“You Took A Beautiful Soul From Us”

AREA BRIEFS

"THE TRUTH" GUEST

Democratic Mayoral Primary winner India Walton will be the guest on "The Truth and Nothing But The Truth So Help Us God" talk Show July 31 from 1:30 to 2:00 PM on WUFO 1080 AM/ 96.5 FM radio. "The Truth," hosted by Samuel A. Herbert, airs on WUFO every last Saturday of each month. Michigan Street Heritage Corridor Project Community Update!

A Community Conversation to learn about our vision for the African American Heritage Corridor will be held Tuesday, July 27 from 6-7:30 PM. The update is being hosted by Strategic Planning Consultant, Moody Nolan, which has been gathering input from community members for several months and they are ready to share their draft plan with the community to gain more feedback. Curious about the project? For more information on how to register for the upcoming Conversation Update, email us at info@ michiganstreetbuffalo.org

SEE YOU AT THE POLLS IN NOVEMBER!

City Hall Reopens to the Public

Starting Monday most offices in City Hall will reopen to the pubic from 8:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m Monday through Friday for walk-in services; something residents have not been able to do since July of 2020 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The departments that will be open to the public without appointment effective Monday July 26 will include: Parking Violations, User Fee, Tax and Assessment, Treasury, Public Works, Permit and Inspection, Buffalo Urban Renewal Agency, Civil Service, City Clerk, Corporation Counsel and Real Estate. The City Hall lobby and inside observation deck will also be open. Buffalo Common Council meetings on the 13th floor will once again be open to the public to attend as well. In addition, Virtual meetings will continue to be streamed live on the Council’s Facebook page. The Council has been closed to the public since March 2020. The Board of Education offices will remain closed to walk-in traffic. "Masks will be required for unvaccinated visitors, but no proof of vaccination will be required.," Mayor Brown stated in a news release.

A FAMILY’S GRIEF: From left, Artavia Anderson, Poshine Jenifer, Danette Jenifer (center), Venita Underwood. Challenger Photo “You took a beautiful soul from us…”

Family expressed their grief over tragic loss of three-year old Shaquille Walker Jr. Thanks community for its support.

Danette Jenifer was able to compose herself just long enough to express her profound grief in a few simple words. “The people that did this…you took a beautiful soul from us,” she began. “Y'all really, like, ruined my life. Yes, I do have another son to live for, ”she said referring to her one-year-old. “But I’ll never get another Shaquille Walker Jr.” Those who took Shaquille from her, continued the 24-year-old mother, also “took him from his little brother” who he loved to hug, and “taught how to brush his teeth and put on his clothes.” Standing with Danette at the press conference last Thursday in MLK Park was her father, Poshine Jennifer, Artavia Anderson, her mother and Venita Underwood. “To those who have supported us at this very harsh time, we want to say thank you so very much,” said Mr. Jennifer “We don’t have no ill will against nobody – never did never will- but we have a family member that left tragically and it’s a very sad situation, but everybody's going to pull through.” Tina Sanders, the dedicated community worker and founder of No More Tears ,who reached out to the family and provided assistance, was also on hand. “On behalf of No More Tears, we have got to remember that this baby….this young vibrant baby never had a chance to live his life to the fullest. You destroyed a family” and devastated a community, she said directing her words to those involved in little Shaquille’s death. “We should be celebrating, not talking about the loss of a baby. So wherever you may be, however you may feel, it’s time for you to come forward.” She urged the community to keep the family in their prayers “We must remember this family even after the service (funeral) is over, because people tend to forget” she said. “They will still need wrapping arms, loving care and support.” The adorable little boy was caught in a crossfire when shots rang out on the Fourth of July holiday as a crowd watched fireworks in the Ferry Grider Homes on Donovan Drive. Shaquille was hit in the head. He was rushed to Children’s hospital but died a few days later from his injuries. Two others were injured. Shaquille family laid him to rest last Saturday. The funeral was held at True Bethel Baptist Church where the Rev. Darius Pridgen preached the eulogy.

Shaquille Walker Jr. Bloody Sunday: Troopers violently attack peaceful Civil Rights Voting marchers in Selma, Alabama in 1965. The Long History of Police Violence

Before slavery ended, newly established police departments were deployed to maintain a racial hierarchy system, beginning a long history of racially biased control of Black people that continued during Reconstruction, through the era of lynching and segregation and to the present. The rise of policing centered on the preservation of slavery. “Slave patrols” in the North and South focused their efforts on apprehending and returning “runaway slaves” to slave owners, deterring revolts by enslaved people and maintaining discipline and control. Although slave patrols were abolished at the end of the Civil War, their racially violent functions were assumed by White vigilante organizations and soon took root in police departments across the US. The rise of police forces in the U.S. during the early 19th century was spurred by the growth of cities and the abolition of slavery in the North. The first American police department was established in Boston in 1838 and was more focused on responding to disorder than crime. As African Americans fled the Jim Crow South in the late 29th century and early 20th century,

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SUMMER HOURS @ MANNA FOR DINING IN & TAKE OUT!

Tues. & Wed. 9AM - 6PM • Thurs. & Fri. 9AM -9PM Sat. & Sun. 11AM-4PM • Closed Mondays

ON MY MIND...

Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome

When it comes to mental health, there have been many studies on the impact of such factors as social determinants of health (economic stability, education access and quality, health care access and quality, neighborhood and built environment, and social and community context - ODPHP Healthy People 2020), discrimination, police brutality, and even in the history of mental health treatment in the United States dating back to the work of Benjamin Rush, the socalled “father of American psychiatry” and signer of the Declaration of Independence. But have you heard of Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome? Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome has been detailed in the book of the same name by social worker and researcher, Dr. Joy DeGruy. It is defined as, “....a condition that exists when a population has experienced multigenerational trauma resulting from centuries of slavery and continues to experience oppression and institutional racism today. Added to this is the belief (real or imagined) that the benefits of the society in which they live are not accessible to them.” What she details is that African American slaves endured trauma which has the same diagnostic criteria as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. PTSD includes a stressor such as a person who was exposed to death, threatened death, actual or threatened serious injury, or actual or threatened sexual violence. These must be experienced through direct exposure, witnessing in person, indirectly, learning that a close relative or close friend was exposed to trauma or repeated or extreme indirect exposure to adverse details of the event usually in the course of professional duties (for example, first responders). There are many symptoms associated with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, including recurrent involuntary, and intrusive memories, traumatic nightmares, intense or prolonged distress after exposure to traumatic reminders, among others. What Dr. DeGruy so clearly states is that African American slaves were obvious victims of repeated trauma that began during the Middle Passage and continued through the centuries that followed. Additionally, she describes how the systematic destruction of relationships caused by chattel slavery was meant to break the will of slaves’ which was passed down through the generations. This is explained by the concept of epigenetics (how your environment influences your genes). When taking this into consideration, it is clear that Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome is a factor in the lives of African Americans today. From slavery, through the Jim Crow Era, and more recently with the public deaths of George Floyd and many others, our mental health is being affected on many levels, even in our DNA. What has resulted is that African Americans share differential anxiety and survival behaviors that have been passed down through the many generations, many of whom suffered from PTSD. While there are many risk factors for mental health disorders, Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome is one that cannot be discounted for the Black community. When taking into consideration how racism and oppression has impacted our communities it is critical that we know our history from this perspective.

If you are looking for support and don’t know where to turn you can contact Mental Health Advocates of WNY at 886-1242. Never give up! Karl Shallowhorn is the President of Shallowhorn Consulting, LLC, the Chair of the Erie County Anti-Stigma Coalition and hosts the podcast, Mental Health Verses https://open.spotifysh ow/2CQ7LpBcOaCNLeh3PT9LGJ Follow Karl on Social Media: Facebook:MentalHealthVerses Instagram@mentalhealthverses Twitter - @MHVerses

New Mural Unveiling: Last Friday a mural commemorating the life of congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis was unveiled on the anniversary of his death. The Mural, is located at the Matt Urban Hope Center on Paderewski Drive. It was created by acclaimed artist Edreys Wajed . Pictured l/r Ben Hilligas, Executive Director of the Lieutenant Colonel Matt Urban Center of WNY ,Mitch Nowakowski, Buffalo City Councilmember for the Fillmore District, Edreys Wajed, artist and co-owner of Eat Off Art., Inc., Brian Higgins, US Congressman for WNY.,Howard Johnson, Erie County Legislator for District 1, and LaGuan Rodgers, local author. - Challenger Photo

Coronavirus Update

Ominous signs of a coronavirus backslide are piling up in the US. The American Academy of Pediatrics released new guidance yesterday recommending everyone over the age of 2 wear a mask while in school, regardless of vaccination status. That’s a stricter position than the one the CDC took earlier this month. One reason for the tighter precaution? Many school-aged children are not eligible for a Covid-19 vaccination yet, and recent virus surges

HEALTH MATTERS!

have overwhelmingly affected unvaccinated people. The average of new daily cases in the US this week is up 66% from last week and 145% from two weeks ago.

HEALTH MATTERS. eat to live!

It’s okay to be uncertain – nothing about the past year has been easy – but “ take time to find the answers to your questions and stay informed.”

– Dee Johnson

Witness Project

STAY SAFE. STAY SMART. GET VACCINATED. RoswellPark.org/StartToHeal