Just one week post-op for a hysterectomy, *Jara wasn’t feeling well. She was overwhelmed with pain brought on by the surgical procedure, and sought emergency care at her local hospital, which was just five minutes from her home in the suburbs of Atlanta. During intake, she informed a triage nurse of her status. Upon learning Jara’s medical history, the attending staff redirected the young, ailing, Black woman to Metro Atlanta’s Grady Memorial Hospital, because the facility was “good” with “infectious diseases.” It was also more than 25 miles away. Without challenge or question, Jara complied. When she arrived, she sat in an overcrowded and seemingly unclean waiting area for nearly four hours before returning home — unseen and untreated.DiscriminationOver three decades have passed since the HIV/AIDS epidemic struck globally, setting off a windfall of fear, baffling medical professionals and claiming more than 35 million lives, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In that time, innumerable amounts of research, advances in medicine, education and awareness has contributed to longer life expectancy for people living with HIV/AIDS, like HIV/AIDS activist Hydeia Broadbent and former NBA player Earvin “Magic” Johnson. Yet discrimination prevails — and is as prevalent within health care as it is in other areas.In Jara’s case, prejudice was directed toward a member of the demographic most disproportionately disposed. Making up roughly 60 percent of the overall number of women affected with HIV, African American women are diagnosed and living with HIV at a rate higher than women of any other race group. In 2015, white and Latina women made up about 17 percent and 19 percent, respectively, of the total number of women either living or diagnosed with HIV. Meanwhile, African American women totaled 59 percent of this overall population. The intersection of race, gender, economics and education lends itself to the imbalance, and opens the door even wider to HIV/AIDS prejudice within healthcare settings. A 2005 study by the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that 26 percent of adults who were living with HIV/AIDS claimed to have been subjected to “perceived discrimination" from healthcare providers. For some, it is their first encounter with medical discrimination — one they would much rather sidestep.Dekalb Medical at Hillandale in Stonecrest, Georgia, where Jara initially sought medical attention, has stated on its website that it is “committed to providing efficient, high-quality emergency care and service,” and that “patients are comfortable, seen quickly, and treated with professionalism and compassion.”However, when asked why Jara was not extended such a courtesy due to her circumstances, a hospital administrator by the name of Gladys stated, “The hospital doesn’t handle everything, so it is not uncommon to refer a patient out to another facility.”Yet, when it was clarified that Jara was simply seeking treatment for post-op pain, Gladys confirmed that was not proper protocol.“I’m not sure what happened. She should not have been sent away for something like that,” she said, before recommending a call to the ER manager.Beliefs and AttitudesAccording to a 2016 report, “Stigma toward people living with HIV (PLWH) in healthcare settings is a barrier to optimal treatment,” which is what occurred in Jara’s case, when the initial facility deprived her of emergency care that was unrelated to her illness.The research also suggests that those living with HIV/AIDS neglect their physical and psychological well-being to avoid discriminatory outcomes. Jara inadvertently did so when she left both hospitals without being served. When questioned specifically about other incidents of prejudice, Jara brushed off the topic as if it were insignificant.“Ahh, it’s nothing,” Jara said.Crystal Collins, nurse practitioner and HIV program coordinator for Milwaukee Health Services, Inc. affirms the incidents are real.“I have heard stories from my patients that some healthcare providers see HIV as a diagnosis on the chart, or when they disclose their status, they seem to treat them differently,” Collins said. “I [was told] that a provider avoided touching the patient and even proceeded to wash his hands several times before leaving out of the exam room."The study HIV-Related Stigma Among Healthcare Providers in the Deep South turns an eye to the southern, most conservative states, which account for 50 percent of all new HIV infection in the U.S. It reveals methods and reasons for HIV/AIDS bias within healthcare environments, measuring on several levels: Individual, clinical and policy. Factors at the individual and clinical levels included race, gender and religion.Healthcare workers who were white, or male, or Protestant harbored HIV-related stigma that interfered with patient care, be it directly or indirectly. The findings showed physicians, clinicians, administrators, social workers and community workers projected bias, by being careless with patient confidentiality. A number of healthcare providers were also overzealous in protecting themselves from infection. For example, they wore “masks, protective suits, or double gloving.” Others refrained from direct contact and giving hands-on care — such as physical exams — or refused service altogether.The Importance of Education and AwarenessHIV-Related Stigma Among Healthcare Providers in the Deep South also found that stigmatization at the policy level had little to do with attitudes and beliefs predicated on race, gender or religion, but more so to do with a lack of training and continuing education for healthcare staff.“I think this is common for providers, who don’t deal directly with HIV on a daily basis. For providers who have been in the field, they are very emphatic and culturally competent, when dealing with people living with HIV. Education is the best way to deal with discrimination. It takes people to come together to promote change,” Collins said, in regards to the propensity for healthcare workers to stigmatize HIV/AIDS patients and possible, concrete solutions to change this going forward.“The biggest part of my job is dispelling myths about HIV to help my patients come to terms with their diagnosis.This can only be done by people courageously stepping up and telling their individual stories,” Collins continued. “My patients come from very different walks of life, but what unites them is the willingness to live despite having the virus. HIV can happen to anyone, and until we provide the correct messaging to the greater community about risk and how to prevent HIV, things will continue to stay the same.”Cultural competency, training and education is essential to end prejudices and discriminatory practices toward people living with HIV/AIDS in healthcare settings. In 2015, the White House Office of National Aids Policy began an initiative to do just this, with the National HIV/AIDS Strategy for the United States. Its goal is to decrease HIV infections, improve healthcare, amplify awareness and eradicate stigmas attached to the disease.However, that discrimination persists, making it evident that much more is required, particularly as it relates to protecting the human rights of people living with HIV/AIDS, many of whom are probably not aware of their basic concessions under the law. Awareness not only pertains to prevention and treatment, but also the legal rights of those living with HIV/AIDS. Because the nuances of prejudice can often go over some people’s heads and some are not always willing to speak up, arming affected patients with ways to advocate for themselves is priceless. A family member who accompanied Jara to the hospital avouched this.“I explained hospitals couldn't turn her away. She kind of knew this, but also refused to go to a closer, less crowded hospital. She receives free health care and meditation, yet isn't that educated [in her needs and rights]. I think she is just accepting what she thinks she deserves, as opposed to demanding the care that is rightfully hers,” Jara’s relative said.To combat stigma and discrimination in the HIV/AIDS community contact the National AIDS Task Force or Black Aids Institute.*The name was changed to protect the source's anonymity.Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news.Liking this content? Check these out:7 Black AIDS Activist To Know On Worlds AIDS Day No One Knew Why Philly's Straight Black Women Are At Such High Risk Of HIV, Until Now  HIV Transmission Rates Are Experiencing A Nationwide Decline — Except In The South...

Two Louisiana police officers seen slamming a middle school student on video have been indicted by a West Baton Rouge Parish grand jury for battery and malfeasance.  The indictments of former Brusly Police Department officers Dan Cipriano and Anthony Dupre were announced December 14, ABC News reports. Court documents show the former officers worked at Brusly Middle School in central Louisiana when they assaulted of the 14-year-old Black boy.In October, the pair responded to a disturbance call claiming the teen was arguing with school administrators. Kwame Asante, a lawyer representing the student and his family, told The Advocate the teen was sent to the office for using profanity on the playground.Once in the office, the teen began to argue about how long he should be in detention, USA Today reports. Local reports claim he tried to leave the detention office, but that has yet to be confirmed.  Surveillance footage from the incident shows Dupre manhandling the teen. As office workers looked on, the teen was body-slammed against a wall while still wearing his backpack. ABC News notes one of the officers grabbed the student's neck during the struggle.According to The Advocate, Dupre claimed the teen attempted to reach for a weapon. Footage shows the man handing an object to an administrator, yet it is difficult to identify. The video released to the public doesn't contain audio, but the footage does capture the violent nature of the encounter. Cipriano is seen entering the frame before slamming the teen's face into a desk. They eventually stopped and handcuffed the student. Nearly a month after the incident, both officers resigned.Cipriano was charged with simple battery, while Dupre was charged with malfeasance. Under Louisana law, Dupre could face up to five years in prison and have to pay a $5,000 fine. Cipriano's punishment could be a six-month prison sentence and a fine up to $1,000.  The teen has returned to school and is receiving counseling. He is doing well considering the circumstances; however, his family believes the former officers' punishment isn't enough.  "They feel the DA's office did an adequate job by bringing it quickly to the people, but feel it was a slap on the wrist based on the tape and what they saw done to their grandson," Asante told The Advocate  Friday. "This young man will still be dealing with this for a long time."Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news.Now, check these out:Florida Police Can Now Invoke 'Stand Your Ground' Law When Believed To Be Facing Use Of Deadly ForceEx-Boyfriend Of Anti-Violence Advocate Donna Alexander Indicted For Her MurderTexas Federal Judge Determines Obamacare Unconstitutional, Igniting New Fight Over Health...

A Greenville pastor recently came under fire for purchasing his wife a $200,000 Lamborghini.In a since-deleted Instagram post, Pastor John Gray gifted his wife, Aventer Gray, with the luxury vehicle for their eight-year wedding vow renewal. While some praised him, many questioned the pastor, insinuating the money came from the church. Both he and his wife responded to the critics, the latter with an impassioned Instagram post."MY HUBBY IS A HARD-WORKER, HE WORKED HIS WHOLE LIFE AND HE SAVED TO BLESS HIS WIFE!!! REALJOHNGRAY AUTHOR X2, SILENT ENDORSEMENTS (YOU KNOW BECAUSE EVERYONE DOESN’T HAVE TO BRAG ABOUT WHO THEY ARE SIGNED TO) SIX TV SHOWS, MOVIE PRODUCER, SONG WRITER, TOURS,” said the first lady. “Gives away cars, full houses of furniture, coats off his back, checks before pastoring and tithes that in its entirety between 2 churches AND those he feels lead to at any given moment. BEEN WORKING FOR YEARS. GET OUTTA HERE."Her husband, however, countered those critiquing his lavish lifestyle in a 23-minute video on Facebook Live.  “You know I never saw a good marriage growing up,” the Relentless Church pastor began. “And one of the things I was always afraid of was that I wouldn’t have what it took to be a good husband, to be a good father, because I never saw that.”He also made it clear that before he is a pastor, he is a husband and a father.“Get that in your spirit. I’m a husband first. Don’t confuse what I do with who I am. What I do is I pastor God’s people. Who I am is a husband and a father. And I’ll do anything to honor them. And I won’t ask permission from anybody to do it. No man should.” He then explained the money came from his multiple sources of income. An author, producer and investor, Pastor Gray made it clear he isn’t a “pulpit pimp,” but he’s going to live his best life. “I’m 45. I’m supposed to wait until I’m 70 to live my best life? My best life is seeing my wife happy.” After a tearful moment, Pastor Gray concluded with a word to both his supporters and his haters.“So anyway, I love all y’all. I’m also grateful for people who don’t like me because it just keeps me closer to God,” he said. “We’re gonna have church Sunday, and we’re gonna worship the Lord.”Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news.Now check this out: Chicago Pastor Who Shamed Drag Queen Before Kicking Him Out Of Church Says He’s ‘Not Sorry’ Purported Man Of God Charged In Killing 36-Year-Old Transgender Woman Kelly Stough'Are You Ready For His Return?': 'Flying Pastor' Goes Viral After Imitating The Return Of...

During his final show as Childish Gambino, Donald Glover paid a touching tribute to his recently deceased father.Glover was performing in Los Angeles for his This Is America tour when he shared the sad news of his dad's passing, according to Complex. “I lost my father a couple weeks ago," he said in a video posted to Reddit. "I wanted to play him some of the new songs, but he didn’t want to hear them because he was like, ‘I know they’ll be great.’ I’m not saying that to talk about music, I say that to talk about trust.”Before he performed his song “Riot,” the Atlanta show runner acknowledged 2018 was a difficult year for him, reports Variety.“I lost a lot of good people,” he said. “I know it’s been a tough year for everybody, that’s what’s crazy. I wish I could change everything for everybody.”The artist also publicly mourned the death of fellow rapper Mac Miller earlier this year, as Blavity reported. "This Mac Miller s**t got me f**ked up,” Gambino said at the time. “He was so nice. He was the sweetest guy, he was so nice."Glover’s dad, Donald Sr., was known for his enthusiastic support of his son on his Twitter page, DonaldsDad.He’s been amazing forever, all the kids. I’m the non amazing one of the family. 😊 https://t.co/X1Q0IXESQ7— Donald Glover (@DonaldsDad) September 21, 2018For me to grow up in NYC and have your Son take MSG by storm is unbelievable https://t.co/T1vc872RSg— Donald Glover (@DonaldsDad) September 15, 2018Glover’s fans tweeted their condolences to the “This Is America” rapper.rest in peace to Donald Glover's dad ❤❤— Toast 🍞⛳🌈🌊 (@rovert37) December 18, 2018donald glover’s dad had one of the best twitters ever, that man was a ray of sunshine<3— jœ (@poolsidejoee) December 18, 2018“I wanna pick up the phone, ask my dad how to handle it But what will happen when my dad’s not there to answer it?” RIP Donald Glover’s dad 😪— Feliz Kevidad 🎄 (@kvinmonge) December 18, 2018My thoughts are w/ @donaldglover @Steve_G_Lover & family after hearing about the passing of their father @DonaldsDad .Though we never met, we've been following each other for a few years and I always enjoyed his positivity and humor! It was obvious how proud he was of his kids— Rich Homie Crin (@CorinneGambino) December 18, 2018@DonaldsDad Sleep peacefully you beautiful soul, you were everything I wish I had as a father. I lost mine 4 years ago but it don’t hurt as much as losing you, thank you for blessing the Universe with @donaldglover— Airess Burnom (@AiroTheBuddha) December 18, 2018 Rest in peace, Donald Sr. Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news.Now, check these out:A New Jersey Church Will Be Transformed Into A Harriet Tubman MuseumMemphis Father Of Six Killed By Police Days After Being Turned Away From Mental Health InstituteCountry Star Poses With His Daughter In Matching...

How do you see yourself as somebody when your circumstances say you’re nobody? How do you have a smile on your face when your life requires that you have tears in your heart? These are challenging times, but that has always been the case for our people. The human condition requires facing challenges and there may be no burden that feels greater than tackling debt.After hundreds of years of duplicity and hypocrisy and denial and injustice, here we are still standing at the precipice of greatness. But how do we cross that divide? It helps to know our history. It helps to know who we come from and what they’ve handled with grace, compared to whatever we face today. But when you’re feeling depressed, which money trouble can easily ignite, it’s hard to remember your birth power and heritage.It’s hard to remember, when you put on a cotton shirt, the millions of slaves who bled and died working those fields so that cotton could become a staple industry. It’s hard to remember, when you eat peanut butter, the genius of slave-born George Washington Carver, who created more than a hundred products out of peanuts. It’s hard to remember, when you look at a clock, that the very first wooden clock made in America was created by a 22-year-old Benjamin Banneker, inventor, entrepreneur, author, surveyor, farmer and more. But you should remember.If you don’t know, before this year ends, take time to learn some African American history. Because when you know about the faith, hope, grace and courage that have always been some of our most potent weapons, then you might be able to see some of that strength in yourself.Listen, I know what it’s like to duck, negotiate and even lie to creditors to get through another day. I know how it diminishes your spirit. I know how it can make you feel that the people who depend upon you the most are doomed. It can make you feel less than worthless. Thank goodness those feelings can change, because they are not true. Debt is temporary, unless you choose to make a home in debt. One of the best places to start is to start believing in yourself and believing that you have the power to change this temporary situation – that things will get better. And once you’ve mastered that, you can believe in something even greater than yourself.It may seem counterintuitive, but when you’re in a terrible place, you cannot get out of it by focusing on the negatives that surround you. The only way to get out of darkness is by finding the light. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, “Let us not satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.” This man, who was a nobody in his time, became somebody that the world will never forget because he believed in himself enough to come up with a plan and execute it.If you’ve been struggling with debt and self-love, it’s not likely you can change your situation alone. You need to get a mentor or a friends’ circle or a team of supporters who believe in you. Not only can they help remind you of all of your great qualities and how you can put them to use, but they’ll be there to lift you up when you would otherwise sink.Turn to people who you admire for their self-confidence, for their ability to create plans and bring them to fruition, for their ability to care for and help others. If you don’t have any people in your life right now who fit this bill, it’s time for you to venture out and join some new organizations. Our neighborhoods are full of churches and community organizations bursting with people who would love to get to know you. Join them. Now is not the time to be shy.Just taking that first step may feel like a battle, because it is a battle – to reclaim yourself. All of society at times is sending you a different message, particularly at this time of year when holidays are touted as shopping sprees. It’s this worthless spending that has brought you down in the first place. Reject it. Set new priorities and start a new path that ends in victory.You didn’t get into debt overnight and you won’t climb out of it overnight, either. When you start by believing you can take this journey, that you can get help along the way, that you carry the spirit of our ancestors in your blood – which makes you capable of just about anything -- then you’ve put yourself in the right mindset to change your life.You are worthy. You are precious. You deserve to live debt free. Won’t you join the financial freedom movement today? DeForest B. Soaries, Jr., author of Say Yes to No Debt: 12 Steps to Financial Freedom, is the senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, New Jersey and is the architect of the dfree® financial freedom movement.Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking...

In the long arc of American political history, few demographics have been as crucially important as African Americans have, despite the fact that they’ve faced countless discriminatory hurdles over the years. Time and time again, America’s political process has been fundamentally upended by civil rights protests, campaign initiatives and social movements powered by the Black vote. Nonetheless, it seems like we only ever hear about how disenfranchised Black voters are, and the general consensus seems to be that people of color are a demographic worth ignoring.That couldn’t be farther from the truth. Here’s why the Black vote is actually so powerful in society, and how it can be leveraged to produce progressive gains for everyone.Conservatives fear the Black votePerhaps the main cause of the Black vote’s power is how much conservatives fear people of color who are politically engaged and mobilized. Throughout American history, there are countless examples of a conservative counter-culture movement rising up in the face of progressive gains that help bolster the standing of oppressed Black voters throughout the nation. The most recent example is President Trump’s election, a clear illustration of white backlash to sizable developments made by left-leaning political coalitions that could only succeed with the help of Black voters.As a matter of fact, the Republican party is engaged in a sinister campaign to suppress as many Black votes as possible precisely because it’s wise enough to understand that people of color who are politically mobilized pose a danger to the racist status quo. As long as the GOP is dependent on racism, it will always see stripping Black voters of their political rights as a necessity. Nonetheless, people of color and their like-minded allies throughout the United States will push on towards equality, undeterred by the racism that stands in their pathway.The Black vote is so powerful precisely because it’s so unique in the United States; no other demographic has experienced American history quite like African Americans, and people of color who present as Black, have. No other racial group has been so consistently oppressed, nor have any other voters gained such immense experience dealing with a state and a political opposition that’s determined to stymie their political voice. All of this has the effect of rendering the Black vote powerful, because the coalition of Black voters across America have plenty of experience dealing with adversity and mobilization problems head on.Democrats need Black votersIf there’s any doubt remaining about the true power of Black voters in this country, just look at how the Democratic party is courting them. Left-leaning politicians understand where their bread is buttered; if they want to win, they understand they need to cater to the political whims of the Black vote, which means championing racial equality, better public schools and accountable officials who won’t plunder the public treasury for dental SEO services rather than investing in our local communities.As the recent Senate runoff in Mississippi illustrates, all Democratic initiatives in competitive areas of the country necessitate the support of Black voters. Time and time again, progressive candidates and Democrats are losing because Black voters in their district are seeing their right to vote taken away. In areas where progressive voting policies dominate, however, Democratic candidates and those promising to fight for racial equality thrive.If the left-wing of the American political ecosystem is serious about achieving sizable gains for Black voters, however, it needs to kick it into overdrive when it comes to recruiting them into a big-tent coalition of likeminded voters.Black voters hold the keys to the futureThere are plenty of reasons to believe that Black voters hold the keys to the political future of the United States, and it’s growing increasingly obvious that politicians who ignore voters of color do so at their own peril. The DNC recently apologized to African American voters for letting them down precisely because it understands it must do a better job of reaching out to communities of color if it doesn’t want to get swamped by the Republicans come election season. The evidence of the power of the Black vote is right before our eyes, but we still lament how Black Americans aren’t “engaged enough,” as if they’re not fighting a constant uphill battle just to exercise their basic rights.As the demographic tides shift and America becomes a more diverse country, the role of Black voters in the political process will become even more important. If left-leaning politicians want to succeed in the era of Donald Trump, they need to understand that his bigoted racism is an electoral anathema. The future belongs to those who recognize and champion the power of the Black vote. Expect to see more support for urban initiatives, fair voting policies and racial equality as time goes on — the ever-growing importance of the Black vote demands it.Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking...

Like many, I have closely followed the case of Cyntoia Brown. Hers is a tragic and troubling tale that has recently reignited debate about the galling sexist, classist and racist inconsistencies of the American justice system. Though Cyntoia’s is a particularly sad story of American injustice, it’s not altogether unique or entirely untold. To varying degrees, there are many more Cyntoias out there. As a survivor of childhood sexual exploitation, I have known many Cyntoias. In some ways, I still see Cyntoia in myself and, certainly, in the girl I was when trapped in that underworld.Who is Cyntoia Brown?For those who don’t know, Cyntoia Brown is a 30-year-old racialized young woman who was a victim of child sex trafficking. In 2004, at 16 years of age, Cyntoia killed a 43-year-old john who had solicited her for sex. As argued by her lawyers, on the night in question, Cyntoia was paranoid from drugs and from being regularly abused, causing her to fear for her life. In this state, at some point in the night, she ended up firing a single bullet that killed the john that lay next to her. In addition to the drugs and abuse that compromised her state of mind that night, Cyntoia’s youthful age, and being under the influence of a pimp named “Kut Throat,” were also factors her lawyers argued should militate against her conviction. However, despite being a child high on drugs and having endured countless incidents of physical and sexual abuse from her pimp and clients, American courts have still found her to have had the presence of mind to have planned and deliberately killed her john on the night in question.After several unsuccessful appeals, on December 6, 2018, the Tennessee Supreme Court issued a ruling on Cyntoia’s case, sentencing her to serve 51 years in jail before she would be eligible for parole. The only lasting hope in her case is that Tennessee Governor, Bill Haslam, is weeks away from his departure from office and has the power to grant her clemency. This is the only remaining opportunity to free Cyntoia from the horrific nightmare she has endured over the last 12 years.Gauging from reactions on social media and various op-eds, when folks learn about Cyntoia’s plight, common feelings expressed are ones of a profound sense of sadness, outrage and sometimes even hopelessness. While I feel some of those same feelings, my proximity to and familiarity with Cyntoia’s experience makes me feel so much more ...Seeing Cyntoia in MeWhen I say I knew Cyntoia, I don’t mean to say that I had a personal relationship with the Cyntoia Brown who is currently sitting unjustly in a Tennessee prison. What I mean is that, in many ways, I was Cyntoia, as were the girls I met and worked with when I was a child trapped in the world of sex trafficking. Like Cyntoia, pretty much every girl I met, including me, was a survivor of or actively experiencing one or more form of abuse, neglect, trauma or other forms of physical and psychological violence.I was a teenager when I was thrust into the sex industry under the influence of pimps. My traffickers’ industry of choice was strip clubs, not hotel rooms. The initial allure of easy money and a glamorous lifestyle appealed to my teenaged, immature and insecure self. I had left home in my mid-teens, and I had been in and out of homeless shelters, transitional homes and was regularly surfing friends’ couches before I was lured into the sex industry.Like Cyntoia, I was adopted and experienced trauma at a very young age. Cyntoia Brown’s early years included a mother who struggled with addiction, consumed alcohol while pregnant and began using crack cocaine when Cyntoia was eight months old, leading to her adoption. When I was given up for adoption, my mother was a very young Black single mother in a small island nation in the Caribbean. So, being young, overwhelmed, without support and having few options, my mom gave me up, leading me to be taken in by a white family that lived thousands of kilometers away in a small metropolitan city in Canada. I am told that it was evident to my adoptive Canadian parents that although I was only a small child, my little 3-year-old body had suffered a considerable amount of neglect and abuse. Marked, scarred and suffering from multiple infections, it was only through their love and dedication that I was able to be returned to full physical health. Still, I can’t help but think that some of the cognitive scars caused by my childhood trauma played a role directing me down a path that led to the sex industry.Sister-time With CandyOf all the ways that I see parts of myself in Cyntoia, there was one girl I worked with in the industry who, in my view, epitomized Cyntoia more than myself or any of the other girls I ever came across while I was in that world. I have no idea where this girl is now or if she is even still alive. In fact, I don’t even know her name, or at least her real name. I knew her as Candy. Candy was the stage name she used when we worked together as teenaged exotic dancers. Working in various strip clubs in and around Ontario, Canada is where I met many Cyntoia Browns, like Candy. While I didn’t know much of Candy’s story, I knew enough to now say that we both were Cyntoias in different ways.I remember Candy vividly. She was a beautiful, tall, Black girl from Nova Scotia. She reminded me of the models regularly featured on the covers of Teen Vogue, and perhaps, in another life, an alternate reality, she might have been one of those girls. But in this life, she wasn’t so fortunate. Candy had what we in the industry called a "gorilla pimp," meaning her pimp-controlled her with brutality, intimidation and sexual violence. Working closely with Candy, I helplessly watched her body get bruised and her soul be crushed by her gorilla pimp. While threatening and violent in their own ways, my traffickers were different. They were insidious: there were no beatings, no sexual violence and I wasn’t forced to do drugs. Instead, I was lured and controlled through the illusion of love and a sense of family. Candy wasn’t so lucky.I still remember the first time I saw the bruise on Candy’s leg. I asked if she was OK. Her eyes immediately dropped, and she stopped making eye contact with me. Surprised and slightly embarrassed by my question, Candy quickly and quietly shrugged it off, just saying that "her man’ did it because she didn’t make her quota. I still remember feeling scared and disturbed by the impression that Candy thought this was OK, normal, even justified as a punishment for not meeting her quota.I never knew Candy’s quota, but I certainly knew mine, which allowed me to guess hers. For me, there was an unspoken understanding that I couldn’t leave the club until I had at least $500, no matter how long it took me to make that money. Sometimes this meant working from open to close. I was never beaten for not making this quota. Instead, I was made to feel as if I had failed or disappointed my pimps who convincingly pretended that they genuinely cared about me and my well-being. They had mastered this game of emotional manipulation to the point that I would truly be crushed by feelings of guilt and shame if I didn’t make them happy by meeting my quota. Those feelings drove me to work even harder, even if I was exhausted, hungry and tired. Given that Candy was more experienced than me, I wouldn’t be surprised if her quota was higher than mine (possibly as high as $750), and similarly, her punishment more severe than mine for not meeting it.I was never allowed to speak to Candy on the dance floor because her pimp was violently clear that she would be punished for talking to anyone that wasn’t a customer. Off the dance floor is where we could safely sneak what I called our "sister-time." These were our moments to connect, hidden away in changerooms that were filled with the stench of cigarettes, marijuana and perfume. Here we’d rest our aching feet and keep each other company with musings about our favorite TV shows — mine, Law and Order SVU; hers, The Simpsons.After a few stolen moments of sister-time, quietly before getting back on the floor to make her quota, Candy would stop me and ask, "How do I look?" There was no need for her to say anything else. I always knew what she was asking. So, like a designer, I carefully examined and did a once over of Candy’s body. If I saw any bruises exposed, I would quickly and reflexively grab my foundation and do my best cover-up job before she had to hustle back out on stage. It didn’t consciously occur to me then, but doing this for Candy was my way of helping to keep her as safe as I could; by covering up marks and bruises on her body, I could keep her from missing her quota and the consequences of that. We both understood that customers pay for the fantasy of young seductive, beautiful and desirable women, and the illusion that they can have these women when they want, as they want, and how they want. Seeing a bruise or a black eye on a girl instantly kills this fantasy. So, with concealer and foundation we masked the pain and torment it took to keep the illusion alive, even while it slowly killed us on the inside.Getting Out of the GameI didn’t dance for long, as it didn’t take that much time before I realized that there was no happy ending to this story. The man I saw as my protector began to show his true colours; the caring, father-like figure began to disappear, and harsh brutish exterior started to emerge. The turning point that pushed me to leave from under his power and control was the awful and traumatic experience of witnessing him wildly and angrily beat another girl who worked for him. I still can hear her cries and screams with each slap of his heavy hands hitting her small frame and slender body. This was the first time I saw him hit anyone, and the first time I ever witnessed a man beating a woman. I was devastated, terrified and felt ashamed by my sense of powerlessness to help her. Immediately, it occurred to me that if he was capable of doing that to one young woman, one day, most likely sooner rather than later, I too would be on the receiving end of his horrific and seemingly explosive violence. So, shortly after seeing this beating, I reconnected with a few friends from my old life that, even as unstable as it sometimes was, I suddenly wanted back more than the life I had ended up in. At least in my old life, I never saw anything that made me genuinely fear for my life. Thankfully, my old friends were forgiving, non-judgmental and, most importantly, helped me disappear, never to return to that life again.Shortly before my escape from the world of sexual exploitation, I saw Candy one last time. But things were now different, she was different and sister-time was no longer what it was.Candy looked like she had aged ten years in merely a few months. The weight of her domineering and violent pimp was clear, so was the fact that she had begun using cocaine. Between the constant beatings, exploitation and drug use, her beautiful face and body began to look old, hard and worn out. Her eyes had sunken and seemed somewhat hollow in a way that scared me. I wanted to tell her so badly that I was getting out, that I was done with this life and that she should join me. I wanted to tell her that we could run away together, and be safe from the dark lights, strange, touchy men and the constant threat of violence. But I knew I could never do that, because of what the work had done to her; how deeply it had damaged her.By the time I saw Candy for the last time, she was so abused and traumatized that I knew that she would have immediately run to her pimp and told him my plan for getting out, sentencing us both to some horrific fate. So, when I saw Candy, I said nothing. Holding on to some semblance of sister-time, we talked about some trivial teenager girl things that I can’t don’t even remember. And that was it, I never saw her again.I often wonder what happened to Candy: Is she alive? Is she okay? And if she is, what is she being forced to do to stay alive, to remain OK? If Candy was unwillingly laying in the bed of a man nearly the age of her father and felt her life was in imminent danger, would she too kill him to protect her own life? I don’t know, but I can tell you that if she did, I would feel that same way I do about Cyntoia. I would understand her decision and might have even done the same if I felt I was forced to fight for my life.Why I Stand With CyntoiaI do not support murder. When you have an underaged victim of abuse and sex trafficking who is given an endless supply of drugs to help force her to sell her body night after night, how she responds to her fear of additional sexual and physical violence while in that condition should be understood as self-defense. Or, at very least, it should be accepted that the trauma she’s been subjected to has compromised her state of mind so much that she can’t be held responsible for the actions she takes to protect herself from the threat of being further harmed or re-traumatized.Candy and I have had lived experiences similar to those of Cyntoia. However, I cannot pretend to know what it’s like to endure the extent of the pain Cyntoia did at the hands of her pimp and countless sexual abusers. But based on my own experience in the sex industry, I do know what it feels like to connect to the most basic and powerful human instinct of survival. I know what it’s like to wake up every day with only one focus, with one thought of pushing you through the day. I know what that can do to someone’s mind. It means living in perpetual fear, always being on guard and never being able to feel truly safe or fully trust the people around you. And so, I’m a proud supporter of Cyntoia Brown and think she should be set free.In solidarity, anger and sadness, I share my story, knowing that I was or could have been where Cyntoia is now. But not just me, but countless girls in that dark and disgusting world of child sexual exploitation could have easily been there, too. We were all abused, neglected and exploited young girls whose lives and full potential were stunted before we could ever become adult women. So yes, I sympathize with Cyntoia. I also believe that though I haven’t seen her in many years, Candy would, too.Thankfully, I managed to be able to leave the world of sexual exploitation before it took from me as much as it stole from Candy and Cyntoia. I eventually went back to school, completed university and recently graduated with a Master of Science in Health Informatics. Part of my work now includes supporting and advocating for vulnerable youth who’ve experienced various forms of abuse, neglect and exploitation. These are young people who are, or recently were, where I was. In this way, my life has come full circle through the young women and girls I now serve. When I see them, I see me, I see Candy; and in all of us, I see versions of Cyntoia. That’s why I stand for Cyntoia. In standing for her, I’m standing for me, for Candy and for the girls and young women I have the privilege of supporting through my work.While I’m no longer in that life, the experience stays with me. So now that I’m far removed from that reality, what drives my work is the profound sense that wherever we are in our respective healing journeys, still, somewhere inside, we are all Cyntoias; scared, and alone, wanting the same small simple thing — to survive.#IStandWithCyntoiaBlavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking...

Congresswoman-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is taking a self-care week.Ocasio-Cortez used her Instagram story to announce her break on Monday, reports Paper."Hello everybody," she said. "I am starting a week of self-care where I am taking the week off and taking care of me. I don't know how to do that though, so I would appreciate any and all self-care tips."The 29-year-old used to be adamant about taking care of herself before she went on the campaign trail.“Before the campaign, I used to practice yoga 3-4x/week, eat nutritiously, read and write for leisure,” Ocasio-Cortez added. “As soon as everything kicked up, that all went out the window. I went from doing yoga and making wild rice and salmon dinners to eating fast food for dinner and falling asleep in my jeans and makeup.”Ocasio-Cortez plans to go to Upstate New York to “spend a few days in the middle of nowhere.”Before she started her break, Ocasio-Cortez was looking toward 2020, according to Politico.A source close to the congresswoman-elect and ally group Justice Democrats says she has recruited a Black woman, who has yet to be named, to challenge New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. Jeffries is a contender for future speaker of the House. Jeffries has faced ongoing criticism from progressives for accepting donations from corporations.“It’s personal for Ocasio,” the source said. "And she’s going to go all out to take him out.”The source added Ocasio-Cortez believes Jeffries started a whisper campaign against Rep. Barbara Lee because she donated to the former’s campaign. Lee narrowly lost the Democratic Caucus chair to Jeffries.Corbin Trent, Ocasio-Cortez’s spokesman, denied the source’s charges but admitted the race was a disappointment.“We’re not looking at recruiting people to run campaigns; we’re looking at building a congressional staff,” he said.“We’re disappointed in the way that the leadership elections went down, specifically that leadership election," said Trent. "We would have liked to have seen that be a more fair fight with less pressure."Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news.Now, check these out:A 17-Year-Old Trans Track And Field Runner Is Fighting A Petition Saying She Shouldn't Be Able To Compete With Her GenderActivist Therese Patricia Okoumou Could Face Up To 18 Months In Prison For Climbing Statue Of LibertyDr. Gladys West, Who Helped Develop The GPS, Inducted Into Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of...

A Yemeni mother was granted a travel ban waiver to see her dying toddler.Ali Hassan’s 2-year-old son Abdullah suffers from a genetic brain disorder and is being kept alive by a ventilator, according to NBC News. Hassan, an American citizen from Yemen, stays by his son’s side. Shaima Swileh, his wife, is also Yemeni and lives in Egypt.Saad Sweilem, Swileh’s lawyer, told The San Francisco Chronicle the waiver was granted on Tuesday. Swileh was summoned to the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, to receive a presidential proclamation and a visa. They are working on securing a flight to Oakland, California, where Abdullah is hospitalized.“She is very relieved, very thankful, and she just cannot wait to come and see her son,” Sweilem said.The couple begged the State Department to give Swileh a waiver since doctors said the boy would die soon, reports Fox40."She was told she needs a waiver to be able to enter the country. So for the last year, she’s been waiting on a waiver and never received one,” Sweilem said on Monday.Since the turmoil began, Abdullah’s condition has worsened."Doctors and physicians have told us that it’s a matter of days, not a matter of weeks, for Abdullah," Sweilem added."My wife's calling me every day wanting to kiss and hold her son for that one last time,” Hassan said on Monday.Yemen is one of the Muslim-majority nations on the Trump administration’s travel ban list. The others are Libya, Iran, Somalia and Syria. Venezuela and North Korea are also on the list.Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news.Now, check these out:Alice Walker Criticized For Praising Book Espousing Anti-SemitismWhite Man Accuses Innocent Black Man Of Kidnapping His Imaginary Baby After His Car Was Stolen During Drug DealMarc Lamont Hill Said He Was Shocked By CNN Firing: 'I Just Got My House...

A teenage girl was charged for the murder of her boyfriend who was shot and killed by a SWAT officer. The victim, 16-year-old Julius E. Tate Jr., was involved in an undercover operation where police set up meetings online with people wanting to buy and sell goods. According to the Columbus Dispatch, the teen was involved in one of those meetings on December 7. An undercover SWAT officer met with Julius hoping to exchange cash for an undisclosed item when the teen allegedly pulled out a handgun and tried to rob the officer. Local news station NBC 4 reports a backup officer shot the teen. He was transported to a local medical center and pronounced dead at 6:32 p.m."No one ever came to me, Julius' mother, nor his father... and stated anything that went on," his mother, Jamita Malone, told ABC 6. "How can the police have a narrative of what happened, and not call me about it?"Police are claiming Julius' girlfriend, 16-year-old Masonique Saunders, played a part in the robbery. Court documents state the teen had a handgun on her person during the time of the botched exchange.She was taken into custody December 14 and charged with murder and aggravated robbery even though she did not kill her boyfriend or partake in the robbery. “She’s denying that she was involved in this. And I’m not getting into the specifics of the case, but she’s denying involvement,” Byron Potts, her defense attorney, told NBC 4.Although she denied playing any part in Julius' murder, Masonique is facing an uphill battle. Ohio state law says a person can be charged with murder if they "cause the death of another as a proximate result of the offender's committing or attempting to commit an offense of violence that is a felony of the first or second degree."Danielle Williams, Masonique's mother, told news outlet 10TV her daughter should not be charged with murder and claimed Masonique told her Julius did not have a gun and officers fired on him for no apparent reason. "She said he didn't [have a gun]," Williams told 10TV.Authorities reportedly recovered a weapon at the scene of the shooting, but its ownership has yet to be confirmed. "I don't think that's right," Williams said. "They shouldn't be able to do that unless they actually physically murdered them. Unless they actually pulled the trigger and shot him. But, she didn't."A hearing to determine whether Masonique will be charged as an adult is scheduled for Thursday, reports NBC4. Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news.Now, check these out:Florida Police Can Now Invoke 'Stand Your Ground' Law When Believed To Be Facing Use Of Deadly ForceEx-Boyfriend Of Anti-Violence Advocate Donna Alexander Indicted For Her MurderTexas Federal Judge Determines Obamacare Unconstitutional, Igniting New Fight Over Health...

Famed abolitionist and Black freedom fighter Harriet Tubman will be honored with a new museum in New Jersey in 2020.Officials for the Macedonia Baptist Church in Cape May announced plans to renovate former pastor Robert Davis' home to serve as the new museum.According to The Associated Press, Tubman lived in Cape May, where she raised funds to liberate enslaved Black people in the South, in the 1850s. In addition to highlighting Tubman, the museum will also showcase the history of the once thriving Black community of Cape May. Developer Bob Mullock told WHYY the museum will soon become a fixture in the town. “It would be a permanent exhibit there so that people would understand and appreciate that this was part of Cape May at that time,” Mullock said. “At one time, the population of Cape May was 30 percent African-American, that’s what the records show.”During the end of President Barack Obama's presidency, there were efforts to replace slave-owning President Andrew Jackson with Tubman on the $20 bill. There is speculation the new currency will be released in 2020.Officials hope to open the museum doors by the same time. Reports state the new museum will feature a collection of historical artifacts, provide history lessons and become an educational facility for local schools.“[Davis] had a collection of historic slavery items that he would take to various schools to talk about the slave issues,” Mullock said.According to WHYY, there are other matters to take care of before it is accessible to all. Planners are now in the process of raising $700,000 to lift the building and prevent future flooding. Mullock is calling on the community to chip in and enhance public interest in the legacy of Tubman, as well as that of Cape May. Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news.Now, check these out:This Fenty Beauty Ad Featuring The HBIC Tiffany Pollard Reminds Us Why We Love New YorkVic Mensa Says An HIV Epidemic 'Wouldn't Fly' In ManhattanDr. Gladys West, Who Helped Develop The GPS, Inducted Into Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of...

Alice Walker is receiving heavy criticism after she endorsed a book penned by an anti-Semitic author.Walker endorsed professional conspiracy theorist David Icke’s And the Truth Shall Set You Free during an interview with The New York Times. “In Icke’s books, there is the whole of existence, on this planet and several others, to think about. A curious person’s dream come true,” she said.In the book, Icke declared Jewish advocacy group Anti-Defamation League was partially responsible for the Holocaust, according to excerpts acquired by The Tablet.Icke writes:“The Jewish members of the conspiracy have used an organisation called The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) as an instrument to try to convince everyone that any mention of the Rothschilds and their allies is an attack on all Jews. In this way, they have stifled almost all honest scholarship on international bankers and made the subject taboo within universities. Any individual or book exploring this subject is immediately attacked by hundreds of ADL communities all over the country. The ADL has never let the truth or logic interfere with its highly professional smear jobs … Actually, nobody has a right to be more angry at the Rothschild clique than their fellow Jews. The Warburgs, part of the Rothschild empire, helped finance Adolf Hitler.”The author also accused Jewish people of staging hate crimes.“If you really want to discredit someone, you arrange for anti-Jewish or anti-whatever events such as the smashing of graves, assaults on people, even a terrorist bomb in the extreme,” he wrote. “You then point the finger at your target person or group. You say they are either directly responsible or ‘incited’ the actions by what they are writing and saying.”Walker’s endorsement drew the ire of the Jewish community and their allies who believe Icke, a former pro soccer player, uses conspiracy theories to justify his anti-Semitism.Alice Walker isn't "sad" or "heartbreaking" or a special case deserving careful consideration. She's promoting anti-Semitic conspiracy theories and should be treated like anyone else using their platform to spread racist lies.— Nathaniel Friedman (@freedarko) December 17, 2018alice walker really really really hates jews so there's that https://t.co/3XzEgE68oC— Talia Lavin (@chick_in_kiev) December 17, 2018Here's the part that bothers me. I assume @nytimesbooks didn't know Walker had strayed into crazytown when it conducted this interview. But once that emerged maybe it shoulda become the focus of the story instead of being glossed over in a light feature?https://t.co/TMCtRo1ax3— Daniel Radosh (@danielradosh) December 15, 2018lol @ Alice Walker recommending "in depth study" of Talmud via YouTube while promoting centuries-old antisemitic libels about Jews and "goyim". Unsurprising from a woman who refused to even let her book be translated into Hebrew. https://t.co/IQjqbGErWU— Shiri Moshe (@shirimoshe) December 17, 2018Seeing Alice Walker promote David Icke, Britain's leading antisemitic conspiracy theorist, in the New York Times, has profoundly depressed me. I mean, fucking hell. #antisemitism https://t.co/HFChXSxSKu— Aargh aargh AAARGH! (@cdaargh) December 16, 2018To be honest, I don't want to belabor this Alice Walker thing because I don't want to know the answer, which is, most people just don't give a shit about anti-Semitism, especially if it's coming from a beloved cultural figure.— רח״ל (@RokhlK) December 17, 2018The Anti-Defamation League also commented on Walker's views:We’re deeply disappointed that @nytimes would print Alice Walker’s unqualified endorsement of a book by notorious anti-Semitic conspiracy theorist David Icke. We have asked editors to update the review w/ information about this author's #antiSemitism https://t.co/C7cse1xxYt— ADL (@ADL_National) December 17, 2018The situation is also being discussed among the Black Twitter community. Anti-Semitism is unacceptable, period. I'm saddened that I was unaware and that's due to my own ignorance of much of Alice Walker's rhetoric outside of her work to recognize Zora Neale Hurston. https://t.co/zbKNwudi4O— Jenn Baker (@jbakernyc) December 18, 2018Let me take a page out of the wypipo handbook, the ‘I can’t be racist because’ page...#AliceWalker & Mel Leventhal were the 1st legally married interracial couple in MS following SCOTUS banning miscegenation laws. He was JEWISH. She was mentored by Howard Zinn, he was JEWISH.— Bishop Talbert Swan (@TalbertSwan) December 18, 2018Black men been telling y'all about Alice Walker for decades.— Torraine Walker (@TorraineWalker) December 18, 2018Alice Walker has been antisemitic for a long time. She embraces a lot of harmful conspiracy theories that purposely target Jewish communities. And sadly, antisemitism is common among other Black people of her generation.— Evette Dionne 🤷🏾‍♀️ (@freeblackgirl) December 18, 2018Walker has not commented on the controversy, but The New York Times is distancing itself from the issue, reports The Wrap.“By the Book is an interview and portrait of a public person through the lens of books; it is not a list of recommendations from our editors. The subject’s answers are a reflection on that person’s personal tastes, opinions and judgments,” a Times spokesperson said of the editorial series. “As with any interview, the subject’s answers do not imply an endorsement by Times editors," they continued. "Moreover, our editors do not offer background or weigh in on the books named in the By the Book column, whether the subject issues a positive or negative judgment on those books. Many people recommend books Times editors dislike, disdain or even abhor in the column.”Blavitize your inbox! Join our daily newsletter for fresh stories and breaking news.Now, check these out:Idris Elba Says Only Men 'With Something To Hide' Should Be Afraid Of #MeTooActivist Therese Patricia Okoumou Could Face Up To 18 Months In Prison For Climbing Statue Of LibertyVic Mensa Says An HIV Epidemic 'Wouldn't Fly' In...