October 27, 2024

Welcome to our weekly Sunday newsletter. This week we will highlight California’s new law to address missing Black children and youth, Otis Redding’s enduring legacy honor and alarming revelations of racial disparities in kidney transplants affecting Black patients.

California’s New Legislation Aims to Combat Rising Cases of Missing Black Children and Youth

By Lisa D.Tinsley

The California Statewide Ebony Alert Program was introduced through Senate Bill 673 and became law in 2024. An “Ebony Alert” is a resource available to law enforcement agencies investigating the suspicious or unexplainable disappearance of a Black child or youth. It's a resource meant to help law enforcement investigate suspicious or unexplainable disappearances. It aims to bridge the "severe racial disparities" of the children who go missing. Black children make up close to 33% and Black youth account for 38% of missing persons cases, but receive less media attention, according to legislators. 

Law enforcement agencies consider the following criteria for Ebony Alerts to be issued:

• The missing person is between 12 and 25 years old.

• The missing person suffers from a mental or physical disability.

• The person is missing under circumstances that their safety may be endangered or subject to trafficking.

• Investigators believe that the missing person has gone missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances.

• Investigators believe that the person is in danger because of their age, health, mental or physical disability. This also applies to the environment or weather conditions. Also, law enforcement should consider if the person is in the company of a potentially dangerous person or if there are other factors indicating the person may be in peril. 

• Law enforcement has used its available resources.

• If the information at hand could help the public find the missing person.

An Ebony Alert works similar to other emergency alerts for speciifc individuals, including Feather Alerts for missing indigenous people and Silver Alerts for senior citizens.

campus chronicles // hbcu edition

• Jackson State University has officially launched the much-anticipated Walter Payton Collection, a heartfelt tribute to the football legend and a proud university alumnus. This exciting addition is part of JSU’s Campus Legends Program, in collaboration with Roots of Fight, and honors Payton’s profound impact both on the field as a Tiger and in. the community as a role model.

• Denmark Technical College has taken a significant leap toward sustainable energy solutions with the recent installation of a state-of-the-art solar SmartFlower on its campus in South Carolina. Officially unveiled on October 11th, this groundbreaking technology aims to advance clean energy initiatives and foster green career opportunities for the underserved populations of Allendale, Bamberg, and Barnwell counties.  The project encompasses four states and aims to tackle urgent energy challenges by promoting renewable energy sources and sustainable practices.

• In a significant advancement for aspiring educators, Winston-Salem State University celebrated the grand opening of its newly renovated Curriculum Materials Center and Innovative Teaching Lab. The event also marked the unveiling of the brand-new Mobile STEAM Lab: Bringing Classrooms to Communities, which aims to enhance educational experiences in under-resourced areas.  This initiative allows students to bring innovative science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics strategies and experiences directly into communities and schools in need.

national news

A series of lawsuits have been filed against the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), the nonprofit overseeing the nation’s organ transplant system, accusing it of using a discriminatory calculation that delayed or denied kidney transplants to Black patients. At least 10 lawsuits, filed in federal courts since April 2023, claim that Black individuals with kidney failure had to be sicker before they were eligible for transplants, due to a calculation based on the false assumption that Black people generally have more muscle mass than other racial groups. Lawyers predict more lawsuits will follow as awareness of the issue grows.

The lawsuits argue that this racially biased calculation resulted in significant delays in care for Black patients, forcing them to endure worsened health conditions before receiving transplants. Although UNOS directed hospitals to stop using the flawed metric two years ago, the lawsuits seek damages for the suffering and economic losses caused by these delays. The affected hospital systems include Cedars-Sinai, Mass General Brigham, and the University of Southern California. Black Americans are disproportionately impacted by kidney failure, with rates over three times higher than those of white Americans, highlighting the systemic inequities in access to transplants.

black history in quotes 

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our community in numbers

• Education: The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the nation’s report card, 82% of Black students are not reading at proficiency in the 4th grade.

• Population: According to 2023 statistics, the African American population in the United States stands at 45.76 million people (13.7% of the total United States population). The highest concentrations are in the District of Columbia, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi.

• Sports: The 2024-2025 NFL season has the most Black team minority owners in league history.

culture

Otis Redding, the legendary soul singer, was posthumously honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, recognizing his immense contributions to music. The ceremony, attended by family, fans, and industry figures, marked a special moment in preserving Redding’s legacy. Known for timeless hits like “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” and “Try a Little Tenderness,” Redding’s star is now a permanent tribute on Hollywood Blvd. His daughter, Karla Redding-Andrews, shared memories of her father’s love for family and his passion for life outside of music, including his farm and flying airplanes.

Redding-Andrews also reflected on her father’s powerful performance at the Monterey Pop Festival, which introduced his talent to a broader audience and became a defining moment in his career. As the executive director of the Otis Redding Foundation, she continues to honor his legacy through music education programs for young artists. With renewed interest in Redding’s work, a documentary and biographical film are in development, bringing his story and influence on American music to a new generation. Redding-Andrews emphasized that the Hollywood Walk of Fame star is a particularly meaningful recognition due to its global significance.

Our editor, Lisa D.Tinsley, would like to thank you for spending part of your day with KISA News Radio.

See you next Sunday.

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