WASHINGTON — As a 20-year physical therapist in Washington, D.C., Dr. Jason Henderson has worked with many disabled people.
But there is another reason why shaking Henderson’s hand feels like squeezing a brick. In a Southeast Washington church, twice a week, Henderson becomes the Sensei for a group of young men.
“Love reaches out. My love reaches out!” sang Henderson during a recent demonstration he held with some of his students. “I play that song because it is featured in my new film about how martial arts can benefit kids with autism. And how important it is for me, as the CEO of a health-care company, to give back to the community.”
Henderson teaches martial arts to help his students cope with autism. (Courtesy of Jason Henderson)
Henderson’s documentary, “I AM A Martial Autist,” was previewed on Oscar night in a virtual event.
Henderson is president of Ergo Solutions, located in the capital, but much of his work is devoted to the young men who have lost their lives to gun violence. His techniques give them nonviolent alternatives to conflicts.
“It is important for our community to reach out and share love,” Henderson said. “Every beautiful black child in here deserves our love. So when we see kids being diagnosed, called dumb, called stupid, call retarded, the community has to change the way we see our babies.”
“Martial arts accepts you for who you are,” and that has been a blessing for six of Henderson’s students. They snapped to attention at their sensei’s commands as he took them through their martial-arts warm-up routine.
Born in Philadelphia, Henderson graduated from high school and was admitted to Florida A&M, where he earned his degree in physical therapy. He earned a doctorate in PT from Alabama State and then an MBA from the University of Maryland University College.
“When I got out of high school, I didn’t know what I wanted to be, where I wanted to go, so I headed South,” said Henderson. “While many big schools accepted me, I got a track scholarship to Florida A&M.
Jason Henderson earned a doctorate in PT which he uses to develop his martial arts programs. (Courtesy of Jason Henderson)
“My focus is to continue to fight health disparities through my practice and to develop this martial program for children and young adults in person and at home with our online program, which was developed during the pandemic.”
In addition to his medical and martial programs, Henderson has published a book, “A complete 180,” about business executives putting their companies back on track after disappointments.
“In my life, I had to restructure my health-care company. There is no difference between what I had to do and parent who has autism,” Henderson said. “There are times in life you have to redirect things. Sometimes, we get off course, and God is there to redirect us.”
SYDNEY — Sugar cane could be the answer to Australia’s enormous plastic pollution problem, a pair of Sydney-based entrepreneurs say.
About 70 billion pieces of soft “scrunchable” plastics are used in Australia each year, many of which are food packaging.
Very little is recycled, and much of it ends up in landfills or the ocean.
That’s a problem Grounded Packaging set out to solve by creating a food packaging alternative that works like plastic but without any of the harmful impacts to the environment.
Former restaurateur Ben Grant, who co-founded the business with Josh Kempton, knows how difficult it is to find affordable and functional alternatives to plastic.
“We were trying to be as conscious as we could,” said Grant, “but there was a particular pain point in trying to understand packaging and the options available to you.”
“The problems or issues with some of those materials are that they’re costly, prohibitively so … and they’re limited in their functionality.”
That’s what led the pair to develop their BioPE material.
Made from sugar cane fibers, it is entirely recyclable and carbon-negative — meaning more carbon is captured during the process of creating the product used.
It can also store oily and wet foods and liquids forced to rely on plastic packaging in the past.
“One of the reasons why we’re excited about it is the potential that it has to have positive impacts on an enormous scale,” Grant said.
“It can be manufactured using traditional manufacturing equipment, and the raw material is starting to become more and more abundant.”
It’s also far more affordable than other plastic alternatives, at about one-and-a-half times the cost of traditional plastic.
“To put that into context, a lot of the other alternative materials that are on the market currently are anywhere from two to four times the cost,” Grant said.
With the industry rapidly growing, the material should become cost-competitive with plastic in a few years, he says.
The product has been tested with companies in the U.S. and U.K., including London coffee roasters Flying Horse, and is now available to Australian businesses.
Grant said it was no silver bullet, but he hoped it would make sustainable practices more accessible for businesses.
“Plastics are dramatically overused but a lot of businesses feel like it is too complex or too hard to be making changes,” he said.
“I would encourage people to look out here because some exciting technologies are starting to emerge that can help solve the problem.”
(Edited by Vaibhav Vishwanath Pawar and Ojaswin Kathuria)
NORTH MIAMI BEACH, FL—- On Thursday, April 8, the North Miami Beach Commission voted unanimously to declare Juneteenth as an official citywide holiday. Commissioner Michael Joseph, Esq. sponsored the legislation.
This declaration is noteworthy as it makes NMB the first city in Miami-Dade County to observe Juneteenth as a municipal, paid holiday for its employees. NMB is a diverse city with more than 40% of its residents identifying as Black or African American.
“This recognition represents where we are and where we are going as a diverse and vibrant community,” said Commissioner Joseph. “I am looking forward to celebrating Juneteenth in North Miami Beach as an official city holiday.”
Several local civil rights leaders attended the commission meeting, including Stephen Hunter Johnson, Chair of the Miami-Dade County Black Affairs Advisory Board.
“I applaud the City’s leadership for the example they have set by recognizing this important day in our collective American journey. North Miami Beach has set a standard that I hope other local governments follow,” expressed Mr. Johnson.
Juneteenth is an annual holiday observing the end of slavery in the U.S. It commemorates June 19, 1865, when news of emancipation reached people in the deepest parts of the former Confederacy in Galveston, Texas.
California is taking steps to reopen its economy on June 15. The plans are underway as leaders in public health and local government come up with the next steps in the state’s COVID-19 pandemic recovery.
Efforts to reopen the state are, “driven by the health and science to help nonprofit community organizations and businesses get back on track,” said Dee Dee Myers, director of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz).
So far, the state has administered 22 million vaccines since it expanded its efforts to immunize everyone in California against COVID-19. A fifth of the vaccine doses were allocated to communities most impacted by the pandemic. According to the California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHS), the number of hospitalizations has declined as testing increases and vaccine eligibility expands.
Now, state officials aim to move beyond the Blueprint for a Safer Economy, a system Gov. Gavin Newsom put in place to reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections and implement updated public health safety measures in all 58 counties. A part of the state’s game plan is to end the Blueprint system provided that businesses and public spaces adhere to ‘common-sense’ public health policies, including the various tiers outlined for outdoor activities.
Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of CHHS, said that health equity is a critical piece of the puzzle that will keep the momentum for reopening moving in the right direction.
“We’re still focused on making sure hard-hit communities get vaccines made available to them in convenient ways,” said Dr. Ghaly.
State officials said that the pandemic did not affect California communities equally, even though the state implemented equity metrics for underserved communities. According to the California Healthy Places Index (HPI), 40 percent of COVID-19 cases and deaths occurred in low-income communities.
“We believe that there’s still significant demand for the vaccine, so we’re ensuring that providers in hard-hit communities are the ones that are moving forward,” said Dr. Ghaly.
The state partnered with over 180 community-based organizations and health care centers for community outreach to dispel vaccine hesitancy.
“Californians are still very interested in getting vaccinated, we’re seeing improvements in what some people call vaccine hesitancy as more communities get information and their questions answered, so that they feel confident moving forward with vaccines,” said Dr. Ghaly.
Public health officials will continue to closely monitor the state’s progress by tracking data on vaccine distribution and COVID-19 test results to achieve its goal of reopening in mid-June of this year.
People in California will still be required to wear masks as well as get tested or vaccinated depending on their occupation, as part of the state’s ‘common-sense’ health measures. The state’s long-term plans to get the economy up and running also includes allowing large-scale outdoor events to take place.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said that the state is confident about reopening the economy as people, “continue the practices that got us here.”
“We can now begin planning for our lives post-pandemic,” said Gov. Newsom.
California’s public health agencies say they are committed to tracking and containing new variants as government leaders move forward with plans to reopen the economy, state officials said.
Extension of large-scale pilot vaccine sites
The state recently extended the use of the nation’s first mass vaccination sites at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum and California State University Los Angeles.
The pilot sites operated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in Oakland and Los Angeles aim to accelerate the state’s goal to safely reopen schools and the economy.
According to data from FEMA and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), both sites have administered more than half a million vaccine doses since they opened in February this year.
In the Bay Area, state officials partnered with Alameda County and Contra Costa County to keep the sites running for vaccine distribution.
Keith Carson, president of the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, said the Oakland Coliseum site has administered more than 100,000 doses to residents in the county.
“Having a mix of large vaccination sites, alongside smaller community sites and mobile pop-ups, is critical for our vaccination infrastructure and meeting our goals for equitable distribution,” said Carson.
The Oakland-based vaccination site is set to operate for an extended period of four weeks. State officials said that the site will deliver approximately 6,000 vaccines on a daily basis.
Diane Burgis, chair of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, said that the partnership, “will provide additional resources for mobile vaccine clinics that can go where we need them most.”
The two counties continue to promote equitable vaccine distribution for local residents seeing that, “many of them are teachers and frontline essential workers from some of our hardest-hit neighborhoods,” said Burgis.
California Black Media’s coverage of COVID-19 is supported by the California Health Care Foundation.
Credits family, faculty, perseverance for historic milestone
At a time when data breaches are making headlines, Alexis White is set to embark on a career that’s all about keeping sensitive data safe. The Arcadia, Louisiana native will be the first graduate of the cybersecurity program at Grambling State University. It’s not the path she initially chose but she’s glad she took it.
The degree connects students with research leaders and working professionals who specialize in combating cyber-crimes, big data, cloud computing, vulnerability assessment, and more.
White was in her junior to senior year of a biology degree when Grambling announced the addition of the cybersecurity degree. “I knew I would regret it if I did not give myself the opportunity to really live out all my interests especially since I had loved science since Barney was mixing blue and yellow to make green paint,” she says. “I made the decision to pursue the degree by doing a bit of research and after speaking with (computer science professor) Dr. Reddy and my parents, it was a done deal.”
Dr. Yenumula Reddy, department head, professor, and program coordinator for the Department of Computer Science and Digital Technologies at GSU, describes White as hardworking, intelligent, and well-prepared. She worked very diligently to complete the program and that shows her strong willpower, he says.
“Grambling and the department are proud of the first graduate and her name will be in GSU history,” Reddy says.
White has long had an interest in computer science. She attended New Tech at Ruston High School and, in her freshmen year, was selected to participate in the Cyber Security Camp at Louisiana Tech.
“I was later picked for AP physics and this is where I really started learning how to code robots which led to me joining the robotics team,” she says.
Although White began at Grambling as a biology major, the cybersecurity program is a great fit and she welcomed the challenge. “Biology is not easy by any means but the analytical side to cyber really made me focus and consider material from a different perspective…” she says. “I will say my study and learning style changed a bit. It took a couple of semesters to really get that this is different, but you can do this.”
White completed her bachelor’s degree in biology and a minor in business management in the spring of 2018. She will be awarded a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity on April 15.
After graduation, she will complete Clinton Global Initiative classwork and later begin an apprenticeship as a cyber analyst in governance risk and compliance at Deloitte Touché Tohmatsu Limited. The company provides a variety of services including audit and assurance services, regulatory services, and risk and financial advisory services.
White says she would not be where she is today without the support and examples set by her parents Donald and Valerie White. Her father is Dean of the College of Business at Grambling who always encouraged her to do well in school. She has many fond memories of being on campus and decided early on that she wanted to attend GSU. Her mother served in the U.S. Airforce, retiring as a lieutenant colonel.
“I had so much pride seeing my mother wear her uniform, symbolizing strength, duty, courage, and heroism,” she says.
White says her entire family inspires her – especially her grandmothers.
“My grandmothers, Vera Scott White and Gatha Heard Smith, were absolutely my world growing up. I mean they carried themselves with such grace and once again were captains of our family after losing my grandfathers…,” White says. “I would say my demeanor and how I face issues really comes from them. They also were the ones to instill Christ in me alongside my parents. My parents put every ounce of knowledge and wisdom they could into me from an early age and it has really helped me.’
As she nears graduation, White says she wants people to know that “my journey was not easy, but it was achievable. If you can get yourself to think positively, keep going no matter the opposition and just do it – as Nike says – it can be done.”
She thanks her parents, professors, mentors, and others who put time and work into her. “I just want them to know just how grateful I am for the lessons and opportunities that they have given me.”
About Grambling State University
Grambling State University, located in Grambling, Louisiana, is a historically black university founded in 1901 that combines the academic strengths of a major university with the benefits of a small college. This combination enables students to grow and learn in a serene and positive environment. The 590-acre campus offers 43 undergraduate and graduate academic programs. A member of the University of Louisiana System, Grambling State University has been accredited by 13 accrediting associations and holds accreditations in all programs required by the Louisiana Board of Regents. With a longstanding tradition of excellence, Grambling State University continues to emphasize the value and importance of each student, exemplified by our motto: Where Everybody Is Somebody.
Spring commencement may be the last time fraternal triplets Stevie, Steven, and Stephon Wilson are seen together on campus. As they evolve from students to alumni, the Winnfield, Louisiana natives will chart courses that will take them in three different directions.
Upon graduation, Stevie will attend a virtual Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) prep program with the University of Miami before attending medical school. Steven will take a gap year to gain experience before attending medical school. Stephon will move into a permanent position working for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).
Stevie
Stevie, the firstborn among the trio, said he chose to attend Grambling State because other members of his family attended, and he wanted to be somewhere that had a supportive environment. The biology major was inspired to pursue a career in medicine when his grandmother had bilateral knee replacement surgery. There were doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals who aided her journey toward regaining mobility.
“They were straightforward, but also endlessly concerned and compassionate. This gave me a greater appreciation for the medical profession. I decided it was my purpose in life to give back,” Stevie said, noting that he and his brothers were a high-risk pregnancy. “I’m here because of those health professionals. I feel that it is my time to give back.”
Adamant about changing the distrust of doctors among the African American community, Stevie also aims to be a change agent in the medical field.
“Representation matters. More importantly, black health matters, and a lot of black people don’t trust the medical field,” said Stevie, referring to the Tuskegee experiment. “[Some people in the African American community] don’t have faith in doctors. My passion is to be a medical doctor because too many people of color and [in] different ethnic groups are dying because they aren’t being heard. This field is in need and I want to be a part of that. I want to be able to help heal this world.”
Stevie balanced his time between being a member of the Grambling State University World Famed Tiger Marching Band and many other organizations during his time at Grambling State but values the connection he has with his brothers above all.
“Although we don’t share the same facial features or height, or have telepathic abilities, ours is a bond like no other,” Stevie said. “Growing up as a triplet, particularly in a set of all the same gender, is like being assigned two best friends at birth. All of that togetherness also taught me a lot of things, along with brotherly love. Being a team player is natural for me since it was second nature in our household to do everything as a team. We once shared a womb, and then we shared a room. At the same time, the three of us are all individuals.”
Steven
Steven Wilson is in the center of it all as second in birth order. Although he researched other institutions, it was the desire to continue his family’s legacy of Gramblinites and the encouraging atmosphere that solidified his choice.
The biology major was inspired to choose medicine as a career when watching health-related and 911 rescue shows on TV. It made him want to be one of those people in the world who one day would be recognized as a front-line essential worker.
Like his brother Stevie, Steven is also emphatic about minority representation in the health industry.
“There’s not a lot of African-American males in the medical field,” said Steven. “In the next generation or decade or so, we need those black role models in medicine. Without [them], where would the medical field be? Who will advocate for the culture, the people, or the community?”
Upon graduation from Grambling State, Steven will travel to Dallas and take a gap year to get more clinical experience before going to medical school to specialize in anesthesiology. While he looks forward to working in the field, experience in student leadership broadened his vision to include politics and health care reform.
Steven knows commencement will be an emotional day for his parents but he is also aware of what the day will mean for youth in his hometown.
“[When we graduated high school] we saw it. When we all left [for college] they were very, very emotional but us graduating and actually separating – I think it’s going to be bittersweet, but they’ll be happy because we’ll be third [generation] legacy,” said Steven. “Our motto when we left Winnfield was to set the standard for other African American minorities in our town. [For] so many young students in Winnfield, they don’t have that role model to look up to. We set that standard to let them know it can be done.”
Stephon
Although Stephon Wilson initially planned to attend a different institution, he found himself at Grambling State and doesn’t regret his decision. The youngest of the brothers, he has a double major in management and computer information systems. During his matriculation, Stephon was intentional about being engaged in every meaningful opportunity. Whether it was traveling to represent the institution or being involved in a litany of organizations, Stephon made sure he was a part of it. During his sophomore year, his status expanded from student to employee when he took the opportunity to serve as Assistant Director of Transportation at Grambling State. By his senior year, he was elevated to the position of Director.
“Being the Director [of Transportation] has been a great opportunity,” Stephon said, noting that his management courses were instrumental in organizing services. “It has helped me build the skills of management, leadership, writing skills, and customer service.”
During his senior year, Stephon managed to balance his time as a student and employee while also serving as a financial literacy ambassador, Thurgood Marshall College Fund student ambassador, White House HBCU Scholar, and working for the FDIC. Upon graduation, he will move to a permanent position with the FDIC as an asset management specialist with a goal to ultimately work in the Washington, D.C. office.
For Stephon, commencement will be an emotional moment for him because it validates their mother’s advocacy for equity during the early part of their K-12 education.
“They tried to put us in special education,” said Stephon. “If it wasn’t for my mother…she’s the one that said ‘no, those boys got talent.’ When we graduated high school, we proved them wrong. Now we’re getting ready to walk and prove them wrong.”
With each of them graduating on April 15, their parents Djuana and Stevie L. Wilson said the occasion will be exciting but emotional.
“[We’ll be] crying,” said Mr. Wilson.
“It’s gonna be a bittersweet day,” said Mrs. Wilson. “People ask me now, ‘what are you going to do?’
She recalled Steven suggesting that she wear Christian Louboutin heels to the ceremony. Although she intends to wear them, she said they may come off once their names are called.
“It’s going to be some shouting and crying going on that day!” Mrs. Wilson exclaimed.
When reflecting on their time at Grambling State University, the Wilson brothers said they hope people will remember that they were leaders and respectable young men who were role models to others.
Among the first evidence presented by prosecutors in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in his killing of George Floyd is that it was not just 8 minutes and 46 seconds as originally thought, but rather, it was 9 minutes and 29 seconds that Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck.
People in the courtroom and those keeping up with the trial by media would later learn that it was even worse than the 9 minutes and 29 seconds. Moreover, they learned that Chauvin’s knee not only remained on George Floyd’s neck for as long as there was breath in his body; but – according to a pulmonary expert, Chauvin’s knee continued to press into Floyd’s neck for three minutes after Floyd was already dead.
These travesties of justice remain unspeakable to those who cringe or cry every time they hear the suffering of George Floyd as he pled for his life. And as bad as that was, the blows of injustice to the Black community, its parents and children continue to get worse.
In yet another tragic death, Minneapolis has been on nightly curfew as protestors continue to cry out for justice. On Sunday, April 11, only 10 miles away from the location of the Derek Chauvin trial, yet another Minneapolis police officer took out her revolver and shot an unarmed 20-year-old Black man. The death of Daunte Wright was characterized by the then police chief as an accident.
Despite the resignation of the now former Officer Kim Potter, who said she meant to shoot her taser at Wright and the resignations of the police chief and city manager, there is no consolation to Americans – Black or White – who have experienced these non-stop back-to-back travesties against Black people.
So far, indications are that there is seemingly no end in sight for the assaults on the Black community. Even the senseless Windsor, Va. traffic stop of U. S. Army Lt. Caron Nazario a Black and Hispanic man stopped and pepper sprayed by a rogue cop shouting misguided orders has baffled the nation. There is no solace that the cop, Joe Gutierrez, who then lied in his report about the details of the incident, was fired. It is no solace because these travesties of justice happen every day out of the sight of cameras where some of the stories are never even revealed much less believed.
On March 3, 1991, when Rodney King was viciously beaten by Los Angeles police officers, much of America was awakened by the video repeatedly shown on daily news. But across America, Black-owned newspapers have long recorded the trauma of violence against Black people, continuing from the unspeakable cruelties of American slavery. Beginning with Freedom’s Journal in 1827 to journalist Ida B. Wells’ 1895 Red Record documentation of American lynching to Black American newspapers’ Double V campaign during World War II to JET magazine’s 1955 photo of the tortured Emmett Till, regardless of how bad it got, the continued documentation of these evils well into the 21st Century now proves that it is yet worse than we ever thought.
But there must be an end to this centuries-long nightmare. The blood of those who have recently become household names are crying out, underscoring the indescribable horrors heaped upon them and therefore upon Black people: Trayvon Martin, Stephon Clark, Freddie Gray, Eric Garner, Amadou Diallo, Philando Castile, Michael Brown, Breonna Taylor, Tamir Rice, Sandra Bland, George Floyd – and thousands of others.
And yet, we the people march and protest because we still believe. We still believe that our America, a nation built upon our backs and by the suffering of our ancestors, will someday respect us. We still believe that America, with a Declaration of Independence that promises equality of “life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness”, will someday do right by us. And, even as we acknowledge that it is indeed worse than we ever thought, we still believe that the collective voices and unified courage of Black, White and others together will give rise to answered prayers that will finally end this modern-day civil war.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — College is often seen as some of the best years of young people’s lives.
However, that changed in 2020 with COVID-19. The pandemic meant students struggled to balance personal anxiety and their college studies. Many were forced to return home after living on campus, and to take up their studies in virtual classrooms.
According to some researchers,
Candice Norris-Brown is a licensed clinical professional with TeleHelp 24/7. (Dr.Norris Brown)
the transition has been particularly difficult for students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, known as HBCUs.
“A survey of more than 5,000 students across 17 HBCUs found that many are dealing with difficulties, such as sick family members, trouble paying bills and general stress from the ongoing pandemic and recent protests against police brutality,” a report by Inside Higher Ed states. “The United Negro College Fund surveyed the students at its member institutions in June.”
“More than one-third of students said they have experienced declines in their mental health, due to the pandemic. Those students are three times more likely to consider transferring than those who have not experienced mental-health issues. Women were more likely than men to report declines in their mental well-being.”
One method of helping students — specifically people of color — was developed by Robert Adams, CEO of Delaware-based Advanced Healthcare Solutions in 2018. The TeleHelp 24/7 online therapeutic hotline launched a student-specific service in 2019.
The virtual service offers private counseling sessions that aim to help students “navigate through life’s challenges during their collegiate years.” His vision for addressing mental wellness involves using modern technology most familiar to the college-age generation.
“There are a lot of residual issues that [patients] need to address,” said Adams. “They need someone to meet them where they are.”
As a Virginia State University alumna, Candice Norris-Brown, a licensed clinical professional with TeleHelp 24/7, understands the stresses and benefits associated with being an HBCU student. These schools are often sanctuaries for students from difficult backgrounds.
“Conversations about mental health — especially depression — are typically taboo subjects in the African American community,” said Norris-Brown, who has over 20 years’ experience in professional counseling. “Opening up and speaking about personal psychological issues has often been shunned by family members whose insensitivity adds to their burden.
“Our goal is to change the perception of mental health in the black and brown communities.”
Many students find it difficult to identify symptoms and develop coping strategies. The challenge for mental-health professionals is to find a comfort zone that gives them a safe place to talk.
“It’s important to have staff and counselors that look like us,” said TeleHelp 24/7 counselor Sherri Tull-Hubbard. “[We] help patients develop coping skills to help [them] get through what life is all about.”
One of the barriers that has been removed is bonding with a mental-health professional who doesn’t understand the students’ societal pressures. TeleHelp 24/7 features African American therapists, and the counseling is confidential.
This virtual chat room, whose “sofa” is a smartphone, tablet or computer, offers clients a space that’s easily accessible to students.
“This is very beneficial because we are experts in modern technology,” said Virginia State student Addison Adams. “We can navigate these platforms better than generations of the past. It makes TeleHelp counseling more interactive and better for us.”
While most HBCU campuses remain on lockdown, TeleHelp is working with Paine College, an HBCU in Augusta, Georgia. It recently sponsored a “Talk It Out” forum via livestream.
For the past five years, this conference has provided students an opportunity to take part in forums featuring commentary from distinguished writers, producers, photographers, actors, directors and other media specialists. More recently, the collaboration with TeleHelp 24/7 shed light on mental health issues, especially in the African American community.
HBCU students from across the country were invited to join the conversation, an open format to ask questions and discuss concerns.
“One of the biggest concerns I have about our community is that we wait too long to seek help,” said Valerie Greene, a therapist who led the session with Norris-Brown. “There is a misconception that we must be in crisis in order to go to a mental-health provider. Just like our physical health, the same is true for our mental health.
“Early intervention is more effective and advantageous,” she said.
Last year was a difficult year for most. The spread of the pandemic brought the world to a screeching halt.
For former junior middleweight boxing champion Tony Harrison, the pandemic claimed the life of the man who taught him his craft: his father, Ali Salaam. As Harrison prepares for his upcoming bout against the tough-as-nails Bryant Perrella, he continues the path his dad would want: becoming a world champion again.
That first step on that journey starts April 17 on Fox Sports. Perrella won’t be an easy test for Harrison, and Harrison doesn’t want easy. He prefers to go up against the best in the division and see what he has left since hitting 30.
Harrison is fighting for everything that he lost last year and wants to display his timing and conditioning, have survived two grueling bouts with Jermell Charlo in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Harrison enters this bout 28-3-0 with 21 knockouts, while Perrella is 17-3-0 with 14 knockouts.
Zenger News goes toe-to-toe with the Detroit native to discuss his difficult 2020, his preparation for the Perrella fight, and the work he puts in with kids in his Detroit gym.
Percy Crawford interviewed Tony Harrison for Zenger News.
Zenger: You’re coming off about 23 rounds with Jermell Charlo and a long layoff. Is a blue-collar, durable guy like Bryant Perrella the type of fight you need now?
Percy Crawford interviewed Tony Harrison for Zenger News. (Heidi Malone/Zenger)
Harrison: I honestly think that’s almost the perfect fight. I couldn’t have asked for someone better or tougher, who will be gamer than Perrella. Only difference is, I would’ve chosen an orthodox fighter instead of a southpaw, but I can only take what they give me. And I can only fight who wants to fight me. Perrella was man enough to step up to the challenge.
Zenger: I understand boxing isn’t built off moral victories, but you did show a lot in both Charlo fights, including where you came up short. Is the key to just build from the momentum gained in those fights?
Harrison: I don’t hold moral victories over my head. I didn’t win. For me, I just want to keep competing with the top guys. I don’t want to fight nobody but the top guys — and show the world why I feel like I’m the best 154-pounder out there.
Zenger: You had a very rough 2020, losing your father and trainer to COVID-19. Is this good timing for your return to the ring?
Harrison: It’s an amazing time. I think Al [Haymon] did a good job of scheduling the fight with the right opponent. Last year was mentally exhausting for me. The layoff was just enough time to rejuvenate myself and find the fire to come back in the ring and do exactly what I love doing.
Tony Harrison in the ring. (Leo Wilson/Premier Boxing Champions)
Zenger: Many times, as black men, we don’t let those emotions out after a tragedy. Have you been able to?
Harrison: It’s never enough time to get over losing my father. That was my guy. I’m not an emotional guy. My dad made me, I swear to God, as strong as any man there is in the world. No matter how big, how tall or what kind of wars they have been in, my dad made me as strong as any other man. At this moment, I know he would have told me: “Get your ass up, it’s time to get back to work.” And that’s what we’re doing.
Zenger: There was a lot of animosity between you and Jermell Charlo. You don’t have that same animosity towards Perrella. Do you need that or are you at a point in your career where that’s not necessary to get motivated?
Harrison: I don’t ever need that, man. I just think it makes for a better showing when I don’t like somebody, and they don’t like me. I’m 30 years old, and all the rah-rah and trying to fight before the fight, that’s over. There is no use screaming back and forth. We’re either going to do it now, at that moment, or we’re going to wait till the fight. From here on out, I’m just carrying myself like that.
Zenger: You’re probably going to say that he can’t fight for Bryant. But Bryant seems to think having Roy Jones in his corner will make the difference. Do you think that’s true?
Harrison: Roy can definitely not get in that ring for him. Somebody sent me the video of him chasing a chicken, and he looked like a robot. So, once again, Roy, what you did, you have got to find that same guinea pig. You can’t turn a sheep into a lion. I’m proud of Roy for taking these guys and trying to mold them into great fighters, but it ain’t going to be on the 17th, that’s for sure. And I love Roy, bro. It will be good to see him on the opposite side of the ring and I get to hug him after I display what I got to display, and maybe he’ll come on my side next.
Zenger: It’s some time since we have seen you in the ring. What are you looking to showcase on the 17th?
Harrison: I’m looking for my timing to be right, my head movement to be good, my hand speed to be right. I’m looking to get as many rounds as I can honestly. Sixteen months is a long time. If I can finish the fight, I will finish it for sure, but if I don’t see it, I have no problem going the distance. That’s a question that I ask myself, ‘Could you go those rounds that you always fade in, like everybody say you fade in?’ I’ll be OK with going the rounds and displaying the talent.
Tony Harrison in a 2018 bout with Jermell Charlo. (Leo Wilson/Premier Boxing Champions)
Zenger: Given the time off, due to COVID, is it imperative to get rounds in to ensure you’re still sharp, as opposed to gunning for a quick knockout?
Harrison: Nah, if I could stop him in one round, I’m getting him the hell out of there. I’d rather go in there and take my time and dismantle somebody in a manly fashion, where I still look sharp, look fundamentally sound, and you’re still Tony Harrison.
Zenger: I feel you don’t get enough credit for your work with kids in your gym and around Detroit. How important is using your star power to give back?
Harrison: That’s where my heart is. My gym is made up almost completely of kids. Just to be able to mold them, not to be a fighter, but to be stronger than they were before they walked in, that’s what we do. My gym is in an impoverished zone, where there’s nothing else around. The community loves it, and every season we try to do something for everybody in the community: free food giveaway, free clothes giveaway, back-to-school giveaways. We try to do stuff in the community that no one in the city acknowledges, but we know we’re doing it.
I love social media and how it allows you to connect with so many different people from different walks of life. As I was scrolling on Facebook, I came across a post of a young rap artist that is on FIRE. Not only is he a little cutie, but he’s a talented cutie with a good head on his shoulders and an amazing support team.
Born and raised In Southern California, Izayah Anthony Guerrero, affectionately known as Zay Is a 9-year-old featured star. He started making a name for himself at 4 years old, being in multiple fashion shows and having roles in a handful of music videos from various famous music artists. From there, he found himself In a few commercials. His love for music and acting has made this young little guy very goal-oriented and his ability to driving towards his dreams Has shown in his recent success.
Zay is 1 of 5 brothers. And through good and bad, this family has always stuck together. Given his 3 older brothers Izayah Immediately fell in love with sports. He started playing football at the age of 7, In which he played QB and CB. The team was one game from winning the Super Bowl as they finish the season 8-2. Football taught Izayah discipline and how to work hard and never to give up. He took those tools with him in his career and shows it not only during performances but also with how hard he practices his craft.
Izayah, artistically known as Yung Zay, started his rap career from his school talent show where he stole the show! His parents knew then that he was ready for the big stage. At the age of 8 he recorded the song called “We Are the Future,” Which turned heads locally in Southern California. It also reached the Bay Area, where he received an NAACP award. He also performed “We Are the Future” in front of a packed house at the 5th Annual Film Awards Show.
Izayah recently recorded a single called “DONT PLAY” and a single called “LONG HAIR DON’T CARE”, Available on all major platforms. Soon to come is his highly anticipated EP titled “It’s Just Me” Which will be released soon. Izayah has shown his ability to work a crowd but has the aspirations to succeed behind the camera. We promise this little guy is upcoming and ready for anything. I feel sorry for his parent’s and security team because trust the little girls are going to go bananas over Zay. Make sure you checkout his Instagram @Itsyaboyyungzay11
Until next time stay safe and get your COVID-19 Vaccination. L’s!
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