SISTAH'S PLACE Inspiration & Entertainment Magazine
JEANEE PATTON NIARA SAVAGE
JUNE /JULY 2018
SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHTTIFFANY LEWIS TERRI SHAYNE
NATONYA MEDFORD AJA AUTHORS SPOTLIGHT FEATURES MIA THOMAS ALEXIANDRIA JAMES SISTAHSPLACE.COM
ARTIST TO GET TO KNOW -FRANK KELLEY JR.
UNBREAKABLE BONDS
The Engage Summit 2018 and Beyond is a unique gathering for entrepreneurial business women that will come together to collaborate in opposite industries to build a network as part of the Engage Group created by Janice L. Parks the summit host. The strategic roadmap is to grow business enterprises economically in this ever-changing environment within all global markets. You will get valuable, life-changing, instructional information on key strategies for implementation and follow through with follow-up through collaboration! You will be engaged by 5 dynamic speakers that will add value to your attendance with their gifts, skills, knowledge, and time proven experience in their perspective fields. The Engage Summit is an interactive platform that helps you to realize that "We are Better Together." Throughout the summit learn and be trained how to go from subject matter expert to CEO, discover the CEO factors, and understand how to engage in wealth strategies. In addition, for the author in you, we have a book coach and consultant to help you make it happen!
Janice L. Parks Summit Host/CEO/President J Parks Consultant, Business Solutions, Empowerment Speaker
Dr. Jonica Rowland
Angela Anderson
Dr. Gail Hayes
Jill Capri-Simms
MBA Author/Speaker
Angela Anderson Presents
Founder and CEO Conduct of Queens
Founder and CEO
Financial Representative
Founder and CEO
International Communicator
Plumb Line Consulting
Executive Leadership Coach
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The Engage Summit 2018 and Beyond August 16 – 19, 2018 Hotel Valencia Riverwalk 150 East Houston Street-San Antonio, TX 78205
table of contents 04
EDITOR'S NOTES
Message from Letrise Carter 07
STANDING UP BULLIES
Bullying & Middle School Blues by Jeanee Patton. 11
SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Baby Cakes by Tiffany 15
UNBREAKABLE BOND
Mother & Daughter Letrise Carter & Simone inspire greatness by Terri Shayne 23
ARTIST-FRANK KELLEY JR. ENTERTAINMENT
26
36
The Importance of Childish Gambino’s ‘This Is America’ By Niara Savage AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT FEATURES
Meet the authors in our spotlight
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Sistah’s Place Magazine
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Meet our Editors
June/July 2018
Sistah’s Place Magazine
Bullies
June/July 2018
Bullies and Middle School Blues By Jeanee R. Patton
Middle school is tough enough with puberty emerging and raging new hormones bouncing off the walls all while trying to find your rightful place amongst your peers. And let’s not leave out the art of trying to stay true to yourself. It’s a time of discovery and a time of learning just who you are as a young adult. Add on dealing with individuals trying to damage your self-esteem, and you have a case of true middle school blues. Recently my daughter shared that she was being bullied by a group of girls at her middle school. It was only after the school year was nearing the end she finally shared this information. After numerous times of asking, begging and pleading for her to talk about what was going on, she finally confided in my sister.
Photo Credits: Courtesy of Jeanee Patton
Prior to being bullied, my daughter was known for her smile and ability to connect with other kids. She was that popular girl that everyone wanted to be around; then middle school happened. My daughter’s bubbly personality changed drastically. Her brightness and happiness were Jeanee Patton
Sistah’s Place Magazine
Bullies
June/July 2018
sucked out of her, taking her to a low place, so much so, she started wearing dark colors. The vibrant colors faded away and were replaced with black, grey and white. The days of seeing her in bright, expressive colors became a thing of the past. This was different and opposite of the child I knew; she had always worn bright, vibrant colors that matched her personality. Not only was it different but it was a red flag, there was something going on and changing the person that she once was. The middle school blues was in full bloom. Her spirit was broken when she was referred to as a “pig,” because of the shape of her nose. To add insult to injury, she was teased about her weight. She was body-shamed and told that she looked horrible in blue jeans. Eventually, she stopped wearing jeans altogether. Her self-esteem plummeted with every negative word spoken to her. It was as if the negative words were sticking to her skin like glue. She walked with her head hung low and started wearing clothes that were too big for her body. As a parent, naturally, you want to shelter and protect your child from harm’s way. The harsh reality is we can’t be with them every minute of the day. I was very upset to find out my baby girl was being bullied at school and I was not there to protect her. It hurt to know that middle school girls, her peers, could have that much power over her personality to change her into someone I no longer knew. I was livid that she had to endure the heartache and pain of bullying all while trying to focus on school. During this tough time, I constantly communicated with my child. I encouraged her and did my best to uplift her spirits, all while not knowing the root of the problem. I often read poetry to her and showed her inspirational videos. As a mother, I did all I knew humanly possible to keep her lifted. Ultimately, I knew I had to depend on the power of prayer. It allowed me to intercede on her behalf and speak life over her and the situation of her being in such a gloomy state. I learned the importance of parents listening to their child(ren) without judgment when they confide in you. Make sure to listen carefully to their fears and how things affect them. Take a deep breath and know how you handle the current situation can determine if your child feels comfortable sharing information with you in the future. You want your child to feel comfortable sharing with you and see you as a safe place. The goal is for your child to confide in you or someone they trust, to reach out for help during this time of middle school blues and bullying. It’s important to report known incidents of bullying with your child’s teacher and/or principal. They are trained professionals who have policies put in place to intervene. There are also numerous organizations and websites available to assist in recognizing bullying and educating prevention resources to include, Stopbulling.gov, Gab Squad Bullying Programs, STOMP Out Bullying, and NAPAB: National Association of People Against Bullying. I am grateful we found out about my daughter’s middle school bullying which led to her middle school blues and the fact we were able to turn things around with the proper assistance. My daughter is now a rising 9th grader that will have new challenges to face, but she is better equipped in knowing how to handle difficult situations. She has already said she wants to wear colors again. This is a huge accomplishment. She is making great strides in her journey of Jeanee Patton
Sistah’s Place Magazine
Bullies
June/July 2018
reclaiming her self-esteem. She already has a positive outlook on high school. She is facing her fears and truly moving forward on her journey to the next phase of her life. I’m personally thankful that she made it through her journey of being bullied and the middle school blues. I am also thankful that she was able to overcome. There are so many children who commit suicide due to bullying thinking it’s their only option. According to the CDC, Bullying Statistics (www.bullyngstatistics.org) reports the third leading cause of death for youth is suicide. There are 4,400 deaths per year due to suicide in children. I pray not another child feels this hopeless and decides to make a permanent decision based on temporary circumstances. It truly takes a village to raise children, and my village is deep. I realize it's okay for my daughter to confide in other trustworthy family members. The key is for her to know she is surrounded by people who love her and share in her best interest. Together she is stronger, because of the bonds that bind her to her support team. If you or someone you know is being bullied and/or contemplating suicide, there is help available. Please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline online or call 1-800-273-8255. Please talk to someone immediately for assistance. Anti-bullying Resources and Websites Stopbulling.gov - www.stopbullying.gov/ Gab Squad Bullying Programs – www.gabsquad.com STOMP Out Bullying – www.stompoutbullying.org/information-and-resources NAPAB: National Association of People Against Bullying – www.napab.org
Jeanee Patton
PTSD IS NO RESPECTOR OF PERSONS. IF YOU HAVE HAD ANY TRAUMATIC AND UNJUST EXPERIENCES “PTSD TO FREEDOM” IS A BOOK YOU SHOULD READ.
When you experience traumatic experiences that alter your emotional and psychological foundation, you begin to experience a very personal and fragile meltdown. You survived the initial shock, now the aftermath. What now? “PTSD to Freedom - No More War Within”, will tell you to pick up your bed and walk because you are the captain of your ship. Authors Linda Diane Wattley and William Sumner are veterans of the United States Army. They teamed up together to write this extraordinary and unique book because they have a heart for people suffering from PTSD. What they share brings to power that the “Truth Will Set You Free”.
Available today in Kindle and paperback Visit Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/PTSD-Freedom-Mental-Spiritual-Healingebook/dp/B07CZPKXQ7/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1526993779&sr=81&keywords=ptsd+to+freedom
Sistah’s Place
Small Business Spotlight
June/July 2018
Small Business Feature with BabyCakes by Tiffany By Terri Shayne
Photo Credits: Marc Anthony
Our Small business feature for our issue is highlighting small business owner Tiffany Lewis Beasley. What is her business? BabyCakes by Tiffany was launched in 2014 as a web-based business specializing in cakes and pastries that are small enough to be savored without regret. Everything from cheesecake bites to red velvet, pound cake, apple pie tartlets, chocolate mousse cups and more. BabyCakes covers the Naperville and most of the Chicagoland area. Whether it's a birthday party, anniversary, bridal/baby shower, wedding, girl’s party or any special event, BabyCakes by Tiffany can customize the themed event with a fabulous dessert table.
Terri Shayne
Sistah’s Place Magazine
Entertainment
June/July 2018
The Importance of Childish Gambino’s ‘This Is America’ By Niara Savage
Photo Credits http://thissongissick.com/post/donald-glover-childish-gambino-new-music
When Childish Gambino, aka Donald Glover, released his new hit single, ‘This Is America,’ the satirical video sparked a social media firestorm. The video, which features a shirtless Gambino making odd but expressive facial expressions and disjointed movements reminiscent of the civil rights era Jim Crow caricature of Black men, reached epic internet proportions. Garnering more than 100 million views in nine days, it caused a wildflower of opinions and immediate decoding and vast interpretations of the video’s true meaning. While the video highlights some of the major controversial and risqué issues the country faces today, such as social injustice and gun violence, it also points out the blindness of society due to the ability to overlook modern-day human rights issues to instead favor keeping up with recent social media trends and the latest dance moves. At first glance, the video seems inconspicuous. Childish Gambino instantly catches the viewer’s attention with his vibrant dance moves. On the surface, these dance moves appear to be the focal point of the video, causing an unawareness to the chaos happening all around. The eyes are often drawn to Gambino, who is always front and center, as he moves throughout the garage-like structure in which the video was shot. It is easy to perceive and view ‘This Is America’ as simply another music video that will induce new dance fads and social trends.
Niara Savage
Sistah’s Place Magazine
Entertainment
June/July 2018
Upon taking a closer look, and perhaps after viewing the video several times, it becomes clear that much more sinister activities with heavy subliminal messages are taking place behind the dancing Gambino. For example, the execution-style killing of a seated musician at the start of the video, as well as the massacre of a church choir, eerily reminiscent of the Charleston church shooting. What’s interesting is that the weapons are routinely handled with care following the shooting incidents, while the bodies are haphazardly dragged away. Perhaps this represents America’s tendency to protect gun rights, even at the risk of losing human lives. Another notable pattern in the video is that Childish Gambino is never arrested or in any way punished for his crimes. As the video nears an end, he paused for a few seconds, as if for a moment in silence and then begins to smoke a joint. Although not proven, some may argue that this may be a nod to the justice system’s tendency to punish drug offenders with somewhat harsh sentences. The video ends with Gambino running in haste, appearing to be running for his life, as a mob of men chases after him. Several decoding and subliminal messages can be interpreted depending on each individual’s point of view, belief system and take on America and society today. Although ‘This Is America’ may be interpreted differently depending on its viewers and commentators, the video has surely captured the attention of internet users across the world. It has challenged the community to talk, have intellectual conversations and address the taboo controversial topics witnessed throughout the video. Hopefully, these intellectual conversations that have been brought to the forefront will continue to spark conversations and actions that will lead to meaningful change. Bio Niara Savage is an author, freelance journalist, and Fisk University political science major. Her debut novel about a young boy whose brother is killed by a night watchman, The Killing of Gregory Noble, will be released in June 2018. In her free time, Niara enjoys writing, and inline skating. She is also passionate about working with youth and is specifically interested in reducing the literacy gap among Black students.
Website: themodernabolitionist.com Instagram: @niaratheauthor Email: niaraalexandra@gmail.com
Niara Savage
Sistah’s Place Magazine
Author Spotlight
June/July 2018
Author Spotlight with W. Parks Brigham by Alexandria James
Meet seasoned writer W. Parks Brigham joins us to discuss her latest novel Two Precious Hearts in her Second Chance series. She is masterful at her style of writing. She gives us an inside look at what it means to be a writer and her inspirations along her journey. She even shares some nuggets of wisdom for those aspiring to become an author. Sistah’s Place: How did you start writing? W Parks Brigham: Being a seriously avid reader of AA romance, when I first started reading there were no stories featuring plussize women. In spite of my thirst for a good love story, I became tired of reading stories where the heroine was always a size eight or smaller. If I was tired surely there were others. Therefore, I decided to pen my first novel featuring a plus-size heroine and the rest is history.
Sistah’s Place: What inspires you to write? W Parks Brigham: Readers are my biggest inspiration besides having characters constantly popping up in my head to write their story. Sistah’s Place: Tell us about your latest novel? W Parks Brigham: My latest novel is part of a new series entitled A Second Chance. Two Precious Hearts is the first book and the elements of Deception Forgiveness Second Chances Love and Sweet Romance are issues the hero and heroine encounters.
Alexandria James
Sistah’s Place Magazine
Author Spotlight
June/July 2018
Synopsis: Tyrone Marshall had worked hard and made numerous sacrifices to reach his goal at a young age. He was on the rise of fulfilling his dream of being an entrepreneur. The blueprint had been designed and ready to be put into action when all hell breaks loose and turns his life upside down. Ex-Army Drill Sergeant, Eunice Joi James has put others before herself since she was ten years old, including serving her country. Finally, love walks into her lonely life. Yes, a wolf in sheep’s clothing. She throws her hands up and calls it quits. Now, with physical scars and a broken heart, she retires after twenty years of service. With the weight of life’s past misfortunes, can two precious hearts release old baggage and embrace the second chance God has provided for them? Sistah’s Place: Why did you choose that title? W Parks Brigham: First off, I thought the title was fitting for the series. Each story begins with the number two and ends with the word hearts, mainly because it takes two people to have a relationship. Two Precious Hearts, the hero and heroine emotions, and feelings had been tampered with in a devastating way which shattered their heart to pieces. Together they were able to provide healing through their support compassion and love for one another, regardless of their emotional drama in their past. Sistah’s Place: Is there a message in the story that you like readers to walk away with? W Parks Brigham: Besides enjoying a pleasant women fiction with a taste of sweetness, I try to project morals, positive characterization from characters that may have flaws, self-esteem, selflove, and understand that no one is perfect. Alexandria James