Lighting The Road To The Future
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2014 Zulu Ball “The People’s Paper”
March 8 - March 14, 2014 48th Year Volume 45 www.ladatanews.com A Data News Weekly Exclusive
Our Story
Black Doctors Deep Rooted History in New Orleans Page 2
Commentary 12 Years a Slave Makes History Page 6
State & Local
Affordable Flood Insurance Legislation Moves Closer Page 7
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Cover Story
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Our Story
Black Doctors Deep Rooted History in New Orleans
Dr. Rivers Frederick, Chief Surgeon, performing surgery at Flint-Goodridge Hospital (circa 1932). In post-graduate courses conducted each year by the hospital, he taught alongside doctors from Tulane and LSU Medical Schools. Under Dr. Frederick, Flint-Goodridge maintained its AHA standards and he enlisted the City’s finest White physicians to practice there along with its Black physicians. He would continue to serve on the staff of Flint for more than forty years. (Photo Courtesy of the Amistad Research Center.)
By Dr. Eric D. Griggs Data News Weekly Contributor Long before the days of world renowned neurosurgeon, Dr. Ben Carson and Dr. Joycelyn Elders, the first African-American Surgeon General, there existed a rich history of African-American contributions to medicine. As with many accounts of our country’s his-
tory, New Orleans has also left its mark in the medical world. It begins with James Durham... History relates: “On Sunday May 2nd, 1762, we remember the birth of James Derham. He was the first recognized Black physician in the United States. Born a slave in Philadelphia, his early masters taught him the fundamentals of reading and writing. Derham was owned by a number of doctors, end-
ing up in New Orleans with a Scottish physician, who hired him in 1783 to perform medical services. When he was 21, he bought his freedom and went to New Orleans where he set up his own medical practice. He was a popular and distinguished doctor in New Orleans, at least in part for his knowledge of English, French, and Spanish. He was invited to Philadelphia in 1788 to meet Dr. Cover Story, Continued on next page.
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Cover Story, Continued from previous page.
Benjamin Rush, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Rush was so impressed with Derham’s success in treating diphtheria patients, that he read Derham’s paper on the subject before the College of Physicians of Philadelphia. In 1789, Derham returned to New Orleans, where he saved more yellow fever victims than any other physician in colonial Philadelphia. During an epidemic that killed thousands, he lost only 11 of 64 patients. He moved back to New Orleans and was lauded by prominent local doctors. Despite his skill, his ability to save so many lives, and his flourishing practice, his practice was restricted in 1801 by new City regulations because he did not have a formal medical degree. He disappeared after 1802. The idea that Black people were incapable of understanding medicine remained widespread for decades. Though the idea that we were unable to understand medicine prevailed, we persevered. In 1869, Straight University (eventually Dillard University) answered. Elgio Martinez from the University of Washington, Seattle relates from the Dillard archives at www.blackpast.org. “The origins of the university, however, date back to 1869. Responding to the need to educate the freed people in New Orleans, the American Missionary Association (AMA) of the Congregational Church founded Straight University. The Freedman’s Aid Society founded Union Normal School, which was later, renamed New Orleans University. Straight University was renamed Straight College in 1915 and ran a law department from 1874 to 1886. New Orleans University operated a secondary school called the Gilbert Academy. In 1889, New Orleans University opened a medical department named Flint Medical College that included a pharmacy and a school of nursing. The medical college was discontinued in 1911, but the hospital and nursing school were continued under the name of the Flint Goodrich Hospital. Flint Goodridge Hospital evolved out of the necessity to provide internships for AfricanAmerican students at New Orleans University. “The school opened a medical department on Canal Street near Charity Hospital in 1889, due to the refusal of the hospital to allow African-American students the opportunity for internships. New Orleans University graduated its first medical class in 1892, and the school established the John D. Flint Medical College and the Sarah Go-
New Orleans’ doctor James Derham, pictured above, was the first recognized Black physician in the United States.
odridge Hospital and Nurse-Training School in 1899. Flint Medical College closed in 1911 after losing certification by the American Medical Association. The buildings, which had been used jointly by the Flint Medical College and the Sarah Goodridge Hospital since 1901, were converted into a 50 bed hospital and the name changed to Flint-Goodridge Hospital. During that decade, New Orleans University’s name was changed to New Orleans College. Flint Goodridge Hospital would go on to become of the largest and oldest Black-owned businesses in Louisiana. It would also become the hallmark and anchor of the African-American Community. Flint- Goodridge Hospital was the only private hospital where AfricanAmerican doctors could practice and treat their patients. Incredible physicians, the like of Dr. Rivers Frederick graced the halls. The African- American Registry states: Date: Fri, 1874-05-22; On this date in 1874, Rivers Frederick, an African- American physician, was born in New Roads, Pointe Coupee’ Parish, LA. Frederick graduated from the University of New Orleans and earned his M.D. from the University of Illinois in 1897. He spent the next two years as a surgical clinician in Chicago, returning to New Orleans to begin a private practice. Responding to the lack of real opportunities for Black doctors in the United States, Frederick moved to Honduras in 1901. He served as the Chief Surgeon of the government hospital at El Rio Tan until 1904. It has been said that his departure was a result of his involvement with a failed revolutionary attempt to overthrow the Honduran government. Back in New Orleans, Frederick became the Chief Surgeon at the Flint Medical
College until 1907, moving to a similar position at that City’s Sarah Goodridge Hospital. He also worked as surgeon for Southern Pacific Railroad from 1913 to 1932, and when Flint and Goodridge merged, he taught post-graduate courses at the new Flint-Goodridge Hospital. Frederick was a fellow of the International College of Surgeons, a member of the American Cancer Society, and the Tuberculosis Association. He served the Mayor’s Advisory Committee of Race Relations in New Orleans. As an active member of the NAACP, he worked against health-care discrimination faced by African-Americans. In 1951, Frederick received the Distinguished Service Medal from the National Medical Association and he was made a member of the Society Tosca-Umbra di Italia at the Annual Assembly of the International College of Surgeons in Florence, Italy, the same year. His published articles include “Acute Intestinal Obstruction,” (1935); “Primitive Surgeon in Modern Medicine,” (1946); and “The Treatment of Toxic Goiter,” (1951,” all in the Journal of the National Medical Association. Rivers Frederick died in September 1954. Excellence, achievement and perseverance are not foreign words to New Orleans. More importantly, they are words commonly associated with the history of African-Americans. Thus, during African- American History Month, it is important for us to consider our past, as we look towards our future. Based on our history in Medicine, right here in New Orleans, the future gets brighter every day.
Prescription for the Week: “Get checked. Get fit. Get Moving!”
Pictured above is the Flint-Goodrich Hospital, Flint-Goodridge Hospital was the only private hospital where African-American doctors could practice and treat their patients. Flint-Goodridge Hospital would go on to become of the largest and oldest Black-owned businesses in Louisiana. It would also become the hallmark and anchor of the AfricanAmerican Community.
Irma Thomas
March 15 Audubon means the world to New Orleans families. Every year, millions of visitors experience Audubon attractions, and that gives a huge boost to our economy. What’s more, Audubon employs hundreds at our world-class museums and parks. And, last year alone, Audubon invested more than $3 million with women and minorityowned businesses. These funds are critical to the continued successful operation of Audubon’s parks and attractions.
Vote Yes to renew the millage for Audubon. VoteYesForAudubon.com
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2014 Zulu Ball and Mardi Gras Highlights Photos by Terry Jones The 2014 Zulu Coronation Ball at the Convention Center on Friday, February 28, 2014 featured special guests Patti LaBelle, Mint Condition, DJ Jubilee, ReBirth Brass Band All Star Reunion with Irvin Mayfield and Trombone Shorty , DJ Captain Charles and Friends, the Worlds Largest indoor Second Line with the PinStripe Brass Band and the Zulu Grand Marshall. A special tribute was also paid to the late Nelson Mandela. It was big, it was fabulous, it was fun and of course, Data was there!
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More Mardi Gras Highlights
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Commentary
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12 Years A Slave makes History but We Still have a Long Way to go in Our Strides towards Freedom
By Edwin Buggage Editor, Data News Weekly
12 Years A Slave, the story of Solomon Northup, won three Oscars last week including Best Picture during Hollywood’s biggest night. It’s the first time a Black filmmaker was handed the movie industry’s most prestigious award. While I applaud this victory and take great pride in seeing such an inspirational story brought to the screen for the second time, (Gordon Parks Directed Half Slave Half Free in 1984
a television version of the story on PBS), I am saddened that it has taken so long for the film industry to recognize Black excellence. I guess it is the arch of history turning to where it cannot be denied, but in truth we still have a long way to go. It is a sad fact that there are still only a small percentage of films or quality work for Black actors and actresses in Hollywood. Furthermore, the entertainment industry which includes, television, film and music in terms of Black images hasn’t moved much beyond the days of the title of Donald Bogle’s Seminal Study of Blacks in Film, a book entitled, “Toms, Coon, Mulattoes, Mammies and Bucks.” When you look at how Blacks are portrayed even when it is Blacks who control the shaping of the image, many times we get the same result. That is not to deny that prog-
ress hasn’t been made, but today moving forward we must be more aware of the messages we send about who we are as a people. It seems to win an award and receive recognition as a Black entertainer more often than not you still have to conform to fit these historical stereotypes. Whether it’s playing a slave, a criminal or prostitute or being part of the music industr y especially in commercial hip-hop what I like to call Blaxploitation with a beat. Then you look at reality shows such as the” Housewives of Atlanta” and” Basketball Wives” and many others that show Black women as the new Sapphires and Jezebels, devoid of any redeeming qualities. It just shows Black women as loud, brash, salacious gold diggers who are sexually promiscuous.
Today with the flow of information being greater than at any time in human history it is important that we become more cognizant of the images we put out for the world to see. Today with the click of a mouse or the touch of a screen the world can look through the window and see our culture through our art. It is in these digitized artifacts that people determine who we are and what we value as a people, and we must realize that we must begin to control and re-shape those images to fit the reality of who we are as Black people in the 21st Century. It is all too often that the easy sell for Blacks whether in film or other forms of entertainment that reaches the mainstream is those things that conform to these distorted historical images. Although today, it is true that with more Blacks behind the scenes it is bring more humani-
ty and different dimensions to these images does not negate the fact that they are still relevant and prevalent. Today it essential that we must hold ourselves to a higher standard when creating images that will help shape and interpret our reality for ourselves and others. I realize that it is entertainment and not all of it needs to be didactic, but we are a great people with a great historical legacy that has influenced the world. We have been and are more than slaves, and butlers, crooked cops, hedonistic thugs or women who fight and throw drinks at each other. We are a people with a rich and storied history who in spite of what others thought of us knew our greatness. And today more than ever people see what we create and it is incumbent that we have a greater hand in shaping our history in the 21st Century.
A Mixed Obama Legacy Julianne Malveaux NNPA Columnist
President Barack Obama announced a “My Brother’s Keeper,” an initiative to help young Black and Brown men succeed. Many present in the East Wing of the White House described the announcement of this initiative as “an emotional moment” for President Obama and for many of the others gathered there. Several of the African American men who were present at the announcement took to the airwaves afterwards, talking about how it felt to be in a room where the nation’s first Black president talked about his own background and his identification with troubled young Black men. The parents of slain teens Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis were in the room, reinforcing
a statement the president made a year or so ago when he said that if he had a son, he would have looked like Trayvon Martin. While President Obama says he will ask government agencies to work together to create more possibilities for young Black men. He emphasized that the “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative is not a new government program. Indeed, early funding will come from private foundations. Few specifics of the program have been released, but preliminary activity will include a review of existing programs to determine what works and what doesn’t. Still, the president has used the power of his pen, the phone and his pulpit to raise awareness about the many economic challenges African American men face. Using the term “no excuses” President Obama told young men that they had to take responsibility for their own success. That comment gave CNN anchor Don Lemon the opportunity to mouth off at Obama critics, to chide his own critics, and to demonstrate why he might be a more effective opinionator than journalist. Lemon
was one of many, also, to describe “My Brother’s Keeper” as part of the Obama legacy. Many said they expect the president to continue be involved in the empowerment of Black and Brown boys and men. While I think “My Brother’s Keeper” has tremendous potential, given the socioeconomic status of African American men, there is not yet enough meat on the bones of the announcement to judge. President Obama has three years left in office. Is this as good as it gets? For all the good he will do with the “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative, the president may leave a different kind of legacy with his recent set of nominees to the Georgia district court. With six vacant seats on that court, our president has chosen to appoint four Republicans, including two social conservatives. In a state that is 31 percent African American, there is only one Black nominee. These judges are appointed for life. Judicial appointments are a clear part of a legacy. President Obama has been vocal about people’s right to vote, and disdainful of voter suppression tactics from long lines to voter ID. Attorney General Eric
Holder has brought suit against counties and states engaged in various gerrymandering and voter suppression tactics. Why, then, would President Obama nominate Mark Cohen, who successfully defended Georgia’s voter ID law in court? Despite opposition from Rev. Joseph Lowery, as well as by civil rights veteran and Congressman John Lewis (D-Ga.), the president has refused to rescind the Cohen nomination. The young men he lifted up in his “My Brother’s Keeper” initiative may be the same ones denied the right to vote through voter suppression. Cohen, in his late 50s, may serve as many as two decades on the bench. What kind of anti-civil rights rulings might he make? Rev. Lowery and Congressman Lewis are among those also opposing former state legislator Michael Boggs because of his conservative legislative record, which includes opposition to marriage equality, his vote to keep the confederate insignia on the Georgia flag, and his efforts to restrict access to abortion. Through his votes, Boggs has indicated his opposition to the African Ameri-
can community, to women, and to the LGBT community. What kind of votes might we expect from Boggs, who is in his early 50s, in the decades to come? And why won’t President Obama listen to those African American stalwarts who strongly object to this nomination? Georgia Rep. David Scott told TVOne’s Roland Martin that these nominations are disrespectful to the nation and to the African American community. The national civil rights organizations have, unfortunately, been silent on this matter. Are they too frightened of losing the president’s goodwill to speak up? Ten years from now, will we write that the status of African American and Latino boys and men has improved? That Judges Cohen and Boggs have made rulings that have further eroded civil and human rights? A collective Black voice muted by the fact that a community can’t excoriate a White president after giving a Black one a pass? Which is the Obama legacy? Julianne Malveaux is a Washington, D.C.-based economist and writer. She is President Emerita of Bennett College for Women in Greensboro, N.C.
National News
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Richmond Responds to House Passage of Flood Insurance Fix
Urges Senate to Take Up the Legislation Immediately Congressman Cedric Richmond (LA-02) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed an amended version of H.R. 3370, the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act. This bill addresses the affordability to consumers of flood insurance premium increases that followed the implementation of the 2012 Biggert-Waters law, by limiting yearly individual premium increases so that no individual policy holder would pay a premium increase of greater than 18% per year. The bill also reinstates the flood insurance program’s grandfathering provision – meaning homes that complied with previous FEMA flood maps would not be hit with large increases when new maps, showing larger flood risks, are implemented by the agency. The bill passed the House this evening a vote of 306 to 91. 180 Democratic Members of the House voted in favor of this legislation. “The House of Representatives has spoken for the millions of homeowners nationwide that depend on an affordable flood insurance program,” said Rep. Cedric Richmond. “By a vote of 306 to 91, we are a step closer to fixing the NFIP in a way that will provide real relief from skyrocketing flood insurance rates. “I want to thank the 180 of my Democratic colleagues for their
vote tonight, and for the faith they placed in me to negotiate a good bill. When challenged with a major problem for our constituents, stepped to the plate to provide a real solution. They didn’t provide excuses or shrink in the face of the detractors. I’d also like to thank the people of Louisiana, especially those residing in my District. We bore the brunt of this storm together, and today’s vote is a testament to their work.” The Congressional Budget Office has confirmed that these changes to the NFIP will be accomplished without cost to the taxpayer. Contrary to the claims by some op-
ponents, any additional cost or lost revenue will be recovered through charges paid by NFIP policyholders, and will not increase the burden on those not benefitting from the program. This legislation does the following key things: Reinstates Grandfathering - This bill permanently repeals Section 207 of the Biggert-Waters Act, meaning that grandfathering is reinstated. This means that all postFIRM properties built to code at the time of construction will have protection from rate spikes due to new mapping – for example, if you built to +2 Base Flood Elevation,
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you stay at +2, regardless of new maps. Also importantly, the grandfathering stays with the property, not the policy. Caps Annual Rate Increases at 15% – This bill decreases FEMA’s authority to raise premiums. The bill prevents FEMA from increasing premiums within a single property class beyond a 15 percent average a year, with an individual cap of eighteen percent a year. Pre Biggert-Waters, FEMA was unable to increase rates beyond 10 percent a year. Currently (Post Biggert-Waters), FEMA is unable to increase rates beyond 20 percent a year. The bill also requires a 5% minimum annual increase on pre-FIRM primary residence policies that are not at full risk. The updated legislation also states that FEMA shall strive to minimize the number of policies with premium increases that exceed one percent of the total coverage of the policy. Refunds policyholders who purchased pre-FIRM homes after Biggert-Waters (7/6/12) and were subsequently charged higher rates. Permanently Removes the Sales Trigger – This bill removes the policy sales trigger, which allows a purchaser to take advantage of a phase in. The new purchaser is treated the same as the current property owner.
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