Continuing the Discussion on HIV/AIDS

This week (12/02/07) I will be talking with two persons who are HIV/AIDS positive. One brother, David Lee, (see picture in set) who contracted it from another brother. He'll be joining me from Seattle, Washington and a young lady that lives in Princess Anne, Maryland, who contracted it by..... well,,, you may be surprise to learn how she contracted it. Tune in to find out. These interviews are attempts to increase the awareness of HIV/AIDS. A special thank you to Mr. Lee and Ms. X who are willing to share with the world a bit of their personal lives.

HIV/AIDS; A Weapon of African American Mass Destruction

Dr. John W. Hogan MD in Gastrointestinal Diseases and Medical Officer at several Washington D.C. Hospitals and an HIV Specialist and Tavania Chester an HIV/AIDS Case Manager in Cambridge, Md., were my guests this past week on the Called2Action radio program. Our Topic HIV/AIDS. An appropriate topic in light of the fact that on December 1, annually it's HIV/AIDS awareness day. This disease continues to destroy our community, particularly African American women. Nationally, African Americans account for 13% of the total population, but we are 49% of the HIV/AID cases in the US --- not to mention what's happening on the continent of Africa. For persons 25 years and younger, 61% of cases are African American. The state of Maryland has the 3rd highest rate in the nation. We talked about causes, and the importance of partners being tested together. If you have a friend that you will be intimate with, this type of testing is particularly important. The severity of the problem is increasing, and as always families, churches, schools and other organizations have a role in addressing the problem from a preventative mode and a supportive mode, if in fact it's been contracted. Young people should encourage each other to be tested. There is medication today that will allow persons with HIV to live a normal life.

A Called2Action Town Meeting with Wicomico County's Highest Elected Official

Wicomico County's First County Executive Richard Pollitt was my guest on 11/18/2007. Contrary to the desires of the African American community to have this new form of government, our entire community must accept it, and make every effort to make certain that it works for the entire community particularly the least of these. I expressed a concern with Rick that was shared with him when he ran for office --- increasing the number of African Americans in paid policy making positions in the county. I particularly tried to get him to commit to a specific number of African Americans by December of 2008. Though he did not, he did express that he would be disappointed if the number was not increased.

Other areas we discussed, the lack of adequately paying jobs for African Americans, housing, education and data gathering, or a lack thereof. The Called to Action, offered by Rick, be actively involved in your government. Rick shared his email address and encouraged persons to write him --- he responses to all. His email: www.rickpollitt@wicomicocounty.org. Thanks Rick.

A Town Meeting with Ricky Pollitt - Wicomico County's First County Executive

Wicomico County's First County Executive, Rick Pollitt, joins me on Sunday 11/18/2007. It's been a year since Mr. Pollitt assumed office. We'll be discussing the African American community's many challenges in rural and conservative Wicomico County Maryland. This is scheduled to be a Town meeting.

A Salute to our Buffalo Soldiers and Others on Veteran's Day

Tom Kimball, former Maryland State Commander of the Veteran's of Foreign War was my guest this weekend. We talked about Tom's role as the State Commander, his high level of patriotism. I also talked with him about the apparent paradox of Af-Am fighting the wars with our White Brothers and when they returned home Af-Am establish their own black VFW's and American Legions and White's establish their own.

Tom's comment to address this matter was that the organizations were one, though their physical locations are different. The local Black VFW's have helped to establish White VFW's, and vise versa. My "take" on Commander Kimball's response was these organizations are as separate as the Black and White Churches; but who am I to formulate that "take". I've not served in the military, only the Boy Scouts. Nevertheless, the Call2Action, thank a soldier on this their day Veteran's Day 2007.

Called2Action Goes Oversees This Weekend

Internationally renowed personality Drew Brown joins me this weekend to address an array of topics -- from Bill Cosby and Alvin Toussaint's continuing comments on Black America, to the Jena 6 --- in my view nonsense --- to, the recent November 2, Black economic boycott and ------- well just tune in on Sunday November 4, 2007 for the rest of the "stuff".

Overcoming the Anxiety of Public Speaking w/ Tamika Johnson-Hall

Our ability to public speak -- present our ideas to others, can be an effective tool in accompishing super things for others our community and ourselves. Too often anxiety overcomes good judgement. Tamika Johnson-Hall, CEO of a communications company she founded. Mrs. Johnson-Hall and her husband, Terrelle gave us a few pointers on how to be effective in this regard. Realize anxiety is common. Its never overcome. Confront it. Be prepared. Write your presentation out and review it thoroughly. Earn the right to speak on your subject matter, through preparation, whether learned or experienced. Focus on not more than 3 points of presentation. Upon giving it, review it. Chances you will not cover everything you had intended to cover. Regardless of how you felt you did or others said you did, keep at it. Volunteer to do it. With an insatiable desire to conquer it, you will. Mrs. Johnson-Hall also teaches others how to publish their own Christian Books. Here is some information on her if you would like to contact her 1-800-597-9428. Website: www.publishyourchristianbook.com.

Conquering One of Our Greatest Fears

Tamika Johnson, CEO of a Worton, Maryland based company will be my guest this weekend. She will discuss how we can overcome one of our greatest fears. What is that fear? Well you'll just have to tune in to find out. Sunday at 8:00pm on Called2Action. See link to left to listen to program live. Visit Mrs. Johnson's website.

Tamika will be joining me in the studio.

What's Our Problem? Jimmy Dumas Tells It Like It Is.

My friend Jimmy Dumas, filled in this past week on the Called2Action radio program. We talked a bit about a few of the reasons Why African Americans Suffer, from his book, the 24 Reasons Why African Americans Suffer. One of those reasons that we talked about was the Jinxs of Slavery. We talked about the need to give to each other, and the lack of spiritually as the basis for our problems. Let me recommend you buy the book. We also talked about addressing these problems in a local/national forum. Stay Tuned. Something big is about to happen.

Young Millionaire --- To Be Re-scheduled

Andres Laura, my scheduled guest last week was not able to join us. Andres was on a book tour and in the midst of fulfilling several motivational speaking engagements around the country. I'll try to re-schedule him on a future program. I'll keep you apprised.

Homeless at 16, Millionaire at 24

My guest this weekend is the Called2Action's first admitted millionaire. Well, I've had several other millionaires on the program, I suspect, but for good and to be obvious reasons my guest this weekend is happy to admit it. Several things inspired me to have my guest on the program this week; he is young, at age 16 he was homeless, parentless, did not know where his next meal would come from, a refugee ---- you get the picture. Eight years later he was a millionaire, CEO of his own company, has written several books ---- again you get the picture. How did he do it? We discuss how everyone can do the same thing. Join me this weekend with my guest. See his website.

Part 3 of my discussion on Health with Ernie Ramos

The third and final installation of my discussion with Ernie Ramos, (see below) was held this past week. Here are some highlights. I have also posted an audio of this interview, see favorite links on left side of this page.

Asthma --- Lobelia and inflata herbs ---- help to stop asthma attacks.
Prostate Cancer --- stinking nettles, pumpkin seeds, saw palmetto. These herbs will help the prostrate gland. Strengthening the urinary tract will also help. This may be done by using the following herbs, uvarusi, peach bark, parsley, water with lemon, cranberry juice. Stay away from greasy foods.

How can we avert the flu --- vitamin C 4000 milligrams a day, use garlic. Garlic is a natural antibiotic. Ernie gave a recipe of a broth. The contents are garlic roots, keny pepper, olive oil, onion, and lemon. You can get the entire recipe by listen to the interview. (See link to the left to listen to part 3 of interview. Link is entitled Listen to Past Called2Action programs).

Great information. Thanks Ernie. Earnie may be contacted at ejr51@verizon.net

Continuing the Discussion on Addressing Our Nutrition, Naturally

Continued our discussion with Nutritionist, Herbologist and Iridologist Ernie Ramos this week, (10/7/2007). We talked about:

• the importance of knowing your body better than anyone else.
  
• selecting a doctor that has some familiarity with nutrition.
• realize our health care system is more concerned about the dollar, than actual care of individuals.
• all prescribed drugs have side effects.
  
• you must be concerned about your own health; you know you better than anyone else.
• Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) is excellent for allergies. It serves as a natural antihistamine for our bodies. Serving it to kids in 500 milligrams, adults 2,000 or so. In order to get vitamin B5 you must go to a food health store.

Ernie will join me again next week for the final installment of this discussion.

Do We Become What We Eat? If So, Who Wants To Be a Cucumber.

Ernie Ramos, New York based Nutritionist, Herbologist, and Iridologist joins me on Sunday September 30, 2007 to discuss foods we shouldn't eat, foods we should eat, effects of processed foods, differences in the fats that we eat, effects of fried foods; do diets work? What should we eat? Is there a perfect diet? .... and by the way you will even learn what an Iridologist does. How do we address our many problems with allergies? ...etc.

This will be a very informative program that will affect us all.

Go Ernie, Go Ernie, Go Ernie......

Challenges Confronting HBCU's in Maryland with President Richardson

Who better to address this topic than the President of Morgan State University, one of the 114 Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the nation, Dr. Earl Richardson. The good doctor and I spent about 50 minutes addressing the subject matter on this past week's Called2Action.
I was initially inspired to have Dr. Richardson join me after I heard on another radio station that Morgan State University, (MSU) was upset that the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) had gotten an Engineering program. The report stated that MSU's engineering program would suffer because there were now two HBCU's with engineering programs in the state of Maryland. When I heard that report it sounded so idiotic that I thought I should make an effort to have the President to address this. President Richardson shared with me that he was proud to hear that UMES had received this program. In his 23 years at MSU he has worked for all HBCU's to have program and to receive adequate funding to operate. In my own words, HBCU's get the shaft; they are given programs and inadequate funding and then they are evaluated as if funding was adequate. The Higher Education Commission, (MHEC), which is responsible for planning educational endeavors in the state of Maryland has assumed a political role, which has not worked in our interest. Again these are my words and not Dr. Richardson's. By the way MSU, unlike UMES is not a part of the University system. I wonder what role does the Chancellor have in this, by the way who appoints the Chancellor and who appoints MHEC? Do you catch where I'm headed. Thanks Dr. Richardson for sharing this information.

Prostate Cancer In African American Men

This month we've been discussing issues of health in the Af-Am community. This past week we talked about prostate cancer among African American men, and the week before AIDS/HIV among African American women. After hearing both these programs if you don't think something is happening that's severly wrong, then I don't know what more can be said. Black Men are 70% more likely to have prostate cancer than White Men, and we much more likely to die because of it. Men like Colin Powell, Strokely Carmicheal (died of it), Tiger Woods father (died of it), Andrew Young, Louis Farrakkhan, are just a few who have been affected by this "thing". We've learned that diet, heredity, and life styles all contribute. Men 45 and older should be tested annually. My guest (in set), have both suffered from it --- Dr. Al Rayne (former Dentist) -- left --and Dr. Herman Franklin, (former Vice President at University of Maryland Eastern Shore).

UPCOMING CALLED2ACTION PROGRAMS

Highly informative programming upcoming. Here they are:

• September 16, 2007 --- Prostate Cancer in African American Men -- Drs. Herman Franklin and Al Rayne (In Studio)
  
• September 23, 2007--- President of Morgan State University Dr. Earl Richardson talks about Challenges Confronting Historically Black Institutions. (In Studio) Picture in set
  
• September 30, 2007 --- What We Eat and Shouldn't Eat --- Dr. Earnie Ramos -- (Joins Us From New York City)
• October 7, 2007 --- The Going's On in the Haitian Community -- Bro. Habacuc Pepion (In Studio)
  

HIV/AID in the African American Community...and our Women.

HIV/AIDS is ravishing our communities. Statistics show that in Maryland 79% of all cases are African Americans, in Delaware 66% cases are African Americans. African American women suffer from this disease much higher than African American men, and it comes mostly through heterosexual relationships. On the continent of Africa the statistics are much worst. This is not reported in the news. Called2Action discusses this topic this evening. My guest James Miller, an HIV/AIDS advocate at Charles Drew University in South Los Angeles is my guest this week. We will discuss this challenge that faces our community, why it's not in the media like it once was and what we can do to address this. Why African American women are affected my this so much. Is it a form of genocide, perpetuated by hate groups that have become more sophisticated in their manner of doing things? Something bothers me about what's happening here...and I'm going to keep this in the public eye. I need your help. Will you help me and others like James Miller? Time is running out. Doesn't the picture (in set) of this mother and her baby hurt your heart. We need you to help. In our churches, organizations, clubs and schools we need to factor this in as a high priority need in our community. Please Help.

Disparities In Health Care and Health Outcomes...

...along racial lines. LaQuandra Nesbitt, M.D., M.P.H., Chief Resident in Family Medicine at the University of Maryland Medical Systems was my guest this week. No doubt there are major disparities in health care and health outcomes. At the expense of of being non-repetitive to much data that exist on the web, and in resources like, the Covenant with Black America, I'll forgo establishing this problem exist. Causes for the problem ---- there is much ---- for e.g. quality of care, environmental factors life styles, access to health care, racism. Addressing this problem must include affecting public policies, personal life styles changes, professionals who will sacrifice money for moving into our communities and provide the needed care. Dr. Nesbitt may be contacted at 410-706-1040. Thanks Dr. Nesbitt for accepting the Called2Action challenge.

To Name A Building

Dr. H. DeWayne Whittington, first Af-Am Board of Education Superintendent in Somerset County, Maryland, (inset on right) did not have his contract renewed by the Somerset County Board of Education, his bosses. He took them to court on a racial discrimination charge and won. The judge ruled that a school in Somerset County should be named after him. A school was named after him and a few years later the school was closed down. The notion of having another school named after him was re-discussed by the board of education one evening. One of the organization that spoke that night, and may have influenced the Board in not having a school renamed after him was the local branch of the NAACP, (President Kenneth Ballard left inset).

I invited both men into the studio to discuss this issue. Happy to add, our discussion has lead to the realization of the importance of communicating with each other and gather as much of the facts as you can before rendering a point of view is paramount. Won't get into details here, but you may listen to the program by clicking on the appropriate link off to the left of this page.

I have posted some historical background information on this issue; just click on this link.