Falling Forward Magazine Dec 2020

FALLING FORWARD NOVEMBER 2020 VOL. 1 ISSUE 1

LANDING ON YOUR FEET

REMEMBERING JUSTICE RUTH BADER GINSBURG: A FIERCE ADVOCATE FOR WOMEN’S EQUAL RIGHTS

CONTENTS 04

PUBLISHER’S NOTE About the Editor & a Sneak Peek

on What’s in this Issue

05 06

WORDS OF INSPIRATION Have Faith in God

JUSTICE REALLY SERVED? Criminal Justice System in

the United States of America

08 12

WORLD NEWS Police Brutality in the United States of America

POLITICS Everything You Need to

Know About : Kamala Harris

14 16 18

HEALTH Coronavirus in People of Color FASHION Latest Fashion Trends Post COVID-19

FEATURE STORY Remembering Supreme Court

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

20 22 24 26 28 30

PEOPLE Alexis Martin: Child Sex Trafficking Survivor SPORTS NBA and Black Lives Matter PEOPLE Susan Carol Williams EDUCATION Going Back to School During COVID-19 ENTERTAINMENT America’s Got Talent Finalist : Archie Williams

PEOPLE A Man who spent 19 years in Prison for

Wrongful Conviction : Emon Barnes

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DEAR MATTIE At your disposal to solve your life’s problems!

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Sharon D. Johnson Dear Readers, Welcome to the first edition of Falling Forward!

As the editor and creator of Falling Forward, I would like to introduce myself. I was born in Columbia, South Carolina, to Abraham Mack and Bernice Johnson. I grew up in a middle-class family that wasn’t as sunny as it appeared from the outside. Growing up, I had to face numerous challenges. However, just when life seemed to be perfect, due to some wrong choices, I found myself serving 27 months at Alderson Federal Prison in West Virginia. This harrowing experience taught me to take full responsibility for my actions. It has inspired me to redirect others from taking the path I had taken.

I continue to learn from my past mistakes and failures through a quiet and disciplined manner. I leaned strongly on my faith during my incarceration. My favorite scripture, Philippians 4:13, reads, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. These words provided the spiritual fuel which pulled me through my ordeal, while also giving me the strength needed to go the distance. Furthermore, another beloved scripture, Hebrew 13:3, states, Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering. This thought galvanized me to accept prison reform as a call from God. I continue to devote my life towards being all that God has designed me to be and employing all my gifts and talents. This has led to a talk show which is in the works, a new book and a magazine ready to be released. I also wrote and developed a program for prisoners consisting of both a book and a workbook titled, No More Shackles: 200 Ways to Freedom (Vols. 1 & 2). I am extremely happy and excited to present this brand-new bimonthly publication. I promise you it will be an interesting read with thought-provoking and compelling content. In this issue, we cover a vast range of topics, from politics, sports, entertainment, people, education, world news and much more.

On this issue’s cover, we have none other than our beloved Former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, Ruth Bader Ginsburg. We honor her for her immense contribution towards fighting for the rights of women and minorities. Head to our Feature Story, where we give some insights into not just her professional life but also her personal life. We present you an interesting read about the nominee for Vice President-elect, Kamala Harris. In People’s page, we feature some heart-wrenching stories of African Americans who were wrongfully convicted.

Don’t forget to check out our World News and Health pages, where we talk about the effects of the coronavirus on people of color. We also shed light upon one such issue that is often unaddressed: police brutality in the United States of America. For those of you who love reading topics that are inspiring and at the same time entertaining, turn to our Entertainment page, in which we covered the journey of Archie Williams, one of the top contenders in the popular American reality show, America’s Got Talent. We hope you will enjoy this issue as much as we’ve enjoyed putting it together for you!

If you have any suggestions, comments or queries, please email me at fallingforwardmagazine@gmail.com

Best wishes Sharon D. Johnson Disclaimer :

Falling Forward; Email : fallingforwardmagazine@gmail.com; Phone : + 1 (888)217-3849; Publisher & Editor : Sharon D. Johnson; Writer : Akhila Kakarala; On the cover: Ruth Bader Ginsburg; Cover Photographer: Randy Marso; Picture courtesy: pixabay.com & shutterstock.com; Printed by : Mixam; Distributed by : Media Solutions

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Falling Forward Magazine is making every effort to make sure the content is accurate on the date of publication. The published material, advert, and editorials are published in good faith. Falling Forward Magazine cannot guarantee and accept liability for any losses or damage of any kind.

All rights reserved and nothing can be partially or in whole be reprinted or reproduced without a written consent. All photographs, unless otherwise indicated, are used for illustrative purposes only.

WORDS OF INSPIRATION

GOD’S FAITHFULNESS AND HIS LOVE IN THE MIST OF A PANDEMIC is received by Faith, it is a free gift. The greatest example of faith is when you can praise God in the midst of what you are going through. Don’t get caught up in how it looks or how it feels, be strong in the Lord. God wants us to live an abundant life; he does not want us to worry, be depressed or stress out about this pandemic.

He’s God and there’s nothing he can’t do. We can’t walk in faith “sometimes” , and other times we refuse to have faith.

G

od is forever faithful. We have all heard this word. We’ve read it, said and sang it, and some of us have felt it.

God wants us to have the kind of faith that drives everything we do, and stop relying on our own insight, We should rely fully on him and trust him to direct us on how to deal with the challenges that we are faced with during this pandemic.

God’s love is the evidence of his faithfulness, that’s why it is important for us to put our hope in God’s unfailing love. Seek God’s help, if you are worried about how you will survive during this pandemic. His presence is full of joy and you can rest in the protection of his presence.

Don’t be discouraged by the trials of life, live in faith instead of fear and have confidence in God. When you are fearful you’re not trusting God. According to Mark 11:24 - You can pray for anything; and if you believe that you’ve received it; it will be yours.

Before giving up, remember that God is not a man that he should lie, or his word will return void. The promise

FAITH THAT DRIVES OUT FEARS Don’t let your situations overwhelm you and throw you into despair. Trust the promise of God. Face your fears with faith that is grounded in the word of God. The promise that God made will help you conquer any battle you’re facing. When you are consumed with fear go to the throne of grace and allow God to embrace you with his love and peace. (Exodus 14:3) Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. - Content: Sharon D.Johnson 5 l FALLING FORWARD l NOVEMBER 2020

JUSTICE SYSTEM

IS JUSTICE REALLY SERVED? Jacob Blake, 29 was shot many times in the back as he went to the car and opened its door in the city of Kenosha. Due to this aggressive act of Wisconsin police officers, Blake was paralyzed from the waist down. Mr. Blake’s shooting comes as the US grapples with the treatment of African-Americans at the hands of US law enforcement, as well as wider questions about racism in society. Another example of police aggression towards Blacks is the George Floyd incident. Now we can come to the inequality of the justice system by taking an example of a 17-year-old white boy who killed 2 people and severely injured one during the protest in Kenosha. Why did the police allow him to carry a gun in a protest? Why did the police allow the White people to create issues when Black people are conducting a peaceful protest? Is the justice for Black served?

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he criminal justice system is a set of legal and social institutions for enforcing criminal law that follows a defined group of procedural rules and limitations. The criminal justice system’s goal includes the rehabilitation of offenders, preventing other crimes, and moral support for victims.

The criminal justice system’s primary institutions are the police, prosecution and defense lawyers, the courts, and prisons. Well, this justice system of America is not fair and becomes different according to the race of the convict. According to a survey conducted by Pew Research Center, nearly 9 in 10 Black adults say Black Americans are treated less fairly than their white counterparts. The incongruity in judgment exists almost across the board, on views around policing, sentencing, and parole. The reason for this disparity is mainly due to our intellect, how we see the world, its experiences, etc. Police are one of the institutions to maintain justice, but the police act more as an oppressive force when dealing with Black people than in dealing with white people. Black adults are about five times as likely as white adults to be stopped by the police just because of their color. We can prove that police show a disparity in aggression when it comes to Black people by taking the case of Jacob Blake.

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So, from the above paragraph, it is clear that America has two systems of justice for Black and White Americans. The reality of America is what we have seen over generations and frankly, since our inception and America has two justice systems, the Black Americans also fight for equal justice under law. The most reasonable people who are attentive to these justice facts would dispute that there are racial disparities and a system that has engaged in racism in terms of how the laws have been enforced. Protests against racial injustice, particularly in law enforcement, have swept across America as police violence against Black Americans is being noticed, including the cases of Jacob Blake and George Floyd, which I mentioned above. So, America has to re-imagine how they are going to accomplish public safety. Black people are prone to discrimination in the justice system, and they are also victims of racism in the prison system.

According to the Pew Research Centre, in 2016, the racial demographics were as follows: ● African Americans represented 12% of the US population, but 33% of the prison population ● Caucasians accounted for 64% of the population, but only 30% of those in prison.

Hispanics held 16% of the nation’s population, but over 23% of prison inmates in America. People of color are incarcerated in state and federal prisons across the country at higher rates than white people, with African Americans landing in prison at more than five times the rate of white people.

In the following five states, states with predominately white communities, this number jumped to a rate of 10 to one: Iowa Minnesota New Jersey Vermont Wisconsin Oklahoma, which is the state with the highest black incarceration rate in the nation, holds more than one in every 15 black males over the age of 18 in prison.

To put these numbers into perspective, let’s compare the same crime committed by two people of two different races.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), a black person is 3.73 times more likely to be arrested for possession of marijuana when compared to a white person, despite the rate of use between the two races being approximately the same.

Hispanics and Latinos see nearly the same range of racial disparity, with Latinos in the US imprisoned at 1.4 times the rate of whites. However, Blacks are still more than twice as likely to wind up in prison than Hispanics.

There is clearly a serious problem with lingering racism in the criminal justice system, whether at the state or federal level. With racial profiling, harsh drug laws and overcriminalization, mass incarceration rates, and institutionalized discrimination are to blame for these shocking numbers. The problem also is in socio-economic status. The American system doesn’t favor lower class people, which in turn affects many people of color.

Racism cannot be allowed to exist within our system of justice; however, it is extremely difficult to get to the source of this problem. The police, prosecutors, courts, juries, penal administrators, legislators, and members of the executive branches of both federal and state governments are all involved in the criminal justice system and each plays a key role. Furthermore, reforming the justice system is politically perilous. Being labeled as “soft on crime”

is political dynamite. No officeholder can afford this label. Irrespective of the difficulty of the challenge, we must accept the responsibility. The National Conference on Public Trust and Confidence in the Justice System developed a number of overarching strategies, which I have listed below: 1. Improve external communication.

2. Improve education and training.

3. Make courts more inclusive and outreaching.

4. Improve management and information technology.

5. Make changes in existing laws and rules governing court procedures.

6. Simplify courts to make them more accessible to pro se parties.

7. Change the economics of courts and the legal profession.

8. Strengthen and improve the relations of the judiciary with other branches of government and court-related agencies.

9.

Enforce court procedures and powers of superintendence.

10. Make the courts [and other organizations making up the judicial system] demographically representative of the communities they serve.

Let’s all fight together against this disease that Black people are now facing and let’s put an end to it.

Content : from an outside source 7 l FALLING FORWARD l NOVEMBER 2020

WORLD NEWS

POLICE BRUTALITY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

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s America continues to fight against an ongoing global pandemic, there is a greater need to address police brutality against people of color. For as long as one can remember, the minorities in this country have been victims of police brutality

and racial discrimination.

In the late 19th and the early 20th centuries, immigrants from southern and eastern Europe, Jewish people, and African Americans were victims of police brutality.

During the same time frame, the poor and workingclass whites also expressed their frustration over unjust discriminatory policies. In the famous Zoot Suit Riots, many young Latinos and other minorities in Los Angeles were victims of police hostility. In the year 1969, police raided and attacked homosexuals and transgender people.

These violent confrontations, which began on June 28th, are known as the Stonewall Riots. As the riots continued to suppress the minorities, an international gay rights movement was born.

Police Brutality Against Poor and White Working ClassThe history of police brutality against poor and white working class dates way back to the 19th and the early 20th centuries. Before the 19th century, the concept of

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police force did not exist in any part of the country.

In the northern region, there were elected constables and sheriffs, who were responsible for protecting people. On the other hand, in the southern region, there were slave patrols. As many immigrants started moving to the northern part of the country, the wealthy class hired thousands of armed men to protect themselves. These armed men imposed orders on the working class. In the late 19th century, due to the harsh working conditions and discrimination against the poor and working class, people started protesting. As more and more people started fighting for their rights, police began to attack them with extreme violence. In 1877 and 1894, the U.S army played a vital role in suppressing the working class.

This trend of police brutality, which originated in the late 1900s continues to dominate even now.

Police Brutality Against HispanicsHave you recently heard of a brown person who was killed by a police officer? Many people argue that the history of police brutality on Latino communities is often not reported. According to a recent survey, the rate at which Latinos are killed by police is second to those of African-Americans. The main reason behind the lack of national coverage is because of poor understanding of the history of violence against Hispanics. Although a lot of cases are not reported in the media, Hispanics have been protesting against police brutality since the 1960s.

The brutality against Latinos came to light when the Texas Rangers, along with the local law enforcement officers, killed Hispanic men and women. Even though many agencies have changed over the years, crimes against Hispanics continue to skyrocket.

Just recently, the family of an 18-year-old Latino man, who was brutally killed at the hands of police, is still fighting for justice. Andres Guardado was shot by a Los Angeles County sheriff deputy. However, the exact details of what triggered the police to kill Andres is not known. It has been reported that he was killed for showing a firearm and fleeing from deputies. Andres was working as a security guard at an auto-body shop, and he was also studying to become a mechanic. He was shot dead at the store

where he was working as a security guard. After Andres was killed at the hands of law enforcement, people marched on the streets protesting for justice for his family and protection for the Latino communities. Hispanics formed several organizations to condemn the behaviour of police officers. Some of these are Young Lords Party, Community Alert Patrol, and Crusaders for Justice. The Community Alert Patrol was primarily formed to expose the brutality of the San Jose Police Department, which consists of allwhite officers.

Police Brutality Against African AmericansPolice brutality against African Americans needs no separate introduction. Both in the past and the present, there have been numerous tragic deaths of African Americans at the hands of police officers. However, it is only recently after the death of George Perry Floyd Jr., that millions of citizens have come out to streets protesting against police brutality.

George Perry Floyd Jr. was an African American man, who was killed by a white officer named Derek Chauvin. Floyd was initially arrested by the white officers, when they got a call from a convenience store employee saying that he had bought cigarettes with a counterfeit $20 bill. Floyd’s death indeed called for a greater need to change the law enforcement system. Demonstrators marched on the streets carrying placards that said, “Black Lives Matter,” “White Silence is Violence” and “Aboriginal Lives Matter.”

This year, many African Americans became victims of police hostility. Just a few months before Floyd was killed, A 26-year-old African American medical emergency technician, Breonna Taylor, was killed when officers raided her apartment.

Throughout history, African Americans have been subjected to police brutality because of antiblack racism among the white population. The first interactions of urban police officers and African Americans were reported way back in 1916.

The various forms of police brutality to which black Americans became primary targets are sexual assaults, unlawful arrests, verbal abuse, and police homicides.

After World War IIFollowing World War II, African Americans were subjected to more and more oppression from police officers. As African Americans started fighting for equal rights and representation in the judiciaries, law enforcement agencies and local governments, white police officers viewed their violence against African people as a justifiable means of control.

The extent to which African Americans were subjected to hostile brutality has escalated to a new level that even police officers, who were blacks, started committing acts of brutality against their own people. The reason they turned hostile is because they wished to be seen as “good cops.” Due to a rise in the number of urban crime rates in most African American neighborhoods, white people and police officers viewed them as inherently criminal.

Black Lives MatterBlack Lives Matter is a powerful movement founded in the year 2013, with the sole purpose of protecting freedom and black American lives against events of police brutality and violence.

The foundation of this powerful movement was laid down when an African American teenager, Trayvon Martin, was shot dead by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer in Florida. This movement till today continues to play a dominant role in nationwide protests against cruel police acts.

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POLITICS

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT: KAMALA HARRIS Even though Kamala couldn’t take part in the race for becoming the 46th President of the United States of America, She had won millions of hearts by being chosen as the first ever African and Asian American to run for a vice presidential nominee.

Senator Kamala Harris waves to crowd after announcing her candidacy for president.

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Who is Kamala Harris?

Kamala Harris was born on October 20, 1964 in Oakland, California. Her father, Donald J. Harris, is a Jamaican American economist and professor at the prestigious Stanford University. He had gained immense recognition for applying post Keynesian ideas to the development of economics. Kamala’s mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, was an American biologist and a breast cancer researcher. Her work in isolating and characterizing the progesterone receptor gene bought about major advances in the field of breast biology and cancer. In 2009, Shyamala Gopalan Harris passed away from colon cancer. Kamala has a younger sister, Maya Lakshmi Harris. She is an American lawyer, television commentator and public policy advocate.

oon after former Vice President Joe Biden was chosen as the Democratic presidential nominee for the 2020 elections, there were many speculations on who he would choose to be his running mate in the upcoming Kamala and Maya embraced their Indian and Black elections. identities by going to a Hindu temple and a Black After much wait, on August 11, Biden announced U.S. Baptist church. When Kamala was seven years old, Senator Kamala Harris as the Democratic vice presidential her parents parted ways. As a single parent, Shyamala candidate. He referred to her as a fearless fighter for the Gopalan Harris raised both her lovely daughters. As little guy and one of the country’s exceptional public a child, Kamala frequently visited India, and she was servants. highly influenced by her grandfather, who fought for Biden received mixed reviews for his decision from the Indian independence. She studied middle and political candidates, celebrities and citizens of the United high school in Montreal. Kamala graduated with States of America. Months after her own presidential a degree in political science and economics from dreams had come to an end, Kamala Harris tweeted Howard University, a highly regarded black college saying she was extremely honored to be chosen as in Washington D.C. After graduating from Howard the vice president candidate by Joe Biden and will do University, she studied law at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. everything it takes to make him a good president.

In the year 2019, Kamala Harris started her own In 1990, after graduating with a law degree, she joined presidential campaign with an announcement on the as an assistant district attorney at the Alameda County popular talk show Good Morning America. She was prosecutor’s office in Oakland. After working at the one of the only seven candidates to get qualified for the Alameda County prosecutor’s office, she was recruited December debate. However, due to lack of sufficient to the San Francisco District Attorney’s office and then funds and low polling numbers, she had to put an end to to the San Francisco’s City Attorney office. In 2003, she was elected district attorney of San Francisco. Then her presidential campaign.

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in 2010, she was elected attorney general of California and was re-elected in 2014. Harris referred to herself as a “progressive prosecutor.” She had sent many young men to prison.

In the same year, Kamala Harris married Douglas Emhoff.

He is a corporate lawyer in Los Angeles.

In the year 2016, Kamala defeated her fellow democrat Loretta Sanchez in the race for U.S. Senate. During her service, she had made some remarkable propositions and worked tirelessly with the sole motive of doing good to the country and its citizens. She proposed some notable changes in healthcare, citizenship for undocumented immigrants, removal of cannabis from schedule I of the controlled Substances Act, progressive tax reforms, and a ban on assault weapons. She is also a supporter of the DREAM Act. District Attorney of San Francisco - Kamala Harris In 2003, Kamala won with majority votes against Terence Hallinan as the district attorney of San Francisco. While she served as a lawyer, San Francisco’s conviction rate had increased. Kamala supported one of the most controversial laws in the year 2010. According to this law, parents who failed to send their children to school were punished. As an attorney general, one of her biggest accomplishments was creating an open justice. Open justice is an online platform that gives access for the public to view criminal justice data. This online platform improved police accountability by gathering information on the number of injuries and deaths of people in police custody. While working at the San Francisco District Attorney’s office, she had been successful in changing the law enforcement approach to see girls as victims of sex trafficking rather than criminals. In her memoir The

Kamala Harris with husband Douglas Emhoff Truths We Hold, Harris wrote that as a district attorney, her role was to look out for people who needed help and to speak up for those whose voices aren’t being heard.

Kamala Harris first speechAfter Joe announced Kamala Harris as his running mate, she accompanied him to Delaware, where she made her first speech. Both Joe and Kamala spoke about their shared values. Kamala started off her speech by thanking Joe for choosing her as his running mate.

Then she went on to point out how President Donald Trump’s mismanagement has plunged the nation into the worst health crisis ever. She believes that along with addressing one of the greatest pandemic ever in history, there is also a greater need to address racism and systemic injustice. Kamala Harris also resonates with and supports the idea of providing equal justice for all under law.

She also shed light upon the fact that when Barack Obama was the president, America had experienced a similar health crisis: Ebola. However, at that time, both Obama and Biden did a terrific job of controlling the virus. This is what she calls demonstrating good leadership skills.

She finished off her speech by saying this election is not just about politics; rather, it’s about where we stand as a nation. She urges American citizens to vote for a better leader and to stand together in this fight for the betterment of our country.

Kamala Harris campaigns in New Hampshire

Kamala Harris makes history as the first woman and woman of color to become the Vice-President elect of the United States of America. She will assume office on January 20, 2021, alongside President-elect Joe Biden.

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HEALTH

CORONAVIRUS

IN PEOPLE OF COLOR ● Essential workers- People from racial and ethnic minority groups, especially a large population of African Americans work in the healthcare industry, factories, grocery stores, public transportation and farms. People who work in these settings are particularly at a higher risk because they might come in close contact with infected individuals.

There is a possibility of them contracting this virus because they might not be able to work from home or get paid for sick days.

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he one thing that the entire world is talking about is undoubtedly the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus. This pandemic came when it was least expected and bought the world down to its knees. It has changed almost everything, especially people’s perspective of looking at life. With very little hope of things getting back to normal, there is so much uncertainty about what tomorrow might look like.

Researchers and health care professionals have been closely monitoring people who might be at a higher risk of contracting or dying from Covid-19. At the early stages of the pandemic, the elderly population and those with preexisting health conditions were said to be at a higher risk. However, as the virus continues to spread at a rapid pace, it seems to be affecting people, regardless of their gender, income level, age or race.

As more and more information becomes available, it is clear that the older population and people of color, particularly the African Americans in this country, are experiencing life-threatening symptoms.

Why are African Americans more vulnerable to coronavirus?

It is because of the shared common social and economic factors.

Let us closely examine some economic and social factors that might be putting people of color at a higher risk.

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● Living in crowded neighborhoods- Another major reason people of color are a higher risk of contracting this virus is because of their living conditions. A majority of the African American population live in crowded neighborhoods; therefore, the virus has been spreading at an alarming rate. When living in crowded places, it is extremely difficult to follow safety measures. According to studies, people sharing their household with two or more people are three times more likely to be infected than others. Neighborhood poverty is also one of the leading factors. Numerous studies have shown that the number of cases in neighborhoods with high poverty levels have been increasing at a steady rate. ● Lack of proper access to healthcare- One essential contributing factor is lack of proper access to healthcare. People of color are often denied access to good healthcare for several reasons. Some of these include inadequate health insurance, racial

Preventing the spread of coronavirusAccording to the World Health Organization, one can reduce the chances of being infected or spreading the deadly virus by following simple safety measures. ● Proper hand hygiene- Make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with soap or an alcohol-based sanitizer. You must keep in mind to wash your hands, especially when you come in contact with infected surfaces or people.

discrimination and distrust in caregivers. With limited access to healthcare, people of color are facing some serious problems in coping with Covid-19. ● Chronic health conditions- There have been a number of reports on people with underlying health problems becoming seriously ill from this virus. Even the death rate in them is significantly higher. Unfortunately, a large number of the African American population suffers from health problems like heart attacks, diabetes, obesity, and lung diseases. Therefore, they are likely to become more ill than others from this virus. Studies have shown that people who are admitted with severe Covid-19 symptoms had at least one underlying health condition. ● Weak immune system- while there is no Covid-19 medicine or immune boosting supplements to cure or prevent this infectious disease, it is important to have a strong immune system. Unfortunately some people have weak immune system due to unhealthy lifestyle habits like excessive drinking, smoking and eating junk food. Due to this reason, they are more susceptible to Covid-19.

How has Coronavirus affected people with underlying health conditions?

Along with people of color, those with underlying health conditions and older people are at a greater risk of developing serious problems. However, because this is a new virus, there is not much information on the reason behind why this virus is causing severe health problems in certain groups of people.

Health experts say that those with conditions like cardiovascular problems, lung problems, respiratory illnesses, and cancer are likely to suffer from major complications. These individuals are at a greater risk because their immune system cannot fight the virus.

● Wear a face mask in public- There has been an ongoing debate on the effectiveness of face masks in controlling the spread of the virus. Some healthcare workers believe that it has indeed saved several people from not getting infected. Others say that it doesn’t help with preventing the virus. Regardless of what people say, it is always best to wear a mask when you’re around people. ● Avoid going to crowded places- One must refrain from going to crowded places, because there is a high chance of contracting this virus. Since it’s difficult to maintain distance in crowded areas, it’s easy for the virus to spread rapidly.

As the entire country is fighting against this deadly coronavirus, government and healthcare providers must take some serious measures to protect the African American communities and the older population.

Ways to make sure the virus doesn’t spread among people of color: ● They should be given proper access to healthcare. ● Raising awareness about the virus by providing the latest health updates. ● Educating people from low-income neighborhoods about the virus and its preventive measures. ● African Americans working in essential fields must be allowed to take paid leaves or work from home.

Especially those living with sick family members.

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FASHION

LATEST FASHION TRENDS POST COVID-19

Now the fashion creators have to think of innovative ways to keep their businesses operating.

Ever since the pandemic hit the entire world, there has been a significant decline in sales. For this reason, several fashion houses all over the world are closing their doors. The impact of the coronavirus is not only felt across the apparel industry, but even in textiles, footwear and the fashion accessories industry.

According to recent statistics by the U.S. Census Bureau, the price for clothing and clothing accessories sales in the U.S. fell to 50.5% in March 2020.

Popular fashion brands like H&M, Zara, and Gap were left with no choice but to take a drastic step of cancelling their orders. On the other hand, there are some brands that are going out of business. Major apparel industries continue to cancel several in-process orders, risking the livelihoods of workers in countries like India, China and Bangladesh.

Amidst this pandemic, many high-end fashion brands faced quite a few challenges and had to file for bankruptcy. On the other hand, there were some who managed to survive and adapt to the changing fashion trends.

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At the early stages of the pandemic, many fashion brands recognized the need for personal protective ashion is the only industry that equipment. They started manufacturing and distributing changes styles and trends with the to front line workers. Soon, there was an increase in the arrival of a new season. In order to meet the increasing demand, the supply chain has to work at lightning speed to ship out the latest styles. However, this year, things have taken an unexpected turn. With the coronavirus spreading at a rapid pace, the fashion industry has been hit hard.

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic can be felt on every aspect of the fashion world, right from the manufacturing of raw materials, to the designing, distribution of garments and sales. Gone are the days when designers would showcase their latest collection on the runway and people would purchase them in stores.

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demand for protective equipment to combat the spread of this virus.

Due to the increase in demand, fashion brands started investing money in manufacturing this equipment.

Did you ever imagine that a simple face mask would become the latest trend in fashion?

Probably never. The coronavirus has transformed face masks as the unexpected fashion accessory of 2020. In order to prevent the spread of this virus, several countries have made wearing face masks mandatory in public places. As people have become more cautious, selling non-surgical masks has become a promising trend now and in the future. Since the idea of making face masks seemed quite promising, designers started selling cloth masks to all age groups. Colored and printed masks have slowly started becoming the new trend for both adults and children.

Over the next few months, as people start going to work and children to school, face masks will be an everyday accessory. Along with face masks, there will be an increase in demand for antibacterial fabrics post Covid-19. Some sportswear brands like Uniqlo have started manufacturing apparel using antibacterial fabric.

Another fashion trend that will continue to dominate throughout this year is casual dressing. Since most people are working from home, there will be a demand for casual loungewear made with comfortable fabrics.

Women are likely to invest in luxury pajamas, onepiece dresses made with easy-to-wash fabrics and comfortable footwear. As far as the menswear is concerned, the latest trend will be short-sleeved shirts, polo shirts, and lightweight fabrics like cotton and linen. There will be demand for comfortable clothing, which can be worn both at home and in parks.

During this pandemic, retailers have been lending their voice and support towards social causes. Several fashion houses have come forward to help workers who have been affected by Covid-19. Not only are they helping workers by providing basic necessities for survival, but they are also supporting causes like the iconic Black Lives Matter Movement. More than

Pic credit: https://us.louisvuitton.com/

a fashion trend, this is a perfect example for a shift in mindset. As more and more retailers are responding to social causes, this will surely become a deciding factor for consumers to invest in these brands post Covid-19.

Although the fashion industry had to face quite a few setbacks due to the coronavirus pandemic, many designers have utilized this lockdown period to its full potential. They are spending more time on changing the traditional industry processes to a more sustainable process.

The outbreak has indeed highlighted the importance for a greener future. It has also shed light on the need for utilizing digital platforms in order to showcase the latest fashion trends. Designers have switched from the traditional runway campaigns to the new normal, which is showcasing digitally curated samples in virtual showrooms. The concept of digitalization will be seen in other processes across the supply chain.

As retailers make use of technology for sustainable solutions, this will reduce the amount of waste and even the cost. Sustainable solutions not only eliminate certain costs, but they also help fashion brands to establish a good relationship and retain their customer base.

In order to keep the business going despite the numerous setbacks, fashion labels have to promote the concept of buying better quality products at affordable prices. Brands should also place more emphasis on the concept of conscious products. There will be a great demand for natural and organic products as people are becoming more conscious about their health than ever before.

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FEATURE STORY

REMEMBERING SUPREME COURT

JUSTICE RUTH BADER GINSBURG

Bill Clinton and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

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f you were asked to identify some of our nation’s serious issues, what would your answer be? Well, besides the affordability of healthcare, the majority of citizens of the United States of America will agree that one of the issues that is often unaddressed, apart from healthcare reforms, is systemic racism.

Not just the people of this country, but even civil rights leaders and attorneys have been fighting for racial justice for minorities. One such civil rights lawyer, who had devoted her legal career to the pursuit of eliminating discrimination, was Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

With less than seven weeks before the election day, the sudden demise of Ruth Bader Ginsburg has left lawmakers and the citizens of this country to question the future of the court. Her death is definitely one of the biggest developments yet to come in 2020.

RUTH BADER GINSBURG’S EARLY LIFE Ruth Bader Ginsburg was born as Joan Ruth Bader on March 15th, 1933. She was the second daughter of Nathan and Cecelia Bader. She grew up in a low-income, working class neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. One person who had a major influence on Ruth’s life was her beloved mother, Cecelia. She taught her daughter the importance of education and also the value of independence.

However, due to some financial problems, Cecelia couldn’t afford to attend a college. Instead, she worked hard to help pay for her brother’s education.

Upon learning of her mother’s struggles to make ends meet, Ruth was very much inspired by her mother’s act of selflessness and decided to dedicate her life towards education. At James Madison High School in Brooklyn, Ruth Bader Ginsburg excelled in her academics.

“Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn’t be that women are the exception.”

- Ruth Bader Ginsburg A day before her high school graduation, her mother, Cecelia, died from cancer. Although her mother left her too soon, this did not stop Ruth from finishing her education. On June 23rd, 1954, she graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Arts in Government. In the same year, Ruth married Martin D. Ginsburg, who was also a law student from Cornell University. A few months into their marriage. Ruth had her first child, Jane. She had to look after her daughter all by herself because her husband, Martin, was selected into the military.

After serving for two years in the military, Both Martin and Ruth decided to move to Harvard.

At Harvard, Ruth decided to pursue law. She encountered male dominance with only eight females in her class of 500 students. Despite all the challenges, Ruth excelled in academics and became the first woman member of the renowned legal journal, the Harvard Law Review. Ruth had successfully learned to balance life as a mother and a

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Ruth Bader Ginsburg was appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia by President Jimmy Carter in the year 1980. After serving for thirteen years, In 1993, she was nominated by President Bill Clinton as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. She became the first ever Jewish female justice of the Supreme Court, and eventually became the longest-serving member. As the Justice of the Supreme Court, Ruth fought against racial discrimination, for both men and women.

law student. During Martin’s final year at Harvard, he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Throughout his treatment, Ruth stayed by her husband’s side and organized his notes and typed his final paper, while at the same time dealing with her own coursework and taking care of her three-year-old daughter. Amidst all the personal setbacks and with Ruth’s help, Martin recovered from cancer, and moved to New York city to accept a position at a law firm. However, Ruth had to finish one more year of law school, so she transferred to Columbia Law School, where she graduated with flying colors in the year 1959.

Professional careerDespite of her exceptional academic performance, Ruth continued to face discrimination on the basis of gender. After encountering many obstacles, she found a job as a clerk. Ruth worked for two years as a clerk under U.S. District Judge Edmund L. Palmieri. After working for two years, she decided to join Columbia Project on International Civil Procedure. In 1963, she secured a job as a professor at the renowned Rutgers University Law School.

Then in the year 1972, she joined Columbia University as a teacher, and became the first female to secure a permanent post as a professor. She dedicated her time to focus on issues related to sex discrimination. During the 1970s, she was the director of the Women’s Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union.

While serving as the director, she worked on six notable cases on gender equality before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Landmark casesOne of Ruth’s biggest landmark cases was the United States v.

Virginia. Her widely known Supreme Court opinion opened the doors of the Virginia Military Institution to women.

Another notable case is the Olmstead v.

L.C.; the Supreme Court’s ruling in this case favored people with disabilities.

This Supreme Court Justice also supported gay marriages and fought for women’s reproductive freedom in several cases.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s achievementsAlthough Ruth Bader Ginsburg has indeed left us too soon, she will be remembered for her resilience and determination. Ruth dedicated her whole life towards fighting for women’s equal rights. This paved the way for women to take up high professional jobs in government, business, and the military.

There are many books written about her life and career. In the year 2018, a feature film about her early life named On the Basis of Sex was released.

Shortly after Ruth Bader Ginsburg died after a long battle from metastatic pancreatic cancer, thousands of people gathered on the steps of the Supreme Court to pay tribute to this legendary woman.

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PEOPLE

ALEXIS MARTIN: CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING SURVIVOR

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ue to the novel coronavirus, among the many inmates released from prisons in the United States of America is 22-year-old Alexis Martin.

She was a victim of sex trafficking. Martin was sentenced to prison at a young age of 17 for murder.

Upon hearing Martin’s story, Kim went to prison and interviewed her. Along with Alexis Martin, three other prisoners whose story was featured on Kim’s show are David Sheppard, Dawn Jackson and Momolu Stewart.

But Alexis’s case in particular is heartbreaking. For the first time ever in this show, Martin confronted that Kerney raped her, and he told her she was not worthy of anything besides her body.

Did you know sex trafficking is the fastest growing crime in the world? Yes, you heard it right. According to the International Labour Organization, globally there are approximately 40.3 million victims of sex trafficking.

Victims are forced into labor or sexual acts to repay a huge amount of debt that keeps increasing with time. Every year, several victims of sex trafficking are incarcerated for murder and robbery. One such young sex trafficking victim who was put behind bars for murder is Alexis Martin.

While Alexis Martin was serving her time in prison, her story grabbed the attention of millions of people when it was featured in Kim Kardashian West: The Justice Project. This documentary was aired on Oxygen, in which Kim advocates for an end to mass incarceration.

Through this show, Alexis Martin’s story came to the limelight. It showed how Martin, while serving her time in prison, managed to earn a GED and a dog training certificate. She also mentored a group of sex trafficking survivors to come out of trauma and to lead a better life.

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Kim Kardashian Kim has worked with prisoners over the years, and she has advocated for the release of several inmates.

In her documentary, she was seen working with other inmates and also policy makers and members of the legal team in order to facilitate their release. Kim was successful in her efforts to release two inmates, but when the show came to an end, she was still waiting for the results of Martin’s clemency hearing. In the

documentary on Alexis Martin, Kim had mentioned that Martin had to face many obstacles in life, and that she cannot imagine being in Martin’s situation. The celebrity also believes that no one is even trying to protect Martin, not even the system.

Even before this brave young girl had become a victim of sex trafficking, she had to overcome many obstacles as a child. Both her parents were never part of her life.

Her father would physically abuse her, and her mother was imprisoned for drug trafficking. At the age of 8, she was diagnosed with depression. She was repeatedly raped by several men. When she was 12 years old, she was raped by a 16-year-old boy. At that time, she was also pregnant. But later she had a miscarriage. She was kidnapped by Kerney. He forced her into drug and sex trafficking and exotic dancing; he also prepared girls to become prostitutes.

Alexis Martin was sentenced to life in prison for playing a vital role in the fatal murder of a 35-year-old man named Angelo Kerney from Akron, Ohio. In the 2013, she was part of seven people who planned to rob Kerney’s house and kill him. However, she was not the one who pulled the trigger. In this fatal shooting, Angelo Kerney and one of the people involved in the shooting died. In February 2014, Martin pleaded guilty for being involved in the murder of Angelo Kerney.

She was sentenced to life in prison by a Summit County Common pleas judge named Tom Parker. In jail, Alexis Martin on several occasions mentioned that she is extremely sorry for what had happened and there is not a single day she doesn’t think about what happened. Out of all the people involved in Kerney’s

murder, Martin was the last one to get sentenced. Spear, who was one among the suspects, was sentenced to 41 years and Jackson was sentenced to life in prison.

Assistant Summit County prosecutor Pete Daly insisted that Alexis Martin should be sentenced to 26 years to life in prison for playing a crucial role in the crime and also for refusing to cooperate with investigators initially. Based on a report by Dr. Lynn Luna Jones, Daly characterized Alexis Martin as a bully. She has a history of manipulating, abusing animals and fighting. Based on all the evidence and after Martin pleaded guilty, she was sentenced to life in prison with a possibility of parole after 21 years. Shortly after she was sentenced, her attorney Sasha Naiman, an attorney for the nonprofit Ohio Justice & Policy Center, along with another private attorney, Jennifer Kinsley, filed Martin’s clemency case. When Naiman was asked to talk about Alexis Martin’s case, she had mentioned that Martin’s first attorney failed to pursue protection for her under the Safe Harbor Law. This law granted protection for sex trafficking victims. If this law was applied in her case, then she would have been released at the age of 21.

In response to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus, Alexis Martin’s time in jail has been cut short. In April of this year, Governor of Ohio Mike DeWine announced Alexis Martin is one among the seven Ohio inmates who will be released from prison. He further mentioned that she will be sent to an appropriate home, where she will be under constant supervision for a long period. Shortly after the announcement, Kim Kardashian took to Twitter and wrote, “Alexis Martin is a sex traffic survivor, and I was honored to be able to share her story on the Justice Project. Thank you Governor DeWine for commuting her sentence.”

Alexis Martin

Upon hearing Governor Mike DeWine’s announcement, Alexis Martin couldn’t have been more happier. Martin hopes to start a non-profit organization for survivors of sex trafficking.

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SPORTS

NBA AND BLACK LIVES MATTER

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he NBA court has become a bubble protected from coronavirus and also a place for protest with three words stenciled alongside the enormous NBA logo, “Black Lives Matter.” The stands were empty and silent, but one message echoed loudly: the NBA wanted to protest against racism. Jerseys of the players normally carry their prominent surname; instead, they have activist slogans like Justice Now, See Us, Hear Us, Respect Us, and Love Us. NBA has become a vehicle for protesting Americans’ old sin, even before the death of George Floyd during his arrest. When the NBA game restarts, players show their protest against racism and support Black Lives Matter in five ways.

• Firstly, NBA and NBPA formed a $300 million foundation.

NBA and NBPA formed a $300 million foundation to support the social justice foundation. Everyone believes that this a significant step and an excellent investment that could bring about real social change. NBA players are passionate about this.

• New Orleans Pelicans practice jersey.

To show their support against Black Lives Matter, New Orleans Pelicans wore the jersey with raised fists with “Smith/Carlos” at the back. Smith and Carlos were banned from the US Olympic Team and were excluded from the Olympic Games Village because of their protest against racial injustice.

• Toronto Raptor’s Arrival Bus

The Toronto Raptors arrived inside the NBA bubble in Orlando on Thursday, July 9, and immediately turned many heads. The message written on the sides of their team buses was loud and clear: Black Lives Matter. This move set the tone for the rest of the things to come in Orlando. Several players

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were impacted by this gesture and started discussing ways to bring attention to Black Lives Matter. Matisse Thybulle, who has become extremely popular among the fans for his vlogs, discussed ideas for this cause with Philadelphia 76ers’ Tobias Harris in one of his videos. We can rest assured that something will surely come out of those discussions soon.

• NBA players Donate their salaries to Black Lives

Matter Several NBA players have donated their salaries to Black Lives Matter that they are supposed to receive for the season’s remainder.

• NBA Players Speaking about Breonna Taylor

In a trend that Denver Nugget’s Jerami Grant started, players responded to questions during media availability sessions by throwing light on Breonna Taylor. Her case has grabbed a lot of eyeballs due to the Black Lives Matter movement. The 26-year-old Breonna Taylor was shot down in her home on March 13, 2020, by four officers of the Louisville Metropolitan Police Department who executed a no-knock search warrant. Action is still pending against the accused. Several other players, including LeBron James,

have thrown light on the incident, and we’re likely to hear more about it in the days to come.

Nothing can be more critical than NBA players directly asking for change when they have the media’s attention, and this move is certainly commendable for Black Lives Matter.

Other than all this, NBA players and coaches took a knee during the national anthem, wearing “Black Lives Matter” and calling attention and supporting the ongoing anti-racism protest in the US. Laker’s Lebron James, who has professionally suffered from racism, also knelt to show his protest against racism. During the gesture, those involved came away with a powerful message about George Floyd’s death.

Several NBA players compared the kneeling gesture to George Floyd’s death, noting that they were only kneeling for a fraction of the time when a police officer kneeled on Floyd’s neck. While in the NBA bubble, players have tried to keep the focus on social justice reform and racial inequality. The NBA also has “Black Lives Matter” painted on its walls. But some players have not kneeled during the anthem. Jonathan Isaac of the Orlando Magic and Meyers Leonard of the Miami Heat both choose to stand for personal reasons.

“We actually, as a unit, as a team, had to switch our knees over from one knee to the other knee because they are starting to get sore. Kinda started hurting a little bit,” James said. “A little four over minutes.

And you think about eight minutes and 46 seconds of the officer having his knee on someone’s throat for that long.”

Rivers also said, “My knee hurt in the middle of it. I am thinking, in two minutes, my knee is hurting, yet there was a guy that had his knee on someone else’s neck for eight minutes.”

Of all sports, basketball is arguably the most obvious place for an honest conversation. From its earliest days of being popularised as entertainment by the

Harlem Globetrotters to a sport still primarily played by black athletes and, in the US, watched mostly by ethnic minority fans (two-thirds of those who tuned in during 2016-17 on US TV were non-white), the race has figured prominently in the NBA. The league says it will embrace the conversation head-on this time, and this time it will make a difference. As for the league’s race campaign, the NBA is realistic about the prospect of influence. It is now coming to the fans of the league. Fans are like any other group of people; some will get it, some will understand, some will enjoy the games and move on. Others will hopefully get involved in being part of the solution of being anti-racist, but that’s a pretty individual thing.

After all, sport - as much a cultural product of the times as any entertainment - can only reflect the realities of its era. In 2020, the truth is that to be black is in itself to be political, and that position is not a choice, whether you are a basketball star or a bouncer.

The slogan stenciled beside the NBA logo is a reminder.

The lives of so many of the men dribbling, jumping, and performing feats of athleticism are black ones, and they matter, not just on the court.

- Content : from an outside source

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PEOPLE

SUSAN CAROL WILLIAMS father. By her first birthday, she was moving to Wichita Falls with her mother to escape a dangerous, unhealthy home life.

Despite a rocky beginning, Susan enjoyed a fantastic childhood and was loved by everyone. As a child, she was caring and would help anyone who needed her. She participated in cheerleading and eventually became the head cheerleader. Susan had lots of friends and was looked up to by many of her peers.

Additionally, she excelled in school as an honor student. She ended up graduating a year early in the top ten percent of her class.

The pair lived with Susan’s grandparents for some time. She became especially close to them and was the apple of their eyes. When their health began to fail in her teenage years, Susan was noticeably affected.

Around the time her grandfather passed away, Susan gave birth to her first child: a little boy she named Hayden. At the hospital, her family learned there was cocaine in her system. As a result, Child Protective Services (CPS) took charge of the child for a month

“Susan has learned to cope with challenges without turning to drugs.”

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et’s begin by introducing Susan Carol Williams. Her life began under challenging circumstances, which proved to be indicative of the type of life she would lead. She was born prematurely, only weighing four pounds five ounces. As a newborn, she had an irregular heartbeat and collapsed lungs, necessitating doctors to put tubes in her lungs.

She remained in the hospital until her heartbeat stabilized and she could breathe independently. A few weeks later, she went home but unfortunately encountered a different type of obstacle: an abusive

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She currently serves her sentence in Aliceville, Alabama.

Since arriving, she has worked in several facilities and has gone to every class possible to improve herself. In fact, she is working on an electrical apprenticeship in order to someday earn a respectable living. Susan has learned to cope with challenges without turning to drugs and has even thanked Judge McBryde for saving her life.

Tragically, her children have suffered during her absence. Bella was only two and Hayden was only seven when their mother went away. Because of COVID-19, they haven’t seen her all year. However, they try to stay connected through phone calls. When she calls, they talk about their dreams, love for each other, and individual interests. Susan is so proud of her children and before returning him. A few years later, Susan’s encourages them to reach grandmother passed away. Shortly after that, Susan got for the stars and beyond. caught selling meth to an undercover cop several times She says that her primary goal is to improve herself and but only received probation. to come home a better person.

Susan’s troubles climaxed when she let her boyfriend move in with her and her children, Hayden and her new daughter Bella. When it became clear that the boyfriend was abusive, Susan’s mother contacted the police and had him removed. He reported that he had been supplying Susan with meth, so she lost custody of her children and had nowhere to live. Out of desperation, Susan moved into a house that was under investigation for distributing drugs. After living there for two weeks, she was arrested for conspiracy.

Susan’s story is a moving tale that elicits several compelling questions. Does she deserve eighteen years of incarceration? Is it ethical for the prison system to keep families apart because of COVID-19? Does this merit a humanitarian release? These are difficult quandaries but certainly worthy of consideration.

- written by Anna Davis

When Susan later appeared before Judge John McBryde in court, much of the conversation was about her codependency. Words like “ghost drugs,” “conspiracy,” and “distribution” circulated the courtroom. Ultimately, Susan pled guilty to the charge of possession of meth with the intent to deliver. The court accepted her plea and added ghost drugs to it. This meant that a witness claimed she’d had an ounce of drugs every week for some time, and so she was charged with the cumulative amount of drug possession, despite the fact that the witness against Susan changed his story several times. She was sentenced to 200 months, or 17 years.

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EDUCATION

GOING BACK TO SCHOOL DURING COVID-19

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chool plays an essential role in shaping a child’s personality. Most importantly, it equips children with all the tools to become a better human being.

It’s that time of year again, when teachers and school faculty look forward with much enthusiasm to welcome new students. On the other hand, students are also equally excited to start a new academic year. But due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, things have taken an unexpected turn this year. The normal academic year has nearly come to an end for most educational institutions. In order to combat the spread of the pandemic, school faculty and students were suddenly left with no choice but to adapt to an online learning environment.

As the in-person classes were put on halt, several students and teachers across the world were thrown into an uncertain situation. However, the idea of an online learning environment might sound just as promising as inperson classes, but in reality, it has turned into a nightmare for several children and teachers. Latin American, African American and Native American children from low-income families are not able to cope well with the new learning system. According to some statistics, it has been reported that one in five teens have no access to computers or to internet connection; for this reason, they are not able to attend virtual classes.

Adapting to virtual learning has not only become a real challenge for students from low-income families but also for those with disabilities. While it is true that this kind 26 l FALLING FORWARD l NOVEMBER 2020

of learning has provided an opportunity for schools to successfully recover from the spring semester, at the same time, it has brought a number of obstacles.

For many students, school is not just a learning platform, but it is also a place where they get access to healthy meals and other important services. Besides their homes, school is the only place which has an influence on a child’s overall wellbeing. Considering the fact that a lot of students rely on schools for basic needs, educators and other government officials believe that there is a greater need to reopen schools.

Is it completely safe for students and teachers to go back to school? Will kids attend school on alternate days? What will lunch breaks look like?

Some states have already reopened schools, but others have yet to make a decision. The decision of reopening schools will depend greatly on the health and safety of

teachers, students and communities. Other factors that have to be taken into consideration include individual preferences and work situations. School administrators and government officials should keep in mind that students will have to be given access to fresh meals, child daycare, social services, extra-curricular activities and emotional support from peers and educators.

School authorities have to make a quick decision to either start a new academic year with in-person classes or to go completely virtual. While some parents prefer virtual learning, others are facing a lot of problems. Regardless of what decision school authorities might take, parents are concerned about the safety of their children at school in the wake of this pandemic.

Impact of coronavirus on childrenIn order to contain the spread, apart from following some preventive measures, school faculty must closely monitor the impact of coronavirus on children. Some common symptoms seen in children include a fever, cough, sore throat and headache. Reports suggest that children who are younger than 10 years of age are less likely to be infected than those who are aged 10-17 years. Most children are recovering from the virus with very few symptoms or are reported as asymptomatic while some with severe health conditions require hospitalization.

The death rate in children is comparatively low.

The ones who might be at a greater risk of contracting this virus are teachers and other school employees.

Impact of coronavirus on teachers and other school workersAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are various factors that might put an individual at a higher risk. Having a body mass index of greater than 40, having a weak immune system, and having severe health conditions like heart attacks, cancer, diabetes, and respiratory problems.

Being 65 years or older is also considered a high-risk factor for contracting Covid-19. According to some reports, teachers and workers who have been tested positive suffered from

Jaloni

Jordyn

Taylor

severe health problems and some even died.

While keeping in mind the safety measures, the real challenge for school authorities is how to safeguard the health of teachers and other workers more than students. Due to the volume of traffic in most school environments, maintaining distance from one another might seem impossible. But the good news is, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has laid down safety precautions.

By following these precautions, authorities can ensure the health of their teachers, students and other workers.

Some of these safety measure include the following● Schools should maintain a clean environment at all times. ● Students and employees must be educated on the importance of following safety guidelines. ● Students and teachers must follow proper personal hygiene and social distancing practices. ● Evolve a strategic proactive plan for when a teacher or student is tested positive. ● Increase classroom space and facilitate social distancing by locating and utilizing unused school spaces or community spaces. ● Parents and caregivers should be educated on the importance of monitoring and responding to the symptoms of Covid-19. ● In order to conduct in-person classes, level of community transmission must be taken into account. ● School authorities must work closely with state and local authorities to develop ongoing channels. These channels will aid in staying connected with Covid-19 transmission and response in the local neighborhood. ● In the event of positive cases, school authorities must collaborate with local officials and come up with ways to conduct case tracing.

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ENTERTAINMENT

AMERICA’S GOT TALENT FINALIST: ARCHIE WILLIAMS After exactly one year in prison, in the year 1984, his conviction was rejected by the Louisiana Court of Appeals. For the entire time Archie was locked up in prison, not a single person came to help him because of his financial status. But in spite of all the obstacles, he never gave up and fought till the very end because he knew that he was innocent. At the age of 35, after serving for 13 years for a crime he did not commit, Archie Williams reached out to the Innocence Project for help.

Archie Williams

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ave you heard about a prisoner’s story, and got inspired? Well, if you haven’t, then you have to hear Archie Williams’s heartbreaking true story. Shortly after being released from prison, Archie Williams made headlines not only for his remarkable story but also for his amazing singing talent. He has indeed inspired millions of people across America.

On January 4, 1983, Archie Williams, who was at the time only 22 years old, was wrongfully incarcerated. He was sentenced to life without parole at Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as Angola, for a crime he did not commit. He was falsely accused of attempted murder and raping a 31-year-old white woman at her house, which was located in Hundred Oaks area of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Even though authorities found fingerprints that did not match with Williams, he still had to spend 36 long years in prison. At the time of his trial, along with the fingerprints that did not match, there were three witnesses who had given testimony that Archie Williams was at his house sleeping during the crime. However, despite all the evidence suggesting that he did not commit the crime, Archie was locked up for almost four decades. He was sentenced to life in prison on the basis of problematic identification.

While he was serving his time in prison, Archie Williams discovered that singing and boxing were the two things that got him through his incarceration. He practised boxing and also professionally trained a group of boxers in prison. He won nine boxing titles. Along with boxing, he also started his own singing band.

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Innocence Project is a non-profit legal organisation working to exonerate prisoners who are wrongly convicted. Upon hearing Archie’s story, the Innocence Project started working on his case with the sole motive of bringing him out of prison. Finally in the year 1995, 11 years after Archie was incarcerated, the Innocence Project began re-examining his case. In 1996, this nonprofit legal organization filed for DNA testing. After 11 years of filling for DNA testing, finally the results were out . But the test did not prove Archie as innocent because the only DNA that was identified was of the victim’s husband. In 1999, the organization made their first request to get access to fingerprints from the crime scene. With the help of these fingerprints, the Innocence Project hoped to search in the FBI database and prove Archie as innocent. After 20 long years, they were able to get access to the database.

In the year 2014, the Innocence Project persuaded the judge to order new fingerprint testing. With the help of a more precise and powerful system called Next Generation Identification, the fingerprints at the crime scene matched another man named Forbes and not Archie Williams.

Forbes died in prison in 1996 for committing a similar crime in Louisiana.

The reason Forbes was not one of the prime suspects in this case was because his fingerprints were in the old system at the time of

investigation. With the help of this system, along with Forbes, nine other people were identified as suspects in this case.

On March 21, 2019, All the cases against Archie were dismissed and at the age of 58, he was released from prison. However, after the hearing, when Archie came out of court, he said he was still not free until people like him were let free. Archie Williams continues to help innocent people like him to get out of jail. Archie filed for a federal civil rights lawsuit seeking damages for his wrongful conviction. If he wins, he will be entitled to 250 thousand dollars.

Archie Williams in The Steve Harvey ShowAfter he was released from prison, Archie was invited to the popular talk show The Steve Harvey Show. While in prison, Archie watched Steve Harvey on television and was inspired by Steve’s positivity and applied it to his own life. During a conversation with Steve, Archie said he found solace in music and started his own music band in prison. In the show, he received five thousand dollars from a well-known company called Magic Mud.

America’s Got Talent finalist: Archie Williams Last year, Archie not only appeared on The Steve Harvey Show, but he also performed at the world-famous Apollo theater in Harlem. He made it to the third round of their Amateur Night competition. He was indeed overwhelmed by the love and support from Amateur staff, audience and fellow performers. Shortly after, he auditioned for the upcoming season of America’s Got Talent. He not only received praises for his amazing singing talent from both judges and audience, but they were also moved by his story. Upon hearing his story, all four judges were stunned. All the four judges along with the audience gave him a standing ovation after hearing his beautiful voice. One of the judges and a famous television personality, Simon Cowell, was touched by Archie’s story and his song choice that he

Pic: Credits: Simon Cowell Instagram; Elton John Twitter

took to his Instagram page and shared his story. He posted a picture with Archie Williams and wrote, “What happened to Archie is tragic. While his voice is extraordinary, unfortunately his experience of being sent to prison for a crime he didn’t commit is more common than people realize. I’m honored to become an Ambassador for the @innocenceproject and want to do what I can to help more people like Archie. @ archiewilliamsofficial’s story is one of courage and hope - and I hope that by knowing more about his story and the Innocence Project, it will encourage more people to support the incredible work they do. These guys don’t just talk; they actually do something about it. The Innocence Project doesn’t just change people’s lives; they save people’s lives.” After learning Archie’s story and hearing him sing, Simon got emotional and he confessed that he would never forget Archie Williams’ audition for the rest of his life.

After Archie sang “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” by Elton John and George Michael, thousands of people reached out to him and sent him letters of support and donation. Among the people who reached out to him was renowned songwriter and singer, Elton John. John took to Twitter and wrote, “ I was moved to tears when I heard Archie’s story and saw him perform ‘Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.’ The courage and forgiveness shown by him is truly inspiring. It is the same spirit that the world found so inspiring with Nelson Mandela. Love, E xx.”

Simon Cowell and his fellow judges Heidi Klum, Howie Mandell, and Sofia Vergara voted for him and sent him onto the next round of the competition. In the next round of the competition, he had to compete against spoken word poet Brandon Leake, drummer Malik DOPE, child singer Roberta Battaglia, singing duo Broken Roots, and aerialist Alan Silva.

SORRY YOU WERE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED AND JAILED FOR 36 YEARS.

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PEOPLE

A MAN WHO SPENT 19 YEARS IN PRISON FOR WRONGFUL CONVICTION: EMON BARNES

H

ave you heard about someone who was wrongfully convicted for a crime?

Every year in the United States of America, there are hundreds of people who are convicted for crimes that they did not commit. Many innocent people are put behind bars due to the country’s unreliable justice system. Some of the major contributors to wrongful convictions are mistaken witnesses, lack of accountability for prosecutors and police, lack of scientific validation of forensic testing methods, government misconduct and forced confessions. The consequences of a false conviction are rather unimaginable.

Oftentimes, people who get convicted for crimes that they never committed are mentally disturbed and suffer from prolonged illnesses. Not just the person who is convicted but even their families are devastated. When a wrongfully convicted individual is declared innocent, the original victim experiences feelings of guilt, fear and helplessness.

It’s no secret that there are many people in this country who are convicted for crimes they never committed. According to the National Registry of Exonerations annual report, 143 people were exonerated across the United States of America in 2019. The exonerees spent about 1908 years in prison for crimes they did not commit. Oftentimes, we may not hear many stories of people who have been wrongfully convicted, but this is not the case with Emon Barnes.

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Pics: LMU Loyola Law School

Who is Emon Barnes?

Emon Barnes, a native of Southern California, was wrongfully convicted for a gang-related shooting of two teenagers. Prosecutors requested a judge to resentence Barnes to time served in prison. After serving in the prison for 19 years, he was resentenced to a reduced term, and now Barnes will be released soon. Ever since the news of him being released surfaced on the internet, his story has garnered much attention.

In 2001, he was convicted for a double shooting crime in the Los Angeles suburb area. Emon Barnes was arrested when he was 15 years old because of a testimony from a teenage shooting victim. In adult court, Barnes was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison. However, shortly after he was sent to prison, the teenage victim repudiated.

He also deactivated his social media accounts.

Why was Emon Barnes released from San Quentin State Prison?

The news of Emon Barnes being released from jail by a Los Angeles judge was announced by the Loyola Law School Project for the Innocent. Emon Barnes was kept captivated at the San Quentin State Prison.

As the coronavirus has been spreading at a rapid pace in this country, one among the few prisons that were affected by this virus is the San Quentin State Prison. There has been widespread concern over the growing number of positive cases at this prison. This particular prison, located north of San Francisco, has witnessed the worst outbreak. Out of approximately 3300 inmates, 868 were tested positive for Covid-19.

So far, 15 people have died due to this virus. Emon Barnes was one of the inmates who tested positive for coronavirus. Emon Barnes is also reported to be suffering from a rare disease known as sickle cell anemia. This is an inherited red blood cell disorder.

Due to his health condition and also the fact that he tested positive for coronavirus, his case took on urgency. After he tested positive, Barnes was kept in a cell with coronavirus patients. However, according to a statement given by his attorney, Barnes has now tested negative.

Both Emon Barnes and his mother, Lorna Duvea, will continue fighting for justice even after he is released from prison. Lorna Duvea said she has complete trust in the governor, and the only request she has for him is to consider clemency for her son.

Upon interrogation, Barnes had said that at the time of shooting, he was at home with his mother. His attorneys are trying to prove him innocent. Michael Peterson, who is working on Barnes’s case, said that the more he started investigating, he found that Barnes was innocent.

Peterson also said that Emon Barnes belongs to a bad neighborhood, but he is not part of any gang. The police already assumed that he must have committed the crime. According to the new law passed in California, if a person was convicted or wrongfully convicted for a crime at a young age of 15, then they don’t have to face adult sentences. Emon Barnes’s lawyers say if this law was passed at the time of his conviction, then he would have been released 13 years ago.

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DEAR MATTIE

Dear Mattie is at your disposal to answer your financial and relationship questions and to solve your life’s problems!

Hello, My name is Tammy and I’m a 37-year-old woman. I am independent and ambitious with a successful career. But coming to my love life, I am very disappointed. I always wanted to be in a healthy, and lasting relationship. But I end up falling in love with the wrong guy.

When I started dating my current boyfriend, we were really happy in our relationship and things started to get serious. But, With time I noticed my Boyfriend started hiding our relationship. He wouldn’t post pictures with me on his social media page. He changed his relationship status to single on Facebook.

I will be turning 40 in a few months. I want to settle with a person who loves and respects me for the way I’m.

I don’t know how to find the right guy. Please help.

Hello Tammy, first of all, I am very happy that you reached out to me for help.

One of the two key factors for a healthy and a happy relationship is effective communication and problem solving skills. The first and the foremost thing you should do is to take some time off for yourself and think if your boyfriend is the one you want to marry. From the bottom of your heart, if you believe that he’s the guy you would want to spend the rest of your life with, then you must have a conversation with him.

However before expressing your feelings, you need to know why he is hiding the relationship.

After having a conversation with your boyfriend, if you feel that he truly loves you then you need to express your feelings. Also you need to make him understand that he should be open to sharing your relationship status with friends and family. On the other hand, if you feel that things are not working out between the both of you, you need to walk out of this relationship. Since you are an independent woman with a successful career, you should stop worrying about your love life. There are several men out there, who would respect and love you for the way you are.

If your relationship doesn’t work out, my only advice for you is continue to be the person you are and be proud of all that you have achieved so far in life. When it is meant to happen, you will surely find your soulmate, who not only cares for you but even respects you for the person you are today.

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Hello, my name is Jessica. I have an eightyear-old son named Luca. Luca is extremely intelligent and very talented. Not only does he excel in academics, but he is also passionate about dancing and acting. At a very young age, he started dancing and acting. It’s always a pleasure to watch him. He likes to upload his dancing and acting videos on his social media account.

Recently, I noticed he is always in a bad mood and gets frustrated quickly. When I asked him what was wrong with him, it was then that he revealed how his classmates and friends were bullying him for uploading his acting and dancing videos on social media. They even started calling him gay, and no one wants to be friends with him.

He’s been very upset since then. I don’t know what to do. Please help.

Dear Jessica, I can understand it must be really hard for you to see your child go through such a trauma at a very young age. As a parent, the first and foremost thing you must do is to listen to your child calmly, and offer comfort and support. Along with offering comfort, you must also praise your child for doing the right thing and telling you about this. Reassure your child that bullying is something you will not tolerate at all, and you will do whatever it takes to make sure it is stopped. You need to talk to Luca and make him understand that it’s the bully who is at fault and not him.

Dealing with bullying is definitely stressful for a child; it may even affect their mental and physical health to a great extent. If you think that Luca is getting affected by constant bullying, then you must act immediately.

You should inform the school authorities about the fact that your son is being bullied at school and that they must take some serious action.

Most importantly, teach Luca ways to ignore hurtful remarks. Make him understand the fact that you are really proud of him and will continue to support him for all the choices he will make in his life. Encourage him to follow his passion for dancing and acting.

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