The current coronavirus outbreak has no end in sight, yet the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is already sounding the alarm for a potential second wave this winter.
“There’s a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through,” CDC Director Robert Redfield told the Washington Post on Tuesday.
“And when I’ve said this to others, they kind of put their head back, they don’t understand what I mean.”
The reality of America grappling with a still incurable infectious disease at the same time as the flu poses a great public health threat and could strain an already challenged healthcare system, Redfield cautioned.
(Photo by Giles Clarke/Getty Images)
Thinking ahead, Redfield urged Americans to plan months in advance to get the flu shot. Doing so, he said, “may allow there to be a hospital bed available for your mother or grandmother that may get coronavirus.”
Redfield’s recommendation flies in the face of recent moves by the governors of Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee to either lift or significantly undo lockdown orders in an effort to open back up their local economies. This despite that the fact that COVID-19 infections continue to climb with no vaccine for the virus.
The decisions made by Republican leaders mirror President Donald Trump‘s public comments expressing his desire to reopen businesses, including tweets urging that states be “liberated” from restrictions. Trump also released guidelines on how states could loosen stay-at-home orders.
Redfield said that protests calling for the reopening of states “not helpful.”
Georgia governor, Brian Kemp will allow indoor facilities like bowling alleys, gyms, and hair salons to start opening on Friday. Restaurants will open next week with new safety standards. All businesses are expected to continue to practice social distancing.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Brian Kemp attends the Election Night event at the Classic Center on November 6, 2018 in Athens, Georgia. Kemp is in a close race with Democrat Stacey Abrams. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The governor admitted that “we’re probably going to have to see our cases continue to go up,” but said the state was better equipped to address new outbreaks.
The reopening came as a surprise to Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance-Bottoms, who in an interview with CNN, stated that she had not talked to the governor prior to his announcement.
Tennessee governor, Bill Lee also announced on Monday that he would not be extending the state’s stay-at-home order beyond April 30. However, he did state that some precautions may need to remain in place especially in the state’s largest cities.
In a dramatic move, South Carolina governor Henry McMaster reopened some retail locations immediately following his Monday announcement. Clothing stores, furniture stores, and florists were able to open at 5 pm yesterday.
“We are still in a very serious situation…we must be sure that we continue to be strict and disciplined with our social distancing,” Gov. McMaster said at the press conference. “Our goal was to cause the most damage possible to the virus while doing the least possible damage to our businesses. South Carolina’s business is business.”
Expert event planner, interior designer, and D.I.Y. queen, Courtney Ajinca, is a vibrant entrepreneur who doesn’t take no for an answer.
A few years ago, Ajinca got her foot in the door as an event planner while working with former “Black Ink Crew” cast member Dutchess Lattimore. She has also worked with Cynthia Bailey, Quad Webb, Rasheeda Frost & The Cromarties. And her work has caught the attention of major networks. Now, she is known for her over-the-top events. And sheltering in place isn’t stopping Ajinca from producing high-quality events during the COVID-19 crisis. Instead, she is helping clients create virtual events.
“Believe it or not, the mandate doesn’t have to stop couples from saying ‘I do’ on their intended wedding date,” said Ajinca. “They just have to be more creative and think of ways that they can observe their special day virtually.”
Since shelter-in-place mandates were put into effect across the nation, business owners and clients alike have had to be ingenious about how they celebrate special moments—big and small.
“’Ms. Corona’ has come in and shaken the world up. With events being canceled all over the world, I’ve been directly affected. This was unforeseen but I have found ways to adapt to this time. I now offer virtual weddings and event planning where I completely plan and design your event virtually and in accordance with social distancing,” said Ajinca.
She went on to say, “My heart truly goes out to each bride who has had to postpone or cancel their wedding because of this unfortunate time. So, finding a way to help them celebrate was very important to me.”
As someone who specializes in creating memories for others, Ajinca is now curating digital experiences for her clients using Zoom, Instagram, and other meeting apps. She says “The show must go on, and I will do everything in my power to make it happen.”
In the events space, Ajinca stays on top of her game by creating standards of excellence. “The events industry is ever-changing. And as it changes, I constantly evolve to create trends and push the envelope. I challenge myself with each event to do something different and something that’s never been seen. At each event, I ‘experiment’ with a new technique. I want each client to have unique event elements that are specifically created and designed for them! I’m big on having a WOW factor and pushing the envelope to curate custom event experiences that leave the client wondering ‘How did she do that?’. This is one of the top reasons why my clients keep coming back for more.”
She is also committed to helping other entrepreneurs and business owners stay afloat.
“I now offer an online masterclass and one-on-one mentorship where I give event designers my blueprint to gaining success and attracting luxury clientele in the events industry. Being at home has definitely created a new norm for me. It has enhanced my creativity so much that I feel like I am bursting with new creative ideas that are begging to be let out!” said Ajinca.
During this time, Ajinca seeks to find inspiration from all over and she encourages others to do the same. “There’s a quote by the Dalaï Lama that I’ve been living by and that is helping me to keep a level head during this time. ‘Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength. No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful the experience is, if we lose our hope, that’s our real disaster.’ Here’s to never losing hope and pushing forward through life’s challenging moments!”
President Donald J. Trump tweeted on Monday night that he would be ‘suspending’ immigration into the United States amid health and economic fears during the coronavirus pandemic.
The president did not provide any additional information on how the suspension will take place or what effect it could have on crossings at US borders. The White House and Department of Homeland Security have yet to provide any additional information
In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States!
Since the beginning of the pandemic and social distancing, the suspension of many immigration activities have already been taking place. The president took steps in late January and February to stem refugee resettlement in the country. Visa offices are largely closed. It is unclear what further steps the administration will take during this ‘suspension.’
The Trump administration is considering a plan that would block immigrants from getting citizenship or green cards if they’ve ever used Obamacare or other programs. Courtesy of Fotolia)
Citing economic concerns in his tweet, the president would essentially seal the United States off from the rest of the world disallowing any foreigners to live and work in the country-regardless of the country of origin.
The move is another xenophobic policy from the president that blames others for the country’s problems.
”This is not about the policy. It is about the message the president wants to send,”Ali Noorani, the executive director of the National Immigration Forum, “He wants people to turn against ‘the other.’ And, regardless of the valuable contributions, immigrants are making to the response and recovery, he sees immigrants as the easiest to blame.”
Immigration activists also cite that many foreigners who immigrate to this country for specialized roles including medical and scientific jobs which could be of critical importance during the pandemic.
Due to the global COVID-19 outbreak, many people around the U.S. and the world have lost their jobs as a result of the public health crisis giving rise to record-breaking numbers filing unemployment claims and small business owners struggling to keep their doors open through the viral outbreak. One entrepreneur, however, has found a way to not only adapt quickly to the pandemic but found a way to make her business thrive.
Samantha Foxx was inspired to get back to nature coupled with a need to build a self-sufficient lifestyle when she founded Mother’s Finest Urban Farms in Charlotte, North Carolina. The 2.5-acre farm has a range of animals from bees, chickens, worms, mushrooms, and specialty items. Foxx, who goes by “farm mother” and is a North Carolina native, used her background in farming and beekeeping to start the local farm to serve the community.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, her business has seen an increase in sales for new and existing customers. “People are investing more into their local farmers and seeing food as a source of wellness and having access to fresh quality produce is becoming more relevant,” Foxx told ShoppeBlack in an interview. “Larger agriculture producers can travel for long periods and produce passes through several hands before it hits store shelves. We also have had more people signing up for CSA shares and investing to help us expand and supply as much produce to our community as possible.”
Despite the fears brought on by the viral outbreak, Foxx remains hopeful using her business as a way to comfort others through a difficult time.”Food is comforting to many people and knowing where their next meal is coming from is so important,” says Foxx. “Seeing the smiles on a family’s face, when we drop off a box to their doorstep is worth all of the hard work.”
Hip-hop has been uplifting people since the inception of the genre and it continues to do so on an academic level! Marlanna Evans, better known as Rapsody, will have her album as part of a college course at the University of North Carolina, according toBET.
The talented and conscious hip-hop artist will have her latest album, Eve, taught as a class at UNC-Chapel Hill. The course will be headed by Tyler Bunzey, a doctoral student of hip-hop at the school. The class will be offering a song by song breakdown of her latest album as well as readings by Audre Lorde, Angela Davis, Patricia Hill Collins and more. The course will also have teachings of womanist philosophy, hip-hop history, and pop culture.
Tyler Bunzey announced it on his Twitter account. “I’m incredibly pleased to announce that I will be teaching a course at UNC this fall on Rapsody’s magnificent album ‘EVE.’ We will be examining the album track by track with readings and media to accompany each record.”
“In this course, we will explore the critical womanist stance of Rapsody’s 2019 release EVE, which features 16 songs titled with names of famous Black women throughout history. This course reads Rhapsody’s album as emerging from a greater tradition of womanist discourse dating back to the 19th century, and the purpose of this course is to explore that history. Additionally, students will look at hip-hop historical development to engage with albums from femme-identified hip-hoppers throughout the genre’s history.”
I’m VERY pleased to announce that I am teaching a course for @UNCECL in the fall on @rapsody‘s #EVE. Please RT and share, especially if any UNC undergraduates follow you! There WILL be some special guests, and it WILL be an incredible semester. pic.twitter.com/JfWhNBfs3q
You don’t have to watch beyond the trailer to know that Kenya Barris’ new Netflix show#BlackAFis a reboot of his ABC showblack-ish.
Formerly titled#BlackExcellence,black-ish-eris a mockumentary-style series which follows Barris, who plays himself, and a fictionalized version of his family as they deal with various new-money Black people problems.
In December 2019, when Netflix debuted the #BlackExcellence title paired with the cast photo of light-skinned Black people with loose-curl hair patterns — just like the casts of hisblack–ish,mixed-ishandgrown-ishseries — Barris was dragged to hell on Twitter. In since-deleted tweets, he defended his hyperfocus on the plight of mixed-race Black people and derided discussions of colorism as “divisive.”
“I really appreciate ur comments & I hardly ever react to social media but this cut me a little,” Barris tweeted of the backlash. “These kids look like my kids. My very Black REAL kids & they face discrimination every [d]ay from others outside our culture and I don’t want them to also see it from US.”
He later changed the show’s name to#BlackAF, which could be seen as a doubling down rather than an engagement with the critique that his multiple shows consistently exclude versions of Blackness that don’t conform to the typical paperbag Hollywood aesthetic for Black people — Black women and girls in particular.
Photo: Netflix
Instead, Barris is knocking down a straw man: that mixed Black people’s Blackness is being questioned. In fact, the consistent critique of Barris’ work is that there is more to Blackness than the struggles of Black people whose mixed-race heritage is apparent, and there is way more to Black storytelling than explaining that version of Blackness to white people.
Which begs the question, who is#BlackAFfor? To whom is Barris trying to prove Blackness? And when half the writers’ room is made up of white people, what does “Black AF” even mean?
The series provides conflicting answers to the first two questions, and despite several scenes showing white writers in a writers’ room of the character Kenya’s Black show, the implications of that are never addressed.
But episode five — a microcosm of the entire series — attempts to at least answer what is, for Barris, the ultimate question: what does it mean to be Black?
Written by one of the show’s EP’s, Hale Rothstein, the episode follows Kenya, his wife Joya (Rashida Jones) and daughter Drea as they screen a new movie by a Black filmmaker. Kenya and Drea hate it, but everyone else seems to enjoy it. Kenya is asked to moderate a Q&A with the director of the film and he wrestles the entire episode with whether he should do it.
Does being Black in Hollywood mean “rooting for everybody Black,” despite the content, quality and impact of the things they produce? Or does it mean telling Black content creators the truth in order for their work to progress and Black people to progress as a whole?
(Photo: Netflix)
To answer these questions, Kenya enlists the help of his extended Black family members. He doesn’t usually see his extended family, but Joya forces Kenya to invite them over for a barbecue once she discovers that the Barris kids don’t identify as Black, don’t shoot their NERF guns sideways like inBoyz N the Hood, and, worst of all to Joya, can’t dance.
Because that’s “Blackness.”
This telling B plot continues with Kenya hiding all of his valuables before his extended family arrives. When Joya asks him why he’s hidden laptops in the dryer, he responds with disgust, “You are so mixed.”“Real” Black people know why he needs to take his valuable paintings off the wall when other Black people come over, I guess.
The tropes continue when the family arrives, featuring the drunken auntie (Kym Whitley) and the ex-gang-banger cousin (Melvin Gregg).
“If you haven’t gotten it by now, my dad doesn’t love being around his family,” Drea narrates, and one can’t help but wonder if the family is a stand-in for Black people as a whole.
(Photo: Netflix)
When the Black family also loves the movie that Kenya hates, he moves on to the opinions of his writers’ room staff. The sole Black woman in the room voices her concerns about letting the white writers, who make up half the room (just like on the real#BlackAFstaff), share their opinions on the Black movie.
Kenya — who states the obvious, that he’s “obsessed with the white gaze” — ignores the Black woman’s plea and continues to indulge the white writers as they shit-talk the film. Kenya concludes that white critics are too afraid to honestly critique Black art, and therefore, Black art suffers.
Black critics don’t seem to exist in this world, or, if they do, they’re ignored by Kenya, much like the Black woman in his writers’ room.
To overcome his obsession with white approval, Kenya goes to the man with no writers’ room whom he believes has mastered the art of ignoring white critics: Tyler Perry. Playing himself, Perry gives Kenya advice on “super-serving” his niche Black audience and blocking out the trappings of white Hollywood approval. Perry, whose work has also been heavily criticized by Black critics for years, also has nothing to say about Black critique.
(Photo: Netflix)
In the most worthwhile scene of the entire series, Kenya assembles what he hopes to be a Black High Council of creatives on a video conference call. His goal is to open up honest communication with other successful Black creatives so that they can all produce better work. After hearing the mildest critique ofblack-ish, however, Kenya goes into full-on attack mode and the others on the call fire back. Theconversation quickly devolves into insults.
The point seems to be that successful Black creatives don’t feel comfortable critiquing their friends, even in private, fearing damage to relationships and career opportunities. Even Drea bleeps out the name of the fictional Black filmmaker they’re criticizing in the episode because she “hopes to work in the industry one day.”
As Barris erases the role Black critics and journalists play in promoting growth and keeping Black Hollywood accountable, he’s accidentally describing our plight.
Black journalists already have to fight to get access to Black entertainers — especially those with gatekeeping white publicists. It’s not hard to imagine that access becoming more limited or cut off altogether if a Black critic produces a less-than-glowing review. The only acceptable version of “rooting for everybody Black,” for some in this industry, is unadulterated praise.
As Black journalists get laid off and Black publications fold — pre-Corona, let alone now —the far more interesting conversation this episode could have explored is how important it is to protect and support Black critics and Black critique as a profession.
In answering the question of what it means to be Black in Hollywood, the episode could have explored how Black creatives can better engage with Black critique and each other without the fear of damage to careers that Drea mentions.
Still, Kenya is on to something: What do Black Hollywood creatives owe to each other? What if every Black creative had a trusted group of Black peoplewho love other Black peopleand are not afraid to tell them the truth? What if that Black High Council were to have read even the synopsis of #BlackExcellence in its early stages? Hopefully someone could have pointed out the colorist casting pattern, at least.
A Black Council could have read these scripts and told Barris that the series lacks a coherent thesis. It could’ve told him that the constant attacks on Joya as a “terrible mother” in every episode come across as petty and mean, considering his recent in-real-life divorce. It could’ve told him that “obsession with the white gaze” is boring if you never do the work to heal from it. It could’ve told him that most of these issues could be better worked out in therapy rather than on screen.
But one would also have to be receptive to criticism.
In the series finale, the Barris family goes on vacation to Fiji, where Kenya continues to be awful to Joya. It’s only when he watches an episode ofblack-ishthat he learns the importance of not being a dick to his wife and somewhat changes his behavior. It may be the most incredible example of naval-gazing inception ever filmed.
(Photo: Netflix)
It seems that the only critique that Kenya can engage with is the one he writes himself.
“Isn’t there a better Black filmmaker that needed their movie to get made but that movie got made [instead]?” Kenya asks his writers’ room. “Am I trash and nobody will tell me?” Kenya asks Joya. “Are we all being trolled?” I ask myself.
But the biggest troll of all might be reserved for Netflix.
After all, each of the episode titles is a variation of “because slavery.” Getting a $100 million Netflix deal to rehash the same tired tropes and ask the same shallow questions for the fourth time, then, might be reparations. So, why not just phone it in? As the#BlackAFtheme song proclaims: “Fuck everything else; win, win, win, win.” In that case, congratulations.
Brooke Obie is an award-winning film journalist and author of the Black revolution novel “Book of Addis: Cradled Embers.’
John Martinis brought a long record of quantum computing breakthroughs when he joined Google in 2014. He quit after being reassigned to an advisory role.
Former corporate Fortune 500 coworkers, and serial entrepreneurs Joshua Green and Samuel Adetunji took their passion for technology, business, and cannabis to create the innovative Cannatech platform Veriheal – providing medical marijuana cards to patients.
Cannatech platforms like Veriheal — formerly named OnePath Medical — are online spaces involving technology connecting patrons to people in the cannabis industry; such as doctors and patients.
What seems to make Veriheal unique from other Cannatech platforms alike is its hyperfocus on education. Veriheal focuses not only on facilitating relationships with patrons and the cannabis industry, but it helps people to understand the major benefits of the plant.
Sam Adetunji, left, Josh Green, right. Co-founders of Veriheal
theGrio caught up with Green and Adetunji to discuss how patrons in need can obtain medical marijuana cards through Veriheal, how the platform is changing the negative stigmas surrounding cannabis, and the importance of keeping service at the core of their company culture.
“Sam and I cofounded Veriheal on the premise of helping other people and making things easier for them,” Green told theGrio. “What we did when we first started out, was test out a concept and then built an environment where patients could connect with doctors, based on patterns we noticed.
“The demand for cannabis medical cards was there and Sam and I are tech people so from that point really early on, we wanted to use technology to advance the company [Veriheal]. So we moved into a Cannatech platform.”
Courtesy of Veriheal
Veriheal is a mobile and desktop-friendly website that operates like an app, even though it is not available for download right now. According to Green, it took over a span of nine months to build out the initial framework for the platform, and since then has been running smoothly for two years.
As the cannabis industry continues to grow, spotting key Black industry players is still scarce.
“We both saw an opportunity in an industry where people like us or that look like us, have gotten in trouble for it in the past,” Adetunji said, referring to the disproportionate number of African Americans caught up in the criminal justice system over marijuana.
“We saw an opportunity to get involved in an industry where we can also make a difference and make a statement that people like us can do this legally. We wanted to do something legitimate and that we knew would take off.”
Green added, “We are very passionate about cannabis … we enjoy it very much. But it also had to do with timing and opportunity.”
“Technology is on the forefront and data has been the topic of conversation for the last 15 years. The last five years have been about cryptocurrency, and cannabis has now taken the new frontier. It was the best avenue for us and we haven’t looked back since.”
Veriheal connects patrons to cannabis-educated physicians through an online portal. Eligibility for medical marijuana cards depends on the ailments a person may have, but ultimately it boils down to your zip code.
“Basically it all depends on where you live,” Adetunji explained.
“Like in California cannabis is recreationally available, but that’s not the case everywhere else … so everyone won’t be able to get a medical cannabis card. But people who actually use it for medicinal reasons will want to get that card. For the most part almost anyone can get access to a medical marijuana card, there’s a ton of benefits from cannabis.”
Courtesy of Veriheal
The initial step for someone to obtain a medical marijuana card is through a consultation set up with a physician through the Veriheal website. Although Green and Adetunji focus primarily on facilitating the relationships between the patients, physicians, and the online community with education, they do not have to deal with any production or transportation of the plant.
“That’s what the consultations with the doctors are for. We created the platform where we have physicians with extensive education on cannabis and how it heals and helps the body. Depending on that conversation with the doctor, it will give that patient information on if cannabis will help them or not,” said Adetunji.
“A lot of this is trial and error. Some strains will help patients for different ailments. But all of our doctors believe in, and love the plant. They have studied it and most use it as well. Our hope is that as time goes on all insurance companies will take care of costs for this. We’re just scratching the surface.”
There are many benefits to a patron getting cannabis from a licensed dispensary versus anyone in the streets, the VeriHeal owners argued.
“I mean every marijuana smoker has gotten cannabis from the general guy down the street before, but in tenfold, you could be getting something from someone who isn’t even sure of what they are giving you,” Adetunji said.
“They may not know if it’s a sativa or indica. You may not be getting the right weight of what you actually are trying to purchase. The whole idea could be sketchy. Dispensaries give you peace of mind,” he adds. “You know what you are getting and you can walk out not feeling like you did something illegal with a receipt in your hand. Purchasing it on the street can be like rolling dice.”
Veriheal Co-founder Samuel Adetunji
Today, which marks the popular cannabis holiday “4/20,” Veriheal plans to continue to change the negative stigmas surrounding the cannabis plant.
“One thing that differentiates us from other companies in the market — including other platforms and dispensaries — is in addition to service, we put a big emphasis in our company on education,” Green said.
“We spend a lot of money in generating creative content that will live forever online. We give a lot of free education online. Every month we hyperfocus on changing the stigma of cannabis. We’re slowly starting to see things change as cannabis is viewed as more of a medicine.”
Illegal marijuana distribution and possession are still leading causes of incarceration especially for Black men. However, Green and Adetunji, who are also Black cannabis users, are working their way to the forefront to encourage the legalization of marijuana nationwide — and they’re doing it through Veriheal’s education.
“We’re all for it,” Adetunji said. “People should know that dispensaries offer products that regular patrons can’t have access to. We see a tremendous growth in the number of patrons that want to see doctors and get a card for different reasons like tax benefits, the different products they can get, and peace of mind.
“The only concern we would have is the abuse of cannabis because you know, you can abuse anything. With the medical cannabis cards there is a cap on what you can purchase.”
As the stressors continue to rise during COVID-19, Green and Adetunji ensured that their company is accomodating its employees and the patients who use their services.
Veriheal Cofounder Josh Green
The pair launched a scholarship fund called the Innovation in Cannabis Scholarship, which will award thousands of dollars to students as a relief for families impacted by the pandemic. They will also donate funds to various organizations every month.
Business, computer science, or nursing students who can see the potential growth in the cannabis industry, or any student with a direct or indirect interest in cannabis can apply.
“One thing that’s really important for Sam and me as key industry players is the importance of giving back to the patients and communities that helped us,” Green said.
Despite the toll that COVID-19 has had on various businesses, the VeriHeal founders say they have managed to stay afloat — and plan to keep it that way.
“We’ve gone from a company of three people to 30 in just two years,” Green said. “During COVID we are able to serve enough patients where no one at Veriheal has lost their jobs. We all love the work that we do.”
For more information on Veriheal and scholarship opportunities, visit www.Veriheal.com and follow @Veriheal on social media.
Donald Trump tweeted out a new campaign video this morning mocking Joe Biden the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.
The ad uses “deepfake,” a synthetic media which replaces one person’s image with another, to superimpose former President Barack Obama’s face over Allstate pitchman, Dennis Haysbert.
The original commercial is a relatively new spot from Allstate featuring the actor turned spokesperson.
In the ad, Haysbert and friends are watching a basketball game that is interrupted by a commercial. “Not another commercial,” one of the friends says with a sigh. The ad within an ad features Haysbert pitching Allstate.
The friends try switching to another channel, but there’s a commercial there too featuring Haysbert.
Exasperated, his friends all look at him and he replies, “What?” with a smirk and shrug.
In the Trump campaign video, the commercial that plays features Biden giving a speech that drifts off-topic. The clip is from a 2017 speech in Delaware where he stated: “So I learned about roaches. I learned about kids jumping on my lap. And I’ve loved kids jumping on my lap.”
The Trump ad uses deepfake to put Obama’s head on Haysbert’s body.
Deepfake technology has become popular recently on social media often harmlessly replacing one celebrity’s face with another. However, there is concern about the technology which has also been used in revenge porn and for financial fraud.
In 2018, the Malicious Deep Fake Prohibition Act was introduced in the Senate and in 2019, the DEEPFAKES (Defending Each and Every Person from False Appearances by Keeping Exploitation Subject) Accountability Act was introduced in the House of Representatives.
Several states have legal protections against the use of deepfake technology. In California, Assembly Bill 730 prohibits the distribution of malicious deepfake audio or visual media targeting a candidate running for public office within 60 days of their election.
The rapid spread of COVID-19, or the novel coronavirus, has ravaged communities in the U.S. and across the world. In major cities such as New Orleans, Chicago, and Milwaukee, a majority of the new cases have been African American patients. Internet conspiracies and a historic mistrust of the medical field has only made many not go to the hospital. One journalist is looking to change the way black people stay informed about the virus outbreak.
Veteran journalist Patrice Peck has introduced a new newsletter dedicated to giving the black community important and up-to-date coronavirus news. Peck says they will be sending out about three emails every week containing a variety of news stories and opinion essays related to the coronavirus pandemic pertaining to the black community who are disproportionately suffering from the virus compared to other races in the United States.
“As a black woman and freelance journalist passionate about writing stories for us, I’ve been desperately brainstorming constructive ways to lend my writing skills to help suppress the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and pandemic,” Peck wrote in the newsletter’s first story. “At the same time, for a *long* time, I’ve been wanting to write more original stories independent from any publication, for my own audience, and to start a newsletter as a way of practicing that. So I decided to combine all of these ideas and dedicate my newsletter SpeakPatrice to highlighting coronavirus news for black folks, both stories written by other journalists and by me, Patrice Peck.”
She took to Twitter to make a formal announcement with information on how to sign up.
On April 5, I launched “Coronavirus News for Black Folks,” a weekly newsletter focused on news about the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and pandemic as they directly relate to us Black folks.
In I Don’t Want to Die, Poor Arceneaux, a Howard University grad who majored in broadcast journalism, speaks about the perils of student loan debt, tackling both the emotional and financial toll of having such a heavy burden, in a way that only he can—with laugh-out-loud-humor that triggers deep thought. In true Arceneaux-style, his essays have a mix of political stabs, pop culture references, heart-jerking stories, and laughs. Lots of laughs.
“I always try to make people laugh and make people think,” he told BLACK ENTERPRISE. A lot of people have been saying the book is so timely now in light of the pandemic. The book was already timely. The things I talk about – inequality, the healthcare system, how we lose people needlessly, debt, bill collectors, reality tv. It’s a mix of real-life and I think it talks about money in a pragmatic, honest way.”
He believes that while I Don’t Want to Die Poor is really dark in some aspects, it’s also really funny. “If you want a mix of both, this is the book for you. I never want to depress people. You may tear up a little, but you’ll laugh. And I think now more than ever, we need to be laughing.”
Inequality in America
Outside of making us chuckle, Arceneaux’s books do something else ridiculously well – eloquently speak to inequality and the injustice that blacks face on a daily basis due to things outside of their control.
When asked who should read the book the author stated, “I think Americans, in general, need to read as many perspectives about inequality as possible, and my perspective is that of a black gay man from Houston, Texas. Working-class folk.”
He went on to share that while it’s about his plight with private student loan debt, it’s much deeper than the figures owed.
“It’s really not just about the financial debt that we have but about the emotional debt that some of us carry and how that’s exacerbated by the inequality of this country and how the system is designed against us.”
In comparing the two books he says, “I Can’t Date Jesus is about the beauty in finding the freedom to figure out who you are on your own terms. I Don’t Want to Die Poor is about the fact that true freedom is expensive. Choice is expensive.”
He continued, “The pandemic is exposing every facet of inequality in American life and that includes the student loan debt crisis, which was already essentially my generations’ sub-prime mortgage crisis. This is going to be a painful year all around if that does not get addressed very, very soon. Because those lenders aren’t going to be so benevolent for very much longer and that’s concerning.”
Launching a Book During a Pandemic
It goes without saying that this is a tough time for everyone, and things have been no different for the best-selling author. Releasing I Don’t Want to Die Poor on April 7 has created many challenges for him. “I don’t remember what a sleep pattern is,” he joked.
“Buy the book. Please, please, please…support if you can…it’s particularly difficult due to it’s a pandemic and as usual, Donald Trump is sucking the air out of everything,” Arceneaux pleaded.
He had to cancel his book tour and interviews on top of dealing with shipping issues since some purchasers are experiencing delays now that essential item deliveries are being prioritized.
Arceneaux believes that all retailers can use support at this time. From the indie book stores to the bigger chain stores. “Grab the book wherever books are sold. However you can support, please support. The economy is in the hands of a racist gameshow host with cognitive decline. Lord, help us,” he chimed.
The Silver Lining
Through it all though, Arceneaux is looking for the rainbow in the storm. “I am grateful to have the opportunity to have a book out, but releasing during the pandemic is quite a thing.”
He is at home doing what he can from his tiny apartment in Harlem and is appreciative of platforms like Zoom that have made interviews like this one possible. He knows there are worse things and for that, he’s pushing through. “This is my livelihood and I’m willing to fight for my livelihood…I’m gonna hustle through it.”
You can purchase I Don’t Want to Die Poor wherever books are sold and leave a review for the book on Amazon, Good Reads, or Barnes & Noble sites. You can also follow Arceneaux on Twitter and Instagram.
The coronavirus has essentially broken the U.S. economy as more than 20 million residents have filed for unemployment benefits in the last month. However, seven small and large companies are trying to help small business owners keep their dreams alive.
Thanks to a $2.5 million grant, Verizon’s small business recovery fund is offering grants of $10,000 to business owners facing financial issues. The fund particularly focuses on business owners of color, women, and other marginalized groups. Small business owners can apply for a grant here.
Texas Women’s University has created the AssistHer Emergency Relief Grant for female owned businesses that have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Existing woman-owned businesses that have at least 51% directly owned and controlled by one or more women can apply. Those who apply will receive a response within 30 days. The funds can be used for technology upgrades or other items needed to change or adapt business models. The funds can also be used for operating expenses
The India Center Foundation is offering its help art workers and artists of South Asian descent that have been impacted by the coronavirus. Project grants of $1,000-$2,000 will be distributed to dancers, choreographers, poets, actors, musicians, producers and others. More information is available here.
Fashion label Pyer Moss announced March, 18 it would be turning its NYC office into a donation center for N95 masks and latex gloves on its Instagram page. Additionally, the label has created a relief fund has been established for women and minority businesses negatively impacted by COVID-19. The fund, named The Your Friends in New York Business Relief Fund, is awarding grants of different amounts to business owners in need. More information can be found here.
Women’s undergarment company Spanx has announced the Red Backpack Fund. A donation of $5 million is going to support female business owners who have been impacted by the coronavirus. The fund will award 1,000 female business owners with $5,000. Applications will be open until August.
The social networking site Facebook announced, $15 million will be used to help small business owners impacted by the coronavirus. Additionally, chief diversity officer Maxine Williams added 50% of the grants would go to minority, women and veteran-owned businesses. Those who wish to apply can visit the grant website.
Social startup Digitalundivided created a new fund called The Doonie Fund, named after the CEO’s grandmother. The fund will provide relief for African American female entrepreneurs who have been impacted by coronavirus. The fund, created in early April, has already helped more than 93 entrepreneurs by providing micro-investments of $500 or less. Those eligible can apply through the company’s site.
The Small Business Administration was providing loans and grants through the Paycheck Protection Program. However, the fund has already run out of money and lawmakers have yet to agree on how much should be added to the program. Democrats want to make sure additional fund help minority and female owned businesses
On Friday, Gianna Bryant and her three teammates were posthumously honored and named as WNBA draftees. The next day, her mother Vanessa Bryant honored her late husband Kobe with a loving Instagram tribute on their 19th wedding anniversary.
“My king, my heart, my best friend,” wrote Bryant, a 37-year-old mother of three. “Happy 19th wedding anniversary baby. I miss you so much. I wish you were here to hold me in your arms. I love you.”
The Bryants met in 1999 on the set of a music video and married on April 18, 2001.
While this is the couple’s first wedding anniversary after All-Star Lakers’ tragic death in January from a helicopter crash, Vanessa received a gift of beautiful red roses from Kobe’s former teammate, Pau Gausol and his wife, Catherine McDonnell.
The Bryants went on to have four daughters, Natalia (17), Bianka (3), Capri (9) months, and Gianna who died in the tragic helicopter crash alongside her father on January 26.
