Nurah Speaks

We have their attention, now what? What are we asking for?

Whatever the ask, our demands should be Actionable, Measurable and Permanent.

We have been assuaged for too long with sentiments and empty platitudes that do not create substantive change. This go round we should be smarter and more sophisticated.

We must no longer accept temporary measures when what is needed most is indelible and fundamental reform. 

If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to [email protected].  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link.

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To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email [email protected]

Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

Dissatisfaction produces change. The greater the dissatisfaction, the greater the change.

The people have spoken and they are dissatisfied with the unjust killing of Black people by law enforcement.  George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tamir Rice, Sandra Bland, Eric Garner, John Crawford, Walter Scott, Freddie Gray, Atatiana Jefferson are among those who have been killed during interactions with police. This tragic list unfortunately goes on to include many, many more.

As demonstrators have taken their protests downtown, there are many commentators who are unhappy with the nature of the demonstrations. Among the mostly peaceful protests has been looting, arson, vandalism and property destruction.

It is important to note that there has been organized right wing and left wing militants responsible for property damage, fires and much of the chaos. Oddly placed pallets of bricks were spotted in many cities in non-construction or non-work zones. There has also been coordinated groups breaking store front glass and lighting fires in retail districts. But among these destructive actors are also lawless local opportunists taking advantage of the chaos.

The protestors have been disruptive, loud and inconvenient to political leaders, businesses and law enforcement.  The nature of any protest is to be disruptive. The people are at a tipping point and the chaos that has ensued in America is symptomatic of America’s sickness.

Rebellions are not civil. They are not passive. They are not convenient.  Radical change in this country was never born from polite movements.  That is the price of injustice.  

If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to [email protected].  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link.

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To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email [email protected]

Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

In many ways, I don't need to record another podcast episode to talk about what's happened in Minneapolis.  You can go to the Nurah Speaks archives.  The last episode, ‘Action Is The Defining Measure Of Revolution’ talks about what's happened to our brother and to too many other brothers and too many sisters and too many families and communities across this nation.

We need guidance, we need leadership.  And as someone who has this platform, I know that it is my responsibility to be dignified, civilized and truthful. 

I also know that the truth will sting some and inform all.

And that is the purpose of this message- to deliver the truth, to share information that is not going to just inspire us to feel good-but that's going to inspire us to take action.

We cannot keep wait for others to stand up and to speak the loudest on issues that affect us the most.

We have to give the energy and effort that is going to equal the change that we say that we want and that we need.

If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to [email protected].  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link.

Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email [email protected]

Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

Revolutions are defined by the actions we take to produce radical change. In 2020, the Black community is still petitioning for justice, fairness and equity within a country founded on unimaginable crimes committed against humanity.

We have marched; we have sat in, we have stood, we have sang, we have boycotted and we have been ignored.

In spite of our efforts we remain outside of the gates of justice. 

Our mistake has been putting the burden of change on the patron of our pain.  The burden to change is our own. This includes extreme adjustments in our behaviors and performance as a people.

If all we want is to talk about the problem of injustice, we can continue to demonstrate. But if we truly want a revolution, our actions must be commensurate to the changes we want to generate for our people.

If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to [email protected].  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link.

Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

To invite Nurah to speak at  your next event, email [email protected]

Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

Not all are celebrating Mother’s Day in the same way. Some are celebrating without their mothers and some mothers are celebrating without their children. In honor of this Mother’s Day, I want to share an interview with a mother who I admire greatly, Sonja Prince.

Sonja is the Executive Director of the Kwesi Prince Foundation, a pediatric cancer organization dedicated to providing support to families suffering the devastating effects of Childhood Cancer with a focus on brain tumors. The foundation is named in honor of Kwesi Prince, Sonja’s son, who was diagnosed with a rare malignant brain tumor in 2010 when he was just 7 years old. After multiple brain surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation and a bone marrow transplant, Sonja lost Kwesi in 2014.

Listen as Sonja shares their journey and the amazing work of the Kwesi Prince Foundation.

This conversation with Sonja is informative and listeners will learn:

-how friends and family can support caregivers of children with cancer

-the extreme need for increased funding for pediatric cancer research

-why it’s important that caregivers optimize their own health and wellness

-what Kwesi’s journey helped her learn about life

Learn more by visiting the KwesiPrinceFoundation.org.  Listen to the Kwesi Prince Foundation Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-kwesi-prince-foundation-podcast/id1437749605.   

If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to [email protected].  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link.

Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook,

Twitter and Instagram.

To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email [email protected]

Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

Leadership can be more pain than glory and few truly appreciate the demands of a good leader.  Anyone seeking to be in leadership (or those already leading) should ask themselves the following important questions:

Who - Who are you- Who do you want to lead-Who has lead you-Who is leading you now?

What - What are your qualifications that validates your desire for leadership?

Where - What is your ultimate destination for those whom you wish to lead?  What is your end-goal?

When - Will you serve only when it’s convenient?  Are you a 9-5 leader?  Or will you serve when it is not easy or convenient, when the cameras are not rolling, when the crowd is not large, when your allies are not present?

Why - What is your why and motivation? Are you leading for clout, ego, vanity or personal access?  Can your 'why' make you vulnerable?

How - How will you lead? What is your leadership style?

How Much- How much are you willing to give and how much are you willing to endure?

If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to [email protected].  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link.

Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook,

Twitter and Instagram.

To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email [email protected]

Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

Liberal media using Donald Trump as the scapegoat for American racism is a distraction. Sure, his language may be deemed incendiary to some and insensitive to others. However, we have to be clear that he is not the author of bigotry or prejudicial behavior in this country. There is a four decades long track record of racism in the American fabric that existed well before Trump’s business endeavors or presidency.

We can easily become distracted when pundits, cable news anchors or commentators scream “Racism” each time Trump says or tweets something outrageous. Before major news outlets were following his tweets, we, Black people in America, faced racism in the housing markets, in education, in healthcare, in the criminal justice system, and so on. If our attention is diverted from breaking down inequities in these structures each time someone screams about Trump, what progress would we make?

Here is an example…

I read an article recently which recounted racist slurs and insults directed towards an American fencer and USA Fencing’s sports performance manager, both of whom are black. The author writes that the athlete and her teammates were being honored via a Zoom conference for winning a title at the 2018 championships when a disruptor joined and typed the hateful language in the chat throughout the program.  

She wrote, “That anyone feels emboldened or entitled enough to utter those slurs is reprehensible though, sadly, unsurprising. Racism and discrimination are cornerstones of President Donald Trump’s administration, and Trump never misses an opportunity to make people of color feel unwelcome in a country where we nearly everyone of us were an “other” at one point.”

The writer includes Trump in the piece as if he is relevant to the incident. What does the President or his administration have to do with someone disturbing a celebratory event? He is not the author of racism. That is a distraction and we are too behind to lose focus.

Instead allowing media to shift our attention to the antics of Trump- we must understand that the American institution is honeycombed with policies to deprive us of civil and human rights. We must remember that there are networks which sustain and benefit from them and that those networks include individuals from all sides of the ideological landscape.

I encourage you to stay focused. Donald Trump is only a scapegoat commentators use to deflect from what has always been inherent in the foundation of this nation. But he is not the author of racism. No, he is only a symptom of it.

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Submit your questions or public speaking requests to: [email protected] and visit NurahSpeaks.com to learn more.  

Remember, don't just join the movement; Be The Movement!

References for this week's episode:

https://www.huduser.gov/portal/Publications/pdf/HUD-514_HDS2012_execsumm.pdf  

https://www.thoughtco.com/racism-in-health-care-still-a-problem-2834530  

https://www.bustle.com/p/this-is-proof-that-institutional-racism-is-still-very-much-a-problem-43610  https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/columnist/nancy-armour/2020/04/25/zoom-us-fencer-subjected-racist-abuse-call-gets-little-support/3023301001/

Recently, Dr. Terry Mason, former Commissioner of Public Health for the City of Chicago, was a guest on CROE-TV discussing how we can stay healthy during the coronavirus pandemic.  He shared four key steps that should implemented for good health during our current crises and at any time:

1.   Manage Stress

When our stress is high, our the stress hormone cortisol is released into the blood stream.  Cortisol increases our heart rate, blood pressure, constricts our blood vessels and increases blood glucose levels.

These health impacts over an extended period of time can lead to significant health issues like heart disease, heart attacks, stroke and diabetes.

2.  Get Proper Sleep

Poor sleep can increase inflammation, blood pressure, insulin resistance, cortisol, weight gain, and cardiovascular disease, as well as decrease blood sugar regulation.

Less than five hours sleep per night on a regular basis is associated with higher mortality, and having less than seven hours sleep for three nights in a row has the same effect on the body as missing one full night of sleep.

3.  Drink Water

All of the organs, tissues and cells in our bodies require water for proper functioning. But remember you do not just have to jug a gallon size bottle of water, if we are eating fresh fruits and vegetables, they too contain water.

Water is also good for bowel motility, joint health (the cushioning agent of joints and discs of the spine – consists of about 80 percent water),hair and skin.  

4.  Eat Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Dr. Mason advises us to eat fresh fruits and vegetables, especially those deeply colored.  These foods have antioxidants which protects our blood vessels.  It is essential that we intake nutrients and minerals from their original sources (fruit and vegetables) so that they are more likely to be absorbed and used by the body

Dr. Mason's interview can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ccWQOrKV4E.  Dr. Mason continues to be a leading expert in health and wellness and  was most recently the chief operating officer for the Cook County Department of Pubic Health.

Subscribe and follow CROE-TV to get up to date information and content with you in mind.

If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to [email protected].  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link.

Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook,

Twitter and Instagram.

To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email [email protected]

Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

Fasting has such great benefits for our health. But it contradicts with our American culture that promotes an overindulgent lifestyle wherein we are encouraged to do, say and be whatever we want.

However, as we are confronted now more than ever with our mortality in the wake of COVID19, we really have to examine our thoughts and habits around food-and the impacts on our health.

Fasting is the foregoing of food for a specified period of time and it has several benefits including:

•cleanses impurities from the blood

•causes the body to eliminate toxins from previous meals

•allows the body to rest

•clears the mind

•regulates the mood, promotes a humble spirit

If you are challenged with high blood pressure and high blood sugar consider changing your eating habits. Three, four, six times a day to eat puts a lot of tax and strain on the digestive system.

I encourage you to research the benefits of fasting for yourself.  If you want to try fasting, I would encourage you to begin eliminating meals.  For example, if you eat three meals a day, only eat two meals daily. If you eat two meals per day, reduce down to one. Then when you are in the habit of eating once every 24 hours, take it to 48 hours.

Remember, feeling hungry won’t kill you and hunger pangs pass. Plus, you will enjoy the rewards of setting a goal and sticking to it. 

Get a copy of the book How To Eat To Live and try to eat as it prescribes. Your body and your mind will thank you.

If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to [email protected].  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link.

Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook,

Twitter and Instagram.

To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email [email protected]

Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!

We know about the disparities in healthcare. We know of the inequities in access and treatment. Therefore, the best choices we have are to create optimal wellness through good lifestyle choices and begin development of a healthcare network of our own.

Though some may say that developing our own healthcare system is a long ways away, good choices are ours to make today. If there is anything that the COVID-19 pandemic is showing us is that in a national emergency we will continue to suffer the most and suffer the worst. What will we do differently so that when the next crises comes, we will be a much less vulnerable population?

If you would like to engage with the Nurah Speaks podcast, submit your listener questions to [email protected].  Listeners can also learn more about Nurah by visiting her website: NurahSpeaks.com or reading her blog by clicking this link.

Follow Nurah Speaks @NurahSpeaksPodcast on Facebook,

Twitter and Instagram.

To bring Nurah as a speaker at your next event, email [email protected]

Remember, don’t just Join the Movement, Be the Movement!