Uhuru na Umoja - November 2, 2021

Uhuru na umoja Tuesday, November 2, 2021

An ethnic supplement of The Collegian

The Black Student voice of California State University, Fresno, since 1969

Bubba Wallace Wins

by Dessalines Yamoussou

Chris Graythen • Getty Images/TNS

Bubba Wallace celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the rain-shortened NASCAR Cup Series YellaWood 500 at Talladega Superspeedway on Oct. 4, 2021, in Talladega, Alabama.

Darrell “Bubba” Wallace is a professional race car driver. He drives the No. 23 Toyota Camry car for the new 23XI Racing team in the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) Cup Series.

This team is owned by retired professional basketball player Michael Jordan and professional stock car driver Denny Hamlin and is considered the top racing circuit in America.

Wallace has been making history since 2013 when he became the first African American to win in one of NASCAR’s top three national touring series in 50 years.

Wallace made history again in 2018 when he became the first African American full time driver in NASCAR’s premier Cup Series.

His latest historical achievement was on October 4, 2021 when he won a race in NASCAR’s premier series at Talladega Superspeedway.

His win was significant because he is the first African American driver to win this race since professional stock car driver Wendell Scott

won on December 1, 1963.

Wallace is making it a point to make race car driving a safe place for Black drivers.

He has heavily advocated for inclusivity and equality within the sport which led to the June 10th 2020 ban of the Confederate flag at races.

The Confederate flag has been associated with racism via its association with white supremacists.

Despite his push for safe places, Wallace has encountered personal hardships on the job as a noose was discovered in his garage in 2020.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation determined there was no foul play related to the incident. Yet, the significance or emotions tied to a Black man being informed a noose was found in his garage cannot be overlooked.

Bruce’s Beach

by Dessalines Yamoussou

In 1912 entrepreneurs Willa and Charles Bruce purchased Bruce’s Beach in the city of Manhattan Beach.

They had to build the first West Coast resort for Black people due to segregation laws that prohibited Blacks from attending most beaches.

Bruce’s Beach consisted of a lodge, café, dance haul, and dressing tents.

Numerous Black families traveled to Bruce’s Beach to experience the joy of a family day at the beach. Unfortunately, Bruce’s beach was plagued by hate crimes by the Ku Klux Klan and harassment by white people.

The property was seized by the city of Manhattan Beach in 1924 under eminent domain and was eventually transferred to Los Angeles County in 1995.

On September 30, 2021 California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 796 that starts the process of righting a terrible wrong committed almost 100 years ago.

The bill he signed will return Bruce’s Beach to the descendants of Willa and Charles Bruce.

It is great that the Bruce’s descendants fought for their family’s property.

It is never too late for reparations and it is nice to finally see some Black people get theirs while others are still waiting.

Jay L. Clendenin • Los Angeles Times/TNS

Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks Thursday before signing Senate Bill 796, written by state Democratic Sen. Steven Bradford of Gardena, which authorizes the return of oceanfront land to the Bruce family in Manhattan Beach.

Tuesday, November 2, 2021

Uhuru Na Umoja

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State Of Black Lawyers

by Dessalines Yamoussou

Currently in the top law schools in America, African Americans only account for 8% or less of the entire class.

These law schools tout about being ethnically diverse in their acceptances oftentimes listing the many languages the incoming class speaks.

However, if you deep dive into their actual demographics you would see how little African Americans account for that diversity.

Why is there such a low number of African American law students?

Is it the lack of interest?

Or is it the lack of law schools wanting to admit African Americans into their prestigious schools?

It seems schools may not be going out of there way to avoid admitting African Americans but they are also not making an effort to attract potentional African American students.

This has been swept under a rug for far too long.

We need more representation of African American people in the legal field to help represent all the black men and women who are wrongfully accused, sentenced, and imprisoned today in America.

If we are really wanting a more inclusive and diverse world, we should start by providing men and women of color with high-paying jobs and well sought after career paths that have been previously gatekeeped for the white population.

Big Fresno Fair

Dreamstime/TNS

by Dessalines Yamoussou

We saw a decline in our in person activities last year due to the COVID-19 virus.

We continue to experience differences in the ways we interact with people pre-pandemic.

However, I am happy to see some of the community events returning to Fresno that bring everyone together.

One of my favorite community events to attend is The Big Fresno Fair as it’s all about FOOD, FAMILY, FUN and this year Smokey Robinson!

The Big Fresno Fair made a comeback this year as an in person community event.

Last year it was only available as a drive by to pick up some favorite fair food. This was a hard hit for the community.

Some of the vendors at the fair depend on revenue generated from the fair to supplement their income for the year.

Having fewer people at the fair and only having them in cars was a hit some could not afford.

As a college student, it is important to take care of both your mental and physical health.

By attending the fair, I was able to kill two birds with one stone!

I got lots of physical activity as I walked through multiple exhibits and tasted all kinds of delicious food from various cultural backgrounds.

I also found it mentally relaxing to be around my loved ones, interact with others, breathe some fres air, and listen to great Music provided by Smokey Robinson.

Hi there, my name is Joanna, but you can call me Jojo.

I am a first generation student and I am currently asophomore at Fresno State.

I am currently undeclared, but I am planning on majoring in Psychology since I want to do my Masters in Social Work.

I enjoy running and writing in my free time.

Gary Kazanjian/The Fresno Bee/MCT

Attendees sneak a peak from afar at the Selena Gomez concert at The Big Fresno Fair on Oct. 10 , 2010.

Meet the Staff

Hello my name is Melvin Ricks II. I was born in Stone Mountain Georgia, but I have lived in Fresno for the last 12 years.

I am a first year graduate student in the history department.

My plans, as of now, are to either go into teaching or get a job working at a museum.

I love rap, pop, R&B and soul music.

However I can not listen to country music.

Tuesday, November 2, 2021

Black Moutaineers

Uhuru Na Umoja

by Dessalines Yamoussou

Mountaineering is the sport of mountain climbing.

It has mostly been considered a European sport, but Philip Henderson is attempting to increase the number of Black people who participate.

He has put together the first all Black team to climb Mount Everest and hopes this will lead to an increase in Black communities participating in outdoor sports.

Mount Everest is the highest point above sea level on Earth at 8,849 meters (29,032 feet).

It is located between Nepal

Kristy Durbridge/Dreamstime/TNS

and Tibet, an autonomous region of China. Historically, only eight Black men have successfully climbed Mount Everest.

Henderson previously attempted to climb Mount Everest in 2012, but his efforts were cut short due to medical concerns.

Mountaineering is a demanding sport both physically and mentally.

The nine-member team will have to develop both physical and mental stamina as they attempt to tackle this 60-day journey next year.

Fentanyl

by Dessalines Yamoussou Fentanyl was developed to incarcerated at higher rates than assist patients with pain manage- Whites. There were disparities in ment. It is a synthetic opioid 80 to sentencing for crack and powder 100 times stronger than morphine. cocaine. These sentencing practices Unfortunately, we have seen a trend became known as the Rockefeller of fentanyl being laced with other laws where harsher sentences were illegal drugs (heroin, methamphet- provided for crack cocaine over amines, etc.) to heighten the po- heroin. Statistics show over 80% of tency of those drugs. In most cases, people who were sentenced under people are unaware fentanyl has the stricter mandates were Black. been added. The increase of mixing They further show Blacks serve fentanyl with other drugs has led significantly longer incarceration to a rise in overdose (OD) related sentences for drug-related offenses than Whites. There is a need to addeaths.

This has been especially dress the increase of drug use and dangerous in the Black community. lack of resources in the Black comResearch has indicated there has munity as it is a significant problem.

If you or anyone you know been a surge in fentanyl OD’s in Black communities since the pan- are struggling with substance use/ demic. Yet, our Black communities abuse, please contact the Substance are not equipped with the resources Abuse and Mental Health Services to fight addiction. Ever since the Administration (SAMHSA) NaWar on Drugs began in the 1970s tional Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP and 1980’s we have seen Blacks (4357).

Dreamstime/TNS

Is COVID-19 Affecting More African Americans?

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised questions about inequality in the healthcare system, specifically social and racial injustice within the health care system.

The pandemic has made it clear that health equity is not a reality, ethnic and minority groups have had an increased risk of getting sick and dying from COVID-19.

Research from the CDC (Center For Disease Control) conducted in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2020 concluded that African Americans infected with COVID-19 were far more likely to be hospitalized, at a rate of 79%, while white patients were far less likely to be hospitalized at a rate of 45 percent.

According to research done by the CDC, “Racial and ethnic minority groups are at a higher risk for severe complications from COVID-19 because of the increased prevalence of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other underlying conditions among racial and ethnic minority groups.”

by Melvin Ricks II

African Americans and other minorities are also more likely to be essential workers such as nurses and public servants, which increases their risk of contracting the virus.

Lack of access to health-

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likelihood of hospitalization for COVID-19, but not with mortality for hospitalized patients.

The United States, being the wealthiest country of the world, yet lacking access to Universal Healthcare across the nation, has long faced questions of health equity from ethnic minotites.

It is up to future generations to decide the future of healthcare in the United States.

The COVID-19 pandemic, while tragic, has opened a global dialogue on healthcare that presents an opportunity for change.

The students of Fresno State, one of the most diverse educational institutions in the nation, should consider the racial and social ramifications of the pandemic, after all we are the future.

It is our job to build bridges Francine Orr/Los Angeles Times/TNS to help the students coming behind care, and poverty have also been us. It is our job to make life easier linked to a higher risk of being for the upcoming generation. hospitalized and dying of Go here to learn more COVID-19. about CDC research: https://www.

According to the CDC, race cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/ has been linked to an increased mm6925e1.htm

Tuesday, November 2, 2021

Uhuru Na Umoja

Dr. Kane sacrifices all for her students

by Joanna Lopez

Superintendent, Dr. Andrea Kane “the first black superintendent of Queen Anne county public schools, in a predominantly white community.”

Kane wrote a letter to parents in her school district after George Floyd’s death in 2020.

Kane saw Floyd in the faces of Black students in her district on the Eastern shore of Maryland.

She opens her letter with a warning that it will not be good news, Photo by Pixabay from Pexels “Racism is alive in our Superintendent Dr. Andrea Kane sent a letter to country, our state, in Queen parents across her school district, saying tacism is alive in Queen Anne’s County.

Anne’s County, and our school,” she wrote.

Kane then “sent the” email to the parents of all 7,700 students in the district. Kane’s statement reflected on hundreds of superintendents across the country.

Many of the educators have taken the opportunity to renew the commitment to racial justice in their schools.

When Kane sent the email of Mr. Floyd’s death, school districts throughout the country began reconsidering how and what students should learn about race and racism. The debate has focused on K-12 curriculums.

The first term is deployed to attack any discussion of race and racism in American classrooms.

Some educators feel obligated to teach about politicians who believe that schools are forcing white children to feel ashamed of their race and country.

Superintendents feel the brunt of backlash and are threatened, harassed and fired over accusations they are seeking to indoctrinate children through books and history lessons.

Kane’s voice rose above a rumble of thunder as she addressed a crowd outside the Kennard African American culture heritage center named for Lucretia Kennard, the county’s first supervisor of colored schools.

She is attempting to shed light on the injustices facing African Americans at the hands of a racialized system.

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Staff Member of the Month

by Dessalines Yamoussou

Meet Clinical Counselor Zafar Sumler who works at the Student Health and Counseling Center.

The vision statement of the Health Center says it promotes lifelong healthy behaviors and environments for students at Fresno State.

During these uncertain times, mental health services are just what the doctor ordered.

My name is Desssalines Yamoussou (DY).

I am the Editorin-Chief of the Uhuru, the Black Newspaper on campus.

I was excited to Courtesy of Zafar Sumler meet Sumler and get to know him.

Sumler is from Richmond, California. He now calls Fresno his home. I was curious why he decided to leave Richmond to come to Fresno State.

DY: What brought you to Fresno State?

Sumler: “I wanted options. I tell my kids this is going to help you with options. You don’t want to look around and only have one door that everybody else is trying to go through. It’s nice to be able to sneak in the side door, you know. So, options yea.”

DY: Did you know originally you wanted to accomplish getting a Masters in marriage and family therapy? What helped you get through the tough times?

Sumler:”I was coming from an older position because I was an older student. I was leaning on me. It was one of those things where I just kept going. I never got to the point where I was like this isn’t for me.”

DY: What advice would you give to a freshman who would want to eventually obtain their Masters degree in marriage and family therapy?

Sumler: “The fact that you are already here says something. Whatever that spirit is, don’t let these external and internal forces kill your spirit.”

If you have any questions, comments, ideas, or stories you want to submit, email them to samstewart@mail.fresnostate.edu

Meet the Staff

Uhuru Na Umoja Advisor: Angel Langridge Zion Sanders Dessalines Yamoussou Staff Writer Editor-in-Chief

Rashad Flood Staff Writer

Serenay Washington Staff Writer