Laurel Kelly | (TNS) Mayo Clinic News Network

The American Academy of Pediatrics has affirmed its recommendation and advocacy for breastfeeding, stating, “Research has shown that breastfeeding is linked to decreased rates of lower respiratory tract infections, severe diarrhea, ear infections and obesity. Breastfeeding is associated with lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome, as well as other protective effects.”

Specifically, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation is for:

— Exclusive breastfeeding of infants for the first six months of life before introducing nutritious complementary foods.

— Maternity care practices at birth hospitals or centers that improve breastfeeding initiation, duration and exclusivity.

— Breastfeeding as long as mutually desired for two years or beyond.

— Support of mothers who choose to breastfeed beyond the first year, including protections against workplace barriers.

— Policies that protect breastfeeding and are essential to supporting families in sustaining breastfeeding.

As important as breastfeeding is, though, it can be challenging. And it’s like any other new skill: It needs to be learned, and questions and concerns often can arise along the way.

Learning the positions that work best for you and your baby is an important first step. A newborn’s feeding pattern can be unpredictable, but you can look for cues from your baby that can signal readiness to feed and satisfaction when finished.

Maintaining your milk supply during breastfeeding is important for your baby’s health and growth. Many factors can cause a low milk supply, including not breastfeeding often enough, supplementing breastfeeding and an ineffective latch.

Babies sometimes suddenly will refuse to breastfeed after breastfeeding well for months. This doesn’t necessarily mean your baby is ready to wean, though. Your baby may be trying to tell you something. Common causes of a “breastfeeding strike” include discomfort from teething, thrush or an ear infection; a cold or stuffy nose that makes breathing difficult during breastfeeding; stress or distraction; and reduced milk supply. Here are some tips for managing this time and getting your breastfeeding pattern back on track.

Breast milk contains the right balance of nutrients for your baby to boost the immune system and promote growth and health. You might have questions, however, about your own diet while breastfeeding. What foods are best? Do you need to increase your calorie intake? Are there foods you should avoid? Here are some basic nutrition tips for breastfeeding moms.

If you need to take medications while you’re breastfeeding, you may have questions about safety and the effects on your baby. Almost any drug that’s present in your blood will transfer into your breast milk to some extent. Most medications do so at low levels and pose no risk to most infants. However, some drugs can become concentrated in breast milk. As a result, every medication must be considered separately.

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There are two schools of thought when buying something as essential as fishing pliers. One approach is to get the cheapest pair possible and use it until the tool doesn’t work anymore, then buy another cheap pair.

The other option is to spend a little beyond your comfort zone because fishing pliers are something you use every trip. This way, instead of buying new gear every couple of seasons, you’ll have a tool that you can depend on year after year. In the long run, buying quality is more cost-effective.

The right tool makes all the difference, and though the differences may be subtle, they’re important. For instance, a serrated knife cuts bread better than a butcher’s knife because it saws through the bread without applying downward pressure, which would otherwise crush the bread. Likewise, fishing pliers have critical differences in their design that make them better suited for the task than common long-nose pliers.

If you were in a bind, you could probably get through the day with a set of pliers that you keep in your carpentry toolbox. But chances are, that day would also be filled with an abundance of swear words, cut fingers and strained friendships.

Short of your fishing pliers being in two pieces or at the bottom of a lake, the thing to look for is diminished performance. This applies to any aspect. If you have trouble smoothly opening or closing your fishing pliers because of corrosion, misalignment makes it hard to grab a hook, or a dull edge makes it hard to snip through a fishing line or impossible to cut through a shank, it’s time to consider upgrading to a better set of fishing pliers.

When you spend more money on a pair of fishing pliers, you’re doing so because you want to get a reliable tool that you know will work when you need it. The tips grip, the blades snip, the handles are comfortable and secure and you have the power needed to get the job done without fear of breaking the pliers.

When you pay more, you should get all the bells and whistles. This includes the best, rust-resistant materials as well as the most features. You want to be able to remove hooks, cut lines, effortlessly open split rings, reach deep inside a toothy fish, repair gear on the fly and have a durable sheath that helps protect your pliers while keeping them within reach.

If the price is more, you shouldn’t have to replace the pliers as often or at all. Cheap fishing pliers might corrode or break unexpectedly before you even get a year out of them. Models that cost more and are made of more durable materials, such as titanium, will be around for many seasons, as long as you don’t drop them overboard.

Have you ever heard the adage, “a sharp knife is a safe knife”? It’s true — as long as you take care when handling it. In general, tools that perform better won’t have any surprises. This means there’s less of a chance you’ll injure yourself from something like the grip slipping when you’re giving a good tug.

The best fishing pliers are ones that are suitable for the type of fishing you’re doing. For instance, a pistol grip is usually best when you’re going after larger fish, while narrow pliers are what fly fishers need to grip small flies. Some key features are:

Corrosion is a much bigger issue with saltwater fishing. You want to get a pair of pliers that are stainless steel, aircraft-grade aluminum or titanium. Even if you aren’t fishing in salt water, these are solid material choices.

The longer the length of the pliers, the deeper you can reach into the throat of the fish. In other words, if you’re interested in bigger fish, say in the ocean, you’re going to need longer pliers.

There are a wide variety of cutters built into fishing pliers. If you’re only cutting monofilament lines, you’ll be okay with just about anything. However, if you want to snip a braided fishing line or you need to cut through the shank of a hook, you’ll need something a little more heavy-duty.

If you want to easily split rings on bigger hooks, a pair of fishing pliers with a split ring tool will come in handy. While not absolutely essential, it makes things go much more smoothly.

At some point, you’ll need to put a little muscle into what you’re doing. It’s then that you’ll realize how vital it is to have pliers with a comfortable nonslip grip. This is one feature that’s worth every penny.

[ Van Staal 7-Inch Titanium Pliers Kit with Lanyard and Sheath ]

These fishing pliers carry a hefty price. However, if you want a titanium tool with a tungsten cutter that offers reliable precision that lasts, this top-shelf option is for you.

Sold by Amazon

[ Bubba 8.5-Inch Pistol Grip Stainless Steel Pliers ]

The 90-degree pistol handle sets these pliers apart from other options. The stainless steel construction and spring-loaded carbide cutters ensure satisfying performance on every trip.

Sold by Amazon

[ Bubba 6.5-Inch Stainless Steel Pliers ]

This option from Bubba has a nonslip grip that keeps the pliers in your hand, even when they’re wet. The tool has a built-in hole to attach a lanyard for worry-free operation.

Sold by Amazon and 

[ Rapala 6.5-Inch Aluminum Fishing Pliers ]

These deceptively basic-looking fishing pliers can do it all. The internal spring allows one-handed operation, while the built-in split ring tool comes in handy for changing hooks. Plus, the lightweight aluminum construction ensures these pliers will be your favorite for many years.

Sold by Amazon and 

[ Cuda 8-Inch Stainless Steel Freshwater Fishing Pliers ]

This titanium-bonded set of stainless steel pliers offers great value. They’re tough enough to cut titanium wire, and the scale pattern on the handles provides a comfortable and secure grip.

Sold by Amazon

[]

If you’re hoping there’s a budget option, this is it. These 11-inch pliers give you the reach to get those deep-hooked baits. The nickel-plated carbon steel is rust-resistant for durability.

Sold by  and Amazon

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Incorporating pollinator plants in your landscape could make you the bee’s knees.

More than 80% of the world’s flowering plants need insects such as bees to spread pollen and help the plants produce fruit and seed, according to farmers.gov. Some of the most common pollinators — bees, butterflies and moths — also serve as a snack for animals. The plants that lure pollinators also help stabilize the soil and filter water.

But what about gardeners who want beneficial plants but are allergic to bees? There are native plants that will attract butterflies, moths, dragonflies and hummingbirds — but not bees.

The buzz on bees and butterflies

Bees cannot see the same spectrum of colors that butterflies can, according to a “Selecting Plants for Pollinators” guide by the Pollinator Partnership, one geared to the Outer Coastal Plain Mixed Province ecological region.

Bees make a beeline for bright white, yellow and blue blossoms, so avoid plants with these vivid colors. Also consider the shape of the flower. Bees have round bodies and prefer flowers that allow them to land and drink the nectar. Avoid plants with shallow, tubular flowers such as fuchsia, trumpet vine and columbine.

Butterflies, however, can see a wide range of colors and gravitate toward bright red, yellow, orange, pink and purple flowers.

The Butterfly Society of Virginia suggests planting the following, which are accustomed to Southeastern Virginia’s climate: lantana and abelia shrubs; perennials such as verbena, purple coneflower, butterfly weed, Joe Pye weed, sedum and garden phlox; and annuals such as zinnia, impatiens, cosmos and vinca.

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Moths to flame

Moths also play a role in pollination. They gravitate to flowers that have strong, sweet scents and open in the late afternoon or night. Bees cannot see red or pink very well, but moths do. To attract moths, include plants with pale, dull red, purple, pink or white blossoms. Moths also prefer a tubular flower shape without a lip. Try planting impatiens, petunia and moonflower.

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Don’t forget hummingbirds

These birds are experts at siphoning nectar from the long tubular flowers of bee balm, salvia, coral honeysuckle and cardinal flower, according to the pollinators guide. Hanging red hummingbird feeders filled with sugar water (mix 4 parts water to 1 part sugar) will also lure these birds to the landscape, adding a supplemental nectar source — and entertainment for the gardener.

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Where to plant, and other stinging pests to consider

Where to plant and how to tend to gardens should also be considered when keeping stinging insects at bay. Gardening enthusiasts, regardless of whether they wish to avoid bees, should keep flowering, bee-friendly plantings away from communal areas such as patios, garden paths and play areas.

Trimming back overgrown trees and shrubs annually will deter bees and wasps, and sealing exterior holes or cracks in the home’s foundation will keep insects from building nests. Check for suspicious-looking holes in the ground or in hollow logs, which could be home to insects, including yellow jackets and hornets. Keep an eye out for wasps’ nests under sheds, in crawl spaces and in crevices around the home’s exterior. And be careful when mowing the lawn or trimming vegetation, activities that might arouse nesting bumblebees and other stingers.

Theater: The Lost Colony | Aug. 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17

History and mystery in symphonic play about first English settlers on Roanoke Island that’s been an Outer Banks institution for more than 80 years. Outdoor, open-air performances six nights per week until late August. Gates open 7:30 p.m., house opens 8 p.m., curtain drops 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Friday, Saturday feature Native-American pre-show at 8 p.m. Backstage tours also available. Tickets $40, $35, $25. Waterside Theater, Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, 1409 National Park Drive, Manteo.www.thelostcolony.org; 252-473-6000

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Music: Mike Ponder and Steelrail Express | Aug. 12

Beaufort, SC-based musician and band play gig at the Breeze nightclub in Ocracoke. Country-heavy playlist also includes beach music, funk and Motown. Interesting backstory. U.S. Marine and Navy vet whose parents were musicians and has played his entire life. Runs a service that provides music lessons for service members in Beaufort, mentors current and former military. Tickets TBA. 9 p.m.-midnight. 1050 Irvin Garrish Hwy, Ocracoke.www.facebook.com/people/The-Breeze-Ocracoke-Island-OBX; 252-373-5087

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Outdoors: Sunset Fest | Aug. 11, 14, 15, 16, 17

Sunset Festival each evening, Monday thru Friday, at Jockey’s Ridge Crossing and the big dunes at Jockey’s Ridge State Park. Mermaid Mondays, where kids can meet a mermaid. Family games and kite lessons on Tuesdays, Magic Wednesdays with magician Chris Kram in courtyard in front of Kitty Hawk Kites, Light Up Thursdays with hula hoop dancer Alyssa Crespo in courtyard, Pirate Fortunes Fridays with treasure hunts, music, games and toys. Free. 7 p.m.-sunset each night. 3933 S. Croatan Hwy, Nags Head.www.kittyhawk.com/event/sunset-festival; 252-449-2210

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Nature: Shark Tank Exhibit Tour | Aug. 11, 14, 15, 16

NC Aquarium on Roanoke Island offers chance to go behind scenes for tour of facility’s largest exhibit, 285,000-gallon Graveyard of the Atlantic tank. Staff describe care and feeding of sharks and provide overhead view of tank. Tickets $16 in addition to regular aquarium admission fee. Ages 6 and up. 2-2:45 p.m. each day. Limit 10 people per tour. Prior online registration required. 374 Airport Road, Manteo.www.ncaquariums.com/calendar; 252-475-2300

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Fishing: Pirate’s Cove Billfish Week | Aug. 12-18

Pair of tournaments at soundside marina community near the Causeway. Thirty-fourth Alice Kelly Memorial Ladies Only Billfish Tournament. Registration Aug. 12 and cookout; fishing Aug. 13 from 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Dinner, live music, prizes awarded afterward. Fortieth Pirate’s Cove Billfish Tournament remainder of week. Registration Aug. 14, fishing Aug. 15-18. Prizes awarded Aug. 18. Fishing 8:30 a.m-3 p.m. each day. Dinner, live music in evenings. 2000 Sailfish Drive, Manteo.www.pcbgt.com; 252-305-3610

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Markets: Camp Hatteras, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head | Aug. 15, 16, 17

Open-air markets featuring food, clothing, arts, crafts, local vendors. First Flight Market in KDH (Tuesdays) has more than 60 vendors and food trucks at Aviation Park, 103 Veterans Drive, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Weekly Wednesday market at Camp Hatteras RV and Campground in Rodanthe, expansive oceanfront-to-soundfront camp site, features distinctive local clothing. Market on soundside. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. 24798 NC Hwy 12, Rodanthe. Dowdy Park Farmers Market on Thursdays in Nags Head 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at 3005 S. Croatan Hwy and Bonnett Street.c; 252-987-2777www.nagsheadnc.gov/614/Dowdy-Park-Eventswww.kdhnc.com/1000/First-Flight-Farmers-Market

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Music: Kidz Bop | Aug. 15

Kid-oriented, family-friendly musical troupe lands at Roanoke Island Festival Park. Kid performers cover top-40 tunes with sanitized lyrics for younger audiences. Huge presence on YouTube with music, videos, dance numbers. Gen admission tickets $40. Gates open 6 p.m., show 7 p.m. 1 Festival Park, Manteo.www.roanokeisland.com; www.vusicobx.com; 252-423-5200

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Movie: Finding Nemo | Aug. 15

Weekly Movies on the Green program at Duck Town Park. Free family movie night outdoors at dusk. Chairs, blankets, coolers, picnics welcome. Pixar classic from 2003 voiced by Albert Brooks, Ellen Degeneres, Alexander Gould. Remember: Fish are friends, not food. 1200 Duck Road.www.townofduck.com; 252-255-1234

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Music: After School Surf Club | Aug. 17

Hatteras-based band wraps up summer music series at Koru Village Beach Club in Avon, doubles as community fundraiser for Hatteras Rescue Squad. Buddies Eli Thompson and Sam Smith formed group that blends indie rock, jazz and R&B, with Beach Boys vibe. Often joined by other friends, musicians to fill out sound. Tickets $10 advance, $15 at door. Doors open 7 p.m., show 8-ish. 41001 NC Hwy 12, Avon.www.koruvillage.com; 252-995-3125

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Music: Matisyahu/G. Love and Special Sauce | Aug. 18

Early heads-up for national acts at Roanoke Island Festival Park. Matisyahu a unique talent who blends dancehall reggae, rap, beatboxing, jazz scat singing and Judaism tradition of songful prayer. Latest disc is self-titled studio record from 2022. G. Love and SS play what they call hip-hop blues, a mashup of Delta blues, hip-hop, rock and soul. Most recent release was “Philadelphia Mississippi” in 2022. Cydeways opens show. Gen admission tickets $40. Gates open 5 p.m., show 6:30 p.m. 1 Festival Park, Manteo.www.roanokeisland.com; www.vusicobx.com; 252-423-5200.

WILLIAMSBURG — Storefronts in Williamsburg’s Triangle Building will soon be getting a makeover.

During Thursday’s meeting at the Stryker Center, City Council unanimously voted to award a $470,612 contract to replace the building’s storefronts. The storefronts have been experiencing issues with leaking for years, according to Yuri Adams, the city’s economic development director.

Previously, the city’s public works staff was able to do repairs but the leaking has worsened, resulting in buckling floors and damaged merchandise, Adams said. Council members agreed that taking action to fix the storefronts was a necessity, with Mayor Doug Pons calling it a “no-brainer.”

The building, located on Armistead Avenue, was built in 1984 and is owned by the Williamsburg Redevelopment Housing Authority. It currently houses several shops, including the William & Mary Spirit Shop and Bookstore, The Bake Shop, Rick’s Cheese Steak Shop and Luck Kee Hair.

Work on the project is projected to begin this month and wrap up in December. The funding for the project includes $328,300 from the Capital Improvement Projects fund as well as proceeds from a bond issued by the EDA.

In other business, council voted to approve the demolition of the Williamsburg Farmers Market office located in the Quarterpath Recreation Center, which was damaged two years ago in a fire that also caused smoke and water damage to adjoining bathroom facilities.

A $331,747 contract was awarded to Henderson Inc., for the project, which includes the demolition, renovations to the adjoining bathrooms and installation of a canopy and concrete sidewalks. The project will be funded by insurance funds and by the capital improvement budget.

After the fire, the office was temporarily relocated to Colonial Williamsburg. This winter, the farmers market will move back to a converted office space also located in the Quarterpath building. One full-time and a number of part-time employees will use the office space along with several volunteers.

The bathrooms will be open for public use.

Sian Wilkerson, 757-342-6616, [email protected]

More than 350 boats are fishing today seeking to land a white marlin or blue marlin worth $7 million as the White Marlin Open finishes in Ocean City, Maryland.

No qualifying marlin have been brought to the scales during the lucrative tournament’s first four days. If no qualifying billfish are landed today, the prize money will still be doled out to other categories. The estimated $7 million reserved for billfish categories could default to the biggest tuna catches, according to the tournament’s web site.

During the tournament’s first four days, 431 white marlin and 34 blue marlin have been caught, but none were deemed large enough to bring to the scales.

The White Marlin Open has never gone an entire tournament without weighing a billfish. In 1984, ‘85 and ‘86, no white marlin were landed, but blue marlin filled the winning categories.

Boats are permitted to fish three of the tournament’s five days, and 357 boats hit the water today. Scales open at 4 p.m. and close at 9:30 p.m.

The most lucrative catch before Friday was a 247.5-pound tuna landed by Maryland resident Chris Mentlik on the Chincoteague-based boat Fishlik. That fish is on track to win $1.2 million in the tuna category – unless no billfish are caught today.

More than half of the anticipated $10.3 million purse was expected to go to white marlin anglers. The top three white marlin winner-take-all categories are worth an estimated $5.5 million, and other categories could push white marlin catches close to $7 million.

The tournament awarded $8.6 million in prize money last year, including the top prize of $4.53 million to The Billfisher, an Ocean City boat that landed a white marlin weighing 77½ pounds.

Police say there were casualties in a fire early Friday that gutted an oceanfront home and damaged at least one other cottage in Kill Devil Hills, hours after another blaze destroyed a house in Duck.

Crews were called to the Friday morning blaze in the 1800 block of N. Virginia Dare Trail, known locally as Beach Road, before 2:30 a.m. and arrived to find a five-bedroom vacation house engulfed in flames. Carried by 15 to 17 mph winds, the fire spread to the home next door.

Kill Devil Hills police Capt. John Towler said there were casualties but authorities weren’t releasing further details until “we’ve had a chance to verify all information.”

The house where the fire started was destroyed and the one next door damaged. A third cottage was evacuated but it was unclear if it sustained serious damage. Vacationers staying in that house said they woke up to police telling them to get out.

Property records show the home destroyed was owned by a Virginia Beach resident and built in 1948.

The cause of the fire was unknown early Friday, Towler said. Firefighters remained on the scene after daybreak and the house continued to smolder.

About eight hours earlier, a home in Duck was also destroyed by fire, this one believed to have started due to lightning.

Firefighters were called to the blaze in the 100 block of Beachcomber Court in the Four Seasons subdivision about 6:06 p.m.

“Although the cause of the fire is not yet confirmed at this time, it is believed to have originated from a direct lightning strike, as severe storms were present in the area,” the Town of Duck said in a news release.

Both occupants of the house safely evacuated along with their two dogs.

Good job

This space has seen several letters criticizing the Supreme Court’s recent rulings, usually because the court did not apply current flavors of the month to the cases. I would point out that the court’s function is to interpret the cases according to whether the cases conflict with our Constitution. The court is not supposed to, and should not, apply current political or social mores to its rulings. When something conflicts with the Constitution, there is a remedy for that, and it is not to have the court create a precedent that is nowhere in the Constitution.

Regarding the Roe v. Wade decision, the court got it right. There is nothing in the Constitution that can be twisted to support the claim that abortion is a covered right at the federal level. One writer suggested that abortion was covered because other things we take for granted today are not in the Constitution. That’s analogous to saying it’s OK to rob a bank because others have done it. A federal right to abortion was the case before the court, and it ruled correctly. I don’t have the exact wording, but the Constitution says that powers not specifically granted to the federal government devolve to the states.

The recent affirmative action ruling also was correct. Placing the interests of one race or class of people above another violates the 14th Amendment and the 1964 Civil Rights Act. In closing, I would note that most of the letters criticizing this court refer to it as “far right.” I assume that these same folks, were the court to be 6-3 liberal, would refer to it as “far left.”

Bill Wallace, Gloucester

Electric vehicles

The Washington Post article “Rich lode of EV metals could boost Taliban and its new Chinese partners” exposes the absurdity and danger in the Democrats’ plan to transition our automobile industry and economy from fuel-efficient oil-burning cars to electric vehicles. It is clear from this article that much lithium, a component of electric vehicle batteries, is found in Afghanistan. Afghanistan, however, is now controlled by the evil Taliban, which is working with China to exploit these rich lithium deposits.

The United States cannot allow its economy or its military to be dependent upon its adversaries for fuel supplies. Such would greatly affect our national security. The United States has large supplies of oil and gas here at home. Unleashing these resources would not only create untold job opportunities but would remove us from the yoke of any dependency on China, the Taliban, OPEC or other foreign countries.

Many Americans do not want electric cars. These cars are far too expensive for the average person. Many EVs do not even have AM radios because of battery-caused interference. It is on the AM radio that many emergency broadcasts are found. Let Americans decide the type of car they wish to drive. That is the American way.

R.A. Jett, Norfolk

Cut pollution

I have researched a lot about pollution around the world, especially in Virginia. There are a lot of problems that have come from pollution such as decreasing air quality, the ozone layer’s destruction and climate change. Most of the greenhouse gas pollution comes from humans, like fossil-fuel burning.

We need to put an end to pollution or at least decrease it. Some ways we can do this is by moving toward electric vehicles instead of gas or diesel vehicles. We can move away from single-use plastics and start using recyclable materials. If more people install solar panels on their homes, we would be making clean energy and making money off of them.

Max Warburton, Virginia Beach

Brown v. Board of Education, Belton v Gebhart and Bolling v. Sharpe.

If all or even one of these landmark Supreme Court cases above look familiar, it’s because they are, and rightfully, crucial parts of history. These significant cases originated based on discrimination against minorities in schools in the United States. All three cases fought for the same common factor, that is equal rights to a formidable, enriched education with race and background being inconsequential.

Decades later, despite the connotations and positive research based in part from affirmative action, the Supreme Court, with a conservative majority, seeks “color neutral” admissions policies based upon the idea that race should not be considered.

The Supreme Court recently ruled that Harvard University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill were not permitted to use race as a factor when considering whether to admit a prospective student. The inevitable trickling down of the decision and its effect on institutes of higher education is a growing concern for students, prospective students and universities trending towards major ripple effects around the world.

A product of the civil rights movement, affirmative action is intended to ensure that applicants are treated equally without regard to race, color or religion. Since its introduction, it has been shaped and criticized and subjected to analytical and political interpretations.

One of the bigger debates is that many wrongly believe affirmative action allows unqualified students to be admitted simply based on racial identity. That sort of narrow-minded, divisive opinion is in large part one of the problems with America and how we deal with questions of race and diversity.

The truth is affirmative action policies are meant to ensure that qualified applicants won’t be rejected based strictly on race, ethnicity, religion or nationality. It’s to give brown children a fair shot to get into great schools with the same ease and grace that a non-minority applicant would. Research has proven that diversity in higher education improves learning outcomes for all students and the benefits extend beyond graduation.

Seeking schools that are representative of an individual race, gender or background is of ingrained symbolic imagery. Media and content released on behalf of a school can be indicative of whether persons of color can see themselves fitting into a particular student body. When people can’t find themselves reflected in the images they see and people they meet, it can teach a powerful lesson about one’s value in a society, a key reason why representation is important.

On a personal note, in the mid 2000s, I was touring colleges, pondering the excitement that awaited wondering what college life was like, how easy the campus would be to navigate, and if there were people there who would look like me. I lucked out attending Virginia Commonwealth University and getting an immense taste of many cultures while learning so much in the process.

Denying the factor of race in this time, not just in admissions-related processes but others as well, is risky. The atrocities built upon the enormity by protests on behalf of the marginalized, such as the 1963 March on Washington, Freedom Rides and more recently the Black Lives Matter movement, all left an impact and questioned the status quo. The ideology that minimizing race is a step in a positive direction is not just unjust, but harmful.

I wished we lived in a world where race and socio-economic status didn’t matter, but that is not the case. Colleges and universities have a lot of work to do in their efforts to achieve diverse and flourishing student bodies — student bodies that represent the many shades of people in the world. A world in which I pray and hope my young brown boy is given every opportunity to succeed and be successful despite the many obstacles he will face.

Claudette Brooks is a public relations specialist at William & Mary in Williamsburg.