WINNER: 2020 T YPOGRAPHY & DESIGN, 1ST PLACE, PHOTOGRAPHY (PORTRAIT & PERSONALIT Y), 1ST PLACE, WEBSITE, 3RD PLACE
Insight News
November 23, 2020 - November 29, 2020
Vol. 47 No. 47• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
Photos courtesy Target
TC Pilson, manager of Lake Street Target store in Minneapolis at the store reopening on November 10.
Stronger than ever on Lake Street By Al McFarlane, Editor After closing due to damage sustained during the demonstrations for racial justice in late spring, Target rebuilt its Lake Street store from the ground up in about five months, making it one of the fastest rebuilds in Target history. Target is promising the community to not only have a safe, easy and convenient place to shop, but also a place where customers feel joy and pride when they visit. Guests can expect friendly—and familiar—faces of their local Target team Hayato Yang, an executive team lead for Food and Beverage said the November 10 reopening was like a reunion. “Coming back to this team, this location—it’s like seeing family again. This is where I began my journey with Target, and being here with the heart of the store beating again is a joyful experience,” he said in comments posted to Target’s website. “It’s exciting to show our community that we’re not going anywhere. We’re coming back stronger than ever. I’m so happy we can be a place for people in the community to come with their families and see their friends and neighbors again.” Target said from the assortment of products and services offered, to the layout of the renovated store, feedback from customers guided the reshaping of the Lake Stree store to “better serve the local community.” Changes included a more accessible pharmacy, a larger food and beverage section, an expanded assortment in categories such as beauty, toys and food, and even an additional entrance. Adrie Foreman, Lake Street Target Human Resources executive team lead, said many of the store team members live in the Southside neighborhood. She said she stayed connected with
Cephas Williams Jr., Adrie Foreman, Hayato Yang and Bawang Longar them while the store was closed to make sure they had the support they needed. The re-opening is a point of pride for her and her team because most of the Lake Street team members are returning. “It’s all about making sure the people who live in this community feel like this is home,” Foreman said. “Target is all about family, and you hear that so often at different locations. But this store is even more of a family.” “I’ve always said it has a type of heartbeat, there’s a pulse to it. I felt that on my very first day,” she said. “When talking to my team this summer, people kept saying, ‘When are we going home?’ For us to bring our team members back to their home is very, very fulfilling.” Noor Companies, a Minneapolis-based Somali and woman-owned business, was the general contractor for the Lake Street rebuild. The trailblazing company has built a reputation for executing construction and development projects which deliver a larger impact on nurturing the next generation of leaders in the construction industry. Engaging Noor Companies was consistent with a broader corporate vision to ensure Target would meet its overarching business and growth needs. According to Steve Makredes, Target
Vice-President for Constructions, “We realized we were going to have a problem to be able to accomplish the growth we wanted to have as a company. We knew that when your stores are built by the people that shop and work in the store, that creates a broader affinity to you as a brand and as a retailer. So we started to focus on women and minorities in construction to solve a business problem of not having a qualified and available (construction industry) workforce.” One of Target’s strategies to meet the workforce challenge was to reach out to a rising star within the corporation to help create a pipeline of construction workers. A 2006, Construction Management graduate of Kansas State University, Paul Robinson joined the Target Corporation and quickly rose to become a Construction Project Manager. In 2018, he founded ConstructReach, an enterprise that helps young adults get work experience in the construction industry, a resource that Target engaged to help with construction efforts at both Lake Street and Buckhead South Target in Atlanta. Target also invested in the Lake Street community’s overall rebuild efforts, even while the store was closed, by donating more than
$125,000 in food and essential supplies to those in need and committing to 10,000 hours of pro-bono consulting services to Black-, Indigenous- and people-of-color-owned local businesses. “I’ve been with Target for 19 years, and volunteering and connecting with the community is key to our purpose,” says Bawang Longar, Assets Protection executive team lead at Lake Street. “We’re part of this neighborhood and want to be part of its healing process, too.” Cephas Williams Jr., group vice president, Target, recalls the tragedies that grew out of the community call for racial justice following the murder of George Floyd, just blocks from the Lake Street Target store. “I joined Target in 2009 because I wanted to grow my career at a company that was heavily invested in the community. When I became responsible for the stores in the Minneapolis area in January of 2020, I found a real point of pride at the Lake Street store. We’ve operated there for more than 40 years and have become a part of the community, with many of our team members living within walking distance of the store,” he wrote in a message shared internally at Target. “When George Floyd was murdered nearby, I felt the same anger, despair and exhaustion that I know many of our Black team members and guests across the country also felt. As demonstrations for racial justice followed, I’ll admit I struggled to ground myself in Target’s purpose, especially as a Black man who knows the challenges people of color face in this country every day,” he said. “How do you bring joy to all families in a community that has not only long struggled with economic and racial disparities, but now has been torn apart? In the midst of more injustice, pain and suffering, how do you inspire and bring hope?” “When TARGET 5 I got a call from
Page 2 • November 23, 2020 - November 29, 2020 • Insight News
insightnews.com
Accelerating our commitment to affordable housing There’s a shortage of affordable housing in America, especially in communities of color. The impact of this health and humanitarian crisis has intensified the need for increased action. As part of our commitment to invest $1 billion over four years to advance racial equality and economic opportunity, Bank of America is accelerating our investment in development in neighborhoods of color — including right here in The Twin Cities. We’re working side by side with nonprofits and community leaders to help revitalize neighborhoods, expanding on work we’ve had underway for many years. My teammates and I remain committed to addressing The Twin Cities’ affordable housing gap and helping build the community in which we live and work.
Katie Simpson The Twin Cities Market President
Building together Here in The Twin Cities, we’re partnering with organizations that are expanding affordable housing options. They include: Aeon City of Lakes Community Land Trust Project for Pride in Living Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity
To learn more, please visit bankofamerica.com/community
Bank of America, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender
© 2020 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.
insightnews.com
Insight News • November 23, 2020 - November 29, 2020 • Page 3 WINNER: 2020 T YPOGRAPHY & DESIGN, 1ST PLACE, PHOTOGRAPHY (PORTRAIT & PERSONALIT Y), 1ST PLACE, WEBSITE, 3RD PLACE
Insight News November 23, 2020 - November 29, 2020
Vol. 47 No. 47• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
Lucas Johnson of The On Being Project named ADL and Aspen Institute 2021 Civil Society Fellow
Acooa Ellis Greater Twin Cities United Way
John Marshall Xcel Energy co-chairs
Acooa Ellis and John Marshall to co-chair Saint Paul’s Community-First Public Safety Commission Saint Paul Mayor Melvin Carter announced the launch of a Community-First Public Safety Commission, naming Acooa Ellis of Greater Twin Cities United Way and John Marshall of Xcel Energy co-chairs. The 40-member Commission was formed to reenvision emergency response in Saint Paul. The Commision will focus on alternative firstresponse options to priority-4 and priority-5 calls for service, and approaches for ongoing community involvement in the City’s Community-First Public Safety Plan, including considering the creation of a city-staffed office to drive and integrate this work. “Now more than ever, amid the many crises we face, re-envisioning emergency response is a critical step toward realizing safer outcomes,” said Mayor Melvin Carter. “This
Commission will help us expand our Community-First Public Safety Framework, and further chart a path forward for our community.” Ellis and Mitchell will meet with members over a five-month period in a process led by the Citizens League, providing recommendations to the Mayor and City Council in May 2021. Goals of those recommendations include approaches for community involvement in informing and evaluating the City’s community first public safety framework and partnerships via an on-going advisory council. “Engaging a broad array of voices in shaping our public policies ensures a well-informed assessment of community challenges and viable solutions—well into the future,” said Acooa
Ellis, Senior Vice President of Community Impact for the Greater Twin Cities United Way. “I’m honored to co-chair the Community-First Public Safety Commission and look forward to developing a set of recommendations that optimize City resources in service to all of Saint Paul’s residents The full list of Commission Members will be announced later this month. The Commission will include a broad array of voices and will prioritize engaging members who live and work in Saint Paul with the following structure: ● Intergovernmental Partners Up to 2 Members ● Education Up to 2 Members ● Youth Up to 6 Members ● Business Up to 3 Members
● Cultural and Other Affinity Groups Up to 7 Members ● Law Enforcement Up to 6 Members ● Advocacy Organizations Up to 3 Members ● Faith Communities Up to 3 Members ● At Large Members Up to 8 Members The Commission will convene twice per month starting in December and will establish subcommittees as needed. The project budget is $71,200, paid for through the City’s Innovation Fund. The project will be independent of the City of Saint Paul and the project will follow the Citizens League’s operating guidelines as stated in the organization’s Governing Document.
ADL (Anti-Defamation League) and the Aspen Institute announced the Class of 2020 and 2021 of the Civil Society Fellowship: A Partnership of ADL and the Aspen Institute. This Fellowship, part of the Aspen Global Leadership Network, aims to prepare and engage the next generation of community and civic leaders, activists and problem-solvers from across the political spectrum. Lucas Johnson, executive director of Civil Conversations and Social Healing for The On Being Project (Minneapolis, MN) has been named a Civil Society Fellow, Class of 2021. From 2014 until he joined the On Being Project in December, 2018, he served as General Secretary of IFOR’s global operation. Among the work he will draw on and extend as part of CCP, he incubated a Beloved Communities Project in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Belgium; and helped to create an Ethics of Reciprocity initiative with the United Nations. Lucas studied at Mercer University and Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. He was born in Germany in a military family, grew up in Georgia (U.S.),
Lucas Johnson and now resides between Amsterdam and the United States. The Civil Society Fellowship, launched in 2019, is tripling its capacity after seeing significant interest in the program, and a heightened need to bring the nation’s future leaders together from across the ideological spectrum to hone their leadership skills and build relationships. The two (2020, 2021) new classes include 49 Fellows, selected from a pool of approximately 200 nominees from across the country. The Fellowship is intended to ground Fellows, all between the ages of 25 and 45, with a foundation to work toward a more civil society and discourse. They join 20
JOHNSON 4
wikipedia
First Lady Jill Biden
wikipedia
Melania Trump
Melania Trump-MIA Biden and Harris must, articulate, FLOTUS & Jill Biden, elevate agenda for Black America FLOTUS-in-Waiting Culture and Education Editor
By Irma McClaurin, PhD Once again, Black Americans have saved a presidential candidate with our votes, which President-Elect Joe Biden publicly acknowledged. He could NOT have won without us. Yet, his newly released “priorities” say Nothing about racial healing, reparations, or eliminating racial injustice. Black people protesting in the streets “woke” America to the need for a change. The deaths of Black people at the hands of police revealed to the world the racially motivated injustices and galvanized people globally to protest in support of #BlackLivesMatter. There are now #NativeBlackLivesMatter #AfrolatinoLivesMatter and #BLM movements in Paris and other European countries as Black people and their allies lift up their voices and take to the streets. Hispanic voters in
Miami, and a few other states, overwhelmingly kicked Joe’s political ass and sided with Trump and the Republican Party. Despite this affront, Hispanic issues of immigration and DACA are on the priority list. No LGBTQ groups canvassed as hard as Black people or risked potential assaults from “proud boys” or armed white Trump supporters, but LGBTQ rights are on the Biden-Harris priority list. And this is not a racial Olympics. I am not saying these other issues are not important. I am simply asking where are the priorities on the list that specifically address the plight of Black Americans? And where is the support from all these other groups — Hispanics, LGBTQ, white feminists about the problems of racism in America? You know, deep down in your hearts, because of the Black American struggle, you are! When will all these groups acknowledge that their voices could not be heard without the struggles of Black people? We are the ones subjected to unpredictable and unspeakable police violence at unprecedented rates — in effect, modern/day lynching.
By Irma McClaurin, PhDCulture and Education Editor
wikiepedia
President elect Joe Biden We are the ones who risked arrests and imprisonment protesting in the streets this summer. We are the ones targeted by Executive Order 13950 and yet racial healing, eradicating racism and AntiBlackness, restoring the Civil Rights Act, and addressing Black American Reparations, as the government did for Japanese Americans, are NOT on this priority list. What’s up with that? Joe and Kamala, you have just moved Black American issues not only to the back of the bus, but thrown us under the bus. Never fear, though. We intend to rise up and hold
News
5 tips to support an addicted friend or loved one amidst pandemic-induced stress
PAGE 5
wikipedia
Vice President elect Kamala Harris you accountable. We intend to bring “good trouble” to your four years in office. We plan to be the proverbial spook who sat by the door and the quiet Black panther who can appear out of nowhere. We are watching. For now, we must stamp the priorities check you just delivered with “insufficient funds” for Black Americans. You will have to do better. Much better. Fix it! Update the priorities list and stop taking Black people for granted. We can still go back to the streets! And you can take
BIDEN-HARRIS 5
Nobody will miss her when she is gone as First Lady of the United States. And that’s because Melania Trump has been missing in action in her duties at the White House for the last four year. Yes, she occasionally puts in an obligatory appearance but seems disinterested when she is visible. First, Melania chose to reside in New York instead of DC. The reason was supposedly for the stability of her son with President Donald Trump. To downplay Melania’s invisibility, Ivanka Trump appeared to step in as de facto FLOTUS. The daughter appeared by her father’s side almost as if she were his wife. Ivanka was especially visible on the global platform, like the 2019 G20 Summit, with no real political background, but poised like a Melania stand-in Kewpie doll. And she took heat for that Kardashian-like publicity move (https://www.buzzfeednews. com/article/stephaniemcneal/
ivanka-trump-g20-viral-video ). If the country has paid attention to any women of significance in Trump’s life, especially since he became President of the United States, it has been to his daughter and not his wife. So, when the dust settles from the voting recount, it will most likely be Ivanka who will make a fuss about handing over the FLOTUS reins to Jill Biden. It will be Ivanka, not Melania, who will miss being in the Presidential limelight. Have no doubt, Ivanka may have entered the White House scene devoid of any real political skills or knowledge about anything except fashion. But now, after four years of being in the White House, she is now a serious player, compliments of President Daddy dearest. If Ivanka is anything like her father, she will be running for office or showing up on T.V. show “The View” as the other conservative voice next to the late John McCain’s daughter. Also don’t expect
FLOTUS 4
I2H
New Coronavirus Vaccine Requires ‘Trust’ of African American Community
PAGE 6
Page 4 • November 23, 2020 - November 29, 2020 • Insight News
insightnews.com
Comcast Launching More Than 20 WiFi-Connected “Lift Zones” in Twin Cities As part of its ongoing commitment to help connect lowincome families to the internet so they can fully participate in educational opportunities and the digital economy, Comcast has announced plans to equip more than 20 different locations in the Twin Cities with WiFiconnected “Lift Zones” before the end of 2020. Working with its network of nonprofit partners, Comcast is providing robust WiFi hotspots in safe spaces designed to help students get online, participate in distance learning and do their homework. This initiative provides free connectivity inside partner community centers for the next three years. Twin Cities community organizations that have established Lift Zones in their respective facilities include: Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities locations
Al Lenzmeier West Side, St. Paul East Side, St. Paul Jerry Gamble Center, Minneapolis Mount Airy, St. Paul
Neighborhood House,
Southside Village, South Minneapolis Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, St. Paul Keystone Community Services, St. Paul
St. Paul Perspectives Family Center, St. Louis Park Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, Minneapolis
Pillsbury United Communities, Brian Coyle Center, Minneapolis The Real Minneapolis, Allina Commons, Minneapolis The Sanneh
Foundation, Conway Community Center, St. Paul Vietnamese Social Services, St. Paul Several more Twin Cities Lift Zone partners are currently under consideration, including YMCA of the North and Division of Indian Work in partnership with the Phillips Indian Educators of Metropolitan Urban Indian Directors group, with the goal to have all locations installed by early 2021. In addition, the company is providing free access to all outdoor WiFi hotspots until the end of 2020, plus hundreds of hours of digital skills content to help families and site coordinators navigate online learning. Lift Zone sites complement Comcast’s Internet Essentials program, which has helped connect more than 8 million low-income people to the Internet at home, including more than 172,000 Minnesotans.
With Contributions from Partners, $1M Replenishment Affirms Commitment to Black, Asian American and Latinx Small Businesses
Funding Op: Hennessy Announces Second Phase of Unfinished Business Funding Hennessy announces additional $1M investment in Unfinished Business, an initiative introduced in June 2020 to help Black, Asian and Latinx owned small businesses with the financial and educational resources to power through challenges of COVID-19. Unfinished Business was established as a long-term small business program in response to the pandemic, with a goal of bolstering an equitable recovery for those of culturally diverse backgrounds. Hennessy’s second phase of funding continues this mission, with applications opening at UnfinishedBusiness.US starting Tuesday, November 17th. “Unfinished Business reflects our commitment and allyship to polycultural communities nationwide,” said Giles Woodyer, senior vice president, Hennessy US. “Response to the program has been tremendous and we are honored to continue supporting the resiliency of these pillars of community, during the converging health, social and economic crises, and beyond.” Earlier this year, Hennessy’s first round of grant funding was met with overwhelming response and the initial contribution of more than $3 million was distributed
to over 1,250 small businesses hit hardest by recent economic upheaval. Most grant recipients stated that the funding was used to help pay for operating expenses to keep businesses running, payroll, technology upgrades, PPE, utilities and more. Nearly eight months into the Covid-19 pandemic, small businesses nationwide remain in danger of closing for good if they do not receive financial assistance, underscoring the urgent need for additional capital. Partners Help Drive Replenishment Hennessy remains committed to serving these communities well into the future and brand partners are stepping in to support. To sustain momentum, a coordinated effort among partners and ambassadors – including hip-hop legend Nas – has helped deliver on the initiative’s promise to replenish the small business fund. “Putting money back into the community is important especially during these times to help small businesses continue to survive,” said hip-hop legend Nas. “Pushing forward is hard to do without resources like Unfinished Business, which is why I’m proud to contribute where I can to ensure small
INSIGHT NEWS
businesses continue to flourish.” Built for Community, By Community Unfinished Business partners One Hundred Black Men, the Asian American Business Development Center, and the Hispanic Federation remain at the forefront of grant and resource distribution at the community-level. In addition to capital, these organizations also help to provide businesses with access to information, educational content, and other assets to safeguard business continuity. “We appreciate Hennessy’s generosity and understanding that these momand-pop businesses are at the
INTERNET ESSENTIALS FROM COMCAST SM
995
$
www.violadavis.net
“There are 30 million Gabriella Wiggins Americans with type 2 diabetes and 84 million with prediabetes. There are 324 million people in this country, so that’s half the population right there,” said Viola Davis who joined forces with the pharmaceutical company Merck to narrate “A Touch of Sugar,” which also depicts how the disease affects all communities.
1
2
2
per month + tax
LEARN MORE. DO MORE. SHARE MORE.
NO CONTRACT NO CREDIT CHECK NO INSTALLATION FEE IN-HOME WiFi INCLUDED ACCESS TO 40 1-HOUR SESSIONS OF XFINITY WIFI HOTSPOTS OUTSIDE THE HOME EVERY 30 A DYS
Internet Essentials gives you access to affordable, high-speed Internet. You may qualify if you have at least one child who is eligible for the National School Lunch Program or receive HUD housing assistance.
A P P LY N OW
InternetEssentials.com 1-855-8-INTERNET
Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. Limited to Internet Essentials service for new residential customers meeting certain eligibility criteria. Advertised price applies to a single outlet. Actual speeds may vary and are not guaranteed. After initial participation in the Internet Essentialsogram, pr if a customer is determined to be no longer eligible for theogram pr and elects a different XFINITY Internet service, regular rates will apply to the selected Internet service. Subject to Internet Essentialsogram pr terms and conditions. WiFi Hotspots:Available in select locations. Requires compatible WiFi-enabled laptop or mobile device. Limited to forty 60-minute sessions per 30-day period per person/ account. If session is terminated before 60 mins. remainin time expires. Unused time does not carry v oer to subsequent sessions or 30day periods. Not responsible for lost data resulting from terminated Internet session or any other reason. A maximum of up to 10 devices may be registered to a single XFINITY WiFi On Demand account. May not be combined with other offers. Call 1-855-846-83 76 for restrictions and complete details, or visit InternetEssentials. com. © 2018 Comcast. All rightseserved. r
Omar From 3
Commentary by By StatePoint Hazel Josh Cobb Tricethe Edney Special from Ricki Fairley By Pam Kragen By Kevin Punsky Dr. LaVonne Moore Twin Cities Association Minnesota Department The Cincinnati Herald Reprinted courtesy ofon the Originally published Mayo Clinic of Black Journalists/ Health BlacksInTechnology.net San Diego Union-Tribune Insight News Intern March 9, 2017 By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Correspondent @ StacyBrownMedia
heart of our communities,” said AABDC President, John Wang. “We hope this is the start of more recognition among global corporations that Asian American small businesses must be supported to fully address inequalities within our society.” “During the current health, economic and civil rights crises in our country, we are proud to partner with Hennessy to provide ongoing financial relief to small Black businesses throughout the nation,” said Michael J. Garner, Chairman, Corporate Board, One Hundred Black Men of New York City. “Earlier this year, we provided grants to businesses in 370+ U.S. cities, towns and villages, across 36 states. We are happy
to support this vision during such turbulent times and even more thrilled to distribute a second round of grants before the holidays.” “Latino-owned businesses are the backbone of our community – our bodegas, retails shops and other establishments are the fabric of our neighborhoods. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a disproportionate impact on our community, our small businesses are even more vulnerable,” said Frankie Miranda, President of Hispanic Federation. “Thanks to Hennessy, we were able to provide crucial grants to 200+ small businesses and gave them an opportunity to keep their
doors open and continue to serve their neighborhoods. But our work is far from over.” Hennessy has also pledged an additional $700,000 to Another Round, Another Rally’s Relief Fund for People of Color, a program providing $500 grants to diverse bartenders and hospitality workers. According to the trade body, BIPOC communities are largely responsible for the creation of the U.S. hospitality industry and are the primary force behind keeping it operational. Eligible applicants may learn more by visiting anotherroundanotherrally.org. To learn more about Hennessy’s Unfinished Business grant criteria or access educational resources, please visit UnfinishedBusiness.US
five weeks over the course of three years in structured retreat in the U.S. and abroad – exploring their leadership, core values and visions for a more free, just and equitable society, as well as their desired legacies. Each Fellow will launch a leadership venture tackling a societal problem of their choosing that will stretch them and make a positive impact
on their communities, their country and the world. In the aftermath of the Presidential election, the Civil Society Fellows are hosting a Town Hall on Friday, November 20th at 12pm EST to engage in a national conversation about the state of the United States. Register here https:// www.aspeninstitute.org/events/
towards-a-more-civil-societyconversations-across-americaa-town-hall-from-the-civilsociety-fellowship/ The Fellowship is a partnership of ADL and the Aspen Institute. The Fellowship is now accepting nominations for future Fellows at civilsocietyfellowship.org.
But she does come with some baggage—hell hath no fury like an ex-husband scorned. Unfortunately, Jill and Joe will probably spend the first six months in office combatting accusations from her exhusband that she had an affair with Joe right after his wife and daughter died, and that the story of their meeting ona blind date is fake. Who cares? Joe married her. How is this revelation relevant now when she was Vice-Presidential spouse for eight years? Why didn’t ex-hubby disclose back then? After having had a President in the White House who admits to pu**y-grabbing; a Supreme Court Judge accused of sexual assault, and a twiceelected former President who had oral sex performed on him in the Oval Office, who cares what Jill and Joe did or didn’t do? Her marriage could not have been all that, if supporting Joe grieve his loss to love. Good for them both. Joe found love again and Jill escaped a
declining marriage! Compared to what men in the political landscape have been allowed to get away with, Jill Biden’s indiscretion— even if true—is definitely minor league. The major challenge facing Jill is how to live up to the quality standard set by former FLOTUS Michelle Obama—almost impossible to achieve. She also must overcome the vapidness of Melania Trump’s MIA First Lady failure. Jill with have to manage her ex-husband’s accusations with grace. Thiugh anyone can see that he seems purely motivated by “tell all” financial prospects, not unlike the behavior of Meghan Markle’s father and sister. Perhaps Jill can persuade Joe to carve out an ambassador role for Meghan and Prince Harry, and restore a bit of the couple’s global charm. It might chagrin the British Royal family, but it would give Jill a little bit of glam and demonstrate a
chutzpah on her part . Jill Biden, FLOTUSin-waiting, is gonna need all the support she can get. There is no question that Trump, once dethroned, will hurl insults at her. She and step-son Bo Biden are President-Elect Biden’s Achilles heel. If Jill is as smart as everyone claims, she will keep Sister Michelle Obama on speed dial. She will watch and maybe take a few notes from Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris’ playbook. Harris can smile sweetly yet rumble with the best of them—including Jill’s President-Elect husband. She needed not bother with Hillary’s FLOTUS style; not what’s needed. At this moment, Jill and Joe, there are racial wounds and democratic trauma to manage: to paraphrase the words of Black poet, the late Michael Harper (“America needs a killing”), America needs a healing. America needs a healing. The survivors will be human.
www.insightnews.com
Johnson From 3 Insight News is published weekly, every Monday by McFarlane Media Interests. Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Associate Editor Culture & Education Dr. Irma McClaurin Associate Editor Afrodescendientes Carmen Robles Associate Editor Nigeria & West Africa Chief Folarin Ero-Phillips Columnist Brenda Lyle-Gray Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Content & Production Coordinator Sunny Thongthi Yang Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Intern Kelvin Kuria
Contributing Writers Maya Beecham Nadvia Davis Fred Easter Abeni Hill Inell Rosario Latisha Townsend Artika Tyner Toki Wright Photography V. Rivera Garcia Uchechukwu Iroegbu Rebecca Rabb Artist Donald Walker Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis., MN 55411 Ph.: (612) 588-1313 Fax: (612) 588-2031 Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC), Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis,
inaugural Fellows in the Civil Society Fellowship and the 3,000+ Fellows in the Aspen Global Leadership Network. Johnson will spend
FLOTUS From 3 Melania to follow in the FLOTUS shoes of former First Lady Michelle Obama with a book and speaking tours. She just doesn’t have the charisma or brain power of her Black predecessor despite gaining her citizenship through a Genius visa. The last four years have proven that Melania’s genius credentials are nonexistent, which makes her immigrant visa status (and those of her parents) highly suspect. Melania may have been granted a unique immigrant visa, but she sure as hell didn’t earn it. As for Jill Biden, it’s doubtful that she will be able to replicate the style, grace, and fashion sense of a Black Michelle Obama. Like her President-Elect husband, Jill Biden is a nice, white lady— nothing special or exciting about that.
insightnews.com
Insight News • November 23, 2020 - November 29, 2020 • Page 5
Brigadier General Carol Eggert (ret.) joined Veterans Day tribute of war hero Ray Robinson One of America’s oldest living WWII combat veterans, Buffalo Soldier, Ray Robinson, 100, joined Comcast’s senior vicepresident for military and veteran affairs, retired Army General Carol Eggert for a special Veterans Day edition of “Conversations with Al McFarlane.” A favorite guest, Ray Robinson joined the Army in August 1940. He joined the allBlack 92nd Infantry Division, known as the Buffalo Soldiers. The nickname was coined in the late 1800s by Indian tribes who compared the curly hair of Black soldiers to the coats of bison. Robinson became a firearms trainer, teaching a growing flood of young Black recruits at bases in North Carolina, Louisiana and Virginia. In 1942,
Robinson’s division boarded the S.S. Columbia, a French luxury liner, bound for Italy. He remembers a constant roar of explosions as the ship pulled into port at Livorno. Robinson earned three Bronze Stars in a long series of major battles in Italy, from Rome to the Po Valley to the North Apennines. Eggert is Senior Vice President of Military and Veteran Affairs at Comcast NBCUniversal. In this role, she leads a team that works collaboratively across Comcast NBCUniversal to provide strategic leadership to all aspects of programs and outreach engaging the military and veteran community, including recruiting, hiring and building talent at all levels of the
organization. Eggert brings more than 30 years of military and civilian experience to Comcast. In her civilian role, she assisted various organizations in the private, government and non-profit sectors with their initiatives in knowledge management, strategic planning and project management. During her military career, she served in a variety of command and staff positions and completed numerous overseas deployments, including a 15month combat tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as Chief of the Women’s Initiatives Division and Senior Liaison to the U.S. Embassy, Baghdad, where she conducted a full-scale analysis of women’s initiatives and developed a strategic plan
for the economic and political empowerment of Iraqi women under the U.S. Secretary of State. Military veteran Al McFarlane engaged Robinson and Eggert in a conversation about the roles of women and African Americans in the military and discussed current events including recentl elections. Other guests included “Conversation with Al McFarlane” regular Veteran co-hosts, Col. David Rabb (ret.) and Sergeant David Patterson (ret.), who served with Col Rabb in Afghanistan. Listeners/viewers can access the show from the Facebook/Insight News page.
Ret. Army General Carol Eggert, Vice President for Military and Veteran Affairs, Comcast and and Ray Robinson, 100, one of the oldest living Buffalo Soldiers.
5 tips to support an addicted friend or loved one amidst pandemic-induced stress Brandpoint (BPT) (BPT) - When struggling with addiction, whether it’s alcohol, opioids or prescription drugs, stress is a powerful trigger to start using again. Naturally, the onset and spread of COVID-19 has a ripple effect on just about every area of daily lives, and as a result, it’s hard to find someone who’s not shouldering extra stress and anxiety. Those who have not been laid off or furloughed may feel uncertain about their employment. The need for social distancing limits opportunities to connect in person with friends and loved ones. Parents may be juggling work-from-home duties while managing their child’s distance learning. So if you have a friend or loved one who is struggling with addiction, it’s easy to see how the pandemic is a multiplier for their stress. One of the results of all this extra stress is that in general, more people are turning to substances to cope. Selfreported alcohol consumption is up 14%, according to a report published by the Journal of the American Medical Association. Tragically, more than 40 states reported increases in opioidrelated deaths since the start of the pandemic, according to the American Medical Association.
“Family and friends seldom know where to start when someone they love begins to struggle with addiction,” says Brook McKenzie, Director of Clinical Outreach at New Method Wellness. “Seeking council directly from an addiction expert can often lead to a new understanding of how to move the healing process forward productively and positively. My most urgent tip to anyone caught in the crosshairs of addiction is to do something now; don’t wait.” As a concerned friend or family member, use the following as a guide to help
you support a loved one who is struggling to manage their addiction during the pandemic. Make them feel less alone: Any reminder that you are thinking about them and that you care about their well-being can be a powerful reminder to your loved one that they matter. Something as simple as a check-in text, a funny card in the mail or an old-fashioned phone call can help someone remember what’s going well in their lives, even if we’re all spending more time physically apart. Keep lines of communication open and unconditional.
assumptions.
all the difference.
Be consistent: Addiction can create a lot of emotional ups and downs, not only for the person that is addicted but also for loved ones. Confusion, anger, hurt feelings and fear are all common responses to our experience of loving someone with addiction. It is very important that we make a resolute determination to practice a consistent emotional position when engaging our addicted loved one. This helps mitigate the risks of any highly emotional exchanges that typically only lead to more misunderstanding and regret. Our addicted loved one needs a stable, consistent personality to engage with. Determine your course and remain consistent.
Reach out and get help: Sometimes, it helps to pull in outside resources to help your loved one. One step you can take is to reach out to a treatment center. But do your research first! Non-corporate, privatelyowned treatment programs are heavily touted as the favored option for initial inquiries. These are generally very intimate, well-staffed programs that focus on quality and excellence. Does the program hold major, national endorsements? Do they belong to a national registry of accredited institutions? Are the staff biographies and photos prominently displayed on their website? Do they offer facility and personnel videos that offer a sense of who they are and what they offer? Need help supporting a loved one through recovery, especially during the pandemic? Now is the time to reach out to New Method Wellness. Recommended by Dr. Phil, New Method Wellness is the nation’s most highly accredited dual diagnosis addiction treatment program. Featuring a 3-to1 staff-to-client ratio, New Method Wellness pairs every client with two therapists from our multidisciplinary team of licensed clinicians and addiction professionals. To learn more, visit the website and fill out the contact form today.
Practice patience: Remember, no one ever intended to struggle with addiction. And overcoming it will likely be the toughest challenge your loved one will face in life. Any expert will tell you that quitting cold turkey — and sticking to it without a single relapse — is the exception, not the rule. Recovery takes time and practice; overcoming addiction is so much tougher than it sounds. While the disappointments and frustrations on your part are 100% legitimate, always remember to share your feelings humbly, without shaming or making
Educate yourself about the addiction: Avail yourself of the many resources out there that can help you understand just what your loved one is struggling with. Attending Al-Anon, Families Anonymous, reading the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous, or articles with the latest studies are all great places to start. Developing empathy without enabling is an effective way to show support and education is a good path to help get there. The reality is most people suffering from addiction do not know they are grappling with a chronic medical illness. Your willingness to become informed will very likely make
local access to essential food, medicine and supplies is critical—which is why … this will be one of the fastest rebuilds of a Target store ever.” Williams said Target partnered with Lake Street nonprofits such as the YWCA throughout the summer to provide essential food and supplies to those in need. Target accelerated $1 million in grants for small business recovery and rebuilding through the Target Foundation, supported organizations such as African Economic Development Solutions, Latino Economic Development Center, Neighborhood Development Center and Lake Street Council. The company also launched a commitment to 10,000 hours of
pro-bono consulting services for Black-, Indigenous- and peopleof-color-owned businesses in the Twin Cities to help with their rebuilding efforts. Additionally, local team members volunteered hundreds of hours to help with clean-up and community support in the area, Williams said. “I know we have opportunities to drive lasting change, and I have hope,” he said. “I feel our purpose in action.” “Our longer-term commitment is to create a space where the Lake Street community sees itself reflected—from the artwork on the walls to the products on our shelves. We’ll keep listening to you to make sure we get there,” he said. “I know we
Target From 1 our CEO, Brian Cornell, I knew the answer. He asked, ‘What do you need from me?’ I told him: We need to reopen our Lake Street store as soon as we possibly can.” “We want the Lake Street community to view this store as a part of itself, not just a place to shop. So we’re listening to the voices of the community and applying what we’re learning, and will continue to do so,” Williams said. “We know that
Biden-Harris From 3 that to the bank! © 2020 Irma McClaurin Used with author’s permission;
previously published in Medium.com, Nov 14, 2020 Irma McClaurin (http:// irmamcclaurin.com) is the Culture and Education Editor and for Insight News; she is also a free-lance columnist, past president of Shaw University, former UMN Associate VP and founding executive director of UROC, and a past Program
haven’t even begun to scratch the surface of the impact we can have. I’m excited to be a part of that impact, and honored to be here on the front lines with you.” Fast facts from Target’s website Target is a general merchandise retailer with stores in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. 75% of the U.S. population lives within 10 miles of a Target store. locations Target employs over 350,000 team members Target’s tagline “Expect More. Pay Less.” Has been in use since 1994! Target’s CEO since August 2014 is Brian Cornell. The Target Corporation also owns Shipt, Roundel, Grand Junction and DermStore.
Officer at the Ford Foundation. In 2015, she was named “Best in the Nation Columnist” by the Black Press of America. Forthcoming is a collection of her writings in JUSTSPEAK: Reflections on Race, Culture, and Politics in America. Contact: info@irmamcclaurin. com
Page 6 • November 23, 2020 - November 29, 2020 • Insight News
insightnews.com
Insight 2 Health
New Coronavirus Vaccine Requires ‘Trust’ of African American Community By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia News that Pfizer and BioNTech’s announcement that their coronavirus vaccine was more than 90 percent effective in preventing COVID-19 among those without previous infection arrives as the United States continues to realize recordbreaking new cases. For the first time on Thursday, November 12, the country surpassed 150,000 new coronavirus cases in a single day. The total number of cases soared past 10.5 million, according to Johns Hopkins University. Both California and Texas have recorded more than 1 million total cases, while states like Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey have seen significant rises in COVID infections. The most recent available statistics show that the District of Columbia has more than 18,500 total positive cases and 657 deaths. Washington, DC health officials have administered nearly 572,000 COVID tests to roughly 272,000 residents. More than 242,000 people have died in the United States since the declaration of the outbreak of the pandemic in March. Health officials have expressed that the new vaccine offers real hope for the future. “It is a great day for science and humanity. The first set of results from our Phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trial provides the initial evidence of our vaccine’s ability to prevent COVID-19,” Dr. Albert Bourla,
iStockphoto / NNPA
Pfizer’s vaccine is the first in the United States to generate late-stage data. Pfizer Chairman and CEO, offered in a news release. “We are reaching this critical milestone in our vaccine development program at a time when the world needs it most, with infection rates setting new records, hospitals nearing over-capacity, and economies struggling to reopen,” Dr. Bourla remarked. He continued: “We are a significant step closer to providing people around the world with a muchneeded breakthrough to help bring an end to this global health crisis. We look forward to sharing additional efficacy and safety data generated from thousands of participants in the
coming weeks.” Pfizer has maintained a strategic partnership with the National Newspaper Publishers Association, offering insight on various rare diseases like sickle cell that disproportionately affect the African American community. Dr. Kevin Williams, the Chief Medical Officer for Pfizer’s Rare Disease unit, periodically writes a column in the Black Press to help keep the African American community informed. According to information posted on the CDC’s website, clinical development is a three-phase process. During Phase I, small
groups of people receive the trial vaccine. In Phase II, the clinical study is expanded, and vaccine is given to people who have characteristics (such as age and physical health) similar to those for whom the new vaccine is intended. In Phase III, the vaccine is given to thousands of people and tested for efficacy and safety. Many vaccines undergo Phase IV formal, ongoing studies after the vaccine is approved and licensed. Pfizer’s vaccine is the first in the United States to generate late-stage data. An analysis of
individuals that received two injections of the vaccine, spaced three weeks apart, revealed more than 90 percent fewer cases of symptomatic COVID-19 when compared to those who received the placebo. The results are significant because health and science experts have stated that they expected a vaccine to yield an effective rate of no more than 70 percent. In spite of this good news, many in the African American community continue to take a wait-and-see approach. “Somehow, scientific, education and community leaders must reassure a skeptical community of color that the
vaccine will help and protect them,” said Gina Harper. She created an urban garden in New York after growing up on a farm in Oklahoma. “Perhaps the best way would be to prove the point by exemplifying members of the Black community who have taken the vaccine and remained healthy,” Harper remarked. The Pfizer vaccine clinical trial “went out of its way in their recruitment and enlarged their initial population of 30,000 to almost 44,000 to recruit more people of color,” stated Dale Yuzuki, a biotech executive and author of “COVID-19: From Chaos to Cure. The Biology Behind the Fight Against the Novel Coronavirus.” “It is certainly a focus within the National Institutes of Health, where they are sensitized to the acute needs of minority populations and their justified suspicion of government-sponsored public health programs.” Dr. James E.K. Hildreth, one of the world’s foremost immunologists and president and CEO of Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn., is a recent appointee to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s commission that will ultimately approve the Pfizer vaccine and any others. Hildreth, an African American, insists that any vaccine must have the confidence of Black people. “I’ve made the decision that I’m going to participate in one of the vaccine trials. The trust issue cannot be overstated,” Dr. Hildreth said. “We have to have more trusted messengers and more trusted opinion leaders to make this work.”
Help stop the spread of COVID-19 – get tested.
Testing is encouraged and available to everyone, regardless of symptoms. Getting tested is critical to stopping the spread of COVID-19 and will help to prevent exposing your loved ones to the virus. Find free testing events at Minneapolismn.gov.
For reasonable accommodations or alternative formats please call 311 at 612-673-3000. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can use a relay service to call 311 at 612-673-3000. TTY users can call 612-263-6850. Para asistencia 612-673-2700, Yog xav tau kev pab, hu 612-673-2800, Hadii aad Caawimaad u baahantahay 612-673-3500.
insightnews.com
It
has been said that life has treated me harshly and sometimes I have complained in my heart because many pleasures of human experience have been withheld from me. If much has been denied me, much, very much, has been given me. Helen Keller (The Miracle Worker) I’ll never forget standing on the corner of Sunset and Vine in L.A. twenty-seven years ago with Barbara, one of the first black female record producers (Black Orchid) in the country. Not only was she stunning, but she was so sharp intellectually; self-taughtentertainment-industry savvy; treated her staff as equals, family, and a total team; studied African American history (learning something new about our phenomenal ancestry every day); and never hesitated in her conversations to give God the glory. “You know, Brenda . . . when I leave this side of the dirt, I’m glad I lived with a clue . . . the ultimate weapon available for us all! It’s simply about never taking anything for granted and always giving thanks for what we have, and for the miracles too! I’ve had plenty . . . ya’ know, the kind of blessings that take your breath away when you think it’s all over and done . . . nail in the coffin! Gratitude for the beauty of the world and life itself . . . even for the bad stuff . . . resulted in lessons making me even more thankful. That’s it!!” My youngest daughter was 12 at the time. Neither of us forgot the wisdom Barbara imparted that day. Probably in the NOW . . . more than any other time in most of our lives . . . our hearts and souls are laboring extra shifts, fighting to keep the ‘darkness’ from attacking our being and of those we love. And like so many, we have tired of the uncertainty, realizing all too well that faith and fear cannot stand side by side in the same room. As I write this article on November 6th when no decision of the presidency has been declared, I pace - I cry -
Insight News • November 23, 2020 - November 29, 2020 • Page 7
The Power Within and yes, I am in panic mode . . . so much concern for people of color . . . especially for our front line medical and voting poll
By Brenda Lyle-Gray Columnist workers; our children; parents; and educators. I think my tears are more about the insane mentality of a voting citizenship who failed to remember the atrocities of the past 4 years (personally affecting their ethnicities), and what is at stake . . . if!!? I’m praying as I finish my final edit that we might have a victory. One could feel the late Congressman John Robert Lewis and Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s spirits with us. We did it! It’s a good day! Compassionate, wise thinking Americans voted their hearts and saved democracy! A prediction came out today. COVID19 cases (possibly along with the flu influenza) could triple by January. My children live in L.A. where it was rumored the National Guard had just arrived. Eric Trump has just called for war. Every child does not have an adult to sit beside them to help to navigate on-line learning . . . not if the student’s parents want to keep a roof over their family’s heads and food on the table. Sadly, children of color, in most cases, are getting further and further behind and may not be prepared to compete in the global marketplace. So much support is needed for our teachers who have families and responsibilities in the ‘new normal’, as well. Educators should be so commended, and those of us who can should want to step up and help them once it is safe to do so. I have been melancholy about the upcoming Thanksgiving (virtual) holiday. So many wonderful childhood memories of fighting over the
black olives, and not realizing there was another pan of Mama’s steaming, hot-buttered, homemade rolls on their way to the dinner table. Those were years of frolicking fun . . . love, safety, intellectual enrichment and inspiration by great educators and pioneers of the Civil Rights Movement . . . while being guided by “The Green Book” if our parents (like mine) decided to travel across the country by car. It was the time when my favorite extended family members (who died so young) broke bread together, surrounded in so much happiness and “thanksgiving”. This year, it is indeed imperative not to be selfish and jeopardize the health and wellbeing of those we care about . . . those who could leave the gathering and carry the virus to others. BUT, what we can do is to remember that Thanksgiving is a special day set aside to recognize our blessings . . . those we understand and those that might not be apparent until later down the road. We can certainly make Thanksgiving a little more meaningful even if it’s looking at the screen of our computers by Zoom. One of my childhood friend’s family just finished Part
I of a family reunion of over 40 family members, some not knowing others existed. This was so important for the future generations of their lineage and sounded like so much fun. A safe family gathering as they begin to plan for Part II after the holidays. Allow me to share a few of my simple gratitude clues . . . the kind of special gifts having no dollar sign attached, but so invaluable, especially in the “Age of Corona” and increasing racial divide. • Every day we are given should be a day of thanksgiving . . . finding joy in gratitude . . . appreciation amid uncertainty . . . tapping into that power within. And if it is ‘truly true’, then I believe there will come a time where the divided country will know how close we came to ‘hell on earth’. (I hear tell we might have a ‘victory’!!) 9:37 A.M. – 11/07/2020 Thank you, God!! • The grateful mind is always an open mind . . . amenable to the new . . . to change . . . always finding strength when it hurts . . . when we’re in so much pain we can hardly breathe. But somehow, we find hope!
This home belongs to we. TCF Bank believes in helping first-time homebuyers thrive through the power of homeownership. Our home loan professionals are here to help you find the right mortgage for you. Let us help you open the door to your first home. Because when more people own homes, their whole community thrives. What’s in it for we. Learn more at TCFBank.com/WelcomeHome All loans subject to approval and program guidelines. ©2020 TCF National Bank. Member FDIC
• The true attitude of mind is to be content with things as they are now . . . while simultaneously reaching out constantly for greater things . . . for circumstances to improve . . . to emanate an ambiance of superiority to all that is imperfect. • Gratitude is giving thanks every time we can rev up our senses and know we have been so blessed to see, smell, and listen to the wonders of our even more imperfect world today. It encompasses all that we are and ask for . . . the highest and best we can envision and aspire to be. • Gratitude is an expression within our lives and with others blossoming into the realization that we are whole and complete within ourselves – one of Oprah Winfrey’s many mantras – seek to be whole . . . not perfect. • Gratitude enriches and deepens the colorful fabric of our lives by allowing us to see more. It is impossible to feel worry, anger, depression, or a negative emotion of any kind in the presence of thankfulness. In the face of adversity and distress, practicing gratitude requires us to give up our own ideas about what we think is happening to
us. As is often said, “life isn’t about surviving the storm. It’s about learning how to dance in the rain.” Resource: “Ba’al Perazim: The Breakthrough by Jetta Dya Jones The majority of those who have earned the accolades have been great thinkers throughout their lives. They were awestruck by the plethora of fascinating phenomena of the universe that made them feel a welcomed serenity. They were so grateful for it all. So am I. It is believed if we are brave enough to seek what appears to be impossible, it is a place where fear meets faith and in our sometime victories, we can see the face of God. When we live with grateful hearts, fear cannot enter, guilt is dissolved, and there is only love and contentment. As long as giving “thanks” is possible and acted upon, joy will most certainly follow. Dark clouds lighten their load of much needed moisture for the once parched earth. Not long afterward, they rise above the mountain peaks. I stand in the crisp, cold temperatures of the morning, and as always, in awe and in thanksgiving. My heart and spirit have been broken and my future uncertain, but I find a piece of pleasantness watching the chipmunks appear and disappear into the holes they have dug through the icy wetness of the forest grounds. At first, I thought I was seeing things until I zoomed in on a larger animal with my camera lens. Who would have thought it? A bear cub roaming the woods not far from town and the patio door of the guest house where I was staying. I surmised it was in search of its mother. “For your grace, Lord, I am truly grateful. I thank you, God, for this most amazing day; for the leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything which is natural which is infinite which is yes. e e cummings
Page 8 • November 23, 2020 - November 29, 2020 • Insight News
insightnews.com
Barack Obama’s presidential memoir “A Promised Land” debuts today The presidential memoirs of Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States, will be published in two volumes. The first volume, titled “A Promised Land”, is scheduled for global release on Tuesday, November 17, 2020, and will be issued simultaneously in 25 languages. “A Promised Land” will be published in the United States and Canada in hardcover and digital formats by Crown, an imprint of the Random House Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House. An unabridged audio edition of the book, read by the author, will be simultaneously released in digital and physical formats by Penguin Random House Audio. A Spanish language edition will also be available, published as “Una Tierra Prometida”. A
publication date for the second, and concluding, volume of the memoirs has not yet been set and will be announced at a later date. Details about President Obama’s book tour will be announced later this fall. Said President Obama, “There’s no feeling like finishing a book, and I’m proud of this one. I’ve spent the last few years reflecting on my presidency, and in ‘A Promised Land’ I’ve tried to provide an honest accounting of my presidential campaign and my time in office: the key events and people who shaped it; my take on what I got right and the mistakes I made; and the political, economic, and cultural forces that my team and I had to confront then—and that as a nation we are grappling with still. In the book, I’ve also tried to give readers a sense
Barack Obama’s, “A Promised Land” book. of the personal journey that Michelle and I went through during those years, with all the
incredible highs and lows. And finally, at a time when America is going through such enormous
upheaval, the book offers some of my broader thoughts on how
we can heal the divisions in our country going forward and make our democracy work for everybody—a task that won’t depend on any single president, but on all of us as engaged citizens. Along with being a fun and informative read, I hope more than anything that the book inspires young people across the country—and around the globe—to take up the baton, lift up their voices, and play their part in remaking the world for the better.” A recorded version of the preface, in Obama’s own voice, is available courtesy of The Atlantic. All 768 pages of A Promised Land are available in hardback, paperback, audio and e-reader versions at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other booksellers.
wikipedia
Frederick Douglass
wikipedia
Barack Obama
Why so hard on Barack Obama? 133 years ago, Frederick Douglass provided the explanation for why people are so hard on President Obama. The quote below is worth remembering next time we are invited to pile on. Though the colored man is no longer subject to barter and sale, he is surrounded by an adverse settlement which fetters all his movements. In his downward course he meets with no resistance, but his course
By Titilayo Bediako
upward is resented and resisted at every step of his progress. If he comes in ignorance, rags and wretchedness he conforms to the popular belief of his character, and in that character he is welcome; but if he shall come as a gentleman, a scholar and a statesman, he is hailed as a contradiction to the national faith concerning his race, and his coming is resented as impudence. In one case he may
provoke contempt and derision, but in the other he is an affront to pride and provokes malice.” Frederick Douglass September 25 1883 PS: The current occupant of the white house had never heard of Mr. Douglass, and worse, didn’t know he had been dead for over a hundred years, and thought he still lived in VA. IMR