Insight ::: 10.7.19

WINNER: 2018 NNPA MERIT AWARDS: 3RD PLACE BES T COLUMN WRITING

WINNER: 2019 GENERAL EXCELLENCE, 3RD PLACE, COLUMN WRITING, 2ND PLACE

Insight News

October 7, 2019 - October 13, 2019

Vol. 46 No. 40• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Caravan:

A Revolution on the Road

Terence Blanchard Photos courtesy of artist website

Artists examine injustice Blanchard, Harris and Scott collaboration reflect community responses to Eric Garner, Philando Castile atrocities Grammy Award-winning musician Terence Blanchard, world-renowned choreographer Rennie Harris and visual artist, Andrew Scott will explore racial tensions and injustice through live music, dance and a host of visual projections.

Their Oct. 26 Ordway show examines larger societal issues, while reflecting the artists’ life experiences and their thoughts and feelings about Black lives in the 21st Century. Blanchard and his band, E-Collective, have collaborated with choreographer Rennie Harris’ company, Puremovement, and sculptor/ projection mapping artist Andrew Scott to create a new work, “Caravan: A Revolution on the Road.”

The artists will create a multi-disciplinary performance that transcends racial and social boundaries and breathe new artistic life into conversations on personal and collec-

tive identity in relation to social and political structures.

Following the release of “Breathless,” an elegy for Eric Garner, Blanchard expressed that “we’ve been having dialogues for far too long with no actions, no change.” The forceful, yet inclusive energy of this new project encourages the audience to make yet another step toward positive social change.

Blanchard’s fusion of jazz, R&B, blues, funk and soul will synergistically interweave with Harris’s approach to movement, which represents a kind of archaeology of the human spirit through vernacular African-American dance styles. Scott’s conceptually-based visual projections and installations, which are rooted in African and African-American art and culture, will integrate into the overall artistic narrative. The skeleton of the work will examine these larger so-

cietal issues, while the individual nuances of the stories will reflect the life experiences of each artist and their thoughts and feelings about Black lives in the 21st century.

One hour before “Caravan” a conversation moderated by Robin Hickman, CEO and executive producer of SoulTouch Productions, founder of Taking Our Place Centerstage, and Ordway Organizational Strategist, will take place.

Also, concertgoers will experience a unique art installation featuring fashion by Neil Taylor of True Headz Clothing, including his trademark caps that celebrate old school fat laces in a new way. Also the family of slain Philando Castile and community members will honor the life and humanitarianism of Castile, who was killed during a traffic stop by then St. Anthony police officer Jeronimo Yanez.

Page 2 • October 7, 2019 - October 13, 2019 • Insight News

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Insight News • October 7, 2019 - October 13, 2019 • Page 3

Insight News WINNER: 2018 NNPA MERIT AWARDS: 3RD PLACE BES T COLUMN WRITING

October 7, 2019 - October 13, 2019

WINNER: 2019 GENERAL EXCELLENCE, 3RD PLACE, COLUMN WRITING, 2ND PLACE

Vol. 46 No. 40• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

National Museum of African American History and Culture: Worthy of the burdens

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia Dr. Lonnie Bunch III, the 14th secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, sat down for an exclusive interview with National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

The two discussed Bunch’s timely new book, “A Fool’s Errand: Creating the National Museum of African American History and Culture in the Age of Bush, Obama, and Trump.”

Dr. Lonnie Bunch III, the 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, sat down for an exclusive interview with National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. The two discussed Bunch’s timely new book released today, “A Fool’s Errand: Creating the National Museum of African American History and Culture in the Age of Bush, Obama, and Trump.”

“I (initially) saw this journey to build a museum that could help bridge the chasms that divide us as a ‘fool’s’ errand,’” Bunch said.

The book outlines the multitude of challenges Bunch faced when pursuing the construction of the historical museum. Those challenges included choosing the location, architect, design team and the collection of unique pieces of African-American artifacts.

He added that the museum was “an errand worthy of the burdens.”

Available from Smithsonian Books on the organization’s website and on Amazon, “A Fool’s Errand” is a tour

BUNCH 4

Fiery expository preacher installed as Senior Pastor in 1990

McAfee leads New Salem into 50th year located on Plymouth and Logan Avenues North in Minneapolis served as home to the small but growing congregation. By the end of the year, the congregation quickly outgrew their new space and moved on to holding services at the Phyllis Wheatley House on Aldrich Avenue North in Minneapolis.

On Jan. 25, 1972, the New Salem family purchased the building at 2309 Plymouth Ave. North from the Kenesseth Israel Congregation.

On Dec. 22, 1989 Hines unexpectedly passed.

New Salem Missionary Baptist Church has been a staple of Minneapolis since it was established 50 years ago.

Armed with only God’s word as their blueprint, a faithful core of believers acknowledged the need for a place of worship. This vision became a reality in 1969 when a committed and group of Christians met at 1821 Oliver Ave. N. in North Minneapolis.

Pastored by The Rev. Earl Hines, he and his founding members fought despite many obstacles to contribute to the growth of this spiritual institution.

In April 1970, the basement of the Cassius Cleaners

East Metro prosecutors launch expungement website Ramsey County Attorney John Choi and Washington County Attorney Pete Orput announced an effort to help people move beyond the barriers and collateral consequences associated with past justice system involvement.

As of today, after completing their sentence and any applicable waiting period, rehabilitated people with a criminal record in Ramsey or Washington counties will be able to go to www.helpsealmyrecord.org to apply to seal their criminal record following a criminal conviction.

“Prosecutors are ministers of justice – it is our legal and ethical responsibility to help people who have paid their debt to society to remove the scarlet letter of a criminal conviction, along with the barriers it creates to accessing jobs, housing, education and other necessities in life,” said Choi. “By proactively helping people who have done everything we have asked of them in the criminal justice system to seal their criminal records, we are transforming our approach to ensure our residents have access to justice, increasing their likelihood of success.”

According to the FBI, nearly one in three adults in America has a criminal record. Long after people have fulfilled their obligations to the justice system, criminal records and the collateral consequences that follow serve as barriers to jobs, housing, education and more, preventing people from

EXPUNGEMENT 5

MCAFEE 7

The Rev. Jerry McAfee

Botham Jean’s murder illuminates implicit bias Commentary

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor harry@insightnews.com The case of Amber Guyger and Botham Jean is the most sobering example of implicit bias and the need for a retraining of police throughout our nation.

Guyger, 31, was convicted Oct. 1 of murder in the Sept. 6, 2018 killing of Jean, a 26-year-old accountant. Jean was sitting in his own apartment – minding his own business … eating ice cream – when Guyger walked in, allegedly mistaking it for her own, and within seconds gunned down Jean. Guyger, who is a white female, was at the time a Dallas police officer. Jean was a Black male. It’s important we describe Jean in the past tense to under-

Amber Guyger score the fact he is no longer among the living. He was only granted 26 short years on this earth.

According to Guyger she was groggy from a 13-hour shift and got off on the fourth

Botham Jean floor of her building instead of the third and entered Jean’s apartment, which was directly above hers. Upon entering, she encountered Jean who was on his couch – his couch – and was almost immediately shot.

According to the medical examiner the bullet traveled in a downward direction indicating Jean never fully arose from his seat before being gunned down.

Guyger, who herself was the perpetrator of the crime of trespassing at the time, was somehow afforded the defense of the castle doctrine, a law that states a person has the right to defend him or herself from an intruder in the premises of his or her own dwelling. Let’s keep in mind Guyger was the intruder, but I digress.

Yes, Guyger (or anyone) could have easily mistaken one apartment for another.

Compound it with coming off a 13-hour shift and it adds to the disorientation I’m sure. Hell, I’ve gone to the wrong car and tried to open in on multiple occasions. But I never hopped in

and shot someone … then tried to claim the victim was in the wrong for having the temerity to be in his or her own vehicle.

But let’s also understand the evidence showed the former police officer was sexting at the time, adding to her distraction.

So she didn’t notice she was on the wrong floor, didn’t notice the wrong apartment number, didn’t notice that none of the furniture in the apartment was hers – no red welcome mat, no large ottoman like hers.

What she did see was a Black man and she was … in her own words … “scared whoever was inside my (keep in mind it wasn’t hers) apartment was going to kill me.”

I don’t doubt for one minute she was scared.

Of course she was scared … because she was taught to be

scared.

First, society as a whole has demonized the Black man to be anything and everything other than human being.

Add a bit of size to the person and well, to white people, the Black man may as well be a yeti (see Mike Brown, see Eric Garner, Alton Sterling … see 26-year-old accountant Botham Jean). Actually, scratch that, yetis are far more beloved than the Black man. But Guyger’s fear was no doubt compounded by her profession and her so-called training.

According to Kwadwo Frimpong, a senior research analyst in the Race, Prosperity, and Inclusion Initiative at the Brookings Institute, an unarmed Black male is four times more

GUYGER 4

Curtis Shanklin named Corrections deputy commissioner Curtis Shanklin has been appointed as the new deputy commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Corrections Community Services division.

Shanklin is currently the state co-coordinator of the Minnesota Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (MN JDAI). MN JDAI places focus on finding equitable and public safety-focused outcomes for justice-involved youth. During his career, Shanklin has worked di-

Curtis Shanklin

rectly with clients, as well as corrections program management.

“Curtis Shanklin brings an energy and perspective to our team that will benefit both our staff in the field and our connection with our community partners,” said Minnesota Department of Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell. “I’m confident his ability to build relationships, and in his deep knowledge of the work, will result in improved outcomes

Education

Thurgood Marshall College Fund and Hennessy partner to develop next generation of corporate leaders

PAGE 4

for public safety and new opportunities for transforming the lives of those involved in the criminal justice system.”

With more than 20 years of experience, Shanklin served as both an adult and juvenile probation officer and reentry services supervisor for Arrowhead Regional Corrections in Duluth, along with previous work in both secure and nonsecure correctional facilities.

Curtis holds a Master of Sci-

ence in Criminal Justice. He has served as an adjunct faculty at Metropolitan State University for the Department of Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement and is a U.S. Department of Justice accredited Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) auditor.

“I am humbled by the privilege to serve as deputy commissioner of Community Services under the leadership of Commissioner Schnell. I looking forward to joining my new DOC

colleagues and our community partners to bolster staff safety and deliver transformative programming,” said Shanklin. “I’ve always held the belief that anyone can be a ‘Monday morning quarterback,’ but if you really want see change that delivers equitable outcomes, you have to be willing to get in the game and do your part. I’m ready to get to work.”

I2H

Why is suicide a growing problem in the Black community?

PAGE 6

Page 4 • October 7, 2019 - October 13, 2019 • Insight News

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Thurgood Marshall College Fund and Hennessy partner to develop next generation of corporate leaders

By Dr. Harry L. Williams, TMCF president and CEO and Giles Woodyer, Hennessy senior vice president When companies announce a commitment towards achieving more corporate diversity, what do they really mean?

For too many young African-Americans, these commitments seem more like empty promises. To date, there have only been 14 Black CEOs at Fortune 500 companies, and according to Fortune, there are just three in 2019. So how can corporations remove barriers and create access for emerging, multicultural leaders?

Since 1987, Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) has prepared and identified students at 47 publicly supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to thrive in the business sector. When Hennessy, the world’s bestselling Cognac, approached TMCF with an innovative idea involving HBCU graduate students, especially those earning MBA degrees – there was an immediate organizational

Bunch From 3 de force of Bunch’s personal and political accomplishments.

During the intimate video-taped interview inside the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the two visionaries also tackled topics that ranged from the Transatlantic Slave Trade, their shared North Carolina families’ histories, the writing legacy of author James Baldwin, and the contemporary vitality of the Black Press of America.

“The relevance and inclusion of the Black Press in events such as this one, show the continued significance of the Black Press,” NNPA Chair Kar-

Guyger From 3

alignment to improve the current corporate narrative. Together, TMCF and Hennessy conceived the Hennessy Fellows program with the goal of building a pipeline of diverse corporate leaders from HBCUs. The Hennessy Fellows initiative is the latest example of Hennessy›s commitment to supporting AfricanAmerican communities. In 1794, Hennessy arrived in the U.S. and has consistently demonstrated a progressive vision to amplify multicultural voices since. As an early supporter of the Tuskegee Institute and the first corporate sponsor of the NAACP, the brand continues to champion those who “Never stop. Never settle.” with its new fellowship program in partnership with TMCF. Yet, ascending to the highest levels of corporate leadership requires having access to more than just an ivy-league education. African-American leaders need opportunities to learn development skills, build their network, develop business acumen, and gain tangible professional experiences. Not to mention, the unspoken corporate rules that many HBCU students don’t have ready access to. Hennessy Fellows is de-

Harry L. Williams is the president and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the largest organization exclusively representing the Black college community.

ic year, a $10,000 annual stipend for educational expenses, as well as VIP access to various professional networking events.

Unlike their counterparts, student loan debt weighs more heavily on students of color, which can often present barriers for things like applying for unpaid internships or frequenting professional events. An estimated 86.8 percent of Black students borrow federal student loans to attend four-year public colleges, as opposed to 59.9 percent of white students, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. Hennessy Fellows seeks to offset these financial burdens – focusing on graduate-level candidates who don’t have as many financial assistance opportunities – with an investment designed to maximize students’ full potential across educational, professional and personal pursuits.

Over the next decade, Hennessy and TMCF will continue to provide the tools, knowledge, and insight necessary to change the trajectory of minorities in Corporate America. And together, our organizations have the unprecedented opportunity to diversify the talent landscape and make an immeasurable impact.

signed to unlock the C-Suite’s secrets by equipping leaders with access and mentorship.

To see our success, we often seek someone who looks like or can relate to us; especially African-American students, who often desire mentors who resonate on both a cultural and personal level.

With approximately 75 percent of Fortune 500 companies offering formal mentorship programs, corporate America has embraced the idea, but

are these programs effective?

The inaugural cohort of Hennessy Fellows is comprised of 10 MBA students from HBCUs, who were recently invited to New York City to engage with executive leaders at Hennessy and other national corporations as part of the program. The intensive Boot Camp welcomed students from Florida A&M University, Howard University, North Carolina A&T State University and Morgan State Univer-

sity. The results? Fellows built strong relationships and were made to feel validated, supported and championed in their individual career trajectories.

Beyond mentorship, the Hennessy Fellows program aims to increase the number of African-Americans in corporate leadership through financial assistance. To achieve this, Hennessy has pledged $10 million to TMCF that will extend over the next decade, providing students with up to $20,000 per academ-

en Carter Richards, said after the interview between Chavis and Bunch. “The Black Press is alive and well, and we will continue to be the daily recorders of our history across the globe.

Although we’ve seen many changes within our industry; these changes are bringing better opportunities for the Black Press. So, we are honored that Dr. Lonnie Bunch has chosen to include us as a part of this important national media event.”

While in graduate school, Bunch desired to write a dissertation about the Black Press, he said. However, naysayers told him the Black Press was unimportant. He said that theory quickly was proven wrong.

“I knew it was,” Bunch said. “I think the Black Press has always been the guardian of our community.

It’s always been the place where facts are found that are not told in other places. It’s a place where you can understand the richness of the community. What I love about the Black Press today is that it’s a place that reminds people of the power of the African-American community … the Black Press is critically important.What (the Black Press) does is it reminds us that there are many different lenses to understand a story. If you don’t have the lens to the African American community, where are you going to find your story? For me, the Black Press is crucial not for the past, but for the future.”

The Smithsonian national leader also marveled over the enduring legacy of Baldwin, whose works explored racial, sexual, and class

distinctions in North America.

“As a 17-year-old freshman at Howard, the first book I picked up was ‘Go Tell It on the Mountain,’” Bunch said. “I was so moved by (Baldwin’s) writings. I read everything that he wrote because, in some ways, what Baldwin did is that he captured the trueness of the community in an unvarnished way. He also inspired us to demand fairness.”

Bunch said he sought-out to obtain a building that would reference the spirituality, resilience, and hope that have been key elements within the African-American community. Elements he said that have shaped America’s identity in ways most Americans do not understand.

He said the revolution in South Africa re-

inforced his belief that history is an effective tool to change a country by embracing the truth of a painful past.

The museum opened three years ago to much fanfare, with former presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, among others, in attendance.

“To some, visiting the museum allows them to find hope … that the current poisonous political partisanship and racial antipathy will one day be overcome,” Bunch said.

A historian, author, educator, and curator, Bunch has enjoyed a career of near unapparelled success. He held numerous teaching positions, including American University in Washington, D.C. (Bunch’s alma mater), the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth and the George Washington Uni-

versity in Washington, D.C. Earlier this year, Bunch was appointed Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, the first African-American to hold that position in the organization’s 173-year history. He oversees 19 museums, 21 libraries, the National Zoo, numerous research centers and several education units and centers.

Now, with “A Fool’s Errand,” Bunch said he has a simple message to convey.

“History matters,” he told Chavis. “You can’t understand yourself or the future without looking back. History is an amazing tool to live your life. More than anything else, it challenges you to be accurate.”

Watch the full interview between Dr. Chavis and Dr. Bunch here at www.

BlackPressUSA.com.

likely to be killed by police than an unarmed white male. Police are trained to see the Black man (and child, see Tamir Rice) as a

threat, and police are trained to extinguish the “threat” through methods known as “warrior training.” It is no doubt that

training kicked in when Guyger decided it was easier to shoot first and ask questions later when she entered into Jean’s

castle; not her own.

None of her other training stuck with her … observe the surroundings … remove yourself from harm’s way … deescalate the situation. But neutralize the “threat” kicked right in.

In the report “Implicit Bias and Policing” authored by Katherine B. Spencer, Amanda

K. Charbonneau and Jack Glaser of the University of California, Berkeley, they determined, “Police officers must frequently assess civilians’ ambiguous behavior to decide whether to take action, and stereotypes linking Blacks with aggression have been shown to cause people to

GUYGER 7

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Insight News • October 7, 2019 - October 13, 2019 • Page 5

Twin Cities Black Journalists, Reeve, Pitts-Phillips among the eight

Eight distinguished fellows join U of M journalism faculty this fall The Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication announced the Fall 2019 class of distinguished adjunct fellows who join the faculty to support inclusion, equity and diversity in our courses.

Among them are two members of the Twin Cities Association of Black Journalists (TCBJ), Maria Reeve and Marsha Pitts-Phillips.

Reeve, the immediate past president of TCBJ and assistant managing editor of the Star Tribune, manages the local news content of more than 60 reporters and editors covering Minneapolis, St. Paul and surrounding communities. She joined the newspaper as a features team leader in 2011 and worked her way through the metro leadership ranks to her current role. She had been at the St. Paul Pioneer Press for 19 years where she began as a general assignment reporter and left as politics editor. Through each of her jobs, she has seen almost every kind of reporting situation – and dilemma. She will work with Jour 3771: Media Ethics, which examines the ethical and unethical ways that communicators respond to challenges.

Pitts-Phillips, president and founder, MRPP & Associates, has led PR at a large nonprofit,

Expungement From 3 serving as productive members of our community. Studies have shown very few people who are eligible to seal their records successfully apply, but among those whose records are sealed, very few commit new crimes and, on average, they experience a significant increase in wages and employment within the next two years.

“The expungement process is confusing, cumbersome and expensive – by helping people determine if they qualify and appealing to the court to seal the records of those who do, we are removing these burdens for our residents,” said

Maria Reeve

Marsha Pitts-Phillips

worked as a radio and television journalist, worked as an associate professor of communications, produced documentaries and worked in corporate television. She has collaborated on and spearheaded several large-scale PR projects including the NFL Sanctioned Super Bowl LVII Gospel Celebration broadcast on Black Entertainment Television

(BET). PRSA appointed her as its first Diversity and Inclusion officer, is a member of NABJ-MediaRelated Members Task Force and its local affiliate the Twin Cities Black Journalists. Pitts-Phillips will work with Jour 3279W: Professional Writing for Strategic Communication, which teaches writing skills for agency work as well as corporate and non-

profit strategic communications.

Other fellows are Nitin Dua, a strategist with Fallon, Elizabeth Flores, Star Tribune photojournalist, Luis Garrido, senior vice president of Connections Strategy with McCann Minneapolis, Mahmood Khan, senior vice president of Digital Media & Analytics, Risdall, Anjula Razdan, deputy digital editor, Experience Life

Orput. “As prosecutors, we must recognize that restoring people to productive members of our community when they do well is equally important as administering consequences when they commit crimes.”

Expungement – the legal process of sealing a criminal record – has been available in Minnesota to those with qualifying records since 1996.

Changes to the law in 2014 and 2015 incorporated language directing courts to seal records if prosecutors agree, absent the interest of public safety requiring them to remain public. The law changes also expanded the number of eligible offenses.

Typically, only those who could afford a private lawyer would even attempt to get their record sealed given the complexity

of the process and associated court fees. In the last year alone in Ramsey County, 187 people applied for an expungement, with 120 of those using a lawyer to process it. In 2017 in Minnesota, 18,288 people were sentenced with a felony.

“We rightfully ask people who have done wrong to others and to society to pay the price. Too often, though, once they’ve paid that price and done everything we as a society have asked, they continue to pay the price – sometimes for the rest of their lives.

That makes it unfairly hard for them to afford their lives and live with dignity and respect, and that holds our whole society back,” said Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.

“The Ramsey and Washington

County Attorneys’ Offices are taking a transformative step to make it part of their jobs as prosecutors to help seal the records of low-levels offenders who’ve paid the price and just want to give back. My office is proud to strongly support them and to partner with Ramsey County this weekend in a public fair to help people learn how to get this done.”

Although Minnesota state statute 609A.02 includes a long list of eligible offenses, some of the most common are fifth degree drug possession or sale, theft, receiving stolen property, damage to property, forgery crimes, issuing a dishonored check, financial transaction card fraud and mail theft.

Magazine and Laura Yuen, editor for new audiences, MPR News.

The fellows, all professionals working in the areas of journalism and strategic communication, will engage with students across a range of courses throughout the semester – offering expertise in areas such as ethics and radio production to beat reporting and advertising strategy.

“Last year, our first group of adjunct fellows were a huge addition to our teaching staff, all offering a welcome perspective to each class with which they spent time. We couldn’t be more pleased to welcome another class of fellows for this fall,” said Director Elisia Cohen. “While we have always welcomed industry professionals as guest speakers and attendees of our events, we feel fortunate that these professionals are eager to engage with students several days throughout the semester, not only enhancing undergraduate learning opportunities in a particular course, but offering career guidance as well.”

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Page 6 • October 7, 2019 - October 13, 2019 • Insight News

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Insight 2 Health Why is suicide a growing problem in the Black community?

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia The NNPA is taking a closer look at the stigma of mental illness in the African American community. This is part II in the series.

It’s no secret that African-Americans – particularly teens – are committing suicide at record levels.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide rates have increased by 30 percent since 1999 and nearly 45,000 lives were lost to suicide in 2016 alone. A June 2019 study conducted by the Journal of Community Health revealed that suicide deaths among Black females aged 13 to 19 rose 182 percent between 2001 and 2017, while the rate among Black teen males rose 60 percent during that same period.

From 2015 to 2017, 52 percent of Black teen males who died from suicide used firearms, a method with a fatality rate of nearly 90 percent.

Another 34 percent used strangulation or suffocation, which has a fatality rate of about 60 percent. Among the 204 Black teen females who died by suicide from 2015 to 2017, 56 percent used strangulation or suffocation and 21 percent used firearms, according to the study.

Experts and others have tried to determine why African-Americans increasingly are choosing to end their lives. Theories have run the gamut – from the lack of strong father-figures to racism and social media and even the increase in Black wealth.

Whatever the reason, the CDC said it’s important to note that suicidal thoughts or behaviors are both damaging and dangerous and should be treated as a psychiatric emergency.

CDC officials also caution that those who have suicidal thoughts should understand that it doesn’t make one weak or flawed.

“Why are we killing ourselves? The lack of treatment of mental illness is the key factor to why suicide is on the rise in the Black community,” said Clarence McFerren, a mental health advocate and author who admits to previously having suicidal thoughts as a teenager. “Throughout my life, I’ve been faced with difficult situations which festered into five mental illness diagnosis – ADHD, PTSD, severe depression, bipolar tendencies and anxieties – and I did not understand what was going on until I took the steps to get help.”

Famed Beverly Hills family and relationship psychotherapist and author, Dr. Fran Walfish said she’s treated hundreds of thousands of children and teens each year and recently she’s seen the number of troubled teenagers who are

iStockphoto / NNPA

“There is nothing glamourous about suicide. The one common-denominator shared by all who cut, contemplate or attempt suicide is that they feel emotionally alone in their families,” said Dr. Fran Walfish, the author of “The Self-Aware Parent,” and who appears regularly as an expert child psychologist on the CBS Television series, “The Doctors.” cutters and dealing with suicidal thoughts, feelings, ideas, plans, and even attempts of suicide.

“There is nothing glamourous about suicide. The one common-denominator shared by all who cut, contemplate or attempt suicide is that they feel emotionally alone in their families,” said Walfish, the author of “The Self-Aware Parent,” and who appears regularly as an expert child psycholo-

gist on the CBS Television series, “The Doctors.” “They feel there is no one person they can talk to about their pain who will listen, validate, understand, and be a safe warmly attuned place for comfort.”

Sam Gertsmann, the founder of Opinion-Lounge, a website for discussing politics, said he’s had extensive experience working suicide hotlines.

“While suicide is a

complicated topic, it’s clear that the rise of social media is one of the main causes of the recent jump in suicide rates,” Gertsmann said. “Social media show users pictures and videos of everyone living better lives than they are; even though these pictures are often staged and paint an inaccurate picture, the brain isn’t able to differentiate and simply sees that everyone else is better off.

Social media also puts numbers on your popularity – your followers, your likes, your replies.

And, no matter how many you have, you’ll always want more.”

Kevin Darné, the author of “My Cat Won’t Bark!

(A Relationship Epiphany),” believes the suicide rate among young African-Americans is due to the growing list of Black millionaires and billionaires.

“Today, we have Oprah owning a TV network, Tyler Perry owning his own studios, Shonda Rhimes owning her night of television on ABC, Jaz-Z becoming a billionaire, Dr. Dre selling Beats to Apple for $3 billion, and a few Fortune 500 Black CEOS, black doctors, lawyers, and entrepreneurs,” Darné said. “Although racism is still alive, it’s impossible to deny the fact that the rise of a Black upper middle class and an increase in Black millionaires (contributes to others having lower self-esteem). The irony is the more Black success that someone sees in various industries could make a person start to wonder about what’s wrong with themselves. Depression and lack of fulfillment can cause people in a rich country to consider suicide … when there’s a huge gap between one’s expectations and their reality, life can seem miserable.”

Next in this series: Possible solutions for those contemplating suicide

State sees Hepatitis A increase Hepatitis A is a serious liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus. It can make you very sick for weeks or even months. Hepatitis A can lead to hospitalization and sometimes death.

Outbreaks of hepatitis A have been occurring in states across the country since 2016, and they don’t

appear to be slowing down.

Since May 2019, Minnesota has seen an increase of hepatitis A cases, which is now identified as an outbreak. Minnesota’s outbreak-associated cases have risk factors consistent with the national outbreaks.

People at high risk in the current outbreaks include

people who use injection and non-injection drugs, people experiencing homelessness or unstable housing, people who are currently or were recently incarcerated and men who have sex with men.

Other people who are at risk for hepatitis A are people who are traveling to areas where hepatitis A is common and

people with direct contact with someone who has hepatitis A. Hepatitis A is spread from person to person through contact with the feces of people who are infected, which can easily happen if someone does not wash his or her hands properly after using the bathroom. It is spread by eating or drinking, sharing syringes

and drug use equipment, and having unprotected sex with people who have hepatitis A. About four weeks after being exposed to the hepatitis A virus, a person will have symptoms such as severe tiredness, headaches, fever, and loss of appetite.

Other symptoms that may appear a few days later include, dark (tea or cola-colored) urine, light-colored poop, and yellowing of the eyes or skin, also called jaundice. Symptoms can also include stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. If you have any of the symptoms, please talk to your health care provider.

The best way to prevent hepatitis A disease is to get the hepatitis A vaccine.

For the best protection, people should get two doses of the hepatitis A vaccine. However, even getting one dose can provide a lot of protection as hepatitis A may continue to

spread in Minnesota and other states. Hepatitis A vaccine has been recommended for children since 2006, but many adults have not been vaccinated for hepatitis A. A person may have some soreness in their arm after getting the vaccine, but other side effects are rare.

Anyone that wants to get hepatitis A vaccine can request it. It is especially important for people who are at high risk. If you do not have health insurance, vaccine is available for free or low cost. You can find a clinic near you at www. health.state.mn.us/uuavsearch.

Along with getting vaccinated, make sure to wash your hands with soap and water after using the bathroom, after changing a diaper, and before preparing or eating food to help prevent the spread of hepatitis A.

insightnews.com

McAfee From 3 The congregation was left with the task of finding a leader.

Very few preachers were beating down the door to get in.

After preaching a powerful sermon in January of 1990 to just a few families of the congregation, The Rev. Jerry McAfee consented to serve as interim pastor to New Sa-

Guyger From 4 judge the behavior of a Black person as more aggressive than the identical behavior of a white person,” and “they are also important factors in deciding whether someone poses a threat to personal safety, which is a critical component of officers’ decisions to use force.”

The report goes on to state, “Stereotypes of African-Amer-

Insight News • October 7, 2019 - October 13, 2019 • Page 7 lem. It did not take long for the small but dedicated congregation to decide that they wanted the young, fiery expository preacher to be their new pastor.

In May of 1990 McAfee was installed as the senior pastor of New Salem Missionary Baptist Church. Word quickly spread about the preaching, teaching and singing young man at New Salem that was causing Sunday morning services to be “standing room only.”

Since the beginning McAfee has led many New Salem Missionary Baptist Church ini-

icans as aggressive and subhuman have clear implications for law enforcement practice.”

Well isn’t that the truth.

One can only wonder what would have been the outcome had Guyger seen a white man sitting on the couch eating ice cream. I believe he would have at least got the courtesy of a conversation.

To Guyger and far too many other officers – especially white officers – the Black man is a threat. Jean didn’t get to be a hard-working upwardly

tiatives such as feeding the hungry, clothing and providing housing to those in need.

The congregation of New Salem Missionary Baptist Church welcomes the community to come help celebrate its 50-year anniversary Oct. 11 – Oct. 13.

New Salem will host a gala Oct. 11 with a reunion choir concert to take place Oct. 12 from 6 p.m.

– 8 p.m. and Sunday services Oct. 13 at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Services take place at 2507 Bryant Ave. N., Minneapolis.

Osmo Vänskä /// Music Director

OCT

18

mobile accountant; he was a big Black man and that’s all Guyger needed to know about him. And for that he’s dead.

Sadly, he’s not the last. He won’t be the last until we as a society deal with the issues of implicit bias, racial profiling and a retraining of our nation’s police. I wish I were wrong here, but we all know I’m not. And that’s the sobering reality. To quote the urban poet Childish Gambino, “This is America.”

Minnesota Orchestra at North Community High School Fri Oct 18 7pm

Osmo Vänskä, conductor Beverly Cottman, host Aaron Dworkin, author and spoken word North Community High School Arts Students Tamiko French, instructor

Celebrating Youth, Students and Community

Beverly Cottman

You, a fall day and a big smile.

Aaron Dworkin

A multi-generational concert celebrating Northside artists and hosted by Beverly Cottman Featuring the high-octane talent of North Community High School dancers and other arts students Showcasing the first performance of The American Rhapsody with spoken word artist Aaron Dworkin Culminating in an all-out OrchestraJam: your chance to participate in a spontaneous musical creation with the Minnesota Orchestra!

T i c ke ts Choose your own price starting at $5 Available online and at the door

Find your fall colors at mnDNR.gov/FallColors

612-371-5656 / minnesotaorchestra.org / PHOTOS Cottman: Ann Marsden; Dworkin: Dwight Cendrowski

Janiva Magness

See their faces light up.

oct. 1 - Nov. 3 7pm–10pm Sun–Thurs | 7pm–11pm Fri & Sat Wind your way through more than 5,000 glowing carved pumpkins. Get lost in the magic. Don’t miss the 2nd annual Jack-o-Lantern Spectacular at the Minnesota Zoo. Let the area’s best pumpkin artists take you on a journey around the world. Enchanting for all ages.

Tickets available at mnzoo.org

Soul-Stirring Blues Vocals

Johnnie Brown & The Sound of Philadelphia Feat. The Music of The O’Jays

NOV 2 • 7PM

NOV 2 • 9:30PM

Natania & Ticket to Brasil

Slaid Cleaves

NOV 3

NOV 5

Tierney Sutton Band “ScreenPlay”

Steve Cole: CD Release Event

Masterful Troubadour

Twin Cities Bossa Nova

feat. Cole’s Chicago Super Band

NOV 7

NOV 9

Marcia Ball

Bayou Blues Piano Queen

’66: Talkin’ Bout My Generation

NOV 10

NOV 11

T’n’T Tour Tinsley Ellis & Tommy Castro

Jimmy Webb

NOV 12

NOV 14

Marc Cohn

The Hot Sardines

Dynamite Blues Guitar Double Bill

”Walking in Memphis” Fame

NOV 15-16

612.332.5299 dakotacooks.com

Add A VIP MEET & GREET

feat. Prudence Johnson, Bradley Greenwald, Diana Grasselli and Dan Chouinard

A Living Legend of Songwriting

Brass & Sass Hotclub Stride

NOV 18

1010 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN

Page 8 • October 7, 2019 - October 13, 2019 • Insight News

insightnews.com

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Your community grows when everyone has the tools to thrive.

Get free digital skills training from Google to help grow your career or business.

Coming to Minnesota Week of October 14 Learn more at g.co/GrowMinnesota