NETFLIX

Another week goes by and NETFLIX releases another original that no one knew was coming but is totally binge worthy. Atypical follows 18 year-old Sam, a high functioning autistic teenager as he attempts to navigate the high school social scene.

High school can be a challenge for any teenager, but for Sam his disability poses additionally challenges in his pursuit of a normal life that includes finding a girlfriend, keeping a part time job, making friends and asserting his independence from his family.

Until recently Sam has led a relatively sheltered life fostered by his over bearing mother Elsa (Jenifer Jason Leigh). With the help of his therapist Julia (Amy Okuda), Sam seeks to find a girlfriend to hopefully have sex with one day. High school can be fraught with social land mines for any teenager, which he manages to navigate with the help of his over protective sister Casey (Brigette Lundy Payne).

What does Atypical get right?

Atypical provides a sense of familiarity in the context of a suburban family attempting to raise two teenagers in the face of societal road blocks that stifle their growth. The best part about Atypical shows us that parenting is not perfect, and strips away the sympathetic emotions associated with being a caregiver for a child with a disability. Instead we route for the Gardiner’s to reach a level of normalcy that most families take for granted.

Sam shines in his role as a high functioning autistic, with many endearing qualities. We are often reminded that being a family member or friend to Sam although rewarding requires great personal sacrifice in his journey for independence.

In the end we are left to wonder will the gardeners achieve some semblance of normalcy. While we root for Sam in his quest for social evolution.

Last week $417 million was awarded to Eva Echeverria by a jury in California in a case against Johnson & Johnson for failing to disclose the increased risk of ovarian cancer associated with the use of talcum baby powder. Echeverria had used Johnson & Johnson's baby powder product for several decades with no idea it had any risk to cause cancer. Escheverria is terminally ill with ovarian cancer and was too sick to even testify in court. This continues to be a legal debate for J&J losing several lawsuits totaling $724 million over the use of its talcum powder products and increased ovarian cancer risk. Several thousand more lawsuits are pending against the company suggesting several more payouts are to come.

Women have been using Johnson & Johnson's baby powder for several decades for feminine hygiene. As someone of Caribbean descent I know that baby powder has been a staple of the culture. In the 1980s J&J's marketing slogan read, "A sprinkle a day keeps the odor away." Presently the debate revolves around whether women who used talcum powder regular in the genital area have an increased risk of ovarian cancer.

The issue lies with the use of talcum as a main ingredient of baby powder. Talcum has been associated with ovarian cancer dating back to the 1970s when OB/GYNs found talc particles in the tumors of ovarian cancer patients. Since then, several studies have drawn a link between increased ovarian cancer risk and talcum powder. The main issue lies with the refusal of the medical community to confirm the role of Talcum powder causing ovarian cancer.

Several studies have drawn the conclusion that no significant increased risk of ovarian cancer exists in women that use talcum powder. This has lead to a scientific quandary regarding the fact that most studies that investigate the association of ovarian cancer risk and baby powder are epidemiological studies that rely on an association factor and thus can not accurately portray a cause and effect relationship. Frequently the accuracy of study participants’ memories can be inaccurate in hindsight. And skew the data. Furthermore, lab studies have been inconclusive in validating a cause and effect link.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies talc that contains asbestos as “carcinogenic to humans.” Although they have failed to classify talc-free powder as a carcinogen they do suggest that it may be possess cancer-promoting properties.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) states “the weight of evidence does not support an association between perineal talc exposure and an increased risk of ovarian cancer.”

Studies linking Talcum powder with ovarian caner date back to the early 1970s. In the 1980s a Harvard researcher Daniel Cramer supported a link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer. He even advised J&J to put a warning on their product. This information has been used against J&J in the lawsuits that imply libel.

The raw mineral form of talcum contains asbestos, a known carcinogen linked to causing cancer, more specifically lung cancer. Talcum products used in the home have had asbestos removed since the 1970s. Talcum powder is made from talc, a mineral consisting of magnesium, silicon, and oxygen. Its ability to absorb moisture has made it a staple in beauty products that keep skin dry and prevent rashes. It is also the main constituent of several cosmetic products. However much of the debate has revolved around the safety of asbestos free talcum powder. Although studies are inconclusive the main hypothesis suggest that talcum powder placed around the genital region in women leads to increased inflammation thus promoting an environment conducuve to ovarian cancer. In the end the question lies around the safety of this product.

The FDA has refused to validate baby powder as a carcinogen. However, several different juries have found the data compelling enough to hold J&J liable for the induction of ovarian cancer in several women. This alone does not validate the scientific merit of baby powder causing ovarian cancer. At present it is unclear whether talcum powder has been associated with any other types of cancer formation. However if it is a carcinogen then there is a significant chance that it might be.

As of now, the verdict is out on whether or not baby powder actually does cause cancer. However juries have seen enough information to suggest that the information that does exist suggest J&J could have done more to warn consumers.

At this point the question remains why would anyone use this product with the continued controversy surrounding the health aspects of this product.

For the record no association has been made with baby powder causing cancer in any infants or small children. However, many pediatricians discourage the use of such powders on babies because they may cause breathing problems.

With Jerrod Carmichael Blank playing Ross, Issa Ray playing Rachel, Tessa Thompson playing Monica, Lakeith Stanfield playing Chandler, Tiffany Haddish playing Phoebe and Lil Rey Howery playing Joey. And JAY-Z bringing up the rear as Richard.

Personally as a long time Friends Fan Jay-Z brought my dream to reality. The funniest part is seeing how corny this ish is when its black people. But props to the black hollywood crew for spoofing this classic 90s sitcom.

The Real question is who did they cast to play UGLE NAKED GUY?!

NETFLIX

I have wanted to write about my journey about becoming a father and raising a child ever since my son was born 7 months ago. It is crazy to think of the challenges that are thrown at you as a new parent, which you never imagined having to deal with before. I now understand that responsibility in new unthinkable ways. So I am going to be writing about my journey as a father and role model as I try to guide this little one along a respectable path. However, it dawned on me that before I write about myself I have to throw some props to, not only my mother for raising me as a single mother, but also the countless single mothers in the trenches parenting their butts off. In the words of Aretha….R-E-S-P-E-C-T!

As a new father I am constantly confronted with my inadequacies as a human being when it comes to being responsible for another human life. I don’t think anyone is ever fully prepared for what it means to become a parent. From the late nights, to dirty diapers, flu shots, vaccines etc., every aspect about being a parent challenges your comfort zone.

*True story* a week after my son was born we rushed him to the doctor because he hadn’t pooped in 5 days. Of course he was perfectly fine but hey those are the kinds of things you worry about as a new parent.  Is he pooping enough?!

I am the first to admit that I am blessed and I am thankful for my blessings everyday. I have always wanted a son, a legacy to carry on my name and that was the gift that I received. My son is blessed to have two parents present at every stage of his development, a truly a priceless gift.  Not everyone is so fortunate, for whatever reason. More often than not that responsibility is born on the mother alone.

Firstly, I would like to thank my wife for everything she has done to provide me with the gift of our son. Her strength and determination through the process of childbirth is a marvel unto itself and for that I am forever grateful. As every day passes that I watch my son grow and develop, I can not help but to reflect on my own upbringing and how I was raised. I watch as two parents, my wife and I, lean on one another as we muddle our way through this process of first time parents. And as each day goes by I am whole heartedly amazed at what amazing creatures women are as a species and a spiritual being. More importantly I respect the deity that is the single mother for all that she is, that my own mother was.


I want to start off by stating I was raised by one of the greatest single mothers that God ever put on the green earth. I want to state foremost that I personally never felt inadequate by being raised by a single mother and although we may not have been financially wealthy I was endowed with a wealth of unconditional love. As one of three children I always knew that being a single mother was a struggle, and there were times I watched my mother sacrifice so that her children could be better off. She doesn’t like me to talk about this, but some nights she would not eat to make sure we had enough food. As an adult I understand the challenges that she faced as a single mother and would like to recognize her struggle.


For the record I was not an easy child. In fact I was down right difficult. I faced my own struggles and battled my own demons, metaphorically speaking. And as a young boy raised in a house full of women I did feel alone, and neglected due to the absence of my own father in my life. It is not an easy thing to admit, but those are the real emotions that can plague a son being raised by a single mother. But no matter what inner turmoil I faced, I can affirm that I always felt loved, maybe misunderstood by loved none the less. I digress, because this post is not about my personal upbringings per se. It is an opportunity to acknowledge the countless women that go unnoticed on a daily basis, especially the women trying to raise a Man in this harsh world.

The single parent family is a norm for many in this modern era. According to the 2016 U.S. Census Bureau, 69% (73.9 million) of children in the U.S. are raised in a two parent household. Conversely, 23% (12 million) of children living in the U.S. are being raised by a single mother, nearly a 4X increase in the 1960s (8%). Approximately 4 out of 10 children were born to unwed mothers with two thirds of those women under the age of 30. Today, 1 in 4 children under the age of 18 are being raised without a father, with 40% of those kids living below the poverty line. In the workplace, a single mother on average earns 79 cents for every $1 a man earns. Women of color earn even less (African American 64 cents & Hispanic 56 cents for ever $1 a man earns). An obvious disparity exists between two parent households (with a median household income of $84K) vs. single mothers (with a median household income of $34K). This data confirms that single mother’s have to do more with less, with one third of single mothers receiving child support. Furthermore, 36.5% of single mothers live in extreme poverty, with women of color facing even dire statistics. This systemic inequality translates to decreased access to healthcare, education and childcare. In short it’s hard being a single mother while trying to raise a productive member of society.

Those are the statistics. I am not here to post the battle cry for single mothers. However I do think that they deserve our respect, dedication and reflection. Gone are the days when we adopted the “it takes a village” approach to child rearing. We as a society are guilty of forsaking our fellow man or in this case woman in their time of need. Most importantly, the men of the future need strong role models. It is one thing to be a father and it is another to be a role model.  I will admit I was blessed with a strong network of male role models in my own life that helped to steer me from a more insidious path. They encompassed all areas of my life including church, school, family and friends. We need these role models even more today, where men a constantly ravaged by society where their lives can change in the blink of an eye. So I say be the change you wish to see in the world. You have no idea what positive effect a conversation can have on the next generation.

I am willing to admit that without those strong male role models in my life my circumstances may have turned out to be very different. There is a real possibility I could have ended up in jail, dead or worse. Instead you have a PhD educated cancer research scientist, with a family of his own and a son to lead. #Blessed

All mothers make a sacrifice to bring life into this world. Single mothers are a special breed that deserves our love, respect and support. There is nothing wrong with us acknowledging their journey. So if a single mother raised you make sure she understands that you appreciate the sacrifices she has made to bring you where you are in this world. Furthermore, we all know single mothers out there trying to do it on their own. I challenge the real men out there to be that role model that may save a life.