Good morning! It’s Hump Day. Yesterday, many of us experienced our first earthquake and at the time had no idea what was going on. Glad to see you made it through safely. Share your earthquake experiences in the comment section below or post them to our Facebook page.

Today. the weatherman says we can expect sunshine and clear skies with a high of 88°.

Here’s what’s brewing in the news:

Do black women avoid exercise to preserve hair?

This past weekend, an unlikely guest showed up at the Bronner Bros. International Hair Show in Atlanta. U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin attended the annual show, which attracts over 60,000 hair stylists.

Why was she there? She wanted to discuss the fact that many African-American women - as well as women of other races - choose not to exercise for fear that sweating will ruin their hairstyles, which they spend a lot of time and money on.

“It’s the perfect event,” Benjamin told CNN. “What better audience would be to help us find exercise-friendly hairstyles?”

The American Journal of Public Health reported on a study conducted a while ago by researchers at UNC - Chapel Hill which examined why fewer than 30% of minority women in the United States get the recommended level of exercise.

Reasons cited in the study were lack of time followed by "economic constraints, major life changes or traumas, safety issues, weather and environment, the hassle of personal care such as showering and keeping hair looking good."

Benjamin also admitted that she too has struggled with this issue. “Early on when I was in college, I remember I liked swimming, but I didn’t swim because it messed your hair up,” she said. She said that although it slowed her down, she didn’t stop completely.

Now her solution is to exercise at night.

QUESTION: Does your hair keep you from getting the exercise you need?
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Will the MLK Dedication be postponed, cancelled?

Hurricane Irene could disrupt the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial dedication on the National Mall in Washington. The dedication is scheduled for Sunday morning, with up to 250,000 people attending. Federal Emergency Management Agency chief Craig Fugate told reporters Tuesday that talks have begun with the National Park Service, which runs the Mall, about whether to go forward with the dedication. According to a NPS spokesperson, several options are on the table, including postponing or canceling the dedication. There is no timetable for a decision. (Read more)
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South Korean women demand safer subways

In the South Korean capital of Seoul the number of sexual assaults against females during their commute - often called a “hell ride” - increased 80 percent from 2009 to 2010. To curb the number of attacks, the government is reintroducing female only subway cars to its transportation system. Starting in September, one of the city’s nine subway lines will run two female only cars with security guards present to make sure male riders follow the rules. Female only cars were first introduced nearly 20 years ago, but later phased out. Many are welcoming this reintroduction, but others oppose it. Critics argue that segregation still does not address the root of the sexual harassment problem. Neighboring countries like Japan have been running female only subway cars since 2000. But officials have said the changes haven’t resulted in a significant decrease in sexual assaults, according to reports. (Read more)

*** Do you have something to say? Speak out in the comment section below.

Got news to share with Qcity readers? Email us at editor@qcitymetro.com.
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