African-American Studies AP course to not be taught at Waco ISD

AP African American Studies has been rejected from being taught in Florida classrooms. Illustration courtesy of Florida Department of Education

By Raylee Foster | Staff Writer

Waco schools currently do not intend to include the AP course on African American Studies that was recently blocked by the state of Florida late January 2023, Dr. Deena Cornblum, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction with Waco Education, said.

“Waco ISD does intend to include the AP African American Studies course in possible 2022-2023 high school course offerings later this school year to gauge student interest,” Cornblum said via email.

On Jan. 23, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the state will block a new AP course on African American Studies, stating that the course is part of a political agenda as opposed to an educational opportunity. However, according to one of the course’s designers, it is intended to provide a broader view of American history.

The Florida Department of Education said in a press release on Feb. 6 that the state rejects the installation of the course into the curriculum because its teachings are in opposition to the state’s law. The department, which requires African American education as a part of its curriculum, said the proposed course does not meet the standard of its education.

“The proposed course, which runs contrary to state law, clearly has a component that does nothing to advance the teaching of Black history, but only the political agenda of a small minority,” the press release read.

Dr. Ronald Johnson, associate professor of history at Baylor, was among the 300 scholars who helped design the AP course. He said their intention was to educate students on the parts of American history that many basic history courses do not cover. In addition to this, Johnson said their goal was to give students the opportunity to learn about others’ American experience.

“The AP African American Studies course is a great way to introduce high school students with a college-level understanding and engagement with African American studies in ways that they have not gotten before,” Johnson said. “We worked really hard to design a course that would introduce people in high school to these principles of understanding being Black in the United States.”

Johnson said incorporating this education opportunity in high school classrooms is important and poses no threat as a method of persuasion. The course designer’s intention was to give high school students the ability to obtain foundational, broad information of American history before they get to college, and it has been done in certain Baylor student’s education before.

“There are people that arrive at Baylor that are ready because they’ve had an educational system that has prepared them for that and I think if several students can be prepared that way, why not all students?,” Johnson said.

Because the class is AP, it is designed for higher level students to prepare them for college. It is an elective course, not a requirement. Johnson said this class will allow students to engage in deeper conversations. Johnson said the current generation of college students wants to have these conversations, but are not being prepared for them before college.

“It’s unfortunate because when you all get to college, in those freshman classes, [educators] have to do so much work catching you all up that sometimes it isn’t until your junior year, when you’re in your twenties, before you’re able to sit down and have real deep discussions,” Johnson said.

The course, which is currently only available at 60 schools, is predicted to be available in all schools by the 2024-2025 academic year, according to College Board.

Changes were made after DeSantis’ opposition to the course. However, these alterations had been in motion prior to the politician’s remarks, co-chair Dr. Robert J. Patterson, professor of African American Studies at Georgetown University, said.

“Since its inception, the development of the AP African American Studies course has been an ongoing, iterative process … and this refining process, which is a part of all AP courses, has operated independently from political pressure,” Patterson said.

Johnson said opposition was expected, but the course brings a strong component of American history to the field of education. He said in his personal teaching, he does not push agendas, but rather allows the literature to talk. He said learning about African American history does not taint one’s view of America, but rather adds to it.

“I don’t think a broader education about the rich, beautiful history and culture of the United States will in any way negatively affect the love, pride and passion that people have for the United States,” Johnson said. “I think they will know it better and actually see we are a great nation — not because we just keep saying we are great, but because we have had all of these issues and problems throughout our history and we have continued to become a better nation.”

Inquiring Photographer: Thoughts on Proposed Bipartisan African American History Act

ESTHER PAGAN, FORMER Tremont resident now living in Bushkill, PA.
Photo courtesy of Esther Pagan

This week, in recognition of Black History Month, we asked readers their thoughts on the proposed bipartisan African American History Act bill, introduced to Congress once again by Democratic co-sponsors, U.S. Rep. Jamaal Bowman (NY-16) and U.S. Sen. Corey Booker (NJ) as reported, and which, if passed, would invest $10 million over the next 5 years to promote and support education programs dedicated to African American history.

“I think they should sign this legislation with the hope that all Black and brown communities will also have their stories told. Truth be told, as a Puerto Rican-American, our story has not ended, and the exploits have only hurt us as a people on an island that everyone wants a piece of since 1898, and we as a people and culture are still being crucified. When will it stop?”

Esther Pagan,

Former Tremont resident, now living in Bushkill, PA

DR MARYLEAN WROTEN, LONGWOOD
Photo courtesy of Dr. Marylean Wroten

“The re-introduction of the African American History Act has my unwavering support since our ancestors contributed significantly to the establishment of this nation and still do. American history is Black history. The United States must be transparent about how it got to this point of racial injustices, police violence, and the killing of Black and brown people. Our African American communities are being threatened by the rise of nationalist and pro-white supremacy organizations in society and in the government. Therefore, a complete ban on studying Black history must be avoided. What causes their phobias – the apparent truth? Black history education will be available to students across the nation as a result of this act.”

Dr. Marylean Wroten,

Longwood

BRYAN GERARD BRIGGS, WAKEFIELD
Photo courtesy of Bryan Gerard Briggs

“I would say it would be a good thing for the African American community. I think it will be a great benefit helping us, not just during Black History Month, but 365 days a year, and it would be a positive inspiration for our people in the community. I think in the broader context it can also enlighten some others, non-Black. I think it’s going to be a good thing for all – Whites, Asians. It gives us a chance to see our lives through other people’s eyes and I think that’s a good thing.”

Bryan Gerard Briggs,

Wakefield

SHANEQUA CHARLES, FORDHAM Manor
Photo courtesy of Shanequa Charles

“The injustices that have plagued our nation for years are centered in White fragility, supremacy and the miseducation of youth of color. This is only present to serve one purpose, to be able to control an entire group of people. Knowledge of self and Black love are paramount in elevating African American people to equitability… I wholeheartedly support the bill to restore dignity to our teachings, so that our true history is learned.”

Shanequa Charles,

Fordham Manor

WALLACE ST. CLAIR, CLAREMONT Village
Photo courtesy of Wallace St. Clair

“It’s about more than rights; it’s about humanity. The lack of appreciation for the actual humanity of Black people is a learned behavior that has been indoctrinated into the dominant population for centuries. This is directly connected to the deliberate omissions of Black excellence from curriculum throughout all of academia. Also, to continuously hear so many supposedly enlightened and ‘liberal’ people and pundits allude to Black history being part of, or “inextricably connected to” American history reveals a disconnect even in their ‘support,’ for their language speaks to a separation that shouldn’t exist.”

Wallace St. Clair,

Claremont Village

Abortion and physician assisted suicide measures opposed by Maryland Catholic Conference

The Maryland Catholic Conference is opposing measures being considered by the state’s lawmakers that run counter to the Church’s call to respect life from the moment of conception to natural death.

Maryland’s House and Senate are considering bills that would among other things enshrine abortion as a right guaranteed by the state’s constitution and legalize physician assisted suicide in the state.

A package of four “reproductive freedom” bills introduced Feb. 9 in the Maryland General Assembly that Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said would make the state “a safe haven for abortion access,” has been criticized by the MCC as unresponsive to the needs of women.

“Abortion bills being introduced by state legislators aren’t responding to the needs of Maryland women,” the MCC said in a statement. “Maryland women want support and they want individuals to hear their stories, understand their struggles and provide them with opportunities to achieve their dreams and raise their children.”

The four bills include:

• HB705/SB798 allowing for a ballot measure “to constitutionally enshrine the rights of Marylanders to reproductive freedom.” 

• HB808/SB859 protecting patients, abortion providers, and people supporting out-of-state patients seeking abortions in Maryland from criminal, civil, and administrative actions from “restrictive states.”

• HB477/SB341 requiring public higher education institutions to “develop reproductive health access plans to provide or refer for the full range of reproductive health and wrap-around support services” and would require campuses to provide 24-hour access to contraceptives. 

• HB812/SB786 providing privacy protections for medical records to reduce the risk of criminal prosecution or civil litigation for out-of-state patients seeking reproductive care in Maryland.  

At a Feb. 9 press conference in Annapolis announcing the four bills, Maryland House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones (D-District 10) said, “Enshrining reproductive rights in our constitution … not only underscores our commitment to protecting reproductive freedom but makes Maryland a safe haven for reproductive liberty.”   

In its statement, the MCC noted, “A proposed constitutional amendment that would enshrine abortion as a right, for example, would do absolutely nothing to change abortion availability because Maryland already has some of the most permissive abortion laws in the nation.”

The MCC statement also pointed out that “Maryland is one of very few states that has no mandated abortion reporting… We call upon leadership to support legislation that will track, at the minimum, the number of Maryland abortions, age of mother, weeks of pregnancy and type of abortion.”

The introduction of the bills in Maryland follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision last June that overturned Roe v. Wade and returned the determination of the legality of abortion to individual states.

The MCC noted that “abortion without alternatives is reproductive coercion.”

“National polling shows that a majority Latinas and African Americans support restrictions, not expansion, of abortion,” the statement said. “In a state where we rightfully are concerned about racial and economic inequities, we need to respond to these women and ensure that they have access to the basic necessities they need to survive and thrive, not pressure to abort due to economic, education and other circumstances.”

A measure (SB845) introduced in the Maryland Senate on Feb. 7 and another (HB933)

in the Maryland House would legalize physician assisted suicide in the state. Similar measures have been introduced – and failed – in previous sessions of the General Assembly.

“The proposal is the same dangerous, misguided policy that has failed repeatedly in Maryland,” said a statement by the group Maryland Against Physician Assisted Suicide.

Maryland Against Physician Assisted Suicide (MAPAS), a nonpartisan coalition of health care professionals, disability rights advocates, mental health professionals, advocates for seniors, and members of faith communities, including the MCC, was organized in opposition to legislation that would legalize physician-assisted suicide in Maryland.

“Physician-assisted suicide is a dangerous proposition for Maryland, and there is significant concern among the community of health professionals with the harmful implications of legalizing this unethical practice,” said MAPAS member Dr. Joseph Marine, professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

He said if passed, the bill “will damage trust between doctors and patients and harm the culture of caring that we strive for.”

“I am concerned that patients will gradually see assisted suicide evolve from a ‘choice’ into an expectation,” he said. “There is evidence that insurance companies have declined coverage of life-extending treatments for patients in states where PAS is legal and instead approved coverage for these cheaper, experimental, non-FDA approved drug overdoses that end a patient’s life.”

In addition to addressing those pro-life issues, the MCC will host a virtual town hall meeting on Monday, Feb. 13, at 6:30 p.m. on how to curb gun violence in Maryland. The town hall can be viewed live on Facebook and via www.mdcatholic.org/stopviolence.

Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori, State Sen. Jill P. Carter (D- District 41) and Del. Luke Clippinger (D-District 46) will be joined by Dr. Thomas M. Scalea, physician-in-chief, shock trauma, at the University of Maryland Medical Center, and Myles Hicks, deputy legislative officer for the Office of the Governor.

The panelists will discuss the impact gun violence is having on Maryland communities and how legislators are working with advocates and faith leaders to find meaningful solutions in Annapolis this legislative session.

The MCC is the public policy arm of the two Catholic archdioceses and one diocese that encompass the state – the Archdiocese of Baltimore; The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, which includes five Maryland counties surrounding the nation’s capital; and the Diocese of Wilmington, which includes counties on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

The Catholic Advocacy Network helps parishioners learn about the issues and provides an opportunity for constituents to be heard by their legislators, and last year, Maryland Catholics sent nearly 70,000 emails to lawmakers. Parishioners can join the Catholic Advocacy Network at mdcatholic.org/joincan; or texting MDCATHOLIC to 52886.

Maryland’s virtual Catholic Advocacy Day will be Feb. 15. The MCC will prepare alerts on critical issues. Visit mdcatholic.org/advocacyday for details.

Also, a March 2 rally for nonpublic schools – including Catholic schools, schools of other faith traditions and secular non-public schools – will be held in Annapolis. Participants will gather at the Knights of Columbus Hall at St. John Neumann Parish, and be bused to their legislators’ offices.

On March 9, a prayer vigil for life will be held at 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church near the capitol.

Business, ag groups call on state officials to help after Madera hospital closure

Madera Community Hospital

Photo of Madera Community Hospital’s emergency department by Breanna Hardy.

published on February 10, 2023 – 9:29 AM
Written by The Business Journal Staff

A coalition of local businesses and ag organizations are calling on state officials to address the ongoing public health crisis following the closure of Madera Community Hospital.

The message — the hospital’s closure has had negative ripple effects throughout a region long overlooked — is aimed at Gov. Gavin Newsom, Health Secretary Mark Ghaly, Attorney General Rob Bonta and others.

“State leaders have a responsibility to address these issues and supply the area with the resources necessary to ease the burden caused by the closure of the Madera Community Hospital,” said Ian LeMay, president of California Fresh Fruit Association in Fresno.

In a letter addressed to the governor, the coalition said the ongoing crisis means slow wait times, limited capacity and busy emergency departments

“As residents of Madera, Fresno, Tulare, Kings and Merced counties, business owners, public advocates, and concerned citizens, we implore your administration to assist in triaging this issue in partnership with our local hospital and rural clinic representatives,” the coalition wrote.

As the primary medical facility for Madera County for more than 50 years, Madera Community Hospital closure resulted in several hundred direct layoffs and leaves the county’s 130,000 residents without a primary medical care facility.

A majority of the county benefited from federally funded health coverage accepted at the hospital, including Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. The hospital offered the closest services for maternity health, emergency room and ambulatory services and served as the primary emergency provider to Valley State Prison in Chowchilla.

“The recent closure of MCH has not only impacted the lives and health of the residents of Madera County but also those residents in the adjacent counties of Fresno and Merced,” the coalition wrote. “These three counties, along with others in the San Joaquin Valley, have long been medically underserved. In addition to exacerbating an already limited continuum of care within the Valley, the closure of MCH also puts additional pressure on hospital employees. We are now asking these brave men and women to again rise to the occasion, after what we know has been a tedious and demanding three years of pandemic care.”

Data show the following local hospitals are already under duress:

  • Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno reports that it is at 119% of hospital capacity, with 68 patients on admittance hold
  •  
  • Saint Agnes Medical Center is at 100% of hospital capacity, with 45 patients on hold
  •  
  • Clovis Community is at 99% of hospital capacity, with 14 patients on hold
  •  
  • Kaiser Permanente Fresno Medical Center is at 110% of hospital capacity

According to the American Hospital Association, from 2010 and 2021, 136 rural hospitals closed. Out of these, 73 were complete closures and 63 were converted closures. Nineteen of these closures occurred in 2020, the most of any year over the last decade.

“As citizens, business owners and advocates, we express our immense collective concern regarding access to critical health care services for our families, employees, and neighbors,” the coalition wrote. “We join our local, state, and federal elected officials in calling on your administration to issue such orders or directives to State agencies as may be necessary to immediately alleviate the impacts associated with our region’s public health crisis.”

Businesses and organizations that make up the coalition are as follows:

  • African American Farmers of California
  • American Pistachio Growers
  • California Apple Commission
  • California Blueberry Association
  • California Blueberry Commission
  • California Citrus Mutual
  • California Cotton Ginner & Growers Association
  • California Farmworker Foundation
  • California Fresh Fruit Association
  • Central Valley Business Federation
  • Fresno Chamber of Commerce
  • Kings County Farm Bureau
  • Madera Chamber of Commerce
  • Madera County Farm Bureau
  • Merced County Farm Bureau
  • Milk Producers Council
  • Nisei Farmers League
  • Olive Growers Council of California
  • San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Alliance
  • Tulare County Farm Bureau
  • Western Agricultural Processors Association
  • Western Plant Health Association

Multiple Assembly members, senators, Congressmen, as well as supervisors for Fresno, Madera, and Merced counties are also expected to receive the letter.

Adding Insult to Injury, the Grammys ‘All Lives Matter’d a Prince Quote

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck at the 65th Grammy Awards in 2023

When the Grammys premiered on Sunday night, a couple of hot topics dominated the conversation. From Lizzo’s inspiring acceptance to speech to Sam Smith and Kim Petras’ performance to Ben Affleck’s sad expression, there were some definitive highlights of the night. Jennifer Lopez largely came into the public discourse due to Affleck’s expressions during the night and a clip of the two being caught arguing going viral. However, there was one moment involving Lopez that should’ve drawn some more attention.

Lopez was tapped to present the award for Best Pop Vocal Album, which ultimately went to Harry Styles for Harry’s House. The “Jenny From the Block” singer kept her presentation fairly brief. She noted that the music industry can, at times, feel like a “singles world.” Hence, she felt the Best Pop Vocal Album was especially important in celebrating “a body of musical work that tells a story through song.” She then went on to quote the legendary musician, Prince. She stated: “As the late, great Prince said in his last Grammy performance eight years ago: ‘Albums still matter.’”

However, it didn’t take long for some perceptive viewers to realize that the quote was shortened, and a very important part was cut off from it.

Let’s look at Prince’s original Black Lives Matter quote

Columnist Martine St-Victor shared a clip of the speech that Lopez was referencing of Prince at the Grammys. What Prince really said was: “Albums still matter, like books and Black lives, albums still matter.”

The quote was made at the Grammys in 2015, just two years after Black Lives Matter was first founded. Even in its formative years, Prince was advocating for the social movement, which isn’t surprising considering he spent much of his life fighting for social justice. It already isn’t a very classy approach to edit or shorten a quote from someone, but to do so when that quote gave recognition to something very important to the original speaker is an especially bad look.

Did the Grammy’s edit Prince’s quote?

While St-Victor’s post called out Lopez, the fault of the misquote may fall more on the Recording Academy. Of course, it is very easy to be critical of Lopez considering her history. Among her many controversies, she has used the offensive All Lives Matter phrase on social media, included racial slurs in her music (as well as other phrases bordering on offensive), called herself a “Black Girl” from the Bronx in one of her songs, and been accused of cultural appropriation. Hence, viewers wouldn’t really be surprised if she cut a quote from Prince.

However, many users pointed out that the Grammys was most likely behind it, as Lopez was likely just reading from a teleprompter. The Recording Academy being behind the editing of the quote is pretty believable, considering it has also had its fair share of accusations of racism. While the Grammys has been around for 65 years, in its entire history, only 11 Black artists have won the show’s most prestigious award, Album of the Year. The Grammys rarely awards its top honors to Black artists, instead often limiting their wins to specific categories like Best Rap Song or Best R&B Song. Artists like Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and Childish Gambino have even refused to perform at the Grammys in the past due to their history.

In 2019, in an attempt at greater diversity, the Grammys included a segment celebrating the 60th anniversary of Motown. This was anticipated to largely be a celebration of Black music history, considering that Motown was a record label that aided in the desegregation of Black artists in the music industry. While non-Black artists also signed onto Motown Records, many still weren’t impressed that the Grammys decided to have none other than Lopez lead the Motown tribute. Given its history, the editing of Prince’s quote wasn’t exactly surprising, but was still very disappointing and disrespectful, and raises the question of whether the Recording Academy has changed at all regarding its racism.

(featured image: Johnny Nunez, Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

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RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News – Arts & Entertainment

Celebrating diverse cultures and the future: Black Heritage Calendar Fest, 2023

In a month already filled with ways to honor Black history and history-makers, a local sorority annually toasts achievements past, present and future, too.

A crowd of 350 celebrated those memorable moments at the recent 21st Black Heritage Calendar Fest, hosted by the Melbourne-Palm Bay Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, at the Eau Gallie Civic Center.

Centered on the theme “Black Excellence: Celebrating Our Diverse Cultures,” the richly hued party offered an evening of African American art, history, music, dance, cultural experiences, and, “of course, soul food,” organizers said.

“The importance of this event cannot be overstated,” said Robin Rice, this year’s chairperson.

FLORIDA TODAY reporter Jeff Gallop, third from left, was honored with a Community Spotlight of Black Excellence Award at the 21st Black Heritage Calendar Fest, presented by the Melbourne-Palm Bay Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Pictured with Gallop, from left, are Hyla Plummer, Sandra Pelham, Kimberly Foxworth and Robin Rice. Also named as a Community Spotlight honoree was Benjamin Cain, founder and executive director of Ebony News Today.

“Our community, county, and country need more experiences like the Black Heritage Calendar Fest to highlight the achievements and diversity of the African diaspora.”

The evening’s exhibits and tributes, designed to reflect the diverse nature of the African American experience in America since 1619, touched on everything from historical figures such as poet James Baldwin, athlete Wilma Rudolph and former president Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama to the landmark Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision in 1954, Kwanzaa, Juneteenth and the Gullah culture.

Storied past; bright future

Now 120 years old, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., was founded by 22 women at Howard University to promote academic excellence. One of the world’s preeminent service-based sororities, it has more than 300,000 initiated members and over 1,000 chartered chapters around the globe.

More:Black History Month: Events on the Space Coast

The Melbourne-Palm Bay Alumnae Chapter, chartered in 1989 in Central and South Brevard County, focuses on Delta’s five major program areas:  economic development, educational development, international awareness and involvement, physical and mental health, and political awareness and involvement. The annual Heritage Fest was founded by chapter member Sandra Pelham.

The highlight of the evening, organizers said, was the recognition of the Community Spotlights of Black Excellence awarded to two individuals chosen for their service to Brevard County. 

Honored were Benjamin Cain, founder and executive director of EBONY NEWS TODAY, and J. D. Gallop, religion and criminal justice reporter for FLORIDA TODAY. 

Tieshia Alexander and Adrian Felton, along with Aria Ramos and Amiah Ramos, in front, celebrated with hundreds of others at the recent Black Heritage Calendar Fest, presented by the Melbourne-Palm Bay Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

The sorority’s work and the showcase of local history, talent and achievements is always appreciated and a learning experience for all ages, said Hyla Plummer, chapter president.

“Sometimes, they just don’t hear about all the history,” she said. “The night of the event, I talked about people who had received awards, and there were some who hadn’t heard of these people. (Local attorney) Alton Edmonds, for example, has just written his first book, and it’s available on Amazon … that’s a milestone.

“”We really try to capture different aspects of the history of our different cultures — different genres of music and more. Knowing our history, learning, is so important for young people and adults, too.”

Britt Kennerly is education/breaking news editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Kennerly at 321-917-4744 or bkennerly@floridatoday.comTwitter: @bybrittkennerly Facebook: /bybrittkennerly.

RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News – Arts & Entertainment

Which LeBron James would the NBA get as a team owner?

… for misogyny, sexism, and racism in any workplace”), two team … , the editor of Anti-Racism in Sport Organizations, a … Black people.  There are more Black American billionaires now than ever, … . James speaks out against racism and champions pro-Black causes … RankTribe™ Black Business Directory News