Harris, Trump face off as members of Black Press weigh in on ‘Debate Night in Black America’
Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump face off during a presidential debate on Sept. 10. Prior to the debate, as well as immediately after the event, Word in Black, a group of 10 Black media organizations, discussed the issues facing the Black community. From the economy to healthcare and immigration, conversations surrounding the Harris-Trump debate have voters fired up for Election Day 2024, which will arrive on Nov. 5.
By D. Kevin McNeir
Special to the AFRO
Millions of voters tuned in to the first and perhaps only debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump on Sept. 10.
ABC News’ David Muir and Linsey Davis served as the moderators of the 90-minute debate, held at National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. The two maintained moderate control of the flow of the debate, and at multiple points either refuted or clarified statements made by the candidates in real time – something that was not done in the earlier debate between President Joe Biden and Trump.
As one would expect, the two candidates were given questions on all of the major issues facing Americans –some issues being of even greater importance to African Americans: the economy, healthcare, education,
immigration, women’s reproductive rights and the separate wars raging between both Hamas and Israel, since Oct. 7 of last year, and Russia and Ukraine in 2022.
Both candidates hoped to win over viewers with their distinct views of how the economy currently stands and what they would do to improve it. Seven swing states (Arizona, Georgia,
Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina and Pennsylvania) could potentially decide the 2024 election.
The debate kicked off with a question about the economy. Harris said she would invest in small business owners, to the tune of $50,000. Trump spoke on how he would build the economy using tariffs on foreign goods shipped into the country. At that point,
Muir noted that economists say tariffs on some foreign products will undoubtedly raise costs on American consumers.
Time and time again, Trump was given a chance to explain the plans he would like to put in place, but instead chose to change the subject, spew incorrect facts or downtalk the formidable opponent before him.
James Earl Jones, legendary voice of stage and screen dies at 93
Ericka Alston Buck Special to the AFRO
James Earl Jones, an iconic figure whose voice and presence transcended generations, passed away Sept. 9 at the age of 93.
Jones, celebrated for his unparalleled contributions to theater, film and television, left behind a legacy that will resonate for years to come. His representative, Barry McPherson, confirmed his passing, stating that Jones died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones.
“James Earl Jones was and will remain legendary,” said Janice Short, coordinator of theater arts at Morgan State University. “From 1969, when he recited the alphabet on ‘Sesame Street’…Roop, in the film, ‘Claudine,’ to ‘The Gin Game,’ he was the king of stage and screen. His ability to overcome impediments was as inspiring as his career. His voice will keep him immortal to so many. I am so happy to have been alive while he created.”
Jones and his unique sound traveled the globe time and time again, in unforgettable roles such as Darth Vader in “Star Wars,” and the voice of Mufasa in Disney’s “The Lion King.” However, his journey to stardom wasn’t an easy one. As a child, he suffered from
family and members
of
a severe stutter that led him to remain nearly mute for years.
Regarding this transformative time, the AFRO recorded Jones in 2014 saying, “I once did not speak. I was mute. When I finally did speak, though, I spoke as an adult.”
It was the support of a dedicated teacher that helped him overcome this challenge, setting the stage for a career that would define generations.
Jones was known for his impact on the stage, and his death saddened the theater
Continued on A3
“She doesn’t have a plan,” said Trump, in reference to Harris. “She has four sentences like ‘Run, Spot, run.’ She’s a Marxist like her father who was a professor who taught Marxism.”
There were other highpoints–or low points–during the debate, depending on your perspective.
One interesting moment was Trump’s refusal to
respond if he would veto a bill to reinstate Roe v. Wade. Instead, he decided to speak about immigrants and the “millions of criminals that Biden and Harris have allowed to enter the United States.”
He also made a statement that one moderator immediately corrected, saying that in Springfield, Ohio, Continued on A3
Breaking the silence: Raising awareness on suicide prevention
By Megan Sayles AFRO Business Writer msayles@afro.com
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. and around the globe. The World Health Organization reports that 726,000 people around the world die by suicide every year. In the U.S., more than 49,000 people died by suicide in 2022, equating to one death for every 11 minutes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
September marks National Suicide Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness about the stigmatized crisis and share vital resources.
“Most
people don’t realize that there are more suicides than there are murders in the United States.”
“Most people don’t realize that there are more suicides than there are murders in the United States,” said Tamara Ferebee, executive director of human services administration at the National Association of Black Counselors. “We get very upset about shootings because there’s so many, but the number of suicides far exceeds that number.”
Music fans across the world are mourning the death of legendary soul singer Frankie Beverly.
See story on A5
AFRO File Photo
Friends,
of the theatre community worldwide are mourning the death
veteran actor James Earl Jones, shown here in an undated AFRO photo.
AP Photo
WHAT’S TRENDING ON AFRO.COM
New York man seeks justice for three year old sister, Josefina Catherine Cunningham
By Aria Brent AFRO Staff Writer
Josefina Catherine Cunningham was only three years old when her life was wrongfully taken. Remembered for her vibrant spirit and sweet demeanor, the story of how her precious life was cut short is being told by her older brother, Jy’Quan Stewart.
Josefina was found dead on July 7, 2023 in her mother’s apartment in Rensselaer, N.Y., after being strangled, beaten and raped
“In 2007 they did away with the death penalty in the state of New York, but I want it to be reinstated. If it happens I’m going to call it the ‘Josie Act.’”
by her mother’s boyfriend, 34-year-old Robert Fisher.
Stewart recalled seeing Josefina earlier in the evening on the night of the tragic event.
“I went to my mom’s
house to get my keys. I left and then my mom did as well,” the 22-year-old said. “Josefina was left in the care of Robert. When my mom came home, Josefina was sound asleep and breathing.”
Stewart noted that his mother went to bed following her check on Josefina and it wasn’t until the next morning that she and the rest of their family would find the toddler bruised and unresponsive. While commuting to work, he received a call from his aunt about his little sister’s death.
“I was on my way to work and I got a call from
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Univ. of South Carolina ‘roast’ of Kamala Harris slated for Sept. 18 despite public outrage
NAACP calls for cancellation of event as student-led organization asserts it’s just ‘for fun’
By D. Kevin McNeir Special to the AFRO
The NAACP has sent a letter to Michael D. Amiridis, president of the University South Carolina, demanding that the school cancel an upcoming campus event, slated for Sept. 18, that will feature right-wing extremist and Proud Boys founder, Gavin McInnes, in a “roast” of Vice President Kamala Harris.
my aunt. She told me ‘Do you know that Josie died?’ And then I took a Lyft over to my mother’s house and I saw yellow tape outside and police standing in front of the house,” he said.
That morning as Josefina’s family mourned her death, her killer tried to clean up his mess. Stewart recalled Fisher sweeping, mopping and using excessive amounts of bleach in an attempt to clear any evidence of the horrific acts he committed.
Fisher was arrested that day and has been in police custody under protective care for the last year. On July 27 of this year he pleaded guilty to his crimes and recived a sentence of 20 years to life on Sept. 10.
Stewart noted the punishment wasn’t severe enough for the crime committed.
“He needs to be sentenced to the death penalty. In 2007 they did away with the death penalty in the state of New York, but I want it to be reinstated,” he said. “If it happens I’m going to call it the ‘Josie Act.’”
Stewart explained that he’s hoping to have the death penalty reinstated in New York and if that were to happen, he would seek to reopen his sister’s case to have Fisher sentenced to death.
The young man refuses to let his little sister’s story go untold, equating his actions to that of Mamie Till when she decided to have an open casket funeral for her son Emmett Till, who was lynched at the the of 14 by several White men.
“I believe my sister’s story can cause a great awakening and bring the country to its knees in prayer,” Stewart wrote in an editorial earlier this year.
With a plethora of news outlets having already reported on the tragic event, he’s determined to spread this story across the nation and hopefully onto the desks of local politicians.
“I will not rest until I have achieved justice for Josie,” he concluded in the editorial. “This is just the beginning.”
The letter, sent Aug. 30 by NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson, has since garnered more than 20,000 signatures, primarily from an online petition led by NAACP youth leaders. The petition reflects a surge in public outrage against the event and its leaders who have allegedly used racial tropes to boost attendance.
The NAACP also released a statement expressing disappointment at the university’s decision to host the event, stating that NAACP leadership remains “committed to ensuring the student and broader South Carolina community are protected from hateful rhetoric or actions.”
Johnson said he felt compelled to write the letter because of the “blatant sexist and racist nature of the event, the advertisement for it and the potential for violence on campus because of the proposed event.”
“Hate speech has long served as a weapon to undermine the progress of our nation,” Johnson said in the letter. “At a time where we are witnessing groundbreaking history, bad actors aim to cast a dark shadow on those very achievements. If South Carolina University’s leadership values their Black students, it’s only right they shut this event down.
“Our nation’s schools must remain havens for learning, not platforms for hate. It is imperative that the university takes swift action in this matter and protects the campus community from patterns of divisiveness and degradation.”
While Amiridis did not respond to inquiries from the AFRO, a statement about campus speakers posted on the university’s website (dated Aug. 27), issued by the university president and Thad Westbrook, chair of the Board of Trustees, sheds some light on the university’s perspective.
“We have received your messages and understand your concerns about an upcoming speakers’ event at our campus,” the statement said. “This event is organized by a registered student group and it is not endorsed by the university.”
“Censoring even the most hateful individuals and groups does not solve the problems we face in our society and instead provides them with a platform to win
more publicity and support because their message was silence,” the statement continued. “Democracy requires active engagement and participation in the face of views we oppose. Let your voices be heard through peaceful civil discourse that generates constructive debates even amid the most hateful words or images you can imagine.”
Student group, Uncensored America stands its ground
Sponsors of the event, Uncensored America, stated on their website that this event will go on as scheduled.
McInnes, who in addition to his connection with Proud Boys also co-founded VICE magazine in 1994, will serve as one roast master. He will be joined by Milo Yiannopoulos, former congressional aide to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and chief of staff for Ye’s (formerly Kanye West) fashion company Yeezy.
According to its website, Uncensored America, founded in 2020, is a nonpartisan, youth-driven, free speech organization dedicated to hosting honest and fun conversations with controversial figures to fight censorship and cancel culture.
“We believe in freedom of speech as it’s defined by the First Amendment. There are the obvious exceptions such as defamation, inciting violence, child pornography, etc. But our country doesn’t abuse free speech. It’s the opposite: We don’t talk to each other enough. That’s what we’re trying to change. We want more conversations, not less,” Uncensored America spokesperson Sean Semanko told the AFRO
In response to objections from the NAACP and the online petition to cancel the event, Semanko said those critics lacked a sense of humor.
“The pearl clutching from the NAACP and others is beyond silly. They can’t take an obvious joke. They want to cancel comedy.”
“It’s a comedy show. We want people to have fun. We
want to bring joy to campus,” he said. “The only group people should be concerned about is Antifa (short for ‘anti-fascists’ – a term used to broadly define people whose political beliefs lean toward the left, often far left, but do not conform with the Democratic Party platform). They are the only ones who come to our events to cause trouble. We always advocate for peace.”
In October 2022, Fox News reported that Penn State University canceled an Uncensored America comedy show featuring comedian Alex Stein and McInnes, after a teenaged protester, during a campus wide protest, struck Stein with a projectile that was allegedly filled with bodily waste.
NAACP says it will not back down
Johnson, on behalf of the NAACP and those who continue to demand the cancellation of the roast, spoke with The AFRO on Sept. 4 and reiterated their concerns.
“We welcome an open dialogue between NAACP and University of South Carolina leadership. Our position remains clear – hate speech is not free speech. The promotional materials used to advertise this event and accompanying rhetoric that has spread on campus are not protected by the university’s Freedom of Expression and Access to Campus policy or the First Amendment. It also runs counter to the university’s Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment and Sexual Misconduct,” Johnson said.
He continued, “The NAACP does not speak for other institutions or elected officials. We advocate for Black America. Our youth leaders, who stand to be most directly impacted, have made their concerns clear in the drafted petition that has received over 20,000 signatures. We will continue to amplify their concerns and call attention to any attempts to endanger our young people and the broader South Carolina community.”
Photo courtesy of Jy’Quan Stewart
Josefina Catherine Cunningham’s legacy lives on through the dedicated work of her older brother, Jy’Quan Stewart.
Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign stop at the Throwback Brewery, in North Hampton, N.H., Sept. 4.
AP Photo/Steven Senne
Debate Night
Continued from A1
immigrants were “eating their dogs for dinner.” Muir told the president that he interviewed the City Manager of Springfield, who said there were no reports of immigrants engaging in the act.
The debate was rather tame, compared to Trump’s previous debates, even though both teams haggled over rules for the meet.
In the weeks leading up to the debate, Harris and Trump went back and forth with host network ABC regarding the muting of microphones. Harris preferred to keep the mics on, a contrast to President Joe Biden’s request for mics to be muted while the other candidate spoke. Ultimately, the decision was made to move forward with muted mics for the majority of the debate, allowing for only one candidate to speak at a time.
For the most part, viewers saw two very different candidates.
Harris provided the salient answers and some plans when asked to describe what she would do if she were elected to the highest office in the land. During the debate she mentioned a $6,000 stipend to help families with a new child during the baby’s first year of
Jones
Continued from A1
community worldwide, as they remembered the veteran actor’s role in classic productions, such as Gore Vidal’s “The Best Man,” and Tennesse Williams’ “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.”
Jones’ stage performances earned him three Tony Awards, one for his role in “The Great White Hope,” another for his work in “Fences” and a third for a lifetime of achievement. He also earned two Emmy Awards, a Grammy and received an honorary Academy Award, solidifying his status as one of the most accomplished actors of his generation.
Despite his many accolades, Jones remained
life, and plans to give $25,000 to new homeowners looking to make a downpayment on a property.
On the other hand, Trump appeared unable, or in some cases unwilling, to say exactly what he would do with a second term in office, but promised it would be “best for Americans.” At one point, he noted that his inability or unwillingness to share a planned course of action on some issues was due to the fact that he has not been elected to a second term in office.
The former president was backed into a corner all together when the time arrived for him to explain his plan to overhaul the Affordable Care Act, known as “Obamacare.” In 2024, after nine years and one term in office to develop a program to replace the Obamacare he has repeatedly claimed is awful, Trump stood on the debate stage on Sept. 10 and could only declare that “something” should replace the act that provides healthcare coverage to millions of Americans–regardless of preexisting conditions like asthma.
“I have concepts of a plan,” said Trump, without
humble, calling himself a “journeyman” in a 2014 interview. His journey, however, was anything but ordinary. From his early days overcoming a stutter in rural Mississippi to becoming one of the most revered voices in entertainment, Jones’ career exemplified resilience, talent, and dedication.
His passing leaves a significant void in the world of entertainment, but his legacy lives on in the countless performances he brought to life and the voices he inspired. As his iconic characters continue to inspire new generations, James Earl Jones’ contributions will forever echo through time.
Suicide prevention
Continued from A1
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, in 2021, there were nearly two times as many suicides, 48,183, in the U.S. than homicides, 26,031.
Ferebee explained that mental and physical health should be treated with equal priority. She said some of the warning signs for a suicide attempt include someone talking about death, withdrawing from friends and family, saying goodbye to people, giving away their personal items, taking undue risks, eating or sleeping a lot less or more than usual and increasing their consumption of alcohol or drugs.
“One of the big ones is if they’ve been down for a while, and then, all of a sudden, they’re happy,” said Ferebee. “Usually, that’s because they’ve made the decision that they’re planning to die. They feel like their burdens are over.”
New York native Dionne C. Monsanto lost her daughter, Busisiwe Ayo Monsanto, to suicide 13 years ago. She was 15 years old at the time of her death.
Her loved ones affectionately called her, “Siwe,” for short, but her full name meant blessing and joy, which Monsanto said was a fitting description.
“She was a really active, outgoing person and very helpful. I think we were both serial helpers,” said Monsanto. “She was a dancer, reader and writer, and she played the acoustic and bass guitar. She had been on full scholarship at The Ailey School.”
At the age of four, Monsanto said her daughter would cry for long periods of time when she left Kindergarten. Her teacher said she was perfectly fine during school hours. When Monsanto sought guidance from teachers and doctors, they told her it was an adjustment period.
going into detail. Harris was adamant that the lifesaving act remain the law of the land.
Another issue that garnered attention was the topic of student loans.
At one point, Trump taunted Harris for not being able to get more relief for borrowers with student loan debt. He failed to mention that Republican judges and elected officials have fought the plan to help millions of Americans crushed by student loan debt at every turn.
In their closing comments, Harris said she is focused on looking to the future while Trump is focused on looking at the past. The former prosecutor used the debate stage to remind the audience that Trump is a convicted felon, who many allege kicked off the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol Building in 2021.
“For everyone watching, who remembers what Jan. 6th was, I say, we don’t have to go back. Let’s not go back. We’re not going back. It’s time to turn the page,” said Harris.
“And if that was a bridge too far for you, well, there is a place in our campaign for you to stand for country, to stand for our democracy, to stand for rule of law and to end the chaos and to end the approach that is about attacking the foundations of our democracy because you don’t like the outcome.”
Trump used his final moments to further attack Biden and Harris.
“We’re a failing nation. We’re a nation that’s in serious decline. We’re being laughed at all over the world…I know the leaders very well – they’re coming to see me, they call me,” he said. “We’re laughed at all over the world, they don’t understand what happened to us as a nation.”
Trump claimed in his closing statements that he “rebuilt” the “entire military,” in America while Harris “gave a lot of it away to the Taliban” and Afghanistan.
“What these people have done to our country and maybe toughest of all is allowing millions of people to come into our country, many of them are criminals,” he continued on. “They’re destroying our country. The worst president, the worst vice president in the history of our country.”
To help make sense of the information – or in some cases the disinformation – Word In Black, a collaborative news media company developed and supported by 10 Black publishers, put on “Debate Night in Black America: A Virtual Conversation.”
The event, designed to engage the Black American community on debate night and hosted by Word in
The crying seemed to phase out as Siwe got older, but Monsanto decided to have her tested by a doctor when she was nine.
“It came out that she was highly-intelligent, gifted and talented and had depression and anxiety disorder,” said Monsanto. “They were very matter-of-fact, saying it’s perfectly normal to have depression and anxiety disorder with her intelligence level.”
When Siwe was a teenager, Monsanto said it was a constant battle to get her to clean her room, a common struggle for parents of teens. But, before her death, Siwe cleaned her room. Monsanto saw it as a parenting win at the time.
But since her death, she’s realized it may have been a warning sign. Siwe gave her mom an $80-dress that she begged her mother to buy.
Black Managing Director Liz Courquet-Lesaulnier and Deputy Managing Director Joseph Williams, was streamed both before and after the debate. Special guests from across the country were invited to provide commentary and perspectives that resonate with the unique experiences and concerns of the Black community.
Before the debate began, Chrissy M. Thornton, president and CEO of Associated Black Charities in Baltimore, said it was important to get to the truth.
“We have to push back against the false narratives including that Harris is an enemy of the Black community. I’m not sure what it will take to effectively counter these false narratives except to rally so that we do not vote against our best interest,” said Thornton.
“Our charge is to continue to communicate and focus on what’s best for Blacks. There’s a lot at stake in this election that people are not talking about . . . We need to understand what we have to lose if Donald Trump wins.”
New York Amsterdam News Publisher Elinor Tatum said for her, the number one issue among New Yorkers is still immigration.
“In New York, we are all immigrants and the lies Trump said about immigrants
were abhorrent–including his comment that immigrants in Ohio were eating dogs and cats,” Tatum said. “He also said immigrants are more apt to commit crimes in America, which is also not true. If Donald Trump becomes president again, I believe there will be blood on the streets.”
Juan Benn Jr., managing editor for Howard University’s publication, The Hilltop, said he watched the conversation between the two candidates during a campus wide watch party.
“Students were eager to hear about gun control and gun rights, especially with the recent shootings both here in Maryland and in Georgia. Students want to see a candidate who is an advocate for our lives and for our improved safety,” Benn Jr. said. “Many of us were in high school five or six years ago and we remember mass shootings like the massacre at Parkland High School in 2018 in Parkland, Florida.
After the debate, several statements were shared with the AFRO Angela Alsobrooks commented on the event via statement:
“I am so proud of my friend and mentor Vice President Kamala Harris. Tonight, she spoke to us about the issues we care deeply about – fighting for our freedoms including the freedom to access reproductive health care. She talked about the Supreme Court and appointing fair justices who recognize our Constitutional freedoms. She discussed investing in our climate, and lowering costs for hard-working Americans.”
“But make no mistake: The vision Kamala Harris painted for us tonight, a vision for a future that strengthens our democracy and where our freedoms are protected and our families can thrive, is a vision that we know is only possible with a Democratic majority in the Senate.”
“A Republican Senate will stand in the way of Kamala Harris’ agenda - cutting her off with every chance they can get, just as we saw their
aged 10 to 24 have increased from 8.2 to 11.2 per 100,000, a 36.6 percent increase. Mental health has also long been a taboo topic in the Black Community.
“We do not judge anyone who has cancer. We do not judge anyone that has diabetes. We do not judge people for a broken leg,” said Monsanto. “We really have to embrace mental health in the same way as we would any other physical thing. If we talk about it, then we can collectively heal.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, help is available. Please consult the resources below:
• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
• 741741 Crisis Text Line
• National Alliance on Mental Illness Helpline
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
“She gave me the dress, but she didn’t say she was giving it to me. She wanted me to hold on to it. She was like, ‘Mom, you know how my room is. If I’m going to find this dress, you’ll know where it is when I want to wear it,’” said Monsanto. “That made perfect sense to me.”
Since her daughter’s death, she said she heals by talking about her and keeping her memory alive. She said she’s learned to accept the duality of life, although she sometimes has to remind herself that Siwe’s death wasn’t her fault. It’s important to Monsanto to be a part of conversations on suicide, especially for parents of color.
According to the CDC, suicide rates among Black people
Photo courtesy of Dionne C. Monsanto
Dionne C. Monsanto, right, is a volunteer for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Her daughter, Busisiwe Ayo Monsanto, left, died by suicide 13 years ago at age 15, and Monsanto has since become an advocate for suicide awareness.
AP Photo
Vice President Kamala Harris during the Sept. 10 debate against former president Donald Trump .
COMMENTARY
Are
we finally ready to put a ring on it? Kamala Harris and Black women’s dilemma in America
By Jamie Seals
Since the end of the summer season in 1619, Black women of all ages across America have tried to convince anyone with a heart who would listen, observe and think objectively that they, too, have value and are worth committing to. From the time that Black Women landed on American soil, their value has been minimized, marginalized, overlooked and forgotten by American society at large, their local communities in many instances, their houses of worship, and by their family members. In 2024, the urgency to recognize the value and the need to commit to Black women have never been more pressing. This is not just a matter of recognition but a duty we owe to these women who have contributed so much to our society. This is especially true since a Black woman, Kamala Harris, who currently serves as Vice President of our great nation, symbolizes our hope for maintaining joy, unity and democracy. It’s a responsibility we all share to acknowledge and appreciate the value of Black women in our society. But more than that, it’s a call for empathy and understanding of their plight. We must strive to be more empathetic and understanding towards Black women’s challenges in our society and stand in solidarity
with them. Only through empathy and understanding can we truly address the systemic issues that Black women face, and it’s this compassion and support that will lead to positive change.
Despite the many accomplishments and contributions Black women have provided to American society, they have often been viewed as items that could be auctioned off, replaced and discarded. This failure to see the nuance of Black girl magic and a Black woman’s worth has been a long-standing issue. Vice President Kamala Harris isn’t the first Black woman tasked with trying to help stabilize American society. Throughout the centuries, Black women have played a crucial role in keeping America from reaching disaster. From the big house, cotton fields, working as domestics, midwives, and learning in segregated classrooms to integrating once segregated classrooms and becoming presidents at prominent academic universities, Black women have always served, stood in the gap, and assisted with stabilizing our society when we needed it the most. Their historical significance, often overlooked, is a rich tapestry of resilience, strength, and unwavering commitment. This legacy commands our respect and admiration, a history that we
A false accusation
By Leon Bensen
With a modest guaranteed income or child allowance, millions of families like mine could provide for themselves without turning to crime.
I received a 60-year prison sentence for a murder I didn’t commit. After 25 years of fighting this injustice, I was exonerated.
I’ve learned some hard lessons about our criminal justice system. I’ve also learned how simple safety net policies — like a modest guaranteed base income or no-strings-attached child allowance — could have kept millions of struggling young people like me out of trouble.
I had a good childhood in Flint, Mich., but we were poor and opportunities were few. My parents were loving and supportive, but engaged in illegal activities to make ends
Courtesy photo
Jamie Seals a Black, missionary Baptist preacher and writer. This week, he reviews the complex relationship between America and Black women and the history of an unwillingness to commit to them.
must revere and honor, and it’s this respect and appreciation that will help us recognize the actual value of Black women in our society.
While many in American society still believe that it’s a man’s world, since the unpredicted rise of former President Donald Trump in 2016, a strong undercurrent has developed, leading to 2024 becoming the year of the woman, specifically the year of the Black woman. Yes, even today, Black women are often still misjudged, pigeonholed,
and told to watch their tone and not to have joy despite some of their challenging circumstances. However, through it all and because of it all, Black women are still rising in a nation that has been non-committal towards them, showing all of us that adversity, determination, a positive mindset along with the hand of God being on them, Black queens are being developed and have been developed in our challenging American society.
Recently, it was noted that former President Donald Trump
has become fixated on the beauty of Vice President Kamala Harris, stating she is a beautiful woman. While former President Donald Trump may have earned his reputation for being a known liar by acknowledging the beauty of a Black woman, he has finally added some truth to his distorted vocabulary at times. Is Vice President Kamala Harris beautiful?
Are Black women beautiful?
The answer to both previous questions is undoubtedly and unwaveringly yes. It isn’t Black women’s anatomy that has
caused them to be objectified and oversexualized throughout the years that allows them to be beautiful. It isn’t their hair, skin, or the everyday attire that they choose to wear. The soul of a Black woman continuously nurtures, protects, and shows all of us how to love even when others have been and still are noncommittal towards us. Daring still to believe in joy, hope, and love is the most significant impact Black women still make on our society daily.
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put me in prison, a safety net could have kept me out
meet. It seemed normal to me, but I was in an environment that normalized abnormal things.
I eventually dropped out of high school, moved to Indianapolis and started a family. But when I got laid off, I turned in desperation to the drug life, trying to do for my family what my parents did for me.
One fateful night, I heard gunshots near the building where I had my drug business. I didn’t think much of it — shots weren’t unusual in that neighborhood. I finished my business for the day, proud of the money I’d made, and went home to my family.
Later, I learned a young man had been shot — and I was arrested for the murder.
I’d been blamed by someone with a drug-related grudge against me. A bystander had identified a very different man with a different physical description, but the detective
The big rip: Low wage
By Sarah Anderson
Why don’t low wage workers earn more? Because their bosses plowed $522 million into manipulating their stock price — and CEO paychecks — instead. Most of us believe in fair pay for honest work. So why aren’t low-wage workers better paid? After 30 years of research, I can tell you it’s not because employers don’t have the cash. It’s because profitable corporations spend that money on their stock prices and CEOs instead.
Lowe’s, for example, spent $43 billion buying back its own stock over the past five years. With that sum, the chain could’ve given each of its 285,000 employees a $30,000 bonus every year. Instead, half of Lowe’s workers make less than $33,000. Meanwhile, CEO Marvin Ellison raked in $18 million in 2023. The company also plowed
nearly five times as much cash into buybacks as it invested in long-term capital expenditures like store improvements and technology upgrades over the past five years.
Lowe’s ranks as an extreme example, but pumping up CEO pay at the expense of workers and long-term investment is actually the norm among America’s leading low-wage corporations.
In my latest “Executive Excess” report for the Institute for Policy Studies, I found that the 100 S&P 500 firms with the lowest median wages — the “Low-Wage 100” — blew $522 billion on buybacks over the past five years. Nearly half of these companies spent more on this once-illegal maneuver than they spent investing in their long-term competitiveness.
This is a scam to inflate CEO pay, pure and simple. When companies repurchase their own shares, they artificially boost share prices and the value
buried that evidence. Advocates uncovered this evidence 25 years later, and I was exonerated and released. I’d spent a hellish 11 of those 25 years in solitary confinement.
During my incarceration, I became a teacher and mentor. Now I’m an advocate for people returning to society after incarceration.
I see the systemic barriers they face. Returning citizens are prohibited from hundreds of jobs — from working in education, health and government to even becoming a barber or Uber driver. They’re barred from public assistance, public housing and student loans. They face discrimination in housing and employment. They often have significant physical and mental health issues they can’t afford to treat.
These are the very conditions that sometimes lead to offenses
of the stock-based compensation that makes up about 80 percent of CEO pay. The SEC found that CEOs regularly time the sale of their personal stock holdings to cash in on the price surge that typically follows a buyback announcement.
I also looked into what these corporations contribute to employee retirement — it’s peanuts, compared to their buyback outlays. The 20 largest low-wage employers spent nine times more on buybacks than on worker retirement contributions over the past five years.
Many of these firms boast of their “generous” matching benefits, typically a dollarfor-dollar match of 401(k) contributions up to 4 percent of salary. But matching is meaningless for workers who earn so little they can’t afford to set anything aside.
Chipotle, for example, spent over $2 billion on stock buybacks over the past five years — 48 times more than
and recidivism. Numerous studies have found that when people are securely employed, housed and allowed to receive an education and meet their health needs, they don’t re-offend.
These people have already been punished and served their time — sometimes for offenses they never committed, like me. We shouldn’t be punished again when reintegrating into our families and societies.
As part of my work, I volunteer with Michigan Liberation, a statewide organization looking to end the criminalization of Black families and communities of color. Recently, they joined a Guaranteed Income Now conference co-hosted by Community Change and the Economic Security Project.
Guaranteed income can take many forms. It can be an expansion of current tax credits
it contributed to employee retirement plans. Meanwhile, 92 percent of eligible Chipotle workers have zero balances in their 401(k)s. That’s hardly surprising, since the chain’s median annual pay is just $16,595.
The conclusion is unmistakable: CEOs are focused on short-term windfalls for themselves and wealthy shareholders rather than on longterm prosperity for their workers — or their companies.
As United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain put it in his Democratic convention speech: “Corporate greed turns blue-collar blood, sweat, and tears into Wall Street stock buybacks and CEO jackpots.” Public outrage over CEO shakedowns helped the UAW win strong new contracts last year with the Big Three automakers. Support for policy solutions is growing as well. The Democratic Party platform calls
like the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit. It can be a no-strings-attached Child Allowance or a monthly payment to qualifying people, families, unpaid caretakers, undocumented immigrants and returning citizens — all of whom are currently ineligible for assistance.
In Flint, it looks like a new program that offers pregnant people and new parents a monthly check for the first year of the baby’s life.
If my parents had a guaranteed income floor, we wouldn’t have been in danger of falling through into hunger and homelessness. They would have had significantly better chances to pursue well-paying jobs to provide for my security — without relying on illegal activity.
If I’d had a modest child allowance for my own children, I wouldn’t have had to rely on the most accessible path available to
me, the drug business. I wouldn’t have been anywhere near the site of that murder — and wouldn’t have lost decades of my life to a false accusation.
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for quadrupling the 1 percent federal tax on stock buybacks. And a recent poll shows strong majority support among Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike for proposed tax hikes on corporations with huge CEO-worker pay gaps.
Extreme inequality isn’t inevitable — and it can be reversed.
Forty years ago, CEO pay was only about 40 times higher than worker pay — not several hundreds of times higher, as is typical today. And just 20 years ago, most big companies spent very little on stock buybacks. At Lowe’s, for example, buyback outlays between 2000 and 2004 were exactly zero.
Corporate America’s perverse fixation on enriching those at the top is bad for workers and bad for the economy. With pressure from below, we can change that.
This op-ed was adapted from Inequality.org and distributed for syndication by OtherWords.org.
Sarah Anderson directs the Global Economy Project and co-edits Inequality.org at the Institute for Policy Studies. She’s the author of the IPS Executive Excess report series on
Leon Benson is a Michigan native and exoneree.
He’s a published author, community leader, trauma informed reentry specialist and creator who now lives in Detroit.
Courtesy photo
Courtesy photo
CBCF centers Black agenda at annual conference
By Aria Brent AFRO Staff Writer abrent@afro.com
The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) kicked off the 53rd Annual Legislative Conference (ALC) at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington D.C. Attendees from near and far traveled to the nation’s capital for the event, Sept.11-15.
CBCF CEO and President, Nicole Austin-Hillery spoke during the opening press conference on Sept. 11 about the importance of the conference in an election year. She highlighted the need to empower the global Black community and take action aligned with the 2024 theme, “Vision to Victory: Amplifying Black Voices.”
“We are carrying on with our mission of empowering the global Black community. We know that empowering the global Black community means creating opportunities, creating spaces and ensuring equity for all,” she said. “We refuse, as a community, to go backwards…We will achieve all of the visions for success that we have for our community in front of us.”
Attendees spoke with the AFRO about why they traveled to attend this year’s conference.
“I’m a sponsor, I’m also Black and
in government to a very large degree,” said Kwame Canty, managing director of external affairs for Edison Electric Institute.
“People from all over the world–from parliaments and governments in other countries– come here to learn and to hear some of the policy discussions. The diaspora isn’t just in the Americas–it’s all over the world and Black culture is all over the world,” Canty said. “It’s good to hear policy descriptions that germinate from different places.
Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL-7) spoke to the organization’s commitment to empowering and advancing the Black community.
“We on the CBCF Board take seriously our mission to uplift, empower and advance the Black community. That’s exactly what #ALC53 is all about– it’s more than just a conference it’s a catalyst for change,” said Sewell. “In less than two months, we will have the opportunity to enter into a new chapter in America’s history in electing the first Black woman president of these United States.”
The ALC has always been a breeding ground for innovation and change. Many use the conference to encourage young women and men alike to get involved in politics.
“Within legislation we need a lot more young people that can be the voice for the
Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
future,” said Taylor Robinson, a former CBCF fellow from Houston, Texas. “It’s important for people our age to be active within this space, to really talk about what’s happening in our communities, nationally and worldwide
Vendors at the event ranged from Black authors and designers to members of service organizations and researchers such as David Asiamah, Ph.D. the research and content developer manager at the Black Wealth Data Center spoke to the AFRO about how imperative Black data is when trying to understand create policy for wealth equity.
Until now, the data needed to fully understand racial wealth equity has been out-of-date, inaccessible, and difficult to find in a single location. This has
Music icon Frankie Beverly dies at 77
By Aria Brent AFRO Staff Writer abrent@afro.com
With heavy hearts and a saddened soul, friends and family of Frankie Beverly, are mourning the music icon’s Sept.10 death.
Best known as front man of the soul and funk group, “Maze featuring Frankie Beverly,” the crooner’s voice is easily recognized and often considered a staple at gatherings in the Black community.
News of the rhythm and blues performer’s death at age 77 was
announced via a heartfelt post on Instagram, shared by his family.
“He lived his life with pure soul as one would say, and for us, no one did it better,” read the statement. “He lived for his music, family and friends.”
Additionally, the family asked for privacy, understanding and respect as they come to terms with the loss of their beloved family member.
Beverly had a career that spanned over 50 years. He announced his retirement and farewell tour earlier this year. The I Wanna Thank You tour kicked off in Atlanta in March
of this year and concluded in July in Beverly’s hometown of Philadelphia, at the Dell Music Center.
The “Happy Feelings” singer was born Howard Beverly on Dec. 6, 1946 and first started singing in church as a child. Though he was baptized in gospel culture, he would later exchange the church hymnals for a more secular sound. Beverly founded his first group “Frankie Beverly and the Butlers.” The group eventually broke up, and Beverly later founded “Raw Soul” in 1970.
After relocating to California, the group grew popular amongst
made it difficult for policymakers and practitioners to leverage data to make decisions that affect Black communities,” said Asiamah. “That’s why Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Greenwood Initiative launched the Black Wealth Data Center to better inform research, investment decisions, and policies that support Black communities.”
Sessions that took place on day one of the event included a panel addressing an equitable approach to Black infertility and family building; a session titled, “AI and How It Can Be Leveraged by Small Businesses”; a discussion on DEI and children and a forum on how Project 2025 could impact Black women if implemented after the next presidential election.
local venues and eventually caught the attention of Marvin Gaye, who later had them as an opening act. It was Gaye who convinced the group to rename themselves to “Maze featuring Frankie Beverly,” and in 1977 the group dropped their selftitled debut album.
For the last five decades Beverly and his band have become known for their sound that combines soul, funk and rhythm and blues, creating a music style that is uniquely theirs. Throughout the years artists like Beyoncé have honored Beverly with remixes of his more popular hits,
such as “Before I Let Go.”
Always suited in his signature white linen garb and a baseball cap, Beverly’s legacy is reflected in both his music and style.
Before his passing, Maze announced that they would be renaming the group to “Maze honoring Frankie Beverly,” as Tony Lindsay steps into the role of the band’s lead singer.
The music the world received from Beverly is timeless and will continue to be a defining part of Black culture. Although he is gone he will never be forgotten.
AFRO Photo/ Patricia McDougall
CEO and President Nicole AustinHillery (center) officially kicks off the organization’s Annual Legislative Conference alongside Congresswoman Lucy McBath (D-GA-7) (left); Terreta Rodgers, head of community affairs at Amazon (second from left); Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL-7), CBCF board chair; Congressman Troy Carter (D-LA-2), ALC honorary co-chair, and Mamar Gelaye, vice president of IT operations for Amazon.
AFRO Photo / Alexis Taylor
Dr. David Asiamah is the research and content developer manager for the Black Wealth Data Center, an organization focused on building a comprehensive repository for Black data.
Black health experts talk Black infertility and family building at legislative conference
By Megan Sayles AFRO Business Writer msayles@afro.com
On day one of its Annual Legislative Conference (ALC), the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) took on Black maternal health, Black infertility, family building and reproductive justice.
Experts from across the country weighed in on challenges, opportunities and policies regarding reproductive health for Black women, who disproportionately experience maternal mortality, infertility and miscarriages.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Black women are three times more likely to die from a pregnancy-related cause than White Women. The public health agency also reports that they are more likely to encounter infertility compared to their White counterparts.
“Across the board, Black women and Black birthing people have worse maternal health outcomes than our White counterparts,” said Nicole M. Cooper, executive vice president and chief strategy and innovation officer at United Way Worldwide.
“From preterm births, to lack of access, to equitable care, to insufficient prenatal care and poor postpartum recovery supports and services, the U.S. health system is failing Black women and their families during a time that should be full of joy and hope.”
Examining infertility and maternal mortality in the Black community
Dr. Lasha Clarke is the assistant director of research and translation at Morehouse School of Medicine’s Center
Maryland Delegate Jennifer White Holland (left) Leah Jones, director of maternal health and birth equity initiatives for SisterSong; Dr. Alicia Christy, former deputy director of reproductive health for the Veterans Administration, and Dr. Lasha Clarke, assistant director of research and translation at Morehouse School of Medicine’s Center for Maternal Health Equity, discuss the need for equitable approaches to infertility care and family building.
for Maternal Health Equity. Since 2021, the center has been conducting a Fertility Equity Study.
Clarke shared that the study has concluded that Black women face infertility twice as much as White women. They are also half as likely to seek fertility care. Clarke stressed the importance of destigmatizing infertility.
“Infertility is a medical condition–not a social condition,” said Clarke. “It’s not something that we need to feel a sense of shame or blame around.”
The center also found that in certain segments of the country, Black women are five times more likely to die during childbirth. Even when controlling for socioeconomic factors, they are more likely to experience maternal mortality than their counterparts. Clarke said this is also reflected in infertility.
“In our study and even in the broader literature, Black women
who are of high socioeconomic resources are reporting the same thing,” said Clarke. “They are experiencing infertility, but there are barriers to seeking care that are not strictly the finances of it.”
These barriers include racial biases and discrimination from providers and limited access to education about maternal health and fertility.
The role of doulas and midwives
Considering the poor state of Black maternal health in the U.S., many women turn to non-traditional care providers, like birthing centers, doulas and midwives.
Baltimore County Delegate Jennifer White Holland (D10) pointed out that Maryland does not have any free-standing birthing centers.
“That limits the options that birthing people have in finding
other alternatives to receive their care,” said Holland.
She noted that the state has made progress on supporting doulas. In 2022, Maryland started the Medicaid Doula Services Program, which provides reimbursement to these professionals. But, the compensation is not yet enough.
“Unfortunately, the reimbursement rates are so low that there isn’t really an incentive for doulas to participate, which makes it very cost-prohibitive for many birthing people to access doula services,” said Holland.
Leah Jones, director of maternal health and birth equity initiatives for SisterSong, said her organization is aiming to mitigate certification issues for community midwives in Georgia.
“They’re literally people
who can teach physicians how to do their work. They’re reflecting our communities, our issues and our stories. However, they have licensing issues in Georgia,” said Jones. “We have been on a continuous fight to make sure their legitimization gets pushed through legislation and that communities can reach into midwives, doulas and birth workers who look like them, talk like them and live in their neighborhoods.”
Black men as allies in the fight for reproductive rights
Historically, a dangerous and unfounded stereotype has been propagated about Black fathers being absent parents.
Data from the CDC refutes this generalization. It found that
Gessie Thompson (left) serves as moderator in a discussion with Charles Johnson IV, founder of 4 Kira 4 Moms; LaShawn McIver, senior vice president and chief health equity officer for the healthcare organization, America’s Health Insurance Plans; Sheehan Fisher, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University, and Charles Daniels Jr., CEO of Fathers’ UpLift. The panel discussed how Black men can advocate for Black maternal health.
THE RIGHT MORTGAGE AWAITS.
Black fathers were more likely to feed and eat meals with their children; bathe and dress them; and take them to activities compared to other racial groups.
“The best piece of advice that I ever received as an expectant father was that everything she feels, the baby feels,” said Charles Johnson IV, founder of 4 Kira 4 Moms. “It’s your job fundamentally to make sure that she feels safe, protected and happy at all times, as much as humanly possible.”
He started his organization after his wife, Kira Johnson, died during a routine C-section in 2016. Johnson said it’s critical for Black men to be informed about the spectrum of labor options and how to advocate for their partners even before they become pregnant.
Sheehan Fisher is an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University. He also serves as associate dean of diversity, equity and inclusion for the institution. Fisher acknowledged that for a lot of Black women, pregnancy can be an isolating experience. This is only compounded by their heightened risk factors for poor maternal health outcomes. Fisher said he believes Black men should eliminate the isolation their partners may feel while on their maternity journey.
“She needs a partner who can be an advocate throughout the whole experience,” said Fisher. “Fathers are not clinicians or doctors, but they can be trained to know what to look out for.”
Charles Daniels Jr., CEO of Father’s Uplift, explained that Black men must first address their mental health in order to be good partners through pregnancy.
“We need to go to therapy,” said Daniels. “We need to get the necessary help to be able to be present.”
AFRO Photo / Megan Sayles
AFRO Photo / Megan Sayles
BALTIMORE-AREA
Baltimore settles with Walgreens for $80 million amid the opioid epidemic
By Ariyana Griffin AFRO Staff Writer agriffin@afro.com
The City of Baltimore and Mayor Brandon M. Scott announced an $80 million settlement with pharmaceutical giant, Walgreens, on Sept. 10. Baltimore officials claim that Walgreens furthered the destruction caused by the opioid epidemic in the city, and the business has agreed to resolve the city’s claims. The full terms of the agreement are set to be shared with the public on Oct. 3.
“As part of the settlement, Walgreens requested that we delay announcing the specific terms of the agreement for 30 days,” said City Solicitor Ebony M. Thompson, said in a statement. “In order to resolve the case against it and focus our trial on the worst actors in the opioid epidemic, we agreed to this term.”
According to the Baltimore City Health Department, Baltimore has “ 620,000 residents, nearly 25,000 people are estimated to misuse opioids, and many of them are not connected to adequate treatment or social support services.”
This is the fifth settlement the city has accumulated in an ongoing six-year case
West Baltimore residents raise concerns over Amtrak’s Frederick Douglass Tunnel Program
By Megan Sayles AFRO Business Writer msayles@afro.com
Amtrak’s multibillion Frederick Douglass Tunnel Program is in progress.
The major infrastructure project intends to modernize a 10-mile section of the bustling Northeast Corridor and eliminate a rail bottleneck between D.C. and New Jersey.
The cornerstone of the development is the replacement of the aging Baltimore and Potomac (B&P) Tunnel, which was built in 1873. The new tunnel is named for the Maryland-born abolitionist who became known around the world for his speeches and writings about his time in bondage and the vile institution of chattel slavery.
Residents from predominantly Black neighborhoods along the construction path have some concerns about the project’s impacts on their homes, health and safety.
“There are all different kinds of issues. We have property rights issues both above and underneath the ground,” said Amy Petkovsek, executive director for the Community Law Center (CLC). “We have environmental issues now
“I’m really frightened by this because our houses are over 100 years old.”
during construction with people who can’t breathe and concerns for after these tunnels are built with the ventilation facilities being next to schools.”
CLC is representing 10 community groups from historic West Baltimore
neighborhoods, including Edmondson, Matthew Henson, Reservoir Hill and Sandtown. Petkovsek is acting as lead counsel.
The West Baltimore communities have historically been damaged by past urban renewal policies and infrastructure projects, like the Highway to Nowhere, that have severed them from vital resources and services.
As the Frederick Douglass Tunnel project is funded by the federal government, Amtrak must meet certain community engagement requirements. But, Petkovsek said the meetings have been “horrific.” She maintained that the national rail service has been demeaning to residents in conversations.
“Before CLC got involved, they were telling every neighborhood association something different, which has been done here and other places historically,” said Petkovsek. “It’s really unhelpful. By having group
Maryland receives $10 million to aid small businesses
By Tashi McQueen AFRO Staff Writer tmcqueen@afro.com
The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced that they are awarding the Maryland Technology Development (TEDCO), an instrument of the state, $10 million to support small businesses.
With the funding, Maryland will create the Business Resource Information, Development and Guidance Ecosystem (BRIDGE) program. BRIDGE will provide specialized accounting, financial and legal advisory services to small businesses throughout the region.
During a Sept. 9 press call, Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) acknowledged that it can be “difficult to become a successful entrepreneur.”
“When you start out, there are often more questions than answers,” said Moore. “How do you scale up a business model? How do you access the legal services that you need?”
He went on to emphasize that this initiative would help tackle those questions.
“It’s going to help us to create pathways for work, wages and wealth,” said Moore.
According to a 2023 Maryland small business profile by the U.S. Small Business Administration Office of Advocacy, there are 639,789 small businesses in the state. Around 99 percent of Maryland businesses are
City agencies team up to equip older adults with digital literacy
By Megan Sayles
AFRO Business Writer msayles@afro.com
As Baltimore continues to invest in its Digital Inclusion Strategy, three city agencies have teamed up to arm older Baltimoreans with skills essential to navigating the online landscape.
The Baltimore City Office of Information and Technology (BCIT), the Enoch Pratt Free Library and the Baltimore City Health Department’s (BCHD) Division of Aging established the Digital Literacy Training Program to supply free, hands-on instruction in using computers, smartphones, tablets and the internet.
Digital literacy has become crucial to navigating daily life, as so many aspects of communication, employment, finance and health care rely on the use of technology. Without it, older adults can experience isolation or an inability to access critical information.
“Lack of digital literacy skills for older adults can significantly impact their quality of life,” said Tara Bhardvaj, impact analyst for the Enoch Pratt Free Library. “Especially post-pandemic, we have seen a growing number of services move online. Digital literacy allows older adults to schedule medical appointments, pursue their interests and passions and stay connected to friends and loved ones across the globe.”
Alice Huang, acting assistant commissioner of community services in the division of aging for BCHD, affirmed this attitude, particularly as the digital world continues to grow at a rapid pace.
“We know that digital access keeps evolving. Whatever we do to help serve older adults, we know that gap continues to get bigger and bigger as technology keeps changing and moving forward,” said Huang. “We need to keep nudging older adults into the direction of having digital literacy, understanding and being comfortable around digital resources and knowing that more and more resources are being transitioned to the digital space.”
The Digital Literacy Training Program covers foundational topics, like basic computer skills, internet safety,
communication tools, health and wellness apps, and accessing online services, like banking, shopping and government resources. Older adults can take classes at libraries and several centers across the city, including the Harford, Hatton, Oliver and Sandtown-Winchester Senior Centers.
According to Huang one of the barriers to digital literacy in older adults is the way technology is designed.
“Sometimes, when we create technology, it’s not always easy to think about the user experience from a wide range of people,” said Huang. “The way technology is created is really for the mainstream masses, and a lot of these resources are not geared toward older adults.”
She said internet safety is one of the foremost concerns for older adults, as they are more vulnerable to phishing schemes
and other scams. In an effort to assuage some of this fear, Enoch Pratt Free Library and BCHD’s Division of Aging are employing digital navigators to support older adults.
“These digital navigators are going to be a regular presence at our senior centers. They will really get to know the members of the centers; understand their specific concerns and needs; and craft programs, services and education around each center’s specific interests,” said Huang. “We know people in different communities have different levels of comfort. We want to be able to cater to each of those members at our centers.”
Digital navigators, which are expected to start this fall, will host drop-in hours for older adults to ask questions, raise concerns and receive technical support.
Huang said the city’s senior centers are forging a path to become spaces where older adults can experiment with the internet safely. Recently, her agency purchased gaming consoles for some of the hubs. Currently, it’s working to bring high-speed, fiber-optic internet to all centers.
“We really hope our senior centers can be that safe environment to try new things, see what’s out there and expand what they can see themselves doing in a tech-savvy world,” said Huang.
For Enoch Pratt Free Library, digital inclusion is ingrained in its strategic plan. Bhardvaj said the library system is committed to closing the digital divide and will continue to offer digital literacy training to older adults for the foreseeable future.
Photo courtesy of LinkedIn Tara Bhardvaj serves as impact analyst for the Enoch Pratt Free Library. The system has made digital inclusion a part of its strategic plan.
Photo courtesy of LinkedIn Alice Huang serves as acting assistant commissioner of community services in the Baltimore City Health Department’s Division of Aging. The agency has several senior centers across the city offering digital literacy training.
representation we can speak with one voice.”
In February, Amtrak announced that initial demolition had started, which included the razing of 47 residential and commercial properties in Baltimore. The company said it planned to begin large-scale construction in the summer timeframe.
“Major construction is slated to begin later this year, including utility relocations and work for the first of five bridges,” said Amtrak on its website. “Throughout tunnel construction, Amtrak will continue to keep the community informed and updated, perform real-time monitoring and undertake other industry-leading activities to protect adjacent properties.”
The AFRO reached out to Amtrak for comment but did not hear back.
Marvin “Doc” Cheatham, president of the Matthew Henson Neighborhood Association, said he believes the Amtrak project is one of the most threatening issues he’s encountered after living in Baltimore for more than 70 years. Rail will travel under several of the neighborhood’s blocks.
“I’m really frightened by this because our houses are over 100 years old,”said Cheatham.
He alleged that Amtrak has approached older residents and offered $7,000 in compensation if the project destroys their homes.
“We’re fearful because very few of us own our houses, and they’re making
offers if something were to happen,” said Cheatham. “It’s a ridiculous fee that can’t cover anything.”
He’s particularly concerned about blocks on Monroe Street, McKean Avenue, Presbury Street and Fulton Avenue. Digging started on Monroe Street about a month and a half ago, according to Cheatham, but he said the community was not notified before it began.
“What we’re saying is we want to be given all of the information that we can,” said Cheatham.
The Reservoir Hill Association has also been outspoken about its reservations over the construction project. In April, the community group filed a civil rights complaint to the U.S. Department of Transportation, alleging that it would have inequitable impact on their neighborhood.
The complaint contends that Amtrak could have reached its objectives for the project through alternatives that are less discriminatory to Black residents. It cites documented information from the Federal Railroad Administration that acknowledged the selected route would have disproportionately high and adverse effects on minority and low-income communities.
A major element of their concern is the construction and operation of a ventilation facility directly across from Dorothy I. Height Elementary School, the neighborhood’s sole 21st
Century School.
“It serves prekindergartners,” said Carson Ward, B&P Working Group chair for the Reservoir Hill Association. “Think about how susceptible their little, young lungs would be to an incident of emergency. There’s also questions about non-emergent ventilation.”
According to the Baltimore City Health Department,13.7 percent of Baltimore adults have asthma, compared to 9 percent across the state of Maryland. For high school students, this number jumps to 33.3 percent, compared to 25.9 percent statewide.
The Reservoir Hill community worries the ventilation facility, which could give off pollutants, may exacerbate these conditions. In their complaint, the group requested that DOT open a Title VI investigation into the effects of the Frederick Douglass Tunnel Program on Black residents, during which construction of the tunnel and ventilation facility would be put on pause.
“Our foundational concern was that the decision to choose the specific alignment and manner in which they are rebuilding the B&P Tunnel was not done through scientific measurement,” said Keondra Prier, president of the Reservoir Hill Association. “They didn’t sit down and say this is the best way to go about repairing this tunnel that will have the least impact on people and fulfill the goals of Amtrak.”
Opioid epidemic
Continued
against opioid distributors and manufacturers that have, according to Baltimore City officials, “caused the worst opioid epidemic in the nation.”
Baltimore City has reached settlements with Allergan, for $45 million, CVS for $45 million, Teva, for $80 million, and Cardinal Health, to the tune of $152.5 million. With the inclusion of the Walgreens settlement, the city has gathered $402.5 million in total.
“We are proud of our efforts to bring these companies to justice over the past several years,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott in a statement. “The reality is, addressing the opioid epidemic requires an enormous amount
of resources and through this litigation, our outside counsel and Law Department have begun to provide that.”
“As we approach the beginning of trial, it is time to finish the job against the remaining defendants and begin using this money to support and grow the work we’ve already been doing to tackle the opioid epidemic where it can do the most good,” continued Mayor Scott.
Next week, the search for compensation to offset the effects of the opioid epidemic in Baltimore will continue, as city officials will see Johnson and Johnson, McKesson and AmerisourceBergen in court.
Small businesses
Continued
small.
TEDCO plans to work with the University of Maryland to help the state develop and implement the new program. Both have already pledged to match almost $2.2 million to help support the initiative.
Troy LeMaile-Stovall, TEDCO’s chief executive officer, emphasized how the BRIDGE program will help entrepreneurs throughout the region.
“It will give them back a minute. It will give them access to talent that they need to grow and scale their enterprises,” said LeMaileStovall. “The whole TEDCO team and this ecosystem is excited about this opportunity to put these resources to work, to help make this region the economic powerhouse it can and should be.”
Though Maryland will lead BRIDGE, it will be done in partnership with Delaware, Virginia and Washington D.C.
To
“Digital
“Digital inclusion aims to bridge the digital divide, ensuring older adults can benefit from the opportunities and conveniences the digital age offers.”
This story is part of the Digital Equity Local Voices Fellowship lab. The lab initiative is made possible with support from Comcast NBC Universal.
Obituary
Peggy S. Jackson
Peggy S. Jackson, passed away on August 16, 2024. Beloved mother of LeFawn Gaines, Kevin Jackson and Karen Jackson. Memorial Service Monday, September 23, 2024 at Sharon Baptist Church, 1375 N. Stricker St. Family hour at 11 am Service at 12 noon
AFRO Photo/James Fields
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore (D) and members of his administration aim to help entrepreneurs in the state with the Business Resource Information, Development and Guidance Ecosystem (BRIDGE) program and a $10 million grant to build out the offering.
Photo courtesy of Instagram / Brandon M. Scott
Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott is looking to help repair the damage done in his city by opioids with an $80 million settlement with Walgreens. The corporation has agreed to the payout to cover damage done as a result of their contribution to the city’s opioid epidemic.
New Life Recovery expands services to fight substance abuse and homelessness with hotel purchase
By Catherine Pugh Special to the AFRO
Five years ago Vennieth McCormick struck out on a path to help people challenged with substance abuse disorders. He wanted to change lives. He wanted to give hope. And he knew he could make a difference.
McCormick believed since he overcame his own struggle with alcohol abuse 30 years ago, his story could serve as proof that a more productive life was possible, even for those tightly clasped in the grasp of addiction.
“I would drive by, pass individuals on the street– some homeless–and see them. It was hard to turn and look away,” McCormick told the AFRO. “I knew that if only by the grace of God, it could be me.”
So, he took action.
McCormick went on to build a fairly successful business in real estate and home improvement and began renting properties to organizations helping people with substance abuse disorders.
“I would run into some of those guys living in the rentals and end up in long conversations with them on what they needed to move their lives forward. “I can do this,” he thought and so, he did.
“I wanted to contribute to their success and every fiber of my body was telling me, I could do it– [I could] run a program with compassion and make a difference in the lives of people in need.”
“There was a lot to learn,” says Mr. McCormick. “I knew that counseling was necessary.
form of substance disorders or mental health issues or both. It’s true and can complicate their problems if not correctly diagnosed and treated,” said McCormick.
The data proves him right.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “over 582,000 individuals across the country were experiencing homelessness on a single night in 2022.” Of that number, “21 percent of individuals experiencing homelessness reported having a serious mental illness, and 16 percent reported having a substance use disorder.”
No easy solution
What I realized most–and it goes back to Maslow’s Theory, Hierarchy of Needs– is that until you put a roof over someone’s head, it is hard to help them in any sustainable way.”
McCormick started with one house that he quickly filled with men in need of a place to stay. He connected them with programming and resources to manage addiction and some, over time, did complete the journey to a clean and sober lifestyle.
Over the past five years, McCormick’s program, New Life Recovery, has grown from one house to eight– including a house for women.
“Believe me when I tell you that many of the people laying on the streets of our nation are suffering from some
According to McCormick, a lot goes into running a housing unit for individuals with substance abuse and mental health issues.
“Once you house them, you have to feed and clothe them… and then you can help them deal with the reasons for their abuse, which requires mental and therapeutic help,” he told the AFRO
Every individual coming through New Life Recovery has access to those services.
More recently, McCormick consolidated his program. He has acquired new accommodations for New Life Recovery in the form of a downtown Baltimore hotel, with over 100 beds, located at 110 St. Paul St. McCormick described what the hotel space looked like before New Life Recovery took over.
“It had become a place for
homeless individuals or folks on assistance, paying very low rent, to hang outside,” he said.
“You knew it was not your ordinary apartment building or living quarters, because in front of the building and sitting around the fountain were individuals who looked like they were in need, lost or struggling with a substance or mental disorder.”
Today, the atmosphere around the hotel is different. In acquiring the new accommodations, McCormick is able to provide housing for individuals suffering from substance abuse, mental health issues and homelessness. The loitering that previously occurred, has subsided.
McCormick also acquired the restaurant attached to the
with people and offer them our assistance. Some take us up on it right away, while others may return at a later date,” he said. “At the least they learn about our program and know where we are.”
“The need in Baltimore to house individuals–male and female– suffering from substance abuse disorders, mental health issues and homelessness is great,” says Mr. McCormick. “We want to continue to be a part of the solution. I am in the process of acquiring the hotel next door, at 100 St. Paul St., that will provide 160 beds with 100 rooms. It is currently under renovation.”
The hotels offer a means for New Life Recovery to help more people immediately and
“Once you house them, you have to feed and clothe them…and then you can help them deal with the reasons for their abuse, which requires mental and therapeutic help.”
hotel, where he provides meals for the occupants.
“I am used to serving meals to our clients. We have a regular dietician who prepares our meals,” he said.
During the holidays, McCormick and New Life
centralize their counseling and mental health services.
“Everything clients need are provided on sight,” said McCormick, who has moved all of his clientele into the hotel setting. The accommodations are
provided, clients participating in today’s New Life Recovery programming must abide by rules and regulations that include specific guidelines and curfews.
While the sacrifice might be great, the reward is even greater.
“Everyone living in our program can get mental health counseling,” said McCormick. “I’ve learned if you are homeless, then you need our mental health services–something has you on the street that you need to face. There is a saying, ‘that you have to face it to fix it.’ And here at New Life Recovery we help our clients do just that.” New Life Recovery is working in partnership with the University of Maryland to provide training for individuals who are ready to go to work, while also providing continued support to fully recover from experiencing homelessness.
McCormick likes the new accommodations for his program and says he looks forward to the expansion to 100 St. Paul Street adding additional accommodations. The expansion thus far has enabled him to put more time into other areas of New Life Recovery.
“I don’t have to spend half my day running around from place to place and picking up supplies and dropping off clothing. It is consolidated,” he said. “I get to spend more time here with the folks with the training, and watching
Courtesy Photo Venneith McCormick serves the community by providing shelter and healthcare for homeless people in Baltimore.
AFRO News team explores Montgomery County roots
By AFRO Staff
Members of the AFRO American Newspapers team made a journey to Montgomery County on Sept. 5 to explore the humble beginnings of the AFRO American Newspapers. The trip afforded members of the AFRO and Afro Charities teams an opportunity to connect the present generation of family members and staff with the foremothers and fathers who began the paper in the late 1890s.
According to information released by the Archives of Maryland, on Oct. 11, 1814 Enoch George Howard was born a slave. He was able to purchase freedom for himself in 1851. He followed that feat up then purchasing his wife, Harriet, from Samuel R. Gaither on Sept. 5, 1853. The pair had five children, and by the time of his death, Howard had purchased the home of his slave master and enough land to leave his children space to grow, invest and build. One of those children was Martha Howard, wife of John H. Murphy Sr. After selling her portion of the inherited land to her brother, Martha Howard invested $200 into her husband’s plan to create a newspaper. The seed money, roughly $7,000 in American currency today, ultimately helped birth the AFRO American Newspapers.
The AFRO team, by pure happenstance, ended up standing on the land once owned by the Howard family exactly 171 years to the date of Harriet Howard’s emancipation from slavery. The trip to the old Howard family land culminated in the Howard family cemetery, where Enoch Goerge and Harriet Howard are buried, along with their descendants.
AFRO Photos / James Fields, Stephen Hopkins
AFRO Staff come together on land once owned by the founding family in Montgomery County. Shown here from left to right: AFRO Staff Writer Megan Sayles; AFRO Director of Community and Public Relations Diane Hocker; AFRO Production Manager Denise Dorsey; AFRO Advertising and Accounts Receivable Specialist LaTasha Owens; AFRO Staff Writer Tashi McQueen; AFRO Staff Writer Ariyana Griffin; AFRO Managing Editor Alexis Taylor; AFRO CEO and Publisher Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper; AFRO Billing Specialist Chakia Brown; AFRO Executive Director and Advertising Manager Lenora Howze; AFRO Editorial Assistant Ama Brown; AFRO Finance Manager Bonnie Deanes; AFRO Director of Digital Solutions Dana Peck, and AFRO Director of Operations Andre Draper.
AFRO Publisher Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper (left) leads the company as a fourth generation family member, while Savannah Wood, who represents the family’s fifth generation, leads the newspaper’s sister company, Afro Charities.
The remains of the ancestral home of Greenway Howard, brother to AFRO founder and lead investor, Martha Howard, still stands to this day.
Diane Hocker (front, center), AFRO director of community and public relations, takes in the fresh air as AFRO Photographer James Fields chats with AFRO Staff Writer Megan Sayles (right). The graves of Enoch George Howard and his wife, Harriet Howard, are a constant reminder of how far Black people have come since being freed from the bonds of American slavery.
Deyane Moses holds a photo of Enoch George Howard, the patriarch of the Howard family for Oyinda Omoloja.
Members of the AFRO Charities team take a ride through the corn fields that separate properties once owned by the Howard family. Shown here: (back, left) Oyinda Omoloja, Nicoletta de la Brown, Coco de la Brown (dog), Savannah Wood, Bilphena Yahwon, Jasmine Clark, Deyane Moses (front).
Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper walks the path between two properties, once owned by the AFRO American Newspaper’s founding family, with her husband Andre Draper.
AFRO team members look upon the home of the slave owner that once held members of the Howard family in bondage. The home was eventually purchased by Enoch George Howard and passed down to the Howard children, including AFRO founder Martha Howard.
Shea Niemann (left) and Erik Ledbetter speak with team members about efforts to preserve the land once owned by the Howard family.
Erik Ledbetter delivers a riveting account of how E. George Howard and his wife, Harriet Howard, purchased themselves, their children and the home of their former master in efforts to improve their lot in life and set a path forward for descendants to come.
Virtual Faith: Why Black churchgoers are staying home on Sunday
By Rev. Dorothy S. Boulware Word in Black
In March 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced houses of worship nationwide to shut down, both the ministry and congregants adapted to a new, supposedly temporary reality. Like schools and offices, church services would be conducted remotely, streamed over the internet into homes on pandemic lockdown.
When asked, around 9 in 10 parishioners insisted they would return to in-person worship, as soon as the pandemic ended. They missed the handshakes and hugs of in-person fellowship, the resonant sound of the choir, the feel and smell of hymnals.
More than three years after the official end of the pandemic, however, about a third of regular churchgoers haven’t returned to the pews — and only about 2 in 5 Americans regularly participate in church services at all.
A survey shows the situation is a bit more acute when it comes to the Black church, according to Pew Research Center.
“While 13 percent of Protestants who belong to historically Black churches say they attend church in person and don’t regularly watch services virtually, most say they join services both in person and virtually (37 percent) or only watch remotely on screens (20 percent),” according to the Pew report, issued last June.
The data illustrates a conundrum for faith leaders struggling to meet the new reality of a hybrid method of worship.
“Pastoring the virtual church creates an accountability and connection challenge,” says the Rev. Jamal Brown, pastor of Family Restoration Worship Center in Philadelphia. “It’s not dissimilar from the traditional congregation challenges,” but the church as well as the individual bears responsibility for the decline of in-person worship.
Virtual worship “offered people an opportunity to hide from the responsibility of giving time, talent and tenth,” he says, referring to donations and tithing. “However, embracing the virtual church also exposed deficits in the church systems. What existed pre was enhanced in the post virtual church.”
Jason E. Shelton, a sociologist and professor and director of the Center for African American Studies at the University of Texas at Arlington, put a finer point on it in a February interview with Christianity Today.
“The future does not look good for organized religion in Black America, especially the historic traditions,” he said.
“The Baptists are still the largest, but they’re losing people,” he said. “The Methodists are really down small. The Pentecostals are losing, but they’re not losing nearly as many since they’ve always been small.”
The numbers are part of an overall trend of declining church worship in the U.S. According to Gallup, 42 percent of U.S. adults regularly attended church services
two decades ago; now, that number has slipped to around 30 percent.
Reasons for the dropoff in attendance vary, according to a Pew Research Center poll. Some former churchgoers are still worried about contracting COVID-19; others say they’re facing new physical challenges that keep them from going to church in person; still others say they prefer worshiping from the comfort of home.
One can hardly argue with the modern comfort and convenience of watching Sunday home worship services, streaming live over a platform like Zoom or Facebook. Yet data from Lifeway Research found that 91 percent of those polled not long after churches shut down said they would return to the pews when the pandemic was no longer a problem.
But “as of the fall of 2022, the average church had 85 percent of its pre-COVID attendance numbers,” according to the study. A year later, Pew reported 27 percent of U.S. adults faithfully watch services online, compared with roughly a third who regularly attend church in person.
Among Black parishioners, 2 in 10 prefer to watch worship services online at home, according to Pew.
Part of the reason for the dropoff is “continuing concern about COVID-19, which struck Black communities with particular force,” according to Pew.
At the same time, however, “viewers who are members of historically Black Protestant churches are more likely to say they feel like active participants in these virtual services than are viewers who belong to some other faiths.”
Realizing what’s at stake, faith leaders are taking steps to draw their flock back into the pews. Some are reaching out to absent congregants in person; others are holding social events. One minister found that offering water baptism was a draw to some.
For Shelton, the University of Texas sociologist, the decline in in-person worship is a worrisome trend for the Black church, an institution with a long, storied history in the community.
“The church has always been the vessel that we as Black people have used to have community and solidarity,” he said. “It’s the church that connects [Black society], so as the nones” — Black people with no religious affiliation — “fall away from that, what does that mean for the community? What does that mean for Black music? What does that mean for Black politics? And what does that mean for the long-standing legacy of racial discrimination in this country?”
This article was originally published by Word In Black.
Scriptures that charge us to get politically active
By Aswad Walker Word In Black
Constitutionally, faith institutions in the U.S. are supposed to operate under the “Separation of church and state” doctrine. But apparently, no one told the “Religious Right” (people who believe in the racist, White nationalist version of Christianity) about this law. And no judicial or governmental entities stopped them from or held them legally liable for creating one of the biggest White nationalist, religious-based political movements of the modern era (yet, they want to outlaw “Souls to the Polls”… smh).
So, yet again, Black people are forced to play by hardand-fast rules; laws that others are free to view as mere “suggestions” that they can choose to follow or ignore.
That said, we have for generations been inspired by our faith (be it Islam, Ifa, Bahia, Christianity, etc.) to get politically active by standing for justice and finding words of charge and challenge in various sacred texts.
Denmark Vesey preached the story of Moses telling Pharaoh, “Let my people go” to inspire the revolt he led in 1822. Gabriel Prosser was nicknamed the “Black Sampson” (which is like people calling Michael Jordan the “Black Dr. J”… they’re both Black) because Prosser’s favorite scripture for rallying enslaved Blacks to his call in 1800 for a revolt was that verse of Sampson bringing down the house on the Philistines in the Book of Judges. Marcus Mosiah Garvey was fond of quoting Psalm 68:31, as confirmation that God wanted Black people to be free and self-determining via the words, “Princes shall come out of Egypt, and Ethiopia shall stretch forth her hand unto thee.”
Let us never forget Cécile Fatiman, the vodou priestess who, along with Dutty Boukman, helped start the Haitian revolution at the Bois Caïman gathering. Her divine words elicited chanting and prayer, inspiring those sisters and brothers to fight for and successfully win their freedom—an act that the Western world (France, the U.S., etc.) is still punishing Haiti for roughly 220 years later.
Here are a few of those scriptures that call for us to stand for and work for justice, fairness, equality and all things that are at the heart of collective political involvement and action.
“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”
(Isaiah 1:17)
“When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.”
(Proverbs 21:15 )
“God commands justice and fair dealing…” (Quran, 16:90 )
“The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.”
(Proverbs 29:7 )
“Tolerating injustice is as much a crime as committing injustice. It is your duty to fight injustice.”
(The Bhagavad Gita )
“He who sells sand as brown sugar will receive stones as payment.”
(African Proverb )
“This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.”
(Zechariah 7:9 )
“In the court of fowls, the cockroach never wins a case.”
(African Proverb )
This article was originally published by Word In Black.
For generations, Black folks have been inspired by faith to get politically active by standing for justice and finding words of charge and challenge in various sacred texts.
Nappy.co/ Nappy Stock
Experts say a variety of reasons, ranging from fear of COVID infection to the convenience of watching a streaming service, account for the decline in the number of people returning to in-person church attendance.
Unsplash / Grant Whitty
America is trying to fix its maternal mortality crisis with federal, state and local programs
By Nicky Forster The Associated Press
At the site of a race massacre that reduced neighborhoods to ashes a century ago, where murals memorialize a once-thriving “ Black Wall Street,” one African-American mother strives to keep others from dying as they try to bring new life into the world.
Black women are more than three times as likely to die from pregnancy or childbirth as White women in Oklahoma, which consistently ranks among the worst states in the nation for maternal mortality.
“Tulsa is suffering,” said Corrina Jackson, who heads up a local version of the federal Healthy Start program, coordinating needed care and helping women through their pregnancies. “We’re talking about lives here.”
Across the nation, programs at all levels of government — federal, state and local — have the same goals to reduce maternal mortality and erase the race gap. None has all the answers, but many are making headway in their communities and paving the way for other places.
Jackson’s project is one of more than 100 funded through Healthy Start, which gave out $105 million nationally in grants this year. Officials call Healthy Start an essential part of the Biden administration’s plan for addressing maternal health.
Other approaches to the crisis include California halving its maternal mortality rate through an organization that shares the best ways to treat common causes of maternal death and New York City expanding access to midwives and doulas two years ago. Several states passed laws this year aiming to improve maternal health, including a sweeping measure in Massachusetts. And last week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced more than $568 million in funding to improve maternal health through efforts such as home visiting services and better identifying and preventing pregnancy-related deaths.
“We need to really identify the birthing people
who are at potentially the greatest risk,” New York City health commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan said, “and then wrap our arms around them throughout their pregnancies.”
A healthy start in Tulsa
Besides coordinating prenatal and postpartum care — which experts say is crucial for keeping moms alive — local Healthy Start projects provide pregnancy and parenting education and referrals to services for things like depression or domestic violence. The local efforts also involve women’s partners and kids up to 18 months. And they focus on issues that influence health, such as getting transportation to appointments.
“You try to get them in their first trimester and then work with them to delivery day, and then we also work with the babies to make sure that they reach their milestones,” Jackson said.
Jackson got help from the local Urban League as a single mom, and felt called to give back to
her community. She’s been with Healthy Start for more than 25 years, first through Tulsa’s health department and recently through a nonprofit she started that received about $1 million in federal funds this fiscal year.
“I’m just like a mom to this program,” Jackson said.
Oklahoma overall has a maternal mortality rate of about 30 per 100,000 live births, significantly higher than the national average of about 23. But in Jackson’s quarter-century tenure, she said, there have been no maternal deaths among clients.
Pivotal to Healthy Start’s success are care coordinators like Krystal Keener, a social worker based at Oklahoma State University’s obstetrics and gynecology clinic, where clients get prenatal care. One of her responsibilities is to educate clients about health issues, like how to spot the signs of preeclampsia or how much bleeding is too much after delivery.
She also helps with practical matters: Many clients don’t have cars, so they call Keener when they need a ride to a prenatal visit, and she assists in scheduling one.
With doctors, Keener serves as a patient advocate. On a recent afternoon, Keener sat in on a prenatal appointment for Areana Coles. A single mom, Coles was joined by her 5-year-old daughter, who was born prematurely and spent time in intensive care.
With Coles’ due date approaching, Keener talked about what to watch for around delivery and shortly after, like blood clots and postpartum depression. She advised Coles to take care of herself and “give yourself credit for small things you do.”
During an ultrasound a few minutes later, Coles watched Dr. Jacob Lenz point to her unborn baby’s eyes, mouth, hand and heart. He printed an image of the scan, which Coles immediately showed her daughter.
Keener said she’s gratified that Coles would not be giving birth prematurely this time.
“You made it to term – yay!” she told her client. Coles smiled. “My body can do it!”
Improving medical care
While programs like Healthy Start focus on individual patient needs, other efforts manage the overall quality of medical care.
California has the lowest maternal mortality in the nation — 10.5 per 100,000 live births, less than half the national rate. But that wasn’t the case before it created a “maternal quality care collaborative” in 2006.
Founded at Stanford University’s medical school in partnership with the state, it brings together people from every hospital with a maternity unit to share best practices on how to deal with issues that could lead to maternal injury or death, like high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease and sepsis.
“When you look at the rate of maternal death in the United States compared to California, they basically ran neck-and-neck until it was established,” said Dr. Amanda Williams, clinical innovation adviser for the collaborative. “At that time they totally separated and California started
going down. The rest of the country started going up.”
In the collaborative, hospitals get toolkits full of materials such as care guidelines in multiple formats, articles on best practices and slide sets that spell out what to do in medical emergencies, how to set up medical teams and what supplies to keep on the unit. The collaborative also tackles issues such as improving obstetric care by integrating midwives and doulas – whose services are covered by the state’s Medicaid program.
At first, some doctors resisted the effort, figuring they knew best, Williams said, but there’s much less pushback now that the collaborative has proven its value.
“We need to really identify the birthing people who are at potentially the greatest risk, and then wrap our arms around them throughout their pregnancies.”
MemorialCare Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital Long Beach started participating around 2010. The collaborative helps “vet through all the research that’s out there,” said Shari Kelly, executive director of perinatal services. “It’s just so important to really understand how we as health care providers can make a difference.”
For example, if a woman loses a certain amount of blood after a vaginal delivery, “we know to activate what we call here a ‘code crimson,’ which brings blood to the bedside,” Kelly said. “We can act fast and stop any potential hemorrhage.”
She said the collaborative has also helped reduce racial inequities — bringing down the rate of cesarean sections among Black moms, for example.
In July, U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed a similar initiative to California’s, focused on the quality of maternal care nationwide: the first baseline health and safety requirements for maternal emergency and obstetric services in hospitals.
A community perspective
Experts said getting maternal mortality under control at a national level requires tailoring solutions to individual communities, which is easier when programs are locally run.
New York City has a goal of reducing maternal mortality overall — and specifically achieving a 10 percent drop in Black maternal mortality by 2030. Statewide, Black residents are about four times more likely to die from pregnancy or childbirth than White residents.
The city is starting with, among others, lowincome residents and those living in public housing. The New Family Home Visits Initiative gives pregnant people and those who’ve given birth visits from professionals such as nurses, midwives, doulas and lactation consultants. Vasan said more than 12,000 families have gotten visits since 2022.
Nurse Shinda Cover-Bowen works for the initiative’s Nurse Family Partnership, which has her visiting some families for 2 1/2 years, well beyond the pregnancy and birth. She said “that consistency of someone being there for you and listening to you and guiding you on your mother’s journey is priceless.”
Being grounded in the local community — and its history — is also crucial for Healthy Start projects. The lingering effects of racism are evident in Tulsa, where in 1921, White residents are estimated to have killed 100-300 Black people and destroyed homes, churches, schools and businesses in the Greenwood section. That’s where Jackson lives now, and where health disparities persist. Being relatable is valuable for Black women, who may distrust the health care system, Jackson said. Plus, knowing the community makes it possible to work closely with other local agencies to meet people’s needs.
Denise Jones, who enrolled in Healthy Start in February, has struggled with anxiety, depression and drug addiction, but has been sober since April.
In mid-July, baby items filled her room — a crib, a bassinet, tiny clothes hanging neatly in a closet — in anticipation of her child’s arrival. Jones, 32, flipped through a baby book, pointing to a sonogram of her son Levi, who would be born within a couple of weeks.
She said she feels healthy and blessed by the help she’s gotten from Healthy Start and Madonna House, a transitional living program run by Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma.
“I have professionals that are working with me and give me support. I didn’t have that with my other pregnancies,” she said. “I’m at one with my baby and I’m able to focus.”
This is the second story in a two-part series examining how the United States could curb deaths from pregnancy and childbirth.
AP Photo/ Mary Conlon
Denise Jones speaks with her Healthy Start care coordinator during a prenatal appointment at the Oklahoma State University obstetrics and gynecology clinic.
AP Photo/ Mary Conlon
Corrina Jackson, who heads up a local version of the federal Healthy Start program, stands for a portrait outside her home in Tulsa, Okla.
Five ways to implement ‘zero waste’ lifestyle
By Ariyana Griffin AFRO Staff Writer agriffin@afro.com
According to the Zero Waste International Alliance, zero waste is defined as “the conservation of all resources by means of responsible production, consumption, reuse, and recovery of products, packaging, and materials without burning and with no discharges to land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health.”
Over time, the definition has changed to include new solutions and ideas. The definition also may differ from state to state as it depends on the policies that the individual state upholds when it comes to the environment and sustainability.
“[By] turning off the tap while you brush your teeth in the morning and before bedtime, you can save up to eight gallons of water.”
Each September, climate advocates bring awareness to pollution and waste that goes into the environment as well as resources available for people to do their part in being more sustainable. Are you interested in becoming a conscious consumer with an understanding of how to cut down on waste? Read below for small tips that can make a big difference when it comes to pollution and helping the planet.
Buy in bulk
Purchase food in bulk with the least amount of single use plastic when possible as this reduces the amount of waste from packaging. Also, keep an eye out for recyclable packaging. An example is purchasing a large bag of trail mix and transferring it to reusable containers to take to work instead of buying smaller individual bags of trail mix.
Turn off water while brushing your teeth
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, by “turning off the tap while you brush your teeth in the
The idea of “zero waste” is a concept used by people who are looking to use every part of products they purchase and resources they use.
morning and before bedtime, you can save up to eight (8) gallons of water.” This totals to more than 200 gallons of wasted water a month.
Use what you have
Before going out and purchasing something new, try to use something you already have. There are also options to trade, thrift or repair, which is a sustainable way to obtain something new.
Use reusable items
Reusable bags and water bottles have the potential to keep tons of single use plastic out of landfills and oceans each year.
According to Plasticoceans.org, “annually approximately 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide. More than one million bags are used every minute.” They also share that “a plastic bag has an average ‘working life’ of 15 minutes.”
Look into eco friendly swaps
Some simple swaps that can be made without disrupting day-to-day activities is swapping plastic out with bamboo. An example would be a bamboo toothbrush, making the toothbrush compostable once it is time to swap it out. There are also other options such as bamboo cutlery, dish scrubbers, hair brushes and more.
The world is pumping out 57 million tons of plastic pollution a year
By Seth Borenstein The Associated Press
The world creates 57 million tons of plastic pollution every year and spreads it from the deepest oceans to the highest mountaintop to the inside of people’s bodies, according to a new study that also said more than two-thirds of it comes from the Global South.
It’s enough pollution each year — about 52 million metric tons — to fill New York City’s Central Park with plastic waste as high as the Empire State Building, according to researchers at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom. They examined waste produced on the local level at more than 50,000 cities and towns across the world for a study in Wednesday’s journal Nature.
The study examined plastic that goes into the open environment, not plastic that goes into landfills or is properly burned. For 15 percent of the world’s population, government fails to collect and dispose of waste, the study’s authors said — a big reason Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa produce the most plastic waste. That includes 255 million people in India, the study said.
Lagos, Nigeria, emitted the most plastic pollution of any city, according to study author Costas Velis, a Leeds environmental engineering professor. The other biggest plastic polluting cities are New Delhi; Luanda, Angola; Karachi, Pakistan and Al Qahirah, Egypt. India leads the world in generating plastic pollution, producing 10.2 million tons a year (9.3 million metric tons), far more than double the next big-polluting nations, Nigeria and Indonesia. China, often villainized for pollution, ranks fourth but is making tremendous strides in reducing waste, Velis said. Other top plastic polluters are Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russia and Brazil. Those eight nations are responsible for
more than half of the globe’s plastic pollution, according to the study’s data.
The United States ranks 90th in plastic pollution with more than 52,500 tons (47,600 metric tons) and the United Kingdom ranks 135th with nearly 5,100 tons (4,600 metric tons), according to the study.
In 2022, most of the world’s nations agreed to make the first legally binding treaty on plastics pollution, including in the oceans. Final treaty negotiations take place in South Korea in November.
The study used artificial intelligence to concentrate on plastics that were improperly burned — about 57 percent of the pollution — or just dumped. In both cases incredibly tiny microplastics, or nanoplastics, are what turn the problem from a visual annoyance at beaches and a marine life problem to a human health threat, Velis said.
Several studies this year have looked at how prevalent microplastics are in our drinking water and in people’s tissue, such as hearts, brains and testicles, with doctors and scientists still not quite sure what it means in terms of human health threats.
“The big time bomb of microplastics are these microplastics released in the Global South mainly,” Velis said. “We already have a huge dispersal problem. They are in the most remote places ... the peaks of Everest, in the Mariana Trench in the ocean, in what we breathe and what we eat and what we drink.”
He called it “everybody’s problem” and one that will haunt future generations.
“We shouldn’t put the blame, any blame, on the Global South,” Velis said. “And we shouldn’t praise ourselves about what we do in the Global North in any way.”
It’s just a lack of resources and ability of government to provide the necessary services to citizens, Velis said.
Outside experts worried that the study’s focus on pollution, rather than overall production, lets the plastics industry off the hook. Making plastics emits large amounts of greenhouse gas that contribute to climate change.
“These guys have defined plastic pollution in a much narrower way, as really just macroplastics that are emitted into the environment after the consumer, and it risks us losing our focus on the upstream and saying, hey now all we need to do is manage the waste better,” said Neil Tangri, senior director of science and policy at GAIA, a global network of advocacy organizations working on zero waste and environmental justice initiatives. “It’s necessary but it’s not the whole story.”
Theresa Karlsson, science and technical advisor to International Pollutants Elimination Network, another coalition of advocacy
“This study underscores that uncollected and unmanaged plastic waste is the largest contributor to plastic pollution and that prioritizing adequate waste management is critical to ending plastic pollution.”
groups on environment, health and waste issues, called the volume of pollution identified by the study “alarming” and said it shows the amount of plastics being produced today is “unmanageable.”
But she said the study misses the significance of the global trade in plastic waste that has rich countries sending it to poor ones. The study said plastic waste trade is decreasing, with China banning waste imports. But Karlsson said overall waste trade is actually increasing and likely plastics with it. She cited EU waste exports going from 110,000 tons (100,000 metric tons) in 2004 to 1.4 million tons (1.3 million metric tons) in 2021.
Velis said the amount of plastic waste traded is small. Kara Lavender Law, an oceanography professor at the Sea Education Association who wasn’t involved in the study, agreed, based on U.S. plastic waste trends. She said this was otherwise one of the more comprehensive studies on plastic waste.
Officials in the plastics industry praised the study.
“This study underscores that uncollected and unmanaged plastic waste is the largest contributor to plastic pollution and that prioritizing adequate waste management is critical to ending plastic pollution,” Chris Jahn, council secretary of the International Council on Chemical Associations, said in a statement. In treaty negotiations, the industry opposes a cap on plastic production.
The United Nations projects that plastics production is likely to rise from about 440
tons (400
metric tons) a year to more than 1,200
(1,100
tons, saying “our planet is choking in plastic.”
Jennifer McDermott contributed from Providence, Rhode Island.
This article was originally published by the Associated Press.
City workers remove garbage floating on the Negro River, which has a rising water level due to rain, in Manaus, Amazonas state, Brazil, June 6, 2022.
AP Photo/Edmar Barros
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM000487
SONIA M. CORMACK Name of Decedent
VICKEY A. WRIGHT-SMITH 1629 K STREET, NW #300 WASHINGTON DC 20006
Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
TAVON CORMACK , whose address is 1658 F ST. NE WASHINGTON DC 20002 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of SONIA M. CORMACK, who died on OCTOBER 03, 2023 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before MARCH 02, 2025. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before MARCH 02, 2025 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: AUGUST 30, 2024 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Daily Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
TAVON CORMACK
Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 8/30, 9/06, 9/13/24
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO.
2024ADM000944
20001, on or before MARCH 02, 2025. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before MARCH 02, 2025 or be forever barred.
Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Daily Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers MONICA THOMAS Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 8/30, 9/06, 9/13/24
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM000834 EVELYN C. CRAIG Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs TERRENCE J. CRAIG, whose address is 3017 15TH NE WASHINGTON
VIRGINIA WILSON Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs ELIZABETH DOZIER , whose address is 1900 3RD STREET N.E WASHINGTON DC 20002 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of VIRGINIA WILSON, who died on MARCH 03, 2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before MARCH 02, 2025. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before MARCH 02, 2025 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: AUGUST 30, 2024 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Daily Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
ELIZABETH DOZIER Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 8/30, 9/06, 9/13/24
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM000983
JUWAUN ROBERT SMITH Name of Decedent
NATALIE S. WALKER ESQ. 1101 CONNECTICUT AVENUE NW SUITE 402 WASHINGTON DC 20036 Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
JAKIA SMITH, whose address is 3541 JAY STREET, NE, #101 WASHINGTON DC 20019 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of JUWAUN
ROBERT SMITH who died on OCTOBER 22, 2019 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before MARCH 06, 2025. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before MARCH 06, 2025 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: SEPTEMBER 06, 2024 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION
ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM000353 MINNIE V. SMITH Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
ALICIA SMITH, whose address is 3537 HERTFORD PLACE NW WASHINGTON DC 20010 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of MINNIE V.
SMITH who died on JANUARY 3, 2005 without a Will. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before MARCH 06, 2025. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before MARCH 06, 2025 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: SEPTEMBER 06, 2024 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
ALICIA SMITH Personal Representative TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 9/06, 9/13, 9/20/24
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM000976 PAMELA BAYLOR Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
ASHLEY SIMMONS, whose address is 500 21ST STREET NE WASHINGTON DC 20002 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of PAMELA BAYLOR who died on MAY 16, 2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before MARCH 06, 2025. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before MARCH 06, 2025 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication:
SEPTEMBER 06, 2024 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
ASHLEY SIMMONS Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 9/06, 9/13, 9/20/24
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM000386
BETTY W. ROBINSON Name of Decedent Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs
MICHAEL FRANCIS ADAMS, whose address is 1810 IRVING ST N.E. WASHINGTON DC 20018 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of BETTY W. ROBINSON, who died on DECEMBER 10, 2023 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before MARCH 13, 2025. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before MARCH 13, 2025 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice
CHARLES WILLIAM HARGRAVE Name of Decedent WILLIAMS C. KING, POWERS, LEWIS & KING PLLC 5039 CONNECTICUT AVENUE NW BUILDING ONE WASHINGTON DC 20008 Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors
TERRENCE J. CRAIG
JAKIA SMITH Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 9/06, 9/13, 9/20/24
9/13, 9/20, 9/27/24
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM000790 ELNORA EASTER LEWIS AKA ELNORA E. LEWIS Name of Decedent D. GREER 1350 LEEGATE ROAD NW WASHINGTON DC 20012 Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs MURIEL L. LEWIS, whose address is 703 ADRIAN STREET, SE WASHINGTON DC 20019 was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of ELNORA EASTER LEWIS AKA ELNORA E. LEWIS, who died on APRIL 21, 2024 with a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their appearance In this proceeding. Objections to such, appointment shall be filed With the Register of Wills, D.C., Building A, 515 5th Street, N.W., 3rd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20001, on or before MARCH 13, 2025. Claims against the decedent shall be presented to the undersigned with a copy to the Register of Wills or filed with the Register of Wills with a copy to the undersigned, on or before MARCH 13, 2025 or be forever barred. Persons believed to be heirs or legatees of the decedent who do not receive a copy of this notice by mail within 25 days of its publication shall so inform the Register of Wills, including name, address and relationship. Date of first publication: SEPTEMBER 13, 2024 Name of newspaper and/or periodical: Daily Washington Law Reporter AFRO American Newspapers
MURIEL L. LEWIS Personal Representative
TRUE TEST COPY REGISTER OF WILLS 9/13, 9/20, 9/27/24
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PROBATE DIVISION
ADMINISTRATION NO. 2024ADM999
JANE DAVIS ADAMS Name of Decedent
TYECHIA L. WHITE ESQ 300 NEW JERSEY AVE NW SUITE 300 WASHINGTON DC 20001 Notice of Appointment, Notice to Creditors and Notice to Unknown Heirs BRANDON EUGENE ADAMS, whose address is 1305
CHALMERS RD was appointed Personal Representative of the estate of JANE DAVIS ADAMS, who died on FEBRUARY 11, 2024 without a Will and will serve without Court supervision. All unknown heirs and heirs whose whereabouts are unknown shall enter their ap-
BOARD OF LIQUOR LICENSE COMMISSIONERS FOR BALTIMORE CITY NOTICE – SEPTEMBER 2024
Petitions have been filed by the following applicants for licenses to sell alcoholic beverages at the premises set opposite their respective names. The real property for these applications will be posted on or about September 16, 2024. Written protests concerning any application will be accepted until and including the time of the hearing. Public hearings may be scheduled on or after September 26, 2024 at 10:30 AM in City Hall; 100 N. Holliday Street, Room 215, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. Please visit llb. baltimorecity.gov under the link for “Hearing Schedules” for confirmation of the date, time, and place for all matters being heard by the Board.
1. CLASS “A” BEER, WINE & LIQUOR LICENSE
Applicant: Hbret, LLC T/a Midtown Liquors - Binyam Yared Kebrab and Habtom Misna Weldemichael
Petition: Transfer of ownership requesting delivery of alcoholic beverages Premises: 17 W. Biddle Street 21201
(City Council District: 11th; State Legislative District: 40th)
Applicant: 29 th Street Licensee 2, LLC T/a Trade Name PendingThibault Manekin and Benjamin Daley McDonald
Petition: Transfer of ownership
Premises: 2600 N. Howard Street, Suite 1000 21218 (City Council District: 12th; State Legislative District: 43A)
2. CLASS “B” BEER, WINE & LIQUOR LICENSE
Applicant: Cloudz & Coctailz, LLC T/a Cloudz & Cocktailz - Tyisha Bogues and Anthony Bogues
Petition: New restaurant license
Premises: 2035 N. Broadway 21213
(City Council District: 12th; State Legislative District: 45th)
Applicant: Deeply Rooted Dining, LLC T/a Rooted Rotisserie - Amanda Lousie Ngangana and Joseph Timothy Burton, Jr.
Petition: New restaurant license requesting off-premises catering and delivery of alcoholic beverages
Premises: 1114-16 Hollins Street 21223
(City Council District: 9th; State Legislative District: 40th)
3. CLASS “B” BEER, WINE & LIQUOR LICENSE (ARENA)
Applicant: Thompson Hospitality Services, LLC T/a Physical Education Complex - Joseph Michael Lawler, Jr. New arena license requesting live entertainment
Premises: 2500 W. North Avenue 21216
(City Council District: 7th; State Legislative District: 40th)
4. CLASS “BD7” BEER, WINE & LIQUOR LICENSE
Applicant: 1813 Sips, LLC T/a Trade Name Pending - Catherine Carmen Borg, Megan Kathryn Elcrat, and Amrita Kaur Dang
Petition: Transfer of ownership
Premises: 1813 N. Charles Street 21201
(City Council District: 12th; State Legislative District: 40th)
Applicant: Son-Son, Inc. T/a Son Son Tavern & Liquor StoreGurdeep Singh
Petition: Transfer of location of a Class “BD7” BWL license presently located at 308 N. Eutaw
communication site for this RFP.
To access files Vendors are required to Register on the Bonfire platform. See registration link below.
https://vendor.bonfirehub.com/
PROPOSAL RESPONSES ARE DUE ON OR BEFORE Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at 12:00 NOON.
Email Ahmad Zubair MAJEED, Sr. Procurement Consultant (OAS) at amajeed@dchousing.org with copy to business@dchousing.org for additional information.
Mayor Bowser allocates $25 million to nonprofits for out-of-school youth programs
By Ariyana Griffin AFRO Staff Writer agriffin@afro.com
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser awarded $25.1 million in grants from the Education’s Office of Out-of-School Time Grants and Youth Outcomes to 125 local nonprofit organizations that offer free and low cost programming for youth on Sept. 7.
The awarded organizations offer students intensive opportunities; the D.C. Government shared that the programs will focus on “academic achievement, the performing arts, athletics, STEM, financial literacy, career preparation and more.”
An estimated 15,000 students will benefit from the out-of-school time initiative this school year, allowing students to engage in extracurricular activities in specified interests outside of school.
“We’re proud to offer a plethora of out-of-school time programming in the District, and these organizations ensure our children and teens have a wide range of options that meet their interests and needs,” said Deputy Mayor for Education Paul Kihn in a statement.
“Students who participate in OST programs have higher school attendance and do better in school than those who do not. That’s what makes our investment so critical – it provides our kids with quality activities to elevate their learning beyond the classroom, setting them up for success now and in the future,”
AFRO High Tea returns to D.C.
By Catherine Pugh Special to the AFRO
Over 200 people gathered on Sept. 7 at Shiloh Baptist Church, in Washington, D.C. for the 2024 AFRO High Tea.
The event attracted women in their fanciest outfits and gorgeous hats and fascinators. There were also some welldressed men in attendance. All present paid tribute and honor to four women who have distinguished themselves in political and community service.
The honorees included Prince George’s County Executive and Maryland U.S. Senate Candidate Angela Alsobrooks; Cora Masters Barry, the civic leader, professor and widow of the man known as “D.C.’s mayor for life,” Marion Barry; Former mayor of D.C. and attorney, Sharon Pratt, and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton.
Diane Hocker, AFRO director of community and public relations, coordinated the event, which opened with an introduction of the Mistress of Ceremonies (MC) for the occasion, Dr. Renee Allen, founder of Global Conscious Initiative, and LaTara Harris, CEO and president Crittenton Services of Greater Washington. The two MCs’ added balance to the program as they alternated duties of the program, while presenting entertainment and guests.
After being introduced, Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper, AFRO CEO and publisher thanked the honorees and hundreds present. Robert Brown, served as entertainment for the afternoon, performing two songs for the audience.
AFRO Executive Director and Advertising manager Lenora Howze gave the invocation before guests were served chicken, macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes and salad.
The award presentation portion of the program began with the introduction of County Executive Angela Alsbrooks, who cited the roles of each of the honorees as mentors, friends and employers in her life.
“It was 32-years ago that I was hired by Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton. At the New York Democratic National Convention in 1992, I was on the floor checking credentials and 32 years later I am on the floor of the
Democratic National Convention in Chicago as a speaker. I thank the AFRO American Newspapers for continuing to tell our story. I believe in you,” she told the audience. “When they see me. They will see you. The best is yet to come.”
After receiving her award, Cora Masters Barry said to Alsobrooks, “you’re going to be president one day.” The crowd erupted into applause. “We’re running this,” referring to Kamala Harris’ campaign to become president of the United States.
“Don’t close that door,” she said, referring to the current class of strong, Black women leaders and the opportunities they can open for those to come. “Make sure one of us is walking through.”
Honoree Sharon Pratt, former mayor of D.C., gave a moving speech to the audience.
“When I was captain of my line, Kamala Harris was being born,” said Pratt, speaking on Harris, her fellow Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority member, now a candidate for the president of the United States.
“We’ve always been marginalized. When they said ‘Black’ they meant ‘Black men’…when they said ‘women’ they meant ‘White women,” said Pratt, before thanking the AFRO for the recognition. “If we don’t tell our story and tell it right, who is going to tell it?”
When Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton approached the podium the crowd rose to their feet with applause. Norton has represented the citizens of Washington, D.C. since 1991. The tenured Georgetown University professor also thanked the AFRO American Newspapers for the honor of being recognized alongside such distinguished women, who are pushing for change at the highest levels of government.
“Isn’t it just perfect that one of ours will be the first woman president of these United States?” asked Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton.
Each honoree received their own framed copy of the AFRO American Newspaper, featuring their story in a front-
Washington Wizards to hold inaugural coaches clinic Sept. 28
By D. Kevin McNeir Special the AFRO
A free clinic open to basketball coaches of all levels in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area will be sponsored by the Washington Wizards on Saturday, Sept. 28 at the Entertainment and Sports Arena, home of the Washington Mystics and Capital City Go-Go, in Southeast, Washington, D.C.
“This is for coaches from all levels – college, high school, summer leagues– you name it.”
According to a Wizards spokesperson, the clinic aims to strengthen the local coaching community and provide valuable insights that can be taken back to schools and teams across the region. The clinic represents the Wizards’ longtime commitment to empowering local talent.
John Thompson III, former head coach, Georgetown University, now entering his second season as senior vice president of Monumental Basketball, continues to focus on exploring and implementing best practices for the Wizards, Mystics and Go-Go while ensuring accountability for excellence across the organization.
He spoke with the AFRO about the upcoming clinic and noted why he thinks it’s a “win-win opportunity.”
“This is for coaches from all levels – college, high school, summer leagues– you name it,” said Thompson, who has long been an ardent supporter of the Greater Washington Area and who, in 2007, established the John Thompson III Foundation to create a positive and lasting impact on the city that he cherishes.
Jury finds final two gang members guilty in murder of 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson
By D. Kevin McNeir
On Tuesday, Sept. 3, a Superior Court jury returned guilty verdicts against two men charged in the murder of 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson and an associate who obstructed justice in the case. The verdicts were announced by U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves and Chief Pamela Smith of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). The jury found Mark Price, 30, and Antonio Murchison, 31, guilty of first-degree murder while armed; conspiracy to commit a crime of violence; participation in a criminal street gang; obstruction of justice; multiple counts of assault with intent to kill while armed and other related firearms offenses. Both men are members of the “Wellington Park Crew.”
Additionally, the jury found Quanisha Ramsuer, 31, guilty of obstruction of justice in connection with the investigation into the murder of Makiyah Wilson.
Sentencing hearings are scheduled for Dec. 13, 2024.
On July 16, 2018, Price, Murchison, and three other individuals who have already been convicted, drove to the Clay Terrace neighborhood armed with guns. Price, the driver, stopped briefly to allow the other defendants to exit the vehicle. Then, they decided to open fire on the Clay Terrace courtyard, firing more than 50 shots, indiscriminately.
Makiyah Wilson, who was sitting on the front stoop of her home, was killed.
Several other people were wounded. Still, witnesses were unwilling to identify the shooters.
The government presented forensic evidence, statements the defendants
Continued on D2
“This is about coaches helping coaches,” he said. “I’ve said many times that the basketball players in the DMV are among the best in the country – part of that is because of the outstanding coaching in this area. We have some great coaches leading the clinic. But this is only the beginning.”
“Next year, we’ll rotate with other coaches,” Thompson
Special to the AFRO
AFRO Photos / Patricia McDougall
The clinic will be led by Coach Brian Keefe, head coach of the Wizards, with special guest coaches Ed Cooley of Georgetown, Kenny Blakeney of Howard, and Duane Simpkins, a coach for American University.
Each year the AFRO honors leaders in the community at their High Tea events. This year’s honorees from the D.C. area include Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (left); Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (second from left); Cora Masters Barry (second from right) and former D.C. Mayor Sharon Pratt.
Mayor Bowser
Continued from D1
Kihn said.
The OTS Office is dedicated to improving the programs, which are positive and safe outlets for youth.
The office has allocated $113 million in awards for District nonprofits since 2017, creating and
time activities for youth in the nation’s capital.
supporting programming for over 80,000 students.
The OST Office’s Institute for Youth Development has curated over 500 workshops to ensure improvement and growth within the programs and has developed detailed training for over 5,000
service providers since 2019.
We understand the critical role that highquality and engaging out-of-school learning opportunities play in the lives of our kids,” said Mayor Bowser in a statement.
“This $25.1 million investment in free and low-cost programs is about more than just expanding access – it’s about ensuring that every child in D.C. has the chance to thrive,” said Bowser.
These programs enhance social and emotional well-being and provide a safe and stimulating environment where our students can discover their passions, build new skills, and stay excited about learning every day.”
AFRO High Tea
Continued from D1
cover layout.
Aside from the awards, a highlight of the afternoon was the fashion parade, where attendees showed off their fascinators and hats. The nearly five-
minute parade through the hall featured the women dancing, swinging their napkins and tipping their hats.
As the festivities came to a close, Draper reminded
Makiyah Wilson
Continued from D1
made over social media and motive evidence in presenting its case.
Ramseur lived in or hung out in the Wellington Park neighborhood most of her life and knew most of the defendants, one of whom she identified as her cousin. She was observed on video surveillance interacting with the defendants as they
loaded into the vehicles to drive to Clay Terrace to commit the shooting.
She was also observed on video closely engaging with one of the defendants who orchestrated the attack, but who remained behind.
Ramseur steadfastly refused to identify the individuals with whom she was interacting in the video,
those present to vote, guests gathered for photos, conversation and visits to the vendor section of the event, marking yet another successful AFRO High Tea in D.C.
resulting in the charge of obstruction of justice. The case was investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. It was prosecuted and tried by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura Bach and Natalie Hynum.
Washington Wizards
Continued from D1
continue. “The bottom line is the talented group of coaches in this region will be able to share with one another, to teach one another and to learn from one another.”
Thompson said the credit for the clinic goes to Wizards Head Coach Brian Keefe.
“Coach Keefe walked up to me and said he wanted to hold a clinic for local coaches and asked me if we could put something
together,” Thompson said.
“I told him of course. This is his first year as head coach but he’s been in the NBA for a long time. He understands every position on the bench and he’s built to help players and others in the profession.”
Thompson said he feels fortunate to be part of the Monumental Basketball family.
“I loved coaching at Georgetown but I am also really enjoying the journey
that I am on today. I still have daily interactions with players and coaches and I’m involved in most aspects of the game. But I am also learning and contributing to the business side of the sport,” he said.
“It’s complex for sure. But above all, it’s a people business. This clinic is another opportunity for us to bring people out, get them involved and unify them.”
John Thompson III, former head coach of Georgetown University and current senior vice president of Monumental Basketball, says the upcoming clinic for basketball coaches will help sports leaders at every level.
AP Photo/Nick Wass
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is taking action to help grade school students in the District. A total of $25 million will be invested into nonprofits looking to develop and sustain programming for out-of-school
AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
Family of 10-year-old Makiyah Wilson are still mourning her 2018 death, after being shot by a stray bullet during a carjacking.
Courtesy photo
Entertainers, entrepreneurs and culinary artists highlight 15th annual D.C. State Fair
By D. Kevin McNeir Special to the AFRO
Overcast skies and unseasonably cool temperatures were not enough to keep several hundred people from the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area (DMV) from attending the 15th Annual D.C. State Fair on Saturday, Sept. 7.
Held this year at Franklin Park in Northwest, Washington, D.C., the event featured musical performances from local entertainers and contests – from pie eating to pie making–along with activities such as hand dance demonstrations from the National Hand Dance Association.
The free event, inspired by decadesold state fair traditions, showcased more than 15 food vendors and more than 75 artists, makers, local small businesses, nonprofit organizations and sponsors. But the real goal of the event, according to leading sponsors, was to celebrate the people and things that make the District of Columbia unique.
Brian Americus, 40, a self-described military brat who now lives in Southeast, Washington, D.C. was on site to sell his V-neck shirts as a fair vendor.
“I came up with these shirts because I wanted to give men something that was both stylish and casual – a shirt they could wear to work and then to happy hour or a dinner date,” he said. “I’ve been doing well with my website (BrianAmericus.com) and with pop-ups but the best way to convince men, and now women, to buy my shirts is for them to see them in person and feel the product. Once that happens, at least 85 percent of folks are sold.”
Native Washingtonian Dancer Sze, 28, first attended the state fair in 2021 when she took second place in a contest for creating the best pickle. This year, she set her sights on the Best Jam contest – and she took the blue ribbon for first place.
“During the pandemic, because we were forced to stay indoors, I started spending more time in the kitchen and began to create some new items in my repertoire– including pickling and making jams,” Sze said. “I can’t express how excited and happy I am to have won first place for my blueberry balsamic jam. One day I want to have my own business and this has given me the
encouragement I needed. What’s even better is having my two best friends here to help me enjoy my victory.”
Sze’s friends, Helen Abraha, 28, and Sophie Miyoshi, 26, both from Northeast, Washington, D.C., said this year was their first time attending the state fair, but certainly not their last.
“I grew up in Ohio, so I am used to attending
state fairs,” Abraha said. “And after seeing Dancer win a ribbon, I will be back next year with some of my fabulous cakes.”
Miyoshi hopes to return with some of her own recipes in the future.
“I’m coming back next year to support the fair and I’m going to enter my vegan macaroni and cheese in one of the contests. It’s the bomb!” she said.
While she enjoyed the event, Miyoshi spoke to some of the issues lurking in the background of the fun filled weekend event.
“D.C. isn’t a state but it should be,” she said.
In support of D.C. statehood and voters rights, Anne Stauffer from Northwest, representing the League of Women Voters of the District of Columbia, collaborated with members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Their goal was to encourage voter engagement and to advocate for D.C. statehood.
“D.C. statehood is crucial because we deserve the same rights as other Americans –one person, one vote,”
Stauffer said. Lucille Brewer, from Northwest, Washington, D.C. was joined in her efforts to educate the public on voter registration and calls for D.C. statehood by her sorors, Novella Bridges and Nyisha Williams,
both from the Southeast area of the District. It was their first time volunteering at the state fair.
“We are here to promote and encourage social action,” said Brewer. “That’s what we do.”
Virginia Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears aims for commonwealth’s top political office
By D. Kevin McNeir Special to the AFRO
Lt. Gov. Winsome
Earle-Sears, the first Black woman to hold statewide office in the Commonwealth of Virginia, has officially entered the race for governor. On Wednesday, Sept. 4, the Virginia Department of Elections accepted the necessary documents for Earle-Sears to run for governor in the 2025 election season.
Earle-Sears is the first Republican to officially enter the race for the party’s nomination in 2025 and hopes to take
Youngkin’s seat. Youngkin cannot seek reelection because Virginia is the only state that does not allow governors to run for consecutive terms.
Earle-Sears, a Marine veteran who, immigrated to the U.S. from Jamaica as a child, defeated Democrat Hala Ayala to become the second woman in Virginia to serve in a statewide office. Attorney Gen. Mary Sue Terry, elected in 1985, was the first.
The first Black Republican woman
elected to the House of Delegates, Earle-Sears has also served on the State Board of Education and considers herself a staunch conservative. She recently served as the national chair of an organization dedicated to reelecting former President Donald Trump. She has also led a men’s prison ministry, served as director of a women’s homeless shelter and run a plumbing and electrical supply company.
U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger stands as the only Democrat currently seeking her party’s nomination to run for governor.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority members Novella Bridges (left), Nyisha Williams and Lucille Brewer, encourage residents to register to vote as they support D.C. statehood efforts.
Photo courtesy of D. Kevin McNeir
Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears is running for the governor’s seat in Commonwealth of Virginia.
AP Photo/Steve Helber
Native Washingtonian Dancer Sze (center) shows off her blue ribbon with best friends, Sophie Miyoshi (left) and Helen Abraha (right )after taking first place for her blueberry balsamic jam in one of many contests held during the D.C. State Fair.
Photos courtesy of D. Kevin McNeir
The D.C. State Fair brings out thousands of people from the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area each year.
Photo courtesy of D. Kevin McNeir
AFRO News returns to D.C. with High Tea
By AFRO Staff
The AFRO American Newspapers held their High Tea in the nation’s capital on Saturday, Sept. 7. Elected officials, community leaders and their guests mingled with tea attendees in their finest threads, hats
and shoes.
The event honored Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, Congresswoman Eleanour Holmes Norton, civic leader and professor Cora Masters Barry and former D.C. Mayor Sharon Pratt.
Those in attendance enjoyed food from B&B
II and entertainment from the Too Much Talent Band and singer Robert Brown.
The D.C. High Tea debuted in 2018. The inaugural event was put together by the late Edgar Brookins, a beloved member of the community and long-time AFRO circulation and general manager.
AFRO CEO and Publisher Dr. Frances “Toni” Draper (center) shares a moment with honorees of the 2024 tea, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (left) Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks (second from left), Cora Masters Barry (second from right) and former D.C. Mayor Sharon Pratt.
Co-Founder and Vice President of Sisters 4 Sisters Network, Dr. Sharon J. Bullock (left), with Marian Thomas, Alicia Pryor and Gina Duncan.
Pinky Lee Taylor
Adeola Ariyo (left); Madia Brown; Ayris Scales; Ariana Scales; Alexis Squire and Tia Butler show off their high tea hats.
Eunice Omotoye (left) makes her rounds in the vendor section of the event, making a stop at the table of Dr. Aramide Adeyemi, CEO of Aramide, for jewelry.
Veronica Kelly (left) Kimberly Booker, Tallulah Anderson, Veronica Hutchinson, Cynthia Washington, Ivornette Lynch, Raymia Henderson and Theresa Hudnall
Lenora Howze (left), Denise Lawrence and Diane Hocker (front).
Clarice Torian (left) takes a moment with AFRO Board Member Rachael Murphy Humphrey and Carolyn Woodson.
Maia McCuiston (left), Treasure McClain and Lavern Chatman
Jozanne Douglas and Taeilorae Levell-Young
AFRO photos / Patricia McDougall
Shown here, LaTara Harris, CEO and president of Crittenton Services of Greater Washington. Harris was an excellent Mistress of Ceremonies for the 2024 AFRO High Tea in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Renee Allen, one of two women to serve as Mistress of Ceremony for the event, strikes a pose. Allen is founder of Global Conscious Initiative and a longtime supporter of the AFRO.