Shopping in peace is all we want to do. Why is it that African Americans and the Hispanic populations get followed around the store? Racial profiling exists and it is time to put these stores on notice. Why Are You Shadowing Me? is a video message about just that. What can we do to stop the discrimination and unfair treatment?
Share your thoughts about this issue.
As always, thank you for watching! 
Stay well and be blessed! 
Having a child and starting a family is a monumental and happy occasion. Although, it is a happy time for most women, it can also be stressful for some expecting mothers. Ensuring she receives the best possible care for not only herself but also the baby is very important. Black women have faced challenges in this area.
The United States is still seeing a rise in maternal deaths among Black women. Challenges of Black maternal health are increasing due to the changes in laws. Ending of diversity, equity and inclusion programs, abortion bans in certain states, lack of respect, and in some cases racism in medical settings for expecting mothers of color has all contributed to this issue.
Oftentimes, concerns about pain in pregnant Black women are ignored and reduced to the premise that they are just seeking drug medication. Unfortunately, the stereotype that people of color have a high pain tolerance still exists. Women in the past, have and still do exercise their right to assert their choices, as it relates to the birth of their child by using alternate forms of birthing support. Midwives and doulas are options for those families who no longer have faith in the care they receive in medical facilities.
A midwife is a healthcare specialist who is trained in pregnancies, childbirth, newborn care and postpartum health. A midwife has medical training and can deliver babies. They can also prescribe medications. Although, they do not carry out any kind of surgery.
Having a midwife on your side can help in reducing the risk of preterm births. The need for cesarean sections can be lessened if a midwife is a part of your healthcare team. Other benefits include lowered use of anesthesia and rates of labor induction and augmentation.
A doula provides emotional and educational support. Also, a doula can help position the mother during childbirth to make the delivery more comfortable. A doula is similar to a midwife minus the medical training. However, doula’s do not deliver babies. Midwives do.
A doula can assist in overall maternal satisfaction. By providing emotional support and coaching, it makes the birthing experience less stressful. Doulas may also be called a labor assistant, birth assistant or a labor support specialist. The family can decide just how involved a doula’s role is in the decision-making about the birth.
Benefits of hiring a doula include:
Women of color can feel empowered in the type of care they receive by having a midwife or doula during this precious time of life. Most often, the pregnancy and postpartum outcome is a happier one. For those women who want to have their baby at the hospital, as opposed to a birthing center or at home, both midwives and doula’s can be used.
The battle is uphill with restoring hope and trust in receiving medical care for Black women. Hopefully, in the foreseeable future some initiatives will take place to educate and change the direction in a positive way to improve the disparities. During such a crucial, precious and fragile time in a women’s life. She wants to know and feel assured that she can find the comprehensive care and trust that her concerns will be heard and taken seriously.
Image by Bianca Van Dijk from Pixabay
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A cure for edge control is still sought by many. Looking for something that will keep those edges in check? Try this product that I have recently found. It does what it is supposed to do. Maybe it will work for you too.
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Happy New Year! 2025 is here and I am grateful to see another year! I hope that this year brings everyone what they need. Whether it be love in your life, understanding, a roof over your head, financial blessings, mended relationships with family, friends, or loved ones Wishing this in abundance for you all.
The Six Triple Eight is a movie, inspired by true events. It pays homage to the black women who showed great strength, grace, beauty, humility and resilience. For those who are familiar with the story, what did you take away from it? A must see for those who have not seen it.
Much respect to the people who were there and served in the Six Triple Eight. Thank you to the producers, actors and everyone involved for telling the story.
Being of multiethnic/cultural heritage is great. You get to enjoy the best of it all. However, it can be challenging. Acceptance by your peers may present a problem.
How do you overcome rejection from one or the other culture? Do you try to fit in or just live your life. If you can relate and have experienced rejection of this kind, please share in the comments. Tell us a little about it. Your experience may help someone overcome it and move past it. 
Image credit: Simp1e1 on Pixabay
National Hispanic Heritage Month starts on September 15 and ends October 15, 2024. Even though, it is officially a month-long celebration, contributions are felt and made all year long. Many Latino and Hispanic communities feel a sense of honor throughout this special holiday. The timing of NHHM marks dates of independence for several Latino countries.
What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you? If you are not sure what it is all about take some time to research more about it. Afterwards, you can share and spread the word about what you have learned. Use this time to learn Spanish, if you choose to. Check out some local events in your community. There are many ways to celebrate and show support for the Latino and Hispanic communities and all they have done for the betterment of America.
The theme for 2024 is Pioneers of Change: Shaping the Future Together
Let us take our hats off to those who have helped make positive strides in Latin American Countries and all over the world.
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Image by Ray Shrewsberry • from Pixabay
August is National Black Business Month. If you are a business owner this may be a good time to look for opportunities to boost your business. During this month consider marketing your business more. Showcase your services or products. Networking with others can give your business that added edge to increase revenue.
The month of August we celebrate and support Black businesses. You can also use this time to encourage aspiring business owners to start their entrepreneurial projects. Sharing and connecting with people who want to start a business is another way to network.
Being a Black business owner does not come easily. It is not all glitz and glamour. The extra work has to be done in order to make it possible to be able to work for yourself. A sense of accomplishment is felt when you can provide a product or service to help people and contribute to the successes of the economy.
Did you know?
The top three places with the highest numbers of Black owned businesses are New York, Atlanta and Washington, D.C.
How do you celebrate National Black Business Month?
You can spread the word about any products or services that you like.
Shop Black owned businesses.
Research about Black entrepreneurs.
It is important because we can encourage these businesses to keep going and continue to contribute to the economic wealth of not only minority communities, but also the world abroad.
Image credit: Image by Philippe Jacquet from Pixabay
Women who advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion. That is what Women’s History Month is about in 2024. Women are still having the same centuries old fight. It doesn’t make sense for it to be this way in such progressive times. But are we really living in progressive times?
“You cannot take your freedoms for granted. Just like generations who have come before you, you have to do your part to preserve and protect those freedoms.”
Michelle Obama
Let’s celebrate the women who are and have made a positive impact in the communities. Both local and afar. It takes courage and determination to answer the call to action. Forming comities, rallying together and just speaking on injustices is a great start.
March 8 is International Women’s Day. The theme this year is Inspire Inclusion.
We have women out there who have paved the way for advances we, as a country enjoy. Science, civil rights, film/theater, politics, sports, education, the arts and a plethora of disciplines is where women from all walks of life, have made their mark. Let us celebrate Ava DuVernay, Sally Ride, Serena Williams, Michelle Obama, Susan B. Anthony and a host of others.
Without their activism, and strength to pave the way, we may not have been able to accomplish some of the things we have today. Staying the course and speaking out against inequities against women must continue. We deserve to be included and treated fairly, so let’s not forget the work of those before us and the women who walk with us today on this journey.
“There will be resistance to your ambition, there will be people who say to you, ‘You are out of your lane.’ They are burdened by only having the capacity to see what has always been instead of what can be. “
Kamala Harris
Late September into early October is the time of year for recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month. The Latino and Hispanic American community has made many contributions for the betterment of America. Originally, it started out as a week-long celebration in 1968. Two decades later it became a month-long celebration, declared by President Ronald Reagan.
The reason Hispanic Heritage Month starts in the middle of September, is because it coincides with independence of countries like Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Mexico, Chile and others.
We can see the added value in education, music, food, and the entertainment industry. The contributions by the Hispanic and Latino culture go hand-in-hand with the success of America.
This post was originally published in September 2022 on Inspire By O’Nika
September 15th is World Afro Day. Embrace those curls and natural hair. Let your coils, twists, braids, locks and afro shine. Wear your style proudly. Natural hair has a story and it is not just about the aesthetics. Although, it doesn’t hurt. It’s about much more. Think culture and history.
Black people and some people of mixed-race who wear their natural hair have faced discrimination because of their hair texture. Michelle De Leon started World Afro Day back in 2017. It is a cause to raise awareness and to educate about afro-centric hair. Society has instilled shame on people who have kinky or tight curly hair. It has long been a thing that if you had “textured” hair that you should implement some kind of straightening. Methods such as using a hot comb to straighten hair, or applying chemicals like Vigorol liquid, and relaxers are used.
These methods are harmful because there is risk of burning the scalp and skin. Not to mention, the long-term effects of the chemicals in these straightening products. Some people felt like they had to conform to societal pressures in order to get hired for a job. Also, to feel accepted.
Women from some Hispanic cultures, like the Dominican Republic also are stigmatized for having curly hair. They have faced pressures to have bone straight hair; hence the blow out styles. These blow outs use excessive heat which can have lasting damage to hair.
On World Afro Day, show your pride for afro hair. Post pictures on social media or share your hair experiences with others. The more people who understand about the afro hair culture the more will accept and embrace it. Rock those afro puffs, cornrows, box braids, afro or whatever style you wish! Because you can!
Black business month happens in August. Let your entrepreneurial spirit shine. Support Black businesses. Research some of your favorite black owned brands and spread the word. Some businesses to check out are:
This organization helps black women start and/or build their brands. They accomplish this by hosting workshops, providing videos and webinars. This company is an inspiration to help current business owners to keep their businesses afloat as well as expand. Check out their website below for more information. Looking for a Black owned business, check out their directory. Buy From a Black Woman also has merchandise, which helps to promote their company. Empowerment is another way they are helping the community through their grant program. Check it out.
Clothing company that uses recycled material. Check it out.
par Bronté Laurent – Bronté Laurent (parbrontelaurent.com
If you are in the New Jersey area and need notary services, look no further. Contact Carla Atkins-Bland for your document needs.
Carla Atkins-Bland, Notary Public in Willingboro, NJ 08046 (snapdocs.com)
Thinking of starting a new business? Maybe you are already a business owner and are looking for resources. Check out score.org to help with increasing your business success or aid with any challenges you may be facing. Take some online classes, watch webinars or check for upcoming events in your local area.
Clothing company for men and women. Joggers, short and long-sleeved tee shirts, hoodies and caps made to order. Check out the website to choose your logo, size and color.
Check out Home | LHJR (square.site)
Women owned clothing and accessories company. Check out the website to see what kind of petty fits you. Have fun.
Check out God Ain’t Petty, but I Am®️. The Best Petty Tees in the World. (godaintpetty.com)
What’s on the exterior is not a reflection of the whole person. This message is to young girls and anyone who feels like they do not measure up. Society has women in this cookie-cutter image. Just know that we are versatile. Inner beauty, self-love and confidence is what we are made of. Do not let other people define who you are.
The world we live in today is very shallow and based on outer looks. People sometimes only look at the exterior with no further thought about the entire person. There is nothing wrong with being beautiful. After you get past the beauty what is inside? Do you want to be judged only by how you look? In some industries, beauty is paramount in your success in that particular field. But make sure you are being true to yourself.
Self-love is very important. If people gravitate to you because you look a certain way, but you feel like you are less than. Ask yourself, “what is wrong with this picture?”. Just remember that no one is perfect. At the end of the day, we are all human. Don’t beat yourself up if you feel like you do not “fit the mold” of what society says you should look like. Love the skin you are in.
If you have big thighs, so what. Embrace it and make it your strength. If your lips are fuller than the masses. Guess what; God made you that way for a reason. Love those lips, they are uniquely yours. It does not matter what your nose looks like or your feet. Have compassion and love for yourself. Accept yourself how you are. If anyone does not recognize the beauty you are inside, love yourself anyway!
“You can‘t rely on how you look to sustain you, what sustains us, what is fundamentally beautiful is compassion; for yourself and for those around you.”
Lupita Nyong’o
April is the 4th Month of the year. It is also the beginning of the Spring season. April brings showers to nourish the land for the flowers to bloom and the trees to grow. The zodiac signs, Aries and Taurus fall in the month of April too. Let’s see what else April brings.
Good Friday is April 7th this year. Also known as Easter Friday. This is the day that Christian’s commemorate the day Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross. On this holy day, some Christian’s will have special prayer services. People will participate in fasting on Good Friday. Other’s may avoid eating meat. It sounds ironic that a day of death is called good. The name Good Friday was, at one time, called God’s Friday.
Easter Sunday is on April 9th. The day Jesus Christ was resurrected is called Easter. This is one of the most celebrated and observed days of the year. The Christian community holds this day as very important. And with good reason. Church service, meals, prayers and moments of silence are just a few ways that people observe Easter. Coloring of eggs and Easter egg hunts are some events that families indulge in with their children for Easter.
April 11th is National Eight Track Tape Day. What is an eight track you ask? Well…it is what we used to play music before days of cassette tapes and CDs. You have to be “seasoned” to know what an eight track is. Ford was the first car company to make factory and dealership-installation available in their automobiles. Eight track tapes were popular during the years spanning from the 60-80s. If you are feeling nostalgic, take today to dust off those old eight tracks (if you can find any of them). Take a stroll down memory lane. The days of the eight track tapes may be long gone but they do hold many fond memories during those eras of music.
April 17- Haiku Poetry Day. Exhibit your writing skills with a Haiku poem. This style of poetry was started in Japan. A Haiku typically consists of 17 syllables and has three lines. The rules of proper format of a Haiku have changed over time. Have fun with it and write your own Haiku.
Tax Day is April 18th.
National Piñata Day– April 18- National Piñata Day has been around since as early as the 13th century. It has been a tradition in the Chinese, European and Mexican cultures. As you can see, non-Hispanic people participate in Piñata Day too. The bright colored candy containers can be filled with small party favors, candy, gifts and whatever your imagination will allow. A lot of these paper mâché sculptures are in the form of animals, various shapes and some are in the form of faces. While Piñata’s are typically associated with children and parties, they are used for other reasons. Some countries have used them in protest of local politicians and/or causes. I like to associate Piñata’s in a fun way. Even though you have to hit them to get the prizes out, you can make fun games of it. Make your own Piñata. You can find online videos on how to do this.
Stop Food Waste Day– April 26 Ever wonder how many people can be fed and not go hungry? Many more, if we stopped wasting food. One way to do just that is to only buy as much food as you can use. Bring leftovers the next day for lunch or have it for dinner. Store food in a way so that it does not go bad. The food industry plays a major part and can help to stop the wasting of food. Some restaurants throw the food away at the end of closing. Local shelters could benefit from this food to feed those that are homeless and do not have access to meals.
Focus on Finance for Women’s History Month
Homeownership is one of the staples of the American dream. You work hard, you save money and pay bills on time. So, why is the purchase of a home out of reach for some people? It is partly due to the banking industry and unfair lending practices. Also, this is attributed to bad consumer credit and lack of funds.
We are living in times of inflation; again. It makes it hard to stay on top of basic living expenses and amenities. However, in spite of inflation homeownership is achievable. So is good credit. We can start by trying to reduce our debt-to-income ratio. This is one of the factors banks use in the application approval process. Lowering debt-to-income ratio means to have more money coming in than going out. Many times we spend more and save and/or invest less.
Paying bills on time also boosts credit scores. If you are in the market to make a home purchase, you may want to pull your credit report. By doing so, you have the opportunity to check for accuracy and any errors that may be preventing you from obtaining a loan. Also, you can assess what accounts you need to pay off. Correcting errors on your credit report takes a little effort, but it is within your power to change it in the best interest of your financial future.
Did you know? It wasn’t until the early 70s that women were allowed to purchase property in their own name. In years before that, a women could not own property without her husband co-signing.
Homeownership is lacking within minority communities. That brings me to the Focus on Finance for Women’s History Month. Benaisha Poole-Watson fits the theme of ‘Women Telling Our Stories’. She is a catalyst in the real estate market and understands the challenges. Being the owner of Prime One Home Loans, she not only owns the bank but helps to educate about building wealth. She has created solutions for people who are having hardship with obtaining a home loan.
To add to that, she is also a military veteran. She has served in the United States Air Force. Mrs. Poole-Watson, among many other African American women, have broken down the barrier of women serving in the military. Let’s salute Benaisha Poole-Watson for her contribution to the country through her military service. Also, for opening doors and creating change and help in obtaining real estate.
Did you know? At one time, women were not allowed to serve in the military outside of kitchen and domestic duties.
Focus on finance for women’s history month and learn more about the inspiration of Benaisha Poole-Watson at Home – Benaisha Poole Watson
It’s Women’s History Month. Let’s talk about a female hip hop and funk group who was pivotal in these genres of the music.
What do you get when you add Angie B, Blondy and Cheryl the Pearl? Drumroll please… meet The Sequence. A trio of women from South Carolina who performed a fusion of hip hop and funk music. Angela Brown, Gwendolyn Chisolm and Cheryl Cook made up the first female group to release songs under Sugar Hill Records.
The most notable song by the group is “Funk You Up”, which came out in 1979. You may also remember the song, “Monster Jam with Spoonie Gee”. In the 90s Angela Brown aka Angie Stone later joined the music group Vertical Hold before going solo in 1999. She has also performed in theater, TV and movies.
Gwendolyn “Blondy” Chisolm and Cheryl “The Pearl” Cook released a single in 2011 titled, “On Our Way to the Movies”. The Pearl also wrote songs for the Sugar Hill Gang and scores of other artists. She went on to start her own company called Black Bottom Entertainment.
The Sequence is very important in the history of women, music and hip hop. Their first single topped the music charts for three weeks and went Gold. Other artists have sampled their music. Even though the hip hop genre is more prominent in NY, The Sequence held their own and made their mark being from the South. They have helped to lay the foundation for subsequent female hip hop groups and solo MCs, that we know and love.
The influence of The Sequence can still be felt and heard, even today. Give them their due for what they have laid down for women groups who came after them. For whatever reason, The Sequence has not been given the credit they deserve. When I think of The Sequence I think of a trio of inspiration and talent.
