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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 7, 2016)
Page 2 The Skanner December 7, 2016 Challenging People to Shape a Better Future Now Bernie Foster Founder/Publisher Bobbie Dore Foster Executive Editor Jerry Foster Advertising Manager Christen McCurdy News Editor Patricia Irvin Graphic Designer Arashi Young Reporter Monica J. Foster Seattle Office Coordinator Susan Fried Photographer 2016 MERIT AWARD WINNER The Skanner Newspaper, es- tablished in October 1975, is a weekly publication, published every Wednesday by IMM Publi- cations Inc. 415 N. Killingsworth St. P.O. Box 5455 Portland, OR 97228 Telephone (503) 285-5555 Fax: (503) 285-2900 info@theskanner.com www.TheSkanner.com The Skanner is a member of the National Newspaper Pub lishers Association and West Coast Black Pub lishers Association. All photos submitted become the property of The Skanner. We are not re spon sible for lost or damaged photos either solicited or unsolicited. ©2016 The Skanner. All rights re served. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission prohibited. Local News Pacific NW News World News Opinions Jobs, Bids Entertainment Community Calendar RSS feeds Save the date The Skanner Foundation 31st Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. BREAKFAST Jan. 16, 2017 #SkBreakfast Opinion Despite Progress, Colorectal Cancer Claims F ew diseases cause as much pain and suffer- ing as cancer. While survivors, activists, pol- icymakers and healthcare professionals have been suc- cessful in raising awareness for some types of cancer, others are not as high profile. Among them: colorectal can- cer, the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men and women com- bined in the U.S. Even less widely known is the fact that African Americans have the highest incidence and mortal- ity rates for colorectal cancer. The disparities are impossi- ble to ignore. African Amer- icans are about 25 percent more likely than Whites to be diagnosed with this form of cancer, and about 50 per- cent more likely to die from it. This is particularly troubling when considering that, in many cases, colorectal cancer can be prevented and is high- ly treatable, if it’s detected early, according to the Amer- ican Cancer Society. While we’re still work- ing to understand why Af- rican-Americans are more susceptible to this type of cancer, one of the causes of the disparity in mortality is that minorities lag behind in screening for colorectal can- cer. Researchers at the Uni- versity of Texas have shown that African-Americans are less likely than White pa- tients to receive a colonosco- py — the most common form Patricia A. Maryland, Dr.PH NNPA Columnist of colorectal cancer screen- ing — even when controlling for health insurance coverage and access to quality health- care providers. Both patients and providers bear some responsibility for the lower rates of colorectal cancer screening among Af- “ cated. The invasiveness of the procedure, coupled with fears of pain, often causes African American patients to rule it out as a preventive measure. What’s more, a lack of access to a physician they trust leads many members of the African American community to de- lay this important procedure until it’s too late. In addition, healthcare pro- viders sometimes contribute to the low colorectal cancer screening rates among Afri- can Americans. A recommen- dation from a physician has been shown to increase the There’s also a need for a broader conversation about increased risk and the need for prompt, diligent colorectal cancer screening in the African-American community rican-Americans. On the pa- tient side, African-Americans may not know that they are at a heightened risk of experi- encing colorectal cancer ear- lier than other groups. In the Black community, the share of colorectal cancer cases that occur before the generally recommended screening age of 50 is almost twice as high as among Whites. That’s why experts advise African Amer- icans to begin screening at age 45, five years earlier than other groups. But encouraging early and proactive screening is compli- likelihood that a patient will get a colonoscopy, but accord- ing to the American College of Gastroenterology, African Americans are roughly one- third less likely than Whites to get such a recommenda- tion. These racial and ethnic dis- parities illustrate the need for a patient-centered, cultur- ally competent approach to healthcare. A broad range of factors determine a person’s risk of developing colorectal cancer. Genetics, family histo- ry, personal medical history, diet, weight and physical ac- tivity all can have an impact. That’s why healthcare pro- viders must treat each pa- tient in a way that takes into account all of the influences on their health. This includes their race and ethnicity, which in the case of colorectal cancer is a critical factor in determining whether a phy- sician should recommend a colonoscopy, when a patient’s screening should start and concerns a doctor should ad- dress about the procedure. Training healthcare pro- fessionals to understand the unique colorectal cancer risks of African Americans, as well as the unease with which many view colonoscopies, is an important step toward in- creasing screening rates and catching more cases in their early stages. There’s also a need for a broader conversa- tion about increased risk and the need for prompt, diligent colorectal cancer screening in the community. Fortunately, incidence and mortality rates for colorec- tal cancer have been on the decline among both Afri- can-Americans and other ra- cial groups across the board, but substantial gaps in health outcomes remain. Health- care providers and the Afri- can-American community must work together to ensure that all patients have and take advantage of the opportuni- ty to access a colonoscopy or other screening procedure that could save their life. Facebook’s “Ethnic Affinities” Is Digital Racism R acism is a malignant, powerful, and harm- ful reality for millions of persons of color throughout the world. Here, inside the United States, rac- ism is institutionalized and we have the evidence that this dreadful, racially discrimi- natory system of oppression now has been digitized thanks to Facebook. We must oppose all forms, nuances, and modes of rac- ism. I am defining “digital racism” as the deliberate and systematic exclusion and dis- crimination of people from any Internet access, benefit or policy-making procedure based on race, color, ethnicity, or any other social or cultural factor. I know when this is read, some of you will be shocked while others will be in some form of denial. Such was the case when I first coined the term “environmental racism” over 30 years ago. But the truth is the truth. And the truth is therapeutic. Racial and ethnic cleaning at Facebook is the manifesta- tion of digital racism on one of the most powerful social advertisers to exclude spe- Benjamin F. cific racial and ethnic groups Chavis, Jr. when placing housing adver- NNPA President and CEO media platforms in the world. The National Newspaper Pub- lishers Association (NNPA) is opposed to racial and eth- nic discrimination. We are alarmed and we resolutely “ tising,” stated the CBC. The CBC letter was signed by Robin L. Kelly (D-Ill.), Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.), and G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C., the Chairman of the CBC. Their joint statement concluded, “This is in direct violation of the Fair Housing Act of 1968, and it is our strong desire to see Facebook address this is- sue immedi- ately.” The Fair Housing Act of 1968 says it is illegal “to make, print, publish, or cause to be made, printed, or published any notice, statement, or adver- tisement, with respect to the sale or rental of a dwelling that indicates any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin” (42 U.S.C. § 3604). The enactment of the Fair Housing Act of 1968 was a milestone accomplishment of the Civil Rights Movement. The online and digital worlds should not be permissive of racism join with the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) in de- manding that Facebook stop engaging in racially discrim- inatory practices. Earlier this month, the CBC sent a letter to Mark Zucker- berg, CEO of Facebook, con- cerning this issue. “We are writing to express our deep concerns with re- ports that Facebook’s “Ethnic Affinities” advertising cus- tomization feature allows for “By allowing online adver- tisers to promote or market a community or home for the purpose of sale to select an ‘ethnic affinity’ as part of their advertising campaign, Facebook is complicit in pro- moting restrictive housing practices,” the CBC letter stat- ed. This is clearly a violation of the law. The NNPA agrees with the CBC. This practice must be stopped immediately. Today, we all should re- main vigilant and committed to stand up and speak out against all instances of racial and ethnic discrimination. Facebook needs to right this wrong. The online and digital worlds should not be permis- sive of racism. With all the technological advances to hopefully en- sure that the quality of life of all people will ultimately be enhanced in the U.S. and throughout the world, we must strive to identify, call out and stop racism wherev- er it may arise. Therefore, we call upon Facebook to stop its digital racism and its “Ethnic Affinities” discriminatory program.
