Category Archives: Relationships

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Oprah Winfrey Hosts Two-Night Special ‘OWN Spotlight: Where Do We Go From Here?’ With Black Thought Leaders, Activists & Artists on Tuesday & Wednesday, June 9 & 10…

Hello World,

In response to the continuing civil unrest in America following the tragic murder of George Floyd, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network announced today a two-night special “OWN Spotlight: Where Do We Go From Here?” that will simulcast on OWN and across all of Discovery’s 18 other U.S. networks on Tuesday, June 9 (Part 1) and Wednesday, June 10 (Part 2) at 9 p.m. ET/PT both nights.

It will also stream for free on the Watch OWN and Discovery Family TVE apps, as well as OWN’s Youtube, Facebook and Instagram channels and be available on Discovery’s global platforms in more than 200 countries and territories. The special features Oprah Winfrey as she speaks directly with a range of Black thought leaders, activists and artists about systematic racism and the current state of America.

The in-depth conversations offer insight and tangible plans to answer the questions “What matters now?” “What matters next?” and “Where do we go from here?.” Featured guests include politician Stacey Abrams, journalist Charles M. Blow; Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms; Academy award-nominated filmmaker Ava DuVernay (“When They See Us,” “13th”, “Queen Sugar”),  professor and author Jennifer Eberhardt (author of “Biased”); journalist and Pulitzer prize-winning founder of the “1619 Project” Nikole Hannah-Jones; historian and author Ibram Kendi (“How to be an Anti-Racist”), award-winning actor David Oyelowo (“Selma”), Color of Change founder Rashad Robinson; and National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) national board member Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II. 

“I’ve been having private conversations with friends and thought leaders about what’s next and where we go from here,” said Oprah Winfrey. “I thought it would be both of interest and service to bring their ideas, concerns and comments into a national spotlight.”

“As a network dedicated to supporting and uplifting Black lives, OWN is committed to providing our community with important dialogue and helpful resources in this challenging time as we mourn the murder of George Floyd and ask ourselves how can we come together to create meaningful change,” said Tina Perry, President, OWN. “I am proud that our Discovery family has joined us to amplify this message in solidarity.”

“There is no one like Oprah to bring us all together at this critical moment in our history to offer insights, perspective and action,” said David Zaslav, President and CEO of Discovery, Inc. “We are honored to partner with OWN and use our global reach to amplify this important discussion about the global issues of economic and social justice and equality to a potential audience of one billion people across more than 200 markets in a way that only Discovery can.”

“OWN Spotlight: Where Do We Go From Here” is produced by OWN. The executive producers are Oprah Winfrey and Tara Montgomery.

Any thoughts?

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Potter’s House Bishop T.D. Jakes & Pastor Sheryl Brady Address Racism & Police Reform in Opinion Piece & Open Letter…

Hello World,

Bishop T. D. Jakes of The Potter’s House in Dallas & Pastor Sheryl Brady, who leads The Potter’s House in North Dallas, recently issued statements regarding their stance on racism and police reform…

In the wake of the recent killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, global spiritual leader and elder statesman Bishop T.D. Jakes is calling for a national conversation on policing and race to be immediately followed by an action plan for police reform.

In a pointed opinion piece published on FoxNews.com, Jakes says now is the time to put in place a response with buy-in from community leaders, clergy, police unions, the U.S. Justice Department and elected officials.

The plan must address longstanding issues like the implementation of de-escalation training and the lack of standardized hiring practices for the nation’s 18,000 police departments. It must also include tough measures such as cutting or eliminating funding for recalcitrant police departments.

“The ongoing demonstrations around the nation offer a glimpse into what the future looks like if nothing is done,” Jakes writes.

“Doing nothing will destroy our society,” adds Jakes, pastor of the 30,000-member The Potter’s House located in Dallas. “Mutual antipathy between police and the black community further exacerbates racial tensions in the country at large. It generates outrage not only domestically but also internationally, making a mockery of our professed commitment to stated ideals of liberty and justice. Further, it gives comfort to our enemies abroad who are eagerly awaiting opportunities to exploit our nation’s biggest Achilles heel: racial strife.”

Jakes says Christians have a moral imperative to take action instead of doing nothing. He quotes the words from the prophet Isaiah: “Learn to do good: seek justice, correct oppression.”

Pastor Sheryl Brady, whom I recently interviewed about her book “Don’t Miss the Moment,” wrote an open letter to President Trump which was published on her Facebook page. Read the letter below.

 

Any thoughts?

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The Top 10 Blog Posts and or Magazine Articles for Black Christian Women in May 2020…

Hello World!

Happy June…Despite ALL that is going on in the country, which I won’t go into right now, black Christian women continue to make an impact.  So I’m back with my monthly roundup of blog posts and or magazine articles for black Christian women. Below is my Top 10 monthly roundup of blog posts and or magazine/newspaper articles for black Christian women for May, but you don’t have be a black Christian woman to to check them out. As usual, let me know if you like my list! Enjoy and share!

1.”Black Woman May Have Discovered Cure to Coronavirus” by Stacy M. Brown

Excerpt: The coronavirus pandemic has ravaged most of the world, but no one has felt the wrath more than African Americans and communities of color. Now, it might just be an African American woman who has discovered a desperately needed and life-saving drug to defeat the virus. Darnisha Harrison, founder, and CEO of Ennaid Therapeutics in Georgia, said scientists working for her company had found a drug that is showing promise in laboratories at blocking the continued spread of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus.Based in Atlanta, her company uses its artificial intelligence, or AI, drug-discovery platforms to develop antiviral drugs. See more at: washingtoninformer.com.

2. “Column: Ida B. Wells, Awarded a Pulitzer Prize 89 Years After Her Death, is as Relevant as Ever” by Dahleen Glanton

Excerpt: Ida B. Wells was awarded a Pulitzer Prize on Monday, a symbolic gesture that cemented her place in history as a great American journalist. With or without public accolades, she has always belonged there. Wells’ fearless pursuit of justice during an era of mass lynchings set her apart from other journalists at the time. But like the issues she so passionately wrote about more than a century ago, recognition was not deemed urgent. See more at: chicagotribune.com.

3. “Dancing in the Street: Elaine Welteroth Got Married on Her Brooklyn Stoop, Then Threw a Virtual Block Party” by Alexandra Macon

Excerpt: Elaine met Jonathan through church when they were both around 12 and growing up in Northern California. (Their moms still sing next to each other in the choir to this day.) There wasn’t a romantic connection until they were reunited as adults in December 2013 when Jonathan came to interview for jobs in New York City, where Elaine had been living since 2008. See more at: vogue.com

4. “Black Journalist Launches Newsletter to Keep Black People Informed About the Coronavirus Pandemic” by Zack Linly

Excerpt: “As a black woman and freelance journalist passionate about writing stories for us, I’ve been desperately brainstorming constructive ways to lend my writing skills to help suppress the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and pandemic,” Peck wrote. “At the same time, for a *long* time, I’ve been wanting to write more original stories independent from any publication, for my own audience, and to start a newsletter as a way of practicing that. So I decided to combine all of these ideas and dedicate my newsletter SpeakPatrice to highlighting coronavirus news for black folks, both stories written by other journalists and by me, Patrice Peck.” See more at: theroot.com.

 

5. “Meet the First-Ever Mother-Daughter Duo to Graduate Med School Together and Become Doctors” by Njera Perkins

Excerpt: This mother-daughter duo is making history together as the first-ever to graduate from medical school at the same time and match at the same hospital. The University of Medicine and Health Sciences (UMHS) reports that Dr. Cynthia Kudji & daughter, Jasmine, both matched at LSU Health in Louisiana after receiving their medical degrees–Cynthia in Family Medicine and Jasmine in General Surgery. See more at: afrotech.com.

6. Black Woman Entrepreneur Now Manufacturing Her Own Line of Hand Sanitizer

Excerpt: Gwen Jimmere, founder and CEO of Naturalicious and the first Black woman to own a patent for a natural hair care product, is making history again as one of the first to launched a Black-owned hand sanitizer brand. See more at: blackbusiness.com.

7. “Who Is Joyette Holmes, The New Prosecutor in the Ahmaud Arbery Case?” by Sarah Rose

Excerpt: Earlier this month, Holmes recorded a video for the Cobb County “12 Hours of Prayer” event. In it, she cited her spirituality as a tenet of her life. “I am grateful that in these times of uncertainty, I can lean on my faith and my ability to fellowship with others,” she said in the video. See more at: gpbnews.org.

8. “Vanderbilt’s Candice Lee Becomes First Black, Female Athletic Director in SEC history” by Sam Cooper

Excerpt: History was made at Vanderbilt University on Thursday.  The school announced that it has appointed Candice Storey Lee as its full-time athletic director, lifting the interim title she held since February. Lee, who will also hold the title of vice chancellor for athletics and university affairs, is the first woman to hold the AD title at Vanderbilt. More significantly, she is the first African American woman to lead an athletic department in the history of the Southeastern Conference. See more at: sports.yahoo.com.

9. “MIT Elects First Black Woman Student Body President in its 159-year History” by David Williams

Excerpt: About six percent of undergraduates at MIT are black and 47 percent are women, according to the school. MIT students had to leave campus in March because of the coronavirus pandemic, so Geathers campaigned online and through social media from her home in Miami, Florida. Students voted online. See more at: cnn.com.

10. “Georgia Woman Celebrates Turning 103 Years Old!” by  Adrianne M. Haney

Excerpt: While family had to hold a drive-by parade in her honor Saturday – keeping their social distance – she said she felt grateful for their love. “It brings tears of joy,” she said. “I can’t help but think how grateful I am to have friends to come out at a time like this. I appreciate it.” See more at: msn.com.

If you know of any black Christian women bloggers and or writers, please e-mail me at jacqueline@afterthealtarcall.com as I’m always interested in expanding my community of black Christian women blog, magazines and websites. As I noted before, while this is a roundup of interesting blog posts and or magazine and newspaper articles for black Christian women, you don’t have to be one to appreciate these pieces  🙂.

Any thoughts?