Creating Safe Black Spaces: 9 Virtual Communities Where Black People Can Connect

By: Kwana Adams

I am my best self when other black people surround me. I’m just more comfortable when the room is full of us. With Covid and all its restrictions, it hasn’t been safe to gather in groups. Before all of the limits, my favorite places to be were black hair salons and around the kitchen table at my aunty’s houses. The latter feels like family, and the former is family. Both feel like home.

Hair is important to the black community. It’s a cultural thing that ascends invisible lines. Am I the only one who remembers sitting between my mom’s legs, the cup of water with the brush in it next to me, wincing as she braided my hair, or pampering myself with a salon visit to get my hair blown out? I just know I’m not the only one who misses being packed into grandma or aunty’s house, gossiping and laughing in the kitchen, or listening to the tv being yelled at by our sports fan uncles and cousins. These are the communities that covid has made me miss being a part of. 

Although I haven’t physically surrounded myself with blackness lately, I’ve found a way to still feel comfortable and secure in specific communities. Social media has made it easy to connect with people all over the world and create virtual communities. In my teen years, I was a huge ‘fangirl.’ I joined Twitter and immersed myself in my favorite celebrities’ lives. My top favorite was Justin Bieber. I spent hours on the internet listening to his music, reading his tweets, and trying in vain to get him to notice me. I had never experienced going to one of his concerts and meeting other fans, so I looked for them online.

It was hard to find communities where I fit in as a black fan girl. Most people think of white girls when they think of fans of Justin Bieber, so when I found a community of black Justin Bieber fans, I immediately immersed myself in it. This was my first virtual black community. This was a place I could feel safe as a black fangirl in a world that liked to pretend we didn’t exist or were a rarity. The one thing I love about black people is that when we don’t fit into a community, we just make our own. This is an occurrence I have noticed becoming more popular, and I’m living for it. 

As an adult, I’ve decided the fangirl life isn’t for me anymore, and my fellow black girls must have agreed because our community fizzled out. I’ll always be grateful for it because I’ve made lifelong friends I’ve known for years. However, with the community dead and gone, I started to feel empty again. I loved being part of a community where black people can just be themselves and relate to each other on levels that no one else would understand. So I went looking for more and found a ton on Facebook. Despite the faults that Facebook has, there are communities for everything black that you can think of. For instance, I’ve immersed myself in the following communities: 

• BuyBlack4Life

• Stocks and Profit Community with Tela Holcomb

• Black Travel Movement

• Black Girls Craft

• Dream Cathers: Live Richer w/ the Budgetnista

• Black on the Job

• Black Women Who Love Interior Design

• Black Girls Build

• The Stocks & Stilettos Society

Most of the groups I listed are spaces for black women specifically, but there are communities where we all fit in. Not only am I learning valuable life skills, but I’m explicitly learning them from other black people who have expertise in the area. I’m learning how to manage my finances better by black women, I’m learning how to build and buy stocks from black women, and I’m immersing myself in a community of black business owners. 

It’s beautiful to me that we’re thriving in communities that have excluded us for years. I look to the black elders who came before me and made the mistakes that I don’t have to learn from. They answer my questions and offer advice to my generation and the one after me so we can all come up together. Safe black spaces are so very dear to my heart because it’s about time we start building as one.

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The Effects of Financial Insecurity on the Mental Health of College Students

By: Sydni Hatley

College is a weird time for many. You are away from home for the first time but are usually still financially dependent on your parents. You can make your own decisions and don’t have adult supervision governing your every move, but for most of that time are not even old enough to legally buy a drink.

And finally, you have the freedom to do what you want, but not the funds to do it. College students are told that the four years they spend at a University will be huge in determining their career path and success, however they do not always have the funds to afford college itself, let alone the many personal expenses that come with it. 

According to sciencedaily.com, “experiencing financial difficulties and worrying about debt at university increases the risk of mental health conditions such as depression and alcohol dependency”. College students stress so much about how to pay for school because, let’s face it, college is expensive! Thousands of dollars and it isn’t getting cheaper. Not everyone can afford this and that is completely understandable.

Many families struggle to pay for their kids to go to school, and many kids share the financial stresses with their parents. This stress comes from the want to help out and not see their own parents struggling, but the reality is, it is hard for a college student to raise that kind of money mostly or entirely on their own. Attending college itself is expensive and it is basically impossible to be a full-time student while working a job that makes enough to pay for it. Financial insecurity is a constant stressor, so the fact that many students must find a way to pay for that and personal, day-to-day life expenses makes it easy to understand the connection to increased depression and alcohol dependency. 

The need for money and financial stability is the main reason why so many college students become personal entrepreneurs while in school. Students start their own hair businesses, paper-writing businesses, lash tech businesses, makeup businesses, and anything that can help bring in some money. Students are forced to get creative for pocket-change, and sometimes are forced to do so whether it is by legal or even illegal means.

If the cost of obtaining an education were not so expensive and catered to the middle-upper and upper classes, students would not have to do so much to make the money for their education. College itself is already stressful enough with having to compete with your classmates and get grades good enough to get you a good job. This also does not include the need to be involved on and off campus as well, so a financial stressor on a college student’s back is just one more thing to cause their mental health to deteriorate. 

To assist with relieving financial stress off of college student’s backs, institutions should consider either lowering the (unnecessary) costs affiliated with the institution, or at least offer more scholarship opportunities. They should also consider allocating more of the money that is donated to the institution to scholarships that will help make school more affordable. Education should not be expensive, it should really be free, but if America wants to charge its students, it should at least make attendance more accessible for all.

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Phenomenal Woman | Remembering Maya Angelou

By: Kwana Adams

Every time Black History month comes along, many articles pop up about historical black figures and their contributions to black history. I know you’re tired of it, but here’s another one. This person is significant to me, and I will always shout my love for them from the rooftops. This article is about one of my favorite black women of all time: Maya Angelou. She had such a long and beautiful life; it continually amazes me. She is one of my most significant role models and answers to, “who do I look up to?”

As a black woman and a writer, she stands out like a star for me. I can recite “Phenomenal Woman” word for word. Her poems and her books just speak to me on such a deep level. I never tire of reading them. I’ve always considered myself a great writer, but my Achilles heel is writing poetry. It’s one of the things I struggle with when it comes to being a writer.

Every time I read one of her poems, I marvel at the talent she had for putting words together and making them sound beautiful and flow so effortlessly. She had such a beautiful way with words for someone who didn’t speak a word for five years of their life. During this period of her life, she immersed herself in all kinds of literature, reading authors such as Langston Hughes, W.E.B. DuBois, Paul Laurence Dunbar, and even Shakespeare and Edgar Allen Poe. Although there were many men authors whose work she familiarized herself with, it was a black woman who finally helped her gain her voice back. In a way, Ms. Angelou is that woman for me. I like to think that ‘Phenomenal Woman’ was written for little black girls like me, as a child, who needed someone to tell them those words. I am a phenomenal woman, and so is every other black woman. 

As a writer, anything and everything can be an inspiration. When I find myself struggling for words, I love to read her work and get out of my element; just go outside and find my own words. It helps me to read the work of legends and imagine myself one day being in their shoes. Her words and her work are important to me. Having black women figures to look up to in general is essential to me. Contrary to popular belief, this is not a man’s world. Ms. Angelou never dulled her shine for men, and neither shall I. One of my favorite lines from one of her poems is,

“Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, 

I am the hope and the dream of the slave. 

I rise.

I rise.

I rise.”

Maya Angelou Recites a Poem at Bill Clinton’s Inauguration

My main ambition to succeed in life is to make my family and my ancestors proud. Sometimes when I think about life and where we are in history, I think about the suffering that my ancestors went through for me to be able even to be typing this right now. I think of every generation who got another step closer to making a better life for their descendants. Maya Angelou put all of those feelings into words for me, and I wish I could thank her. Since I can’t, this article is my tribute to her. Thank you, Maya. Thank you for teaching me why the caged bird sings. Thank you for helping me find my voice.

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Celebrating Black Culture: Black History Needs A Longer Month

By: Kwana Adams

There’s something about Black History Month that makes me feel so close to my fellow black people. There’s also something about Black History Month that makes me feel ripped off. First off, they gave us the shortest month of the year. Second of all, why are we celebrating black history when we’re not learning black history?

This is something that has been bothering me since I became a college student and broadened my horizons. I learned so much, on my own, that I’ve wondered, why haven’t we been taught this? For instance, when I read the story of Medgar Evars, the anger that flowed through my body was real. Why did my teachers not teach me about him? In front of his family, this man was murdered in his driveway, and they didn’t think we needed to learn about him? He was a veteran who fought for a country whose citizens shot him dead in front of his home. He was also a prominent civil rights activist who died fighting for the cause. So many other black people did, too, but we hardly get to hear about them. I want to know why. 

When I was in school before college, black history month was just slavery, Harriet Tubman and Martin Luther King Jr. Am I supposed to be grateful for this? Where is the rest? Why are you keeping our history from us? I know all about European history because it’s part of the curriculum, but why was black history taught separately?

Black history is so vast and so rich, but they’re barely scratching the surface on what they teach us in school. Every day I learn something new about black history, and I can’t help but wonder why it wasn’t significant enough to add to the curriculum. 

The world likes to pretend that slavery, civil rights, and segregation happened hundreds of years ago, but they didn’t. My grandmother marched with Dr. King. There were areas in the city she and her black friends weren’t allowed to step foot. Recently, I did an audio documentary project that touched on this subject. My goal was to interview all people of all generations and races and question them about the black history education they received in school. I never got around to interviewing too many people because the stories my grandparents told were just too great. The whole project ended up being about them, what they learned about black history in school, and what they experienced growing up during the 60s and 70s. My grandparents lived some of what they’re teaching us now, and they are still well and alive. 

I’m from the state of Rhode Island, which resides up north on the east coast. People, especially Rhode Islanders, love to pretend that the north isn’t as racist as the south. My grandparents would beg to differ. The racism here isn’t as blatant as it is in the south. In Providence, the city I’m from, there is a small area called Federal Hill, also known sometimes as ‘Little Italy.’ Federal Hill is a long street filled with all types of Italian restaurants. Nowadays, it’s an excellent spot for couples to go on dates or for friends to sit and enjoy a meal.

Back in the 70s, when my grandparents were growing up, they were chased out of this area and called the N-word, with the hard ER. When they told me this story, I was disgusted and appalled. I go through Federal Hill freely all the time. I never stopped to think that it wasn’t always like that for everyone. It also really makes me think, “if my grandparents are still alive, then most likely the people who chased them off are alive as well.” This is why teaching black history is so important. The people who caused the most hurt are alive and walking among us without a care in this world. The people who chased my grandparents off and hurled slurs at them live happily while my grandparents and family live with the pain of how they were treated. The least you can do is give us our history.

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Editorial: Is it Possible For You To Retain Your Racial Identity While Receiving A Formal Education?

By: Lauryn Bass

Is it possible for you to retain your racial identity while receiving a formal education? The fact that this question has been posed as a discussion is quite humorous. As you go through the regular K-12 school system, you learn and grow with what you experience in and outside of the home and classroom. You are shaped by so many things, but this does not take away from who you are as a person.

Consider the phrase, "It takes a village to raise a child." It is impossible for someone to be shaped into an efficient communicator without being exposed to the outside world of their community. Yet, you retain what makes you happy, what you understand to be true and morph into who you are supposed to be. 

But let's go back to the question at hand: Can you be you, with outside forces at hand? Well to introduce myself, I am a black woman from Georgia attending Hampton University. Sure, that can be attached to a little bit of information about me--but not who I am. I am me by how I walk, talk, and carry myself. My beliefs, thoughts, interests, are all mine and can't be compared to anyone else.

Where my influence stems from can come from my parents, friends, religion, what I've perceived, or even innovated from what I've gained from my studies. People are not supposed to be one set thing. We are allowed to change our minds, make mistakes, and expand. So to believe that you may lose or gain any part of yourself by attending a secondary education system is quite absurd. In all honesty, it is based on insecurity. 

I understand the argument that many around me know as "code-switching". This is when you change to fit into the atmosphere around you. As a minority, for us to even take a step to be in the doors with the big boys, we have to change to fit a Eurocentric standard. For example, lessening our use of slang, straightening our hair, cutting our locs, ridding ourselves of our accents, shielding our cultural prints, you name it. Anything to conform to our brethren and sistren who aren't exactly like us culturally. But that shouldn't matter. But it is the way of the world where white-privilege has to continually be pushed to the limit so that we can demand change and be who we are.

Currently, we had to pass the Crown Act of 2020 just so that we won't be judge by our physical but by the hard work we do and the content of our character in the workplace. This just shows how far we have come but also how behind we were in terms of equality. It is a sad truth, but much like the thought that you can't be who you are and also strive to be smarter and wiser just doesn't sit well in my spirit because it is just not true.

As we age, we definitely lose parts of us that were keeping us stagnant. We also cherish the memories that brought us to where we stand in the present. Education is just like that. I don't know about most but unless you have a photographic memory, you do not retain ALL that you are taught in college. You soak up as much as you can and use what is beneficial to you. You keep what you need.

As far as my culture, I keep what I need. There are things that are cultural that we can also grow from to be better. Traditions aren't always the best and you have the ability to create new ones. As you learn, you take back what helped you to your families and communities so that we can become better and better as time passes. We learn more about government, financial literacy, anything to progress and keep history from repeating.

Think of the doctors who tested gained more knowledge from testing and creating vaccines for smallpox. They are no less the person they were before and after totally eradicating the disease. They then shared their discovery with the world and made life a little less hard. I know that the biggest disagreement that Frank possibly had with Obama was his grammar. It is known for illiteracy to be a common cultural difference in the Black community but look at our history; are you surprised?

As you dive deeper into ebonics, you find that English is very complex. New words are created every day, much of our language comes from another--it is very telling about your roots how you speak. But whether or not your proficiency level is eloquent or full of idiosyncrasies, does not define who you are. At the end of the day, you're just communicating. The way you speak is a personal choice. You decide who you are and who you want to be.

In conclusion, the education you obtain does not define who you are but just adds to the qualities you have to offer. It adds to your story, your walk, your journey. It is possible to bring what you've learned from every place you've been with you in bits and pieces. You are a collage full of color, ridges, dips, and glued pieces. Life is not simply black or white. It's grey. You will not be like your parents but a mix. Your siblings will reflect who you are. Your friends will shape who you are. Ultimately, you will turn out to be the best you and there should be no shame in that. Do what helps others and makes you happy, and do not worry about if you'll lose who you were or are. You won't.

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24 Images Of Martin Luther King Jr. In Color

By: Omar Cook

Growing up, we were shown black and white images of the civil rights movement depicting this time period as if it happened so long ago. Rarely do we see our heroes and legends of the past in full color, in particular Martin Luther King, Jr.

This was obviously intentional as our textbooks were designed to show us this on purpose. For Martin Luther King, Jr. day, we compiled a gallery of full color images of this iconic leader so you can see very clearly that this time period was not too long ago.

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Natural Remedies For Fibroid Treatment: Diet, Herbal Remedies, and Lifestyle Changes

By: Emily-Ann

First and foremost, happy new year! This year started with a bit of chaos and uncertainty. Amid our uncertainty, one thing we can take control of is our reproductive health. 

If you are reading this post it's because you enjoyed our last post where we discussed fibroids. In the previous post, we discussed the alarming rate at which women of color, specifically African/Caribbean women being diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Research links fibroids to deficiency of vitamin D, a hormone produced in the body when the sun penetrates the skin. Taking Vitamin D3 supplements can help prevent the fibroid(s) from increasing in size.

Before we get into the alternatives let me give you some background story. I became educationally aware of the condition. I was unsatisfied with the answers given to me by a childhood doctor. It was more of dismissal and “ Ah, don’t worry about it, many women have children even with fibroids”. Only to find out almost two years later, it grew and so did my symptoms along with an irregular period. I am happy to say, I have made improvements with the changes I have implemented so far.

Over the last two years, I have very familiar with the condition and experienced some of the most common symptoms of fibroids. Gaining knowledge about fibroids I began to ask questions like, what I can do to improve my quality of life? What can I do naturally to shrink and rid my uterus of fibroids without surgery? I found different herbs that may aid in this process, and alleviate symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. Seeking natural remedies for shrinking the fibroids is fueled by my urge to preserve my fertility and the health of my uterus. 

Doctors often focus on treating the symptom(s) and not the root cause. They do this by recommending extracting the fibroid(s) using different methods. Performing a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) is one of the popular suggestions depending on the size and even suggesting hormonal therapy, which for a young person can wreak havoc on the body. They mean well but, you also have to know what is right for you and speak up for yourself. 

Before seeking alternative methods for dealing with my fibroids, I felt like I was being dismissed by the doctor, and I had this doctor since I was a small child. I was extremely hurt and disappointed when my fibroid grew within a year of doing nothing besides monitor at the advice of the first doctor. This became my motivation to change my provider, and ask for a different OBGYN who was a good fit for me. Think of it this way, finding the right provider is like a relationship. You wouldn’t stay in a relationship that was no longer serving you.

Herbs

Let’s talk about mother nature’s kitchen, shall we? I mean it’s been around for as long as humans have been consuming and reproducing. It’s only natural that we return to what we know, at times we fall short, and our bodies will let us know very quickly when something is off. I will introduce some of the herbs and their meniscal properties that help in striking fibroids and detoxing the body.

Red clover tea

Red Raspberry Leaf tea

Dandelion root tea

Milk Thistle

Yellow-Dock 

Stinging Nettle Leaf

Burdock Root

Chaste berry (Vitex)

Herbs

Burdock Root

Burdock Root

Burdock Root is the herb you want to get familiar with if any, because of its overall health for the body and healing properties possessed in just one plant. The benefits of this herb are more for overall health and not just for fibroids. 

• Healthy skin

• Boost the immune system

• Prevents cancer

• Balances blood sugar

• Cures tonsillitis

• Healthy for the liver, which is important for getting rid of excess estrogen in the body

Red Clover

Red clover (Trifolium pratense) is a flower that is in the same family as beans and peas. This dark pink herbaceous plant originates from North Africa, Europe, and Asia. Red clover is an overall fertility booster and improves circulation, and can also help promote cervical fluid. 

Red Raspberry Leaf Tea

This herbal remedy tones uterus muscles and is packed with very critical vitamins and minerals for boosting your fertility. Some benefits include vitamin C, E, and strengthen the uterine lining. This herb improves the outcome of labor and prevents excessive bleeding after childbirth. Currently it is my favorite herb so far, due to various benefits for women’s health.

Dandelion Root & Leaf

Dandelion Root & Leaf known as Taraxium Officinalis provides liver support to help with hormonal health. This herb is high in vitamins and minerals that nourish the whole body and provide liver health.

Chaste berry (Vitex)

Chasteberry is also known as Vitex Agnes-castus. This particular herb has effects that will signal the brain to release a luteinizing hormone which is responsible for triggering ovulation. This helps the ovaries produce more progesterone, which is critical for supporting early pregnancy. Vitex also helps normalize hormone balance and regulates a healthy period and manages PMS symptoms. 

Many of these herbs come in teas, pills, and droplets. 

Milk Thistle

This herb is known as Silybum marianum. Milk Thistle stimulates the secretion of bile in the liver which aids in proper digestion of the hormone estrogen. 

Sting Nettle

The scientific name is Urtica dioica, this herb can be found in Europe, Asia, and North-Western Africa. Now, this herb can be found worldwide and is said to be helpful to remove fibroids, promote regulation of hormones, menstrual cycle, and reduce PMS symptoms. This herb has many other benefits like a digestive aid, urinary tract benefits, hair loss, hair conditions. 

Yellow-Dock

Primarily used to treat low iron when dealing with fibroids. Yellow-Dock is used for poor digestion and liver detoxification. This herb was mentioned, but I still have yet to try this particular herb myself.

Heating Oil Packs

This method calls for flannel cloth, heating pad, and a towel used to help keep in the heat. Saturate the flannel cloth in Jamaican black castor oil. Place the flannel cloth on the lower abdomen, and place the heating pad over it. Sit in a quiet place, meditate, watch a show/movie for 30 minutes. There might be some dripping, so it’s a good idea to keep an extra towel around. This method is to be applied several times a week. It’s another way to effectively shrink fibroids and relieve pain.

Bonus, look up the benefits of molasses and fibroids, the benefits of this particular product regarding fibroids will surprise you.

Additional Support

Seeking additional help from a Naturopathic doctor to help identify the cause of certain foods that may be contributing to inflammation of the body. This is said to be one of the primary reasons for the fibroids appearing in the uterus. They can also help in balancing hormone levels. Accountability and Support from family, friends, and loved ones can make a huge impact. There will be days where you don’t feel like it or slip up and have that sweet snack.  Don’t worry and remember to be kind to yourself.

Let our team know if this list was helpful. If you want to know more information, drop a comment below and let’s continue the conversation here on 247LiveCulture.

Disclaimer: Please, consult with your healthcare provider before starting or any prolonged use of any of these herbs. I am not a healthcare professional nor do I claim to be one. I am sharing the herbs I have found to be helpful.

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Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): What You Should Know

By: Sydni Hatley

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome - what is it and how do you know you have it? 

Women deal with many things that feel close to the unimaginable. From cramps and menstrual cycles, to mood swings and hormone fluctuations, all the way down to bringing forth new life and the bodily changes that come with it—women deal with a lot. But what is PCOS and how does it fit into all of this? It’s actually a lot more common than we think, and may be the cause for a lot of unfavorable bodily functions that women do not like.

PCOS is a condition that affects the hormonal balance within women. Women with PCOS have higher levels of male hormones than the average, and experience things like irregular periods, weight gain, excessive or unwanted hair growth, ovarian cysts, acne, and difficulty getting pregnant. Many women actually do not realize that they have PCOS, as it is something that must be diagnosed by a doctor. However, it is possible to make a personal assessment of your own body to see if what you experience aligns with any of these listed symptoms. After that you can inquire about it to your doctor whenever you are comfortable.

So now you are probably wondering: is this life threatening, and how can I deal with the symptoms? In general it should not be life threatening, and there are ways to remedy these symptoms. For your period and excess hair growth, the most common recommendation is usually birth control. Birth control is known to regulate the period, and it will also balance out those imbalance of hormones that are throwing things off.

You can take vitamins as a source of vitamin D to help promote ovulation and fertility as well, and when it comes to the weight gain caused by a metabolic dysfunction from PCOS, you can manage it by changing your diet and going gluten and dairy free. It may not be easy, but it may be worth it! As far as ovarian cysts, you can get those surgically removed, and talk to your doctor/dermatologist about ways to remedy the acne you experience. Natural alternatives to helping remedy PCOS symptoms will also be linked below. 

The unwanted hair specifically can be annoying, but there are ways to help reduce it that are natural as well. You can drink spearmint tea twice a day to slow the growth of the hair, and take zinc tablets to help as well. If you are plucking the hair and experience scarring (especially for black women) due to ingrown hairs, you can use treatments such as “Tend Skin” or the Ingrown Hair Serum from the European Wax Center twice a day for reference. 

Keke Palmer recently opened up about discovering that she herself was diagnosed with PCOS in order to bring awareness to it.

“For some of you this may be TMI, but for me my platform has always been used for things much greater than me,” she said. “Polycystic [ovary] syndrome has been attacking me from the inside out my entire life and I had no idea.”

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The bottom line is, for women it takes a lot to feel beautiful, let alone when you have what seems like so many forces working against you with PCOS. The silver lining is that you or not alone in having this condition, as more women have it than you think. With the right tools and research, you can reverse these symptoms and finally live the life you want to. 

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2020, The Year Of Awakening And Re-Adjusting: Racial Tension, Protests, And A Pandemic

Nick Cannon Speaking Out at a Protest For George Floyd - STAR TRIBUNE VIA GETTY IMAGES

By: James Teague

Everything that’s been happening so far isn’t a coincidence. When the new year started, everybody proclaimed that 2020 was going to be the year of clear vision as we closed a chapter of the last decade. But ever since the year started, it has been a chain of bizarre events that have occurred.

I know for me, everything started when we lost our NBA childhood hero Kobe “Bean” Bryant. It still doesn’t sit right with me that physically Black Mamba is no longer here with us. Next up, was the introduction of COVID-19, an unknown virus that suddenly spread worldwide causing a global pandemic. At first America didn't think too much about Coronavirus for it to really be a threat and took things lightly. But suddenly the number of people that came into contact with COVID increased, which then caused all of America to shut down and quarantine. 

Everybody transitioned from working in their offices to working from home while other workers who still had to stay outside in the public due to their place of employment were deemed essential. These turn of events caused jobs to either place their employees on furlough or make major budget cuts by letting go of their employees. The unemployment rate was said to have been at 13.3 percent, but recently it was discovered that an error was made with the May numbers of unemployment and that it should be higher.

We sat back and witnessed the government give big corporations unchecked billions of dollars for bailout meanwhile Americans experiencing unemployment only received a one time $1200 stimulus check payment to cover for four months of quarantine. Not only was the stimulus check not enough to cover for all of the months of quarantine but some households still have yet to receive their money. Then as the curve for COVID-19 started to slowly flatten, Trump and his cronies all decided they wanted to prematurely open America back up while unemployment was still high and citizens were still in need of financial assistance. The government showed that they failed to act by not putting enough effort in assisting American in our time of need.

Tension is rising between Americans and the government. Citizens were getting frustrated watching the government lose focus on assisting those heavily impacted by COVID-19. The political parties were all too focused on saving their own asses by pointing fingers at each other while either have provided very little updates on a vaccine to battle against coronavirus. I started watching this thinking to myself like ”I really can’t believe that I'm watching this unveil in front of our eyes. It feels like this is nothing but a sick joke.”  At first I thought to myself that “things just couldn't get any worse. But then I learned that death comes in 3’s.

It first started off with the death of Ahmad Arbery, who was killed by a racist father and son duo while he was jogging midway through a neighborhood in Brunswick, Georgia. Then next up, was Breonna Taylor who was murdered in her own home while in her sleep by the Louisville Metro Police Department. The final straw was the death of George Floyd as footage was released of Police officer Derek Chauvin with his hands in pockets acting nonchalant while his knees were to the back of George Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds.

To be Black in America and know that racism and police brutality can still happen to us even while in a Global Pandemic is just egregious. To get reminded that we’re not safe by either the coronavirus, the police department, and the government is insane. We’re really experiencing two pandemics and one of them has been continuous for the last 400 years even with the quote on quote “minor changes” in America. 

So here we are again having to repeat again and go back outside to protest our right except this time this is occurring in the middle of a pandemic. But as I watched through social media how the protests around America started one by one, I started noticing how different the energy was this time around. When the protest first started, I saw how everybody was letting their frustrations out through the looting and destruction of Target and some of the high end stores in Phipps Plaza. But then afterwards, the protest started to become more focused and executed with a purpose.

Each protest was bigger than the last and we started gaining more allies. I started seeing more people who weren’t black were finally waking up and understanding what we’ve been trying to tell people for decades now about what we experience. And all it took was a Global Pandemic to shut down work, sports, entertainment, and vacations in order for people to sit down and really see what we were trying to tell them. And to top it off, we were starting to see some progress actually being made through the protests and riots such as the killers of Ahmaud Arbery finally getting arrested and charged for his murder. 

Jamie Foxx Speaking At A Protest For George Floyd

Throughout my 29 years here living here I don’t think I’ve even seen anything like what’s been going with all of these events. Even comparing how the protests were this year compared to when Mike Brown died in Ferguson, there'’s been so much that’s been unveiled to us during this time. I don't know if this is just me but with everything that’s been revealed around us, it feels like we’re experiencing a reckoning. Police brutaliy, murder, civil unrest, protest, violence, racists, rapists, mysogynists all being exposed, old systems and beliefs dying out, and the plight of black women and black men is sums up 2020.. And all it took was for a global pandemic to shut life activities down and force those to sit down and watch.

This is the end of the “normal” life that we once used to know and now we’re being forced to re-adjust into this “new normal.” This awakening is not only happening in the world but it is also happening in our own personal lives. By the unveiling of these ugly truths about what’s going on in the world, the universe is really giving us a chance to look deep within ourselves to re-evaluate who we are, where we stand (mentally, spiritually, & morally), our goals, dreams, and decide where we want our lives to be during this decade.

We really have an opportunity to make necessary changes to improve the trajectory of our lives. We have a chance to get our spirits right and move with more purpose and urgency. I don't know about you but I'm seeing more people move more intentionally and with purpose on how to get the poor leadership in america to really pay attention to what we’re telling them. 

Everybody has a story. We all have all been placed here in this world for a specific purpose and right now is the appropriate time to self reflect in order to figure out where to start your walk. Now even though there’s change going on around us we also need to keep in mind there's distractions all around us and they can  come in many different forms. One form of a distraction can come from media propaganda like how they’ve either portrayed the protestors or how they’ve pushed the topic of COVID-19. Another form of distraction is paying attention to how the government is pushing to prematurely open all of America back up  for the sake of the economy and putting out mixed information to deceive the viewer on what the numbers are for COVID 19.

Another source of distractions can be through social media if not used properly. With google around and people telling others to just “google,” there is a mass amount of false information on the internet that one can read and attempt to spread in an attempt to educate and its dangerous how quickly that information gets around. Add that in and mic it with certain trending topics and some may lose our focus and its ok.  We’re humans and we’re going to get sidetracked from time to time. But we must stay tapped in before we’re able to become our higher selves.

I don’t know about y’all but I don’t want to go back to how life used to be especially now since we are living in the new revolution. We’re all starting to find our voices and  speaking out for the voiceless. We have to constantly remember that this is a marathon and not a sprint. Change doesn't happen overnight and we have long ways to go. Truth be told, we’re probably not going to really see true progress until decades later when our children's grandchildren are in our shoes as young adults. But until then, we have a responsibility to find our roles in this revolution and dedicate ourselves to making the changes that we love to see not only in the world but in ourselves.

We can not only create a social reform in society but we can also get back focused on those life dreams we have and create the dream lives we want. So many of us got back refocused because of this pandemic and have been making progress in our goals, dreams, etc. We truly have the power in our hands to become the change we see in our vision. So make it count.

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Video Shows Minneapolis Police Killing George Floyd While Detained

By: Omar Cook

It seems we hear this story time and time again, another Black man dead at the hands of the police. On Monday, George Floyd, 46, died after being suffocated by a Minneapolis police for nearly 10 minutes while being detained. Video of the incident showed an officer kneeling on Floyd’s neck causing him to lose breath and eventually pass away.

My heart is breaking, I’ve never sobbed this hard in my life. I hope the police officer gets what he deserves, I’m so angry.pic.twitter.com/3qFSVM8gy0#JusticeForGeorgeFloyd #BlackLivesMatter #GeorgeFloyd

— being black is not a crime (@calmyourtitsluv) May 29, 2020

Floyd was heard repeatedly screaming that he could not breathe but the officer persisted to keep his knee on his neck. 4 officers were involved in the incident and have since been fired. This comes soon after the video of Ahmaud Arbery was released showing his murder as he jogged through a neighborhood. Another incident in New York happened as a woman called the cops on a Black man giving a false accusation that he was assaulting her all because he asked her to put a leash on her dog.

A woman aka “Karen” calls the police to say an “African-American man is threatening my life” by asking her to leash her dog in Central Park in New York City: pic.twitter.com/hfDgDWhFrV

— Alex Salvi (@alexsalvinews) May 25, 2020

If it wasn’t for the video evidence of this man recording her admit she was going to lie and call the cops on him, this might be another incident where another Black was sent to jail because of an accusation, or worse. How many Black men are sitting behind bars because of false accusations and didn’t have the video evidence to support their case? These types of situations have the cost the lives of Black men since the beginning of America and yet in 2020, we’re still dealing with them.

What’s crazy is the officers have yet to be charged with murder despite it being seen clearly on video. The officers claims of Floyd resisting arrest are also not supported in newly released footage showing what happened beforehand. Protests have broken out in Minneapolis over the last couple days and it seems they will continue until justice is served properly.

george floyd was not resisting arrest. this video got taken down, please spread it pic.twitter.com/wh0vBeEEpf

— #BLM (@seulqx) May 29, 2020

Every time a situation occurs like this, there seems to be a group of white people who will always say “All Lives Matter” or will bring up the issue of black on black crime. Every race has crime issues, now how does that justify an unarmed black man being killed while being detained and not resisting arrest? These are the times when the true racists show their true colors. There is a definite need for change regarding how law enforcement deals with people of color and its hundreds of years overdue.

Video Shows Minneapolis Police Killing George Floyd While Detained

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Young Black Men Are Dying At Unproportional Rates: A Discussion

(Top Left to Bottom Right) - Ahmaud Arbery, Tamir Rice, Trayvon Martin, Kendrick Johnson

By: Raki Jordan

I don't think society really wants to know the disproportional deaths of Black men; if so, there would be an outrage in why there's no mention of it. Even I was reluctant to write about this disposition, though, it isn't because of willing ignorance, but a sudden fear that I might be next in line to see the face of Death.

So, let us talk. I've lived on Earth for a little over two decades and lost five Black men I grew up with from homicide—all under the age of 21 years old. What's alarming is that if you ask around, the majority of Black people know, are related to, or know someone who knows or is related to a Black man who had been murdered.

According to The United States Census Bureau, Black women make up 50.75% out of the entire Black population in the U.S; despite Black men being born more often. What this doesn't tell you is that the population of Black men starts declining as they get older. By the ages between 40 to 44 years old, Black women start outnumbering them (this doesn't even account for them outnumbering Black men, not just by being alive, but also, from Black men being incarcerated). This puts the average age of Black men to be 32.5 years old (or 33 if you round), with a life expectancy of 68.8 years of age, compared to the life expectancy of White men at about 74 years old.

Now, how might this be? From 15-24 years old, Black men experience a peak of premature deaths due to homicide and suicide. According to the American Association of Suicidology (AAS), in 2014, 2,421 Black people died by suicide, with Black men making up 80.38% (1,946) of these suicides. And the numbers are increasing each year. In 2018, the number of Black male suicide was 2,578, with guns being the go-to method to kill themselves (this is also a common method among Black women); making suicide the 3rd leading cause of death of Black men between 15-24 years old.

With homicides, Black men are 15 times more likely to be murdered than that of White men. This accounts for Black males ages 1-19 years old to make up 35.2% of homicide victims. And ages 20-44 years old accounting for 28.9% of homicide deaths. Which makes homicide the number one leading cause of death for Black men 15 to 34 years of age; this is according to NVSS (National Vital Statistics Reports) 2016 report on leading causes of death.

The top causes of death for young Black men, based on a study from Michigan, Rutgers, and Washington University are:

1. Accidental death

2. Suicide

3. Homicide

4. Heart Disease

5. Cancer

6. Police Brutality

The numbers pertaining to the premature deaths of Black men are going to increase. By society not recognizing the increasing epidemic among Black men, there's going to be a further decline in the population of Black men in America. To elaborate further, society must look at what is contributing to the premature deaths of Black men, and eliminate the existing problem. And one way to slow down the rate of suicide is to express Black men by showing uplifting and positive imagery and influences. And to decrease the murder of Black men, violence within the Black community will have to be met with the eradication of poverty, that majority of Black people fall under. This, will then, dismantle the nature of the kill or be killed mentality many young Black men face walking the streets. This isn't mentioning underdeveloped American police force, that isn't trained to handle urban areas.

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Is TikTok A Safe Place For Black Content Creators?

By: Emily-Ann

Here we go again, recently another social media platform has taken off with countless new accounts being made and a new means for people to come together and make content for our already oversaturated consumption. What’s one more social media account to add to your long list of profiles. Right?  

Don’t run up and sign for tiktok just yet. Tiktok was created by Zhang Yiming, a Beijing-based company founded in 2012, and launched it’s app for IOS and Android users in 2017.  The company is owned by ByteDance and worth $16.2 billion fortune and Zhang Yiming who is China’s 13th-wealthiest person. Reportedly making quite a bit of coins for himself and when I say coins, try thinking about 12 billion in 2018.

But who is regulating the tiktok app and why are there so many racist videos going around? This app is being downloaded by young impressionable people with billions of downloads by its users. It is becoming the new social media competitor. 

#tiktok #BlackTwitter #racist ATTENTION TWITTER: This racist goes to the University or Houston and thinks it’s funny to joke about a issue that the black community struggles with. His name is Iance fontenot and is an RA. Do these tik tokkers think these issues are one big joke? pic.twitter.com/US54FRBLXs

— beyonce defence squad (@hautefeelings) April 30, 2020

More and more I am starting to see many black creators either not getting the credit they deserve, or being insulted by other account holders, who of course are not black. I recently came across a Twitter post on my feed shared by a young lady, whose name I will omit from this article. The post caught my eye because of the nature of the post. The post was of a young teen named, Colby Howell, a senior in high school from Helena, MT. The post he uploaded was insulting and insensitive in nature. The video is as tasteless as his sense of style, and what he deems as a sense of humor. I wasn’t surprised at the ignorance displayed by this individual. Sadly, there are many people like him on social media and around the world.

Is it safe to assume that your school condones racism? Because a student named Colby Howell made an extremely racist video and your school hasn’t addressed the issue?

pic.twitter.com/vhk9WDbI5A

— Leah (@AveMariaxoxo) May 2, 2020

The saying, “laugh now, cry later” comes to mind. Every time I see this type of content, I am constantly reminded that there are still people who think like this. Never mind the fact that countless people are dying right now, but yet he had time to put out such hateful and disrespectful content. I often wonder why tiktok is allowing such content to be displayed on their app. Aren’t they worried about the brand and stock decreasing in value? In my eyes the app has already decreased in value.

There have also been black creators getting fed up about not being credited for their work. The countless copy cats who get famous for their work. For example, creator of the Renegade dance, Jalaiah Harmon. Her copy cat took credit for the dance and thought that she could get away with it. Little did she know she would get called out on it. The story was everywhere on social media, and I caught wind of it when it hit twitter. Now you know black twitter will come for you, and it’s worse if you try to ignore or deny it. The lack of credit that black creators have to deal with. For example, Megan stallion challenge creator, Keara Wilson. Her story is just one of many in the bin of black creators. They do not get the credit they should have from the jump. Only after being called out did the copycat, Charli D'amelio admit what she did. 

After stealing black creators content or making racist videos, we get pathetic apologies of them begging people to stop treating them a certain way, and only because their chances at getting into college get shot do they seem remorseful. Key word here “seem”, since they get a little taste of their own medicine. A pinch of what the black community has to deal with on a daily basis. They're changing their accounts or taking down these disgusting videos only after they get caught. It should have never seen the light of day! Yet, they already recorded and uploaded it to their accounts for views. 

Future employers have already seen it. When will they learn that this type of behavior will no longer go unnoticed? Even when speaking about the African American community, they both refer to us as “Blacks/You blacks”. Wait, what? Everything that comes out their mouth, or what they type just sounds insensitive and not authentic. Just stop already, please you're making it worse! 

I think it’s time for us as creators and artists to find a safe place we’re we can create and display our talents and not be copied, mimicked, laughed, or impersonated or worse by a group of white people who’ve been taught this type of behavior.

Why do we continue to support these companies or platforms that do nothing to protect the rights of the creators who make them the most money? I myself do not intend on signing up for tiktok at all, because of the increasing amount of racist content coming out of the woodworks. One twitter follower commented on the Colby Howell video saying, “ tiktok take everything else down but leave this racist ass shit up”.

I did enjoy watching the videos that were often shared among the black creators on twitter and IG. Lately, with all the insensitive thoughtless comments and videos I am seeing on the tiktok app, I want no parts of it.

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US Surgeon General Jerome Adams Says Black People Need To Lay Off Alcohol, Tobacco And Drugs

Surgeon General Jerome Adams shows his inhaler during a coronavirus task force briefing at the White House where he urged African Americans to stay home

Evan Vucci/AP

By: Omar Cook

"Speaking of mothers, we need you to do this, if not for yourself, then for your abuela. Do it for your granddaddy, do it for your Big Mama, do it for your pop-pop." This was a quote from US Surgeon General Jerome Adams as he addressed the nation during a coronavirus task force briefing at the White House. Adams was giving a message to African Americans to stay home due to an increased risk of coronavirus exposure.

Adams stated that Black, Latino and other people of color should “avoid alcohol, tobacco and drugs. We need you to step up.” These statements were not only offensive to people of color by deliberately using cultural slang such as “big mama, granddaddy, pop pop”, but even more so coming from a person of color. Adam’s spoke to BET previously this week where he stated “we’re addressing the social inequities that have occurred and that can cause poor health in our society.” Among the reasons that he stated why Black people were more at risk were the inability to social distance because of the need to work, environments they live in, as well as higher rates of chronic disease such as asthma, diabetes, and lung disease.

PBS’ Yamiche Alcindor asked Adams about his statements and he responded “I use the language that is used in my family,” Adams explained. ”I have a Puerto Rican brother-in-law. I call my granddaddy, granddaddy. I have relatives who call their grandparents big momma. So that is not meant to be offensive.”

US Surgeon General Jerome Adams

It seems as if the tone towards Black people regarding Coronavirus has dramatically switched in the past few weeks as more statements have deliberately been made about African Americans being at risk. It was even suggested that a vaccine be tested in Africa even though African countries have some of the lowest fatality rates in the world regarding the virus.

To address a situation in health regarding African Americans is one thing, but to address it using the language Jerome Adams spoke with in an address to the nation further perpetuates a false narrative that Black people are reliant on alcohol and drugs; as if only Black people used these vices.

Adams also mentioned the fact that there is no scientific proof that shows people of color are "biologically or genetically predisposed to get COVID-19," but that they are "socially predisposed to coronavirus exposure, and have a higher incidence of the very diseases that put you at risk for severe complications of coronavirus.” The statements sound even more ridiculous when you break them down piece by piece. Jerome Adams seems to be a puppet that the White House is using to make statements regarding the Black community and coronavirus but it is imperative for African Americans to read between the lines and not feed into the media’s agenda of making Black communities out to be unhealthy environments.

The White House should be figuring out a solution to help avoid further spread of the virus into Black communities instead of delivering divisive statements at a time that we should all be coming together.

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The Truth Behind The First Black Women Millionaires: Madam C.J. Walker And Annie Malone

Madam C.J. Walker and Annie Malone Turnbo

By: Emily-Ann

Netflix aired its new series, Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker  and let’s just say I was disappointed in the many inaccuracies the series portrayed throughout its run. If you are going to tell a story about a woman of color let’s stick to the facts. Our history has already been told by people who want to hide the truth about our contributions to society and the country we helped build, our tribes, cultural practices, and African religion. What about the real story of Anne Minerva Turnbo Malone?

Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker

Annie Minerva Turnbo was born on August 9, 1877 in Metropolis, Illinois. Her parents were former slaves. Annie’s love for hair care began in school and she was into chemistry. During her educational years, she often fell ill and had to miss classes. After the death of her mother and father, Annie began living with her sister and started practicing hairdressing while under the care of her sister.

Annie Turnbo Malone

In the 1900's Annie developed her own hair products, her own line of non-damaging hair straighteners, special oils, and hair-stimulant products for women of color. At the time, women would use damaging alternatives like goose fat, heavy oils, and bacon fat. All which would cause heavy damage to the hair and scalp. Annie named her product “ Wonderful Hair Grower”. Sound familiar? Octavia Spencer, who played Madam C.J. Walker did mention it as part of her pitch in the market scene. You can also find the name on many of Madam C.J. Walker’s products. 

Annie was one of the first black female millionaires, built many schools and employed many black workers. In the Netflix series she was portrayed as a jealous rival who based her intention to get even based on colorism and a stolen formula. While it was true they were competitors in real life, Annie patented the rights to the hot comb and was very active in donations for black students in many colleges. She named her company Poro, and later met Sara Breedlove, known as Madam C.J. Walker who did in fact become a sales representative for Annie and her company. This was before Sara went off and did her own thing. Did you know the word, “Poro” is the West African word meaning physical and spiritual growth? 

Let’s clear up the whole colorism issue that was obvious throughout the series. Annie Malone was not bi-racial, and in many pictures of Annie you can clearly see she was of a darker skin tone and colorism was not a factor among the rivals. The writers of this series made it seem like the relationship between Annie and Sara was a compare and contrast of the advantages and disadvantages of having light or dark skin color, which is an old tactic that the media has brought to viewers time and time again. Not dismissing the fact that skin tone wasn’t an issue as it was definitely an added element in the 1900’s but it’s getting old and more of us are woke to the media tactics used against the black community. 

Annie Turnbo

Annie eventually settled in St. Louis, Missouri and built her business and hair schools there. She sold her products “Poro” and “Wonderful Hair Grower” door-to-door. Her business success allowed her to travel to Caribbean Islands and all over the United States selling her products to African American women.

Annie also built an orphanage and the people of St. Louis named a street after her. Annie Malone was one of the first female black millionaires and Madam C.J. Walker joined her in her ranks as a female millionaire philanthropist and business woman of their time. Both equally have contributed to the progress of the African American community and providing employment to thousands.

Poro College of Hair and Beauty

Let’s give the correct black woman her credit where it is due. Now they also fabricated details pertaining to Madam C.J. Walker’s life for example, her daughter actually married three times before her death in 1931. Her lovers did not include women. Her death was due to complications of the same element as her mother (hypertension). There are so many facts missing from this story. Give us your feedback and leave a comment on our page. What are some of your thoughts about the series?

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Sex Trafficking Is A Real Crisis: Why Are Black Women Under Attack?

By: Omar Cook

We’ve been hearing this issue of human sex trafficking and also an influx of Black girls coming up missing. The 2 issues go hand in hand. Sex trafficking is a real problem and African American women make up the highest percentage of victims.

According to the FBI, Black women make up 40 percent of all sex trafficking victims in the US while according to the US Census Bureau, African Americans only make up 13.1 percent of the population. Even WORSE, Black girls make up 55 % of all prostitution-related arrests in the U.S. The numbers are sick. There are a few reasons why the arrests of Black girls are so high.

Sex trafficking is forced slavery, which involves women being forcibly kidnapped and sold as sex slaves. Sex trafficking also involves the coercion and exploitation of women who come from poor or inadequate support systems. Underaged girls in low income environments are being taken advantage of and used for prostitution. Instead of receiving actual help, the women are arrested and judged as prostitutes, which is the reasoning for the high arrest records of Black girls. Underage Black girls being sold for sex are not criminals, they are victims. Why is it that the criminal justice system is faster to label these women as criminals rather than giving them the help that they need?

One high profile example of this is the case of Cyntoia Brown, who at 16 years old, was sentenced to life in prison for killing a 43 year old man who she feared was about to take her life, during a sexual transaction. Brown was eventually released after 15 years last year after being granted clemency, but how many other Black girls are in a similar situation that is not gaining national attention?

Cyntoia Brown

In 2018, the Black and Missing Foundation reported that roughly 64,000 Black women and girls went missing. 64,000.

“African American youth are at increased risk for domestic minor sex trafficking, with being female, living in an urban area, and experiencing abuse prior to trafficking all being factors that are associated with risk for sex trafficking. Of the over 300,000 minors in the U.S. who are victims of domestic sex trafficking, it is estimated that 43 percent are African American girls,” according to research by Thema Bryant-Davis, PhD., of Pepperdine University.

In 2017, there were mass reports of Black girls going missing in Washington D.C. “A few years ago, around 80 girls in Washington, D.C., went missing in a month, and it was crazy to me that nobody was talking about this. I started doing research and couldn’t find anything about it,” said Imani Blair, a rapper from Virginia. “Nobody was talking about it. No news was talking about it; and that made me feel some kind of way. And the more research I’ve done it, the more I’ve learned that this is a really big problem in our community.”

Sex trafficking is a major issue around the world, and it has no color boundaries, but the facts are real; Black women have been a major target. Sex trafficking is directly related to billion dollar money making industries which include, pornagraphy, prostitution, and the simple fact that there are men out there that are willing to purchase women as sex slaves and be held against their will. The porn industry continues to grow as the internet evolves and what’s crazy is that you have no way of knowing whether the video is consensual or not from the participant. As the demand for sex related entertainment increases, the demand for participants will also increase, and what’s a better to save money than by gathering “free” participants? Think about that.

It is imperative that we begin to closely watch out for women in our community and in our home. Women should be aware of their surroundings at all times, not walking around paranoid, but aware. Always try your best to not walk alone at night in poorly lit areas and keep your phones charged. Be careful taking Ubers or Lyfts and let someone know every time you get inside of transportation that is not yours.

As a Black male with 4 Black sisters coming up under me, hearing stories like this makes me more cautious of their safety. We should not have to live our daily lives worrying about issues like this, but unfortunately, this has become a true reality. Be safe.

National Human Trafficking Hotline

1 (888) 373-7888

SMS: 233733 (Text "HELP" or "INFO")

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The Journey Of Being A Black Creative

By: James Teague

One thing that I admire so much about all creatives is their come up story. Almost every creative has their own unique story about where they first started to where they’re currently at. What makes this so unique is that although each story unfolds differently, we all have a common goal: to live our lives and be happy on our own terms.

Recently, while at work, I was listening to The Joe Budden Podcast, and they were discussing how this new episode, “The Terrain,” just so happened to fall on the five year anniversary of when the podcast was created. The team discussed their thoughts, feelings, and personal pivotal moments revolving the development of their platform. Joe Budden spoke to the crew about recognizing their impact within the last five years. One thing that stuck out during this conversation was, “As a creative you just never know what works and you just have to try shit.” That one single quote ultimately defines what being a creative is. 

The Joe Budden Podcast

As a Black creative listening to Joe, Rory, Mal, and Parks speak about maneuvering through their trial & errors and comparing it my own personal battles growing into my role with content creation, I was really inspired to know that I wasn’t the only one who felt similar thoughts along this journey. There’s always ideas and content building in our heads, but the problem always becomes “how do I execute this?”

Sometimes, we create this mental battle in our own heads on whether to push the button on pursuing an idea or not only to psych ourselves out and throw the said idea onto the back burner. Then, suddenly, the universe humbles us by making us see someone else come out and execute the EXACT SAME IDEA we originally came up with. Whether it’s our environment unintentionally playing a role with shaping our perception on our dreams, how we might personally view our own work, or if past situations are still holding an affect on how you want to move with your content, sometimes it’s just necessary to work on looking past all roadblocks holding and just really throw something to that creative wall and see what will actually stick. 

This has been the story (or should I say struggle) of my life as a Black creative. Speaking from personal experience, while building my foundation as a Black creative writer, going in between scrolling through my social media timelines, looking at my environment, and factoring in my living situation, I would frequently allow my circumstances to get the best of me and my creativity. In my head, there’s been this grand vision of what I want a creative work environment to look like. Unfortunately, because of where I'm at and where life was taking me this past year, it was tough to stay on task, and I constantly focused on the wrong things.

It made me feel like I wasn’t doing enough, especially when the antics at my day job kept playing with my emotions. Being creative while balancing a job that’s not aligned with your purpose is a continuous headache. But through the universe and a couple of personal affirmations, I began to realize that everything I asked for and wanted to be with my creativity has already come to life for me. 

It may not exactly look how I pictured it in my head, but it is still coming to fruition. I had to understand and realize that I am exactly where I need to be on this journey and I had to continue to grow in this journey with my writing, my creativity, and my goals.  Rory and Mal, while talking about their come up on the podcast, explained that the pod was their first time coming into the media world; and although they did not necessarily have the same media experience as their current creative peers, they had to learn by growing with their brand. Mal explains, “You grow with the platform. You grow with your people. You Grow with your audience.” It’s our priority as creatives when we are invested in our talents, platforms, or ideas, to make sure to trust our process and grow with our creativity. Our minds and ideas are so powerful. You never know how far your ideas can take you until you decide to bet on yourself. And when that day comes, then that will be the beginning of a new life.

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White Saviorism in Black Movies: Can't We Help Ourselves?

By: Raki Jordan

From The Blindside to Harriet, Black movies or movies centered around a Black protagonist always have a certain commonality among them all. The very essence of Black movies is centered on the premise that they cannot help themselves, unless, some form of 'whiteness' (may it be physical or spiritual) is involved in helping the Black protagonist achieve their goal. The questions must be asked: Why is White saviors a lingering theme among Black movies? Can't we help ourselves? And if we can't, then is the trope of a white savior an ideology that Black and non-Black people cannot uplift themselves, without the guidance of a White hero?

The term 'white saviorism' is defined as an act or the willingness to help and/or control the narrative of non-white people—which, then, portrays White people as a hero. White saviorism in movies is not a new practice; the fundamentals of it had been around since cinema became an American past-time. A prime example is a film called, To Kill a Mocking Bird (1962). The ideology of placing White folks as the center of Black films shows that Black people cannot provide from themselves.

This is rooted in the concept that Black people lack the moral compass to make rationalizations, that results in the betterment of their predicaments. And the idea is that Black people cannot reach this level of morality—virtue—ethics, unless, it is taught or portrayed through White folks. This, then, will spark a flame within the Black protagonist to better themselves or others, in some way. We've been soaked into the conditioning of White saviorism in movies, that we give no mention that this concept shows the narcissistic complex of White people. One group is shown to be a hero—a Messiah in some form, while the other is seen as a savage—simple-minded group, who always needs help.

Joe Alwyn in Harriet. Photo by Glen Wilson / Focus Features

When we think of White saviors in Black films, we pictured the basic movie where a white teacher goes into an inner-city public school (they have no business going into), and is the inspiration in the students' lives, giving them the 'encouragement' to graduate and do better. Let's steer from that cinematic trope, and focus on the evolved version of White saviors in films:

In the 2019 'biopic' movie Harriet, we can see the evolved version of White saviorism in today's society. The movie surrounds Harriet Tubman as the leading protagonist, who's escaping to and from the shackles of slavery, to free her people. It seems simple enough. However, looking at it closely, the movie focused on her only being able to escape and have confidence because she's getting visions from some outer force. Let's considered this force to be God. In the time Harriet was alive, the depiction of God was solely limited to the imagery of White people. Not only that, but the movie takes away Harriet as a Black woman who was fueled by fear and passion, which led her to be able to travel great lengths and free hundreds of slaves.

Harriet is a cesspool of White saviorism as it doesn't portray the Black protagonist as someone who can do for themselves, but relay of the spiritual concept of morality from someplace else. Looking much deeper into the film, we as viewers, turned to hate the Black bounty hunter (who's a fictional character), and admire—even going as far as to sympathize with the slave master, who 'saved' Harriet from being killed by the Black bounty hunter.

Although the film was created to show the strength of a Black woman, her strength was only gained through spiritual enhancements and the help of a White man. This undermines the ability of a Black woman to be able to do all those things, on her own. This concept is even seen in Django Unchained, Hidden Figures, Green Book, 12 Years A Slave, and many, many more. And yes, even in the newest Black centered film, Queen and Slim. 

White saviorism in Black films undermines the reality of Black people. In every Black film, there's one or sometimes multiple White individuals, who happens to uplift or help Black people in some way. This concept takes away the very reality of how society is towards Black people. The idea that there's always a beckon of hope lingering in the air, lessens the fact that America dislikes Black people in many ways, but only love them when they are under its boot. When will an accurate depiction of slavery, Black triumph—resilience be produce, without the narrative of White saviorism? Or is it too late to create one because everyone is conditioned to the White savior concept?

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The March Madness Of HBCU Bands: Honda Battle Of The Bands Delivers Once Again

The Hampton University “Marching Force” via Steve Schaefer

By: Baigen Seawell

ATLANTA, GA — Sport is defined by physical exertion, skill and the spirit of competition. When one thinks of Marching Band, the word “sport” may not be the first word that comes to mind… but at HBCU’s, some bands are arguably more of the attention grabber than the sport itself. 

HBCU Marching Bands compete in the same way that traditional sports do; with the x’s and o’s on the field, the band does the same with intricate formations and arrangements with just a week’s time to prepare in some cases.

Even before the football teams take the field, and far after the teams have left, bands participate in their March-Ins, Zero and Fifth Quarter: a battle in the stands displaying their musical prowess. The display seen at sporting events is only a fraction of what is truly displayed. 

Outside of halftime field shows and stand performances, bands have the opportunity to show their independent talents at Showcases and Battle of the Bands. Whether it’s the Magic City Classic, National Battle of the Bands or the famed Bayou Classic, their time to shine is exemplified. 

Tennessee State University, Aristocrat of Bands

But the Honda? 

Honda Battle of the Bands has always been considered the MOABS: Mother of all Band Showcases. 

Started 17 years ago in Atlanta’s Georgia Dome, the purpose of the Honda was to highlight and recognize HBCU Marching Bands. A total of eight bands are invited and prepare vigorously for the exhibition in January, and receive a hearty check to support their program. 

Something similar to Selection Sunday in its own right, the desire to be picked to perform in the Honda is something that many schools take seriously. Voting stems from one popular vote, another three from Band Directors and University Presidents, and the final four hand picked from Honda… and when the dust clears, the final eight have a little over a month to put together a field show for over 50,000 fans in the Mercedes Benz Stadium. 

Prior to the big day, bands would travel around Metro-Atlanta to local high schools, and give them a taste of what HBCU Bands can offer. Some programs even give high school students opportunities to audition on the spot for a place in the band the following year. Something that could be compared to a scouting combine to athletic standards. 

WHO WAS THERE?

The 2020 Honda Battle of the Bands took place January 25, and featured schools from the MEAC, SIAC, SWAC and independently competing institutions. They included:

- The Benedict College Marching Tigers “Band of Distinction” (who received the most votes in the pool)

- The Florida A&M University “Marching 100” (who had not appeared in the Honda since 2010)

- The Grambling State University “World Famed Tiger Marching Band” (under the direction of Nikole Roebuck, the only female director in the Honda)

- The Hampton University “Marching Force”

- The Jackson State University “Sonic Boom of the South” 

- The North Carolina A&T State University “Blue and Gold Marching Machine”

- The Prairie View A&M University “Marching Storm”  

- The Tennessee State University “Aristocrat of Bands”

THE MUSICAL CATALOG

The band would participate in their “Mass Band” arrangement, paying tribute to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. 

Bands would play included modern songs like “HOT” by Young Thug, featuring a lights off display from the Tiger Band of Distinction. Drum Majors would don glowing maces, while the band would create a display of the words “HOT,” and “LIT!”

Tennessee State played the “Power” theme song, while asking the question everyone has on their mind: who shot Ghost?

Grambling played an old school bop, “Happy Feelins” by Frankie Beverly and Maze, while PVAMU rang out the tunes to “I’m Goin Down” by Mary J. Blige. 

THE “POST-GAME” BREAK

The playlist and field performances that came along with it was nothing short of awe-inspiring. The “Halftime” performance would be by Tank, who discussed his stint at HBCU, Morgan State, while discussing the importance of music in his life. 

The importance of music, and musical performance is what draws people to the Honda yearly. But the art, and sport of Marching Band is what has been preserved for decades, and continues to leave a cultural influence to mainstream media. 

Beyoncé’s Homecoming which gave a nod to Marching Bands, Lizzo featuring Southern’s Human Jukebox in Good as Hell and Drumline stemming inspiration from NCAT, highlight HBCU Marching Bands, and have inspired thousands of young black children to take the route of musical performance to this day. 

Even though the Honda has since passed this year, we look to push young black musicians to consider “taking their talents” to HBCU musical programs. Outside of HBOB, the American Honda Association has donated $9 Million in grants and scholarships to HBCU’s around the country. 

Marching Band is something that could be considered a short 12 minute performance for some, but for these bands, and HBCU bands and fans across the country, there’s more that meets the eye… and Honda is one of the best ways of proving that.

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Suffering In Silence: Top 3 Reasons Why African Americans Fail To Seek Mental Health Care

By: Risa Smith

Many mental health issues get swept under the rug in the Black community because our people fail to seek help. Dealing with mental issues is often seen as a weakness or laziness and the advice of the elders would be to "toughen up and keep it moving", or "pray about it". Here are the top three reasons why African Americans fail to seek mental health care.

Not Enough Doctors That Look Like Us

Throughout medical school, the Blacks were always outnumbered by a landslide. No matter how qualified, we had to work harder than most to even be respected in the field. Damon Tweedy, M.D. shared his experience of starting as a Duke Medical student only to be mistaken as a custodian. It is hard enough to live in fear of having a social stigma regarding a mental illness, only to walk into the doctor's office to find someone who does not understand or can’t relate to you. The gap can be bridged as physicians gain more cultural competency.

Faith And Spirituality

While God certainly has the power to heal, having an awareness of what you are struggling with allows for much quicker healing than denial. It is imperative to both rely on your spirituality and faith as well as medical and therapeutic treatment depending on the severity of the condition.

Lack Of Access To Quality Care Or Uninsured

About 27% of African Americans live below the poverty level compared to about 10.8% of non Hispanic whites (American Psychiatric Association). Some are not able to afford the cost of healthcare or afford the medications prescribed to them. I'm sure you have that one cousin that will never go to the doctor because they just don't want to pay that co-pay! 

Whatever the reason is that you have not taken that step to get mental health care, please do not suffer in silence!

*Risa Smith is a physician assistant and blogger for www.realtalkidentity.com! Click the link to check out more of her content!

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Stephanie Isioma Talks Maxim Cover Girl Competition

By: Omar Cook

Model Stephanie Isioma is chasing her dream by currently competing in the 2019 Maxim Cover Girl Competition. This competition provides an opportunity for major exposure and a $10,000 cash prize. She currently sits in the top 10 and is looking to advance to the next stage in the final top 5. Stephanie is originally from Nigeria and currently resides in Toronto, Canada. She graduated from York University with a bachelor degree in Culture and Expressions. Stephanie has an ideal model height at 5”11 and loves to sing and dance for fun.

“I am a very smart and happy young lady with a huge dream of becoming a professional model sometime in the future and also own a business that I can nurture till growth. I can be very quiet when I want to be, especially around people I am not too familiar with. I can also be a loud mouth when it comes to talking and this only happens around people I am familiar with. I can be very shy sometimes. I love shopping and looking good and I also hope to travel around the world, doing what I love doing, which is modeling and just motivating and having an impact on someone, sending out a message to never give up no matter what.”

You can vote for Stephanie Isioma HERE!

We talked with Stephanie Isioma about her journey into modeling, check it out below!

QUESTION: What does winning this competition and gracing the cover of Maxim mean to you?

Stephanie: I love modeling, and being a part of and winning the maxim cover girl competition, will be an avenue to hone my modeling career, start a business and nurture it till growth. If I am voted as maxim cover girl, some of the cash price will be given to a mental health facility. It is to be taken seriously because it affects the average individual and also will be a motivation to people.

QUESTION: What have been some of your biggest challenges with being a professional model?

Stephanie: The colour of my skin

QUESTION: Where do you see yourself and your career in the next 5 years and what do you hope to accomplish with your career?

Stephanie: In the next five years, I see myself and my career higher than where I am now; accomplished being an international model, getting all those great contracts and deals. I would have established my own business and basically bless and motivate people all over the world.

QUESTION: What sacrifices have you had to make, to make your dream a reality?

Stephanie: Having to put myself out there, despite the fact that I started modeling professionally in 2017. I was way older to have been able to find myself a legit modeling agency to sign me. I got turned down so many times but I never gave up. Until I found Gemini models, they called me in for an interview because they liked my pictures, I went in and that was how I have been working with them and ever since then, they have been my Mother Agency for a year and some months.

QUESTION: What does success look like to you and what motivates you?

Stephanie: Setting goals and working towards achieving them, and knowing what you want to accomplish and have created a plan is what success is to me. Working the plan in order to achieve success. One of my biggest motivations is trying to stay on top of the game no matter the outcome,positive or negative. It has taught me to always keep grinding, work harder and be a better version of myself.

QUESTION: What advice can you give to others who are looking to have a career in modeling?

Stephanie: Always talk to God first, always believe and have faith in yourself. Never look down on yourself, never give up and always believe that you are not just the best but deserve the best.

QUESTION: What has been your greatest achievement or moment in your career so far?

Stephanie: Being able to compete in Top model search Canada 2018, Miss world Canada 2018 and Fashion on Yonge.

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