Latest news with #JohnsonC.SmithUniversity
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Synthetic hair contains toxic chemicals. Black women are looking to ‘ditch the itch.'
From bohemian braids to feed-ins, Black people have always used braided hairstyles for protection, ease and versatility. These braided looks often include trendy and affordable synthetic hair. But though synthetic hair grants longer wear of the style and a maintained look, recent reports show it contains toxic chemicals linked to alarming health risks, including cancer. Consumer Reports released a study in February examining 10 of the most popular synthetic hair brands known to have plastic fibers that create the Kanekalon synthetic braiding hair. The study detected high levels of lead, acetone and hazardous pesticides in most of the brands; all of the brands contained carcinogens, chemicals known to cause cancer. Among Black women aged 18 to 34 nationwide, synthetic braids are one of the most popular hairstyles, according to Mintel, a market intelligence agency. Ciara Imani May, like many people who regularly use the products, had long suspected something was off with synthetic hair. While she was teaching entrepreneurship at Johnson C. Smith University, a historically Black university in Charlotte, North Carolina, she became curious about the makeup of the hair. In 2019 she created a plant-based alternative braiding hair, after continually experiencing an itchy and irritated scalp when wearing braided styles. 'We are striving to have the most accessible plant-based alternative on the market, so that as people decide to ditch the itch, they have our product that they can make the switch to,' May said. Just like May, several other Black entrepreneurs have started to launch alternative and plant-based braiding hair companies, including Nourie, Ruka and LAB Hair Without Harm. While some plant-based braids are formed with corn-derived fibers, Rebundle is made of banana fibers. Rebundle hair is also skin-safe and biodegradable. May created the brand with the health of Black women, the primary users of synthetic hair, in mind. Before starting the company, she studied the correlation between scalp irritation and the use of synthetic braiding hair. Through her analysis in 2019, May found that many toxic chemicals and carcinogens are found in braiding hair and that the hair is causing some form of harm to people who wear it, and to the environment. 'I wasn't surprised, just disappointed that it had taken this long for some research to come out, especially this type of research that garnered this much attention,' May said after seeing the Consumer Reports study. Consumer Reports tested some of the brands that make up the $2.7 billion braiding hair market as of 2023, like Magic Fingers, Sassy Collection, Sensationnel and Shake-N-Go, revealing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in all synthetic hair tested. These types of braiding hair often cost $4 to $8 a pack and can be easily found at every beauty supply store. VOCs are often human-made chemicals used to make paints, pharmaceuticals and refrigerants that are emitted as gases. According to the American Lung Association, breathing some VOCs can irritate the eyes, nose and throat, causing nausea. Long-term exposure can also cause central nervous system damage and has been linked to cancer. VOCs can be highly toxic for braiders and Black women getting their hair braided, especially when the braiding process is complete. Braiders will then use a lighter or flat iron to remove stray hairs and finish the style by dipping the braids in boiling water. Consumer Reports found that heat treatments like this release VOCs. Some braiders have also said they experience contact dermatitis on their hands when working with synthetic braiding hair. Because of the potential risk synthetic braiding hair poses to braiders and Black women, Rebundle launched a braiders network, where braiders are trained to use plant-based hair. The network provides samples of Rebundle, hosts marketing events and compiles a searchable database of trained Rebundle braiders. Desiree Mills, a braider based in the Bronx, often uses Rebundle hair for her clients who have voiced that synthetic braiding hair makes their scalp feel itchy, irritated, tender or has even caused an allergic reaction. 'As Black women, we are taking the initiative to get more information about what we are applying to our crowns. I say crowns because our hair is like a flower; it needs water and hydration to grow and feel comfortable,' said Mills, who runs the salon AmourNtingz. The data from Consumer Reports, she said, 'could encourage us to care more about our hair.' Before Mills found Rebundle, she would soak and rinse synthetic hair in apple cider vinegar before braiding it into a client's head as a way to detoxify and remove the chemical coatings and residues. As a licensed braider for more than four years, Mills feels like the biggest difference between synthetic braiding hair and Rebundle is texture and appearance. To her, synthetic hair looks dead and feels rough, irritating, plasticky and waxy. She describes Rebundle as smooth on her hands with a natural shine of thick strands that smell fresh. The price is more expensive: Rebundle is $36 a pack compared to the typical $4 to $8 for synthetic hair. However, Mills said that the plant-based braiding hair can be stretched and separated with a technique that may require fewer packs of hair than a look that uses synthetic braiding hair. 'Anytime there's an option, there's room for change, there's room to educate each other and educate ourselves with how we can be better or take care of our crowns better,' she said. Similar to braiding hair, other beauty and personal care products marketed to Black women have been found to have toxic chemicals. Hair relaxers, a chemical used to straighten hair, also raised concerns for Black women due to its strong odor and the itchy feeling it gives the scalp. In 2012, a study revealed its toxicity and likelihood of causing various cancer diagnoses. Black women largely switched from hair relaxers to natural styles because of the study. After the study gained national attention, salons and other professionals recorded declining sales of chemical hair relaxers over the last decade from close to $71 million in 2011 to $30 million in 2021, according to market research firm Kline + Company. May believes Black women can make a similar switch again for their health. She describes this as a pattern that continues to put Black women's health at risk, but she believes that being proactive and limiting exposure to toxins in beauty and personal care products is a great place to start. 'It's the combination of all products that we use as Black women to beautify ourselves and to care for ourselves, we have to decrease all other risks as much as possible by just making more thoughtful choices,' May said. The post Synthetic hair contains toxic chemicals. Black women are looking to 'ditch the itch.' appeared first on The 19th. News that represents you, in your inbox every weekday. Subscribe to our free, daily newsletter.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Charlotte's bold power play to bring CIAA Tournament home
When it comes to HBCU basketball, few events match the energy, culture, and community of the CIAA Tournament. And now, Charlotte is putting on a full-court press to bring the iconic event back to the Queen City—where many believe it truly belongs. After hosting the CIAA Tournament from 2006 to 2020, Charlotte is bidding to reclaim it for the 2028–2030 cycle, challenging current host Baltimore for the future of one of Black college sports' most celebrated weeks. Despite a scheduling conflict in 2027, city leaders are confident that the revamped proposal signals a new era of commitment to HBCU excellence. Advertisement During its original run, Charlotte generated over $650 million in economic impact, drawing fans from across the country. This time, city officials are leaning into even stronger infrastructure: hotel capacity is up 38% since 2020, and major upgrades—like the $245 million renovation of Spectrum Center—highlight Charlotte's readiness to host on a grander scale. 'Charlotte was always the CIAA's spiritual home,' said Councilman Malcolm Graham, a Johnson C. Smith University alum. 'This is more than basketball. It's about culture, equity, and legacy.' The city's pitch also taps into North Carolina's new major events fund, created alongside sports betting legislation, potentially easing financial burdens. Hotel pricing concerns—once a deal-breaker—have been addressed to avoid requiring rigid rate structures. And with everything from fan fests to scholarship galas proposed within city-owned venues, security and experience take center stage. Baltimore, which has hosted the tournament since 2021, brings a strong track record, including a $1.5 million annual scholarship commitment. But Charlotte aims to match that and raise the stakes with a more centralized and culturally immersive experience. Advertisement The CIAA Board of Presidents will vote this summer. If successful, Charlotte could welcome the CIAA back starting in 2028—ready to rewrite history where it all began. Related: HBCU school sparks major buzz with bold talent move Related: HBCU legend makes unique decision on NCAA future
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
I create a classroom of openness and respect to show that DEI matters
When I began teaching at an HBCU nine years ago, I have to admit, I felt a bit safe. I enjoyed the feeling of being free to be me and the nostalgia I got from my students as well. Seeing them explore, reflect, question, fail, and get up to try again was an experience I wish I could have bottled up. Sitting at the highest point of the city, Johnson C. Smith University has a rich history and tradition. I might go too hard on the history and tradition in my classrooms, but being a product of parents who met here and married does that to a girl. I spend a lot of days reminding students of times before, whether causes alumni fought for, or when alumni confidently walked the streets of Beatties Ford Road either over its iconic bridge or across campus to get to class. Adorned in stylish garments and dripping with their intelligence on various global concerns, there was never a doubt from the students or the staff and faculty that it was okay to be Black and beautiful. Today, the questions I receive make me wonder if my students still have that same confidence in their world and themselves. A female student asked me about my safety as an educator. 'Will you be okay Professor Corbett . . . you know . . . because you are what people might consider woke.' Another question was by a transgender student, who asked, soon after the presidential election, 'Did I make the right choice,' in reference to his sexuality. Both questions brought tears to my eyes and were my primary companion on my drive home. To be honest, I am not sure if it was because of their worry or because I did not have any answers, but for once in a long time, I was speechless. I create a course with my students in mind. I had and still have wonderful experiences in my academic matriculation. It is important I provide them with a similar experience. As a result, all of my courses have a mandatory community service component. It is to bolster their resumes and allow them to have equitable and sustainable careers. But I have to push them at times. Sometimes they do not think they are worthy of experiences we are creating with our community partners. Whether it be their race, the school they chose to attend, their age or their sexuality,impostor syndrome weighs heavy on my students. One reason for that is these experiences take them out of their comfort zone. But, more importantly, they wonder if the color of their skin,their education or their ideologies will cause them to be mocked or ridiculed. As much as I prepare for these moments, sometimes I cannot take their fears away. These faulty perspectives should bring us all together. I do as much as I can to create a classroom that is run on fidelity. A classroom that has an appreciation for all ideas. Mine is not the only one that will move the needle in our classroom. Every idea, every point of reflection and observation is included in our discussions. Every student, regardless of what box they check, what political ideas they hold or the color of the skin, is welcome to our table of learning. If I cannot guarantee this type of experience for them outside the classroom, I can surely do my best to uplift and graciously challenge them inside. So, whenever you ride by our school, and you ponder what we may be learning here, know that we are teaching them to still believe diversity, equity and inclusion matter. Jasmine M. Corbett is a mom and native of Charlotte. As a professor at Johnson C. Smith University, she merges communication and law in an effort to help young people feel confident to tell their stories.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
College president eyes campus expansion
The president of Johnson C. Smith University outlined ambitious plans this week to expand the campus while generating new revenue and building stronger connections with the rest of the city. Among the possibilities: Replacing 65-year-old Brayboy Gymnasium, the 1,360-capacity home of Golden Bulls basketball. Valerie Kinloch, who became JCSU president in August 2023, shared her vision during an interview with CBJ at her office in Biddle Hall. That vision includes building a new home for the school's basketball and volleyball teams and finding more ways to incorporate current and future classrooms and other facilities for community use during off-peak campus hours. READ: Johnson C. Smith University celebrates record enrollment She said planning is in the early stages and did not disclose a timetable or possible costs for campus expansion projects. JCSU, founded in 1867, is a private, historically Black college. Last fall, enrollment increased by 19% year over year to 1,300 students. Continue reading here. WATCH: Johnson C. Smith University celebrates record enrollment
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Tuesday Forum wraps up Black History Month with a discussion about family
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Panelists talked about the history dating back to the 1700s. All with family members who were part of the civil rights movement and helped establish successful African American neighborhoods in Charlotte. Many say Johnson C. Smith University was the hub of the civil rights movement in the 60s when they were growing up. They talked about how often they couldn't go out of the boundaries of the neighborhood, but despite that received professional degrees because it was expected of them. RELATED | Insight and camaraderie- Charlotte leaders kick of Black History Month with program featuring four mayors Four families were represented, and all the relatives said they knew about their history because each family member in the past took time to write it down and pass along stories verbally. When asked how protest differs back then and now, some say you have to remember that many want to see the same outcome. 'Although we may not have agreed to the means and the ways that we would help ourselves, but we've lost sight of the fact that we all have to help each other,' added panelist, Abdullah Salim. 'We have to be one family.' The panelists also encouraged everyone in attendance to look at their history and catalog it for generations to come. Also, organizers say they were pleased with the attendance at all the Black History Month events, but say they are at the Belmont Regional Center every Tuesday meeting in east Charlotte. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
