tag:www.funtimesmagazine.com,2005:/categories/hot-topics?page=23Hot Topics | FunTimes Magazine Page 23Celebrating Africa And Its Diaspora2021-06-26T11:39:09-04:00urn:uuid:283ee5b1-8a82-4113-b9e8-dd25fa4148632021-06-08T10:49:57-04:002021-06-26T11:39:09-04:00Juneteenth Events to Attend in Philadelphia in 20212021-06-12 09:00:00 -0400Nana Ama Addo<span><p>Juneteenth is upon us. For Black Americans, Juneteenth not only signifies emancipation from American slavery, but it is also a symbol of our survival and a new beginning.<br></p><br><p>During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1st, 1863, and directed Union troops to free enslaved communities in Union territory. After 2 years had passed, on June 19th, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and alerted enslaved populations that they were free from the shackles of slavery. The newly freed Africans celebrated the day and coined the term Jubilee Day, Emancipation Day, and Juneteenth. </p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/828214/fill/700x0/cheering-1031743_1920.jpeg?timestamp=1623163008"></div><p> </p><p><br></p><p>This year, Juneteenth falls on a Saturday, and Philly will host a plethora of events for you to attend. If you are looking to celebrate this year’s Juneteenth, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/828429/fill/700x0/JUNETEENTH_20ADS_20-_20B.jpeg?timestamp=1623246809"></div><p> </p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b>Juneteenth Philly</b> is hosting the 2021 <i>Juneteenth Parade & Festival</i> on Saturday, June 19th, including the <i>Freedom March</i> on 52nd and Haverford Street, starting at 9 am, and the '<i>Art in the Park Exhibit'</i> at Malcolm X Park at 12 pm. The organizers are offering $1000 to a winning contestant who participates in the <a href="https://vimeo.com/554522188?fbclid=IwAR09K6aLQMxBEbeTNjS9zvfgwnBZgpz2zUXuKE2LSmviweWilD4clKgHACI " target="_blank">Juneteenth Floathouse Contest</a>. The four categories of design are: </p><p>1. Single home design </p><p>2. Business design </p><p>3. Nonprofit design </p><p>4. Block design</p><p>Check out the schedule <a href="http://juneteenthphilly.org/schedule/ " target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b>City Athletics Philly</b> is hosting a Juneteenth Festival on June 19th, from 11 am-5 pm, on West Tioga Street, between 19th and 20th Street. This event is free and will feature food, games, music, and fun. Learn more about their event <a href="https://web.facebook.com/cityathleticsphilly/photos/a.128428435693896/290181242851947/?type=3&theater" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b>Everybody Eats Philly</b>, Philadelphia’s premier food pantry, is hosting a <i>One Year Anniversary Juneteenth Event</i>. This free event will commence on June 19th at Malcolm X Park and will provide community members with food and essentials. Learn more about how to help or donate <a href="https://everybodyeatsphilly.org/1-year-anniversary" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p><b><br></b></p><p>On June 21st at 9:10 pm, the <b>Philadelphia Film Society</b>, the <b>African American Museum of Philadelphia</b>, and <b>WHYY</b> are hosting the <i>Philly @ the Drive-In: Tulsa: the Fire and the Forgotten</i> outdoor screening event at the Navy Yard. Pre-register for this event <a href="https://welcomeamerica.com/event/philly-the-drive-in-tulsa-the-fire-and-the-forgotten/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p></span><span><p> </p><p><b>The Johnson House Historic Site</b> will host its <i>15th Annual Juneteenth Parade </i>at 6300 Germantown on June 19th from 1 pm to 5 pm. This former Underground Railroad Site has been a pillar in the community since the Antebellum period. Learn more about this event <a href="https://www.johnsonhouse.org/philadelphia-juneteenth-festival/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p><b><br></b></p><p>On July 17th, from 12pm to 1:30pm, the <b>African American Museum of Philadelphia</b> will launch their Juneteenth series with <i>‘ArtBreak’</i>, an outdoor conversation at the museum, on 701 Arch Street, featuring talks on the significance of the Fourth of July and Juneteenth by Gabrielle Foreman, author and University of Delaware educator. Learn more about this free event <a href="https://www.aampmuseum.org " target="_blank">here</a>. </p><p><b><br></b></p><p>The <b>Museum of the American Revolution</b> is hosting a <i>five-day Juneteenth series</i>, including in-person events for the vaccinated, and virtual events for those who are still social distancing. Learn more about their programs, like the virtual Mother Bethel Walking Tour and Natassia Parker’s “Freedom on the Fire’ performance, <a href="https://www.amrevmuseum.org/events/juneteenth-with-the-museum" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p><br></p><p>On July 21st at 6:00 pm, the <b>African American Museum of Philadelphia</b> is hosting the<i> Black Gotham Experience</i>, an evening experience curated by Kamau Ware of the <b>Black Gotham Experience</b>. Register for this event <a href="https://welcomeamerica.com/event/black-gotham-experience/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p></span><span><p><b><br></b></p><p>The <b>African American Museum of Philadelphia </b>is partnering with the <b>Franklin Square</b> to host a Juneteenth-themed <i>Griot Tale Saturdays</i> featuring <b>Keepers of the Culture </b>with the theme Freedom -- Liberty. Learn more about this event <a href="http://historicphiladelphia.org/franklin-square/upcoming-events/" target="_blank">here</a>. </p><p><b><br></b></p><p><b>Calling all the Shotz LLC</b> is hosting a <i>Juneteenth Cookout </i>on June 19th from 3 pm to 6 pm at Fernhill Park Pavillion 1, located on 4560 Morris Street. This event will include free food and free drinks, free snow cones, music, giveaways, and your favorite Black vendors. Learn more about this event <a href="https://www.instagram.com/calling_alltheshotz/?hl=en" target="_blank">here</a>: </p><p><b><br></b></p><p>On June 19th at 10:00 am, on the final day of <b>Flag Fest 2021 </b>outside of the <b>Betsy Ross House</b>, the US Colored Troops will raise the Juneteenth Flag on the last day of Flag Fest 2021 outside of the Betsey Ross House. Learn more about this event <a href="http://historicphiladelphia.org/betsy-ross-house/flag-fest-2021/" target="_blank">here</a>. </p><p> </p><p><b>Black Men Run Philadelphia</b> is hosting a <i>Black Independence Day 10k Run</i> on June 19th. Participants will meet at 7:30 am and run from the Please Touch Museum at 4231 Avenue of the Republic, Philadelphia, Pa 19131. Learn more about this gathering <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bmr_phl/?hl=en" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p><b><br></b></p><p>The <b>Chester County Historic Preservation Society</b>, the <b>Chester County Planning Commission</b>, <b>Voices Underground</b>, and the <b>Chester County History Center </b>are hosting the series <i>Chester Country Juneteenth Festival: Journeying Towards Freedom</i>, with community events from June 5th to June 11th. The keynote events will be held from June 18th to June 20th. Learn more about their programs <a href="https://www.vuproject.org/juneteenth" target="_blank">here</a>.</p></span><span><p><b><br></b></p><p><b>Fort Mifflin</b> is hosting <i>‘Jeffersonian Picnic: All Men Created Equal?’</i> on Friday, June 18th, at 5:30 pm at the Fort Mifflin site on 6400 Hog Island Road. This event is part of Fort Mifflin’s <i>Jeffersonian Picnic Series</i> and includes a BYOB picnic, musket and cannon demonstrations, and presentations about the hypocrisy of racism exhibited by leaders like Thomas Jefferson. Learn more about this affordable and thought-provoking event <a href="http://www.fortmifflin.us/event/jeffersonian-picnic-june/" target="_blank">here</a>. </p><p><br></p><p><b>October Gallery</b> is hosting the<i> Juneteenth Weekend 36th Annual Philadelphia Art Show & Sale</i> on June 18th, 19th and 20th, from 12pm to 7pm each day, at the Hyatt Centric Hotel at 1620 Chancellor Street and 17th and Walnut Street Philly. Learn more about this free event <a href="https://octobergallery.com/?fbclid=IwAR0gWXgTTjOw119IDGOVuJoC0APBCBXFEfLYVP3pksND_hMbm31siDhAQ8g" target="_blank">here</a>.</p></span><span><p><b><br></b></p><p><b>The Memory Bank of Philadelphia Inc.</b> is hosting <i>A Day to Remember </i>on June 19th at 12pm, at Harrowgate Park on 3455 Kensington Avenue. This event will feature food giveaways, raffles, horseback riding, games and more. Check out this free event <a href="https://web.facebook.com/events/545517509785430/?ref=newsfeed" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p><b><br><br><br></b></p><p><b><i>Other Events Across the US</i></b></p><p><br></p><p>The Tennessee-based <b>African American Heritage Society of Williamson County</b> is hosting <i>Juneteenth, ‘United We Stand’, One Historic Celebration, Two Historic Locations!’</i> in Pinkerton Park in Franklin, Tennessee, on June 19th from 12pm to 3pm. Activities include games, giveaways, a cake-walk and more! Learn more about this event <a href="https://web.facebook.com/events/934675214037949?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22page%22%7D]%7D&_rdc=1&_rdr" target="_blank">here</a>.</p></span><span><p><br></p><p>Do you know of a Juneteenth event in Philly happening this year? Comment below!</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p></p></span><div class="image-medium image-align-left"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/790279/fill/300x0/nana_20ama_20addo_202.jpg?timestamp=1623163758"></div><span><p> <span>Nana Ama Addo is a writer, multimedia strategist, film director and storytelling artist. She graduated with a BA in Africana Studies from the College of Wooster, and has studied at the University of Ghana and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Nana Ama tells stories of entrepreneurship and Ghana repatriation at her brand, Asiedua’s Imprint ( <a href="http://www.asieduasimprint.blog">www.asieduasimprint.blog</a> ). </span></p><div><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>Read more from Nana Ama Addo:<br><br><div class="media clearfix">
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<p> </p><p><br></p></div></span><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:94f48580-d919-4c01-874c-1c2bdc46b98f2021-06-05T12:35:28-04:002021-06-05T12:36:29-04:006 Black Environmentalists, You Need To Know2021-06-05 14:00:00 -0400Boitumelo Masihleho<p>World Environment Day is celebrated every year on June 5. The theme of this year’s World Environment Day is "Ecosystem Restoration". Ecosystem restoration can take many forms such as growing trees, greening cities, rewilding gardens, changing diets, or cleaning up rivers and coasts. This is the generation that can make peace with nature. We're highlighting five Black environmentalists who are using their work, research, and experience to not only change the world but possibly save it.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p></p><h4>Dorceta Taylor</h4><p>Dr. Dorceta Taylor, an environmental sociologist, historian, writer, and academic, is well-known for her extensive work on environmental justice. In 1991, she became the first-ever Black woman to receive a doctoral degree from Yale University’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. In 2018, she developed a report, <i>The State of Diversity in Environmental Organizations</i>, which focused on gender, racial, and class diversity within NGOs, foundations, and government agencies. Taylor’s 2014 book <i>Toxic Communities</i> examines the impact of environmental racism on poor and minority neighborhoods.</p><p></p><p>She’s currently a professor at the Yale School for the Environment, and prior to that, she was a professor of environmental sociology at the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) for 27 years. Taylor's research has ranged over environmental history, environmental justice, environmental policy, leisure and recreation, gender and development, urban affairs, race relations, collective action and social movements, green jobs, diversity in the environmental field, food insecurity, and urban agriculture.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/827587/fill/700x0/dorceta_20taylor.png?timestamp=1622909868"></div><p> </p><p><br></p><h4>Ibrahim Abdul-Matin</h4><p>Ibrahim Abdul-Matin is the author of <i>Green Deen: What Islam Teaches About Protecting the Planet</i> and is the co-founder of Green Squash Consulting which is a management consulting firm based in New York. Green Squash Consulting works with people, organizations, companies, coalitions, and governments committed to equity and justice and specializes in dynamic strategic and focused stakeholder management and partnership development.</p><p></p><p>Abdul-Matin is a former adviser to the New York City Mayor's Office of Long Term Planning & Sustainability. He sits on the board of the International Living Future Institute that encourages the creation of a regenerative built environment and Sapelo Square whose mission is to celebrate and analyze the experiences of Black Muslims in the United States. His writing has appeared in <i>The Washington Post</i><span>, <i>CNN.com</i>, </span><i>The Daily Beast</i>, <i>GOOD Magazine</i>, <i>ColorLines</i>, <i>Wiretap</i>, and <span><i>Elan Magazine</i>.</span></p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/827588/fill/700x0/ibrahim_20abdul-matin.png?timestamp=1622910019"></div><p> </p><p><br></p><h4>Ayana Elizabeth Johnson</h4><p>Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson is a marine biologist, policy expert, writer, and Brooklyn native. She is a founder of the non-profit think tank <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://urbanoceanlab.org/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1622913147393000&usg=AOvVaw12eWSMcXXIJo61SwSO01Vi">Urban Ocean Lab</a>, co-founder of the climate initiative <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.allwecansave.earth/project&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1622913147393000&usg=AOvVaw1oCeIUdisv3JknzrVhvGph">The All We Can Save Project</a>, and co-host of the podcast <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://open.spotify.com/show/1KzrasExlM5dgMYwgFHns6?si%3Da2vg71HURlalGfKG74ZxGQ%26nd%3D1&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1622913147393000&usg=AOvVaw0pmeyvt8R5-1Tx9S5AyhX3"><i>How to Save a Planet</i></a>. Recently, Johnson co-authored <i>the</i> <i>Blue New Deal</i>, a roadmap for including the ocean in climate policy. Previously, as executive director of the <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://bit.ly/WaittInst&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1622913147394000&usg=AOvVaw0y5eupQOrUataeENbDg7XJ">Waitt Institute</a>, she co-founded the Blue Halo Initiative and led the Caribbean’s first successful island-wide ocean zoning effort, protecting over a third of Barbudian coastal waters.</p><p></p><p>In 2019, Johnson gave a TED talk on parrot fish, coral reefs, and the impact of climate change on ocean environments. In <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/06/03/im-black-climate-scientist-racism-derails-our-efforts-save-planet/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1622913147394000&usg=AOvVaw1v_ykKKSQudcsH5CETMats">a 2020 article for </a><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/06/03/im-black-climate-scientist-racism-derails-our-efforts-save-planet/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1622913147394000&usg=AOvVaw1v_ykKKSQudcsH5CETMats"><i>The Washington Post</i></a>, Johnson described the inevitable intersection of racial justice and climate justice and wrote about the urgent need for active and vigilant anti-racism within the environmentalist movement, specifically from white activists. She is on the 2021 <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://time.com/collection/time100-next-2021/5937679/ayana-elizabeth-johnson/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1622913147395000&usg=AOvVaw01iztGTzMyltBHZNQBK7gP"><i>Time</i></a><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://time.com/collection/time100-next-2021/5937679/ayana-elizabeth-johnson/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1622913147395000&usg=AOvVaw01iztGTzMyltBHZNQBK7gP"><i> 100 Next List</i></a> and was named one of <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.elle.com/culture/a27733802/women-in-conservation-list/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1622913147395000&usg=AOvVaw0wKJwhsr2vZlS0tU7oQ1S5"><i>Elle</i></a><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.elle.com/culture/a27733802/women-in-conservation-list/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1622913147395000&usg=AOvVaw0wKJwhsr2vZlS0tU7oQ1S5">’s 27 Women Leading on Climate</a>.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/827589/fill/700x0/ayana_20elizabeth_20johnson.png?timestamp=1622910147"></div><p><br></p><p> </p><h4>Robert Bullard</h4><p>Professor Robert D. Bullard is often described as the father of environmental justice. He was the former Dean of the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs at Texas Southern University 2011-2016. Bullar is currently a Distinguished Professor of Urban Planning and Environmental Policy and has written a total of 18 books on various topics from sustainable development to climate justice.</p><p></p><p>In 2018, the Global Climate Action Summit named Bullard one of 22 Climate Trailblazers, and in 2020, WebMD gave him its <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.webmd.com/healthheroes/2020-trailblazer-robert-bullard&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1622913147396000&usg=AOvVaw27Q6CB3ENWafiK3LCq04Da">Health Heroes Trailblazer Award</a>. The UN Environmental Programme (UNEP) has also given him a Champions of the Earth Lifetime Achievement Award. His book <i>Dumping in Dixie: Race, Class, and Environmental Quality</i><span><i> </i>became a landmark environmental justice text. Bullard has remained a leading campaigner against environmental racism throughout his career, focusing primarily on the American South.</span></p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/827590/fill/700x0/robert_20bullard.png?timestamp=1622910262"></div><p> </p><h4><br></h4><h4>Kari Fulton</h4><p>Kari Fulton is an award-winning Environmental and Climate Justice, organizer, writer, and historian. She has worked with various domestic and global coalitions to coordinate campaigns and national conferences including Power Shift, the largest youth climate summits in the United States, and the People’s Climate March. She has traveled to Europe, Latin America and South Africa attending and reporting on international environmental conferences.</p><p></p><p>Fulton calls her generation “Generation Why Not?” and works to mobilize them by building awareness of the connection between environmental and social justice issues. She led the youth campaign for the Environmental Justice and Climate Change (EJCC) initiative of the United Nations and co-founded "Loving Our City, Loving Ourselves," a campus and community initiative that builds solidarity on issues of concern. In her capacity at EJCC, Fulton trains hundreds of young people at more than 50 universities, particularly students of color at historically Black colleges, about the importance of building a green movement.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/827591/fill/700x0/kari_20fulton.png?timestamp=1622910357"></div><p> </p><p>Source</p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.livekindly.co/black-environmentalists-shaping-the-future/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1622913147398000&usg=AOvVaw3EkEBV71xAq9TzOxzQgEeZ">Live Kindly</a></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://sfenvironment.org/article/celebrating-black-environmentalists-during-black-history-month&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1622913147398000&usg=AOvVaw0tq9258CCaM0RBhwVDA6uS">SF Environment</a></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.unep.org/events/un-day/world-environment-day-2021&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1622913147399000&usg=AOvVaw3qCcPg_QIV6rnlMtRXfH7a">UNEP</a></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="image-medium image-align-left"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/776121/fill/300x0/boitumelo.jpg?timestamp=1622910572"></div><p> Boitumelo Masihleho is a South African digital content creator. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Rhodes University in Journalism and Media Studies and Politics and International Studies. </p><p></p><p>She's an experienced multimedia journalist who is committed to writing balanced, informative and interesting stories on a number of topics. Boitumelo has her own <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/BoitumeloM" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">YouTube channel </a>where she shares her love for affordable beauty and lifestyle content. </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Read more from Boitumelo Masihleho:<br></p><p><a href="/2021/04/20/353396/pineapple-to-shoes-kenyan-brand-turn-fruit-waste-into-eco-friendly-footwear" target="_blank">Pineapple to Shoes?: Kenyan Brand Turn Fruit Waste Into Eco-friendly Footwear</a><br></p><p><a href="/2021/02/20/347898/4-south-african-women-using-their-voice-for-social-justice" target="_blank">4 South African Women Using Their Voice For Social Justice</a><br></p><p><a href="/2021/05/08/355796/9-black-museums-to-visit-across-the-u-s" target="_blank">9 Black Museums to Visit Across the U.S</a><br></p><div><br></div><p><br></p><p><br></p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:d0110289-c719-4c1c-bb5c-79acecb6d3972021-06-05T12:04:55-04:002021-06-05T12:06:28-04:00World Environment Day: What It Means & Ways To Get Involved2021-06-05 12:04:55 -0400Kassidy Garland<span><p>World Environment Day has been celebrated on the 5th of June since 1974 in order to acknowledge and address the growing environmental issues. According to the official site, “For too long, we have been exploiting and destroying our planet’s ecosystems. Every three seconds, the world loses enough <a href="https://www.decadeonrestoration.org/types-ecosystem-restoration/forests">forest</a> to cover a football pitch and over the last century, we have <a href="http://www.teebweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/TEEB_WaterWetlands_Report_2013.pdf">destroyed half</a> of our <a href="https://www.decadeonrestoration.org/types-ecosystem-restoration/freshwaters">wetlands</a>. As much as 50 percent of our coral reefs have already been lost and <a href="https://www.ipcc.ch/2018/10/08/summary-for-policymakers-of-ipcc-special-report-on-global-warming-of-1-5c-approved-by-governments/">up to 90 percent</a> of coral reefs could be lost by 2050, even if global warming is limited to an increase of 1.5°C. [2.7°F].”</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/827585/fill/700x0/world_20environment_202.jpeg?timestamp=1622908619"></div><p> </p><p>No matter where you are in the world, there are a number of things you can do to protect the environment, from choosing sustainably made products, to supporting charities, nonprofits, and other organizations that aim to make a significant change.</p><br><p>WorldEnviornmentDay.org lists three general ways to help:</p><ul><li>Taking action such as starting or supporting an on-the-ground restoration project.</li><li><p>Making smart choices like buying only sustainable products and changing diets</p></li><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.thelittlemarket.com/?irclickid=2jFRfjQm1xyLTNE0TbWK8Xs3UkBz4W2vPzD3VU0&irgwc=1&utm_source=ImpactRadius&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_term=Skimbit%20Ltd.&utm_campaign=Online%20Tracking%20Link">The Little Market</a></p></li><ul><li><p>“With every purchase and donation, you are supporting meaningful income opportunities for artisans and their families, making a difference, and creating a positive, long-lasting impact.”</p></li></ul><li><p><a href="https://earthhero.com/?ref=sustainablejunglel">EarthHero</a></p></li><ul><li><p>EarthHero is on a quest to help make sustainable, earth-friendly commerce the new normal. We inspire conscious commerce by offering trusted, high-quality goods that create an authentic positive impact. Together, we aim to learn, share, and celebrate a healthier planet.</p></li></ul><li><p>Verishop</p></li><ul><li><p>Verishop is great for browsing and discovering the latest trends. It started as a place to inspire shoppers and allow them to shop for more ethical products online. </p></li></ul></ul><li><p>Raising your voice in support of ecosystem conservation and restoration</p></li><ul><li><p>Raise Your Voice</p></li><ul><li><p>Speak up. Protest lawmakers, companies, or bills that endanger the environment around you.</p></li></ul><li><p>Use Your Vote</p></li><ul><li><p>Vote for politicians that support addressing climate change issues.</p></li></ul><li><p>Get Creative</p></li><ul><li><p>Do what you can to draw attention to the issue at hand; design shirts, plan concerts, and post on your social media accounts to get the word out.</p></li></ul></ul></ul><br></span><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/827584/fill/700x0/world_20environment_201.jpeg?timestamp=1622908657"></div><p> </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="image-medium image-align-left"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/776057/fill/300x0/kassidy_20headshot.jpeg?timestamp=1622908773"></div><p> Kassidy Garland has had a great appreciation for reading and writing since she was young. She graduated from West Chester University in 2017 with a Bachelor’s Degree in English & Women and Gender Studies. With a concentration in creative writing, Kassidy has 5 years of experience writing blogs, articles, and for social media. Kassidy is also pursuing a Master’s degree in IT with a concentration in Web Development. Based out of Philadelphia, Kassidy loves to write about a number of topics and looks forward to sharing her passion with those at FunTimes Magazine. <br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Read more from Kassidy Garland:</p><p><a href="/2021/04/22/353492/celebrate-international-mother-earth-day-on-april-22nd" target="_blank">Celebrate International Mother Earth Day on April 22nd</a><br></p><p><a href="/2021/03/03/349308/celebrate-world-wildlife-day" target="_blank">Celebrate World Wildlife Day</a><br></p><p><a href="/2021/04/25/353700/world-immunization-week-bringing-us-closer-together" target="_blank">World Immunization Week: Bringing Us Closer Together</a><br></p><p><br></p><span><p><br></p><div><br></div></span><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:57ee5922-6a68-4e70-8236-2d5c9239d4f62021-05-28T12:55:26-04:002021-06-07T21:36:49-04:00Achimota SHS Refuses Students’ Admission Because of Dreadlocks: Ras Aswad Nkrabea, Jamaican Repatriate and Father of One of the Boys, Speaks on Neo-colonialism Through Hair in Ghana2021-05-28 16:00:00 -0400Nana Ama Addo<p>The socio-political psyche of a post-colonial nation carries the burden of constantly negotiating a cultural paradox, one that entails indigenous and external values gnashing with friction. Hair politics in Ghana, for example, bear witness to the remnants of European values, with kinky hair ostracized and othered, and loosely textured hair patterns being preferred. In the Ghana school system, public school students are forced to cut their hair short because it is seen as a distraction, and although private schools in Ghana have more autonomy, some hold social and cultural values that are akin to mainstream Ghana institutions when it comes to hair. Interestingly enough, when White students enter the Ghana education system, they do not have to cut their hair.</p><p></p><p>The question of “respectable” hair and neo-colonialism through hair has come to light through a court case that has been making waves in the Ghanaian media. Early this year, Ras Aswad Nkrabea, a Jamaican repatriate, and Tereo Maghuay, a Ghanaian, both living in Ghana, took their sons to Achimota Senior High School (SHS), one of the leading senior high schools in the nation, for them to be enrolled. However, upon conversing with the Achimota SHS staff, the parents were told that although the boys were already accepted into the school, they would not be admitted into the school unless they cut off their dreadlocks.</p><div><br></div><p></p><p>FunTimes sat down with Ras Aswad Nkrabea, a Jamaican political activist, repatriate, and father of one of the young boys who were refused from Achimota SHS. This is his story.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/825745/fill/700x0/ghana_20high_20council.jpeg?timestamp=1622220359"><br>(The two students, family members, and legal representatives at Ghana High Council. Tereo Maghuay dons a red hat and Ras Aswad Nkrabea wears white hat. Image provided by Ras Aswad Nkrabea.)</div><div class="image-main"><br><br><p><b>Q: You have lived in Ghana for over 20 years. In your opinion, has the country strived to create inclusion for African Diasporan expatriates/repatriates?</b></p><p></p><p><b>Nkrabea:</b> <i>Yes, I have been here in Ghana for over twenty years now. I would say they strive to accommodate us through a transition via the Ghanaian immigration system. </i></p><p></p><p><i>I would also equally say that there are no proper steps taken to provide for our social, economic, and political inclusion. This is what I consider as serious inclusion.</i></p><p></p><p><i>There are no bills in parliament for the “right of return”, which would give us the necessary legal status to restore our real citizenship, which we lost when we were kidnapped and forced into slavery in the west. Restoration means restoring everything we once had as citizens! This means that we have totally equal rights to live and participate and enjoy every aspect of our constitutional rights just like any Ghanaian born in Ghana.</i></p><p></p><p><i>Until this is done through a legislative instrument in the parliament of Ghana, I would say our inclusion is a fleeting illusion still to be attained fully.</i></p></div><p><i> </i></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/825746/fill/700x0/ras_20aswad_20nkrabea.jpeg?timestamp=1622220481"><br><span>(Ras Aswad Nkrabea and children. Image provided by Ras Aswad Nkrabea.)<br><br></span><p><b>Q: How would you describe the neo-colonial politics of hair in Ghana?</b></p><p></p><p><b>Nkrabea:</b> <i>Shocking! Frightening! Oppressive! Denigrating! Discriminatory! Prejudicial! Low self-esteem! There’s an inferiority complex and a total lack of political leadership to confront the Eurocentric value system and imposition of the churches on the Ghanaian African population.</i></p><p></p><p><b>Q: How does Ghanaian society perceive dreadlocks and people who are Rastafarians?</b></p><p></p><p><b>Nkrabea:</b> <i>Traditionally they call it “MpesMpese”which was meant to be seen as a holy sacred symbol. However, due to the imposition of the White racist Mission Churches, and school prejudicial agenda to impose White Christian indoctrination, values, lifestyle, and religious ideology, it is now seen as evil and negative.</i></p><p></p><p><i>Rastafari introduced it in the Ghanaian system as “Dreadlocks” which represents pride in our naturality, resistance, defiance, rebelliousness and a threat to the status quo. It also represents trendy fashion statements of pride, and appreciation for African natural beauty.</i></p><p></p><p><i>Ghanaians, poor people, and the ghetto youth have high regard and respect for Rastafari through the many positive messages from reggae music. Most of what the Ghanaian population knows about Rastafari came from reggae music.</i></p><p></p><p><i>Rastafari is greeted daily by positive words such as righteous, respect, and honour. It is the upper-class who are showing disdain, scorn, and all manners of expressions that shows their prejudice and discrimination.</i></p><p><i><br></i></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/825747/fill/700x0/obadele_20kambon.jpeg?timestamp=1622220596"><br><span>(Dr. Obadele Kambon speaks about the Achimota case. Image provided by Ras Aswad Nkrabea.)<br></span><br><br><p><b>Q: Kindly provide a brief overview of the moments that led to the Achimota School case, and the progress that has been made.</b></p><p></p><p><b>Nkrabea:</b> <i>My son was selected by the computer system to be admitted in the Achimota Senior secondary school, and on the 18th of March, 2021, when we took him to be enrolled and begin his classes a few days ahead, we were told by several staff members that the school will not accept him with his locks! We were astonished because this is not the first school we enrolled him in and we never had this problem before.</i></p><p></p><p><i>However, we ignored them and proceeded to see the headmistress who had no time to attend to our concerns. This made us rather go to the assistant headmaster, who told us that no matter what we say or do they won’t accept him unless he cuts off his locks. He went further to say that this is not the first and won’t be the last, so we can take it to court because they have been taken to court before and the parents and the student lost.</i></p><p></p><p><i>This was when I realized that I was up against the very arrogant and condescending leadership of the school. I then sent my protest to the media seeking constitutional interpretation of the laws of Ghana. From here social media was the next vehicle, and gave it massive exposure from all over the world.</i></p><p></p><p><i>Today we are in court waiting for interpretation and judgment, plus justice.</i></p><p></p><p><b>Q: Where do you see the future of Ghana’s relationship with the African diaspora heading?</b></p><p></p><p><b>Nkrabea: </b><i>It is very dim at the moment because the Diasporans are not united, proactive enough, vocal enough, or economically strong collectively. Equally, the government is not a Panafrican government, nor do they have the political will necessary to ensure the Diasporans are properly reintegrated.</i></p><p></p><p><b>Q: How can people support your case?</b></p><p></p><p><b>Nkrabea:</b> <i>Support can be given through sharing the information, finding scholarships for these two boys, and supporting and boosting the GoFundMe efforts.</i></p><p></p><p><b>Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?</b></p><p></p><p><b>Nkrabea:</b><span><b> </b><i>African returnees must begin to have a continental view rather than a nationalistic view in these shall nation-states.</i></span></p><p><i><br></i></p><p>Nkrabea and his team have created the MAAT Justice and Unity Foundation to carry on future advocacy for rights and justice. Check out their work on Twitter at @AndMaat, and learn about their GoFundMe campaign <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-oheneba-end-discrimination-against-rastas?utm_campaign=p_cp_url&utm_medium=os&utm_source=customer" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="image-medium image-align-left"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/790279/fill/300x0/nana_20ama_20addo_202.jpg?timestamp=1622220774"></div><p> <span>Nana Ama Addo is a writer, multimedia strategist, film director and storytelling artist. She graduated with a BA in Africana Studies from the College of Wooster, and has studied at the University of Ghana and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Nana Ama tells stories of entrepreneurship and Ghana repatriation at her brand, Asiedua’s Imprint ( <a href="http://www.asieduasimprint.blog">www.asieduasimprint.blog</a> ).</span><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Read more from Nana Ama Addo:</p><p><a href="/2021/05/20/356750/augustus-tagor-quartey-ghanaian-businessman-filmmaker-and-ceo-of-exklamation-fashion-brand-on-generating-revenue-adaptation-and-business-relationships" target="_blank">Augustus ‘Tagor’ Quartey, Ghanaian Businessman, Filmmaker, and CEO of ‘Exklamation’ Fashion Brand on Generating Revenue, Adaptation, and Business Relationships</a></p><p><a href="/2021/05/23/356895/african-small-pot-southwest-philly-s-premier-west-african-restaurant-endures-and-cultivates-community-during-covid-19" target="_blank">African Small Pot, Southwest Philly’s Premier West African Restaurant, Endures and Cultivates Community During COVID-19</a></p><p><a href="/2021/05/12/356156/throwing-bananas-lack-of-progress-in-racism-towards-african-african-diasporan-soccer-players-and-redirection-of-focus" target="_blank">Throwing Bananas: Lack of Progress in Racism Towards African & African Diasporan Soccer Players, and Redirection of Focus</a> <br></p></div><br><br></div><p> </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:8b3fef32-3233-49f5-b3c4-1501cd5c5ace2021-05-20T15:35:08-04:002021-05-26T10:20:23-04:00Nine and a Half Minutes: One Year Later2021-05-25 09:00:00 -0400Kassidy Garland<span><p>On May 25, 2020, George Floyd entered a convenience store to buy cigarettes, which he paid for with a suspected counterfeit $20 bill. 17 minutes after the first squad car arrived on the scene, George Floyd was lying face down on the ground, unconscious, and pinned down by multiple police officers.</p><br><p>For close to 10 minutes, Officer Derek Chauvin’s knee laid on George Floyd’s neck. Bystander videos show George Floyd repeatedly asking for his mama and stating that he could not breathe. Bystanders asked that Chauvin remove his knee from Floyd’s neck as he was not resisting arrest, and eventually, another officer found that Floyd had no pulse.</p><br><p>Police made no attempts to save his life, not even aiding paramedics or the fire department. George Floyd was pronounced dead at 9:25 pm. He was 46, and just like that, he was gone. He was a friend, a brother, a father, a son, and a human being.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/823355/fill/700x0/george_20floyd_20protests.jpeg?timestamp=1621539027"></div><p> </p><br><p>By May 26th, news had spread, and the site of the incident became a memorial. Protests began erupting all over the country, calling for justice for George Floyd and his family, as his murder came just weeks after the murder of Breonna Taylor in her home. The Black Lives Matter movement pushed full speed ahead with marches, chanting “I can’t breathe”, a saying muttered breathlessly by the victim.</p><p><br></p></span><span><p>Businesses, organizations, and citizens all over the world were tired of witnessing the death of Black people in police custody, and they urged the US government to take action. Counter protests began, and the BLM movement began to clash with the unbelievably still relevant White supremacist movements.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/823354/fill/700x0/derek_20chauvin_20and_20others.jpeg?timestamp=1621538952"></div><p> </p><br><p>Four days after George Floyd’s murder, Derek Chauvin, the police officer that was sworn to protect his community, was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. By June 3rd, the charges were upgraded to second-degree murder. The other officers involved were charged with aiding and abetting second-degree murder.</p><br><p>On April 20, 2021, former Officer Derek Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder, and second-degree manslaughter. It was the first conviction of a White police officer in Minnesota for the murder of an African-American.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/823358/fill/700x0/derek_20chauvin.jpeg?timestamp=1621539284"></div><p> </p><br><p>Across the country, many were able to breathe a sigh of relief; justice had been served. George Floyd’s family cried tears of joy that the man responsible for their loved one’s death would go to prison for his crimes. People saw this conviction as a turning point.</p><br><p>Maybe things are finally beginning to change, but we are certainly not finished with our fight for justice and true equality for African-Americans. The trial for the other officers involved in the death of George Floyd has not yet begun. Systematic racism, White supremacist groups, and prejudice still exist, and not only in the US.</p><br><p>The murder of George Floyd occurred one year ago today. The trial of Derek Chauvin, just one month ago, and the trial of the other officers, next year. As we move forward into the rest of 2021 and then into the next years of our lives, we remember the tragic loss of George Floyd on May 25, 2020. We remember the pain, the anger, and that gut-wrenching feeling, and we use it to propel us forward, urging for change, and demanding justice.</p><br><p>Sources:</p><p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/31/us/george-floyd-investigation.html">NY Times</a></p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/derek-chauvin-trial-live-updates-04-20-2021-955a78df9a7a51835ad63afb8ce9b5c1">AP News</a></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p></span><div class="image-medium image-align-left"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/776057/fill/300x0/kassidy_20headshot.jpeg?timestamp=1621537768"></div><span><p> Kassidy Garland has had a great appreciation for reading and writing since she was young. She graduated from West Chester University in 2017 with a Bachelor’s Degree in English & Women and Gender Studies. With a concentration in creative writing, Kassidy has 5 years of experience writing blogs, articles, and for social media. Kassidy is also pursuing a Master’s degree in IT with a concentration in Web Development. Based out of Philadelphia, Kassidy loves to write about a number of topics and looks forward to sharing her passion with those at FunTimes Magazine. <br></p><p>Read more from Kassidy Garland:</p><p><a href="/2021/04/21/353277/workforce-solutions-preparing-citizens-to-successfully-return-to-society-after-imprisonment" target="_blank">Workforce Solutions: Preparing Citizens To Successfully Return To Society After Imprisonment</a><br></p><p><a href="/2021/02/20/347897/leaders-to-be-aware-of-on-world-day-of-social-justice" target="_blank">Leaders To Be Aware of On World Day Of Social Justice</a><br></p><p><a href="/2020/12/18/339413/13th-amendment-the-end-of-slavery-and-the-beginning-of-the-fight-for-equality" target="_blank">13th Amendment: The End of Slavery And The Beginning Of The Fight For Equality</a><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div><br></div></span><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:73c3a3a7-44ae-4f67-9826-a47b0fc96dc82021-05-23T19:27:53-04:002021-06-16T15:52:51-04:00African Small Pot, Southwest Philly’s Premier West African Restaurant, Endures and Cultivates Community During COVID-192021-05-23 19:27:52 -0400Nana Ama Addo<span><p>A Fulani proverb says ‘Patience can cook a stone.’ Similarly, in business, when things get tough, the test of time, coupled with resilience and persistence, can lead to a breakthrough. Southwest Philadelphia is an area that many call “Southwest Africa” due to its concentrated African population. If you ever chance upon an African restaurant in Southwest Philly, you may notice that many people coming in and out of them are African American. African Small Pot, a Mauritanian restaurant on 6505 Woodland Avenue, is a testament to this. The founder of African Small Pot is Abdarahmane Diop, a Mauritanian-born Fulani who has been working in the hospitality business for over 30 years. FunTimes sat down with Diop to learn about his story of persistence through COVID-19, and insights on the community he has cultivated through his business.</p><div><br><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/823742/fill/700x0/image3.jpg?timestamp=1621811933"><br><span><p>(Diop cooking at African Restaurant)</p><div><br></div></span></div><p></p><p>With the rise of Pan-African films like <i>Black is King</i>, the globalization of modern African music styles, and a growing first and second-generation American population, the gaps between people of the African diaspora are closing. Diop and his sons fuel this fire of connection through their cuisine. Since 2012, African Small Pot’s delicious and authentic Mauritanian, Senegalese, and Nigerian dishes have provided a platform for the diaspora to reunify. “80 to 85% of my customers are Americans, especially African Americans.”, Diop states. Because Diop speaks over 9 languages, including English, Fulani, Wolof, Portuguese, Italian, Arabic, French, Spanish, and American Sign Language, he can connect with even more demographics of the African diaspora.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/823743/fill/700x0/thiebou_20dien.jpg?timestamp=1621812016"><br><span><p>(Thiebou dien with fish and vegetables)</p><p><br></p><div><span><p>Diop says COVID had a huge impact on the business, since the beginning of lockdown: “Initially, people were not allowed to eat inside the restaurant. We had to make all of our orders takeout. Initially, we limited everything to UberEats. This helped us continue to sell, but as UberEats take a percentage of our profits, we suffered some losses in that change. In the first few months, we lost 75% of the business. Some days, we didn’t even make $100, and other days we made between $200 and $300. After the first 6 months of doing business with COVID, people started getting used to the pandemic and things got a little bit better.”</p><p>Community plays a huge role in the welfare of African families. Diop and his family continue to support each other greatly. Although the battle is not yet over, their ability to unify allowed them to withstand the initial shock of COVID without COVID-related funds or grants. Diop says: “My sons and I didn’t get stimulus checks. I never tried to get business grants because our community helps each other. We were able to get everything we needed.” He says the business still managed to buy to-go boxes and other items they needed to complete their takeout orders.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/823744/fill/700x0/grilled_20fish_20attieke.jpg?timestamp=1621812225"><br><span><p>(Grilled fish, attieke, fried plantain and salad)</p><div><br><span><p>African Small Pot is still gaining momentum from the setback of the pandemic, but the future is bright, as the African diasporan community stands behind it.</p><p>If you are ever in the Philadelphia area, stop by African Small Pot and order a meal. Their Maafe, or peanut stew with beef and rice, and Thiebou Dienne, or Wolof rice, and Chicken Yassa dishes will leave excellent first impressions. Visit their website <a href="http://africansmallpot.com/" target="_blank">here</a>, and check out their Facebook page <a href="https://web.facebook.com/African-Smallpot-357365244404320/?_rdc=1&_rdr" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/824956/fill/700x0/Diop_20-_20B_20_1_.jpg?timestamp=1622039202"></div><p> </p></div></span><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/824111/fill/700x0/African_20Small_20Pot.png?timestamp=1621870189"></div><p> </p><span><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><i>This article has been made possible by the Independence Public Media Foundation.</i></p><div class="image-medium image-align-left"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/775336/fill/300x0/Independence_Media1.jpg?timestamp=1621812324"></div><p> </p><div><br></div></span></div></span></div><p> </p><div><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><div class="image-medium image-align-left"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/790279/fill/300x0/nana_20ama_20addo_202.jpg?timestamp=1621812382"></div><span><p> Nana Ama Addo is a writer, multimedia strategist, film director and storytelling artist. She graduated with a BA in Africana Studies from the College of Wooster, and has studied at the University of Ghana and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Nana Ama tells stories of entrepreneurship and Ghana repatriation at her brand, Asiedua’s Imprint ( <a target="_blank">www.asieduasimprint.blog</a> ).</p><div><br></div></span></div></span></div></span></div><p> </p></div></span><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:36ea67c1-f1d5-4769-a259-edf8fef2445e2021-05-18T12:13:14-04:002021-05-22T16:45:44-04:005 Black-Owned Menswear Brands to Support, Now2021-05-23 09:00:00 -0400Boitumelo Masihleho<span><p>Black-owned businesses are gaining more visibility as America reassesses the brands we support and invest in. In the past, FunTimes has highlighted several different types of Black-owned businesses to support, but now we want to highlight Black-owned menswear brands. The world is blessed with many talented designers, especially male designers, and many are branching out and starting their own menswear brands. Take a look at our top five picks amongst many talented brands.</p><br><h4><a href="https://bricksandwood.us/">Bricks and Wood</a></h4><p>Founded by Kacey Lynch and based in South Central, Los Angeles, Bricks and Wood offers a comfortable range of loungewear and goods to compliment relaxed lifestyles. Bricks and Wood is all about texture and feel, rather than flashy graphics and big statement pieces, inspired by the everyday walks of life within South Central. From t-shirts and; sweatshirts, to beanies and caps, Bricks and Wood has it all for effortless street style. Bricks and Wood describe themselves on their website as “we are more than a brand, we are a platform for the voices unheard.”</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/822913/fill/700x0/bricks_20and_20wood.jpeg?timestamp=1621354427"><br><br><br><span><h4><a href="https://shop.armando-cabral.com/password">Armando Cabral </a></h4><div>Looking for well-crafted footwear from a Black-owned brand? Look no further than Armando Cabral. From sandals to sneakers, this brand is based on classic Italian-crafted footwear made of high-quality leather. Cabral was born in Guinea-Bissau in West Africa, but grew up in Portugal and went to school in England. He moved to New York City for a modelling job and has graced the industry’s top shows and campaigns, including Balmain, Calvin Klein, Louis Vuitton, Dior Homme, Thom Browne, H&M, and J. Crew. He launched his eponymous footwear line in 2009 for the needs of the modern metropolitan man. In an interview with <a href="https://www.malemodelscene.net/exclusive/interview-armando-cabral/">MMScene</a>, Cabral described his footwear brand as “deeply inspired by timeless design, easy elegance, and luxurious comfort, the collection artfully merges minimalist design with intricate details and technical construction made by Italy’s finest artisans.”</div></span></div><h4 class="image-main"><span><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/822915/fill/700x0/armando_20cabral.jpeg?timestamp=1621354549"></div><p> </p></span><br><a href="https://post-imperial.com/">Post-Imperial</a><br><br></h4><div class="image-main">Post-Imperial’s website describes the company as “a menswear brand with a strong sense of optimism for the future and a focus on color, pattern, and process.” Founder, Niyi Okuboyejo, moved to the U.S at the age of 14 years old from Nigeria. What makes Post-Imperial stand out from your average tie purveyor are its beautiful fabrics, which are made using a Yoruban technique called Adire dyeing. It's a process so old that there are only a few "master dyers" left in all of Nigeria. "It's called Post-Imperial because it's about the time after old regimes, and creating for today," said Okuboyejo in <a href="https://www.gq.com/story/post-imperial-ties-interview">an interview with GQ</a>. "I want to make products that people like because they like the way it looks. Then once they pick it up, they can start learning about the story." Post-Imperial excels at combining native African design philosophies and modern menswear.<br></div></span><div class="image-main"><br></div><p> </p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/822948/fill/700x0/post_20imperial.png?timestamp=1621367625"></div><p> </p><h4><a href="https://weardiop.com/">Diop</a></h4><p></p><p>Co-founder Mapate Diop, a second-generation American, started Diop with a friend and describes Diop as ready-to-wear clothes inspired by the African diaspora that are intended to serve as a form of cultural education. “Our apparel will always reflect my experience living in the space between my heritage and my lifestyle as a first-generation American,” says the brand on their website. In an <a href="https://seenthemagazine.com/detroit-designer-and-diop-co-founder-mapate-diop/">interview with <i>Seen The Magazine</i></a>, Diop said that the brand was able to donate over $80,000 to over 40 different local, regional, and national relief efforts and charitable initiatives focusing on COVID-19 relief with their mask sales. From tops, bucket hats, to facemasks, the bold fabrics take inspiration right from his mom's sourcing of Ankara fabric in West Africa.</p><span><div class="image-main"><br><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/822949/fill/700x0/diop.png?timestamp=1621367769"></div><p> </p><h4><a href="https://www.dailypaperclothing.com/">Daily Paper</a></h4><p></p><p>Daily Paper is an Amsterdam-based fashion and lifestyle brand established in 2012 by three childhood friends, Hussein Suleiman, Abderrahmane Trabsini, and Jefferson Osei. It’s become one of the fastest-growing fashion brands out of Europe. Daily Paper is fueled by the rich heritage of African culture, wrapped in contemporary designs. With two collections a year focusing on both men and womenswear, Daily Paper offers timeless designs across accessories and ready-to-wear clothes. </p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/822950/fill/700x0/daily_20paper.png?timestamp=1621367877"></div><p> </p><p>Source</p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.themodestman.com/black-owned-menswear-brands/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1621350937457000&usg=AOvVaw1TPu5W_rEbVLMrPRYxXNh8">The Modest Man</a></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://gammaliving.com/5-black-owned-mens-fashion-brands-to-support/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1621350937457000&usg=AOvVaw2MQqnyeoMypT3OLsB0YxNJ">Gamma Living</a></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.insider.com/black-owned-menswear-brands&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1621350937458000&usg=AOvVaw1YghN2fJsuXTMYrAk2N7EJ">Insider</a></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.menshealth.com/style/g32745078/black-owned-brands-menswear-grooming-businesses/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1621350937458000&usg=AOvVaw2pA8XRiA2QTxDYjZJW1YMS">Men’s Health<br></a></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.menshealth.com/style/g32745078/black-owned-brands-menswear-grooming-businesses/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1621350937458000&usg=AOvVaw2pA8XRiA2QTxDYjZJW1YMS"><br></a></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.menshealth.com/style/g32745078/black-owned-brands-menswear-grooming-businesses/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1621350937458000&usg=AOvVaw2pA8XRiA2QTxDYjZJW1YMS"><br></a></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.menshealth.com/style/g32745078/black-owned-brands-menswear-grooming-businesses/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1621350937458000&usg=AOvVaw2pA8XRiA2QTxDYjZJW1YMS"><br></a></p><div class="image-medium image-align-left"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/776121/fill/300x0/boitumelo.jpg?timestamp=1621368018"></div><p> Boitumelo Masihleho is a South African digital content creator. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Rhodes University in Journalism and Media Studies and Politics and International Studies. </p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.menshealth.com/style/g32745078/black-owned-brands-menswear-grooming-businesses/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1621350937458000&usg=AOvVaw2pA8XRiA2QTxDYjZJW1YMS"></a></p><p>She's an experienced multimedia journalist who is committed to writing balanced, informative and interesting stories on a number of topics. Boitumelo has her own <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/BoitumeloM" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">YouTube channel </a>where she shares her love for affordable beauty and lifestyle content.</p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.menshealth.com/style/g32745078/black-owned-brands-menswear-grooming-businesses/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1621350937458000&usg=AOvVaw2pA8XRiA2QTxDYjZJW1YMS"><br></a></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.menshealth.com/style/g32745078/black-owned-brands-menswear-grooming-businesses/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1621350937458000&usg=AOvVaw2pA8XRiA2QTxDYjZJW1YMS"><br></a></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.menshealth.com/style/g32745078/black-owned-brands-menswear-grooming-businesses/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1621350937458000&usg=AOvVaw2pA8XRiA2QTxDYjZJW1YMS"><br></a></p><p>Read more from Boitumelo Masihleho:</p><p><a href="/2021/04/10/352888/shop-black-owned-face-mask-brands" target="_blank">Shop Black-Owned Face Mask Brands</a><br></p><p><a href="/2021/02/24/348282/8-black-owned-accessories-brands-to-shop-right-now" target="_blank">8 Black-Owned Accessories Brands to Shop Right Now</a><br></p><p><a href="/2021/03/23/351135/5-black-owned-home-decor-brands-to-upgrade-your-space" target="_blank">5 Black-Owned Home Decor Brands to Upgrade Your Space</a><br></p></div><p> </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div><br></div></span><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:8d3518d5-263d-4158-a772-f693916d0e5d2021-05-20T14:41:56-04:002021-05-20T14:42:29-04:00Climbing a Mountain, Literally: How Bhutan Helped Me Achieve Sobriety - Personal Piece2021-05-21 09:00:00 -0400Anand Subramanian<span><p>It always starts with one drink. As we drink more, people become more tolerable, life feels less challenging, and sleep finally appears attainable. But as days transpire, it's not about "one" drink anymore. The only thing we find ourselves holding on to is an empty bottle of Scotch.</p><br><p><i>"Hi, My name is Anand Subramanian, I am an alcoholic, and this is my journey towards sobriety."</i></p><br><p>Alcohol is widely used in America and has impacted different demographics in different proportions. Drinking consequences and alcohol dependency symptoms are the two widely observed indicators of alcoholism. Drinking consequences are the external factors that push an individual towards liquor, while alcohol dependency symptoms refer to a set of behaviors and experiences correlated with alcoholism, such as blackouts and withdrawal. Some studies have found that African Americans report an increase in drinking consequences and alcohol dependency symptoms compared to the White population. </p><p><br></p><p>According to the National Survey on Drugs Use and Health, 41.9 % of African Americans between the ages of 18 to 25 consume alcohol. This level of consumption has been a contributing agent to many fatalities within the community. According to The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 50 to 60 percent of Black men and 30 to 40 percent of Black women are regular drinkers. Racial discrimination, social stigma, and projected prejudice are becoming a continuous source of stress, anxiety, and depression in the community. The constant bombardment of such factors has pushed many young African Americans to choose alcohol as a source of escape from reality. </p><p><b><br></b></p><p>In India, Alcohol consumption had touched the mark of 6.5 billion liters by 2020. States like Andra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala account for 49 percent of liquor sales in India. Some key factors, such as increased consumption in rural areas, social acceptance, and the higher proportion of the young population entering the drinking age have increased the statistics in India. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 11 percent of Indians are regular drinkers, against the global average of 17 percent. Such high consumption in the country has led the drinking population towards negative outcomes such as mental health disorders, road traffic accidents, suicide, domestic violence, high-risk sexual behavior, crime, and violent acts.</p><p><br></p><p>In instances of alcoholism, many either choose to get help or continue with alcohol abuse until a sudden realization hits them like a ton of bricks. I was in the latter category. My dependency on alcohol for a good night's sleep and enduring social gatherings increased at an alarming rate. Nevertheless, I still loved how diluted certainty felt. Still, after all the consumption, my creative spirits were intact, and my photography was improving. After one year of continuous consumption, my mental state felt invincible, and due to continuous workflow, I never paid attention to my physical condition. But all of that changed.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/823341/fill/700x0/life_20changing_20travel.jpeg?timestamp=1621535441"><br><span>Figure 1 - Beginning of a life-changing travel experience. Photographed by Anand Subramanian<br></span><br><span>As a part of my photography portfolio development, I had the privilege to travel to the happiest country in all of Asia, Bhutan. My curiosity towards Bhutan's GNH (Gross National Happiness), and love for Buddhist culture became the subject of my visit. My travel amid a carbon-negative environment and the sounds of the pristine blue stream subdued my yearnings for alcohol, but it still lingered in the back of my head. The main attraction of Bhutan is its beautifully constructed monasteries, situated on top of the mountains, with a challenging entry pathway. Chagrin Dorjeden monastery, established in Thimpu, was the first monastery in my itinerary. Its 2800ft journey didn't feel like a challenge in the beginning. But, as the journey began, I could feel my body crumbling from the inside. A 22-year-old me was gasping for air and taking intervals every 5 minutes while my tour guide, who was in his early 30s, was hiking the mountain effortlessly. The hike that was supposed to take an hour, took nearly 3 hours to finish. But, in the end, there stood the monastery at its utmost glory, beaming under bright sunlight, and I stood there witnessing its beauty while getting hold of my physical turbulence.<br></span><br><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/823342/fill/700x0/chagrin_20monastery.jpeg?timestamp=1621535519"><br><span>Figure 2 - Climb towards the Chagrin Monastery. Photographed by Anand Subramanian<br></span><br><span>While I was resting there, gathering myself, a realization dawned on me. All of those intoxicated nights suddenly felt shameful and a gross betrayal towards my fleshly being. I had put my body through alcohol abuse because I was too afraid to face and handle the whirlwind of my reality. It had taken 2800ft of the uneven and challenging hike to bring me back to my senses. Even after this hard-hitting life lesson, the mind still craved for a diluted escape. But, this time I recognized my craving and decided to put an end to it. To help achieve this goal, I decided to climb the Tiger Nest monastery, a religious and artistic marvel established about 10000 ft above sea level. <br><br></span><br><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/823344/fill/700x0/tiger_20nest_20monastery.jpeg?timestamp=1621535590">Figure 3 - The journey towards Tiger nest monastery. Photographed by the tour guide.<br><br><span>At 7.a.m, I stood at the starting point, looking towards a mist-covered monastery. As anxiety started to creep in, I took a deep breath and started my hike. The journey was filled with a similar uneven landscape and narrow pathways, but also a continuous bombardment of raindrops. There were certain weak moments where my body almost gave up, but my determination to finish my climb fueled my journey. By the end, the mist started to dissipate, and I witnessed the majesty of Tiger Nest monastery.<br></span><br><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/823347/fill/700x0/achievement.jpeg?timestamp=1621535657"><br><span>Figure 4 - The Achievement. Photographed by the tour guide.<br></span><br><p>Completing the 10000ft journey represented the end of my alcoholic journey and a victorious beginning of my sobriety. Sitting in the monastery, staring towards the mountain's abyss, I recollected the numerous times I had almost given up. There were moments in the climb where choosing alcohol felt more comfortable than the painful journey. But, the peace attained in the monastery felt spiritual. So, every time I crave an alternative reality, I recall my literal climb towards my sobriety, the challenging hike, and the divine result.</p><div></div></div><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p> </p><div class="image-medium image-align-left"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/814912/fill/300x0/anand.jpg?timestamp=1621535730"></div><p> Anand Subramanian is a freelance photographer and content writer based out of Tamil Nadu, India. Having a background in Engineering always made him curious about life on the other side of the spectrum. He leapt forward towards the Photography life and never looked back. Specializing in Documentary and Portrait photography gave him an up-close and personal view into the complexities of human beings and those experiences helped him branch out from visual to words. Today he is mentoring passionate photographers and writing about the different dimensions of the art world.</p><p>Read more from Anand Subramanian:</p><p><a href="/2021/04/29/354657/entering-the-inner-sanctum-exploring-the-art-of-portraits" target="_blank">Entering the Inner Sanctum: Exploring the Art of Portraits</a><br></p><p><a href="/2021/05/11/356107/shaping-the-contemporary-art-arthur-jafa-artist-review" target="_blank">Shaping the Contemporary Art: Arthur Jafa - Artist Review</a><br></p><p><a href="/2021/05/09/355788/a-legacy-of-strength-love-mother-s-day" target="_blank">A Legacy of Strength & Love - Mother’s Day </a><br></p><p><br></p><div><br></div></div><p> </p></div><p> </p></div><p> </p><br></span><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:da0232f6-e11e-450e-be9b-986ce95497e92021-05-20T11:10:59-04:002022-01-12T13:38:57-05:00The Importance of Road Safety is International: Celebrating UN Global Road Safety Week 2021-05-20 16:00:00 -0400Lubaba Ali, Anand Subramanian, Kassidy Garland, Belinda Nzeribe, Candice Stewart<span><p>May 17th through May 23rd marks the 6th UN Global Road Safety Week. In celebration of the importance of this event, and in an effort to help raise awareness for the cause, FunTimes Magazine asked some of our writers to share their own experiences of road safety from their corners of the world. This is what they had to say:</p><br><p>The United Arab Emirates, one of the world’s safest countries, was able to achieve its lowest road fatalities in almost a decade. The rate of road traffic death decreased from 4.52 per 100,000 people in 2018 to 3.14 in 2020.</p><p>Speeding ranked among the top causes of road fatalities, which led the country to upgrade traffic control measures including strict speed restrictions. As a result, more than 8.7 million road users were fined in 2019 for speeding, an astoundingly large number that had a direct positive impact in decreasing the number of traffic deaths from 725 in 2016 to 448 in 2019. Furthermore, for the past five years, the UAE was ranked first in the World Economic Forum’s global index of road quality.</p><p>Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, emphasized the importance of traffic control and explained: ‘The safety of people is the most important and it is always our top priority”.</p><p>- Lubaba Ali - Abu Dhabi </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>We live in a world where transportation plays a vital role in world development. Road transportation has been the most preferred mode of transportation for goods and passenger transportation. Increased population leads to increased roadway projects which have helped the general public to travel the unknowns. This blessing comes with a fatal disguise as road accidents have increased to almost 90 percent. Developing countries like India have seen their fair share of road fatalities, where traffic collisions are the major source of death and injuries every year. In this article, we are addressing those fatalities in India, their cause, and some preventive methods that we can adopt to save lives and contribute to reducing fatalities. <br></p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/823204/fill/700x0/road_20accidents_20NH.png?timestamp=1621522264"><br><p>Figure 1 - Statistics on Road Accidents and Deaths on Different Categories of NH by Traffic Rule Violations During 2019. Source - Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, India.</p><div><br><p>As we progress each year, road fatalities continue to be a major public health concern, being first in leading cause of death among children age 5-14 and adults age 15-29. Two-wheelers were involved in the most road fatalities, which were shown to be due to overspeeding, drunken driving, driving on the wrong side, or jumping the red light. These accidents have lead to a socio-economic cost of 147,114 Crore INR in 2018, equivalent to 0.77 percent of the nation's GDP.</p><p></p><p>According to the transport research wing of the Ministry of Road and Transport and Highways, around 449,002 accidents were reported across the states and union territories, killing 151,113 people. In comparison to 2018 statistics, the accidents have reduced by 3.86 percentage and the death rate has reduced by 0.20 percentage. This victorious decline is achieved due to the implementation of 'The Motor Vehicle Amendment Act of 2019'. This amendment includes provisions such as a strict hike in penalties for traffic violations, the introduction of electronic monitoring, and upgraded penalties for juvenile driving.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/823205/fill/700x0/statistic_20road_20accidents.png?timestamp=1621522371"></div><p> Figure 2 - Statistic on Road Accidents, Total Number of Persons Killed and Injured. Source - Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, India.</p><p><br></p><p>The COVID-19 pandemic brought the whole world to a significant halt, which also meant less transportation. While normalcy became somewhat of a dream, the reduction in road accidents became a reality. During the lockdown, there was a significant reduction in road deaths, which reduced by 65 percent. This was primarily because of fewer vehicle moments on the road as private and public transportation came to a standstill.<br></p><p><br></p><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/823206/fill/700x0/india_20state_20statistic_20road_20death.png?timestamp=1621522460"><br><span>Figure 3 - Statistics on The Indian States with Maximum Decline In Road Deaths During Lockdown. Source - Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety, India.<br></span><br><br>As we are progressing towards the end of the pandemic, we may see an unfortunate uproar in fatalities. In such cases, there are many methodologies that we must continue to follow, such as avoiding drunk driving, following road safety rules, avoiding long hour driving, following the speed limits, and never using mobile phones or earphones while driving. We should use social media to generate awareness regarding road safety and conducting awareness camps at the grade school, college, and corporate levels. If we see the bigger picture, every accident that has occurred is preventable. Every time we start our vehicles, let us remember that one misstep can end someone else's life, as well as our own. Follow roadways guidelines and save lives.”<br><br>- Anand Subramanian - India<br><br><br><br><p>According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 1.35 million people die in car accidents per annum globally, and between 20 and 50 million more people suffer non-fatal injuries, while many of those people incur a disability as a result of their injury.</p><p></p><p>According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), “Although the U.S. population has been growing steadily since 1975, the rate of crash deaths per 100,000 people in 2019 is about half of what it was four decades ago. In 2019, the overall per capita death rate decreased 2 percent compared with 2018.” A total of 36,096 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2019.</p><p></p><p>Because of COVID-19-related impacts, the number of miles driven in 2020 decreased by 13.2% compared to 2019. The number of miles driven in February 2021 decreased by 12.1% compared to February 2020. The National Safety Council (NSC) estimate of total motor-vehicle deaths for 2020 is 42,060, up 8% from 39,107 in 2019. The estimated annual population death rate is 12.8 deaths per 100,000 population, up from 11.9 in 2019.</p><p>While the full 2021 report won’t be available until next year, it has been recorded that deaths for the first two months of 2021 are estimated to be 6,160.</p><p>Different states in the U.S. experience car accidents at different rates. This can be attributed to the fact that diverse states have different demographics, traffic laws, weather, travel speeds, and topography. The states with the highest recorded traffic fatalities are Texas, California, and Florida.</p>Contributing to the death toll are alcohol, speeding, lack of safety belt use, and other problematic driver behaviors. Death rates vary by vehicle type, driver age and sex, and other factors.<br><br>- Kassidy Garland - United States (Philadelphia, PA)<p> </p><p><br></p><p>Road traffic accidents in Nigeria are often attributed to the bad road network, poor road infrastructure, faulty vehicles, and overspeeding. Accidents are not a big deal anymore - the number of casualties is of more concern.</p><p></p><p>Sarah Adeyemi, a motorist says, "We should not be killed in our country for lack of organization. No dedicated lanes for big trucks, Nigerians are dying in droves over road accidents. Government should remove tankers and trucks from plying the same lane as smaller vehicles."</p><p></p><p>In 2018, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), recorded a total of 9,741 road traffic crashes - an increase of 3.8% from 2017. These crashes included 2,739 fatal cases, 5,849 serious cases, 1,153 minor cases, claiming 5,181 lives."</p><p></p><p>In 2019, 11,072 road traffic crashes were recorded in the country. 6,911 serious cases, 1,265 minor cases, and 5,483 lives lost. Also, the Q1 2020 road transport data reflected that 23,070 persons were involved in accident crashes. Total of 3,947 Road Traffic Crashes (RTC), involving 6,448 vehicles. It claimed 1,758 lives, 11,250 persons sustaining injuries.</p><p></p><p>The COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions on travel impacted accident figures in Q2 2020. 2,080 road crashes were recorded - a total of 5,535 Nigerians injured, 855 were killed, and 11,033 persons were involved in the road traffic crashes. Q3 2020 road transport data lists 3,066 crashes, and a total of 1,236 Nigerians died with 4,893 vehicles involved in road crashes.</p><p></p><p>Speed Violation is the major cause of road crashes. Other causes of road traffic crashes include reckless driving, mechanical faults, tire-burst, brake failures, bad roads, route violation, overloading, driving under the influence, and use of phones while driving.</p><p></p><p>Road accidents occur more on dilapidated roads, littered with crater-sized potholes and gullies. At such points, over-speeding-reckless drivers lose control of their vehicles resulting in deadly accidents, especially at night. The roads are then repaired after they have caused many fatal crashes.</p><p></p><p>Lagos State, a commercial nerve center and a heavily motorized urban area, has the highest accidents and casualties per population. Ineffective road planning systems, vehicle misuse, inappropriate street parking, traffic congestion, are contributing factors. From January to May 2021, Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) recorded accidents from falling oil tankers and trucks, tanker explosions, vehicle accidents caused by reckless driving and mechanical faults.</p><p></p>Thousands die from road crashes every year. But these accidents are undoubtedly on the list of preventable deaths.<br><br>- Belinda Nzeribe - Nigeria <br><br><br><br><p>In a news release on February 3, 2021, Head of the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch (PSTEB) of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Senior Superintendent (SSP) Gary McKenzie was reported to make the following statement:</p><p></p><p>“Speeding is one of the leading causes of fatal crashes in Jamaica. When motorists drive at excessive speeds, with no regard for road conditions, they put themselves, pedestrians, and other road users at greater risk of injury and death in the event of an accident. While the police and other road safety stakeholders continue to work to create and implement speed management initiatives, motorists are also required to play their part in reducing their driving speed and prevent crashes.”</p><p></p><p>SSP McKenzie also stated that drivers can take simple steps towards reducing their speed. This includes paying close attention to their speedometer, while still carefully watching the road. These checks will allow drivers to be aware of how fast they are going. McKenzie also shared that, “Another tip is to drive below the speed limit to keep your speed in check.”</p><p></p><p>It was reported that road fatalities are currently 40% lower than the corresponding period in 2020. There have been thirty (30) fatalities resulting from twenty-eight (28) road crashes since the start of this year. PSTEB remains committed in its duty to have road fatalities, and vehicular collisions in general, significantly reduced by occupying thoroughfares and conducting regular operations to ensure motorists are complying.</p><p><br></p><p></p><p><b>Perspective on Speed</b></p><p></p><p>On the matter of speed, in a news release on July 15, 2020, Director of the Ministry of Transport and Mining’s Road Safety Unit (RSU), Kenute Hare warned motorists that speed limit signs have nothing to do with road safety, noting that it depends on a driver’s ability to react to a potential collision in a timely manner.</p><p></p><p>“The speed limit has nothing to do with safety; it is all about convenience,” said Hare. “There are areas across the globe where speed limits are set very high, and we know for a fact that if a pedestrian is hit at those speeds, the pedestrian just will not survive. You can put a speed limit on a road that is 80 kilometers per hour, but you may have a school there, or a high-traffic pedestrian area, so why would you do that?” asked Hare suggesting that drivers and riders should be mindful of the speed limit but they should also consider other factors.</p><p>“In areas where we have a lot of pedestrians, we should not allow vehicles to be traveling over 30 kilometers per hour, because we are fully aware that between 20 and 30 kilometers per hour, while that may be a slight speed, the pedestrian can be killed. Vehicles bend, twist, and crush during a collision, and that also occurs with human beings,” he added.</p><p>The RSU director pointed out that the amount of time needed to respond appropriately in order to prevent a vehicular crash depends on the size and speed of one’s vehicle.</p><p>“To avoid a collision, it requires time to perceive and react. The faster you are going, the more time it is going to take you to stop that vehicle and the more distance you are going to have to cover,” Hare warned. He also noted that trucks and cars are made differently. Whereas a car will stop quicker than a truck, the truck’s acceleration and deceleration factor are much lower than that of a car.</p><p><br></p><p></p><p><b>Tally of Road Fatalities up to April 28th</b></p><p></p><p>Approximately one month later, on April 28, 2021, it was reported that more than 140 people have died in motor vehicle crashes across Jamaica since the start of the year.</p><p></p>Of the 140 victims since the start of the year, 46 were motorcyclists, 28 were pedestrians, 10 pedal cyclists, 17 passengers of private motor vehicles, two were passengers of commercial motor vehicles, six were passengers of public passenger motor vehicles, one was a pillion passenger, one was the driver of a commercial motor vehicle, and 29 were drivers of private motor vehicles. This information was provided by the Road Safety Unit located within the Ministry of Transport and Mining.”<br><br>- Candice Stewart - Jamaica<br><br><br><br><p></p><p>Despite our writers spanning across a vast expanse of the globe, they all have similar analyses. Road safety is important no matter where you are, not just for your own sake, but for that of others around you. Please join us this week, May 17th - May 23rd, by remembering to abide by basic road safety guidelines and helping to contribute to making roads both locally and internationally a safer place.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="image-medium image-align-left"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/820966/fill/300x0/Lubaba.jpeg?timestamp=1621522962"></div><p> Lubaba is a Freelance Digital content creator, copywriter and scriptwriter. She graduated with a BSc in Biomedical Engineering from Sudan University for Science and Technology. Later, she decided to follow her ambition and shift from Engineering to Creative Writing. Lubaba started with poetry writing, and then moved into digital media including articles, websites and social media content. She gained her experience in script writing through working with Abu Dhabi tv in producing variety shows. Lubaba is highly interested in social issues, wellness and women topics.</p><p>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lubaba-ali/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/lubaba-ali/</a><br>Poetry Blog: <a href="https://thatvoicewithinme.wordpress.com/">https://thatvoicewithinme.wordpress.com/</a></p><p><br></p><div class="image-medium image-align-left"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/814912/fill/300x0/anand.jpg?timestamp=1621522978"></div><p> Anand Subramanian is a freelance photographer and content writer based out of Tamil Nadu, India. Having a background in Engineering always made him curious about life on the other side of the spectrum. He leapt forward towards the Photography life and never looked back. Specializing in Documentary and Portrait photography gave him an up-close and personal view into the complexities of human beings and those experiences helped him branch out from visual to words. Today he is mentoring passionate photographers and writing about the different dimensions of the art world.<br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="image-medium image-align-left"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/776057/fill/300x0/kassidy_20headshot.jpeg?timestamp=1621523199"></div><p> Kassidy Garland has had a great appreciation for reading and writing since she was young. She graduated from West Chester University in 2017 with a Bachelor’s Degree in English & Women and Gender Studies. With a concentration in creative writing, Kassidy has 5 years of experience writing blogs, articles, and for social media. Kassidy is also pursuing a Master’s degree in IT with a concentration in Web Development. Based out of Philadelphia, Kassidy loves to write about a number of topics and looks forward to sharing her passion with those at FunTimes Magazine. </p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="image-medium image-align-left"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/758601/fill/300x0/belinda_20nzeribe.jpg?timestamp=1621523251"></div><p> Belinda is a contributor for FunTimes Magazine. She runs creative writing clubs in high schools and lives with her husband and three children in Lagos, Nigeria. Her other passion is child literacy and she manages a charity working to improve reading levels of kids in low income communities. She is becoming adept at stealing time here and there to finish her novel. Belinda holds varied degrees in Theatre and Film, Public and Media Relations, International Affairs and Pre-Primary Education.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><div class="image-medium image-align-left"><img alt="" src="//cdn1.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/891963/fill/300x0/candice2.jpg?timestamp=1642012731"></div><p> Candice Stewart is a Jamaican content writer specializing in human interest feature stories. She is a web content writer, blogger, and budding podcaster. <br></p><div>She holds an MA in Communication for Social and Behaviour Change and a BSc. in Psychology from the University of the West Indies (UWI, Mona).<br><br></div><div>Follow her blog at <a href="http://thesuburbangirlja.com/" target="_blank">thesuburbangirlja.com</a>, where she shares stories and life lessons through real-life experiences.</div><p><br></p><p><br></p><br><br><br></div></div><p> </p><p><br></p></span><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>urn:uuid:815d343d-5d03-42ba-8a31-1e449b82b8b72021-05-18T16:52:08-04:002021-05-20T07:23:35-04:00Ghana’s Fatal Floods: The Rainy Season, Effects of Inadequate Gutters and Improper Waste Management, and Ways Forward2021-05-20 14:00:00 -0400 Nana Ama Addo<span><p>The West African country of Ghana, formerly known as the Gold Coast, is gaining popularity as a prime destination for people of the African diaspora to visit and relocate to. However, this reputation and the welfare of the country are undermined by its lack of infrastructure. Inadequate sanitation, poor construction site housing and unfinished gutters turn seasonal floods into death traps. Ghana has two main seasons: the rainy season, which lasts from April to October in the Southern part of the country, and from April to mid-October in the Northern part of the country, and the dry season, or “Harmattan”. Each year, Ghana’s residents experience immense and avoidable loss due to rainy season floods. FunTimes investigated the causes and effects of seasonal flooding, and strategies that can be employed to disrupt the yearly cycle of loss. Here’s what we found.</p><br></span><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn2.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/822959/fill/700x0/lady_20cleans_20gutter_20as_20apart_20of_20Keep_20Ghana_20Clean_20project.jpeg?timestamp=1621370798"><br>(A lady cleans the gutter in collaboration with the Keep Ghana Clean project)<br><br><p>Open gutters can be spotted in many parts of Ghana, even in neighborhoods that are known to be affluent. Refuse piles up on the sides of the road and in the open gutters. It is uncommon to find public dustbins on the streets. During rainy seasons, the choked gutters cause the rain to overflow and transform into floods. Flooding is notorious in Accra, the capital city.</p><p></p><p>Since 1995, heavy rains have been recorded to affect Ghanaians in the hundreds of thousands. From 2000 to 2014, approximately 245 people in Accra alone died from flood-related factors, with the city facing $244 million worth of damages in those 14 years. In June 2015, during a rainstorm, community members gathered at a gas station at Kwame Nkrumah Circle, a commercial area in Accra, to shield themselves from the rain. Due to flooding, an explosion broke out at the gas station, killing over 200 people, including staff, taxi occupants, local bus drivers and more. While the memory of this tragedy has been engraved on the minds of Ghanaian citizens and policymakers, it is unfortunate to say this was not the last deadly flood related incident.</p><p><br></p><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/822961/fill/700x0/rainy_20day_20ghana_202014.jpeg?timestamp=1621370867"><br>(A rainy day in Ghana in 2014. Photo by Charles <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.flickr.com/photos/charliecars/15171995899&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1621374368114000&usg=AOvVaw2ZytVflPoOLq7JZIpUZkTu">https://www.flickr.com/photos/charliecars/15171995899</a><span>)<br></span><br><span>62% of Ghana’s urban population reside in flood-prone informal settlements and are especially vulnerable. For example, in June of 2015, a third of the flood-related deaths in Ghana occurred in or close to informal settlement areas. This means people with meagre finances, and communities in neighborhoods with the least resources, suffer the most from the floods.<br></span><br><div class="image-main"><img alt="" src="//cdn0.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/822962/fill/700x0/Informal_settlement_where_people_now_have_community_ablution_blocks__8152040443_.jpeg?timestamp=1621370937"><br>(An informal settlement in Ghana. Image by SuSanA Secretariat <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.flickr.com/photos/gtzecosan/8152040443/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1621374368116000&usg=AOvVaw2S9nIyDgz-kgZvTIKpQTuS">https://www.flickr.com/photos/gtzecosan/8152040443/</a><span> )<br></span><br><p>Now, how does Ghana fix its sanitation problem?</p><p></p><p>If the government would fix the roads with sustainable materials, finish developing the gutters, hoist sanitation infrastructure, and improve the economic welfare of citizens, Ghana’s floods may not be so deadly. Furthermore, the country would benefit from a radical transformation of Ghana’s culture of littering. Able and willing citizens, and people of the African diaspora, also have important roles to play in creating this change.</p><p></p><p>African changemakers are picking up the slack of government shortcomings. One of them is <a href="https://coliba.com.gh/" target="_blank">Coliba Ghana Ltd</a>, a Ghana-based start-up that utilizes a mobile app to manage waste across West Africa. Recently, Ghanaian celebrity youth created the #FixtheCountry movement, a platform where citizens advocate through peaceful protest for the Ghanaian government to make more rapid reforms of the country.</p><p><br></p><p></p><p>Citations</p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.easytrackghana.com/travel-information-ghana-climate-calendar.php&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1621374368118000&usg=AOvVaw0Q56STGcvxwZwrzQlwzyYC">https://www.easytrackghana.com/travel-information-ghana-climate-calendar.php</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/flooding-fire-gas-station-explosion-accra-ghana-alex-mathews?articleId%3D6016274133673930752&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1621374368118000&usg=AOvVaw0rF9f__61C4sPrnT4z59rL">https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/flooding-fire-gas-station-explosion-accra-ghana-alex-mathews?articleId=6016274133673930752</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-52961297&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1621374368119000&usg=AOvVaw1VUrR7inCYPMYp52Cd1IDf">https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-52961297</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-50217890&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1621374368120000&usg=AOvVaw06T11wCuomggNVD9t0j50K">https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-50217890</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-africa-33088542&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1621374368120000&usg=AOvVaw1WTFzGSva7k-clFxavWuDb">https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-africa-33088542</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.modernghana.com/news/884545/our-gutters-still-uncovered.html&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1621374368121000&usg=AOvVaw2vQyByf8C13YRwlJ2q350G">https://www.modernghana.com/news/884545/our-gutters-still-uncovered.html</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://gsdrc.org/topic-guides/urban-governance/key-policy-challenges/informal-settlements/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1621374368122000&usg=AOvVaw01N9dY_ArGBiy4AagKkDhY">https://gsdrc.org/topic-guides/urban-governance/key-policy-challenges/informal-settlements/</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://gsdrc.org/topic-guides/urban-governance/key-policy-challenges/informal-settlements/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1621374368123000&usg=AOvVaw1CLJmRhsGqxQjgtvUCnQzk">https://gsdrc.org/topic-guides/urban-governance/key-policy-challenges/informal-settlements/</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/female-doctor-baby-4-others-die-in-floods.html&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1621374368124000&usg=AOvVaw0haykPKPx-Q5g5mSUdOq4k">https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/female-doctor-baby-4-others-die-in-floods.html</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-48456992&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1621374368125000&usg=AOvVaw1y2pPh8J76u093XX-CkdeC">https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/tori-48456992</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://reliefweb.int/report/ghana/ghana-must-move-coping-floods-adapting-them&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1621374368125000&usg=AOvVaw2FghQOluiAW2N9lj4u-sZ1">https://reliefweb.int/report/ghana/ghana-must-move-coping-floods-adapting-them</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://theconversation.com/why-arent-people-in-accra-better-prepared-for-floods-the-key-is-in-communication-136888&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1621374368126000&usg=AOvVaw2RW2cxE2U8bKWQJc9u3qFT">https://theconversation.com/why-arent-people-in-accra-better-prepared-for-floods-the-key-is-in-communication-136888</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023%252FA%253A1020706728569&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1621374368127000&usg=AOvVaw3NegTmvD8s2yu2w83iI31B">https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023%2FA%3A1020706728569</a></p><p></p><p><a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.easytrackghana.com/travel-information-ghana-climate-calendar.php&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1621374368128000&usg=AOvVaw1ejEhz8_TJ7FchiZy1DpNX">https://www.easytrackghana.com/travel-information-ghana-climate-calendar.php</a></p></div><p> </p><br><br><br><div class="image-medium image-align-left"><img alt="" src="//cdn3.locable.com/uploads/resource/file/790279/fill/300x0/nana_20ama_20addo_202.jpg?timestamp=1621371171"></div><p> Nana Ama Addo is a writer, multimedia strategist, film director and storytelling artist. She graduated with a BA in Africana Studies from the College of Wooster, and has studied at the University of Ghana and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Nana Ama tells stories of entrepreneurship and Ghana repatriation at her brand, Asiedua’s Imprint ( <a href="http://www.asieduasimprint.blog">www.asieduasimprint.blog</a> ).</p><div><br></div></div><p> </p><p>Read more from Nana Ama Addo:</p><p><a href="/2020/10/16/331864/-endsars-endswat-and-nigeria-s-role-in-the-global-fight-for-black-lives" target="_blank">#ENDSARS, #ENDSWAT and Nigeria’s Role in the Global Fight for Black Lives</a><br></p><p><a href="/2021/01/10/341422/trump-supporters-attempt-a-coup-at-the-u-s-capitol-a-double-standard-in-police-response-and-a-way-forward-for-the-african-diaspora" target="_blank">Trump Supporters Attempt a Coup at the U.S. Capitol: A Double Standard in Police Response and a Way Forward for the African Diaspora</a><br></p><p><a href="/2021/05/15/354439/possibilities-of-progress-integrating-crisis-care-infrastructure-into-the-philadelphia-police-force-and-the-united-states" target="_blank">Possibilities of Progress: Integrating Crisis Care Infrastructure into the Philadelphia Police Force and the United States</a><br></p><p><br></p></div><div><br></div><p> </p><hr /><p><small>Original article published at <a href="www.funtimesmagazine.com">FunTimes Magazine</a></small></p>