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NAACP holds teleconference to reach out to community

NNPA NEWSWIRE — “The truth is, there are so many within this nation who are disenfranchised from receiving adequate and affordable care due to socio-economic circumstances,” said Derrick Johnson, NAACP president and CEO. “This virus will have dire consequences on so many, but specifically African-Americans, who suffer from higher rates of chronic illness.”

Published

4 years ago

March 23, 2020

Oakland Post

“We have to approach this from a community preparedness standpoint to work together and engage our community,” said Nicolette Louissant, PhD., is the executive director of Healthcare Ready, an organization established after Hurricane Katrina.

Residents urged to look out for one another

By Lisa Fitch, Editor in Chief, Our Weekly News

The NAACP hosted an Emergency Tele Town Hall about coronavirus, COVID-19 and its potential impact on communities of color.

“The truth is, there are so many within this nation who are disenfranchised from receiving adequate and affordable care due to socio-economic circumstances,” said Derrick Johnson, NAACP president and CEO. “This virus will have dire consequences on so many, but specifically African-Americans, who suffer from higher rates of chronic illness.”

Johnson prefaced his comments by sharing his experiences as someone who lived through Hurricane Katrina.

“When the administration is not working for communities, those communities can suffer,” he said. “We want to make sure to get the information out to our communities as much as possible.”

Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) agreed.

“We want to make sure we’re not looking at another Katrina-like response from the government,” she said, adding her support for the Coronavirus Response Act passed by the U.S. House of Representatives over the weekend.

The House worked late last Friday and into early Saturday to pass—with bipartisan support—a relief bill designed to dull the societal impact of the coronavirus pandemic. President Donald Trump endorsed the bill, first on Twitter Friday night, and again in his press conference on Saturday.

H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, includes the priority of paid sick leave, as well as enhanced unemployment insurance, increased funds for Medicaid, and provisions to ensure food security for those affected by the global public health crisis.

The act is designed to assist U.S. low-income workers who do not have paid sick leave, should their business owners close shop. Harris said that 40 percent of those persons are either Black or Latino.

“We will be pushing this in the Senate and working with our friends in the House to make sure as many people get paid sick leave as possible,” Harris said. “We need to make sure that the Senate does its job and brings this to a vote without delay.”

The senator also emphasized that residents need to look out for one another.

“We also have to check on our elders. Try giving them a call to brighten their day,” Harris suggested. “Offer to get them groceries.”

Harris alluded to the violence that has arisen from some panicked residents toward “our Asian brothers and sisters.”

“We have to push back against any racism wherever it exists,” she said. “Kindness and patience will be required a lot from us.”

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams agreed.

“People need to make attempts to connect more deeply and more often,” Adams said, suggesting a buddy system. “People want to still feel like someone out there still cares about them.”

Adams said that (then) current coronavirus numbers in the U.S. matched numbers Italy saw two weeks ago.

“The next few weeks are going to be critical,” Adams said, adding that he realizes the African American community does not have a lot of trust in the current administration. “I know what it’s like growing up poor, Black and with limited healthcare. I will keep fighting for people of color and I hope I can earn your trust.”

Adams has held the surgeon general post since 2017 and stressed that he is not a politician. The former anesthesiologist and Indiana State Health Commissioner began a campaign in September 2018 along with other public health officials to promote seasonal flu vaccinations because the previous year’s flu epidemic resulted in the deaths of an estimated 80,000 Americans.

“Testing has not gone the way we would have liked it to have gone so far,” Adams said regarding the coronavirus. He noted that the country is at a turning point now, as over 83 state and local labs are now working on developing and providing tests. “We’re prioritizing testing for healthcare workers and those most vulnerable, those over 65 with medical conditions.”

In addition to the CDC guidelines for limiting the impact of the disease, which include social distancing and hand washing, Adams also mentioned that the President had authorized more than $50 billion in funding for states and localities to work against the spread of coronavirus.

“I promise you I’m in there fighting for your priorities,” Adams said. “It’s going to be a tough several weeks ahead. We need to lean into it now and we’ll see the positive effects down the line.”

Nicolette Louissant, PhD., is the executive director of Healthcare Ready, an organization established after Hurricane Katrina. It works with the public and private sectors to strengthen healthcare systems before, during, and after disasters.

“We have to approach this from a community preparedness standpoint to work together and engage our community,” said Louissaint, who also suggested one-on-one support like making “old-school phone calls” and delivering prescription medications to those who need them.

“This is a sustained event,” she said. “Over the long haul, we’re going to radically change our lifestyles. Equity issues are at play here. Eighty-five percent of people of color have to rely on more prescription drugs. They have medical needs. Access is incredibly important.”

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IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Born on September 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, activist Ramona Edelin’s early years were marked by a commitment to education and social justice. According to her HistoryMakers biography, after graduating from Fisk University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1967, she pursued further studies at the University of East Anglia in England. She earned her master’s degree before completing her Ph.D. at Boston University in 1981.
The post IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

4 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Once upon a time, Black Americans were simply known as colored people, or Negroes. That is until Ramona Edelin came along. The activist, renowned for her pivotal roles in advancing civil rights, education reform, and community empowerment, died at her D.C. residence last month at the age of 78. Her death, finally confirmed this week by Barnaby Towns, a communications strategist who collaborated with Dr. Edelin, was attributed to cancer.

Born on September 4, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, Edelin’s early years were marked by a commitment to education and social justice. According to her HistoryMakers biography, after graduating from Fisk University with a Bachelor’s degree in 1967, she pursued further studies at the University of East Anglia in England. She earned her master’s degree before completing her Ph.D. at Boston University in 1981.

Edelin’s contributions to academia and activism were manifold. She was pivotal in popularizing the term “African American” alongside Rev. Jesse L. Jackson in the late 1980s.

Jackson had announced the preference for “African American,” speaking for summit organizers that included Dr. Edelin. “Just as we were called Colored, but were not that, and then Negro, but not that, to be called Black is just as baseless,” he said, adding that “African American” “has cultural integrity” and “puts us in our proper historical context.”

Later, Edelin told Ebony magazine, “Calling ourselves African Americans is the first step in the cultural offensive,” while linking the name change to a “cultural renaissance” in which Black Americans reconnected with their history and heritage.

“Who are we if we don’t acknowledge our motherland?” she asked later. “When a child in a ghetto calls himself African American, immediately he’s international. You’ve taken him from the ghetto and put him on the globe.”

The HistoryMakers bio noted that Edelin’s academic pursuits led her to found and chair the Department of African American Studies at Northeastern University, where she established herself as a leading voice.

Transitioning from academia to advocacy, Edelin joined the National Urban Coalition in 1977, eventually ascending to president and CEO. During her tenure, she spearheaded initiatives such as the “Say Yes to a Youngster’s Future” program, which provided crucial support in math, science, and technology to youth and teachers of color in urban areas. Her biography noted that Edelin’s efforts extended nationwide through partnerships with organizations like the National Science Foundation and the United States Department of Education.

President Bill Clinton recognized Edelin’s expertise by appointing her to the Presidential Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities in 1998. She also co-founded and served as treasurer of the Black Leadership Forum, solidifying her standing as a respected leader in African American communities.

Beyond her professional achievements, Edelin dedicated herself to numerous boards and committees, including chairing the District of Columbia Educational Goals 2000 Panel and contributing to the Federal Advisory Committee for the Black Community Crusade for Children.

Throughout her life, Edelin received widespread recognition for her contributions. Ebony magazine honored her as one of the 100 Most Influential Black Americans, and she received prestigious awards such as the Southern Christian Leadership Award for Progressive Leadership and the IBM Community Executive Program Award.

The post IN MEMORIAM: Ramona Edelin, Influential Activist and Education Advocate, Dies at 78 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Stacy M. Brown

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Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues

NNPA NEWSWIRE — Recent legislative actions in Tennessee, such as repealing police reform measures enacted after the killing of Tyre Nichols, underscore a troubling trend of undermining local control and perpetuating racist agendas. The new law preventing local governments from restricting police officers’ authority disregards community efforts to address systemic issues of police violence and racial profiling.
The post Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

4 weeks ago

April 3, 2024

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
@StacyBrownMedia

Tennessee State University (TSU), the state’s only public historically Black college and university (HBCU), faces a tumultuous future as Gov. Bill Lee dissolved its board, a move supported by racist conservatives and MAGA Republicans in the Tennessee General Assembly, who follow the lead of the twice-impeached, four-times indicted, alleged sexual predator former President Donald Trump. Educators and others have denounced the move as an attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) and a grave setback for higher education.

Critics argue that TSU’s purported financial mismanagement is a manufactured crisis rooted in decades of underinvestment by the state government. They’ve noted that it continues a trend by conservatives and the racist MAGA movement to eliminate opportunities for Blacks in education, corporate America, and the public sector.

Gevin Reynolds, a former speechwriter for Vice President Kamala Harris, emphasizes in an op-ed that TSU’s financial difficulties are not the result of university leadership because a recent audit found no evidence of fraud or malfeasance.

Reynolds noted that the disbanding of TSU’s board is not an isolated incident but part of a broader assault on DE&I initiatives nationwide. Ten states, including Tennessee, have enacted laws banning DE&I policies on college campuses, while governors appointing MAGA loyalists to university trustee positions further undermine efforts to promote inclusivity and equality.

Moreover, recent legislative actions in Tennessee, such as repealing police reform measures enacted after the killing of Tyre Nichols, underscore a troubling trend of undermining local control and perpetuating racist agendas. The new law preventing local governments from restricting police officers’ authority disregards community efforts to address systemic issues of police violence and racial profiling.

The actions echo historical efforts to suppress Black progress, reminiscent of the violent backlash against gains made during the Reconstruction era. President Joe Biden warned during an appearance in New York last month that Trump desires to bring the nation back to the 18th and 19th centuries – in other words, to see, among other things, African Americans back in the chains of slavery, women subservient to men without any say over their bodies, and all voting rights restricted to white men.

The parallels are stark, with white supremacist ideologies used to justify attacks on Black institutions and disenfranchise marginalized communities, Reynolds argued.

In response to these challenges, advocates stress the urgency of collective action to defend democracy and combat systemic racism. Understanding that attacks on institutions like TSU are symptomatic of broader threats to democratic norms, they call for increased civic engagement and voting at all levels of government.

The actions of people dedicated to upholding the principles of inclusivity, equity, and justice for all will determine the outcome of the ongoing fight for democracy, Reynolds noted. “We are in a war for our democracy, one whose outcome will be determined by every line on every ballot at every precinct,” he stated.

The post Tennessee State University Board Disbanded by MAGA Loyalists as Assault on DE&I Continues first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Stacy M. Brown

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Braxton Haulcy and the Expansion of Walker|West Music Academy

May 24, 2023 – Walker West Music Academy gets an early start on expansion. Join us for a Wednesday episode of The …
The post Braxton Haulcy and the Expansion of Walker|West Music Academy first appeared on BlackPressUSA.