WINNER OF FIVE SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS D.C. AWARDS Don’t Miss the August Health Supplement Center Section Vol. 55, No. 44 • August 13 - 19, 2020
Joe Biden Chooses Kamala Harris as Running Mate By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia California Sen. Kamala Harris is Joe Biden’s choice for vice president. Following months of speculation and debate over whether Biden should pick a Black woman as his running mate, Harris was named Tuesday as Biden’s choice. Biden reportedly had called Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), former Ambassador Susan Rice, and three other candidates to inform them on Tuesday morning that they were not his pick. Harris had routinely been seen as the top pick, but her clashes with Biden during the Democratic debates appeared to give Biden pause.
However, Biden had been photographed in recent weeks with talking points that noted not to hold a grudge against Harris. Sworn in as senator in 2017, Harris became the second African-American woman and the first South Asian-American senator in history. She has said that her life as a prosecutor and fighting justice was inspired by her mother, an Indian-American immigrant, activist and breast cancer researcher. Growing up in Oakland, Harris had “a stroller-eye view of the civil rights movement,” according to her official biography. Through the example of courageous leaders like Thurgood Marshall, Constance Baker Motley and Charles Hamilton Houston, Harris said she learned the kind of
Concerns About Food Insecurity Loom Large Amid Pandemic
Residents Demand Greater Enforcement of Mayor Bowser’s COVID-19 Orders
By Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer @SamPKCollins
By Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer @SamPKCollins Since D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) mandated the wearing of masks and continuation of social distancing protocols, members of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) have engaged the public and encouraged adherence to the orders, albeit not to the degree that some concerned residents have found
MAYOR Page 38
HARRIS Page 23 5 Kamala Harris (Courtesy photo)
5 Mayor Muriel Bowser during a press conference asked business owners to call police to enforce the coronavirus mask order. (Courtesy photo/WUSA)
Once the coronavirus pandemic increased consumer demand for produce and nonperishables, local retailers and wholesalers were no longer able to contribute portions of their inventory to the Capital Area Food Bank, one of several entities that have been distributing food to the more than 400,000 people across the D.C. metropolitan area experiencing hunger. To meet this pressing need, Capital Area Food Bank has relied less on its traditional re-
tail partners, and more on private donations and purchases from wholesalers. In preparation for COVID-19’s long stay, the provider has also planned to purchase 500 truckloads of food this fiscal year, a $16 million expenditure that quadruples what’s been recorded previously. President and CEO Radha Muthiah said such moves are predicted to create more than 50 million meals this year, all of which are distributed in conjunction with other organizations and community groups for what’s anticipated to be more than 600,000 people
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Women the Cycle of wi hotBreak topics Domestic Violence Maryland Extends Longtime DC Anchor
Unemployment Benefits Seymour law enforcement. She saidAllison they threat,” she said. Quits FOX 5
By Tia Carol Jones WI Staff Writer
had come together to bring a Among the programs Marlow viewerstowere a Friday sense of uniformity in the District way wants see dropped implemented aremorning When L.Y. Marlow's 23-year- domestic violence victims bombshell last week when outorder of nowhere and stricter restraining policies,longtime old daughter told her the father survivors are treated. popular WTTG morning Anchor Allison more rights for victim's familiesSeymour of her daughter threatened her “She's using her own personal behalf of a she vic-was leavannouncedtoatintervene the end ofonthe newscast life, and the life of their child, story, her own personal pain tim, a the domestic ing. to She joined stationviolence back in assess1999 and has she knew something had to be push forward,” Davis-Nickens ment unit coupled newscast with further been anchoring the morning since 2007. done. Out of her frustration said about Marlow. forannouncement law enforcement Seymourtraining made the saying, “This with law enforcement's handling Davis-Nickens said anyone agencies, a Child's Life Protecwas mine and my family decision.” of the situation, she decided to who reads Marlow's book She will leaves tionFOX Act and mandatory counsel5 after 21 years at the D.C.start the Saving Promise cam- “get it.” She said she “puts the ing for batterers. based TV station. When the station announced paign. case in such a way, the average “If FOX we are5ever going to eradiher departure, stated: Allison started her “It seems to be a vicious cycle person can get it.” She saidcareer at the in television cate domestic violence, we must working behind the scenes at that won't turn my family end of the day, the book willNews look at graduating both sides from Hampton of the coin. ABC after Uniloose,” Marlow said. Marlow help people begin to have a dia- We need to address both the vicversity. She was later inducted into the Scripps shared her story with the audi- logue about domestic violence. tim and the batterer,” Marlow Howard School of Journalism Hall of Fame from ence at the District Heights Also present at the event was said. her alma mater. Domestic Violence Symposium Mildred Muhammad, the exMarlow would like toconversations see Her sudden departure hasalso sparked on May 7 at the District Heights wife of John Allen Muhammad, programs designed to raise on social media Municipal Center. The sympo- who was sentenced to six consec- awareness among children in with some suggestsium was sponsored by the utive life terms without parole public and private schools. She ing that the popular Family and Youth Services of Labor by a Maryland be educatThe Maryland Department will offerjury an for his role in feels children need toanchor may have Center of the city of District the Beltway Sniper attacks in ed about domestic violence. additional 13 weeks of unemployment insurance left her position for Heights and the National Hook- 2002. Mildred Muhammad is “We have to stop being pasbenefits but not everyone will qualify. Through other reasons and Up of Black Women. founder ofeligiAfter the Trauma, sive-aggressive with poor chila federal-state extended benefitstheprogram, solely on her Marlow has written a book, an organization that helps the dren about domesticnot violence,” ble claimants must have exhausted all 26 weeks of own accord. We’ll “Color Me Butterfly,” which is a survivors of domestic violence Marlow said. regular unemployment benefits and 13 weeks of keep story about four generations of and their children. Marlow has worked to our breakears open assistance through the Pandemic Emergency Unemfor more domestic violence. The book is “I lived in fear for six years. Six the cycle of abuse in her family,informaployment Compensation (PEUC). Residents must and inspired by her own experiences, years in fear is a long time. It is and is confident the tion policies shehope to apply through state’s “Beacon por- to come out and those of her the grandmother, notOne-Stop an easy thing is pushing for will speak start with that FOX 5 tal”mother at https://beacon.labor.maryland.gov/beacon/ her and her daughter. of,” she said. officials and Seyprocess. claimant-page.html. If approved, a Mildred person’s weekly She said every time she reads intothe very Muhammad said “I plan to take thesemour policies amountfrom will her be the same under the excerpts book, shereceived still people nearthem future. whounemwant to help a Congress and implore to Noneployment and the PEUC programs. more informacan not believe words came For domestic violence victim must change our laws,” Marlow theless,said.Seymour tion,her. go to www.MDunemployment.com. from “Color Me Butterfly” be careful of how they go into “I will not stop untilwill these bepolimissed. won the 2007 National “Best the victim's life, and understand cies are passed.” Books” Award. that she may be in “survival Tia Carol Jones can be reached “I was just 16-years-old when mode”. at tiacaroljones@sbcglobal.net my eye first blackened and my “Before you get to 'I'm going lips bled,” Marlow said. to kill you,' it started as a verbal WI Elaine Davis-Nickens, president of the National Hook-Up Mayor Muriel Bowser and the District of Black Women, said there is no of Columbia Housing Finance Agency consistency in the way domestic (DCHFA) recently announced the reviolence issues are dealt with by launch of the DC Mortgage Assistance Program (DC MAP) to provide financial relief to District homeowners who have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Through DC MAP COVID-19, qualified borrowers can receive a loan of up to $5,000 monthly toward their mortgage for up to six months. “We know that for many DC families, keeping up with their monthly mortgage payments has been a tremendous struggle during these unprecedented times,” Bowser said. “By repurposing this existing assistance program, we can provide homeowners with some peace of mind and help relieve some of the financial burden during this public health emergency.” District homeowners seeking assistance should call 833-429-0537 to begin the application process. Questions regarding DC MAP COVID-19 Relief can be emailed to DCMAP@dchfa.org.
Bowser Relaunches DC Mortgage Assistance Program to Provide COVID-19 Relief
“
We have to stop being passive-aggressive with poor children about domestic violence. I plan to take these policies to Congress and implore them to change our laws. I will not stop until these policies are passed.
“
SOMETHING NEW EVERYDAY
COMPILED BY D. KEVIN MCNEIR, WI EDITOR AND WILLIAM J. FORD, WI STAFF WRITER
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L.Y. Marlow
AROUND THE REGION
More Youth Enter the Fray to Ensure Black Community Votes in Nov. By Hamil R. Harris WI Contributing Writer With the Nov. 3 presidential election just a few months away, and as President Trump and his operatives are busy condemning mail-in voting and other vital services as fraudulent, young African Americans are focused on mobilizing voters across the country. From the Black Phoenix Organizing Collective in Arizona to the Soul 2 Soul Sisters in Colorado and Detroit Action in Michigan to the Family Action Network Movement in Florida, young people of color have formed the political equivalent of an “invisible empire” when it comes to urging voters to hit the polls. “We will rise to the occasion despite a tsunami of issues,” said Melanie Campbell, National Coalition of Black Civic Participation president. “There is a high level of issues in this election, but the challenges remain. [The coronavirus] hasn’t gone anywhere in states with large Black populations, the attack against the U.S. Postal Service, but folks are still going to come out.” Campbell said Monday that more than 100 organizations took part in a ZOOM conference titled “Are You Ready2Vote?” to disseminate information that ensures the Black community votes on Nov. 3. “People need to vote as early as possible. We are going to push mailin ballots,” Campbell said. “In August, people need to ask their friends, ‘are you ready to vote?’” In addition to traditional civil rights organizations such as the NAACP, Urban League, and the Leadership Conference of Civil Rights Under Law, there are independent groups that have organized to get votes done via tier efforts. For example, there are 13 Tier 1 Battle Ground states that include; Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Colorado, North Carolina, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Texas, Iowa, Maine, Montana and Nevada. Another national organization, Black Voters Matter, not only focuses on voting but other Black-related issues as well.
“I do see energy of young people. You can see it through the protest movement, one of the blessings of the coronavirus and there is a shift in how we do things,” said Rev. Tony Lee, pastor of Community of Hope AME Church in Temple Hills. “I believe that this is a great opportunity because young people spend so much of their time online. “Several organizations have really used smart online campaigns as opposed to going door to door,” Lee said “I am part of the Black Church PAC and we are about to do our own virtual bus tour. Most organizations
With the Nov. 3 presidential election just a few months away, and as President Trump and his operatives are busy condemning mail-in voting and other vital services as fraudulent, young African Americans are focused on mobilizing voters across the country. that do traditional get out to vote efforts have been forced to look at things through a different lens. This challenge has become a blessing.” Rev. L.K. Floyd, pastor of Heart Changers Baptist Church in Silver Spring and president of the Coalition of Churches and Community, also weighed in, saying that, “we are sharing with pastors of congregations to share with their members the importance of voting and we are pushing voter awareness among members of our community leaders. In September, we will start our online push for the voter registration. We are calling it ‘Marching to the Polls.’” WI
5 Melanie Campbell, National Coalition of Black Civic Participation president. (Courtesy photo)
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AUGUST 13 - 19, 2020 5
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black facts
AUG 13 -19, 2020 SOURCE: BLACK AMERICA WEB
AUG. 13
1911 – James B. Parsons, the nation’s first Black federal judge, is born in Kansas City, Missouri. 1933 – Joycelyn Elders, the first Black U.S. surgeon general, is born in Schaal, Arkansas.
AUG. 14
1876 – Prairie View A&M University, a historically Black institution, is established in Prairie View, Texas. 1959 – Basketball great Earvin “Magic” Johnson is born in Lansing, Michigan. 1966 – Halle Berry, the first woman of color to win an Oscar for best actress, is born in Cleveland.
AUG. 15
1887 – Eatonville, Florida, one of the nation’s first self-governing all-Black municipalities and the hometown of famed author Zora Neale Hurston, is incorporated. 1938 – Longtime U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters (right) is born in St. Louis.
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1887 – Political leader Marcus Garvey, proponent of the Pan-Africanism movement and founder of the Black Star Line, is born in Saint Ann’s Bay, Jamaica. 1938 – Blues icon and famed guitarist Robert Johnson dies in Greenwood, Mississippi at 27. 1990 – Tony-winning actress and singer Pearl Bailey dies in Philadelphia at 72.
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1887 – African American inventor Granville T. Woods patents electromechanical brake. 1922 – Louis E. Lomax, author and first African American television journalist, is born in Valdosta, Georgia. 2007 – Legendary jazz drummer Max Roach dies in New York at 83.
AUG. 17
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1934 – Baseball great Roberto Clemente (top) is born in Carolina, Puerto Rico. 1963 – Civil rights activist James Meredith, the first African American admitted to the University of Mississippi, graduates. 1977 – Stephen Biko, anti-apartheid activist and leader of the Black Consciousness Movement in South Africa, is arrested. He is severely beaten while in police custody and dies of his injuries weeks later.
AUG. 19
HALLE BERRY 6 - AUGUST 13 - 19, 2020
1954 – Ralph J. Bunche, the first Black winner of Nobel Peace Prize, named undersecretary of the United Nations. WI
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I do it every year! Florida has a huge vote-by-mail policy. I get updates on my ballot’s progress after it gets to the post office and until it’s counted.
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The problem is that he has appointed one of his cronies [to oversee] the post office who is already slowing down the mail.
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Make sure you sign it. Make sure you put two stamps on the envelope. Make sure you mail it back early. If you can, walk it in and drop it in the official drop boxes. The Office of the Registrar says the biggest problems are no signature, returning it late, and not enough postage. I believe some states have prepaid envelopes, so please check.
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The World According to Dominic BY D. KEVIN MCNEIR / WI EDITOR / @DKEVINMCNEIR
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I was born and raised in Detroit – counted among the huge cohort of Baby Boomers – when the Motown sound dominated our lives, providing songs whose lyrics affirmed our unique attributes that distinguished us from those who just a few generations ago had owned us as their property: skin color that ranged from ebony to caramel or cream; rhythmic gaits that we accentuated with the syncopated swinging of our arms; heads of hair thick like a lion’s mane; lips full and sensual; and a history of which we were immensely proud. As we’re often prone to use revisionist history when describing the past, I cannot in good conscience look back at the 60s and 70s and describe them as “the good old days.” But kids were encouraged and allowed to be kids. There was no rush to move out, to have sex, to run the streets – to play grownup. Because we understood that once we crossed certain lines, ventured into unfamiliar territory, that we would be held accountable for our actions. Maybe that’s what disturbs me the most about the world today, in general, and Black youth in particular – their propensity for
blaming everyone but themselves for the situations in which they land and how often those who are older and allegedly wiser (that’s parents) feigning ignorance about the unwise, if not illegal activities which their children seem to have embraced. Reports of shootouts, drive-bys and deadly incidents of retaliation dominate the media so often that we’ve grown accustomed to them. It’s almost tantamount to scenes from the Wild, Wild, West. Except in these new versions, the victims tend to be innocent bystanders. We like to brag about how far we’ve come as a nation, as humans, as Black folk. But I fear that the Black community which I remember from my youth has taken monumental steps backwards. While watching a film recently directed and produced by Tim Reid, “Once Upon a Time When We Were Colored,” I was reminded of the many obstacles which Blacks confronted each day during the era of Jim Crow. And yet, as Maya Angelou reminds us, “and still we rise.” Or at least, we once rose. My parents, then called Colored, were faced with the reality that to be “Colored” not only defined their race but also pointed to the limitations and boundaries that society both demanded and enforced – legally or illegally Doors, buses, trains, water fountains, public buildings with signs marked White or Colored only reminded my parents and my parents’ parents that equality was only a concept – an idea whose time had not come for all Americans. As I grew old enough to understand how invisible chains still held us in bondage, we were no longer called Colored. Somewhere along the way we became known as Negroes. But some things remained the same. We were denied the right to vote, we were denied access to state and private colleges and uni-
versities, we were denied access to homes or apartments in certain neighborhoods. We were denied admission in hotels and restaurants as we traveled along the highways from the North to the South. And yet, we were a people who loved one another fiercely. We lived in safe but segregated neighborhoods and cul-de-sacs, shopped in segregated business communities, worshipped in segregated churches, temples and mosques. I guess those weren’t the good old days in many respects. Still, when we came together to shake off the dirt of the world, to cleanse ourselves of shame and anger which we endured due to racism, we celebrated. As for disputes, they were settled quickly and simply – a few blows, jabs and swings – or perhaps a game of the dozens where wordsmiths would spit out cleverly constructed phrases amidst a cacophony of put-downs, insults or mean-spirited metaphors – all forgotten and forgiven by the next day. Youth dreamed of reaching adulthood, learning a craft, starting a family, reaching a little higher than their ancestors, growing old. But in our so-called evolution, we’ve forgotten what it means to live as if Black lives really matter. We talk a good game but our actions show how little we care about others or ourselves. And so, we live in a paradox in a world where we demand that others treat us in ways that confirm their belief that Black lives matter. Meanwhile, more and more Blacks – more and more young Blacks – show by their actions that Black Lives Matter is nothing more than a slogan, a tagline for a poster or a hashtag for social media. I want to go back to the days of being Colored or Negro. I want to return to the years of my youth to a time before we were Black – a time when Black lives mattered to Blacks. WI
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Jamaicans Respond to Hair-Ban Controversy By Sam P.K. Collins WI Contributing Writer @SamPKCollins To the surprise of Jamaicans at home and abroad, the island nation’s supreme court recently ruled in favor of a school whose dreadlock ban jeopardized a young girl’s admission. In its decision, the court said the unwritten policy didn’t infringe on the now-7year-old student’s constitutional rights because it helped promote student hygiene. Many who heard the news said such developments, especially at a time then dreadlocks have achieved a new level of mainstream popularity, reminded them of the persecution that dreadlock-sporting Rastas faced in the decades after Jamaica’s independence from the British Empire. Dr. A.G. Hamilton-Taylor, a computer scientist who grew up in the Rastafarian faith in an independent Jamaica, recounted experiences as a preteen during the 1970s when Black high school administrators, influenced by Eurocentric colonial standards, often tried to publicly embarrass him in front of the other students. On the first day of school, they placed him in an isolation room, handed him a comb, and tried to coerce him to detangle his curly dreadlocks. Hamilton-Taylor also said they even sent letters to his parents with language he likened to what the Supreme Court of Jamaica used in its decision. While he expressed doubt that the recent ruling would survive in the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, the highest court in the Jamaican constitution and where the young girl’s family said they plan to file an appeal, Hamilton-Taylor suggested that the time has finally come for national legislation protecting Afrocentric dreadlocks. “We’ve heard this sort of thing repeatedly over the last 50 years. It is a shock to many Jamaicans that we still have this sort of thinking after independence from the British, but it’s a wake-up call for this society,” said Hamilton-Taylor, lecturer and founder of the Web, Animation, Visualization, and E-learning (WAVE) research lab at the University of the West Indies at Mona, Jamaica. “People can really see that this sort of thinking is still happening, and we can actually deal with it once and for all,” he added. “Jamaican govern-
ments since independence have skirted around the matter over the years. I’ve experienced it myself. The judgment is extremely backwards in terms of the thinking. It’s unbelievable.”
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SIGNS OF A NOT-SO-DISTANT PAST
On Aug. 6, a few days after the court ruling, Jamaica celebrated its 58th independence day, a milestone propelled by the Black nationalism of the Garvey and Rastafari movements. Despite nominal freedom from the British, friction continued to persist between the Eurocentric elements of mainstream Jamaican society and its rebellious, marginalized Afrocentric counterparts. It had gotten to the point where a 2016 op-ed in the Jamaica Observer demanded that Jamaica’s Ministry of Education create a framework that doesn’t ostracize Afrocentric hairstyles and presentations. In the two years since the young girl’s father filed a suit against Kensington Primary School, the principal resigned and a new school board head was appointed. In its decision, however, the Supreme Court of Jamaica embraced the principal’s verbal ban and accompanying explanation. The family’s appeal on cultural and religious grounds, on the other hand, didn’t compel judges who disregarded the family’s beliefs and desire to express themselves.
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5 A young girl shows off her stylish locs. (Courtesy photo/Pinterest grab)
platforms where they document their hair journey and provide pointers on loc maintenance. Sheba Morgan, a former D.C.-area resident of Jamaican descent who wears sisterlocks down to her shoulders, has spent the last few years guiding four young women along in their decision to grow locs. She said, due to the level of commitment required of someone sporting locs, discussions often take place for three years. Despite her father’s strong encouragement, Morgan, one of seven siblings in a Rasta family, didn’t start growing her locs until her early 20s. Doing so, she said, further opened her eyes to the trials and tribulations that Black people endure when they wear their natural hair. It also made much clearer the looks and comments her parents often encountered, from family members and throughout Jamaican society. “Jamaica always had strict grooming rules for school children and workers. It’s ingrained in the colonizer’s beauty standards,” Morgan said. “Rastas have gone against these standards for selflove. Without knowing who you are, you can’t prosper. That’s why it’s bad that so many of Jamaica’s policies are based on the colonizer’s perspective of beauty. It’s the opposite of ours as Black people.” WI
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“The battles that count aren’t the ones for gold medals. The struggles within yourself – the invisible, inevitable battles inside all of us – that’s where it’s at. Life is the real Olympics.” – Jesse Owens
[1970]. On Aug. 9, 1936, Owens won the last of four gold medals in track and field at the Berlin Olympics. THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
Helen Jones Woods, 96, Dies of COVID-19
AROUND THE REGION CASH IN ON THE
Jazz Pioneer Was Mother of Urban One Founder By Hamil R. Harris WI Contributing Writer
Helen Jones Woods, a jazz trombonist and founding member of the International Sweethearts of Rhythm, a groundbreaking all-female big band, died July 25 of coronavirus-related complications in Sarasota, Florida. She was 96. Woods was the mother of Cathy Hughes, founder of Urban One, the largest African American-owned broadcast company in the U.S., and wife of Dr. Laurence Jones, who in 1937 founded the Piney Woods School in Omaha, Nebraska. “Helping people was her number one priority,” Hughes told The Washington Informer. “The group was called the first freedom riders in the country. What they were doing in the 1930s and 1940s, people were getting killed for.” The Sweethearts traveled across the country playing in venues from the Apollo Theater in New York City to the Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C. In 1941, the group set a box office record of 35,000 patrons. When the Sweethearts broke up in 1949, Woods auditioned for the Omaha Symphony Orchestra and made it. But the conductor had no idea that she was African American until her husband picked her up. “My father came to pick her up because it was a snowstorm so she wouldn’t have to ride the bus,” Hughes said. “When they asked, ‘who is your wife?,’ he said Helen Woods and he told her to take all of her things because there was no need to come back.” After her dismissal, she never played the trombone again. Instead, she earned a nursing degree and a master’s degree in social work. For the next three decades, she worked at Douglas County Hospital in Omaha. Helen Elizabeth Jones was born on either Oct. 9 or Nov. 14, 1923 (family documents differ). She spent some of her earliest days in an orphanage for white children in Meridian, Miss. But after officials realized that Woods was not white, she was put up for adoption.
5 Helen Jones Woods with daughter Cathy Hughes. (Courtesy photo)
Dr. Laurence Clifton Jones and his wife Grace adopted Woods. Dr. Jones was the founder of the Piney Woods Country Life School (now the Piney Woods School), which was a Black boarding school. To raise money for the school, Gracie Jones started male and female quartets called the Cotton Blossom Singers, which preceded the school’s famed group, The International Sweethearts. Woods played the trombone because she was fascinated by its slide. She started playing at Piney Woods at 13 and as a teen was an original member of the Swinging Rays of Rhythm, which resembled an all-female white group popular at the time. The Rays traveled the country in two modified school buses. One bus was outfitted with bunk beds and the other was a traveling classroom. Hughes said legendary bandleader Earl “Fatha” Hines gave the band the nickname “the first Freedom Riders.” Hughes said her mother and the other girls had it hard on the road: “They were ripped off, harassed and bullied.” But Woods and the International Sweethearts of Rhythm were never forgotten. In 1986, a documentary was made about their lives, and in 2007, Woods was inducted into the Omaha Black Music Hall of Fame. In 2011, the International Sweethearts of Rhythm were honored in D.C. by the Smithsonian Institute. Woods was preceded in death by William Alfred Woods, whom she married in the 1940s and had four children with. She is survived by daughters Cathy Hughes and Jacquelyn Marie Woods Williams, and two sons, William and Robert. Instead of a funeral, Hughes said that her mother wanted all contri-
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butions to go to The Piney Woods School, where 95 percent of the students are on a full or partial scholarship. “At one time, there were 40 Black boarding schools in America. Now
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there are only three,” Hughes said. “The reason why was wealthy white people encouraged their domestics to out their children in boarding schools. “We still are educating children with this pandemic — it has been
hard,” Hughes said. “My mother did not want a funeral. Her last request, which she put in writing, was to take that money to help the kids at Piney Woods.” WI
AUGUST 13 - 19, 2020 11
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY Law Enforcement Change Urged in Maryland By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill Josette Blocker said her nephew Demonte Ward-Blake continues to receive treatment to realign his neck after a traffic stop in Prince George’s County in October. Blocker said police officers removed Ward-Blake from a vehicle, handcuffed him and later slammed him to the ground on his neck. “The narrative only depicts Demonte being hostile. It places no accountability on the actions of the police officer, nor is there any transparency of an investigation with any consequences for the role
the officer played,” Blocker said. “I am not looking for sympathy, but my appeal is to your conscious bias to take action on bills that will protect the public.” Blocker and 99 parents, relatives, advocates and others testified Thursday, Aug. 6 during a nearly 5½-hour virtual public hearing before a work group comprised of lawmakers in the House of Delegates to assess and possibly implement police reform policies. The majority of testimony came from residents, advocates and a few attorneys who support changes in law enforcement such as limiting use of force, restructuring the public information act to release
5 Many citizens want to see police return to their role as neighborhood friends. (Courtesy photo)
public documents on police incidents and policies to limit the use of force. “Transparency creates accountability and trust,” said Jeffrey Harrison of Greenbelt. “Give the power to the people. Let’s end the police state in Maryland.” One oft-repeated demand called for the repeal of the state’s Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights, or LEOBR. The policy, first established in 1974 when Maryland became the first state in the nation to
approve it, became sought as a way to protect a police officer’s constitutional rights. The law revised in April 2017 prohibits a law enforcement agency from allowing an officer to have secondary employment. Another part: “before an interrogation, the law enforcement officer under investigation shall be informed in writing of the nature of the investigation.” Advocates have argued this currently allows officers to prevent
county not only on police reform, but also violence against women and to combat racism. Oriadha, who co-founded the LGBTQ Dignity Project, serves on a police reform task force created by Alsobrooks. The 23-member group former after a nearly 100-page report released in June highlighted more than two dozen incidents by white officers who created a hostile work environment for Black and Latino officers. The report also shows Black and Latino officers are twice as likely to receive disciplinary charges compared to their white counterparts and senior officers failed to keep track of disciplinary actions. Police Chief Hank Stawinski resigned hours after the report became public. The next day, Alsobrooks announced the appointment of Assistant Chief Hector Velez as interim chief
while a national search for a new leader continues. Meanwhile, Pope and Oriadha will join three other panelists Thursday, Aug. 13 to speak on another nationwide topic that’s resurfaced: police in schools, or formally called school resource officers (SROs). The virtual discussion will focus on the effects of SROs on students and communities. As the county school board prepares to discuss the topic next month, County Council member Jolene Ivey (D-District 5) of Cheverly wants to see some data on the effectiveness of officers in schools. “If you create a situation where there a lot of police officers in uniform looking like they are looking for someone to arrest, they’re going to find someone to arrest,” she said. “I don’t
Police Reform Still an Issue in Prince George’s County
By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill
Use existing resources from the Prince George’s County Police Department operating budget to create an unarmed division of mental health providers, counselors and health care workers. Allow community input in the hiring process for a new police chief, negotiating police contracts and appointments to civilian review board. These are portions of six recommendations from PG Change Makers, a group of local activists with supporters organizing an online petition demanding county leaders implement policy changes in the police department. “Divesting funds in law enforcement to invest in social services to get their basic needs met is essential,” said Amity Pope,
12 - AUGUST 13 - 19, 2020
co-founder of the change makers group and president of Our Prince George’s. “If you are running around brutalizing, intimidating Black and brown people, you should be worried about your job. If you are a community servant and advocate as a police officer, then you have nothing to worry about. Your gifts will make room for you.” One example of divesting funds would be County Executive Angela Alsobrooks proposal to use $20 million from a part of the police budget to fund a mental health facility. The county council later approved the measure and will be included with five bond bills at $506 million and placed on the Nov. 3 general election ballot. Pope, an educator in the county school system, and her co-founding partner of change makers, Krystal Oriadha, helped organize protests throughout the
POLICE Page 43
any interrogation for up to five days. Also, critics say LEOBR allows officers to investigate each other without outside entities such as a civilian review board. “Unless and until we repeal the straight jacket that is the LEOBR, we cannot even to begin to address these problems on a local level,” said David Rocah, senior staff attorney for the ACLU of Maryland. “We cannot even begin to create alternate methods of police accountability that allow for greater civilian control.” Del. Michael A. Jackson (D-District 27B), who represents portions of Prince George’s and Calvert counties and serves on the police reform work group, said an officer’s role has incorporated other methods of policing. “Law enforcement over the years have been asked to step into roles more and more aligned with social services than law enforcement. That is a fact,” said Jackson, a former Prince George’s County sheriff. “As we look at this opportunity to transition to a serving and protecting mantra, versus protecting and serving mantra, we can only be working together as we move forward in this regard.” In the meantime, some Maryland residents simply want change, including Marah O’Neal, who said her children’s father, Jamaal Taylor, was fatally shot in September by police in Hunt Valley. “We have been marching until we can’t launch no more,” she said. “We want change.” WI
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PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY
Pandemic Hits Black LGBTQ People with Double Whammy: Report By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill Although research has shown Blacks have been hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic, a new report shows Blacks are who also LGBTQ suffer additional economic pain. Based on a survey conducted by the Human Rights Commission and PSB Insights, about 31 percent of Black LGBTQ respondents had hours reduced at their jobs, compared to 28 percent of other LGBTQ survey participants and 23 percent of other Blacks. “The data just supports what we already are seeing in the community firsthand,” said Ashanti Martinez, 24, a gay Black man who handles constituents services for Prince George’s County Council member Tom Dernoga (D-District 1) of Laurel. “Folks that look like me that share my experiences often times don’t have a level of support, don’t have the level of access or opportunity. This virus only compounds that.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes as of July 22, about 23 percent of Blacks have died from the coronavirus, despite Blacks making up just 13 percent of the U.S. population. The study from HRC, a LGTBQ advocacy group, and PBS Insights, a research and analytics firm, released data based on 10 online polls conducted between April 16 and July 8 on the economic from COVID-19. The data was released Aug. 4, less than a week after the federal government distributed the last $600 stimulus unemployment benefits.
The three-page document emphasizes Black LGBTQ people are employed in industries affected by the coronavirus outbreak that deal with the public. For instance, 20 percent as food service employees, janitors, cashiers and stock workers. Nearly 20 percent of LGBTQ adults work in food service, at restaurants, or retail. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes as of July 22, about 23 percent of Blacks have died from the coronavirus, despite Blacks making up just 13 percent of the U.S. population. “The percent of deaths from COVID-19 that are Black individuals is 77 percent greater than the percent of Black people in the United States,” according to the report. “This underscores how Black communities are being disproportionately affected by this pandemic.” Amid the economic downturn, the report showed that 23 percent of Black LGBTQ respondents asked for delays in paying their rent, compared to 12% of other
5 Ashanti Martinez (right, with bullhorn) participates in a protest against police brutality and other forms of racism in Greenbelt on July 6. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington
Blacks and 11% of other LGBTQ respondents. Some of the other data: • 36 percent of Black LGBTQ respondents have made changes to their
Hogan to Allow Voting Centers for General Election By William J. Ford WI Staff Writer @jabariwill Facing heavy criticism and a limited number of election judges to work at polling locations for the Nov. 3 general election, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan issued a procla-
mation Monday, Aug. 10 to allow for voting centers throughout the state. The move will depart from a traditional election Hogan sought with more than 1,800 precincts amid the coronavirus pandemic. Hogan agreed with a recommendation made Friday by the
5 Plexiglass separates voters and election officials during the June 2 presidential primary election at the Southern Regional Technology and Recreation Complex in Fort Washington. (Anthony Tilghman/The Washington Informer, file)
state Board of Elections to incorporate about 360 voting centers, which will allow voters to cast a ballot at any voting location within their respective jurisdiction. This will be the first time Maryland conducts an election in this format. “I remain very concerned that the board’s decision to close nearly 80% of the polls will have the potential to creating long lines and unsafe conditions, with crowds of people being forced into too few polling places,” the governor wrote in a letter Monday to board chairman Michael Cogan. However, in jurisdictions such as Prince George’s County could face at least a 15% decrease in election judges for the Nov. 3 election. After Hogan released his proclamation and letter, one idea discussed during a county board of elections meeting would be to increase pay. Elections Administrator Alisha Alexander summarized the current
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payment structure: $50 for training; $200 to work as an election judge: and $300 as a chief judge. She said discussions are underway to provide an additional $100 in “hazard pay” for training and each position. “Even without the hazard pay, that would be a nice add-on for a college student or retired person to their normal income,” said John Rowe, the board chair. One big concern of some state, local and voting administration officials is the mailing of absentee ballots to all four million registered voters in the state. Hogan urged state election officials to mail out the applications for voters to request absentee ballots, a decision critics have said will create additional cost in manpower, paperwork and other resources. Groups such as Maryland House Democrats are urging voters to request absentee ballots immediately.
ELECTION Page 43
household budgets, compared to 27 percent of Black respondents and 30 percent of other LGBTQ people. • 28 percent of Black LGBTQ respondents have taken out more cash from the bank, compared to 15% of Black respondents and 18% of other LGBTQ people. • 18 percent of Black LGBTQ respondents became unemployed due to COVID-19, compared to 16 percent of Black respondents and the same number of other LGBTQ people. Among those in the LGBTQ community, transgender people of color are hit the hardest, according to a report by the Human Rights Commission. “The failure of federal officials to consistently collect and report data on gender identity and sexual orientation makes it impossible to know the full health and economic toll on the transgender community or the LGBTQ community as a whole,” according to the commission’s June report. Martinez said one solution to improve the economy would be to select leaders in public and private agencies who represent the entire community. “We need as many diverse voices as we can in the halls of power because our problems are diverse and complexed,” he said. “If we keep electing or hiring the same people with the same pedigrees, we’re going to get the same solutions.” WI
AUGUST 13 - 19, 2020 13
BUSINESS Trump Administration Reduces Census Deadline
Experts Fear Undercount of People of Color By D. Kevin McNeir WI Editor @dkevinmcneir The Census Bureau has ramped up the number of workers as they knock on doors of Americans across the nation in efforts to secure responses for the decennial count but their task has become even more challenging in recent days. Despite the importance of
achieving an accurate response rate for the 10-year survey which determines federal funding and political representation in both urban and rural communities, the Trump Administration recently decided to end the count one month earlier making Sept. 30 the revised deadline. The shortened campaign for responses has many Census experts and advocates highly concerned,
particularly in light of low response rates in a plethora of hardto-count Census tracts already negatively impacted due to the coronavirus pandemic. Latest estimates from Census officials say that door knockers still need to reach four-in-10 households who have not responded equating to more than 60 million households still uncounted. In addition, many of the Census counters who are older citizens, have chosen to abandon their duties, fearful of contracting COVID-19 as they make their rounds. Further, as reported on a recent NPR program, those trained to do outreach to communities must complete many hours of online training before they can go door-to-door. And with the shortened deadline, some Census outreach workers have decided to opt out of the job. The announcement of the shortened deadline which came Monday evening has generated sharp criticism including several former directors of the Census Bureau who released a statement urging the administration to restore the lost weeks.
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The former directors, who worked under both Democratic and Republican administrations, issued a warning that an earlier deadline would “result in seriously incomplete enumerations in many areas across our country,” while also recommending that Congress assemble a trusted body of experts to develop standards for assessing the quality of the bureau’s population totals. Other requests of similar urging came on Tuesday from a network of agencies and nonprofit institutions that act as liaisons between the Census Bureau and state governments and assist with using population data to make policies. “The credibility of the U.S. Census Bureau as the gold standard of data in the U.S. will be undermined by rushing an incomplete census count to meet deadlines,” a letter from the group stated. Initially, the Census Bureau had earlier planned and set an April 2021 deadline because of the coronavirus pandemic, making the change to meet a federal deadline to get the numbers to President Trump by the end of the year. But Democratic lawmakers said the change reflected a deliberate attempt to undercount groups that tend to support their party. Federal law requires the Census Bureau to send population totals to the president by Dec. 31 of every census year. However, with the pandemic, the House approved the new deadline in May – a change that the Senate, controlled by Republicans has not been supported.
In addition, while the Constitution requires a count of all residents, Trump maintains that the count should apply to U.S. citizens only and not all residents. He has indicated that he will remove undocumented residents from census totals before he sends totals to Congress for use in reapportioning the House – a decision which has several lawsuits claim would be unconstitutional. The shortened deadline has put some Republicans in a precarious position especially in major GOP strongholds like Texas and Florida that would inevitably lose seats in the House in the next reapportionment given the large number of undocumented immigrants who reside in both states. In a recent interview with MSNBC, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican, said described the situation as a catch-22. “It would hurt Florida but at the same time, it dilutes the representation of people that are here legally and eligible to vote.” The decision to shorten the counting schedule serves as an about face from the Census Bureau’s statement months earlier which said the coronavirus pandemic had resulted in the need to request additional time to complete the count, particularly for those households already identified as those most likely to be missed in this year’s tally. This story was part of the “2020 Census: New Jersey Media Counts,” an initiative of the Center for Cooperative Media at Montclair State University. WI
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BUSINESS Building Future Capital
Prince George’s Aims to Boost Businesses During Pandemic WI Staff Report
A recently launched program in Prince George’s County seeks to boost local businesses and encourages residents to support them while staying at home amid the coronavirus pandemic. According to a summary of the “Buy Prince George’s” initiative, business must create an online presence of their goods and services. The partnership between the county’s Economic Development Corp., chamber of commerce and Experience Prince George’s aims to reinforce that buying local keeps money in the community and increases the tax base. The businesses listed include
767 Boutique in Landover Hills, Second Chance Hair Clinic in Hyattsville, Tyler Group Coaching & Consulting in Fort Washington and Wellspring Manor & Spa in Upper Marlboro. A portion of a video summarized why residents should support businesses, especially as the majority-Black jurisdiction continues to lead the state in confirmed cases. “Whether it’s takeout from your local restaurant, shopping for your essential items, [or] purchasing a professional service. Stay home. Stay proud. Shop online and when you do, buy Prince George’s,” the video said. For more information, go to pgcedc.com/buyprincegeorges. WI
Aimee D. Griffin, Esq We spend our time building a life for ourselves and our families. Many of us subscribe to the proverb that a good person leaves an inheritance for our children’s children. Typically, people do not plan at all. In the Black community, 70% of people do not have a complete estate plan. As an estate planning attorney, my experience challenges that number! I see many of the Wills that are filed and recognize that many are not complete plans at all. I will admit, we see many Wills that are created on the death bed in an effort to minimize the disruption and confusion that is anticipated upon death. In more cases than not, the hastily prepared Will is not an adequate plan. I would also suggest that this may create more confusion than it solves. When we look at what we pass on through a narrow lens, we overlook many things. I strongly encourage people to take the time to create a complete picture, which looks beyond the day of passing and includes our children’s children in the plan. In building a legacy, we pass on more than money. The capital that we provide is social, spiritual, as well as financial. The financial capital is a resource that we provide to impact the social and spiritual capital. In this current day, it is evident how the love of money can impact motivation, ambition and values. If we can encourage and reward service, generosity and community, in addition to achievement, we can shape the generations that follow. Leaving money without instilling values maycorrupt. I often say that money evaporates without systemic support to build and maintain. I encourage legacy building with real property acquisition that increase in value and becomes a generational asset. I encourage providing resources for education, not just for education sake, but for impact. I encourage supporting our heirs to walk in the gift and live in the purpose for which they are created. While building financial wealth and an impactful legacy, it is essential to convey to future generations that giving back and providing service to our community is necessary for us to grow as a community and society. I believe that we are not intended to be narcissistic or hedonistic. As a person of faith, I believe that we should love our neighbors as we love ourselves. That is a lesson that we can teach by leaving a legacy that incentivizes service and giving. As I encourage the utilization of Trusts in estate planning, I encourage folks to consider charitable giving as a component of their Trusts that are income producing. Charitable giving not only provides support for our community, it also defrays some of the taxes that would be imposed upon the Trust. We can provide an opportunity for our heirs to make decisions about doing well and good, but also remembering to serve. It is our responsibility to support our children and our children’s children to ensure they have the resources necessary to be contributing members of the community. That goes far beyond finances. We are blessed to be a blessing. We should not take for granted the depth and the breadth of the blessing by limiting it just to the financial impact. Let us be financially impactful in our social and spiritual legacy, as well.
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AUGUST 13 - 19, 2020 15
NATIONAL Strong, Resilient Black Women Hit Back at Media Racism in Covering VP Candidates By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia As Presumptive Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden inched closer to deciding his run-
ning mate, racist and sexist attacks ramped up primarily against the three African-American women who many believe are frontrunners. In an open letter by nearly 700 Black women leaders, the attacks
5 From left: Former D.C. first lady Cora Masters Barry, Ben’s Chili Bowl co-founder and owner Virginia Ali, D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, former Democratic National Committee Chairman Donna Brazile and JMA Solutions founder and owner Jan Adams participate in a panel discussion hosted by Norton in celebration of Women’s History Month at the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on March 19, 2019. (Robert Roberts/The Washington Informer)
were roundly denounced. “Black women are many things. We are business executives, political strategists, and elected officials, philanthropists and activists,” the letter, circulated throughout the media and posted to various social media accounts, read. “We are health and wellness
The Washington Convention and Sports Authority (t/a Events DC) Bid Announcement The Washington Convention and Sports Authority (t/a Events DC) is soliciting bids from qualified firms to provide for the ASPHALT REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT. Interested parties can view a copy of the Invitation for Bid (IFB) by accessing the Event DC’s E-procurement website at www.wcsapex.com and opening APEX BID #20-S-003-652. Key Date Bids Due Date: 4:00 P.M. EST, Monday, January 17, 2020 (Electronic copy) Point of Contact: Robert Martinez, 202-249-3023
The Washington Convention and Sports Authority (t/a Events DC) Bid Announcement The Washington Convention and Sports Authority (t/a Events DC) is soliciting bids from qualified contractors to provide Lift and Cart Equipment Maintenance & Repair Service for the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Interested parties can view a copy of the Invitation for Bid (IFB) by accessing the Event DC’s E-procurement website at www.wcsapex.com and opening APEX BID #20-S-022-653 Key Dates IFB Questions Due Date: 05:00 PM EST, Tuesday, August 18, 2020 IFB Response Due Date: 3:00 PM, EST, Friday, September 4, 2020
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practitioners. We are entertainers and faith leaders. We are wives, mothers, daughters, educators and students. We set and shift culture. We build power and we are powerful.” Counting among the many Black women who signed the open letter are Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole, Maya Cummings, Dr. Hazel Dukes, Suzanne DePasse, Valeisha Butterfield Jones, Cora Masters Barry, Melanie Campbell and Karen Boykin-Towns. “We are the highest propensity of voters in this nation. We are a coalition of Black women leaders, who, in this inflection point of the Black liberation movement, where people around the world are galvanized to action, know that the time for Black women in the United States is now,” the women penned in the letter. They noted that over the past few months in the media, they have witnessed the public criticism of many Black women named potential vice presidents. The candidate list included former Georgia Gubernatorial Candidate Stacey Abrams, Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Rep. Val Demings, and former US Ambassador Susan Rice. Sen. Harris (Biden’s choice), Rep. Bass, and Ambassador Rice were considered frontrunners. “We have also watched many of these highly-credentialed women be disrespected in the media over the last few weeks,” the letter states. “Regardless of your political af-
filiation, whether it’s the media, members of the vice-presidential vetting committee, a former Governor, a top political donor, or a small-town mayor, we are not your Aunt Jemimas,” the women declared. “The use of the racist myth of a happy, Black servant portrayed as a happy domestic worker loyal to her white employer is not lost on us. While some of the relentless attacks on Black women and our leadership abilities have been more suggestive than others, make no mistake – we are qualified and ambitious without remorse.” They continued: “We are servant leaders – motivated by a desire to uplift and advance our communities and nation. And we will not tolerate racist or sexist tropes consistently utilized in an effort to undermine our power. “No matter who you are supporting for Vice President, you should be equally outraged by the blatant disrespect of Black women. “Black women have been and remain vital across sectors. We are indebted to women like Ella Baker, Septima Clarke, Shirley Chisholm, Angela Davis, Fannie Lou Hamer, Barbara Jordan, Ruby Doris Robinson and Ida B. Wells, just to name a few. “These women have fought to move us forward and are collectively responsible for much of this country’s progress. Black women have been leading, and we must honor, protect, support and uplift them.” WI
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
NATIONAL
Organizations Demand Congress to Act to Protect Voter Rights By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia
Congress needs to act immediately to ensure safe and free elections in November, according to several activist organizations that fear voting rights are in danger. The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the NAACP, American Association of People with Disabilities, and the Georgia Coalition for the People’s Agenda have expressed their desire for congressional intervention. In a news conference that included Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.) and California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, the organization’s hailed the 55th anniversary of signing the landmark Voting Rights Act as a time for action. “In 2020, not only do voters of color, students, people with disabilities, and many Native Amer-
icans face barriers to the ballot like strict voter ID laws, polling place closures, and purges of the voter rolls, they also face the new obstacle of COVID-19,” the organizations said in a news release. “The nation has witnessed the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on our elections through the chaos in recent primaries with hourslong lines and massive polling place closures in states like Georgia and Wisconsin, where voters had to put their health and safety at risk to exercise their fundamental right to vote.” The Senate must immediately include $3.6 billion in the next COVID-19 package to ensure safeguards for America’s democracy during the pandemic and beyond, said Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. “That includes mandating that
states establish vital protections for voters and a range of options to ensure every person can safely cast a ballot in a way that works for them,” Gupta said. “Without a functional democracy in which everyone is included, heard, and represented, we cannot make real progress on civil and human rights issues like affordable health care, fair wages, educational equity, and justice reform.” It would be impossible to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 without acknowledging the passing of voting rights hero John Lewis, Sewell added. “Not only must [Senate Majority Leader] Mitch McConnell (R-Ky) take up and pass the John Robert Lewis Voting Rights Act of 2020 — which has been sitting on his desk since December 2019 — he ought to support the VoteSafe Act that requires states to permit
no-excuse mail-in absentee voting for the 2020 elections and an early in-person voting period of at least 20 days for the 2020 elections,” Sewell said. “Ensuring free and fair elections is the cornerstone of our democracy and, right now, too many Americans are being left behind,” she said. “We must recommit ourselves to John Lewis’ vision of America, and restore the promise of voter equality.” Americans shouldn’t have to choose between exercising their right to vote or protecting their health, Padilla said. “Congress must act to provide the funding necessary for state and local elections officials to administer accessible, secure, and safe elections,” he said. NAACP President Derrick Johnson noted that “the onslaught
VOTER Page 43
5 Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (Courtesy of Atlanta Black Star)
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Governors Urge Buhari for Support in Fighting Terrorists North-East Governors Forum (NGF) has declared that it was not opposed to the Nigerian military and troops’ battle against Boko Haram. On Saturday, Aug. 8, the forum urged President Muhammadu Buhari’s government to deploy more hardware to the forces fighting terrorists. The body made the call in a communique after a meeting on security challenges in the region. It was signed by the Forum Chairman and Borno Governor, Babagana Zulum. In attendance were Governors Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe) and Bala Mohammed (Bauchi); and Deputy Governors Haruna Manu (Taraba); and Idi Barde Gubana (Yobe). The leaders demanded more efforts to ensure protection of the people and ensure safe access to farmlands. They recommended that the manpower deficit in the military be bridged by allowing the Police to carry state-of-the-art weapons and be provided with strategic equipment like high-velocity tear gas, trackers and Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC). The governors called on the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to ensure that attention was given to recharging the Lake Chad from national water bodies and strengthening the river basins in the subregion. They pledged to work together to foster regional integration, growth and development, especially in exploitation of its oil and gas potentials, mineral resources, agriculture and industrialization. The chief executives urged the federal government to revoke road contracts awarded by the Federal Ministry of Works for years without progress and re-award same to more competent contractors with funding to ensure timely execution. The federal government was also asked to ensure local content in the execution of the Mambila Hydroelectric power project and other programs of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) to ensure synergy with state governments. The communique affirmed its commitment to support the federal government agenda of transforming the Almajiri system with a view to strengthening both Islamic and western education. “The Forum also nominated Zulum as Chairman of the Forum for a period of two years and the headquarters of the Forum will be located in Maiduguri,” it said. WI
caribbean now Two UWI Scientists Appointed to International Body Two scientists from The University of the West Indies (UWI), professors Terrence Forrester and Michelle Mycoo (top) have recently been appointed to the International Science Council (ISC). In an announcement made by the ISC this month, the two were named among eight distinguished scientists selected from around the world who will comprise a Small Island Development States (SIDS) Liaison Committee. According to the ISC, the committee will advise on strategic matters, such as mobilizing input from the SIDS scientific community for the UN Decade of Ocean Science in Sustainable Development. The members are also expected to bring other matters to the attention of the ISC so that representation of the SIDS scientific community is strengthened across the Council’s activities. Professor Terrence Forrester is currently chief scientist for UWI SODECO (Solutions for Developing Countries) and a professor of Experimental Medicine in the Faculty of Medical Sciences at UWI, Mona Campus. As a clinical scientist with a longstanding interest in cardiovascular disease — primarily hypertension — he is renowned for his work in, and dedication to, tropical medical research. Mycoo is a professor of urban and regional planning at the UWI’s St. Augustine campus. As an urban planning expert, her work, recognized regionally and internationally, is dedicated to pivotal inter-related issues such as land use planning, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, water management and integrated coastal zone planning. WI
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
August Greetings from DC Department of Aging and Community Living
Laura Newland Director Department of Aging and Community Living
I hope everyone is keeping cool and staying safe. So much has changed for all of us over the past several months, but no matter what, the Department of Aging and Community Living is still here for you! DACL continues to provide critical resources, programs and activities to keep our community healthy, safe, and engaged.
STAY ACTIVE
We’re social distancing, but that doesn’t mean you need to be socially distant. This month, fill up your calendar with activities you can join from the comfort of your own living room. Check out our virtual events site at daclvirtualevents.splashthat.com. Wherever you are, you can join aerobics class live on Zoom, trade gardening tips with friends on a conference call, learn to paint, or join the DC Public Library for their weekly Lunchtime Literature program.
STAY COOL
During the hottest month of the year it’s so important to be proactive and take precautions to avoid illness from exposure to excessive heat and humidity. We want to make sure you can StayCool at home while you’re enjoying these virtual activities. So, we’ve joined the Department of Energy and Environment to launch our Seniors StayCool Air Conditioning Pilot Program this month! Income-eligible residents, age 60 and older, may qualify to have your window air conditioning unit or HVAC unit repaired or replaced at no cost to them. To learn more about this new program, give us a call at 202-236-2657.
REMEMBER TO ALSO KEEP THESE TIPS IN MIND:
Drink plenty of liquids, such as water or fruit or vegetable juices. Stay away from drinks containing alcohol or caffeine. If your doctor has told you to limit your liquids, ask what you should do when it is very hot. If you live in a home or apartment without fans or air conditioning, try to keep your house as cool as possible. Limit your use of the oven. Keep your shades, blinds, or curtains closed during the hottest part of the day. Open your windows at night. If your house is hot, try to spend time during mid-day some place that has air conditioning—the District provides several cooling centers where you can seek relief from the heat and where strict social distancing measures are in place— don’t forget your mask! To locate a cooling center near you, dial 311. Dress for the weather. Some people find natural fabrics, such as cotton, to be cooler than synthetic fibers. Don’t try to exercise or do a lot of activities outdoors when it’s hot.
Services Agency at 202-671- SAFE (7233). Contact the DC Victim Hotline at (844) 4-HELP-DC (844443-5732) or online chat at www. dcvictim.org for free confidential, around-the-clock information and referrals for victims of ALL CRIME in the District of Columbia. It’s true that DC doesn’t look exactly the way it did six months ago, and our programs look a little different, but our commitment to you is stronger than ever. These are unprecedented times, and we’ve all been challenged in different ways, but as the Mayor says, we’re in this together, and we’ll get through this together. I hope to see or hear you at one (or several!) of our virtual events. Stay active, stay cool, and stay safe! For the latest information on the District Government’s response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus), please visit coronavirus.dc.gov.
KEEP OUR COMMUNITY SAFE
Even through the Public Health Emergency, our hotlines are operating around the clock! If you or someone you know has been the victim of any kind of abuse, please reach out to us. We’re here for you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We can make our community safer for everyone. If you suspect the abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult, call DACL’s Adult Protective Services team at 202-541-3950. Keep children safe during the public health emergency by reporting suspected child abuse and neglect to the Child and Family
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
AUGUST 13 - 19, 2020 19
HEALTH A CONTINUING SERIES
COVID 19 UPDATE Strategies to Survive, Sustain and Succeed
Pandemic Hits Americans Harder Mentally, Financially By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia The coronavirus pandemic has posed more significant mental health and economic challenges in the U.S. than anywhere else, a new survey found. A survey by nonprofit think tank Commonwealth Fund found that of high-income countries released this week shows Americans are less happy with their national leaders and the pandemic has caused high mental anxiety and economic stress. The survey, “Do Americans Face Greater Mental Health and Economic Consequences from COVID-19?,” found that Americans are more likely to report mental health concerns since the start of the pandemic. Thirty-three percent of U.S. adults reported stress, anxiety, and great sadness that was difficult to cope with by themselves, compared to about one-quarter or less in other countries. The survey found that more than 30 percent of U.S. respondents said they have struggled economically and were unable to pay for basic necessities, used up all their savings, or borrowed money
20 - AUGUST 13 - 19, 2020
— a significantly higher percentage than in any other country. “Rates were also high in Canada (24 percent) and Australia (21 percent) but were low in Germany and the Netherlands, where only 6 percent to 7 percent of respondents reported the same,” researchers wrote in the report. The survey also found that just 33 percent of U.S. adults said President Donald Trump had done a “good” or “very good” job handling the coronavirus pandemic. Trump has sat mostly on the sidelines as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and White House negotiators have attempted to hammer out an agreement on a new stimulus bill that includes unemployment benefits, direct payments, and aid to state and local governments. Researchers said people in all the countries surveyed appreciated healthcare workers’ response to the pandemic, with 78 percent to 96 percent stating that hospitals, nurses, and doctors had done a good or very good job. “What we learn from this study is that in the U.S., the pandemic has taken a greater toll on people’s well-being when compared to other high-income countries,” Regi-
5 COVID-19 has taking its toll on the mental health of Americans. (Courtesy of USC)
nald D. Williams II, lead author of the study and Commonwealth Fund Vice President for International Health Policy and Practice Innovations, said in a news release. “As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and deaths in the U.S. continues to increase, policymakers — at all levels of government — should look abroad for innovative solutions,” Williams said. “There are valuable lessons we can learn, particularly
around improving access to mental health services, and addressing socioeconomic needs exacerbated by the pandemic.” Dr. David Blumenthal, president of the Commonwealth Fund, added that as America struggles with the surging number of cases and the economic havoc that the pandemic is wreaking, people in other countries live a different, better reality. “Americans should realize that
our country can do better, too,” Blumenthal said. “We can start by ensuring everyone can get and afford the health care they need, and by implementing public health measures, like mask-wearing, social distancing, and robust testing and tracing that can help us stop COVID-19 as so many others have effectively accomplished.” To view the full report, go to www.commonwealthfund.org. WI
VA Leads Way with New COVID-19 App First State to Roll out Contact-Tracing Initiative By Sarafina Wright WI Contributing Writer Virginia is the first state in the U.S. to launch a free smartphone app, developed by Apple and Google to automatically notify people if they may have been exposed to COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Gov. Ralph Northam announced last week the launch of COVIDWISE, an innovative app that uses Bluetooth Low Energy
technology while not relying on personal information or location data. “We must continue to fight COVID-19 from every possible angle,” Northam said. “The COVIDWISE exposure notification app gives you an additional tool to protect yourself, your loved ones and your community while maintaining your personal privacy. I encourage all Virginians to download and use this app, so we can work togeth-
er to contain this virus.” According to the governor’s office, COVIDWISE works by using random Bluetooth keys that change every 10 to 20 minutes. Android and iOS devices that have the app installed will anonymously share these random keys if they are in proximity for at least 15 minutes. Each day, the device downloads a list of all random keys associated
COVID-19 Page 21
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COVID-19 from Page 20 with positive COVID-19 results submitted by other app users and checks them against the list of random keys it has encountered in the previous 14 days. If there is a match, COVIDWISE may notify the individual, taking into account the date and duration of exposure, and the Bluetooth signal strength, which is used to estimate proximity. Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 will be notified by a Virginia Department of Health case investigator and given a unique numeric code. The notice includes the estimated number of days since the exposure and several options for taking further action, including contacting a primary care physician or local health department, monitoring symptoms, and finding nearby test locations. With nearly 20 million confirmed COVID-19 cases around
the globe and more than 160,000 deaths in the U.S., including over 2,000 in Virginia, health officials believe widespread use of COVIDWISE is critical to containing the disease. “As COVID-19 cases continue to be identified across the commonwealth, it is important for people to know whether they have been exposed to someone
Virginia is the first state in the U.S. to launch a free smartphone app, developed by Apple and Google to automatically notify people if they may have been exposed to COVID-19...
who has tested positive for the disease,” said State Health Commissioner M. Norman Oliver. “COVIDWISE will notify you if you’ve likely been exposed to another app user who anonymously shared a positive COVID-19 test result.” The VDH developed COVIDWISE in partnership with Spring ML using funding from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. The department says other countries, including Ireland and Germany, have successfully used this technology in similar apps. “Knowing your exposure history allows you to self-quarantine effectively, seek timely medical attention, and reduce potential exposure risk,” Oliver said. “The more Virginians use COVIDWISE, the greater the likelihood that you will receive timely exposure notifications that lead to effective disease prevention.” WI
HEALTH
5 Virginia State Health Commissioner M. Norman Oliver
ARE YOU FACING EVICTION OR FORECLOSURE? Legal Counsel for the Elderly may be able to help.* LCE serves D.C. residents, 60 and older.
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AUGUST 13 - 19, 2020 21
EDUCATION Jay-Z Launches Music and Entertainment School at LIU-Brooklyn
Roc Nation School of Music, Sports and Entertainment Coming Fall 2021 By Sarafina Wright WI Contributing Writer Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, a global entertainment company, has part-
nered with Long Island University-Brooklyn to establish the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment in what they call a historic collaboration.
LIU-Brooklyn will begin enrolling students in the newly created school in fall 2021, offering undergraduate degrees in music; music technology, entrepreneurship and production; and sports management. “Pursuing higher education is an investment in one’s future,” said Desiree Perez, CEO of Roc Nation. “This partnership, envisioned alongside [LIU President Kimberly] Cline, is a true investment in our community and young people in Brooklyn, in New York City and beyond. “We’re excited that the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment will provide unique insight, knowledge, and experiences for students and introduce the world to the next generation of unmatched talent,” Perez said. Located in Jay-Z’s native Brooklyn, the Roc Nation School
of Music, Sports & Entertainment will provide Roc Nation Hope Scholarships for 25 percent of enrolled students. Roc Nation says the scholars, who will be selected from a pool of competitive, New York-based first-time freshmen with the highest need, will graduate from the school debt-free, and will receive individualized support. “Our proximity in and around New York City’s epicenter of music and sports clearly positions us to offer unparalleled experiential learning and access to professional opportunities that will launch students to success,” Cline said. “We look forward to joining with Roc Nation to offer an unprecedented educational resource that opens up the entertainment and sports world to a new and eager generation.” In addition to the college program, the school will offer camps for aspiring students. Roc Nation says young talent will be developed through summer residential camps for high school students and year-round Saturday programs for ages 10-18 in music and sports management, starting in the spring of 2021. Adding that need-based scholarships will also be available for the camps. “After many years of working
with LIU, I know how important music and sports are to both Dr. Cline and the LIU Board of Trustees, so I was thrilled to be able to partner with them for the first-ever Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment,” said Brett Yormark, president, Business Operations & Strategy of Roc Nation. “Expansion beyond our inaugural school will certainly be considered in collaboration with Dr. Cline.” Founded in 2008, Roc Nation boasts clients such as Rihanna, J. Cole, Buju Banton and Snoh Aalegra. The company supports a diverse roster with artist management as well as music publishing, touring, production and strategic brand development. In 2013, Roc Nation branched out to professional sports, managing athletes such as Todd Gurley, Kyrie Irving, Skylar Diggins-Smith, Robinson Cano and Kevin De Bruyne. “We are proud to offer students the extraordinary scholarship and learning opportunities they need to achieve their goals through this creative collaboration,” said Eric Krasnoff, LIU board chair. “It embodies Long Island University’s renown as a destination for worldclass education, exceptional career development, and empowering cultural initiatives.” WI
5 Jay Z’s Roc Nation has teamed up with Long Island University Brooklyn for the announcement of the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment. (Courtesy photo/GRMDaily.com)
22 - AUGUST 13 - 19, 2020
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EDUCATION
HARRIS from Page 1 character it requires to stand up to the powerful, and resolved to spend her life advocating for those who could not defend themselves. After earning an undergraduate degree from Howard University and a law degree from the University of California, Hastings, she began her career in the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office. In 2003, Harris became the district attorney of the city and county of San Francisco. Her achievements as district attorney include starting a program that gives first-time drug offenders the chance to earn a high school diploma and find employment. Having completed two terms as district attorney, Harris was elected as the first African-American and first woman to serve as California’s attorney general. In this role, she “worked tirelessly to hold corporations accountable and protect the state’s most vulnerable people,” according to her biography. Over the course of nearly two terms in office, Harris won a $25 billion settlement for California homeowners hit by the foreclosure crisis, defended California’s landmark climate change law, protected the Affordable Care Act, helped win marriage equality for all Californians and prosecuted transnational gangs that trafficked in guns, drugs and human beings. Since taking office, she has introduced and cosponsored legislation to raise wages for working people, reform our broken criminal justice system, make health care a right for all Americans, address the epidemic of substance abuse, support veterans and military families, and expand access to child care for working parents. Earlier Tuesday, President Donald Trump suggested that “some men are insulted” that Biden had long ago narrowed his search to women. However, Trump’s statements were seen as
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5 Kamala Harris (Courtesy photo)
a last-minute bid to rattle the Democrats. Women’s groups and the civil rights community in recent days had blasted media members and individuals on social platforms for racist and sexist attacks against Harris and others who were considered in the vice presidential sweepstakes. In an open letter by nearly 700 Black women leaders, the attacks were roundly denounced. “Black women are many things. We are business executives, political strategists, and elected officials, philanthropists, and activists,” read the letter, which was circulated throughout the media and posted to various social media accounts. “We are health and wellness practitioners. We are entertainers and faith leaders. We are wives, mothers, daughters, educators, and students. We set and shift culture. We build power, and we are powerful.” Counting among the many Black women who signed the open letter are Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole, Maya Cummings, Dr. Hazel Dukes, Suzanne DePasse, Valeisha Butterfield Jones, Cora Masters Barry, Melanie Campbell and Karen Boykin-Towns. “We are the highest propensity vot-
HARRIS Page 29
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Project Description: The work consists of selective demolition of platform elements, concrete repair, installation of granite edges, complete replacement of all platform and mezzanine tiles, installation of new wind shelters and pylons, complete station signage, electrical and communications, lighting within the station including pylons and platform edges, repair or replacement and painting of railings and gates, Kiosk repairs and renovations, fire standpipe reconfiguration and connections. Additional architectural work includes: concrete cleaning/repair, lighted handrails, station ceilings, doors/hardware, ‘back of house’ areas/bathrooms, skylights, roofing, etc. No platform surface (tiles, granite edges, edge lighting, etc.) will be re-used, stored, or salvaged. The work is located at the following Stations: C06 Arlington Cemetery: 1000 North Memorial Drive Arlington, VA 22211; E07 West Hyattsville: 2700 Hamilton St. Hyattsville, MD 20782; E08 Prince George’s Plaza: 3575 East West Highway, Hyattsville, MD 20782; E09 College Park: 4931 Calvert Road, College Park MD 20740; E10 Greenbelt: 5717 Greenbelt Metro Drive, Greenbelt MD 20740; G03 Addison Road: 100 Addison Road S, Capitol Heights, MD 20743 . Please contact the following estimators for questions related to your trade Package. Traffic Control – Dan Page, 301-272-8173, daniel.page@clarkconstruction.com Scaffolding – Keki Wadia, 301-272-8173, daniel.page@clarkconstruction.com Progress Photos -– Dan Page, 301-272-8173, daniel.page@clarkconstruction.com Testing and Inspection – Dan Page, 301-272-8173, daniel.page@clarkconstruction.com Final Cleaning – Jackie Jacobson, 301- 272-7409, jackie.jacobson@clarkconstruction.com Selective Demolition – Keki Wadia, 301-272-8173, daniel.page@clarkconstruction.com Concrete Restoration – Rob Flowers, (301) 272-8183, rob.flowers@clarkconstruction.com CIPC – Dan Page, 301-272-8173, daniel.page@clarkconstruction.com Unit Masonry Restoration – Rob Flowers,(301) 272-8183, rob.flowers@clarkconstruction.com Granite and Pavers – Rob Flowers,(301) 272-8183, rob.flowers@clarkconstruction.com Misc. Metals – Sam Milligan, (301) 272-8207, sam.j.milligan@clarkconstruction.com Decorative Railings – Sam Milligan, (301) 272-8207, sam.j.milligan@clarkconstruction.com Rough Carpentry – Paul Marta, (301) 272-6759 , paul.marta@clarkconstruction.com Millwork Rob Flowers,(301) 272-8183, rob.flowers@clarkconstruction.com Waterproofing – Chanda Singoyi, (301) 272-6749 , chanda.singoyi@clarkconstruction.com Roofing – Chanda Singoyi, (301) 272-6749 , chanda.singoyi@clarkconstruction.com Joint Sealants – Chanda Singoyi, (301) 272-6749 , chanda.singoyi@clarkconstruction.com HMD and Frames – Paul Marta, (301) 272-6759 , paul.marta@clarkconstruction.com Access Hatches – Paul Marta, (301) 272-6759 , paul.marta@clarkconstruction.com Glass/Glazing – Paul Marta, (301) 272-6759 , paul.marta@clarkconstruction.com Tiling – David Fenjves, (202) 763-3599 , david.fenjves@clarkconstruction.com Acoustical Ceilings--Jackie Jacobson,301- 272-7409, jackie.jacobson@clarkconstruction.com Painting -- Jackie Jacobson, 301- 272-7409, jackie.jacobson@clarkconstruction.com Signage -- David Fenjves, (202) 763-3599 , david.fenjves@clarkconstruction.com Toilet Accessories -- David Fenjves, (202) 763-3599 , david.fenjves@clarkconstruction.com Canopies and Skylights– Paul Marta, (301) 272-6759 , paul.marta@clarkconstruction.com Bird Control --Jackie Jacobson,301- 272-7409, jackie.jacobson@clarkconstruction.com Site Furnishings – Mark Orebiyi, (301) 272-8338, mark.orebiyi@clarkfoundationsllc.com Fabricated Structures– Paul Marta, (301) 272-6759 , paul.marta@clarkconstruction.com Elevators – Rob Flowers,(301) 272-8183, rob.flowers@clarkconstruction.com Escalators – Rob Flowers,(301) 272-8183, rob.flowers@clarkconstruction.com Fall Protection – Sam Milligan, (301) 272-8207, sam.j.milligan@clarkconstruction.com Fire Suppression – Monica Joseph, (240) 712-1711 , monica.joseph@clarkconstruction.com HVAC – Monica Joseph, (240) 712-1711 , monica.joseph@clarkconstruction.com Electrical (DPS & Shafts) –Nate Breitenfeldt,(240) 712-2924,nathaniel.breitenfeldt@clarkconstruction.com House Electrical –Nate Breitenfeldt, (240) 712-2924 ,nathaniel.breitenfeldt@clarkconstruction.com Communications –Nate Breitenfeldt, (240) 712-2924, nathaniel.breitenfeldt@clarkconstruction.com Security –Nate Breitenfeldt, (240) 712-2924, nathaniel.breitenfeldt@clarkconstruction.com Fire Alarm –Nate Breitenfeldt, (240) 712-2924, nathaniel.breitenfeldt@clarkconstruction.com Asphalt Paving – Mark Orebiyi, (301) 272-8338, mark.orebiyi@clarkfoundationsllc.com Fences and Gates – Mark Orebiyi, (301) 272-8338, mark.orebiyi@clarkfoundationsllc.com Sound/Noise Walls – Sam Milligan, (301) 272-8207, sam.j.milligan@clarkconstruction.com Landscaping – Mark Orebiyi, (301) 272-8338, mark.orebiyi@clarkfoundationsllc.com Site Work and Storm Utilities – Mark Orebiyi, (301) 272-8338, mark.orebiyi@clarkfoundationsllc.co INFORMATION ABOUT PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS Drawings and Specifications May Be Obtained From: PLEASE CONTACT A TRADE ESTIMATOR LISTED ABOVE FOR ACCESS. BID DATE: Your bid is due to us on or before September 18, 2020 @ 12:00PM PRIOR TO BID DAY : Contact the trade estimators listed above ON BID DAY ONLY: Contact our bid room directly at: (301) 272-6901 DBE Outreach Event WHEN: Tuesday August 18, 2020 / TIME: 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM / WHERE: Virtual via BlueJeans at the link: https://bluejeans.com/534952178?src=calendarLink Register: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf4lPGBCpQAIWZcaeK-R5eMNrfi5IR4Z2YHPVu3LpB1Pk9l6Q/viewform
Visit:www.SheilaMac.com/bootsmeditation For a FREE GIFT!
This project has an 20% WMATA DBE participation requirement. AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER We request bids from small, disadvantaged, minority and Women-owned subcontractors and suppliers.
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AUGUST 2020 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT
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The world community embraced former President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama as representative examples of the American Dream, as well as embodiments of Black uplift. While setting the gauge of what was possible, the Obamas radiantly shattered centuries-old lexicons defining blackness as a defect or subversion of the norm. It was vitally important, then, that Michelle Obama opened up about confronting 5 Dr. Shantella Sherman (Photo by India Kea) “some form of low-grade depression” she began to experience recently under quarantine. Brought on, in her estimation, by racial strife and the uncertainties of the nation, Obama’s transparency gives a face – a recognized and respected face – to the millions of others silently coping with similar issues. More than 1 in 3 Americans reported symptoms of anxiety or depression in a recent pulse survey by the U.S. Census Bureau. Additionally, a Kaiser Family Foundation survey found that more than 30 percent of adults in the United States were reporting symptoms consistent with anxiety or depression since the coronavirus pandemic began. “I have to say, that waking up to the news, waking up to how this administration has or has not responded, waking up to yet another story of a Black man or a Black person somehow being dehumanized or hurt or killed, or falsely accused of something, it is exhausting,” Obama said. “It has led to a weight that I haven’t felt in my life — in, in a while.” Feelings of depression and anxiety, especially for those of us living in the District of Columbia – the seat of national power and therefore ground zero to protests, unclear legislation, and social uncertainty – are so common that many of us have found hours morph into days and then into weeks and months. Many of us are not sleeping properly and as a result, not eating, exercising, or coping well. Others are overeating, staying in bed for days at a time, and frightened into malaise. Mental Health America reports that “processing and dealing with layers of individual trauma on top of new mass traumas from COVID-19 (uncertainty, isolation, grief from financial or human losses), police brutality and its fetishization in news media, and divisive political rhetoric adds compounding layers of complexity for individuals to responsibly manage.” Coupled with a distrust of the medical establishment and stigmas associated with psychological openness, many Black and African American people remain hesitant about seeking help or coping resources. Thankfully, a ban on watching unnecessary amounts of news, and a daily push to help neighbors or connect with loved ones through social media, has kept me and many others from knotting up into a ball and wishing the world away. Also, helpful for me was the purchase – back in March when the quarantine took shape – of a gravity blanket. Designed to give deep pressure stimulation, gravity blankets mimic the gentle pressure applied with the hands and arms via hugs, an embrace, or massage therapy. They are great for anxiety and insomnia by increasing serotonin and melatonin. Whether suiting up to hug relatives, being encouraged by our former First Lady’s transparency, seeking professional help, or getting snug under a gravity blanket, the Informer wants you well. This health supplement offers great insight into maintaining and strengthening your mental and emotional health during crises.
Thankfully, a ban on watching
unnecessary amounts of news, and a daily push to help
neighbors or connect with loved ones through social media, has kept me and many others from knotting up into a ball and
READ, LEARN, GROW.
wishing the world away.
www.washingtoninformer.com / AUGUST 2020 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT
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Pata, Pata: The Psychology of Touch By Lee Ross WI Staff Writer In 1967 when the legendary Xhosa songstress Miriam Makeba released the tune, “Pata, Pata,” (literally translated, Touch, Touch), few would believe the world would reach an age where touching was almost taboo. Touch remains the most important method of taking in and communicating information, and healing. Babies, small children, and the elderly often show signs of emotional fatigue and distress when not held, hugged, or touched for long periods of time. In recent months, with the world facing extended periods of isolation through quarantine, a sharp increase in the number of people experiencing emotional trauma through touch deprivation, has developed. Experts say not knowing when it will be safe to hug, touch, and comfortably interact with others without fears of becoming ill, adds to the sense of touch deprivation, also called skin hunger. Such was the case for Southwest, D.C. resident Anna Clark, who told the Informer she felt an overwhelming sense of dread when her son’s family – including tween grandsons – visited her weekly at the onset of the coronavirus quarantine because she could not touch them. “We are a family that hug and kiss one another, we are very expressive and affectionate naturally. So, to see them and have to wave at them instead of touching their faces or just holding their hands, saddened me to tears,” Clark said. “They were driving 30 miles each week to check on me, but I felt depressed and unable to cope with not hugging and kissing them.” Clark’s sleep pattern and appetite waned, as did her motivation to go outside and interact with others. In short, she was suffering from touch deprivation. This condition refers to the negative effects felt while going through long periods of time without physical contact with other humans. This could be days, weeks or months depending on the person. Touch
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deprivation can lead to mental health-related difficulties like increased stress, feelings of loneliness, depression or anxiety, difficulty with emotion regulation and trouble sleeping. Fortunately, Clark’s son, his wife, and their children felt as emotionally taxed by the touch deprivation as she did and after months of waves, on her birthday in June, the family donned masks, sprayed down with disinfectants, said a prayer, and physically reconnected. “I cried so hard I was shaking. It was the greatest feeling in the world because as basic as it seemed, it was what we needed,” Clark said. “Only later did I find out that my grandsons were also experiencing the same sleeplessness and sadness I was. We did not want to risk giving each other this virus but we were becoming ill all the same.” Similarly, 60-year-old Liverpool grandma, Sheila Abbott, purchased a full hazmat suit and gloves so that she could hug her 6-year-old grandson. Touch, according to Dr. Asim Shah, M.D., professor and executive vice chair of the Menninger Department of Psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine, makes people more aware of their personal boundaries, allowing them to connect with others at a deeper level. “Human beings are wired to touch and be touched. When a child is born, that is how they bond with their mother—through touch. Our wiring system has touch everywhere, so it’s difficult for us not to think about physical contact,” Shah said. “When someone is [touch] starved, it’s like someone who is starved for food. They want to eat, but they cannot. Their psyche and their body want to touch someone, but they can’t do it because of the fear associated with, in this case, the pandemic.” According to a 2018 study by the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, touch starvation also contributes to an increase in stress, depression, and anxiety,
creating a domino effect of physiological ripples. The body releases the hormone cortisol as a response to stress, activating the body’s “flight-or-fight” response. This can increase heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, and muscle tension, and can suppress the digestive system and immune system—increasing the risk of infection. Medical communities believe distancing keeps the virus at bay and continue to recommend touching only for those who already share a household. In the interim, thousands of grandparents across the globe have begun purchasing full hazmat suits online to keep the touch and feel of family healthy. HS
5 Anna Clark hugs her daughter-in-law, after months of isolation and feelings of touch deprivation. (S. Sherman/The Washington Informer)
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Healthy Summer Habits Submitted by AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia It’s August, and summer comes around again this month. August usually brings lots of chances to get outdoors with friends and family. This season, many of us may still be playing it safe indoors. We may be catching up with loved ones on the phone and online, so we can help keep everyone healthy. Here are some other ways we can help boost our health for the summer.
BE SUMMER SAVVY
Make the most of this time to help you get healthy and stay healthy. Stay active in safe ways that help keep your body in good shape:1 • Beat the heat! If you exercise in your yard, be active in the early morning. Watch the sun come up while moving in place with exercises like stretches, jumping jacks, or skipping rope.
• Sidewalks sizzling? Get moving indoors! Get active in the privacy of your home with a fitness video on DVD or online. • Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water before, during, and after exercise. Drink more water as the temperatures rise. • Fuel up. Help yourself stay active by getting lots of nutrients. Mix up your meals, using these healthy foods: - Whole grains, beans, nuts, and seeds - Fat-free or low-fat milk and cheese - Seafood, poultry, and eggs • Grow your own food! Start a small garden in your yard. It can be satisfying to eat fruits and vegetables you planted yourself. Gardening may also be a great way to exercise. Remember to talk to your health care provider before starting a new diet or exercise program.
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PROTECT AGAINST THE RAYS
Many of us like to get out in the sun for warm summer days. We can do this safely, even in our yards, if we protect ourselves against the harmful part of the rays — the ultraviolet (UV) light. UV rays may damage your skin in as little as 15 minutes. Try to make it second nature to stay safe from too much exposure.2 Here are some tips:2 • Load up on sunscreen. Use broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 15. SPF is the sun protection factor. Higher numbers mean more protection from UV rays. Also check the sunscreen’s expiration date to make sure it still works. Put on a thick layer before even going outside. Reapply it after two hours. • Dress for health. Fabric that is dry and woven tightly offers the best protection from UV rays. Wear sunglasses that block both
UVA and UVB rays. Top off your outfit with a hat that has a brim all the way around that shades your face, ears, and neck. These articles are for educational purposes only. They are not intend-
ed to take the place of your primary care provider (PCP). If you have questions or are on a special diet prescribed by a provider, talk with your PCP before making any changes. Check with your PCP before starting any exercise program. If you
I got a gift card for getting my annual physical. You can too. You can get a $25 gift card if you: • Are an AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia member • Are 12 – 21 years old • Get an annual physical exam
Visit www.amerihealthcaritasdc.com/giftcard to learn more. Note: A member cannot get more than $50 in incentives each year.
ACDC-19433327-2
www.amerihealthcaritasdc.com
All images are used under license for illustrative purposes only. Any individual depicted is a model.
AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. English: ATTENTION: If you speak English, language assistance services, at no cost, are available to you. Call 1-800-408-7511 (TTY/TDD: 202-216-9885 or 1-800-570-1190). Spanish: ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-800-408-7511 (TTY/TDD: 202-216-9885 o 1-800-570-1190). Amharic: ማሳሰቢያ፡ አማርኛ መናገር የሚችሉ ከሆነ፣ ከከፍያ ነጻ የሆነ የቋንቋ ድጋፍ አገልግሎት ይቀርብልዎታል፡፡ በስልክ ቁጥር 1-800-408-7511 (TTY/TDD: 202-216-9885 ወይም 1-800-570-1190) ይደውሉ. 1-800-408-7511 اﺗﺼﻞ ﺑﺮﻗﻢ.ﺎن ﻓﺈن ﺧﺪﻣﺎت اﳌﺴﺎﻋﺪة اﻟﻠﻐﻮﻳﺔ ﺗﺘﻮاﻓﺮ ﻟﻚ ﺑﺎ، إذا ﻛﻨﺖ ﺗﺘﺤﺪث اﻟﻠﻐﺔ اﻟﻌﺮﺑﻴﺔ: ﻣﻠﺤﻮﻇﺔ: Arabic .(1-800-570-1190 أوTTY/TDD: 202-216-9885 )رﻗﻢ ﻫﺎﺗﻒ اﻟﺼﻢ واﻟﺒﻜﻢ
www.washingtoninformer.com / AUGUST 2020 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT
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think you need to see your PCP because of something you have read in this information, please contact your PCP. Never stop or wait to get medical attention because of something you have read in this information. Sources: 1. “Healthy Habits for Summer,” National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, https://www.niddk.nih. gov/health-information/weight-management/healthy-habits-summer. 2. “Sun Safety,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www. cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic_info/sun-safety. htm. 3. “Produce Available in Washington DC in Early June,” Seasonal Food Guide, https://www.seasonalfoodguide.org/washington-dc/early-june. Data in this guide comes from the Natural Resources Defense Council and state departments of agriculture and university extension programs across the U.S. All images are used under license for illustrative purposes only. Any individual depicted is a model
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Coloring Your Plate with Fruits and Veggies Summer means fresh produce. At your grocery store or farmers’ market, you may see fruits and vegetables of every color. August can be a good time to try colorful new meals. Wash your hands after visiting the grocery store. Also wash all produce, even if it has a rind to peel. Here are 10 foods in season in D.C. this month. Pick a few of different colors and look online for recipes that use them. Then try out your new recipes in colorful summer plates:3 • Asparagus • Beets • Black-eyed peas • Blueberries • Carrots • Cucumbers • Nectarines • Radishes • Raspberries • Spinach
Find us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/amerihealthdc. Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AmeriHealthCaritasDC.
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I got a gift card for getting my prenatal checkup. You can too. You can get a $25 gift card if you: • Are pregnant and within your first trimester • Are an AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia member • See a midwife or OB/GYN for your first prenatal office visit
Visit www.amerihealthcaritasdc.com/giftcard to learn more. Note: A member cannot get more than $50 in incentives each year.
ACDC-19433327-1
www.amerihealthcaritasdc.com AmeriHealth Caritas District of Columbia complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. English: ATTENTION: If you speak English, language assistance services, at no cost, are available to you. Call 1-800-408-7511 (TTY/TDD: 202-216-9885 or 1-800-570-1190). Spanish: ATENCIÓN: si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-800-408-7511 (TTY/TDD: 202-216-9885 o 1-800-570-1190). Amharic: ማሳሰቢያ፡ አማርኛ መናገር የሚችሉ ከሆነ፣ ከከፍያ ነጻ የሆነ የቋንቋ ድጋፍ አገልግሎት ይቀርብልዎታል፡፡ በስልክ ቁጥር 1-800-408-7511 (TTY/TDD: 202-216-9885 ወይም 1-800-570-1190) ይደውሉ. 1-800-408-7511 اﺗﺼﻞ ﺑﺮﻗﻢ.ﺎن ﻓﺈن ﺧﺪﻣﺎت اﳌﺴﺎﻋﺪة اﻟﻠﻐﻮﻳﺔ ﺗﺘﻮاﻓﺮ ﻟﻚ ﺑﺎ، إذا ﻛﻨﺖ ﺗﺘﺤﺪث اﻟﻠﻐﺔ اﻟﻌﺮﺑﻴﺔ: ﻣﻠﺤﻮﻇﺔ: Arabic .(1-800-570-1190 أوTTY/TDD: 202-216-9885 )رﻗﻢ ﻫﺎﺗﻒ اﻟﺼﻢ واﻟﺒﻜﻢ
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AUGUST 2020 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT / www.washingtoninformer.com
All images are used under license for illustrative purposes only. Any individual depicted is a model.
“MOVING FORWARD” Series Addressing Our New Reality Change is known to make most uneasy, but a pandemic, as we all know firsthand, has overarching impacts on everyone. Focusing on mental health has been an issue that I have fostered within our community for years. In 2018, I hosted a youth event called “Marching Forward” in Maryland with mental health and educational experts present. The event was to give students an outlet to vent their feelings on the Parkdale high school shooting. I was so impressed with the young march organizers as I witnessed their fearless call for changes by our national and local leadership. The conviction of those who spoke on this national platform - their fear, anxiety, and dismay for the lack of fair laws and systems came through in their voices and showed on their troubled faces. As our event progressed, the students began to share their fears about losing their lives while at school and other real and raw challenges they faced as part of daily life. They shed tears and supported one another during the retelling of stories that exposed traumatic situations of being bullied. They shared their fear of dealing with school shootings and other violence in what should be a safe space. They talked about the stress of getting good grades and being accepted into colleges. Their concerns also weighed heavily on whether their plans would work out, including the layers of peer pressure and fulfilling their parents’ expectations and vision for them. Providing mental and physical health support to our communities when I became the Councilwoman for Prince George’s County District 8 was critical. My first wellness event was the #WOWFactor (Women of Wellness) where personal testimonies were shared and professionals imparted advice, encouragement, and healing tools on situations of mental, physical, domestic violence, sex trafficking and financial abuse. One of my mantra mottos is that your Health Is Your Wealth! It doesn’t matter who you are; we all have stress! African Americans have historically carried weighted, daily stressors more than any other group, due to racism, systemic inequality,
and secondary or vicarious trauma. Our perfect storm in the DMV that scathed our well-being, began in early March 2020 when it became evident that, regardless of age or ethnicity, we were all in an unthinkable “New Reality” that forced us to adapt in overwhelming ways. The turmoil of the unknown, all of the conflicting reports, social media bombardment, vast workforce reductions, lost income, and confinement heightened the domestic violence and mental illness entrapped within some homes, all with no warning, or a mappedout plan. I decided something had to be done. This need for action birthed “MOVING FORWARD,” a series of virtual meetings and forums to navigate the whirlwind of our personal, professional, and family lives. Since May, we have hosted three “Moving Forward” webinars. The first was “Mental Health – From the Shock of Our New Reality.” Mental health professionals and a frontline medical worker addressed personal/ professional, family, youth, grief, trauma, and substance challenges that affect our mental, physical, spiritual and financial health in this COVID-19 crisis. We learned that we are new people, forever changed from the pandemic, and that life as we know it will never be the same. So, moving forward, the question is, how do we cope? Here are some selfhelp tools from this webinar: • Reset and Reconnect with Others • Be Gentle and Patient with Ourselves and Others • Communicate! Communicate! Communicate! • Try to Stay in the Moment • Disconnect from the News and Social Media, especially Before Bedtime to Stop Racing Thoughts As a personal healing and wellness outlet, I managed through the past few months with my faith, a newfound love of gardening, and clearing my house of clutter. I balanced that with continuing to serve my constituents by providing emergency PPE equipment to frontline workers and residents and ensuring the community had access to groceries and hot meals through non-profit partnerships and daily home deliveries.
“Moving Forward” took a needed shift to address the second pandemic we faced with racial injustice and the overdue right of equity for African Americans. On June 24, we hosted regional elected, academia, and youth leadership for this discussion. Our latest “Moving Forward” on July 17, was dedicated to the youth leaders of today. They were vocal, in-
formed, and knowledgeable on injustices, legislation, inequities in health, environment, education, poverty, police reform, and COVID-19 recovery. The “Moving Forward” series will continue to provide meaningful dialogue and resources as we move through these challenging times together. We Are All In This Together! HS
Facebook: @MoniqueAndersonWalkerDistrict8 Instagram: cmmoniqueandersonwalker Twitter: @D8Monique
www.washingtoninformer.com / AUGUST 2020 HEALTH WELLNESS & NUTRITION SUPPLEMENT
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By the Numbers By Lee Ross WI Staff Writer The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) reports that racial and ethnic minority groups in the U.S. are less likely to have access to mental health services, less likely to use community mental health services, more likely to use emergency departments, and more likely to receive lower quality care. As a result, minority groups are at higher risks for poor mental health outcomes, including depression and self-harm. Ensuring all Americans have access to necessary resources begins with understanding the importance of good mental and emotional health.
A new study by Qualtrics identifies the nature of the global mental health crisis and provides data that sheds light on the issues people are facing.
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67 percent of people report higher levels of stress since the outbreak of COVID-19. 57 percent say they have greater anxiety since the outbreak. 54 percent say they are more emotionally exhausted.
50 percent feel they are more irritable.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the CDC: In 2017, 10.5 percent (3.5 million) of young adults age 18 to 25 had serious thoughts of suicide including 8.3 percent of non-Hispanic blacks and 9.2 percent of Hispanics. In 2017, 7.5 percent (2.5 million) of young adults age 18 to 25 had a serious mental illness including 7.6 percent of non-Hispanic Asians, 5.7 percent of Hispanics and 4.6 percent of non-Hispanic Blacks.
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55 percent of teens say they have experienced anxiety, 45 percent excessive stress, and 43 percent depression.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 1 in 5 Americans live with a mental health condition. NAMI says America’s entire mental health system needs improvement. That includes serving and helping marginalized communities. National 4‑H Council commissioned a survey to explore teens’ perceptions and experiences around mental health. The sur‑ vey, which polled over 1,500 diverse youth ages 13-19 nationwide, explored the role of resilience in mental health along with gathering youth perspectives on the state of mental health issues in their community and the nation. The survey was conducted online from May 4 to May 14, 2020.
81 percent of teens say mental health is a significant issue for young people in the U.S., and 64 percent of teens believe that the experience of COVID-19 will have a lasting impact on their generation’s mental health.
Teens today report spending 75 percent of their waking hours on screens during COVID-19.
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53 percent say they feel sadness day-to-day.
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Probiotics & Prebiotics: The Dream Team By Elaine Magee, MPH, RD Albertsons Companies Having a healthy gut with the right balance of good bacteria (yep, “good” bacteria is a thing!) can change the entire health of our bodies! By now, you’ve probably heard about the health benefits of probiotics (AKA “good” bacteria) and maybe you’ve even made a point to add some probiotic-containing foods into your diet. But did you know PREbiotics are also important to gut health? Read on for recipes and more info!
WHAT ARE PREBIOTICS?
Just as plants need sun and water to grow, probiotics need prebiotics in order to fully thrive within your intestine. Prebiotics, let’s call them “good” bacteria promoters,” are specific fibers that are indigestible and found in everyday plant foods. These fibers are then fermented and used by the “good” bacteria and not
by the “bad” bacteria. Although more needs to be known, experts believe prebiotics may also boost gut health by increasing the amount of Bifidobacteria, which is just a (really) big word for a certain probiotic that is associated with inhibiting the growth of “bad” or pathogenic bacteria.
WHERE TO FIND PREBIOTICS?
In addition to boosting gut health, including prebiotic-containing foods in your daily diet may also have a positive effect on the immune system, help reduce appetite, lower body fat and improve glucose tolerance. So where do we find these amazing prebiotics? There are a variety of plant foods that contain these compounds. Inulin is a well-studied prebiotic and you can find it in garlic, onion, asparagus, leeks, chicory, jicama and Jerusalem artichokes. For other prebiotic fibers, enjoy bananas (particularly green bananas which are high in prebiotic-acting resistant
starch), berries, ground flaxseed, beans and legumes, whole grains (including whole wheat, oats and barley), dark leafy greens (especially dandelion greens) and unsweetened cocoa.
HOW TO INCORPORATE PROBIOTICS AND PREBIOTICS?
Prebiotics (good bacteria promoters) and probiotics (good bacteria) work together synergistically! While getting them both in your daily diet is a great start, getting them both in the same meal is even better! For a simple solution, look for ways to add ground flaxseed or green bananas to your probiotic-rich Greek yogurt or yogurt-based smoothie.
HOW DO AVOCADOS FIT IN?
While you may know avocados are good for you and are a rich-plant source of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat, you may not know that
avocados are also a delicious source of prebiotic fibers! At least 30% of the fiber in avocados is a prebiotic fiber. These unique creamy fruits also contribute nearly 20 vitamins and minerals, plus phytonutrients with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. One-third of a medium avocado adds about 3 grams of fiber and only 80 calories! Pick up an avocado each time you go grocery shopping and add them to salads, sandwiches (instead of mayonnaise) and any egg, casserole or Mexican-style dish. You can even use an avocado half as an edible bowl for tuna or chicken salad!
Pro Tip: When adding fiber and prebiotic foods to your daily diet, do it gradually and always remember to drink even more water than you usually do—this will help minimize GI upset! HS
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Our Future Must Ensure Black Women Can Thrive and Build Our Families With Dignity By Marcela Howell In the early days of the pandemic, we often heard COVID-19 was a powerful equalizer: everyone was at risk. Of course, that was far from the truth. Especially here in DC. Instead, the pandemic reminds us what we’ve long known—that systems were not designed for everyone, 3 In Our Own Voice advocates outside the Supreme Court during oral arguments in June Medical Services v. Russo
Research Volunteers Needed
Alpha Thalassemia Study Doctors at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) want to study the role our genes play in how blood vessels work. Alpha thalassemia is a blood disorder caused by missing DNA in a group of genes. Understanding the role genes play in this disorder may lead to new treatments for blood diseases, including sickle cell disease and malaria. All study-related tests and procedures are provided at no cost. Compensation may be provided. You may be eligible if you are a HEALTHY VOLUNTEER: ■ 18 - 39 years of age ■ African ancestry (e.g. Black, African American, African, Afro-Caribbean) ■ Willing to provide a saliva sample
r Call o
e
alpha.study@nih.gov Location: The NIH Clinical Center, America’s Research Hospital, is located on the Metro red line (Medical Center stop) in Bethesda, Maryland.
301-761-5667 http://go.usa.gov/xr5sH NIH study #16-I-0065 NIH Office of Patient Recruitment 1- 800 - 411-1222 TTY 1-866-411-1010 Se habla español
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especially Black women. We are witnessing the impact of the deep-seated barriers in our government, economy, and health care that deny Black people health, wellness, and economic security. Here in DC, Black people are six times more likely than white people to die from COVID-19. Massive economic disparities preventing Black women from being able to afford fundamental expenses, from rent to food, go hand-in-hand with the systemic inequities that we also face in health care. And the reality is that this is nothing new. As a Black woman and reproductive justice leader, I’ve always known that our ability to access health care, provide for ourselves and our families, and, certainly, to decide whether and when to become a parent, are all crucial to our wellbeing and our ability to thrive. We must have control over our own bodies. Even before the pandemic, longstanding injustices meant that Black residents in DC make about onethird of what white residents do. Black DC residents face more diseases like cancer and heart disease. Black women in DC also face one of the worst maternal health crises in the country, worsened by barriers to prenatal care and the shuttering of hospitals with maternity wards. One of those deep-seated longstanding injustices includes restrictions, stigma, and racism that push abortion care out of reach for Black women. In DC, there are severe restrictions on insurance coverage of abortion care, meaning 55,000 women in DC enrolled in Medicaid could be forced to choose between paying for their rent or food, or abortion care. Across the country, anti-abortion state politicians have passed more than 450 abortion restrictions in recent years designed to push abortion out of reach. These include outright bans, as well as laws designed to shut down clinics, insurance coverage bans, and other restrictions that create obstacles and can make it next to impossible to get an abortion. This is all being exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The costs of travel to reach abortion care, the added restrictions on travel due to COVID-19, rampant job losses, and the pandemic’s strain on the health care system have all compounded to make abortion care even more difficult to reach.
When someone wants to get an abortion but is denied, they are more likely to fall into poverty, less likely to have a full-time job, and twice as likely to experience domestic violence. This is another way that our ability to thrive is denied. Now, instead of people calling the pandemic a great equalizer, I hear unsettling calls for a return to normalcy when the pandemic is over. But returning to normal is not good enough to forge a new path forward. Our future must include, first and foremost, fixing the systems, existing long before COVID-19, that denied the health, safety, and wellbeing of Black women and our families in all areas of our lives. We need economic security, safer communities, food and housing security, and access to the full range of reproductive health care in our communities. This new future must include access to abortion care that is available to anyone who needs it, wherever they live and whoever they are, and is covered by insurance. We don’t need a return to normal. We must build power in our communities by mobilizing to change policies, running for office when the policymakers in office don’t see our needs as a priority, and organizing for a future where Black women can control our bodies and thrive. That would be a great equalizer. HS
Even before the pandemic, longstanding injustices meant that Black residents in DC make about one-third of what white residents do.
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Recent & Recommended Books About Good Emotional Health During COVID-19 By Lee Ross WI Staff Writer
Coping with Coronavirus: How to Stay Calm and Protect Your Mental Health: A Psychological Toolkit by Brendan Kelly
How worried should I be? What information can I trust? What should I tell the children? Can I survive the panic, let alone the virus? These are certainly challenging, unprecedented times. Allow pre-eminent psychiatrist Dr. Brendan Kelly to help you understand and cope with the unique stresses of today, as we all try to deal with the threat of COVID-19 within our homes, communities and throughout the world. The anxiety associated with the coronavirus crisis is different to the anxiety seen in traditional disorders, because demonstrably there is something to fear, and that is what makes this worry so ubiquitous, so persistent and so challenging to manage. Fortunately, just as we are capable of finding sophisticated ways to make ourselves more anxious, we are equally good at finding sophisticated ways to manage our mental health, once we put our minds to it. Kelly offers practical tools to navigate dark and uncertain days. Both the author and the publisher are donating their proceeds from this book to charity.
Coronavirus: A Book for Children
by Kate Wilson, Elizabeth Jenner, Nia Roberts What is the coronavirus, and why is everyone talking about it? Engagingly illustrated by Axel Scheffler, this approachable and timely book helps answer these questions and many more, providing children aged 5-10 and their parents with clear and accessible explanations about the coronavirus and its effects - both from a health perspective and the impact it has on a family’s day-to-day life. With input from expert consultant Professor Graham Medley of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, as well as advice from teachers and child psychologists, this is a practical and informative resource to help explain the changes we are currently all experiencing. The book is free to read and download, but Nosy Crow would like to encourage readers, should they feel in a position to, to make a donation to: https://www.nhscharitiestogether.co.uk/
The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health: Navigate an Unequal System, Learn Tools for Emotional Wellness, and Get the Help you Deserve by Rheeda Walker
This book is an exploration of Black mental health in today’s world, the forces that have undermined mental health progress for African Americans, and what needs to happen for African Americans to heal psychological distress, find community, and undo years of stigma and marginalization in order to access effective mental health care. In The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health, psychologist and African American mental health expert Rheeda Walker offers important information on the mental health crisis in the Black community, how to combat stigma, spot potential mental illness, how to practice emotional wellness, and how to get the best care possible in system steeped in racial bias. Walker provides
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HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS & COVID-19: IMPACT ON AFRICAN AMERICANS
Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) seek healthy African American volunteers. The study will look at the body’s response to the seasonal influenza vaccine in participants previously infected with COVID-19 and healthy volunteers with no known history of COVID-19. Consider joining if you • • • •
Are a healthy African American 18 years old or older Are not pregnant or planning to become pregnant Have no known allergy to vaccines of any kind Have not had the seasonal flu vaccine for the current season and are willing to be vaccinated
The study takes place at the NIH Clinical Center, America’s Research Hospital, located in Bethesda, Maryland
CONTACT: NIH- Clinical Center Office of Patient Recruitment 800-411-1222 (Refer to NIH study #19-I-0126) ■ Email: prpl@cc.nih.gov ■ Online: https://go.usa.gov/xpPgw ■ 800-877-8339 TTY / ASCII
NIH… T u r n i n g D i s c o v e r y I n t o H e a l t h ®
tools to help: Recognize mental and emotional health problems, Understand the many ways in which these problems impact overall health, quality of life, and relationships; and Develop psychological tools to neutralize ongoing stressors and live more fully; and Navigate a mental health care system that is unequal.
Mental Health Care in the African American Community by Sadye Louise Logan, Ramona W. Denby, Priscilla A. Gibson
This comprehensive text provides a current and historical analysis of the impact of mental health research, policy, community, and clinical practice from a life course perspective. Stressing evidence-based practice as an expanded way to think and talk about individualizing and translating evidence into a given practice situation, this valuable book provides a social work context for all helping professions. Mental Health Care in the African American Community provides the helping community with non-traditional, expanded ways of thinking and intervening in the mental health needs and care of African Americans. Organized logically, this complex subject presents data in a user-friendly way that engages the reader and provides chapter summaries and suggested group/classroom activities to facilitate understanding. This text is extensively referenced and includes figures and tables to clearly illustrate data. WI
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Tips to Improving Mental & Emotional Health during Crises By Lee Ross WI Staff Writer Be a Resource to Others: Reach out to family members, neighbors, and
friends to check on their wellbeing. Sometimes just knowing that others care can make the difference between managing isolation and falling into despair. For those who enjoy sending
text messages or social media, consider weekly video chats so that you can be seen and heard by those you love. Go for a walk: Organizations like the Community Health Network
STAY ON TRACK! Now more than ever, it’s important that your child receives their immunizations on time.
SCHEDULE YOUR ANNUAL PHYSICAL TODAY! All DC students must have up-to-date immunizations and submit a completed immunization record to attend school.
advise people to get outside for some fresh air and while doing so, take the opportunity to greet and interact with others from a safe distance. This will keep you from feeling trapped and, also keep you connected to the positive things going on in the world around you. Disconnect from sensationalized news: Some of us may feel safer staying indoors, but inadvertently become fretful to go out because of the constant stream of news stories discussing the global pandemic, civil unrest in the streets, and debates over any number of social issues. Limit the types of programs and number of hours spent watching the news or programs that make you feel overwhelmed about the world around you. Be a steward: One of the first things Southeast resident Janice Wyder did when the pandemic began was find out who was sick and shut-in around her neighborhood and schedule times to grocery shop and deliver necessities to those unable to leave their homes. If you are able, suit-up, glove-up, and consider running errands for your neighbors who need assistance. In addition to being someone else’s lifeline, it will help you to stay mentally and emotionally centered. Take advantage of mental health resources: Feeling overwhelmed, afraid, and depressed are not uncommon – and there are a myriad of resources available for those who need to chat, as well as for those who believe they have reached a crisis point. You can always dial 2-1-1 to find the answers and resources you need. The line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. All calls are free and confidential. Interpreter services are available
in multiple languages. There are also online resources available to stay mentally and physically active—including art workshops, meditation classes, streamed concerts, 3-D walkthroughs of museums and zoos around the world, audiobooks, and music playlists to lift your mood. Join a virtual support group: The National Alliance of Mental Illness recommends those facing some challenges connect with others who may be facing similar challenges and experiences, virtually. Like any good support group, the goal is the keep participants from feeling isolated and as if they are the only ones going through a particular type of crisis. Sometimes, knowing you are not alone is most comforting. Other Resources: Emergency: Call 911 Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800985-5990 (press 2 for Spanish), or text TalkWithUs for English or Hablanos for Spanish to 66746. Spanish speakers from Puerto Rico can text Hablanos to 1-787-339-2663. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for English, 1-888-628-9454 for Spanish. National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or text LOVEIS to 22522 National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-4AChild (1-800-422-4453) or text 1-800-422-4453 National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) The Eldercare Locator: 1-800-6771116 Veteran’s Crisis Line: 1-800-273TALK (8255) or text: 8388255 SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) and TTY 1-800-487-4889 HS
dchealth.dc.gov/immunizations
5 Connecting with others through socializing services such as Skype can help those facing mental and emotional isolation. / Courtesy photo
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Let Heartland Foods Put Your Mind and Hunger At Ease! By Heartland Foods At Heartland Foods, our goal is to provide the cleanest, safest, healthiest food on the planet to customers in the Mid-Atlantic who really care about what they feed their families. Our families enjoy the assurance that their food supply will be reliable and secure all the way from farm to processor and from there to their tables at home with the highest caliber service. Two of Heartland’s key features are that we are not affected by complex Tier 1 supply chain issues and we deal exclusively with farms where organic conditions and humane care are required. We are based in Baltimore and specialize in bulk home delivery of top quality food items including farm specific meats - without the use of chemicals, steroids, antibiotics, preservatives or hormones-ever. Heartland also supplies organic vegetables, pantry items and a wide range
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of gourmet food products that can’t be sourced at your local grocery store. As an essential services company, we feel it is our duty and obligation to continue to provide uninterrupted services, -first and foremost to our loyal Heartland families, regardless of challenges posed by public health situations like the current pandemic. Heartland maintains a robust network of farms to ensure the continuity of our supply chain, which also enables us to methodically bring on new customers without impacting services to our existing customer base. We have a “best value” reputation built upon a history of reasonable prices, high quality food products, and service with a personal touch. We are truly dedicated to providing each of our families a convenient, safe, healthy and delicious experience. Call us today to get started on your introduction to Heartland Foods (800) 492-5592.
Don’t wait for the aisles at the grocery store to be empty to realize Heartland is your family’s solution! We offer a personalized introduction and consultation with your family’s very own wellness expert who will guide you through our easy and streamlined service offerings and membership options. They’ll also build out a customized menu for your family based on how frequently you are cooking at home, typical portion sizes, dietary restrictions or goals, all while fitting these requirements comfortably within your budget. Are you shopping organic or does the prospect of that experience seem too time-consuming or daunt-
ing? Let us do it for you! At Heartland Foods we work with the region’s top purveyors of healthy foods to give you an organic plus+ experience. We carefully select the best and deliver it right to your door! So take back all that extra time and put all that stress on our team so you can enjoy quality and convenience at its finest! If change is inevitable and evolution optional, we invite you to evolve with Heartland Foods. We are now offering virtual introductions as well as no contact deliveries for your family’s health and safety. Visit https://heartlandfoods.com/ request-more-info/ for our all-new interactive webinar. There, you can learn about Heartland, the farms we work with, and the services we provide all from the comfort of your home. We offer a range of benefits exclusive to our full-service members! With the current COVID pandemic and many other uncertainties at this time, we find ourselves
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spending more of our time in doors and with no clear return to “normal” in sight. With the school year right around the corner and the likelihood that kids and families will be staying at home more often this fall. Heartland is the solution for your family’s safety and security concerning your food supply. We also offer other products and solutions, such as air purification systems, water filtration units, stainless steel cookware and appliances to support whole home wellness! There is nothing like the safety and security of your food with Heartland Foods. Knowing how your food is handled and where your food comes from with a complete audit trail from soil to shelf. Come experience the Heartland Lifestyle for yourself and let our family take care of your family. Call us today (800) 492-5592 or visit Heartlandfoods.com to find out how we can help your family! HS
Keeping LGBTQ Seniors Connected
Peer-Led Groups can be a Lifeline During the Pandemic By Whitman-Walker Health In a culture obsessed with Instagram lives, TikTok dances, and trending hashtags, seniors can feel left out. Older lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) people may face additional barriers to connection given the possible absence of children, grandchildren, and – in some cases – other family members who have shunned them. Add to that the devastation of the AIDS epidemic, which wiped out entire friend groups. And then there’s COVID-19. “I stay at home all day, I don’t ever go outside,” says Jordan Davis, 68. “I don’t have many people to call me or people to interact with.” “Especially with COVID.” Luckily, Davis participates in
Silver Circles, LGBTQ peer-led groups that meet virtually. The groups are a program funded in large part by the DC Department of Aging and Community Living (DACL), and administered through a partnership between Iona Senior Services and Whitman-Walker Health. “Connection is so important for this population and the Silver Circles gives individuals the opportunity to meet new people, discover shared history, and even experience history together,” says Michael Mitchell, Peer Support Coordinator at Whitman-Walker Health. One of the groups happened to be meeting while crowds were being cleared from Lafayette Park during the Black Lives Matter demonstrations. Knowing the par-
ticipants’ attention might be elsewhere, the group leader suggested that they turn on their TVs so they could watch it together, and then they talked about what was happening, relating it to other demonstrations and movements in which they had all been a part of while growing up. This small suggestion allowed Silver Circle members to watch history unfold together. They were able to share that moment, process it in real time, and use it as an opportunity to bond. Before the pandemic forced the Silver Circles to move to virtual spaces, they met twice a month in several locations across the District: Iona’s location in Tenleytown, and Whitman-Walker’s two health center locations near Logan Circle
and in Anacostia at Max Robinson Center. There is a group for women, two for men, and one that is mixed gender – with a second mixed-gender group in the works. “When COVID-19 began to hit, we kept hearing terms like ‘shelter-in-place,’ and ‘isolate’ – and isolation is the last thing this population needs,” said Susan Messina, Deputy Director of Iona Senior Services. “Our Silver Circle group leaders told us that our participants needed connection now more than ever and twice a month just wasn’t going to do it. So we found the resources for each group to meet weekly.” “The learning curve for moving to a virtual experience was steep for all our programming, but now that we have everyone up to speed tech-wise, we’re humming along on Zoom,” says Messina. Participants without a computer or Wi-Fi can call into the meeting by phone. “It was so nice to see everyone’s faces again!” said Olivia O’Neal, a long-time Iona and Whit-
man-Walker volunteer, and community activist who is trained as a Silver Circle group leader. “We’re always happy to see each other and to be able to talk about our daily lives. We talk about everything: the pandemic, family dynamics, alcohol and addiction, aging as LGBTQ people…nothing is off the table.” “It means so much to us.” The groups reflect the diversity of the District across many lines, including race, class, religion, and gender identity. With Silver Circles being created to support LGBTQ seniors, they welcome each letter of the acronym – creating space for transgender and gender expansive seniors. Fitting in hasn’t been much of a problem in any of the groups. “I like that the groups are diverse,” said Davis, who for 63 years has lived in the Ward 4 house where he grew up. “Nobody’s negative around racial stuff. We get along with each other.” “I appreciate that.” HS
5 Silver Circle group facilitators pose for a photo at the 14th Street NW Whitman-Walker health center.
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Community Health Centers Are Open - Here to Serve You Do Not Delay, Get the Care, You Need Today! To Our Community Health Center Patients, We know that COVID-19 has created a lot of fear and concern about how to access health care services. We understand and want you to know that we are here to serve you, understand your needs and want to support you and your families. We also know that these times have caused a lot of stress and hardship for you and your families. Please reach out to us if you have financial distress, housing instability, food needs, and emotional distress. Community Health Centers have resources to help you. Community Health Centers are providing routine care, dental care, behavioral health care, and are providing testing for COVID-19. Our services are available in person and via telehealth on the phone and on video. We have 24/7 Nurse Advice Lines to assist you. For all appointments, please call to schedule an in-person visit or telehealth visit. We are taking special precautions, cleaning facilities, social distancing, using protective masks and equipment and other actions to protect your health and safety and our employees, too. Here are a few specific measures we are taking: • • • • • • •
We are closely screening patients and staff for COVID-19 risk. We will offer in -person and Telemedicine visits based on your needs and desires. All patients will wear a mask. Staff and providers will be wearing masks and PPE as required Patients may be asked to wait in their vehicles, or wait outside the building to maintain appropriate patient social distancing. Visitors will be discouraged unless they are needed to assist patients. Our care teams will be continually disinfecting exam rooms between patients. We will be regularly cleaning hard surfaces in our offices.
Community Health Centers are here to serve you. We are open, we care and we do not want you to delay getting the care you and your family need. Please call us. See Ad on back page. The District of Columbia Primary Care Association District of Columbia Community Health Centers
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Nurse Advice Line: 202.386.7020
WE SALUTE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS AND STAFF DURING NATIONAL HEALTH CENTER WEEK! Nurse Advice Line: 202.540.9857
HEALTH CENTERS ARE SAFE AND OPEN FOR IN PERSON AND TELEHEALTH VISITS
202.803.2340
Nurse Advice Line: 202.889.7900
DON'T DELAY CARE CALL TO SCHEDULE A VISIT GET YOUR CHILDREN IMMUNIZED TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT MANAGING CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS CALL YOUR DOCTOR IF YOU ARE FEELING DEPRESSED, AND NEED HELP
Nurse Advice Line: 202.448.2826
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Unsure? Call the Nurse lines above. Available 24/7
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OPINIONS/EDITORIALS
EDITORIAL No Incentive Needed for Millions of Unemployed Workers As Congress continues to engage in pointing fingers and hurling unfounded accusations, party politics seems to have greater sway on the future of jobless benefits than the urgent need of an estimated 30 million workers who recently lost $600 in enhanced weekly unemployment assistance that kept them afloat during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program, which officially ended Friday, July 31, could have been extended had the Democrats and Republicans been willing to work together instead of standing their ground over how and whether to extend the benefits. Even a short-term fix would have been enough to give American workers hope and relieve the anxiety they’ve faced after shutdowns nationwide began in March. Instead, while millions fear being evicted or losing their homes and find themselves unable to pay for health care, groceries, child care and other essentials, the impasse continues. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has seemingly gone beyond his constitutional powers with the decision that the federal government will provide $400 for the unemployed with the caveat that states must contribute $100 toward that total benefit. Unfortunately, many states say they simply are unwilling or unable to provide funds to bankroll their portion of the president’s solution. Most disconcerting, Trump has concluded that the dollar amount for the benefits, $200 less than what millions have been receiving over the past few months and upon which they’ve grown dependent, was determined in order to provide an “incentive” for the unemployed so they’d be more willing to return to work. There’s no dispute that some workers were receiving more on unemployment than they would have earned had they been working. But we wonder how many Americans found themselves in such a position. Further, given the program being initiated as a short-term fix, renters, homeowners, those with student loans and the unemployed have never believed that the bailout would go on forever. But as COVID-19 continues its onslaught, many businesses still remain shuttered. Both parties say they’re willing to work toward a compromise but what we see is simply more political grandstanding on both sides of the aisle. With the fall quickly approaching, families with school-age children who may or may not be able to safely return to the classroom don’t need additional reasons to fear the future. They need to be reassured that Congress and the president will move swiftly on their behalf. Contrary to Trump’s tongue-in-check remarks, most adults are not relaxing on their couch watching Netflix are not lazy or shiftless adults. Rather, they are living day to day, standing in lines for groceries, making arrangements with utility companies to avoid services being cutoff and worried about today and tomorrow. WI
A Beacon of Light in Kamala Harris for Children in Need of Hope Congratulations is in order for Senator Kamala Harris, named on Tuesday by Joe Biden as his vice-presidential running mate in the upcoming November election. Biden, a Democrat, selected Harris from a long list of women, Black and White, after announcing months ago that he wanted a woman to serve as his VP. For women across the country, Harris was a great selection, and for young women and girls, especially Black girls, Harris represents hope of a future that will accept and value women for their abilities to lead communities, companies, nations, or the world. This may be mixing apples with oranges, but in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic, the future for many children, and especially young girls looks bleak. Ask Michelle Booth, executive director of Safe Shores, The Children’s Advocacy Center, whose nonprofit program seeks to support and work with children, and their families, when there are reports of physical and sexual abuse. Booth notes that while reports of child abuse are down, she suggests that it’s
TO THE EDITOR Falling Through the Calling Out Bubba The one and only Askia Muhammad came Virtual Gap through once again in his column calling out Kudos, editor, on your commentary “Virtual Learning Will Force Blacks to Choose Between Achievement and Survival.” I could not have said it better myself. I too fear that the most vulnerable children who struggle in a normal school environment will fall through the cracks and many may not recover. This pandemic has hit hard in so many ways and the consequences will be seen for generations to come. My two cents.
Bill Clinton for his disrespect at Mr. John Lewis’ service. He had no right to disrespect Kwame Ture (Stokely Carmichael) and playing him and Mr. Lewis against each other. What an insult. Thank you, Mr. Askia for saying what needed to be said. Kelly Strother Washington, D.C.
Fred Holcomb Washington, D.C.
so because children are isolated due to COVID-19. They are no longer under the watchful eye of a daycare worker, a teacher, or a camp counselor who oftentimes is the source of such reports. Where the evidence is seen is in hospital emergency rooms where cases of child victims of physical and sexual abuse are reportedly on the rise. Harris, who is the oldest of two daughters of an Indian mother and a Jamaican father, was raised in a single-family household beginning at the age of 7 in Oakland when her parents divorced. Her mother moved to Montreal when she was 12. While her parents were highly educated and appeared to
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do well professionally, it is by grace that her story does not reflect the stories of too many children in our community. We celebrate this historic moment, marked by the inspiring story of Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman Democratic candidate for president, who in the eyes of many young girls, including Kamala Harris, is a hero. We need more heroes, especially those who will ensure that children have a safe environment in which to grow. If we believe children are the future, we must invest in them now, and we urge Mayor Bowser to move posthaste to repair Safe Shores facility for the sake of children and families in need in D.C. WI
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OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist
By Julianne Malveaux
Black Women Rising Despite Obstacles
Women won the right to vote a century ago. On August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment passed. The white women’s equal rights struggle began in 1776, though, when Abigail Adams, the wife of our second president and member of the constitution-drafting Continental Congress, sent her husband a letter. She urged him to “remember the ladies.” She further wrote, “All men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care
and attention is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation.” The Continental Congress did not remember the ladies, and it reduced African American enslaved people into a fraction of a person for census and political representation. The National Women’s Suffrage Association (NWSA) because white women like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony refused to support the 15th Amendment, which gave Black men,
but no women, the right to vote. “Ain’t I a Woman,” thundered Sojourner Truth. The battle lines were drawn between Black men and white women. And few were willing to notice the Black women on the sidelines. It reminds me of a Black Enterprise cover, circa about 1980, where a Black man and white woman were arm wrestling, presumably over who should benefit from affirmative action. There was no Black woman on that cover, not even standing on the sidelines. When Akasha Gloria Hull, Patricia Bell-Scot, and Barbara Smith wrote their book, “All
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the Women Are White, All the Men Are Black, But Some of Are Brave” (Feminist Press 1982), Black women cheered. These sisters realized that with race/gender conflict, Black women are too often discounted, by Black men, but especially by the white women who purport to be allies. History will reveal that white women have used their whiteness as a shield against both Black men and women, especially as they have falsely accused Black men of rape. Their false accusations resulted in the destruction of several Black communities. Very recently,
the Women’s March leaders asked Tamika Mallory to step down from their board (she stayed until her term was up) because she embraced the intersectionality of unapologetically Black activist and gender-affirming warrior. In this era of racial reckoning, white women have much to explore and grapple with. Too many of them are so myopic that they don’t get it. Black women get it. Gwen McKinney, Patricia Ann Ford and a coterie
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By Marc H. Morial
Harlem Will Be the National Urban League’s New Headquarters
“Harlem was home; was where we belonged; where we knew and were known in return; where we felt most alive; where, if need be, somebody had to take us in. Harlem defined us, claiming our consciousness and, I suspect, our unconsciousness.” — Actor and activist Ossie Davis In 1904, a few years before George Edmund Haines and Ruth Standish
Baldwin founded the National Urban League, Black New Yorkers pushed out of other neighborhoods began moving into Harlem. They were soon followed by a flood of migrants escaping the violence and terrorism of the Jim Crow South. The convergence of ambitious, motivated Black people from around the country with employment opportunities created by World War I exploded into the Harlem Renaissance. With it, came the courage “to express our individual dark-skinned selves without fear or shame,” as Langston Hughes put it.
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Mindful of this profound legacy and storied past, we at the National Urban League could not be prouder to announce a historic building project that will keep us in the city where we were founded, while enhancing the economic and cultural revitalization of Harlem. The Urban League Empowerment Center, on 125th Street between Street between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard and Lenox Avenue, will include the National Urban League’s headquarters, the Urban Civil Rights Museum Experience and the National Urban
League Institute for Race, Equity and Justice — along with affordable housing, office space and retail space. The $242 million project is one of the largest and most significant building projects in Harlem in 50 years. As a legacy civil rights and social justice organization, the National Urban League has worked for more than a century to strengthen and vitalize urban neighborhoods through community investment. I’m extremely proud that we are able to put those same guiding principles to work with our own future home.
Over the past several years, the National Urban League has turned down offers to relocate to other cities, including Philadelphia, Washington, Atlanta, Chicago and others. New York City is where we were born, and I am proud that New York City is where we will stay. I am even more excited about the neighborhood economic development the building project represents. The National Urban League has a
other than providing an opportunity for Black youth to educate themselves? Can we evaluate the actions of Baker, Nash, Boynton or Hamer as anything more than altruistic ambitions for the benefit of our race? At great risk, they placed their convictions and bodies between those who would attempt to hold on to the social and cultural restrictions that established the boundaries of Jim Crow-ism. Did Dr. Height, who conjoined the interests and goals of civil rights and women’s rights do so for the purpose of self-aggrandizement? The ambitions of all
these women were selfless and based upon service for a greater good. The tradition of Black women in service to our communities is highlighted with women of great ambition. Shirley Chisholm was the first Black woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and the first Black woman candidates for a major political party to run for the Office of President of the U.S. Barbara Jordan, the first Black woman was elected to the Texas legislature, and later the
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By E. Faye Williams
A ‘Dirty’ Word?
Politics can be strange! Sometimes the analysis of a political campaign can raise as many questions as it answers. From discussion around the current Biden campaign we have learned that, depending upon one’s perspective, the word “ambitious” holds both positive and negative connotations. Some seem to think of ambition as synonymous with arrogance. As a former teacher, I’m almost
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tempted to offer a short presentation on the denotative and connotative qualities of words. Instead, I’ll ask a few simple questions: What’s wrong with ambition? When did it become a negative? And, since the word was cast upon a Black woman who is a potential vice presidential candidate as a negative aspersion, what is the problem with an ambitious Black woman? Given the examples of ambitious Black women in the history of this nation, we can ask whether a woman like Harriett Tubman was arrogant or ambitious, or whether her goals, over
objections of the slave-holder class, served a higher purpose. She was a no-nonsense freedom-seeker who tolerated nothing less than total commitment from others as well as herself. Who would dare question the motives of women like Mary McLeod Bethune, Ella Baker, Diane Nash, Amelia Boynton, Fannie Lou Hamer or Dorothy Height? Did Rosa Parks keep her seat out of arrogance or did her ambitions for “her people” supersede her concerns for personal safety? Were the efforts of Mary McLeod Bethune undertaken for anything
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OPINIONS/EDITORIALS Guest Columnist
By Guy Weston
Will We Be Ready for a COVID-19 Vaccine in 2021?
We eradicated polio in America, largely because of a vaccine licensed by the FDA in 1955. Since then, vaccines have changed the landscape of communicable disease control. We hope that unprecedented fast track development of a COVID-19 vaccine will change our landscape again, this time, so we can return to normalcy. We may
have a vaccine as soon as 2021, right? Perhaps, but I am skeptical. It’s not that I don’t believe in vaccines. I recall getting all the routine childhood immunizations, and I believe they protected me. I was also vaccinated against smallpox, cholera, malaria and typhoid as a youngster, to travel overseas as a military child. I was vaccinated against Hepatitis B as a young adult, because I had a job that required me to do phlebotomy. I get flu vaccines annually. COVID-19 is a
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different animal. Vaccines typically take years to develop. Early in the HIV epidemic, HHS Secretary Margaret Heckler said a vaccine will be ready for testing “in approximately two years.” That was 1984. It has yet to happen. How is it possible that a safe and effective vaccine will be available for widespread use in early 2021 for a disease that was all but unknown at the end of 2019? It will be perfectly reasonable for people to question whether a vaccine devel-
oped in record time is safe and effective. Who will want to be the first in line? That’s not our biggest problem, however. I wonder about people who question the efficacy of masks, and claim a constitutional right not to wear one, even while surrounded by unquestionable and unprecedented illness and death. How many people who can’t fathom the value of mask wearing in this context will value the notion of vaccination? There is signif-
icant demographic variability in mask wearing and other attitudes about COVID-19 prevention, according to Ipsos, a research firm specializing in public opinion polls. For example, Republicans were more likely than Democrats to report skepticism of the COVID-19 death toll, and Democrats were more likely to report mask wearing. In addition, substantial numbers
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By Marian Wright Edelman
Persevere
The past few months have been a very difficult time for so many of us. I repeat here this “Request for Transfer” by an unknown author that has gotten me through some dark times when I’ve wanted to give up. I wanted to share it to help keep spurring us forward today: “Request for Transfer” To: Commander-in-Chief
From: Battlefield Soldier Subject: Request for Transfer Dear Lord, I’m writing this to You to request a transfer to a desk job. I herewith present my reasons: I began my career as a private, but because of the intensity of the battle, You quickly moved me up in the ranks. You made me an officer and gave me a tremendous amount of responsibility. There are many soldiers and recruits under my charge. I’m constantly being called upon to dispense wisdom,
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make judgments, and find solutions to complex problems. You have placed me in a position to function as an officer, when in my heart I know I have only the skills of a private. I realize that You promised to supply all I would need for the battle. But sir, I must present You a realistic picture of my equipment. My uniform, once so crisp and starched, is now stained with tears and blood of those I have tried to help. The soles of my boots are cracked and worn from the miles I have walked trying to enlist and encourage the
troops. My weapons are marred, tarnished, and chipped from constant battle against the enemy. Even the Book of Regulations I was issued has been torn and tattered from endless use. The words are now smeared. You promised You would be with me throughout the war, but when the noise of the battle is so loud and the confusion is so great, I can neither see nor hear You. I feel so alone. I’m tired. I’m discouraged. I have battle fatigue. I’d never ask for a discharge. I
love being in Your service. But I humbly request a demotion and transfer. I’ll file papers or clean latrines. Just get me out of the battle — please, sir. Your faithful, but tired, soldier, John/Jane Q. Servant To: Faithful but Tired Soldier From: Commander-in-Chief Subject: Request for Transfer
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By Charlene Crowell
Why is Fair Housing Still a Distant Journey for Black America?
Public pressure to restore a key Department of Housing and Urban Development rule has united civil rights, public and private sector stakeholders in a swelling and nearly daily drumbeat of concern calling for fair housing to be supported and HUD’s replacement rule be rescinded. On July 23, HUD Secretary
Ben Carson termed the rule the rule known as Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing (AFFH) as “a ruse for social engineering under the guise of desegregation.” “The worst thing we can do in a major health pandemic is increase housing instability, homelessness, and overcrowding — which is what will happen if the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing provision is significantly weakened,” noted Lisa Rice, president and CEO of the National Fair
Housing Alliance. “Taking away strong fair housing tools makes all of our communities less safe and increases housing instability. We have learned that lesson and we should not repeat that mistake. We will not allow Trump to take away tools to fight discrimination or make our neighborhoods less safe.” Nikitra Bailey, an executive vice president with the Center for Responsible Lending, said the government “helped create en-
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trenched, pernicious residential segregation and has an obligation to undo it.” “By rejecting the Fair Housing Act’s mission to dismantle segregation and the inequity it created, this administration is eschewing its responsibility and will be on the wrong side of history,” Bailey said. Initially promulgated under the Obama administration, AFFH required local jurisdictions receiving HUD funds to take meaningful actions to halt decades of discrim-
inatory policies and practices that perpetuated racially segregated communities. Under the Trump administration, the rule was suspended and then replaced by a new one, “Preserving Community and Neighborhood Choice.” Under the new rule, HUD grantees are no longer required to actively pursue local plans to eliminate segregated housing. Across the nation, civil rights
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LIFESTYLE D.L. Hughley Delivers Manifesto to America in Newly-Published Book By Brenda C. Siler WI Contributing Writer
It is no secret from where comedians find subject matter for their standup routines. Sources are usually family and the latest headlines. When writing his fourth book 18 months ago, D.L. Hughley did not know that the time we are now in
would be his reward for “Surrender White People!: Our Unconditional Terms for Peace.” Hughley and his writing partner Doug Moe wrote the book as a satirical approach to the ills of racism in America. The timely release of the straight-talking alignment of history and current events comes against a backdrop of high-profile
murders of Black people, a global pandemic, and Hughley’s own recovery from COVID-19. As a thoughtful observer of life, his insights parallel our lives right now. “You can be asymptomatic and still do a lot of damage,” Hughley said in comparing the coronavirus pandemic with racial relations in America. “People don’t feel they are doing things expressly or purposely. You can be asymptomatic to racial bias, racism, and white supremacy, but that doesn’t mean that things and people aren’t getting hurt.” As the pandemic took hold of the world and people were held hostage in their homes, the daily realities of Black life in America were viewed repeatedly on television. Those scenes were influencing non-Black America and around the world. A diverse coalition took to the streets. Hughley never imagined what he envisioned in “Surrender” would unfold as he was in quarantine from coronavirus. “One thing the pandemic did
was to make everyone sit down for a while,” Hughley said. “There were so many fewer distractions that people could pay attention. They could lock into things.” “Surrender,” a follow-up to Hughley’s New York Times bestseller “How Not to Get Shot,” uses provocative phrasing to get the reader’s attention. He was taken aback at how shocked and appalled people were over the death of George Floyd. The incident was a horrific setup for what Hughley has been attempting to teach for decades through his standup routines, his writings, his radio show, and his television show. “People were rightfully appalled,” he said. “It was heartening to see people take to the streets. But some of those same people that were appalled about George Floyd and want justice done are some of the same people who fight for monuments of men who did far worse.” The world is blessed that Hughley has bounced back from what was a mild case of coronavirus. His shake-you smart approach to problem-solving comes with a list of topics he wants to see tackled in America including reparations,
inequality in education, police and white supremacy, Black Lives Matter activism, and unequal access to health care, one of the many big challenges for COVID-19 patients. “America has an interesting relationship when it comes to race, bias and systemic oppression,” said the award-winning author, producer and comedian. “What I didn’t count on was America’s perspective shifting on a dime. In my lifetime, I’ve never seen America make this big a turn so quickly.” Readers of “Surrender” may see Hughley as a guy who can predict the future. The reality is that he is a Black man who has dealt with the past, is living in the present, and desires to chart a course for where America should be. “The truth of us is in conflict with the idea of us,” he said. “Having some of the conversations we are having now is heartwarming, interesting, and it reaffirms a level of belief in America. People are touched and are wanting to find out what they can do.” “Surrender White People!: Our Unconditional Terms for Peace” by D.L. Hughley is published by William Morrow and Company. WI
5 Comedian, author, producer and broadcast host D.L. Hughley has published his fourth book “Surrender White People!: Our Unconditional Terms for Peace.” (Photo by Dave Tada) 4 “Surrender White People!: Our Unconditional Terms for Peace” by D.L. Hughley (Courtesy photo)
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HARRIS from Page 23 ers in this nation. We are a coalition of Black women leaders, who, in this inflection point of the Black liberation movement, where people around the world are galvanized to action, know that the time for Black women in the United States is now,” the women penned in the letter. Earlier, 100 prominent Black men including Sean “Diddy” Combs, Charlamagne Tha God, NBA star Chris Paul, Bakari Sellers and rapper Doug E. Fresh signed a letter of solidarity calling for Biden to select a Black woman. “As someone who has said throughout the campaign that VP Joe Biden needs to choose a Black
woman VP, the urgency for that pick has gone from something that should happen to something that has to happen. It disgusts us that Black women are not just being vetted in this VP process but unfairly criticized and scrutinized,” the men wrote in the missive. “Was Joe Biden ever labeled ‘too ambitious’ because he ran for president three times? Should President Obama not have made him the VP because he had to worry about his ‘loyalty’ when he clearly had ambitions to be president himself?” they wrote. “Why does Senator Kamala Harris have to show remorse for questioning Biden’s previous stance on integrated busing during a democratic primary debate?” WI
Community Responds to Biden’s Pick for VP As word spread about former Vice President Joe Biden’s pick for his running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris, reaction flurried on social media including comments from the state of Maryland. “I am thrilled to see Vice President Biden choose Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate,” Del. Adrienne Jones (D-Baltimore County), who last year became Maryland’s first Black and first woman to serve as House speaker, posted on her Twitter page. “Black women are the backbone of our party and our country and I believe this is the winning ticket we need to defeat Trump.” Maryland Democrats and organizations released statements on the selection of Harris. “Democrats and our fellow Americans have much to be excited about in a Biden-Harris ticket. Their vision and talents will serve our nation well in the uncertain and critical months and years ahead,” said Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland). “I look forward to hearing from Senator Harris next week at the Democratic National Convention as she makes the case for Joe Biden and for Democrats to lead the way in making sure America can build back better in 2020 and beyond.” Harris also represents Alpha Kappa Alpha, an African-America sorority whose pink and green colors shined on social media immediately
5 Kamala Harris (Courtesy photo)
after the announcement Tuesday. Del. Jheannelle Wilkins (D-Montgomery County), a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, said in an interview the Biden-Harris represent values the American people haven’t seen in almost four years. “We now have two candidates who truly want to ensure everyday working people are lifted up, in contrast to what we’ve seen in a president that only takes actions that benefit himself,” she said. “The ticket that we have includes a woman who herself has put forward policing and justice reform issues . . . who has led in the Senate on that. The ticket that we have is people first.” State President Pro Tem Melony Griffith (D-District 25) of Upper Marlboro also feels proud as a grad-
LIFESTYLE
Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum: Examining a History of Activism By Paul Perry Supervision Education Specialist Smithsonian’s Anacostia Community Museum Recently one of the leading voices of the Civil Rights Movement, Congressman John Lewis passed away. Without a doubt, Lewis encapsulated what it meant to be a citizen activist. From his earliest days with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) to public service as a long-standing U.S. Congressman, his legacy will always be his pursuit of social justice and being an agent of change—as well as empowering others, especially young people, to embrace civic activism for causes they believe in. At the Anacostia Community Museum, encouraging civic activism and empowering others to become civically engaged is at the heart of its public programming. Using exhibitions, like the now online version of “A Right to The City”, the museum serves as a platform to convene, discuss, reflect, and engage the diverse audiences it serves. While the Anacostia Community Museum is not strictly a “history” museum, history does provide a context from which educational engagements with the public occur. The great British statesman and historian Sir Winston Churchill is reported to have said, “History will be kind to me for I
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intend to write it,” an empowering maxim that reflects much of the thinking of the museum’s education department when developing programs. For example, earlier this year, the education department collaborated on a workshop with the local non-profit, The Sanctuaries who use art to shift cultural thinking through community organizing and social movements. The program participants, who were mostly teens. learned about the importance of Washington, DC as a locus of national protest then made protest posters on community issues important to them using the lithographic process. Recently the museum, like most cultural organizations has had to convert its programming to a digital format. This, however, doesn’t dilute its basic programming philosophy. It still develops opportunities to convene and engage audiences. Examples include its new #TakeTimeThursday series. These 30-minute webinars focus on health, art, and wellness and have featured topics ranging from aromatherapy, forest bathing, and sound art. An upcoming TakeTimeThursday program on August 20 demonstrates activism through the spoken word as poet, Joseph Green recites current works related to the current Covid-19 health crisis and the BLM movements happening globally. Most recently, another webinar series, called Inspiration/ Action looks at socio-economic and cultural issues designed to inform and promote social activism by empowering participants with digital resources. Again, the common thread of engagement is the dialogue exchange between participants and speakers. Still 3 Joseph Green Spoken word artist Joseph Green is doing a virtual reading at the Anacostia Community Museum on August 20, at 2:30 p.m. Image courtesy of Joseph Green. Pre-register on the Anacostia Community Museum website, www. anacostia.si.edu/Events
5 Kalfani Turé - Kalfani Turé hosts the live webinar, “Before Black Lives Matter: Activism and the Institute on Race Relations” August 28 at 4 p.m. Image courtesy of Kalfani Turé. Pre-register on the Anacostia Community Museum website, www.anacostia.si.edu/Events
5 Sanctuaries - The arts non-profit, The Sanctuaries presented a poster-making workshop at the Anacostia Community Museum in December 2019. Image courtesy of The Sanctuaries.
other programs at the museum use themes like the history of activism and “Black Lives Matter” as a platform to educate and inspire. The upcoming program, “Before ‘Black Lives Matter’: Activism and The Institute on Race Relations” on August 28 uses historical precedent as a basis to examine how residents of the District of Columbia crossed racial and class lines to unite against racist practices--highlighting the substantive, but understudied history of collaborative anti-racist activism in the nation’s capital. These are just a few examples of how the museum explores personal and group activism, not only through its exhibitions but also through its programs. Information about these and other programs at the Anacostia Community Museum and registration guidance can be found on the website at http:// anacostia.si.edu/Events or by calling 202.633.4867. Website visitors can also sign up for program e-alerts.
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LIFESTYLE
District’s Hometown Brother Christylez Hosts Strathmore Concert
Musician Showcases Mix of Local and International Sounds By Lindiwe Vilakazi WI Contributing Writer D.C. native and musician
Christylez brings an eccentric flair to the local music scene as the face of the Strathmore’s “Live from the Mansion” weekly con-
cert series, providing exposure and support to varying District artists amid the coronavirus pandemic.
5 Christylez Bacon (Courtesy photo/Smithsonian Institute)
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Christylez Bacon, hailing from Southeast, has garnered a unique sound inspired by the city’s culture and music. “It was very rough and dangerous growing up, but we would also see so much life,” Christylez said. “During times of such hardships in our hoods, we’ve had the highest of highs too, with block parties, live go go’s, and a lot of culture. It’s a mix of good and bad, but I’ve been focused on the good these days.” Growing up raised by a musically inclined mother with a knack for Djing, Christylez was exposed to the art of beatboxing through hip-hop great Doug E. Fresh, whose influence helped shape his sound. A self-taught musician and alumni of the Duke Ellington School for the Arts in Northwest, Christylez read countless books and material to help foster his ability to read, write and compose his own musical pieces. “My mother will tell you, she graduated high school by the skin of her teeth, and she wasn’t ashamed of that,” he said. “She would instead tell me, I will buy you any encyclopedia or book that you need. So when I can’t answer your questions, you can go and find answers. So that seed being planted helped a brother to understand that we can search for answers and work to teach ourselves.” Over years of released projects and collaborations around the city, Christylez found himself paired with influential figures who recruited the artist to partner in District-wide projects and beyond. The Strathmore Music Center caught wind of his initiatives in his Southeast community and was impressed by a performance on Martin Luther King Day at the National Cathedral. The residence program reached out, soliciting his aura and influence to add to their repository of talent during the 2007-08 year. “I became the first artist to sell out all of their concerts in a month of residency,” Christylez said. The Strathmore residency served as a life-changing experi-
ence for the rising musician, allowing him to cross paths with world-renowned banjo player Cathy Fink. The two collaborated for the children’s album “Banjos to Beatbox,” which scored a Grammy nomination in 2010 next to mainstream reggae and contemporary artists such as Ziggy Marley. Although it has been years since his residency, Christylez and the Strathmore have maintained a solid working relationship, as he continues to contribute to the center’s programming. The abrupt hit of COVID-19 inspired the performing arts center to create a platform sustaining their artist showcases. Strathmore chose Christylez to host the concert series with a culturally curated lineup of performances from different artists around the world, filmed from a historic mansion in North Bethesda. “We started developing a different level of savvy,” he said. “With Strathmore holding these concerts, not only are they giving music to the people out there and keeping a safe space for the musicians and audience members, but they’re also able to keep paying musicians at this time which is awesome.” All performing acts showcased in the series are either current or previous musicians in the Strathmore Artist in Residence program. The Washingtonian artist has additionally used the downtime amid the current health emergency to complete his album with a newly released single “Quarantined,” now featured on NPR’s Morning Edition, and streaming on Soundcloud. “I’m doing my album release on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube simultaneously. I’m speaking to my D.C. folks, but I’m also speaking to my audience and fanbase in Brazil and abroad at the same time,” Christylez said. “We’re doing these live broadcasts and not only are we reaching our regular audience, but we’re also reaching the world at the same time. So now we have a global audience every time that we go live.” WI
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Washington Gas - Serving our Customers Submitted by Washington Gas As the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to be felt across the country and our community, Washington Gas is here to provide essential support and quality service during this unprecedented period. We thank you for your patience as we continue to work together through these challenging times. Our commitment to doing what it takes to keep the natural gas flowing for your daily needs remains firm at all times. As an essential service provider, we are still out in neighborhoods, whether responding to emergency calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or performing critical maintenance and repairs. While on the job, our crews and contractors follow precautionary protocols such as wearing masks, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and practicing safe social distancing of at least 6 feet when performing work on location. We ask that you give our crews the space they need to work by maintaining safe social distancing as well. In delivering gas safely—our number one priority—we take every step to ensure our infrastructure is maintained to improve system reliability and reduce environmental impacts, all while meeting or exceeding the highest standards of safety and quality to better serve our customers. With the vast majority of our customers home, we know that our essential work (including our pipeline replacement program – Project Pipes) in your neighborhood can be disruptive. We will do all we can to minimize the impact. Most of the infrastructure work we perform in your neighborhood does not require entry into the home and should not result in an interruption of service. When inside work is required, to protect our technicians, we ask that you let us know if anyone in your home is ill before we arrive. We continue to stay connected with our customers to inform you of the latest information, provide access to resources and offer assis-
tance. Please visit our Coronavirus Alert webpage at washingtongas.com for timely updates and developments.
age all customers to sign up for our free, E-bill service, which is also accessible at www.eservice.washgas.com.
DISCONNECTIONS ADDITIONAL SUSPENDED AND LATE PAYMENT OPTIONS FEES WAIVED AND PAYMENT Washington Gas continues to sus- ASSISTANCE pend disconnections and waive late fees on customer bills until we get past this crisis. These actions are automatically in place and do not need to be requested. Walk-In Offices Closed Our Walk-In offices remain closed to the public for the safety of our customers and our employees. We continue to monitor all regional emergency orders and will adjust as needed.
While disconnections are currently suspended, and late fees waived, we are aware that you may be concerned about the future and the possibility of a large bill. We offer several payment arrangements designed to meet your needs.
EMERGENCY CALLS – AVAILABLE 24 HOURS A DAY/7 DAYS A WEEK
We remain available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to respond to emergency calls. If you think you smell gas or are experiencing a natural gas-related emergency, please call 911 and then call us at 1-844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427).
MANAGING YOUR ACCOUNT AND PAYING YOUR BILL ONLINE IS QUICK AND EASY
Most billing-related inquiries can be managed online at www.washingtongas.com/ebill where you can easily pay your bill and access the latest information on your account and view the latest updates 24/7. We encour-
Telephone Payment Option • By phone 844-WASHGAS (844-927-4427) using your checking account information or debit /credit card free of charge.
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Through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the federal government
distributes funds to the various states including the District of Columbia, who then gives grants to qualified applicants to help them pay their energy bills. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, states were provided additional funds to the amount of $900M to provide payment assistance for qualified applicants. Eligibility factors include household size and total household income. Visit us at www. washingtongas.com/LIHEAP for more information.
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AUGUST 13 - 19, 2020 31
LIFESTYLE
Howard U. Professor Discusses Impact of Black Women on Suffrage Movement By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia This is part of an ongoing Washington Informer series about the Women’s Suffrage Movement and an initiative that includes Informer Publisher Denise Rolark Barnes that will use the lens of history, the fabric of art and culture and the venue of the public square to shine a light into dark places, equipping all with a compass to chart the way forward. The initiative lives in the institutional home of the Washington Informer Charities. The 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th amendment to the U.S. Constitution counts as an important and necessary milestone in Black women’s fight for the vote, according to Valethia Watkins, the director of Women Studies Graduate Certificate Program and associ-
.
ate professor of Africana Studies in the Department of Afro-American Studies at Howard University. “It did not end the disenfranchisement of Black women. Black women are not celebrating 100 years of voting rights, but effectively only half that many years,” Watkins said. “We must date our legally-protected right to vote to the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. When we center Black women’s voices and struggle, the entire story of women’s suffrage changes. Black women achieved the vote in spite of the often racist white woman suffrage movement, not because of it.” The author of the widely-acclaimed essay “Contested Memories: A Critical Analysis of the Black Feminist Revisionist History Project,” Watkins noted how in 1913, Ida Bell Wells openly defied white suffragists to demand that
Count Down to the Commitment March “Get Your Knee Off Our Necks” Friday, August 28, 2020
she accept, as a Black woman, her proper place at the back of the famous Washington DC Woman Suffrage March. “Southern women threatened to boycott the parade if Black women were allowed to participate. Our rights were sacrificed to appease and accommodate their wishes,” Watkins said. “It was not the first or last time Black women’s interests were sacrificed to the priorities of white leaders in the woman suffrage movement. Wells did not acquiesce to the demand, demonstrating that her right to represent Black women suffragists on an equal basis was non-negotiable. Ignoring their demand, she assumed a place in the front ranks of the all-white delegation from Illinois, daring white suffragists to try to stop her if they dared, which they did not.” Watkins added that Wells’ act of self-determination exemplifies the spirit by which many Black women powered their long fight for the vote. “Exercising the right to advocate for this great cause on our own terms, we often chose to create our own organizations,” she said. “An army of remarkable and fearless African American women played leading roles in the fight for voting
5 Dr. Valethia Watkins, director of Women Studies Graduate Certificate Program and associate professor of Africana Studies in the Department of Afro-American Studies at Howard University. (Photo courtesy Howard University)
Watkins added that Wells’ act of self-determination exemplifies the spirit by which many Black women powered their long fight for the vote. rights for Black women and men.” An unbroken line stretches from Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, Mary Ann Shadd Cary, Josephine
St. Pierre Ruffin and Sojourner Truth in the 19th century to Mary Church Terrell, Mary McLeod Bethune, Fannie Lou Hamer, Ella Baker and countless other powerful Black women leaders and activists well into the 20th century, Watkins said. “Their fight for the vote occurred before, during, and after the civil rights movement,” she said. “We stand on their shoulders today, heirs to their legacy and stewards of a continuing fight for unobstructed and unsuppressed Black voting participation and its deeper objective, full Black political representation.” WI
THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA HOUSING AUTHORITY REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) SOLICITATION NO.: 0025-2020 Momentum for the Commitment March Friday, August 28, 2020 is gaining steam. Meet National Action Network in Washington, D.C. to call for police accountability reform on the heels of the 2020 presidential election. Announced by Rev. Al Sharpton and co-convened by the eldest son of Dr. King, Martin Luther King, III.
Register you and your family today. www.nationalactionnetwork.net For any concerns call (202) 819-7143
No Justice No Peace 32 - AUGUST 13 - 19, 2020
DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONAL AND ADVISORY CONSULTING SERVICES The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) requires qualified Development Professional Consulting and Advisory Services to redevelop public housing communities/properties into mixed-income communities/properties. SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS will be available on DCHA’s website at www.dchousing.org beginning Monday, August 10, 2020. SEALED PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Thursday, September 10, 2020 at 11:00 AM. Contact Lolita Washington, Contract Specialist at (202) 830-5220 or by email at lwashing@dchousing. org with copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information.
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
Take it Outside in Alexandria Submitted by Visit Alexandria Looking for a fun reason to get out of the house? Grab your face covering and follow our guide to completely free outdoor activities in Alexandria, from finding hidden photo spots to taking historic walking tours to relaxing in natural escapes. And if you visit August 21-30, make it a picnic with a specially priced takeout meal from one of 60+ locations for Alexandria Restaurant Week To-Go!
GO ON AN ARCHITECTURE PHOTO ADVENTURE
Spite House: Cobalt-blue Spite House, America’s skinniest historic home, clocks in at a diminutive 7 feet wide. Pose with arms wide in front of the doorway on the 500 block of Queen Street. Captain’s Row: Feel transported on Captain’s Row, the colonial streetscape on the 100 block of Prince Street, with the smoothed-down cobblestones beneath your feet and light dappling through the arched tree canopy. Christ Church: Stroll outside centuries-old Christ Church on N. Washington Street, built in the English country style and outfitted with a courtyard and cemetery which opens up into a sacred escape filled with magnolia trees, azaleas and more. George Washington Masonic National Memorial: Take a sensational sunset shot at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial, the Egyptian-inspired tower offers a sweeping vista eastward of Carlyle, Old Town and the Potomac. Painted Ladies: South Old Town boasts Alexandria’s rendition of San Francisco’s famed “painted ladies.” Tucked into the 500 block of S. Fairfax Street, these vibrant-hued, longand-lean beauties rub elbows for a picturesque effect.
EXPLORE FREE HISTORICAL EXPERIENCES
Courageous Journey African American History Driving Tour: Embark on a Washington Post-endorsed ten-site driving tour to start exploring Alexandria’s wealth of Black historic sites, from the Edmonson Sisters’ Duke Street statue to the Southern cornerstone of D.C. laid by Benjamin Banneker. Historic Cemeteries: Visit tranquil Ivy Hill Cemetery, dating back to the early 1800s in Alexandria’s Rosemont neighborhood. Then, head to the Contrabands & Freedmen Cemetery Memorial on S. Washington St., where some 1,800 African American men, women and children were buried after fleeing enslavement to Union-occupied Alexandria during the Civil War.
3 Photo credit: Kristian Summerer for Visit Alexandria
ENJOY REFRESHING GREEN SPACES
Waterfront Parks: From Oronoco Bay to Founders Park and from Waterfront Park to Jones Point Park, Alexandria is filled with riverside green space. Take your pick and play, picnic or plant yourself on the grass to soak up some vitamin D. At Waterfront Park, see Old Town’s newest public art piece, Wrought, Knit, Labors, Legacies, by Olalekan Jeyifous. The contemplative installation frames Alexandria’s African American history through the lens of the city’s industrial and merchant history from the 17th to 20th centuries. Mount Vernon Trail: Catch a cool breeze off the river along with glimpses of wildlife as you explore sprawling Mount Vernon Trail, spanning the George Washington Memorial Parkway from Rosslyn to George Washington’s Mount Vernon. Check out VisitAlexandriaVA. com/GreatWalks for even more ideas for exploring Alexandria on foot. This article has been adapted from Caroline Secrest’s “Your Guide to Free Things to Do Outside in Alexandria” from the visitALX blog at VisitALX.com.
AUG 21-30 Bring Alexandria Restaurant Week home this year and enjoy special menus from 60+ restaurants.
Browse menus now & make your to-go list!
AlexandriaRestaurantWeek.com #ALXRestaurantWeek
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AUGUST 13 - 19, 2020 33
LIFESTYLE
Summer Spirit Festival: A Flash from the Past
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Summer Spirit Festival 2020 Cancelled Summer Spirit Festival 2020 would have been held on August 8th but due to COVID-19, CD Enterprises was unable to sponsor the event. However, in conjunction with THE WASHINGTON INFORMER the celebration continues. Join us as we reminisce with family and friends on all the music, fun and shopping we enjoyed in the past. See you in 2021! Carol Kirkendall and Darryll Brooks, of CD Enterprises, Inc., host the annual Summer Spirit Festival. This would have been their 15th year.
34 - AUGUST 13 - 19, 2020
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
LIFESTYLE
wi book review “Why Did I Get a B? And Other Mysteries We’re Discussing in the Faculty Lounge”
horoscopes
AUGUST 13 - 19, 2020
ARIES Over the last few months, things you thought required for your happiness now seem to hold little interest for you. What you used to spend money on you no longer do, and now you find that money is useful elsewhere. Today’s a good day to go through your finances and look at where money can be reallocated toward what’s important to you now. Lucky Numbers: 16, 17, 24
By Shannon Reed c.2020, Atria $26 272 pages
TAURUS You may wake up with a sudden desire to change everything in your house or even to change your lifestyle entirely. You may have a desire to become an ex-pat in some tropical country, live on a narrowboat on the canals of England, or to get yourself a class C – RV to travel through the country’s national parks. You may not be able to this immediately, but possibilities are coming. Lucky Numbers: 6, 34, 41
By Terri Schlichenmeyer WI Contributing Writer
GEMINI Today’s a good day to do a thought experiment, to look at your life and ask yourself what would you do differently if you had no fear. Ask yourself how you would run your business if you could only work on it for four hours a week. Consider asking yourself how you might get through a master’s program if you can only work on it part-time. Working on these questions can create amazing opportunities for you. Lucky Numbers: 10, 29, 50
A new pencil sharpener. It felt like a small thing but when you were a student, it was a treasure, along the lines of a 64-count box of crayons and an unsullied notebook. Nothing suggests a new beginning quite like a first day with fresh school supplies but in the new book “Why Did I Get a B?” by Shannon Reed, the instructor may be worn. Being a teacher was never an option. Not really; Shannon Reed figured that she’d be called to the ministry like her father and his father. Yes, her maternal line featured lots of teachers but that profession didn’t hold much interest to her — until she needed a job and was hired at her father’s church’s preschool, and she realized how much she truly enjoyed it. She became a preschool teacher and, one day, she realized that she’d “been working with kids for years.” She headed back to college. “And then, just like that,” she says, “I was a teacher.” Of course, though, it wasn’t that easy. There were lessons to learn: about the tricks of landing a job; about preparing parents for a “Your Child is Broken” talk that gently lets them know Junior isn’t perfect; and about trying to teach the child who needs more than an overwhelmed teacher can give. Then there are the really hard things: working through racism and making regretful assumptions about your school’s students; embracing small lies as class motivation; and knowing how to find support when everyone else needs it, too. There are, of course, benefits to becoming a teacher: the time a student finally “gets it.” The memorable Christmas gifts, including “eighty-seven... handprint mugs...” The day you see a student as a civilian, and it’s weird; and the day you realize that you could be friends one day. These are things Reed savored but any teacher, she says, could tell you more. “And I’d bet they’d love it if you asked.” Your child adored her most recent teacher because, chances are, that was you. Now fall semester is up in the air, it’s only decided-ish, and new backpacks hang in the closet, just in case. So maybe this is a good time to see what a pro says about the classroom by reading “Why Did I Get a B?” With a wide-ranging look at grades pre-K through college, author Shannon Reed gives readers a funny, factual, forceful look inside the teacher’s lounge, behind administration doors, and literally under a desk, in tales that are filled with candor and sometimes pain. Yes, you may laugh but given recent events, you may also find meaning after months of school-at-home. For parents-cum-teachers, in fact, it’s not hard to envision using this to help launch the new school year. It’s not hard, either, to envision giving this to your favorite teacher. Indeed, college freshman with plans of lesson-planning will want to read this book quick, before they start the new semester. Anyone with plenty of class will see that “Why Did I Get a B?” is sharp. WI
CANCER Today you can release the fear that has held you back from taking action. Avoid people who can get in your head and cause you to doubt yourself. Recognize that mistakes help you learn and grow. If you believe your course of action is correct don’t let someone talk you out of it today. Lucky Numbers: 2, 15, 33 LEO You may feel like you’re not getting enough recognition at your job. This could be because your manager is distracted by other things. But it also may be time for you to consider whether this is a good place for you to be. If you’re looking for work, this aspect is extraordinary, and you have good opportunities to find a job today and all week long. Lucky Numbers: 9, 10, 39 VIRGO Today’s a day of potential mental brilliance where one of those ideas can change your entire thinking process. This could be a flash of insight or spiritual awakening. And this happens when you’re bored. If you fill your entire day with YouTube videos and texts, you miss this opportunity. Today, eat your meals in silence, skip the headphones during your workout, turn off the radio in the car. Let the Universe speak to you. Lucky Numbers: 4, 5, 13 LIBRA You have dreams, things you want to do, places you want to see. What you can do about this at the moment is to look at what resources you’ll need to make these things happen. Focus on ways to manifest what you want without actual cash. Write a list and post it on your bulletin board. This sends a message to the Universe about what you’re looking for. Lucky Numbers: 21, 31, 33 SCORPIO Today you can find a mentor or influencer to help you with your career plans. Those Scorpios looking for a job can have amazing opportunities fall in your lap through connections you make on professional websites like LinkedIn. Direct message the hiring manager or department supervisor and see what headway you can make. Lucky Numbers: 1, 25, 27 SAGITTARIUS This is a great time to consider how a simple change in your routine can alter your life. You may be suddenly drawn to old and curious things. You may want to re-season your cast iron pans, pull out an old puzzle and spread it out on the dining room table, or learn how to edit videos on your phone. No matter what you do, make it something you haven’t done in a long time. Lucky Numbers: 8, 12, 15 CAPRICORN This week you can find someone to support your cause (getting a new job, finding a relationship, launching a new venture). You may not have felt much support recently. Most people have been going through more than they usually like. But this is good energy for talking to several people and see who will step up to help you. Lucky Numbers: 3, 24, 46 AQUARIUS Today you feel pulled in multiple directions. Everyone seems to want your advice, your approval, or your signature. And none of these things should be given without knowing the full ramifications of what you’re doing. Be careful about signing things today as this will make for obligations tomorrow. Lucky Numbers: 5, 15, 16 PISCES There is every reason to have optimism and hope for your future, but today it’s very easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of bad news and sensationalism. Try shutting off the media today. Give yourself a little bit of space to hear the birds singing outside, squirrels running up and down the trees, and perhaps a neighbor’s child practicing the piano. This is reality. Lucky Numbers: 2, 21, 28
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
AUGUST 13 - 19, 2020 35
SPORTS Washington Releases Guice after Domestic Violence Incident By Daniel Kucin Jr. WI Contributing Writer @danielkucin88 The Washington Football Team released former LSU running back Derrius Guice on Aug. 7 after learning that he was involved in domestic violence-related incidents. “This afternoon we learned that there were multiple charges filed against Derrius. Upon review of the nature of these charges and following internal discussions, we have decided to release Derrius immediately,” the team said in a statement. The oft-injured running back was released shortly after being
36 - AUGUST 13 - 19, 2020
arrested and charged with one count of strangulation, a felony and three counts of assault and battery. Guice was also charged with destruction of property and was later released on a $10,000 uninsured bond. “The failure to fully investigate allegations of events, which allegedly took place months ago, is inexplicable,” Guice’s lawyer, Peter D. Greenspun, said in a statement. “Derrius will defend these charges in court, where a full vetting of the allegations will take place, in contrast to actions by local law enforcement and the Washington Football Team that assumed the worst, directly con-
4 Washington Football Team running back Adrian Peterson could be a front-runner to start as running back after the team released Derrius Guice on Aug 7. (Daniel Kucin Jr./The Washington Informer)
tradicting every sense of fairness and due process.” Guice was involved in three separate domestic violence-related cases dating back to Feb. 14, March 13 and April 17 at his residence in Ashburn, Virginia, according to police reports. Despite having a stellar career at LSU, Guice fell to Washington in the second round (59th overall) of the 2018 NFL draft.
He rushed for more than 3,000 yards, had 32 touchdowns and averaged a whopping 7.8 yards per carry for the Tigers during his
collegiate career. However, Guice suffered many injuries as he transitioned into the NFL. The 23-year-old had to sit out his rookie season after tearing his ACL in the preseason opener against the New England Patriots. The following season, he had a meniscus tear and then sustained a MCL sprain. He only rushed 42 times for 245 yards and two touchdowns in Washington. The squad’s remaining running backs on the roster are Bryce Love, Adrian Peterson, Peyton Barber, J.D. McKissic and Antonio Gibson. Love is coming off an injury that caused him to miss his rookie campaign, while Peterson will be the veteran presence in the locker room. Peterson led the team in rushing last season with 898 yards and five touchdowns on 4.3 yards per carry. Barber and McKissic are freeagent acquisitions looking to make an impact, and Gibson was drafted in the third round (66th overall) in the 2020 NFL draft out of the University of Memphis. WI
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER / WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM
CAPTURE the moment
For more photos, visit www.washingtoninformer.com
Some of the DC areas most frequented places have
now been shuttered for over five months. The District government put forth a great effort to help restaurants that don’t normally offer outdoor seating by placing barriers to extend
the sidewalk to help bring business to some areas.
However, the hotel business remains without
customers, conferences
and tourists. (Roy Lewis/ The Washington Informer)
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
AUGUST 13 - 19, 2020 37
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were taught that talk is not enough. We were set to a standard to work. No matter [a student’s] work of study, it was understood you had to put in work. This campaign is going to be about putting in work…” Staff Writer William J. Ford contributed to this report. WI
Kamala Selection Excites D.C. Residents By Hamil R. Harris WI Contributing Writer
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Biden, Griffith wants to change it to “Maryland Women for Biden-Harris.” “We are HU proud. Howard University has a legacy of producing incredible leaders. I am sitting proud and tall today,” she said. “As a student at Howard University, we
From D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to Howard University President Wayne A. I. Frederick, leaders across the District from all stations of life are expressing excitement that Joe Biden has selected Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate in the 2020 presidential campaign. “My warmest congratulations to @ Kamala Harris,” DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a tweet. “I am confident Biden-Harris will prove to be a winning ticket. I will do my utmost to help them win and govern.” Harris, the first African-American woman tapped to be a vice-presidential candidate of a major party, was selected by Biden after an exhaustive search among a field of nearly a dozen candidates. The president of Howard University put Harris’ selection in an historical context. “Today is an extraordinary moment in the history of America and of Howard University,” said President Wayne A. I. Frederick. “Senator Kamala Harris’ selection as the Democratic vice presidential candidate represents a milestone opportunity for our democracy to acknowledge the leadership Black women have always exhibited, but has too often been ignored. Let’s pause and take a collective breath that has been denied to so many. We are proud to call Howard University alumna Kamala Harris a member of our HU family. As Senator
MAYOR from Page 1 effective. In the aftermath of a mass shooting that claimed one life and injured more than 20 people, including an off-duty police officer, demands have intensified for the mayor and local authorities to penalize organizers of large outdoor functions taking place during the public health emergency. Just hours after gunfire near 33rd Street and Dubois Place in Southeast brought the annual EAT (Elevate All the Time) Block Party to a tragic end,
Harris embarks upon this new chapter in her life, and in our country’s history, she is poised to break two glass ceilings in our society with one fell swoop of her Howard hammer. The HBCU community and I will be watching.” From San Francisco to the District, Harris has deep social as well as political ties within the African-American community, particularly among women’s group whether it is with members of her Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority or among District political leaders. “I am so excited,” said Jeanette Mobley, President of D.C. Democratic Women’s Club. “We had a diverse group of women who all capable but we are especially happy that Kamala Harris was selected because she is a lawyer, she is very bright, she has served as the Attorney General of California and she has worked hard in the U.S. Senate. You couldn’t have asked for a better candidate.” Sharon Anderson, the former Secretary of the District, now has her own consulting firm. She said Harris serves as a great pick for a number of reasons. “She brings a great combination of experience, knowledge, political savvy and empathy to the race,” she said. “One of her major assets is that she has actually governed and that is sorely needed right now. I really appreciate the way she relates to how government decisions affect the lives of ordinary people.” Dr. Alvin Thornton, chairman of the Prince George’s County Board of Education, said, “Biden, in selecting MPD Chief Peter Newsham stressed that the party, which was heavily promoted on social media, shouldn’t have happened. “There were certainly [was] too many people out there, you know with the COVID-19. We can’t tolerate these types of gatherings in our city during COVID-19,” Newsham told reporters during a press conference on Sunday morning. “It’s just too dangerous,” he said. “[An off-duty police officer] is struggling for her life at a local hospital.” Bowser’s new COVID-19 mandate,
5 Kamala Harris (Courtesy photo)
Harris, is giving American children an example of the best and brightest that our nation has to offer in this critical time. This was the case with the selection of President Obama.” The selection of Harris continues to resonate with women from across the country – even among one woman who had been seriously considered for the job. Former U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice said in a statement, “I warmly congratulate Senator Kamala Harris on her selection as Joe Biden’s vice presidential running mate. Senator Harris is a tenacious and trailblazing leader who will make a great partner on the campaign trail. I am confident that Biden-Harris will prove to be the winning ticket.” Barbara Holt Streeter, a public relations executive and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. said, “As a Black woman, I literally screamed when I heard the news. I was excited for all of my nieces, my sisters and my colleagues. The next 84 days will be the most important in our lifetime.” WI which carries a fine of $1,000, materialized amid a resurgence of the positive cases across the nation, and incidents of gun violence ravaging pockets of the District. The mandate, in effect until early October, compels the wearing of a mask upon leaving one’s residence and when likely to come in contact with another person. It also authorizes the revocation of licenses and permits for public establishments that don’t enforce the mayor’s orders. Even with these penalties in place,
MAYOR Page 44
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RELIGION the religion corner WITH LYNDIA GRANT
Hold On, A Change Surely Will Come …you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. — Genesis 50:20 NKJV This week, we all heard the quote from former first lady Michelle Obama about how she was feeling a low-grade depression because of the pandemic, but mostly because of the racism that seems to be running rampant here in America. “I’m waking up in the middle of the night because I’m worrying about something or there’s a heaviness,” Obama said in her podcast Wednesday. “I try to make sure I get a workout in, although there have been periods throughout this quarantine, where I just have felt low.” She also said in her podcast she explained “it is exhausting to be waking up to yet another story of a Black man or a Black person somehow being dehumanized, or hurt, or killed, or falsely accused of something.” Last week, we all saw how Aurora, Colorado, police handcuffed a Black family, with young children, in a stolen car mix-up. The Den-
ver Post reported how Aurora police uses force against Black people at higher rates than against other races. This story brought me to tears! To hear those little girls screaming and crying, I can only imagine what they were thinking. They saw police murder George Floyd, they felt they could be next. The fear coming from the screams of those girls simply threw me! This time, it was women and girls. It is summertime, the parking lot had to be very hot to their bodies, that’s why you could see them trying to hold up their legs to keep from getting burned from the hot parking lot. Just awful! I heard one reporter say, “Would they have done the same thing to a white family?” We all know the answer. All we need to do is think back on how they handled the killer at Mother Emanuel Church in Charleston, South Carolina. You all know who I’m talking about, no publicity from me. Took him to Burger King, fed him a meal, and treated him like he was just another ordinary young white, with respect. And he had killed nine Black people, including a pastor and elected official. We don’t really have to think long or hard to see the blatant differences. Also, last week, Oprah Winfrey endorsed a new book, “Caste.”
Mt. Zion Baptist Church
Though I haven’t read that book, I was reminded of the caste system in India and other countries. It was a real-life opportunity to learn about the caste system, when my sisters and I had our own, women-owned small business called Critique Career Management Services, Inc. One of our services was typing term papers, masters’ theses and doctoral dissertations, but there was a particular instance where the customer was from India. We saw firsthand how his assistant kept his head down, and was his servant. To this day, we still talk about what we learned from the caste system from time-to-time. Once I read the book, I plan to compare what I learned in real life with how this author has written about a similar caste system here in America. There is a scripture, Romans 12:19, which says it this way: Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Faint not, continue to acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He surely will direct your paths. Don’t worry when someone has done you wrong, just repeat this scripture from Genesis 50:20: “You meant it for evil, but God has turned that thing around for my good. WI
John F. Johnson Reverend Dr.
5101 14th Street, NW / Washington, DC 20011 Phone: 202-726-2220 Fax: 202-726-9089
1306 Vermont Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20005
“A Church with a past to remember – and a future to mold” www.mtzbcdc.org
EMPLOYMENT LAWYERS MCCOLLUM & ASSOCIATES, LLC ADA, Age Discrimination, Benefits, Civil Rights, COBRA, Contracts, Deaf Law, Defamation, Disability Law, Discipline, Discrimination, FMLA, FLSA, FOIA, Family Responsibility, Harassment, HIPPA, OSHA, National Origin Discrimination, Non-Compete, Race Discrimination, Rehabilitation Act, Retaliation, Severance Agreements, Sexual Harassment, Torts, Whistleblowing, Wage-and-Hour, Wrongful Discharge SERVING MARYLAND, DC, & NORTH CAROLINA
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Mount Olivet Lutheran Church
Reverend John W. Davis Pastor
Service and Times Sunday Worship Service - 8:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Children’s Church - 11:00 a.m. (1st & 3rd Sundays) Communion - 10 a.m. 4th Sunday Sunday School - 9:15 a.m. (4th Sunday 8:15 a.m.) Prayer Meeting & Bible Study - Wednesday 7:00 p.m.
(301) 864-6070
Service and Times Divine Worship, Sunday 10:00 a.m. Communion 1st and 3rd Sunday “Friendliest Church in the City” Website: mountolivetdc.org Email: mtolivedc@gmail.com
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AUGUST 13 - 19, 2020 39
RELIGION The Miracle Center of Faith Missionary Baptist Church
Pilgrim Baptist Church
Bishop Michael C. Turner, Sr. Senior Pastor
Rev. Louis B. Jones II Pastor
9161 Hampton Overlook Capitol Heights, MD 20743 Phone: 301-350-2200 / Fax: 301-499-8724
700 I Street, N.E. Washington, D.C. 20002 (202) 547-8849
Service and Times Sunday Worship Times : 7:30 AM 7 10:00 AM Communion: 1st Sunday Sunday School: 9:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday, 12 Noon Bible Study in homes: Tuesday 7:00 PM
Service and Times Worship Sundays: 7:30 & 11:00 AM 5th Sundays: 9:30 AM 3rd Sundays: Baptism & Holy Communion Prayer & Praise: Wednesdays @ Noon & 6:30 PM
Website: www.themiraclecenterFMBC.com Email: Miraclecenterfmbs@gmail.com Motto: “We Walk by Faith, Not by Sight”
www.pilgrimbaptistdc.org
Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ
Blessed Word of Life Church
Church of Living Waters
Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church
Rev. Paul Carrette Senior Pastor Harold Andrew Assistant Pastor 4915 Wheeler Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745 301-894-6464 Service and Times Sunday Service: 8:30am& 11:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM Communion Service: First Sunday www.livingwatersmd.org
St. Stephen Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. Michael E. Bell, Sr., / Pastor 2498 Alabama Ave., SE - Washington D.C. 20020 Office: (202) 889-7296 / Fax: (202) 889-2198 - www.acamec.org Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 8:00am and 11:00 AM Sunday Church School - 9:15am & Sunday Adult Forum Bible Study - 10:30 AM 2nd & 4th Monday Women’s Bible Study: 6:30 PM Tuesday Jr./Sr. Bible Study: 10:00 AM Tuesday Topical Bible Study: 6:30 PM Tuesday New Beginnings Bible Study: 6:30 PM Wednesday Pastoral Bible Study: 6:30 PM Wednesday Children’s Bible Study: 6:30 PM Thursday Men’s Bible Study: 6:30 PM Friday before 1st Sunday Praise & Worship Service: 6:30 PM Saturday Adult Bible Study: 10:00 AM “The Amazing, Awesome, Audacious Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church”
Third Street Church of God
Dr. Dekontee L. & Dr. Ayele A. Johnson Pastors
Reverend William Young IV Interim Pastor
Bishop Lanier C. Twyman, Sr. Senior Pastor
Rev. Cheryl J. Sanders, Th.D. Senior Pastor
4001 14th Street, NW Washington, DC 20011 (202) 265-6147 Office 1-800 576-1047 Voicemail/Fax
3845 South Capitol Street Washington, DC 20032 (202) 562-5576 (Office) / (202) 562-4219 (Fax)
5757 Temple Hill Road, Temple Hills, MD 20748 Office 301-899-8885 – fax 301-899-2555 Services and Times Sunday Early Morning Worship: 7:45 AM Church School: 9:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship: 10:45 AM Tuesday: 7:00pm/Kingdom Building Bible Institute Wednesday , 12:30 PM Mid-Day Bible Study Wednesday: Prayer/Praise/Bible Study-7:30 PM Baptism & Communion Service: 4th Sunday – 10:30 AM
1204 Third Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 202-347-5889 office / 202-638-1803 fax
Service and Times Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 11:00 AM Communion Service: First Sunday Prayer Service/Bible Study: Tuesday, 6:30 PM
Services and Times Sundays: 10:00am Worship Services Bible Study: Wonderful Wednesdays in Worship and the Word Bible Study Wednesdays 12:00 Noon; 6:30 PM (dinner @ 5:30 PM) Sunday School: 9:00 AM – Hour of Power “An inclusive ministry where all are welcomed and affirmed.” www.covenantdc.org
www.blessedwordoflifechurch.org E-mail: church@blessedwordoflifechurch.org
Campbell AME Church
Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 AM Sunday Church School: 8:45 AM Bible Study Wednesday: 12:00 Noon Wednesday: 7:00 PM Thursday: 7:00 PM “Reaching Up To Reach Out” Mailing Address : Campbell AME Church 2502 Stanton Road SE - Washington, DC 20020
“Ambassadors for Christ to the Nation’s Capital” www.thirdstreet.org Live Stream Sunday Worship Service begins @ 12:00 noon www.thirdstreet.org
Rev. Dr. Alton W. Jordan Pastor 800 I Street, NE - Washington, DC 20002 202-548-0707 - Fax No. 202-548-0703 Service and Times Sunday Morning Worship: 11:00 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday Sunday School: 9:45 AM Men’s Monday Bible Study: 7:00 PM Wednesday Night Bible Study: 7:00 PM Women’s Ministry Bible Study: 3rd Friday -7:00 PM Computer Classes: Announced Family and Marital Counseling by appointment E-mail: Crusadersbaptistchurch@verizon.net www.CrusadersBaptistChurch.org / “God is Love”
Greater Mt. Calvary Holy Church Bishop Alfred A. Owens, Jr.; Senior Bishop & Evangelist Susie C. Owens – Co-Pastor 610 Rhode Island Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 (202) 529-4547 office • (202) 529-4495 fax
Sunday Worship Service: 8:00 AM and 10:45 AM Sunday Youth Worship Services: 1st & 4th 10:45 AM; 804 R.I. Ave., NE 5th 8 AM & 10:45 AM; Main Church Prayer Services Tuesday – Noon, Wednesday 6:00 AM & 6:30 PM Calvary Bible Institute: Year-Round Contact Church / Communion Every 3rd Sunday The Church in The Hood that will do you Good! www.gmchc.org / emailus@gmchc.org
Isle of Patmos Baptist Church Reverend Dr. Calvin L. Matthews Senior Pastor 1200 Isle of Patmos Plaza, Northeast Washington, DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-6767 - Fax: (202) 526-1661 Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM Holy Communion: 2nd Sunday at 7:30 AM and 10:30 AM Sunday Church School: 9:20 AM Seniors Bible Study: Tuesdays at 10:30 AM Noon Day Prayer Service: Tuesdays at Noon Bible Study: Tuesdays at 7 PM Motto: “A Ministry of Reconciliation Where Everybody is Somebody!” Website: http://isleofpatmosbc.org Church Email: ipbcsecretary@verizon.net
St Marks Baptist Come Worship with us... Dr. Raymond T. Matthews Pastor and First Lady Marcia Matthews St. Mark's Baptist Church 624 Underwood Street, NW Washington, dc 20011 Services and Times Sunday School: 9:00 AM Worship Service: 10:00 AM Wed. Noon Day prayer service Thur. Prayer service: 6:45 PM Thur. Bible Study: 7:15 PM
Twelfth Street Christian Church
Rev. Dr. Henry Y. White 2562 MLK Jr. Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020 Adm. Office 202-678-2263 Email: Campbell@mycame.org
“We are one in the Spirit” www.ssbc5757.org / E-mail: ssbc5757@verizon.net
Services and Times Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM Sunday Community Worship Service: 8:30 AM
Crusader Baptist Church
Reverend Dr. Paul H. Saddler Senior Pastor (Disciples of Christ) 1812 12th Street, NW - Washington, DC 20009 Phone: 202-265-4494 Fax: 202 265 4340 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM Communion every Sunday: 11:00 AM Sunday School: 10:00 AM Bible Study Tuesday: 12 Noon Pastor’s Bible Study Tuesday: 6:30 PM Motto: “Discover Something Wonderful” Website: 12thscc.org / Email: Twelfthstcc@aol.com
Turning Hearts Church Virgil K. Thomas, Sr. Senior Pastor/ Teacher 421 Alabama Ave. SE Washington, DC 20032 Phone: 202-746-0113 Fax: 301-843-2445 Service and Times Sunday School: 10:15 AM Sunday Worship Service: 11;15 AM Children’s Church: 11:15 AM Tuesday Bible Study: 6:30 PM Motto : “A Great Commitment to the Great Commandment” Website: www.turningheartschurchdc.org Email: gr8luv4u2@gmail.com
40 - AUGUST 13 - 19, 2020
Mount Carmel Baptist Church Reverend Dr. Paris L Smith, Sr. Senior Pastor 901 Third Street N.W. Washington, DC. 20001 Phone (202) 842-3411 Fax (202) 682-9423 Service and Times Sunday Church School : 9:00 AM Sunday Morning Worship: 10:10 AM Bible Study Tuesday: 6: 00 PM Prayer Service Tuesday: 7:00 PM Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday 10:10 AM themcbc.org
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RELIGION Shabbath Commandment Church Bishop Adrian A. Taylor, Sr. Pastor 7801 Livingston Road Oxon Hill, MD 20745 301-534-5471 Service and Times Sabbath School 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 AM Service 11:00 AM Praise & Worship Preaching 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM Motto: “A Church Keeping It Real for Real.” Website: Shabbathcommandmentchruch.org Email: Praisebetoyhwh@gmail.com
Zion Baptist Church Rev. Keith W. Byrd, Sr. Pastor 4850 Blagdon Ave, NW - Washington D.C 20011 Phone (202) 722-4940 - Fax (202) 291-3773 Service and Times 9:00 a.m. – Sunday School 10:15 a.m. – Worship Service Wed. Noon: Dea. Robert Owens Bible Study 7 PM Pastor’s Bible Study Ordinance of Baptism 2nd Sunday, Holy Communion 4th Sunday Mission: Zion shall: Enlist Sinners, Educate Students, Empower the Suffering, Encourage the Saints, And Exalt our Savior. (Acts 2: 41-47) www.zionbaptistchurchdc.org
St. Luke Baptist Church Rev. Aubrey C. Lewis Pastor 1415 Gallatin Street, NW Washington, DC 20011-3851 P: (202) 726-5940 Service and Times Sunday Worship: 11:00 AM Sunday School: 9:15 AM Holy Communion: 11:00 a.m., 3rd Sun. Bible Institute: Wednesday - 1:30 PM Prayer Meeting: Wednesday - 12:00 Noon
All Nations Baptist Church Rev. Dr. James Coleman Pastor 2001 North Capitol St, N.E. - Washington, DC 20002 Phone (202) 832-9591 Service and Times Sunday Church School – 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service – 11:00 AM Holy Communion – 1st Sunday at 11:00 AM Prayer – Wednesdays, 6:00 PM Bible Study – Wednesdays, 7:00 PM Christian Education / School of Biblical Knowledge Saturdays, 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM, Call for Registration Website: www.allnationsbaptistchurch.com All Nations Baptist Church – A Church of Standards
Israel Baptist Church
Rev. Daryl F. Bell Pastor 2324 Ontario Road, NW Washington, DC 20009 (202) 232-1730 Service and Times Sunday School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM Baptismal Service: 1st Sunday – 9:30 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday – 11:00 AM Prayer Meeting & Bible Study: Wednesday -7:30 PM “Where Jesus is the King”
Dr. Earl D. Trent Senior Pastor
2409 Ainger Pl.,SE – WDC 20020 (202) 678-0884 – Office / (202) 678-0885 – Fax “Moving Faith Forward” 0% Perfect . . . 100% Forgiven!
623 Florida Ave.. NW - WDC. 20001 Church (202) 667-3409 / Study (202) 265-0836 Home Study (301) 464-8211 / Fax (202) 483-4009
Service and Times Sunday Worship: 8:00 AM & 10:45 AM Baptism/Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday Family Bible Study Tuesdays – 6:30 PM Prayer Service: Tuesdays – 8:00 PM www.emmanuelbaptistchurchdc.org
Sermon On The Mount Temple Of Joy Apostolic Faith
Lincoln Park United Methodist Church Rev. Richard B. Black Pastor
Elder Herman L. Simms Pastor
1251 Saratoga Ave., NE Washington, DC 20018 (202) 269-0288
1301 North Carolina Ave. N E Washington, D C 20002 202 543 1318 - lincolnpark@lpumcdc.org www.lpumcdc.org
5606 Marlboro Pike District Heights, MD 20747 301-735-6005
Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:45 AM Sunday School: 9:15 AM Holy Communion1st Sunday: 10:45 AM Prayer Service: Wednesday at 6:30 PM Bible Study: Wednesday at 7:00 PM Bible Study: Tuesday at 10:30 AM
Mount Moriah Baptist Church Dr. Lucius M. Dalton Senior Pastor
Service and Times Sunday Worship: 10:00 AM Holy Communion: First Sunday 10:00 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Bible Study: Wednesday @ 12 noon and 6:30 PM Motto: "Faith On The Hill"
Service and Times Sunday Apostolic Worship Services 11:00 A.M and 5:00 PM Communion and Feet Wash 4th Sunday at 5:00 PM Prayer/Seeking: Wednesday at 8:00 PM Apostolic in Doctrine, Pentecostal in Experience, Holiness in Living, Uncompromised and Unchanged. The Apostolic Faith is still alive –Acts 2:42
New Commandment Baptist Church
Eastern Community Baptist Church Damion M. Briggs Pastor
Rev. Stephen E. Tucker Senior Pastor
1636 East Capitol Street, NE Washington, DC 20003 Telephone: 202-544-5588 - Fax: 202-544-2964
8213 Manson Street Landover, MD 20785 Tel: (301) 322-9787 Fax: (301) 322-9240
13701 Old Jericho Park Road Bowie, MD. 20720 (301) 262-0560
Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 7:45 AM and 10:45 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sundays at 7:45 AM & 10:45 AM Sunday School: 9:30 AM Prayer & Praise Service: Tuesdays at 12 noon & 6:30 PM Bible Study: Tuesdays at 1 pm and 7 PM Youth Bible Study: Fridays at 7 PM
Service and Times Early Morning Message: 7:30 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 10:00 AM Sunday Church School: 9:00 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday 7:30 AM & 10:00 AM Prayer, Praise and Testimony: Wednesday 7:00 PM Bible Study: Wednesday 7:30 PM
Service and Times Sunday Worship: 11 AM Sunday School: 10 AM Wednesday Mid-Week Worship, Prayer & Bible Study: Wed. 7 PM
Rehoboth Baptist Church
Reverend Peter R. Blue Sr. Pastor
Rev. Curtis l. Staley Pastor
2001 Brooks Drive District Heights MD. 20744 240.838.7074
621 Alabama Ave., S.E.- Washington, D.C. 20032 P: (202) 561-1111 - F: (202) 561-1112
Service and Times Sunday Worship Experience: 10:15am Sunday School: 9:00am Holy Communion: 3rd Sunday Morning Noontime Bible Study: Tuesday @ 12:00pm Prayer Meeting/Bible Study: Tuesday @7:00pm Theme: "Building On A Firm Foundation"
Service and Times Sunday Service: 10:00 AM Sunday School for all ages: 8:30 AM 1st Sunday Baptism: 10:00 AM 2nd Sunday Holy Communion:10:00 AM Tuesday: Bible Study: 6:30 PM Prayer Meeting: 7:45 PM
Email: revprbstmbc@gmail.com Website: www.stmatthewsbaptist.org
Motto: “Where God is First and Where Friendly People Worship”
“Real Worship for Real People” Website: www.easterncommunity.org Email: ecc@easterncommunity.org
“A Church Where Love Is Essential and Praise is Intentional”
Foggy Bottom - Founded in 1867 728 23rd Street, NW - Washington, DC 20037 Church office: 202-333-3985 - Fax : 202-338-4958
Shiloh Baptist Church
Matthews Memorial Baptist Church Dr. Joseph D. Turner / Senior Pastor 2616 MLK Ave., SE - Washington, DC 20020 Office 202-889-3709 - Fax 202-678-3304 Service and Times Early Worship Service: 8:00 AM Worship Service: 11:00 AM New Member’s Class: 9:45 AM Holy Communion: 1st Sunday, 11:00 AM Church School: 9:45 AM Wednesday 12:00pm Bible Study Prayer, Praise and Bible Study: 7:00 PM Saturday Bible Study: 11:00 AM Baptism 4th Sunday: 11:00 AM “Empowered to love and Challenged to Lead a Multitude of Souls to Christ”
Peace Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Michael T. Bell 712 18th Street, NE Washington, DC 20002 Phone 202-399-3450/ Fax 202-398-8836 Service and Times Sunday Early Morning Prayer & Bible Study Class: 8:00 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Sunday Morning Worship Service: 10:00 AM Wednesday Service: 12:00 PM “The Loving Church of the living lord “
4504 Gault Place, N.E. / Washington, D.C 20019 202-397-7775 – 7184 Service and Times Sunday Church School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service : 11:00 AM The Lord’s Supper 1st Sunday Prayer & Praise Services: Wednesday 7:00 PM Bible Study: 7:30 PM Saturday before 4th Sunday Men, Women, Youth Discipleship Ministries: 10:30 AM A Christ Centered Church htubc@comcast.net
Christ Embassy DC
Kelechi Ajieren Coordinator 6839 Eastern Avenue, R1 Takoma Park, MD 20912 (202) 556-7065 Service and Times Sunday Worship Service: 10:00 AM Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00 PM Friday Evening Service: 7:00 PM ; Last Friday “…Giving Your Life a Meaning” www.Christembassydc.org Christ.embassy.dc@hotmail.com
Pennsylvania Ave. Baptist Church Rev. Dr. Kendrick E. Curry Pastor 3000 Pennsylvania Ave.. S.E Washington, DC 20020 202 581-1500 Service and Times Sunday Church School: 9:30 AM Sunday Worship Service: 11:00 AM Monday Adult Bible Study: 7:00 PM Wednesday Youth & Adult Activities: 6:30 PM Prayer Service Bible Study
First Rising Mt. Zion Baptist Church
Mt. Horeb Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. Wallace Charles Smith Pastor
Rev. Oran W. Young Pastor
Rev. Dr. H. B. Sampson, III Pastor
9th & P Street, N.W. - W. D.C. 20001 (202) 232-4288
602 N Street NW - Washington, D.C. 20001 Office:(202) 289-4480 Fax: (202) 289-4595
2914 Bladensburg Road, NE Wash., DC 20018 Office: (202) 529-3180 - Fax: (202) 529-7738 Service and Times Worship Service: 7:30 AM Sunday School: 9:00 AM Worship Service: 10:30 AM Holy Communion: 4th Sunday 7:30AM & 10:30 AM Prayer Services:Tuesday 7:30 PM. Wednesday 12 Noon
www.stmarysfoggybottom.org Email: stmarysoffice@stmarysfoggybottom.org
Service and Times First Sunday Worship Service (one service): 10:00 AM Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Sunday Worship service: 7:45 AM and 10:55 AM Sunday Church School/Bible Study: 9:30 AM Thursday Prayer Service: 6:30 PM
All are welcome to St. Mary’s to Learn, Worship, and Grow.
Email: sbc@shilohbaptist.org Website: shilohbaptist.org
Service and Times Sundays: 10 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Music and Hymns Wednesdays: 12:10 p.m. - Holy Eucharist
Service and Times Sunday Worship Services: 10:00 AM Sunday Church School: 8:45 – 9:45 AM Holy Communion: Every First Sunday Intercessory Prayer: Monday – 7:00-8:00 PM Pastor’s Bible Study: Wednesday –7:45 PM Midweek Prayer: Wednesday – 7:00 PM Noonday Prayer Every Thursday
Rev. Dr. George C. Gilbert Senior Pastor
Email Address: admin@pbc712.org
Historic St. Mary’s Episcopal Church The Rev. E. Bernard Anderson Priest
Holy Trinity United Baptist Church
Florida Avenue Baptist Church
Reverend Christopher L. Nichols Pastor
Rev. Dr. Jerryl V. Moody Pastor-Elect
Web: www.mountmoriahchurch.org Email: mtmoriah@mountmoriahchurch.org
St. Matthews Baptist Church
Emmanuel Baptist Church
King Emmanuel Baptist Church
WWW.WASHINGTONINFORMER.COM / THE WASHINGTON INFORMER
Service and Times Sunday School for All Ages: 8:00 AM Sunday Worship Services: 9:30 AM Midday Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 11:30AM Evening Prayer & Bible Study: Wednesday 7:00 PM Laymen's League: Thursday 7:00 PM Email: Froffice@firstrising.org Website: www.firstrising.org “Changing Lives On Purpose “
Email:mthoreb@mthoreb.org Website:www.mthoreb.org For further information, please contact me at (202) 529-3180.
AUGUST 13 - 19, 2020 41
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL NOTICES
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131
2019 ADM 000793
2020 ADM 000338
2019 ADM 001374
Estate of Willie Robinson aka Willie G. Robinson
William Eugene Giles aka William E. Giles Decedent
Leslie Reynolds Garner Decedent
NOTICE OF STANDARD PROBATE Notice is hereby given that a petition has been filed in this Court by Ronald E. Robinson for standard probate, including the appointment of one or more personal representatives. Unless a responsive pleading in the form of a complaint or an objection in accordance with Superior Court Probate Division Rule 407 is filed in this Court within 30 days from the date of first publication of this notice, the Court may take the action hereinafter set forth. Admit to probate the Will dated 11/02/2018 exhibited with the petition upon proof satisfactory to the Court of due execution by affidavit of the witnesses or otherwise appoint an unsupervised personal representative Date of first publication: 8/13/2020 Steve Larson-Jackson, Esq. 414847 1629 K Street, NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20006 Petitioner/Attorney: TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Probate Division Washington, D.C. 20001-2131 2020 ADM 000352 Margaret Dean Decedent Nakia Gray 800 Maine Ave., SW Suite 200 Washington, DC 20020 Attorney
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Lawrence Dean, whose address is 3512 Commodore Joshua Barney Drive, NE, Apt. 101, Washington, DC 20018, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Margaret Dean who died on March 18, 2020 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 1/30/2021. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 1/30/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship. Date of first publication: 7/30/2020 Lawrence Dean Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY Nicole Stevens Register of Wills Washington Informer
42 - AUGUST 13 - 19, 2020
Wilbert Baccus 11807 Lisborough Road Bowie, Maryland 20720-3423 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS Brenda F. Triplett, whose address is 329 Jefferson Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of William Eugene Giles aka William E. Giles who died on April 7, 2020 without a Will, and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 1/30/2021. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 1/30/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.
Nakia V. Gray, Esq. 9701 Apollo Drive, Suite 100 Largo, Maryland 20774 Attorney
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NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS John M. Garner, II, whose address is 1208 D Street NE, Washington, DC 20002, was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of Leslie Reynolds Garner who died on July 15, 2002 without a Will, and will serve with Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance in this proceeding. Objections to such appointment shall be filed with the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., Third Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before 2/6/2021. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before 2/6/2021, or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its first publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address, and relationship.
Date of first publication: 7/30/2020
Date of first publication: 8/6/2020
Brenda F. Triplett Personal Representative
John M. Garner, II Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY
TRUE TEST COPY
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
Nicole Stevens Register of Wills
Washington Informer
Washington Informer
In God We Trust Declaration of Nationality Notice of Special Appearance : I am that I am: walker, dejon dwight© in full life, in propria persona, sui juris, in solo proprio, by natural issue, the beneficiary and heir of: WALKER, DEJON DWIGHT©, corp. sole Dba.: “ DEJON DWIGHT WALKER© “, having reached the age of majority, being aboriginal to the northwestern and southwestern shores of Africa, the Atlantic Islands, the continental Americas, being duly sworn, hereby affirms to declare my intention to be as my pedigree subscribes, as an: ani yun wiya Moorish American National, but not a citizen of the United States. I declare permanent, and inalienable, allegiance to the Moorish Empire, Societas Republicae Ea Al Maurikanuus Estados / United States Republic, The Constitution for the united States of America, Article III Section 2, The Barbary Treaties, International Law, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and all Natural laws governing moors and hereby Declare and Proclaim my nationality as an: ani yun wiya Moorish American National. Any and all facts contained in this publication, are fully applicable to any and all private tribal issue offspring of: walker, dejon dwight©, & my wife by common-law marriage, castillo, alexis julianna©, Nunc pro tunc, not limited to but including : 1. walker, aleia skye©, the beneficiary and heir of: WALKER, ALEIA SKYE©, corp sole, Dba: ALEIA SKYE WALKER©. I am that I am: walker, dejon dwight© from this day forward, Nunc pro tunc, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: “walker-bey, dejon dwight©”. I am that I am: walker-bey, aleia skye© from this day forward, Nunc pro tunc, in harmony with my Nationality / Status / Jurisdiction, shall be known as: “walker-bey, aleia skye©”. Notice of Merging of Legal Title with Equitable Title : This order is to preserve legal and equitable title, and to reserve all rights, title, and interest, in the property, Re: “ WALKER, DEJON DWIGHT© ”, corp.sole Dba.: DEJON DWIGHT WALKER©, Re: “CASTILLO, ALEXIS JULIANNA© ”, corp.sole Dba.: ALEXIS JULIANNA JULIANNA©, & Re: WALKER, ALEIA SKYE©, corp sole, Dba: ALEIA SKYE WALKER©, etc., to the depositor, and or in the capacity as Guardian/Chairman of the Board of Trustees: walker-bey, dejon dwight©, nom deguerre: walker, dejon dwight©. All property, of the same issue and amount, in like kind and specie, is to be returned fully intact, as a Special Deposit order of the Depositor / Beneficiary / Bailor / Donor / Principal / Creditor: walker-bey, dejon dwight©, nom deguerre: walker, dejon dwight©, as a special deposit order in lawful money. This special deposit is to be used exclusively for the benefit of : DEJON DWIGHT WALKER BEY TRUST©, a private foreign islamism ecclesiastical trust. CASTILLO, ALEXIS JULIANNA©, corp.sole Dba.: ALEXIS JULIANNA JULIANNA© is hereby conveyed to ALEXIS JULIANNA CASTILLO TRUST© when the beneficiary reaches the age of majority. WALKER, ALEIA SKYE©, corp sole, Dba: ALEIA SKYE WALKER© is hereby conveyed to ALEIA SKYE WALKER TRUST© when the beneficiary reaches the age of majority. This deposit is not to be commingled with general assets of any bank , nor depositary / trustee / agent / bailee / donee / debtor. This deposit is not limited to, but including: discharge and set off, of any and all outstanding liabilities as accord and satisfaction. All Rights Reserved.
Donnell H. McNeal, Esq. Law Office of Donnell H. McNeal, LLC Suite 136-F Upper Marlboro, MD 20774 Attorney NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT, NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND NOTICE TO UNKNOWN HEIRS To all persons Interested in the estate of Thelma Baucum Estate No. 117189 Notice is given that: Donna Johnson Carter was on 7/15/2020 appointed Personal Representative of the estate of: Thelma Baucum who died on 3/14/2020 with a Will. Further information can be obtained by reviewing the estate file in the office of the Register of Wills or by contacting the personal representative or the attorney. All persons having any objection to the appointment (or to the probate of the decedent’s will) shall file their objections with the Register of Wills on or before the 15th day of January, 2021. Any person having a claim against the decedent must present the claim to the undersigned personal representative or file it with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned on or before the earlier of the following dates: 1) Six months from the date of the decedent’s death, except if the decedent died before October 1, 1992, nine months from the date of the decedent’s death; or 2) Two months after the personal representative mails or otherwise delivers to the creditor a copy of this published notice or other written notice, notifying the creditor that the claim will be barred unless the creditor presents the claim within two months from the mailing or other delivery of the notice. A claim not presented or filed on or before that date, or any extension provided by law, is unenforceable thereafter. Claim forms may be obtained from the Register of Wills. Donna J. Carter Personal Representative The Washington Informer Cerita Lee Register of Wills For Prince George’s County
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VOTER from Page 17
ELECTION from Page 13
against protections for voters of color continues to intensify as we move closer to November.” “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and civil unrest across the country, it has been made abundantly clear that the people’s voice and vote require immediate restoration,” Johnson said. “The disintegration of voting rights has disproportionately affected Black voters; we must work diligently to curtail the consequences and place the power back in the hands of the electorate.” Maria Town, president and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities, demanded that people with disabilities frequently encounter barriers to participation in the democratic process — from inaccessible polling places to inoperable accessible voting machines to discriminatory voter ID laws. “During the pandemic, a shift in voting by mail presents additional barriers and will not be accessible to many in the disability community,” Padilla said. “States need funding to ensure they can execute accessible vote by mail programs and maintain safe, accessible, and fair in-person early and election day voting.” WI
“We need your help to reduce the #MailInVoting request curve. Request your mail-in ballot today!” the group tweeted Monday. “This will ensure your voter information is up-to-date and really help your county board of elections administer the election.” In Prince George’s County, there could be four different early voting locations to accommodate more space with fewer election officials. The Laurel-Beltsville Senior Activity Center remains a COVID-19 testing site, so voters in that area can travel less than two miles away to Laurel High School. In the southern part of the county, voters would cast ballots at the 75,000-square-foot Southern Area Aquatics and Recreation Complex in Brandywine that opened this year. It would replace the smaller 3,900-square-foot Baden Community Center. Two other locations are tentative because of possible future events: Showplace Arena in Upper Marlboro and inside a pavilion at the University of Maryland Xfinity Center in College Park. Those larger venues would replace the smaller Upper Marlboro and College Park community centers, respectively. “We are hoping to get a confirmation by the end of this week for both facilities,” Alexander said. “We want to start getting the word out to voters as quickly as we possibly can, but we’re keeping the College Park Community Center and the Upper Marlboro Community Center … in the event we can’t use these other facilities.” For more information on requesting an absentee ballot, go to https:// bit.ly/3ae5iBD. WI
POLICE from Page 12 know if the school resource officer is helping more than they’re hurting. “I would want to see the data on that.” Activists have said school resource officers don’t necessarily increase safety, which was highlighted in a report published last month by The Justice Police Institute of Northwest. It notes the percentages of several crime categories such as vandalism, threat without a weapon and theft are higher in schools with police compared to those without them. The brief notes the average salary for a school resource officers stands at almost $70,350, The figure ranks higher than the average salaries of a secondary special education teacher ($55,559), school counselor ($63,327), secondary teacher ($67,559) and a school nurse ($68,086). In addition, officers are placed in schools with a large population of Black and Latino students, ac-
cording to the document. In Maryland, some officials support SROs, who receive additional training in conflict resolution and drug and alcohol use. “We look at it as an opportunity for the police and law enforcement to have very positive interactions with children,” Del. Kathy Szeliga, who represents portions of Baltimore and Harford counties, said during a police reform work group discussion last week. “Asking to get rid of the school resource officers in my parts of the state would be boldly rejected.” WI
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18+ AUGUST 13 - 19, 2020 43
MAYOR from Page 38
UNEMPLOYMENT from Page 1
residents said the mayor’s orders don’t guarantee strong street-level enforcement. In the weeks since Bowser’s announcement, MPD officers reportedly have been seen observing large outdoor gatherings, where clusters of congregants sometimes numbering in the hundreds go without masks, much to the chagrin of neighbors pushing for the dispersal of crowds. Last month, when asked about strengthening enforcement, Bowser alluded to anti-police fervor as a key factor in MPD’s seemingly soft approach. She later suggested that ANC commissioners and other local leaders leverage their relationships with constituents to encourage social distancing and the wearing of masks. This press conference exchange transpired after the release of an email in which an MPD official told an ANC commissioner that MPD has little power in enforcing the mayor’s orders. MPD didn’t answer The Informer’s inquiry about how officers are required to uphold the new orders issued by Bowser, or how many people have been found in violation since her July 22 announcement.
across the D.C. metropolitan area. “People lost their jobs and now they’re not able to put as much food on the table as before. There are larger issues happening within the system in terms of food availability,” Muthiah told The Informer. “We are cognizant of supply chain challenges in the fall and winter and are stockpiling for food so we have enough. We are driven by the needs of our communities, and look into the best ways [like] direct distributions.” Muthiah noted that the Capital Area Food Bank has endeavored to bridge a gap that an influx of SNAP benefits could fill, describing that safety net as a crucial part in curbing food insecurity and boosting economic activity during the coronavirus pandemic. As indicated in the Capital Area Food Bank’s Hunger Report 2020, unemployment and food insecurity existed before the coronavirus pandemic because of the high cost of living in the D.C. metropolitan region. The July 22 document said that COVID-19 exacerbated such conditions, to the point where the region’s food insecure population will grow between 48 and 60 percent within a year. “The hunger report sounded the alarm about the increase in food-insecure individuals,” Multhiah said as she explained trends in hunger insecurity. “Over the last few years, the rates of food insecurity have been decreasing. We have been pleased with that,” she added. “Our strategies are aiming to decrease that further. It’s becoming clear that we’re in this for the long haul, and this pandemic is much more of a marathon.” July job figures showed slight improvement, with the unemployment rate falling at right above 10 percent, due in part to the addition of 1.8 million jobs. Since March, states have been able to use administrative flexibility in the disbursement of SNAP benefits to increasing needs during the pandemic. However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has hinted at the possibility of limiting the approval of benefits within the next couple of months at a time when increasing food prices are pinching pockets. As energy consumption decreased during the economic shutdown, food purchases have in-
ANCS TRY THEIR HAND
Some local elected officials, including ANC Commissioner Christopher Hawthorne, have expressed a desire to collaborate with local public health organizations to drive home the dangers of not taking the pandemic seriously, particularly to young people. Without strong enforcement from MPD, however, Hawthorne argues that much of what he or anyone else says remains null and void. He also recalled often seeing officers on patrol standing by while large groups coalesce in public places. Such was the case during the latter part of last month in Southeast’s Oxon Run Parkway during a gathering that the ANC commissioner said drew swathes of people and incited fury among his elderly constituents. “We have a younger generation that doesn’t believe the COVID pandemic exists. They travel in and out of the community spreading the coronavirus, among the old and the young,” said Hawthorne, who represents single-member district 8E05, which includes parts of Oxon Run Parkway and portions of the Washington Highlands community. “There’s no written protocol to help D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser enforce her orders,” Hawthorne said. “I don’t think
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5 An anonymous tip line has been made available in DC to report large gatherings. (Courtesy photo/WUSA)
she or the D.C. Council is taking this seriously. If they were, they would stop some of the gatherings in our neighborhood and in upper Northwest. People are allowed to corral around Wisconsin and Connecticut avenues. This is why we’re not getting out of the phased openings.” On Saturday, the night of the annual EAT Block Party, the DC Department of Health reported an additional 100 positive coronavirus cases, bringing the city’s total number of cases to more than 12,750. Nearly 600 people have died from the virus, including an elderly man who died this weekend. Since March, more than 20 percent of COVID-19 cases were documented in communities east of the Anacostia River. Hawthorne and ANC Commissioner Robbie Woodland, both of whom have since met with MPD Seventh District Commander Andre Wright, U.S. Park Police, and other relevant parties, said the July 26 gathering at Oxon Run Parkway attracted several hundreds, featured New Impressionz Band as the headline act and lasted hours after the public area was scheduled to close. That event followed similar functions last month during which participants honored the late Karon Brown and hosted fireworks displays. Hawthorne and Woodland said that few people wore masks or practiced social-distancing protocols during those gatherings, one of which D.C. Council member Trayon White (D-Ward 8) attended. They described such actions as a recipe for disaster during a time when Ward 8 residents are reeling from the underlying conditions exacerbating their susceptibility to COVID-19.
QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED
Some local elected officials... have expressed a desire to collaborate with local public health organizations to drive home the dangers of not taking the pandemic seriously, particularly to young people. As recounted by Woodland, a teleconference involving her, Hawthorne, MPD, and the U.S. Park Police ended with the agreement that a special team of MPD officers would dole out tickets to people found in the park violating certain rules, like possessing an open container of alcohol. Much to Woodland’s disappointment however, the meeting ended without clarity around who would enforce the mask and social distancing orders, or at least ask large crowds of people to disperse from public places. “There’s been some back and forth about who’s supposed to enforce the mayor’s orders. It seems like we need to have this conversation, and answer this question in two weeks,” Woodland, whose single-member district includes Mississippi Avenue and the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and Malcolm X Boulevard, told The Informer. “Let’s have a protocol,” Woodland added. “The only thing we came up with is that we would have a task force to check out the parks and they would be able to ticket people for trespassing. When it comes to breaking up these large events, we don’t have a clue. We hope that MPD, DPR, and others would.” WI
creased by nearly six percent, while the price of food has gone up at nearly the same rate. According to data compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, foods that have seen the greatest price hike include beef and veal, and eggs. Vegetables, tomatoes, and potatoes have also seen a price increase of between 2 percent and 13 percent. After months of providing some cushion, the pandemic relief package that allotted an extra $600 per week in unemployment benefits expired on July 31. Last weekend, President Donald Trump (R) signed an executive order doling out $300 per week in federal benefits that the states would match with $100. With states facing budget shortfalls, however, it has yet to be seen whether they would follow through on that commitment, especially since they too are lobbying the federal government for an additional $500 billion in federal coronavirus relief funds. These trends have compelled concern among local public health professionals about the allure of unhealthy food choices during the pandemic, and its effects on a population at greater risk of contracting COVID-19. For instance, Dr. Yolandra Hancock, a public health reform advocate who championed a sugary drink excise tax, noted that the stress of the increased economic strife drives people to patronize fast food establishments that have been strategically placed in communities of color. She said this reinforces systemic inequities plaguing low-income, resource-starved communities in the District. In touting the expansion of SNAP and unemployment benefits as a solution to a growing hunger crisis, Hancock posited that the U.S. government should consider eliminating what she described as archaic time limits on eligibility. “If the perception is that eating healthy costs more, you’ll be driven to eat carry out and fast food that facilitates chronic illness development,” Hancock said. “COVID-19 has impacted mental health in significant ways. The body is physiologically driven to junk food. Your dopamine increases when you eat foods that make you feel good. Chronic illnesses [from food that’s not healthy for you] affect the immune system and play a significant role in increasing the severity of COVID-19.” WI
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MALVEAUX from Page 25 of their friends have launched a great website that explores the intersection of suffrage, race, and power (srp@unerased.com) and the ways that the majority narrative has too often erased the contributions that Black women have made to suffrage and justice. Most feminists know about Susan B. Anthony, but how many white feminists know of Nannie Helen Burroughs or Ida B. Wells? Black women often advocated for the same rights that white women did, but in protest, thanks to Southern women and their racist mindset, Black women were excluded from public activity or asked to march at the end. That nonsense did not discourage the women of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority in 1913 when they pushed their way into the center of the march. The historical relationship between Black and white women is ugly, but in this era of Black Lives Matter, Black women are rising. Despite extremely nasty shade, which I won’t dignify
MORIAL from Page 25 long history of supporting the cultural and artistic pulse of Harlem. Opportunity, for many years our official monthly publication, employed Harlem Renaissance writers, publishing their poetry and short stories and promoting African-American literature through articles, reviews, and literary prizes. With affordable office space for non-profit organizations like One Hundred Black Men of New York, the United Negro College Fund New York, and the Harlem-based Jazzmobile, the Empowerment Center will be a hub and a catalyst for enterprise, creativity, activism and advocacy. We have been intentional about supporting minority-owned businesses, partnering with Black-owned BRP Companies, and committing to 30% of construction contracts for minority-owned businesses. Prominent African-American professionals, including
WILLIAMS from Page 25 first Black woman elected to Congress from the Deep South. Chisholm and Jordan ambitiously laid the foundation for the current lineup of Black women politicians. It’s doubtful that in 2013, when Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi founded Black Lives Matter, they realized it would evolve into a human rights movement with the ambitious goal of eliminating violence and systemic racism towards Black people.
with a reference, there is at least a 6040 chance that a Black woman will be Joe Biden’s running mate. The Higher Heights for America PAC is named after Dr. Dorothy Height (higherheightsforamerica.org) and supports Black women running for political office. They describe their space as “a political home for Black women,” and thy see to elect, mobilize, and amplify Black women. They are among those who celebrated Cori Bush’s surprising victor over incumbent William Lacy Clay in the St. Louis congressional primary. Actually, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise. Bush planned her work and worked her plan as a visible presence in St Louis, an organizer for Black Lives Matter and a grassroots activist. Her win is a victory for Black women, for progressives, and activists. Even as Black women are rising, ugly racism too often attempts to put us in our place. In Aurora, Colorado Brittney Gilliam had planned a girl’s afternoon with her sister, nieces, and sixyear-old daughter, Instead, they were
confronted by the police because they mistakenly identified her car as “stolen.” Our “law enforcement” officer pointed guns at the young, innocent Black women and girls, and they were forced to lay, face down, on hot asphalt as they were handcuffed. Later, the police tepidly acknowledge their “mistake.” Later the police chief, Vanessa Wilson, apologized and offered therapy for the children. Brittney told a CNN anchor that the chief could “shove it” as she found it insincere. Incidentally, Valerie Wilson is a white woman who beat out three Black men for the job. Would they have handled this differently? As always, the pace of progress oscillates with two steps forward and one step back. Black women are rising politically, but some things change slowly. Where are the majority women’s organizations in Aurora, Colorado? Pandemic notwithstanding, why are they silent? Would the Aurora police have treated a white woman with four young people in the car? Ain’t I a Woman? WI
real estate attorney Charles J. Hamilton Jr. of Windels Marx and Dabar Development Partners founder and CEO Dawanna Williams have had lead roles in the project. The project would not be possible without the wholehearted support of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his extraordinary effort to align state agencies and private sector partners to move the project forward. We also owe a debt of gratitude to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, State Assemblywoman Inez E. Dickens, s tate Sen. Brian Benjamin, City Councilman Bill Perkins, and Margaret Anadu, head of the Urban Investment Group at Goldman Sachs. The Urban Civil Rights Museum Experience will be New York’s first museum dedicated to civil rights and one of the first in the nation to focus on the history of civil rights in the North. It also includes below-market office space for community groups and civic
organizations, as well as 170 affordable housing units to be constructed with support from New York State Homes and Community Renewal. We look forward to formal groundbreaking in the near future and completion by late 2023. The project is supported by Empire State Development, Homes and Community Renewal, and Harlem Community Development Corporation. The development is being led by BRP, L+M Development Partners, Taconic Partners, The Prusik Group, and Dabar Development. Private funding is being invested by Goldman Sachs Urban Investment Group, Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corporation, Red Stone Equity Partners, and Santander Bank, N.A. Additional partners include New York State Office of General Services, New York City Economic Development Corporation and Settlement Housing Fund, Inc. WI
Sojourner Truth, Ida B. Wells and Black women by the thousands number among those in history who overcame, instilled, motivated and supported their own and the ambitions of their families. We wouldn’t see the brilliant Black women being considered for Joe Biden’s running mate were it not for their ambition to play a large part in leading this country to “a more perfect union.” Ambition is the fuel that propels us to the goal of being our better selves.
Ambition is not a dirty word. Instead of viewing the concept or quality of ambition through the lens of negativity, race or misogyny, thank God for ambitious Black women. If we think critically and answer honestly, where would our communities, our nation or our world be now without the ambitions of strong, thoughtful women of color? Without argument, women shape the world and there’s nothing wrong with the desire to shape it in its best form. WI
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in African American populations cite distrust of public health research, citing the Tuskegee Study, conducted in Macon County, Alabama, between 1932 and 1972. Here, treatment for syphilis was withheld from a large cohort of poor African men with syphilis for “research purposes,” even after penicillin was widely available. That was a long time ago. Its ending was within the lifetime of people over 49. For some, that, along with negative experiences with the “medical establishment” is enough to foment skepticism of research that is critical to drug development. This, too, is problematic, in my view. What happens if effective preventive or therapeutic treatment becomes available and people refuse it? Dr. Amanda Castel, an epidemiologist at George Washington University, talks about the importance of diverse participation in clinical trials: “Given how disproportionately impacted persons of color are with respect to COVID-19, it is imperative that our
JACKSON from Page 27
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WESTON from Page 27
Dear Soldier: Your request for transfer has been denied. I herewith present My reasons: You are needed in the battle. I have selected you, and I gave My word to supply your need. You do not need a demotion and transfer. (You’d never cut it on latrine duty.) You need a period of “R and R” —
CROWELL from Page 27 and housing advocates agree that historical segregation is largely responsible for the nagging inequity that Black America still confronts today. Additionally, it is also particularly noteworthy that HUD finalized its new rule without providing an opportunity for public comment — a serious departure from the regular federal rulemaking process. For the nation’s estimated 70 largest and oldest public housing authorities that together serve more than one million low-income households who live in federally-assisted housing, the rule is an affront to fair housing advocates across the country. In an Aug. 3 letter to HUD’s Carson, the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA)
communities are included in vaccine trials in a thoughtful and meaningful way. That helps to dispel the myths around vaccines, highlights their potential benefits, and seeks ways to increase vaccine trust and uptake amongst these populations.” Manige Blackburn Giles is a Denver-based health care administrator and activist who participated in an HIV vaccine clinical trial. She’s also my niece, and tells me, “as a Black person I want to be sure that we are represented in a sphere where we have historically been ignored. With the existing health disparities we face as Black Americans, I am committed to being a part of solution that preserves Black families.” Certainly, those of us who work in public health can more easily have confidence in public health research, because we have colleagues who involved in research, or serve on consumer advisory boards. Everyone can’t have such an advantage. Therefore, I emphasize the importance of having a good relationship with one’s health care provider. You may not have confidence in new
treatments because they are lauded on CNN. Hopefully, you know your doctor well enough to know she or he would not advise you on a treatment knowing it will harm you. Of course, many people do not have such a relationship with a provider or don’t have medical insurance to facilitate such a relationship. That’s a huge problem for another conversation. In any event, COVID-19 is real. It won’t be ending any time soon. Someone in your family may become infected. At some point, we will all be required to make decisions about vaccines or medication. How can we make informed choices? At the end of the day, the task is much easier if you have a provider that you trust. If you don’t have one, it’s time to start looking if you have access to health care. You’ll need expert advice from someone you trust if a COVID-19 vaccine becomes available in 2021. In addition, someone needs to be thinking about the community engagement aspect of vaccine distribution. The science of vaccine development is only half the battle. WI
renewal and rekindling. I am setting aside a place on the battlefield that is insulated from all sound and fully protected from the enemy. I will meet you there, and I will give you rest. I will remove your old equipment and make all things new. You have been wounded in the battle, My soldier. Your wounds are not visible, but you have received grave internal injuries. I
will heal you. You have been weakened in the battle. I will strengthen you, and I will be your strength. I will instill in you confidence and ability. My Words will rekindle within you a renewed love, zeal, and enthusiasm. Report to Me tattered and empty. I will refill you. Compassionately, Your Commander-in-Chief, God WI
and Reno & Cavanaugh, PLLC wrote in part, “[R]ather than enforce an act of Congress, which they are obligated to do, HUD and the Administration endeavor to demonstrate Congressional support for the New AFFH Rule simply by relying on statements by individual members of Congress that ‘every community should be free to zone its neighborhoods and compete for new residents according to its distinct values.’” Days earlier on July 27, three U.S. House leaders — Reps. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), chair of the House Financial Services Committee, Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), chair of the House Committee on the Judiciary, and William Lacy Clay (D-Mo.), chair of the Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development and Insurance — issued a joint statement.
“The Fair Housing Act makes housing discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status and disability illegal,” the lawmakers wrote. “The law includes a requirement that recipients of federal housing funding and the agencies of the federal government must “affirmatively further fair housing,” meaning that they must administer funds and programs in ways that actively undo and do not perpetuate patterns of historic residential segregation and systemic disinvestment…This senseless and misguided decision to roll back that important progress comes as the President peddles racist rhetoric that is reminiscent of the fearmongering tactics of those who supported racial segregation prior to the Fair Housing Act.” For the full version of this story, go to washingtoninformer.com. WI
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