VOL. 54, NO. 27 • APRIL 18 - 24, 2019
Extend a Hand to Returning Citizens during Second Chance Month
WI Sustainability Supplement Center Section
Environmental Racism is Real, Destructive and Deadly
Suspect Arrested in Case of Three Black Church Fires in Louisiana
By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia
Trump Laments Notre Dame Cathedral, Remains Silent in Lieu of Arson on U.S. Soil By Lauren Victoria Burke, NNPA Contributor and D. Kevin McNeir, WI Editor @dkevinmcneir
A man arrested in connection with recent Louisiana Black church fires has been confirmed as the son of a law enforcement official, reports say. And while the nation’s president and vice-president went to social media to lament the ravaging of the historic cathedral, Notre Dame, in Paris, neither have commented on
CHURCHES Page 5
5 Doug E. Fresh entertains the crowd as one of the featured performers at the family-friendly Emancipation Day Concert on Freedom Plaza in Northwest, Saturday, April 13. A parade was held before the concert and fireworks ended the day. (Robert R. Roberts/The Washington Informer) (See more photos on Page 32)
Black Maternal Health Week Highlights Alarming Disparities By Stacy M. Brown WI Senior Writer @StacyBrownMedia
5 On April 9, freshman Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (right) joined Rep. Alma Adams and co-launched the first first-ever Black Maternal Health Caucus. (Photo courtesy/NNPA)
Black women in the United States face significant health care disparities, including the highest maternal mortality rate in the country. According to numerous statistics, Black women are three to four times as likely to die from childbirth as white women, yet only 87 percent of Black women of reproductive age have health insurance coverage. Black women are also more
likely to live in states that did not expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, meaning they disproportionately fall into the coverage gap and Black women are more likely to experience complications throughout their pregnancies than white women. April 11 through April 17 marked the second annual Black Maternal Health Week, which, among other things, highlighted the United States' frighteningly high rate of maternal deaths among the highest of developed
HEALTH Page 34
For many, Earth Day stands as a reminder of everyone’s role as stewards of the planet. It’s a time to reflect and to plan ahead for a cleaner and healthier environment. For many others, though, it’s also a stark reminder of how African Americans and other minorities are often forgotten when it comes to the protection of their communities. A March study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) found that whites experience 17 percent less pollution caused by their consumption of goods and services. On the other hand, Blacks and Hispanics experience 56 percent and 63 percent, respectively, more pollution than their consumption would generate. Whites experience a “pollution advantage” while Blacks and Hispanics experience a “pollution burden.” In the District, the Georgetown Voice editorial board made this observation: “There are stark differences between the Potomac River and the Anacostia River. The first, bordering the south section of our campus, is a source of pride for its community. In the warmer months, its waters are littered with boats of all sizes, its banks occupied by patrons wishing the day away. We, at Georgetown, even refer to our school as its ‘lovely daughter’ when singing our alma mater.” The board went on to note that
ENVIRONMENT Page 17
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