THE MOST WIDELY CIRCULATED CARIBBEAN AMERICAN NEWSPAPER IN FLORIDA
THURSDAY DECEMBER 10, 2020
CNWEEKLYNEWS.COM
TOP STORIES
RESPECT THE
CROWN Broward County Commission Bans Hair Discrimination with Passage of CROWN Act By Sheri-Kae McLeod
Over the last few years, there has been a shift in the Black community, with more men and women moving away from the European standards of beauty and embracing their natural bodies, facial features, melanated skin, and very significantly—their natural hair. But while this type of awakening has been celebrated across the diaspora, many corporate entities and school boards have been less than enthused about this newfound self-love. Across the United States, and even in countries with a majority-Black population like Jamaica, Black people have faced discrimination for wearing their natural hair in braids, afros, locs, and other styles that have formed part of Black culture and the universal Black identity. But this kind of discrimination can no longer take place in Broward County, home to a significant percentage of Jamaican-Americans in Florida—at least not without consequences. On December 1, Broward became the first in the state of Florida to ban racially based hair discrimination. The county commission unanimously agreed to pass the legislation, showing support for the CROWN Act. The CROWN Act was created in 2019 by Dove and the CROWN Coalition to ensure protection
Over 30 Jamaicans Taken Off Deportation Flight From the UK
Lewis Hamilton Tests Positive for Coronavirus
Holder Set for Major Appearance in Big Bash
Florida Surpasses 1 Million COVID Cases
Undocumented Caribbean Immigrants in New York Can Now Obtain Driver’s Licenses
continues on B4 – Respect the Crown
Saving Rafael’s Leg: A Mother’s Relentless Quest By Garth A. Rose
W
hen the difference between having functioning legs or a permanent disability is US$250,000, the quest to find funds is an uphill battle for Jamaican mom Sherika Harris and her son Rafael. In 2015 Harris gave birth to a son, Rafael, in Jamaica’s capital city, Kingston. She and Rafael’s father were filled with joy and hope for their first child. But their joy was short-lived as not long after he was born, they realized there was something
wrong with his right leg--it was shorter than the left and twisted at the ankle. Doctors told Rafael's parents he was born with a very rare physical condition known as Tibial Hemimelia. According to doctors, the congenial orthopedic condition causes the shortening of the tibia resulting in a deformity of the leg affects only one in a million children. Naturally concerned to have her son to have full, normal use of his leg, Harris said she eagerly sought medical help in Jamaica. But because the condition is so rare in Jamaica, where only three cases were
known, not much help was available. She said a group of orthopedic specialists collaborated to observe Rafael’s rare condition, but came to the unfortunate—and for Harris—unacceptable solution to amputate the child’s right leg. Harris said, “I just could not accept that solution. I was determined to find some way, some medical solution, to help Rafael.” Turning to the child’s pediatrician, she was referred to Shriners Health Center for Children in Tampa, Florida. But on visiting Shriners, they were unable to recommend an alternative to amputation, but fortunately
Jamaica Named the World’s Leading Cruise Destination
CARICOM Joins in Observing World Aids Day
continues on B4 – A Mother’s Quest
WHAT’S INSIDE NEWSMAKER
CARIBBEAN
COMMUNITY
sports
Atkinson: The First Caribbean Ambassador For The Special Olympics A3
Kamla Persad Bissessar Returns as Leader of the UNC A4
“Mek Di Pickney Dem Smile!” B3
Jamaican Footballer Alleges Years of Physical Abuse c3