If I had it my way, my life would always be pretty much the same. Some say that’s because I’m a control freak. Others chalk it up to the fact that I’m a Taurus and crave stability and consistency. I wouldn’t argue with either, though I think the fact that I experienced a great deal of instability in my childhood leads me to do whatever I can within my power to minimize chaos and change in my life. Want Exclusives In Your Inbox? Click Here To Sign Up For Our Newsletter! Unfortunately, that’s not life. The world around us is constantly changing and, try as we might to avoid being impacted by those outside forces, it’s simply not possible. Many belief systems suggest outward change is a necessary part of inner growth, and Sarah Jakes Roberts says the only appropriate response to transition is restructuring. “If we are not intentional about restructuring our lives there is a version of us that will not live. And there is another version of us that will continue to live that should die,” she says in her sermon “Restructuring.” SEE ALSO: Style & Grace: Sarah Jakes Roberts’ Transition Over The Years [PHOTOS] The process of restructuring, however, isn’t easy. There is a great deal of doubt, the path you’re taking may not seem secure, and your faith in the outcome may be shaky. Add to that the fact that your own behavior and mentality has to change to reach the end goal and the reality that everyone in your current circle might not make it there with you and it’s clear restructuring isn’t for the faint of heart — or faith. In other words there will be many deaths — not necessarily physical ones — but losses. And, as Jakes Roberts explains, “These aren’t the types of deaths that you end up thanking God for the separation, not in the moment anyway. There are some things you lose along the way that doesn’t feel good.”Having personally experienced the loss of physical life, professional opportunities, money, and more in the past couple of months, I can certainly attest to what doesn’t feel good. As a result, trusting God feels a bit harder these days. SEE ALSO: Sarah Jakes & Her Husband Toure Roberts Make Us Thank God For Black Love “Sometimes trusting God is trusting that when you say goodbye to the good thing that it doesn’t mean you’re no longer going to grow, Jakes Roberts says. “There are moments when the good thing goes and we think that was my one shot and that was my only opportunity…just because that good thing is gone that didn’t have anything to do with your growth…you saying goodbye doesn’t mean that was the end of your purpose or your destiny.” Because she can say it better than I can (and I’m still learning myself), I thought I’d share her message with you this Sunday in the hope that Jakes Roberts’ words will ease the discomfort, disappointment, and even confusion you feel in the midst of your transition and transformation. Check out the sermon below. This story was originally published on MadameNoire.com . [ione_media_gallery src=”https://rickeysmileymorningshow.com” id=”2046455″ overlay=”true”] ALSO TRENDING ON RICKEYSMILEYMORNINGSHOW.COM : Amber Rose Welcomes Her Second Baby Boy [PHOTOS] Keshia Knight-Pulliam Confirms She’s Dating Actor Brad James [PHOTO] Kanye West & Kim K Have Sunday Service At Howard University [VIDEO] Follow @TheRSMS
Safaree and Erica Mena are married and expecting a baby! They waited until their reveal party to find out the gender and per the pink fireworks that shot up in the air: they’re expecting a baby girl! Want Exclusives In Your Inbox? Click Here To Sign Up For Our Newsletter! This little princess will be Safaree’s first child, and Erica’s second; she has a son. The father-to-be shared the news on social media with this video… It’s a girl pic.twitter.com/nUcPYch5sG — @IAMSAFAREE (@IAMSAFAREE) October 13, 2019 “I’ve been surrounded by women my whole life… 1 more wont hurt. My daughter is on the way Thank you @suedenyc and my wife for enduring all this pain for our unborn child. We appreciate and love you. It’s a GIRL straitttt start sending free stuff for girls now j/k or maybe I’m not,” he wrote. Erica added, “God I can’t thank you enough my husband and I are living a dream. Everything we’ve ever wanted has officially come true. Special thank you to @suedenyc for allowing us to have this moment with you all. Last night brought to you by @nevaehleheventsandweddings – video @nytevisionllc.” She also thanked the Married to Medicine Dr. Jackie Walters whose care she is under for keeping their secret safe . See photos of Erica Mena during her pregnancy below! Love & Pregnancy: Erica Mena Is Glowing With Safari’s Growing Child [PHOTOS] Erica Mena & Safaree Are Officially Married [PHOTOS] [ione_media_gallery src=”https://rickeysmileymorningshow.com” id=”2072192″ overlay=”true”] ALSO TRENDING ON RICKEYSMILEYMORNINGSHOW.COM : Amber Rose Welcomes Her Second Baby Boy [PHOTOS] Keshia Knight-Pulliam Confirms She’s Dating Actor Brad James [PHOTO] Kanye West & Kim K Have Sunday Service At Howard University [VIDEO] Follow @TheRSMS
R epresentation is everything. In an effort to teach children about the importance of entrepreneurship and building wealth, a Black-owned media company based in New Orleans created a flashcard game that highlights the journeys of Black millionaires and billionaires, the Chicago Defender reported. Entrepreneur Creates Flashcards That Teach Children About Black Millionaires And Billionaires https://t.co/nP8OzskFSL Afro-American Newspapers @afronews pic.twitter.com/1SZio44OhX — AFRO News (@afronews) September 29, 2019 The cards—which are a part of a collection dubbed Raising Black Millionaires Flashcards—features the stories of 52 entrepreneurs and business moguls who have garnered wealth across different industries. Each card includes the individual’s backstory and the awards and accomplishments that they’ve made throughout their careers. Entrepreneur Thiah Veona Muhammad , who created the cards, believed it was important for children to see examples of Black wealth outside of the entertainment and sports industries. “I think it’s imperative that we, as Black people, know who our millionaires and billionaires are, more specifically those who are in business and are non-entertainers/athletes,” Muhammad said in a statement, according to the news outlet. “Showing them real examples of people who look like them, making millions in various industries will not only help them to identify themselves as people of greatness, but it will introduce them to industries that they likely have never been exposed to before, giving them more career choices.” Amongst the business moguls featured in the deck are Janice Bryant Howroyd and Pamela J. Booker . She hopes that parents and educators will use the cards as a tool to educate and empower Black youth. This isn’t the first educational tool that Muhammad has created for African American parents and children. In 2015 she released a book titled How to Raise Your Black Child to Be a Millionaire: Child-rearing Secrets of the Black Elite and she also launched a blog that features lessons about financial literacy and wealth creation that can be implemented in the household and the classroom. The company also has a Raising Black Millionaires podcast where Muhammad leads candid conversations with African American millionaires on how their parents helped guide them towards success. Many Black entrepreneurs have created educational products to empower the youth. African American inventor Elliott Eddie created The Entrepreneur Game to teach children what goes into running a business. SEE ALSO: Black Entrepreneur Teaches Youth About Business Ownership Through Board Game Detroit Youth Choir Receives $1 Million Donation [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3888948″ overlay=”true”]
B lack women are making historic moves in the realm of entrepreneurship. According to Atlanta Black Star , Dr. Venaya Jones recently opened the first veterinary clinic in Cleveland to be owned and operated by an African American woman. Meet Dr. Venaya Jones, owner of Cleveland's first black woman-owned veterinary clinic (via @ATLBlackStar ) https://t.co/WbW2Cr7dmY pic.twitter.com/RH9nJbNd6x — Veterinary Practice News (@VetPracticeNews) September 25, 2019 The clinic—which is based in the city’s Fairfax community—was created to provide accessible care for animals from different socioeconomic households. The facility offers a wide spectrum of services including diagnostic exams, dermatology, wellness visits, and hospice care. Dr. Jones—who discovered her passion for helping animals at a young age—says she wants to utilize the Cleveland Veterinary Clinic as an avenue to push animal health care forward and establish the clinic as a go-to veterinary facility in Cleveland. “I feel like it’s a great opportunity here in Cleveland, especially there being no other vet hospitals here,” she said in a statement. “There are tons of people with pets, we’re in the health tech corridor. I mean, this is where quality medicine is discovered and done, and I want to be a part of that.” For the Western University College of Veterinary Medicine graduate, opening up the Cleveland Veterinary Clinic was about more than her passion for animal health care; its about representation. Dr. Jones hopes her journey will inspire Black youth to pursue careers in veterinary medicine. She mentors youth and other women of color who are interested in stepping into the field. “I’m hoping to uplift the community both physically and emotionally, health wise by taking care of their pets, but … also bringing a sense of pride and a sense of accomplishment,” she said. “I want to be able to show other [young minorities] that they can do it, anything that they dream of, because here is a Black woman that’s come into this community and made it happen.” Black entrepreneurs are breaking barriers in the medical field. Earlier this year a group of African American medical professionals joined forces to open up Chicago’s only Black-owned urgent care facility . SEE ALSO: Chicago Gets Its First Black-Owned Urgent Care Facility Yale Physician Aims To Increase Racial Representation In Medicine [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3888948″ overlay=”true”]
Source: Kathy Boos / Bravo Now, THIS is messy… Contessa Calls Out Dr. Euguene On “Married To Medicine During the season premiere of “Married To Medicine” season 7, the ladies rehashed some of their old issues and one of the husbands got called out. The ladies attended an event for Dr. Damon’s new ambulatory surgical center and of course, some shady shenanigans took place. During a convo when the ladies were discussing men doing “b*** s***” Dr. Contessa suggested that she should be able to call the ladies’ husbands “b***s” for their behavior—but when her (archnemesis) Toya Bush-Harris chimed in—things went left. “Your husband is literally the definition of a big a** b***! Your husband act like one!” said Contessa about Toya Bush-Harris’ husband Eugene Mind you, Toya said NOTHING about the quip but Twitter is going IN on Contessa for the messy comment. Watch below.
Source: Bravo / Getty The only way NeNe Leakes would ever shrink herself is if her waistline is involved! And that is exactly what is happening. In case you haven’t noticed, the Real Housewives of Atlanta diva has lost a lot of late recently, and it’s because she has taken her diet and health much more seriously in the wake of husband Gregg’s cancer crisis. Leakes reveals that she has adopted a pescetarian diet as a way to clean up her health and recently lost 12 lbs. “I’m not doing anything crazy like doing the elliptical or riding the bike or running. I started being a pescatarian and he was plant-based, so I started there. It did help me and I felt different,” she told Hollywood Life , adding that her goal is to lose a full 20 pounds in the next few months . Clearly, it’s working for her. “I lost a couple of pounds. I’m not a big eater. But what I started to do, was just have small portions. I feel like I eat about four times a day – four, sometimes five – just nibbling on stuff, and I feel really satisfied.” View this post on Instagram All things Swagg. Swaggboutiqueonline.com Grab it. 2 piece set #vacaready A post shared by Nene Leakes (@neneleakes) on Jul 18, 2019 at 3:11pm PDT So what exactly is a pescetarian diet ? Most importantly, will it help you shed those unwanted pounds? First, the pescetarian diet is someone who consumes a mostly plant-based diet (vegetarian) but also eats fish and seafood, and if they want, dairy and eggs. Translation: That means goodbye to burgers, steak or Popeye’s chicken sandwiches and hello to leafy greens, low-sugar fruits like strawberries and blueberries and salmon. “Weight loss and weight management in general in this day and age can be challenging, especially if you are eating what we term commercial non-organic ‘feed-lot’ meats that are typically found in the average grocery store. This meat often contains hormones and antibiotics which both increase the inflammatory response in the body as well as can contribute to the breakdown of the lining of our gastrointestinal tracts, which in turn can cause more issues with inflammation, Njeri Jarvis , a registered dietitian, and licensed nutritionist, explained to HelloBeautiful . “Over time this can cause nutrient deficiencies that along with inflammation can contribute to hormonal imbalances making it more difficult to manage or lose weight,” adding, “So, when you remove this meat from the equation by eating fish as your main protein source, particularly those that are cold water and wild-caught and particularly if you are also eating large amounts of vegetables, It can be a weight loss and total body game-changer.” Njeri Jarvis runs Bear Nutrition and Herbs in Washington DC. Her nutrition practice covers a range of health issues like body composition, cancer, autoimmune disorders, endocrine and kidney imbalances, cancer, food-sensitivity, etc. We got a lot of gems from her about why a pescatarian lifestyle may be an ideal option for Black women, and how those of us who are interested can incorporate it into our lifestyles. For starters, fish are a great source of protein, omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, Vitamin D, Iron, Zinc and Selenium. Jarvis explained that Zinc and Selenium are key minerals needed for the body to produce and utilize our body’s biggest detoxifier, glutathione peroxidase . Zinc also plays a role in cell growth, wound healing, the breakdown of carbohydrates, and more. The combination of the nutrients listed above is important for maintaining healthy thyroid function as well. “For Black women, in particular, transitioning to a pescatarian lifestyle also means getting greater amounts of fat-soluble vitamins [Vitamin A, E, D and K]. Food-based vitamin D is essential as is getting doses of sun based vitamin D,” says Jarvis. “Individuals living in the northern latitudes of the planet tend to have lower vitamin D levels, especially if their skin is darker. This puts Black women at risk for low levels of vitamin D.” Researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine suggest higher levels of vitamin D are associated with decreasing risk of breast cancer . This is important as Black women were recently classified as a high-risk group for breast cancer . We know that people who carry excess weight are at higher risk for developing high blood pressure, high blood sugar, type 2 diabetes, etc. In other words, being mindful of what and how you eat is important. Given that Black women disproportionately suffer from all three of those chronic illnesses, this is definitely a way of eating we should consider adopting. B ut there are some factors you should look out for too. Metal pollutants in marine fish are a global issue. Nearly all fish may contain some mercury, but the FDA has issued a warning for pregnant women, women considering becoming pregnant, nursing mothers and young children to avoid specific fish like shark, swordfish, king mackerel, and tilefish. Opt for low mercury fish like canned light tuna, salmon, pollock, shrimp, sardines and catfish, and keep it to about 8-12 ounces per week. Most importantly, how you prepare it matters too! Salmon doesn’t mean anything if you the only you cook it in a deep fryer. So opt for grilling, pan-searing on the skillet, baking in foil or even an air fryer, which doesn’t rely on unhealthy oils for that crispy texture you may crave. “Planning is key to transitioning. First, on your next run to the grocery store, plan and commit to buying only marine protein. Stocking your freezer with good quality plain frozen fish and frozen shrimp is an easy and affordable way to have healthy fish on hand for any family meal,” Jarvis suggests. “Keeping sardines, muscles, oysters canned in olive oil or water is another affordable staple that can be packed in a to-go bag along with a big salad for a healthy mid-day lunch at work or at school. Making tuna salad or preparing salmon cakes is another affordable and easy way to have a tasty meal that fits the bill.” You can also tap trusted women in your life to be accountability buddies. You can schedule workouts together, or even short walks, talk each other off the ledge when you’re not meeting goals or craving something counterproductive, share recipes, and generally be a support system working toward success. If you got it like that, it also doesn’t hurt to consult with a nutritionist. Njeri Jarvis can be reached via her website, which was hyperlinked above, as well as on social media, but you can also check with your primary care physician for trust nutritionists. Finally, read up more on the pescatarian diet here and here . BEAUTIES: Are you a pescetarian? How have you benefited from the lifestyle? Are you thinking about becoming a pescetarian? How did you make the transition? We want to hear your thoughts! RELATED NEWS: Mo’Nique Gets Teary-Eyed Over Meeting Major Fitness Goal: ‘Just Don’t Quit On You’ Oprah Gets Real About Weight Loss: ‘I Can’t Accept Myself If I’m Over 200 LBS’ Wanna Lose Weight Like Missy Elliott? Cut These Two Things Out Of Your Diet [ione_media_gallery src=”https://hellobeautiful.com” id=”2827378″ overlay=”true”]
# BlackGirlMagic was in full effect at the FINA World Championship in South Korea. According to Team USA , Olympic swimmer Simone Manuel won the 100-meter freestyle competition for the second consecutive year and made history in the process by setting a new U.S. record. Simone Manuel wins historic world title as Dressel breaks Phelps' 100m butterfly mark https://t.co/7kCcmauNa9 — Guardian US (@GuardianUS) July 26, 2019 Manuel—who hails from Houston, Texas—made it to the finish line in 52.04 seconds. She edged out Swedish swimmer Sarah Sjostrom and Australia’s Cate Campbell . She is the second woman to win two consecutive world titles. The first woman to do so was swimmer Kornelia Ender 44 years ago. This isn’t the first time that Manuel has made history. In 2016 she became the first Black woman to win an individual Olympic gold medal in swimming. Her impact goes far beyond the water. Manuel is big on philanthropy and is on a mission to diversify swimming. “The gold medal wasn’t just for me; it was for people that came before me and inspired me to stay in the sport,” she told the New York Times in an interview. “For people who believe that they can’t do it, I hope I’m an inspiration to others to get out there and try swimming. You might be pretty good at it.” Earlier this year, she visited LeBron James ’ I Promise School in Akron, Ohio to talk with students about water safety and encourage them to learn how to swim. In partnership with the Akron Area YMCA, she will provide all of the students with swimming lessons this summer. She is also spreading awareness about the high drowning rate within the Black community and is working hard to reverse the alarming trend. “The most important thing is saving lives more than winning gold medals. Representation is important,” she said . SEE ALSO: Simone Manuel Talks Water Safety At LeBron James’ I Promise School Simone Manuel Sets World 100-Meter Freestyle Record And Wins Gold Again [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3882606″ overlay=”true”]
A couple from Philadelphia is ensuring that cancer patients and their loved ones have access to quality healthcare and support. According to Because of Them We Can , Marjani and Al Harris created the only Black-owned cancer center in the country. A Philly couple made history by opening the first Black-owned cancer center in the US https://t.co/vKNgYUoEyE pic.twitter.com/kv5FpuN1kZ — Blavity News (@Blavity) July 26, 2019 For Marjani and Al , the battle against cancer hits home. Ten years ago, they had three family members who were fighting different types of the disease at the same time. While supporting their loved ones they noticed there was a lack of spaces that merged treatments with wellness and decided to open The Cancer Who Cares Center. “We noticed that there was no center where people with cancer could go to decompress, and let their emotions out, but also be treated with a sense of normalcy,” Al told the news outlet. “All of our programs are free because we want to support the person and their family without them having to worry about paying for anything.” The center has a variety of programs to provide emotional and mental care for patients, including spa days, forums and yoga classes. The couple hopes that their journey will inspire other individuals in the Black community to break barriers in whatever industry they choose to pursue. “We feel proud that we can show our children and the rest of our culture that you can always be the first at something even when you feel like you are in last place,” Al stated. There are several Black entrepreneurs who are creating spaces where people of color can receive proper care and support. Earlier this year a group of African American medical professionals joined forces to open up Chicago’s only Black-owned urgent care facility . In 2018, Dr. Tamara Moise and Wadson Fils opened the doors to Big Apple Urgent Care, Brooklyn’s first Black-owned urgent care center. SEE ALSO: Chicago Gets Its First Black-Owned Urgent Care Facility Yale Physician Aims To Increase Racial Representation In Medicine [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3882606″ overlay=”true”]
Stephanie Niznik, a peter actress best known for roles on Everwood and Star Trek: Insurrection, died unexpectedly in Encino, California on June 23. She was 52 years old. As of this writing, no official causre of death has been listed by Variety, which broke the sad news, or any other outlet. Niznik rose to prominence due to her role of Nina Feeney, the neighbor of the Brown family and eventual love interest for Dr. Andy Brown (Treat Williams), on Everwood. She portrayed this character for four seasons and recently returned for the show’s 15th anniversary panel at the Television Critics Association’s summer press tour in 2017. It is from this event that we took the photos immediately above and below. The actress was a native of Bangor, Maine. She reportedly hoped to become a geneticist prior to graduating from Duke with majors in theater and Russian. From there, Niznik pursued a masters at Cal Arts and then started acting with roles in programs such as Vanishing Son and Murder She Wrote. These roles marked the beginning of an impressive career on the small screen. Niznik also appeared on Nash Bridges and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman before landing a recurring role on Diagnosis Murder. Along with her work on Everwood, she enjoyed recurring roles on Life is Wild and made guest appearances on Lost, NCIS and CSI: Miami, some of the highest-rated series of their era. As mentioned previously, Niznik will likely be best remembered for her extended time on Everwood. But she also played Trill Starfleet Ensign Kell Perim in the feature film Star Trek: Insurrection, returning to the Star Trek universe to play the Wraith in the Rogue Planet episode of the series Star Trek: Enterprise. Niznik also stopped by ABC for an important episode of Grey’s Anatomy; she was on the backdoor pilot special for spinoff series Private Practice, playing Carol in the fan-favorite Season 3 installment. She is survived by her mother and stepfather, brother and sister-in-law, her niece and nephews, aunt and uncle and her beloved dogs Nucleus and Jake. May Stephanie Niznik rest in peace. View Slideshow: Celebrities Who Died in 2019: In Memoriam
Source: Dave Bedrosian/Future Image/WENN.com / WENN Tyra Banks To Executive Produce Body Positive Mini-Series Tyra Banks has her next creation in the works. The America’s Next Top Model creator is set to star in and executive produce Beauty, a new docuseries for Jeffrey Katzenberg and Meg Whitman’s short-form video platform Quibi. According to reports from Deadline , Beauty “is going to serve as a mirror for us to question societal standards that have defined us – going deep to tackle compelling topics head on in every episode, making you question everything you ever thought was beautiful… nothing will be off limits. Beauty ‘s mission is to break down barriers and challenge traditional notions, all while captivating, inspiring and exploring beauty revolutions and evolutions across the globe.” Banks also spoke about the project, saying, “As I look into the future, I see radical changes in both how people ‘attain beauty,’ and how the world perceives beauty.” She continued, “Our docu-series aims to expand and redefine the definition of beauty as we know it, challenging why we accept certain beauty parameters and reject others, and examining the beliefs behind those judgments.” Tyra will both star in and executive produce the series, which is produced by Network Entertainment for Quibi. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tyra Banks (@tyrabanks) on Jun 14, 2019 at 4:22pm PDT
