Volume 54 No.5: April 3rd - April 10th 2020

The Virus &

The Coronavirus - WHAT SYmPTOMS TO LOOK FOR How To Prevent (See Page 2)

Advocate The California

Volume 54 No. 5: April 3rd - April 10th, 2020

Fresno’s African American Community Newspaper

To Fresno’s Black People:

Where

ARE Y’alls Masks?

“Fresno County Caronavirus cases jumped over 700% in one month. On March 3rd there were 13 cases, as of April 1st there were 96 Coronavirus cases. Also, Black folks must now have realized that the medical industry is as racially bias as the legal system and they will let your family die!”

Mark Kimber, Publisher

African Americans Are At Greater Risk Of Death From Coronavirus Take this COVID-19 as serious as a heart attack, says Dr. Georges Benjamin In an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, schools and universities shut down, and concerts and conventions have been canceled. The NBA suspended the remainder of

To mask, or not to mask?

That is the question.

And it needs an answer, YES, right away.

Look at photographs or video of people walking in the Czech Republic or Hong Kong, two countries where the Covid-19 epidemic appears to be contained, and almost everyone is wearing a face mask. In the United States, by contrast, only a minority (Continued on Page A2)

How to Make A Mask Yourself

Do-it-yourself face masks are not as effective as medical grade masks at preventing the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

But if you need a mask to go out or to

care for someone who is sick, DIY might be your only option.

Masks come in many shapes, and tutorials abound on the Internet, including no-sew versions.

Here is a simple mask (Continued on Page A4)

Masks To Protect Prisoners

By Deena Zaru, ABC News One of the largest single-site jails in the US grapples with 134 coronavirus cases The cases of COVID-19 skyrocketed over the

weekend at the Cook County Jail.

The criminal justice reform organization founded by rappers Meek Mill and Jay-Z is sending personal protective equipment

(Continued on Page A7)

COMMENTARY:

Dear Black People:

Coronavirus Will Kill You

By Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., NNPA Newswire Culture and Entertainment Editor Melanin is not Vibranium and America isn’t Wakanda even in the Marvel Universe, Actor Idris Elba so why some black is in isolation after people, who are often contracting the disproportionately Coronavirus impacted by (AKA: The Rona) medical conditions for a myriad of reasons, believe they are immune to coronavirus is beyond me? For those who think Idris Elba isn’t “black, black,” the British-born brother’s parents are from Sierra-Leone and Ghana meaning he is African in addition to being a black Brit which makes him unequivocally “black, black.”

Scientists at the Pasteur Institute in Dakar, Senegal, research the new coronavirus. Photo by SEYLLOU/AFP via Getty Images

Coronavirus or Covid-19 or “rona” as some are calling it will kill you. You may have seen some of the conspiracy theories, myths or outright lies floating around the internet stating that black folks cannot get coronavirus. You may have the false belief that those with “melanin poppin’” cannot get this deadly virus or if they get it, will not die from it.

Stop the madness.

Actor Idris Elba, NBA stars on multiple teams (Continued on Page A7)

THE CALIFORNIA ADVOCATE

By Ronald A. DePinho

March Madness basketball tournament. Friday, President (Continued on Page A4)

Organization Sends

P.O. Box 11826 • Fresno, CA 93775 www.caladvocate.com

Every American should wear a face mask to defeat Covid-19

its season, along with most other professional sports leagues. For the first time in its 81-year history, the NCAA canceled its annual

Meek Mill

Meek Mill, Jay-Z’s

Volume 54 ~ No 5 ~April 3-10, 2020

By Lonnae O’Neal @ LonnaeONeal This week, the U.S. joined nations around the world in instituting sweeping emergency measures to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Jay Z

CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. Postage Paid FRESNO, CA Permit No.35

The Virus

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The California Advocate

April 3 - April 10, 2020

The Coronavirus Outbreak - Answers to Your High Risk & Frequently Asked Questions

Who is at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a new disease and there is limited information regarding risk factors for severe disease. Based on currently available information and clinical expertise, older adults and people of any age who have serious underlying medical conditions might be at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

Based on what we know now, those at highrisk for severe illness from COVID-19 are: • People aged 65 years and older • People who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility People of all ages with underlying medical conditions, particularly if not well controlled, including: • People with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma • People who have serious heart conditions • People who are immunocompromised Many conditions can cause a person to be immunocompromised, including cancer treatment, smoking, bone marrow or organ transplantation, immune deficiencies, poorly controlled HIV or AIDS, and prolonged use of corticosteroids and other immune weakening medications • People with severe obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥40) • People with diabetes • People with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis • People with liver disease

What should people of higher risk of serious illness with COVID-19 do?

If you are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19, you should: • Stock up on supplies • Take everyday precautions to keep space between yourself and others • When you go out in public, keep away from others who are sick • Limit close contact and wash your hands often • Avoid crowds, cruise travel, and nonessential travel If there is an outbreak in your community, stay home as much as possible. Watch for symptoms and emergency signs. If you get sick, stay home and call your doctor. More information on how to prepare, what to do if you get sick, and how communities and caregivers can support those at higher risk is available on People at Risk for Serious Illness from COVID-19.

Symptoms of Coronavirus

Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness.

Self-Checker A guide to help you make decisions and seek appropriate medical care.

Watch for symptoms

Reported illnesses have ranged from mild

How to Protect Yourself & Others

Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing serious complications from COVID-19 illness. More information on Are you at higher risk for serious illness?

Know How it Spreads

• There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

• The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.

• The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person. Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).

Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Some recent studies have suggested that COVID-19 may be spread by people who are not showing symptoms.

symptoms to severe illness and death for confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases.

These symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure (based on the incubation period of MERS-CoV viruses).

• Fever • Cough • Shortness of breath

sick?

If the family member doesn’t need hospitalization and can be cared for at home, you should help him or her with basic needs and monitor the symptoms, while also keeping as much distance as possible, according to guidelines issued by the C.D.C. If there’s space, the sick family member should stay in a separate room and use a separate bathroom. If masks are available, both the sick person and the caregiver should wear them when When to Seek Medical Attention the caregiver enters the room. Make sure If you develop emergency warning signs for not to share any dishes or other household COVID-19 get medical attention immediately. items and to regularly clean surfaces Emergency warning signs include*: like counters, doorknobs, toilets and • Trouble breathing tables. Don’t forget to wash your hands • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest frequently.

• New confusion or inability to arouse • Bluish lips or face Should I wear a mask?

Experts are divided on how much *This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms protection a regular surgical mask, or even a scarf, can provide for people who aren’t that are severe or concerning. yet sick. The W.H.O. and C.D.C. say that you’re already sick, or caring for How does coronavirus spread? unless someone who is, wearing a face mask isn’t necessary. And stockpiling high-grade It seems to spread very easily from N95 masks will make it harder for nurses person to person, especially in homes, and other workers to access the resources hospitals and other confined spaces. The they need. But researchers are also finding pathogen can be carried on tiny respirathat there are more cases of asymptomatic tory droplets that fall as they are coughed transmission than were known early on or sneezed out. It may also be transmitted in the pandemic. And a few experts say when we touch a contaminated surface and that masks could offer some protection in crowded places where it is not possible to then touch our face. stay 6 feet away from other people. Masks Is there a vaccine yet? don’t replace hand-washing and social distancing.

No. The first testing in humans of an experimental vaccine began in mid-March.

Should I stock up on groceries?

Such rapid development of a potential Plan two weeks of meals if possible. But vaccine is unprecedented, but even if it is proved safe and effective, it probably will people should not hoard food or supplies.

Despite the empty shelves, the supply not be available for 12 to 18 months. chain remains strong. And remember to What makes this outbreak so different? wipe the handle of the grocery cart with a Unlike the flu, there is no known disinfecting wipe and wash your hands as treatment or vaccine, and little is known soon as you get home. about this particular virus so far. It seems to be more lethal than the flu, but the Can I go to the park? numbers are still uncertain. And it hits Yes, but make sure you keep six feet the elderly and those with underlying of distance between you and people who conditions — not just those with don’t live in your home. Even if you just respiratory diseases — particularly hard. hang out in a park, rather than go for a jog or a walk, getting some fresh air, and What should I do if I feel sick? hopefully sunshine, is a good idea.

If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have Should I pull my money from the a fever or symptoms like a cough or markets? difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They That’s not a good idea. Even if you’re should give you advice on whether you retired, having a balanced portfolio of should be tested, how to get tested, and stocks and bonds so that your money keeps how to seek medical treatment without up with inflation, or even grows, makes potentially infecting or exposing others. sense. But retirees may want to think about having enough cash set aside for a year’s How do I get tested? worth of living expenses and big payments If you’re sick and you think you’ve been needed over the next five years. exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare What should I do with my 401(k)?

Watching your balance go up and down provider and explain your symptoms and can be scary. You may be wondering if fears. They will decide if you need to be you should decrease your contributions — tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance don’t!

If your employer matches any part — because of a lack of testing kits or of your contributions, make sure your at because you’re asymptomatic, for instance least saving as much as you can to get that — you won’t be able to get tested. “free money.”

(Updated April 1st, 2020)

What if somebody in my family gets

Clean your hands often

Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.

• The cloth face cover is meant to protect other people in case you are infected.

• Do NOT use a facemask meant for a healthcare worker.

• Continue to keep about 6 feet between yourself and others. The cloth face cover is not a substitute for social Avoid close contact • Avoid close contact with people distancing.

Cover coughs and sneezes who are sick • If you are in a private setting and do • Stay home as much as possible.

• Put distance between yourself and not have on your cloth face covering, other people. Remember that some remember to always cover your mouth people without symptoms may be able and nose with a tissue when you cough to spread virus. Keeping distance from or sneeze or use the inside of your elothers is especially important for peo- bow.

• Throw used tissues in the trash. ple who are at higher risk of getting • Immediately wash your hands with very sick. soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Cover your mouth and nose If soap and water are not readily availwith a cloth face cover when able, clean your hands with a hand saniaround others • You could spread COVID-19 to oth- tizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Clean and disinfect ers even if you do not feel sick.

• Clean AND disinfect frequently • Everyone should wear a cloth face cover when they have to go out in pub- touched surfaces daily. This includes lic, for example to the grocery store or tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyto pick up other necessities.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

• If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

boards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.

• If surfaces are dirty, clean them: Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.To disinfect: Most common EPA-registered household disinfectants will work. Use disinfectants appropriate for the surface. Options include: • Diluting your household bleach.

To make a bleach solution, mix:

5 tablespoons (1/3rd cup) bleach per gallon of water OR 4 teaspoons bleach per quart of water. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for application and proper ventilation. Check to ensure the product is not past its expiration date.

Never mix household bleach with ammonia or any other cleanser. Unexpired household bleach will be effective against coronaviruses when properly diluted.

• Alcohol solutions. Ensure solution has at least 70% alcohol. Other common EPA-registered household disinfectants. Products with EPA-approved emerging viral pathogens pdf icon[7 pages]external icon claims are expected to be effective against COVID-19 based on data for harder to kill viruses.

Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all cleaning and disinfection products (e.g., concentration, application method and contact time, etc.).

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The California Advocate

April 3 - April 10, 2020

April 3 - April 10, 2020 The California Advocate

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The California Advocate

April 3 - April 10, 2020

How to Make Yourself A Mask...

Suddenly Homeschooling

I have founded seven schools over the past 12 years with one mission in mind — to eradicate the achievement gap that Black students suffer year after year. Fortune School, a network of K-12, tuition-free, public charter schools is a regional initiative in Sacramento and San Bernardino to prepare kids for college, starting in kindergarten.

So, when on March 21, I announced to families we were closing our schools temporarily because of the COVID-19 virus, it broke my heart. When you are an educator, the school community means everything. You experience the joys and challenges of life with children and families as you educate the next generation. But, when God closes a door, he opens a window.

It never occurred to me that a deadly pandemic would drive us to lock-up our brick and mortar classrooms and open virtual ones in a week’s time, but that’s exactly what we’ve done.

We put hundreds of Chromebooks into the hands of eager parents and on March 25, Fortune School launched an ambitious Distance Learning Program to our families who, alongside millions of Californians, have found themselves sheltering in place and suddenly homeschooling. Our program is built to last until the end of the school year if need be. We are using Google Classroom as our learning management system, providing students with original, teacher-made videos and assignments curated by our curriculum and instruction department based on Fortune’s existing curriculum. Our teachers engage students face-toface for instructional questions through Google Hangouts. It’s been cool to see students rocking their school uniforms at the kitchen table from home, while they video conference with their teachers and classmates.

Principals don their school swag and hold daily morning meetings on Facebook Live.

Students and their parents friend us on Facebook to hear announcements, say the pledge of allegiance, sing the National Anthem and our school song, “Lift Every Voice.” Our goal is to keep our school community together during these difficult times by constantly communicating with families in fun ways. We’ve even gotten creative with technology to feature our PE and visual and performing arts teachers to provide yoga, art, music, and spoken word for students.

Interestingly, principals have observed that we’ve seen certain social media savvy, millennial parents engage in our digital schools in ways they never did in person. For sure, there are some in our school community who struggle with the technology. To address that problem, we have established tech hotlines to answer questions from parents and teachers, manned by the IT staff who were normally assigned to school buildings. We created a Distance Learning Hub, which is a family friendly website with technology training videos, announcements and a portal to virtual classrooms all in one place. Teachers have their own Distance Learning Professional Development website along with office hours two times a day from our tech and curriculum experts.

We have moved Special Education services online too, providing specialized therapies and instructional supports to students with IEPs through Google Hangouts. Counseling is available for all of our students who need social-emotional support during this time.

Kids still need structure in a homeschooling model. We’ve provided parents with a daily schedule that includes breakfast and lunch.

Any parent can pick-up a FREE grab-andgo breakfast and lunch every day at a drive through at one of our school sites.

Small public school systems like Fortune, don’t receive much attention in the larger narrative about what’s happening in American schools right now. But, I want you to know, we are here and we are serving our families from our homes to theirs. We are keeping a positive attitude and following the advice of inventor George Washington Carver who said, “Start where you are, with what you have.

Make something of it and never be satisfied.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Dr. Margaret Fortune is the President/CEO of Fortune School, a network of K-12 public charter schools in Sacramento, California she founded to close the African American achievement gap in her hometown. Dr. Fortune has been an education adviser to two California Governors. She is secretary-treasurer of California State National Action Network, a national civil rights organization.

Bandanna, coffee filter and rubber bands

Quick cut t-shirt (Continued from page A1)

Layer if you can

to sew by machine or by hand Quilting material can be used, with materials you might have but if you have these other maat home. terials you can layer them to be more effective.

1. Cut out two 10-by-6-inch Homemade shield rectangles of cotton fabric. Face shield parts:• Vinyl – 16 Use tightly woven cotton, or 20 gauge marine grade visuch as quilting fabric or cot- nyl (find in fabric or hardware ton sheets. T-shirt fabric will stores)• Polyurethane foam – 1 work in a pinch. inch by 1 inch (cut down from larger sheet)• Braided elastic Stack the two rectangles; – 3/8 to ½ inch (larger might you will sew the mask as if it require two staples per side)• was a single piece of fabric. High quality mounting tape Fold over the long sides ¼ such as Gorilla and Scotch. inch and hem. Then fold the CDC on masks double layer of fabric over ½ The Centers for Disease Coninch along the short sides and trol and Prevention says this stitch down. about homemade masks: In settings where face masks 2. Run a 6-inch length of are not available, health care 1/8-inch wide elastic through personnel might use homemade the wider hem on each side masks (bandanna, scarf, neck of the mask. These will be the warmer, etc., in a pinch) for care ear loops. Use a large needle of patients with COVID-19 as a or a bobby pin to thread it last resort. through. Tie the ends tight.

However, homemade masks are not considered personal proDon’t have elastic? Use hair tective equipment, since their ties or elastic head bands. If capability to protect health care you only have string, you can personnel is unknown. Caution make the ties longer and tie should be exercised when conthe mask behind your head. sidering this option.

Homemade masks should 3. Gently pull on the elastic ideally be used in combination so that the knots are tucked in- with a face shield that covers side the hem. Gather the sides the entire front (that extends to of the mask on the elastic and the chin or below) and sides of adjust so the mask fits your the face. face. Then securely stitch the More on masks elastic in place to keep it from The CDC and others have disslipping. couraged using N95 masks at

home. All available N95 masks, they say, should go to medical professionals.

Homemade masks SHOULD NOT be used instead of social distancing and staying at home, experts say. But they can augment those efforts if you have to leave the house to shop, walk the dog, etc.

Masks made from cotton and elastic certainly won’t harm anyone at home or when going out, as long as people are following other recommended protocols to stay safe.

Some medical groups are wearing homemade masks on top of N95s so they can use them for longer periods.

If you are sick (and especially if you don’t know it yet), homemade masks can be helpful in keeping your droplets from getting on other people (and possibly keep them from getting sick).

L.A. County Health Director Dr. Barbara Ferrer urged people to use cotton masks this week in tandem with other safety protocols.

Surgeon General Jerome M. Adams has tweeted that his office asked the CDC if its recommendations on face masks should change in light of new data. Adams stressed that wearing a mask should not supersede social distancing.

By Kurt Snibbe | ksnibbe@scng. com | Orange County Register

Every American should wear a face mask...

(Continued from page A1)

of people wear masks when they are out in public.

Covid-19 has emerged as a global, once-in-a-century pandemic that is affecting all nations.

Its high transmissibility (R factor) has produced geometric increases in seriously ill individuals and overburdened health care systems.

Social distancing appears to be buying some time to improve screening for the disease, conduct contact tracing, and develop therapeutics such as antivirals, neutralizing antibodies, and ultimately vaccines. Yet despite heroic efforts and high economic cost, cases and deaths continue to mount across the U.S. Can we do more? Yes. I believe that the federal government and all of the states should enforce a nationwide stay-at-home directive for the month of April and mandate universal face mask use outdoors until an effective vaccine is available. While authorities have so far discouraged citizens from using face masks, the recent data of community spread by asymptomatic individuals is a game-changer for the face mask conversation.

To be clear, we must first ensure an adequate supply of face masks for our health care providers. Once our manufacturing capability has increased, new cases

have significantly declined, and we are at a low level of infection — such as what China is currently experiencing — we should quickly pivot to face mask use for the general public.

Countries in which face mask use is routine, such as Taiwan and Japan, have experienced dramatically flatter curves than countries where it is not. As a recent review in the Lancet noted, “As evidence suggests Covid-19 could be transmitted before symptom onset, community transmission might be reduced if everyone, including people who have been infected but are asymptomatic and contagious, wear face masks.”

A national call to action for universal face mask use outdoors would not only accelerate the decline in the ability of an individuals to infect others in the community but also prevent a resurgence of infections — a real possibility given the asynchronous hotspots and high mobility of the SARSCoV-2 coronavirus throughout the U.S. Pervasive use of face masks could also accelerate the resumption of normal economic activity across the country.

Starting today, the White House Coronavirus Task Force, in accordance with the Defense Production Act, should direct our manufacturing base to build capacity beyond the efforts of 3M, which

has doubled global production of N95 face masks to about 100 million a month, and is planning to push that to 2 billion within a year. The country must repurpose existing manufacturing capacity to stockpile critical supplies and set a challenge to the nation’s manufacturers to produce a surplus of 1 billion masks by the end of April 2020 and at least 1 billion per week thereafter. This would provide all Americans with several masks per week. Production costs should be less than $1 per mask or $1 billion per week.

How do we do this? Let’s go all-in for the next eight weeks — implement a nationwide stayat-home directive, ramp up face mask manufacturing capacity, and for now use makeshift face masks until ideal units become available for public use. This will buy precious time for the system to catchup and enable America’s return to normalized social interactions, resumption of school and work, and restart our consumer economy.

The return on investment would be enormous.

Now is the time to act. Our lives and our livelihood depend on it.

Ronald A. DePinho, M.D., is a distinguished university professor and the past president of MD Anderson Cancer Center and founder of several biotechnology companies.

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The California Advocate

April 3 - April 10, 2020

April 3 - April 10, 2020 The California Advocate

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The California Advocate

April 3 - April 10, 2020

California Advocate’s

Saints Rest Baptist Church “TrendsettersGo”

Saints Community Church

SERVICE TIMES Sunday School

9:15 am

Sunday Morning Worship

10:45 am

Sunday

Sunday School 9:30 a.m.

Evening Worship 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday: Bible Study 6:15 p.m.

Wednesday Prayer Meeting 11:00 am & 7:00 pm.

Wednesday Bible Study 12:00 pm & 7:00pm 1550 E. Rev. Chester E. Riggins Ave. Fresno p: (559) 237-5551 f: (559)237-0133 • e: office@saintrest.org • w: www.sainttrest.org

Pastor D.J. Criner

3740 Ashlan Ave. Fresno. • p:(559) 222-9819 f: (559) 2227-2954 • e: admin@saintscommunity.org

Dr. B.E. McAlister, Pastor Tina McAliarwe

Rising Star Missionary

St. Matthew BAPTIST CHURCH Reaching the lost and the Upchurch with the preaching of the Word of God.

BAPTIST CHURCH, FRESNO

‘Join us in Embracing God’s Presence, Experiencing God’s Power, and Equipping to fulfill God’s Purpose’

SERVICE, MEETING AND TIMES Saturday Sunday

Choir, usher and mission meeting Call for times and events

SERVICE TIMES

9:00 am Sunday School 10:00 am Church service Tuesday 6:00 pm Men meeting Wednesday 5:30pm Night bible study

Contact: Reverend Lawrence Chisom (559) 250-3116

Deacon Winroe

(559) 284-9828

1808 S. Crystal Ave. Fresno

Deacon Brewer

(559) 377-3252

Mrs. Gerry Chisom (559) 430-9539

West Fresno Christian Center

Sunday Morning Prayer Sunday Morning Bible Study Sunday Morning Worship Tuesday Prayer & Bible Study

Pastor B. T. Lewis II & Lady Latisha Lewis

Bethel Church of Christ (Holiness) USA

“An old church, with a new beginning”

Sunday School 9:30AM Sunday Worship 11:00AM Tuesday Bible Study 7:00PM Friday Night Prayer 6:00PM

SERVICE TIMES

Sunday Sunday School Sunday Morning Worship Thursday Bible Study

Email: jeparkssr@gmail.com

Phone: (559) 233-3273 Fax: (559) 455-0746 2120 S. Thorne Avenue, Fresno, CA 93706

New Beginnings Community BAPTIST CHURCH MEETING AT

e: bethelchurch2119@att.net

Westside Church of God

“All age groups are encouraged to attend. Youth and children’s classes are available

“Gather. Grow. Go.” Fresno Pacific University

1717 S. Chestnut Ave. Fresno • www.nbcbc.org • (559) 369-3538

SERVICE TIMES

Sunday SundayWorship 9:00 am Tuesday F.A.T. Bible Studies Dinner 5:45 pm 1424 W. California Ave., Fresno

Dr. Paul Lawrence Binion II

p:(559) 237-1444 • e: officewscog@yahoo,cim

Bethesda Churches

Everlasting Love Ministries

LOCATIONS, ADDRESSES AND SERVICE TIMES

“We love you where you are to where God wants to take you”

SOUTHEAST

SUNDAY 10:00am Children’s Activities Available 407 S Clovis Ave., Fresno (Clovis & Huntington)

CENTRAL

SUNDAY 8:15am, 11:00am, 6:00pm Children’s Activities each service 11:00am Youth Activities 3723 E Dakota Ave., Fresno (Dakota & Millbrook)

RIVERPARK

SUNDAY 10:00am Children’s Activities Available 81 E Pinedale., Fresno (Pinedale & Blackstone)

SERVICE TIMES

Sunday Morning 10:30am Wednesday 6:30pm Bible Study Rev. Dr. Angulus Wilson D. Pastor Wilson, Malcolm Sr. Pastor C.

and Lady Audrey Scott

2503 W. Shaw Ave #103., Fresno • (559) 283-8992 everlastinglove.ministries7@yahoo.com

ANEW Pearly Grove

Pastor Tobias Brookins

p: (559) 225-1672 e:frontdesk@thebethesdachurches.com

Power House Institutional COGIC Much Prayer Much Power No Prayer No Power

BAPTIST CHURCH Sunday Morning 9:00 am Sunday Morning Service at 10:00 am Wednesday Prayer & Bible Study at 6:00 pm Pastor Charles

Rev. Dr. Dickersen Name goes here Sr. Pastor

1927 S Van Ness Ave Fresno, California, CA 93721 (559) 266-1420

Fellowship Missionary

BAPTIST CHURCH

“Reaching the Unsaved uncharted for Christ”

Pastor Richard L. Daniels

SERVICE TIMES Sunday

Breakfast 8:00 am Sunday School 9:30am Worship 10:45 am Children’s Church 10:45 am Nursery 10:30 am Saturday Bread of Life Panty 2nd & 4th Saturday FREE Clothes Closet 2nd & 4th Wednesday 12:00 pm and 6:30 pm

2529 E. Belmont Ave. • Fresno • (559) 441-1661 elloshipmbc@sbcglobal.net • Office hours 9:00am-2:00pm

9:30 am 11:00 am 6:30 pm

2119 S. Eunice. Fresno • p: (559) 266-3483

Pastor Darell Jones and Lady Schyienell Jones

Sunday Morning Life Groups at 9:00 am Sunday Morning Service at 10:00 am Wednesday Corporate Prayer & Bible Study at 6:00 pm Super Saturday (1rst Saturday)at 10:00 am Rev. Dr. Angulus Wilson D. Wilson, Sr. Pastor

8:30am 9:00am 10:30am 6:30pm

1104 Collins Ave. - (559) 442-190 e:risingstarfresno@hotmail.com web:risingstarfresno.org

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which Psalm 121:1-2 mad heaven and earth.”

Pastor James E. Parks and Lady Gwendolyn Parks

SERVICES

Morning Worship 8:00 a.m.. & 10:30 a.m.

SCHEDULE

Sunday School 9:00AM Reg. Service 10:30 AM Wednesday Choir Rehersal 5:30 PM Bible Study 6:30 PM Pastor Duane McAlister & 1st Lady Beverly McAlister

1615 :N” Street P.O. Box 11398 Fresno , CA 93773

First Union Missionary David J. Keener, Sr. Pastor First Lady

Nichole Keener Princess

Payton Keener

BAPTIST CHURCH

SERVICE TIMES

Discipleship ClassesSunday 9:30 AM Morning Worship Service -Sunday 11:00 AM

Mid Week Manna-Wednesday 6:00 PM

2304 E Street Fresno, CA 93706

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The California Advocate

April 3 - April 10, 2020

Meek Mill & Jay-Z’...

REFORM Alliance board L-R: Michael Rubin, Robert Kraft, Meek Mill, Jay-Z, and Laura Arnold, posing with REFORM CEO Van Jones (Continued from page A1)

to prisons as cases of inmates testing

positive for the novel coronavirus surge in various correctional facilities across the country.

REFORM Alliance joined forces with advocate Shaka Senghor to send about 100,000 surgical masks to various prisons as states suffer from a shortage of medical supplies to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meek Mill, who has been tweeting about the COVID-19 crisis and urging fans to stay home, launched the organization in January 2019 after his own experiences in the criminal justice system ignited a movement.

Rikers Island will receive 50,000 masks and an additional 2,500 masks are being sent to the Rikers medical facility. Rikers is one of the largest prison complexes in the world and has suffered from a surge of cases in New York, which has become the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States.

According to The Legal Aid Society, which is tracking COVID-19 cases in New York jails, there were more than 200 positive cases of COVID-19 in Rikers Island facilities as of Thursday.

The Tennessee Department of Corrections will be sent 40,000 masks, which will be distributed to correctional facilities in the state impacted by the crisis.

The rest of the masks will be sent to the Mississippi State Penitentiary in Parchman, Mississippi, which was sued earlier this year by Jay-Z and fellow hip-hop artist Yo Gotti over “barbaric” conditions that allegedly led to deaths of multiple inmates.

New lawsuit backed by Jay-Z, Yo Gotti slams ‘barbaric’ Mississippi prison conditions Correctional facilities, where inmates are often crowded into small spaces and share facilities that make social distancing incredibly challenging, are particularly susceptible to the outbreak and

hundreds of inmates and prison personnel have tested positive for the coronavirus.

Most recently, four inmates died after testing positive for the coronavirus at FCI Oakdale federal prison in Louisiana over the span of five days, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

We’re fighting hard, but we need everyone’s voice right now. Talk to your Governor today and tell him to protect people behind bars from #COVID19.

Last week, REFORM Alliance released the “SAFER Plan” -- a set of recommendations based on consultations and the advice of medical experts and prison reform advocates from across the political spectrum -- to protect prisoners during the pandemic.

Meek Mill and Jay-Z launch criminal justice reform organization ‘to speak for all the people who don’t have a voice’ “We are on the verge of a humanitarian crisis,” Jessica Jackson, chief political officer at REFORM Alliance, said in a statement to ABC News. “There are horror stories coming from people in jails and prisons across the country. REFORM Alliance is seeking help to get medical supplies into correctional facilities, and we’re also pushing Governors across the country to enact our SAFER Plan recommendations to get people out quickly and safely.”

Both federal and state prisons are facing hurdles in managing the COVID-19 threat as prison officers, guards and inmates test positive for the virus.

Over the past week, judges around the country ordered thousands of inmates released amid reports of shortages of medical and cleaning supplies.

President Donald Trump criticized the move on Thursday when asked what the federal government is doing to protect inmates.

“We don’t like it,” he said about prisoners getting released. “The people don’t like it and we’re looking to see if I have the right to stop it in some cases.”

Dear Black People:Coronavirus Will Kill You

(Continued from page A1) and black folks in your everyday life have it. You may have heard the sad case of retired nurse Pat Frieson, 61, who became the first casualty of the virus in Illinois. What looked like an asthma attack has now been classified as coronavirus.

Frieson has a sister in the same hospital also suffering from the same symptoms and now fighting for her life. Ms. Frieson and her sister are black.

Ives Green. a 58-year-old runner, and award-winning Special Olympics athlete, became the first person in Louisiana to die from coronavirus. He lived in a facility for people with developmental disabilities and had limited exposure to people from outside of the facility. His family is still trying to figure out how someone seemingly in great health, contracted coronavirus. Mr. Green is black.

You may have heard of Dr. James Pruden, 71, an emergency room doctor in Paterson, NJ, who is now in critical condition after testing positive for coronavirus. He is a trained first responder who is in charge of the hospital’s emergency preparedness unit and lead the hospital through the swine flu outbreak in 2009. Dr. Pruden is now fighting for his life and he is black.

Melanin is not Vibranium and America isn’t Wakanda even in the Marvel Universe, so why some black people, who are often disproportionately impacted by medical conditions for a myriad of reasons, believe they are immune to coronavirus is beyond me? For those who think Idris Elba isn’t “black, black,” the British-born brother’s parents are from Sierra-Leone and Ghana meaning he is African in addition to being a black Brit which makes him unequivocally “black, black.”

For the record, people in 19 African countries have tested positive for coronavirus and for sure they are “black black.”

To make it plain, I’m not talking about skin color, I’m talking about identity. If you are African living anywhere in the world including the continent, black American, mixed race, biracial, Hotep, Greek, GDI, hood, bougie, religious, atheist or any category of black, there isn’t a magical pill or pigment that’s going to stop you from getting coronavirus if you come in contact with someone who has it.

Even if you don’t think you have it, you very well could have it and knowingly or unknowingly spread the virus that may not be fatal to you but could be fatal to others. It is called being asymp-

tomatic. Merriam-Webster’s dictionary uses asymptomatic in the following sentence to give people a better understanding of the meaning of the word: “Those measures could work slowing the spread of the virus, which is also believed to be spread by asymptomatic people.”

My point is coronavirus will kill you and other black people so wash your hands and stay away from others outside of your home as much as possible, especially older folks. Listen to those in power you can trust. If restaurants, gymnasiums and other businesses are closed, stay away from them. Some restaurants are still delivering and responsible gym owners are posting athome workouts for their clientele on the web. I’ve also heard folks saying only two percent of the U.S. population will get it. For the geniuses out there, that amounts to 6 million people which is not a small number.

As for all of the conspiracy theories, the rapid spread of coronavirus happens when your President hires a science denier as head of Health and Human Services who promptly cuts the CDC’s budget on managing infectious diseases by 80 percent and is still trying to make more cuts to said budget.

Oh, and suppressing important information and holding press conferences about coronavirus that are evasive and filled with misinformation and flat out lies. Just because your xenophobic President calls it the Chinese virus, doesn’t mean it only impacts the Chinese. Oh, and there are black Chinese people too but that’s another article (see Jamaica).

If you haven’t before, now is the time to practice self-care. There is no conspiracy and black people can and are dying from this virus. Coronavirus is real and those of us who have been historically denied competent and compassionate healthcare should be the most vigilant in adhering to guidelines and mandates to prevent the spread of the deadly virus, especially to our most vulnerable populations.

This article was written by Nsenga K Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-inchief of The Burton Wire. An expert in intersectionality and media industries, Dr. Burton is also a professor of film and television at Emory University and co-editor of the book, Black Women’s Mental Health: Balancing Strength and Vulnerability. Follow her on Twitter @Ntellectual or @TheBurtonWire.

April 3 - April 10, 2020 The California Advocate

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African Americans At Greater Risk...

(Continued from page A1) Donald J. Trump declared a national emergency.

For a whole host of economic, political and historical reasons, Georges C. Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, says it’s a threat that African Americans need to take particularly seriously.

“We get a lot of misinformation circulating through our communities,” Benjamin said. “We fundamentally don’t trust some of the [non-black] institutions because they do not serve us well. We need to make sure our trusted institutions, clinicians of color, churches, community organizations, are better educated.”

Benjamin spoke with The Undefeated about the history of health care in the community and the obstacles to treatment that exist.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Why are African American communities at added risk for the coronavirus?

I think the biggest challenge is the fact that people of color, African Americans, start out with health outcomes that are disproportionately poor when compared to white Americans. The highest risk, if you get this disease, is to someone 60 or older with chronic disease. With African Americans, you start with a population that is disproportionately sicker, and if it gets exposed, it will have a higher death rate.

Why is our at-risk population for the virus starting out more sick?

The reasons for the health inequities include access to health care, and differences in the quality of care African Americans receive. A lot of what makes you healthy happens outside the doctor’s office, so all the social determinants – including racism and discrimination, housing, access to transportation and education – are a factor. And I’ll say differences in individual behaviors that we all have based on our life experiences.

Let’s talk about the uninsured.

Obviously, we still have too many people of color who are uninsured, particularly in those states that chose not to expand the Medicaid program.

They certainly don’t cover the nonAfrican Americans either, but African Americans have had real challenges in those communities, which tend to be in the South and the Midwest.

We have lots of folks who work in the gig economy, so they don’t necessarily have coverage. Looking at this coronavirus, the whole issue of not having paid sick leave is an issue where we have people of color who are disproportionately working in the service industries, in the restaurant industries, working for hotels, or places where they are not in unions that have bargained for benefits that give them sick leave. They are hourly workers who don’t have certain kinds of benefits, so that if they don’t work, they don’t eat. And that’s a challenge.

Obviously, if you get sick and we tell you to stay home, you should stay home.

But you’re less likely to do so because you’ve got to work. You’ll probably come to work during the early part of your illness and the challenge with that, of course, is you’ll infect others.

Why is there so much distrust between African Americans and the medical community?

Everyone obviously goes back to the Tuskegee experiment. The syphilis study where African American men were not treated for syphilis and they continued not to be treated even after we had treatment available. Ultimately the Public Health Service apologized, as well as President Clinton apologized on behalf of America.

We also have experiences where people go into academic health centers and the word on the street is you go in, but you don’t come out. That’s a reality, but the reason they don’t come out is because people go into those places in a much later state of disease. Quite often we have far too many women who are found to have breast cancer. They have a lump in their breast, but they

still show up far too late to get the best cancer care.

Also, when you go in and you have someone who doesn’t look like you or doesn’t communicate with you in a culturally competent way, that’s a problem. We still have lots of clinicians out there that talk down to patients.

They don’t give us the full range of options.

What do you think needs to happen with coronavirus testing in the African American community?

People go to see practitioners that they trust. Most of our [local] governmental public health agencies are in the community all the time. They have outreach workers, they have programs so they are not just showing up today and deciding that we now want to test you so that your first question is who are these folks, where are they from and what’s their motive for being here.

If you have a long-standing relationship with those communities, you’re much more likely to accept who they are and trust what they say, so you have compliance with getting the test and believing the test results.

At some point when treatment becomes available, compliance with taking medication or getting the vaccine – it’s not available now, but at some point when it becomes available – is absolutely essential. Otherwise, if people don’t trust it, they won’t get the prescription filled, they won’t take the shot, they won’t even do the quarantine process because they don’t trust the information they are getting. If you have a strong federal, state, local and community partnership, then you’re going to have a much more effective engagement.

What do you think of the decision by sports leagues to cancel their tournaments and seasons?

Because of the trajectory that we’re projecting for the number of people who are going to get sick if we don’t do what we call social distancing, I applaud the sports industry for reducing our exposure and canceling or delaying those events until the peak of this epidemic is over. People of color go to a lot of those games, so we can see that as a way of putting us less at risk.

We’re social people and in addition to sports, we’re going to be loath to give up our church services and our reunions and those places that are incredibly meaningful to us. So what would you tell us about weighing those gatherings against the risk of the coronavirus?

This is serious business and they need to pay attention to trusted voices on this.

I actually happen to trust the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – I know they screwed up part of the testing piece – but that information on their website is solid.

Go to organizations like mine, the American Public Health Association, our information is solid.

I’m hoping we will get ministers and trusted advisers in the community up to speed. The places we also get health information – Uncle John and Aunty Sue, our barbers, our beauticians – right now they don’t all have the right information, but I’m hoping they’ll get that right information so that we can have all our trusted advisers give us the right scoop.

Lonnae O’Neal is a senior writer at The Undefeated. She’s an author, a former columnist, has a rack of kids and she writes bird by bird.

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April 3 - April 10, 2020