The breaking historic news is that President Biden has withdrawn from the 2024 race. This has been the goal of moderates, bitter people, and others all along. President Biden has been a very historic President. The good news is that Biden has endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris to be nominated as the Presidential candidate on the Democratic ticket. Kamala Harris has all of the experience in the world from being California Attorney General, U.S. Senator, and Vice President of the United States (that's legislature, and executive experience for over 20 years). Her political qualifications exceed Donald Trump and Vance combined. President Biden has signed massive progressive legislation and created some of the greatest growth in American society in an epic way. For example, we have record black low unemployment rates, radically declined COVID-19 cases, millions of jobs being created, record growth of black-owned businesses, cut child poverty in half, a decrease in crime overall in America, and finally a reduction in some inflation. Now, the Democrats have no excuses. They must unite to support Kamala Harris in making sure that she is President. This process won't be easy, but Kamala Harris has the intellect, strength, and determination to go to the finish line. With this situation, the states of Georgia and North Carolina are in play. Senator Clyburn and other Democratic candidates have endorsed Kamala Harris. Governor of North Carolina Roy Cooper, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Senator Amy Klobuchar, Senator Jon Ossoff, Rep. Ilhan Omar, Rep. Summer Lee, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and tons of other Democratic leaders have endorsed Vice President Harris. There have been donors giving $49.6 million sent to the Kamala Harris campaign in less than 24 hours (as reported by Act Blue, the leading Democratic online donation processor, and Harris campaign spokesperson Brian Fallon). Soon, the delegates are expected to vote for Kamala Harris to be the Democratic nominee. Kamala Harris has proven to be a person with great leadership and an excellent orator. Republican liars like Donald Trump (who brags about assaulting women, found legally liable of rape, is a convicted felon, and has been corrupt for decades) say that Biden is the worst President in history when Hoover, Andrew Johnson, and Andrew Jackson are much worse than Biden. Kamala Harris could be the first black and South Asian President in American history which is very historic. Kamala Harris has been an overt spokesperson for the people of America.
There was the late great matriarch who is my distant maternal cousin. Her name is Constance Lorress Thomas Harrell who lived from August 27, 1949, to October 31, 2021. She worked hard to bring joy to her family and friends. Her parents were Clarence Carter and my late 3rd cousin Doretha Branch Thomas (1924-2011). Constance Harrell (whose nickname was "Connie") was born up North in New York City. She later lived in Patterson, New Jersey in the 4th Ward. She attended Patterson Public School Number 6 and graduated from Eastside High School in the Class of 1967. Constance Harrell earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree and teaching certificate from William Patterson University. She earned her Master's Degree and had many certifications too. She believed in God attending the Second Baptist Church as a child. She also attended Calvary Baptist and Gilmore Memorial Tabernacle and later on, she found reverence in St. Luke Baptist Church where she used her gift of teaching literacy amongst others. Reading, crocheting, cooking, baking and going to the movies were her favorite hobbies. Connie used her hobbies to help others. Constance Harrell would cook food for anyone who needed assistance. Boston Crème pie, pound cake, carrot cake, soups, carrot muffins, and other items of food were created by her. Connie was a phenomenal educator, Learning Disability Teacher Consultant, and Reading Specialist. She worked in the Paterson School District for 38 years. Teaching at P.S.#25, Child Study Teams, and Eastside High School amongst others. She was a District Reading Supervisor for the Paterson School District. While and after her retirement, Connie was instrumental in starting reading programs for children and adults. Literacy was most important to her. Connie tutored hundreds of students. She received many awards and plaques for outstanding community service.
Constance Harrell met and married Robert Harrell Sr. (1936-2018) after they met at William Patterson University. They wed in 1969. They loved to go to the movies and the Garden State Plaza. The couple had three children who are Robert Harrell Jr. (b. 1970), Terrance Harrell (b. 1974), and Justin Harrell. Constance Harrell has 6 grandchildren: Asia, Ania, D'Nali, Victoria, Valentina, and Vanessa, 3 great granddaughters: Aulani, McKayla, and McKinley, 1 sister-in love Jeannette Wallace, nieces: Robnette Romero and Elizabeth Rozier, grand nieces: Naphia and Margaret Clark, and a host of other relatives and friends. Constance Harrell and I share the same ancestor of Zilphy Claud (1820-1892) or my 5th great grandmother. Constance Harrell's parents were Clarence Carter and Doretha Branch Thomas (1924-2011). Doretha Branch Thomas's parents were Marvin George Branch (1895-1982) and Junie D. Copeland (B. 1905). Marvin George Branch's parents were George Washington Branch (1864-1963) and Mattie Sue Sykes (1874-1942). Mattie Sue Sykes's parents were Willie Sykes (b. 1832) and my late 4th great-grandaunt Lydia Claud (b. 1842). Lydia Claud's mother was Zilphy Claud. Doretha Branch Thomas lived in Paterson, New Jersey for over 50 years. She loved crocheting like her daughter Constance Harrell. Dorethea Thomas graduated from Hackensack High School. She was employed by the Bendix Corporation and White Metal Manufacturing Company, before retiring in 1991. Dorethea was a member of Gilmore Memorial Tabernacle in Paterson, where she served as an usher and various organizations within the church. Dorethea often provided readings for various programs at Gilmore. Doretha Branch Thomas's sisters are Eleanor L. Branch (1925-2013) of New York City and Mary Ruth Branch.
My late cousin Mayr Lizzie Claud lived from 1936 to 2007. She married Samuel Junior Ridley (b. 1931) on October 29, 1953, at Southampton County, Virginia. The couple had a daughter named Mary Ellen Ridley (b. 1956). Mary Ellen Ridley married Donald Eric Pugh (b. 1958) on February 28, 1979, at Newport News, Virginia. Later, she had a child with Richard Morgan (1959-2002) named Michael Morgan. The other children of Mary Lizzie Claud and Samuel Junior Ridley are Virginia Pearl Ridley (b. 1954), Dennis Lee Ridley Sr. (b. 1960), and Johnnie Lloyd Ridley. Dennis Lee Ridley Sr. married Angeleca Queveda Fenner (b. 1965) on May 21, 195 in Newport News, Virginia. Their children are my 5th cousins whose names are Latoya Denise Ridley (b. 1989), Shaunda Nicole Ridley (b. 1991), and Dennis Lee Ridley Jr. (b. 1994). Dennis Lee Ridley Sr. and I are descendants of Zilphy Claud. Dennis Lee Ridley's parents were Mary Lizze Claud and Samuel Junior Ridley (b. 1931). Mary Lizzie Claud's parents were Ralph Elijah Claud (1912-1965) and Gussie Estell Claud (1914-1985). Ralph Elijah Claud's parents were Richard Washington Claud (1874-1945) and Ann Elizabeth Claud (1876-1960). Richard Washington Claud's parents were George Washington Claud (1849-1923) and Martha Velvin-Ferguson (b. 1830). George Washington Claud's mother was my 5th great grandmother Zilphy Claud (1820-1893).
There is new information that I found out about my 3rd cousin Lina Mae Claud Tann (b. 1934) as she is a descendant of Zilphy Claud via Frank Thomas Claud. She was born in March 1934 in Southampton County, Virginia. She married James Reuben Jenkins (1929-1965) on July 21, 1951, at Emporia, Virginia. The couple had 2 sons named Roger Lee Jenkins (1953-2023) and Charade Jenkins (1964-2017). Roger Lee Jenkins was my 4th cousin who worked hard in New Jersey to be a mentor, help people get back on their feet after serving time in prison, and being a role model for the state of New Jersey in general. He married Katherine S. Cromwell (b. 1954) on January 29, 1998, at Las Vegas. The couple's daughter is Kisa Cromwell (b. 1971). Kisa Cromwell's children are Niyah Cromwell (b. 1992) and Davion Cromwell. My 4th cousin Charade Jenkins had a child with Richard Williams named Shalonda Charade Jenkins (b. 1984). Shalonda Charade Jenkins married Jonathan Napoleon Smith on June 16, 2015 at Montclair Township, Essex, New Jersey. Their daughter is Zaniyah Smith.
There is an important point about the Statue of Liberty that must be known. We know about the elephant in the room. The Statue of Liberty has been a symbol of America for a long time. To many people it represented freedom, and it was one major image that new immigrants saw when they came into Ellis Island. Those of Ellis Island came from Europe, the Caribbean, and other places of the world to seek opportunity, justice, and a better way of life. Today, we have a rise in xenophobic attitudes based on xenophobia, lies, racism, and ignorance. Some of these xenophobes act like English was the first language spoken in America. The reality is that America originally was not inhabited by Europeans, and the first Americans never spoke English. Originally, Native Americans were in the Americas, and they spoke a diversity of languages spanning centuries and thousands of years. The Golden Rule remains true, and it means that you treat your neighbor as yourself. On many occasions, immigrants are our neighbors. Therefore, immigrants should not be treated better than us, but they shouldn't be treated less than us either. That point is what the white racists, the xenophobes, many Hoteps, and other people fail to comprehend. There is no solution involving mass deportation. There can only be a fair, comprehensive solution to rectify immigration issues. Those solutions are about enacting fair treatment under the law and expressing human compassion simultaneously. All people are created equal (that includes immigrants too) and are entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In our time, we have to defend democracy. Democracy is about our human rights, our right to live on this Earth, and the destruction of fascism in society. That is why we must use grassroots efforts to make sure that democracy is preserved forevermore.
The Statue of Liberty has been in existence since October 28, 1886. Millions of people who are tourists now have visited the location which stands over 151 feet tall. From using elevators to seeing the view of the downtown of New York City, its imagery is breathtaking. It has been more than a cultural image of New York City. It has been a major part of American culture. Its symbolism is very diverse in dealing with the image of Liberty, the tablet with the date of 1776, and the flame. The statue itself is a figure of Libertas, the Roman goddess of liberty. It shows a classical contrapposto pose. She holds a torch above her head with her right hand, and in her left-hand carries the tabula ansata inscribed JULY IV MDCCLXXVI (or July 4, 1776, in Roman numerals. That is the date of the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence). The sculptor of the image was Frederic Auguste Bartholdi. The image shows the image of the woman with her left foot stepping on a broken chain and shackle to commemorate the national abolition of slavery following the American Civil War. The seven spiked crowns on her head. Those crowns represent the seven continents and seas of the world. The Statue of Liberty was proposed in 1865 by French historian and abolitionist Edouard de Laboulaye. After almost 140 years, the Statue of Liberty remains. We live in a crossroads in our history. There is a constant battle between those who want democratic freedom and those who desire an authoritarian society to reign wherefore basic human rights are restricted among the people. Therefore, we have to not only support democracy. We have to continue to live by the principles of human equality and justice in our daily lives. We believe that human rights are meant for all people, regardless of color or background.
There are many treatments and prevention measures in dealing with COVID1-9. The FDA has authorized and approved many antiviral medications used to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in people who are more likely to get very sick. There is antiviral medications that target specific parts of the virus to stop it from multiplying in the body once someone is infected. These medications help to prevent severe illness and death. Many doctors have helped people with the virus to have diverse medications and treatments too. Many doctors have recommended people take Nirmaterelvir (with Ritonavir (Paxlovid), Remdesivir, and Molnupiravir (Lagevrio) depending on age and symptoms. Some treatments are taken orally, and some are taken via IV or intravenous infusions. There are many ways to reduce the chances of catching COVID-19. People can use the distance between people, eat healthily, use hygiene in a great way, avoid people who are sick or have symptoms, wash your hands using soap and water for at least 20 seconds, and clean and disinfect surfaces that are often touched, including doorknobs. COVID vaccines can reduce people with COVID from having death. Wearing masks in many places can reduce the chance of getting the virus too.
By Timothy
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