• Arts and Culture

by Stacy Jackson

May 20, 2024

Blair County NAACP Takes ‘Aggressive Approach’ To Investigate Removal Of ‘Lift Every Voice And Sing’ From Middle School Concert

Spring Cove District administrators removed the "Lift Every Voice and Sing" hymn from the concert to maintain order at the event.

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A decision by the Spring Cove School District in Pennsylvania to remove the hymn “Lift Every Voice and Sing” from a student choral concert on May 7 has sparked an investigation by members of the Blair County NAACP’s executive board.

According to the Altoona Mirror, District Superintendent Betsy Baker and Middle School Principal Amy Miller made the call to axe the hymn from the program after students voiced concerns. Baker said the decision aimed to ensure everyone would “feel comfortable” and be “able to participate” after students said they were worried “the song would cause a controversy in the community.”

The decision, driven by concerns over potential divisiveness and controversy, has drawn scrutiny and prompted calls for accountability. Spring Cove School Board President Troy Wright acknowledged it as a “lose-lose situation” after parents threatened to withdraw their children from the concert over the matter. “We can’t make everyone happy,” Wright said. “We have to do the balancing act between who supports it and who doesn’t support it and our job is trying to find the balance between it.”

Stephen Hershberger, a district parent of one of the chorus members, revealed Baker’s concerns over maintaining order at the event as a factor in pulling the hymn. Teachers in the music department selected the songs for the concert lineup and felt “Lift Every Voice and Sing” was an appropriate selection among the other musical ensembles. However, another selection filled the slot after the anthem was dropped.

The hymn, penned in 1900 by James Weldon Johnson and J. Rosamond Johnson and nicknamed “The Black National Anthem,” has held profound significance as the NAACP’s anthem for over a century. Altoona Mirror mentioned that Blair County NAACP President Andrae Holsey said the branch would pursue an “aggressive approach” on the matter, which will include public press conferences to address “why our anthem could ever be considered divisive,” considering it has been sung for over a century.

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• Career

by Kandiss Edwards

May 20, 2024

Are You Bossing Up In Your Online Meetings?

Body language and presentation expert Linda Clemons shares seven key elements to master video presentations and digital work conferences.

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Originally Published Mar. 31, 2020.

If you conduct a quick search on the internet, you will probably find a skit centered on office culture. Pre-pandemic work culture is no longer a reality for many. We now live in a world where Zoom and Teams are considered “the office.” That said, how does one show up and exceed in an online setting? Body language and presentation expert Linda Clemons says one of the key elements to nailing remote work performance is connecting well via video and that the rules for doing so are specific. Here are her fail-safe tips:

Prepare and rehearse

“It wasn’t raining when Noah built his ark,” says Clemons. So, don’t wait until you’re on screen with four (or 40) other people to realize your lighting is so poor they can’t even see you. One advantage of working remotely is that no matter how small your home is, you control your virtual image. Adjust lighting, angles, and props favorably, and reserve enough time to test and refine your screenshot. “Even in a tight space, you can create a tight shot that shows you as organized, ready, and at your absolute best,” Clemons says. Also, pay attention to details. It’s one thing to have your young child or pet stroll into camera range unavoidably and another to have an overflowing hamper or sink full of dirty dishes as your backdrop.

Shower, shave, and show up correct

Certain things seem like common sense — groom yourself as you would if you were walking out the door, don’t appear on camera in your robe or workout clothes — but that may not be common knowledge. Even if your team’s emerging remote culture seems to welcome dressing way down, do not show up in your pajamas (at least, not from the waist up, says Clemons). Not only does it look like you’re not really working, but you won’t feel or present yourself in the game-on way that you need to, especially now when the stakes for everyone in business are so high.

Smile, though your heart is aching 

If you’re hosting a meeting and you begin with a smile, others will automatically smile, too, which helps relax things. “A smile is like a yawn,” says Clemons. “It’s contagious. These are tense times. We need that.” Smiling — even if you’re forcing it a bit— at the start of a presentation will help put you at ease and help others tune into what you have to say.

 Acknowledge the elephant in the room

Everyone is stressed, and every meeting offers an opportunity to show empathy and leadership, primarily by acknowledging that it’s a tough time but that we are all working through it together—and will prevail. Clemons says you want to convey the message that “Yes, we’ve all panicked, but now we have to pause so we can pivot and get back on purpose as a team.” With new developments in business, our health, and the global economy being processed throughout the day, you can briefly check in on the news during a meeting but don’t dwell on it or any information that distracts from the tasks at hand.

 Stay on time and on task 

Strive to come across as clear, strong, and concise. Video meetings can be even more efficient than in-person meetings because of fewer distractions. That’s a good thing, so take advantage of it; don’t drag things out. When it’s your turn to speak, “Stay on message and on point,” says Clemons, adding a warning: “When you go long, you go wrong.”

Keep your energy up

“There’s a reason we connect with great talk show hosts,” says Clemons, and the common thread is that “they may be talking to millions, but we feel like they’re talking just to us.”

If you’re not used to video conferencing or uncomfortable being on-screen or with the technology, it’s easy to appear wooden or robotic. As much as possible, you want to come across as natural and open. Being stuck at home makes many of us feel drained, so on both audio and video calls, take extra care to modulate your vocal tone to be animated and energetic. On video, try to shoot yourself from the belly button up, if possible (think standard news anchor desk height), so that your heart is in the shot. These unspoken cues make an impact.

Be 100% present

There will be distractions and technological mishaps that throw the moment and pull people off course. It’s inevitable. So stay flexible, but keep your focus as much as possible. If you’re the meeting’s host or the cause of the glitch, acknowledge it and keep going. Clemons advises that you let your meeting motto be no different than it would be if everyone were gathered together at the same table: “Be present in their presence.”

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• Health and Wellness

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

May 20, 2024

Autopsy Revealed Massachusetts Teen Died Of Cardiac Arrest From Hot Chip Challenge

The autopsy also revealed the teen had a congenital defect.

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A teen from Massachusetts died shortly after allegedly participating in a hot chip challenge, with an autopsy recently revealing the cause of death as a cardiopulmonary arrest.

Harris Wolobah was 14 years old when he died in September 2023, as reported by NBC Boston. A high dose of capsaicin, a chile pepper extract found in the Hershey-Owned Paqui chips, prompted his untimely death. The company marketed the chip for its extremely high spice level. However, the individually packaged item is listed as ‘consumption for adults only.’

Despite this, the hot chip challenge went viral among teens, with Wolobah participating in how long one can eat the chip without consuming food or water. The results led to other injuries across the U.S., including California high schoolers taken to the hospital.

The increased ingestion of capsaicin did lead to Wolobah’s death. However, his autopsy also revealed the high school sophomore had an enlarged heart. Wolobah also had a congenital defect impacting the placement of his myocardial bridge, as his major artery ran inside his heart muscle, as opposed to its surface.

“It is possible that with significant stimulation of the heart, the muscle beyond the bridge suddenly had abnormal blood flow (‘ischemia’) and could have been a cause of a severe arrhythmia,” explained Tufts University’s Chief of Cardiology, Dr. James Udelson, to The Associated Press. “There have been reports of acute toxicity with capsaicin causing ischemia of the heart muscle.”

Those with underlying heart defects like Wolobah may be at higher risk when injecting hot foods. The chance of severe health issues, and even death, has become a greater issue with higher stakes, meaning spicier items. Despite these looming concerns, many young and old still partake in the challenge for viral internet fame.

Wolobah’s full autopsy report remains private. Paqui has also removed the chips from stores after his death.

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• Technology

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 20, 2024

Therapists Making More Money Through TikTok Therapy

With the dominance of TikTok growing every day, therapists are finding new traditional ways of growing their client base and making money.

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With the dominance of TikTok growing every day, therapists are finding new non-traditional ways of growing their client base and making money.

Full-time therapists once needed to make a weekly quota of 20 to 25 clients (dictated by insurance companies) to make around $100,000 a year. But now, thanks to social media platforms like TikTok, a therapist can become a full- or part-time content creator and make quadruple that amount pushing out short 60-second listicles about dating and mental health, Vox reported.

Therapists like Jeff Guenther, an individual and couples therapist in Portland, Oregon, have resorted to seeing just eight to 10 clients two days a week and filming TikTok content that generates nine to ten times more than $100,000 a year. What once required sitting in the office or seeing clients virtually throughout the week, has transitioned into brand deals, merch, and direct subscriptions with his 2.8 million TikTok followers.

“It’s been an especially good year,” Guenther said when asked if he’s hit the million-dollar mark.

Guenther is making a killing by applying his relationship therapy background to TikTok, where he crafts spoken-word listicles like “5 signs your relationship is going great,” “7 signs to look for when you’re ready for a relationship,” and “3 first date questions that will tell you everything you need to know.”

The social media era of therapists is seeing more licensed professionals perform dances next to eye-catching graphics about having both ADHD and PMDD or lip sync trending songs in a captioned video about identifying a depressed suicidal client. The most successful TikTok therapists sell products that establish themselves as mental health experts, offer digital courses, or promote their books and merchandise.

Dr. Kojo Sarfo has taken his online persona further with his comedy tour, where he asks the audience about their mental health diagnoses. British psychologist and author Dr. Julie Smith has amassed 4.7 million TikTok followers by turning her mental health therapy into 60-second spoken-word listicles where she uses colorful gimmicks to attract viewers who will watch her break down “3 Ways Past Trauma Can Show Up in Your Present” or “5 Signs of a Highly Sensitive Person.”

As easy as TikTok is making it for therapists to make money curating visual content, it does come with its own set of challenges. With anything revolving around social media, public perception is your judge and the comment section can be your best friend or worst enemy.

“It’s exhausting. There’s burnout. It’s a gross place to be,” Guenther says about the algorithm demands, hate comments, and followers who feel like they have direct access to him.

“I want to get out of here because Daddy Algorithm is my boss and I get a performance review every single day based on an algorithm that’s mysterious and doesn’t make any sense.”

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• Entrepreneurship

by Charlene Rhinehart

May 20, 2024

This Man Went From Welfare To Wealth, Here’s How

Alfred Nickson shares three easy wealth-building tips.

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Originally Published May 8, 2021.

After going from welfare to millionaire by age 25, Alfred Nickson dedicated his career to educating thousands of African Americans about building wealth. 

Now, the 28-year-old financial expert has mentored over 100 six-figure earners and retired his mom. 

“Wherever you are at, be willing to swing the bat,” Nickson tells BLACK ENTERPRISE. “You can’t hit a home run if you don’t swing. For me, I put myself in a position to not only swing the bat, but I wanted to put people in a position to win as well. So, I put people on base. When I swing the bat, it’s not just me hitting a home run. I’m hitting a grand slam. That means that everybody that was on base and in position was able to come home and get a taste of the success.”

Nickson started exploring home-based businesses shortly after high school. The young entrepreneur made a total of $1,500 in his first three years of entrepreneurship. Despite his lack of funds and people telling him to consider getting a “real job” and go to school, he kept going.

During his fourth year of business, Nickson earned his first six figures by leveraging his passion for financial literacy. A couple of years later, Nickson hit the million-dollar mark. 

For anyone seeking to put themselves in a better financial position this year, Nickson encourages people to step outside the box and do these three things.

Move From Welfare to Wealth By Starting With Assets 

Knowledge is power. When you know where you stand financially, you can pinpoint exactly how much money you need to get where you want to go.

Nickson suggests creating a list of everything you own. This list represents your assets. 

“This can be tangible items like a vehicle or jewelry to stocks, bonds, or life insurance policies,” says Nickson in an email. “Even one pair of gold earrings can be added to your assets and is better than no assets at all.”

Every month, Nickson meets with his team to get a better picture of his net worth. This number represents how much you own (assets) minus how much you owe (liabilities). It’s the magic number that wealthy individuals use to assess their financial health. Nickson also suggests having a good tax strategy so that you can keep more of the money you make. 

Sign up for Life Insurance

After seeing so many people in his community rely on GoFundMe, Nickson decided to educate more people about life insurance.

“Who needs a life insurance policy? Everyone.”

Life insurance shouldn’t be limited to death benefits. It can also be used as a wealth-building strategy.

“Choose between whole life or term life insurance,” says Nickson. “Term life has more value and generally costs less monthly. Both will give your loved ones up to millions of dollars when you die.” 

In addition to life insurance, Nickson says that wills and trusts should also be part of your financial plan. 

Earn Extra Money To Go From Welfare to Wealth 

Nickson recommends starting a home-based business because the infrastructure is already there. He says barriers to entry are low and anyone can get started with as little as a few hundred dollars. The best part is that you can start making money right away.  

How do you get started on your path to a home-based business? Identify what you are passionate about.

“When you are passionate about something, you put your all into it,” says Nickson. 

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