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Meet Lauren Scruggs: The Black Fencing Woman Making History at the 2024 Paris Olympics – Essence

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Photo source: Al Bello

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Lauren Scruggs’ path to greatness began at a young age. Her brother, Nolen, introduced her to fencing, and she or he was drawn to the sport a lot that she decided to stick to it. Since then, the New York native has racked up accolades, becoming a six-time world champion and a person gold medalist at the 2023 NCAA Fencing Championships. On Sunday, she became the first African-American woman to win a person Olympic medal in fencing.

“It’s amazing,” Scruggs says. “I talked to Peter Westbrook and the people at the Peter Westbrook Foundation before the event. Growing up with them and seeing them achieve great things, I’m really proud to join that tradition of just being the best black American fencer to come out of this program. It’s exciting, but I’m also very honored to be a part of history.”

Although the 21-12 months-old narrowly missed out on gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics, losing to teammate Lee Kiefer 15-6, she still managed to make history. Her victory inspired many other fencers of color trying to pursue the sport. “I don’t think there’s a strong base of black fencers,” she tells ESSENCE. “That’s why I think it’s incredibly important to have someone to look up to.” For Scruggs, Nzingha Prescod became her North Star, giving her a glimpse into the possibilities fencing has to supply.

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Meet Lauren Scruggs: The Black Fencer Making History at the 2024 Paris Olympics
Photo credit: Joe Scarnici

“It’s nice to step up to the plate, take on that responsibility now, and hopefully inspire more black people to get involved in fencing,” he continues. Programs like the aforementioned Peter Westbrook Foundation expose the sport to underrepresented communities and individuals who could have limited access and resources. These organizations are more vital than ever now, especially as the world watches Scruggs receive his medal at the iconic Grand Palais in France.

This fall, Scruggs will begin his senior 12 months at prestigious Harvard University. With a protracted list of accomplishments each inside and out of doors the classroom, the events of July 28, 2024, are a moment he’ll always remember.

“It’s a huge accomplishment,” Scruggs said of her historic victory. “My parents were immigrants, so to now represent the United States and win a medal for the United States, I think it’s just crazy for me and my family. I’m just grateful.”

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Health and Wellness

More than music: fans say the farewell festival of J. Cole Dreamville – Essence

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(Photo of Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images)

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When the Dreamville festival began awarded by Grammy Emcee, it was more than a musical fete. The event was a project and a love letter to North Carolina, where the rapper grew up.

The two -day, multi -stage event was an enormous draw for music fans around the world. Last yr, 104,000 people attendedrepresenting all 50 states and lots of countries.

For five years, pilgrim fans to Raleigh in North Carolina, transforming this capital in the south right into a huge celebration of creativity, community and hip-hop. In December 2024 Cole announced that the 2025 festival could be his last.

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More than music: fans say goodbye to the festival of J. Cole Dreamville
Raleigh, North Karolina – April 6: Earthgang performs during the Dreamville 2025 music festival in Dorothea Dix Park on April 6, 2025 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo of Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images)

In the depths of 2025, amongst the mega Superstars Lil Wayne, The Hot Boys and Big Tymers, 21 Savage, Erykah Badu, Glorilla and Wale, along with colleagues from the Dreamville Ari Lennox, Earthgang and others labels.

When the sun was lasting at the Dreamville festival for the last time, we asked Dreamers, from OGS to the first timers to take into consideration what this concert meant for them. This compilation of votes is a thanks, farewell and ODA with the artist who began all this, J. Cole.

“It seems to be a family meeting,” says Shannon Burnett, from North Carolina and a 4-time Dreamville participant. “This is a gathering. It’s like a family here. So it seems that you are in a large family meeting. It allows me to be social, meet new people, hear new artists, and just connect me more.”

Burnett said that there have been several unforgettable moments, noting that USher provided one of the best performances at night and that the high-energy T-Pain set was fully committed.

Similarly, Jonathan Zona, a longtime fan, noticed that “being here has a lot of meaning to me. I am a big fan. I was a fan of J. Cole, since I was JIT. You look at people who look like you who have passed, so being here is a dream.”

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“Every song he created had an influence on me.” 2face and “Side Stock – it’s my hymns. For me it is a goat. It will always be in my heart,” the wife continued.

Fayetteville, NC, Anastasia Mevane, attended the Dreamville Festival five times and shared that the festival presented the very needed headlights in North Carolina. “North Karolina is not necessarily known for the great, popular music scene, but Dreamville presented light in North Carolina, which I really love. So that’s why I come and support every year.” Mevane expressed gratitude for what the rapper has done for his family state up to now. “Thank you for giving North Carolina, because you didn’t really have to. But we appreciate what you do especially for two six. In this way you represent Fayetteville!”

More than music: fans say goodbye to the festival of J. Cole Dreamville
Raleigh, North Karolina – April 6: TEMS performs during the Dreamville 2025 music festival in Dorothea Dix Park on April 6, 2025 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo of Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images)

Another fan considered the festival as a “safe space” to build up with the community. It is nice for culture, “says Da’mek Johnson.” I’m a bit sad that that is the last one because I got here last yr. This is barely my second. “

Michelle Sawyer, a longtime resident of Raleigh, participated in every Dreamville festival. Her thoughts? “We have something really big here that matters.”

Sawyer wondered how Dreamville Festival modified Raleigh’s perception as the destination of music, noticing that while festivals akin to Coachella and Broccoli Fest often come to mind, Dreamville placed Raleigh on the map. “Nobody thought about Raleigh to Dreamville. So many people recommend from different states, and all hotels in the center of Raleigh are sold out; that’s yes, yes, we can have something really big that counts.”

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Sahr Sebba, Dreamville Newbiewieho, traveled with Seattle, Washington State, said: “I went to high school in Jacksonville, North Carolina, and a kid from my youth group put him. Since then I have been a fan.”

For Raleigh, Amanda Wesson, he says it’s a very good look of the city. “Raleigh is a bit of Bougie. So it was nice to have such an opportunity for Raleigh, and the hip-hop community was represented and could have attracted crowds from around the world at all. It brought a lot of money to the city. It was nice to have something like that in our yard. And Raleigh’s good appearance at all.”

However, the rapper has a gracious community on the entire board for bringing such a festival to North Carolina. Many say that the state wouldn’t have thought if it wasn’t for Dreamville. “My heart breaks that this is the last round,” says Jaconna Brooker, a festival participant. “Thank you for bringing this unbelievable culture and climate to your family state. For being faithful to yourself, your craftsmanship, and most importantly, for giving new artists a chance.”

However, history may not end. While 2025 is the last Dreamville festival, event organizers and manager Raleigh City announced plans to get well and alter the event in the future. What a brand new iteration will appear to be, remains to be unknown. But for hundreds of fans who’ve filled Dorothea Dix Park for the previous couple of years, hope is that the essence of Dreamville is alive.

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Health and Wellness

Kenan Thompson sends a message to the Gerd community

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Kenan Thompson, GERD, Heartburn


Kenan Thompson for the first time opens on his “personal journey” from GERD to help distinguish the state affecting over 65 million Americans.

The longest -working solid member appeared in history Black companyS, where he opened his experience with gastrointestinal reflux disease (GERD), because a part of Gerd is just not a joke campaign. The initiative goals to increase awareness about GERD and encourage people experiencing frequent heartburn to talk to their healthcare providers.

Thompson knows the first -hand fight when his GERD symptoms began to influence his vocals during rehearsals and sleep pattern, ultimately pushing him to seek for treatment. His journey to higher health led him to Voquezna-butt approved by the FDA specially designed to manage each kinds of Gerd.

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“It’s a personal journey. I have Gerda and I could like a medicine that finally worked for me,” said Thompson. “I have been a bit like suffering for years.”

“I understand how it could be for others. So I just wanted to speak to see a doctor,” he added. “Don’t keep these things for yourself. You don’t have to suffer like that.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fecghdqhs7y

After finding a relief in heartburn with Voquezna for his non -emergency GERD, Thompson joined forces with Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: PHAT) -Firma Biofarmaceutical coping with the progress of the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases (GI)-for the end of the GERD campaign is just not a joke. Now, when he found an efficient solution, Nickelodeon Alun calls on other people living with Gerd to stop ignoring their symptoms or depend on ineffective treatment treatment, and as an alternative seek the advice of a healthcare provider to examine simpler treatment options.

“When I actually talked to a professional and managed to get the right medicine, I was able to achieve healing I needed,” said Thompson.

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Thompson dives deeper on his personal journey with Gerd Gerdisnojoke.comWhere guests can download a guide written from his unique perspective. The resource includes helpful suggestions and starting talks to enable others to talk to a doctor about managing this condition.

(Tagstotransate) gerd

This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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Health and Wellness

Doctor Halle Berry confused her in the perimenopausia with her she has herpes

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Doctor Halle Berry confused her in the perimenopausia with the star has herpes

Kamil Krzeczyński/Getty Images

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Halle Berry discussed a subject that doesn’t pay enough attention on the last day of an unjustified conversation event and it is a perimenopause. During the meeting only at the invitation, which took place at the Getty Center in Los Angeles, Berry talked with First Lady Jill Biden about women’s health, with particular emphasis on menopause.

The actress and director prepared the scene, explaining that her goal was “a change in the way women and men feel about women during middle age and how they feel with it – who once was a dirty word – menopause, perimenopause, and we must change it in this room … It can’t be just destruction and darkness. It’s a glorious life time.”

This is a timely conversation, considering that President Biden has recently signed an executive order focused on increasing women’s health research.

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During the Berry chat, 57 years old, she shared her personal experience with perimenopause – the period when your body goes to menopause. It is usually characterised by reduced fertility in addition to hormonal fluctuations.

“First of all, my ego told me that I intend to skip him-I am very safe, I am healthy, I was able to get out of insulin and manage my diabetes since I am 20 years old,” said Oscar winner. Berry continued, stating that “finally [met] The man of my dreams “referring to her current Beau van Hunt, being quite transparent about their sex life and the way often they did” it “. The first lady jokingly interjected and said: “I didn’t know he would tell this story. I’m not talking about mine!”

But Berry shared her experience related to extreme pain during and after sex, and this reason to go to the doctor. To her surprise, the doctor told the actress that he appeared to have the worst case of herpes he had ever seen. However, after Berry and Van Hunt weren’t tested, none of the sexually transmitted diseases.

“I realized that this is a symptom of perimenopause,” Berry said, referring to identified vaginal dryness. She continued: “My doctor had no knowledge and did not prepare me, then I knew:” Oh my God, I actually have to make use of the platform, I actually have to benefit from who I’m and I actually have to start out making changes and differences for other women. “

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The conversation ended with Berry, asking the creators and other people in the crowd to “help us change the way women perceived women at this stage of our lives.”

She added: “And we are not exactly at the end. We are sitting here, two women who are clearly on the path of life, we did not finish. We just start our next act.”

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