June 2020 Edition

Columbus & Dayton

June 2020

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GEORGE FLOYD “I CAN’T BREATHE”

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A Pandemic Within a Pandemic: COVID-19 Spreads Within Racism

By Rev. Dr. Tim Ahrens

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Painting By Lukas Carlson Race Matters In Life and Death

By Charleta B. Tavares

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IMPACT at Work

By Kay Wilson

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Believe it or not, Minneapolis, Minnesota does have a very extensive Code of Ethics for its’ Law Enforcement Officers; it looks official, sounds official, has all of the right legal nuanced rhetoric, and is absolutely worthless! The Code of Ethics certainly did not help George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American man who was murdered by four Minneapolis Police Officers on Monday, May 25, 2020, at 9:25 p.m. Read these words from selected sections of the “Code” and reflect on what you have seen with your own eyes. This is what is written in the Code of Ethics:

Assistant Editor Ray Miller, III

1) As a Minnesota Law Enforcement Officer, my fundamental duty is to serve mankind; to safeguard lives and property; to protect the innocent against deception, the weak against oppression or intimidation, and the peaceful against violence or disorder; and to respect the Constitutional rights of all to liberty, equality, and justice.

Founder & Publisher Ray Miller

Ray Miller, III

Dayton Editor Benette Decoux Distribution Manager Ronald Burke Student Interns Jada Respress Olivia Deslandes

Lead Photographer Steve Harrison

Contributing Editors Tammy Fournier Alsaada Jasmine Ayers, MPA Tim Ahrens, DMin Kellie Baker, MSW Lisa D. Benton, MD Frederic Bertley, PhD Rodney Q. Blount, Jr., MA Isaac Chotiner Cecil Jones, MBA Eric Johnson, PhD Renee P. Wormack-Keels, DMin William McCoy, MPA Suzanne Parks, M.Ed Andre M. Perry Fmr. Sen. Charleta B. Tavares Kay Wilson Cheryl Y. Wood, PhD

The Columbus African American news journal was founded by Ray Miller on January 10, 2011

The Columbus & Dayton African American 503 S. High Street - Suite 102 Columbus, Ohio 43215 Office: 614.826.2254

2) I will never act officiously or permit personal feelings, prejudices, animosities, or friendships to influence my decisions. With no compromise for crime and with relentless prosecution of criminals, I will enforce the law courteously and appropriately without fear of favor, malice or ill will, never employing unnecessary force or violence and never accepting gratuities.

3) No person shall be singled out or treated differently as a consequence of his/her race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or religion in establishing either reasonable suspicion or probable cause.

There are ten full pages of these nicely phrased words, but George Floyd did not qualify for there application--even in the final minutes of his life. He was seen as an animal, not a man.

As he begged and pleaded, saying “Don’t kill me,” crying out for his mother, painfully stating “I am going to die” and in words, we have heard before, George Floyd forced this phrase out from the deep recesses of his soul: “I can’t breathe.” Sixteen times in less than five minutes his last words would be “I can’t breathe.”

The four Minneapolis police officers who had taken an oath to “protect and serve” the public (regardless of their skin color) had beaten, cuffed, sat on, and choked Mr. Floyd to the point of asphyxiation, cutting off the flow of oxygen and blood to his brain. Why? If you have not already--pull up one of the videos from this horrendous act of violence and cowardice, and watch the calm and nonchalant behavior of the ring leader of this pathetic, spineless mob-Former Officer Derek Chauvin. He is without a doubt full of hatred and evilness. This former officer of the law who has now been fired and charged with second-degree murder pressed his knee into the neck of George Floyd for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. The three other fired officers who were a part of the “arrest,” Tou Thao, Thomas Lane, and Alexander Kueng were charged with aiding and abetting--second-degree murder.

Why would Chauvin, Thao, Lane, and Kueng risk their careers by engaging in such violent, senseless behavior? Here’s my thought--they had done this or something closely akin to this extreme behavior before--and gotten away with it. This kind of behavior was not only accepted, but sanctioned throughout the Division of Police. Further, one should keep in mind that the White Nationalists, Klu Klux, Klan, Aryan Brotherhood, and other Neo-Nazi, and Alt-Right groups have substantial membership within our Police Associations, Legal, and Judicial Systems. It doesn’t hurt that they have a President of the United States who sanctions and encourages violence with statements like “When the looting starts the shooting starts.”

I am certain that the nation will be shocked when evidence is shown of outside agitators, infiltrators, and informants within the well-intentioned and effective protests and marches that have been conducted largely by our young people. The multi-racial composition, clarity of purpose, and positive energy exhibited by the activists has been inspiring to witness and support. The fundamental questions we must respond to now are: What is our strategy to ensure equal justice for the life of George Floyd and his family?

What will a win constitute?

What will justice look like?

How will we prevent future abuse and murders at the hands of the police?

I urge you to turn to Page 33 of this edition of the news journal and read the article penned

by Jasmine Ayers and Tammy Fournier Alsaada. At this stage of the process, we need clear and concise solutions. You will find 10 specific recommendations that come directly from the Community Safety Advisory Commission created by Mayor Andrew Ginther.

I want to make it crystal clear, the majority of the police officers in the City of Columbus are honest hard-working men and women who exemplify the oath they have taken on a daily basis. There are those, however, who need to seriously adjust their behavior or find another profession to pursue....quickly!

Finally, if ever there was a time for genuine, honest, and humble prayer--it would be now, at this moment. Listen to your Pastor, clear your mind, understand the urgency of the moment, and judge not.

Psalm 27:1 reminds us “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Let us march on til victory is won!

With Appreciation and Respect,

editor@columbusafricanamerican.com www.CAANJ.com

Ray Miller Founder & Publisher 3

The Columbus & Dayton African American • June 2020

In This Issue

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Wisdom Past and Present Will Help Beat Coronavirus By: Lisa D. Benton, MD

What Is Your Occupational Outlook?

By: William McCoy St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church “Joshua” Leads Congregation to New Heights

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Medical Center Outreach Team Delivers Almost 11,000 COVID-19 Test Kits Across Ohio

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A Pandemic Within a Pandemic: COVID-19 Spreads Within Racism

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See Them Safely Home

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Wisdom Past and Present Will 15 Nursing Home

Administration: Care, Help Beat Coronavirus

Compassion and Let’s Have a Moment Competence of Science 16 Five Tips to Revive Your Fear Is Not A

Healthy Lifestyle Long-Term Strategy!

17 Race Matters In Life and Death Black Lives Matter - A 18 Jimmy Carter: Time for Racial Message from Rep.

Discrimination is Over Emilia Strong Sykes

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The Columbus & Dayton African American • June 2020

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COVER STORY

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What Is Your Occupational Outlook?

24

Technology and The Good News

25

I’m Retired. Now What?

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Commissioners Announce $2.6 Million Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Intiative

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St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church’s “Joshua” Leads Congregation to New Heights

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IMPACT At Work

30

Book Bags & E-Readers

31

Legislative Update

32 To The Citizens of

Columbus - A Message

from Council President Hardin 33

People’s Justice Project - Recommendations to Improve Police Relations in Columbus

34

A Revolution of Values for Black American Families

35 Dr. Bennet J. Cooper, Sr.

- First African American

Director of Ohio

Department of Rehabilitation 36 The Numbers Game:

Precursor to State Lottery 38 Senior Bishops of Three

Black Methodist Churches

Demand Justice

All contents of this news journal are copyrighted © 2015; all rights reserved.

Title registration with the U.S. Patent Office pending. Reproduction or use, without written permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited.

Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, and illustrations will not be returned unless accompanied by a properly addresses envelope bearing sufficient postage. Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited materials.

A PANDEMIC WITHIN A PANDEMIC: COVID-19 SPREADS WITHIN RACISM

By Rev. Dr. Tim Ahrens A pandemic is “a disease prevalent over a whole country or the world.” Racism is “prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against a person or people on the basis of their membership in a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized.” Racism is a pandemic in the United States of America. It is a social disease that is prevalent across our entire nation, touching all 50 states.

Like the plague or AIDS or COVID-19, Racism has been with us for over 400 years.

Racism is imbedded in the cellular structure of white Americans since its arrival on our shores in August 1619 in its nascent viral form of white men selling “20 and odd Negroes” from the slave ship White Lion to colonists at Point Comfort, Virginia.

Like every pandemic, Racism started small.

Primarily found in the southern states on plantations with slaves doing the agricultural work for White families, Racism could not be contained. The pandemic of Racism spread like wildfire across the Americas.

Books were written, myths created and lies were established as truths to undergird and validate the disease. Little was done to stop its spread. This pandemic found receptors in every hamlet, town and city across our land.

It spread from south to north, from east to west. In its most virulent form, this pandemic led White people to beat, cheat, lynch and assassinate African-Americans who seemed strong and healthy. The Racism virus caused White people to crush Black and Brown people from embryo to grave. When in full fevered form, it would bring the slaughter of hundreds of black children, women and men in the most heinous and hateful ways.

Racism is a powerful, dreadful and evil disease. All White people are carriers of Racism. Those who have carried the worst form of Racism for the most generations, cannot see it. They cannot acknowledge they are sick. They cannot name Racism’s existence within their bodies, their families and their communities. They never seek treatment. Their toxic behaviors spread the disease to the next generation. They act out in conscious and subconscious ways against people of color to destroy them individually and collectively.

Those who carry less invasive forms of the disease refer to others as “the bad apples” and “those people.” They point to the problems “on the left and on the right” in other White, Black and Brown people. They live in denial. They use the language of judgment.

of Racism. We need a national season of Repentance. White people and anyone who has benefited from privileges afforded white America must confess our sins against every Black and Brown person who has been and “I must confess that over the past few years still is affected by Racism. That would be I have been gravely disappointed with the anyone with DNA that connects them to the white moderate. I have almost reached the original sin of America. regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom After Repentance comes Reparations. We is not the White Citizen’s Counciler or the Ku need to right this wrong beginning now. We Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who need free pre-natal care for all women of is more devoted to ‘order’ than to justice; color carrying babies. We need free health who prefers a negative peace which is the care which works for every minority person absence of tension to a positive peace which and family in America. We need Head Start is the presence of justice.” infused with billions of new dollars and the best teachers to raise this new generation In his Letter from the Birmingham Jail, with the best possible educational start. We King went on to criticize white moderates.

He said that a white moderate is someone need public education from grades K-12 that “who constantly says: ‘I agree with you gives every Black and Brown child an equal in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree opportunity to rise and thrive throughout with your methods of direct action’; who their formative years. We need college and paternalistically believes he can set the technical trade schools completely paid for timetable for another man’s freedom.” Such all people of color – of all ages. We need a person is, according to King, someone jobs that pay a fair, working wage. We need “who lives by a mythical concept of time and housing for all people as a basic human who constantly advises the Negro to wait for right. We need to change the criminal justice system. We need police, judges, and a ‘more convenient season.’” prisons which reflect the end of the scourge Again, all white people are carriers of Racism of Racism. We need to release hundreds of in this Pandemic. Through 400 years, we have thousands of prisoners – especially Black tested and tried many vaccines to inoculate men – who have been imprisoned unjustly people from the social virus of Racism. I and are no threat at all to our society. Rather, have found only a few treatments work. they are a great asset we need to celebrate.

We need to level the political playing field First, a White Person and anyone else and get rid of corporate campaign dollars afflicted with Racism must admit that they which support racist candidates and thus keep have the disease. Nothing can be done to the pandemic alive in systems of inequality. stop the pandemic of Racism until we admit This will hopefully cost our nation hundreds that it is real and we are carriers of the virus. of trillions of dollars over generations to As a white person, I have to admit that I am a come. But, in order to end Racism, we have Racist before I can begin to be treated for the to invest in reversing the Pandemic. disease. So, here I go. I am a racist. I have been trying – one-day-at-a-time – to recover I said this was a Pandemic within a Pandemic. from Racism for the last 52 years of my life. The pandemic of COVID-19 continues Some days are better than others. Every day, to devastate this nation. It particularly I wake and confess to God my sins from devastates families and communities of the affliction of this disease. I seek God’s color. If we address our first and longest forgiveness and grace. It happens one-dayspreading pandemic of Racism, that will go at-a-time. a long way toward changing behaviors and Second, meaningful and loving relationships shifting the devastation of COVID-19. Let must form between the Racist and men, us end the pandemic of Racism now. As women and children of color who are affected we do this, we will demonstrate that we are every day by Racism. The vaccine of together. Together, we can do anything – meaningful and loving relationships matters even terminate the Coronavirus COVID-19. most of all. I cannot care for someone I do not seek to know. I cannot love in theory. Rev. Dr. Tim Ahrens is the Senior Minister By the way, this part of ending the pandemic of First Congregational Church, United goes two ways. If I reach out to you and you Church of Christ in downtown Columbus. A are not honest and genuine, the vaccine fails. church known for its witness to social justice It fails each of us in different ways. But it since its birth as an abolitionist congregation in 1852. Rev. Ahrens is the fifth consecutive fails. senior minister from Yale Divinity School Third, we need Repentance and Reparations and is a lifelong member of the United for 400 years of the spread of this pandemic Church of Christ.

But, for the most part, they cannot see they are carriers and spreaders of the disease. The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote of these “moderate” carriers of Racism in 1963:

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The Columbus & Dayton News African American • June 2020 The Columbus African American Journal • February 2015

SEND THEM SAFELY HOME....

Photo from economist.com

By Rev. Dr. Renee P. Wormack-Keels I cannot remember a time, after Michael, Patrick and Corey, reached their teenage years, when I was not concerned about them coming safely home.

What a black mother tells her son/or sons is something like this….if you have an encounter with the police - you are stopped either walking or driving, “always be respectful.” That essentially means saying “yes Sir, please, thank you…” not as terms of endearment as we were taught as children to respect our elders, but because the police have guns.

Many of them (and this is my perspective) is that they do not respect or value black life. There is an implicit assumption that because they are police officers they have the “right” to stop you or detain you without probable cause. There is no assumption of “innocence” if you are a black male in the United States.

In a more reflective moment, I think it is not even about innocence as it is about place.

Being black or brown can often mean “being out of place.” For example, if you happen to be in a neighborhood or section of town where it seems you “don’t fit” then you can be deemed as “out of place or not belonging in that part of town.” I’ve often wondered just why that is. Truth be told…I know why that is. Black folk in general are seen as untrustworthy and dishonest…with no foundation of fact. Being Black or Brown is a liability in America and not an asset.

Does it mean, because you happen to be in a majority white community that one couldn’t possibly live there (unless you were working in the kitchen or doing yard work.). Or that you must be “up to no good” – planning to break in someone’s home.

It reminds me of a time when I served as pastor to a predominately “black” church in Boston. I always arrived early – time to be quiet and get ready to worship and think about the service and the sermon….

I heard someone enter the building and then enter the sanctuary. I went out and found a young white male seated. I walked over and said, “good morning, welcome to….” He then proceeded to ask me if I was the pastor.

My response was “yes.” The next words I heard “almost caught be off guard….when he said, “I thought the pastor here was a man.”

Immediately, my antenna went up. I began to sense a feeling of being “out of place” in my own sanctuary.

Next, he quoted a passage from Timothy about women NOT having “authority” in the church. I excused myself. Told him he was welcome to stay for service. Returned to my office and LOCKED the door. Before I could call the police, one of the parishioners (who was male and a deacon) came to the side door of the church.

It felt awkward asking each of my male church members to “keep an eye on him.”

There is another story here but for another time.

Why is this re-telling of this experience important? And why is it still so vivid in my memories? What continues to creep into my mind and spirit is the lack of feeling “safe” even in the sanctuary. Even in my “own” place of being. These are disturbing thoughts. Where can an African American feel safe in America?

Back to my sons….who each have had encounters with the police. Fortunately, nothing other than being detained resulted in those encounters. One was arrested for not having his license but later released.

When we reflected on the encounter, we both believed it could have turned out much worse.

Today – at 46 and 48 respectively, I still have this sense of “please bring them safely home….again.” I shared those thoughts with a friend this morning who asked me “how do you manage that. How do you live with the angst that must produce?”

Well, if there is anything to drive a praying mother to her knees, its having black and I felt some relief as I opened my locked door brown male children. And if we are all and beckoned him into my office). truthful, our girls are not all that safe either.

What’s a mother to do?

So …who was out of place. Neither of us “should have been out of place” yet my emotions of being not only a woman, but Rev. Dr. Renee P. Wormack-Keels is the also being black and the pastor, caused me to Executive Director of The Spirituality Network of Central Ohio. feel a sense of danger.

The Columbus & Dayton African American • June 2020

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WISDOM PAST AND PRESENT WILL HELP DEFEAT CORONAVIRUS we need some. It’ll be nice not to need to mail essential cleaning supplies across the country to friends and family, and even better to hug them without worrying that passing your germs on could be a death sentence.

By Lisa Benton, MD, MPH

Because I’d been hearing so much about how America and the rest of world will or has entered a recession, I asked my mom, who has lived through several economic downturns, how bad it really got and how you knew when it ended.

Just because you can now go outside, and Ohio is reopening for business does not mean that the virus has gone away. Remember, coronavirus doesn’t take a vacation just because you do. Consider wearing a mask as your civic duty to protect those you love and people at greater risk of get seriously ill and dying.

People of color are more likely to know someone who has been very sick and recovered or died from the virus. That fact matters in how we respond with taking precautions to prevent catching coronavirus.

In contrast, people who don’t believe and deny that the virus can affect them have not personally known anyone who got sick. They may not realize covid-19 is a coronavirus almost nobody is immune to or feel like the Until a reliable vaccine and treatments for virus only happens to other people. illnesses related to coronavirus become easily available and are not in short supply, keeping In the United Kingdom Black and ethnic at least 6 feet of personal space around you, minorities were 90% more likely to die from wearing a mask, standing behind plexiglass coronavirus-related illness. In the United and frequent handwashing and scented hand States with all of its hot spots, African sanitizers will be our new normal.

Americans and people of color were 60% more likely to die. Hispanic Americans seem As of Memorial Day, there were at least 10 to be more likely to catch the disease. companies around the globe working on a vaccine. It also sounds like our government If I didn’t know any better and maybe I is getting the production pipeline ready for don’t, I’d suspect there may be a melanin making the vials, special syringes, needles, connection based on who catches the virus and other hardware needed to package the around the world. Perhaps someone will vaccine so it’s ready for use. I hope they are study that grant-worthy correlation. also working as hard on a common sense distribution plan to make sure that the people We’re learning almost daily about new at highest risk are at the front of the line, can categories of people who may be at get the shot easily, and it won’t cost an arm increased risk from coronavirus or one of and a leg. its complications. For example, in addition to our elders, children and youth, children But as you know it takes time to make a safe with autism, people in prisons and jails, vaccine and have it go through clinical trials seniors in residential homes or any group to test it on healthy people first to make sure living situation are at higher risk of catching it doesn’t have side effects before giving it coronavirus. This is in addition to the obvious to people sick with coronavirus to see if it exposure risks essential workers face daily. works.

You are doing yourself an extra favor by wearing a mask, washing your hands, not touching your face with unwashed hands and keeping at least 6 feet apart.

We’ve recently learned that it doesn’t hurt to stay further apart than 6 feet since the virus travels more than 8 feet with loud speaking, singing, coughing and lingers in closed spaces like elevators or rooms without open windows.

Hoping that you and enough other people in your neighborhood and wherever you go will get infected and recover to produce antibodies to the virus, or not, to give us herd immunity, is no guarantee that you can’t catch coronavirus a second time.

To get an idea of how long the process takes, consider that the process for choosing and making the influenza (flu) vaccine for this fall was decided back in March or earlier.

Making flu vaccine is a steam-lined, refined, high speed process, and that can take about 9 months or longer. You’ll want to get your flu vaccine and other vaccines recommend for your age, since as you get older your immune system weakness and you want to give your body every boost against these infections that you can possibly get.

I needed a better image than waiting on a long line overnight for the newest phone or sneaker, but instead waiting hours to buy one tube of lipstick in one color only. (Ok, there are a lot more practical and urgent needs than lipstick for an example, but I thought it worth mentioning since it isn’t really needed when you’re wearing a mask these days).

My mom shared with us kids that she remembered going shopping as a little girl with her mom in the days when “nylons”pantyhose, and other essential beauty items were rationed. It was during wartime, and there were shortages everywhere. Her mom, my nana, like so many stay-at-home wives, took a job working at the government Office of Dependent Benefits while my grandfather was away in the Army. That was a big deal.

Back then and sadly now, so many people must line up for hours for food and other basic needs. Before today’s tough economic times, we remember as kids going with our parents and sitting in the car for hours on hours waiting for gasoline during the 1973 gas shortage.

Sometimes after hours of waiting they had gas and sometimes they didn’t. I recall seeing people pushing their cars hoping to get to the pump for a few drops of gas. That memory makes me even to this day, be sure to keep at least ¼ tank of gas in my car. Seeing the endless lines for essentials today reminds me, America has a long way to go, to be considered back open for business.

Over the years, my siblings and I would hear our parent and grandparents stories and messages for living that came out of their struggles to make a way during hard times. These days I appreciate their words of wisdom and resourcefulness even more.

Why they kept money in their mattresses, pennies in jars and always had extra Spam, peanut butter and canned milk around makes sense.

My grandmother, great aunts and uncles had a 101 uses for old newspaper and at least 10 recipes for leftover chicken with beans rice and government-issued cheese, meat and powdered milk. And they did it all without You’ll know things are getting better when the benefit of the internet and were ok. Looks the food pantry lines shorten, unemployment like our elders have set the bar very high for drops and every transaction won’t be across plexiglass. One day again, we’ll find Lysol Continued on Page 8 and Clorox wipes on store shelves any time 7

The Columbus & Dayton News African American • June 2020 The Columbus African American Journal • February 2015

Continued from Page 7

control, and lowering your high blood our generation. We need to step up to the pressure. You should also limit your alcohol intake for obvious reasons and to avoid challenge. drinking needless calories.

One of the most important parts of surviving the pandemic and economic downturn is Know that drinking alcohol, Clorox, Lysol, making sure we’re following and basing our bleach or hand sanitizer in any form does not actions on reliable information. We must be kill the virus or stop you from getting it and careful not to fall victim to “fake news” and can harm you instead. Smoking is never the rumors with our actions responding to the right answer and weakens your lungs. virus and rebuilding our economic houses.

Arming yourself with as much truth and For some of the top myths around coronavirus/ debunking myths about coronavirus and the Covid-19, recommend checking the links to pandemic will help you make responsible recent stories included with this article. They choices and keep you safer, in better shape even discuss the slim to none relationship of and show others that you mean business when it comes to your health and how you the virus to 5G. live. Combining that with the wisdom your In short answers to self-care in this pandemic elders and their elders have gifted to you will season: yes to taking supplemental vitamin let you rise above the crowd and stand apart c, vitamin d, zinc, exercising, getting enough from the herd. sleep, reducing stress, time in the sun with sunscreen, keeping your blood sugar under Learn a Little More

10 Myths About the Coronavirus You Shouldn’t Believe: From who can get it to how to get rid of it: Top myths get busted

by Rachel Nania, 5/8/20. Retrieved from: https://www.aarp.org/health/conditionstreatments/info-2020/coronavirus-myths. html 21 Myths About Coronavirus You Need to Stop Believing Now by Colby Hall, 4/23/20.

Retrieved from: https://www.msn.com/en-us/ health/medical/7-myths-about-coronavirusyou-need-to-stop-believing-now/ssBB11gprU#image=1 YouTube Video: Why a vaccine for coronavirus will take longer to develop than you might think: Just The FAQs. Retrieved from: https://youtu.be/hO-UiPoi3iI Lisa D. Benton, MD, MPH (The Doctor is In) breastsurgeonlb@gmail.com, Twitter:@ DctrLisa (415) 746-0627

LET’S HAVE A MOMENT OF SCIENCE been heightened to its rightful pinnacle state.

Indeed, science unlocks many of the painful and scary conundrums we find ourselves in,

By Frederic Bertley, PhD and provides a uniquely fair and real solution The murder of George Floyd – if only we give it the respectful, forwardby four policemen, each facing chance that it so glaringly deserves. of whom chose a career to protect and serve – one As a civic-minded, African American with a knee on the neck and the other three scientist, I feel compelled to link this with their bodies on the victim – is not only pernicious period we all find ourselves in graphically appalling and horrifying, it is to the importance of science and scientific unconscionable and inexcusable. If it were discovery. It is science that will help us a one-off, I would not cry racism. But as a understand the spread, morbidity and scientist, who consistently turns toward data, mortality of the coronavirus. It is science that the research abounds and the conclusions will afford us the development of therapeutics are clear – racism exits. And Black men in to assist and facilitate the recovery of our loved ones. It is science that will ultimately America die at the hands of it. offer up a vaccine to globally control the While I will not go over the history of how pandemic. It is science, and education around we got here, as most of us know it anyhow, it, that will assist with the STEM workforce what is noteworthy, however, is that 150 development pipeline issue, help men and years later, the promise of forty-acres remains women get great paying jobs, and help unfulfilled, and there still is no mule! Instead, elevate many individuals and families out of there is the lifeless body, the corpse of poverty.

George Floyd, just another data point in the ever-growing racism data base. It is my hope And now, with the latest social cultural that this time, during this momentous moment upheaval, it is again science, that lights our in history, that Mr. Floyd’s murder will not way forward, with its clear delineation that be archived as “just another data point”, but the concept of “race” is a fallacious, maninstead, catalyze a necessary change. It is made invention to differentiate and divide my hope that Mr. George Floyd’s narrative people. And, as evidenced during America’s precipitate out a meaningful dialogue, a chattel slavery period and its ensuing Jim capacity for all to be honest and vulnerable, Crow era, this invention of “race” works! and ready us to do the hard work towards real But science and education will right that reconciliation. wrong. In 2012, the Center of Science and As the contemporary reality tightens its Industry (COSI) hosted an exhibition called grip on America, science, together with “RACE – Are We So Different?” This all its offspring engineering, and its parents ages exhibit created by the National Science education, have never been more critical. Foundation and the Science Museum of Science has democratically and ubiquitously Minnesota, (ironically the city where George

The Columbus African & Dayton American African American News Journal • June • February 2020 2015

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Floyd was murdered), exposed in an elegant, engaging and data driven way, that the notion of “races” is a social construct – not founded whatsoever in biology or science, but rather steeped in hatred, hierarchical and “white supremacy” beliefs. In an easily digestible manner, the RACE exhibit educated and illuminated the reality and scientific truth that “WE, the people,” are all essentially biologically the same, regardless of skin color, religion, and political allegiance.

Furthermore, it is down to our unique DNA, which, with the microenvironments we find ourselves in, is solely responsible for who we are. Yes, the concept of “race” has no scientific merit.

In 2020, the Center of Science and Industry (COSI), was voted the number one science museum in nation by USA Today and stands as a beacon of light and science during these tumultuous times. We intimately understand that “science is everywhere, and science is for everyone!” We stand not just as a science museum, but as a cultural institutional benchmark to help all people – everyone – through science and education, to be better citizens and have a notable and real chance at a fulfilling life, fraught with practiced liberty and an attainable pursuit of happiness. Racism, and murder based on skin color, have no place in the pantheon of science and education, and certainly should have no place in our American society and our claimed liberty and pursuit of happiness.

The time has come. Let us have an infinitely enduring moment of science.

Dr. Frederic Bertley is the President and CEO of the Center Of Science and Industry (COSI) in Columbus.

FEAR IS NOT A LONG-TERM STRATEGY!

By Eric Johnson, PhD Fear has served as a biological tool and necessity for most of the existence of organic life. Fear in it of itself is neither inherently good or bad, rather it is a delicate biological condition that presents both benefits and challenges. The commonly used colloquial “Flee or Fight” to describe fear is surprisingly appropriate. Fear is the awareness of a living thing to potentially life-threatening factors in its immediate environment. In such cases living things are often faced with two choices; directly confront the danger (fight) or use whatever means that are available to avoid it (flee). Generally, the choice is often guided by which action is perceived to most likely result in survival. In humans there are distinct responses that indicate the presence of fear. Heart rate and blood pressure increase to get blood flow to the big muscles in preparation for the potential confrontation or chase, in addition glucose production spikes to provide potential energy to support either decision, in addition pupils dilate to give focus to the danger (almost a tunnel vision) and often times hearing is significantly reduced, so as to maintain focus. Moreover, the parts of the brain that usually deal with reason and rational decision making give primary attention to the identified threat.

All these conditions have negative affects on the body in the long term. There is no attention to “long term” concerns meaning anything beyond the threat of the moment, the brain concentrates its amazing potential on surviving the evaluated warning. The Divine, in incredible wisdom provided us with a fear state to ensure that our survival is not solely left up to our potentially bad decisions. However, in no way was fear ever designed to be a long-term strategy to accomplish anything.

Fear is helpful in a variety of ways but its potential challenges and consequences are many and significant. When collectives share a common fear; families, communities, nations, and even organizations, they can pool resources to respond to the common threat and there are many examples of those throughout history. The Black community’s response to lynching, the country’s response to WWI and II, many Jewish families’ response to the holocaust, and even the response to COVID-19 are examples of collective fears that required collective responses. However, the consequence of fear is that the response is most effective when the threat is clearly defined and attention is appropriately focused on survival. When fear states are heightened for too long the affects on the body are detrimental to the survival it claims to defend. When in a fear state for too long collectives have a tendency to turn on one another and threaten the lives they

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claim they are defending. Moreover, when fear states last too long the damage to the individual or collective have long term affects that tend to be both unintended and long lasting. When fear is wielded like a tool to manipulate action and arrest the imagination for arbitrary interests it often does produce the intended result but typically at great cost. Long term and often chronic damage is done to the target and the wielder becomes dependent on the tool in ways that forever alter the concept of integrity and truth.

Fear has been used by many to control others; religious leaders, politicians, people who claim to have your best interest at heart and obviously people one would call enemy, in that way fear may be one of the oldest tricks in the book. The consequences remain the same no matter the source or the intent of the wielder. When fear is used as the driving force for any course of action it tends to do so at the expense of long-term interests but it is important to understand that wielders of fear tend to accept that cost. Whatever damage is done by the fear state is justified to the wielder by meeting their interests.

As a consequence, it is always important to understand who is wielding fear and for what reason, the use of fear can be a good thing but never in the long run. Too often when people want to use fear to control either imagination or behavior it does so at the expense of the target’s long-term well-being in one form or another (spiritually, economically, physically or emotionally). The wielders of fear accept this as a cost of doing business understanding their own sense of integrity and truth is forever comprised by the effort as long as it produces the result they seek.

It is important that politicians, spiritual leaders and other unknown parties not be assigned the brunt of the blame because the

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

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people who use fear most effectively are the people who know us best. The most effective wielder of fear to impact our imagination are the fears created in own minds. The irrational fears we assemble in our minds can serve as the most effective prison ever constructed.

The use of fear tends be an ever-effective overseer of what we imagine to be possible.

It is easier for wielders of fear to access the areas of our concerns when our minds provide the keys.

We have to find ways to be driven by hope, possibility and perseverance of what we want out of this life and allow fear access to only those moments where it is required.

Certainly, that quest is both complex and singular. No one of us can completely address the internal anxieties of another but each of us can invite all with whom we share our space to see the possibilities while also recognizing an individual’s concern. Fear is a natural part of what it means to be alive and it gives us the will and ability to defend the lives we have been blessed to live. A little fear gives us all the necessary caution to be our best selves but certainly too much encourages us to invest in the worst aspect of our own psyche. The ugly that can be produced by the human endeavor to resolve a fear can be a bottomless pit that feeds the worst of what this life could be. May fear never reign over hope, possibility and perseverance, and if it does let each of us go find what is required to replace our fear with the courage of faith in our own possibility.

When we conquer our fear, we gain access our to own wisdom.

Dr. Eric L. Johnson currently serves as the Chief Consultant with Strategies to Succeed and is on the faculty at Virginia International University. He is the former Chief of Research Publications for the United States Air Force Academy.

The Columbus & Dayton African American • June 2020

BLACK LIVES MATTER: A MESSAGE FROM MINORITY LEADER EMILIA STRONG SYKES

By Honorable Emilia Strong Sykes As a country, we have two viruses that are disproportionately killing Black people right now: the coronavirus and racism. After the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, we are seeing people protesting injustice. People who want to be heard.

As Black people, we are learning that people do not care about eliminating racism and ensuring our health and safety. We’ve done task forces and study groups. We’ve prepared reports in fancy binders that look nice, and they sit on a shelf in an office. There is never any action.

We are witnessing around the country a begging to be seen and heard. This community, the Black community, after multiple attempts at protesting, kneeling, demanding legislation, is begging to be heard.

Racism is real. It’s the biggest health crisis already know is wrong and broken. The time the citizens of this state face. The institutional for studying racism is over. racism in our society and the trauma it causes is not okay, and it must be recognized.

Members of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus will be introducing a resolution this Black Americans deserve to be heard today, week to declare racism is a public health tomorrow, and always. Racism can no crisis. If we want to ensure there is equality, longer be a burden people of color shoulder we should lead the nation and pass this themselves. It is up to white people to check resolution. and acknowledge their privilege. We can offer conversations about the inequities Ohio House Democrats have introduced bill facing communities of color, but until white after bill to address criminal justice reform, communities truly look inside themselves and improve gun safety, increase the minimum say “We would not want this for ourselves,” wage, prohibit discrimination in various we will not see any change. forms, and are constantly calling for more diversity and inclusion. These bills don’t In order to have real and meaningful change even have a chance of passing. in our society, we need EVERYONE to stand up and denounce racism, have the No matter how we activate, organize, or uncomfortable conversations to better engage our communities, these bills are understand one another, and end it, once and falling on the deaf ears of Ohio Republicans. for all.

They are telling us time and time again that black lives do not matter.

I am asking anyone who is not black: take the time to look inside yourself to find what Whether or not we take action is up to the you can do to be helpful because it is up to white, Republican Governor, Speaker of you. We have pleaded, protested, cried, and the Ohio House, and President of the Ohio let you know. It is up to you. If you do not Senate. These are the people who have the do anything, you let us know we are not a power to protect Black people. We hear you priority. loud and we hear you clearly by your inaction that you do not believe black lives matter.

If you feel uncomfortable talking about racism, imagine what it feels like to live Action can be taken legislatively, but the with it. Black Ohioans are not ok. We need first thing those in the legislature must do is immediate action, not the creation of another care enough to do something. They must care task force or study group to confirm what we enough about the Black people in this state to

The Columbus African & Dayton African American • June 2020 American News Journal • February 2015

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act. They have to care. They have to have the will, the fortitude, and the courage to stand up and do something.

We could start with passing anti-profiling legislation, requiring data collection on who is stopped by the police, and mandating independent investigations of all officer-involved shootings. There is no need to reinvent the wheel. These are recommendations made by the Ohio Task Force for Community-Police Relations appointed in 2015 after Tamir Rice was killed in Cleveland. Five years later, none of these measures have been enacted.

Racism is truly undermining and crumbling our society. It is the willful ignorance of people in the legislature to not see it. I will not elevate it any further, it is undeserving of anything more than that. As legislators, we have a responsibility to listen to and empathize with ideas, even those that make us uncomfortable.

Racism is real, whether they want to admit it or not. Their inaction will make it loud and clear that they believe some lives matter more than others. I just hope they want to be on the right side of history.

Emilia Strong Sykes represents the 34th District of Ohio (Akron) and serves as the Minority Leader of the Ohio House of Representatives.

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The Columbus & Dayton News African American • June 2020 The Columbus African American Journal • February 2015

HEALTH

MEDICAL CENTER OUTREACH TEAM DELIVERS ALMOST 11,000 COVID-19 TEST KITS ACROSS OHIO

Senior Regional Outreach Coordinator Susan Prewitt prepares to deliver used COVID-19 test kits to be processed at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Since April 1, 16 members of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s Outreach and Engagement team have logged nearly 60,000 miles delivering almost 11,000 COVID-19 test kits to community hospitals and postacute care facilities across Ohio.

land-grant university is to provide the state and Distribution,” Blincoe said. “This is a of Ohio with whatever help we can during coordinated team effort.” this pandemic.”

Of key importance is the fact that the In addition to delivering test kits to almost majority of these test kits have been created 30 community hospitals across Ohio, team by Medical Center researchers. During the members pick up test specimens and bring COVID-19 outbreak, there’s been a critical them back to Ohio State Wexner Medical shortage of test kit components, including the Center’s lab. They also transport other swabs used to collect samples and the sterile needed supplies to support the care of solution needed to transport the swabs. The COVID-19 patients, including personal test kits include nasopharyngeal swabs and protective equipment such as masks, gowns vials filled with a sterile solution called viral and digital thermometers. transport media (VTM).

The COVID-19 testing kits produced by Ohio State Wexner Medical Center in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Health are provided to expand and accelerate testing. Each test kit can be processed by a lab at Ohio State or elsewhere, said Tom Blincoe, executive director of Outreach Delivery runs happen daily Monday through and Engagement and the Ohio State Health Saturday, with team members driving each afternoon to hospitals and post-acute care Network. centers in Bellefontaine, Bucyrus, central Before the COVID-19 outbreak, the Outreach Ohio, Cincinnati, Coldwater, Dayton, and Engagement team would visit hospitals Galion, Hillsboro, Lancaster, Lima, London, across the state to share information about Marysville, Mount Vernon, Ontario, Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center and Portsmouth, Springfield, Upper Sandusky, determine best ways to meet the needs of Van Wert, Washington Courthouse, those hospitals and the communities they Wilmington, Youngstown and Zanesville. serve. But during the pandemic, that was no longer possible because of new hospital “In addition to the Outreach and Engagement drivers, this project wouldn’t be possible visitor restrictions. without supply chain management, “We determined there was a need to do University Reference Laboratories, something different around testing, and our Ohio State Wexner Medical Center labs, staff jumped at the chance to help,” Blincoe Department of Pathology, Colleges of said. “We believe this is just something we Medicine, Dentistry, Engineering, and should be doing. Part of our mission as a Nursing, along with Ambulatory Logistics The Columbus & Dayton African American • June 2020

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Since early April, Ohio State Wexner Medical Center has been producing its own VTM for COVID-19 test kits to expand and accelerate testing across Ohio. Some of the earlier test kits included commercially available VTM. “This program has been a huge asset for us, and we’re extremely grateful for the support we’ve received,” said Lisa Klenke, chief executive officer for Mercer Health, a 93-bed community hospital in Coldwater, Ohio that serves 40,000 residents in Mercer County along the Indiana state line. “Testing was the biggest challenge, but having access to the testing kits and the test runs daily has been a great advantage to us. Now we’ve been able to open a drive-thru swabbing station that is benefitting the entire community.”

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

HEALTH

NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATION: CARE, COMPASSION, AND COMPETENCE

By Kellie Baker, MSW More people are spending time in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities.

If you have a friend or family member in one of these places, make sure the administrator is competent, caring, and compassionate. These are the signature qualities of an outstanding administrator, staff, and facility.

I spent 20 years of working for a national nonprofit association in Washington, DC that represented low-income Americans. Then, I decided to pursue my passion and work with the elderly in a healthcare setting. This desire was ignited by observing my grandmother receive home healthcare services. I was moved by the care and concern the staff showed, as well as the way they connected with my grandmother and family. This is something I felt called to do.

I began to explore the field and ways to enter it, knowing I lacked experience and connections. I went online and researched how to enter the healthcare industry, as a midcareer professional. I discovered that I could volunteer, as a long-term care ombudsman, to find out if I would enjoy working in this environment. Soon thereafter, I approached a nearby senior healthcare facility and volunteered as an ombudsman for eight months.

In addition to managing daily operations, I became knowledgeable about governmental regulatory and administrative requirements related to health, safety, fiscal compliance, and a host of other areas. I also learned to be a more effective advocate for residents and their families by participating in monthly “Town Halls” and working with state and local governmental officials.

During that time, the facility’s Executive Director met with me and explained that she was a licensed preceptor (trainer) for the State of Virginia; and, that I should contact the Virginia Board of Long-Term Care Administrators about becoming a nursing home administrator. She offered to host my training at her facility, which included skilled nursing, assisted-living, and memory care services. I applied to become an Administrator-in-Training (AIT) through the Virginia Board of Long-Term Care Administrators. The Board approved my application credited me for my Master of Arts degree in Social Work (MSW), specializing in gerontology, as well as my 20 years of experience in management. They determined that my AIT program would be extended over a six-month period, instead of the full two-year term.

Most of my most memorable experiences evolve around daily interactions with the residents and their involvement with activities in the community. I am keenly aware of their concerns and I make it my mission to address their issues. Because dining is a popular topic among residents, we created a “Dining Experience Team,” which meets monthly with residents to discuss their issues and ideas. During these meetings, the cooks on the dining team share their recipes and discuss menu selections residents might enjoy. These menu selections are presented to the residents at the monthly Dining Experience Meeting, where they vote to add them to their monthly menus. This allows our residents to have a voice in their meal selections. This process is repeated each month, which allows residents to add an additional menu selection each month.

Upon completion of the AIT program, I worked as an Associate Executive Director (AED) at a local assisted-living facility. I assisted the Executive Director with the oversight and leadership of dining services, activities, resident care, sales and marketing, business office, maintenance, housekeeping, and other departments within the community.

During this time of the COVID-19 pandemic and infection control, maintaining a weekly schedule of the cleaning of durable medical equipment (DME) is critical. The maintenance department provides a schedule of its cleaning plans and protocols to the Administrator every week. COVID-19 has hit nursing homes and senior citizens

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especially hard. So, this is one of the most important parts of our routine.

Good communication is of utmost importance.

The Administrator and management teams send weekly emails to the residents’ families and/or responsible parties to update them on the activities within the community. For transparency, we frequently attach photos of team members in service. Although we offer photo and video consent forms to our residents and their families, our preference is to only submit pictures of our team members serving our residents in our weekly emails.

In conclusion, if you have a family member or friend in a nursing home or assisted living facility, rest assured, they are being cared for by competent and compassionate staff. Let the administrators and staff know that you are concerned and committed to ensuring your resident is receiving the maximum benefit from their stay. Finally, let them know how much you appreciate them and the job they are doing. ___________________________________ Kellie Baker is a licensed Nursing Home Administrator in the Washington, DC metro area with seven years of experience.

Prior to entering this field, she served as a senior executive for a national association serving community action organizations.

Ms. Baker holds a Bachelor’s degree in communications and Masters of Social Work (MSW) in gerontology, along with several professional certifications. You can reach Kellie Baker by email at cambaker1969@ yahoo.com.

The Columbus & Dayton African American • June 2020

HEALTH

FIVE TIPS TO REVIVE YOUR HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

By David Ingram, Esq. The past few months have been quite an adjustment for all of us. Our daily routines were stopped at an instant and replaced with a seemingly never-ending groundhog day — the quarantine. We sheltered in place with our favorite comfort foods or what was left following the panic buys at our local grocery store. Gym closures and a national shortage of fitness equipment left a void for many Americans — the ability to maintain a healthy lifestyle. With the stay-at-home order lifted and our post quarantine waistline bulging, many of us are eager to get back into shape.

Like many, maintaining a healthy lifestyle — working out, being active, and dieting — was a part of my daily routine. This routine, frustrated by the COVID-19 restrictions, lead to many unsuccessful at-home workouts and bad eating habits. As gyms begin to reopen on May 26 and the “Safe at Home” recommendation easing restrictions, I reached out to my friend and personal trainer/ coach, Dr. Anthony D’Orazio, to discuss five tips to revive your healthy lifestyle post quarantine.

Dr. Anthony D’Orazio at Complete Human Performance specializes in developing programming for athletes and individuals with body composition and physique goals to help them achieve a healthier lifestyle.

During our discussion, Anthony used his experience in successfully coaching over 200 clients to list the five tips: track your progress, patience, plan, execution, and consistency. I will address each individually based on the level of importance.

Track Your Progress: As you begin to diet and workout, find a method to track your progress. There are various ways to track progress — tracking body weight, tracking food/caloric intake, taking photos, utilizing mirrors, or measuring your waist.

Any of these methods are effective tools to track progress; however, the recommended approach is to combine several of these methods.

your healthy lifestyle. The recommended approach is to have a weekly nutrition plan and workout plan that advances you toward your goals with accountability check-ins throughout the process.

Execution: Like planning, execution also has two meanings. On the path to reviving your healthy lifestyle, execution is an extremely important part of the process. If you have a plan, work the plan. If you don’t track your food intake, start doing so. Regaining your Patience: A healthy lifestyle and patience stride back into your old routine and healthy are often at odds with each other. A recent habits requires you to carry out the plan, example of this dynamic is the response to execute.

COVID-19. Americans struggled mightily with the COVID-19 restrictions — wearing Execution also means performing exercises face masks, maintaining social distancing, with proper form. Proper form limits and staying at home. The restrictions, which injury and will allow you to bounce back were implemented as a matter of public sooner from any weight gained during the health, required patience to flatten the curve. quarantine. Not to say that you won’t bounce Achieving your personal health and fitness back or progress without proper form, your goals are no different. Remember, weight progression, however, will be much slower. gain occurred gradually. So, losing the weight and finding your rhythm with your diet will Consistency: Being consistent is the most take time. Managing your expectations will important part of the process. With anything minimize future disappointment. With that in life, being consistent will often lead to a said, a realistic timeline to begin to notice positive outcome. So, if you struggle with any of the items mentioned above, remaining results is anywhere from six to 12 months. consistent with your workouts and diet will Plan: Planning in this context has two likely help you reach your goals. meanings — working with a trainer/ accountability partner and an overall fitness David is a skilled attorney practicing plan. Locating a trainer or a partner that will business law and regulatory/administrative hold you accountable is important to reviving law at Kegler, Brown, Hill + Ritter.

Awarded by National Black Lawyers Top your healthy lifestyle. After two months of 40 Under 40 2016-2019, his clients rely inactivity and unhealthy habits, the structure on his experience to provide counsel on and motivation provided by both will keep business matters, licensing, compliance, you focused on your overall goals. and professional license defense before all of Ohio’s regulatory agencies. He enjoys Depending on your preferred approach, a writing on topics from the legal perspective daily or weekly nutrition plan and workout and community service through his church plan are also essential components to reviving and the 411 Foundation.

The Columbus African & Dayton African American • June 2020 American News Journal • February 2015

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HEALTH

RACE MATTERS IN LIFE AND DEATH

WHERE WE LIVE AND HOW WE LOOK PREDICTS LIFE EXPECTANCY

By Charleta B. Tavares June marks the beginning of what could be a very hot and tumultuous summer. June is also designated as Alzheimer and Brain Awareness; Cataract Awareness; Indigenous History; LGBTQ+ Pride; Men’s Health; PTSD Awareness and National Safety Month. Let us concentrate on three of these designated months: Men’s Health, PTSD Awareness and National Safety Months for this article, which is dedicated to the African diaspora in Columbus and Dayton, Ohio.

Our attempt is to address the events over the last week, as well as the four hundred year history of our people in America that has contributed to the pain, anger and frustration of the protesters and others.

First, I want to acknowledge and recognize the strong and indisputable declarations and resolutions adopted by the Franklin County Commissioners and Franklin County Public Health followed by the Columbus Mayor, City Council and Columbus Public Health, to address “racism” as a public health crisis.

The declarations show commitment and resoluteness to address a systemic plague that has/is hurting and killing the financial, physical and mental health of people of African descent for generations in this community and communities all across America.

Why are we recognizing Men’s Health and specifically African/Black men?

George Floyd’s dying declaration “I can’t breathe” has been the haunting and consistent last words of so many of our brothers and sisters who have died at the hands of police in America. Say their names from Tamir Rice, 12 years old in Cleveland, Ohio to Gregory Gunn, 58 years old in Montgomery, Alabama and throughout America there have been more than 83 documented public cases of African/Black men and boys who have died at the hands of police over the last few years.

African American/Black men and boys are at a greater risk of dying at the hands of police than their Caucasian counterparts…in some cities and states at more than 12 times (Reno, Nevada) the rate.

Why are we recognizing PTSD or for African/Black Americans – Post Traumatic Slave Disorder/Syndrome?

Over the centuries (more than four hundred years), people of African descent have been victimized, traumatized and terrorized because of the color of their skin. There have been moments throughout our history whether spoken or not of “I can’t breathe”.

We have been hung, choked, shot, beaten and maced because of who we are and how

and disparate burden of disease, illness, death etc. and the needed resources to ameliorate the disparate outcomes. Safety means – clean air, water and healthy fresh food.

Safety for our communities from violence, toxins, viruses and diseases are paramount if we are going to eliminate the premature and preventable deaths within African/Black Studies have documented the changes in communities in Ohio and across the country.

DNA over the course of centuries of trauma and victimization of people of African Are there efforts underway to Address descent. “It is a condition that exists as a Disparities among African/Black Ohioans consequence of multigenerational oppression with COVID-19 and other Health of Africans and their descendants resulting Disparities? from centuries of chattel slavery. A form of slavery, which was predicated on the belief The state of Ohio not unlike the majority of that African Americans were inherently/ states across the country have seen disparities genetically inferior to whites. This was then in the rates of COVID-19 confirmed cases, followed by institutionalized racism, which hospitalizations and deaths among racial and ethnic populations especially, African/ continues to perpetuate injury”.

Black residents. In many cases, testing was The persistent trauma, brutal deaths and not being conducted in communities of color disproportionate disease, illness, treatment and patients were not prioritized. Even those outcomes and death among African/Black who presented as symptomatic (showing Americans has followed our path since arrival signs of COVID-19), were many times told in America. Whether we are talking about to “go home and shelter in place, take your diabetes, HIV/Aids, Cardiovascular disease temperature, stay isolated from others, wash or COVID-19…we are dying prematurely your hands and wear a mask”. Unfortunately, and in many cases unnecessarily. Our efforts there was little or no follow-up with them to must be stanch to ensure that equitable see if the patient had the necessary “personal services, resources, culturally appropriate protective equipment (PPE) to safely shelter practitioners and healthcare providers/ in place. systems are in place if we are going to address the disparities and inequities in On April 20, 2020, Governor Mike DeWine health outcomes for African/Black residents created the Minority Health Strike Force (MHSF) made up of community, state in Columbus, Dayton and America. agency, faith and business leaders to investigate COVID-19 infection and Why is national safety month important? health disparities among racial and ethnic We must collectively address the health and populations. Communities of color, safety of our African/Black communities… particularly the African/Black community, whether we are testing for COVID-19, lead, are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 radon or carbon monoxide, we have to ensure and the illness it causes. The MHSF has that appropriate resources, testing, tracking issued an interim report to identify strategies and treatment comes to our communities to specifically tackle COVID-19 inequities. in an equitable way. We are not suggesting Continued on Page 18 equal…equitable means based on the need we look. We are in an inescapable body of melanin that is seen as a weapon or as was so eloquently stated by Jay Starr, ”When your complexion (or the color of your skin) is seen as a weapon you will never be seen as unarmed ” in the eyes of police, racists and those who think of you as “less than” them.

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

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The Columbus & Dayton African American • June 2020

HEALTH Continued from Page 17

• Healthcare – Charleta B. Tavares, CEO A final report will be issued in June to address PrimaryOne Health, chair longer-term/structural recommendations and plans to concentrate on health inequities PrimaryOne Health is working with our sister health, mental health and substance use among racial and ethnic populations. disorder providers to raise awareness, offer services, educate, and partner to eliminate MHSF Objectives: disparities, improve health outcomes and health equity among our patients, residents • Stop the progression of the disease • Evaluate and document the impact of the and African/Black and communities of color across Franklin, Montgomery, Pickaway disease • Remedy factors that contribute to the spread Counties and throughout Ohio.

• Procure resources to prevent a resurgence The COVID-19 Pandemic and the brutal The MHSF four subcommittees and death of George Floyd has unfortunately provided a pivotal point in time to not only chairs: focus on our safety and physical health but • Education and Outreach – Charles Modlin, our emotional, mental and spiritual health.

We must prioritize the marginalized and MD Cleveland Clinic, chair • Data and Research – Melba Moore, Ph.D, those who are suffering and bearing the burden of disease, illness and death. We Cincinnati Health Commissioner, chair • Resources – June Taylor, Chief Performance cannot make the changes needed if we do not and Strategy, Western Reserve Area Agency acknowledge that racism and injustice exists on Aging, chair for African/Black and communities of color.

We are all in this – together. We (PrimaryOne Health) are One. Footnotes: Jay Starr – Black Lives Matter Dr. Joy DeGruy https://www.joydegruy. com/post-traumatic-slave-syndrome 3 https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/static/MHSF/ COVID-19-Minority-Health-Strike-Force. pdfhttps://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/ gov/covid-19/healthcare-providers-andlocal-health-districts/Minority-HealthStrike-Force/Minority-Health-Strike-ForceReport 1 2

Charleta B. Tavares is the Chief Executive Officer at PrimaryOne Health, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) system providing comprehensive primary care, OBGYN, pediatric, vision, dental, behavioral health and specialty care at 10 locations in Central Ohio. The mission is to provide access to services that improve the health status of families including people experiencing financial, social, or cultural barriers to health care. www.primaryonehealth.org.

JIMMY CARTER ON GEORGE FLOYD PROTESTS “TIME FOR RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IS OVER”

PLAINS, Ga. — Former President Jimmy Carter released a statement Wednesday afternoon, addressing the recent killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor.

Carter said his and his wife Rosalynn’s hearts are with the victims’ families and “all who feel hopeless in the face of pervasive racial discrimination and outright cruelty.”

Carter also looked back on his inaugural address as Georgia governor, echoing a message he made almost 50 years ago: “The time for racial discrimination is over.”

Rosalynn and I are pained by the tragic racial injustices and consequent backlash across our nation in recent weeks. Our hearts are with the victims’ families and all who feel hopeless in the face of pervasive racial discrimination and outright cruelty. We all must shine a spotlight on the immorality of racial discrimination. But violence, whether spontaneous or consciously incited, is not a solution.

John Amis/AP Photo

diverse. The bonds of our common humanity his wife, Laura, were “anguished by the must overcome the divisiveness of our fears brutal suffocation of George Floyd.” and prejudices.

“It remains a shocking failure that many Since leaving the White House in 1981, African Americans, especially young African Rosalynn and I have strived to advance American men, are harassed and threatened human rights in countries around the world. in their own country,” Bush wrote. “It is In this quest, we have seen that silence can a strength when protesters, protected by be as deadly as violence. People of power, responsible law enforcement, march for a privilege, and moral conscience must better future. This tragedy — in a long series stand up and say “no more” to a racially of similar tragedies — raises a long overdue discriminatory police and justice system, question: How do we end systemic racism in immoral economic disparities between our society? whites and blacks, and government actions that undermine our unified democracy. Former President Barack Obama said that We are responsible for creating a world of the death of Floyd “shouldn’t be ‘normal’ in peace and equality for ourselves and future 2020 America.” Obama also wrote a column generations. We need a government as good on Medium and planned to address the as its people, and we are better than this. country in a live stream.

As a white male of the South, I know all too well the impact of segregation and injustice to African Americans. As a politician, I felt a responsibility to bring equity to my state and our country. In my 1971 inaugural address as Georgia’s governor, I said: “The time for racial discrimination is over.” With great sorrow and disappointment, I repeat those words today, nearly five decades later. Dehumanizing people debases us all; Carter’s statement comes a day after former Article from wbstv.com (Atlanta) humanity is beautifully and almost infinitely President George W. Bush said that he and

The Columbus African & Dayton African American • June 2020 American News Journal • February 2015

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The Columbus & Dayton News African American • June 2020 The Columbus African American Journal • February 2015

COVER STORY

BRYAN STEVENSON ON THE FRUSTRATION BEHIND THE GEORGE FLOYD PROTESTS

By Isaac Chotiner (June 1, 2020) The past weekend saw the start of an uprising in dozens of American cities, with tens of thousands of people taking to the streets for peaceful protests and violent encounters with the police. The proximate cause was the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed, handcuffed African-American man, by a Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin.

In Minneapolis and other cities, police in riot gear have responded aggressively to protests and looting, pushing and shoving protesters and using an arsenal of crowd-control weaponry. In Louisville, a black restaurant owner was shot dead, under circumstances that remain unclear; in Brooklyn, social media captured an incident in which police officers drove into a crowd of protesters.

On Sunday, I spoke by phone with Bryan Stevenson, a civil-rights lawyer and the founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, a human-rights organization that challenges convictions, advocates for criminal-justice reform and racial justice, and created the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, in Montgomery, Alabama, which honors the victims of lynching and other forms of racial terror during the Jim Crow era.

Stevenson, who was the subject of a Profile,

by Jeffrey Toobin, in 2016, is also the author of a memoir, “Just Mercy,” which was made into a feature film last year. During our conversation, which has been edited for length and clarity, Stevenson and I discussed the roots of police violence in both slavery and Jim Crow, how to change the culture of policing, and the frustration and despair behind this week’s protests.

What has been your biggest takeaway from the past week?

We need to reckon with our history of racial injustice. I think everything we are seeing is a symptom of a larger disease. We have never honestly addressed all the damage that was done during the two and a half centuries that we enslaved black people. The great evil of American slavery wasn’t the involuntary servitude; it was the fiction that black people aren’t as good as white people, and aren’t the equals of white people, and are less evolved, less human, less capable, less worthy, less deserving than white people.

That ideology of white supremacy was necessary to justify enslavement, and it is the legacy of slavery that we haven’t acknowledged. This is why I have argued that slavery didn’t end in 1865, it evolved.

Next month will be the hundred and fifty-fifth anniversary of when black people gathered to celebrate the end of slavery: Juneteenth.

They believed they would receive the vote, and the protection of the law, and land, and opportunity, and have a chance to be full Americans. They were denied all of

On May 25, 2020, George Floyd died in while in custody of the Minneapolis Police.

His death has sparked protests across the U.S. and the world.

those things because this ideology of white supremacy would not allow Southern whites to accept them, to value them and to protect them, and so, immediately after 1865 and the Thirteenth Amendment, violence broke out.

We are going to be releasing a report next month on the horrendous violence that took place during Reconstruction, which blocked all of the progress.

So, for me, you can’t understand these present-day issues without understanding the persistent refusal to view black people as equals. It has changed, but that history of violence, where we used terror and intimidation and lynching and then Jim Crow laws and then the police, created this presumption of dangerousness and guilt. It doesn’t matter how hard you try, how educated you are, where you go in this country—if you are black, or you are brown, you are going to have to navigate that presumption, and that makes encounters with the police just rife with the potential for these specific outcomes which we have seen.

How do you think our current era of criminal justice and policing is a continuation of that past?

I think the police have been the face of oppression in many ways. Even before the Civil War, law enforcement was complicit in sustaining enslavement. It was the police who were tasked with tracking down fugitive slaves from 1850 onwards in the north. After emancipation, it was law enforcement that stepped back and

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allowed black communities to be terrorized and victimized. We had an overthrow of government during Reconstruction, and law enforcement facilitated that. Then, throughout the first half of the twentieth century, it was law enforcement and police and our justice system that allowed people to be lynched by white mobs, sometimes literally on the courthouse lawn, and allowed the perpetrators of that terror and violence to engage in these acts of murder with impunity. They were even complicit in it. And, as courageous black people began to advocate for civil rights in the nineteen-fifties and nineteensixties, when these older, nonviolent black Americans would literally be on their knees, praying, they were battered and bloodied by uniformed police officers. That identity of violence and oppression is not something we can ignore. We have to address it. But, rather than address it, since the nineteen-sixties, we have been trying to distract ourselves from it and not acknowledge it, and not own up to it, and all of our efforts have been compromised by this refusal to recognize that we need to radically change the culture of police.

Now, the police are an extension of our larger society, and, when we try to disconnect them from the justice system and the lawmakers and the policymakers, we don’t accurately get at it. The history of this country, when it comes to racial justice and social justice, unlike what we do in other areas, is, like, O.K., it’s 1865, we won’t enslave you and traffic you anymore, and they were forced to

COVER STORY

make that agreement. And then, after a half century of mob lynching, it’s, like, O.K., we won’t allow the mobs to pull you out of the jail and lynch you anymore. And that came after pressure. And then it was, O.K., we won’t legally block you from voting, and legally prevent you from going into restaurants and public accommodations.

But at no point was there an acknowledgement that we were wrong and we are sorry. It was always compelled, by the Union Army, by international pressure, by the federal courts, and that dynamic has meant that there is no more remorse or regret or consciousness of wrongdoing. The police don’t think they did anything wrong over the past fifty or sixty years. And so, in that respect, we have created a culture that allows our police departments to see themselves as agents of control, and that culture has to shift. And this goes beyond the dynamics of race. We have created a culture where police officers think of themselves as warriors, not guardians.

Do you think this situation with the policy today has a specific purpose, and what is it?

It does. But the purpose was possible because of our unwillingness to recognize the wrongfulness of this racial hierarchy. Even the abolitionists, many of whom fought to end slavery, didn’t believe in racial equality. So, if you embrace white supremacy, then you are going to use black people and exploit black people and deny black people opportunities, because it advances that purpose. And a lot of white supremacy wasn’t even “purposeful.”

What was the purpose of banning interracial marriage? What was the purpose of banning black people from coming into restaurants?

It was about maintaining racial hierarchy, and that presumption or narrative that black people are dangerous, that black people can’t be trusted, that black people have to be controlled. And if it didn’t have an economic value, that didn’t mean that it wasn’t purposeful. The purpose was to sustain that hierarchy.

So you take a history like that, and then you combine it with a culture like the culture of policing that we have created, where

people are taught to fight and to shoot like soldiers. When the government equips police departments like they’re equipping the military, we undermine healthy relationships between the police and the community. We don’t train them to deëscalate, or deal with people suffering from mental illness or the complexities and anger and frustrations of poverty. And then we bring them in, often to places where they don’t live. We view the police as an occupying military force. That kind of culture gives rise to the violence that we see.

It is possible to create a police department where people think of themselves as guardians. Their commitment is to protect and serve even the people they are arresting.

The best police officers will tell you that their job is to make sure that the person who may have just committed a crime is safely encountered, that they keep that person safe, but that is not the way most police officers are trained. And we facilitate it by protecting the whole institution, so no one in this country can tell you how many people were killed by the police last year, because we don’t require that data. People have been trying for two decades to mandate the disclosure of that kind of information, and there is this institutional resistance. And that’s a larger problem—the way we have insulated these institutions from reform.

Should the protests be oriented toward a specific agenda, and, if so, what should that agenda be?

I don’t think it would be fair to ask protesters to solve the problems created by this long history. In many ways, protests are a reaction of frustration and anger to the unwillingness of elected officials to engage in the kind of reforms that need to happen. The protests are a symbol of frustration and despair. I think the answers have to come from elected officials. We can change the culture of institutions in this country. We have done it time and time again. In the nineteen-seventies and nineteen-eighties, if you look at the laws, there was hardly any punishment for people convicted of driving while drunk. We tolerated it. Even though it was catastrophic, 21

it wasn’t something we saw as a priority.

Then Mothers Against Drunk Driving began lifting up new narratives, and all of a sudden the political will shifted. We created a new culture, and we now take stronger steps.

Regardless of the wealth or affluence of the offender, we do more. That is a cultural shift that has made death from drunk driving much less frequent than it was fifty years ago.

With domestic violence, it is the same story.

In the nineteen-sixties, a woman who called the police could not expect that her spouse would be arrested. The police would come and pull him outside and tell jokes. There was a sympathy for the frustration that led to violence. And then we began changing that narrative. Women and victims of domestic violence started lifting their voices, and the political will changed. And today we have a radically different view of people who engage in domestic violence. Even our most prominent athletes and celebrities, if accused credibly, are going to be held accountable in ways that weren’t true even ten years ago. That is a cultural shift. And we are in the midst of a cultural shift about sexual harassment in the workplace. There is a different tolerance level. In New York, people need to take tests to make sure they can recognize sexual harassment.

We have not engaged in that kind of cultural transformation when it comes to policing.

Now, we have the tools. We know how to do it. I spent several months on President Obama’s task force on policing, in 2015, after we had a period of riots. We have forty pages of recommendations. That can change the culture of policing. It begins with training. It begins with procedural justice, and policies, and changing the way police officers are viewed and opening up communities.

Do you think the Obama Administration did enough on this issue, especially before 2015?

No one has done enough. But this is not a federal problem alone. I am critical of the Continued on Page 22

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COVER STORY Continued from Page 22

current Administration shelving all of those recommendations, withdrawing from lawsuits where police departments had been sued, and signalling that we do not care about this anymore. But I also don’t believe that excuses what mayors and governors and local officials have failed to do. You don’t need a White House to engage in culture change at your police department. That can be done in cities and communities and states. These reforms need to happen locally. The federal government can and should be playing a bigger role in incentivizing these changes.

But anyone looking to the White House and the Presidency exclusively is not going to get it. I also think that, if we allow another five years to go by with no meaningful reform, then we have to stop talking about Washington. Every mayor and governor in this country has a blueprint for changing culture in policing and making things better.

Whether they do it or not is the harder question.

You are saying this can’t come from the top alone—but, having someone at the top of the system who talks about shooting people and tells police to get tough, how much does that worry you about the future, even knowing how bad the past has been?

Yeah, I think any time we reinforce this idea that police officers are there to control and dominate and menace, that they should be unapologetic and feared and ready for battle, we are reinforcing the culture and the dynamic that has given rise to so much distrust. It’s not good for public safety. It is not even good for officer safety, and it is certainly not good for creating the kinds of healthy communities that most of us want to live in. It’s the wrong model. It’s like someone coming along and saying, “Doctors don’t need to care for their patients, or talk to their patients, or be polite, or be respectful, or show any interest. They have skills and knowledge, and their job is to treat, and anybody who is asking for more than that is too much.” That mind-set will cause a lot of people to die. They will not get the health care that they need, and doctors will not be successful because it’s the wrong culture for helping people get the cure and treatment that they need.

The same is true for public safety. You can go to other places in the world and see evidence of this everywhere. And we have even done it here. There are police departments in this country that have radically changed their relationship to the community. Camden, New Jersey, fifty years ago, was just a boiling pot, and things would blow up all the time, and relationships between police and community leaders were fraught with tension and conflict. And that has changed radically because of leadership and engagement.

Many of these protests this week have had more white people than the protests five years ago. How do you think that is or is not likely to change the movement?

To be honest, it’s not that hard to protest. It’s not that hard to go someplace. And it doesn’t mean that it’s not important. It doesn’t mean that it’s not critical. But that’s not the hard thing we need from people who care about these issues. We need people to vote, we need people to engage in policy reform

George Floyd’s family addresses crowd at Houston rally. Photo by Elizabeth Conley - Houston Chronicle

and political reform, we need people to not tolerate the rhetoric of fear and anger that so many of our elected officials use to sustain power. We need the cultural environments in the workplace to shift.

Black people in this country have to live this very complex existence when they live and go to work and go to school in these spaces which are largely controlled by white people.

They can’t really be their authentic selves.

That means that there is this tension and there is this challenge, and at some point you get overwhelmed by that. And when these incidents of police violence take place, and people are killed, literally, on video, right in front of you, and the perpetrators are staring at you, you get angry and you want to express that anger.

It’s not just anger over what happened to George Floyd or Breonna Taylor or Ahmaud Arbery. It is anger about continuing to live in a world where there is this presumption of dangerousness and guilt wherever you go. I’m sixty years old and have been practicing law for thirty-five years. I have a lot of honorary degrees and went to Harvard. And I still go places where I am presumed dangerous. I have been told to leave courtrooms because the presumption was that I was the defendant and not the lawyer. I have been pulled out of my car by police who pointed a gun on me.

And I can just tell you that, when you have to navigate this presumption of guilt, day in and day out, and when the burden is on you to make the people around you see you as fully human and equal, you get exhausted. You are tired. And I would argue that the black people in the streets are expressing their fatigue, their anger, and their frustration at having to live this menaced life in America. And that is not the same thing for white people who are supporting them. It doesn’t mean that white people shouldn’t be supporting them, but I don’t think it’s the proper focus of what many of us are trying to give voice to.

Criminal-justice reform has become a bipartisan issue, but it often seems to be spoken of as being distinct from police brutality and police reform. How important is it to bring police reform into the broader context of criminal-justice reform?

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I think, for many of us, it has always been at the center of it. Changing the way we police, prosecute, judge, and punish is the essence of criminal-justice reform.

I think people use the phrase “criminaljustice reform” in a pretty lazy way.

Modifying the federal sentencing parameters at the edges, so a very small percentage of people in federal prisons might get reduced sentences, is not meaningful criminal-justice reform. Ninety per cent of the prisoners in the United States are in the state system.

That is not impacted by what the White House or any President has done. [The Obama Administration amended federal sentencing guidelines in order to reduce the sentences of people convicted of nonviolent drug crimes. In 2017, Jeff Sessions, who was then the Attorney General, overturned those reforms.] The real meaningful reform would have been implementing the task force’s recommendations, changing the way we think about police and prosecutorial accountability, mandating the data disclosure that would allow us to evaluate the nature of this problem. And, when you don’t do those things, everything else you do is going to be compromised.

We had the so-called War on Drugs that was carried out against black and brown people, because the law-enforcement agents that were the people carrying out that war saw black and brown people differently. That’s a policing and prosecutorial problem. The immunity we have created to shield people from accountability is a barrier to shield people from any effective reform. That includes sentencing and all these others things, because, if prosecutors can withhold evidence and wrongly convict people, and police can abuse people and coerce confessions, then nothing else we do at the sentencing or policy level is going to be effective. And that has to change.

Isaac Chotiner is a staff writer at The New Yorker, where he is the principal contributor to Q. & A., a series of interviews with major public figures in politics, media, books, business, technology, and more.

Article from newyorker.com

BUSINESS

WHAT IS YOUR OCCUPATIONAL OUTLOOK?

By William McCoy, MPA Is your job or profession headed for obsolescence or is it part of the wave of the future?

Years ago, an episode of a TV show called The Twilight Zone was entitled, “The Man Is Obsolete.” Set in the distant future, the authoritarian state reviewed everyone’s status every one or two years to determine if they were “useful.” The central character (Romney Wordsworth) was asked what his occupation was. He answered, “I am a librarian.” The investigator responded, “A librarian? We have no books, so we have no need for libraries. You are obsolete. Mr. Wordsworth you have no function. You are a ghost from another time.” He was, then, sentenced to “liquidation.”

In many ways, the future is now. Cartoons of yesteryear depicted futuristic gadgets that are part of our daily routines. The Jetsons had a television that they used to see and talk to one another. Today, we use cellphones and computers to “FaceTime” with others. How about Dick Tracy’s “two-way wrist-watch” (the inspiration for the “Apple Watch”) or his “compact video surveillance camera,” both of which are ubiquitous today? The list goes on and on.

Scientists and inventors are working to bring the future to us, right now. “Artificial Intelligence,” “virtual reality,” robotics, and “agile development” are currently in vogue.

Artificial Intelligence, which many associate with computers (think Intel processors), is being used to help people deal with stroke or brain injury, expedite shipping and inventory control, solve business problems and address problems (like combatting COVID-19), and accomplish other purposes too numerous to list here.

Virtual Reality (VR) applications are commonplace, as well. VR applications are used to train people for combat, fly airplanes, perform surgical procedures, and many more.

VR is being used to entertain, educate, and emotionally (and sexually) comfort people.

VR simulations give people the experience of doing something without the consequences of failure.

Robotics are increasingly taking over labor-intensive functions, ranging from manufacturing assembly, medical operations and procedures, to cleaning a carpet. Robots can do the work of people without the mistakes. They also are tireless and always do what they are asked.

“Agile development” is another concept that has changed the pace of technological change. Agile development is the idea that small, incremental changes can be made to

a process or product without having to wait on the finished or final result. It is most commonly used in connection with the development of computer software.

to the pandemic. The BLS projects servicerelated jobs (especially in health care) will continue to grow. Remember: You only need one job.

The BLS projects the following jobs will experience the greatest growth over the next decade (with annual wage in parenthesis): solar photo-voltaic (solar panel) installers ($42,680), wind turbine service technicians ($54,370), home health aides ($24,4200), personal care aides ($24,020), occupational therapy assistants ($60,220), information security analysts ($98,350), physicians’ assistants ($108,610), statisticians ($87,780), nurse practitioners ($107,030), and speech language pathologists ($77,510). The BLS identified physicians’ assistants, which require a master’s degree, as the best Jobs come and go, as part of the normal occupation for Ohioans in the coming decade. economic life-cycle. Some readers may remember “full service” gas stations, where In conclusion, as you navigate these uncertain attendants filled your tank and cleaned your times, remember the parable of the “The windshield, or stores with cashiers and “bag Farmer’s Fortune.” It ends with these words: boys,” or banks with tellers. Self-service, “We’ve all had experiences where the curse turns into a blessing; rejection turns into ATMs, and other forms of mechanization redirection, and the unanswered prayer is and automation have rendered many jobs the best thing that could’ve happened to you. obsolete. Be creative, be persistent, and It’s important to have foundational beliefs always keep your eyes on the prize. that keep you composed, to appreciate and celebrate the good, and to process trials Many people fear they will lose their job to knowing they soon shall pass.” mechanization, automation, or technological advances. Experts say we should not worry William McCoy is founder of and principal about Artificial Intelligence- such as robots consultant with The McCoy Company- a and computers- replacing us in the near- personal services consulting firm specializing future. They say Artificial Intelligence will in strategic planning, economic development, make work easier and less mistake-prone, and training that helps its clients articulate and achieve their visions, solve problems gradually replace us, set the stage for the and make decisions, and capitalize on their emergence of new jobs, and force structural opportunities. He has served every level of changes in the workforce and economy (e.g., government, foundations, nonprofit and forfour-day work week). profit enterprise, and others. Mr. McCoy is an award-winner, profiled in Who’s Who in What does the future hold? The federal the World and elsewhere. You can reach Bureau of Labor statistics (BLS) projects William McCoy at (614) 785-8497 or via 8.4 million jobs will be created in the next e-mail at wmccoy2@themccoycompany. ten years. This is one-half (50%) of the com. You can also visit his website at https:// projected jobs to be permanently lost, due wmccoy29.wixsite.com/mysite.

What are you going to do if you are among the 40 million unemployed? This is a moment of decision for those who must find workparticularly if your job is permanently lost.

It would be wise to focus on industries and jobs that are projected to grow rather than decline. Changing careers may require getting re-trained or going back to school. If this is not something you want to do, get creative in your job search and the use of your skill set.

You may not be able to teach an old dog new tricks, but you may be able to trick a new dog with an old one.

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The Columbus & Dayton News African American • June 2020 The Columbus African American Journal • February 2015

BUSINESS

TECHNOLOGY AND THE GOOD NEWS

By Cecil Jones, MBA Opportunities during Adversity!

Over the last few months, we all have had an opportunity to stay at or near home.

Have you dealt with this as an opportunity or a problem? I have had the opportunity to turn off some of the news and media updates and get some things done. We can reach out and communicate with those that we have not talked with, IM’d or texted for a while.

What things can you complete (or at least get started) during this period? We have some recommendations at the beginning of this article and thoughts to help all of us at the end.

Free/Inexpensive Ways to Communicate S o m e f r e e a n d inexpensive w ays to Google Docs communicate to others include the offerings Need to share documents? Google Docs below. provides an online repository for you to post documents and share them vis as link with Freeconference.com anyone that you like.

Do you want to do an online or voice family reunion? Freeconference.com provides the Become More Spiritual free telephone conference call number and/ Have you talked to God today? Is this a good or video. time to dig deeper spiritually? You have the time. Use online sites to better understand Vimeo the Gospel and Old Testament. Sites like Are you videoing and want to post and share biblegateway.com provide easy to understand a large video? Several companies offer free versions of the Bible. That excuse: “King uploading of video (Youtube, etc.), Vimeo James version is difficult to understand” is offers the uploading and sharing of huge gone. You will find a version that is just at your level. As you know, you can have your videos at an inexpensive annual fee.

PC read to you, even. Excuses gone!

Zoom Learn Some New Technology Tools and Many churches, corporations and others Tricks have learned and are using Zoom since the pandemic began. Zoom is easy to use and can - Emogis – get some additional cute Emojis be accessed by the people that you want to and icons to send to others when you send attend your Live session by just sending them your messages. We all can use a smile or laugh right now. a link to click on.

not need most apps to run in the background, 24 by 7. Disable them by clicking on them and following the prompts. (Now you know why you must recharge your phone’s battery more often than you would like). Get rid of the unneeded apps and set many of the rest not to run 24 by 7.

Get a New Certification Is this the time to get a new certification? You may have a little more quiet time. Go study.

There are free and inexpensive certifications available. See ‘Take a Free Online Course’, below.

Take a Free Online Course There are thousands of free courses available.

See Coursera.org, https://online-learning. harvard.edu/catalog/free (Yes, Harvard), openculture.com, www.trade-schools. net/articles/free-online-courses (includes certifications), edx.org, udemy.com, https:// www.khanacademy.org/ (for children, even software coding courses), online.stanford.edu (Yes, Stanford). Some of these sites offer free online certifications.

- Signature Lines – develop a stand signature line at the bottom of your emails and Explore the Job Market Online Microsoft is going after the team and messages When the crowd is going to the right, be sure collaboration market. They offer Microsoft Teams as a free package for sharing - Mass Communication (for those groups to to look to your left. When the stock market is documents, doing team edits real-time on a which you belong) – develop and organize going down (people are selling), consider if document and sharing information, both real- the lists of people to whom you send emails that is an opportunity for you to buy. When time and by posting information to be viewed and communications to regularly. Now is you have a bit of time, look at the job market online. Yes, some industries are furloughing a good time to send that group message of later by others on your team. people. Guess what? Some organizations are encouragement. doing even more hiring than before!

YouTube - Your Phone (No, don’t download a bunch Explore Your Hobby YouTube is a good choice for quality real- of new apps) – Take the time to click on time streaming/viewing. The audio is superb, some features of your phone that you have Got a hobby that you always wanted to get and music/vocals are modulated very well not used. Be sure to look at those apps that back to and becoming engaged. Now is a are set to run (in the background). You do good time. without adjusting.

Microsoft Teams

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The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

BUSINESS

Get Better Organized You know you can never be too organized.

Get rid of (or scan and toss) those old papers.

Get rid of old junk on your PC, table and phone. Update your telephone directory.

Let’s use this time to organize.

- The path to education is more expensive and more difficult to obtain - Frustration with the status quo (no/poor job, vicious national leadership, murders, overarrest, conviction and imprisonment, health treatment disparities)

A Dream Deferred What happens to a Dream Deferred?

Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore – and then run?

Does it stink like rotten meat?

Or crust and sugar over – like a syrup sweet?

Is this a similar situation to the late 1960s when dozens of cities were on fire at the same Maybe it just sags like a heavy load.

Even fitness clubs are offering free online time? Is this the perfect equation for protests? Or does it explode? sessions. Let’s get online and get a ‘moving’ Is this the definition of a ‘Dream Deferred’? routine (I don’t say ‘exercise’, anymore). Just - Langston Hughes move the body.

Coming after the riots of the middle and someone that needs to hear from late 1960s was additional college financial Contact Getting Past the Current Environment you. Your prayers, words, thoughts and aid, admissions of Blacks to primarily white comforts will mean a lot. Now is the time - Protests in Dayton, Columbus, Canton, colleges, ability to shop at mainstream to ensure that we have communicated and Cleveland, Cincinnati over the murders of department stores, ability to eat at mainstream are not feeling isolated.

George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna restaurants, ability to stay in more hotels, and Are you looking for a technology networking Taylor and many others. more (still not adequate, even today) Black group to help you get smarter? What new employees being hired in corporations and technology or process have you learned this - Local Columbus TV Anchor social government. month? Need advice on how to look for that media Facebook posting calling protestors technology position? Are you considering “animals” Let’s communicate. Let’s focus. Send a technology education (courses, certificates or communication or make a call to collectively degrees) and need information? Do you have - Record high unemployment help make the situation better. Langston a business, process, project management, Hughes penned ‘A Dream Deferred’. Does it personnel or technology question? Please let me know. admin@accelerationservices.net - COVIC-19 Pandemic hits Black community describe today’s environment?

Cecil Jones MBA, ABD, PMP, CCP, SCPM, harder than rest of the community FLMI, Lean Professional, 614-726-1925.

Get More Healthy

I’M RETIRED... NOW WHAT? HOW DO I KEEP BUSY?

By Cheryl Y. Wood, PhD In my travels throughout the community as Recruiter for my employer, I daily speak with many people. I enjoy talking & communicating with others and it fits me well to find out if they need employment. I often tease those who are retired, stating they have no interest in working because they rise in the morning, drink their coffee, and watch the news. I often get laughter from them because I hit the nail on the head - it’s true!

I encourage them to know they’ve achieved the right to relax and enjoy life without the hustle and bustle of clocking in to work everyday. My goal is to one day be in their shoes!

Over the years I’ve watched those groups of people, who have spent many years working a job, saving their money, now ready to go home and relax. I see nothing wrong with going home to relax for a while. But not longterm. Check out my own philosophy on this: “You have to be in good shape physically, emotionally, and have a sharp mind just to work a job every day.” I learned this lesson in my 20’s. And now I know it takes being fully alert of your surroundings to go into an office, company, or organization and work a job every day. A person who spent their life working, raising a family, having a successful relationship, supporting family, and all that needs a SIGH of relief! And they’re ready to enjoy the GOOD LIFE! Count me in when the time comes.

“survival mode”. What do I mean by this?

We tend to make it from week-to-week, paycheck-to-paycheck trying to survive rather than planning out our lives. This totally has to do with your upbringing. And if you’re not taught to plan ahead you will remain in “survival mode”. Other cultures are taught to plan early on and become great managers of their time. People who plan their lives have an idea where their feet will land in 5 years, versus wondering how will I make it next month? In my observations, those who plan their retirement have goals to achieve and begin to work their plan once that glorious day arrives. It’s sad to say that those who have no plan fall victim to circumstance and sometimes don’t survive long afterwards because their “rest period” ends up deteriorating their lives. Don’t end up being a couch potato like Peg Bundy on the famous television show “Married with Children”, take action now and plan.

that bucket list that you have in the back of your mind. You know those things you’ve been waiting to do, that you couldn’t do cause you were married with children, or you were working all the time building that fortune for your retirement, or you were. . . whatever it is! Now is the time to write down all those places you want to go, things you always wanted to do. Write it down! Think about how to do it. And get it done! You have more value at this stage in life and that information needs to be shared and invested in those who don’t have a clue about living! Real life is happening, not fantasy, or living in a glass bubble. Fantasy ends soon, bubbles can be burst, and the reality is you gotta tell these young people how to land on their feet!

Now is the time to be true to yourself. Put that bucket list in writing. A bucket list is a list of goals to achieve over the span of your life. Now it’s time to take a leap of faith!

You deserve to spend life the way you want.

Not stressed out trying to work everyday, not worried about how to pay bills, not concerned about the weather (figuratively speaking of course) I think you understand what I’m saying. Not watching television everyday all day, not just going to the grocery store, church, and back home, you have to get up and get out of the house. Being involved keeps you alive! The “rest time” is good for the short-term, but people who stop living don’t live long. There is purpose in your life and you’ve got to make it work for you.

What does that mean Cheryl? Well, think about it. There are people you know who are great manipulators of “your time”. (aren’t they?) They’ll find stuff for you to do. They just can’t wait to get you to watch the grandchildren, run errands for them. . . whatever it is. Don’t get me wrong, watching grandchildren is a blessing! A former co-worker was excited about watching his grandchildren once he retired. I have friends who love spending time with their grandchildren and enjoy sharing in their lives. It’s not my intent to down play that role. Family is a priority, have fun doing There are many meaningful ways to spend it, mentoring them, sharing your love, and your time and enjoy yourself. Remember you showing them what’s important in life, they only live once!

The problem becomes when we don’t plan need you. No, something much greater is for it. Most African Americans are in at stake here. Now is the time to pull out Continued on Page 26 The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

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The Columbus & Dayton African American • June 2020

BUSINESS Continued from Page 25

I have suggestions: 1) Invest in your community - Someone has to help revitalize our communities and you have the knowledge and experience to get it done - before the neighborhood completely deteriorates. Someone has to teach the younger generation to care for what others took love, time, hard-earned money, and energy to build. There is a cry for help answer it.

2) Start a seniors club that travels - Why not? Start planning a shopping trip with a few friends. Before you know it you’ll be traveling the globe. Start even if you don’t have money, it doesn’t have to be a long journey. Hang out together and have a good time. Just do it.

3) Volunteer at schools in your neighborhood to help young people read.

A co-worker shared the low reading rates of African American children in public schools with me. I was disheartened, wondering what is happening to the children and their future success. It’s sad and I’m afraid they won’t make it without intervention. A wise and rewarding investment of your time.

4) Mentor some young people who need directions. Just being a kind neighbor opens the door to good things. It’s hard to trust people anymore, but brotherly love never goes out of style.

10) Start an early morning prayer - Call up a friend and pray every morning, for family, children, community. We need the value you bring to make a difference!

These are my own suggestions and you may have others. I just want to get the juices flowing to see how creative you become.

Always reward yourself for a job well done and every day you’ll feel better. Your time now should be invested in ways that bring 6) If you need money start selling you great enjoyment. something you’re good at - Baking, babysitting, cooking meals, care taking, I want feedback. I want to hear from you if writing, sewing, auto repair, mentoring, the this has motivated you to action. Afterall, I have to know that my Vision statement is list goes on. working: 7) Join a club - Do exciting things that Inspiring You to Recognize Your Unique keep your mind actively involved. Involve Value to Self, to God, to Family & yourself in activities that make life better for Community. others. You have abilities and skills that need to be used. Don’t retire your skills - use them! Evangelist Cheryl Y. Wood, PhD. An innovative, self-motivated, detail-oriented 8) Read one book per week - Start out with Talk Show Host of Walking in Victory for something simple if you’re not already a 15+ years, is an ordained minister, teacher, reader. But keep it going. Your brain is a preacher, and author. A native of Dayton, muscle - exercise it everyday! Don’t let it Ohio, she has a B.A. from the University of deteriorate.

Dayton in Communications, and a Doctorate in Divinity from Int’l. Apostolic University. A 9) Learn a new craft or skill (or teach one) member of Greater Love Christian Church 14 - Learn to play an instrument, take singing years. She prays, sings, writes, and Inspires lessons, take tennis lessons, go bowling, etc. others to recognize their unique value to Self, to God, to Family, & Community. . . The list is endless, reinvent yourself.

5) Google: Volunteer Opportunities Check out the opportunities available until a few items spark your interest. Schools, libraries, community organizations . . .

COMMISSIONERS ANNOUNCE $2.6 MILLION EVICTION AND FORECLOSURE PREVENTION INITIATIVE The Franklin County Commissioners yesterday voted to invest an additional $2.6 million in rental and mortgage assistance to help residents in danger of eviction or foreclosure. The initiative includes redirected federal TANF funding for the PRC (Prevention, Retention, and Contingency) program via Job and Family Services, new CARES Act dollars for PRC Plus, an expansion of the PRC program, and an investment of CARES Act dollars in the Housing Stabilization Coalition’s HOPE Fund. The programs have different eligibility requirements, but all target lowincome Franklin County residents who may be struggling to pay their rent or mortgage due to the current economic slowdown, and both will be available beginning June 1st.

The commissioners expect to be able to assist more than 3,000 families with this funding.

“Losing a home is terribly disruptive to families, and can have results that are felt for years,” said Board of Commissioners President John O’Grady. “It throws families into chaos, makes it tough for kids to do well in school, and can make it harder for parents to keep their jobs. To have that happen through no fault of their own, but because of this pandemic would make it especially painful.”

Two million, one hundred thousand dollars of this funding will be administered by Franklin County Job and Family Services, of which,

navigating through this crisis, and to build a better future for every resident in Franklin County.”

The $500,000 contribution to the HOPE Fund will provide rental or mortgage assistance for households living at or below 200% of the poverty line in an initiative administered

by IMPACT Community Action, and in partnership with 16 local partners such as the City of Columbus, Columbus Urban League, Southside Thrive, and Physicians CareConnection.

“The economic slowdown our community is facing right now is unprecedented in the swiftness with which it materialized,” said Commissioner Kevin L. Boyce. “Families all over Franklin County have found themselves laid off, furloughed, or with their business shuttered, and had no time to prepare for it. Each one that we can help stay in their $600,000 will be reserved for families living home will be better able to contribute to our at less than 165% of the federal poverty line economic recovery in the coming months.” via the expanded standard PRC program, and $1.5 million is earmarked for families In recent weeks, the commissioners have allocated nearly $12 million in supports between 165% and 300% of the poverty line to residents and businesses suffering from to be administered through the new PRC the effects of the pandemic and economic Plus. slowdown, most of which is expected to be reimbursed via funding from CARES Act. “This pandemic shows that we are all in this together,” said Commissioner Marilyn For more information and to apply for PRC Brown. “None of us are truly safe unless assistance, visit jfs.franklincountyohio.gov/ our neighbors and their families have a safe PRC. For information about or to apply for place to call home. We are proud to make assistance from IMPACT Community Action, these investments that help support families visit impactca.org.

The Columbus & Dayton African American • June 2020

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The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

COMMUNITY

ST. LUKE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH’S “JOSHUA” LEADS CONGREGATION TO NEW HEIGHTS DURING COVID-19 To Dianne Smith-Foster, COVID-19 is a “Red Sea” moment that requires spiritual leadership. And St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Rev. Renard D. Allen, Jr. is the Joshua leading the church’s congregation through these turbulent times.

“COVID-19 was no surprise to God because he has already made provisions to help us to get through this,” said Smith-Foster, a member of St. Luke. “But we have got to trust and be obedient….our faith-based leaders who are our shepherds are leading us through this Red Sea we are going through, and we want to look to them for direction and God will help us, and the community, get through.”

The health threat caused by COVID-19 and the restrictions associated with Ohio’s stay at home order has caused all religious congregations to alter normal practices and find new ways to feed people spiritually.

Assembling in the sanctuary has temporarily been replaced by people assembling online and in other ways. But Pastor Joshua D. Ward, Pastor of Omega Baptist Church, said Christians are still connecting with God and it is a pastor’s job to think creatively about ways for God to speak.

“Preachers are always saying that God is omnipresent…as a result of this, I am really seeing that come to fruition” Pastor Ward said. “Wherever we are, God can meet us,” he said. “However we are connecting, if we are intentional in creating that space for God to speak, he will.”

At St. Luke, Pastor Allen has implemented five new online preaching, teaching and engagement efforts to reach the Daytonbased congregation. But the signature event is Sunday morning’s Worship on Wheels – a 10:45 a.m. service where the congregation stays in their vehicles and Pastor Allen and the church’s band guide the worship service in the parking lot. People can attend in person or they can listen on their radios because the service is broadcast live on WDAO 1210 AM and 102.3 FM. “The whole Worship on Wheels means so much to me,” said St. Luke member Sharri Golson. “It is so super important to me to have this time to come together with everyone. That is my touchstone.”

In St. Luke’s parking lot, you can tell when the spirit is high. People honk their horns or wave their hand out their vehicle’s window.

Sunday March 29 marked the first Sunday the congregation went from the pews to the parking lot. The church’s Worship on Wheels has gained popularity and garnered media coverage. Each Sunday, between 200 to 225 cars – most with two to three people crowd the church’s parking lot at 2262 N. Gettysburg Ave. Before COVID-19, St. Luke’s Sunday morning service and weekly Bible study combined reached about 500 people. These days, Pastor Allen said he is reaching between 1,500 to a high of 5,000 people through various outreach efforts.

Pastor Renard D. Allen, Jr. and Pastor Pat Murray - Living Word Church (middle photo), St. Luke’s “Worship on Wheels”

• Worship on Wheels, including giving communion in the parking lot • Video Bible Study each week that is broadcast on the church’s Facebook page • Thirty days of daily devotionals, called “Quarantined with God” posted on Facebook.

His Holy Week series paid homage to the late Bill Withers with topics like, “Ain’t No Sunshine When He’s Gone.”

• “Let’s Get LIT (Lost in Truth) with Pastor A”- an interactive show featuring live interviews. The first topic was “Understanding COVID-19.”

• A Good Friday Seven Last Words service streamed live and an Easter Sunrise parking lot service Pastor Allen said the pandemic represents a challenge and an opportunity for the church.

“These desperate times require a level of creativity and innovation that has proven to be rewarding to me personally and that has renewed and reinvigorated my pastoral energies and enthusiasm,” Pastor Allen said.

“People’s lives are being changed, people are finding hope and people are being freed from being controlled by their anxiety and being saved from the grips of depression because we are able to provide them with the spiritual nourishment and spiritual inspiration in this unique way that also does not put their health at greater risk,” he said.

Jim Johnson, President and General Manager of WDAO Radio, said, “When I was asked about WDAO Radio broadcasting St. Luke Baptist Church Sunday services live from the church parking lot, immediately I thought it was great idea…While talking with Pastor Allen about the live radio broadcast, Proverbs 29:18 visited my mind: “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.”

Twenty-First Century Pastor

On Easter Sunday night, Pastor Allen held his first “Worship Talk Back,” which allowed members to dialogue with him, via Facebook Live, about the Sunday morning experience.

It’s another new way to engage. “I think the world needs to know that the church can Since Ohio’s stay at home order was sometimes lead the way in innovation and announced on March 22, Pastor Allen has not always be behind the curve when it comes to embracing new methods of providing implemented: services to people,” Pastor Allen said.

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

27

Rev. Eric E. Dudley, Assistant to the Pastor and Campus and Ministry Manager at St. Luke, called Pastor Allen a “forward thinker.”

“People are starting to recognize the potential in our shepherd and they are excited that we are still being connected through a gospel while we have to be separate…He has been able to tap in and keep the foundation of the gospel but use social media to just reach the people,” he said.

Pastor Allen has used the connecting opportunities to accomplish several other goals. During his show, he interviewed Dr. Francis Ogbolu, a physician with Kettering Health Network, to allow St. Luke members to ask questions about the coronavirus. The Easter sunrise fellowship with Pastor Pat Murray and Living Word Church allowed St. Luke to worship with a predominantly white congregation, which furthers Pastor Allen’s goal for St. Luke to participate in more interdenominational and interracial worship experiences.

Pastor Ward said he and his father, Rev. Darryl Ward, the retired pastor of Omega Baptist Church, attended St. Luke’s Easter Sunrise Service. Pastor Joshua Ward also preached during St. Luke’s livestreamed Seven Last Words service.

“I just love the way that Pastor Allen has been innovative and creative in figuring out how to feed his flock,” Ward said.

Rev. Dudley said Easter Sunday services, particularly the worship service with Living Word Church, felt like “an exclamation point” for all the initiatives leading up to that.

“Easter Sunday was a sign of togetherness and showed that we all share the same faith, we’re all servants and it gives us an opportunity to know what we are capable of,” he said.

Smith-Foster, of St. Luke, said she “thanks God that we have a 21st Century pastor who has some knowledge of technologies and what he doesn’t know he is willing to reach out to others to ensure that we will make it through this wilderness.”

“He’s not a slothful pastor. He’s energetic.

He’s ready. He is up to the challenge and he submits himself to God,” Smith-Foster said.

The Columbus & Dayton African American • June 2020

IMPACT AT WORK

By Kay Wilson, MBA There are letters being sent to the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Prisons calling on the agencies to immediately release incarcerated individuals, who are either elderly or have chronic health conditions, to reduce the risk posed by Covid-19. The request came as the number of coronavirus cases grow throughout Ohio jails. As of the writing of this article there are 23 coronavirus related deaths at Pickaway Correctional Institution in central Ohio, according to the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

A guard and a prison nurse have also died.

There are some inmates who aren’t physically sick, but the situation is taking a mental toll.

A recently interviewed prisoner said when some inmates in his cell block were ordered to the gym without being told why, one inmate replied “Well, I’m just going to go into the shower and hang myself.”

“There is so much anxiety about what is going on here with people’s health,” White added. “We view ourselves as an expendable population. ...So, when you see these type of numbers that are happening to us in prison, it’s almost expected – like, they (the authorities) don’t care.”

(L-R) Mujeddid Muhammad, Program Instructor (previous Re-entry Graduate); Jasmine Patterson, Self-Sufficiency Coordinator; Todd Lewis, Re-entry Manager

citizens. Many of the participants have spent decades in prison for drug crimes, some violent crimes, and find themselves without family or friends to help them adapt to their new life.

and need help reforming their identities – or forging new ones.

Mirroring trends across the country, the Ohio prison population is aging – and aging quickly. The share of state and federal prisoners 55 or older has been projected to grow from about 11% in 2015 to more than 30% by 2030, according to a report prepared for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In Franklin County, the *state prison population fell by nearly 2.4% between 2007 and 2019, but the share of inmates 50 and older nearly doubled.

Prison left James with breathing issues and (Prisonpolicy.org/profiles/OH.html) post-traumatic stress disorder – health issues that have compounded the broader challenge Jails and prisons are typically poorly he faces adjusting to the world outside. equipped to handle the complex physical and However, he’s receiving treatment through behavioral health needs of older inmates, and programs at Alvis and IMPACT which seeks often, programming within their walls only to help people like him, part of a population comes sparingly to help inmates prepare for often forgotten or written off: older adults release. Because of COVID-19, preparations who have spent a considerable period of prior to release have caught many off guard. their lives behind bars, and who can return Incarceration can exacerbate and accelerate the effects of aging. In the community, an home lost, confused, aimless and alone. older adult is typically someone aged 65 The IMPACT Re-entry program has served or older. In prison, that age is 55. Earlier 1,031 restored citizens coming back to than usual, these individuals experience Franklin County since 2009. Graduates of symptoms like mobility impairment, our program have a recidivism rate of less difficulty bathing, dietary issues, hearing and than 10%, 3 times better than the national eyesight impairment, and medical conditions recidivism average. Our case managers help like heart disease, cancer, arthritis, and recently incarcerated people transition upon diabetes. their release.

Often, people who have been incarcerated The program works with local prisons and for much of their adult lives aren’t quite sure partner agencies, which serve restored who they are outside the confines of prison,

Our program’s ability to continue during times of social distancing is still important because there is a dire need for support for (older) people coming home, who are even more vulnerable than a 25-year-old coming home from prison.

“You think about restarting your life, in terms of housing, job, technology and being healthy enough to live with newly “What we do best is provide a steady arm for found freedom – you think about that stuff,” For James, A 74-year-old being released them as they’re navigating and transitioning Lewis says. “But figuring out who you are is from prison after 46 years meant returning to from prison to the community,” says Todd something they all struggle with if they’ve Lewis, the program’s manager. been in a long time.” a completely foreign Franklin County.

“It’s been very overwhelming, to say the least – something as simple as using a phone or riding the bus, interacting with family and just people in general. It’s a work in progress,” says James, who was released on parole from a state-run Ohio Correctional Facility in April after serving the maximum sentence for his first-degree robbery and drug charge convictions. We are withholding his last name to protect his privacy.

The Columbus & Dayton African American • June 2020

28

Ohio does have a program that allows elderly and severely ill prisoners to be released early from prison, and it could save state taxpayers millions of dollars a year. But, hundreds of the state’s elderly prisoners — many of whom prison officials acknowledge pose little or no risk of committing new crimes — aren’t allowed to apply, an ACLU investigation found.

More than 1,200 people age 60 and older were serving time in Ohio’s prisons as of Dec. 31, 2019, the most recent count available. By one estimate, the average cost to incarcerate each of them is $70,000 a year — for an annual total of $84 million.

Last year, just four inmates were freed under the program.

Around the country, early release provisions for elderly and infirm prisoners are billed as a way to address problems such as prison overcrowding, skyrocketing budgets and civil rights lawsuits alleging inadequate medical care.

Now, the pre-existing conditions associated

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

HOPE Fund Community Message An Eviction Prevention Program IMPACT Community Action is here to serve you We are working in partnership with the Housing Stabilization Coalition to help as many people as we can during this challenging time. Our current rental assistance program helps individuals and families prevent eviction and homelessness. Emergency need for our current service does not have to be COVID-19 related.

Q1. Who is priority at getting dollars from the Hope Fund?

Individuals or families that are at risk of eviction. (landlord notification required)

Q2. How many month’s rent are we paying Up to three months not to exceed $3,000

The need is high, so we expect extremely high call volume for this program and appointments may be full. We are scheduling appointments daily but they Q3. What are the qualifications for Rent Assistance? fill up quickly. Please call 1-866-747-1040 to check for available openings.

Starting June 1st, IMPACT will launch an online application process for rental assistance, found on IMPACT’s home page at WWW.IMPACTCA.ORG. You will no longer need an in-person appointment to apply for assistance.

You will now be able to apply directly online. For those that do not have access to apply online, you may call the 1-800 number to schedule an appointment. IMPACT and its partners established the Hope Fund in order to prevent evictions and homelessness for families that have been impacted by COVID-19. Please stay tuned to our website and social media for updates to this program. If you need to reach an IMPACT customer service representative please call (614) 252 – 2799 or email us at supportiveservices@impactca.org

200% or below the Federal Poverty Level based on a household’s past 30-days proof of Income. The emergency need for assistance must be COVID-19 related (i.e loss of job, childcare barriers, illness, etc)

Q4. How long does the process take to approve a rent application?

3 to 10 business days. Turn around time depends upon all documentation from the customer and landlord has been provided in a timely manner

Q5. What documents do I need?

ID, Social Security Card, 30 days Proof of Income, Lease, Eviction Notice, Proof of sustainable income to pay rent moving forward and must be a COVID-19 related emergency.

Q6. Will I need to get information from my landlord?

Yes. We will need your landlord’s name, number, email address so that we can send them a housing fee form and request a W9 to complete for processing.

Q7. Can I give the housing fee form and W9 to my landlord.

No. This information must be sent from the agency to the landlord.

Funding generously provided by: City of Columbus, Franklin County Commissioners, Columbus Foundation, Nationwide Insurance, United Way of Central Ohio, Crane Group, NiSource

with “Accelerated aging” and the lack of adequate healthcare makes the spread of Covid-19 in prisons more likely. Hand sanitizer is treated as contraband, as are many bacterial fighting cleaners like bleach.

The process for “Compassionate or Conditional Medical Release” is often difficult to navigate. Eligibility is often predicated on how terminal the incarcerated individual’s illness is; and with limited testing, close living quarters and a-symptomatic people, it is hard to limit the spread. If compassionate release is requested and granted too late, the person could die in prison. If it is requested too early or test results have not come in, that person could be denied eligibility for being too healthy. Throughout prisons, nationwide, more than 3,000 inmates applied for compassionate release and only 216 were granted. (*Projects.jsonline.com/ news/2019/4/18/release-programs-forsick-elderly-prisons-could-save-millions. html) Those on the front lines believe coronavirus in the jails is more widespread than reported because the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction is no longer conducting widespread testing in prisons.

prisoners with symptoms and at release.

The aged are at high risk of severe illness from COVID-19. The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction’s testing plan says that inmates nearing the end of their sentence should be tested about 10 days before release and if positive, be isolated.

The plan also says, for positive cases, the prison should notify the health department where the person will live at least two days before release.

“We are testing when it is actionable, testing when it helps someone, testing when someone can be either quarantined safely away, not put in contact with someone else or when their health care is going to be impacted,” said corrections Director Annette Chambers-Smith.

All people released from prisons are said to receive an information packet on COVID-19, and are told to isolate themselves or selfquarantine.

Ohio didn’t continue mass testing at its prisons because, officials say, it didn’t help isolate and quarantine prisoners or stop the transmission of the virus in places like There continue to be questions raised about Marion Correctional Institution, where the prisons’ testing capabilities even for widespread testing done weeks after the first 29

positive case there found over 80% of the prison population had the virus. Some Ohio prisons have dozens or more COVID-19 cases among inmates, while others only have a handful.

When ex-offenders are released back into society, they are expected to be law abiding, tax-paying citizens. However, unless they have programming to help them navigate to a routine, a sense of self and a job, there is no way they can accomplish both things. IMPACT would like to continue our programming in a way that is safe for participants, staff and the community. There are previously incarcerated individuals and we want to help them prepare and give them a chance to become a positive part of the community.

Kay Wilson serves as the Director for Strategic Initiatives at IMPACT Community Action where she guides their community engagement and development efforts. She is an author of two books, youth advocate, and servant leader. Kay graduated from the Ohio State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, her Masters from the University of Enugu, Nigeria in Mass Communications and an MBA from Ohio Dominican.

The Columbus & Dayton News African American • June 2020 The Columbus African American Journal • February 2015

By Ray Miller Damaged Heritage - The Elaine Race Massacre & A Story of Reconciliation

By J. Chester Johnson

The World of Stephanie St. Clair - An Entrepreneur, Race Woman & Outlaw in Early 20th Century Harlem

By Shirley Steward

The 1919 Elaine Race Massacre, arguably the worst in our country’s history, has been widely unknown for the better part of a century, thanks to the whitewashing of history. In his research, Johnson came upon a treatise by historian and anti-lynching advocate Ida B. Wells on the Elaine Massacre, where more than a hundred and possibly hundreds of AfricanAmerican men, women, and children perished at the hands of white posses, vigilantes, and federal troops in rural Phillips County, Arkansas. Damaged Heritage brings to light a deliberately erased chapter in American history, and Chester offers a blueprint for how our pluralistic society can at last acknowledge—and deal with— damaged heritage and follow a path to true healing.

Algorithms of Oppression How Search Engines Reinforce Racism

By Safiya Umoja Noble In Algorithms of Oppression, Safiya Umoja Noble challenges the idea that search engines like Google offer an equal playing field for all forms of ideas, identities, and activities. Data discrimination is a real social problem; Noble argues that the combination of private interests in promoting certain sites, along with the monopoly status of a relatively small number of Internet search engines, leads to a biased set of search algorithms that privilege whiteness and discriminate against people of color, specifically women of color. This book contributes to our understanding of how racism is created, maintained, and disseminated in the 21st century.

Born in Guadeloupe in 1897, Stephanie St. Clair entered the United States thirteen years later. By 1923 at the age of twenty-six she would create and manage a highly lucrative policy bank in Harlem – earning a quarter of a million dollars a year. To this day, she remains the only black female gangster to run an operation of that size. Upon arrival in the United States St. Clair did not conduct her life in the manner expected of a black female Caribbean immigrant in the early twentieth century. What factors influenced St. Clair’s decision to become an entrepreneur and activist within her community? Why did St. Clair describe herself as a «lady» when ladies did not run illegal businesses and they were not black?

Race After Technology

By Ruha Benjamin From everyday apps to complex algorithms, Ruha Benjamin cuts through tech-industry hype to understand how emerging technologies can reinforce White supremacy and deepen social inequity. Benjamin argues that automation, far from being a sinister story of racist programmers scheming on the dark web, has the potential to hide, speed up, and deepen discrimination while appearing neutral and even benevolent when compared to the racism of a previous era. Presenting the concept of the “New Jim Code,” she shows how a range of discriminatory designs encode inequity by explicitly amplifying racial hierarchies; by ignoring but thereby replicating social divisions; or by aiming to fix racial bias but ultimately doing quite the opposite.

Moreover, she makes a compelling case for race itself as a kind of technology, designed to stratify and sanctify social injustice in the architecture of everyday life.

The Divided Mind of the Black Church: Theology, Piety & Public Witness

By Raphael G. Warnock For decades the black church and black theology have held each other at arm’s length. Black theology has emphasized the role of Christian faith in addressing racism and other forms of oppression, arguing that Jesus urged his disciples to seek the freedom of all peoples.

Meanwhile, the black church, even when focused on social concerns, has often emphasized personal piety rather than social protest.

With the rising influence of white evangelicalism, biblical fundamentalism, and the prosperity gospel, the divide has become even more pronounced.

In The Divided Mind of the Black Church, Raphael G. Warnock, Senior Pastor of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church, traces the historical significance of the rise and development of black theology as an important conversation partner for the black church.

The Columbus African & Dayton African American • June 2020 American News Journal • February 2015

Stay Woke - A People’s Guide to Making All Black Lives Matter

By Tehama Lopez Bunyasi & Candis Watts Smith The essential guide to understanding how racism works and how racial inequality shapes black lives, ultimately offering a roadmap for resistance for racial justice advocates and antiracists When #BlackLivesMatter went viral in 2013, it shed a light on the urgent, daily struggles of black Americans to combat racial injustice. The message resonated with millions across the country. Yet many of our political, social, and economic institutions are still embedded with racist policies and practices that devalue black lives. Stay Woke directly addresses these stark injustices and builds on the lessons of racial inequality and intersectionality the Black Lives Matter movement has challenged its fellow citizens to learn.

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A 400 YEAR HISTORY OF COURAGE, LEGISLATIVE UPDATE BRAVERY, OLBC INTRODUCES RESOLUTION DECLARING RACISM A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS LEADERSHIP AND SACRIFICE - OUR MILITARY SERVICE

By Tim Senator Charleta B. Anderson Tavares (Ret.) I am the son of a career The militaryOhio parent. Legislative My father Black Caucus on Tuesday, served in the United States June 2, 2020 held a years press Airforce for thirty conference to announce the aintroduction c h i e v i n g of t h eresolutions highest rank for a noncommissioned officer, Chief in the Ohio House and Senate to declare Master Sargent.

His father, my grandfather, “racism” as a public health crisis. The members offered statistics that show James D. Anderson Sr. (1915-2010) from disparities in African/Black women, infants Ruleville, Mississippi attended Jackson State and later menattended dying the disproportionately and Tuskegee Army from Pilot hypertension, cardio-obstructive pulmonary Training Center, where he became a pilot disorders (COPD), diabetes, infant and as a Tuskegee Airman during WWII. maternal mortality, COVID-19 and atAfter the the warofhepolice. would resettle in the Los Angeles hands area and fly eleven years for the California Civil Patrol. My served The Air resolutions, callbrothers on thehave governor, state agencies asand lawmakers to in the military well;state one serving fifteen undertake a number of strategies including years in the United States Air Force and the askingserving Gov. inMike DeWine to establish other the Ohio Air National Guard.a working group to promote racial equality.

Finally, my oldest son John, served four One of the recommendations calls on years in the United Statesthe Army, he state agencies to review Ohiowhere Revised was in South Korea theunfairly missile Codestationed for individual laws that in may defense deployment unit. impact people of color andFour lawsgenerations that place of black burdens men from family have unequal onmy communities ofserved color.

In addition, include during war and recommendations peace time with honor and creating workplace bias training, developing distinction. educational materials that address racism andour designing “racially equitable workforce In four-hundred-year history military development and promotion” policies and service was not initially a part of our practices. experience.

Although prior to August 1619,

Africans wereincluded among earlier expeditions Other actions in the resolution to counter in Ohio: to Northracism and South America, primarily as • Establishing glossary vessels. of termsThese and laborers on boarda European definitions concerning racism and health expeditions were by and large, military equity; expansions of colonial European monarch • Assert that racism is a public health crisis nations.

Those included Spain, affecting our entirenations community; England, France, Portugal and efforts the Dutch • Incorporating educational to empires which were all racism, heavily and involved in address and dismantle expand the slave trade and the colonization North understanding of racism and howofracism affects individual andand population health; The and South America the Caribbean.

• Promoting community engagement, first Africans not of an expedition, who came actively engaging citizens on issues of to colonized north American were from racism, and providing tools to engage Angola. They were aboard a Portuguese slave actively and authentically with communities ship which was pirated by other slave traders of color; and sold to the to British. these • Committing reviewEventually all portions of enslaved Africans with would find themselves codified ordinances a racial equity lens; in Jamestown,toVirginia in human Augustresources, of 1619.

• Committing conduct all vendor selection and grant management Jamestown would become the epicenter for activitiesmigrating with a racial equitytrade lens along including slavery, the slave the reviewing all internal policies and practices eastern seaboard colonies from Georgia to such as hiring, promotions, leadership Massachusetts. appointments and funding; The slave traders, the European Monarchs along with their military brought slavery into what is commonly referred as the Middle Passage. In 1770, the descendant of an enslaved African and a former slave, Crispus Attucks would die at the hands of a British soldier at the Boston Massacre Rebellion in Boston Massachusetts. His death would be recognized as the first blood shed for America’s independence from England.

Howse, “racism is real and it is the biggest public health threat citizens of color face.”

The death of Floyd, a black man who died in Minnesota after a white police officer pressed a knee into his neck for nine minutes, has galvanized protesters across the country and called attention to issues of systemic racism.

The caucus says the resolution will officially acknowledge racism in Ohio for the first time.

OLBC President, Stephanie Howse

• Promoting racially equitable economic and workforce development practices; • Promoting and encouraging all policies that prioritize the health of people of color, and support local, state, regional, and federal initiatives that advance efforts to dismantle systematic racism and mitigating exposure to adverse childhood experience and trauma Training of all elected officials, staff, funders and grantees on workplace biases and how to mitigate them; • Partnering and building alliances with local organizations that have a legacy and track record of confronting racism; • Encouraging community partners and stakeholders in the education, employment, housing, and criminal justice and safety arenas to recognize racism as a public health crisis and to activate the above items; and • Securing adequate resources to successfully accomplish the outlined activities.

The largest county in the state, Franklin’s Board of Health and County Commissioners adopt a resolution last month declaring racism as a public health crisis which was followed by the Columbus Mayor, City Council and Columbus Board of Health on Monday, June 1, 2020. The Columbus Medical Association also adopted a similar resolution on Tuesday, June 2, and were quoted as stating, “Simply put, science tells us stress from racism worsens health. As physicians we are obligated to speak out.” *OLBC member There are currently eighteen (18) members including one Asian American member participating in OLBC. For additional information on the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, contact info@ ohiolegislativeblackcaucus.org or visit ohiolegislativeblackcaucus.org.

If you are interested in testifying on any of the bills introduced in either the House or Senate, please contact the chair of the committee who can be found at www. ohiosenate.gov or www.ohr.gov.

Additional Contacts

“These are not new things,” said OLBC president, Rep. Stephanie Howse, (D-Cleveland). “These are things that are vital to ensuring that African Americans, Hispanics, Indigenous people and people of color here in Ohio can live the American dream.”

UPDATE: The Ohio General Assembly sessions and the House and Senate Committees are televised live on WOSU/ WPBO and replays can be viewed at www. ohiochannel.org (specific House and Senate sessions and committee hearings can be searched in the video archives).

According to members of OLBC, when passed, the resolution would be the first of its kind at the state level. However, in the wake of the protests, counties and cities across Ohio and America are considering similar declarations. One has also been proposed in at least one other state.

Former Sen. Charleta B. Tavares, D-Columbus, is the 1st Democrat and African American woman to serve in the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate from Franklin County. She is also the first African American woman to serve in leadership in the history of Ohio and the 1st Democrat woman to serve in leadership in both the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate (House Minority Whip and Senate Assistant Minority Leader).

Proclamation set forth by Lincoln which abolished slavery in all states, established the foundation for the recruitment of free blacks and enslaved blacks to become soldiers in the Union Army. The 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry Regiment would be the first all-black regiment, the second all black regiment would be the FiftyFourth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, known as the Massachusetts 54th (and made known in the 1989 film, Glory). Both regimens were commanded by white officers, blacks could not become

“What we are witnessing around the country is a community simply begging to be seen and heard,” said OLBC President, Rep. owners would allow their slaves to enlist in the military during the Revolutionary War. With the promise that at the end of their enlistment, they would earn their freedom.

However, this was a promised not kept. Many of these black militiamen were killed in battle and those who survived were often placed back into slavery. Not until the American Civil War and at the urging of Fredrick Douglas would black serve in the military.

Both colonial states and the British military Douglas, pressured and persuaded President offered slaves their freedom if they chose Lincoln to allow the formation of an allto serve in their respective military. Slave black military regiment. The Emancipation The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

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Continued on Page 32

The Columbus & Dayton African American • June 2020

POLITICS

TO THE CITIZENS OF COLUMBUS - A MESSAGE FROM COUNCIL PRESIDENT SHANNON G. HARDIN

(L - R) Shannon G. Hardin, President Columbus City Council; Kevin Boyce, County Commissioner; Joyce Beatty, Congresswoman

By Council President Shannon G. Hardin

story is only possible because of protests past. The beatings, dogs, and hoses used through the South during Dr. King’s marches With dried pepper spray tears on and the Stonewall Riots. We must stand my shirt, I am shaken, saddened, against oppression. and angry.

Despite real reasons for anger, I do not I’m angry that racist violence against excuse the few who walk amongst the black people seems to change its form protestors and choose to be destructive. but never ends. I’m shaken at the feeling Many of these folks come from outside of of powerlessness experienced by so many Columbus with their own agendas and are when they see visceral racism. And when not seeking constructive change. These are folks try to grasp power and take to the not the protestors I know and am happy to streets they face hundreds of police officers work with. maintaining order while reinforcing the violence inherent in police powers. I’m I also want to acknowledge that our police saddened that for many watching from the officers are tired. Many have been out for comfort of their homes, the violence of a few days and days, sporting bruises from where on the fringe will give yet one more excuse they were hit with rocks and frozen water to do nothing to challenge the status quo of bottles. Protestors are bruised from wooden racism in America. bullets and more. Both sides need time to rest and heal.

I will never forget the burning blindness of indiscriminate pepper spray as I stood with We must use this civil unrest to accelerate Congresswoman Joyce Beatty and County progress on real, specific reforms to fight Commissioner Kevin Boyce trying to keep systematic racism. the crowd on the sidewalks. I’m not a natural protestor. I like to sit around a table to hash On Monday, Columbus will pass a resolution out policies and plans. But I felt I needed declaring racism a public health crisis. to show up as a black man because George Franklin County has already lead the way Floyd should be alive. Breonna Taylor on this cause, Mayor Ginther concurs, and should be alive. Ahmaud Arbery should we are all united in calling on other levels of be alive. Tyre King should be alive. regional and state government to join hands with us in honestly addressing the negative Our residents in Columbus and citizens impacts of racism. across the nation are speaking out in a thousand ways to say we need immediate Today I also call on local leaders to help action. The people are speaking. I hear them. make policing reforms real this year. We Now we must get to a shared table and use must make concrete moves on the 80 this powerful voice to make change real. We recommendations from the Community cannot do that if the table is on fire.

Safety Advisory Commission ranging from recruitment, training, diversity and inclusion, As a black, gay City Council President of community engagement, and independent America’s 14th largest city, I know my investigations.

The Columbus & Dayton African American • June 2020

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Columbus needs to establish independent investigations into police use of force, including negotiating a Civilian Review Commission into the next police contract.

The Fraternal Order of Police has long opposed such a move, and I call on them to join us at the table to get this done.

Having experienced it first hand, we need to change the use of crowd disbursal techniques and stop spraying dangerous gases into peaceful crowds. The negative impacts far outweigh the temporary control it gives officers.

We must diversify our safety divisions, and train cultural competency for the dozens of diverse international communities that call Columbus home.

Our Police Chief is working for internal reforms. I want him and every officer to know that we want you to succeed. But we will not accept the status quo or those who cover up for egregious past acts of violence on duty.

Fighting racism is imperative in every sector and part of our society, not just policing. Through race-conscious policymaking, we’ve got to unwind the generations of racist policies in housing, public health, education, and elsewhere. On corporate boards and in the philanthropic sector we need to see clear, measured strategies to combat racial disparities.

I do truly believe that things can get better.

As a Christian, I’ve been thinking a lot about grace over the past couple of days.

It’s something we need to extend to one another now more than ever. And with that renewed goodwill towards one another, we can move forward with resolve and create a more just Columbus.

The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

POLITICS

PEOPLE’S JUSTICE PROJECT: RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE POLICE CONDUCT IN COLUMBUS

By Jasmine Ayers & Tammy Fournier Alsaada The anger we witnessed again today in the streets of Columbus was not triggered by a single event but rather a result of continuous structural racism Black people face every single day of their lives. We stand in solidarity with those who have recently lost their lives to the police and anti-Black violence, Breanna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, and George Floyd, and we lift up the names of those who have been murdered by the Columbus Police: Henry Green, Ty’re King, Kareem Jones, Tasjon Tyreek Osbourne, Abdirahman Salad, Julius Tate, and many more.

Too many Black people in Columbus have been brutalized and killed by Columbus police and we all have an obligation to hear their outrage, to honor their pain, and to demand action that indicates that we believe their #BlackLivesMatter.

protested and demanded action in response to CPD killings of Black members of our community, Mayor Ginther created a Community Safety Advisory Commission which studied Columbus’s long history of police misconduct, excessive force, and racism within the department and out in the community. This Commission spent months developing 80 recommendations, the majority of which sit unimplemented and unenforced.

Below is a list of immediate demands that come directly from recommendations within the Commission’s Report .

5. Recommendation 76: The city should have an internal whistleblower “hotline” or access- point that can allow anonymous submissions from officers of abuse, racism, harassment, etc.

6. Recommendation 19: The CDP Training Academy should add and integrate specific language into training curriculum regarding crowd control that specifically addresses citizen’s individual civil rights, including First Amendment rights and the right to protest, specifically relating to non-aggressive police tactics for non-violent protests/ marches. This should also include the opportunities created to increase city/citizen engagement while allowing police to protect rather than using unnecessary violent tactics during non-violent situations.

In addition to immediately releasing Christopher Radden and dropping charges against him and all protesters held after recent events, we demand the city of Columbus take action now on their own 7. Recommendation 46 : Create a Youth recommendations, beginning with: Services unit.

1. Recommendation 70: Establish an 8. Recommendation 28: Integrate into independent civilian review board. each training module the impact of implicit 2. Recommendation 37: Require a signed and/or explicit bias, including racism, and Morality Clause for all officers that requires strategies for officers to use in recognizing officers to agree to equal protection for all and mitigating their own biases. citizens, to denounce any cultural supremacist groups, and to report any 9. Recommendation 22: Officers should be trained on how to modify behavior to deofficer’s malfeasance to Internal Affairs. escalate situations with youth.

3.Recommendation 71: Amend City Charter to create a city-funded, 10. Recommendation 29: Integrate into operationallyindependent, professionally- each training module the impact of cultural staffed, public-facing entity empowered to competence and strategies for officers to use participate fully in criminal or administrative to ensure the equitable treatment of persons regardless of background. investigations involving CDP personnel.

Columbus Police have escalated unrest, pepper spraying thousands of peaceful protesters, utilizing sound weapons, rubber bullets and concussion grenades against them. Even the most prominent Black elected officials in central Ohio, US Congresswoman Joyce Beatty, Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin and Franklin County Commissioner Kevin Boyce were not protected from CPDs aggressive repression, as they were pepper sprayed while engaging 4. Recommendation 72: Implement a peacefully with their constituents. process for independent investigation of 1) There must be accountability and justice officer use of force, including but not limited or there will be no peace. Mayor Andrew to, officer use of force resulting in death, Ginther has issued calls for unity while officer involved shootings, and in-custody doing little to indicate his willingness to take injuries and deaths; and 2) complaints about action to protect Black lives in Columbus. serious Columbus Division of Police officer After the Columbus community organized, misconduct.

We encourage all who read this call on Mayor Ginther to take action and to donate to the Columbus Freedom Fund For more information, contact Jasmine Ayers at 614-325-3134 or Tammy Fournier Alsaada at 614-623-5368 at the People’s Justice Project.

Photo by Paige Pfleger/WOSU

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The Columbus & Dayton News African American • June 2020 The Columbus African American Journal • February 2015

A REVOLUTION OF VALUES FOR BLACK AMERICAN FAMILIES in now. During the Great Recession, about intersections of race, gender, and occupation. half of Black businesses survived, compared Our solutions, then, must be intersectional in nature.

When talking about Black American families, to 60% of white-owned firms. we’ve all heard someone say this not-sosubtle dig: It all starts at home. The phrase The $156 billion lost on racism should The issue of birth equity, like all the other suggests that if we could just fix Black have helped municipalities fund essential issues presented in Know Your Price, is mothers and fathers to be responsible like services such as education. For decades, not an academic one for me. In the book, white, middle-class families, we wouldn’t we’ve known that school funding, wealth, I detail the very personal struggle that my and racial prejudice are correlated with wife—who is a physician—and I had in have any problems. academic achievement. Schools dominated trying to have a child while she was going False narratives such as this one help by students of color received $23 billion through a professional crisis. In the chapter normalize a hierarchy of human value that less than majority-white districts; this is “Having Babies Like White People,” I show leads to an investment into whiteness. Since largely a byproduct of an educational system that instead of restricting access to women’s the Moynihan Report was published in 1965, that devalues Black communities through a fertility options—an idea that the Moynihan researchers and journalists have continued financing structure based on local property Report gave life to—we must expand Black women’s reproductive choices. The lack of framing poverty mainly as a function of taxes. wealth that the federal government facilitated individual choices. The report offered a robust structural analysis, but it set a dangerous Many education reformers ignore structural should not continue to limit Black women’s precedent by identifying Black people not racism, saying that it’s too hard to address choices. living up to white middle-class ideals as a segregation and school financing systems. But central problem. This falls in line with the when reform is applied within the confines Just as the U.S. government actively worked white supremacist myth claiming that harsh of inequality in Black-majority cities, we to normalize bigotry through policy, it can conditions in many Black communities are leave little room but to effectively blame normalize investment in the people who have the result of Black people’s collective choices Black teachers, parents, and school boards been denied wealth, dignity, and opportunity. for underachievement. I saw this up close as Indeed, discrimination has serviced whiteness and moral failings. a charter school leader in New Orleans after in public policy for so long that it has become an immoral entitlement, an iniquitous form One of the major goals of my new book, Hurricane Katrina. of social security. We need an anti-racist Know Your Price: Valuing Black Lives and Property in America’s Black Cities, is Approximately 10 years after the levees were policy agenda that normalizes support for to show that there is nothing wrong with breached, the share of Black teachers in New the injured.

Black people that ending racism can’t solve. Orleans dropped from over 70% to about Presumptions of Black people’s unworthiness 50%. Replaced by a younger, mostly white Over the next few months, I will roll out undercut efforts to invest in Black-majority teacher corps, two-thirds of the teachers who the Valuing Black Assets Initiative (VBAI). neighborhoods. There’s a whole lot of had worked in New Orleans before Katrina The initiative will employ a virtual book tour to help communities mobilize around programs and research that attempt to fix were no longer in the field. their assets amid COVID-19 recovery Black people, and not enough focused on fixing structural racism. Until we rid The erasure of Black teachers flew in the face efforts. Brookings’s Metropolitan Policy ourselves of these underlying assumptions of research showing the positive effects of Program will also develop an index of target found between the lines of our research, Black educators on academic success. Black goals to advance Black businesses. We’re policy recommendations, and reforms, we students who have one Black teacher by determined to increase employment among third grade are 7% more likely to graduate 15% of Black businesses at a rate which will always do more harm than good. high school and 13% more likely to enroll will add an estimated $55 billion to the U.S. Know Your Price identifies how Black lives in college. After having two Black teachers, economy. The “path to 15/55” will convene and property are devalued by racism. By Black students’ likelihood of enrolling in business leaders, government stakeholders, exalting the assets and strengths that have college increases by 32%. Unfortunately, and communities, and provide them with the been devalued, we can debunk the false hiring more Black teachers is something we necessary steps to achieve this goal. narratives that distract us from investing have yet to try at scale.

In addition, Brookings Metro and the social in those assets. If we can account for the associated costs of racism to individuals, then The values underlying the erasure of Black entrepreneurship organization Ashoka will we can begin to properly restore lost value teachers are also behind why Black women solicit social entrepreneurs in cities across by investing in the people who have been can’t buy or educate their way toward better the country for a $1 million competition to birthing outcomes, despite their educational develop policy- and market-based solutions penalized simply for being Black. and professional gains in the past few that confront the problem of housing devaluation. The project will incentivize The anchor study in Know Your Price found decades. innovators who are proximate to the problem that after controlling for factors such as housing quality, education, and crime, owner- More Black babies die before their first and will seek to foster structural changes that occupied homes in Black neighborhoods birthday than all other racial categories. The remove the drag of racism on home values. are devalued by $48,000 on average— mortality rate among Black mothers is three amounting to a whopping $156 billion in times higher than their white counterparts. Earlier this week was the birthday of Malcom cumulative losses. The value of homes in These disparities exist even after controlling X, who once said, “When a person places the proper value on freedom, there is nothing Black neighborhoods is much higher than for education and income. under the sun that he will not do to acquire they are priced. Isn’t this true in other parts In a 2017 study using death records, my that freedom.” of our lives? wife, Joia Crear-Perry, and her co-authors That figure, $156 billion, could have been found that racial inequality in factors I wrote this book because I know my price. used to start over 4 million Black-owned such as educational attainment, income, I look forward to working with those who businesses. Black entrepreneurs certainly unemployment, and imprisonment showed know their price, too. could use the money, as they are denied harmful effects on Black infant mortality. bank loans more than twice as often as their When racial inequality in employment Andre Perry’s book, Know Your Price: white peers (and when they do get loans, they increased, Black infant mortality worsened. A Valuing Black Lives and Property in pay higher interest rates). The loss of equity decrease in educational inequality improved America’s Black Cities, is available wherever books are sold. means that many Black business owners are Black infant mortality. less likely to have the financial cushion to weather economic crises like the one we’re The devaluation of Black lives is at the Article from brookings.edu

By Andre M. Perry

The Columbus & Dayton African American • June 2020

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The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015

HISTORY DR. BENNET J. COOPER, SR.: FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN DIRECTOR OF THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF REHABILITATION AND CORRECTION

By Rodney Blount, Jr., MA George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Brionna Taylor, Eric Garner, Sandra Bland, Michael Brown, Philando Castile, Tamir Rice, and Trayvon Martin.

We remember your names and the countless others whose lives were tragically cut short.

The Black community is reeling against injustices committed against them by those in power and by civilians who have disregard for black and other minorities lives. Systemic racism has been a problem in America for centuries, but there has been an increase in racist acts of violence over the last three years. It is vital for our governments, police agencies, civilian groups, and other individuals to do a critical self-reflection about the state of their current policies, membership, and modus operandi to see how they can make a change from this pandemic. This transformation should include a change in policies, hiring procedures, dismissal procedures, and a better community engagement plan. Key reform necessitates good leadership. Good leaders are proficient in their organizations’ policies and procedures, have training/experience in their area of expertise, have checks and balances on their position (their leadership is not beyond reproach and can be reviewed), and they must treat everyone equitably with justice and due process. It is imperative that all levels of government and government agencies increase their employment of minorities to reflect the communities in which they serve. Fortunately, there have been men and women who have served with distinction in our government, police departments, and government agencies. Dr. Bennett J. Cooper is an example of a powerful director of a government agency who did not take his position lightly and implemented reform. He served as a role model for others in criminal justice that have followed him.

Dr. Bennett Joseph Cooper, Sr., was born June 3, 1921, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Emmett Sr. and Lydia Jones Cooper. He also had a twin brother, Emmett Cooper, Jr. Emmett Cooper, Sr. was a pharmaceutical chemist and Lydia Cooper was a teacher. The Coopers moved to Muskogee, Oklahoma, where Bennett and Emmett graduated from Manual Training High School. The twins moved to New Orleans to attend Xavier University where Bennett met and fell in love with Zelda Mohr. Similarly, Emmett, Jr. fell in love with Zelda’s twin, Ermelda, and the siblings had a double wedding ceremony at

Blessed Sacrament Church in Cleveland on November 19, 1941.

Dr. Bennett enlisted in the United States Army Corps on February 19, 1943 and served in the Pacific theater. He was present in Okinawa when the bombs were dropped on Japan ending the Second World War. His son, Bennett, Jr was born in New Orleans while Bennett Sr. was overseas. Dr. Cooper rose to the rank of Sergeant Major. After his three years of service, Bennett returned to Cleveland to join his brother and work at the Post Office. His daughters Eileen and Bernice were on Cleveland there as were Emmett’s three sons, Emmett, Gerald and Hewitt. The Cooper families lived together on 8809 Empire Avenue. The house was a central gathering spot in the neighborhood.

Graciously, they housed family members from the South until they established roots in Cleveland. When reflecting on this time in his life, Bennett proclaimed, “My brother and I were pretty close and we had different interests but always a desire to help people, design systems and excel in whatever we pursued. We enjoyed breaking barriers and setting high standards so that others could benefit from a good reputation of those before them.”

While working as a postal clerk and raising his family in Cleveland, Bennett attended Case Western Reserve University at night.

He graduated with honors, completing his bachelor’s and master’s Degrees in Industrial Psychology. Bennett and Emmett continued to be promoted in the postal service and “were credited and recognized for devising and implementing the first formalized training program for new postal employees.”

Emmett Cooper, Jr. would eventually serve as the postmaster of Chicago, at that time the world’s largest and busiest post office which 35

employed 21,000 employees (16,000 of the employees were African American).

In 1957, Cooper joined the field of Corrections as a Chief Psychologist and transported his family to Mansfield, Ohio.

In his new role, he was responsible for classification, assessment, programming, and assignment of young offenders in prisons and honor camps in Mansfield, Mount Vernon and Sandusky. He climbed the ladder to Deputy Superintendent and ultimately to Superintendent at the Ohio State Reformatory. Consequently, he was the highest ranking African American in the Ohio system. After moving to Columbus, Bennett became Commissioner of Corrections for the Department of Mental Health, Hygiene and Corrections.

Cooper challenged the racial segregation policies of Ohio’s prison system, which was practiced by the staff and those imprisoned, and was primarily responsible for overturning its systemic racist policies. An example of Dr. Bennett Cooper being a change agent occurred when he noticed that only Black inmates shoveled coal on the coal piles as a part of their job. Coal fueled the prison and farms and was an undesirable and dirty job. Cooper inquired about this injustice and told the Staff Supervisor that “Staff should determine where inmate’s work not inmates!”

He swiftly implemented changes to integrate and it was a success.

In 1972, Governor Jack Gilligan appointed him to the Cabinet as the first Director of the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction.

He operated in that role until 1975. He made American history as the first African American to become a prison superintendent in a state government system and the first African American Director of a state prison system. He increased staff diversity, training, and education of inmates and staff. When describing his work policy, Cooper replied, “I believe in working through people. That’s why I have surrounded myself with qualified staff. I believe in working through staff.”

Cooper was a founder of the National Association of Blacks and Criminal Justice, an organization that provides leaders dedicated to improving the administration of criminal justice and sponsors the needs of African Americans in the criminal justice arena, such as diversity, fairness in the justice system and professionalism. The NABCJ Ohio Chapter started the Dr. Bennett Cooper Scholarship Awards Banquet which has raised thousands of dollars for students pursuing a criminal justice career. He was Continued on Page 38

The Columbus & Dayton News African American • June 2020 The Columbus African American Journal • February 2015

HISTORY Continued from Page 37

also a member of the American Correctional Association since 1957. Bennett was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters from Ashland College. He received the E.R. Cass award for outstanding achievement from the American Correctional Association in 1985. Bennett Cooper, Emmett Cooper, and their families were also featured in Ebony magazine on three different occasions.

Dr. Bennett J. “Godfather” Cooper, Sr. passed away on March 3, 2013 in Cincinnati.

He was survived by his wife, Zelda, of over 70 years, as well as his three children and

several grandchildren. Cooper paved the way for countless men and women as he served as the first African American in numerous capacities. He also embodied professionalism and served as a successful administrator.

He encouraged education and always tried to help others achieve like he did. He was a devout Christian (Catholic) and he loved his family. Dr. Bennett Cooper served as a role model for hard work, education, integrity, ingenuity, dedication, and faithfulness. I urge everyone to read more about Dr. Cooper and look to him as a source of inspiration for achievement.

Works Cited

https://www.thompsonhalljordan.com/ http://ohiocjoralhistoryjournal.blogspot. com/2009/11/oral-history-of-dr-bennetcooper-first.html https://nabcj.org/ Ebony magazine (February 1951, November 1973) Rodney Blount is an Educator and Historian.

He received two Bachelor of Arts degrees from Ball State University and a Masters of Arts degree from The Ohio State University. His work has been featured in several publications. Rodney is a native of Columbus, Ohio and is a member of several organizations.

THE NUMBERS GAME: PRECURSOR TO THE STATE LOTTERY

By Suzanne Parks, M.Ed Recently a local historian asked her Facebook followers to share their families’ involvement in playing the numbers. She then asked them to be transparent, to spill the beans on what was once an illegal pastime, but also the foundation for a thriving shadow economy within the black community.

Her post was immediately flooded with this and that accounts of grandma’s relationship with the numbers man to daddy was a numbers runner recollections. With fondness and a sense of pride, the participants in the thread became nostalgically reminiscent about a past when playing the numbers was a way of life among black folks. They were downright eager to tell their stories of family members who were technically breaking the law.

I have my own stories about family members.

They were more than just runners or players.

First, there was Tim Treadwell or Uncle Tim to us kids, who was the kingpin and the person who brought the numbers to Columbus; an aunt who daily totaled the day’s policy slips and cash collections on an adding machine before the winners were determined; and The Vanity Box, my grandmother Irene’s beauty salon, the first black beauty shop in Columbus was a front for the business. Many in my family at one time, played at least a small role in the family enterprise. Even yours truly, for a brief moment while I was in college, was a miniscule runner who picked up the occasional bet.

As noted, the numbers racket was illegal.

Once called policy playing (a wordplay for insurance) the activity began to flourish not only within the African American community, but also among ItalianAmericans, Jewish-Americans and CubanAmericans who called it Bolita or Little Ball, as early as the 1800s. In New York City and prior to 1860, betters would place bets in policy shops or with bookmakers also known as bookies. Since moral America

and legislators considered gambling to be an abomination against good Christian values, legislative assemblies began to issue laws making the activity illegal. Despite efforts to legally curtail gambling, policy shops starting popping up between 1878 – 1892 in Chicago and Louisiana.

Initially, the game was played through the sale of numbered tickets where betters could choose numbers between 1-75. Eventually the rules of the game evolved into what became known as The Numbers. Players placed a bet on a three-digit number between 000-999.

They played the number for either straight, boxed or for a straight up hit.

Selecting one’s number was often mathematically calculated, somewhat scientific in nature, based upon a gut feeling and an artform. People played numbers associated with dreams. For example, if one dreamed about death, they played 769.

Some would sit down with pencil, paper and engage in advanced mathematical formulas to calculate the odds in order to determine the number most likely to fall.

When the stock market rang the closing bell for that day’s activity, the winning number could be found in the results. It can be assumed that within every household in the black community, regardless of the family’s personal wealth balance sheet, one would find the evening newspaper opened to the US Stock Market Data section because it was there the players would find the winning number.

The odds for winning were around 999:1 against the better with an average return on one’s investment around 600:1. Therefore, playing the numbers was very lucrative for all involved.

Numbers kingpins and queenpins were fabulously wealthy because the profits were non-taxable income generated by a neverending flow of customers. To demonstrate just how much money was being made, a 1964 article in the New York Times headlined a story with the following caption, “Dimes Make Millions for Numbers Racket;

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600-1 Payoff Lures 500,000 a Day to Make Bets Here.”

Although considered part of the rackets, Numbers CEOs were highly regarded, if not beloved within the black community. They operated parallel banks and were willing to take risks on giving loans to black people who would have been discriminated against by a mainstream financial institution. Black entrepreneurs secured additional revenue for their businesses, sometimes in exchange for allowing the enterprise, whether a grocery, barbershop, bar or restaurant, to operate as a front or “clearinghouse parlor.” It was a beneficial arrangement for all.

Uncle Tim, who listed his occupation as a farmer, ran a “casino” or gaming room on an actual farm. He was also the sole proprietor of The Pit (sometimes called Javans), a barb-que joint that was tucked away in a part of Columbus that made one think they had gone into the woods, because there were no street lights.

As a child I remember going to The Pit with my parents, always after dark. The nighttime curtain seemed to add to the mystique of the restaurant (which was actually a house) because tucked behind the dining room was the smoke house. The air was filled with the most delicious smelling aroma. In my mind’s eye, I can still see the silhouette of the man who worked his rib magic over an open fire.

He almost looked like he was surrounded by giant dancing flames My cousin David, Uncle Tim’s son, told me the grill master’s name but I no longer remember it, which is a shame. Anyone who could burn like him not only deserved to be remembered, his name should have been embossed in the Bar-b-Que Book Hall of Fame. David said it was the wood Uncle Tim had him use, Cherry, that made the meat so delicious.

Inside the restaurant, the walls were adorned with family photos and maybe pictures of Uncle Tim’s pals, another reason why The Pit was so special to me. Regardless, the ribs, the chicken, the two slices of white bread for

HISTORY

slopping up the best sauce ever, established a bar of excellence for me that has never been met by any other Bar-b-Que proprietor.

Anyway, many of the kingpins and queenpins had legitimate ventures or facades which were used as a cover. Noteworthy, was the Detroit resident who was a community leader and a mother, but was also one of the city’s most storied Numbers queenpins.

There is a host of fact-based legends and lore associated with the Kings and Queens of the Numbers. In addition to being shrewd business savvy individuals, they were benevolent, generous and civic minded.

I grew up on stories describing how Uncle Tim used his wealth to sow back into the community. He once opened a department store, during the depression, on the main street in Brownsville (what the colored neighborhood was called back in the day before the city officials co-opted the name and changed it to the King-Lincoln District in order to satisfy white developers). Uncle Tim opened the department store during that risky time not to accrue more wealth, but to create jobs and to restore the dignity of the average person who desperately wanted earned income instead of a hand-out. If someone had a financial need, Uncle Tim would just give them the money. Or he would foot the bill for a community project like a playground.

The Kings and Queens of the numbers owned a lot of the teams in the Negro Baseball League. If an afterschool program or some other community-based project needed funding, the community leaders went to the Numbers Man (or woman) to secure financing instead of wrangling with City Hall.

While the kings and queens amassed great fortunes during their glory days, they still operated under a shadow of illegitimacy.

Their off-spring, although well dressed and in possession of the best money could offer, were still the children of racketeers, even if the stigma only existed among Europeans.

Moreover, the Numbers power base lacked any real authority that is often associated with great wealth. They could be influential in some matters, but their kingdoms were comparably small. Because of turf battles, they had to sometimes ‘go to the mattresses’ with warring factions. Incarceration was a real possibility, especially if there was an ambitious prosecutor who used the position

not so much to rid the community of crime, but to promote their own political ambitions.

Once Uncle Tim’s farm was invaded by thieves who ripped off everyone who was there at gun point. That night, Uncle Time was relieved of about $30,000, a loss for sure, but a loss that could not be claimed as a loss on a Schedule C. Furthermore, without the protection of the state or a judge whose palms were greased to look the other way, many ended up poverty stricken, especially if they got hit with tax evasion. But those risks outweighed the benefits.

But all of that began to change in the early 1970s when state governments decided to appropriate the black community’s favorite and most lucrative hustle.

Historically speaking, what happened next to the Numbers was not the first time where something that Americans with African DNA had cultivated for their own survival and wealth accumulation, ended up being high jacked by white people. Nor the last.

Ohio State Senator Ron Mottl spearheaded an initiative to begin an Ohio lottery in 1971.

By 1973 the Lottery Commission had been formed and in 1979 the first Pick 3, formerly know as the Numbers began.

Legalizing the lottery had a profound impact on low-to-moderate individuals of African descent. Sure, the players could still play.

Moreover, since it was legalized the stigma was gone and the likelihood of being busted was eliminated. But the return on the investment never matched what was lost in our communities. Not even close.

Besides the fact that the street numbers could not compete with a state sanctioned Lottery Commission, legalizing the Numbers Game contributed to racial wealth inequality and ironically became a component of systemic racism. Social programs under Republican control are always at risk of being eliminated.

Moreover, the favored boot strap rags to riches stories for African Americans were limited to the exceptional, in other words those able to circumvent systemic racism.

Once the Numbers were stolen from blacks, legalization snatched the straps and the boots, thus making wealth accruement opportunity less likely and the road to riches even more difficult to navigate.

More significantly, the intentionally black economy ceased to exist along with jobs that supported extended family members.

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One of the most difficult pills to swallow is white hypocrisy which contributes to not only inequality but in this case, the demise of black wallets, which were the hardest hit. What was once considered illegal and immoral quickly became a boom for the State of Ohio.

Back in the 1960’s a dime for a Pick Three box hit was roughly $60. In today’s economy, that would be the equivalent to $519.71. Now a player has to bet $1 for a straight hit in order to win $500. Ouch!

With the Numbers under state control, the benefits, code for revenues, go into the state coffers. Supposedly, 100% of the staterun lottery is allocated for K-12 education.

However, is it not ironic that the worst performing schools are in urban communities, those same neighborhoods where the illegal lottery once thrived and where enrollment is predominantly African American? Thus, begins another chapter in the continuing saga for the unfair distribution of state revenues for education based upon one’s zip code, wealth and taxes.

Nationally, states lotteries generated 668 billion revenue dollars in 2015. The state of Ohio made approximately 66.8 billion in revenues which exceeds the $48.7 billion generated by corporate income taxes. So, when I see black folks lined up at the lottery machine, I cannot help but reflect with resentment, that it is us who foot the bill for public education with our contributions to the Ohio Lottery, but because of unfair tax codes, we benefit the least since our children are more than likely educated in the poorer school districts.

No wonder out of the 614 billionaires in the US, only five are of African descent. That is significantly less than 1%.

References available upon request Suzanne Parks is the Director of Asset Development for the Ohio CDC Association, where she oversees state-wide asset building projects serving low to moderate income individuals. In her spare time, she likes to perform in community theatre productions and write. Ms. Parks was conferred a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Ohio Dominican University and a Masters in Leadership Education from the Mid-America Christian University.

The Columbus & Dayton African American - June 2020

SENIOR BISHOPS OF THE 3 BLACK METHODIST CHURCHES DECRY THE SENSELESS ASSASSINATIONS OF BLACK SONS AND DAUGHTERS AND DEMAND JUSTICE “A cry was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning Rachel weeps for her children, Refusing to be comforted, for they are dead.” - Mathew 2:18 WASHINGTON, DC -- Senior Bishops of Black Methodist United (BMU), who represent three major Methodist denominations, issued the following statement about the merciless killings of Black sons and daughters: Each year on the last Monday in May, our nation, the United States of America, pauses to honor and mourn the military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces to safeguard the liberties we often take for granted. As we pay tribute to those who have sacrificed their lives to protect the constitutional preamble, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness,” we find ourselves faced with another painful and pathetic paradox.

As a community of faith, our hearts are heavy as we remember the loss of our melanic sons and daughters, who die at the hands of unjust vitriolic people, who apparently kill them as if it is a sport. We refuse to sit in silence, or cry out from sectarian silos, regarding our pain and displeasure and remain idle, during this sadistic season. We echo the sentiments of the biblical Rachel of Ramah, “weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because the children are no more.” (Jeremiah 31:15) The collective wailing of women of color has created an unenviable sorority of mothers who have lost sons to the violence of white men. Those who are uninformed often ask, “Where is the Church in times like these? We are here as we have always been on the front lines fighting for the rights of people in civil society. We were in Selma, Birmingham, Ferguson, Bladenboro, and Sanford. There is no need to list the States, because it is any state in America.

The roll is rapidly becoming an innumerable caravan proceeding steadily towards the mysterious realm where no travel has yet been born. In the words of African Methodist Episcopal Senior Bishop Adam J. Richardson, “here we go again!” As we weep and mourn the death of our 25 year old son, Ahmaud Arbery, who was mercilessly murdered in Georgia by three white men, a father and son, along with another who had the audacity to record this dastardly and despicable deed of death, we are now confronted with the death of George Floyd. Floyd, a 47 year-old father, brother and son, was ruthlessly murdered

at the hands of four white police officers in Minneapolis.

Long before the death of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, however, we were mourning the murders of a number of our sons and daughters across the nation, to name a few: Corey Patton, also killed in Georgia; Sean Reed, Sandra Bland, Lennon Lacy, Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, and Eric Garner Breonna Taylor, all murdered. Lives which are valued less than a canine. We continue to mourn the souls separated from the bodies at Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston.

Frustration, anguish, hurt, despair and extreme outrage being played out in major cities throughout the nation have passed the tipping point. The naked realities and atrocities which gave rise to the Black Lives Matter movement six years ago has hit again as white policemen commit outright murder witnessed by all.

From the streets of Minneapolis, where Mr. George Floyd went limp after a police officer jammed his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes, to the front steps of the White House to the hundreds of protestors who besieged cities like Atlanta, New York, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles, America is once again faced with and haunted by its shameful history of systemic racism. America is confronted with its human brokenness and disgraceful past. The voices of a hurting people demand to be heard.

“In the final analysis, the riot is the language of the unheard. What is it that America has failed to hear?” Dr. Martin Luther King.

Jr questioned. “In a sense, our nation’s summers of riots are caused by our winter’s delay. And as long as America postpones justice, we stand in the position of having these occurrences of riots and violence over and over again. Social justice and progress are the absolute guarantors of riot prevention.”

When is American going to act responsibly and respond to the more than 200 years of compounded racism against black people?

Racism remains America’s original sin.

As episcopates and clerics from across the spectrum of Black Methodism, we must continue with the wisdom and courage of Rachel as she refused to be comforted. We are raising our voices in righteous indignation and our anger in the midst of mourning as a reaction to the mistreatment of our children and community. We are calling on other people of conscience and faith to join us as we ignite a sustained fire in opposition to this scourge of senseless killings, depleting us of our most valuable treasures. As we care for

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ourselves and our community, in times of mourning there is power in our voice. If we do not speak, we will not be heard. If we, however, courageously unite our voices in righteous indignation we will act as agents of transformation, in the midst of injustice.

We, therefore: Call on other people of faith, Congress of National Black Churches (CNBC), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), The National African American Clergy Network (NAACN), The National Urban League, The Divine Nine and other faith-based, civic and social organizations to unite with us in demanding District Attorneys, in each case, to charge the perpetrators with first degree murder. We refuse to be placated with a lesser charge.

Demand The United States Congress to pass laws to eliminate the proliferation of guns throughout our Nation.

Demand the United States Department of Justice to develop and implement policing policies and training procedures to address and mitigate the lack of proper field supervision amongst all law enforcement agencies; the use of appropriate, non-lethal restraint techniques; the ability to detect and initially assess signs of mental illness and/or trauma; and the ability to recognize medical signs associated with the restriction of airflow, and the legal duty to seek emergency medical care with all potential suspects.

Call all people of goodwill and faith to pervasive and perpetual prayer for the families of each victim, the perpetrators, law enforcement, branches of government, and entire nation.

We will not rest until, in the words of the Prophet Amos, “justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream!”

The Black Methodist United (BMU), a global assembly of the three historic African Methodist communions headed by senior bishops of each, is comprised of The African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AMEZ) Church and the Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church. BMU is committed to addressing issues of social injustice in America.

According to the World Council of Churches, the three denominations represent more than 4.76 million members in the U.S. There are fifty active Bishops among the 13,726 congregations.

For more information about the Call to Action, please contact Bishop Staccato Powell, Convener of Black Methodist United (BMU) at Staccato4zion@mail.com.

CT PA

IM

IMPACT IS MOVING OUR HEADQUARTERS THIS MAY!

Our New Address:

711 Southwood Columbus, Ohio 43207 (Off Parsons Avenue on corner w/Jenkins Ave)

We look forward to serving you at our larger space.

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The Columbus African American News Journal • February 2015