Health and Wellness
Vice President Kamala Harris’ ascension and derailment to the White House is the story of many Black women, including me

Written by Dr. Dionne Mahaffey
My heart is heavy. My mind is racing and I am unable to help but take into consideration what this latest era under Donald Trump means for me and for ladies who appear like me and who wanted Vice President Kamala Harris to win, not simply because of her policies and competence or its historical significance. We wanted her to win because having her as a black woman in charge could be a robust statement for a rustic that so often seems reluctant to recognize our strength, talent and humanity.
Madame Harris’s candidacy was deeply personal. Black women identified together with her story, her rise, her spirit. Like me, she grew up in a single mother’s home. She’s my sorority sister. I felt hopeful in the concept that for the first time a Black woman was on the verge of real power, not only next to it. She represented every part we are sometimes told we can’t be: good, uncompromisingly ambitious, compassionate, and yet fiercely independent. Her presence defied the “angry black woman” stereotype, and her resilience reminded us of the countless ways during which Black women have long been pillars of American progress.
But now plainly this dream has been placed on the back burner. Trump’s victory brings back a well-recognized fear. His administration has at all times signaled a disregard for racial equality and women’s rights. We’ve seen what happens when hard-won protections are dismantled: voting rights are violated, police grow to be more aggressive, access to health care is restricted, and social justice is sidelined. For me as a black woman, these changes aren’t abstract political moves; these are issues of survival and dignity. The rhetoric surrounding us is a direct reflection of how protected, valued and vulnerable we feel in our own country.
With Trump’s victory comes the specter of Project 2025, a conservative motion plan that would severely limit civil rights, access to health care and economic resources, especially for Black Americans. Proposed cuts and restructuring of health care, housing and education could reverse years of progress and disproportionately harm marginalized communities. In my work, I see the potential impact on Black-owned businesses that already face enormous barriers to accessing capital. My clients – small business owners who’ve put every part into their ventures – are actually apprehensive about surviving in an economy that will push them further aside. Their concerns echo my very own, underscoring a reality we all know all too well: for us, progress is never linear and actually not guaranteed.
Twice nearly as good
But she didn’t win. We know that Black women often have to be twice nearly as good to achieve half nearly as good. Instead, America selected a criminal over an experienced black woman and it hurts. His victory brought back memories of my very own profession, after I began my first job in the technology industry over 30 years ago. I earned a formidable six-figure salary and came upon that my white friend made $30,000 greater than me. I had a diploma; he didn’t do it. While I used to be promoted to manager, he was promoted to director, and the company ended up paying for his education while I self-funded my MBA. That was the first time I understood how much white men were pampered and given opportunities to achieve perfection that black women were simply expected to earn.
Kamala was greater than qualified — she had worked as a prosecutor for 13 years, was the first Black and South Asian woman elected as a district attorney in California, the first Black and South Asian woman in the United States Senate, and the first woman of color to function vice chairman. By contrast, Trump is a convicted felon, born into privilege, who paid someone to take the SATs, filed for bankruptcy six times, was found guilty of sexual assault, incited a deadly revolt and denied the results of the 2020 presidential election. But by some means he won.
For Black Americans, Trump’s return to office is greater than symbolic. The reality of Trump’s latest presidency appears to be looming. Project 2025 plans to dismantle civil rights protections, access to health care, and economic opportunity that our communities have fought to provide. For those of us who in the past were forced to work twice as hard to achieve half as much, the stakes couldn’t seem higher.
Peace priority
The consequences of these selections aren’t just political – they’re deeply personal. As a therapist, I actually have seen firsthand how alternative anxiety affects my clients. After the elections, this tension will only deepen. Many people struggle with concerns about their future safety, rights and dignity in an environment where they feel increasingly unheard and invisible. Advising clients in these times is difficult, especially knowing that they may face renewed threats to their mental health and well-being. They carry the burden of this country’s instability, and sometimes that burden is greater than anyone should bear.
While helping others, I also need to concentrate to my very own mental health. It’s hard to support others when your spirit is drained, when their fears mirror yours. Taking care of yourself is not just a buzzword for me now – it is a necessity. Every day I remind myself that I cannot pour from an empty cup; so as to serve my clients and community, I need to provide myself with a spot to rest, recharge, and find peace inside myself.
Protecting our peace in times like these requires intention and care. It starts with tuning out the noise – setting boundaries around the news to stay on top of things and prevent anxiety from creeping in. Community is a balm, a reminder that we’re on this together. Leaning on friends, family and networks keeps us grounded and resilient. Mindfulness practices, corresponding to just a few minutes of quiet reflection or deep respiratory, can show you how to regain calm in the face of stress. Taking small actions, volunteering, supporting essential causes restores a way of control and purpose.
And still we rise
When I take into consideration this moment, I do not forget that Black women have faced adversity for generations and proceed to thrive. Kamala Harris’s candidacy, irrespective of the end result, has ignited something inside us – the determination to claim our space, construct our communities, and defend justice. The fight for equality and progress doesn’t end with one election; it is a lifelong journey and we’re uniquely equipped to sail it.
So today I hold space for my disappointment. But tomorrow, like all Black women who know that our value, power, and stories are greater than any single person or alternative, I’ll return to work. We will proceed to move forward, not just for ourselves, but for generations who will look back on this moment and know that we never gave up. Together we embody resilience and together we are going to rise.
Health and Wellness
Today, the Black Week of Mother’s Health begins. Did the needle move to the black health crisis of the mother?

People throughout the country are preparing to have fun “joint action” around improving health results for black moms.
. 2025 Black Mother’s Health Week (BMHW25), which lasts until Thursday, April 17, begins today with the topic “Healing heritage: Strengthening the mother’s black health through collective action and spokesman.”
The topic “emphasizes the strength of the organization of perinatal health, led by black, maternal and reproductive to propeling system changes and supporting the healing of community”, in accordance with the official website of the organizers. This 12 months’s topic can also be occupied by space for constant systemic pressure, “reproductive injustice and health inequalities”, which disproportionately affect black moms and the birth of people.
“It emphasizes the need to heal both at both individual and social levels, while dealing with the need to regenerate the approach to mother’s health care,” we read in a press release.
The week, which falls yearly during the National Health of the Minority, is a campaign founded by the Black Mat Matter Alliance to increase awareness and improve the Black Mother’s health crisis.
BMHW25 arrives when black moms still have a disproportionately affected mother’s nationwide health crisis and experience the mortality rates of higher moms than some other demographic group. According to 2023, according to Disease control and prevention centersMother’s mortality rate for non-Latin black women was 50.3 deaths per 100,000 live births, almost 3.5 times greater than white non-Latin women.
Headers appeared when it became clear that the crisis of moms’ mortality increased in the early days of the pandemic closure, and recent study He stated that specifically in the years 2018–2022, moms’ mortality rate increased. Unfortunately, when the number has began to immerse lately for some demographic data, black women are the most in danger.
On the other hand, because 80% of maternal deaths may be prevented, black women are consistently on the lookout for another look after life, similar to Dulas and Midwives, and pressed culturally competent care.
Kisha Davis, member of the board of American Academy of Family Physicians and Health Director in Montgomery, MD, talking to Status Recently, she said, she saw progress in reducing racial differences in hospitals a minimum of in her unit.
“I saw some really great data from our hospitals and I was really encouraged to some interventions they make, and some of them even start to reverse this difference,” she said, adding how the initiatives were to train clinicians about the secret racial prejudice, in addition to training doctors outside the specialization of Ob-Jyn so as to higher support Mothers.
Organizations similar to The Birthfund-where were launched by the fashion editor Elaine Welteroth and tennis champion Serena Williams and help finance the life-saving care, similar to Dulas and midwives for folks. Meanwhile, Liberty University In Virginia, she recently became the first HBCU to offer the Doula certification program.
“When we launch this pioneering Doula certification program, we take a bold step towards transforming the healthcare of the Black Mother and Babies in Virginia,” said Felicia Cosby, dean Virginia Union Technical College. “This program is more than training – it’s about saving life, reducing differences and strengthening the position of the community.”
All this to improve the health of the Black Mother will proceed to take many various people pursuing the same goal from many various points of view.

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

(Photo of Astrida Valigorsky/Getty Images)
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.

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.”
“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!”

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.”
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.
Health and Wellness
Kenan Thompson sends a message to the Gerd community

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.
“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.”
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.
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
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