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Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌

Our Mistrust of Medicine: Black Health Group Hosts Critical Conversation

The California Black Health Network (CBHN) hosted a conversation focused on the mistrust of healthcare providers among Black Americans at Black-owned Drip Espresso, a popular coffee shop in Sacramento and a community partner of the organization. The CBHN’s Health4Life initiative discussion, “Health Care in Your Hands: Taking the Power to the People,” drew a full house of attendees.

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A gathering hosted by the California Black Health Network and its community partners at Drip Espresso in downtown Sacramento showcased experts of public health. Dec. 5, 2023. CBM photo Antonio Ray Harvey.
A gathering hosted by the California Black Health Network and its community partners at Drip Espresso in downtown Sacramento showcased experts of public health. Dec. 5, 2023. CBM photo Antonio Ray Harvey.

By Antonio Ray Harvey
California Black Media

The California Black Health Network (CBHN) hosted a conversation focused on the mistrust of healthcare providers among Black Americans at Black-owned Drip Espresso, a popular coffee shop in Sacramento and a community partner of the organization.

The CBHN’s Health4Life initiative discussion, “Health Care in Your Hands: Taking the Power to the People,” drew a full house of attendees.

“Tonight’s event is one of many efforts to connect with the community and educate all of us about how to get better results and have better interactions with the health care system,” said the event’s moderator Amber Bolden, director of communications and development at Voice Media Ventures, a Black-owned-and-operated firm in Riverside that specializes in community outreach and engagement.

“In short: It was to arm the community with tools to have more positive interactions with the health care system,” Bolden continued.

The first speaker, Dr. Italo Brown, is a board-certified emergency room physician, health equity advocate and an assistant professor in Emergency Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine.

He shared his personal journey as a medical professional, emphasizing that there is no “perfect strategy” in the pursuit of the best health care available.

“What I encourage people to do is be open enough with your health journey to exchange what’s working with other people,” Brown said. “You have to build a community in your health practice. Information sharing is highly beneficial.”

The second speaker was Mo’Nique Campbell, a Black trans woman and health educator who is a Trans Service Program manager at San Francisco Community Health Center. Her work centers on medical and mental healthcare.

Campbell encourages patients to learn as much as they can about their practitioner and develop a long-lasting relationship with healthcare providers.

“It’s not an interview where I am giving you, like, a simple job. This is my life. My body is my fortress and I’m leaving you responsible for it,” Campbell said.

There is a well-documented history of the medical establishment mistreating and misdiagnosing Black patients and approaching their care with deep racial biases.

There is also a troubling history of conducting experiments on enslaved people, enforcing sterilizations of Black women and the infamous Tuskegee syphilis study that denied treatment to about 400 Black men for decades as doctors monitored the progression of the disease in their bodies.

At CBHN’s community session, the case of Henrietta Lacks was discussed. Lacks was one of a diverse group of patients who unknowingly donated cells at Johns Hopkins University in 1951. The donation of Henrietta Lacks’ cells began what was the first, and, for many years, the only human cell line able to reproduce indefinitely.

Her cells, known as ‘HeLa cells’ for Henrietta Lacks, remain a remarkably durable and prolific line of cells used in research around the world. Lacks’ story impacted medical science and the field of bioethics.

In January 2022, Dr. Carolyn Roberts, a professor at Yale University, raised the issue of the medical establishment’s troubled historical relationship with African Americans during her testimony at the California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans.

“It is important for us to recognize that many critical issues that we are wrestling with today have long, old and deep historical roots,” Roberts said. “These include racial bias and disparate medical treatment, race- based medicine, and medical exploitation.”

The Health4Life program is a “Healthy Black People” campaign that empowers all Black Californians with “How Do I…” information and resources needed to help them navigate the system, advocate for friends, family, and individuals, and act when faced with discrimination.

During the conversation, Bolden referenced the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF)’s “Listening to Black California” study.

The CHCF compiled the report after listening to Black Californians’ experiences with racism and healthcare.

Considered as one of the most comprehensive studies focused on the healthcare experiences of Black Californians to date, the study included a survey of 3,325 Black Californian adults, in-depth interviews with 100 Black Californians, and 18 statewide focus groups.

“It is one of, if not, the largest study exploring the experiences of Black Californians in the state’s health care system,” Bolden told attendees.

According to the report by CHCF, Black Californians are highly intentional in their pursuit of physical and mental health. Most Black Californians report focusing on their mental health (79%); getting appropriate screenings or preventive care (77%); and tracking health indicators, such as blood pressure and cholesterol (71%).

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Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌

In Letter, Conservative Org Threatens Mayor Bass, Other Officials, With Imprisonment

The conservative non-profit America First Legal sent letters to Bass, Attorney General Rob Bonta Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell and other California elected officials that they deem could interfere with federal immigration activities after Donald Trump is sworn-in as president on Jan. 20.

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L.A. Mayor Karen Bass. Courtesy of Mayor Karen Bass Facebook page.
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass. Courtesy of Mayor Karen Bass Facebook page.

By Antonio Ray Harvey, California Black Media 

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass is one of 249 officials across the country who have been warned that they could be imprisoned for not supporting federal government efforts to detain and deport people illegally living in the United States.

The conservative non-profit America First Legal sent letters to Bass, Attorney General Rob Bonta, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell and other California elected officials that they deem could interfere with federal immigration activities after Donald Trump is sworn-in as president on Jan. 20.

America First Legal is run by Trump’s incoming deputy Chief of Staff for policy Stephen Miller. After the election in November, Miller confirmed that he will push for the declaration of a national emergency and use the military to carry out mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.

On Nov. 12, Bass said in a statement that the city of Los Angeles would take swift action to implement protections for immigrant communities.

“Especially in the face of growing threats to the immigrant communities here in Los Angeles, I stand with the people of this city,” Bass stated. “This moment demands urgency. Immigrant protections make our communities stronger and our city better.”

The America First Legal letter to McDonnell’s office by email was dated Dec. 23. It states that the nonprofit “identified Los Angeles as a sanctuary jurisdiction that is violating federal law.”

“Federal law is clear: aliens unlawfully present in the United States are subject to removal from the country, and it is a crime to conceal, harbor, or shield them. It is also a crime to prevent federal officials from enforcing immigration laws. These laws were duly enacted by the people’s elected representatives,” the letter reads.

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Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌

Black Caucus Members Appointed to Leadership Roles in State Legislature

On Jan. 3, McGuire announced that Laura Richardson (D-San Pedro) was named to the Democratic leadership as Assistant Majority Whip. Richardson will also serve as chair of the Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor and Transportation. Akilah Weber-Pierson (D-San Diego) will serve as chair of Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Health and Human Services. 

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California Capitol. iStock Photo.
California Capitol. iStock Photo.

By Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌,
‌California‌ ‌Black‌ ‌Media‌

 All 12 members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) have been assigned leadership roles in the State Senate and the State Assembly, according to separate statements issued by Senate President pro-Tempore Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) and Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister).

On Jan. 3, McGuire announced that Laura Richardson (D-San Pedro) was named to the Democratic leadership as Assistant Majority Whip. Richardson will also chair the Senate Budget Subcommittee No. 5 on Corrections, Public Safety, Judiciary, Labor, and Transportation. Akilah Weber-Pierson (D-San Diego) will chair Budget Subcommittee No. 3 on Health and Human Services.

The Senate Labor, Public Employment, and Retirement Committee will be chaired by Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles).

On Dec. 27, Rivas announced his Assembly leadership team and the chairpersons of all Assembly committees, including CLBC members: CLBC Vice Chair Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D-Ladera Heights), chair of the Natural Resources Committee; Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City), chair of the Transportation Committee;  Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley), chair of the Budget Human Services Committee; Rhodesia Ransom (D-Tracy), chair of the Emergency Management Committee; Mia Bonta (D-Oakland), chair of the Health Committee;  Tina McKinnor (D- Inglewood), chair of the Public Employment and Retirement Committee; Mike Gipson (D-Carson), chair of the Revenue and Taxation Committee; and  LaShae Sharp-Collins (D-San Diego), assistant majority leader for Policy.

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Activism

Living His Legacy: The Late Oscar Wright’s “Village” Vows to Inherit Activist’s Commitment to Education

Kingmakers of Oakland (KOO), a nonprofit organization that works to improve educational and life outcomes for Black boys and men, stated that “Oscar Wright is one of the most prolific, consistent, and committed advocates of equity for Black students and Black Families here in Oakland for the past six decades.” 

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Oscar Carl Wright, 101, who passed away on Nov. 18, was still involved in Oakland’s educational affairs until his death.
Oscar Carl Wright, 101, who passed away on Nov. 18, was still involved in Oakland’s educational affairs until his death.

By Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌, California‌ ‌Black‌ ‌Media‌

Activists mourning Oscar Carl Wright’s death, have pledged to continue his lifelong mission of advocating for Black students and families in Northern California.

Wright, 101, who passed away on Nov. 18, was involved in Oakland’s educational affairs until his death.

Now, friends and admirers acknowledge that carrying on his legacy means doubling down on the unfinished work that Wright dedicated his life, time, and resources to, according to Y’Anad Burrell, a family friend and founder of San Francisco-based Glass House Communications (GHC).

“Mr. Wright did a lot of work around equity, specifically, for Black students based on their needs — whether it was tutoring, passing classes, or graduating,” Burrell said.

Wright became a champion for his children’s education, recognizing the disparities between their school experiences and his own upbringing in the Mississippi Delta.

Burrell told California Black Media (CBM) that the crisis of unequal access to resources and a quality education continues to affect the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD).

According to Oakland Reach, in the city of Oakland, only 3 in 10 Black and Brown students are reading at or above grade level. In addition, only 1 in 10 are doing math at or above grade level.

Oakland REACH is a parent-run, parent-led organization. It aims to empowers families from the most underserved communities to demand high-quality schools for their children.

Wright’s work as an activist had impact across the state but he was primarily known in the Bay Area. Alongside the Black United Front for Educational Reform (BUFER), he filed a complaint against OUSD for violating the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

In 2000, the OUSD school board proposed an action plan to address educational inequity, but it was never implemented.

Wright later founded the African American Honor Roll Celebration at Acts Full Gospel Church, an award that recognizes Black students with a grade point average of 3.0 or better.  Each year, more than 1,000 students are honored at this ceremony.

Kingmakers of Oakland (KOO), a nonprofit organization that works to improve educational and life outcomes for Black boys and men, stated that “Oscar Wright is one of the most prolific, consistent, and committed advocates of equity for Black students and Black Families here in Oakland for the past six decades.”

Burrell said that one of the main reasons Wright’s work was so essential for families and children in Oakland that is the direct relationship between acquiring a quality education and affording quality housing, maintaining food security, achieving mental wellness, and securing stable employment.

Wright was the child of sharecroppers from Coahoma County, Mississippi. He attended Alcorn State University, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU).

In the late 1950s, Wright and his family relocated to the Bay Area where he worked as a contractor and civil engineer. He later became an active member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Burrell said the people who will carry on Wright’s work are part of a “village” that includes KOO’s CEO Chris Chatmon.  Wright was a mentor to Chatmon.

“It will not be one entity, one person, or one organization that picks up the baton because it was a village effort that worked alongside Mr. Wright for all these years,” Burrell said.

Burell says that legacy will live on.

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