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October 12, 2020 - October 18, 2020
Vol. 47 No. 41• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY BY IRMA MCCLAURIN, PHD, EDITOR BRENDA LYLE-GRAY, COLUMNIST DOUGLAS R. EWART, ARTIST
Art by Seitu Jones
INSIDE: IRMA MCCLAURIN, PHD, CULTURE & EDUCATION EDITOR BECOMING NOTORIUS AK: KLOBUCHAR’S STRONG CHALLENGE TO TED CRUZ, TRUMP: THE GREAT HOPE OF WHITE AMERICA AND THE ASSAULT ON ANTI-RACISM & DEMOCRACY BRENDA LYLE-GRAY, COLUMNIST AND AUTHOR CHARCOAL CHILD SERIES (PT.1) - CHILDREN & RACE AND UNHOLY OPPRESSION SERIES (PT. 1) DOUGLAS R. EWART, ARTIST, INVENTOR, EDUCATOR NOT SORRY FOR 45
Page 2 • October 12, 2020 - October 18, 2020 • Insight News
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Insight News • October 12, 2020 - October 18, 2020 • Page 3 WINNER: 2020 T YPOGRAPHY & DESIGN, 1ST PLACE, PHOTOGRAPHY (PORTRAIT & PERSONALIT Y), 1ST PLACE, WEBSITE, 3RD PLACE
Insight News October 12, 2020 - October 18, 2020
Vol. 47 No. 41• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
Becoming Notorius AK: Klobuchar’s strong challenge to Ted Cruz Commentary By Irma McClaurin, PhD Culture & Education Editor No, Senator Cruz, this isn’t “theater.” This is about people’s lives—their health care, their rights, and their future.” -- Sen. Amy Klobuchar On rare occasions, some politicians get an opportunity to redeem themselves. Such is the case with Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar, in her response to Republican Senator Ted Cruz on moving forward with President’s Trump nomination of Amy Coney Barrett for the Notorious RBG’s (the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s) vacated seat. For some, this replacement is an affront to Ginsburg—many see Coney
Sen. Amy Klobuchar
Republican Senator Ted Cruz
KLOBUCHAR 5
photo/Saghira Shahid
‘It Takes a Village’ event attracted 20-30 people to the vacant lot across the street from Full Stop Gas station in North Minneapolis.
‘It Takes a Village’ event series disrupts neighborhood shootings with Black joy Sagirah Shahid Contributing Writer Last Friday night a growing coalition of women and community members gathered at the intersection of Logan &
Lowry Avenue North for the first in a series of events that aim to support violence prevention and offer healing for families experiencing collective trauma in North Minneapolis. Herbal tea, art, soul food, free organic produce, and an outdoor
showing of Coming to America attracted 20-30 people to the vacant lot across the street from Full Stop Gas station. “All these kids keep getting shot in my neighborhood, I can’t even let my son go to the store without
being worried constantly,” said Roxxanne O’Brien one of the organizers of the event. O’Brien, a vocal activist and community organizer, said she spent the past few months
SHOOTINGS 4
Trump and Biden clash in chaotic debate
Experts react on court, race and election integrity By Alison Gash, Associate Professor of Political Science, University of Oregon | Alexander Cohen, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Clarkson University | Rashawn Ray, Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Maryland The article appeared originally on The Conversation President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden took part in a presidential debate Sept. 29 that exemplified the lack of civility in American politics. The president frequently interrupted and spoke over his challenger, Biden told Trump to “shut up,” and few issues were discussed in enough depth to provide much information to undecided voters. We asked three scholars to discuss themes brought up by moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News, who struggled throughout the debate to keep control. The Supreme Court Alison Gash, University of Oregon
President Donald Trump
The Great Hope of White America Commentary By Irma McClaurin, PhD Culture & Education Editor He is white America’s only hope, and they will go to any lengths to keep him in power. I have been puzzling my mind over the last four years trying to figure out why President Donald Trump is so popular among working class white people. I think I’ve discovered the answer. Donald
Trump is a throw-back to “the good old boys” and the “good old days” of white supremacy. He is, by all counts, a racial anarchist. Anarchy is “a state of disorder due to absence or nonrecognition of authority.” Trump does not recognize anyone’s authority, except his own. He has robbed the media of its authoritative powers by labeling any journalist or news/ media outlet that disagrees with him “fake news.” If the press news is good, we hear
GREAT HOPE 5
Trump’s Executive Order 13950
The assault on antiracism and democracy photo/AP_Julio Cortez and AP_Patrick Semansky
President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden at the first debate of the presidential campaign. AP/Julio Cortez and AP/Patrick Semansky Wallace opened with a question on the minds of many voters: Who should fill the vacancy left by Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death? Democrats viewed Ginsburg as the last line of defense for abortion rights, voting rights, the Affordable Care Act and other traditionally liberal policies. Trump has nominated conservative jurist and scholar Amy Coney Barrett to fill Ginsburg’s seat on the
bench. Trump has already exerted a significant influence over the federal bench. He has appointed more federal appellate judges than any president since Carter. If Barrett is appointed, he will have filled more Supreme Court vacancies than any president since Ronald Reagan and will have shaped the court in ways that could last generations. Biden all but conceded the appointment as
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Charcoal Child: Children and race
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a lost cause, pivoting to one of the few areas where a Biden win could conceivably limit the conservative influence of the Roberts Court — by stalling potential litigation over the Affordable Care Act. The Trump administration has publicly and actively supported litigation to overturn the ACA. Judge Barrett, Biden reminded viewers, believes the ACA is unconstitutional. Even with
DEBATE 4
Culture and Education Editor
Analysis By Irma McClaurin, PhD Democracy is in trouble, if President Donald Trump is reelected. His absolute refusal to condemn white supremacy during the September 29, 2020 presidential debate makes clear why he has attacked anti-racism training and banned terms like “critical race theory” and “white privilege.” If raising awareness among federal workers about
racism is “un-American,” “propaganda,” and “a sickness that cannot be allowed to continue,” then supporting white supremacy and promoting racism must be as American as Apple pie. In the debacle of a debate, which CNN commentator Jake Tapper described as “a hot mess, inside a dumpster fire, inside a train wreck,” POTUS had ample opportunity to support racial justice and equality for all. Debate moderator Chris Wallace asked point blank, “Mr. President, will you denounce white supremacy?” The simple “yes or
DEMOCRACY 8
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Page 4 • October 12, 2020 - October 18, 2020 • Insight News
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Wish launches $2 million grant to support Black-owned businesses Wish, one of the largest and fastest growing global ecommerce platforms, is today announcing the launch of a $2 million fund to support independent, black-owned retail businesses across the US. Eligible business owners can apply for a $500 to $2,000 grant to help rebuild or reinvigorate their business. Funds can be allocated to a wide range of business needs, including workforce, operating costs, inventory and marketing. The move follows the news that black-owned businesses in the US, which are highly concentrated in retail, food and beverage and other service industries, are amongst the hardest hit by COVID-19 lockdowns. Between February and April 2020, the number of black business owners in the US dropped by 41%, vs 17% for white business owners[1]. The challenges that face blackowned businesses in the US look likely to prevail well into next year. Hassan Yahya, VP of Experience at Wish, said: “This is something we’ve wanted to do for some time but the COVID-19 pandemic crisis and the Black Lives Matter movement has really fasttracked our mission. The Wish Local Empowerment Program provides a starting point for us
Shootings From 3 planning with Black women from the community and women who have lost loved ones to gun violence. Their plan: go directly to hotspots where shootings keep happening to offer connection and practical resources. “This event is purposefully late at night because we’re operating during hours where there’s usually gunshots. Our goal is to provide activity to distract or to take away from violence, to provide activities that people can spend time in, instead of shooting each other,” said Hawwa Youngmark, a member of the Juxtaposition Arts’ tactical team--one of the many groups that helped organize It Takes
to support independent, blackowned businesses who are often denied government aid and lack other financial resources to fall back on. By joining the Wish Local network, we can help black-owned businesses tap into the growing demand for ecommerce, as well as diversify
their core revenue streams. We really hope we can make a difference and create a lasting impact on the equality and diversity of US businesses.” The fund is being financed by Wish Local - a partnership program between Wish and a global network
of brick-and-mortar stores. Any small business owner can apply, as long as they meet the following criteria: 100% black-owned or majority black-owned Brick-and-mortar store located within the US 20 or fewer full-time
employees Annual revenue of less than $1 million in the last twelve months As part of the initiative, Wish has partnered with Official Black Wall Street and Long Island African American Chamber of
A Village. During the event, Youngmark sat on a blanket and gave away free books featuring Black characters as part of her “I See Me” book drive. For Youngmark, the urgency to participate hit close to home. “In this week alone 10 people in my neighborhood have been shot,” said Youngwood. “A few weeks ago, my sister called me in fear because someone was shot dead in front of our house and she wanted to make sure I was okay, and I was. But I’m afraid of the day when I won’t be okay, or when she won’t be okay. So, the killing needs to stop.” According to MPD data, violent crimes in the city of Minneapolis are on the rise. Data from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension indicate homicides are already outpacing similar upticks
the city experienced in 2017 and 2015. A need to better contextualize data related to violent crime in the city was one of many points made by Chief Medaria Arradondo during a presentation he gave at a September 15 study session city council held. The department, which still operates within the over $190 million dollar budget it receives, is the source of complicated frustrations from some Minneapolis residents, some council members told the chief their constituents are saying police aren’t responding to local crime intentionally. “I think it’s possible they are essentially campaigning either politically because they don’t support council members or in some cases, the mayor, or perhaps they think they are making the case for more resources for the department. I can tell you in my ward, it is having the opposite
effect, it is making people more frustrated with the department,” said council president Lisa Bender during the study session. Bender represents Ward 10 which includes the East Harriet, ECCO, Lowry Hill East, South Uptown and Whittier neighborhoods. Fourth Ward council member Phillipe Cunningham said from a public health lens, the risk factors and preventions for violence are already known and an informed overhaul of the current system is one strategy towards addressing structural violence—the inequitable distribution of resources such as housing stability, healthcare, and livable employment options. “If we build out a comprehensive system of community safety that has prevention, intervention and reentry, we are taking the burden off of police officers for having
to respond to everything,” said Cunningham during the session. Cunningham chairs the city’s public health and safety committee. Last week the committee approved Minneapolis’ Office of Violence Prevention’s community engagement timeline. The first phase of the office’s engagement starts this October. The office will invite community members across the city to give direct feedback on policing, public health-oriented violence prevention, and changes the city should consider regarding public safety. The feedback informs a resolution council members made after George Floyd’s murder to create new structures for how the city of Minneapolis addresses public safety. “Communicating and building relationships and building trust is a pathway for us to heal to continue to
build capacity, to sustain what we’re building to thrive,” said multidisciplinary artist and community healer Amoke Kubat. Kubat’s Yo Mama’s House also contributed to Friday’s event. As the event meandered, neighbor children played in the growing darkness while activists and advocates took to the mic to share resources and words of affirmation. Before Coming to America started flickering from a pop-up projector, a couple walked over to the young man fixing everyone to-go boxes of greens and cornbread. An older man crouched down in the grass to recite original poetry as someone on the mic announced Diamond Reynolds, the girlfriend of Philando Castile, was in the crowd. On that block, on that night, there were no shootings.
Americans. But recent Trump advertisements have tried to suggest that violence will increase under a Biden presidency – paradoxically showing images of unrest under the current Trump administration. Trump seemingly wanted to attack this “tough on crime” Biden of the 1990s while simultaneously portraying his rival as being in league with what the president would like voters to believe is an unruly and violent left. The reality is different. Despite over 90% of Black Lives Matter protests being nonviolent, much of the media’s focus has been on the less than 10% of demonstrations that have turned violent. This debate did nothing to dispel that false narrative. In fact, some of the violence of recent months has been committed by right-wing extremists. But when asked directly to condemn white supremacy, Trump hesitated and seemed to be searching for words. Instead, he sent a shoutout to the Proud Boys – a group deemed to be a hate organization by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Trump said, “Proud Boys, stand back and stand by. But I’ll tell you what, somebody’s got to do something about antifa and the left.” “He’s the racist,” said Biden during their exchanges. Meanwhile, on policing policy, Biden proposed a 21st-century redo to bring various stakeholders to the table. But eerily for Republicans and Democrats – and not at all in keeping with the debate itself – Trump and Biden seem to espouse similar views about the defunding police movement. “I am totally opposed to defunding the police. They need more assistance,” said
Biden during the debate. Earlier Trump had stated, “There won’t be dismantling of our police, and there’s not going to be any disbanding of our police.”
President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett is quickly confirmed, conservatives will enjoy a 6-3 majority on the Court. Three of these justices will have been appointed by Trump. Trump has laid the groundwork for disputing the results of any close election. If neither candidate wins decisively, the nation should brace itself for a lengthy, and divisive, struggle. Such a struggle could be dangerous to American democracy because it may undermine fundamental faith in the electoral process. While rule of law generally prevails when close elections are disputed, it does appear that the United States could be headed toward uncharted territory.
Debate From 3
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Commerce (LIAACC) to help promote the program amongst their networks. To apply, business owners must tell Wish about their store and why they qualify for the program. Our committee will then review all applications to select which stores will receive funds and allocate funds accordingly. All successful applicants join the Wish Local program - a global network of 40,000 partner stores around the world. Through the program they can sign up as a Wish Pickup point or take advantage of our Sell on Wish feature which gives small retailers an immediate digital presence by allowing them to trade their own inventory online. Sign up is free and Wish takes no cut of any product upload, sale or delivery fee. The news further enhances Wish’s ongoing drive to expand its merchant footprint in North America and Europe and, in doing so, revitalize local communities who are amongst the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. To apply for a grant, visit www.wish.com/local/ empowerment. Download the Wish Local app or follow @ WishLocal on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
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Ginsburg on the bench, the ACA enjoyed only fragile court support. Biden intimated that continued litigation in an even more conservative Supreme Court could limit health care coverage for millions of Americans. Biden mentioned Roe v. Wade — and Barrett’s likely opposition — only as an afterthought. In response, Trump stated cryptically, “There’s nothing happening there. And you don’t know her view on Roe v. Wade.” On the whole, the debate did little to resolve questions about the future of the court — other than to shore up Supreme Court nominations as political bombs with volatile consequences. Racism, Policing and Black Lives Matter Protests Rashawn Ray, University of Maryland “Why should voters trust you … to deal with the race issue facing this country?” Wallace asked a straightforward question about the troubling state of race relations in America, but the two candidates answered it in very different ways. Biden highlighted the “systemic injustice in this country, in education, in work, and in law enforcement” that required an approach grounded in equity, equality, decency and the Constitution. Trump pivoted quickly to “law and order” and brought up the Biden cosponsored 1994 Crime Bill – legislation that has long been criticized for contributing to the disproportionate mass incarceration of Black
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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
The integrity of the election Alexander Cohen, Clarkson University When asked about the integrity of mail-in ballots, Biden and Trump offered different answers. Biden projected faith in the mail-in system. Unsurprisingly, Trump continued to assault the integrity of an election using mail-in ballots. This echoes his mantra in 2016, when he argued that the popular vote count was incorrect and fraudulent – a notion that was widely debunked. Likewise, the assertion that mail-in voting leads to voter fraud has been widely challenged. Most studies suggest that voting by mail does not benefit one party over the other and that voting by mail is not prone to manipulation. However, such studies on voting by mail tend to examine scenarios where state and local governments were well prepared for ballot distribution. The increased demand for mail-in voting brought on by COVID-19 is creating at least some confusion among voters. It is plausible that not all states are ready to handle the flood of mail-in votes. This could complicate the voting process and prolong vote counts in some states. Such delays could be incredibly significant. The last time a key state struggled to tally votes was 2000. Then, the Supreme Court intervened to halt a recount in Florida, handing the victory to Republican George W. Bush over Democrat Al Gore in a close presidential race. If disputes over mail-in ballots linger beyond Election Day, the Supreme Court may again intervene. If
What question were you hoping to hear tonight that was left out in the midst of this chaotic debate? Cohen: I would have liked to ask: “Do you think that there are consequences for the decreasing civility in American politics, as demonstrated in this debate?” Gash: I would like to have seen a question about the role of the court in preserving checks and balances. This is, what I think, Wallace was trying to get at in his question about court-packing. But the question fell flat. Ray: Black people are disproportionately more likely to experience police use of force, even when they are unarmed and not attacking. How do we reduce racial disparities in use of force – as with George Floyd and Breonna Taylor – and improve relations between Black communities and law enforcement? This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
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Insight News • October 12, 2020 - October 18, 2020 • Page 5
Charcoal Child: Children and race By Brenda Lyle-Gray Columnist
Part 1 of 3 “I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hates so stubbornly is because they sense once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain.” The Fire Next Time (James Baldwin) I can remember decades ago when one of my third-grade classmates . . . a ‘white flight’ neighborhood playmate, as well . . . disappeared. Months went by and no one said a word. We were told not to ask questions of our teachers or our parents about Betty . . . that often in life there were simply no explanations. We were encouraged to always make it a habit to focus on what was important in life . . . learning and laughing as much as we could. We later found out Betty had scrubbed her skin, face included - with a harsh bleaching cream. She was sadly convinced things would be better if she had ‘white skin’ while most of us played hard in our segregated environment with little concerns about our brown skin until later in life. It was Kyle Kover of the NBA Milwaukee Bucs, in a July interview with sports commentator James Brown (CBS Connections: The American Dream) who cleared away the cob webs from the “why such ‘us’ and ‘them’ meanness (the true ‘Karens’
Klobuchar From 3 Barrett as a “threat” to women’s rights and an anti-feminist. I was not a fan of Senator Klobuchar, and felt her “Minnesota Nice” presidential campaign was all smoke and mirrors, with little substance that recognized the unjust system of racial disparities that very much characterizes her own city and state, much less the country. Klobuchar seemed woefully and intentionally “innocent” of how white privilege and white power dominate the Minnesota landscape she represents. Klobuchar has not been the strongest voice on the exclusion of Blacks, Native people—upon whose land the state is founded—and the host of refugees from Somalia, Liberia, Vietnam, Laos, and other countries who are creating a diverse Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul) that is undeniably changing the white social fabric of Minnesota. Perhaps it was seeing Minneapolis Burning that gave her pause and forced Klobuchar to make some greater adjustments, and enabled her to see how the current President is disrupting democracy and attempting to rob the American people of their right to influence the political direction of this country as citizens. Klobuchar’s recent comments on September 24,
Great Hope From 3 nothing, but any criticisms are immediately decried. The terms “liberal” and “progressive” have become code words treated with disdain like “communist” and “socialist.” The latter two terms are left over from the Cold War with Russia, primarily, and Joe McCarthy destroyed the lives of a lot of good people by labeling them “communist” — “Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?” This latter question became the brand statement of a political witch hunt. Also, ordinary citizens were invited to turn in neighbors, colleagues, and friends. This same irrational preoccupation is happening again. Black Lives Matter activists are being labeled “domestic terrorists,” which makes anyone who opposes racism “un-American,” guilty
of the world), bigotry, and inequalities” have intensified in a once beautiful, progressive country now on the brink of a modern day civil war. With over 200,000 U.S. COVID-19 deaths, the Black American death rate has been reported twice that of whites although we only make up 15% of the U.S. population. “Some hope things will change for the better since seeing the video of George Floyd’s murder. Others don’t want to hear or talk about the realities,” Kover admitted. “I challenge them to understand and accept that their lives have been different and easier because of who they are. I tell them, take those ‘white privileges’ afforded you by your birthright and use them for good. Admit you want to say something . . . you need to do something . . . but that sometimes, we just don’t know what to say or do. I certainly want to try. The conversations, and then action, must happen. Our country can’t survive like this any longer. If not now, then when?” When a racial group’s collective prejudice is backed by the power of legal authority and institutional control, it is transformed into racism, a far-reaching system that functions independently from the intentions of individual actors. -- Robin D. DiAngelo Teaching about race relations and culture should not be that difficult, but it is. A few pages in a history book about heroes or a required unit
on a curriculum guide has never gotten to the root of this ugly evil. One teacher I observed simplified the historical truth for her senior students, and every day she gave examples of the facts she considered relevant while also mentioning the questions for which she had no answers. “Race includes the genes you were given at birth . . . an ethnicity of African American, Caucasian, Asian, Hispanic, native American, or indigenous. A person was once identified by associated physical features such as skin tone, eye color, or hair texture. But these traits never described the things the person believed in; what they were good at like music, art, athletics, or science; the things they loved and enjoyed; the things that made them laugh so hard they cried happy tears; the things they should do like not waste their time; study
2020 were impassioned and dead on when she listed all the rights that would be at risk if this Supreme Court nomination is confirmed—the least of which is demonstrating the hypocrisy of the Republican Senators who hold the majority, and who used their powers to prevent outgoing President Barack Obama from selecting a Supreme Court Justice, by insisting that the newly-elected President should have that honor. Now in a position reversal, articulated by both Sen. Mitch McConnell and Sen.Ted Cruz, one that makes Linda Blair’s head spinning backwards in the original Exorcist movie seem like child’s play, Republicans insist that the sitting President should select the next Supreme Court Justice. Taking this stance not only contradicts the very thing they fought vigorously against when Obama was the sitting President, but it is also a disrespectful disregard of the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s dying wish that her replacement be confirmed after the elections. We need a positive (Harry Potteresque) spell: Expecto patronum!—one that requires us to think our happiest thoughts to “guard against Dementors and other dark creatures,” like Republicans. But contradictions and blatant disregard are signature characteristics of President Donald Trump, a former reality TV star. And elected Republican Senators seemed to have no problem following this political
Pied Piper leader who simply does whatever he feels like— and that includes stomping on democracy and tossing political presidential precedents out with the bathwater, if they don’t fit his agenda. Except for Senator Amy Klobuchar. Her words at the proceedings will go down in Senatorial history as an eloquent response to what is clearly a raunchy political situation. Klobuchar refocused our attention on why the President’s rush to appoint a Supreme Court Justice is not only disrespectful to RBG, but also to the American people. Even though Trump’s choice is a woman, her viewpoint is in alignment with his and threatens certain protections under the law such as women’s choice and Civil Rights, says Klobuchar, “ Unfortunately, she is alone with her critiques. There are virtually no Republican Senators who have shown any signs of being able to think independent of President Trump and most are unwilling to publicly thwart his maniacal leadership style that transgresses every presidential decorum of the past. They follow a man unquestionably who manufactures his own “facts,” ignores evidence-based research, ridicules the free press, pardons his friends convicted of crimes, and punishes anyone who believes in facts (like Dr. Anthony Fauci) or disagrees with him. He also delivers serious policy matters related to
of treason, and at risk of legal persecution. This labeling also gives police even greater authority than they currently have to target, harass, and even kill Black protesters. They now have two excuses for shooting unarmed Black people: “I feared for my life,” and now, “I thought they were a BLM ‘terrorist’.” In Trump’s September 22, 2020 Executive Order, it now illegal for anyone who is a federal employee or a federal contractor to promote or discuss “anti-racism trainings,” “critical race theory” or “white privilege.” This means that minority people who wish to file charges of racial discrimination by whites can actually be terminated. If antiracism is un-American, then is the President saying that racism is very American, and what this country should stand for? He is pushing us backwards into the Jim Crow era when minorities could not accuse a white person of any crime based on race. Donald Trump, political rightwing anarchist, is doing this! We have the most powerful man in the U.S. telling
us that we cannot talk about racism or white privilege; he has decided that such conversations are “divisive” and “sick.” He is opening the door for whites to regain their footholds as the arbitrators of right and wrong, as those who can exercise authority over brown and Black bodies, and also over Native and Asian bodies as well. Just as Jack Dempsey was viewed as the “Great White Hope” when he went into the ring with Joe Louis, Donald Trump is now being viewed as America’s Great White Hope. That makes him as dangerous as the white supremacist Alabama Governor George Wallace, once was though he recanted in his later years and even publicly acknowledged the Black daughter he fathered. By attacking Black protesters and banning antiracism training, Donald Trump is establishing himself as the Great Hope of white people only. And many, who believe that they are losing their white
and practice hard; be grateful; respect and be kind; share their heart and soul with others; and realize life as the ultimate Divine gift.” “From the time of the first settlers and the kidnapping of strong, African men and women from their native land, there has been a dominant European race that fought to remain pure and in control and have power over all others, especially the subjugated Blacks,” she continued. “They have done that quite well for a long, long time. But then things began to change, and the white masses began to viciously rebel. Races began to mix; those like King and Mandela and so many others sacrificed for equality and justice; and those descendants of the young African natives still struggle, yet many have succeeded. They have proven if given an opportunity, they could excel in their chosen
field of endeavor and become productive members of society. Over the past four years, this mindset of hatred, supremacy, and domination has shattered the progress diverse populations have made. Had COVID19 not stolen our normalcy, the plight of racial affairs probably would have been far worse. But this new generation of millenniums and the younger ones to follow have decided to rise to the greatness many ‘love of country’ leaders hoped for and declare ‘no more.’ If intended, nothing will stop their commitment to the cause.” We live in a diverse world and it requires parents/ guardians and educators to connect the perils and the victories of the 21st century (especially the year 2020) to research knowledge that will challenge and inspire solutions and innovations making our world a happier place to live and thrive. Teaching children about racism can no longer be ignored. We must encourage young people to think about what actions they can take to speak out against the conditions at the core of prejudices and disparities . . . that if they hear or see someone being treated unfairly, they would consider calling out the perpetrators. What do you know about what has happened to cause protests in our city streets and the denial by racists politicians of the Voting Rights Act the late Congressman John Robert Lewis was willing to die for?
Racism has been around us and in our faces for so long, it has become normalized even when a distinguished Black family graced the White House for eight years. My children experienced blatant racism throughout their young lives and especially as young adults ‘driving while Black’ and attempting to succeed as young Black female filmmakers. With the exception of 9-11, bigotry was what we expected to see and experience. The horrific, painful, shocking, and unprecedented event only captured the ‘color of evil’ on that day. There was brotherhood and sisterhood . . . brave human beings willing to sacrifice and care about the lives of others, especially the first responders who were of all ethnic backgrounds. Seven years later, the hatred and racism were a little more subtle. The Obamas were popular and the people who were in his Cabinet did their job well despite the vindictive hurdles of the conservative GOP who fought for the country to “go back to the way it used to be”. We certainly prayed for people to come to the table in good will for the good of the country, but that would never happen. Then leadership cared about the American people and those suffering around the world, but today the “how do you sleep at night?” politicians appear to be content with the “us” and “them” divided nation. Next: Charcoal Child – Part 2: Teaching children about racism
security and healthy, and even foreign policy, via Twitter. Need I say more? And Republicans (in Congress and the Senate) seemed hell-bent on following President Trump down a path of to destroy democracy. Except for Amy Klobuchar. In her own words, like RBG, “I am NOT going to give
up on this democracy.” AK has found her political backbone to stand up Minnesota Strong for democracy and the American people. © 2020 Irma McClaurin Irma McClaurin is Culture and Education Editor and for Insight News, a freelance columnist, former UMN Associate VP and founding
executive director of UROC, and past president of Shaw University. Named “Best in the Nation Columnist” in 2015 by the Black Press of America, she is publishing some columns in her forthcoming book: JUSTSPEAK: Reflections on Race, Culture, and Politics in America. Contact: info@ irmamcclaurin.com
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GREAT HOPE 9
Page 6 • October 12, 2020 - October 18, 2020 • Insight News
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Insight News • October 12, 2020 - October 18, 2020 • Page 7
Unholy Oppression Part 1 of 3 By Brenda Lyle-Gray Columnist It’s your turn to let freedom ring. When historians pick up their pens to write the story of the 21st century, let them say that it was your generation who laid down the heavy burdens of hate and that peace finally triumphed over violence, aggression, and war. So, I say to you, “walk with the wind” and let the spirit of peace and the power of everlasting love be your guide. John Robert Lewis In 1987, while teaching International Baccalaureate world history at Lincoln College Preparatory Academy in Kansas City, I recall one of my ‘white’ students, a member of one of the first classes of a highly controversial federal court mandated magnet school movement, boldly ask . . . “why is it that there’s always been messy fights for black people to be able to vote? I don’t get it!!” Even then, my explanation of ‘power’ and ‘control’ just didn’t work for him. Three decades later, the fight continued. But NOW, a new generation of committed youth . . . their parents . . . their grandparents . . . and their diverse ‘enough is enough’ comrades and neighbors have emphatically declared - ‘By any means necessary’ we will demand answers, and we will insist upon positive, strategic, and effective actions towards long overdue changes . . . justice, equality, and opportunities for all. WE WILL NOT BE MOVED! For our nation to begin to heal, it MUST begin with the fair counting of as
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Vote Nov. 3 many qualified American citizens’ ballots as possible on November 3rd – those who were not forced to choose between their health and casting their important vote. I couldn’t answer my student’s question, especially when one begins to learn and comprehend how long this war of disenfranchisement has been going on. A Brief History – Battling for the Constitutional Right to Vote 1857 Scott vs. Sandford Dred Scott, a former slave, unsuccessfully sued for his family and his freedom. His plea was denied by the Supreme Court (7-2) which determined that no (Negro) was or could ever be a citizen. The Scott family was eventually manumitted. Dred worked as a porter in a St. Louis hotel, but his freedom was short lived. He died a year later of tuberculosis. 1866 Civil Rights Act The first U.S. federal law affirming that all citizens are
equally protected by the law. In the wake of the Civil War, the act was intended to protect the civil rights of persons of African descent born in or brought to the United States. 1868 14th Amendment Ratification granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S. – including former slaves – and guaranteed all citizens “equal protection of the laws.” The amendment was bitterly contested by Confederate states defeated in the war. They were forced to endorse it in order to regain representation in Congress. 1870 The 15th Amendment Granted African American men the right to vote. Despite the amendment, by late 1870, discriminatory practices were used to prevent blacks from exercising their right to vote, especially in the South. It wasn’t until the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that legal barriers were outlawed at the local and state levels if they denied
African Americans their right to vote. 1870 These Reconstruction amendments criminalized voting rights and provided for federal supervision of the electoral process, including voter registration. It was designed to enforce the voting rights of minorities, especially African Americans. July 2, 1964 The Civil Rights Act – A historic enactment prohibiting unequal application of voter registration requirements, racial segregation in schools, public accommodations, and employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, and later sexual orientation. March 7, 1965 known as “Bloody Sunday”. It was three months before my high school graduation. Busloads of childhood friends and classmates had piled onto buses heading to Selma, Alabama, some 830 miles away. My father refused to
even consider the thought of my leaving my bedroom and study. I had to finish research papers and make decisions on where I would or if I would attend college. I was an only child, and my mother had lived to see me wear that blue and white cap and gown. My father feared a danger I had yet to fully comprehend. His intuition was seldom off base. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. would lead thousands of nonviolent demonstrators 54 miles from Selma to the state capital of Montgomery, Alabama. The marches were organized by nonviolent activists to demonstrate the desire of African American citizens to exercise their constitutional right to vote, all in defiance of segregationists’ repression. They were part of a broader voting rights movement underway in Selma and other Southern towns and cities. King decided to make Selma, located in Dallas County, Alabama, the focus of a black
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voter registration campaign. He had won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 and thought maybe his profile would help draw international attention to the events that followed. Approximately 600 marchers were viciously pushed back by Alabama State troopers, Dallas County Sheriff’s deputies, and a horse mounted posse after they crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The crossing was named after Edmund Winston Pettus, a former Confederate brigadier general, U.S. Senator, and the leader of the Alabama Ku Klux Klan. Protestors, including John Lewis, were brutally beaten with billy clubs and tear gassed. August 6, 1965 After witnessing the events of “Bloody Sunday”, President Lyndon Baines Johnson would write . . . we will not delay, or will we hesitate, or will we turn aside until Americans of every race and color and origin in this country have the same right as all others to share in the process of democracy. Congress later amended the (act) five times to expand its protection. “The Voting Rights Act” is considered the most effective piece of federal civil rights legislation ever enacted in the country at the time. It was a landmark piece of federal legislation in the U.S. prohibiting racial discrimination in voting. It was signed into law by President Johnson during the pinnacle of the civil rights movement on August 6, 1965 with Dr. King looking over his shoulder. “This is a triumph for freedom as huge as any victory that has ever been won on any battlefield,” the President declared. Part 2 (Unholy Oppression) – 2013 and the Supreme Court ruling
Page 8 • October 12, 2020 - October 18, 2020 • Insight News
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Not sorry for 45 From Douglas R. Ewart Artist, inventor, educator Well, Donald Trump, his wife Melania, and several members of his staff and political party members now have the Coronavirus and they have been working aggressively, diligently, and relentlessly in ways that ensured they would acquire the virus based on denial of the very existence of the Coronavirus and blind obedience to partisan poly-tricks, hypocrisy, lack of integrity and moral conduct, which inevitably lead to the concerted effort to undermine science, logic and truth. This news substantiates that the deadly virus is a hoax, and fake news, RIGHT? and the virus can be eradicated by using bleach, Lysol, Remdesivir, hydroxychloroquine, and the virus was told by Donald to go away, however, it seems that the virus was not wearing its hearing aid. I have no sympathy or empathy for Donald and his adult relatives as they too have gone out of their way to acquire the virus and encouraged millions of people to ignore and disobey scientific findings and recommendations. I sincerely hope that Donald’s young son Barron does not acquire the virus as he is not responsible for his parents negligence, stupidity and spreading the tale that the Carnivorous was/is a hoax.
Democracy From 3 no” response never came. Trump resorted to hyperbole and reality TV-show like style, naming a group, “Proud Boys,” known
Donald Trump, some of his adult family, his political party colleagues, and his Jim Jones like followers are reckless, ignorant, and deadly, and they don’t care who they transmit the virus to. As for his White House spokes persons/staff/ inch-people saying Donald has mild symptoms of the virus, which means nothing to thinking people as that is a subjective and relative term, and they like Donald incessantly lie about numerous things to protect a man whose name is synonymous with the term consistent liar. Why should we be sad about Donald and his crew testing positive for the Carnivorous when tens of thousands of people are dead largely because of Donald’s and his colleague’s neglectful, sadistic, psychopathic, sociopathic conduct for months now? Life has an intrinsic covenant with reciprocity as a central tenet, it is a crucial column in the strength, maintenance, stability, survival, and what I coin THRIVAL of family, clans, tribes, nations, and the world. Most of these people wore no mask, did not/ do not socially distance, and said or inferred that the deadly Coronavirus Pandemic was/is a hoax and contrived by socialists and the people that are opposed to Donald Trump, etc. Reciprocity is the act of me being concerned, caring, and assisting and providing for
you, and you do the same for me and we do so for family, community and so on. When officials who took an oath to represent the people and to see about their well being and instead We The People are mocked, jeered, mistreated, tear-gassed, made homeless based on tremendously contrived economic disparities, lack of access to health and dental care, pepper sprayed, beaten and murdered, and the people elected and selected to act on our behalf, play power and authority games with our lives on a daily basis resulting in over two hundred thousand people dead in the USA it is reprehensible and criminal. I don’t not wish the virus on any one, however, I have no empathy for adults of sound mind who endanger the lives of others and themselves by refusing to take the only effective precautions we currently have for curtailing the acquisition and transmission of the Coronavirus, which are wearing a mask, social distancing, frequently washing hands, body, various surfaces and so on. What Donald Trump and too many of his colleagues have done in regard to the Coronavirus is criminal and tantamount to Crimes Against Humanity. Front Line Workers and some people take virtually every precaution and still get the virus and my respect, gratitude and deep admiration, and appreciation goes to them and
the people that place their lives on the line in service to We The People on a minutely basis. Donald Trump trotted out today 10/2/2020 saying that he was doing fine, to these eyes and ears he is far from well as he looked washed out, pale and very shaky, and his tone of voice is weak and you could tell that he is quite ill as he was unable to spew his usual dose of hate, mountains of rubbish, and ceaseless lies. For any empathetic, compassionate, honest and thinking person, Donald Trumps being sidelined would be a blessing for the country and the world as he has been/is a complete disaster on every front, including the economy. The socalled booming economy that is so touted is really largely for the people that already have money, and the people that have resources and can invest in the stock market, and it has not been that way for poor people. People are dying by the thousands on a daily basis while Donald Trump and his acolytes, followers, enablers, and cohorts deflect and deny their responsibility for the spread and deaths caused by the Coronavirus because of the lack of proper health care equipment, wearing mask, proper distancing, the reckless opening of various businesses and facilities and the like. Now that Donald Trump has been said to be infected with Covid19, we can’t be one hundred percent sure that
it is true, I wonder how much is the medical care costing We The People? We know it has to be a phenomenal sum of money based on all the security involved in protecting Donald, and many members of his his family that have contracted the Coronavirus based on negligence and derelict responsibility as well are now being afforded the best possible medical care utilizing scarce resources...resources that could give the people that have innocently and work relatedly caught Covid 19 the kind care and equipment they desperately need. Donald Trump should be compelled to pay for his medical care as his illness was brought on by his arrogance, negligence. deliberate/feigned ignorance, and endless lying, and this situation was quite avoidable. When we were children we were told that “If you can’t hear you must feel,” and/or “A hard head makes a soft behind,” “They who feel it knows it,” “What go round come round,” and “The chickens have come home to roost.” In other words, there are severe
consequences and repercussions for denying and defying logic, commonsense, honesty, medical science, and the truth. Remember one thing without any contemplation, consternation, hesitation, or doubt, Donald J. Trump does not care about any body, he is a serial spreader of the deadly Coronavirus, and if you think that he will change and be considerate of others you will be one of is victims of long term debilitation and possibly death. Trump is not wearing a mask, he has not made it possible to get much needed medical equipment by using his power as president and now that he has contracted Coronavirus and he is contagious he is not isolating, not wearing a mask or saying how dangerous and deadly the virus is. Donald Trump is doing things that are killing people and this is not speculation, it is reality. By the way, Trump was having a hard time breathing as he reentered the White House today, those of us that know about breath can readily see his labored breathing.
for advocating “white power” and white supremacy ideology; he then gave an ambiguous command: “Stand back and stand by,” which Proud Boys are using as an endorsement, compliments of POTUS. Trump’s meaning could not be clearer and
troubling — and not in a good (e.g., the late John Lewis) way. The inadequate response confirms what some, including former Vice President Joe Biden, already believe — that Trump is a “racist” and a supporter of white supremacist ideology. Another example
some think demonstrates Trump’s racism was his statement in the aftermath of the Charlottesville, Va., tragedy, where an avowed neo-Nazi intentionally drove his car into a crowd of peaceful antiracist protesters, killing one person and injuring thirty-five.
Afterwards, Trump responded with “there are good people on both sides.” This evidence and Trump’s inadequate debate response suggest it is no coincidence that weeks before the first presidential debate, Russell T. Vought,
the President’s mouthpiece, released a memo to the entire federal workforce, informing them of the President’s position on anti-racism training, which he defined as “divisive, antiAmerican propaganda.” No lack of clarity there. Federal
President Donald Trump
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Insight News • October 12, 2020 - October 18, 2020 • Page 9
Great Hope From 5 privilege, love him. Newsflash to Donald Trump. If Black people can survive slavery and the aftermath of racial trauma, structural racism in the form of Black Codes, Jim Crow laws, and entrenched white privilege— yeah, I said it—, the use of fire hoses and dogs to try and squash Civil Rights demonstrations and interracial collaborations, then we can survive Donald Trump’s attempt to erase the truth and soiled history of racism in the United States, his labeling the #BlackLivesMatter as terrorists, his attacking the First Amendment by banning certain language and antiracism training from all federal agencies and federal contractors. If we can survive
Democracy From 8 workers were commanded to immediately “…cease and desist from using taxpayers’ dollars to fund …any training on “critical race theory,” “white privilege,” or any other training propaganda effort that teaches or suggests (1) that the United States is an inherently racist or evil country or (2) that any race or ethnicity is inherently racist or evil.” So, while protesters, who are mostly Black, but include people of every age, color and persuasion, are in U.S. streets , and around the globe, demanding anti-racism training as well as discussions of white privilege to promote racial justice, the President is on an opposing path. He’s defining these programs as “un-American,” ordering their immediate dismantling, and, in the process, indirectly supporting racism. Without equivocation, Trump solidified his position with the “Executive Order on Combating Race and Sex
George Wallace’s emphatic denouncement of the Civil Rights Movement with his 1963 Governor’s inaugural address and the infamous statement— In the name of the greatest people that have ever trod this earth, I draw the line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny and I say: segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.— then there is no question that Black people will survive Donald Trump, even if he wins the election—and white people seem to want him to do so—we will not see the United States go backwards to a time of severe racial inequality and white supremacy terrorism. We will stand firm in the streets; in the courts—even if they are against us. We will practice John Lewis’ “good trouble.” We will bear witness to the decline of democratic principles under the leadership
of Donald Trump, as president or as a citizen, but we will not return to the past time that he often invokes with nostalgia— “make America great again.” He neglects to describe that as a time when whiteness (and white supremacist ideology) was the rule of law and the justice system supported white terrorism of Black people and other nonwhites. We cannot/will not go backward, and we will not be moved from furthering the racial progress that has been made. Through his E.O., the President has the power to control the words and trainings of federal employees and federal contractors—even in violation of their First Amendment rights; but at the end of the day, the ultimate right of being an American citizen is that we know we possess the freedom to think, to protest, and to have hope.
What Black people hope is that white America will recognize Donald Trump for the vitriolic and white-centered charlatan that he is—he is not white people’s great hope; he is the symbol of the moral sinkhole into which this country is plummeting, should people re-elect him for President. He wants to begin another civil war—attacking anyone who acknowledges that racism is real. But as Dr. King reminds us, “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” I imagine MLK (and John Lewis among others) turning in his grave at how Trump is using his words to stymie non-violent anti-racism protests. And we will look to Toni Morrison for hope— she once stated, “…if you can only be tall because somebody else is on their knees, then you
have a serious problem.” This is Donald Trump’s serious problem—he wants to keep Black people on our knees or keep the knees of policemen our necks. And his Executive Order is nothing more than a symbolic knee on the necks of those who advocate for anti-racism and anti-sexism. We will not stand for his dismissal of these words, these concepts, these trainings— and that has been proven. We have marched before and we have taken to the streets before. And right now, in the streets of the U.S. and globally, Black Lives Matter and antiracism protesters and their supporters are in the streets demanding the eradication of police violence, racism, sexism, and other forms of oppression. Our cause will not be deterred by a washed-up reality TV personality, who has been given the legitimacy of
becoming President, and now wants to whitewash history. Donald Trump is the great hope of white people; rather, he is their hopelessness and he is also an affront to the ideals and principles of democracy. © 2020 Irma McClaurin Irma McClaurin, PhD is the Culture and Education Editor at Insight News, past president of Shaw University, and a former Ford Foundation Program Officer and was previously an Associate VP and founding Executive Director of the University of Minnesota’s Urban Researching and Outreach-Engagement Center. Dr. McClaurin is also an activist anthropologist, consultant, and free-lance writer. She was named “Best in the Nation Columnist” by the Black Press of America in 2015. Contact: info@irmamcclaurin.com .
Stereotyping” that landed seven days before the presidential debate. The reach is intentionally broad — encompassing contractors and subcontractors who are told that past, present, and future activities will be scrutinized. “Contractors who are found to have provided a training for agency employees that teaches, advocates, or promotes the divisive concepts specified in the E.O. in violation of the applicable contract will be considered for suspension and debarment procedures…” For minorities and women who have found this work to be a key pathway into acquiring federal contracts, the consequences may be dire, if past work is considered. There are 1.9 million federal employees who are impacted; but it is Black, Native, and Latinx government workers, comprising thirty-five percent of the federal workforce, that may feel particularly vulnerable since many often work, directly or indirectly, in areas related to diversity and anti-racism programming.
We should have seen that Donald Trump had appointed himself new Thought Police when he began a media assault on the #BlackLivesMatter movement at the end of August, labeling them as “racist,” “Marxist,” and “bad for Black people” –how white of him to care. Trump also orchestrated a false narrative that connected BLM to Antifa — which he claims is an actual organization, while others see it as an ideology. Yet, there are no proven connections between Antif and BLM. Of course, there will be some, mostly white men and women, relieved to see Trump taking such a strong position against those protesting to achieve racial justice; they support him precisely because his actions preserve their white privilege. Trump’s E.O. is a systematic white wash and potentially a way to reduce the number of minorities and women (and a few sympathetic whites) in the federal workforce and contractors. In America,
minorities have always been the canaries who historically alert us to systemic problems of racism. Though “anti-sexism” is mentioned in the E.O., there is little specific language referencing its demise. But if anti-racism training is eradicated, can the banishment of anti-sexism and antihomophobia training be far behind? Should anyone decide to challenge the E.O. in courts, consider that they are stacked with his judicial appointees, and he is working furiously to confirm Amy Coney Barrett on the Supreme Court, who is viewed by some as a “threat to women’s rights.” Time will tell. In the meantime, America beware. Donald Trump’s attack on antiracism is also an assault on democracy and the erosion of our common progress towards racial justice. In fact, just before posting this, I received a link that says academic institutions are backing off of anti-racism and anti-sexism training for fear of losing federal funding. The
statement from the University of Iowa’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion reads: “…After consulting with multiple entities, and given the seriousness of the penalties for non-compliance with the order, which include the loss of federal funding, we are recommending that all units temporarily pause for a two-week period to evaluate any trainings, workshops, or programs that may include language or materials that could be deemed in violation of the Executive Order.” No one and nothing is safe from a man who now wants to rewrite history in favor of unspoken whiteness, suppress Black protests against racism and white privilege, and rob every individual and institution of the most sacred right we have — free speech. There is only solution to stop this white radical madman — VOTE HIM OUT or America will see another McCarthy era (this time hunting down and accusing anti-racism activists) of unprecedented proportions. This is truly an
assault on anti-racism and an assault on democracy. Will either be able to survive? Tags: #anti-racism # white supremacy # democracy #federal employees #Executive Order #BlackLivesMatter #BLM #diversity #federal contractors #democracy #McCarthyism #Executive Order 13950 ©2020 Irma McClaurin Irma McClaurin, PhD, is a former federal employee, past president of Shaw University, former Ford Foundation Program Officer, activist anthropologist, consultant, and free-lance writer. She was named “Best in the Nation Columnist” by the Black Press of America in 2015. Contact: info@irmamcclaurin. com Forthcoming: JUSTSPEAK: Race, Culture & Politics in America: http:// irmamcclaurin.com. #Executive Order 13950 #Anti Racism #Democracy #White Privilege #Donald Trump Irma McClaurin
BUILD BACK BETTER JOBS AND ECONOMIC RECOVERY AGENDA Joe Biden believes we cannot build back better without a major mobilization of effort and resources to advance racial equity across the American economy
Ensure all small business relief efforts are specifically designed to aid businesses owned by Black and Brown people. Spur more than $150 billion in additional public-private venture capital and non-profit lending programs to minority-owned small businesses. Reform Opportunity Zones to Fulfill Their Promise. Ensure his housing plan makes bold investments in homeownership and access to affordable housing for minority families. Boost retirement security and financial wealth for minority families.
Visit joebiden.com/racial-economic-equity to learn more PAID FOR BY BIDEN FOR PRESIDENT
Page 10 • October 12, 2020 - October 18, 2020 • Insight News
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