Vice President Kamala Harris decisively took control of the first presidential debate against former President Donald Trump in Philadelphia on Tuesday night, delivering a performance that put Trump on the defensive for much of the evening. Moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis of ABC News kept a tight handle on the debate, significantly improving from CNN’s June handling of Trump and President Joe Biden. The debate began with a surprise as Harris approached
Last week in Minneapolis, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, State House Majority Leader Jamie Long, and over 170 Harris-Walz and DFL supporters gathered to watch Vice President Kamala Harris take on Donald Trump at the much anticipated presidential debate.
The Harris-Walz Campaign, in a news release following Tuesday night’s debate, said, “Minnesotans saw exactly what kind of president Kamala Harris will be: one who offers a New Way Forward for the country, who will be a president for all Americans, and who will turn the page once and for all on the darkness and division of Donald Trump. She reminded Minnesotans and the American people that she is the only candidate in this race ready to serve as our next Commander-in-Chief.”
MPR News reporters
Ellie Roth and Mark Zdechlik reported the audience’s range of emotions was revealed when the debate covered the candidates’ differing positions on abortion.
“Outrage followed former President Trump’s responses and loud approval came after Harris’ answers,” they reported.
“One does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree that the government and Donald Trump
Trump to shake his hand and introduced herself as “Kamala Harris,” an unusual move that set the tone for the night. Trump’s trademark scowl stayed in place throughout the debate, as Harris pressed him on his legal woes and diminished his record. Displaying her prosecutorial skills, Harris consistently turned the conversation toward Trump’s convictions, his business fraud case, and his role in the January 6 insurrection. Harris positioned herself as a problem-solver, taking on issues like housing, childcare, and the economy. In her opening statement, she outlined her “opportunity economy” plan, which focuses on bolstering the middle class.
certainly should not be telling a woman what to do,” Harris said to cheers.
Social media posts: Javier Morillo: Standing room only at the Harris-Walz debate watch party in Minneapolis, the city that, listening to Trump, you’d think no longer exists
Governor Tim Walz: Tonight, Kamala Harris showed America that she’s ready to be the next commander-in-chief.
Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan: Donald Trump refuses to answer whether or not he would sign a national abortion ban. I think that tells the women of America all they need to know.
Senator Amy Klobuchar: Harris: I intend to be a President for all Americans. She effectively made the case to the country— Democrats, Independents and yes, Republicans.
Senator Tina Smith: Amazing job by Vice President Harris tonight, never losing her focus on the American people and fighting for them — even as Donald Trump flailed and wailed. Representative Ilhan Omar: she got him
“I was raised as a middle-class kid, and I am actually the only person on this stage who has a plan that is about lifting up the middle class and working people of America,” Harris said. She detailed a $6,000 child tax credit as part of her plan to support young families. Trump, by contrast, criticized the Biden-Harris economy, calling it “the worst period of time” he had seen. He defended his tariff policies and took aim at Harris, labeling her a “Marxist” while also accusing her of copying his economic policies. “I was going to send her a MAGA hat,” Trump quipped.
Abortion rights were another major focus of the
night. Trump, when asked if he would veto a federal abortion ban, declined to answer directly, stating, “I won’t have to,” and arguing that the end of Roe v. Wade had satisfied everyone. Harris, in turn, vowed to restore Roe’s protections through federal legislation if elected.
“I pledge to you: when Congress passes a bill to put back in place the protections of Roe v. Wade as President of the United States, I will proudly sign it into law,” she said.
As the debate went on, Trump repeated several conspiracy theories, including a claim that migrants were eating pets in U.S. cities, which Muir quickly fact-checked. Trump doubled down, citing
“people on television” as his source. Harris largely let Trump’s more outlandish statements pass, opting to stay on policy while allowing the moderators to address his factually inaccurate remarks. In one of the most heated moments, Harris invited viewers to attend a Trump rally for themselves, commenting, “He talks about fictional characters like Hannibal Lecter and windmills causing cancer. You’ll notice people start leaving his rallies early—out of exhaustion and boredom.” Trump, visibly irritated, retorted that he holds “the most incredible rallies in the history of politics,” but the debate soon returned to more substantive issues like crime and inflation. The night clearly contrasted Biden’s earlier debate with Trump, as Harris managed to keep Trump on the defensive. Trump continued to fixate on conspiracy theories and past grievances, while Harris stayed focused on presenting her vision for the future. With fewer than 60 days until the election, the debate sets the tone for what will likely be a hard-fought campaign. As the debate ended, Harris closed with a message to the American people: “This is about who we are as a country. The choice is clear—between chaos and leadership, fear and hope.”
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Professor of Critical Race and Ethnic Studies, Miami University and Lee Banville Professor and Director of the School of Journalism, University of Montana
Notable debate quotes: ‘You’re running against me,’ ‘that was said sarcastically’
By Matt Brown, Associated Press
The
first meeting between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump featured some sharp comments and memorable moments.
Here are some of the most notable — and quotable — exchanges from Tuesday night’s debate:
“You’re not running against Joe Biden.
You’re running against me.”
— Harris, after Trump repeatedly criticized President
By Derek T. Muller Professor of Law, University of
Biden and his administration.
“I read where she was not Black … and then I read that she was Black, and that’s OK. Either one was OK with me. That’s up to her.” — Trump, who has questioned Harris’ racial identity. He then repeatedly said that he “does not care” how she identifies. Harris, who is Black and Indian American, called it a “tragedy” that Trump “has consistently, over the course of his career, attempted to use race to divide the American people.”
By Youssef Chouhoud
Assistant Professor of Political Science, Washington College and Leah Payne
Associate Professor of American Religious History, George Fox University
Just days after President Joe Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential race in July, Vice President Kamala Harris addressed the annual meeting of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority in Indianapolis, where she emphasized the importance of both religious faith and political freedom. Harris contrasted her stance on abortion rights with that of former President Donald Trump, stating, “Across our nation, we are witnessing a full-on assault on hard-fought,
hard-won freedoms and rights,” Harris said. “And in the face of these attacks, we must continue to stand together in defense of freedom.” By centering “freedom” in her campaign, Harris invoked a key element of Black identity and spirituality rooted in the historic struggle for liberation by formerly enslaved people. This legacy partly drives an attitudinal divide between Black and white Christians, especially on issues such as abortion and support for Trump. As political science and religion scholars, we view Harris’ remarks as a subtle
Frankie Beverly, the iconic frontman of the soul, R&B, and funk band Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly, has died at the age of 76. His family confirmed the news in a devastating post on social media. “Grieving the loss of a loved one is a deeply personal and emotional experience,” the family wrote.
“During this time, as we are navigating feelings of sorrow, reflection, and remembrance, we kindly ask for privacy and understanding, allowing us the space to grieve in our own way.”
The statement continued, “Howard Stanley Beverly, known to the world as Frankie Beverly, lived his life with pure soul. He lived for his music, family, and friends. For us, no one did it better. Love one another as he would want that for us all.” Beverly, born Howard Stanley Beverly on December 6, 1946, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, rose to prominence as one of the most influential figures in
the music industry. Growing up in the East Germantown section of Philadelphia, he began his musical journey singing gospel in local churches. At just 13 years old, he joined the ensemble The Silhouettes and later formed his own group, The Blenders, inspired by doo-wop icons like Frankie Lymon. In a nod to his musical idol, Beverly changed his first name to Frankie, setting the stage for his future legacy. In 1970, Beverly founded the band Maze in Philadelphia, originally named Raw Soul. The group’s big break came when R&B legend Marvin Gaye, impressed by their talent, suggested they change their name to Maze. Beverly relocated to San Francisco in 1971, and the rest is history. Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly debuted its self-titled album in 1976, which went on to sell more than 500,000 copies and earned gold status. The album featured timeless tracks like “While I’m Alone,” which climbed the Billboard charts, reaching No. 21 on the R&B chart and No. 89 on the Hot 100. Over
Former President Donald Trump, left, and Vice President Kamala Harris debate on Sept. 10, 2024.
By Rodney Coates
HARRIS VS TRUMP 5
AP Photo/John Locher People watch the presidential debate between Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, at the Gipsy Las Vegas in Las Vegas.
Congressional Black Caucus releases groundbreaking corporate accountability report on DEI
By Stacy M. Brown
Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Chairman Steven Horsford (NV-04) and CBC members have released a first-of-its-kind report titled “What Good Looks Like: A Corporate Accountability Report on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.” The report aims to hold Fortune 500 companies accountable for their commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the wake of George Floyd’s murder and the racial justice movement that followed. This initiative comes as corporate America faces renewed scrutiny following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn affirmative action in the Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard case.
The CBC’s report highlights which corporations are making tangible progress in advancing DEI and offers a roadmap for other companies to follow. Despite efforts from right-wing groups to dismantle diversity initiatives, the report finds that many Fortune 500 companies are standing firm in their commitments. The report also examines DEI practices in manufacturing, finance, insurance, and technology sectors, providing industry-specific insights.
Most Fortune 500 companies participating in the CBC’s survey demonstrated their commitment to DEI even
after the Supreme Court’s ruling. CBC members said this is crucial because conservative organizations, such as Stephen Miller-led America First Legal, are increasingly waging legal and political attacks against corporations’ diversity initiatives. These groups argue that DEI initiatives violate federal law, threatening legal action against companies that continue to promote workplace diversity.
The Findings
The CBC’s report offers a detailed analysis of diversity efforts across various industries, using data from the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) and the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). Key findings include: Sector
Representation: The bulk of the responses came from companies in manufacturing (31%), finance and insurance (25%), and information (16%).
Best Practices: The report identifies 12 best practices, including leadership accountability, data disaggregation, talent retention, and pay equity. These examples provide a model for other companies to implement DEI strategies effectively.
Progress and Challenges: While many companies have made significant strides, persistent gaps remain, particularly in leadership diversity and retention rates. The report encourages corporations to
move beyond public statements and implement measurable DEI outcomes.
The CBC hopes the report will serve as a tool for corporations to benchmark their progress and adopt more robust DEI measures. “What
Good Looks Like” outlines not only where companies are succeeding but also where opportunities for improvement lie, urging corporate leaders to align their actions with their stated DEI values.
Conservative Backlash and the Fight for DEI Officials said the CBC’s efforts to hold corporations accountable come amid heightened political tensions. Since the Supreme Court’s ruling, Donald Trump and his supporters have escalated their attacks on DEI programs.
Americans for Tax Fairness
Color of Change, the nation’s largest online racial justice organization, and Americans for Tax Fairness released a damning report Thursday exposing the deep racial inequities entrenched in the U.S. tax system.
The issue brief “How Tax Fairness Can Promote Racial Equity,” written by Color of Change Managing Director Portia Allen-Kyle and
Executive Director David Kass, exposes the systemic flaws in tax policy that have widened the racial wealth gap and prevented economic mobility for Black, brown, and Indigenous communities.
The report urgently calls for sweeping reforms to stop the flow of tax benefits to the wealthiest Americans — who are overwhelmingly white — while offering concrete solutions to make the tax code work for everyone, not just the top 1%.
“An equitable tax system does two things,” Allen-
Kyle asserted. “It narrows the racial wealth gap from the bottom up and spurs economic mobility for Black, brown, and Indigenous individuals and families. Our current tax code fails on both accounts. It’s a prime example of how so-called ‘colorblind’ systems actively prevent Black families from building generational wealth and economic security.”
Tax Code Deepens Racial Disparities, Experts Say The brief pulls no punches in describing how current tax policies disproportionately benefit wealthy white families, further deepening racial inequalities. By giving preferential treatment to wealth over work, the system locks in economic advantages for white households while leaving communities of color to bear the brunt of these inequities.
“Our tax system is not only failing to address racial wealth inequality, it’s exacerbating it,” Kass warns in the report. “We privilege wealth over work, fail to adequately tax our richest households and corporations, and allow inherited fortunes to compound unchecked by taxation. This perpetuates a legacy of racial inequality.”
The racial wealth gap has exploded in recent years, with the median wealth gap between Black and white households jumping from $172,000 in 2019 to over $214,000 in 2022. Economic crises such as the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic further entrenched these divides, benefiting the already wealthy, while leaving Black, brown and Indigenous communities further behind.
The Racial Wealth Gap and Homeownership
Homeownership, long touted as a primary means of building wealth in America, has failed to deliver for Black families. The report points to factors such as biased home appraisals and a regressive property tax system as key reasons why Black homeowners have been unable to accumulate wealth at the same rate as their white counterparts.
As the brief notes, with critical provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) set to expire, now is a pivotal
Right-wing legal campaigns have targeted not only corporate diversity efforts but also federal programs aimed at leveling the playing field for Black and minority-owned businesses.
Conservative attorneys general from over a dozen states have warned Fortune 500 companies, threatening legal action over their diversity programs. Additionally, anti-DEI bills have been introduced in more than 30 states, aiming to restrict diversity efforts in college admissions and the workplace.
Despite the attacks, the CBC said it remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing racial and economic equity. In December 2023, the CBC sent Fortune 500 companies an accountability letter urging them to uphold
their DEI commitments in the face of political pressure, which catalyzed the report.
Corporate America’s response has been overwhelmingly positive. Since the CBC’s letter, companies have held over 50 meetings with CBC representatives, affirming their dedication to diversity. The CBC has also convened discussions with industry trade associations and hosted a briefing with more than 300 Fortune 500 company representatives to strengthen collaboration on DEI efforts.
Moving Forward
The CBC’s report is not just a reflection on past efforts but a call to action for the future. It highlights the importance of crossindustry learning, encouraging companies to share best practices
and build upon one another’s successes. The CBC also recommends that corporations adopt consistent performance metrics to track progress and foster accountability. Looking ahead, the CBC plans to push for more economic opportunities for Black Americans, focusing on closing the racial wealth gap. Horsford emphasized that DEI is not only a moral imperative but also an economic one. Research from McKinsey & Company shows that racially diverse companies outperform their peers by 39% in profitability, further underscoring the business case for diversity. The CBC’s report offers a roadmap for companies committed to fostering a more inclusive and equitable future despite political and legal challenges.
“Following the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, we witnessed a nationwide response calling for long-overdue justice and accountability,” Horsford wrote in the report. “Millions of Americans flooded the streets in protest to advocate for an end to the cycles of violence against Black Americans that are perpetuated by systemic racism ingrained deeply in the United States.
“Now, in order to move forward and achieve the goals of these commitments, we must evaluate where we are and stay the course. We cannot allow a handful of right-wing agitators to bully corporations away from their promises.
moment for tax reform. “We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reform our tax system to address racial inequality,” the report states, comparing recent monumental legislation like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act.
Three Key Reforms to Tackle Racial Inequity
The report lays out three central reforms aimed at curbing the wealth concentration among the ultra-rich and dismantling the racial inequities baked into the tax code: Taxing Wealth Fairly: The report calls for equalizing the tax rates on wealth and work. Currently, capital gains — profits from investments — are taxed at a far lower rate than wages earned by working people, a disparity that overwhelmingly benefits white households. The vast majority of capital gains income flows to white families, who comprise only two-thirds of taxpayers but receive 92% of the benefits from lower tax rates on investment income.
Strengthening the Estate Tax: The estate tax, which is supposed to curb the accumulation of dynastic wealth, has been weakened over time, allowing large fortunes — primarily held by white families — to grow even larger across generations. The report calls for stronger enforcement of the estate tax to prevent the further entrenchment of wealth and power within a small,
overwhelmingly white elite.
Targeting Tax
Deductions to Benefit LowerIncome Households: Deductions for mortgage interest, college savings, and retirement accounts disproportionately benefit wealthier, predominantly white households. In order to prevent lower-income and minority households from falling behind due to policies that are currently biased in favor of the wealthy, the brief advocates for restructuring these deductions.
Biden-Harris Administration and Senate Proposals for Change
Both the Biden-Harris administration and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden have proposed addressing the racial wealth gap. The Billionaire Minimum Income Tax (BMIT) and the Billionaire Income Tax (BIT) would ensure that the wealthiest Americans — who often go years without paying taxes — contribute their fair share. These proposals would raise over $500 billion in revenue over the next decade, which could be reinvested in healthcare, education, and housing for communities of color.
As the report points out, our current tax system is skewed in favor of the ultrawealthy. It allows the rich to avoid paying taxes on the increased value of their investments unless they sell them. They often borrow against these growing fortunes, further
The report also highlights the critical need to defend IRS funding, restored under the Inflation Reduction Act, which is essential for cracking down on wealthy tax cheats. Contrary to Republican claims, this funding will not increase tax enforcement on households earning less than $400,000. Instead, it will improve customer service and expand the Direct File
Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA
Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA
her boss, President Joe Biden.
there was no place for such a racially divisive strategy.
the debate.
‘The American people want better’
Rodney Coates, Professor of Critical Race and Ethnic Studies, Miami University
From the very opening of the presidential debate, Kamala Harris made clear her vision of a more just society while at the same time directly challenging Donald Trump’s controversial views on abortion, immigration and the U.S. legal system.
“I’m about lifting people up and not beating people down,” Harris said.
A former prosecutor, Harris repeatedly used Trump’s own words and past behavior to attack his chaotic first administration. In response, Trump resorted to personal attacks, calling Harris “the worst vice president in the history of our country,” and said she had no ideas except for those of
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reminder to voters that Black religious life in the U.S. has long involved an appeal to people of all faiths to use their beliefs to advance social justice.
Her message stands in sharp contrast to Trump’s conservative allies, who have pushed for restrictions on personal freedoms concerning abortion.
The racial divide
To better understand the relationship between race, religion and support for Trump, we fielded an online, national survey in June 2024 supported by the Public Religion Research Institute, a nonprofit organization that conducts public opinion polls on a variety of topics.
In order to compare the views of white and Black Christians, our sample of nearly
Harris vs Trump Harris vs From 3
But after listening to Trump’s frequent personal attacks against Biden, Harris finally snapped. “You are not running against Joe Biden,” Harris said. “You are running against me.”
Noticeably absent from Trump’s first face-to-face meeting with Harris were his racist attacks against her. Since Biden dropped out of the race in July 2024 and Harris became the Democratic nominee, Trump has described Harris as having “a low IQ,” “dumb as a rock,” “weak” and “lazy.”
For most of the debate, Trump avoided this line of attack, but he could not avoid repeating a debunked myth that Haitian immigrants in Ohio were killing and eating pets. But when asked about Harris’ racial identity, Trump said he didn’t care what she was.
“I read where she is not Black … then I read that she was Black,” Trump said. “That’s up to her.”
Critics have accused Trump of putting racist attacks at the center of his campaign strategy.
But Harris said
1,500 adults included over 700 participants from each racial group. We asked half the sample to indicate their level of agreement with five statements commonly used to measure Christian nationalist beliefs.
Those items include support for religious-based laws and the belief that the U.S. was conceived as a Christian nation.
We then categorized participants according to whether they agreed with most of the statements (“adherents” and “sympathizers”) or disagreed with most of them (“skeptics” and “rejectors”).
Over one-third of both Black and white Christians agreed with most Christian nationalist ideas.
We found that Black Christian nationalists are far less likely to support Trump, however, compared with their white counterparts. Additionally, they do not back far-right policies, like those outlined in Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation’s plan to implement a conservative agenda across the federal government. These two groups also
“It’s a tragedy,” Harris said. Trump, she said, “has consistently over the course of his career attempted to use race to divide the American people. … I think the American people want better than that.”
‘What people wanted’
Lee Banville, Professor and Director of the School of Journalism, University of Montana
Often these spectacles of American politics come down to some memorable moment – a rhetorical jab that bloodies an opponent, an unforced error that dogs a campaign for weeks. The first 30 minutes of Biden’s performance in his June debate with Trump is just the latest in a long line of pivotal moments that can throw a campaign off
But when does a fumbled phrase elevate into a political crisis or a factual slip turn into lost votes? And what from the night’s historic encounter will merit more than a couple of TikToks making fun of politicians?
We should know
differ greatly in their evaluation of Trump. Only 17% of Black Christian nationalists expressed a favorable view toward the former president, compared with 49% of white Christian nationalists.
The chosen one? These racial differences are even more pronounced when we examined the attitudes of charismatics –a group of devout Christians who in the late 20th century began emphasizing Pentecostal practices such as divine healing and speaking in tongues, a language of indecipherable sounds believed to be a direct communication with God.
All participants in our survey – 760 white Americans and 734 Black Americans – were asked whether they had personally experienced or witnessed practices of charismatic Christianity. Those include receiving what they believed to be a direct revelation from God.
While only 23% of white Americans in the
in the next day or so, but one may be when Trump claimed that ending the constitutional protection for abortion in Roe v. Wade had returned the issue to the states – a move, he said, “Every legal scholar, every Democrat, every Republican, liberal, conservative, they all wanted this issue to be brought back to the states where the people could vote. And that’s what happened.”
Harris then turned that phrase “what people wanted” back on the former president. “You want to talk about this is what people wanted? Pregnant women who want to carry a pregnancy to term suffering from a miscarriage, being denied care in an emergency room because the health care providers are afraid they might go to jail and she’s bleeding out in a car in the parking lot? She didn’t want that. Her husband didn’t want that. A 12- or 13-year-old survivor of incest being forced to carry a pregnancy to term? They don’t want that,” Harris said. It was a moment of policy, but also a personal moment, and hit on a major theme of the race. That is the
study were categorized as charismatic, that figure doubled to 51% of Black Americans. Although prominent white Christian nationalists frequently characterize Trump as “the chosen one,” we found that only 15% of Black charismatics express favorable views of him compared with 52% of white charismatics.
The ongoing fight for freedom
The Black radical tradition, helps explain how Black charismatics can share so much with their white counterparts – even an embrace of Christian nationalism – but diverge when it comes to Trump and abortion. In its contemporary form, the Black radical tradition is an ideological framework that asks its adherents to actively resist policies that threaten racial equality and bodily autonomy. Abortion rights fit squarely within this political tradition. According to a 2014 Religious Landscape Survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, the majority
kind of moment we have seen stand out in the past: President Gerald Ford wrongly declaring Eastern Europe free of Soviet domination; President Ronald Reagan deftly dispatching concerns about his age with a well-placed quip about the youth and inexperience of his 56-year-old rival; President George H.W. Bush looking at his watch repeatedly during a 1992 town hall debate.
I was lucky enough to work on a 2008 documentary –“Debating our Destiny” – where the moderator of 12 presidential debates and my former boss, the late Jim Lehrer, interviewed many of those candidates about debates. The first President Bush was one of our favorites.
“You look at your watch and they say that he shouldn’t had any business running for president. He’s bored. He’s out of this thing, he’s not with it and we need change,” Bush told us later. “Now, was I glad when the damn thing was over. Yeah. And maybe that’s why I was looking at it, only 10 more minutes of this crap.” Now, Bush might have been the funny one, but it was former President Bill
of Black Christians say that abortion should be legal.
Those Christians include such denominations as Baptists, Presbyterians and Pentecostals who are not affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church.
Over the years, that majority support for abortion among Black Christians has remained stable and mirrors similar support among Black voters overall. In a 2024 Pew Research Center poll, for instance, 73% of Black voters said abortion should be legal.
During her speech before members of the Zeta
Phi Beta sorority, Harris said that she understood the difficulty in balancing one’s faith with political resistance.
But as she explained:
We, who believe in reproductive freedom, will fight for a woman’s right to choose, because one does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree that the government should not be telling her what to do!
After Harris accepted Biden’s endorsement, her
Clinton who, after mulling it over, offered some good insight into why some debate moments stick: “The reason the watch thing hurt so badly was it tended to reinforce the problem he had in the election.” Put another way, stories and moments that reaffirm a theme in the campaign that already is present in the minds of voters often resonate long after the lights dim. So, now Americans will sit back and see what the echo chambers and cable outlets make of an exchange like the one on abortion. Will it fire up more women voters to back the Harris ticket or will it be lost in a sea of economic issues and immigration policy? If Bill Clinton is right, the abortion back-andforth will probably resonate if it connects to what voters already think about these candidates and what are the primary issues of this campaign. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
longtime pastor, Rev. Amos Brown, prayed that Harris would advance her campaign “in the spirit of our ancestors.” That ancestral spirit includes the Black radical tradition of political resistance – and the ongoing fight for freedom. Youssef Chouhoud receives funding from the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI). He is affiliated with PRRI as a Public Fellow. Dara Delgado receives funding from the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI). She is affiliated with PRRI as a Public Fellow. Flavio Rogerio Hickel Jr. receives funding from the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI). He is affiliated with PRRI as a Public Fellow. Leah Payne works for Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI). She is affiliated with PRRI as a Public Fellow and receives funding from PRRI. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
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From 3 the local precincts close, and local election workers tabulate the vote; they affirm or attest that the precinct results are the proper tabulation and send those results to the county.
“If she is president, I believe that Israel will not exist within two years from now.”
— Trump, who claimed that Harris “hates
“These dictators and autocrats are rooting for you to be president again, because they’re so clear, they can manipulate you with flattery and favors.” — Harris, who critiqued Trump for his foreign policy stances and, as she argued, his appeal to authoritarians around the world. Harris added, “And that is why so many military leaders who you have worked with have told me, you are a disgrace.”
the next decade, Beverly and Maze released a string of hits, including “Feel That You’re Feelin’” from their 1979 album Inspiration, which reached No. 7 on the R&B chart, and “Southern Girl” from the 1980 album Joy and Pain, which peaked at No. 9 on the R&B chart. The group’s live performances, particularly their 1981 album Live in New Orleans, showcased their musical brilliance, with standout tracks like “Running Away” and “Before I Let Go,” the latter of which became an
It’s just arithmetic
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In a matter of days, the county election board assembles the results across all the county’s precincts, tabulates them and certifies the county’s result. Those results are sent to the state election board, which adds up the results from all the counties and certifies the state’s winners. The governor then signs certificates of elections for the winning candidates. There isn’t one weird trick to steal a presidential election. And there are ample safeguards to ensure ballots are tabulated accurately and election results are certified in a timely manner.
Certifying an election is a rather mundane task. In law, it is often called a “ministerial” obligation, which means it does not involve individual discretion. It is little more than making sure all precincts have reported and the arithmetic is correct. But it is an important task, because it is the formal process that determines who won the most votes. Election officials typically carry out this obligation with little fanfare. But in recent years, some election officials have questioned the election results. Some officials have wondered whether the voting machines that tabulate votes were functioning correctly, or they wanted to investigate other aspects of the election. At the certification stage, however, election officials do not have that power. If there are major questions about the election, the power to investigate them lies elsewhere. Other election
Israel.” He added: “I’ve been pretty good at predictions. I hope I’m wrong about that one.”
“What we know is that this war must end, it must end immediately. And the way it will end is we need a cease-fire deal and we need the hostages out.”
— Harris, speaking about the Israel-Gaza war. She reiterated she supports Israel and believes the nation has a right to defend itself.
enduring classic in R&B and funk circles, reaching No. 13 on the R&B chart. In the mid1980s, the group continued their success with hits like “Too Many Games” and “Back In Stride” from their album Can’t Stop the Love, cementing their place in music history.
“I’m talking now. I’m talking, please. Does that sound familiar?”
— Trump, to Harris, as she began a rebuttal to some of his remarks. It was a reference to Harris’ comment to Mike Pence, then a candidate for vice president, during a 2020 presidential debate. The moment — when Harris blunted Pence’s interruptions with “I’m speaking” —
became a catchphrase among her supporters.
“The government, and Donald Trump, certainly should not be telling a woman what to do with her body.”
— Harris, who pledged to support reproductive rights and contrasted her position with Trump.
“No, I don’t acknowledge that all, that was said sarcastically.”
— Trump, standing by his false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him when asked directly whether some of his recent remarks indicated that he now acknowledged his 2020 election loss to Biden. Editor’s note: This story is part of an agreement MinnPost has with The Associated Press to publish 2024 election coverage.
Throughout his career, Beverly demonstrated a unique ability to craft timeless music that resonated with generations of fans. His contributions to soundtracks, including the 2005 film Get Rich or Die Tryin’, further solidified his impact. His song “Hustler’s Ambition” earned a nomination for “Outstanding Original Song” at the Satellite Awards that year. Frankie Beverly’s influence didn’t go unnoticed. In 2012, he was honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the BET Awards. In 2019, at the age of 72, he delivered a powerful performance at the Essence Festival in New Orleans, proving that his music still moved the masses. Beyond his musical accolades, Beverly’s family said he was a devoted father to his son, Anthony Beverly, and a loving grandfather to three grandchildren. They said his legacy, marked by five gold albums and countless unforgettable songs, will continue to inspire and resonate with fans for years to come.
officials verify absentee ballot signatures or calibrate ballot tabulation machines well before the election, a task typically open to public viewing. A losing candidate might file an election contest in court to challenge the results of the election, and a court can take evidence and hear the legal dispute. Certification, in contrast, is a simple and ministerial task.
still refuse to do their job, they can be sued in court. The secretary of state might sue to ensure officials complete the tasks required for election administration. Or a winning candidate might sue to ensure that he or she receives a certification of election.
“He lived for his music, family, and friends. For us, no one did it better,” the family stated.
Good faith and respect In short, the legal system is built to handle election officials who delay certification or refuse to certify results. No single election official or group of them can stymie an election. Of course, the refusal to certify an election can still have consequences. It can sow confusion and discord among the public. It can undermine people’s faith in elections and call into question the results when there are no reasonable grounds to dispute the outcome. Those political and practical concerns are serious, and it is important for the public and election officials to act in good faith and to respect the legal process as it plays out. But such rhetoric will not prevent the election of a winning candidate. Derek T. Muller does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Election
Courts can step in If an election official or board refuses to certify an election, that refusal does not last long. After some refusals in recent years, election officials learned of the legal consequences for failing to perform their obligations, including being removed from office and facing criminal prosecution. Most officials quickly relented and ended up certifying. And none of the delays in certification ever lasted long enough to miss deadlines set by state law for certification. If election officials
In 2022, for instance, after an election board refused to certify the results in Otero County, New Mexico, the secretary of state filed a lawsuit in the New Mexico Supreme Court. In just one day, the court ordered the board to certify the election. The board did. But these elections were not presidential elections, and the stakes are high as 2024’s election approaches. What if election officials refuse to certify results – and, worse still, defy courts that order them to certify results? The law is prepared for that, too. If a party refuses to comply with a court order, the court can order someone
else to perform it, and it is given the same legal effect. A court can quickly and easily ensure election results are certified in a timely fashion. For those worrying about the 2024 presidential election, there are even more safeguards. Congress enacted the Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022. The act clarifies the rules surrounding the certifying of results in presidential elections and the counting of electoral votes in Congress.
For instance, the act requires state officials to finish the certification of election results by “the second Wednesday of December,” which is Dec. 11 this year. Courts can ensure that election officials who may be dragging their feet will comply with this federally mandated deadline.
By Charlene Crowell, The Center for Responsible Lending
As consumers struggle to cope with mounting debt, a new economic report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York includes an unprecedented glimmer of hope. Although debt for mortgages, credit cards, auto loans and more increased by billions of dollars in the second quarter of 2024, student loan debt decreased by $10 billion.
According to the New York Fed, borrowers ages 40-49 and ages 18-29 benefitted the most from the reduction in student loan debt.
In a separate and recent independent finding, 57 percent of Black Americans hold more than $25,000 in student loan debt compared to 47 percent of Americans overall, according to The Motley Fool’s analysis of student debt by geography, age and race. Black women have an average of $41,466 in undergraduate student loan debt one year after graduation, more than any other group and $10,000 more than men.
This same analysis found that Washington, DC residents carried the highest average federal student loan debt balance, with $54,146 outstanding per borrower. Americans holding high levels of student debt lived in many of the nation’s most populous states – including California, Texas, and Florida.
The Fed’s recent finding may be connected to actions taken by the Biden administration to rein in unsustainable debt held by people who sought higher
Education
administration forgiveness
education as a way to secure a better quality of life. This decline is even more noteworthy in light of a series of legal roadblocks to loan forgiveness. In response to these legal challenges, the Education Department on August 1 began emailing all borrowers of an approaching August 30 deadline to contact their loan servicer to decline future financial relief. Borrowers preferring to be considered for future relief proposed by pending departmental regulations should not respond.
If approved as drafted, the new rules would benefit over 30 million borrowers, including those who have already been approved for debt cancellation over the past three years.
“These latest steps will mark the next milestone in our efforts to help millions of borrowers who’ve been
buried under a mountain of student loan interest, or who took on debt to pay for college programs that left them worse off financially, those who have been paying their loans for twenty or more years, and many others,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.
The draft rules would benefit borrowers with either partial or full forgiveness in the following categories:
Borrowers who owe more now than they did at the start of repayment. This category is expected to largely benefit nearly 23 million borrowers, the majority of whom are Pell Grant recipients.
Borrowers who have been in repayment for decades. Borrowers of both undergraduate and graduate loans who began repayment on or before July 1, 2000 would qualify for relief in this category.
Borrowers who are otherwise eligible for loan forgiveness but have not yet applied. If a borrower hasn’t successfully enrolled in an income-driven repayment (IDR) plan but would be eligible for immediate forgiveness, they would be eligible for relief. Borrowers who would be eligible for closed school discharge or other types of forgiveness opportunities but haven’t successfully applied would also be eligible for this relief.
Borrowers who enrolled in low-financial value programs. If a borrower attended an institution that failed to provide sufficient financial value, or that failed one of the Department’s accountability standards for institutions, those borrowers would also be eligible for debt relief.
Most importantly, if
the rules become approved as drafted, no related application or actions would be required from eligible borrowers — so long as they did not opt out of the relief by the August 30 deadline.
“The regulations would deliver on unfulfilled promises made by the federal government to student loan borrowers over decades and offer remedies for a dysfunctional system that has often created a financial burden, rather than economic mobility, for student borrowers pursuing a better future,” stated the Center for American Progress in an August 7 web article. “Meanwhile, the Biden-Harris administration also introduced income limits and caps on relief to ensure the borrowers who can afford to pay the full amount of their debts do so.”
“The Center for American Progress estimates
TRUMP’S PROJECT 2025 IS A THREAT TO BLACK AMERICANS
the interest waiver provisions would deliver relief to roughly 6 million Black borrowers, or 23 percent of the estimated number of borrowers receiving relief, as well as 4 million Hispanic or Latino borrowers (16 percent) and 13.5
Project 2025 is Donald Trump and JD Vance’s plan to remake the federal government if they win. It would:
Use Civil Rights-era laws created to address discrimination to instead benefit white people – Axios, 4/1/24
Gut the Affordable Care Act, which will raise health care costs and threaten health care coverage for millions of Americans – AP News, 11/27/23
Cut Social Security and Medicare Americans have earned – Washington Post, 2/9/23
Ban abortion nationally – New York Times, 2/16/24
Commentary/Letters
The power of possibility: What Kamala Harris’s nomination means for Black girls everywhere
By Haley Taylor Schlitz, Esq. Columnist
In 2024, America stands on the verge of an extraordinary breakthrough—electing Kamala Harris as the first Black woman President. This isn’t just a milestone; it’s a testament to the unwavering strength and resilience of Black women who have led the charge for justice and equality. For Black girls across Minnesota and the nation, this moment is a powerful reminder that they, too, can achieve greatness.
As Black girls across America watched Kamala Harris accept the nomination, we were reminded that we are enough—just as we are. We were reminded that our voices matter, that our dreams are valid, and that our futures are bright. We were reminded that we stand on the shoulders of giants, and that because of women like Kamala Harris, we can reach even higher.
This resonates deeply with me on a personal level.
In 2019, as a 16-year-old about to start law school, I had the incredible opportunity to introduce then-Senator Kamala Harris at a campaign event in Dallas Fort Worth. Meeting her backstage was more than
just an exciting moment—it was transformative. I shared my journey with her, and she looked me in the eye and told me to never doubt my ability to overcome obstacles. Those words have stayed with me ever since. Kamala Harris didn’t just speak to me that day—she spoke to every Black girl who has ever been told that her dreams were too big or her voice too loud. Her encouragement was a reminder of the importance of representation and the power of believing in yourself. Minnesota, too, has its own history-making moments to celebrate. In 2022, for the first time in the 164-year history of the state, a Black woman was elected to the State Senate. In fact, three Black women—Senator Zaynab Mohamed, Senator Erin Maye Quade, and Senator Clare Oumou Verbeten—were elected that year. Their success is a powerful testament to the growing influence of Black women in our state’s political landscape, and it underscores the importance of representation at every level of government. We must also honor the trailblazers who paved the way for this moment, such as Toni Carter, the first Black woman to serve on the Ramsey County Board, and Sharon Sayles Belton, the first African
American and first woman to serve as mayor of Minneapolis from 1994 to 2001. Carter’s and Sayles Belton’s leadership and dedication to equity and justice have inspired countless others to step into leadership roles and fight for a more inclusive Minnesota. Their legacies are reminders that progress is built on the efforts of those who came before us and that every step forward opens doors for future generations. We must also honor the trailblazers who paved the way for this moment, like former Ramsey County Commissioner Toni Carter, the first African American woman to serve on the Ramsey County Board. Carter’s leadership and dedication to equity and justice have inspired countless others to step into leadership roles and fight for a more inclusive Minnesota. Her legacy is a reminder that progress is built on the efforts of those who came before us, and that every step forward opens doors for future generations.
Kamala Harris’s candidacy is about more than breaking barriers; it’s about expanding the realm of possibility for Black girls everywhere. It’s about showing them that they belong in every room, on every stage, and in every space where decisions are
made. It’s about affirming that their voices are not just heard, but valued—and that they have the power to shape the future of this nation. For Black girls in Minnesota, this is a moment to dream bigger, to aim higher, and to know that they are seen. It’s a moment to recognize that their potential is limitless, and that they, too, can help write the next great chapter in the most extraordinary story ever told— the story of a nation where every Black girl knows that she belongs, that she can achieve anything, and that her voice can change the world. As we move forward into this historic election, let us remember that Kamala
Harris’s nomination is not just about one woman; it’s about the generations of Black girls who will look to her and see what’s possible. It’s about the inspiration she provides, the doors she opens, and the legacy she leaves for those who will follow in her footsteps. Thank you, Vice President Harris, for showing us that our potential is limitless. Thank you for being a source of inspiration and a reminder that we belong in every space where the future is being shaped. Your journey is a powerful example of what it means to be Black Girl Magic, and because of you, we know that we, too, can help write the next great chapter in this extraordinary story. Haley Taylor Schlitz, 21, is a trailblazing attorney and the youngest Black person and woman to earn a law degree in U.S. history. She graduated from the SMU Dedman School of Law at 19 and earned her Bachelor of Science from Texas Woman’s University at 16, becoming the youngest graduate in the school’s history. A recognized voice for Generation Z, Haley has contributed to platforms such as TheGrio,
Congress: Please stand up for Minnesotans on dialysis
By Ramona Banks
Haley Taylor Schlitz
White House
VP Kamala Harris
Sports
Twins bash Angels 10-5 behind homers by Farmer, Wallner, Santana to lift lagging lineup
By Dave Campbell AP Sports Writer
Kyle Farmer hit a three-run home run in the second inning to provide a well-timed jolt for a sputtering lineup, and Matt Wallner and Carlos Santana also went deep for the Minnesota Twins in a 10-5 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night to stop a four-game losing streak.
Pablo López (15-8) won his fourth straight start on
the strength of 10 strikeouts over seven innings without an earned run, withstanding a three-run homer by Zach Neto in the fifth that cut the lead to 6-4.
“It’s no secret how the vibes were feeling lately,” López said. “We’re not used to that. We’re used to playing loose. We’re used to having fun, and that was really cool and special to see that.”
The Twins (7768), who had lost 15 of their previous 21 games, preserved a
three-game edge with 17 games to go in the chase for the last of three AL wild-card spots in the playoffs that has tightened with their recent slide. Detroit (74-71) is the next closest competitor to Minnesota, which trails Cleveland by six games in the AL Central.
“Yes, our margin for error keeps shrinking, but we’re just in the mindset that winners focus on winning, losers focus on winners,” said López, who shrunk his ERA to 3.88, the lowest it’s been since April 11.
Wallner hit a solo shot in the third and a tworun double with two outs in the sixth that chased Angels starter Griffin Canning (5-13), who surrendered a career-high 10 runs on nine hits and three walks. One run was unearned, due to a grounder that skidded between first baseman Nolan Schanuel’s legs.
Trevor Larnach reached base all four times he batted, with a single and three walks, and scored three times for the Twins, who also got two
Minnesota Twins’ Kyle Farmer runs the bases after hitting a 3-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024, in Minneapolis.
RBIs from Ryan Jeffers and a two-run shot by Santana for his team-best 21st homer to send Canning to an 0-10 record in 13 road starts.
“Facing one of the best pitchers in the game, we certainly needed a shutdown inning in that fifth, but he just couldn’t do it,” Angels manager Ron Washington said. After scoring only four runs on their four-game skid and just 13 runs with 72 strikeouts over their last seven games, the Twins sent the Angels (60-85) to their 21st loss in their last 30 games.
“They’ll beat the heck out of you if you can’t keep ‘em in the ballpark,” Washington said.
López has been Minnesota’s most valuable player since the All-Star break, stabilizing an injury-thinned rotation that’s currently stocked with three rookies. He would’ve escaped the fifth inning without any damage, but a two-out error by second baseman Eduoard Julien on a bobbled ball and hesitated throw preceded an RBI single by Taylor Ward and the three-run blast by Neto for his 21st homer this season.
THE CURE?
Farmer’s homer even prompted a reappearance o f the lucky summer sausage the Twins made a mascot of earlier in the season.
“It’s been a couple months,” López said. “Who knows where that thing’s been?” Said manager Rocco Baldelli: “No one can kill it. It’s probably going to be around for long after all of us.”
TRAINER’S ROOM Angels: 3B Anthony Rendon went to the injured list for a third time this season, with an oblique strain. RHP Ben Joyce, the team’s current closer, was also placed on the IL with shoulder inflammation.
Twins: CF Byron Buxton (hip inflammation), SS Carlos Correa (plantar fasciitis), RF Max Kepler (patellar tendinitis) and OF Manny Margot (groin strain) took live batting practice from minorleaguers before the game. Correa, who has been out the longest at 49 games, said this week he’s close to returning. UP NEXT Angels: Rookie RHP Jack Kochanowicz (2-4, 4.89 ERA) takes the mound on Wednesday night. He has logged
and
Zebby
AP Photo/Abbie Parr
Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan joined veterans and hundreds of volunteers to take part in last week’s National Day of Service and Remembrance. Volunteers assembled 230,000 meals for food shelves across Minnesota.
“Today, 23 years after the terrorist attacks that shook the nation, we pause to remember all that was lost – the fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, colleagues, and friends who never returned home – and honor the courage and resilience of the American people,” said Governor Walz. “By coming together in a day of service we show that we are stronger when we lift
others up, and we reaffirm our commitment to do right by the soldiers, veterans, and first responders who put their lives on the line to serve their communities and their country.”
“September 11, 2001, left a hole in our hearts and our country that can never be filled or forgotten,” said Lieutenant Governor Flanagan. “Today, in coming together to serve others, we remember and honor those lost – the workers and first responders who walked out of their homes for the last time that morning – embodying the selflessness demonstrated on that day and every day since. As we remember the tragedy of 9/11, the heroism demonstrated on that day, and
the years of rebuilding, we are guided in our unity and service to our neighbors.” Established by congress in 2009 and recognized annually,
Evolving
By W.D. Foster-Graham Book Review Editor
EVOLVING
By Latanya Mack and Kenya Wallace-Williams
It is written in the book of Ecclesiastes, “To everything there is a season.”
This is indeed a season for Spoken Word and its diversity in poetic voice. Recently I participated in this year’s Artists in the Afternoon event in Atlanta as an author and one of the panelists representing the elders in attendance for this multigenerational event, which featured both straight and LGBTQ authors/poets.
Among those elders with me was Latanya Mack, and it is my good pleasure to bring to you her poetry collection Evolving, co-authored by her granddaughter, Kenya WallaceWilliams. Evolving is a compilation of poems in Mack’s six previous collections, representing her spiritual growth. Inspiration for a poem can and does come from everywhere, and hers stems from the Word. Each poem in this collection is preceded by the scriptural text that inspired it, including the signature piece “Evolving,” inspired by Genesis 3: 10-12. These are poems filled with the wisdom of experience and the guidance of the Spirit, something you can sit down over coffee, tea, or juice, and take a moment to let the words marinate in your mind before heading into the busy-ness of the day.
For myself, several poems in Mack’s collection referenced 1 Corinthians 13. They remind us of what love is and what it isn’t, and if we are giving love as we go about our lives. All in all, Mack’s gift for Spoken Word encourages us to move a little higher. Originally writing to encourage her family and friends, from hearing Mack speak at the event and reading her work supports her belief in God’s promises and plans for us, plus the experience, strength, hope, and love. Evolving is available through Amazon and REThink the Narrative (www.rethinkn. com)
Thank you, Latanya and Kenya, for your collaboration of a beautiful book that keeps us ever evolving in the Word.
By Daniel Pastula Professor of Neurology, Medicine (Infectious Diseases),
and
Epidemiology, University
Anschutz Medical Campus
The 2024 outbreak of eastern equine encephalitis – known as triple E or EEE – has caused six reported and confirmed human disease cases in five states, including one death, as of Sept. 4, 2024.
EEE surfaces nearly every year in the U.S., but with another outbreak of West Nile virus also spreading across the country, health officials are working hard to alert people about the serious risks that come with getting a mosquito bite.
The Conversation asked Daniel Pastula, a neurologist and medical epidemiologist from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, to explain how EEE spreads and what you can do to reduce your risk of encountering it.
What is eastern equine encephalitis, or triple E?
Eastern equine encephalitis is a virus that is primarily transmitted by certain mosquitoes. It was first identified in horses that died of encephalitis along the mid-Atlantic coast in 1933. EEE was recognized to cause human disease during an outbreak involving horses and humans in southeastern Massachusetts in 1938.
Since then, sporadic human and horse cases have been reported nearly every year in the Atlantic, Great Lakes and Gulf Coast regions of the
Insight 2 Health
U.S., with larger outbreaks occurring several years apart in these areas. The last significant outbreak of human EEE disease was in 2019 when over three dozen cases were reported, largely from Massachusetts and Michigan.
How is it transmitted?
EEE virus exists in a natural cycle between Culiseta melanura – the black-legged or black-tailed mosquito – living in eastern freshwater hardwood swamps and certain birds that reside in such swamps.
Culiseta melanura mosquitoes feed almost exclusively on birds and usually do not bite humans or horses. However, more common mosquitoes such as Aedes, Coquillettidia and Culex can sometimes bite infected birds, become infected themselves and then transmit EEE virus to nearby humans or horses. These are called “bridging” mosquitoes. Rarely, EEE virus has also been transmitted through organ donation. Theoretically it also may be transmitted by blood transfusion.
Why is EEE surfacing now?
Typically, there are about 10 human cases reported annually in the Atlantic, Great Lakes and Gulf Coast regions of the U.S., though there are likely many more mild cases that go unreported. Most human cases occur from July through October in endemic areas.
Every few years, there are much larger outbreaks of EEE disease in certain areas. For instance, in 2019 over three dozen cases were reported, primarily from Massachusetts and Michigan. These cyclic outbreaks are likely due to a complex interaction between temperature, rainfall, mosquito populations, bird immunity and bird migration patterns.
What are EEE’s main symptoms and how severe can an infection be?
Researchers do not have great estimates on how often people become sick after being infected with the virus. Our best estimate is that about 95% of infected people have either no or relatively mild symptoms. Some may develop fever or a flu-like illness after an incubation period of four to 10 days.
About 5% of people infected with EEE virus can go on to develop a brain
swelling called encephalitis.
This brain swelling can be particularly severe and may require intensive care.
Among those who develop encephalitis, approximately one-third die. The other twothirds may have permanent neurologic deficits including cognitive problems, weakness or movement disorders.
People younger than 15 and older than 50, as well as those who are immunocompromised, are at higher risk of progressing to encephalitis.
Are there any treatments or vaccines for EEE?
There are no proven effective treatments for EEE at this time. Some clinicians have tried steroids to reduce swelling or antibodies to improve immune response, with variable success.
But no treatments have been proven in large clinical trials.
Brain swelling may need to be managed in the intensive care unit, and seizures may need to be treated with anti-seizure medications.
Almost all patients who develop encephalitis and survive will need prolonged rehabilitation.
There are currently no commercially available human vaccines for EEE, but there are vaccines for horses in endemic areas.
How do you prevent EEE?
Generally speaking, if you prevent mosquito bites, you prevent EEE virus infection. There are several things you can do to prevent mosquito bites:
Use an insect repellent registered by the Environmental Protection Agency on exposed skin when you are outside and mosquitoes are around. They are safe and effective when used as directed. Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when feasible. It is much harder – or even impossible, depending on the fabric – for mosquitoes to bite through clothing. You can also treat your clothing with the insecticide permethrin, which further repels mosquitoes. Avoid being outside from dusk to dawn. This is when many species of mosquitoes are most active.
Use window screens or air conditioning when inside a building to keep mosquitoes outside.
Dump any unneeded standing water around your property. Mosquitoes like to breed in standing water. You can use this water for watering plants.
Finally, certain local vector control agencies may consider spraying for mosquitoes to kill them in communities where there is a high burden of infection.
Is there a ‘western’ version of the virus in the US?
Yes. western equine encephalitis, or WEE virus, is a closely related virus to EEE. Historically, it had been endemic to the western United States and South America. However, the last human outbreak of WEE in the United States was in 1987, and the last reported human case in the United States was in 1999. Researchers do not know why WEE has been absent in the western United States for nearly two decades, though it reemerged in Argentina in late 2023. WEE is thought to be less severe than EEE but still may cause an encephalitis in young children and the elderly in particular. The reemergence of diseases such as EEE and WEE shows the importance of public health surveillance. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
– Patient
Lola Adebiyi
Aesthetically It
An Infusion of Zen in Minneapolis courtesy Rhymesayers and the University of Minnesota
By Sheila Regan MinnPost
I thought of Jackson Pollock as I watched Seido Suzuki Roshi paint calligraphy characters on the floor of Rhymesayers’ former Fifth Element record store on Hennepin Avenue last Friday. Dipping his brush into a bucket of black ink, he moved quickly across the oversized paper spread out on the floor. With the ink dripping from the brush, Roshi used an expressive motion to make the characters, as a diverse crowd of all ages watched intently.
The Zen teacher, an abbott of Toshoji Monastery in Japan, was in town last week for the opening of his very first art exhibition of calligraphy and photography, called “Healing Words / Healing Mind.” The exhibit, which runs through September 20, is hosted by the Minnesota-based hip hop record label Rhymesayers and the religious studies and art history departments at the University of Minnesota.
There are a few vestiges of Rhymesayers’ former record shop in the space, like a signed poster of Jurassic 5. In the main area, there are framed examples of Roshi’s photographs of life at Toshoji Monastery, as well as both framed and unframed calligraphy works.
Besides hosting the exhibition at its space,
Rhymesayers is also a partner in probing the pathways between Japanese Zen and culturally-rooted forms of healing here in Minneapolis.
Heading up a lot of that work is Sierra Carter, a community leader and vice president of Rhymesayers.
Owner of the plant-based cafe and herbal shop Heal and the Zen Bin, a healing space in North Minneapolis, Carter’s work is often focused on creating space for people to get to know themselves and experience radical self care and self acceptance.
That’s what Carter has been doing with the “Healing Words / Healing Mind” project, as she’s curated culturally relevant programming throughout the run of the show.
“It’s just super in alignment with all that I do with Rhymesayers and with Zen Bin,” Carter said. “It’s been a fun project to help reflect the synergy of my entire world.”
Throughout the next week and a half, the storefront will be a place for meditation, wellness, movement, and more.
“It’s a lot of mindfulness,” Carter told me. “It’s a safe space for people to slow down and quiet their mind.”
In the various healing workshops and classes, visitors will be surrounded by Roshi’s work, like one calligraphy piece that translates to the word “Dragon.” Roshi’s brushstroke on the left side of the paper is thick and deep black. The
ink thins out as the curvy line snakes up and down the paper. The calligraphy both represents the word and has dragonlike qualities in its image.
Another piece, “Door,” is made of two shapes that look like they are facing each other. They both are saturated with the black ink and almost invite the viewer to pass through their entrance.
A Zen koan— a kind of poetic fable, serves as inspiration for the piece, “Drinking Some Tea.” In the koan, two newly arrived monks approach a Zen master. The Zen master asks the first monk if he’d sat with the teacher before.
When the monk said he hadn’t, the Zen master responded, “Go have some tea.” He gave the same instruction to the second monk who said he had sat with the Zen master before. Then, the head monk asked the Zen master why he told both monks to go have some tea, even though they had given different answers. The Zen master then tells the head monk to also go have some tea.
Ikumi Kaminishi, an associate professor emerita at Tufts University who was helping translate my interview with Roshi, noted the character with the strongest emphasis in the piece translates to “go away.” “The person who does not know the meaning of the three character phrase would translate it as ‘have a cup of tea and leave,” she said, “but in Zen and Japanese tea ceremony tradition, the whole phrase is
“come in and have a cup of tea.”
Translating Roshi’s words, Kaminishi noted that the abbott’s calligraphy isn’t about tracing the word. It’s also about the movement and meaning of the word. Calligraphy, for Roshi is a part of his Zen approach to connecting with the universe. It’s also a part of the Zen teacher’s way of life— whether that be through sitting, writing, breathing, and even eating.
“For him, anything, everything is a practice,” Kaminishi said. “Sitting is a practice, writing is a practice, breathing is a practice. He does not distinguish particularly.”
This is Roshi’s second visit to Minnesota. He came last summer to attend a wedding. Nathan Ratner, who has spent much of his career working in various social impact strategy spheres, began meditating as a freshman at Wesleyan University, and ended up studying and assisting Roshi for a year at Toshoji Monastery.
Ratner invited the Zen teacher to his nuptials a year ago, and Roshi was impressed with the area. “I love this town,” he told me. “It was very beautiful.”
Roshi said it was the idea of his assistant and student, Esho Sudan, to have an art exhibition. He was unsure about it at first, because one of his teachers had told him to never leave anything behind.
“It’s a challenge,” he told me. Ratner reached out to Daniel M. Greenberg, who specializes in East
Asian art at the University of Minnesota, about the possibility of collaborating with the university on an exhibition. Soon, Ratner talked with his friends at Rhymesayers about using their space. Fifth Element closed in 2020, but the record company still has the storefront. Greenberg also tapped philosophy professor Dwight Lewis, Jr. to assist and the curation, along with graduate students Yujin Shin and Shuya Ye.
“We came up with what we thought was an intellectual through-line that could bridge Roshi’s hopes for healing the world through Zen meditation practice with Rhymesayers’s commitment to serving and healing the Black community in Minnesota and in Minneapolis in particular,”
Greenberg told me. “We worked really hard to design and create the show so that it would read like you’re still in Rhymesayers, you’re still in this place, but this artist is a welcome guest here, helping to serve the community in a real way.”
“Healing Words / Healing Mind” runs through September 20 at 2411 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis. The exhibition will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends and 4-8pm on weekdays.
Sheila Regan Sheila Regan is a Twin Cities-based arts journalist. She writes MinnPost’s twice-weekly Artscape column. She can be reached at sregan@minnpost. com.
Calypso Rose Musical - A story to be told
By New York Carib News
Attendees at the Central Bank Auditorium were captivated by The Queen of the Road: The Calypso Rose Musical, which presented another instance of national theater rooted in the Carnival spirit. Thankfully, this production was better than the numerous instances of poor production quality and “uneven quality” common in Best Village drama.
This light-hearted evening of entertainment defies the hyper-produced West End or Broadway experiences of shows like Tina – The Tina Turner Musical or Get Up, Stand Up, and The Bob Marley Musical. Instead, it traces a local route that was first established in 1995 by director and playwright Rhoma Spencer’s Bassman (Shadow), and then in 2003 by Zeno Constance’s The Road Make to Walk (Lord Kitchener).
The musical had been in the works for some time, and during Spencer’s 2022–2023 artist-in-residence period at the Queer and Trans Research Lab at the University of Toronto, it made considerable progress. As stated on the lab’s webpage, “Spencer had been working since 2019 on a jukebox musical based on the life of queer Caribbean icon and ‘undisputed Calypso Queen of the world,’ Linda McCartha Monica Sandy-Lewis, popularly known as Calypso Rose.” Within the confines of Rose’s little over forty calypsoes, the four-act jukebox musical attempts to expound on Rose’s life, professional advancement, and evolution.
Spencer claims that her favorite model for this show was the Best Village model: “I make no apology for situating (the production) in the original Trinbago Musical Theatre style — Best Village.”
She has said previously that, “The Best Village competition was called ‘illegitimate theatre,’” however, that she “continued to crave the illegitimacy, a feeling that has inspired her whole career.”
Here, the music, dance, actor, and plot all worked well together thanks to excellent staging and directing. Rose’s life narrative, from birth to adulthood, is shown in flashbacks because she was the 2017 recipient
of the French Grammy, the Victoire de la Musique award.
The term “light entertainment” used above does not minimize the fact that the musical touches on significant aspects of Rose’s life and work that have lasting relevance. The rural, very religious family with several children is discussed in Act I in terms of family dynamics. To defuse the tension, Rose’s uncle and aunt in Trinidad voluntarily “adopted” her from a family of thirteen brothers and sisters.
Rose’s development is directed and notably stable throughout the musical by her lifetime relationship with her Spiritual Baptist grandmother, both physically and subsequently in spirit. With impressive confidence and skill, young actor Thara Howe plays the preteen Rose. Her outstanding stagecraft manages to upstage everyone, and perhaps she will be seen in many shows.
Act II follows Stacey Sobers’s character, Calypso Rose, as she navigates the misogynistic and frequently anticipated hypersexuality of the calypso society in the late 1960s and early 1970s when her career was just starting to take off. Calypso Rose is a young adult who works in the Original Young Brigade Tent under the leadership of Kearn Samuel.
It cost her dearly that the church, women’s organizations, and the local newspapers of the time called her the “Queen of Slackness” and “Queen of Smut,” despite her musical pushback with wickedly double-entendre calypsoes like Banana and Sweet Pudding Man (1968) and Palet (1969) – the sweetness, and the reciprocal exchange of orality.
During this time, Sparrow and other people questioned her sexuality, asking “why she doesn’t have a man.” Rose was not a prissy, coy, or weak-willed person at this time. She made a demand because she knew what she wanted. It was worthy of respect.
As an actress, Stacey Sobers is astonishing. She is already well-known for her singing and calypsonian skills; in 2018, she was named the National Women’s Action Committee (NWAC) National Calypso Queen and an NCC Calypso Monarch finalist. She also successfully mimics Rose’s stammer and Tobago
accent with her body language.
In 2004, Gordon Rohlehr penned that “Rose’s prolonged wailing mode of delivery, a possible inheritance from her Spiritual Baptist/ Shouter roots, has now become the signature style of a significant number of current female soca singers.
The performing style and tone are nearly exact replicas.
In Act II, the Sparrow-Kitchener duo that dominated Calypso at the time is essentially overthrown by Rose’s ascent to prominence with Road March and Calypso Monarch victories in the middle to late 1970s. Not only did she have to negotiate the narrow silo of a Carnival season, but she also faced rising antagonism towards her domination over a considerable number of male calypsonians, which led to jealousy and relocation to better pastures up the islands.
Her relationship with Andy Palacio, Belize, and Garifuna culture—which includes punta—is discussed. It turns out that she had a lucky link to Belize since Ivan Duran, a producer based in Belize, created her 2017 comeback album, Far From Home, which won an award. The world, and the French in particular, welcome her as she moves toward near calypso immortality in Act IV, which is set in the 2010s and takes place thirty years
after Act III. This marks the collapse of the main calypsonians who began their careers in the 1960s and 1970s. The musical challenges the audience to realize that Rose is more than just Fire in Your Wire by showcasing her extensive body of work. A Caribbean queen, Rose is. One advantage was how simple it was to sing along to a
couple of calypsoes. In order to respond with honor, audiences ought to hear the entire canon of our calypsonians. one stride at a time.
Under Michelle Henry’s direction, the musical accompaniment was superb, and the Central Bank Auditorium was transformed into a fitting calypso tent without any startling volume changes. The
musical’s technical aspects were handled deftly, demonstrating progress over concerns that were noted on opening night.
The stage blocking and movement, which extended up and down and into the auditorium aisles, along with the set design, which featured projection screens to establish Rose’s homes in Trinidad and Tobago as well as the larger school area, the yard, the Original Young Brigade calypso tent, and performance stages in France and Coachella Festival, lifted the musical above the recollections of the basic folk theater of the past.
The two leads played by Rose received well-deserved applause.
To improve the quality of singing, which is essential for any musical, and to work out production problems, this play may and should be workshopped. Assuming that this is a tale that has to be discovered by everybody, local validation is safe. Because it searches beyond itself for approval and economic development, Queen of the Road: The Calypso Rose Musical is a good illustration of the calypso musical style and quality that can eventually become commonplace in our creative industries.
Photo courtesy New York Carib News
Attendees at the Central Bank Auditorium were captivated by The Queen of the Road: The Calypso Rose Musical, which presented another instance of national theater rooted in the Carnival spirit.
MinnPost photo by Sheila Regan
“Healing Words / Healing Mind” runs through September 20 at 2411 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis.
