For families with a child in middle school, Score Academy Online is our top pick: it is Cognia accredited, its middle school program covers grades 6 to 8 within a wider K-12 private online school, and families can choose among three scheduling formats. These include live small-group classes, live lessons with recordings, and fully self-paced study, all with real teachers. Families who need K-12 continuity during international moves should look closely at Forest Trail Academy. Those who want self-paced study backed by a traditional school support team may find The Keystone School a particularly good fit.

The sections ahead include a quick comparison and guidance on what to look for, followed by detailed profiles of each school. Each profile covers strengths and trade-offs, and the closing questions address common concerns about schedules, support, and school records.

At a glance

What to look for

Choosing well matters in middle school. Grades 6 to 8 build the study habits your child will carry into high school, so scheduling flexibility needs to sit alongside dependable academic support. Look for legitimate credentials, a workable weekly schedule, access to teachers, and courses designed for the middle grades rather than a program that simply offers them on paper.

• Accreditation status: Look for recognition from a known body such as Cognia or WASC. It signals that credits and school transcripts are documented to a standard high schools understand.
• Scheduling options vary: some schools are fully self-paced, some offer live online classes with recordings, and some blend both. Consider whether your child needs to work around travel or benefits from regular live contact.
• Teacher and support access: A strong private online school gives you real educators, advisors, or counselors you can reach, not just videos and quizzes. Check how and when students and parents can get help.
• Grade-level fit matters even within a K-12 school. Make sure the middle school courses, workload, and support are built for ages 11 to 14 rather than adapted from high school without enough attention to younger students.

The 6 best online schools for flexible scheduling

These six schools aim to help families balance school with sports, travel, and everyday life, and each provides documented coursework and teacher or staff support. Their grade ranges and learning formats differ, as do the ways families get help. Number one is our top recommendation for most middle school families; the others may fit better when a particular scheduling or support need takes priority.

#1. Score Academy Online – best for accredited middle school program with multiple formats

Score Academy Online is a private K-12 online school with a middle school program for grades 6 to 8, designed for families who want structure without a rigid school day.

The program lets you get accredited education from home through three packages: live small-group classes, live group lessons with recordings you can review later, and fully self-paced study. Every path includes teacher involvement rather than automated lessons alone. Live packages offer real-time interaction and teacher chat; asynchronous study includes teacher grading and progress tracking, but not live lessons or teacher chat. If scheduling is your main concern, compare these packages against an ordinary training or travel week, including the time your child can realistically set aside for lessons and independent work.

For athletes and travelers, the live option with recordings can be a useful middle ground. Your child gets regular teacher contact and a class rhythm, with recordings available to review from a hotel or rink. Recordings provide replay access; review attendance requirements before planning travel during scheduled lessons. Fully self-paced study works well when schedules change from week to week, while the small-group live format suits students who focus better with peers and a set meeting time.

Strengths

• Cognia accredited private school background, which helps high schools understand your child’s records
• Three formats under one roof, with live small-group classes and recorded live lessons alongside self-paced online learning
• Real teachers in every package, not software only
• Middle grades focus means reading, writing, math, and study skills are pitched for grades 6 to 8
• Record keeping designed to produce a clear transcript for high school applications

Trade-offs

• Fully self-paced study requires a regular progress routine at home, particularly for students still learning to organize their work
• Private school tuition applies, so it is not a free public virtual school option
• Live formats still require some routine, which can be difficult during peak tournament or travel weeks

Best for: Families who want an accredited online middle school with a choice between live teacher contact and independent study with teacher grading.

#2. Sterling Academy – best for year-round rolling enrollment and part-time coursework

Sterling Academy’s Cognia/SACS-accredited program covers grades 6 through 12 and is built around self-paced study with round-the-clock access to coursework. The school also offers K-5, but its stated Cognia/SACS accreditation specifically covers the middle and high school grades.

You can enroll full-time or part-time, pursue a diploma pathway, or take individual courses to supplement homeschool or another program. Enrollment is open year-round. That means families do not have to wait for fall, and students get 24/7 access to online coursework plus opportunities for one-on-one assistance when they get stuck.

That setup fits competitive dancers, hockey players, equestrians, and families who travel for work. Your child can plan coursework for early mornings, evenings, or gaps between events while keeping course-completion deadlines in view. Part-time enrollment and single-course options are useful if you only need math and science online and plan to keep other subjects elsewhere.

Strengths

• Accredited 6 to 12 program with 24/7 coursework access, allowing students to choose when they study
• Full-time and part-time enrollment, plus individual courses for families supplementing another program
• Year-round start dates remove the September-only barrier
• One-on-one assistance available for tougher units
• Clear fit for athletes and performers with uneven weekly hours

Trade-offs

• Self-paced success depends on student motivation and parent check-ins, especially in grades 6 to 8
• Less daily live class community than a live small-group model, which some social learners miss
• A simple weekly plan for progress checks can help keep work from piling up before travel

Best for: Families who want to start any time of year, study part-time, or add single courses around sports and travel.

#3. The Keystone School – best for self-paced learning with traditional school support

The Keystone School is an accredited online school offering self-paced distance learning across elementary, middle, and high school, with full-time enrollment as well as part-time and homeschool routes.

The school-style support behind the self-paced courses is a key part of its appeal. Families have access to educators, administrators, and guidance services staff, and can reach faculty and staff by phone or email. Teachers are state certified, so instruction and feedback come from licensed professionals rather than an automated system alone.

If your child is leaving a brick-and-mortar school, this can feel familiar. There is grading, school structure, and someone to call when you have a question, while your child still controls when learning happens during the day. It suits families who want independent study with a school team available to help.

Strengths

• Self-paced courses across elementary, middle, and high school, available through full-time, part-time, and homeschool routes
• Dedicated faculty and administrators, with guidance staff available for academic and administrative questions
• Licensed teachers provide grading and support
• Reachable by phone or email, which helps parents who want clear accountability
• Good bridge for students moving from a traditional school to flexible online learning

Trade-offs

• Students still need to manage daily progress on their own, so parent oversight matters in middle school
• Fewer scheduled live peer classes than cohort-based models, which can feel quiet for social learners
• Families with very heavy travel may need to build their own weekly rhythm around deadlines

Best for: Students who want to work independently but keep the backing of a full school team.

#4. Forest Trail Academy – best for international families and K-12 breadth

Forest Trail Academy is an accredited international K-12 online school based in West Palm Beach, Florida, with toll-free and direct phone support.

The K-12 range is the draw here. You can keep siblings in one system and continue from middle school into high school without applying to a different school. Its international enrollment makes it relevant to families living abroad, moving often, or schooling across time zones. US-based administration also gives parents a point of contact for school records and questions.

For middle schoolers who travel internationally or split time between countries, staying in one continuous program through grades 6 to 8 and beyond can reduce paperwork and transcript gaps. That continuity is worth considering alongside the day-to-day task of finding study time while away from home.

Strengths

• Accredited K-12 online school, so your child can stay in one program as they grow
• Experience with international families and mobile lifestyles
• US-based office with phone support for admissions and records
• Useful continuity for siblings in different grades
• Documented coursework that supports applications to the next school

Trade-offs

• Keeping one school during travel does not remove the need to reserve consistent study time across changing time zones
• Younger middle schoolers still need a parent to help organize coursework and equipment, and find a suitable place to study

Best for: Families abroad, frequent movers, or parents who want one K-12 home for several years.

#5. Acellus Academy – best for structured platform-led learning

Acellus Academy is a structured online school serving grades K to 5, 6 to 8, and 9 to 12, known for its guided online course system with parent tools.

Students follow a clear course sequence using video-based instruction and practice, with checks for understanding along the way. Automated diagnostics help target missing concepts, and a parent monitoring account shows progress, attendance patterns, and grades. Families can enroll full-time or choose individual courses, and phone support is available Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Central Time from its Kansas City base. The school holds WASC accreditation.

This is a good fit if your middle schooler likes clear steps and predictable routines. Your child logs in and follows the lesson path, while you can review progress in the evening after practice without having to sit alongside every lesson.

Strengths

• Clear grade bands, including a dedicated 6 to 8 middle school segment
• Structured lesson path with built-in checks that help students fill gaps
• Parent account for monitoring pace and grades
• Full-time or individual course enrollment for flexible planning
• WASC accreditation supports record credibility

Trade-offs

• Platform-led style means less live teacher interaction than live class models
• Phone help is limited to weekday business hours, which can be tricky across time zones or on weekends
• Students who need discussion and peer interaction may find the format quiet

Best for: Independent middle schoolers who thrive with a structured, step-by-step online program and active parent monitoring.

#6. Obridge Academy – best for personalized support with counseling and advisement

Obridge Academy offers flexible online alternatives for middle school and high school with an emphasis on personalized attention.

Alongside subject teachers, the school has an education team that includes counseling and advisement professionals and a Director of Support Services. That team supports international students and those catching up after a tough year, as well as students planning next steps toward higher education pathways. Obridge Academy is Cognia accredited and offers both middle school and high school programs.

For parents, the appeal is access to several kinds of support. Your child can get academic instruction alongside help from an advisement team, a useful combination when a family wants guidance on coursework and the transition to high school.

Strengths

• Online middle school and high school options with flexible pacing
• Built-in counseling and advisement team alongside subject help
• Personalized attention aimed at nontraditional learners and international students
• Support leadership on staff for coordinating interventions
• Pathway guidance that looks ahead to high school and beyond

Trade-offs

• Counseling and advisement complement coursework but do not replace a student’s need for regular study time
• A personalized support approach works best when students communicate difficulties and families stay involved in academic planning

Best for: Middle schoolers who do best with extra adult guidance alongside academics, including students rebuilding momentum.

Frequently asked questions about flexible online middle schools

Which is best for families who want no Zoom and minimal live meetings?

If you want the least live time, compare fully self-paced options first. Sterling Academy, The Keystone School, and Acellus Academy let students progress without daily live attendance, with help available by message, email, or phone. Score Academy Online can also work if you choose its fully self-paced package rather than its live formats. Before enrolling, ask whether any specific course requires live sessions so you can judge the schedule against your family’s commitments.

Which is best for struggling students versus students who just need more time?

For students who are behind or have lost confidence, compare support depth rather than pace alone. Obridge Academy offers counseling and advisement alongside personalized attention, while The Keystone School has guidance staff and licensed teachers behind its self-paced courses. If your child is doing fine academically and mainly needs room for sports or travel, focus on how the schedule works in practice. Score Academy Online’s format choices and Sterling Academy’s self-paced access are worth comparing, with support needs considered separately from timing.

What is the difference between transcripts from flexible online schools and traditional schools for high school admissions?

The learning format matters less than documentation and accreditation. A strong accredited online school issues a transcript that includes courses, grades, credits, and school details high schools know how to read. Ask whether the school is Cognia accredited or WASC accredited, how grades are recorded, and what records you receive if you leave midyear. Keep report cards and course descriptions, along with contact details for the registrar, to make a transfer easier to manage. The receiving high school decides placement and whether any courses taken for high school credit meet its requirements.

What is the difference between a self-paced online school and a live virtual school?

Self-paced means your child controls when learning happens within broad deadlines, which helps around practices and flights. In a live virtual school, classes meet online at set times, adding routine and peer contact but allowing less day-to-day freedom. Some schools blend both approaches through live lessons with recordings. Match the choice to your child: independent workers often prefer self-paced study, while social or easily distracted learners often do better with regular live contact.

What is the difference between accredited and unaccredited online programs and how do you check?

Accreditation means an outside body has reviewed the school’s curriculum quality, teacher qualifications, and record keeping. An unaccredited program can still teach content, but future schools may question its credits. Look for the accreditor’s name on the school site, then find the school in the accreditor’s directory. You can also call the school to ask for its accreditation ID and details of the transcript you receive. Be wary of vague claims that do not name an accrediting body.

Which is best for full-time travel versus part-time supplement?

For full-time travel or a full course load around elite sports, compare Score Academy Online for its middle grade program and format choices, Sterling Academy for year-round starts and 24/7 access, and Forest Trail Academy for K-12 continuity abroad. For part-time needs, Sterling Academy and Acellus Academy offer individual courses, while The Keystone School has part-time and homeschool routes with school support. Choose full-time when you want one transcript source and part-time when you only need one or two subjects.

Your next step by scenario

If your priority is middle school with a choice of learning formats, start with Score Academy Online for its grades 6 to 8 program and real teachers. If you need to start midseason or add single courses, consider Sterling Academy’s rolling entry and part-time paths. If you want self-paced work with a familiar school team behind you, look at The Keystone School. For families living abroad or seeking one school from middle through high school, Forest Trail Academy is a practical option. Acellus Academy suits students who like a clear platform path with parent oversight, while Obridge Academy is worth considering for advisement alongside classes. As you compare options for 2026, use your actual family calendar to judge which schedule leaves room for schoolwork while keeping teacher support and records in place.

Staff Writer; Peter Washington

Your schedule and the school bell don’t match

Shift work makes school drop-off and pick-up hard. Regular medical visits during the day can leave a child playing catch-up through much of the evening.

Travel adds pressure too. A short trip can mean missed lessons and late homework that takes days to sort out once you’re home.

Online elementary school works on a different rhythm. Many programs mix asynchronous lessons you can do on your own time with synchronous live classes at set times, so some learning can move to mornings or afternoons when that’s what the week allows.

That setup may help when care duties or appointments shift from week to week. Check actual class times and deadlines before assuming lessons can move freely. Flexibility is useful when it fits both your child’s learning needs and the adult support available, rather than simply removing pick-up times.

The class pace feels off in both directions

Some children race through math and then sit bored. Others need extra time with reading and start to dread that part of the day.

Both reactions are common in elementary grades. A single pace for a full class won’t match every child.

Look for patterns in your child’s work rather than judging fit from one difficult lesson. Repeated frustration with new material and repeated complaints about already-mastered tasks call for different conversations with the teacher.

Some online programs allow different pacing by subject. Ask how that works in practice, including what happens when your child needs more time or is ready to move ahead. Self-paced does not necessarily mean unlimited time or automatic access to higher-level courses.

Bring examples of current work to those conversations. A reading sample or a few math assignments can help a prospective school explain placement and support. Look for a realistic approach to steady progress, with enough guidance to address difficulties rather than simply moving lessons onto a screen.

Home feels calmer for learning right now

Morning meltdowns that happen most days are hard on everyone. Tears at drop-off or stomach-aches before school tell you something isn’t settling.

That doesn’t prove the school is wrong. It is a reason to talk with your child’s teacher and, if worry or low mood keeps up, with a qualified health professional who can help you sort out what’s going on.

Some children learn best with less noise and fewer rushed changes. A short morning routine and a clear plan for the day can lower stress and bring back curiosity.

Bullying needs direct action too. Tell the school right away and ask for clear steps, whether you stay or change settings.

If those signs sound familiar, flexible schooling for families offers a way to reconsider the learning environment while keeping academic structure in place.

Score Academy Online is one example. It serves grades K-5 and is Cognia-accredited. Its asynchronous option is self-paced and teacher-graded, with no teacher chat. Separate options include Flex live classes with recordings and chat, and synchronous live small-group instruction at set times.

You can give time during the day and plan peer time

Young learners need an adult close by. They need help logging in and someone to keep the day moving when their attention wanders.

Ask the school how much adult help is expected at your child’s grade level and in the package you’re considering. Work through who can provide that support during the day, including when you’re working or caring for someone else. If reliable adult help isn’t available, this model may not fit right now.

Peer time takes planning when school is at home. It won’t happen just because children share a login.

Ask any school you’re considering how live interaction happens each week. Ask how much time is spent on screen and what offline tasks balance it out.

Good programs balance screen lessons with paperwork and play. Ask for a sample schedule showing breaks and time away from the laptop, then consider whether that pace suits your child’s age and ability to focus.

Many families use the open hours for sports or co-ops in their area. That mix can give a child quiet learning time alongside louder, more active play time.

What to check before you switch

Cognia accreditation indicates that a school has undergone external quality review. It is one consideration when comparing programs, not a promise of automatic acceptance at another school. If a future return to a local classroom is possible, ask that school what records and placement steps it would require.

Ask about the student-teacher ratio and how often your child will hear from a teacher. Ask what a normal day looks like in K-2 compared with upper elementary, since children’s needs change quickly at this age.

Also ask about costs and requirements for enrollment. Good schools state fees and tech needs up front, giving you a way to compare options without pressure.

Bring recent report cards and work samples when you talk with a new school. Ask how records move and how placement is set in reading and math. Clear answers now save backtracking later.

There’s no perfect setup for every family. If these signs fit your home, talk with your child’s teacher and with schools on your short list before deciding. Tour a class if you can and review fees and tech needs side by side.

Staff Writer; Doug Barker

Space doesn’t permit a complete description of all the alleged conduct (you can easily find great detail online should you choose to), but suffice it to say that it involved a great deal of alcohol, people snorting ketamine off each other’s bodies, agreeing to a threesome (and perhaps — but not definitely — more), and men who were with “Jane Doe” sending vulgar texts to fraternity brothers inviting them into the room for “free (sex).”

Just for starters.

“Jane Doe” eventually went to campus authorities, and disciplinary actions were taken against the young men after a lengthy set of hearings. She also reported the events of the evening to the police, but in her statement, she said that she engaged in the conduct willingly. That statement convinced the district attorney not to prosecute. Doe has since reconsidered the events that transpired that night — and provided more detail to law enforcement. She now claims that she was too intoxicated to have consented, and she is suing Cornell University, two bars where she was served alcohol the night of the Chi Phi party, the fraternity and the seven men she accuses of sexually assaulting her, under theories of negligence, breach of contract, sexual assault and battery and violations of New York’s Human Rights Law. No criminal charges have yet been filed against any of the men she accuses of sexual assault, but New York governor has appointed the state’s Attorney General Letitia James as a special prosecutor to investigate.

And so, the legal machinations begin.

One of the Chi Phi men she has accused claims that he was unconscious and that Jane Doe took advantage of him, so he’s also a victim of sexual assault. The fraternity is defending itself by characterizing the evening as a “consensual orgy.” Cornell’s students are holding sit-ins to protest “rape culture” on campus and calling for the resignation of the university’s president.

In the absence of all the evidence, I’m going to refrain from offering an opinion as to the legal liability of the parties. But I am wondering: While everyone is now scrambling to establish (or escape) legal liability, where is the much overdue national discussion about moral accountability?

How are we instructing young people to form their personal behavior?

We could start with binge drinking. Why do both young men and young women at colleges and universities think that entertainment at college means getting blotto, regardless of the risks it poses?

It’s not just sexual assault. According to statistics kept by the U.S. government, more than 1,500 college students are killed annually by alcohol-related accidents. In fact, accidental injuries are the leading cause of death for 18- to 24-year-olds, and many of these deaths involve drunk driving, but other causes are alcohol poisoning (the leading cause of death in fraternity and sorority hazing cases), drowning and fatal falls. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Disease further reports that 95% of violent crime on campuses involves alcohol use by the perpetrator, the victim or both.

Why does a young woman on a college campus think it’s the right thing to go to a fraternity and have a threesome? To let strangers snort drugs off her body? To snort drugs off someone else’s body? Why do these young men think that inviting a girl you barely know — or don’t know at all — to have an orgy is a perfectly fine thing to do? Why do they think it’s suitable behavior to send out an email or text to their fraternity brothers, encouraging them to join in? Why doesn’t anyone step in to stop this?

We should be asking important questions like these. But we aren’t. Because unlike questions about legal liability, we won’t get to point the finger at someone else, and we won’t like the answer.

The answer is that young Americans indulge in behaviors like these that damage themselves and others because that’s what’s been promoted to them since they were old enough to look at a screen. Hollywood, the music industry, the media — even some academic theorists — routinely promote promiscuous, experimental and irresponsible sexuality as the pinnacle of freedom. Some popular musicians are notorious sex offenders (though few are prosecuted for it). The hottest shows feature episode after episode of indiscriminate hookups — often fueled by alcohol and drugs. The writers and actors win awards. They appear on magazine covers. They grow incredibly wealthy.

Don’t tell me we’re not glamorizing this behavior; we are.

We can’t allow the culture to promote sex as nothing more than drunken recreation, a source of personal gratification or a spectator sport, and then pretend to be shocked when the young audience gets the message.

Nor can we pretend that situations like the Cornell case are purely matters of law and legal issues. That rationalization lets us continue our comfortable hypocrisy and ignore the roles we have played in letting things get as bad as they are.

The good news is that things could change quickly if students simply decided that they wanted more. As I wrote in a column 11 years ago:

“Men: What if you saw yourselves as gentlemen — men of honor, whose social responsibility it was to protect the women you are with (for an evening or longer)? What if you saw your genetic material as something to be preserved for the creation of the children you deliberately decide to bring into the world with a woman of your choice, instead of accidents to be aborted out of inconvenience?

“Women: What if you refused to settle for a drunken hookup in a dorm room with an equally inebriated stranger? What if you decided that your sexual activities would be more rewarding if your inhibitions were removed not by alcohol or drugs, but by the security of a stable relationship?

“This wouldn’t require new laws, more regulations, heightened social stigma or ‘shaming.’ This is about the possibilities of radically altering the cultural landscape through the power of personal choice. In a culture like ours that worships ‘choice,’ why shouldn’t we acknowledge that there are better choices?”

True then, true now. Students have far more control over the culture of college campuses than they realize. They just need to exercise it. That said, the older generations could make their lives much easier if we had the courage to admit that yes, sexual behavior has moral — not just legal — implications.

Written by Laura Hollis

Official website; http://law.nd.edu/directory/laura-hollis/

Due to the reach of his story, Bogie was able to surpass his $66,000 fundraising goal on GoFundMe. But for millions of others, the decision is more dire.

On July 1st, just over a year after the Big Ugly Bill gutted key government programs to fund tax cuts for the richest among us, the Department of Education issued its new student loan guidance. Under them, the Graduate PLUS, financial aid with higher loan limits to help students pursuing graduate and professional degrees, were eliminated. And new student loan caps took effect that in many cases do not cover the cost of attendance for millions of students. The result is more students either dropping out of college or unable to attend at all.

It’s no secret that Black students leverage student loans more than their peers from White families. It’s also no secret that the largest growing population of young people attending college are Black. And make no mistake, it is no coincidence that under this administration, this year, education is becoming further out of reach.

For many, critics of higher education have blamed universities for raising their tuition and fees to figures that have ballooned the federal deficit and left millions burdened with debt that they will never be able to repay.

But the solution to skyrocketing student debt shouldn’t be to punish students pursuing a better life. And neither is threatening to strip schools of much needed federal dollars for having diversity pipeline initiatives like this administration is actively trying to do. A discriminatory action that already follows illegal cuts to NIH research funding that that universities, from Harvard to Stanford, have sued to stop.

No student should have their dreams deferred because the government would rather finance the dreams of the rich than support them on their education journey.

And the federal government should not be allowed to tell someone the value of their dream by denying access to loans because of their major. In the latest slap in the face to America, the Department of Education released a list of college majors that it proposes cutting student loans that it deems “don’t pay off.”

One of which is social work; a growing field that addresses the fallout of growing wealth inequality in our country and the spiking mental health crisis.

In short, the Department of Education not only believes solving our greatest social and societal issues doesn’t pay off, by cutting access to jobs that pay a living wage it’s also creating an enviroment that contributes to them.

If education is our tool to change the world, then we need it more than ever in this rapidly changing economy, ecosystem, and geopolitical climate. And it is clear that the Department of Education in this current administration is either blithly unaware of that fact, or intentionally a role in limiting the earning potential and economic freedom of millions of Americans.

The National Urban League make a commitment through our programs, like Project Ready, to ensure that all students have an education the prepares them for college, work, and life. Now we’re pushing for the Department of Education to do the same by removing these discriminatory caps on student loans, restoring funding to institutions of higher learning, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and letting students decide what field of study is “worth it.”

Written by Marc Morial

Official website; http://twitter.com/MARCMORIAL

After watching the Netflix series A Different World: New Generation, I observed and listened to the reactions of the Black community regarding the changes in the physical appearances of the actors, as well as our collective perception that the series’ plot lacked depth and originality, without giving much thought to the statistical data that roughly only 20-40% of Black Americans who are children of college graduates go on to graduate themselves, while 20-30% of Black children from non-college graduate households attain a degree. If we do not acknowledge that the college graduation rates for Black children with college-educated parents are not significantly higher than those from homes where parents did not graduate, then we are missing depth and complexity. I wonder how much more depth we truly need as a community. Should we seek entertainment when we watch television? Or should we challenge ourselves to see entertainment for what it truly is, understanding that some deeper meanings can only be appreciated with a little extra perspective—like a third eye—developed through a mind trained to recognize subtle depths that might not be immediately obvious?

Things will never be the same.

We are all familiar with the statement The more things change, the more things stay the same. Yes, I will be the first to admit that our level of respect in the Black community for our elders, ancestors, Black men, and Black women has changed, and I am afraid that if we don’t make drastic changes quickly, things will never be the same. Longevity and a long life have traditionally been valued in our community, along with the natural changes that come with aging—like grey hair, hair loss, weight fluctuations, a changing physique, wrinkles, and shifts in appearance. These aspects were once embraced and even revered, reflecting the wisdom and experience that age brings. Historically, our community appreciated and celebrated Black women in roles like Big Momma or auntie.

However, today, even prominent women such as Jasmine Guy, Jill Scott, Viola Davis, Michelle Obama, and Leslie Jones, among many others, face ridicule both inside and outside the community for not fitting our narrow aesthetic standards as they age.  Seasoned Black women and men might start questioning whether aging is as remarkable as their ancestors suggested if their community no longer finds them aesthetically appealing. Historically, we treasured Big Momma and our aunties equally, regardless of their appearance, and we held the men in our community in high regard despite their decline in vitality. Some community members might argue that because we have largely failed to recognize the beauty in our Savior (Isaiah 53:2-4), we may also fail to see beauty in one another as we ought to. Moving forward, our community must acknowledge, embrace, and appreciate the ongoing physical changes everyone will eventually undergo.

Don’t say anything at all.

Even within the Black community, we live in an era where people seek visibility, voice, and viral fame for their opinions and ideas, often without regard for the facts. Has our desire for fame, recognition, and riches overtaken the lessons we were taught as children to value and esteem others? The great, soulful singer Jeffrey Osborne reminded us all, “If my brother or sister is in trouble, so I am.” How have we descended to such a low point that we now perceive our community, our brothers and sisters, as burdensome, leading us to justify exploiting them in some manner or form for personal gain?  Our personal and community desire for worldly gain has caused us to loudly criticize the image, reputation, and social influence of Black women when they don’t match our beauty standards.

Similarly, Black men who speak their mind are often labeled as sassy, and our LGBTQ+ sisters and brothers are frequently viewed as unworthy of recognition because, to many of us, we feel we must voice our opinions without all the facts. Remember childhood, when we learned an important lesson: if you don’t have anything nice to say, it’s better to stay silent. Those moments shape how we connect with others even today. I’m not asking that we become mute to injustices, sin, or wrong, or that we stop speaking truth to power. For the sake of our community, I am asking that we stop speaking without facts and stop speaking in ways that strip away anyone’s humanity for riches and viral fame. Sometimes silence is the best option.

Time to Operate Differently

Are we in a different era than before? Yes, we are. A clear sign is that our love for ourselves and our community is either weak or missing. The dynamic duo of Donny Hathaway and Roberto Flack raised the question in 1972 by asking, “Where Is the Love?” Today, I ask once again: Where Is the Love? For yourself, your community, and your God—like time, many believe it has shifted or grown tired. Yes, time brings about a change, but with change comes the chance for new opportunities. Since today gives all of us a new opportunity, I challenge all my Black queens and kings to operate differently: queens, go back to being a girl’s girl who uplifts her sister and brother. Keep aiming high when others go low. Kings, I urge you to stay consistent, present, and vocal, as your family and community rely on you to embody these qualities and more.  The cost is too high for us to go back to our old ways or stay the same. Change is possible, and we all need it.

Five Affirmations

1. I choose to see value in myself and others beyond appearance, status, or popularity.
2. I will honor the wisdom of those who came before me and help build a stronger future for those who come after me.
3. I speak with truth, facts, and compassion, knowing that my words have the power to heal or harm.
4. I embrace change as an opportunity to grow while remaining rooted in my values and identity.
5. I will operate with love, respect, and purpose, even when the world encourages division and selfishness.

Three Quotes to Live By

1. “Time changes everything, but character determines what remains.”
2. “Before speaking, ask yourself: Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?”
3. “A community grows stronger when its people choose dignity over popularity and love over criticism.”

Two Courses of Action

1. Practice Intentional Encouragement

Commit to uplifting at least one person each day. Encourage an elder, support a young person pursuing education, celebrate a friend’s achievement, or defend someone’s dignity when they are being unfairly criticized. Small acts of affirmation help rebuild community trust and respect.

2. Lead With Facts and Humanity

Before sharing an opinion online or in conversation, pause and ask:

• Do I have all the facts?
• Does my comment preserve this person’s humanity?
• Am I helping solve a problem or simply adding noise?

If the answer is no, choose reflection over reaction. Thoughtful silence is often more powerful than uninformed commentary.

Staff Writer; Jamie Seals

May also connect with this brother on Twitter; mychocolatemind.

Also drop an email at; JSeals@ThyBlackMan.com.

King Solomon told me in Proverbs 14:12:  “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

The reboot of the iconic TV show from the nineties, A Different World, reminds me of this scripture.

Beloved actor, director, and writer, Debbie Allen is the executive producer; and she added Felicia Pride to be the writer and producer.

I have no idea who Pride is, but from her writing credits I know why.

I am very disappointed in the reboot and especially of Allen.  She is legendary for producing very thoughtful, substantive shows.  Shows that make you think.

The reboot is my worst fears coming true.

The original A Different World followed students at Hillman College, a fictional historically Black university, navigating academic life, friendships, and campus challenges. Known for its authentic portrayal of Black college culture, it addressed social and political issues seldom seen on mainstream TV. Praised for strong performances, cultural impact, and thoughtful writing, it remains a significant hit in syndication.

One of the most iconic, memorable episodes from the original is by far the “If I Should Die Before I Wake” episode. It is the twenty-third episode of A Different World’s fourth season which was first broadcast on April 11, 1991.

Challenged by a speech-class assignment Josie (played by Tisha Campbell) reveals that she is HIV-positive, prompting her fellow students to re-examine everything they thought they knew about AIDS.

This episode explored the issue of AIDS from angles that were very evocative, powerful, loving, and yet real.  Everything that the reboot is not!

I am sure you can find this episode on the internet.

In the reboot’s first episode, Kadeem Hardison’s character Dwayne, goes off into this anti-Trump rant without mentioning Trump by name.  “…This is a watershed moment.  This country that we [referring to Blacks] built is trying to erase our Black history, our gains, our culture.  They [he never tells us who they are] want to demoralize us.  They want to deport us [American citizens cannot be deported] , they want to jail [only if you commit a crime]  us, they want to shoot us down in the streets [this is not happening].  But you, you all are their greatest threat [how]. You, future leaders who care about justice and community and each other.  I know you will stand up.  I know you will fight, build and you will change the world.  Now let’s get to it.”

I knew I was in trouble at this point.  I literally had my finger on the off button to turn the TV off; but forced myself to continue watching.

This diatribe is straight out of the liberal playbook.  This emotional rant is like the tinkling cymbal or the sounding brass; full of sound and fury signifying nothing.

I watched three and a half episodes before I had to shut it down.  I refuse to watch another episode of the reboot, EVER!!!

During the fourth episode all of a sudden out of nowhere you are thrust into a scene of two males being naked in bed together.

ENOUGH!!!

Not on my TV.  I was disgusted and extremely disappointed in Debbie Allen for putting this on the air.  There are so many needed and necessary storylines that should and need to be addressed on the reboot, but homosexuality is not one.

Allen is a known liberal, but I never viewed her as part of the extreme radical elite liberal part of the Black community.  Felicia Pride is definitely part of this fringe element within the Black community.

As to be expected, the homosexual community is high fiving all over the place.

According to Pride, “…This is the world we live in…That’s how I approach storytelling. It’s from a truth perspective. Queer people are all around us, and they need to be a part of our storytelling. So it was a no-brainer for us.”

Maleah Joi Moon, who plays Deborah Wayne, stated, “…We have fully embodied queer characters on this show so that everybody can feel represented…And I feel like that is something that we kinda toss to the wind a lot. But there is safety, and there is preciousness in representing people, and I think that’s a huge pillar of our show…”

This is why I am encouraging my followers to not watch this liberal garbage.

Renee Harrison’s character, Candace, was asked by one of her classmates how she juggled all of her responsibilities on campus.  Her response was repulsive, “…I have an unapologetic  commitment to being that bitch…”

Really?

So now Debbie Allen is promoting the rachet notion that a Black girl at a prestigious Black university thinks of herself as a bitch.  Really?  You put that on TV?

Where are the conservative voices on the show?  HBCUs were founded on the best traditions of the Black church, yet this founding principle is totally ignored in the reboot.

In the original show, there were real, honest debates from left to right on various topical issues of the day.

In the reboot, there is enough cleavage on this show to supply milk to the whole continent of Africa for years.  This never happened on the original show.

Bill Cosby, the creator of the original show, would never have allowed that to happen.  There are a couple of reasons why this type of buffoonery never happened on the Cosby Show or A Different World.

Cosby had a PhD in education; and second, he hired famed Black psychiatrist, Alvin Poussaint as a media consultant on scrips and storylines for both shows.

It seems like Allen hired Snoop Dog as her consultant!

Then when I did a little digging around and talked with some of my Hollywood friends about the reboot,  the reason for the shows radical extreme liberal foolishness became crystal clear.

Pride, along with Allen’s blessings stated the obvious, “…We had an all-Black writers room: seven writers plus myself, plus our support staff.  About half of the room went to HBCUs, a lot of D9 [Divine Nine sorority and fraternity] representation…We had an all-Black directing team that were all women and queer.”

As with most Black liberals, the goal of the show is not to produce great content for a great show, but to push a radical liberal extreme ideology upon the Black community.

Cosby and Poussaint would never have allowed the reboot to prostitute the integrity of the original show.

And let me say for the record, of all the work I have done with high profile people, I am most proud of my work with Bill and Camille Cosby during some of their most trying times of their lives.  And to see firsthand the number of prominent Blacks who turned their backs on them was disgusting, but I digress!!!

And to Jasmine Guy.  She is one of the sweetest, nicest people you will ever meet and know.  I will go through hell and back for her.  Nuf said!!!

Once again, Blacks have failed the Claudette Covin test.

Colvin was the Rosa Parks before Rosa Parks.  She could not become the face of the civil rights movement because she was a fifteen-year-old unmarried girl who was pregnant.

In other words, the Black community and its leaders enforced a standard within the Black community.  Not binding by force of law but binding by community standards that were self-imposed.

Blacks had to wait almost a year before Rosa Parks came along.

What is the Colvin test?

The Colvin test is when one has all the right skill set and background but is the wrong person for the mission at hand.  Legally, Colvin’s arrest for refusing to give up her seat had the same fact pattern as Rosa Parks’ case.

Debbie Allen and Felecia Pride are definitely not the right persons for the mission at hand, thus they failed the Colvin test.

The garbage they have put out with their reboot is a different world from where I come from!

Staff Writer; Raynard Jackson

RJ is a Pulitzer Award nominated columnist and President & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC, a Washington, DC based global public affairs consultancy.  Feel free to visit his website at: www.raynardjackson.com.  You can follow Raynard on Twitter @ RealRaynardJ or Gettr @ RaynardJackson.

Should an American who graduated from high school but never went to college — and who now works as a delivery truck driver, earning $43,950 per year (the median annual earnings for that job) — be forced to help pay off the federal student loans of these two college graduates who make $240,000?

If former President Joe Biden had gotten his way, that truck driver and other hardworking American taxpayers would indeed have seen their tax dollars help pay off those loans.

When Biden was running for president in April 2020, he announced his plan for “forgiving student debt.”

“I propose to forgive all undergraduate tuition-related federal student debt from two- and four-year public colleges and universities for debt-holders earning up to $125,000,” Biden said.

His plan, he said, would also “(i)mmediately cancel a minimum of $10,000 of student debt per person.”

After he was elected president, Biden did not get Congress to enact new legislation to implement this plan. Instead, he took unilateral executive action in an attempt to do so — and his administration claimed this action was justified under a law that had been enacted under former President George W. Bush.

In 2003, Bush had signed the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act, aka the HEROES Act.

This act, said its official summary, “(a)uthorizes the Secretary of Education to waive or modify any requirement or regulation applicable to the student financial assistance programs under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 as deemed necessary with respect to an affected individual who: (1) is serving on active duty during a war or other military operation or national emergency; (2) is performing National Guard duty during a war, operation, or emergency; (3) resides or is employed in an area that is declared a disaster area by any Federal, State, or local official in connection with a national emergency; or (4) suffered direct economic hardship as a direct result of a war or other military operation or national emergency.”

As the nation headed into the 2022 midterm elections, Biden announced his student loan forgiveness plan. “On August 24, 2022,” explained the Congressional Research Service, “the Biden Administration announced it would invoke the Higher Education Relief Opportunities Act of 2003 (HEROES Act) to carry out a ‘one-time student loan debt relief policy’ to ‘address the financial harms of the [COVID-19] pandemic for low- and middle-income borrowers.’ Under the one-time student debt relief policy (HEROES Act policy), ED (Education Department) would have cancelled up to $10,000 in qualifying HEA Title IV federal student loan debt for borrowers with an adjusted gross income (AGI) in 2020 or 2021 of less than $125,000 (for individuals or married borrowers who filed federal income taxes separately) or $250,000 (for married couples filing jointly and certain other individuals).”

So, under Biden’s plan, a law that had been designed to help individuals “serving on active duty during a war or other military operation or national emergency” or had “suffered direct economic hardship as a direct result of a war or other military operation or national emergency” could be used to grant general federal student loan forgiveness in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Sept. 26, 2022, the Congressional Budget Office sent a letter to Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.) and Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.) that estimated the cost of the Biden plan. “As of June 30, 2022, 43 million borrowers held $1.6 trillion in federal student loans,” said this letter. “About $430 billion of that debt will be canceled, CBO estimates.”

Six states, including Nebraska, sued Biden, arguing that he did not have the legal authority to move forward with this loan forgiveness plan. The Supreme Court agreed with the states, voting 6-3 against Biden’s plan.

“The Secretary (of Education) asserts that the HEROES Act grants him the authority to cancel $430 billion of student loan principal. It does not,” wrote Chief Justice John Roberts in the majority opinion.

“The new program vests authority in the Department of Education to discharge up to $10,000 for every borrower with income below $125,000 and up to $20,000 for every such borrower who has received a Pell Grant,” said the court. “No prior limitation on loan forgiveness is left standing. Instead, every borrower within the specified income cap automatically qualifies for debt cancellation, no matter their circumstances. The Department of Education estimates that the program will cover 98.5% of all borrowers.”

“From a few narrowly delineated situations specified by Congress, the Secretary has expanded forgiveness to nearly every borrower in the country,” said the court.

“But imagine instead asking the enacting Congress a more pertinent question: ‘Can the Secretary use his powers to abolish $430 billion in student loans, completely canceling loan balances for 20 million borrowers, as a pandemic winds down to its end?'” said the court. “We can’t believe the answer would be yes. Congress did not unanimously pass the HEROES Act with such power in mind.”

Despite this loss in the Supreme Court, Democrats in Congress have not given up on trying to find a way to make federal taxpayers pay for someone else’s college costs.

Led by Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a group of nine Democrats in the Senate and 18 in the House are now cosponsoring the Debt-Free College Act. This bill would appropriate $84 billion in fiscal year 2027 alone. It would provide funding to states so that those states could “distribute the grant funds … in a manner designed to best achieve the partnership’s goal of providing debt-free college for all eligible students at in-State public institutions of higher education.”

This month, the Census Bureau released its report on income in the United States in 2025. It showed that the median household income of a high school graduate who did not attend college was $60,790 last year. The median household income of those who earned a bachelor’s degree or higher was $138,300.

Democrat politicians who would like to make taxpayers subsidize the student loan debt of college graduates are seeking to redistribute wealth to the wealthier.

Written by Terence P. Jeffrey

Official website; http://twitter.com/terryjeffrey

Key Takeaways

• Finance employers need people who can combine financial knowledge with data, technology, communication, and judgment.
• AI can accelerate routine work, but people remain responsible for verifying outputs and making recommendations.
• Career options include financial analysis, corporate finance, risk, investments, fintech, wealth management, and analytics.
• A well-explained project can demonstrate skills more clearly than a long list of software tools.
• Career planning works best when it starts with a specific role and a realistic skills-gap review.

Miami’s position as a global gateway, its active real estate and hospitality sectors, and its connections to banking, investing, wealth management, and technology make it a useful setting for understanding how finance is changing. For students and early-career professionals, the goal is not to master every new platform. It is to develop the financial judgment and practical skills that help turn information into sound decisions.

For professionals considering structured advanced study, the MS in Finance program at Miami Business School offers a graduate finance pathway centered on quantitative, analytical, and career-focused finance learning. As the University of Miami’s business school in Coral Gables, Miami Business School serves the Greater Miami area. It provides a relevant example for people exploring preparation for finance roles in investment, corporate finance, wealth management, and financial services.

Why Finance Careers Look Different

Finance teams still rely on core activities such as budgeting, valuation, forecasting, reporting, and risk assessment. The difference is that many professionals now receive data faster and in greater volume. Routine collection, formatting, and document review can be automated, leaving analysts with more responsibility for checking assumptions, identifying risks, and explaining what the numbers mean.

In Miami, that may mean evaluating a hospitality company’s seasonal cash flow, comparing real estate investment scenarios, reviewing a cross-border client portfolio, or helping a growing business plan capital needs. The work is less about producing a spreadsheet alone and more about building a defensible conclusion from it.

Core Skills Employers Still Expect

Technology does not replace the fundamentals. A capable finance professional should be able to read income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements, then connect those records to operating performance and future decisions. Financial accounting, corporate finance, valuation, financial modeling, statistics, probability, and risk analysis remain foundational.

Employers also value business writing, presentations, attention to detail, and professional ethics. Financial analysis often influences investments, budgets, customer relationships, and long-term strategy. That makes accuracy and accountability as important as technical speed.

Technical Skills That Add Career Value

Technical skills can make finance work more efficiently without requiring every professional to become a software engineer. Advanced spreadsheet modeling remains highly useful for forecasting, scenario analysis, and presenting results. SQL can help users work with structured data, while Python can support repeatable analysis and simple automation. Data visualization tools can make trends and exceptions easier for decision-makers to see.

AI tools can also assist with document summaries, first-draft reporting, and pattern identification. Their outputs require human review, especially when data may be incomplete, confidential, outdated, or misunderstood. Cybersecurity and data privacy awareness matter because finance professionals often handle sensitive business and client information. Start with one tool that fits a target role, then use it in a real project.

Finance Career Paths to Watch

• Financial analysis: Evaluates performance, builds forecasts, and prepares recommendations for business leaders or investors.
• Corporate finance: Supports planning, budgeting, capital allocation, acquisitions, and growth decisions within an organization.
• Risk management: Assesses credit, market, operational, and regulatory exposures, then helps reduce potential losses.
• Investment management: Researches securities, markets, portfolios, and investor objectives.
• Financial technology: Connects finance knowledge with digital payments, software products, automation, and data systems.
• Wealth management: Helps clients consider investments, retirement, tax coordination, and long-term financial goals.
• Financial data and analytics: Converts large data sets into forecasts, dashboards, and decision-ready insights.

These paths overlap, but each has a different emphasis. For example, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects financial analyst employment to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035 and describes the role as evaluating financial data, forecasting trends, and preparing recommendations. That combination of analysis and communication appears across many finance specialties.

What AI Can and Cannot Do

AI can sort information, identify patterns, draft summaries, and support repetitive reporting. It cannot independently establish whether the underlying data is reliable, whether a forecast rests on sensible assumptions, or whether a recommendation is appropriate for a client or organization. People provide context, challenge weak logic, manage ethical concerns, and remain accountable for final decisions.

An analyst might use AI to summarize an earnings release, then compare the output with the original filing, validate key figures, test the implications for a forecast, and explain the business impact to a manager. Fast output is useful only when it is carefully reviewed.

Why Communication Is a Finance Skill

Senior leaders rarely need every line of a model. They need a concise answer to questions such as what changed, why it changed, what could happen next, and which action is recommended. Strong finance professionals can translate technical findings into an executive summary, a focused presentation, or a clear conversation with a non-finance colleague. Communication often distinguishes candidates with otherwise similar analytical skills.

How to Build Evidence of Finance Skills

1. Choose a target role. Review job descriptions and identify recurring skills.
2. Assess your starting point. Separate skills you can prove from those you have only encountered.
3. Create one applied project. Build a company valuation, portfolio review, cash-flow forecast, or risk dashboard using public information.
4. Explain the work. State the question, method, findings, assumptions, limitations, and recommendation in plain language.
5. Request feedback. A professor, manager, mentor, or experienced professional can identify gaps before an interview does.
6. Update your résumé. Describe the decision supported, the analysis completed, and the tools used.

Where Graduate Finance Education Fits

A master’s degree is not required for every finance role. Many entry-level opportunities begin with a bachelor’s degree, internships, and demonstrated technical ability. Graduate study may be useful for career changers, professionals seeking deeper quantitative preparation, or candidates aiming to specialize in areas such as investments, analytics, corporate finance, or risk.

How to Compare Finance Programs

• Does the curriculum match the role you want to pursue?
• Are modeling, analytics, cash flow, communication, and applied decision-making publicly available, making part of the learning experience?
• Can students complete projects, internships, capstones, or recommendations?
• Does the format fit your work schedule, location, and learning preferences?
• What career coaching, employer access, and alumni connections are available?

Common Questions About Finance Careers

Is finance still a good career choice?

Finance remains broad, with opportunities in companies, banks, investment firms, technology businesses, and advisory settings. The strongest candidates pair finance fundamentals with data literacy, communication, and ethical judgment.

Will AI replace financial analysts?

AI is more likely to change tasks than eliminate the need for analysis. Professionals who validate information, interpret uncertainty, and communicate recommendations remain valuable.

Do finance professionals need to learn coding?

Not every role requires advanced coding. Spreadsheet expertise, data literacy, and financial modeling are strong starting points. Basic SQL or Python can be especially useful in data-heavy roles.

How can a beginner stand out?

Build one credible project, seek internship or student-organization experience, practice explaining financial conclusions, and develop relationships with people working in the field.

Conclusion

Finance careers in Miami and beyond increasingly reward professionals who can connect financial reasoning with data, technology, communication, and responsible judgment. Choose a target role, identify one skill that role requires, and complete a project that proves progress. That focused approach is more useful than trying to chase every trend at once.

Staff Writer; Steve Washington

Key Takeaways

• Stop the task safely and clean or flush the exposed area right away.
• Report the incident as soon as possible, even if the injury appears minor.
• Seek prompt medical evaluation rather than waiting for symptoms.
• Document what happened, including the material involved, exposure route, and protective equipment used.
• Use the workplace exposure control plan to guide follow-up and prevention.

A possible blood exposure at work can be stressful, particularly when it happens during a busy shift or an emergency. Knowing the basic steps before an incident occurs can help workers respond calmly and protect their health. Completing online bloodborne pathogens certification can also help employees understand common exposure routes, prevention practices, and reporting expectations.

These steps can be relevant to healthcare professionals, laboratory staff, first responders, custodians, childcare workers, teachers, personal service workers, and others who may encounter blood or other potentially infectious materials. Each workplace should have procedures that match its own risks, equipment, and reporting structure.

Why a Clear Response Plan Matters

After an unexpected puncture, cut, or splash, it is easy to feel uncertain about what to do first. A simple response plan reduces that uncertainty. It helps workers focus on immediate cleaning, timely reporting, and medical follow-up instead of trying to assess the entire situation alone.

Even a small injury deserves attention when blood or potentially infectious material may be involved. The type of fluid, how it contacted the body, and whether the skin was broken all affect the assessment. The workplace protections for bloodborne pathogens outline the importance of exposure control plans, safer work practices, protective equipment, and employer follow-up after covered exposure incidents.

What Counts as a Possible Exposure?

A possible occupational exposure can occur when blood or certain other potentially infectious materials enter the body through a puncture, a cut, a splash to the eyes, nose, or mouth, or contact with non-intact skin. Non-intact skin can include skin that is chapped, cracked, scraped, cut, or affected by dermatitis.

Common examples include:

• A needlestick or puncture from another sharp object.
• A cut from a sharp object hidden in trash, laundry, or cleaning materials.
• A splash of blood to the eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Blood contacting an open wound, rash, or damaged skin.
• Handling contaminated materials without the required protective barriers.

Intact skin is generally a stronger barrier than broken skin, but a worker should still follow workplace procedures whenever there is uncertainty. The goal is not to diagnose the risk alone. The goal is to report the facts promptly so the appropriate people can assess the incident.

The First Five Minutes After Contact

1. Stop the task safely. Step away from the hazard if possible, while avoiding actions that could cause another injury or expose someone else.
2. Clean the area. Wash cuts, punctures, and skin contact with soap and water. Flush the eyes, nose, or mouth with clean water.
3. Avoid harsh methods. Do not use bleach or other caustic chemicals on the skin. Do not scrub a wound aggressively.
4. Report the incident. Notify a supervisor, manager, charge nurse, safety officer, or other designated contact immediately.
5. Get medical guidance promptly. A qualified healthcare professional can evaluate the exposure details and determine appropriate next steps.

The CDC advises workers to wash punctures and cuts with soap and water, flush splashes to the nose, mouth, or skin with water, irrigate eyes with clean water or saline, report the incident, and seek medical care promptly. Its guidance on blood and body fluid exposure risks also explains why timely reporting supports both treatment decisions and prevention efforts.

How to Report the Incident Clearly

Reporting is not about assigning blame. It begins the workplace response process and creates information that may prevent a similar event from happening again. Give a clear, factual account while the details are fresh.

• Record the date, time, and exact location of the incident.
• Describe the task being performed when the contact happened.
• Identify the object or material involved, if known.
• Explain where the material contacted the body.
• Note whether the skin was cut, cracked, or otherwise damaged.
• List the gloves, eye protection, face protection, or other equipment in use.
• Include witnesses and relevant equipment details when applicable.

What Medical Follow-Up May Include

Medical follow-up should be confidential and based on the specific exposure. A healthcare professional may review the exposure route, the material involved, vaccination history, the source information available under applicable rules, and whether testing or additional follow-up is appropriate.

Workers should not wait for symptoms before asking for medical guidance. Some time-sensitive preventive options may depend on a prompt assessment. Follow all instructions provided by the evaluating clinician and workplace process, including any recommended follow-up visits, testing, precautions, or documentation.

Employer Duties After an Exposure

Employers with covered occupational exposure risks should maintain an exposure control plan and make sure workers know how to use it. Following an incident, the employer should direct the worker to the designated reporting and medical evaluation process, protect confidential medical information, and review what contributed to the event.

A useful review looks beyond individual actions. It may identify a full sharps container, missing protective equipment, unclear cleanup procedures, inadequate training, poor lighting, unsafe disposal practices, or equipment that could be replaced with a safer option.

Common Mistakes That Can Make the Situation Worse

• Waiting until the end of the shift to report a puncture or splash.
• Assuming a tiny scratch or brief contact does not matter.
• Ignoring exposure to the eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Applying bleach, strong disinfectants, or other harsh substances to a wound.
• Handling a sharp object with bare hands instead of following site procedures.
• Failing to document how the incident occurred.
• Returning to normal duties without checking workplace instructions.

How Different Workers Can Prepare

Healthcare and Laboratory Staff

Know the location of sharps containers, eyewash equipment, exposure contacts, and reporting forms. Use safety-engineered devices when provided, dispose of sharps immediately, and follow facility procedures before handling contaminated materials.

Teachers, Childcare Workers, and Personal Service Workers

Keep gloves and cleanup supplies accessible. Understand who receives incident reports and how to handle blood cleanup without direct hand contact. Small workplace preparations can make a stressful event easier to manage.

Cleaning, Maintenance, and Public Safety Staff

Inspect work areas before collecting waste or wiping surfaces. Use tools and approved containers for sharps rather than reaching into bags, bins, or tight spaces with unprotected hands. Report exposures even when the source person or object is unknown.

Questions Readers May Have

Should a worker report a minor scratch?

Yes. The supervisor and evaluating healthcare professional can determine whether the event meets the workplace definition of an exposure incident and whether follow-up is needed.

What if the source person is unknown?

Clean or flush the area, report the incident, and seek medical guidance. An unknown source does not eliminate the need for prompt action.

Can a worker return to the same task?

That depends on workplace procedures and the advice provided during the evaluation. Follow the directions of the designated supervisor and healthcare professional.

Conclusion

Blood exposure incidents require a practical response, not panic. Clean the exposed area, report the event immediately, seek prompt medical evaluation, and document the details. When workers understand the plan and employers review incidents carefully, the workplace is better prepared to prevent future exposures.

Staff Writer; Doug Short

A cardinal tenet of Christianity is that it is imperative for salvation to forgive those that trespass against us. It is one of the more challenging tenets of Christian faith.

For some Christians to address that challenge they believe it is best they forget so they can forgive, forgive and forget. If one forgets the transgression that was directed at them, forgiveness is easy since they don’t recall being transgressed against.

We may want our hearts as required by Christian faith to be righteous. However, there are certain things that cannot and should not ever be forgotten. Forgiven yes but forgotten never. To forget in itself would be a sin. To forget those who suffered and died for no reason other than their skin was darker than blue is a sin.

Sunday morning September 15th started out as just another typical Sunday morning. People throughout the city of Birmingham, Alabama, like places across the US were either at Sunday morning service, traveling to service or preparing themselves to head to their place of worship.

As for 11-year-old Carol Denise McNair, and 14-year-old Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Dionne Wesley and Carole Robertson they were already at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. They along with 200 members of the church had attended Sunday school classes prior to the start of the 11 am morning service.

It would be a similar scene in churches throughout the US. Sunday school classes followed by the main church service at 11 am. Attendees to the Sunday school classes would be grouped by age and a teacher would be assigned to lead a class in instruction about the Bible and tenets and practices of Christianity.

Sunday school classes had ended and Carol Denise McNair, Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Dionne Wesley and Carole Rosamond Robertson who were youth choir members were busy putting on their choir robes and preparing themselves for the morning church service. The youth choir would lead the church in song for one of the musical presentations at the 11 am service.

It was Youth Day at the church. There was an element of joy and excitement in the air.

Carol, Addie Mae, Cynthia and Carole talked while putting on their robes. They prepared themselves for the morning service in the church basement ladies’ bathroom.

Like other typical girls, 11 and 14 years of age, they talked about their regular school teachers and classmates. Public schools had been in session just a few days in Birmingham after the summer recession.

The girls busied themselves discussing their new teachers, new and old classmates as well as the subjects they were taking. Eleven-year-old Denise had just started the 5th grade. Addie Mae, Cynthia and Carole had just started junior high and were in the seventh grade. While talking Addie Mae helped Carol tie her robe’s dress sash.

Typical girls their age, they talked about the latest fashion. What was in and what was now out of style.

They talked about shows on television. They talked about the latest movies in theaters.

They spoke about the latest songs that were topping the music pop record charts. They talked about what was happening in their lives at that time.

They also spoke about the future. Like girls typical their age they share their dreams, hopes and plans for the future. The future belonged to Carol, Addie Mae, Cynthia and Carole.

It was a typical September Sunday morning in America. Then just like that it wasn’t.

At 10:22 am a massive explosion ripped through the church. The blast destroyed the church’s rear wall.

The explosion was so violent that it blew a passing motorist out of his automobile. It destroyed automobiles parked on the street outside the church.

Properties located more than two blocks from the church had their windows blown out. Bricks and mortar from the church was sprayed everywhere.

The blast caved in the church’s interior walls and destroyed all but one of the church’s stained glass windows. The only stained glass window left in tack depicted Jesus leading a group of children.

It demolished the basement ladies’ bathroom. The bathroom where Carol, Addie Mae, Cynthia and Carole were preparing for the 11 am church service.

The explosion resulted in 22 injuries. The bodies of Carol, Addie Mae, Cynthia and Carole were found beneath the rubble created by the blast.

Like a thief in the night, the explosion stole the future of Carol Denise McNair, Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Dionne Wesley and Carole Rosamond Robertson. They would not give their musical rendition later that day at the 11 am church service. There would be no 11 am church service.

Carol would not be given the chance to graduate from fifth grade to sixth grade. She would not be given the opportunity to eventually attend junior high with Addie Mae, Cynthis and Carole.

Carol, Addie Mae, Cynthia and Carole would not have the opportunity to attend their high school prom. To join with others in celebration upon their graduation from high school.

Years later, they would not have the opportunity to recollect exactly where they were when they learned that John F. Kennedy, the President of the US had been assassinated. Where they were and what they were doing when the news came over the radio and television that Malcolm X had been killed. That the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had been murder.

To reminisce where they were when they learned that Robert Kennedy had been shot. What they were doing when the planes went into the World Trade Center buildings on 9/11.

Carol, Addie Mae, Cynthia and Carole would not get the chance to listen and dance to the Four Tops’ “Reach Out I’ll Be There”, “Baby I Need Your Loving”, “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)”, “Still Waters Run Deep” and “It’s the Same Old Song”.

They would not get to hear the Temptations’ “Beauty is Only Skin Deep”, “My Girl” and “Ain’t too Proud to Beg”.

They would miss out on the opportunity to hear the Supremes sing “Where Did Our Love Go”, “Stop! in the Name of Love”, and “Love is Like an Itching in My Heart”. They would not get to hear Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell duet “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” and “If This World Were Mine.”

Carol, Addie Mae, Cynthia and Carole would not get the chance to watch The Beverly Hillbillies, I Dream of Jeannie, Bewitched, and The Flip Wilson Show.

They would be denied the opportunity to experience the anticipation, excitement and joy of opening college acceptance letters. Of attending college and graduating.

Denied the opportunity after graduation to embark on careers. Perhaps becoming teachers, college professors, lawyers, doctors, nurses, scientists, business owners, council members, state legislators, mayors and members of Congress. Carol, Addie Mae, Cynthia and Carole would not be given that opportunity.

Carol was a friend and classmate of Condoleezza Rice. Condoleezza Rice went on to become the first female Black US Secretary of State and the first woman to serve as National Security Advisor.

Perhaps, Carol would have become an aide to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Then again, maybe Condoleezza Rice might have been an aide to Secretary of State Carol Denise McNair.

Carol, Addie Mae, Cynthia and Carole were not given the opportunity to be bridesmaids in the weddings of family and friends. They would not be given the chance to date and marry becoming brides themselves.

They would not be given a chance to experience the wonder, magic and joy of motherhood. They would not have the opportunity to see their children attend kindergarten, graduate high school, college and have successful careers of their own.

To see their children have children making them grandmothers. Their children’s children make them great grandmothers.

Carol, Addie Mae, Cynthia and Carole would not be there to take care of elderly parents and family. They would not be there to assist their grandparents and eventually their parents take their final breaths prior to transitioning to sit at the foot of Jesus.

They would not be there to celebrate the joy and comfort the sadness of other family members and friends during good times and tough times. Friends that they may have known from childhood, college or career. Carol, Addie Mae, Cynthia and Carole would be denied all of that.

They would be denied being able to see Roots, Soul Train, Amen, 227, Laverne & Shirley, Love Boat, The Cosby Show, Dallas, Dynasty, Good Times, Hills Street Blues, Sanford and Son and The Jefferson. They would not get to see Martin, Law and Order, ER, In Living Color, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, 60 Minutes, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Donnie Simpson’s Video Soul, Bobby Jones Gospel, BET Gospel and West Wing.

They would not get to watch The Wire, Sex in the City, Suits, House of Cards, Power, Game of Thrones, Greenleaf, Sistas and Queen Sugar. They would be denied the opportunity to see Shameless, Red Shoe Diaries, The Handmaid’s Tale, Harlem, Being Mary Jane, And Just LIke That, Godfather of Harlem, Bel Air and Run The World.

They would not hear Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing”, Luther Vandross with the group Change singing “The Glow of Love”, Stevie Wonder, Al Green, Isaac Hayes, Patti LaBell, Michael and Janet Jackson, The Jackson Five, Sounds of Blackness, Beyonce and so much more, so much more.

They would not get a chance to experience the profound joy of seeing President-elect Barack Obama raise his hand and take the oath of office becoming the first Black President of the US.

To see Kamala Harris become the first Black and woman to become Vice President of the US. Of seeing Venus, Serena and Coco. Joining with family and friends doing the Boogaloo, Robot, Worm, Cabbage Patch, Running Man, Harlem Shake and Electric Slide.

The opportunity to see and experience all of that and so much more was stolen from Carol Denise McNair, Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Dionne Wesley and Carole Rosamond Robertson.

The explosion that stole the future of Carol Denise McNair, Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Dionne Wesley and Carole Rosamond Robertson was the result of no less than 15 sticks of dynamite being placed beneath the stairs of one of the 16th Street Baptist Church’s entrances. Immediately, church members and others knew exactly what had happened.

The terrorist bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church was the third bombing in 11 days in Birmingham after a federal court order mandated the desegregation of Alabama’s school system.

The church had been targeted because many of the civil rights protest marches that took place in the 1960s began at the steps of that church. It had long been a significant religious center for the city’s Black population and a routine meeting place for civil rights activities.

The horrific church bombing was viewed by many in the US and throughout the world as not just an attack on Black people but the very body of Jesus itself. Roughly 2000 years earlier while Jesus was on the cross a Roman soldier took a spear and thrusted it into the body of Jesus.

Now roughly two thousand years later no less than 15 sticks of dynamite had been used to once again attack the body of Jesus.

But why are we recalling this incident which happened so very long ago? Isn’t it time to move forward to stop looking back at the past. Isn’t it time to turn the page?

Are we too busy looking behind us that we are unable to see and enjoy today and tomorrow? Can we just forget about the past?

The answer is an explicit and emphatic “No!” Yesterday is so very much who and what we are today. The past is today and today is so much the past.

In so many ways we never left the past. The same attitudes and forces of bigotry, discrimination, intolerance, racism, hate and evil never vanished. They remain just as alive, just as ugly and vicious as that fateful September 15th Sunday morning.

Those who have such attitudes might not march around as cowards hiding behind and covering their heads and faces with soiled white sheets. Instead like cowards they hid behind keyboards and keypads emitting their insanity, ignorance, racism and evilness.

Just as sadly and unfortunately, there remain so many people in the US who are unable or just refuse to see in the faces of Denise McNair, Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley and Carole Robertson their child, their grandchild or great grandchild. Their inability and/or refusal makes them just as indirectly compliant today as so many others had been on that September 15th Sunday morning that they might as well had planted the dynamite under the stairs of the church themselves.

It is important for Black people to remember their history and teach their children and their children’s children their history. That the history is passed down from one generation to the next.

Such an act is not about seeking revenge or retribution. It is not about the continuation of hate, inhumanity and evil. But it is about making sure that such inhumanity and evil never ever happens again to them or anyone else.

If Carol Denise McNair who was born on November 17th had lived she would have been 73.

Addie Mae Collins who was born April 18th, Cynthia Dionne Wesley who was born April 30th and Carole Rosamond Robertson who was born April 24th would be 77.

Carol Denise McNair, Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley and Carole Rosamond Robertson lived. Their lives, like all lives, were sacred. They were like all children, regardless of race, gender, country of birth, religion, creed, languages they speak, children of God.

To that end, we remember and will not forget Carol Denise McNair, Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley and Carole Rosamond Robertson.

Staff Writer; Al Alatunji

Question or comment regarding this article? Feel free to send a message to: Alatunji@ThyBlackMan.com.