September 30, 2025 • 59 mins
This week on the Black Perspective, Alexandria Ikomoni returns with part two of her sit-down with the OMG Girlz, where they open up about their new music, upcoming tour, and what’s next for the group.
Misty Jordan talks with Mathew Knowles — father of global superstar Beyoncé — about his battle with cancer and his work as a Global Ambassador for ZERO Prostate Cancer.
Esther Dillard sits down with Kimberly Minor, CEO and changemaker, to discuss a brand-new summit creating opportunities for women.
Andrea Coleman speaks with Dr. Angelica Geter, a public health expert, about how the new administration is reshaping health policy and its impact on communities.
And Teri McCready is back with part two of her series "Reading the Room," this week featuring award-winning author Jerry Craft.
Listen now!
Misty Jordan talks with Mathew Knowles — father of global superstar Beyoncé — about his battle with cancer and his work as a Global Ambassador for ZERO Prostate Cancer.
Esther Dillard sits down with Kimberly Minor, CEO and changemaker, to discuss a brand-new summit creating opportunities for women.
Andrea Coleman speaks with Dr. Angelica Geter, a public health expert, about how the new administration is reshaping health policy and its impact on communities.
And Teri McCready is back with part two of her series "Reading the Room," this week featuring award-winning author Jerry Craft.
Listen now!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's Sunday, September twenty first, and on today's show, Alexandria
Ickamonia's back as she sits down with the OMG Girls
to talk about new music, a new tour, and more.
In part two of their interview, Mister Jordan sat down
with the father of worldwide superstar Beyonce, Matthew Knowles to
discuss his battle with cancer and his being a global
(00:20):
ambassador of zero Prostate Cancer Esther Dillard sits down with
CEO Kimberly Miner to talk about a brand new summit
helping women with opportunities the Black Information Networks. Andrea Coleman
sat down with doctor Angelica Jeter, a public health expert,
to learn more about changes to the health community with
this new administration. Terry McCready talks to author Jerry Kraft
(00:44):
as she is back with part two of her new
series called Reading the Room. These stories and more are
coming your way. On today's program, Welcome to the Black Perspective.
I'm your host Mike Island.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Welcome to the Black Perspective, a weekly community of fairstrom
on the Black Information Network featuring interviews and discussions on
issues important to the black community.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Good Sunday and welcome to the Black Perspective. The OEMG Girls,
the group overseen by Tamika Tiny Harris, which includes her
and t I's daughter Zanique, as well as other members
Brianna and Vasia. They're back with part two of their
conversation with Alexandria Ikamoni.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
I love it.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Now, let's talk about if not for my Girls trip,
what was it like filming for the season.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
It was so much fun. We got a trip to Miami,
we got to be together.
Speaker 5 (01:33):
Yeah, love hanging out and being together, taking trips together.
And we also got to perform on the Coca Cola
stage at Essence, And I mean it was just an
overall great experience, right, Yeah, for sure, for sure. What
was it like working and being a part of this
with Regenent Carter as well?
Speaker 6 (01:50):
Well, you know, Nay is like one of the one
of the founding members of so it definitely we're always
around these around her, you know, just period in real life.
But it was cool to have that exp with her
and to be able to do that, and we just
had a great time.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
It was a lot of fun. It was a lot
of fun. I love that would get money together and
you're in Miami.
Speaker 4 (02:16):
Yeah, so let's talk about anything maybe on the show
or in the season that you feel like didn't get
to be properly portrayed from you guys, or what do
you want people to know from that that they might
not have gotten to see from that experience.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
I think, honestly, I.
Speaker 6 (02:34):
Think it would have been dope if my sister could
have been a part too, you know what I mean,
because she I don't know. I just felt like it
was just such like a nostalgia thing. It was like
the four of us was there, you know what I mean,
And my sister also was in a group.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
But I think I don't think that it was really anything.
Speaker 6 (02:51):
I think that everything that was shown it pretty much
covered it. It covered the friendship, It covered how we
operate around each other, and even, like Bri said, those
bonds in moments that we had, it was a special
moment that her emerging they had. I think that that
was important. So I think it all came together really dope.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
It really did really well.
Speaker 4 (03:09):
Yeah, it was perfect. But that's good to hear too.
Sometimes with shows it can be twist. Yeah, oh yeah, yeah,
so that's really good to hear. Now, let's get personal
since we're talking about bonding and family and all that
good stuff. So it's Donny starting with you. How is
mom life?
Speaker 5 (03:23):
Oh, mom life is wonderful. Honestly, mom life and work
life is a little hard. I'm starting to understand, like
you know, moms, even my mom, like, yeah, how.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
Are you doing it? Yeah? Like honestly, And I feel like.
Speaker 5 (03:38):
For my mom, like she had my grandma, like my grandma,
my grandparents on lot, like, but my mom and just
my child's grandparents, even my dad, like they're just always
so busy. So I'm like, how, you know, like I
need y'all like y'all needed my grandparents. But you know,
I'm just navigating that part of it. But it's such
a blessing.
Speaker 7 (03:59):
I love being a mom.
Speaker 4 (04:00):
Are you learning to have your own parenting style when
it comes to your child or do you feel like
you take a lot of what you've had experience growing up?
Speaker 3 (04:10):
You know what, I think a little bit of both.
Speaker 5 (04:14):
I feel like, for me, I'm a real go with
the flow type person. So I want to say I'm
like creating my own ways with my child, Like I'm
really patient with her and she's really like I want
it now. She's like spoiled, like the princess. So I
think that a lot of times, like when people see
like how we how we are with each other, it's
(04:36):
like whoa, Like you have a lot of patience with
that little girl because she's off.
Speaker 8 (04:40):
The wall a little bit. I love it.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
What's the biggest advice you can give to working moms
in today's world? It's different than twenty years ago, right,
Like in today's world, what's the biggest advice?
Speaker 5 (04:51):
My biggest advice would be when you have those times,
those off times where you can not have a baby
and not work, just chill.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Just stay in the house and enjoy your home.
Speaker 5 (05:05):
You know, really relax and enjoy those moments because we
don't get.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Those moments as moms. Just to relax a lot.
Speaker 5 (05:13):
It's like you always feel like when you have a break,
it's like, oh, I gotta go get my nails now,
I gotta do this, I need to go get a drink,
like things that you don't get to do. But it's
like sometimes just chill, Yeah, just relax.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
It's okay to relax. That's good. I write and ain't
a parent and nobody.
Speaker 4 (05:30):
Yeah, one hundred percent of asia. You recently put out
a single by yourself called Do Me.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
How was that? What was the process like for putting
that together.
Speaker 6 (05:39):
It's a pretty singular thing. I would say, like I
engineered all my stuff. So I wrote it, I recorded it,
and then I sent it over to my guy Hiring.
He's like my best friend and he also engineers for me,
and so he mixed it.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
It was just something to throw out.
Speaker 6 (05:56):
Really, It wasn't anything that I really was trying to like,
you know, oh, this will be got it, you know
what I mean.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
But I just enjoy making music. I enjoy creating music.
Speaker 6 (06:05):
And you know, whether it's like I'm doing it for
fun or I'm doing it to be serious, I like
just you know, like to put stuff out makes sense.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
You got to just have those passion projects. You just yeah,
and it's literally just a pastio. Yeah, yeah, I love
that for sure.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Now what else are you working on personally or with
work related stuff?
Speaker 3 (06:22):
What's what's going on in your world. I'm not gonna lie.
Speaker 6 (06:24):
The biggest thing in my world right now is the
tour and with the girls and I have going on.
I think that I'm really good at like prioritizing, and
so I feel like right now, like just what the girl,
what we're doing is like my main focus, my main priority.
I really really want this to succeed and do well.
And I know the girls feel the same way. And
(06:45):
also it's just always really fun being with them, like
almost every day. It reminds me of like when we
were kids, you know, but it's like now you're own.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
It's like after this, we could go eat and get
a drink. Hello, I have a good time. So I
get it one hundred say. I'm not gonna lie.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
You're kind of hard to find some stuff on the internet,
so that's good.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
That's good. You'll tell me more about what's going on
in your world.
Speaker 9 (07:07):
Yes, myself, like you know, OMG, girls, definitely the tours
the main thing right now and stuff. But afterwards, following up,
I'll be having some singles released and stuff. I just
wanted to make sure to put the time, you know,
time and if it makes sense or whatever. But myself
also have a YouTube log I'm working on. I need
to post more blogs. I know, y'all loan me that
I got them coming because I got so many stacked
up to come. So but yeah, I love doing music myself,
(07:29):
and I do have singles out right now, Sofa is
the only thing out on my platform. I'm gonna put
back up working with some because she's a special baby.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Of mine and I don't know.
Speaker 9 (07:36):
Watch came down, but we're gonna do that.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
You miss the town. I need more music to come.
Speaker 9 (07:40):
But yeah, my main thing right now is OMG Girls
the Name Stage tour. We got to come in up.
Make sure you get your tickets at www. That pretty
also dot com.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
I love that.
Speaker 10 (07:49):
Now.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
Ending on a positive note, the end of the year
is coming up so fast, by the way, four more moments.
Speaker 3 (07:55):
Yes, Marry Christmas at this one. Literally I can't keep
up anymore.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
Okay, So what are some things you want to accomplish
personally and with the group by.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
The end of the year.
Speaker 4 (08:07):
Since we have less than four months at this point,
I would say for us as a group, like having
a complete project maybe by the end of the year, Yes,
like feel.
Speaker 5 (08:18):
Solid, like we love this and so we can go
into the new year, which is you know, something that
we can be excited about it. We will have a
lot of things to be excited for it anyway, I
just know it for us and our music like that
would make us happy and personally.
Speaker 11 (08:34):
You know, I don't know, maybe getting.
Speaker 5 (08:40):
Like kiss under the missiletoe from somebody that from somebody
that really that I like you, you like no, okay,
yeah you do.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
It's hostly we're manifesting.
Speaker 6 (09:04):
A group.
Speaker 9 (09:04):
I definitely agree with that. That's the main thing is
having the project done. I don't see, you know, everything
else is already happening and it's flowing. That's major top
of the list for project finish, and you'll find out
when it's coming. And then for myself, I want to
just continue on my finish journey like continuously, like be
very consistent in it and getting these abs like really
(09:28):
popping like I want them to buy. And then yeah,
I don't know, like I mean, you know the music
of course, doing that posting on my YouTube and yeah,
I mean it'll be nice. And I have a lonely Christmas.
But even if I do, I got families.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
We're manifesting matching pajamas for.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Okay.
Speaker 6 (09:57):
I think for me, I definitely want to start like
another like business venture. I don't know what that is
or what that looks like.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
I've done like hair stuff before.
Speaker 6 (10:05):
I might try to like revamp that in some type
of different way, I haven't really decided that yet. And
for me and the girls, outside of like our project
and stuff, I really really really want us to do
like a second leg of this tour and hit all
the places that, like the fans felt that we didn't
come to. And hopefully by that time, you know, the
(10:27):
project is out or is coming out, so we can
promote that and you know do that. And also too,
like I want me and these girls to have a
number one record, So I think that our biggest thing
is just like, well, my biggest thing for us is
just really getting that hit like I want us to have.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
I mean, you know, really the.
Speaker 6 (10:45):
Little the Netflix K Pop thing, the even Slayer girls,
they were the first girl group to have a number
one in twenty years on Billboard. But I don't think.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
They're a real group. I mean they might be a
real group, but I don't think they're a real group.
Speaker 6 (10:59):
I feel like I want my girl Hello Hello, to
really come through and get real numbers.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
So I think that's definitely a goal of mine for us.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
Yeah, don't skip the personal Yeah, yes, business and maybe
like like a new purchase.
Speaker 6 (11:17):
So I don't know what that purchase will be, but
something that can like benefit me in some type of way,
maybe like an investment property or something you know like that.
Speaker 4 (11:25):
Absolutely, yeah, I love that. I love the any last
words you guys want to leave with the fans listening.
Speaker 6 (11:30):
Yes, make sure y'all stream tea right now available on
all streaming platforms. The music video is out as well
as a challenge, so please tag us when y'all do
y'all challenges. We want to see that and make sure
you guys follow us on all socials. We are at
own G Girls What is He on Instagram and we
are at the real own g Girls on Twitter and TikTok,
which on our TikTok you can also see like the
(11:52):
dance challenge and you know, create your own.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
But yeah, and thank you to me.
Speaker 9 (11:56):
We love you so much.
Speaker 5 (11:58):
And make sure y'all go on pretty Houstole dot com
to get those tickets.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
Yeah, I want to see y'all at those show. Okay,
And shout.
Speaker 9 (12:05):
Out to Pretty Husto and Cold Color for presenting our
tour first official headlining tour.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
I love that you're very excited about the tour coming
of anything else.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
We wanted to really add to that.
Speaker 6 (12:14):
Oh, we're hitting, We're hitting in Atlanta, We'll be in
New York, We'll be in Dallas and DC. I love
for the name stage tour, so make sure y'all come
out to see us. If you heard, y'all city getting
the tickets.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
I love it. OMG Girls, thank you guys so much
for coming in. Thank you, thank you for having us.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
Thanks Alexandria and the OMG Girls. September is Prostate Cancer
Awareness Month. Prostate cancer affects one in eight men. However,
black men are seventy percent more likely to be diagnosed
and twice as likely to die from the disease. Zero
Prostate Cancer is the nation's leading prostate cancer organization. They're
(12:51):
on a mission to save lives through awareness, education and support.
Mister Jordan sat down with a man who doesn't need
much of an introduction, Mister Matthew Knowles, Beyonce's father. He
talks openly about his battle with prostate cancer and his
involvement with Zero Prostate Cancer joining me.
Speaker 12 (13:09):
I have mister Matthew Knowles here, who really doesn't need
an introduction, but I'll give you one just in case.
A legendary music executive, author, Zero board member, and cancer survivor,
Yes talk to us a little bit about your involvement
with zero and why you feel like it's necessary.
Speaker 13 (13:28):
Well, my involvement has a global ambassador and and why
I chose and they offered the role is my family,
and we'll talk about it today. When I was a
kid growing up my granddaddy, I grew up in the
South back then if you are black.
Speaker 8 (13:48):
Man and you have they thought you were going to die.
They since your home.
Speaker 13 (13:53):
And I remember as a kid going to my graamparents
house security screaming, just screaming the point.
Speaker 8 (14:00):
My mother would let me build back over there.
Speaker 13 (14:04):
He died, and then four out of five of my
dad's brothers died of prostate cancer. So I thought it
was important also because I have prostate issues that I'll
talk about today tonight. And I thought it was important
(14:24):
because I am a male breast cancer.
Speaker 8 (14:29):
And in that process there's.
Speaker 13 (14:31):
Something called brock of two mutation genetically, and so that
means for a man, I have a higher risk of
prostate cancer, melanoma as well as pancreatic cancer. So it
was an opportunity for me to share this with the world,
(14:53):
share it with men specifically and black men specifically, on
the risk that's involved in the importance of early detection.
Speaker 8 (15:03):
Most people don't know. They know me for music, but
they don't know.
Speaker 13 (15:07):
That for eight years I slow zero radiography for breast cancer.
Oh and what's the first black one of the first blacks,
if not the first black to sell MRI c T
scanners in America And in my.
Speaker 8 (15:21):
Corporate career as a neurosurgic pro specialist.
Speaker 11 (15:24):
Wee oh wow.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
Okay.
Speaker 12 (15:27):
And to someone who's thinking, I'm on the fence, should
I go and get this PSA test? Should I not?
I'm afraid. I just I don't. I feel overwhelmed by it.
What would you say to a black man who their
history does not have history it's considering getting a PSA test?
Speaker 13 (15:43):
I think I would say that is a very smart
move on your part.
Speaker 8 (15:48):
Why, because it's about early detection all cancer. It's about
early detection.
Speaker 13 (15:54):
And prostate cancer and others are asphmatic. You don't feel it,
you don't know that that you have it at a
very early stages.
Speaker 8 (16:03):
Fortunately for my cancer with stage one, fortunately I took
a pill for five years. We have to have.
Speaker 13 (16:10):
Radiation therapy or chemo therapy. Finding any type of cancer.
Stage four is very uneasy.
Speaker 8 (16:20):
And on satellite. So if you can find this by.
Speaker 13 (16:23):
Simply PSA tests, which is three seconds of the blood
test with a needle.
Speaker 8 (16:31):
And that can save your life.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Please thank you Misty and mister Knowles. As Global Ambassador
of Zero Prostate Cancer, Matthew Knowles will continue to spread
awareness in hopes of saving lives. If you are someone
you know would like more information about getting tested for
prost day cancer, or you want to get involved with
Zero's mission, visit their website at zero cancer dot org.
(16:55):
You can follow Misty and submit story ideas to her
on Instagram at miss DJ. When it comes to breaking barriers,
there's a nonprofit stepping up to help women who often
find themselves overlooked or struggling just to land the right opportunity.
Esther Dillard sat down with the group's CEO, Kimberly Minor
to talk about a brand new summit design to turn
(17:16):
these struggles into success.
Speaker 14 (17:21):
If you're a woman who has lost your job, or
if you just have the fear that you will, and
it's not because you're not capable of doing it, it's
because of other forces that are beyond your control.
Speaker 7 (17:33):
Here's what you can do to control some of that.
Speaker 15 (17:36):
In this edition of The Color Between the Lines, respotlighting
a nonprofit that's writing a whole new chapter for women
who have lost their jobs. Since the start of the year,
more than three hundred thousand black women have been pushed
out of their jobs, and this organization, called WAKRUP or
Women of Color Retail Alliance, is really building new pathways
(17:59):
for women of color across the country in the retail industry.
Walker UP is hosting its first inaugural Big Summit, which
stands for Blaze, Innovate and Grow, and that's at Microsoft's
New York City headquarters. I spoke with Walker's CEO, Kimberly Minor,
and she explained to me that this conference isn't about
(18:19):
looking at problems but actually helping women find solutions. You
said in the past that wo R. I'm sorry, WOCR
A Big Summit is where possibility becomes progress And ye,
what does that phrase mean.
Speaker 7 (18:36):
To you personally?
Speaker 15 (18:37):
And why did you feel that this was the right
moment to launch this inaugural event.
Speaker 14 (18:42):
Yeah, so possibility becomes progress is uh, it's really important
because in in retail and in most corporate settings esther,
you know, women of color are not promoted based on
their possibility, right, or you know, they're promoted very expedition. No,
(19:13):
that's not the word I'm looking for.
Speaker 7 (19:15):
They are promoted and see progress.
Speaker 14 (19:21):
At such a small rate compared to their peers, right,
who generally get promoted based on their potential, their possibility.
Speaker 7 (19:31):
Right, what can they possibly bring to this?
Speaker 14 (19:33):
Oh, they have so much potential, We're going to do that.
Whereas with women of color, we have to do a
project to prove that we did the project, to prove
that we can do the project because we did the project.
And so when I thought of the Big Summit, I
wanted it to be full of women with potential, meeting
(19:57):
people who had moved forward, had the progress to connect
to see where are the synergies, so that you know
how valuable you are and what that value really can
mean with the right connections.
Speaker 7 (20:14):
And so that's where.
Speaker 14 (20:16):
The possibility of your future meets progress, because there it's
going to be an incredible room of people who can
see your potential in the possibility of what your future
can be.
Speaker 15 (20:31):
I looked at some of the lineups. Can you talk
a little bit about that. Who's going to be there?
You're going to be offering in this summit.
Speaker 7 (20:38):
Oh yeah, I.
Speaker 14 (20:40):
Still can't believe we got the people we got to
the table.
Speaker 7 (20:44):
But so we have McKenzie.
Speaker 14 (20:46):
Coming in because everything we do is database because of
course they think that, you know, because we're the Women
of Color Retail Alliance, that it's you know, fuzzy.
Speaker 7 (20:57):
It's not fuzzy. It's not all about feelings.
Speaker 14 (20:59):
It's all about data and making a change in the industry.
And so McKenzie starts the morning off with, you know,
the state of the consumer, like this is the value
of who we are in the bigger scheme of you know,
revenue and like GDP, you know.
Speaker 7 (21:20):
And then we go from there and we have Anna Blue.
Speaker 14 (21:23):
She's talking about the mean girl phenomenon and this is
super important to me.
Speaker 7 (21:29):
And here's why. As I have come in my career,
you know, and it's.
Speaker 14 (21:38):
I've moved a lot, but I've been in this space
and have had a lot of success.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
And as I think it was maybe about.
Speaker 7 (21:52):
Maybe about six or seven years ago, I was.
Speaker 14 (21:57):
Being interviewed for a book to be in a book,
and the person who interviewed me was like, so.
Speaker 7 (22:04):
Tell me about it. Tell me about the old white
man who's gotten in your way in your career. And
I said, oh, is that what this interview is about.
Speaker 14 (22:16):
And she said, well, yes, because they get in the
way of our careers. And I said, oh, I can't.
She's wise because that has not been my experience. I said,
My experience has been that there have been women who
have gotten in my way. There have been quite a
(22:36):
few who have seen me come in and were intimidated
and could not possibly let me get past them for
whatever reason. I said, So, I think we need to
have a different conversation. And so when I met Anna
and we hit it off, and she was telling me
(22:57):
about this research she had done and what she wanted,
and I was like, you know what, I'm so tired
of this old narrative. The truth needs to be told.
Women don't always support women. And I know we've got
memes and we've got all these little things all over
social media, but the reality is that that is not true.
Speaker 7 (23:17):
So let's call a spade a spade, and let's get
that out there. So we have her right. So I'm
super excited for that.
Speaker 14 (23:25):
We and then we have Sonny hostin Sonny Hostin, So look,
not only do we have Sonny Houstin, but I get
to interview her.
Speaker 7 (23:34):
I'm so excited, you know, because you know, you know
my background.
Speaker 14 (23:39):
I went to school, radio, television, film. I wanted to
do I wanted to do what you do. I wanted
to be Oprah, Like when I saw Oprah and I was.
Speaker 7 (23:46):
In school and I was like, oh, I could do that,
and it didn't work out.
Speaker 14 (23:50):
The you know, stars weren't aligned. But every opportunity I get,
I pull out what I learned in school, you know,
journal and communication, and now I get to apply it
with Sonny Houston.
Speaker 7 (24:05):
So that's exciting.
Speaker 14 (24:06):
And then we have these workshops where we have AI
and not only just AI, so we have the Retail
AI Council, We've partnered with them, We've partnered with Sonar
and it's every session.
Speaker 7 (24:21):
You can get a certificate.
Speaker 14 (24:23):
And what's important about that is, you know what we
talked about earlier that as women of color, we have
to prove, proved, prove.
Speaker 7 (24:32):
So now not only will you have AI training right
because there's a lot of buzz around.
Speaker 14 (24:40):
AI, but when you come down and understand the numbers,
not as.
Speaker 7 (24:44):
Many people have.
Speaker 14 (24:46):
Training in that area, as you know, would be necessary
to continue the future of your work, right because it's changing,
and so we want to make sure that if you
come to our summit and you take the AI sessions,
that you have.
Speaker 7 (25:06):
The most current and up to date training to.
Speaker 14 (25:10):
Help you for the future, because we have to think
beyond what we're doing now, and so that's great. And
the certification on top of that is a way to
just prove that you have that.
Speaker 7 (25:24):
Training so no one can take that away from you.
Speaker 15 (25:26):
It's so nice that you have an event which is
touching on women's empowerment, especially given the fact that you
were talking about because that was one of the things
I was going to talk to you about was the
number of women, especially black women, who have lost their
jobs between January and now. And it's really scary for
(25:47):
a lot of women right now. So how will this,
I guess this forum help those women who might be
in that space. And what do you want to say
to them?
Speaker 7 (25:58):
Yeah, it will help them. So if you are if
you're a woman who has.
Speaker 14 (26:03):
Lost your job, or if you just have the fear
that you will, and it's not because you're not capable
of doing it, it's because.
Speaker 7 (26:09):
Of other forces that are beyond your control.
Speaker 14 (26:13):
Here's what you can do to control some of that
by coming to the summit. You will be in the room,
so this is an equal playing field. There's no VIP section.
You could be sitting next to someone. We have the
are the These are some of the brands that will
be in the room, LVMH Chanel, Macy's, I'm just thinking,
(26:39):
I VS and co AlOH.
Speaker 7 (26:45):
My goodness.
Speaker 14 (26:46):
List goes on and then we also have a bunch
of recruiters, so Kirk Palmer number one recruiter in retail
broad viewed Talent Partners. They are amazing their Internet and
they focus on people of color or.
Speaker 15 (27:02):
What would you say for those who might be on
the fence about whether or not this is really the
right thing for them.
Speaker 7 (27:10):
So here's what it's not.
Speaker 14 (27:12):
Okay, this is not a a session where we're going
to be talking about the problems. This is a session
where we're going to be talking about the solutions and
giving you tools and resources to invest in yourself.
Speaker 7 (27:27):
And we're making it available to you for free.
Speaker 14 (27:31):
So if you are not that valuable to yourself, then
stay home.
Speaker 15 (27:36):
You can hear more about the free conference by heading
to the Color between the Lines podcast on iHeartRadio, YouTube,
or wherever you get your podcasts. Remember The WAKRA Big
Summit is on September twenty fifth at Microsoft's New York
City headquarters, but you have to register by the deadline
of September twenty second. I'm Esther Dillard.
Speaker 1 (27:57):
Thanks Kimberly and Esther Dillard. Krei is back with her
new series Reading the Room, where she talks to authors.
This week, she talks to author Jerry Krafft.
Speaker 16 (28:06):
I'm Jerry McCready. Children's book illustrator Jerry Kraft is well
known for his syndicated newspaper comics Rip Mama's Boys, as
well as his popular graphic novels New Kids, School Trip
and Class Act. Jerry is among just a few syndicated
black cartoonists in the nation. He talks about how his
childhood experiences helped him launch a brilliant career in Part
(28:27):
two of Reading the Room on the Black Information Network.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
It started way back with a little boy who was
born in Harlem and grew up in Washington Heights and
absolutely hated nothing more than reading books. I always loved
to draw, but reading was just something that never interested me.
(28:56):
I feel like I went from reading Doctor Seuss or
having that read to me by my parents to reading
some Marvel comics but mainly skipping past the boring part
but get into the fight scenes.
Speaker 17 (29:09):
To reading almost nothing.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
But I was at kids who love to draw, and
I ended up needing to write stories in order for
me to draw up my stories, you know, because I
wanted to do more than just draw pictures of Spider Man,
you know. And then by about seventh grade, I went
(29:36):
to a new school and met up with a few
guys that liked to draw comics as well, my friend
Eric and Winston, and we would start to draw our
own comics. And it was good that I didn't meet
someone who wanted to partner up and write the books
(29:57):
with me, because I think if I had had a
writing partner, I would have never realized that I could
write myself. And then, you know, I'll let you go
piece by piece to guide me through my answers. But
that's kind of where it started. And if you had
ever told me that that kid who hated to read
(30:18):
would grow up to be an author who travels the
world trying to get kids to read, I would have
never never believed you.
Speaker 16 (30:24):
So you know, I look at your story and part
of it is just a bit introspective I guess because
you have said before that, you know, maybe you were
a bit of a fish out of water, one of
a few black students at a predominantly white school. Did
you ever look at art, for example, or drawing was
Did you ever look at that besides being a hobby,
(30:46):
a way to kind of escape and just create something
of your own outside of what was actually going on
in reality.
Speaker 2 (30:54):
Yeah, you know, whenever I do school visits, I say
that the basis behind new kid is not just being
a fish out of one water, but having always been
a fish out of two waters, meaning it started in
(31:17):
Washington Heights, where I was, you know, where I grew up,
where I was born, and grew up light skin, straight hair,
small for my age, and all my friends so even
in like you know, more friends were darker skin with
cool braids and curly afros that I could never get
(31:39):
because my hair was straight.
Speaker 17 (31:41):
You know, they were taller, you know, in.
Speaker 2 (31:47):
Schools, I was always a year younger than everyone, you know,
so I got a lot of, you know, different things
of not really fitting in the having girls go oh wow, you.
Speaker 17 (32:02):
Know you're really cute if only you were a.
Speaker 2 (32:04):
Little darker, or you know, why do you talk like that,
you know, or are you trying to be all this
or you know.
Speaker 17 (32:14):
And so by the time.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
I went to high school, I always wanted to go
to an art school, and my mom and dad did
not want me to. So I had taken the test
for music and art and art and design in New
York City and they sent me to a school in
Riverdale called Fieldston, which I had never seen anything like it.
(32:42):
It looked like what I imagined Harvard to be, just
because I mean, there were trees and there was a campus,
and you know, instead of twenty five kids in my
class at Matthews Lutheran School, now there's one hundred and
(33:03):
ten kids in my ninth grade class at Fieldston. You know,
at Saint Matthew's there was like one white kid, one Latina,
and one kid from India. And now there's only ten
African American kids in my ninth through twelfth grade class.
(33:26):
And then half of those kids had been there their
whole lives. So I didn't really have much in common
with them either. You know, a lot of them were were,
you know, financially in a whole another bracket than my family,
you know.
Speaker 17 (33:46):
So we would go to.
Speaker 2 (33:48):
Woolworths or Toys Errs, and they'd be going to Fao
Schwartz and some of these fancy toy companies and stuff,
and so it was this, you know, we vacationed differently.
Speaker 17 (34:01):
It was just very different.
Speaker 2 (34:03):
And so I put a lot of that in New Kid,
and in prior to that, in My Mama's Boys comic strip,
it was, you know, two teenage boys who hated to
read and their mom owned the bookstore. So I always
kind of started with myself and then branched out to
(34:26):
make the characters more interesting when I had to.
Speaker 16 (34:30):
So your life experiences really informed some of the choices
that you made with your books, as you just mentioned,
and I have to say, you know, we're talking about
a very unique approach that you have taken with your books.
Charming characterizations, the narratives are very interesting. They do not
(34:54):
insult the intelligence of your readers at all, ultimately focusing
on positive outcomes. There are a during family structures, memorable characters.
And I say that because you know, you're talking about
your readers who are children, and these children today are
facing some very complex.
Speaker 7 (35:13):
And very unusual life.
Speaker 16 (35:16):
Circumstances sometimes and we're talking about serious issues, and I
know that, you know, you have taken steps to address
some of those big feelings, as they say, for children.
You know, you've focused on these things head on racism,
social racial exclusion. You just mentioned colorism, you know among
your peers, and even diabetes. So how do you encapsulate
(35:41):
these groundbreaking issues into a formula that is actually relatable
to children?
Speaker 7 (35:47):
What is that process like for you?
Speaker 17 (35:50):
So it was it was really funny.
Speaker 2 (35:53):
I guess I was in my early twenties and I
had grown up also loving strips, and so you the
you know, for those under certain aids, they'll never experience
what the big deal it was getting like the New
York Daily News on Sunday and getting the Sunday funnies,
(36:16):
you know. And then there were a lot of books
that collected those comic strips, and they were anthologies like
a Calvin Hobbes or Farsade or for Better for Worse,
and they were really popular. But there were so few
African American comic strips. It was Curtis and Jumpstart and
(36:36):
where I'm coming From and Luther and Herb and Jamal,
but they didn't they weren't given the same exposure as
a lot of the you know, their white contemporaries, like
their comic strips, you know when you talk about a
Peanuts or Blondie or Beetle Bailey that were in thousands
(36:56):
of newspapers. So I wanted to do anology of my
Mama's Boys comic strip and I got rejection after rejection
after rejection, and some of them even personal and insulting,
and that made me see early on, we're talking like
(37:17):
nineteen ninety seven, I gave up on the concept of
ever being published because some of the rejection letters were
so nasty, and so I published my own book, Mama's
Boys and Americans We Potato Pie. And I was thinking
that I was doing it for adults like me who
(37:37):
like comic strips. And I remember doing a book festival
in New York City and this guy came up to
me with his ten year old son and he says, hey,
you know, can I get this for my kid? And
I hadn't intended it to be for kids, but I
(37:58):
thought of it. I was like, well, you know, there's
no sex, there's no cursing, there's no drugs, there's no gangs,
there's I was like, yeah, yeah, I think it's safe.
And he bought it and he gave it to his kid,
and it was the book fair was in like a gymnasium,
and the kid goes to the corner of the gym
and just read it cover the cover and laughing hysterically.
(38:20):
And I was like, oh, shoot, okay. And then ten
minutes later someone else comes up and says.
Speaker 17 (38:26):
Hey, is this a kid's book. I'm like, yes, it is.
Speaker 2 (38:30):
And that's kind of how I backed into being a
Chodn's book author. And I think that that was the
best way, because if I had intended for my audience
to be kids, I might have tried to lower the level,
you know, lower the vocabulary, lower some of the concepts
(38:54):
and intelligence to try to I the one who used
to turn dumb it down. But you know that that's
what I'm saying. So I always took it where I
wanted to bring kids up to the level of my
writing as opposed to lowering the level to make it
(39:16):
more palatable for them. And then I just challenged them.
And I talk about I've done comic ships back in
the day in New York City for American Diabetes Association.
Speaker 17 (39:29):
I remember the New.
Speaker 2 (39:31):
York Daily News asking me to do Mama's Boys comic
ships for their aid supplement. And this is like in
ninety eight, maybe I've done stuff on teenage pregnancy, American
counts for fitness and nutrition. And then slowly but surely,
my niche became taking really difficult topics and making them
(39:57):
approachable for people of all ages. I even did a
new kid comic book about the girl with leukemia one time.
And so when it came time to doing something about
a new kid in this private school, that was easy
compared to the other stuff I had already done.
Speaker 16 (40:16):
You know, I can help, But you know, wonder you
know why there's this sort of hyper focus on this
level of negativity. It's just a huge political breeding ground,
to the point where if you look at, you know,
some of the literature that you know, we were all
reading when we were you know, preteens and teens today
(40:40):
probably would not even pass Mustard. I'm talking about the outsiders.
Are you there, God, it's it's me, Margaret, you know,
because there's too much talk about menstruation, you know, pat Rye.
And so I feel like, in that sense, feels a
little bit like we're going backwards in terms of how
much can kids handle and so with your books that
(41:01):
are really bringing kids in with this high rate of
again you know, relatability, talk about harmless, but yes, raising
the educational level significantly. I don't understand that pushback.
Speaker 2 (41:15):
Well, I need to edit your one statement. It's not
how much can kids handle? It's how much do they
want white kids to have to handle? And that's just
how it is, because how many books did you have
(41:38):
to read as a kid when they were the people
that look like you are were enslaved or you know,
being targeted during the Civil rights era, or gangs, or
everyone that looked like you at nineteen is already a
(42:03):
mom dating a drug dealer. You know, I never saw
myself in a book or even a movie.
Speaker 17 (42:16):
You know.
Speaker 2 (42:16):
The closest I had ever come I was probably twenty
seeing Barry Gordon Gordy's The Last Dragon, and I'm like, Wow,
it's a black kid that likes karate movies and is
actually going to live to the end of the film,
which is a novel approach. You know, there were no
(42:41):
heroes that look like us that made it to the end,
or if we had to read Huckleberry Finn or you know,
all the the slurs that characters that look like us
were called and so now all of a sudd sudden,
when people like us grow up to tell stories that
(43:05):
aren't trauma based, now there's pushback, you know. And I
saw online the other day that someone said that, you know,
like Ruby Bridges, that was in our lifetime, and.
Speaker 17 (43:23):
There were.
Speaker 2 (43:25):
People who threw rocks and spad and did all that
to keep her from going to school something that is innocent.
It's just going to school. And now those same people
don't want their grandkids to even read about this little
girl that anyone should be able to empathize with. And
(43:50):
that is a hero more so than you know, the
Wonder Woman's and the superheroes that we throw in front
of kids.
Speaker 16 (43:59):
Yes, Ruby Bridges was six years old at the time,
old enough to actually live in that critical historical moment.
But six year olds today are too precious to learn
about that, so right, right, make it make sense.
Speaker 2 (44:15):
Yeah, there was even a and this is the most
ridiculous thing, there was some book by you know, a
black figure in history but more modern, and they banned
that book from the school. And the school is actually
named after that person. So just imagine that, like, we
(44:43):
don't even want you to learn about who the school
is named after.
Speaker 16 (44:49):
Well, that's why I feel like, you know, you are
really in a very special category, and I think you
know where you are within this genre. You are a pioneer,
and I feel like, you know, you are in an
enviable position right now where you are influencing others because
we've never seen, you know, an illustrated children's book author
(45:13):
like you writing the way that you do and presenting,
you know, this, these books.
Speaker 7 (45:20):
In the way that you do.
Speaker 16 (45:21):
So it's very interesting to see how all of this
will look going forward, because we need way more Jerry
Krafts in the world.
Speaker 2 (45:29):
Well, you know, it's interesting because initially they were talking
about how groundbreaking New Kid was and I was always complimented,
but at the same time, I'm like, it's just a
black kid going to private school. It shouldn't be groundbreaking.
(45:50):
But I appreciate that fact. But then, you know, I
just did a book that was released earlier this year
with fellow New Bear winning author Kwame Alexander. So now
there's two African American men who have won the Newberry
And we did a book called J Versus K about
(46:11):
two fifth graders who are kind of rivals. One is
an artist based on me as a fifth grader, and
one is a writer based on Kwamea as a fifth grader,
and they both enter their school's annual storytelling contests and
then they become bitter rivals, but then at the end
they have to figure out if it's better for them
(46:33):
to work together or not.
Speaker 17 (46:36):
And we did like a twenty city tour back.
Speaker 2 (46:40):
In May and must have seen like ten thousand kids.
Speaker 17 (46:45):
It was unbelievable.
Speaker 2 (46:47):
And this one is more of a diary of a
wimpy kids style book, so it's not a full color
graphic novel, but it is illustrated text, so a lot
of text like a chapter book, but with a lot
of illustrations and cartoons in there.
Speaker 17 (47:04):
And that was an amazing experience.
Speaker 16 (47:07):
Thanks for being here today, Jerry. And as we wrap up,
how do we find you on social media?
Speaker 2 (47:12):
Jerrycraft dot com which is j E R R y
c R A f T dot com. And then I'm
all over social media as Jerrykraft.
Speaker 16 (47:22):
This is reading the Room on the Black Information Network.
I'm Terry mccreedy.
Speaker 1 (47:26):
Thanks Terry and Jerry. Over the past several months, cuts
to federal funding and programs impacting public health services have
taken place that could have major implications for the black community.
The Black Information Networks Andrea Coleman sat down with doctor
Angelica Jeter, a public health expert, this past week to
learn more about how these changes could impact you and
(47:48):
steps you can take to help insure your well being.
Speaker 10 (47:52):
You're honored today to have doctor Angelica Jeter join us
in studio in Atlanta. Thank you so much for being here,
doctor Jeter, thank you so much. I'm so excited about
our conversation today.
Speaker 3 (48:02):
Well, there's so much.
Speaker 10 (48:03):
To cover, right I mean, you're an expert in public
health and there's a lot going on in that space
right now. So let's see. Why don't we start with
a little bit about your history. Why don't we delve
into you first, and then we'll rent out into some
of our specific topics.
Speaker 8 (48:19):
I love that so again.
Speaker 11 (48:21):
I'm doctor Angelica Jeter, originally from Mississippi, born and raised.
I got into public health during a time when HIV
was really impacting young black teenagers across the South, and
as a college student, I said, what can I do
about that? And then I found this thing called public health,
(48:41):
and as an undergraduate student, I began to do my
own studies and the health department found out about what
I was doing and they said, do you know that
you do the same work that we do as public
health professionals. And so I tripped and fell into public
health when I was twenty years old. So when I
(49:02):
say that I am a twenty year health equity scientist
and researcher, I genuinely mean that. And I've been doing
this for a long time.
Speaker 3 (49:11):
So public health.
Speaker 11 (49:13):
Found me through my passion for people.
Speaker 10 (49:15):
I was just about to say that it's by training,
by education, but also by heart that is so powerful.
So much going on in public health today, So let's
talk first about vaccines, big topic these days. You were
appointed by then Atlanta Mayor Kisha Lan's Bottom to be
the first public chief of public health for the city,
and it came right out of a time when the
(49:37):
COVID pandemic was starting to really take root and all
of the fear and so forth of that you had
to navigate. But those vaccines prove critical and saving a
lot of lives. What does this mean now when we
have the head of our public health in the country
pushing back against them.
Speaker 11 (49:56):
Oh, the heavy hitter questions, I love it, I love
it well. You know, when we think about public health,
we're thinking about what do we need to do to
ensure the health and well being of every single citizen
and resident, depending on how and where you're leading. When
it comes to vaccines, we also have to think about
access to care and services. When you think about who
(50:17):
has access and who doesn't, majority of the time is
those of us who are living below the poverty line,
those of us who don't have access to providers and
healthcare professionals, those of us who may not even know
what a vaccine does and how it can protect us.
And so we're in a very critical moment where the
most vulnerable communities, the most vulnerable populations will have higher
(50:41):
health disparities across the board when it comes to cold,
HIV and a's prevention, maternal health outcomes, heart disease, so on,
and so forth. But for vaccines in particular, we run
the risk of those who died more than anybody else
during COVID nineteen experiencing the same outcome. And I'm so
(51:01):
concerned about what's about to happen to our community and
those who are highly vulnerable because they won't be able
to get the care that they need, and then they'll
be positioned to be at risk for more diseases and
other health disparities.
Speaker 10 (51:17):
What might be an answer for them? Have we identified one,
Is there one that's on the horizon, or anything that
you can see that could encourage people who are looking
to be impacted by these changes.
Speaker 11 (51:29):
There are things that people can do. I think we
are in a position where we have to care for ourselves.
We have to be able to one if you have
access to the internet, because we have to understand that,
and everyone has access to the internet. But if you
have access to the Internet and you can get an
accurate information, visit organizations and their websites like the American
(51:50):
Heart Association to find out what's happening.
Speaker 3 (51:53):
Go to your doctor.
Speaker 11 (51:54):
If you have a doctor, ask them the questions that
you need to ask them to get an understanding of
the statf of vaccines, what they have access to get
the prescriptions. Recently, I wasn't feeling well. September has been
tough because we've seen an increase in COVID cases, We've
seen an increase in flu, and it's been very difficult
to get access to the vaccinations. Even for myself as
(52:17):
the former chief Health officer of Atlanta, I had to
call my doctor and say, hey, will you write me
a prescription so I can get a COVID vaccination. And
so we have to put ourselves in a situation where
we feel empowered and get the knowledge that we need
in order to take care of ourselves. That is the
best advice that I have for everyone right now.
Speaker 10 (52:36):
Be wearing masks now.
Speaker 3 (52:37):
Absolutely please.
Speaker 11 (52:39):
I remember when we put out the first recommendations during
the first two months of the COVID nineteen pandemic. So
we're thinking twenty twenty where everyone is confused trying to
figure out what's happening, and we're telling people to wear
a mask. You know, social distancing, which you know we
learn more about that later, but where a mask helps,
(53:01):
and the mask are still available. Just earlier this week,
I went to Kroker and purchased a mask that were
five dollars and not just the regular mask for the
kN ninety fives. They are available to us, so that
is also another option.
Speaker 10 (53:14):
Wow, So we're not quite past the risk and the
threat of any of those little germs that filter through
the air in public spaces.
Speaker 11 (53:21):
Absolutely not. And washing your hands. Oh, please please wash
your hands.
Speaker 10 (53:26):
Yeah, and your children's too, please.
Speaker 3 (53:29):
Exactly very good.
Speaker 7 (53:31):
Let's move on now to HIV.
Speaker 8 (53:33):
Prevention, big, big topic.
Speaker 10 (53:35):
A lot of people very concerned about the changes that
have taken place, and those changes including a cut and
funding even risking some preventative treatments and outreach programs that
have been so helpful for people getting ahead of the
risk of contracting HIV. Where are we now in that
whole sphere and how concerned are you about what you're seeing.
Speaker 11 (53:59):
Across the board as it relates to the status of
our nation's health. I'm deeply concerned. If you chose a
topic that we were going to discuss today, I am concerned.
When it comes to HIV. We're in a situation where
the numbers have not decreased for Black women recently. So
when we talk about black women in particular, we still
(54:20):
have high rates of new cases of HIV and AHS.
When you talk about young black men, the situation is
the same. When you think about what's happening. We're sitting
in Atlanta in particular, Atlanta is always in the top
five as it relates to HIV and AHS, and so
when we talk about access to care and services. We're
in a situation where people will potentially lose their access
(54:42):
to care because the cost for health insurance and the
coverage and thinking about how health insurance coverage is shifting
as it relates to what providers you can actually see.
When you think about the location of clinics, clinics are
closing across the country, are having to shift the kind
(55:02):
of patients that they see. So access to care is
decreasing across the board, which means that if you don't
have if you are HIV positive, you need access to
your medications and treatment to ensure that you are non transmittable.
If you are trying to prevent HIV, you might want
to use a pill like PREP pre exposure prophylaxis is
the pill that prevents HIV, but if it costs too much,
(55:25):
you won't be able to access it. If you can't
get to a doctor, you won't be able to access it.
So we're in a situation where we could see an
increase in the numbers, even though the numbers are already high,
think about how that can double or triple when people
don't have access to the care that they need.
Speaker 10 (55:43):
So, what are some preventative steps they can take on
their own, especially if they can afford the amount of
sun or a program that they were relying on before is.
Speaker 11 (55:51):
Now shutting or clothing. Think about the makers of the
treatment that you're receiving. If you are HIV positive, the
pharmaceutical companies have different programs that they still run, So
go to their website see what programs that they have available.
Call those numbers. That is one option. If you are
HIV negative and you want to remain negative, do the
(56:15):
best that you can to get tested. There are still
local organizations here in Atlanta that are available that offer testing.
Certain pharmacies do testing. I don't know which ones still
do it now because everything changes every day. There are
also tests that you can buy at the pharmacy so
you can test yourself at home. The other thing that
you do is think about condoms, think about your partners
(56:37):
having them get tested as well. Just putting in your
own self care strategy when you think about your sexual health.
Speaker 3 (56:45):
So we have to be responsible.
Speaker 11 (56:46):
We do, we do, and even intentional. I think that
the risk for HIV and how we think about it
is very different because we have so many innovations around
it now right and we can be able to care
for ourselves in a very different way. But we have
to again educate ourselves and know what's available to us,
ensure that we're incorporating success as a way for it
(57:09):
that's pleasurable for us as well, and then be confident
enough to have the conversation with your partner. I think
very oftentimes we're afraid to be able to say, hey,
have you been tested?
Speaker 7 (57:20):
You?
Speaker 11 (57:21):
Are you open to using the condom? Can we engage
in these things? And so I think it's just important
to be able to build up the mental fortitude and
confidence to be able to do that.
Speaker 10 (57:31):
Yeah, it's really good self advocacy, huh.
Speaker 3 (57:33):
Absolutely, And those community.
Speaker 10 (57:34):
Advocates are also very important right now, those people like
yourself kind of just buy heart, got into this face
and come with such fervor and such dedication. They seem
to help find answers for us as well, it seems absolutely.
Speaker 11 (57:49):
Getting back to your original question about public health, some
of the studies that I did was some of the
first studies through CDC around HIV and a's and black
women specifically around that access to care. And this wasn't
that long ago, maybe ten years ago, maybe eight years ago.
There's still a lot for us to know. But without
public health professionals like myself, then the research gets behind
(58:13):
what we need to know. In putting out the right
messaging to promote health and care for our communities, we're
left behind. And so public health professionals and healthcare professionals
that are doing the work to advocate for members of
our community, we are most definitely escentral.
Speaker 10 (58:30):
Yeah, that's very good in that research, Like you just said,
it's so critical and the research that goes in and
looks at particular populations because what may work in one
community may not be the same in another. So we're
cheering you guys on and hoping that the funding too
that you need to do what you do with excellence
(58:50):
will continue.
Speaker 1 (58:51):
Thanks Andrea and doctor Jeter. Doctor Jeter also talked about
the current state of black maternal health. We will have
part two of this interview next week. That's our program
for this week. For more on these stories, listen to
the Black Information Network on the free iHeartRadio app or
log onto Bionnews dot com for all of the latest
news impacting the black community.
Speaker 8 (59:12):
We would love to hear from you about.
Speaker 1 (59:14):
The black perspective. Simply log on to Bion's Talkback live
feature on the free iHeartRadio app to share your feedback. Also,
be sure to follow us on social media at Black
Information Network and on X and Blue Sky at black
infoe Net, and make the Black Information Network first on
your car radio and iHeartRadio app presets. I'm Mike Island,
(59:36):
wishing you a great Sunday, and be sure to tune
in next week at this time for another edition of
the Black Perspective right here on the Black Information Network
It's Sunday, September twenty first, and on today's show, Alexandria
Ickamonia's back as she sits down with the OMG Girls
to talk about new music, a new tour, and more.
In part two of their interview, Mister Jordan sat down
with the father of worldwide superstar Beyonce, Matthew Knowles to
discuss his battle with cancer and his being a global
(00:20):
ambassador of zero Prostate Cancer Esther Dillard sits down with
CEO Kimberly Miner to talk about a brand new summit
helping women with opportunities the Black Information Networks. Andrea Coleman
sat down with doctor Angelica Jeter, a public health expert,
to learn more about changes to the health community with
this new administration. Terry McCready talks to author Jerry Kraft
(00:44):
as she is back with part two of her new
series called Reading the Room. These stories and more are
coming your way. On today's program, Welcome to the Black Perspective.
I'm your host Mike Island.
Speaker 2 (00:56):
Welcome to the Black Perspective, a weekly community of fairstrom
on the Black Information Network featuring interviews and discussions on
issues important to the black community.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Good Sunday and welcome to the Black Perspective. The OEMG Girls,
the group overseen by Tamika Tiny Harris, which includes her
and t I's daughter Zanique, as well as other members
Brianna and Vasia. They're back with part two of their
conversation with Alexandria Ikamoni.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
I love it.
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Now, let's talk about if not for my Girls trip,
what was it like filming for the season.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
It was so much fun. We got a trip to Miami,
we got to be together.
Speaker 5 (01:33):
Yeah, love hanging out and being together, taking trips together.
And we also got to perform on the Coca Cola
stage at Essence, And I mean it was just an
overall great experience, right, Yeah, for sure, for sure. What
was it like working and being a part of this
with Regenent Carter as well?
Speaker 6 (01:50):
Well, you know, Nay is like one of the one
of the founding members of so it definitely we're always
around these around her, you know, just period in real life.
But it was cool to have that exp with her
and to be able to do that, and we just
had a great time.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
It was a lot of fun. It was a lot
of fun. I love that would get money together and
you're in Miami.
Speaker 4 (02:16):
Yeah, so let's talk about anything maybe on the show
or in the season that you feel like didn't get
to be properly portrayed from you guys, or what do
you want people to know from that that they might
not have gotten to see from that experience.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
I think, honestly, I.
Speaker 6 (02:34):
Think it would have been dope if my sister could
have been a part too, you know what I mean,
because she I don't know. I just felt like it
was just such like a nostalgia thing. It was like
the four of us was there, you know what I mean,
And my sister also was in a group.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
But I think I don't think that it was really anything.
Speaker 6 (02:51):
I think that everything that was shown it pretty much
covered it. It covered the friendship, It covered how we
operate around each other, and even, like Bri said, those
bonds in moments that we had, it was a special
moment that her emerging they had. I think that that
was important. So I think it all came together really dope.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
It really did really well.
Speaker 4 (03:09):
Yeah, it was perfect. But that's good to hear too.
Sometimes with shows it can be twist. Yeah, oh yeah, yeah,
so that's really good to hear. Now, let's get personal
since we're talking about bonding and family and all that
good stuff. So it's Donny starting with you. How is
mom life?
Speaker 5 (03:23):
Oh, mom life is wonderful. Honestly, mom life and work
life is a little hard. I'm starting to understand, like
you know, moms, even my mom, like, yeah, how.
Speaker 3 (03:33):
Are you doing it? Yeah? Like honestly, And I feel like.
Speaker 5 (03:38):
For my mom, like she had my grandma, like my grandma,
my grandparents on lot, like, but my mom and just
my child's grandparents, even my dad, like they're just always
so busy. So I'm like, how, you know, like I
need y'all like y'all needed my grandparents. But you know,
I'm just navigating that part of it. But it's such
a blessing.
Speaker 7 (03:59):
I love being a mom.
Speaker 4 (04:00):
Are you learning to have your own parenting style when
it comes to your child or do you feel like
you take a lot of what you've had experience growing up?
Speaker 3 (04:10):
You know what, I think a little bit of both.
Speaker 5 (04:14):
I feel like, for me, I'm a real go with
the flow type person. So I want to say I'm
like creating my own ways with my child, Like I'm
really patient with her and she's really like I want
it now. She's like spoiled, like the princess. So I
think that a lot of times, like when people see
like how we how we are with each other, it's
(04:36):
like whoa, Like you have a lot of patience with
that little girl because she's off.
Speaker 8 (04:40):
The wall a little bit. I love it.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
What's the biggest advice you can give to working moms
in today's world? It's different than twenty years ago, right,
Like in today's world, what's the biggest advice?
Speaker 5 (04:51):
My biggest advice would be when you have those times,
those off times where you can not have a baby
and not work, just chill.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Just stay in the house and enjoy your home.
Speaker 5 (05:05):
You know, really relax and enjoy those moments because we
don't get.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Those moments as moms. Just to relax a lot.
Speaker 5 (05:13):
It's like you always feel like when you have a break,
it's like, oh, I gotta go get my nails now,
I gotta do this, I need to go get a drink,
like things that you don't get to do. But it's
like sometimes just chill, Yeah, just relax.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
It's okay to relax. That's good. I write and ain't
a parent and nobody.
Speaker 4 (05:30):
Yeah, one hundred percent of asia. You recently put out
a single by yourself called Do Me.
Speaker 3 (05:36):
How was that? What was the process like for putting
that together.
Speaker 6 (05:39):
It's a pretty singular thing. I would say, like I
engineered all my stuff. So I wrote it, I recorded it,
and then I sent it over to my guy Hiring.
He's like my best friend and he also engineers for me,
and so he mixed it.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
It was just something to throw out.
Speaker 6 (05:56):
Really, It wasn't anything that I really was trying to like,
you know, oh, this will be got it, you know
what I mean.
Speaker 3 (06:01):
But I just enjoy making music. I enjoy creating music.
Speaker 6 (06:05):
And you know, whether it's like I'm doing it for
fun or I'm doing it to be serious, I like
just you know, like to put stuff out makes sense.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
You got to just have those passion projects. You just yeah,
and it's literally just a pastio. Yeah, yeah, I love
that for sure.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Now what else are you working on personally or with
work related stuff?
Speaker 3 (06:22):
What's what's going on in your world. I'm not gonna lie.
Speaker 6 (06:24):
The biggest thing in my world right now is the
tour and with the girls and I have going on.
I think that I'm really good at like prioritizing, and
so I feel like right now, like just what the girl,
what we're doing is like my main focus, my main priority.
I really really want this to succeed and do well.
And I know the girls feel the same way. And
(06:45):
also it's just always really fun being with them, like
almost every day. It reminds me of like when we
were kids, you know, but it's like now you're own.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
It's like after this, we could go eat and get
a drink. Hello, I have a good time. So I
get it one hundred say. I'm not gonna lie.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
You're kind of hard to find some stuff on the internet,
so that's good.
Speaker 3 (07:04):
That's good. You'll tell me more about what's going on
in your world.
Speaker 9 (07:07):
Yes, myself, like you know, OMG, girls, definitely the tours
the main thing right now and stuff. But afterwards, following up,
I'll be having some singles released and stuff. I just
wanted to make sure to put the time, you know,
time and if it makes sense or whatever. But myself
also have a YouTube log I'm working on. I need
to post more blogs. I know, y'all loan me that
I got them coming because I got so many stacked
up to come. So but yeah, I love doing music myself,
(07:29):
and I do have singles out right now, Sofa is
the only thing out on my platform. I'm gonna put
back up working with some because she's a special baby.
Speaker 3 (07:36):
Of mine and I don't know.
Speaker 9 (07:36):
Watch came down, but we're gonna do that.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
You miss the town. I need more music to come.
Speaker 9 (07:40):
But yeah, my main thing right now is OMG Girls
the Name Stage tour. We got to come in up.
Make sure you get your tickets at www. That pretty
also dot com.
Speaker 3 (07:48):
I love that.
Speaker 10 (07:49):
Now.
Speaker 4 (07:49):
Ending on a positive note, the end of the year
is coming up so fast, by the way, four more moments.
Speaker 3 (07:55):
Yes, Marry Christmas at this one. Literally I can't keep
up anymore.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
Okay, So what are some things you want to accomplish
personally and with the group by.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
The end of the year.
Speaker 4 (08:07):
Since we have less than four months at this point,
I would say for us as a group, like having
a complete project maybe by the end of the year, Yes,
like feel.
Speaker 5 (08:18):
Solid, like we love this and so we can go
into the new year, which is you know, something that
we can be excited about it. We will have a
lot of things to be excited for it anyway, I
just know it for us and our music like that
would make us happy and personally.
Speaker 11 (08:34):
You know, I don't know, maybe getting.
Speaker 5 (08:40):
Like kiss under the missiletoe from somebody that from somebody
that really that I like you, you like no, okay,
yeah you do.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
It's hostly we're manifesting.
Speaker 6 (09:04):
A group.
Speaker 9 (09:04):
I definitely agree with that. That's the main thing is
having the project done. I don't see, you know, everything
else is already happening and it's flowing. That's major top
of the list for project finish, and you'll find out
when it's coming. And then for myself, I want to
just continue on my finish journey like continuously, like be
very consistent in it and getting these abs like really
(09:28):
popping like I want them to buy. And then yeah,
I don't know, like I mean, you know the music
of course, doing that posting on my YouTube and yeah,
I mean it'll be nice. And I have a lonely Christmas.
But even if I do, I got families.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
We're manifesting matching pajamas for.
Speaker 3 (09:55):
Okay.
Speaker 6 (09:57):
I think for me, I definitely want to start like
another like business venture. I don't know what that is
or what that looks like.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
I've done like hair stuff before.
Speaker 6 (10:05):
I might try to like revamp that in some type
of different way, I haven't really decided that yet. And
for me and the girls, outside of like our project
and stuff, I really really really want us to do
like a second leg of this tour and hit all
the places that, like the fans felt that we didn't
come to. And hopefully by that time, you know, the
(10:27):
project is out or is coming out, so we can
promote that and you know do that. And also too,
like I want me and these girls to have a
number one record, So I think that our biggest thing
is just like, well, my biggest thing for us is
just really getting that hit like I want us to have.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
I mean, you know, really the.
Speaker 6 (10:45):
Little the Netflix K Pop thing, the even Slayer girls,
they were the first girl group to have a number
one in twenty years on Billboard. But I don't think.
Speaker 3 (10:55):
They're a real group. I mean they might be a
real group, but I don't think they're a real group.
Speaker 6 (10:59):
I feel like I want my girl Hello Hello, to
really come through and get real numbers.
Speaker 3 (11:04):
So I think that's definitely a goal of mine for us.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
Yeah, don't skip the personal Yeah, yes, business and maybe
like like a new purchase.
Speaker 6 (11:17):
So I don't know what that purchase will be, but
something that can like benefit me in some type of way,
maybe like an investment property or something you know like that.
Speaker 4 (11:25):
Absolutely, yeah, I love that. I love the any last
words you guys want to leave with the fans listening.
Speaker 6 (11:30):
Yes, make sure y'all stream tea right now available on
all streaming platforms. The music video is out as well
as a challenge, so please tag us when y'all do
y'all challenges. We want to see that and make sure
you guys follow us on all socials. We are at
own G Girls What is He on Instagram and we
are at the real own g Girls on Twitter and TikTok,
which on our TikTok you can also see like the
(11:52):
dance challenge and you know, create your own.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
But yeah, and thank you to me.
Speaker 9 (11:56):
We love you so much.
Speaker 5 (11:58):
And make sure y'all go on pretty Houstole dot com
to get those tickets.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
Yeah, I want to see y'all at those show. Okay,
And shout.
Speaker 9 (12:05):
Out to Pretty Husto and Cold Color for presenting our
tour first official headlining tour.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
I love that you're very excited about the tour coming
of anything else.
Speaker 3 (12:13):
We wanted to really add to that.
Speaker 6 (12:14):
Oh, we're hitting, We're hitting in Atlanta, We'll be in
New York, We'll be in Dallas and DC. I love
for the name stage tour, so make sure y'all come
out to see us. If you heard, y'all city getting
the tickets.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
I love it. OMG Girls, thank you guys so much
for coming in. Thank you, thank you for having us.
Speaker 1 (12:31):
Thanks Alexandria and the OMG Girls. September is Prostate Cancer
Awareness Month. Prostate cancer affects one in eight men. However,
black men are seventy percent more likely to be diagnosed
and twice as likely to die from the disease. Zero
Prostate Cancer is the nation's leading prostate cancer organization. They're
(12:51):
on a mission to save lives through awareness, education and support.
Mister Jordan sat down with a man who doesn't need
much of an introduction, Mister Matthew Knowles, Beyonce's father. He
talks openly about his battle with prostate cancer and his
involvement with Zero Prostate Cancer joining me.
Speaker 12 (13:09):
I have mister Matthew Knowles here, who really doesn't need
an introduction, but I'll give you one just in case.
A legendary music executive, author, Zero board member, and cancer survivor,
Yes talk to us a little bit about your involvement
with zero and why you feel like it's necessary.
Speaker 13 (13:28):
Well, my involvement has a global ambassador and and why
I chose and they offered the role is my family,
and we'll talk about it today. When I was a
kid growing up my granddaddy, I grew up in the
South back then if you are black.
Speaker 8 (13:48):
Man and you have they thought you were going to die.
They since your home.
Speaker 13 (13:53):
And I remember as a kid going to my graamparents
house security screaming, just screaming the point.
Speaker 8 (14:00):
My mother would let me build back over there.
Speaker 13 (14:04):
He died, and then four out of five of my
dad's brothers died of prostate cancer. So I thought it
was important also because I have prostate issues that I'll
talk about today tonight. And I thought it was important
(14:24):
because I am a male breast cancer.
Speaker 8 (14:29):
And in that process there's.
Speaker 13 (14:31):
Something called brock of two mutation genetically, and so that
means for a man, I have a higher risk of
prostate cancer, melanoma as well as pancreatic cancer. So it
was an opportunity for me to share this with the world,
(14:53):
share it with men specifically and black men specifically, on
the risk that's involved in the importance of early detection.
Speaker 8 (15:03):
Most people don't know. They know me for music, but
they don't know.
Speaker 13 (15:07):
That for eight years I slow zero radiography for breast cancer.
Oh and what's the first black one of the first blacks,
if not the first black to sell MRI c T
scanners in America And in my.
Speaker 8 (15:21):
Corporate career as a neurosurgic pro specialist.
Speaker 11 (15:24):
Wee oh wow.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
Okay.
Speaker 12 (15:27):
And to someone who's thinking, I'm on the fence, should
I go and get this PSA test? Should I not?
I'm afraid. I just I don't. I feel overwhelmed by it.
What would you say to a black man who their
history does not have history it's considering getting a PSA test?
Speaker 13 (15:43):
I think I would say that is a very smart
move on your part.
Speaker 8 (15:48):
Why, because it's about early detection all cancer. It's about
early detection.
Speaker 13 (15:54):
And prostate cancer and others are asphmatic. You don't feel it,
you don't know that that you have it at a
very early stages.
Speaker 8 (16:03):
Fortunately for my cancer with stage one, fortunately I took
a pill for five years. We have to have.
Speaker 13 (16:10):
Radiation therapy or chemo therapy. Finding any type of cancer.
Stage four is very uneasy.
Speaker 8 (16:20):
And on satellite. So if you can find this by.
Speaker 13 (16:23):
Simply PSA tests, which is three seconds of the blood
test with a needle.
Speaker 8 (16:31):
And that can save your life.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Please thank you Misty and mister Knowles. As Global Ambassador
of Zero Prostate Cancer, Matthew Knowles will continue to spread
awareness in hopes of saving lives. If you are someone
you know would like more information about getting tested for
prost day cancer, or you want to get involved with
Zero's mission, visit their website at zero cancer dot org.
(16:55):
You can follow Misty and submit story ideas to her
on Instagram at miss DJ. When it comes to breaking barriers,
there's a nonprofit stepping up to help women who often
find themselves overlooked or struggling just to land the right opportunity.
Esther Dillard sat down with the group's CEO, Kimberly Minor
to talk about a brand new summit design to turn
(17:16):
these struggles into success.
Speaker 14 (17:21):
If you're a woman who has lost your job, or
if you just have the fear that you will, and
it's not because you're not capable of doing it, it's
because of other forces that are beyond your control.
Speaker 7 (17:33):
Here's what you can do to control some of that.
Speaker 15 (17:36):
In this edition of The Color Between the Lines, respotlighting
a nonprofit that's writing a whole new chapter for women
who have lost their jobs. Since the start of the year,
more than three hundred thousand black women have been pushed
out of their jobs, and this organization, called WAKRUP or
Women of Color Retail Alliance, is really building new pathways
(17:59):
for women of color across the country in the retail industry.
Walker UP is hosting its first inaugural Big Summit, which
stands for Blaze, Innovate and Grow, and that's at Microsoft's
New York City headquarters. I spoke with Walker's CEO, Kimberly Minor,
and she explained to me that this conference isn't about
(18:19):
looking at problems but actually helping women find solutions. You
said in the past that wo R. I'm sorry, WOCR
A Big Summit is where possibility becomes progress And ye,
what does that phrase mean.
Speaker 7 (18:36):
To you personally?
Speaker 15 (18:37):
And why did you feel that this was the right
moment to launch this inaugural event.
Speaker 14 (18:42):
Yeah, so possibility becomes progress is uh, it's really important
because in in retail and in most corporate settings esther,
you know, women of color are not promoted based on
their possibility, right, or you know, they're promoted very expedition. No,
(19:13):
that's not the word I'm looking for.
Speaker 7 (19:15):
They are promoted and see progress.
Speaker 14 (19:21):
At such a small rate compared to their peers, right,
who generally get promoted based on their potential, their possibility.
Speaker 7 (19:31):
Right, what can they possibly bring to this?
Speaker 14 (19:33):
Oh, they have so much potential, We're going to do that.
Whereas with women of color, we have to do a
project to prove that we did the project, to prove
that we can do the project because we did the project.
And so when I thought of the Big Summit, I
wanted it to be full of women with potential, meeting
(19:57):
people who had moved forward, had the progress to connect
to see where are the synergies, so that you know
how valuable you are and what that value really can
mean with the right connections.
Speaker 7 (20:14):
And so that's where.
Speaker 14 (20:16):
The possibility of your future meets progress, because there it's
going to be an incredible room of people who can
see your potential in the possibility of what your future
can be.
Speaker 15 (20:31):
I looked at some of the lineups. Can you talk
a little bit about that. Who's going to be there?
You're going to be offering in this summit.
Speaker 7 (20:38):
Oh yeah, I.
Speaker 14 (20:40):
Still can't believe we got the people we got to
the table.
Speaker 7 (20:44):
But so we have McKenzie.
Speaker 14 (20:46):
Coming in because everything we do is database because of
course they think that, you know, because we're the Women
of Color Retail Alliance, that it's you know, fuzzy.
Speaker 7 (20:57):
It's not fuzzy. It's not all about feelings.
Speaker 14 (20:59):
It's all about data and making a change in the industry.
And so McKenzie starts the morning off with, you know,
the state of the consumer, like this is the value
of who we are in the bigger scheme of you know,
revenue and like GDP, you know.
Speaker 7 (21:20):
And then we go from there and we have Anna Blue.
Speaker 14 (21:23):
She's talking about the mean girl phenomenon and this is
super important to me.
Speaker 7 (21:29):
And here's why. As I have come in my career,
you know, and it's.
Speaker 14 (21:38):
I've moved a lot, but I've been in this space
and have had a lot of success.
Speaker 3 (21:45):
And as I think it was maybe about.
Speaker 7 (21:52):
Maybe about six or seven years ago, I was.
Speaker 14 (21:57):
Being interviewed for a book to be in a book,
and the person who interviewed me was like, so.
Speaker 7 (22:04):
Tell me about it. Tell me about the old white
man who's gotten in your way in your career. And
I said, oh, is that what this interview is about.
Speaker 14 (22:16):
And she said, well, yes, because they get in the
way of our careers. And I said, oh, I can't.
She's wise because that has not been my experience. I said,
My experience has been that there have been women who
have gotten in my way. There have been quite a
(22:36):
few who have seen me come in and were intimidated
and could not possibly let me get past them for
whatever reason. I said, So, I think we need to
have a different conversation. And so when I met Anna
and we hit it off, and she was telling me
(22:57):
about this research she had done and what she wanted,
and I was like, you know what, I'm so tired
of this old narrative. The truth needs to be told.
Women don't always support women. And I know we've got
memes and we've got all these little things all over
social media, but the reality is that that is not true.
Speaker 7 (23:17):
So let's call a spade a spade, and let's get
that out there. So we have her right. So I'm
super excited for that.
Speaker 14 (23:25):
We and then we have Sonny hostin Sonny Hostin, So look,
not only do we have Sonny Houstin, but I get
to interview her.
Speaker 7 (23:34):
I'm so excited, you know, because you know, you know
my background.
Speaker 14 (23:39):
I went to school, radio, television, film. I wanted to
do I wanted to do what you do. I wanted
to be Oprah, Like when I saw Oprah and I was.
Speaker 7 (23:46):
In school and I was like, oh, I could do that,
and it didn't work out.
Speaker 14 (23:50):
The you know, stars weren't aligned. But every opportunity I get,
I pull out what I learned in school, you know,
journal and communication, and now I get to apply it
with Sonny Houston.
Speaker 7 (24:05):
So that's exciting.
Speaker 14 (24:06):
And then we have these workshops where we have AI
and not only just AI, so we have the Retail
AI Council, We've partnered with them, We've partnered with Sonar
and it's every session.
Speaker 7 (24:21):
You can get a certificate.
Speaker 14 (24:23):
And what's important about that is, you know what we
talked about earlier that as women of color, we have
to prove, proved, prove.
Speaker 7 (24:32):
So now not only will you have AI training right
because there's a lot of buzz around.
Speaker 14 (24:40):
AI, but when you come down and understand the numbers,
not as.
Speaker 7 (24:44):
Many people have.
Speaker 14 (24:46):
Training in that area, as you know, would be necessary
to continue the future of your work, right because it's changing,
and so we want to make sure that if you
come to our summit and you take the AI sessions,
that you have.
Speaker 7 (25:06):
The most current and up to date training to.
Speaker 14 (25:10):
Help you for the future, because we have to think
beyond what we're doing now, and so that's great. And
the certification on top of that is a way to
just prove that you have that.
Speaker 7 (25:24):
Training so no one can take that away from you.
Speaker 15 (25:26):
It's so nice that you have an event which is
touching on women's empowerment, especially given the fact that you
were talking about because that was one of the things
I was going to talk to you about was the
number of women, especially black women, who have lost their
jobs between January and now. And it's really scary for
(25:47):
a lot of women right now. So how will this,
I guess this forum help those women who might be
in that space. And what do you want to say
to them?
Speaker 7 (25:58):
Yeah, it will help them. So if you are if
you're a woman who has.
Speaker 14 (26:03):
Lost your job, or if you just have the fear
that you will, and it's not because you're not capable
of doing it, it's because.
Speaker 7 (26:09):
Of other forces that are beyond your control.
Speaker 14 (26:13):
Here's what you can do to control some of that
by coming to the summit. You will be in the room,
so this is an equal playing field. There's no VIP section.
You could be sitting next to someone. We have the
are the These are some of the brands that will
be in the room, LVMH Chanel, Macy's, I'm just thinking,
(26:39):
I VS and co AlOH.
Speaker 7 (26:45):
My goodness.
Speaker 14 (26:46):
List goes on and then we also have a bunch
of recruiters, so Kirk Palmer number one recruiter in retail
broad viewed Talent Partners. They are amazing their Internet and
they focus on people of color or.
Speaker 15 (27:02):
What would you say for those who might be on
the fence about whether or not this is really the
right thing for them.
Speaker 7 (27:10):
So here's what it's not.
Speaker 14 (27:12):
Okay, this is not a a session where we're going
to be talking about the problems. This is a session
where we're going to be talking about the solutions and
giving you tools and resources to invest in yourself.
Speaker 7 (27:27):
And we're making it available to you for free.
Speaker 14 (27:31):
So if you are not that valuable to yourself, then
stay home.
Speaker 15 (27:36):
You can hear more about the free conference by heading
to the Color between the Lines podcast on iHeartRadio, YouTube,
or wherever you get your podcasts. Remember The WAKRA Big
Summit is on September twenty fifth at Microsoft's New York
City headquarters, but you have to register by the deadline
of September twenty second. I'm Esther Dillard.
Speaker 1 (27:57):
Thanks Kimberly and Esther Dillard. Krei is back with her
new series Reading the Room, where she talks to authors.
This week, she talks to author Jerry Krafft.
Speaker 16 (28:06):
I'm Jerry McCready. Children's book illustrator Jerry Kraft is well
known for his syndicated newspaper comics Rip Mama's Boys, as
well as his popular graphic novels New Kids, School Trip
and Class Act. Jerry is among just a few syndicated
black cartoonists in the nation. He talks about how his
childhood experiences helped him launch a brilliant career in Part
(28:27):
two of Reading the Room on the Black Information Network.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
It started way back with a little boy who was
born in Harlem and grew up in Washington Heights and
absolutely hated nothing more than reading books. I always loved
to draw, but reading was just something that never interested me.
(28:56):
I feel like I went from reading Doctor Seuss or
having that read to me by my parents to reading
some Marvel comics but mainly skipping past the boring part
but get into the fight scenes.
Speaker 17 (29:09):
To reading almost nothing.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
But I was at kids who love to draw, and
I ended up needing to write stories in order for
me to draw up my stories, you know, because I
wanted to do more than just draw pictures of Spider Man,
you know. And then by about seventh grade, I went
(29:36):
to a new school and met up with a few
guys that liked to draw comics as well, my friend
Eric and Winston, and we would start to draw our
own comics. And it was good that I didn't meet
someone who wanted to partner up and write the books
(29:57):
with me, because I think if I had had a
writing partner, I would have never realized that I could
write myself. And then, you know, I'll let you go
piece by piece to guide me through my answers. But
that's kind of where it started. And if you had
ever told me that that kid who hated to read
(30:18):
would grow up to be an author who travels the
world trying to get kids to read, I would have
never never believed you.
Speaker 16 (30:24):
So you know, I look at your story and part
of it is just a bit introspective I guess because
you have said before that, you know, maybe you were
a bit of a fish out of water, one of
a few black students at a predominantly white school. Did
you ever look at art, for example, or drawing was
Did you ever look at that besides being a hobby,
(30:46):
a way to kind of escape and just create something
of your own outside of what was actually going on
in reality.
Speaker 2 (30:54):
Yeah, you know, whenever I do school visits, I say
that the basis behind new kid is not just being
a fish out of one water, but having always been
a fish out of two waters, meaning it started in
(31:17):
Washington Heights, where I was, you know, where I grew up,
where I was born, and grew up light skin, straight hair,
small for my age, and all my friends so even
in like you know, more friends were darker skin with
cool braids and curly afros that I could never get
(31:39):
because my hair was straight.
Speaker 17 (31:41):
You know, they were taller, you know, in.
Speaker 2 (31:47):
Schools, I was always a year younger than everyone, you know,
so I got a lot of, you know, different things
of not really fitting in the having girls go oh wow, you.
Speaker 17 (32:02):
Know you're really cute if only you were a.
Speaker 2 (32:04):
Little darker, or you know, why do you talk like that,
you know, or are you trying to be all this
or you know.
Speaker 17 (32:14):
And so by the time.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
I went to high school, I always wanted to go
to an art school, and my mom and dad did
not want me to. So I had taken the test
for music and art and art and design in New
York City and they sent me to a school in
Riverdale called Fieldston, which I had never seen anything like it.
(32:42):
It looked like what I imagined Harvard to be, just
because I mean, there were trees and there was a campus,
and you know, instead of twenty five kids in my
class at Matthews Lutheran School, now there's one hundred and
(33:03):
ten kids in my ninth grade class at Fieldston. You know,
at Saint Matthew's there was like one white kid, one Latina,
and one kid from India. And now there's only ten
African American kids in my ninth through twelfth grade class.
(33:26):
And then half of those kids had been there their
whole lives. So I didn't really have much in common
with them either. You know, a lot of them were were,
you know, financially in a whole another bracket than my family,
you know.
Speaker 17 (33:46):
So we would go to.
Speaker 2 (33:48):
Woolworths or Toys Errs, and they'd be going to Fao
Schwartz and some of these fancy toy companies and stuff,
and so it was this, you know, we vacationed differently.
Speaker 17 (34:01):
It was just very different.
Speaker 2 (34:03):
And so I put a lot of that in New Kid,
and in prior to that, in My Mama's Boys comic strip,
it was, you know, two teenage boys who hated to
read and their mom owned the bookstore. So I always
kind of started with myself and then branched out to
(34:26):
make the characters more interesting when I had to.
Speaker 16 (34:30):
So your life experiences really informed some of the choices
that you made with your books, as you just mentioned,
and I have to say, you know, we're talking about
a very unique approach that you have taken with your books.
Charming characterizations, the narratives are very interesting. They do not
(34:54):
insult the intelligence of your readers at all, ultimately focusing
on positive outcomes. There are a during family structures, memorable characters.
And I say that because you know, you're talking about
your readers who are children, and these children today are
facing some very complex.
Speaker 7 (35:13):
And very unusual life.
Speaker 16 (35:16):
Circumstances sometimes and we're talking about serious issues, and I
know that, you know, you have taken steps to address
some of those big feelings, as they say, for children.
You know, you've focused on these things head on racism,
social racial exclusion. You just mentioned colorism, you know among
your peers, and even diabetes. So how do you encapsulate
(35:41):
these groundbreaking issues into a formula that is actually relatable
to children?
Speaker 7 (35:47):
What is that process like for you?
Speaker 17 (35:50):
So it was it was really funny.
Speaker 2 (35:53):
I guess I was in my early twenties and I
had grown up also loving strips, and so you the
you know, for those under certain aids, they'll never experience
what the big deal it was getting like the New
York Daily News on Sunday and getting the Sunday funnies,
(36:16):
you know. And then there were a lot of books
that collected those comic strips, and they were anthologies like
a Calvin Hobbes or Farsade or for Better for Worse,
and they were really popular. But there were so few
African American comic strips. It was Curtis and Jumpstart and
(36:36):
where I'm coming From and Luther and Herb and Jamal,
but they didn't they weren't given the same exposure as
a lot of the you know, their white contemporaries, like
their comic strips, you know when you talk about a
Peanuts or Blondie or Beetle Bailey that were in thousands
(36:56):
of newspapers. So I wanted to do anology of my
Mama's Boys comic strip and I got rejection after rejection
after rejection, and some of them even personal and insulting,
and that made me see early on, we're talking like
(37:17):
nineteen ninety seven, I gave up on the concept of
ever being published because some of the rejection letters were
so nasty, and so I published my own book, Mama's
Boys and Americans We Potato Pie. And I was thinking
that I was doing it for adults like me who
(37:37):
like comic strips. And I remember doing a book festival
in New York City and this guy came up to
me with his ten year old son and he says, hey,
you know, can I get this for my kid? And
I hadn't intended it to be for kids, but I
(37:58):
thought of it. I was like, well, you know, there's
no sex, there's no cursing, there's no drugs, there's no gangs,
there's I was like, yeah, yeah, I think it's safe.
And he bought it and he gave it to his kid,
and it was the book fair was in like a gymnasium,
and the kid goes to the corner of the gym
and just read it cover the cover and laughing hysterically.
(38:20):
And I was like, oh, shoot, okay. And then ten
minutes later someone else comes up and says.
Speaker 17 (38:26):
Hey, is this a kid's book. I'm like, yes, it is.
Speaker 2 (38:30):
And that's kind of how I backed into being a
Chodn's book author. And I think that that was the
best way, because if I had intended for my audience
to be kids, I might have tried to lower the level,
you know, lower the vocabulary, lower some of the concepts
(38:54):
and intelligence to try to I the one who used
to turn dumb it down. But you know that that's
what I'm saying. So I always took it where I
wanted to bring kids up to the level of my
writing as opposed to lowering the level to make it
(39:16):
more palatable for them. And then I just challenged them.
And I talk about I've done comic ships back in
the day in New York City for American Diabetes Association.
Speaker 17 (39:29):
I remember the New.
Speaker 2 (39:31):
York Daily News asking me to do Mama's Boys comic
ships for their aid supplement. And this is like in
ninety eight, maybe I've done stuff on teenage pregnancy, American
counts for fitness and nutrition. And then slowly but surely,
my niche became taking really difficult topics and making them
(39:57):
approachable for people of all ages. I even did a
new kid comic book about the girl with leukemia one time.
And so when it came time to doing something about
a new kid in this private school, that was easy
compared to the other stuff I had already done.
Speaker 16 (40:16):
You know, I can help, But you know, wonder you
know why there's this sort of hyper focus on this
level of negativity. It's just a huge political breeding ground,
to the point where if you look at, you know,
some of the literature that you know, we were all
reading when we were you know, preteens and teens today
(40:40):
probably would not even pass Mustard. I'm talking about the outsiders.
Are you there, God, it's it's me, Margaret, you know,
because there's too much talk about menstruation, you know, pat Rye.
And so I feel like, in that sense, feels a
little bit like we're going backwards in terms of how
much can kids handle and so with your books that
(41:01):
are really bringing kids in with this high rate of
again you know, relatability, talk about harmless, but yes, raising
the educational level significantly. I don't understand that pushback.
Speaker 2 (41:15):
Well, I need to edit your one statement. It's not
how much can kids handle? It's how much do they
want white kids to have to handle? And that's just
how it is, because how many books did you have
(41:38):
to read as a kid when they were the people
that look like you are were enslaved or you know,
being targeted during the Civil rights era, or gangs, or
everyone that looked like you at nineteen is already a
(42:03):
mom dating a drug dealer. You know, I never saw
myself in a book or even a movie.
Speaker 17 (42:16):
You know.
Speaker 2 (42:16):
The closest I had ever come I was probably twenty
seeing Barry Gordon Gordy's The Last Dragon, and I'm like, Wow,
it's a black kid that likes karate movies and is
actually going to live to the end of the film,
which is a novel approach. You know, there were no
(42:41):
heroes that look like us that made it to the end,
or if we had to read Huckleberry Finn or you know,
all the the slurs that characters that look like us
were called and so now all of a sudd sudden,
when people like us grow up to tell stories that
(43:05):
aren't trauma based, now there's pushback, you know. And I
saw online the other day that someone said that, you know,
like Ruby Bridges, that was in our lifetime, and.
Speaker 17 (43:23):
There were.
Speaker 2 (43:25):
People who threw rocks and spad and did all that
to keep her from going to school something that is innocent.
It's just going to school. And now those same people
don't want their grandkids to even read about this little
girl that anyone should be able to empathize with. And
(43:50):
that is a hero more so than you know, the
Wonder Woman's and the superheroes that we throw in front
of kids.
Speaker 16 (43:59):
Yes, Ruby Bridges was six years old at the time,
old enough to actually live in that critical historical moment.
But six year olds today are too precious to learn
about that, so right, right, make it make sense.
Speaker 2 (44:15):
Yeah, there was even a and this is the most
ridiculous thing, there was some book by you know, a
black figure in history but more modern, and they banned
that book from the school. And the school is actually
named after that person. So just imagine that, like, we
(44:43):
don't even want you to learn about who the school
is named after.
Speaker 16 (44:49):
Well, that's why I feel like, you know, you are
really in a very special category, and I think you
know where you are within this genre. You are a pioneer,
and I feel like, you know, you are in an
enviable position right now where you are influencing others because
we've never seen, you know, an illustrated children's book author
(45:13):
like you writing the way that you do and presenting,
you know, this, these books.
Speaker 7 (45:20):
In the way that you do.
Speaker 16 (45:21):
So it's very interesting to see how all of this
will look going forward, because we need way more Jerry
Krafts in the world.
Speaker 2 (45:29):
Well, you know, it's interesting because initially they were talking
about how groundbreaking New Kid was and I was always complimented,
but at the same time, I'm like, it's just a
black kid going to private school. It shouldn't be groundbreaking.
(45:50):
But I appreciate that fact. But then, you know, I
just did a book that was released earlier this year
with fellow New Bear winning author Kwame Alexander. So now
there's two African American men who have won the Newberry
And we did a book called J Versus K about
(46:11):
two fifth graders who are kind of rivals. One is
an artist based on me as a fifth grader, and
one is a writer based on Kwamea as a fifth grader,
and they both enter their school's annual storytelling contests and
then they become bitter rivals, but then at the end
they have to figure out if it's better for them
(46:33):
to work together or not.
Speaker 17 (46:36):
And we did like a twenty city tour back.
Speaker 2 (46:40):
In May and must have seen like ten thousand kids.
Speaker 17 (46:45):
It was unbelievable.
Speaker 2 (46:47):
And this one is more of a diary of a
wimpy kids style book, so it's not a full color
graphic novel, but it is illustrated text, so a lot
of text like a chapter book, but with a lot
of illustrations and cartoons in there.
Speaker 17 (47:04):
And that was an amazing experience.
Speaker 16 (47:07):
Thanks for being here today, Jerry. And as we wrap up,
how do we find you on social media?
Speaker 2 (47:12):
Jerrycraft dot com which is j E R R y
c R A f T dot com. And then I'm
all over social media as Jerrykraft.
Speaker 16 (47:22):
This is reading the Room on the Black Information Network.
I'm Terry mccreedy.
Speaker 1 (47:26):
Thanks Terry and Jerry. Over the past several months, cuts
to federal funding and programs impacting public health services have
taken place that could have major implications for the black community.
The Black Information Networks Andrea Coleman sat down with doctor
Angelica Jeter, a public health expert, this past week to
learn more about how these changes could impact you and
(47:48):
steps you can take to help insure your well being.
Speaker 10 (47:52):
You're honored today to have doctor Angelica Jeter join us
in studio in Atlanta. Thank you so much for being here,
doctor Jeter, thank you so much. I'm so excited about
our conversation today.
Speaker 3 (48:02):
Well, there's so much.
Speaker 10 (48:03):
To cover, right I mean, you're an expert in public
health and there's a lot going on in that space
right now. So let's see. Why don't we start with
a little bit about your history. Why don't we delve
into you first, and then we'll rent out into some
of our specific topics.
Speaker 8 (48:19):
I love that so again.
Speaker 11 (48:21):
I'm doctor Angelica Jeter, originally from Mississippi, born and raised.
I got into public health during a time when HIV
was really impacting young black teenagers across the South, and
as a college student, I said, what can I do
about that? And then I found this thing called public health,
(48:41):
and as an undergraduate student, I began to do my
own studies and the health department found out about what
I was doing and they said, do you know that
you do the same work that we do as public
health professionals. And so I tripped and fell into public
health when I was twenty years old. So when I
(49:02):
say that I am a twenty year health equity scientist
and researcher, I genuinely mean that. And I've been doing
this for a long time.
Speaker 3 (49:11):
So public health.
Speaker 11 (49:13):
Found me through my passion for people.
Speaker 10 (49:15):
I was just about to say that it's by training,
by education, but also by heart that is so powerful.
So much going on in public health today, So let's
talk first about vaccines, big topic these days. You were
appointed by then Atlanta Mayor Kisha Lan's Bottom to be
the first public chief of public health for the city,
and it came right out of a time when the
(49:37):
COVID pandemic was starting to really take root and all
of the fear and so forth of that you had
to navigate. But those vaccines prove critical and saving a
lot of lives. What does this mean now when we
have the head of our public health in the country
pushing back against them.
Speaker 11 (49:56):
Oh, the heavy hitter questions, I love it, I love
it well. You know, when we think about public health,
we're thinking about what do we need to do to
ensure the health and well being of every single citizen
and resident, depending on how and where you're leading. When
it comes to vaccines, we also have to think about
access to care and services. When you think about who
(50:17):
has access and who doesn't, majority of the time is
those of us who are living below the poverty line,
those of us who don't have access to providers and
healthcare professionals, those of us who may not even know
what a vaccine does and how it can protect us.
And so we're in a very critical moment where the
most vulnerable communities, the most vulnerable populations will have higher
(50:41):
health disparities across the board when it comes to cold,
HIV and a's prevention, maternal health outcomes, heart disease, so on,
and so forth. But for vaccines in particular, we run
the risk of those who died more than anybody else
during COVID nineteen experiencing the same outcome. And I'm so
(51:01):
concerned about what's about to happen to our community and
those who are highly vulnerable because they won't be able
to get the care that they need, and then they'll
be positioned to be at risk for more diseases and
other health disparities.
Speaker 10 (51:17):
What might be an answer for them? Have we identified one,
Is there one that's on the horizon, or anything that
you can see that could encourage people who are looking
to be impacted by these changes.
Speaker 11 (51:29):
There are things that people can do. I think we
are in a position where we have to care for ourselves.
We have to be able to one if you have
access to the internet, because we have to understand that,
and everyone has access to the internet. But if you
have access to the Internet and you can get an
accurate information, visit organizations and their websites like the American
(51:50):
Heart Association to find out what's happening.
Speaker 3 (51:53):
Go to your doctor.
Speaker 11 (51:54):
If you have a doctor, ask them the questions that
you need to ask them to get an understanding of
the statf of vaccines, what they have access to get
the prescriptions. Recently, I wasn't feeling well. September has been
tough because we've seen an increase in COVID cases, We've
seen an increase in flu, and it's been very difficult
to get access to the vaccinations. Even for myself as
(52:17):
the former chief Health officer of Atlanta, I had to
call my doctor and say, hey, will you write me
a prescription so I can get a COVID vaccination. And
so we have to put ourselves in a situation where
we feel empowered and get the knowledge that we need
in order to take care of ourselves. That is the
best advice that I have for everyone right now.
Speaker 10 (52:36):
Be wearing masks now.
Speaker 3 (52:37):
Absolutely please.
Speaker 11 (52:39):
I remember when we put out the first recommendations during
the first two months of the COVID nineteen pandemic. So
we're thinking twenty twenty where everyone is confused trying to
figure out what's happening, and we're telling people to wear
a mask. You know, social distancing, which you know we
learn more about that later, but where a mask helps,
(53:01):
and the mask are still available. Just earlier this week,
I went to Kroker and purchased a mask that were
five dollars and not just the regular mask for the
kN ninety fives. They are available to us, so that
is also another option.
Speaker 10 (53:14):
Wow, So we're not quite past the risk and the
threat of any of those little germs that filter through
the air in public spaces.
Speaker 11 (53:21):
Absolutely not. And washing your hands. Oh, please please wash
your hands.
Speaker 10 (53:26):
Yeah, and your children's too, please.
Speaker 3 (53:29):
Exactly very good.
Speaker 7 (53:31):
Let's move on now to HIV.
Speaker 8 (53:33):
Prevention, big, big topic.
Speaker 10 (53:35):
A lot of people very concerned about the changes that
have taken place, and those changes including a cut and
funding even risking some preventative treatments and outreach programs that
have been so helpful for people getting ahead of the
risk of contracting HIV. Where are we now in that
whole sphere and how concerned are you about what you're seeing.
Speaker 11 (53:59):
Across the board as it relates to the status of
our nation's health. I'm deeply concerned. If you chose a
topic that we were going to discuss today, I am concerned.
When it comes to HIV. We're in a situation where
the numbers have not decreased for Black women recently. So
when we talk about black women in particular, we still
(54:20):
have high rates of new cases of HIV and AHS.
When you talk about young black men, the situation is
the same. When you think about what's happening. We're sitting
in Atlanta in particular, Atlanta is always in the top
five as it relates to HIV and AHS, and so
when we talk about access to care and services. We're
in a situation where people will potentially lose their access
(54:42):
to care because the cost for health insurance and the
coverage and thinking about how health insurance coverage is shifting
as it relates to what providers you can actually see.
When you think about the location of clinics, clinics are
closing across the country, are having to shift the kind
(55:02):
of patients that they see. So access to care is
decreasing across the board, which means that if you don't
have if you are HIV positive, you need access to
your medications and treatment to ensure that you are non transmittable.
If you are trying to prevent HIV, you might want
to use a pill like PREP pre exposure prophylaxis is
the pill that prevents HIV, but if it costs too much,
(55:25):
you won't be able to access it. If you can't
get to a doctor, you won't be able to access it.
So we're in a situation where we could see an
increase in the numbers, even though the numbers are already high,
think about how that can double or triple when people
don't have access to the care that they need.
Speaker 10 (55:43):
So, what are some preventative steps they can take on
their own, especially if they can afford the amount of
sun or a program that they were relying on before is.
Speaker 11 (55:51):
Now shutting or clothing. Think about the makers of the
treatment that you're receiving. If you are HIV positive, the
pharmaceutical companies have different programs that they still run, So
go to their website see what programs that they have available.
Call those numbers. That is one option. If you are
HIV negative and you want to remain negative, do the
(56:15):
best that you can to get tested. There are still
local organizations here in Atlanta that are available that offer testing.
Certain pharmacies do testing. I don't know which ones still
do it now because everything changes every day. There are
also tests that you can buy at the pharmacy so
you can test yourself at home. The other thing that
you do is think about condoms, think about your partners
(56:37):
having them get tested as well. Just putting in your
own self care strategy when you think about your sexual health.
Speaker 3 (56:45):
So we have to be responsible.
Speaker 11 (56:46):
We do, we do, and even intentional. I think that
the risk for HIV and how we think about it
is very different because we have so many innovations around
it now right and we can be able to care
for ourselves in a very different way. But we have
to again educate ourselves and know what's available to us,
ensure that we're incorporating success as a way for it
(57:09):
that's pleasurable for us as well, and then be confident
enough to have the conversation with your partner. I think
very oftentimes we're afraid to be able to say, hey,
have you been tested?
Speaker 7 (57:20):
You?
Speaker 11 (57:21):
Are you open to using the condom? Can we engage
in these things? And so I think it's just important
to be able to build up the mental fortitude and
confidence to be able to do that.
Speaker 10 (57:31):
Yeah, it's really good self advocacy, huh.
Speaker 3 (57:33):
Absolutely, And those community.
Speaker 10 (57:34):
Advocates are also very important right now, those people like
yourself kind of just buy heart, got into this face
and come with such fervor and such dedication. They seem
to help find answers for us as well, it seems absolutely.
Speaker 11 (57:49):
Getting back to your original question about public health, some
of the studies that I did was some of the
first studies through CDC around HIV and a's and black
women specifically around that access to care. And this wasn't
that long ago, maybe ten years ago, maybe eight years ago.
There's still a lot for us to know. But without
public health professionals like myself, then the research gets behind
(58:13):
what we need to know. In putting out the right
messaging to promote health and care for our communities, we're
left behind. And so public health professionals and healthcare professionals
that are doing the work to advocate for members of
our community, we are most definitely escentral.
Speaker 10 (58:30):
Yeah, that's very good in that research, Like you just said,
it's so critical and the research that goes in and
looks at particular populations because what may work in one
community may not be the same in another. So we're
cheering you guys on and hoping that the funding too
that you need to do what you do with excellence
(58:50):
will continue.
Speaker 1 (58:51):
Thanks Andrea and doctor Jeter. Doctor Jeter also talked about
the current state of black maternal health. We will have
part two of this interview next week. That's our program
for this week. For more on these stories, listen to
the Black Information Network on the free iHeartRadio app or
log onto Bionnews dot com for all of the latest
news impacting the black community.
Speaker 8 (59:12):
We would love to hear from you about.
Speaker 1 (59:14):
The black perspective. Simply log on to Bion's Talkback live
feature on the free iHeartRadio app to share your feedback. Also,
be sure to follow us on social media at Black
Information Network and on X and Blue Sky at black
infoe Net, and make the Black Information Network first on
your car radio and iHeartRadio app presets. I'm Mike Island,
(59:36):
wishing you a great Sunday, and be sure to tune
in next week at this time for another edition of
the Black Perspective right here on the Black Information Network
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