Editorial: We are taking wrong lessons from racial slur video; By Pas Simpson

Pas Simpson is executive director, One Big SMILE Foundation.

 Recently our community’s sensibilities were provoked. (”Allentown School District cuts ties with Ortiz Ark Foundation following video showing use of racial slur by nonprofit leader,” Morning Call, April 19.)

A video circulated through social media that has become a call to action. A challenge to how we define race, see ethnicity, but more importantly how intense situations may cause a lapse of judgment or even an abuse of power.

Interpretation and use of words are powerful.

I’m that Nigga, who understands the history of the word, and decided to own it. Who won’t let the enemy weaponize a word once used as a term of endearment.

Negus is a title in the Ethiopian Semitic languages. Usually bestowed upon a regional ruler by the Negusa Nagast, or “king of kings” in pre-1974 Ethiopia. The negus is referred to as Al-Najashi in Islamic tradition.

Slave masters, in an attempt to rob us of history and quell our hope, took a term of high regard, and made us think it’s an attack. They have transformed Negus, meaning king, into nigger, meaning ignorant.

Most Black and brown people in the Americas are descendants of slaves. Whether your slave language was English, Spanish or French, we were all treated like niggers instead of regarded as Negus.

We can’t use the same templates set up in white supremacy to keep us divided.

Nigger is never an acceptable term, no matter who says it. As a father of two young black Queens, I was appalled watching the video clip. Although we don’t know the entire context of their conversation, some things don’t matter. Read more

All White Spring House Party Thursday May 19th 9:00pm - 2:00am @ GRAVITY Night Club in Allentown

 

PA African American Network Convention Saturday, April 23rd, 2022 11am-4:00pm

 

EDITORIAL: PennDOT project in Langhorne will destroy monument to African American history

PennDOT project in Langhorne will destroy monument to African American history: I wish to express my concern regarding the impact on the historic character of Langhorne Borough’s National Register Historic District caused by PennDOT’s current plan for the …

House & Humidors "Outdoors" Saturday April 23rd 2022

 

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc Presents 'How to FLIP Your Money April 30, 2022 8:30am to 3:00pm

 

U.S. Prepares to Arrest Surge of Migrants at Southern Border but Welcome...

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2022 Black History Celebration and Black History Makers Awards Reception: Fri, February 25, 2022 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM EST

 

Celebrate Black History Makers from Past 

and Present with an Awards Reception

Honoring:

Joyce Ellis, Edward C. Gainey, Clifton P. Pitts, A. Odell Richardson, Ralph P. Watson, 
and Val Pennington.

Refreshments served from 5:45 PM - 6:45 PM

Program from 6:50 PM - 8:00 PM

RSVP  here by 2/22/22

Wyndham Pittsburgh University Center
100 Lytton Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

MASKS ARE REQUIRED AT ALL TIMES EXCEPT DURING YOUR MEAL.

Former Dolphins head coach Brian Flores on his lawsuit alleging race dis...

Wendy Williams loses access to millions of dollars, bank alleges she's been exploited

by Alex Biese &  Michael L. Diamond  Asbury Park Press

Talk show star Wendy Williams is at risk of defaulting on her mortgage and leaving her employees without pay after Wells Fargo Advisors froze access to her accounts, according to court documents.

While the money manager said it believed Williams, 57, was being financially exploited, Williams has filed a petition in New York state court asking a judge for an injunction that would give her control again over accounts worth several million dollars. Read more

Delicate Cleaning Hands Cleaning Services

 

Lehigh Carbon Community College 2022

 

COVID-19 Clinic Partnership Easton Area Neighborhood Center 10:00am-2:00pm

 

The Helping BIZ: Do You need funding from $5,000 to $100,000? visit www.thehelpingbiz.com

 

Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program will become the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) on December 31, 2021

The temporary Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) Program will become the Affordable Connectivity Program, a new longer-term program, on December 31, 2021.

Households enrolled in the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program as of 12/31/21 will continue to receive their current monthly benefit until 3/1/22.


What's Changing?

The maximum monthly benefit will change from $50 per month to $30 per month for households not located on qualifying Tribal lands. The monthly benefit will remain at $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.

Households have new ways to qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program such as: receiving WIC benefits or having an income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Households that qualified for the Emergency Broadband Benefit due to a substantial loss of income due to job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020 or by meeting the eligibility criteria for a participating provider's COVID-19 program will need to requalify for the Affordable Connectivity Program. These households will receive additional details about the steps they need to take from the program administrator (USAC) or their broadband provider, in January 2022, and will be given at least 30 days to respond. They will continue to receive their full EBB benefit until March 1, 2022.

This program transition was created by Congress as part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The FCC is accepting comments on the implementation of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) through December 28. If you are interested in submitting reply comments, please visit the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS). From ECFS, enter “21-450” in the “Proceeding(s)” field, and select “Affordable Connectivity Program” from the dropdown menu.

When the Rooney Rule doesn’t work: the NFL’s terrible track record on diversity

A professor of sports management explores the underlying reasons there is just one Black head coach and one Latino head coach left in the NFL when most of its players are Black.

By George B. Cunningham —The Conversation 5 minute Read 01-30-22 2:00 am

• workplace evolution
  

A couple of weeks after the close of the National Football League’s regular season, there is just one Black head coach and one Latino head coach left in the League—   Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh-Steelers, and Ron Rivera of the Washington Football Team, respectively. This follows the firing of Brian Flores by the Miami Dolphins and David Culley by the Houston Texans.

In other words, in a league in which most of the players are Black, most of the NFL head coaches are white.

 Read full article here

AEDC: Urban Made Minority -Owned Business Loans

 

Black Owned cafe known for vegan, seafood moving to Lehigh Valley Mall

Almost Vegan Pescatarian Cafe, which opened in July 2020 along West Liberty Street in Allentown PA, is now moving into space previously housed by Subway next to Macy’s. Anthony Alexander of Allentown owns the restaurant with his wife, Nadia Alexander. They closed the city location on Dec. 1. The Alexanders wanted a spot with more foot traffic, Anthony Alexander said.

The couple decided to open the business when Anthony Alexander said they always had a difficult time finding dishes at other eateries based on their dietary needs. While Anthony Alexander is strictly vegan, Nadia Alexander is pescatarian, meaning she will eat fish.

At Almost Vegan Pescatarian, patrons gain needed nutrition while avoiding unhealthy, ultra-processed foods, Anthony Alexander said. The menu spans a variety of pescatarian, vegan and plant-based dishes. Read more here

Almost Vegan Pescatarian Cafe owners Anthony and Nadia Alexander are planning an early February opening at the Whitehall Township mall. The couple closed an Allentown location on Dec.1.

Scholar Angela Davis on Prison Abolition, Justice for Palestine, Critica...