Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 17 January 2002 — Page 5

The Muncie Times, January 17, 2002, page 5

NEWS BRIEFS

NEWS BRIEFS FROM PAGE 4 Congress must act now, Spriggs said. And they must act decisively to prevent the further escalation of the African American unemployment rate and the unemployment rate of the nation as a whole, particularly among those workers whose earnings potential and purchasing power have been hardest hit by the economic slump” Black women often missing from health, exercise centers Physical fitness is a condition that helps us look, feel and do our best. It is the major basis for good health and well-being. And it certainly can affect our relationships with the opposite sex. Unfortunately, many people equate being thin with being healthy. But that’s not necessarily the case. Dr. Fred L. Daniels, an internist, said in a March 2000 Ebony magazine article, titled: “Why so many black women are overweight and what they can do about it,” that, ‘"Every obese patient, is not unhealthy. You have to make distinctions between a healthy obese patient and a poorly conditioned obese patient. Conditioned obese patients are those who exercise frequently, but because of genetic structure, are not going to lose 100 pounds. In many cases, they are in much better shape than thin, unconditioned patients.” Why then aren’t there more African American women trying to get fit? Donna Watkins, a housewife, joined a local gym about a year ago to get fit and lose weight. “It has not been easy changing my lifestyle. In fact; it has been one of the most challenging tasks I have ever set out to accomplish,” she said. “I do not possess the selfdiscipline or motivation that is needed to sustain a healthy lifestyle and I can’t even plead ignorance. Both of my parents are diabetic and knowing about diabetes should motivate me to get moving.” There are many black women like Watkins and while

many of our black men are body and health conscious, some say black women are lacking in awareness and are apathetic when it comes to health. Black women do work out at the gym, but the numbers pale in comparission to the number of white women keeping fit. ‘Tm out here trying to get fit and the brothers don’t want to be bothered with big sister,” Watkins said. “One brother even said he would work out with me and now I see him working out with this little skinny white woman. He still waves, ‘Hi,’ but he is clueless and shallow. “I am focused on being healthy, and for that, I have my “brother'’ to thank” Derrick, a local radio DJ, said, “The only black women I see at the gym are the ones cleaning it up. Black women, for the most part, don’t go to the gym and a brother who is conscious of his body wants a woman who is conscious of hers, as well.” Fitness trainer Jerry Carr agreed. “Sisters don’t want to mess up their hair or break a nail and they shouldn’t let that stop them from getting in shape. Money is another reason and it only takes setting aside about $10aweektojoinagym. Their health should be their focus. Fitness can add longevity to your life and to get fit, all you need to do is 45 minutes of cardio exercise three times a week, sustaining your target heart rate and, of course, monitor your food intake.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and ^Prevention, heart disease is the leading killer of black women. From 1991 to 1995, the death rate among black women ages 35 to 44 was nearly three times as high as for white women the same age. Does this send out a strong message for black women to become more aware of their health and make a conscious effort to get fit? Derrick said there is nothing more beautiful than a black woman, but he only sees white women working out Jay Cobb has an interesting point of view about why black men are working out with

white women. “Basically, the tricks of the 'street are in the gym,” Cobb said. “White women are easier to pull because the black women have heard all of their lines. There are some women who come to the gym and they are vulnerable because they just had a break-up or whatever and the brothers prey on them.” So is this about preference or ego? Thomas Payne, an aerobics instructor, said, “The black women I work out with think the gym is a meat market. They go to the gym to work out and not to meet a man, especially one who has tried to date every woman in the gym.” Tbrmico Anderson works out regularly. “Most brothers want to be seen with white women because they think it is (a) step up in society” Anderson said. But some body-conscious black men don’t see black women as being healthy and that image has to change. There are some sisters who work out on a consistent basis. They are among the exceptions. Black Panther Party reunion set for April in Wash^D.C. The 35th anniversary of the founding of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defensee place in Washington, D.C in the spring, organizers announced recently. “The event will commemorate the historic legacies of the BPP, as well as the many sacrifices and constructive contributions that were made while servicing the people, body and soul,” according to leaders of the Its About Time Committee, the reunion’s organizers. The conference is set for April 18 to 20 at the University of the District of Columbia. It was canceled last fell after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Founded in Oakland, Calif, in 1966, the Black Panther Party (BPP) was a revolutionary nationalist political organization founded to protect black communities from

police brutality and to provide community services. The Black Panthers were mostly young people in their teens and 20s, clad in black jackets, black berets, rifles and Third World socialist ideas. They hosted breakfast programs for children and held free health clinics in black communities. Best known for patrolling black communities, they often clashed with police. The BPP was one of the main targets of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s COINTEL-PRO (counter-intelligence) program,' designed to disrupt and dismantle so-called militant and civil rights groups in the 1960s and early 70s. Internal disputes and the FBI’s campaign, led by FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, led to the BPPs demise by the end of the 70s. The event’s official website is www.itsabouttimebpp. com/. The committee can be emailed at [email protected]. Here are some New Year’s resolutions to help make 2002 a better year for you Each year people make promises, called “New Year Resolutions” that range from the serious to the extremely silly. They resolve to exercise, lose weight, save more money and, generally, work to improve and better their lives. Well, each year people shouldn’t make resolutions but should take time to reflect on the year and put together goals that they would like to accomplish in 2002. What most people refer to as “resolutions” should be “goals.” Goals for the coming year should include: increasing foith in God, increasing business revenues, increasing your access to the newspaper through more newsstands and expediting the postal delivery of newspapers to subscribers. Our other goals, as a company and community-based organization, are to better provide information to our readers, to cover as well as create more events to enrich the community, and to build on a 30-year tradition of providing information that you can only

read in the Black Voice News. Philippians 3:13 states, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before (us).” At the beginning of 2002, let us all consider the advice of Paul and reach for those dreams that seem unreachable. Let us reach for those stars that have been untouched. Let us reach for and pray for peace in the world. Let us reach to reduce racism in our community. Let us reach for a solution to reduce crime in our neighborhoods. Let us reach to our youth and work to reduce the teenage pregnancy rate in our neighborhoods. Let us reach to our medical community and make affordable healthcare more accessible to all people. Let us reach out to our law enforcement officers to be more aware of the need for community involvement in reducing crime. Let us reach to our local government and given them our input before decisions are made. Let us reach to our businesses and make them aware of their need to do business with those who do business with them. Let us reach to our community organizations and give our time and financial resources. Let us reach to our churches and start practicing what we preach. Let us reach to our families and be more loving and understanding. Let us reach to our families and be more supportive of each other’s needs. Let us reach to our families and be more honest without argument. Let us also remember, as Paul said in the second verse of the same chapter, while we are doing all of this reaching, “be aware of dogs.” Dogs are the things that will try and prevent us from reaching our goals. Dogs can come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. They are those distractions that function as barriers. So remain focused on the things before you. Have a Happy New Year and continue to reach for that which is before you.

NEWS BRIEFS SEE PAGE 6