C E L E B R AT I N G B L AC K AC H I E V E M E N T T H RO U G H O U T F L O R I DA
VOLUME 25 ISSUE 2 MARCH/APRIL 2022
WOMEN ON THE MOVE BREAKING BARRIERS AND CROSSING BORDERS
UDELL T. BLACK
THE MATRIARCH OF WOTM
SANFORD REBIRTH:
DR. JOHNNETTA BETSCH COLE
TRAYVON’S TRAGEDY SPARKED A MOVEMENT
WOMAN OF THE YEAR SHARES THE PRIVILEGE OF STRUGGLE
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CONTENTS
12 COVER STORY
JOHNNETTA BETSCH COLE, PH.D., IS ONYX MAGAZINE’S 2022 WOMAN OF THE YEAR Cover photo of Dr. Cole in an Adinkra top by Kellie Boston of Boston Photography, St. Augustine
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7 8 10 12 15 16 18 20 22 24 25 26 27 28 30 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 41 42 43 44 45 47 48 49 50 51 52 54 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 64 66
Black History ONYX Salutes Mrs. Udell Theodora Black SAGE: Ageless women, self-care Woman of the Year: Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole International Woman on the Move: Bertha Cooper-Rousseau Travel – Eco-friendly travel Workplace Scholarship – ONYX Foundation launches new scholarships Business – Help small businesses thrive WOTM – Kamia Brown WOTM – Tina Commodore WOTM – Joyce Cotton WOTM – Marilyn Drayton Health & Wellness Social Justice – Critical Race Theory Smart Tips – Know about car care WOTM – Vicki-Elaine Felder WOTM – Angela Fields, M.D. WOTM – Donna Gilmer WOTM – Joycelyn Henson, Ed.D. Florida Scope The Quad Environment – Doing my part WOTM - Malou Harrison, Ph.D. WOTM – Danielle A. Henry, M.D. WOTM – Cynthia Johnson, Ed.D. WOTM – Kimra Major-Morris, Esq. ONYX Reads – Truth to power WOTM – Jo Newell WOTM – Maribel Nicholson-Choice, Esq. WOTM – Desiree Noisette, Esq. WOTM – Tekoa Pouerie BIPOC communities need BIPOC leadership Money Matters – Money mistakes you don’t have to repeat WOTM – Laine Powell, Ed.D. WOTM – Kimber Saint-Preux WOTM – Chief Barbara Tripp WOTM – Veronica Valdez, Esq. WOTM – Annetta Wilson ONYX on the Move The Magnificent Seven Family – Learn how to make books essential in neighborhoods Arts & Culture – Sanford Rebirth: Trayvon Martin’s tragedy sparks a cultural movement 69 Community Impact Award – Orlando Health 70 Wine & Food
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M O N E Y M AT T E R S
MONEY MISTAKES YOU DON’T HAVE TO REPEAT SISTER, GET OFF THAT HAMSTER WHEEL AND MAKE YOUR MONEY WORK FOR YOU. BY LAURA DORSEY
M
arch is Women’s History Month. This is the annual declared month that highlights the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society. There is an analogy that is considered by many to be true: Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it. Those who do not remember their past are condemned to repeat their mistakes. Yet sometimes, even if we know history, we continue to make the same mistakes, and there is no end to the merry-go-round or the hamster wheel. So, for Women’s History Month, we thought that we would take a moment to remind you of women’s history when it comes to money. Your money matters, this Women’s History Month and always. So, take a moment to review the list of issues related to women and money. Then, commit to changing at least one thing on the list to say that you have learned from history and will not repeat it—and that you will help someone else.
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Some of the issues of money for women are well documented: • Women make $0.82 for every dollar a man makes. • Boys make double the allowance that girls make for doing weekly chores. • Women must work 44 more days annually to make as much as their male counterparts. • Only 6 of 111 CEOs at the largest public American financial institutions are women. Now, all is not doom and gloom. We have learned some things from history, and we are working to rectify the issues. For example, did you know that until the 1960s, American women were not allowed to hold a bank account without their husband’s permission? This is a true picture of disadvantage, but we have learned from history, and today women hold bank accounts and even positions at major financial institutions. Unfortunately, the historical
single fathers. (Pew Research Center) • Black women were paid 63% of White men’s wages in 2019. (The American Association of University Women) • 56 % of college students are female, but they hold 65 % of the outstanding national student loan debt. (The American Association of University Women) • Women were 84 % more effective in core leadership competencies, but only 4.9 percent of Fortune 500 CEOs are women. (Harvard Business Review) • 105 of 111 CEOs at the largest public American financial institutions are men. (Deloitte)
inequities and disadvantages of women and money mean that we have a long way to go. First, however, we must start somewhere—and we have. • Madam C.J. Walker was a self-made entrepreneur and arguably the first Black woman millionaire. (HISTORY) • Maggie Lena Walker was the first woman to own a bank in America. (50 Black Enterprise) As much as your money matters, the reality is there is a correlation between your money and your health. The existence of one perpetuates the existence of the other; you decide which comes first. When women have financial stress, it directly relates to health problems like depression and heart disease. We also know that the economic power of women has a direct effect on their families, children, and the community they live in. Let’s take a look at a few more facts. • 22% of American women report they would be unable to afford their lifestyle if they encountered financial difficulties, compared to 13% of men. (S&P Global) • 85% of women control their families’ day-to-day finances, but few control long-term financial planning decisions. (UBS Media) • Three-fourths of women who apply for welfare do so because of a divorce. (Marripedia) • Women are 80% more likely to face financial hardship at age 65 or older. (National Institute on Retirement Security) • 30% of single mothers live below the poverty line, compared to 17% of
But remember this is Women’s History Month, and while your money matters, your voice also does. We are investing in helping to provide financial empowerment for women, providing them with tools to change the trajectory of the history that has stifled women previously. So, if you are wondering what, if anything, you can do to make a difference and ensure that history is not repeating itself, we have researched some activities for you to engage in during this Women’s History Month. Be a Voice: Speak out about your personal endeavors, including fallbacks and accomplishments, to inspire others with similar stories. Create Opportunity: Teach life skills to help disadvantaged women or youth become independent. Offer employment, volunteer, or mentorship opportunities to support advancement within your community and schools. Encourage Support: Encourage young women to support other women by sharing financial knowledge—whether friends, peers or mentors. Explain the Why: Explain how money decisions are made within the family. Doing so shows that decision-making is an equal endeavor. Have Open Conversations: Talk about money openly, including your values, goals, and hardships. By cultivating open conversations, you’ll empower women to build confidence and seek financial literacy regardless of background and upbringing. Donate to the Cause: If you don’t have your own platform, consider donating your time or funds to organizations that help empower females to become independent, join the workforce, or reduce negative outcomes for at-risk children and teens. These are just a few statistics that we found when researching the financial aspect of Women’s History Month. The Women’s Institute for Financial Education (WIFE) and Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER) [You have got to love these acronyms] have many more statistics and even more suggestions. The challenge for this Women’s History Month is to remember that if you do not know your history, you are doomed to repeat it. But, now that you know better, as the old folks say, you should do better. Your MONEY MATTERS, and you can make the change to affect the next generation's history.
Laura Dorsey is the CEO of LLD Consulting, an associate editor of ONYX Magazine and the author of the ONYX Magazine Money Matters series. ONYX MAGAZINE 55