• Women

by Atiya Jordan

October 12, 2022

One of 50 in the US: Orthopedic Surgeon Operating to Bring More Black Women to Field

---

Orthopedic surgeon, Shasta E. Henderson, is not only treating muscles and bones, but she’s flexing them.

With her group, Black Women Orthopedic Surgeons, Henderson has sought out even more people like her for support.

The South Carolina-based surgeon is one of only 50 Black women orthopedic surgeons in the country and among even fewer Black women who specialize in orthopedic trauma, the Post and Courier reported. She currently serves patients at Trident Orthopedic Specialists in a city where she represents only 6% of Black physicians.

The Los Angeles native discovered her passion for medicine quite early on. Her interest was ignited at the age of five when she joined her gastroenterologist father, Dr. Donald Henderson, on hospital rounds. However, she intended to pursue neurosurgery until she was introduced to orthopedics through her experience as a Division 1 athlete at Barnard College of Columbia University.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Dr. Shasta E Henderson (@fracturefixermd)

Her admiration for science and engineering tied everything together for her.

“It’s a mechanical thing,” Henderson said, per the news outlet.

“I enjoy putting things back together. What I do in orthopedic trauma is just that. It is carpentry, if you will, in the operating room, using plates and screws.”

Since graduating college, Henderson has often had to pursue her passion alone, especially as a Black woman in a white-male dominated field. Her efforts to change that included founding “The Pipeline,” a student-led mentorship program in support of minority medical student retention.

“Certainly, it’s always interesting and a little uncomfortable being the only [black woman] in the room,” Henderson said.

“You feel it yourself, even if they don’t purposefully point it out, you feel that you know you’re different. That can be a little intimidating.”

Henderson’s career began at Yale University, where she completed her orthopedic residency at Yale New Haven Hospital, a level one trauma center. She went on to a fellowship in orthopedic trauma at the Penn State Milton Hershey Medical Center, and has been working ever since to bring more Black physicians into her field.

“People do seem to be more comfortable when they are cared for by somebody they can relate to, for whatever reason that may be,” Henderson said.

“So I think there is a lot of value in having a diverse population in the medical field and it’s important that you have varied ideas.”

The ambitious group has about 70 members and intends to mentor and empower residents, fellows, and medical students.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Dr. Shasta E Henderson (@fracturefixermd)

• Sports

by Eric Moody

October 12, 2022

Right On Time: Deion ‘Prime Time’ Sanders Scores Docuseries Coming to Prime Video

---

NFL Hall of Famer, Deion Sanders, is used to bright lights and big stages.

The Jackson State University (JSU) head football coach is continuing that trend with his newly announced Prime Video docuseries, Coach Prime, which is set to release in December worldwide.

The four-episode docuseries will take viewers inside Sanders’ life both on and off the field, including his journey with JSU’s program, which is reshaping the landscape for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Division I football.

The series will feature tons of JSU Tigers’ practices, games, locker room footage, guest celebrities, team initiatives in the community, and the journey to landing the nation’s top recruit, Travis Hunter, which took the college football world by storm.

The series will even include the team’s historic run in 2021, where Sanders led JSU to 12 consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) wins and a league title for the HBCU football team.

As for the community, Sanders and his JSU squad played a vital role helping residents deal with a citywide water crisis. The experience helped shape the lives of not only the players but the staff in a very unique way and will show viewers the energy and significance of HBCUs.

Coach Prime is executive produced by SMAC Entertainment, which is co-founded by fellow NFL Hall of Famer, Michael Strahan.

Constance Schwartz-Morini, co-founder and CEO of SMAC Entertainment and executive producer of Coach Prime, says it was important during this production to give HBCU schools like JSU the platform they deserve.

“When Coach Prime began his job at Jackson State, the biggest challenge and the brightest opportunity facing us was to collectively shine a light on HBCUs and break down barriers faced by these culturally important, yet overlooked and underfunded, institutions,” said Schwartz-Morini in a statement.

“We have worked tirelessly over the past few years—building coalitions, forging partnerships, and developing this documentary series—to encourage and create change.”

On Monday, Prime Video released an exclusive trailer of the series.

Actor Joseph C. Phillips, best known for his role as Lt. Martin Kendall on The Cosby Show will now be teaching students, while amplifying his appreciation for theater as an art form.

Clark Atlanta University (CAU) recently announced that Phillips will be joining its faculty as a professor in Theatre and Communication Studies, according to a university news release. His new role is housed in the School of Arts & Sciences, where students can learn all areas of theater, while mastering oral and written communication.

“Joseph brings a wealth of awe-inspiring talent, meaningful engagement in the community, and a portfolio of informed, decisive commentary to the University,” President, Dr. George T. French Jr., said in a statement.

“We anticipate that he will inspire independent thinking, civic responsibility, and a passion for interdisciplinary learning in our students—which aligns perfectly with our mantra to ‘lift our community by lifting our voices,’” he continued.

A man who wears many hats, Phillips is also an author, columnist, commentator, and speaker. He holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the acting conservatory at New York University (NYU). His academic excellence garnered him fellowships with institutions such as the Centennial Institute at Colorado Christian College, the Abraham Lincoln Fellow at the Claremont Institute, and the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas.

A writer at heart, Phillips takes credit for designing and writing the curriculum at the University of Kansas. He also taught a seven-week course titled “Black Conservatism in America” and is the author of He Talk Like a White Boy.

A career in acting has brought Phillips on screen and on stage. His film portfolio includes four seasons of the award-winning Netflix series 13 Reasons Why, as Col. Greg Davis and his three-time NAACP Image Award-nominated portrayal of Attorney Justus Ward on General Hospital. He was also featured in films like Strictly Business, Let’s Talk About Sex, and Midnight Blue.

Phillips’ Broadway appearances include Six Degrees of Separation and the Kennedy Center and American Playhouse productions of A Raisin in the Sun. He was also responsible for creating the main role in award-winning author Toni Morrison’s only theatrical play, Dreaming Emmett.

• Career

by Jeffrey McKinney

October 12, 2022

75% of Americans Dissatisfied With Job-Hunting Process, Transparency Needed From Employers

---

For many Americans, finding work in today’s competitive job market can be painful and can bring unexpected obstacles.

• News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 12, 2022

Philly Nurse ‘Karen’ Under Fire for Harassing Black Pregnant Woman Seeking Doctor’s Note

---

A white nurse in Philadelphia is facing backlash for a now-viral video that shows her harassing an expectant mother who was seeking a doctor’s note for the pain she’s experiencing during her pregnancy.

The video first posted by TikTok user @goddess_jay_ shows one woman’s experience at the Philly Pregnancy Center with a white nurse who refused to give her the doctor’s note she was requesting.

“I needed a doctor’s note, I needed to take off work, I’m in a lot of pain,” the pregnant TikToker whose name is Jillian explained. She said after the nurse performed a cervical exam that was “very aggressive…very painful” the nurse told Jillian that she couldn’t give her a doctor’s note because she claimed Jillian could work.

That’s when the video starts and shows the nurse questioning the expectant mother for requesting time off from work.

“What were you thinking about when you got pregnant, that you weren’t going to work?” the nurse snidely asks the pregnant mother.

“Do you know how I feel?” Jillian asked the nurse.

@goddess_jay_♬ original sound – Jillian

Which only prompted the nurse to probe the pregnant woman even more.

“Yes, I want to know your mindset. When you got pregnant what were you thinking about? I’m confused… you came in here, and I did an assessment. I gave you my best medical advice, and you didn’t like that,” the nurse said.

The nurse claimed the request for a doctor’s note was fraud and said “We have to have a reason,” to provide the expectant mother with the note.

“How do you know how my body feels inside?” Jillian asked. “How do you know how my nausea feels? How do you know how my cramps feel?”

After getting physical with the patient, the nurse called the police. The move is what has many on social media calling the nurse a “Karen.”

“This is outrageous, she’s completely out of line,” one TikTok user wrote.

“Why is she more concerned about you working than the pain you’re experiencing?” asked someone else.

• Lifestyle

by Atiya Jordan

October 12, 2022

Mom Reveals Heart-Wrenching Truth to Triplet Daughters About Their Conception

---

After 19 years, Bernadette Harper made a difficult choice to tell her triplet daughters that she is not biologically related to them.

The 62-year-old mom conceived her girls two decades ago using Donor Egg IVF,  an in vitro fertilization cycle in which she used eggs from a donor born in Kenya, according to Today. The journey came after many negative pregnancy tests, but her feelings of defeat also came along with not wanting to share about her fertility choices.

Finally, the 62-year-old mom revealed the truth three years ago to now 22-year-old sisters Savannah, Samantha and Sydney Harper.

At the time, Sydney, Savannah, and their mother were watching a show, in which a woman discovered that she and her father were not related due to the results to a genetic test. The teens were shocked while a secret longed to be told within their own household.

According to the family, the girls were upset after hearing the shocking news.

Samantha recalled feeling sad, saying “who doesn’t want to be biologically related with their mom?,” per the news outlet.

“I felt like it didn’t need to be a secret,” Sydney said.

Savannah didn’t know how to feel at first until the night winded down.

“I didn’t really think that deeply into it, but as we got through the night, I was like, ‘OK, I’m actually mad.’ And then I went from being mad to sad,” she explained.

In rediscovering their identity, the girls have continued to support one another as they explored their Kenyan heritage throughout college. The egg donor had been living in the United States, but the roots had always been a part of the girls’ lives thanks to their mother’s efforts in ensuring that they were aware.

“I just couldn’t imagine learning about myself by myself because obviously there’s a lot of self-discovery that comes with learning that you have a different genealogy from one of your parents,” Samantha said. “It was just nice to have someone to even call.”

The Harper family have not yet made an effort to reach out to the egg donor. The girls have instead found a new appreciation for their mother who suffered losses at the hands of infertility.

“I know sometimes family are people you choose and then other times they’re just the people you’re related to,” Sydney said. “Now I just see family as the people who you can be yourself with, who love you and give you that care.”

He refers to himself as a “wolf in sheep’s clothing.”

Former NBA player Ben Gordon was arrested on Monday for allegedly hitting his 10-year-old son at LaGuardia airport in New York. Sources say police took Gordon into custody after he struck his son at the Queens airport.

According to the New York Post, the British-born American athlete was waiting on a flight to Chicago when the Port Authority cuffed him and did not allow him to board his flight. The alleged abuse happened at around 8:45 p.m., according to law enforcement.

Gordon’s son was reportedly escorted by an aunt to Long Island Jewish Children’s Hospital. The minor was taken to the hospital for evaluation.

Reportedly, the officers involved in the arrest suffered minor injuries as they detained Gordon. However, there is no confirmed evidence for the cause of the injuries.

Charges against the former Chicago Bulls shooting guard are still pending as he was being processed at the Port Authority police station.

The airport misconduct would not be the first arrest for the 39-year-old, as he has been previously detained for an alleged assault and robbery in 2017. Reports state that Gordon was also caught driving with a forged license plate in a previous case, in addition to allegedly setting off the fire alarms inside his LA apartment when there was no fire. Expanding his list of reported violations, sources say he was also previously arrested in 2017 during an altercation with a woman inside a Mount Vernon store.

The retired 11-season NBA star previously spoke out about his battles with depression in 2020 in The Players’ Tribune.

“I was obsessed with killing myself,” he said.

“My whole career, I was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. But now that I don’t have basketball anymore, the wolf is coming out,” Gordon wrote. “Now I don’t care about cutting my hair anymore. Now I don’t care about shaving. Now I don’t care about anything except the thoughts inside my head.”

Since then, it has been reported that Gordon sought help towards his mental health.

• Technology

by Black Enterprise Shop

October 12, 2022

Prime Day Can’t Even Touch This Deal On AdGuard

---

If you’ve spent even just five minutes on your desktop or mobile device browsing the internet, then you know just how frustrating it is to be bombarded by unwanted ads. While they certainly ruin the internet-browsing experience, they can also pose security threats.

Trackers and malware are often tucked away inside these persistent ads. And if you’re not careful, your device can easily be infected by malware and phishing tools.

Meet AdGuard.

AdGuard is one of the most trusted ad blockers available anywhere. It’s the most advanced ad blocker on the market.

With this special price courtesy of Deal Days, you can purchase a lifetime subscription to AdGuard’s Family Plan for just 19.99. Deal Days is our answer to Prime Days. You can purchase these hot-ticket Deal Days products until 11:59 p.m. on Oct. 12.

You won’t even find this deal on Amazon.

AdGuard not only shines as an ad blocker. It also features an entire privacy protection module along with a parental control tool aimed at keeping your children safe online. The parental control tool offers superior protection by restricting children from accessing inappropriate and adult content.

As an ad blocker, AdGuard rids you of annoying banners, pop-up ads and video ads. It also hides your data from the many online trackers and activity analyzers that are prevalent on the web.

This software is rated 4.7 stars on Trustpilot. More than 1,300 verified purchasers have rated it 5 stars.

“All great. Works as intended, it even blocks my YouTube app ads on my iPad. Hope it will keep working for a long time as I’ve heard Apple and Google are looking for a way to bypass ad blockers,” writes Cira Ionut.

AdGuard can be installed on up to nine devices. Updates to the software are also routinely pushed out to keep your version current. The software is compatible with Microsoft Windows, OS X, Android and iOS devices.

Banish unwanted ads and security threats for good with this exclusive Deal Days offer.

Prices subject to change.

Meet Paige Simpson, the millennial Black woman and Hollywood executive who has contributed to some of the most notable binge-able content in recent years.

As the Vice President of Television at 21 Laps Entertainment, the production company behind hits like Stranger Things and Arrival, Simpson has dedicated her work to creating space for more diverse content on mainstream television.

For the last decade, Simpson has been a behind-the-scenes creative visionary, contributing to some of the most sought-after content across streaming platforms. She previously led television at Will Packer Media and Scrap Paper Pictures and was an integral part of shows like Ambitions for OWN, Bigger for BET+, and Yearly Departed for Amazon Prime.

When it comes to her success story, the Spelman alum credits mentors like her mother and industry leaders like Nina Yang, Forest Whitaker, Amy Israel, Viola Davis, Rachel Brosnahan, and Shawn Levy for giving her “valuable insight” that helped in the foundation of her career.

“I remember selling my very first project in the room and how rewarding that felt,” Simpson told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

“I had been working on it for a few months with the writers and internally we knew this was something that could be awesome but you always question if the buyer will see what you see. When they said yes, I almost cried!”

Her most recent show to get purchased from Netflix, Yasuke is the story of a Black samurai that could star Lupin actor, Omar Sy. The anime version was released on the streaming giant last year.

When it comes to her advocacy for diversity in Hollywood, it’s something Simpson credits to her “tribe.”

“As long as you have a tribe by your side things can and will continue to move in the right direction,” she said. “It is easier today than it was a few years ago because not only are people talking about it but they know we are here to hold them accountable.”

Dishing on her film Yasuke, which is in development, Simpson is beyond excited to share what could be the first portrayal of an African samurai on mainstream television.

“Yasuke is such an epic character in history that many don’t know about,” she said. “This project is one that will show the deep and beautiful relationship between an African slave and a Japanese warlord.”

“Something we’ve never seen before.”

“It’s important to us that the historical facts are accurate but also that we show these two men with complicated pasts, coming together for family,” she continued. “And we are so excited to see an African Samurai! This story will provide action and character in ways we yearn for.”

When it comes to her advice for the next generation of Black Hollywood executives, Simpson says, “Have an opinion and don’t be afraid to make mistakes.”

Founder, Executive Director, and Visionary of Our Village United, Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon is securing capital and generational wealth for Black women founders with her new pro bono program in partnership with Walmart.

Created in 2016, the Our Village United collective is a nonprofit organization born from the vision of one Black woman’s dedication to serve, and turned into an opportunity to bring other Black entrepreneurs’ dreams to the forefront. 

“Rather than [put] a business here, a business there, or business there, I wanted people to see, and I still want people to see what it feels like to walk in a room and you got 150 Black businesses with products that you had no idea that Black people made,” Dr. Hallmon stated.

“It elevates your own lens and consciousness of what it means to be Black, you are unchanged, you are forever changed when you see that.” 

After moving to Atlanta in 2011, Dr. Hallmon was mesmerized by the number of Black-owned businesses in the city, but she noticed one issue. For a lot of those businesses, the doors were closing on them faster than new ones were opening. Subsequently, one by one, those businesses began to fail before her eyes. Determined to do something about it, Dr. Hallmon decided to develop the idea of the Village Market.

“When I moved to this city 11 years ago, almost 12 years ago, I was in love, I fell in love [with the city]. [However], I also knew the number of businesses that through direct or indirect relationships were struggling. [Sometimes] I would find a Black business and I [would] tell my friends that you know, this business exists. And my friends were like, they had no idea. Or I [would] have friends who wanted to launch a business, [but] they had no idea how to start…”

“So, I took those fragmented conversations, and realized that this is a city where Black people exist, which means this is a city where all amazing Black ideas can grow.”

“So I had this idea to bring [Black] businesses front and center. [Just like] you know how concerts have headliners. I created Village Market where the businesses are the headliners,” Dr. Hallmon stated.

Now, the non profit organization is rolling out a pro bono program, in addition to receiving a $500,000 grant from the Walmart.org Center for Racial Equity, to offer technical assistance for retail-facing small businesses led by Black women. The new initiative will focus on helping Black women founders across Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Georgia strengthen their business model, while also positioning them to become credit- and capital-ready. 

“Supporting Black women founders, who are sparking growth in Black entrepreneurship, is key to the Walmart.org Center for Racial Equity’s aim to reduce the racial wealth gap by strengthening Black businesses in the retail industry,” said Monique Carswell, director, Walmart.org Center for Racial Equity.

“We are excited to support Our Village United’s Pro Bono Program and learn more about how targeted assistance and resources can help Black women founders overcome challenges to growing their businesses.” 

Although this is only part of the journey to economic success, for Dr. Hallmon, this is a massive step in the right direction. Especially as she continues to emphasize the value of the Black dollar and pushes major retail companies to put the right amount of money behind it.

“This city is deeply influenced by Black culture. And then you follow the money of Black culture goals.”

“And because of that, Atlanta is one of the fastest growing cities in the country. So when you’ve invested in Black entertainment, Black fashion, Black athletics, when you invest in Black communities… The people in these communities have accelerated. This is the time. And what a time to be alive. And what a time to be imaginative and innovative. That’s what the renaissance is. The renaissance is a collection of a multitude of talented people who go fearlessly after their dreams. And because of that, the world improves…renaissance is a time of inspiration, it’s a time of dismantling constructs that no longer serve us, and a time to challenge cliches that we said for over 40 years that don’t make sense, such as [the notion of] being colorblind. Whoever thought of that [wasn’t] making any sense. See me fully, see me [in] all my colors, but do not allow my color to stigmatize me,” Dr. Hallmon said. 

Currently, Dr. Hallmon is planning to release her first book and is looking forward to announcing further partnerships.