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Arm and Hammer Baking Soda is natural and resourceful, a good aid for immediate relief from heartburn or acid reflux. According to Healthline, heartburn is a burning feeling or irritation anywhere from the middle of your abdomen to your throat caused by stomach acid flowing from the stomach back into the esophagus. Medial News Today states that “baking soda has alkaline pH, that neutralizes the excess stomach acid that causes symptoms.” “If I am having heartburn or indigestion Arm and Hammer Baking Soda is my first choice of natural remedy to relieve me,” states Sharon Morris, a regular consumer. Sharon Morris states that she keeps a box of baking soda in her medicine cabinet and when she is having symptoms of heartburn she knows where to go. “I take about a half of teaspoon of baking soda then I flush it down with glass of water, then within 15 to 20 minutes, I feel better and relieved of the heartburn,” says Morris. So, next time, when you are having heartburn or indigestion, try Arm and Hammer Baking Soda, which is an all-purposeful, trusted natural remedy to aid and relieve you of your heartburn. If you are looking to support a black owned business in Northeast Arkansas that serves good southern soulful cooking, make sure you visit Ron’s Family Affair. Ron’s Family Affair is located on 190 Shoppingway Blvd in West Memphis, Arkansas. Ron’s Family Affair has been in establishment for over 20 years serving the community of West Memphis and surrounding areas good soul food. Ron’s Family Affair is open Tuesday through Sunday serving southern style soul food for ten dollars a plate. Menu includes smothered and fried pork chops, neck bones, turkey necks, fish fillets, fried chicken, candied yams, pinto beans, turnip greens and the list go on. Julia Burnett of Memphis, Tennessee travels to West Memphis, Arkansas to dine at Ron’s Family Affair. “Ron’s Family serves the food I like to eat,” says Julia Burnett “I come to Ron’s Family Affair three to four times a week to eat,” says Michael Riley, a regular customer at Ron’s Family Affair. Ron’s Family Affair is a restaurant that promotes black culture and possesses an atmosphere for family and unity while eating. Eddie Wiley a member of the LGBTQIA+ community fights for the care and the treatment of those that battle with HIV/AIDS in West Memphis, Arkansas, and surrounding areas.
HIV or Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a virus that attacks the immune system. If HIV is not treated properly, it will lead to AIDS. According to HIV.gov, “in 2019, Black/African American MSM (men that have sex with men) accounted for 26% (9,123) of new HIV diagnoses and 37.9% of diagnoses among all MSM.” “I have been an activist for HIV/AIDS since 2006 and been living with the virus since 2014” says Eddie Willey. Wiley tells of his story with boldness and confidence. At 26 years old, Wiley discovered his positive HIV status, while being supportive of friends who were nervous about taking the HIV testing according to the Ebony Magazine. Wiley is involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS by promoting awareness; advising people of West Memphis, Arkansas and abroad; on HIV/AIDS risks, prevention methods like pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP (anti-HIV medication that keeps HIV-negative people from becoming infected), and the many HIV treatment options that are allowing people to live long, healthy lives. Wiley uses his voice to influence change. He has been to local city council meetings, spoken on panels, even been to Washington DC to support the rights for the community of HIV/AIDS. In 2020, during the 30 Year National Ryan White Conference Eddie Wiley interviewed leadership of John Snow Inc. (JSI), “global public health consulting organization dedicated to greater health equity and improving the health of individuals and communities and to providing an environment where people of passion can pursue this cause.” Wiley’s, Southern Gent, podcast is entertaining and educating his audience with talks on assorted topics. Eddie Wiley is trying to change the narrative or stigma of HIV/AID. His message is uplifting and positive. Wiley encourages those living with HIV to continue to thrive and live their lives with purpose. “HIV is not a death sentence," says Wiley. Growing Up Black and Gay in the South
Despite the picture of what society now paints of LGTQIA+ community on national platforms there are still those in rural south regions of America that are living the reality of the discrimination of being black and gay. Being black, gay and in the south comes with much mistreatment expressed through racism and misconceptions in the workforce, by police officers, even in health care; to name a few. 2020 survey highlights the discrimination of black gay in workplace, police interactions, and mental and physical health. This survey gives attention to real life inequalities in the black gay community. In addition to this survey, there are real-life disparities with education not because of learning disabilities but the struggles with everyday affairs of being black and gay. According to Movement Advancement Project (MAP) black young LGTQI are most at risk of dropping out the educational system; because of” unsafe and under-resourced schools, and a lack of support for LGBT students.” Consequently, black young gays suffer in silence of the agony of feeling ashamed by their families, friends, and local communities of their sexual orientation; which affects some chances of finishing school. This truth raises significant issues such as mental health trauma that affect their wellbeing. The Trevor Project states that “44% of Black LGBTQ youth seriously considered suicide in the past 12 months.” With this understanding as such it is time to give the black, gays an avenue to express themselves and find safety and self-worth. Rongarrius Davis, a black, gay, male gives some of his experiences growing up gay in the south. Davis was raised in a rural city of Cleveland, Mississippi. Davis did state that “things happen” to him as a child, that he feel like cause him to choose to live a gay lifestyle. “When I was growing up in second and third grade I was teased and called gay by my peers, because my friends was girls or I didn’t play sports” states Davis. Davis talks about fighting and being jumped leaving school headed home on many occasions because of his sexual orientation. Davis opens up and tell his mother of his sexual orientation when he was in 11th grade. “Telling my mother and she accepting me was “big” relief, because it allowed me to be me more,” says Davis. Davis feels better now that his mother has accepted him, he has no worries about others' opinions or comments. In fact, Davis is comfortable in his black and gay skin and is pursuing his own goals and aspirations. Davis now is in school completing his education in cosmetology in Jackson, Mississippi and later plans to travel the world “making people beautiful.” The struggle of being black, gay, and in the south is reality and there are many in the black LGBTQIA+ communities that need the support and safety during discrimination acts.
The absence of the black father is an ongoing crisis in the black community.
According to Fathers.com, “children from fatherless homes are more likely to be poor, become involved in drug and alcohol abuse, drop out of school, and suffer from health and emotional problems.” Kimberly Mitchel gives her own firsthand experiences of growing up fatherless. “I had many unanswered questions about why my father was not present,” say Kimberly Mitchell Kimberly Mitchell learned to accept that her father was not going to be around and leaned on her grandfather as her father figure. Today Kimberly Mitchell is grown and have not fallen prey to the statistics of society for black girls that are fatherless such as “girls are more likely to become pregnant as teens.” Willie Morris, a black minister, became the fatherless at 11 years old due to his father passing away from kidney failure. Morris was traumatized emotionally and mentally after his father passed. “I was angry and acted up in school, because I did not know how to cope with losing my dad.” Morris encourages those of the black community that suffers from the absence of their father, alive or deceased, to make a conscience decision to be successful and do what is necessary to be the best version of yourself.
Gun violence in the black community is a reality in Northeast Arkansas. Many black lives are being lost to gun violence at its highest due to suicides and homicides.
According to Pew Research Center, “About eight-in-ten Black adults (82%) say gun violence is a very big problem – by far the largest share of any racial or ethnic group.” Mr. Alfred Smith, a retired law enforcement officer of 35 years, talks about his experiences working in law enforcement. “In the black community a weapon has been weaponized on black people in general because they have no training on how to use a gun,” states Alfred Smith. Smith encourages anyone who is carrying a firearm to get the proper education and training, so that they will know how to effectively carry a firearm. Kimberly Jones lost her brother to gun violence in 2020. She opens and tell of how gun violence has affected her family. “It is still so unreal,” say Jones. Jones tell the story of the night she received the message that her brother was framed and killed. She now teaches her children about gun violence prevention and hope the black community use guns as self-defense oppose to reenactment of what is portrayed in media. Spiritual wellness is being practiced in the black church in Northeast Arkansas. Spiritual wellness is understanding your own worth and having a sense of purpose and by being a part of life with values and goals. The story “Spiritual Wellness in Black Culture,” gives the viewpoint of how many in the black communities center their well-being around spiritual wellness, despite their personal struggles and losses during this pandemic. Marion COGIC members gather weekly to pray, sing, and hear sermons that uplift and encourage them to stay positive doing life challenges. According to Pew Research Center, African Americans are more religious than whites and Latinos. “The black church is a safe place where African Americans are respected, honored, and empowered to help themselves and others in their community,” says Dr. Anthony Coleman, pastor of Marion COGIC. “Spiritual wellness in my own personal life is praying, seeking God, reading His word, that is to keep me grounded, rooted; even when I interact with people to be peaceful and loving,” says Minister Willie Morris, an associate minister at 15th Street COGIC. Edmondson, Arkansas is a small city with a rich history and a place where many call home.
Edmondson, Arkansas is a small community in Northeast Arkansas with two-thirds of the population is African American. “This is home to me,” says James Mitchell Sr., the oldest resident in Edmondson, Arkansas. James Mitchell is 94 years old and has been a resident of Edmondson, Arkansas since he was 2 years old, in years counting he has been in Edmondson, Arkansas for 92 years. James Mitchell speaks of times in Edmondson, Arkansas when he described the black race was considered “the underdog,” but in spite of the color of their skin, many “work together and got along,” says James Mitchell. Mayor Ira Ewing came to Edmondson, Arkansas in 2012 and has been active in the community since his arrival. In 2017 after some health challenges with Former Mayor Robert Johnson Mayor Ira Ewing became mayor of Edmondson, Arkansas. Mayor Ira Ewing has brought a daycare center to Edmondson which rents two faculties owned by the city. In addition, Mayor Ira Ewing wants to aid the senior citizens as well as bring people to Edmondson to bring more resources into the city. “We got some things, but we can do better,” says Mayor Ira Ewing. Oscar Matthew came to Edmondson, Arkansas 40 years ago, and told his story of how he wanted something for himself, and a purchase a house and move it to Edmondson, Arkansas to raise his family and call home. Oscar Matthew is also a city council member and desires Edmondson, Arkansas to grow. “You never give up,” says Oscar Matthew, city council member and resident. Oscar believes in Edmondson and is looking for something good to happen in the city. Even though Edmondson is a small city it is home to so many and there is potential for some remarkable opportunities. During this time of the COVID-19 pandemic; single black mothers put in overtime aiding their children in receiving an education.
For generations, the single black mother has had many leading roles in the black community, now during this pandemic the role is an educator. With many children at school and home during this pandemic, the single black mother must home school plus fulfill all other obligations as a single parent. Many single black mothers have an overload of providing for their homes that sometime hinders them from properly overseeing and assisting their children with school work. As result of the overload many black children are not to doing well in school. According to Essences, “providing full time childcare and being a COVID full-time work from home mom is unsustainable.” Latavia Scott, a single black mother of two son is at a breaking point with balancing work, home, and now school. “I work 40 hours plus a week to provide for my family, and sometimes I be tried from working all day long,” stated Latavia Scott. Latavia Scott wish that more men were present in the home to assist with daily duties of helping with their own children. Latavia Scott get support from family and friends but she hopes for better days to come. |
AuthorHello my name Seth Mitchell. I am a vibrant and energetic personality. I'm a native of Arkansas and now reside in Missouri. I am a Life and Culture journalist covering stories that are meaningful and entertaining to the people of color (Black and Brown communities) and minorities in Northeast Arkansas. Archives
February 2022
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Photos used under Creative Commons from Kheel Center, Cornell University Library, Pest15