huffpost--2020-06-14--Blind Voters Fear Loss Of Privacy With Shift To Mail Voting

ATLANTA ( AP ) — Not that long ago , Ann Byington had to squeeze into a voting booth with a Republican poll watcher on one side and a Democrat on the other reading her voting choices out loud so her ballot could be marked for her and the selections verified .
But now , as election officials plan a major vote-by-mail expansion amid fears of voting in person during the coronavirus pandemic , Byington worries she is being left out .
When the presidential primary in Kansas was held entirely by mail last month , the 72-year-old Topeka resident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted to vote so he could fill out the ballot for her .
In this Monday , June 8 , 2020 , file photo , Dorothy Griffin , of Atlanta , poses for a portrait in Atlanta .
Blind voters like Griffin fear a loss of control over their ability to cast a ballot as election officials across the U.S. plan a major expansion of voting by mail amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Griffin requested an absentee ballot for Georgia ’ s primary Tuesday , but she gave up waiting for it and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the last day of early voting to avoid crowds on Election Day .
( AP Photo/Brynn Anderson ) In recent weeks , advocates for the blind have filed legal actions in Michigan , New York and Pennsylvania seeking access to systems already in place to deliver ballots electronically to military and overseas voters .
Blind voters could then use their own computers and assistive technology to read and complete their ballots themselves .
In this Wednesday , May 27 , 2020 , photo , Ann Byington stands next to the mail box @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Blind voters like Byington fear a loss of control over their ability to cast a ballot as election officials across the U.S. plan a major expansion of voting by mail amid the coronavirus pandemic .
( AP Photo/Orlin Wagner ) “ I really don ’ t have a good solution to offer .
We seem to have bad and worse , ” said Douglas W. Jones , a University of Iowa computer science professor .
“ The bad is accepting someone helping to mark your ballot .
And the worse is rushing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I don ’ t have any reason to trust at all.
” Griffin requested an absentee ballot for Georgia ’ s primary Tuesday , but she gave up waiting for it and decided to cast a ballot in person on the last day of early voting to avoid crowds on Election Day .
As president of the Georgia affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind , Griffin asked the state to provide electronic ballot delivery , but it wasn ’ t available .
“ I definitely did not want to go , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only choice because I didn ’ t receive my paper ballot , ” Griffin said .
“ I was happy I was able to vote independently .
But I was angry that I did not get my absentee ballot ahead of time even though I sent my request months ago.
” Much of the concern surrounding electronic ballots centers on how they are returned .
In some cases , these ballots must be printed by the voter and returned by mail or in person to a local election office .
But elsewhere these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fax and , in a small number of cases , via an online web portal to an election office for printing and counting .
In this May 28 , 2020 , photo , Tracy Carcione , a 59-year-old computer programmer who is blind , poses for a photograph at her home in Teaneck , N.J .
Blind voters fear a loss of control over their ability to cast a ballot as election officials across the U.S. plan a major expansion of voting by mail amid the coronavirus pandemic .
( AP Photo/Kathy Willens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were able to receive electronic ballots in recent elections through an in-house system that has since been retired in favor of the Democracy Live platform .
It will be used during a pilot program in the state ’ s July 7 presidential primary .

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ATLANTA (AP) — Not that long ago, Ann Byington had to squeeze into a voting booth with a Republican poll watcher on one side and a Democrat on the other reading her voting choices out loud so her ballot could be marked for her and the selections verified.
Blind since birth, Byington welcomed the rise in recent years of electronic voting machines equipped with technology that empowered her and others with disabilities to cast their ballots privately and independently.
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But now, as election officials plan a major vote-by-mail expansion amid fears of voting in person during the coronavirus pandemic, Byington worries she is being left out. When the presidential primary in Kansas was held entirely by mail last month, the 72-year-old Topeka resident had to tell her husband how she wanted to vote so he could fill out the ballot for her.
“I’m back to where we started,” Byington said. “I’ve lost all my freedom to be independent, to make sure it’s marked how I want it to be marked.”
In this Monday, June 8, 2020, file photo, Dorothy Griffin, of Atlanta, poses for a portrait in Atlanta. Blind voters like Griffin fear a loss of control over their ability to cast a ballot as election officials across the U.S. plan a major expansion of voting by mail amid the coronavirus pandemic. Griffin requested an absentee ballot for Georgia’s primary Tuesday, but she gave up waiting for it and decided to cast a ballot in person on the last day of early voting to avoid crowds on Election Day. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson) ASSOCIATED PRESS
In recent weeks, advocates for the blind have filed legal actions in Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania seeking access to systems already in place to deliver ballots electronically to military and overseas voters. Blind voters could then use their own computers and assistive technology to read and complete their ballots themselves.
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“This is about equality,” said Chris Danielsen with the National Federation of the Blind, one of the groups suing. “If a secret ballot is important to you, it’s important to a blind person, as well.”
Because of these efforts, all three states agreed to make electronic ballots available during the primaries to voters with disabilities, and more actions are likely before November.
In this Wednesday, May 27, 2020, photo, Ann Byington stands next to the mail box at her home in Topeka, Kan. Blind voters like Byington fear a loss of control over their ability to cast a ballot as election officials across the U.S. plan a major expansion of voting by mail amid the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner) ASSOCIATED PRESS
Voting technology experts have raised security concerns about such Internet-based voting systems. They also warn about implementing a new process so close to an election, risking the same sort of problems that derailed this year’s Iowa caucuses when a hastily developed mobile app failed.
“I really don’t have a good solution to offer. We seem to have bad and worse,” said Douglas W. Jones, a University of Iowa computer science professor. “The bad is accepting someone helping to mark your ballot. And the worse is rushing to put in totally untested technology that I don’t have any reason to trust at all.”
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Disability advocates said they have been calling on election officials for years to provide secure electronic absentee ballots. But only a small number of states have done so.
An estimated 7 million adults in the U.S. have a visual disability, and advocates worry that some might choose to skip voting altogether this year rather than risk catching the virus or having their ballot privacy compromised.
In Atlanta, Dorothy Griffin typically relies on ride-share to get to her polling place. A diabetic, she worries about catching the coronavirus while waiting in a crowded polling place.
Griffin requested an absentee ballot for Georgia’s primary Tuesday, but she gave up waiting for it and decided to cast a ballot in person on the last day of early voting to avoid crowds on Election Day. As president of the Georgia affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind, Griffin asked the state to provide electronic ballot delivery, but it wasn’t available.
“I definitely did not want to go, but I felt like it was my only choice because I didn’t receive my paper ballot,” Griffin said. “I was happy I was able to vote independently. But I was angry that I did not get my absentee ballot ahead of time even though I sent my request months ago.”
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Much of the concern surrounding electronic ballots centers on how they are returned. In some cases, these ballots must be printed by the voter and returned by mail or in person to a local election office. But elsewhere these ballots can be returned by email or fax and, in a small number of cases, via an online web portal to an election office for printing and counting.
In a memo to election officials, four federal agencies, including the FBI, assessed the risk of sending ballots electronically to be low but found allowing such ballots to be returned electronically was a high risk.
In this May 28, 2020, photo, Tracy Carcione, a 59-year-old computer programmer who is blind, poses for a photograph at her home in Teaneck, N.J. Blind voters fear a loss of control over their ability to cast a ballot as election officials across the U.S. plan a major expansion of voting by mail amid the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens) ASSOCIATED PRESS
When Tracy Carcione heard her local election in Teaneck, New Jersey, on May 12 would be conducted entirely by mail, she thought to herself: “How the heck am I going to do that?”
Then Carcione, a 59-year-old computer programmer, learned her county was offering blind voters the option to receive ballots electronically under a pilot program. After receiving an email with a link and PIN number, Carcione went to a website where she signed an affidavit stating she was blind and gained access to an electronic ballot.
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She used a computer program for reading news stories and filling out forms to put a mark next to each candidate she supported. After emailing her completed ballot, her local elections office printed it out for tallying on election day.
“It was all very clear and easy,” Carcione said. “And, if I had the option, I would do it again.”
But the option won’t be available for the July 7 statewide primary. New Jersey election officials said they determined the system wasn’t needed because some in-person voting would be available.
Carcione is not sure whether she will brave a polling place or not. She is leery of taking a taxi if the polling place is across town and of waiting in a long line.
“It’s not a great choice,” Carcione said. “I might take my chances and hope that my neighbor is the decent person I think she is.”
For its pilot program, New Jersey worked with Democracy Live, a Seattle-based technology firm that works with election offices in several states, including California, Texas, Ohio and Florida to provide electronic ballots to military and overseas voters.
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In Delaware, voters with disabilities were able to receive electronic ballots in recent elections through an in-house system that has since been retired in favor of the Democracy Live platform. It will be used during a pilot program in the state’s July 7 presidential primary.
Delaware elections Commissioner Anthony Albence said officials are monitoring it closely to ensure security. Bryan Finney, president of Democracy Live, said the company has worked with outside firms to conduct security reviews and wants to engage researchers on improving its platform.
“This is America; we can do this,” Finney said. “The alternative is to continue disenfranchising millions of voters both domestically and abroad because we haven’t focused on actually solving the problem.”
Earlier this year in West Virginia, lawmakers expanded electronic ballot delivery to voters with a physical disability. Secretary of State Mac Warner advocated for the law, saying it was important to ensure no voter is disenfranchised.
“There are security concerns, but the likelihood of that happening is rather remote,” he said. “And it gets to a risk-reward benefit. The reward is getting people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to vote.”
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huffpost--2020-06-07--The Best Shows To Watch On Netflix In June 2020

Premise : In this comedy-drama co-created by Ryan Murphy , a rich young man fresh out of high school runs for New York State Senate against a vulnerable incumbent .
The man , Payton Hobart , enlists his intense campaign staff from his failed bid for high school president to help him win the race .
He and his team have meteoric ambition and near-unlimited resources .
Their main challenge : getting anybody to like them .
The camera cuts to someone walking toward a door with a campaign poster that reads , “ Hobart for State Senate.
” Through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign staff discuss strategy .
The campaign hasn ’ t been going well .
Hobart knocks a watercooler to the ground .
Nobody stops the tank from leaking water all over the floor .
Another new show I must point out : Netflix highlights from earlier in the month : Premise : In this medical docu-series , the cameras follow various professionals at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan .
The story mostly focuses on four individuals whose specialties include neurology , obstetrics , gynecology and emergency medicine .
The series wrapped filming in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in New York City .
Still , the show offers insight into the inner workings of a place that has become a focal point of the news in just the last couple of months .
How it starts : The first thing on the screen is a note from the producers : After a few seconds , the show cuts to a close-up of a patient ’ s wet , shampooed hair as doctors pour water over the hair and comb it out .
Premise : In this animated comedy , a depressed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for his suburban family and feeling that they hold him back from happiness .
The “ comedy ” in this dark subject matter comes from the lead character ’ s clown-like failures and general commentary on the 1970s American experience .
Comedian Bill Burr voices the protagonist and co-created the series , which is loosely based on his childhood .
Burr also stars in the new Judd Apatow movie , “ The King of Staten Island , ” so you could have a Burr-filled weekend .
How it starts : Autumn leaves fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ magazine cover of a publication called “ Prison TV Digest.
” A prisoner reads the magazine with a slight smile on her face .
Premise : In this reality makeover show , five gay men help people improve their lives through self-love and physical improvements in such areas as fashion and home design .
Earlier seasons of “ Queer Eye ” featured the crew making over lives in the American South , including an element of combating prejudice against the LGBTQ community .
This season heads north to Philadelphia , which has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ starts : Elton John ’ s “ Philadelphia Freedom ” plays over an establishing shot of Philadelphia .
After showing a couple of city landmarks , the camera finds Karamo Brown dancing with a mop in a beautiful room with big windows and wood floors .
In a montage , the cast members dance while cleaning and preparing different facets of this space ― their headquarters for the season .
All the shows that have joined Netflix this month so far :

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Netflix/"Crazy Delicious" Carla Hall in "Crazy Delicious."
The new show on Netflix:
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Premise: In this cooking competition, skilled cooks “forage” for ingredients amid an edible set that looks like a forest straight out of “Alice in Wonderland.” They end up making surprising yet beautiful dishes using the props.
In taste and presentation, the competitors work to create innovative meals. The goal is definitely to make something “crazy” as the name suggests. The show prioritizes quirky, colorful style similar to another recent Netflix competition series, “The Big Flower Fight.”
Beyond glory, the prize is a “golden apple” hanging from a tree on the set.
Setting: A “magical, edible world”
Netflix descriptors: “Offbeat”
Netflix/"Crazy Delicious" Jayde Adams in the opening scene of "Crazy Delicious."
How it starts: The host, Jayde Adams, stands on the magical garden set holding a watering can. She turns to the camera and does that well-worn joke of being “caught” by the audience.
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“Oh, hey,” Adams says. “You caught me in the middle of some watering.” She brings the nozzle of the watering can to her mouth and takes a bite, revealing it is an edible creation. Then narration explains that much of the magical garden is edible.
Notable cast: Jayde Adams, Heston Blumenthal, Niklas Ekstedt and Carla Hall
Runtime: Six episodes of roughly 45 minutes
Bonus: Jayde Adams is a famous British comedian. Here’s a short standup bit she did about Sir Isaac Newton and Kim Kardashian.
Netflix highlights from earlier in the month:
Premise: In this comedy-drama co-created by Ryan Murphy, a rich young man fresh out of high school runs for the New York State Senate against a vulnerable incumbent. Payton Hobart enlists his intense campaign staff from his failed bid for high school president to help him win the race.
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He and his team have meteoric ambition and near-unlimited resources. Their main challenge: getting anybody to like them.
Setting: Contemporary New York City
Netflix descriptors: “Quirky” and “irreverent”
Netflix/"The Politician" The opening shot of the second season of "The Politician."
How it starts: The second season begins with an overhead establishing shot of Manhattan and the Empire State Building.
The camera cuts to someone walking toward a door with a campaign poster that reads, “Hobart for State Senate.” Through the door, Hobart and his staff discuss strategy. The campaign hasn’t been going well. Hobart knocks a watercooler to the ground. Nobody stops the tank from leaking water all over the floor.
Notable cast: Zoey Deutch, Judith Light, Bette Midler, Gwyneth Paltrow and Ben Platt
Runtime: Seven episodes of roughly 40 minutes
Bonus: Atlantic Records released a soundtrack from the first season featuring Ben Platt singing various songs. Below he sings “River.”
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Premise: In this medical docu-series, the cameras follow various professionals at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan. The story mostly focuses on four individuals whose specialties are neurology, obstetrics and gynecology, and emergency medicine.
The series wrapped filming in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic hit New York City. Still, the show offers insight into the inner workings of a place that has become a focal point of more recent news.
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Setting: Manhattan
Netflix descriptors: “Understated,” “intimate” and “emotional”
Netflix/"Lenox Hill" The opening scene of "Lenox Hill."
How it starts: The first thing on the screen is a note from the producers:
The producers care deeply about the safety and privacy of all involved with this program. All patients appearing in the program have provided consent to participate and to disclose their health information.
The camera then pans slowly across Manhattan in a series of establishing shots. After a few seconds, it cuts to a close-up of a patient’s shampooed hair as doctors pour water over the hair and comb it out.
Runtime: Eight episodes of roughly 50 minutes
Bonus: Lenox Hill released a separate informational video about its staff without Netflix’s help.
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Premise: In this animated comedy, a depressed father with anger issues oscillates between love for his suburban family and the feeling that they’re holding him back from happiness. The “comedy” in the dark subject matter comes from the lead character’s clown-like failures and general commentary on the 1970s American experience.
Comedian Bill Burr voices the protagonist and co-created the series, which is loosely based on his childhood. Burr also stars in the new Judd Apatow movie, “The King of Staten Island,” so you could have a Burr-filled weekend.
Setting: Mid-1970s American town
Netflix descriptors: “Cynical” and “raunchy”
Netflix/"F Is for Family" The opening scene in the fourth season of "F Is for Family."
How it starts: Autumn leaves fall across the screen and morph into the cover of a publication called “Prison TV Digest.” A prisoner reads the magazine with a slight smile on her face.
The camera pulls back to show two inmates attacking a guard just outside the reader’s cell.
Notable cast: Jonathan Banks, Bill Burr, Mo Collins, Laura Dern, Debi Derryberry, Justin Long, Haley Reinhart and Sam Rockwell
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Runtime: 10 episodes of roughly 30 minutes
Bonus: Netflix released an additional teaser for the new season that features Banks’ character.
“Patriot Act With Hasan Minhaj” (Volume 6, New Episodes Weekly, Netflix Original)
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Premise: In this reality makeover show, five gay men help people improve their lives through self-love and physical improvements in such areas as fashion and home design.
Earlier seasons of “Queer Eye” featured the crew making over lives in the American South, including an element of combating prejudice against the LGBTQ community. This season heads north to Philadelphia, which has a famously robust gay culture.
The rebooted series has won seven Emmys and earned 10 total nominations.
Setting: Philadelphia
Netflix descriptors: “Heartfelt” and “irreverent”
Netflix/"Queer Eye" The opening shot of "Queer Eye," Season 5.
How it starts: Elton John’s “Philadelphia Freedom” plays over an establishing shot of Philadelphia. After showing a couple of city landmarks, the camera finds Karamo Brown dancing with a mop in a beautiful room with big windows and wood floors. In a montage, the cast members dance while cleaning and preparing different facets of this space ― their headquarters for the season.
Notable cast: Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown, Tan France, Antoni Porowski and Jonathan Van Ness
Runtime: The fifth season runs 10 episodes of roughly 50 minutes.
Bonus: MTV made a reaction video of Brown watching old footage from the season when he was a cast member on “The Real World: Philadelphia,” which aired in 2004 and 2005. The video features “The Real World” clips of cops harassing Brown and a white cast member telling him to calm down.
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All the shows that have joined Netflix this month so far:
June 1


huffpost--2020-06-14--3 Questions White Students Should Ask Themselves Before Checking In On Black Classmates

Fast forward eight months and a large portion of my Columbia peers in the School of the Arts are now posting daily about the 2020 killings of Breonna Taylor , Ahmaud Arbery , and George Floyd .
People who have spoken over me in class , outright called me aggressive , and vilified me in their “ all-white group texts , ” now “ care ” for Black people , along with the rest of mainstream America , as the biggest companies in the world scramble to craft brand statements in response to # BlackLivesMatter .
“ This is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the mainstream coverage of police brutality that I ’ ve heard in response to the spotlight on high-profile cases like Sandra Bland ( 2015 ) , Philando Castile ( 2016 ) , and Renisha McBride ( 2013 ) over the years .
The assertion that America is not a place where countless numbers of Black lives can be taken without just cause and with no accountability is an assertion of the privileged .
America is the powerhouse she is today because of her marriage to Black exploitation and indigenous genocide in her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with America ’ s anti-blackness since our childhoods , so while this may be a new topic for you , know that it is the first hurdle of our mornings every day as we prepare to leave our homes .
With this , it is important to accept that your allyship may be too late in the minds of some of your classmates and your check-in may be viewed as opportunistic and an act inspired by white-guilt .
Allyship is bigger than sending a text during quarantine .
Part of the reason why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I know have trouble believing the sincerity of many of their white classmates ’ check-ins stems from the fact that they are coming from people who have watched them be maligned in person , to which no objections were made .
More often than not , from the testimonies of my Black peers and my own personal experience , white people rarely stand up for us in the classroom .
Interrogate yourself about your allyship .
Is it new or do you regularly stand up for the Black people around you ?
Know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a source of distrust or resentment held by your Black classmates and hearing from you right now could twice-traumatize them .
The hardest question of all requires you , as a white person , to relinquish the power Western society and beyond has given you since birth over Black bodies .
For a moment , stop thinking of your Black classmate as a part of a collective that tragedies happen to and recognize that they still are an individual with hopes , dreams , opinions and a mind of their own .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ likes you or if you have any kind of personal relationship with them .
Have they texted you about good news in their life ?
Have they invited you out for person-to-person conversations in which you discussed your favorite foods , bands , or books ?
Do you know about their family life ?
Are you aware of how COVID-19 may have impacted their communities ?
Have they spent any time with you , alone , outside of the classroom ever ?
If not , then I would like you to truly consider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their texts , life , and mind during a time like this .
The world may be crumbling in your Black classmates ’ mind , so hearing from and feeling the need to respond to a person they don ’ t care for could add an additional level of stress .
I encourage you to consider what the true needs of your Black classmates are at this moment .
Are you truly needed in their space via text ?
If you still think so after answering my questions , please check-in on them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not have to respond in your message , but provide an open channel of communication .
Be prepared for any response possible , whether it be anger , frustration , or silence .
Do not center yourself in your message .
Put them first in the check-in ― and for the rest of your life .
Devon Kidd is a current MFA Playwright of Columba University ( ’ 21 ) based in New York , with aspirations of establishing his voice in various entertainment mediums including playwriting , television , and film .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and realist works in fantasy , sci-fi , comedy , and drama , Devon possesses the ability to succeed in numerous genres while maintaining an artistic lens informed by the Black American experience .
Before attending Columbia , Devon worked in a plethora of fields including politics , law , marketing , and community outreach , which has greatly influenced the breadth of his creative voice .
He graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2016 from the HBCU Morehouse College with a Bachelor ’ s Degree in English .

Mike Hewitt via Getty Images
“What’s your name, where are you from, and what’s your funniest arrest or police story?”
In my Master’s of Fine Arts Play Rewriting Class at Columbia University last semester, guest speakers were often asked by my professor to pose an ice-breaker to accompany introductions. In prior sessions guests asked questions like, “What is your favorite meal?” or “Who are your playwriting inspirations?” to which I always had a lot to say.
But that question on that day immediately felt different as it echoed throughout my twenty-five-year-old Black male mind.
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“Come on! What’s your craziest police story? I want to hear the wild ones,” posed the white female guest lecturer to our group of nine playwrights.
I am the only Black male playwright of the 2021 graduating year; there is one Black woman, and everyone else is white or white-passing. I wrestled with what to say to this seemingly nice and socially aware individual (the play we studied for her visit examines stereotypes women face in media representation).
Do I talk about how my heart stops every time I see a cop car on the road? I wondered. No. Not entertaining.
Do I talk about the day the police interrogated me, without any sense of compassion, about my grandfather’s death as he laid on our living room floor motionless after finally succumbing to stage four lung cancer once my panic-given CPR failed to save his life? Absolutely not. Too traumatic.
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I dug deep within the cobwebbed-covered file cabinets of my mind to find a cute interaction with law enforcement, but all I found were tales of police harassment, fear-inducing traffic stops, and discrimination.
However, over the mental ruffling of papers and diary entrees that occurred in my own mind, my ears picked up on the laughter of my classmates. I stopped and listened.
Over the next 20 minutes, I heard my classmates describe stories that I could not fathom ever doing and living to retell as a Black person.
The truth is, life has bombarded me with stories of Black death ad nauseam in recent years.
“Over the next 20 minutes, I heard my classmates describe stories that I could not fathom ever doing and living to retell as a Black person.The truth is, life has bombarded me with stories of Black death ad nauseam in recent years.”
I watched the world fail to deliver justice to the family of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in 2012 after he was fatally shot by George Zimmerman, spawning the #BlackLivesMatter Movement in 2013.
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I felt the fear of Black mothers everywhere when 12-year-old Tamir Rice’s killing made national news after Cleveland police officer Timothy Loehmann fatally shot the boy in 2014 because the youth dared to play with a toy gun in a public park.
And I heard Eric Garner’s infamous last words, “I can’t breathe,” as New York Police Officer Daniel Pantaleo placed him in a fatal chokehold in 2014.
By the time I was 20, America had conditioned me to accept that the public display and criminalization of dead Black male bodies at the hands of white authority, whether police or vigilante, remained mainstream and almost always unpunishable seven decades after the murder of Emmett Till in 1955.
As I sat and listened to my classmates’ “hilarious” stories, I could not help but wonder if Martin, Rice, Garner, and Till would be alive today if they had skin that resembled my classmates instead of the skin that I see when I look in the mirror. But I already knew the answer to that question.
Finally, the time had come and it was my turn to answer the ice-breaker.
“I’ve never interacted with the police alone,” I said.
I did not have the energy to talk about how triggering the question was or how tone-deaf the resulting conversation had become. I just laughed it off, hoping that we could move on together.
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No one cared that the question sent me into a deep mental spiral. No one checked-in on me after class or during the weeks that followed. I was not surprised, for my entire Columbia experience had already been filled with microaggressions and silencing.
Fast forward eight months and a large portion of my Columbia peers in the School of the Arts are now posting daily about the 2020 killings of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd. People who have spoken over me in class, outright called me aggressive, and vilified me in their “all-white group texts,” now “care” for Black people, along with the rest of mainstream America, as the biggest companies in the world scramble to craft brand statements in response to #BlackLivesMatter.
With that sudden burst of care, (which, I am not suggesting is artificial, but I do believe is convenient) has also come “the check-in” spurred by memes like, “Have you checked-in on your Black friends today?” and “white people ― text your Black friends, we are hurting.”
In short, “check-ins,” at their purest, are attempts to make sure a person is okay mentally, which honestly, hold the potential to be great. However, such outreach does not automatically erase the history that white students have built with their Black classmates over the past semester, months, or years.
As a Black student who attended both the Historical Black College and University (HBCU) Morehouse College, is a current student at Columbia, an Ivy League institution, co-founded “Zoomfest: The Theatrical Podcast,” (along with Latinx Producing Student Sean Chia), which celebrates POC, queer, and femme stories, and a panelist for Black and Ivy, a panel discussion series on the Black Ivy League experience founded by Kristen Spencer, the black female playwright in my year, I have encountered white oppression, analyzed its trappings, and uplifted the voices of people who have been stifled by it.
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Therefore, I present three questions I think white students should ask themselves before reaching out to their Black classmates in response to the headlines of racial injustice that have dominated the news cycle in recent weeks. I hope you will answer honestly and critically.
1. Have you ever had a conversation with your Black classmate about America’s history of anti-blackness before the killing of George Floyd?
“This is not America,” is a common response to the mainstream coverage of police brutality that I’ve heard in response to the spotlight on high-profile cases like Sandra Bland (2015), Philando Castile (2016), and Renisha McBride (2013) over the years. The assertion that America is not a place where countless numbers of Black lives can be taken without just cause and with no accountability is an assertion of the privileged. America is the powerhouse she is today because of her marriage to Black exploitation and indigenous genocide in her formative years. Black students have wrestled with America’s anti-blackness since our childhoods, so while this may be a new topic for you, know that it is the first hurdle of our mornings every day as we prepare to leave our homes. With this, it is important to accept that your allyship may be too late in the minds of some of your classmates and your check-in may be viewed as opportunistic and an act inspired by white-guilt.
2. Have you ever witnessed your Black classmate experience possible racism/micro-aggressions in the classroom, and if so, what did you do to stop it?
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Allyship is bigger than sending a text during quarantine. Part of the reason why the dozens upon dozens of Black students I know have trouble believing the sincerity of many of their white classmates’ check-ins stems from the fact that they are coming from people who have watched them be maligned in person, to which no objections were made. More often than not, from the testimonies of my Black peers and my own personal experience, white people rarely stand up for us in the classroom. Interrogate yourself about your allyship. Is it new or do you regularly stand up for the Black people around you? Know that your previous instances of silence may be a source of distrust or resentment held by your Black classmates and hearing from you right now could twice-traumatize them.
3. Does your Black classmate like you?
The hardest question of all requires you, as a white person, to relinquish the power Western society and beyond has given you since birth over Black bodies. For a moment, stop thinking of your Black classmate as a part of a collective that tragedies happen to and recognize that they still are an individual with hopes, dreams, opinions and a mind of their own. Honestly ask yourself if your Black classmate likes you or if you have any kind of personal relationship with them. Have they texted you about good news in their life? Have they invited you out for person-to-person conversations in which you discussed your favorite foods, bands, or books? Do you know about their family life? Are you aware of how COVID-19 may have impacted their communities? Have they spent any time with you, alone, outside of the classroom ever? If not, then I would like you to truly consider if your classmate would want you in their texts, life, and mind during a time like this. The world may be crumbling in your Black classmates’ mind, so hearing from and feeling the need to respond to a person they don’t care for could add an additional level of stress.
“I would like you to truly consider if your classmate would want you in their texts, life, and mind during a time like this. The world may be crumbling in your Black classmates’ mind, so hearing from and feeling the need to respond to a person they don’t care for could add an additional level of stress.”
The world is at war with its history at the moment. We, as members of the global community, are experiencing a consistent cycle of traumas that replicates the traumas our eldest ancestors have felt. Pandemics are not new. Wars among leaders are not new. Unfortunately, Black death is not new either.
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I encourage you to consider what the true needs of your Black classmates are at this moment. Are you truly needed in their space via text? If you still think so after answering my questions, please check-in on them. Let them know that they do not have to respond in your message, but provide an open channel of communication. Be prepared for any response possible, whether it be anger, frustration, or silence. Do not center yourself in your message. Put them first in the check-in ― and for the rest of your life.
And to those of you that may now realize that your presence might not be needed by your Black classmates right now, thank you. It is a step in the right direction for true allyship in the quest for Black agency.
I encourage you to take these questions with you for the rest of your life and let them be the foundation on which you occupy space with Black people. Do not let your care, concern, and commitment to marginalized communities be reactive. Be proactive going forward and never again wait for social media to tell you when to stand up.
Devon Kidd is a current MFA Playwright of Columba University (’21) based in New York, with aspirations of establishing his voice in various entertainment mediums including playwriting, television, and film. With a passion for writing both surrealist and realist works in fantasy, sci-fi, comedy, and drama, Devon possesses the ability to succeed in numerous genres while maintaining an artistic lens informed by the Black American experience. Before attending Columbia, Devon worked in a plethora of fields including politics, law, marketing, and community outreach, which has greatly influenced the breadth of his creative voice. He graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2016 from the HBCU Morehouse College with a Bachelor’s Degree in English.
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huffpost--2020-03-19--Senator Dumped Up to $1.6 Million of Stock After Reassuring Public About Coronavirus Preparedness

Soon after he offered public assurances that the government was ready to battle the coronavirus , the powerful chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee , Richard Burr , sold off a significant percentage of his stocks , unloading between $ 582,029 and $ 1.56 million of his holdings on Feb. 13 in 29 separate transactions .
As the head of the intelligence committee , Burr , a North Carolina Republican , has access to the government ’ s most highly classified information about threats to America ’ s security .
His committee was receiving daily coronavirus briefings around this time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ On Thursday , Burr came under fire after NPR obtained a secret recording from Feb. 27 , in which the lawmaker gave a VIP group at an exclusive social club a much more dire preview of the economic impact of the coronavirus than what he had told the public .
“ Senator Burr filed a financial disclosure form for personal transactions made several weeks before the U.S. and financial markets showed signs of volatility due to the growing coronavirus outbreak , ” his spokesperson said .
“ As the situation continues to evolve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the steep and sudden toll this pandemic is taking on our economy.
” Burr is not a particularly wealthy member of the Senate : Roll Call estimated his net worth at $ 1.7 million in 2018 , indicating that the February sales significantly shaped his financial fortunes and spared him from some of the pain that many Americans are now facing .
He was one of the authors of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act , which shapes the nation ’ s response to public health threats like the coronavirus .
Burr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ requests for comment about what sort of briefing materials , if any , on the coronavirus threat Burr may have seen as chair of the intelligence committee before his selling spree .
According to the NPR report , Burr told attendees of the luncheon held at the Capitol Hill Club : “ There ’ s one thing that I can tell you about this : It is much more aggressive in its transmission than anything that we have seen in recent history ...
It is probably more akin to the 1918 pandemic.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ curtail their employees ’ travel , that schools could close and that the military might be mobilized to compensate for overwhelmed hospitals .
The luncheon was organized by the Tar Heel Circle , a club for businesses and organizations in North Carolina that are charged up to $ 10,000 for membership and are promised “ interaction with top leaders and staff from Congress , the administration , and the private sector.
” Burr ’ s public comments had been considerably less dire .
In a Feb. 7 op-ed that he co-authored with another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ the United States today is better prepared than ever before to face emerging public health threats , like the coronavirus.
” He wrote , “ No matter the outbreak or threat , Congress and the federal government have been vigilant in identifying gaps in its readiness efforts and improving its response capabilities.
” Burr was one of just three senators who in 2012 opposed the bill that explicitly barred lawmakers and their staff from using nonpublic information for trades and required regular disclosure of those trades .
In opposing the bill , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trading laws already applied to members of Congress .
President Barack Obama signed the bill , known as the STOCK Act , that year .
Stock transactions of lawmakers are reported in ranges .
Burr ’ s Feb. 13 selling spree was his largest stock selling day of at least the past 14 months , according to a ProPublica review of Senate records .
Unlike his typical disclosure reports , which are a mix of sales and purchases , all of the transactions were sales .
His biggest sales included companies that are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slowdown .
He dumped up to $ 150,000 worth of shares of Wyndham Hotels and Resorts , a chain based in the United States that has lost two-thirds of its value .
And he sold up to $ 100,000 of shares of Extended Stay America , an economy hospitality chain .
Shares of that company are now worth less than half of what they did at the time Burr sold .

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Soon after he offered public assurances that the government was ready to battle the coronavirus, the powerful chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Richard Burr, sold off a significant percentage of his stocks, unloading between $582,029 and $1.56 million of his holdings on Feb. 13 in 29 separate transactions.
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As the head of the intelligence committee, Burr, a North Carolina Republican, has access to the government’s most highly classified information about threats to America’s security. His committee was receiving daily coronavirus briefings around this time, according to a Reuters story.
A week after Burr’s sales, the stock market began a sharp decline and has lost about 30% since.
On Thursday, Burr came under fire after NPR obtained a secret recording from Feb. 27, in which the lawmaker gave a VIP group at an exclusive social club a much more dire preview of the economic impact of the coronavirus than what he had told the public.
“Senator Burr filed a financial disclosure form for personal transactions made several weeks before the U.S. and financial markets showed signs of volatility due to the growing coronavirus outbreak,” his spokesperson said. “As the situation continues to evolve daily, he has been deeply concerned by the steep and sudden toll this pandemic is taking on our economy.”
Burr is not a particularly wealthy member of the Senate: Roll Call estimated his net worth at $1.7 million in 2018, indicating that the February sales significantly shaped his financial fortunes and spared him from some of the pain that many Americans are now facing.
Advertisement
He was one of the authors of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act, which shapes the nation’s response to public health threats like the coronavirus. Burr’s office did not respond to requests for comment about what sort of briefing materials, if any, on the coronavirus threat Burr may have seen as chair of the intelligence committee before his selling spree.
According to the NPR report, Burr told attendees of the luncheon held at the Capitol Hill Club: “There’s one thing that I can tell you about this: It is much more aggressive in its transmission than anything that we have seen in recent history ... It is probably more akin to the 1918 pandemic.”
He warned that companies might have to curtail their employees’ travel, that schools could close and that the military might be mobilized to compensate for overwhelmed hospitals.
The luncheon was organized by the Tar Heel Circle, a club for businesses and organizations in North Carolina that are charged up to $10,000 for membership and are promised “interaction with top leaders and staff from Congress, the administration, and the private sector.”
Burr’s public comments had been considerably less dire. In a Feb. 7 op-ed that he co-authored with another senator, he assured the public that “the United States today is better prepared than ever before to face emerging public health threats, like the coronavirus.” He wrote, “No matter the outbreak or threat, Congress and the federal government have been vigilant in identifying gaps in its readiness efforts and improving its response capabilities.”
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Members of Congress are required by law to disclose their securities transactions.
Burr was one of just three senators who in 2012 opposed the bill that explicitly barred lawmakers and their staff from using nonpublic information for trades and required regular disclosure of those trades. In opposing the bill, Burr argued at the time that insider trading laws already applied to members of Congress. President Barack Obama signed the bill, known as the STOCK Act, that year.
Stock transactions of lawmakers are reported in ranges. Burr’s Feb. 13 selling spree was his largest stock selling day of at least the past 14 months, according to a ProPublica review of Senate records. Unlike his typical disclosure reports, which are a mix of sales and purchases, all of the transactions were sales.
His biggest sales included companies that are among the most vulnerable to an economic slowdown. He dumped up to $150,000 worth of shares of Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, a chain based in the United States that has lost two-thirds of its value. And he sold up to $100,000 of shares of Extended Stay America, an economy hospitality chain. Shares of that company are now worth less than half of what they did at the time Burr sold.
The assets come from accounts that are held by Burr, belong to his spouse or are jointly held.
Do you have access to information about the coming corporate and economic bailouts that should be public? Email Robert at robert.faturechi@propublica.org or reach him on Signal/WhatsApp at 213-271-7217. Here’s how to send tips and documents to ProPublica securely.


huffpost--2020-02-14--More Than 1,700 Chinese Health Workers Infected By Virus, 6 Die

BEIJING ( AP ) — More than 1,700 Chinese medical workers have been infected by the new virus that has killed nearly 1,400 people and spread to other parts of Asia and as far as the U.S. and Europe , a senior Chinese official announced Friday .
The health commission is “ highly concerned about this issue ” and has issued guidelines for the prevention and control of infection within medical institutions , he said .
The commission also reported another sizable rise in the number of infections as a result of a new way of counting adopted by Hebei @ @ @ @ @ @ @ province is now including cases based on a physician ’ s diagnosis before they have been confirmed by lab tests .
Of the 5,090 new cases , 3,095 fell into that category .
The acceleration in the number of cases does not necessarily represent a sudden surge in new infections of the virus that causes COVID-19 as much as the revised methodology .
The health commission has said that the change was aimed at identifying suspected cases so they can be treated more quickly , though experts also saw it as a reflection @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the struggle to keep up with a backlog of untested samples in Hubei and its capital , Wuhan , where the disease first surfaced in December .
One flight brought 247 people back on Feb. 4 .
Three were not on a passenger list that Taiwan gave to Chinese authorities and one tested positive for the virus , Taiwan ’ s Central News Agency has reported .
China ’ s Taiwan Affairs Office accused Taiwan on Wednesday of “ using all kinds of excuses to obstruct and delay ” flights .
China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ territory rather than an independent state .
Elsewhere , Japan confirmed seven more cases , a day after it reported its first death from the virus .
Japan now has 258 confirmed cases , including 218 from a cruise ship , the Diamond Princess , that has been quarantined in Yokohama .
Health officials allowed 11 elderly passengers to leave the ship on Friday after they tested negative for the virus .
They are the first group of dozens of older passengers expected to get off the vessel before their 14-day quarantine period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their health deteriorating .
Japanese Health Minister Katsunobu Kato on Thursday said passengers age 80 or older with chronic health issues or in cabins without windows that can open will be able to leave the ship if they pass the virus test .
More than 580 cases have been confirmed outside mainland China and three deaths , one each in the Philippines and Hong Kong and now a Japanese woman in her 80s .
Health officials are investigating how she got infected .
In an unprecedented attempt to contain the disease , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cities — home to more than 60 million — under lockdown .
People are restricted from entering or leaving the cities , and in many places can only leave their homes or residential complexes for shopping and other daily needs .

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BEIJING (AP) — More than 1,700 Chinese medical workers have been infected by the new virus that has killed nearly 1,400 people and spread to other parts of Asia and as far as the U.S. and Europe, a senior Chinese official announced Friday.
Six of the workers have died, Zeng Yixin, vice director of the National Health Commission, said at a news conference.
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The health commission is “highly concerned about this issue” and has issued guidelines for the prevention and control of infection within medical institutions, he said.
Medical workers account for about 3.8% of confirmed cases as of several days ago, Zeng said.
The commission also reported another sizable rise in the number of infections as a result of a new way of counting adopted by Hebei province, the hardest-hit area.
Confirmed cases in mainland China rose to 63,851 by the end of Thursday, up 5,090 from the previous day. The death toll rose 121 to 1,380.
Hubei province is now including cases based on a physician’s diagnosis before they have been confirmed by lab tests. Of the 5,090 new cases, 3,095 fell into that category.
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The acceleration in the number of cases does not necessarily represent a sudden surge in new infections of the virus that causes COVID-19 as much as the revised methodology.
The health commission has said that the change was aimed at identifying suspected cases so they can be treated more quickly, though experts also saw it as a reflection of the crush of people seeking treatment and the struggle to keep up with a backlog of untested samples in Hubei and its capital, Wuhan, where the disease first surfaced in December.
In Taiwan, about 100 family members of people stuck in Hubei province protested outside Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council headquarters in the capital, Taipei.
About 1,000 Taiwanese hoping to fly home on charter flights have sparked a dispute between their government and China.
One flight brought 247 people back on Feb. 4. Three were not on a passenger list that Taiwan gave to Chinese authorities and one tested positive for the virus, Taiwan’s Central News Agency has reported.
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Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council wants China to step up quarantine work and reach agreements with Taiwan on the names of people on priority lists for flights.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office accused Taiwan on Wednesday of “using all kinds of excuses to obstruct and delay” flights. China sees self-ruled Taiwan as part of its territory rather than an independent state.
“We don’t want to politicize it, we want charter flights,” said protester Chung Chin-ming, chairman of the Chinese Cross-Strait Marriage Coordination Association in Taipei.
Elsewhere, Japan confirmed seven more cases, a day after it reported its first death from the virus. Japan now has 258 confirmed cases, including 218 from a cruise ship, the Diamond Princess, that has been quarantined in Yokohama.
Health officials allowed 11 elderly passengers to leave the ship on Friday after they tested negative for the virus. They are the first group of dozens of older passengers expected to get off the vessel before their 14-day quarantine period ends on Feb. 19 to reduce risks of their health deteriorating.
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Japanese Health Minister Katsunobu Kato on Thursday said passengers age 80 or older with chronic health issues or in cabins without windows that can open will be able to leave the ship if they pass the virus test.
More than 580 cases have been confirmed outside mainland China and three deaths, one each in the Philippines and Hong Kong and now a Japanese woman in her 80s. Health officials are investigating how she got infected.
In an unprecedented attempt to contain the disease, the Chinese government has placed the hardest-hit cities — home to more than 60 million — under lockdown. People are restricted from entering or leaving the cities, and in many places can only leave their homes or residential complexes for shopping and other daily needs.


huffpost--2020-02-14--Coronavirus Death Toll Nears 1,400 In China, With 5,090 New Cases

BEIJING ( AP ) — China on Friday reported another sharp rise in the number of people infected with a new virus , as the death toll neared 1,400 .
The National Health Commission said 121 more people had died and there were 5,090 new confirmed cases .
The number of reported cases has been rising more quickly after the hardest-hit province changed its method of counting them Thursday .
There are now 63,851 confirmed cases in mainland China , of which 1,380 have died .
Hubei province is now including cases based on a physician ’ s diagnosis and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tests .
Of the 5,090 new cases , 3,095 fell into that category .
The acceleration in the number of cases does not necessarily represent a sudden surge in new infections of the virus that causes COVID-19 as much as a revised methodology .
China ’ s health commission has said that the change was aimed at identifying suspected cases in which the patient has pneumonia so they can be treated more quickly and reduce the likelihood of more serious illness or death .
It was also seen as a reflection of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the struggle to keep up with a backlog of untested samples .
“ Clearly in Wuhan , the health system is under extreme pressure and so the first priority has to be the patient , ” said Mark Woolhouse , a professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh .

BEIJING (AP) — China on Friday reported another sharp rise in the number of people infected with a new virus, as the death toll neared 1,400.
The National Health Commission said 121 more people had died and there were 5,090 new confirmed cases.
The number of reported cases has been rising more quickly after the hardest-hit province changed its method of counting them Thursday. There are now 63,851 confirmed cases in mainland China, of which 1,380 have died.
Hubei province is now including cases based on a physician’s diagnosis and before they have been confirmed by lab tests. Of the 5,090 new cases, 3,095 fell into that category.
The acceleration in the number of cases does not necessarily represent a sudden surge in new infections of the virus that causes COVID-19 as much as a revised methodology.
China’s health commission has said that the change was aimed at identifying suspected cases in which the patient has pneumonia so they can be treated more quickly and reduce the likelihood of more serious illness or death. It was also seen as a reflection of a chaotic crush of people seeking treatment and the struggle to keep up with a backlog of untested samples.
“Clearly in Wuhan, the health system is under extreme pressure and so the first priority has to be the patient,” said Mark Woolhouse, a professor of infectious disease epidemiology at the University of Edinburgh.


huffpost--2020-06-08--U.S. Economy Entered Recession In February: Economists

WASHINGTON ( AP ) — The U.S. economy entered a recession in February as the coronavirus struck the nation , a group of economists declared Monday , ending the longest expansion on record .
The economists said that employment , income and spending peaked in February and then fell sharply afterward as the viral outbreak shut down businesses across the country , marking the start of the downturn after nearly 11 full years of economic growth .
A committee within the National Bureau of Economic Research , a trade group , determines when recessions begin and end .
It broadly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in economic activity that lasts more than a few months.
” For that reason , the NBER typically waits longer before making a determination that the economy is in a downturn .
In the previous recession , the committee did not declare that the economy was in recession until December 2008 , a year after it had actually begun .
But in this case , the NBER said the collapse in employment and incomes was so steep that it could much more quickly determine that a recession had begun .
“ The unprecedented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ production , and its broad reach across the entire economy , warrants the designation of this episode as a recession , even if it turns out to be briefer than earlier contractions , ” the NBER panel said .
The unemployment rate is officially 13.3 % , down from 14.7 % in April .
Both figures are higher than in any other downturn since World War II .
A broader measure of underemployment that includes those who have given up looking and those who have been reduced to part-time status is 21.2 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that employers added 2.5 million jobs in May , an unexpected gain that suggested job losses may have bottomed out .
A recession ends when employment and output start to pick up again , not when they reach their pre-recession levels .
So it ’ s possible that the recession could technically end soon .
Even if so , most economists expect a full recovery could take two years or more , with the unemployment rate likely still 10 % or higher at the end of this year .
With few Americans traveling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ near their previous levels , consumer spending — the primary driver of the U.S. economy — could keep economic activity weak for many more months .

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy entered a recession in February as the coronavirus struck the nation, a group of economists declared Monday, ending the longest expansion on record.
The economists said that employment, income and spending peaked in February and then fell sharply afterward as the viral outbreak shut down businesses across the country, marking the start of the downturn after nearly 11 full years of economic growth.
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A committee within the National Bureau of Economic Research, a trade group, determines when recessions begin and end. It broadly defines a recession as “a decline in economic activity that lasts more than a few months.”
For that reason, the NBER typically waits longer before making a determination that the economy is in a downturn. In the previous recession, the committee did not declare that the economy was in recession until December 2008, a year after it had actually begun. But in this case, the NBER said the collapse in employment and incomes was so steep that it could much more quickly determine that a recession had begun.
“The unprecedented magnitude of the decline in employment and production, and its broad reach across the entire economy, warrants the designation of this episode as a recession, even if it turns out to be briefer than earlier contractions,” the NBER panel said.
The parking lot surrounding Saint Louis Galleria mall is virtually empty Thursday, March 26, 2020, in Richmond Heights, Mo. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) ASSOCIATED PRESS
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The unemployment rate is officially 13.3%, down from 14.7% in April. Both figures are higher than in any other downturn since World War II. A broader measure of underemployment that includes those who have given up looking and those who have been reduced to part-time status is 21.2%.
On Friday, the government said that employers added 2.5 million jobs in May, an unexpected gain that suggested job losses may have bottomed out. A recession ends when employment and output start to pick up again, not when they reach their pre-recession levels. So it’s possible that the recession could technically end soon.


huffpost--2020-06-08--'Food Apartheid In This Country Didn’t Just Happen. It Happened By Design.'

Chef Marcus Samuelsson — the owner of a slew of restaurants around the United States , Canada and Europe — tells Anna Rahmanan in our Voices In Food series that “ change is coming to America.
” Hailing from Ethiopia and currently a resident of New York ’ s Harlem , the chef has built a culinary empire that puts the African American experience at the forefront of conversations .
I think the protest is important .
One of the reasons why I as an immigrant moved to America was because of freedom of speech .
America is this beacon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ ve done with women ’ s rights , people of color ’ s rights , civil rights and the LGBTQ community .
It all starts with freedom of speech .
I came here as an immigrant wanting to add my part .
It was 25 years ago , when being a Black chef in this space and having people dine here was important , and I ’ m extremely grateful for it .
Today , you have a perfect storm [ for change ] .
You have injustice that has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ never really fixed .
Systemic injustice .
Then you think about that in terms of Black and brown folks and the pandemic — and people wonder why Black and brown folks are dying at a much higher rate ?
Everybody knows the answer : We are the only First World country that doesn ’ t have free health care .
When you take all that — the pandemic , the injustice , the systemic racism — you [ have a perfect storm ] .
I think that during an analog gathering you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ participants doing the right thing , and then you ’ re going to have 1 % to 2 % of people that are just frustrated .
Looting has nothing to do with protest .
I ’ m looking at the 99 % , young and old , from any culture , from any religion , from anywhere , that have done an amazing job of protesting .
Change is hard , right ?
We ’ re in the middle of a change , and it ain ’ t pretty .
But I can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m proud that it was done in a peaceful way .
We started [ our community kitchens ] the first week of March , and I ’ ve been serving for 11 weeks .
Six days a week , 11 weeks , 1,100 to 1,200 people a day in Newark , in Harlem and in Miami .
Now we have 3,000 to 4,000 meals a day being distributed together in Harlem .
That is the way to pivot , right ?
That ’ s what this comes down to .
So our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who are needy , the fire department and nurses .
I think one of the blessings of being Black and one of the blessings of being an immigrant is that you have no patience : You have to learn to just quickly adapt and change a situation .
And that is what we ’ re doing .
A lot of what people are saying is , “ Have empathy and compassion.
” Let ’ s start there .
The majority of Americans are seeing it .
There are a couple of people in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing it , but they ’ re going to be left on an island by themselves .
But I think it starts with compassion because we are going to work towards a more equitable America where we have more common jobs .
The demonstrations , the protesters ― people aren ’ t going to unsee that experience .
The world is still watching , and the only way to get together is to collectively work to create a fairer society and community .
Food is very political because we ’ ve made it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large African American communities don ’ t have access to grocery stores — a [ fact ] that goes back to Jim Crow .
We have food apartheid in this country , and that didn ’ t just happen .
It happened by design .
Food is extremely political , and it is tied , just like anything , to law .
All we can do is change those laws and the structure and make it better and fairer .
I think the Amy Cooper incident highlights another silent level of racism that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s sophisticated : You don ’ t think it ’ s going to happen .
[ Cooper ] probably has Prince records at home .
She probably has a Bob Marley T-shirt .
That is fiercely dangerous because that ’ s the stuff that you don ’ t see .
I think there ’ s different levels [ of racism ] , and it ’ s got to go .
When I chose to move here , it was because I needed a community .
I was living in Midtown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighbors .
Harlem is where I got to know amazing people through the parks , the brownstones and people sitting outside , through block parties .
It all guided me to open Red Rooster .
We have been so fortunate to be here during the good times , but we also have to be there during the tough times .
I would argue that this pandemic has helped us find our purpose even more .
But the reason why I started Red Rooster in Harlem was to take the authorship of hospitality in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often the authorship of what we contributed to food in America is forgotten .
Because it was done either fast in someone ’ s home , or it was done anonymously .
I want to take it from an anonymous journey to a visible one , and I ’ m extremely privileged to be able to do that .
In 1968 , America sent people into orbit , and , at the same time , we had the biggest race riot .
In 2020 , we have SpaceX , and it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and we have this situation .
The last time New York City had a curfew was 1943 , and it happened to be [ in reaction ] to a white police officer shooting a Black man .
We can solve orbit and space , but we have a lot to do with humanity .
Let ’ s focus on that .

ILLUSTRATION: YENWEI LIU / HUFFPOST; PHOTO: ANGELA BANKHEAD
Chef Marcus Samuelsson — the owner of a slew of restaurants around the United States, Canada and Europe — tells Anna Rahmanan in our Voices In Food series that “change is coming to America.” Hailing from Ethiopia and currently a resident of New York’s Harlem, the chef has built a culinary empire that puts the African American experience at the forefront of conversations.
In reaction to COVID-19, Samuelsson joined José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen and Audible to launch Newark Working Kitchens, a project that delivers free daily meals to those in need across Newark, New Jersey. Samuelsson has also turned many of his kitchens into community efforts, feeding thousands of people weekly.
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Here he discusses the effects that both the pandemic and the current political protests have had on the food industry and beyond.
On the protests that have taken over the country.
I think the protest is important. One of the reasons why I as an immigrant moved to America was because of freedom of speech. America is this beacon for big change. Look at what we’ve done with women’s rights, people of color’s rights, civil rights and the LGBTQ community. It all starts with freedom of speech. I came here as an immigrant wanting to add my part. It was 25 years ago, when being a Black chef in this space and having people dine here was important, and I’m extremely grateful for it.
Today, you have a perfect storm [for change]. You have injustice that has been going on way before this that we never really fixed. Systemic injustice. Then you think about that in terms of Black and brown folks and the pandemic — and people wonder why Black and brown folks are dying at a much higher rate? Everybody knows the answer: We are the only First World country that doesn’t have free health care. When you take all that — the pandemic, the injustice, the systemic racism — you [have a perfect storm].
World Central Kitchen Marcus Samuelsson pivoted the mission of his Harlem restaurant, Red Rooster, to serve the community during the coronavirus pandemic.
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On the violence that has distracted from the protests.
I think that during an analog gathering you’re going to have 99% of participants doing the right thing, and then you’re going to have 1% to 2% of people that are just frustrated. Looting has nothing to do with protest. I’m looking at the 99%, young and old, from any culture, from any religion, from anywhere, that have done an amazing job of protesting. Change is hard, right? We’re in the middle of a change, and it ain’t pretty. But I can look at my community and say I’m proud that it was done in a peaceful way.
On pivoting his businesses to help those currently in need.
We started [our community kitchens] the first week of March, and I’ve been serving for 11 weeks. Six days a week, 11 weeks, 1,100 to 1,200 people a day in Newark, in Harlem and in Miami. Now we have 3,000 to 4,000 meals a day being distributed together in Harlem. That is the way to pivot, right? That’s what this comes down to. So our new regulars are a blend of people who are needy, the fire department and nurses. I think one of the blessings of being Black and one of the blessings of being an immigrant is that you have no patience: You have to learn to just quickly adapt and change a situation. And that is what we’re doing.
On what regular folks can do to help.
A lot of what people are saying is, “Have empathy and compassion.” Let’s start there. The majority of Americans are seeing it. There are a couple of people in Washington, D.C., that are not seeing it, but they’re going to be left on an island by themselves. But I think it starts with compassion because we are going to work towards a more equitable America where we have more common jobs. The demonstrations, the protesters ― people aren’t going to unsee that experience. The world is still watching, and the only way to get together is to collectively work to create a fairer society and community.
On the political power of food.
Food is very political because we’ve made it political. Think of the fact that large African American communities don’t have access to grocery stores — a [fact] that goes back to Jim Crow. We have food apartheid in this country, and that didn’t just happen. It happened by design. Food is extremely political, and it is tied, just like anything, to law. All we can do is change those laws and the structure and make it better and fairer.
On systemic racism.
I think the Amy Cooper incident highlights another silent level of racism that is just as potent as the coronavirus. It’s sophisticated: You don’t think it’s going to happen. [Cooper] probably has Prince records at home. She probably has a Bob Marley T-shirt. That is fiercely dangerous because that’s the stuff that you don’t see. I think there’s different levels [of racism], and it’s got to go.
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On his support of Harlem.
When I chose to move here, it was because I needed a community. I was living in Midtown and was in search of knowing my neighbors. Harlem is where I got to know amazing people through the parks, the brownstones and people sitting outside, through block parties. It all guided me to open Red Rooster. We have been so fortunate to be here during the good times, but we also have to be there during the tough times. I would argue that this pandemic has helped us find our purpose even more. But the reason why I started Red Rooster in Harlem was to take the authorship of hospitality in terms of Black excellence back because very often the authorship of what we contributed to food in America is forgotten. Because it was done either fast in someone’s home, or it was done anonymously. I want to take it from an anonymous journey to a visible one, and I’m extremely privileged to be able to do that.
On history repeating itself.
In 1968, America sent people into orbit, and, at the same time, we had the biggest race riot. In 2020, we have SpaceX, and it’s amazing, and we should celebrate it, and we have this situation. The last time New York City had a curfew was 1943, and it happened to be [in reaction] to a white police officer shooting a Black man. We can solve orbit and space, but we have a lot to do with humanity. Let’s focus on that.


huffpost--2020-06-08--Tropical Storm Cristobal Weakens But Flood Threat Persists

ASSOCIATED PRESS A wave crashes as a man stands on a jetty near Orleans Harbor in Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans on June 7 , 2020 , as Tropical Storm Cristobal approaches the Louisiana Coast .
NEW ORLEANS ( AP ) — Tropical Storm Cristobal continued to weaken early Monday , after the lopsided storm crashed ashore in Louisiana and ginned up dangerous weather farther east , sending waves crashing over Mississippi beaches , swamping parts of an Alabama island town and spawning a tornado in Florida .
Making landfall well under hurricane strength , the storm had begun weakening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — but heavy rainfall and a storm surge were continuing along the Gulf Coast , posing a threat across a wide area into the Florida Panhandle .
At 1 a.m. CDT Monday , the storm was centered about 35 miles ( 56 kilometers ) northwest of New Orleans , packing slowed winds of 40 mph ( 64 kmph ) .
With its drenching rains , Cristobal — moving north-northwest at 10 mph ( 16 kmph ) — was expected to keep inundating the northern Gulf Coast well into Monday but the National Hurricane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weaken into a tropical depression within the “ next several hours.
” Cristobal ’ s forecast path takes it inland through southeast Louisiana Monday , continuing north into Arkansas and Missouri by Tuesday , moving over Wisconsin on Tuesday night and into Canada by Wednesday , according to the latest advisory .
In New Orleans , the question was how much rain would fall and whether there would be enough breaks in the bands of heavy weather for the beleaguered pumping system to meet its latest test of keeping streets free of flood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stalled cars and trucks as flood waters inundated beaches and crashed over highways .
On the City of Biloxi Facebook page , officials said emergency workers helped dozens of motorists through flood waters , mostly on U.S. 90 running along the coast .
In Alabama , the bridge linking the mainland to Dauphin Island was closed much of Sunday .
Police and state transportation department vehicles led convoys of motorists to and from the island when breaks in the weather permitted .
Forecasters said up to 12 inches ( 30 centimeters ) of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with storm surges up to 5 feet ( 1.5 meters ) .
The weather service warned that the rain would contribute to rivers flooding on the central Gulf Coast and up into the Mississippi Valley .
Rising water on Lake Pontchartrain near New Orleans pushed about 2 feet of water into the first floor of Rudy Horvath ’ s residence — a boathouse that sits on pilings over the brackish lake .
Horvath said he and his family have lived there a year and have learned to take the occasional flood in stride @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lower floor to stack belongings above the high water .
“ We thought it would be pretty cool to live out here , and it has been , ” Horvath said .
“ The sunsets are great.
” Elsewhere in south Louisiana , water covered the only road to Grand Isle and in low-lying parts of Plaquemines Parish at the state ’ s southeastern tip .
“ You can ’ t go down there by car , ” shrimper Acy Cooper said Sunday of one marina in the area .
“ You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida , a tornado — the second in two days in the state as the storm approached — uprooted trees and downed power lines Sunday afternoon south of Lake City near Interstate 75 , the weather service and authorities said .
There were no reports of injuries .
Rain fell intermittently in New Orleans famed French Quarter on Sunday afternoon , but the streets were nearly deserted , with many businesses already boarded up due to the coronavirus .
Daniel Priestman said he didn ’ t see people frantically stocking up as in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be “ overwhelmed ” by the coronavirus and recent police violence and protests .
They seemed “ resigned to whatever happens — happens , ” he said .

A wave crashes as a man stands on a jetty near Orleans Harbor in Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans on June 7, 2020, as Tropical Storm Cristobal approaches the Louisiana Coast. ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Tropical Storm Cristobal continued to weaken early Monday, after the lopsided storm crashed ashore in Louisiana and ginned up dangerous weather farther east, sending waves crashing over Mississippi beaches, swamping parts of an Alabama island town and spawning a tornado in Florida.
Cristobal made a Saturday afternoon landfall between the mouth of the Mississippi River and the since-evacuated barrier island resort community of Grand Isle, with 50-mph (85-kph) winds.
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Making landfall well under hurricane strength, the storm had begun weakening as it moved inland late Sunday night — but heavy rainfall and a storm surge were continuing along the Gulf Coast, posing a threat across a wide area into the Florida Panhandle.
At 1 a.m. CDT Monday, the storm was centered about 35 miles (56 kilometers) northwest of New Orleans, packing slowed winds of 40 mph (64 kmph). With its drenching rains, Cristobal — moving north-northwest at 10 mph (16 kmph) — was expected to keep inundating the northern Gulf Coast well into Monday but the National Hurricane Center in Miami said it would likely weaken into a tropical depression within the “next several hours.”
Cristobal’s forecast path takes it inland through southeast Louisiana Monday, continuing north into Arkansas and Missouri by Tuesday, moving over Wisconsin on Tuesday night and into Canada by Wednesday, according to the latest advisory.
In New Orleans, the question was how much rain would fall and whether there would be enough breaks in the bands of heavy weather for the beleaguered pumping system to meet its latest test of keeping streets free of flood waters.
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Coastal Mississippi news outlets reported stalled cars and trucks as flood waters inundated beaches and crashed over highways. On the City of Biloxi Facebook page, officials said emergency workers helped dozens of motorists through flood waters, mostly on U.S. 90 running along the coast.
In Alabama, the bridge linking the mainland to Dauphin Island was closed much of Sunday. Police and state transportation department vehicles led convoys of motorists to and from the island when breaks in the weather permitted.
Forecasters said up to 12 inches (30 centimeters) of rain could fall in some areas, with storm surges up to 5 feet (1.5 meters). The weather service warned that the rain would contribute to rivers flooding on the central Gulf Coast and up into the Mississippi Valley.
“It’s very efficient, very tropical rainfall,” National Hurricane Center Director Ken Graham said in a Facebook video. “It rains a whole bunch real quick.”
Rising water on Lake Pontchartrain near New Orleans pushed about 2 feet of water into the first floor of Rudy Horvath’s residence — a boathouse that sits on pilings over the brackish lake. Horvath said he and his family have lived there a year and have learned to take the occasional flood in stride. They’ve put tables on the lower floor to stack belongings above the high water.
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“We thought it would be pretty cool to live out here, and it has been,” Horvath said. “The sunsets are great.”
Elsewhere in south Louisiana, water covered the only road to Grand Isle and in low-lying parts of Plaquemines Parish at the state’s southeastern tip. “You can’t go down there by car,” shrimper Acy Cooper said Sunday of one marina in the area. “You have to go by boat.”
People clean up debris from their damaged apartments during the aftermath of Tropical Storm Cristobal. SOPA Images via Getty Images
In Florida, a tornado — the second in two days in the state as the storm approached — uprooted trees and downed power lines Sunday afternoon south of Lake City near Interstate 75, the weather service and authorities said. There were no reports of injuries.
The storm also forced a waterlogged stretch of Interstate 10 in north Florida to close for a time Sunday.
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Rain fell intermittently in New Orleans famed French Quarter on Sunday afternoon, but the streets were nearly deserted, with many businesses already boarded up due to the coronavirus.
Daniel Priestman said he didn’t see people frantically stocking up as in previous storms. He said people may be “overwhelmed” by the coronavirus and recent police violence and protests. They seemed “resigned to whatever happens — happens,” he said.
At one New Orleans intersection, a handmade “Black Lives Matter” sign, wired to a lamppost, rattled in a stiff wind as the crew of a massive vacuum truck worked to unclog a storm drain.
The Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans said the city’s aging street drainage system had limits, so residents should avoid underpasses and low-lying areas prone to inevitable street flooding.
Jefferson Parish, a suburb of New Orleans, had called for voluntary evacuations Saturday of some low-lying communities because of threatened storm surge, high tides and heavy rain.
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President Donald Trump agreed to issue an emergency declaration for Louisiana, officials said.
___


huffpost--2020-06-08--What You Should Know Before Raising Backyard Chickens During Lockdown

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way most of us cook , shop and eat , as we dread trips to the grocery store and consider growing some of our food .
And the cost of eggs , a major staple for U.S. consumers , has dramatically increased , rising 16 % , according to the latest report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics .
So it follows that Google has seen a steep rise in the search terms “ live chickens ” and “ backyard chickens ” ― their highest interest in the past 12 months ― and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emails for orders as people try to keep birds as pets and produce their own eggs .
But just because you ’ re bored in the house doesn ’ t mean you should purchase chickens .
HuffPost chatted with Rebecca Cowans , the owner-operator of Down by the Bay Backyard Poultry in Prince Edward Island , Canada , as well as Tom Watkins , the vice president of Murray McMurray Hatchery in Webster City , Iowa , about some of the unexpected challenges and benefits for newbie backyard chicken farmers .
First of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go out and buy a laying hen Instead , baby chicks are typically available from February to October at hatcheries and farm stores .
According to Cowans , you ’ re highly unlikely to find someone selling hens because “ the only time you ’ re going to be able to purchase a ready-to-lay hen is if somebody is thinning their flocks or if somebody is getting out of [ business ] .
And that ’ s only in the fall , when everybody has raised their birds and they ’ ve got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are the most time- and labor-intensive While both Cowans and Watkins assured that it isn ’ t complicated to raise chicks , the first few months require extra attention and some equipment .
Chicks must be kept safe and warm for the first four to six weeks while they grow out their feathers to prepare for their entry to the outside world .
As Watkins noted , “ It is the first four weeks that is the most intensive .
They need to be kept at the correct temperature , ventilated but not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and food ― that ’ s about it .
It is important to check on them regularly , but what I think makes it easy is that there are very obvious [ sensory ] cues .
If chickens are uncomfortable , they will make a ruckus .
If they are too hot , they are really spread out and get pretty noisy .
If they are content , they are chirping pretty quietly for the most part .
It ’ s visually very easy to tell if they are all right.
” Here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cost you to raise chickens While purchasing a chick is relatively inexpensive , ranging anywhere from $ 1.50 to $ 5 for commercial or hybrid varieties and $ 10 to $ 25 for heritage varieties , a great deal of cost can go into the raising of the animal before an egg is produced .
That estimated expense mostly has to do with raising the hen in the months leading up to it being able to produce eggs , including feeding and sheltering the animal .
Watkins explained , “ It takes about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bird to a laying state .
And then the coop itself is typically $ 400 to $ 500.
” Watkins said the relative simplicity of raising birds made him reevaluate other areas of his life : “ It really is a gateway into being more sustainable , because of how really easy it was .
We have 25 birds at home .
It takes me 5 minutes a day to make sure they have feed and water and pick up eggs .
”

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The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way most of us cook, shop and eat, as we dread trips to the grocery store and consider growing some of our food. And the cost of eggs, a major staple for U.S. consumers, has dramatically increased, rising 16%, according to the latest report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
So it follows that Google has seen a steep rise in the search terms “live chickens” and “backyard chickens” ― their highest interest in the past 12 months ― and hatcheries have been inundated with calls and emails for orders as people try to keep birds as pets and produce their own eggs.
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The urge to raise backyard chickens has even affected such international hotties as Tom Holland, who caved to the trend, and in so doing racked up close to a million views on his Instagram story.
The way Tom Holland and his mates went to the supermarket, realised that all the eggs are gone and thought yah let’s get chickens,,, chaotic good pic.twitter.com/i9Gt37HlUU — beth (@vanelloki) March 22, 2020
But just because you’re bored in the house doesn’t mean you should purchase chickens. HuffPost chatted with Rebecca Cowans, the owner-operator of Down by the Bay Backyard Poultry in Prince Edward Island, Canada, as well as Tom Watkins, the vice president of Murray McMurray Hatchery in Webster City, Iowa, about some of the unexpected challenges and benefits for newbie backyard chicken farmers.
First of all, you can’t just go out and buy a laying hen
Newbies may be unaware that purchasing a hen who’s at the “laying” stage isn’t common (meaning, you can’t drive down to your local farm and pick up a hen this afternoon and expect eggs tomorrow morning for your frittata).
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Instead, baby chicks are typically available from February to October at hatcheries and farm stores. According to Cowans, you’re highly unlikely to find someone selling hens because “the only time you’re going to be able to purchase a ready-to-lay hen is if somebody is thinning their flocks or if somebody is getting out of [business]. And that’s only in the fall, when everybody has raised their birds and they’ve got too many.”
This means that most beginners will be in the market for chicks, which take between 16-24 weeks to grow to egg-laying maturity.
The first few months are the most time- and labor-intensive
While both Cowans and Watkins assured that it isn’t complicated to raise chicks, the first few months require extra attention and some equipment. Chicks must be kept safe and warm for the first four to six weeks while they grow out their feathers to prepare for their entry to the outside world.
Some hatcheries, such as Murray McMurray’s, offer kits to help support that process. You can also set up a brooder box at home, which can be as simple as installing a safely fixed heat source (such as 40-watt light bulbs or brooder plates) into a giant Rubbermaid container.
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rab-bit via Getty Images Chicks need four to six weeks to bask in the glow of warm light while they acclimate to the temperature of the outside world.
As Watkins noted, “It is the first four weeks that is the most intensive. They need to be kept at the correct temperature, ventilated but not in a draft, with clean water and food ― that’s about it. It is important to check on them regularly, but what I think makes it easy is that there are very obvious [sensory] cues. If chickens are uncomfortable, they will make a ruckus. If they are too hot, they are really spread out and get pretty noisy. If they are content, they are chirping pretty quietly for the most part. It’s visually very easy to tell if they are all right.”
Here’s how much it’ll cost you to raise chickens
While purchasing a chick is relatively inexpensive, ranging anywhere from $1.50 to $5 for commercial or hybrid varieties and $10 to $25 for heritage varieties, a great deal of cost can go into the raising of the animal before an egg is produced.
“I’ve heard it said that that first egg costs $2,000,” Watkins said.
That estimated expense mostly has to do with raising the hen in the months leading up to it being able to produce eggs, including feeding and sheltering the animal. Watkins explained, “It takes about 50 pounds of feed to get one bird to a laying state. And then the coop itself is typically $400 to $500.”
volody10 via Getty Images It takes about 50 pounds of feed to grow a chick to its egg-laying state.
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The unexpected benefit of raising chickens
One unexpected benefit of raising backyard birds could be how it shifts your perspective.
Watkins said the relative simplicity of raising birds made him reevaluate other areas of his life: “It really is a gateway into being more sustainable, because of how really easy it was. We have 25 birds at home. It takes me 5 minutes a day to make sure they have feed and water and pick up eggs.”