• Lifestyle

by Atiya Jordan

January 15, 2023

Pioneering Alpha Kappa Alpha Women Who Inspire Generations

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Some 115 years later, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., historically known as America’s first Greek-letter organization, is soaring into 2023.

Founded on Jan. 15, 1908, the sorors of Alpha Kappa Alpha will be celebrating their 115th International Founders’ Day. They are continuing the legacy of the nine Howard University founders who were among the fewer than 1,000 Black students enrolled in higher education institutions in 1908.

The pretty AKA’s are represented by a dynamic group of notable and honorary members that includes the likes of Sheila Jackson Lee, Loretta Devine, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Maya Angelou, Ntozake Shange, Alice Walker, Iyanla Vanzant, Julie Dash, Ella Fitzgerald, Alicia Keys, Gladys Knight, Coretta Scott King, Rosa Parks, C. Delores Tucker, Suzanne de Passe, Catherine Hughes, Mae Jemison, Dr. Wangari Muta Maathai, Eleanor Roosevelt, Zina Garrison and C. Vivian Stringer.

But this list spotlights some of the pioneering members who pledged an undergraduate or a graduate chapter and continue to open doors for generations.

Literature

The late literary pioneer Toni Morrison pledged Alpha Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha at Howard. She was the first African American female to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1993. She earned the National Book Critics Circle Award and the American Academy of Arts and Letters Award for her novel Song of Solomon.

Aviation

The late NASA mathematician Katherine Goble Johnson, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015, was the first African American female Research Mathematician and Computer Scientist to work on the nation’s early space programs. In 1959, she calculated the flight trajectory for Alan Shepard‘s space flight and later inspired the Hidden Figures film. She was a member of the Nu chapter Alpha Kappa Alpha and served as president of the Lambda Omega chapter twice.

Politics, philanthropy and social justice

Kamala Harris, Vice President of the United States, is the first woman of color to be nominated for Vice President by a major political party. She is a member of the Alpha Chapter of Alpha Kapp Alpha and was inducted at the birthplace of the divine nine sororities, Howard University.

Rev Dr. Bernice King, lawyer, minister, and the youngest child of civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and fellow soror Coretta Scott King, was inducted into the Kappa Omega chapter from HBCU Spelman College. She served as the first African American female President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 2009.

Sports

Mary Wineberg, the first African American female to win a Gold Medal for the University of Cincinnati in the sport of track and field, pledged the Phi Psi Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha. She won the gold medal for the 4 x 400 meter relay at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, and secured another gold with her other three teammates for Team USA in the prelim and final round in August of 2008.

The late tennis great Althea Gibson was one of the first Black athletes to break down color lines and pave the way for equal opportunities when she became the first Black woman to compete at the U.S. National Championships and claim the Grand Slam title. She was a member of the Tau Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha.

Music, television and film

Etta Moten Barnett was an internationally known actress, concert artist, and radio personality. A member of the Delta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha at the University of Kansas, her sorors remember her as a pioneer who was the first African American woman to break the stereotypical portrayal of African Americans in the movies with her 1933  role as a widowed housewife in “Gold Diggers.” She is also best known for her portrayal of Bess in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess.

Emmy Award winning actress, writer and comedian Wanda Sykes, joined Alpha Kappa Alpha through it’s Gamma Theta chapter at Hampton University, where she also earned a degree in marketing. She was the first African-American woman to perform at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, as well as the first to conceive and star in her own prime-time sitcom, “Wanda at Large.”

Tony Award-winning actress Phylicia Rashad was initiated into the Alpha Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority at Howard University. She became the first Black actress to win two Emmy Awards in 1985 and 1986 and a Tony Award for Best Actress in a play in 2004.

Howard University alumna and actress Roxie Roker, who passed away in 1995, was best known for her role as Helen Willis in the 70s hit sitcom The Jeffersons, half of the first interracial couple to be shown on regular prime time television.. Before making TV history, she pledged the Alpha Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha. She is also the mother rock and roll artist Lenny Kravitz.

• Lifestyle

by Atiya Jordan

January 15, 2023

Learn More About Martin Luther King Jr. With These 20 Timeless Facts

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Honoring Martin Luther King Jr.’s total legacy isn’t all political. In fact, commemorating his life is just as significant as getting to know him.

Born on Jan. 15, 1929, the dream of the late civil rights icon is still unfolding before our eyes, and yet his impact on the world will continue to touch generations to come.

So, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we have gathered 20 facts about the man who incited change and movements with his words and peaceful efforts until the day he was assassinated in 1968.

1. Martin Luther King Jr. received his moniker when his father, Michael King Sr., changed it to pay respect to German monk and theologian Martin Luther. The senior King embarked on a religious journey around the world, including Germany, and was inspired to not only change his five year old son’s name but also his own.

2. By the age of 15, King had already skipped two grades and became a legacy student at Morehouse College in 1944. Like his grandfather and father, he went on to graduate from HBCU with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1948. Three years later, he graduated valedictorian of his class at Pennsylvania’s Crozer Theological Seminary and was awarded his Ph.D. from Boston University’s doctoral program at the age of 25.

3. King’s infamous, “I Have a Dream” speech was partially improvised thanks to the encouragement of his friend, Mahalia Jackson. The iconic phrase was left out of the original draft.

4. King is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.

5. King was arrested 29 times on charges that ranged from civil disobedience to traffic violations. For instance, he was sentenced to four months after conducting mass sit-ins at Rich’s Department Store and other Atlanta stores. Learn more about his arrests on King Institute.

6. On June 18, 1953, Dr. King married Scott on the lawn of her mother’s home in Marion, Alabama, just one year prior to meeting her in Boston.

7. A decade before his passing, King survived an assassination attempt by a woman, named Izola Ware Curry, who stabbed the civil rights icon with a seven-inch letter opener, nearly missing his heart. Curry admitted she had been hunting him down for five years believing he had relations to the Communist Party. King underwent emergency surgeries that lasted three hours.

8. Upon completion of his doctoral dissertation, King was serving as pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama until he stepped down to participate in more civil rights efforts in 1960. He still maintained a pastoral partnership with his father at his childhood church, Ebenezer Baptist Church, in Atlanta.

9. The Kings had four children: Yolanda, Martin Luther King III, Dexter and Bernice.

10. On August 28, 1963, King delivered the exalted “I Have a Dream” speech  at the historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, near the Lincoln Memorial. More than a quarter million people participated.

11. After King’s assassination, his family filed a civil case against the government and was awarded $100. The trail took place on December 8, 1999 in Memphis, TN, and included four weeks of testimony and over 70 witnesses. Twelve jurors reached a unanimous decision that King’s death was a result of a conspiracy that James Earl Ray was framed.

12. While confined to a jail cell in April 1963, King penned the historic “Letter from Birmingham Jail” in response to white religious leaders who criticized his campaign.

13. King’s”Letter from “Birmingham City Jail” was published by the American Friends Service Committee.

14. King joined other civil rights leaders at the Prayer Pilgrimage at the Lincoln Memorial for Freedom on May 17, 1957, and gave a speech. This event marked six years before his “I Have a Dream” speech at the March on Washington.

15. At the age of thirty-five, Martin Luther King, Jr., was the youngest man to have received the Nobel Peace Prize “for his non-violent struggle for civil rights for the Afro-American population.” He received $54,123 and donated it to the advancement of the civil rights movement.

16. Coretta Scott King established the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in the basement of their home just two months after her husband’s death.

17. The name of this organization was changed to the King Center, and is now led by the Kings’ youngest daughter, Bernice King.

18. King was heavily influenced by the non violent methods of Mahatma Gandhi, who fought for Indian independence from British rule.

19. King has been on the cover of Time Magazine at least twenty times. He magazine cover debut took place February 18, 1957 for his role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

20. Like his father, King served on the executive committee of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Viral Social Media Influencer, Pastry Chef unveils the highly anticipated event for entrepreneurial women to learn, network, and indulge in business and delicious treats!

Jasmine Mitchell, the founder of J.Carmel’s pastry shop, is hosting nationwide pop-ups to help entrepreneurial women succeed in business. She’s hosting the Influence-Her Summit, a networking event for businesswomen to celebrate the release of her new cookbook, “All Things Cake, Your Guide to Creating Cakes That Will be the Life of the Party.”

“Sharing my recipes that have gone viral and how I grew my business is important to me. I want others to succeed, and there’s room for all of us at the success table. When I planned the Influence-Her Summit, I collaborated with experts to address and remove the online business roadblocks women face. The Influence-HER Summit is a business networking event to promote their confidence,” said Jasmine Mitchell, Founder & CEO of J.Carmel’s.

Mitchell said, “I’ve had tremendous business growth over the last year on social media and in real life, but what good is growth if you can’t bring other women along with you?”

Attendees can register for the exclusive Influence-Her Summit by visiting J.Carmel’s Instagram for upcoming events, product launches, and collaborations. To learn more visit JCarmels.com.

The cookbook features viral dessert recipes from J.Carmel’s Instagram account, including the famous Peach Cobbler Pound Cake, according to a press release. Mitchell wants to help other women succeed and remove online business roadblocks.

Inspired by the followers of the J.Carmel brand, the launch of the cookbook and the Influence-Her Summit came as women own 42% of all U.S. businesses, nearly 13 million, according to Incfile. In addition, a Harvard Business Review report recently found that 17% of Black women are starting or running new businesses, and J.Carmel is here to help. The January event brings growth, branding, business, marketing, and confidence to get started while networking with experienced power players in the room.

The financial accounts of eight-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt are reportedly missing millions of dollars.

An investigation is underway after it was discovered Bolt’s investment portfolio held by Stocks and Securities Limited (SSL) was missing millions of dollars, and now Jamaica’s Financial Investigations Division and Financial Services Commission has taken up the case to uncover what occurred, The Guardian reports.

On Wednesday, Bolt who is easily one of the highest-paid athletes in the world and made $33 million in endorsement deals in 2016 alone, discovered that his accounts had major discrepancies.

According to The Gleaner, Bolt’s manager, Nugent Walker, said the athlete made the discovery on Wednesday.

“All the relevant steps have been taken to come to the bottom of this,” Walker said.

Usain Bolt is one of the most recognizable athletes in the world.

He entered the 2008 Summer Olympics as somewhat of a curiosity. Yes, he had recently set the world record in the 100-meter dash, but few people outside the track and field world knew much about the 6-foot-5 Jamaican.

He had excelled at the 200-meter distance, but was relatively new to the 100-meter event. His only sponsors before Beijing were Puma, which signed Bolt to a small deal in 2003, and Digicel, a Jamaican mobile phone company.

Three gold medals and three world records later, Bolt left Beijing as one of the most famous athletes on the planet.

He is the world record holder in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4 × 100 meters relay.

An eight-time Olympic gold medallist, Bolt is the only sprinter to win Olympic 100 m and 200 m titles at three consecutive Olympics (2008, 2012, and 2016). He also won two 4 × 100 relay gold medals. He gained worldwide fame for his double sprint victory in world record times at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which made him the first person to hold both records since fully automatic time became mandatory.

Streaming provider Peacock had a big win at Nielsen thanks to the success of The Best Man: The Final Chapters series.

After its December 22 premiere on Peacock, The Best Man: The Final Chapters became Peacock’s first original project to make Nielsen’s Top 10 streaming rankings, Variety reported. Data shows in within four days of its premiere, the series ranked at No. 5 on Nielsen’s Top 10 Streaming Originals chart for the Dec. 19-25 viewing period.

The ranking made The Final Chapters Peacock’s biggest series debut to date, topping the previous titleholder, Bel-Air, Peacock’s dramatic reimagining of the ’90s sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. According to Nielsen, The Best Man: The Final Chapters also closed out 2022 and opened 2023 as the No. 1 streaming series among Black audiences.

Along with the previous record set by Bel-Air, Peacock’s biggest success in original series are within Black content that taps into the nostalgia of the 90s.

The Best Man: The Final Chapters is the third installment of the beloved 1999 romantic comedy, The Best Man, and the 2013 sequel, The Best Man Holiday. The Peacock series catches up with the characters from the original film as they navigate the unpredictable stages of midlife crisis meets midlife renaissance.

It stars Taye Diggs, Morris Chestnut, Regina Hall, Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan, Nia Long, Harold Perrineau, and Melissa De Sousa. Writer and creator Malcolm D. Lee of Blackmaled Productions served as executive producer alongside Dayna Lynne North of Loud Sis Productions, Blackmaled’s Dominique Telson, and Hivemind’s Sean Daniel.

“I felt like it was a story that was universal, that everyone would be able to relate to, had cultural specificity, and it was going to feed an audience that was really hungry for it,” Lee told one outlet. “But just so happens that it was the right story to tell with The Best Man Holiday and I really wanted to give the characters something more adult to deal with.”

• News

by Diamond Jeune

January 14, 2023

What in the World: Canadian Authorities Seize a Pigeon That Was Smuggling Drugs to Prisoners

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Canada has recently made headlines for the oddest reason, stemming from law enforcement apprehending a pigeon in a drug smuggling scheme.

For context, the incident occurred in Pacific Institution, a correctional facility in British Columbia, last month after police officials spotted the bird carrying what appeared to be a tiny package in the prison yard.

On January 6, during an interview with CBC News, John Randle, the facility’s regional president of the Union for Canadian Correctional Officers, opened up about the ordeal and how they were able to catch the pigeon.

While describing what the bird had on its body, Randle said, “This is kind of a curveball. From my understanding, it was tied to it in a similar fashion as like a little backpack. They had to corner it. You can imagine how that would look, trying to catch a pigeon.”

Authorities apprehend a pigeon wearing a backpack with about 30 grams of crystal meth insidehttps://t.co/SVChsLx6L3 pic.twitter.com/PiyUvPF0zZ

— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) January 11, 2023

Further in the conversation, Randle disclosed that when the officers finally captured the pigeon, they collected the package that contained thirty grams of crystal meth. Following that revelation, Randle stated that it was scary to know that type of drug was “found on the bird,” given the harm it causes to individuals taking the substance. “It’s definitely scary with the fact that it was crystal meth that was found on the bird, because that causes a whole lot of problems.”

Since the bust, Randle, who has never seen anything like this in 13 years in his field, brought up how this incident caused police officials to become more alert to the unique ways that people will try to smuggle drugs. He said, “It’s a bit of a reality check for us that the creativity that people are going to use to try and smuggle drugs and other contraband into the institution is multifaceted.”

Prior to this event, officers had to worry about drones bringing drugs and weapons into the facility, which would later cease. At this time, the pigeon smuggling plot is still under investigation, and no other details have been released.

Langston Howard‘s admiration for the arts and his desire to inspire others through his clothing brand resulted in the 13-year-old landing an opportunity of a lifetime — a New York Fashion Week feature next month. 

Howard, who started as a fashion entrepreneur at the Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan after years of creating designs, is the founder and designer of The Top. According to its site, the clothing line’s mission is to “motivate people throughout their day.” 

The Top consists of numerous pieces, including face masks, hats, and hoodies. The brand is unique because Howard adds motivational quotes from some of his idols. Since the company’s launch year, Howard’s designs have attracted attention from the biggest names in entertainment, including rapper and Detroit native Big Sean.

 

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A post shared by The Top (@thetop.llc)

During an interview with Boys and Girls Club, Howard opened up about how the company’s Industry Club program helped mold him into the fashion expert he is today.

The publication describes The Industry Club as a six-week workshop that helps teens gain work experience within various industries, including fashion, urban planning, sports, and entertainment. The program usually accepts 200 qualified applicants annually and provides those individuals with the opportunity for networking, mentorship, and paid gigs.

Howard said that since joining the program, his overall experience has been great because he could meet like-minded teens and “directors of the program.” He said, “My experience has been outstanding. I have enjoyed meeting other teen fashion designers and also received inspiration from the directors of the program.”

Further in the conversation, Howard disclosed that the program  assisted in his creative process. The teen stated, “I like being able to tell stories through color, patterns and textures. Art allows self-expression without having to use words and explanation. The process for designing a piece requires hours of brainstorming and editing ideas until I find what’s right. Seeing the finished product is exciting and makes me feel proud.”

When asked how he feels about his designs being featured in 2023’s New York Fashion Week, Howard claimed that he’s officially reaping the benefits of his hard work. “It feels amazing, like I’m a celebrity. The opportunity really reminded me that my hard work will pay off.”

New York Fashion Week is starts on February 10th and will last until February 15th.

Ten years ago, less than 4 percent of minorities owned rural land, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A decade later, recent news reports indicate that number hasn’t gotten any better.

Determined to defy statistics and build generational wealth for their family, Virginia natives, Chris O’Neal and his wife, Sabrina, recently purchased a beautiful brick home that includes 90 acres of woodland next to Baylor’s Creek that flows from the Rappahannock River in rural Fredericksburg, Virginia.

“This property is significant as it has many facets to generate income and generation wealth for my children. I have taken my kids to the property during the renovation and express to them how significant this purchase is to our family and that it will one day be theirs. This property is a compound, and my family can fish, hunt, and enjoy outdoor living. We plan to offer short-term rental to the house on the property,” Chris said.

Home and land ownership are the biggest contributors to wealth and wealth transfer between generations – and O’Neal knows that. That’s why he’s been selling and investing in property for more than 20 years.

In October 2022, home prices in Virginia were up 4.1% compared to last year, selling for a median price of $402,800, according to Redfin. Even with inflation and mortgage rates at a 20-year high, O’Neal, a money and real estate expert, believes purchasing land is still a smart choice right now.

“The old saying is ‘date the rate and marry the home.’ The interest rates will eventually come down, and you should be able to refinance,” Chris said.

According to Chris, to build long-term wealth, you need to know how to invest in the right kinds of property – and you don’t have to have lots of money to do it.

“I tell people that when you find a great deal, you can get a lender, and the money will come,” he said. “As long as you find a property that has cash flow as well as tons of equity. You want to make money the day you buy.”

Because of his expertise as a real estate agent and investor, Chris, who has been featured on local media and Good Morning America for his money advice, recently launched an eight-week course titled Agent 2 Invest. The course is designed for real estate agents as well as anyone interested in learning effective strategies for finding real estate deals to create generational wealth worth millions.

“Most real estate agents don’t invest. They chase commission checks. I am excited to release the course. I’m giving all my tips and knowledge away I have accumulated through my years as an investor,” Chris said. “I am not holding any information back. The information is life-changing to the participants and will catapult them into a new level.”
The course includes many videos, quizzes, and seven training models that explain how to choose deals that are right for you, tactics and programs used to maximize investing results as well as helpful legal documents used to finalize a purchase.

The course can be purchased at Agents2Invest.com

About Chris “Done Deal” O’Neal
In addition to his licensing as a real estate agent and his investing activities, Chris O’Neal offers online education opportunities to real estate agents and others interested in learning more about how real estate can serve as more than just a source of eventual equity to be sold.

“People are generating wealth through real estate, and an investment property like this makes you self-sufficient,” he explained. “You create memories with your kids there, but you also use the information that is available today that was not available in the past to make that property an income-earning asset.” Chris says his priority is making sure this information is available to everyone who needs access to education and resources for investing in real estate.

This story first appeared on Blacknews.com.

Tre Glasper, 11, is currently the talk of his hometown in Kansas for his entrepreneurial skills and the success of his all-natural lemonade Tre’s Squeeze.

Glasper, who began selling the juice at a Manhattan, Kansas, farmer’s market with his uncle, made headlines when he recently sold out of the product in Kansas City an hour after it went on sale at Hy-Vee. The pre-teen landed a partnership with the company in September 2021 following a competition for Hy-Vee OpportUNITY Inclusive Business Summit. Glasper, who was the youngest participant in the competition, also received a $1,000 reward.

1. During a Jan. 5 interview with Startland News, Glasper’s mother, Sheila Ellis-Glasper, opened up about how Tre’s Squeeze lemonade is created. In the discussion, Ellis-Glasper told the publication that the family typically makes about 100 to 150 bottles of juice, including the strawberry, a Wildcat punch, and the occasional watermelon flavor.

She disclosed that the entire process would take about three hours, and because of Tre’s Squeeze’s success in previous stores, they decided to make 150 bottles which immediately sold out.

 

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A post shared by Tre’s Squeeze 🍋 100% Natural (@tres_squeeze)

While expressing how shocked she was by the turnout, Ellis-Glasper said, “We were a little bit surprised. We have a lot of friends in Kansas City and just people that have followed his journey on social media. So when we announced that he was going to be selling there at the Liberty store, we intended on leaving at least 100 bottles there. We came prepared with 150 bottles, but they sold out in an hour.”

Because of Glasper’s success with Tre’s Squeeze, his family made the juice-making process a bit easier by purchasing a machine that can squeeze up to 25 lemons a minute. This addition will come in handy because the family plans to sell Tre’s Squeeze in Liberty and Grandview Hy-Vee grocery stores and other retailers.

Since this interview, details have yet to be released about how much Tre’s Squeeze has earned in profits.

It took over 30 years to mark Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday a federal holiday.

Since then, “MLK weekend” has memorialized the late civil rights icon’s life and legacy with celebratory events across cities far and wide.

On Sunday, January 5, the world will celebrate King on what would’ve been his 94th birthday.

Ahead of Monday, January 16, the federal observance of the King holiday, annual tributes and commemorative events are expected to occur all weekend long.

This year, CEO Bernice King, the youngest daughter of the legendary reverend, and The King Center in Atlanta are observing MLK Day by harnessing the power of strategic convening and collaborative work.

The schedule of events, which launched Monday, has included a workshop about “Unlearning Biases,” a children’s book reading, a community teach-in, and day one and two of the “Beloved Community Global Summit” for adults and youth to learn how to transform unjust systems in the United States.

“Change can be very small,” King said, per the Associated Press, “but transformation means that now we changed the character, form, and nature of something. That’s something we have not seen yet.”

On Saturday, The King Center, which has named its strategic theme as “Cultivating a Beloved Community Mindset to Transform Unjust Systems,” will also hold an awards show. A community commemorative service will be be accompanied by a day of service on Monday.

On Friday, Boston will witness the dedication of a permanent monument, dubbed “The Embrace” to King and his wife, Coretta Scott King, per WBUR. The event will take place in the city where the Kings first met.

Designed by Black artist Hank Willis Thomas, the two stories high statue symbolizes the hug between the Kings after he won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964

On Friday, their love and legacies will be commemorated on the Boston Common with a 22-foot-tall bronze sculpture designed by @hankwthomas.

The public artwork is inspired by a photo of the couple embracing when MLK learned he had won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. pic.twitter.com/9dccFKDECO

— GBH (@GBH) January 12, 2023

President Joe Biden is slated to deliver words on Sunday at a commemorative service at Ebenezer Baptist Church, where King became a local pastor in 1960.

On Monday, Rev. Al Sharpton, who served as a youth director of an anti-poverty project of King’s Southern Christian Leadership Conference, is continuing his annual commemoration of King with events in Washington, D.C. and New York.

The now-internationally renowned civil rights leader and founder and President of the National Action Network (NAN) is putting on a breakfast gala in Washington earlier that day. He is anticipating the attendance of Martin Luther King III at the gala with his wife, Drum Major Institute President Arndrea Waters King, who will be receiving honors.

Later in the afternoon, Sharpton will attend a public policy forum at the NAN House of Justice in Harlem, which will convene more than 30 city and state elected officials.