Dr. Dianah Lake, Fit Boss Fitness, Health and Wellness, Women of Power, Black Physicians

by Daron Pressley

February 3, 2024

Empowering High-Income Earning Women: Dr. Dianah Lake Advocates For Holistic Self-Care And Financial Wellness

"Women think of self-care and envision a massage or spa, but that's just one aspect. Self-care includes financial self-care, emotional self-care, and more," says Dr. Lake.

In the dynamic landscape of today’s business environment, businesswomen navigate a myriad of roles and obligations. Unfortunately, professional success sometimes relegates health and fitness to a secondary role. Dr. Dianah Lake, a renowned emergency medicine physician and wellness coach, understands the unique challenges that high-income-earning women grapple with, the delicate balance between finances and fitness.

According to a McKinsey Health Institute Study, women will spend 25% more time in poor health than men. The same study says that investments addressing the women’s health gap could boost the global economy by $1 trillion annually by 2040.

Harmonizing health and fitness aspirations with professional objectives is paramount. Achieving this equilibrium is crucial for women in the workforce and instrumental in fostering improved overall well-being and career accomplishments.

Dr. Lake recently spoke to BLACK ENTERPRISE and shed light on the importance of comprehensive self-care, emphasizing that it goes beyond spa days and massages. Dr. Lake passionately discussed the seven areas of self-care, including financial, emotional, spiritual, physical, recreational, and intellectual well-being.

Dr. Lake’s Transformative Journey

Opening up about her transformative journey, Dr. Lake said, “The whole transformation to fitness and self-care came from a low place. I was going through a divorce, dealing with a new diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and ADHD for my younger son, and mourning the recent death of my dad. Meanwhile, I was managing people in the ER, taking care of them, and my life felt like it was falling apart.”

Dr. Lake’s struggles catalyzed her mission to empower high-achieving women facing similar challenges.

“Women think of self-care and envision a massage or spa, but that’s just one aspect. Self-care includes financial self-care, emotional self-care, and more,” she adds.

Dr. Lake stressed the importance of recognizing that self-care is not just about physical well-being but encompasses a holistic approach to living a fulfilling life.

Suicide Rates Among Female Physicians: A Silent Crisis

A critical concern within the high-income-earning demographic is suicide rates among female physicians. Dr. Lake reveals a startling statistic: “Suicide deaths are 250-400% higher among female physicians when compared to females in other professions.”

Sadly, many physicians suffer silently from depression, but few talk about it or seek help.

Dr. Lake highlights the broader issue within the medical community, stating, “Physicians, in general, have the highest suicide rates in the United States, with 300 to 400 physicians taking their own lives annually.

Physicians’ challenges, particularly in high-stress fields like emergency medicine, include long hours, lack of prioritization of physician wellness, and the pervasive culture that often prioritizes work over well-being.

The Financial-Wellness Nexus: Aligning Finances With Holistic Self-Care

One of the critical aspects Dr. Lake emphasizes is the connection between financial stability and overall well-being. She articulated this link by stating, “If you want to have 6-7 vacations a year, then your financial self-care has to be to support your recreational self-care.” Integrating financial goals into the broader scope of self-care becomes paramount in her coaching programs.

“One primary challenge that affluent women face is the potential neglect of personal financial planning amidst their demanding careers,” emphasizes Dr. Lake. “The journey towards financial wellness involves accumulating wealth and leveraging it effectively to enhance overall well-being.”

Dr. Lake believes financial wellness is integral to a holistic self-care journey for women in high-stress, high-stakes professions.

Overcoming Obstacles For High-Income Earning Women

Addressing the specific challenges of high-income earning women, Dr. Lake revealed that many of her clients are physicians and dentists.

She noted, “The perceived lack of time is a common obstacle for them. Many of these women feel stretched thin, managing successful careers while neglecting their health and well-being.”

Dr. Lake recognizes that these women are not merely seeking a quick fix or generic self-care advice. Instead, they require a tailored approach that aligns with their hectic schedules and high-stakes careers. Dr. Lake addresses this by guiding her clients through a self-care audit, helping them identify areas that need attention, and restructuring their priorities.

“The self-care audit involves a comprehensive evaluation of how my clients allocate their time,” Dr. Lake tells BE. “My goal is to help redefine their priorities, establish boundaries, and introduce the concept of micro-self-care.”

Dr. Lake says setting boundaries, managing time effectively, and aligning actions with overarching life goals are a must to achieve a sustainable balance.

black unemplyment, stress, ennui, dissatisfatcion

by Derek Major

February 3, 2024

U.S. Labor Market Adds 353,000 Jobs In January As Black Unemployment Hits Historic Low

The U.S. labor market added 353,000 jobs in January, continuing an upward trend and significantly outpacing expectations as Black unemployment hits a historic low.

The January total brings the 2023 monthly job gain average to 255,000. The January gains are almost double what forecasters expected, a sign of the surprising economic strength and gross domestic product measurements for the fourth quarter of 2023. Average hourly earnings were also on the rise.

“We were expecting about half that number, so it’s good news,” Council of Economic Advisers member Kirabo Jackson told BLACK ENTERPRISE. “Another big headline is the unemployment rate remains below 4%. This is now the second consecutive year that has been the case, and it’s a record we haven’t seen in over 50 years. Another nice piece of the story here is overall, we’re seeing positive wage growth, which is outpacing the recent rate of inflation, which means that paychecks are growing faster than prices, which is good for the American employee and the American consumer.”

President Joe Biden and V.P. Kamala Harris have turned a 14% unemployment rate at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic into one of the best job markets in the county’s history. Additionally, the administration has found a way to avoid what many were saying was a 100% chance that the economy would dip into a recession. Jackson also pointed out that the U.S. economy is doing much better than other nations, including China and Europe.

“We’ve added 3 million jobs in 2023 alone, which is way better than anything we’ve seen in the previous four years,” said Jackson. “Just to add another piece of context, if you look at how we did in relation to other nations and our colleagues in Europe, we’ve had about twice as much growth and percentage terms as far as our colleagues on the other side, so overall we’re doing very well.”

Black Americans are also feeling the success of the labor market. While the national unemployment rate is at 3.7%, Black unemployment is at a record low 4.8%, the lowest it’s been since Black unemployment has been tracked.

“We’ve not seen an unemployment rate for African Americans this low since the data has been collected, so this is certainly something to be very happy about, but having said that, the work is not done,” said Jackson. “There’s still a lot of work that we’re doing to try to bring that number even lower and in the idea there’d be no difference between the unemployment rate for white Americans and Black Americans so we’re doing a lot to invest in African-American communities which has been a key part of this administration’s transition to clean energy.”

Jackson added that more than two-thirds of new energy jobs are in minority-majority areas, and it’s part of a concerted effort to diversify the labor market and new positions. The Biden Administration is also working on diversifying the number of individuals who receive small business loans from the Small Business Administration and government contracts.

“So this is a concerted effort to build wealth and create opportunities in communities of color the numbers, and we’re seeing this in the extraordinarily low unemployment numbers that we’ve seen in the past few years,” Jackson told BE.

deputy, black man shot, ohio, holster, police shooting, Mississippi

by Sharelle Burt

February 3, 2024

Opening Arguments Alleged Casey Goodson Jr. Was Holding A Sandwich And Keys When Shot By Ohio Sheriff’s Deputy

The 23 year old was shot six times -- five times in his back.

Opening arguments in the Casey Goodson Jr. case revealed he was holding a sandwich and keys at the time of the deputy-involved shooting.

On Jan. 31, former Ohio sheriff’s deputy Jason Meade sat in a courtroom as his defense team and prosecutors painted a picture for the jury of what happened in 2020. The white officer pleaded not guilty to murder and reckless homicide in the death of Goodson, who was Black. The 23-year-old was shot six times – five times in his back – after the sheriff’s deputy entered the victim’s grandmother’s house.

Special prosecutor Gary Shroyer told the jury that Goodson did have a gun holster on his hip, something his family never disputed, as he was a licensed firearm carrier. Also, being found with Airpods in his ears, Shroyer said Goodson was never a threat to Meade. “Casey did not pose a reasonable threat to him or anybody else at the moment when he pulled the trigger,” Shroyer said.

With the officer aiming at “vital organs” with an assault-style rifle, the prosecutor claims Meade’s actions could be looked at as intentional in causing Goodson’s death. Meade later pursued Goodson to his grandmother’s house, where he said the victim turned to lift his gun and aimed it at the deputy, causing Meade to fire.

Stephens continued saying the victim did not adhere to warnings to stop and drop his weapon, and the officer feared for his life and the safety of others. “You have to look at the totality of the circumstances,” Stephens told the jury. “Officers on the beat are not afforded the luxury of hindsight.”

However, prosecutors say the gun in question was later found in the victim’s kitchen – with the safety on, according to The Associated Press. No evidence of the shooting was presented, as Meade was not wearing a body camera at the time.

Goodson’s family filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office. The suit claims the office failed to investigate claims of unreasonable force against its Black residents. It also alleges the force failed to train deputies on how to fire guns at civilians – targeting African Americans.

The suit was paused by a federal judge due to the ongoing criminal case. Meade alleged defending himself in both cases would put him in a no-win situation. After Meade’s attorneys fought to have their client’s case tried in federal court, in February 2022, a federal judge ruled that at the time of the shooting, Meade was not acting in his U.S. marshal role, and the murder case was to remain in state court.

by Stacy Jackson

February 3, 2024

Mom Returns Home After Receiving Heart Transplant Year After Delivering Son

The new mom experienced spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), a rare heart condition causing tears in the arteries feeding the heart muscle.

Naiya Atkins has endured an arduous medical journey since giving birth to her son one year ago in February 2023. The first-time mother from New Jersey is heading home after receiving a lifesaving heart transplant.

Against harrowing odds, ABC News reported that Atkins received a new heart on Jan. 6 after less than three weeks on the waitlist.

The new mom experienced a condition called spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), a rare heart condition causing tears in the arteries feeding the heart muscle.

“I just felt lightheaded, hot, cold,” Atkins recounted in an interview with WABC. “But you know, I’m attributing it to ‘I’m a new mom.'” Her journey began a little over two weeks — 17 days — after she delivered her son Joseph Zion Griffith, who is now one year old.

SCAD plunged Atkins into a medical rollercoaster. She was intermittently hospitalized over several months as doctors fought to preserve her failing heart. The battle reached its lowest in November when her physician delivered the grave news that a transplant was necessary. Atkins was sent to Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, where she spent the next two months, according to ABC News.

“I couldn’t believe it … I had only been on the list for less than three weeks,” she said, according to the news source. While Atkins soldiered through her fight, her husband, Tristan Griffith, raised baby Joseph.

“You live your life a certain way…and then things happen,” Griffith reflected on the complications she endured after giving birth. Now, the reunited family can embrace Atkins’ return and the chance for her to experience the joys of motherhood at home finally. “I made it through,” she declared.

Symptoms of SCAD might include dizziness, pain or pressure in the chest, shortness of breath, an upset stomach, and others, according to the Mayo Clinic.

by Sharelle Burt

February 3, 2024

‘He’s Losing It’: Al Sharpton Thinks Trump’s Mind Is Fading

Sharpton feels it is time for Trump to wrap his reign up.

People seem to think there is something wrong with Donald Trump lately – including Rev. Al Sharpton.

While appearing on MSNBC’s Morning Joe,” the civil rights activist told host Joe Scarborough he thinks Trump is “losing it,” The Hill reported. Scarborough went through a timeline of Trump’s latest rhetoric and legal battles – including being ordered to pay E. Jean Carroll over $83 million and being oddly quiet on his opponent Nikki Haley – Sharpton added that Americans are seeing him decline. “I think that it is certainly that, but I also think that it goes with the fact that he’s losing it,” Sharpton said.

“Because let’s not forget, he ran against a woman in ’16 named Hillary Clinton, right? He had no problem. He’s losing it.”

.@TheRevAl: "He's losing it— The openings are there for Trump. He can’t get there. His mind is not there anymore, and they need to take him out the ring before he gets knocked out." pic.twitter.com/qYkqpMKgJK
— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) February 2, 2024

Sharpton feels it is time for Trump to wrap his reign up, comparing his thoughts to a conversation he once had with the late great Muhammad Ali. Towards the end of the legendary boxer’s career, Ali told Sharpton when he knew it was time to retire. “Ali told me one day, toward the end of his career, ‘I saw the openings, and I just couldn’t get the punch there. I just couldn’t,’” Sharpton remembered.

“The openings are there for Trump. He can’t get there; his mind is not there anymore. And they need to take him out of the ring before he gets knocked out.”

He may have a point. Adamant about not dropping out of the GOP race, Haley pointed the finger to Trump’s age as a factor of why he can’t run the White House properly, according to CNN. She reminded Jake Tapper during an interview of Trump’s “temper tantrum” after his victory in New Hampshire as well as questioned her former boss’ morality.

But President Joe Biden wasn’t far from receiving Haley’s wrath either. The former U.S. ambassador said it is “absurd” for the country to be stuck with two 80-year-old candidates – Biden is 81 and Trump is 77.

RELATED CONTENT: Tim Scott Stumps For Trump In ABC News Interview

by Atiya Jordan

February 3, 2024

NYC Medical Records Show Misstep Leading To 30-Year-Old Mother’s Death After Childbirth, Family Suing For $41M

Christine Fields, who recently received her college degree in criminal justice, leaves behind her 3-month-old son, a 3 year old and a 5 year old.

The New York City Health Department has released a document uncovering the highly sought-after details leading to last year’s death of a 30-year-old mother, The New York Times reported.

Christine Fields was a mother of three. She died last November at Woodhull Medical Center in the Bedford–Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, shortly after going into labor. When doctors performed a last-minute cesarean section on Fields due to the baby’s dropping heart rate, everything seemed fine, and the baby was born hours later. Then, events turned tragic when Fields died. The incident was shrouded in mystery as the hospital did not offer any medical records to provide a reason for Fields’ death. Seeking answers, the Bed-Study community rallied in Fields’ name.

This cannot continue. #JusticeforChristineFields #StandForChristine pic.twitter.com/fl1PGEeiDx
— Irth (@IrthApp) November 17, 2023

According to The Times, the medical examiner’s office revealed that Fields bled to death and ruled the manner of death as a complication. A new document, provided to the news outlet, reported a miscommunication between members of the surgical team who conducted the C-section. The surgeons did not accurately note the complications that had arisen during surgery. The report pointed out complications such as a “uterine arterial injury,” which “resulted in maternal death.”

Fields’ fiancé, Jose Perez, told The Times that the doctors rushed Fields into a recovery room after he noticed she was unwell. Doctors performed CPR, but it was too late to address the complications.

Consequently, Fields’ family has filed a $41 million lawsuit against Woodhull Hospital and the New York City Health and Hospital system, ABC 7 New York reported. The complaint accused Woodhull and the health department of being “careless and negligent in the medical care and treatment rendered” to Fields and her baby son.

“I’m angry, I’m hurt, I’m upset,” Fields’ mother Denene Witherspoon told ABC 7. Witherspoon remained adamant about her daughter’s choice about not wanting to have a surgery. Fields had planned to have a natural birth.

Fields, who recently received her college degree in criminal justice, leaves behind her 3-month-old son, Anuel Perez, a 3-year-old, and a 5-year-old. Her untimely passing immediately after giving birth in November highlights persistent inequities in maternal mortality.

Black History Month, W.E.B. DuBpis, Carter G. Woodson

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 3, 2024

Target Pulls Book Mislabeling W.E.B. Du Bois, Booker T. Washington, and Carter G. Woodson In Black History Month Gaffe

“I get it, mistakes happen. But this needs to be corrected ASAP.”

In an attempt to celebrate Black History Month, Target was selling a book that got it completely wrong when labeling historic Black figures.

According to The New York Daily News, the retailer committed a huge mistake while trying to sell a book that misidentified several of our Black luminaries. The store didn’t catch the error found by someone who filmed a TikTok post to chastise Target for allowing the mistakes to be in the book. The book titled Civil Rights Magnetic Learning Activity needed to learn who they were labeling in their book.

The TikTok user who caught the glaring errors, @Issatete, made a video pointing out the mistakes. She brought attention to the fact that the book’s publishers did not correctly identify W.E.B. Du Bois, Booker T. Washington, and Carter G. Woodson in their book. As she went through the illustrations, she pointed out the blunders made by the bookmakers.

“This is not Carter G. Wilson. This is W.E.B. Du Bois,” @Issatete verifies as she refers to the illustration showing the error. “Peep the ‘stache. They got the name wrong.”

She gives them a little grace after calling out the other figures they labeled incorrectly, but she also said, “I get it, mistakes happen. But this needs to be corrected ASAP.”

@issatete Idk who needs to correct it but it needs to be pulled off the shelves nontheless. Any person could have missed the mistake but it just takes one person to point it out and ask for corrections #blackhistory #blackhistorymonth #blacktiktok ♬ original sound – Issa tete

The young lady, who stated she was a teacher, posted a second video informing everyone that she had not heard back from Target or Bendon Publishing, the company that released the book. However, she did thank TMZ and the people who tagged Target to try to get the book removed.

“I’m a U.S. history teacher,” she said. “I was not going to let that slide.”

Target eventually released a statement assuring people that the products were no longer available for sale and that the book’s publisher had been contacted about their mistakes.

“We will no longer be selling this product in stores or online. We’ve also ensured the product’s publisher is aware of the errors,” Target said in a statement to The Daily News.

by Sharelle Burt

February 3, 2024

Fani Willis Admits To Relationship With Prosecutor Hired In Trump’s Election Case – Will It Affect The Case?

We're still rooting for you, Fani!

The cat is out of the bag – Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has admitted to having a personal relationship with prosecutor Nathan Wade.

But will it affect her role in Donald Trump’s Georgia election interference case?

Willis argued no in-court filings on Feb. 2. There are no grounds to dismiss the case or to remove her from the prosecution. This was the first time Willis and Wade addressed the allegations head-on since being accused in early January 2024. According to the affidavit and the filing, Wade said his and Willis’s relationship started in 2022 as an add-on to their “professional association and friendship.”

The DA hired Wade in November 2021 to help in her investigation into finding out if Trump and other lawmakers broke laws by attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Since Wade’s hiring, the duo indicted Trump and 18 others named in the case.

In defense of his relationship with Willis, Wade claimed he never shared a home, financial accounts, or household expenses with her. He described both himself and Willis as “financially independent professionals; expenses or personal travel were roughly divided equally between us.”

He argued all funds paid to him pertaining to the job were never shared with Willis, as a defense lawyer pushed claims of conflict of interest. “I have no financial interest in the outcome of the 2020 election interference case or in the conviction of any defendant,” Willis said.

But Trump case co-defendant Michael Roman claims something different. Roman “wildly speculates” that Willis “benefited financially from the investigation and prosecution of this criminal case, but provides no support to justify that conclusion,” according to NBC News.

The filings continue to argue that motions to disqualify Willis and Wade “are salacious and garnered the media attention they were designed to obtain.” However, accusations made by Trump and Roman were dismissed. “District Attorney Willis has no financial conflict of interest that constitutes a legal basis for disqualification,” the filings read. “District Attorney Willis has no personal conflict of interest that justifies her disqualification personally or that of the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office.”

In response to the news, Trump jumped on his social platform, Truth Social, adding pressure to the Fulton County prosecutors and calling the case against him “a scam” that is “totally discredited & over!”

“Apparently, the DA believes she can make public out-of-court statements about race, this case, and the defendants whenever she wants, and the Court is powerless to punish her by disqualification,” Trump’s attorney, Steve Sadow, said.

“Such hubris for all to see. Nothing has changed. Our requested remedy remains clear: dismiss the case and disqualify the DA, together with her team and office, from any related matters.”

by Selena Hill

February 3, 2024

“The Harlem Hellfighters,” A New Documentary About Unsung Black WWI Heroes, to Premiere on the HISTORY Channel

Executive produced and narrated by “Good Morning America” co-anchor Robin Roberts, the documentary tells the story of a brave African American military unit that faced grueling battles both abroad and in their homeland

One of the greatest untold Black American World War I stories will be featured on The HISTORY Channel on Sunday. Titled The Harlem Hellfighters, the one-hour documentary explores the little-known history of the extraordinary leadership, sacrifice, and courage of the 15th New York National Guard – an all-Black military unit that later became part of the 369^th Infantry and one of the best military regiments of WWI.

The Harlem Hellfighters played a pivotal role in helping France, an American ally, defeat Germany in 1918 and preserve democracy. The Black soldiers served 191 days in front-line combat, fearlessly fighting the Germans longer than any other American regiment of WWI. They never lost ground to the Germans or had a man taken prisoner. However, the regiment lost 1,400 men – nearly half of their unit – and endured severe causalities. Their fearless fighting earned them France’s highest military medal and the nickname “Harlem Hellfighters” by their terrified German enemies. Yet, despite their tremendous sacrifice, the servicemen did not receive the recognition or respect they deserved. Instead, they were met with racially charged violence, discrimination, and segregation when they returned home to the United States.

“The story of the Harlem Hellfighters is one that showcases tremendous courage and sacrifice that has been largely overlooked. That changes now,” said Good Morning America co-anchor Robin Roberts, who executive produced and narrated the documentary. After recently becoming aware of their rich history, Roberts says she wanted to bring the story to life.

“My father was a Tuskegee Airman, and I’m very proud that many people are aware of what they did in World War II. When the History Channel approached me about the Harlem Hellfighters, I did not know who they were. And when I did more research and found that these incredibly brave courageous men, what they did in World War I, I felt just as a proud military brat that I am, I wanted more people to celebrate them, to know about their heroism, and know their story,” Robins told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

The Harlem Hellfighters features archival footage and imagery from the period as well as interviews from notable historians, professors, authors, and descendants of key figures of the military unit, including Sergeant Henry Johnson and James Reese Europe, a prominent American bandleader-turned-soldier who is largely credited for bringing jazz to France.

Robins said that she hopes viewers walk away with a sense of “celebration of the act of bravery of the Harlem Hellfighters.”

“They were claiming a stake to this country. They were loving it when it didn’t love them back,” she added.

This marks the second time that Roberts partnered with the HISTORY Channel to executive produce and narrate a documentary about Black war heroes. In 2021, the channel released Tuskegee Airmen: Legacy of Courage, a documentary that explored the legendary group of African American pilots who helped end segregation in the military.

Watch The Harlem Hellfighters on the HISTORY Channel on Sunday, February 4 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The documentary will stream the next day on history.com, The HISTORY Channel app, and across major TV providers’ VOD platforms. For more information, visit: https://www.history.com/specials/harlem-hellfighters.

Cleveland Council, Tanisha's Law, Mental Health Crises, police

by Stacy Jackson

February 2, 2024

25-Year-Old Mother Still Missing After Jan. 14 911 Call

Marissa Carmichael, 25, was last seen at an Exxon gas station in Greensboro, North Carolina at 3:46 a.m.

A 25-year-old mother identified as Marissa Carmichael is still missing after making a “distressed” 911 call from an Exxon gas station in Greensboro, NC on Jan. 14.

In the call obtained by ABC News, the woman said a man had driven off and left her stranded without her phone or any contacts, according to the news source.

She was last seen at 3:46 a.m. Though officers from the Greensboro Police Department (GPD) arrived at the scene located at 809 East Market St shortly after, Carmichael was already gone.

According to the incident report, Carmichael told the dispatcher during the two-minute phone call, “I don’t know where I am in Greensboro.” The resident of High Point, which is located 25 minutes from Greensboro, also said: “I just got all my stuff threw out the car, he took off with my phone. I have no clue where I’m at.” She referred to the man who allegedly left her only as “he.”

Carmichael’s mother, Sara Kay Carmichael — who filed the missing persons report — identified a potential suspect to police. But his name has not been released at this time.

A GPD spokesperson said, “Detectives are continuing to actively pursue all leads” but details are limited due to the ongoing investigation. Though two weeks have passed since her disappearance, the GPD said its officers are “actively attempting to locate Ms. Carmichael.”

Carmichael was previously described as being five feet and four inches tall, weighing 260 pounds. The missing woman was also described as having long black and blonde braids. She has a heart face tattoo and a butterfly near her eye. She was last seen wearing a white Tweety Bird shirt, jeans, and yellow sneakers.

Authorities urge anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers at 336-373-1000. The public pleas for help locating Carmichael continue, as her mother and police search for answers to her sudden disappearance.