Vice President Kamala Harris has unveiled an extensive agenda designed to dismantle systemic barriers and foster new opportunities for Black men across America. The agenda, announced on October 14, spotlights wealth-building, health equity, criminal justice reform, and expanded education and job training access. Her plan follows recent controversial remarks by former President Barack Obama, who addressed concerns about voter turnout among Black men and stressed the importance of participating in the election.
Obama’s comments in Pittsburgh were roundly criticized as scapegoating Black men, though he emphasized the high stakes of the 2024 election, noting that some African American males might hesitate to vote. He suggested that part of the reluctance could stem from discomfort with the idea of a woman president. Harris’s plan aims to address the specific needs of Black men, with initiatives focused on financial empowerment, healthcare, and education.
Forgivable loans and wealth creation
Harris’s economic plan centers on wealth-building and supporting Black entrepreneurship. Her administration would provide one million forgivable loans, each up to $20,000, to help Black men and others who have faced significant barriers to starting a business. By partnering with community banks and mission-driven
lenders, Harris aims to make capital accessible to Black entrepreneurs looking to launch or expand businesses in fields ranging from technology to landscaping and beyond. Additionally, Harris has proposed a significant expansion of the Small Business Startup Tax Deduction, increasing it from $5,000 to $50,000, which would allow Black entrepreneurs to offset startup costs. She also plans to boost access to venture capital, low-interest loans, and incubators specifically for Black-owned businesses. Recognizing that Black entrepreneurs are frequently denied credit, Harris’s plan includes reforms to expand affordable banking services and crack down on hidden fees that inhibit wealth accumulation in Black communities.
Pathways to high-demand jobs and expanded education access
Harris’s agenda promotes education, training, and mentorship programs to equip Black men with the skills needed to succeed in high-demand fields. Her plan emphasizes registered apprenticeships and credentialing programs, which would provide hands-on training for jobs in sectors like cybersecurity, renewable energy, and healthcare. She also seeks to eliminate unnecessary college degree requirements for 500,000 federal jobs, making these roles more accessible to Black men who may not have pursued higher education.
To increase the representation of Black male teachers—a crucial role model for young Black students— Harris said she plans to invest in
teacher training programs through the Department of Education. By collaborating with HBCUs and MSIs, the Democratic presidential nominee hopes to build a pipeline for Black male educators, addressing the severe underrepresentation in this profession, where only 1% of teachers are Black men. Research has shown that Black students benefit academically and socially when they have Black male teachers, yet structural barriers have prevented many from entering the field. Harris also supports the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program to attract and retain Black male teachers, ensuring they have a pathway to long-term careers in education.
Financial protections in the digital economy
Harris’s plan includes protections for Black men who invest in cryptocurrency and other digital assets, acknowledging
that over 20% of Black Americans have owned these assets. Among her goals is establishing a regulatory framework to safeguard digital investments, ensuring that Black men are protected as they participate in the burgeoning digital economy. The framework would set standards to protect investors from fraud and provide educational resources on digital asset management.
Health equity and addressing medical debt
Health equity remains a cornerstone of Harris’s agenda. She has introduced a National Health Equity Initiative focused on Black men, which would address high rates of chronic diseases like diabetes, prostate cancer, and
Election 2024
Cont’d on Pg. 11
Vice President Kamala Harris waves after addressing the Economic Club of Pittsburgh at an event hosted by the club on the Carnegie Mellon University campus in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, September 25, 2024. Photo: Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Guest Commentary by Geoffrey Williams
Ronald Reagan was right — immigration
In the 1980s, the leader of the Republican Party, President Ronald Reagan, was famously enthusiastic about the importance of immigration to American success. He was fond of saying that “[a] nyone, from any corner of the Earth, can come to live in America and become an American,” and he believed strongly that this was a pillar of American greatness. As an academic social scientist, I can report that, although they may not put it as movingly, in the last few decades economists have confirmed that Reagan was right — our ability to assimilate immigrants is probably our greatest superpower, and is the reason we are a superpower. It is astonishing and painful how far the Republican Party has moved from this insight.
Reagan was arguably ahead of the curve in his view of immigrants. As recently as the early 2000s there was substantial disagreement in the field of economics about the impact of immigration. Since then, a flood of studies has shown how beneficial immigration has been, and how the United States is uniquely strong at incorporating immigrants. Michael Clemens and others have documented how immigrants can benefit American-born workers, the communities they arrive in, and even the communities they left. Anne Piehl and her co-authors showed that far from being dangerous and criminal, immigrants are more law-abiding than native-born Americans and have been since the 1800s. Carefully applying advanced data analytics to census and other records, Leah Boustan and Ran Abramitzky show that assimilation and economic success by immigrants has continued to stay at high rates from the 19th century to today.
Moving from the stories of individuals and communities to the country as a whole, the benefits of immigration can be seen in the continuing growth of the American economy. Immigration both helps to increase our per person income, but analyses such as the Penn Wharton Budget Model show it also helps increase the income of the nation as a whole. This is important when we think about the role of the United States in the world, as it deals with rivals such as China: without immigration the US would see declining population and a stagnating GDP, badly limiting our ability to protect our interests in the world.
Given all this, the current debate on immigration is, bluntly, absolutely crazy. It’s as if Americans were discussing motherhood and
apple pie — but it was considered a given that all mothers commit infanticide and all apples are laced with cyanide! And while many politicians on all sides have contributed to this, the current leader of the Republican Party Donald Trump has been most aggressive and is now consistently promising to deport 15-25 million immigrants.
There is no doubt that if elected he can and will pull this off. Like two of the signal accomplishments of his first term, increasing tariffs and banning Muslim immigration, it can be done purely with executive branch powers. He has a group of experienced lieutenants who are enthusiastic about getting started on it, most notably Stephen Miller. With the Supreme Court firmly behind him and almost certainly a Republican Senate as well, no serious check or balance will be in his way. And there is no doubt it will be expensive — journalist Radley Balko has shown that the operation itself will cost at a minimum hundreds of billions of dollars.
With all these certainties, there are many outstanding questions — to me, there are three in particular. The first is where? Where will all these people go? Deportations are hard to pull off without the cooperation of the country of origin. We can expect many countries to push back against mass deportations, requiring facilities — camps — to hold deportees being processed. The second is who? Twenty-five million people is more than double the best estimates of illegal immigrants in the United States, and more than the number of all non-naturalized immigrants combined. The first Trump administration worked to de-naturalize US citizens, and many of his supporters are actively hostile to constitutionally guaranteed birthright citizenship. Will naturalized and native-born citizens be deported as well?
And finally — why? If you believe, with Ronald Reagan and this writer, that the United States of America is the greatest country that has ever existed, and you further see how essential a growing, dynamic economy is to its future success, why would you hobble it by destroying its great superpower?
Geoffrey Williams is a professor of economics at Transylvania University, who has published research on the economics of crime and the role of economics in international relations and national security. These views are his own and not that of Transylvania’s. He wrote this for the Lexington Herald Leader where it first appeared.
Rwanda shrugs off ‘sportswashing’ criticism in pursuit of a winning development formula
By Adrian Blomfield Associated Press
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — He may be the president of a small, landlocked state in central Africa, but Paul Kagame has always had outsize dreams.
In recent months, Rwanda’s president has embarked on perhaps the biggest of them all by pitching to bring a Formula 1 Grand Prix to a country that was mired in genocide 30 years ago but now sees itself as one of the continent’s leaders.
Determined to overcome his country’s geographical disadvantages, Kagame has relentlessly pursued a political, diplomatic and economic strategy to make Rwanda an African heavyweight.
In the past four years, he has sent troops to engage rebels in the Central African Republic and mount counterinsurgency operations in Mozambique.
At home he has pursued economic reforms to lure foreign investors, transforming Rwanda into a country with a reputation as one of Africa’s least corrupt and most business friendly, despite Kagame’s own reputation as a democratic laggard.
But when it comes to sport, his aspirations extend well beyond Africa.
Since 2018, his government has secured sponsorship deals with some of Europe’s biggest soccer clubs, developed a partnership with the NBA and spent hundreds of millions of dollars in developing Rwanda’s sports facilities.
Next year Rwanda will stage the world championships for bicycle road racing.
Kagame himself has built a close working relationship with Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, which has opened an office in Rwanda and held its annual meeting there last year.
Now he is taking the biggest step yet in his ambition to transform the country into a global sporting power, with F1 executives confirming that they are in exploratory talks with Kagame’s government about a possible Rwandan Grand Prix.
Experts say that could require billions of dollars in investment and outlay. Given that Gross Domestic Product stands at just $14.1 billion and that there is at yet no track on which to host a race, the idea of a Rwandan
Grand Prix might seem far-fetched.
Yet with seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton pushing for an African F1 race and given Rwanda’s reputation as one of the continent’s more reliable and transparent states, it is not impossible either.
Stefano Domenicali, F1’s chief executive, has described Rwanda’s proposal as “serious”, telling motorsport.com that “they have presented a good plan.”
“We want to go to Africa, but we need to have the right investment, and the right strategic plan,” he added.
The country’s motorsports profile may receive a boost when the FIA’s governing body hosts its annual general assembly and prize giving in Kigali, Rwanda’s capital, in December—the first time the ceremony has been held in Africa.
Both the Kagame administration and F1 officials are reluctant to reveal details about what they describe as “ongoing” discussions, but Rwandan government spokeswoman Yolande Makolo said hosting an F1 race would allow the country to move “from being a consumer of sport to a participant in the business of sports.”
“Rwanda’s interest in Formula 1 aligns with our strategy to leverage sports for transformative impact,” she said. “We seek every opportunity to drive forward Rwanda’s development, including through global sporting partnerships.”
Rwanda is not alone in seeking an F1 race, with potential competitors also in Africa. South Africa, which hosted Africa’s last Grand Prix in 1993, and Morocco, which staged 13 races between 1925 and 1958, are also reportedly keen to reenter the fray.
That Rwanda is bidding at all reveals much about how Kagame views sport as an economic and geopolitical weapon.
If Rwanda can navigate the obvious economic risks, its ambitious sporting strategy could yield big dividends, both financially and diplomatically. The Seoul Olympics in 1988 helped South Korea transform its global image as an insulated, war-ravaged backwater to an emerging economy open to the world.
Although no other sub-Saharan country has quite such a comprehensive and ambitious strategy, Rwanda is following the example of countries like Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Qatar, which have used sport — including the hosting of Grand Prix races — to boost their reputations abroad.
Like them, Rwanda has faced criticism that it is using sport to distract attention from a chequered human rights record.
Kagame, who secured 99.2 percent of the vote in July’s presidential election, is accused of using increasingly repressive
methods to consolidate his 30-year grip on power. Critics of his ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front have experienced intimidation, arrest and even death.
Meanwhile, the United Nations has accused Kagame’s government of stoking, funding and arming a rebellion in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda’s troubled neighbour to the east. The United States cut military aid to Rwanda in protest.
Both Rwanda and its international sporting partners have faced accusations that they are using sport to divert attention from Kagame’s rights record, a practice known as “sportswashing.”
In August, two U.S. senators, Republican Marsha Blackburn and Democrat Jeff Merkley, wrote to the NBA accusing it of “putting profit over principle” by forging close ties with the Rwandan government.
Some European lawmakers have raised similar objections to question Rwanda’s sponsorship of soccer clubs Arsenal, Paris Saint Germain and Bayern Munich, a strategy Kagame’s government says will boost tourism.
The prospect of a Rwandan F1 race has renewed such criticism.
“The critical question is what kind of due diligence Formula 1 did to ensure it lives up to its own stated human rights commitments and avoid contributing to laundering the Rwandan government’s human rights record,” said Clementine de Montjoye, senior researcher in the Africa division at Human Rights Watch. “Rwanda’s partners should open their eyes and see Kigali’s wide-reaching human rights abuse for what it is: the consequence of three decades of impunity for the ruling Rwandan Patriotic Front.”
Rwanda is far from the only country with a contentious rights record that has used sport to shape a different narrative about itself. Saudi Arabia, stung by scrutiny following the murder of
journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, has invested more than $10 billion in sport, including golf, F1 and soccer. Infantino has steered the men’s 2034 World Cup hosting rights toward Saudi Arabia.
Qatar, which has close commercial links with Rwanda, spent $230 billion on hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Yet Rwanda is a financial minnow in comparison and depends on donor aid to fund 40 percent of government expenditure, leading to questions about the wisdom of seeking to emulate Gulf petrostates.
“The Saudis employed this sort of strategy to get people to forget about awkward things like dismembering journalists,” said Michela Wrong, author of “Do Not Disturb,” a book critical of Kagame. “But the difference is Saudi Arabia can afford these deals. Rwanda can’t. Rwanda is a very poor country, heavily dependent on subsistence agriculture and foreign aid, which is pouring millions of dollars into some of the world’s richest clubs. There is something innately distasteful about this.”
There is little doubt that Kagame’s sports strategy is an economic gamble.
Despite his business-friendly policies, Rwanda’s market has proved too small to lure significant inward investment, something that hosting big-ticket sporting events could go some way to address, particularly if it gains “first mover advantage” by getting ahead of other African rivals.
On the other hand, even richer states have struggled to make event hosting pay.
“Sporting events are incredibly expensive to stage and the net impact is very often negative rather than positive,” says Simon Chadwick, a professor of sport and geopolitical economy. “For Rwanda, given its relative economic weakness, this will be a concern.”
Rwandan President Paul Kagame, left, and his wife, first lady Jeannette Kagame lead other dignitaries as they arrive for a ceremony to mark the 30th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, held at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, in Kigali, Rwanda, April 7, 2024. Photo/Brian Inganga/AP
Brooklyn Park celebrates Nigerian sister city, honors actor Mofe-Damijo for role in relationship
By Edwin Okong’o Mshale
The city of Brooklyn Park celebrated the second year of its relationship with Udu, a Nigerian urban center that became a sister city in 2023.
The ceremony, which took place recently at Hennepin Community College, featured various performances including dance, spoken word, and a townhall-style conversation with award-winning Nigerian actor, writer and producer, Richard Mofe-Damijo. Mofe-Damijo, who in the past served in government as Delta state’s commissioner for culture and tourism, was also honored for his service as an ambassador in the relationship between the two sister cities.
Mayor Hollies Winston said the relationship with Udu was the third Brooklyn Park had established with a city from the African continent. The first was Kakata, Liberia in 2012, followed10 years later by Banjul, the capital of The Gambia.
“These partnerships are based on mutual respect, cultural exchange, and a shared commitment to growing together,” Winston said. “This means creating opportunities for our entrepreneurs and learning from each other’s experiences. Celebrating our communities [with] events like tonight’s strengthens our ties and bring us closer together.”
Located in Nigeria’s Delta state, Udu became Brooklyn Park’s sister city on Feb. 27, 2003, when the government of the Minnesotan city signed documents approving the relationship. The two cities agreed to have a relationship that promotes cultural, professional, and innovation exchange. They also agreed to co-operate on tackling issues like climate change, international migration crises, pandemics, and conflicts arising
After-School Programs at a Minneapolis Recreation Center Near You!
from scarcity of resources.
Brooklyn Park is one of the most diverse cities in the United States, with more than 60% of its population being people of color, according to Minnesota Compass, a research organization that analyzes census data to help policymakers make informed decisions. In 2022, more than 29% of residents of the city identified as Black or African American, the analysis shows. There
is no specific data on the number of Nigerians, but the city hosts Minnesota’s largest Igbo Fest, a cultural celebration of Igbos, one of Nigeria’s largest ethnic groups.
“Brooklyn Park is no longer a city that is landlocked in the state of Minnesota,” Winston said. “We are blessed to have that wonderful mix, and
Sister City Cont’d on Pg. 8
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• Days, times and ages vary
• 9 locations - Bottineau, Central Gym, Creekview, Elliot, Folwell, North Commons, Phillips, Van Cleve, and Waite Recreation Centers Drop-in Programs
• Check with the recreation center you plan to visit
• Nite Owlz for ages 12-18 (if still in high school), Friday and/or Saturday Nights, 10 locations – Bottineau, Brian Coyle Center, Farview, Folwell, Logan, Northeast, North Commons, Phillips, Powderhorn, Rev Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
For more details: visit www.minneapolisparks.org; stop by a recreation center; or call 612-230-6400 (weekdays) or 612-230-6574 Soomaali
Nigerian actor, writer and producer, Richard Mofe-Damijo engages in conversation with Brooklyn Park Assistant City Manager, Dr. Angel R. Smith, at North Hennepin Community College during the two-year celebration of the sister city relationship between the Nigerian city of Udu and Brooklyn Park on Friday, October 4, 2024.
Photo: Courtesy City of Brooklyn Park
Minnesota Somali Community Center gala honors leaders
By Tom Gitaa Mshale
The Minnesota Somali Community Center hosted its annual Samafal Gala on Saturday night in Columbia Heights.
Hundreds gathered to honor community healthcare providers and healthcare entrepreneurs involved in addressing the opioid epidemic facing the Somali community, as well as elected officials that have championed the interests of the community at the Legislature.
The honorees were recognized for embodying the spirit of “Geesinimo” – Somali for bravery. Samafal means charity in Somali.
Minnesota Somali Community Center (MSCC) is a Minneapolisbased nonprofit that provides support and resources for the livability issues that Somalis in the state face.
The organizations and individuals MSCC honored on Saturday have been on the forefront in addressing the complex web of challenges such as the opioid epidemic by investing time and resources, and in the case of legislators such as state Rep. Hodan Hassan, political capital.
One of those honored was a non-Somali, Dr. Benjamin Swart, an internal medicine physician that MSCC executive director Hassanen Mohamed said has been particularly crucial in the community’s efforts to address
the opioid epidemic because of how Dr. Swart has lived his life.
“Dr. Ben graduated from the University of Minnesota but decided to live in the CedarRiverside area, just to be close to the community, he has visited Somalia and learned our culture and chose to raise his children in our community,” said Mohamed. He said it was Dr. Swart’s presence and hands on approach in the community that made their
parts cross. He described late night visits with Dr. Swart to help those who have overdosed in places many consider unsafe.
Farhia Budul was among those honored Saturday with a “Champion of Recovery” award. She is a Somali woman in longterm recovery from opioid addiction that has garnered prominence in her mission to help others overcome the stigma associated with addiction. On Saturday, she
accepted her award on stage in the company of others that have also triumphed over addiction.
“Recovery does work, recovery is possible, this is how recovery looks like today” said Budul as she pointed to the four people that accompanied her on stage.
Farhia Budul of Niyyah Recovery Initiative, joined on stage by others that have successfully overcome addiction, poses with her Champion of Recovery award at the Minnesota Somali Community Center’s Samafal Gala on Saturday, October 12, 2024. Photo: Siyad Salah/Somali TV
Samafal Gala Cont’d on Pg. 8
Minnesota Somali Community Center Gala
Yussuf Shafie of Alliance Wellness Center, right, receives the Service Provider of the Year award from Minnesota Somali Community Center (MSCC) executive director Hassanen Mohamed.
Musab Adam of Access Healing Center gives his acceptance speech after receiving the Community Impact award
Dancers from Somali Museum of Minnesota perform at the Samafal Gala hosted by Minnesota Somali Community Center
Rep. Hodan Hassan, first elected to the Minnesota House in 2018 was awarded the Legacy of Service award.
Gala Cont’d from Pg. 6
She said Minnesota has the worst disparities in the nation when it comes to substance abuse and that the state needs to do better in addressing those disparities.
“This is a disease that is killing us, it is killing our youth and we need to reduce the stigma and shame because it takes a village (to address it), for us we are recovering out loud as that is what is helping others,” Budul said.
Rep. Hodan Hassan who is serving her third term in the Minnesota House of Representatives was among three state legislators honored. Rep. Hassan, who is not seeking reelection in November, was honored with the “Legacy of Service” award.
“Our community is struggling in many ways but also thriving in many ways, but there is a silver lining in every cloud – community work is hard, it takes a toll on you and your family so we should thank all these folks that are doing the work,” said Rep. Hassan. She said while she will no longer be in elective office after January, she will still be active in community service.
Samafal Gala 2024 Honorees
Community Caregiver: Dr. Benjamin Swart Geesinimo Award: State Senator Omar Fateh Champion of Recovery: Farhia Budul of Niyyah Recovery Initiative Recovery Leadership: Abdirahman Warsame of Generation Hope Community Impact: Musab Adam of Access Healing Center
Legacy of Service Award: Hodan Hassan Service Provider of the Year: Yussuf Shafie of Alliance Wellness Center Voice of Change: Mariam Said aka Mama Sahra Friend of the Community: State Senator John Hoffman Resilience in Recovery: Sundus Ali
Sister Cities Cont’d from Pg. 5
this is what it looks like to have people from across the world [living] in our humble city.”
After cultural performances of dance and spoken word, Dr. Angel R. Smith, the assistant city manager of Brooklyn Park, sat down for a conversation with Mofe-Damijo, who talked about his decorated decadeslong career in film and public service.
“For young people aspiring to enter public service or government roles, what advice would give them about navigating the complexities of those careers?” Smith asked.
Mofe-Damijo said his main concern was that many youths might be discouraged from seeking leadership positions in government because it was a “tough terrain” to navigate.
“Young people are not in the least attracted to public service, yet it is one of those areas we must get into because they
say people get the leadership they deserve,” he said. “So, if you feel like there is a need to have a better society, you must throw your weight in by participating in governance.”
Mofe-Damijo said mentorship played a significant role in the success of his career. He said he emulated his mentors and followed their values. He urged young people to do the same, adding that technology had made it much easier to find and follow mentors than it was during his youth.
“Thank God for social media, you don’t have to meet [your] mentors,” Mofe-Damijo said. “Find someone who is in your profession that you look up to … keep studying and looking at what kind of life they’ve led professionally and from the point of view of family.”
But Mofe-Damijo challenged young people to go far beyond what their mentors had achieved.
“There is a prayer we [say] in Nigeria when somebody says, ‘Oh, I want to be like
you when I grow up,’” he said. “We say, ‘No, when you grow up, you will be bigger than me. You will be better than me.’”
The celebration of the sister city relationship followed a recent city council proclamation declaring Oct. 1, 2024, as Nigerian Independence Day in Brooklyn Park. In a written statement to Mshale, Smith, the assistant city manager, said that in 2023, the city council of Brooklyn Park reviewed its annual holiday calendar to consider adding several holidays for official recognition through proclamation. Nigerian Independence Day was identified, reflecting the growing community of people from the west African country who call Brooklyn Park home, she said. The sister city partnership with Udu, was also a key factor, according to Smith.
“We plan to continue this tradition in the years to come.”
Editor’s note: More pictures from the celebration are on Mshale.com.
Samafal
Brooklyn Park Assistant City Manager Dr. Angel R. Smith, presents the city’s first Global Empowerment and Connection Award to Nigerian actor, writer and producer, Richard MofeDamijo for his role as an ambassador in the Brooklyn Park and Udu sister city relationship.
Photo: Courtesy City of Brooklyn Park
Brooklyn Park Mayor Hollies Winston, middle,speaks with Nigerian actor Richard Mofe-Damijo during the the sister city relationship celebration.
Photo: Courtesy City of Brooklyn Park
Religion After UMC approves same-sex marriage, unrest breaks out in Liberian church
By Fredrick Nzwili Religion News Service
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — The United Methodist Church in Liberia has been roiled in recent days over its position on marriage for same-sex couples after the global denomination, based in the United States, voted to strike a 40-year-old condemnation of homosexuality from its governing document.
Clergy and lay members of the 150,000-member Liberian church have been calling for a special session of the annual conference to take a vote on the U.S. church’s decision, but Bishop Samuel Jerome Quire, the resident bishop of the Liberia Area, has refused, citing the importance of maintaining unity in the Liberian church.
Last week, Quire suspended a number of pastors and elders who have persistently asked for the special assembly.
The tensions escalated Sunday (Oct.13), when protests broke out at the New Georgia United Methodist Church in Monrovia over the suspension of the Rev. Leo Mason, the church’s senior pastor and an outspoken critic of same-sex marriages. The protests spread to other churches in the capital, prompting riot police to intervene.
Quire later explained the protests were triggered by rumors that he was to go to New Georgia to preside at a wedding between two men. He was due there to install a new pastor.
At a news conference on Monday, the bishop said that the United Methodist Church in Liberia firmly upheld the definition of marriage as a sacred union between one man and one woman. “This belief is deeply rooted in the interpretation of biblical teachings, our cultural values and our shared commitment in upholding marriage as a union between man and a woman,” he said, urging the church members to stay out of the streets.
He tried to reassure opponents of marriage for LGBTQ couples, saying, “I want to say here … that our church … is not a gay church nor will it ever adopt such an identity.”
The bishop said the issue of samesex marriage has been lingering since the General Conference of the United Methodist Church, meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina, April 23-May 3, removed language banning LGBTQ clergy and restrictions on same-sex marriage from the church’s Book of Discipline.
The General Conference also passed measures to restructure the denomination, giving each region greater equity in tailoring church life to its own customs and traditions, including an amendment that awards equal standing to its worldwide regions, including Africa, Europe, the Philippines and the United States.
The conference’s measures followed years of dissent and debate on LGBTQ issues that have resulted in a painful schism that has split some 7,600 U.S.-based churches from the denomination — about 25% of all U.S. congregations.
Quire said he had explained the General Conference’s decisions to church leaders at the time and urged the denomination’s membership in Liberia to remain calm. But many members want a special session to determine the Liberian area’s relationship with the global denomination.
According to a senior leader in the Monrovia District Conference of the Liberia Annual Conference who did not want to be named, church members are opposed to regionalization that would pave the way for acceptance of homosexuality.
“We do not accept regionalization. The new policy comes with a package that includes LGBTQ issues and samesex marriages,” a leader of the Elias D. McGill United Methodist Church in Monrovia told RNS in a telephone interview. “How can he say the United Methodist Church in Liberia is not a gay church, while it maintains a relationship with a church that accepts this policy?
“We want him to call for the special session so we can decide for ourselves,” he added.
Quire has suspended Elias D. McGill’s pastor, the Rev. Elijah Dajue, for joining the calls for the session, but on Oct.7, the church wrote the presiding bishop, rejecting the suspension and the new pastor Quire sent to the church.
Dajue “has done nothing wrong except his persistent teaching and preaching of the true message of salvation to us which exposes the contradiction and deceptive nature of regionalization policy against biblical teaching, belief and practice,” said the leaders in the letter.
The bishop has not called a special
session, he said, because it may lead to the dissolution of his conference, pointing to a special session held by the United Methodist Church in Ivory Coast in May, where the body voted to leave the United Methodist Church. Similar votes have occurred in Zambia and Nigeria, where the resident bishop resigned after calling the special session.
“I call for a special they leave the church?” he said. “I said, that is not
the right thing to do. There are other forums where we will meet. We have begun talking and will continue to talk.”
Regarding churches that have threatened in writing to break away from the Liberian church, Quire said: “They have forgotten their identity. … No local church has the right to remove itself from the United Methodist Church. They have no authority.”
Bishop Samuel J. Quire Jr. seen here delivering the closing message at the 191st session of the Liberia Annual Conference held Feb. 13-18, 2024 in Buchanan, Liberia. Photo: E Julu Swen/United Methodist News
Art & Entertainment
Angélique Kidjo and Davido’s ‘Joy’ Surges in Popularity, Celebrating African Music
By World Music Central
Angélique Kidjo and Davido’s latest collaboration, “Joy,” has quickly gained momentum, amassing over 4 million streams and climbing to #7 on the Nigerian National Airplay Chart. The music video, released on October 2, was directed by Dammy Twitch, who also shot their first collaboration, “Na Money,” from Davido’s 2023 album Timeless.
Filmed in St. Tropez (France) and Nigeria, the video captures the vibrant connection between Kidjo and Davido. The two artists began working on “Joy” after a chance reunion in New York earlier this summer. The song, recorded in New York City, marks their second collaboration and features lyrics in both Yoruba and English, emphasizing resilience and positivity.
This release follows Kidjo’s recent single, “Sunlight To My Soul,” signaling a new phase in her long career, which includes over four decades of global influence, specially in the world music scene.
Davido, a leader in the Afrobeats movement, continues to build on his 2023 success with his album Timeless, which earned Grammy nominations and broke streaming records.
Angélique Kidjo’s legacy
Angélique Kidjo, a multi-Grammy-
winning artist and 2023 Polar Music Prize recipient, is one of the world’s most influential musicians. She combines the West African traditions of her Beninese upbringing with American
R&B, funk, jazz, and global influences. Kidjo’s music is celebrated for its fusion of deep-rooted tradition and innovative exploration. Her 2021 album, Mother Nature, featured collaborations with Burna Boy, Sampa The Great, and Yemi Alade, underscoring her ability to connect with younger generations of African musicians.
Kidjo’s career highlights include Grammy-winning albums such as Mother Nature (2021), Celia (2019), and EVE (2014), as well as her acclaimed interpretation of The Talking Heads’ Remain in Light. Her collaborations extend beyond the music world, partnering with artists like Yo-Yo Ma and Philip Glass, and she remains a vocal advocate for social justice.
Davido: The King of Afrobeats
Davido’s career, spanning over a decade, has cemented his status as an international music icon. Known as “The King of Afrobeats,” Davido has garnered over 5 billion streams and 1.2 billion video views. His 2023 album Timeless set streaming records and earned three Grammy nominations, solidifying his place in global music.
Davido has also made waves with his sold-out tours and TikTok challenges. His influence continues to expand as he bridges the gap between African music and global audiences.
Photo: Red Light Management
sickle cell disease. Harris proposes capping insulin costs at $35 per month and limiting out-ofpocket expenses on prescription drugs to $2,000 annually. Additionally, she said she would expand funding for sickle cell research and build a national database to improve prevention and treatment.
To tackle the burden of medical debt, which disproportionately affects Black men, Harris proposes removing medical debt from credit reports and working with states to relieve outstanding medical debt. The effort would help Black men access better credit, opening doors for homeownership and business financing.
Criminal justice reform and economic opportunities in legal cannabis
The vice president also has committed to legalizing recreational marijuana at the federal level, which she argues will reduce incarceration rates for Black men and create economic opportunities in the emerging cannabis industry. By working with Congress to ensure the safe cultivation, distribution, and possession of marijuana, Harris would remove longstanding barriers that have disproportionately impacted Black men. Her plan would establish pathways for Black men to access licenses and jobs in the legal cannabis sector, providing a chance to build wealth in a market that has historically excluded them.
Affordable housing, homeownership, and financial literacy
Harris further proposes building three million affordable housing units during her first term to address the housing crisis. She would offer up to $25,000 in down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers, aiming to triple the number of new Black homeowners annually by the end of her term. The initiative would specifically target those who have been unable to buy homes due to a lack of generational wealth, which disproportionately affects Black families.
Still, another facet of her plan would tackle racial bias in home appraisals, a pervasive issue that often results in undervalued properties in majorityBlack neighborhoods. Her proposal would mandate training and accountability measures for appraisers
to ensure that Black homeowners receive fair property valuations, helping to close the racial wealth gap.
Community events and outreach
As part of her outreach to Black men, the HarrisWalz campaign is launching several communitycentered events. The “Black Men Huddle Up” initiative will feature NFL and NCAA watch parties in battleground states, where Black men can discuss the upcoming election and its implications for their communities. In addition, the campaign will host a series of Economic Freedom Talks, with notable Black entrepreneurs discussing strategies for business growth and financial independence. Harris’s team is ramping up its Shop Talk series, Brother to Brother canvass events, and launching new testimonial ads to reach Black voters in states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Michigan.
In stark contrast to Trump’s agenda
Harris’s proposals directly counter Donald Trump’s Project 2025, which she argues would dismantle progress for Black communities. Trump’s plan includes: Reinstating stop-and-frisk practices. Cutting funding for urban education. Eliminating critical programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security, which many Black families rely on.
Harris’s agenda seeks to offer Black men a comprehensive path to economic stability and success, positioning her as the candidate dedicated to addressing their unique challenges.
Harris’s detailed plan appears to offer Black men a vision of leadership, opportunity, and economic empowerment, which she argues is essential for the future of Black communities. She believes investing in education, health, and wealth-building would help address systemic inequities and build a path to prosperity for Black men nationwide.
“Donald Trump could care less about equipping hardworking Americans with the tools needed to get ahead,” campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond stated. “While Vice President Harris is promising to equip Black men with the tools needed to pursue our dreams and aspirations, Donald Trump is promising Black men in America a national nightmare.” Election 2024 Cont’d from Pg. 2
