Vol. 51 No. 2
April 30, 2020 -May 6, 2020
Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them and these will continue till they have resisted either with words or blows or words or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they suppress. —Fredrick Douglass (1849)
Black-Owned Newspapers and Media Companies Are Small Businesses Too! Financial Support is Essential to Delivery of These Essential Services
Publisher’s Corner Publisher of The San Bernardino AMERICAN News
Email: sbamericannews@gmail.com
Clifton Harris Editor in Chief
Opinion: Coronavirus and Your Mental Health Dr. Lenore Tate | Special to California Black Media
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia
The Black Press continues to tackle domestic and global issues, including the novel coronavirus pandemic and its effects on all citizens – particularly African Americans. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA Publishers of Black-owned community newspapers, including Janis Ware of the Atlanta Voice, Cheryl Smith of Texas Metro News, Chris Bennett of the Seattle Medium, Denise Rolark Barnes of the Washington Informer, and Brenda Andrews of the New Journal & Guide in Virginia, are desperately trying to avoid shuttering operations. On Wednesday, April 29, Rolark Barnes, Andrews, Bennett, and Ware will participate in a special livestream broadcast to discuss how their publications are enduring as the pandemic rages on. In a heartfelt and straight-tothe-point op-ed published recently, Ware explained to her tens of thousands of readers that The Atlanta Voice has boldly covered the issues that affect the African American community. “Our founders, Mr. J. Lowell Ware and Mr. Ed Clayton, were committed to the mission of being a voice to the voiceless with the
motto of, ‘honesty, integrity and truth,’” Ware wrote in an article that underscores the urgency and importance of African Americanowned newspapers during the coronavirus pandemic. Ware has established a COVID-19 news fund and aggregated the Atlanta Voice’s novel coronavirus coverage into a special landing page within its website. To remain afloat, Ware and her fellow publishers know that financial backing and support will be necessary. Following the spread of the pandemic, many advertisers have either paused their ad spending or halted it altogether. And other streams of revenue have also dried up, forcing Black-owned publications to find ways to reduce spending and restructure what were already historically tight budgets. With major companies like Ruth Chris Steakhouse and Pot Belly Sandwiches swooping in and hijacking stimulus money aimed at small businesses, the Black
Press — and community-based publishing in general — has been largely left out of the $350 billion stimulus and Paycheck Protection Program packages. To make matters worse, there are no guarantees that a second package, specifically focused on small business, will benefit Black publishers or other businesses owned by people of color. Publications like the New Journal and Guide, Washington Informer (which recently celebrated its 55th anniversary) and the Atlanta Voice have been essential to the communities they serve — and the world at large for 193 years. Unfortunately for some publishers, the impact of COVID19 has brought business operations to a near halt. While none are thriving, some publishers have developed ingenious and innovative ways to continue operations. “Dear World, the entire planet is feeling the devastation of the
coronavirus pandemic,” Cheryl Smith of Texas Metro News wrote to her readers. “We must be concerned about ourselves, as well as others. You may be aware that the media is considered ‘essential.’ So, guess what? We have a responsibility, a moral obligation to use this status to be a source of information, support, and inspiration, just as we are at all other times,” Smith wrote. Smith’s statements echo the more than 200 African Americanowned newspapers in the NNPA family. The majority of the publications are owned and operated by women, and virtually all are family dynasties so rarely seen in the black community. The contributions of the Black Press remain indelibly associated with the fearlessness, determination, and success of Black America. Those contributions include the works of Frederick Douglass, WEB DuBois, Patrice Lumumba, Kwame Nkrumah, and former NNPA Chairman Dr. Carlton Goodlett. Douglas, who helped slaves escape to the North while working with the Underground Railroad, established the abolitionist paper, “The North Star,” in Rochester, New York. He developed it into the most influential black anti-slavery newspaper published during the Antebellum era. The North Star denounced slavery and fought for the emancipation of women and other oppressed groups with a motto of “Right is of no Sex – Truth is of no Color; God is the Father of us all, and we are all brethren.” DuBois, known as the father of modern Pan Africanism, (continued on page 3)
With Over 50,000 Dead, Civil Rights Leaders Urge African Americans to Remain at Home By Lauren Victoria Burke, NNPA Newswire Contributor With the coronavirus death toll passing 50,000 during the last week in April, Black leaders in the U.S. have taken to warning their communities of the danger of opening the country back up too soon. The coronavirus has devastated the Black community in Detroit and all of the fatalities in Richmond, Va. are African Americans. Though the numbers are showing signs of slowing down Black leaders are taking no chances. On Friday, April 24 a group of civil rights leaders encouraged African Americans to “stay-athome” shortly after the Governor of Georgia decided to lift the state’s stay-at-home order. The CDC guidelines outline that if COVID-19 stats remain down for 14 days straight the state can reopen. Many Governors are following those guidelines. Melanie Campbell, President of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, joined a group
Several Republican governors appear to be taking their marching orders from President Donald Trump who is anxious to re-open the country economically while not referencing the over 50,000 dead Americans from COVID-19. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA) of Black faith and civil rights leaders and the heads of the largest historically Black religious denominations to encourage African Americans to “stay at home” until there is evidence that it’s safe to go out. A letter authored by Rev. Al Sharpton (NAN), Rev. Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson (CNBC), Sherrilyn Ifill (NAACP, LDF), Marc Morial (NUL), Derrick Johnson (NAACP), Melanie
Campbell (BWR), Kristen Clarke (Lawyers’ Committee) encouraged people to stay at home. “We, the undersigned, have joined together to state our unequivocal and firm opposition to the premature effort of governors to willfully re-open their states. The actions of these governors, which demonstrate reckless disregard for the health and life of Black residents, compel
us to speak out and take action to protect ourselves,” the letter began. “We encourage all Black churches and businesses to remain closed during this critical period. The denominations and independent churches represented in this statement, which comprise a combined membership of more than 25 million people and more than 30,000 congregations, intend to remain closed and to continue to worship virtually, with the same dedication and love that we brought to the church. The civil rights organizations represented are working tirelessly to protect our communities from injustice and inequality as this country responds to the pandemic,” the letter added. Several Republican governors appear to be taking their marching orders from President Donald Trump who is anxious to re-open the country economically while (continued on page 2)
Lenore A. Tate, Ph.D What happened to living for the weekend? Where did hump day go? When will sports return? When will these kids return to school? Where can I buy toilet paper? When will life return to normal? When will I be able to return to work? These and so many other questions have been looming in our consciousness (minds) for more than six weeks. We all know that the Coronavirus has significantly impacted our lives. At the beginning of this pandemic, it was rumored that the Black community was not being impacted, but within weeks we witnessed many African Americans being diagnosed, treated and dying due in part to health disparities. Very simply, the lack of access to health care, some living without health insurance or being minimally insured, having diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and the impact of racism and cultural biases in medicine are just some of the factors that have impacted our physical and mental health outcomes. Fears of transmitting the Coronavirus have most of us unable to escape the grim reminders of the deaths and infections that have touched African Americans. We know that as the virus increases, so does our anxiety. We begin to worry or become concern if we or one of our loved ones or friends will be infected. Most of us are unable to be tested and if we are tested, many of us are concerned about the slow turn around in obtaining results. Testing in underserved communities is slim to none right now. During these times, it is important to try to stay in the present and not think about the worst thing that could happen. Try to figure out exactly what and how you are feeling (e.g. scared, stressed, fearful, sad, helpless, or angry). Anxiety and feeling distressed is our body’s biological reaction to a threat and the Coronavirus is a real threat especially when we are not able to control our daily lives. Some symptoms that you might pay attention to include: change in sleep pattern, overeating, over
drinking, increasing drug use or unhealthy behaviors, feeling irritable, or wanting to just escape. For the most part, we are social animals and connecting with others helps us thrive. Below is some common sense, easy to follow recommendations. 1. Maintain a schedule for the household with flexibility. 2. Stay up to date on all COVID-19 information. Listen to the doctors and scientists. Limit the amount of COVID-19 news you watch! 3. Focus on positive aspects of your life and things that you can control. 4. Seek social support from family members and/or friends and maintain social connections (e.g. Facetime, Zoom, Skype, Calls, making Tik Toks, etc.) 5. Engage in relaxation techniques and exercise. 6.
Eat healthy.
7. Feeling overwhelmed, seek support from a mental health provider. In today’s world, you don’t even have to leave your home, Tele Psych is available. Telepsychology will allow you to access a licensed provider in the comfort of your home or other personal space. It is convenient, prevents missed appoints and may encourage those in our community concerned about the stigma of mental health to seek the help they need to “rise up” to life’s challenges facing us today. Lenore A. Tate, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Sacramento, California. She has previously worked as Principal Consultant to the California Assembly and Senate Health Committees as well as the Senate Office of Research. Dr. Tate has also served as a university professor in Texas, Arizona and California. She specializes in neuropsychology, geriatrics and behavioral health. For further information, see www.Lenoretate.com or email at: DRTATE20@gmail.com.