Young Owner Of Black-Owned Seafood Boil Restaurant In Atlanta Hits $8M in Sales In Just One Year
Chad Dillon, a 33-year-old entrepreneur and restaurateur, has achieved massive success as the young owner of The Boiler Seafood and Crab Boil, a Black-owned Atlanta-based restaurant that serves fried lobster tails, fried king crab, fried catfish, hush puppies, and more. After just one year in the business, his restaurant has already generated $8 million in sales.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, to Jamaican parents, Dillon has always had a knack for business. Upon noticing a gap in the market, he seized the opportunity to bring an upscale seafood boil experience to Atlanta. He initially wanted to be a franchisee of The Juicy Crab but was denied. That was when he decided to take a risk and launch his own concept.
In January 2019, Dillon started planning for The Boiler and secured a building lease in Atlanta’s prominent Buckhead neighborhood in August 2019. The global pandemic presented significant challenges at that time, but Dillon remained resilient and determined to bring his vision to life. On December 4, 2020, The Boiler opened its doors, quickly gaining popularity and becoming Buckhead’s No. 1 seafood and crab boil restaurant.
“I am a thinker and innovator, so even without a culinary background I enjoy finding voids in the business market and creating solutions; creating restaurant concepts from ideation to execution, coming up with new menu items, and creating amazing customer experiences,” Dillon told Travel Noire. “I’m also very hands-on. I spend about 10-plus hours a day being in the restaurant, running errands, and handling needed logistics for the restaurant.”
The Boiler’s menu features a wide range of seafood options, including snow crab legs, blue crabs, mussels, and crawfish. The restaurant’s signature seafood boil bags, combining seafood with potatoes, corn, and a special sauce, have been a hit with customers. Additionally, the restaurant offers enticing alternatives such as seafood egg rolls and various fried options.
Black Woman-Owned Bookstore Seeks Funds For New Home in Bed-Stuy
Black woman-owned bookstore Adanne, founded by Darlene Okpo, is seeking crowdfunding for its new home in Bed-Stuy after the owner of its Dumbo location gave them 30 days to vacate the premises after escalating issues.
While Okpo has her sights on moving her business to Bed-Stuy, the needed finances to fund the move out of downtown Brooklyn must be crowdsourced. On June 27, the entrepreneur went to her store’s Instagram page to reach out to her over 5,000 followers about the issue.
“As a loyal supporter of Adanne, I wanted to reach out and let you know that I will have to move my business out of Dumbo,” shared Okpo.
“I am grateful to have found a new location with a larger space where my vision for Adanne can continue to grow and expand, and where I can thrive as an entrepreneur. In order for me to move forward, I need financial support to make this dream a reality.”
After bouts of worry that her following would not empathize enough with her plight and situation, Okpo was happily surprised when her community showed up for her. So far, she has raised over $7,500, with a goal of $30k to be pledged by Aug. 31.
Okpo is hopeful that her customers will follow along in the journey to Bed-Stuy, where she is a native herself and consider it a “full-circle moment” to return to her roots, she tells BKReader.
Despite the rushed process, the Black business owner is ultimately happy that she will be able to place her store in the culturally rich and historically Black neighborhood, encouraging the residents, young and old, to gather and share in the joy of reading.
“I want to promote literacy and make sure people are enjoying their love for reading and reading books that inspire them,” shared Okpo on her mission.
Adanne is committed to being a bookstore that cultivates creativity and openness through literature, and can still be shopped online as it transitions to its new space.
Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson Is The First Black Woman To Be President Of The United Church Of Christ
In a spectacular development, Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson has been elected as the first woman to lead the United Church of Christ. Replacing Rev. John Dorhauer, who held office starting in 2015, Thompson hopes to usher in a new era of beginnings.
An immigrant hailing from Jamaica, Thompson is unparalleled in her achievements. In 2009, she began her work in the National Setting of the United Church of Christ as minister of racial justice and minister of ecumenical and interfaith relations. For the past four years, she served as associate general minister for Wider Church Ministries and as co-executive for Global Ministries.
Those capacities equipped her with a singular understanding of the church and the consequences it faces when racial inequity is left unaddressed and progress stagnates. While the United Church of Christ has been commended for its wide acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community compared to its denominational counterparts, the reverend says there are still changes to be made within the church. Prior to her nomination, Thompson spoke before the UCC board, saying, “Decolonizing the church on all levels has to be a priority. Decolonizing the church includes our commitment to racial justice and more. Being anti-racist and inclusive requires that we decolonize our institutions in ways that afford all to be present and participate equally. This is a commitment to equity for all.”
Thompson holds credentials from many universities, having received her doctorate in ministry from Seattle University, where she also completed her dissertation on religious multiplicity among African Caribbeans. She earned a master of divinity from Union Theological Seminary as well as a master of public administration from North Carolina Central University.
Thompson is the third woman to have been nominated for the position of general minister and president, preceded by Rev. Yvonne Delk in 1989 and Barbara Zikmund in 1999. However, she is the first to be elected in the church’s 66 years. Thompson is the third person of African descent to serve in this role. She will begin her next chapter on August 1.
“As I stand here before you as your newly and duly elected general minister and president, I stand here as a Jamaican immigrant woman, a mother and a grandmother, a sister, and a friend to many,” Thompson shared with the congregation following her election. “The enormity of this moment will be with me for many years to come.”
After the vote, while praying with her family, Thompson reiterated a Synod theme. It was a single Bible verse, Revelation 21:5—“Behold, I am making everything new.”
Blac Chyna Gets Emotional While Accepting Honorary Doctorate, ‘God Has Never Given Up On Me’
That’s Dr. Angela Renée White to you!
Blac Chyna was overcome with emotion while accepting her honorary doctorate from the Sacramento Theological Seminary and Bible College.
The newly rebranded model and entrepreneur took to Instagram on Sunday, July 2, to share a video showing her tearful acceptance speech for her doctorate in humanities from a Christian college. The reformed mother of two stepped onto the stage in her cap and gown after being introduced as “Dr. Angela White.”
“‘Doctorate of Humanities’ Dr. Angela White,” she captioned her post. “Thank you Sacramento Theological Seminaty and Bible College for my honorary. ‘Doctorate of Humanities’”
“The degree of Doctor of Humanities is an honorary degree awarded to those who have distinguished themselves through humanitarian and philanthropic contributions to society,” she described.
During her speech, Chyna thanked God and Jesus and became emotional after saying how “God has never given up on me.”
“I’ve been through a lot in my life, and he’s been changing my life,” she said through tears.
“I want to continue to walk in this light and learn and grow and be an inspiration to my family, my friends, and my kids.”
Her emotional speech came months after Chyna shared her breast and butt augmentation reversal on social media in a candid post revealing her “life changing journey.”
“As y’all know, I’m changing my life and changing my ways,” told her followers. “So one of the things that I feel like is gonna take me to the next level is obviously taking some of these ass shots out.”
Michael Jordan Does Not Co-sign Larsa Pippen’s Relationship With His Son
Michael Jordan has finally broken his silence on his son’s public romance with Larsa Pippen – and the NBA legend does NOT approve!
The six-time NBA champion and sports mogul was spotted leaving dinner at Matignon in Paris on Sunday when a paparazzo asked Jordan about his 32-year-old son Marcus dating the 48-year-old ex-wife of his former teammate and longtime enemy, Scottie Pippen.
In a video shared by TMZ, Jordan can be seen laughing when the photographer asks him about Marcus and Larsa’s relationship. But when the photog doubled down and asked if Jordan supported the romance, he loudly replied, “NO!”
It’s the first time the Chicago Bulls legend has spoken about his son’s relationship with Larsa, and it’s clear the NBA G.O.A.T. is not in support. Fans sounded off after NBA Central reposted the video on Twitter.
“He’s finally showed his distaste in that relationship publicly, took him a minute,” one fan wrote.
“Haha, why isn’t this surprising?” added someone else.
Jordan’s response is far different from what Larsa claimed the Jordan family felt about her dating Marcus. When she appeared on The Tamron Hall Show back in February, she claimed their families were both “happy” with their relationship.
“It’s not about my parents, his parents. They’re all happy. Our whole family’s fine,” she said at the time.
“I feel like, we’ve spent holidays together and it’s good. We’re in a great place.”
She also touched on the nearly 20-year age difference between her and Marcus, and the animosity that exists between Marcus’ dad and her ex-husband, whom she shares four children with.
“[Scottie] has a right to the way he feels … I live my truth, I’m happy,” she said. “It wasn’t like it was planned like that…we were just together a lot with our friends and it just so happened.”
BET Weekend 2023 Recap: A Celebration Of Hip-Hop And Black Excellence
Nearly three million people tuned into the 2023 BET Awards last month, which paid homage to the legacy of hip-hop and honored an esteemed cohort of Black entertainers, musicians, and athletes.
Held at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on June 25, legendary DJ Kid Capri kicked off the annual award show with a set celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, featuring rap pioneers The Sugarhill Gang, MC Lyte, D-Nice, and Big Daddy Kane. The celebration continued throughout the entire program, with a wide range of performances spanning multiple regions, eras, and subgenres of hip-hop.
Big Daddy Kane performs during the BET Awards 2023 in Los Angeles. (Photo: Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET)
According to a press release, this year’s award show amassed 2.8 million total views across nine Paramount channels, including BET, BET Her, Comedy Central, MTV, and VH1.
Dubbed “Culture’s Biggest Night,” the BET Awards featured performances from current hitmakers Coco Jones, GloRilla, Ice Spice, and Lil Uzi Vert. Hip-hop veterans like T.I., Jeezy, Kid ‘n Play, Erick Sermon, Keith Murray, Redman, and Master P also took the stage, along with stars from the aughts like Ja Rule, Soulja Boy, the Ying Yang Twins, Trick Daddy, and Trina.
“They thought it was a fad. They thought it was just a bunch of kids from the hood that was just making noise and taking other people’s records and cheating the game,” comedian and artist Affion Crockett told BLACK ENTERPRISE when asked about the legacy of hip-hop. “But we showed them that no, we respect your music, but we have another form of creativity to put on top of that.”
“We are celebrating 50 years of hip-hop and I’m just here for the celebration,” said TV and radio host Big Tigger. “I’m here to see everybody come out and celebrate the genre and music that put all of us on this red carpet today.”
With the hip-hop industry topping $7 billion, rapper and entrepreneur Styles P from The Lox encouraged artists to venture outside of music to create other streams of revenue.
“Use everything as a stepping stone to grow and do other businesses. You don’t want to have your life just depend on the record industry [or] the music industry. You want to venture out to other things you love,” he told BE at the award show.
Honoree Busta Rhymes (2nd R) accepts the Lifetime Achievement Award from (from L) Spliff Star, DJ Scratchator, and Marlon Wayans onstage during the BET Awards 2023 (Photo: Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET)
This year, the BET Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Busta Rhymes for his remarkable 30-plus-year career as a lyrical MC, producer, songwriter, and trailblazing hip-hop artist.
“I’m gonna wear it on my sleeve. I do want to cry,” said the Brooklyn rapper during his emotional acceptance speech. He later performed a mashup of some of his biggest hits with an all-star line-up that included Bia, Coi Leray, Cutty Ranks, Dexta Daps, M.O.P., Patra, Rah Digga, Scar Lip, Spice, Super Cat, and Swizz Beatz.
Another notable moment of the night was a tribute to late legendary singer Tina Turner performed by Patti LaBelle, who admittedly stumbled through the lyrics of Turner’s hit “(Simply) The Best.” There was also a surprise reunion performance from Migos’ rappers Offset and Quavo, who commemorated their late groupmate, Takeoff.
SZA was one of the biggest winners of the night, walking away with the award for video of the year and best female R&B/pop artist. She also tied with Beyoncé for best album of the year.
Prior to the show, a number of industry events and parties celebrating 50 years of hip-hop, Black Hollywood, and Black excellence were held in Los Angeles.
Below are three highlights from BET weekend.
ASCAP Honors Dr. Dre
Legendary multi-platinum-selling producer and artist Dr. Dre and platinum-selling rapper Snoop Dogg at the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Celebration of 50 Years of Hip-Hop in Los Angeles on June 22, 2023. (Photo Credit: Lester Cohen/Getty Images for ASCAP)
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) presented its inaugural ASCAP Hip-Hop Icon Award to hip-hop legend Dr. Dre at the London West Hollywood on June 22. The rap billionaire was honored for his groundbreaking solo debut album, The Chronic, establishing Aftermath Entertainment, discovering superstars such as 50 Cent, Kendrick Lamar, and Eminem, and creating Beats Electronics and Beats Music, which were both acquired by Apple.
“He’s revolutionized music,” said rap star Snoop Dogg. “If Dre had only been a member of NWA, we’d still remember him forever. If he had only given us The Chronic, he’d still be a hip-hop legend. He’s earned eight Grammys, sold millions of records, [and] founded some of the most successful businesses in music. But Dr. Dre has never stopped working, never stopped pushing the music forward. And I can honestly say that Dr. Dre has changed my life in so many ways.”
Grammy Award-winning producer DJ Kid Capri, platinum-selling rapper Snoop Dogg, and legendary multi-platinum-selling producer and artist Dr. Dre (Photo: Lester Cohen/Getty Images for ASCAP)
Celebrities in attendance included Big Daddy Kane, Grammy Award-winning producer Warryn Campbell, gospel superstar Erica Campbell, television industry maverick Mona Scott-Young, Grammy-nominated rapper Wale, singer and songwriter artist Muni Long, rising New York hip-hop artist Scar Lip, ASCAP President Paul Williams, and ASCAP Senior Vice President of Membership, and Executive Director of The ASCAP Foundation Nicole George-Middleton.
Miss Diddy’s Toast to Black Hollywood
Miss Diddy, J. Alphonse Nicholson, and Eva Marcille (Photo by Freddyo courtesy of The Brand Group)
The presence of Black star power was effervescent at Miss Diddy x The Brand Group Presents: A Toast to Black Hollywood 2023. Held at The Penthouse in LA on June 23, the ceremony recognized young Black trailblazers in music, film, sports, entertainment, and philanthropy for their impact on the culture. Miss Diddy, the founder of The Brand Group, created the event in 2014 to celebrate the next generation of tastemakers and trendsetters who carry the legacy of Black excellence.
“It’s getting bigger and bigger every year,” the LA-based lifestyle specialist told BE. “We have incredible people here, we have great partnerships with UBS [and] with Doritos. Every single year, they are still happy to come to support it. That genuine love is a reason why I do what I do, and it keeps me energized.”
Miss Diddy (Photo: Jorge Meza courtesy of The Brand Group)
This year’s honorees included actress and model Eva Marcille; Catherine Brewton, vice president, creative at Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI); rapper and songwriter Lady London; Kimberly Paige, chief marketing officer of Paramount/BET Global; Wale Ogunleye, managing director, head of sports and entertainment at UBS; corporate marketing powerhouse and author Bozoma Saint John; political commentator and TV personality Dr. Wendy Osefo; Dorion Renaud, actor, model, and the founder of Buttahskin; actress Ashley Blaine Featherson–Jenkins; actor and percussionist J. Alphonse Nicholson; and Emmy Award-winning costume designer and fashion stylist Zerina Akers.
Sevyn Streeter performs at Miss Diddy x The Brand Group Present: A Toast to Black Hollywood 2023 at The Penthouse in LA on June 23, 2023. (Photo: Jorge Meza courtesy of The Brand Group)
“Every time Miss Diddy does an event, it is just beautiful, it’s Black, [and] it’s purposeful,” said singer and songwriter Sevyn Streeter. “It’s just amazing just to be here to honor legends in our field. Catherine Brewton is a mentor of mine. I love her dearly. She’s been a big sister to me for years. So, to see these people get their flowers while they’re still here to smell them means everything to me.”
The Culture Creators Honor Busta Rhymes, MC Lyte, and More
Busta Rhymes speaks at the Culture Creators Innovators and Leaders Awards brunch presented by Netflix Strong Black Lead at The Beverly Hilton on June 24, 2023. (Photo: Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Culture Creators)
Culture Creators hosted its highly anticipated 7th Annual Innovators and Leaders Awards Brunch on June 24, at the illustrious Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. Dozens of industry executives, artists, and influencers gathered for the star-studded event to celebrate the achievements of Black leaders in the entertainment industry and commemorate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.
Presented by Netflix and empowered by the Pronghorn Company and Lexus, the award ceremony also included a preview of original movies and series starring Black actors slated for release this summer under Netflix’s Strong Black Lead.
Music executive Joi Brown founded Culture Creators in 2016 to recognize and celebrate trailblazers in entertainment and fashion. This year’s honorees included singers and actresses Chloe and Halle Bailey, music industry veteran and investor Troy Carter, TV executive Stephen Hill, fashion designer Karl Kani, artist Busta Rhymes, business honoree Candace Rodney, video/film honoree, art and style honoree Laurieann Gibson, and up-and-coming LSU basketball star and rapper Flau’Jae Johnson.
Netflix and Culture Creators honored MC Lyte with the “Strong Black Lead Icon Award” for her impact as an MC and a trailblazer for other women in hip-hop.
MC Lyte (L) speaks at the Culture Creators Innovators and Leaders Awards brunch presented by Netflix Strong Black Lead at The Beverly Hilton on June 24, 2023, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo: Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Culture Creators)
“Thank you to this wonderful community of hip-hop for me, made up of artists, producers, videographers, dancers, DJs who break records, who have pushed the limits to get the genre where it stands today,” said the “Cha Cha Cha” rapper during her acceptance speech. “Someone asked me, ‘Did I think hip-hop would make it this far?’ No, but here we are.”
Brown presented Chloe and Halle with the Innovators of the Year Award, applauding them for “capturing our hearts and our minds with their fearless, fierce artistry” and becoming “symbols of strength and role models for young women, knocking down barriers, and proving that dreams can be realized.”
Chloe Bailey speaks at the Culture Creators Innovators and Leaders Awards brunch presented by Netflix Strong Black Lead at The Beverly Hilton on June 24, 2023, in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo: Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Culture Creators)
“I see all of my peers and all of the people who have inspired my sister and I here. Thank you so much,” said Chloe Bailey while accepting on behalf of her sister. “Whenever we’re together as Chloe x Halle, it’s special. One of our favorite quotes is ‘Individually we are a drop, but together we are an ocean.’ Whether we’re doing our solo music or acting projects on our own, we are forever Chloe x Halle because our sisterhood is a forever thing.”
Busta Rhymes received the last trophy of the night, giving a long and emotional speech about his storied career journey and upbringing in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York.
“I get a lot of love because I’m a giver of love, but I don’t get awards. Not in this form, so it’s a little overwhelming for me,” said the rap star.
He continued by talking about the innumerable contributions of Black Americans in history.
“We are the founders of civilization, the makers and the owners of the planet, the gods of the universe,” he said. “Our culture is the greatest. And with that being said, even when they gave us nothing, we created every culture.”
T.I. Asked To Repay $6 Million In Legal Fees Over OMG Girlz Suit
The OMG Girlz may have to get their managers, T.I. and Tameka “Tiny” Harris, to pay up on the legal fees from their 2019 lawsuit against MGA Entertainment, whose line of dolls seemed a bit too close to the likeness of the real-life girl group. The “Haterz” singers banded together in 2009 under the direction of Tiny, whose daughter Zonnique was a standout in the trio.
The ten-day trial back in January found the toy company not guilty of copyright infringement for their L.O.L. Surprise O.M.G. dolls, despite claims from the Harrises that the dolls stole the pop group’s aesthetic, per Blavity’s report. The case ended in a mistrial, due to unauthorized evidence being displayed to jurors.
Of the many issues within the trial, MGA is asking for T.I. and Tiny to repay their fees for a case that was riddled with “litigation tactics, over-reaching claims, and misconduct,” said the business’ lawyers in a statement revealed by Billboard.
The misconduct at play was a customer’s testimony that the dolls were racist in imagery and culturally appropriated from Black teenage girls. The company successfully fought against the evidence being revealed to jurors, as the claims of racism would not grant them a fair trial.
Normally, U.S. law states that both parties must pay for their own legal representation, regardless of the outcome, but the “exceptional” circumstances surrounding the case prompted MGA to ask for a reimbursement from the “Whatever You Like” rapper.
The company continued bashing the plaintiff for the failed accusation,
“Both in the manner the OMG Girlz litigated this case, and the weakness of the substantive claims and theories the OMG Girlz presented (as confirmed by the jury), the Court should conclude that this case stands out from others.”
While no declaration by the courts has been made yet on T.I. writing a hefty check to MGA Entertainment, the rapper, his wife, and the singers have remained silent on the issue since the conclusion of their failed lawsuit.
NAACP Launches ‘Diversity No Matter What’ Pledge In Aftermath Of Supreme Court Ruling
The NAACP has launched its ‘Diversity No Matter What’ pledge in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down affirmative action in college admissions.
According to an NAACP release, the pledge is an effort to ensure institutions of higher education foster environments that mirror the nation’s diversity and increase the representation of historically underrepresented students.
“Let’s be clear—Black America is in a fight for our lives. The NAACP has been at the forefront of this battle for more than a century and we’re not backing down,” NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson said in a statement.“It is our hope that our nation’s institutions will stand with us in embracing diversity, no matter what. Regardless, the NAACP will continue to advocate, litigate, and mobilize to ensure that every Black American has access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.”
The NAACP’s Diversity No Matter What pledge calls on the nation’s more than 1,600 colleges and universities to commit to an outline of various steps they can take to create and sustain a culture of inclusion, belonging, and respect.
The steps include:
Eliminating racially biased entrance examinations and adopting a holistic approach that considers every aspect of an applicant’s background, achievements, and potential.
Supporting the matriculation and retention of low-income and first-generation students through outreach programs, scholarships, mentoring, and academic support services.
Recruiting diverse faculty and staff who can serve as role models and mentors for our students while contributing to our curriculum and research.
Creating a welcoming and supportive campus climate that values diversity, stands for equity, and advances inclusion in all aspects of academic and social life.
Striving towards greater inclusivity by ending the utilization of legacy admissions which give an advantage to children and family members of institutional alumni or donors.
Partnering with and supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges, Hispanic Serving Institutions, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions, and other Minority Serving Institutions that have deeply rooted race-conscious missions.
The NAACP isn’t the only diversity group fighting back after the Supreme Court’s decision.
Lawyers for the Chica Project, the African Community Economic Development of New England, and the Greater Boston Latino Network have filed a lawsuit against Harvard University, alleging its students that receive preferential treatment are “overwhelmingly white” and make up as much as 15% of admitted students.
The GoFundMe campaign originally intended to raise only $54,000; however, donations from more than 46,000 people helped surpass that amount. According to The Washington Post, a fundraiser for the mother of the victim, Nahel M., who has been identified as being of North African descent, has managed to bring in $200,000. The teenager was killed during a traffic stop in a Paris suburb last week. Violent protests soon followed, as Paris residents debated the intersections of race, identity, and police brutality.
Much like the protests of 2020 in the wake of several murders of Black people by law enforcement in America, a clear line has been drawn by Parisians. The GoFundMe created for the officer’s family was organized by Jean Messiha, who supported former far-right presidential candidate Éric Zemmour, according to The Washington Post. Far-left lawmaker Mathilde Panot demanded that the GoFundMe be removed from the site, in a tweet that requested that the government act on the teenager’s behalf. “Killing a young North African in Paris, France in 2023 would pay off big,” she said.
En 2019, une cagnotte pour le boxeur gilet jaune Christophe Dettinger était fermée en moins de 48 heures.
En 2023, la cagnotte en soutien au policier responsable du meurtre de Nahel récolte plusieurs centaines de milliers d’euros… sans aucune réaction gouvernementale.
There were calls for GoFundMe to investigate whether the page violated the company’s terms, which clearly state that raising funds for the legal defense of alleged “financial and violent” crimes is prohibited. However, the company did not feel the campaign was a violation.
“This fundraiser is within our terms of service as funds will be utilized to support the officer’s family,” a spokesperson for the company said, according to The Washington Post.
When asked about the funds raised for the man responsible for the death of her grandson, the teenager’s grandmother said, “My heart aches.”
Black Student Born With Heart Defect Earns $2.5M in Scholarships, Accepted to 61 Colleges
Kyanna Woods, an African American student from Concord, North Carolina who was born with a heart defect that required open heart surgery as an infant, has graduated at the top of her class with scholarship offers of over $2.5 million from dozens of universities.
Born with two holes in her tiny heart, Woods underwent a life-saving open heart surgery when she was just 3 months old.
Open heart surgery, a major surgical procedure performed to correct various cardiovascular conditions, can significantly impact an individual’s life beyond the immediate recovery period.
Despite her doctors’ warnings that she may face difficulties with walking, sports, and learning, Woods defied all odds, excelling not only academically but also in sports.
She graduated as valedictorian at Cabarrus Charter School in Concord and recently earned her associate’s degree. She has so far received acceptance letters from 61 colleges, including Xavier University of Louisiana, University of South Carolina, Spelman College, and Appalachian State University.
Woods has chosen to attend Xavier University of Louisiana, an HBCU, where she will pursue pre-med studies in psychology, courtesy of the valedictorian scholarship.
This news was first reported on and first appeared on blacknews.com.
