Author: Carma Henry

Carma Lynn Henry Westside Gazette Newspaper 545 N.W. 7th Terrace, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33311 Office: (954) 525-1489 Fax: (954) 525-1861

     The words are from George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four (where else?), explaining the root causes of a dystopian world. The book may be a work of fiction, but his words are deeply embedded in reality – we need enemies, the worse the better! This certainty may well be humanity’s most profound existential threat. I fear it could be “the meteor” that hits Planet Earth, ultimately spelling extinction for the dominant species.

     Knowing that Black designers make up only 7.3% of the fashion industry, despite the community’s significant influence on fashion, Barbie is committed to encouraging more young Black girls to consider a career in fashion design through partnerships that help break down barriers, unlock opportunity, and inspire the next generation.

In 1955, fed up with segregation on city transit buses, Black people in Birmingham, Alabama, refused to ride them at all. The months-long boycott, which hit downtown businesses along with the transit company, crippled the city; after losing millions in revenue, Birmingham officials agreed to integrate the bus system.