RedCrossPhillyBlog

Category: Black History Month

  • Philly-based Crescent Foundation aims to reform sickle cell patient care

    By Kay Bennett

    Crescent Foundation Co-founder and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Ediomi Utuk-Lowery. Photo by Alana Mauger

    Ediomi Utuk-Lowery is a co-founder of Crescent Foundation and also serves as the nonprofit’s chief marketing and communications officer. The focus of her work—and the main mission of the organization—is to advocate for and support people affected by sickle cell disease, as well as their loved ones and caregivers.

    Sickle cell disease, an inherited disorder of the red blood cells, affects African Americans at vastly higher rates than people of other ethnicities. About one in 13 African American babies is born with sickle cell trait, the CDC estimates.

    As adults living with sickle cell disease, all of Crescent’s cofounders understand the challenges firsthand, and Utuk-Lowery and her colleagues have identified numerous pressing needs in their community. One of their goals is to help younger sickle cell patients navigate the transition from pediatric or adolescent care to the adult care system. This initiative, called Bridging the Gap, uses a compassionate, holistic approach to support 18- to-24-year-olds faced with the daunting prospect of advocating for themselves within a complex health care environment. They need to understand insurance, create and reach wellness goals, and address their health care needs in the workplace. For these young adults, Bridging the Gap is a valuable resource.

    A second program, Crescent Cares, provides case management support. Managing a chronic condition can be complicated; to ease the way, the foundation’s community health workers serve as liaisons to help sickle cell patients and their families coordinate their medical and social service needs. They may make home or virtual visits, help with prescription requests, arrange for transportation, and more.

    Crescent’s third key initiative—called One Gene, One Life—provides training and education for the next generation of health care practitioners. It was developed as an immersion program to give medical students insight into the daily lives of sickle cell patients. Crescent Foundation members visit genetics classes, health programs, vending events, and other settings to provide info and dispel common myths. They also talk about archaic language used to describe sickle cell disease.

    Because sickle cell patients look to their health care teams for compassion, support, and understanding, this unique program aims to show providers how the disease can truly impact patients’ lives every day. Each Crescent advocate becomes a face for sickle cell awareness, and the idea is to arm future physicians with compassion and knowledge about this invisible condition. Utuk-Lowery says the initiative is all about reaching out to “the up-and-coming stars who are going to be caring for us at one point or another.”

    The Crescent Foundation has received an outpouring of love and support for its advocacy efforts, Utuk-Lowery notes. But there’s still work to do: From making calls on behalf of a patient or advocating for individuals in the prison system living with sickle cell, Utuk-Lowery says no task is too big or too small for the team to take on.

    Want to know more? Go to crescentfoundationscd.org.

    Editor’s Note: In commemoration of Black History Month, the American Red Cross is joining organizations across the country to focus on the importance of health and wellness in our Black communities. Throughout February, we’ll be sharing information about our Sickle Cell Initiative, stories from those impacted by sickle disease and ways that community residents can help.

  • Profile: Shaun ‘Sturdy’ Griggs advocates for sickle cell awareness

    By Kay Bennett

    Shaun “Sturdy Griggs” spoke at a Crescent Foundation blood drive held at the Red Cross House last fall. Photo by Alana Mauger

    Shaun “Sturdy” Griggs is a passionate advocate for sickle cell awareness. Last fall, Griggs spoke about his experiences at Red Cross House in Philadelphia, where a blood drive was being hosted by the Crescent Foundation, a Philly-based nonprofit serving the sickle cell community.

    Griggs has been living with sickle cell disease his entire life. When he was 3 years old, his mother noticed swelling, and he seemed to be in severe pain. After a battery of tests at the hospital, the diagnosis came: type SS sickle cell disease.

    “Everyone’s pain is different. Mine was like a heartbeat – if you can picture 100 knives stabbing me in the stomach. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!” he shouted, thrusting his hands toward his abdomen in a stabbing motion.

    Such an episode, known as a sickle cell crisis, is one of the major red flags for SCD. A crisis occurs when the sickle-shaped cells cannot flow freely through the bloodstream, causing a blockage. This blockage can lead to severe discomfort and pain, and the repercussions often include decreased flow of oxygen throughout the body and organ tissue damage.

    Griggs’s adversities regarding sickle cell disease are often the result of a lack of public knowledge about the condition. Time and again he has found himself explaining the nature of the disease to others, and it was this uphill struggle to increase recognition of the disease that inspired him to become an advocate for Sickle Cell Awareness. He fiercely believes that sickle cell disease should receive more widespread attention.

    To illustrate the discrepancy in awareness, Griggs compared sickle cell disease with cancer. Many people, especially health care professionals, are acutely aware of symptoms affecting cancer patients and have a good familiarity with effective treatments. But with sickle cell disease, care teams in hospital settings often need to be educated by their own patients. Patients may have to strongly advocate for themselves, emphasizing the severity of their pain and the lifesaving treatments they need.

    Griggs also talked about the feelings of invalidation sickle cell patients may experience. Hospital staff may not fully understand the disease, so they often fail to understand the severity of the associated pain. Griggs tends not to cry in most situations—including health care settings. People should not have to be in tears, he says, to have their pain taken seriously.

    “You wouldn’t be able to tell I have [sickle cell disease] by looking at me, but it’s shaped my life,” he said. “The pain is random. It can happen at any time.”

    At one point, the lack of sickle cell awareness even threatened Griggs’s life. He was in a juvenile detention facility and began to have a crisis, but the guards and medical staff refused to get him the treatment he needed. As a result of that failure to receive timely medical attention, he walked with a limp for a year and now has permanent swelling in his knee.

    Griggs’s frustrations with such health care disparities are what motivates his outspoken advocacy today. When a friend introduced him to Crescent Foundation co-founder Tahirah Austin-Muhammad, the two quickly bonded over their shared experiences with sickle cell disease. Eventually Griggs began speaking at various events held by the foundation. He describes Tahirah as a “great advocate” for sickle cell awareness.

    Sickle cell-focused blood drives, like the annual one hosted by the Crescent Foundation, are vital to the sickle cell disease community, Griggs says. “Not a lot of people notice that we [sickle cell patients] actually need blood transfusions,” he said, “and some of us need blood transfusions more often than others. This means a lot just to spread the word.”

    Editor’s Note: In commemoration of Black History Month, the American Red Cross is joining organizations across the country to focus on the importance of health and wellness in our Black communities. Throughout February, we’ll be sharing information about our Sickle Cell Initiative, stories from those impacted by sickle disease and ways that community residents can help.

  • Guest column: Give blood to support sickle cell patients this Black History Month

    By La Valle Warren, American Red Cross Regional Sickle Cell Account Manager

    Black History Month is a time to highlight the significant work and achievements of Black and African Americans to U.S. society. This year, the Red Cross is focusing on the theme of Black health and wellness, especially as it pertains to sickle cell disease.  

    The Red Cross Sickle Cell Initiative is making a difference every day in Southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey. As Regional Sickle Cell Account Manager for these areas, I am working to expand blood donation opportunities in communities of color in an effort to grow the number of Black or African American blood donors to help patients in need, especially those batting sickle cell disease.

    In order to meet these goals, I am working to build partnerships with Black businesses, Black community-based organizations, educational institutions, Black churches, healthcare facilities and government organizations to host blood drives in convenient locations. My goal is to provide Black and African Americans who want to give blood with donation opportunities in their communities. 

    Working in the community and educating people of color is at the core of my passion and experiences. I strive to build trust, share information, create a space for opportunity and work collaboratively to engage new Black and African American donors to help save lives.

    The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has compounded the challenges for patients with sickle cell disease as they face new concerns around availability of care and access to needed blood products for their treatment. Donors who are Black play a critical role in helping people with sickle cell disease. It is essential that the blood they receive be the most compatible match from someone of the same race or similar ethnicity.

    In Philadelphia and New Jersey, Red Cross blood donations from individuals who self-identify as Black or African American are labeled with a blue tag to indicate they may be a match for sickle cell patients. Additional testing is performed on these donations to match them as closely as possible with patients needing a transfusion.

    I invite you to join us for two upcoming Blue Tag Sickle Cell Community Blood Drives in commemoration of Black History Month:

    • Feb. 17, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Red Cross Blood Donation Center, 700 Spring Garden St. in Philadelphia. The drive is sponsored by Philadelphia Commissioner Omar Sabir and UNCF Philadelphia Branch. Schedule an appointment here.
    • Feb. 23, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. at Mercer County Community College at Trenton, Kerney Hall, 102 N. Board St., Trenton, N.J. Schedule an appointment here.

    Please consider scheduling an appointment to donate blood in commemoration of Black History Month and throughout the year. Every donation makes a difference! Visit RedCrossBlood.org to schedule an appointment. 

    Editor’s Note: In commemoration of Black History Month, the American Red Cross is joining organizations across the country to focus on the importance of health and wellness in our Black communities. Throughout February, we’ll be sharing information about our Sickle Cell Initiative, stories from those impacted by sickle disease and ways that community residents can help.

  • My Journey of Service with the American Red Cross

    Each February, the nation and the American Red Cross celebrate Black History Month. All this month here on the Red Cross Philly blog we honor our Black colleagues that are part of our local Red Cross team. We invited them to be guest bloggers to share their thoughts and stories as proud Red Crossers that make up our diverse team here in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Please note, the views expressed in this blog post are of the author and not necessarily those of the American Red Cross. To learn more about Diversity and Inclusion values at the Red Cross, please visit https://www.redcross.org/about-us/who-we-are/governance/corporate-diversity.html.

    Today’s blog is written by Tracey Howard, American Red Cross volunteer.

    My journey of service with the American Red Cross began in September of 2017, when one of my sorority sisters called and asked for my assistance in pulling together a pool of volunteers to manage phone calls for the Hurricane Harvey Disaster Relief Telethon.

    During the telethon, I was asked about furthering my service.  I jumped at the opportunity to serve individually, but also was eager to explore how my chapter, the Valley Forge Alumnae Chapter (VFAC) of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., could partner with the American Red Cross.

    Since participating at that NBC10 telethon, I’ve served as a blood donor ambassador, organized blood drives, assisted with the Sound the Alarm program, The Pillowcase Project, volunteer recruitment events and worked as a warehouse supply assistant. 

    During a volunteer workshop, the speaker discussed the need for more minority participation in blood services.  I decided to make it my mission to increase minority participation through my constant cheerleading about the magnificent work of the American Red Cross. I tell firsthand accounts of how the American Red Cross assisted my friends who suffered loss because of a fire, friends affected by Hurricane Katrina, and friends who needed multiple transfusions.

    When I was in my early teens, I lost a friend to Sickle Cell Disease, which impacts predominately Black men and women. The idea of a young person dying was a complex notion. It really hurt to see another friend miss out on the “normal” childhood fun because he was said “to be sick” and unable to participate in certain activities.

    That young man died in his sleep at college at age 19. In 2019, another friend’s child, in her 20s, suddenly died of Sickle Cell Disease. The loss of friends to Sickle Cell Disease has fueled my desire to increase minority blood donor participation. It’s comforting to know that the American Red Cross implements a “blue tag” for blood donations that benefit patients with Sickle Cell Disease. 

    The American Red Cross has been a vehicle for me to make a difference in the community and to share God’s gifts: sweat equity, creativity, and sisterly love. This organization is an American institution helping others in critical times.  Whether a person catches the “bug” to serve on their team of dynamic volunteers, or decides to remain a one-person army, everyone can make a difference.

    If an individual decides to donate blood, his/her donation can save up to three lives.  So, every 56 days, an individual can make a dramatic impact on saving others by pledging to be a steadfast blood donor. As the quote goes, “Changing the entire world is a daunting task, but changing one person’s world is realistic and possible every day.”

    This is the work of the American Red Cross.

    Sickle cell disease is an inherited condition that causes red blood cells to be hard and crescent-shaped, making it difficult for blood to flow smoothly and carry oxygen to the rest of the body. In the U.S., about 100,000 people of various racial and ethnic backgrounds, approximately 90 percent of whom are of African descent, are living with sickle cell disease. Regular blood transfusions are often used as a critical treatment for sickle cell patients, and blood donated by someone with a similar ethnicity is less likely to cause complications. To learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/blood-types/diversity/sicklecell.html.

    Main image description: Photo of Tracey Howard

  • The importance of Black blood donors at the American Red Cross

    Each February, the nation and the American Red Cross celebrate Black History Month. All this month here on the Red Cross Philly blog we honor our Black colleagues that are part of our local Red Cross team. We invited them to be guest bloggers to share their thoughts and stories as proud Red Crossers that make up our diverse team here in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Please note, the views expressed in this blog post are of the author and not necessarily those of the American Red Cross. To learn more about Diversity and Inclusion values at the Red Cross, please visit https://www.redcross.org/about-us/who-we-are/governance/corporate-diversity.html.

    Today’s blog is written by Dr. Majorie Dejoie-Brewer, American Red Cross volunteer and member of the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Region Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

    As an African American Caribbean female, I take great pride in Black History Month and my heritage.  I relish in the thought of the capabilities of my community and that this month is dedicated to shining a light on the beauty that is the African Diaspora.

    We are a generous, talented and resilient tribe, but we are not always painted in that light in social media and the news.  Black History Month gives us an opportunity to unite our voices to showcase our many contributions, blessings, and gifts.

    My connection with the American Red Cross is both personal and professional and deeply important to me.  It started over 20 years ago with the inception of the Blue Tag program, which identifies sickle cell donors.

    It has evolved to include representing the sickle cell community through organizing blood drives and sponsored events, participating in community initiatives, discussing the importance of blood donations from the African American community on different platforms, and providing in-house educational seminars to staff and executives. I am thankful to the American Red Cross for being a valuable and long-standing partner of our community and for answering the call for more diversity, inclusion and equity.

    Sickle cell disease is an inherited condition that causes red blood cells to be hard and crescent-shaped, making it difficult for blood to flow smoothly and carry oxygen to the rest of the body. In the U.S., about 100,000 people of various racial and ethnic backgrounds, approximately 90 percent of whom are of African descent, are living with sickle cell disease. Regular blood transfusions are often used as a critical treatment for sickle cell patients, and blood donated by someone with a similar ethnicity is less likely to cause complications. To learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/blood-types/diversity/sicklecell.html.

    Main image description: Photo of Dr. Majorie Dejoie-Brewer

  • The Rose That Grew from Concrete

    Each February, the nation and the American Red Cross celebrate Black History Month. All this month here on the Red Cross Philly blog we honor our Black colleagues that are part of our local Red Cross team. We invited them to be guest bloggers to share their thoughts and stories as proud Red Crossers that make up our diverse team here in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Please note, the views expressed in this blog post are of the author and not necessarily those of the American Red Cross. To learn more about Diversity and Inclusion values at the Red Cross, please visit https://www.redcross.org/about-us/who-we-are/governance/corporate-diversity.html.

    Today’s blog is written by Cherieta Early, Regional Volunteer Services Officer, American Red Cross.

    After an unprecedented year of living in a “bubble,” I am looking forward to Black History Month. Why? Because I embody the success that comes from the African American struggle in America. Also, in line with our heritage, Black History Month is best celebrated through word of mouth communication like storytelling, song and now sharing on social platforms; finally, no FOMO on missing personal contact.

    We were all front and center as the plagues of COVID-19 and Social Injustice ravaged our country, so there is no need to rehash it. Instead I would like to share why I felt like “The Rose That Grew from Concrete” here at Red Cross.

    For over 20 years, my career seemed mediocre at best. I worked hard to establish a reputation as an intelligent, creative leader; however, I never really felt recognized for my efforts. Could I earn a living? Yes. Were my positions sometimes coveted by others? Yes. Was I satisfied? No. It seemed as if my limits were predetermined by others, and “average” or “just enough” would be my legacy. Metaphorically, this was concrete.

    What I did not consider was that my “LEGACY” was undergoing revision. Our African American Resource Group at the American Red Cross, UMOJA, unveiled a mentor program called LEGACY (Listen. Excel. Grow. Aspire. Connect Yourself). This group became the crack in the concrete through which I would grow; who knew?

    A resource of top-notch African American leaders with stories like many, giving of themselves to nurture talent when they could very well live within their success, seems like a novel idea in business, right? For most, yes; however, it’s a reality at the American Red Cross.

    The Red Cross Black Executive Steering Committee acted on a vision and essentially became the gardener, allowing me and many others to flourish – to grow from a crack in the concrete.

    Yes, I feel more celebratory than ever this Black History Month because my success is due, in part, to my community. Successful African Americans who have come before me paved the way. And a new generation of African Americans will not be silenced – whose voices and actions will demand social change.

    Main image description: Photo of Cherieta Early

  • Celebrating the Achievements of Professional Black Women

    Each February, the nation and the American Red Cross celebrate Black History Month. All this month here on the Red Cross Philly blog we honor our Black colleagues that are part of our local Red Cross team. We invited them to be guest bloggers to share their thoughts and stories as proud Red Crossers that make up our diverse team here in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Please note, the views expressed in this blog post are of the author and not necessarily those of the American Red Cross. To learn more about Diversity and Inclusion values at the Red Cross, please visit https://www.redcross.org/about-us/who-we-are/governance/corporate-diversity.html.

    Today’s blog is written by LaValle Warren, Sickle Cell Account Manager, Donor Recruitment, American Red Cross.

    If you ask me on any given day, I will tell you that I am Black history 365 days a year. Black history is my everyday life! Supporting Black-owned businesses and donating to and supporting Black organizations are at the core of my experience.  I attended a Historic Black College and University (HBCU), and throughout my life, I’ve actively championed for Black voting rights, equality, diversity and inclusion. Either via financial donations, volunteering or consulting with Black companies, I’ve always been about learning and contributing to the Black experience.  Living Black history is an ongoing process for me.

    Black History Month should be celebrated beyond the month of February. This way, people can continuously learn about the important roles that African Americans have played in the development of the United States, starting in 1619 when enslaved African people were captured and brought to these shores.  I often wonder why we’re not incorporating Black history information into our curriculum more. In fact, we should be taught about all immigrants who comprise our nation. This knowledge would make us more sensitive, respectful of one another and more conscious of our commonalities, rather than focusing on our cultural and racial differences.

    At the American Red Cross, I am very impressed that we have several initiatives that support ongoing diversity awareness in our company. The Diversity & Inclusion Committee, as well as The Umoja Committee, are open to all Red Crossers.  As a member of both committees, I firmly believe that the mission of these entities increases awareness about African American’s legacy and highlights the importance of diversifying our workplace.

    If we knew more about Black her/history, we would be aware of the significant contributions made by millions of enslaved individuals who provided free labor for hundreds of years to the very institutions and infrastructure of America. Even though I know many things about the contributions of my race, I saw a comment that former First Lady Michelle Obama made in her primetime televised address to the 2016 Democratic National Convention about how proud she was to have resided in the White House, saying, “I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves.”

    Some people were deeply offended by her remark, but in truth, African American enslaved and free people provided the bulk of labor that built the White House, the United States Capitol and other government buildings. This little-known historical fact among countless others illustrates how little is taught to us during our education. Perhaps if other groups of people were aware of the significant contributions made by people of color, it would increase respect and reduce racism and discrimination. This is what Black History Month means to me, honoring the achievements made by African Americans.

    I’m so proud of past and present historic individuals, such as Vice President Kamala Harris; NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, who helped calculate the trajectories for astronauts to get the moon; noted heavyweight world boxing champion Muhammad Ali; contralto and the first African American to perform with the New York Metropolitan Opera in 1955 Marian Anderson; successful writer James Baldwin; civil rights crusader Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; actress/author, Maya Angelou; Underground Railroad conductor Harriet Tubman; self-made billionaire media mogul Oprah Winfrey; Grammy Award-winning producer/songwriters and architects of the Sound of Philadelphia, Kenny Gamble & Leon Huff; Urban One Founder Cathy Hughes; activist Octavius Catto, who challenged discrimination in Philadelphia; the first Black Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall; Civil Rights advocate Rosa Park, who helped kick off the civil right movement; and reigning entertainment royalty Beyonce.

    These are just a handful of African Americans whose contributions to domestic and global culture are worthy of study, recognition and celebration in our society. In fact, closer to home for us in the American Red Cross, it is significant to know that Dr. Charles Drew,  considered by many to be the father of blood banks, was an African American physician who developed ways to process and store blood plasma.

    My current role at the American Red Cross as Sickle Cell Account Manager allows me to stand on the shoulders of Dr. Drew’s discoveries and legacy. I’m elated to represent our efforts within the Black community and connect with living African American leaders in churches, schools, civic organizations, corporations and the overall community. During February, Black History Month, and every month of the year, I will work diligently to uplift and educate the community about how the Red Cross blood collections operates.  As I proudly represent, I proclaim that Black history is ME, and Black history is an ongoing consequential part of American history.

    Main image description: Photo of LaValle Warren

  • Volunteer from West Africa Breaking Down Barriers

    Each February, the nation and the American Red Cross celebrate Black History Month. All this month here on the Red Cross Philly blog we honor our Black colleagues that are part of our local Red Cross team. We invited them to be guest bloggers to share their thoughts and stories as proud Red Crossers that make up our diverse team here in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Please note, the views expressed in this blog post are of the author and not necessarily those of the American Red Cross. To learn more about Diversity and Inclusion values at the Red Cross, please visit https://www.redcross.org/about-us/who-we-are/governance/corporate-diversity.html.

    Today’s blog is written by Oumar Toure, American Red Cross Volunteer.

    I moved to the U.S. when I was 17 years old as a bright-eyed college freshman. Up to that point, I had lived in Ivory Coast – a country in West Africa. Compared to my homeland, America is a lot more diverse; within a few weeks I made friends with students from Japan, Colombia, Turkey, Norway, and all over the U.S. – just to name a few places.

    However, once I stepped outside of my freshman orientation course, I eventually opened my eyes to the fact that despite its diversity, America is still very segregated. Indeed, a legacy of Jim Crow laws is the fact that the various neighborhoods within major American cities are clearly segregated along racial lines.

    The result is a lack of interaction between different racial groups which can lead to fear or discomfort around the unknown. On several occasions I felt that people were uneased around me before they knew anything about me except for the fact that I’m black.

    Black History Month to me represents a moment where those barriers are taken down, and people step outside of their comfort zone to learn about and appreciate Black culture through conversations, festivals, arts, etc.

    I have always felt energized by the sharing and mingling that happens during this month – I believe it allows us to more clearly see the humanity in each other and keep it at the center of our interactions. Will Smith phrased this best by saying: “the best things in life are found on the other side of discomfort.”

    Volunteering for the Red Cross has always given me a similar vigor and enthusiasm. My first volunteering experience was with the Sound the Alarm campaign; I was part of a group that canvased neighborhoods in Pittsburgh and installed smoke detectors in the homes of people who needed it. We went into every neighborhood and knocked on every door without hesitation or distinction – only respect and a desire to help.

    The volunteers and residents were from all sorts of different backgrounds, and the interactions we shared were extremely rewarding for both parties. Some residents would ask us to stay for 5 minutes to have a glass of water and chat – these simple moments of human connections are still etched in my memory today. Over my years of volunteering with the Red Cross, I’ve continued to be inspired by the organization’s commitment to helping people, while maintaining their dignity – one of the key ingredients to do this is keeping people’s humanity at the center of our effort.

    Main image description: Photo of Oumar Toure

  • What Black History Month Means to Me as a Red Crosser

    Each February, the nation and the American Red Cross celebrate Black History Month. All this month here on the Red Cross Philly blog we honor our Black colleagues that are part of our local Red Cross team. We invited them to be guest bloggers to share their thoughts and stories as proud Red Crossers that make up our diverse team here in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Please note, the views expressed in this blog post are of the author and not necessarily those of the American Red Cross. To learn more about Diversity and Inclusion values at the Red Cross, please visit https://www.redcross.org/about-us/who-we-are/governance/corporate-diversity.html.

    Today’s blog is written by Doris Hayward, Account Specialist, Donor Recruitment, American Red Cross.

    On May 1, 1965 I was a young black child at 9 years old.  I lived a couple blocks from Philadelphia’s Girard College.  On this day, I could hear bull horns and I could hear people chanting / singing “Freedom On The War Path” and “We Aint Gonna Let Nobody Turn Us Around.”

    I ran up to get a closer look at what was really going on at ‘The Wall.’  That is where I met The Honorable Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  I joined him on the famous 10-foot wall during the 43-acre Oasis March in efforts to desegregate the private boarding school established for White-Only Orphaned Boys.

    Although it was 17 days of protest with only 20 picketers, 800 police officers were stationed at ‘The Wall.’ The officers acted as a barrier separating the All-White School from the place where it was established, in an African-American neighborhood. The place where Girard College was established did not, and would not, accept Black students. I grew up in it and around it — this terrible thing called, Segregation.

    In fact, desegregation of Girard College started back in 1953.  I am proud to say that this demonstration and powerful Civil Rights Activism led to The Girard College Trustees’ Voting to admit African American Students to the Girard College School on May 23, 1968.  

    On Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, women across the country pledged to wear pearls on Inauguration Day to support the country’s first Black female Vice President-Elect, Kamala Harris.  

    I vow to continue wearing my pearls for equality & solidarity throughout the years, because I still believe in Dr. King’s dream, that one day we will live in a nation where we will not be judged by the color of our skin but by the content of our character.

    To be honest, I still have the dream, that one day little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers. This is what Black History Month means to me, that one day I will be treated fairly and respected equally in The United States of America.

    Thank You Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and former President Barack Obama, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. I also thank so many others who have helped to pave ways for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all.

    As an American Red Crosser, the Red Cross accepted my diversity as a Black woman, my unique culture, my dress, my swag, my hairstyles and all. They let me be me! I am Black within my Blackness at the American Red Cross — I am strong and I am essential! 

    Main image description: Photo of Doris Hayward, standing in front of pictures of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., former President Barack Obama, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.