Issue 19
The Influence of the Black Family and Efforts to Remedy Resource Deprivation
By Gwendolyn S. Bethea, Ph.D. and Richard F. Scotton, J.D
Black families nationwide have many things in common, among them, their devotion to the upward mobility of their families, including sacrifices for their health, education, and general wellbeing . Accomplishments in nearly every field from the generations of slavery, through Reconstruction, the Jim Crow period, the Civil Rights movement, until today, have seen periods of personal and professional achievements of only imagined proportions. Freed slaves saved pennies, built schools, and laid the agricultural and industrial groundwork for future generations to do likewise(The Harvard & Legacy of Slavery Initiative, 2025). Research upon research provides data of black family life and influence that have endured and stood the test of time. Carter G. Woodson, famed researcher, historian, and scholar, was an early Harvard University researcher of such data.
The Harvard University 2025 report on the legacy of slavery and discrimination recommends that “a commitment to fostering ongoing engagement, dialogue, information sharing, and relationship building with community members ( will ) foster discussion and solicit input on the long path forward,.. including partnerships (between) resource-rich institutions and HBCUs…” The report has documented millions of dollars and programs from such universities as Brown and Cambridge to begin compensating for the generations of resource deprivation among the descendants of slavery and the efforts to remedy this deprivation. This, despite the efforts of this administration to roll back the progress of such efforts through reverse discriminatory practices.
Nevertheless, during the recent homegoing of our oldest sister, Dr Jacquelyn S. Joyner, in early February, 2026 our youngest brother Attorney Richard F. Scotton, commented that our sister’s achievements were in no small measure due to our mothers and fathers, teachers, religious institutions, and social/political organizations. Moreover, they were unequivocally due to her own example and encouragement, endurance, and scholarly achievements. Our father, a brick mason, and our mother, a stay-at-home mom for the most part, were intentionally focused on these accomplishments, although our mother is quoted in my memoir, Memories: The True Story of an African American Family (2026), that she would have wanted to be a teacher or a nurse.
Stated Richard, “Jacquelyn or Jackie, as we called her, was the eldest of nine children, and I am the youngest. Jackie set a very high bar for us to follow and follow, we did. She was the valedictorian of her class, and two of my sisters – Teresa and Gwendolyn -- followed and were valedictorians of their classes. Jackie graduated from college and seven brothers and sisters followed and graduated from college. Jackie obtained her doctorate degree and four siblings followed and obtained doctorate degrees, two Ph.Ds. and two Jurist Doctorate degrees. Jackie became a teacher/mentor to thousands of students in the Richmond, VA system of education, and four of her siblings became teachers/mentors in the states of North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Washington, DC. With Jackie as an example, Harry Coy Lee, after his years of service in the armed forces, assumed the role of caretaker, along with homecare aids, in Mom and Dad’s failing years.
“So, Jackie was a role model for our family, but not only that, she was a role model for her extended family, her Sorors, friends, community and everyone who knew her. Jackie gave of her time, talent, and treasure to empower others to attain their goals in life. Her heart was filled with love, love for her family, love for her friends, and love for her community.” Her mentoring and outpouring of love and dedication led her to create the Young Achievers Program. The program for young black men of various stations in life was under the auspices of The Links Inc, Commonwealth (VA) Richmond, VA chapter. of which she was a dedicated member. Testimonials abound among the graduates from this program and others under her influence,
However, for every person with an individual like Jackie as a mentor/supporter/role model, and friend, and every effort to positively influence the progress within our communities, there should be others who, with proper resources, are additional success stories. Dr. Bahia Overton, executive director of the nonprofit Black Parent Initiative, states:
“People think that everybody starts from the same place,” says Overton, a social worker, facilitator, researcher and expert on the Black family. She further states “Some people think everybody has an equal opportunity.” to either be role models themselves or to raise (their) children well. Unfortunately, “disparities and historical policies, practices, laws, and things have been discriminatory that put people where they are.” Like the Links’ Young Achievers program, her program, the Black Parents Initiative, means increased opportunities for closing these gaps.
Victor Glover is the first African American pilot on both the First Operational Flight of SpaceX Crew Dragon, and Artemus II
As the world revels in the achievements of NASA’s Artemis II, let us acknowledge Victor Glover as the first African American pilot on both the First Operational Flight of SpaceX Crew Dragon, and Artemus II
The narrative below from NASA’s website revisits this feat.
Astronaut Victor Glover
Victor Jerome Glover is a NASA astronaut of the class of 2013. He is the first African American pilot on the first operational flight of the SpaceX Crew Dragon to the International Space Station. Glover is a commander in the U.S. Navy where he pilots an F/A-18.
A graduate of the U.S. Navy academy, Glover received a Bachelor of Science degree from California Polytechnic State University. He is a member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity.
Navy Commander Glover became the first Black astronaut on a long-term space station mission. The crew also included physicist Shannon Walker and Japan’s Soichi Noguchi, who became the first person in almost 40 years to launch on three types of spacecraft. SpaceX has already launched four astronauts to the International Space Station on the first full-fledged taxi flight for NASA by a private company, Tesla. The flight lasted for a total of 27 1/2 hours and was entirely automated, although the crew could take control if needed. The three-men, one-woman crew named their capsule Resilience in homage to breakthroughs in facing the pandemic, and developments in social and political justice. Victor J. Glover, Jr. was selected as an astronaut in 2013 while serving as a Legislative Fellow in the United States Senate, NASA wrote. Born in Pomona, California, he is married to the former Dionna Odom of Berkeley, California. They have four children. (Associated Press)
In April 2026, Victor Glover and three other astronauts made the trip to the moon and back, this time the trip was the furthest that any human has ever gone.
Artemis II is NASA’s first mission with crew aboard its foundational deep space rocket, the SLS (Space Launch System), The Orion spacecraft will confirm that all the spacecraft’s systems operate as designed with crew aboard in the actual environment of deep space. The mission will pave the way for lunar surface missions, establishing long-term lunar science and exploration capabilities, and inspire the next generation of explorers.
Four astronauts were selected for NASA’s Artemis II mission: Commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, and mission specialist Christina Koch from NASA, and mission specialist Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency. Artemis II was NASA’s first crewed flight test of the Space Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft around the Moon to verify the capabilities for humans to explore deep space and pave the way for long-term exploration and science on the lunar surface.
The Artemis II crew is shown inside the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida in front of their Orion crew module on Aug. 8, 2023. From left are Jeremy Hansen, mission specialist; Victor Glover, pilot; Reid Wiseman, commander; and Christina Hammock Koch, mission specialist. (NASA/Kim Shiflett)
The crew of four astronauts lifted off on the approximately 10-day mission from Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, blazing beyond Earth’s grasp atop the agency’s mega Moon rocket. Over the course of about two days, they checked out Orion’s systems and performed a targeting demonstration test relatively close to Earth before then beginning the trek toward the Moon.
Glover said the most "striking" thing he had seen on this lunar flyby was the moon's "terminator," the dividing line between its illuminated side and the side cloaked in darkness.
"Boy, I am loving the terminator," he radioed to Mission Control. "There's just so much magic in the terminator — the islands of light, the valleys that look like black holes. You'd fall straight to the center of the moon if you stepped in some of those. It's just so visually captivating."
Glover added that he had spent the most time observing the terminator, thinking about it and describing it in his notes.
Victor Glover with his wife and children (Photo by Manuel Mazzanti/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Orion’s European-built service module gave the spacecraft the big push needed to break free from Earth’s orbit and set course for the Moon. This trans-lunar injection “burn” sent the astronauts on an outbound trip of about four days, taking them around the far side of the Moon, where they ultimately created a figure eight extending more than 230,000 miles from Earth. At their max distance, the crew flew 4,600 miles beyond the Moon. During the approximate four-day return trip, the astronauts continued to evaluate the spacecraft’s systems.
Instead of requiring propulsion on the return, this fuel-efficient trajectory harnessed the Earth-Moon gravity field, ensuring that—after its trip around the far side of the Moon—Orion was pulled back naturally by Earth’s gravity for the free return portion of the mission.
The picture above shows how close the spaceship came to the moon. (Men's Journal)
On April 7, the crew headed home after crew endured the high-speed, high-temperature reentry through the Earth’s atmosphere before splashing down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego. They were met by a recovery team of NASA and Department of Defense personnel.
The historic mission saw the four astronauts travel further from Earth than any human had ever gone [NASA]
The crew lost contact with the Earth, as expected, for 40 minutes as they travelled behind the Moon. With communications re-established, astronaut Christina Koch said: "It's so great to hear the Earth again."
Soon afterwards the spacecraft dipped to within a few thousand miles of the lunar surface and the crew witnessed a total eclipse of the Sun as the Moon blocked out its light. The Artemis II mission's spacecraft, Orion, broke the record for human travel record of 248,655 miles (400,000km) held since 1970 by the Apollo 13 mission.
Canadian astronaut Jeremey Hansen acknowledged the achievement with humility.
"As we surpass the furthest distance humans have ever traveled from planet Earth, we do so, honoring the extraordinary efforts and feats of our predecessors in human space exploration," he said.
The spacecraft was not planning to land on the Moon but fly around its far side, the side which is never visible from Earth. Satellites have photographed the far side before, but the astronauts were the first human eyes to see some parts of the far side's surface and its vast craters and lava plains.
Commander Reid Wiseman Fellow astronaut Jeremy Hansen made a request to Nasa mission control to name two craters they observed on the Moon "both with our naked eye and with our long lens.” One they asked to be called Integrity - the name the astronauts gave to the Orion capsule in which they travelled; the other request was to commemorate Wiseman's late wife Carroll, who died in 2020 of cancer.
"A number of years ago we started this journey, and we lost a loved one and there's a feature on a really neat place on the moon... at certain times of the Moon's transit around Earth we will be able to see this from Earth," he said in a visibly emotional tribute.
Artwork: Orion emerges from the Moon's far side to a solar eclipse in space [NASA]
Close up, the Moon stops being a shining disc and becomes a craggy world with varied features. [NASA]
Contributors to this article: Pallab Ghosh - Science Correspondent; Alison Francis - Senior Science Reporter; Kevin Church; and Esme Stallard
Pastor Sylvia Staten
"Fed to feed, loved to love, served to serve."
Pastor Sylvia Staten, a native of High Point, North Carolina, is a seasoned and passionate servant-leader with over 50 years of dedicated ministry. She is the proud mother of four successful sons—Zevlin, Antley, Abram, and Abraham, 3 beloved daughters-in-love, and the joyful grandmother to three perfect grandchildren.
She earned her bachelor’s degree from Columbia International University and has since committed her life to serving the Kingdom of God across various roles and regions.
Pastor Staten was the faithful Lead Pastor in the Church of God of Prophecy in Winnsboro, South Carolina, for 17 years. Following that, she served as an International Evangelist for 17 years, traveling extensively to share the Gospel. For the past 13 years, she joyfully returned to Pastoral ministry at The Place of Grace, a Church of God of Prophecy congregation in Rock Hill, SC.
Currently, Pastor Staten holds several key leadership roles within the state of South Carolina. She serves on the Ministerial Review Board and has made history as the first female District Supervisor, overseeing nine churches within the state.
Beyond the pulpit, Pastor Staten has worn many impactful hats. She taught at Fairfield Central High School for more than three years, and for 36 consecutive years, she has faithfully directed the Church of God of Prophecy Youth Camp, shaping the lives of countless young people. Her expertise extends into community health, where she has worked as a Certified Prevention Specialist and Functional Supervisor for a G-CAP project. In this role, she designed, implemented, and evaluated prevention programs addressing alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs for both youth and adults. She also served as a Prevention Specialist for the Fairfield County Substance Abuse Commission.
An accomplished writer, Evangelist Staten is a published author and contributing devotional writer for the book "Enjoying the Journey," published by White Wing Publishing House. Her inspirational writings have also been featured in local newspapers throughout South Carolina.
Pastor Sylvia Staten continues to embody a life of service, compassion, and unwavering commitment to the call of ministry. Her legacy is one of impact, inspiration, and intentionality, nurturing the next generation of leaders, both inside and outside the church walls.
TRIBUTE TO PROFESSOR ELSIE WILLENE SCOTTON HARLEY
May 28, 1943 – February 1, 2026
By Christina Harley
Elsie Willene Scotton Harley was born on May 28, 1943, in Philadelphia Pennsylvania, to the late Rev. Willie and Elsie Scotton. Willene was a graduate of College Hill High School and earned her degree in Business from Tennessee Agricultural and Industrial State University, presently known as Tennessee State University. Willene subsequently obtained her master’s degree from Pepperdine University in California. From her mother, Willene inherited, among many things, her steadfastness, and beautiful sewing skills. From her father, Willene emulated his value of education as well as his keen sense of responsibility. Willene’s public service was extensive. Being a self-taught pianist, Willene led Musical Worship for her father’s church, the Dalton Church of God of Prophecy, the Compton Church of God of Prophecy, and the National City Church of God of Prophecy. More recently, Willene extended her many talents to include playing the harp.
In addition to being an accomplished musician, Professor Harley served in Forestry in Cleveland, Tennessee. She established her nonprofit, CTC, Career Training Center, which, among many contributions, mentored and supported young adults in reaching their highest potential, and espoused personal integrity as a cornerstone of one’s life.
Willene dedicated her professional life to education. She served in the Los Angeles Unified School District by first teaching at Los Angeles High School, then transitioning to Vice Principal, and Dean of Girls. Willene later began her long tenure as a Professor of Business at Grossmont College in San Diego from 1976 until her retirement in 2014, completing 34 years of distinguished service. She was deeply respected by colleagues and students alike for her knowledge, professionalism, and commitment to excellence. Willene was known for her radiant smile and her love for family, especially her devoted daughter, Christina. She often shared her favorite words of wisdom: “Wherever you are, God is,” and from Dr. Maya Angelou: “People will forget what you say, and people will forget what you do, but they will never forget how you made them feel.”
She was preceded in death by her parents; her former husband, Clarence Harley; her sister, Roma Scotton; and her niece, Nichole Scotton. She is survived by her daughter and caregiver, Christina Harley of San Diego, California; sisters Cynthia (Donald) Humes of Cleveland, Tennessee; Gwendolyn Scotton of Las Vegas, Nevada; Lavinia (Terrial) Johnson of Cleveland, Tennessee; and Prisavia Croft (Jeff) of Birchwood, Tennessee; brothers Carl (Ann) of Tacoma, Washington; Thomas (Connie) of Cleveland, Tennessee; Lionel of Cleveland, Tennessee; and Stefen Scotton (Tiffany) of Raleigh, North
Carolina; sister-in-law Monica Harley of San Bernardino, California; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
Professor Elsie Willene Scotton Harley, 82, of San Diego, California, passed away on February 1, 2026, in San Diego, California.
Christina Harley, Playwright, is the daughter of Professor Harley.
Dr. Frederick Douglas Harper wins
Literary Titan’s Gold Book Award
Dr. Frederick Harper, author, educator, counselor, has won the 2026 Literary Titan’s Gold Book Award. The Literary Titan Book Award is a monthly award recognizing fiction and non-fiction books that exhibit exceptional storytelling and, in the judges' view, high-quality writing, with a focus on indie-published works. Gold and Silver awards are granted to books that resonate deeply, with recipients receiving recognition and a professional book review. Gold and Silver awards are awarded to books deemed to have high literary merit, unique writing styles, and well-developed, immersive worlds. Gold is the higher award. Dr. Harper won a Gold Book Award for his recently published book, TO WOMAN, FROM MAN, which is a book that was published during Women’s History Month, 2026 to honor famous and non-famous women, to acknowledge uncredited and discredited women of history, to address the abuse of women, and to challenge women to stand up and take leadership during these challenging times.