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Vol. 63 No. 17 |
Thursday, April 27, 2023
www.sdvoice.info
Serving San Diego County’s African & African American Communities 63 Years
VOICE & VIEWPOINT SPECIAL ISSUE
See Pages 3-16
Advocates Address Spike in
Suicide Rates Among Black Men
Earth Day 2023!
Neighborhood Wellness Foundation, hosting a healing circle in Sacramento, CA. PHOTO: Courtesy of the Neighborhood Wellness Foundation
Addressing Racism
in Our School Sports L to R: Lincoln High School’s Football Head Coach David Dunn and Head Basketball Coach Jeff Harper-Harris. “Trying to prepare our student-athletes for a game is already a task,” said Coach Dunn (podium). “But when we have to prepare our kids to potentially face being called out of their name during a contest [in] certain areas of the city… that’s a whole other ball game.” Dunn’s remarks were made during a press conference at Lincoln High School’s gymnasium held on Friday, April 21, 2023. PHOTO: Amara Beaty / Voice & Viewpoint.
Read the story on page 17
Challenges Remain FOR California Black Families WITH
SEE PAGE 22
By Aldon Thomas Stiles CALIFORNIA BLACK MEDIA
was Ian Alexander Jr., who was the son of Academy Awardwinning actress Regina King.
Last year, America mourned the tragic suicides of two Black men who were celebrated for their exceptional talents and renowned for their achievements in the entertainment world and their links to Hollywood. The first was Stephen “tWitch” Boss, a co-executive producer and guest DJ on the Ellen DeGeneres Show. The second
Away from national headlines, tens of thousands of families across the United States are grieving over loved ones who took their own lives – with men outnumbering women four to one as states across the country – including California – report alarming suicide rates every year. See SUICIDE page 24
Covid-19 cases in southeast SOURCE: County of San Diego [Data through 4/15/2023 Updated 4/20/2023]
Annual Easter Eggtravaganza SEE PAGE 17
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What to Know About the
Autistic
Loved Ones By Jaivon Grant CALIFORNIA BLACK MEDIA
PHOTO: Courtesy of CBM
Prejudice, loneliness, isolation, rejection by their peers, high rates of bullying, low social integration and learning difficulties are just some of the negative experiences autistic people live through every day, researchers who study autism spectrum disorder (ASD) report.
Community Inclusion for Autism Speaks says that although ASD affects people of all races and ethnicities, there are disparities that make it difficult for Black families— especially those who may be low-resourced or underserved—to have access to care and equity of resources.
Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the rate of ASD occurrence is increasing among African Americans across the country—and here in California, too. ASD advocates say those findings are alarming because Black families have historically been excluded, overlooked and under-informed when it comes to receiving resources and services for their loved ones living with the condition.
“The cost of diagnostic tests for autism can be an issue because they cost $4,000 to $6,000, and most private facilities do not accept insurance for those initial tests,” says Jones-Jordan. “Food insecurity can also be a barrier because if families are more concerned about their housing needs and how they’re going to feed their families, healthcare may be delayed to ensure other pertinent needs are addressed.”
Janet Jones-Jordan, Senior Director of
See AUTISM page 24
Kansas City Shooting of Ralph Yarl By Associated Press Black teen Ralph Yarl was shot twice, in the head and arm, after going to the wrong home in Kansas City, Missouri, to pick up his younger brothers. Andrew Lester, an 84-year-old white man, told police he fired at honors student Yarl, 16, out of fear on Thursday, April 13. But whether Lester will ultimately claim self-defense in court has yet to be seen. The case raises anew questions about race relations in the United States.
This undated photo provided by Ben Crump Law shows Ralph Yarl, the teenager shot by a homeowner in Kansas City, Mo. PHOTO: Ben Crump Law via AP
Here’s a look at what happened, where the criminal case stands, how the teen is faring and the role gun laws in Missouri could play in the case.
showed up at Lester’s home on 115th Street, at 10 p.m. See YARL page 24
WHAT LED UP TO THE SHOOTING? Yarl mixed up an address. Instead of going to 115th Terrace to pick up his twin brothers Thursday night, Yarl
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