Travis Scott, Morgan Wallen Hit Billboard Music Awards Stage
SoCal Group Graduation: 674 Grads and Boundless Black Joy Page A8
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News Observer Bakersfield
Volume 48 Number 37
Serving Kern County for Over 48 Years
Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California
Officials Release Names of those
Killed in Racist Buffalo Massacre
Avowed white racist Payton Gendron allegedly put together a 180-page manifesto that revealed his hatred for Black and Jewish people and the “replacement theory” ideology that Fox News often speaks of, notably hosts Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham. By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent The victims of the racist massacre at a Buffalo, New York supermarket have been identified and their ages range from 32 to 86. Avowed white racist Payton Gendron allegedly put together a 180-page manifesto that revealed his hatred for Black and Jewish people and the “replacement theory” ideology that Fox News often speaks of, notably hosts Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham. Additionally, several Republican politicians have spouted the racist “theory,” saying that Democrats’ immigration policies would “replace” GOP voters with individuals of color. New York Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik and Ohio GOP hopeful JD Vance recently have been outspoken in supporting “replacement theory.” Stefanik used the concept in her 2021 campaign ads saying, “radical Democrats are planning their most aggressive move yet: a permanent election insurrection.” Vance, a Donald Trump-endorsed candidate, recently ratcheted up the rhetoric. “You’re talking about a shift in the democratic makeup of this country that would mean we never win, meaning Republicans would never win a national election in this country ever again,” he claimed at a campaign event last month. Vance’s defeated opponent, Josh Mandel, also ran on “replacement theory.” “This is about changing the face of America, figuratively and literally,” Mandel stated in a published interview. “They are trying to change our culture, change our demographics and change our electorate. This is all about power,” he said. So far, the only Republican politician of note to call out the racist rhetoric is Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney. “The House GOP leadership has enabled white nationalism, white supremacy, and anti-semitism,” Cheney wrote on Twitter. “History has taught us that what begins with words ends in far
Among the victims in the Buffalo shooting was a former police officer, and 11 of the 13 killed or injured were Black.
worse. @GOP leaders must renounce and reject these views and those who hold them.” Meanwhile, among the victims in the Buffalo shooting was a former police officer, and 11 of the 13 killed or injured were Black.
The names of the ten who died were: Celestine Chaney, 65 Roberta Drury, 32 Andre Mackneil, 53 Katherine Massey, 72 Margus Morrison, 52 Heyward Patterson, 67 Aaron Salter, 55 Geraldine Talley, 62 Ruth Whitfield, 86 Pearl Young, 77
Although there is no cure for alopecia, some forms of the condition can be reversible.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), “Telogen effluvium is a type of alopecia where hair sheds in excess. It can happen suddenly, or hair can thin over time. Causes of telogen effluvium include medications, stress, childbirth, physical trauma, restrictive dieting, and life changes. According to Dr. Amerson there are over 300 medications that have a side effect that causes alopecia. “My alopecia started after my father died. I was washing my hair when I was getting ready for his funeral, then I noticed a
hand full of hair in the sink,” said Sebran Ferrell. Ferrell admits that she was dealing with a perfect storm in her life before she was diagnosed with Alopecia Areota. Prior to her diagnosis her mother was sick, her father died, and she was experiencing some personal health issues. “After seeking help from several professionals, I finally chose to go to a holistic function management doctor. I knew that I needed help getting my insides under control as well. I was dealing with pre-diabetes, and a lot of other things that were going on with my body other than alopecia.” Alopecia Areata is a common autoimmune skin disease, causing hair loss on the scalp, face and sometimes on other areas of the body, according to AAD. Carmen Anderson realized that she was dealing with hair loss after her beautician noticed some balding areas when she was washing her hair. This led Anderson to visit her doctor, who revealed that she had skin lupus. After being diagnosed with lupus, Anderson experienced small bumps that began to itch. These bumps would show up anywhere on her body. “When I first started dealing with my hair loss, I wore wigs. However, it took me a lot to get comfortable with wearing wigs, because they could come off. In the beginning, I did experience a few embarrassing moments when my wig came off unexpectedly,” she said. Continued on page A6
Dr. Lisa Cook Confirmed as First Black Woman on Federal Reserve Board By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent Michigan State University Economics Professor Lisa Cook is the latest Biden-Harris administration nominee to break the glass ceiling, this time on the U.S. Federal Reserve Board. Cook, well-known for her work on racial and gender equality, won Senate confirmation as the first Black woman to serve on the Fed Board in the agency’s 109-year history. The history-making moment required a tie-breaking vote in the Senate from Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black woman to hold her position. Each of the Senate’s 50 GOP members voted against Cook, while all 50 Democrats and
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
North Carolina Community Mourns Lynching Victims
PITTSBORO, N.C. (AP) – About 100 people attended a service to honor the memories of five people who were lynched in Chatham County, North Carolina, more than a century ago. The News & Observer reports that the service held Saturday was organized by local NAACP branches with support from the nonprofit Equal Justice Initiative, based in Montgomery, Alabama. The group encourages researchers around the country to gather and share information about lynchings that happened in their communities. According to the EJI, researchers have documented 123 “terror lynchings’’ of African Americans in North Carolina between 1877 and 1950. Those were among 4,084 that have been documented in Southern states during that time. A series of readers recounted the events leading up to the lynchings, while another group of volunteers scooped Chatham County dirt into jars symbolizing the places where the lynchings took place. The service honored the memories of Harriet Finch, Jerry Finch, John Pattishall and Lee Tyson, who were lynched in 1885, and Henry Jones, lynched in 1899. Karen Howard, chair of the Chatham County Board of Commissioners, said the service felt like a kind of healing. “Those spirits can go free. That hurt, that anger, that code of silence around it, has dissipated,” she said.
6 Black Colleges Getting IBM Cybersecurity Centers
Hope for Women Dealing with Hair Loss By Sylvia Dunnavant Hines After Actor Will Smith slapped comedian Chris Rock during the Oscars for making a joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, one word was echoed around the world – alopecia. From break rooms to the morning talk shows, people were asking, “what is alopecia?” Even though many people in the nation had no idea what this word meant, according to the National Alopecia Areata Foundation this condition affects both sexes and all ethnic groups can develop alopecia areata. “The definition of alopecia is hair loss from any cause. There are 100 different categories of alopecia,” said Dr. Linda Amerson, PhD, IIT, Tect, CCHHP/Scalp Doctor and Holistic Health Practitioner, who also is the owner of LA’s Hair and Scalp in Arlington, Texas. Although people of all ages can develop alopecia, studies have shown that many people start to experience symptoms of this disease by the age of 30. “Some of my younger clients are more concerned with their physical image,” said Dr. Amerson. “They may not be as conscious about trying to take care of their scalp. They tend to wear wigs or other things to cover up their hair loss. “However, for those that are 40 or over, they are more concerned with the regrowth of their hair based on the damage that has been done. Their main concern tends to be if their hair loss is reversible or irreversible.”
Take One!
Harris cast ballots in favor of the nomination. “The Fed Board needs governors who understand how the economy works for Americans across race, gender, and class. Dr. Cook’s deep expertise makes her exceptionally qualified to serve,” Michele Holder, president of the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, wrote in a statement. An adviser on the BidenHarris and Obama-Biden transition teams, Cook will help set fiscal policy on the Fed Board. “I was proud to cast my vote for Dr. Cook,” Georgia Democratic Sen. Raphael Warnock stated. “Her decades of experience as an economist and her Georgian sense of fairness will help promote balance and innovation to strengthen our economy,” Warnock concluded.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Six historically Black universities in five Southern states will be getting the first IBM cybersecurity centers aimed at training underrepresented communities, the company said. The schools are Xavier University of Louisiana, that state’s Southern University System, North Carolina A&T, South Carolina State, Clark Atlanta and Morgan State universities, according to a news release Tuesday. “Technology-related services are in constant demand, and cybersecurity is paramount,’’ said Dr. Ray L. Belton, president of the Southern University System based in Baton Rouge. The centers will give students, staff, and faculty access to modern technology, resources, and skills development, said Dr. Nikunja Swain, chair and professor of the Computer Science and Mathematics Department at South Carolina State, in Orangeburg. It will further enhance our ongoing activities on several key areas, including cybersecurity, data science analytics, cloud computing, IOT, blockchain, design thinking, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence,’’ he said. IBM said it plans more than 20 such centers at historically Black colleges and universities nationwide. The company said each school will get customized courses and access to company academic programs. They also will be able to experience simulated but realistic cyberattacks through IBM Security’s Command Center. The company said it also will provide faculty and students free access to multiple SaaS IBM Cloud environments. Xavier is in New Orleans, North Carolina A&T in Greensboro and Morgan State in Baltimore.
Frierson Sworn In As First Black US Attorney in Nevada LAS VEGAS (AP) – Nevada’s new top federal prosecutor has been sworn in to his job in Las Vegas. U.S. Attorney Jason Frierson was administered his oath of office Wednesday by Chief U.S. District Judge Miranda Du during a ceremony at the downtown Lloyd George U.S. Courthouse. Frierson is the first African American to serve as U.S. attorney for the District of Nevada. He’s a former Democratic state Assembly leader and deputy Clark County public defender. He was recommended for the four-year post by Democratic U.S. Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen, nominated in November by President Joe Biden, and confirmed in April by the U.S. Senate. In a statement, Frierson said he was humbled and honored to be named to the position and grateful for his family’s support throughout the nomination and confirmation process. He promised a commitment to upholding the rule of law, preventing violent crime in neighborhoods, protecting the civil rights of citizens and seeking justice for victims. Frierson replaces Christopher Chiou, who became interim head of the office when Nicholas Trutanich resigned after Biden took office. Trutanich, a Republican, had been appointed by former President Donald Trump. The U.S. attorney’s office in Nevada has more than 100 employees in Las Vegas and Reno.
Two Black Female Officers Sue Kansas City Police Department
Cook, well-known for her work on racial and gender equality, won Senate confirmation as the first Black woman to serve on the Fed Board in the agency’s 109-year history.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Two Black female police officers allege in separate lawsuits that they were subjected to discrimination, retaliation and a hostile work environment at the Kansas City Police Department. Officer Rashawnda Williams said in her lawsuit that her male colleagues made misogynistic, racist and sexist comments in her presence. Officer Alexis Bush-Bailey alleges in her lawsuit that a white female supervisor treated her unfairly because of her race, sex and age, The Kansas City Star reported. Both lawsuits name the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners as defendants. The women said the police board, which controls the department, was responsible for how they were treated. Their attorney, Spencer Webster, said both officers worked in department programs that included outreach to Kansas City youth. Police spokesman Sgt. Jacob Becchina said the department does not comment on pending litigation.