“When diet is wrong, medicine is no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need”. As a youth growing up in the rural farmlands of Columbus County, NC, I had the opportunity to experience farm-to-table living. Dating back to my ancestors, my family history is deeply rooted in agriculture. We had gardens filled with vast amounts of colorful fresh produce ranging from crispy cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, savory mustard greens, and the list goes on. Along with fresh produce, we had livestock, including cows, chickens, and pigs. Living in this utopian environment, my diet was filled with a variety of nutrient-dense foods; therefore, it minimized my risk of getting preventable chronic diseases such as obesity, hypertension, and type two diabetes that were and still are prevalent in my residing county. This created my passion for nutrition and promoting food utilized as medicine. I think it is important, especially for minorities, to understand that food can be used to treat and prevent chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes. Because of this passion, I am now a graduate student at Georgia State University, getting my master's degree in Nutrition to become a registered dietitian. This field is very saturated with non-people of color, so there is a huge lack of diversity, cultural humility, and awareness. There are only 2.7% of black women dietitians in the United States that make up this field, with an even smaller number being black men. As a nondominant group in this profession, I want to not only advocate for other minorities but also help shatter glass ceilings in healthcare systems. My long-term goal includes creating a teaching kitchen so that I can have people not only learn how to cook foods from their culture but also have the education to know how these foods can benefit their health and wellness. Food is not a diet; it involves cultures and traditions and connects people. I am far from the food police and honor taste buds, but I preach the message that moderation is key and that we can use these foods to heal our bodies as well. I know that I will impact this world and that this is my calling because when I talk to patients and talk about nutrition, it never feels like it is a job. It is heartwarming to hear from a patient that they feel comfortable speaking with me and are happy that I am in this space as a black woman.

“A voteless people is a hopeless people”- Amelia Boynton Amelia Boynton and her husband Samuel Boynton were civil rights pioneers that played a vital role in getting African Americans registered to vote and buy land. Starting in the 1930s both Amelia and Samuel were agriculture extension agents in Selma, Alabama, and used that government position as a platform to connect with their people and encourage them to register to vote and buy land. They would conduct meetings in rural churches, and even the homes of their community members to show them how to fill out the voter registration forms. They would travel through Alabama and teach African American people better methods for farming and how to gain political, financial, and educational strength. A quote from Samuel Boynton stated, “Ownership makes any man respected. Living on the plantation makes a man’s family a part of the owner's possession”. Unfortunately, Samuel died in 1963, but Amelia continued their commitment to improving the lives of African Americans. In 1965, Amelia teamed up with Martin Luther King Jr and kicked off a voting rights campaign in Selma, Alabama, and planned the Montgomery March also known as Bloody Sunday on March 7, 1965. She was tear-gassed and beaten unconscious for her participation in this struggle for freedom. However, her efforts did not go unnoticed as President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act on August 6, 1965, with Boynton attending as a guest of honor. Amelia received numerous amounts of recognition and awards for her efforts in her later years. She passed away in 2015 at the age of 104. “You can never know where you are going unless you know where you have been.” - Amelia Boynton Amelia and Samuel Boynton have inspired me to be bold and courageous when it comes to my education. Living in the rural south, I have experienced being a part of a predominantly white educational system my entire life. As a high academic achiever, there would be times when I would be one of the few African American students in advanced placement programs, and high scholar clubs such as Beta Club, National Honors Society, and Future Business Leaders of America. During this period in my life, I was made to feel unworthy to participate in these programs and academic opportunities. Yet, I rose and excelled in my studies, graduated in the top 10% of my predominantly white high school, and graduated Cum Laude also in a predominantly white university. Amelia and Samuel Boynton’s persistence to prevail has empowered me with a growth mindset with no limits when it comes to my civil rights, being educated, and voting. They stepped out on faith and stood up for African American people, my people, to overcome barriers created to restrict our freedom and access to what I consider basic human rights. I am forever grateful for their provisions, perseverance, and persistence. “It’s important that young people know about the struggles we faced to get to the point we are today. Only then will they appreciate the hard-won freedom of blacks in this country.” ― Amelia Boynton I make a positive impact on the world by utilizing my power to vote. Voting provides the right to have a voice in political decisions. Voting also evokes changes that protect the well-being of all, especially for African Americans. I currently work for an organization that provides education and assistance for voter registration. Through this opportunity, I teach people about voting, civil rights, and equal rights to secure their freedom as citizens just as Amelia and Samuel Boyton did.