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Vol. 62 No. 17
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Thursday, April 28, 2022
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Serving San Diego County’s African & African American Communities 62 Years
MINORITY HEAL H MONTH VOICE & VIEWPOINT SPECIAL ISSUE
See Pages 3-16
Lakeside Hate Crime Incident Continues Voice & Viewpoint Staff Writer
I am my brother’s keeper day! SEE PAGE 24
1st Annual Family Function Resource Fair SEE PAGE 19
The continued outpouring of protest over the recent stabbing of a 16 year old Black girl by a 16 year old White neighbor, with his girlfriend and family hurling racist comments during the incident, continues to be of great concern to African Americans living in Lakeside and those from around San Diego County. Local racial and social justice groups and activists came together to demand justice for the girl, who was left with a collapsed lung, punctured kidney and untreated stab wounds until treated at Mercy Hospital and sent home under questionable circumstances.
The White male teenager has been arrested and charged with attempted murder and commission of a Hate Crime. He pleaded not guilty during a preliminary court appearance. As of Monday of this week, his 15 year old White girlfriend has also been arrested and charged with attempted murder and commission of a Hate Crime. See LAKESIDE page 21
Local racial and social justice groups and activists came together in Lakeside, CA on April 19, 2022 to demand justice for the 16-year old girl who was victim to a violent hate crime the week prior that left her with a collapsed lung, punctured kidney and untreated stab wounds. PHOTO: Voice & Viewpoint.
Federal Clemency and Pardons FOR 78 PEOPLE Pres. Biden details new steps for Criminal Justice Reform
PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER & Covid-19 Updates SEE PG. 19
Covid-19 cases in southeast 11,561
92102
18,099
92105
17,318
92113
19,803
92114
14,523
92115
SOURCE: County of San Diego a/o 4/20/22
9,390
92139
Yes, Racism Is Making You Sick
The first Black Secret Service Agent to work on presidential detail, Abraham Bolden, was among those pardoned by Pres. Joe Biden. PHOTO: Courtesy of NNPA
Your Doctor Is Making it Worse One in four Black adults age 60+ report experiencing racial discrimination from health professionals
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Sr. National Correspondent President Joe Biden announced he’s contributing members of their communities is one of the most effecusing his clemency powers for the tive ways to reduce recidivism and first time, issuing commutations for decrease crime,” Biden stated. 75 drug offenders. Biden also issued three pardons, including to the first The president added that those receivBlack Secret Service agent to work ing clemency had “demonstrated their on a presidential detail, who had long commitment to rehabilitation and are professed his innocence. striving every day to give back and contribute to their communities.” “Helping those who served their time return to their families and become See REFORM page 21
African American Museum & Cultural Center
Coming to Riverside
By Dianne Anderson
Not for lack of talent, the inland empire never had a gallery where Black artists could gather to exhibit their works, bask in their creativity, or otherwise have a place to call home – until now. In the works, the Charles A. Bibbs African American Museum & Cultural Center will serve to house and preserve renowned and emerging artworks. Janice Rooths said the center is currently in the planning stages, but there is no telling how big it could grow.
By Alexa Spencer
PHOTO: Kindel Media/Pexels
Dealing with discriminatory and dehumanizing laws and policies, as well as being treated in a racist manner by individuals, is a fact of life for Black folks in the United States. The long-term health effects of prejudice and oppression range from higher rates of chronic diseases to higher infant and maternal mortality rates — and it’s not a secret. The impact of racism on health is so well known in medical circles that in 2020 the American Academy of Family Physicians wrote a letter to the White House saying that “it is time for the United States to officially recognize racism as a public health issue.” So what happens when the very healthcare system that acknowledges the negative health effects of racism further perpetuates the social evil Black folks are trying to heal from? A new report from the Commonwealth Fund reveals that doctors’ offices and other healthcare providers don’t always treat Black people with dignity and respect. According to the report, one in four Black and Latinx adults, age 60 and older, reported that they’ve experienced racial discrimination from health professionals. These providers either treated them unfairly or didn’t take their health concerns seriously because of their race or ethnicity. See RACISM page 21
“We want the entire region to know that it’s coming,” said Rooths, president of the center’s board. Last August, the center received nonprofit status, and pending approvals, the organizers are preparing to launch by late 2023. When completed, it will showcase regional creative outlets, but also is expected to attract African American influences across the spectrum, and around the world. Aside from the museum’s permanent collections, the cultural center will spotlight various aspects of visual art, ancient modern, or futuristic, as well as traveling collections. One creative concept includes the Nile River to the Tree of Life, possibly with water running under it with fish. “[It’s to] have a sense of where we came from and how all of us are the branches off that, the creativity that our Black community can bring to the world, and that we at “the Bibbs” can help cultivate in the world,” said Rooths, who also serves many positions in the community, including Riverside Branch NAACP, and as a Human Relations Commissioner.
PHOTO: Courtesy of Precinct Reporter Group News
She said the area is long overdue for a world-class museum, an incubator for artists in residence program, as well as programs for junior artists K-12. The idea came about two years ago when Mr. Bibbs received a Riverside City Council award and met with the city manager. At first, the vision was to create a Black college in Riverside. They started calling the project “the Bibbs” to house both culture and art, along with an HBCU affiliation. “We did the reverse of that [to] first incorporate the HBCU artists in residence program. Right now we’re in talks with Riverside Community College to provide credited coursework, from that maybe grow out into a college with more emerging artists in residence,” Rooths said. See MUSEUM page 27
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