Home Blog Page 164

The Key to Better Credit Scores? Erasing Medical Debt

Maria
-
0
The Key to Better Credit Scores? Erasing Medical Debt

by Bria Overs, Word in Black 

The negative impacts of medical debt on Americans could soon cease if the Biden-Harris administration succeeds in scrubbing medical bills from credit scores and reports.

In September, Vice President Kamala Harris and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) publicized they were starting the rulemaking process to have medical bills removed from credit reports. The CFPB is a government agency that protects consumers from predatory and abusive banks, lenders, and other financial institutions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analyzed data from 2021 and found that 15.8% of Black American families struggled to pay medical bills. And middle-class families are hit hardest when it comes to medical debt, a study from Third Way, a center-left policy think tank, reported. An estimated 4 million middle-class Black Americans have financial medical obligations.

“You could be good on your mortgage, you could be making your credit card payments on time, but as soon as this massive amount of medical debt made it to your credit reports, it was like destruction,” says Netiva Heard, credit counselor at The Frugal CrediTnista.

Celebrating South Africa’s Youth Culture Through Photography

Maria
-
0
Celebrating South Africa’s Youth Culture Through Photography

By Francesca Perry, CNN

(CNN) — Recent headlines from South Africa have reported national crises, from rolling blackouts to the highest unemployment rate in the world and housing shortages. But a new photography exhibition shines a spotlight on the rich landscape of innovation and contemporary culture led by young people in the country.

In “A Young South Africa,” (at the NOW Gallery in London until November 19), work from six photographers and creatives document the diversity of style, talent and thriving subculture among the “Ama2000s”, the South African term for Generation Z. But it also showcases the evolving cultural identity of a country that is itself young.

“We’re only 29 years of a democracy,” explained Karabo Mooki, one of the featured photographers, over video call. “It’s such a young culture.” Mooki’s series on show, “Island Gals,” documents a skateboarding community of young Black women in his hometown of Johannesburg. Established by 21-year-old skater Thato Moet, Island Gals provides a “safe space” for girls to come together and skate, explained Mooki.

As a skateboarder himself, he had been aware of “the heavily dominant male cis environment” of skateboarding and wanted to give visibility to the growing community of Black women represented by Island Gals. “I felt there was a need to bring truth to light, documenting the evolution of the (skateboarding) culture, the narrative that has not been celebrated by mainstream media,” he said.

Mooki’s richly saturated portraits catch the skaters in still moments of connection, in parks, on streets, and other public spaces of the city where women too often face harassment and violence. Each image is accompanied by the woman’s story, as told to Mooki — from struggles with mental health to standing up to sexist stereotypes in skateboarding. “Black women are often boxed up in society’s preconceived stereotypes,” he said. “I wanted to celebrate the beauty of this community and the boundaries that Island Gals is pushing.”

Mooki, who has also documented the Black punk scene in the city’s township of Soweto, as well as other local skateboarding groups, believes that “community is a cornerstone of Johannesburg’s youth culture.”

In the photo series “Afrogrunge”, 26-year-old designer and creative director Anita Hlazo, along with photographer Luxolo Witvoet, take us to the townships of Langa and Nyanga in Cape Town. As a teenager, Hlazo harnessed her own style — mixing pop and grunge influences with studs, piercings, platform boots and second-hand clothes — to create the fashion label Afrogrunge.

She described the style to CNN over email as “a combination of culture and subculture,” mixing inspirations from around the globe, and dressing in a way that is “foreign within our daily, cultural norm.” Afrogrunge, Hlazo said, shows that “youth culture in South Africa is aware of the global world, and if we don’t manage to come for it, we bring it here and enjoy it for ourselves.”

The photographs on show explore the experience of being an “Afrogrunge girl,” featuring young women expressing themselves through alternative fashion and style, often in stark contrast to everyday urban surroundings.

The photographer Fede Kortez, meanwhile, celebrates the aesthetics and identity of two other Cape Town neighborhoods — Bo-Kaap, a historical center of Cape Malay culture known for its colorfully painted houses, and Woodstock, acclaimed for its art scene — as well as the young people living there.

Portraits on show from Johannesburg-based Nikki Zakkas capture young people across South Africa gaining recognition for their talent, from musicians and football players to ballet dancers. “My aim was to showcase individuals who embody diverse facets of contemporary youth culture,” the photographer told CNN, explaining that she collaborated with her subjects to portray them “as they envisioned themselves.”

Zakkas photographs the young creatives in places that have significant personal resonance: 24-year-old ballet and contemporary dancer Bhungane Mehlomakulu is captured in Sasolburg, where he grew up and discovered his passion for dance; indie musician Red Robyn is photographed at a shuttered beachfront amusement park in her home city of Durban.

In the series “Back to the Soil,” Johannesburg-based creative director Bee Diamondhead worked with photographer Travys Owen to portray three queer male musicians making waves in South Africa: Desire Marea, Muneyi and Thuthuka Sibisi. The images show the men nude, painted with clay and earth, with their poses resembling classical figurative sculptures. The portraits meditate on the musician’s beauty, tenderness, care and vulnerability, as a direct counterbalance to the notion of toxic masculinity.

With “My Liewe Land (My Great Land)”, photographer Aart Verrips celebrates South Africa’s youth-led subcultures through vibrant, multicolored silhouette portraits. Featuring young people innovating in music, fashion and performance, including the local Amapiano music subgenre and voguing nights, Verrips uses his photography to turn them into iconic figures.

The rising global popularity of Amapiano music, which emerged in South Africa in the mid-2010s, was one of the catalysts for the exhibition. “South African music at the moment is having a real resurgence, especially through the lens of Amapiano, and a lot of young people are connecting with the culture that way,” said NOW Gallery’s curator Kaia Charles, walking around the show. “We thought it would be good to expand out the conversation.”

Charles, who once lived in Cape Town, praises the “resilience” of these young creatives, especially considering the challenges – the high cost of living, education and unreliable basic services – which they are faced with. “From a creative industries point of view, South Africa is so avant garde, and I don’t think a lot of people know that,” she said. “I’m hoping through this show that people get to understand the wealth of talent that exists there.”

The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

Congressman Pleads Guilty to Pulling Capitol Fire Alarm

Maria
-
0
Congressman Pleads Guilty to Pulling Capitol Fire Alarm

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

New York Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman, charged with falsely activating the fire alarm at a congressional office building before last month’s vote on a stopgap spending measure to fund the government, pleaded guilty on Thursday.

“I’m thankful for the quick resolution from the District of Columbia Attorney General’s office on this issue and grateful that the United States Capitol Police General Counsel’s office agreed I did not obstruct nor intend to obstruct any House vote or proceedings,” Bowman said ahead of his plea. “I am responsible for activating a fire alarm, I will be paying the fine issued, and look forward to these charges being ultimately dropped. I think we all know that Republicans will attempt to use this to distract everyone from their mess, but I look forward to putting this behind me and to continue working hard to deliver for New Yorkers.”
The office of the D.C. attorney general confirmed in a statement that Bowman “is pleading guilty and has agreed to pay the maximum fine.”

According to court documents, surveillance footage examined by the Capitol Police shows Bowman allegedly looking at the doors that read “Emergency Exit Only Push Until Alarm Sounds.” According to the complaint, Bowman pulled the alarm and later allegedly walked by Capitol Police officers without alerting them.

“At approximately 1208 hours, the defendant enters the United States Capitol Building and while showing his credentials, he walks by two USCP officers who are posted at the inside entrance, staffing the metal detector,” the complaint said.

“We finished our investigation. Our agents gathered all the evidence, packaged it up, and sent the entire case with charges to prosecutors for their consideration,” The United States Capitol Police said in a separate statement.
Bowman admitted to pulling the alarm, saying it was an accident. “I was rushing to make a vote,” he asserted in an ABC News interview. “I didn’t know it would trigger the whole building.”

House Republicans Elect Mike Johnson as New Speaker After Weeks of Turmoil

Maria
-
0
House Republicans Elect Mike Johnson as New Speaker After Weeks of Turmoil

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

In a protracted and contentious process that ground Congress to a halt for over three weeks, House Republicans have finally chosen a new Speaker. Mike Johnson, R-La., a lower-ranking member of the GOP leadership and notorious right-wing election denier, emerged as the victor on Wednesday, succeeding the ousted Californian Kevin McCarthy.

The long and turbulent journey, which has lingered and prevented America from aiding its Israeli and Ukraine allies, saw Johnson become the party’s fourth nominee for the role since the MAGA wing of the caucus ousted McCarthy. On Tuesday morning, Republicans initially selected Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., as their nominee, only for him to withdraw later in the day, unable to muster the 217 votes required to secure the position.

With only 221 Republicans in the House, the margin for error was slim for any nominee vying for the top spot. While the GOP celebrated the long-awaited appointment of a new speaker, some members struggled to break old voting habits. GOP Rep. Kay Granger of Texas initially voted for Rep. Mike Rogers of Alabama before eventually changing it to Mike Johnson.

In a routine unanimous show of Democratic support, all 212 members voted for New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House Minority Leader, as Speaker. As he noted about a potential Jim Jordan speakership, Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff of California said Johnson would now preside over the counting of electoral votes in the next election. “After he was deeply involved in trying to overturn the last one. Just when you think they can’t be more irresponsible, they prove you wrong,” Schiff stated.

Similarly, Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee expressed disbelief in a now-deleted social media post, saying, “I can’t believe this is happening after January 6. If Trump can get to another electoral college, House Speaker will be able to subvert votes of the people/ This is the first act in insurrection 2.0.”

Johnson, a pro-Trump election skeptic, now holds a position that could influence future election outcomes. Notable for his involvement in various controversial matters, Johnson pressed Attorney General Merrick Garland on a conspiracy theory involving the Justice Department and Hunter Biden. He also advocated for the expunging of Donald Trump’s first impeachment and pushed for a national abortion ban.

Johnson also took a more active stance in the attempt to overturn the 2020 election results. In 2020, he spearheaded efforts to rally House GOP members to support a Texas lawsuit seeking to invalidate election results in crucial states. Over 125 members eventually signed on.

Essentially, Johnson was at the forefront of rallying support for a controversial theory posited by state Attorney General Ken Paxton, aimed at overturning a U.S. presidential election. His instrumental role earned him recognition as “the most important architect of the Electoral College objections” by The New York Times just a year ago.

The Challenge of Succeeding as a Black Student in America

Maria
-
0
The Challenge of Succeeding as a Black Student in America

By Akil Bello, Word in Black 

While Florida recently made news because of controversial laws, spats with the College Board, remaking colleges, questionable standards, and elevating unproven ideological exams, the Sunshine State has long been known for its reliance — or overreliance — on high-stakes tests.

From bonusing active teachers based on their high school test scores to suddenly abandoning the PARCC exam after investing resources in its development, to being the only state to require admission tests during the height of the pandemic to adopting an unproven pseudo-Christian test for scholarships and college admission, how Florida implements testing requirements is often at odds with the best practices.

The solution administrators came up with was to segregate, stereotype, and blame Black students (and only Black students) for the systemic failures of the school.

In addition to the testing environment, Florida’s governor has created a racially hostile environment under the guise of racial blindness and anti-wokeness. Ron DeSantis publicly said AP African American Studies is “lacking in educational value,” created state history standards that claim slavery was a benefit to Black Americans, attacked the Critical Race Theory strawman, and banned the study of anything that might suggest white Americans have a history of racial crimes.

The discriminatory impact of bubble tests has even been felt in professional sports. The National Football League, as part of their concussion settlements, used “race-norming”  to allocate Black players lower payouts based on the presumption they had lower starting intelligence, based on test scores.

But if bias and perception of lower scores were the only problem, that might be manageable. According to reporting in the Dayton Beach News-Journal, a teacher told students that if they didn’t improve their test scores, they would end up in “jail or being shot or killed.”

Hostile School Environments

Comments like this further stigmatize students and create hostile school environments. Research shows that Black students face racist actions five times a day. Bias causes Black students to be seen as older and less innocent and subjects them to harsher discipline and more frequent suspensions, all of which can lead to lower grades and worse educational outcomes. Facing a near-constant barrage of direct and indirect negative messages about their academic ability creates a cycle of low expectations and underperformance.

Seemingly, intelligent adults charged with educating students should have considered that there could be multiple reasons for underperformance on tests over the last three years, ranging from a pandemic to scores having no consequences and limited benefits for students, which would clearly impact performance.

What’s the Incentive to Do Well on Tests?

In Florida, almost everyone has an incentive to do well on tests, except students.

Districts and schools are provided additional funding, schools receive higher rankings, and teachers can receive salary bonuses, but students gain little to nothing. Test scores for fourth and fifth graders aren’t used for promotion or to provide timely instructional feedback to students and teachers. Additionally, the test questions are not provided to students, teachers, or parents, so students have no way to review their performance and understand what they might need to work on. So why would students care about test scores?

Compounding the callous insults of the low score accusations and segregation, the administration’s proposed solutions were equally insulting and demonstrated a lack of knowledge about educational best practices.

The presentation instructed students to “commit to maintaining high iReady scores” and to “concentrate on passing all curriculum-based assessments.” So the best solution that these trained educators could come up with was to say “do better” and “try harder.” Adding insult to injury, these non-solutions, which presumed the students weren’t trying, were couched as a competition with Chick-fil-A and McDonald’s as prizes.

Sadly, Evensen is apparently unaware of the years of research that has shown that incentive programs have marginal benefits at best and often have no measurable impact on scores. The session likely reinforced stereotype threat, discrimination, and segregation and undermined the confidence of all Black students regardless of their scores.

Our test scores were really good, but they made it look like our test scores were not good at all, and other students tested higher.

KENADEE ROBINSON, FOURTH-GRADER

Bunnell Elementary fourth-grader Kenadee Robinson told The Dayton Beach News-Journal, “I don’t think they pulled us in for our test scores. I think they pulled us in for our race and because they just wanted to congratulate all the other students and not us,” she said. “Our test scores were really good, but they made it look like our test scores were not good at all, and other students tested higher.”

Black Students Aren’t the Problem

In putting the blame on students, the principal is not only projecting her anxiety about scores onto students but is also overlooking the responsibility of the adults in the building.

This seems on brand for someone who, after being forced to resign, blamed a Black teacher for the assembly, said that she “certainly didn’t deserve what’s happening to her,” and tried to claim community with the Black students she’d wronged; all the while seeking the absolution of the largely white faculty and staff.

Rather than being a model of effective educational development for all students, Florida has emerged as the poster child for indoctrination and reform that reinforces systemic biases and inequalities disguised as education. This latest event shows not only the failure of individuals in the system but the continued problem of the system itself.

The rest of the nation isn’t innocent, either. The racist perceptions of the academic abilities of Black children exist beyond Florida.

Florida’s laws, policies, and practices created an environment of test and punish that allowed this most recent WTF moment and highlighted why affirmative action and race-conscious admissions were implemented and are still necessary.

After 250 years of slavery and 90 years of segregation, Black children have been forced to navigate 70 years of bias and stereotyping.

But the rest of the nation isn’t innocent, either. The racist perceptions of the academic abilities of Black children exist beyond Florida.

To excel as a Black student in the American educational system, a child must overcome economic, racial, systemic, and other biases while still achieving academically in a system that either refuses to acknowledge this country’s painful history or uses it to humiliate you, criminalizes your hair, and presumes your skin color makes you less capable.

Despite these attacks, Black children and their families have and will continue to achieve despite the educators who use test scores to reinforce their biases against Black children.

Commentary: No Valid Reason for Failing to Condemn Hamas’ Act of Terrorism

Maria
-
0
Commentary: No Valid Reason for Failing to Condemn Hamas’ Act of Terrorism

By Joe W. Bowers Jr, California Black Media

Oct 7, 2023, will be known as Israel’s 9/11.

Hamas terrorists crossed the Israel-Gaza border and indiscriminately slaughtered Israeli civilians in their homes and apartments. They killed nearly 300 young people at a music festival and took at least 200 hostages including 30 children. The atrocities they committed included massacres of entire families, the abduction of the elderly and young children, burning babies and rapes of women.

The horrific surprise attack by Hamas deserves universal and unequivocal condemnation. President Joe Biden called what Hamas did an act of sheer evil and pledged to defend the lives of Israelis and Jewish Americans. He said, “Let there be no doubt. The United States has Israel’s back. We’ll make sure the Jewish and democratic state of Israel can defend itself today, tomorrow as we always have.”

Hamas killed approximately1400 people including 32 Americans. Citizens from 40 different countries including the United Kingdom, France, Mexico, and Thailand were killed or reported missing.

Hamas fighters breached Israel’s border defenses on the final day of Sukkot while soldiers were away due to the holiday and launched attacks on 22 towns outside the Gaza Strip. This security lapse has been described as a catastrophic failure of Israel's intelligence agencies, including Aman, Mossad and Shin Bet.

Hamas is an extremist Islamist militant organization that has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007. It is recognized as an Iranian backed terrorist group by the US and European Union and has a long history of violence against Jews and Palestinians, the latter of whom they often use as human shields.

While there have been plenty of groups who have unequivocally condemned the massacres, sadly, there are a number who haven’t including organizations such as the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Black Alliance for Peace, Red Nation, and independent Black Lives Matters (BLM) chapters (excluding the national Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation).

The DSA San Francisco chapter put out a statement on Oct. 9 that said, “Socialists support the Palestinian people’s, and all people’s, right to resist and fight for their own liberation. This weekend’s events are no different.”

Student organizations at a number of universities and colleges in California signed a solidarity statement titled “Resistance Uprising in Gaza” from Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP). The statement avoids condemning Hamas for massacring innocent civilians. Instead, it attributes the violence of the Hamas attack to what it refers to as Israeli apartheid and occupation.

The SJP statement written by Bears for Palestine at UC Berkeley says, “We support the resistance, we support the liberation movement, and we indisputably support the Uprising.” Essentially, these students are indirectly associating themselves with Hamas’ barbaric acts under the guise of “resistance.”

Signing the statement were 51 student organizations including those from Stanford, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Davis, UC San Diego, CSU Sacramento, and USC.

Nationally, student organizations at Harvard, Columbia, the University of Michigan Law School and Northwestern issued similar statements that either directly or indirectly endorse or justify the actions of Hamas.

A statement signed by 34 Harvard student organizations said, “We, the undersigned student organizations, hold the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence.”

Many university leaders, where these students are enrolled, have been guilty of failing to unequivocally condemn Hamas and for inadequately addressing their students’ expressed support for Hamas.

Several Stanford faculty members, including three Nobel laureates, condemned Stanford’s administrators’ weak response to acts of terrorism and the expression of pro-Hamas sentiments by students on campus.

Harvard’s leaders have been criticized by faculty and alumni for their failure to denounce the statement endorsed by student organizations declaring “the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence.”

Both Stanford and Harvard Presidents have since issued more forceful statements condemning all forms of terrorism, mass atrocities, and antisemitism and have demonstrated the moral leadership that their students need to look up to.

Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza in 2005. It dismantled 21 Israeli settlements in the territory and handed them over to the Palestinian Authority.

The assault by Hamas on Oct. 7 was not an ordinary clash with Israel. Hamas’ actions resulted in the deadliest single day for Jews since the Holocaust.

While there are valid reasons for protesting Israel’s treatment of Palestinians and a real reckoning with the Israeli government on its policies is long overdue, but nothing justifies Hamas’ Oct. 7 indecent attack on civilians. Israelis who were killed largely had nothing to do with the conditions of Palestinians in Gaza. Some of the victims weren’t even Israeli — they were just tourists.

The students blaming Israel for the atrocities committed by Hamas have faced criticism. Some of the student groups have withdrawn their endorsements because of the backlash aimed at them. Other groups have doubled down on their anti-Israel activism. SJP held a “National Day of Resistance” on several campuses.

At Harvard, student names have been posted on websites and several CEOs have asked Harvard to disclose a list of members from the organizations that issued the letter assigning sole responsibility for “Hamas’ heinous acts” on Israel” to insure they do not hire any of their members. A Berkeley law professor has also urged firms not to hire his students who have publicly blamed Israel for the war.

BLM Chicago has removed a controversial post on X featuring a paragliding activist carrying a Palestinian flag, acknowledging its regret over the post in response to the backlash it created.

Any entity or individual, public or private, who fails to unequivocally condemn the atrocities committed by Hamas is condoning the murder of innocent civilians, including children, as well as acts of rape, hostage-taking, and terrorism. This is intolerable in a civilized society. Such insensitivity and lack of a moral compass are not only disgusting but also profoundly misguided (stupid) and deserving of any resulting criticism and backlash.

About the Author

Joe W. Bowers Jr. is a contributing editor to California Black Media. He is a graduate of Stanford University.

This California Black Media report was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.”

Romie Jean James

Digital Editor
-
0
Romie Jean James

Romie Jean James was born on January 13, 1941. A kind, generous, and thoughtful woman, she showed a beacon of love and compassion, always putting the needs of others before her own. She was a social butterfly with an outgoing personality and
generous heart, helping her to create and maintain lifelong friendships.

Romie's faith was a fundamental part of her life, with her Sundays dedicated to church and gospel music at Christ Community Center Church. Romie also found joy in the thrill of the casino and the simple pleasure of an ice-cold Dr. Pepper. Romie's most fervent prayers were always for the safety and well-being of her family.

On October 1, 2023, Romie Jean James passed away peacefully.

Preceding her in death were her children, Salanda and Kent James, and her sister, Jean.

Survived by her is her son Melvin James, her brothers; Chester and Harry, and her numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

Romie's indomitable spirit, her generosity, and her unwavering love for her family and friends will be sorely missed. Her memory will live on in the hearts of all those she touched with her kindness and warmth.

America’s Clear and Present Danger

Tihut
-
0
America’s Clear and Present Danger

By Dr. John E. Warren, Publisher, San Diego Voice & Viewpoint Newspaper

Once again, a word of warning to this great nation and its even greater people. Israel was attacked when its enemies perceived that the nation’s internal conflicts presented a divided people distracted from guarding its own interest. America’s more than 20 days without leadership in The House of Representatives has clearly presented to the world a nation in such disarray that it can’t even pass a resolution or budget to aid one of its closest allies, let alone conduct its own internal governmental affairs.

It appears that some members of Congress, the media and retired military, as well as persons who formerly served in government, understand that our adversaries like Iran, Russia, China, North Korea, and others see us as a weakened global entity. Let us not forget that our borders, which appear to be wide open because of a Congress that can and will not act, provide an open invitation for Hamas and others to launch attacks here on our shores much like what happened in Israel. And let us not forget those among us who are just as willing as foreign terrorists to kill as many, if not more, than we see in the rising death toll from senseless mass shootings among us here.

It is a sad day for America when those we have chosen to lead this great nation are so busy fighting amongst themselves that they not only lose sight of the business of this nation but also their sworn duty to “protect and defend” it. Perhaps it's time to make some changes in how our government operates since the two party system is more tradition than law. Perhaps we can learn from how Israel set aside its internal differences, in essence formed a joint government with its opposition, and focused on the threat to the nation as a whole.

If only the Democrats can get 212 votes when none of the Republicans seeking the Speakership can come close, it might be time for a Democratic Speaker in a Republican-controlled House. It might be time to share some Committee Chairmanships, but allow the Republicans to maintain Chairmanship of the House, Ways and Means Committee which must clear all items coming to the floor, unless brought by a Discharge Petition which requires 218 votes to go directly to the floor for a vote.

A few radical members of Congress and a former President who clearly cares about no interest other than his own, must not be allowed to destroy a nation, and the people of a nation as great as the United States of America. We must always remember that just as the Soviet Union collapsed, the same could happen here.

Again, we are reminded of the words of Thomas Jefferson: “Eternal Vigilance is the Price of Freedom.” Will we pay that price through ignorance?

_____

READ MORE LIKE THIS:

Denita Harris

Digital Editor
-
0
Denita Harris

Denita Harris, a spirited, selfless, and generous woman, passed away peacefully on October 14, 2023. Born on May 27, 1954, Denita's life was marked by her warm, vibrant personality and her unwavering commitment to helping others. Her passion for life, combined with her kind, giving spirit, made her a beacon of hope and inspiration to everyone she met.

Denita was a proud graduate of Northeastern High School, where she demonstrated her tenacity and desire to learn. She furthered her education at San Diego City College, earning an Associate of Arts degree in Psychology, a testament to her deep interest in understanding the human mind and behavior. She also became a Certified Phlebotomist, a role that allowed her to combine her love of science with her desire to serve others.

In her professional life, Denita was a dedicated bus driver for the City of Detroit for 13 years. This role allowed her to connect with her community, brightening the daily commute of many with her infectious smile and friendly demeanor. Later in life, she transitioned to working as a phlebotomist, a substance abuse counselor, and a peer support specialist. In each of these roles, she dedicated herself to improving the lives of her patients, offering guidance, support, and a listening ear when they needed it most.

Denita was a woman of many interests and passions. She had a love for singing and acting, often using these talents to uplift others and bring joy to any gathering. Her favorite song was the uplifting anthem "Happy" by Pharrell Williams, a tune that perfectly encapsulated her positive spirit. She was also a competitive player of the online game "Words with Friends", always up for the challenge of a new game and the opportunity to connect with others.

Denita was an avid sports fan, cheering enthusiastically for her favorite teams, the Pistons and the Lakers. She took great pleasure in watching her teams compete, her loyalty never wavering, regardless of the score. Her favorite flower was the rose, a symbol of love and beauty that she embodied in her everyday life.

Denita Harris will be remembered for her selfless dedication to helping others, her generous heart, and her spirited personality. Her life was a testament to the power of positivity, resilience, and kindness. Denita's light may have dimmed in this world, but her spirit will continue to shine brightly.

Steven Edward Hauser

Digital Editor
-
0
Steven Edward Hauser

Steven Edward Hauser, known to all as Steven, was born on March 7, 1956, in Cleveland, Ohio, to Jean E. and Wilbert M. Hauser. Steven was a faith-filled, kind, and thoughtful man who touched the lives of many with his generosity and steadfast spirit.

Steven received his education in San Diego, California, where he developed a passion for creation and craftsmanship. He made a living as a carpenter, welder, and painter. His craftsmanship was evident in the many projects he undertook, one of the most notable being his contribution to the painting of Horton Plaza in downtown San Diego. Through his work, Steven left a lasting legacy in the city he called home.

Steven was a beloved family man who cherished his loved ones dearly.

Steven passed away peacefully on October 1, 2023.

He leaves behind to honor his memory three beautiful daughters. His eldest, Soncere O. Crawford, blessed him with three grandchildren, Briana, Kyler, and Kobe Crawford, and a great-grandson, Kyler Crawford, Jr. His second daughter, Olivia S. Broderick, gave him a cherished granddaughter, Odette Broderick. His youngest daughter, Naomi Rogers, was a source of great pride and joy. Steven is also survived by his older brother, Pastor Buddy Hauser of Mountain High Ministries, and his younger sister, Robin O. Phillips. He was a beloved uncle to his nephew, Monte Hauser, and his niece, Saudiya Lai. He also leaves behind two great-nephews, Rhyder and Kingston Lai. Steven's legacy will live on through his family, and he will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Steven's passing is not just a loss to his family, but to the community as a whole. His contributions, both personal and professional, have left a lasting impact on the city of San Diego. His memory will live on not just in the hearts of those who knew him, but in the cityscape he helped shape.

As we say goodbye to Steven, his legacy will live on through his family, his work, and the countless lives he touched with his kindness and generosity. He will be remembered as a loving father, a devoted brother, a cherished friend, and a skilled craftsman. His faith-filled life was an inspiration to all who knew him, and his memory will forever be a source of comfort and strength to those he leaves behind. Steven Edward Hauser will be deeply missed, but his legacy of faith, kindness, and thoughtfulness will endure.

San Diego Economic Department Seeks Community Input

Maria
-
0
San Diego Economic Department Seeks Community Input

By Macy Meinhardt, Voice & Viewpoint Staff Writer 

Residents and non-profit organizations of the community gathered Saturday to discuss their vision on how they would like to see $135 million of federal Housing and Urban Development Funding (HUD) to be spent over the next five years.

Every five-years, the City of San Diego compiles a consolidated plan document to identify community needs and priorities. The consolidated plan is a combination of data and community outreach that determines top housing needs, community development concerns, and gaps in supportive services for low and moderate income populations. 

For the 2025-2029 plan, San Diego's economic development team and city consultants engaged with residents and local nonprofit organizations, including the Black American Political Association's SD chapter, (BAPAC) in recent open forums.

Serving as the forums host, BAPAC’s efforts work to ensure the economic, social, and political force of the Black community in San Diego remain relevant. Leading the Oct. 21 forum was David P. Dollahan of DPD solutions who serves as the city's five year plan consultant. In addition, Abena Bradford served as the moderator on behalf of BAPAC, whose nonprofit members were also in attendance to advocate for HUD funding to be prioritized for their community. Affordable housing, street-repair, homelessness, equity, job opportunities, and sustainability were some of the many topics brought up for funding allocation. 

Bradford, who also serves as chair for the consolidated plan advisory board, spoke on the importance of non-profit collaborative efforts with government. “Nonprofits provide services to the community that the government sometimes can not reach. That's how important non-profits are, and that's why it is important we have an opportunity to make a contribution and let our voices be heard,” said Braford. 

Dollahan broke down the four main funding sources within the $135 million of HUD funds for the audience members to consider. These areas include the Community Development Block Grant, which is designed to improve low to moderate income communities. The Home investment Partnership Program, which regards affordable housing creation, the Emergency Solutions Grant, which targets getting people removed from homelessness. And lastly, the Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS program, which connects people’s housing with medical social support services. 

“These are the four preeminent housing programs that the community, I feel, gets to have a say in how the money is spent and where it goes,” said Dollahan. 

Although known for our sunny beaches and thriving economy, for years San Diego has been in the midst of a dual crisis as we grapple with both a housing shortage and a rising homelessness problem. While city leaders such as Councilmember Stephen Whitburn promised in 2020 campaign elections that “At the end of my term, there will be very few people left unsheltered in San Diego,” the numbers tell a different story. In fact, between 2021 to 2022, homelessness rates rose by 22 percent. 

Macy Meinhardt/Voice & Viewpoint

Multiple homelessness advocates came out to the forum to speak on where local and national funding priorities should be allocated to, but are not currently. 

“I just want to put this into the atmosphere. We find $9 billion for war. I don't want anybody to tell me there is never enough money for homeless people. There is always enough money to do what people want to do, but never enough money to do what we need to do,” said one attendee. 

“There are plenty of mechanisms out there to identify funding sources that require a political will to be changed at the local levels,” said Dollahan, in response. With the District 4 special election coming up Nov. 7, the city consultant emphasized the significance of actively participating and staying informed in local government and nonprofit organizations—as these are the crucial areas where citizens can have the greatest impact on their community.

Meanwhile, other community members spoke on the premise of affordable housing. The city's soaring housing costs, in combination with limited affordable options, have forced many residents out of their homes. In addition, waitlists for section-eight housing are incredibly long within the city. According to the San Diego Housing Commission, current waitlists are at approximately twelve years. Selecting funding prioritization into programs such as Home Investment Partnership Program can help streamline that process. 

Furthermore, the forum also hosted a series of activities for attendees to participate in at the end to help the Economic Department solicit further input. In addition residents were also directed to fill out a survey that asked residents to rank service need priorities. 

“Share it with your families, share it with your friends, share it with people who own businesses in San Diego, share it with your employees, share it with everyone,” Dollahan encouraged. 

The survey link can be accessed by scanning your device over the QR code attached to this article. The link will take users to the city's Consolidated Plan webpage. Survey can be found by scrolling down to the “Community Needs Survey” section.  Input gathered from the surveys and series of forums will be implemented into the drafting process, which is expected to be published in March of 2024. In that time residents will be asked back again to give their feedback and critiques on the draft before the final document is submitted.

Black Voters, Be Wary of Relying on a Biden Presidency

Maria
-
0
Black Voters, Be Wary of Relying on a Biden Presidency

By Roger House, Word in Black 

President Biden’s visit to the Middle East should give pause to Black voters. One concern is that he risked the presidency by putting himself in harm’s way. Another is his dramatic shift in priority from domestic concerns to wartime crisis. And a third is the degree of political capital that Black leaders have committed to a president who is reluctant to heed the realities of age and history.

For older Black voters, Biden’s political risk-taking should recall the 60th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy approaching — and the perils his demise created for the civil rights agenda in 1963.

Black political leaders, perhaps more than any others in the Democratic Party, have placed their hopes on the unstable foundation of an octogenarian president whose vice president many Americans find unpopular and unready. It has left them with little room to maneuver in case of unexpected events.

To be clear, Biden holds the loyalty of an overwhelming number of Black voters, even if some of that support is said to be slipping. Until now, the hope was that he would “finish the job” of protecting voting rights and overseeing inclusive infrastructure hiring in his second term.

To date, however, his administration has gotten by on symbolic gestures under the realities of right-wing opposition. This includes historic appointments, non-economic resolutions, promises to arrest and jail fewer men, and many photo-ops with Black politicos. It has cost Biden little in either real money or political capital to maintain the loyalty.

And after his speech to the nation, the priorities for a second term have become clear during times of crisis. Biden has been quick to dedicate resources that might have advanced the Black community to more powerful allies. His decision to invest heavily in the war in Ukraine is one example; another is his quick promise of billions in aid to Israel — and a visit at personal risk to boot.

By comparison, it would be politically inconceivable for Black leaders to expect Biden to campaign with similar urgency for a reparations fund. Just imagine if he demanded a similar outlay of many billions in seed money for a development fund for the descendants of slavery and Jim Crow.

The Limits of Relying on Presidential Power

As it does for many Americans, the fateful day of Nov. 22, 1963, will always stand out in my memory, even though I was only in kindergarten when Kennedy was assassinated. Then, as now, the Black community put its faith in a political strategy that relied unduly on the office of the presidency. The strategy was severely challenged by his unexpected death.

I still recall the chaos that transpired on television: The murder of assassin Lee Harvey Oswald — shot dead on TV — and the funeral procession of the slain president. And I learned that some white students in Mississippi cheered the announcement of his killing.

Like Biden, JFK believed in an active federal government to alleviate barriers of class and race in society. He directed resources in ways little used since the period of Reconstruction under President Ulysses Grant. He used the federal marshals to accompany Black students at Southern universities and civil rights workers facing the violence of white supremacy.

Time after time, Black voters have watched the cost of waging war drain presidential resolve to correct racial inequity at home.

And he used the Oval Office as a bully pulpit to shape public opinion to support racial justice. He went beyond words to campaign for a sweeping civil rights bill in Congress. He would not live to see the bill become the transformational Civil Rights Act of 1964, or the ways in which its achievements would be undercut in future years.

Like Biden, JFK was part of a liberalism that affirmed the post-World War I diplomatic strategy of President Woodrow Wilson. A primary feature of “Wilsonian Democracy” was spreading the values of democracy and human rights overseas — and by extension, American power, of course.

The vision of a Pax-Americana world has been pursued by presidents since the end of World War II. JFK acted for the expansion of American power in Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Europe during the Iron Curtain of the Soviet Union.

It seems like America has been enmeshed in violent convulsions over the competing demands for racial justice and global power ever since. Since Kennedy, presidents have tended to sacrifice resources that could further the cause of racial justice at home for the cause of military adventures. And it seems that Black leaders have failed to heed the lesson of putting too many eggs in the basket of one presidential administration.

Time after time, Black voters have watched the cost of waging war drain presidential resolve to correct racial inequity at home. Such was the case with Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society and War on Poverty in the climate of the Vietnam War.

Multiple Pillars of Political Influence

Black political leaders must begin to look beyond the Biden administration. That’s because even if he is re-elected, the anxiety over his age and mortality will continue, as will his tone-deaf response to the realities of physical risk. More importantly, he will prioritize the funding of multiple wars over the demands to address historic economic concerns, beyond symbolic gestures.

The rising Black political influence at the federal level must be supplemented with the creation of sustainable political bases in the states.

In short, political leaders must be cognizant of the tenuous nature of their standing going into the 2024 election. Now is the time to begin discussion on a strategy for a post-Biden White House. The rising Black political influence at the federal level must be supplemented with the creation of sustainable political bases in the states.

One proposal is the strategic migration of Black voters from the politically repugnant states in the South to the four moderate states of Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia. It would entail using community structures in Texas, Florida, and the Mississippi Delta states — such as the Democratic Party apparatus — to recruit middle-class voters for a project to build influence in multiple states for the future.

_____

Roger House is associate professor of American Studies at Emerson College and the author of “Blue Smoke: The Recorded Journey of Big Bill Broonzy” and “South End Shout: Boston’s Forgotten Music Scene in the Jazz Age.” His forthcoming book is “Five Hundred Years of Black Self Governance” by Louisiana State University Press. A version of the article appeared in The Messenger.

1...163164165...1,028Page 164 of 1,028

Unlike many news organizations, Voice & Viewpoint delivers content that matters to you. Help us keep it that way by making a generous donation for as low as $2. Your support will fund local, investigate journalism for the community, by the community.

Accessibility Toolbar

Unlike many news organizations, Voice & Viewpoint delivers content that matters to you. Help us keep it that way by making a generous donation for as low as $2. Your support will fund local, investigative journalism for the community, by the community.

Contribute Today

© The San Diego Voice and Viewpoint

Submit Community News Advertise Contact Us Subscribe Our Team Privacy Policy