LIVING CULTURE – Warm tones for the holiday season
Date posted: December 9, 2024
This season is a time for moments of comfort and balance. These highlights from ARHAUS.com showcase furniture and home décor designs for the season in neutral color tones. The creativity brings forth a warm, loving home environment suitable for any space.
By the light of our heritage
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Why celebrating Kwanzaa affirms the power of Blackness, unity, and reverence for those who came before us.
Kwanzaa is a non-religious and non-commercial holiday created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a professor and activist.
It is a celebration of African heritage, unity, and cultural identity — providing a meaningful opportunity for African-Americans and others to connect with their roots and express pride in their ancestry.
Kwanzaa is observed from December 26 to January 1. It consists of seven days, with each day dedicated to one of the seven core principles known as the Nguzo Saba.
Celebrating Kwanzaa involves various rituals and customs that revolve around the lighting of seven candles — one for each day of the holiday. Each candle represents one of the Nguzo Saba principles, which are:
1. Umoja (Unity): To strive for and maintain unity in family, community and nation.
2. Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define and name ourselves as well as create and speak for ourselves.
3. Ujima (Collective work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together, making our brothers and sisters problems our problems and solving them together.
4. Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): To build and maintain our stores and shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.
5. Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
6. Kuumba (Creativity): To always do as much as we can, in the way that we can, to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
7. Imani (Faith): To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
We Built This Home
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Strength and resilience are hallmarks of the Black family, and the holiday season is a time to celebrate the fabric that binds us together — unbreakable threads of unconditional love, unshakable faith, unforgettable memories, unequivocal forgiveness, and uncommon reconciliation handed down by our ancestors. We should always hold space for one another and make time to join hands in gratitude and prayer.
Las Vegas Black Image celebrates the Black families of Southern Nevada — who exemplify our calling to unite as ONE as we are granted another joyous season to feel His grace.
24 things no longer true about America
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BY LOUIE OVERSTREET
Here are twenty-four things that were either once true about America yet are no longer believable and ain’t happening nowadays.
1. A nation divided against itself cannot stand.
2. Building a more perfect union.
3. Concept of one person, one vote
4. Wording on the base of the Statue of Liberty
5. Women’s right to choose
6. Love/hope being stronger emotions than hate/fear
7. In politics, truth having a higher currency value than lies.
8. Lady Justice being blind.
9. Americans are informed voters
10. The sanctity of Arlington Cemetery
11. The idea that in America, anyone can grow up to be President
12. Civility in our thoughts, words, and actions
13. Land of the free and home of the brave
14. Separation of church and state
15. Adherence to Christian values
16. The only thing to fear is fear itself
17. Golden Rule
18. Universal condemnation of violence
19. Envy of the free world
20. Lessons of history
21. President is not above the law
22. Demonstration of a sense of unity
23. A person’s word being their bond
24. America the beautiful
I am confident, for all the wrong reasons, in saying that none of the twenty-four things listed will change for the better, during the next four years.
Further, I have two observations to share about the election results from last month.
1. There is a staggering number of uninformed voters in America. For example, one person stated the reason he voted for Trump was that he would not place a tariff on his overtime pay, I poop you not!
2. Many of us have little, if any, appreciation for the real possibility that history elsewhere could make a repeat appearance here in America.
The only solace I can offer people, as things now stand, is to say you need to assess your recovery time after hitting the proverbial brick wall (election defeat) that left you pained and discouraged.
When is the Right Time to Downsize Your Home in Retirement?
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BY KIMBERLY SMITH
Retirement is a time to relax, enjoy life, and pursue your passions. Yet, for many, their homes — once a source of pride and joy — can become a source of pain. Whether it’s the financial burden, physical maintenance, or emotional stress, there comes a time when downsizing may be the best choice for your well-being.
Financial Strain
As you enter retirement, your income may become fixed or limited. Large homes often come with high utility bills, property taxes, and maintenance costs. If these expenses start to outweigh your budget, it might be time to consider a smaller, more affordable space. Downsizing can free up funds for travel, hobbies, or savings, reducing the financial pressures that impact your quality of life.
Physical Challenges
Maintaining a large home can be overwhelming as we age. Tasks like cleaning, yard work, and climbing stairs may become physically taxing or even hazardous. A smaller home, single-story layout, or community designed for retirees can eliminate these challenges, making life easier and safer.
Emotional Toll
Sometimes, homes carry emotional weight. Perhaps your children have moved out, and the space feels empty. Or maybe, memories tied to the home make it hard to move forward. Downsizing can provide an opportunity for a fresh start, allowing you to focus on creating new memories in a space that fits your current needs.
Knowing When It’s Time
If your home feels more like a burden than a blessing, it’s worth exploring your options. Ask yourself:
- Can I comfortably afford to stay here?
- Is my home contributing to my physical or emotional stress?
- Would I benefit from a simpler, more manageable lifestyle?
Downsizing doesn’t mean downgrading — it’s a chance to find a space that fits your retirement dreams. By taking the leap, you can create a life that’s more fulfilling, less stressful, and tailored to your future.
It’s never too early to plan for the next chapter, and sometimes, less truly is more.
Please feel free to contact Kimberly Smith of King Realty Group with any questions: (702) 291-7098 | www.kimberlysmith.realtor | NV Lic. No. BS.146388
LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHERS: The Q Factor and our holiday spirit
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However you celebrate, we pray that you and your families enjoy the holiday season with joy in your hearts and peace in your souls.
This issue of Las Vegas Black Image salutes Quincy Jones — whose massive cultural impact will be forever felt throughout the arts, popular music, and philanthropy. His life and work inspired so many, and has long been a north star for Black excellence. Jones’ passing may have silenced the strings on the violin of his life, but his legacy lives on in the work he has inspired and will continue to inspire.
The backbone of our community will always be the family — and the togetherness of the holiday season reminds us to hold tight to our collective strengths. We honor the Black families of Southern Nevada in this issue, along with a celebration of the seven principles of our Kwanzaa — reminding us how important our spiritual gifts are to one another, and how much they outweigh the materialistic and commercial values that constantly ring in our ears.
Elsewhere in this issue: readers reveal what gets them into the holiday spirit, Dr. Marguerite Brathwaite of Innovative Women’s Care keeps us informed about HIV awareness, and Ellen Brown gets real about the post-election hangover.
Our excellent advertisers and contributors keep Las Vegas Black Image exciting and informative, and support the growth of our city’s premier Black-owned and produced outlet all year long.
Rise,
Charles Tureaud & Kimberly Bailey Tureaud
Publishers
(702) 615-8216
cdalasvegas@gmail.com
LasVegasBlackImage.com
PEACE: Silence is Golden
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BY KIMBERLY BAILEY-TUREAUD
Words are an optional choice. Speaking is the art of communication with others, and silence is the language for within. Prayer usually begins in the heart and is expressed through the mind. So often, the spoken word is reactionary to a person or situation. Our forms of speaking can be used to build up, cheer up, correct, remind, or bring down. So many forms of acting out verbal communication — and as time passes, we recognize how it adds or subtracts.
Many times, words cannot be found. Given the range of emotions — speeding faster than thought — words lie in wait to calibrate and capture the moment. Words also serve as the artificial curtain to mask feelings that are hidden. Courteous assimilation directs our authentic voice.
Love is the supreme language that demands respect. All living things positively respond to the loving touch, loving glance, the loving embrace, or the loving act. Equally, negative language will be met with another form of communication.
Your silence can also draw spoken words toward you. Curiosity is an unshakable reaction that eagerly rambles to find out what is not being said. Self-control is your strength to give while others receive.
Your individuality is a precious gem that many will try to commandeer. First, by revamping your thoughts, your actions, and then your words. Relinquish your voice and the treasure within will awaken and self-confidence is the gift.
The quiet is so important — away from disruption and chaos. Your home will be engulfed in peace while understanding stands firm. The cradle will hypnotize time into blanketing you with the favor of His grace.
Peace will find you in your quiet mind.
HISTORIC BLACK VEGAS: Black Wall Street and the legacy of Greenwood
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BY CLAYTEE D. WHITE
In February of this year, I attended a program at the Smith Center that reintroduced me to the horror of the Tulsa “Race Riot” of 1921.
The title gives the immediate impression that Black people were enraged and destroyed property. No — not at all. This was a riot by the White people of Tulsa that destroyed “Black Wall Street,” as the Greenwood area was called.
National Geographic brought Alicia Odewale to Las Vegas for a Saturday evening presentation. The question-and-answer portion was too short. We could have talked to her all night. She told the story and then talked about the archaeological dig that she was working on. I wanted to see for myself. I wrote about this before, but now, I have seen the place and stood on the sidewalks, and viewed the forty-block area that was burned to the ground.
On October 31, 2024, I flew to Oklahoma City, rented a car, and drove to Tulsa. When you decide to do this, begin your tour at the History Center and the Fulton Street Books & Coffee. Then take a walking tour. The exhibits in the History Center are marvelous. The community planned it and fundraised for five years. All their planning and brilliant work paid off. The most memorable exhibit was sitting in the barbershop to get a haircut. Holograms cut my hair as the three barbers talked about the history of Greenwood. I sat in a barber chair in front of a mirror and was taken back into the history of that heartless, terrifying period. I did not see the Greenwood Cultural Center, but the plaques outside listed all the destroyed businesses and the unpaid financial claims of $2,719,745.61. Over 600 businesses were listed on a wall that shone so brightly in the sun that I am guessing at the number because my camera could not adjust to the light.
Quoting from a plaque in front of the Cultural Center prepared by the Equal Justice Initiative, is the gist of the Greenwood story:
Founded in 1906, Tulsa’s Greenwood District was one of many Black communities created to welcome African Americans seeking freedom and opportunity in Oklahoma after suffering generations of slavery elsewhere. In 1889, O.W. Gurley, a wealthy Black man from Arkansas, purchased over 40 acres of land and sold it to Black people relocating to the area.
Legally barred from white businesses, Black people spent their money in Greenwood creating a self-sustained economy. By 1920, Greenwood boasted dozens of Black-owned businesses and an educational system for Black students. J.B. Stafford built and operated a luxury hotel that became the largest Black-owned hotel in the country.
Simon Berry ran transportation services including a chartered plane service. John and Loula Williams owned a theater in addition to several other businesses. A.J. Smitherman founded the Tulsa Star, a key resource in documenting the community’s events. Dr. A.C. Jackson, a prominent Black surgeon, treated both Black and white patients.
What a place! I counted seven attorneys, too many restaurants to number, investment businesses, grocery stores, several office buildings, over a dozen doctors, shoe shops, beauty shops, barber shops, drugstores, tailors, real estate offices, hardware stores, jewelry stores, and other retail establishments. These, along with homes, were all burned to the ground. Blacks rebuilt — but by the 1970s, urban renewal and other factors destroyed the neighborhood again.
Dick Rowland allegedly assaulted Sarah Page in an elevator in Tulsa’s Drexel Building. On May 31, the following day, a white mob of 400 men assembled outside the jail holding Rowland. Rumors of a lynching reached Greenwood where 105 Black men — some armed — went to the jail to protect Rowland. Around 11 p.m., the National Guard mobilized and the police department deputized white men who began to loot and ransack Greenwood. By 6 a.m., the destruction was in full swing. The white mob burned 2,000 buildings and homes and prevented firefighters from entering the area. White mobs stole valuables; burned buildings; and killed men, women, and children while white authority figures disarmed and rounded up Blacks. About 6,000 were housed in internment camps.
Fire and hate destroyed the community but not its enterprising spirit. Greenwood was built back better.
Recognizing HIV Awareness Month
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BY DR. MARGUERITE BRATHWAITE OB-GYN
The month of December brings so much joy and love, but we should also stay aware that it is HIV Awareness Month.
We must continue to protect ourselves during sexual intimacy — especially if relationships are not exclusive.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported its first cases of AIDS in 1981, with a total of 26 cases that included one African-American. Rapidly, African-Americans began dominating HIV/AIDS cases. A 1986 report on health disparities highlighted that Black/African-American accounted for 51% of all AIDS cases among women — and an overall AIDS rate three times higher than that of their white counterparts.
In 2021, the CDC reported alarming disparities in HIV infections, and Black/African-American individuals constituted approximately 12% of the population and accounted for a disproportionately high 40% (13,000) of an estimated 32,100 new HIV infections. White individuals, representing 61% of the U.S. population, made up 26% (8,200) of the new HIV infections. And Hispanics/Latino individuals, comprising 18% of the population, accounted for 29% (9,300) of new HIV infections.
The drivers of many of these health disparities have been related to socioeconomic status, healthcare access and quality, education access and quality, among other factors.
It is important to be informed and conscious as it relates to your health. If you are single and engage in sexual activities with multiple partners, it is wise to see your doctor more regularly for appropriate testing.
Also, women who are single, older, and who have multiple sexual partners need to take particular care with routine testing — to ensure that their health is not unnecessarily threatened by sexually-transmitted diseases.
We at Innovative Women’s Care wish everyone a wonderful holiday season and we look forward to meeting you for your OB-GYN healthcare needs. Make your appointment today by calling Innovative Women’s Care at (702) 413-7740 or visit us at 7650 West Sahara Ave. Suite 100 in Las Vegas.
The Q Factor
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Kimberly Bailey-Tureaud reflects on how Quincy Jones transformed our culture, defined an era, and set a mark for Black excellence that can never be duplicated or surpassed.
If you ever had the opportunity to be in the presence of the legendary Quincy Jones, three words best describe the experience: “I see you.”
His eye for talent and authenticity — and ear for timeless groove — made the producer, composer, arranger, conductor, trumpeter and bandleader one of the cultural giants of his time. He was a one-of-a-kind human being, whose life was an endless orchestra of unparalleled impact.
The music fell silent on Nov. 3, when he died at 91 years of age — leaving behind seven children and a legacy of Black excellence that can never be duplicated or surpassed.
I was blessed to meet Mr. Jones once at an event in Las Vegas, and was eager to ask whether he knew my father, Bob Bailey — as they both performed with Count Basie in the 1950s. Before I could even position myself in front of the legend, he caught my eye and graciously approached to ease any nervousness. Time stood still as Mr. Jones greeted me and responded to my question with, “Yes, I do remember your dad. He was a great man. We had good times with Count Basie.”
We took a selfie, and I left with an indelible memory. All I could do was reflect on Mr. Jones’ achievements, because I knew I was in the presence of a true creative genius who touched hearts all over the world. Performing with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, and arranging a string of smash hits for Michael Jackson — including the classic albums “Off the Wall,” “Thriller,” and “Bad” — his musical contributions spanned decades.
Consider the weight of what the icon achieved: Fighting famine in Africa with the massive production of “We Are the World. Composing and producing music for television shows and films that ranged from “Sanford and Son” and “Ironside” to “The Cosby Show,” “Roots,” and “The Wiz.” His 1981 album, “The Dude,” introduced James Ingram with such hits as “Just Once” and “One Hundred Ways.”
He was a mentor and inspiration for hip-hop artists like Kendrick Lamar and LL Cool J, and founded both Quest Records and Vibe magazine. And it was Jones who gave Oprah Winfrey her first acting opportunity — in “The Color Purple,” the 1985 classic film that he produced.
Jones also towered over Americana: he produced and coordinated the opening musical ceremonies for the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. And in 2010, President Barack Obama presented Jones with the National Medal of Arts, one of the nation’s most prestigious honors.
His artistry will be missed but never forgotten. I can’t help but hear the words of his own father, Quincy Delight Jones, who his son was fond of quoting: “Once a task is just begun, never leave until it’s done. Be the labor great or small, do it well or not at all.”