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Listed phone numbers couldn’t be found for the men. It’s unknown if they have attorneys.

The central Oregon beach community is about 88 miles (142 kilometers) southwest of Portland.

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Major California Firms and Businesses Invest Billions in Black Enterprises

Where Will The Money Go?

Antonio Ray Harvey in joint investments and $40 million in grant funding California Black Media to more than 2,000 businesses owned by Black and Over the last month, several corporations have other underrepresented people across the country. stepped up to fund the Black community. The business loans of $100,000 to $4 million is intended to Two weeks ago, Netflix announced it will drop 2% of its help them overcome systemic economic disadvantage. Kaiser cash holdings, up to $100 million, into Black-owned banks and Permanente is also reserving $15 million in grant dollars to other financial institutions and organizations that directly increase access to formal training, business networks, and recovery support African American enterprises, initiatives or communities. and growth capital to help African American-owned businesses.

“Banks that are Black-owned or led represent a mere “As a country, this is a moment to define who we one percent of America’s commercial banking assets,” the Los are and what we stand for. We must take strong action Gatos-based digital streaming service wrote in a blog post. to stop the physical, psychological, economic, and social “This is one factor contributing to 19 percent of Black families impacts of inequity and systemic racism so that we can having either negative wealth or no assets at all — more than create healthier communities where everybody, regardless double the rate of White households — according to the of their skin color, can feel safe and thrive,” Adams said.

U.S. Federal Reserve,” the post continued. “Black banks Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente is one of the nation’s have been fighting to better their communities for decades largest healthcare and health management systems in the United but they’re disadvantaged by their lack of access to capital.” States, serving over 12 million members. It operates some 700 Kaiser Permanente has made a similar commitment. medical facilities, including 39 hospitals, with a network Last week, Kaiser Permanente revealed that it of 23,371 physicians, 63,306 nurses and 219,149 employees. will direct $100 million towards Black businesses in The news of Kaiser’s series of actions fall in line with other the form of investments and grants. It is the Oakland- large companies’ willingness to help make the Black community based health management consortium’s way of combating whole after centuries of slavery, injustice, racism and promoting equality, company officials say. legal segregation and widespread discrimination.

“The tragic murder of George Floyd and so many

But Black business groups and leaders have others has reverberated around the world, pushing us to demand questions about how programs such as Kaiser-Permanente’s will overdue change to a status quo that keeps communities of be implemented. The funding is sorely needed, Black business color in the margins and holds us all back as a society,” said advocates point out. Yet, putting it in the right places must be strategic.

Greg A. Adams, chairman and CEO of Kaiser Permanente.

“We don’t want it to be a situation where companies are

Kaiser-Permanente’s plan is to direct $60 million just throwing money at us. They throw money at a problem

and then think it changes the situation. It’s just a bandaid,” said Salena Pryor, founder of the Black Small Business Association

of California (BSBAC). “So the question is how are they going to actually make sure the money gets to the Black communities. That would be our concern.”

BSBAC helps advocate for minority-owned businesses that struggle finding resources. In just over a few months, Pryor, a former legislative consultant, said her organization has grown from serving a handful of clients to representing 1,153 businesses and self-employed individuals across the state. She says her organization is still growing.

Pryor explains that her concern about how the money will reach its target is warranted. Because on the back end, she said, the money will not only support Black businesses but show companies that they made the right investments.

“All of that is important,” Pryor said.

Facebook, based in Menlo Park, has also announced that it is investing $200 million to support Blackowned businesses and organizations in part of the company’s broader $1.1 billion investment in Black and diverse suppliers and communities in the United States.

The social-networking platform is responding to the outbursts of protests against racism, police brutality and racial injustices that African Americans face across the country. Facebook’s Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg stated that the “need to take action” is highly necessary for the company.

“The past few weeks have compelled us to confront the reality of violence and injustice which members of the Black Continued on page A2

Past Due Time for American Healthcare System to Protect Black Americans

By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. President and CEO, National Newspaper Publishers Assc.

Today, Americans are facing unprecedented times. We are in the midst of a global pandemic, our country has fallen into an economic recession, and hundreds of thousands are protesting police brutality and racial injustice. But there is another epidemic in this country that must be addressed, and it must be addressed now.

CNN’s Don Lemon said it best – “there are two deadly viruses killing Americans: COVID-19 and racism.”

Because of the systematic racism that is rooted in our nation, racial disparities in American healthcare have caused illness, injury, and death in minority communities across the country. Black Americans suffer the most at the hands of the American healthcare system. Now, we are seeing COVID-19 shine a much-needed light on the harsh reality that has been plaguing an entire race for centuries.

In my own home state of North Carolina, Black Americans make up 30 percent of COVID-19 cases and 34 percent of the COVID-19 deaths, even though they only make up 22 percent of the population. Really think about that math. How does it make sense?

That means, 162 Black North Carolinians will die due to COVID-19, which is 70 more than would be expected based on the demographic makeup of the state. That is 70 more Americans who will die just because of the color of their skin.

Unfortunately, these healthcare disparities are nothing new. Black Americans have long suffered from a severe lack of access to quality, affordable care, which predisposes them to increased rates of underlying conditions and illnesses.

Due to the lack of access, Black Americans are often forced to travel very far for care. This usually means, if they have insurance, they must go to out-of-network facilities and often find themselves hit with exorbitant surprise medical bills.

Surprise medical bills are unanticipated costs related to out-of-network or emergency care a patient received. These bills can range from a $50 prescription drug to $30,000 in emergency transport. Not surprisingly, Black Americans suffer from a higher rate of surprise medical bills, at higher costs compared to White Americans.

Congress holds the pen when it comes to reforming surprise medical billing in this country, but they are falling far short of what needs to be done. There are multiple bills in the House and the Senate that claim to rectify this injustice, but all of them still leave the cost to patients or providers without holding insurance companies

In a recent Congressional hearing, Dr. Rhea Boyd, a practicing physician and healthcare scholar said, “ensuring that insurance is not a barrier to healthcare is really critical, particularly for African Americans...”

(Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)

accountable.

While Congress is trying to figure it out, we are seeing the administration miss the mark as well. In a Twitter thread on June 22, CMS Administrator Seema Verma may have misdiagnosed the real root of the issue – insurers.

Because of the blatant and intrinsic greed, these companies are starving patients of care and putting the financial burden on their shoulders.

In a recent Congressional hearing, Dr. Rhea Boyd, a practicing physician and healthcare scholar said, “ensuring that insurance is not a barrier to healthcare is really critical, particularly for African Americans...”

Insurance companies make billions of dollars every year by using sly tactics like skinny networks to lure consumers in and then slap them with a surprise medical bill when they go out-of-network. It is time to put a stop to insurance companies making billions off the backs of hardworking Americans.

It is clear that Senator Lamar Alexander and Representatives Frank Pallone and Greg Walden, three of the members committed to eradicating surprise medical billing, are in the pockets of Big Insurance. The bills they are sponsoring do not even bring insurance companies to the negotiating table, let alone hold them responsible.

We are halfway through 2020, and we still do not have proposed legislation that gets at the root of the surprise medical billing problem. We must get rid of skinny networks, improve access to care, and cover emergency services. It is time for insurance companies to pay, so we can save Black lives. Black Lives Matter.

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association based in Washington, DC. and he regularly comments on public policy issues that impact the quality of life of Black America. Dr. Chavis was the first person to coin the term “environmental racism.”

BobcRacial at Recove 7 Men Yelled After Bein Slurs atPBlack g Hi o lice Car Family in Oregon

Ex-Officer Charged in Floyd’s Death Posts $750K Bond MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – A former Minneapolis police officer charged in the killing of George Floyd has been released from jail, according to Hennepin County jail records.

Tou Thao, age 34, is the third former officer accused in Floyd’s death to be released on bond. He posted $750,000 bond on Saturday, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported. All four officers on the scene of Floyd’s death have been fired and face criminal charges.

Floyd, who was Black and handcuffed, died May 25 while being arrested. A white police officer used his knee to pin Floyd’s neck for nearly eight minutes as Floyd begged for air and eventually stopped moving.

Besides the charges against the officers, Floyd’s death led to worldwide protests over police brutality and racial injustice.

Thao is set to appear in court on September 11 on charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.

Two other former officers, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane, face the same charges as Thao. Derek Chauvin, the officer who pressed his knee to Floyd’s neck, is charged with second-degree murder, thirddegree murder and second-degree manslaughter with culpable negligence. He remains in police custody.

White Woman Charged in Racist Confrontation NEW YORK (AP) – A white woman walking her dog who called the police during a videotaped dispute with a Black man in Central Park was charged Monday with filing a false report.

In May, Amy Cooper drew widespread condemnation for calling 911 to report she was being threatened by “an African-American man’’ when bird watcher Christian Cooper appeared to keep his distance as he recorded her rant on his phone.

District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. said in a statement on Monday that his office had charged Amy Cooper with falsely reporting the confrontation, a misdemeanor. She was ordered to appear in court on Oct. 14.

After the backlash, Amy Cooper released an apology through a public relations service, saying she “reacted emotionally and made false assumptions about his intentions.’’

“He had every right to request that I leash my dog in an area where it was required,’’ she said in the written statement. “I am well aware of the pain that misassumptions and insensitive statements about race cause and would never have imagined that I would be involved in the type of incident that occurred with Chris.’’

Juneteenth Will Be a Paid Holiday in NC’s Wake County RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – North Carolina’s Wake County says it’s the first in the state to make Juneteenth a paid county holiday.

The Raleigh News & Observer reports that the county’s Board of Commissioners voted to approve the holiday during a virtual meeting on Monday.

Juneteenth celebrates the day in 1865 that all enslaved black people learned they had been freed from bondage. The holiday has reached a new level of recognition in the wake of protests across the country against racism, police brutality and other inequities.

Wake County said in a news release that it’s the first to make Juneteenth a paid holiday in the state. The county has more than 4,000 employees. The cost of adding the holiday will be more than $500,000 a year.

The city of Raleigh is among other localities in the region that are expected to discuss or vote on recognizing Juneteenth as an official holiday.

A2

THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER

Thursday, July 9, 2020

World & Nation

Voter Suppression Goes to College

By Cash Michaels and Peter Grear Greater Diversity News If preliminary data estimates on the recent 2020 primaries in North Carolina are accurate, student voters on HBCU campuses must raise their turnout game come the general election this November.

So says Dr. William Busa, founder of EQV Analytics, a ‘North Carolina-focused campaign consulting firm serving Democratic candidates with advanced campaign analytics.

Dr. Busa served as digital director to NC Associate Justice Anita Earls 2018 campaign to the state’s high court.

Cautioning that his numbers right now are “95% accurate” because all of the 2020 primary data has not been released yet by the NC Board of Elections, Dr. Busa says they are close enough to being conclusive for him to draw worthy conclusions.

Busa analyzed student voter turnout from ten North Carolina campuses, three of them HBCUs - N.C. A&T University, in Greensboro, Winston-Salem State University and North Carolina Central University in Durham. All of the campuses analyzed were in precincts dominated by undergraduate students, generally 18 to 22.

Dr. Busa broke his analysis of college voting into early voting (February 13-29th) and voting on Primary Day (March 3rd). Traditionally, the bulk of college student voting occurs during the two-week early voting period.

According to the data, statewide early voting was at 11.4%. At least seven of the ten NC universities tracked for student early voting did much better, with six of the top schools coming in with two to three times the state’s overall voter turnout (Duke was at 34%, for instance).

Winston-Salem State University yielded only an 11.7 student voter turnout, .3% more than the state turnout.

North Carolina Central University, however, could only muster 7.9% student voter turnout.

When the numbers are crunched for Primary Day, Dr. Busa noted that student voting dramatically drops because college students generally find it more difficult to vote then and prefer the more flexible 15-day early voting period.

As a result, because 66% of North Carolina voters vote on Primary day, and college students don’t, they effectively caught up percentage-wise with the high college voting, leaving only Duke University (34.3%) to exceed

both groups (NC was at 30.6%) in total voter turnout percentages, Busa says.

NCCU came in at the end of the university list at just 8%. NC A&T came in fourth overall at 20.6%. WSSU was at 13.4%.

Busa says his analysis proves several things - college students are early voters. Either they vote early, or not at all.

Second, the analysis also shows why Republican lawmakers try to keep polling places off university campuses, hoping that by making getting to a polling place more difficult, it would dissuade students from voting.

“It’s a very potent voter suppression tool,” Dr. Busa says. All ten of the campuses analyzed had a campus polling place.

Busa says ultimately, college and university administrations must put more resources behind their campus GOTV (get out the vote) efforts, like Duke University, to get the same stellar results that Duke is getting.

However, students are not sitting still. They’re fighting back against the agents of voter suppression and they are being helped by the NC NAACP, offering guidance and resources and Greater Diversity News, offering publicity.

The results of Busa’s analysis reveals a failure to effectively mobilize Black students to educate, organized and mobilize as voters. However, blame for this failure must be borne by Black leaders and leadership organizations.

The leaders and organizations include HBCU Alumni Associations, elected officials, Divine Nine and the always present Black church community. Also, to be included, are Black civil rights leaders and organizations of the past and present.

Also, we must recognize leaders and organizations that are stepping up and trying to make a difference. There are many that recognize that the failed status quo cannot and must not be accepted.

One response that is in the works, is a series of conference calls with student leaders on HBCU and Primarily White campuses (SGAs and BSUs). This call is being coordinated by the NC NAACP and Greater Diversity News. Its purpose is to give the student leaders an opportunity to discuss voting rights and their efforts to

resist voter suppression.

The students at NCCU have developed a voter mobilization model and are offering it as a guide to other campuses, while at the same time seeking feedback and ideas on strategies that other students are using. It is important to note that the efforts of the NCCU students are fully supported by the NCCU National Alumni Association. A student/alumni collaborative is being urged as a consideration for all HBCUs. Here are the updated college turnout numbers (through election night). Final analysis is due any day now.

TURNOUT (%) DUKE UNIV 34.3

UNC CHAPEL HILL 24.7 NC STATE UNIV 21.2 NC A&T STATE UNIV 20.6 UNC CHARLOTTE 18.5 APPALACHIAN STATE UNIV 14.9 WINSTON-SALEM STATE UNIV 13.4 UNC GREENSBORO 10.2 EAST CAROLINA UNIV 8.0 NC CENTRAL UNIV 8.0 Follow the growing activism of student leaders and ACTC developments by signing-up for GDN’s free eNews publication at GreaterDiversity.com. For additional information email - colors@greaterdiversity.com.

Dr. William Busa, founder of EQV Analytics, a ‘North Carolina-focused campaign consulting firm serving Democratic candidates with advanced campaign analytics, analyzed student voter turnout from ten North Carolina campuses, three of them HBCUs - N.C. A&T University, in Greensboro, Winston-Salem State University and North Carolina Central University in Durham.

Major California Firms and Businesses Invest Billions in Black Enterprises Where Will The Money Go? Continued from page A1

community face on a daily basis,” Sandberg stated in a letter June 17 that the company has committed $175 million dated June 18. “We have shared words of support for our friends, to African American businesses. The company will colleagues, and communities. We need to take action as well.” also increase Black representation in leadership roles.

Black-owned businesses increased by 34.5% Youtube has pledged $100 million to subsidize Black artists between 2007 and 2012, totaling to 2.6 million firms, and creators. CNBC reported that Google’s Black workforce in reference to a report by Black Demographics. was just over 3% before the global pandemic and the But according to the U.S. Census figures from riots that broke out around the country after Floyd’s 2017, Investopedia reported that Black businesses in death, took place. It had also decreased its diversity programs. the country dipped down to just over two million firms.

On June 17, PayPal, based in San Jose, joined Worldwide Technology, Inc., a Maryland Heights, corporations and public institutions supporting the Black Missouri, Black business, had a revenue base of $11.28 community. It will kick out $530 million to Black-owned billion in 2018. Black Enterprise Magazine (BE) listed it as businesses and newly established proprietors through the top Black firm among a ranking of 100. BE compiles its “PayPal Equity Investment for Underrepresented its annual list by revenue and the number of employees. Minority-led Startups and Investment Funds” program.

Worldwide Technology, Inc., founded in 1990 PayPal has made a commitment in an effort to help

by David Steward and James Kavanaugh, has more address economic inequality and is requesting applications for than 5,000 employees. The company enables its clients submission. The PayPal team will review each response and to implement technology for products and services. evaluate each proposal before making an investment decision.

After the death of George Floyd and the civil unrest that Several applicants, such as the Los Angelesfollowed, companies with deep pockets have stepped up to the plate based Kiva and Opportunity Fund, both not-for-profit financial to provide moral and economic support to the Black community. institutions, and other groups, have received funding.

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Mountain ViewIn a written statement, PayPal said that it is “uniquely based Alphabet, Inc., the parent company of Google, said positioned to help in this area” and have committed

to doing its part to “address the unacceptable racial giving money to small Black businesses. What about the divide by advancing a more just economy and society.” ongoing relationships? What about your boards? What about “For far too long, Black people in America have faced deep- your employee hiring practices? All of that has to be addressed.” seated injustice and systemic economic inequality. Black lives matter and we need to drive transformative change. We must take decisive action to close the racial wealth gap that sustains this profound inequity,” said Dan Schulman, PayPal’s president and CEO. Last month, Lowe’s, the home improvement company, was one of the first to announce support for the Black community. It will provide $25 million in grants to support minorityowned proprietorships to help boost the country’s economy.

While there is a boom in help going toward the Black community to help it rebound from the devastating effects of the novel coronavirus, Pryor said it is a perfect time to solidify stable working relationships with big corporations.

Traditionally, she said, when something like investing in Black communities occurs, the relationship dynamics slowly disappear. That breakup has to change and accountability must be practiced, Pryor said.

“We really have to reevaluate our relationships with these companies. It doesn’t make sense to help them flourish and thrive and they are not doing anything to make sure we flourish and thrive,” Pryor said. “It has to be more than just one-time

NNPA Salutes Attorney Benjamin Crump and The Crump Law Firm in Memory and Honor of the Family of George Floyd Benjamin Crump has earned recognition as a freedom fighting lawyer who doesn’t hesitate to defend the life and legacy of African Americans harmed by police violence and racially motivated acts. He currently represents the families of Ahmad Arberry, George Floyd and other Black men and women unjustly victimized by law enforcement.

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) will pay tribute to civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump and his law firm while honoring the family of George Floyd, during the NNPA’s Annual Convention scheduled for Wednesday, July 8, and Thursday, July 9.

Registration for the NNPA virtual conference is free. All can register at www.virtualnnpa2020.com.

The Virtual Convention marks the 80th anniversary of the NNPA and 193 years of the Black Press of America.

Crump has earned recognition as a freedom fighting lawyer who doesn’t hesitate to defend the life and legacy of African Americans harmed by police violence and racially motivated acts. He currently represents the families of Ahmad Arberry, George Floyd and other Black men and women unjustly victimized by law enforcement.

“I salute the Black Press of America and the NNPA on the 193rd anniversary of the Black Press and the 80th anniversary of the NNPA,” Crump states.

“The family of George Floyd and the families of all the Black American victims of racist police murders and violence appreciate the support the Black Press has provided. I thank you for this award.”

The NNPA plans to present Crump with its Trailblazer Award for his work fighting for freedom, justice, and

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Family attorney Ben Crump, left, escorts Quincy Mason, second from left, a son of George Floyd, Wednesday, June 3, 2020, in Minneapolis, as they and some Floyd family members visited a memorial where Floyd was arrested on May 25 and died while in police custody. (Jim Mone / AP)

equality. Floyd’s family will also be honored at the virtual conference.

“When you are on the front line fighting for the rights of our people in the courts and in the streets of America, it means a lot for the Black Press to always be there as the strong, trusted voice of Black America. Thank you NNPA Chair Karen Carter Richards and NNPA President Dr.

Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.,” Crump says.

In addition to Crump, the Black Press will present Trailblazer Awards to Chuck D of Public Enemy, MC Lyte, legendary Supremes singer Mary Wilson, and Reggae Icon Ziggy Marley.

Wilson and Marley plan to deliver virtual performances at the conference.

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Features

Thursday, July 9, 2020

THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER A3

Black Groups Drag FDA Into Lawsuit Over Newport, Kool Other Menthol Cigs Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media Seven out of 10 African American youth between ages 12 and 17 who smoke use menthol cigarettes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

And a higher percentage of Black adults who smoke began using menthol cigarettes (93%) — that’s more than two times higher than the number of White adults who did the same (44%), according to the CDC. The two top-selling mentholated cigarette brands in the United States are Newport and Kool.

Anti-Tobacco advocates say these numbers are alarming. So, two of the nation’s top organizations committed to decreasing the use of tobacco in the United States are taking legal action to end the consumption of menthol by African Americans, calling them chemically unhealthy and deadly. They want it eliminated from all tobacco products.

The two groups, the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council (AATCLC) and Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) formally announced their joint lawsuit against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) during a ZOOM news conference on June 17.

“We are suing the United States’ Food and Drug Administration for their failure to enact public health policy that protects the health and welfare of African Americans,” said Carol McGruder, co-chair of AATCLC. Represented by Pollock Cohen, LLP, a New York Citybased firm, the complaint requests that the court compel the FDA to act on the organization’s own conclusion that it would benefit the public health to add menthol to the list of prohibited cigarette flavors in the United States.

The AATCLC and ASH’s lawsuit also asks the court to carry out its duties under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. That action would also result in the removal of menthol-flavored tobacco products from the marketplace.

In California, there is no statewide ban on the sale or possession of flavored tobacco products. However, a growing number of communities in the state are banning the sale of them. So far, more than 30 jurisdictions have placed restrictions

on the sale of mentholated cigarettes. San Francisco County was the first county in the state to ban menthol cigarettes in the summer of 2017.

In an effort to protect the public and design a healthier future for all Americans, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (Tobacco Control Act), was signed into law on June 22, 2009, by President Barack Obama.

“When the Tobacco Act was signed, all characterizing flavors were banned from cigarettes. All except menthol,” McGruder said. “Menthol was inexplicably given a pass. Characterizing flavors are the building blocks to nicotine addiction. As we witnessed last year with the nicotine baby epidemic, flavors seduce children (and) nicotine hooks them.”

The Tobacco Control act gives the FDA authority to regulate the manufacture, distribution, and marketing of tobacco products, including: · Restricting Tobacco Marketing and Sales to Youth · Requiring Smokeless Tobacco Product Warning Labels · Ensuring “Modified Risk” Claims are Supported by Scientific Evidence · Requiring Disclosure of Ingredients in Tobacco Products · Preserving State, Local, and Tribal Authority.

Pollock Cohen law firm’s Christopher Leung, an attorney representing AATCLC and ASH, said he hopes the lawsuit “saves tens of thousands lives” and that it would correct “a terrible wrong perpetrated against the Black community.”

“Over 10 years ago, U.S. Congress directed the FDA and the Department of Health to quickly address the harm caused by menthol cigarettes,” said Leung, who specializes in public-interest litigations. “In that time the FDA and the Department of Health have done nothing. Our lawsuit compels these agencies to do what congress directed them to do.”

Tobaccofreekids.org has reported that 45,000 African Americans die each year from a smoking-related disease.

African American and Latino smokers —76.8% of whom smoke menthol cigarettes — likely prefer brands with menthol because the tobacco industry markets those products to young people and Black people, according to the FDA’s “Preliminary Scientific

Evaluation of the Possible Public Health Effects of Menthol Versus Nonmenthol Cigarettes” study of 2013.

Several studies have documented how major tobacco companies have target-marketed menthol cigarettes to African Americans, beginning in the 1950s. ] “By continuing to delay, the FDA and the U.S. government are failing to protect the health of U.S. Citizens, particularly, African Americans,” Kelsey Romeo-Stuppy, ASH’s managing attorney said during the virtual press conference. “The U.S. is also falling behind the global trend as countries around the world are increasingly banning menthol.”

Some African American leaders, including the Rev. Al Sharpton, have cautioned that making menthol cigarettes illegal will only create room for an underground market, which could expose Blacks to more criminal convictions and increase law enforcement surveillance — particularly in neighborhoods where there are more cases of police use of excessive force. Sharpton opposed a ban on menthol cigarettes in New York City last year that did not pass.

Menthol has been laced in tobacco products for almost 100 years. It is a substance naturally found in mint plants such as peppermint and spearmint, according to smokefree. gov. A synthetic version of the compound can also be manufactured.

Smokefree.gov is a website operated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) under the direction of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Smokefree. gov’s main objective is to assist efforts to reduce smoking rates in the United States, significantly among (certain) populations.

AATCLC educates the African American community about tobacco use and cessation, partners with community stakeholders, and public health agencies to inform and affect the direction of tobacco policy, practices, and priorities, as it affects the lives of Black people.

Founded in 1967 and based in Washington, D.C., ASH is the country’s oldest anti-tobacco organization, dedicated to reducing tobacco-related deaths down to zero.

ASH does not attack smokers. Its vision is to combat tobacco.

AATCLC and ASH are non-profit entities. The Public Health Law Center, an organization that collaborates with other groups to reduce and eliminate the use of tobacco, supports AATCLC and ASH’s lawsuit.

“This landmark litigation is the culmination of a decade of pioneering work by the health champions of the African American Tobacco Control Leadership and other Black-led organizations,” Doug Blanke, the Executive Director of Public Health Law Center, said in a written statement. “It has the potential to reverse the leading cause of death in the Black community.”

Big Mac Racism at McDonald’s Legal Notices

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By Whitney Gresham and Trevor W. Coleman II The Michigan Chronicle For more than 50 years, the McDonald’s Corporation took pride in branding itself as a socially conscious corporation particularly interested in doing business in abandoned and longignored Black communities while embracing racial diversity as a critical component of its corporate ethos.

It is a philosophy that helped create a popular narrative and also focus on story that the Chicago-based company was a progressive business and a place where African Americans could grow, find mentors, promotions and economic opportunity.

However, that image was shattered this year in an explosive lawsuit brought by two African American female executives who claim that under new leadership the company not only deliberately divested from the Black community and businesses, but hurled racist, sexist insults at them including referring to the employees as “niggers” and “angry Black women.”

Adding further injury to the grotesque insults, the women also claimed when they spoke up about such treatment they were demoted, and the perpetrators were promoted.

The shocking accusations have rocked the fast food industry especially since McDonald’s has long projected itself as a leader in diversity initiatives and as an aggressive recruiter and developer of African American talent and entrepreneurs.

But Domineca Neal and Vicki Guster-Hines, former vice presidents of the fast food chain, allege the discrimination and harassment started and progressive programs came to a screeching halt following a change in corporate leadership at McDonald’s in 2015. In their suit they said the new regime engaged in systemic racist and discriminatory behavior and civil rights abuses against them and other Black executives.

Among the allegations were that one top white male executive repeatedly referred to them as “angry Black women” and another who earlier had referred to Black employees as “niggers” shockingly being promoted rather than disciplined following a complaint filed against him for such racially abusive language.

In an exclusive interview with the Michigan Chronicle, Neal, a native Detroiter, said the harassment began shortly after the new CEO, British-born Steve Easterbrook, came on board in 2015 and initiated a corporate restructuring plan that deemphasized racial diversity and input from Black executives and franchisees. She and Guster-Hines were then demoted from vicepresident to senior director positions in July 2018.

They are seeking compensation following those demotions, claiming that they occurred as a result of discrimination.

“When they assumed leadership, it became very clear that African Americans stakeholders were no longer a strategic priority and the environment became toxic,” she said. “An example would be, you know, cutting advertising spending with African American agencies that impacted, of course, African American customers and local community organizations, and it didn’t make economic sense, it didn’t make good business sense.”

McDonald’s commitment to diversity was so widely known and promoted that it was regularly named among the Fortune 500 top corporations for diversity and inclusion and other companies would benchmark against them.

That reputation, however, is now threatened by the lawsuit scheduled to be heard in the Northern District Court of Illinois next month or early August. Besides Easterbrook; who was let go last year after it was revealed he was involved in an affair with a colleague in violation of company policy, also named in the suit are the current CEO, Chris Kempczinski, and Charles Strong, the chief field officer.

At its bare essence, the women allege in the suit the world’s largest fast-food restaurant chain has “declared war against the African American community.”

She noted her observation is based on its new business plan and corporate leadership’s attitudes toward African American employees and owner-operators who had the majority of restaurants in African American consumer markets and would be impacted, more so than others. “And that action coincided with a significant reduction in the number of African American owner-operators.”

When Neal and other executives brought these concerns to the attention of leadership, they began to retaliate against them. They defunded the company’s African American Diversity Council and it subsequently became dormant. The Council provided career development and a talent pipeline for African American employees. And soon the demotions started with African Americans being targeted for elimination such as herself and Guster-Hines, leaving no African Americans at Kempczinski’s leadership table during his tenure as president of McDonald’s USA to advocate on behalf of Black employees, franchise operators, or customers. The suit claims the number of African American executives in the top ranks of McDonald’s operations fell to seven in 2019 from 42 in 2014, the year before the new regime came on board.

The suit also alleges: • Before Easterbrook and Kempczinski’s arrival, African American consumers generated 20% of all revenue for McDonald’s US stores.

• Easterbrook and Kempczinski caused a decrease in advertising to attract African American patronage. The constant cutting in the funding of programs for building African American leadership resulted in the system-wide purchases by African Americans to decline by 6%.

• Nearly one out of three African American franchisees left the McDonald’s system since Easterbrook arrived which was disproportionate to the loss of non-African American franchisees.

But among Neal’s and Guster-Hines’ most shocking

But among Neal’s and Guster-Hines’ most shocking claims was the racist, sexist taunts they had to endure from the McDonald’s executives. The suit alleges that in 2005 Marty Ranft, a white vice president and general manager of the McDonald’s Ohio Region told Guster-Hines “You are a nigger like all the rest--you just believe you are better cause you are a smart one.” (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)

claims was the racist, sexist taunts they had to endure from the McDonald’s executives. The suit alleges that in 2005 Marty Ranft, a white vice president and general manager of the McDonald’s Ohio Region told Guster-Hines “You are a nigger like all the rest-you just believe you are better cause you are a smart one.”

She further alleges she reported Ranft to her supervisors and emphasized that she would not tolerate being called a nigger within McDonald’s or anywhere else. She said there was no response to her complaint from the corporation and Ranft was eventually promoted to Vice President of Development for the entire U.S. The suit also alleges in 2017 Strong, who supervised Neal and Guster-Hines and at the time responsible for 50% of the U.S. business and about 14,000 restaurants, instructed Neal not to consult with or take the advice of two African American women, Bridgette Hernandez and Barbara Calloway who had been promoted over Strong’s opposition. She alleged he stated, “We don’t need any of that Black woman’s attitude. They are too angry and aggressive.”

The next year in March 2018, Strong allegedly told GusterHines that five African American women, Chioke Elmore, Regina Johnson, Hernandez, Calloway and Neal, were “angry Black women” that “always seemed to be mad about something.”

He then allegedly asked Guster-Hines to explain the source of their anger.

The five women constituted 40% of female African American vice presidents as of March 2018. And were three out of five vice presidents reporting to Strong when he allegedly made these statements.

“So that was shocking that he was so openly discussing that with various stakeholders that we were angry Black women,” Neal said.

But what she, Guster-Hines, and others found even more jarring and demoralizing was after they shared Strong’s racist, sexist, and demeaning remarks to his superiors, he, too, was promoted and they were demoted.

“In shocking ways difficult to overstate, McDonald’s under Easterbrook and Kempczinski declared a war against the African American community,” the lawsuit alleges.

Neither the McDonald’s Corporation Media Relations Department or the lawyer representing them, Nigel F. Telman of Chicago, returned calls from the Chronicle by publication deadline.

However, in a statement to the media in January, issued at the filing of the suit, McDonald’s said it disagreed with the characterization of the company’s behavior. It said 45% of its corporate officers and all of its field vice-presidents are people of color.

“At McDonald’s, our actions are rooted in our belief that a diverse, vibrant, inclusive, and respectful company makes us stronger,” the company said. “While we disagree with characterizations in the complaint, we are currently reviewing it and will respond to the complaint accordingly.”

Carmen D. Caruso and Linda C. Chatman, the Chicagobased trial lawyers representing Neal and Guster-Hines said the behavior by McDonald’s executives constituted some of the most egregious acts of racial discrimination they have ever been confronted with in their careers.

“Under the guise of reorganizing the way they manage the franchise system, the restaurant system across the country, they basically decimated the ranks of the African American leadership and employees,” Caruso said. “That to me is one of

the most glaring act of intentional discrimination that we saw in the case. And we lay those numbers out in greater detail in the complaint itself. But that was very, very, serious discrimination in employment, and it’s over and above a lot of other things that came before and other things that have come after, but that’s kind of a centerpiece of the discrimination against the executive employees, including Domineca and Vicki.”

Chatman agreed and said that they are also arguing that McDonald’s will try to argue that their promotion and demotion policies are neutral because they are based on data, not race. The racially hostile work environment had a particularly destructive impact upon Black employees, including Domineca and Vicki.

“The crux of it is that, under Easterbrook and now Kempczinski, McDonald’s is not interested in, or focused upon, Black customers, Black franchisees or Black executives, as evidenced by how they decimated their ranks at the corporate level,” she said.

“Domineca and Vicki were forced to witness McDonald’s blatantly deemphasize Black people and the effect upon them was terrible,” Chatman said. “I mean, how are they supposed to work in an environment that is openly hostile to people who look like them.”

Neal said when Kempczinski was told about concerns that there weren’t any Blacks on his U.S. President executive team, he said he can the ask questions “the numbers don’t matter.”

“But, the numbers do matter,” Chatman said Caruso said the bottom line is that they are alleging their clients were victims of intentional discrimination and it came from the very top of the McDonald’s organization in the person of Steve Easterbrook and Christopher Kempczinski.

“It was not an accident that all this happened to Domineca and Vicki, and other African Americans in the company,” he said.

Neal, reflecting on her time at McDonald’s recalled how happy she was to join the organization in 2011 precisely because of its reputation for embracing the African American community.

“And we embraced them, and that was shown through the loyalty to the brand, the representation of African American talent at all levels throughout the organization and the opportunities to create wealth for the African American owner-operators which was also very inspiring and a representation of their diversity and inclusion values,” she said.

Now, after leaving the corporation in March, Neal still finds the swift turnabout in the company’s attitude and values – after nearly 50 years of progress – disconcerting. She said the whole “angry Black woman” incident felt as if she was living in an episode of Mad Men. She is left to wonder how sincere the corporation was about diversity and inclusion in the first place. She noted things would never have had gotten out of hand as it did if the Board of Directors had come down on the executives. But they didn’t.

“It was very disheartening, heartbreaking, and shocking because I think that we’re at a stage in society, where we know that’s language that is racial in nature and stereotypical and used in a manner to quiet African American women from being able to comfortably bring their authentic selves to the workplace,” Neal said.

(Part 2 of Big Mac Attack on Blacks: Black McDonald’s Owner-Operators Caught between a Rock and Hard Place as Black Executives Fight for Fairness and Corporation Demands Loyalty)

A4

THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER

Entertainment

Thursday, July 9, 2020

“Hamilton” Review

By Dwight Brown NNPA News Wire Film Critic If history classes were this entertaining, there would be lines around the block to get in.

For many, Hamilton is an enigma. It was the toast of Broadway. Attention-grabbing scenes were performed during the Tony Awards Show. But if you weren’t willing to spend a fortune for tickets, you‘ve probably never seen this groundbreaking musical.

What many have seen, on TV, is writer/composer LinManuel Miranda working the late-night talk show circuit, hawking his performance in films (Mary Poppins Returns), sharing his rocky experience staging Hamilton in Puerto Rico or singing duets with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show. Still, it’s hard to put his genius into perspective if you haven’t seen this Pulitzer Prize-winning young, gifted and Latino writer onstage. Finally, for many, the Disney+ streaming debut of the famed Broadway show puts Miranda in context.

Wanna know why Daveed Diggs (Blindspotting) is so hip, Leslie Odom Jr. (Harriet) is smooth, Renée Elise Goldsberry (Waves) is graceful and Anthony Ramos (A Star Is Born) so cool? Now you can find out, because they are all children of the mothership, Hamilton.

From the 1700s into the 1800s, Alexander Hamilton (Miranda) was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America and a financial wizard who became the first Secretary of the Treasury. His fiscal strategies propelled President George Washington’s (Chris Jackson, When They See Us) economic policies. That’s after the two had very fundamental roles in the American Revolutionary War, which shocked England and King George (Jonathan

Groff, Frozen, Frozen II). Hamilton’s views fit neatly into the Federalist Party, which is contrary to the goals of the Democratic-Republican Party run by President Thomas Jefferson (Diggs).

Hamilton has an alternately friendly and testy relationship with Jefferson’s vice president, Aaron Burr (Odom Jr.). Founding Father and fourth president James Madison (Okieriete Onaodowan, TV’s Station 19)) is on Jefferson’s side, too. So, who’s got Hamilton’s back? His wife Eliza (Phillipa Soo, TV’s The Code), his son Philip (Ramos) and sisters-in-law Angelica (Goldsberry) and Peggy Schuyler (Jasmine Cephas Jones, The Photograph).

Even with these people in his corner, Hamilton has to do some things on his own. Like on a fateful day when he travels to New Jersey and stands on a cliff overlooking the Hudson River. After years of fighting adversaries, playing politics and skullduggery, there he is in a duel instigated by remarks he made over dinner about Burr. That slight leads to one of the most infamous and senseless tragedies in American history.

Inspired by the book “Alexander Hamilton,” by Ron Chernow, Lin-Manuel Miranda turns Hamilton’s political/personal life into a compelling history lesson.

He reimagines the time, people and places in poignant dialogue, catchy raps, evocative lyrics and melodies strong enough to bear the weight of time. Miranda’s trail-blazing mix of hip hop, rap, jazz, R&B and Broadway music is so enveloping and astonishing it won a 2014 Tony Award for Best Score. Broadway’s highest honor was also extended to the entire show, the direction, book, leading roles, featured roles, costumes, orchestrations and such.

What’s on view in this streaming edition was shot from

the Richard Rodgers Theatre on Broadway in 2016. There’s a live audience hooting and hollering as six observant but inobtrusive cameras (cinematographer Declan Quinn) eye the cast from stage right, left, center, back and above. As you sit wide-eyed, you’re getting a front row seat that often feels like it is positioned in the middle of the stage.

The shine from the green satin coat worn by Hamilton (costume designer Paul Tazewel, Harriet)l) is enough to blind you. Sparse sets (production designer David Korins) add but don’t subtract from the near empty stage, which functions as a blank canvass. In 2h 40 min, with one intermission, 46 numbers with dancing, singing and spoken word arise. A whole lot of facts and figures roll by too, barely giving you time to breathe. There is no lag, no soft spot, nothing you’d want to see done differently. Scenes melt into each other seamlessly (editor Jonah Moran).

Thomas Kail (Fosse/Verdon) directed the stage play and this screen adaptation. The hardest part of his journey, initially, must have been figuring out how to blend the music (vocals to pleading strings and whimsical piano), choreography (Andy Blankenbuehler), lighting (Howell Binkley) and performances into a discernible whirlwind.

The homework Kail did in the theater pays off on the screen. This rendition is as tight as any literal, one-locationonly screen adaption of a Broadway play can be. Yes, you’re missing that magical, intangible atmosphere that a cast shares with an audience who is in the same room. But that’s it. When Les Miserables headed to the screen, it used fairly extensive location shots. Kail gets that much power out of his footage, and he never left the theater.

The melodies are striking in part because Miranda has an ear for modern music, tones and harmonies that few

other theatrical composers have. The way he‘s written the songs, the singers have the chance to do embellishments and styling that seem like they were ripped off a pop music chart. And the words are even more profound: “I may not live to see our glory. But I’ll gladly join the fight. When our children tell our story, they’ll tell the story of tonight.”

Combined, the tunes, lyrics and history leaps out at you in flourishes, images, innuendoes, proclamations, rivalries, love triangles, betrayals, loathing, infidelities, lust, fear, anger, happiness and a dread that leads to a cataclysmic ending.

Hard to focus on one specific performance. Part of this film’s magic comes from the beguiling aura of the entire ensemble’s collective work. Odom croons effortlessly.

Diggs is the most electric. Ramos is subtle. Goldsberry and Soo very winsome. Jackson bold. Miranda should take the deepest bow. Ringleader, Svengali, composer—and his acting and singing are as good as his writing. Plus, watching a screen full of brown and black faces reappropriating a piece of history perpetuated largely by white men, is as forward-thinking, visually and socially, as anyone can take it.

Who knows when Broadway will open again? Who knows when national tours will continue their journeys?

Take this golden opportunity to see the most innovative and rewarding theatrical experience of the 21st century.

You can do it from the comfort of your home, where you can “Raise a glass to freedom” and no one will know how many drinks you had.

Prepared to be wowed by rebranded patriotism!

Kaepernick, ESPN Team Up for Documentary Series About His Life

By Rob Maaddi Associated Press Colin Kaepernick will be featured in a documentary series produced by ESPN Films as part of a first-look deal with The Walt Disney Co. The deal between Kaepernick’s production arm, Ra Vision Media, and The Walt Disney Co. was announced Monday. The partnership will focus on telling scripted and unscripted stories that explore race, social injustice and the quest for equity. It also will provide a platform to showcase the work of directors and producers of color.

“I am excited to announce this historic partnership with Disney across all of its platforms to elevate Black and Brown directors, creators, storytellers, and producers, and to inspire the youth with compelling and authentic perspectives,” Kaepernick said in a statement. “I look forward to sharing the docuseries on my life story, in addition to many other culturally impactful projects we are developing.”

Despite being exiled from the NFL since the 2016 season when he took a knee during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality, Kaepernick still wants to play.

A person close to the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback told The Associated Press that Kaepernick is in excellent shape and ready to play but hasn’t received any calls.

Following the nationwide protests in the aftermath of

George Floyd’s death, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell apologized to players for not listening to them earlier, encouraged them to protest peacefully and denounced racism.

Kaepernick, who became the face of a Nike campaign in 2018, will work closely with The Undefeated, which is expanding its portfolio across Disney, to develop stories from the perspective of communities of color.

His deal with The Walt Disney Co. will extend across all Disney platforms, including Walt Disney Television, ESPN, Hulu, Pixar and The Undefeated.

“During this unprecedented time, The Walt Disney Co. remains committed to creating diverse and inclusive content that resonates and matters,” said Bob Iger, Disney’s executive chairman. “Colin’s experience gives him a unique perspective on the intersection of sports, culture and race, which will undoubtedly create compelling stories that will educate, enlighten and entertain, and we look forward to working with him on this important collaboration.”

The docuseries chronicling Kaepernick’s journey and his last five years is the first project in development.

“Developing exceptional storytelling told through a wide array of voices is at the core of who we are at ESPN,” ESPN President Jimmy Pitaro said. “Colin has had a singular path as both an athlete and an activist, and, as the nation continues to confront racism and social injustice, it feels particularly relevant to hear Colin’s voice on his evolution and motivations.”

In this Nov. 16, 2019, file photo, free agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick arrives for a workout for NFL football scouts and media in Riverdale, Ga. Colin Kaepernick will be featured in an exclusive docuseries produced by ESPN Films as part of a first-look deal with The Walt Disney Co. The deal between Kaepernick’s production arm, Ra Vision Media, and The Walt Disney Company was announced Monday, July 6, 2020. (AP Photo/Todd Kirkland, File)

Williams, whose transformed R&B, pop, and gospel music over her extraordinary five-decade career, joins Stephanie Mills, Anthony Hamilton, Carlos Santana, and Salt-N-Pepa in a star-studded lineup of musical talent appearing at the first virtual conference in the 193-year history of the Black Press and the 80th anniversary of the NNPA.

Legendary Singer Deniece Williams Joins Big Stars at Virtual Conference

Deniece Williams has produced No. 1 pop and R&B hits like “When You Love Somebody,” “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle,” “Free,” “Black Butterfly,” and “Let’s Hear it For the Boy.” (Photo: Courtesy Deniece Williams)

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent Iconic four-time Grammy Award winner and 12-time nominee, Deniece Williams, will sit for a live interview with BlackPressUSA at 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 8, during the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s (NNPA) virtual convention.

Williams, whose transformed R&B, pop, and gospel music over her extraordinary five-decade career, joins Stephanie Mills, Anthony Hamilton, Carlos Santana, and Salt-N-Pepa in a star-studded lineup of musical talent appearing at the first virtual conference in the 193-year history of the Black Press and the 80th anniversary of the NNPA. The sports, race, and culture expert, Jemele Hill will also appear live during the conference.

Supremes legend Mary Wilson will appear via a special pre-recorded performance, and Raggae Icon Ziggy Marley has also provided a pre-recorded musical treat.

Williams has produced No. 1 pop and R&B hits like “When You Love Somebody,” “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle,” “Free,” “Black Butterfly,” and “Let’s Hear it For the Boy.” During a recent “Black Lives Matter” demonstration,

Williams’ “Black Butterfly,” earned selection as one of the Top 10 Black Empowerment Songs of all-time by veteran music writer Chuck Arnold.

A Gary, Indiana, native, Williams was weaned on the late, great Minnie’s soul stylings.

Riperton, who would later become a trusted mentor and friend to Williams, according to her biography posted on Williams’ website.

Williams took a circuitous route to musical stardom.

She attended Morgan State University in Baltimore to become a registered nurse and also worked as a ward clerk at Mercy Hospital in Chicago. Later, Williams worked for a telephone company while singing part-time in clubs.

“It was when I landed a part-time job singing at a club at the Casino Royal, that I realized how much I enjoyed singing and performing, this was the pivotal moment in my life and where my music career began,” Williams explained.

In a 2019 review of her early smash album, “This is Niecy,” the late and great music columnist Rashod Ollison wrote that Williams was one of the best female singer-songwriters to emerge in the mid-’70s with a classic approach that generally sidestepped trends.

“She became a pop star in the ’80s with the era-

defining ‘Let’s Hear It for the Boy,’ a catchy number from the ‘Footloose’ soundtrack,” Ollison wrote.

“But long before that, she poured womanly intelligence into beautiful music,” he proclaimed.

The musical roots on “This Is Niecy” snake through jazz and gospel, an irrevocably black approach, Ollison noted.

But Williams’ unflinching look at the wonder and disillusionment of romance makes it universal, all rendered in a flutelike soprano that evokes very little, if any, gutventing pain. Even songs of soured love beam a ray of sunlight, Ollison continued in his praise.

With only eight songs averaging about four minutes each, Ollison proclaimed that “This Is Niecy” is a concise musical portrait. The opener, “It’s Important to Me,” is one of those zesty numbers with exclamatory horns found on Earth, Wind & Fire albums with White shadowing Williams on lead vocals. “’That’s What Friends Are For,’ not to be confused with the Dionne Warwick charity hit of the ’80s, is a charmer with shifting tempos that mingle girl-next-door sweetness with womanly allure, a Williams hallmark,” Ollison wrote.

Thursday, July 9, 2020

Sports

THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER A5

Dodgers Finally Get MLB Schedule

By Earl Heath Contributing Sports Writer After months of negotiating between Major League Baseball and the Players Association the Los Angeles Dodgers and all other teams finally have a schedule. The Dodgers will open the regular season at home July 23 with a four-game series against their rival the San Francisco Giants. The game will be televised on ESPN with the first pitch at 7:08.

“Its nice to open up at home with a team you’re familiar with,” said Manager Dave Roberts.

Of the 60 games the Dodgers will play 40 division games against the Giants (seven home, three road), D-backs (three home, seven road), Padres (four home, six road) and Rockies (six home, four road). They will play the Angels six times in 2020 (three at Dodger Stadium, three at Angel Stadium), the Astros (two home, two road), Athletics (three home), Mariners (two home, two road) and Rangers (three road).

This will be the first season in which games will be televised

by SportsNet LA on DirecTV will have the start time for home games moved up from 6:40 p.m. to 7:10 p.m. PT. Dodger Newcomer Mookie Betts talked about how things heading into the season: “It’s a little tough, you don’t get to interact with your teammates like you want, but we’ll manage.

Every one’s getting ready were working diligently to get our skills prepared.” The former MVP is ready to get things going with his new team.

The Dodgers will play exhibition games at Dodger Stadium on July 19 and 20 against Arizona and July 21 against the Angels.

The Dodgers also announced: “Based on the health circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic” along with governmental directives prohibiting large gatherings, Dodger Stadium will be unable to host fans at the start of the season.

At this time, the Dodgers are providing ticketholders with an account credit for 2020 tickets, parking and All-Star Week events.

Dodger Newcomer Mookie Betts preps for the new season beginning July 23 “Every one’s getting ready were working diligently to get our skills prepared.”

(Courtesy Photo)

Maya Moore Makes Her Greatest Assist off the Basketball Court

WNBA star Maya Moore greats Jonathan Irons sporting a 23 ENGINEERED T-Shirt after release from Jefferson City Correctional Center. Moore who wears 23 when on the court had heavy involvement in Irons early release from a 50-year sentence. (Photo: Julia Hansen)

By Cameron Buford Whatsgoodinsports.com When you think of sacrifice what comes to your mind?

When you think of giving back Christian based service what comes to mind? Now imagine walking away from a Hall of Fame career, in the prime of your career, to lend a hand to someone you’ve only recently met.

In a time when much of society has chosen to live by the phrase “what’s in it for me?” this Jefferson City, Missouri native and basketball phenom, Maya Moore, lives by the Martin Luther King Jr. credo, “The true neighbor will risk his position, his prestige, and even his life for the welfare of others.”

Maya Moore did just that, risking her position and her career for a fellow Jefferson City native. Moore, an advocate for prosecutorial reform in the American justice system, met Irons while on prison ministries visit at Jefferson City correctional center years ago. No one could’ve been happier with her decision than Jonathan Irons, who was blessed with Maya’s Moore’s sacrifice and service. Moore believed iron was wrongly convicted and sentenced to fifty years in prison at sixteen years of age and felt led to help prove his innocence.

Moore’s commitment to Irons’ prison release led her to take a sabbatical from her world-renowned basketball career in 2019. She sacrificed her chances to win a third Olympic medal, adding to her Liga Femenina Championship and three WBCA Championships.

Moore is likely the most decorated female basketball player of her time and her accomplishments on the basketball court are staggering. She is a four-time Champion of the WNBA, a WNBA Finals MVP, a league MVP, and six-time WNBA AllStar. As a three-time WNBA All-Star game MVP, she has also been on the All-Defensive Team twice, and she’s been a WNBA scoring champion, a steals champion and a was WNBA Rookie of the year winner, her first year in the league.

In addition to being a two-time Euroleague Champion, she is also a two-time Naismith Award winner, a two-time John Wooden Award winner, two-time AP Player of the Year Award winner, along with being named USBWA Women’s Player of the Year Award winner. In college, Maya led here her University of Connecticut Huskies to seventy-eight consecutive wins while winning one hundred fifty games and only losing four games in

her college career, then becoming the first female to be signed to the Jordan Brand.

Literary essayist Samuel Johnson once stated, “The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.” This was the exact case with Moore helping Irons, who could only offer his gratitude in return. Having served twenty-two years of a fifty-year sentence for his convictions for burglary and assault, Judge Green granted Jonathan Irons’ petition for a writ of habeas corpus in March of this year, noting the case against Irons was “very weak and circumstantial at best.”

Missouri judge Daniel Green granted the writ of habeas petition after identifying that the fingerprints report had never been turned over to Irons’ defense team. Furthermore, it was determined the prints found at the crime scene belonged to neither Irons nor the victim of the burglary and assault. Irons was subsequently released from custody on July 1, 2020.

“This day has been a long time coming,” Maya said once the verdict was rendered. “We are just so grateful and thankful to God and to everybody who has played a role in bringing justice.”

As for Maya missing basketball, she went on to say “Basketball has not been foremost in my mind. I’ve been able to rest, and connect with people around me, actually be in their presence after all of these years on the road, and I’ve been able to be there for Jonathan.”

I share this story because I believe Maya Moore should be applauded for her sacrifice, acts of kindness, and thinking about how she could positively impact someone else’s life rather than her own. When asked about how others can get involved, Maya Moore pointed out, Athletes for Impact, was a resource she’d partnered with. Win for Justice, was also referenced as an additional resource for athletes and citizens wanting to get involved and supporting a great cause.

Kindly share your thoughts on Maya Moore’s unselfishness and willingness to put basketball aside for a greater cause by reaching out to me on Twitter @whatsgoodnsport or forward your thoughts to info@whatsgoodinsports.com. Additionally, be sure to subscribe to our weekly “Voice of the Fans Podcast” which is available for you on most podcasting platforms; Apple and Google Podcasts including Spotify, TuneIn, and iHeart Radio. As always, Thank You for making our voice, your choice!

A6

Local

THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER

Thursday, July 9, 2020