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by Melody M. McDowell
he African-American woman is multi-dimen-
T sional: She is mother, wife, daughter, caretaker
of the legacy and upon whom the future of the race
depends. She is the personification of spirituality. She
has achieved untold heights. Among her ranks is
media mogul Oprah Winfrey; astronaut Mae Jemison;
U.S. Senator Carol Moseley-Braun; and voluminous
single heads of households.
With the double edged sword of racism and sexism to
contend with, one wonders how she copes...sur
vives...gathers her strength. That comes in her ability
to combine work and play.
Senator Carol Moseley-Braun would agree. Despite
the frenzy associated with set
ting policy for the nation, sh
recognized the importance o
finding balance in her life. “
make it a habit to travel t
Illinois practically every week
end to respond to needs a
home and the needs of my son.
I have to schedule time for
Matt (her son) as aggressively
as I schedule time with the peo- Sen. Carol Mosely-Braun
ple of Illinois. You have sacrifice all around and pray
that you are giving your best to each task before you,
whether personal or professional.”
Attorney Jacqueline Atkins, the first African-American
woman to serve as president of the YWCA of
Metropolitan Chicago and current executive vice
president of RESCORP, a housing concern, says that
Black women must get past the guilt of leaving the
children with sitters or grandparents and set-aside
time for herself. She says she sees more Black women
making a conscious effort to nurture one another, net
work, and carve out time for activities like tennis,
golf, and annual “love me days.” And, she adds, the
ultimate beneficiaries are family, friends, and co
workers who reap the rewards of this balanced
lifestyle. “Balance is the key. If you don’t do it, you
will do children a disservice by staying with them for
24 hours. Whether you're a high-powered executive
or a clerk in the typing pool, you must take your vaca
tion and regroup so you can be healthy to those who
need you the most.”
B lack women are slowly inching their way into the
critical fitness area and Donna Richardson
embodies that movement. A co-star of
ESPN’s “Fitness Pros,” a national aerobic
silver medalist, and a certified fitness
instructor and authority, Donna travels the
country lecturing on health
and fitness and leading Dutns Tißestien
exercise classes. She says fitness is essen
tial to a woman’s health. “I view fitness
and diet as preventive medicine and a
first line of defense against poor health
and constant visits to the doctor.” She is
quick to note that African-Americans
suffer disproportionately from heart dis
ease, obesity, and other ailments that exer
cise addresses. Donna, who stars in her g
video, “Back to Basics,” is encouraged that when she
travels, she sees more and more Black women in aer
obic classes but says more women need to be in the
gym.
One who would agree is Shanna Jeanne Mayes. Forty
years ago, she was a poster child for poor health suf
fering from ailments that were life threatening.
Eventually, she launched a regime that includes fit
ness and stretching. Her ill health is now a memory.
Today, at 50, she is proud that she is able to juggle her
various roles as mother, grandmother, and entrepre
neur - she credits her fitness regime for that. Recently,
she produced her own video, “The Beauty of
Stretching,” where she shares her fitness secrets.
In crossing the nation, one sees African-American
women from all walks of life delicately handling the
work/play juggling act. Sharon Giles-Alexander,
president of E.P.C. International, Inc., in New Jersey
a $2 million dollar family-run advertising specialty
company and a mother and wife of two active boys,
ages ten and eight, admits to being harried as she runs
the business, runs around with the children, cooks
dinner, monitors homework, and is a good wife and
mother. She says the “special time” she carves out for
herself and the once-in-awhile trips she takes with the
family keep her intact.
In Atlanta, Martha Hurse, an office manager for a
medical facility and a single mother of a 12-year-old
daughter, finds relief in church involvement.
On the West coast, Chrystal Swinson, a 40-something
events coordinator for the City of Los Angeles, who is
divorced with a daughter in college, spends her spare
time sewing and reading. She says the peace that she
derives from sewing enables her to successfully han
dle her job.
Angela Wells, a 25-year-old marketing manager for a
publishing company in Burr Ridge, Illinois, achieves
balance by taking self-improvement courses, includ
ing a weekly tap dancing class. Angela, who is
engaged to be married this year, says the courses help
balance the negative stress of deadlines and the posi
tive stress of planning a big wedding.
Note:Donna Richardson’s “Back to Basics™ video can be ordered by calling
1-800-745-1145.
Note:Shanna Jeanne Mayes’ video, “The Beauty of Stretching,” can be
ordered by calling the Artistic Communication Center at 312-280-0808. &
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