For those struggling with what habits you need to unlearn or struggling to incorporate, here’s something I want to share. Throughout my work becoming a vegan, and I’m being transparent here, I’m easing into the journey because it hasn’t been a straight line.
But here’s what I learned. My capacity for change operates best when I incorporate synergy, meaning that for me to learn at my highest capacity, to keep a habit going and be consistent, I usually combine several different methods in order for that lesson to stick. For me, implementing my vegan journey involves me reading about it and being actively involved in the process.
I’ll give you a few examples of how this has become real for me aside from just having head knowledge. I’m learning how to take simple dishes and give them a vegan twist. Instead of using regular flour, I often substitute it for my own oat flour made by blending oatmeal. And when making desserts, I use ingredients like oatmeal, banana, pumpkin seeds and natural peanut butter.
Keisa Sharpe says it’s taken work to become a vegan, she’s easing into the journey. (Adobe Stock)
When recipes call for sweeteners, I use more natural alternatives like homemade date sugar, maple syrup and honey. It may sound impressive, but it has been a work in progress.
But again, let me say, change has not come from me being a casual observer. When I see the most success, I’ve been an active participant in my own campaign for change. It’s not enough for me to just look at pictures and videos – and I’ve seen a multitude – but I must go to the store and purchase the different ingredients to create my own foods.
You get where I’m going with all of this. I can’t just think about it. I have to be about it (and participate) if change is going to happen in my life. But guess what? I believe the same is true for you.
When we see change as an action word, rather than just a glorified noun, that’s when the beauty can begin. Don’t just immerse yourself in the knowledge, but in participating as well. Then, our lessons can stick. With that said, do you know your process for effective change? Do you know what helps you learn a new habit? And do you know what helps you stick to a habit or a new way of doing?
Perhaps it’d be a really good idea if you were to invest the time to find out just what it is.
As always, know I’m rooting for you.
Keisa Sharpe is a life coach, author and speaker. Her column appears each month online and in The Birmingham Times. You can contact Keisa at keisasharpe@yahoo.com and visit http://www.allsheanaturals.com for natural hair and body products.
With Thanksgiving 2024 merely days away, millions of Americans will be traveling 50 or more miles to their destinations between Wednesday and Sunday. Last year saw a 2.3 percent increase in road traveling during Thanksgiving from 2022. This was the third highest Thanksgiving trip since 2000. This year is projected to be even higher. So our focus this week will be on safety tips for those traveling by vehicles during the Thanksgiving holidays.
As you are planning your road trip there are some safety factors that should be considered beginning with the best travel time. It is estimated that the average travel times will be as high as 80 percent over normal in some metropolitan areas such as Atlanta. You want to avoid heavy traffic during peak hours, so select off-peak times. Leaving early in the morning before 11 a.m. is best or after 7 p.m. Use popular navigation apps like Waze or Google Maps to help find the best routes based on real-time traffic conditions.
Make sure you pack some patience for your trip, so take your time. Avoid aggressive driving like speeding and tailgating. Keep a safe distance from the car in front, and always signal when changing lanes or turning.
With Thanksgiving 2024 merely days away, millions of Americans will be traveling 50 or more miles to their destinations between Wednesday and Sunday. (Adobe Stock)
When packing for your trip, remember that holiday safety travel tips are not just about how you drive. It is important to make your vehicle ready for the road trip. This means tires, battery and belts should be checked in advance. Check and top off your fluids, replace filters and ensure headlights and turn signals are working properly.
Pack the essentials. Carry an emergency kit in case you need roadside help, including essentials like jumper cables, flares, blankets, gloves, a flashlight, and basic tools. Do not forget a phone charger, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes. It is always good to be prepared for the unexpected.
It is a well-known fact that flying leads to dehydration, many do not realize that road trips do too. Dehydration while on the road can cause fatigue, dry eyes, light-headedness, headaches, dizziness, lack of focus and blurry vision.
These symptoms are particularly dangerous during long drives, common during holiday travel. Ensuring you stay hydrated is a key component of holiday safety travel tips. Staying hydrated will help you remain alert and focused as you drive to celebrate the holiday.
Be cautious and remain safe on Thanksgiving Eve (Blackout Wednesday). When friends and family congregate to celebrate, often this celebration leads to excessive drinking, making it one of the top nights for alcohol-related incidents. If you plan to participate in the celebration and anticipate enjoying some cocktails, plan ahead by prioritizing safety. Discuss the matter and appoint a designated driver or Uber or a professional chauffeur for the night.
Keeping an Eye on Safety as you drive to your destination is crucial during the Thanksgiving holidays. Remember, you are on your way to celebrate with loved ones so enjoy the ride!
SARAH GRANDERSON, 2021 GRADUATE OF RAMSAY HIGH SCHOOL AND NOW A SENIOR AT JACKSONVILLE STATE UNIVERSITY, ON WHAT THE BIRMINGHAM PROMISE PROGRAM HAS MEANT; THE BIRMINGHAMTIMES, NOV. 15.
Twenty-nine recruits started courses at the Birmingham Police Academy on Tuesday.
It is the academy’s largest class since 2019. Police said it’s a promising look into the future as the department works to fill over 170 empty positions. Over the past few months, the department has been aggressively recruiting and implementing strategies to find and keep good police officers.
The academy started the same for these recruits as it does for every class. In one of his last acts as Birmingham police chief, Scott Thurmond gave a lecture on ethics.
Over the next 22 weeks, these men and women will be challenged mentally and physically as they work to become officers for the City of Birmingham.
“We want to make sure when they leave here, they are prepared for everything they are going to encounter on the streets of Birmingham,” said Rodarius Mauldin, Birmingham’s deputy chief of police.
Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin announced last month the city was short over 170 officers.
“You start at $58,000,” Mauldin said. “You have a signing bonus of $10,000, so you are walking in the door making $68,000 in your first year. That’s on top of any overtime you may want to work.”
“It is very important that we become competitive with other surrounding agencies outside of Jefferson County,” said Birmingham City Councilor Hunter Williams.
Even with the need for officers and high incentives for applying, Mauldin said the standard for recruits has not changed.
“We started this process with 132 candidates, and one thing I believe strongly in is we are not going to lower our standards just so we have a warm body because it matters, and our community deserves the best and brightest of exceptional candidates,” Mauldin said.
The Birmingham Police Department is recruiting for its next class of recruits. Anyone who is interested in becoming a Birmingham police officer is encouraged to call 205-254-1712 or visit here.
Chris South, owner of The Lion’s Den, a Birmingham mobile lounge, began the business in 2022. He says he’s always aspired to create his own lounge for people to visit and wanted it to be different. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)
By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times
Welcome to The Lion’s Den, a Birmingham mobile lounge where the city’s nightlife can be experienced on wheels with signature cocktails in a fully stocked bar, exotic hookah flavors, cigars and a deejay.
The Lion’s Den offers catering options for guests to purchase food from popular different area restaurants. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)
Chris South, who owns and began the business in 2022, said he’s always aspired to create his own lounge for people to visit and wanted it to be different.
He saw an opportunity and after he placed a $500 bid on a school bus on eBay, South then learned that he won his bid. “I called my cousin, he’s a diesel mechanic. I told him I had won a bus and that we needed to go check it out. I sent the man that was selling it $500 and took off from work I went to Mobile (Alabama) and drove it back home.”
South says when he first told people about his plan for the bus, “they couldn’t see it.” He told them to “trust the process.”
After getting his bus to Birmingham, South said he put in work to turn his dream into reality. It took him less than a year to complete renovations and turn the bus into a lounge for weddings, private parties and more, he said.
“I had somebody to paint the ceiling. I had another person wrap the outside. I had a guy come in to tint my windows and install my sound system. I had a guy to come do my seats and I installed a bar in the back,” said South, who was born and raised in Birmingham, grew up in Brown Springs near Gate City and graduated from Huffman High School in 1999.
He has a staff of four that includes two always on the bus. “There’s a driver and a host. That person kind of just takes care of everything to make sure everything is okay while guests are enjoying themselves.”
“I usually do events and ride around the city,” South has said. “Sometimes people book for us to set up at their house so they can smoke cigars and hookahs and play cards while they’re having a party. They bring food and fun. I thought it would be a good business idea to have a cigar place where people can smoke and ride or rent it for get-togethers.”
The bus accommodates approximately 15.
Chris South bought a school bus for $500 and turned it into his own business. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)
The Lion’s Den is BYOB, [Bring Your Own Beverages] but does offer catering options for guests to purchase food from different restaurants like A-Train Express and Simone’s ATL Kitchen.
South, 45, can do it all when it comes to the business, he said. “I can put in floors. I can paint. I can build anything. I’m an all-around person.”
South gave credit to his father, Samuel South for his skills. “My told me to always learn other skills because you never know when your job will close its doors or when they don’t need you,” South said. “He’s still living. He’s an all-around guy. The South boys can do just about anything. The one thing I think my dad has always told me is to take care of number one, that’s you, and then you can help others.”
South said he learned a lot by hanging out with his dad. “If he was working on something he’s going to make sure that you are there with him. If he had to go somewhere to work on somebody’s house, you were going with him. “
For more information about The Lion’s Den: Facebook: TheLionsDenBham; Instagram: @TheLionsDenBham.
The Lion’s Den, a Birmingham mobile lounge, accommodates approximately 15. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)
BY JE’DON HOLLOWAY-TALLEY | Special to the Birmingham Times
CORNELL AND CHARLOTTE HALL
Live: Pleasant Grove
Married: Aug. 5, 2006
Met: Summer 2005 at their pastor T.L. Lewis’ home in Bessemer. Lewis has since retired as pastor of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Pratt City. Cornell was there to maintenance Lewis’s lake.
“I was putting a pipe in the ditch when Charlotte came out to bring me and my brother some water. And when she brought the water out I told her I had been praying for a wife and that she should give me a kiss so I’ll know she’s real,” Cornell laughed. “I was covered in mud, and she said, ‘You’re so dirty, you can’t even come in the house’, and she laughed and walked off, and I said, ‘well blow me a kiss, and she turned back around and blew me one.”
Charlotte had been at their pastor’s house assisting with his wife, who had recently had an aneurysm. “I had taken her to a doctor’s appointment…and Pastor Lewis’s mother was also there and asked me to take some water out to Cornell and his brother,” Charlotte recalled. “Cornell did ask me for a kiss, and I said, ‘Why should I give you a kiss? and I don’t even know you’ and he was dirty… But when I got back to the door to go in the house, I did turn around and blow him a kiss,” Charlotte laughed.
They didn’t exchange numbers that day but Cornell inquired about Charlotte to the pastor “and he talked to me about her for two-three hours,” Cornell said. “He went on and on about how she would make me a good wife and she’d see about me, and that she comes from a good stable family… …he also said she was the type of woman that would help you take care of your mother, and everything he said was right. Over these 18 years we’ve been together, Charlotte has been everything he said. My mother is 92 years old and bedridden, and Charlotte has been there every step of the way.”
At the time, Cornell was a fairly new member at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, and Charlotte became the reason he went more often. Over a few months, Cornell tried to court Charlotte and mentioned he had an upcoming birthday to which Charlotte agreed to take him out to celebrate.
First date: On Cornell’s birthday, Dec. 12, 2004. Charlotte picked Cornell up from his home in Center Point, and they went to dinner at Bahama Breeze on Highway 280.
“When [she] picked me up she had a gift for me. It was a nice blue jean jacket…,” Cornell recalled. “We talked and ate dinner and Charlotte wanted to know where I was in life because she is very goal oriented. She wanted to know how much debt I had (and I had a lot left behind from my first marriage) … So I told her about [my financial circumstances], and she told me about ways to manage the debt and become debt-free and she told me she had a better plan than the one I had,” he said.
At the time, Charlotte was in a long-distance relationship with someone who lived out of state. She said she’d offered to take Cornell to dinner for his birthday as friends. “I listened to what he had to say, and I told him my expectations [smart financial planning and commitment] and what it would take to make me get out of the long-distance relationship that I was in,” Charlotte said.
The turn: January 2005. “I told Charlotte that if I was going to be in a relationship with her, she can’t be in another one, and when you’re serious we can talk. And by the second date she had a whole [financial] plan for me, and it made good sense… We were at her house [while having the financial discussion] and I told her to excuse me for a moment and I went outside and screamed ‘Thank you, Jesus!’,” Cornell laughed.
A few dates later, “she told me she got rid of the other guy and we got serious.
Six months in we started talking about a wedding and I took her home to meet my mama.”
“I saw that I could have a future with Cornell, so like he said, I cut the other guy off and we started having a serious relationship,” Charlotte said.
The proposal: Summer 2005, at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Pratt City. Cornell had a previous addiction and had hit his 12th anniversary of being clean. He had his mother attend the service so that he could present her with his 12-year sobriety chip and proceeded to ask Charlotte for her hand in marriage.
“I asked Pastor Lewis if I could ask Charlotte to marry me at church, and he said, ‘Yeah son, at the end of service, I’ll slow things down and give you the mic’,” Cornell remembered. “I started off talking about the grace of God, and how he kept me clean for 12 years, and that I wouldn’t have gotten there without my mama’s help … so I thanked her and gave her [his sobriety chip], then moved on to Charlotte. I asked her to marry me from the pulpit… I told her what she meant to me and said ‘Charlotte Milton, I got something to ask you, will you marry me?’, and she gave me this ‘little bitty yes’, and Pastor Lewis said, ‘What you say, Charlotte? Somebody give her the mic’ then she came on down to the front of the church and I came down from the pulpit and got on my knee and asked her again and put this big ring on her finger. Then my brother came up and [presented] her with a dozen roses and she said, ‘yes’”.
Charlotte was shy and embarrassed. “I was thinking why is he doing this in public because I’m not a public person,” she laughed. “He did not have to do it in front of the whole church. I was 46 years old, I had never been married before and I was thinking what am I getting myself into?” Charlotte laughed.“ But, I said ‘yes’.”
Cornell has been sober and clean for more than 30 years.
The wedding: At Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Pratt City, officiated by Pastor Lewis. Their wedding colors were pink, green, and white.
Most memorable for the bride was the unity candle and the sand covenant. The sand covenant symbolizes that the couple will remain a unit forever, said Charlotte. “ … the joining of the sand unifies you and shows that divorce is not an option. We decided early on that we would not separate, and we would see this till the end,” Charlotte said. “And I was taught by my daddy that you marry for good and bad, no matter what, you gotta work it out.”
Most memorable for the groom was a dance performance before his bride walked down the aisle to him. “We had a couple do a dance down the aisle to a song called, ‘You’re The One’, and he [the male dancer] would spin her [the female dancer] around and catch her and lay her back in his arms, and they acted out the whole song and it was just so beautiful. And when they got through, the whole church was crying,” Cornell said. “The pastor said, ‘Now when we dry all this up, we can continue on with the wedding’ the whole ceremony was touching because I understood all [the symbolism, including] Charlotte being passed from her father’s covering to mine… it was so nice. And we jumped the broom.”
They honeymooned in Maui, Hawaii for 10 days. Cornell remembers being panicked by his drowning bride “I was swimming way out in the ocean trying to show my wife how [great a swimmer I am] and all of a sudden I hear Charlotte screaming ‘Help, help’. The waves had carried her too far out, and she was drowning, and I was too far out to get to her right away, and I was fighting trying to swim back to her, but before I could the waves had pushed her back [to shore], and when I finally got to her I said, ‘get your stuff and let’s go,” Cornell said. “And I made her a promise that I would bring her back there one day and when I did, we would be in far better [financial shape] than we are now, and that’s what I did. I took her back for my 65th birthday and I gave her the VIP treatment. I had to do it because the first go-round, she paid for everything, and I was broke. But I more than made up for it.”
Cornell and Charlotte Hall met in 2005 at their pastor’s home in Bessemer. They married a year later. (Provided Photos)
Words of wisdom: “Work together, communicate with each other, and know that when you got married you took vows that made you one. So, you have to work together to get through the hard parts. And keep other people out of your marriage,” Charlotte said.
“Build your marriage on a rock because that rock is Jesus. All other ground is sinking sand,” said Cornell.
Happily ever after: The Halls attend Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Pratt City where Cornell serves as a minister and Charlotte with the nurses’ guild and minister’s wives committee. They are a blended family with three adult daughters: Jewell Dickson Clayton, the late Tiffany Liddell who passed away from having a seizure in her sleep, and Aisha Crawford. They also have three grandsons and one great-granddaughter.
Charlotte, 65, is a Sprott [near Selma, in Perry County] native, and an East Perry High School grad. She attended the University of Alabama, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing, and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Charlotte retired last November from UAB Hospital where she worked as a nurse for 42 years.
Cornell, 72, is a Birmingham [southside] native, a Western [P.D. Jackson] Olin High School grad, and attended Lawson State Community College where he earned an associate’s degree in carpentry and cabinet making. Cornell is a 33rd-degree Mason GIG [Grand Inspector General] and retired in 2013 from the City of Bessemer as a building inspector for 17 years.
“You Had Me at Hello’’ highlights married couples and the love that binds them. If you would like to be considered for a future “Hello’’ column, or know someone, please send nominations to Barnett Wright bwright@birminghamtimes.com. Include the couple’s name, contact number(s) and what makes their love story unique.
With the support of local businesses and leadership by Sloss Real Estate, the City of Birmingham has facilitated a $3.2 million road diet to the Second Avenue South area. (Sloss Real Estate Photo)
birminghamal.gov
The district surrounding Second Avenue South has long been a popular gathering place because of its cluster of renowned restaurants, retail spaces, and the award-winning Pepper Place Farmer’s Market. But for pedestrians and bike riders, navigating the area was often a challenge.
With the support of local businesses and leadership by Sloss Real Estate, the City of Birmingham has facilitated a $3.2 million road diet to the area that has transformed the streetscapes and sidewalks into a safe and more navigable space.
“There is now more green space and more space dedicated to people and not cars,” said Christina Argo, deputy director of the Department of Transportation. This project is a part of the City of Birmingham’s Complete Streets initiative, a long-term effort to make areas across the city less car-dependent and more walkable and bikeable.
The Second Avenue South area improvements, which stretch from 24th Street South to 32nd Street South, include 4,500 feet of street resurfacing, new sidewalks, drainage improvement and bike lanes. Work began last year and has included street striping and re-configuring the car travel lanes from four into two, which enabled the creation of bike lanes and the installation of enhanced sustainable plant beds. The city’s first rain gardens were added to the intersections of 28th and 29th Streets, which helps slow and filter stormwater runoff during rain events. New trees were added to the area and a sidewalk network was completed.
The speed limit has been decreased to 25 miles per hour and enhanced crosswalks (with high-visibility step ladder block painting) were added. Also, a four-way stop sign was installed at 29th street. In the past there had not been any traffic control there.
Leigh Sloss-Corra, executive director of the Market at Pepper Place, recalls a time when drivers would barrel through the Second Avenue South district at high speed.
“It was a like a superhighway,” she said. “It was a quick cut place you could get through fast. There were no stop signs, no stop lights, the streets were wide and there was no parking.”
That has changed.
“Now suddenly you think, ‘This is a place where I want to go shopping or have lunch,’” she said, remarking on how the greenery and crosswalks cause you to pause and enjoy what has evolved into a vibrant community. “It is a nice place to meet. The street is beautiful, trees are growing back in. It feels like it is a neighborhood for everyone, all ages. It’s a real success story.”
Now, residents and visitors have a connected path that allows them to travel – by foot or bike– to the farmer’s market, access nearby restaurants and retails spots and also be connected to the Red Rock Trail system. The area was also the first district to put in stringed lights. They currently hang over 29th Street and adds vibrancy to the night life and enables the district to host street events.
Jane Reed Ross of Goodwyn Mills Cawood served as the lead design landscape architect.
Haven Moore, CEO of downtown Birmingham’s sole Black-owned luxury nail and spa, Haven Fabulash Nails, offers a full suite of services, such as manicures, full sets of nails, pedicures and other levels of indulgence. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)
By Sym Posey | The Birmingham Times
What began as a hobby has flourished into a successful business and career for Haven Moore, CEO of downtown Birmingham’s sole Black-owned luxury nail and spa, Haven Fabulash Nails.
Moore, along with four other nail technicians, offers a full suite of services, such as manicures, including full sets of nails, pedicures— and “luxury that knows no bounds,” said Moore, adding, “It’s time for Black women to experience the highest level of indulgence, too.”
Opened last year at 2380 First Ave. N, the salon also conducts classes and workshops.
Haven Fabulash Nails offers a full suite of services, such as manicures, full sets of nails, pedicures and other levels of indulgence. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)
Entrepreneurial Spirit
Moore is the definition of an entrepreneur.
“I run two other businesses,” she said. “One is called Opulence Interior Designs, where I get to indulge my passion for decorating and bringing more life into spaces. It’s incredibly fulfilling to transform rooms and create beautiful environments.
“My other business is H&H Vivid Colors, a cosmetic line I established in 2018. The brand is named after myself and my daughter, Haven and Haley, and is something I want to pass down to her. You can find the products on my website (www.hhvividcolors.com), as well as on Amazon and at Walmart!”
Born and raised in Birmingham, Moore, 30, grew up in the Fountain Heights and Pratt City communities.
“I went to elementary and middle school over in that area. Around eighth or ninth grade, I moved to Pratt City and have been there since,” she said, adding that she attended Jackson-Olin High School, where she discovered her passion for doing nails.
“I was a hairstylist first, and I did hair when I was in school,” Moore said. “ [In order to graduate from high school], I had to have another elective. … All of the hair classes were full, and the only option [available] was nail application.”
Perfecting Her Craft
From there, Moore was determined to perfect her craft.
“Eventually, I was the only person in the class that was really interested in learning how to do nails,” she said. “My teacher, [Patrice Sanders Marsh], would do one-on-one sessions with me even outside of school. She would order books for me and send me YouTube videos, and I would just sit at home and practice.”
Brittney Clark gets luxury nail care inside Haven Fabulash Nails in downtown Birmingham. (Amarr Croskey, For The Birmingham Times)
Several lessons have contributed to Moore’s success, she said.
“One of the most important things is the value of perseverance and self-discipline,” she said. “Balancing academics, extracurricular activities, and personal life taught me the importance of time management and staying focused on my goals, no matter the challenges.
“This foundation helped me as I built Haven Fabulash Nails and Camp Haven, [a week-long nail camp for young girls],” she said. “[It] enabled me to juggle the responsibilities of running a business, nurturing my daughter, and giving back to the community.”
While sharpening her skills as a potential nail technician, Moore would still style hair. After graduating from high school, she spent some time at Lawson State Community College before transferring to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), where she earned a degree in public health.
“I never thought in a million years that I’d be doing nails. I really thought I was going to be a nurse,” she said.
Making a Choice
While studying at UAB, Moore continued to do hair and nails.
“It got to a point where my clientele started to grow even more, but it was growing toward nails. People started coming to me to get their nails done, and my hair clients started to request nails service. … I would have someone at the nail table while another person was underneath the dryer,” she said.
“My clientele made me choose [between the two], and I went toward nails. I started doing nails for my neighbors, my friends, my family, for students at school. … When [my mother and I] stayed in an apartment [in Birmingham] at one time, I used to do nails on the balcony,” said Moore.
She added, “I always tell people you have to start from the bottom. I feel like that is what kept people coming back to sit in my chair.”
Moore also chose to share her knowledge through Camp Haven, a week-long nail camp for young girls, ages 10 to 14: “We’ve had two camps,” she said. “The first one was in June, and the second camp was in July.”
Inspiration
Moore’s biggest inspiration was her mom, Lisa Hunter.
“I saw her work so hard,” the business owner said. “She always worked her normal 9-to-5 [job as a customer service rep], but she always did some type of fun work on the side, [such as cleaning services], and that inspired me.”
She continued, “Seeing [my mom] work so hard almost made me feel like I had to do it, too. It’s a generational chain that was passed down to me, and now I am passing it on to my daughter, [Haley Hardin, 12].”
In five years, Moore said she can see franchising Haven Fabulash Nails and “expanding Camp Haven into a bigger, more renowned program that reaches even more young women.”
“I also want to grow my interior design business and see H&H Vivid Colors become a household name in the beauty industry,” she said. “My goal is to continue empowering others while building a legacy that my daughter can be proud of.”
Supporters look on as Vice President Kamala Harris delivers a concession speech for the 2024 presidential election, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, on the campus of Howard University in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
