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Insight News

April 19, 2021 - April 25, 2021

Vol. 48 No. 16• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

PROTEST

COMMUNITY REACTS TO DAUNTE WRIGHT SHOOTING BY BROOKLYN CENTER POLICE Uchechukwu Iroegbu

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Page 2 • April 19, 2021 - April 25, 2021 • Insight News

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Insight News • April 19, 2021 - April 25, 2021 • Page 3 WINNER: 2020 T YPOGRAPHY & DESIGN, 1ST PLACE, PHOTOGRAPHY (PORTRAIT & PERSONALIT Y), 1ST PLACE, WEBSITE, 3RD PLACE

Insight News April 19, 2021 - April 25, 2021

Vol. 48 No. 16• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

The concept of race has obscure origins Part 4 in a series Myth of Race By Professor Mahmoud El-Kati

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Daunte Wright with his son. According to Brooklyn Center police chief Tim Gannon, Wright was shot by a police officer who “accidentally” drew her handgun and not her taser. Body cam video of the incident has been released.

Kim Potter faces 2nd degree manslaughter charge in shooting death of Daunte Wright Brittany Wright, Contributing Writer and Al McFarlane Editor Officer Kim Potter, shot and killed Daunte Wright, 20, during a traffic stop last Sunday in Brooklyn Center. Potter was arrested Wednesday by Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and charged with 2nd degree manslaughter in the shooting death. If convicted on this charge, she could serve a maximum of 10 years in prison. Wright died from the gunshot wound to the chest. Hennepin County Medical Examiner listed homicide as the manner of death. In television interviews following the incident, Wright’s mother, Katie Wright, said her son called her as he was being approached by the officers. She said she could

hear oﬃcers telling her son get out of the car. She said the call ended but minutes later she reconnected in a video call, and her son’s girlfriend answered and told her that Wright had been shot. “She pointed the phone toward the driver’s seat, and my son was laying there unresponsive,” Katie Wright said. “That was the last time that I have seen my son. That was the last time I’ve heard from my son, and I have had no explanation since then.” Area residents clashed nightly since Sunday with Brooklyn Center police in rallies to protest the killing. As protests moved into the evening, some people looted businesses in the nearby Shingle Creek Mall. Some 20 businesses were broken into. Some looting activity was also reported in North Minneapolis, at phone

store businesses and a drugstore chain. The Minnesota National Guard was deployed to support local police in protecting the police headquarters and to finally disperse protestors as the night wore on. The protests have continued daily despite State declared night time curfews for Hennepin County and surrounding Ramsey and Anoka Counties. Guard troops have been deployed in other parts of Minneapolis including downtown. Brooklyn Center police chief Tim Gannon said the officer “accidentally” drew her handgun and not her taser and shot Wright. He released bodycam video of the incident in a press event Monday. By Tuesday, both Potter and the chief resigned their posts, amid community residents call for their firing. Brooklyn Center

Melvin Carter

By Irma McClaurin, PhD By Irma McClaurin, PhD https://corporate. target.com/article/2020/09/lakestreet-letter

Andrea Jenkins

Commentary by Dr. By Aarohi Narain By Mecca Dana Randall Harry Maya Alexa Starks Colbert, Beecham Spencer, Bos Bradley Jr. Josie Johnson By Global Latisha Information Townsend Contributing Architect Howard Mayo Managing Clinic University Editor Staff Writer Contributing Network (GIN)Writer News Service harry@insightnews.com

Mayor Mike Elliott asked Brooklyn Center City Council for and received emergency control of the police department, which was under control of City Manager Curt Boganey. Brooklyn Center’s charter establishes the City Council with power to manage city departments, including the police department, under the control of the city manager, who reports to the Council. Boganey was fired by the Council on a 4-1 vote Monday when he did not acquiesce to Council demands that he fire the Chief immediately. The Council named Deputy City Manager Reggie Edwards to the position. Whether Gannon and Potter’s departures are accepted as resignations, or as firing may impact pensions and other considerations they which they might be entitled.

By Brianna M. Carey, Contributing Writer

Omar proposes Police Misuse of Force investigation Another Black man has died at the hands of the police, 10 months after and 12 miles away from the murder of George Floyd. Another grieving family is pleading for accountability from a criminal justice system that actively endangers Black and Brown communities. Another day will go by when three people, on average, are killed by police. But we cannot allow these harrowing realities to continue, said U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar, (MN5). “We must demand full accountability of law enforcement,” she said in a newsletter to the public. “That’s why I am reintroducing the National Police Misuse of Force Investigation Board Act to establish a federal

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Mental health in the Black community is often viewed as a taboo topic. Kasim Abdur Razzaq, a St. Paul native and mental health professional, believes that the Black community in Minnesota, speciﬁcally, faces a “peculiar situation.” Despite the cultural stigma and hesitancy in Black communities to seek out mental health services, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic coupled with the murder of George Floyd, led to “a demand for resources that have been reduced considerably in terms of workers and institutions,” said Abdur Razzaq. As the founder of Abdur Razzaq Counseling and Social Architect, Abdur Razzaq has provided culturally-centered therapy for individuals, couples, and families in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas for more than 15 years. “When people come in [with their families and as individuals] to get therapy support,” said Abdur

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Kasim Abdur Razzaq: COVID-19 and death of George Floyd have led to demand for mental health resources

Rep. Ilhan Omar

Some Historical References Let us briefly examine the evolution of the idea of “race”. Like so many words, concepts, and ideas the term “race” has obscure origins. It has been variously cited as deriving from the Arabic word, Ras; or the Latin word, Ratio, which means order or root. Another Latin word, Raza, has also been shown to have some etymological connection to the word “race.” In the modern languages of Spanish and Portuguese, which are derived from Vulgar Latin, it is connected to the word Raza (root). According to the very distinguished anthropologist Ashley Montagu, the first use of the word “race” printed in the English language is to be found in the second edition of martyrologist John Foxe’s Acts and Monuments, popularly known as The Book of Martyrs, published in 1570. In this work the author writes, “Thus was the outward “race” stock of Abraham after flesh refused…” - a rather special use of the term referring to family, offspring, posterity, or person. In the sense of a tribe, nation, or people descended from common stock, the first English usage of the

term is to be found in Wynne’s History of the Gwyder Family, published in 1600, where the author refers to Llewelyn Griffith as “the last prince of Wales of the British race”. In the sense of a breed or stock of animals or a particular variety of a species, the first English usage occurs in Blundeville’s Horsemanship, published in 1580. In the sense of one of the major groups of humankind having certain physical traits in common, the English usage occurs in Oliver Goldsmith’s The Natural History of Animals, which appeared in 1774, and in which he writes, “The second great variety in the human species seems to be that of Tar Tar race.” In France, Francois Taut, in his book entitled Tresor de la langue francais, published in 1600, “race” is derived from the word raddit and stated that it “alludes to the extraction of a man, of a dog, of a horse, as one says of a good ‘race’.” The foregoing is but a capsule, and yet I think, useful impression of the derivation of the word “race”. As an idea it is shrouded in a crazy quilt pattern of connotations, which finally settles as a loose, but popular definition of the divisions among humankind. It is inexact, fluid, abstract, scarcely concrete, and yet today “race” is a word whose emotive power and quality of meaning invokes impressions of a holy writ. It is a word and an idea, most certainly in the modern world, that has caused far more confusion, public, private, and

Dr. Bravada Garrett Akinsanya

My soul sings: The healing circle By Brenda Lyle-Gray Columnist

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As the founder of Abdur Razzaq Counseling and Social Architect, Abdur Razzaq has provided culturally-centered therapy for individuals, couples, and families in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas for more than 15 years. Razzaq, “they are trusting us with their story and we have a responsibility to hear that story, listen for the shared collective meaning and do what we were trained to do.” Trust is a signiﬁcant factor for African Americans who do wish to seek mental health support. However, Abdur Razzaq explained, “at the

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Investing in families – This is a significant moment

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moment, there are mental health professionals who are available but haven’t gained the trust of the community. And then there are those who are trusted, but have a limited capacity in who they can serve.” The lack of trusted and culturally-relevant services results in a cycle where

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Whether it is being among the most highly infected with COVID19, being forced out of jobs at an alarming rate due to lack of childcare and support, or making up a large portion of the essential workers who put themselves at risk to keep the country going, women of color continue to bear the brunt of inequality and our nation’s broken systems. USA Today (How Black and Asian Women are United Against Racism) Several weeks ago, Dr. Bravada Garrett Akinsanya, Executive Director, African American Child Wellness Institute, Inc. (AACWI), Founder & President of Brakins Consulting & Psychological Services, LLC, and co-host of “The Healing Circle”, Friday’s platform for “Conversations with Al McFarlane”, convened notable activists, local politicians, religious leaders, mental health therapists, educators, and medical professionals. The ‘Healing Circle’ (Part 2) continued on this past Friday, ‘Good Friday’,

a powerful and meaningful day. was March 31st International Transgender Day of Visibility created by Rachel Crandall-Crocker in 2009. “It was high time transgender communities ceased being bystanders on the outside looking in but accepted as an integral entry to the fabric of our American populace. In 2021, Rachel Levine would become the nation’s Assistant Secretary of Health, the first openly transgender federal official to win confirmation. Bravo, Joe Biden, for your wonderful and impressive multicultural cabinet!! We so breathe a sigh of relief! Andrea Jenkins, Vice President, MPLS City Council, is a proud and powerful transgender woman who gives her all in advocacy for her city, her council position, and women’s rights, especially those of the transgender communities. . “Be reminded, said Jenkins, that the 1.9-billiondollar Rescue Act and earned income tax credit happened because the black community in Georgia rallied, and the black

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Comcast commits to investing $1 Billion over next 10 years to reach 50 million low-income Americans with tools and resources to succeed in digital world On the 10th anniversary of its Internet Essentials program, Comcast announced it would invest $1 billion over the next 10 years to help further close the digital divide and give even more low-income Americans the tools and resources they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world. The announcement coincides with the release of a 10-year Progress Report showing that, since 2011, the company, working in collaboration with its network of thousands of nonproﬁt partners, has connected a cumulative total of more than 10 million people in America to broadband Internet at home, the overwhelming majority of whom were not connected prior to signing up. Comcast’s $1 billion commitment will include investments in a number of critical areas, including: additional support for its ongoing Lift Zone initiative, which establishes WiFi-connected safe spaces in 1,000+ community centers nationwide for students and adults by the end of 2021; new laptop and computer donations; grants for nonproﬁt community organizations to create opportunities for lowincome Americans, particularly in media, technology, and entrepreneurship; and continued investment in the company’s landmark Internet Essentials program. It is estimated that these new commitments will impact as many as 50 million

Americans over the next 10 years. In 2021 alone, Comcast estimates students will be able to complete more than 25 million hours of remote learning lessons to further address the “homework gap” at the hundreds of Lift Zone locations that have already opened or will open soon. “Ten years is a remarkable milestone, signifying an extraordinary amount of work and collaboration with our incredible community partners across the country,” said Dave Watson, Chief Executive Oﬃcer, Comcast Cable. “Together, we have been able to connect millions of people to the power of the Internet at home, and to the endless opportunity, education, growth, and discovery it provides. Today, we are rededicating ourselves to this mission to ensure that the next generation of students in America has the tools, resources, and abilities they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world.” “For more than a decade, Comcast has been a leader in working with communities to close the Digital Divide through its Internet Essentials program,” said Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League. “From its beginning as a pilot program with the Wilmington Urban League to today, Comcast’s Internet Essentials program has transformed

photo/NNPA.org

Comcast’s $1 billion commitment will include investments in a number of critical areas, including: additional support for its ongoing Lift Zone initiative, which establishes WiFi-connected safe spaces in 1,000+ community centers nationwide for students and adults by the end of 2021.

valuable work—connectivity is incredibly essential to civic participation. It gives communities a voice and it enables individuals to take part in the cultural conversations that need to take place in this country. Broadband adoption, just like census participation, can mean the diﬀerence between communities growing and thriving or being left behind. For the past decade, the Internet Essentials program has successfully helped to narrow these digital divides. We look forward to the next 10 years of Internet Essentials and join Comcast in celebrating this signiﬁcant achievement.” “Unidos US is proud to have partnered with Comcast

millions of lives by connecting low-income households to the power of broadband. While the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic placed a spotlight on the digital divide, for the past decade Comcast, in partnership with organizations like the National Urban League, has been leading the eﬀort to close the digital divide, address the homework gap, and ensure low-income communities have the necessary digital skills.” “Last year, we partnered with Comcast on a major campaign to encourage Americans to participate in the ﬁrst-ever digital census,” added Rebecca DeHart, CEO, Fair Count. “We are so proud to have partnered with Comcast on this

for the past 10 years,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO, UNIDOS. “Our vision is and always has been an America where economic, political, and social advancement are realities for all Latinos. Comcast has been a vital partner to bringing this vision to life. Through Internet Essentials, we’ve been able to connect our communities to the digital tools, skills development, and platforms on which all voices can be ampliﬁed. As we celebrate 10 years of the program, we look forward to our continued partnership with Comcast well into the future.” In addition to capturing the total number of connections Internet Essentials has provided, the 10-Year Progress Report also highlights other key metrics about the program, including having: Increased the program’s Internet speeds six times, from 1.5 Mbps in 2011 to 50 Mbps today, without ever increasing the price of the program, which has remained $9.95/month. Launched its Lift Zones program, which aims to connect more than 1,000 community centers with free WiFi by the end of 2021. Developed an Internet Essentials Partnership Program that has signed up hundreds of schools, school districts, and other organizations that have come together to help connect tens of thousands of students

to the Internet during the COVID-19 pandemic. Oﬀered 60 days of free Internet service to any new Internet Essentials customer who needed to get online during the coronavirus outbreak. Expanded the number of languages our Internet Essentials call center agents can speak to more than 240, plus American Sign Language, to help ensure we break down language barriers that can prevent people from applying or getting online. Built up an online learning center that includes more than 200 digital literacy training videos, guides, and reports that are free to anyone to use, including non-customers. Developed an employee network of 3,000 Internet Essentials Ambassadors who volunteer their time to help spread the word about the program in their communities. This new commitment comes on the heels of a series of initiatives announced during the COVID-19 pandemic that reinforced the company’s commitment to addressing the digital divide and the homework gap by upping speeds to 50 Mbps downstream without changing the program’s $9.95/ month price. The company also continues to oﬀer 60 days of free Internet service to new Internet Essentials customers who sign up before June 30, 2021.

Dear Friends of Hallie Q. Brown

Another Black man was killed by law enforcement oﬃcers during an encounter over a minor oﬀense. I say another, because we haven’t even gotten halfway through the trial of Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd, we haven’t arrested the killer of Breonna Taylor, we’re still recovering from the death of Philando Castile. Black people are three times more likely to be killed by police than White people and even though we were only 13% of the population, we accounted for 28% of the people killed by police in 2020. I want to tell you that it’s going to be okay, that justice is coming, that the world has changed and we just need to have faith and hold on, but I can’t. I can’t do this because there is an epidemic in this country, a sickness, an addiction to killing

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Black people and nothing we have done so far has been able to change that. We’ve marched, we’ve protested, there’s been civil unrest, we’ve brought people across the world together, in unity, under the banner that Black lives matter, and still a Black person is shot and killed because of expired tabs. There are many good people in law enforcement: people who care about justice, who believe in protecting and serving the community. They get up every day and put their lives at risk in order to protect and serve. I work with and respect these people, but even they know that there is something fundamentally wrong with a system where selling illegal cigarettes, passing a counterfeit $20 bill, or having expired tabs ends in a death sentence handed down by

someone charged with enforcing the law, not determining it. Daunte Wright was 20 years old and he had his whole life ahead of him. I don’t seek to canonize or vilify him, just to raise the point that regardless of anything else in his life, he did not need to die. And whether this was an accident or anger, it is still another Black man killed in the street by someone we are expected to respect, to place our trust in, to believe has our safety and wellbeing in mind. A belief that we have paid dearly for, time after time after time as the trust has been continually betrayed. There is something profoundly wrong within our system of law enforcement and justice, and at its core is the same age-old issue that sits at the base of all our major crises, systemic racism. The same systemic racism that gave birth to the

As late as Tuesday, the mayor had not determined whether the resignation tendered by Potter was being formally accepted by the city. Brooklyn Center

is about 10 miles north of Downtown Minneapolis where the Derek Chauvin trial for the murder of George Floyd last May, is underway. Floyd also was unarmed and handcuﬀed when he was fatally restrained by Chauvin and other oﬃcers responding to a call alleging Floyd passed a counterfeit $20 bill in purchasing a pack of cigarettes in Cup Foods store in South Minneapolis. Authorities say Wright was shot as he was getting back into his car. He drove away and died moments later when his car crashed into another vehicle. Life saving measures were performed at the scene of the crash, but Wright was pronounced dead. His body remained at the scene for several hours as bystanders assembled in outrage. No one in the second vehicle was injured. His girlfriend was taken to a local hospital for treatment of non-lethal injuries. As Daunte took his last breaths, the “Rally for Justin Teigen and all Other Stolen Lives” was underway on the

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AACWI From 3 women’s movement, led by Stacy Abrams, founder of “Fair Fight Action”, an organization formed to combat voter suppression revving up in Georgia and other racists states across the country declared, ‘No, not this go around. You won’t get away with it’!” And because of their courageous stance, so many people who had simply ‘had enough’ and didn’t know what to do were given hope and a chance to rebound. “It feels empowering to have a circle of passionate and committed females who are trustworthy, proud, and understand the often diﬃcult and unique path and multiple roles required of black women,” says Marquita Stephens, Director of Education Policy and Programming for the Twin Cities Urban League. “We’re able to talk to each other while at the same time advocating for ourselves, sharing all we can,

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By Lee H. Jordan Minneapolis Juneteenth Committee - 2018 National Juneteenth Film & Bicycling Commissions

police as runaway slave catchers, that formed the Klu Klux Klan to protect White people, that developed the homeownership disparity and poverty inequities, that has led to a city where police killed Black people at 22 times the rate of White people (Minneapolis, 2013-2020). We have to end this. We have to change this. We need an intervention. We need law enforcement to recognize this as a law enforcement problem that they need to ﬁx rather than a community problem we need to address. We need White people to recognize systemic racism as an issue they need to own and address instead of expecting Black people to adjust and endure. We need elected oﬃcials and government to stop ratifying racist legislation and start empowering

Jonathan Palmer Executive Director eﬀorts that truly embody a government by the people, for the people and of the people. And Black and brown people? We need you to stay alive while all this happens. I am tired of marching, of waiting, or hoping for change. I’m tired of having the same old conversation. I’m tired of having to constantly prove that this really is an issue. But most of all, I’m tired of Black

people getting killed by the police and White supremacists. If Black lives really do matter, if we do believe in justice, then we’re past the time for rhetoric and well into the time for action. Now, right now, is when the world has to change. And it is up to us to make that happen. Respectfully,.............. Jonathan Palmer Executive Director

other side of town in St. Paul. The Rally was assembled by Toshira Galloway, founder of Families Supporting Families Against Police Violence, an organization committed to supporting the families impacted by police violence. A large group peacefully assembled to lift up the father of Toshira’s child Justin Teigen who was killed by St. Paul Police 10 years ago. During this vigil and peaceful assembly, participants were notiﬁed that yet another life had been stolen. The crowd dispersed and went to the site where Daunte had been pronounced dead. Leaders did what they could to support the growing grieving crowd. Despite encouraging words from community activists Chauntyll Allen, Toshira Galloway, and Toussaint Morrison the crowd continued to grow in size and agitation. Brooklyn Center is a community of about 30,000 and is, perhaps, Minnesota’s most diverse city. The city is described as minority-majority, meaning there are more people

of color than whites. The police force of about 50, however, is about 10 percent persons of color. “A badge should never be a shield to accountability. Daunte Wright was brutally killed by a police officer, and justice must prevail,” said Derrick Johnson, national president of the NAACP revealing national reaction to this incident, at a time when former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin is on trial in the death of George Floyd, which sparked nationwide protests against racism and renewed calls to end police brutality last summer. Several police shootings in Twin Cities in recent years amplify the tension over police violence and accountability. Minneapolis police Officer Mohamed Noor was convicted in 2019 of thirddegree murder and seconddegree manslaughter for the slaying of Justine Ruszczyk Damond, a white dual citizen of the U.S. and Australia. The

officer said he mistook her for a “threat” and fired a fatal shot. He was sentenced to 12½ years in prison. In 2017, a jury acquitted St. Anthony police Officer Jeronimo Yanez of fatally shooting Philando Castile, a Black school cafeteria worker, during a traffic stop in 2016. The incident was livestreamed on Facebook by Castile’s girlfriend and passenger, Diamond Reynolds. Castile was shot several times while he was reaching for his ID. Castile told Yanez that he had a gun permit and that he was armed. Two white Minneapolis police officers were involved but not charged in the fatal shooting of Jamar Clark, 24, who was Black, in 2015. Police said Clark was reaching for their weapons during a struggle; critics of the decision not to file charges said he was unarmed and did not need to be shot.

and finding joy in gratitude. Today, women are occupying more space and doing such fantastic work as with the women in the House in St. Paul, and our newly elected Vice President. It’s a new possibility because we’re coming together, and many of the gaps in leadership are starting to be filled by a new millennium generation of young black women and other young women of color.” Pastor, educator, and mental health (child) therapist, Darrell Gillespie, working closely with AACWI and Dr. B. has no doubt that black children, especially black boys, are angry, and rightfully so. They are traumatized by all that has happened over the past year and continues; how so many of their young black brothers and sisters have been murdered by white police officers and none of them held accountable; and now the Trial the world is watching. “If these legal proceedings are scary for me, how do think our children are feeling, especially those who have internalized their fears and their dismay with everything changing in their

personal

That’s just not true. We’ve got to teach our black children their history, and demand the schools do the same for all children. Acknowledging and acting on truths and perceptions as we write our new narratives is not easy work. Be honest and sincere which might include how we teach spirituality. How do we encourage hope? How do we look at our own hope? Listen to the young voices. This new way of communicating might call for improvising without little preparation; being a role model who displays how we can be somewhat contented and not get discouraged because the world just doesn’t seem to be f a i r. ” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Linda Etim, MSW, LICSW, Psychotherapist & Consulting Faculty w/ Brakins Consulting & Psychological Services and AACWI would add we must begin to navigate our thoughts in the direction of wellness and emotional security. Her breath is often taken by the tranquility and beauty of nature. The author exhales in thanksgiving as she mindfully

space.” “They have a right to be all that, Pastor Gillespie says, but parents and children don’t have a right to stay in that place, deﬁnitely not without faith and hope. I ask, how do we teach spirituality? There are certain parts of us we must let go; those parts not serving us now, and maybe not even then. We have to use this opportunity to get to know our children, both at home and in the classroom. Let them really get to know you. We can slow down and take it all in; the good and the bad. But we can also be proud that we can keep pushing; keep moving forward; trying something new like inviting other cultures into our ‘circle’. . We heal by exploring and discovering and by being willing to change archaic parenting practices, especially after the year we have all been through, and the trauma we are still going through right at this very moment. Often the way African Americans parent just doesn’t ﬁt in our world today. We sometimes seem to be afraid of success; like we’re incapable of accomplishing great things.

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Insight News • April 19, 2021 - April 25, 2021 • Page 5

Investing in families – This is a significant moment By Simone Hardeman-Jones, Executive Director, GreenLight Fund Twin Cities Let this sink in – our child poverty rate is higher in the United States than in any other wealthy nation. Nearly 11 million children in the United States live in poverty further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We also know that children of color are disproportionately represented among children who experience poverty. The immediate impacts of growing up poor are numerous and well documented. In addition, studies show that children who grow up poor have a harder time escaping poverty as adults. Long-term consequences in education, health, and even brain development often follow a child well into adulthood, impacts that are even more profound for children of color. These impacts of child poverty are estimated to cost the nation between $800 billion and $1.1 trillion per year in terms of productivity, public safety and incarceration, health care expenditures, homelessness, and child maltreatment. My career has been dedicated to advancing equity so that a zip code and/or the color

Race From 3 political pain, than any social construction devised by the human mind. Dr. Montagu has called the idea of “race” a fallacy, and “man’s most dangerous myth.” It is my contention that the modern idea of “race” has generated more unmerited suﬀering than any single system that underlies political and economic oppression. The Rise of Scientiﬁc Racism In less than 300 years, “race” has become a part of the ideological underpinnings of the

of one’s skin does not determine the quality of one’s life. Prior to my role as executive director of GreenLight Fund Twin Cities, I spent years working as a policy advisor in the U.S. Senate – negotiating legislation, creating new policy ideas and ﬁghting for policies and initiatives that would ensure equity and opportunity… and ultimately improve the lives of children, especially Black, brown and our most disadvantaged. After ten years of around-the-clock work and some of the biggest policy wins and toughest policy losses, I eventually grew exhausted of the politics that often get in the way of meaningful and impactful policy and doing what is right for kids. But something happened recently that renewed my faith in our country and gives me hope for the future. On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion stimulus bill with the goal of providing muchneeded relief to American people who have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Embedded in that bill, is a revolutionary shift in how our country and government has traditionally supported children and families, especially our most disadvantaged, and takes an historic step towards reducing child poverty. While currently only in place for a year, sources say the universal child beneﬁt stands to cut child poverty in

half and advocates are already strategizing around how to preserve it long-term. Almost all wealthy nations provide some form of child allowance to help with the costs of raising children. These allowances are part of these countries’ network of social policies and are effective at keeping children out of poverty. Sadly, for decades, our country has used a patchwork approach of government programs (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, limited tax credits and others) in an effort to provide support to families living in poverty that many would say have not moved the poverty needle in any significant way. But, change is

Western world. Many of its most articulate exponents, ironically enough, are companions to the rise of modern science. The socalled “natural philosophers” ran the ﬁrst leg in advancement of this dangerous idea. It was, to begin with, a somewhat innocent method and interpretation of what science does: categorize, catalogue, inventory, describe, and analyze. Names like Gregor Mendel and Carl Linnaeus represented a rather apolitical and innocent curiosity about “race” during the Age of Enlightenment in the late l8th and early 19th centuries. There were others to follow, who made the idea of “race” central to their pseudoscientiﬁc thinking that coincided with the

powers of conquest of so-called “inferior races”. The writing of the German instigator Johann Blumenbach introduces the word “Caucasian” to the lexicon for the ﬁrst time in 1795. By the early 19th century a plethora of “race” thinkers, writers, and prophets emerged. It was they who did so much to advance this modern world paradigm about “race”. Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buﬀon, the Frenchman, Johann Friedrich Blumenbach, the German, Joseph Arthur Comte de Gobineau, the Frenchman, and Houston Stewart Chamberlain, the British-born turned German National, spiritual and intellectual father of Adolf Hitler are examples of the

on the way. The universal child benefit provides qualifying families with $3,600 for each child 5 and younger, and $3,000 for children 6 to 17. Imagine a family who earns $14,000, the average for the poorest 20% of American families, and has 3 children ages 4, 7 and 10. They will receive $9,600, substantially increasing their financial stability. Implementation of this profound policy in concert with other financial support provided through the American Rescue Plan will not only cut the child poverty rate in half but will cut the Black child poverty rate by even more than half and will also raise the total incomes of

the bottom fifth of American families by 33 percent. In Minnesota, nearly 12% of all children live in poverty, with a disproportionately high number being children of color and American Indian children. In the Twin Cities, that number is even greater with 33% of children living in poverty in St. Paul and approximately 30% in Minneapolis. Across the state, the universal child benefit is estimated to lift 44,000 children above the poverty line and hopefully bring another 41,000 children closer to that mark. As a former Senate staffer, I can tell you that bold policy proposals like this rarely, if ever, become law. This is a significant moment. At its core, GreenLight Fund seeks to eliminate poverty and increase economic mobility for the most underserved. While the universal child benefit does not address the myriad of systemic barriers that stand in the way for so many Black, brown and underserved, it inches us closer to what is known as universal basic income – a fixed monthly “no strings attached” income that begins to account for the centuries of disinvestment and discrimination Black communities and communities of color have faced, which many cities across the country are piloting including St. Paul, MN. GreenLight will

continue to partner in each of the communities we’re in to address systemic barriers, create inclusive economic prosperity and open opportunities so families who are underresourced are able to thrive. This work, in combination with the additional resources the American Rescue Plan puts in place, can accelerate families’ abilities to reach their goals. I am filled with optimism and hope that such a significant new policy, coupled with the work GreenLight does to bring proven programs to address community-identified unmet needs and the incredible work already happening in our cities, will enable many thousands of children and their families to thrive. Simone HardemanJones is the Founding Executive Director of GreenLight Fund Twin Cities. Prior to joining GreenLight Fund Twin Cities, she served as National Director of Policy and Partnerships at Educators for Excellence (E4E), a national education non-profit where she set the vision and strategy for E4E’s policy priorities and deepened relationships and collaboration with policymakers, advocates and education leaders at the federal and local levels. This piece was reprinted with permission from GreenLight Fund Twin Cities.

sinister minds that assured that “white race supremacy” and master “race” theories would be the order of the day. By the end of the 18th century systems of government arranged by European Imperialism, in India and other parts of Asia, and the earlier settler states of South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, and North America, (all before Nazi Germany) were established throughout the world, east and west. Thus, racist ideas become dominant themes in western European relations with the rest of the world. The “white man” as Europeans collectively presented themselves, were suddenly surrounded by “inferior races”. It was the “white man’s burden” in India, and “manifest

destiny” in America. This new “race” ideology is primarily responsible for the legal structures and social policies that we know as Jim Crow, segregation, apartheid, or by extension, the Nuremberg laws. It is responsible for the gaggle of absurdities that negate, stifle, and pervert human personality by twisting biology into halfbreeds, mulattos, quadroons, octoroons, griffys, and being mixed-race or “tawny-stained”, as opposed to being “pure white”. Beginning some 90 years ago, with a new school of scientific thinkers spearheaded by anthropologists such as Franz Boas of Columbia University, Melville Herskovitz of Northwestern University, and

later, a student of Boas, Ruth Benedict, the idea of “race” and the myth erected around laws was challenged. And thanks to their work, today “race” as a scientiﬁc concept has been mostly abandoned. According to Leonard Lieberman, professor of anthropology at Central Michigan University, the concept of “race” is now undergoing deconstruction. The majority of anthropologists no longer support the “race” concept. Dr. Lieberman, anthropologist stated, “ ‘Race’ is more than half toward rejection and disposition.” Will continue to next week: Why “Race” is a False Concept

a fetal position because it hurt so badly. She might have been afraid, but she took action. Her courage took my breath, and we all exhale in gratitude.” Zoey Severson, R.N., M.A., LPC, psychotherapist w/ Brakins Consulting & Psychological Services and the AACWI admits, “We’re constantly on edge, worrying and fearing for our safety. I began journaling, meditating, praying, sometimes quietly engaged in adult coloring books, and walking my big dogs. It’s called self-care so we can be well enough to do all that parents, partners, and educators can do and must do. I suggest shutting the t.v. down for a while. Constant stress and trauma is not good for the body. I have hope, and yet I share concern as to how the trial, being re-traumatized by either testifying in court, seeing the death of George Floyd on their television screen, or watching the Capitol of the United States attacked by thousands of white racists particularly affects our children. It’s necessary to have honest and open conversations with our children, and uncomfortable conversations with white associates and colleagues. What are they teaching their children about race relations? On several occasions during daily “Conversations” shows, viewers would sign into the Chat and suggest, “Get the young people’s point of view.” Lillie Rankin, a sophomore at Irondale High School and the niece of ‘Conversations’ host, Al McFarlane, will be that voice of youth serving as a writing intern for “Insight News”. “I’ve had my moment of protest! No one was talking about COVID or Breonna Taylor, so we protested in front of the school with our signs. We walked out!” Obviously, the students struck a fire because parents and board members were protesting along with the students. “I wanted some of my friends to watch “Conversations” so they can also see how much we can learn from our elders as we define our role as young people striving and thriving in a more complex world. We have rights to our opinions because we want some things done. It’s an honor to have this opportunity.” Both the host and I, having attended the same grade school in Kansas City decades ago, would never forget the trauma we experienced when told we had to practice getting under our school desks for safety. The Cold War was at its

height and any day could have been the last day of humanity and we would have no control. The term terrorism was not used at the time, but that most definitely was the perfect descriptor. Al would also remember the angst some of his siblings, cousins, friends, and he would experience from the white police officer called Big Red. He would always stop black boys, shake them down, drive them 3 to 4 miles out of town, and then make them walk back. But we would also be inspired by the young middle school black children in Birmingham, AL and their bravery on the front lines. They had been warned about the danger and trauma of the dogs and the batons, but the children had made up their minds they would do what they felt they had to do. I would personally remember the fear I had for Mr. Hess, a ‘white flight’ holdout who would call the police on my 4-year-old self when my tricycle would come anywhere near his driveway next door. After the second time calling, the police stop coming surprisingly calling his vile attitude a disgrace. I could just see his red face burning in hatred and anger as if it were yesterday. Dr. B. recalls growing up in the South and walking down the dirt roads in fear. White residents would allow their dogs to attack. For so long, she dreaded the sight of dogs until years later she would discover it was the people, not the dogs, that should have concerned her. Jesus Casas is known as the Big Daddy of multicultural psychology. Casas, a graduate of the school of education’s counseling psychology program, retired from the University of California, Santa Barbara as one of the senior Chicano professors in the UC system. A pioneer in multicultural counseling, he helped establish the American Psychological Association’s first standing committee on racial and ethnic minorities. Of his many activist efforts on behalf of Latinos, he’s proudest of his work to ensure that undocumented immigrant families and children in Santa Barbara County have access to needed services including county mental health services. ‘My soul sings’ because I’m happy. I sing because I’m free. HIS eye is on the sparrow, and I know HE watches me.” Dr. B. whispers to our ancestors; to our Creator, thank you.

photo/Melissa Kopka

In Minnesota, nearly 12% of all children live in poverty, with a disproportionately high number being children of color and American Indian children.

1/4 pg Guthrie bw

By LaurenofPoteat Courtesy University of Alejandra By Dr. Commentary By North Brandpoint Dr. Rhonda Nicole Rekha Kimya Memorial Winbush E.Oliveras N. Mankad by Moore (BPT) Sen. Staff Ian Roth NNPA Minnesota Washington News Staff Bobby Dennis, Incoming Joe Salem Board Champion College ChairAfrodescendientes Mayo Clinic Staff Correspondent By IanPhysician Roth NorthPoint www.TheConversation.com elect, WomenHeart Health & Mayo Clinic Staff Wellness Center

LOOKING FOR A FUN WAY TO MAKE AN IMPACT?

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REGISTER NOW WWW.UWTHRIVE.ORG JOIN US AT TOGETHER WE THRIVE! THIS LIVE, INSPIRATIONAL VIRTUAL GATHERING FOR COMMUNITY CHANGEMAKERS AIMS TO ADVANCE RACIAL EQUITY AND SYSTEMIC CHANGE, SO ALL PEOPLE IN THE GREATER TWIN CITIES CAN THRIVE REGARDLESS OF INCOME, RACE OR PLACE.

AACWI From 4 touches her privilege to simply exist............................................ Dr. B. suggests finding a sacred healing space and reclaiming the breaths that have been stolen from us like the last breath that yanked George Floyd’s life steered by an embedded hatred even they cannot explain. We breathe because we are here; we are saved from a deadly, invisible enemy when over 550,000 thousand Americans are gone. We have the choice as to whether we will lift the lid off our crushed spirits, or whether we will sit in a corner and feel sorry for ourselves because the world is not the same. It’s riddled with racist overseers and a brazen hatred their actions and the disparities among people of color, particularly African Americans, have no problems showcasing. Georgia. January May 25th 2020. 6th. We have chances and possibilities; and our ancestors remind us we have work to do. Our children need us and in a way like they have never needed us before. “There is a sacredness of our breath; an affirmation of our right to be. Think of things that give you breath; that puts a little joy in your heart; that gives you hope. Darnella Frazier, the 17-year-old that stood on the corner of 38th and Chicago with her cell phone in hand and recorded a murder right before her very eyes that rocked the world. What if we had not had that video; that painful scene taking some of us to the floor in

Page 6 • April 19, 2021 - April 25, 2021 • Insight News

Insight 2 Health

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How to combat allergy season before it sneaks up on you Brandpoint (BPT) (BPT) - From the longer daylight hours to the start of the growing season, spring is undoubtedly on the way. Anyone suﬀering from cabin fever will appreciate the chance to get outdoors, although spring also brings along allergies as trees, grasses and other plants are also coming out of their winter dormancy — compounded by indoor allergies that have become more noticeable as everyone spends more time at home. If you suﬀer from seasonal allergies, here are some tips to help you cope with common symptoms like nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, itchy and watery eyes — whether you’re indoors or out. Know your allergens Symptoms for seasonal allergies are known far and wide and most of the time can be treated through OTC allergy relief medicine trial and error. Generally, single-ingredient

Omar From 3

Razzaq From 3 many African Americans are overdiagnosed and misdiagnosed with mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia said Abdur Razzaq states. “People will often reject the diagnosis altogether, and then decide not to seek treatment for the things they actually need,” he said.

antihistamine medications don’t treat the most common and aggravating of the symptoms, nasal congestion, and some have a drowsiness side effect. Regular use of an intranasal spray, like Flonase Sensimist, can relieve your symptoms, including nasal congestion, runny nose, and itchy, watery eyes[*], with oncedaily use. It will keep you going for your next great adventure. To know for sure which allergens your symptoms are caused by, you need to see an allergist. Once the specific allergens that trigger your symptoms are identified, you can take steps to start feeling better. “If you think you have allergies, see an allergist who can provide the right diagnosis and help you determine your allergic triggers and work with you to minimize symptoms,” says New York-based allergist, Dr. Tania Elliott. “I like to recommend Flonase Sensimist to my patients since it helps block several allergic substances[†].”

Here are some ways you can reduce exposure to the most common allergens. Outdoors Check the pollen count: Before heading outside, it helps to know what the pollen count is. You’ll enjoy being outdoors on days when the pollen count is lower — and your symptoms may ﬂare up more on dry, windy days with high pollen counts, according to the Mayo Clinic. Avoid speciﬁc allergens: If certain grasses or trees are your main triggers for symptoms, try to avoid areas where those plants are growing. Clean up: After spending time outdoors, changing clothes and showering can help reduce your symptoms once you’re back home.

air ﬁlters helps keep allergens at bay indoors — from dust mites to pet dander. Leave it at the door: Good quality door mats placed outside and inside every entrance to your home can help not only prevent dirt from being tracked in, but some outdoor allergens as well. Keep it clean: Dusting around your home with a damp cloth and vacuuming once a week can help reduce dust mites, as can washing your bedding and curtains in the hottest water possible for that fabric. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America also recommends using zippered allergy-proof casings for pillows and mattresses.

Reduce your exposure

Filter it out: Regularly swap out your HVAC ﬁlters (for heating and air conditioning) with new ones that have a MERV rating of at least 10. Frequently changing

Find the most eﬀective treatments Even if you take all these measures to help reduce allergy symptoms, there’s no way to completely block every potential allergen from reaching you. When you’re suﬀering from allergy symptoms, you need complete, daily relief to

help you feel better. One of the most eﬀective ways to get powerful allergy relief is Flonase Sensimist intranasal spray, which relieves the worst allergy symptoms, including nasal congestion — all in a gentle mist you will barely feel without causing drowsiness. Not to be confused with a nasal decongestant which is only designed to relieve a stuﬀy nose, Flonase Sensimist provides 24-hour symptom relief. It has been shown to be 40% more powerful than a leading non-drowsy single-ingredient antihistamine that does not treat nasal congestion[‡]. Want to learn more

about recognizing and treating spring allergies? Visit Flonase. com. [*] Flonase Sensimist is indicated for itchy, watery eyes in adults and children 12 years of age and older. [†] Mechanism vs. most OTC allergy pills. Flonase Sensimist acts on multiple inﬂammatory substances (histamine, prostaglandins, cytokines, tryptases, chemokines and leukotrienes). The exact number and precise mechanism are unknown. [‡] Total nasal symptoms vs single-ingredient fexofenadine 180 mg.

agency to: • Carry out independent, unbiased investigations of every single death that happens in police custody, oﬃcer-involved shootings, and uses of force that cause severe bodily injury, and

make those ﬁndings admissible in court • Issue determinations of responsibility and recommendations for policies and reform that will prevent future violence

• Curtail federal funding for law enforcement activities and equipment if a police department fails to take meaningful action based on the board’s recommendations Omar said this

legislation is an important step in stopping the disturbing pattern of police violence and called for grassroots support to make sure this bill becomes law: She asked district residents to sign on as citizen

co-sponsors of her National Police Misuse of Force Investigation Board Act to hold law enforcement accountable.

When assessing the mental health of a client, mental health professionals will look for clinically signiﬁcant cases, or cases that show impairment to the baseline functioning or performance of an individual, said Abdur Razzaq. “Overall, mental health symptoms are typically diﬃcult to recognize because such feelings are part of the normative experience as a human being,” said Abdur

Razzaq adding that “sadness, isolation, withdrawal, and lack of interest are all noticeable symptoms of depression, but they are also feelings that come and go with any individual. “If left untreated, mental health symptoms can manifest into something larger and compound into multiple conditions at once,” said Abdur Razzaq. “It could even debilitate you to the point of having physical conditions, such as a

stroke, which can lead to more physical challenges.” As it relates to experiencing mental health symptoms in response to social injustice, civil unrest, the Derek Chauvin trial and the death of Daunte Wright, Abdur Razzaq advised the community to “take inventory of who you are, what your [emotional] capacities are and what your reactions are.” “Identify and express your emotions,” said Abdur

Razzaq. “But, find some good outlets to be able to express them in a way that brings you peace and resolution, and in a way that doesn’t produce consequences that you are not ready to stand by.” Abdur Razzaq reflected on his experiences relating to social injustice. “Over the past decade, one thing I’ve noticed is how people are finding a common cause in trying to leverage their talents and gifts

to push towards resolving those issues,” he said. “We get back to loving and supporting ourselves, and sharing our stories from our perspective, in a way that is not just told but heard,” said Abdur Razzaq emphasizing the importance of community. For more information on Abdur Razzaq and his services go to, http://www. razzaqcounseling.com/.

Indoors

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Insight News • April 19, 2021 - April 25, 2021 • Page 7

1/8 PAGE COLOR CAPRW ENERGY ASSISTANCE

Make your holiday twice as nice 612.377.2224 / guthrietheater.org

A tenderhearted favorite

Steel Magnolias Now – Dec 15

by ROBERT HARLING directed by LISA ROTHE

A Christmas stmas Carol Nov 12 – Dec c 29 by CHARLES DICKENS adapted by CRISPIN WHITTELL directed by LAUREN KEATING