PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID MINNEAPOLIS MN PERMIT NO. 32468
Delivering your world, your way
24/7
Stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Flickr, Digg, Issuu & More
August 10 - August 16, 2009 • MN Metro Vol. 35 No. 32 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com
Advocates escalate fight against tobacco
Funds should be redirected to highest impact areas By Al McFarlane Insight Editor-In-Chief Results from a two-part study of tobacco use in Minnesota’s African American communities were released last week, painting an alarming picture reflecting prominent tobacco use among African American adults. The report said almost a third of U.S. born Black Minnesotans are using tobacco, versus 17 percent of all Minnesotans. Some two fifths of Black Minnesotans say they are current or former tobacco users. “Using definitions set by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the study found 28 percent of U.S.-born AfricanAmerican adults in Minnesota are current smokers, 10 percent are former smokers and 62 percent have never smoked. This compares to 17 percent of all adult Minnesotans who were current smokers,” said the report, “Tobacco Use Among African Americans In Minnesota: A Survey and Conversations with African-American Communities.” Dr. Jennifer R. Warren, Ph.D., presented the study that summarized findings from two complementary studies at a forum Monday, July 27, at NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center in Minneapolis. Natalie Johnson Lee, executive director, Minnesota African/African-
The Favor: keeping life good with soul food
PAGE
3
From left to right: LaTanisha Wright, a director for National African American Tobacco Prevention Network (NAAPTN), Stella WhitneyWest, CEO, NorthPoint Health and Wellness, Natalie Johnson Lee, executive director Minnesota African/African-American Tobacco Education Network (MAAATEN), Dr. Jennifer Warren Indigo, Health and Research Consulting, LLC and Linda Fancher, outreach coordinator, MAAATEN American Tobacco Education Network (MAAATEN) said, “This report shows concretely the work that needs to be done in the African American community. We plan to use the data from the two studies to mobilize community members and begin developing an action plan built on interventions and strategies to reduce tobacco use in our community.”
“The tobacco industry is well funded, well positioned and extremely efficient and effective in intentionally targeting the African American community. They market specifically and more intensely to the African American community. Tobacco use is the number one culprit in causing preventable disease in the United States,” Johnson Lee said. “If we stop
tobacco use we will reduce and eliminate many other health problems.” Johnson Lee said African Americans and other conscious citizens should write their legislators and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, demanding greater funding for prevention and cessation work in our community. “We had a large settlement against the tobacco
industry and a lot of that money went for road construction. People should contact the Governor and elected officials and tell them this is unacceptable. Funding needs to come to communities most heavily impacted in proportion to the impact. We need higher funding to counter the attack against our
TOBACCO TURN TO
8
50 Cent and The "Streets of Blood" Interview”
PAGE
5
A different way to handle race profiling; communication is key By Dr. George Banks Part 2 Racism and related issues persist to this day in all aspects of our society. These issues are reflected in longstanding disparities between the life experiences of African Americans and "mainstream" Americans. If African Americans come to understand that assumptions about effectiveness breed and sustain racism then African Americans can take the initiative to resolve these critical problems. One significant problem for African Americans is the practice of "racial profiling." The following is part 2 of a case study that illustrates
ingredients that can be useful in confronting this racist practice. I took my first step. I sent a letter to the head of the police authority that has jurisdiction for where I was stopped. No place in the letter did I mention that my daughter and I were African American. No place in the letter did I mention "racial profiling" or claim racism or unfair treatment. I simply provided a statement that included questions for which I was demanding answers. I started the letter by reporting the details of the stoppage and continued with the following statement and questions: "After reviewing the circumstances related to stoppage of my vehicle I have serious questions
RACE TURN TO
4
Urban League looks
to expand service By Zenitha Prince Special to the NNPA from the Afro-American Newspapers CHICAGO (NNPA) – National Urban League President/CEO Marc Morial, in his State of the Urban League address August 29, said the 99-year-old civil rights organization must reset its mission to include all Americans as it looks to the future. “Today we stand on the doorstep of our second century ... and our mission and our message has expanded,” said Morial before an estimated crowd of 5,500 at Apostolic Church of God. “While the civil rights struggle is not over, we have to take our empowerment agenda to the next level.” While citing the NUL’s history
Shoppers gone wild
PAGE www.mil.state.or.us
President Obama
fairimmigration.files.wordpress.com
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi
6
media.eyeblast.org/resources/51136.jpg
Chairwoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.)
As Congress leaves for August recess, CBC keeps health care on the front burner By Pharoh Martin NNPA National Correspondent WASHINGTON (NNPA) - As members of Congress begin August recess, temporarily setting aside intense negotiations for a passable health care reform bill, the Congressional Black Caucus has vowed to continue pushing for
specific provisions that its members feel are vital for AfricanAmericans. The original House and Senate bills would significantly reduce the staggering number of uninsured Americans, many of which are disparately Black. But it won’t be as effective if other provisions are not also included, CBC members argue. The CBC and the
Congressional Tri-Caucus, which also comprises the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, introduced a bill recently that outlines their priorities for health care reform for people of color. They call for expanded data collection, improved health care
CBC TURN TO
Stop smoking it can improve your life
PAGE
8
5
Job opportunities abound in emerging clean energy economy www.philadelphiabar.org
Marc Morial
of seeking economic empowerment for African Americans, and acknowledging Black achievements that include the election of President Barack Obama, Morial kicked off the
URBAN TURN TO
9
WASHINGTON, DC - Members of President Obama’s Green Cabinet and the community engagement campaign, Green the Block, met in Washington last week to discuss ways to ensure that opportunities from the new green economy are available to a broad cross section of the American people. In response to the president’s call to service through the United We Serve campaign, Green the Block also presented a birthday gift to President Obama in the form of a
call to action for green community service projects in underserved communities on September 11th, the National Day of Service and Remembrance. Participants in today’s event included Secretary Shaun Donovan, Department of Housing and Urban Development; Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, Environmental Protection Agency; and Under Secretary Kristina Johnson, Department of Energy. They were joined by the Rev. Lennox Yearwood, Jr.,
president of the Hip Hop Caucus; Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, CEO of Green For All; and leaders of Green the Block. Jackson, who grew up in New Orleans’ 9th Ward, understands the environmental challenges faced by individuals and families in vulnerable communities across the country. “Poison in the ground means poison in the economy. A weak environment means a weak
ENERGY TURN TO
9
Tiger wins Buick Open by three strokes
PAGE 11