WSSN Stories

By Cheryl Morrow | Special to California Black Media

A major study by the National Institute of Health (NHI) found that women who received hair relaxer treatments at least four times a year had a 3x greater risk of uterine cancer. A previous study found a 30% increased risk of breast cancer.

Manufacturers are currently facing lawsuits across the country, because, according to the plaintiffs, they failed to warn them about the cancer risks associated with exposure to toxic chemicals in products.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump says manufacturers have “aggressively misled Black women to increase their profits.” He recently filed a lawsuit on behalf of a client who contracted uterine cancer after using chemical hair straightening products sold by L’Oréal USA.

Cheryl Morrow, daughter of Black haircare legend Dr. Willie L. Morrow delivered this letter to attorney Crump and his co-counsel, and it reads:

I am the daughter of the greatest textured beauty scientist in the history of the world, and a legatee of the only industrial revolution for American-born Africans. It is my opinion, American born Africans represent the greatest human ascent in the modern civilized world as well as in human history.

“Enough is enough.” The exploitation of Black health for profit is ENOUGH!

The latest study of relaxers being linked and making Black women four times more susceptible to uterine cancer is simple junk research. This is an attack. I am taking the NIH study as an attack on our legacy.

What researchers seem to be missing, is that out of all the so-called corrosive salon treatments all races of women receive, relaxers are the one that carry the least amount of processing time. This simply means that researchers have not taken this into consideration, the time exposure factor.

Ben Crump and attorney Diandra Zimmerman, along with their client Jenny Mitchell, blindly filed this lawsuit while being grossly ill-informed.

If you, Attorney Crump want to chase a lawsuit because you think L’Oréal has deep pockets and money to blow just to save its face, I will push to encourage them not to do so. This will cast a stain on an ethical industry and will be an atrocity for an industry that has built enormous wealth and power for Black America.

I will not allow the propaganda machine’s random research to destroy and wither our industrial juggernaut with false concern and hidden agendas. This is fake news and junk research at its best.

I am all for research as my late father Willie Morrow, the greatest scientific mind in the history of beauty science, we’ve had always blazed the trail toward safe innovation for the Black haircare industry. The language attorney Crump and his co-counsel are using is reckless and feckless.

Black hair care is not predatory, and it sickens me to receive countless calls from my peers having to defend our profession from layperson idiocy and blood thirsty lawyers.

Having spent 19 years in New York City, I have also devoted expertise in this area. This is not about me defending the giant beauty conglomerate L’Oréal, “lord knows I have had my issues with corporate run beauty companies, but food for thought here; the lack of state governed cosmetology boards addressing the scientific aspects of hair and scalps of texted hair Americans and the distinct way it grows and thrives, it just goes to show that all hair (textures) aren’t the same after all.

The apathetic way in which state boards and state policy makers focus on minor issues like cultural styling, which falls under the First Amendment freedom of expression clause, doesn’t deter discrimination from occurring. However, junk research is more sinister. It is about affecting economic bottom lines.

I will not have this happen!

Hair straighter (relaxer), or better known as lye, is a plantation concoction and was originally a Black man’s thing called the Konkaline aka “The Conk” trend. This was formulated, mixed in the kitchens on planation slave camps of America. This was created by Africans on plantations due to our native-born styling implements not accompanying us to the Western world.

Having served as an expert witness in many Black haircare litigations for defendants, relaxers fall under the FDA’s category of depilatories. This means it is a dissolver and not a penetrator. The nature of high alkaline pH treatments doesn’t interact with skin as you would like them to, nor do they work like most industry professionals, state board officials and chemists have educated us to believe they do.

This is the ignorance my father Willie L. Morrow tried to combat in 1982, but his efforts fell on deaf ears. Correcting this malfeasance is most urgent.

Every state board in the United States should also be sued if you want to go the lawsuit route. To be frank, because the consumer also has a home-based version and buys it at their own discretion, like tap faucet water, your eagerness to pick up on the NIH’s study that is not conclusive is beneath the oath you took when you became an attorney, my dear sir.

I have, and am willing, to educate all Americans and all adjacent professional industries that will join me in making beauty safer. We are a proud industry, with high ethics and I do not appreciate this assassination of Black haircare.

My father would be a soldier in this attack. We have worked countless years and have amassed the most extensive and invaluable texture enhancement scientific data in the industry to date. Black haircare is leading in this regard. Our research is rooted in Afro-textured science, these findings are sound research that show a different picture on the overall health risks for Black women who relax.

We do have a lot of work to do, however. My legacy will be to return Black haircare to its glory era, the one that I grew up in, the industry that has and should continue to make Black America economically sovereign to create its own version of the American dream.

BLACK PR WIRE—- As homecoming season ends at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), some of these institutions are celebrating significant milestones. At Spelman and Morehouse colleges more than 40,000 participants from around the country descended upon the Atlanta campuses during the weekend of Oct. 20-23. It was the first in-person homecoming event after the two-year pandemic shut down – drawing its largest attendance ever. From the game, tailgate and the parties, a record- breaking number of alumni, students, and guests spent time catching up on campus and personal affairs, enjoying food and fellowship, making donations, visiting with students, and exploring what is new.

“Morehouse is a special place. It helped me get a clear sense of my vocation, and I met some of the most important people in my life during my time there,” said platinum sponsor Dr. Eddie Glaude, C’89, author of the new book, Begin Again: James Baldwin’s America and its Urgent Lessons. “Homecoming affords us a chance to reconnect and to share memories—to leave the pressures of the world behind, if just for a moment, as eat, drink, and laugh together. It helps replenish the spirit and we can return home with a little more energy to tackle the world. That is why I did not hesitate to become a sponsor.”

It took intensive collaboration to organize the return of this in-person event after the two-year pandemic hiatus. For example, the SpelHouse C’88 and 89 welcomed classmates back to a joint tailgate experience that raised the presentation bar. A modern trailer rendered with pub flair and dual-sided serving, large TV monitors and two restrooms served as an anchor for a larger living room-setting with wide, cozy couches, charging stations under a huge canopy to keep the crowd cool. Nationally known, Atlanta-based phenomenon Kemit was the featured DJ for the specially curated experience.

“After being deprived of the opportunity to experience SpelHouse Homecoming since 2019, it was important to really think through how best to design our outdoor space to facilitate a flow to optimize fellowship without creating bottlenecks or over-crowding,” noted Maria Maxie Whitfield, C’88. “The C’88 and C’89 SpelHouse tailgate committee was steadfast in its commitment to host an optimal experience that would exceed expectations.”

Supporters of the SpelHouse C’88 and C’89 Homecoming experience include platinum sponsors include Ronald Sullivan, C’89 and Carmen Shirley, C’89; silver sponsors Bruce Riggins, C’88 (Ciceros’ Moving), Malcolm May, C’89, T-Shirts To Go; and bronze sponsors Rhetta Andews, C’89; Tony Laurent, C’90, Muscle and Bone-NY; Oz Nesbitt, AEE Productions and The Social Box.

By Lou K Coleman-Yeboah

For thus saith the Lord, “I have stretched out my hands all day long to a rebellious people who walk in a way that is not good, according to their own thoughts; A people who provoke Me to anger continually to My face…” [Isaiah 65:2] blindly walking in their own selfish and greedy path and in their arrogance thinking that I will sit quietly by and do nothing. I tell you, the cry on the day of the Lord will be bitter, that day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish [Zephaniah 1:14-15]. Mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn and shall not be quenched. [Jeremiah 7:20]. For I am against you, O arrogant one. [Jeremiah 50:31]. This is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts. I will make your chariots go up in smoke and the sword will devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the sound of your messengers will never be heard again.” [Nahum 2:13]. Because I have called and you have refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, because you disdained all my counsel, and would have none of my rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, when your terror comes like a storm, and your destruction comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then you will call on Me, but I will not answer. You will seek Me diligently, but you will not find Me. Because you hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord. You would have none of My counsel and despised My every rebuke. Therefore, you shall eat the fruit of your own way, and be filled to the full of your own fancies. For the turning away of the simple will slay you, and the complacency of fools will destroy you. [Proverbs 1:24-32].

Look at the Bible. Look at Noah and his generation. In [Genesis 6:3], the Lord says, “My spirit shall not always strive with man.” For 120 years, God said, “I want to save you.” For 120 years, God said, “Listen to Noah.” For 120 years, God was long-suffering. For 120 years, God was patient. For 120 years, God was merciful. But the day came when God said, “I’ve had enough. I’m fed up. My patience is gone.” Noah’s people were destroyed by the wrath of God in the flood. I tell you, when God has had enough, it ain’t gonna be nothing nice, you best believe that!

God has been generous to you, but the thanks offered in return is void and insulting. Know that the Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” [2 Peter 3:9]. Talking ‘bout “it’s your prerogative you can do what you want to. It’s the way that you wanna live. No one can tell you what to do, you don’t need permission, you make your own decisions.” You fool you should know differently. Every one of us shall give account of himself to God [Romans 14:12]. I tell you when God has had enough, you gonna wish you had listened. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. [Romans 1:18]. You better know that you know!

Run to God’s mercy while there is still time. Because one day, God will say, okay, I’ve had enough. I’m fed up. And God, mercy will be turned to wrath and God’s long-suffering will be turned to indignation and God’s forgiveness will be turned to vengeance.” [Hebrew 12]. Don’t be another Esau who refused to repent. Because as [Job 4:9] states, “By the blast of God they, [the unrepentant] will perish, and by the breath of His anger they will be consumed.

I tell you when God has had enough, it ain’t gonna be nothing nice! Repent before it is too late!

[Inserts used from Bobby Brown – It’s My Prerogative]

Health4Peace (health4peace.com) – a nonprofit organization founded by Nathalie Beasnael scored a huge win by raising $20,000 during the Health4Peace Fundraising Gala at the Renaissance Los Angeles Airport Hotel in Los Angeles. The event was hosted by Actor Miguel A. Núñez Jr. and KJLH Radio Personality Tammi Mac. Funds raised will benefit hospitals and medical facilities in Chad, Senegal, Ghana, South Africa, and Nigeria.

The event began with a champagne reception on arrival, allowing attendees to socialize. After the hour-long champagne reception, celebrities and VIP attendees walked a signature pink carpet. Celebrity and VIP attendees included Nathalie Beasnael (Founder and CEO of Health4Peace), Haoua Mangue (VP of Global Affairs of Health4Peace), Miguel A. Núñez Jr. (Actor), Tammi Mac (KJLH Radio Personality), Emmy-Nominated Actress & Stun Woman Janeshia Adams-Ginyard (Black Panther II), Actress Daniele Lawson (King Richard), Actress Rachelle Henry (STARZ Knight’s End), Court Bailiff Petri Hawkins Byrd (#1 Daytime Show “Judge Judy”), Karlee Perez (Actress), Award-Winning Film Actor Jason Zlatkus (The First Rule), Amarachi Odinma (BET TV Personality), Justin Jaye Vorist (BET TV Personality), Tyrone DuBose (Radio Personality; TV Contributor), Jarred “Bear” Fiorda (MMA Cage Fighter), Jessica Odega (TV Personality; Naija Bad Babes), Jason Valdovinos (Film Director), Danny Arroyo (Latino Actor “HOLA: The Phenomenal Growth of Latino TV”), Meaku (Grammy Nominated Nigerian-American Singer), and many others.

By Jonathan Landrum Jr. 

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Beyoncé has propelled herself into the highest Grammy echelon: The star singer claimed a leading nine nominations Tuesday, making her tied — with her husband Jay-Z — as the most nominated music act in the history of the awards show.

Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul” reeled in record and song of the year nominations, while “Renaissance” — which ventured into the world of dancehall music — netted an album of the year nod. With Jay-Z also earning five nods this year, each spouse now holds the record for the most-ever Grammy nominations at 88 apiece.

Kendrick Lamar came away with the second-most nominations, with eight. Adele and Brandi Carlile both received seven nods. Harry Styles, Mary J. Blige, Future, DJ Khaled, The-Dream and mastering engineer Randy Merrill each picked up six.

Nearly half of this year’s leading nominees — announced by the likes of Olivia Rodrigo, John Legend, Machine Gun Kelly and Smokey Robinson —are women and more than half are people of color, according to the recording academy. The ceremony will be held Feb. 5 in Los Angeles.

“This makes me feel very proud, but it makes me conscious of the fact that we have to maintain the work we have done,” said Harvey Mason jr., the Recording Academy’s CEO. He said there have been strides in the peer-driven voting system and increased membership, but he still believes more progress can be made

By Jill Munroe | EUR

In the film, Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett,) Shuri (Letitia Wright,) M’Baku (Winston Duke,) Okoye (Danai Gurira), and the Dora Milaje fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T’Challa’s death. However, when Namor (Tenoch Huerta,) king of a hidden undersea nation, alerts them to a global threat and his disturbing plan to thwart it, the Wakandans band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda.

EUR’s Jill Munroe spoke exclusively with Moore about how much comic book material was sourced for the sequel and incorporating the strife within marginalized communities into the storyline.

Moore said a lot of inspiration comes from the comics. “Certainly, with how Namor and Atlantis have found themselves on opposite ends with Wakanda. But there’s no single storyline that we pulled from. As we always do, we combed through all the great stuff that’s been published and picked the best moments,” he explained.

“Building a sequel around a character’s passing is something we’ve never had to do before and never had to consider. It is a little bit of art imitating life to that extent. So you want to make sure it’s holistic when you’re telling a story. The movie’s themes are also dovetailing, with some of those comic book inspirations to tell one singular story,” Moore added.

In telling the story of the Talokan, bits of Aztec and Mayan history were included via language and symbols. Moore says their goal was not to be derivative in the conflict and to be as honest as possible.

ATLANTA, GA – Observers might assume the Georgia Coalition for the Peoples Agenda (People’s Agenda) is elated to hear reports of record turnout after working diligently to educate voters and reassure them that their ballot will count in the first election since the state passed stricter voting laws as a result of false accusations of voter fraud. However, activists say they were happy for the turnout but were dismayed to witness confusion, frustration, fear, and apathy at a level that harkens back decades. The misinformation and threats of violence didn’t just suppress votes, it caused seasoned election workers to stay home, and made it difficult to recruit canvassers and poll workers.

“Don’t get me wrong, the People’s Agenda and other groups like Black Women’s Roundtable and Black Voters Matter did a tremendous job turning out voters. We did work. But it shouldn’t have been this hard,” said Helen Butler, executive director of the Peoples Agenda.  “There were still fights in the courts, many of the election workers were confused about procedures, and on the ground a lot of people just didn’t want to hear anything about the election. They felt misled, lied to, lied on, and just didn’t want to be bothered. Some people even thought they could get locked up for voting because of tickets.  We were proud of our young voters, many of them helped to get out the vote, but we did run into more young people than usual that were a bit disillusioned due to the confusion.”

Georgia Black Women’s Roundtable co-convener, Felicia Davis, adds, “When, for no factual reason, the state government decides to change laws to make it harder to vote, the onus should not be under-resourced non profit organizations to educate voters on new laws and make sure poll workers have a clear understanding of those laws. The Secretary of States office should shoulder that burden. But, it’s clear that they did not put forth sufficient effort to educate voters and election workers across the state.”

When Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger recertified the results of Georgia’s last presidential election he announced during a news conference in December of 2020 “We have now counted legally cast ballots three times and the results remain unchanged.” Raffensperger added, “Georgians can now move forward knowing that their votes, and only their legal votes, were counted accurately, fairly, and reliably.”

Despite Raffensperger’s forceful defense of the integrity of the 2020 election, Governor Kemp went on to sign SB202, a restrictive voting law that reduced the number of ballot drop boxes, criminalized the distribution of water or snacks to voters in long lines, and slashed the time to request and return absentee ballots from 176 days to 59 days.

“Our legislature focused on fraud that did not exist rather than address the chronic systemic issues that have created problems at the polls for years,” exclaims Butler.  “Several counties experienced technical glitches with the eNet system that checks voters in, there were issues with printers, scanners, and an insufficient number of poll workers. Some places  had incorrect ballots and, in Cobb County,  a judge just extended the date to return ballots to Nov. 14 for more than 1000 voters that never received absentee ballots they requested. Instead of haphazardly changing the rules, perhaps we should work on improving the ones we have,” Butler adds.

The People’s Agenda worked throughout Georgia alongside other organizations including: Clayton County Black Women’s Roundtable, GA STAND UP, Black Youth Vote, Black Male Initiative, and the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation’s Unity ’22 Campaign, to register, educate, and mobilize voters. They hosted a civic-minded comedy show, a gospel luncheon, knocked on doors, phone banked and their five-day Power of the Ballot Bus Tour visited Macon, Augusta, Albany, the Atlanta Metro to hold events, rallies, wave signs and canvass neighborhoods.

“This election was a manifestation of the change that’s been underway over the several years. As a part of the civil legacy its deeply disturbing to know that some Black youth are disenchanted with the electoral process but it’s understandable when there have been so many lies and so little accountability,” Davis notes. “I was happy to see that many of the dedicated voters we registered stood in lines determined to cast a ballot. It was also encouraging to see leaders like Melanie L. Campbell and Latosha Brown united continue the fight for justice.”

For more information about the People’s Agenda, or to volunteer, email coalition@bellsouth.net or visit http://thepeoplesagenda.org.

By Lou Coleman-Yeboah

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, all is vanity. [Eccelisates1:2-5]. All man does lead to futility – pointless. Solomon drew this conclusion from how he felt despite his enormous wealth, life status, and position in society. No matter what he did—he found absolutely nothing that fully satisfied his heart.  Nothing gave him a deep sense of fulfillment. Whenever he found something that pleased him, the sense of gratification was temporary and short-lived; it soon passed away. So, what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul? Absolutely nothing!

If you succeed in the things of this world and fail to save your soul, then you have failed miserably. If you miss Heaven and go to Hell, what a fool you are, what a wasted life you have lived! I tell you, there is nothing more important that your soul salvation! Do not be blinded and deceived by the lust of the flesh and the eyes in this sinful and perverted generation.

To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear? Indeed, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot give heed. The word of the LORD is a reproach to them; they have no delight in it” [Jeremiah 6:10].

“As a river leads a man through sweet meadows, green woods, fertile pastures, fruit-laden fields, by glorious buildings, strong forts, famous cities, yet at last brings him to the salt sea; so, the stream of this world carries along through rich commodities, voluptuous delights, stately dignities, all possible content to flesh and blood, but, after all this, brings a man to death, after death to judgment, after judgment to hell.” [ Earthly Pursuits – End Miserably- Bible Hub -T. Adams.]

 What tragedy! Repent before it is too late!

BALTIMORE, MD – The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. congratulates Brother Wes Moore on his historic Maryland Gubernatorial Election win yesterday to become the first African American Governor-Elect of the state.

Brother Moore, a 2000 Sigma Sigma Chapter initiate at John Hopkins University and a member of Delta Lambda Chapter in Baltimore, is an investment banker and television producer, who has also authored five books, including The Other Wes Moore and The Work.

“Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. congratulates Brother Wes Moore on his historic Maryland Gubernatorial Election win last night,” said General President Willis L. Lonzer, III, Ph.D. “As Maryland’s first African American governor, Brother Moore continues the Fraternity’s unparalleled legacy of leadership and firsts. He joins the list of Alpha’s other men of distinction in public service, who are US senators and congressmen, mayors, state representatives and senators, city councilmen, and others, who proudly serve the United States as a nation, states, cities, and communities. We look forward to the progressive and thoughtful leadership he will provide to the state of Maryland and the example he offers to the people of the United States of America.”

Brother Moore, who graduated from Hopkins, received a master’s degree from Wolfson College, Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. He also proudly served several years in the U.S. Army and the Army Reserve.  In addition, Brother Moore, the former CEO of The Robin Hood Foundation – one of the nation’s largest anti-poverty organizations, was the host of Beyond Belief on the Oprah Winfrey Network, as well as the executive producer and writer for Coming Back With Wes Moore on PBS.

In July, Winfrey, endorsed Brother Moore through a campaign advertisement, calling him a “transformational leader.”

“This moment that we’re in demands of different type of leader,” said Winfrey. “For governor in Maryland, you have one in my friend, Wes Moore.”

Brother Moore, who is married with two children, lives in the Guilford community in north Baltimore.

“With the Fraternity’s General Office headquartered in Baltimore, MD, we are especially excited and proud to have a fellow Alpha Brother leading the state, who lives in the city and has led a life of dedicated public and community service,” said Brother Sean L. McCaskill, the Fraternity’s executive director. “We are committed to providing our support to him in the state as well as fostering further opportunities to provide service to our communities.”

African Americans are more likely to die from cancer than any other ethnic group

LOS ANGELES, CA— The American Cancer Society (ACS) announces the launch of “Get Screened for Cancer Day” taking place Wednesday, November 16, 2022, to highlight the need for cancer screening in the African American community and the importance of having conversations with loved ones about getting screened. The nationwide screening campaign features partnerships with community-based organizations and celebrity influencers as well as a social media campaign to encourage individuals to get screened, learn how to have the conversation with others, and share personal screening stories.

“Today is the day to have The Conversation about cancer screenings with your loved ones and then be The Conversation for yourself,” stated Dr. Robert Winn, director and Lipman chair in Oncology of VCU Massey Cancer Center and a member of the American Cancer Society Board of Directors. “Schedule screenings you have missed and do what it takes to get your family and friends to their appointments — whether that is making the phone call or committing to drive them to the doctor’s office. Early detection increases the likelihood of survivorship, and we all have a responsibility to take that message to the masses.”

Regular cancer screening can detect changes in your body before cancer develops, and screening tests like mammograms and colonoscopies can catch cancer early when it may be easier to treat

“You can’t play around with your life,” said Dave Ford, colon cancer survivor and ACS Cancer Action Network board member. “Loving yourself means that you’re going to do the right thing to get screened, so you can be around to witness a childbirth, weddings, a high school and college graduation of your children or a grandchild. Getting screened gives you a greater chance of survival.”

One in two men and one in three women will face cancer in their lifetime. Yet, many wait until they have symptoms to visit a doctor. Screening tests, for people without symptoms, check certain parts of the body at regular intervals to detect changes that may develop into cancer and can catch them early.

“The COVID pandemic highlighted health disparities throughout the African American community, and cancer screenings are not exempt,” said Dr. Winn. “More and more African Americans put plans for screenings on pause, and it has the potential to move the needle in the wrong direction for a population that already has the highest death rate and shortest survival of any racial or ethnic group for most cancers.”

Cancer screenings are safe, effective, and should be a regular part of your life. Cancer doesn’t wait and neither should you. Talk to your loved ones about getting regular cancer screening. Even if you think you don’t need to, talk to a doctor about what screening tests may be right for you. There are resources available for people who don’t have a primary care doctor, who are uninsured or underinsured, or who have never been screened. Many states also have free or low-cost cancer screening programs.

Find guidance and screening resources for you or a loved one at cancer.org/get-screened.

About American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society is the leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision of ending cancer as we know it, for everyone. We are the only organization working to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support, to ensure everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. Find more information at cancer.org.