Source: Paras Griffin / Getty Rapper Pled Guilty To Menacing Emily B & Her Father Earlier This Year Fabolous has been quietly working to satisfy the terms of his plea deal in connection with allegedly pummeling and threatening reality starlet partner Emily B. The “Throw It In The Bag” rapper has been working to satisfy the terms of his year-long pre-trial intervention program after he pleaded guilty to one count of harassment and copped to threatening Emily and her father with a pair of scissors outside of their northern New Jersey home. Things are going so well, that the judge on the case has not asked Fab, 41, to come back to court to review his progress, and he doesn’t have a court date pending, a court official confirmed to BOSSIP. If he successfully completes the diversion program, his charges will be thrown out and his criminal record wiped clean. Fab initially faced up to 20 years in state prison after prosecutors accused him of punching Emily B so hard that her front teeth had to be removed. Days later, a video emerged of the father of two brandishing a sharp object at his partner and her father and threatening to kill them. We’ve reached out to Fab’s lawyer, Brian Neary, for comment.
Source: SOPA Images / Getty We’re in an age where people are using their voices and dollars to demand visibility and recognition. When plus-size is “represented” in media or runways, it’s often a 12 or 14. While there is more visibility, it’s still limited. Plus size people of prominence get beauty shots, not body shots on magazine covers. Plus size models going down the runway are sans stomachs and flab. So when Nike quietly released a size 16/18 model in London’s Oxford Street store, most people were pleased. Source: Jeff Greenberg / Getty The plus size mannequin is not a new concept. You will see them in plus size stores like Lane Bryant and department stores that carry size inclusive brands, like Macy’s and Rachel Roy. The plus-size mannequin features thick thighs, a flat stomach simultaneously holding some fat, and soft arms. As a size 14 woman, with a body that is shaped similarly, I felt seen and celebrated. While weight and health is correlated (yes, it’s true that it is harder to recover from injury when you are obese), size and exercise are not. People of all size exercise and people of all sizes deserve high performance exercise gear. This mannequin is part of the revamped women’s space which is dedicated to “celebrating diversity and inclusivity of sport.” Plus size women are often intimidated at the gym, a phrase called gymtimidation. While the gym is a place to get in shape, women of a larger size are often stared at and made to feel uncomfortable. Hence reasons for places like Curves (a gym for women) or classes that are geared directly toward plus size women. How you look or what you wear can have an immediate effect on your self-esteem. Plus size women deserve, need, and want clothes that they can wear to help take care of their bodies and isn’t the same outfit that consists of a gifted t-shirt from an event or an outfit they wear to clean the house. The irony and energy that society always tells plus size women to “work out” is the same energy that people are using toward Nike, appalled that they would even consider “normalizing obesity.” Tanya Gold, a writer for the Telegraph, wrote a fatphobic op-ed entitled, Obese Mannequins Are Selling Women A Dangerous Lie . “She is, in every measure, obese, and she is not readying herself for a run in her shiny Nike gear. She cannot run. She is, more likely, pre-diabetic and on her way to a hip replacement. What terrible cynicism is this on the part of Nike?” This automatic stereotyping of larger bodies, without being a doctor or even knowing someone’s medical history is isolating and irresponsible. People that are upset seeing a plus size mannequin doing the exact same thing that you are upset that plus size people apparently aren’t doing is such backwards and problematic thinking. Throughout her article, her words are laced with fatphobic commentary like, “She heaves with fat,” illustrates a larger problem. We’re so careful about Black Lives Matter , focused on inclusion within the LGBTQTI community, however, when it comes to larger bodies, fatness is the misfit of marginalized communities. The plus-size population remains ridiculed, disrespected, and isolated. No wonder the community is so strong, at times, it’s literally all we have. The body shaming of an inanimate object illustrates a larger problem in society surrounding the idiosyncrasies surrounding plus size women and their bodies. DON’T MISS: As Summer Is Approaching, Let’s Remember Not To Police And Judge Each Other’s Bodies Dove Is Continuing Their Commitment To Women With A New Body Positive And Self-Esteem Initiative Beyoncé Features Plus Size Dancers For Coachella Performances [ione_media_gallery src=”https://hellobeautiful.com” id=”3024387″ overlay=”true”]
L aw enforcement in Virginia Beach has been frantically searching for stories for why 40-year-old DeWayne Craddock shot and killed 12 people on Friday. Initial reporting claimed he was a disgruntled city employee but a new report indicated that theory has been debunked, leaving even more questions. See Also: Watch A Black Man Save His Life While A White Cop Has A Gun In His Face Craddock was reportedly not fired from his job after all. Instead, he resigned just hours before the shooting and PBS reported that his letter of resignation gave no indication that he was anger or upset. City Manager Dave Hansen also said Craddock was an employee “in good standing” and showed “satisfactory” job performance. It was not immediately clear why he resigned. However, the New York Times reported there were acts of violence from Craddock. He allegedly got into physical “scuffles” with other city workers, just a week before, which resulted in “a violent altercation on city grounds.” It’s not clear what the altercations were about. That said, there were at least three witnesses who said Craddock saw and locked eyes with them but opted against shooting them. Therefore, the shooting may not be as random as officials have said while police continue to look for a clear motive. The Washington Post reported that there was one person with whom Craddock “casual acquaintances” who was not shot. Craddock did shoot and kill two of his supervisors, one fatally. Craddock was described as a longtime city worker employed as an engineer with the Department of Public Utilities at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center for about 15 years. “ Victims were found on three floors of Building 2 and one victim was found shot in a car outside,” CBS News reported . Building 2 is where the Department of Public Utilities is located. The Virginia Beach city manager told the New York Times that Craddock was technically still employed when he started shooting and that he “had a security pass like all employees had and he was authorized to enter the building.” One of the victims, Ryan Keith Cox , was being praised as a hero and guardian angel . Cox was an account clerk who worked in the public utilities department for over 12 years. Christi Dewar, a survivor of the shooting says she may not be alive if it wasn’t for Cox. “If it wasn’t for him, there would have been several more people that had perished,” Cox said. Our condolences go out to everyone affected by this shooting. SEE ALSO: Neighbors Recall Virginia Beach Gunman’s Ex-Wife As Questions Of Motive Linger Racist Airbnb Host To Black Guests: ‘Which Monkey Is Going To Stay On The Couch?’ [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3404967″ overlay=”true”]
Source: Robin L Marshall / Getty Basketball Wives Dictionary With Evelyn Lozada And More The mythology of Basketball Wives is rich with unique vernacular and being that we here at BOSSIP are purveyors of such singular style of scribing we can appreciate the way the ladies have branded their favorite phrases. Take a few minutes to watch Evelyn Lozada, Jackie Christie, Shaunie O’Neal and others break down their fan-favorite catchphrases. Press play. Classic! LMAO!
Viewers were left with plenty of questions after Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 5 , most of them based on frustration over the plot and/or the pacing. Did Dany’s homicidal heel turn make sense? Was it unsatisfying to see Cersei not get killed off by one of her enemies? Is Tyrion the dumbest Hand of the King or Queen to ever hold that job? But at least a handful of fans also have a far more practical question or concern. They’re wondering: Is Arya dead?!? The youngest Stark daughter entered King’s Landing on this penultimate installment of the epic drama in order to slay Cersei herself. However, just as Arya and The Hound arrived at their destination (the latter intent on finally killing his brother), Arya was talked out of crossing a name off her list by her very unexpected good friend. The Hound convinced Arya (pretty darn quickly, some might say) NOT to pursue a life based on revenge because, well, take a look at him and his unhappiness. At this, Arya turned around and tried to make her way out of the rubble. Buildings collapsed all around her. Fire rained down. Men, women and children were blown into bits by Dany and her dragon. And yet… Arya survived. The episode ended with her coming across a mysterious white horse and riding it away from the battle and, presumably, to safety. Did she really, though? A new theory has emerged online in which some Game of Thrones fans believe Arya is actually dead. They cite the number of times she somehow made her way through near-death situations on the episode, along with the alleged identity of that random white horse. Remember the animal leading the Golden Company at the outset of the 80 minutes, these social media users ask? It looks almost identical to the horse who rode in to save the day — but that horse was killed in battle. So you know what this has to mean, right? “Yeah, I’m pretty sure Arya is dead too,” one user writes, adding: “She got all burnt up and a building fell on her. They made a point of showing us the death of the horse and the countless deaths of Arya. And yet they both rise from the ashes. “If this isnt some lord of light shit, I’m gonna be pissed.” Many viewers, of course, are already pissed over how this season has gone. They really don’t know whether the finale can save the show or not . At the very least, however, these same viewers are hoping or assuming that Arya kills Dany, perhaps using the fancy changing face technique she learned while training to be an assassin. This might be difficult to do if Arya is dead, however. Are you buying this theory at all? And where do you stand on Game of Thrones Season 8? Can it possible be redeemed? Game of Thrones Season 8 Episode 6 Preview: How Will It End?
Well, it finally happened. On Sunday night’s episode of Game of Thrones Daenerys Stormborn of House Targaryen, First of Her Name and Perpetrator of Plot Twists broke bad and roasted more peasants than a medeival insult comic. Like many, many others, we long ago predicted that the Khaleesi would make a heel turn and be revealed as the show’s final villain, but if Twitter is any indication, the events of “The Bell” came as a complete shock to many viewers. In one sense, this is hard to understand, as the show has been hinting at a darker side to Dany ever since her very first rants about “laying waste to armies” and taking what’s hers “with fire and blood” way back when her dragons were about the size of pet iguanas. But at the same time, the surprise is quite understandable. After all, prior to this week’s episode, the Khaleesi was arguably the show’s best-loved character, and many considered her ascendancy to the Iron Throne to he a foregone conclusion. As a result, creator’s D.B. Weiss and David Benioff have been accused of prioritizing shock value over organic character development with their decision to have Dany embrace her family’s mercurial nature and unleash unspeakable violence on innocenr civilians and soldiers who had already surrendered. If that were the case — if a character who had been built up as the savior of a people and an incorruptible force for good suddenly embracec wickedness out of nowhere — then these critics would be right to complain. But Dany’s turn was hinted at so often that many speculate it would never happen simply because it would be too predictable for a show that’s always trafficked in surprises. So yes, you have one camp griping that the character’s shift came out of nowhere, and another complaining that it was entirely too obvious. And in that sense, the clash over Dany’s true nature highlights the biggest challenge facing the Game of Thrones as we approach the show’s wildly anticipated finale: It’s nearly impossible for any show to conclude in a way that will leave an audience of millions universally satisfied — and that task is even harder for a series that revels in moral ambiguity and long ago raised the bar in terms of gut-punch surprises. Don’t get us wrong, there were legitimate complaints to be made about “The Bells”: Several major figures behaved in ways that flew in the face of eight seasons’ worth of character development. Some combatants seemed to be shrouded in impenetrable plot armor (We’re looking at you, Arya!) while others met frustratingly anti-climactic fates. (Evil genius Cersei Lannister is felled by freakin’ falling rocks? Really?) But the main issue that many fans seem worried about is the climactic battle for the Iron Throne will likely be fought between Daenerys Targaryen and her conflicted neph-boo Jon Snow. This is a baffling concern, not only becsause the show has been foreshadowing such a conflict for quite some time, but also because Weiss and Benioff insist that they’re staying true to the “broadstrokes” of the ending mapped out by George R.R. Martin’s several years ago. Yes, they’ve made some missteps along the way (The less said about the lighting for the Battle of Winterfell, the better.), but we’ll continue to place our faith that the kings who led us this far will be wise and just in wrapping up TV’s most ambitious story. View Slideshow: Game of Thrones Spoilers: Is This Really How It Ends?
Gisele…someone I’ve always thought was a Brazilian trans who catered to Victoria’s Secret’s needs because she never got her period – so no BLACK OUT DATES….and who catered to TOM BRADY’S needs, cuz pro athletes are queer and shower together in some gay fucking brotherhood, so having a hot chick with a dick satisfied him enough to start that family… So this is her for tans rights for all I am concerned, but it’s probably more her for photoshop seminar or tutorial to teach motherfuckers how to photoshop an old hag into her younger glory…. The post Gisele in a Magazine for Trans Rights of the Day appeared first on DrunkenStepFather.com .
(Photo by Matthew Eisman/Getty Images for PEOPLE En Espanol ) Name: Christina Mendez IG: @modelchristinamendez Agency: Reinhard Agency View this post on Instagram “I'm going to make you so proud….you are unstoppable!” – Note to self. Speak positive reinforcement to yourself. You should be your BIGGEST cheerleader. #selfcare #motivation #selflove #glowup #autismwarrior #solotravel #singlemom #singlewomentravel #2019goals A post shared by Christina Mendez (@modelchristinamendez) on Feb 6, 2019 at 6:33pm PST We’ve all heard the story. A teenager was reaching for yet another greasy fry from a shared basket at the mall’s food court when she was spotted by the agent that would change her life. It’s a popular couture themed spin on the traditional Cinderella story and it’s oft repeated in cover stories and documentaries . But it’s rarer than it seems. And for models like Christina Mendez waiting to be discovered was never an option. In an exclusive interview with HelloBeautifu l the former Full-Figured Fashion Week Model Of The Year and mother of two explained how her path to the runway differed from the storybook version. View this post on Instagram Wondering why I can’t I get this IG algorithm shit right? #igistryingme #igletmelive #letmebegreat #canigetalike #explorepage #explore #igiloveyou #andiamsorry A post shared by Christina Mendez (@modelchristinamendez) on Sep 22, 2018 at 6:46am PDT “I started later than most of the models that are in the industry. I had a son and he was diagnosed with autism, so I was more engulfed with that situation than I was with fashion or even caring about how I looked,” explained Mendez. Though her son’s journey presented her family with significant difficulties his challenges also inspired her to live her dreams. Watching her child navigate through situations that were tougher than him than most kids filled with faith that anything was possible with the right amount of fortitude. View this post on Instagram Need a quick getaway from NYC? Join my family & I as we visit one of our favorite family spots (discount code coming soon). Follow @exploriaresorts and watch the highlight section. #ExploriaResorts #FamilyFun #Travel #retreat #GoExploria #VacationMode #autismfriendly #autism A post shared by Christina Mendez (@modelchristinamendez) on Aug 28, 2018 at 8:57am PDT “His journey taught me that I should go ahead and do something that people thought I wouldn’t be able to do so I started modeling. Modeling just meant to me like achieving a goal that I thought I would never be able to achieve and doing something that people assumed that I was never it was never gonna happen,” she said. Once her son was set into a regular routine Mendez sought out castings where she could start getting her face known around the industry. She had limited experiences before that she drew on. “I used to do fashion shows in high school like little high school things nothing major,” she revealed. View this post on Instagram I am sure my butt has lead poisoning after this shoot but I feel the tan, confidence and curves were captured perfectly. Thank you @josepaganphotography #photoshopfree #confidence #bodypositive #celebratemysize A post shared by Christina Mendez (@modelchristinamendez) on Jun 10, 2018 at 6:13pm PDT “It was very difficult because some of those girls are like, even now, some of those girls are my son’s age but that’s beside the point,” she continued. She acted as if it was besides the point in the moment showing up like she had as much of a chance as anyone else to be the one who ended up ripping the runway . View this post on Instagram Once you accept all your flaws no one will be able to use them against you. #tbt #plussizeswimwear #inspirationalquotes #bodypositive #flaws #curves #christinamendez : @thenikkigomez A post shared by Christina Mendez (@modelchristinamendez) on Apr 5, 2018 at 5:56pm PDT “I went for the casting from craigslist. I met one designer that designer booked me for a job that job became a campaign and then it just triggered down into amazing stuff,” she shared. “I think it’s very important for me to speak up about that experience because coming into the industry you’re set up to think like around 16, 17 they’re gonna pick you up while you’re eating at McDonalds casually and some agent is gonna say ‘You look amazing! Your look is amazing you should fly to Paris! And that’s not really the reality. Not all journeys start that way.” View this post on Instagram Taking all kinds of risk in 2018 …who is with me? A post shared by Christina Mendez (@modelchristinamendez) on Jan 16, 2018 at 6:24pm PST She wants to combat the narrative that there is only way to make it as a model because she wants to prevent people from getting in their own way due to fear of failure. “You could kind of get discouraged and not continue with your dreams ,” she warns. “I feel like my faith and journey helps other ladies and women say there’s no limit to it. Like Christina she started super late, her son was seven years old, not the typical model situation, look what happened with her.” View this post on Instagram Big Hips Red Lips #plussize #plussizemen #plussizemodel #plussizefashion #lingerie #confidence #curves #curvesrock #curvesarein #curvesaresexy #bodypositive #curvesarebeautiful #red #hips : @lucaspicturesnyc @littlelimedress @redcarpetfaces #body4me A post shared by Christina Mendez (@modelchristinamendez) on Apr 8, 2017 at 7:52pm PDT Shortly after she secured that first gig, she became booked and busy. “For me the story was fast, shocking, and like I felt groundbreaking,” said Mendez. She broke ground in more ways than one. “There was a lot of stuff I had to bring to the table that I had experienced like having a child with a disability and being vocal about that, so I was more vocal about that than I was about fashion for a long time,” she said. She found ways to slip vital information into the content she was pushing on social media and conversations that took place during the panels she was invited to speak on as her career shifted to higher levels. View this post on Instagram Winter is a season of recovery and preparation. #plussizefashion #plussizemodel #plussize #hips #influencer #motivation #motivationalquotes #latina #blogger A post shared by Christina Mendez (@modelchristinamendez) on Jan 10, 2018 at 4:14pm PST “I speak about it in the Hispanic world because I feel that Hispanic and also Black people, we do this a lot, we tend to diagnose our children later than the other races. Culturally we’re like ‘nothing is wrong with our kid’ ‘don’t talk to him’ it’s like we get really defensive and that really affects the outcome of our children. Even with mental health , we just try to sweep it under the rug and if we don’t talk about it, we can’t help our kids. So I feel super obligated to talk about it and fashion just gave me that platform.” She is also diligent about creating transparency around the images in the modeling industry. She uses her work with QVC to emphasize the importance of age and size diversity to her seven year old daughter. “I like to discuss you know, ‘This is an older model, This is a young model.’ No matter how different we look we are all models and beauty means something different to everyone.” But while the rise to creating change through her success was swift and strong there were definite roadblocks. View this post on Instagram If you can’t beat fear, do it afraid! : @josepaganphotography #curves #latina #plussize #plussizemodel #influencer #celebratemysize #goldenconfidence A post shared by Christina Mendez (@modelchristinamendez) on May 29, 2018 at 6:16pm PDT “It was very difficult, it was times that I felt that I missed out on great opportunities just because I needed to be there or there was something going on with him or his therapy. There were a couple of agents that dropped me because I couldn’t attend every casting. I wasn’t that type of model that could fly to Paris for one day and come back for three days my life had to be planned because of him.” Never for a second did she doubt the decision to commit to those plans fully. “I always choose my kids first! What is for you is gonna be for you!” View this post on Instagram Don’t let your mind bully your body. : @josepaganphotography : @rue107 #motivation #swimsuit #plussizeswimwear #plussize #influencer #plussizemodel #blogger #summer #cruelsummer #celebratemysize #effyourbeautystandards A post shared by Christina Mendez (@modelchristinamendez) on Jun 3, 2018 at 1:39pm PDT She recognized this when she was able to recover from missing a huge opportunity. “There was a huge campaign. I will never forget this. It was Rocawear and they were sending models to Africa for this amazing shoot, one plus size girl one skinny girl. It was gonna be an amazing opportunity and I couldn’t make it because my son had a therapy appointment and I couldn’t find a sitter and I cried for days.” She did not let the misfortune stop her and soon she was seeing it as a blessing. View this post on Instagram Kids don’t want a perfect mom. They just want a happy one. #TeamMoms tell me how you keep your joy these days? #mom #momlife #joy #smile #happy #motherhood #mother A post shared by Christina Mendez (@modelchristinamendez) on Sep 17, 2018 at 10:46am PDT “I figured out that everything comes around full circle so I didn’t get Rocawear but that person happened to have work at Ashley Stewart and afterwards and I ended up doing something with them. So, it wasn’t meant to be at that time, but everything comes around full circle and if you could just kind of express yourself to these agents and clients some of them will understand and others wont and that was just not your time and not your opportunity.” Today as she works with brands like BET, Ashley Stewart , Kmart, Kohl’s, Qristyl Fraizer Designs, and Rue107 she is an example of what can happen when you refuse to set limits on your potential. “My motto is you’re never too old. You’re never too big or small to achieve your dreams just go for it,” she stated. If you would like more information about Autism please visit AustimSpeaks.org . Don’t Miss: MODEL MONDAY: Model Ilianna Ayala Was Once Rejected A Scholarship Because Of The Size Of Her Thighs MODEL MONDAY: Bianca Golden Wants Everyone To Get A Top Education MODEL MONDAY: Eddie Jarel Jonesx Is Committed To Serving Looks And Telling Inclusive Stories
Jamycheal Mitchell died in his cell at the Hampton Roads Jail in Virginia, 3 months after he was arrested for allegedly stealing $5 worth of candy from a 7-Eleven. Conditions at the jail are so bad, the local sheriff now refuses to send arrestees there. https://t.co/vYvhKfdaEn — The Appeal (@theappeal) April 16, 2019 Family Of Jamycheal Mitchell Reaches $3 Million Settlement, Hampton Roads Regional Jail Being Investigated The family of a Virginia man who died in jail has been granted a settlement. Jamycheal Mitchell passed away at the Hampton Roads Regional Jail in Portsmouth, Virginia, on August 19, 2015. He was behind bars for months after he was arrested on charges of trespass and petit larceny for allegedly stealing a 2-liter bottle of Mountain Dew, a king size Snickers bar and a Zebra Cake which accumulated to about $5 worth of snacks from a 7-Eleven. The Appeal recently released an extensive story about Jamycheal’s alleged abuse in the jail. The website notes that Jaymycheal was ordered to receive mental health treatment after he was declared unfit to stand trial. The Virginia man had a history of severe mental disability including a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder. The treatment did not happen however and he was incarcerated at the Portsmouth correctional facility up until his death. He was allegedly treated poorly all the way up to his demise. “While incarcerated at the jail, correctional officers allegedly struck Mitchell on the knuckles with a flashlight, hurled profanities, mocked him, and called him “dirty,” all as punishment for being uncooperative. When Mitchell was found dead in his cell in August 2015, he was covered in urine. Portsmouth’s chief medical examiner said the cause of death was a “probable cardiac arrhythmia accompanying wasting syndrome of unknown etiology.” His family settled lawsuits against the jail and NaphCare, the company that provided medical services for the jail, for approximately $3 million. Now Hampton Roads Regional jail is continuing to be investigated and the DOJ threatened to sue them if they did not improve conditions in particular for those with mental health issues. The DOJ also criticized the incarceration of 62 people with severe mental illness at Hampton Roads who had booking histories of “minor offenses,” such as shoplifting, trespassing, and violating their probation. Unfortunately, the DOJ’s yet to take action, a delay that could possibly be in part because of the government shutdown. The Appeal reports; “In its December 2018 report, the DOJ gave the jail just over a month and a half to implement its recommendations. The agency also said it would sue if the jail did not “satisfactorily” improve its conditions during that time period. But when the deadline passed in February, the federal government had just emerged from the longest shutdown in history. As of early this month, the DOJ had not followed through on its threat to sue Hampton Roads. (The agency did not respond to The Appeal’s request for comment.) The jail continues to work with the DOJ on its recommendations, Hackworth said. He told The Appeal that he is awaiting more clarity from the agency on its more than 40 recommended remediations, such as auditing of administrative records regularly for completeness and accuracy, ensuring there are improved intake screenings and health assessments, and ending restrictive housing for people who say they are suicidal.” Now The Virginian Pilot reports that an unfortunate fight has broken out between Jamychael’s family members for the settlement money. Jamycheal’s mother’s side of the family is reportedly fighting with his father’s side. “The mother’s side argues they were closer to Jamycheal and deserve most, if not all, of the money. The mother believes she should receive the “majority,” with the half sister receiving a “reasonable” portion. The maternal half-sister wants an equal split between the two. The father’s side said they were all equally close to him. Therefore, they believe they should all receive equal portions: about $215,000 a person. We pray that Jamycheal’s family finds some middle ground and that the DOJ continues to look into a facility where 68 in-custody deaths took place between 2003 and 2018.
A Black woman who broke racial barriers at Elon University was honored by the North Carolina-based institution on Thursday. Glenda Phillips Hightower —the first Black student to be accepted into the school—received an honorary doctorate degree, the Times-News reported. The trail-blazer that led to integration at Elon will receive an Honorary Doctorate during Spring Convocation. Glenda Phillips Hightower entered Elon in the Fall of 1963 beginning a strong rich legacy of black students at Elon. https://t.co/OoZWm99HhH — Elon Black Alumni Network (@ElonBlackAlumni) March 15, 2019 Hightower enrolled 56 years ago during the Jim Crow era. J. Earl Danieley —who served as the university’s president at the time—gave her a full scholarship. Although Hightower was a full-time student she wasn’t allowed to dorm on campus due to her race. While trying to pursue her degree she often faced discrimination from students and faculty. Hightower persevered because she knew that her journey at the school was something bigger than herself and that her presence on campus mattered. She was leading the way for generations of Black students coming behind her and she truly valued education. During her sophomore year, she had to withdraw from the school due to health-related issues. She ended up relocating to Washington, D.C. and took courses at Howard University, George Washington University and Georgetown. A few years later she moved to Iowa and earned a nursing and general science degree from the University of Iowa in 1974. Although she didn’t complete her degree at Elon, the school wanted to honor Hightower for her commitment to changing the racial landscape and opening up doors for other Black students. “Throughout her life, Glenda Phillips Hightower has persevered and chosen the path of love and sacrifice over bitterness,” L’Tanya Richmond , who serves as the school’s Director of Minority Affairs, said in a statement. “In the process, she has changed Elon and paved the way for thousands of Black students, faculty and staff to follow in her footsteps.” Hightower was humbled by the honor. ″‘Thank you’ is woefully inadequate to express to you my gratitude, my humility, my honor and my great satisfaction at being included in a celebration of education and grandness. I didn’t recognize it as leadership at the time, but I certainly am glad that it’s interpreted as leadership.” Universities across the country are honoring former Black graduates who trailblazed paths for students of color. In 2018, Brown University announced that it would rename one of its buildings after the first Black students to graduate from the institution. SEE ALSO: Brown University To Rename Building After First Black Graduates University Of Georgia To Honor First Black Graduate [ione_media_gallery src=”https://newsone.com” id=”3850201″ overlay=”true”]
