By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
A Michigan jury has deemed a handwritten note by the late Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, her official last will, and testament.
The jury rendered its decision after an intense legal battle that pitted family members against one another over the inheritance of the legendary singer’s estate.
In the fall of 2019, Franklin’s niece made a remarkable discovery while rummaging through the corners of the singer’s suburban Detroit home.
Nestled beneath a couch cushion, she stumbled upon a cache of three handwritten documents.
Among them was a particularly significant piece from 2014, which would ultimately take center stage in the courtroom drama.
Franklin’s two sons, Kecalf and Edward Franklin, enlisted the assistance of their legal representatives to champion the cause of the 2014 note, ardently contending that it should supersede a separate will crafted in 2010.
Their brother, Ted White II, stood firm, citing the 2010 will, safeguarded under lock and key within the confines of Franklin’s sprawling home.
The crux of the contentious dispute lay in the divergent provisions outlined in the two conflicting wills.
The 2014 note stipulated that Kecalf and Franklin’s grandchildren would inherit her prestigious Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, residence.
The 2014 will, in contrast, conspicuously omits the requirement that the sons obtain a certificate or degree in business, which was a requirement in the 2010 version.
Both wills bestowed upon Franklin’s four sons the privilege of benefiting from her vast musical royalties and copyrights, ensuring their ongoing connection to her enduring legacy.
Franklin’s fourth son, Clarence Franklin, reportedly resides in an assisted living facility and wasn’t involved in the litigation.
The courtroom saga captivated the nation as fans and legal experts awaited the jury’s verdict.
After carefully weighing the evidence and considering the merits of both sides’ arguments, the Michigan jury validated the handwritten note as binding.
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correpsondent
Building on the momentum generated at the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit held in December 2022, the Biden-Harris Administration announced on Wednesday, July 12, that it had facilitated the closing of 75 new trade and investment deals between the United States and African countries.
According to a White House Fact Sheet, these deals have an estimated total value of $5.7 billion, bolstering economic growth and fostering shared prosperity on both continents.
Since 2021, the U.S. Government has successfully closed over 900 deals across 47 African countries, amounting to a total estimated value of $22 billion in two-way trade and investment.
The Corporate Council on Africa and the Government of Botswana hosted the U.S.-Africa Business Summit on Wednesday, July 12, where the announcement occurred.
The White House said the event showcased the significant progress in advancing trade and investment relations between the United States and Africa.
A key initiative contributing to its success is the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and
Investment (PGII), established as the Administration’s flagship infrastructure program.
Officials said the PGII had played a vital role in advancing and scaling several public and private investments across the African continent, aligning with shared priority areas such as sustainable energy, health systems, food security/agribusiness, digital connectivity, infrastructure, and finance.
During the summit, officials announced that the Biden-Harris Administration had made substantial progress in delivering on the commitments made by business and government leaders.
The commitments, totaling $15 billion, have been complemented by an additional $8 billion in private sector commitments and $1 billion in U.S. Government commitments announced during Vice President Kamala Harris’s visit to Ghana, Tanzania, and Zambia in March 2023.
Notable achievements highlighted during the most recent summit included the efforts of various agencies to facilitate trade and investment.
The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) authorized approximately $1.6 billion in transactions supporting exports to Africa, mainly focusing on renewable energy projects.
Additionally, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) funded eight feasibility studies, advancing the implementation of over $1 billion in digital connectivity, clean energy, and healthcare infrastructure projects on the continent.
The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) committed nearly $110 million in financing to projects across Africa, building on their existing commitments of $2.4 billion since the beginning of the Biden-Harris Administration.
Also, through its African Digital Policy Council, the Digital Transformation with Africa (DTA) Initiative is investing $800 million to support the continent’s digital future and ensure widespread participation in the global digital economy.
In partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Prosper Africa launched the Africa Tech for Trade Alliance, securing $274 million in long-term financing for affordable housing projects in West Africa.
Buyer-Supplier Partnerships also have been established across the continent, and the initiative has rolled out a Catalytic Investment Facility in collaboration with nine African funds.
The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and USAID, alongside Prosper Africa, closed a significant deal with Moroccan financial institution Tamwilcom, enabling small businesses to invest in climate-friendly projects with up to $200 million in catalyzed private investment.
Power Africa’s Health Electrification and Telecommunications Alliance (HETA), a public-private partnership, is investing $47 million to provide reliable, renewable power and mobile network access to at least 10,000 health facilities across sub-Saharan Africa.
The U.S.-Africa Clean-Tech Energy Network (CTEN), launched in December, has welcomed 24 U.S. clean-tech companies, strengthening the clean-tech ecosystem and improving energy access through power generation and newly established electricity connections.
Additionally, officials said the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has also played a crucial role by approving over $9 million in export loans, supporting U.S. small businesses’ endeavors to trade with Africa.
The White House said the loans have contributed to nearly $20 million in U.S. small business goods and services sales to customers in North and Sub-Saharan Africa.
“The achievements showcased at the U.S.-Africa Business Summit demonstrate the commitment of the Biden-Harris Administration to strengthen economic ties between the United States and Africa,” administration officials stated.
The Black Lives Matter movement hits a milestone on Thursday, marking 10 years since its 2013 founding in response to the acquittal of the man who fatally shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
Gunned down in a Florida gated community where his father lived in 2012, Martin was one of the earliest symbols of a movement that now wields influence in politics, law enforcement and broader conversations about racial progress in and outside the U.S.
BLM activists and organizations plan to mark a decade of the movement with in-person and virtual events. Calls to action include a renewed push to defund police departments and reinvest in Black communities that have suffered disproportionately from police brutality, unequal treatment in criminal justice systems and mass incarceration.
In the wake of Supreme Court decisions that stymied relief from student loan debt held disproportionately by Black borrowers and banned affirmative action in higher education, the need for BLM’s existence couldn’t be more clear, said prominent movement activist Melina Abdullah.
“What this movement moment means is that we have to absolutely redouble our efforts and redouble our commitment to making Black lives matter,” said Abdullah, who is a director of BLM Grassroots Inc, a collective of organizers across the country.
“Ten years in, we’re getting a glimpse at what would happen if there were no Black Lives Matter,” she said. “We’re not just going to fight when it’s popular, but we’re going to fight because we need to fight.”
In Los Angeles on Saturday, the “#BLMTurns10 People’s Justice Festival” will be held in Leimert Park, a historic neighborhood and cultural hub for Black Los Angelenos. The festival is designed to feel like a village and will include a pop-up garden dedicated to families of people killed by police and white supremacist violence.
Festival organizers have invited Sybrina Fulton, Martin’s mother, to speak. Scholar and activist Dr. Cornel West, who is running for U.S. president as a third-party candidate in 2024, has been invited to give the festival’s keynote address.
The BLM movement first emerged in 2013, after the acquittal of George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer of mixed white and Hispanic heritage who killed Martin a year earlier. Zimmerman claimed to authorities that he acted in self-defense when he shot Martin. He also acknowledged to an emergency dispatcher that he had followed and profiled the Black teen as a potential burglar in the Sanford, Florida, gated community.
Martin’s encounter with Zimmerman, as well as the delay in arresting and charging the gunman in the killing, raised questions about how police handle suspected acts of vigilantism against Black victims. In 2012, former President Barack Obama, the nation’s first Black commander-in-chief, underscored public concerns over fairness in the case when he said: “If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon.”
On July 13, 2013, a Florida jury of six women, all but one of them white, found Zimmerman not guilty of second-degree murder or manslaughter. The immediate response to the verdict reverberated in Florida and across the U.S., energizing a new generation of Black racial justice groups including the Dream Defenders and BYP100.
BLM co-founders Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza and Ayo Tometi — the three activists are credited with using the phrase as an affirmation and an organizing strategy — initially pledged to build a decentralized organization governed by the consensus. The August 2014 shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown at the hands of police in Ferguson, Missouri, helped the phrase “Black lives matter” become a potent rallying cry for progressives and a favorite target of derision for law enforcement unions and political conservatives.
But just three years into its existence, all but one of the founders remained involved in the movement’s burgeoning organization. And in 2020, an unprecedented wave of donations to the movement following protests over George Floyd’s murder by Minneapolis police meant that BLM needed more infrastructure.
Amid disputes with grassroots activists about the direction of the movement organization, the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation Inc. has been steward over a charitable endowment worth tens of millions of dollars. BLM Grassroots Inc. operates separately.
The foundation is marking the 10-year BLM anniversary with the launch of the campaign it’s calling Defund the Police Week of Action. On Monday, it released a digital ad renewing 2020 rallying cries for defunding police departments. The organization is also encouraging supporters to ask local and national elected officials to introduce a draft proclamation that establishes July 13 as “Black Lives Matter Day.”
“As we continue our push to defund the police, invest in Black communities and reimagine safety in our communities, we need our elected officials to focus on the people, not police,” BLM foundation board member D’Zhane Parker said in a statement.
“The safest places around the world don’t have more police, more jails, more prisons, or harsher sentences,” she said. “They have better access to economic opportunities, quality education, stable housing, and health care.”
Joseph Thomas was surprised to receive a notice from his homeowner’s association (HOA) this spring letting him know that there would be an increase in insurance premiums for him and other condominium owners at The Met in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley.
The letter stated the increase was due to instability in California’s property insurance market. This left Thomas feeling perplexed.
“They said the premium was going up because it was hard to get insurance in California now, and a lot of companies are leaving,” he recalled. “I started googling because I didn’t believe it. I thought they were robbing us of our money, but I googled it. It is a thing.”
The premium increase of $1,000 over eight months is the first time Thomas has experienced an increase in insurance costs in the 12 years he has owned his one-bedroom condo, which sits off the 101 freeway about 25 miles north of Downtown Los Angeles.
“My HOA looked at like 200 insurance agencies,” Thomas noted. “The situation is just whack.”
Thomas is not alone in realizing that California’s property insurance market is on shaky ground. Giant insurance companies are refusing to offer or renew coverage for homes and residential complexes across the state due to the looming threat of wildfires, natural disasters, inflation, and other factors and, as they claim, their ability to get adequate rates to pay for these increased costs.
Since 2020, the state has experienced eight disaster events resulting in overall claims ranging from $20 billion to $50 billion. This has caused an increase in pressure from insurance companies to tighten California’s consumer-friendly policies that have held down rates for years.
State Farm General Insurance Co., California’s largest property insurer, announced in May it would stop taking applications for all business and personal lines of property and casualty insurance because of “historic increases in construction costs outpacing inflation, rapidly growing catastrophe exposure, and a challenging reinsurance market.”
“We take seriously our responsibility to manage risk. We recognize the Governor’s administration, legislators, and the California Department of Insurance (CDI) for their wildfire loss mitigation efforts,” the company said in a press release. “We pledge to work constructively with the CDI and policymakers to help build market capacity in California. However, it’s necessary to take these actions now to improve the company’s financial strength. We will continue to evaluate our approach based on changing market conditions.”
Allstate, California’s fourth-largest property insurer, made a similar decision last fall.
“The cost to insure new home customers in California is far higher than the price they would pay for policies due to wildfires, higher costs for repairing homes, and higher reinsurance premiums,” a spokesperson for the company told the San Francisco Chronicle in June.
California Rental Housing Association (CalRHA) Executive Director Russell Lowery said insurance premium costs have jumped up millions of dollars for property owners in his group.
“With insurers leaving the market that means our members don’t get as competitive of a quote,” he noted.
Lowery said rising insurance prices hit renters’ pockets also.
“Extraordinary increases,” he noted. “The pressure on property owners to pay that cost in the form of higher rent is very real.”
Lowery did not give an exact figure for the increase in insurance costs faced by rental housing owners. However, he mentioned that a survey of
the group’s over 24,000 members revealed that insurance costs are their primary concern.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, which represents the industry, the average annual home insurance premium in California is $1,300, an increase of 16% from 2019.
The California Department of Insurance reports that 115 insurance companies are still providing residential policies in California.
There is also California’s FAIR Plan Association, created to help state homeowners who can’t find insurance in the regular marketplace obtain minimal coverage at high rates. Its enrollment has increased 70% between 2019 to 2022 to 272,846 homes.
California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has taken steps to make insurance more affordable for Californians. They include expanding FAIR Plan coverage options and requiring insurance companies to acknowledge and reward wildfire safety and mitigation efforts made by property owners. The commissioner is also in ongoing discussions with insurers to address their rate increase requests.
“Commissioner Lara is committed to continue to look at how we could give insurance companies more tools to better manage risk given the continued threat of climate change so we can maintain competition and ensure stability in the insurance marketplace while protecting consumers,” his office said in a statement.
In a letter to Lara, CalRHA President Earle Vaughan said the state’s housing crisis worsens annually.
“And our members take our commitment to provide safe, well-maintained housing for more than 675,000 Californians seriously. However, with rising operating costs, like home insurance, we’re taking a heavy hit,” Vaughan said. “We urge Commissioner Lara to support state and local funding for wildfire mitigation, ensure the FAIR plan has adequate reserves and reinsurance to cover losses, and speed up the adjudication of insurance rate filings.”
Lowery said the insurance cost increase is a huge issue.
“It makes it harder and harder for mom-and-pop property owners to provide the housing that everyone agrees is so desperately needed,” he stated
Jonathan Robert Shields-Pullum was born on December 14, 2002 to the union of
Rosalyn Simpson and Terrance Leon Pullum.
Jonathan received his formal education in San Diego, California as well as
attending schools in Birmingham, Alabama.
Jonathan was saved and baptized in San Diego, California at Sowing Seeds for
Jesus Missionary Church.
Jonathan was a personable, respectful, and handsome young man who drew
people to want to talk and be around him.
Johnathan loved poetry, his job at Target in Grossmont Center, living with his older brother, and hanging with special friend Riley. Jonathan enjoyed playing video games, shopping, spending time on the phone with friends, and playing basketball.
Jonathan went home to be with the Lord on June 18, 2023.
His entire family is left to remember him with love and laughter as they celebrate
the life of their beloved son, brother, cousin, and friend.
Latasha “Tasha” Jackson-Howard was born on October 20, 1973 in Atlanta, Georgia to Mary Jackson and Ernest Melvin Jackson. The family moved to San Diego, CA when she was an infant.
Tasha attended Pilgrim Progressive Baptist Church, where she participated in Sunday School and the children’s choir. As an adult, she attended Coastline Baptist Church in Oceanside, CA.
Family was at the core of Tasha’s life. They were a source of strength and inspiration for her. Tasha faced life’s challenges with an unmatched tenacity. Being headstrong was not merely a trait but a testament to her unyielding spirit and refusal to give up. In the face of adversity, she continued to smile and encourage others.
Tasha’s greatest gifts were her brilliant sense of humor, which radiated joy and light, her
beautiful smile, infectious laughter and quick wit, which brightened even the darkest of days.
On June 11, 2023 Latasha was called home to be with the Lord.
Preceding her in death was father Ernest Melvin Jackson and brother Kareeb Amond Jackson.
Tasha leaves behind a legacy of love, resilience, and strength. She is survived by mother Mary Jackson-Evans, sister Donna Wilson, nieces; Brittany and Briana, nephew Brandon, great-nephew Malachi, and a host of family and friends.
By Dr. John E. Warren, Publisher, The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint
In just a few weeks the residents of San Diego County’s Fourth Supervisorial District will be going to the polls for a special election. However, there is an issue at stake much bigger than the candidates on the ballot. That issue is voter participation and what it will tell those looking to either run for reelection or challenge a sitting member of one of our elected bodies. Remember, there are multiple elected offices in the Cities of San Diego County.
There are no signs of a spike in registrations in the Fourth District. Statistically one can expect a very low voter turnout. But just think what a message would be sent if there were high voter turnout. Those in office and those seeking office would begin to look more closely at what you say as important in any future elections. Just think of the impact on a Police Department whose chief is serving at the pleasure of the Mayor who is about to run for reelection. The message would reach those planning to run for State office with the misdirected assumption that their political contacts and contributions would be enough to get elected, regardless of voter turnout.
Just think what voter registration would be like if we start remembering how many people died and were abused so that we might have the right to vote. Just think if we took a page from the people of Iowa and the middle of America who are currently being courted by Republican Presidential hopefuls in advance of the coming primary elections which become an indicator who might succeed in the race for the Presidential Bid.
The California Primary comes early also. But since we are a Blue State, that is liberal in our politics, few people seem worried about how we vote. The button line is that it all starts with a party of one person, i.e. you. Will you register and then vote? Will you ask questions for yourself in terms of what you want to see as opposed to letting someone else decide for you? It’s all in your hands. Will you register and vote? Will you commit to voting if you live in the Fourth Supervisorial District or help a friend get registered to vote if they live in the area and you do not?
August 15th is the date of the special election. What will you do, not who will you vote for?
Juanita Freelen was born August 15, 1929 in Jasper, Texas to Thelma and Willie Woods.
Jaunita moved to San Diego, CA in 1949, met her late husband Joe Freelen and began working in the field of cosmetology.
Jaunita lived a life that movies are made from, but once she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour, she never returned to her old way of life. Juanita was a faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ- Apostolic. She was affectionately given the title of “Mother Freelen.” She was a fervent prayer warrior up until the night before she departed from this earth.
Mother Freelen was a very loving and caring person. She had a witty and humorous personality. Many were impacted by her kindness. Her doors were always open to feed the hungry, a prime example of someone who had the gift of helping others.
Mother Freelen transitioned to her heavenly home on June 5, 2023 at the seasoned age of 93 years young.
Jaunita was preceded in death by her loving parents, daughter Jerlene Wilson, son-in-law Herbert Wilson, and granddaughter Paulette Wilson.
Left to treasure her legacy and memories are her daughters; Helen and Carol Leggett, dearest friend Deborah Calhoun, grandchildren; Edward, Reggie, Sean, Gail (Eric Robinson) and David, great-grandchildren; Cory, Christopher, Brittany, Patrice, Rakeem, Isaiah, Beauty and Keyuanna, baby sister; Merlene Horn of Houston, Texas and a host of nieces, nephews and countless friends and associates
It’s been a tumultuous couple of years for teachers, but things are finally looking up.
In its recently released annual State of the Teacher report, RAND found that, in 2023, well-being was overall better for teachers, even returning to pre-pandemic levels.
This can be attributed to some of the things we learned during the pandemic, says Kimberly Christian Johnson, a 25-year educator and 2022 Alabama State Teacher of the Year. For example, people are paying more attention to the industry and its challenges, like creating grow-your-own programs, expanding mentorship opportunities, and supporting mental health needs.
“Those are conversations that people are having, so I do think it is better for all of us,” Johnson says.
And specifically for Black teachers, relationships with students’ relationships are at an “all-time high,” says Kurt Russell, a high school history teacher in Ohio and the 2022 National Teacher of the Year.
“Black teachers are going into education really loving students,” Russell says, “and I think students are providing Black teachers with hope.”
Black teachers are going into education really loving students, and I think students are providing Black teachers with hope.
KURT RUSSELL, A HIGH SCHOOL HISTORY TEACHER IN OHIO
But in that well-being, there continue to be disparities across the board. The 2023 report also found that Black teachers were still suffering in key areas: Burnout, low salaries as a job-related stress, and high intentions of leaving the profession.
“As good as it is to see that, overall, teachers are feeling less stress now than they did during the height of the pandemic,” Dr. Fedrick Ingram, secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Teachers, wrote in a statement to Word In Black, “it’s cold comfort knowing that Black teachers are still battling unique work issues that have yet to be fully addressed.”
More Than Half of Black Teachers Report Burnout
Black teachers reported significantly higher rates of burnout than white teachers — 63% compared to 55%, according to the 2023 State of the Teacher report.
Though the 2023 report says that overall well-being has improved, rates of burnout increased for Black teachers (up from 60%) while decreasing for white teachers (down from 59%) since the 2022 report.
One cause is that Black teachers serve multiple roles in a school, not just doing daily tasks like watching the hallway between classes or chaperoning after-school events. Instead, Black teachers overwhelmingly serve as disciplinarians, especially for Black and Brown students, or they’re responsible for making connections between Black families and the school community.
“It is always turned to the Black and Brown teachers because of the relationship that they have with the children of that particular school,” Russell says. “That is really stressful when you are teaching: being a disciplinarian, being a guidance counselor, as well.”
And, whether it’s entering the field as a first-generation college student or due to feeling cultural responsibility, many Black teachers are just trying to give back, Johnson says.
“We are like, ‘OK, education is the key,’” Johnson says. “We want to be educators, we want to help, we want to inspire students, we want to support students.”
This often leads to Black teachers going into hard-to-teach areas, Title 1 schools, and buildings that are underfunded and lacking resources.
“We go to schools that need transformational leaders, and they need teachers who are energetic and creative and innovative and trying to reach the students,” Johnson says. “That takes a toll on you emotionally and mentally.”
Black Teachers Want a Livable Salary
Though it wasn’t the top-rated job-related stress for Black teachers, they were the most likely to say that their low salary was a source of stress.
The State of the Teacher report found that 35% of Black teachers cite this as a source of job-related stress, compared to 26% of white teachers and 28% of all teachers. This, too, is higher than it was in 2022, when only 31% of Black teachers cited this as a source of job-related stress.
However, 38% of Black teachers cited both managing student behavior and supporting students’ academic learning because they lost instructional time during COVID-19 as sources of job-related stress.
“Black and Brown teachers really just want a salary that is competitive, and a salary where they could actually live on,” Russell says, “not just make it, not just be in existence, but to actually live, to really provide stability within their families.”
While people don’t balk at how much doctors and lawyers are paid, Johnson views teaching as a profession with the same value to society — it just takes longer to see the results.
“When a doctor helps you, it is immediate. So you’re like, ‘Oh, that doctor was so good,’” Johnson says. “But, oftentimes, it takes an adult to reflect back on what a teacher has done to affect their trajectory in life. You just don’t see the immediate results.”
Continuing High Intent to Leave
After high rates of burnout and salary-related stress, it isn’t a surprise that Black teachers report the highest rates of intent to leave.
The report found that intent to leave by the end of the 2022-2023 school year was more than 10 percentage points higher for Black teachers than their peers. While 35% of Black teachers said they intended to leave by the end of the school year, only 22% of white teachers did, compared to 23% of all teachers surveyed.
“It ties into the simple fact where I still believe that Black teachers are not respected in terms of their expertise in the classroom,” Russell says.
While Russell is in a relatively unique position to teach a high school course around race and gender, which allows him to bring more culturally relevant teaching into the classroom, that isn’t accepted in many school districts around the country.
“That’s why a lot of Black teachers are saying, ‘Enough is enough. It’s difficult for me to really express myself in the schools,’” Russell says.
And Black teachers, especially early-career teachers, often work in schools with high poverty rates and lower academic performance. This means there’s more “work and time and effort and commitment,” Johnson says. And teachers take that home with them.
“You worry about not only their education but their wellbeing,” Johnson says. “We worry quite often about our students and what we can be doing better and how we can help.”
When a doctor helps you, it is immediate. So you’re like, ‘Oh, that doctor was so good.’ But, oftentimes, it takes an adult to reflect back on what a teacher has done to affect their trajectory in life. You just don’t see the immediate results.
KIMBERLY CHRISTIAN JOHNSON, A 25-YEAR EDUCATOR
And students are still experiencing lingering effects from the pandemic, like high truancy and absenteeism, along with struggling to stay motivated. Challenges like this might require more interaction with parents or even a trip home because “it’s not just about reading, writing, and arithmetic,” Johnson says, “it’s about the whole child and their well-being.”
It’s a lot of work that happens outside of school hours.
“It’s all interconnected,” Johnson says. “This job requires so many things. I can go into corporate America, I can go somewhere and train in HR, I can do this and not take all the things home with me.”
Moving Forward
Tackling big problems starts with small changes.
Before teachers even enter the classroom, preparatory programs and school districts need to highlight “the truth within the schools and not this facade of the truth,” Russell says.
For example, schools need to be honest with Black and Brown teachers that they will be in the minority among the teaching staff, and the preparatory programs need to prepare them to cope with that.
And, while mental health became a focus during the pandemic, Johnson says it should be translated to the school building. Of course there are sick days and PTO, but sometimes teachers need a mental health day to process and decompress.
Another way to help with processing is having support groups that aren’t focused on academics, but where teachers can get together and talk about what’s happening in the classroom and problem solve together.
“You close the classroom door, and we’re by ourselves,” Johnson says. “We try to provide a safe space for children. I think the districts can provide safe spaces for teachers to be used to be able to process together all of the mental and emotional and social-emotional toll that it takes on us.”
Many teachers work two jobs, which leads to more stress. But if you’re able to have one profession that pays you well, it makes a difference — especially in terms of who’s coming into the profession.
And, of course, there’s higher salaries. Many teachers work two jobs, Johnson says, which leads to more stress. But if you’re able to have one profession that pays you well, it makes a difference — especially in terms of who’s coming into the profession.
“If I’m really good at math, do I want to be a math teacher or an engineer? It can easily be that, if money’s one of my top priorities, I’m going to be an engineer, even though I might enjoy working with young people,” Johnson says. “It’s just not going to pay off in the long run.”
Though they’re only starting points, better compensation, along with student debt relief, are crucial remedies for Black teachers, Ingram wrote. And they need the professional courtesy to shape their own careers instead of being recruited into roles they didn’t sign up for.
“We must do a better job of listening and working to resolve cultural issues in a profession where Black teachers make up less than 10% of the workforce and often feel isolated and ignored,” Ingram wrote. “Black teachers have consistently been shown to boost graduation rates for all students but are rarely recognized for their unique contributions. It’s time we change that.”
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
While the American divorce rate remains high, another type of marital separation continues to increase in the bedroom.
In a world where restful slumber is a prized luxury, an intriguing trend is quietly gaining momentum among weary Americans.
Tired of blanket bandits, restless bedmates, and thunderous snorers disrupting their nocturnal peace, more individuals are switching to the radical solution known as “sleep divorce.”
The phenomenon, revealed by a new survey conducted by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM), highlights a fascinating shift in sleeping habits, as more than one-third of participants admitted to occasionally or consistently retreating to a separate room to salvage their precious sleep.
A new study that included more than 2,000 adults unveiled intriguing gender disparities, with men emerging as the primary proponents of this novel practice.
Astonishingly, nearly half of the male participants (45%) confessed to occasionally or consistently seeking refuge in alternative sleeping quarters, compared to a modest one-fourth (25%) of their female counterparts.
The rationale behind this slumber separation goes beyond mere personal comfort; it delves into the intricate web of relationships, said Dr. Seema Khosla, a notable pulmonologist and spokesperson for the AASM.
Khosla elucidated the intricate connection between sleep quality, emotional well-being, and interpersonal dynamics.
“We know that poor sleep can worsen your mood, and those who are sleep deprived are more likely to argue with their partners,” Khosla explained.
“There may be some resentment toward the person causing the sleep disruption, which can negatively impact relationships. Getting a good night’s sleep is important for both health and happiness, so it’s no surprise that some couples choose to sleep apart for their overall well-being.”
Indeed, the ripple effect of sleep deprivation extends far beyond the confines of the bedroom.
Research revealed that individuals enduring consistent sleep disturbances within their relationships are more prone to conflicts with their partners.
Further, researchers found that sleep deprivation diminishes empathetic accuracy, impairing the ability to comprehend and interpret their loved one’s emotions effectively.
The survey illuminated fascinating insights into the demographics of sleep divorces.
A striking 43% of millennials acknowledged occasionally or consistently migrating to separate sleeping quarters, followed by 33% of Generation X individuals.
Surprisingly, 28% of Generation Z representatives and 22% of baby boomers also embraced the unconventional sleep practice.
Although “sleep divorce” may evoke harsh connotations, it embodies a prioritization of sleep and a quest for nocturnal tranquility, Khosla asserted.
The doctor dispelled any misunderstandings surrounding the terminology.
“However, if it is one partner’s loud snoring that is leading to separate sleep spaces, then you should encourage that partner to talk to a doctor about obstructive sleep apnea. This applies to both men and women who may snore,” Khosla stated.
Indeed, loud and persistent snoring is not merely a bothersome annoyance; it often signifies a prevalent sleep disorder known as sleep apnea.
While not every snorer suffers from the condition, snoring is a vital warning sign that should not be taken lightly, experts suggested.
Medical experts said snoring becomes a pronounced indication of potential sleep apnea when accompanied by choking, gasping, or intervals of breathless silence during sleep.
Beyond the disruptive nighttime noises, sleep apnea manifests through telltale symptoms.
Fatigue, daytime sleepiness, unrefreshing slumber, persistent headaches upon awakening, nocturnal awakenings to use the bathroom, difficulty concentrating, memory impairment, diminished libido, irritability, and drowsiness during sedentary activities such as watching television or driving are all commonly associated with this sleep disorder.
By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
Federal authorities announced on Tuesday, July 11, that Bank of America violated numerous consumer financial protection rules by double-charging customers, not distributing credit card rewards, and creating fraudulent accounts.
As a result, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) fined Bank of America $90 million and compelled the institution to pay more than $100 million to customers.
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency fined Bank of America $60 million.
Some of the accusations are reminiscent of the Wells Fargo debacle from a decade ago, which involved the creation of millions of unauthorized consumer bank accounts.
“Bank of America wrongfully withheld credit card rewards, double-dipped on fees, and opened accounts without consent,” stated CFPB Director Rohit Chopra.
In addition to being illegal, the methods also damaged credibility with the public, regulators stated.
The CFPB vowed to end the banking practices nationwide.
The bank boasts 68 million customers, making it the second largest in the country.
Following the CFPB investigation, Bank of America was found to have “harmed hundreds of thousands of consumers over a period of several years and across multiple product lines and services,” regulators asserted.
Customers were charged “tens of millions of dollars in fees on resubmitted transactions,” after the bank allowed consumers to be “repeatedly charged” $35 each time a transaction was resubmitted after being declined due to insufficient funds.
This happened even if the third-party merchant resubmitted the charge to the customer’s account after the first attempt was refused.
If the customer’s account has insufficient funds or an overdraft, they were charged an additional $35.
The bank’s statements were vague about the possibility of several fees arising from a single transaction, regulators stated.
“Clients had no way of knowing if or when a merchant would resubmit a transaction to the bank for payment, making it unreasonable for them to avoid being charged multiple times for the same transaction,” investigators stated.
The CFPB also claimed that the bank improperly withheld bonuses from tens of thousands of clients despite having made special offers of cash and points when signing up new credit card customers.
The agency also claimed that beginning in 2012, bank workers “illegally applied for and enrolled consumers in credit card accounts without consumers’ knowledge or authorization” to meet now-defunct sales-based incentive goals and raise their ratings.
As a result, clients were penalized with unauthorized fees, saw negative marks on their credit reports, and had to take extra steps to rectify the bank’s mistakes after it used or obtained their credit reports without their permission.
For those infractions, Bank of America must pay over $250 million to government authorities and affected consumers.
This isn’t the first time the bank has faced penalties from the government.
The CFPB also ordered the bank to pay $727 million to settle consumer complaints over unfair credit card practices in 2014.
Further, Bank of America was fined $10 million for wrongful garnishments last year and another $225 million for “botched disbursement of state unemployment benefits at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
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