Janelle Bynum, Oregon, Black Congress Member
by Daniel Johnson

November 17, 2024

Meet Janelle Bynum, Oregon’s First Black Congress Member

Bynum's win was a bright spot in an otherwise awful election period for Democrats.

Janelle Bynum has become the first Black Congress member from Oregon, a state that was created as a white supremacist haven through a series of laws excluding Black people from settling there from the 1840s through 1857.

According to The Associated Press, Bynum received support from national Democrats. That helped the party flip the seat back to Blue for the first time in 25 years.

“It’s not lost on me that I am one generation removed from segregation. It’s not lost on me that we’re making history,” Bynum said in a Nov. 8 press conference. “And I am proud to be the first, but not the last, Black member of Congress in Oregon.”

Bynum continued, “But it took all of us working together to flip this seat, and we delivered a win for Oregon. We believed in a vision and we didn’t take our feet off the gas until we accomplished our goals.”

Bynum’s opponent, Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer, conceded the race on Nov. 7.

According to The New York Times, Bynum’s win was a bright spot in an otherwise awful week of election results for Democrats.

Bynum won her election in large part reportedly due to her ability to come across to voters in the state as a level-headed leader, but she did not shy away from embracing her identity during her campaign.

According to the Oregon Capital Chronicle, Bynum impressed upon reporters that although the race had concluded, the work was just beginning.

“It’s time that Oregon 5 is represented by a true member of their community, someone who shows up when they’re needed and stands up for them even when the problems are hard,” she told reporters on Nov. 8. “I want every single person in this state to know that their children will be able to build a life here, to afford a house, to get a job that pays well, to build a retirement and to watch their children build their own lives in this state, to know that they are able to give their kids more opportunities than they had themselves.”

RELATED CONTENT: Maryland Elects Angela Alsobrooks For Senator In Historic Win For Black Women Politicians

The Upper Room, Atlanta
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 17, 2024

The Upper Room: Atlanta’s New Community Bar Uniting Locals With Coffee, Bites, And Black-Owned Spirits

The lounge is located in the city's popular Ponce City Market.

There’s a new community spot in Atlanta’s popular Ponce City Market aiming to unite people with a specially curated menu of coffee, light bites, and Black-owned spirit brands.

Founded by restaurateur Kelsey Maynor, who co-owns Atlanta Breakfast Club and Le Petite Marche, and marketer and actor Shakirah DeMesier, The Upper Room is a lounge and event space offering a diverse menu of coffees, teas, matcha, smoothies, fresh-pressed juices, and a curated selection of Black-owned wines and beers.

On the food side, guests can enjoy snacks like white truffle–Parmesan popcorn, charcuterie, and dishes such as jerk plantain patties, curry chicken salad, and Caesar salad.

“We wanted to create a brand that gives our friends’ brands exposure,” Maynor told Atlanta Magazine. “The drinks and food are the culmination of flavor profiles we enjoy.”

The new coffee shop and bar, open Wednesday to Sunday, was made with the community in mind. The founders envisioned “a vibrant haven where people could come together to work, unwind, and host unforgettable events, creating a true community bar space,” Maynor said.

Along with coffee, tea, spirits, and light bites, The Upper Room offers a range of hands-on classes, providing patrons an opportunity to connect with friends and meet new people.

The cocktail menu highlights Black-owned spirits, featuring drinks like the Dyl (Bayab gin, spiced pear liqueur, lemon juice, butterfly pea, and St. Germaine) and the Fall of Eden (Uncle Nearest whiskey, Mercier apple butter, cherry liqueur, and bitters).

Every Friday, cocktail classes showcase a different Black-owned liquor brand, such as Reyalibre tequila and Uncle Nearest whiskey. Attendees learn about the brand’s history, the techniques of shaking versus stirring, and how to create signature cocktails using these spirits.

During fall, patrons can enjoy coffee-cupping classes that teach the different distinctions of coffee. The Upper Room also collaborates with Linwood Court Candles at Citizen Supply for candle-making classes where folks can enjoy a drink special of two cocktails for $25.

With its floral and greenery design, the 16-seat bar with cozy couches hopes to become the home away from home for locals.

“It feels like your favorite nook at home or the space you go in your grandma’s living room. It feels like comfort,” DeMesier said. “You can sit and stay awhile. It’s a friendly and open place.”

RELATED CONTENT: Killer Mike And T.I. Officially Reopen Atlanta’s Legendary Bankhead Seafood

Malcolm X, daughters, lawsuit, Ben Crump
by Daniel Johnson

November 16, 2024

Malcolm X’s Daughters Sue CIA, FBI, The New York Police Department Over Alleged Roles In His Death

Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Estate of Malcolm X, said the cover-up from multiple organizations spanned decades.

Three of the daughters of the late Malcolm X filed a $100 million lawsuit on Nov. 15, which accuses the FBI, CIA, and the New York Police Department, among other groups, of playing a role in the assassination of the civil and human rights activist in 1965.

According to The Associated Press, the lawsuit, filed in Manhattan federal court, alleges that the named defendants were aware of a plot against their father’s life and did not act to prevent it.

Nicolas Biase, a spokesperson for the Department of Justice, which was also a named defendant in the lawsuit, declined comment.

The NYPD and CIA did not respond to the AP’s requests for comment, and the FBI stated in an email that it is their “standard practice” not to comment on litigation.

Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Estate of Malcolm X, said in a press release that the cover-up from multiple organizations spanned decades.

“This cover-up spanned decades, blocking the Shabazz family’s access to the truth and their right to pursue justice,” Crump said. “We are making history by standing here to confront those wrongs and seeking accountability in the courts.”

In a news conference held on the same day as the filing of the lawsuit, Crump stood with members of the Shabazz family and said he hoped that city and federal officials would read the lawsuit “and learn all the dastardly deeds that were done by their predecessors and try to right these historic wrongs.”

According to the lawsuit, there was a “corrupt, unlawful, and unconstitutional” relationship between various law enforcement agencies and the “ruthless killers” that allowed for the assassination to take place.

In February 2023, the family announced their plans to seek a lawsuit, which they have now made good on.

JoAnna LeFlore-Ejike, executive director of the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation, supported Ilaysha Shabazz and the rest of the Shabazz family via a statement provided to the Nebraska Examiner.

According to LeFlore-Ejike, the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation “fully supports the Shabazz family in their quest for justice and an accurate historical account of Brother Malcolm’s life and his tragic assassination.”

Furthermore, the lawsuit filed by the family argues that the ties between the parties “went unchecked for many years and was actively concealed, condoned, protected, and facilitated by government agents.”

According to Al-Jazeera, Crump also summed up the family’s claim against the agencies at the news conference.

“We believe that they all conspired to assassinate Malcolm X, one of the greatest thought leaders of the 20th century,” Crump said.

He continued, “We are not just making history, but we’re making a path for justice. We believe, a precedent-setting path for justice for those who have been denied justice by the American legal system for far too long.”

The lawsuit follows decades of speculation and a review of the initial investigation ordered by the then-Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance in 2020.

Vance’s review resulted in the acquittals of two of the men who had been convicted of the murder of Malcolm X, Muhammad Aziz and Khalil Islam, after the probe into the investigation unearthed evidence that prosecutors, the NYPD, and the FBI withheld that could have cleared them.

The lawsuit also argues that as a result of the uncertainty around Malcolm X’s murder, his family has suffered for decades.

“They (the family) did not know who murdered Malcolm X, why he was murdered, the level of NYPD, FBI and CIA orchestration, the identity of the governmental agents who conspired to ensure his demise, or who fraudulently covered up their role.” The lawsuit continued, “The damage caused to the Shabazz family is unimaginable, immense, and irreparable.”

RELATED CONTENT: Daughters of Malcolm X Announce Plans to File $100M Lawsuit Against the NYPD, CIA, and FBI For Allegedly Hiding Evidence After the Assassination

LeBron James, lawsuit, Rez Ball, Netflix
by Daniel Johnson

November 16, 2024

LeBron James And Netflix Sued By Screenwriter Over ‘Rez Ball’ Film

Rob Grabow alleges that much of James' film comes from movie he wrote titled 'The Gift of the Game.'

Screenwriter and film producer Rob Grabow is suing Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, the production company James shares with Maverick Carter, the SpringHill Company, and Netflix over claims that the 2024 film “Rez Ball” comes from his intellectual property.

According to CBS Sports, Grabow alleges in his lawsuit that much of the film comes from a script he wrote for a movie titled “The Gift of the Game,” which tells the story of an Indigenous teenager who led his high school basketball team to a state championship.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Grabow’s lawsuit states, “There are numerous substantially and strikingly similar concrete and expressive elements in the two works’ plot, theme, dialogue, mood, setting, pace, characters and sequence of events.”

The lawsuit also alleges that Grabow reached out to filmmaker Brit Hansel, and although she passed on the project, allegedly shared details about Grabow’s film with a co-writer of “Rez Ball.”

According to the complaint, “In both the Infringing Work and the Original Work, the protagonist has a parent who was a star high school basketball player in the area where the film takes place; that parent set a state high school scoring record, received a Division I basketball scholarship but ultimately did not make it off the reservation to pursue college basketball.”

According to Variety, Grabow sent the script months after the film had wrapped production, which may not help his case.

Screen Rant reported that “Rez Ball” is inspired by two different true stories: the life of director Sydney Freeland and Michael Powell’s 2019 book, “Canyon Dreams: A Basketball Season on the Navajo Nation.“

Although Powell’s book is cited as a source of inspiration, Sterlin Harjo, a co-writer of the film, told Time Magazine that he never read the book. Instead, he referred to the director’s experience playing high school basketball when she played on a Navajo reservation growing up. Harjo and Freeland are both Indigenous.

“I didn’t need to read the book, it was from her (Freeland’s) community and she played basketball there,” Harjo said. “It was really about just telling a real story that we both connected to and felt authentic and real to us.”

Freeland added, “We don’t have professional sports teams back home, we don’t even have college teams. What you have is high school sports, and a lot of that fell onto basketball because that’s what a lot of indigenous communities excelled at.”

Neither Netflix nor James has commented publicly about the lawsuit, but according to The Hollywood Reporter, copyright law has been moving toward eliminating early dismissal of copyright infringement claims because reasonable minds can differ on whether or not two works are substantially similar.

RELATED CONTENT: LeBron James Admits He’s ‘Not Going To Play That Much Longer’ In NBA

T.I., Killer Mike, bankhead, seafood, business
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 16, 2024

T.I. And Killer Mike Officially Reopen Atlanta’s Legendary Bankhead Seafood

Bankhead Seafood closed in 2018 but was revitalized by the two Hip-Hop artists.

Michael “Killer Mike” Render and Clifford “T.I.” Harris will reopen Atlanta’s legendary Bankhead Seafood on Nov. 17.

Grammy Award-winning rapper Killer Mike took to Instagram recently to announce the restaurant’s relaunch and tease the delicious fried fish awaiting patrons.

“@BankheadSeafood is back, ATL! Doors open Sunday, Nov 17! Our Famous Fried fish (with Mustard and Hot sauce)and world’s best hush puppies just like y’all remember—AND now with revamped rooftop vibes + full bar,” Killer Mike wrote.

“Come through, bring your crew, and eat good on the Westside!”

Bankhead Seafood closed in 2018 but was revitalized by the two hip-hop artists. The restaurant, located in the historic Atlanta Westside, had been a beloved staple for 50 years before shutting down six years ago.

Killer Mile and T.I., both ATL natives, purchased the business about a year ago and teamed up with local businessman Noel Khalil, who died in October, to involve the community in the redevelopment process, Fox 5 Atlanta reports. After holding several community meetings to gather feedback, they successfully obtained approval to rezone a nearby property for extra parking.

The revamped eatery will see the return of beloved classics like fried fish served with mustard and hot sauce, along with its iconic “world’s best” hush puppies. The menu has also expanded under the leadership of Executive Chef Sabrina Thompson, who will introduce new grilled and steamed dishes, such as a five-pound seafood boil.

As for the design of the renovated restaurant, guests can enjoy a brand-new patio, a refurbished rooftop, and a full bar.

Killer Mike was on location early on the morning of Nov. 13, sweeping up leaves to show his dedication and pride in the new venture.

“It’s autumn in Atlanta … When people come in, there should be a clear pathway,” Mike told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I want ‘em to know somebody cares. And like my grandmama said, ‘If you need something to do, go sweep the porch.’”

RELATED CONTENT: T.I. And Killer Mike Team Up To Reopen Atlanta’s Bankhead Seafood In 2024

Mike Tyson, Jake Paul, Boxing, professional record, July 20, Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations
by Daniel Johnson

November 16, 2024

58-Year-Old Mike Tyson Defeated By Jake Paul, 27, In Unanimous Decision

The main event was lopsided, with critics saying Tyson looked every bit of his age.

Jake Paul, a YouTuber turned professional boxer, added Mike Tyson’s name to his list of unimpressive victories on Nov. 15 after the judges awarded him a win in what was essentially an exhibition match.

According to The Athletic, Netflix, which made a substantial investment in adding live sports to its portfolio, received backlash on social media for its unreliable streaming and technical issues during its broadcast of the event.

In the lead-up to the fight, in an appearance on CNN, Bomani Jones, the former host of HBO’s Game Theory, called the fight between the two men a “farce” and pointed to the public’s demand for the fight as a byproduct of a desire to see someone knock Paul out.

According to The Associated Press, the bout set a Texas record for combat sports and generated $18 million at the gate.

The record draw aside, the crowd was not pleased with the bout and what they were witnessing and booed as the fight’s action progressively got slower and slower.

The main event was lopsided and much more of a spectacle than a boxing contest, as Tyson looked every bit of his age.

The 58-year-old Tyson only managed to throw 97 punches over the eight two-minute rounds, while the 27-year-old Paul taunted and cajoled the much older and slower man.

The co-main event, by contrast, produced the best fight of the night, complete with a controversial decision from the judges.

Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano’s rematch of their 2022 bout, which was widely considered the fight of the year, was a thrilling contest between two top contenders and largely lived up to its billing.

Serrano and Taylor went to work in that fight, trading and exchanging combinations in flurries and flourishes of activity.

Although Taylor was docked a point for multiple headbutts and was out landed by over 100 punches, she ended up the victor by unanimous decision, which was met with a chorus of boos from the crowd at Arlington’s AT&T Stadium.

Due to its controversial ending, the Taylor-Serrano fight is likely to produce a third fight. However, Paul will likely continue to receive criticism for hand-picking opponents that he can very clearly beat in a boxing ring even as he appeared to advocate for a match with Canelo Alvarez, arguably boxing’s biggest draw after the fight with Tyson was over.

“Boxing fell off as an attraction for mainstream sports viewers a long time ago, and in this era of social media, viewers appear more excited to watch a YouTuber fight an almost 60-year-old former heavyweight champion than they are in watching a real fight between boxers who are relevant to the sport,” Keith Reed, a sportswriter and editor, wrote in an op-ed for MSNBC. “This strikes me as symptomatic of our culture’s rejection of skill, qualifications and experience as prerequisites for taking center stage — in any profession, from the president of the United States on down.”

RELATED CONTENT: Ultimate Mike Tyson-Jake Paul Boxing Match ‘Experience’ Will Run You $2M

mike tyson, teen reporter, legacy
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 16, 2024

Mike Tyson Goes Rogue When Teen Reporter Asks About His Legacy, ‘It Means Absolutely Nothing To Me’

Tyson offered a strikingly candid response when a 14-year-old asked about his legacy.

Mike Tyson was in full “Iron Mike” mode when a 14-year-old reporter interviewed him about his legacy.


Jazlyn Guerra, the young journalist behind Jazzys World TV, was at Tyson’s weigh-in with Jake Paul on Nov. 14 ahead of their highly anticipated match. She asked the former heavyweight champion what kind of “legacy” he hoped to leave behind. The question garnered a sinister response from Tyson, who gave the young teen an early lesson on how meaningless legacy is to a dead person.

“I don’t believe in the word ‘legacy.’ I think that’s another word for ego. Legacy doesn’t mean nothing,” he said. “That’s just some word everybody grabbed onto. Someone said that word and everyone grabbed on to that word, now it’s used every five seconds.”

“It means absolutely nothing to me. I’m just passing through,” Tyson added. “I’m gonna die and it’s gonna be over. Who cares about legacy after that?”

After a brief awkward pause, the Brownsville, Brooklyn, native continued his ominous rant.

“So I’m gonna die. I want people to think that I’m this, I’m great?” he continued. “No, we’re nothing. We’re just dead. We’re dust. We’re absolutely nothing. Our legacy is nothing.”

Guerra seemed momentarily taken aback by Tyson’s stark perspective on life but maintained her composure and graciously thanked the champ for his insights.

“Well thank you so much for sharing that,” she said. “That is something that I have not heard before.”

However, Tyson wasn’t done driving home his point about the insignificance of legacy.

“Can you really imagine somebody saying, ‘I want my legacy to be this way?’ You’re dead!” Tyson said. “Who the f— cares about me when I’m gone? My kids, maybe, or grandkids?”

The interview quickly went viral,l with many expressing concern for the young Guerra.

“Omg why did Mike say that to that little girl?” one X user wrote.

“This sh*t just changed the trajectory of her life,” one user wrote in response.

“You can see the youthfulness leave her during that interview,” added someone else. “Also who thought itd be a brilliant idea for a child to interview Tyson.”

RELATED CONTENT: Mike Tyson Invests In First-Of-Its-Kind Plant-Based Fast Food Chain

50 Cent, Louisiana
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

November 16, 2024

50 Cent Reacts To Louisiana Eliminating $150M Film Tax Credit, ‘Everything Happens For A Reason’

50 Cent remains optimistic about the outcome of Louisiana's decision to eliminate its $150 million film tax credit.

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson paused his online trolling to react to Louisiana’s rollback of film and television production tax credits.

On Nov. 13, Louisiana’s House of Representatives voted to repeal the $150 million film tax credit, known as House Bill 2, KSLA reports. As the bill heads to the Senate, 50 Cent addressed the news on social media, highlighting its potential impact on the media empire he established in Shreveport earlier this year.

“I know people in Shreveport are sick right now, stay positive everything happens for a reason,” the hip-hop artist captioned a repost of a news clip. “I want to thank you for supporting me with Humor Harmony having zero violent crimes for 16 days, believe it or not that made that event one of my biggest accomplishments.”

The news clip he shared features Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux acknowledging that the tax credit cut is “not a lot of good news.'” He said that he and Senate members are collaborating on a resolution. The Mayor also highlighted how the change could affect 50 Cent’s efforts with his G-Unit Studios, which he established in Shreveport due to Louisiana’s film tax credit.

“I think we’ve all been looking at each other like… He has not indicated that that’s an absolute deal killer,” Arceneaux said. “But he came here for that. Well, he came here to film and obviously, that’s a part of the calculus of that.”

“So yes, it likely will have an impact on some of his decisions,” he added.

50 Cent’s response follows a private meeting last month with the Mayor and Governor to address the proposed tax cut. His successful Humor and Harmony Weekend brought a significant boost to Shreveport’s local economy and small businesses. The event showcased the rapper’s star power, drawing an impressive lineup of talent, including Dave Chappelle, musical performances by Master P, DaBaby, and Flo Rida, as well as a celebrity basketball game featuring Bow Wow, Andrew Johnson, 2 Chainz, and more.

Louisiana’s $150 million film tax credit was a crucial factor in Jackson’s decision to establish G-Unit Studios in Shreveport. Mayor Tom Arceneaux and the Shreveport City Council have strongly backed the credit, unanimously passing resolutions to encourage lawmakers to protect and expand it.

The tax credit positioned Louisiana as a leading destination for filmmakers, drawing numerous productions to the state. Over the past decade, it has hosted more than 700 projects, including films and TV series such as “Interview with the Vampire,” “National Treasure,” “Nickel Boys,” and “The Iron Claw,” among others.

Amid criticism from the local film community, several legislators pledged on the House floor to collaborate with the state Senate and the Governor’s office to preserve incentives for the entertainment industry.

“There’s a lot of panic about what we’re doing here,” said Rep. Steven Jackson, a Democrat from Shreveport, said.

“We have to get to a point where we’re more competitive to attract business so we stop losing our people,” said Rep. Julie Emerson, the Republican chair of the Ways and Means Committee. “We’re the only state in the South that’s losing population.”

RELATED CONTENT: 50 Cent Claims Omari Hardwick ‘Overvalues Himself’

howard basketball, investment, Kaleena Smith
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

November 16, 2024

Candace Parker Signs Kaleena Smith As First High Schooler With Adidas NIL Deal

The Ontario Christian High School sophomore is Parker's first signing as president of adidas Woman's Basketball.

A high school basketball player signed an NIL (name, likeness, and image) deal with sporting giant adidas to become the first to ink a deal with the German company. WNBA legend Candace Parker announced that the brand signed basketball high school prospect Kaleena Smith. This is the first athlete signed by Parker, the president of adidas Woman’s Basketball.

“I embrace any opportunity to challenge myself and improve my game, and I believe that’s what has fostered the confidence and skill I have on the court,” said Kaleena Smith in a written statement. “I’m blessed to be part of something Candace is creating and to get to do that with a brand like adidas who is taking a different approach to play a role to help grow the game for players like me. Plus, I’m really excited to get to rock the Harden sneakers this season.”

What’s amazing about Smith is that she is only in her second year in high school. The Ontario Christian High School sophomore is the top prospect in the Class of 2027. She was a member of the 2024 USA Women’s U17 National Team and named the 2023-2024 Girls Basketball MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year.

“When I think about the future of women’s basketball, it’s clear it’s in good hands with hoopers like Kaleena,” said Parker. “Not only is she a tenacious competitor on the court, she’s also someone who understands what’s required off it and is committed to putting in the work. We couldn’t be prouder to welcome her to the sisterhood of talented women who make up adidas Women’s Basketball.”

Along with Smith’s NIL arrangement, the sneaker brand will also sponsor her high school and AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) teams. Because of the partnership, the AAU team is joining the 3SSB Circuit.

RELATED CONTENT: College Softball Standout NiJaree Canady Reportedly Lands ‘Unprecedented’ NIL Deal

Dr. Henry W. B. “Hank” Smith III, Cardiologist
by Jeffrey McKinney

November 15, 2024

Retired Cardiologist Now Helping Black Americans Build Wealth And Improve Health

The extra capital will be aimed at boosting the well-being status for Black Americans.

A  medical care trailblazer and retired cardiologist, Dr. Henry W. B. “Hank” Smith III, is renowned for helping save the lives of people for nearly four decades.

Now, Smith is making another large contribution in assisting the Black community with building wealth and realizing other positive outcomes like enhancing health.

One of the first Black American cardiologists in Greensboro, North Carolina, Smith hung up his stethoscopes this past January. He had a  practice for 39 years,  retiring from Cone Health HeartCare. He told BLACK ENTERPRISE that he is spending his days encouraging collective giving to make the Black Investments in Greensboro (BIG) Equity Fund stronger financially.

MAKING AN IMPACT IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY WITH FUNDING

A Black-led permanent endowment at the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, the fund was founded by Mae Douglas, Smith, and 10 other Black community leaders in 2019. They serve on its steering committee. Today it is worth $1.5 million, and the fund’s mission is to improve education, health, and economic conditions in Greensboro and Guilford County in North Carolina.

“Grants are made to fund programs and alliances that accomplish these goals.”

Demonstrating his support, Smith shared he and his wife, Cheryl, contributed around $110,000 to the fund and continue to give yearly. The Smiths live in Greensboro.

The first grant of $50,000 was made last year as the fund grew to provide short-term capital for Black contractors to buy surety bonding to allow bids for work projects. Smith says a second grant – likely for $100,000 –  will be made later this year or early 2025 to support apprentice programs for Black and underserved high school students. Learn more about the fund here.

AIMING TO DERAIL SYSTEMIC BARRIERS AND DISPARITY

As the fund grows, the extra capital will be aimed at boosting the well-being status for its recipients. With collective philanthropy, he says the fund’s growth is dependent upon continued contributions and market appreciation. “The grants will be upstream investments to remove systemic barriers that cause and perpetuate Black socioeconomic disparity.”

However, Smith’s desire to give back did not come easy. He developed a love for interventional cardiology after graduating from Harvard Medical School in 1978 and Morehouse College in 1974.

BECOMING A TOP CARDIOLOGIST AFTER CONQUERING OBSTACLES

He gravitated toward cardiology because of the high incidence of cardiovascular disease in America, specifically among African Americans. Smith says Morehouse repaired his low self-esteem and helped him understand that a career in medicine was possible.

He recalls there were no Black physicians in Statesboro, Georgia, where he grew up, and only a few white doctors seeing Blacks. He noted Blacks had to enter the office through the back door after all white patients were seen. “There were no role models. I did not consider medicine until after entering Morehouse and being nurtured by the HBCU environment, faculty, and  fellow students.”

On the pioneering front, Smith was an early adopter of using balloon and stent procedures for stopping heart attacks. He says “balloon angioplasty” was unproven when he first became a cardiologist but has evolved to become the treatment of choice for heart attacks and remains so today.

Further, Smith shared all his heart attack cases during the early years were tough because the equipment was primitive. However, he says things improved significantly during the late 1980s and early 1990s. “There are still improvements being made today, including doing most of the cases.

RELATED CONTENT: Cardiologist Breaks Barriers To Improve Women’s Healthcare

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