May 31, 2020
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
Vol. 25, Issue 19
“Our vote and our money are the two most powerful things we have. Be careful who you give them to.” - Roy Douglas Malonson
By: N.L. Preston
‘WE MUST SAVE LIVES NOW’
HOUSTON - Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee has always been a handson leader for the people of Houston, but these days, she can be seen front and center at community events and press conferences, leading the charge in demanding more testing in the fight against COVID-19. It’s a personal mission, as data released shows that Black Americans are dying from the virus at disproportionately high rates. The current number of known cases in the United States is an estimated 1.7 million and deaths are nearing 100,000. A recent study, “The Color of Coronavirus: COVID-19 Deaths by Race and Ethnicity in the
CONGRESSWOMAN LEADING CHARGE FOR MORE COVID-19 TESTING
U.S.,” shows that more than 20,000 Black Americans are known to have lost their lives to COVID-19 through mid-May. The latest overall COVID-19 mortality rate for Black Americans is 2.4 times as high as the rate for Whites and 2.2 times as high as the rate for Asians and Latinos. A better breakdown analysis shows: • 1 in 2,000 Black Americans has died (or 50.3 per 100,000) • 1 in 4,300 Asian and Latino Americans has died (or 22.7 and 22.9, respectively, per 100,000)
• 1 in 4,700 White Americans has died (or 20.7 per 100,000) In the State of Texas, we have nearly 55,000 cases overall and 1,500 deaths reported, and Harris County has more than 10,000 known cases and more than 200 deaths. With these statistics in mind, Jackson Lee is leaving no stone unturned when it comes to getting the people in her district the resources they need. “Test kits and diagnostic testing in one of the largest and most diverse nations in the world is vital toward measuring and prevent-
ing community spread. We must save lives now! As we begin to study the next steps, employers and local governments must consider and require everyone to get tested,” Jackson Lee said. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, recently spoke on the topic of COVID-19 and African Americans at a White House press briefing. “Health disparities have always existed for the African American community,” Fauci said. “Here again with the crisis, how it’s shining a bright light on how
unacceptable that is because, yet again, when you have a situation like the coronavirus, they are suffering disproportionately.” Fauci noted the health issues that are hampering African Americans. “The diabetes, hypertension, the obesity, the asthma — those are the kinds of things that wind them up in the ICU and ultimately give them a higher death rate,” he said. Another issue tied to health issues is lack of health coverage. Data shows 11% of Blacks are uninsured, against the national rate of
7% in 2017. Some Blacks don’t know they have these underlying issues because, with less access to health insurance, some conditions remain undiagnosed until it’s too late. Due to the lack of resources, Jackson Lee is making sure testing is free, and available for everyone. There are more than two dozen testing sites across the area, thanks, in part, to funds from donors. “I was driven to bring testing to Houston because COVID-19 was more contagious than any other virus we had seen in our lifetime. On March 19, we opened one of the first testing sites in the nation that required no charge and no pre-registration, in a
Testing on page 3
WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY • AVOID PUBLIC SPACES OR EVENTS WITH MORE THAN 10 PATRONS • SANITIZE AND STOCK UP • AVOID TOUCHING YOUR EYES, NOSE AND MOUTH • PRACTICE GOOD HYGIENE
2 AFRAMNEWS.COM
May 31, 2020
EDITORIAL
President/Chief Editor
Tristar
Griselda Ramirez: Production
Partin’ the Waters By Omowale Luthuli-Allen
Office: (713) 692-1178
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
The virus back to hell: Struggle, Educate, Innovate “There is no progress without struggle.” Frederick Douglas I am inclined to go in my Watchtower and shake my fist at God and shout, “we don’t deserve this, why are you doing this to us? You have some explaining to do!” My schoolmates in South Louisiana have been updating me on the body count and the number of childhood friends in Intensive Care / ICU. Brothers and sisters that I grew up with have transitioned as a result of this virus. I guess that I am asking for an exemption or waiver, although I know this request is silly and impossible. Nevertheless, If God is in control of COVID-19, I want her to suspend or cancel the disease transmission in our weak and fragile communities. Send the virus back to HELL. Now, I am remined that the divine work is through imperfect instruments, human beings. It is our responsibility and charge to embrace struggle and change the world. Frederick Douglas is correct, there is no progress without struggle. Public health workers and first responders have had had to lead the way in the containment and mitigation fight. As the curve is being flattened, these workers have exposed themselves to great personal and family risk in order to curb the COVID spread and save lives. These workers represent all of us and most have an attitude of, “I have had some good days, I have had some bad days and I won’t complain thru it all.” I am not entirely satisfied with the divine response but all of us must stop the whining and complaining. Epidemics and pandemics will be with us
for all human history. Our charge is to intelligently and courageously respond. This is how we partnership with God in SENDING THE VIRUS BACK TO HELL. Intelligent response requires that we respect the science and observe the public health recommendations. One, follow the science and experts by continuing the social distancing and abstaining from mass gatherings. Continue washing hands and wearing masks. Secondly, my advice is to prepare to EDUCATE and INNOVATE. Educate because education is a divine method to check ignorance and shine a light into confused towers where ignorance reigns. No further education is needed for those Americans who already seen the purple rain. Scientists are resolute that reopening the economy prematurely will spread disease, cost lives and stunt a real opening. The whistleblower vaccine scientist, Dr. Bright, is predicting that the Winter of 2020 will be the darkest winter in modern American history. More of our brothers and sisters must be educated that defiance by brandishing AR 7 rifles in the statehouse or congregating at the nail shop or beach is not likely to work out well. Innovate by asking the question, what is it that we have been doing that we can do differently? What are the lifestyle changes that we can make that will reduce or eliminate some of the chronic underlying conditions that plague us? What practices contribute to high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, bad cholesterol? Are OREO cookies, high fructose sodas and sour cream potato chips “for or against us?” Do I need a home garden to protect against future food insecurity? 100, 000 small businesses have shut down, how do we survive and thrive in the new economy? Will greed and social Darwinism- I will get mine- you get yours be the ethic that drives you and your community? Why can’t you and I wait on the scientists to state that it is OK to go to the beauty and barber shop?
Perhaps we can use the vanity time to ensure that everyone 17 years and older is educated, registered and prepared to vote by carrier pigeon, mail, early vote or in person. The November election could determine whether our democracy goes dark or not. Tell the millennials that the man or woman that does not cultivate their fields will die of hunger. Squeeze the stimulus dollar until the eagle grins. A SANKOFA moment for me happened 25 years ago in North Louisiana community of Homer. I visited one of my Daddy’s cousins deep in the country. She was an independent and retired landowner- 85 years old. She said, “Junior go on the porch and get you some chickens and peas.” I went to the porch and she had an industrial sized freezer full of purple hull peas and yard birds. She said, “Junior, if another depression comes, it will be two years before I am aware that it came.” Become a Black Futures think tank. Therapeutics and a vaccine are coming. In the meantime, we must struggle to build a newer society. Our ancestors believed that with much struggle comes much wealth. May I paraphrase Douglas. Men may not get all that we pay for in this world but before it is over, we will pay for all that we get... Stony the road we trod, bitter the chastening rod Felt in the days when hope unborn had died; Yet with a steady beat, have not our weary feet Come to the place for which our fathers sighed? We have come over a way that with tears has been watered, We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered. Out from the gloomy past, till now we stand at last Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast TRUE TO OUR GOD, TRUE TO OUR NATIVE LAND JAMES WELDON JOHNSON 1899 BLACK NATIONAL ANTHEM
A Revival of God
Consciousness Bobby E. Mills, PhD
George Floyd: Policing as property rights policy American society operates upon a White male property rights construct; even though within a Constitutional construct framework. America says that the system is based upon God-givenhuman-rights (Preamble U. S. Constitution). Thus, policing is an expression of property rights policy; protecting White men and their property. Blacks are viewed as the property of White men; even White women are defined as property (case in point miscegenation laws). Law enforcement constabularies (departments) are only instruments of enforcing the property rights legalized system of White Male Privileges. Hence, in America, we have policing without equal justice; therefore, police departments function as arresting officers, prosecutors, Judges, and juries: just us (Blacks), not JUSTICE. Blacks are not who White America say they are, but White America is who Blacks know them to be: looking for something for nothing—White Privilege-everyday in the week and twice on Sundays! Question: is there a bounty placed upon the heads of Black boys and Black men? The recent police murder of George Floyd is a classic example. Sadly, with impunity police officers feel free to openly commit murder while being filmed in daylight. That’s really having bold-brazen-gall! Question: where does this militaristic mentality in a civilian police department come from? Is it because police departments recruit primarily from exmilitary-personnel? Obvi-
ously, police departments need a more sophisticatedthorough-testing-vetting and profile recruiting system! Moreover, it is obvious that every city needs a Civilian Police Review Board. The brutal execution-styledeath of George Floyd reveals two ungodly facts about the policy of policing in American society: (1) The Blue-Code-Mentality among policemen supersedes individual godlymoral-conscience. Three police officers actively participated by restraining the crowd while a fellow officer executed, George Floyd, as he was begging for his life, and as on-lookers screamed at the officer you are killing him! Justice is color blind in American society. The tactic employed by the officer is not a part of police training, manual or procedures. Lady Justice is not blind, but she must be peeping and saying to Police Officers he’s Black; it’s okay to do anything to him regardless of rules/regulations/procedures. Wisdom is from God, therefore “: (2). Property rights are far more valuable and important than human rights. America’s socio-economic-system defines Blacks as the property of Whites; therefore, Blacks have no God-given-humanrights. The system works for the system, and this is why in Minneapolis individuals are attacking the property rights system. Hence, “Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not….Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom; and in all of thy getting get understanding.” (Proverbs 4: 5, 7). America has always known that Christian Right Evangelicals were unadulterated hypocrites, and in 2016 it came to the surface when 82% of them voted for an ungodly buffoon to become the President of the most powerful nation in the world in order to continue to promote White Privilege. Thus, when Black men tell other Black men that White Ice is colder; shun them, because they are without God Conscience!
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public/private partnership with UMMC United Memorial Medical Center,” Jackson Lee said. “I was proud to bring Hyundai Motor America to the 18th Congressional District to donate $100,000 from Hyundai Hope on Wheels for COVID-19 drive-thru testing and 10,000 test kits for the City of Houston. I think it helped in finding hot spots and people who were infected.” She is also calling for a national testing protocol to test all essential workers, and residents and staff at nursing homes. There have been over 10,000 deaths in nursing homes alone all over America. This surge in deaths accounts for about 20% of all coronavirus fatalities in the nation. They’ve also begun testing at the Harris County Jail. “The evidence of positive cases shows that jails are crucial sites to test and the program for compassionate release was the right direction to be taken for nonviolent inmates,” Jackson Lee said. Over the Mother’s Day weekend, Jackson Lee helped lead the #IDIDMYPART campaign, on
CITYWIDE CELEBRATION TO BE HELD FOR 2020 HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS
HOUSTON -- The city of Houston has not forgotten its milestone graduates, and are planning to hold a special ‘first-of-its-kind’ outdoor celebration for high school seniors on June 5. Houston Celebrates H.S. Seniors 2020 will take place at each of the school districts’ high schools and will feature special guests, celebrity appearances, and other surprise moments. The mayor and superintendents will work together to create a collective, but personal celebration that salutes the achievement of all graduates and reflects the unity of the city. Seniors are invited to assemble at their schools, wear their
caps, gowns and facial coverings while adhering to social distancing. Parents, family members and friends are invited to participate virtually. Because the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools to shut down and shift to online learning, many school districts have struggled with how to celebrate the Class of 2020. “This unique class of scholars has persevered through one of the most challenging times in recent history with remarkable resilience,” Mayor Sylvester Turner said. “The students have earned their title: graduating senior. It is appropriate for the city of Houston to celebrate and honor their achievement in a way that reflects the
behalf of Tina Knowles and Beyonce’s BEYGOOD Foundation, encouraging Houston residents, especially African American communities, to get COVID-19 testing. In addition to testing, Jackson Lee has been at food drives, large and small, helping citizens in need. After personally loading up the goods in cars, the congresswoman can be seen giving a slap on the trunk signaling the driver to move forward so she can hand out meals to others. Food drives have been held at various churches, schools, food banks, etc., in addition to a few massive food drives at NRG Stadium, which has been serving thousands of people on each day of distribution. But Jackson Lee still drives the point home, in order to get back to our normal routines, we must work together to flatten the curve. “It is crucial that we continue to test in Harris County and the city of Houston to stop community spread,” she said. “We must put LIVES ABOVE ECONOMY! WE MUST TEST, TEST, TEST!” - AANI
commonality of this moment and unites our city.” The citywide celebration will take place irrespective of how individual school districts may choose to honor their graduating seniors. The event will include graduates from the Houston, Aldine, Alief, Spring Branch and Spring Independent School Districts. The Houston Municipal Channel (HTV), HISD TV available on Comcast Ch. 18 and AT&T U-verse Ch. 99 and local television stations will broadcast the celebration. The event also will be streamed on multiple social media platforms. The ceremony is not a commencement, and no diplomas will be issued to students. Mayor Turner and the superintendents will announce additional information at a later date. - AANI
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May 31, 2020
GREATER HOUSTON EDITION
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