Issue # 533
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AF R IC A N
AUGUST 1-7, 2022
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Spacious new community center for Liberians in Minnesota Speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives Melissa Hortman cuts the ribbon to officially open the newly expanded community center in Brooklyn Park for the Liberian community in Minnesota on Saturday, July 23 2022 as Liberia also marked 175 years of independence . On the left is Brooklyn Park City Council member Wynfred Russell, the first Liberian American to serve on the council. Hortman is a resident of the city and represents it in the Minnesota House. Previously the community owned just a part of the buidling but purchased the rest of it for more space. (MSHALE STAFF PHOTO BY PANASHE MATEMBA-MUTASA) MORE ON PAGE 7
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August 1-7, 2022 Issue 533
Huldah Momanyi Hiltsley wins LGBTQIA+ groups’ endorsements for District 38 State Senate seat By Panashe Matemba-Mutasa Mshale Huldah Momanyi Hiltsley, the Kenyan community leader running for a seat in the Minnesota State Senate, has earned the endorsement of Stonewall DFL and OutFront Minnesota—two influential LGBTQIA+ advocacy groups. “Huldah understands the value of unconditional love for LGBTQIA+ youth and the community,” said Tamara Grady, the Osseo Area Schools Board Director, who is also the mother of two LGBTQIA+ children. Hiltsley is running to replace Sen. Chris Eaton in District 38. If elected, she would become the first Black woman and African immigrant to join the upper house of the Minnesota legislature. Born in Nyamira County, Kenya, Hiltsley came to the United States at the age of nine with her family. After graduating from Robbinsdale Cooper High School in New Hope, Minnesota, in 2004, Hiltsley went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree in International Business from Bethel University in St Paul. She is a recipient of The Morrill Hall and Rachel Tilsen Social Justice Award for her commitment to advancing social justice in the community. She currently works as a corporate compliance specialist, and serves as president of Mwanyagetinge Association of Kenyans in Minnesota.
Hiltsley has described herself as an advocate for all people, who believes that good governance requires integrity, transparency, accountability, and equity. “Together, we will fight for a future where better quality of life is accessible to all residents in the Brooklyns and Osseo,” Hiltsley said. OutFront Minnesota is the leading LGBTQIA+ advocacy organization in the state of Minnesota. According to their website, for the past three decades, OutFront Minnesota has worked to foster an LGBTQIA+ inclusive Minnesota via community organizing, public policy and law, anti-violence efforts, education and training, and a Youth and Schools Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Network. OutFront envisions a state where people of the LGBTQIA+ community can live out their identities and have access to equal opportunities, free of violence, harassment, and discrimination. First established in August of 1980 as the LGBTF Caucus (LGBT and Friends Caucus), Stonewall DFL is the official LGBTQIA+ Caucus of the Minnesota Democratic-Farmer Labor Party. The organization seeks to create an inclusive political atmosphere by electing members of the LGBTQIA+ community to Minnesota public office, as well as candidates who show commitment to advancing the rights of LGBTQIA+ people. The two organizations have made
Huldah Momanyi Hiltsley speaks at the DFL District 38 State Senate Convention on Saturday, March 26, 2022 where she won most of the delegates. Stonewall DFL and OutFront Minnesota—two influential LGBTQIA+ advocacy groups have announced their endorsement of her candidacy. Photo: Panashe Matemba-Mutasa/Mshale
a transformative impact on the Minnesota State legislature and policy throughout the years. In 1993, OutFront Minnesota backed the Minnesota Human Rights Act, the nation’s first ever civil rights law to protect transgender individuals from discrimination. Stonewall DFL endorsements require a 60% majority of approval by the Board of Directors. Stonewall DFL
provides endorsed candidates with volunteer and financial support. Jennifer Haack, a community member and mother of two LGBTQIA+ children, said that she believes Hiltsley will continue to push for inclusivity for all in the district. “Huldah will never abandon a single person in her community,” Haack said.
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Guest Commentary by Rev. Dr. Martha C. Taylor
Abortion — A theological issue and christian responses We are living in a world where controversial, complex issues, disagreements, debates, misunderstandings are looming large. There are controversies on gun control, vaccines, living wages, Black lives matter, animal rights, religious freedom, health care, white supremacy, voting rights, Trump, Ukraine War, Covid spreading, mass killings and the congressional January 6th sedition hearings, to name a few. In an earth-shattering decision on June 24, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade. Justice Alito wrote “Abortion presents a profound moral issue on which Americans hold sharply conflicting views. Some believe fervently that a human person comes into being at conception and that abortion ends an innocent life. Others feel just as strongly that any regulation of abortion invades a woman’s right to control her own body and prevents women from achieving full equality. Still others in a third group think that abortion should be allowed under some, but not all circumstances, and those within this group hold a variety of views about the particular restrictions that should be imposed. The Court’s decision held that there is no longer a federal constitutional right to an abortion, and going forward, abortion rights will be determined by each state. In. other words, abortion does not automatically become illegal nationwide, however in states that ban abortion, it could result in a felony and doctors could face prison time. The abortion debate has profound implications on how theological views are preached and taught in individual churches, homes including seminaries. The pews are split. Some say abortion is murder, while others say, the woman has a right to control her body. This leads to the question: How does your faith shape your position on abortion? What Bible passages do you cite to justify your position? Some profess to preach and teach a prophetic liberating gospel, yet when it comes to the theological and moral issue of abortion, they take a stance that they will not make a comment in public. This raises the question of who really speaks for the church. Can bishops, pastors, lay ministers, elders, and Sunday School teachers be expected to reflect the thinking of the membership? Does the membership dictate what can be preached? In the words of a well-known pastor, do we just deal with the sweet now and now, and not the nasty now and now? I believe he got it right. Are you a prophet who will speak on difficult sensitive subjects, or do you skirt them in favor of not upsetting the pews with
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realities that may be painful to some? We must deal with moral sensitive issues without injuring the freedom of women. I believe the question of whether the church should be involved in social and political issues is not that difficult. The more difficult is why it should be involved and how, and more importantly using scripture to justify their position. What about those who take scripture as a means of justifying their position on moral issues. History informs us that enslaved women were forced to have sex with their slave masters as a means of birthing more slaves; the slave owners used the scripture, “slaves obey your masters.” With regards to abortion, some declare that God said abortion is murder, though they cannot find a thread of evidence in the bible to back their statement and rely on the commandment “thou shalt not kill.” Some pastors have interpreted scripture to say, God does not want a woman preaching or teaching. Some pastors are taking scripture out of context on the pretext that the Lord is speaking, when it is highly possible their interpretation is a misinterpretation. This all suggests that people sometimes appeal to the Bible and other religious sources in selective and self-serving ways: They come to the Bible with their previously held moral assumptions and seek to find something in the Bible to justify them. The Bible does not talk explicitly about abortion, pro or con in any kind of way. It’s just not there. Overturning Roe assumes that some life, some bodies, are worth more than others — that some bodies can and should be restricted, controlled and used at will. In the coming months as states create new abortion restrictions, the same kind of underground movement of women searching for safe abortions most likely will become a reality again. Will Christians accompany these women? Or, will the loudest Christian response to abortion continue to be the Religious Right, shouting from their place of privilege, piety and power? Dr. Obery Hendricks, biblical scholar and activist reminds us, “some Black Christians can be some of the most religiously conservative people in America.” Continue to pray for Brittney Griner, our daughter, sister, friend. Rev. Dr. Martha C. Taylor is the church historian at Allen Temple in Oakland, California. She wrote this for the Post News Group where it first appeared.
Bihi from Pg. 8 Magdalena Alvarado, president of Ser y Hacer, Galveston in Galveston, Texas; Myriam Mezadieu, chief operating officer of Catholic Legal Services in Miami, Florida; Nam Loc Nguyen, a former director of Immigration and Refugee Department in Los Angeles; Margarita Rocha, executive director of Centro La Familia Advocacy Services in California’s Central Valley; Luis Shephard, a community leader in Boston, Massachusetts; Dr. Mara Vaughn, a professor at the University of North Texas at Dallas; and Pao Yang, executive director and president and CEO at The Fresno Center in Fresno, California.
On it.
Ending racial injustice requires all of us to work together and take real action. What can you do to help?
Staff Writers: Kari Mugo, Bethel Gessesse, Cynthia Simba, Panashe Matemba-Mutasa Contributing Writers: Susan Budig Design & Layout: Staff Photographers: Richard Ooga, Bethel Gessesse, Jasmine Webber Distribution: Bluebird
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about the history of American racism, privilege and what it means to be anti-racist.
Commit to actions that challenge injustice and make everyone feel like they belong, such as challenging biased or racist language when you hear it. Vote in national and local elections to ensure your elected officials share your vision of public safety. Donate to organizations, campaigns and initiatives
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August 1-7, 2022 Issue 533
UN health agency chief declares monkeypox a global emergency as numbers rise By Maria Cheng Associated Press
LONDON (AP) — The expanding monkeypox outbreak in more than 70 countries is an “extraordinary” situation that qualifies as a global emergency, the World Health Organization chief said Saturday, a declaration that could spur further investment in treating the once-rare disease and worsen the scramble for scarce vaccines. A global emergency is WHO’s highest level of alert but the designation does not necessarily mean a disease is particularly transmissible or lethal. Similar declarations were made for the Zika virus in 2016 in Latin America and the ongoing effort to eradicate polio, in addition to the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus made the decision on calling monkeypox a global emergency despite a lack of consensus among experts on the U.N. health agency’s emergency committee, saying he acted as “a tiebreaker.” It was the first time a U.N. health agency chief has unilaterally made such a decision without an expert recommendation. “We have an outbreak that has spread around the world rapidly through new modes of transmission, about which we understand too little,” Tedros said. “I know this has not been
an easy or straightforward process and that there are divergent views.” WHO’s emergencies chief, Dr. Michael Ryan, said the directorgeneral declared monkeypox a global emergency to ensure that the world takes the current outbreaks seriously. Although monkeypox has been established in parts of central and west Africa for decades, it was not known to spark large outbreaks beyond the continent or to spread widely among people until May, when authorities detected dozens of epidemics in Europe, North America and elsewhere. Last month, WHO’s expert committee said the monkeypox outbreak did not yet amount to an international emergency, but the panel convened this week to reevaluate the situation. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 16,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported in 74 countries since about May. To date, monkeypox deaths have only been reported in Africa, where a more dangerous version of the virus is spreading, mainly in Nigeria and Congo. In Africa, monkeypox mainly spreads to people by infected wild animals like rodents in limited outbreaks that typically have not crossed borders. In Europe, North America and elsewhere, however, monkeypox is
FILE - The head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus speaks during a media conference at an EU Africa summit in Brussels on Feb. 18, 2022. WHO has declared monkeypox a global emergency. Photo: Johanna Geron/Pool Photo via AP
spreading among people with no links to animals or recent travel to Africa.
North America were spread via sex at two raves in Belgium and Spain.
WHO’s top monkeypox expert, Dr. Rosamund Lewis, said this week that 99% of all the monkeypox cases beyond Africa were in men and that of those, 98% involved men who have sex with men. Experts suspect the monkeypox outbreaks in Europe and
“Although I am declaring a public health emergency of international concern for the moment, this is an outbreak that is concentrated Monkeypox on Pg.5
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Monkeypox from Pg.4 among men who have sex with men, especially those with multiple sexual partners,” Tedros said. “That means that this is an outbreak that can be stopped with the right strategies.” Britain recently downgraded its assessment of monkeypox after seeing no signs of widespread transmission beyond men who are gay, bisexual or have sex with other men and noting the disease does not spread easily or cause severe illness. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it was “supportive” of WHO’s emergency declaration and hoped it would galvanize international action to stamp out the outbreaks. The U.S. has reported more than 2,800 monkeypox cases and sent more than 370,000 vaccine doses to U.S. states reporting cases. Some experts had questioned whether such a declaration would help, arguing the disease isn’t severe enough to warrant the attention and that rich countries battling monkeypox already have the funds to do so. Most people recover without needing medical attention, although the lesions may be painful. Michael Head, a senior research fellow in global health at Southampton University, said WHO’s emergency declaration could help donors like the World Bank make funds available to stop the outbreaks both in the West and in Africa. In the U.S., some experts have speculated whether monkeypox might be on the verge of becoming an entrenched
sexually transmitted disease in the country, like gonorrhea, herpes and HIV. “The bottom line is we’ve seen a shift in the epidemiology of monkeypox where there’s now widespread, unexpected transmission,” said Dr. Albert Ko, a professor of public health and epidemiology at Yale University. “There are some genetic mutations in the virus that suggest why that may be happening, but we do need a globally-coordinated response to get it under control.” Ko called for testing to be immediately scaled up, saying there are significant gaps in surveillance. “The cases we are seeing are just the tip of the iceberg,” he said. “The window has probably closed for us to quickly stop the outbreaks in Europe and the U.S., but it’s not too
TRAVELING INTERNATIONALLY?
late to stop monkeypox from causing huge damage to poorer countries without the resources to handle it.” WHO’s Tedros called for the world to “act together in solidarity” regarding the distribution of treatments, tests and vaccines. for monkeypox. The U.N. agency has previously said it’s working to create a vaccine-sharing mechanism for the most-affected countries, but offered few details of how it might work. Unlike the numerous companies that made COVID-19 vaccines, there is only one maker for the vaccine used against monkeypox, Denmark’s Bavarian Nordic. Dr. Placide Mbala, a virologist who directs the global health department at Congo’s Institute of National Biomedical Research, said he hoped any global efforts to stop monkeypox would be
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“The solution needs to be global,” Mbala said, adding that any vaccines sent to Africa would be used to target those at highest risk, like hunters in rural areas. “Vaccination in the West might help stop the outbreak there, but there will still be cases in Africa,” he said. “Unless the problem is solved here, the risk to the rest of the world will remain.” ___ Jamey Keaten in Geneva and Mike Stobbe in New York contributed to this report.
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equitable. Although countries including Britain, Canada, Germany and the U.S. have ordered millions of monkeypox vaccine doses, none have gone to Africa.
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August 1-7, 2022 Issue 533
Mental health of African diaspora takes centerstage at annual conference By Panashe Matemba-Mutasa Mshale The annual African Mental Health Summit returned to St. Paul, Minnesota, during the weekend of July 22, with a special focus on the mental health of Africans living in the Diaspora. The two-day conference, which took place at Metropolitan State University, featured presentations and discussions emphasizing the importance of unity and understanding regarding mental health in the African community. Dr. Tolulope Monisola Ola, the cohost of the event, who is also the founder of Restoration for All Inc., a St. Paul-based nonprofit that offers multiple services to African immigrants, said it was time to act. “This summit is a way of putting our ideas into action, because it’s not enough to simply talk about these issues,” she said.
80% of Africans struggling with mental health issues like depression do not receive treatment. The summit is part of renewed efforts to raise awareness. The African Mental Health Summit was the brainchild of Dr. Richard Oni, a Nigerian immigrant and executive director of Progressive Individual Resources, a St Paul-based social and behavioral health organization. Eight years ago, Oni was inspired to launch the initiative after reflecting on the problematic attitudes many in the African community possess towards mental health. “People are so quick to call you crazy, but mental health is more than just ‘craziness,’” Oni said. Dr Alvin Killough, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota, Crookston, said that mental health is an issue that affects the Diaspora through racism and trauma, and that centuries of enslavement and colonization have left Black people vulnerable to maladaptive mental health conditions.
Although mental health issues are prevalent in many communities, but there is less acknowledgement among African communities. To make matters worse, “As we continue to endure racialized people dealing with mental illnesses trauma, it is critical that we address are often ostracized. Most African how race plays a part in the mental countries allocate less than 1% of their health conversation,” Killough said. annual budges toward mental health care, according to a study by the United Susan O’Nell, a director at the Nations Office of Public Information. 202136_KL_HennepinCounty_Printad_Mshale_Hibo_4.875x7.125_RD1.pdf 5/13/21 2:10 Institute on Community 1Integration Due to this lack of investment, over
Dr. Tolulope Monisola Ola is the cohost of the African Mental Health Summit recently heald in St. Paul, Minnesota. Photo: Panashe Matemba-Mutasa/Mshale PM
at the University of Minnesota, said that voices of the community can be the most powerful force in addressing the racial disparities that exist in mental health care. “You can have two children with the exact same substance use disorder, but the Black child will be put in the system while the white child receives resources,” O’Nell said. Jessica Holt-Woehl, a social worker at Park Nicollet Clinics, said that as a white healthcare provider working at a predominately white practice, the summit provided her with a rare chance to have the “vulnerability” to expose herself to conversations pertaining to racial equity in healthcare. “I don’t get many opportunities to engage in equity work on the job, so I take as much value as I can from this Summit,” Woehl said. Judy Brown, a mental health supports manager at Minneapolis Public Schools said healthy communities start with healthy children, and so it is important to address the plight of the youth in mental health discussions.
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“Our kids are out here killing themselves because of mental health issues,” she said. “We cannot wait to address this any longer.” Brown also talked about therapists and the critical role they can play in a child’s life. Black parents are increasingly searching for therapists who share their identities and experiences because nonBlack therapists are significantly more likely to hold harmful stereotypes about Black patients, according to a study by the Center for Health Journalism at the University of Southern California. “Representation matters,” Brown
said. “Just like teachers can change a child’s life, so can a therapist, so we need more therapists who look like us.” In the United States, white professionals make up 86% of the workforce in areas of psychology, with Black providers accounting for only 4%, according to the American Psychological Association’s Center for Workforce Studies. The disparity makes it extremely difficult for many Black people to find a provider they feel can fully understand their struggles. Sara Washington, a member of the Special Education Advisory Council at Minneapolis Public Schools, expressed frustrations dealing with white therapists. “It becomes exhausting having to tell your story in a way that they can understand,” Washington said. But Washington said that it was not enough for Black people to “settle for Black therapists” but rather, they should also look for quality providers. “There are Black mental healthcare professionals who become complacent because they know their Black clientele will stick around, so the service is less than ideal,” Washington said. “We need to promote excellence.” Alan Ige, a community member who attended the summit, reiterated the importance of sharing knowledge with the community. He said that even though the conversations might be important to share with non-Black coworkers and friends, it is essential to do so in order to yield change. “How can we produce effective Mental Health on Pg.9
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Liberians in Minnesota mark 175 years of independence with a new community center By Panashe Matemba-Mutasa Mshale The largest coalition of Liberians in Minnesota celebrated the west African country’s 175th year of independence with a ceremony opening an expanded community center in Brooklyn Park. The Organization of Liberians in Minnesota (OLM) revealed the newlypurchased space during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday, July 23 as a part of their Independence Day festivities. The new space is in the same building as their current and the organization has purchased the rest of the building. Their hope is to be able to fulfill the needs of the increasing Liberian population in the Twin Cities by offering a space for their support programs, according to the organization’s officials. “This achievement shows that when people come together and are passionate for a good cause, we can do anything,” said OLM Executive Director Kamaty Diahn. Founded in 1973, OLM is a nonprofit that provides Liberian immigrants and refugees with social support services including immigration, health, housing, employment, and educational aid, per their website. With a Minnesota population of around 35,000, according to the International Institute of Minnesota, OLM is tasked with what Diahn calls “an amazing opportunity” to serve one of the largest African immigrant communities in the state. The new community center includes updated office space for OLM staff, as well as an after-school care area. With the purchase of the building, the Liberians join Somalis and Ethiopians as the only African immigrant groups in Minnesota that have their own community centers. Nigerians and Kenyans, who complete the “Big Five” list of African immigrant groups, do not have community centers. Liberia, which translates to “land of the free,” was a colony under the United States until July 26, 1847, making it the first democratic republic in African history. Many of Liberia’s inhabitants at the time were freed slaves. The emancipation was largely facilitated by the American Colonization Society (ACS), an organization that aimed to return enslaved people to Africa and ultimately end slavery in the states. Though ACS’s efforts failed to put a complete end to the horrific practice, the new Republic of Liberia became a symbol of hope and freedom. For Coleridge Doe, Liberia’s Independence is significant because it reflects how far the Liberian people have come. “We have such a rich history,” Doe said. “I’m glad to see OLM investing in our community and honoring our Independence in this way.” Tarloh Quiwonkpa, a member of the Minnesota Chapter supporting Liberian presidential candidate, Taiwan Saye Gongloe, said that although she was proud of how far her country has come, she did not believe Liberia was
Honorary Consul for Liberia in Minnesota Jackson George (left) listens as Kamaty Diahn, executive director of the Organization of Liberians in Minnesota speaks during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly expanded Liberian Community Center on Saturday, July 23, 2022. Photo: Panashe Matemba-Mutasa/Mshale
“truly free.” Quinwonkpa cites poor governance and a lack of streamlined farming practices as examples. “We have so much land and not many factories,” she said. “As an independent country we shouldn’t be depending on exports of rice, our staple food.” Naser Wowoah said that it was important to recall the unique history of Liberia and its relation to the Diaspora in the United States. While those residing in Liberia were free, Liberians in the United States continued to suffer under slavery. Wowoah said that for her, Independence Day was a reminder to both celebrate and acknowledge the joy and pain of the people in the respective countries. “Our Independence Day is different because it did not grant independence for everyone,” Wowoah said. “We can celebrate and remember our brothers and sisters who were left behind.” The community raised raising $56,000 for the expansion of the center to be able to offer more services. Zubah Kpanaku, a chemistry professor at St. Paul College who hails from Lofa County, Liberia, said that an expanded community center is “just what the community needs” to continue to support Liberians in Minnesota. “It is important that we have spaces like the community center because they show we are all united in our support for one another,” Kpanaku said. OLM is now seeking a grant from the City of Brooklyn Park to support additional programs targeting educational development of Liberian youth.
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August 1-7, 2022 Issue 533
Somali community leader Abdirizak Bihi appointed USCIS citizenship ambassador By Panashe Matemba-Mutasa Mshale Abdirizak Bihi, a long-time Minneapolis resident and leader in the local Somali community, has been appointed a citizenship ambassador by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Bihi, the director of the Somali Education and Social Advocacy Center, is one of eight people across the United States selected for the first-ever citizenship ambassador initiative, whose goal is to leverage partnerships with immigrant community leaders to promote citizenship. He will serve as the USCIS citizenship ambassador to Minneapolis. “His vision to educate and train community leaders for civic action and engagement comes directly from the experiences of his father, who was imprisoned for seventeen years in Somalia for consistently speaking out on behalf of the community,” Deborah D. Cannon, a public affairs specialist at USCIS’s Media Affairs Division, said in a statement. U.S. citizenship is important because it opens new opportunities for immigrants in the United States. According to USCIS, a non-extensive list of the benefits of citizenship includes voting rights, ease of travel by documents like U.S. passports, and eligibility for certain governmental positions that aren’t available to noncitizens. But immigrants often face obstacles preventing them from apply-
ing for citizenship, according to a 2020 study by the Migration Policy Institute, a nonpartisan organization that conducts research on immigration. Some of the barriers include insufficient time to prepare for citizenship interviews, and high cost of processing fees. Cannon said that the new USCIS initiative is designed to connect the more than 9.1 million lawful permanent residents who may be eligible to apply for naturalization with the resources they need to begin the process. The citizenship ambassador initiative was created by President Joseph R. Biden’s Executive Order 14012 to promote naturalization. In a press release, USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou said she believes that citizenship is vital to the nation’s economic prosperity and wellbeing of immigrant communities. She said the new initiative would create opportunities for immigrants to advance their lives. “The citizenship ambassador initiative is a positive step towards raising awareness of the many benefits of U.S. citizenship and providing tools that help immigrants become successful as they embark on their journey as new citizens and beyond,” Jaddou said. Bihi has lived in Minneapolis’ Cedar Riverside neighborhood for 25 years, and is very active in the politics of the city. He ran for a seat in Ward 6 of the Minneapolis city council in 2020, and in a special election in 2021. He has dedicated his
Abdirizak Bihi On October 12, 2021 during a live telecast of a Mshale candidate interview for the Minneapolis Sixth Ward race. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced in July that Mr. Bihi is one of eight people across the United States selected for the first-ever citizenship ambassador initiative. Photo: Paul Okelo/Mshale
career to pushing for policy reform in areas such as housing, economic upward mobility, and police reform. Along with the seven other ambassadors, Bihi will aid aspiring U.S. citizens by sharing his experience with the naturalization process, reiterating the advantages of citizenship, and serving as a source of knowledge and inspiration for those who choose to pursue the process.
“I am very humbled to be one of these eight leaders chosen as a U.S citizenship Ambassador,” Bihi said in a statement on his Facebook page. “[I’m] looking forward to working with every community.” The seven other ambassadors are Bihi on Pg.3
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Religion
Excavation of graves begins at site of colonial Black church in Virginia By Adelle M. Banks Religion News Service Archaeologists in Virginia began excavating three suspected graves at the original site of one of the nation’s oldest Black churches on Monday, commencing a monthslong effort to learn who was buried there and how they lived. The First Baptist Church was formed in 1776 by free and enslaved Black people in Williamsburg, the colonial capital of Virginia. Members initially met secretly in fields and under trees in defiance of laws that prevented African Americans from congregating. A total of 41 apparent burial plots have been identified. Most are 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 meters) long and up to 2 feet (0.61 meters) wide. The soil is discolored in places where holes were likely dug and filled back in. Only one grave appears to be marked, with an upside-down empty wine bottle. Before excavations began July 18, a private blessing was held. “It was important for us to have that ceremony — to bless the ancestors,” said Connie Matthews Harshaw, a church
FILE - Reginald F. Davis, from left, pastor of First Baptist Church, Connie Matthews Harshaw, a member of First Baptist, and Jack Gary, Colonial Williamsburg’s director of archaeology, stand at the brick-and-mortar foundation of one the oldest Black churches in the U.S. on Oct. 6, 2021, in Williamsburg, Va. Archaeologists in Virginia began excavating three suspected graves at the site on Monday, July 18, 2022, commencing a months-long effort to learn who was buried there and how they lived. Photo: Ben Finley/AP File Photo
member and board president of a foundation that preserves First Baptist’s history. “Because we don’t know their names. Their names are known only to God.” First Baptist’s original church was destroyed by a tornado in 1834. The second structure, built in 1856, stood there for a century. That building was bought in 1956 and razed to build a parking lot for Colonial Williamsburg, a living history museum that was expanding at the time and that now has more than 400 structures. Mental Health on Pg.9
For decades, the museum failed to tell the stories of colonial Black Americans — many of them enslaved — who made up more than half of the 2,000 people in Virginia’s 18th century capital. But in recent years it has made an effort to tell a more complete story, placing a growing emphasis on African-American history. When the church’s original structure was uncovered last year, First Baptist Pastor Reginald F. Davis said it was “a rediscovery of the humanity of a people.” “This helps to erase the historical and social amnesia that has afflicted this country for so many years,” he said. If human remains are found in the plots that are being targeted, DNA tests and analyses of bones will be conducted, said Jack Gary, Colonial Williamsburg’s director of archaeology. DNA analysis should be able to determine the person’s eye color and skin tone as well as propensity for certain diseases and genomic ancestry. Analysis of bones can show a person’s age when he or she died as well as their quality of life and the physical stresses they endured, Gary said.
The remains will be taken to the Institute for Historical Biology on the campus of William & Mary, a university in Williamsburg, for cleaning and bone analysis. The University of Connecticut will conduct the DNA testing. Church members eventually want to submit DNA to determine familial links with those who are buried there. The human remains will eventually be reinterred. “I would say that by the late 1800s or early 1900s, they had stopped burying people there and it started to fade from memory,” Gary said. The suspected burial plots were a surprise for many, said Harshaw, a member of First Baptist. But some older congregants had long believed descendants were buried there based on stories passed through the generations. “When your grandmother tells you something, normally you can count on it,” Harshaw said. Mental Health from Pg. 6 action when what’s said in here does not leave the room?” Ige asked. Oni, the founder of the summit, expressed his gratitude by reiterating the value of community voices in creating unity around not just issue of mental health, but in others that are important to the community. “Your contributions are all so important, so whenever you get the chance to use your voice, go out and do it,” Oni said.
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August 1-7, 2022 Issue 533
Art & Entertainment Les Nubians play a mesmerizing melange at the Dakota By Maureen Smith Martindale Mshale Contributing Writer With passion and power pouring from their voices and a strong beat pulsating on stage, Les Nubians launched into Liberation, a 2020 song, to open their show at the Dakota in Minneapolis. “Where’s our power? Where’s our will? To break free, to reveal all the goodness of our kind,” sisters Hélène and Célia Faussart sang in their opening song. At times they chimed together in unison, at times in harmony, or with one leading and the other echoing or chanting a rhythm. The music mesmerized with their typical seamless fusion of jazz, hip-hop, funk, soul, R&B, and traditional African sounds. The opening fit well with universal themes like freedom, liberty, love, unity, and Pan-Africanism the sister duo has been singing about since their Grammy-nominated 1998 debut album, Princesses Nubiennes. Raised by a mother from Cameroon and father from France, the sisters spent portions of their youth in Paris, Chad, and rural Bordeaux, where they experienced cultural dissonance and began raising awareness about African culture. Their set from the 7 p.m. show also included their first hit single, Makeda; the remix Temperature Rising; the hit Africa for the Future, and other songs
from past albums One Step Forward (2003), and Nü Revolution (2011). They sang in their native French, as well as English lyrics they’ve refined since living in Brooklyn. In a song or two they broke briefly into raps, echoing their early history performing spoken word and singing a cappella in France before they won a Soul Train Lady of Soul award for Best New Artist Group or Duo in 1999. With much audience participation, the sisters joked and coaxed listeners into laughing, singing and waving their arms. To emphasize their Pan-African focus, they wore their customary head jewels and clothing designed by a North African designer. In their final song, Nü Soul Makossa, the pair sang again about liberty and equality, particularly for people of color. The song is a tribute to the 1972 hit single, Soul Makossa, by their godfather, the late Manu Dibango, a famous jazz legend from Cameroon who died of COVID at age 86 in 2020. Cameroonian Makossa music has strong bass rhythms and melodic guitar. Throughout the show, you could hear hints of African, jazz, and funk rhythms in solos and accompaniment of band members Ksenia Vasileva, bass player and sound designer; John Roggie, keyboard player and synthesizer master; and Steeve Belvilus, drummer.
His first football season, Isaiah told us, ‘Wear a jersey with my name on it. I want everyone to know you’re here for me.’ Darnell and Denna, adopted 16-year-old Isaiah LEARN ABOUT ADOPTING A TEEN YO U C A N ’ T I M AG I N E T H E R E WA R D
A D O P T U S K I D S . O R G
Les Nubians performing at the Dakota on July 13, 2022. The sisters, Hélène and Célia Faussart, emphasized their Pan-African focus by wearing their customary head jewels and clothing designed by a North African designer during their Minneapolis concert. Photo: Jerusa Nyakundi/Mshale
Les Nubians played in Chicago and Washington D.C. before the Minneapolis show, with later July shows scheduled in New York City, Boston, Philadelphia and Atlanta. Later, they plan to play on the West Coast. The duo will release a new extended playlist by the end of 2022. After the show, the sisters said their return here felt emotional, as mutual fan Prince attended their previous performances before he died in 2016.
“Our very first tour in 1999, we started in Minneapolis at the Quest, which was Prince’s club,” Hélène said. However, she said they still enjoy playing in a city where even during freezing temps, people brave the cold and pack their shows. “People in Minneapolis . . . wow, they love music so much.”
Mshale - The African Community Newspaper
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August 1-7, 2022 Issue 533
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+ Fair Housing
August 1-7, 2022 Issue 533
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A Better Community
The solution to housing discrimination starts with you. If you have been trying to buy or rent a house or apartment and you believe your rights have been violated, contact HUD or your local fair housing center. The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination because of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, familial status or disability.
Fair Housing Is Your Right. Use It. Visit www.hud.gov/fairhousing or call the HUD Hotline 1-800-669-9777 (English/Español) 1-800-927-9275 (TTY)
SCAN HERE FOR MORE INFO A public service message from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in partnership with the National Fair Housing Alliance. The federal Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status or disability. For more information, visit www.hud.gov/fairhousing.