Some people are scared of history
“The history curriculums of my youth were informed by this thinking. My first US history class in particular discussed the American Revolution extensively, characterizing the colonists and founding fathers as undeniably impressive and important. Our discussion of Black people began and ended with slavery…slavery and genocide were watered down considerably. The systemic and generational effects of marginalization went unexamined,” writes Kahlila Bandele, 18.
Challenges to history met with baton of knowledge
Louisiana’s AP African American Studies teacher champions courses, community lectures to expand knowledge Malcolm Reed is running the modern leg of an ancient relay race. He teaches AP African American Studies and carries the collective history and culture of all African descendants, then passes a baton full of facts and details. He believes knowledge is … Continue reading
Tips for celebrating Kwanzaa
Originally posted on Jozef Syndicate:
First, there is the name: Kwanzaa. Then, the principles: Umoja, Kujichagulia, Ujamaa, Kuuma, Ujima Nia, and Imani. These words were not part of the Black lexicon until a professor of Africana studies, Maulana Karenga, set out to create holiday designed for Blacks to observe and celebrate African culture and traditions.…
Expanding skincare into total wellness: microbiologist Erin White takes therapeutics to sisterhood
Pensiri: A Talk with Erin White, a microbiologist who is expanding skincare into holistic wellness for women
10 women encourage ‘Katrina Babies’ and the 121 infants of August 29, 2005
Filmmaker Edward Buckles, Jr expose some of the hurricane’s harsh and immeasurable impact on children in his latest film “Katrina Babies”. Until now, their stories were unknown and these stories are in contrast to the stories of the 49 children born in Baton Rouge’s Women’s Hospital on that day. Their birth story is forever narrated by Hurricane Katrina. Ten Baton Rouge women encourage a Katrina-born child who’s now 17.
Medical marijuana and me: the path to healing now that the cannabis flower is legal in Louisiana
As an adult, I became an occasional “closeted” consumer to help calm my anxiety, fatigue, and tension pain. The taboo and shame surrounding the subject were still very real. We were taught marijuana is a “gateway drug”, getting “high” was sinful in nature, and only people in the “street life” smoked weed.
With filmmakers’ help, Scotlandville steps onto the international stage
Elders and leaders of the Scotlandville community in Baton Rouge often reminisce of a time when the area flourished with businesses, competitive schools, professional residents, and violence-free entertainment. They remember Scotlandville’s history as a successful community that was once the entry point for the slave trade and home to a cotton plantation. Only one Black … Continue reading
Supporting natural hair in La, a state without the CROWN Act
Nicollette M. Davis got her first hair relaxer when she was 5 years old. In her early 20s, she decided to cut off her chemically treated hair and return it to its natural state—a journey of self embrace with many emotional and physical ups and downs, she said. The movement to embrace natural hair has been … Continue reading
Someone etched her legacy in stone, shared it with free books and prayer
Someone etched Rosa A. Haney’s legacy in stone then shared it with free books and prayer in the Eden Park community. With broken doors and soiled books, these free libraries have been added to a growing list of libraries in need of repair. Pensiri Elves are prepared to help.
Rep. Jones pushes bill to extend early voting
A bill to extend early voting from seven to 10 days during presidential elections was approved unanimously by a House committee Wednesday, March 5. Rep. Frederick Jones, D-Monroe, offered his bill after the record voter turnout in the 2020 presidential election. Louisiana saw over 2.1 million people vote in November, and 986,000 of them voted … Continue reading
Southern University wins $40,000 Home Depot Grant
Southern University and A&M College will receive a $40,000 Retool Your School grant from Home Depot. Southern University’s Baton Rouge and Shreveport campuses along with Grambling State University are part of the 30 HBCUs selected by students, alumni and advocates to receive a combined $1 million in campus improvements grants through the annual Retool Your … Continue reading
Songs for Mama: Grieving son creates project a year after COVID loss
Grieving son creates music project dedicated to the experience of losing his mother to COVID-19. Ronaldo Hardy, of Baton Rouge, hopes to help others heal from similar losses.
Showing the world its Blerds and -ish
There is a podcast for Black nerds that broadcasts out of Baton Rouge. It’s Blerd-ish!. It’s hilarious. That’s it. That’s the story. Well, there is more to it than that, of course, but words in an article alone could not fully capture the experience listeners and guests have when Keith Cooper and Mark Wallace take … Continue reading
Chad Barnes Jr. advocates for young patients, OLOL hospital
Every year, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals chose a champion to serve as the ambassador for their local hospital. For Baton Rouge, that champion is Chad Barnes Jr, the 2020-2021 CMN Ambassador for Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital. He is the spokesperson for the children’s hospital and helps host events and raise money for kids who … Continue reading
An artist’s angst: Using fan art for honor and release
Louisiana artist Antoine GHOST Mitchell chose art alchemy and fan art to process George Floyd’s murder and erupting protests. This feature is Pensiri: A Talk with Antione Mitchell
Louisiana Poet Laureate John Warner Smith awarded national fellowship
Louisiana Poet Laureate and Southern University professor John Warner Smith has been awarded the prestigious Academy of American Poets’ Laureate Fellowship, given to honor poets of literary merit serving in civic positions around the country. Smith joins 23 other poets around the country who received a Laureate Fellowship. He received $50,000 as part of the award to produce … Continue reading
When it’s time to ‘see someone,’ online therapy could be the best choice
From her virtual private practice in Baton Rouge, Shameka Mitchell Williams helps people who are overwhelmed and emotionally exhausted. Her focus is singular: help them recover from pernicious experiences and toxic relationships.
Eight Southern University leaders join health equity task force
Southern University System will have eight representatives on Governor John Bel Edwards Louisiana COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force. The task force, which will meet for the first time on Friday, April 24, will focus on research and actions to improve health outcomes and equity for the state’s residents in response to COVID-19. The group’s progress … Continue reading
Baton Rouge native develops antiviral drug with potential to fight coronavirus
Baton Rouge native Darnisha Harrison, founder and CEO of Ennaid Therapeutics, is advancing the development of an antiviral drug that may potentially fight coronavirus cases, and which would be more easily administered to those afflicted by the disease. Harrison’s Georgia-based pharmaceutical company filed a patent for a therapeutic called ENU200 that could treat as much as 80 percent of … Continue reading
1,095 days and counting: One doctor’s frustration unfolds into Instagram excellence
By all accounts, every day of February is laced with creative lessons on Black history. From teachers decorating their classroom doors with fantastical imagery to daily posts of famous quotes and musical introductions by Black artists, the month is full of presentations of Black success. But few -—if any—- have matched the diligence of Rani … Continue reading
ON-AIR: Broadcasters and hosts covering COVID Louisiana
According to the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters, there are more than 300 broadcast journalists in the state. From them, Jozef Syndicate staff selected four journalists and two news talkshow hosts who are using their platforms to keep listeners engaged and updated especially during the coronavirus pandemic. These shows are eye-openers and help Louisianians feel as … Continue reading
Training Junior Cosmetologists
Dana Hayes, a native of Port Allen, was inspired to start and create Junior Cosmetology because of her mother, Ora Lee Breax Williams, who was a hairstylist. Now, at 40-years-old, Hayes has taken that interest and passion into a classroom where she teaches young girls how to care for, protect, and have pride in their natural, healthy hair. … Continue reading
School to prison pipeline can be dismantled says juvenile judge
The statistics are clear. During the 2018-2019 school year, nearly 95% of East Baton Rouge Parish Schools students suspended out-of-school were Black as was 89.4% of students with in-school suspensions. The overwhelming majority of them are males. In a school district with a 78.1% Black student population, 92.7% of the students referred to law enforcement from … Continue reading
Muralist immortalizes architect Julian T. White, LSU’s first Black professor
When Julian T. White joined LSU’s faculty in 1971 to teach architecture, he paved a way for people of all backgrounds to have equal opportunity. The mural in the collets atrium honors the legacy of the first Black professor at Louisiana State University.
A Louisiana girl with California wine
Dawna Jones, Ph.D., remembers having an amazing childhood in Opelousas with her parents, Randolph and Priscilla Darjean, and three siblings. But one distinct memory may have unintentionally guided the 43-year-old plant pathologist into the winemaking business. “My mother dabbled in making various fruit wines when I was very young, but I do not remember assisting in the process aside … Continue reading
Kristen Downing’s art — fueled by social, political climate — will exhibit at SU
Kristen Downing uses her art in the way protesters use their voice, leaders use their influence, and nations use their power.
‘The American Audit’ exposes America as a 400-year-old business and its toll on Black citizens
Donney Rose’s provocative project, called ‘The American Audit,’ gets to the root of Black American’s dehumanization and explores the why and how. The performance is Feb. 28 at the Manship Theatre in Baton Rouge
Separate, unequal, and dismal: Urban League rekindles leaders’ commitments to improve public schools
The Urban League of Louisiana released an equity report examining the quality of Baton Rouge public schools and identifying gaps in outcomes, access, and excellence. Calling the findings “dismal” and “concerning,” several education stakeholders were present at the McKinley Alumni Center for a press conference and panel discussion to present data from the Advancing Educational … Continue reading
BJT Ledet’s ‘The Christians’ features 1960s Louisiana love story
With much anticipation,B.J.T Ledet,a Baton Rouge educator, has released the first a new adult, religious romance trilogy: The Christians. The Christians, book one, follows the life and love of Mary Jean Woods, a young, Christian woman in 1960 South Louisiana as she maneuvers through self-discovery, unrighteousness, and betrayal in hopes to find a true spiritual identity. … Continue reading
Baton Rouge, LA Teens Create Watch to Help Caregivers Locate Patients Living with Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease – i.Invest Competition
Originally posted on PRSBizNews:
Co-founders Tyshawn Howard and Brea Miles, both 18, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana Tyshawn Howard and Brea Miles, both 18, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, are one of this year’s competitors in the i.Invest National Youth Business Competition. Their tech start-up, Never Alz Alone, is dedicated to the caregivers and family members of…
Toni Morrison, Baton Rouge’s bench and ‘seeing myself’
Toni Morrison’s work impacted the lives of many people, including my own. As a Black student at predominately White university, it was hard for me to see myself on the required texts by Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Milton. It wasn’t until I took a course called, “Toni Morrison and Others,” that I saw myself.
Hundreds honor slain civil rights icon, museum founder remembered for living a life of purpose
Hundreds of people including Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards, Baton Rouge Mayor Sharon Weston Broome, other elected officials, community leaders, and even residents who barely knew Sadie Roberts-Joseph filled the pews at Living Faith Christian Center to say goodbye to a woman who was remembered for living a life of purpose. “What she has done … Continue reading
When Grandpa leaves land, he leaves legacy. Pensiri: A Talk with Nicolette ‘FarmHer Missy’ Gordon
A young pioneer in Internet radio, Nicolette “Missy” Gordon started MissyRadio.com in 2011, trending through an online business model that had only surfaced on the national scene. The path made sense for a 20-something broadcast journalist who’d been “on the air” with Citadel Broadcasting’s WEMX-FM Max 94.1 for years. From there, she went on the … Continue reading
‘Not Charity, Lord, but a Chance’
The poem, “Not Charity, Lord, But a Chance,” is a petition for fair opportunities in America. Its message is timely and symbolic for this middle-schooler whose business has won two pitch competition within three months. “Blacks demanded a fair chance and were brilliant and excellent in what they did,” she said.
Invisible Warriors: Photo exhibit reveals the truth behind invisible illnesses
When photographer and writer Leslie D. Rose is told “oh, but, you look good! ” it is not a compliment. For many people living with invisible illnesses, very rarely do they “look sick.” And quite often, there is no celebration in looking like they are disease-free when beneath the surface their bodies are fighting debilitating … Continue reading
‘It made me feel like a failure that I could not protect her’
According to the national Human Trafficking Hotline, 71 cases of human trafficking have been reported in Louisiana since January. One mother of a 13-year-old victim said, “There is a trending behavior of people–especially kids–looking for a certain type of love to fit in that they are being so easily manipulated.
Pensiri: A Talk with Cristian Hardy, co-pastor, Love Alive Church
This feature, ‘Pensiri: A Talk with..,’ is a fascinating spotlight using narrative interviews and quick peeks into the interesting and unique lives of “average” human beings. In this post, Leslie D. Rose talks with Cristian Hardy, pastor of Love Alive Church in Baton Rouge.
The Square Collection gets first public showing in West Baton Rouge
Graduates of Grambling State University, where they met, Lawrence and Gay Square started collecting art 40 years ago. Today, the couple’s private collection is on display at the West Baton Rouge Museum through March 24. The Square Collection features fine art from some of America’s most distinguished artists including 20 centerpieces which are figurative sculptures by the internationally … Continue reading
Women in state law enforcement leave indelible footprints
There are countless Louisianans who have contributed significantly to our state and nation’s history. They are the trailblazers and pioneers who have left an indelible imprint that continues to inspire. Among the most well-trained law enforcement officers in the country, Black female Louisiana State Troopers are proudly and courageously paving the way for others to … Continue reading
‘A Lucky Man’ wins Ernest Gaines Award for Literacy Excellence
Jamel Brinkley’s collection of nine short stories has won the 2018 Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence. Set in Brooklyn and the South Bronx where the writer spent his youth before graduating from Columbia University and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, the stories in A Lucky Man explore the charged, complex ties between boys and … Continue reading
‘Ms. Meta’ on frontline, empowering others facing HIV
At 62, Meta Smith-Davis is often celebrated as a hero for her work with HIV/AIDS. The self-described to’ up from the flo’ up, ex-con, drug-addicted, homeless Black woman living with HIV, says, “All I did was clean their mirror so they could see what I saw… All I did was clean the mirror so that they could do the work.” The work, she said, is being able to come to terms with an HIV-positive diagnosis and doing everything necessary to live a whole, healthy life.
Fashions’ ‘Next Big’ designers hail from Baton Rouge
When it comes to fashion destinations Baton Rouge is city that could be at the bottom of the list, but Christopher John Rogers and Oonarissa Brown-Bernard are changing that. Besides dominating the charts this year? What do Cardi B and Sza have in common? They turn to Rogers for his 80’s glamour meets punk rock … Continue reading
Fact: Eliminating stigmas can reduce the spread of HIV
The fact remains: There are still many stigmas around HIV/AIDS which are critical barriers to preventing the disease from spreading. In a city like Baton Rouge where new HIV diagnoses register as some of the highest in the nation, prevention is critical to stopping the disease and saving lives, said Tim Young, executive director of … Continue reading
With HIV rates topping the nation, Baton Rouge needs HAART, Open Health, and PreP
In a city with the highest rates of newly diagnosed HIV cases in the nation, is HAART positioned to slow down the spread of the virus that cause AIDS?
Baton Rouge study looks at whether exercise improves memory for older Blacks
Scientists at LSU Pennington Biomedical Research Center are recruiting participants for a study on dementia prevention in older Blacks. The project is unique because few studies to date specifically developed behavior change interventions for older Blacks that target preventing dementia, said Robert Newton, Ph.D., who designed the project with Owen Carmichael, Ph.D. “The goal of … Continue reading
Trading Black Histories: Louisiana, California middle schoolers meet by chance while competing in national research contest
SILVER SPRINGS, MD—In life, there are many times when things happen and very few words can convey what’s occurred. That’s exactly what happened when two studentsfrom opposite ends of the United States happened to cross paths while competing in the 2018 National History Day contest held at the University of Maryland, College Park. The young … Continue reading
Baton Rouge native participates in world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise
A 2017 Scotlandville Magnet High School graduate and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, native is serving in the U.S. Navy as part of the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC). Seaman Apprentice Crystal Paul is a culinary specialist aboard USS Dewey, currently operating out of San Diego, California. A Navy culinary specialist … Continue reading
First Black to walk in space visits Baton Rouge
On June 26, Dr. Bernard Harris, CEO of the National Math + Science Initiative (NMSI), visited Baton Rouge to kick off NMSI’s Laying the Foundation Teacher training at Woodlawn High School. With ongoing support from ExxonMobil, the popular training program was recently expanded to an additional 400 teachers across the state, doubling the number of … Continue reading
Louisiana legislators look to expand ‘Payday’ lending, harming borrowers
Legislators are voting on a bill to expand predatory lending in Louisiana by allowing payday and car title lenders to issue “installment loans” with annual interest rates of up to 167 percent. Policy analysts with the Louisiana Budget Project said the bill will considerable harm vulnerable borrowers getting loans they can not afford. The bill is scheduled for final passage in the Senate on April, 16, 2018.
Dr. King, Alton Sterling, and the Difficult Days Ahead
This is America 50 years after King’s assassination. The relative progress made in civil rights since April 4, 1968 is rife with tragic contradiction and complexity. King likely did not dream that after climbing to the “mountaintop” our first words would not be “free at last” but rather “Black lives matter.”
Jozef Syndicate 