BAVUAL The African Heritage Magazine Fall 2023

ominous ISSUE

THE AFRICAN HERITAGE MAGAZINE

BAVUAL

AMERICA IN 2033

THE DYSTOPIAN VIEW

VOODOO THE DARK ART

STRAIGHT OUT OF L.A. STREET LIFE TO Screen LIFE

FINDING THE DOLLAR$ FOR YOUR BUSINESS FALL 2023

10.00

IS FOOTBALL TOO VIOLENT?

IN THIS ISSUE

10

42

58

6 MY TAKE

Look Out for Your Neighbor - And Your Neighborhood

7 THE DRIFT

The World Seems to Have Given Up on Integration

9

ONE YEAR LATER Update on Stories in the Fall 2022 Issue

10 FAMOUS AUTUMNS

18 AMERICA IN 2033 (COVER) The Dystopian View

42 VOODOO: The DARK ART The Forbidden Religion of West Africa and the West Indies

52

THE CULTURE Television's Influence on African Americans' Image PART II: 1990-2023 Film Review: The Woman King

Nat Turner's Slave Revolt In Virginia Ends With His Hanging, 1831

12

TRUE GRIT

58 DESTINATIONS

Straight Out of L.A.

Like It or Not, Dave Chappelle Speaks His Mind

68 AFRICAN FACES OF THE WORLD

THE TIMES 14

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America's Missing Black Men, Women and Children

Argentina's Longtime Persecution of Blacks

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IN THIS ISSUE

80

90 76

BAVUAL VIEWS MODERN LIFE

80

JOCKS

84

THE HUSTLE

90

JUST THE FACTS

The Way of the World Circa 2023 In Cartoons

Is Football Too Violent?

84

NEXT ISSUE

THE EVOLUTION OF BLACK MUSIC

Where to Find the Money to Run Your Business

Cost of Living in the United States, Most and Least Affordable Countries

92

roll of honor Legends of Autumn

96

benediction The Quotable James Baldwin

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BAVUAL

THE AFRICAN HERITAGE MAGAZINE

Bavual Vol. 2 Issue 4 Fall 2023

Editorial Earl A. Birkett Editor Rick D. Bowers Deputy Editor Stephen G. Hall, PhD, Special Editor Associate Editor Kristen Jones Design & Illustrations Debasish Sarma Editorial Advisor Myeshia C. Babers, PhD

BAVUAL: Swahili for "power, strength, force"

Marketing Multitrends International earl.a.birkett@gmail.com Advertising Multitrends International earl.a.birkett@gmail.com (201) 360-1139 Subscriptions Visit www.bavual.com or contact Earl A. Birkett at eab@bavual.com Write to: 42 Broadway, Suite 12-278.

New York, NY 10004 Phone: (212) 419-5831 Email: eab@bavual.com

THE COVER: New York City nuked, partial A.I.

Published Quarterly by Birkett Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Earl A. Birkett President Contents copyright

2023 Birkett Communications, Inc.

BAVUAL 5

MY TAKE

Earl A. Birkett

LOOK OUT FOR YOUR NEIGHBOR - AND YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD “Being a good neighbor is an art which makes life richer.”- Gladys Taber

In hindsight, everything looks more appealing than it actually was. You’ve heard the sayings, now clichés : “In our day, we kept the door unlocked,” and “In our neighborhood, everyone raised the kids.” As a Baby Boomer and someone most likely to spout these sentiments, I can tell you quite honestly that they were not universal nor were they completely true, yet I can attest that there was more caring for one’s neighbor when I was growing up. My Long Island neighborhood of Lakeview was nearly all-black; however, it was adjacent to two white villages, Lynbrook, largely Italian, and Malverne, which was predominantly Jewish and Irish. The South Shore was working class, so that might have helped somewhat, and the local schools were desegregated by the U.S. Supreme Court when I was 6 years old. While I had trouble attracting white classmates (except one) to my 6th birthday party in 1967, by the time I reached high school, there was plenty of interaction with the white students. There was no racial friction that I could detect, and we socialized quite a lot. I had many white friends, and my best friend at the time was an Italian kid from Lynbrook. I remember the white teachers looking out for my welfare, seeing that I was not rousted by the other students, tutoring me when my grades were low (usually in math), and driving me home when I missed the school bus. In Lakeview itself, the children played together, there were frequent block parties (mainly thrown by my parents), and I often stayed at the neighbors who babysat me. In short, we all got along.

How did this pleasant atmosphere change over the years? Of course, some of the familiar families moved away and less engaging ones replaced them. The children graduated high school and went out in the world, to college, the army, distant jobs or what have you. I noticed the block gradually turning inward and distant.

The drug epidemic of the 1980s turned some houses into crack dens, and while the neighbors complained, there was little done about it. That epidemic eventually subsided, to be replaced with other crises, namely an increase in crime in the form of home break-ins and fights at school. I noticed in my 20s, 30s and 40s that there was less and less interaction between white and black students and families, and each side gradually became more suspicious of one another. The result mirrors the larger society: Make America Great Again versus Black Lives Matter.

So here we are in 2023. The neighbors no longer look out for one another, nor do they commune together, not in the same way, and black and white communities have grown apart as well, often receding into suspicion, at times spilling over into hostility. Long Island has changed, as has the nation. It is colder, less inviting, and has fallen victim to societal stereotypes. It is indeed two worlds, and there is little interest in communing with one’s neighbor. It’s sad, really, because the current generation will never experience life as I knew it in the 1970s.

Can we - will we - ever return to those halcyon days of yore? Given the current state of interracial and intraracial relations, I am not sure if that’s even possible anymore, but it sure is desirable given the alternative. We don’t seem to be able to live together; however, it is impossible to live apart.

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THE DRIFT

THE WORLD SEEMS TO HAVE GIVEN UP ON INTEGRATION I don't know exactly when or how it happened, but it did happen: The concept of racial, ethnic and political unity has virtually disappeared from civilization. You can look anywhere - Protestants and Catholics in Northern Ireland, Democrats and Republicans in red and blue America, English-speakers and French-speakers in Canada, the wealthy and the poor in Central and South America, clashing tribes and races in Africa, Jews and Muslims in the Middle East, autocrats and freedom fighters in China and Russia, Hindus and Muslims in India and Pakistan, natives and immigrants in Europe - and you can see that virtually no one likes each other. Are the winds of integration blowing hot anywhere?

North America. There appears to be no breakthrough in the deterioration of race and class relations between white, black, brown and Asian people in the United States and language differences between English and French speakers after some progress in the 1970s. If anything, the friction is worsening, especially in the U.S., where talk of secession and civil war is out in the open for the first time since the 1960s.

Central and South America. The huge gap in wealth between rich and poor in most countries in the region, especially in Mexico, Brazil and Venezuela, combined with the terror instilled by authoritarian governments, has sparked the immigration crisis at the Southern border of the U.S., which has only intensified since the 1980s.

The Caribbean. The West Indian islands suffer from the same classism that afflicts their neighbors to the west, only it is a symptom of relations between native islanders and the largely British descendants of the colonialists who have sapped their wealth since slavery times. You can see it in how they live: Blacks are stuck in crowded slums while whites enjoy the finest hotels and palatial estates.

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Europe. The rise in immigration from black Africans and Muslims to Northern nations such as Great Britain and France has led to a backlash from native whites who worry about eventually being replaced by these groups (not likely).

Religious turmoil is all over the place. The “Troubles” between Protestants and Catholics, though somewhat muted in recent years, still persist, and the fight between Jews and Muslims, going on for thousands of years, threatens to engulf the entire region and even spark another world war. Even Sunni and Shiite Muslims are in a struggle amongst themselves.

Asia. Religious and cultural differences inflict China (with the Uyghurs), India and Pakistan (where Hindus and Muslims despise each other since they achieved independence from the British in 1947), and Russia (with its perennial persecution of Muslims in Chechnya).

Africa. The extreme intolerance to the LGBTQ+ community, influenced in part by the Republican Party in the U.S., permeates many nations on the continent such as Ghana and is one of the world’s great human rights violators.

Australia and the Pacific. The aftereffects of colonization and imperialism before and since World War II have kept native islanders as permanent second-class citizens.

So, what is the solution to this grave problem?

Stop hating your brothers and sisters, and sit down and break bread with them. Discuss your differences and listen to what they have to say. Be compassionate and humane in your dealings with each other. That’s it. Period. It’s not rocket science.

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UPDATE

ONE YEAR LATER The Follow-Up to Articles That Appeared in BAVUAL's Fall 2022 Issue "THE DRIFT: THE STAIN OF FASCISM AND WHITE NATIONALISM” BAVUAL was concerned by a takeover of the American government by Republicans in the 2022 midterm elections, which would have ushered in a fascist reign. That half-happened; the GOP narrowly took control of the House of Representatives and as of yet is unable even to elect a Speaker and obstructs key military and diplomatic appointments in the Senate.

Despite being a criminal defendant and sexual abuser, Donald Trump is running even or slightly ahead of President Biden in 2024 polls.

“FAMOUS AUTUMNS: THE PIONEERS: MARSHALL, WILDER AND BROOKE” The difference between these honorable black politicians and jurists and the vast lot of their contemporaries is literally night and day. Most of the black Republicans are consumed by the MAGA movement, making them look like cruel dupes and fools, and the corruption of Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, Marshall’s successor, is nothing short of disgraceful.

“TRUE GRIT: JUSTICE SISTERS” It took two strong, brave black women, Fulton County (GA) District Attorney Fani Willis and New York Attorney General Letitia James, to take down the most unscrupulous man ever elected to the presidency, Donald Trump. Since last fall, Willis has actually indicted Trump on 13 felony counts that could land him in state prison for decades, while James could fine Trump at least $250 million and end his ability to do business in New York for years, thus crippling his financial future. Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg was not even on the radar screen yet, but he was the first to indict Trump, before Willis and U.S. Special Counsel Jack Smith, on 34 counts of falsifying business records.

The fall issue, the first HBCU guide, featured an emblematic HBCU graduate on its cover.

The first edition featured the above cover, but reprinted editions will feature the cover below. Also, with the departure of art director June Padgett, the magazine underwent a complete redesign starting with this issue.

“EVALUATING THE PRESIDENTS” BAVUAL’s ratings of the American presidents is largely unchanged, except that Trump has become even more of a fascist monster than last year, and Biden has fashioned himself into a sea of sanity in a storm of Republican calamity.

“THE HUSTLE: KANYE WEST: THE RISE AND FALL OF YE” Few celebrities have fallen so hard so fast as the Grammy-winning exhusand of Kim Kardashian and erstwhile billionaire mogul Kanye (Ye) West.

Latching on to the fascist and racist MAGAs has destroyed the goodwill it took him many years to build. Ye has since become a Missing Person. It would take a miracle to revive his dead career.

FALL 2023

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FAMOUS AUTUMNS

Where Past Is Present

NAT TURNER'S SLAVE REVOLT IN VIRGINIA ENDS WITH HIS HANGING, 1831 How Many Times and Ways Can You Kill a Man?

By William Spivey Published in Black History Month 365 September 11, 2022

“On the evening of August 21–22, 1831, an enslaved preacher and self-styled prophet named Nat Turner launched the most deadly slave revolt in the history of the United States.”

That's how the Encyclopedia Virginia described the Nat Turner Rebellion, measuring the "most deadly slave revolt" solely in terms of white deaths, 55. It's true that in response to the revolt Virginia eventually killed most of the seventy or so participants in the uprising, which would make it among the most deadly revolts of enslaved people. But the other 130+ Black people killed because people were upset about the rebellion were murdered, some in their beds. But that's another story.

Nat himself wasn't caught for over two months after the deadly insurrection. While allegedly spotted in several surrounding states during that period, he never left Southhampton County, spending most of that time hiding in two locations.

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make purses and wallets. Those were given to families and handed down from generation to generation. His flesh was turned into grease, and sections of bone were handed out as souvenirs.

Lastly, he was beheaded, his ears given away as trophies. There are rumors that some of his remains were made into soup and consumed; judge for yourself whether the people performing the former were capable of the latter.

Nat Turner's skull purportedly turned up in the hands of former Gary, Indiana Mayor Richard Hatcher. When contacted by descendants of Nat Turner, he readily agreed to return the skull so that it could have a proper burial.

When he was finally discovered, he was dehydrated and emaciated, surrendering himself to the farmer with a gun who stumbled upon him. He faced trial, was convicted, and was hung for his crimes on November 11, 1831. What might have been the end of the story is where this story begins.

Maybe it was the length of time people spent searching for Nat Turner, fearing that he would reappear or that enslaved people inspired by Nat Turner would revolt on their own. The fear of a Black man (and woman) was real following the revolt, and they blamed Nat. It could be the fact he showed no remorse. His supposed attorney, T.R. Gray, interviewed Turner multiple times and published the results as the "Confessions of Nat Turner." He made clear at trial and afterward that Nat Turner was a madman.

The white citizens of the ironically named Jerusalem, Virginia, the county seat of Southhampton County where the trial was held, were pissed at Nat Turner. You could sense it in the magistrate's words as he pronounced the sentence, perhaps suggesting his body's fate when ordering him to be hung until he was, "Dead! Dead! Dead!"

Nat Turner was taken out and hung after the trial, but the ordeal his body would undergo was just beginning. His corpse was taken to a surgeon for dissection. His skin was cut in sections with which to

There have been many reasons given for the treatment of Nat Turner's body. Some say it was to "erase him" so the revolt would soon be forgotten.

Others wanted an example to be made of him to prevent future insurrections. I submit that it was because he was uppity, never showing remorse and not apologizing. They had the last word in Nat Turner's death that they didn't get in life.

"His body was given over to the surgeons for dissection. He was skinned to supply such souvenirs as purses, his flesh made into grease, and his bones divided as trophies to be handed down as heirlooms. It is said that there still lives a Virginian who has a piece of his skin which was tanned, that another Virginian possesses one of his ears, and that the skull graces the collection of a physician in the city of Norfolk."

-- John W. Cromwell, The Aftermath of Nat Turner's Insurrection, 1920

Nat Turner’s skull on display?

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BAVUAL 11

TRUE GRIT

For the Badass Within

DAVE CHAPPELLE SPEAKS HIS MIND It's a Matter of Taste

By Kristen Jones

They say that laughter is the best medicine. If that’s the case, then comedian Dave Chappelle has the skills needed to provide that prescription to the world. On the other hand, some people don’t like the taste of the comedy and commentary he’s prescribed over the years, and he has sometimes found himself in the crosshairs of critics.

David Khari Webber Chappelle was born in August 1973 to highly educated, prominent and politically active parents. His father, William David Chappelle III, was a professor and the dean of students at Antioch College in Ohio. His mother, Yvonne Seon, worked for Patrice Lumumba, the first prime minister of the Republic of the Congo; was a professor and university administrator at Wright State University, Prince George's Community College, and other institutions; and is a Unitarian Universalist minister.

Many influential African Americans were involved in Chappelle’s early life, and his comedic future was foreseen by none other than Johnny Hartman, the famed jazz artist. He worked as an usher at Ford's Theatre and went to Eastern High School in Washington, DC, before transferring to the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, where he studied theater arts and graduated in 1991.

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Chappelle had long had his eye on the stage and was finally given a shot in 1990 when he was featured on America’s Funniest People in a montage on national TV. Then, at the tender age of 19, he was in his first motion picture as the character “Ahhc-hoo” in the Mel Brooks movie Robin Hood: Men in Tights.

Approached to be the “Bubba” character in the acclaimed film Forrest Gump with Tom Hanks, he turned the role down, predicting that the movie would be a flop and because he believed the Bubba character was racially demeaning.

After a stint on Home Improvement, he was offered many sitcoms. The one that almost made it was Buddies, which also featured his actual friend Jim Breuer. Five of the 13 recorded episodes aired but not to much fanfare, and the sitcom was canceled in 1996.

Then, from 1996-2000, along with several other projects, the comedian was in Con Air; The Nutty Professor with one of his comedy influences, Eddie Murphy; and Half Baked, his own co-written comedy, which is still considered a cult classic among stoners.

Although it looked as if Chappelle’s Hollywood star had begun to shine, it was short-lived. Looking back, he refers to it as “Hollyweird” and spoke of experiencing racism either indirectly or through the actions of those in charge at the time.

In 2003, Chappelle began a sketch comedy series with Comedy Central aptly titled Chappelle’s Show. The series featured racy comedy shorts that included such items as the R. Kelly trial and racial satire such as “The Niggar Family.”

Critics often commented on Chappelle’s need to “toe the line” with his comedy because they felt he often went over the line in many people’s opinions.

As Season Two was released, however, it was apparent that a large segment of America not only enjoyed the series but wanted more, and Chappelle was offered a never-before-seen deal for his next season.

In 2005, however, he walked away from his $50 million deal with Comedy Central, citing his feelings toward the direction the series was going in and his not being able to truly have control over what was said.

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Never aspiring to be seen as the butt of his own jokes, Chappelle decided to visit Africa on a selfseeking journey and to get away from the pressures of Hollywood. Upon returning, he built a quiet life with his wife, Elaine, became a humanitarian in his community, and continued to perform when he felt the need. His Block Party DVD, which combined musical acts with his comedy, also went on to sell considerably well.

Nowadays, the comedic genius who recently turned 50, is still selling out events and stepping over the line whenever possible. His comedy has touched America, and he still remains as strong in his beliefs as he is in his talents. He’s a man who dares to say the things he says and then stands by what he says.

He has remained unrelenting and unwavering in what he truly believes in.

With Chappelle, audiences are almost always guaranteed a strong dose of laughter while a magical story is being woven by a magnificent storyteller.

Almost always.

That is, unless Chappelle crosses their line.

On October 19, 2023, for example, Chappelle is said to have caused quite a controversy with his live audience in Boston when he reportedly criticized the Israeli government, which is strongly supported by the United States government, for alleged war crimes against the Palestinians in Gaza. Angered by his words, some in the audience reportedly walked out, while others cheered him on with shouts of “Free Palestine!” Even though he also reportedly condemned Hamas’ October 7th attacks against Israeli communities, some refused to accept any criticism against the Israeli government.

This is not the first time Chappelle has been a polarizing force. In 2022, his Netflix comedy special also drew criticism for his comments related to the trans community.

After performing and entertaining the masses for decades, it appears that when the laughter stops, Chappelle is sometimes either hated or loved.

Either way, he remains a comedic genius in the eyes of many of his fans, who simply need a good laugh to help them get through another hard day.

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THE TIMES

What's Going On in the News

Paige Coffey

Paige Coffey

Paige Coffey

Tonny Scriven Rajah McQueen BAVUAL

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AMERICA'S MISSING BLACK MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN Almost 40 percent of those missing are African American

By Nigel Roberts Published October 4, 2023 on BET.com Last month, about a few dozen people distributed fliers in Cleveland’s Slavic Village neighborhood with a photo and description of Keshaun Williams, a 15-yearold, 5-foot-7-inch, 130-pound teenager. Kee, as his family and friends call him, went missing on June 17.

That night, Kee called his mother to say he was on his way home from a house party but never arrived.

Every day across America, numerous people vanish – disproportionately people of color who typically don’t get the media coverage that Keshaun has received.

The Black and Missing Foundation, Inc. (BAMFI), a Maryland-based non-profit, is making a difference by spotlighting missing people of color when law enforcement and media outlets fall short.

Black people are overrepresented among missing people across the nation, Natalie Wilson, a co-founder of BAMFI, told BET.com. While Black Americans represent about 13 percent of the population, they account for nearly 40 percent of the missing persons.

“These are our mothers and fathers, our children, our neighbors who are disappearing at an alarming rate,” Wilson said. “Media coverage is vital because awareness is key in locating them. And it also puts pressure on law enforcement to add resources to the case.”

Billboards are one of the newest tools in BAMFI’s arsenal. The organization launched a 16-city billboard campaign in May to mark its 15th anniversary. The billboards display pictures and information about 48 missing persons of color to give them exposure.

Situation in Cleveland In 2022, BET.com reported that data from the Ohio Attorney General’s office showed that around 803 Ohioans under 18 when they disappeared were still missing as of mid-February that year. About 61 percent of those children were Black, despite African Americans making up only 16 percent of the minor population.

BAMFI’s billboard in Cleveland spotlights three missing person cases: Paige Coffey (last seen May 1, 2019), Rajah McQueen (last seen June 2021) and Tonny Scriven (missing since April 2020).

“They don’t have enough coverage for people that are Black that are missing. They don’t have enough coverage, on the news, or in the papers,” Cleveland native Laura Wilmore told local station WOIO, underscoring the urgent need for BAMFI’s billboard campaign.

Recently, media outlets have reported that more than 1,000 children have gone missing from the Cleveland area this year, including a surge of nearly 50 in September. Meanwhile, social media users are calling attention to the race of the teens who have suddenly disappeared.

But Cleveland authorities say the news and social media reports are “inaccurate.”

“As of September 27, 2023, the Cleveland Division of Police is actively handling a total of BAVUAL 15

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132 cases of missing individuals: 65 juveniles and 67 adults,” a statement from Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb’s office sent to BET.com said.

“Since February 2022, the Cleveland Division of Police has handled over 4,000 missing person reports. In 2022, the Cleveland Division of Police solved 99 percent of all missing person cases received. So far this year, 94 percent of all cases have been solved,” the statement continued.

In June, Cleveland Police Chief Wayne Drummond told reporters there was a 20 percent surge of missing youth compared to 2022, but 1,020 of the 1,072 kids who went missing returned home. He said the numbers appear misleading because most of those kids are habitual runaways, and families often neglect to inform the police when their missing child returns home.

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Missing White Woman Syndrome The late veteran broadcast journalist Gwen Ifill famously coined “Missing White Woman Syndrome” at a 2004 journalism conference to describe the coverage priority newsroom managers give to missing attractive White women and girls.

“If it’s a missing White woman, you’re going to cover that, every day,” Ifill said, referring to the directive journalists receive.

A 2013 study by Northwestern University sociologist Zack Sommers appears to support Ifill’s observation, NPR reported. Although White women account for about a third of the national population, news coverage of missing White women represented half of the media’s missing person coverage. He based his analysis on crossreferencing the archives of four news outlets – The Minneapolis Star Tribune, Chicago Tribune, Atlanta FALL 2023

Journal-Constitution and CNN.com – with the FBI’s national database of missing persons.

The lack of media attention for a missing Black woman inspired Wilson and her sister-in-law, Derrica Wilson, to launch BAMFI. Tamika Huston, a 24-year-old Spartanburg, S.C., woman vanished in June 2004. Her family struggled to convince media outlets to share her story in the hope of finding her, either dead or alive, to bring closure.

In a pattern that’s all too familiar, newspapers and TV news broadcasts chose to shine a national spotlight on the cases of White women who went missing around that time. Outlets lavished coverage on Lori Hacking, a 27-year-old Utah woman, when she disappeared in July 2004. And while Huston remained missing, the media became obsessed with the case of Natalee Holloway, 18, who vanished during a high school graduation trip to Aruba in May 2005.

The co-founders read about Huston’s family’s uphill climb in getting media coverage and decided to take action.

“My passion for this work comes from wanting to equal the playing field and to ensure that our missing are household names too. We want to ensure that there’s equal media coverage, law enforcement resources, and community engagement to bring our missing home,” Natalie Wilson said.

“We have found in doing this work for 15 years that race, income, zip code, and economic status are sometimes barriers to media coverage and law enforcement resources, and they shouldn’t [be].”

In addition to the White woman syndrome, several other elements hinder the search for Black people.

Two factors determine whether the police thoroughly investigate missing children reports: the child’s age and the officer’s discretion, according to a USA Today analysis that found a patchwork of rules.

At the same time, the adultification of Black children impacts the sense of urgency to locate them. Data shows that Black girls are viewed as

physically older than their chronological age, less innocent and more self-reliant than White girls, particularly in the 5-14 age range.

CrimeCon: Conference Spotlights Missing Black People BAMFI produces a podcast titled “Untold Stories: Black and Missing,” through which the organization features missing person cases and educates listeners on related issues affecting the Black community, such as the disproportionate sex trafficking of Black girls and women.

At the annual CrimeCon, the largest gathering of true crime enthusiasts, held this year in Orlando, BAMFI hosted a live broadcast of “Untold Stories.” Wilson said it drew a diverse audience and was wellreceived at the convention.

Kevin Balfe, CrimeCon creator and organizer, told BET.com that the event launched in 2017 and draws a range of criminology professionals, from police detectives and DNA experts to psychologists, for the three-day gathering. They often delve into the latest scientific techniques to solve crimes.

The annual event is also a magnet for true crime fans, primarily middle-aged White women who often bring their daughters for a mother-daughter outing.

Balfe is trying to make the CrimeCon more diverse. In 2022, the organizers awarded BAMFI its inaugural Crime Fighter of the Year Award. It honors an individual or organization that profoundly impacted a case or the criminal justice system.

At this year’s CrimeCon, BAMFI addressed issues around Carlee Russell, the Hoover, Ala., Black woman who admitted to faking her kidnapping in July after garnering national attention.

“We have to remember that this one case should not take precedence, affect the families who are desperately searching and continue to search for their missing loved ones,” Willson said. “We cannot underestimate the impact that that case had because it was the first time a missing Black woman dominated the news cycle and had people from all walks of life aiding in her recovery.”

Looking ahead, Wilson is optimistic.

“We have made great strides,” she said. “We have had media partnerships on a national level. We’ve been invited to national and local newsrooms to discuss issues about missing people of color.”

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AMERICA IN 2033 The Dystopian View

U.S.A. 1776-2033

R.I.P.

By Earl A. Birkett

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Mankind’s favorite pastime is indulging in what-ifs. There is that perennial fork in the road, one side leading to paradise, the other to perdition. In the Summer 2023 issue BAVUAL presented its utopian view of the next 10 years.

This issue presents the worst-case scenario for that same time period. These are not predictions; they are merely speculation given what we know of prevailing conditions.

BAVUAL does not expect either scenario to happen as described; they are, however, food for thought.

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A.D. 2023 REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP FAILS IN THE HOUSE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTS DOWN UKRAINE, ISRAEL FUNDING STOPS For the first time in U.S. history, the House of Representatives is without a permanent speaker, the GOP majority having rejected every replacement to Kevin McCarthy. The federal government shuts down indefinitely, and funding for Ukraine to fight its invasion by Russia stops, as well as funding to Israel to defeat Hamas.

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RUSSIA CONQUERS UKRAINE THREATENS NATO With Ukraine’s funding dried up, Russia seizes the advantage in its war with the hard-fighting but over-matched European nation and sacks Kyiv; President Zelensky flees for his life to the West as Russia’s victorious leader Vladimir Putin immediately sets his sights on Poland, a NATO member country.

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A.D. 2024

MAJOR PUBLIC FIGURE OPPOSING TRUMP ASSASSINATED TURMOIL ENSUES

The long-simmering friction between red and blue America, egged on by Donald Trump and his fanatical MAGA supporters, turns blood red as street fighting breaks out following the murder of a high-profile opponent of the presidential nominee and criminal defendant. By Election Day, the body count between pro- and anti- Trump forces exceeds that of 9/11.

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TRUMP PULLS OUT A NARROW ELECTORAL COLLEGE WIN, BECOMING the 47TH PRESIDENT

GOP RETAINS HOUSE, TAKES SENATE The 45th president of the United States prevails in the Electoral College to win election as the 47th president - thanks to some heavy voter suppression by Republican state legislatures and aided by a massive propaganda campaign by Fox News and companion right-wing media that convinced most voters that Trump is an honest and ingenious populist who will tame inflation and bring an era of peace and prosperity to America and the world.

BIDEN (D) 47.5% 264 ELECTORAL VOTES

OTHER 6%

TRUMP (R) 46.5%

0 ELECTORAL VOTES

274 ELECTORAL VOTES

SENATE R - 54 D- 46 HOUSE R - 225 D - 210 BAVUAL FALL 2023

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A.D. 2025 PRESIDENT TRUMP INAUGURATED RED CONGRESS SWORN IN AMERICAN REICH BEGINS

MAJORITY LEADER SCOTT

VICE PRESIDENT STEFANIK

SPEAKER JORDAN

President Trump and the Republican MAGA Congress are sworn into office and immediately begin dismantling the Constitution and implementing their fascist takeover of the Executive Branch, as outlined by the Heritage Foundation two years back.

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U.S. PULLS OUT OF NATO AND THE U.N. RUSSIA INVADES POLAND SECOND WAR IN EUROPE BEGINS A key step in forming the new American Reich is achieved when Trump fulfills his long-sought dream of pulling out of NATO. Russia’s Putin, now assured of no interference from the world’s largest military power, promptly invades Poland, setting off war with a weakened, non-U.S.-backed Europe.

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A.D. 2026

GOP TAX CUTS FOR THE SUPER-RICH GUT FEDERAL BUDGET LEAD TO HYPERINFLATION AND DEEP RECESSION

he U.S. into a deep and painful recession.

To no one’s surprise - those who were educated and informed, that is the new round of trillion-dollar tax cuts for billionaires combined with out-of-control defense spending blows up the federal budget and national debt to insane levels. Inflation balloons to double digits, plunging the U.S. into a deep and painful recession.

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U.S. SIGNS MILITARY PACT WITH RUSSIA, SAUDI ARABIA MASSIVE DEMOCRATIC VOTER SUPPRESSION IN SWING STATES LEADS TO GOP INCREASING CONTROL OF CONGRESS

The love affair between Trump, Putin and Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia is finally consummated when the three nations sign a tripartite security pact as Russia’s war with NATO rages. Meanwhile, Republican’s fascist rule in swing states and in DC is successful at keeping Democrats legally shut out of the ballot box, thus maintaining their control.

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A.D. 2027

CONGRESS ATTACKED, CAPITOL BURNS TRUMP DECLARES MARTIAL LAW, SUSPENDS CONSTITUTION, SHUTS DOWN OPPOSITION MEDIA, and ELIMINATES all ELECTIONs ALL GOVERNMENT PERSONNEL TAKE AN OATH TO TRUMP

SEN. KARI LAKE (R-AZ) A pivotal year in Reich America; once again, the Capitol is attacked and burned to the ground, a far worse repeat of Jan. 6, 2021.

Trump suspends the Constitution, declares martial law, shuts down all opposition media, including the networks, CNN, MSNBC and BAVUAL. All elections are canceled, and government workers take an oath to Trump. The president appoints Sen. Kari Lake as president of Legislation and State Media.

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U.S. SLIPS INTO SECOND GREAT DEPRESSION MIDDLE CLASS SHRINKS TO 22% TRUMP BEGINS TO BUILD “FREEDOM CITIES” The Greatest Recession that began in 2026 slides into a second Great Depression, worse than the 1930s. The middle class shrinks from 45% to 22% in only four years. Trump tries to prime the economic pump by building huge “Freedom Cities,” which turn out to be Trump’s private personal slush fund and a place for the rich to wall themselves off from the desperate and impoverished masses and confine political opponents.

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A.D. 2028 MASS EXECUTIONS AND JAILINGS OF GOP OPPOSITION BEGIN With the censorship of all media opposed to Trump, rumors abound that mass executions and confinement of political opponents in Freedom Cities encampments are taking place in secret.

Trump’s supporters react to the news with jubilation in the midst of their widespread economic suffering.

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GOP BECOMES THE PATRIOT PARTY USA BECOMES THE AMERICAN CHRISTIAN UNION DEMOCRATS GO UNDERGROUND, BECOME THE RESISTANCE

After 174 years, the Trump/MAGA/Republican Party is officially rechristened as the Patriot Party. The U.S. itself adopts the new name of the American Christian Union (ACU) - which of course has nothing to do with Christianity - as surviving Democrats go underground and form the Resistance, ironically dubbed the Greater Americans (GAs).

The GAs control New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

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A.D. 2029

WORST YEAR OF CLIMATE CHANGE TO DATE WORLDWIDE FAMINE MAJOR COASTAL CITIES FLOODED

Trump selling off public lands to the oil companies for drilling, once again pulling out of the Kyoto Accord and continuing the internal combustion engine while ignoring green energy leads to irreversible climate change. Coastal cities from the Atlantic to the Pacific to the Gulf flood beyond recognition, while a shroud of smog blocks out the sun, sparking uncontrollable fires and turning the fertile Midwest into a desert. Entire sections of the U.S. experience famine and depopulation.

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U.S.-RUSSIA AXIS INVADES AFRICA MEXICO, CARIBBEAN ANNEXED

In a continuing quest for land to replace depleted resources and “control” the population (i.e., reduce it), the ACU and Greater Russian Confederation (GRC) invade and occupy all of Africa and annex Mexico and the Caribbean.

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A.D. 2030 CANADA GIVES ASYLUM TO AMERICAN REFUGEES

Canada, the only free nation left on the North American continent, grants asylum to refugees from the ACU. Trump responds by putting up a 2,000-mile wall at the Northern border and issuing a shoot-on-sight order to the Border Patrol of anyone trying to escape to the North.

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NATO DECLARES WAR ON U.S.-RUSSIA AXIS

Feeling themselves finally strong enough to take on the fascist American-Russian axis, the NATO nations vote to formally declare war on the ACU and GRC. The vote is unanimous. A supreme commander is selected, and plans are drawn up for a ground invasion of both countries.

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A.D. 2031

MASSIVE DECIMATION, DISPLACEMENT OF WORLD’S BLACK POPULATION BEGINS With the overthrow of Africa and the Caribbean, a massive genocide and displacement of black people occurs across the globe. This is in addition to the already-persecuted Central and South Americans whose countries have been either destroyed or annexed. Millions perish.

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EVANGELICAL CHURCHES BECOME THE CHURCH OF TRUMP

Making official what had been informal since the early 2020s, the nation’s evangelical churches form one state Mega Church of Trump and swear their loyalty to and worship of Dear Leader as their new Christ.

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A.D. 2032

CHINA, U.N. ENTER WAR AGAINST U.S. AND RUSSIA, STARTING World war III

In an attempt to avoid a dark era of world domination by America and Russia, both mainland China and the U.N. nations that have not yet been conquered by the Axis powers enter NATO’s war against them, thus making it a Third Word War.

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WAR GOES BIOLOGICAL, 100 MILLION KILLED

Ending a decades-long ban of the use of biological and chemical weapons by the Geneva Conventions, the Axis powers unleash lethal bioweapons upon the Allies to give themselves a strategic and tactical advantage in the war and “cleanse” the Earth of nonChristian (read that not Trump-Putin-Saudi worshippers), regardless of whether it harms their own populations. At least a third of the world’s 9 billion inhabitants - as predicted in the Book of Revelation - are murdered.

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A.D. 2033 FIRST NUCLEAR EXCHANGE, CITIES DESTROYED, POPULATION IRRADIATED

Evangelicals in America and Russia, wishing to bring on the Final Conflict that they think will bring on the Rapture, persuade the Axis leaders to unleash Armageddon - that final war that they believe will lead to the Second Coming; hasten their foes, led by Satan, into the eternal Lake of Fire; and usher in Eternal Paradise on a new Earth.

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WEALTHIEST LAUNCH ESCAPE SHIPS TO MARS

Cynical trillionaires and mega-billionaires who profited from Trump and Putin’s reign flee in SpaceX, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic rocket ships bound for Mars before the Earth is completely destroyed and form a new civilization on the Red Planet solely for themselves and their robot servants.

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VOODOO

The Forbidden Religion of West Africa and THE West Indies

By Kristen Jones Voodoo, a practice or religion with deep origins in Africa, is connected to spirits, ancestors and nature. Adherents believe in two interrelated worlds—the visible and the invisible. In the visible world, a main goal of practitioners is to serve their god and spirits through religious rites and prayers in exchange for protection and various benefits.

Then, after death, they believe that they are taken to the invisible world where spirits and ancestors can serve as guides and protectors.

According to Britannica.com, “[Voodoo’s] fundamental principle is that everything is spirit.

Humans are spirits who inhabit the visible world.

The unseen world is populated by lwa (spirits), mystè (mysteries), anvizib (the invisibles), zanj (angels), and the spirits of ancestors and the recently deceased.” Lwa are believed to possess personalities and names and to serve various purposes.

In addition to these spirits, adherents also believe in one god, which they may call Bondye from the French words “bon dieu,” which mean “good god.”

According to the BBC article “Has voodoo been misjudged?” followers also believe in always doing good, striving to live in peace, and punishment for bad intentions.

Who Practices Voodoo?

Voodoo may have existed for six thousand years in West Africa. The term “Vodou” has its roots in West Africa and comes from the word for “spirit” in the Fon language. The French used the term “Vaudoux” (anglicized to “Voodoo”) to refer to a variety of African spiritual practices. (It is also sometimes FALL 2023

spelled Voudou, Vodun or Vaudou.) Today, the religion may be practiced by more than 60 million people in the world.

It is practiced in Haiti, Louisiana and in other places where West Africans were enslaved, such as Cuba, Brazil, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. It is also practiced in somewhat different forms in the West African nations of Ghana, Nigeria, Togo and Benin by the Fon, Aja and Ewe peoples.

When enslaved Africans were brought to the New World beginning in the 1500s, they maintained their African customs as a way to remember what they had lost. However, because the religion was often practiced in secret to protect its adherents and because it was passed on orally, a lot of its history has been lost. As a result, there are many branches of Voodoo with interpretations and rituals that vary from group to group, which makes it easy to confuse the various types.

In the Caribbean and the United States, Voodoo is a syncretism that mixes the worship of the Catholic saints the slaves learned about in the New World with the worship of the gods/spirits their African ancestors believed in. Its strongest influence came from the West African kingdom of Dahomey.

One of Voodoo’s largest groups of adherents resides in Haiti. While the Haitian population of nearly 11.5 million people is about 55 percent Catholic and 29 percent Protestant, according to The World Factbook, “50-80 percent of Haitians incorporate elements of Vodou culture or practice in addition to another religion, most often Roman Catholicism.”

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VOODOO RITUAL IN HAITI

In the 1790s, enslaved people fled Haiti as the result of a slave revolt and went to New Orleans where they continued Voodoo as part of their culture there. As the population increased there, so too did the practitioners of Voodoo. These adherents believe that although god does not interfere in people’s daily lives, spirits do. Various practices such as chanting, playing music, dancing, sacrificing animals and praying are believed to help people connect with such spirits and the invisible world to obtain various benefits.

Adherents also began to mix in aspects of the local culture to hide from those who wanted to destroy the religion, which made it different from West African and Haitian Voodoo. Roman Catholic saints were often viewed as aliases of their Voodoo spirits, which allowed adherents to celebrate Catholic and Voodoo holidays together. As a result, many Voodoo practitioners believe in Christianity as a form of Voodoo-Catholicism.

Controversy Regarding the Religion For many people, Voodoo is a controversial religion and has been condemned for much of its history.

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People have long associated Voodoo with “dark magic,” and practitioners have historically been subjected to attempts by others to destroy them and their religion by violence, burning shrines, forcing them to convert to other religions, beating their clergy, implementing laws, and antisuperstition campaigns. Practitioners are now protected in Haiti by the country’s 1987 Constitution.

More than a century earlier, on Feb. 13, 1864, in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, eight Haitians accused of practicing Voodoo and cannibalistic murder were publicly executed. This incident helped bring about a long campaign against the practice.

The charge sheet said that a man intent on an occult rite to propitiate the spirit world had slaughtered his young niece and with several friends and family members devoured her remains.

Spenser St. John, the British charge d’affaires who attended the trial, provided one of the best-known and most influential accounts of it in his 1887 memoir of Haiti.

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Since the records of the trial have been lost, the surviving accounts may represent those, such as St. John, who were convinced that such murders and Voodoo cannibalism were rampant in Haiti.

Although St. John himself admitted that the confessions of the accused were bullied and beaten out of them, he still believed the verdict was correct because he thought there was enough other evidence to convict them. Whatever the truth, the trial and execution left a negative perception of Haiti and Voodoo in the eyes of many.

Common portrayals of Voodoo in American film, which have included zombies and Voodoo practitioners sticking needles in dolls to harm others, have added to those negative perceptions.

In his 1929 book The Magic Island, William Seabrook portrayed Voodoo as a mysterious and sinister force that holds Haiti in its grip. The first zombie film ever made, White Zombie, in 1939, focuses on a white woman who was turned into a zombie through the influence of Voodoo. Such literature and film increased white fear and distrust of Haitians and adherents of Voodoo.

Adherents of Voodoo, however, argue that these are a falsified representation of a religion that is largely misunderstood and more complex than pop culture stereotypes make it seem.

As a religion that has shown itself quite flexible, it may, however, change even further in response to new circumstances that arise.

African Americans have long been attracted to the occult, mediums, the afterlife and spirituality in general. In recent years, black women have seemingly been particularly open to various forms of spirituality. According to an NBCNews.com article, “they have launched Black girl magik meetups, witchcraft conventions, hoodoo festivals and goth clothing lines. In addition to writing about tarot, they’ve written books about witchcraft, astrology and the Black gothic, tying these traditions to their cultural and artistic heritage.” (“‘We're reclaiming these traditions’: Black women embrace the spiritual realm,” Oct. 30, 2020) Some blacks have sought social connections and a greater sense of identity in Voodoo as a religion, perhaps feeling that it gives them a deeper connection to their African roots. Some may also be seeking a different kind of spiritual perspective than what they’ve always been taught and may simply be experimenting. Whatever the attraction may be, where that search will lead is a question that each seeker will have to answer for himself or herself.

Voodoo—or not?

Women and Voodoo While Voodoo has often been viewed negatively, some point out that it puts women in leadership roles and did so hundreds of years before there was ever such a concept as “women’s rights.”

At a time when women, especially women of color, had no power, Marie Laveau (c. 1801-1881)—one of the most famous Voodoo practitioners—became a priestess of the religion and a force among both blacks and whites in New Orleans. Many influential blacks and whites reached out to her, seeking her advice and help with various problems such as illness, personal issues, and concerns about evil.

She had a great deal of influence in her community and is still celebrated every year during Mardi Gras.

Voodoo in Modern Times Interest in the Voodoo religion doesn’t appear to be dying and may be increasing, in part due to Hollywood films and the Internet.

The religion is likely to continue to be an important part of Haitian culture in the diaspora, and there is little doubt that its will survive in American culture.

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DAY OF THE DEAD CELEBRATION DURING MARDI GRAS IN NEW ORLEANS BAVUAL

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THE STRANGE MYSTICISM OF

BARON SAMEDI Baron Samedi is the leader of the Barons and possibly the Gedés. He presides over a sprawling, confusing, complex clan of spirits. When people speak of the Baron, they tend to mean Baron Samedi. Baron Samedi literally means Baron Saturday, which may sound innocuous compared to Baron Cemetery or Kriminel, but Saturday was the one day when Christ was really, truly dead, the day between the crucifixion on Friday and resurrection on Sunday. On Saturday, even Jesus must answer to the Baron, Lord of the Dead. (An alternative explanation suggests that Samedi is related to Simbi or zombi and only resembles the French word.)

Baron Samedi is Grand Master of the Celestial Masonic Lodge of Vodou Spirits, a thirty-seconddegree-initiated Mason. He is invoked to contact and communicate with the dead (he determines whether they can come visit or not). He may be petitioned to remove bothersome ghosts and invoked to ward off death.

He a powerful healer and is especially sympathetic to terminally ill children. Baron Samedi rules the cemetery: no one can die until he gives permission for their grave to be dug. Baron Samedi is lewd, obscene, and vulgar, but he can be just and kind. He prefers that children live full lives before joining him in the cemetery.

Baron Samedi is the crossroads where sex and death meet. Spirit of the undying life-force, he may be petitioned for fertility. He is the guardian of ancestral knowledge and the link to your ancestral spirits. If one lens keeps popping out of your dark glasses, the Baron may be seeking your attention or offering his patronage.

Baron Samedi is syncretized to Jesus Christ as they share the symbol of the cross. (Baron Samedi’s associations with the cross may pre-date Christianity. In Congolese cosmology, the cross is the symbol of the life cycle: birth-death-rebirth.) He may also be syncretized to Saint Expedite.

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ALSO KNOWN AS: Bawon Samdi (Kreyol); Baron Sandi (Spanish); Baron Saturday CLASSIFICATION: Lwa FAVOURED PEOPLE: Children; women seeking to conceive; funeral workers; grave diggers; those whose work brings them into contact with death MANIFESTATION: Baron Samedi manifests as an older, dark-skinned man in formal attire, dressed completely in black. He wears a black top hat, black suit, and may be smoking one of his beloved cigars.

He wears impenetrable black sunglasses: • The glasses may be missing a lens because he possesses two kinds of vision: he simultaneously sees the realms of the living and the dead.

• Alternatively his glasses have but one lens because a penis has but one eye and the phallus is his attribute (and because he loves sexual humor and innuendo).

ICONOGRAPHY: Baron Samedi’s throne is a chair chained to a cross. Images of Darth Vader are used to represent him (or just to decorate his altar; he likes toys).

ATTRIBUTES: Coffin; phallus; skull and cross-bones; shovel; grave; black sunglasses; cross OFFERINGS: Black coffee, plain bread, dry toast, roasted peanuts. He drinks rum in which twentyone very hot peppers have been steeped. Cigars, cigarettes, dark sunglasses, Day of the Dead toys, the sexier and more macabre the better; raise a skull and crossbones pirate flag for him; beautiful wrought-iron crosses are crafted in his honor.

COLOURS: Black, also red and purple DAY: What else? Saturday FEASTS: 2 November, Day of the Dead; 24 April NUMBERS: 3, 7, 21 TIME: Twilight tends to be a good time to invoke him or make requests.

CONSORT: Madame Brigitte; they may be petitioned together for fertility, protection, or to save ailing children.

Published at occult-world.com

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ARE PSYCHICS REAL? John Oliver's February 24, 2019 edition of Last Week Tonight was an exposé of the popularity of psychics on American daytime television. He reported that 4 out of 10 people believe that psychics are effective and that billions of dollars are spent yearly by people desperate to have psychics help them with their problems.

What is the psychology of people's attention to psychics who use paranormal methods such as extrasensory perception to answer people's questions? What is the appropriate logic for evaluating such methods?

You might be inclined to believe that psychics tell the truth.

First, they often seem to know uncanny and accurate information about the people in their audiences—for example, that someone has a spouse who died of heart disease. Second, the people who get information from psychics seem to feel better as a result—for example, when they are told that a missing child is still alive. Third, the psychics appear on national television with famous hosts who have some credibility.

Oliver pointed out that there are alternative interpretations of all of these observations.

Psychics use two main methods to appear to be accurate and informative about people's problems.

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The most common is cold reading, which is throwing up big questions designed to elicit information—for example, by asking whether anyone in a large audience has a husband named John who had a heart attack. People are eager to be informed about their loved ones and find solace, so they quickly pick up on tiny pieces of information achieved only by fake questions and statements.

The other method commonly used by psychics is hot reading, which means getting information in advance about people they know they will meet, through sources such as Facebook. Deceptions through cold and hot calling explain why psychics seem to be accurate and insightful.

When people are thrilled to get information about loved ones from psychics, they are often

succumbing to the kind of mental error that psychologists call motivated reasoning. People are inclined to accept beliefs on the basis of personal goals— what they want to believe— rather than on reliable evidence.

Motivated reasoning is not just wishful thinking; it involves a more subtle process of recruiting information from memory and other sources in ways that support what one wants to hear. Grief from the loss of a loved one is a horrible experience, so [it’s] not surprising that people will be highly motivated to get information that will make them feel better. So the fact that people think that psychics make them feel better is no evidence concerning the truth of what the psychics say, because it reflects motivated inference rather than more reliable reasoning.

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People may also be taken in by other kinds of thinking errors well known to psychologists, such as clustering illusion, bandwagon effects, and confirmation bias. So the acceptance of psychics’ claims by vulnerable people is better explained by thinking errors than by the truth of the psychics' claims.

The third reason why television psychics might be taken to be credible is the reputation of the shows' hosts. But many of those hosts are primarily interested in getting high ratings and advertising rewards rather than conveying valid information. The hosts are highly motivated to select guests based on entertainment value rather than on independent credibility, so the fact that psychics are seen on TV is no reason to suppose that they are speaking the truth.

The appropriate logic for evaluating the claims of psychics is what philosophers call inference to the best explanation, which I discussed in my last post. It would be okay to believe in psychics if the best explanation of what they do is that they have a real gift for communicating with the dead, foreseeing the future, or performing other acts of extrasensory perception.

Counting against this conclusion is the alternative hypothesis that psychics are just frauds, using methods like cold calling and hot calling to trick people into thinking that they have special powers. Psychics have their own motivations for pretending that they have

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special powers including the pursuit of fame and fortune.

Another reason for doubting claims about extrasensory perception is that there are no known physical mechanisms by which people could communicate with the dead or foresee the future. More strongly, these alleged phenomena are contrary to everything that is known about the way information can be passed through physical processes. People have looked for good scientific evidence for paranormal phenomena since at least the 19th century, but apparent successes can be explained by incompetence or fraud or error rather than by the actual occurrence of paranormal phenomena.

In a 2012 post, I offered the following profile of how pseudoscience differs from science: 1. Science explains using mechanisms, whereas pseudoscience lacks mechanistic explanations.

2. Science uses correlation thinking, which applies statistical methods to find patterns in nature, whereas pseudoscience uses dogmatic assertions, or resemblance thinking, which infers that things are causally related merely because they are similar.

3. Practitioners of science care about evaluating theories in relation to alternative ones, whereas practitioners of pseudoscience are oblivious to alternative theories.

4. Science uses simple theories that have broad explanatory power, whereas pseudoscience uses theories that require many extra hypotheses for particular explanations.

5. Science progresses over time by developing new theories that explain newly discovered facts, where pseudoscience is stagnant in doctrine and applications.

Parapsychology as used by psychics fits this pseudoscience profile and accordingly should be dismissed as a source of reliable knowledge.

-Paul Thagard, Ph.D. Published at psychologytoday.com April 24, 2019

Tarot Deck Major Arcana THE FOOL (0) THE MAGICIAN (I) THE HIGH PRIESTESS (II) THE EMPRESS (III) THE EMPEROR (IV) THE HIEROPHANT (V) THE LOVERS (VI) THE CHARIOT (VII) STRENGTH (VIII) THE HERMIT (IX) THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE (X) JUSTICE (XI) THE HANGED MAN (XII) DEATH (XIII) TEMPERANCE (XIV) THE DEVIL (XV) THE TOWER (XVI) THE STAR (XVII) THE MOON (XVIII) THE SUN (XIX) JUDGMENT (XX) THE WORLD (XXI)

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THE CULTURE

All About Media and the Arts

BOOB TUBE POWER

Television Shapes America's Image of Blacks - And How They See Themselves PART II: 1990-2023

By Earl A. Birkett

The awareness on television programs of the 1980s that black Americans can be every bit as successful as their white counterparts only spread in the 1990s and beyond, even though they still played to long-existing racial and class stereotypes, thanks in part to blacks finally getting the chance to produce their own shows and the economic reality that black people are the biggest television viewers. In doing so, the clash of culture within the black community became more pronounced.

Black TV Sitcoms Become More Self-Reflective While The Cosby Show offered an idealized picture of the black upper middle class, programs like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (NBC, 1990-96) and Family Matters (ABC/CBS 198998) made the black experience as it exists more relatable.

Rather than being born to privilege like the Huxtables, Will Smith’s protagonist is taken out of the dangerous West Philadelphia streets and transported to wealthy Bel-Air, California, to live with his rich uncle and aunt and their very upper-crust family. He has nothing in common with them except skin color. In the process, they learn how hard it really is to be black while he learns the advantages of being rich and connected. The laughter and pain ensues.

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(The show was a variation of Diff’rent Strokes (NBC, 1978-86), where two orphaned black brothers were adopted by a wealthy white Park Avenue family.)

On the middle-rung of the economic strata, Family Matters merely sought humor from a working-class Chicago cop and his family and neighbors. There was nothing groundbreaking about this rather ordinary sitcom other than that it was one of the few to feature an allblack cast and its breakout character, Steve Urkel, became a nerdy icon that transcended race. The humor was more ridiculous than profound and was more in the tradition of two 1970s sitcoms, Good Times and What’s Happening!!

In late-night TV, the decline of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and the competition that broadcast networks were receiving from upstart Fox and booming cable channels led to some inventive programming.

Comedian and actor Arsenio Hall was given his own Paramount-syndicated show to compete with Carson. Airing from 1989 to 1994, The Arsenio Hall Show briefly appealed to the burgeoning hip-hop youth culture and had some success in the ratings before it was canceled in 1994. (It was briefly revived in 2013-14.)

Art Imitates The 11 O’Clock News Not only has television documented comedy in the black experience, it has also revealed a darker, more tragic, dramatic side. First to capitalize on life in the mean streets of the black ghetto were two NBC series, Law & Order and Homicide: Life on the Street, which found black heroes and villains on both sides of the law, with perhaps disproportionate emphasis on the latter. There were more African American lawyers, prosecutors and judges than ever, but they were more often than not defending or jailing people in their own community, a reflection of what was being reported in the real-world nightly news (see page 56).

One early attempt to find nuance and even profundity in the burgeoning TV crime wave

The third breakthrough, In Living Color (Fox, 1990-94) took on Saturday Night Live-like sketch comedy from an urban black point of view and proved just as successful as SNL at delivering parody and memorable catchphrases and skits that have become a permanent part of American pop culture. The show, produced by the Wayans brothers, launched each of them into movie stardom.

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induced largely by the real-life drug war was The Wire, an urban drama that ran on HBO from 2002 to 2008. Written by veteran police reporter David Simon, it was ostensibly a police drama. Its real intent was to present a realistic portrayal of street life in a modern American city (in this case Baltimore, Maryland) from the perspective of the law enforcer and the perpretator; it was not always black-and-white, either. According to Simon, “[The Wire is] really about the American city and about how we live together. It's about how institutions have an effect on individuals. Whether one is a cop, a longshoreman, a drug dealer, a politician, a judge or a lawyer, all are ultimately compromised and must contend with whatever institution to which they are committed."

While the series turned several thenunknowns like Idris Elba and Michael K. Williams into major stars, The Wire is lauded today for its literary themes, its uncommonly accurate exploration of society and politics, and its realistic portrayal of urban life. During its original run, the series received only average ratings and never won any major television awards, but it is now often cited as one of the greatest shows in the history of television. It also was spurred by a rash of similar-themed series, including Oz (HBO, 1997-2003), which focused on prison life, and inspired others, including Orange Is The New Black (Netflix, 2013-19), which was about life in a Connecticut women’s prison.

Despite the quality of these shows, they did little to elevate the image of American blacks, particularly in the urban underclass, as they were portrayed as criminals with little education, low morals, a life-is-cheap attitude, an inordinate love of money, and a lack of caring for their women and children.

Unfortunately, many politicians have capitalized on these negative stereotypes, which have always applied to only a few in the black community, as representative of the entire race, which has led to suffering and harassment of blacks in real life by those in authority.

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Black Life Comes to Dramedy The desire of contemporary black Americans to see themselves as more distinguished - or at least less traditionally buffoonish - became a clarion call to TV programmers in the early 2000s. Suddenly, black people were seen everywhere, on dramas and comedies, on reality shows, and even in Madison Avenue commercials. Today it is nearly impossible to sell any product without a black person hawking it, a sea change from the 1960s and ’70s, when you couldn’t find a black person in a TV ad with a magnifying glass.

The leading broadcast network for promoting ethnic programming in recent years is ABC, which airs shows that feature Jews, Asians, the LGBTQ+ community, and others.

Among the most popular was Black-ish (201422), featuring another all-black cast starring Anthony Anderson (a breakout star on NBC’s Law & Order) and Tracee Ellis Ross (daughter of legendary entertainer Diana Ross). The series’ creators returned to the Cosby Showinspired theme of the world of a very well-todo black family headed by an ad executive and his anesthesiologist wife. The issues tackled were on a deeper sociopolitical level that at times took it uncomfortably out of the onedimensional level of comedy; the laughter was at times nervous and meant to be.

Nevertheless, it attracted several awards, including several Emmy and Golden Globe nominations and one Golden Globe win (Ross for Best Actress - Television Series Musical or Comedy).

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Blacks Prove They Can Do Intrigue Too Finally, African American performers broke through to television’s most prestigious arena: dramatic action and high-stakes political and corporate intrigue. Whereas blacks had largely been frozen out of the worlds presented in white dramas such as Dallas, Dynasty (Diahann Carroll and, briefly, Billy Dee Williams excepted), Falcon Crest and The West Wing, they would find both acceptance and importance in the new century on 24, Scandal and Empire.

Seven years before it became a reality with the election of Barack Obama, 24 envisioned that there would be a black president of the United States. The Fox series, which premiered in 2001 and ran for nine seasons, ending in 2010 (and also included a television film), had the unique concept of U.S. agents and the government trying to prevent a terrorist catastrophe over a period of 24 hours, with a different strike unfolding each season. A key player (and target) was David Palmer (played

by Dennis Haysbert), a U.S. senator who was elected president. Such a scenario was farfetched even in 2001; however, Haysbert’s portrayal was so authoritative that it may have inspired the real thing seven years later.

of the United States, whom she bails out of several scandals that threaten to end his career, not only made her a major TV star and public activist in her own right, it did wonders to boost the careers of real black female politicians, including Vice President Kamala Harris and Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

Empire, the Fox show that ran from 2015 to 2020, proved that record producer Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard) and family could navigate the world of Big Business as well as the Ewings, the Carringtons, the Colbys, Angela Channing or any other TV dynast.

On television at least, blacks, at long last, really have achieved a measure of equality.

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TV NEWS INVENTS THE “SUPER-PREDATOR” - FOR RATINGS It is one of the most successful propaganda campaigns in history; black Americans went from being the righteous heroes of the Civil Rights Movement to dangerous psychotics who prey on the innocent and destroy their own communities for fun and profit. That deleterious image was served up by the proprietors of the television news business.

This sad chapter in U.S. history began as an outgrowth of the urban unrest of the late 1960s. The U.S. government had a sinister interest in demonizing radical elements of the black community, including the Black Panthers, even to the point of (allegedly in some quarters) flooding the ghetto with narcotics. Local TV news shows, hungry for ratings and knowing that the industry saying, “If it bleeds, it leads,” would bring eyeballs, began to show hordes of black males, in their teens and 20s especially, in a bad light. They were portrayed as dropouts, threateningly dressed, roaming in gangs, robbing stores, breaking into homes, beating up bystanders, and committing the occasional murder.

The 1970s had put quite some distance between the Civil Rights Movement of the early 1960s and the urban decay that landed on the inner city. The drug trade increase, gangs becoming more predatory and violent, and the breakdown of the black nuclear family, with the notorious absence of black fathers as role models, were now lead stories on the 11 o’clock news.

The crack epidemic of the 1980s, which put the spotlight on the East Coast-West Coast rivalry between the Crips and Bloods gangs, put the nightly TV news into overdrive. In New York City alone, the massive police manhunt for serial criminal Larry Davis and the shooting of police officer Edward Byrne while on a drug stakeout created notions of young black males as “super-predators” (a term coined by Hillary Clinton). As a result, stiff new state and federal laws - like the one shepherded through Congress in the early 1990s by then-senator Joe Biden - virtually enshrined (unjustly) the young black male as the nation’s official perp.

Shortly thereafter, Fox News was created, and its 24/7 propagation of blacks as born criminals, picked up by scores of far-right TV imitators, has been made gospel.

There is little wonder that the black community, after decades of taking this abuse in the news media, has begun to fight back by holding both journalists and politicians accountable with Black Lives Matter and associate movements.

The next time you see a black gangster on The Sopranos or movies like The Equalizer or watch a steady diet of Fox News and then walk on the other side of the street when you see a young black man approaching, just remember that the notion hit your mind due to a ratings sweep.

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FILM REVIEW: THE WOMAN KING

By Stephen G. Hall, PhD The Woman King has emerged as one of the most controversial and uplifting films of the recent film cycle. Viola Davis, who plays the black female general Nanisca, has revisited the story of the Agojie warriors of Dahomey (also known as the Agoji, Mino or Minion) in this restructured story for a modern audience. The result is an epic tale that speaks to the way film works to recreate some elements of the historical past even as it reflects on our contemporary realities. The Woman King strikes an important balance between the historical past and the needs of the contemporary present and, in doing so, offers a wonderful mosaic of the two.

Much of the controversy about The Woman King lies in what some argue is its lack of historical authenticity. The story is complicated to be sure.

Unlike the unambiguous anti-slavery heroines we see in the film, the Dahomey female warriors and the Kingdom of Dahomey worked tirelessly to advance the slave trade. King Ghezo, portrayed by John Boyega of Star Wars fame and most recently the main character in the movie Breaking, and the Agojie were responsible for the expansion of the slave trade.

as one-dimensional due to the stereotypical presentation of Africa in the media, this film shows us something different. Rather than a prostrate Africa rife with problems of famine, military conflict and instability, we see a stable and orderly 19th century Africa complete with clear lines of authority and a stable political, social and cultural life. African women are also active participants in these societies. Contemporary images reduce African women to victims of genital mutilation, kidnap victims as in the well-documented Boko Haram kidnappings in Nigeria, or passive appendages of men shuttered off from society due to arcane and anti-modern views or beliefs. These views limit our understanding of Africa and reduce African women to onedimensional caricatures.

The Woman King gives viewers a very different perspective. At the movie’s outset, we are introduced to the female warriors engaged in a

The kingdom’s wealth from 1720-1850 derived primarily from selling enslaved people to the Portuguese, French and British. In fact, the basis of wealth for the Dahomeans was the slave trade, and more than 1 million enslaved people embarked from Ouidah, also known as Whydah, the country's main slaving port. This fact is sobering. However, the film is not that story. It is not a historical documentary about African participation in the slave trade, the Kingdom of Dahomey or the Agojie.

It is a fictional recreation that essentially uses the story of these female warriors as a point of entry into a more contemporary understanding of African women, the Africa slave trade, and ideas of freedom and equality.

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DESTINATIONS

Fascinating Places to Visit

STRAIGHT OUT OF L.A. West Coast Life From Hollywood to Compton

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Los Angeles, America’s second largest city and the West Coast’s biggest economic powerhouse, was originally settled by indigenous tribes, including the Chumash and Tongva hunter gatherers, by 8000 B.C.

away, to slake its thirst. After years of backroom deals, bribery and other shenanigans, superintendent William Mulholland opened the Los Angeles Aqueduct in 1913 with the words, “There it is. Take it.”

Portuguese sailor Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo was the first European to explore the region in 1542, but it wasn’t until 1769 that Gaspar de Portolá established a Spanish outpost in the Los Angeles area.

Hollywood Is Born, Oil Industry Moves In D.W. Griffith was among the first directors to film in the Los Angeles area, attracted by the mild weather and low-wage, non-union workers. By 1913, Cecil B. de Mille was shooting movies in the area. Soon, the small town known as Hollywood was annexed by Los Angeles, making the city the center of the entertainment industry.

The outpost grew larger in 1781, when a group of 44 settlers of European, African and Native American backgrounds traveled from northern Mexico to establish a farming village on the banks of the Rio Porciúncula. The Spanish governor named the settlement El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula, or "The Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels of Porciúncula.”

Spanish missions were soon established in the area, including Mission San Fernando, named for Ferdinand III of Spain, and Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, founded by Junipero Serra. In 1821, Mexico declared its independence from Spain, and all of California fell under Mexican control.

Gold Rush Brings Hordes of Prospectors But in 1846, the Mexican American War broke out, and two years later California was annexed by the United States. The timing was fortuitous, as rich deposits of gold were discovered in the Sacramento Valley in 1848, igniting the Gold Rush.

The hordes of ’49ers flocking to California depended on beef and other foods from ranches and farms in the Los Angeles area.

In 1881, after years of America’s “manifest destiny” expansion, Southern Pacific Railroad completed a track into Los Angeles, linking the city with the rest of the United States. This sparked a flurry of land speculation, and civic boosters were soon tempting winter-weary Easterners with promises of lush orange groves and boundless sunshine.

But oranges and people need water, and L.A. looked to the Owens Valley, some 200 miles

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The city is also a center of the oil industry: Edward Doheny—notorious for his involvement in the Teapot Dome Scandal—hit a gusher near downtown Los Angeles in 1892, and within a few years more than 500 oil wells were pumping across the L.A. basin. By 1924, the city’s population topped 1 million, and the city proudly played host to the Summer Olympics in 1932 (and again in 1984).

Racial Unrest During World War II, almost 100,000 workers were employed in shipbuilding and warplane manufacturing around the Port of Los Angeles.

But the rapid growth of the multiethnic metropolis brought considerable tensions: During the 1943 Zoot Suit Riots, violent mobs of U.S. servicemen brutally attacked Latinos.

Threatened by Earthquakes, Wildfires Natural disasters have also disrupted the calm in Los Angeles: The 1994 Northridge earthquake killed 57 people and caused more than $20 billion in damages. Other disasters, such as the 1933 Long Beach earthquake, the 1971 Sylmar earthquake and the 2018 Woolsey wildfire, have ravaged the city.

As of 2017, the population of the City of Los Angeles was more than 4 million and the entire metropolitan area was home to over 12 million people.

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Los Angeles City Flag

NICKNAME: L.A., City of Angels,The Entertainment Capital of the STATISTICS

World, La-la-land, Tinseltown SQUARE MILES: 501.55 sq mi COUNTY: Los Angeles POPULATION (2021): 3.9 million; 2nd most populous in the U.S. MEDIAN AGE (2021): 36.2 years ETHNIC BREAKDOWN: White (Non-Hispanic) (28.1%), Other (Hispanic) (23.5%), White (Hispanic) (16.8%), Asian (Non-Hispanic) (11.6%), and Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (8.31%).

CITIZENRY: 81.6% are U.S. citizens BLACK COMMUNITIES: Littlerock, Lake Los Angeles, Pomona, Duarte, Inglewood, Crenshaw, Compton, View Park-Windsor Hills POLITICS: Angelenos usually vote 2-1 Democratic to Republican in local, state and federal elections GOVERNMENT: Strong mayor and city council MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME (2021): $69,778 POVERTY RATE: 16.6% LEADING OCCUPATIONS: Office & Administrative Support Occupations (202,893 people), Management Occupations (202,745 people), and Sales & Related Occupations (187,523 people) BAVUAL

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MEDIAN PROPERTY VALUE: $705,900 HOME OWNERSHIP: 36.9% RELIGION: Catholic, 32%; Protestant, 30%; Unaffiliated, 25%; Jewish, 3%; Muslim, 2%; Buddhist, 2%, Hindu, 2%; Other, 4% KEY INDUSTRIES: Health Care & Social Assistance (238,752 people), Retail Trade (191,732 people), and Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services (186,936 people).

LARGEST UNIVERSITIES: University of Southern California (17,749 and 21.2%), University of California-Los Angeles (110662) (14,587 and 17.4%), and California State University-Northridge (11,443 and 13.7%).

COMMUTER TRANSPORTATION: Drove Alone (65.2%), Worked At Home (12.4%), Carpooled (8.86%) HOMELESS POPULATION (2023): 46,260, 2nd highest in the U.S. HEALTH COVERAGE: 89.3% have coverage - 39% on employee plans, 29.3% on Medicaid, 7.67% on Medicare, 12.7% on nongroup plans, and 0.527% on military or VA plans.

FAMOUS BLACK ANGELENOS: actor Ice Cube, model Tyra Banks, rapper Earl Sweatshirt, rapper Tyga, athletes Venus and Serena Williams FALL 2023

VENICE BEACH Oakwood is a historical community and a prominent African-American subsection in Venice. It was segregated by covenant and sectioned as the only area in Venice where African-Americans could own property. As one black native explains, “There was only a nine square mile area that they fenced off so black people could buy homes.”

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES In 2020, Black people made up 8% of L.A.’s population and 34% of its homeless.

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L.A. neighborhoods have a long history of racial rioting going back to 1942 (Zoot Suit Riots, left) and up to Watts (1965, second row-left)) - which eventually led to the election of the first black mayor (Tom Bradley, second row-right) in 1973 and the 1992 riots over the Rodney King verdict (third row-left).

Attorney Johnnie Cochran (third row-right) was a longtime champion of civil rights in the city.

The modern problem of homelessness (bottom-left) is being tackled by current mayor Karen Bass, the first black woman elected to the office.

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All The LA Gangs And What You Should Know About Them Gangs in Los Angeles have a reputation for violence, criminality, and taking over whole neighborhoods.

But LA gangs have a long history, some going back over a century, and while they're now criminal organizations, some began very differently. A number of gangs started simply as organizations devoted to protecting minority groups from racial violence at the hands of either the white majority or other gangs.

The Bloods were formed by a group of young men seeking protection from attacks by the Crips gang.

They were originally known as the Pirus, and from the late '60s to the mid-'70s, they united a number of disparate gangs in Los Angeles under the Bloods name. In the '80s, the Bloods made huge profits selling crack cocaine, allowing them to better organize and expand. In 1992, decades of fighting with the Crips ended temporarily with the Watts Truce.

Many well-known Los Angeles gangs, such as the Crips, Bloods, and Mexican Mafia, are not one organization, but dozens or even hundreds of "cliques" based in different parts of the city. These cliques feud not only with other gangs, but also with other cliques in the same gang. There's very little unity among these groups - except when their members go to prison. Then they become unified, almost always by racial lines.

The Bloods now have about 15,000 to 20,000 members nationwide, with about half of those in LA. However, the Bloods have been hampered by significant infighting both in sets and between sets.

What gangs are in Los Angeles? This list has them all.

18th Street Gang Founded sometime in the 1960s near 18th Street and Union in the Rampart district of LA, the 18th Street Gang has become the largest in Los Angeles.

Beginning as an offshoot of a Mexican gang, it quickly became home to a number of Central American nationalities, and now has cliques in dozens of states, as well as numerous other countries particularly Latin American countries to which members were deported.

Crips The term Crips doesn't refer to one individual gang, but a splinter group of sets with the Crip name. The Crips that were founded in LA in 1969 have long since broken into dozens of cliques, with a number having taken the name Gangster Crips to differentiate themselves from other Crips sets. Others are Compton Crips, Neighborhood Crips, and many others. These sets are often bitterly at war with each other - rivalries that sometimes outstrip the legendary feud with the Bloods in terms of violence.

All told, the Crips have about 30,000 to 50,000 members. Their sets share a complex iconography where certain letter combinations are avoided in writing, mostly "B" for Blood and "CK" - as Bloods use it to stand for "Crip Killer."

18th Street is renowned for its violence, committing nearly three times as many robberies and assaults as other gangs. It's also involved in drugs, extortion, kidnapping, and welfare fraud. However, the gang's reputation for being involved with international crime syndicates and consisting of mostly illegal immigrants is likely overstated. The gang's numerous and un-unified factions likely have as many as 50,000 members around the world - with 15,000 just in Los Angeles.

West Coast Bloods There are numerous regional cliques under the Bloods umbrella, including Chicago's Black P. Stone Bloods and New York's United Blood Nation. But the best-known are various sets of the West Coast Bloods - usually just called The Bloods in the media.

There are dozens of different Bloods sets, each an independent gang with little relationship to other Bloods.

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38th Street Gang The 38th Street Gang was founded sometime in the 1920s on the border between South Central Los Angeles and the City of Vernon. It gained fame in 1942 after multiple members were arrested for what was known as the Sleepy Lagoon Murder. This was also the time of zoot suit hysteria, as white law enforcement in LA began harassing Latino and Filipino youths for their oversized suits. The imprisoned members of the 38th Street Gang became heroes when their convictions were overturned.

After the war, the 38th Street Gang expanded and was soon heavily involved in the narcotics trade. By the 1980s, Los Angeles actually closed roads around 38th Street due to the overflow of people going there to buy drugs, although the gang is no longer based there. Like other large gangs, the 38th Street Gang has a number of sets that aren't related to each other aside from being under the same name. Both law enforcement and other gangs have targeted 38th Street, and they have long-standing violent rivalries with other groups.

Tiny Rascals Dominated by Cambodians, the Tiny Rascals is one of the biggest Asian-American street gangs in the United States. It has at least 10,000 members around the world, with the majority in Long Beach and Southern California.

The group has fought with other Asian gangs as well as other ethnic gangs, such as both the Bloods, the Crips, and the Sureños.

Armenian Power Despite only having about 150 core members, Armenian Power (also called AP or the Armenian Mafia) is one of the most powerful Caucasian gangs in the LA area. They're based everywhere from East Hollywood to Glendale. The group is heavily involved in the extortion of ethnic businesses, trafficking, and a number of different fraud schemes. Between 2010 and 2011, the group was taken down by the FBI, with over 100 members being arrested, many for a massive Medicare fraud ring.

Wah Ching Though formed in San Francisco, Wah Ching has a huge presence in the Los Angeles Asian American community. It's thought that at one point Wah Ching controlled the majority of underground activity in LA's Chinatown, and it still has a considerable influence in the heavily Asian San Gabriel Valley. It wasn't until gunmen from a Hong Kong triad chased Wah Ching out of San Francisco that they moved south, though they've now become active in both places. Law enforcement has anecdotal evidence that Wah Ching is heavily involved with Chinese triads, but this is not certain.

Wah Ching is nominally Chinese, but has a large Filipino membership, as well.

Asian Boyz The chief rival of Wah Ching, Asian Boyz (also known as ABZ) was founded at some point between the 1970s and 1990s (accounts differ) and are primarily Vietnamese or Cambodian. They were established in Long Beach to help counter harassment from Latino gangs. The group has sets around the country, mostly on the East Coast, and are allies of the Crips.

ABZ members have committed a number of highprofile murders, and have had shootouts with Wah Ching sets all over the San Gabriel Valley. It's thought the gang has about 1,500 members in total.

In 2011, their founder was convicted of eight counts of murder.

Black P. Stones (Jungles) While the LA offshoot of the Chicago-based Black P. Stones was one of the founding gangs behind the Bloods, they still exist as an important gang in South LA, specifically the Baldwin Village neighborhood. As of 2005, there were about 700 members, but an FBI crackdown shortly thereafter beheaded their leadership.

They're still around, but not quite as powerful as they were before.

AP has a fierce rivalry with Mexican gangs, and several members on each side have been shot dead.

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Sureños Spanish for "southerner," the Sureños are a loose affiliation of hundreds of nationwide gangs under the umbrella of their origin - Southern California.

Despite their similarities, Sureños have dozens of different sets in the LA area, many of which have had violent feuds with each other. What links them is their allegiance to the Mexican Mafia, and that they put aside their differences in prison, acting to protect each other from Norteño gangs northerners.

These groups are involved in drug trafficking (and have links to certain Mexican cartels), human trafficking, gun smuggling, and extortion. Their membership number is unknown.

Mexican Mafia

Despite its name, the Mexican Mafia originated not in that country, but in the California prison system. It is currently one of the smaller gangs in California, with only about 140 members but is also one of the most hardcore and violent. It was formed in the late '60s as a "gang of gangs" to protect other Mexican Americans in prison. Most members run separate operations from prison, and "La Eme," as it's called, has no real leader.

In LA, the Mexican Mafia controls virtually all of the Sureños gangs of Southern California Mexican Americans, ordering them to commit murders and kick money back to them. A string of indictments in 1990 broke the back of their rule of the California prison system, resulting in solitary confinement for a number of leaders. But the group wasn't destroyed, and as recently as 2015, La Eme had united a group of northern LA gangs, which were taken down in a massive sting.

MS-13 Another Sureño gang with a fearsome reputation for violence is MS-13, short for Mara Salvatrucha. The group originated in Los Angeles the 1980s, founded by Salvadoran immigrants who immigrated to the United States fleeing the Central American civil wars.

While they sought to enrich themselves in the usual methods of drug trafficking, prostitution, and extortion, they were also seeking to protect Salvadorans facing violence from other ethnic gangs.

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The frequent deportation of MS-13 members has resulted in the group having a huge overseas presence, mostly in Central America. The gang has as many as 50,000 members, with only about 10,000 in the US. These sets have different rules and customs, and often are at odds with each other.

They are responsible for a string of brutal murders, as well as a number of child prostitution rings. As a result of their crimes, their custom of covering themselves in tattoos, and the lack of knowledge about them, they have an outsized reputation and are the subject of a number of urban legends.

Aryan Brotherhood Likely the most notorious prison gang due to its numerous media appearances, the Aryan Brotherhood has a major presence in Southern California. It has members both in and out of prison, coordinating everything from assassinations to drug trafficking to dog-fighting rings. The group has a distinctive Nazi iconography, using SS lighting bolts, runes, and Celtic symbols as tattoos.

While the AB has a presence around the country, it is particularly active in LA's prisons. Its members have been indicted for countless murders, but have proven difficult to prosecute - due to so many already serving life sentences.

Nazi Low Riders An offshoot of the Aryan Brotherhood, the Nazi Low Riders are primarily based in Southern California prisons, but also have a nationwide presence. While they formed in the '70s, it took until 1999 for the FBI to recognize the NLR as a separate gang, due to their reputation as muscle for the Aryan Brotherhood.

They've been convicted of numerous murders, and have a large stake in Southern California meth trafficking.

White Fence White Fence was likely the first organized Latino street gang in Los Angeles, forming sometime in the 1910s, named after a white picket fence that ran alongside the train tracks in their neighborhood. They fought a violent and long-running feud with another Latino street gang in the '30s, while dealing with intense racism in the Boyle Heights area where they lived.

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They're reportedly the first East LA gang to use firearms and still have an active presence in the current gang landscape.

Los Angeles Mafia While it has greatly diminished in power, the Los Angeles chapter of the Mafia still exists and has its hand in loan sharking, trafficking, and murder for hire. The LA Mafia never had the high profile of its New York and Chicago brothers, but still boasted well-known figures like Jack Dragna, Frank DeSimone (uncle of Tommy DeSimone, the basis for Joe Pesci's character in Goodfellas), and legendary hitman Frank Bompensiero.

It currently faces challenges in recruiting, due to LA's low Italian population.

Canoga Park Alabama One of the oldest street gangs in the San Fernando Valley, Canoga Park Alabama was founded in the '30s

by Mexican immigrants. It grew in stature, and often had violent conflicts with Black gangs in the area. Its membership numbers aren't known.

In 2010, eight prominent members were indicted on RICO charges, diminishing its power.

The Avenues With somewhere between 500 and 1,000 members, the Avenues are one of the biggest Mexican American gangs in LA. They're also one of the most violent, committing everything from drug trafficking to murder. They became infamous in 1995 when several members opened fire on a car that made a wrong turn into their territory, killing a 3-year-old.

They're considered a Sureño gang, but because of their size and reputation for racial violence, they are often set apart from that loose affiliation.

-Mike Rothschild Published on ranker.com, June 9, 2021

CUSTOMIZED BOUNCING HYDRAULIC “LOW RIDER” CAR POPULAR WITH MANY LA YOUTH GANGS

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Continued from page 57 raid. They are a well-organized and lethal fighting force. They make quick work of their enemy, free the captives, and return to their village. Once there, we see a well-laid-out Dahomean city. We also enter the compound of the female warriors, which is entirely apart from the rest of the society. The strong supporting cast of actresses is stunning.

Lashana Lynch, who made appearances in the Bond films, plays Izogie, second in command of the Agojie, and Sheila Atim, a standout in the Netflix adaptation of Colson Whitehead's The Underground Railroad, is Amenza, a confidant of Nanisca. In the compound, the women nurture pride, strength and resilience. They talk, learn and train together. They strengthen the ties of sisterhood. They are truly warrior women.

Not surprisingly, the film ultimately revolves around the love between a mother and her child—a familiar refrain in film but an entirely practical storyline. One of the young recruits who seems rebellious and headstrong from the outset has a special relationship with Nanisca. We find out in the course of the story that she is Nanisca's daughter, Nawi, ably played by Thuso Mbedu, who also played the main character in The Underground Railroad.

Nawi is a product of rape during capture, and Nanisca, her mother, has to make a difficult decision regarding whether to abort the child or give birth. She cannot bear a child and remain a warrior. Ultimately, she marks the child with a shark's tooth embedded in her shoulder, and she is given away by a friend, unknown to the mother. This is a decision that historically women have had to grapple with. Given the current debate over a woman’s right to choose in light of the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the movie is timely. It invites the viewer to see the challenges that woman, especially black women, face in their lived experience.

The movie’s crowning achievement is casting new light on the universal nature of liberty and freedom.

Aware that Nawi and several members of her army were left behind or captured in a major engagement, Nanisca is forced to choose between her duty and family. She opts for the latter, bravely defies the king’s orders, and goes to the slave trading port. This bold effort exposes the horrific treatment of African people awaiting transport at the coast. The captured were held in pens and deprived of basic necessities. The port town serves as a window into the problematics of the slave trade.

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We are also introduced to a Brazilian slave trader and merchant, Francisco Felix de Souza. Although historically complicit in the sale of Africans to the West and the individual who helped King Ghezo to ascend to the throne of Dahomey in a coup d'état, in the film he appears as a reluctant hero. He symbolizes the impact of the slave trade and its role in the production of a buffer class of children whose loyalty lies between two worlds: Africa and Europe. He is part Dahomean and Portuguese. In the film, he assists Nawi and provides for her protection and shelter.

The movie does an excellent job in its closing moments of showing the quest for freedom and universal liberty. Not only do the female warriors rescue their fellow soldiers from the grasp of slaveholders, but in the process, they destroy the entire slave port. In many ways, this signals the determination of Africans and by extension African Americans to live free. It also demonstrates that women are in the forefront of significant change in African societies. It is not surprising that the story ends with the triumphal return of the female warriors to Dahomey. King Ghezo not only outlaws the slave trade but elevates Nanisca to Woman King. The broader message is that women are important contributors to stability and harmony.

They possess all of the skills to lead a society if only given the chance. Does this mirror the challenges we face in contemporary society? Yes, it does. We need to draw on the lessons of this movie to create a more hopeful and inclusive tomorrow.

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AFRICAN FACES OF THE WORLD

A Mixing of Heritage

ARGENTINA'S SHAME Africans Have Literally Been Erased From Argentine History

Afro-Argentine family of Buenos Aires, 1908

For a country in the region considered the ‘New World’ in the 16oos where Africans were enslaved, Argentina has one of the lowest numbers of people of African descent.

The question in many people’s minds is: where are the Afro-Argentines?

Historical records indicate that Africans landed in the Rio de la Plata region of Argentina to work in plantations and as domestic servants. They then spread to other parts of the country between 18th and 19th century.

Over the years, the population of Africans in Argentina has reduced and there are a few theories about that.

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The first theory is that Argentina survived without the need for slaves, but history, as stated above, proved that as incorrect.

However, this has not stopped top-level politicians and business people from saying that Argentina has no black people and therefore there is no racism.

The second theory states that most Africans died in the Paraguayan war of 1865 between Paraguay and the Triple Alliance, which include Uruguay, the Empire of Brazil and Argentina. It is said that most Africans were signed up for the deadly war, leading to their large-scale deaths.

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There had been quite a number of crises in the country including high infant mortality rates, cholera and yellow fever epidemics of the 1860s and 1874 respectively.

The third theory is that the seventh president of Argentina, Domingo Sarmiento, carried out a massive genocide of Africans in Argentina.

Apparently, between 1868 and 1874, Sarmiento put in place oppressive policies that saw the death of many blacks, gauchos (people of Spanish descent) and native Argentinians. Some of these included forcing black people into the military, forcing them to live in poor neighborhoods without adequate health structures and carrying out mass executions.

The fourth theory states that Argentina focused more on whitening the country by bringing in white immigrants from Europe, thanks to the Constitution of 1853. This was compounded with the emigration of black people to Uruguay and Brazil, where they felt more welcome.

Such systemic elimination of Africans in Argentina has put their population at 149,493, according to the 2010 census. However, AfroArgentine group, Africa Vive claim that the number could be well over 1 million.

There have been efforts by many Afro-Argentine groups to raise awareness of their presence as well as the socio-political and economic issues they are facing. Some of them include Africa Vive, Grupo Cultural Afro and SOS Racismo, who have worked with other African groups on the South American continent to expand the African culture and awareness. There have also been other organisations such as the Forum of African Descent and Africans in Argentina and the National Institute to Combat Discrimination were formed to fight discrimination and racism.

While there is a silence about the people of African descent in Argentina, there are a number of things that remind them of their existence: one of which is the tango.

A book that chronicles the contribution of the Afro-Argentines was launched in 2015.

-Nduta Waweru Published by face2faceafrica.com June 22, 2018

Subscribe @ Bavual.com Painting at the National Art Gallery in Buenos Aires, showcasing the Paraguayan War of 1865

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How Racism Handicaps a Nation Argentina has long taken pride in its European heritage. The mass migration of 7 million Europeans, mostly Spanish and Italian, between 1850 and 1950, created a racial profile many Argentinians feel distinguishes their country from the rest of Latin America even today.

“The number of slaves who arrived to the region of the River Plate is almost half of those who arrived in the US, which gives an idea of the magnitude of slave traffic in the River Plate region,” according to Alex Borucki, a Uruguayan academic at the University of California Irvine, who co-manages the SlaveVoyages website that traces every ship carrying enslaved people that reached the Americas.

“Mexicans descend from the Aztecs, Peruvians from the Incas – but Argentinians descend from the ships,” goes an old saying that encapsulates Argentina’s perception of itself as a nation of transplanted white Europeans.

In a sign of the changing perceptions of Argentina’s racial identity, Gomes and Delgado are teaching Argentina’s first ever university courses on the subject.

But that Eurocentric view is being vehemently disputed as not only outdated but also factually untrue by a generation of young Afro-descendant researchers and activists who wish to rewrite the accepted version of Argentinian history.

Their two-month series of lectures for law students at the University of Buenos Aires in March and April was booked solid. Another two-month course will follow in August and September, and the pair are also considering an open seminar for the general public.

“Argentina needs to understand that it is both very racist and very Afro,” said black activist and researcher Alí Delgado.

Gomes and Delgado argue that the idea of a European Argentina was a fabrication imposed by racist 19th-century leaders to erase Argentina’s rich black culture from the nation’s collective consciousness.

University lecturer Patricia Gomes is another Afro-descendant researcher intent on demolishing Argentina’s mythical self-image as a white nation. “In Argentina it used to be said that here there were no blacks, therefore there was no one to be racist with – and hence there was no racism,” she said.

Delgado and Gomes point to recent studies of population surveys and genetics that paint a far different picture from Argentina’s accepted history: one recent study concluded that up to 9% of today’s Argentinians may have ancestry from Africa.

The reason is simple: between the 16th and 19th centuries – long before the wave of European migration – more than 200,000 enslaved Africans arrived at the twin ports of the River Plate, Buenos Aires and Montevideo, capital cities of what are now Argentina and Uruguay.

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In 1778, Africans and Afro-descendants made up 37% of the population of what is now Argentina, according to a census by its Spanish colonialist rulers. In some major provinces the proportion was more than 50%.

That number did not drop significantly after independence from Spain in 1816: Statue of "Slavery," also known as "The Slave," by Francisco Cafferata, in the Parque Tres de Febrero, Palermo, Buenos Aires, Argentina

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Argentina’s Forgotten African Hero María Remedios del Valle was a war heroine whose identity was erased from history until recently. She was present in many battles, but in very few history books. Known as the “Madre de la Patria” (Mother of the Homeland), the Afro-Argentine camp follower turned soldier participated in the Argentine War of Independence.

She did not only lose her entire family during the war, but was wounded, captured, and imprisoned. She even escaped being executed seven times during the war.

But when she returned home to Buenos Aires after the war, she was shunned and had to beg for alms to survive until one of the generals under whom she had fought came to her aid.

This is her story Born in Buenos Aires around 1768, María was one of the few women who fought in the wars of Independence. With her husband and two sons, she accompanied the Army of the North, which had been deployed by the United Provinces of the Río de la Plata to free the Argentine Northwest and the Upper Peru (present-day Bolivia) from Spain. María was among other women or camp followers, who were recruited to follow the troops and provide food and nursing services, carry arms and gather intelligence.

María would end up doing more than that as she participated in several battles. She was present in the battles of “Huaqui (20 June 1811) and the army’s subsequent retreat to Jujuy, the exodus from Jujuy (23 August 1812), the victories at Tucumán (24 September 1812) and Salta (20 February 1813), and the defeats at Vilcapugio (1 October 1813) and Ayohuma (14 November 1813)”, records show.

Before the Battle of Tucumán, she asked General Manuel Belgrano if she could “tend the troops” who had fallen in the front lines but Belgrano refused, saying that women were not supposed to work at the front. María went ahead to do what she had been asked not to. Belgrano, who was moved by her commitment and loyalty, later recognized her with the rank of captain in the army.

She was not lucky in the Battle of Ayohuma where she was shot and taken prisoner by the Spanish forces.

While in captivity, she helped scores of prisoners escape, and when the Spanish forces realized this, she was sentenced to be publicly flogged for nine consecutive days. But Maria escaped and came back to the army to help treat the wounded. She was with the army until the end of the conflict in 1818.

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Not much was known about her after the conflict until 1826 when she applied for compensation for services her family offered during the Argentine War of Independence. Authorities denied her claim. Weak and not in good health to work, María resorted to begging for alms in the streets of the City of Buenos Aires. Her situation changed in August 1827 when Argentine military officer Juan José Viamonte recognized her in the streets and petitioned the legislature on her behalf to provide her with a pension. Other generals testified that Maria had indeed served as a guerrilla fighter who first treated the wounded before getting shot and imprisoned in battle.

Later, her recognition as an infantry captain as well as the corresponding pension was unanimously approved by the legislature. She would later be compensated as a sergeant major of the cavalry before being placed in inactive status, with full salary that matched her rank in 1830, reports said. María went ahead to receive a pension until she passed away in 1847.

In 1944, Buenos Aires named a street in her honor but María’s bravery, patriotism, and selfless spirit of service were soon forgotten by almost every Argentine until recently when scholars and activists began to recognize the tremendous roles of people who had been ignored in the founding of the country because of their race or gender. November 8 has been celebrated in her honor since 2013 as the National Day of Afro-Argentines and African Culture.

-Mildred Europa Taylor Published at youngafriken.com July 12, 2021

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Afro-descendants accounted for 30% of the population of Buenos Aires for decades after independence. But after that, the number is unknown, because Argentina’s census bureau stopped collecting racial information.

Empanada stall run by its owner, Buenos Aires 1937.

“Census data was manipulated to erase us first from the statistics – and then from the history books,” says Gomes. “From the end of the 19th century the state meticulously began to make us invisible to present Argentina as homogeneous and of European descent.”

Argentina’s “whitening process” has been studied in depth by US academic Erika Edwards in her book Hiding in Plain Sight, published last year by University of Alabama Press.

“The whitening project was a successful endeavor in terms of the erasure of blackness,” said Edwards. “The idea that somebody could be the descendant of a slave is just not there.”

That belief in a strictly European Argentina continues to percolate. “We are all descendants from Europe,” said President Mauricio Macri at the 2018 World Economic Forum in Davos.

It wasn’t until the 2010 census that an option was included for Argentinians wishing to selfidentify as Afro-descendants. “That inclusion was very important but unfortunately it was restricted to only a small segment of the population, with the resulting projection Afroargentines playing candombe porteño near a bonfire of Saint John (San Juan) in 1938.

suggesting that only half a percent of the population self-identify that way,” said Gomes.

Delgado and Gomes prefer data from a 2005 study conducted by Afro-descendant researchers that projects 5% of the population as having at least one African forebear.

A genetic study conducted by the University of Brasília in 2008 reached a different conclusion, finding that 9% of current-day Argentinians are of African ancestry.

Argentina’s pro-European immigration policy was initiated under its 1853 constitution at a time when the country’s post-independence thinkers and politicians were obsessed with the dichotomy of Civilization and Barbarism – the title of a 1845 book by Domingo Sarmiento, the country’s seventh president. In this Manichean view, Afro-descendants were placed squarely on the barbarism end of the scale.

“If it was not possible to physically eliminate Argentina’s Afro-descendants, the decision was to at least eliminate them symbolically, to create a discourse that there are no blacks in Argentina, that Brazil has that problem,” says Edwards.

The entrenched poverty of many Afrodescendants goes hand in hand with Argentina’s structural racism, says Delgado.

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“There are no black journalists or politicians, but Argentina’s poor barrios are full of Afrodescendants. So are our prisons, just like in the United States.”

Most present-day Afro-descendants are of mixed race because of inter-marriage between the male European immigrants who arrived after 1850 and Argentinian women of African descent.

“In the US, a drop of black blood makes you black, but in Argentina a drop of white blood makes you white,” said Gomes. “In a society where Afro-descendants were marginalized, many Afro-descendant families emphasized their whiteness to save themselves. They ripped up old photos and denied the existence of a black relative.”

The Tango: An Afro-Argentine Invention Perhaps the most lasting effect of Black influence in Argentina was the tango, which contains and continues some of the features of the tangos, meetings in which slaves assembled to sing and dance. The modern term for a tango ball, milonga, has its roots in the Quimbanda language of Angola, and a large Afro-Argentine and Afro-Uruguayan contribution is also evident in the development of milonga and chacarera music.

The song tradition of the payadores was also associated with Afro-Argentines, with some scholars, for example George Reid Andrews, arguing that it originated among the AfroArgentine community, while others, such as Sylvain B. Poosson, view it as a continuation of the Andalusian traditions like the trovo.

Whatever their origin, payadas provided an opportunity for black singers like Gabino Ezeiza (pictured) to use music to articulate political consciousness and defend their right to exist within Argentina's increasingly whitedominated society.

The popularity of the two academics’ courses suggest that Argentina is finally opening up a long-postponed debate about race and identity.

“It’s time for Argentinians to take their black grandmother out of the closet,” said Delgado.

-Uki Goñi Published by theguardian.com May 31, 2021

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A SOUTH AMERICAN CULTURE THAT GOES BACK THREE CENTURIES Celebrating Afro-Argentine heritage at Carnaval

Cape Verdean-Argentines in Buenos Aires, 2012.

Rita Montero, a well-known AfroArgentine singer and actress in theatre, cinema and television in the 1940s and 50s.

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BAVUAL VIEWS MODERN LIFE They say laughter is the best medicine.If so, there is humor in these contemporary cartoons, bittersweet though it is. The theme in this issue is Black Lives Matter.

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JOCKS

The World of Sport

IS FOOTBALL TOO VIOLENT? The Pros and Cons of Playing the Game

Published on Piedmont.org

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Football is a dangerous sport. And though there are risks involved, people still love the game.

Michael Behr, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon, gives us the rundown on the pros and cons of playing football.

The Pros of Playing Football Football requires conditioning and strength training, which are excellent forms of exercise and good for cardiovascular health.

“You do a lot of different types of training when you participate in football, from sprints to distance running to interval training to weight lifting,” says Dr. Behr. “So it’s really a good overall health benefit to someone in any age group.”

Playing football is also a great way to improve concentration.

“It forces you to focus on what you’re doing,” explains Dr. Behr. “Otherwise you can be a casualty. So you can’t afford to let down your guard.”

And perhaps most importantly, football teaches the value of teamwork, leadership and having a good work ethic.

“You learn time management, you learn discipline,” says Dr. Behr. “You learn how to deal with losses and disappointments. And those types of things are all really critical to youngsters as they get older and have to apply that to real-life situations.”

The Cons of Playing Football But playing football isn’t without its risks.

According to the National High School SportsRelated Injury Surveillance Study, more than 500,000 high school football injuries occurred between the 2014 and 2015 school year.

In 2017, thousands of pro-football players agreed to a settlement with the National Football League over serious health conditions associated with concussions.

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“Regardless of how safe we make it, it’s still a dangerous sport,” explains Dr. Behr. “One of the hardest things for a team is to get through the season without people getting injured.”

Common injuries include: Ankle sprains Hamstring injuries Meniscus tears Concussions And while these injuries can range from mild to severe, they can sometimes be fatal.

“We’ve had a number of deaths around the country of kids who have had head injuries from a tackle that have led to death,” says Dr. Behr. “And of course that’s the worst thing that anyone could ever imagine. There are also the unknown cause of deaths where kids play and die from congenital problems that they weren’t aware of. The most common being an enlarged heart. But some conditions are difficult to pick up on a routine preseason physical.”

Playing Football Safely There is an ongoing effort in the arena of sports medicine and through football leagues to try to reduce the risk of injuries.

“At the high school level, we now have physicians that are on the sidelines,” says Dr. Behr. “Schools that don’t have a physician on the sidelines usually have a trainer, and they can evaluate players immediately.”

And the NFL passed several new safety rules this year, including allowing an injury spotter to stop the game if a player appears to have suffered from a brain injury.

“There are risks involved with playing football,” says Dr. Behr. “But I think that’s part of the attraction. I think if you got rid of all the risks, you would in fact take away a lot of the reason it’s attractive to so many people.

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DAMAR HAMLIN’S NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCE Nearly nine months since he collapsed in the middle of an NFL game and received nine terrifying minutes of CPR on the field, Damar Hamlin is learning not to dwell on the past or place too much focus on the future.

The Buffalo Bills safety knows that today is all we've got.

"One thing life has taught me is you got to take it one day at a time," Hamlin told Insider. "As long as you win that day each day, then whatever the future holds for you, it'll be bright. It'll be where you're supposed to be."

After millions watched first responders resuscitate him on national television and subsequently took great interest in his recovery, Hamlin saw his celebrity grow like never before. So as he worked to return to full strength and rejoin his team, he also directed attention to new and growing opportunities off the field.

In addition to his blossoming philanthropic efforts and nascent business dealings, the 25-year-old is now the executive producer of his forthcoming documentary, "Did We Win." Even though "it's stressful at times because it's such a sensitive and emotional topic," Hamlin said he's "loving" the experience of telling his own story and, more broadly, diving into new opportunities beyond football.

"I'm an athlete in the morning and then I come home and I'm a businessman for the rest of the day," he told Insider.

"It is kind of therapeutic for me. It allows me to escape away from the game in a way."

"I like to have my hand in a lot of things, so this is a new lane that I'm taking," he added. "And who knows where my career will take me after football."

"That means everything; peace is the key to life, if you ask me," Hamlin said. "We work so hard — everyone, honestly works so hard — just to make a living and be able to provide for a family. The least that everyone deserves is to come home and be able to rest peacefully, and Lovesac is truly the essence of that."

Of course, his own family has played a crucial role in keeping him grounded and present through all of the changes of the past year. Hamlin starts each morning with a call back home to his parents and tries to "squeeze family time in periodically throughout the day."

He and his dad chat "all day long" about the ins and outs of his charitable organization, The Chasing M's Foundation. He takes time in the evenings to catch up with his mom about her workday and with his 8-year-old brother, Damir, to discuss school and football.

As far as his own football goes, Hamlin is still waiting to make his regular-season debut. He's listed on the Bills' depth chart as the second backup for Pro Bowler Micah Hyde, who missed most of the 2022 season with a neck injury.

Though Hamlin played well in Buffalo's preseason games — racking up nine solo tackles and an assist through three contests — he has yet to suit up for the Bills through the first two weeks of the 2023 season. But he's not overthinking it.

"I'm taking things one day at a time," Hamlin said. "I'm just enjoying the moment.

-Meredith Cash Published at Insider.com, September21, 2023

Dividing up his time in such a way is just one of the many forms of self-care Hamlin has come to embrace. He gives himself an hour each day for "downtime" that includes "kicking my sandals off, putting my toes to the ceiling for a few seconds, and just collecting my thoughts on my day."

Hamlin hops in the sauna and meditates when he can. And he loves a good nap, his agent told Insider and Hamlin later confirmed after arriving a few minutes late for our interview.

Hamlin later confirmed that "honestly, anytime I rest my head on my couch, it pulls me deep into a nap." His recent partnership with Lovesac — a furniture company known for its cushy couches and massive "Sac" beanbags — has enabled him to unwind "even if I'm having a hard time getting some rest."

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THE HUSTLE

Don't Hate the Player, Hate the Game

STAYIN’ ALIVE Black Entrepreneurs Struggle to Beat the Odds

By Kristen Jones BAVUAL

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BLACK ENTREPRENEURS TRYING TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE There are large differences in how African American entrepreneurs and businesses are treated compared to their white counterparts.

Unfortunately, most black business owners don’t have access to the essential tools that are needed to successfully own and operate their companies.

Even today, when it should be easier than ever to come up with an idea, foster that idea, and then mold it into a business, African Americans who do so still find it difficult to keep their heads above water.

In Business, Capital Is King While minority-owned businesses are the engine of economic growth in emerging and minority communities, potential black business owners’ and current owners’ lack of access to capital is still the most important factor limiting the establishment, expansion or growth of their companies. Businesses depend on capital to succeed, whether it’s from seed funding to establish new firms, working capital and business loans to expand the businesses, or private equity for acquiring and merging with other firms. Without adequate capital, these companies will fail to realize their full potential. Increasing the flow of capital for minority-owned businesses must therefore be a national priority to re-energize the U.S. economy and increase competitiveness in the global marketplace.

Reasons Black Businesses Fail The importance of black-owned businesses has been well-documented. Not only do they provide essential goods and services, but they also help create jobs and drive general economic growth.

However, black-owned businesses have a long history of failing at higher rates than their white counterparts.

Approximately 41 percent of black businesses folded amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the highest share among all racial and ethnic groups.

Unfortunately, even before this global crisis, about 80 percent of black businesses failed in their first year and a half. According to U.S. Census data, nearly 60 percent of black business owners consider their businesses “at risk” or “distressed.”

So, why do these businesses fail? There are many reasons.

Black entrepreneurs often face discrimination when applying for loans, and they are less likely to have family or friends who can provide seed money. As a result, they often dig into their savings, which unexpected expenses can quickly deplete.

Many African Americans also have a different mindset regarding spending and saving money, which can ultimately lead to problems when it comes to starting a business. Unfortunately, potential black business owners often lack a close connection with a business owner or someone with the business knowledge needed to help them succeed.

Though many intellectuals and community leaders, such as the Congressional Black Caucus, have discussed and worried about this economic dilemma and some black entertainers have commented on it, few action-based solutions have been suggested and employed to fix it.

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source: fundable.com

A Potential Lifeline for Some One important resource that black business owners can utilize is the Small Business Administration (SBA), which has programs that are designed to help African Americans start businesses and ensure that they succeed. Available assistance includes contracting opportunities, COVID-19 and disaster assistance, access to capital, and local support.

According to a September 2023 SBA press release, “The SBA has backed more than 4,300 SBA loans to black-owned businesses so far in FY 23 through the 7(a) and 504 programs. Total loan dollars ($1.3 billion) and overall share of SBA approved loans (7.5%) to black-owned businesses have also more than doubled since 2020.

Shining Examples of Success Although many African Americans do not succeed in their businesses, there are also shining stars within the community. Since 2006, Eddie G. Davis, executive director of the Center for the Acceleration of African American Business, has dedicated himself to advancing economic development for those seeking business advice, sources and information. In 2009, the SBA honored

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EDDIE G. DAVIS

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ROBERT F. SMITH Davis with the 2009 National Minority Champion Award for his work with African American entrepreneurs.

Another successful businessman, Robert F. Smith, is an investor, inventor, engineer and philanthropist. As a high school student, Smith secured an internship at Bell Labs, which was for college students, after calling the company every week for five months. He is the founder, chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, which focuses on investing and partnering with leading enterprise software companies. During his commencement address at Morehouse College in 2019, he pledged to pay off the student loan debt of the nearly 400 graduating students of the historically black college. This was a $34 million gift.

Facing Barriers For African Americans seeking to achieve part of the “American Dream” and “be their own boss,” the stakes are high. The need for more businesses is there, but are the barriers more than many can overcome?

When the pandemic hit in early 2020, the Trump administration’s Labor Department issued a memo that waived some policies designed to help minority-owned businesses. The pandemic also highlighted inequities in lending, with minorityowned businesses getting funding from programs

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such as the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) at lower rates than their white counterparts. These examples illustrate once again that race impacts financing for black business owners in various ways.

While many small-business owners face difficulties getting loans, many minority entrepreneurs may not even now about the loan programs that are available.

An important question remains: When will the playing field be leveled to give African Americans equal opportunities regardless of race?

Tragic History and a Little Hope A century after white mobs massacred black residents and burned and bombed Black Wall Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1921, there was an increase in the desire to start black-owned businesses and a desire to support them in 2021.

Unfortunately, some of that urge to support them died down as the 2020 murder of George Floyd faded from the news, which shows that efforts to change the status quo for black entrepreneurs are often fleeting. True opportunities will require a long-term commitment to their success.

What Can We Do? Today, it’s important that we find ways to identify and groom black entrepreneurs to help them succeed. Of course, one way to do so is to invest in and empower black people who start businesses, make sure they know about helpful resources, and support their businesses whenever possible. While these efforts may not eliminate all the obstacles black entrepreneurs face, they may at least increase their odds of winning.

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FUNDING SOURCES

Family and Friends Borrowing funds from friends and family to start a business can be a great way to get cash without qualifying for traditional financing. Family members may not charge interest, and the financial risks of nonpayment may be less serious than for loans from financial institutions. But, this type of financing arrangement also can be rife with emotions that make it unappealing to many business owners.

What’s more, friends and family can’t report payments to credit bureaus, so this form of financing won’t help your credit or that of your new business. If you do choose to borrow from friends or family, get all of the terms in writing and ensure all parties understand how and when the loan will be repaid.

Online Startup Loans Online lenders and other fintech companies are becoming an increasingly common way to get a business loan. Business owners can typically borrow up to $500,000, but limits may extend up to $1 million; annual percentage rates (APRs) usually range anywhere from 5% to 99% or above.

Online startup loans are an excellent option for eligible startup owners who want a traditional term loan experience without the hassle of visiting a bank branch.

SBA Microloans The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Microloan program extends up to $50,000 loans to small business owners who need money to grow or get their business off the ground. Because loans are backed by the federal government, interest rates range from just 8% to 13%, terms extend up to six years and approved lenders are hand-selected to provide the best support to small business owners.

Consider an SBA Microloan if you struggle to qualify for a traditional loan, but note that the application process is extensive and competitive.

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Report: Black business owners are denied bank loans twice as often as white business owners*

*St. Louis Public Radio, 2020

Business Line of Credit Business lines of credit let startup founders access money up to a set borrowing limit and on an asneeded basis. Interest only accrues on the portion of the line the borrower accesses, and amounts that are paid off can be reused until the draw period ends (up to five years). Borrowing limits are usually lower than for term loans—from $2,000 to $250,000—and APRs range anywhere from 5% to 8% or higher.

Still, this unsecured financing may impose more accessible eligibility requirements, making it an excellent choice for startup owners who need to cover ongoing business costs or other cash flow issues.

Invoice Factoring Invoice factoring is the process of selling a business’ outstanding invoices to a factoring company for around 85% of the total invoice amount. Under this type of financing arrangement, the factoring company takes over collections. Once an invoice is paid, the business receives a portion of the remaining invoice amount, less a factoring fee.

Unlike some startup funding options, invoice factoring usually does not require businesses to have extensive financial records or an established credit score.

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Invoice Financing Invoice financing provides startup owners the ability to borrow money that is secured by the value of current unpaid invoices. With invoice factoring, the factoring company is responsible for collections— but with invoice financing, the business must collect payment on the underlying invoices and then repay the loan with the customer’s payment.

Invoice financing can be a good option for startups without established credit or other financial records because the borrowed funds are collateralized by outstanding invoices.

Startup Business Credit Cards Business credit cards can make it easier for new business owners to access revolving credit for startup costs and day-to-day operations. Not only is the application for business credit cards less involved than for many financing options, but qualification requirements are also typically less demanding—especially for new business owners.

The best startup business credit cards typically come with APRs up to about 25%, but cardholders only pay interest on balances that carry over from one billing cycle to the next.

Small Business Grants Small business grants are cash awards that can help eligible startups begin—and grow—operations.

Grants are available from a range of sources but are commonly offered by corporate organizations, state and local governments, and the federal government.

Notably, grants do not require repayment, but this means they are extremely competitive and may be in short supply. Many small business grants also are reserved for businesses owned by women, minorities, veterans and immigrants, so it can be difficult to find a good fit.

Personal Loans for Business Qualifying for a business loan as a startup can be difficult in the absence of financial records and established revenue. Business owners can, instead, opt for a personal loan based on their personal creditworthiness and finances. Just like business term loans, personal loans for business are disbursed as a lump sum and are repaid monthly over a set loan term. However, not all personal loan providers allow borrowers to use funds for business purposes.

Angel Investors An angel investor is an individual who provides startups with the funds they need to succeed. Angel investors may include friends and family but also extend to other people with interest in the business.

Unlike many types of startup financing, funds from angel investors do not require repayment and generally involve an exchange of equity.

This structure can result in a loss of control by the startup founder but also opens the door to more extensive networking opportunities and greater odds of success if the investor has experience in the industry.

Crowdfunding Crowdfunding involves raising funds from a large group of friends, family, investors and even strangers who are excited to support a new venture. There are a number of online platforms—like Kickstarter—that simplify the crowdfunding process and make it easier for business owners to connect with investors.

Keep in mind, though, that crowdfunding isn’t always easy, and it may be difficult to raise as much as a business needs to get off the ground. Many crowdfunding campaigns also rely on gifts or other incentives to encourage donations. This makes crowdfunding best for businesses that have a product that makes it easy to build hype and make a campaign go viral.

-From Forbes.com

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JUST THE FACTS

When You Need to Know

COST OF LIVING USA

Family of 4

One person

Cost of living

💰 Total with rent 🛋️ Without rent 🏨 Rent & Utilities 🍽️ Food 🚐 Transport 💳 Monthly salary after tax 💸 GDP per capita 😃 Human freedom index ❤️ Life expectancy 🌐 English speaking % 🏙️ Population

$2317

$5291

$846

$2782

$1470

$2509

$589

$1534

$104

$275

$4616 $76,399 8.23 76.3 95.5% 331M

The cost of living in the United States is $2317, which is 2.27 times more expensive than the world average.

The United States ranked 8th out of 197 countries by cost of living and the 23rd best country to live in.

MOST AFFORDABLE COUNTRIES

Source: Living Cost, Numbeo, and Global Economy

COUNTRY

Cost of Living (Monthly US$)

1

Pakistan

$332

2

Egypt

$350

3

Nepal

$374

4

Bhutan

$409

5

Burundi

$428

USA

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LEAST AFFORDABLE COUNTRIES

Source: Living Cost, Numbeo, and Global Economy

COUNTRY

Cost of Living (Monthly US$)

1

Monaco

$3,743

2

Cayman islands

$2,844

3

Switzerland

$2,497

4

Ireland

$2,316

5

Iceland

$2,207

"... black America’s buying power would rank around 44th when compared to countries’ per capita GDPs." - PolitiFact, 2014

COST OF LIVING AROUND THE WORLD

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ROLL OF HONOR

Recognizing Greatness at Any Level

LEGENDS OF AUTUMN

Dedicated to the Memory of

Earl1922-2014 Birkett

CHRISTINE KING FARRIS (1927-2023) Teacher and Activist / USA

ACHIEVEMENTS Taught at Spelman College, 1958-2014 Author of several books, including her autobiography, Through It All: Reflections on My Life, My Family, and My Faith (Atria Books, 2010) Public speaker on various topics, including the King family, multicultural education, and teaching Vice chair and treasurer, King Center for Nonviolent Social Change BACKGROUND Born in Atlanta Eldest sibling of Martin Luther King Jr. Spelman College , Bachelor's in economics, 1948 Columbia University, MA, 1950 and 1958

RUTH SIMMONS (BORN 1945) Educator / USA

ACHIEVEMENTS Eighth president of Prairie View A&M University, an HBCU, 2017-23 18th president of Brown University, 2001-12; first African American president of an Ivy League institution Headed Smith College, one of the Seven Sisters and the largest women's college in the United States, 1995-2001 Advises Harvard University regarding relationships with historically black universities (HBCUs), since June 2023 BACKGROUND Born in Grapeland, Texas Father was a sharecropper Dillard University, New Orleans, Bachelor’s, 1967 Harvard University, MA, 1970, PhD, 1973 BAVUAL 92

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CLIFFORD L. ALEXANDER JR. (1933-2022) Lawyer and Politician / USA

ACHIEVEMENTS First black Army secretary under President Jimmy Carter, 1977-1981 Chairman, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), 1967-69 First black partner, Arnold and Porter law firm, Washington, DC BACKGROUND Native of Harlem, New York City Harvard University, BA, 1955 Yale University, LLB, 1958 New York National Guard, 1958-59 Assistant district attorney, New York County, 1959-61 Aide to Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, 1963-1967 Hosted a DC television talk show, Cliff Alexander: Black on White, 1972-76 Candidate for mayor of of Washington, DC, 1974

CLARENCE B. JONES (BORN 1931) Lawyer and Civil Rights Leader / USA

ACHIEVEMENTS Personal counsel, advisor, draft speech writer, and close friend of Martin Luther King Jr., 1962-68 First African American to be named an allied member of the New York Stock Exchange, 1967 Scholar in residence at the Martin Luther King Jr. Institute at Stanford University Author, What Would Martin Say? (HarperCollins, 2008) and Behind the Dream: The Making of the Speech that Transformed a Nation (Palgrave-Macmillan, 2011).

BACKGROUND Born in Philadelphia Parents were domestic workers Columbia College, Bachelor’s, 1953 U.S. Army, Fort Dix, New Jersey, 1953-55 Boston University School of Law, graduate, 1959 Entertainment lawyer, Altadena, California Investment banker Editor/part owner, New York Amsterdam News, 1971-74 FALL 2023

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JIM BROWN (1936-2023) Football Star and Film Actor / USA ACHIEVEMENTS Played for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL) from 1957-1965; considered to be one of the greatest running backs of all time, as well as one of the greatest players in NFL history Obtained 53 acting credits and several leading roles throughout the 1970s Described as Hollywood's first black action hero, and his role in the 1969 film 100 Rifles made cinematic history for featuring interracial love scenes Launched a foundation focused on diverting at-risk youth from violence by teaching them life skills, through which he facilitated the Watts truce between rival street gangs in Los Angeles

BACKGROUND Born James Nathaniel Brown in St. Simons Island, Georgia Earned 13 letters playing football, lacrosse, baseball, basketball and running track in high school, Manhasset, New York Record at Syracuse University, New York, 1954-56: only African American player on the football team as a freshman; secondleading rusher on the team as a sophomore; excelled in basketball, track, and especially lacrosse Captain, U.S. Army Reserve

DERWIN BROWN (1954-2000) Law Enforcement Officer / USA

ACHIEVEMENTS Police captain and the sheriff-elect of DeKalb County, Georgia, who was assassinated on the evening of Dec. 15, 2000, on the orders of defeated rival Sidney Dorsey Elected to the position of sheriff on a platform of cleaning up the corruption and graft that had historically troubled the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office BACKGROUND Raised in Long Island, New York, where he attended Woodfield Road School and Malverne Jr. High School for his elementary years of grade school and Malverne High School, Class of 1972 (From the same Lakeview neighborhood and six years older than Earl A. Birkett, founder, editor and publisher of BAVUAL) Served DeKalb as a youth counselor for troubled teens and soon became one of the county's first black patrol officers Hosted his own local TV segment called "The Naked Truth" and was the author of his own column in The Champion newspaper called "Tell It Like It Is" 23-year veteran of the DeKalb County Police Department

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AG GASTON (1892-1996) Businessman and Activist / USA ACHIEVEMENTS

Established businesses in Birmingham, Alabama Had a significant role in the movement to remove legal barriers to integration in Birmingham in 1963 In his lifetime, Gaston's companies were some of the most prominent African American businesses in the American South

BACKGROUND

Born on July 4 in Demopolis, Alabama; grandson of an enslaved person Formal education ended with the 10th grade Served in the U.S. Army in France during World War I Formed what became the Booker T. Washington Insurance Company, 1923 Started the Smith & Gaston Funeral Home, 1938 Other enterprises: Citizens Federal Savings and Loan Association, the first black-owned financial institution in Birmingham in more than 40 years; A.G. Gaston Motel on a site adjoining Kelly Ingram Park, 1954

DR. KIZZMEKIA "KIZZY" CORBETT (BORN 1986) Physician and Medical Researcher / USA ACHIEVEMENTS

Assistant professor of immunology and infectious diseases at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Shutzer assistant professor at the Harvard Radcliffe Institute since June 2021 Appointed to the Vaccine Research Center, 2014; postdoctoral scientist of the VRC's COVID-19 Team, with research efforts aimed at COVID-19 vaccines; highlighted in TIME’s TIME100 Next list under the category of Innovators, with a profile written by Anthony Fauci, 2021

BACKGROUND

Born in Hurdle Mills, North Carolina University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), BS in biological sciences, 2008, as a student in the Meyerhoff Scholars Program University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, PhD in microbiology and immuology, 2014

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BENEDICTION

The Last Word

THE QUOTABLE JAMES BALDWIN The celebrated author vividly wrote and pinpointed the atrocities racial inequality inflicted on Black Americans, both in fiction and nonfiction.

By Ale Russian Published on biography.com February 2, 2021 James Baldwin was one of the leading voices of the civil rights movement. The author was born in 1924 in Harlem, New York — right in the midst of the Harlem Renaissance that gave birth to the still-influential foundation of Black arts and culture. His hometown and birth became prophetic, and Baldwin became one of the most successful and revered Black authors of all time.

The author developed a love of reading and writing at DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx.

He graduated high school in 1942 and spent the next few years working odd jobs and helping his family as he faced racial discrimination around New York City.

It was around that time that Baldwin began to grapple with his sexuality and realized he was gay.

Burdened by the continuing racial discrimination and the limitations of sexuality on Black men, Baldwin took a writing fellowship in Paris. It was there that his writing blossomed, with several of his works exploring racial and social themes, as well as sexuality.

He found his style and was soon gaining critical acclaim for many of his works, including his first T novel, Go Tell It on the Mountain, in 1953. Three years later, Baldwin started feeling the blowback of his sexuality when he published Giovanni’s Room, which was criticized for its homoerotic portrayals and largely white characters.

Though he continued to explore these themes in several of his writings, he also published revered essays on the experience of Black Americans during and after the civil rights movement. His essay “Down at the Cross” was credited as one of the most powerful essays illustrating the life of Black Americans and the rampant racism across the country.

Baldwin later became a pivotal figure in the gay rights movement and was praised until his final days, with his last two novels, If Beale Street Could Talk and Just Above My Head, coming in the 1970s.

Baldwin moved back to France and lived his final years in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, and his influence on American culture, as well as international literature, is still felt today.

Baldwin died in 1987, leaving an impressive legacy and a wealth of wisdom behind. Here are some of Baldwin’s influential quotes on everything from life and love to racism and justice: FALL 2023

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On Black Americans: “To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.”

On ignorance: “It is certain, in any case, that ignorance, allied with power, is the most ferocious enemy justice can have.”

On oppression: “Whatever white people do not know about Negroes reveals, precisely and inexorably, what they do not know about themselves.”

On rejecting victimhood: “Perhaps the turning point in one’s life is realizing that to be treated like a victim is not necessarily to become one.”

On hate: “I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain.”

On love: “Love takes off the masks we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.”

On justice: “If one really wishes to know how justice is administered in a country, one does not question the policemen, the lawyers, the judges, or the protected members of the middle class. One goes to the unprotected—those, precisely, who need the law’s protection most!—and listens to their testimony.”

On learning: “It is true that the more one learns the less one knows.”

On his sexuality: “Everybody’s journey is individual. If you fall in love with a boy, you fall in love with a boy. The fact that many Americans consider it a disease says more about them than it does about homosexuality.”

On disrespect: “People who treat other people as less than human must not be surprised when the bread they have cast on the waters comes floating back to them, poisoned.”

On America: “I love America more than any other country in the world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.”

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NEXT: THE WINTER RHYTHM ISSUE

THE EVOLUTION OF BLACK MUSIC OUT OF AFRICA TO THE STREETS OF AMERICA

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