Sunday, July 18, 2021
Black Emmy Nominations
An excerpt from Black Enterprise -
RECORD NUMBER FOR DIVERSITY IN 2021 EMMY NOMINATIONS
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton
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| (Image: Twitter) |
With the history of award shows typically favoring white performers and creators and being voted on by more white people as well, it has stirred up a call for more Black entertainers to get their nod with more diverse nominations at The Emmys.
According to Deadline, with the announcement of the latest Primetime Emmy Nominations, this is a record year when it comes to diverse talent being recognized (or, at least nominated) for the upcoming Emmy Awards.
There were a record 49 BIPOC nominees who were acknowledged in the acting and reality hosting categories. That number led to a 17% increase over last year’s diversity record of 42 BIPOC nominees.
https://www.blackenterprise.com/record-number-for-diversity-in-2021-emmy-nominations/
Black-Owned Ice Cream Makers
An excerpt from NewsOne -
Black-Owned Ice Cream Makers You Should Support
There is no better time than now to support Black-owned businesses.
By NewsOne Staff
What better way to counter the rising temperatures than with some freezing cold ice cream? That’s a trick question because while the obvious answer is to go grab some ice cream — which people can find anywhere — the better answer is to figure out where to get your ice cream from.
Baskin Robbins shops are easy enough to find, but that mega-business has been around for nearly 80 years. What about some of the local mom-and-pop ice cream shops? I’ll do you one better: What about those even fewer Black-owned ice cream shops — why not shop there?
Now, arguably more than ever, Black-owned businesses need our patronage. And what better time to start than on a sweltering National Ice Cream Day?
https://newsone.com/4174315/black-owned-ice-cream-makers/
Saturday, July 17, 2021
She Created Her Own Tequila Brand
An excerpt from Essence -
She Wanted A Healthier Spirit, Now She’s The First Black Woman To Lead A Tequila Brand
AFTER STARTING OUT AS AN OCCASIONAL TEQUILA DRINKER, NAYANA BECAME AN ENTHUSIAST DUE TO THE LOW-SUGAR CONTENT OF TEQUILA. NOW SHE'S AN ENTREPRENEUR SUCCESSFULLY SELLING THE SPIRIT.
By VICTORIA UWUMAROGIE
 |
| MADDI IBANEZ |
As her appreciation for it grew, she was soon inspired to find ways to bring flavorful, but still healthy versions of the spirit to the masses. So she decided to develop a premium tequila with Don. That’s how Anteel Tequilla, named with the Antillean Crested Hummingbird in mind that the couple encountered during a trip to the Dominican Republic, came to be. During that trip, he proposed to her. It was also the first time they broached the topic of creating their own tequila brand, a discussion that was delightfully interrupted by the hummingbird that would be the brand’s logo and the inspiration for its name.
~~~~~~~~~~
The tequilas, which are already attracting serious clientele by generating nearly a quarter of a million in sales and receiving rave reviews (they have won gold at the SIP Awards, as well as silver and bronze at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition) can currently be found in eight states. (Michigan, California, Georgia, Texas, Florida, the New York metro area and Colorado). The brand has plans to expand to more states in 2022. It can also be purchased on the Anteel Tequila website, which ships nationally.
https://www.essence.com/lifestyle/anteel-tequila-nayana-ferguson/
Many American High School Students are Heading to Europe for College
An excerpt from the Observer -
Why American High School Students Are Flocking to European Colleges
By Arick Wierson
For many high school seniors and their families, it boils down to simple economics. Even after factoring in the higher costs of travel, the all-in cost of studying at most European universities pales in comparison to the costs of attending college in the U.S.
“With just a handful of exceptions, across continental Europe, $10,000 a year is pretty much as high as it gets as far as tuition—and most are a lot less,” remarked Jennifer Viemont, a Lisbon-based American who runs Beyond The States, an online resource and full-service consultancy that helps match American teenagers with European-based undergraduate programs. “That’s quite a bit less than most state schools and a mere fraction of what it costs to attend the top American colleges and universities, which top out at over $60,000 a year in tuition. Throw in room and board, travel, books and extras, and you could easily spend $75,000 a year in the U.S.”
https://observer.com/2021/07/us-high-school-graduate-attend-europe-university-trend/
Friday, July 16, 2021
The Best Heist Movies You've Probably Missed
An excerpt from Looper -
The Best Heist Movies You've Never Seen
By Patrick Phillips
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| Widows (2018) |
With bold new additions to the superhero set, a handful of caustic social satires, a few artistically ambitious genre offerings, and a couple of potent comedic farces, 2018 is certain to earn a place one of the better years for movies of late. Unfortunately, it'll also go down as the year that moviegoers completely balked at paying respects to two high-quality, female-fronted heist flicks. The first was a fun but flighty addition to the Ocean's franchise by the name of Ocean's Eight. The second was a legit modern feminist crime classic that should've been one of the year's biggest hits.
That film was Steve McQueen's bracing, politically savvy crime saga Widows. For those who missed out, Widows was adapted by McQueen and Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl, Sharp Objects), it's set on the streets of modern-day Chicago, and it follows four women thrown together and forced into a life of crime thanks to their criminal husbands.
Read More: https://www.looper.com/144414/the-best-heist-movies-youve-never-seen/?utm_campaign=clip
Truck Drivers Helped to Save a Life
From Upworthy (April 2018) -
13 truck drivers parked side by side in the middle of the night to save a life.
By Eric Pfeiffer
Around 1 a.m. on April 24, semi-truck drivers in the Oak Park area of Michigan received a distress call from area police: An unidentified man was standing on the edge of a local bridge, apparently ready to jump onto the freeway below.
Those drivers then did something amazing. They raced to the scene to help — and lined up their trucks under the bridge, providing a relatively safe landing space should the man jump.
Fortunately, he didn't.
This photo does show the work troopers and local officers do to serve the public. But also in that photo is a man struggling with the decision to take his own life. Please remember help is available through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. pic.twitter.com/RBAlCIXT1o
— MSP Metro Detroit (@mspmetrodet) April 24, 2018
Black-Owned Etsy Shops
From Elite Daily -
These Black-Owned Etsy Shops Are Creating Fire Fashion & Beauty Products
BY THERESA MASSONY AND MARGARET BLATZ
https://www.elitedaily.com/style/black-owned-etsy-shops-fashion-beauty-products
Restaurant Owner Repairs Junk Cars and Donates Them To Those in Need
From Black Enterprise -
South Carolina Restaurant Owner Turns Junk Cars Into Treasures, Donates Them to Those In Need
By Andrea Blackstone
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| Eliot D. Middleton fixes old cars, then gives them to others in need of transportation. Image - Twitter |
Who knew that run-down rides and ribs go together like peanut butter and jelly!
Well Eliot D. Middleton, 38, a restaurant owner from South Carolina, must have had an inkling of some sort because he will give you some ribs if you give him your raggedy car so he can fix it and transform it into a treasure to give to people in need of transportation in the rural area, according to CNN.
The community helper is honoring his father’s legacy by turning inoperable cars into working vehicles. So far he has “collected 100 cars and surprised 33 community members with a repaired ride — without asking for a single thing in return,” according to the outlet.
https://www.blackenterprise.com/south-carolina-restaurant-owner-turns-junk-cars-into-treasures-donates-them-to-those-in-need/amp/
Thursday, July 15, 2021
The Most Famous Invention From Every State
An excerpt from the Family Handyman -
The Most Famous Invention from Every State
By Marissa LaLiberte
Which great American invention comes from your state?
Alabama: Windshield Wipers
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| DI STUDIO/SHUTTERSTOCK |
On a trip to New York City in 1902, Mary Anderson realized what a nuisance the falling snow was for her streetcar driver. Anderson couldn’t drive, but back home in Birmingham, she sketched up her design for windshield wipers. Don’t miss these other 16 things you didn’t know women invented.
https://www.familyhandyman.com/list/the-most-famous-invention-from-every-state/
The Most Photogenic Architectural Wonder in Every State
From Trip Trivia -
The Most Photogenic Architectural Wonder in Every State
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| Arizona: Chapel of the Holy Cross |
The Chapel of the Holy Cross located in Sedona, Arizona stands out for several reasons, not least of all because its sleek, minimalist design is unlike the ornate, Gothic Revival elements typically found in Catholic church architecture. The Roman Catholic church, completed in 1956, replicates the natural form and color of the surrounding red rock in the desert landscape, standing 250 feet on a butte, with a simple cross as its frame and the surrounding windows as its most notable feature. The interior is just as straightforward, with nothing but a few pews and an altar, letting the natural beauty outside the chapel be the primary focus.
https://www.triptrivia.com/most-photogenic-architectural-wonder-in-every-state/X_M1N7nODQAGebh0?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=1310997129&utm_term=SA0115
https://www.triptrivia.com/"Mom, Do Not Leave Your Kids With This Guy!"
From Bored Panda -
Dad Sends His GF These Pics Whenever She Asks If Their Babies Are OK While He’s Watching Them (30 New Pics) Interview With Artist
By Jonas Grinevičius and Justinas Keturka
We’ve all got that one person in our lives who is a total dad You know what I mean—they keep making puns and dad jokes and doing whatever they can to brighten everyone’s day in their own unique way. Father of two Kenny Deuss, from Antwerp in Belgium, is a total dad in the best possible way and I for one relate to him quite a bit (I make everyone groan with my dad jokes and I used to live in Belgium).
Whenever Kenny used to look after his firstborn and his girlfriend would be out, she’d ask him if little Alix was doing all right. That’s when humor-loving Kenny had a brilliant idea. He began photoshopping replies to the love of his life’s queries in the form of pictures. In them, he and the toddler would be in various dangerous, adventurous, and comic situations.
Since the very first photoshop, Kenny has amassed a following of over 157k fans on Instagram who eagerly await his latest photo-edited masterpiece. What’s more, the dad’s also started photoshopping pictures with his second child, Aster, who was born just this year, in 2021, as well.
Happy Birthday Alix! Even Though We Only Have A Small Party Due To Covid, We’re Having A Blast!
We Spend Two Days At The Belgian Coastline. Apparently There Are A Couple Of Aggressive Seagulls There. If Someone Finds Their Nest With Aster In It, Please Let Me Know
How To Write A Eulogy
An excerpt from the Mirror -
How to write a eulogy for a funeral - where to start and what should you include
A eulogy at a funeral for a loved-one is like a best man's speech except everyone is crying, it's no wonder some people find the prospect of delivering one daunting
By Emily Sleight
A eulogy is often a key part of a funeral, you will have a chance to talk about your loved one’s life and what they meant to you, they can be very emotional.
It is often regarded as an honour to be asked to give a eulogy, as it means you played a big part in the life of the deceased.
If you've been tasked with putting together a eulogy you might be feeling pretty anxious about it, but thankfully there is no real right or wrong in what you say.
You just need to think about your audience, and establish a basic structure so you’re feeling prepared and confident.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/how-write-eulogy-funeral-start-24524052
From Reffing to Fighting For His Life
An excerpt from the Undefeated -
A year ago, Tony Brown was reffing his first NBA Finals. Now, he’s fighting for his life.
The veteran referee opens up about the pancreatic cancer diagnosis that changed his course
BY TONY BROWN, AS TOLD TO JERRY BEMBRY
 |
| Tony Brown worked Game 4 of the 2020 NBA Finals between the Heat and Lakers. JESSE D. GARRABRANT/NBAE VIA GETTY IMAGES |
As I watch the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns play for an NBA championship, I can’t help but revisit this stage of the season a year ago.
It was Los Angeles Lakers vs. Miami Heat. LeBron James against Jimmy Butler. The NBA bubble.
It was also, in Game 4, the moment I reached the pinnacle of my professional career. After 19 years as an NBA referee, after over 1,000 regular-season and 35 playoff games, I stepped on the court to work my first Finals.
Most eyes at tipoff were, I’m sure, focused on the star players who are the driving force in this league. I’m sure back home in Atlanta the eyes of my wife and my three kids were focused on me as I finally got the opportunity to work the NBA’s premier event.
It was career validation: I was considered one of the best referees in the world.
When this season began, my goal was to experience that exhilarating moment again.
But life threw me a curveball.
Pancreatic cancer. Stage 4.
Honestly, I don’t know what’s in store for me.
But with the love of my wife, my kids, my NBA family and my friends in the trenches alongside me, I’m well armed for this battle for my life.
https://theundefeated.com/features/a-year-ago-tony-brown-was-reffing-his-first-nba-finals-now-hes-fighting-for-his-life/
Common Courtesies
From Buzzfeed -
People Are Sharing The Unwritten Rules Of Life, And I Never Thought Of These
FOLLOW THESE!
by Ryan Schocket
On Tuesday, Reddit user u/0_7_0 asked, "What is one 'unwritten rule' that you believe everyone should know and follow?" People responded with a bunch of valuable tidbits we all should listen to.
1. "If I show you a picture on my phone, don't go swiping sideways."
—u/Soft-Problem
2. "If you borrow something, return it in the same condition."
—u/Ryastor
3. "Stand back before boarding a bus, subway, metro, or elevator so that those on can get off quickly without having to wait for you to back up first."
—u/Lightmareman
4. "Don't watch loud videos on your phone at a restaurant. Can't believe this isn't common courtesy anymore."
—u/penguinmanbat
5. "The last one to go to bed has to turn all the lights off."
—u/Rebeca2277
https://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanschocket2/people-are-sharing-the-unwritten-rules-of-life-and-i-never
Tuesday, July 13, 2021
Sunday, July 11, 2021
Another Brilliant Black Doctor Sounding the Alarm
An excerpt from Zenger -
America’s First Black Female Transplant Surgeon Says Organ Donation Is Racially Lopsided
The number of organ donors in the black community is alarmingly low. Velma Scantlebury is working to change that.
By Vandita Agrawal
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| Dr. Velma Scantlebury, who earned her Doctor of Surgery in 1989, has performed over 2,000 transplants. (Courtesy of Velma Scantlebury) |
The nation’s first black female transplant surgeon says that while donated organs are allocated equitably along racial lines in America, African-Americans continue to face unique disadvantages in the life-saving process she has worked in since 1989.
Velma Scantlebury told Zenger that the black community needs greater awareness about the need for more organ donors among nonwhite Americans. She points to the Minority Organ and Tissue Transplant Education Program, founded in 1991.
African-Americans have a more difficult time getting on kidney transplant lists, even though they are more likely to have end-stage renal disease. They trail whites in access to kidney transplants. Scantlebury said her black patients face inequality in health care, poor treatment by some doctors, lack of insurance, late referrals to specialists and a lack of health literacy.
“They are often diagnosed late, due to a lack of equity of health care. When referred to transplant, many have difficulty navigating the system to get the required tests. Hypertension and diabetes are more common in African-Americans, and despite this, many patients are neglected when it comes to getter their kidney function checked,” said Scantlebury, who has performed more than 2,000 transplants.
https://www.zenger.news/2021/07/05/nations-first-black-female-transplant-surgeon-advocates-for-better-care-for-african-americans/
First Black Female Chair of Surgery @ Albany Medical College
https://www.blackenterprise.com/meet-the-first-black-female-chair-of-surgery-at-a-u-s-academic-health-science-center/Albany Medical College appoints the first Black female chair of surgery at an academic health science center in the US: Dr. KMarie King Learn more: https://t.co/diQSAaBLYd @KmarieMD @amcollsurgeons @societyofBAS @womensurgeons pic.twitter.com/4hNtgDfGHT
— Albany Med (@AlbanyMed) July 6, 2021
"Is Angela Working?"
An excerpt from The Mirror -
Woman escapes date with 'violent' man with life-saving secret signal to club DJ
The woman asked the DJ at a Liverpool pub the question that alerted him to her situation. He knew exactly what she meant and helped her to leave with the aid of a security guard
By Tim Hanlon
A distressed woman needing help to escape a potentially violent date used a private signal to the DJ at a Liverpool pub to get away.
She was saved by asking the DJ if Angela was working and, knowing immediately what she meant, he helped her out of the difficult situation.
At the city centre pub, the DJ responded by saying yes, Angela was working and told the nervous woman to get inside the booth with him.
He then called for help from security, and asked a guard the same question, which led to the woman being helped out of the back of the venue and into a taxi.
The man, who shared the episode on a Liverpool hospitality industry Facebook page, is now calling on other venues to train its staff to know what to do in these types of situations.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/woman-escapes-date-violent-man-24495152
Four Phrases to Use When Stopped by Cops
An excerpt from Good -
The Four Magic Phrases to Use When You’re Stopped by the Cops
Everyone should know their rights.
By Brandon Weber
Whether it's a traffic stop that turns into “We smell something in your car" or a “driving while black" situation, you have rights when you're pulled over, and it's for the best if you actually use them. So how does this work, anyway? Well, you have rights when you're pulled over. These have been established via case law, and ultimately, some stem from the Constitution itself. In order, here are the magic phrases, along with some graphics to help you remember.
1. “Am I free to go?"
In any situation involving the police, you can ask this question. Some people ask it slightly differently: “Am I being detained?"—which is a version of the same question. Basically, if they've got nothing on you, they have to let you go. If they answer no to that question, you are in fact not free to go. In that case, you are suspected of doing something, and it's their job to try to get you to admit to it or to say a bit too much and incriminate yourself.
https://www.good.is/articles/4-magic-phrases-cops
One Smart Cookie - Historical Spelling Bee Winner = 14 Year Old Black Girl!
From HuffPost -
Spelling Bee Champ Is A Speed-Reading Math Whiz Who Holds 3 World Records
Zaila Avant-garde, 14, also made history at this year’s Scripps National Spelling Bee.
By Elyse Wanshel
 | ||
| Zaila Avant-garde competes in the first round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee finals in Orlando, Florida, on July 8. JIM WATSON VIA GETTY IMAGES |
This year’s spelling bee champ is F-A-S-C-I-N-A-T-I-N-G.
Zaila Avant-garde, a 14-year-old from Harvey, Louisiana, made history Thursday when she became the first African American winner and the second Black champion in the Scripps National Spelling Bee’s 96-year history.
But that may not even be the most interesting thing about the teen.
Zaila, who dipped her toe into competitive spelling just two years ago, knows how to speed-read and discovered that she could divide five-digit numbers by two-digit numbers in her head, according to The New York Times.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/spelling-bee-champ-speed-reading-math-whiz-3-world-records_n_60e856eee4b0b0220ededff8?ncid=NEWSSTAND0001
Tuesday, July 6, 2021
He's A Chess National Master!
From the NY Times -
Remember the Homeless Chess Champion? The Boy Is Now a Chess Master.
By Nicholas Kristof
 |
| Tanitoluwa Adewumi two years ago. Credit...Christopher Lee for The New York Times |
Once upon a time a 7-year-old refugee living in a homeless shelter sat down at a chess board in school and learned how to play. His school then agreed to his mom’s plea to waive fees for him to join the chess club.
The boy wasn’t any good at first. His initial chess rating was 105, barely above the lowest possible rating, 100.
But the boy, Tanitoluwa Adewumi — better known as Tani — enjoyed chess as an escape from the chaos of the homeless shelter, and his skills progressed in stunning fashion. After little more than a year, at age 8, he won the New York State chess championship for his age group, beating well-coached children from rich private schools.
I wrote a couple of columns about Tani at that time, and readers responded by donating more than $250,000 to a GoFundMe campaign for Tani’s family, along with a year of free housing. It was heartwarming to see Tani running around the family’s new apartment, but I wondered: Is this kid really that good?
It turns out he is. This month, as a fifth grader, Tani cruised through an in-person tournament in Connecticut open to advanced players of all ages and won every game. He emerged with a chess rating of 2223, making him a national master.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/08/opinion/sunday/homeless-chess-champion-tani-adewumi.html
Twin MDs fight entrenched racism in medical world
Another Brilliant Sista!
From Blavity -
Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, Who Helped Develop COVID-19 Vaccine, Joins Harvard’s Faculty
Corbett plans to expand vaccine research in her new laboratory with the goal to create universal vaccines.
by Sìmone Stancil
 |
| Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett / Photo Credit: Timothy Nwachukwu |
Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, one of the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) lead scientists, is joining Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health as an assistant professor, the university announced.
Corbett is most widely known for playing an integral role in the development of Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine, which has proven to be up to 94.1% effective, according to the CDC.
“I am delighted to welcome Kizzmekia to the School. Working in public health is a calling, and I am proud to work each day supporting an amazing team of researchers who have devoted their professional lives to helping others live full, happy, and healthy lives,” Michelle Williams, dean of the faculty at Harvard Chan School and angelopoulos professor in public health and international development, said.
“Kizzmekia is a natural fit here. Her success in the lab is matched only by her commitment to using science to improve people’s lives, especially for communities that have too often been left behind by advances in health care,” she added.
As a professor in the Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Corbett is spearheading the new Coronaviruses & Other Relevant Emerging Infectious Diseases (CoreID) Lab to study and understand the correlation between hosts’ immune systems and viruses that cause respiratory illness. Her goal is to create novel and potentially universal vaccines.
https://blavity.com/dr-kizzmekia-corbett-who-helped-develop-covid-19-vaccine-joins-harvards-faculty?category1=news&category2=Wellness
FAMU's Dillard Tops Golf Ranking
From PGA Tour -
Florida A&M’s Mulbe Dillard IV tops final APGA Collegiate Ranking
Top-five players earn APGA Tour playing privileges and benefits in 2021
By Chris Richards
After a record-setting four years at Florida A&M, Mulbe Dillard finishes his career as the No. 1 player in the APGA Tour Collegiate Ranking.
The top-five players in the 2021 APGA Collegiate Ranking have been finalized, with Florida A&M University’s Mulbe Dillard IV finishing No. 1 and earning an exemption into the Korn Ferry Tour’s REX Hospital Open. Dillard’s teammates Mahindra Lutchman, Cameron Riley and Prince Cunningham also finished in the top five, while Michigan State’s Andrew Walker finished No. 2 and rounds out the inaugural class of the APGA Collegiate Ranking.
“The path to professional golf has never been stronger for Black golfers, and I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for the top players in this year’s APGA Collegiate Ranking,” said Ken Bentley, co-founder and CEO of the APGA Tour. “This year’s inaugural class is an important step forward as the APGA Tour continues to grow and provide opportunities in professional golf to Black players.”
All five players receive APGA Tour membership and entry into this season’s tournaments, starting with the APGA Tour event at TPC Louisiana, May 31-June 1. Additionally, this year’s class receives travel costs associated with playing APGA Tour events and the Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying Tournament.
https://www.pgatour.com/university/news/2021/05/26/florida-a-and-m-mulbe-dillard-iv-tops-final-apga-collegiate-ranking.html
HBCUs Matter
From Blavity -
These 6 Black Philadelphia Judges All Graduated From The Same HBCU
HBCUs have produced 80% of the Black judges in the country.
by Tomas Kassahun
Six Black Philadelphia judges sat down for an interview with CBS Philly to talk about their common denominator: Hampton University, one of the most renowned HBCUs in the country.
Judges Roxanne Covington, Jonathan Irvine, Kai Scott, Mark Moore, Sharon Williams Losier and Lillian Harris Ransom, expressed their gratitude for HBCUs and emphasized the need for more diversity in courtrooms.
"When I come out from the back, you’ll see people’s faces change when they see you,” Irvine told the news station of being a Black judge in the city. “I don’t know whether that’s good or bad. You need to see diversity. Sometimes, you need to see people who look like you.”
Scott said it's not only important for the court to have diversity in race, but also in terms of gender and socioeconomic background.
“It’s important that the bench represents the entire community,” she told the station.
https://blavity.com/these-6-black-philadelphia-judges-all-graduated-from-the-same-hbcu?category1=news&category2=politics
Black Women Surfers
From the NY Times -
Making Waves
By Gabriella Angotti-Jones
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/06/04/opinion/black-women-surfers.html?referringSource=articleShare
First Black PhD in Math from Indiana University
From Black Enterprise -
KEMP MAKES HISTORY AS FIRST BLACK STUDENT TO RECEIVE PH.D. IN MATHEMATICS FROM INDIANA UNIVERSITY
by Charlene Rhinehart
 |
| www.linkedin.com/Dr. Dóminique Kemp |
Last month, Dr. Dóminique Kemp reached a milestone that few individuals achieve in mathematics education.
The Indiana University student became the first Black graduate to earn a Ph.D. in mathematics, Indiana Daily Student reported. Nearly a century ago, Elbert Frank Cox was recognized as the first black person to earn a Ph.D. in mathematics. He received his degree from Standford University in 1925 and spent most of his career as a professor at Howard University.
Few have been empowered to further their mathematics education since that time. But Kemp wants to change that. He’s on a mission to inspire and empower the next generation of mathematicians.
https://www.blackenterprise.com/kemp-makes-history-as-first-black-student-to-receive-ph-d-in-mathematics-from-indiana-university/
A Flying Option
From Business Insider -
I flew on Set Jet, where flights on private jets cost the same as typical airlines' first class, and saw why it's one of aviation's best kept secrets
By Thomas Pallini
- Set Jet is a membership-based private jet firm offering seats on private aircraft on set routes across the American West.
- Flights cost less than $500 but still offer most of the trappings of a traditional private jet flight.
- I flew on a Set Jet flight and was impressed by the luxury of the service for the low price point.
Black Scientists Proved the Polio Vaccine Worked
From Scientific American -
Hidden Black Scientists Proved the Polio Vaccine Worked
Tuskegee Institute researchers showed Jonas Salk’s vaccine protected children by developing a key test
By Ainissa Ramirez
In the summers of the early 1950s, multitudes of American children were stuck in their home. Parents didn’t permit them to play together because, when the weather got warm, society entered a nightmare called polio. Children would eagerly begin their school breaks with a bicycle, scooter or kite and end them in crutches, braces or an iron lung.
The disease poliomyelitis, or polio, had been in the medical textbooks for decades. In the summers of the early 20th century, however, this illness grew into an epidemic. The virus behind the disease could infect anyone, but in the U.S., it caused the worst damage among children under five years old, and polio was consequently called infantile paralysis.
In early 1953 there was a glimmer of hope that this nightmare might come to an end. Medical researcher Jonas Salk created a polio vaccine that, when injected, stimulated the immune system to make antibodies that fought off the virus. By January of that year, he had inoculated 161 people, and the results looked promising. Salk’s work was funded by the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (NFIP). This organization—founded in 1938 by polio sufferer and U.S. president Franklin Delano Roosevelt—evolved from a dilapidated spa in Warm Springs, Ga., for those afflicted with the disease to become a major polio research funder. Buoyed by Salk’s early results, the NFIP, with its broad mission of conquering polio, started pushing to get hundreds of thousands of children vaccinated. But before moving ahead, Salk wanted to make sure his vaccine was the “safest and most certain” approach by monitoring the inoculation’s ability to trigger enough antibodies to neutralize the virus. In earlier tests, monkeys were injected with the vaccine and monitored to see if they got sick, or their cells were observed to see if they deformed. But the number of the animals needed to test thousands of children was too costly and cumbersome.
Fortunately, researchers had found there were unique cells that could help. These were HeLa cells, the living line of cancer cells that were taken without permission from a Black patient named Henrietta Lacks years earlier. After blood was drawn from a vaccinated patient, part of it was placed in a glass dish along with HeLa cells and a small dose of polio. With those items, a microscopic—and deadly—battle commenced. In the dish, the poliovirus tried to attack the HeLa cells. If there were enough of the proper antibodies in the patient’s blood, however, they blocked the virus from causing any harm. Scientists could readily see the cells under a microscope. If the HeLa cells looked misshapen, this meant that the right antibodies were not present in the blood.
To evaluate his vaccine, Salk would need tremendous amounts of HeLa cells. He would get help not from traditional established institutions such as Harvard University or Yale University but from a small Black college in the South that had become famous for cultivating peanuts.
In 1881 educator Booker T. Washington founded the Tuskegee Institute with 30 pupils inside an old church building in Alabama. Washington had big dreams for his small school, and they were realized. Just 50 years later, the number of students increased 100-fold. And the entire nation grew to know about this institute from botanist George Washington Carver’s pioneering work on cultivating the peanut there. During World War II, the Tuskegee Airmen, an all-Black flying squadron, also put this sleepy part of the country on the map.
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/hidden-black-scientists-proved-the-polio-vaccine-worked/
911 Help
Our dispatchers never know what the next call might be.They train for many emergency situations, homework help is not one they plan for. We don't recommend 911 for homework help but this dispatcher helped a young boy out and brightened his day.@PoliceOne @apbweb @wlfi @WTHRcom pic.twitter.com/w3qCYfJP7O
— LafayetteINPolice (@LafayetteINPD) January 25, 2019
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| Antonia Bundy helped the child solve a math problem (Twitter/ @LafayetteINPD) |
Auburn's First Black Female Drum Major
From AL.com
Meet Auburn University’s first Black female drum major
By The Associated Press
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| Brianna Jarvis, a senior in the Auburn band who plays the trumpet, poses for a photo before Auburn played Texas A&M for its final home game in 2020 on Saturday, Dec. 5. (Photo by Giana Han) |
Brianna Jarvis will lead the Auburn University Marching Band into Jordan-Hare Stadium when the football team plays Akron on Sept. 4.
She will also be making history as the band’s first Black female drum major.
The music education major attended Reeltown High School where she says she saw the impact of the university from 30 minutes away. A first-generation college student, Jarvis says she knew she wanted to attend Auburn but didn’t know how to make that happen.
Jarvis’ high school band director was Auburn University alumnus Tyler Strickland, and he acted as a mentor, helping Jarvis navigate college applications, Auburn University Marching Band auditions and more.
https://www.al.com/news/2021/06/meet-auburn-universitys-first-black-female-drum-major.html
All Black Flight Crew
From CNN Travel -
All-Black flight crew commemorates Juneteenth
By Neelam Bohra and Justin Lear, CNN
(CNN) — Water cannons blasted over United Airlines flight 1258 as it left its gate, celebrating that every person on the flight crew, from pilots to gate agents and ramp staff, was Black.
The all-Black crew flew from Houston to Chicago on Saturday morning, commemorating Juneteenth, now a federal holiday celebrating the end of slavery. Before takeoff, a celebration of the crew included a speech from Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, a saxophone performance from one of the pilots, Sal Crocker, and water cannons on the tarmac.
Turner said the flight crew was a symbol for how far the Black community has come over the past 150 years.
"Now, we're soaring amongst the stars," Turner said to CNN affiliate KTRK. "Let me tell you, for our ancestors, my parents, if they were still alive, they would just be amazed."
Just 2.47% of United States aircraft pilots and flight engineers are Black, according to Data USA.
But for flight 1258, even the flight dispatchers, both in Houston and Chicago, celebrated their Black heritage.
https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/all-black-flight-crew/index.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+rss%2Fcnn_topstories+%28RSS%3A+CNN+-+Top+Stories%29
Monday, July 5, 2021
Body Hair on Women
@solanathagreenfairy beauty standards are a social construct!@heyestrid #foryou #bodyhairpositivity #feminist #beautystandard
♬ original sound - solana
Friday, June 25, 2021
Friday, June 18, 2021
"High on the Hog"
An excerpt from Vice -
'High on the Hog' Proves Why Food Travel Shows Need New Gatekeepers
“The reason why [the show] is so resonant for Black people is because that’s really who it’s for. It’s for us.”
By Kristin Corry
“Tell me what you eat and I’ll tell you where you are from,” famed Yoruba artist Romuald Hazoumè told Stephen Satterfield, host of Netflix’s inspiring new travel show High on the Hog. The phrase could double as the thesis of food historian Dr. Jessica Harris’s book of the same name, which resonated so much with production duo Fabienne Toback and Karis Jagger that they chose to adapt it for their first full-length documentary.
https://www.vice.com/en/article/93y3vd/netflix-high-on-the-hog-food-travel-show-interview
Honoring Her Parents
From Today -
Graduating senior honors farm-worker parents with special photos
Jennifer Rocha began working in the fields with her parents when she was in high school.
By Kait Hanson and Mohammed Syed
One California woman is going viral for the emotional graduation photos she took to honor her parents.
21-year-old Jennifer Rocha, from Coachella, California, has been working in the fields with her parents, both immigrants from Michoacán, Mexico, since she was in high school.
"My dad decided to take me to work in the field when I was in junior year of high school," Rocha told TODAY Parents, adding that during that time she was also running on the cross-country team at school. "My dad would pick me up from cross-country practice at around 2, 3 p.m. and then come home, eat something, (and) change. And then we would go and plant strawberries overnight."
https://www.today.com/parents/ucsd-student-honors-farm-worker-parents-photos-field-t222050
Quads Graduate From Yale
From People -
Ohio Quadruplets Who All Graduated from Yale Say They Were Able to Carve Their 'Own Paths' at Ivy
Aaron, Nick, Nigel and Zach Wade graduated together from Yale University last month
By Rachel DeSantis
https://people.com/human-interest/ohio-quadruplets-graduated-from-yale-carved-own-paths/
Heading to Harvard
From People -
N.Y. School's First Black Valedictorian Is Heading to Harvard: 'There's No Dream Too Big'
https://people.com/human-interest/new-york-teen-onovu-otitigbe-becomes-high-schools-first-black-valedictorian-heads-to-harvard/
Monday, May 24, 2021
Black Family Cookout Rules
An excerpt from Afro.com -
What you not fid’na do at a Black family cookout
By Rev. Dorothy Boulware
Yes we have rules for everything and everybody. Rules for behavior in Big Mama’s house. Rules of proper conduct for “in person” church. Rules for butting or rather, not butting into grown folks’ conversations. And we have rules for going to a cookout, a Black family cookout. Granted they’re not written, but you’d better ask somebody if you don’t know.
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Cookout or barbeque. Some prefer one over the other. Picnic? Absolutely never!!! Check out a Black history book. So what are the rules of your family’s barbecues? The funny thing is that when the question was posed to family, friends, FB friends and AFRO staff, the answers were quite similar.
*Don’t disrespect Big Mama.
*Don’t pack take-home dishes before everyone eats.
*Don’t come empty handed (unless we have eaten, or not eaten, your food before)
*Don’t put raisins in anything that’s not dessert. Seriously. Even if you are newly Black.
*Don’t bring your new girlfriend when you know your Ex is always invited.
(Click below to check out the entire list. Please pass this on far and wide to those who need it. You know who. - Faye)
https://afro.com/what-you-not-fittin-do-at-a-black-family-cookout/
Priceless Guide to Black BBQs
From Deadspin -
The Caucasian's Guide To Black Barbecues
By Michael Harriot
As interracial dating, integration, and cross-cultural friendships increase, many people find themselves attending events in which they are the minority, and have no frame of reference from which to base their etiquette. In an effort to help bridge the cultural gaps we all have to traverse at some point, I have created a few rules for all my Caucasian friends who might find themselves at a black cookout.
1. You gotta bring something. One time, I went to a co-worker named Tom’s barbecue and brought a pasta salad. He looked at me like I had shit in the middle of his living room.
At a black cookout (yes, if there’s more than seven black people there, the name automatically changes from “barbecue” to a “cookout”), only the meat and the grill is supplied by the host. Everything else is brought by attendees—and no, this is not “potluck.” Black people don’t do potlucks. Potluck dinners are for Caucasian bible-study meetings where one can bring store-bought dishes. Here, you either show up with a homemade dish, or they’re gonna look at you funny. And please don’t try no new shit like potato salad with raisins or vegetarian shish kabobs. If you can’t cook, or you don’t have all the required black seasonings, just bring some cups and napkins. Or LOTS of aluminum foil. I don’t know what the hell black people do with all the aluminum foil at cookouts, but they ALWAYS need more. I have long suspected that black cookouts were ploys by hosts to get free aluminum foil. In any case, you are expected to bring something.
https://adequateman.deadspin.com/the-caucasians-guide-to-black-barbecues-1730865233
Sunday, May 23, 2021
What Are They Afraid Of?
An excerpt from the Salt Lake Tribune -
Leonard Pitts: Sometimes you wonder what they’re so afraid of
The powers that be have conspired to protect white people — and prevent Black people — from knowing our history.
By Leonard Pitts, The Miami Herald
Not that the subject has ever been easy. No, as has often been noted in this space, this country has been positively Herculean in its effort to remain ignorant of African American history. From schools trying to ban it to state laws restricting it, to textbooks telling lies about it, that history is something we have long resisted.
But if the subject was never easy, it has seldom been as fraught — as filled with political heat — as it is now. The New York Times Magazine’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “1619 Project,” in which reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones had the temerity to reframe America’s story through the lens of slavery, seems to have tapped something primal in some of us; something that has moved them to spend two years condemning it; something that has states like Texas, Tennessee and Idaho rushing to pass laws banning schools from teaching critical race theory (which seemingly all conservatives fear and none can define); something panicky that is emphatically not explained by academic arguments over points of factuality.
For the record, I consider myself pretty well-informed about Black history. But it is not lost on me that most of what I know was learned on my own after my formal education ended, that I somehow managed to graduate an elite private university knowing next to nothing about it.
Even at that, I was more fortunate than some. School only left me uneducated. It left them miseducated, i.e., taught things that were not true. In an inspired feat of enterprise journalism, Michael Harriot of The Root recently dug up the high school history textbooks that would have been used by many of those who grew up to deny the reality of systemic racism or seek to restrict the teaching thereof. The results are enlightening.
https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/commentary/2021/05/16/leonard-pitts-sometimes/
From Custodian to Teacher
An excerpt from The Black Detour -
Georgia School Janitor of 23 Years Graduates College With A Degree in Education
A Georgia school janitor for the last 23 years has graduated from college with a degree in education. Tylan Bailey is now ready to change careers and become a teacher.
“Just walking through these halls every day, you’re surrounded by education. Each corner of this building, education. So why not be a part of that,” Bailey told WSBTV 2.
Over the last 23 years Bailey has worked at Hightower Elementary School in DeKalb County as its head custodian.
“He’s the kind of person you want in your building, on your side,” Principal Sheila Price told the news outlet. “It’s a bittersweet moment because we love him and we want to keep him here. But we know this is a huge step and we support him. We’re here for him for whatever he needs.”
In 2017, Bailey started his journey to become a teacher when he began attending classes at Georgia State University while still working part-time.
https://theblackdetour.com/georgia-school-janitor-of-23-years-graduates-college-with-a-degree-in-education/