water, graduation, Joe Biden, pro-Palestinian, Israel, Gaza, students, protesters, UCLA, Columbia University, president, social security
by Sharelle B. McNair

December 2, 2024

President Joe Biden Backtracks On His Promise By Pardoning Son Hunter Before Leaving Office 

Wouldn't you do the same fro your son?

President Joe Biden backtracked on past promises and issued a pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, just days before his sentencing.

In a personal statement from the 46th president, Biden says his decision was prompted by his belief of “raw politics” infecting the process. “I believe in the justice system, but as I have wrestled with this, I also believe raw politics has infected this process, and it led to a miscarriage of justice — and once I made this decision this weekend, there was no sense in delaying it further. I hope Americans will understand why a father and a President would come to this decision,” Biden said. 

Hunter Biden was due to be sentenced on Dec. 12 on federal gun charges. In a separate criminal case, he is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 16 after pleading guilty to federal tax evasion charges. A senior White House official said the decision to issue a “full and unconditional pardon” was made over the Thanksgiving weekend for all offenses committed by his son or “taken part in during the period from January 1, 2014 through December 1, 2024.” 

In June 2024, the proud father claimed, “I will not pardon him,” after learning of the guilty verdicts.

Biden mentioned the struggles of addiction that Hunter deals with and feels his political opponents used them to “break him.” No reasonable person who looks at the facts of Hunter’s cases can reach any other conclusion than Hunter was singled out only because he is my son — and that is wrong,” Biden continued. 

“There has been an effort to break Hunter — who has been five and a half years sober, even in the face of unrelenting attacks and selective prosecution. In trying to break Hunter, they’ve tried to break me — and there’s no reason to believe it will stop here. Enough is enough.”

Republican lawmakers were taken aback by the president’s moves since, in early 2024, Biden promised that he wouldn’t be pardoning Hunter since “no one is above the law.” 

Reps. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) and Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) retweeted the post with the comment, “Unless your last name is Biden.” 

Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) called the move “disgraceful” and labeled Biden as a liar to the American people, according to Fox News. “You’ve been lied to every step of the way by this Administration and the corrupt Biden family. This is just the latest in their long coverup scheme,” Scalise said.

“They never play by the same rules they force on everyone else. Disgraceful.” 

While the pardon has not officially been signed yet, Hunter issued a statement reiterating his sorrow and “shame” brought on the First Family. “

Despite all of this, I have maintained my sobriety for more than five years because of my deep faith and the unwavering love and support of my family and friends. In the throes of addiction, I squandered many opportunities and advantages,” he wrote. 

“In recovery, we can be given the opportunity to make amends where possible and rebuild our lives if we never take for granted the mercy that we have been afforded. I will never take the clemency I have been given today for granted and will devote the life I have rebuilt to helping those who are still sick and suffering.”

RELATED CONTENT: NAACP Chapter Is Prepared To Fight After Virginia State Leaders Purge 1600 Voters From Voting Rolls

Student athletes, black athletes, cardiac arrest
by Daniel Johnson

December 2, 2024

Black Athletes 5 Times More Likely Than White Peers To Suffer Sudden Cardiac Arrest

According to the study, 'Disparities in outcomes between Black and white athletes also exist without explanation.'

A recent review of data published by The Lancet and led by a sports cardiologist at Atlanta’s Emory University, Jonathan Kim, spotlights a concerning trend regarding sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and sudden cardiac death (SCD) for Black athletes.

According to the data review, Black athletes are five times as likely as white athletes to experience SCA and SCD.

According to Medical Xpress, the study from Kim and his colleagues at Laussane University Hospital, Morristown Medical, Massachusetts General Hospital, and other institutions also revealed significant racial disparities in electrocardiography readings (ECGs) taken of competitive athletes.

According to Kim, it is important to incorporate social determinants of health into any future research of how to mitigate risk for high-performing athletes.

“To truly address these disparities, it’s not enough to just screen for potential problems,” Kim said. “There needs to be an understanding of how to tackle the underlying social determinants of health that puts these athletes at a greater risk,” Kim said in a news release.

Kim continued, “We need to look for potential underlying health conditions. We also need to consider all the environmental stressors that young individuals have to deal with and also where they grow up. Just five to 10 years ago, I doubt many were thinking about social determinants of health and impacts on young athletes.”

According to the study, “Disparities in outcomes between Black and white athletes also exist without explanation. Causes of sudden cardiac arrest and death are age-dependent, with genetic heart conditions and unexplained cases (i.e., normal autopsy) predominant among younger athletes, and coronary artery disease accounting for most cases among veteran masters athletes.”

In February, Health spotlighted the story of Omar Carter, an NBA hopeful who suffered an on-court cardiac arrest during a Pro-Am game in 2013 at the age of 25.

According to Carter, he doesn’t fully recall what happened to him but he knows his experience wasn’t like the experiences dramatized for movies or television shows. “I [vaguely] remember trying to catch myself, which was kind of odd,” Carter, now 36, told Health.

“I’ve watched other sudden cardiac arrest videos where they kind of just drop; it was almost like I was aware.” Carter continued, “[I was told] I gave this dramatic, kind of cinematic breath back to life.” Even after Carter was hospitalized at Carolina Medical Center and placed in a medically induced coma, he awoke with basketball still on his mind.

“My first three questions were: ‘Have we prayed?’ ‘What day is it?’ and ‘Can I still play basketball?’” Carter recalled to Health.

According to Merije T. Chukumerije, the director of sports cardiology for the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Group, and the team cardiologist for the LA Galaxy and Los Angeles Clippers, “It most certainly has something to do with social determinants of health, [and] psychosocial stressors, including racism and discrimination.”

Jonathan Drezner, a medical doctor and the director of the UW Medicine Center for Sports Cardiology agrees with Chukumerije, telling Health, “Our research has shown that Black athletes with SCA come from neighborhoods with greater socioeconomic deprivation than white athletes with SCA, but the mechanisms that lead to a higher risk need to be elucidated,” said Drezner, who is a corresponding author on another study of sudden cardiac arrest among Black athletes published in 2020.

Drezner concluded, “These may include more access to healthcare, higher quality screening, more attention to cardiovascular symptoms or a family history of heart disease—all of which could lead to early detection of conditions at risk of SCA.”

RELATED CONTENT: Bronny James Diagnosed With Congenital Heart Defect, Full Recovery Expected

Job interview
by Black Enterprise

December 2, 2024

Stop Sabotaging Your Interview With These Common Answers To ‘Weakness’

Keep your responses real, brief and honest

Hey FairyGodMentor, 

How are you really supposed to answer the dreaded question about your weaknesses, and what advice would you give if someone needed to explain gaps in their resume, or perhaps situations where there was professional conflict and things didn’t work out? 

Thanks,

Filled with Dread

Dear Filled with Dread,

There’s always a lesson to be learned and shared in the matter of discussing weaknesses. Everyone has weaknesses. It’s what we do and what we learn from the mistakes. This is the essence of what the hiring manager is looking for in your response. 

I would start by writing out a scenario of when you learned about this weakness. What was the specific situation that occurred. What tasks were you assigned or responsible for making? What actions did you take?  Really paint a clear picture of what you said or did in that situation.  Finally, what was the result? How did everything go and what did you ultimately learn from all of this?  Do you use specific tools to help you stay more productive? Did you create a best practice that helps you and others not make the same error again? Did the situation make you a better leader? Clarify what those weaknesses are and the stories that go with them.  

My advice is to keep your responses real, brief, and honest. I had a client who was terminated for unprofessional conduct on the job. The incident happened very publicly. She was terrified on how to answer the question of why she left her most recent place of employment. 

Most businesses use 3rd party companies to give only start and end dates for background searches. Not a reason for termination. 

If asked, I would be honest but keep it brief. If you were let go because of a professional conflict, say so, but emphasize that you take responsibility for your actions and focus what a big learning experience it was. Quickly shift to highlighting your strengths and accomplishments and how they will positively impact this new role and organization.  

Regarding gaps in employment, you can get pretty creative in discussing your gaps (caregiving, sabbatical, etc.). More companies are becoming a bit more understanding about work gaps. Don’t be afraid to discuss them.  If you gained a new skill or took on a role that relates to the job that you’re applying for, share those insights.  

By sharing your lessons learned, you’ve reframed your weaknesses into strengths that can greatly improve that prospective new business’s success.  

You got this!

Yours truly,

Your FairyGodMentor®

Joyel Crawford, fairygodmentor, contributor
(Photo: Kirten White Photography/BE)

Joyel Crawford is an award-winning career and leadership development professional and the founder of Crawford Leadership Strategies, a consultancy that develops empowered, results-driven leaders through engaging leadership development coaching, training, and facilitation. She is the author of the best-selling book and audiobook Show Your Ask: Using Your Voice to Advocate for Yourself and Your Career.

Have a question about handling a micromanager, are you having difficulty navigating spaces because of your hair, is work stressing you out, do you need support coaching poor performance, or are you wondering how to negotiate and get the job offer you desire effectively? Do you have any questions about career and leadership development? 

Ask Your FairyGodMentor® here.

RELATED CONTENT: AI Is Now Being Used To Conduct Job Interviews

Demond Wilson, ‘Sanford And Son’
by Daniel Johnson

December 1, 2024

James Solomon Jr., One Of The First Black Students To Desegregate University Of South Carolina, Dies

The University of South Carolina honored Solomon earlier this year, in April, the university erected a 12-foot monument in recognition of his role in desegregating USC.

James L. Solomon Jr., the first Black student to enroll in the University of South Carolina’s graduate program in mathematics, and one of only three Black students on the university’s campus in 1963, died on Nov. 29 at the age of 94.

According to Fox Carolina, Solomon was a professor at South Carolina HBCU Morris College, located in Fort Sumter, before he decided to enroll at USC for graduate school.

In addition to Solomon, Henrie Monthieth Treadwell and Robert Anderson broke South Carolina’s color line for the first time since Reconstruction in 1963.

According to The Island Packet, Solomon earned a bachelor’s degree from Morris College and a master’s degree from Atlanta University. While he was teaching at his alma mater, after Anderson and Treadwell were admitted, he decided to apply to USC’s mathematics graduate program.

The University of South Carolina honored Solomon earlier this year, in April, by erecting a 12-foot monument in recognition of his role in desegregating USC.

Upon his death, the university issued a statement through a spokesperson offering their condolences to Solomon’s friends and family as well as honoring his accomplishments at USC.

“The University of South Carolina family is saddened by the death of James L. Solomon Jr. His legacy of bravery and service to community is an enduring inspiration to us all,” a university spokesman said in a statement. “His role in desegregating the Columbia campus, along with Henrie Monteith Treadwell and Robert G. Anderson, is immortalized on our campus as a testament to his personal courage and an unwavering commitment to justice. We share our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and everyone who was affected by his life of selfless sacrifice.”

Solomon also holds the distinction of being the first Black elected official in Fort Sumter since Reconstruction, which happened after he was elected to the Sumter District 17 school board.

In addition to this, Solomon eventually became a dean and the vice president of Morris College, one of the leaders of South Carolina’s Commission on Higher Education and the Department of Social Services, he was also involved with the Colombia Urban League, United Way of the Midlands, the American Public Welfare Association, and was elected the Chairman of Richland School District 1’s school board, making him the first Black person to occupy that role.

As a result of Solomon’s long history of public service, he was twice awarded the Order of the Palmetto, the highest civilian honor in South Carolina, bestowed upon him by former South Carolina governors Richard Riley and Carrol Campbell.

https://twitter.com/GrantForSC/status/1862862950828069163?s=19

South Carolina Senator Tamekia Issac Devine, who represents District 19 in South Carolina, said in a statement on Twitter/X that Solomon’s legacy would live on.

“Sending my love & prayers to the Solomon family on the passing of Mr. James L. Solomon, Jr. who was 1 of 3 black students to integrate the ⁦University of South Carolina since Reconstruction & served this State for years in various leadership roles. He will be missed but his legacy lives on,” Senator Devine wrote.

Hamilton R. Grant, a State Representative representing South Carolina’s House District 79, also issued a statement on social media after Solomon’s death.

“I’m saddened to learn of the passing of Mr. James L. Solomon, Jr. Mr. Solomon was one of three black students to be admitted to the University of South Carolina since Reconstruction. My prayers are with The Solomon family during this difficult time. God bless this trailblazer and may he rest in peace,” Rep. Grant wrote.

RELATED CONTENT: Activist & Member Of Greenville 8, Margaree Crosby Dies At 82

Michael Jackson,Top 10, songs
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 1, 2024

Michael Jackson Hits Milestone Record As Second Album Charts On Billboard 200 For Decade

The late singer's "The Essential Michael Jackson" album has remained on the chart for 500 weeks.

Michael Jackson has hit a milestone for one of his albums and how long it has charted on the Billboard 200.

The late singer’s The Essential Michael Jackson album has remained on the chart for 500 weeks. As of Nov. 30, it officially reached ten years of consistent placement on the weekly chart for the country’s most popular albums.

According to Forbes, its ranking has ebbed and flowed throughout the years. It went down on the list for the week leading up to its historic number, going from #106 to #128. Despite its initial release in 2005, it still moved 10,9000 equivalent units for the week. Moreover, the project has been certified five-times platinum in the United States, with reported worldwide sales estimated at around 6 million copies.

The full-length LP featured no new music from Jackson. Instead, it is comprised of his greatest hits throughout his career until the early 2000s. Despite this, the album has steadily placed on the chart, often ranking on other Billboard lists. In October, the news outlet also reported that the Essential album re-entered the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. It also gained entry back onto the Top R&B albums-only list.

The project is not Jackson’s only album to continue making history on Billboard charts. His most popular LP, Thriller, has placed on the Billboard 200 for 653 weeks. The album continues to reach new heights on the ranking, reaching peak popularity around the holiday season, specifically for Halloween.

The two projects are part of an elite group within music history, given this status. Moreover, it remains an accomplishment on Jackson’s part to have two projects under his discography reach this milestone.

The decade-long charting of the compilation record is a testimony to the artist’s legacy and ongoing impact on the music industry. Moreover, both projects’ reign within the popular albums listing and other charts are expected to last for weeks to come.

RELATED CONTENT: Remembering a Pop Icon: Michael Jackson

Shannon Sharpe, dog, Thanksgiving dinner
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 1, 2024

Shannon Sharpe Explains Why His Dog Is Allowed On His Lap At Thanksgiving Dinner Table

Sharpe proceeded to double down on how his pets are treated like family.

The only ones not allowed to dine at Shannon Sharpe’s table are his haters. The sports commentator clapped back at naysayers who opposed his dog sitting on his lap during Thanksgiving dinner.

Sharpe defended his actions in his own home after X users condemned him for letting his dog sit on his lap during mealtime. The social media beef started after Sharpe posted a video wishing others a Happy Thanksgiving, but with his dog happily sitting on his lap.

X users immediately began to question the former NFL athlete and his decision. However, Sharpe proceeded to double down on how his pets are treated like family.

“They sleep in the bed also,” he responded to one commenter grossed out by the clip.

After Sharpe made clear that he feels comfortable with letting his companion sit with him at dinner, he made sure to put those who felt different in their place. Another poster called the dog’s presence at dinner “out of pocket.”

In response, Sharpe told them, “What makes you think I’m going allow you [to] tell me what I should do at my house.”

The Nightcap podcaster got even more snappy in his responses. He told a naysayer that they have virtually no chance of dining with him at his house anyway.

“What do you think your chances are of you having a meal at my [home]? 1 and how many octillion,” questioned the Club Shay Shay host.

Clearly, Sharpe was not tolerating any negativity toward his animal friends. After going off on a few haters, Sharpe continued business as usual with his sports commentary.

The headline-making star is not afraid to speak out, and has often found himself amid media controversy. Recently, Sharpe landed in hot water for getting intimate on Instagram Live. While unknowingly filming the interaction, Sharpe yelled his lady friend’s name, Michelle, during the live post.

RELATED CONTENT: Shannon Sharpe Salutes HBCU Wide Receiver Who Broke His Record At Savannah State

bitcoin
by Daniel Johnson

December 1, 2024

Bitcoin Hits Its Best Month Of 2024, But Black Investors Left Behind

Despite its current surge, some reports indicate bitcoin has failed Black communities.

Following the election of Donald Trump, Bitcoin, as well as other cryptocurrencies, have been surging; and Bitcoin in particular has been forecast to post its best month since February as it rides the post-election high.

According to CNBC, Bitcoin was forecast by Coin Metrics to post a 38% gain for the month of November, which trails only the mark of a 45% gain it posted in February.

As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrency investors have been bullish on the prospect of another Trump administration being extremely friendly to cryptocurrency after previously being hostile to it.

However, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies depend on a practice known as energy mining, which, as Capital B News reported in July, can leave Black communities already imperiled by climate change even more vulnerable.

According to Brittany Stredic, a member of a coalition of Houstonians fighting a pipeline and gas plant in her neighborhood, the plant is an unnecessary disruption.

“They’re (the State of Texas) trying to use these ‘volatile’ climate events, the freeze and the heat, as justification for all these new gas plants. But we don’t need it,” she told the outlet.

Algernon Austin, director for Race and Economic Justice at the Center for Economic and Policy Research, highlighted how the cryptocurrency industry leverages its wealth to lobby for favorable policies, often at the expense of the country’s most vulnerable populations.

“There are so many downsides to crypto, but unfortunately, the industry has a lot of money, and have recently been using their money to get favorable policies in Washington, D.C., and places like Texas,” Austin told Capital B News. Austin continued, “Cryptocurrencies are a shiny new way to lose money. Analyses that have been done suggest that, if anything, it’s worked to increase inequality. It’s worrying that it is creating a problem environmentally on top of all of this.”

In 2023, Vox reported that crypto had failed Black communities, despite part of its pitch to those communities being that cryptocurrency could be a lifeline for wealth building outside of more traditional means.

“The idea that crypto is somehow providing an avenue that’s easier than other forms doesn’t pan out. It’s not as democratizing and welcoming as suggested,” Austin told Vox. “The crypto industry is concerned about the crypto industry, it’s not concerned about Black wealth.”

Mehrsa Baradaran, a law professor at the University of California Irvine and expert on financial inequality and the racial wealth gap, compared the cryptocurrency industry’s pitch to Black Americans to other predatory financial schemes historically targeted at Black communities.

“You have the perfect conditions that led to the Freedman’s Bank, that led to the subprime crisis, that led to the contract sales after the New Deal, which is that capitalism is undergoing some shift and something is wrong and the government needs to handle it, but instead, they leave out certain people and then some terrible, exploitative incentive gets born, and someone is always going to step into that. It is a looting of people’s money,” Baradaran told Vox.

Baradaran continued, arguing that a more tenable solution is to fix what’s broken rather than hoping for something with little to no oversight to become a magic pill for building wealth.

“This is what you see with bitcoin, you get the scammers and the hucksters and the fraud, people who come in and say, ‘Look, we’re going to exploit people’s genuine desire to build wealth in a f***ed-up system,” Baradaran said.

She concluded, “If the system’s broken, let’s fix it, instead of saying, ‘Look, the system’s broken, let’s create this other system. It’s losing all the lessons that we had to learn the hard way in this financial system, which is that you need trust, you have to have trust. And if we allow fraud without regulation, there will always be fraud.”

Austin, meanwhile, underscored the insidious nature of selling Black people what some say is a false bill of goods.

“It’s important to recognize that the Black population has more economic hardship and economic insecurity than the white population or the US population overall on average. You have more poverty, higher rates of debt, higher rates of insecurity, unstable work hours, unaffordable housing, there are a number of financial stresses in the lives of many African Americans,” Austin told Vox. “So when you’re worrying how you’re going to pay your bills regularly and how you’re going to get ahead and someone shows up and says, ‘I have the solution, and this will help you pay all your bills and help you pay your kids’ college and the house that you’ve always dreamed about,’ that’s pretty enticing.”

RELATED CONTENT: Cryptocurrency Is Surging In The Wake Of Trump’s Election

Candace Owens, HBCU, tour, Charlie Kirk, Turning Point USA,
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 1, 2024

Girl, Bye: Candace Owens Denied Entry To New Zealand After Australia Said ‘Nope’

Owens has been denied a visa over her offensive remarks toward Jews and Muslims.

Candace Owens was refused a visa to enter New Zealand due to her previous banning from Australia. The conservative political commentator was expected to be in the country for a speaking engagement.

Immigration officials confirmed the refusal to the Associated Press on Nov. 28. The denial of her entertainer’s work permit visa stems from Australia’s ruling on the matter. Its neighboring country initially rejected Owens’ visa due to her anti-Semitic remarks. Owens had denied that Nazis medically experimented on Jewish people in concentration camps during World War II.

While currently unable to enter either Oceanic country, Owens remains on the schedule to speak at multiple events throughout the region. The influencer’s speaking tour has slots in Auckland and many cities throughout Australia in February and March 2025.

Owens has emerged as a controversial and provocative figure, mainly popular among conservative platforms and communities. Following her announcement in August to travel to the countries, immigration officials in Australia took action to stop Owens in the midst of her planning stages to come.

Immigration Minister Tony Burke told reporters in October that Owens “capacity to incite discord” led to their decision to deny the visa. He also referenced her offensive comments regarding Muslims.

“Australia’s national interest is best served when Candace Owens is somewhere else,” stated Burke. 

Owens initially intended for the speaking engagements to discuss free speech and her Christian beliefs. However, her previous commentary that attacked other religious groups resulted in Australia’s stance against the media personality.

New Zealand, however, did not cite these reasons for why they rejected her work permit. Instead, they denied her entry due to regulations that visa cannot be granted to those forbidden from entering another country.

With this latest update, it remains unclear if, and how, Owens will continue her speaking tour as planned.

RELATED CONTENT: GOPals Amber Rose And Candace Owens Trauma Bond Over Political Rejection

HIV/AIDS Advocate, A. Cornelius Baker
by Daniel Johnson

December 1, 2024

Tireless HIV/AIDS Advocate A. Cornelius Baker Dies Of Heart Disease At 63

Baker was an early advocate for those living with HIV and AIDS during the 1980s when misinformation and fear-mongering about the disease was rampant.

A. Cornelius Baker, a tireless advocate for HIV and AIDS testing, research, and vaccinations died in his Washington, D.C., home on Nov. 8 of hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to his partner, Gregory Nevins.

As The New York Times reported, Baker was an early advocate for those living with HIV and AIDS during the 1980s, when misinformation and fear-mongering about the disease was rampant.

According to Douglas M. Brooks, a director of the Office of National AIDS Policy under President Obama, it was Baker’s Christian faith that guided him towards compassion for others.

“He was very kind, very embracing and inclusive — his circles, both professionally and personal, were the most diverse I’ve ever seen, which was driven by his Christian values,” Brooks told the outlet. “His ferocity appeared when people were marginalized, othered or forgotten.”

In 1995, when he was the executive director of the National Association of People with AIDS, Baker pushed to establish June 27 as National HIV Testing Day.

He later wrote in 2012 on the website FHI 360, a global health advisor for which he served as a technical advisor, that, “This effort was designed to help reduce the stigma of H.I.V. testing and to normalize it as a component of regular health screening.”

https://twitter.com/NBJContheMove/status/1856725113967632663?s=19

Baker was also concerned that men like himself, Black gay men, and other men from marginalized communities, were disproportionately affected by HIV and AIDS.

Baker pushed the Clinton Administration to include Black and Latinx participants in clinical trials for drugs, and pointedly told the New York Times in 1994 that he was tired of hearing promises but seeing no action.

According to Lambda Legal CEO Kevin Jennings, it is this courageous stance that defines Baker’s legacy in the field of HIV/AIDS advocacy.

“Cornelius was a legendary leader in the fight for equality for LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV,” Jennings said in a press release. “In the more than two decades that I knew him, I was continually impressed by not only how effective a leader he was but also how he managed to balance being both fierce and kind at the same time. His is a devastating loss.”

Jennings continued, “Cornelius’s leadership cannot be overstated. For decades, he was one of the country’s leading HIV/AIDS warriors, advocating locally, nationally, and internationally. No matter where he went, he took pride in supporting the HIV/AIDS community, beginning in the ‘80s and continuing until his passing, through a variety of roles, including with the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Association of People With AIDS, and the Whitman-Walker Clinic.” Jennings explained.

Jennings concluded, “His career also included several honors, including being the first recipient of the American Foundation for AIDS Research’s Award of Courage for Organization Building. Our communities have lost a pillar in Cornelius, and while we mourn his passing, we will forever be grateful for his decades of service to the community.”

Kaye Hayes, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Infectious Disease and Director of the Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy, called Baker “a north star” in her commentary regarding his legacy.

“It is hard to overstate the impact of his loss to the public health and HIV/AIDS communities or the place he held in my heart, personally,” Hayes told Hiv.gov. “He pressed us, he charged us, he pulled us, he pushed us. With unwavering devotion to the HIV movement, he represented a north star, building coalitions across all sectors and working with leaders across the political spectrum to address health disparities and advocate for access to HIV treatment and care for all. He would say, ‘The work is not done, the charge is still there, go forth—you know what you need to do.’ I keep that in my ear and in my heart around this work.”

Hayes added, “His passing is a significant loss for the public health community and for so many more who benefited from Cornelius’ vigilance. His legacy will continue to inspire and motivate us all.”

Baker is survived by his mother, Shirley Baker; his partner, Nevins, who is also the senior legal counsel for Lambda Legal; his sisters Chandrika Baker, Nadine Wallace, and Yavodka Bishop; as well as his two brothers, Kareem and Roosevelt Dowdell; in addition to the larger HIV/AIDS advocacy community.

RELATED CONTENT: HIV/AIDS Activist Hydeia Broadbent, 39, Dies: ‘Use My Testimony As A Warning‘

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala , WTO, World Trade Organization
by Daniel Johnson

December 1, 2024

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala To Serve Second Term As World Trade Organization Chief

The WTO director-general ran unopposed.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is set to serve a second term as the head of the World Trade Organization, following her reelection to the post on Nov. 29.

According to Reuters, her election will coincide with the term of Donald Trump, who has said that he plans to institute tariffs on goods originating outside of the United States of America.

The WTO director-general ran unopposed, and essentially had her return to office fast-tracked in order to avoid any risk of Trump blocking her appointment. Trump and his team have been critical of Okonjo-Iweala’s governance previously.

Okonjo-Iweala, for her part, told journalists that she is intent on delivering on her agenda following her reelection. “We have a full agenda to deliver…and we fully intend to get to work immediately, no stopping, to try and deliver on these results,” Okonjo-Iweala said.

She added that she can find common ground with Trump on some issues, like intellectual property rights.

“I think we should come into things with a very constructive and creative approach to trying to deal with the issues that will face the world trading system,” she told journalists.

She did not, however, offer any commentary on Trump’s proposed tariffs, saying only that she believes it to be premature to issue a statement on his policy.

“Until we get specifics in terms of what is planned, I think it would be a bit premature to try to pronounce on these issues,” Okonjo-Iweala said, in reference to Trump’s plans.

“I think we should wait…for actual policies. And we’re very much looking forward to working in a productive fashion,” she concluded.

According to The Wyoming Tribune Eagle, the nature of Okonjo-Iweala’s reappointment is less about her and more about avoiding interference from Washington.

“It’s not so much that everyone loves Ngozi,” a source close to the negotiations told the outlet, members were “worried that if she doesn’t get reinstated, then it’s possible that the administration in Washington would slow things (or) block other contenders. The alternative of no one leading the organization is unacceptable to them.”

According to Keith Rockwell, a former WTO spokesperson and a senior research fellow at the Hinrich Foundation, her appointment “creates tensions in the relationship with the United States, for sure — tensions which would probably have been there under any circumstances, but now this raises the stakes.”

Rockwell also said that problems at the WTO are not all about Trump, “It is a time right now in which application of the WTO rules has deteriorated. You can’t blame all of this on the United States. That’s true of many other members as well.”

Dmitry Grozoubinski, the author of the book Why Governments Lie About Trade, added additional context in his comments to the outlet.

“Governments are increasingly turning to trade measures to address issues like national security, environmental competition, and re-industrialization, and policymakers aren’t as moved as they once were by arguments that their ideas violate the letter or spirit of WTO commitments,” Grozoubinski said.

He continued, “If President-elect Trump makes destroying the WTO a priority,” the organization’s “options will be limited as the institution is not built to withstand overt demolition from within its membership.”

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