I’m also an educator and I constantly hear debates over whether phones and other forms of technology should be allowed in classrooms. People ask whether or not technology is helping or hindering our youth. Are they really learning if they’re wearing headphones or are they playing and wasting time? I’ve always supported the use of technology in classrooms and have encouraged my own teams to flip the focus from the negative aspects of technology to the positive ones. Rather than focusing on cell phones in classes as being a distraction, think of ways that those devices can be integrated into the everyday instructional practices. Many schools and districts now have technology integration plans; teacher evaluation tools even ask how teachers are using technology in their instructional delivery. However, I haven’t seen instructional technology used on a wide-scale in innovative ways beyond presentation platforms, word processing, and basic graphic design. The technology isn’t going anywhere, and our youth aren’t going to stop using it. As technology evolves, our education systems need to find meaningful ways to make use of these tools to enhance the educational experiences of our school communities. There is great potential in allowing students to access various forms of technology in schools, and our attention should be spent on teaching responsible behavior and etiquette. Help youth experience how social media and instant access to information and tools can enrich their learning by bringing curriculum to life, allowing students to connect with their peers around the globe in meaningful ways, and developing a mindset of being a serviceable global citizen. But also, let’s teach them about balance, and the importance of authentically engaging with other humans, the benefits of sometimes disconnecting and logging off, and maybe not sleeping with their phones like their school leaders.

Mainstream society continues to see black people based on our physical characteristics, hair being one of them. Today in 2019, black hair is just as political as it ever has been. Just a few days ago, the NYC Commission on Human Rights banned hair based discrimination in employment. Though this is a win, it is but a small one. Just last year the US Supreme Court refused to hear a racial discrimination case based on hair; and the Baltimore Police Department continues to enforce racist professional appearance policies including a ban on locs, cornrows, and beards, though the beard ban was ruled illegal. The elders knew how important a statement our hair was. That is why the embrace of natural black hair has always been political. Black men who chose not to have a fade or caesar, who remind you every day of their blackness through their hair have always been at the margins, but perhaps no more?

Despite systemic oppression, we still continue to make hair art and be trendsetters in hair styling. One might say that black men have been the catalysts for the beard care industry. I do not recall seeing beard care products before black men started getting love on Instagram, let alone a whole section at Target, do you? There is also now a traveling party called “Must Love Beards”. Like…who would have thought, in 2009 when I was applying for jobs fresh out of college, and shaving weekly to ensure I looked professional, that in 2018 I would land a Director position with full beard, black afro, and a nose ring. And its not just me. I see brothers everyday pushing the boundaries of what is considered professional: having amazing beards, wearing curly afros, etc. I see brothers with waves, brothers with designs on the sides of their heads, brothers with freeform locs and brothers with manicured locs. And the list goes on. I see all of these amazing crowns on our brothers, as they go about changing the world and I am encouraged. Though intentional or not, our decisions about our hair are still rooted in societal expectations of us, contrary to Ms. India Arie’s 2006 statement. The question becomes, do we accept those expectations, or rebel against them? And if we rebel, who is watching? Who is taking notes? Who is seeing this small act of resistance?

Being proud of our hair as black men is important, not only because of its political nature, but also because we have people looking up to us. As a former educator, I cannot stress for you how boys’ grooming habits change based on what they see the black men in the school building doing. I have a low curly fro, and when I walk in a classroom, boys will start twisting their hair to make my curls. Boys also ask my fellow educators what products they use all the time. My Principal friend started locs, and suddenly half his school was growing out their hair for locs. Our hair is important, not just for the statement it makes about ourselves to the outside world, but also for how it inspires the next generation.

So embrace your curls. Love your naps. Grow your beard. Use your wave cap. Black self-love in today’s society is an act of resistance, and I plan to resist forever…as I deep condition this beard right now.

__________

Credits:

Creative Director: Henry Edwards II
Photographer: Xang Mimi Ho
Assistant: Erika Talley
Groomer: Aisha Butler
Contributing Writer: David Edwards

I pledge allegiance to my soul
to always put me first
to define my own boundaries and value
so no one else can diminish my worth.

I vow to put in the time required
to build a covalent bond within myself
because if I am not devoted to get to like, love, and accept me as I am
how can I expect that of anyone else?

I promise to be patient with my psyche
protective of everything I introduce her to
to nurture her with positive affirmations
so that she can not be easily fooled.

I vow to not only recognize my strengths
but my weaknesses too
so that others can not exploit, deny, or withhold
anything that I am due.

I pledge allegiance to my skin
to always put me first
to avoid using external factors and comparisons
to evaluate my self-worth.

I vow to be protective of my heart
and shield her from those who don’t deserve my love
to not waste my time chasing waterfalls
or my energy on relationships that don’t evolve.

I promise to hold my treasure sacred
guard it like Fort Knox
to make sure a dividend is given only after
investment in my soul yields a profit.

I pledge allegiance to my heart
to always put me first
to require consistency with actions
not just romancing me with words.

I vow to consider consequences
especially with decisions that will forever define me
to remember the sacrifices of my ancestors
and give no one the power to confine me.

I promise to leave a legacy of brilliance
no matter how small my footprint may seem
because everyday my impact will be felt
and my fortitude will push me beyond my wildest dreams.

____________

CREDITS:

Creative Director: Henry Edwards II Photographer: Xang Mimi Ho
Stylist: Henry Edwards II
Graphic Artist: Brand Meets Creative
Makeup Artist & Hairstylist: T. Cooper for crowdMGMT
Model: Leone for Silent Models NY
Assistant: Jonee’ Coleman
Fashion Accessories: Maxhosa Africa, Zara, and Me2 Designs
Written By: Shekina Mayfield

HE:  WOW!  Fierce!! Obsessed! Who?

AP:  Saint Laurent “Blood Lust.”  Staple every season.

HE:  Lit! Strike a pose.  

HE:  And….what else?????????

AP:  Balenciaga!! Graffiti alway trending.  Definitely a fashion statement whether street or chic!  Whether minimalist or taking it to the max.

HE:  And tell me one more thing we should be taking about?

AP:  Gaultier .. French art-rock outlaw going strong as ever.

AP:  What’s that saying, “in the Spring a young man’s fancy turn to thoughts of love.”

HE:  Just know I’m loving that shirt .  Irresistible!

AP:  And if you fall for that then you’ll Shaun Leane.  Anything but bashful!

HE:  I’m dead. That look could shut down IG.

AP:  Contemporary tech driven classics also take the lead.  Combined with statement eyewear such as Thierry Lasry!  Total twist on vintage design.

HE:  #retrosuperfuture .. Lol .. Colorless color.

AP:  And looking ahead to Summer always and forever, Comme des Garçons. 

HE:  Talk about desire.  I’m here for it.

AP:  So there you have it.  Fashion love stories for 2018!  LATER

The old cliché a picture is worth more than a thousand words, well now, more than a thousand likes is no longer a statement.  It’s a reality!  According to retaildive.com, Generation Z is much more influenced by Instagram, Snapchat, and YouTube than other generations.  Why?  This is where majority of the imposters, excuse me, fashionistas and fashionistos are found wearing aka stuntin contemporary fashion in real time.  This makes fashion influencers relatable and accessible.

I guess Generation Z, well, Generation Idolizer, and today’s fashion houses will never understand the true meaning of integrity, especially with these new found fashion icons/fashion ambassadors who were either participants in sex tapes, strippers, and overdosed cosmetic patients are heavily idolized, WTH!

Contemporary fashion designers and their marketing team have quickly incorporated this idolization into their marketing strategy.  The new thing designers are having fashion influencers to do is tag the clothing/accessory designer of  items worn, #newcustomer, in their status.  This keeps Generation Z current, a patriotic consumer, and popular.

In the words of Wu-Tang, “Cash rules everything around me, C.R.E.A.M. Get the money, dollar dollar bill, y’all.”  And that’s exactly what our contemporary fashion designers see when a new found celebrity or fashion influencer seeks clothing endorsement.  It’s basic math

Generation Z + Idol = $$$ 

If you have seen any portion of Ava Duvernay’s award winning documentary “13th” then you know that our country’s criminal justice system is quite broken. But more than that, you would know that the brokenness is designed to place disproportionate number of black men and women behind bars. From the creation of a bail system that keeps low income people of color behind bars, not because of crimes committed, but because of lack of resources, to a plea bargaining system that has been shown to give less desirable deals to black defendants, it is clear that the deck is stacked against black men in today’s criminal justice system, and that is just what happens before going to trial.

Black men face numerous issues when leaving prison and trying to start their lives over again. One of the most pressing of those issues is creating a livelihood. Most formerly incarcerated people are low skilled, and with the cutting of many of the training programs that prisons used to have, they remain that way. Add to that the stigma of being formerly incarcerated and the challenges associated with maintaining positive relationships with family, and you will see that life ain’t been no crystal stair for men who are simply trying to start their lives over again.

It is because of that uphill battle that so many black men are fighting that we brought you this year’s “I Am Successful” campaign. This year’s group of talented men are literally beating the odds everyday. They are beating the odds that say they should be dead or back behind bars. They are not only surviving, but thriving. Some have done it by going back to school, others by starting their own businesses, but the point is, that there is hope after prison.

But let us not be fooled. This collection of men who have taken their second chance at success, are not indicative of an “even playing field”. On the contrary, the fact that there are so few other success stories of formerly incarcerated black men, is indicative of the fact that we have more work to do. As a society we can push our employers to hire convicted felons, push for bail and criminal justice reform in our communities, and most of all, have empathy for the brother walking down the street. You may not know what he is going through.

The Transatlantic Slave Trade stole over 12 million Africans from their homeland and subjected them to a life of forced labor. When we think about the Transatlantic Slave Trade, we think mostly about the loss of life, the loss of family, and the loss of labor. We almost never think about the loss of culture, of traditions, of language, of religion, of ourselves. Those losses; however, were not forgotten by the Stolen. They were keenly aware that being sold into slavery meant that their lives were different forever, which is why the Stolen were known to sneak okra seeds in their pockets, so that they could hold on to something, anything from their past. Vodun in Haiti, Condomble in Brazil, and Santeria in Cuba all incorporate aspects of West African traditional religions. Many former slave enclaves still incorporate African cadence and words in their language today, like the Gullah people of South Carolina. The Stolen knew the importance of holding on to the culture.

Today the descendants of those Stolen are still trying to grasp for pieces of the past, and often look to the continent to find the answers they seek. Cultural Ambassadors such as Katharine Dunham and Pearl Bailey traveled to African countries, as well as the Caribbean, learning the customs, culture and dance, and brought it back to the United States African-American revolutionaries have also sought asylum in both African and Caribbean countries at different times during our collective fights for independence, including Assata Shakur and Rob Williams in Cuba, and Pete O’Neal in Tanzania.

Studies have shown that African-American and Latino children who are taught about their own histories and cultures fare better academically. That is why collections like the one that we have here are important, because learning about the past and ones own connection to it translates directly to success. As you explore the images in this collection we hope that you will be inspired to do your own research, connect the dots on your own ancestral story, and learn about the cultures that birthed you. It is necessary for survival.

For more information about De La Sébure visit www.delasebure.com

Who is this trailblazer?  Dr. Prince Martez, Owner of Premier Pharmacy and Wellness Center, a man who to some may be unassuming but who does not settle for mediocrity. After reading Dr. Martez’s interview, a few unanswered questions were brewing.  The right thing to do was to contact Dr. Prince and ask, right?  In Dr. Prince’s interview with II Magazine, he provides us with doses of wisdom, empowerment, and unity.  Here’s what the doctor has to say:

//:  What makes you exclusive?

Dr. Prince:  I would consider myself to be exclusive because I march to the beat of my own drum.  I make decisions based off the information I research and not just what’s available via social media and other popular outlets.  I’ve always been the type that, if you told me I would fail at something, I would make allowance for your doubts while still running full speed ahead without resting.  Many people see me, but only a few people truly get to know exactly who I am.  It’s impossible to talk or post about it because it’s more something you have to experience. 

//:  Tell us, when did you have an “ah-ha” moment to become an entrepreneur?

My “ah-ha” moment happened on Saturday afternoon in April of 2015.  I can remember that moment so well because it was an out-of-body experience.  I was sitting at lunch with one of my best friends and was venting on the frustrations and limitations with my current job.  I told her I wanted out, and she then asked me what I was going to do next.  In that split moment my mind flipped through about 15 possibilities, but after I thought of each idea, my brain told me why it wouldn’t work.  After going through all of those scenarios, I realized I liked components from each job description.  I quickly realized that the perfect job didn’t exist, and I would have to create it.  The light got brighter, and I heard music from the heavens above.  I adjusted my posture and told my friend, “I can’t work for anyone else.  I need to start my own pharmacy and practice the way I’ve always dreamed.”

//:  How important was it for you to follow your dream?

Dr. Prince:  Everyone is born with a dream already inside of them.  It’s up to each of us to make that dream a reality; it’s our sole purpose for existing.  If you don’t follow your dream, you are destined to leave this earth without fulfilling your one and only true mission. 

//:  How does your brand differentiate from other pharmaceutical retailors?

Dr. Prince:  My brand differs from other pharmacies because we put passion before profits.  Our true and sole purpose is wellness.  Wellness is important to us; we search for resources to help patients obtain their goals.  Our work goes beyond the pharmacy; we bring wellness to the community through our foundation (The Premier Foundation). The Premier Foundation believes everyone is equal and should have access to the same resources.  When society restricts others from those resources, we try our best to provide them for those in need.

//:  Through your service, what would you like to accomplish?

Dr. Prince:  I would like to leave the community with hope and inspiration.  I simply want everyone to know there’s nothing special about me, and what I’m doing can be done by anyone.  It simply takes using our resources, which in my case was education, to empower our community.  I hope I inspire all those who aspire to be something great. 

//:  As an entrepreneur, explain the importance of valuing time.

Dr. Prince:  The Entrepreneur life means your job is never-ending.  You are always on duty because you are your brand.  I had to understand the old saying “Time is Money”. All of the time you spend outside your business could be used to grow your business’s net worth.  If what you’re doing isn’t adding, then you’re subtracting, and we all know that too many subtractions will leave you empty.

//:  From a political perspective, our president elect is making strides to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. How will this affect your industry?

Dr. Prince:  Repealing healthcare could mean a lot of Americans will lose coverage, which means an increase in unfilled prescriptions.  It could also mean that insurance companies’ reimbursement will spike due to less out-of-pocket expenses for them.  That could positively impact my business profits; however, success at the downfall of others is inhumane, and I want no part of it. 

//:  How will the changes impact your customers?

Dr. Prince:  The changes could mean a lot of patients will lose access to healthcare coverage.  This could leave patients relapsing in their treatment plans.  I’ve been working through collaboration with Premium Direct Medical to provide affordable healthcare options for those that are under-insured or that may lose coverage.  Premium Direct Medical operates a walk-in clinic inside my pharmacy which we offer Membership Medicine plans, that gives patients unlimited visits and treatments to help keep them on the right track.  In addition, we have a formulary in the pharmacy that allows patients to obtain some of the most commonly prescribed medications for less than most drug plans. 

//:  Have social media and apps become the future of healthcare? Explain.

Dr. Prince:  Yes, social media allows for the delivery of important healthcare news and updates quickly.  We are also able to educate individuals around the world through their smartphones and iPads.  Apps allow patients to place an order and track the progress of their healthcare.  As a healthcare provider, they allow us to make better professional decisions when it comes to treatment by being able to access the latest guidelines and also patient records. 

//:  In regards to social media and apps, how will this infringe on consumer rights and responsibilities?

Dr. Prince:  We strive to stay compliant with all apps and social media guidelines content within all guidelines of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, also known as HIPAA.  We NEVER include patient information or anything that will allow a patient to be linked or identified to any content.  We will feature a patient via social media with their consent, but even then we never share personal information that violates the patient.   

//:  Is there a correlation between media and health?   Explain.  Is there a resolution to bridge the gap between the two industries?

Dr. Prince:  Yes, media is one of health’s biggest influences.  From the media, we get the picture of health. The media sets and starts all fads. The media has to take responsibility for what it publishes.  Once the media starts to consider its content, then we can really share the wellness of others by showing what a real  healthy lifestyle is. 

//:  What strides are your organization taking to promote healthier lifestyles?

Dr. Prince:  We are ALL about healthier lifestyles at Premier Pharmacy and Wellness Center.  We recently hired Dr. Brittney Cobb Dayne as our fitness and nutrition pharmacist.  Dr. Dayne is a nationally ranked fitness competitor whose main goal is to help patients live a healthier lifestyle through diet and exercise. We also run a blog that publishes content daily to help raise awareness and provide tips, as well as dispel myths. 

//:  Young, gifted, and black. Do you view yourself and your company as what W. E. B. Du Bois calls the “talented tenth”? Explain.

Dr. Prince:  That’s tough for me to answer.  Of course I would like to be considered a great and talented leader of my community, but the truth is, I simply see myself and my company as doing what’s right.  I think people and companies have put profits over being human.  I don’t think it means we are amongst the “Talented Tenth,” but just people who care about others the way God intended and do what’s right. 

//:  How do you handle adversity?

Dr. Prince:  Adversity is best handled with confidence, one challenge at a time.  First, you must be confident that “This too shall pass.”  Each challenge will only last a short while, so brace yourself and push through.  When I’m undergoing adversity I focus on that challenge only; I never lump past and potential future challenges together, since this could lead to a meltdown.

//:  What motivates you to be the best?

Dr.  Prince:  My parents, family, teachers from the past, and my friends!  They know who I am, and they know what I’m capable of, so if I let them down, they know I would simply be giving up, and that’s not who I am. 

//:  Where do you envision your company within the next 10 years?

Dr. Prince:  I envision my company being a blueprint for pharmacy practices around the world, where wellness is once again the first priority.  I think every community deserves to have a pharmacy that offers the resources that Premier Pharmacy and Wellness Center offers. 

//:  What is your prescription to living healthy and being a successful leader?

Dr. Prince:  My prescription would have to be balance.  I think it’s necessary to work hard and then play hard.  Give yourself the chance to relax, regroup, and return refreshed.  I also believe it’s necessary to create a team of other visionaries.  I meet with my board of directors at least quarterly, and we all come up with ways to impact the people we serve.

Dr. Prince, thank you for sharing with II Magazine that informing and enlightening others should never be exclusive, but inclusive.  To learn more about Dr. Martez Prince and Premier Pharmacy and Wellness Center visit http://premierpharmacyandwellness.com/home/4166660

Righteous Anger was  used to describe the radical way Jesus in Matthew 21:12 drove businessmen out of the Temple.  In John 2:15 the same episode is described but reveals a new part of the story: Jesus, after fashioning himself a whip of cord, drives out doves, sheep and cattle being sold for sacrifices. He overturned tables. He pours out the coins of money exchangers. He was incensed and lashed out (pun intended) against the greedy businessmen and the religious elites whom he considered perverted god’s temple.

We all know the end of Jesus’ story, he was crucified in a plot with the political intent of snuffing out a social revolution and possible uprising. I heard those sermons say that the anger we feel over injustice is a bit like a mirror of God’s righteousness and goodness and that a holy discontent was a healthy part of a Christian’s walk.

Although now I am more of a skeptic when it comes to the name and nature of the creator/created dynamic, I still view holy books of all religions as valid writings that can potentially help us work together toward the common goal of Peace. I believe that these writings show us that at the core of each human personally as well as societies and cultures there are basic human rights. Basic human needs such as food, water, shelter, health care as well as basic human desires such as growth, community, and charity.  And Justice.

Our beliefs in the systems of government, societal interactions and religion so hardwired into us depend on the idea that those in power over our lives are just and righteous, that our best interest is being advocated at all times.

For the majority of minority peoples living in America, this is not now nor has it ever been the case and no longer can this fact be ignored, diminished and forgotten.

In the past few years Native people of the Americas, including those in the Latinx community, African Americans– POC from every group imaginable, differently abled peoples from all backgrounds, poor folks  and White allies, Trans/ Queer and Feminist communities have moved closer and closer together, lifting each other’s burdens as we together fight the capitalist patriarchal, supremacist system that oppress us all.

With social media playing a central role in our lives and our social interactions we are constantly connected to each other’s struggles and creatively working together in supporting and advocating for one another.

Thanks to social media and camera phone technologies we can also see the horrors our communities face at the hand of unchecked power and the difference in the way people are treated based on skin color, language spoken, “net worth” and being able to produce the proper documentation. It is little solace that we needed this much proof, and even still, for every Black Lives Matter and Say Her Name hashtag, there is always a misguided, ignorant friend on your timeline sharing bad memes with blatant misinformation and vitriolic commentary.

When you are in a position of privilege and power, your righteous anger, your thirst for justice is so warped, that you might find yourself atop a San Francisco PD car overturned, setting ablaze trash cans. You might find yourself throwing bottles at the police, terrorizing, stabbing and shooting innocent bystanders, burglarizing businesses in front of cameras, on national television and having the luxury of being described as “kids out of control after a baseball game loss” the words “passionate” are exchanged with commentators patronizingly surmising that these kids, these otherwise nice kids, well,  they’ve partied too hard.

I read somewhere online that “when you are used to privilege, equality feels like oppression.”

When you are in the opposite end of this  power structure, when you are systematically speaking,  oppressed, marginalized, victimized and institutionalized in a disproportionately larger scale than the “majority”  you also feel that penchant for justice burning deep, swelling inside your stomach. Yet  you allow it to get caught up in your throat. You let it go, you comply, you stay on task. Ingrained respectability politics teaches us that we ought to be: homogenous, quiet, compliant. If you find your voice enough to speak up, you are labeled as bitter and disruptive, deserving of whatever violence the state enacts upon our lives as a form of punishment for desiring a little more justice and equality today than we’ve had yesterday.

Bitterness is  found in the Bible too, as wrath unchecked, or a person or doctrine that causes people to act presumptuously against their salvation.  To  use the word bitterness within that context to describe depression rooted in oppression is distasteful at best, violent at worst.

But I think bitterness is far more than that.

When I think of bitterness I think of roots. Roots are not fruit, sweet and attractive, but they are just as essential to plant health. They are patient but always moving forward, growing unapologetically. Some roots are impossible or even deadly to ingest if pulled straight out of the ground, but if you know your roots, you might find that you can turn them into medicine, and although you can almost bet that it will be bitter to the taste, they are healing.

For more information about Yanina Angelini Arismendi visit www.yaninaangelini.com