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Insight News

February 8, 2021 - February 14, 2021

Vol. 48 No. 6• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

FREEDOM FIGHTER

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STORY ON PAGE

Page 2 • February 8, 2021 - February 14, 2021 • Insight News

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Insight News • February 8, 2021 - February 14, 2021 • Page 3 WINNER: 2020 T YPOGRAPHY & DESIGN, 1ST PLACE, PHOTOGRAPHY (PORTRAIT & PERSONALIT Y), 1ST PLACE, WEBSITE, 3RD PLACE

Insight News February 8, 2021 - February 14, 2021

Vol. 48 No. 6• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

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Stacey Abrams is a political leader, voting rights activist and New York Times bestselling author. After serving for eleven years in the Georgia House of Representatives, seven as Democratic Leader, in 2018, Abrams became the Democratic nominee for Governor of Georgia, winning at the time more votes than any other Democrat in the state’s history.

Stacey Abrams is Nobel Peace Prize nominee For her activism and part in helping to ﬂip Georgia, a traditionally ‘red’ and conservative-led state, blue and Democrat, politico Stacey Abrams has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. Reuters reports that Abrams was nominated “for her work to promote nonviolent

change via the ballot box.” Abrams’ work is credited as assisting in Joe Biden’s presidential win. According to the Nobel site, “The Norwegian Nobel Committee is responsible for selecting the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates. A nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize may

be submitted by any persons who are qualified to nominate.” The Committee follows a 50 year secrecy rule that prohibits them from disclosing nominator and nominee names to the media and public for fifty years. Abrams’ nomination was released by someone affiliated with the nominating entity.

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

Abrams joins a long list of other nominees including the World Health Organization, Russian dissident Alexei Navalny, climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and the Black Lives Matter movement. The winner or winners of the Prize will be announced in October.

Thomasina Petrus

Dr. Ebony Hilton leads call for ‘Secretary of Equity’ By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent An honest and comprehensive reckoning with America’s racial history and enacting solutions to address it is perhaps the transcendent issue of our time, argues Janet Murguia, the president of UnidosUS, a D.C.based advocacy organization. “The path forward may be difficult, complicated, and contested, but it is essential to pursue,” Murguia remarked in a news release where she and other advocates form the Racial Equity Anchor Collaborative. The collaborative is the foremost diverse coalition of national, racial justice, and civil rights organizations representing and serving more than 53 million people in the U.S. The group calls on President Joe Biden to create an office within the White House to coordinate efforts to reduce racial inequality in all its forms. Shortly after his Jan. 20 swearing-in, President Biden issued an executive order to advance equity and support for underserved communities. The President had pledged to do his part in the fight against systemic racism in America, and his executive order charges all federal agencies with reviewing equity in their programs and actions. President Biden has demanded that the Office of Management and Budget

The Selby Avenue Brass Band

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Dr. Ebony Jade Hilton is part of the Phase one vaccination because she’s a health care worker. analyze whether federal dollars are equitably distributed in communities of color. The coalition argues that the new administration also should establish a White House Office on Racial Equity and Inclusion. The office would coordinate the full range of federal agency efforts to advance racial equity, centered on the administration’s promise to confront systemic racism and heal the “soul of our nation.” Murguia declared that creating such an office is “a crucial first step toward ensuring that our country lives up to

its core shared value of equal opportunity for all Americans.” The coalition is not alone in pushing the Biden administration to create an oﬃce responsible for racial equity. Dr. Ebony Hilton, the medical director and co-founder of GoodStock Consulting, LLC, and an anesthesiologist and critical care physician at the University of Virginia, has started a change.org petition for the Biden administration to create and appoint a “Secretary of Equity.” Comparable to a Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Oﬃcer of an organization, the

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DFL lawmakers introduce adult-use cannabis legislation

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Secretary of Equity would serve as a catalyst to initiate equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) assessments and policies while leveraging best practices and resources across various federal agencies, Hilton wrote in a letter on behalf of GoodStock Consulting. “The vision of the position is to use objective information and analytics to create and support a culture of inclusion and belonging where individuals from all diversity dimensions, racial and ethnic identities, ages, nationalities,

HILTON 5

Walker|West Music Academy in Saint Paul kicked oﬀ their Black History Month Music Series in January with a MLK Celebration featuring “The Solomon Sessions.” The series continues on February 12 when the Selby Avenue Brass Band featuring Thomasina Petrus will perform a pre-Valentine’s Day program, “Crescent City meets Twin Cities.” The Selby Avenue Brass Band has musical roots directly from the streets of New Orleans. The group is led by Tom Wells, tubist, arranger & composer and music educator in the Twin Cities area.They will be joined by jazz vocalist

extraordinaire, Thomasina Petrus. Thomasina is known for her unique vocality and symbiotic relationship with fellow musicians. She has been on local singing and acting stages for the past 15 years, cultivating her talents through mentorships and friendships of some of the twin cities most beloved artists. The series will premiere on Crowdcast at 7pm CT, and will be posted to Walker|West’s Facebook page simultaneously, for those who want to watch from there. Follow them on Facebook for more information: facebook. com/WalkerWestMusic.

DFL proposal expands paid sick leave By Nate Gotlieb Minnesota Session Daily To improve employee health and well-being, particularly among lower wage earners, House DFLers have reintroduced legislation that would require paid time oﬀ for all Minnesota workers. HF7, sponsored by Rep. Liz Olson (DFL-Duluth) and cosponsored by 15 other DFLers, would require employers to provide workers at least one

hour of health-related paid time oﬀ for every 30 hours worked. The time could be used to recuperate from an illness, care for an ill family member, attend an appointment, watch kids during weather- or emergency-related day care closures or care for a parent. It could be used 90 days after starting a job and be carried over year to year, and it wouldn’t prevent employers from providing additional paid time oﬀ or paid vacation.

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Understanding and addressing vaccine hesitancy

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Three ways white workers and managers can be an antidote to systemic racism By Jennifer R. Joe, Professor of Accounting, University of Delaware and Wendy K. Smith, Professor of Business and Leadership, University of Delaware President Joe Biden committed the U.S. government to racial equity by issuing four executive orders on Jan. 26 that seek to curb systemic racism. In the orders, he cited the killing of George Floyd in 2020, which sparked months of protests and prompted many U.S. companies to likewise commit themselves – and hundreds of billions of dollars – to helping Black Americans overcome institutional discrimination. Shortly after the protests began last year, we hosted a panel that addressed this very topic. Held on Juneteenth, the webinar featured four Black women – including one of us – who poignantly shared their own frequent encounters with racial bias in job interviews, shopping for clothes and even working with their peers. A common question we got from the predominantly white audience was some variation on “How can I be an ally?” That is, a lot of people wanted to know what they can do as friends, colleagues and managers to support African Americans in overcoming ongoing discrimination and bias and achieving success. This prompted us – business scholars with a keen interest in diversity, one white, one Black – to try to find an answer to these questions of how white people can support their Black colleagues. So we interviewed five successful Black professionals and the mostly white “allies” they said were instrumental to their achievements to see if we could find an antidote to racial bias in the workplace. Analysis of the world, from experts

Three themes stood out from this ongoing research, which we plan to submit for peer review. Systemic bias Racism often seems embedded in the fabric of Black people’s everyday lives. And it’s not just being treated differently by the police, which was the impetus for the 2020 protests. Black people even experience bias from wellmeaning schoolteachers, neighbors, colleagues and managers. Small acts of reckless disregard build toward broad racial disparities. Therefore, we sought to understand the small acts of resolute connection that could shift the tide toward greater justice and equity. Using our own networks, we reached out to five Black professionals in a range of industries – financial services, packaged foods and sports management – who were all in executive roles in their organizations. We asked them to think of the individuals who were instrumental to their success and describe the specific support these people offered to help manage explicit or implicit moments of discrimination. Next, we interviewed the eight allies they identified – seven white, one Black. These 13 in-depth interviews yielded key patterns about the simple ways to address racial bias that defy conventional wisdom. Unlike research that relies on surveys to get representative viewpoints, a qualitative approach allowed us to gain a richer, more comprehensive understanding of the factors and variables in these relationships that made them powerful. Reciprocal relationships Consistent with social exchange theory, we found that these relationships worked best when there was a partnership and both parties benefited. People of color said they did not want to be objects

for lifelong trusting connections.

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People of color say they want office allies who offer honest feedback. of pity. Even the question “What can I do?” implies a power dynamic – someone in power reaching out to someone in need. The people of color we spoke to found the strongest support when their allies recognized their talents and helped them apply these talents more effectively in the workplace. And that support was more authentic and trustworthy when both parties benefited from the relationship and learned from each other. The Black professionals we interviewed said that they were already performing at a high level and trying to prove themselves invaluable, which made colleagues and managers who benefited from their efforts seek to promote them in the organization. The allies likewise said they supported Black workers because they saw their talent. For example, one ally reported seeing that the dominant white macho culture in his organization did not appreciate his female Black colleague’s talent and was limiting her success. When he moved to a new company, as soon as he saw an opportunity he actively recruited her. The new role involved much more responsibility than her previous positions, but he convinced her that she could do it. She told us that his ongoing support in the position encouraged her continued success. The relationship focused on talent, not pity, and

benefited both parties. Don’t avoid uncomfortable conversations These relationships were not careful or guarded; they were straightforward and honest. Past research has found that white supervisors often avoid giving critical feedback to Black subordinates and peers out of a fear of being viewed as biased. Yet it can be more biased to say nothing. Avoiding difficult conversations can impede a young professional’s upward mobility. People of color need advice from more experienced individuals on how to successfully navigate racism traps that may exist in the workplace. They might be unaware that some of their actions or approaches are being perceived negatively in the office. These difficult conversations can strengthen relationships. For example, an ally observed that although it was difficult, she considered it a managerial responsibility to tell her Black colleague that he was not meeting her expectations. Another ally reported explaining to a junior Black colleague that proving you are right to a supervisor may not always be beneficial if it harms your longterm career prospects. These difficult but honest conversations helped shape the person of color’s conduct and laid the foundation

Connect outside of work Finally, it made a big difference to the people of color we interviewed when an ally tried to get to know them better as a person, not only in terms of work. People are more productive at work when they feel that colleagues see them with nuance – with unique passions, talents and interests – rather than pigeonholing or stereotyping them based on race or gender. It also becomes a lot easier to champion and advocate for someone you know well. But as a result of real or perceived racial barriers, Black professionals often report feeling anxious during workrelated social engagements, in part because they say they don’t understand the rules. Black and white professionals also tend to move in different social circles outside of work. Our interviewees said a key antidote to this came when allies made an effort to connect outside of work. Whether over a cup of coffee or a home-cooked meal, these social encounters allowed relationships to flourish and stereotypes to diminish. One white ally we interviewed reported realizing that she often had white colleagues to her home for dinner but had never invited a Black colleague. So when discussing her vacation plans – a seven-day chartered Alaskan fishing trip – with a Black woman who worked in the same office, she discovered her coworker’s husband loved fishing and invited them on the trip, where they bonded and formed a friendship. Doing this doesn’t require becoming friends. It only means closing the “psychological distance” that can separate people along racial lines at work. A simple antidote Black people in the U.S. are faced with a world that can make them feel both

empowered and vulnerable. Recent scenes at the U.S. Capitol just two weeks apart sum up this jarring narrative. On Jan. 20, Kamala Harris took the oath of office on the Capitol steps as the first Black vice president – and only hours later swore in the first Black senator from Georgia. Contrast that with images exactly two weeks earlier of white supremacists storming that very same building. Americans face great challenges on the road to a more inclusive society. To be sure, addressing institutional racism requires systematic interventions by companies and substantial policy changes by the government. But our research suggests they also could use something simpler from their colleagues, managers and other in their lives: genuine relationships. Jennifer R. Joe, Ph.D., CPA, is the Whitney Family Endowed Professor of Accounting and Cohen Family Director of Diversity at the University of Delaware. She researches the role of auditors, data analytics, regulations, audit litigation and other governance mechanisms on the quality of corporate internal controls and financial reporting. Wendy K. Smith is professor of Business and Leadership at University of Delaware. She seeks powerful integrative solutions to address our world’s greatest challenges. As an academic, she studies, lectures and consults on the ‘power of paradox’ - how both/ and approaches to conflicts and tensions can lead to creative, generative, and engaged solutions. Her work has been published in the Harvard Business Review, as well as leading academic journals. Wendy has offered keynotes and consulted with Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and social enterprises. This article originally appeared on The Conversation and has been republished under a Creative Commons license.

Why GameStop shares stopped trading: 5 questions answered 4217

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By ByLee Harry H. Jordan Colbert, Jr. Minneapolis Juneteenth Managing Editor Committee - 2018 harry@insightnews.com National Juneteenth Film & Bicycling Commissions

By Jena Martin, Professor of Law, West Virginia University Editor’s note: GameStop stock resumed its dramatic ascent after a popular no-fee

online broker said it would lift restrictions on trading its shares. In recent days, frenzied activity in the video game retailer’s stock led the New York Stock Exchange to briefly halt trading multiple times, while Robinhood and other brokers restricted purchases of GameStop. That

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prompted outrage among some lawmakers and investors, leading to calls for investigations in Washington. Jena Martin, a law professor who studies securities regulation, explains what’s going on, why trading is sometimes restricted and how to tell if it’s a sign of any funny business. 1. What prompts trading in a stock to be halted? Typically, there are two reasons that an exchange might stop trading in a stock. The first occurs when an exchange – often at a company’s request – halts trading in that stock for a big announcement, such as a merger or a product recall. This gives investors time to absorb the news before trading resumes. A second reason is when trading in a stock becomes exceptionally volatile – that is, it moves higher or lower quickly and unpredictably, especially when there is no news coming from the company that would explain the change. This halt usually happens automatically, such as if a stock jumps or plunges by a certain percentage within five minutes. That’s why shares of the Grapevine, Texasbased company GameStop stopped trading several times on Jan. 27 and 28, but the halts lasted only a few minutes at a time. The more controversial issue came after several brokers, including Robinhood, Ameritrade and Charles Schwab, restricted trading of GameStop and a few other stocks on their platforms. They said they had to do this to reduce their risk. Brokerages are required by the Securities and Exchange Commission to have enough cash on hand to cover a certain percentage of trades on their platform. When stock volatility is high, it drives up how much capital they need. 2. How common are these types of trade restrictions? Trading halts by stock exchanges happen fairly regularly, but they’re rarely a big deal. The last time a NYSE trading halt of a specific stock garnered this much attention

came when Lehman Brothers went bankrupt in 2008. It’s very rare, however, for brokers to suspend trading in a specific stock. I can’t remember that ever happening, and I’ve been closely following the market for 20 years – including five at the SEC. 3. Does a halt in trading mean something fishy is going on? Sometimes. Extreme volatility in a stock is seen as a sign of suspicious activity in the market, and may trigger an SEC investigation. In the case of GameStop, the saga started when a band of retail investors on the WallStreetBets Reddit forum decided to gang up on the institutional investors they see as having too much power over the market. They noticed that hedge funds and other professional traders were betting that shares of GameStop would go down – known as shorting a stock – and so they teamed up to drive its share price higher. This “short squeeze” helped drive GameStop’s share price up as much as 2,000% in a matter of weeks, causing some professional investors to lose billions of dollars. This type of trading – both the shorting and the squeezing – is often known as speculation, because it has nothing to do with the fundamental value of a company. Speculation is legal – although very risky – but it can cross the line into illegal behavior if there’s evidence of actual market manipulation. 4. All right then, what’s market manipulation? According to the laws that govern the stock market, market manipulation happens when someone tries to create excitement and activity in a particular stock specifically to entice people to buy that stock and drive up the price. If those same initial investors then sell the stock at the heightened price, regulators get suspicious. They become concerned that said investors were just trying to create a frenzy

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GameStop Corp. is an American video game, consumer electronics, and gaming merchandise retailer. in the market to artificially inflate the value of the stock so they can sell it at its new high price. The SEC accused a unit of Citigroup of doing this during the financial crisis when it hyped the price of a financial product tied to the housing market in an effort to unload it at an inflated price. This is known as a “pump-and-dump” scheme, and some allege this is exactly what the Redditor investors were doing. We don’t know yet if the SEC is looking into whether that’s what’s happening here, though the regulator has indicated it’s “monitoring” the situation closely. The SEC, as the primary regulator of the stock market, is responsible for enforcing securities laws. To determine whether GameStop investors were involved in a pump-and-dump scheme, SEC investigators would check into their trading activity and collect other evidence to try to figure whether these investors were “trying to create a false or misleading appearance of active trading.” In addition, any evidence that individuals had made false statements to help drive the stock price up would be considered fraud. This would be particularly damning. 5. What’s next? Robinhood and a few other brokers said they will resume allowing “limited” buying of GameStop after lawmakers including U.S. Rep.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Ted Cruz attacked them for restricting trades. U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters and Sen. Sherrod Brown announced hearings into the stock market turmoil and the “predatory” conduct of hedge funds. But some oﬃcials – such as the top securities regulator in Massachusetts – are worried the frenzied trading in GameStop represents a broader risk to the U.S. equities market and are urging the SEC to step in and halt trading for as long as a month. The SEC does has the power to halt trading, but that is a nuclear option that the SEC uses only if it’s concerned about issues within the company itself. Were it to do that, it would be pretty clear it thinks some funny business is going on. Professor Jena Martin is a Professor of Law and the Associate Dean for Innovation & Global Development. She teaches in the areas of business and securities regulation. After practicing for a number of years at the litigation firm of Ross, Dixon & Bell, she joined the United States Securities & Exchange Commission’s Division of Enforcement. She left the SEC in 2005 to obtain her LL.M. at the University of Texas Law School in the area of international law, with a focus on human rights. This article originally appeared on The Conversation. It has been republished under a Creative Commons license.

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Insight News • February 8, 2021 - February 14, 2021 • Page 5

Is Black History Month still needed? In 2006, Insight News published an article in which actor Morgan Freeman questioned if Black History Month (BHM) was still needed. The article, which appeared originally in the Chicago Defender, referenced an interview Freeman had with “60 Minutes” anchor Mike Wallace. In the archived story,

scholars and historians such as the late Conrad Worrill, former chairman of the National Black United Front, make an argument for why BHM is needed. Worrill did not agree with the “commercialization” of the month-long celebration, but agreed that Black Americans “still need February – and every day – to reﬂect on the

accomplishments of Black Americans who contributed countless inventions and innovations into society. From now through the end of March, Insight will re-publish work from its archives: photos, articles, past “Conversations w/ Al McFarlane” interviews, and covers.

Most importantly, we want to hear your thoughts. Let us know if you think BHM is still needed, or not. You can send your thoughts to our publisher Batala McFarlane at batalara@ insightnews.com, tag us in a post on social media using the hashtag #InsightBHM or start a conversation in the comment section of this article.

illustration/Vitalii Abakumov

DFL lawmakers introduce adult-use cannabis legislation Today, Majority Leader Ryan Winkler and DFL lawmakers introduced adult-use cannabis legislation that will address criminal justice inequities created by our current system and allow law enforcement to focus on more serious issues. The adult-use cannabis bill is based on conversations with Minnesotans during the statewide “Be Heard on Cannabis” tour, which hosted town hall meetings in 15 communities spanning urban, suburban, and rural parts of the state; met with more than 30 organizations and associations; consulted with the Governor, Lt. Governor, and 13 state agencies; held 250 meetings with individuals and groups; and inspired legislators to work hundreds of hours to produce the bill. “The failed criminalization of cannabis has resulted in a legacy of racial injustice that can no longer go unaddressed,” said Winkler,

the bill’s chief author. “Adults deserve the freedom to decide whether to use cannabis, and our state government should play an important role in addressing legitimate concerns around youth access, public health, and road safety. Veterans and Minnesotans with serious illnesses like PTSD deserve better access to our medical program, which is not working well for most people. It’s time to legalize, expunge, and regulate.” The adult-use cannabis bill would create a responsible regulatory structure focused on developing micro-businesses and a craft market; expunge most cannabis convictions; fund public health awareness, youth access prevention, and substance abuse treatment; provide grants, loans, technical assistance, and training for small businesses; require testing and labeling of products; restrict packaging based on dosage size; and allow limited home grow abilities. “It’s clear that our

represent arrests.

photo/Kimberly Delaney

The adult-use cannabis bill would create a responsible regulatory structure focused on developing micro-businesses and a craft market and expunge most cannabis convictions in addition to other measures. current cannabis laws aren’t working for Minnesota,” said House Speaker Melissa Hortman. “Smart, sensible legislation can address racial inequities in our criminal justice system, tackle the harms caused

by cannabis, and ensure better outcomes for communities.” Black and white Minnesotans consume cannabis at very similar rates, yet while Black Minnesotans make up just 5% of the population, they

30%

cannabis

“The legalization of adult use-cannabis will result in health, economic, criminal justice, and civil rights beneﬁts for Minnesotans, beneﬁts already experienced by those in other states that have eliminated the criminal prohibition,” said Rep. Rena Moran (DFL – Saint Paul). “Minnesotans, especially those from Black, Indigenous, and communities of color who have been disproportionately impacted will have an opportunity to live better lives and contribute to society by participating in the workforce. People have made their voices clear across the state, and it’s time to end our current harmful policies on cannabis.” As of Nov. 4, 2020, voters in Arizona, Montana, New Jersey and South Dakota approved measures to regulate cannabis for adult-use, bringing the total to 15 states and 3 territories. A total of 36

states, District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands have approved comprehensive, publicly available medical marijuana/ cannabis programs. “I remain committed to supporting a path forward for a responsible framework to legalize cannabis in our state. For too long we have turned a blind eye to the eﬀects that prohibition has had on many of our communities of color,” said Senator Melisa Franzen. “As more states continue to remove barriers to embark in this industry, Minnesota must not be left behind. We should lead the way toward ensuring public health and safety considerations are at the forefront of any legislation.” The next steps following the adult-use cannabis bill’s introduction are a series of public hearings that allow Minnesotans to ask questions and provide input.

Mural honoring Colin Kaepernick’s activism unveiled in Tampa The 30’ x 90’ mural on Moses White Blvd. features portraits of Tampa youth alongside Know Your Rights Camp (KYRC) volunteers. The artwork depicts a young person wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with an image of the freedom fighter and former San Francisco 49er raising his fist. Others on the mural are wearing shirts proclaiming “I KNOW MY RIGHTS,” a reference to Know Your Rights Camp, the non-profit Kaepernick founded in 2016 to empower and liberate Black and Brown people. The mural was developed in collaboration with artist-activist Brandan “BMike” Odums, KYRC, and Ben & Jerry’s. Ben & Jerry’s funded the mural as part of its Change the Whirled collaboration with Kaepernick and KYRC. Kaepernick became an unsigned free agent after a season of kneeling during the Star-Spangled Banner at the start of NFL games to protest police violence and systemic oppression globally. Since then, he has become a prominent activist, working to dismantle systemic racism and white supremacy. “As we look back, it’s clear that Colin was on the right side of history,” said Chris Miller, Ben & Jerry’s Head of Global Activism. “His pre-game protests were before George Floyd’s murder; before the 2020 summer of racial reckoning. He knew a long time ago that we need to address the root causes of racism and the structures of our society that are so brutal to Black people. We wanted to be part of the effort to honor Colin’s courage and legacy because we share the same values.” Earlier this year Ben & Jerry’s launched Colin Kaepernick’s Change the Whirled, a vegan, non-dairy frozen dessert. Kaepernick is donating his proceeds from the pints to Know Your Rights Camp. The mural was created by Brandan “BMike” Odums, an activist, educator and street artist who is also a friend of Kaepernick and the designer of the Change the Whirled pint. His work celebrates Black history and strengthens the movement

Hilton From 3 social and economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, religious, political and ideological perspectives, and physical and mental abilities, are able to thrive and be actively engaged,” her letter continued. The importance of the position is underscored by Covid-19 statistics, which show that African Americans are disproportionately aﬀected by the virus. Data also show that access to the vaccine is eluding

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

for racial justice and equity. “The blueprint to tomorrow is in our imagination,” Odums said. “I think, ultimately, it’s the idea of allowing people, especially young people, the agency to understand

the Black community. According to statistics compiled by the independent nonproﬁt KFF, which focuses on national health issues, as of January 19, 2021, over 12 million COVID-19 vaccines had been administered across the country. To date, race and ethnicity vaccination patterns appear to be at odds with who the virus has aﬀected the most, KFF reported. Based on vaccinations with known race/ethnicity, the share of vaccinations among Black people is smaller than their share of cases in all 16 reporting states and smaller than their share of deaths in 15 states.

For example, in Mississippi, Black people account for 15 percent of vaccinations, compared to 38 percent of cases and 42 percent of deaths, and, in Delaware, 8 percent of vaccinations have been received by Black people, while they make up nearly a quarter of cases (24 percent) and deaths (23 percent). In Pennsylvania, just 3 percent of those vaccinated are Black. “As vaccine distribution continues, ensuring racial equity will be important for mitigating the disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 on people of color, preventing widening health disparities, and achieving

that the way things are isn’t the way they’re supposed to be.” The mural—titled “Change the Whirled”— is part of a larger eﬀort to support

broad population immunity,” KFF officials wrote. Hilton noted further that the Secretary of Equity would provide strategic and programmatic leadership for diversity and inclusion initiatives that advance diversity as a critical component of federal and local policies. “This position will lead a team of Equity Officers that sit within these targeted federal agencies to assess the existing and potential disparities specific to that agency and its respective industries – greater than racial disparities and within all diversity dimensions,” Hilton noted. “As mentioned, this

locally-owned businesses and community organizations, and to contribute to the vibrancy of Old West Tampa.

position would work across various agencies with speciﬁc interest and collaborative partnerships with the agencies that directly impact the social determinants of health like the Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Education, Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Treasury, the Small Business Administration and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.” Regarding establishing a White House Oﬃce on Racial Equity and Inclusion, the National Urban League President Marc Morial also

noted his support. “Even before 2020 exposed our pandemic of a deadly triple disease and economic hardship and racial unrest, America was a nation that still had only begun to grapple with the legacy of white supremacy,” Morial stated. “Establishing a White House Oﬃce on Racial Equity and Inclusion is our best hope of nurturing that awakening and achieving our true potential.” Watch Dr. Ebony Hilton’s interview with the Black Press atFacebook.com/ BlackPressUSA, Twitter: @ BlackPressUSA, andYouTube. com/BlackPressUSATV.

Page 6 • February 8, 2021 - February 14, 2021 • Insight News

Insight 2 Health

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CVS

Understanding and addressing vaccine hesitancy With the pandemic surging all around us, much of our individual efforts have been focused on social distancing and other measures to slow the spread. The scientific and medical community meanwhile, has been working to understand and address SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes COVID-19. With positive clinical trial results being reported for multiple vaccine candidates, we can now look ahead to when we may be able to contain the virus. However, widespread adoption of safe and efficacious vaccines

across all communities and populations will be critical to achieving signiﬁcant control of COVID-19. Our nationwide survey of a sample representative of the U.S. population was designed to better understand how communities across the nation view the vaccine and attitudes toward getting vaccinated, so we can implement the right strategies to address potential address vaccine hesitancy. We also found that vaccine adoption – and hesitancy – varies by age, gender, race/ethnicity,

education, and income-level among other factors. Based on the findings it is evident that to targeted education and awareness campaigns, which address reasons for vaccine hesitancy — such as clinical trial speed, overall safety, ingredients — can help overcome hesitancy. Additional safety and efficacy data on the vaccines, a successful roll-out among priority populations, and targeted outreach efforts could also help convince many who are uncertain.

Among survey respondents: 28% were interested in a vaccine as soon as it is possible 35% would wait until others had been vaccinated 20% were uncertain about receiving a vaccination 17% did not plan on being vaccinated Our new white paper discusses key survey ﬁndings and shares perspective about

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. In it, we also share an overview of the multi-pronged approach CVS Health is taking to help build awareness and ensure safe and equitable access across communities, including targeted messaging, partnering with health care providers and other influences to amplify safety and efficacy information, and enabling convenient, equitable access. Read more key vaccine hesitancy survey findings, and see how this information can help address and

overcome COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy to ensure widespread adoption: https://payorsolutions. cvshealth.com/sites/default/ ﬁles/cvs-health-payor-solutionsunderstanding-and-addressingvaccine-hesitancy-dec-2020. pdf. Want to learn how CVS Health plans to address vaccine hesitancy and ensure safe, equitable access? Ask Us: https://payorsolutions.cvshealth. com/insights/send-us-yourquestions-about-innovation?width= 620&height=900.

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Insight News • February 8, 2021 - February 14, 2021 • Page 7

Aesthetically It

Pioneering actress and activist Cicely Tyson has died at 96 CNN’s Don Lemon called Cicely Tyson a “true American” in announcing the iconic and pioneering actress’s death on Thursday, Jan. 28. The former model, turned stage and ﬁlm actress, died two days after the release of her memoir, “Just As I Am.” Tyson’s 70-year career represented a spectrum and range of Black experiences not often seen by television viewers and movie goers. For her part in using her platform to champion human and civil rights, Tyson was a 2015 Kennedy Center honoree. In November 2016, Tyson received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from former president Barack Obama, which is the highest civilian honor in the United States. Of Tyson, Obama said, “In her long and extraordinary career, Cicely Tyson has not only exceeded as an actor, she has shaped the course of history.” Tyson the history maker was born in Harlem on December 19, 1924, the daughter of Nevis immigrants to the United States, Frederica Tyson and William Augustine Tyson.

She was one of three children. At 18-years-old, Tyson married Kenneth Franklin on December 27, 1942. The marriage was dissolved in 1956. She was married to music legend Miles Davis from 1981-1989. A style icon in her own right, Tyson bucked the traditional Hollywood standard of beauty by appearing in movies and television shows wearing a close-cropped natural hairstyle in the 1960s progressing to Africaninspired braids in the 1970s. Her first acting role was on the NBC series Frontiers of Faith in 1951. Tyson played her first film role in Carib Gold in 1956. She became the first African American to star in a television drama when she starred in the celebrated series East Side/West Side (1963–1964). She would go on to be nominated for an Academy Award for 1972’s Sounder, a role that would forever place her name in the company of some of the most iconic stars in history. She also played Kunta Kinte’s mother in the adaptation

photo/www.emmys.com

Cicely Tyson played Kunta Kinte’s mother in the adaptation of Alex Haley’s Roots and the title role in The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, earning two Emmy Awards in 1974.

Margate UK Shell Grotto Buried deep underground in small English town of Margate, Kent; is a grotto shrouded in complete mystery. Adorned with 4.6 million shells and 70ft of winding underground passages leading to a rectangular chamber, this shell grotto is undoubtedly a remarkable site to behold. Story has it that in 1835, a laborer was going about his usual field work, but when he struck the soil with his spade, it sank into the earth. The farmer realized that he was standing on something hollow but was unable to see anything from the surface. Word spread around town, and a local schoolteacher volunteered his young son, Joshua, to be lowered into the hole with a candle. Upon emerging from the mysterious cavern, Joshua described rooms filled with hundreds of thousands of carefully arranged shells. The Shell Grotto is adorned with symbols mosaiced in millions of shells, symbols that celebrate life as well as reminders of death. The Shell Grotto hosts a passage, a rotunda and an altar chamber. The shells in the grotto, include scallops, whelks, mussels, cockles, limpets and oysters, all of which can be found locally. However, the flat wrinkle shells must have been brought in from elsewhere. With so much intricate detail, on a rather large scale, one question still remains, who built this underground cavern? Shrouded in mystery, some believe that the grotto once had religious significance - primarily due to the vaulted ceilings and altar spaces. Nobody knows how old the grotto is, but some theories about its origin date its constructions as far back as 3,000 years ago. Another theory holds that the grotto was created as an aristocrat’s folly sometime in the 1700s. This proposed explanation is validated by the fact that shell grottoes were actually quite popular in Europe in the 1700s, especially among the wealthy. The only catch to this theory, though, is that the grotto’s location was on farmland - a land that had never been part of a large estate where follies would have been satisfied. Others believe that it may have been used as an astrological calendar in the past. There are those also, who say that the grotto must somehow be connected with the Freemasons or the Knights Templar. Others believe that the grotto may date as far back as 12,000 years ago, maintaining that it is connected to a

mysterious Mexican culture. Its mystery has left people completely stumped, so much so that in the 1930s, some had held séances, in the hopes of contacting the spirits of whoever built the grotto. Right now, it seems, we will not discover the truth behind this mysterious shell grotto. The age of the shells could be determined through carbon dating according to the Shell Grotto’s web site, but it’s a pricey process and other conservation issues are currently being prioritized. One thing is clear though, the arrangement of the shells must have taken countless hours of painstaking work. Unfortunately, many

of the shells in the grotto have faded over time, losing their luster through water damage. In its early days, it would have been full of dazzling color. This recreation shows what they might have looked like at the time, and with over 4.6 million shells, it surely must have looked astonishing! Since its discovery, the Margate Shell Grotto has been opened to the public, ﬁrst by Joshua’s father, the school teacher. In 1835 he quickly bought up the land and began renovating the grotto to make it suitable for visitors. Two years later, in 1837, the grotto had been opened to the public for the ﬁrst time and still enjoys visitors today.

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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