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AGEISM AGAINST BLACK WOMEN By Dr. Irma McClaurin STORY ON PAGE

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Annual founder’s Kwanzaa message

“Kwanzaa, Freedom, Justice and Peace: Principles and practices for a new world” By Dr. Maulana Karenga

Courtesy of Build Wealth MN

Jorea Fleurant, Kandice Nelson, Justing Nguyen and Michiah Greene

Michiah Greene, Justin Nguyen, Jorea Fleurant and Kandice Nelson join team

Build Wealth MN expands staff Minneapolis nonprofit Build Wealth MN has announced the addition of four new staﬀ members hired this fall. Joining the lending department are Michiah Greene and Justin Nguyen. Developing the communications team are Jorea Fluerant and Kandice Nelson. Lending Department Additions Michiah Greene, Senior Loan Processor – Before joining Build Wealth MN, Green served as Court Operations Associate for the State of Minnesota from April 2023 to November 2023 and Wealth Management Mortgage Closer III for US Bank from July 2016 to March 2023. Greene managed a pipeline of highprofile customers, prepared

the TRID Closing Disclosure and closing package, reviewed all funding documents, wired funds for closings, and provided funding authorization. Justin Nguyen, Senior Loan Processor - Nguyen served as the Senior Loan Processor for Prosperity Home Mortgage from April 2017 to March 2023 before joining Build Wealth MN. Specifically, he handled a full range of mortgage loan processing steps to ensure files were complete, in compliance, and ready for closing. Communications Team Jorea Fleurant, Communications Specialist – Most recently Fleurant served as the IT Institute Life Coach for Urban League Twin Cities from

February 2023 to July 2023 before joining Build Wealth MN. Fleurant brings 15+ years of event planning with experience organizing galas, weddings, corporate special events and family focused occasions. She has also served as the public spokesperson for various organizations. Kandice Nelson, Director of Communications Prior to joining Build Wealth MN, Nelson served as the Marketing Director for Fantasy Flight Games from June 2020 to June 2023, where she oversaw all aspects of B2B and B2C Marketing including digital marketing, social media, website, branding, and events. David McGee, the Executive Director of Build

Wealth MN, “is pleased to be introducing these individuals who possess the skills and experience necessary to enhance our operations and meet our objectives for growth and client satisfaction. We fully expect they will be assets in the years to come as we expand our eﬀorts to help families build sustainable social and economic wealth.” With the current trend of higher interest rates, Build Wealth MN is committed to finding the best lending products for individuals of underserved communities during their journey to financial stability and homeownership. Visit www.bwealthe. org for more information.

At least 24 properties will be partially or fully demolished according to the latest plan to extend the Blue Line light rail. At least 24 properties will be partially or fully demolished according to the latest Blue Line extension plan. The proposed route goes through a historically Black neighborhood, sparking intense discussions among residents, business owners, and planners about displacement. While the expansion promises improved transportation and commercial development, concerns about derailing Black wealth are growing. The north Minneapolis Black-led flagship radio station KMOJ confirmed it’s relocating due to projections that its building will be partially demolished to make room for a light rail station. The same is true for El Amin’s Fish House. The Metropolitan Council began moving forward with a recommended route this fall but says it needs to pass an environmental review and get federal approval before finalizing it. Right now, the proposed extension goes up Washington Avenue from downtown. A new bridge over Interstate 94 will connect it to 21st. At James Avenue, it turns to West Broadway Avenue toward Penn Avenue, taking riders as

far out as Brooklyn Park. Of the 24 properties impacted by this plan, 14 are commercial and 10 are residential. Some are vacant. Kyle Mianulli, principal communications specialist at Hennepin County, says, “This number is an estimate based on very preliminary designs. We are constantly refining plans to avoid building impacts.”

Partially or fully demolished KMOJ Olympic Cafe El Amin’s Fish House J & J Furniture

Metropolitan Council

METRO Blue Line Light Rail Transit Extension. proposal: Juxtaposition Arts, Shiloh Temple International, Sammy’s Eatery, Minneapolis NAACP oﬃces, Black Family Blueprint, Black Women’s

cidal war. And freedom, justice and peace in the world and for the good of the world and all in it are urgent, essential and indispensable. Nana Haji Malcolm rightly and repeatedly taught that freedom is a natural and necessary right in the pursuit and practice of justice and equality, the rightful realization of our full humanity, and the living of a good, meaningful and ever-promising life. Our honored ancestors also taught us the life-giving, life-preserving essentiality of justice, saying in the Husia, “Doing justice is breath to the nose”. Indeed, they taught “the true balancing of the world lies in doing jus-

KWANZAA

Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn

President Biden’s Lasting Legacy By Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn

Northside cornerstones The main north Minneapolis corridor in the proposed route has a high concentration of Black-owned businesses. During construction walk-ins are expected to decline impacting their sales and revenue. Here’s a list of businesses that will be impacted according to current plans.

Access impeded by construction Capri Theatre Wilson’s Image Barbers & Stylists Anytime Fitness Watson Chiropractor HollywoodDance Studio Wolf Pack Promotions In the original plan, the following Blackowned businesses would have been impacted but were spared by the revised

Dr. Maulana Karenga

BWMN 4

Blue Line plan derails Black businesses By Georgia Fort

Again, this year we wish for Africans everywhere throughout the world African community,“Heri za Kwanzaa. Happy Kwanzaa.” And we bring and send greetings of celebration, solidarity and continued struggle for an inclusive and shared good in the world. Also, in the still-held-high tradition of our ancestors, we wish for African peoples and all the peoples of the world all the good that heaven grants, the earth produces and the waters bring forth from their depths. Hotep. Ase. Heri. Moreover, among all the goods that are granted, given and gained through ceaseless striving and righteous and relentless struggle, we wish, especially for our people and all other oppressed and struggling peoples of the world, the shared and indivisible goods of freedom, justice and peace, deservedly achieved and enjoyed and passed on to future generations. Indeed, we live in turbulent times of continuing unfreedom and oppression, the enduring evil of injustice and destructive conflicts, and unjust and geno-

Wealth Alliance, Dimension’s In Hair Salon & Barbershop, NEON, Cookie Cart and more.

Review

Hallowed Be Thy Name

PAGE 8

BLUE LINE 5

Much ink has been spilled about what President Biden hasn’t done with little regard for the successes that would secure any previous administration’s legacy as being the most productive since President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society. This administration has secured $132 billion in student loan debt relief for 3.6 million borrowers, including $53.5 billion for public servants and nearly $12 billion for borrowers with disabilities. However, the prevailing narrative centers on the Republicans-led rejection of his targeted student debt relief plan that was upheld by a rightleaning U.S. Supreme Court. I’ve heard rumblings that this president has failed the Black community when, in fact, he has invested over $7 billion in HBCUs in 3 short years, produced the lowest Black unemployment rate on record, and begun the earnest work of closing the digital divide for Black families by making broadband accessible

and aﬀordable. The November Consumer Price Index revealed that inflation fell to 3.1% — down two-thirds from its peak; that consumers are paying less for essentials such as milk, eggs, and other appliances; and the median gas price has fallen below $3.00. With wages higher than before the pandemic and the creation of 14.1 million jobs, can anyone honestly argue with President Biden’s record? Despite this incredible record, what will arguably become President Biden’s greatest and most lasting achievements was reached this month with the confirmation of his 160th judge to lifetime appointments on the federal bench. I repeat and italicize for emphasis: 160 judges confirmed for lifetime appointments on the federal bench. This number includes well over 100 women, more Black female appellate judges than all former presidents combined, and roughly 60% being women of color. This number also includes the first Black woman on the

CLYBURN 5

I2H

Racism produces subtle brain changes that lead to increased disease risk in Black populations

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Business Xcel Energy fined $14,000 after leaks of radioactive tritium from its Monticello plant in Minnesota By Steve Karnowski Associated Press Xcel Energy has been fined $14,000 related to leaks of radioactive tritium from its nuclear power plant at Monticello, Minnesota regulators announced Thursday. The relatively small fine was not for the leaks themselves, but because Xcel started pumping contaminated groundwater into a temporary storage tank before it had the necessary permit in place, which it later obtained. It’s the only fine that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has levied against Xcel over the leaks, agency spokesman Stephen Mikkelson said. The Monticello plant is about 40 miles (64 kilometers) northwest of Minneapolis, upstream from the city on the Mississippi River. Xcel had already installed and filled more than 20 temporary tanks when MPCA staﬀ informed the company in March of 2023 that adding an additional tank would require a permit because it would raise their total capacity over

1 million gallons (3.8 million liters) to just over 1.4 million gallons (5.3 million liters). But Xcel began filling the new tank in April before it obtained the required permit, the agency said in a statement. The MPCA granted the permit in May, and it required the use of the temporary tanks to end by Nov. 1. The Minneapolis-based utility has since transferred the contaminated water to more permanent in-ground lined storage ponds and dismantled the temporary tanks, and says it continues to recover and reuse the contaminated water that leaked from the plant. “We have resolved the issue and have taken all necessary corrective actions outlined by state regulators,” Xcel spokesman Kevin Coss said. Tritium is a radioactive isotope of hydrogen and is a common by-product of nuclear plant operations. It emits a weak form of beta radiation that does not travel very far and cannot penetrate human skin, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. A person who drank water from a spill would

get only a low dose. The NRC says tritium spills happen from time to time but typically don’t aﬀect public health or safety. Nevertheless, Xcel and the MPCA came under criticism for not notifying the public until March, well after the first spill, after a second leak was discovered at the site, leading to a week-long shutdown. Xcel, which has recovered most of the tritium, has built an underground metal barrier to ensure that no contaminated groundwater reaches the river after low levels of tritium were discovered within 30 feet (9 meters) of it. “Tritium measurements on site are more than 90% lower than peak readings, and tritium has not been detected in the Mississippi River despite increased monitoring,” Coss said. Testing by the Minnesota Department of Health still shows no evidence of tritium in the river, Mikkelson agreed. “There remains no risk to public health and no immediate impacts to the safety of drinking water or private wells,” he said.

Evan Frost/Minnesota Public Radio via AP, File

Cooling towers release heat generated by boiling water reactors at Xcel Energy’s Nuclear Generating Plant, Oct. 2, 2019, in Monticello, Minn. Xcel Energy has been fined $14,000 related to leaks of radioactive tritium from its nuclear power plant at Monticello, Minnesota regulators announced Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023.

CTC Performing apprenticeship auditions in Washington DC, Atlanta, Chicago, and Minneapolis Children’s Theatre Company (CTC), the Tony Award®winning flagship theatre for multigenerational audiences in North America, is actively searching for Non-Equity Actors aged 19 and above to audition for the Performing Apprentice (PA) program for the 2024–2025 Season. Recognized as the nation’s premiere theatre for multi-generational audiences, CTC boasts two exceptional venues—a 746-seat proscenium and a 299-seat fully adaptable theatre. PAs have the unique opportunity to perform on CTC stages in collaboration with resident acting company members, equity and nonequity actors, student actors, and locally, nationally and internationally renowned guest artists, who have included Itamar Moses, Philip Dawkins,

BWMN

Lisa Portes, Henry Godinez, Carlyle Brown, Kia Corthron, Nilo Cruz, Naomi Iizuka, Greg Banks, Lloyd Suh, Michael Mahler, Alan Schmuckler, Jerome Hairston, and Cheryl L. West. PAs perform in named roles and as understudies, and participate in readings and workshops of new works. They also have an opportunity to interact with other departments at the theatre to help grow their professional development. Performing Apprentices have gone on to prolific careers in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, New York, and other major theatre regions, in some cases becoming CTC Acting Company members. Apprentices are paid a weekly salary of $615, receive complimentary tickets to all

About Build Wealth MN Founded in 2004, Build Wealth MN, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit

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CTC

CTC shows, and are eligible to participate in company health

insurance. The PA contract runs September 2024 – June 2025.

Washington, DC auditions: 10am-3pm

organization with twenty years of experience helping people embrace new approaches to giving, saving, banking, investing, home ownership, and creating generational wealth. Build Wealth partners with local communities and businesses to provide underserved families

with supportive financial programs and services to build social and economic wealth. Since its inception, BWM has served over 5000 clients, helping people reach their goals of financial stability and home ownership. Programs include

the Family Stabilization Plan, Youth Stabilization Plan, Rent Smart-Wise and Ready, PEEP: Pathways to increase Employment and Earnings Potential, Mortgage Loans and Down Payment Assistance, and Housing Development. Most recently, Build Wealth

announced its 9000 Equities initiative to close the Minnesota homeownership gap by helping 9000 Black families own a home. Visit www.bwealthe. org or www.9000equities.com for more information.

eling in our recaptured sense of the sacredness, soulfulness and beauty of our Black selves; and the practice of principles that engenders and sustains liberated and liberating ways to understand and assert ourselves in the world. And at the heart of this liberated and liberating practice are the Nguzo Saba, the Seven Principles developed and directed in the interest of African and human good and the well-being of the world. Umoja (Unity) calls on us to work and struggle for principled, purposeful and practiced togetherness in freedom, justice and peace in our families, communities and the world. It stresses the ties that link us and cultivate in us sensitivity to each other, other humans and the world and all in it. Indeed, it is expressed in the teaching of Nana Dr. Anna Julia Cooper who affirmed this ancient and African value. She says, “we take our stand on the solidarity of humanity, the oneness of life and the unnaturalness and injustice of all favoritism whether of sex, race, condition or country”. Kujichagulia (SelfDetermination) reaffirms the fundamental principle and practice of the right of every people to determine their own destiny and daily lives, to live free in their own place, space and time. And it reaffirms the right to resist all forms of unfreedom, injustice and oppression. It reaffirms Nana Haji Malcolm X’s teaching that

“Freedom is essential to life itself… (and) to the development of the human being. (And) If we don’t have freedom, we can never expect justice and equality.” Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) reminds us and reaﬃrms the enduring and essential truth that we must build the good world we all want and deserve. It teaches the centrality of togetherness in our constant quest for an inclusive freedom, justice and peace. And it reaﬃrms the reality that only in collective work and responsibility can we achieve freedom, ensure justice and build the peace and security of persons and peoples we all long and struggle for all over the world. And as Nana Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune taught us, “Our task is to remake the world. It is nothing less than this”. And we must do this together, for freedom, justice, peace and other goods are indivisible and they are vulnerable and unattainable in isolation. And we know from the hard lessons of history and the irreducible requirements of our humanity that there can be no peace without justice, no justice without freedom and no freedom without the power, will and struggle of the peoples of the world to achieve and sustain these shared and vital goods. Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) teaches us the principle and practice of shared work and shared wealth. Modeled on the shared harvest, it calls for cooperative

work, respect of the rights of the workers and the needs of everyone for a life of dignity and economic security and the conditions and capacities to live a free, good and meaningful life. It is rooted in the concept of kinship with and caring kindness toward others and the earth and cultivates a sensitivity for avoiding and resisting injuries to fellow humans and the natural world. The principle and practice of Nia (Purpose) calls us to do good in and for the world, to pursue and practice freedom, justice, peace, caring, sharing and all that contributes to African and human good and the well-being of the world and all in it. Indeed, the ancestors teach us in the Odu Ifa that we should do things with joy for humans are divinely chosen and righteously challenged to do good in the world. And they remind us in the Husia that the good we do for others we are also doing for ourselves, for we are building the good and promising world we all want and deserve to live in and to leave as a storehouse of good for those who come after. The principle and practice of Kuumba (Creativity) commits us to work and struggle for a new world and a new us that is rooted in the ancient African ethical imperative of serudj ta which is a moral obligation to constantly repair, renew and remake the world,

Kwanzaa

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tice.” And they said of peace and its importance to the life and community of humankind “Exceedingly good is the presence of peace. And there is no blame in peace for those who practice it.” But always they and history teach us it must be a peace in freedom and with justice to be a good and rightful peace. Thus, we are morally called, commanded and compelled to bear witness to truth and set the scales of justice in their proper place, especially among the voiceless and devalued, the downtrodden and defenseless, the oppressed, and the diﬀerent and vulnerable. Kwanzaa was conceived and born in transformative struggles of the Black Freedom Movement. and was also shaped by that defining decade of fierce strivings and struggles for freedom, justice and associated goods waged by Africans and other peoples of color all over the world in the 1960s. Kwanzaa thus came into being, grounded itself and grew as an act of freedom, an instrument of freedom, a celebration of freedom and a practice of freedom. It was an act of self-determination and self-authorization; a means of cultivating and expanding consciousness and commitment; a righteous rev-

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Wednesday, January 10th, 2024, at the Arena Stage @ Mead Center for American Theatre, 1101 Sixth Street SW, Washington, DC 20024 Atlanta, GA auditions: 11am-4pm: Friday, January 12th, 2024 at Clark Atlanta University, 223 James P Brawley Dr SW, Atlanta, GA 30314 Chicago, IL auditions: 12 Noon-5pm Friday, January 16th, 2024, DePaul University, 2400 N Sheﬃeld Ave, Chicago, IL 60614 Minneapolis, MN auditions: 10am-5:30pm Thursday, January 18th, 2024, Children’s Theatre Company, 2400 Third Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55404 For information: childrenstheatre.org/auditions.

KWANZAA 5

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Kwanzaa From 4 making it more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it in the process and practice of repairing, renewing and

Blue line From 3 There is more at involved than closing doors. Discussions with those directly aﬀected by the project reveal the complexities of urban development, equitable planning and community engagement. The human impact The proposed light rail path has stirred a range of emotions among north Minneapolis residents and local business owners. Many express a deep sense of confusion and fear about the possibility of displacement and loss of longstanding businesses. Teto Wilson purchased his commercial property in 2021 and planned to “buy the block” in eﬀort to rebuild his neighborhood. While properties on his side of the street will not be demolished, he says the light rail ruined his future plans. He was in negotiations to purchase the building that houses KMOJ, but lenders pulled out when they found out it will be partially demolished. Preserving Northside’s culture While the Met Council

Clyburn From 3 Supreme Court, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson; the first South Asian woman judge; and the first Navajo federal judge. It’s hard to overstate the importance of this milestone.

Insight News • January 1, 2024 - January 7, 202 2024 4 • Page 5 remaking ourselves. It teaches and urges us, in our relations with each other, others and the earth, to raise up what is in ruins, to repair what is damaged, to rejoin what is separated, to replenish what is depleted, to set right what is wrong, to strengthen what is weakened, and to make flourish that which is fragile,

insecure

and undeveloped. And the principle and practice of Imani (Faith) teaches us to believe in the good and strive constantly to achieve it everywhere and in its most essential, inclusive and expansive forms. It reminds us that we must have faith in the future and the new world we seek to bring into being in order

to imagine and build them. And it is a faith that teaches us to believe that through hard work, long struggle and a whole lot of love and understanding, we can with other oppressed, struggling and progressive peoples reimagine and redraw the map of the world and put in place and develop conditions and capacities for everyone

to live in dignity-aﬃrming, life-enhancing and worldpreserving ways and come into the fullness of themselves. Dr. Maulana Karenga, Professor and Chair of Africana Studies, California State University-Long Beach; Executive Director, African American Cultural Center (Us); Creator of Kwanzaa; and author

of Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture and Essays on Struggle: Position and Analysis, http://www. OfficialKwanzaaWebsite.org, http://www.MaulanaKarenga. org; http://www.AfricanAmericanCulturalCenter-LA.org; http://www.Us-Organization. org.

touts the expansion as a step toward equitable development, concerns about the lack of clarity on details and timeline persist. Longtime resident Felicia Perry highlighted the need for more eﬀorts around cultural preservation. “I want it to serve us … as a community, both in the physical space and culturally since there’s going to be displacement of culture,” said Perry. In Season 2 of “Here’s the Truth with Georgia Fort,” Roger Cummings, cofounder and executive director of Juxtaposition Arts, shared a similar sentiment. He said the proposed path will disrupt the fabric of the community, leading to significant changes in the socioeconomic landscape. Cummings and his family have anchored themselves in north Minneapolis for over two decades, investing millions in a new arts facility that would have been impacted by the first route.

suggestions have not been implemented,” said Wilson. On the other hand, residents of Lynn Park and business owners on Broadway between 94 and Irving (Avenue) … have given input that directly impacted the changes made to the current route.

wherever possible on this project. If it is necessary to purchase a property, we have a robust process to ensure owners are fairly compensated. We also work closely with renters and tenants to provide them with financial relocation assistance to make sure they can stay in the community or are able to easily move to another location of their choice.”

Out of all the neighborhoods in Minneapolis that the light rail could go through, why the North Side neighborhood? The voices of north Minneapolis residents and business owners stand as important reminders of the human stakes involved, urging planners to approach urban development with sensitivity, foresight and ethical responsibility. Georgia Fort is an Emmy-winning independent journalist and creator and host of the television news program “Here’s the Truth with Georgia Fort.

Anti-displacement The overall impact

is hard to visualize, so youth apprentices at Juxtaposition created a 3D model. That model is displayed at community meetings. As pictured to the left, the six buildings colored pink show what buildings will be demolished along the 21st Avenue portion of the route. The anti-displacement efforts by Hennepin County and the Met Council aim to address the real and perceived risks of the project. The notion of cultural displacement is especially poignant, as a development of this scale will impact the community’s identity and people’s sense of belonging. For example, what happens when a pillar organization like KMOJ relocates? The Met Council says it will offer relocation funds, but the station has turned to the community to raise $50,000 for moving costs. When asked where the station will go, KMOJ’s general manager said it’s not decided yet. If the station leaves the Northside, the area would lose what has been affectionately known for nearly 50 years as “the heart and soul of the community.” The impact will be immeasurable. For those searching for answers about KMOJ’s relocation, their next monthly board meeting is Dec. 20. and is open to the public. In a written statement the Met Council said “We are taking extraordinary steps to minimize property impacts

President Biden, the daughter of two public school teachers can ascend to the highest court of the land and that a firstgeneration Chicago native can make history as the first Muslim woman on the federal bench. It’s only fitting that this process made possible another glassbreaking moment: this month, Vice President Harris set the record for breaking the most ties in the Senate by a vice president.

The record was previously held by John C. Calhoun, a staunch defender of slavery. How poetic is it that the first woman, the first Black American, and first Asian American to be elected vice president of this great country at the behest of Joe Biden, has set a new standard and brought us into the 21st century? This is what this country is all about: moving the needle closer toward

justice at every possible turn. With President Biden’s legislative successes, from clean energy investments in the Inflation Reduction Act to the manufacturing renaissance made possible by the CHIPS and Science Act, to the historic investments for veterans in the PACT Act, we are laying the foundation for a more secure, stable and successful future for our children and grandchildren.

Community engagement and outreach Project planners have done a lot to connect with the community. However, their eﬀorts have been scrutinized by some individuals who say they feel excluded from the decisionmaking process. “They have engaged us, but I don’t trust that it is meaningful engagement. This is just what they have to do. Most of my

Every president selects judges whose record reflects the values they hold dear. Donald Trump’s Federalist Societysponsored selections reflected his extremism and penchant for vitriol. Trump’s appointed judges are wreaking havoc today, as evidenced by this summer’s U.S. Supreme Court overturning of aﬃrmative action and Roe v. Wade. We should all take pride in the fact that under

Route design and alternatives The proposed route and its impacts have become a focal point of contention. “I’m not sure there is a best route. The proposed routes appear to be problematic for various communities,” said Freddie Bell, general manager of KMOJ. A lot of people suggested Olson Memorial Highway as a route to minimize displacement, but the Met Council says the path is not viable due to a railroad company denying them use of its land. Others have pointed to Interstate 94 as an alternative. “I think most Northside residents thought Highway 55 would have been the absolute best and most noninvasive route, but it wasn’t oﬀered,” said Lisa Spicer, owner of Dimensions In Hair Salon. Spicer owns the commercial property on West Broadway where her business has been located for 32 years. Her children work in the business and will inherit the property.

Moving forward with equitable development The intricacies of the light rail expansion project in north Minneapolis underscore the delicate balance between progress and community preservation. As the project evolves, there is a critical need for transparent, inclusive and empathetic engagement with the impacted communities. The Blue Line development is one project of many across America whose impact on Black neighborhoods will be felt for generations. Historically, transportation policies like the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 aﬀected the development of Black communities. Now, we’re seeing a reckoning of those inequities through initiatives like Reconnect Rondo and Biden’s Infrastructure Plan. So projects like this can be triggering for Black communities, often leaving more questions than answers. Questions such as:

Want to add your voice? If you’re interested in joining the discussion, consider writing a Community Voices commentary or counterpoint. (For more information about Community Voices, see our Submission Guidelines.) Originally posted on minnpost.com: https:// w w w. m i n n p o s t . c o m / community-voices/2023/12/ blue-line-plan-derailsblack-businesses-in-northminneapolis/#:~:text=Rail%20 Tr a n s i t % 2 0 E x t e n s i o n ,At%20least%2024%20 properties%20will%20be%20 partially%20or%20fully%20 demolished,owners%2C%20 and%20planners%20about%20 displacement.

But foundations are worth little without a complete structure. When undergirded by the decisions his judicial nominees are capable of rendering, President Biden is framing structures that will ensure that “the greatness of this country will be accessible and aﬀordable for all Americans” for generations to come.

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A century ago, a Black-owned team ruled basketball − today, no Black majority owners remain formed NBA, leaving the Rens behind. The NBA was segregated during its first season after the merger was completed. But in 1950, several Black players – including former Rens player Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton – integrated the league. As professional sports grew and continued to integrate over the course of the 20th century, all-Black teams lost much of their top talent to whiteowned teams. Despite quotas that limited the number of Black players on white-owned teams, the loss of top talent led to the end of teams like the Rens. The unique community and fan experiences fostered by these all-Black franchises was forever lost.

By Jared Bahir Browsh Assistant Teaching Professor of Critical Sports Studies, University of Colorado Boulder For the first time in 20 years, the NBA began its season with no Black-owned franchises. In fact, there’s been only one Black majorityowned team in league history. In late 2002, the NBA awarded an expansion team, the Charlotte Bobcats, to Black Entertainment Television co-founder Bob Johnson. Four years later, former NBA star Michael Jordan bought a minority stake in the franchise, and in 2010, he bought Johnson’s stake. However, Jordan sold his majority stake in the franchise in July 2023. This lack of diversity in basketball team ownership is especially disappointing considering the rich history of Black ownership in sports, which began when the top leagues in the U.S. were still segregated. A century ago, one of the top pre-NBA professional franchises began play in Harlem thanks to the eﬀorts of a Black business owner named Bob Douglas. A challenge to the dominance of white sports My students are often surprised that the history of professional team sports in the U.S. goes far beyond the NBA, NHL, NFL and MLB. But the media’s focus on the “big four” leagues can cause fans to overlook the incredible accomplishments and leadership of many pioneers in athletics, including those from marginalized groups whose participation in mainstream leagues were limited or banned. The first 50 years of professional basketball was an amalgam of regional leagues and barnstorming teams. As with baseball and football, basketball teams from this era were segregated. But white teams and Black teams would square oﬀ against one another in exhibitions as they toured the country. On the business side, many white businessmen were profiting from – if not exploiting – this Black talent pool, arranging tournaments and competitions and

Black History Heroes/Twitter

The New York Rens played from 1923 to 1948. taking a disproportionate cut of the earnings. But Black entrepreneurs saw an opportunity to support Black communities through sports by keeping the talent – and money – from exclusively lining the pockets of white owners. Douglas helped found the Spartan Field Club in 1908 to support his and other Black New Yorkers’ interest in playing sports. These clubs provided facilities and organized amateur teams across a number of sports, with cricket and basketball being among the most popular. Douglas had fallen in love with basketball after first playing in 1905, only a few years after he had immigrated to New York from St. Kitts. Despite encountering discrimination as a Black man and immigrant, he founded and played for an adult amateur basketball team within the club named the Spartan Braves. He transitioned to managing the club in 1918. Douglas was searching for a permanent home for his team and oﬀered to rename the Spartan Braves the Harlem Renaissance in exchange for the use of the Black-owned Renaissance Ballroom & Casino on Seventh Avenue between 137th and 138th streets. The team played its first game as

the Renaissance on Nov. 3, 1923, with Douglas signing his players to full-season contracts. Two years later, the “Rens,” as they came to be called, were declared the World Colored Basketball Champions. The squad went on to establish itself as a national powerhouse and competed in some of the first professional basketball games between white teams and Black teams. In 1925, the Rens bested the Original Celtics, a white team from Manhattan’s West Side that many viewed as the top team in the nation. The next year, another all-Black team claiming Harlem as its home was founded. Unlike the Rens, however, the Harlem Globetrotters had no connection to the New York City neighborhood. They were based out of Illinois and had a white owner, Abe Saperstein, who sought to profit from the connection between Black Americans and the place that served as the epicenter of Black culture. A stretch of dominance During the 1932-33 season, the Rens won 120 of the 128 games they played, including 88 in a row. Six of the losses came at the hands of the Original Celtics, although the Rens did end up winning the season series, beating their

all-white rivals eight times. Basketball’s influence on Black culture continued to grow throughout the interwar period. During Duke Ellington concerts, basketball stars like Fats Jenkins would entertain the crowd between sets, facilitating the deep cultural connection between basketball and Black music that continues today. By the end of the 1930s, the Rens and Globetrotters were not just looking to prove themselves as the best Black teams but also establish themselves as the best basketball teams in the nation. In 1936, the New York Rens played a two-game series against the formidable Oshkosh All-Stars, who played out of Wisconsin. The popularity of the games led to Douglas and Oshkosh founder Lon Darling to agree to a longer series, with the Rens winning three of the five games. Douglas agreed to extend the competition another two games to create a “world series.” Oshkosh ended up winning them both to take the series. The victories led Darling and the All-Stars to join what would become the National Basketball League, a predecessor to the NBA. The NBL signed its first Black player in 1942, five years before Jackie

Robinson made his MLB debut. As the NBL grew in popularity, the World Professional Basketball Tournament was created. In the 10 years the tournament was played, NBL teams won all but three championships, with allBlack teams claiming the other three. But only one of those teams – the Rens – had a Black owner. War, competition and integration The Rens struggled to maintain their dominance after the newly established Washington Bears, another all-Black team, poached a number of Ren players in 1941. The Bears were founded by legendary Black broadcaster Hal Jackson and backed by theater owner Abe Lichtman, who lured players with higher pay and a lighter schedule. After the war, a number of NBL franchises struggled, including the Detroit Vagabond Kings, who dropped out of the league in December 1948. Since the league needed a replacement, the Rens moved to Dayton, Ohio, and finished the season with the NBL, becoming the first Black-owned team in a primarily white league. The NBL shuttered following the season, and several teams joined the newly

The Rens legacy In 1963, the 1932-33 Rens squad was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Several individual players, along with Douglas, would enter the Hall in later years. Today there are no Black majority owners in any of the four major North American professional leagues. There are a handful of Black Americans who are minority owners of teams – former NBA stars Dwyane Wade and Grant Hill have minority stakes in the Utah Jazz and Atlanta Hawks, respectively – but it isn’t clear how much influence they wield. It’s an especially discouraging situation for the NBA. In a league that is over 70% Black, the dearth of Black owners and executives can lead to a disconnect between the players and the people running the league. In recent years, players have clashed with owners over dress codes, discipline and political protests. As league revenue continues to soar, and the NBA serves as an example for inclusive hiring practices, the lack of Black ownership is harder to ignore 100 years after the Rens first stepped on the court. Jared Bahir Browsh does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant aﬃliations beyond their academic appointment. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

Supporting HBCUs’ Sustainability in America By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association Earlier this year the U.S. Department of Education sent all colleges and universities across the nation a notice, reminding them that they need to comply with the newly updated cybersecurity regulations published by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The regulations – which include specifications such as implementing critical controls for information security programs, maintaining oversight of service providers, and designating an individual to oversee a school’s cybersecurity infrastructure – came in response to an uptick in ransomware attacks on schools around the United States. While these regulations are certainly warranted in an age where personal data is becoming increasingly vulnerable to cyber-criminals, the penalties for failing to comply with the regulations – especially the withholding of federal needs-based funding under Title IV – pose an existential threat to schools operating under tight budgets. Take Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), which have throughout their existence struggled to find the substantial funding that many state and private predominantly white institutions (PWIs) of higher education enjoy and who are

already steeling themselves to deal with an expected surge of applicants following the Supreme Court’s regressive decision to effectively end Affirmative Action admission programs. The loss of Title IV funding would drastically affect around 80% of the student bodies at HBCUs and would have a consequential negative impact on the future of these vital institutions of higher education. Endowments at HBCUs pale in comparison to those at the U.S.’s top ranked colleges and universities, with the overall endowments at all the country’s HBCUs accounting for less than a tenth of Harvard’s. The gap in funding between PWIs and HBCUs isn’t just because of smaller endowments, it’s also because state lawmakers keep funds off HBCU campuses – in North Carolina, for example, legislators awarded N.C. State an extra $79 million for research while N.C. A&T – the nation’s largest HBCU – was given only $9.5 million. When it comes to access to technology, HBCUs also face an uphill battle with 82% of HBCUs being located in so-called “broadband deserts.” Despite their struggles with funding, and the fact that these schools constitute only 3 percent of four-year colleges in the country, HBCU graduates account for 80 percent of all Black judges, 50 percent of Black lawyers, 50 percent of Black doctors, 40 percent of Black members of Congress, and our country’s current vice president. HBCUs truly know how to do more with less, but

HBCUs truly know how to do more with less, but they cannot be saddled with costly regulations that pose an existential crisis to their ability operate and be given no help to deflect some of the costs. they cannot be saddled with costly regulations that pose an existential crisis to their ability operate and be given no help to deflect some of the costs. Fortunately, however, there are businesses and individuals who see the importance of HBCUs to the Black community and are willing to lend their hands – and their dollars – to support them. The Student Freedom Initiative (SFI), a non-profit chaired by philanthropist and entrepreneur Robert F. Smith and funded by major tech companies like Cisco, has raised millions of dollars to help HBUs

comply with the Education Department’s mandates. Cisco alone donated $150 million to the SFI with $100 million allocated to bringing HBCU cybersecurity system upgrades and $50 million going to establish an endowment to oﬀer alternative student loans. With $89 million already distributed to 42 HBCUs across the nation, the initiative has already saved around $1.5 billion in needsbased funding to these colleges and universities and is making strong inroads to helping these institutions meet the new cybersecurity regulations,

but more is required if all HBCUs are to be saved. Given the empowering impact HBCUs have on the nation’s Black community and the future promise of a more inclusive America, it is imperative that more companies support the work the Student Freedom Initiative is doing to ensure these vital higher education schools can continue to educate and inspire future generations. As Vice President Harris said, “What you learn at an HBCU is you do not have to fit into somebody’s limited perspective on what it means

to be young, gifted and Black.” We in the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) https:// www.nafeonation.org/ stand in strong support of the Student Freedom Initiative. We all should work together to ensure the sustainability of HBCUs in America. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., Chairman of the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO) and President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA).

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Insight News • January 1, 2024 - January 7, 202 2024 4 • Page 7

photo by Maarten De Boer

Screenshot of Helen Mirren in AARP Magazine 2022

Photographer: Felipe Nunes, IG: @Mr. Felipe

Angela Bassett and Leticia Wright in Wakanda Forever, Marvel

Dr. Irma McClaurin

Racialized Ageism Against Black Women: It’s a real thing Culture and Education Editor

By Irma McClaurin, PhD Previously published on Medium, Sept 4, 2023: https:// irmamcclaurin.medium. com/racialized-ageismagainst-black-women-itsa-real-thing-5fce351a74d4 Recently, I was reading a back issue of the #AARPMagazine and was delighted to see that at age 77, actress #HelenMirren is getting roles in a series, just as #Merylstreep is also getting tv roles in popular series like “Only Murders in the Building” (https:// variety.com/2023/tv/news/ meryl-streep-only-murdersin-the-building-season-3hulu-1235489810/) at age 73. After my adulation, however, I had to pause and reflect as a young Black woman of 71 years old, and ask myself: “WHERE are the aging #blackwomen?” Where are women of a certain age who

look like me? Where are they in the movies, the corporate oﬃces, higher education, nonprofit organizations, and politics? The Absence of Senior Black Women Everywhere Where are we? Where are senior Black women? Of course, everyone will want to point to Angela Bassett as a counterpoint to what I am saying about Mirren and Streep. And, it’s true, she was/is fabulous. Her portrayal of Ramonda, Queen of Wakanda is elegant, stirring, just good old fashioned acting — and #badass! (see my “Black Women are still ‘badass’ in Wakanda Forever”, p.3). But she is just 67, younger than me, though I loved her white/silver hair. Also, Ramonda — Angela Bassett — dies in the film. That is a loss for any future sequels — too bad. And, what of actress Cecily Tyson? Before she joined the Ancestors at age 96 on January 28, 2021, did she get her due? While she played in numerous films and TV shows, she did not reach the heights of Mirren and Streep, where people are making movies just to showcase their aging.

Props due to Tyler Perry who was quoted as saying he paid Tyson $1 Million dollars for one day of work because “…I wanted to make sure she knew there were people who valued her.” Enough respect also goes to Viola Davis who gave Tyson a reoccurring role as her mother — and a complicated woman — in her hit series of “How to Get Away with Murder.” Seventy, Sexy and Single I get hundreds of views on my #LinkedIn profile and people contact me for information! Yet not ONE job oﬀer! What’s up with that?? Black women past age 60+ have disappeared from #films , from #highereducation, from #corporateamerica — from the world! We have been made invisible through sheer neglect. Our talents are wasted unless we become consultants, and then folk (clients who shall remain nameless), want to use our expertise, but oﬀer us only pennies on the dollars, while aging white women are racking up the thousands and millions of real dollars! Despite our knowledge and talents, we are treated like what we have

accomplished doesn’t matter. And it is great that #foundations & #corporations are hiring VERY YOUNG #BIPOCS — but part of that is because, despite being talented — they don’t know a lot — experience counts! They don’t have the deep knowledge of how white institutions — including foundations — have thrived on our work without recognizing us. I cannot tell you how many #BIPOCprofessionals I have coached once they get over the honeymoon and are face-toface with systemic and structural racism. They need to have seasoned — senior — Black women on their team as well. No longer do I seek a day job. I am content to be a coach and share the knowledge I have acquired working in #whitepublicspaces since 1969! This is no joke or sour grapes — #racializedageism is real & it is keeping organizations, foundations, corporations, and academic institutions from benefitting from our talents! We see you — we know what your blind spots are and may have suggestions for change and transformation, if you are open. But admit it — that’s

not what most want! They seek to maintain the status quo of exclusion, and escape detection by hiring a few young #BIPOCs for window dressing! Well, I won’t hold my breath waiting for any job oﬀers. Social security, financial investments (for those who want to work on their own), and the occasional consulting and coaching gigs keep me financially afloat. I have rid myself of most debt, refinanced my house for a ridiciously low rate, so it will be paid oﬀ in no time. Meanwhile, this senior Black woman dreams of spending more time on a beach in Bahia, where I just visited. And, to keep living my life like it’s golden! We still got it as #blackwomen; it’s just the world is so used to ignoring us historically, they can’t see our beauty and talent. Truly their loss. This is what 71 looks like on a senior Black woman. Eat your hearts out! #seniorblackwomanmagic! #Racism #Ageism #AntiBlackness ©2023 Irma McClaurin Irma McClaurin

(https://linktr.ee/dr.irma/ @ mcclaurintweets) is the Culture and Education Editor for Insight News and founder of the Irma McClaurin Black Feminist Archive at UMass. An activist Black Feminist anthropologist, she is a past president of Shaw University, founding Executive Director of the University of Minnesota’s UROC, and has held numerous other leadership positions. McClaurin completed the MFA in English and PhD in Anthropology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and in 2023 was awarded the Honorary Doctorate of Social Studies by her alma mater, Grinnell College. Her book Black Feminist Anthropology: Theory, Politics, Praxis and Poetics was named an “Outstanding Academic Title” in 2002 and the Black Press of America selected her as “Best in the Nation Columnist” in 2015. She is a consultant and coach and is on the Advisory Board of the newly established Center for Diaspora and Migration Studies (CDMS) at the University of Liberia. A collection of her columns, Justspeak: Reflections on Race, Culture & Politics in America, is forthcoming in 2023.

Brooklyn Park reviews 2024-2025 Budget By Anabel Kamalu Contributing writer In its December 4th meeting, Brooklyn Park City Council reviewed the city’s 2024/2025 budget and introduced new employees. Finance Director LaTonia Green gave an overview of the budget: In the General Fund expenditures, the budget is at $68.6 million in 2024 and $72.7 million in 2025. Special revenue: $7.3 million in 2024 and $3.5 million

in 2025 Debt service: $3.2 million in 2024 and $3.2 million in 225. Capital projects: $75.3 million in 2024 and 52.4 million in 2025 Enterprise funds: $40.9 Million in 2024 and $42.1 million in 2025 Internal Service funds: $22.1 in 2024 and $25 million in 2025. The Council welcomed new employees: William Weaver was hired as police cadet. He has a master’s degree in history. He formerly worked as a teacher,

salesman, and security oﬃcer before coming to Brooklyn Park. Joshua Currier was hired as a police cadet and has served as a combat medic in the US Army (2015 to 2021) including a tour in Afghanistan (2018 and 2019). Dylan Balk is the new property maintenance inspector in the community development department. He has worked in property management and maintenance for many years. The Council noted promotions for Jolene Rotich who was promoted to Brooklyn Career Pathways

Program Manager, Workforce Development and Carmen Bibiano who was promoted to BrookLynk Program Manager, Workforce Development. Mayor Hollies Winston proclaimed December 10 2023 as Human Rights Day in Brooklyn Park in recognition of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is an international document adopted in December 10, 1948 by the United Nations General Assembly that enshrines the rights and freedoms of all human beings.

Mayor Hollies Winston

Promoting, celebrating kindness By Anabel Kamalu Contributing writer November 13th was World Kindness Day. Brooklyn Center celebrates that idea with its Random Acts of Kindness Program, established in 1997, and celebrated for 27 years. The Brooklyn Center program focuses on honoring residents and groups doing kind things that make Brooklyn Center a great place to live and work. The 40 nominated for Random Acts of Kindness this year include:  BC Lions ClubThe members hosted the Cone with a Cop event on August 24 at Thursday Farmers Market and gave customers ice cream treats.  Mandora YoungTaught Hmong Aj Ntaub to shoppers at Thursday Farmers Market.  Darry SannesCleaned over 50 storm drains in September and glued 30 of them with new drains to river markers.  Chuck HumkeLooks after his neighbors, helping shovel their driveways during the snow season.  Lydia Shields & Christina Jones- Lead in Brooklyn Center Community

Schools Health Resource Center community engagement and served on the historic 2023 Brooklyn Center Health Fair.  Sandy BeckerCleans up the 252 bus shelter weekly and co-chairs the Brooklyn Center Lions Club “Out of Sight” Dinner club, an event for the blind.  Erwin HeislerShops weekly for a blind person, twice a month for a blind family, and co-chairs the Brooklyn Center Lions Club “Out of Sight” Dinner club.  Madeline Mork & Wendy Christensen-They go by the “Buy Nothing Project” philosophy which revolves around kindness, bringing people together, and sharing.  Michelle Auld- She did Yoga Classes at Thursday Farmers Market.  Joan SchonningHosts a Treasure Swap out of her house and gives the remaining items to ARC several times a year.  Dianne SannesRegularly picks up bagels and delivers them to area schools for the staﬀ members or athletics.  Susan Arneson- She is the President of the BC Lady Lions Club, which successfully made the Cones with a Cop for the Community at the Thursday Farmers Market on June 29,

2023.  Igbo Women’s League of Minnesota Amril Okonkwo- Provided free COVID shots at the Thursday Farmers Market.  Yang FamilyHelped pick up trash along the rails around Palmer Lake in July.  Kim Kenny- Picks up trash in Brooklyn Center’s parks and streets.  Michael CrenshawThe Lions Club member repairs stuﬀ for the neighbors, cuts grass, and helps people whenever he can.  Pastor Ruth Ann Ramstad and Brooklyn United Methodist Church (BUMC)- Aided in making the weekly Thursday Farmers Market a hub of activities, and bringing the home community spirit to Brooklyn Center.  Jill Dalton and Jack MacMillianThey supported the Brooklyn Center community through recycling at Thursday Farmers Market.  BC Cub Manager Jamar Hester- In September 2023, he assisted in the provision of food for 18 Brooklyn Center schools at the best price, thus the students purchased more products.  Megan Lindstorm, Doherty Staﬃng- Hosted a Cones with a Cop for the

community at Thursday Farmers Market.  Russell Waisanen & Richard Kopf- Help the townhouse community by watching their house, and picking up mail among other kind gestures.  Lois HattenbergerHelps her neighbors. For example, she helps a 103-yearold lady and another who is recovering from surgery after a broken hip.  Kathy and Don Winn- Help neighbors friends, family, the church, and cook meals for those at the Crossings.  Barb Suciu- Helped the community members navigate city services, get resources, and assists those with diﬃculty in mobility, language, and vision.  Kavesse WickerThe young resident helped an elderly and ill neighbor by cutting his grass, trimming the yard, plowing snow, and removing trash.  Pamela SolomonProvided personal care for her 2 neighbors before they passed away in 2022 fall.  Kim Jones- The Brooklyn Center High head receptionist assists troubled and traumatized students with their sensitive matters and in getting resources.  Rebecca Walker-

Bakes treats which she shares with her neighbors, cares for her neighbors, feeds the kids, and generally makes her neighbors feel better.  Diana Bourque- The senior community member and retired nurse continues to help her neighbors with their medical needs.  McDonalds Morning Crew- Their warm smiles and little kind deeds to the community members are highly appreciated.  David YangTogether with his wife, the couple feeds and takes care of their neighbors, celebrating and sharing their culture and traditional dishes with them.  Jan Tieden- She has done park cleanups with her daycare children, hosted neighborhood parties, and shared information for crime prevention.  Pastor Jim Verbout (Lutheran Church of the Master)- He has a relationship with the Brooklyn Center police and fire departments, helps the needy, connects with the youth, and organizes food pantries and the church’s free meals on Wednesday night.  Craig Phillis- He snowplowed a neighbor’s driveway several times last winter.  Eddie Chesmer-

Helps his neighbors clear snow from their driveway among other kind gestures.  Lowell KpanyorThe engaging presence and kindness of this volunteer for the Block Party at BCCS is highly appreciated.  Gladys CastellanoHer work is highly appreciated.  Keevin Miller- He is described as a great and friendly neighbor who offers a lending hand when needed, such as when there is snow.  Derrick & Andrea Lanz- They’ve helped keep their neighbor’s driveway free of snow.  Gregg & Donna Jones- They’ve maintained their neighbor’s driveway during winter.  Butch Zang & Jeff Foss- fixed a teen’s bicycle without being asked.  Brooklyn Center Lady Lions Club- The members serve the community through their numerous projects; cleaning, donating Diabetes kits, driving seniors to doctors appointments, and offering food and gift donations.  Soldiers 6-help the city get two compassion dogs and train them.  TaLeia “ACE” Thomas- Offered an unhoused man her favorite Nike Jordans.

Page 8 • January 1, 2024 - January 7, 2024 • Insight News

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Hallowed Be Thy Name Sharing Our Stories

By: W.D. Foster-Graham Book Review Editor THE SECRET AND POWER OF PRAYING THE LORD’S PRAYER Hallowed Be Thy Name By Sarah Kerubo Nyandoro As 2023 ends and 2024 begins, many of us enter into it with wishes, resolutions, dreams, and prayers. In the Christian faith, prayer is our communication with God, one of the ways of being in relationship with God. Growing up in church, there is one prayer everyone knows, and that is the Lord’s Prayer, also know as the Our Father. This prayer, which Jesus gave to His disciples to teach them how to pray, is the subject of Kenyan-born Sarah Kerubo Nyandoro’s book The Secret and Power of Praying the Lord’s Prayer. Inspired by her spiritual journey and prayer life, Nyandoro starts oﬀ with some truths about humans and their mindset about prayer. Often, people pray the most when they are under adverse and dire circumstances. They lose heart when prayers are not answered right away, or the answer doesn’t come in the package they expect. Or, in the case of the Lord’s Prayer, they do it by rote, by recitation, without tapping into the power of the meaning of this prayer. Chapter by chapter, Nyandoro takes each section of the Lord’s Prayer and

cross-references it with other scriptures in the Old and New Testament (the New King James Version), inviting the reader to examine the deep meaning behind each section. For example, in the first chapter “Our Father, Who Art in Heaven,” it establishes whose we are as well as what makes a father, earthly and heavenly. At the end of the chapter, she includes a prayer, stating the importance of saying scriptures out loud whenever possible. Nyandoro is intentional in stating that the Lord’s Prayer, and prayer period, is not a one-and-done. We pray without ceasing, and coupling prayer with praise and the acknowledgment of God is where our power comes from. While sharing her story from both sides of the Atlantic, she makes it relevant to the issues of our 21st century experiences. After I read her book, my mind went back to my days as a young Black man attending the 11:00 p.m. broadcast services of First Church of Deliverance in Chicago. The service always opened worship with the choir singing the Lord’s Prayer. No matter how many times I heard the choir sing it, the power and anointing of the words always tapped into my spirit while the congregation around me praised God. It set the tone for the rest of the service, and the rest of my week. The Secret and Power of Praying the Lord’s Prayer is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Christian Faith Publishing. Thank you, Sarah, for sharing your story and your faith walk, and for inviting us to come up a little higher in our understanding of this well-known prayer.

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Insight News • January 1, 2024 - January 7, 202 2024 4 • Page 9

Insight 2 Health Racism produces subtle brain changes that lead to increased disease risk in Black populations By Negar Fani Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Emory University And Nathaniel Harnett Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School The U.S. is in the midst of a racial reckoning. The COVID-19 pandemic, which took a particularly heavy toll on Black communities, turned a harsh spotlight on long-standing health disparities that the public could no longer overlook. Although the health disparities for Black communities have been well known to researchers for decades, the pandemic put real names and faces to these numbers. Compared with white people, Black people are at much greater risk for developing a range of health problems, including heart disease, diabetes and dementia. For example, Black people are twice as likely as white people to develop Alzheimer’s disease. A vast and growing body of research shows that racism contributes to systems that promote health inequities. Most recently, our team has also learned that racism directly contributes to these inequities on a neurobiological level. We are clinical neuroscientists who study the multifaceted ways in which racism aﬀects how our brains develop and function. We use brain imaging to study how trauma such as sexual assault or racial discrimination can cause stress that leads to mental health disorders like depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD. We have studied trauma in the context of a study known as the Grady Trauma Project, which has been running

for nearly 20 years. This study is largely focused on the trauma and stress of Black people in the metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, community. How discrimination alters the brain Racial discrimination is commonly experienced through subtle indignities: a woman clutching her purse as a Black man walks by on the sidewalk, a shopkeeper keeping close watch on a Black woman shopping in a clothing store, a comment about a Black employee being a “diversity hire.” These slights are often referred to as microaggressions. Decades of research has shown that the everyday burden of these race-related threats, slights and exclusions in day-to-day life translates into a real increase in disease risk. But researchers are only beginning to understand how these forms of discrimination affect a person’s biology and overall health. Our team’s research shows that the everyday burden of racism affects the function and structure of the brain. In turn, these changes play a major role in risk for health problems. For instance, our studies show that racial discrimination increases the activity of brain regions, such as the prefrontal cortex, that are involved in regulating emotions. This increased activity in prefrontal brain regions occurs because responding to these types of affronts requires high-effort coping strategies, such as suppressing emotions. People who have experienced more racial discrimination also show more activation in brain regions that enable them to inhibit and suppress anger, shock or sadness so that they can curate a socially acceptable response. A cost for overcompensating

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Coping with everyday affronts comes at a cost and requires a certain level of emotional suppression. Despite the fact that high-energy coping allows people to manage a constant barrage of threats, this comes at a cost. The more brain energy you use to suppress, control or manage your feelings, the more energy you take away from the rest of the body. Over time, and without prolonged periods of rest, relief and restoration, this can contribute to other problems, a process that public health researcher Arline Geronimus termed “weathering.” Having these brain regions in continual overdrive is linked with accelerated biological aging, which can create vulnerability for health problems and early death. In our research, we have found that this weathering

process is evident in the gradual degradation of brain structure, particularly in the heavily myelinated axons of the brain, known as “white matter,” which serve as the brain’s information highways. Myelin is a protective sheath around nerve fibers that allows for improved communication between brain cells. Similar to highways for vehicles, without suﬃcient maintenance of the myelin, degradation will occur. Erosion in these brain pathways can aﬀect selfregulation, making a person more vulnerable to developing unhealthy coping strategies for stress, such as emotional eating or substance use. These behaviors, in turn, can increase one’s risk for a wide variety of health problems.

These racism-related changes in the brain, and their direct eﬀects on coping, may help to explain why Black people are twice as likely to develop brain health problems such as Alzheimer’s disease compared with white people. Recognizing racial gaslighting In our view, what makes racism particularly insidious and pernicious to the health of Black people is the societal invalidation that accompanies it. This makes racial trauma eﬀectively invisible. Racism, whether it originates from people or from institutional systems, is often rationalized, excused or dismissed. Such invalidation leads those who experience racism to second-guess

themselves: “Am I just being too sensitive?” People who have the temerity to report racist events are often ridiculed or met with skepticism. This extends to academic spheres as well. This continual questioning and doubting of the circumstances around racist experiences, or racial gaslighting, may be part of what depletes the brain of its resources, causing the weathering that ultimately increases vulnerability to brain health problems. Interrupting this cycle requires that people learn to identify their biases toward people of color and people in marginalized groups more generally, and to understand how those biases may lead to discriminatory words and behavior. We believe that by finding their blind spots, people can see ways in which their actions and behaviors could be viewed as hurtful, exclusionary or oﬀensive. Through recognition of these experiences as racist, people can become allies rather than skeptics. Institutions can help to create a culture of healing, validation and support for people of color. A validating, supportive institutional culture may help people of color normalize their reactions to these stressors, in addition to the connection – and restoration – they may find within their communities. Negar Fani receives funding from the National Institutes of Health and Emory University School of Medicine. Nathaniel Harnett receives funding from the National Institutes of Health, the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, and the Presidents and Fellows of Harvard College. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

Health misinformation is rampant on social media – here’s what it does, why it spreads and what people can do about it By Monica Wang Associate Professor of Public Health, Boston University The global anti-vaccine movement and vaccine hesitancy that accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic show no signs of abating. According to a survey of U.S. adults, Americans in October 2023 were less likely to view approved vaccines as safe than they were in April 2021. As vaccine confidence falls, health misinformation continues to spread like wildfire on social media and in real life. I am a public health expert in health misinformation, science communication and health behavior change. In my view, we cannot underestimate the dangers of health misinformation and the need to understand why it spreads and what we can do about it. Health misinformation is defined as any health-related claim that is false based on current scientific. False claims about vaccines Vaccines are the No. 1 topic of misleading health claims. Some common myths about vaccines include:  Their supposed link with human diagnoses of autism. Multiple studies have discredited this claim, and it has been firmly refuted by the World Health Organization, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  Concerns with the COVID-19 vaccine leading to infertility. This connection has been debunked through a systematic review and metaanalysis, one of the most robust forms of synthesizing scientific evidence.  Safety concerns about vaccine ingredients, such as thimerosal, aluminum and formaldehyde. Extensive studies have shown these ingredients are safe when used in the minimal amounts

contained in vaccines.  Vaccines as medically unnecessary to protect from disease. The development and dissemination of vaccines for life-threatening diseases such as smallpox, polio, measles, mumps, rubella and the flu has saved millions of lives. It also played a critical role in historic increases in average life expectancy – from 47 years in 1900 in the U.S. to 76 years in 2023. The costs of health misinformation Beliefs in such myths have come at the highest cost. An estimated 319,000 COVID-19 deaths that occurred between January 2021 and April 2022 in the U.S. could have been prevented if those individuals had been vaccinated, according to a data dashboard from the Brown University School of Public Health. Misinformation and disinformation about COVID-19 vaccines alone have cost the U.S. economy an estimated US$50 million to $300 million per day in direct costs from hospitalizations, long-term illness, lives lost and economic losses from missed work. Though vaccine myths and misunderstandings tend to dominate conversations about health, there is an abundance of misinformation on social media surrounding diets and eating disorders, smoking or substance use, chronic diseases and medical treatments. My team’s research and that of others show that social media platforms have become go-to sources for health information, especially among adolescents and young adults. However, many people are not equipped to maneuver the maze of health misinformation. For example, an analysis of Instagram and TikTok posts from 2022 to 2023 by The Washington Post and the nonprofit news site The Examination found that the food, beverage and dietary supplement industries paid dozens of registered dietitian influencers to post content promoting diet soda, sugar and supplements, reaching millions of viewers. The

dietitians’ relationships with the food industry were not always made clear to viewers. Studies show that health misinformation spread on social media results in fewer people getting vaccinated and can also increase the risk of other health dangers such as disordered eating and unsafe sex practices and sexually transmitted infections. Health misinformation has even bled over into animal health, with a 2023 study finding that 53% of dog owners surveyed in a nationally representative sample report being skeptical of pet vaccines. Health misinformation is on the rise One major reason behind the spread of health misinformation is declining trust in science and government. Rising political polarization, coupled with historical medical mistrust among communities that have experienced and continue to experience unequal health care treatment, exacerbates preexisting divides. The lack of trust is both fueled and reinforced by the way misinformation can spread today. Social media platforms allow people to form information silos with ease; you can curate your networks and your feed by unfollowing or muting contradictory views from your own and liking and sharing content that aligns with your existing beliefs and value systems. By tailoring content based on past interactions, social media algorithms can unintentionally limit your exposure to diverse perspectives and generate a fragmented and incomplete understanding of information. Even more concerning, a study of misinformation spread on Twitter analyzing data from 2006 to 2017 found that falsehoods were 70% more likely to be shared than the truth and spread “further, faster, deeper and more broadly than the truth” across all categories of information. How to misinformation

combat

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Media literacy is more essential than ever. The lack of robust and standardized regulation of misinformation content on social media places the diﬃcult task of discerning what is true or false information on individual users. We scientists and research entities can also do better in communicating our science and rebuilding trust, as my colleague and I have previously written. I also provide peerreviewed recommendations for the important roles that parents/ caregivers, policymakers and social media companies can play. Below are some steps that consumers can take to identify and prevent health misinformation spread:  Check the source. Determine the credibility of the health information by checking if the source is a reputable organization or agency such as the World Health Organization, the National Institutes of Health or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Other credible sources include an established medical or scientific institution or a peer-reviewed study in an academic journal. Be cautious of information that comes from unknown or biased sources.  Examine author credentials. Look for qualifications, expertise and relevant professional aﬃliations for the author or authors

presenting the information. Be wary if author information is missing or diﬃcult to verify.  Pay attention to the date. Scientific knowledge by design is meant to evolve as new evidence emerges. Outdated information may not be the most accurate. Look for recent data and updates that contextualize findings within the broader field.  Cross-reference to determine scientific consensus. Cross-reference information across multiple reliable sources. Strong consensus across experts and multiple scientific studies supports the validity of health information. If a health claim on social media contradicts widely accepted scientific consensus and stems from unknown or unreputable sources, it is likely unreliable.  Question sensational claims. Misleading health information often uses sensational language designed to provoke strong emotions to grab attention. Phrases like “miracle cure,” “secret remedy” or “guaranteed results” may signal exaggeration. Be alert for potential conflicts of interest and sponsored content.  Weigh scientific evidence over individual anecdotes. Prioritize information grounded in scientific studies that have

undergone rigorous research methods, such as randomized controlled trials, peer review and validation. When done well with representative samples, the scientific process provides a reliable foundation for health recommendations compared to individual anecdotes. Though personal stories can be compelling, they should not be the sole basis for health decisions.  Talk with a health care professional. If health information is confusing or contradictory, seek guidance from trusted health care providers who can oﬀer personalized advice based on their expertise and individual health needs.  When in doubt, don’t share. Sharing health claims without validity or verification contributes to misinformation spread and preventable harm. All of us can play a part in responsibly consuming and sharing information so that the spread of the truth outpaces the false. Monica Wang receives funding from the National Institutes of Health. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.

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Commentary

The Color Purple (2023) may win ALL of the awards next year Hobb servation Point

By Chuck Hobbs Season’s Greetings! While I trust that my readers are enjoying their holidays, I am pausing from my own hard earned respite to herald one of the best movies that I’ve seen in quite some time—the 2023 version of The Color Purple. Like many people my age (51) and older, I consider the original film, based upon Spelman College alumna Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize winning novel—and directed by Steven Spielberg—to be one of the greatest movies in Hollywood history. That film, one with an all star cast that included Danny Glover as “Mister,” Whoopi Goldberg as “Miss Celie,”

Akosua Busia as “Nettie,” Margaret Avery as “Shug,” and introduced Oprah Winfrey as “Miss Sophia,” also featured a riveting soundtrack composed by the legendary Quincy Jones—and should have swept the Academy Awards in 1985! Alas, it did not! But as some of my friends noted on social media before I stepped into the theater yesterday afternoon, 2023’s The Color Purple is NOT a remake of the original drama, but a musical—one that uses elements from the source novel, the original film, and the long running Broadway play of the same name to create its own unique cinematic appeal. Yes, you read it correctly—same characters, same overarching themes, but different words and different voice cadences set amidst a different but equally splendid musical score—all delivered by brilliant performers who were aided by the brilliant direction of Blitz Bazawule—and produced

by the original director, Steven Spielberg, and the original Miss Sophia, Oprah Winfrey! With a star studded cast featuring Fantasia as “Miss Celie,” Colman Domingo as “Mister,” Halle Bailey as the younger version of Celie’s loving sister “Nettie,” R&B star Ciara as the older Nettie; Academy Award winner Taraji P. Henson as “Shug Avery,” and Danielle Brooks as the scene stealing “Miss Sophia,” I am very much looking forward to seeing if the 2024 awards season reaps the recognition for the new movie that the original version deserved but failed to garner back in 1985. Stay tuned… Last, there has been quite a bit of chatter on the Internet that the newest movie version of The Color Purple, much like the original, is “Black Trauma Porn” which bashes Black men for two hours and some change. As to these points, if you have read Alice Walker’s book or seen the original

movie, then you know that both domestic and sexual violence are rife throughout the stories. If such scenes trigger your anxieties in any way, then by all means, this is a movie that you should miss! On that note, I do not think that it’s a spoiler for me to opine that the new movie displays some of those horrific themes, but in my early opinion, Colman Domingo’s “Mister” does not project the same vicious menace that Danny Glover’s version of Mister depicted back in ‘85. And while both film versions finish on a rather positive note, the new film hits a much happier coda in my opinion! Second, as far as the “man bashing” goes, well, I have always disagreed with this criticism of The Color Purple because truth be told, there were (and still remain) real life “Misters,” “Old Misters” (Mister’s misogynistic father played by the great Adolph Caesar in the original—and the equally great Lou Gossett,

Jr. in the latest), “Harpos,” and variations of the same all across these United States. Of course, there are many Black men who do not mimic the physically abusive and sexist tropes displayed by these characters, but some did during the Jim Crow era in which the films are set—and still do—thus, the creative license to tell those stories in the light that Alice Walker and the films’ directors and producers saw (and see) fit. As I often say and write, there are many thousands of uplifting stories about strong Black men that have been told and are still needing to be told in various media forms; I do my own part in lauding positive Black men in my own sphere, and there’s nothing stopping other Black men, especially those with larger platforms, from doing the same! But I’m not so obtuse as to think that the fictional “Mister” doesn’t exist in real life, as a day spent in any courthouse in any city or town

across America will show wayward Black men who are beating and raping women— mostly Black women— with little to no remorse! Having said all of the above, again, if you have two hours to spare during this holiday season, by all means go and support The Color Purple, a film that earned $18 million on Christmas Day—the second highest ever behind Sherlock Holmes— which earned $24.1 million on Christmas Day in 2009. Enjoy! Subscribe to Hobbservation Point By Chuck Hobbs · Hundreds of paid subscribers “Real Politics in Real Time” Chuck Hobbs is a freelance journalist who won the 2010 Florida Bar Media Award and has been twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary.

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