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

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 Americans. This was im

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.

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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BROOKLYN UPCOMING EVENTS

Tuesdays Until Sep- 4 Beach! Children under feeling strong and en- tember 29 6:00-7:00pm 18 must have an adult ergized. The best part is

Zumba with Dodge guardian present. All you don’t have to leave YMCA levels are welcome. Ad- the comfort of your own

ZUMBA is a fusion of vanced registration re- home! Access the live Latin and International quired. On wednesdays event every Wednes- music, utilizing dance and saturdays at Pier 4 day at 12:00pm ET on themes that create a Beach in Brooklyn Bridge the Brooklyn Bridge Park dynamic, exciting, effec- Park. Register online at Facebook Page and the tive fitness program. This brooklynbridgepark.org YMCA of Greater New socially-distanced class York Facebook Page. features aerobic train- Now Until ing with a combination December 31 September 10-24 of fast and slow rhythms Made in Quarantine 6:00-9:00pm that tone and sculpt the Showcase Editing 101: Video Edit- body. Sneakers are rec- The Showcase high- ing with Premiere ommended! At the Pier lights the resilience of Gain a deeper under- 6 Picnic Tables in Brook- Brooklyn College’s film standing of Premiere’s lyn Bridge Park. FREE with students, their determi- interface. Learn how to registration. nation and the power of import footage, work creativity during times of with B-roll, audio, still im-

Now Until October 2 hardship. These remark- ages, basic effects, and 9:00-10:00am able films highlight a di- transitions. By the end of

Pilates with Dodge verse range of narrative, the course, you will edit YMCA documentary and ex- a short video segment.

Join Dodge YMCA for perimental media. Visit Join the session online at socially-distanced Pilates! brooklyncollegepresents. bricsartmedia.org Tues- Enhance your control, org to stream the films for days and Thursdays only. stability, coordination, FREE. $60 endurance, balance, strength, and flexibility. Now Until September 10-Octo- Fridays only. FREE. Ad- December 11:00am ber 22 5:30-6:30pm vanced registration is re- Virtual Storytime Bootcamp with Chel- quired. Pier 3 Lawn at BK Please join the Virtu- sea Piers Fitness Bridge Park. al Storytime presented Join Chelsea Piers Fit- by the Brooklyn Public ness for one-hour Boot-

Mondays Until Oct 12 Library! Babies, toddlers, camp-style high intensity 7:30-8:30am and pre-schoolers and interval training. This so-

Sunrise: Abhaya Yoga their caregivers are invit- cially-distanced class at

Join Abhaya Yoga for ed to develop early liter- the Pier 2 Turf will incin- a socially-distanced sun- acy skills and learn about erate calories and build rise yoga class that inte- a monthly theme through strength. Come give your grates postures, breath- play, songs, rhymes, all at this all-level cardio, ing exercises, relaxation and stories. On the third strength, and plyomet- and meditation to Wednesday of every ric-based workout. Brook- stretch, strengthen and month on the Brooklyn lyn Bridge Park. FREE. condition. Register online Bridge Park’s Facebook at brooklynbridgepark. Live. September 10 org to join and for more 6:30-7:30pm information. Wednesdays Hustle Lesson with

at 12:00pm Marlene Veras

Now Until October 14 Total Body Condition- Celebrate the art of 4:00-8:00pm, 10:00aming with Yanique from the the hustle in a class led by 4:00pm Y on Facebook Live Marlene Veras, resident

Kayaking In just 40-minutes, instructor for the Brooklyn

Glide along the wa- Yanique will take you Museum’s monthly Sal- ter while kayaking with through a workout that sa Party with Balmir Latin the Brooklyn Bridge Park targets every part of your Dance Studio. You can Boathouse from the Pier body that will leave you join on the Museum’s Ins- tagram Live for FREE.

September 10 7:00pm

The Prisoner, The Poet, The Returning Citizen: Witnessing the Carceral State Hustle Lesson (Sept 10)

Join three writ- ers whose raw, heart-wrenching works speak firsthand to our broken system of mass in- carceration. The evening weaves together poetry readings, audience ques- tions, and candid con- versation about trauma, expression, healing, and the intersection of activ- ism and literature. Mod- erated by Caits Meissner, PEN America’s program director for prison and jus- tice writing. Join at brook- lynhistory.org FREE.

September 11&16 12:30pm and 5:30pm

Underground Heroes: New York Transit in Com- ics

Join Associate Curator Jodi Shapiro as we take a virtual ride through the recent exhibition, “Under- ground Heroes: New York Transit in Comics”. Discov- er the ways that satirical cartoons, comic strips, and comic books by a range of visual storytellers have been used to bring the stories- and historiesof New York to life. Visit nytransitmuseum.org to

join. $10.

Reopening Celebration (sept 12)

September 12 2:00-5:00pm

Outdoor Reopening Celebration

Celebrate Brooklyn culture with the Brooklyn Museum’s community as the Museum reopens to the public! Enjoy a social- ly distant steel pan perfor- mance by Pan in Motion, catch DJ sets by Sabine Blaizin, use chalk to draw on the plaza, and sup- port local vendors with bites from Greedi Vegan, Island Pops, and Wadadli Jerk. At the Plaza on East- ern Parkway. FREE.

September 13 3:00-8:00pm

Brooklyn Americana Music Festival

Stream the festival’s “Women’s Stage” from home and celebrate the wide-range of female tal- ent in americana today. Featuring musical artists spanning traditional and modern Country, Folk, Blues, Old Time, Bluegrass, and Jazz. Stream on the Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Facebook Live. FREE.

September 14, 21, 28 4:00-5:00pm

Food Distribution with The Campaign Against Hunger

The Brooklyn Muse- um is partnering with The Campaign Against Hunger to offer food dis- tribution at the Museum on Mondays, from 4 to 5 pm. Food is provided on a first-come, first-served basis. If you have any questions, email healthy

ELECTORALPOWER (Sept16)

meals@brooklynmuseum. org.

September 14 7:00pm

Virtual Books

Are Magic

Curated by Books Are Magic of Cobble Hill, this event will feature authors and poets Mark Eisner, Tina Escaja, Idra Novey, and Carlos Aguasaco reading from Resistencia: Poems of Protest and Revolution. Join online at brooklynbridgepark.org. FREE.

September 16 7:30pm

Women + Power: Electoral Power

Raquel Willis, activist, writer, and Director of Communications for the Ms. Foundation, sits down for a one-on-one conversation with Stacy Abrams about gender, race, politics and electoral equity; the changing impact of women on our democracy; how elected women leaders alter the governing game; and the struggles women face in seats of political power today. Join at brooklynhistory. org FREE.