What Will The History Books Say?
VOL 14 - THURSDAY, MAY 7
We are excited to reconvene here with you all in the month of May!
May is filled with honoring various cultures and professions while also bringing attention to what is often unseen or not mentioned. Many of you may know that this month is Asian Pacific Heritage Month and Nurses Appreciation Month. The month includes Teachers Appreciation Week (May 4-10) and now the officially recognized Nurses Appreciation Day (May 6). It also is a time to recognize Mental Health Awareness Month.
We thank all nurses and healthcare professionals for your fight to help combat the spread of the coronavirus. To all teachers, thank you for your patience, strength and care with our students, helping them continue and persevere in their studies.
Over the last couple of weeks, we've been posting articles on our social to shed light on the Asian American culture, along with ways to give back to the healthcare professionals and mental health resources to incorporate in your routine. We will continue to do so throughout the month! in the meantime, if you are interested in learning more about five Asian American reproductive advocates, or need some resources to protect your mental health or combat Zoom fatigue, or how you can support nurses, check out these links to learn more.
in addition to articles, we are also tracking virtual events, conferences and summits. Check them out here on our website! As mentioned, we here at Notedd would love to feature your articles on our website, and similarly, we’d love to feature your upcoming events or let us know if you are participating, leading or hosting that you'd like to share with the group, please let us know.
We’ve got a full issue with news you may have missed over the last week, some big news to be aware of including some of the latest with the coronavirus, a few honorable mentions to check out and recount history with: activist Gloria Richardson.
Enjoy and always: Stay Notedd!
Congratulations to The New York Times writer Nikole Hannah-Jones for receiving a Pulitzer Prize in Commentary for her incredible essay, “The 1619 Project,” a project released during the 400th anniversary of American slavery last year to "reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative." In addition, investigative writer Ida B. Wells was posthumously honored with a Pulitzer Price for her “courageous reporting on the horrific and vicious violence against African Americans during the era of lynching.”
Valeisha Butterfield Jones is the first-ever Recording Academy Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer; a great result of the organization’s task force focus to ensure diversity and inclusion remain as core values for the organization.
The first black woman operated and owned vodka distributor Black Momma Vodka Founder Vanessa Braxton transitioned her business to make and distribute hand sanitizers for healthcare workers, first responders, patients, and community members fighting the coronavirus.
After witnessing the increased rise of cases amongst minorities and how the pandemic is disproportionately affecting Black and Brown communities, Dr. Ala Stanford created the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium - a group of local physicians and churches in Philadelphia’s Black neighborhoods who are gathering test kits and PPE to test and protect these communities.
Janelle Monáe is helping families who are battling food insecurity in Atlanta. Octavia Spencer partnered with Mikucare to donate breathing monitors to Alabama and New York hospitals. Christy DeGallerie created the Black Health Support Group for COVID-19 to be a safe space to release and support one another. COVID-19 Survivor Tiffany Pinckney was one of the first plasma donors to contribute to the antibody treatment effort.
The impact of the coronavirus within the incarcerated black women community: Inmates in prisons and jails are one of the most vulnerable communities face inadequate conditions before the pandemic. However, now as a result of states re-opening (nearly 43 states have plans to re-open or are have recently opened), cases are nearly tripling due to the failed infrastructure and lack of ownership. The most vulnerable to the vulnerable are Black women, who nearly double the incarcerated population in comparison to white women. The measures that are taken to "protect" inmates include solitary confinement while adequate healthcare and humane social distancing measures are not offered. 60% of incarcerated women in local jails are awaiting trials for non-violent crimes as many are unable to pay their bail. Also, correctional officers are increasingly exposed as resources such as masks and personal protection equipment (PPE) are not readily available. Equipment shortages are all around as we note below the protests led by healthcare professionals for PPE, but it's a stark reminder that the prison system continues to fail men and women, particularly people of color. Through the assistance of non-profit organizations and programs including the Brennan Center justice program, prison reform is still at the top of their agenda - pandemic or not - to work through these inadequate conditions and fight for justice.
The Coronavirus Gender Gap: There’s a big elephant in the room, and the coronavirus is only pointing to that elephant even more than ever before. The majority of people on the frontlines of this outbreak are reported to be women, with a majority representation in professions such as flight attendants, nurses, service industry workers, caretakers and teachers. Women often bear the most caretaking responsibilities, and many often have the “second shift” of working a full-time job and then taking care of their children or other family members. Women have proven to be effective leaders - just see how progress is made in countries like Denmark, Taiwan and New Zealand under head of state women leadership who took quarantine measures quickly and are reducing their number of cases, but while women "can do it all," if not better, the increased amount of responsibility is showing how overwhelming it can be at the same time:
Male academics are submitting up to 50 percent more papers for academic journals than women academics. Results are showing that women academics are submitting less papers due the greater share of family responsibility.
As a result of remote learning, many teachers are working over their negotiated time with workloads that are drastically increasing and engaging with their students and administrators without the previous in-person restrictions - despite their continued responsibility for women to be the teacher and mom.
More than 9,000 nurses have tested positive to the coronavirus, risking their lives without the proper protective equipment - choosing between their job and families.
So we beg the question again: when will the gap close?
When one door closes: Earlier this week, it was announced that the White House coronavirus task force will be winding down around Memorial Day, and then officially cease without any announcement. Well when one door closes, another opens. Sen. Kamala Harris recently introduced a new legislation, the COVID-19 Racial Disparities Task Force Act, which would "require the director of Secretary of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, to create a panel of health care experts and community leaders to gather data and provide recommendations on the coronavirus response in communities of color who have been disproportionately affected by the disease. This task force would provide weekly reports to Congress and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on the distribution of COVID-19 resources throughout the hardest-hit communities of color including ventilators, personal protection equipment, testing supplies, and vaccines. In addition, the task force would also advise federal agencies on disbursing money from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which includes funding for small businesses and education grants for states." It wasn't until both parties sent letters asking the CDC to publish race and ethnicity data for COVID-19 cases, and yet some of the statistics have been reported as "incomplete." Therefore, this task force is needed to ensure that communities of colors can receive the care that is desperately needed and small business owners of color can continue to receive funding to remain afloat. It's unclear when this bill will be considered, but we will stay tuned and keep you updated here.
Check out these honorable mentions, and drop us a note of what you think if you are able to check it out this weekend or next!
The Obamas are back! Forever First Lady Michelle Obama’s documentary “Becoming,” a visual continuation of her book and book tour, is now available on Netflix. In addition, you’ll be able to catch the Obamas honoring the class of 2020 in multiple virtual commencement addresses starting next Saturday, May 16 for HBCU students and then a global address June 6. Congratulations to the Class of 2020!
We are excited to read Venture Capitalist Guru Arlan Hamilton’s book, “It’s About Damn Time.” She recounts her remarkable journey to her experience getting involved with venture capitalism. Each chapter lends the reader a lesson with her inspiration and wit woven throughout the book, and a constant reminder to never settle for other people’s expectations of you. We’re hard copy folks, so feel free to grab a copy here and receive free shipping, or purchase via Audible or Amazon.
If you don't follow us on social, you are missing out! Follow us on right now on Instagram for even more news, perspective and things to try at home while you self quarantine. Check out these posts:
You can now buy menstrual products using your HSA
5 DIY cocktails to try at home
Decor hacks to help spruce up your space this Spring
5 Black-owned household essentials to add to your shopping list
Words of wisdom from wellness women of color influencers
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