MAE Magazine August 2020

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PUBLISHER NOTES

T MAE MAGAZINE UnApologetically Black!

Our magazine is designed to ENGAGE, ENLIGHTEN and ENTERTAIN. Our topics will include any and everything that affects the melanin people living in America. It’s about our evolution and paying homage to our ancestors! It is time to stop being ashamed of our slavery history and instead, we will draw from their strength and learn of their greatness. We will also learn about Mother Africa and demand Reparations! We want our Forty Acres and a Check!

MAE MAGAZINE STAFF

his year marks the 100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution which passed Congress in June 4, 1919 and was ratified August 18, 1920. That amendment gave women the right to vote. To paraphrase a Virginia Slims Cigarette Commercial ―We‘ve come a long way, Baby.‖ Black women began making a difference, even before they could vote.

As early as the 1890‘s, an investigative reporter by the name of Ida B. Welles, exposed the horrors of the lynching of African American men and women.

Rosa Parks led the Montgomery Bus Boycott in December 1955 and Shirley Chisholm became the first woman to run for the presidency in 1972.

Michelle Obama became the first Black First Lady.

And now, we‘re proud to celebrate Kamala Harris (pronounced comma-la) as the first Black woman vice presidential candidate.

Kamala attended Howard University, the only HBCU (Historically Black College & University) to hold the distinction of being chartered as a university by an act of the United States Congress, and she pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) the first historically African American Greek-letter Sorority.

Emma Young Senior Editor

A very left-leaning Democrat, as California Senator, Kamala‘s voting record is just a little bit less progressive than Bernie Sanders, but not much. In fact, she signed up as co-sponsor to SB 1083, the Senate version of the Reparations Bill, HB 40, before Bernie did.

Derek Payne DPI Graphic Design Layout

She‘s sharp, she‘s witty, she‘s highly intelligent with a fabulous sense of humor and an infectious personality.

Lisa Caillouet Founder & Publisher

Contributing Writers Claudia M. Johnson MD LaShawn “Frank” Franklin Megan Bishop Louise Eberhart www.maemagazine.com

With this issue, we‘re celebrating the age of the Black woman.

Check out our article about four Black progressive female Congresswomen called ―The Squad.‖ Three of them won their primaries, and the fourth, Ayana Pressley, goes to her primary unopposed.

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Lisa Caillouet Founder & Publisher We also interviewed the amazing South African vocalist, CeeBoo for this issue and her story is inspiring, her talent is awesome, at the ripe young age of 30, she‘s making a name for herself internationally with her cross-over sounds of R&B, House and Jazz.

We hope you‘ll enjoy those, and all of the articles in this month‘s issue. Welcome to Mae Magazine.

Sincerely, Lisa Caillouet

WHAT’S INSIDE PUBLISHER NOTES

Pg2 SHATTERING THE MYTH OF OFFICER FRIENDLY

Pg4 WHAT IF TRUMP LOSES?

Pg7 THE SQUAD REIGNS VICTORIOUS

Pg11 HEALTH WHY? With Claudia M. Johnson M.D.

Pg14 ART & ENTERTAINMENT CEE-BOO International Singer, Songwriter and Music Producer

COVER STORY Possible Path to Justice for Breonna Taylor Pg 18

Pg22 A Listing of Some of our Black Brothers & Sisters Killed by the hands of Police in 2019

WATCH (THE) AUNTIES PLEASE

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Pg4 MAE MAGAZINE | August 2020

COMMENTARY

SHATTERING THE MYTH OF OFFICER FRIENDLY

BY EMMA YOUNG

I

attended a mostly-white Catholic school. One day a Chicago policeman came to our firstgrade classroom. The Nun introduced him to 30 wide-eyed children, 27 of whom were white, as ―Officer Friendly.‖ It was right before the Christmas break and he left a tin of hard candy in each classroom.

By the time I was thirteen years old, I learned that Officer Friendly really wasn‘t friendly. I encountered this lesson while my friend, Patricia and I were walking from a school store one August day, unaware that there was a race riot going on in my neighborhood. A squad car was coming toward us, on the wrong side of the street. Patricia broke out and ran. It took me a minute to determine what was happening and then I began to run also. But I was too late. As the big burly cop and his big burly partner pushed me into the back seat of the squad car, he took the umbrella I was carrying, saying ―Give me that umbrella you Black bitch.‖ I cried all the way to the station. At that time, it was illegal to put a child under 16 years of age into a squad car, so my mother sued – and won.

I soon learned that police did more than just take away an umbrella. They thought nothing of taking a Black life. Billy Petty was sitting on his front porch with a group of friends like 17-year olds do on summer days. A ―paddy wagon‖ cruised by and stopped. The police, guns drawn, demanded that the teens come to the van and assume the ―position.‖ That position was legs spread, palms against the side of the vehicle. The policeman then began to search the young men. As the policeman was searching Billy, gun against Billy‘s temple, he

Harassing and brutalizing Black people, especially Black men, seemed to be all some cops lived for. ―accidentally‖ pulled the trigger and blew Billy‘s brains out. Since it was an accident, the policeman was never charged.

Then there was Orville Wooten. He and his wife were driving home from a friends‘ home when the police pulled Orville over, supposedly for changing lanes too often. Why Orville chose to leave his driver‘s license at home we‘ll never know. But that was the worst mistake of his short life. His wife drove the car home to get his license and the cops took Orville to the station. In the thirty minutes it took her to get the license and come back to the police station, her young husband was dead. They said he hung himself in his cell. The coroner phoned his mother and told her that he had lumps and bruises all over his body, particularly his head, as if he had been beaten to death. However, his mother was powerless to do anything after Orville‘s wife signed her rights away for $35,000 (which was considered a lot of money back then).

Harassing and brutalizing Black people, especially Black men, seemed to be all some cops lived for. My co-worker at MAE MAGAZINE | August 2020 Pg5

the Chicago Urban League was picked up from work daily by her husband, driving his white Cadillac. And daily, when he pulled up a police car would pull up behind him with the same question: ―Whose car are you driving, Boy?‖ One morning in 1968, the then States Attorney ordered a group of policemen to the apartment of Fred Hampton and Mark Clark at 2:00 am in the morning, and as these two promising young leaders slept, these cowards, now wearing law enforcement badges instead of sheets, murdered them in their sleep.

Shortly after those murders, Renault Robinson, Buzz Palmer and Howard Saffold formed the Afro American Patrolman‘s League (the name was later changed to the Afro American Police League, (AAPL) to accommodate the inclusion of women.)

Pretty soon AAPL chapters were formed across the United States. That‘s how widespread police brutality was. Every time a policeman killed a Black man, it was labeled ―justifiable homicide.‖ Then came the invention of the cell phone with its built-in video camera. The killings didn‘t stop. They were just recorded.

The world saw Rodney King beaten. We all saw Michael Brown, with his hands in the air pleading ―don‘t shoot‖ as he was gunned down. We saw Eric Garner choked to death amid his cries of ―I can‘t breathe.‖ We witnessed the brutal murder of Philando Castile as he reached for his identification. We saw 12 year old Tamir Rice, gunned down as he played with his toy gun in a park..

The requirement to wear body cams didn‘t stop them, but in some cases seemed to give them bragging

rights. Even when they told a story that was different than what the body cam recorded their lies were accepted over the ―lying eyes‖ of those viewing the body cam, as in the case of LaQuann McDonald – until the video was forced to be released. With Sandra Bland there was a video camera on the police car, but the deputy went behind the camera to bang her head against the pavement, which is more of a probable cause of death than the purported suicide by hanging of six foot tall Sandra from a five foot tall apparatus.

A brave 17-year old young woman recorded the horrific death of George Floyd under the knee of Officer Derek Chauvin for 8 minutes and 36 seconds.

A brazen co-killer recorded the death of Amaud Arbery as he jogged through ―their‖ community.

A body cam, which was dropped or fell at the crucial moments, recorded the death of Rayshard Brooks.

And nobody filmed the murder of Breonna Taylor, as she lay in her own bed, in her own home. And it is likely that because of state law, her murderers will never be prosecuted.

Multiply these killings by the thou-

sands that never make the national news, or are only reported quietly.

Ariane McCree, a college graduate, a good citizen, who realizing one of his Wal -Mart purchases wasn‘t on the receipt and went back to pay for it, was accused of shoplifting, and seeing that his life was in danger, ran out to the parking lot, crowded with people, hoping someone would see the situation and help him. He was gunned down, and the police claimed that with his hands cuffed behind his back, he threatened them with a gun.

Twenty-four year old Bennie Branch‘s homeless mother was sleeping in her car when police approached her. Bennie went to see what the problem was, and somehow he and his mother drove off. The police caught up to them. Bennie got out of the car and ran – not toward them, but away from them – and he died of seven gunshot wounds – three in his back.

Those are only two of the hundreds of people killed by police in the year 2019.

In recent years, a world of racist white people have begun to take notice. They‘re realizing that Officer Friendly is not friendly to Black men and women, and even children. They‘ve discovered that a

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Black male or female has a very, very good chance of dying in the custody of a police officer – especially a white police officer.

The newly Trump-inspired Afrophobics of this nation now have access to a weapon that could harm, inflict pain and possibly kill any Black man, woman or child it comes in contact with. They pull the trigger by calling 9.1.1. The reasons for calling the trigger-happy law enforcers on Black people range from sitting in Starbucks waiting for someone, to selling water to neighbors, to sleeping in the dorm you live in of the school you attend, to walking your dog in the park, to telling someone to leash their dog, to taking a child for a swim in a private community pool in which you have membership, to selling lemonade, mowing lawns and the list goes on.

As a Black person, the next time you think about calling a cop for any reason – think carefully. The life you spare may be your own. 

POLITICAL

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TRUMP LOSES?

M

aya Angelo said when someone shows you who they are believe them the first time.

Donald Trump showed us that he is a racist, xenophobic, homophobic, sexist, white nationalist. We've had nearly four years to believe it. We've had almost four years to talk about it incessantly.

He has shown us that he is not above racist, xenophobic, divisive rhetoric. We have seen his rallies. We have heard his speeches. We have seen the results. In 2016, when he was having massive rallies to win the Republican primary and the General Election, there were 382 mass shootings – the most in any one year ever! This year as he is once again having massive rallies and tweeting much hate & divisiveness, not only to begin his campaign for four more years of terrorizing the country, but also to distract and deflect from the calls for impeachment, the results of the Mueller Report, his disastrous failure and response to the coronavirus, the unanswered calls for his tax returns and the disastrous trade war with China; during this same year there have already been 255 mass shootings.

The 254th mass shooting occurred in El Paso, Texas. A twenty-one year old white supremacist went to a Wal-Mart store in El Paso, Texas. He told authorities he went there, specifically to seek out and kill Hispanics. He wrote a very lengthy manifesto explaining his crime and his motivations. He expounded on his hatred of immigrants and Hispanics who his president said don‘t belong in this country. He displayed on his Facebook page a ―Trump‖ tattoo, and Trump said that the young man is ―mentally ill.‖ So the newspapers and commentators responded with, ―The President is confused.‖ ―The President thinks mental illness is the cause.‖ ―The President doesn‘t realize his rhetoric is radicalizing these young white supremacists.‖ No – The President doesn‘t think, he knows that mental illness was not the culprit in those killings. The President is not confused, he is very clear about how his rhetoric resonates with his base and the results. The President realizes exactly what he is doing, and we have had nearly four years to understand that he does what he does and says what he says

with a purpose.

Nearly four years ago candidate trump said, ―I could stand on the corner of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn‘t lose any voters.‖ It was also about that time that he was speaking of the people who voted for him and said, ―I love the poorly educated.‖ What is evident is they love him, too.

So, we know all that about Donald trump. He has shown us who he is, and the media keeps repeating it. We make fun of his stupidity, we laugh at the dumb things he says and does, we send out Facebook memes and tweet about his ignorance, but it‘s really not funny anymore and we need to stop laughing. In fact, we Pg8 MAE MAGAZINE | August 2020

need to stop tweeting, and CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS and NBC and the others need to stop reporting his every racist word for the world and the ―mentally ill‖ white supremacists to hear. (I didn‘t mention Fox News because they are a huge part of the problem). Because as he said, they love him. They will do anything for him.

And we‘d better pay attention.

We‘d better pay attention when he says that there will be a civil war if he is not reelected or if he is impeached. He also said if he loses the election he will not leave office. Listen to him. He‘s showing us exactly who he is. We are outraged that in his desperation to win, he is literally and unconstitutionally attempting to

TRUMP LOSES? destroy the United States Post Office. We were shocked for a moment when his ex-wife revealed that he kept a copy of ―A New Order,‖ a book of Hitler‘s speeches by his bed, and read from it every night. But then, he said or did something new and that was forgotten. We can ignore those words and actions to our peril, but keep in mind, he has the NRA, the KKK, the Neo-Nazis, the white supremacists with AKAs, racist law enforcement, the militia groups across the country (the Southern Poverty Law Center identified 334 in 2015) and the Evangelical Christians (Jim Baker said if trump is not re-elected, Christians will be murdered, one after the other) – and he has a host of blind & clueless ―poorly educated‖ followers at his beck and call, ready to lie for him and maybe even kill for him. All of these people are in place to carry out his civil war should

he lose the election or be impeached. He has read Hitler‘s book & he has studied Hitler and he knows how to use hatred to radicalize masses of weak-minded people. No one paid attention to the fact that he recently pardoned five convicted murderers. In doing so he described them as ―tough,‖ and said ―I like tough people.‖ Of course we know that 5 people cannot carry out a civil war, but that wasn‘t the purpose of releasing them. It was symbolic. It was to let us know just what he has the power to do. As they say ―forewarned is forearmed.‖ So do we fight fire with fire? I don‘t know if those of us who would be victims of his civil war could even match his firepower. But we can recognize the problem and try to find ways to deal with it before it‘s too late. Before he loses the election, or is impeached. Because I don‘t think his followers would take that

DEREK PAYNE Independent Distributor 614.522.9398

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lying down. David Duke said ―We will fulfill Donald Trump‘s promises.‖ He didn‘t say, ―If Donald Trump is defeated, we will go back in the closet & hide under our white robes.‖ What actions can be taken? Frankly I don‘t know. But I think we should be aware of the danger this man has wrought, and will continue to manifest. I think we should call upon our representatives to take his threats seriously and develop a game-plan. I think we should call upon the media to stop televising his rallies and his racist words and stop repeating his racist tweets so that perhaps fewer people will see and hear and become radicalized. I think that the Democrats should be thinking long and hard, not only about what we would do if Donald Trump wins the election, but what will we do if he loses. 

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W

ho, within the United States Congress, will speak up on behalf of African Americans, minorities and people of color? Who will fight for progressive ideas? Surely these are the questions Shirley Chisholm had in mind in 1971 when she founded the Congressional Black Caucus.

Congresswoman Chisholm was the first African American woman in Congress, and the first woman and African American to seek the nomination for the United States President. Congresswoman Chisholm was a strong woman with big ideas and in founding the Congressional Black Caucus, I

have no doubt that she thought she was leaving a legacy of fighters, or fellow Congressmen and women and Senators who would stand up and speak up for their African American brothers and sisters.

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THE SQUAD

Today there are 54 African Americans who make up the membership of the Congressional Black Caucus – thirty-two men and twenty-two women (52 Congressmen and women and two senators). Every so often you will hear of an individual member of the group speaking up for his or her people. A few of those instances come to mind. In 1989 then Representative John Conyers introduced H.R. 40, a bill to establish a commission to study reparations for African American descendants of slaves. Recently Sheila Jackson Lee picked up where Conyers left off, as the sponsor of that bill. Senator Corey Booker then introduced the Senate version of that bill, Senate Bill 1083. I‘m sure there are other things the CBC members have done, individually. But collectively? Well, every September they have a conference, which is more like a party. This is not the army that Congresswoman Chisholm envisioned. But there is a Squad. On January 3, 2019, four young, brilliant, progressive women joined the United States House of Representatives and they are carrying out Shirley Chisholm‘s vision in a stronger, more meaningful, more united way than all of the other 50 African American Congressmen and women combined.

Meet the Squad Although there is no formal designated leadership in the group, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( aka AOC) seems to have emerged as the leader. At thirty years old,AOC is the youngest of the Squad, yet her energy, her incredible brilliance, her ability to spout statistics and details, certainly makes her stand out even among these fabulously energetic, brilliant, outspoken women. Together, they stand out from the Congressional Black Caucus.

The Squad represents not only Black progressivism, but a future generation of leaders. The oldest member of the Squad is Ayanna Presley, who is only 45 years old. Rashida Tlaib is next, at 43 years of age, and Ilhan Omar is the next youngest, at thirty-seven years. The average age of the Squad is 38.3 years, compared to the average age of House members of 57.6 years.

The Squad gave themselves this name, or rather AOC coined the name which arose from East Coast hip hop culture and according to Wikipedia describes ―a selfchosen group of people that you want to identify with.‖ The hip hop group called Terror Squad originated in AOC‘s hometown, the Bronx.

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In 2016, Bernie Sanders created Our Revolution. A movement to bring young progressives into the legislative body. Ocasio-Cortez, a self-professed Socialist, is a product of that movement, and both she and Ayanna Presley surprisingly defeated the Democratic incumbents in primary elections. AOC and Rashida Tlaib are the first two female members of the Democratic Socialists of America to serve in Congress, and AOC is the first member to serve from the Bronx or Queens. Ilhad Omar took the seat previously occupied by Progressive Democrat, Keith Ellison, who retired to run for Attorney General of Minnesota. And he won! Tlaib followed John Conyers who resigned in 2017.

AOC has done quite a bit in her young life. After college she worked as a bartender and waitress, but later launched Brook Avenue Press, a publishing firm for books that portray the Bronx in a positive light. While running her publishing firm, she also worked as lead educational strategist at GAGEis, Inc. and served as the Educational Director of the 2017 Northeast Collegiate World Series for the nonprofit National Hispanic Institute. She was inspired to enter politics after working as an organizer for Bernie Sanders‘

THE SQUAD 2016 presidential campaign.

Ilhan Abdullahi Omar, the second youngest member of the Squad, is the U.S. Representative for Minnesota‘s 9th congressional district. The only member of the Squad that was not born in the United States, she is the first Somali-American, the first naturalized citizen from Africa and the first non-white woman elected from Minnesota and one of the first two Muslim women to serve in Congress. She received the largest percentage of the vote of any female candidate for U.S. House in Minnesota‘s history, as well as the largest percentage of the vote for a non-incumbent candidate for U.S. House in state history.

Like her predecessor, Keith Ellison, Omar was sworn in on a copy of the Quran. Like other members of the Squad she supports the Green New Deal, bringing an end to ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement ) more accessible student loan forgiveness programs. Having begun her professional career as a community nutrition educator at the University of Minnesota, it is not surprising that she vigorously supports Medicare for All, the bill introduced to the Senate by Bernie Sanders. She rivals AOC in having been the recipient of the most death threats. Omar is brilliant, vocal, outspoken and beautiful.

Rashida Tlaib serves as the U.S. Representative for Michigan‘s 13th Congres-

sional District. She is the first PalestinianAmerican woman in Congress and was the first Muslim woman to serve in the Michigan legislation. She is a proud member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) along with Alexandria OcasioCortez. She was born to her Palestinian parents in Detroit, Michigan where her father worked on an assembly line in a Ford Motor Company plant. She was sworn into office on an English-language translation of the Quran, wearing a thawb (thobe), which is a traditional embroidered Palestinian dress. She famously recounted telling the audience of a MoveOn campaign how she replied to her son, who said ―Look Mama, you won. Bullies don‘t win,‖ by saying to him, ―Baby they don‘t because we‘re gonna go in there and impeach the motherfucker.‖ The Squad‘s oldest member, and still one of the youngest members of Congress at 45 years of age, Ayanna Soyini Pressley represents Massachusetts‘s 7th Congressional District. She won that seat by defeating a ten-term Democratic incumbent in the primary and running unopposed in the general election. Pressley was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and raised in Chicago, Illinois. Her mother, Sandra Pressley, worked for the Chicago Urban League, advocating for tenant‘s rights. She entered the political arena, first as an intern for

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Senator Joseph Kennedy, and subsequently as political director for Senator John Kerry.

Although President Trump recently criticized the Squad and told them to ―go back where they came from,‖ these four women held a press conference in which they called for his impeachment and then reiterated that they are here to stay! And the American people should be grateful for that, since they are the only progressive body in Congress that is united in having the backs of the American people – especially Black Americans.

American conservatives and Democratic centrists will continue to have these powerful young women to contend with.

Three have beaten their challengers to win the Democratic primary. OcasioCortez easily defeated her challenger, Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, receiving almost 70% of New York‘s 14th Congressional District votes. Tlaib beat Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones in the Michigan 13th Congressional District primary with more than 66% of the vote. And Omar defeated attorney Antone Melton-Meaux as she received 29,000 more votes than he did.

The fourth member of the Squad, Ayanna Pressley, will go unopposed in her Massachusetts primary next month. 

HEALTH

CLAUDIA M. JOHNSON, M.D.

O

ver twenty years ago a patient came to the office for medical care. After hearing a list of preventive measures, she frowned at the word colonoscopy and said, ―I‘ll do that test later.‖ For each one of the following ten years she always said, ―Not now.

Later.‖ Finally, the day came when I gave the patient part of my own medical history. ―I caught up with you. Now I have reached the age of needing a colonoscopy myself. And you still haven‘t had yours.‖ She laughed. Two more years passed, and she returned announcing, ―I think I‘m ready now.‖ Next came the instant smile-breaker. ―She told me, ―I‘m losing weight, my appetite is gone, and the constipation is terrible.‖ Within the three months following, she lost her life needlessly to a preventable colon cancer.

In the practice of medicine there exist indelible memories of patients that died or suffered significant handicaps because the message was ignored, misunderstood, downplayed, or not delivered well. The bottom line is African Americans, Hispanics and other minorities have poor health outcomes. The disease does not matter be it diabetes, hypertension, asthma, or cancer. But never has it been more apparent than with COVID; because the corona virus, unlike chronic diseases, can ravage a body and put it to rest much sooner.

Before pondering viral cure or prevention we need to dissect beneath the skin to see why we accept or reject potential lifesaving measures.

Wearing a mask, social distancing and

washing hands are the three best preventive measures against COVID 19 to date. There are and perhaps unfortunately will continue to be people who associate this with politics and would rather wear it on their tombstone than their face.

Not everyone chants a foolish political mantra for not wearing a mask. So why are they in open-faced bondage? Since black and Hispanic populations top the list of those overcome by health disparities attitudes about mask wearing and social distancing should be self-evident.

We need to think about choices and understand why we make them. Then we need to follow the science, maintain health, and listen to the inner voice that we all have called common sense. However, there are other qualities that imprint lifestyle and influence lifetimes.

Health Disparities Multiple factors are responsible for differences in health care and survival. Some are due to unequal income, education, stress and even where a person lives. Added to that is the fact that the current unemployment rate for minorities has not been as high since the 1970‘s.

Disparities that impact health can start from the day of birth and culminate at the end of life. But there are times when the choices we make can make things worse. For example, everyone has coping mechanisms for stress, but some are far more dangerous than others especially since the corona virus came to town. Smoking is an example. Now is a bad time to compromise lungs with smoke Pg14 MAE MAGAZINE | August 2020

because they could be made more susceptible to viruses. With flu season on the horizon, people with preexisting lung conditions or those compromising their lungs will be more likely to get the flu which in turn could play a role in weakening the immune system and thus inviting COVID into the body. As in vaping, even though all the statistical evidence is not yet available, everyone knows (even if only subconsciously) that smoking is a bad idea, especially now.

According to public health experts, the black population is three times more likely to contract COVID. In some states, including Illinois, we make up about 16% of the population but we are 30 to 40% of the COVID cases. Hospitalization rates and sadly death rates are higher than in other populations.

The only weapons currently known to prevent COVID from compounding all the pre-existing illness are wearing a mask,

keeping social distance and frequent hand washing. Neither disparities nor corona can be cured overnight, but we do not have to assist the virus. We do not have to scoff at wearing a mask.

Superpower Thinking – ― I am young, strong and healthy. I exercise and stay fit. COVID will never get me.‖ Remember that there are always exceptions to the rules. And you do not want to succumb to the exceptions.

Also, viruses tend to change over time and could develop the ability to attack wider segments of the population. Now

HEALTH we are witnessing children become a significant portion of those testing positive and some losing their lives. This virus teaches us something new every day. So be prepared and be careful now and keep learning as much as you can. Wear a mask and practice social distancing.

Viral virus misinformation.

We all recognize this, but these things are so tempting because they are easier to believe than examining your own answers. They are the instant cures. Normally drinking bleach would not be on anyone‘s to-do list in case of an emergency. But when unspeakable things go viral people do unspeakable things. The myth about garlic, tea and inhaling boiling lemons warding off corona virus is yet another myth, but at least it does no harm and some people feel their throat being soothed. However, this will not cure or prevent corona virus. Online myths and social media misinformation gurus live forever. But unsafe people, like sacrificial lambs, suffer and some even die. Wearing a mask and social distancing could keep the virus at bay.

Self- Righteousness Some people say. ―It‘s my right‖ to not wear a mask and to go to that party. And then continue to socialize with everyone I can.‖ Possibly, this is a way for people to feel powerful or in control. But it does not work. The only control we have now is to do everything to avoid the virus. It is never our right to harm others based on our need to feel in control. Have we given up because it seems as if our administration has taken that path? Or is it something that runs deeper? No one in government can stop you from wearing a mask and you don‘t need to get their permission.

(However, on some jobs and some states, authorities have taken this right and that is a topic for another discussion) Hopelessness Conversely, if people feel down on luck and down on funds and they already have a chronic illness in a malfunctioning country, hope seems to have flown away. But we can recapture what we can control. We can control our will to survive. Wearing a mask symbolizes that

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you have the hope that you need to survive.

BELIEF SYSTEMS and Emotional Relief SYSTEMS Belief systems are formed as soon as newborn can keep his eyes open. What a person feels -- love or the lack of love -determines how they begin to interpret the world around them. As a child interacts with people around him, what he sees and hears and what he is told becomes reality. Then emotions become involved, are then stored in memory and our belief system is jelled.

So, it becomes easy to see how the real world can mean different things to different people, based on what they have experienced and the emotional responses they have formed.

For example: I don‘t care if I live or die, You have to go with something, I don‘t believe the message, I can‘t trust the messenger, I could never get sick with COVID, I live healthy so I won‘t get the virus. My grandmother always told me to SEE “WHY” ON NEXT PAGE 32

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COVER STORY

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COVER STORY

A Possible Path to Justice for

BREONNA TAYLOR

B

reonna Taylor put her life at risk everyday, assisting COVID patients as an EMT. Little did she or any of her loved ones imagine her death would come in her own home, at the hands of those sworn to serve and protect – the Kentucky police.

We wrote about this horrendous crime in last month‘s issue, but by now we expected an arrest. It hasn‘t come yet, and according to Kentucky law, it may never happen.

In Kentucky and 28 other states, there is no specific law that addresses police shooting in self-defense. This means officers have the same rights and obligations as any other citizen. However, unlike ordinary Kentucky residents, police have the power to knock down doors of private homes in the middle of the night, because they are police.

The reason this case is legally ambiguous is because (1) officers were attempting to serve a no-knock warrant on her home during a narcotics investigation; (2) Taylor‘s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, fired his gun first, believing intruders were invading

their home. The bullet struck an officer in the leg. (3) Officers returned fire. (4) No drugs were found in the home.

In most states police, acting as an aggressor, cannot claim selfdefense. However, in most states, the law states that when police are acting in their official capacity they can‘t be aggressors for purposes of self-defense law. To further complicate the situation, the law makes it virtually impossible to define an ―aggressor‖ in this situation, which means both Kenneth Walker and the police can both reasonably claim self-defense according to Seth Stroughton, a professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law. Legal experts say the officers involved in Taylor‘s shooting certainly can be arrested, even though prosecutors have tremendous discretion in deciding to bring charges and ―probable cause,‖ the legal standard of proof needed for an arrest is an exceedingly low bar, according to Colin Miller, a professor at the University of South Carolina School of Law. Miller is researching the Kentucky criminal code on behalf of the lawyers representing Breonna Taylor‘s family.

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COVER STORY Thanks to Supreme Court rulings, officers can invoke self-defense even if their behavior was objectively unsafe or likely to provoke a violent response. However, the gunfire involved more than just the officers and Kenneth Walker. Police fired more than 20 rounds into Breonna‘s home, missing Walker and instead hitting Taylor. Several of the officers‘ bullets also entered a neighbor‘s house, according

to a civil lawsuit filed by the neighbor. That lawsuit accuses the officers of ―spraying bullets into the apartment complex with total disregard for the value of human life.‖ Those facts could argue for an indictment, according to Miller. Kentucky law specifically says that even if a person has a valid self-defense justification, the protection

Pg20 MAE MAGAZINE | August 2020

doesn‘t extent to ―wanton‖ behavior – essentially defined as knowing something is extremely dangerous and doing it anyway in a reckless mannor. Miller further says that if a jury found the officers‘ conduct was wanton, and directly caused the death of an innocent person, then that is murder under Kentucky law and selfdefense would not be a viable defense.‖

MAE MAGAZINE | August 2020 Pg21

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

T

By Louise Eberhart he beautiful, vivacious and personable Sibusiso Msesiwe, who goes by the name of Cee Boo is perhaps the most talented vocalist that has come on the international scene in a very long time. With perfect breath control, every note comes out smoothly and flawlessly, accentuated by the flair and creativity she brings to each performance.

She explains that her late Mom told her she could sing before she could talk. ―I just woke up one morning at six years old,‖ she says, ―and my brother, who is now a pastor had this keyboard with 72 keys. I was listening to radio and hear this lady sing, and that is how I learned to compose my own thing.‖ A self-taught musician, indeed, among her many talents, Cee Boo plays piano beautifully, and she plays by ear, confessing that she cannot read music. She says she enjoyed learning a skill without conscious awareness of the underlying process of what is being learned. ―In

the process of curiosity you make mistakes, learn and grow because you have no scope or boundary to limit you. It is for this reason I don‘t like being boxed as a musician,‖ she explains.

Indeed, she is not boxed in, but flexible in her creativity as a versatile cross-over artist who‘s lilting and honey raw voice wafts swiftly between Afro-Soul and R&B. Cee Boo grew up singing Gospel. ―Then it was House Music,‖ she says, ―Then it was R&B, then jazz.‖ Her musical journey from church, in later years, migrated to poetry where she raided open mic sessions. Later, she would turn the poems into songs about her lived experience and things that she imagined. ―The poetry sessions gave me the platform and confidence to be able to bare my soul in front of a live audience, to examine what I had to offer artistically. When I turned to music, my soul just soared, backed by the confidence that I was in full control, expressing my art,‖ she tells us.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Born and raised in the coastal town of East London (South Africa), Cee Boo has performed throughout the continent. In 2010 she performed in Botswana, Mozambique and Nambia with a group called Elements of Soul. Cee Boo was the group‘s only lead vocalist. She wrote and produced the music for the group and they toured South Africa and Namibia. Their album was called Music in Me, and helped profile her musical prowess. The musical odyssey culminated with Breaking Dawn, her solo debut album. ―Elements of Soul was an opportunity to test the market on whether they would receive the kind of music and message, I wanted to deliver.‖ She says, ―it was a platform to hone my skills as an artist and focus on chasing the dream of making music to soothe, entertain and express myself.‖

specifically dealing with the elderly,‖ she says, ―I always believe I can nurse people back to health, and if I use my music on a worldwide scale, then I would want to use it in homes, dealing with people‘s problems, helping people – it‘s therapeutic, it actually counsels you. I believe in helping people because it helps you heal in places you never knew you were broken. I get phone calls and messages from people who thank me for saving their marriage by listening to my music.‖ Cee Boo credits her family and children as her greatest inspiration, ―I am moved by helping others, especially the vulnerable youth. I am preoccupied with ensuring that young people find their purpose in life and blossom in the strengths,‖ she says.

Cee Boo‘s favorite of her original songs is ―Now is My Chance‖ which is Track 9 on her album. ―I wrote that song when I was in high school,‖ she says, ―It was a letter to the world saying ‗one day you‘re gonna wake up to my voice.‘ The whole world doesn‘t know what I‘m capable of, I let my feelings show through the music I love. The songs I always write are from my true experience of walking through my life there will be a happy end. Telling the world, ‗I‘m coming!‘ ‗I‘m coming!‘ and when I‘m there, I‘m gonna stay. I‘m gonna be there. I‘m gonna embrace it.‖ She explains that ―The real job is not getting into the spotlight. The real job is maintaining what you have once you get there. It‘s bettering yourself, because as an artist in any craft, you do not ever stop mastering it. You always have to master your craft, you always have to be investing your time and you compete to own it so you can grow.‖ Cee Boo laments the fact that she sees artists nowadays that make it and they think that now they can relax and go into a retirement mindset. ―That‘s when they should be pushing the most,‖ she says, ―you want to be relatable, you want to be remembered every day. I don‘t believe in making songs to make you dance a month

Sibusiso "CeeBoo" Msesiwe was born in 1990 and was raised in Dawn, a small suburb in East London, South Africa. “Cee-Boo” is a SingerSongwriter & Music Producer.

“The real job is not getting into the spotlight. The real job is maintaining what you have once you get there….”

Cee-Boo or two. I believe in making songs that are going to make your grandchildren dance long after you and I are gone.‖ When asked what career would she have if she wasn‘t a vocalist, her answer was quick and sure. ―I would be a social worker that is involved in helping people,

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Cee Boo‘s husband, Denzil, who is also her manager, admits that he is extremely proud of her. He brags that she can sing 2,000 cover songs. ―She can sing for six hours, and my friends think it‘s a CD that‘s playing,‖ he says. Eleven of her songs are played around the world.

If Cee Boo could open a show for any artist, who would it be? Anita Baker she says, as she goes on to explain, ―I‘ve always looked up to her. She‘s got this incredible strength. She knows exactly how to use the air in her lungs, how she breathes, she is superwoman, being a mother and a musician at the same time.‖ The best advice she‘s been given? ―Stop taking life for granted. You need to study your circle, the people you choose to have around you and allow that circle to be small. Something we take for granted everyday is the most expensive thing – it‘s our life – so the best advice is to stop taking life for granted.‖ Cee Boo is looking forward to endless cultural collaborations, making more music with producers from all over the world and performing for her loyal supporting and growing her global audience at large.

Mae Magazine is looking forward to great things from this great artist. 

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

WATCH (THE) AUNTIES PLEASE

By Frank “Hi, Aunt Shaun!” I, ABSOLUTELY LOVE hearing those words from my nieces and nephews. I get a special, “Hey, Aunt Shaun Shaun” from my oldest nephew. Can’t lie, though. I, also, enjoy being called “Auntie” by younger folks when I’m out.

I

recently watched Congresswoman Maxine Waters pull to the side of the road to monitor police interaction with a young, Black man. I saw this because Black folks saw her and stopped to monitor police interaction with HER…Auntie Maxine is what we call her.

That started me thinking on what it means to be an ―Auntie‖ and who we grant ―Auntie‖ status to, as a community. There are differing opinions on the meaning and intention behind use of the term. In spite of this, common thought is that the ―Auntie‖ in the Black community is representative of the ideal of the aunt in the Black family. For me, this means being the support behind the support, the last line of defense, the confidants, the ones that would jump in the fire right along with your parents to save you. As I apply that to the community, it means being recognized as being there for the Black folks in and out of your sphere, to make sure we all make it. The ―Auntie‖ is the foundation of community.

More thinking…I also recently watched a recording of OSCAR & EMMY WINNER Viola Davis talking about gender inequality pay in Hollywood and how it breaks along racial lines, as well. In recounting contacting casting directors, she has heard: ―You‘re a Black Meryl Streep (The same Meryl whose meme is always used for Women‘s solidarity). You are, and we love you. We LOVE you. There is no one like you.‖

Yet, she ain‘t getting‘ paid like that there ain‘t no one like her…Even though she WAS ―How to Get Away with Murder‖! And, the Black community tuned in EVERY week to watch her do it. Wasn‘t my favorite, but I could give you the full rundown! Because of Viola Davis.

More thinking…An entire new generation, actually members of many generations, was introduced to the atrocities of Black Wall Street because of OSCAR & EMMY WINNER Regina King. Hello, GAP (Greenwood, Arch, and Pine [Streets]) Band and the REAL meaning behind ―You Dropped A Bomb on Me.‖ Writing, directing, and cinematography (FAM…THE CINEMATOGRAPHY!) aside, ―Watchmen‖ did what it did because of Regina King…Brenda from ―227‖…Shalika from ―Boyz n‘ the Hood‘ (Did you know that was her character‘s name?)…THEE Regina King. We been rockin‘ a LONG time!

So, this got me to thinking about those folks I consider ―Auntie‘s‖. There are various reasons, but in general, they are those Black women that have spent their lives and careers in the pursuit of ensuring that Black women are seen, represented, heard, felt, responded to…They have and continue to represent every aspect of who we are and what we demand. My list of ―Auntie‘s‖ is as follows (in no particular order):  Cicely Tyson  Diana Ross  Angela Bassett  Maxine Waters  Jennifer Lewis MAE MAGAZINE | August 2020 Pg25

               

Viola Davis Jackee Harry Regina King Kamala Harris Loretta Devine Patti LaBelle Anita Baker Chaka Khan Brandy Mary J. Blige Jill Scott Erykah Badu Queen Latifah Debbie Allen Monique Lil‘ Kim

This is a short list and doesn‘t include those in my personal life, but I appreciate them all and consider them mentors (voluntary and involuntary), to a certain extent…In this moment, I‘m thinking, especially of Lil‘ Kim. Work wit‘ me…

I would not consider myself a Rick Ross or 2CHAINZ fan, but if presented with an ultimatum, I would side with Ross. I mention this because on the first Thursday evening in August, as the latest focus of the #VERZUZ battle, Rick Ross and 2CHAINZ drew one of the highest streaming audiences since this pandemicinspired, musical time machine began. I didn‘t watch, but I followed social media. Folks were AMPED! Celebrities and citizens, alike, chimed in with lyrics, emoji‘s, and hashtags. The community rocked in glorious, Black unity. All was well on Thursday…Not so much on Fri-

THE AUNTIES day. ―What happened on Friday‖, you may ask. Well, ―W.A.P.‖ happened. Yes, ―W.A.P.‖ ―What‘s W.A.P.‖ you may also ask. Well, for those not in the know, ―W.A.P.‖ stands for ―Wet Ass P*ssy,‖ and it‘s a collaboration between Cardi B and Meg Thee Stallion. I had a personal reference statement for the song title, but as I felt it crass, I withheld it. Just know that I feel the heat this song is getting is ridiculous. But, let me back up.

For the week or so leading up to the song‘s release, there was an image of Cardi B and Meg Thee Stallion, back-toback, hair-locked, apparently topless, tongues wagging as teaser for something big. There‘s already an emoji. Anticipation built. Leaks abounded. None of it was enough to handle what was actually dropped. The ―W.A.P.‖ video is EXACTLY what anyone who knows who Cardi and Megan are should have expected…explicit lyrics, explicit movements, honesty, and no fear. And, yet, the outrage and judgement ensued. Again, celebrities, citizens, and even politicians had words.

I don‘t know about anybody else, but at no point in time did I believe Ross and CHAINZ would be Kirk Franklin #VERZUZ Fred Hammond Part 2, AND, IT WASN‘T. Yet, not less than TWO hours after their stream, the rules had changed, as our moral code had to be revived. I‘m not gonna‘ go into detail about the commentary from men, because…

MEN…I AM concerned about how many women were aligned with the Purity Party vibe, but I‘m not judging, just wondering.

Now, Fam…Cardi ain‘t NEVA‘ shied away from her stripper background, and Meg BEEN tellin‘ y‘all how she givin‘ it up, and ain‘t no dude runnin‘ her. So, they did what they‘ve been doing, and created the collab of the year, AND they gave shine to the next round, Normani, Rubi Rose, Sukihana, Rosalia, and Mulatto. Yes, there was another cameo, but I‘m not interested in how that fits (Their video, their choice. My article, my

choice). But, they used the energy and anticipation of their first collaboration to highlight other young women in the industry. Yet, again, outrage and judgement.

Why is it that we‘re never a monolith, unless it comes to our sexuality? Why should we never all be alike, until some are uncomfortable with others' freedom of expression, especially sexual expression? Then, we should all be the same…

Quiet & demure…

This got serious. I may revisit in a deeper context at some point, but for now, let‘s bring it back to the original topic. Two questions:  What are the ―Auntie‖ requirements?  Is there a line of expression that, when crossed, can negate auntie status?  My Points of Response  Cardi and Meg gave some youngin‘s shine, just like Erykah gave Jill some shine. And, before you get huffy about this comparison, GOOGLE Jilly from Philly and her ―re-enactment‖ on stage.  Cardi and Meg are EXTREMELY sexual performers. Please refer to Millie Jackson, whoever the ―Clean Up Woman‖ is that Betty Wright told us about, and the 1935 gem ―Shave ‗Em Dry‖ by Lucille Bogan…Honey…This last one…

Cardi and Meg WHO?! Again, 1935…

Lil‘Kim, though? Look, Lil‘ Kim was my generation‘s version of Cardi and Meg. She wore basically nothing, told us how she was givin‘ it up, faced backlash, but never backed down, stood in who she was, never apologized, and taught US NOT to apologize. Lil‘ Kim walked so that Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion could run these charts!

Now, I know this is a SMALL sample size and NOT a direct correlation to ―Auntie‖ status, but to be clear, I AM arguing that Cardi B and Meg Thee Stallion are, inPg26 MAE MAGAZINE | August 2020

deed, ―Auntie‘s‖, or, at the very least, ―Auntie‘s-in-Training.‖ They are young and have much more to learn, but COMMUNITY ain‘t one of those things. They are reachin‘ back for those younger. They are confident in who they are as Black women and make no apologies for what they do. They don‘t have to. They represent an aspect of Black femininity that I find odd Black women take issue with, as it AIN‘T new. THESE ARE OUR BODIES, YO! You can‘t convince me that any of my aforementioned ―Auntie‘s‖ have refrained from engagement in what Cardi and Meg rap about. Cardi B and Meg Thee Stallion, too, represent the best of us, and they should get our support, as they continue to develop. #SIDE NOTE: WE FAILED MEG! She got shot and got negligible public support...@YOMAMA with any dissention.

So…I know Ava DuVernay has taken issue with the term because of her age (this is an issue of contention with some), but we‘re the same age, and I dig being an ―Auntie.‘ I don't worry about folks thinking about my age, I take it as a sign of respect for my work here, just like I feel when I use it.

I love that I represent various aspects of the Black woman to my nieces, nephews, other Black women, and the world. I love that other Black women do the same. None of us are singular or the same, but we are each other…ALL of us. I‘m proud of us…ALL of us. We are each others‘ first and lasting allies…ALL of us. The world moves when WE move…ALL of us.

In the words of OG MADEA, ―You got a ass. Make ‗em respec ya‘!‖ Aight, Auntie…I hear you…

W…A…P…!!!! 

SAY THEIR NAMES A Listing of Some of our Black Brothers & Sisters Killed by the hands of Police in 2019 NAME

AGE

Akeen Brown Akinyia Malik Jerome Gray Alex Johnson Allan Feliz Allon Jones Alvern Donnell Walker Amari Malone Anthony Dewayne Childs Anthony Orlando Bowers Antonio Joseph Valentine Antonio Nichols Antonio Williams Ariane Lamont McCree Ashanti Pinkney Atatiana Jefferson Ben Fields Benjamin Ray Smith Bennie Branch Bishar Hassain Blige Sean Christopher Cypress Bobby Ray Duckworth Bradley Blackshire Bradley Rundle Brandon Webber Brent Durbin-Daniel Brian Leslie Statler Bruce Carter Bryan Bernard Wallace Cameron Bennett Cameron Lamb Channara Tom Pheap Charles Ballard Charles Roy Pearson Chris Joseph Christopher DeQuan Crosby Christopher Terrell Willis Christopher Whitfield Cortez Bufford Cortez Shepherd Crederick Joseph Crystal Danielle Ragland (Female) Curtis Stagger D‘Angelo Brown D‘Ettrick Griffin Daishawn Brown Dana Sherrod Fletcher Daniel Warren Danquirs Napoleon Franklin

34 26 58 31 43 58 28 31 24 32 47 27 28 49 28 67 54 24 31 22 28 30 61 20 19 30 38 39 22 26 33 42 51 38 34 32 31 24 28 37 32 21 18 19 39 26 27

STATE MI GA OH NY TN CO TX LA TN FL LA NY NC MD TX FL SC WA AK FL UT AR FL TN OK CA IL FL MS MO TN CA KS LA AR IL LA MD MO TX AL IL AR GA CA AL WVA NC MAE MAGAZINE | August 2020 Pg27

The Congressional Black Caucus Calls for Investigation into Allentown Police Department After the Use of a Chokehold (Black PR Wire) Washington, D.C. Yet again, we have witnessed the use of excessive force, specifically the chokehold, by a police officer in our country.

Over the weekend, an officer from the Allentown Police Department was caught on camera placing his knee on the neck of a man, in an attempt to arrest him after the officers noticed the man was vomiting and staggering along the street. In this instance the unarmed man was in need of medical attention but instead was met with force by the police officers. The disturbing video also revealed that the man was distressed and terrified for his life.

Barely seven weeks since the death of George Floyd that sparked a national movement against police brutality, we are seeing police officers deploying the same tactics for an arrest that could have been avoided. The officers opted to use excessive force against a member of the community instead of serving. While this time a life was not lost, a life has indeed been changed forever.

SEE CHOKEHOLD ON NEXT PAGE

SAY THEIR NAMES NAME

AGE

STATE

Dante Redmond Jones Darrell Allen David N. Anderson Davini Robertson De‘Von Bailey Delfon Kinney Demetrious Brooks Demetrius Williams Derek Smith Derrec Jamal Shaw Derrick Everett Deshon Downing Detravian Allison DeWayne Watkins Dijon D. Watkins Djuantez Anthony Mitchell Dominick Matt Donald Davis Jr. Donqaule Maurice Gray Dwight Steward Earnest Easterling Eddie Ray Maxwell Edtwon Stamps Edward Fuller Elijah Collins III Emanuel David Joshua Oates Emanuel Johnson Eric Carter Eric Jack Logan Francine Graham (Female) Gary Marin Gene Pool Gregory Griffin Harold Vincent Robinson Hashim Jibiri Wilson Isaiah Lewis Isaiah Robinson Jacob Michael Harris Jahmal Derrick Stewart Jamaal Simpson Jamahl Smith Jamarcus Dejun Moore Jamee Christopher Deonte Johnson James Lee Kirkwood Jaquan Derrick Diijon Thompson JaQuavion Staton Jaymil Elierbe Jerric Harris Jimmie Phillips Jimmy Atchison John Feggins Jordan Michel Griffin Josef Delon Richardson Kaewwm Omar Morgan

28 32 47 39 19 44 34 31 22 25 30 48 18 74 30 30 17 40 25 46 25 37 27

WA CA NJ LA CO CA MO TX SC OK FL IN TX NY TX KY AR LA WV WA CA OK CA GA OH MD NY NY IN NJ IL CO NJ UT WA OK OH AZ CA CA NJ AL FL TN OK TX MA FL GA GA MD CA LA MD

32 24 21 53 53 50 45 37 46 37 28 17 39 19 45 21 46 28 22 49 27 20 19 27 68 21 24 18 38 43

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CHOKEHOLD Cont’d from previous Pg

While Allentown’s policy forbids the restraining of a person’s neck unless the officer feels their life is at risk, it is evident that without a national federal ban, there will be minimal adherence. A ban with no repercussions serves no purpose.

Three weeks ago the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act championed by the Congressional Black Caucus was the first ever comprehensive legislation to reform law enforcement. This bill is a direct response to the moral moment of the time as Americans from coast to coast are demanding for real change that includes prevention, training, a registry of misconduct to eliminate repeat offenders, use of force standards, ending qualified immunity, and making it easier for the Department of Justice to prosecute civil rights violations. If the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act was law, the officers in Allentown involved would be listed in the misconduct registry which will provide insight to violations and in turn transparency to other precincts about officers who desire to transfer to their district.

As our nation waits for Senate Leader Mitch McConnell to make the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act a priority for a Senate vote, Americans across the country continue to experience incidents of police brutality. How many more lives must we lose? We are at a reckoning point where our country must address the serious and deadly problem of racial profiling and excessive policing of communities of color. Police officers must be held accountable. We cannot build an equitable and just country without reimagining policing in our communities.

The Congressional Black Caucus is calling for a full independent investigation into this incident in Allentown, PA including the officers involved being punished to the fullest extent of the law for the use of the banned chokehold. 

SAY THEIR NAMES NAME

AGE

STATE

Kaizen Crossen Kawaski Trawick Kaylon Robinson Keith Carter Kenneth Simeus Kentrey Marquis Witherspoon Kevin Bruce Mason Kevin Leroy Beasley Kevin Pudik Kreed Cornell Bateman Kwesi Ashun Kyron Marcell Sands Lamar Alexander Lance Deward Smith Latasha Nicole Walton (Female) Lazzeri James Frazier Leo Brooks Leo Craig Leonard Shand Louis Patrick Veal Luke Anthony Swann Makeyvion Devonte Cannon Malik Ali Gresham Mantry Norris Marcus Boles Marcus McVae Mark Sheppard Marquis Weems Marvin Green Marzeus Scott Maurice Brown Maurice Holley MicduffLamarco Robinson Michael Austin Michael Dean Michael Elam Michael John Miguel Russo MikyasMehary Tegegne Miles Hall Mohamed Ahemed Al-Hashemi

39 32 18 52 18 28 57 23 41 31 33 39 41 37 32 21 23 31 49 65 36 19 36 20 35 34 27 17 50 35 48 55 40 32 28 17 24 31 31 23 25

NJ NY MO LA NV NC MD CO MI SC NY CT FL NC FL CA LA OK MD MI IA TX CA WA LA TX OH MD FL AR OH CA OH AZ TX IL OK NY MD CA AZ

Montay Steven Penning Myles Frazier Myron Flowers Nakia Smith NasheemPrioleau Nathaniel Holland Nathaniel Pinnock Neico Crooks NekiyloDawayne Graves Nicholas Walker Nina Adams (Female) Omari Thompson

23 22 28 41 30 38 22 21 27 31 47 31

WI IL LA IL NY CA CA FL NV TX PA PA

MAE MAGAZINE | August 2020 Pg29

Between 2014 and 2019, police in the United States killed 6557 people.

Learn more by visiting https://interactive.aljazeera.com/ aje/2020/know-their-names/ index.html

Mae Magazine is a monthly publication which is electronically circulated via internet to over 100,000 individuals throughout Chicago, Illinois and the United States. Mae reserves the right to deny any or all advertisements that go against our standards. We are by no means connected or affiliated with any advertisements. No part of any publication may be reproduced without written permission from the authors. The opinions and articles not written by Mae Magazine staff do not necessarily represent our views.

The content and opinions expressed within this publication are those of the author(s) and/or represented companies, and are not necessarily shared by Mae Magazine. The author(s) and/or represented companies are solely responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the content of this Press release. No copyright infringement whatsoever is intended for any stories featured in Mae Magazine. Mae Magazine reserves the right to reject a press release if, in the view of Mae Magazine, the content of the release is unsuitable for distribution.

SAY THEIR NAMES

'Say Their Names' cemetery memorializes Black lives lost to police brutality The art installation in South Minneapolis has over a hundred headstones made of cardboard, plastic and paper with the names of Black people killed by police.

―Say Their Names" cemetery in South Minneapolis represents a person killed by law enforcement in this country.

Created by two University of Pennsylvania students, it‘s a grassroots art installation located just blocks away from the George Floyd Memorial in Minneapolis on Thursday, June 12.

JASMIN KEMP

By MEG BISHOP We hear their names — George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Eric Garner – but artists Connor Wright and Anna Barber want people to know all of their names. The two are the co-creators of the ―Say Their Names‖ art installation in South Minneapolis. The symbolic cemetery can be found on East 37th Street, one block north of the George Floyd memorial. ―These gravestones honor 100 of the innumerable Black lives cut short by po-

lice brutality,‖ Wright said.

The cemetery originally included 100 names, but creators added more names after receiving requests from the community. The installation was designed and constructed in one full day with the help of volunteers and local art and flower shops, like Lake Harriet Florist. Minneapolis‘ UPS helped to print the names on paper for the majority of the headstones.

Volunteers used simple materials like cardboard, plastic and paper to create each headstone.

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None of the 15 volunteers previously knew each other when they all showed up to help. Each person was recruited by a friend of a friend who somehow knew Wright or Barber.

Maria Lange, a second-year student at the University of Minnesota, volunteered because of her background in art and to help memorialize Black lives lost at the hands of police.

She had been out protesting almost every day after the death of George Floyd. ―I‘ve been out there and I was getting

SAY THEIR NAMES burnt out, so I was like it‘s good to take a step back and do something a little less active,‖ Lange said.

At first, Lange didn't want to miss out on marches to help create the installation. ―I honestly felt kind of bad. I was like, well, I‘m going to miss a couple marches for this,‖ Lange said. ―Then all of a sudden, this did more than I ever thought it was going to do.‖ Her favorite thing about helping set up was getting to hang out with the neighborhood kids running around the installation. ―We wanted to make it so that kids were helping with the setup and the flowers,‖ Lange said. She wanted the kids to have as much of a part in creating the installation as the community.

Bea Buckley, a second-year student at Trinity College in Dublin and Minnesota native, also found herself asked to help with the installation‘s set up through a friend. ―We made the whole thing in like four or five hours and then went straight to the site and installed it all in one go,‖ Buckley said. ―The point was to get it up before the big 10K march later that day.‖ The cemetery was built on Friday, June 5, the same day as the march.

Buckley didn‘t fully process the significance of what was created until community members began interacting with the headstones. ―The first woman that walked through it with us just started sobbing. That to me was like – I was speechless,‖ Buckley said.

Organizers held a candlelight vigil at the cemetery on June 7, where the community came together to mourn the Black lives lost to police violence.

The team of creators are currently working with community organizers to try and find a way for the cemetery to be a permanent site. 

Eric Friswold and other volunteers set up the Say Their Names installation, placing headstones memorializing Black people who died at the hands of police in a green space near the site of George Floyd's killing in Minneapolis on Friday, June 5. (Image courtesy of Bea Buckley)

NAME

AGE

STATE

Onaje Dickinson OndraeLevado Hutchinson Osaze Osagie Oscar Cain Pamela Shantay Turner (Female) Pierre J. Cher Frene Pierre Woods Quency Chavez Floyd Quentin Broadus Rashad Cunningham Raymond Lewis Williams Reginald Romero Bursey Roderick Wilson Rodnell Cotton Rodney Lassiter Romello Barnes Ronald Davis Ronnie Jerome Hill Roy McAllister Ruben Houston Ryan Smith Ryan Twyman Samuel Galberth SawandiAsad Toussaint Schaston Theodore Laman Hodge Sean Rambert Shamikle Jackson Sharell Brown Shawan F. Allen Shawn Stevens Shelby Gazaway Stephen Murray Steven Day Steven DeWayne Haizlip Tasjon Tyreek Osbourne Taveonte Art Emmanuel Terrance Bridges Terry Davis Terry Tilman Thomas Johnson Toussaint Diamon Sims Tramon Savage Treon McCoy Treva Smutherman Trivenskey O. Odom Ty‘Reese West Ty‘rell Pounds Tymar Crawford Tyrone Domingo Banks Veltavious Griggs Victor Hernandez Victor Jarvis Vincense Williams, Jr. Wallace Wilder William Owens

20 30 29 31 45 26 31 22 27 25 37 32 35 26 30 22 31 41 27

PA NC PA GA TX FL MS MO OK IN AR LA AL MO TX FL MN FL NC WI WA CA NY CA TX NC CO IL MS PA KY CA MO NC OH CA MO KY MO LA MS AR NC NC LA WI KY FL MO GA NY NC OK AL NJ

MAE MAGAZINE | August 2020 Pg31

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“WHY” Continued from Page 15

inhale steamed garlic and lemons With chronic illnesses and even with some cancers you have more time to pon-

der the question and come up with some new beliefs that can arm you for survival. With a pandemic, every second of indecisiveness could lead to suffering and rapid death of self and others.

Belief systems regarding social distancing and mask wearing need to change quickly and efficiently so more people will survive. Things needed like testing and vaccines are either on the decline or are not yet ready. But no one can stop you from wearing a mask and social distancing except you. There are enough

varieties of masks to support whatever level of comfort you might need.

No one can change how they were raised and what experienced they had. But we can change beliefs. Stay informed about the science , health and common sense.

Believe this. You are a winner, but you will never know if you give up the fight. Wear the mask.

You deserve more than to be a doctor‘s memory of a life lost. 

Pg34 MAE MAGAZINE | August 2020