MAE Magazine July 2020 by DPI Graphic Design

MAE MAGAZINE | July 2020 Pg1

PUBLISHER NOTES

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 Lisa Caillouet Founder & Publisher Emma Young Senior Editor Derek Payne DPI Graphic Design Layout Contributing Writers Claudia M. Johnson MD Dr. Maria Glover-Wallace Chip Eberhart www.maemagazine.com

George Floyd died and the world marched in protest. From Minneapolis to Chicago. From Atlanta to New York. From Nigeria to Paris. All over the world people who are fed up with the systemic racism that kills Blacks disproportionately, and relegates those who survive their racist hate to years of discrimination, disparagement and unequal, unfair treatment. The world said we‘ve had enough! And America barely lifted its corporate voice in response, with band-aid solutions meant to appease. Yes, they actually thought adding dark brown to the palette of skin-tone Band-Aid colors was a solution to 400 years of slavery, Jim Crow, Redlining and racism. Because we aren‘t in the boardroom to advise them, they decided on their own that the best course of action would be to remove the face of the Black woman on Aunt Jemima Syrup (insuring that we would continue to spend our dollars on the newlynamed syrup they come up with, with perhaps the face of a 21st Century Black woman); or removing the image of Uncle Ben, name, face and all, from boxes of rice. The NFL, in its infinite wisdom, has decided to play the Negro National Anthem for the First game of the Season (and Colin Kapernick still doesn‘t have a job). Other companies are giving money for Black business development and donations to Black college. The problem is, they think they know what‘s best – so they never bothered to ask us. So here‘s my list of what I want: 1.Reparations you owe us. We want our 40 acres and a check. Had you kept your word back then you wouldn‘t have to pay so much now. 2.If you want to re-brand something, re-rebrand slavery. Take that part out of the constitution that says ―except when someone is convicted of a crime.‖ 3.Equal pay in the workplace. 4.Black teachers in Black school districts and better facilities. 5.Equal access to bank loans for startup businesses. 6.The same annual percentage rate for our home loans. 7.Auto insurance rates based only on your driving record and not where you live. 8.Black police officers in Black comPg2 MAE MAGAZINE | July 2020

Lisa Caillouet Founder & Publisher munities. 9.Stop voter suppression. 10.Outlaw all of the hate groups in America, fire every member of a hate group that holds public office or is in law enforcement, including judges and prosecutors. You can keep your Band-Aid whatever skin -tone color you wish. Sincerely, Lisa Cailouet Publisher 

WHAT’S INSIDE PUBLISHER NOTES

Pg2 ELIJAH McCLAIN’S LAST WORDS

Pg4 MENTAL HEALTH A MENTAL HEALTH CARE EXPOSE’

Pg6 MENTAL HEALTH SOCIAL DISTANCING WITHOUT LOSING YOUR MIND

Pg8 Special Feature COMING HOME TO THE MOTHERLAND An Interview of Jondalyn Armstrong

Pg11

RAYSHARD BROOKS: WHY HE RAN.

Pg22

COVER STORY What a Cardiothoracic Surgeon Sees When He Sees George Floyd Pg 16

BLACK WALL STREET: THE COMMUNITY THAT SEGREGATION BUILT

SPECIAL FEATURE

Pg24 REPARATIONS

THE LEGACY of ZINDZI MANDELA

Pg27

Pg20 MAE MAGAZINE | July 2020 Pg3

ELIJAH McCLAIN

ELIJAH McCLAIN’S LAST WORDS By Emma Young

Aurora Police Department officers Jason Rosenblatt (far right) and Randy Roedema (left) are two of the three officers who were placed on desk duty. Officer Nathan Woodyard (center picture) was assigned administrative tasks.

I can’t breathe He was just walking from a gas station where he had bought an iced tea for his brother. The Aurora Police stopped him, then tackled him to the ground. And put him in a carotid hold, which restricts blood to the brain and renders someone unconscious. I have my i.d. right here. He wasn‘t driving. He wasn‘t committing any crime. He was simply walking down the street, listening to his music, wearing a ski mask because he had asthma and cold weather aggravated his asthma. My name is Elijah McClain He was Elijah McClain, 23 years old. He had been home-schooled. At a young age he was found to have a superior intellectual ability. He taught himself to play the

guitar and violin. That’s my house. Elijah was only a block away from the apartment he shared with his cousin. I was just going home. Every day we take it for granted that we can leave home and return home – alive. Elijah had no reason to believe, when he left home, when he stopped at the gas station to buy the iced tea, that he would not return home. I’m an introvert Elijah was a massage therapist. Though he considered himself an introvert, many of his clients became his loving friends because of his beautiful spirit. I’m different – that’s all. Pg4 MAE MAGAZINE | July 2020

When he wasn‘t with a client, Elijah spent much of his time at the animal shelter, playing the guitar and violin for the dogs and cats, because he felt it would calm their spirits. I’m So Sorry Elijah was being wrongfully detained. He had done nothing wrong. But he was not above apologizing for the wrong he hadn‘t done. That was his nature. I have no gun The officers allegedly dropped their body cams during the arrest, so when one officer said ―he‘s going for your gun,‖ there was no video to show it. Although the audio was still on, and one officer was heard to say he didn‘t recall feeling Elijah going after his gun.

ELIJAH McCLAIN I don’t do that stuff Being a Black man, walking and dancing to the music from your earphones, makes police assume that you are on drugs. But Elijah was just high on life. He loved life. He loved people. I don’t do any fighting He wasn‘t resisting arrest. An arrest they had no business executing because no crime had been committed. One policeman threatened to bring his dog out to bite Elijah. He wasn‘t fighting them. He didn‘t fight anybody. Why are you attacking me? They had no reason, no reason at all to arrest him. They had no reason to roughly tackle him to the ground. They had no reason to cut off his breathing. I don’t even kill flies His clients described him as a sweet, gentle soul. I don’t eat meat Most people who don‘t eat meat, avoid it for health reasons. Elijah didn‘t eat meat because he loved animals and hated the fact that people violently killed animals for food. But I don’t judge those who do He lived and let live. Being judgmental was not part of his nature. Forgive me – I was just trying to do better He lived his life trying to do the best he could, and now he was asking forgiveness of his tormentors, explaining that he was trying to do better. I will do it – I will do anything – sacrifice my identity

What did they ask of him? What did they want him to do while in a prone position on the ground with someone pressing on the cartanoid vein in his neck. You are phenomenal – you are beautiful and I love you.

What did they ask of him? What did they want him to do while in a prone position on the ground with someone pressing on the cartanoid vein in his neck.

Even as his tormentors were literally killing him, he had room enough in his heart to say he loved them. Try to forgive me. He felt he must have done something wrong. But what? As he lay dying, I imagine him searching his mind for the sin he committed to deserve this pain. I’m a mood Gemini Gemini's suffer with dark moods but are also inclined to deal with it by being even more busy and distracted. They may be adamant to friends that they're fine but slip into morbid terrain in private. Many Geminis have erratic mood swings from one emotional or mental pole to the other. That was Elijah‘s interpretation, but everyone who knew him knew he was

even-tempered, loving, quiet and caring – always. I’m so sorry That was the first time he vomited because of the pressure. Oh, that really hurts Imagine the pain. And he‘s trying to be brave, but he‘s sobbing because of the unbearable pain. And he‘s wondering what he did to make these people hate him so much that they will inflict this kind of pain on him. You’re all very strong Elijah wasn‘t a big guy. It didn‘t take these three husky policemen to keep him down – to torture him. A show of strength, or a show of hatred for his Blackness? Teamwork makes the dream work. He doesn‘t want to make them angrier. So he gives words of encouragement, in his desperation. He doesn‘t know any other way. All he knows is love. I’m so sorry – I wasn’t trying to do that. The second time he vomited. He feels it‘s his fault, and not the fault of the tormentors who are pressuring his body in such a way that it‘s crushing everything, his digestive tract, his esophagus. Yet with his last words, he apologetically explains why it happened. I just can’t breathe correctly. Elijah lost consciousness. When the EMT arrived, they injected him with a sedative that was enough for a man ten times his size. He went into a coma and was declared brain dead after three days. 

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. 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.

MAE MAGAZINE | July 2020 Pg5

MENTAL HEALTH A MENTAL HEALTHCARE EXPOSÈ IN COVID RED STATES By

Claudia M. Johnson MD Mary T had one more choice. Recently discharged from the public hospital, she could return to taking drags on recycled cigarette butts, feeding shared scraps to her weak body, and sleeping under the short stretch of viaduct in a cardboard box she called home. Or she could get help. ―We treat them, show them respect and we help them to find shelter,‖ said Darla, a 10-year employee at one of the largest facilities for outpatient care of the homeless with mental health challenges. The organization, whose name is omitted for privacy purposes, integrates mental and physical health services under one roof. ―Our team is a wrap- around service providing housing, basic health screens and psychological and drug abuse services along with a few basic meals‖. ―When I met Mary, she was in everyone‘s face before we received a call from the public hospital that she was COVID positive at discharge‖. Like many of Darla‘s clients, Mary T ineffectively wore a mask below her nostrils and was prone to shouting to be heard. ―We often deal with people who have severe mental illness. People who do not know boundaries and do not take care of themselves and who do not want to be reminded‖. Often psychologically challenged clients lack impulse control and cannot express themselves without an ―in-yourface‖ mode or touching to express emotions or needs. Sometimes staff does not discover a patient‘s COVID status until they have worked closely with the patient for several days. After hospital discharge, there is insufficient quality control when handing-off a patient from one facility to another. There are few clear-cut, effective methods to ensure that a patient goes home and proceeds to self-quarantine. The CDC provides guidance but where is the follow-up and who is responsible for doing it? ―At the center we work simultaneously in two teams, servicing 10 to 12 clients at a time while confined to one shared room. The lobby is used as a hold-

ing room for patients. It never closes down to be sanitized by any detailed method‖. Instead a rag is used to give the room a quick lick and germ-free promise. Workers are in the same room all day long, using the same computers all day long; touching the same unwashed door knobs all day long. Usually, no one is 6 feet apart. In the rush of some days, there is not even a whisper about who is COVID positive. Sometimes staff gets a call at night informing them that they had worked with a client who tested positive. Then they wonder why the call was not made earlier. ―We see clients in groups. We tell them to wear masks‖, said Darla, ―but some are not capable of wearing masks. They are continually difficult to manage because they cannot always comprehend, and they may not be on their psychiatric medications‖. Due to the COVID imposed restrictions the shelters do not allow people to sleep inside. Instead the homeless sleep outside and eat outside, always huddled together. There Pg6 MAE MAGAZINE | July 2020

is no overall attempt to screen them. Testing for the staff is also deficient. ―They only test a few of us and not everyone‖, said Darla. ―So, I took it upon myself to go get tested. The only ones this job sends for testing are the supervisors. They are operating ridiculously‖. Nothing dampens the staff‘s true concern for their clients. When clients need to be transferred from the center to a hospital and the cab cannot come, team members use their own cars to transport the clients who are sometimes not mentally stable. Clearly, nonpartisan politics challenges the lives and livelihood of mental health and social workers while threatening their true calling to care. The beast is in the budget, reportedly requiring workers in civil service areas to reach their weekly quotas of generating nearly $2000 despite workplace obstacles borne of the pandemic. Another center client with severe paranoia, James N (not real name), owned a mid-level home that he generously shared with a friend who was also mentally challenged. James avidly watched COVID-19 news while his pre-existing paranoia progressed. One day, his roommate of over a year, was suddenly admitted to the hospital for an acute psychotic episode. When the roommate was released from the hospital, James refused to allow him to reenter the house. For the next 2 days James‘s roommate lived outside exposed to unbearable heat. Early one morning on day three, he was found dehydrated and dead on the side of the road. Placing money and elusive image before people is also not foreign to a few hospitals either. These institutions flip their caregivers‘ duties and hours like doing blind coin tosses into a fountain of blood. They exist in an ever-demanding recycling of the same staff with the same lack of sleep and the same excessive stressors to weigh down an already stretched workload. Reportedly, healthcare workers were even told not to wear masks for fear of

MENTAL HEALTH agitating the patients. Admittedly, there are ―spitters‖ and biters and yellers and grabbers who have all become more agitated with the backdrop of the deadly coronavirus. Truly, the patients need even more assistance in this setting. Authorities observe that nearly 60% need apprehension and medication. But there is often little or no protection for the counselors. No testing is done routinely on these hospital units unless patients are symptomatic. As we have all learned, the virus can be transmissible without an onslaught of symptoms. While some clients reject masks, others become combative when they do not have the allotted PPE. They view the counselors as being treated better than them. Rightfully, these patients need the masks as they are mobility driven and easily provoked. Although popular and effective group sessions provide a platform for the virus to jump from person to person, neither patients nor participating providers are routinely tested or protected from the virus. A social worker recounts one grateful, impulsive patient who zipped over, gave her a quick hug, and kissed her within a second‘s blink, jeopardizing any possible benefits of social distancing. According to resources, when these exposures to the virus occur, the main interest of some jobs is to the workers working and not to stop the workers from spreading the virus. Empathy, retribution, and time off and job security are all simultaneously challenged or denied. When patients are recycled, readmitted, over and again, it takes less than a grain of common sense to realize that a ripe opportunity to identify and prevent conversion to COVID positivity could be lost with the repetition. The pandemic has the potential to affect the mental stability, acuity and serenity of those it directly attacked and all who have a stake in life --- front-line workers and the backline supporters. Experts say that those who were in ICU due to COVID are at risk for anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress after discharge. In fact, 46% of the postCOVID patients discharged from the in-

tensive care unit risk having at least mild to moderate mental transformation, whether temporary or permanent. Lack of employment further heightens any mental distress. Are we all so different or are we suffering from some type of societal COVID weariness and traumatic stress? Not wanting to conform to wearing life-saving masks and pretending social distancing is as valuable as an empty can of disinfectant. The next time you see a disoriented or disheveled Mary, or a Gary, huddled beneath a stony overpass, don‘t judge. Homelessness and mental decline were already pervasive disparities, now they are intensified by COVID. We are all the same in the eyes of COVID. It is our duty to commit to stopping the spread of this pandemic one mask at a time. Consider donating to a charitable fund to change these disparities worsened by COVID. Say a prayer for the Mary‘s of the world and understand that they have something to give --- the gift of vulnerability. One day she could be someone you know, or she could even be you. 

MAE MAGAZINE | July 2020 Pg7

Claudia M. Johnson MD is a physician practicing Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine and a published health journalist. ·

MENTAL HEALTH

Social Distancing without Losing Your Mind By Maria A. Glover-Wallace Ph.D We are all searching to find the balance between social distancing and keeping your sanity during the ever-changing guidelines to maintain healthy public and private interactions. Social distancing refers to the practice of keeping space between yourself and others to reduce the chance of contact with those who knowingly or unknowingly carry an illness. Social distancing comes with anxiety, frustration, and a constant fight for sanity. Therefore, the health of the human mind is a huge concern during this pandemic. Many health professionals suggest meditation, yoga, positive self-talk, a sense of community and a healthy diet to maintain the soundness, rationality, and health of the human mind and spirit. Prior to 2020, it would have been insane to think highly social people could go days, weeks, now months without physical contact with family and close friends. The adjustment has been brutal and at times cruel as parents and community leaders try to explain this new normal to children and rationalize the recommended daily essentials of social distance, masks, and extensive hand washing to the nation. We are now strongly encouraged to following new health guidelines while praying for an end to the quarantine; but in the meantime, searching for ways to stay connected. One effective way to survive these times is to consider your close circle of

family and friends that influence your happiness and life changing decisions. People that you depend on for advice, love, honesty, and loyalty are essential to your sanity. Keep your circle alive with laughter and outstretched love through calls, texts, videos, and letters. Also, give your circle the gift of truth during this time. Be honest with one another and offer constructive insight on the strengths and challenges in your relationships. Be open to having these conversations. This is the perfect time to re-create yourself! Now is the time to get prepared. Live your best life today by any means necessary. We will come out of quarantine. How will you emerge? Although there is suffering and loss; this time is monumental for the world.

Pg8 MAE MAGAZINE | July 2020

Mark this time with memories of resilience, passion for life and love. Use your positive self-talk to come out stronger, more focused, and healthier. Embrace the new normal and emerge as a better you! Maria A. Glover-Wallace, Ph.D., Researcher and Life Coach In a time of universal deceit â&#x20AC;&#x201C; telling the truth is a revolutionary act. George Orwell Read these articles for more information on mental health during this pandemic. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/ blog/ask-epidemiologist/202003/socialdistance-and-mental-health-inpandemic#= https://videos.aarp.org/detail/ video/6141644911001/how-social-or-ph

MENTAL HEALTH

How to Deal With Quarantine Weight Gain, A.K.A. The “COVID 15” (Black PR Wire) Self-isolation and quarantine have led to reduced movement and less engagement in any physical activity. Most people are stuck at home with a fridge full of foodstuff but without access to the gym. Hence, it is increasingly becoming difficult to maintain a healthy lifestyle when you are sitting most of the time; working from home.

For some of us, the result has been unexpected weight gain that can casually be referred to as ―the COVID 15,‖ much like the infamous freshman 15 pounds college typically gain during their first year. Despite the situation, it is important to remain active, stay fit, and eat healthy meals. Staying consistent with your health goals is vital for your physical and mental

MAE MAGAZINE | July 2020 Pg9

health. It strengthens your immune system, which is crucial during this pandemic. So, how do you keep up with your fitness and nutrition goals without the energetic atmosphere of the gym? Let‘s find out. See “COVID-15” Page 26 

Pg10 MAE MAGAZINE | July 2020

INTERVIEW

COMING HOME TO THE MOTHERLAND An Interview of Jondalyn Armstrong

By Emma Young There is nothing like visiting some place and finding that place to exceed all of your expectations. That‘s what happened to Jondalyn Armstrong in 2016 when she visited South Africa. As a graduate student at DuSable School of Psychiatry, Jondalyn and other graduate students in psychology were invited to a tour abroad to study community revitalization in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was a historic time, Jondalyn tells us, ―This was during the 2016 election season. Clinton had just accepted the Democratic nomination and Trump had accepted the Republican nomination, and even though racism had been rampant in our country for centuries, it was very much even more rampant because people were feeling emboldened by Trump‘s rhetoric.‖ With racial tensions felt across the USA, and personally bombarding African Americans, there was never a better time to get away and get a respite from the constant in-your-face racism inspired by the new POTUS. However, having not yet experienced the blissful feelings associated with being in the land of her African ancestors, initially Jondalyn didn‘t fully understand why she was being urged to go to the Motherland. ―But I was like, okay – let‘s go to Africa.‖ She recalls.

She immediately began to understand the wisdom of that decision the moment she stepped off the plane at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa. There was the ―Welcome‖ sign, being held by a South African young man whom she later learned was Mike, the on-the-ground liaison assigned to the group. ―I called Mike my caretaker,‖ Jondalyn relates, ―He took us to events, served as our tour guide, and took us to dinner. Mike‘s first words to the group as he greeted them gave her the sense of acceptance that made her homecoming real, As Jondalyn told of this initial encounter, you could hear the emotion in her voice. ―I was ready to weep and pass out on the floor in the airport,‖ she continued, ―because I needed to hear that I was welcome in an environment, in my black skin. I had never touched the soil of Africa and to know this is the Motherland, and to hear someone say ‗This is your home, you don‘t even have to go back if you don‘t want to‘ meant everything to me.‖ It wasn‘t just Mike, it was all of the South Africans that held Black Americans in such high regard that made her feel that she was in a place where she was truly wanted. She felt that she and the group could walk through the communities without being confronted with stares or unspoken words like, ―Whatcha look-

MAE MAGAZINE | July 2020 Pg11

INTERVIEW ing for? Or ―You don‘t belong here‖ or ―Get out.‖ Because they arrived on a weekend, they were not confronted with a lot of traffic. Jondalyn describes going where there were a lot of fields of elders who were basically running the country on political issues. There were a lot of corporate establishments and the group saw a lot of commerce. ―What was most beautiful,‖ she said ―Was when we were

money doesn‘t mean they have to leave the province.‖ What she had heard about South Africa and what she actually encountered when she arrived were worlds apart. ―You can‘t really trust the West in terms of someone giving you a true perspective,‖ she said, ―because there are agendas.‖ She gave an example, ―For instance, we did a lot of learning about Madiba, President Nelson Mandella,

riding down the highways on a Sunday evening, and there were people all in white with their hands up, in the middle of a red dirt field, against the background of the blue and the grey from the sky. It was absolutely stunning, it was so beautiful.‖ They also toured one of the provinces in Alexandria, and walked through a neighborhood where everyone had a house they had built themselves, and each household had a key to the portapotty. ―Everyone was so happy, the children were playing,‖ she said ―If they were poor, they didn‘t know it. You might see a house built with clay, and an older model BMW or a late model car parked in front, and you might wonder, ‗if the house is like this can they afford that car?‘ And the answer is yes, because they feel that just because they have

who had just recently passed away‖ And she learned that it was Mama Winnie (Winnie Mandela) that was almost wholly responsible for getting Madiba released from prison. She said, ―They put her under house arrest, put her in jail, and yet she continued to protest. Finally the government asked what could they do to stop her from protesting and her answer was ‗let my husband out of jail.‘‖ You could feel the sadness in her voice as she talked of the ―raw deal‖ that Mama Winnie received. There were many lies and continuous attempts to make her not credible. She talked of how white supremacist propaganda blamed Mama Winnie for the death of someone killed during a rally. She tells us that, ―Mama Winnie died on April 2, 2008 and on April 3 or April 4, it was announced that she had nothing to do with

Pg12 MAE MAGAZINE | July 2020

that death. But they couldn‘t give her that respect when she was alive.‖ It was lies and rumors of a secret lover that caused Madiba to divorce her, in spite of all she had done and sacrificed for him. Listening to Jondalyn you realize that Mama Winnie has a story that needs to be told. They say that apartheid no longer exists in South Africa, but Jondalyn noticed that even though the majority of people in Johannesburg are black, the few white people still feel and act as though they have entitlement, and that they are owed certain deference because of their whiteness. ―It is interesting,‖ she says, ―how their entitlement is so blatant and rampant.‖ They learned about the various tribes – historical lessons -- for instance they learned that at a point in time there was a war between the British and the Zulus and because the British troops came out wearing what looked like skirts, the Zulus didn‘t fight like they should have. Because of the skirts they thought the Brits were women and they had been taught not to fight women, and thus, they lost the war. Jondalyn found it interesting that the West had been such a big influence in Africa, as they had throughout the world. The dances were those that they had seen in the West, although in 2016, the music played in clubs was the soundtrack from the Black Panther Movie. She said she saw a few women with blonde wigs, and she confessed she wanted to say, ―Y‘all just don‘t know, you‘re wearing that and we‘re trying to get away from it and back to who we are.‖ She also saw a lot of people adorned in their own garb. Wearing their own natural hair. ―Going home to South Africa, to a land where people looked like you, welcomed you, respected you and loved you is the greatest experience in the world!‖ she said. Would she go back? ―In a heartbeat‖ she says enthusiastically, ―Every chance I get!‖ ©

MAE MAGAZINE | July 2020 Pg13

Pg14 MAE MAGAZINE | July 2020

MAE MAGAZINE | July 2020 Pg15

COVER STORY

What a Cardiothoracic Surgeon Sees When He Sees George Floyd By Nche Zama, MD, PhD. Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon Dr. Nche Zama, M.D., PhD, is a Harvard-trained African American cardiothoracic surgeon with a passion for human service. He is the Director of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at Arnot Health in Elmira, New York.

y whole life, I have known death. As a child in Cameroon, I stood precariously at the foot of a hospital bed and watched as a desperate, tearful nurse labored in vain to save my 29-yearold mother who was bleeding to death after childbirth. Her death was an incalculable loss, and it filled me with the steely determination to prevent others from having to endure that kind of searing pain. It propelled me to where I am today: a cardiac surgeon and scientist who has dedicated his life to saving and restoring lives around the world. But the journey was burdened with the pain, loneliness, and the struggle of a young, black male in a world that too often presented invisible barriers and overt frustrations. I learned physics and calculus, anatomy and epidemiology, but I also learned to navigate the racism of the United States. How can I forget Anderson, my wonderful friend who just happened to be white. As he was leaving our dorm to head home to Springfield, Massachusetts for Christmas break our freshman year, he realized I had nowhere to go. I had no family. He paused, and clearly frustrated, confessed, ―I would love to take you home, but my dad hates blacks.

Four long weeks of living utterly alone in a twenty-floor dormitory building that year was painful, but I knew it was nothing compared to the heartbreaking, psychological burden that Anderson caved under, a burden his father intentionally placed on him. Racist incidents seemed to come with such rapid succession that I eventually began to wonder if a state of learned helplessness would not become the new normal I had to work around to realize my dreams. I discovered that some people would not care that I was a decent, caring person who does his job well and just happens to be your Harvard-trained heart surgeon. To them, a black man is first and foremost an enemy, a threat. The father of one of my nurses who–despite being in dire need of life-saving heart surgery–requested ―anyone but a nigger surgeon,‖ even though I was the director and chief of the department, a Harvard-trained Cardiothoracic Surgeon, a Cleveland Clinic-trained Surgeon with a Harvard graduate degree, a PhD in Chemistry and a Doctorate in Medicine. The referring doctor refused to capitulate to this gentleman‘s racism and offered him The Hobson‘s choice: me or the door. His heart was failing so rapidly he knew he would die with-

Pg16 MAE MAGAZINE | July 2020

COVER STORY out immediate intervention, so he chose me. (After the successful operation, a new and robust friendship was born between surgeon and repentant patient.) Like so many black men and women across this nation I had no choice but to keep my focus, address my stressors, subordinate my own emotions, and provide excellent professional service in the midst of hate. Black life reality! And yet, I was not prepared for what I saw when I watched the video of George Floyd‘s murder. Indeed, my knowledge of the physiological sequence of events that occurred made it even more profoundly difficult for me. This is difficult to read, but I ask you to stay with me: I could imagine his carotid artery being violently compressed by the police officer‘s knee cutting off blood supply to Mr. Floyd‘s brain. I could imagine his jugular vein being compressed, allowing pressure to build up in his brain. I could see his trachea being violently crushed to a point where oxygen could no longer flow effortlessly down into his lungs and body. I could see his pharynx being mangled to a point where his voice was reduced to a desperate whimper. I could see his chest wall in a prone position being viciouslycompressed to the point of compromising his ability to breathe. I could imagine his autonomic nervous system starving for blood and oxygen and eventually collapsing. As his nervous system collapsed Mr. Floyd‘s body went limp and his bowel and bladder control seized. I realized that irreversible brain damage happens about five minutes after you cut off the supply of oxygen to the brain. I understood that the slowly advancing trail of liquid from the underside of the police car was likely not the result of liquid condensation from an automobile air conditioner unit. It was Mr. Floyd‘s body fluid. I realized that the stress of sustaining all of his dying organs would be too much for his heart. His precious heart, a powerful muscular pump that had sustained him from the time of his conception, beating nonstop about 120,000 times a day without fail, had been forced to stop. Yet as a doctor who has squeezed thou-

sands of hearts and compressed countless chests to save lives, I was aghast as I observed Mr. Floyd‘s limp and lifeless body carted away like a prized trophy from a hunt, like an animal, without any immediate attempt at CPR. George Floyd, physically restrained with hands cuffed to his back and dumped into a prone position on a concrete pavement, posed no threat whatsoever. Yet he died a prolonged, painful, agonizing death as the police officer, a casual look of nefarious indifference, hand in pocket, compressing the helpless man‘s neck and chest with his knee as his colleagues fended off concerned citizens. But as a physician, I also saw something else in George Floyd‘s death, as I did in the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. I saw the embodiment of a major American health problem: racism. Racial health disparities have been with us since the beginning of this great nation. Deaths in America from COVID-19 among blacks and other minorities are disproportionately higher than their numbers in the general population. Disabling racism has left many blacks and other minorities in a state of social helplessness and desperation, as they languish in suffocating domestic colonies and silos of social oblivion. Yet we wonder why they do not succeed and why they have poor health. We do not consider that:

So in a time of national reckoning and soul searching, America‘s healthcare providers must question how they are complicit in perpetuating racism — either in what they do or what they fail to do. Healthcare is the largest industry in the United States and accounts for approximately 20% of the GDP of the United States — that‘s about $4 trillion. Yet health disparities are part of entrenched, systemic racism in America:  Blacks receive less and worse care than whites. This has remained unchanged for centuries.  Blacks have worse outcomes than whites and other ethnicities in terms of cancer, heart disease and many other major diseases.  Blacks have a shorter life expectancy than whites.  Obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer disproportionately affect blacks.  Blacks receive better care when they are seen by black doctors.  Only 5% of American physicians are black.

Substandard housing is a public health problem.

Among the black population, there is a general distrust for the healthcare industry in America. They well remember the history of immoral experiments perpetrated on them in the Tuskegee syphilis experiment carried out by doctors on black men for over forty years by the United States government. Additionally, blacks are cognizant of the countless forced sterilizations of thousands of and Hispanic women during the time of the Tuskegee experiments. They are not unmindful of the general neglect by medical researchers to seek cures for diseases such as sickle cell which has a greater prevalence among African Americans. In every social determinant of health status — nutrition, genetics, housing, employment, education, clean water, safety, and security — blacks consistently come up short.

Economic disparity is a public health problem.

No one seems to talk about the epidemic of depression among the poor and

Violence is a public health problem. Police brutality is a public health problem. Gun violence is a public health problem. Discrimination is a public health problem. Substandard education is a public health problem.

Continued on Page 18  MAE MAGAZINE | July 2020 Pg17

COVER STORY Rebuilding broken lives from healthcare injustices will require physician leadership. It will require leadership from our great nursing professionals and all components of our healthcare industry. Healthcare professionals must rebuild trust with the ones we serve. Nche Zama, MD, PhD.

minorities. Mental health conditions such as this are rooted in racism, discrimination and marginalization and need to be recognized as such. Rebuilding broken lives from healthcare injustices will require physician leadership. It will require leadership from our great nursing professionals and all components of our healthcare industry. Healthcare professionals must rebuild trust with the ones we serve. We must address the problematic numerical deficiencies in minority members within our professional units and ranks. A comprehensive engagement in providing care for those living on the outskirts of hope requires a new paradigm in public health strategies that goes beyond bricks and mortar and takes healthcare service to people in the community. Now is the time for direct social and political advocacy. Now is the time to be vocal advocates for the chronically disenfranchised. Now is the time to engage legislators, law-enforcement, state andfederal leaders and agencies to address the multitude of social determinants impacting minority health care and status. We cannot remain on the sidelines because our collective silence constitutes betrayal, complicity, and abandonment.

I challenge the American Medical Association to speak truth to power regarding the sin of racism and all its implications as stated. I challenge every major healthcare association to embrace a new normal by openly condemning racism and mapping out actionable strategies to address the plethora of public health challenges confronting the poor and disenfranchised. Each one of us must challenge ourselves to leave a legacy of compassionate activism. We must shed our protective coats and grab leadership banners now, leading the charge for creative social change in America. We cannot afford to stay muted and turn our backs to those in desperate need of our skills, compassion, and understanding, for without our participation, our collective mission on this journey called life becomes flotsam and jetsam in lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s mighty river. Mr. George Floyd in his terminal agony cried out for Mama. Violently pinned down on that cold, concrete pavement he cried out for his mother because he felt hopeless, lonely, desperate, and abandoned. Mr. Floydâ&#x20AC;&#x2DC;s dilemma should touch a nerve within all humanity, for more often than not â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

Pg18 MAE MAGAZINE | July 2020

COVER STORY A mother is one person who will never abandon you. A mother will intercede and intervene on your behalf. A mother will sacrifice her life to rescue yours. A mother will subordinate her needs to yours. The concerned bystanders in Minneapolis were ―Mama‖. The murderous police were not. There are millions of black people and other minorities in this country who cry out every day for the ―Mama‖ of social privilege and political power and nobody seems to heed their broken cries. Two thousand years ago in the midst of severe pain, agony, and suffering, Jesus cried out at the 9th hour. ―My God my God why hast thou forsaken me?‖ We must never lose the essence of the powerful metaphor that unfolded at an intersection in Minneapolis. Mr. Floyd was plead-

ing with every one of us. The agony of his unanswered plea and supplication is deafening. The powerless amongst us are crying out to you. Yes, to you. Do we heed the muted cry of the poor minority children in a hostile world or do we condemn their failures without learningtheir pain? The final words of Mr. Floyd have an eerie familiarity to anybody in healthcare anywhere on this planet. ―Mama!‖ ― My stomach hurts, my neck hurts, everything hurts.‖ ―Don‘t kill me.‖ ―Mama! I CANT BREATHE!‖ 

In a world of so much grief, George Floyd’s 6year-old daughter found time to make a statement while smiling and remarked that her “Daddy changed the world.” Gianna Floyd with former NBA player Stephen Jackson.

MAE MAGAZINE | July 2020 Pg19

ZINDZI MANDELA

THE LEGACY OF ZINDZI MANDELA STORY BY

LOUISE EBERHART

ave you ever attended a funeral of someone you barely knew and after listening to the comments and eulogy you wished you had known them better? That‘s pretty much par for the course in this fast-paced world, where we find out how great a person was only after their death. I wish I had known about Zindzi Mandela before she passed away at the age of 59 on July 13, 2020. I knew the Mandela‘s had children, but for me and a lot of you, that knowledge stopped there. I didn‘t know Zindzi, the youngest of Winnie and Nelson Mandela, had served as the First Lady of South Africa from 1996 to 1998. I didn‘t know that she was serving as South Africa‘s ambassador to Denmark at the time of her death. Truly her father‘s and mother‘s child, in 1985 when Botha of South Africa offered Nelson Mandela a conditional release

from prison, it was Zindzi who publicly read her father‘s letter of refusal. Something tells me, as I read about her boldness and Blackness, that she had a lot of pride in her heart as she read her father‘s refusal to bow down to the white perpetrators of Apartheid. Perhaps I draw that conclusion after reading about her defiant tweets while Ambassador to Denmark, where she discussed ―trembling white cowards who are the thieving rapist descendants of Van Riebeck‖ and ―uninvited visitors who don‘t want to leave.‖ Unfortunately, it‘s too late to request an interview of Ms. Mandela to ask what specifically she was referring to. But I do know that it riled up a lot of status quo folks, and they got even more upset when she expressed her ―deep, pure, unconditional love and respect for ‗CIC‘ (leader) of the Economic Freedom Fighters, Julius Malema. So Sister Zindzi was being investigated by the Department of International Relations

Pg20 MAE MAGAZINE | July 2020

ZINDZI MANDELA and Cooperation for breaching their social media policy. And during this investigation, the sister didn‘t back down one iota, tweeting that ―I am not accountable to any white man or woman for my personal views. No missus or baas here. Get over yourselves. #OurLand.‖ That exemplified the fiery spirit of Mama Winnie and Madiba Mandela. Sister Zindzi was a poet. In 1978 she published a book of poetry entitled Black as I am. Her poetry also appeared in a publication, Somehow We Survive: An Anthology of South African Writing, edited by the late, great Sterling Plumpp and Daughters of Africa, edited by Margaret Busby. I would have loved to have interviewed her and asked her if her father‘s 25 plus years of imprisonment, or the fact that she was born during the unlawful and racist Apartheid era in South Africa have anything to do with her decision to study law at the University of Cape Town. I wish I had known her just to say, thank you for your service to the world, Zindzi Mandela – you served your mother‘s and father‘s legacy very well, and created a legacy of your own. RIP. 

MAE MAGAZINE | July 2020 Pg21

RAYSHARD BROOKS

WHY HE RAN. T

he disproportionate representation of black Americans in the U.S. criminal justice system is well documented. Blacks comprise 13 percent of the national population, but 30 percent of people arrested, 41 percent of people in jail, and 49 percent of those in prison. Nine percent of all black adults are under some form of correctional supervision (in jail or prison, on probation or parole), compared to two percent of white adults. One in three black men between the ages of 20 and 29 is either in jail or prison, or on parole or probation. https://www.hrw.org/legacy/ reports/2000/usa/Rcedrg00-01.htm Rayshard Brooks fit that category. At 27 years of age he had spent a year in prison and was on probation for 10 years, the length of time he would have spent in prison had he not pled guilty. Rayshard shared his experience in February of this year with a company called Reconnect that posted an ad on Craigslist

Bodycam video released by the Atlanta Police Department show the moments leading up to the fatal shooting of Rayshard Brooks.

to which Brooks responded. He told the interviewer how ―You get treated like an animal.‖ When offered probation in exchange for a plea, he didn‘t hesitate. He said, ―I‘m like, ‗oh my God, I have kids out here‘ so I‘m trying to do the best option I Pg22 MAE MAGAZINE | July 2020

can to be back to society.‖ For one year, he was locked up 23 hours a day and told when to wake up and where to go. He said it ―messed‖ with his mental state. So on that evening in June, when he had a little too much to drink and fell asleep at Wendy‘s, he was noticeably nervous. He knew the smallest infraction could negate his probation and land him back behind bars. So he tried to cooperate. He told his killer when asked if he

RAYSHARD BROOKS would take a field sobriety test, ―I don‘t want to refuse anything.‖ So he cooperated. And he took it. And after the test – without warning, Officer Rolfe began to place handcuffs on him. Someone who hadn‘t ever been arrested before might have been nervous about being handcuffed, but they would have known if they went to jail for a DUI, they probably wouldn‘t have to serve a lot of time. Rayshard had not only been arrested, he had not only spent a year in prison, but he knew that he could return to prison for 10 years. Ten years without being with his wife and four children. The thought must have terrified him. The terror of the moment mixed with too many Margaritas caused him to be irrational, for a moment. So he fought them, and he ran. He ran because he didn‘t want to be locked away for a good part of his life. He ran because, as he told the interviewer, ―I‘m trying you know. I‘m not the type of person to give up. You know, and I‘m gonna keep going until I make it to where I want to be.‖ 

MAE MAGAZINE | July 2020 Pg23

BLACK WALL STREET

Black Wall Street: The Community that Segregation Built

Pg24 MAE MAGAZINE | July 2020

STORY BY EMMA YOUNG

BLACK WALL STREET

n the well-known play, ―The Colored Museum,‖ there is a famous line. As the character reminisces about the Black ―Ice Man‖ and the white ―Ice Man‖ bringing their ice to the Black neighborhoods to keep the ice boxes cold, he tells of how the residents flocked to the white man‘s truck. When asked why they by-passed the Black ice truck, one person explained, ―Don‘t you know? The white man‘s ice is colder.‖ Although that line was funny, in a sadly ironic kind of way, in the play, that sentiment equals financial disaster for Black businesses when Black consumers deny Black businesses the benefit of their dollars because they think ―the white man‘s ice is colder.‖ Back in the early 1900‘s, slavery had recently ended and Native Americans were being removed from many of the states. As the tribes came to Oklahoma, their slaves or African Americans living among them as tribal members, traveled to Oklahoma with them. In 1907 Oklahoma became a state, with a majorityBlack population of African Americans who had left the lands of slavery and traveled to Oklahoma by wagons, horses, trains and some even came on foot, especially those who were relatives of Native Americans who had traveled on foot with the Five Civilized Tribes along the Trail of Tears. Some of the Black migrants to Oklahoma descended from various Muskogee-speaking peoples, such as the Creeks and Seminoles, and then there were those who had been adopted by the tribes after the Emancipation Proclamation. They settled in the area north of the Frisco railroad tracks in Oklahoma, which some white residents called ―Little Africa.‖ Black people did not have the option of doing business with white establishments, or purchasing goods from white stores. White doctors and dentists wanted nothing to do with Black patients. There was this thing called segregation, and both races adhered to its rules. In 1899 a Black entrepreneur by the name of J. B. Stradford came to Tulsa. Stradford, believing that Black people had a better chance of economic progress if they pooled their resources, worked together and supported each other‘s busi-

nesses, bought large tracts of real estate in the northeastern part of Tula. He subdivided that real estate and sold it exclusively to other African Americans. Stradford later built the Stradford Hotel on Greenwood, which was just as luxurious as the white-only downtown hotels. Booker T. Washington heard of this community of African Americans doing great things and it led him to pay them a visit in 1905. He encouraged them to keep doing what they were doing, thereby securing their ownership and independence. To illustrate his vision, he directed the creation of a 4,000 acre totally blackMAE MAGAZINE | July 2020 Pg25

owned district in Tuskegee, under the direction of C. W. Greene, which became known as Greenwood a few years after it was organized. A year later, the Tulsa community following his advice and his vision, was formally organized and took the name of Greenwood. In that same year, a wealthy Black landowner from Arkansas moved to Tulsa and following Stradford‘s example purchased 40 acres of land which was ―only to be sold to colored.‖ The Greenwood District of Tulsa grew by leaps and bounds, and by 1921 it had a population of over 10,000 African Ameri-

BLACK WALL STREET

“COVID-15” CONTINUED FROM Pg9

Tips to Help You Stay on Track With Your Nutrition Goals

can residents. Black consumers didn‘t have the option of thinking the white man‘s ice was colder, because the white man‘s ice, or grocery stores, or doctors or dentists were not accessible to them. Segregation was the best thing that could have happened for Black Wall Street. The community flourished as the home of Black businesses, including libraries, banks, grocery stores and a whole lot more. Gaining a shot at lucrative profits through the mining and oil industries brought even more African Americans to Oklahoma, and although they constituted a small percentage of Oklahoma‘s overall population, the percentage of African Americans in Tulsa increased significantly during the oil boom, which brought many African Americans from the Deep South because of the opportunity to strike gold because of the rich oil fields. Although whites in America often repeat the mantra that Blacks should ―pull themselves up by their own bootstraps,‖ chances are they really didn‘t mean it. They probably never imagined that a group of self-sufficient Negroes could rise to such an outstanding economic success. Black Wall Street became the talk of the nation. Black people outside of Tulsa beamed with pride. White people all over the country burned with outrage, resentment and anger. Their resentment of Black people having anything grew into an intense hatred.

Black businesses received hateful, threatening letters. Then in 1921 police accused a Black shoe shiner of ―assaulting‖ a white woman. That ignited the Black Wall Street massacre. The Greenwood District was literally burned to the ground. Whites massacred as many as 300 Black residents, and injured hundreds more. Five thousand African Americans were left homeless. The destruction of the once thriving Greenwood community is known as one of the most devastating massacres in the history of U.S. race relations. But the story didn‘t end there. Many surviving Tulsa residents refused to leave Tulsa, and within ten years after the massacre they rebuilt much of the district, in spite of the opposition of many white Tulsa political and business leaders, and despite the punitive rezoning laws that were enacted for the sole purpose of preventing reconstruction. Tulsa continued as a vital Black community. But just as segregation helped build it and make it prosperous, integration did the opposite. In the 1950‘s and 60‘s, Civil Rights laws were enacted, Jim Crow segregation was overturned, Black residents of Tulsa were free to live and shop elsewhere in the city, and they did. The discovery of the ―White man‘s ice‖ by many of Tulsa‘s residents sadly prevented the Greenwood District from once again being the thriving and successful center of Black cooperative wealth it once was.·  Pg26 MAE MAGAZINE | July 2020

During these uncertain times, you may find it challenging to maintain a healthy diet when the kitchen is a stone‘s throw away. You may hover around the kitchen more than expected to prepare meals for your loved ones. Sometimes, boredom can drag you into mindless eating without realizing it. Staying indoors can be tough, but this shouldn‘t stop you from meeting your nutritional goals. To help you stay on course, these easy to implement techniques will guide in keeping up with your health goals.

Plan Your Meals in Advance It is important to plan your meals in advance so that you are not tempted to pick snacks every time you wander in the kitchen. Creating a meal plan every week makes your work easier. You don‘t have to ponder for ages what to prepare only to get discouraged and settle for unhealthy foods or starve for long hours. The proper diet helps to keep your energy up and ease stress.

Have Regular Eating Schedule It is important to schedule your eating times at the same time every day to avoid skipping meals or unnecessary snacking throughout the day. Have a designated eating place where everyone converges for a meal. Always take your meals at the right time. Have a Balanced Diet As you plan your meals, ensure each meal has the right nutritional content. Proteins, fiber, carbohydrates, and healthy fats are See “COVID-15” Page 29 

REPARATIONS

Why America owes Reparations to Black Descendants of Slaves BY EMMA YOUNG

ntil the late 1400‘s, Africans organized their societies around the family unit. Gold supply often dictated which society held the most power. Those living in the drier northern areas maintained sheep, goats, cattle or camels, while in the heavily wooded lush rainforests near the equator, farmers raised yams, palm products or plantains. Rice, millet, sorghum and other crops were plentiful in the savanna areas. The Ghana Empire is known as the first major empire to emerge in West Africa. Amazigh and Arab traders from the west of the Nile Valley brought cloth, weapons and manufactured goods in exchange for portions of Ghana‘s abundant gold supply. Mali emerged about 250 years later, replacing Ghana as the leading state in West Africa. During that time, miners discovered huge new deposits of gold east of the Niger River. By the 14th Century, the empire was so wealthy; Mali‘s ruler gave away enough gold to cause price inflation in the cities along his route. The capital city of Timbuktu became a leading center for education and commerce. The Christian bible could be used as a narrative of life in Africa, with most West Africans living in small villages and identifying primarily with their extended family or clan. Polygamy was an accepted practice. All Africans did not speak the same language, and hundreds of spate dialects came from different clans or tribes. Famine or fear of a stronger enemy would cause one tribe to ask another tribe for help, and in return give themselves as slaves in exchange for their assistance. In the bible, the story of Jacob and his children giving of themselves as slaves to the Egyptian Pharaoh is true to that practice. Also, prisoners of war between different tribal societies often became enslaved. These servants became a part of the extended tribal family and were often given their freedom in the 7th year (the year of Jubilee).

In Europe, there was the ruling class and the serfs. The serfs often operated as slaves to the ruling class, or very cheap laborers. In many instances they became indentured slaves as a result of a minor or major criminal offense, such as stealing a loaf of bread. Europeans were only allowed to practice the King‘s religion. In England, as in most of Europe, the main religion was Roman Catholicism. Church attendance was compulsory, and the government decided what times its citizens would pray. So, in 1492, when Christopher Columbus found a ―new world‖ inhabited by natives of that land, the serfs, indentured slaves, criminals and those who wanted to practice a different religion set out to steal this land from its rightful inhabitants and settle there. Thus began the Atlantic Slave Trade, by a group mostly of criminals & serfs seeking religious freedom. African families & tribes were divided up when brought to the European plantations so that they weren‘t able to communicate with each other. Over a 400 plus year period, the African people were stripped of their language, their customs and their history. After over 400 years of having their lives stolen, these descendents of one-time hunter-gatherers & prosperous farmers were emancipated by official declaration of President Abraham Lincoln. Many were forced to stay on the plantation as laborers, for little wages. Others went out to seek work, but there was very little work they could do and most of them wound up arrested for vagrancy and their penalty was to return to the plantation. Lincoln promised the newly emancipated Africans 40 acres of land apiece, and it was distributed to many families. Three days after the end of the Civil War, Lincoln was assassinated and President Andrew Jackson took back the land that was dis-

MAE MAGAZINE | July 2020 Pg27

REPARATIONS tributed to the former slaves, and paid the former slave holders $300 apiece to compensate for the loss of their slaves. Africans set out to make a decent living on their own. Over four-thousand Black men, women and even children were lynched during the decades that followed, robbing families of fathers & mothers, robbing societies of successful businessmen and women. Black people invented nearly everything, from the iron & ironing board, washing machine and dryer, to the stop light and gas masks. Whites invented the patent office and stole as many inventions from Blacks as Blacks were credited with. Those that were credited for their inventions were compensated poorly. Yet in spite of the lynchings, in spite of the stolen inventions, in spite of the chain gangs and prisons and Jim Crow laws, African Americans continued to try to make a living and be self-sufficient. During the1900‘s, a group of African Americans built a community in the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma that was so prosperous it was nicknamed Black Wall Street. In January, 1921, a mob of white supremacists went through the Greenwood Districts, killing as many as 300 people and burning the District to the ground. Around that same time, there was a quiet, primarily Black, self-sufficient town called Rosewood. In the first week of January, 1923 hundreds of whites came through the town hunting Black people and burned down every structure. Meanwhile, whites continued to prosper, building on the riches they had gained through the sugar industry and the cotton industry which Blacks had built with no compensation. Banks and other industries were created from the free labor of African Americans. Generational wealth was handed down from white fathers and mothers to white offspring. Owning homes and land was a primary source of wealth for whites. Blacks were not allowed to purchase homes, and when they did it was on contract meaning the white seller maintained control of the home and a Black family could be evicted for missing or being late for one payment, forfeiting every dollar

that had gone into the home. Redlining was instituted which showed the places inhabited primarily by Blacks, and persons living within the red -lined districts were automatically turned down for loans and charged higher insurance premiums.

In the 1930‘s, two African American brothers known as the Jones brothers created the Policy wheel. People would pay a dollar to guess a number, and would win hundreds if that was the number drawn from the Policy Wheel at the end of the day. It proved to be lucrative, and with the profits the Jones Brothers created business in which they hired African Americans. African Americans couldn‘t shop in downtown Chicago, so the Jones Brothers created South Center on 47th Street in Chicago‘s Bronzeville community. It became the shopping Mecca of Chicago‘s Southside, which housed department stores, shoe stores, dental and doctor‘s offices and more. The United States government declared policy illegal. Shortly thereafter, the Illinois State Lottery was created in which people pay $1 and up to play their numbers, and win hundreds and even thousands if their number is chosen. There was no shame to their game. They even have a lottery ―wheel‖ which spins and chooses the numbers much like the policy ―wheel.‖ The male has always been the head of the family. The hunter-gatherer, the breadwinner. With barely enough resources to raise a family, many Black Americans had to turn to Welfare. The number one rule of the welfare system was – there could not be a man in the household. Some men left, for the sake of the family. Others hid when the social worker came to check and make sure there wasn‘t a man in the house. If they got caught, the Welfare was cut off. Others stayed with their families, said take your Welfare and stick it, and continued to struggle – as the wealth gap continued to widen. Then came the 1980 Census with the grim news for the racists – despite all they had done to us, the African American population was increasing. Minister Farrkahan predicted that the news would initiate a war on Black men. Sometime later, a former Nixon administrative official admitted that the ―war on drugs‖ was actually a war on Black men. Nixon created it. Bill Clinton and Joe Biden and others executed it. The 1994 Crime Bill brought slavery back – renamed it, reSEE NEXT PAGE

Pg28 MAE MAGAZINE | July 2020

CONTINUATIONS

“COVID-15” CONTINUED FROM Pg26 essential for overall health. Such a diet is high on nutrients. You‘ll stay full for a long time, hence reducing the urge to indulge in high-calorie foodstuff in between meals. Normalize homemade food and reduce home deliveries.

Keep Your Meals Fun To spice up your healthy eating routine, try out different meals. You can have a great family time experimenting with different ingredients and recipes to come up with creative and delicious meals. Also, stock up healthy snacks like nuts, yogurt, or popcorn. It would be best if you took the snack in portions and avoid eating directly from the bag.

Techniques to Help You Stay on Track With Your Fitness Goals For gym enthusiasts, exercising at home is tedious. And those who haven‘t been working out find it even more challenging

to adopt an exercise routine. However, this is an opportunity to tame your habits and train your mind to adopt a healthy lifestyle. For starters, you can easily start implementing fitness activities and keep track of your fitness goals by integrating these simple tips.

Have a Training Schedule Given the lack of zeal when you are bored indoors, you must come up with a training plan to help you consistently exercise every day at the same time and place. Such a program helps your body to switch into a workout mood. You can plan the exercises you are going to do a day earlier and put in place the pieces of equipment you‘ll need. It is easy to follow a routine. Thus, you‘ll remain motivated and stick to your goals with a clear plan.

Find an Accountability Partner Finding a partner to help you keep up with your goals every day is essential. Someone to call or text you when it‘s time for exercise. You can do the same for them. The thought of giving negative feedback alone is enough to get you to work out before the third party calls to confirm.

Have Enough Sleep

Enough Sleep is crucial for your body to function at an optimum level. Sleeping for 8 hours, relaxes your body and mind. You recharge, and you can better concentrate and handle your daily routines with renewed strength.

Stroll Indoors When you sit for long hours, your muscles become stiff. You might experience pain and discomfort on your joints and spine. A brief break to walk around the house and stretch your muscles make a huge difference. Have small breaks in between work to relax your mind and relieve your muscles of any tension.

Enroll for Free Online Exercise Programs Online platforms have a variety of exercises. Whether your focus is a full-body workout or you want to concentrate on a particular part, you‘ll find a training tailored just for you. The trainer‘s motivation inspires participants to keep up. You can try new routines, stay motivated, and be consistent. YouTube is the perfect place to start. Some apps can help you with workouts too.

See “COVID-15” Pg31

REPARATIONS FROM PREVIOUS PAGE branded it. Instead of working for nothing, thousands of Black men and women were earning 5 cents an hour building furniture, doing the kind of production that could have brought real income to Black communities, making profits for white investors and privatized prison owners. Black fathers and some Black mothers were imprisoned by the thousands. Grandparents became the new foster parents, trying to raise grandchildren on meager Social Security checks – and the wealth gap continued to widen. While white America continues to profit from Black America‘s free labor, inventions, and creations; the wealth gap between white America and Black Amer-

ica continues to grow. There is only one way to close that gap, which has widened over the nearly 600 years since a stolen people were brought to this stolen land. That is through Reparations. After the Second World War, America paid Europe $12 billion in reparations to repair the country for their losses during the War. America paid the Japanese people millions of dollars for their internment in concentration camps following the war. America owes its largest debt to the descendants of enslaved Africans who were brought here against their will, treated like animals, lynched, and had

MAE MAGAZINE | July 2020 Pg29

everything they acquired stolen or burned down, had their families broken up, family heads imprisoned for decades, Black sons, fathers & some mothers & daughters killed by racist police, while white America continues to prosper from the generational wealth created by Africans. Buying Black will give Black businesses more profit, but it won‘t close the wealth gap. The 1.5 million Black-owned businesses in the United States generate $150 billion dollars collectively. One white-owned business, Wal-Mart, generates $450 billion. Reparations is the only answer. 

SAVING MONEY

HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON ANY SALARY

re you under the impression that only the ‗wealthy‘ can save money? Do you think people with high salaries save more than those with low salaries? There really isn‘t any truth to this. Anyone can save money on any salary. If you have the right plan, stay consistent, and watch your spending, you too can save, no matter how much you make, whether it‘s $25,000 or $125,000.

at the end of the month when you‘ve already spent money? Do you pay yourself last? Try switching your tactics. Pay yourself first instead of last. Put money in your savings account, CD, or any other savings vehicle the minute you get paid. This eliminates any excuses. Once you transfer the funds, leave them – consider the money spent. Get out of Debt

Follow the steps below to put savings back in your plan. Pay Yourself first Think about when you save money. Is it

Do you have a lot of high interest consumer debt? The interest eats away at your savings. Set up a debt repayment plan that gets you out of debt fast. Try one of the following methods: Pg30 MAE MAGAZINE | July 2020



Debt snowball – Order your debts from smallest to largest balance. Pay the minimum amount due on each debt except the smallest debt. Pay as much as you can toward the smallest debt until you pay it off. Take that same amount and add it to the minimum payment of the next debt in line, keeping the process going until you‘re out of debt.

 Debt avalanche – Order your debts from highest to lowest APR, not paying attention to the balances. Pay the minimum amount due on each debt except the first debt (highest APR). Pay as much as you can toward the first debt until you pay it off. Take

SAVING MONEY that same amount and add it to the minimum payment of the next debt in line, keeping the process going until you‘re out of debt. Once you lower or pay off your debt, save the money you would have paid to the credit cards. Find Ways to Cut Expenses Where can you ‗cut the fat‘ in your budget? Grab your bank statements from the last couple of months and evaluate them. Where do you overspend? Break your spending down into categories so you can see where you spend. A few ideas to cut expenses include:  Plan your meals before grocery shopping and make a list. With a plan you know exactly what you need. Only buy what‘s on your list and don‘t impulse buy.  Shop for necessities or even ‗wants‘ when prices are the lowest, such as at the end of the season; around holidays like Memo-

rial Day, Labor Day, and Fourth of July, or during a sale.  Shop with coupons whenever possible. Do a quick Google search or use an app on your smartphone to get coupons to the most popular stores.  Limit eating out or spending on entertainment. Try to think of ways you can have fun at home or even free entertainment in your area. Set up Automatic Deposit If you don‘t trust yourself to put any money you save aside, set up automatic deposit. You can do this one of two ways:  Set up direct deposit with your employer. You can direct a portion of your paycheck to your savings account with the rest going into your checking account. This eliminates any effort you must put in, making it easier to save.  Set up automatic transfers from your checking to your savings

“COVID-15” CONTINUED FROM Pg26

Over to You Yes! Quarantine sucks. But it shouldn‘t be the reason to overlook the most critical part of your life, which is your health, yet you have all the time you need. The benefits of staying healthy during this time are unmatched. You‘ll be able to stay active, reduce anxiety and stress, boost your mood, strengthen your immune system, and maintain an overall healthy lifestyle. Incorporating these tips into your daily routine will go a long way to ensure you come out of quarantine healthier than you went in. You might find yourself adapting to a healthier lifestyle in the long run. So, take charge of this golden opportunity and rewrite your health status. Tyler Read is the owner of ptpioneer.com which is a website dedicated to helping people get started in the personal training industry. He helps people discover, study, and pass their fitness exams. Check out his free videos for the latest trends. 

MAE MAGAZINE | July 2020 Pg31

account. Most banks allow you to set up an automatic transfer schedule, taking the effort out of it. Bank your Windfalls Did you recently receive a raise or get a tax refund? Rather than changing your lifestyle because you got more money, save it or better yet, invest it. Any ‗free money‘ you receive, treat it as if you never received it. Don‘t spend it before you have it or buy things you normally wouldn‘t buy. Put the money directly into a CD, IRA, 401K, or any other investment that sets you up for future success. It may seem like a sacrifice now, but your future self will thank you. Saving money is possible on any salary as long as you budget right. Make saving a line item in your budget. It‘s nonnegotiable like your mortgage payment – you have to pay it. Let the earnings compound whether it‘s interest, dividends, or investment growth. You‘ll find yourself in a much better financial situation than you ever thought possible given your salary. 