Jamaican Alia Atkinson sets world record in swimming.
(Photo: Google Images)
Jamaican Alia Atkinson sets world record in swimming. (Photo: Google Images)
Yesha Callahan of The Root is reporting that Alia Atkinson has made history as the first black woman to win a world title in the sport of swimming. Atkinson, who is Jamaican, won the women’s 100 breaststroke at the world short-course championships in Doha, Qatar. Callahan writes:
“Atkinson, who swims for Jamaica, tied the world record with a time of 1 minute, 2.36 seconds, which, according to the standards of the international swimming governing body FINA, counts as its own record. Even Atkinson was surprised at her win.”
The win was Jamaica’s first gold in world swimming championships.
First Lady Michelle Obama admires iconic entertainer Beyonce.
(Photo: Google Images)
If you could choose an occupation different from your current one, what would it be? Well according to the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama would be Beyoncé.
First Lady Michelle Obama admires iconic entertainer Beyonce. (Photo: Google Images)
Yes, that is right. In an interview promoting her Reach Higher Initiative, a program used to emphasize and encourage the importance of higher education after high school, FLOTUS tells rapper Wale “I would be Beyoncé,” if another career had to be chosen. “I got the hands up!” Obama says copying the famous hand gesture in Beyonce’s popular ‘Single Ladies’ video.
In addition, Wale asks her what advice would she give to her college self. “Don’t be afraid to ask for help,” Obama says. Along with saying that StudentAid.gov is the best place to find financial aid.
If you could choose an occupation different from your current one, what would it be and why? Tweet your answer to @TheBurtonWire.
This post was written by Jazzmen Newsom, summer intern for The Burton Wire. She is a rising senior in the department of Mass Media Arts at Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Ga. The Memphis native is a television and film major. Follow her on Twitter @Rainegreatness.
In a special report for CNN by Abby Reimer, the writer reports on the invisibility of Afro-Mexicans, many of whom are descendants of the 200,000 Africans brought to Mexico under slavery, which ended in the country in 1829. The headline refers to Afro-Mexicans as the ‘Hidden People,’ who reside mostly on the margins of society and historical memory. The article profiles photographer Mara Sanchez Remero who first learned of the black community in Mexico as a teenager.
PHOTO: Maria Sanchez Renero (CNN.com)
Reimer writes:
“The black community there told her they were descendants of Africans shipwrecked off the Pacific coast in 1900.
But it wasn’t until she traveled back last year that she realized what little she knew. There, traditions and customs rooted in Africa — such as “La Danza del Diablos,” or the dance of the devils — have survived.
‘I didn’t know there was that much African culture in Mexico,’ Sanchez Renero said. ‘They didn’t teach me that in school.’
Sanchez Renero dug deeper into Afro-Mexican history and culture, ultimately deciding to tell the story of Afro-Mexicans through a series of photographs called “The Cimarron and Fandango.'”
PHOTO: Maria Sanchez Renero (CNN.com)
In Mexico, Afro-Mexicans are not recognized by the Mexican Constitution and are not counted in the national census. There are nearly half a million Afro-Mexicans, many of whom are fighting for their civil rights like people of African descent throughout the world. Some suspect that there are millions of Afro-Mexicans who remain unaccounted for because Mexico does not collect data on race.
Rapper/actor Andre 'Andre 3000' Benjamin will star in season 2 of John Ridley's 'American Crime.'
Rapper/actor Andre ‘Andre 3000’ Benjamin will star in season 2 of John Ridley’s ‘American Crime.’
Lesley Goldberg of the Hollywood Reporter is reporting Hip-Hop legend and actor Andre Benjamin will star in the second season of ABC‘s hit drama American Crime. Goldberg writes:
“The Outkast singer otherwise known as Andre 3000 has been tapped to co-star in the second season of ABC’s American Crime, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.
The John Ridley Emmy-nominated anthology will reset its story and characters and, in season two, take place in the Midwest where an incident at a high school sparks discussions about gender issues, sexual orientation and sexual identity.
Benjamin will play Michael Lacroix, an architect who with his wife, Terri (returning cast member Regina King), are prominent members of the community in which they reside. A true power couple, they have both the financial means, as well as the acumen needed to fiercely defend their son when he becomes entangled in a scandal at an elite private school.”
Kia ‘Prime Time’ Sidbury is a professional pool player in the Women’s Professional Billiards Association (WPBA). She will compete in the New York State 9-ball Championship on Saturday, Aug. 1. TBW contributor Dr. Stephanie Evans, Ph.D. chats with Sidbury about the game, her goals and what needs to happen if you plan to follow in her footsteps. Check it out below:
SE: Characterize the game in three words. What is the biggest misconception about pool?
KS: Mental, physical, strategy is how I characterize the game. On the mental aspect, I once read that the mental part of your game holds the highest percentage. You can have all the great mechanics and skills in the world, but if you are not mentally clear and focused on the task at hand, you will miss shots or make wrong decisions that could cost you in the end. For me, pool isn’t just about hustling or gambling, which I believe is the misconception of the masses. It is a sport. It has rules, referees, and etiquette like any other sport. I am not a “pool shark.” I am a sports competitor. Pool is also very educational. Although I was good in math, I didn’t quite score well in geometry, go figure. Yet, when it comes to pool, I understand angles, midpoints, and parallel lines. The diamonds on the tables are measuring markers that help with banking and kicking balls. I have never taken physics, but I feel like, when playing pool, I can defy the laws of gravity or, at least, can understand balancing forces. I’ve learned and still am learning to use proper mechanics and let the cue do the work (no body lunges or death grip to the cue). All three words come in to play.
SE: Who are role models and/or your favorite 3 players of all time? What have been the two most memorable times you played and what did you learn?
KS: I would pick Linda “Hurricane” Haywood-Shea (a former WPBA professional), Kim White-Newsome, and Karen Corr, in that order. Linda has been a mentor and friend since I joined her tour. I will never forget the day she told me to expand my knowledge of the game. Kim has been a voice and support for us up and coming female professionals. I love Karen’s overall game and successes. More importantly, I love her sportsmanship and character. All of these ladies have impacted my journey personally. The two most memorable times I have had playing pool was actually against top ranked WPBA players. I was surprised at what I could do, I defeated one of the top WPBA players at a regional tour in 2012 against Julie Kelly—I bested her 7-2. In the 2015 WPBA Masters, I didn’t win against #4 ranked player at that time (Monica Webb), but I was proud that my head was clear, and I kept up with her 9-6. Even though I lost, it was the highlight of my whole weekend. Both of these experiences confirmed that I have the ability to play against and be a top pro. To any women interested in playing pool, I say, You can do it! You can be a pro!
SE: What pool games do you play, what is your style of play, and what rituals do you have? Strengths? Weaknesses?
KS: Primarily, I play 9-ball in tournaments and 8-ball in BCA league. I also play the fairly newly developed game and tournament called American Rotation (basically a mix of straight pool and 10-ball – shoot in 1-15 order, no slop, call shots and safeties). Two other games that I really enjoy are 3-cushion billiards (which I learned at a local pool hall that held a workshop and a one session league) and 1-pocket (which involves a lot of defense, a lot of strategy because you must shoot all balls in your own pocket). Although I only have knowledge of the basis of the game, I also want to learn snooker from “The Irish Invader”, Karen Corr. I would say my strength is determination and will to keep learning. However, I would count learning too much without giving proper time for muscle memory to a new skill as my weakness.
SE: What is the best piece of advice you have ever received? What advice would you offer new players? What type of cue/equipment do you use?
KS: I was told to have fun. If I can’t enjoy what I love, then it’s not worth doing. I’m always learning that aspect. I offer that same advice to new players. There will always be growing pains, but if you are passionate about the sport, allow it to enhance you personally. Try to maintain a good attitude whether learning or competing. Playing pool has taught me that I must deal with different personalities. It also taught me to be aware, not to let an opponents’ strategies or sharking (distracting words or actions – they come in all forms, blatant and subtle) get in my head. With that said, I must add what I have learned about competing against guys (open tournament or local pool hall)? You have to have a decent game for some guys to respect you as a “female” player. Sometimes decent enough means defeating them. I remember one guy who was a skill level 7 in APA; I was a 5. We played on an APA Masters league which does not recognize handicaps. When I defeated him, he glared at me, so upset. He even went as far as to say that I won’t do that again. He assumed that I could not beat him, but I did. Since that interaction and others like that, some male players are now more personable toward me.
If you are serious about shooting pool on any competitive level, I highly suggest you get a coach, connect with a professional player, and/or certified trainer. To take it a step further, I suggest you use good equipment that not only plays great, but is comfortable to you. I personally decided to invest in a custom cue (513 Custom Cue) that was built to my physical measurements. Playing pool is a “forever learning” experience. Enjoy the experience.
SE: What is the takeaway message you want to offer readers?
KS: A few years ago, I had a moment of reflection. I thought, “I can do anything.” I’ve been playing bass for over 15 years, I am tech savvy and build websites, but asked myself, at what am I an expert? I’m tired of being a Jane of all trades, master of none. I decided I’m going to start with pool. I didn’t think of my race, gender, religion as stumbling block. I just said to myself, I will become a professional pool player. I’m a minority in the sport on the professional side, but I can do it. If I had a theme song, it would be ‘Conquerors’ by David Chance and my motto is, “I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me.” This type of message is what I pass on to my children. DON’T LET ANYBODY STOP YOU FROM PURSUING SOMETHING YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT. There is no color in that, there is just success. I still uphold my standards in bars, and at first some gave me a hard time because I was different. There will be haters…that’s their hang up, not mine.
This is the second article in a two-part series on Kia Sidbury. Check out Part I here.
This post was written by Stephanie Y. Evans, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of African American Studies, Africana Women’s Studies, and History at Clark Atlanta University. Follow her on Twitter @Prof_Evans.
Play can often help with managing stress and anxiety.
(Photo: Google Images)
Play can often help with managing stress and anxiety. (Photo: HMHB.org)
July is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. The Burton Wire has brought you information, resources and personal stories of African-Americans who have chosen to publicly share their struggles with anxiety, depression, stress and bi-polar disorder. Choosing to share these stories is a brave act considering the social stigma attached to mental illness in the world community, let along black and brown communities. In an effort to eradicate the stigma of mental illness and encourage people of African descent to prioritize their mental health and eliminate the shame surrounding these issues, The Burton Wire is bringing you one more story on the last day of National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month.
Hopefully, our readers will continue to educate, encourage and help eliminate the stigma around mental health issues, especially as it relates to communities of color, throughout the year.
Meet Kim, a woman who grew up with a mother who suffered from multiple mental health disorders. Kim started an organization called Playcations.org which uses the art of “play” to help people cope with stress, anxiety and other mental health disorders. Hear Kim’s story in her words in the video below:
This post was written by Nsenga K. Burton, founder & editor-in-chief of the award-winning news blog The Burton Wire. Follow her on Twitter @Ntellectual.
Dr. Brian Seymour in his office at Edward Waters College.
(Photo: jacksonville.com)
Dr. Brian Seymour in his office at Edward Waters College. (Photo: jacksonville.com)
WJCT Public Broadcasting is reporting that Dr. Bryan Seymour was honored with an award praising his medical research on asthma and allergies affecting African Americans conducted at Edward Waters College.
Seymour was granted the award during the Historically Black College & University Awards ceremony, hosted by HBCU Digest at Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia, July 9-11, 2015.
Seymour is currently research director for the Edward Waters College Center for the Prevention of Health Disparities.
During his research, Dr. Seymour collected 200 blood samples from Jacksonville residents living in Health Zone 1. Health Zone 1 comprises the urban core, and parts of the North and Northeast side of the city of Jacksonville, FL. Health Zone 1 is the poorest zone of the six health zones and experiences high rates of not just asthma, but also STDs, HIV, and Diabetes.
Seymour says his study measured the levels of a specific antibody in the bloodstream using things like microcentrifuge tubes to help him with his samples (if you are currently conducting research on something similar, then you need microcentrifuge tubes in your lab). Elaborating he said:
“This antibody is in everyone’s blood, but if you’re allergic or if you have allergic asthma, or if you have [a] parasitic infection, it is elevated…It is basically a mistake in our immune system that pushes us to develop a large amount of these antibodies.”
Seymour says his team found five to six percent of the 200 participants had significant elevated levels of this antibody.
He says this study is only the first phase of the research he would like to conduct. Seymour says phase two involves identifying what people are inhaling, and what is causing the elevated levels of this antibody.
Seymour contributes the levels of asthma in the African American community to “people living on contaminated land”, adding that Health Zone 1 is known to have the highest rate of lead in the community housing.
Seymour says his team’s main goal is to close the health disparity gap.
This post was written by Reginald Calhoun, editorial assistant for the Burton Wire. He is a senior Mass Media Arts major at Clark Atlanta University. Follow him on Twitter @IRMarsean.
Professional pool player Kia Sidbury.
(Photo: Google Images)
Professional pool player Kia ‘Primetime’ Sidbury. (https://www.facebook.com/kiasidbury)
This weekend, Kia Sidbury, known as “Prime Time,” will compete in the New York State 9-ball Championship. She is the only featured African American woman pool player in the Women’s Professional Billiards Association (WPBA semi-pro non-exempt), and she is on the rise.
Billiards is an ancient game that gained popularity among European royalty as early as the 15th century and pool was all the rave among the upper crust of 19th century Chicago and New York. But modern popular culture shaped pool into a “hustler” image from the smoky halls of the 1930s to the hot shot movies of the 1980s (Color of Money, 1986). With recent growth in the economy, the leisure sport has regained popularity, even resulting in a new cut-throat reality TV show, “The Hustlers,” based in New York City. Though she has been on the regional circuit since 2010, and began competing on the pro tour in 2013, Sidbury is no hustler. Her goal is to make her mark as a professional in the game—on her own terms.
Sidbury is from Baltimore, a mother with three daughters and a grandmother of four. Her hobbies include crochet and playing bass guitar in her church. By profession, she has worked for the federal government in Medicare. Sidbury learned from her parents, “don’t let other people’s hang ups become yours” so, even as she is rounding the corner to age 50, she has decided to go pro and go for broke.
Sidbury’s love for pool began as a teenager in her aunt & uncle’s basement. Throughout the years, she played leisurely until 2007, when she happened upon pool tables while in a shopping center and it triggered her initial love for the game. She began teaching herself technique by playing and watching DVDs. She got her name “Prime Time” from an observer who saw her serious approach to improving her game. She joined American Poolplayers Association (APA) and is now in the Billiards Congress of America (BCA) in addition to the WPBA regional circuit tour. After playing the regional circuit, she accumulated points to get her ranking, and competed in regional tour championships, and in a twist of fate a spot at a WPBA sanctioned event. Her goal is to improve her AZbilliards rakings and, more importantly, climb the rankings on the WPGA tour into the top 32.
Sidbury has invested much in her game: she acquired a coach, her cues are made by Bernard Dews (one of the few Black cue makers in the country), and she has even gained sponsorship for her tournament play (Triple Nines Bar and Billiards, Coins of the Realm, Blackheart Premium Billiard Tips). During her first years on the circuit, she met several top ranked players, including Jeanette ‘The Black Widow’ Lee, Kelly ‘KwikFire’ Fisher, and Jennifer Barretta.
Sidbury has played against Karen Corr, Jennifer Chen, Julie Kelly, and Monica Webb. Sidbury credits women like Kim White-Newsome (current president of WPBA) and Linda Heywood-Shea (a regional tour director) with creating an atmosphere where women can rise in the sport, especially since women players enjoy higher sponsorships and viewership than men. Hall of Famer, Jeanette Lee, is currently on a national tour with Bass Pro Shops, enjoys sponsorship by Predator (which carries her line of “Poison” cues), and Lee is the face of the APA.
Like Lee, Sidbury wants to encourage more women to join leagues and professional associations…
CORRECTION: In an earlier version of this story, we stated that Ms. Sidbury was the only black female member of the WPBA. D’Andrea McQuirter, who is African American, is also a member of the WPBA. We regret the error.
This article is the first of a two-part series on Kia Sidbury, the only featured African American woman pool player in the Women’s Professional Billiards Association. Part two features an exclusive interview with Sidbury. Read here.
This post was written by Stephanie Y. Evans, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of African American Studies, Africana Women’s Studies, and History at Clark Atlanta University. Follow her on Twitter @Prof_Evans.
NIGERIA / KEBBI / 27 SEPTEMBER 2011
Polio campaign in the Fulani settlement, Mashakeri village, in Kebbi state.
NIGERIA / KEBBI / 27 SEPTEMBER 2011 Polio campaign in the Fulani settlement, Mashakeri village, in Kebbi state.
BBC is reporting that Nigeria has made it a year without declaring a single case of polio. If the World Health Organization (WHO) confirms the results, Nigeria is eligible to be removed from the list of countries where the disease is endemic.
This is a milestone for Nigeria as it was believed internal turmoil would hamper the battle against the crippling disease.
Nigeria’s polio free period, dating from July 24, 2014, is the longest it has gone without recording a case of polio. The hope is that next month the entire African continent will have gone a full year without a polio infection, with the last case of Polio being recorded in Somalia on Aug. 11, 2014.
The Director of Rotary International’s polio program applauded the achievement saying,
“It’s an extraordinary achievement. It really shows the value of government leadership and taking ownership of the program.”
Up until the 1950s polio crippled thousands of people a year in rich and poor nations alike. The poliomyelitis virus attacks the nervous system and can cause irreversible paralysis within hours of infection.
The disease often spreads among young children and in areas with poor sanitation conditions that allow it to run rampant in areas of conflict and unrest. However, the spread of the disease can be halted with population wide vaccination.
Nigeria had struggled to contain polio since some northern states imposed a year-long vaccine ban in mid-2003. Some state governors and religious leaders in the predominantly Islamic north thought and promoted the idea that the vaccines were contaminated by Western powers to spread sterility and HIV/AIDS among Muslims.
Engaging traditional and religious leaders and polio survivors in immunization campaigns while using thousands of volunteers to build trust, were vital components of Nigeria’s successful elimination of polio. All of these factors, coupled with the continuation of high levels of vaccine coverage, will help keep polio at bay.
Nigeria’s polio eradication milestone brings the entire world a step closer to the prospect of polio becoming the second human infectious disease after small pox to be eradicated.
This post was written by Reginald Calhoun. He is a senior Mass Media Arts major at Clark Atlanta University. Follow him on Twitter @IRMarsean and on Instagram @Les_geaux_jawn.
6abc.com is reporting that Rep. Chaka Fattah and four others have been indicted in a racketeering case, on charges he misappropriated hundreds of thousands of dollars of federal, charitable and campaign funds, the U.S. Attorney’s office said on Wednesday. According to U.S. Attorney Zane Memeger, the four other people charged are:
-Lobbyist Herbert Vederman, 69, of Palm Beach, Florida
-Fattah’s Congressional District Director Bonnie Bowser, 59, of Philadelphia
-Robert Brand, 69, of Philadelphia
-Karen Nicholas, 57, of Williamstown, New Jersey
Fattah and the others were “...charged today in a 29-count indictment with participating in a racketeering conspiracy and other crimes, including bribery; conspiracy to commit mail, wire and honest services fraud; and multiple counts of mail fraud, falsification of records, bank fraud, making false statements to a financial institution and money laundering, the U.S. Attorney said.”
Fattah has been the subject of a long-running federal investigation.
