Dear Friends,
Thank you for visiting the second issue of HBCU Speakers Bureau and Research Magazine.
There are defining moments in our lives when some of us think more deeply about mortality, especially our own – as when a loved one passes, during major events,or during the current global health crisis.
The current pandemic’s daily march of new COVID-19 cases and unbelievably high and still rising death rates and the crisis of police brutality splash incessantly across the pages of my mind. They leave me vulnerable and wondering if a true resolution will come in my lifetime. The daily protests worldwide in the wake of renewed attention to social injustice and inequality that disproportionately affect our black brothers and sisters bring angst and compassion simultaneously.
Lately more than ever, I have considered my own mortality, with tears on the brink of overflowing, but just stopping near the surface. Yet, I continue to awake each morning to near deafening silence broken only by birds’ early morning chatter or a barking dog’s wake up call.
So,I pause to take delight in the simpler things of life –the songs of winged creations of God that sit outside my window, the blooming canna lilies, as well as sweet memories of yesteryear.
I continue to nurture hope that my grandchild will grow up to see a time when he will be appreciated for his uniqueness and cherished for his natural affinity for goodness, love, and peace.
This issue of the magazine chronicles the memories of Dr. Frederick Harper,retired professor, Howard University, as he reminisces about his life as an author, professor,civil rights activist, and counselor. Dr. Thomas Scotton, health professional,provides stress techniques during a crisis. Tuskegee University’s Crystal James and Edward Robinson of the California State University Fullerton & Dominguez Hills, examine why African Americans are the primary victims of COVID-19 and how African American women may be the key to disseminating information about the pandemic to the African American population.It includes a special address from iconic, legendary Civil Rights leader John Lewis, Finally,the Maroon Artisans organization memorializes the Greenwood District of Oklahoma Black Wall Street with a specially created candle.
I hope you enjoy this issue and I pray that you will stay safe.
Gwendolyn Scotton Bethea, Ph.D.
The Stories
– By Frederick D. Harper, Ph.D.
Reviewed by Gwendolyn S. Bethea, Ph.D.
“Some life experiences are personally chosen, and some are divinely destined. Sometimes they are one and the same… Frederick D. Harper, Ph.D.”
Dr. Frederick D. Harper’s words ring particularly true throughout his latest book, The Stories. Harper delves into his life stories in a way that is personal, poetic, and prescient. One can easily picture him in his roles that for several decades included author, researcher, civil rights pioneer/leader, counselor, professor, consultant, and psychotherapist in this riveting depiction of his life stories. The Stories span from his early childhood through college years, afterwards as professor, and then as retired author/counselor.
Told in an entertaining, intellectual manner, the book couches spiritual, sometimes prophetic pronouncements and beliefs with real life events and circumstances in a practical, inspired manner. For example, he tells of how his late mother’s spirit foretold his second marriage and how pivotal chance encounters with his future second wife were predictive of their marriage several years later. And in a nod to generational prophetic nuance, how certain events in his life seemed to parallel moments of unexplained prescience when he felt the urge to commit his thoughts to paper on the subject of premature death only minutes before the World Trade Center 9/11 and other such events. His urgent premonistic writings on the untimely deaths of seemingly larger- than- life music icons Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston, occurred within two hours of his writings.
When Dr. Harper looks back over his life, he realizes that he could have gone down a completely different path, but for a teacher who forcefully took a hand in his school life, actually threatening him to do his best on the upcoming academic honor roll battle or she would “kill him.” His life was never the same and he either came out on top or near the top in academic performances from then onward. In fact, he became a leader among his peers in college and graduate school.
Harper carefully tells of his youngest son’s pronouncement at an early age of a time before he was born, when he chose his own parents from the sky. He goes on to mention this same kind of experience based on research conducted at the University of Virginia, of some 2,000 other children who stated before age five that they too had chosen their parents or remembered their previous lives. One child recounted experiencing gun fire and burning before he entered his mother’s “stomach.” His prior life probably involved being an embattled soldier, says Harper.
Sometimes, Harper wonders if his life’s purpose was to be a channel for others as they sought to understand the meaning of events in their lives, even when he was not seeking to be such a channel. For example, when a man whom he had met on an airplane trip afterwards shared the hurtful passing of his loved one. Harper helped him unveil the sorrowful event’s deeper meaning. One of his graduate assistants, who became a trusted reviewer of his book manuscripts, had the same gift for prophetic interpretations of life and events.
Treasuring his time as a college professor, Dr. Harper does not claim to tell every multi-nuanced moment, but he names a few of the influencers on his life, namely, Carroll L.L. Miller, dean of the Graduate School, Dr. Andrew Billingsley, Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Faustine C. Jones Wilson, School of Education, and Dr. Constance Ellison, also of the School of Education and the Graduate School – all of whom either modeled academic excellence or served as respected peers or mentors.
Harper traces the beginning of his civil rights leadership history and discriminatory experiences, which began in his youth as he led his friends to seek integration of local eating and recreational facilities in Jacksonville, Florida. These experiences then continued through the years, including incidences of racism during his early college career, as when a secretary refused to type for him, but not the white faculty members. Harper reported the occurrences and she was later “encouraged” to amend her attitude towards him, which she did and began typing for him after all. In another instance, upon being interviewed for a counselor position, after several interviews, he was told, “You’ll do.” It was obvious to him that the federal government had threatened a denial of federal funds if the school had not adhered to diversity requirements. In later years, Harper became one of the first two African Americans to receive a doctorate from Florida State University. Through all of these and many other incidences, he learned that adversity was only a steppingstone to enhanced strength of character, persistence, and preparation for the next challenges.
Coping in Stressful Times
– By Dr. Thomas Scotton
Stress during a crisis can cause fear and anxiety about your health and the health of your loved ones. The physical effects of stress can be manifested in different ways, causing headaches, insomnia, anxiety, weight gain, muscle aches and pains, crankiness, and difficulty focusing. There is a strong connection between your body and your mind. To reduce stress and boost your mental health, take care of your body.
Here are a few other tips to consider.
• Breathe deeply to fully utilize your lung capacity. This will change your entire physiology and your brain will send a message to calm down and relax.
• Diaphragmatic breathing, or belly breathing, can lower your stress levels, reduce your blood pressure, and regulate other important bodily processes.
How to Do Belly Breathing
• Exercise daily. The benefits of physical activity are maintaining mobility, reducing injury and improving mental health,
For a mind-body exercise, try yoga, pilates, or Tai Chi. For structured activity, try cardio, interval training, or strengthening exercises.
Unstructured activities like yard work, washing the car, gardening, and organizing or cleaning your home are also great ways to get moving.
Exercise: The Best Stress Relief
• Get sufficient sleep. Most people need from 7-9 hours each night. The lack of sleep often leads to increased stress levels. To ensure a good night’s rest, try creating a bedtime routine to help signal your body that it is time to wind down. Try to go to sleep and wake at the same time each day, even on weekends.
Some relaxing activities you may want to try:
Avoiding the use of electronics 30 minutes before sleep and resisting the urge to scroll through social media or check work emails
Stress and Sleep – How To Master Stress And Enjoy Restful Sleep Instantly,
• Think positively about yourself. Thoughts and the way we think about ourselves greatly influence our psychological well-being. Your attitude can significantly impact your stress level, negative thoughts and behavior patterns, and they may create a tendency to self-sabotage.
• Do things that help you stay mentally healthy. Practicing self-compassion and acceptance will help you maintain a healthier inner dialogue.
• Take a more positive outlook. There is always some good to be found in any situation.
Positive moods and mental states can lead to more creativity, motivation and resilience to stress.
How to Increase Your Positivity Ratio
• Use affirmations, guided imagery, and visualizations. Incorporate positive affirmations into your life.
• Participate in spiritual self-care activities to help you live a healthier lifestyle.
• Check your emotions. Emotions are essential indicators of how we are feeling, but it’s important to remember our emotions are not who we are.
Self Care Is How You Take Your Power Back
• Tap into gratitude. Gratitude is the quality of being thankful. When you are struggling with stress, the practice of gratitude can help you. Finally, pay attention and take notice of all the good things in your life.
• Avoid vigorous activity, large meals, and caffeine close to bedtime.
Dr. Thomas F. Scotton, MD, is a retired Family medicine physician. He received his BA from the University of Pennsylvania and his MD from The Hahnemann University, now part of the Drexel University College of Medicine. He now consults with businesses in the Residential Care Industry for the Elderly, the Developmentally Disabled, Mentally Disturbed and Child Care Programs.
Dr. Scotton is a Jack Canfield Success Principles Certified Trainer and an Executive Life Coach
Dr. Scotton is also a Certified ExO Sprint Consultant and Coach with OpenExO.com that is helping organizations, institutions and people unlock abundance to transform the world for a better future.
He can be reached at : 626-232-0961
Email : DrScotton@drscotton.com
Redefining Normal During COVID-19: Attending to the Threat of Backlash
By Crystal M. James, JD, MPH, Tuskegee University, and Edward Leon Robinson, Jr., Ph.D., California State University Fullerton & Dominguez Hills.
The United States is battling a pandemic due to the community spread of SARS-COV2, the virus that causes COVID19. News and information dominating most major communication outlets are justifiably focused on the issues and impacts of this disease that is disproportionately causing more mortality for Black and Brown communities. More research and culturally tailored interventions are necessary to better understand how black communities determine the trustworthiness of and attend to these messages. Taking up this important call, Tuskegee University will be leading a National Science Foundation-funded research project to cultivate and learn the multiple ways in which Black communities comprehend and transfer public health information within their communities.
As more information is learned about SARS-COV2 and its long term impacts, the risk factors that make Black and Brown communities more vulnerable to the outbreak are also becoming clearer. Chronic diseases (Heart Disease, Cancers, Diabetes, etc.) play a significant role in more severe illnesses and death due to COVID19.Thus, the epidemic reveals systematic inequalities that exist for people living in poverty, which limits access to nutritious food sources, health care, and preventive care. Black and Brown people, who are over-represented in these statistics, play a critical role in the alarming death rates for COVID19. This must be addressed.
Historically, Black families have championed education as a means to elevate themselves out of poverty. Health metrics show that financial security is positively correlated with better health outcomes. The convergence in college comple¬tion between men and women in the United States is the culmination of a long process of educational advance led by younger women. An earlier report noted that young women aged 25 to 29 began to have higher college attainment rates than young men in 1996. Over the next two decades, black women earned the distinction of being the most highly educated of all ethnic groups. According to a report from the National Center for Education Statistics published in 2016, “across all racial/ethnic groups, female students earned the majority of certificates, associate’s degrees, and bachelor’s degrees. For example, the shares of bachelor’s degrees earned by female students were 64 percent for Black students, 61 percent for American Indian/Alaska Native students, 60 percent for Hispanic students, 59 percent for students of Two or more races, 56 percent for White students, and 54 percent for Asian/Pacific Islander students”.²
The Tuskegee University research project looks to discern how education and information filter into minority communities. If women of color are outpacing men in educational attainment, one of the leading factors of the research project is to see whether the new educated class of women is critical to the spread of needed health information flowing into minority communities. Women of color have traditionally been entrusted with the caretaker roles in minority communities. The National Science Foundation-funded project could lead to critical
¹ Nicole Stoops (2003), Educational Attainment in the United States. Washington, DC, U.S. Census Bureau, 2004.
² Accessed June 29, 2020: https://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=72 SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2019). Status and Trends in the Education of Racial and Ethnic Groups 2018(NCES 2019-038), Degrees Awarded.