Arirl - BWNY Magazine

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April 2015 - Issue 42
Dr. Raul Vazquez
At The Forefront Of Change
Creating A urban medical corridor
Inside this Issue:
B
uffalo opera unlimited
Tim Kennedy
is dedicated to producing opera and a variety of musical forms
with an emphasis on regional artists. committed developing future
audiences for the art from .
N athan N a p i e r Roa d to
Carnegie Hall
“I’m just having fun.” says Nathan, as he tell his story
of his journey to get to play at Carnegie Hall.
LEWAC
ANNOUNCES HATTITUDE 2015
“Our goal is to reach 500 women - mothers,
daughters, sisters and friends - in a fun
atmosphere.” Catherine Lewis
YOUNG EDUCATED
& ANXIOUS
by Lindsay Frazier
Lindsay Frazier examines the question :
Should a young person I stay in Buffalo?How
would young people know if the changes the
Mayor has outlined will come into fruition?
Inspiring a Bright Future
We look at CGLI (The Communities of Giving
Legacy Initiative) and it’s program “Success Looks
Like Me” thier mission and impack on students
of color.
Black Women &
Fitn ess
Being healthy is one of the most important things that we can
do for ourselves and our family. The number of black women
joining gyms has steadily increased overt the past five year,
throughout West New York according to fitnes.com. They (Black
women) are taking on the challenge of controlling their health
through diet and exercise, we don’t have to look far, to find
one shuch lady. Staci Halton of Buffalo age 34, sit down with
us to discuss fitness and what motivatesher.
“Fitness has always been a passion of mine”, says Staci. “I can
remember working out at home and making up my own meal
plans in high school. It was never about losing weight for me.
It was about maintaining a healthy lifestyle and feeling great
from the inside out.” She decided to take her love for fitness to
another level. In 2011 she began preparing for her first fitness
competition. However during the training, she became ill, “It
set me back, but not for long”, she said. She was determined
to get back to training as soon as she could.
Her journey to the stage to compet as a bodybuilding this
time around has been one that she said she would never
forget. “It is my prayer life and faith in God that ignites
my fire, the support of my friends and family telling me
that I inspire them, and the unconditional love from
my daughter Brianah that makes this journey special.”
She competed in thisyears 23rd Annual Natural Muscle
Association Natural Bodybuilding, Physique, Figure & Bikini
Championships , held at Nichols School on March28th. Staci
stated “It goes beyond me walking across the stage for the
first time at the CAN/AM Natural Muscle competition. It will
serve as a platform for me in future endeavors in the fitness
and health industry, my mission is to help motivate men and
women to maintain a healthy lifestyle with a holistic approach,
promoting accountability, and encouraging consistency”. Her
vision is to see our children live healthier lives as a direct
result of their parents making better food choices and staying
active. We only have one vessel said Staci. “Love your body
from the inside out!”
selfies
THE
We look at the phenomena of the Selfie... The ones We
Hope You Never Take, “Real men don’t do Selfie”, “The
duckface” What dose taking selfie say about you.
BWNY Cover Story:
HEALING YOUR MIND, BODY AND SOUL…
Is Obama Care really worth it?
GBUAHN Health Home model. Raul and Toni
Vazquez at The Forefront Of Change.
by Will Jones & Nena Williams
Staci Halton placed 6th in the CAN/AM Natural Muscle competition.
BWNYmagazine published by BlackWNY 100 RiverRock Dr. Suite 201 716 320-0557 will@blackwny.com
F
example of the receivership model in Massachusetts.
Again, he needs the Legislature to approve this move and
the political pressure being brought to bear is intense.
We are not being paranoid to think that Buffalo may
serve as the first example of a receivership district if the
Governor gets his way.
Cuomo’s Plan for –
Failing
Schools
Is this Educational Opportunity?
Across this State, educators, parents, educational activists and students
believe that Governor Cuomo has declared war on public education. No,
not literal war, but figuratively, the Governor has determined that drastic
“reform” needs to take place, especially for schools that the New York
State Education Department has identified as chronically “failing”. In
the development of the Governor’s Educational Opportunity Agenda, he
has set forth a number of proposed reforms that he believes will “fix” the
problem of “failing” schools and increase the number of graduates who
are “college and career ready.” In promoting his agenda, the Governor
has referred prominently to the Buffalo Public Schools as the “poster
child” for failing school Districts, most of which are urban districts. Yet,
the suburban and rural school districts are not escaping the negative
repercussions of the Governor’s educational proposals and many of them
are fighting mad and fighting back.
The Governor’s agenda
addresses teacher
evaluations, teacher
Governor has
tenure, high stakes testing,
determined that drastic
“reform” needs to take
increasing the number
place.
of charter schools and
Dr. Nevergold
receivership for failing
schools and entire districts.
For example, the Governor
Governor Cuomo
supports and champions
the Common CORE Learning Standards and high stakes standardized
testing. These are tests in English Language Arts and Math that are given
to students in grades 3-8 annually. The tests are not used to diagnose
students’ educational needs as teachers don’t get detailed reports on the
results for individual students. The tests are called “high stakes” because
they are used to grade schools and educators, especially teachers and
administrators. The results of these tests have been the basis for determining
the “failing” schools but they are also used in the evaluation of teachers.
The Governor seems to have very little faith in the competency of teachers
and while there is already an evaluation system in place that uses student
test scores on standardized tests and other measures to evaluate teachers,
he wants to increase the percentage of this component of the evaluation
to 50% and to bring in an outside evaluator who would observe the
teacher and count for an additional 35% of their score. He also proposes
extending the time for teachers to earn tenure to five years from three,
and would make it difficult for a teacher who scored ineffective on the
evaluation in any one of those five years to ever obtain tenure. The
evaluation system is new and there are many questions about its validity.
But the Governor insists on imposing this new system on teachers across
the State. In fact, he is so insistent about imposing his entire agenda that
he is withholding additional education funding as leverage to force the
Legislature to agree to his agenda.
And then there is the threat of appointing an education “czar” or “receiver”
to take over the management of “failing” schools. The Governor would
permit the New York State Education Department to appoint this individual,
who would have full, complete and unimpeachable control. The local
school boards could be fired as well as the Superintendent. And the school
“czar” would be in charge. The czar would also have the power to break
union contracts. The Governor has directed State Ed to study a current
Finally, the Governor would like to greatly expand
the charter schools in the State. He believes, as
many others, that charter schools are the “saviors”
of the public schools. Unfortunately, it appears that
the Governor does not look at the data. In his report
on the 176 failing schools statewide, the populations
of these schools are described as predominately
minority, including English Language Learners,
and poor. Many charter schools’ demographics
do not compare. Further, contrary to popular
belief not all charter schools are more successful
than public schools. Some perform better than
public schools, some perform on par and some
perform worse. Yet, the Governor would increase
the number of charters, which rely on public dollars
from the public schools further draining resources
from the schools that the Governor says have the
greatest need!
We can only provide a brief summary of the
Governor’s proposals, which are multi-faceted and
complex. Readers are encouraged to go online and
look up Governor Cuomo’s Educational Opportunity
Agenda. Since launching this agenda in January,
however, the outcry of constituents opposed to
all or key parts of this agenda have been heard
across the State. It remains to be seen what aspects
of this agenda are enforced once the budget is
passed in April. Anyone who is concerned about
education and the role that politicians are playing
in imposing educational policy should follow up
and voice your opinions/concerns. It’s not too
late. Battles are taking place every day as the
war on education continues.
by Dr. Nevergold
Dr. Nevergold is an
contributor writer for BWNY
& the Buffalo Challenger.
Note: Dr. Nevergold does
not represent the opinion of
the Board of Education. The
opinions expressed in this
article are her personal ones.
Note:
Article written before final legislation passed. Gov.
Andrew Cuomo is getting much of what he wanted
on teacher evaluation.
Main Character:Black curly headed girl
I know it’s 2016 but this is the year that something never
done before is done: DreamWorks will release their
first 3D animated film starring a black protagonist.
Dreamwork animations “Home”, featuring it’s main character
a curly headed black girl Tip, played by recording artist
Rihanna is a pleasant delight. Tip is a ‘resourceful girl’
who teams up with a banished alien called Oh when
Earth taken over by an alien race. Home will be the first
3D animation to have a black girl as the hero, it is also
Dreamworks’ third female protagonist, the others being
Monsters vs Aliens and The Croods.
Jennifer Lopez is the voice of Tip’s mother
and Steve Martin also stars as the voice of Boov leader Captain Smek. Believe it or not, seeing somebody that looks like you on the big screens
does wonders for youths. Not only does it help diversify the film industry
that already severely underrepresents minorities, but it exposes kids to
gender roles that help shape their thought processes as they grow older.
“Home,” is occasionally, slyly funny with a sprinkling of potty or rude
humor as when Oh mistakes some liquid in a restroom for lemonade.
Nope, not lemonade.” says Movie editor Barbara Vancheri
You can catch Tip, an adorable curly headed Black girl, only on the film
posters in urban neighborhoods or on BET. Otherwise, you will only
see promotional materials including Oh and Tip’s pet cat:
Rihanna-Home-Special-Screening-LosAngeles-Red-Carpet-Fashion-Christian-DiorCouture-Tom-LOrenzo-Site-TLO-1
The Road to
Carnegie Hall
I
n April, Nathan Napier will be on the road to New York City
to perform at the prestigious Carnegie Hall. Having competed
in the Golden Key International Music Festival, Nathan and his
partners, Alex Liu and Ross Mantsurov, an international team
in their own right, won the silver medal for their performance
of “Triana,” a one piano 6 hands composition by American
composer, Timothy Brown. This honor has earned the trio an
opportunity to perform on one of the world’s greatest concert
stages.
accomplished, he responds “I’m just having fun.”
Most musicians never get the opportunity to perform
on such a grand stage, the fact that Nathan is doing it
at eleven speaks volumes of his talent and hopefully
this is just the beginning of what will be a promising
future in music.
You can support Nathan by visiting his
“GoFundMe”web page to read his updates
or to make a small donation to aid with
his many recital and competition fees and
travel to Carnegie Hall
www.Gofund.me/NathantoCarnegie.
At first site, Nathan is a typical eleven year-old boy. He’s rough
and tough, plays baseball and would spend countless hours
playing video games if his parents would allow it. What sets
Nathan apart is his love for classical piano. Nathan began
playing piano three years ago at age eight by the urging of
his grandmother.
Under the instruction of a neighborhood piano teacher Nathan
soon began to devour his lessons and quickly became proficient
in his grade level of music books. At his first recital Nathan
performed an original composition, which he wrote himself.
His teacher recommended that he compete in the Federation
of Music Clubs Junior Festival. This event requires students,
of various levels, to perform two piano solo pieces before an
expert adjudicator who critiques and scores the performance.
Any score of 99-100 is considered superior and awards the
student an opportunity to perform at an Honors Recital to
celebrate their achievement. Nathan, upon his first attempt
at the Junior Festival competition, scored a 99 and was invited
to perform at Albright Knox Auditorium. That is where his
journey began.
At the Honors Recital, Nathan’s mother noticed that a
particular group of students, although very young, played
advanced compositions and had a particular showmanship
that emotionally connected the audience to their performance.
She noticed that the students she enjoyed the most, all came
from one teacher, Violeta Arakelova. “I knew that she had to
teach Nathan” says his mother, Lisa Napier; teachers like this
are few and far between and I knew that she would bring his
playing up a level; but I did not realize how much.” After
auditioning for her school and with careful contemplation,
Violeta took Nathan on as a student of her Royal Music
Academy of Buffalo.
For four consecutive years, Nathan has received perfect scores
at the Junior Festival; he is a 2013 and 2014 gold medalist
at the Stamford Kiwanis International Music Festival, has
performed four Honors Recitals at UB’s Baird Hall and has
participated in two master classes. Most recently, he and his
talented partners competed and won the gold at the WNY
Honor Recital at Montante Cultural Center, and in May will
compete with the trio and as a soloist in the upcoming Starlight
International Competition and Gala, featuring internationally
renowned judges, at the beautiful Ciminelli Hall.
It’s not just about the competition, but also having fun and
sharing joy of music with others. This was most recently
demonstrated when Nathan, along with the students from
Royal Music Academy, collected money for the Roswell Park
Foundation and performed a recital for the patients, visitors
and staff in the lobby of Roswell Park Cancer Institute. It
was amazing; people came from every direction and door
of the building and gathered to hear these amazing kids
perform. When asking Nathan how he feels about all he has
Nathan Napier
On Fire
Michael B. Jordan best known for his roles in Friday
Night Lights as East Dillon High School’s quarterback
Vince Howard and as a teenage drug dealer Wallace,
in HBO’s The Wire has recently been cast in Josh
Trank’s version of the story The Fantastic Four, playing
Johnny Storm, The Human Torch.
Jordan was twelve when he got his first break in
1999, Jordan launched his career as a professional
actor appearing briefly in single episodes of The
Cosby Show and The Sopranos. In 2002, he gained
more attention by playing the small but pivotal role
of Wallace in the first season of HBO’s The Wire. He
Apollo Creed in Rock Sylvester • Stallone set to reprise his Rocky Balboa role,
acting as the younger Creed’s reluctant trainer.
has also appeared in the George Lucas-produced
movie Red Tails and later playing one of the lead
roles in Chronicle, a film about three teenaged boys
who developed super powers.
Aside from playing the Human Torch in the Fantastic
Four this year, Jordan will be playing the main
character in the new Rocky movie by director Ryan
Coogler, called “Creed”. The movie will tell the story
of Apollo Creed’s grandson (played by Jordan), who
decides to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps and
become a professional boxer. According to Showbiz
411, The Cosby Show’s Phylicia Rashad has joined
the cast playing Apollo Creed’s widow and of course,
Sylvester Stallone will grace the screen as Rocky
Balboa.
BISHOP CONSECRATION OF
DARIUS G. PRIDGEN
Rev. Darius G. Pridgen name has been advanced almost
3 years ago, but he had respectfully declined 3 times. “I
have at this time in my life thought that I was not ready,
that I had not been called to the position,” says pastor
Pridgen. Three years ago his life was a bit different he
was satisfied with the position and duties of overseer as it
was, “I was not ready to become a Bishop at that point in
my life, not personally, and not spiritually, I have always
felt strongly that it is okay in life to say you’re not ready
when you feel you’re not ready.” Again the request was
made that Rev. Pridgen be elevated office of Bishop. This
time Rev. Pridgen felt that he was ready, many things
in his life had changed since first asked. “ being raised
Methodist, I took the title of Bishop very serious, one
thing many people don’t know is that not only does the
Bishop need to be prepared to be exemplary example, so
does his church. Becoming a bishop doesn’t just change
my role but that of the church as well. Three years ago I
had not felt as though I was ready personally, I was still
B
looking for a mate.” says Darius “I did not want to be
looking for a mate as I held the office of Bishop at the
same time”. The main reason he waited he says
“I wanted to make certain that I was ready for the role,
and that I felt the calling.”
This event will mark Mark Bishop Paul S Morton Sr.
Founder/Presiding Bishop last elevations as Bishop,
making is an extremely historic event says rev. Pridgen.
On April 17th Rev Darius G. Pridgen will become New
York State West Bishop of the Full Gospel Baptist Church
Fellowship International.
Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International
Northeast Central Regional Summit & Consecration of Bishop
Designate Darius G. Host Church: True Bethel Baptist, 907 E.
Ferry St. Buffalo, NY - Friday, April 17, 2015 at 7 pm
For More Info contact (716) n895-8222
uffalo opera unlimited
Artistic Director Tim Kennedy, founder of
Buffalo Opera Unlimited, and his board of
directors are approaching their 30th anniversary
this year. With a strong commitment to local
talent, reflected in the mission statement for
BOU, Kennedy not only has the skills, but the
creative expertise of a passionate musician.
BOU is dedicated to producing opera and a
variety of musical forms with an emphasis on
regional artists. Buffalo Opera Unlimited is also
committed to making opera more accessible to
a broader audience and to providing education
to develop future audiences.
In a day and age where opera music is not as
popular as other forms of music, keeping the
genre of classical music alive is a particular
interest to Kennedy. For those not familiar,
opera music combines singers and musicians
talents with a dramatic work. “Sometimes
classical music is an acquired taste…you learn
to appreciate it more,” says Kennedy in regards
to opera being a form of art.
Kennedy notes that opera is a particularly special
form of music because the singer must be able
to sing over an orchestra and described them as
“singing actors”. “Jazz Operas”, a form of opera,
which features elements of jazz, is a common form
that Kennedy composes at the BOU.
As a director, Kennedy says getting an individual
to get into the character they are playing is the
hardest part. Despite the difficulties involved in
putting pieces together, Kennedy keeps striving for
more and stays true to the BOU’s mission.
A couple pieces of Kennedys work include “Cosi
Fan Tutte” and “A Salute to Duke Ellington” which
is set for October 2015. This year will be filled with
celebration for their 30th year.
by Lindsay Frazier
buffalooperaunlimited.org
$684 Million
the black hair business
T
he Black hair care industry is grossly underestimated,
and knowingly so. Market research firm Mintel
estimated the size of the 2012 market at $684 million,
with a projection of $761 million by 2017.
they’re ordering and help them through the process.
Simply put we deliver; you get
to see it, and touch it. If it’s
not right unlike many online
storefronts, you don’t have
the process of going through
trying to return it oversees
in hopes that you get a new
bundle or even your money
Today, the multi-billion dollar black hair market is being
served by roughly 9,000 Korean-owned beauty supply
stores. Most, if not all, of the revenue generated leaves
the black community. Korean-American entrepreneurs
control all major components of the beauty supply
business. There are four central distributors serving a
large portion of the beauty supply stores in the country, Brazilians do not
all Korean-owned. These distributors only work with sell their hair.. “It
other Koreans in order to dominate the market. When would be impossible
it comes to manufacturing and distribution, too many for enough hair to
barriers come into play for Blacks to enter the market. be cut in Brazili in
Yet, individuals are still “rolling the dice” with
these black market companies out of China.
Enter “Hair Mobile Express“ Well, we
are a Game Changer! Says Marcus
Sharp, Chairman.
model: Shemika Charles
hair: H.M.E
photo: Xavier’s
BWNY had an opportunity to sit
down with the H.M.E team Marcus
Sharp, Chairman, Rebecca Sharp,
C.O.O , Mario Bonner - Head of
Product Development, James
Woolwine- Manager of WNY
Operations. They are not only
trying to change the industry but
also trying to empower other
African-Americans to enter the
market. Hair Mobile Express
(H.M.E) was started this year
by Marcus Sharp and his wife
Rebecca Sharp. Based here in
Buffalo New York their business
concept is simple; to deliver
high-grade Virgin unprocessed
hair to any location within
Buffalo and the surrounding
areas. Marcus explains, he
realized how much money
was leaving the community,
not being reinvested, he
said “I asked myself how
is this possible, what can I
do to change it.” One thing
Marcus did not want to do
was to simply just sell the
same bad hair that he believes
many people are getting from
local beauty supply stores.
He specifically dug into the
market understanding all aspects
of hair and hair quality. Meeting
with several suppliers so that he
knew exactly what it is that he was
ordering, so that he could deliver
the quality of hair that he believes
people deserve, “my business is
different, we will talk to people and
make sure they understand what it is that
back. Neither do you have
to try to decipher language
barriers when speaking to a
customer service rep. Marcus
says he has talked to several
people who ordered hair and
spent more than two months
trying to get the right product
or refund. That is simply
unacceptable, he believes.
For many individuals that
decide to order hair from
overseas, the hair is delivered
with absolutely no direction
or information. For others that go to beauty
supply stores, a lot of them re-package the hair with
misleading information, says Marcus sharp. So how
do you know if your luscious extensions are the real
deal? It is very difficult to tell the difference between
Chinese and Indian hair because manufacturers “put
silicone and other things to make it very smooth.
“From the wash you can tell. Chinese and the Korean
manufacturers have different tricks up their sleeve.
They put a coating over the hair so the hair doesn’t
tangle in the first wash. As soon as you heat it
that coating goes away and then it starts tangling”.
“The Chinese makes sure that hair is sealed with
chemicals so it’s fantastic when you pass your fingers
through. But as soon as you wash or put any heat,
it goes away.
Is Your Brazilian Hair Really From Brazil?
The biggest schemes and scams in the virgin human
hair industry (Brazil Hair) most women of color prefer
virgin Brazilian hair extensions. Many think it comes
from the pacific of Brazil. Alix Moore author of The
Truth About the Human Hair Industry Brazilians
do not sell their hair, nor do they cut it for profit or
religion. “It would be impossible for enough hair to
be cut in the Brazilian community in abundance to
provide for the world. “The bigger conspirators are
beauty supply stores. They bring Chinese hair. They
call it Indian hair because it is an easier way to sell it.
Continues next page...
TSA
Singling
Out Black
Womens
Hair
The Transportation Safety
Administration (TSA) have
agreed to stop racially profiling
black women with natural hair
and subjecting them to extra
security screenings. According
to BuzzFeed News
The ACLU concluded that, since airport officials have been unable
to explain why these searches are necessary from a security
perspective, they may violate the Constitution — which prohibits
the selective enforcement of searches based on race.
The agency will also provide conduct trainings for TSA employees
emphasizing “race neutrality” and specifically focusing on how to
approach black women’s hair during security pat-downs, according
to an announcement from the ACLU.
The Best Natural Hair Products
By: BLACK NAPS.org reclaim your crown
Ariane (Editor-in-Chief)
I am well past the product junkie phase. At this point of my natural hair journey I have found
products that I have grown to love and stand by. I am still open to trying new products, but I
no longer feel the need to constantly spend money to find that perfect product. Here are my
list of the best natural hair products that do amazing work for my hair.
#1 Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque
When I am looking for a product that will give my hair moisture
as well as give me some stretch, I turn to my deep treatment
masque. This also works pretty well when it comes to laying
those edges down and getting rid of those bede beads! Works
great for creating a nice poof too!
#2 Shea Moisture Curling Souffle When used in combination with the deep treatment masque this
helps to give me some stretch and add some waves to my hair.
Used alone it is a great moisturizer and gives my kinks some curl
definition. This is definitely one of my top go to products and I
would recommend it to anyone who has severely dry hair.
#3 Miss Jessie’s Baby Buttercreme With the use of this product a little definitely goes a
long way. After applying it for your first twist out set
or just for moisturizing purposes you will find you
can go a couple of days without needing to use it
again. If you love wearing curly styles this a great
product to use.
part 2
$684 Million
the black hair business...
Marcus explains, Synthetic hair may still be popular, but it cannot
be heat-styled, curled or straightened. So for more permanent
extensions salons rely on human hair. With it comes an array
of jargon. There is Remy hair, all strands face the same way and
often come from just one person’s head (virgin hair -unprocessed);
double drawn (all the same length). The hair can be attached with a
weave – when strips of extra hair, called a weft, are sewn into thin
plaits of the customer’s own hair – or attached to the customer’s
own hair using micro rings, or even glue. Real Indian hair won’t
tangle. It can’t tangle because the cuticles are all in one direction.
Many women going by human hair is 21 inches long, not realizing
very few women have 21 inch long hair that hair has to be filled
in. It is often filled in with low-quality synthetic hair, or hair that’s
has been blended with a different grade of hair. “We are planning to compete in several different ways as far as
price goes” Marcus says. I understand that our profit will grow from
gaining market share. What Marcus and his team seem to be most
proud about is their affiliate program. It’s offering individuals (mostly
college students) the ability to not only buy hair at a discount, but
to sell hair and earn money in the process. His wife explains with
such a excitement in her voice, “I love working with young people
and showing them how to do business. Not only can they make
money, but they can make money selling something that they love
to use.” More important they start educating themselves on quality,”
and of course she says laughingly, “they began to try various types
of hair, I simply love it,” this is really exciting for us. Now people
can simply decide to do something different with their hair, pick up
the phone or go to our website and have the hair delivered to them,
the same day. “There is simply no excuse for so much of our hard
earned money to not be recycled within the community in which
we live, that is really what I want to change” says Marcus Sharp.
#4 Kinky-Curly Curling Custard
Normally when I wet my hair is quick to dry up with little to no curl definition. However, I
can truly say that this product works wonders for my kinky tightly coiled 4b/4c hair. My zig
zags turn to flat out lucious curls and even when dried my hair is still moisturized. This is my
go to product for wash n go’s, curly styles, and my sleek hair styles.
Buffalo H.M.E team Chairman Marcus Sharp, Rebecca Sharp,
Mario Bonner, James Woolwine. -photo by Xavier’s
by Will Jones
HEALING YOUR MIND, BODY AND SOUL…
I
s Obama Care really worth it? Dr. Raul Vazquez answers a
resounding “Yes.” For the past 25 years, Dr. Vazquez has fought
with Medicaid to provide quality services for his patients. In
the past it was impossible for a physician to provide the level of
care needed for a patient with the amount of financial support
provided. Dr. Raul Vazquez, MD is a board certified family
physician, and President and CEO of GBUAHN’. He has
received the NYS Association of Black & Puerto Rican Legislators
Health Award and was honored as one of the 2015 Business
First Healthcare Champions.
At The Forefront Of Change
Medicaid had a lot of barriers between the physician and
insurance. “For years I have been fighting with insurance
companies and making a lot of enemies along the way, but
it was for the sake of my patients. The Medicaid market has
always been treated as the second class citizens and in 2008 I
traveled to Albany with physicians and politicians to fight for
the services needed,” said Dr. Vazquez. “Healthcare is being
redesigned and we are at the forefront. Eight billion dollars was
used to redesign the Medicaid Market to better a system that
has been deficient for too long.”
Greater Buffalo United Accountable Healthcare Network
(GBUAHN) is a Health Home, Care Coordination Unit supported
by the Affordable Care Act. Seven years prior to the healthcare
changes, Dr. Vazquez was formulating a plan to provide better
service to his patients and in that process GBUAHN’ was born.
GBUAHN’ is the only minority based health forum in New York
State, run by seven Physicians that came together to assist in
simplifying their patient’s healthcare. This program centers
its work on advocating for the patient, not the insurance
companies. GBUAHN’ focuses on providing the needs of
a patient; they assist in finding the correct doctors that will
focus on an individual’s health needs, set transportation
to and from doctor appointments, as well as opening the
doors to your spiritual well-being.
This is no average center that just points patients in the
direction that they should go, but assists them with taking the
steps needed to make them self-sufficient, assist with making
decisions regarding their healthcare and most importantly,
educates patients on their chronic illnesses. Many people
have felt that health providers made them feel as if there is
no advice to take but their own and whatever options their
insurance would allow, but this is different. GBUAHN’ is patient
centered not physician centered as it was with past providers.
The Director of Outreach, Eva White, spoke on her role with
GBUAHN’. “We don’t only work on the physical health aspects
of a patient, we work on their mind, body and soul,” she said
proudly as she slowly nodded her head. “We help you make
decisions, we educate you on the what-ifs, if you do this, [then]
that can happen, or if you don’t, then these are the consequences.
The patient is always involved in their care.”
Dr. Vazquez states that they have developed a technological
system that allows GBUAHN’ employees to work their hardest
to assist the patient. Below is a scenario of how new patients
receive the personalized care that GBUAHN’ provides.
Upon initiation you will meet with three wonderful health
workers that will guide you through three basic steps to better
your healthcare:
Community Health Worker #1- this health worker will be the
first wonderful face you will meet representing GBUAHN.
They gladly go into the community and engage with patients to
educate them on the program and hopefully begin enrollment.
Raul and Toni Vazquez
Community Health Worker #2- is considered the Health Risk
Assessor. Once enrolled in the program, the representative goes
through a 60 days period connecting the patient with needed
resources and assets to develop a conscious health plan. This
process will always connect a patient with resources; tools
and places in their residential area that can provide needed
health assistance.
Patient Health Navigator –Step #3, this GBUAHN member
will feel more like family. They will formulate the best plan
in making sure you are receiving the best care regarding
your chronic health issue, primarily decreasing Emergency
Department visits and inpatient hospitalization. Their focus
is to avoid patients getting unnecessary services from the
wrong facilities. In partnership with you, they will figure how
to give you the best quality of life they can, while assisting in
managing your healthcare.
These members are faces you’ll see in your community. These
are people that understand your needs and are willing to
advocate for you not for your physicians.
“There are many community members that trust their
church, but they not their doctors” and the members of
GBUAHN’acknowledges that. Again, this program is not just
to better your healthcare, but it’s here to better your life. This
is part of GBUAHN’s plan, not the government.
Their Spiritual Support is a system that is willing to set a
round table discussion with your faith leader and discuss your
options and what’s needed to live a healthier life. Sometimes,
just the medical aspect is not enough. If building a bridge
between healthcare and faith can better help the patient, then
it’s definitely worth the extra stride within the community.
These efforts are designed to get a better insight on healthcare
“We are the backbone, if you need assistance or you need help
with transportation; we will help and guide you through the
process” says Krista Sanchez, Assistant Director of Marketing.
GBUAHN’currently stands within the top ten health forums
with 4,600 patients and ranks at number five in Medicaid
providers in New York State. There are 44 areas within the
state that have a high minority count with health disparities
and unfortunately Buffalo ranks #1 across the state. There are
204,000 people on Medicaid in Buffalo and is estimated that
17,000 Medicaid affiliated members show chronic illnesses
(e.g. diabetes, mental illness, cancer) in the urban database.
GBUAHN’ is willing to assist patient by patient.
Unfortunately, the health system is content with repeatedly
sending money to the same providers that may not have a
connection or kinship in the community in which they serve.
GBUAHN’ is breaking through that barrier; starting at zero and
within the past two years, has become a nine million dollar
operation with 50 employees and seven physicians. Excitedly,
Dr. Vazquez says, “There’s plenty of room for growth.”
Recently turning 50, Dr. Vazquez said with deliverance, “I’m
building what I always dreamed about; a system where I can
create and change communities. I’m doing what I love.” Dr.
Vazquez lovingly gazes at his beautiful wife Toni Vazquez
GBUAHN is also providing jobs for the community. Currently, their staff is off to a great start, having employed many
people of diverse backgrounds (Somali, Vietnamese, Pakistani, Afghani and American).
as she began explaining her husband’s push in
launching GBUAHN’ and his refusal to be placed
under a larger parent company.
“Raul refused to fail or be carried with his idea of
GBUAHN’,” she said sternly. “He knew GBUAHN’
could stand-alone, they were asked several times to
combine with a stronger and larger company. He
noticed the models (other company’s ideas) were
being built around Medicaid standards; without
much thought regarding people of color. Raul knew
his competitors plans were not as structurally sound
as his due to his IT background, and he was correct,”
Toni said proudly. The Vazquez’s are motivated to
push his dream. They are so committed to the vision
of GBUAHN’ that they have not personally received
salaries since its inception, almost three years ago.
Dr. Vazquez said with a wonderful smile, “Within
the next five years our growth potential will be
guaranteed. I would like to see 100 physicians,
owning portions of hospitals, partnering with
pharmacies, labs and imaging sites.”
“We are trying to double the number of employees
to prepare for the growth. You walk into a room, and
see such diversity in staff members, just imagine
a hundred people that look like the community.”
GBUAHN’ is also providing jobs for the community.
Currently, their staff is off to a great start, having
employed many people of diverse backgrounds
(Somali, Vietnamese, Pakistani, Afghani and
American).
GBUAHN’ is providing room for employee growth.
Not everyone will have a Bachelor’s Degree, but
anyone can start as a Community Health Worker #1
and rise with experience and training. Dr. Vazquez
is hoping to use healthcare as an enabler.
GBUAHN’s goal is getting the sick well enough to
where they can become employable again. They
have had a number of patients become employees.
Managing their healthcare correctly allows them
confidence in returning to the work force.
The state wasn’t sure how they wanted a program
such as this to play out. As a result, GBUAHN’ has
been blazing the trail and the government has been
following its lead. This is possible do to the work
of the founding partners Dr. Kenneth L. Gayles,
Lula Gayles Professional Center, Dwight Lewis,
Main Primary Care, Winston Douglas, MD, W G
Medical PLLC, Kenton Forte, MD, Heartbeat Center
Of Western New York, Jesslyn Perry, MD, Urban
Family Practice, Dr. George Haddad, Dr. George
Haddad Primary Care Practice, and Dr. Frances
Ilozue, Rapha Family Medicine. “We are creating the
standards,” said Vazquez. The GBUAHN’ providers
work diligently every day to execute its mission of
Smart coordination of quality driven and patient
centric healthcare services through an integrated
stream of delivery.
For more information about Greater Buffalo United
Accountable Healthcare Network visit GBUAHN.
org or call 1-855-4GBUAHN (1-855-442-8246).
by Will Jones and Nena Williams
“Three things the community needs, more than
anything, is jobs, jobs and jobs.”- William L. Gaiter
Overseer Dr. James A Lewis III & Co-Pastor Lady Zandra Lewis,
present “Honoring are Queens” Mother’s Day Extravaganza
feature entertainment Buffalo’ own Will Holton Saxophonist
extraordinaire!
GBUAHN Office locations: 393 Delaware Ave. (Headquarters) • 555 Niagara St. (showen above)
• 1327 Jefferson Ave. (showen above) • 70 Niagara St. • 370 Franklin St. • 701 E. Delavan Ave.
• Corporate training is held at Mt. Olive Baptist Church
adult
ticket
$45
$20 Children under 12
contact Lady Zandra Lewis at
716 891-8217 or at josjoy1@aol.com
Young
Educated
& Anxious
Why I would stay...in Buffalo
Striving to make positive contributions in life
should be important no matter the geographical
location. Creating the substance for a young person’s life begins in the place they came from and
can extend in to other areas. Making a mark in
Buffalo may be the way to go for many young
people. Living through this year’s harsh winter,
many are flocking down to warmer weather.
“It seems depressing when I come home, which
is why I don’t care to come back often anymore,”
says Darryl Lewis, a Buffalo native, now living
in Charlotte, North Carolina.
In a city where urban development has been slow
to come (or in some cases not at all), after listening to Mayor Brown’s 2015 State of the City
Address, one may immediately be overcome
with excitement. After learning of recent urban
development plans, many graduates are considering making Buffalo their home. With talk of
the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, the new
Harbor Center and future investments for the
Eastside. In the same moment, it is still tough to
find work now.
Some young people simply want to move away.
Employment and the prospect of a career are
crucial to one’s consideration of staying here.
If one decides to stay is it necessarily a bad
thing? How would young people know if the
changes the Mayor has outlined will come into
fruition?
Those exact questions run through the minds
of college graduates everyday. What exactly is
the solution for our young population getting
their education in WNY? “The key is to find
your destiny within yourself,” says Henry L.
Taylor, Doctor and Professor for the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at UB.
“Each and every one of us has a destiny and it
is our responsibility to discover it.”
With historic establishments such as The Buffalo Colored Musicians Club, Nash House and
Michigan Street Baptist Church in the Michigan Avenue Heritage Corridor, cultural heritage tourism is real and promising for young
people. There are several African American
businesses and young entrepreneurships growing and blossoming as well.
In other words, there are many more opportunities for growth and leaving your mark in the
city of Buffalo, even more than people may
think. Buffalo’s only African American owned
and operated radio station WUFO1080, located in downtown Buffalo just steps away from
the African American Heritage Corridor, has
plans for the future. “We’re planning on developing youth programming…a talk show…
youth hosting their own show, moderating
sion to leave or stay in a area, affects the future
plans of a city.
Being young and having options about where to
live and what to do is a powerful tool in itself.
The fact that it’s a hard decision may speak volumes about how far Buffalo has come.
My advise, stick around and give Buffalo a second look. People never know what dreams they
can fulfill, reaching and believing.
by Lindsay Frazier BWNY Intern
and bringing in their own guests,” says Sheila
Brown CEO of Vision Multi Media. Many
young people should be aware of the opportunities pouring in for Buffalo’s youth, it may
come down to simple patience while continuing your push to discover your destiny.
With big plans underway for the city, it is important that the young population focus on
achieving their goals and to look beyond if
necessary. According to Claire Miller of New
York Times, “The effects of the migration of
the young and the restless are most vividly
seen in urban cores.”
At what point is it a better choice to move
away and pursue goals in another city? One
should take time out every once in a while to
reevaluate goals and plan for the future. Regardless of the plans for developments or other
positive changes occurring in the city, the deci-
I
Inspiring a Bright Future
“
The Communities of Giving Legacy Initiative
The ones who doubt
you and say you won’t
make it are the key
motivators for you
to continue to prove
them wrong
The Communities of Giving Legacy Initiative® (CGLI), a fund of the Community
Foundation for Greater Buffalo that was established in 2008, is led by multi-cultural,
multi-ethnic civic leaders of color who recognize the importance of endowmentbuilding as a sustainable means of inspiring philanthropy for and within communities
of color. The mission of CGLI is to increase philanthropy in WNY communities
and create positive change in the lives of youth of color living in low-income
communities via access to people, places and experiences that help them achieve
positive life goals. Each year, the dedicated council members of the CGLI put in
countless volunteer hours to create positive change for our youth.
One of the programs of the CGLI
is “Success Looks Like Me®.” This
pay-it-forward initiative provides
multi-ethnic young people living in
low-income neighborhoods access
to professional role models. One
of many experiences offered in
2014 was a transformative STEM
(Science, Technology, Engineering
Success Looks Like Me® Chair, Jennifer J. Parker and Mathematical) career
introduces featured SLLM event speaker, Michael exploration trip to the General
Morgan to a group of Buffalo Academy for Visual and Motors Headquarters in Detroit,
Performing Arts students.
Michigan where the students met
with executives of color. They
shared the importance of having a
dream and making it a reality.
“The ones who doubt you and
say you won’t make it are the key
motivators for you to continue to
prove them wrong,” said Salvador
Saez, a senior at Hutch-Tech High
School who also attended the
Detroit trip.
”
Salvador Saez
2014 Close-Up Student The CGLI recognizes individuals and organizations that help youth of color create
a legacy of success with the Pay It Forward Award. The 2014 Pay It Forward Awards
recognized deserving organizations like the General Motors Tonawanda Engine
Plant, First Niagara Foundation, Buffalo Public Schools and the University at Buffalo
for their support and “paying it forward” for future generations of professionals
and philanthropists of color.
To date, with support from many individuals and organizations in our community, the
CGLI has raised over a half a million dollars in their endowment at the Community
Foundation for Greater Buffalo to continue to support programs that create positive
change in the lives of youth of color.
Because of the generosity of its donors, the CGLI is able to inspire paying-it-forward
with time, talent and treasure to make a difference in the lives of youth of color
living in low-income communities.
Buffalo Public School students participate in a Q&A session
with General Motors Tonawanda Engine Plant executives.
After the Detroit trip, Salvador
says he plans to attend Syracuse
University in the fall to study Mechanical Engineering. There’s no doubt that Salvador
and hundreds of other students’ lives will be changed thanks to our volunteers and
the generous donors who make this work possible.
Another 2014 milestone for the Communities of Giving Legacy Initiative included
another eye-opening trip with local students of color to Washington, D.C. in
partnership with the Close Up Foundation. The CGLI is proud to offer youth of
color the experience of travelling to our nation’s capital for Close Up Washington,
D.C. Educational Programs. Since 2011, 43 local students have spent a week in
the nation’s capital with young people from all over the United States learning how
our government works, in the hopes that one day they will advocate for causes
they care about as citizens of this country.
Engineer Candace Cooke form General Motors’ Tonawanda Engine
plant gave a tour to 40 Buffalo high school students as
One student who benefited
from last year’s trip was
Summer Hemphill. Summer
was recently offered a
full-tuition scholarship to
Niagara University.
“One thing I loved about
Close-Up was all the diverse
people from all over the
country that came together
to come to discuss politics,”
said Summer Hemphill, a
Nine local youth traveled to Washington, D.C. through a sponsorship from the CGLI in partnership
with the Close Up Foundation.
To learn more about the Communities of Giving Legacy Initiative, visit
www.the c g li.or g .
LEWAC
James Delisco Beeks
ANNOUNCES
HATTITUDE 2015
Catherine J. Lewis
Each month BWNY magazine highlights a not-for-profit organization
or event, it feels are doing amazing work in the region. Many
organizations are truly dedicated to the health and well-being of
the residentsof the community. This months spotlight organization
is LEWAC
Filling a vital need in Western New York for program management
& coordination, and health education programs aimed specifically
at the diverse cultures in the area, speaks to our mission and is
what we do. says Catherine J. Lewis CEO of LEWAC
LEWAC ANNOUNCES HATTITUDE 2015
LEWAC (Lasting Education for Women, Adults, and Children)
Associates of Western New York, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit
health education agency, is hosting its 4th health awareness
event on Sunday, October 18, 2015 from 1:00 -3:45 p.m. at
the Hyatt Hotel - downtown Buffalo, New York. It’s a Jazz
Brunch. The theme is hats with an attitude! The program is
called “Hattitude – It’s About Women’s Health & Well- Being.”
This bi-annual event is a vehicle to help raise awareness and
educate women about SELF and health conditions for which
women are at high risk.
Catherine explains “Our goal is to reach 500 women - mothers,
daughters, sisters and friends - in a fun atmosphere.” The
event offers women an opportunity to wear and show off their
favorite hats.
2014 Hattitude event, educate women about SELF and HEALTH
Hattitude 2015 is sponsored in part by GBUAHN - The Greater
United Accountable Healthcare Network. For more information
James Delisco Beeks aka Delisco James comes
to Buffalo on May 1, 2015, James Delisco,
crowned “The Entertainer” by Mr. Las Vegas/
Wayne Newton himself. James is often
described as a cross between Michael Jackson,
Lenny Kravitz, Stevie Wonder, Usher, and Justin
Timberlake, he brings piercing, powerful vocals,
live band production, innovative dance moves
and undeniable stage presence.
The BPO Celebrates the music of the King of
Pop in a symphonic tribute to Michael Jackson’s
staring Delisco. BWNY Spoke with James,
about what got him into performing. ”The
first song that I perform, I was nine years old,
it was for my school the song was Michael
Jackson’s Ben, it was very moving,” said James.
“I remembered it being one of my first chance
to have a voice.” James explain as a child he
didn’t speak much he kept own self he wasn’t
able to find his voice until he started performing
and singing songs. At five years oh is when
he heard his first Michael Jackson song., “I
was completely transform that day”, “I knew
I could discover my voice”
James is quick to point out and stress that the show
is not a show of impressions or impersonation
of Michael Jackson it is a tribute show. “To hear
his (Michael Jackson) songs performed with a
full orchestra is simply amazing”.
James is releasing his own EP in May, he’s
launching a new website that will let fans
downloads a free song, each month for five
months. The five song EP to be released at the
end. His music is greatly influence by the works
of Michael Jackson, “how could it not be” ,says
James. James says he is especially proud of one
particular song entitled “Thank you Michael”.
He believed that musical artist for evermore will
be influenced by the works of Michael Jackson.
He’s hoping that we all come out to enjoy the
tribute concert to Michael Jackson, the light
show, and full band, and our BPO, with JoAnn
Falletta, as Music Director.
Join us as a contributing writer,
guest writer, freelance photographer,
investigative reporter, or editor. Share
your ideas. Become part of building
a stronger minority media.
Contact Will Jones at: will@blackwny.com
about Greater Buffalo United Accountable Healthcare Network
visit GBUAHN.org. Proceeds to benefit LEWAC’s inner-city breast
awareness outreach programs. To reserve a seat, table or vendor
spot, call 716-392-0853. Catherine J. Lewis Hattitude@lewac.org
w w w. l e w a c . o r g
“OUR DESTINY IS NOT WRITTEN FOR US, IT IS WRITTEN BY US”
“Become A Writer For WNY’s Most Popular Publications Sharing Business Ideas and Become Recognized”
selfies you’re hopefully never
going to take
selfies
THE
It is generally accepted that the No.
1 reason to post a selfie is as a showoff tool. It might ostensibly just be a
picture of your face, but the underlying
message is usually, “See how amazing I
look!,” “I’m having such a great time!” and/
or “Look where I am and who I’m with!”
But with the selfie reaching stratospheric
levels of popularity, we’re all becoming a little
more curious about what they really convey about their
subjects — is it really a straightforward boast?
Ever since smartphones came equipped with
cameras that face not just outward but also
backward at the user, the self-portrait, dubbed the
“selfie” has taken over social media, particularly
Instagram. Because of the selfie’s close-up nature,
it’s far more intimate than, say, the portrait.
Many selfies carry sexual undertones, especially
since the majority of selfies are, obviously, userapproved, and designed to leave a positive
impression or elicit a positive response.
On the surface, the trend is sort of affirming, if
undeniably self-absorbed: Women, whether rich
and powerful or otherwise, increasingly have a
Sasha and Malia Obama Inauguration Selfie 2012
healthy image of themselves. That’s a good thing. And yet selfies are also a manifestation of society’s
obsession with looks and its ever-narcissistic
embrace. There’s a sense that selfie subjects feel as
though they’re starring in their own reality shows,
with an inflated sense of self that allows them to
believe their friends or followers are interested
in seeing them lying in bed, lips pursed, in a real
world headshot. It’s like looking in the mirror all
day long, and letting others see you do it. And that
can have real and serious implications. Excessive
narcissism, studies have found, can have adverse
effects on marriage and relationships, parenting
, and the workplace. One study found a link
between excessive narcissism and violence.
Men who take more selfies have higher than
average traits of narcissism and psychopathy, a
study from academics at Ohio State University
has found. Professor Jesse Fox, the study’s lead
author, said nan interview for Dina Rickman of the
The Independent , while it may not be surprising
that men who spend a lot of time posting selfies
and editing them are more narcissistic, it had
not yet been confirmed in a scientific research.
For Fox, the “more interesting finding” was that
selfie-obsessed men had more psychopathic
traits and self-objectified, which means valuing
oneself primarily on the basis of appearance.
Kayleigh Hill is grabbed by stadium security after she ran onto the field during the
eighth inning of the 2013 Men’s College World Series Final... She took a Selfies
Never take this kind ...well,
because this is never okay.
Girl what about your kid in the tub?
While the research found the number of
selfies posted were linked to narcissistic and
psychopathic traits, that does not mean your male
friends posting copious selfies are full-blown
psychopaths or narcissists. While some of the
men in the study had higher than average traits
of these characteristics, they all scored within
normal ranges of human behaviour.
What’s more, a recent study out of the U.K. found
that the selfie phenomenon may be damaging
to real world relationships, concluding that both
excessive photo sharing and sharing photos of
a certain type—including self-portraits—makes
people less likeable. The same study found that
increased frequency of sharing self-portraits is
related to a decrease in intimacy with others.
For one thing, putting so much emphasis on your
own looks can make others feel self-conscious
about theirs in your presence. The pressure to
be “camera-ready” can also heighten self-esteem
issues and increase feelings of competition among
friends.
The trick with selfies may be to look at why
you’re taking them—and what they do for you.
Posting affirming selfies can be empowering.
They can help readjust the industry standard of
the beauty ideal. But they can also help reinforce
the idea that what matters most in this world is
how things, and people, look. The quantity and
subject matter of the pictures have an impact
on the level of support and intimacy within
relationships, according to research carried out
at the University of Birmingham.
“My advice for people sharing photos or links
with a fan site is think twice and share once.
Be cautious when sharing and think how it
will be perceived by all the others who may
see it. Although sharing is a great way to better
relationships it can also damage them.” Dr Ben
Marder, University of Edinburgh.
Peggy Drexler, Ph.D. is a research psychologist, Assistant
Professor of Psychology at Weill Medical College,
I was drunk and lonely: Geraldo
explains his half-naked selfie
selfies We all
hope you stop
The Duckface
“Duck Face”, also known as
“Myspace Face”, is a pejorative
term for a facial expression made
by pressing one’s lips together into
the shape of a duck’s bill. It is often
associated with selfies of teenage
girls . The pursed, extended lips and
hooded eyelids (aka “bedroom eyes”)
Best Selfies Ever
OD
We Need to Stop Sharing Videos
of Black Girls In Fights
Dozens of kids and at least two
adults watched as four teenage
girls brutalized a pint-sized
15-year-old girl in a Brooklyn
McDonald’s — but not one made
a move to stop it, a shocking
video that’s been shared across
the globe shows. None of the
witnesses at the Flatbush Ave.
fast-food joint — many of whom
were cheering during the afterschool onslaught— dialed 911,
though McDonald’s workers did
call, police. The New York Daily
News reports
easy to watch, or worse, reenact.
Studies have shown that
“exposure to violent media
results in a blunting of emotional
responses, which in turn may
prevent the connection of
consequences of aggression
with an appropriate emotional
response, and therefore may
increase the likelihood that
aggression is seen as acceptable
behavior.”
When Black girls see variations of
themselves in a less than positive
One callous onlooker even light, i.e. fight videos, it can be
joked as the girl lay on the floor, easy for them to have a poor self-
Videos clips Girls In Fights :World Star HipHop Clips
“Yo, she’s dead. It’s a murder!”
The girl has two black eyes
and multiple bruises, a police
source said. Despite being
beaten to a pulp, the teen has
refused to talk to police, officials
said. She’s apparently afraid of
retaliation — some of the girls
who attacked her have links to
the Young Savages, a violent
crew that operates out of Crown
Heights.
image and set lower standards
for themselves. They can be
confused about how they should
act, especially when it comes to
tense, stressful, or confrontational
situations. And while it may seem
fun and harmless at the time,
being recorded while viciously
beating the life out of someone
else – while solo or in a group –
could warrant years of unwanted
attention, unemployment, and
possible jail time. Five of the girls
Thanks to social media and involved in the attack, whose
infamous sites like World Star names were not released, have
Hip Hop, fight videos instantly been arrested.
go viral, with many commenters
laughing at (or blaming) the There’s a plethora of Black
victim which in turn worsens women out here consciously
the problem. I’ve seen Black serving as healthy examples for
women consciously fight naked our daughters. But these videos
in the streets to prove a point circulating the web make it
for some man or whatever street harder for teenagers to look up
credibility they’re after that day to them.
and all of it is disgusting and
Please, stop sharing fight
perpetuates stereotypes.
videos. Instead, share positive
The issue here is that while it’s representations of Black women,
idiotic to fight, the thousands so our girls can aspire to someone
of videos adorning Black girls more worthy of their respect.
throwing bows or beating
another girl down feed the idea
by Ariel Williams
that we’re violent, aggressive,
and angry. Worse, watching one
(or more) video automatically
breeds another because in a
teenager’s mind, having Internet
fame is everything. Additionally,
enough consumption of violence
desensitizes one to it, making it
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people skills and a strong ability to follow-through..Customer
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not necessary.
Set your own hours, determine your own
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Email your resume to: Will@BlackWNY.com
ODDS of imprisonment
For Black Men
It’s no secret that Black men are more
likely to go to jail than any other
group. Bruce Western, a leading expert in criminal justice, analyzed data
and created this chart on three major
factors; race, education, and history.
All men have a much higher chance
of going to prison now in 2015 than
they did just 35 years ago, although
African-Americans go to prison far
more frequently. Western’s findings
greater emphasis to be placed upon
the Black male, notably the high
school dropouts. If the total number
of people being arrested has fallen,
Then it seems clear what’s happening. “Of the ones we are arresting we
are sending more of them to prison,”
says John Pfaff, a professor at Fordham Law School, With the decrease
in arrests examining the data it
shows from the 90s to the 2000 district attorney’s have just been more
concluded that becoming a high
school dropout is a major predictor
of imprisonment for both Black and
White males. African-American men
who dropped out of high school in
1979 were 15% more likely to end
up in prison by the age of 30, while
today it is a staggering 69%. Most
people would cite drugs as being the
number one reason why men end
aggressive and filing charges. At the
same time a new phenomenon of
overcharging begain in the mid 90’s.
Routinely charge defendants with far
more than they can prove because
that puts maximum pressure on the
person to cop a plea. That’s why
more than 95% of all criminal cases
end in plea bargains. It seems clear
If you released every person in prison on a drug charge
today, our state prison population would drop from about
1.5 million to 1.2 million.
up in prison. Black men selling and
distributing drugs, cmitting more
crimes, and that the police are making more arrest has led to an increase
in the prison population. However,
this is not what the data shows.
The percentage of drug offenders amongst the prison population
peaked in 1990 at 22%, but has
steadily declined since then. State
prisons, which hold 90% of all prisoners, houses a mere 17% of the
inmates who are there on drug. According to the Bureau of Justice statistics the percentage of drug offenders in total present state population,
steadily declined 21% in Federal
prisons in a drop from 63% to 55%
in the same period.
Nationally the crime rate has consistently dropped. There are fewer
people in the general population to
arrest for crimes. This has caused a
that if reduceing the prison population is the goal, and the crime rate
has been reduced, then this would
becomes a political question more
then a criminal questions. With the
increase in District attorneys seeking
more felony charges along with the
routine of overcharging defendant.
The increase in the prison population
that is occurring is due to policy andprocedures. The District attorneys is
an elected position. District attorneys
tend to win elections pretty regularly.
For decades DA’s wanted to appear
tough on crime, this method often
guaranteed a win. Perhaps it’s time
that the voters ask DA’s to look at
being fair on crime, in the process
reduce the prison population, and
stared saving taxpayers money.
Now to add to the fray, we’ve seen
over the past few decades, local
and state governments have turned
increasingly to the criminal justice
system to fund themselves where
budgets have been cut for courts
and jails. Forty-eight States have increased criminal and civil fees. The
Justice Department says police and
courts in Ferguson, Mo., violated
black residents’ civil rights because
officials saw them as a source of
revenue. They were given excessive
fines and fees. When the poor (mostly Black) are unable to pay fines,
they end up in jail. On the rare occasion when police charged Whites
with these minor offenses, they were
68 percent more likely to have their
cases dismissed. This may soon become a human rights issue that may
play out on the world stage.
More Black men are
in prison or jail, on
probation or parole
than were enslaved in
1850, before the Civil
War began.
Brown University student
Diego Arene-Morley
Title of this notable new report produced by the Vera Institute of Justice. This New York Times article, headlined “Jails
Have Become Warehouses for the Poor.
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