Every day we stray a little further from God’s light.
Reporters are coming to PBS reporter Yamiche Alcindor’s defense after President Donald Trump attacked and berated her because she asked him to explain an earlier comment he made on Sean Hannity’s show where he questioned the number of ventilators governors were requesting.
As Alcindor began her question, Trump told her to, “Be nice. Don’t be threatening.”
READ MORE: Don Lemon accuses Trump of ‘gaslighting’ over coronavirus
“President Trump today at the White House said to me: “Be nice. Don’t be threatening.” I’m not the first human being, woman, black person or journalist to be told that while doing a job. My take: Be steady. Stay focused. Remember your purpose. And, always press forward,” Alcindor tweeted following the exchange.
President Trump today at the White House said to me: “Be nice. Don’t be threatening.”
I’m not the first human being, woman, black person or journalist to be told that while doing a job.
My take: Be steady. Stay focused. Remember your purpose. And, always press forward.
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) March 29, 2020
“Your brilliance is seen as “threatening” by him, keep pressing and being your graceful self” Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) tweeted in response.
Alcindor posted the video on Twitter of the exchange and said she had simply asked Trump about a statement he made on Hannity, where he said this about governors: “I have a feeling that a lot of the numbers that are being said in some areas are just bigger than they are going to be. I don’t believe you need 40,000 or 30,000 ventilators.”
Video of my exchange w/ Pres Trump today.
My Q is on Trump saying this about governors on Thursday: “I have a feeling that a lot of the numbers that are being said in some areas are just bigger than they are going to be. I don’t believe you need 40,000 or 30,000 ventilators.” https://t.co/bska84ZFPs
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) March 29, 2020
Trump angrily replied “I didn’t say that” and then asked Alcindor why “you people” can’t act “in a little more positive, it’s always trying to get you, get you, get you.”
Trump turned Alcindor’s microphone off and refused to allow her to ask a second question. Later, when Trump called CNN’s Jeremy Diamond, he passed the microphone to Alcindor and allowed her to finish.
Both Alcindor and Diamond were lauded by journalists, politicians and everyday citizens across social media for standing their ground amid bullying behavior by Trump. “We Love Yamiche” began trending on Twitter.
“Totally legitimate question from @Yamiche about what Trump said to Hannity about ventilators. Fair game,” tweeted Jim Acosta.
Totally legitimate question from @Yamiche about what Trump said to Hannity about ventilators. Fair game.
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) March 29, 2020
“Then back her up! All of you. Ask the same damn question over and over again” responded @fleurdelisa27.
Then back her up! All of you.
Ask the same damn question over and over again— Lisa~i like my curves flattened (@fleurdelisa27) March 29, 2020
“Couldn’t be prouder of @Yamiche for refusing to be intimidated. This is real journalism. What’s sad is that she has to take this on a regular basis from this condescending asshole,” tweeted Jemele Hill.
Couldn’t be prouder of @Yamiche for refusing to be intimidated. This is real journalism. What’s sad is that she has to take this on a regular basis from this condescending asshole. https://t.co/l4jJtjnV8Z
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) March 29, 2020
“I consider @Yamiche a role model for all of us working in journalism, both in terms of her reporting and her decorum. No one deserves the treatment she receives from Donald Trump or his followers,” wrote Jamil Smith.
I consider @Yamiche a role model for us all of us working in journalism, both in terms of her reporting and her decorum. No one deserves the treatment she receives from Donald Trump or his followers. https://t.co/N8StAVlLxG
— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) March 29, 2020
Many also applauded for Diamond for backing his colleague.
“Cheering for my friend @JDiamond1 who handed the microphone to @Yamiche!! This is how it’s done people. Proud to know them both,” tweeted Abby D. Phillip.
Cheering for my friend @JDiamond1 who handed the microphone to @Yamiche !! This is how it’s done people. Proud to know them both 🙌🏾🙌🏾
— Abby D. Phillip (@abbydphillip) March 29, 2020
READ MORE: What Trump can learn about leadership from Obama
Another person weighed in on what’s really going on.
“He hates being held accountable by black women. His ire for Yamiche Alcindor and April Ryan is palpable,” tweeted Corey Richardson.
He hates being held accountable by black women. His ire for Yamiche Alcindor and April Ryan is palpable.
— Corey Richardson (@vexedinthecity) March 29, 2020
And don’t forget Abby Phillip, another responded.
“He’s been “nasty” to @abbydphillip also. They make me proud; never bowing down nor out,” wrote Rhondaology.
The post ‘We Love Yamiche’ trends on Twitter after Trump berates Black reporter appeared first on TheGrio.
While many are focused on the economy and their physical wellbeing during the COVID-19 crisis, mental health professionals are urging people not to put their mental wellness on the back burner as the world shifts into a new normal.
Tonya Ladipo, LCSW, is the founder and CEO of The Ladipo Group L.L.C., based in Philadelphia, where her team specializes in serving the black community. For more than 15 years, Ladipo has guided people through some of their most difficult times. And as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, her team has increased its digital therapy services and she wants to help people all over get through this time.
Millions of people are living in uncertainty as the world awaits a solution to the coronavirus pandemic. That uncertainty is causing a new normal for people mentally as orders such as social distancing and sheltering-in-place have been put into action, in addition to the economic shift. And while not everyone has contracted the virus, everyone has been affected by it.
We spoke with Ladipo about ways to cope with isolation, loss, and self-preservation.
Tonya Ladipo, LCSW, founder and CEO of The Ladipo Group L.L.C. (Image: The Ladipo Group, LLC)
There is a lot of conversation about how COVID-19 has created a financial crisis, but there isn’t a lot of dialogue about mental health. What are some of the things that you are seeing and how are you helping people during this time?
What I’ve been seeing and what I really am concerned about is that impact on our collective mental health. What we are experiencing right now is a collective trauma. It’s a global trauma. We’re living through it and it’s not over.
I don’t like the term social distance. We are not designed for social distancing. Now, to be safe washing our hands and having physical distance right now is crucial. That public health measure and direction is necessary to have physical distance. But social distance is what is going to break people. We’re struggling with finances. We’re struggling with how to work from home… if you’re lucky enough to still have a job. There are a lot of stressors. And quite frankly, people are not OK. And we’re not going to be OK for a while.
How can people communicate that they are not OK? And what actions can they take right now where they are?
The first question you ask yourself is, ‘How am I feeling?’ Am I sad, mad, glad, or scared? All other emotions kind of all fall someplace in there.” And then if you can tell somebody, I think that’s great. It could be a phone call or a text. That’s the social connection that we need. It is key that you check in with yourself and check in with somebody else.
If you’re in a space where you don’t want to check in with someone else at that time, write about it. It’s how our brain processes information—not typing, but handwriting. You can throw it away. You could save it. It doesn’t matter. It’s just the act of writing about it and recording it for yourself that is key.
if you’re feeling really riled up, if you feel like you can’t breathe, you’re just so overwhelmed, you’re so anxious, then taking deep breaths is a fantastic way to kind of calm yourself down. Some people meditate or say a prayer—and I also like to add in songs.
Sometimes the energy in our body is so great it has to come out. When it has to come out, that is when you write it out or take a walk.
People are tired of being in the house and the influx of information. How can people overcome the fatigue associated with this pandemic?
You have to take breaks. Now is the time to take off those push notifications, so that you control when you go to the media. Part of preserving our mental health is recognizing there’s so much unknown there’s so much uncertainty. It will continue to change, so watching the news for seven hours a day doesn’t help you. And because it doesn’t help you, you need to reduce it in a way that is manageable for your mental health.
How can people practice self-preservation?
I love the quote by Audre Lorde that says, ‘Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.’ The way that our society defines self-care is wrong, quite frankly, and it’s hurtful.
What we are called to do right now with self-preservation is self-care, especially for black people. We have been through so much that the need to make sure we are well is not optional.
First things first, set boundaries. Have boundaries, know what they are, and communicate them.
Questions you can think about are, what do you want from the people you love? What do you want from work if you’re fortunate enough to still have a job? Spend some time writing and thinking about that. And then ask yourself, who do I need to share that with?
So have boundaries, and then know what kind of relationships you need to have. Think about who do you need to stay connected to. Also, think about who you are. And when you need time alone.
That is self-preservation. Part of that is knowing how to cultivate joy in the midst of this.
‘Home’ looks different for everyone. And it can be the very thing that stresses people out. How can people find light in dark places as they manage existing stressors while they are sheltered in place?
For people who are living in really stressful homes right now, if you can, carve out a place in your house, where you can be—even if it’s for 5 or 10 minutes, even if it’s the bathroom. Listen to your favorite song, read your favorite passage, scripture, or word. Look at the picture of somebody whom you love, who you admire. I think that helps us get through.
The workforce is challenging right now. What are some of the ways that leaders in management roles can practice compassion in the new remote workforce during these times?
I have two clients. I have the clients who pay and then I have my staff who are my clients. And I make sure that they’re treated well. I would hope that other people have that same care already built-in. Perhaps it’s not being activated right now because they’re going through their own stuff. A way to reactivate it is by remembering that employees are people and they’re struggling. If you want your business to continue, you need to make sure they’re OK. So, if you can’t do it because you love them, then do it because you want your business to succeed.
There have been reports that anticipate black and brown people will be hit the hardest by COVID-19. What is it that you want to tell our people about the importance of mental health and wellness?
They can’t take our minds. I feel as though we have to fight to protect it [our mental health] especially through COVID-19 because we’re on lockdown—and because it’s hard. We have to protect our mental health and wellness like a job right now. We have to make sure that when we come out of this—and we’re bruised and maybe having broken bones—that we’re not fully broken.
Not everyone has access to healthcare providers during this time. And for that reason, Ladipo is offering two free online stress and anxiety groups starting next week. For more information about the workshops, click here.
Below are additional resources to help you get connected while you are home:
For the latest updates about how COVID-19 is impacting the black community, click here when you are ready.
A Western Michigan University senior who was denied a test for the coronavirus died over the weekend from the disease.
Bassey Offiong, 25, from Detroit, was due to graduate this spring with a chemical engineering degree. Instead, his sister, Asari Offiong, says her brother was turned away multiple times when he went to get tested in the Kalamazoo area, even though he had key symptoms, including fever, and shortness of breath and fatigue.
READ MORE: New Orleans man, 58, becomes Louisiana’s first coronavirus death
“I told him to ask them to test him,” Offiong told The Detroit News. “He said they refused to test him.”
Asari, who said she last saw her brother a week ago, said one health care practitioner diagnosed him as having bronchitis. Offiong was eventually hospitalized at Beaumont in Royal Oak and was hooked up to a ventilator in the hospital’s intensive care unit.
Offiong has not yet released the locations where her brother was denied a coronavirus test. She told The Detroit News her brother had no known prior health issues.
She reminisced on her brother, calling him sweet and humble and referring to him as a “gentle giant.”
“I know God has him in his presence,” Offiong told The Detroit News. “He loved God” and was a member of Christ the King Miracle Church in Redford Township.
After college, Offiong wanted to use his chemical engineering degree to start an organic makeup line with Loreal, his sister said. “He’s just someone who thinks so big,” she said.
Western Michigan University officials also mourned Offiong’s death. President Edward Montgomery said he had “enormous potential.”
“On behalf of the entire Bronco community, I want to extend my deepest condolences to his entire family, including his sister, Asari, who has been generous in communicating with us regularly,” Montgomery said in a press release. “They are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.”
READ MORE: Black people who have died from COVID-19
Last Friday, university officials divulged that three students had recently tested positive with the coronavirus.
“We urge everyone to help us fight community spread by following the Governor’s executive order,” Jim Rutherford, health officer for the Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department, told The Detroit News. “Stay home and, if you must go out for essential items, stay safe by taking preventative measures.”
Bassey Offiong was of Nigerian heritage and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Incorporated.
The post Michigan student, 25, died after he was refused COVID-19 test, sister says appeared first on TheGrio.
