Community

HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

Black Americans and COVID-19 Clinical Trials

By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., President and CEO,

National Newspaper Publishers Association

The unrelenting because of the presspread of the ence of melanin.” Of novel coronacourse, that assertion is virus (COVID-19) not true. Yet, unfortuthroughout the Unitnately, too many peoed States of America ple in our communities in 2020, continues to began to risk infection pose an unprecedentto COVID-19 because ed public health crisis for all Americans, but in particular for Black Americans and other people of color who are disproportionately negatively impacted by COVID-19.

As the trusted voice of Black America, the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) in March of 2020 established the NNPA Coronavirus Task Force as a means of increasing public awareness about the overall preexisting health disparities in Black America and the disproportionately fatal consequences of COVID-19 for Black Americans and other people of color.

In fact, the NNPA of falsehoods and misand our Coronavirus information. Task Force were the The media has a first to issue a national responsibility to re“State of Emergency” search and report the declaration on April truth. 3, 2020 to warn Black This year marks Americans and others the 193rd year of the about the evolving danBlack Press of Amergers and public health ica. Since Freedom’s risks of COVID-19. Journal was first pub

Earlier this year, lished in March of there were just too 1827, the Black Press many myths and othhas remained on the er misinformation cirfront lines of publishculating primarily via ing and speaking truth social media falsely to power by demandasserting that “Black ing freedom, justice people and people of and equality. African descent were All of this brings immune to COVID-19 me to state categorically, “Black Americans have to be involved at all levels of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. We cannot afford to be silent, detached, denied, or prevented from being at the decision-making tables in terms of

COVID-19-based public health policies, research, clinical trials, remedies, and vaccine development. Our lives and future are at stake.”

The good news is that today there are many Black American physicians, infectious disease scholars, clinicians, medical researchers, nurses and others on the front lines as first responders and as leaders inside the major pharmaceutical companies that are striving to develop a safe and effective vaccine for COVID-19.

We are profoundly aware that within our communities there has been a historical and contemporary distrust of medical research. However, the challenge today is for more Black Americans to be involved at every point of the development of a COVID-19 vaccine to ensure that the medical rights and interests of Black Americans are thoroughly protected, respected, and addressed effectively and truthfully.

In other words, Black American engagement is crucial and critical in the development of a COVID-19 vaccine — including participation in clinical trials — to make sure that the new vaccine is effective to prevent Blacks and others from COVID-19 infections.

Three years ago, the NNPA, Howard University and Pfizer collaborated to do a national landmark poll and study of awareness of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) among Black Amer

icans. This was im

portant because Black Americans are disproportionately impacted by SCD across the nation.

Included in that NNPA-Howard University-Pfizer poll was the issue of Black Americans’ willingness to participate in clinical trials with respect to SCD. We were pleased to learn and to document that 76% of the Black American poll respondents had positive or neutral attitudes toward SCD clinical trials, and a majority indicated a willingness to participate in future clinical trials for SCD, given appropriate knowledge and recommendations from health care professionals.

It is urgent that in the strategic rush to develop an effective

COVID-19 vaccine for all people, that Black Americans are not left out of the process. The health of our families and communities necessitates our involvement to raise all the questions that need to be raised, and at the same time to participate responsibly in the COVID-19 clinical trials.

Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is the President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and can be reached at dr.bchavis@nnpa.org

HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS

She Will Answer

By Amelia Ashley-Ward, Publisher,

San Francisco Sun Reporter Newspaper

Ireached out to congratascended magnificently ulate my friend Kamainto history, standing on la Harris shortly after the shoulders of Shirley she accepted the nominaChisholm, Mary McLeod tion to become the DemoBethune, Fannie Lou cratic Party’s candidate for Hamer, Harriet Tubman Vice President of the Unitand other Sheroes. She ed States of America. She must have been nostalgic. is, in fact, the first African CNN and other major American woman to be senetworks were busy analected to be Vice President lyzing her speech. They by any major political parwere comparing her to ty. I had planned on simply the politically iconic Kenleaving a message for her nedys. One analyst even because it’s been our habit suggested that Harris is for some 20 years to have the Democratic party’s each other’s back and to new leader. They talked celebrate milestones. of her defining speech,

I didn’t expect her to its content, and the praise answer. After all, she had she heaped upon her late just given the speech of Mother, Dr. Shyamala Goher life. It was searing, palan Harris, her inspirawell-reasoned and at times tion. emotional. She had just I was still crying and

celebrating, while talking with my right hand, Rosalyn Gillis. I could hardly see through my tears, when a few minutes later Kamala Devi Harris, my freedom fighting friend, answered me back. I was blownaway. I just thought that since you’re about to finally kick in that glass ceiling – and we know it had to be you – that you didn’t have time to answer. But you did.

I was thinking to myself: Hey Madame Vice-President, what’s up with you? Why are you taking a pause from celebrating to answer me with such a kind and loving message?

My thoughts about my friend Kamala continued to flow. This is your night, your time, and your turn. Enjoy it and get every ounce of pleasure out of it. You are now finally reaping what you have sowed. You weren’t given any free passes, you never asked for favors, handouts, or hand me downs. You earned all that you have achieved and climbed every stair to get there. You answered the bell for every round, and you refuse to ever back down.

I should not have been surprised by your answering the call. You have always made yourself available and answered the call to service. And I am so proud of you for answering the call to serve with President Joe Biden to help turn this country around. That’s simply your way and how youoperate.

Our future VP is who she is and where she is because she is driven in her quest for freedom, justice and equality and she is loyal. Senator Harris at times will stop what’s she’s doing to answer a call. I have known California’s first African American woman District Attorney and first African American Attorney General Harris to be this way for her 18-year political career. To make it plain: She is “Kamala Harris For the People.”

Kamala listens and she’s an independent thinker. And she’ll do the same as VP. Kamala has been characterized as being too ambitious. What a great compliment and aren’t we glad. Someone lacking ambition would never have run for such valuable political offices to perfect social change and, in doing so, made the cover of Time Magazine. And, she certainly would not be the talk of the world as an exemplary woman who has marched into the history books again and again and again. Well done!

Thank you, Kamala, for always answering and being there for all of us.

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BRONX HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS SEAN “DIDDY” COMBS AND DR. STEVE PERRY TO OPEN 3rd SCHOOL - CAPITAL PREP BRONX IN SEPTEMBER

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ NY (also opening Septem versity.” Dr. Perry says. days a week. On Fridays, sion of the network to the State’s growth goal. This and Dr. Steve Perry ber 8), and Bridgeport, CT, “While opening up remote they will participate in a Bronx, It was a top priority garnered the school the announced that their (opened August 31), with at first is bittersweet, we virtual All-School Assem for both to build commu designation as a “School of newest addition to the Capthe intention to continue to have developed a best in bly and access office hours nity support and enlist an Distinction” by that state’s ital Preparatory Schools open more campuses in the class approach to online for additional support.” He amazing team of educa Department of Education. network - Capital Prep near future. learning we are excited to continues, “Social Justice, tors, parents and business Similar growth occurred Bronx - will open with a The additional location implement with our new the bedrock of our model, leaders to bring the idea to in Capital Prep Harlem. fully remote schedule this in the Bronx will contin families. The Capital Prep is woven throughout the fruition. In 2016, the school’s first September in Co-Op City. ue the network’s efforts college prep model is per curriculum teaching our “My dream has always year, only 1% of the stu Sean Combs has been an to provide historically un fectly poised to transition scholars critical life skills been to provide children dents were at grade-level in invaluable partner in supderserved children access into the digital space and and strategies to become in communities like the math. Within two years that porting the Bronx location, to the same high quality, we are excited to deliver a agents of change. And, last Bronx the high quality number grew to 27%. Cap providing critical startup rigorous, and competitive rigorous education to this but not least, after school, education they deserve,” ital Prep Schools focuses funding to open the school curriculum seen in more inaugural class of schol we have enlisted amazing said Combs. “We’re not on the neediest students, with the resources needed affluent communities. As a ars.” community partners to fa just teaching reading, math at the most challenging to serve their children. nod to their roots in college “We will run our dis cilitate further activities the and coding. We are groom grades and provides them

Capital Prep Bronx will prep, they have chosen 755 tance learning as a replica children can engage in.” ing future leaders that will with access to the love and open in September 2020 to Co-Op City Blvd, the for of our in-school experi Sean Combs, who is a change their communities academic rigor that yield serve almost 200 students mer location of the College ence”, says Isaiah Brown, Harlem native and long and the world.” impressive results. in 6th-7th grade. The school of New Rochelle. founding principal of Cap time proponent of educaThe Capital Prep strat To learn more about will grow to serve 650 stu “We couldn’t be more ital Prep Bronx and Bronx tion and opportunity for egy is a proven path to how your child can apply dents in 6th -11th grade excited to open our next native. “Scholars will have young people, worked success. In 2017, Capital to attend, please visit www. during an initial five-year school together in Co-Op live instruction from 8am closely with Dr. Perry on Prep Harbor, in Bridgeport, wearecapitalprep.org or for term. Capital Prep already city, a community rooted to 3:15pm, across core the launch of the Harlem CT had the highest percent updates. has locations in Harlem, in social justice and di subjects plus advisory, 4 location, and the expan of students to meet the BRONX UPCOMING EVENTS

Thursdays Through September 24 9:30-11:30am

Fundamentals of Gardening

Explore the basic principles underlying successful, environmentally friendly gardening, including the structure and physiological processes of plants and their relationships to the settings in which they grow. Students learn not only what to do, but why. Topics include soils and their improvement, seed sowing, vegetative propagation, planting, pruning, watering, weeding, mulching, and disease and pest control. Join the online class at nybg.org $295 for members, $325 for non-members.

September 10 All Day

Honey Nut Brittle Cooking Demo with Chef Aya Mohammed

In this how-to video, Chef Aya Mohamed of Great Performances demonstrates her delicious recipe for Honey Nut Brittle with Thyme made with honey from Wave Hill’s own bees. You can join online at

junior-the-beekeeper

wavehill.org FREE.

September 11 11:00-12:15am

Carolyn Finney Black Faces, White Spaces: Christian Cooper, John Muir & Reclaiming a Green World

Drawing from her book, Black Faces, White Spaces, her relationships “in the field” and her lived experience, Dr. Finney explores the complexities and contradictions of our past, the realities of our present and the possibilities of our future as it relates to green space,

Honey Nut Brittle (Sept 10)

race, and the power to shape the places we live in our own image. Online at nybg.org FREE.

September 12 2:00-3:00pm

Ask the Beekeeper

Where does beeswax come from? What do bees eat? Why don’t the bees sting you? How did you become a beekeeper? Join Wave Hill live with their beekeeper Junior Schouten as he shares amazing facts about honeybees and the complex social structure within a bee colony. Visit wavehill.org to join. $15.

Red Bartlett Pear in Dry Brush Watercolor Workshop

This workshop will impart the instructor’s method of using dry brush watercolor to replicate the colors, form, and texture of red Bartlett pears. The demonstration will include color mixing, working light to dark, layering colors, adding fine detail, using dry brush, and glazing. Explore the range of hues found in pears, from speckled yellows to russet reds. Some painting experience is recommended. General Admission $135.

Meditation in the Garden

Join mindful outdoor guide Cindy Olsen or dosha healer Sara Hart for the healing practice of “sit spot” nature meditation. Take a few deep breaths together, find inner calm and ground yourself in nature, as you honor the beauty and metaphors of the garden...or whatever space you are in. This experience is open to all who wish to learn simple meditation activities, nature lovers or anyone with an ongoing practice. Your “sit spot” can be anywhere—outdoors in your favorite spot, or your favorite spot at home. Visit wavehill.org to join. $15.

September 15 5:00-6:00pm

Studio Visit with ASBA artist John Pastoriza-Pinol

Join Wave Hill virtually for coffee and cocktails with ASBA artist John Pastoriza-Piñol in his studio in Melbourne, Australia. Pastoriza-Piñol will discuss his work, including the watercolor on view in the 23rdAnnual International, and his practice. Wavehill.org. FREE with suggested donation.