged his life. That’s another reason why I’m always cognizant of my weight and eating habits as a black man.”

Elle Mason

24, management consultant What, if anything, do you think the city can do to improve the experience of living here as a millennial? “I think transportation (although improving) continues to be a challenge. I’d like to see more options for public transit throughout east and west Charlotte and other small neighborhoods, beyond the current priority of university to uptown.”

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With so many dating options available with social media and apps, do you ever think about whether you’ll actually meet ‘the one’ and get married? Do you think those in your generation even give it much thought? “I don’t know how much I believe in ‘the one’ anymore. Lately, a male companion that is a useful life partner seems more desirable than passion and romance. I think we give it thought, but we don’t feel a rush or pressure to make it happen or even find it quickly.”

Mario Jovan Shaw 28, chief impact officer of Profound Gentlemen What do you think is the biggest difference in the way millennials view education versus previous generations? “I’m not sure if millennials view education differently than previous generations, or that we have more access to resources in education that gives us the privilege to think about it differently. The previous generations set the foundation that we build on. The building process will always look different than laying the foundation. So, I think we have the opportunity to be extremely innovative in the way we see schools. That wouldn’t have been the case if we were busy laying a foundation.” In what area(s) do you think millennials have had/could have the biggest impact in Charlotte? “I think that millennials can have a huge impact on the culture

70 percent of 18-34-yearolds use smartphones in the bathroom and 51 percent use smartphones while eating with family. Millennials also use mobile devices to inform their health and fitness choices, and have contributed to a large growth in mobile fitness apps. (www.adweek.com)

63 percent of millennials have more than $10,000 in student debt. More than a third said they owed more than $30,000. (www.inc.com).

36 percent of millennials say they depend on financial support from their families. (www.uschamberfoundation.org)

13 percent of millennials have “boomeranged” back to their parents’ homes because of the recession, after living on their own.

In Charlotte, home ownership in the 18-to34 age bracket rose about 45 percent from 2005 to 2015, compared with a national average of 32 percent (Apartment List)

90 percent of millennials believe technology creates more opportunity. (www.adweek.com)

of Charlotte. What I LOVE about this city is that it’s young and still branding itself. This gives us the cool opportunity to play a role in saying what we want the Queen City to be known for. Cities like Chicago or Atlanta have an established culture. We have the opportunity to brand one that is equitable and provides resources to all. I think we can do that as a generation.”

PROFIT FROM OUR

EXPERIENCE

Alexia Furlow 28, attorney What are your thoughts on student loan debt-to-income ratio? “I think the student loan debt-toincome ratio is both disparaging and problematic for those who attempt to make a conventional living, but are born absent certain privilege. I also think this ‘crisis’ is just a small part of a well-planned, systemic social control.”

Tashara Bryant 28, retail associate How important is your cell phone to you? “My cell phone is very important to me, because it’s how I stay connected with the world. I probably spend one to three hours a day on my phone texting, using social media, GPS, internet and music. I no longer have a need for an alarm clock or laptop.”

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Do you think millennials attribute an unreasonable amount of their self-esteem to reactions on social media? “I think some millennials attribute an unreasonable amount of their self-esteem to reactions on social media, but not all. People use social media for different things. Some use it for their self-esteem, while others use it for business, inspiration or even comedic relief.” The American Dream used to be get married, buy a house with a white picket fence, have a couple of kids, work at the same job for 40 years and retire. What do you think the American Dream is for millennials now? “I think the core of the American Dream is still satiable to millennials. However, the way in which we make that dream come true has changed. I think these days, millennials are more fulfilled doing work that they are passionate about and, instead of buying a house with a picket fence, they may opt for a different type of dwelling.”

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Kelly-Ann Fasano 29, professional fund-raiser How do you think millennials who move to Charlotte will have the biggest influence on the city? “Millennials who move to Charlotte can make a big impact by getting involved in the community. Volunteering with nonprofits, getting involved with campaigns and being informed about how the city is changing are all great ways to influence the city. A month after I moved here, I started volunteering with the Junior League of Charlotte. I help run our fund-raising team, which raises funds to support our mission of improving the lives of children and families in the Charlotte community. Every millennial can get involved in some way and influence our city.” What have you discovered has been the best part about moving here? “I moved to Charlotte from Tallahassee, FL, earlier this year. There is just so much to do. It’s so easy to walk to the Blumenthal to catch a show, enjoy the Hornets play or spend some time in a museum. I also love to explore the food scene. You’ll never be bored in Charlotte.”

Kyesha Jennings 28, English professor, North Carolina State University What do you think is the biggest misconception about the millennial generation? Why? “The biggest misconception about the millennial generation is that the entire generation operates in an identical manner. I think scholars who took interest in discussing ‘the new generation’ found their niche and ran with it. The running with it ended up in the entire group being categorized as if we are monolithic. Howe and Strauss define the millennial cohort as consisting of individuals born between 1982 and 2004. This 22-year gap most definitely brings about different experiences that then results in different values and behavior/characteristic traits among the generation.” How would you like your generation to be known/remembered in history? “Millennials should be remembered for our ability to take risks that previous generations before us were afraid to. This is in reference to business, politics, education and technological ventures. From the leaders in social media apps mostly being under 30, to young adolescents as young as 12 or 14 solidifying deals with supermarkets to educators finding innovative ways via hip hop to engage with students and place an emphasis on the importance of being culturally relevant, to individuals as young as 20 years old holding political office. I would also add to this that millennials are innovative and have time and time again proven to make something out of nothing.” P 26

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INTRODUCING

Dr. James A. Anderson CEO of Fayetteville State University

A

s the 11th chief executive officer of Fayetteville State University (FSU), North Carolina’s second-oldest public institution, Dr. James A. Anderson continues to make strides in his commitment to make FSU a world-class university of choice; work he began 10 years ago when he was elected chancellor. In addition to his role as chancellor, Anderson serves as professor of psychology. 2017-‘18 marks FSU’s 150th anniversary celebration of excellence in preparing educators, leaders and engaging citizens; a truly remarkable milestone as FSU continues to soar.

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Our student-centered faculty do more than teach. They prepare you to be a game-changer. To learn more about the power of a degree from WSSU, visit wssu.edu.

What’s the impact and importance of the CIAA?

The CIAA represents the historical excellence of 12 institutions as they seek to provide the optimal conditions for athletic and academic success of student-athletes and students as a whole. The CIAA understands that an athletic program cannot be successful unless the respective institution is also successful. By the same token, the presidents/chancellors of CIAA institutions recognize their role in the promotion of well-supported and effective athletic programs. Our student-athletes do not exist in a silo, and the expectation is that they will expose themselves to activities and relations with other diverse groups. Support for diversity and inclusion is a core value of the CIAA, and the advisory board of the CIAA, along with the commissioner, will assertively stand in support of these values. Our goal is to assure that student-athletes and students as a whole will be better prepared to function in a pluralistic society and workforce.

This year marks Fayetteville State University’s 150th anniversary. What does this moment mean to you as chancellor, to the entire FSU family (alumni, students, staff and community) and the future of FSU?

www.wssu.edu/freshmanexperience 30

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The entire FSU community and its alumni are in awe of the courage of those whose efforts began this university, and others who have shepherded its development throughout history. Our ability to survive and thrive over the course of 150 years is rooted in our spiritual, social and historical determination to provide an educational environment that would serve the residents of North Carolina, especially African-American students. Today, FSU is one of the most diverse of the 16 UNC universities.

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21864

75x9.875 4c

What do you want your legacy to be?

Celebrating the next generation of Black History makers Higher education opens the door for many in our communities. That’s why we contribute more than $1 million annually to both the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and the United Negro College Fund*. Our investment helps to provide scholarships, programs, and professional development to assist future leaders on their path to making history of their own.

*Thurgood Marshall College Fund and United Negro College Fund names and logos are used with their permission, which in no way constitute an endorsement, expressed or implied, of any product, service, company, or individual. © 2017 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. All rights reserved. Member FDIC. IHA-21864 32

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I never discuss my legacy. What is important is the legacy of the university. I am an employee of the university, like others who work here, and our goal is to maximize the well-being of this institution, such that we support the success and achievement of our most precious commodity, our students. A secondary responsibility is to facilitate the development of the Fayetteville community by way of social and economic support. Our most recent Economic Impact Study (2017) is a testament to our fulfillment of this goal.

With this being the men’s Issue of Pride magazine, what advice would you give to young men who will be the future leaders of our communities?

Young men in the Fayetteville community, throughout the state and the nation, must accept the mantle of responsibility that accompanies their development as future leaders. This means that they must be men of character, positive values, integrity, empathy, intellectually hungry and possess a passion to make the world better. Because they are young, they often need to be mentored by men (or women) who are older and wiser. A trust bond must develop between mentors and mentees in order for the bond to be effective. Young men who are like-minded about changing the world for the better must find each other and form productive groups. Those of us who seek to be mentors and advocates for these young men can NEVER betray our commitment to them, once it is established. P

Content provided by the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

JCSU MEN’S BASKETBALL CIAA CHAMPIONSHIPS 2009, 2008, 2001

CIAA MEN’S FINALS APPEARANCES: 2006, 2002, 1998, 1992, 1974, 1964, 1961, 1952

JCSU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CIAA CHAMPIONSHIPS 2017, 2009

CIAA WOMEN’S FINALS APPEARANCES: 2017, 2012, 2011, 2008, 2006, 2003, 1989

CIAA HALL OF FAME STEPHEN JOYNER SR. ’73 HEAD MEN’S COACH-2014

MARK SHERRILL ’92

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Civil Rights Activist and University Leader Calls Charlotte Home By Kallan Louis

W

hen Clarence G. (C.G.) Newsome speaks, people listen. But before he utters a word, his presence is already felt. The 67- year-old still possess some physique in his 6’3 body frame that could easily leave one wondering if he was once athlete. He was, in fact, Newsome and his college football teammate, Ernie Jackson, were Duke University’s first African-American scholarship athletes back in the late 1960s. But Newsome’s professional career highlights aren’t on the football field — though they could have been. Twice named to the Atlantic Coast Conference All-Academic Team, he turned down a tryout with the St. Louis Cardinals, now the Arizona Cardinals. Newsome has enjoyed a successful career as a theologian, educator, university leader and civil rights activists. As he embarks on his next chapter, he’s now calling Charlotte home.

Clarence (C.G.) Newsome (now) and (then) during his football days.

A Fresh Start

A native of Ahoskie, a town in eastern North Carolina, Newsome moved back to the Tar Heel State after spending three years in Cincinnati as president of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. He did a number of notable things there, including more than doubling the institute’s endowment to $10 million. Newsome and his wife, Lynne, wanted to be closer to their family in Charlotte, but he also had a desire to fill. “I felt like the time was right for me now to focus primarily on my writing,” he said. “I’ve been working on some things throughout the years. It’s like I’m pregnant with ideas, and it is time for me to give birth to them now in a way that will be a benefit to our society.” Newsome recently announced that he is serving as president and CEO of the Institute of Inclusive Freedom, a nonprofit organization he helped create. The organization will work to educate people on the complex nature of freedom, and what it requires on a social and personal level. Newsome is passionate about the concept of inclusive freedom, which he defined as “freedom for all people enjoying rights and privileges of equal number and equal kind and equal quality.” It seems inclusive freedom will be a key topic in his upcoming book, He currently doesn’t have a release date. Before leading the Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Newsome spent decades as a

university leader. First, he served as dean of the divinity school at his alma mater, Duke University. Then, he moved on to Howard University’s divinity school, where he eventually held the same position. His last collegiate administrative position was as president at Shaw University. Sherri Fillingham, director of sales and membership at the Freedom Center, started working with Newsome in 1996 at Howard. She then followed him to Shaw and the Freedom Center. “Dr. Newsome is simply one of the best, if not the best, men I have ever met,” she said. “We’ve all commented [that] when he is in the building, there was an energy here that was absent when he was not here. He is just so passionate about what he does that the energy is contagious and almost palpable.”

Duke Dreams and a Lasting Legacy Newsome is a Baptist pastor, but he’s also a devil -- a Duke Blue Devil. “I remember falling in love with Duke watching a football game on television when I was in eighth grade,” he explained. “I can’t tell you why. It’s like seeing the woman you love and want to marry sight unseen.” He didn’t tell anyone, because it was 1963 and he didn’t know Duke had admitted its first

five Black students that year. Five years later, he would be making Black history in Duke’s athletics program. He embraced the expectations of being a Duke studentathlete. He earned his bachelor’s in religion, his master’s in divinity and his doctorate in religion, all from Duke. He currently sits on Duke’s board of trustees. Newsome remembers playing Clemson and hearing the song “Dixie” play while opposing cheerleaders unraveled a Confederate flag before the start of the game. Nearly 50 years later, with the help of an anonymous gift, Duke’s athletic program dedicated the C.G. Newsome Player Plaza. It is located on the campus before you enter the north gate of Brooks Field at Wallace Wade Stadium. Newsome says he is now semi-retired. He is older and slowing down, but based on his current projects, he’s nowhere near done leaving his mark. P

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African Americans in Charlotte

Shaped the Entire City E By Tonya Jameson

ach year for Black History Month, Pride magazine spotlights well-known Charlotteans who have contributed to the fabric of this city. By now, former Mayor Harvey Gantt is a household name in Charlotte. We are celebrating new Mayor Vi Lyles’ historic run to become Charlotte’s first Black woman mayor. This year, we spotlight slightly lesser known African Americans who have also contributed to the city, from a former president of Johnson C. Smith University to the woman who helped spread kindergarten classes to all elementary schools. Black Charlotteans have impacted Black communities, the city at large and the entire state. Learn more about them in our story below.

Courtesy of Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library

Elizabeth Randolph

Courtesy of Robinson-Spangler Carolina Room, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library

Dr. H.L. and Mary McCrorey You’ve probably heard of the McCrorey YMCA and the McCrorey Heights neighborhood. Johnson C. Smith University president H.L. McCrorey developed McCrorey Heights, off Beatties Ford Road. Many of Charlotte’s most affluent Blacks lived in the prestigious neighborhood in the decades following World War II. McCrorey is acclaimed for his leadership at Johnson C. Smith. He secured help from the Duke Endowment and secured funding from the estate of Johnson Crayne Smith, a white Pittsburgh industrialist. McCrorey’s wife, Mary, was also influential. She was instrumental in the opening of the Phylliss Wheatley branch of the YWCA, giving Charlotte a Black YWCA. Mary McCrorey also fought to ensure that Black women had a seat on the national YWCA’s governing board. Mary McCrorey died in 1944.

If you have a child enrolled in CMS’s kindergarten program, you can thank Elizabeth Randolph. She started the school district’s kindergarten program in the 1960s. Randolph moved to Charlotte after teaching stints in other parts of the state to become an English teacher at West Charlotte High School. Yet, Randolph had higher aspirations. She became one of the first Black graduate students UNC Chapel Hill’s School of Education. She earned the Advanced Certificate in School Administration in 1958. The credential was critical in advancing Randolph’s career into school administration. Randolph was founding principal at University Park Elementary when it opened. She later became an assistant superintendent for CMS and in doing so became the first African-American female in the top administration. Randolph would later became the point person for a federal initiative to add kindergarten classes to elementary schools. She started first with low-income schools, before spreading kindergarten to all Charlotte elementary schools. Randolph also directed the Title I program. In the 1970s, she was part of a four-person team that ran the school district for a year. She retired in 1982, and died in 2004. The new CMS administrative campus on Stewart Randall Boulevard will be named after her and Chris Folk, another longtime administrator.

Ross Reid Ross Reid was one of the biggest community builders in the West Boulevard corridor. Born poor in 1889, he managed to amass more than 150 acres of land. He shaped the development of that land for the benefit of his family, friends and neighbors by selling it to other Blacks. Reid Park neighborhood was a result of land that Ross purchased and sold to Black residents in 1946. Dr. Carver Road neighborhood was another Ross purchase that he sold for development for Black residents. Ross helped found and build the Amay James Mission and the Amay James Presbyterian Church. Reid died in 1958.

Contributors: Levine Museum of the New South historian Brenda Tindal, community historian Tom Hanchett, J. Michael Moore

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Dr. Emery L. Rann Dr. Emery L. Rann was a leading figure in desegregating Charlotte hospitals and hospitals throughout the state. Rann also helped lead the NAACP’s campaign to desegregate hospitals nationwide. Rann was the first black physician accepted into the Mecklenburg County Medical Society and the N.C. Medical Society. He was one of the first African Americans to secure hospital privileges at Charlotte Memorial Hospital (now Carolinas Medical Center). These achievements were critical, because in that era, participating in medical societies’ regular meetings gave doctors an opportunity to learn about the latest in medical advances. In an effort to thwart desegregation, some hospitals required that doctors be members of the private N.C North Carolina Medical Society, which didn’t allow Black members. Rann’s acceptance into the N.C. Medical Society allowed him to visit patients and practice in white hospitals. He was also active in voting rights. Rann died in 1996.

Library of Congress

Warren Coleman If you love the entrepreneurial grit of the Charley character on “Queen Sugar,” you will appreciate Warren Coleman. He started Coleman Manufacturing Co., the nation’s first textile mill owned and operated by African Americans, in 1897. Coleman’s mill employed 300 Black workers at its peak. Other textile mills didn’t employ Blacks until the 1960s. The illegitimate son of a slave and a white man, Coleman went on to become the wealthiest Black man in North Carolina by the 1890s. Warren C. Coleman Boulevard in Concord is named after him. The Coleman Manufacturing Co. building on Main Street in Concord now houses Southern Grace Distilleries, Inc. and other businesses. P

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CHARLOTTE’S AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY? TRY THESE: “Julius Chambers: A Life in the Legal Struggle for Civil Rights,” by Richard A. Rosen and Joseph Mosnier. University of North Carolina Press

“Color and Character: West Charlotte High and the American Struggle over Educational Equality,” by Pamela Grundy. University of North Carolina Press

“Gender and Jim Crow: Women and the Politics of White Supremacy in North Carolina, 1896-1920,” by Glenda Elizabeth Gilmore. University of North Carolina Press.

January-February 2018 | Pride Magazine

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Breakfast

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Pride Magazine | www.pridemagazineonline.com

New Book Explores the Complexities of Black Men

Through the Eyes of Local Leaders By Kallan Louis

W The Other Men Featured in the Book: • Attorney and civil rights legend Charles Jones, who was a freedom rider and a leader within the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) • Newly-elected Charlotte City Council member Justin Harlow, who represents District 2, Charlotte’s northwest corridor • Former Charlotte City Council member Alvin Austin, who resigned in July to accept the position of HBCU outreach director for the State of North Carolina’s Department of Transportation • Barber and entrepreneu, Damian Johnson, co-owner of No Grease Inc. • Director of JCSU’s Master of Social Work program, Melvin Herring, Ph.D. • Architect Darrel Williams, founding partner and principal of Neighboring Concepts, the local design firm behind Romare Bearden Park, the Mosaic Village at Johnson C. Smith University and the Renaissance educational village • West Charlotte High School’s athletic director, Titus Ivory • Artist Jerry McJunkins • Smallwood Presbyterian Church pastor Darryl Gaston, an advocate for the Druid Hills neighborhood.

e are currently witnessing rapid and steady growth in Charlotte. As luxury apartments, retail shops and restaurants have residents flooding back to live in uptown and South End, Charlotte’s historically black West End has remained mostly neglected. The often-mentioned Harvard study on economic mobility — which ranked Charlotte last out of 50 major metropolitan areas on economic mobility — reveals how complex the issues truly are. As local leaders and organizations scramble for solutions, more people look to move closer to the center city, and fear of gentrification in the West End looms as attempts are made to whitewash the character and significance of one the area’s oldest Black communities. In September, Johnson C. Smith University published “Ten Men,” a book developed under JCSU’s Smith Institute for Applied Research. University officials hope it can serve as a tool to lead civil engagement, celebrate local Black leadership and better understand the Black male experience in Charlotte. “Ten Men” introduces us to the some of West Charlotte’s Black male influencers and change agents, and explores the social and economic issues residents face on that side of town. “‘Ten Men’ serves as a reflection of the diversity that has existed within the Bblack community for decades, often under the radar,” said Colin Pinkney, one of the men featured in the book. “Men of color have thrived against incredible odds in all manner of endeavors, and will continue to do so, because that is the bedrock of our cultural heritage. The question becomes, ‘How do we pool our diversity to improve quality of life?’ ” Pinkney is the executive director of the Harvest Center of Charlotte, a faith-based organization focused on helping the homeless, poor and unemployed. Through his experiences, particularly with Black male youths today, he believes the various sets of rules Black people live by can create confusion, causing delayed progress. His solution: recognizing the differences and collaborating — which is exactly what this book achieves. “As we all work to improve and advance a better quality of life for our communities, we have an opportunity to build unity without pressing for uniformity,” said Pinkney. “Simply stated, we are different, but we need to work together.” The editor of Ten Men is award-winning journalist and author Ron Stodghill. Formerly a JCSU professor, he also edited the university’s anthology, “Let There Be Light: Exploring How Charlotte’s Historic West End is Shaping a New South. Print copies of “Ten Men” are available at Amazon.com, and in the JCSU bookstore. The book It will also be available for digital download for Kindle, Nook and iPad. P

January-February 2018 | Pride Magazine

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PrideHealth

The Stigma of Mental Illness

Breaking the Wall of Silence By Deborah Walker

T

he stigma of mental illness--that is, letting others know you have a mental problem, often evokes feelings of shame, fear and isolation. Perhaps more than white Americans, African Americans see mental illness as a personal weakness and another indication that they are not worthy. This is far from the truth. Mental illness can affect anyone. Approximately 1 in five adults in the United States. experience mental illness of some type/form in a given year. Removing the wall of silence in African American and other communities of color can open the door to mental health and generational healing. According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), “mental illnesses refer collectively to all diagnosable mental disorders—health conditions involving significant changes in thinking, emotion and/or behavior (or a combination of these). Mental illnesses are associated with distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities.” Mental health, on the other hand, “is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to his or her community,” according to the World Health Organization (WHO). While African Americans have used a number of strategies to survive, live, work and effectively contribute to their communities, they also are historically and currently subjected to high rates of depression, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), suicide, and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Comorbidity—addiction plus other mental illnesses -- also are prevalent in the African-American community than in others. Drugs of abuse can cause the abuser to experience one or more symptoms of another mental illness, and mental illnesses can lead to drug abuse. Some statistics on African Americans and mental illness are: • Adult Black/African Americans are more likely to have feelings of sadness, hopelessness and worthlessness, leading to this group being 20 percent more likely than other groups to report serious psychological distress. • Adult Black/African Americans living below the poverty are three times more likely to report serious psychological distress than those living above the poverty line. • Suicide is the 16th leading cause of deaths for Blacks of all ages and the third leading cause of death for Black males between the ages of 15 and 24. Between 1980 and 1995, the suicide rate among African Americans ages 10 to 14 increased 233 percent, compared to a 120 percent increase among non-Hispanic whites in the same age group. • Firearms followed by suffocation are the predominant methods of suicide by African Americans. • African-American LGBTQ youth also have high suicide rates. • Incidents of PTSD continue to rise at a disturbing rate, particularly among individuals who are homeless; incarcerated; children and youth in the foster care and child welfare systems; and those exposed to violence-related trauma in their families and communities.

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There Is Hope

African Americans have been amazingly courageous and resilient in the face of racism and its legacies of oppression, discrimination and microaggressions. Mentally healthy resilience invites a willingness to “try on” new ways to bounce back from adversity. It invites letting go of the stigma of mental illness and forging a new relationship with our minds, bodies and spirits. According to Victor Armstrong, vice president, behavioral health, Carolinas HealthCare System and facility executive, Behavioral Health Charlotte, “The untreated impacts of various traumas are tearing at the very fabric of the African-American community. We cannot allow another generation to suffer from treatable mental illnesses. We need a civil rights movement in mental health.” Armstrong further notes that we each can play a role in this movement. He suggests: • Get information in order to recognize the signs of mental illness. Don’t be ashamed. Talk openly about your experiences and/or those of family members/friends who suffer with mental illness. • Examine your attitudes and beliefs about mental illness. Mental illness is not “the blues” or something to snap out of. Learn to see mental illness as a health problem like heart disease or diabetes. • Encourage your place of worship to treat mental illness like any other area of health care. Combine prayer with professional care. • While we recommend going directly to a mental health professional, if you are not comfortable doing so, start a conversation with your primary care physician. • Do not allow finances to stop you from seeking help. Contact a local health or mental health clinic or your local government to determine what services you might qualify for. Without mental health, we cannot be healthy. Any part of the body—including the brain—can get sick. Seeking treatment can help you live a fulfilled life and can strengthen you, your family and your community for the generations to come. P

PrideHealth

It’s Not Just a White Thing

Autism in the Black Community By Tonya Jameson

L

aFreda Hendley knew something was wrong with her son, Carter, when he was 1 year-old. By age 1½, Carter knew the letters of the alphabet, but he also had a strange gaze. Sounds set him off, and didn’t like to be touched. Hendley, 37, shared her concerns with fellow church members, who told her she lacked faith. Her first pediatrician blew her off, and so did an ear specialist. Hendley persisted, and finally found a pediatrician who would take her seriously. Carter is 5 now, and he still isn’t fully diagnosed with autism, but he is “on the spectrum” (of autism, meaning he has at least some of the symptoms of the condition) and is receiving treatment. Tameka Vazquez, 34, and her husband had concerns about their son, Chancellor. He liked to chew on tags from blankets and shirts. He stared blankly, with no emotions, and was slow to do everything. “Him not speaking was really a red flag,” said Vazquez, sitting in the offices of Smart Start of Mecklenburg County, which funds health, family support, early care and educations programs. Parents know when something is up with their kids, but when it comes to diagnosing autism, Black parents’ concerns are often dismissed or downplayed. It’s one of the reasons Black children are often diagnosed with autism up to two years later than white children, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Autism is part of the national lexicon, but it is still seen primarily as a white condition. Two new popular television programs, ABC’s “The Good Doctor” and Netflix’s “Atypical,” reinforce that perception. Both shows feature autistic main characters --- white males. However, prominent Black celebrities and non-famous Black parents are bringing autism in the Black community out of the shadows. Actress Holly Robinson Peete, singer Toni Braxton and Boyz II Men’s Shawn Stockman have been public about their autistic children. In summer 2017, the Autism Women’s Network and Lydia X. Z. Brown published “All the Weight of Our Dreams: On Living Racialized Autism.” The anthology features poetry, essays, short fiction, photography, paintings, and

Carter's parents are working hard to get him the care and services he needs.

drawings in the first-ever anthology entirely by autistic people of color. It features 61 writers and artists from seven countries. It’s critical for Black families to see other Blacks dealing with the disability. Blacks generally face more delays in diagnosis and treatment than their white counterparts. Some of the challenges are within the Black community, under the same shroud of secrecy that prevents many Blacks from publicly acknowledging any developmental disabilities. Then there’s the overt and covert racism that Black parents face when seeking services for their children. The CDC estimates one in 88 children have autism. A CDC study also found that physicians were more likely to diagnosis autistic Black children with other disorders, often ADHD. This results in delayed treatment, support and advocacy for the children. Most autism research and therapy has been geared toward affluent white families. Earlier studies wouldn’t even accept children of single parents. “If you aren’t in, and you don’t know where to go doing a Google search isn’t helpful,” Hendley said. “People, all they can see is color. Everything isn’t about color,” Vazquez said.

“We’re a family. People need to get past that. They can come together for Black Lives Matter. Come together for this. Other kids need to know there are differences with other kids.” Getting an autism diagnosis and treatment is difficult for everyone. Parents must make multiple appointments with a variety of specialists, with average waiting lists that are months long. Studies show that an average of two years passes, regardless of race, between the time parents first recognize issues with their children and when those children receive autism diagnoses. That explains why Hendley is still waiting for two additional diagnosis for Carter. Once a diagnosis is made, the appointment schedule and waiting times can be even more daunting. Many of the therapies are done at home, which makes working nearly impossible. Tameka Vazquez knows this all too well. “Everything is just a process,” she said. “It’s been a long road within a whole year. It’s been stressful.” Vazquez stays at home, and her husband, Thomas, 36, works. She has noticed discrimination when she goes to doctors’ appointments. Staff members share more information with her husband, who is

January-February 2018 | Pride Magazine

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TIPS FOR PARENTS: Tip 1: Get your child tested by a developmental pediatrician.

Maybe your child just has a speech delay. However, not getting tested is detrimental to your child, especially for boys, who are diagnosed at a higher rate than girls. Black kids typically aren’t diagnosed until first grade (around 6 or 7 years old). Other children are often diagnosed as early as 18 months.

Tip 2: It’s OK to Mourn.

Mourn the fact that life has changed. Get over the sadness and disappointment.

Tip 3: Use Resources.

Contact “Autism Speaks” and get its free “100 Day Kit.” It helps you deal with the first 100 days of the diagnosis and gives helpful information. Be on a schedule, for example. Having a schedule helps tremendously.

Tip 4: Get to work advocating for your child.

Call your insurance company immediately to see what therapies are covered. Most states now have a law requiring employer insurance plans to cover ABA therapy from age 2 until school age (the ages vary from 6-10). However, if money is a barrier, many states pay for early intervention for children under 3 years old. Once your child is school age, pay attention to the education plan the school offers. If your child is in Special Education, make sure his or her needs are being met. It doesn’t mean your child has to be isolated in a self-contained classroom. Carefully discuss your instructional Educational Program with school staff.

Tip 5: Get a support group

Don’t be afraid to be the only Black mother in the group. These women have been advocating for their kids and will know the good schools, therapists and doctors.

Tip 6: Get therapy for yourself.

The stress of it all weighs on you. Especially when you’re dealing with family members who tell you, “He’ll get over/past it or age out of it.” Educate family members to not make a big fuss when your child does something they think is wrong. Just accept the child where he or she is are. Let the parent handle the situation. Not only do these encounters stress the child, but they stress the parent, too. Withdraw the negativity and have empathy.

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Hispanic, than they do with her (she is Black). One speech therapist even asked if Thomas was Chancellor’s father. They never went back to that therapist. Then there’s the challenge of using Medicaid. Some specialists and doctors don’t accept it. “There’s a stigma,” Vazquez said. Like Carter, her son, Chancellor, age 2, has multiple appointments and receives therapies at home. She and her husband leave Chancellor with just anyone, including family members. “I’m his whole world,” Vazquez said. The Vazquezes noticed something was amiss with Chancellor around his first birthday. They were in denial for a while. In fact, they didn’t even talk to each other about their concerns until sometime last year. Finally, Vazquez broke down. She told his pediatrician about the repetitive play he engaged in, that he wouldn’t play with his siblings and that he threw tantrums and banged his head intentionally. “Ninety percent of his day he spends crying,” his mother said. Chancellor was diagnosed in July 2017. His parents are still digesting the diagnosis. It’s been taxing on their relationship. They also have three other young children. Trying to explain Chancellor’s behavior to them isn’t easy. “We’re still just not ready,” Vazquez said. Chancellor doesn’t show emotions or smile. He sees a speech therapist, his third, but still hasn’t said a word. He will take someone to the refrigerator when he’s thirsty or stare at the table when he’s hungry. That’s a big deal because before he would just cry. “We just want him to talk, and we’ve been told that he may never talk,” Vazquez said. “We just want him to speak.” Vonetta Blakely, autism coordinator, guiding parents to services at Smart Start, said a diagnosis of autism requires patience. It’s not a sprint. Along with the difficulty of working with the medical establishment and family, there’s the challenge of raising an autistic child in the Black community. Most autistic children self-stimulate, with behavior such as flapping their arms, banging their heads on something, tapping their feet, etc. Black people call that bad behavior. Public places such as grocery stores are too over-stimulating, which is why autistic children often wear noise-cancelling headphones. Black people call that disrespectful. Remember, most autistic children can’t be left alone with just any caregiver, so leaving the children

with a babysitter typically isn’t an option. Carter’s parents have only been on a couple of dates in the last two years. Since autistic children often can’t be left with just anybody, running errands is stressful. It takes Vazquez two hours to get Chancellor out of the house. He doesn’t like change. A trip to the store can lead to an embarrassing meltdown. “I feel like crying every time we go out,” Vazquez said. Vazquez and Hendley shared their stories to help other families that may be dealing with autism and to hopefully make the Black community more compassionate. Both women say that two pillars of the Black community --- the barbershop and the church --- have been nightmares for them. Vazquez still regrets taking Chancellor to the barber. She picked a shop that looked relatively empty on a slow day. She told the barber that Chancellor was autistic, but it ended badly. She and her husband had to hold Chancellor down. “That’s something that I wish I hadn’t done,” she recalled quietly. Church had similar results for both parents. Hendley tried a couple of times with Carter, bringing noise-cancelling earphones to mute the sound and snacks because he eats on a schedule. Still, the disapproving stares and church members who still believed that there was nothing wrong with Carter proved to be too much. “I stopped going to church,” Hendley said. “That’s where we go for everything. It’s very damaging.” Both women hope pastors will one day talk about autism from the pulpit. That will make congregations more compassionate toward their fellow members. Then maybe, just maybe, as with so many other critical movements, what happens in the church will trickle down to our communities.

Resources:

• http://www.thecolorofautism.org/ Provides links to resources for families affected by autism. Highlights the gaps in services and the needs. • http://www.autisminblack.com/ Provides links to resources for families affected by autism. • http://micahsvoice.com - Shawn Stockman’s nonprofit to help families with children on the autism spectrum. Features a personal blog from Sharlinda Stockman, his wife. Provides financial assistance for families to receive individualized treatment plans. P Source: Ronda Lee’s Huffington Post article, “Autism and the Black Community.”

PrideBusiness

FYI News & Notes Compiled by Lee McCracken

Carolinas HealthCare System and UNC Health Care Join Efforts Carolinas HealthCare System and UNC Health Care are combining clinical, medical education and research resources to create a comprehensive network of Gene Woods primary, specialty and on-demand care in the Southeast. This new joint venture will focus on four strategic areas: increasing access and affordability, advancing

Local Leaders Honored with Humanitarian Award Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Major Mike Campagna and Mecklenburg County public defender Toussaint Romain were awarded the 2017 Nish Jamgotch Jr. Humanitarian Award for their work during the 2016 Keith Lamont Scott protests. The award is named for the retired University of North Carolina at Charlotte professor who established the program. Campagna, 47, joined the CMPD in 1992 and now leads training and recruiting. He was in charge of the Central Division, which encompasses uptown Charlotte, in September 2016. Referred to as “Captain Mike” during the protests, Campagna is known as the “face protestors could trust” and is credited with using dialogue to help maintain peace. Romain, 39, received national recognition as the “man in the white shirt,” after images of him standing between demonstrators and riot police, urging calm, were broadcast on CNN. He remained a constant figure throughout the protests.

clinical care expertise, growing academic enterprise and contributing to the region’s economic vibrancy. Gene Woods, president and chief executive officer of Carolinas HealthCare System and future CEO of the new entity, says, “Since our organizations already serves almost 50 percent of all patients who visit rural hospitals in our state, we are perfectly positioned to participate in the reinvention of rural health care in partnership with others. … We are also inspired by what our two organizations will be able to do together to transform cancer treatment.”

The new company also will: • Offer nearly 1,400 active clinical trials. • Serve as the cornerstone for state Medicaid coverage. • Drive research opportunities that advance discovery and innovation, to find new cures and change the way care is delivered. • Educate physician leaders at the UNC School of Medicine through more than 100 residency programs in its enhanced network of teaching hospitals across the state. Additional information is available at TogetherInHealthCare.org.

JCSU Welcomes Clay Armbrister Clarence D. “Clay” Armbrister is Johnson C. Smith University’s 14th president, succeeding Ronald L. Carter, who stepped down on December 31. As a first-generation college graduate, Armbrister has a personal perspective Clay Armbrister on the importance of education. Previously, he was president of Girard College, an independent college preparatory boarding school for academically capable students from economically disadvantaged families in the Philadelphia region. He also has served with the School District of Philadelphia and in senior administrative positions at Temple University and Johns Hopkins University. During his tenure as executive vice president and chief

operating officer at Temple, he was responsible for $400 million in capital projects on several campuses. He also was an adjunct faculty member, developing and teaching a municipal finance curriculum in the Beasley School of Law. In addition to his background in education, Armbrister has held executive positions in law, government and finance. He was the treasurer for the City of Philadelphia and served as chief of staff for former Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter. His work in the finance sector includes being an investment banker at UBS PaineWebber, Inc. A native of Miami, Armbrister received a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics from the University of Pennsylvania and a doctorate from the University of Michigan Law School. He and his wife, Denise, who is senior vice president with Wells Fargo, have five children, including a daughter who is a graduate of Spelman College and a son who is a senior at N.C. Central University.

Renaissance West Continues to Grow Last summer, the Renaissance West Community Initiative was awarded a $250,000 grant-in-aid as part of the N.C. state budget for the 2017-18 fiscal year. The funds support operational expenses at RWCI, which opened the Howard R. Levine Child Development Center in October, under the direction of Nikki Hildebrand, executive director at 3241 New Renaissance Way. The new facility is operated by the YMCA of Greater Charlotte for 152 children, from 6 weeks to age 5. In addition, founding principal Erin Barksdale opened Renaissance West STEAM Academy last August for the 2017-18 school year. The school is the centerpiece of the community, open to everyone for extended school hours, including evenings and weekends. The Renaissance community includes 334 units of mixed-income housing and a community center, as well as youth and adult development programs, health and wellness services and workforce development to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty. For more information, visit rcwi.org.

January-February 2018 | Pride Magazine

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PrideBusiness

Incoming CRRA President’s Perspectives & Priorities:

Meet Jason Gentry E

ver have a job you like, but the conditions just aren’t right? That’s what Jason Gentry faced at Perkins+Will, an internationally known architectural firm. Trying to keep its architects employed during the recession, Perkins+Will loaned Gentry and others out to its offices around the country. His assignments included living in Seattle and Atlanta and helping design an all-women’s college in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Despite fascinating design challenges with the Riyadh project and others, Gentry found weeks turned into months away from home. He missed Charlotte, his partner, James; their new townhome and their new dog, Macho, a shiba Iinu. Gentry, who turns 35 this month, decided to try something that he had planned to dabble in on the side — helping people buy and sell homes. Though it was the recession, he saw opportunity. “If anything is going to fall that hard,” he says of the real estate market’s plunge, “I knew there was going to be an uptick. I wanted to be a part of it.” Nearly eight years later, he’s far more than that; he’s a leader in the industry. Gentry is the 2018 president of the Charlotte Regional Realtor® Association and its subsidiary, the Carolina Multiple Listing Services (CarolinaMLS) as well as the Association’s Housing Opportunity Foundation. After obtaining his real estate license in late 2009, Gentry quickly hit the association’s radar, winning its 2011 Vane Mingle Rookie of the Year Award — an annual honor that goes to a Realtor® who meets three criteria: strong sales volume the first 12 months in business, professional education and association and community involvement. Not surprisingly, in 2012, the NC Realtors® organization dubbed Gentry a “Rising Star.” Now as the incoming local president, he and other board leaders have identified MLS expansion and technology as priorities for 2018. They’re also focused on building a new association headquarters in midtown, a project that Gentry’s proud to have worked on alongside previous presidents Roger Parham

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(2017) and Maren Brisson-Kuester (2016). With regionalization, MLSs around the country have been consolidating in recent years, a trend projected to continue based on economies of scale, technology and other factors. CarolinaMLS began consolidating with area MLSs decades ago, and in January 2018 will acquire the North Carolina Mountains MLS adding an additional 3000 subscribers to CarolinaMLS. Gentry is also eager to expand the reach of the association’s Diversity Council — which just celebrated its 10th anniversary and grew in membership by 25 percent over the first three quarters of 2017. The council consists of three sub-councils — African-American, AsianAmerican and Latin-American. Gentry would like to make the focus even broader. “I’ve asked the Diversity Committee to review what we’re doing, to make sure we’re as inclusive as possible,” he says. “If you’re a Realtor® who wants to be involved in the Diversity Council, choosing one of the current three sub-councils may or may not fit your interests.” For Gentry, transitioning from architect to Realtor® has gone well for many reasons — not the least of which is his design knowledge. Not only is he certified in building design and construction within LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), he has both a bachelor of arts and bachelor of science in architecture from UNC Charlotte. A native of Elkin, he is also a member of the Charlotte chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council. “Ours is a low-inventory market, so there are not many perfect choices,” says Gentry, a broker associate with Premier Sotheby’s International Realty. “Buyers want a good deal and not to have to remodel, but you can’t have both. The market is too hot. I help buyers visualize how a home can be adapted, renovated or expanded to meet their needs.” Not unlike how he once re-visualized his career. P Story provided by the Charlotte Regional Realtor®Association

“Buyers want a good deal and not to have to remodel, but you can’t have both. The market is too hot. I help buyers visualize how a home can be adapted, renovated or expanded to meet their needs.” — Jason Gentry

SceneandSeen

Odyssey of a Woman Award Gala held at the Crown Plaza Photos by RG Graves Photography and Marizen Sawyer

Feast Your Eyes Charlotte held a Camp North End Photos by Michelle Flowers

January-February 2018 | Pride Magazine

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EventsCalendar

Mark Your Calendar Compiled by Shawn Allison, II

January 5 – 6

a Worshipper Dance Conference. Two days full of s local praise dance troupes, music, fellowship and endless worship, it’s guaranteed to have your soul grooving to God’s glory. Tickets are $40. Myers Park Baptist Church. 1900 Queens Rd. eventbrite.com

The holidays are over, and surely you need a strong dose of relief. The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art is ready to give you some therapy, as it proudly presents some uplifting jazz selections in “Post-Holiday Blues.” The Ziad Jazz Quartet will be sure to start 2018 off right, as its trousing rhythms leave some joy in your hearts. $14. 6 and 8:15 p.m. 420 S. Tryon St. bechtler.org

January 12

The Deltas of Charlotte Foundation presents its 15th Annual Legacy of Black Women Film Showcase at Spirit Square. This showcase will feature short films from both local and national independent Black women filmmakers, fellowship and fund-raising for scholarships. 7 p.m. 345 N. College St. carolinatix.org January 13 An exciting and groundbreaking collaboration, featuring Gerald Veasley and Jaguar Wright, comes together to celebrate one of our boldest voices in “I Got Life: The Music of Nina Simone.” The legends of jazz and soul music deliver a breathtaking tribute befitting the High Priestess of Soul. Tickets start at $47.75. carolinatix.org January 14 Bring the family out to Charlotte’s only Black-owned brewery, Three Spirits Brewery, for a community Jazz Brunch. Come and get engaged with live music, fresh brewed beverages, games and networking. Free. 2 p.m. 5046 Old Pineville Rd.

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Happy 2018, Pride readers. This New Year gives us a new opportunity to make a positive mark in this city and the world, and it also marks this beloved publication’s 25th anniversary. Be sure to get your tickets to our day bash/luncheon gala, and be sure to check out all of these cool events. January 15 Come celebrate Martin Luther King Day at The Harvey B. Gantt Center, featuring a day full of art, music, dancing, spoken word, lectures, children’s activities, film screenings and more. Free. 9 a.m. 551 S. Tryon St.

honoring one of Charlotte's amazing millennials and a stimulating "Conversation with the Generations." Networking begins at 11: 15 a.m., Lunch and Programs at Noon. For tickets prideawards. net or call 704 375-9553 to reserve seating.

January 24 – February 3 Returning to the stage for another round of war-filled drama is Rory D. Sherriff’s “Boys to Baghdad.” It’s the story of a band of Army soldiers facing internal and external obstacles in the days of Operation Desert Storm, and how the soldiers built a brotherhood. Duke Energy Theater. 345 N. College St. brandnewsheriff.com

February 8 Join Grammy Award-winning songstress Lalah Hathaway as she stops in the QC with her irrepressible and boundarydefying vocal acrobatics. She’ll perform songs from her new album, “ Honestly” — a personal journey and testament to the human experience. Knight Theater at Levine Center for the Arts. Tickets start at $49. 704-372-1000

January 26 Pride Awards 2018—A Day Bash Celebration "Cheers to 25 Years" with a luncheon

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February 16 -17 Feel the spirit of praise in rhythm at the Heart of

February 26 – March 3 Come and get your HBCU courtside cheer on at the 2017 CIAA Tournament. Our beloved institutions all congregate in the QC for another week full of games, fellowship and events for the entire family. Various times, locations and prices. ciaatournament.org February 27 In 2018, the City of Charlotte will be signing a Proclamation of Observance for Breakfast Conversations Business Networking Event. The city’s preeminent networking soiree will feature lectures and workshops in various areas of business and commerce. Tickets start at $55. 8 a.m. eXtravaganza – Events & Props. 1610 N. Tryon St. breakfastconversations.com February 27-28 Engage your emotions when Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns with contemporary works that touch on timely topics, and the beloved classic, “Revelations,” revered as Ailey’s masterpiece that explores the places of deepest grief and holiest joy in the soul. Tickets start at $29.50. The Belk Theater. 704-372-1000.

WE’RE ALL DIFFERENT. WE’RE ALL THE SAME. When we need healing, we all want the same thing: expert care, tailored to our unique situation. Because when it comes to healthcare, everyone deserves the best.