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Vol. 112 No. 42 | October 21, 2021 - October 27, 2021
THE NEW BLACK VIEW
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TRAILBLAZER PASSES
GENERAL COLIN L. POWELL
1937-2021
(Department of Defense photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley)
Colin Powell had mixed legacy among some African Americans By COREY WILLIAMS and AARON MORISON With additional reporting by DINO HAZELL, and AMSTERDAM NEWS STAFF
cal prominence under Republican presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. His stature fueled persistent speculation that he would one day run for president as a member of the GOP. As an American leader, Colin Powell’s credentials Powell was born in New York to Jamaican-born parwere impeccable: he was national security adviser, ents. Yet Powell never seemed entirely comfortable chairman of the Joint Chiefs and secretary of state. talking about race, said Kevin Powell, a New YorkBut his legacy as the first Black person in those roles is based writer and rights activist who is not related to murkier, with some African Americans saying that his Colin Powell. voice on their behalf could have been louder. “I think that’s why a lot of Black folks never saw him Powell, who died Monday of COVID-19 complica- as a leader. There was never a sense that Colin Powell tions, spent 35 years in the Army and rose to politi- was one of us,” said Kevin Powell, who met him in the
Vaccine mandates for children becomes top issue in mayor’s race
1990s, when he was often discussed as a potential presidential candidate. When he did talk about race, his words were measured, as in a 1994 commencement speech at Howard University: “Racism is a disease that you can help cure by standing up for your rights, and by your commitment to excellence and to performance, by being ready to take advantage of your rights and the opportunities that will come from those rights.” In the years after George W. Bush left office, Powell “was largely invisible in a lot of things that happened— See POWELL on page 6
Big Daddy Kane and KRS1 performed at Verzuz at Barclays Center
By CYRIL JOSH BARKER Amsterdam News Staff
See VACCINE on page 6 and ADDITIONAL STORY ON PAGE 26
(David Goodson photo)
aged 5 to 11, which could come early next month. “I anticipate, as a mom who took my kids to get doctor appointments and well visits and vaccines COVID-19 vaccines will be making their way to for many years, that there could be actually a crush the arms of children fairly soon, however, whether of interest in this, which is good,” Hochul said. “But or not parents will allow their children to get them I want to make sure that the doctor’s offices where I remains to be seen. The issue has even made its think the majority of parents will get those vaccines way as a key issue in the city’s mayoral race. are ready for this.” During a press briefing earlier this week, Gov. Kathy While Hochul appears confident in the interest of Hochul said she’s been in conversations with the White the COVID-19 vaccine for young children, it could House to prepare for the U.S. Food and Drug Admin- be a hard sell. A recent Gallup poll indicates that istration’s (FDA) approval of the vaccine for children 55% of parents of kids under 12 say they would get
See STORY on page 9