Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 31 March 2000 — Page 24

FRIDAY, MARCH 31,2000 ■ PAGE C6

the grocery It seems as though there is an ever-growing population of homeless Black men where I live. My perception is based on the fact that I pass a day shelter each morning while walking my daughter to daycare. After dropping her off, I often become anxiety-filled. I walk praying that I do not run into any of them on my way to work. They’ll often bestow a compliment “Man, that's a mighty fine sister there,” before asking you for something. I used to reach into my pocket. My only requirement was that the person be Black. My rationalization: “There is absolutely no excuse for a white person to be poor in this country. Their whiteness assures that they will have everything they could ever want and need to make it.” But since my student loans are now out of deferment, and the rigors of single parenthood affect me mentally, spiritually, physically and financially, I have allowed my cynicism to amend my altruism, by wondering if my spare change would be most effective if given directly to the mothers o? any children these men have. So, now I give only to organizations. I never consider their stories of racism, no education, alcohol and other drug abuse, or mental illness. Instead, I hope to live each morning and afternoon without their intrusions preferring to glance at the suit wearing; briefcase carrying; cell phone talking professional brother on his way to his j-o-b, like me, rather than the grungy, dirty, smelly one scrambling for his next meal. So, I purposely walk on the other side of the street, tune out any carrying conversations, and avert eye contact. T One particular day did not end with my normal afternoon trip to {he childcare center. I had to go grocery shopping. It had already been a long day and could potentially be longer. Grocery shopping with my toddler daughter can easily transform a 30-minute trip into an hour one. In part because it is my responsibility to entertain her while I shop at the same time. - This particular day Jaylen, my daughter, decided she had had enough of mommy’s “supermarket review" and demanded she be removed from the basket and held for the balance of our shopping. It was enough to make me want to leave the store and come back later, but time is not always on my side and I needed this stuff for tonight’s dinner. My only option was tocarry her, sort through my coupons, push the basket, and select items. By the time I got to the check out, I was ready to collapse from exhaustion. I could hardly make my way out to the car. My arms were practically limp from holding my 20pound bundle of joy and steering my basket full of groceries with the other. I could have cried upon realizing that the car keys were buried at the bottom of my purse. And still, this child is ready to start up at the drop of dime if she senses that She’s going to be set down for a moment. I was in the process of developing a strategy when I noticed this brother approaching me from across the paricing lot. He was rough looking with a tattered, filthy sweatshirt and pants to match. His shoes looked as See LIFE, Page C5

Black women empowered at local expo

By RONNETTA S. SLAUGHTER Staff Writer The second annual “Women’s Expo 2000” praised the accomplishments of African-Ameri-can women under the theme “Generations of Health, Self & Wealth.” “This is a women’s weekend out. It’s educational and empowering,” said Geno Shelton, WTLC’s special events director. “It’s a chance to bond, shape and reflect on how important (women] T1 the Ii of all ages and races listened to guest speakers and participated in health seminars and a hair competition judged by celebrities, among other activities. The expo welcomed the Rev. Jackie McCollough and Essence magazine’s Susan L. Taylor as guest speakers. Other celebrities included Kristoff St. John from “Young and the Restless,” and recording artists David Hollister, Andrew Young, J-Shin and Kevon Edmonds. More than 100 vendors also offered various services including real estate advice, financial planning and merchandise selection. “We wanted to target African-American women, draw them in, and find out how to fill their needs,” said Kelli Lester-Brown, public and community affairs director at WTLC. A VIP kickoff reception, sponsored by WTLC and Indiana Black Expo, honored the following five African-American women: Indiana Attorney General Karen Freeman- Wilson; Kathy Jordan, vice-president of communications for the Indiana Pacers; Danita Edwards,

vice-president of public affairs for the National Collegiate Athletic Association; Congresswoman Juila Carson; and Susan L. Taylor, publication director of Essence magazine and senior vice-president of Essence communications. The honorees received engraved crystal vases and shared the importance of their success as Black women. “Women of color face unique issues all of their own. We have that sense of understanding based on our common experiences,” said Danita Edwards. r • i --imTHi offered free semfewr’and tesi STD’s, diabetes, and offered self-btlW exams, in addition to covering other diseases and health conditions affecting Black women. “What we experience today is a safe place where we can speak about our issues in our own voices, unedited with our own passion to one another,” Susan Taylor said in reference to the importance of “Women’s Expo 2000.” Taylor’s speech urged Black women to empower and honor themselves through meditation, exercise and healthy eating habits, as well as increased spiritual development. “You’ve got to give to yourself before you give yourself away,” said Taylor. After last year’s event, WTLC created the Advisory Committee to assist staff members with “Women’s Expo2000,” resulting in highly recognized talent and educational presentations targeting African-American women. “We’re filling a void for African-American women,” Lester-Brown said. “Black women are a force to be reckoned with in the market.” “This atmosphere is beautiful,” said Rossalyn

Susan Taylor of ESSENCE Communications McKinzie, who acknowledged “how much strength Black women have together, and how these women can feed off of one another.” McKinzie says she was impressed and encouraged by the ceremony honoring women because it recognized Black women who succeed in various professional fields. 4 At the conclusion of the event, participants received evaluations to survey the effectiveness and overall success of the event. “We're hoping that all women have been elevated in some way,” added Lester-Brown.

‘Silent killer’ threatens African Americans

Special to the Recorder High blood pressure affects SO million Americans, and government research shows that African Americans are the most likely to suffer from the disease, which is frequently called the silent killer. In fact, approximately 35 percent of Afijcan-American men and 34 percent of African-American women suffer from high blood pressure, or hypertension, which is the No. 1 cause of preventable death among African Americans. Hypertension develops earlier in life in African Americans than in Caucasians and is usually more severe. As a result, African Americans have a greater rate of fatal stroke.

heart disease deaths and kidney failure than Caucasians. To make matters worse, African Americans may be missing out on a simple solution to help reduce their risk of hypertension due to a common misunderstanding about another medical condition — lactose intolerance, which is an inability to properly digest the sugar in milk. “There is a lot of misinformation in the African-American community regarding lactose intolerance,” said Dr. Jeanette Newton Keith of University of Chicago Hospitals. “And because of this, many people may believe they need to avoid milk and milk products. But that’s not true. And avoiding

dairy products may mean they aren’t getting the essential nutrients our bodies need for heart health.” Experts believe calcium, potassium and magnesium, which are all commonly found in milk and milk products, may play an important role in maintaining normal blood pressure. A large-scale government study called DASH, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, found that a balanced, lowfat diet rich in lowfat milk and milk products, fruits and vegetables, significantly lowers blood pressure. The DASH diet calls for two to three servings of fat free or lowfat milk or milk products daily along

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with eight to 10 servings of fruits and vegetables each day. In addition, nearly two-thirds of participants in the DASH study were minorities and further analysis found particularly good news for African Americans. The DASH diet proved to be twice as effective in lowering blood pressure in African Americans than in Caucasians. Newton Keith offers the following tips to help include dairy in your diet: • Try smaller portions of milk with meals and not on an empty stomach. • Drink lactose free milk. • Enjoy aged cheeses that have Jittle lactose. • Eat yogurt, which may be easier to digest. • Add lactase enzyme drops to regular milk, which help break down the lactose. Consumers can now order a free brochure that includes tips for tolerance and ideas to help manage most degrees of lactose intolerance while still including dairy in the diet. The “Lowdown on Lactose Intolerance” brochure also contains information from the research front, shows why calcium is an essential nutrient and shatters myths associated with lactose intolerance. To order a free copy of the brochure, call 1-800-WHY-

optimizes infant development By DR. ROBERT HAGGERTY (NAPSA) — Researchers have discovered that babies are bom with active brains. Every time an adult interacts with a baby, electrical pathways are stimulated. When these pathways are triggered more and more often, the baby’s brain grows and develops. This is especially evident during the first year. Parents and caregivers observe rapid changes in the baby as he quickly moves through development stages. Every baby is unique and develops within his or her own pace and style. What is important, however, is that the parent and baby have a special relationship from the beginning and understand that they influence each other. Throughout the first year, infants benefit from reading, listening to music and their parents and caregivers voices and eye contact. In addition, following are a few highlights for different stages: - ^ 4 .-V.,,; .,, ,, I months A baby learns some of his “firsts” through touch, especially the feeling of being cared for and loved. As he grows, touch remains important for learning and exploring. Parents should take advantage of this special time to hug and cuddle the baby. Giving the baby a massage is a very calming, loving activity that has physical benefits for the infant as well. 3-6 months Now that baby is awake for longer periods of time, she is interacting with others. Reaching and grasping are fun activities for both hands, as well as following a rqoving object with her eyes. 6-9 months During these months, baby is becoming more mobile. Encourage the baby to reach for toys. A stronger grip makes it possible to really have fun by shaking and banging toys. Playing games like peek-a-boo and patty-cake will help stimulate baby's memory skills. 9-12 months During the first year, a baby learns that her actions produce results. Game playing is a big part of this education. During playtime, let the baby experiment with safe everyday objects — pots, bowls and dishes. Once the baby has mastered a skill, let her bask in her success. Help the baby see an old toy in a new light, for instance put one cup inside another instead of banging them like drums. Take cues from your baby, he will let you know when he needs a break. As you and your baby get to know each other, you will learn each other's “signals” and make the most of your time together. Finally, remember that more toys aren’t better, more attention is. For more information about a baby’s development. The Johnson & Johnson Pediatric Institute offers a series of age appropriate free educational booklet series called “Growing Together.” For the free booklet “Growing Together,” and to receive other educational materials and videos, call 1-877-JNJ-LINK.