Fat Joe, Power To The Patients, Healthcare. rap, femininity

by Daniel Johnson

January 8, 2024

Fat Joe, Wyclef Jean, And Jelly Roll Join ‘Power To The Patients’ For Healthcare Pricing Transparency Event

Power to the Patients has been active, working over the last three years to get legislation passed around healthcare pricing transparency.

Following their Sept. 2023 PSA campaign featuring Fat Joe, Busta Rhymes, Rick Ross, and other hip-hop heavyweights, the national nonprofit Power to the Patients, dedicated to pricing transparency in the American healthcare system, is taking things up a notch.

Complex reported that the organization has tapped Fat Joe, Wyclef Jean, and breakout country star Jelly Roll to appear at an event on Jan. 10 to raise awareness of its mission.

Ahead of the event, Fat Joe, who is all over their website serving the group as a spokesperson, released a statement.

“The U.S. healthcare system is America’s sickness,” Fat Joe said. “Healthcare price transparency isn’t a partisan or complicated issue. It’s common sense. The only people opposed to it are healthcare industry interests profiting by keeping patients in the dark. Price transparency can protect patients, families, employers, workers, even our own government from healthcare overcharging and pricing fraud as it does everywhere else in the economy.”

Fat Joe continued, “Clear prices allow consumers to choose affordable treatments without worrying that routine care will result in overcharges and even bankruptcy. Price transparency holds hospitals and insurance companies accountable, forcing them to compete and lowering costs, improving healthcare access, quality, and outcomes.”

Power to the Patients has been active, working over the last three years to get legislation passed around healthcare pricing transparency, spearheading a pair of bi-partisan bills in the House and Senate aimed at that purpose. According to the organization’s website, they believe that “Patients, families, workers, unions, and employers need systemwide healthcare price transparency to make fully informed decisions about the cost and quality of their care. All healthcare consumers have the right to upfront prices, and it’s time for our elected officials to stand up to industry profiteers by passing legislation to enforce price transparency for hospitals and insurers.”

To that end, they have championed H.R. 5378, which was passed by the House without objections on Dec. 11. According to Congress’s website, the bill is primarily concerned with making providers and insurers be more up front with policyholders about the costs of healthcare, as well as giving the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of the Treasury, and the Department of Labor the ability to implement and enforce the requirements of the bill.

On Dec. 14, a bill sponsored by Republican Senator Mike Braun was introduced to the Senate. The bill is SB 3548, or the Health Care Prices Revealed and Information to Consumers Explained Act. According to Congress’s website, this act is an amendment to the Public Health Service Act designed to provide price transparency for hospitals and insurers. It has been referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

A December 2023 report from Patient Rights Advocate established a need for legislation around hospital price transparency, stating that prices for common medical procedures are not uniform in either hospitals in the same network or state, with those prices fluctuating by an average of 10 and 31 times, respectively. According to the report, “Real prices are needed by employers and unions to make rational health plan decisions that make the best use of workers’ wage contributions and business earnings. Full price transparency will lead to a functional, competitive, and accountable healthcare marketplace that puts downward and convergent pressure on prices just as in every other economic sector. Price transparency is necessary to restore trust in the U.S. healthcare system.”

According to Power to the Patients, the Jan. 10 event is part of a larger public advocacy campaign that will include a run of PSAs on digital media and billboards at Union Square and throughout the D.C. area. In conjunction with these efforts, Fat Joe will be in meetings with Congressional leaders, representatives from Power to the Patients, Patients’ Rights Advocates, and employers from across the country to spur action on healthcare pricing transparency legislation.

by Daniel Johnson

January 8, 2024

Pentagon Waited Days Before Telling White House About Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s Hospitalization

Austin said that he recognized his fault in the matter, but also declared that he has the right to be private about his medical procedures.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin inadvertently caused quite a stir by not disclosing his condition after he was initially admitted to the Walter Reed Medical Center on Jan. 1. Politico first reported about the three-day delay from the Pentagon in informing the White House National Security Council of Austin’s condition. Austin was admitted to the hospital after “complications following a recent elective medical procedure,” according to Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder’s statement released on Jan 5.

Austin said that he recognized his fault in the matter, but also declared that he has the right to be private about his medical procedures, saying in a Jan. 6 statement, “I am very glad to be on the mend and look forward to returning to the Pentagon soon. I also understand the media concerns about transparency and I recognize I could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed. I commit to doing better.”

Austin added, “But this is important to say: this was my medical procedure, and I take full responsibility for my decisions about disclosure.”

This morning, we're learning @SecDef Lloyd Austin was hospitalized at Walter Reed Medical Center on Monday night after suffering complications from an elective procedure. Top national security officials, including the president, didn't know about it for three days. #SundayTODAY pic.twitter.com/yFxnoQLI8L
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) January 7, 2024

Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks took over Austin’s responsibilities, even though she was vacationing in Puerto Rico on her scheduled leave at the time. According to Ryder, Hicks “maintained full communication with the DOD staff throughout,” and Ryder said “She has monitored DOD’s day-to-day operations and conducted some routine business.”

Ryder also said in his statement, “At all times, the Deputy Secretary of Defense was prepared to act for and exercise the powers of the Secretary, if required.”

Officials for the Pentagon did not offer a description of Austin’s condition nor did they describe what kept him from his job during the week. They also did not release any details about Austin’s procedure including when and where it took place or if Austin had to be transported via ambulance to the hospital. According to a press release shared by Ryder, “While we do not have a specific date for his (Austin) release at this time, we will continue to provide updates on the Secretary’s status as they become available.”

During Austin’s hospitalization, the U.S. engaged in a targeted strike against an Iranian-backed militia leader in Baghdad, which Iraq is furious about, claiming that the attack is a violation of an agreement it has with the United States. The Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani’s office issued a statement to Al Jazeera, saying, “The Iraqi armed forces hold the forces of the international coalition responsible for this attack,” the Prime Minister’s office also called the attack a “dangerous escalation and aggression.”

Since Oct. 7, a group of Iranian-backed armed forces have carried out approximately 100 attacks on bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria, attacks they claim are in retaliation to the United States support of Israel’s bombing campaign against Gaza.

Kamala Harris, VP, election, AME Church, Montana Early Voting

by Daniel Johnson

January 7, 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris Marks Jan. 6 Anniversary, Stresses Urgency Of Black Support For 2024 Presidential Election At AME Church Event

VP Harris used the pulpit to tell the crowd of mostly Black women what the Dems say is at stake in the November election.

On the third anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, Vice President Kamala Harris used the pulpit afforded to her by the 7th Episcopal District AME Church at their Women’s Missionary Society annual retreat to remind the crowd of mostly Black women what Democrats believe is at stake in the November election. As Reuters reported, Vice President Harris told the crowd, “Three years ago today, on January 6, 2021, when a mob violently attacked the United States Capitol, they used brutal force and fear to try to overturn the results of a free and fair election. They tried to overrule the votes of millions of Americans.”

She continued, “On that day, we saw violence, chaos, and lawlessness, but some so-called leaders still tried to mislead and gaslight by saying it was a peaceful protest. Let us not throw up our hands. It is time to roll up our sleeves. We were born for a time such as this, and we love our country.”

According to the Penn Capital Star, the event was billed as a White House event and not an official campaign stop, but Harris touched on many of the accomplishments of the Biden-Harris administration specific to the Black community. She also acknowledged that the Biden-Harris campaign needs help organizing their friends and neighbors.

“You showed up to vote, and you organized your friends and family members and neighbors to do the same, and it is because of you that Joe Biden is president of the United States,” Harris said, as enthusiastic applause filled the conference center ballroom of the Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort hotel. “I’m here, of course, to say thank you.”

Harris later made comparisons between her administration and the Republican Party in general, telling the more than 1,200 attendees, “Let’s pull up a split screen.” Her remarks were met with clapping and cheering.

She went on, “On one side, they want to ban books. On the other side, we want to ban assault weapons. They want the government to tell a woman what to do with her body. We trust women to know what is in their own interest.”

Harris also implored the crowd to keep doing what they have been doing for generations, serving as defenders of American democracy at home, saying, “In this moment, our nation once again needs your leadership. As you have done for generations, to defend our most sacred ideals, to continue to organize, energize and make your voices heard.”

South Carolina proved pivotal to Biden’s election in 2020, so much so that the Biden administration moved South Carolina to the front of their 2024 campaign calendar, ahead of swing states like Iowa and New Hampshire. Though Biden has faced a drop in support among Black voters, the prevailing wisdom is that a strong primary in South Carolina would reinforce the notion that he is still the preferred candidate of the Democratic Party’s core constituency of Black voters.

The AME Church has a long history, stretching back to the late 1700s, when white Methodists in Philadelphia pulled Black parishioners off their knees during a prayer service at St. George’s MEC. This indignity spurred the Free African Society members like Richard Allen and Absalom Jones to turn the mutual aid society into an African congregation.

In 1794, Bethel AME was dedicated and Allen served as the church’s first pastor. Eventually, the church spread across several states, including South Carolina, where the denomination would establish a foothold in cities like Charleston and Columbia, where the 7th District AME Church is located.

As part of a larger push by the Biden-Harris campaign in South Carolina, President Joe Biden is scheduled to appear and speak on Jan. 8 at Mother Emanuel AME in Charleston, SC, the site of the 2015 attack by white supremacist Dylan Roof in which he killed nine congregants during Bible study.

Jonathan Herman, Strong Interactive, social empowerment, technology, Web3

by Ann Brown

January 7, 2024

How One Entrepreneur Is Bridging Technology Innovation And Social Empowerment

Jonathan Herman is the driving force behind Strong Interactive, a parent company of groundbreaking Web3 Ventures.

Jonathan M. Herman, the driving force behind Strong Interactive, a parent company of groundbreaking Web3 Ventures, looks to bridge innovation and social empowerment. With a multifaceted career spanning technology innovation and community development, Herman strives to have an impact beyond the boardrooms and computer screens.

According to its website, Strong Interactive is “trailblazing the future of Web3 and the Internet…through innovative approaches that provide frictionless user experiences with immediate utility and value” that “leverage the power of mobile devices that most consumers already possess — creating immediate value for B2C and B2B initiatives across multiple sectors.”

One of Herman’s flagship ventures, Baller Mixed Reality aims to push technological boundaries. This venture specializes in creating autographed metaverse collectibles featuring athletes and entertainers. Baller earned the title of “Most Pioneering Memorabilia NFT Company” of 2022 from Wealth & Finance magazine.

In addition to Baller Mixed Reality, Herman’s entrepreneurial journey includes the establishment of Bocazon.com, which had an initial “soft launch” in 2016. Bocazon.com, according to its website, is the first company in Panama to offer online shopping across a wide variety of categories and major brands for the home, outdoors, road and water sports.

He’s also developed an AI tool, W3B Advisor, to assist others in understanding Web3 technologies and applying them toward their own business pursuits.

Herman is also dedicated to social empowerment and community development. As such, he served on the National Board of Directors for the Association for Enterprise Opportunity, one of the nation’s largest economic development organizations. There, he actively contributed to initiatives aimed at fostering economic growth and creating opportunities for individuals from all walks of life.

Herman said he believes in the intersection between technology and social empowerment.

“I find the current state of Web3 development to be one of the most inclusive business sectors that I’ve experienced, where quality business concepts are met with opportunities for collaboration across the spectrum of talented contributors,” Herman said at the “Bored Ape, Metaverse, and NFT” panel discussion at Van Jones’ Black Future Weekend in 2022. “The decentralized nature of blockchain technology itself is a cooperative system that lends itself to an ethos of meritocracy and inclusion. Therefore, I believe that entrepreneurs from traditionally disadvantaged communities can find clear entry points, which benefits the entire tech sector by including the brightest minds from all quarters.”

Russell Innovation Center For Entrepreneurs Partners With Disney Institute For 3-Day Supply Chain Accelerator Program

by Ida Harris

January 7, 2024

Russell Innovation Center For Entrepreneurs Partners With Disney Institute For 3-Day Supply Chain Accelerator Program

Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE) made its mark at Walt Disney World Resort.

Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs (RICE) made its mark at Walt Disney World resort in December. Over 80 Black entrepreneurs and RICE stakeholders out of Atlanta descended onto Disney’s Yacht Club Convention Center for a 3-day intensive programming session that included pitch practicing and presentations, networking and Disney immersion, and a panel of small business experts and speakers in the supply chain industry.

RICE’s program participants—referred to as “stakeholders in order to build a sense of ownership, covenant and belonging,” according to the organization’s website—were front and center, sharing their personal journeys navigating entrepreneurship, collecting nuggets on scaling their businesses, and securing corporate contracts.

These experiences were the result of panels on social media best practices, Disney Institute quality service sessions, and a Disney small business vendor panel with Michael D Young, president and CEO of ACY Constructors, and Dr. Lisa Williams, founder and CEO of World of Epi, as well as through inspiring closing executive remarks.

From stakeholders to speakers, executives, and program leaders, each participant expressed the varying rhyme and reason for attending.

Dr. Lisa Williams | Courtesy of RICE — Dr. Lisa Williams and Michael D Young (Photo courtesy of RICE)

Ralph Sagaille, executive director of Supplier Diversity & Strategic Sourcing for the Walt Disney Company, spoke about the company’s intentional involvement with helping small business grow by giving them that extra push of encouragement and inspiration.

Williams, who is the creator of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever collectible dolls and speaker on the small business vendor panel, shed light on the benefit of preparedness.

“I didn’t know but we have been preparing for decades to work with Disney,” Williams told BE. “What I was really doing was just making the best product, the best dolls I could, that empowered our children and adults, but when the Wakanda opportunity came forward, we were ready.”

Williams continued: “We got that knock from Disney…they were asking if we had distribution, international distribution, software, certification, insurance.”

The answer to each ask was “yes,” Williams shared. Her company was so prepared, the next best step was to take the opportunity and begin to collaborate and “create this magical doll.”

Williams’ message resonated with stakeholders because hers was a great feat for a small business. The same was possible for every stakeholder in attendance.

“I’m here on this Disney Institute trip because I am a part of the RICE accelerated program,” Charmaine Gibbs-West, founder and CEO of Essence Tree, told BLACK ENTERPRISE.

“It has been life changing. It has been so impactful for my business. I have a goal to impact women at a deeper level of their healing and wellness journey. Learning from Disney that at every single touch point you can bless and give and sprinkle magic on everybody and touch all of your clients—I cannot wait to implement a lot of the things I learned.”

“It’s critical for us to create an environment where, if you literally just got an idea, this morning and you want to turn into business, we have a place for you as well as a business owner that may have been in business for 10 years,” Paul Wilson told BE about the work RICE does and in its partnership with Disney.

Wilson, vice president of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at RICE, continued.

“Maybe [a company] already has $10 million…and they’re past the program stage and they don’t have a place to go, either. Billion dollar corporations still hire consultants, right? And so even when you think about our businesses that hit a plateau—even at those large numbers— they’re still small compared to the overall economy. So we want to create a place that’s unique, but also individualized, at no matter what stage of business.”

Disney had several engaging experiences that pleased the senses including a Disney Institute tour of Epcot Center, a candlelight procession, a dessert reception at Terrace Des Fleurs, and a presentation of “Luminous: The Symphony of Us” fireworks. RICE’s Supply Chain Accelerator Program Partnership with Disney Institute struck the perfect balance of leisure and learning. The takeaways were priceless.

To learn more about the Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs, check out the history and mission at russellcenter.org.

Peter Magubane, photojournalist, South Africa, Mandela, Apartheid

by Ann Brown

January 7, 2024

Legendary South African Photojournalist Peter Magubane, Who Captured The Brutality Of Apartheid, Dies, 91

He was appointed Nelson Mandela's official photographer after Mandela's release from prison.

Renowned South African photographer Peter Magubane, known for his documentation of the brutal apartheid era, passed away on Jan. 1 at the age of 91. His daughter, Fikile Magubane, announced his death, with no other details given. It is known that Magubane had been treated for prostate cancer, The Washington Post reported.

His life’s work shed light on the violence and injustice of apartheid and captured pivotal moments in South Africa’s struggle for democracy. Throughout his illustrious career, Magubane was celebrated as a “legendary photojournalist” by his peers and recognized by the South African government for his pivotal role in documenting the fight against apartheid.

Born on Jan. 18, 1932, in Vrededorp, a Johannesburg suburb, Magubane’s journey into photography began with a Kodak Box Brownie, a gift from his father. However, apartheid’s oppressive rules restricted the opportunities for Black photographers, forcing him to learn the craft through unconventional means, according to The Post.

Magubane started working at Drum, a magazine that employed Black staff. He worked his way up from being a tea boy to becoming a driver, all the while studying the art of photojournalism. After hours, he would take photographs around Johannesburg and develop them in the Drum darkroom.

In 1955, Magubane received his first significant assignment, covering a convention of the anti-apartheid African National Congress (ANC). Shortly thereafter, the ANC was banned in South Africa, and Nelson Mandela was incarcerated in 1962, later receiving a life sentence in 1964.

His career took him from Drum to The Rand Daily Mail newspaper, and he also contributed to international publications such as Time and Sports Illustrated. His work garnered international recognition, and he published 17 books, with his later works focusing on African culture and landscapes.

Magubane documented the horrific Sharpeville massacre in 1960, where police killed at least 69 unarmed demonstrators. In one iconic photograph, he captured a group of police officers callously ignoring the lifeless body of a Black man behind them.

Magubane also chronicled the Soweto uprising of 1976, when police opened fire on young protesters, killing over 176 of them. Magubane’s award-winning photographs of the incident brought global attention to the tragedy.

Because of his work, Magubane became a target of the apartheid government, and he was repeatedly arrested and imprisoned. He was also banned from working for five years. Once on assignment, he was shot 17 times with shotgun pellets by the apartheid police and beaten, sustaining injuries that included a broken nose, all because he refused to surrender photographs he had taken during the Soweto uprisings.

None of this seemed to deter Magubane. “I said, ‘no I will remain here. I will fight apartheid with my camera,’” he said in a recent interview with national broadcaster SABC, The Associated Press reported.

In 1990, Magubane’s career came full circle when he was appointed as Nelson Mandela’s official photographer after Mandela’s release from prison. He continued to document Mandela’s journey until the historic all-race elections in 1994, when Mandela was elected as South Africa’s first Black president.

Magubane’s legacy extends beyond documenting violence. He captured poignant images of everyday life under apartheid, emphasizing the absurdity of racial segregation. One of his most celebrated photographs depicts a Black maid seated on a bench designated for whites only, tenderly cradling a white child in her care—a powerful commentary on the hypocrisy of apartheid.

by Daniel Johnson

January 7, 2024

IHOP Fires Workers After Investigation Of Racist Treatment Of Black Couple

The IHOP manager said the server is just 'picky' about who she serves.

A Mesquite, TX IHOP franchise has fired several workers after they were accused by a couple of refusing them service because they were Black. CBS Texas reported that Keisha Mitchell and Elvis Polley stopped at the IHOP location to celebrate Polley’s 49th birthday, when a server told them that she wouldn’t be serving them because of the color of their skin.

Mitchell told the outlet, “When we got to the restaurant, we were told that we were not going to be serviced because of our color,” Mitchell said. “It is a shock, and your brain is not processing what you’re hearing.”

Mitchell also pushed back against the IHOP manager on duty’s assertion that the server is just “picky” about who she serves. The conversation was recorded in the video Mitchell captured. “She didn’t want to say she was racist, she said she’s ‘picky.’ No, that’s not being ‘picky’ if you’re selecting only a certain group of people that you want to serve,” Mitchell said.

That manager also told the pair that the server had been employed by IHOP for 25 years, but IHOP’s parent company, Anthraper Restaurants, sent a statement via email to CBS Texas indicating their displeasure at what occurred. While they did not apologize directly, they did conduct a full investigation and promised to conduct anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training for their employees.

“Since our founding, we have strived to create warm and hospitable dining experiences for all guests, and we have zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind, or actions that allude to any form of discrimination,” the company said.

The statement continued, “We have fully investigated this matter and taken appropriate actions, including termination of the employees involved. This isolated incident is not reflective of our ongoing commitment to our guests and Team Members. Additionally, we will be providing additional anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training, ensuring that all remaining Team Members understand the company’s unwavering intolerance of any prohibited form of discrimination.”

Though the couple say that IHOP did the right thing by firing the employees involved, including the manager and another waitress, they believe the damage has already been done. Polley told CBS Texas that he has been having trouble sleeping since the incident occurred. “Just a traumatizing feeling you know? You can’t get it out your head and I’m having sleepless nights…It is draining,” he said.

Mitchell chimed in, saying that she now questions exactly how much progress America has made in terms of racial equality and treating people fairly, telling CBS Texas, “It opened the door that I never wanted to walk through,” Mitchell added. “Have we, have we come as far as we think? Or is it just being hidden more?”

by Jameelah Mullen

January 7, 2024

Atlanta Police Officer Dies After A ‘Medical Emergency’ On Way To Work

Galloway, 44, who joined the Atlanta Police Department in 2015, was found sitting in his vehicle.

The Atlanta Police Department is mourning the death of Officer Kenya Galloway, 44. Around 11 p.m. on Jan. 4 at the District One Police Annex on Donnell Lee Howell Parkway, Galloway was seen sitting in his vehicle. When the officer didn’t show up for his shift, colleagues went to check on him. They found him unresponsive and called for medical assistance. Galloway was rushed to Grady Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Officials stated that Galloway experienced a “medical emergency” but did not provide further details.

That night, members of the police force gathered at Grady Hospital to offer their support. Fellow officers escorted Galloway’s body as it was taken from Grady Hospital to the medical examiner’s office. Metro Atlanta police departments offered their condolences for the fallen officer.

“The Dunwoody Police Department extends our deepest condolences to the family of Atlanta Police Department Officer Kenya Galloway. Join us in keeping the APD, his family and friends in your thoughts in prayers during this difficult time,” was just one of the messages of support.

The Dunwoody Police Department extends our deepest condolences to the family of Atlanta Police Department Officer Kenya Galloway. Join us in keeping the APD, his family and friends in your thoughts in prayers during this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/mbSiewBNyf

— Dunwoody Police (@DunwoodyPolice) January 6, 2024

“My prayers are with the family of Officer Galloway, as well as his APD family. He protected me and my family as if we were his own, and I will be forever grateful for his service,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said in a statement to Fox 5 News.

In a statement issued on Jan. 5, the Atlanta Police Department expressed its gratitude for the community’s support.

APD Mourns the Loss of Officer Kenya Galloway. https://t.co/9u7x1ZJ5bX pic.twitter.com/hriOFWapxy
— Atlanta Police Department (@Atlanta_Police) January 5, 2024

“We appreciate the words of support and encouragement so many of you have sent. Please keep Officer Galloway’s family and friends in your prayers. We also ask that you keep all of our local law enforcement officers in your prayers. This has been an extremely difficult time for us all,” the department said.

Galloway joined the Atlanta Police Department in 2015, where he worked in the Executive Protection Unit.

by Lauren Nutall

January 7, 2024

New Podcast Series Covers The Black, Latino, And South Asian Insurrection Investigators Of The January 6th Committee

A substantial number of January 6 Committee investigators were individuals of Black, Latino, or South Asian descent, including three of the five team leaders.

On January 6, 2021, supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol alleging that the presidential election had been rigged in favor of Joe Biden, who succeeded Trump in the White House. Americans watched in fascination and horror as one of the most safeguarded buildings in the country became a scene of violence; world leaders condemned the attack en masse.

The insurrection, which was live-broadcasted on national television, lasted nearly four hours, according to NPR. However, its ramifications are still being felt today, leading journalist and Our Body Politic podcast creator-host Farai Chideya to investigate the rise of white supremacy within the country and how democracy must be preserved as it continues to be attacked from all angles. Featuring exclusive interviews with congressional staffers from varied backgrounds, Chideya’s new audio documentary, January 6th: An American Story, chronicles the vital role government employees played in understanding the Jan. 6 riot and holding its perpetrators accountable.

A substantial number of those investigators were individuals of Black, Latino, and South Asian descent, including three of the five team leaders. January 6th: An American Story sheds light on the contributions of these Black and brown legal experts within the January 6 Committee.

The documentary, hosted by Chideya, provides insights from three of the investigators, who shared their experiences and shed light on the challenges they faced in preserving our democracy.

“As a longtime journalist, I’ve spent much of my career covering domestic violence extremism and the dangers such violence poses,” Chideya says in Episode 1, “Legal Fees.”

“It’s my small contribution to building a better future and strengthening American democracy. So it made perfect sense that I and my team would tackle the insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. It’s what we’ve always done at Our Body Politic. Our work is also an American story.”

Released on Jan. 5, 2024, the six-episode podcast provides insight into the journalists who covered the riot, exposing a story of the immoral practices, Christian nationalist beliefs, and flagrant misinformation that culminated in the Jan. 6 insurrection. Chidey invited the diverse team behind the investigation to discuss their own journeys into the field and explain why they have positioned themselves as defenders of democracy. The expansive podcast offers listeners an up-close look at the case against Trump, including an overview of the “Book of Purple,” a body of research that probed more than 50 documents and testimonies that proved vital to the government’s prosecution and was headed by Deputy Attorney General for Policy and Legislative Affairs Candyce Phoenix.

mental health, Black youth, suicide, Denver, documentary

by Daniel Johnson

January 7, 2024

Study Links Online Racism To PTSD Symptoms In Black Youth, Raising Concerns About Rising Suicide Rates

The study indicates that Black children and teenagers exhibit symptoms associated with PTSD after experiencing racial discrimination.

A new study suggests a link between racism experienced by Black youth online and an exponential rise in the suicide rates of Black youth over the past two decades. A study published on Dec. 31, 2023, in JAMA Psychiatry indicated that Black children and teenagers exhibit symptoms associated with PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, after experiencing racial discrimination online.

The study’s authors conclude in their academic paper: “This study found an association between individual online racial discrimination and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and between post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and suicidal ideation. These risk factors are important to consider in continuing studies of the cause of suicidal ideation for Black adolescents in the US.”

The study, experts say, demonstrates a need to determine the specific causes of the spike in suicides within that population. A 2023 report by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health discovered that from 2007-2020, the suicide rate of Black children and teens ages 10-17 jumped by 144%, marking the sharpest rise of any racial or ethnic group.

Ashley Maxie-Moreman, one of the study’s authors, told NBC News that cyberbullying presents a serious problem for Black youth. “We know that cyberbullying is an issue for all kiddos. But in particular, for our Black youth, cyberbullying in the form of online racial discrimination is a really big issue,” she said.

The survey, of 525 Black children and teenagers between the ages of 11-19, was about racially discriminatory instances directed at a specific individual, such as a racist meme or an explicitly racist message. According to Maxie-Moreman, the participants said they had experienced symptoms of PTSD, including feelings of isolation, persistent intrusive thoughts, and chronic distress.

Despite discovering that children and teenagers who experienced online racism being more likely to report PTSD symptoms and those who had experienced PTSD symptoms were more likely to report suicidal thoughts, no link was established between directly experiencing online racism and an increase in suicidal thoughts. The authors said additional in-depth studies need to be conducted before establishing any connections between online racism and their relationship to increased suicide or suicidal ideation.

Dr. Amanda Calhoun, chief resident of Yale University’s Albert J. Solnit Integrated Adult/Child Psychiatry Program, told NBC News that she considered the rise in mental health issues for Black children and teens to be a product of the racism many of them experience. “I really think a primary driver of the declining mental health that we’re seeing in Black children are experiences of anti-Black racism,” said Calhoun. “There is little to no standardized training in how do you help Black children to navigate being a Black child in America and experiencing racism.”

Michael Lindsey, dean and Paulette Goddard Professor of Social Work at NYU’s Silver School of Social Work, also weighed in on the issue, telling NBC News, “Social workers are the largest provider of mental health services.”

Lindsey continued, “So, we need more school social workers and they can be incredibly helpful to ensuring that kids are being identified early when there is a challenge and connected to support from services early and often.”

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