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MAY 27-JUNE 2, 2020

THE FINAL CURTAIN

DR. VERNELL A. LILLIE founded the University of Pittsburgh’s Kuntu Repertory Theater in 1974, as a premier platform for writer and Pitt associate professor Rob Penny. The two are shown in the photo at right, from 1975. In the center photo, Dr. Lillie is shown with internationally-known actor Lamman Rucker, who was inspired by Dr. Lillie while Rucker was a student at Duquesne University. Dr. Lillie died on her 89th birthday, May 11. (Photos courtesy University of Pittsburgh)

Dr. Vernell Lillie, founder of Kuntu Repertory Theater, dies at 89

by Renee P. Aldrich For New Pittsburgh Courier

For more than 35 years, the University of Pittsburgh’s Kuntu Repertory Theater was an institution in Pittsburgh. And it was Dr. Vernell Audrey Lillie who gave it the reputation of having a bold, brave look into the face of Black America... through theater.

In 2013, its 39th year, the Kuntu held its final

season. Shortly after, Dr. Lillie relocated to Washington, D.C., where she would be closer to her daughters, Dr. Marsha (Hisani) Lillie-Blanton and Charisse R. Lillie.

On her 89th birthday, May 11, Dr. Lillie, founder of the Kuntu Repertory Theater, passed away in her home in Sunrise Senior Living Facility, in D.C. She had suffered from dementia.

She undoubtedly left

behind a legacy of love and passion for the arts, mentoring hundreds of individuals whose theatrical careers she helped launch, and garnering a reputation for demanding excellence driven by the motto: “No excuses” for getting it done.

Dr. Lillie received her B.A. in Speech and Drama from Dillard University in New Orleans. With credentials in hand, she returned to

her hometown in Hempstead, Tex., married her childhood sweetheart, Richard L. “Dickie Boy” Lillie Jr., and began laying the groundwork for her distinguished 50plus year career in theater by producing and directing local productions at Worthing and Wheatley high schools in Houston, Tex. Molding and creating outstanding performers started early in her career. According

to her daughter, Hisani, “these productions featured outstanding student actors, whom she mentored with love and ferocity.”

The call for advancing her education beckoned her and she and her family came to Pittsburgh in 1969, where she enrolled at Carnegie Mellon University. She earned her Master of Arts in English in 1970 and her Doctorate in English in 1971.

By 1972 she was an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh in the Department of Africana Studies.

She had been planting little seeds of the legacy she would ultimately leave along the way, but the creation of the Kuntu Repertory Theater in 1974 set things ablaze in terms of setting a standard for community theSEE LILLIE A2

Standing strong for the residents at Kane Glen Hazel At least 18 residents at facility have died due to coronavirus

by Rob Taylor Jr. Courier Staff Writer

Data released last Tuesday, May 19, from the Pennsylvania Department of Health provided Hazelwood community leaders with an answer to their most pressing question— exactly how much has coronavirus affected the Kane Glen Hazel Community Living Center?

The answer—way too much.

There have been more than 100 positive cases of COVID-19 for residents and employees at Kane Glen Hazel, 18 of those cases resulting in resident

deaths, as of May 19.

As the state reported its numbers, it showed there were 104 positive cases of coronavirus for residents at Glen Hazel, and 30 additional cases for employees, as of May 19. But as of May 22, Allegheny County, which runs the Kane Regional Centers (including Glen Hazel), reported there were only 78 coronavirus cases with residents, but 43 positive cases with employees at Glen Hazel.

No matter how you slice it, the numbers are high.

Kane Glen Hazel has, far and away, the most number of positive cases (employees and residents) of

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any assisted living/longterm care facility in Allegheny County, and has the third-most deaths, behind St. Barnabas (31), in Richland, and Caring Heights (28), in Coraopolis, as of May 19.

Statewide, Brighton Rehabilitation and Wellness Center, in Beaver County, has the most resident coronavirus cases (358) and deaths (76), as of May 19.

Allegheny County’s Kane Regional Community Centers (Glen Hazel, McKeesport, Ross Township, Scott Township) provide care mostly to seniors, including 24-hour skilled nursing care, Alzheimer’s and memory care, hospice care, pastoral care, respite care, social services, community involvement, and short-term rehabilitation. TERRI SHIELDS, chair of the Greater Hazelwood Community Collaborative, wants to see a better working relationship between the group and Allegheny County officials, after the disturbing number of SEE KANE A4 deaths at Kane Glen Hazel Community Living Center. (Photo by J.L. Martello)

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THE FINAL CURTAIN Dr. Vernell Lillie, founder of Kuntu Repertory Theater, dies at 89 LILLIE FROM A1

ater, impacting lives and providing opportunities for Black artists.

“The intent of the Kuntu Theater was to allow an examination of Black life from a sociopolitical-historical prospective,” her daughter, Hisani, told the New Pittsburgh Courier in an exclusive interview.

“Though it was a University Theater, it was rooted in Pittsburgh’s Black community, and provided a supportive space for Black writers, including both Rob Penny and August Wilson, among countless other Pittsburgh artists.”

From 1999 to 2006, Eileen J. Morris was the managing director of the Kuntu Theater, alongside Dr. Lillie. Morris, currently the artistic director of the Ensemble Theater in Houston, had a relationship with Dr. Lillie before she recruited her to Pittsburgh.

“I am both honored and blessed to have been able to sit at her feet and to share our joint theatrical journeys,” Morris said.

“I learned from Dr. Lillie and was strengthened in my tenacity and my work ethic—but as my fellow artists say, I, too, felt appreciated, special and made to feel I could do anything. She had that

way of helping you to push yourself even harder to make a difference in the art you are attempting to create. Forever I’ll have that memory of her and gratitude in my heart for the time I spent with her in Pittsburgh.”

Some notable productions out of the Kuntu Theater were Dr. Lillie’s own, “The Buffalo Soldiers Plus One,” Penny’s “Little Willie Armstrong Jones” and “Good Black Don’t Crack,” Wilson’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “Homecoming” and “Radio Golf.” Notably, “Homecoming” was the first play by Wilson to be produced by a resident company.

The writer and director of some-150 plays, she was highly respected by her peers, and along with numerous other awards and accolades, Dr. Lillie received the University of Pittsburgh Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award. She was also an inductee into the prestigious Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania by then-Governor Tom Ridge.

Mark Clayton Southers, an early protege of Dr. Lillie, is the founder and artistic director of the Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre Company, which

DR. VERNELL A. LILLIE founded the University of Pittsburgh’s Kuntu Repertory Theater in 1974. Dr. Lillie died on May 11. is about to enter its 17th year in Pittsburgh.

“She was a pillar of our theatrical community, gave opportunities to multitudes of actors, designers and technicians who, in many cases, would never have been afforded the opportunity to advance in the field,” Southers told the Courier.

“Her work through Kuntu has provided a communal space for long-lasting

“She was a pillar of our theatrical community, gave opportunities to multitudes of actors, designers and technicians who, in many cases, would never have been afforded the opportunity to advance in the field.”

- MARK CLAYTON SOUTHERS relationships to connect and flourish. My favorite quote of hers was, ‘I give because I have the capac-

ity to.’ Doc has given so much over six decades as a producer and educator.

She has left us a wonderful legacy through her Kuntu tradition.”

Renee Sorrell was Kuntu’s production manager for many of the years Dr. Lillie led it. She shared with the Courier that she came to the Theater to pass out flyers with no knowledge or experience in the mechanics of theater. “I asked if I could help by passing out flyers; she gave me a script to read and told me I would do props. I was blindsided, but soon, she had taught me to be the production manager, scheduling productions, hiring technicians and sometimes teaching technicians. This is an example of how she would see more in people than they would see in themselves,” Sorrell said.

Dr. Lillie’s reach far exceeded Pittsburgh and was connected to a wide range of theater notables.

According to the esteemed director, Woody King Jr., the founder and artistic director of New Federal Theater Company out of New York, “Dr. Lillie was extremely popular among individuals like Phylicia Rashad and Debbie Allen; she was connected in the literary world as well and DR. VERNELL A. LILLIE, second from right, founded the University of Pittsburgh’s Kuntu Repertory Theater in 1974. Dr. Lillie died on had influence. She had May 11. called for me to come to

Pittsburgh years ago to direct a play by Rob Penny, Nefetari Rising and while here she referred me to a magazine called ‘Shining Star’ to submit a short story I wrote, and encouraged the publisher to accept it. They did.

When Dr. Lillie spoke, people listened.”

On the day of her death, local Rev. Deryck Tines and others put out a call to the theater community for all those interested to join on an online Zoom call at 9 p.m. to share what Dr. Lillie meant to them. In less than three hours, more than 70 people joined on the call, including the likes of Janet Sarbaugh, vice president, creativity at The Heinz Endowments, screen actors Lamman Rucker and Ben Cain, and Stephen McKinney, who played the role of Bono in “Fences,” recently filmed in Pittsburgh. The Zoom call went past midnight, the effort indeed a tangible demonstration of the high regard in which Dr. Lillie was held—in Pittsburgh, and beyond.

Rev. Tines, before the Zoom call ended, declared that as soon as it was doable, there should be an entire weekend dedicated to honoring the power, passion and accomplishments of Dr. Vernell Lillie.

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Dr. Vernell A. Lillie was the recipient of many prestigious awards, including the University of Pittsburgh Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award; the Outstanding Award for Women in the Arts by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.; the 2003 Career Achievement in Education Award from the Association for Theatre in Higher Education; Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Black Theatre Festival in 2005; and the Pennsylvania Governor’s Creative Community Award. She also received numerous awards for her creative expression through the arts, her work with seniors and young people, and for her activism in education and the theatre arts.

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

Dr. Vernell Lillie, founder of Kuntu Repertory Theater, dies at 89

Dr. Vernell A. Lillie, shown above in various photos courtesy of the University of Pittsburgh, where she founded the Kuntu Repertory Theater in 1974. In the top right photo, she’s pictured with writer and Pitt associate professor Rob Penny, who died in 2003.

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Standing strong for the residents at Kane Glen Hazel At least 18 residents at facility have died due to coronavirus KANE FROM A1

But it’s been the Glen Hazel location, 955 Rivermont Drive, just off Johnston Avenue, that’s been front-and-center on the local news about coronavirus cases. The facility had its first case of coronavirus in an employee on March 25. Two days later, the county reported it had positive cases of coronavirus in two Glen Hazel residents.

And the cases kept coming.

So much so that those such as Terri Shields, chair of the Greater Hazelwood Community Collaborative, and Tim Smith, founder of Center of Life, in Hazelwood, became concerned with the seemingly daily reports of new coronavirus cases at their neighborhood facility. By the time the tenth death from COVID-19 was reported at the Glen Hazel facility on April 28, it was all Hazelwood was talking about.

A few weeks later, on May 15, Hazelwood community leaders called a press conference in front of the facility. Shields, Pastor Lutual Love of Praise Temple Deliverance Church, and more demanded more transparency from county officials about just how bad COVID-19 was spreading at Glen Hazel.

Shields wanted to know

at the time why employees had to “ask” for N-95 masks rather than the masks being a requirement for all employees.

She wanted to know why those who had tested positive for coronavirus weren’t kept, say, on a separate floor, away from all other residents. She wanted to know why employees, many of whom don’t live in Hazelwood, were allowed to freely exit the facility and return to their neighborhoods and municipalities, knowing coronavirus was spreading in the facility.

And specific to Hazelwood, Shields said: “If the virus is spread in here (at the Glen Hazel facility), then the virus will spread in our community.

We don’t need any more casualties.”

“It’s a conflict for us because we know that people are literally dying in here and that people are affected, and the numbers keep going up,” Smith, who is also a pastor, told the New Pittsburgh Courier’s J.L. Martello exclusively, May 15.

“We really want to work with our public officials,” Smith added. “We’re not trying to pick a fight, we’re not trying to create separation, we’re saying we need help, that’s what we’re saying. We all need help and we want to work together.”

MEMBERS OF THE GREATER HAZELWOOD COMMUNITY COLLABORATIVE held a press conference outside Kane Glen Hazel Community Living Center on May 15, demanding a better working relationship with Allegheny County officials pertaining to the at least 18 coronavirus-related deaths at the facility. (Photos by Courier photographer J.L. Martello) At the time, the group wanted a meeting with County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, County Health Department Director Dr. Debra Bogen and County Councilman DeWitt Walton. The group, as of May 15, said they had a productive conversation with Dennis Biondo, executive director of the county’s Kane

Regional Centers.

Coronavirus, as everyone knows by now, has its own mind. The virus can be spread via close contact via miniscule liquid droplets, it can remain on surfaces, and there were even unsubstantiated reports that it could be contracted in the air. Some states like New York, New Jersey and Pennsyl-

vania have had high numbers of coronavirus cases, while other states like West Virginia, Kentucky and Kansas have seen relatively low COVID-19 numbers.

Some people have reported that they’ve quarantined in the house for weeks and still contracted coronavirus, while others who are front-facing essential

In the May 20 League of Women Voters Guide published in the New Pittsburgh Courier, an omission occurred in the listing of Pennsylvania State Representative – District 44. Valerie Gaydos, Republican candidate running against Democratic candidate Michele Knoll and Republican candidate Bob Doddato, was inadvertently omitted. Herewith is Valerie Gaydos’ response. We regret the omission.

VALERIE GAYDOS Biographical Info: County: Allegheny Mailing Address: 411 Trailside Drive Sewickley, PA 15143 Education: Quaker Valley, Sewickley Academy, Dickinson College, and real life entrepreneurship Qualifications: Valerie Gaydos is no politician. A successful business owner, start-up investor, certified EMT and community volunteer.

Experience working for US Senator Heinz taught me the value of caring for my fellow man while at the same time making sure our economy is strong to be able to do so.

VALERIE GAYDOS campaign website: http://votevaleriegaydos.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/VoteValerieGaydos/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/valgaydos Answers: A1: As Representative, I supported the recent election reforms, including shortening the voter registration time before an election, requiring hand-marked ballots, and allowing no excuse absentee ballot voting. There are certainly other reforms that can be made to encourage voting (such as pre-registering of 17 year olds who will be 18 at time of election), and these should be considered in concert with efforts to stop and prevent voter fraud to ensure the integrity of our elections.

A2: “Good” government doesn’t mean seamless action or no disagreement. Our founders based our system on debating ideas and approaches to issues, and when compromise can’t be met ensuring that no one side can bulldoze the other. There are reforms (i.e. limiting length of committee chairmanships, requiring more public input time to legislation) that could be enacted, but right now our goal must be working together to take the necessary steps to safely restart our economy and help PA’s residents. No single politician should be able to unilaterally make decisions that affect all Pennsylvanians without transparency; we need strong oversight of the executive branch and to make fiscally responsible budget decisions that focus on our priorities.

A3: I support an independent redistricting commission to ensure new districts are created free of politics, are compact & contiguous, and ignore incumbency or party registration. Its why I’m introducing the Non Partisan Congressional Redistricting Act that would model PA off of Iowa’s system which has a proven track record of working in Iowa. Every ten years, a temporary redistricting advisory commission gets created within the already existing non partisan Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB).

By establishing this commission within LRB (the entity which drafts legislation for all members of the legislature) we can have a map that is free from partisan influence.

Additionally, housing the Commission within an already existing governing body.

A4: The ADA provided more freedom and opportunity for disabled Americans and has continued to be improved upon over the past three decades. As a legislator, I would work with advocates for the disabled to investigate and pass possible additional improvements. In addition to helping address the unique issues individuals with disabilities face, the best thing we can do today for all Americans—disabled or not—is ensure they have access to good jobs and the ability to retain the money they earn. That is why my immediate focus in the legislature will be restarting Pennsylvania’s economy and bringing strong fiscal discipline to Harrisburg to protect taxpayers.

TIM SMITH, with Center of Life, in Hazelwood. workers have come into contact with the public for weeks and have escaped the virus.

Thus, there’s no rhyme or reason as to why Kane Glen Hazel has seen such an outbreak of coronavirus cases, while the other three Kane locations combined have seen just one positive coronavirus case in a resident (McKeesport), and no deaths, according to county data as of May 22. There has been one employee who has tested positive in each of the other three locations as of May 22.

It’s just the way this devastating virus works.

And because of its unpredictability and its ability to remain incognito, it’s caused an economic disruption and human death toll not seen in the United States in more than 100 years.

“Our long-term care facilities are an integral part of Pennsylvania’s health care system. People providing care in long-term care facilities

must endure these challenges of this difficult time while maintaining continuity and services for people under their care,” said state Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller in a May 19 statement, as the data for long-term care facilities was released statewide. “We are committed to continuing networks of support for these facilities so we can navigate and overcome this challenge together.”

The state data also revealed that the Village at Pennwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, in Wilkinsburg, had at least 41 positive coronavirus cases and nine resident deaths as of May 19; and the Quiet Ridge Manor Group in McKeesport had 17 positive COVID-19 cases and seven resident deaths as of May 19.

Out of the 36 assisted living facilities in Allegheny County listed in the state report, most of the facilities’ death totals were redacted if the number was four or less.

Five facilities in Allegheny County have at least five deaths.

Allegheny County said fever checks as staff enter and leave Glen Hazel and its other facilities are being conducted, and fever checks are being conducted on all residents at each shift change.

There is also a no-visitor policy, and all resident trips outside of the centers have been postponed.

The Greater Hazelwood Community Collaborative has its collaborative eye on the Glen Hazel facility. They said they’re operating in the best interests of the residents and employees of the facility, and how that translates into the betterment of the Hazelwood community at-large.

“We are not blaming anybody for anything,” Smith told the Courier exclusively, May 15.

“We’re saying we want to sit down at the same table (with local officials) and work toegether to try to come up with some solutions...We can’t take the for-profit attitude and say, ‘we’re gonna cut our losses and move on.’

We have to do something that’s going to make a difference.”

REV. LUTUAL LOVE of Praise Temple Deliverance Church in Hazelwood.

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Larimer Consensus Group lends support during pandemic

MAY 27-JUNE 2, 2020

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Praise & Worship ST. BENEDICT THE MOOR CATHOLIC CHURCH Crawford & Centre Ave. Pgh., PA 15219 412-281-3141 Sunday Mass 10:30 A.M. www.stbtmchurch.org

East Liberty Presbyterian Church Rev. Dr. Randy Bush, Senior Pastor 412-441-3800 Worship Online on Facebook/YouTube www.ELPC.church Journey Worship...........8:45 a.m.

Sanctuary Worship...........11 a.m.

Taize -Wednesdays.........7 p.m.

Curious about Quakerism?

HEATHER BIRCH gets a bag of food and cleaning products from Aurelia Carter, left, during the Larimer Consensus Group’s food and supplies giveaway in front of the Kingsley Center on May 16. (Photos by Courier photographer J.L. Martello)

You Are Welcome at our Meetings for Worship Sundays at 10:30 a.m.

Pittsburgh Friends Meeting 4836 Ellsworth Avenue www.quaker.org/pghpamm/

Join our growing Praise and Worship Church Community!

For rate information, call 412481-8302, ext.

128.

STEVEN CARTER, right, registers those as they came up to the Kingsley Center to get food and supplies.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEXT CHURCH EVENT! We want to place your event in our Church Circuit weekly calendar!

Send info to: New Pittsburgh Courier 315 E. Carson St. Pittsburgh PA 15219 Or Email us! religion@ newpittsburgh courier.com

JAMES MORRIS, left, of the South Side, came out to help with the event, and at top right, it’s Donna Jackson, with Larimer Consensus Group.

The Courier is THE VOICE of Black Pittsburgh.

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The ‘Main Street Lending Program’ isn’t doing its job Program should be helping small businesses during COVID-19 pandemic, but minimum loan amount is too high

by Brandon Brooks For New Pittsburgh Courier

The economy is reopening in most cities across America, we’re seeing more cars on the road, people at ice cream shops and employees returning back to work.

For better or worse we’re attempting to reinvigorate our economy to avoid an absolute collapse the likes we haven’t seen since The Great Depression.

America’s economy relies on one sector more than any other, and coincidentally, it was one of the hardest-hit sectors from the COVID-19 pandemic— small businesses.

Small Businesses employ almost 60 million Americans, which equates to almost 50 percent of the U.S

a first round of $349 billion followed by a second round of $310 billion. The second round ended up being a little more small-business friendly once the kinks were worked out and the Treasury Department made clear this funding was meant for those who did not have easy access to other forms of funding, and threatened harsh penalties for those who took the funds outside of “good faith.”

One thing most small businesses and economists can agree on, however, is that PPP was not enough.

Luckily this was not the only program rolled out by the Feds to provide relief.

They’ve also announced the Main Street Lending Program. The Main Street

from the economic shutdown due to COVID-19.

So it makes sense why we would want to provide relief for these businesses as they are some of the mainstays of our communities and truthfully, the lifeline of our communities.

Yet, there’s a problem, a big one. The minimum loan amount a business could take out from the Main Street Lending Program is $500,000.

There is no small business, Main Street business that I can think of that would need a $500,000 loan right now. Most wouldn’t want to take on that much debt due to all the economic uncertainty and even during the best of times would be hesitant with $500,000 in debt. Many

“There is no small business, Main Street business that I can think of that would need a $500,000 loan right now. Most wouldn’t want to take on that much debt due to all the economic uncertainty and even during the best of times would be hesitant with $500,000 in debt.” workforce, which is why it’s not hard to see why small businesses are the backbone of our economy.

Yet, the relief programs set out for small businesses from the federal government have been mired in controversy from day one. All starting with the much- maligned Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), which saw large corporations, including many publicly-traded companies, taking money from the funds set aside for small business owners. So far we’ve seen two rounds of PPP totaling $659 billion,

Lending Program is a $600 billion, one round fund to provide relief for, as the name implies… Main Street Businesses.

I understand not everyone may know what a Main Street business is, so I’ll give a quick breakdown.

A Main Street business is a pillar of your community, such as a salon, barbershop, local auto body shop, indie retailer or locally-owned grocery store.

They are the businesses we frequent within our communities most often and unfortunately these are some of the hardest hit

small businesses, especially minority-owned small businesses, are in a place of vulnerability…PPP was far from a success and unfortunately a majority of minority businesses were left out for various reasons.

The Main Street Lending Program has an opportunity to be the lifeline that many small business owners need to get through the economic shutdown and hopefully thrive through the reopening, but unless we see some fundamental changes in the parameters, it’ll go down as a bigger failure than PPP was.

BRANDON BROOKS This program is not a forgivable loan or a grant, it is a loan…no matter what amount your loan ends up being, it will need paid back. Banks will be taking on some risk surrounding this loan, unlike the PPP, which was fully backed by the federal government. This means that not all financial institutions will be offering a loan via the Main Street Lending Program. Right now, I couldn’t, in good faith, recommend this as an option to small business owners, but with some changes to the parameters and some pressure by Congress I do believe this is a program that could provide strong economic relief and offer all of us a chance to recover the economy we all know and love.

I have been on the frontline of this situation from day one. Prior to the pandemic, I’ve been a small

business advocate. Someone who’s always believed in the power of small businesses and communities

hold a special place in my heart, and I look forward to working with all who want to see small busi-

“WRAL Techwire reports that the Center for Responsible Lending, a non-profit group that combats abusive lending practices, says roughly 95 percent of Black-owned businesses, 91 percent of Latino-owned businesses and 75 percent of Asianowned businesses stand ‘close to no chance’ of receiving a PPP loan through a mainstream bank or credit union.” working together to help build and sustain them.

Through my work with Inventrify, we’ve helped countless small businesses across the country start and grow their operations the ensure their success.

Being Pittsburgh-born and raised makes this place

nesses succeed within our communities.

(Brandon Brooks, 30, graduated from West Allegheny High School in 2007, and is the owner of Inventrify, a crowdfunding platform for small businesses/startups to raise capital, equity-free.)

BUSINESS New Pittsburgh Courier

VBM: the projected new normal that’s 20 years late J. Pharoah Doss B5

www.newpittsburghcourier.com

BRETT J. HART

For New Pittsburgh Courier

In 1989, Brett J. Hart, as a student at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, joined Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. Hart eventually graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy and English. At the University of Chicago, Hart earned a law degree.

Today, the Alphas can boast that one First African of their own is the new president of United Airlines, one of the largest airlines in the United States.

United is based in Chicago. It announced on May 18 that Hart would become the company’s president, which is the number two leadership role at the company.

“I am honored and energized as I take on these new responsibilities to lead this incredible team that I am convinced will build United into a thriving industry leader,” Hart said in a statement. “The path forward will not be easy, but I am confident that (CEO) Scott (Kirby) and I will continue our partnership to lead United through the extraordinary challenge posed by COVID-19. United’s bright future is only possible because of the commitment of the most talented airline professionals in the world who serve United and our

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Hart named president of United Airlines

by LaToya Wright and Rob Taylor Jr.

Classifieds

customers every single day—and I could not be prouder of them.

Hailing from the South Side of Chicago, Hart is the first African American to become President of United Airlines in the airline’s 94-year history.

Hart was a partner at Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal in Chicago. Before that, he served as a special assistant to the general counsel at the U.S. Department of Treasury in Washington, D.C. Later he would

American president in airline’s go on to work for the Sara Lee Corporation as the executive vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary, where he directed global legal operations.

Hart joined United Airlines in 2010. Over his 10-year career with United, Hart has taken on significant responsibilities within the company. Hart has previously worked as Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer for the company. In 2015, he stepped in and served as interim CEO for six months while then-CEO Munoz recovered from a heart transplant.

As President of United, Hart will continue to lead the company’s public advocacy strategy, including the Government Affairs, Corporate Communications, Legal and

Community Engagement teams.

He will also continue to oversee business-critical functions like the Corporate Real Estate team and manage United’s industry-leading environmental sustainability efforts.

His responsibilities will expand to include managing the Human Resources and Labor Relations teams.

Hart is taking this position comes as he, along with other executives, are waiving their salaries for a time as the company struggles financially. Like others in the airline 94-year-history industry, United is trying to deal with the losses from the coronavirus pandemic.

Kirby, United’s current CEO, said in a statement: “The leadership Brett has shown us as we have managed the current crisis reinforces the conclusion I reached last year: Brett is exactly the leader that United needs right now to take on the role of President.”

According to Black Enterprise, Hart is active in several philanthropic organizations, including serving on the boards of the Obama Foundation Inclusion Council, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, University of Chicago, Northwestern Medicine and is chair of the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority Board.

(LaToya Wright is a contributing writer for the Chicago Defender.)

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Curry first African American owner of a Berkshire Hathaway Real Estate Franchise The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that talented real estate leader and entrepreneur, Tiffany Curry, has officially acquired a Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices real estate franchise—making her the first African American ever to have 100 percent ownership in a franchise of this particular Warren Buffet-affiliated company.

Based in Houston, Texas, her new company will operate as Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Tiffany Curry & Co., Realtors, and has already launched in Houston’s Upper Kirby area with agents that specialize throughout the Greater Houston and surrounding areas including in the luxury and global markets. The company pairs a franchise with a boutique appeal where agents and clients receive personal service and hands on support. Curry looks to grow the company into one of the nation’s top 75 brokerages over the next 10 years with a location in each of Houston’s primary areas.

“Over the last 12 years I’ve traveled across the nation, networking with some of real estate’s brightest talents. I’m thrilled to bring that mix of creativity and innovation to the Greater Houston real estate market,” says Curry. “At age 39, it was such an honor to apply for a BHHS franchise brokerage. I look forward to growing a diverse company for all generations, backgrounds and for professionals at different stages of life.” Houston is home to only two Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices real estate franchises, Curry is privileged to have been chosen as the new owner of a Warren Buffet affiliated company and becomes its first 100 percent woman owned company in Houston.

A top Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices agent over the years, Curry has received numerous production awards including Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices’ President’s Circle and Chairman’s Circle awards. With a well-rounded, solid background as a certified relocation specialist for over 12 years, Curry has achieved out-

standing success with many of the top relocation companies in the industry. From corporate executives, engineers, physicians, professional athletes and tech startups she has worked with a number of Houston’s top talents.

Curry holds the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing Million Dollar GUILD designation for successfully marketing and selling million-dollar homes.

TIFFANY CURRY In addition to a successful sales career as a Top Producing agent, Curry has held many high-level leadership positions throughout her career at the local, state and national levels including serving as a Board of Director for the Houston, Texas and National Association of Realtors. Curry was appointed as a President’s Liaison in 2014 and 2019 for the National Association of Realtors, the largest trade association in America with over 1.4 million members. She has worked on projects with a budget in excess of $35 million a year.

“Tiffany Curry is a talented leader who brings out the very best in those who work with her,” said Chris Stuart, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices.

“Over the years her teams have been motivated, well-trained and laser-focused on clients’ varying needs. The same should be expected of Tiffany Curry & Co., Realtors.”

Customers gain free access to Black News Channel The New Pittsburgh Courier has learned that Black News Channel, America’s first and only African American-focused 24/7 news network, is now free through the end of the year to Xfinity X1 and Flex customers, giving even more Xfinity customers access to hundreds of hours of informative, educational, and empowering programming geared toward African American audiences.

X1 and Flex customers can simply say “Black News Channel” into the Xfinity Voice Remote to access the network’s programming over the Internet, which covers topics ranging from the latest COVID-19 developments in relation to the Black community to the rich history of the nation’s HBCUs, and more.

“As the demand for diverse content surges, there’s no

better time to bring Black News Channel to millions of Xfinity customers for free,” said Keesha Boyd, Executive Director of Multicultural Consumer Services at Comcast. “With an unprecedented increase in the consumption of news programming, Black News Channel provides real, relevant, and representative news coverage, and entertainment programming presented by and

curated for African American audiences.”

For Xfinity customers looking for even more free content, Xfinity’s Watchathon Week has begun and runs through May 17, bringing more than 10,000 free TV shows and movies from more than 70 providers including African American networks and subscription video services such as AFRO, Aspire TV, REVOLT, The Africa

Channel and TV One. During Watchathon, Xfinity customers can catch up on hit shows including Godfather of Harlem on EPIX, starring Forest Whitaker; Power on STARZ, starring Omari Hardwick and Naturi Naughton; and for the first time, episodes of Hulu Originals Little Fires Everywhere, starring Kerry Washington, and High Fidelity, starring Zoë Kravitz.

Year round, Xfinity custom-

ers can discover thousands of free and subscription entertainment options via Xfinity on Demand’s easy-to-browse “Black Film and TV” destination. The specially curated destination features hundreds of culturally relevant movies, documentaries, and TV series, including collections: ‘Black History: Always On’, ‘The HBCU Experience’, and “For the Culture: The New Renaissance.”

Invest in your debt There’s a difference between being rich and being wealthy. Being rich means you earn a high income. How much money do you have to earn to be rich? That’s a relative question. Ask a person earning $45,000 per year that question, they’ll say $100,000.

Ask the person earning $100,000 per year they’ll say $500,000. Ask a person earning $500,000 per year they’ll say $1,000,000.00.

It’s widely recognized that if your household income is more than double the national average, you’re considered upper class or rich. According to “The US Census Bureau”, the average household income in America is $59,039. If your income is double that— $118,078, consider yourself blessed and rich!

According to “Yahoo Finance”, just 9 percent of households earn more than $100,000 per year. Does that mean those earning less than $100,000 will never amass wealth? Are those earning more than $100,000 guaranteed to become wealthy? Short answer to both questions—NO. I suffice it to say that according to the “Everyday Millionaire” book written by Chris Hogan, 62-percent of Everyday Millionaires earned less than $100,000 annually.

It is true that the higher your income, the faster you can build wealth. High income alone doesn’t guarantee wealth. Think of all the high earning celebrities who have filed bankruptcy. Think of all these large companies and state governments who struggle financially—some of which go bankrupt?

Surely, celebrities, large companies and state governments receive a larger income than what most of us can imagine. To fully understand how that can happen. Let’s dive into wealth.

Although some people use rich and wealthy as interchangeable words, they are not the same. True wealth is about amassing assets such as businesses, stocks, bonds, real estate, investments, and other property that can be converted to cash. Like rich, if asked how much do you have to hold in assets to be considered wealthy? That’s a relative question. For most, the idea of a million-dollar net worth is considered wealthy.

But those who amassed a million-dollar net worth think $5,000,000 is wealthy. Those with a $5,000,000 net worth or more tend to be seeking billionaire status.

Rich is earned income driven. You have to work hard and earn income when you’re rich. Wealthy is asset driven. If you have sufficient assets generating enough income to cover your lifestyle and expenses, you don’t have to exert physical effort to get paid. Your assets are doing the heavy lifting.

Unlike being rich, being wealthy has the ability to free you from working.

To accumulate assets, you have to save and invest over a period of time allowing your assets to grow. Income generated from assets is reinvested to generate more value and more earnings to your asset base. This is not an overnight process. It takes consistency and compounding efforts and compounding interest over an extended period of time. In this instant gratification society, very few have the patience necessary to get there. We want our stuff and we want it now!

Loans and its offspring debt feeds off of instant gratification and impedes our ability to amass wealth. The cost of everything imaginable is grossly inflated because of the availability of loans. Loans allow us to buy now and PAY LATER. By the time we pay off the item we purchased with the loan it’s outdated, and overused—creating a need for an upgrade in the item purchased. We take out another loan to purchase the upgraded model. Thus, the cycle continues. We’re left chasing our tail finding a hard time getting the traction we need to get ahead. We owe, we owe so off to work we go.

Caught up in the trap of paying on expenses and debt when we should be using a large portion of that money to amass wealth. Solution. Invest in your debt!

What is investing in your debt? Investing in your debt is when you free up a minimum of 10 percent of your household income. Then strategically use the money you freed up to systematically and aggressively pay off all your debt. Doing this will give you a sound financial foundation with the necessary disposable income to invest long term to build an asset base you can be proud of.

When you’re saving and investing money, the goal should be to amass a sufficient amount of assets to either pay cash for something or amass a sufficient amount to generate income from that asset. With investing, there’s inherent risk. You have a

chance to earn money but you can also lose money. With investing, there’s taxes on both earnings and appreciation once you sell the asset. With investing you’re expecting a return on your investment—but there’s no guarantee of how much of a return you’ll receive.

No investment is as secure and sound as a paid off debt. Investing in your debt provides a stress free, risk free, tax free, guaranteed return on your investment. The return is peace of mind, zero interest on the loan you no longer have to pay and the increased cash-flow you receive by not having to pay on the debt anymore.

Let’s give mathematical value to Investing in your debt. Let’s assume you have two credit cards and a car loan. Credit card one—$4,400 balance, 13 percent rate with minimum payments of $50 p/m. Credit card two—$7,000 balance, 17 percent rate with minimum payments of $120 p/m. Car payment—$35,000, 6 percent rate with minimum payments of $475 p/m. With making minimum payments, it will take you close to 8 years to pay in full—paying close to $21,000 in interest.

Let’s assume you follow the Invest in your debt method and you free up an extra $400 to systematically and aggressively pay off your debt. Using the same scenario above, you’ll pay off this debt in close to 4-years, paying close to $7,100 in interest.

Investing in your debt will save you 4 years and $14,000 in interest—plus increase your cash flow so that you can save and invest aggressively to build your asset base.

(Money Coach Damon Carr can be reached @ 412216-1013.)

B2

MAY 27-JUNE 2, 2020

NATIONAL

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

‘Jeffrey, unfortunately, your test came back positive for the coronavirus.’

Jeffrey L. Boney shares his personal journey of surviving the coronavirus and dealing with the emotional and mental anguish required to overcome COVID-19

by Jeffrey L. Boney

news and read reports showing the number of people dying on a daily basis as a result of the (NNPA)—“Jeffrey, unfortunatevirus. ly, your test came back positive I needed a miracle. for the Coronavirus.”

Because I didn’t have any reHearing those words from the spiratory issues, just digestive doctor, March 27th, shook me to issues, it caused the doctors to the core. develop a treatment plan for me Was that a death sentence for that was different than other me? patients they had been treating Was it a coincidence that my prior to my arrival to the hosmom years earlier had died in pital. Dr. Varon and Dr. Joseph the same month of March?

Gathe, Jr. oversaw my care.

Was this really how my life was They created a whole Coronagoing to end? virus cocktail, which included The news reports I had been heavy doses of Vitamin C, which watching and reading reported was specific to my treatment. dire results relative to those who Per Dr. Varon, my case taught had contracted the virus. Death them that they must use high tolls were rising. Governors bedose blood thinners on every gan searching for beds and ventiCoronavirus patient admitted lators for people who were being to the hospital. impacted by this virus.

After several days, my sympHonestly, I felt like the odds toms began to subside, and my were stacked against me. appetite came back in a major The journey for me started with way. I longed for my breakfast, a very slight cough. On March lunch and dinner, and couldn’t 17th, I started experiencing inwait to eat it. Dr. Varon eventernal digestive symptoms that tually informed me that all of I initially assumed was a result my vital organs had returned to of me not eating anything that normal and that my blood work day. It was a Tuesday, which and vital signs were solid. meant it was Press Day at the Finally, I felt like I was turning Houston Forward Times, where a corner and getting better. That I serve as the Associate Editor. was until a second CT Scan was Now, it wasn’t uncommon for me performed, which revealed more to skip breakfast and skip lunch shocking and devastating news in order to remain laser focused regarding my health condition. on getting the newspaper done.

When the results of my second However, when I started feeling CT Scan came back, it revealed faint, I decided to get something that I had been diagnosed with to eat. a pulmonary embolism in my I made my way down to the right lung. A pulmonary emReggae Hut around 5:30 pm and bolism occurs when blood clots ordered the oxtails, rice and peas block the flow of blood to the and the vegetables, along with lungs. A pulmonary embolism a beef patty and a Kola Chamcan be fatal and life-threatpagne to drink. I made my way ening, which is why Dr. Varon back down to my office with my and his team promptly took the plate and I ate a little bit of the FOREVER GRATEFUL—Jeffrey L. Boney says he is “forever grateful to God and to everyone who uttered a prayer, shared necessary steps to address the rice and peas; a little of the veg- an encouraging word, providing any resources or sent positive energy my way.” (Photo: Facebook) blood clot and reduce my risk of etables; and barely ate one of the death. I was immediately placed on blood thinner medication. oxtails, before closing the contest results would take anywhere from coaster at this point. I didn’t know how I continued to follow the instructions tainer and putting the plate in the re- 24-48 hours to come back, so I waited long I would be in ICU, but more imof the doctors until I received that frigerator. That was the last time I saw patiently and eagerly. portantly, whether I would make it out that plate or my office.

As anxious as I was to find out the alive. I could not help but think about wonderful news that on Sunday, April The next day, I not only had a con- results on the following day, I decided the time in 2003 when my wife and I 5th, I had made significant and miraculous improvement, and subsequently tinuous loss of appetite, I also had to give it another day. took my mom to the ER because she stomach pain and was experiencing On that Friday, March 27th, things was ill. It was a life-altering experience was being discharged to go home to my family. I was so thrilled, yet still deeply heavy and unusual bouts of diarrhea. took a drastic turn for the worse, as it for me. concerned because I still didn’t know I even had an episode where I went to relates to my health. I began to cough, After being seen by doctors in the the bathroom and while on the way, I and what I thought would be regular ER, the medical staff informed us that whether I was still “POSITIVE” with passed out and was disoriented. I woke phlegm coming out, turned out to be a my mom would need to be admitted to the Coronavirus.

I was concerned about my family up lying on the floor in a sweat, trying significant amount of bright red blood. address her serious health condition, to figure out what happened to me. I As this continued to happen, I made which turned out to be worse than be- and praying they would be fine. Prior to being discharged, I had another drank lots of water, tried natural reme- the decision to call Dr. Varon and share lieved.

COVID-19 test done and was awaiting dies and ceased all of my normal activ- my update. After hearing my status, My wife and I decided to stay with ities. None of that worked or changed Dr. Varon implored me to come to the her, but my mom kept telling us to go the results. I self-isolated once again, my situation.

UMMC Emergency Room (ER) immedi- home, get some rest and come back until I got my second test results. After several days, I got the results and I self-quarantined and self-isolated for ately, which I prepared to do. the next morning. We stayed anyway. eight days—from Tuesday, March 17th Before I got off the phone with him, They moved her in the wee hours of the tested “NEGATIVE” for the virus. Beto Wednesday, March 25th. During that however, he hit me with the update I morning to a different floor. It was then cause I wanted to be completely sure time, I contacted my primary care phy- was anxious to finally receive, but with that I told her that I was not be going before interacting with my family sician, who informed me that continu- some news I was definitely hoping and very far, as I chose to sleep at my moth- again, the doctors administered aning to self-quarantine was probably the praying not to hear. Dr. Varon informed er-in-law’s house because it was closer other COVID-19 test and those results came back “NEGATIVE” as well. best option at the time, considering the me that I had tested “POSITIVE” for to the hospital than my house was.

This was a long and faith-filled joursymptoms I was experiencing. the Coronavirus.

As reluctant as I felt leaving my mom ney, to which I still am slated to have I decided to reach out to my good I was shook. My family was stunned. I at that hospital, nothing compares to friend, State Representative Ron Reyn- am a married father of three. My fami- the phone call I received from the hos- to deal with this blood clot in my right lung for the next six months or so. I olds to express my concerns about my ly is everything. pital, no more than five minutes after health status, as well as get his adUpon my arrival, there were two large I laid my head down on the pillow. The will continue to fight and do what I am vice on whether he thought I should signs that said STOP. My wife, who had nurse on duty called to inform me that supposed to do. In the meantime, I am go through one of the drive-thru test- followed me to the hospital, was not al- my mom had stopped breathing and encouraging everyone, especially my ing sites that had recently opened. I lowed inside. I was met by medical staff had slipped into a coma. I mean, right African American brothers and sisters, to get tested. I believe everyone should desperately wanted to get tested, pri- and they ushered me into a room in the after I left. be tested immediately, regardless of marily for my peace of mind, but also ER. She stood outside awaiting word.

They told me that there was a shift because I was concerned for my fam- The nursing staff immediately went to change and that my mom had been whether you have symptoms or not.

This is NOT a drill. ily. They were still living in the same work, initially drawing blood and then given a specific medication, and by the This virus is unrepentant and aggreshouse as me. taking some vitals at the order of Dr. time the new nurse on duty went to sive and can spread quickly to anyone I saw the news. I read the media re- Varon. check on my mom, they became aware who comes in contact with it. Listen ports online and on social media. It As events would unfold, Dr. Varon of the situation. to your local leaders and medical prowas clear, based on those reports, that would turn out to be one of the primary I was devastated. I felt guilty. I felt as I was not displaying the type of respi- angels of medicine that made the dif- if I was there, I could’ve possibly done fessionals to help stop the community ratory symptoms that the majority of ference relative to my Coronavirus re- something. Several months later, my spread.

I am a living witness that you can COVID-19 patients were reported to covery efforts. mother passed away and I never forgot contract this virus and how it impacts have been experiencing, such as shortOne of the first things Dr. Varon or- that moment. you. Don’t ignore your symptoms and ness of breath or having a heavy cough. dered his medical staff to do with me As I was being prepared to go to ICU There were also reports that the only upon my arrival to the ER was to do a myself, I was reminded of my mom’s ex- don’t ignore the seriousness of this way a person could be tested was if CT Scan. For those who may not know, perience, and I was instantly bombard- virus. Don’t be selfish and just think they were elderly or a first responder. I a CT Scan is more detailed than a reg- ed with memories and emotions about about yourself. Think about your famiwas deeply concerned. ular X-ray, and allows doctors to see what she endured. I also struggled with ly, friends, neighbors, co-workers, loved A few days after my call with Rep. inside your body by using a combina- the mental anguish of worrying about ones and those you don’t know. Stay Reynolds, I received a call on my cell tion of X-rays and a computer to create a virus that reportedly has no cure or safe!

Giants can be intimidating. The fight phone from U.S. Congresswoman Shei- images of your organs and other things vaccine to fight it. I knew I needed to can many times be tough. Sometimes la Jackson Lee on Wednesday, March inside your body. draw on something greater than myself we lose. Sometimes we win. The com25th. She had heard I was experiencing Of course, I didn’t know why a CT to get through this ordeal. mon thread in winning versus losing is a health challenge and asked me some Scan was being performed on me at the On Friday, March 27th, the journey questions. Congresswoman Jackson time, nor did I know what the end result towards fighting the Coronavirus had giving it all you have when you are in the midst of a fight. In the Bible, DaLee then immediately informed me that would be. Let me just say that perform- truly just begun. vid showed us that giants can indeed she wanted me to come down to United ing that CT Scan on me was the best Not only did I have a severe case of Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) on thing that could have ever happened to pneumonia when I entered ICU, my liv- fall. This was my journey, and this is Tidwell to get tested right away. I wast- me, because it revealed something ma- er and kidneys also needed to be pro- my testimony.

I am forever grateful to God and to ed no time. I asked the Congresswom- jor that was going on inside my body tected from the virus; my heart rate an for the address and immediately got that couldn’t be seen by looking at me was through the roof; my heart con- everyone who uttered a prayer, shared dressed to make my way to UMMC. from the outside. The CT Scan revealed dition worsened and I was headed to an encouraging word, providing any reAs I was driving to the hospital, Con- that my lungs showed a severe case of the point of potential heart failure; my sources or sent positive energy my way.

My family and I greatly appreciate gresswoman Jackson Lee told me that pneumonia, as well as other issues in- blood pressure was high; I had a sharp she had already spoken to the Chief volving my vital organs that came as a pain in my right side; I continued to each and every one of you. God bless you, and let’s do everything in our powMedical Officer for United Memorial result of the Coronavirus. have heavy diarrhea episodes; and I Medical Center (UMMC), Dr. Joseph It was decided at that moment that still had a loss of appetite. Things were er to defeat this horrible and vicious Varon, and that he was prepared to re- I needed to be admitted to the Inten- not looking good for me and I felt hor- COVID-19 virus.

(Jeffrey L. Boney is a political analyst and ceive me and administer the test. sive Care Unit (ICU) right away. It was rible. I began to wonder if I was ever international correspondent for the NNPA I was so relieved that I would be then that I realized how serious things going to get better.

Newswire and BlackPressUSA.com and serves able to get tested and get a defini- were, and it was the moment that I From the very beginning, I had to rely tive on whether I had contracted the knew that I was going to have to rely on my faith in God, as I continued to as Associate Editor for the Houston Forward Times newspaper. Jeffrey is an award-winning COVID-19 virus or not. on my faith in God. deal with the mental anguish of being journalist, dynamic international speaker, exI arrived to UMMC and was met by I called my wife to tell her I was being in this Coronavirus-specific ICU area, Dr. Varon. He walked with me inside admitted and informed her that I was particularly knowing that there were perienced entrepreneur, business development to the place where I was to be tested, not going to be able to have any visita- people around with breathing issues strategist and founder and CEO of the Texas and he immediately tried to put me at tion throughout my time in the ICU. I and hearing machines go off all day and Business Alliance. Follow Jeffrey on Twitter @ ease. I was told by Dr. Varon that my was on a mental and emotional roller night, and as I regularly looked at the realtalkjunkies.)

For New Pittsburgh Courier

OPINION

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

MAY 27-JUNE 2, 2020 B3

What about our children?

Our Primary Election Endorsements The New Pittsburgh Courier endorses the following Democratic candidates in the June 2 Primary Election.

President of the United States Joe Biden Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro Pennsylvania Auditor General Michael Lamb

U.S. Representative — 17th Congressional District Conor Lamb U.S. Representative — 18th Congressional District Mike Doyle Pennsylvania State Senator — District 43 Jay Costa Jr. Pennsylvania State Representative — District 19 Jake Wheatley Pennsylvania State Representative — District 20 Adam Ravenstahl Pennsylvania State Representative — District 21 Sara Innamorato Pennsylvania State Representative — District 24 Ed Gainey Pennsylvania State Representative — District 34 Summer Lee Pennsylvania State Representative — District 35 Austin Davis

Founded 1910

Rod Doss Editor & Publisher Stephan A. Broadus Assistant to the Publisher Allison Palm

Rob Taylor Jr.

Jeff Marion

Office Manager

Managing Editor

Circulation Consultant

John. H. Sengstacke

Dr. E. Faye Williams, Esq.

Commentary fer, to varying degrees, with emotional distress that can only be labelled Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

The American Psychiatric Association defines PTSD as: A psychiatric disorder that can occur in people who’ve experienced or witnessed a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, serious accident, terrorist act, war/combat, rape or other violent personal assault.

People with PTSD have intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings related to their experiences that last long after the traumatic event has ended. They may relive the event through flashbacks or nightmares; they may feel sadness, fear or anger; and they may feel… estranged from other people.

I would think the initial temporary school closures were greeted by our youth as an extra spring break! I’d also speculate that, when these closures were applied to the remaining school year and students realized a longer separation from friends and normalcy, they had to face another demoralizing disappointment in a sequence of many. For many, food and shelter security became real and immediate. Some have become victims of domestic vio-

lence sparked by routine practice or proximity anxiety. For many more, illness and death of family and friends and the real potential of personal illness or death have become thoughts which are their constant companions.

More long-term, the educational disparities and academic gaps suggest loss of future opportunities for some. Academic and athletic scholarships which depend on evaluation results of completed school years will not be realized.

These obvious assaults on the mental health of youth will go unchecked and unanswered.

Historically, our communities have been reluctant to accept the existence of mental health problems—ignoring rather than addressing them. If healing is our true purpose, we must first acknowledge the full scope of the issues—general and individual— which confront the target of our concern. We can no longer count on the intestinal fortitude of victims to shepherd them through their trauma. Some need help!

We must become more thorough and sincere in demonstrating our concern. Instead of the casual, “How ya doing?” our inquiry must be a more thorough one like “Is there anything I can do to help you?” or a variety of probing questions that’ll help our youth express themselves. We must remember that their healing begins with us. Unchecked, the impact of their trauma becomes generational.

(Dr. E. Faye Williams is National President of the National Congress of Black Women.)

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden clarifies message to Black America

Pennsylvania State Treasurer Joe Torsello

Editor & Publisher Emeritus (1912-1997)

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—Like many who’ve had to shelter-inplace, I’ve had time for introspection and reflection. I’ve had to limit contact with family members, but I’ve had the opportunity to share memories and plan for future engagements with them. As leader of a national organization, I’ve had to plan for the utilization of new creative procedures to keep our organization operational. I’m a community activist, so I’ve had to examine and evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on our communities.

In mid-May 2020, the Center of Disease Control issued a report which states, in part: The effects of COVID-19 on the health of racial and ethnic minority groups is still emerging; however, current data suggest a disproportionate burden of illness and death among racial and ethnic minority groups. Among COVID-19 deaths for which race and ethnicity data were available, New York City identified death rates among African Americans (92.3 deaths per 100,000) Hispanics (74.3, both) substantially higher than that of Whites (45.2) or Asians (34.5).

Much has been said about the current disparate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color, very little attention has been placed on a plan for healing that will be essential post-pandemic. I place special emphasis on the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of our youth. I can only imagine the weight of uncertainty that’s been added to their customary burden. If not before COVID-19, our children must suf-

(NNPA)—Presumptive Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden clarified his message to Black America after the GOP, and others, seized on a remark he made in jest while wrapping up an interview with the famous Breakfast Club.

“I shouldn’t have been such a wise guy,” Biden stated after the comments to show host, Charlamagne Tha God, went viral.

“I shouldn’t have been so cavalier.

No one should have to vote for any party based on their race, religion, and background.”

As the Breakfast Club interview wrapped and a Biden aide said he was running short on time, Charlamagne asked the former vice president to stop by the studio when Biden returns to New York.

“It’s a long way until November,” Charlamagne told Biden. “We’ve got more questions.”

Biden replied, “You’ve got more questions?” “Well, I tell you what, if you have a problem figuring out whether you’re for Trump or me, then you ain’t Black.”

Republicans seized on the remark, with some sending emails to NNPA Newswire claiming that Biden was “race-baiting.”

In response, NNPA Newswire asked members of the GOP to address what many in the African American community believe have been the racially-charged remarks and actions of the president.

There was no response.

“The comments made at the end of the Breakfast Club interview were in jest, but let’s be clear about what the VP was saying: he was making the distinction that he would put his record with the African American community up against Trump’s any day. Period,” Biden’s senior advisor Symone D. Sanders wrote on Twitter.

“Vice President Biden spent his career fighting alongside and for the African American community. He won his party’s nomination by earning every vote and meeting people where they are, and that’s exactly what he intends to do this November,” Sanders stated.

In a “Meet the Black Press” segment of an interview on the web-

Stacy M. Brown

Commentary based show, “Make It Plain,” National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) President and CEO, Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, said people should react favorably to the exchange.

“Charlamagne always asks pointed questions, he takes no prisoners and he’s a great brother,” Chavis stated.

“But, the vice president is a street fighter who comes from Wilmington, Delaware. Remember, he was speaking directly to Charlamagne.”

Pressed further, Dr. Chavis noted that the issue boils down to the current administration verses a possible Biden administration.

“What Black people have to decide is not all of the prerequisites, but given what we know today, what is our aspirations? Who can best improve our quality of life? That’s the issue,” Chavis stated.

“We can’t get caught up in personality politics. I would rather have a president who speaks from the heart, from the gut, than a president who speaks from a teleprompter. I want to know what Biden is thinking about. That he’s thinking about Black, White, Latino, about the oneness of man.

“I would prefer to hear what he has to say, rather than to muzzle him. I tell hip-hop artists that they have freedom of expression, but they have to be responsible for what they put out. You have the freedom to say what you want, but after you say it, you have to be accountable.”

In an interview with NNPA Newswire in February, Biden said the Black vote was critical to anyone with aspirations of winning in November.

He then laid out his plan for Black America.

Last month, he called on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to collect more data regarding how COVID-19 is affecting communities, including breaking down its impact by race.

“The data we’ve seen so far suggests that African Americans are dying from COVID-19 at a higher rate than Whites. Long-standing systemic inequalities are contributing to this disparity—including the fact that African Americans are more likely to be uninsured and to live in communities where they are exposed to high levels of air pollution,” Biden stated.

Barack Obama’s former vice president’s plan for Black America includes: * Advance the economic mobility of African Americans and close the racial wealth and income gaps. * Expand access to high-quality education and tackle racial inequity in our education system. * Make far-reaching investments in ending health disparities by race. * Strengthen America’s commitment to justice. * Make the right to vote and the right to equal protection real for African Americans. * Address environmental justice.

Biden, who this month fiercely denounced the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery, noted that he spearheaded the Community Oriented Policing Services program, which authorized funding both for the hiring of additional police officers and for training on how to undertake a community policing approach.

However, the program has never been funded to fulfill the original vision for community policing.

He said he would reinvigorate the COPS program with a $300 million investment.

As a condition of the grant, Biden stated that hiring police officers must mirror the racial diversity of the community they serve. Additionally, as President, Biden promises to establish a panel to scrutinize what equipment is used by law enforcement in our communities.

He said he would invest in public defenders’ offices to ensure defendants’ access to quality counsel, and create a $20 billion grant program to support criminal justice reform at the state and local level.

Biden pledged to work with Congress to reform federal sentencing and provide incentives to state and local systems to do the same.

He said he would end once and for all, the federal crack and powder cocaine disparity, decriminalize the use of cannabis and automatically expunge all prior cannabis use convictions.

The Democrat also promises to end the criminalization of poverty and cash bail, which he called the modern-day debtors’ prison.

“We need a comprehensive agenda for African Americans with an ambition that matches the scale of the challenge and with a recognition that race-neutral policies are not a sufficient response to race-based disparities,” Biden noted.

New Pittsburgh Courier

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MAY 27-JUNE 2, 2020

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MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST WOMEN’S CENTER & SHELTER OF GREATER PITTSBURGH. To promote the brand and programs and services of Women’s Center & Shelter through proactive and effective marketing, social media and public relations strategies, including those for specific awareness, fundraising campaigns and outreach to survivors.

The ideal candidate will have a strategic focus while actively and creatively implementing tactics within given timelines and the ability to be flexible in a fast-paced environment. Please email a cover letter with salary requirements, resume, a sample social media post and one additional writing sample by June 5th to: brownk@wcspittsburgh.org *For additional information regarding this position, please visit our website www.wcspittsburgh.org and find this job posting under the “Who We Are” menu.

CONSTRUCTION OPPORTUNITY Continental Building Co. is taking Proposals from DBE’s for their parking garage being built on the North Shore. This is a six story parking facility with approx. 445 spaces.

All contracts must be completed by union labor. The information is available at Blue Book, Printscape or by contacting Continental at mchristner@builtbycontinental. com

HOUSEKEEPING POSITIONS Pittsburgh Technical College is seeking qualified applicants for the following positions: • Housekeeper – Full-time - Day Between the hours of 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (8 hour work shift) 3 years prior office/institutional cleaning experience • Housekeeper – Part-time – Evening Between the hours of 5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. (4 hour work shift) Prior office/institutional cleaning experience preferred Must pass criminal background check. Immediate opening at our North Fayette campus near Robinson Towne Center. Apply to www. ptcollege.edu (Employment with PTC) or www.workforptcollege. com.

EOE M/F CHIEF EQUITY AND INCLUSION OFFICER (CEIO) Allegheny County seeks a Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer (CEIO) to lead a collaborative initiative to deepen County Government’s diversity, equity, and inclusion in policies, procedures, and activities relevant to the work of the Department of Equity and Inclusion.

The CEIO is a member of the leadership team, reports to the County Manager, and manages a departmental budget of almost $1 million.

Please find the full profile and application information here: https:// jobs.nonprofittalent.com/job/ chief-equity-and-inclusion-offi cer/ The application deadline is June 15th. Contact: michelle@nonprofittalent.com with questions. All contacts are confidential.

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COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY The Community College Board of Trustees will hold a regular meeting on June 4, 2020. Due to the COVID19 pandemic, the meeting will be held virtually beginning at 4:00 p.m. and streamed on CCAC’s YouTube page. A copy of the Agenda for the Board meeting will be made available for review on the College’s website (www.ccac.edu) on June 1, 2020.

Comments regarding items scheduled for action by the Board may be submitted via email to brichardson@ccac.edu by no later than 3:00 p.m. on the date of the meeting. Comments will be read into the record, up to a maximum of three minutes each.

OFFICIAL ADVERTISEMENT THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH Sealed proposals shall be deposited at the Administration Building, Bellefield Entrance Lobby, 341 South Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15213, on June 9, 2020 until 2:00 P.M. local prevailing time for: Various Buildings Carbon Monoxide Detectors Phase II Mechanical, and Electrical Primes – REBID Various Buildings Asbestos, Lead-based paint, Mold & Animal Excrement Remediation, Mitigation & Abatement Environmental Abatement Contract – REBID Project Manual and Drawings will be available for purchase on May 11, 2020 at Modern Reproductions (412-488-7700), 127 McKean Street, Pittsburgh, Pa., 15219 between 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. The cost of the Project Manual Documents is non-refundable. Project details and dates are described in each project manual.

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Classifieds Estate of JORDAN BERNARD MILES, Deceased of 21 ST Ward PIttbsurgh, Pennsylvania, No.00636 of 2020, PATRICIA ANN JORDAN, 1620 SEDGWICK ST, PITTSBURGH, PA 15233, Exec Admin or to MICHAEL J. SALDAMARCO, ESQ., STE. 100, 908 PERRY HWY. PITTSBURGH, PA 15229 Estate of CLARE MAUREEN THEBERGE, Deceased of Oakdale, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, No.02-20-02366, MARGARET D. FEST, Administrator, 3320 Woodwind Drive Jefferson Hills, PA 15025 or to Robin L. Rarie, Atty; BRENLOVE & FULLER, LLC. 401 Washington Avenue Bridgeville, PA 15017

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HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH’S BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MONTHLY MEETING In accordance with the State of Emergency in the City of Pittsburgh, declared by Mayor William Peduto, to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh’s Board of Commissioners will hold its monthly meeting for May on May 28, 2020, as scheduled at 10:30 a.m. on a remote basis. The meeting will be held remotely, with public access to be provided online. HACP will provide a direct link to a livestream of the meeting, and instruction on how to make a public comment. Details will be made available on http:// www.hacp.org, in advance of the meeting.

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PORT AUTHORITY OF ALLEGHENY COUNTY Electronic Proposals will be received online at the Port Authority of Allegheny County’s Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org).

Proposals/bid submittals will be due 11:00 a.m. on June 19, 2020 and will be read at 11:15 a.m., the same day, at Port Authority’s Heinz location (Please contact the respective Contract Specialist for Tele-Conference dial-in information for the Bid Opening), for the following: Electronic Proposal - Ebusiness website (http://ebusiness.portauthority.org)

Bid Number Bid Name 1 B200432A Articulated Bus Bellows 2 B200434A Hybrid Powertrain Rotor Assemblies - Coach 3 B200437A Antifreeze / Coolant - Ready to Use 4 B200538A Wiper Arm Assemblies - Coach 5 B200539A Oil Fuel & Antifreeze Analysis Services No bidder may withdraw a submitted Proposal for a period of 75 days after the scheduled time for opening of the sealed bids.

A Pre-Bid Conference will be held via tele-conference on each of the above items at 10:00 a.m. on June 3, 2020. Please contact the respective Contract Specialist for Tele-Conference dial-in information. Attendance at this meeting is not mandatory, but is strongly encouraged. Questions regarding any of the above bids will not be entertained by the Port Authority within five (5) business days of the scheduled bid opening.

These contracts may be subject to a financial assistance contract between Port Authority of Allegheny County and the United States Department of Transportation. The Contractor will be required to comply with all applicable Equal Employment Opportunity laws and regulations.

Contractor is responsible for expenses related to acquiring a performance bond and insurance where applicable. All items are to be FOB delivered unless otherwise specified. Costs for delivery, bond, and insurance shall be included in bidder’s proposal pricing.

Port Authority of Allegheny County hereby notifies all bidders that it will affirmatively insure that in regard to any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprise will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, or national origin in consideration for an award.

The Board of Port Authority reserves the right to reject any or all bids.

NOTICE TO BIDDERS The Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County (SEA) will receive sealed bids for NSRFP & G/L 2020 Concrete and Joint Repairs (trade package) as identified below for the North Shore Riverfront Park and North Shore Garages/Lots. The contract for this work will be with the Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. Inquiries regarding the bidding should be made to the SEA, 171 10th Street, 2nd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Attention: Bill Williams - E-mail: bwilliams@pghsea. com. Bid Packages may be obtained after the date identified below through Accu-Copy at 724-935-7055.

This Advertisement applies to the following Bid Package: Project: NSRFP & G/L Bid Package Name: 2020 Concrete and Joint Repairs Bid Package Available: May 21, 2020 Approximate Value: $225,000 Time/Date/Location for Pre-Bid Meeting: 10:30am,Fri.,May 29, 2020 North Shore Riverfront Park Great Lawn Pgh, PA 15222 Time/Date/Location for Bid:

2:00pm, Wed., June 16, 2020 SEA, 171 10th St, Pgh, PA 15222

NOTICE TO BIDDERS The Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County (SEA) and the Stadium Authority of Pittsburgh (SA) will receive sealed bids for North Shore Garage (NSG) and West General Robinson Street Garage (WGRSG) 2020 Concrete and Joint Repairs (trade package) as identified below. The contract for this work will be with the SEA for the NSG and the SA for the WGRSG. Inquiries regarding the bidding should be made to the SEA, 171 10th Street, 2nd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Attention: Bill Williams - E-mail: bwilliams@pghsea.com. Bid Packages may be obtained after the date identified below through Accu-Copy at 724-935-7055.

This Advertisement applies to the following Bid Package: Project: NSG & WGRSG Bid Package Name: 2020 Concrete and Joint Repairs Bid Package Available: May 20, 2020 Approximate Value: $1,000,000 Time/Date/Location for Pre-Bid Meeting: 2:00pm, Friday, May 29, 2020 Zoom Meeting, www.pgh-sea.com for details Time/Date/Location for Bid: 2:00pm, Friday, June 12, 2020 SEA, 171 10th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

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What about the children?

(TriceEdneyWire.com)—Do you see the light at the end of the coronavirus tunnel? With all 50 states and the District of Columbia) either lifting “shelter in place” orders or relaxing them, with restaurants opening, albeit at half capacity, things seem to be slowly returning to “normal” whatever that is.

Many of us are still “social distancing,” as defined by the Centers for Disease Control as staying six feet away from each other and covering our noses and mouths. We are in a recession. It won’t get better until we have a corona vaccine, and until we provide more support for workers.

The recession will abate when people get back to work, and when people start spending money. But most parents can’t confidently return to work without safe, reliable child care. And it isn’t clear how small children can observe social distancing guidelines, standing six feet away from other children. Will child care centers have to accept fewer children so that they can keep children apart? How will it affect their bottom line? Many daycare providers won’t survive coronavirus, reducing the already scarce supply of child care.

Julianne Malveaux

Commentary Summer plans have gone kaput. Air travel is down 90 percent, as people still aren’t ready to get on a plane.

What does that do to family vacations or plans for summer camp? Many parents look forward to a kid-free week or so, and many children enjoy the educational enrichment that comes with summer camp. Now, many parents will patch together plans. Something is likely to fall between the cracks.

In some jurisdictions, the delivery of education will look very different than in the past. Some districts are considering having young people at school one or two days a week, or a week or so a month. How will working families manage child care when young people are not at school?

If getting people back to work is essential to economic recovery, then we had better start thinking of the children. Why is there such a shortage of affordable child care? Why don’t we have a families policy that supports families with food, child care, and other necessities? If we want parents to work, then we have to be prepared to support them.

Many people see the child care issue as a women’s issue because most people assume that women should be in charge of their children. But in nearly half (46 percent) of all households, both parents work. Child care should not be solely a woman’s job. If we are to meet our labor market needs, then the child care issue is not a women’s issue, but a societal issue.

Part of the issue is ensuring that child care workers and other domestic workers paid fairly. The average child care worker earns $11.17 an hour, or about $23,000 a year. If a single mom with two children that much, she is below the poverty line. How can she focus on caring for your children when she always worried about making ends meet?

In July 2019, Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Congresswoman Premila Jayapal(D-WA) introduced the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights to protect the 2 million domestic workers who provide caretaking for seniors, children, and others. The legislation has not passed the Republican-led Senate, but its introduction is significant. Several states, including New York, Washington, and Hawaii, have passed similar legislation.

Perhaps the indifference to legislation like this is reflective of the fact that the majority of domestic workers are women of color and immigrant women.

These women are relatively powerless unless they are organized, and Ai-jen Poo, who leads the National Domestic Workers Alliance committed to organizing domestic workers. When we ask about the children, we must ask about their children first since they are among the most vulnerable.

The children of people who are economically secure will enjoy good care.

They’ll have tutors, computers, broadband, vacations and more. They won’t get the opportunity to play, but their parents have the means to get them everything else they need. But the children in low-income families won’t have everything they need. They will fall behind in school with the patchwork arrangements that are available to them.

Some will go hungry because some food programs have run out of food.

People can’t go back to work unless they have a safe place to keep their children. Our recession reminds us of the need for universal child care and fair treatment for domestic workers.

People love to say they believe that children are the future, but even as they move their lips, no sound is coming out, there is no action.

FORUM

VBM: the projected new normal that’s 20 years late The 2000 presentirely by mail, J. Pharoah Doss idential election other states only is remembered allow VBM for for the Florida state and local recount.

After elections, and George W. Bush some states aswas declared the signed specific victor Florida’s jurisdictions as electoral process all-mail-voting lost credibility. areas.

To restore public confidence, the Some have confused VBM with state legislature enacted measures absentee voting. A voter requestto make voting more convenient. ing an absentee ballot has to meet The state established early voting specific requirements, be physically and set up a vote by mail (VBM) disabled or out of town on election program. I lived in Florida during day. The only requirement for VBM that fiasco. I signed up for the VBM is voter registration. program and received primary/genThe state-by-state stay-ateral election ballots in the mail for home orders during the current a five-year period. The state legis- COVID-19 health crisis has made lature’s efforts increased voter par- all registered voters eligible for ticipation throughout the state. absentee ballots and made vote In 2000 Oregon made a historic by mail elections a necessity. But electoral achievement, but its sig- President Trump has denounced nificance was overshadowed by the the very concept of VBM and sugFlorida recount. Oregon became gested it would lead to massive the first state to conduct their state voter fraud. In the past 20 years and federal elections entirely by there has been 143 cases of fraud mail. Ballots were mailed to reg- involving mail-in ballots, that’s 7 to istered voter’s three weeks before 8 cases per year. That translates the election along with a pamphlet into 0.00006 percent of total votes of information on the candidates cast during that time period. and their policy positions. Oregon’s President Trump’s concern with VBM general election turnout was the conventional wisdom that has 79 percent, and ever since Oregon suggested for decades that a low has had one of the highest voter voter turnout benefits Republicans participation rates in the country. and a high voter turnout benefits Over the next two decades 4 states Democrats. It’s been reported Presfollowed Oregon’s VBM lead. Wash- ident Trump has complained that ington (2011) Colorado and Utah if VBM is successful, “You’d never (2013) and Hawaii passed VBM leg- have a Republican elected in this islation in 2019. VBM didn’t elim- country again.” But a low voter inate in-person voting at a polling turnout also benefits incumbents place. It eliminated “election day” regardless of their political party. and replaced it with an “election VBM is the best thing to come out period”. Also, 21 other states cre- of the state-by-state stay-at-home ated some variation of VBM. Cer- orders, and if VBM is not the new tain states allowed each county to normal by 2024 then a good crisis decide whether or not they will vote went to waste.

Check It Out

Joe Biden attacks freethinking Blacks while President Trump empowers them A bigot is defined infamous 1994 as “a person who is Paris Dennard Crime Bill that intolerant toward literally locked those holding difup thousands of ferent opinions.” men that look By that definition, just like me.

Former Vice PresiBiden was proud dent Joe Biden is a of his record on bigot. mass incarceraAt the end of a retion of Black men cent interview on that destroyed the very popular communities, radio show, “The Breakfast Club,” Joe dismantled families and stifled Black Biden said, “If you have a problem figur- wealth for generations. ing out whether you’re for me or Trump, How many strikes do we give Joe then you ain’t Black.”

Biden until we say enough is enough, For a man who claims to have grad- you are out? Out of touch, out of the uated with honors from so many elite mainstream, outside what Black Amerischools, and is married to an educator, cans need in leadership. it is surprising that he would say “You Thankfully, Black people can look at ain’t Black.” Maybe that is how he the record of Donald Trump on the isspeaks on a regular basis, or maybe that sue of Criminal Justice Reform and see is how he speaks when talking to Black the thousands of people who went home people. because of his bold advocacy of the First The last thing that any freethinking, Step Act righting Biden’s wrongs in just civically engaged Black person needs in under four years.

2020, is a 77-year-old White man from In 2012, Joe Biden told a predomDelaware “whitesplaining” Blackness to inately Black audience in Virginia, us.

“They’re gonna put y’all back in chains,” I was born Black, still live the Black referring to Republicans. experience as a Black man in America Joe Biden can’t accept that the Reevery single day. My family comes from publican Party has historically been the South, and we have experienced and currently is the party of freedom, discrimination, racism, bigotry, and sur- and opportunities for everyone, espevived Jim Crow. My Papa was a proud cially the Black community. We have a member of the Southern Christian Republican President and candidate in Leadership Conference, founded by Dr. Donald Trump, and an entire party that King, and still knowing my history, I am believes in school choice. We believe giva Black man voting Trump. ing all parents the ability to place their Try as they might, the one thing Joe children in better performing schools no Biden and his liberal friends can’t take matter your socio-economic background, away, define, or critique is my Blackness color and zip code is the right thing to do. But Joe Biden only sees color and because I am voting for Donald Trump.

In 2016, President Trump looked at class saying, “poor kids are just as smart the conditions and statistics of many as White kids.”

The media needs to stop calling these predominantly Black cities in America and saw that despite being led by Lib- statements “gaffes” because they are eral lawmakers, our communities were not. Call them dog whistles, call them faced with high crime, high unemploy- bigoted, call them offensive, call them ment, and poor public schools. Real es- racist.

In 2020, there is a clear choice to be tate values were down and there were not as many opportunities to advance as made for the Black Community. We there should have been. He asked us to should examine the records of both Joe trust him, listen to his plans and vote Biden and Donald Trump and vote our Donald J. Trump because at that point interests. By all objective measures, President Trump remains the champion he said: “What do you have to lose?”

In response to Joe Biden’s bigoted com- for the Black Community in this elecment, Charlemagne tha God said, “It tion. His record of support for Historidon’t have nothing to do with Trump, it cally Black Colleges and Universities, has to do with the fact I want something school choice, opportunity zones, crimfor my community.” At the end of the inal justice reform, minority businessday that is exactly what the Black vote es, kidney health, and direct aid and is about in 2020, our community. Identi- support to underserved communities fying who has the record and resolve to during this global pandemic makes him get things done for the Black Communi- worthy of our vote in November. Black ty. I have worked most of my adult life people are signing up for Black Voicadvocating, promoting, and defending es for Trump because he has kept his my community inside the Republican promises to our community.

The bigoted statements and damagParty at all levels and have seen many results. However, I have seen the most ing policies of Joe Biden need to remain results for my community under the quarantined with him in his Delaware basement.

Trump Administration.

(Paris Dennard is a GOP political commentaJoe Biden asked The Breakfast Club audience to look at his record. That was tor, strategist, and Senior Communications Adnot a gaffe, he was serious. For 44 years visor for Black Media Affairs at the Republican Joe Biden has been either MIA or on the National Committee.) (Disclaimer: The views wrong side of history when it comes to and opinions expressed in this article do not fighting for the Black Community. Let’s necessarily reflect the official policy or position of start with his record on justice. We all BlackPressUSA.com or the National Newspaper know Joe Biden was the architect of the Publishers Association.)

Commentary

MAY 27-JUNE 2, 2020

B5

Glenn Ellis

Commentary

Pros and cons of COVID-19 testing (TriceEdneyWire.com)—Late last month, the American Medical Association issued the following statement: “No therapies have yet to conclusively show effectiveness against COVID-19”.

According to information on the CDC website, “Two kinds of tests are available for COVID-19: viral tests and antibody tests. A viral test tells you if you have a current infection. An antibody test tells you if you had a previous infection.

Antibodies are produced by a person’s immune system, and these antibodies are critical for control and clearance of the virus. An antibody test may not be able to show if you have a current infection, because it can take 1-3 weeks after infection to make antibodies. We do not know yet if having antibodies to the virus can protect someone from getting infected with the virus again, or how long that protection might last.

With so much still unknown about immunity to COVID-19 and a dozens and dozens of antibody tests that have not been rigorously validated, experts worry that widespread antibody screening may give those who test positive a false sense of security.

The whole idea of antibody testing goes back to around the time of the influenza pandemic in 1918. Medical experts at the time thought that you could take serum (or plasma) from people who have had the infectious disease and have recovered. You then take their antibodies and inject them into someone who is having a severe case, or rapidly deteriorating, and protect them.

Sounds reasonable.

With other diseases, the presence of antibodies often means you have acquired immunity against re-infection, for at least some period of time, but that is not known yet in the case of COVID-19. That means that a positive antibody test doesn’t guarantee immunity. It has not been proven that the antibodies that are being produced are in fact neutralizing antibodies. It’s possible that an antibody may bind to a part of the virus that the virus doesn’t need to infect our cells. In order to be neutralizing, an antibody must prevent the virus from infecting our cells.

Just recently, the FDA cracked down on the nearly 200 commercial antibody tests that have hit the market, citing that some test kits are fraudulent and show inaccurate results. An accurate antibody test would help the scientists and researchers gather the data on who has gotten the virus, including those who’ve showed no symptoms of being sick. It could even help develop a treatment to fight the virus. But experts warn that they have not been able to determine if someone is immune once they’ve had it. We now know from all of this that a positive antibody test may not necessarily mean you’re safe from ever getting the virus again.

Swab testing, despite being the “gold standard’ for COVID-19 testing has its own drawbacks.

The sample needs to be collected carefully from the correct area. It’s estimated that errors can occur about eight to ten percent of the time, which contributes to false negatives. Labs also need specialized equipment and skilled staff.

Lab officials say the amount of virus in the upper respiratory tract seems to peak in the first week of symptoms and could fall too low to be detected later.

Another thing about the swab test. It doesn’t end with just getting tested. Let me remind you that knowing if you are infected with the virus starts a whole series of questions for you and your healthcare team. If you are positive, decisions have to be made (sometimes, this can be without your agreement). Do you need to be hospitalized and separated from other patients? If you can go home, how should you isolate yourself?

Many people are anxious to get tested so that they can get back to their normal lives. Just know that there is a strong possibility, based the way this virus is spreading, that you might come up with a positive result! You should be prepared for the results; no matter what they conclude.

According to the COVID Tracking Project, only about 8.4 million Americans, or 2.5 percent of the total U.S. population, were tested for COVID-19 as of May 9. This reflects, to a large degree, the strain the demand for testing has placed on manufacturers and labs. Some diagnostic test suppliers have deliberately stopped testing for certain diseases, for example, to enable them to allocate more resources to manufacturing and supplying COVID-19 tests.

COIVD-19 has forced us all to have to consider things that we never imagined. But it is for our benefit that we get good information to inform our decisions.

One last word about the “reopening of the country”. My friend, Rev. John E. King Jr., told me that there are three types of people: onethird can’t wait to get back out there; another third of the people are waiting to see what happens to the first third before going back out; and the last third are those who don’t care what happens to the first or second third, they ain’t going back out there! Which third are you?

We need to know that testing is not the be all, end all, that we think they are. Some scientists believe that tests for the coronavirus are only about 70 percent accurate. A false negative is problematic because it tells the patient they don’t have the virus.

Remember, I’m not a doctor. I just sound like one. Take good care of yourself and live the best life possible! The information included in this column is for educational purposes only. I do not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a replacement form of treatment for physical, mental or medical problems by your doctor either directly or indirectly.

(Glenn Ellis, is a Harvard Medical School Research Bioethics Fellow and author of Which Doctor?, and Information is the Best Medicine. Ellis is an active media contributor on Health Equity and Medical Ethics. For more good health information visit: www.glennellis.com)

METRO

B6 MAY 27-JUNE 2, 2020

NEW PITTSBURGH COURIER

A listing of some of the polling locations that will be open in Allegheny County for the Pa. June 2 Primary Election The New Pittsburgh Courier is committed to keeping our readers informed, as the Pennsylvania Primary Election will occur on June 2, 2020. While many state residents have already mailed (or are planning to mail) their ballots, more than 120 polling locations will be open on Tuesday, June 2, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Courier is highlighting some of those open locations below. You may have received a postcard detailing your polling location. If not, visit www.allegenyvotes.com and click “Polling Locations” near the top of the page. You can also call 412-350-4500.

Pittsburgh – Ward 1, 2, 3 Pittsburgh – Ward 4 Pittsburgh – Ward 5 Pittsburgh – Ward 6 Pittsburgh – Ward 7 Pittsburgh – Ward 8 Pittsburgh – Ward 9 Pittsburgh – Ward 10 Pittsburgh – Ward 11 Pittsburgh – Ward 12 Pittsburgh – Ward 13 Pittsburgh – Ward 14, 15 Pittsburgh – Ward 16 Pittsburgh – Ward 17 Pittsburgh – Ward 18, 29, 30, 32 Pittsburgh – Ward 19 Pittsburgh – Ward 20, 28 Pittsburgh – Ward 21 Pittsburgh – Ward 22 Pittsburgh – Ward 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 Pittsburgh – Ward 31

Ebenezer Baptist Church 2001 Wylie Avenue Wesley W. Posvar Hall 230 South Bouquet Street Pittsburgh Weil School 2250 Centre Avenue Teamsters Temple Banquet Hall 4701 Butler Street Rodef Shalom Congregation 4905 Fifth Avenue Bloomfield-Garfield Corp.Activity Center 113 North Pacific Avenue Teamsters Temple Banquet Hall 4701 Butler Street Pittsburgh Sunnyside School 4801 Stanton Avenue Pittsburgh Fulton School 5799 Hampton Street Kingsley Association 6435 Frankstown Avenue Helen S. Faison Arts Academy 7430 Tioga Street Taylor Allderdice High School 2409 Shady Avenue South Side Market House 202 Bedford Square South Side Market House 202 Bedford Square Carrick High School 125 Parkfield Street Brashear High School 590 Crane Avenue Langley School 2940 Sheraden Boulevard Pittsburgh Manchester 1612 Manhattan Street Pittsburgh Manchester 1612 Manhattan Street Perry Traditional Academy 3875 Perrysville Avenue Pittsburgh Mifflin Elementary School 1290 Mifflin Road

OUTSIDE THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH...

Bellevue Braddock Braddock Hills Clairton Coraopolis Crafton Duquesne East Pittsburgh Forest Hills Homestead

Bellevue Municipal Building New Hope Baptist Church Braddock Hills Senior Center Clairton Municipal Building Keith-Holmes VFW Post 402 American Legion Post 145 Holy Name/Christ the Light East Pittsburgh Community Center Forest Hills Westinghouse Lodge

537 Bayne Avenue 445 Sixth Street 2794 Columbia Avenue 551 Ravensburg Blvd.

412 Mulberry Street 1 Am. Legion Plaza 32 South 1st Street 700 Grandview Avenue 799 Barclay Avenue

TCV Community Services/Steel Valley COG 201 East 18th Avenue

McKeesport Public Safety Building McKees Rocks—Holy Ghost Byzantine Catholic Monroeville Convention Center (DoubleTree) Mt. Oliver—Pittsburgh Christian Fellowship Munhall #5 Volunteer Fire Department North Braddock Municipal Building North Versailles Community Center Penn Hills Library Rankin Municipal Building

201 Lysle Boulevard 225 Olivia Street 101 Mall Boulevard 407 Brownsville Road 1817 Whitaker Way 600 Anderson Street 1401 Greensburg Avenue 1037 Stotler Road 320 Hawkins Avenue

Sewickley Quaker Valley Middle School 618 Harbaugh Street Stowe Municipal Building 555 Broadway Avenue Swissvale Woodland Hills Intermediate School 7600 Evans Street Verona Municipal Building 736 East Railroad Avenue West Mifflin Area Middle School 81 Commonwealth Avenue Wilkinsburg Municipal Building 605 Ross Avenue

Remember, the Primary Election date in Pennsylvania is June 2!

Exercise your right to vote!