Caribbean American Weekly - Issue 112

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ISSUE 112 VOLUME 19

December 03, 2020

SERVING THE CARIBBEAN AND HISPANIC COMMUNITIES!

Discriminatory Treatment of Haitians Throughout History Informs Current Policy at the US-Mexico Border

BY KAROLINA WALTERS

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or years, the Trump administration has argued that limited capacity at ports of entry led to its policy of turning back asylum seekers at the U.S.Mexico border (the “turnback policy”).

But a recent amicus—or “friend of the court”—brief filed in a lawsuit challenging this policy argues that the true justifi-

Obama’s Memoir ....16

continued on page 11

COVID-19 & The Flu: What You Need to Know ....20

New York, NY - November 8, 2020: Members of Haitian women for Haitian refugees organization rally for restoration of TPS and permanent status for refugees from Haiti on Ocean Avenue. Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

State to Receive Initial Delivery of COVID-19 Vaccine Doses for 170,000 New Yorkers

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overnor Andrew M. Cuomo today, December 2, announced that New York State will receive an initial delivery of enough COVID-19 vaccine doses for 170,000 New Yorkers. If all safety and efficacy approvals are granted by the federal government, the state expects to receive the vaccines—which were created by Pfizer—on December 15. New York State expects addiEditorial credit: Hans Pennink / Shutterstock.com

continued on page 10

David Dinkins’ Unfinished Work: Just and Effective Policing ....22

Knowledge is Power when you use it!

Get a FREE Consultation!

Ask the Lawyer:

Call 855-768-8845 Clarke Leads Effort to Close Learning Gap in Schools ....10

Brian Figeroux, Esq., Member, American Immigration Lawyers Association Sir Ronald Sanders: Haitian People Badly in Need of a Champion ....3

Dr Dyce: The Fatherless Can Become Empowered ....12

Video Games May Improve Memory in Older Adults ....19

How to Get Back into the Dating Game After a Divorce ....17

CG Holder on Barbados’ 54th Independence Anniversary ....6

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CARIBBEAN SPECIAL NEWS REPORT Caribbean Consulates Trinidad Gets Serious About Tourism; Launches New Website

Anguilla 845 Third Avenue New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel: 212-745-0200

Antigua & Barbuda 305 East 47th Street, Suite 6A New York, N.Y. 10020 Tel: 212-541-4117 The Bahamas 231 East 46th Street New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-421-6420 Barbados 820 Second Avenue, 5th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-551-4325 Belize 675 Third Avenue, Suite 1911 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-593-0999 Dominica 800 Second Avenue, Suite 400H New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-949-0853 Dominican Republic 1500 Broadway, Suite 410 New York, N.Y. 10036 Tel: 212-599-8478 Grenada 685 Third Avenue, Suite 1101 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-599-0301 Guyana 308 West 38th Street New York, N.Y. 10018 Tel: 212-947-5119 Haiti 815 Second Avenue,6th Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-697-9767 Jamaica 767 Third Avenue, 2nd Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-935-9000 Martinique 444 Madison Avenue, 16th Floor New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel: 212-838-6887 Montserrat 845 Third Avenue New York, N.Y. 10022 Tel: 212-745-0200 Panama 1212 Avenue of the Americas, 20th Floor New York, N.Y. 10036 Tel: 212-840-2450 St. Kitts & Nevis 414 East 75th Street, 5th Floor New York, N.Y. 10021 Tel: 212-535-5521 St. Lucia 800 Second Avenue, 9th Floor New York, N.Y. 10007 Tel: 212-697-9360 St. Maarten 675 Third Avenue, Suite 1807 New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 800-786-2278 St. Vincent & The Grenadines 801 Second Avenue, 21st Floor New York, N.Y. 10017 Tel: 212-687-4981 Trinidad & Tobago 125 Maiden Lane, 4th Floor New York, N.Y. 10038 Tel: 212-682-7272 For more Consulate information go to www.cawnyc.com/directory

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ORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Nov 30:The twin island republic of Trinidad and Tobago decided to seriously enter the Caribbean tourism market with the launch of a “# Visit Trinidad” initiative aimed at luring tourists to “Sweet Sweet Trinidad.” at Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, Randall Mitchell told the launch of the destination Trinidad website, 'Visit Trinidad’, that they are currently in talks with airlines for improved airlift to the country.

While not outlining whether Caribbean Airlines schedule will be reconfigured to support tourism as an industry, Mitchell said “In addition to our destination marketing, in terms of destination development, we are also seeking to improve airlift and presently we are in discussions with a couple of airlines who have expressed interest in flying to Tobago as well as Trinidad when the world moves to open up post COVID-19,” Mitchell said.

“We also continue to maintain and develop our sites and attractions in anticipation of receiving our international vis-

itors when the borders reopen, as well as to cater to our local citizens exploring the islands of Trinidad and Tobago.”

The Minister noted that stakeholders have been seeking to know what are the plans for the sector going forward.

He noted that the Ministry of Tourism, along with the Tourism Trinidad Limited are working with the Ministry of Health and the Trinidad-based Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) in developing health protocols; preparing for the reopening in the face of this COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are in the process of rolling out very comprehensive hygiene standards for all our stakeholders in the sector.

Secondly, we have and will continue to place emphasis on domestic tourism...And now, with just this one website, all of those mounds of marketing and promotional material can now be found in just one repository in digital format. And this fits most squarely with Government’s digitization push."

He continued: “We know that when it comes to planning a trip, and when searching for things to do on that trip, the

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Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Arts, Randall Mitchell. Photo: wiredja.com

platform of choice is a destination’s website. This VisitTrinidad website will now become one of the most valuable tools and one of the first marketing tools and one of the first touch points in the customer journey when making that decision to travel.”

He said when visiting the website, travelers are expected to find correct, trustworthy and practical information designed to inspire and capture their hearts and minds.

The public can visit the destination website at www.visittrinidad.tt l

—Wiredja.com Newsdesk

Saint Lucia, The Undefeated Honeymoon Capital 12 Times Over

S

aint Lucia's prominence amongst global destinations within the romance niche continues to be indisputable. The destination was bestowed yet again, the prestigious title of ‘World’s Leading Honeymoon Destination’.

The virtual announcement of the highly coveted industry accolade was made on November 27 in Moscow, commemorating the observance of the 27th annual World Travel Awards. Saint Lucia has been recognized for this award for the

twelfth time, and for the third consecutive year since 2018.

World Travel Awards are voted for by travel and tourism professionals and consumers worldwide and is recognized as the travel industry's most prestigious awards program, rewarding leaders in the tourism, airline, hotel, and hospitality sectors.

Apart from winning the highly coveted award, Saint Lucia was also nominated in three other categories, namely, World’s Leading Island Destination, World’s

Leading Wedding Destination and World’s Most Romantic Destination 2020.

In marketing the destination as one of the mecca’s of the travel industry globally, The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) continues to place specific brand focus on the destinations alluring beauty, romantic appeal, diverse culture, verdant landscapes, delightful people and the infectious and inspiring love for the island.l —The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority

Golding Welcomes UN’s Removal of Ganja as a Schedule LV Drug

BY CALVIN G. BROWN, WIREDJA.COM

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INGSTON, Jamaica: Opposition Leader Mark Golding has welcomed today’s vote by the United Nations Commission for Narcotic Drugs, to remove marijuana (specifically for medical use) from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, which included opioids like heroin, fentanyl, and other highly addictive drugs such as cocaine.

A release from the Office of the Leader of the Opposition said, “the removal of marijuana is a significant achievement for drug policy reform internationally and represents the fruit of successful collaboration among reform groups, key stakeholders and countries.”

The Opposition Leader said “the UN Commission’s decision presents an

Golding. Photo:wiredja.com

opportune time for further review of Jamaica’s Dangerous Drugs Act. The 2015 amendments to the legislation were designed within the constraints of the Schedule IV designation of marijuana, and the removal of that designation opens the possibility of further advancement of the reform process.”

Mr. Golding said, “Jamaica’s emerging medical cannabis industry, and other

stakeholders who are currently effectively excluded from the industry, are looking to the Government of Jamaica to further modernize Jamaica’s laws so that the industry can become more inclusive and participatory for all Jamaicans.”

Mr Golding and the People’s National Party are committed to being available to facilitate and participate in the review process.

Meanwhile, President of the Ganja Growers and Producers Association Jamaica Mr. Richard “Dickie” Crawford has welcomed today’s long overdue historic decision by the UN Commission for Narcotics Drugs to remove cannabis for medicinal purposes from the Category 4 Schedule, which lists the world’s most dangerous drugs heroin and opium.l —Read full story at www.cawnyc.com

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3

THOUGHTS

The Haitian People: Sadly and Badly in Need of a Champion

BY SIR RONALD SANDERS

TEAM My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. —Hosea 4:6 Publisher I.Q. INC. Managing Editor & Editor-in-Chief

H

uman rights and constitutional violations in Haiti have been ignored for too long by the Organization of American States (OAS).

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has also avoided dealing with incendiary political issues in Haiti.

Meanwhile, more suffering is being piled on the poor people of Haiti whose body count from malnutrition and organized violence continues to grow. Against this background, it is not surprising that Haitians are seeking every means of escape from their homeland.

In desperate situations, criminals take advantage of the vulnerable. Thus, a brisk trade has begun in trafficking young Haitians — this time into the Caribbean. Evidence of this is the discovery by police in Guyana on November 7 of 26 Haitians, including 2 boys and 5 girls who were being transported to the Brazilian border by what appears to be a human trafficking ring.

Both the OAS and CARICOM are obliged under their charters and declarations to call to account member states whose governments act unconstitutionally or take actions that violate the human, civil and political rights of their people.

The two organizations were active and vocal throughout the 5-month impasse in the Guyana elections, from March to August this year, and afterwards. During that entire period, the constitutional and electoral situation in Haiti was worse.

But not a word of condemnation of the Haitian Presidency was uttered by either body.

Haitian President, Jovenel Moïse, has been running the country by decree with no elected parliament since 2019, amid accusations of corruption, protests and the deployment of the military which has been accused of atrocities.

The Chair of CARICOM did publicly declare, in January 2020: “CARICOM is deeply concerned at the continuing unsettled political, economic, humanitarian and social situation in its Member State, Haiti. Indeed, we are particularly concerned about the several incidents of violence and the associated and tragic loss of life”. Since then CARICOM said nothing

Pearl Phillip Legal Advisor Brian Figeroux, Esq. Assistant Editor Marilyn Silverman Graphic & Website Designers Praim Samsoondar Anvaar Sabirov Editorial credit: Ursula Page / Shutterstock.com

more.

Yet, four months later, in its April 2020 update on Haiti, the World Food Programme said that almost four million Haitians need urgent food assistance, and that at least 1 million of those are suffering from severe hunger. President Moïse has been close-mouthed about the gangs that, according to the Miami’s Herald’s Jacqueline Charles (a Haitian expert), “have been on a rampage in poor neighborhoods — kidnapping, raping and killing at will”.

An Editorial in the Trinidad Express newspaper pointed out on November 25, “The US position is particularly hypocritical in the context of its backing of Haitian President, who has been ruling by decree since dismissing parliament, and who continues to preside over unending human rights abuses and the rise of Tonton Macoute-style death squads.”

It is well known in the OAS that it is the US government that is principally behind no action on Haiti by the organization whose Secretary-General, Luis Almagro, has been ardent in calling out other countries, particularly Venezuela and Nicaragua, on human rights. The US and the “Lima Group” of countries in the OAS have been dependent on Haiti’s vote to secure the bare majority needed to secure adoption for controversial resolutions against the Venezuelan and Nicaraguan governments. Hence, the suffering of the poor people of Haiti is ignored.

Whether by coincidence or cooperation, on the same day — October 29 — US Under Secretary of State, David Hale, and Secretary-General Almagro urged

Moïse to hold “overdue legislative elections as soon as possible”. Moïse has ignored them, continuing to operate with untrammeled power, including by making appointments of personal loyalists to key posts in violation of the Constitution which requires such appointments to be approved by the Senate.

Recently, he has appointed the Commander of the Armed Forces, the Head of the Police Force, the Governor of the Central Bank, and the chairman of the National Credit Bank. The holders of these offices were all appointed without the senatorial ratifications required by the constitution. Consequently, they are not vested with the administrative and financial independence necessary to carry out their duties as guaranteed under the Constitution. They are instruments of the President, vulnerable to his sole dictates.

Unrest and violence continue as groups demonstrate against corruption and call for elections. The Police has been active in breaking up protests, reportedly shooting dead one protestor and injuring two more on November 18.

Even within the Police force, protestors exist. A secret group called “Fantom 509” has been actively protesting poor wages and conditions. The recently appointed Police Commissioner, Leon Charles, commanded his officers to confront and lock up colleagues who are “Fantom 509” members.

On Friday, October 30, President Moïse officially put the Constitution of Haiti “on hold”. He formed a committee, to “revise” the draft of a new constitution, which, reportedly, was drafted by persons appointed by him. In any event, the

Contributors Jennine Estes Erin Telesford Janet Howard Mary Campbell Tarsha Gibbons Travis Morales Email info@myiqinc.com Telephone 718-771-0988 Website www.cawnyc.com

President has no authority to modify, reform or change the Constitution.

This unconstitutional behavior is yet another dangerous threat to democracy and political stability in Haiti if it continues unchallenged. It violates both the Charter of the OAS and the InterAmerican Democratic Charter. It is also inconsistent with the CARICOM Charter of Civil Society. At the very least, they should rebuke Moïse for his violations of the constitution.

It is unlikely that between now and January 20, when US President-elect Joe Biden assumes the Presidency, that there will be any movement by the US government — by itself or in the OAS — to address the plight of the Haitian people.

Nonetheless the OAS — and CARICOM within it — should act.

The Haitian people are not a political problem; they are human beings sadly and badly in need of a champion.l

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4

CIVIL RIGHTS

A Short History of Black Women and Police Violence

BY KEISHA N. BLAIN THE CONVERSATION

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ust after midnight on March 13, 2020, Breonna Taylor, an EMT in Louisville, Kentucky, was shot and killed by police officers who raided her home.

The officers had entered her home without warning as part of a drug raid. The suspect they were seeking was not a resident of the home – and no drugs were ever found.

But when they came through the door unexpectedly, and in plain clothes, police officers were met with gunfire from Taylor’s boyfriend, who was startled by the presence of intruders. In only a matter of minutes, Taylor was dead – shot eight times by police officers.

Although the majority of black people killed by police in the United States are young men, black women and girls are also vulnerable to state-sanctioned violence. The #SayHerName campaign has worked to bring greater awareness to this issue.

Police violence against black women is marginalized in the public’s understanding of American policing. There is a perception among many Americans that

Editorial credit: GrandAve / Shutterstock.com

black women are somehow shielded from the threat of police violence.

This perception could not further from the truth.

Breonna Taylor’s story is reminiscent of countless others, and reflects a longstanding pattern: For decades, black women have been targets of police violence and brutality.

And for decades, their stories have been sidelined in public discussions about policing. Many scholars point to misogyny to explain the continued marginalization of black women in mainstream narratives on police violence. As Andrea Ritchie, one of the authors of the groundbreaking #SayHerName report, explains,

“Women’s experiences of policing and criminalization and resistance [have] become unworthy of historical study or mention, particularly when those writing our histories are also men.”

Despite, or perhaps because of, their own vulnerability to state-sanctioned violence, black women have been key voices in the struggle to end it.

Fannie Lou Hamer confronts police violence Civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer was one of the most vocal activists against state-sanctioned violence.

Born in Ruleville, Mississippi, in 1917, Hamer was a sharecropper who joined

the civil rights movement during the early 1960s.

After learning that she had the right to vote under the U.S. Constitution, Hamer became active in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, an interracial civil rights organization. The organization worked on the grassroots level to help black residents in Mississippi register to vote at a time when only 5% of the state’s 450,000 black residents were registered.

In 1963, Hamer and a group of other activists were traveling back home after attending a voter’s workshop in Charleston, South Carolina. They stopped at a restaurant in Winona, Mississippi, to grab a bite to eat.

The restaurant owners made it clear that black people were not welcome.

Hamer returned to the bus, but then reemerged when she noticed officers shoving her friends into police cars. An officer immediately seized Hamer and began kicking her.

Later at the police station, white officers continued to beat Hamer. As she later recalled, “They beat me till my body was hard, till I couldn’t bend my fingers or get up when they told me to. continued on page 5

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CIVIL RIGHTS Black Women and Police Violence/continued from page 4 That’s how I got this blood clot in my left eye – the sight’s nearly gone now. And my kidney was injured from the blows they gave me in the back.”

Despite the fear of reprisals, Hamer told this story often. In 1964, at the Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, she recounted her story before a live, televised audience of millions.

In doing so, Hamer brought attention to the problem of police violence. Her efforts would pave the way for many other black women activists who boldly confronted police violence and brutality by telling their stories – and the stories of their loved ones.

From lynch mob to violent police During the 1980s, Mary Bumpurs and Veronica Perry led a grassroots initiative in New York City to combat police violence in black communities.

In 1984, Mary Bumper’s 66-year-old mother, Eleanor Bumpurs, was shot and killed by New York City police while resisting eviction from her Bronx apartment. A year later, in June 1985, Veronica Perry’s 17-year-old son, Edmund Perry, was shot and killed by a plainclothes police officer.

Both cases drew widespread media coverage and public outcry from black leaders, who demanded tangible changes in policing.

United by their similar experiences, Mary Bumpers and Veronica Perry

Editorial credit: a katz / Shutterstock.com

joined forces to combat police brutality in New York City – an epicenter of police violence and anti-brutality organizing. Transforming their grief into political action, both women politicized their roles as mothers and daughters to challenge police violence. They organized local demonstrations and pushed for legislation that would help to curb police violence in the city.

On Sept. 24, 1985, they were keynote speakers at the Memorial Baptist Church in Harlem. Both women delivered rousing speeches before an audience of community members and religious leaders.

“We will not stand for the KKK in blue uniforms … we will not stand for it,” Veronica Perry insisted.

Her comments emphasized black activists’ recognition that the fight for black rights was interconnected with the

struggle against racist violence – whether at the hands of a lynch mob of ordinary citizens or at the hands of a police officer The struggle continues In October 1986, Mary Bumpurs and Veronica Perry appeared together at a memorial service at the House of the Lord Church in Brooklyn. They were joined by several other black women, including Carrie Stewart, the mother of graffiti artist Michael Stewart, who died in police custody in 1983.

Also joining them was Annie Brannon, whose 15-year-old son Randolph Evans was killed by New York police in 1976.

At the service, they lit candles in memory of their loved ones and called on community members to take seriously the escalating police violence in the city and across the nation. “We as a people

have to stand together,” Mary Bumpurs explained. “It takes each of us banding together,” Veronica Perry added.

Today many remember the Eleanor Bumpurs and Edmund Perry cases.

Fewer might recall these two women’s grassroots organizing during the 1980s.

Their efforts, and the earlier work of Fannie Lou Hamer in Mississippi, offer a glimpse of the significant role black women play in challenging police violence.

These women’s political work continues today through the “Mothers of the Movement,” a group of black mothers whose sons and daughters have been killed while in police custody.

This group, which includes Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin, and Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, are working tirelessly to push for legislation that would fundamentally change American policing.

In recent years, Fulton, along with Democratic Georgia Congresswoman Lucy McBath, the mother of Jordan Davis, and Lesley McSpadden, the mother of Michael Brown, have run for public office. In the wake of recent protests, these women are calling for greater police accountability and joining the chorus of voices demanding the end of police killings of black people in the United States.l

Keisha N. Blain is an Associate Professor of History, University of Pittsburgh

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6

FOCUS: BARBADOS

Conquering the Challenges – This is Who We Are

BY HON MACKIE HOLDER CONSUL GENERAL OF BARBADOS

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ellow Barbadians and Friends of Barbados: The attainment and celebration of our nation’s 54th anniversary of Independence comes in the midst of the ongoing, devastating Covid-19 pandemic, which has brought the world to its knees.

Indeed, for those of us who live in the United States, there is the unpalatable specter of another period of shutdown and shelter in place as infection rates spike country-wide.

Already, the harsh reality is that the numbers are much higher than in spring when the pandemic exploded, first in New York; spread is more widespread and, unfortunately, death rates are again climbing.

In the shared tragedy of 2020, Barbadians lives have been lost and our tourism-led economy ground to a halt.

It is a sad reflection of our times that the most widely praised of the NY Consulate’s activities was the memorial service held in August celebrating the lives of those who lost their lives to Covid-19 as well as from other causes.

Once again, we remember those who

have passed and offer heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of those who lost loved ones in the most unimaginable circumstances.

We remain grateful to all frontline workers, among whom are many Barbadians, for their ongoing sacrifice, dedication to duty and care. The public salutes have abated, but we all continue to owe an unpayable debt to all who get up daily, if they slept at all, to battle the pandemic.

I also note the devotion to duty and service of the staff of the Consulate, who have worked throughout the pandemic, in and out of office.

In one of the ironies of 2020, the pandemic has brought Barbadian

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Associations and individuals closer, and the conversations and collaboration with the Consulate, and each other, will remain the outstanding achievement of the year, one that has already delivered important programs and which holds immense, as yet untapped potential for more practical engagement.

The unity, resilience and brotherhood of Barbadians, especially in challenging times, are well known, as well as the quality of our leadership. These characteristics that define who we are have been fully evident as our country has battled the pandemic.

Our handling of the pandemic and the economic outfall has, once again, confirmed the top world class nature of Barbados in conquering challenges and maintaining its humanity and support to those in need even in the face of fear and paranoia.

There has been deserved praise for the leadership of Prime Minister Mia Mottley, her team and Barbadians in keeping Barbados one of the safest places on earth. The magnanimous outreach to cruise liners and non-Barbadian citizens stranded, reflective of the Barbadian personality of warmth, helpfulness and upholding international and humanitarian obligations, has set the country apart and won our country new respect and friends.

Prime Minister Mottley has also become the voice for small states for equity, catastrophe funding, the right for citizens to have a minimum acceptable standard of living and for greater attention to be paid to matters of climate change, as hurricanes in the Caribbean region at frequencies and strengths not seen before and wildfires in the US, just two examples, have added to the horrors of the pandemic.

The challenges posed by the pandemic in Barbados, firstly maintain the health of all residents and supporting workers beached by economic activity brought to a drip, were faced by the Barbados leadership with the resolve, resourcefulness and restraint that has been the hallmark of Barbados since its Independence in 1966, and which has seen its steady progress to be one of the most developed countries in the world with a well-balanced society.

Prime Minister Mottley has kept that stability, first with a strong but caring hand in instituting Covid-19 protocols and then by a series of programs to keep economic activity going, people working and especially to support families beset

by a loss of employment.

The range of support has included financial support to the tourism sector, direct funding to families, special arrangements for seniors as well as mortgage payment protection and the instituting of programs such as the Adopt a Family Charity.

In July, the country received another wave of worldwide publicity and praise when the Prime Minister launched the Barbados Welcome Stamp, which facilitates persons who wish to work for at least a year in the country. This is proving to be a successful initiative, with some 2000 applications to date and almost 1500 approved, with hundreds of persons from the world over already in Barbados.

It is a tribute to all that the country is still forging ahead, from re-opening schools, to critical infrastructural works, digitization and preparing to host UNCTAD 13 next year, from April 25 – 30.

The words of our National Anthem, that with the Lord on the people’s side, we have no doubts or fears, are instructive.

Barbados is, therefore, ready to fully reboot once the pandemic is brought under some sort of control.

There is hope in three vaccinations, whose efficacy are, collectively, around 95%. A world back on track will see the continuation of the transformation of Barbados with new tourism projects; targeted housing projects, including an ongoing US$103 million project that the pandemic did not curtail; the further build out of a new foreign policy strategy that has already seen new missions in Brazil and Panama and deeper engagements with Africa that already has in place plans for new missions in Kenya, Ghana and Morocco; and a more structured and nuanced connectivity with the Diaspora, including the establishment of a full Diaspora Unit in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.

In New York, the Consulate will continue to broaden its interactions with the Diaspora and all who have an interest in Barbados. Indeed, a recent dialogue between young Barbadians at home and young people in Newark is an example of the new directions that will shape discourse in the future. We eagerly anticipate a renewal in 2021 and bringing some transformative projects to New York and some of the other States under the Consulate’s jurisdiction.

So we celebrate our country’s 54th anniversary of Independence with optimism. Our motto of pride and industry could not be more apt in the dismal circumstances of 2020 and we take reassurance from our leadership and strength in unity that next year will be better.

Because Barbados has continuously demonstrated that crises bring out the best in us; and that as long as we come together, we can achieve anything.

A Happy 54th Independence and continued Blessing to all.l

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7

MONEY MATTERS

Will Filing For Bankruptcy Negatively Impact Your Credit?

Does A Bankruptcy Eliminate The Negative Credit Impact Of Discharged Accounts?

Unfortunately, it does not. If a discharged account had negative payment information prior to being discharged, that will continue to be a drag on your credit for the standard seven years.

BY MARY CAMPBELL 311BANKRUPTCY.COM

C

onventional wisdom on bankruptcy is that it ruins your credit for a decade. That's far from true, how-

ever.

That belief stems from the fact that a Chapter 7 bankruptcy remains on your credit report for exactly 10 years, which is the standard for closed accounts that did not have any negative activity. However, this is the *only* type of bankruptcy that is on your credit report for that long.

Other types of bankruptcies last for seven years, the standard for a closed account that had late payments.

Your credit also cannot be totally ruined by a bankruptcy alone. It is true that a bankruptcy is a hard hit to your score, but letting outstanding debts go to collections and accumulate late payments or chargeoffs is just as bad if not worse.

Let's Talk Points - How Much Will A Bankruptcy Hurt?

Generally speaking, bankruptcies disproportionately hit higher credit scores harder. A realistic expectation for a FICO score over 750 is to lose a little over 200 points just from the bankruptcy. However, credit more in the moderate-to-good range

of 600 to 750 will usually only drop by about 100 to 150 points. While you can expect bankruptcy to take you out of the "excellent" credit category for at least a couple of years, your credit can still remain in a good range if you are not experiencing other significant financial issues that drag it down.

It's also important to know that bankruptcy score deductions aren't uniform to the debt amount or your starting score. In general, you will come out with a higher post-bankruptcy score if the discharged debts were individually smaller and spread out rather than one or two very large accounts.

Why Does A Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Stay On Longer?

Chapter 7 is viewed as the "last resort" bankruptcy option, if your means are too low to be eligible for the structured payments of a Chapter 13 bankruptcy (or a Chapter 11 or 12, which are basically Chapter 13 variants for specific business types). The cost of having most debts completely forgiven under Chapter 7 is the longer negative impact to your ability to borrow.

Naturally, a Chapter 13 is more favorable to your credit if you have the means to make at least partial payments on your existing debts.

Can I Rebuild My Credit While A Bankruptcy Is On My Report?

Absolutely! Having a bankruptcy on your credit report won't negate positive contributions from other accounts.

A popular option for rebuilding credit in the wake of a bankruptcy is a secured credit card. With these, you put down the amount of your credit line in the form of a security deposit. Since the full amount of the credit line is on hand, banks will issue these cards even to customers with low credit scores. After a year of good payment history, the security deposit is usually returned and the card becomes a standard credit account, often with a significant limit increase.

Of course, making timely payments on your remaining accounts will also continue to build good credit, and keeping your total debt load to no more than one-third of your available credit will also help to bolster your FICO score.l

Creditors’ Harassments!

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8

EDUCATION

4 Tips for College Students to Avoid Procrastinating with Their Online Work

BY KYI XIE & SHENG-LUN CHENG THE CONVERSATION

I

f you take classes online, chances are you probably procrastinate from time to time. Research shows that more than 70% of college students procrastinate, with about 20% consistently doing it all the time.

Procrastination is putting off starting or finishing a task despite knowing that it will seriously compromise the quality of your work – for instance, putting off a major class project until the last minute.

In fact, research has shown that procrastination can be a harmful behavior that lowers a student’s grades.

Now that so many colleges and universities are operating remotely because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we worry that students are more prone to procrastinate because they have less access to campus facilities and structured support from instructors. We raise these concerns as researchers who study students’ motivation and engagement and their procrastination in online learning.

As professors, we’ve also heard our fair share of explanations and excuses for why students missed deadlines.

Everything from “my computer doesn’t work” to “my Wi-Fi went dead.” We

you may collaborate better during the day.

In addition, you should use tech tools, such as calendar and task-management apps, to plan your time and monitor how much you’re getting done.

even had one student claim that “Grandma died” in one course and that “Grandpa died” in another course. We also have had students claim that their roommate deleted their homework.

Whether you see those reasons as valid or not, none of them really gets at why students procrastinate and end up in those kinds of situations in the first place.

With that in mind, here are four tips that can help students deal better with the root causes of procrastination when it comes to online coursework.

1. Manage motivation One of the main reasons students procrastinate is that they do not see their coursework as relevant to what they’re doing now or expect to do later on. When students find that their academic tasks are interesting, important and useful, they are more likely to try harder to get them done and less likely to put them off.

Remote learning can make students feel bored and frustrated. Therefore, finding ways to stay motivated can prevent procrastination.

Remind yourself of the practical value of your academic tasks. Figure out the reasons you’re studying something in the first place.

For instance, instead of viewing the completion of an assignment as a way to fulfill course requirements, you can think about how to turn your coursework into something related to your life or career goals. For a computer science student, a programming assignment could be made a part of your portfolio to help secure an internship or even a job – as some of our own students have done. A research report could be turned into an academic journal article to enhance your profile when applying for graduate school in the future.

2. Manage goals, tasks and time College life can get hectic. Many college students must juggle coursework, social events and work commitments at the same time. Getting more organized helps stave off procrastination. This means breaking long-term goals into smaller short-term, challenging and clear goals and tasks.

The reason this technique works is that procrastination is directly related to an individual’s preference and desire for working on a task. When a goal is too large, it becomes not immediately achievable; therefore, you will see this task as less desirable and be more likely to put it off.

By breaking a large long-term goal into a series of smaller and more concrete subgoals, you will see the project as easier to complete and, more importantly, your perceived distance to the finishing line will shorten. This way, you are more likely to perceive the project as desirable, and you will be less likely to procrastinate.

Second, you need to plan your time daily by listing tasks based on their importance and urgency, estimating how much time you need to complete each task, and identifying concrete steps to reach daily goals. That is, tell yourself that in the context of X, I will need to do Y to accomplish Z. It is also important to plan your time according to how and when you prefer to study. For example, you may concentrate the most late at night, your memory may work the best in the early mornings, or

3. Create a good learning space Another important way to avoid procrastination is to make sure that your learning environment is supportive for learning.

During the coronavirus pandemic, students are usually learning from home, but sometimes they study wherever they happen to be, even at picnic tables in public parks. These places may not be best suited for academic activities.

These environments have many characteristics that may be more interesting and less emotionally draining than academic tasks. Therefore, students could drift away from academic tasks and wind up instead chatting with friends or watching sports. This is why choosing or creating a good place to study can help people stop procrastinating.

Try to set up your surroundings in a way that suits your learning habits, including where you put tables and chairs and how you use lighting and block out noises. For example, some students may enjoy learning in a quiet and dark space with a spotlight. Others may learn best when they use a standing desk next to a bright window and constantly play soft background music.

4. Get a little help from friends Friends and classmates can help one another stop procrastinating. Colleagues and other contacts can hold one another accountable and help one another meet deadlines. This is particularly important for anyone who struggles with self-control. Research also has shown that having supportive friends and other peers can boost self-confidence and make tasks seem more valuable and interesting.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, students are physically isolated from most of their friends and classmates. The social support that students normally receive in face-to-face settings, such as after-class chats and study groups, has also been moved to virtual spaces. That is, it’s still available, but mainly through virtual means, such as instant-messaging apps, online collaboration tools or video conferencing software. Used wisely, these tools can help students work with friends to overcome procrastination and m ake the classwork more enjoyable. l Kui Xie is a Cyphert Distinguished Professor; Professor of Learning Technologies; Director of The Research Laboratory for Digital Learning, The Ohio State University.

Sheng-Lun Cheng is an Assistant Professor of Instructional Systems Design and Technology, Sam Houston State University.

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9

HOUSING

First Tenant Evicted in NYC Since the Pandemic Started. Here’s What It Means ing themselves. Maybe they lacked access to technology or found the instructions to virtual participation not accessible. Maybe they had language access issues.”

La Mort said: “Those who fall through the cracks are most at risk because they’re not connected to services, and that’s really disheartening. There’s no need for this right now. It highlights the need for us to have a real eviction moratorium and a real program to assist tenants.”

BY ALLISON DIKANOVIC, THE CITY

M

arshals recently carried out the first legal residential eviction in New York City since the start of the pandemic, THE CITY has learned. Here’s a breakdown of how that happened during the eviction moratorium and what the move could mean for renters going forward.

So someone was evicted during the pandemic?

Yup. The first legal residential eviction in the city since March — when the pandemic hit — took place Nov. 20, according to officials at the city Department of Investigation, which oversees marshals.

While we don’t have all the details yet (we’re working on it), we do know someone was removed from their home.

What does this mean? Housing advocates said that any evictions taking place right now signals that we should expect more, even with COVID cases rising.

Justin La Mort, a tenant attorney at Mobilization for Justice, said his organization has recently helped stop at least two evictions after tenants received a marshal’s notice.

We do know that for now, marshals are issuing these notices to people who lost their eviction cases before the pandemic.

Diane Struzzi, spokesperson for the Department of Investigation said: “Before an eviction can proceed, a court must have reviewed and concluded that the eviction can go forward, including that the tenant has not suffered financial hardship during the COVID-19 state of disaster. Eviction protocols are set by the court and by the Governor’s Office. The marshals must follow the court’s orders and directives.”

La Mort said: “Eviction is a form of violence and any eviction is a policy failure. The fact that we’re evicting people during the pandemic is extremely problematic.”

But isn’t there still a moratorium?

Not quite.

New York tenants still have some eviction protections — at least until the end of the year — but not a full blown moratorium.

One protection is a state law called the Tenant Safe Harbor Act, which prohibits evictions against tenants who have suffered financial hardship during the pandemic. Gov. Andrew Cuomo expanded who this law covers, but it leaves a lot up to individual judges.

The other primary protection is the federal Centers for Disease Control moratorium, which bans evictions for nonpayment if tenants fit qualifications showing their inability to pay full rent because of the pandemic.

Both require a tenant to prove in court that they qualify for the protections, so neither is automatic.

Esteban Girón, an organizer with the

Residents of a Fort Greene, Brooklyn apartment have been fighting their landlord’s efforts to evict them, Sept. 11, 2020. Peter Senzamici/THE CITY

Crown Heights Tenant Union, said of last week’s eviction: “This is the perfect example showing that we don’t have a moratorium in place. It wouldn’t have mattered if this person had COVID or if they lost income. If they didn’t have an attorney and didn’t appear in court, they got evicted.”

Marika Dias, a tenant attorney and director of the Safety Net Project at the Urban Justice Center, said: “We really have reached a moment where it’s clear that the lack of political action does not just have hypothetical consequences, but it has the very real consequences that people are being put out of their homes in the middle of a pandemic. The last thing we want in the middle of the pandemic is more and more people being put out into the streets or in the shelter system or doubled up with another family.”

those who can be tossed from their homes.

There are a lot of reasons a tenant might not appear in court.

Dias said: “Maybe they have COVID or health issues. Maybe the tenant didn’t understand how to participate without physically going to court and endanger-

So now what?

Cases are continuing to move through the courts, and legal service providers are working to make sure that any tenant who appears for their hearing has access to a lawyer.

Help: If your landlord files a petition to evict you, make sure you answer that petition. If you have questions about your case and want to get connected to a lawyer, call 311 and ask for the tenant helpline. l This story was published on November 24, 2020 by THE CITY.

So why is this happening?

Well, it’s complicated.

When New York’s full eviction moratorium ended in October, instead of just carrying out all the evictions for tenants who received court judgments before the pandemic, the courts added an extra step to the process. Officials decided that any tenants whose landlords wanted to proceed with an eviction order could get another chance at a hearing when the courts reopened. This was a positive development for tenants.

If the tenants showed up to that hearing, they would have access to an attorney from the Right to Counsel program. If they didn’t make the hearing, the judge would schedule a second date.

But if they didn’t show up to the second court date, the tenants would lose by default and a marshal’s notice could be issued.

If a tenant has an attorney, they could block this eviction. But if that doesn’t happen, the eviction will go through.

People in that situation and tenants who couldn’t prove to the judge that they qualified for COVID protections are

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IN THE NEWS

10

Clarke Leads Effort to Close Learning Gap in Schools

Initial Delivery of COVID-19 Vaccine/continued from page 1

B

ROOKLYN, NY: Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) issued the following statement discussing a letter to the FCC pushing to reform the E-Rate program to accommodate distanced learning: Last week, Congresswoman Clarke led a group of her colleagues in an effort to push the FCC to do more to close the Learning Gap. “As we await the rollout of coronavirus vaccines in the coming months, we must not lose sight of the immediate needs of students that have been hurt the most by this pandemic. Nearly 30% of all US households lack broadband access rising to over 40% for low-income households.

While many schools went remote in order to help slow the spread of the virus, these students have been effectively pushed out of school and left to fend for themselves. This disparate impact on the student population will only compound pre-existing inequities in academic achievement throughout the public school system,” Clarke said.

Currently, the FCC only authorizes ERate funds for efforts to wire school buildings and libraries. In light of the

Congresswoman Clarke Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

coronavirus pandemic, this funding has largely gone unutilized as schools and libraries predominantly remain closed.

Local jurisdictions have been forced to scramble to help bridge this digital divide or face the consequences as students fall behind their peers.

The E-Rate Program can help alleviate some of the burden by providing funding to cover some of the cost of more creative approaches taken by school districts. For example, these funds could be used to help pay for New York City’s tablet program to help give students

wireless Internet access. If the FCC reconsiders its approach to the authority of the E-Rate program in light of the new realities created by the pandemic, up to $4.15 billion could become available to help provide connectivity to those in need.

“The scars from this pandemic will stay with us for years to come. With this effort, we hope that we can start that healing process now,” Clarke concluded.

Read the full text of the letter at www.cawnyc.coml

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State Expects to Receive Vaccines December 15 if All Safety and Efficacy Approvals Are Granted New York Expects to Receive Additional Vaccine Allocations from Pfizer and Moderna This Month Positive Testing Rate in All Focus Zone Areas is 5.88 Percent; New York State Positivity Outside All Focus Zone Areas is 4.21 Percent Statewide Positivity Rate is 4.63 Percent cations of vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna later this month.

"As we continue to move through the holiday season, the good news is that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, but unfortunately it is still a ways away and we are now faced with a set of challenges to overcome before we get there.

Not only is the number of COVID-19 cases rising virtually everywhere, but they are stemming from a new source, with nearly 70 percent of cases being traced back to households and private gatherings," Governor Cuomo said. "The federal government has also informed us that New York will be getting its first 170,000 doses of the vaccine in the coming weeks, and while that is certainly welcomed news, the federal vaccination plan not only overlooks the black, brown, and poor communities, but its data sharing provisions will dissuade the undocumented community from getting a vaccination. Winning the war against COVID has to be an inclusive process and only by everyone working together will we be successful. While we continue to fight to make the federal plan more inclusive, effective and fair, New Yorkers need to do their part to help limit the spread."

The Governor noted that the positive testing rate in all focus areas under the state's Micro-Cluster strategy is 5.88 percent, and outside the focus zone areas is 4.21 percent. Within the focus areas, 49,027 test results were reported yesterday, yielding 2,882 positives. In the remainder of the state, not counting these focus areas, 144,524 test results were reported, yielding 6,091 positives.l

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11

IMMIGRATION Discriminatory Treatment of Haitians/continued from page 1 cation is racial hostility.

In the lawsuit, Al Otro Lado, et. al., v.

Wolf, plaintiffs argue that the administration’s motivation for the turnback policy is a desire to deter asylum seekers from coming to the United States.

This amicus brief—filed on behalf of the Haitian Bridge Alliance, the Institute for Justice & Democracy in Haiti, and immigration scholars—helps explain how the historically discriminatory treatment of Haitian and Black migrants informs current policy choices, including the treatment of asylum seekers, who are largely Black, Indigenous, and other people of color.

Many trace the turnback policy to the arrival of a large number of Haitians in Tijuana, on the U.S.-Mexico border, in May 2016. In response, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) applied a practice known as “metering” to the Haitian migrants.

When metering, CBP officials refuse to process certain noncitizens, including asylum seekers, when they arrive at the border, instead making them wait in Mexico until some future—and often unspecified—date.

The metering of Haitians in May 2016 was not the first—nor would it be the last—time that Haitians and other Black migrants were discriminated against in U.S. immigration policy. The brief puts the turnback policy in the context of dis-

criminatory immigration laws.

This history started with the first U.S. naturalization law in 1790, which only allowed “free white person[s]” to become U.S. citizens through naturalization. It took nearly 100 years and the passage of the 14th Amendment—guaranteeing equal protection under the law— before the law was amended to include persons of “African nativity and . . . descent.”

The amicus brief also describes repeated previous attempts by the U.S. government to keep Haitians from seeking protection in this country. These policies involved both preventing Haitians from making it to the United States and making life more difficult for them here.

For example, the U.S. government formed the Mass Immigration

Emergency Plan in 1983 after Haitians began coming to the United States in large numbers. This plan created 10,000 beds for immigration detention purposes.

Prior to the 1980’s, the government rarely detained people for immigration violations.

Haitians detained under the new plan took their cases to court. A federal court found that “more Haitians are being detained and for longer periods of time than non-Haitians.” The court also found that non-Haitians had a better chance of being released at the border with a date to check-in with immigration authorities than Haitians.

Recently, the Trump administration ended the Haitian Family Reunification Parole Program and Temporary Protected Status for Haitians, which provided tem-

porary immigration relief to those impacted by the devasting 2010 earthquake in Haiti. It also removed Haiti from the list of countries whose citizens could participate in certain temporary U.S. work visa programs.

“The indisputable common denominator for this disparate treatment of Haitians and Africans is the color of their skin,” the brief argues. It has nothing to do with “capacity constraints, or even on the legitimacy of migrants’ asylum claims” but is based on the Trump administration’s exclusionist agenda, “perpetuating racist and xenophobic opposition to Haitian and Black migrants.”

Following the metering of Haitians in the summer of 2016 in Tijuana, metering and similar practices spread to ports of entry across the U.S.-Mexico border.

These practices were applied to asylum seekers regardless of nationality, though largely still Black, Indigenous, and other people of color.

Part of our nation’s struggle with its history of systemic racism is recognizing and addressing the past. For migrants of African descent, particularly Haitians, our past includes disproportionate detention rates, higher bonds, a higher percentage of family detention, and “among the highest asylum denial rates, when compared to their non-African peers,” the brief’s authors write.

We cannot ignore these realities as we seek justice and understanding of our current immigration law and policy.l

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FAMILY MATTERS

12

The Fatherless Can Become Empowered Fathers

BY DR. DWAYNE DYCE

M

y name is Dwayne Dyce, but I wasn’t supposed to be “Dyce.”

My twin brother and I would have had the family name, Ramdeen had our father been a part of our lives; however, he refused. I’ve since been driven to find out where I was from and why I was fatherless.

Today, I hold two master’s degrees and a doctorate in education. During this time, I accumulated over 15 years of classroom experience teaching math and science in Jamaica and the United States. Over the years, I have mentored many students and fellow educators. I have given motivational talks throughout Jamaica and abroad on education leadership, innovative mindset, and community partnerships. I am a published author, and I assumed the distinguished position as chairman of the Jamaica Diaspora Education Task Force in the Jamaica Diaspora Taskforce Action Network. This role paved the way for me to further my service to the Jamaican international community. I am supporting thousands of educators in Jamaica and around the world

with professional development and other support. I also have a beautiful 7-year-old daughter to whom I am completely devoted and who loves math and science as much as I do.

However, this story is not about my present; it is about my past. My quest to learn about myself started when I was about ten years old and has led me to become who I am today. My twin brother and I were born in Jubilee Hospital in Kingston in the early 1980s. We were then brought to the small farming town of Murray Mountain in St. Ann, where we grew up with our grandparents. Since our mother was only nineteen years old, our grandparents took us in when we were about three weeks old. At about nine years old, I wondered about my background because no one in our community looked like us. It was apparent that we were mixed with Indian and Black, but we did not know where the Indian features came from. Stories from my grandparents gave me some details that piqued my interest even more.

So, at ten years old, my identity search started to take hold of my thoughts, and I began to ask my mother and grandparents

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questions about my origin. My grandparents are my mother’s parents. My mother is of Black and Chinese descent because my grandmother is Black, and my grandfather is Chinese and Black. I spent a lot of time in my youth helping both of them take care of their farm: planting and harvesting crops; feeding the chickens, goats, pigs, and cows; and keeping our little home tidy. My grandmother introduced us to our Catholic faith and instilled in us the value of a good education. God and education were the most talked about topics in our family and so these values are the cornerstone of every decision I have made

about how to live my life.

While I did have my grandfather as a man I could learn from; I still felt the emptiness caused by not having a biological father. Having a father gives you a shared identity, and I knew it was an Indian identity that I knew nothing about.

So, I continued to ask about him. I was told that my father was in Kingston, but the information was vague. We were given the family name of a man that we did not resemble. He was my sister’s father and was obviously not of Indian descent. This only made us even more curious. So, we persisted with our questions. The only person who was willing to talk candidly to us was our grandmother, but she did not know anything about our father. So, I started the historical search from my mother’s side of the family since that was the only side of my history that I had access to at the time. I sat down with my grandparents and got a comprehensive genealogy lesson from them.

Then, I went to Brown’s Town, St. Ann, to further my search. I traced my mother’s lineage through her mother (my grandmother) to the enslaved people in Clarks Town, Trelawny. Then, I traced my mother’s lineage through her father (my grandfather) back to a Chinese man who came from China. Finding more about my history on my mother’s side was very enlightening in the search for my identity because I came to value my ethnic background and appreciated their unique history and talents. However, the problem remained when it came to learning about the Indian heritage on my father’s side of the family. Since my grandparents could not provide any answers, our search was left cold for another seven years.

Our focus shifted to working in the Church: helping the priests with the celebration of Mass; giving communion to sick people in several communities and doing youth activities with the Church. I went to school sometimes without lunch, and I went bare-foot throughout Primary school. When we did not have money for bus fare, we borrowed money from our neighbors. We depended on a few car and bus drivers willing to offer us a lift to school to spare us the 7-mile walk.

The Catholic Church played a pivotal role in my high school years. I met Archbishop Emeritus Charles Dufour

continued on page 13

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FAMILY MATTERS

13

The Fatherless/ continued from page 12 after he became bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Montego Bay. Archbishop Charles started the Good Shepherd Foundation, which had a program to help young people go to school.

Many young people were recipients of consistent financial help by this foundation throughout high school. Archbishop Charles became our father figure and a spiritual guide in my life.

A couple of weeks before turning 20 years old, I finally learned my biological father’s name from my mother. By this time, I graduated from Aabuthnott Gallimore High school and Brown’s Town Community College. I was preparing to go to the Catholic college of Mandeville. I used my biological father’s name to trace my paternal lineage back to my grandfather, from India. I learned that my grandfather came to Jamaica as an indentured laborer. That summer, now knowing who our biological father was and where to find him, my brother and I made a trip to Kingston to meet him. The visit was short but eye-opening, and it left me feeling numb.

There are no words to describe the feeling of finally looking at someone who looked just like us. He proceeded to argue with my mother, asking her why she brought us there to him. We tried to engage him in a friendly conversation, but he was very uneasy. It seemed he did not rehearse for his immediate reaction to

one day meeting his twin sons.

Regardless, we asked him if he was our father, and he responded, “Yes, but what does that have to do with anything, now?”

We asked him if he cared about us. He told us that it wasn’t necessary at the present moment because “Unhu ah big man now!” My brother asked him if he knew what it was like growing up without a father, without knowing him. He gave us a dismissive smile and said we were doing well. At the end of our encounter, we had to demand to take some pictures with him and get his cellphone number to stay in touch. Our father was not interested because he did not return the calls we made to reach him.

The search was over. I was resigned to the satisfaction of knowing who I was and where I was from since we could not make him want us. Consequently, I focused on developing myself by becoming a teacher, working with the Catholic

Diocese of Montego Bay, and creating a balanced life. My brother and I had achieved so much already in our lives, and the worst had passed long ago.

Despite all of the intrigue and hurdles, my journey to knowing my father never impeded my resolve to be the very best father I could ever be to my child. My daughter accompanies me to all the talks that I do, we go out on dinner dates, watch all of the princess movies together, and we spend time on the phone two times per day when she is not with me.

She knows that I love her and want her to be the best version of herself every day.

My daughter knows that I will never allow her to grow up without her father.

Looking back, I appreciate my journey to finding out who I am. It provided me with a foundation on which to know who it was that I wanted to be. While I endured through poverty, I was dearly loved and supported by my grandparents

and the many wonderful people I met through the Church and school.

Throughout all of this, I have never changed my focus, to become better than my parents. I am now giving talks to young people about the struggles of not having a father or a responsible adult in their lives to hold firm to their passion.

The struggles are real and unseen.

Fatherless youth most times suffer in silence. They are robbed of identity and a balance in the home. Lucky for me, I had a few people I could turn to and cry on their shoulders. Lucky for me, I had my brother. Lucky for me, I made the right kind of sacrifices. However, without my grandparents and Archbishop Charles Dufour, and a few other people, I have no idea where I would be.

As a leader in the Jamaica Diaspora Education Task Force, I am bringing this issue of fatherlessness to the forefront because it is a massive problem. It is a personal goal to empower fatherless youth to know that it is ok to share their story openly and without shame. I want others in similar situations to know they are not alone and that they should work hard, identify a purpose for their lives, and never give up.l

Dr. Dwayne Dyce is the Chairman, Jamaica Diaspora Education Taskforce (JDETF). It’s a personal goal of his to empower fatherless youth to know that it is ok to share their story openly and without shame.

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Caribbean Music Professionals Urged to Collaborate

Duo singing. Photo courtesy Caribbean Export Development Agency

S

cores of Caribbean music professionals used the downtime caused

by COVID-19 to sharpen their musical skills and enhance their business knowledge.

Singers, songwriters and music producers from as far north as the Dominican Republic and as far south as Guyana recently took part in a 60-hour Virtual Regional Songwriting and Music Production Training programme organised by the Caribbean Export Development Agency. The initiative was held in conjunction with the OECS Competitive Business Unit.

Allyson Francis, Services Specialist with Caribbean Export, said the training was designed to enhance the quality and trajectory of regional music by focusing on songwriting, production and the business of music: “There was also a practical component which involved a collaborative approach to writing and composing content that would find a place in regional and global markets,” she said, noting that trainers also paid attention to the construction of melodies, phrasing, hooks and themes.

Singers, songwriters and producers were placed in groups, a move which created fertile ground for skills sharing as well as intercultural and cross-genre collaboration. By the end of the 20-day period, a strong cadre of new songs was released.

“You have done excellent work here.

What I really liked was the collaboration that took place between the different countries. I really think it means we are going in the right direction. The Caribbean is so rich and what you all have done in a short space of time is exceptional,” Ms. Francis told participants.

Encouraging them to continue working together, she also told practitioners to ensure that they knew how to monetise their work and that they understood the rudiments of the music business.

“Beyond production is distribution. We have to start to talk about the platforms and begin to utilise them to distribute the music. At the end of the day, it’s about money. It’s no longer just about a 'like' and a 'love', it is a business, the business of music and the business of what we do.

As a team, understanding which aspect of the value-chain you best fit.

“COVID-19 has exposed the fragility of the music industry and reinforced that practitioners must find ways to promote, sell and showcase their work beyond live performances and carnivals. From a Caribbean Export standpoint, I’m very pleased to be part of this but we can only do so much as a development agency. I want you to continue to do your part as we will continue to contribute to making sure you are successful. One way at least will be to ensure you have digital presence” she stated.

Sobers Esprit, Business Development

Officer with the OECS Competitive Business Unit, also called for increased collaboration. He pointed out that the collaborative approach had been successfully used by big-named artists for years and suggested participants should consider this strategic approach.

“The interaction during the programme has been excellent and I’m even more excited about the outcome. We are hoping it will spur greater collaboration because internationally the success of the music industry is through joint efforts.

What we witnessed in this programme were people, who represented all the islands of the Caribbean, coming together for this venture; it was tremendous.

“The Caribbean needs that at this difficult time in our history. Caribbean Export has played their part in terms of bringing the resources required to get all the artists, trainers, mentors and producers together, but the part that you must play has to be to thicken the collaboration, to seek out support from each other and to see how we can work to produce different grids of music for Caribbean listeners, and for global listeners who are looking to buy and consume Caribbean music, because that is the goal” Mr. Esprit said.

Timeka Marshall, a Guyanese singer/songwriter, is no stranger to collaborations. While she endorsed regional “collabs”, Timeka urged persons to explore joint ventures beyond the Caribbean.

“Collaborating is something that I always love to do because you get a chance to reach into someone else’s fanbase and be exposed to a whole new set of people. So it is something I would always encourage. A few years ago I released a song featuring StoneBwoy from Ghana. That opened me to a whole new market and Africa is a huge market for reggae and dancehall. With the explosion of Latin music, Latin artists are collaborating with English artists and the Spanish market is a huge market…

The world is one just one huge melting pot of culture, sounds and so on; the more we can mix and the more we can blend, the better for us,” Timeka shared.

As a result of the program, some 23 tracks are being produced to be showcased virtually to buyers and sellers from North America, Europe and Africa and Asia.l —Caribbean Export Development Agency

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16

BOOKS

A Promised Land: The Presidential Memoirs, Volume 1

A

riveting, deeply personal account of history in the making—from the president who inspired us to believe in the power of democracy In the stirring, highly anticipated first volume of his presidential memoirs, Barack Obama tells the story of his improbable odyssey from young man searching for his identity to leader of the free world, describing in strikingly personal detail both his political education and the landmark moments of the first term of his historic presidency—a time of dramatic transformation and turmoil.

Obama takes readers on a compelling journey from his earliest political aspirations to the pivotal Iowa caucus victory that demonstrated the power of grassroots activism to the watershed night of November 4, 2008, when he was elected 44th president of the United States, becoming the first African American to hold the nation’s highest office.

Reflecting on the presidency, he offers a unique and thoughtful exploration of both the awesome reach and the limits of presidential power, as well as singular insights into the dynamics of U.S. parti-

san politics and international diplomacy. Obama brings readers inside the Oval Office and the White House Situation Room, and to Moscow, Cairo, Beijing, and points beyond. We are privy to his thoughts as he assembles his cabinet, wrestles with a global financial crisis, takes the measure of Vladimir Putin, overcomes seemingly insurmountable odds to secure passage of the Affordable Care Act, clashes with generals about U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, tackles Wall Street reform, responds to the devastating Deepwater Horizon blowout, and authorizes Operation Neptune’s Spear, which leads to the death of Osama bin Laden.

A Promised Land is extraordinarily intimate and introspective—the story of one man’s bet with history, the faith of a community organizer tested on the world stage. Obama is candid about the balancing act of

running for office as a Black American, bearing the expectations of a generation buoyed by messages of “hope and change,” and meeting the moral challenges of highstakes decision-making. He is frank about the forces that opposed him at home and abroad, open about how living in the White House affected his wife and daughters, and unafraid to reveal self-doubt and disappointment. Yet he never wavers from his belief that inside the great, ongoing American experiment, progress is always possible.

This beautifully written and powerful book captures Barack Obama’s conviction that democracy is not a gift from on high but something founded on empathy and common understanding and built together, day by day.l —obamabook.com Photo: obamabook.com

Available at Amazon.com

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LOVE & RELATIONSHIPS

17

How to Get Back into the Dating Game After a Divorce

BY JANET HOWARD, 311DIVORCE.COM

D

ating after a messy divorce can seem daunting, especially if you were married for a long time.

However, by following the tips outlined below, you can get back on the horse and start developing relationships with new, exciting people: Make Sure You Are Ready Do not dive back into the dating pool until you are completely healed from your break-up. If you rush in before you are truly ready, you are likely to settle for unsuitable partners, just because you are feeling lonely. If you choose to wait, you will have a much better chance of meeting someone who you actually click with.

Get a Makeover If your divorce caused you to stop paying attention to your personal hygiene and fashion sense, you may need to give yourself a makeover before getting back into the dating game. You can start by getting a haircut, and then head to some trendy stores to grab some new clothing.

By the time you finish, you won't even

recognize the new you in the mirror.

Have Reasonable Expectations When dating after a divorce, it is usually wise to temper your expectations. If you are beginning your partner search by looking for millionaires with movie-star good looks, you are likely to be disappointed. If you instead set out to find someone who makes you laugh and feel comfortable in your own skin, you are much more likely to find a mate.

Of course, while exclusively looking for a new partner that looks like a model

is not a good idea, you should not completely ignore the physical side of dating.

After all, if you want your new romance to work out, you need to be attracted to your partner.

that is perfect for you. Of course, you should always exercise caution while searching for a new partner online, especially when it comes time to meet them in person.

Take Your Search Online The internet has truly revolutionized the dating world. It is now possible to browse through hundreds of potential mates from the comfort of your living room by creating a profile on a popular dating app or website. With so many to choose from, you are bound to find one

In Conclusion Finding love after a divorce is not easy.

However, it is certainly not impossible.

By following the tips and suggestions laid out in this article, you can move past your nerves and find a new partner who truly makes you happy.l

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TRAVEL & LIFESTYLE

18

Tips for Getting Through the Holidays – COVID Edition

BY SARAH O’LEARY, ESTESTHERAPY

W

ith the winter holidays come stress – holiday shopping, final projects at work, family gatherings, and more. You can really feel the shorter days as you try to fit everything in. All that juggling, strain, and stress happens during the holidays every year, now we have a global pandemic on top of it. We have to figure out how to keep our loved ones safe this yearwhile also staying connected and doing some much needed celebrating.

Here are some guidelines to get you through this holiday season, COVID and all.

1. Take time to reflect on your boundaries.

That means personal boundaries, work boundaries, COVID boundaries, and relationship boundaries. I recommend starting with your COVID boundaries.

How many people are you comfortable being around? To what capacity? And what are their interactions with others like? It would be lovely if, even just for a day, we could pretend like everything was back to normal. But the reality is we can’t. We have to acknowledge that there is still a global pandemic going on. Be realistic with what your comfort is in comparison with your relatives. Don’t put your personal comfort aside because of pressure from friends or family.

Work is also unique at this time. Don’t confuse your free time with your available time. If work is asking for more hours for the end of the year projects, just because you are home and don’t have plans doesn’t mean you are available.

You still need time for your family, your partner, and YOU. Remember, you don’t need a reason to say no. If you are pressured into giving a reason you can simply say you have family plans, and if a boss is particularly pushy, maybe try something like: “We have family plans

this year. I wish I could help more but with everything that’s going on I really need to be spending the time with my family.”

2. Reflect on the Holidays and Reject What You Want Something that comes with such a unique time is unique opportunity. A self-disclosure moment: my brother and I are the only members of our family in the United States. So, Thanksgiving has never been a big deal for me. I did some tag-a-long Thanksgivings and some “Friendsgiving”s, but one year I did nothing. I wasn’t feeling well so I stayed home, and all my roommates at the time were elsewhere for the holidays. I had the place to myself. There were zero expectations. No obligations. And no need to check my email, messages, or phone. I had a day OFF. Completely, 100% off.

Now, there is no going back for me. I’ve moved on to a new tradition of camping for Thanksgiving – alone or with my partner. It’s still a day to reflect, be thankful, and allow myself to focus on decompressing and relaxing, but I’m doing so in a way that works best for me. That’s my long way of saying COVID is giving us a unique opportunity this year to keep the traditions we truly love, and get rid of the ones we don’t. Are you indifferent to having a Christmas tree in your house every year, but get one anyway? Well, this year don’t, no one will be around besides you to see it anyway. Do you love making rugelach so much you don’t know what you’ll do with all the inevitable extra? Bake them up and deliver them to loved ones (taking precaution). Have you always wished you and your intimate family could just watch silly movies all day in your PJs? Now’s the year to try.

Are you indifferent to having a Christmas tree in your house every year, but get one anyway? Well, this year don’t, no one will be around besides you

to see it anyway. Do you love making rugelach so much you don’t know what you’ll do with all the inevitable extra?

Bake them up and deliver them to loved ones (taking precaution). Have you always wished you and your intimate family could just watch silly movies all day in your PJs? Now’s the year to try.

3. Mourn Your Losses This year we are all facing loss. “Upkeep the traditions you love” isn’t entirely possible with lock-downs and travel restrictions. Do what you can to create a new tradition or rework your treasured tradition the best you can. Utilize technology, and give your technology impaired relatives a call to walk them through it.

Zoom, HouseParty, Google Meets and even Facebook (to a limited capacity) all have group video options and are free.

Acknowledge that it might not be or feel the same this year, and that’s okay. Give yourself time and space to mourn your losses. Take time to reflect on what you’re grateful for, this will help balance out thinking of your losses and keep you from going down a negative spiral. Write these down – in your phone, a journal, a Google doc, papers in a jar, a photo collage, whatever works for you!

Of course there are bigger losses this year. The financial impact is real, adding more stress to an already stressful time.

And there is the loss of health and the loss of loved ones for some. Take extra care to be gentle with yourself. Take time to honor your loved ones, and try to be present in the moment for those who are still with you (in person or virtually). You don’t need to face the loss alone. Reach out to friends and family, and reach out to a therapist. Even if you don’t set up an appointment yet, make a few calls and start the process, save the therapists’ numbers that you think might be a good fit. This will make it easier when the time comes and you do want to set up an appointment.

4. Self-Care COVID or not, self-care is essential this time of year. Take time to take care of yourself. Running on empty only leads to more stress, lower energy, and more illness. Being stressed literally weakens

your immune system! This is ESPECIALLY true now with COVID and its impacts. Take some time to think of selfcare activities. Do you have a favorite scent? Game? Movie? Song? Activity?

Write these down – now. Having a list on hand and somewhere visible will help you actually follow through with your self-care activity. Whatever you decide to do this Thanksgiving (and upcoming winter holidays), set aside some “you” time. A solid hour. Read a book, take a long shower, cook or bake (IF that is something that genuinely makes you feel rejuvenated), take a nap… do whatever feels right for you.

5. Do Something Special Especially with COVID, working from home, and lock-downs, it can feel like Groundhog Day. Do something to make the holidays special. Whatever makes sense for you and your budget. Maybe that means take-out from your favourite restaurant. Maybe it’s watching your childhood favorite holiday movies.

Maybe it’s turning off your devices and going camping! There is so much going on in the world and in our own personal lives right now that taking a day to celebrate can really improve your mood.

The holidays are a hard time for a lot of individuals, couples, and families.

COVID and its effects have only exacerbated that this year. You are not alone.

There is comfort in knowing we are all going through this together, albeit to different degrees and effects. Reach out to friends and loved ones, even just to say hello (or send a funny photo). We are here for you at Estes Therapy. Don’t wait until after the holidays, reach out now to get the help and support you need. l Sarah is captivated most by the importance of relationships and emotions and their impact on our everyday lives. Both relationships and our emotions help shape who we are as a person.

"Relationship" doesn't just mean partner, but rather connections of all kinds.

Published with the kind permission of Estes Therapy.

Visit www.estestherapy.com

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GENERATIONS

19

Video Games Show Potential in Improving Key Aspects of Memory in Older Adults

B

eing exposed to an environment filled with novel stimuli can benefit cognition, including memory.

Studies have shown that rodents placed in enriched environments, compared to sparse environments, experience increased generation of nerve cells in brain regions that are critical for memory encoding and retrieval. Humans may also experience similar neurological benefits from novel environments. However, this exposure can be hindered by those who remain indoors, potentially due to viral pandemics or mobility impairments.

The good news is that novel environments can be delivered, virtually, to the homebound, according to NIA-supported researchers who recently discovered that video games may be used to enhance cognitive health in older adults. These findings were recently published in Behavioural Brain Research. For this study, individuals 60 to 80 years of age were recruited. The researchers hypothesized that the novel and three-dimensional environment of Super Mario™ would confer more cognitive benefits upon individuals than those conferred by a familiar two-dimensional game (i.e., Solitaire).

Despite being two-dimensional in nature,

Angry Birds™ gameplay was also poised to confer cognitive benefits due to its novelty for this older population. Study participants in each of these three video game conditions played 30 to 45 minutes per day for four weeks. During this time, and four weeks after daily gameplay ended, researchers conducted a series of memory tests.

While memory performance was equivalent across groups prior to engaging in video game play, two weeks of Angry Birds™ or Super Mario™ gameplay resulted in improved recognition memory. Memory continued to improve after an additional two weeks for the Super Mario™ players compared to the Solitaire players and these improvements persisted after daily gameplay ended. No additional memory improvements were found in Angry Birds™ players.

These findings suggest that both novel experiences and exposure to rich threedimensional environments may work together to improve cognition.

Interventions for improving cognition are particularly important for older individuals because they are at risk for cognitive decline. In addition, video game interventions may be beneficial for individu-

als at any age and particularly for those who are homebound, thus unable to experience a wide variety of new environments. Although video games may not be an ideal substitute for real-world experiences, they may serve as an additional (and entertaining) method to improve cognitive health.l —National Institute on Aging

This research was supported in part by NIA grants R01AG034613, R21AG056145, and P50AG016573.

Reference: Clemenson G, et al.

Enriching hippocampal memory function in older adults through video games. Behavioural Brain Research.

2020;390:112667. doi: 10.1016/j.bbr.2020.112667.

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HEALTH

20

The Flu Vaccine and COVID-19: What You Need to Know

BY SUSAN L. SMITH, MN, PHD , WEBMD

I

nfluenza — “the flu” — is a contagious respiratory illness. It’s caused by several different flu viruses that exist year-round, but are most common in the fall and winter in the US. Flu season is usually October through March, but some years it can last into the summer.

Anyone from babies to the elderly can get the flu. For some people it’s mild, but for others it can be severe and can even cause death. Serious problems from the flu can happen to anyone, but people at a higher risk include those 65 years of age or older or younger than 5, pregnant women, and people with conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease.

Almost everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine every year.

Talk to your doctor about if there’s a reason you shouldn’t get it, or if you think you shouldn’t get it.

Why Getting the Flu Vaccine Is Important, Especially This Season The best way to keep from getting the flu is to get an influenza vaccine — usually

by getting a flu shot — everyyear. This also lowers your chances of serious problems from the flu and of spreading it to others. The flu vaccine stimulates your immune system — your body’s defense system — to produce special substances and cells that can fight the flu virus. The flu vaccine may not keep you from getting the flu, but if you get it, you won’t get as sick and you’ll have fewer complications than you would if you didn’t get the vaccine.

The flu vaccine doesn’t increase your risk of getting the flu or other illnesses.

But there are other viruses during flu sea-

son that can make you sick, such as those that cause the common cold and the coronavirus that causes coronavirus disease 2019, or COVID-19. Getting the flu can make it easier for you to get other viruses and illnesses. Getting the flu vaccine can help keep you and your lungs healthy. This can be especially important if you’re exposed to COVID-19. The flu vaccine can also help keep you from getting sick enough to go to the hospital.

This can be especially important this flu season when trying to avoid crowded places and situations where COVID-19 may be increased.

Where and When to Get the Flu Vaccine The best time to get the flu vaccine is before flu season starts. But you can get it any time and vaccination continues throughout the season. Talk to your doctor about the right time to get vaccinated.

Getting the flu vaccine this season may be different than it was in past flu seasons. Places that usually give the vaccine — like your doctor’s office, clinic, or pharmacy — may be seeing patients in a different way or have specific hours or rules for giving the vaccine so they can control the number of patients and ensure social distancing. Getting the flu vaccine is important so be sure to ask your doctor or pharmacist where and when you and your family should get yours.l

Source: WebMD Education.WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Independently developed by Medscape LLC and funded by Seqirus.

This resource is provided for educational and informational purposes only. We do not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

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Your work is essential!

Protect yourself & others from flu and COVID-19 this fall and winter:

MASK UP

LATHER UP

SLEEVE UP

Wear a face mask that covers your nose and mouth.

And keep your distance (at least 6 feet) from others when you can.

Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Getting a flu vaccine is more important than ever.

Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every season.

A flu vaccine can protect you, your loved ones, and your co-workers from flu.

You can also protect those around you by staying home if you are sick.

CS319348D

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22

IN MEMORIAM

David Dinkins' Unfinished Work: Just and Effective Policing

BY ROBERT W. SNYDER VIA URBAN MATTERS

I

n 1966, when blockbusting landlords and rising crime put an integrated section of Washington Heights in Manhattan on edge, the murder of a candy store owner sparked a protest.

Residents – outraged at the killing and fearful that it would spur White flight – marched to the 30th Precinct to demand better police protection. Among them was a local State Assemblyman – an exMarine named David Dinkins.

Dinkins, who passed away on Nov. 23rd, is better known for his role as New York’s mayor during the Crown Heights riots of 1991, when tensions between Lubavitcher Hasidim and African Americans exploded in three days of rioting and the mortal wounding of a Jewish scholar. Many observers concluded that the mayor was too slow to deploy the police. But a tight focus on those awful events obscures two great strengths in Dinkins that still matter: His commitments to interracial democracy and just policing.

In years when racial tensions ran high, Dinkins affirmed a multi-racial vision of his city. And in the face of high crime, he worked to reconcile the city’s police

Mayor David Dinkins Editorial credit: Alex Gakos / Shutterstock.com

force and its diverse communities to make New York a city of order and justice. In 2020, after months of protest over police brutality, we have yet to realize his vision.

Dinkins was part of a cohort of African American politicians, rooted in Harlem, who knew the value of patronage and party loyalty. But his political education didn’t stop there. He combined a regular Democrat’s appreciation of party structure with a liberal’s appreciation for change. If the regular Democrat in Dinkins could make him seem deliberate to a fault, the liberal in him broadened his political horizons and political partners.

For example, one of his close friends and advisors was Albert Blumberg, a Rutgers professor and Democratic district leader who had been a communist from the 1930s to the 1950s. Dinkins was also a member of Democratic Socialists of America, where he found allies – most of them white – who worked to counter conservative policies of then-Mayor Ed Koch.

The greatest tests of Dinkins’ principles came on the issues of crime and policing, both of which were tied up with the city’s rancorous racial politics. Dinkins knew that Blacks suffered disproportionately from crime. (As mayor he never tired of

26 Court Street, Suite 701, Downtown Brooklyn

telling his staff that he had been through a holdup in a bodega.) He also knew that for all of conservatives’ calls for law and order, they had not reduced crime.

Dinkins redefined the crime issue in ways that resonated with African Americans and progressives; he worked to improve police-community relations and described public safety as “a basic civil right of all our people, as fundamental as the franchise and fair housing.” In a city where relations between police and African Americans have a long and painful history, this meant confronting many problems.

To fight crime, he won funding from the State Legislature to hire more police officers. He embraced a philosophy of community policing, and appointed as police commissioner an expert in the strategy, Lee Patrick Brown, a former police officer with a Ph.D. in criminology from Berkeley (who later became the mayor of Houston).

Dinkins also overcame intense police opposition as the City Council voted to establish a Civilian Complaint Review Board. And the Mollen Commission he established uncovered crooked partnerships between police officers and drug dealers, exposed police wrongdoing that poisoned community relations, and laid bare the link between police corruption and police brutality.

Crime began to decline during Dinkins’s mayoralty, but the trend was too brief to be transforming. After Republican Rudolph Giuliani narrowly defeated Dinkins to win the mayoralty in 1993, he employed a crime-fighting approach that did not share Dinkins’ concern for police-community relations, and he reaped enormous political benefit when crime continued to fall dramatically. Giuliani had no interest in the independent oversight of the police recommended by the Mollen Commission, and in subsequent decades the police have so often ignored the Civilian Complaint Review Board that it has become virtually toothless.

As former mayor Michael Bloomberg observed, Dinkins “helped set the city on a course for success – and a reduction in crime – that no one at the time imagined possible.” True. But Dinkins’s goal was policing that was both effective and just.

That battle, as we have been drastically reminded in 2020, still needs to be won.l Robert W. Snyder is Manhattan Borough Historian and professor emeritus of American Studies and journalism at Rutgers University. He is the author of Crossing Broadway: Washington Heights and the Promise of New York and coauthor of All the Nations Under Heaven: Immigrants, Migrants and the Making of New York.

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