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There is a crisis regarding missing victims of domestic violence and we must end it

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Black women particularly face disproportionately high rates of intimate partner violence. A 2020 report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that greater than 45% of Black women have experienced some form of physical violence, sexual violence, or harassment from intimate partner for all times. For Latinas, the figure is 37.1%, and indigenous women experience an excellent higher rate of violence at 55.5%. Moreover, black women remain in abusive relationships 3 times more likely be murdered by their partner than white women.

Domestic violence is greater than a personal issue; it’s a public health crisis that, for many ladies of color, could spell their disappearance.

In cases of domestic violence, victims are sometimes isolated from their support networks, which may make it easier for them to vanish without causing immediate concern.

Therefore, understanding the connection between domestic violence and the missing individuals crisis is essential to effectively address each issues.

Underreporting and media neglect

The invisibility of black people within the media is not a latest phenomenon, but it is particularly acute in cases of missing individuals.

When a white woman goes missing, her case is more more likely to receive widespread media coverage, a phenomenon generally known as “missing white woman syndrome.” Meanwhile, the disappearances of Black and Brown women are sometimes missed, resulting in discrepancies in how these cases are handled and the quantity of attention they receive.

Take Gabby Petito, for instance – a 23-year-old white woman who was abducted and tragically murdered by her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, in 2021. Her case received wide coverage within the national media. Photos and videos of her face circulated across social media platforms and appeared in 24-hour news cycles, leading thousands and thousands of people across the country to follow updates from law enforcement investigating her disappearance.

When in comparison with Akia Eggleston – a young black woman from Baltimore who disappeared in 2017 – there is a clear and disturbing discrepancy. The 22-year-old was eight months pregnant when she disappeared shortly before her baby shower. Her body and the stays of her unborn child haven’t yet been found. This is a difficulty of incredible importance and seriousness – enough to realize national media attention. However, it didn’t even attract the eye of the local media.

However, BAMFI’s intervention ensured that Eggleston’s case wouldn’t be missed. Through continued work with the Baltimore community, law enforcement and national media, visibility and awareness of Eggleston’s disappearance has increased dramatically. But it still wasn’t enough to bring her home. Eggleston’s case got here to a tragic end in 2023 when her boyfriend, Michael Robertson, was found guilty of murdering her and her unborn son.

Both the Petito and Eggleston cases are only two examples that display the wide disparity in urgency and treatment from the media and law enforcement. It’s an imbalance that has real-world consequences. Black people make up almost 40% of all missing individuals cases within the United States, despite making up only 13% of the population.

Petito’s parents used their platform to spotlight this disparity. They advocated for fair and equitable media coverage of issues affecting marginalized communities, emphasizing that each missing person deserves equal media visibility, regardless of skin color or origin.

When people of color are neglected within the media, resources to search out them grow to be limited as a result.

The need for systemic changes in law enforcement

Law enforcement must take domestic violence seriously, especially when it involves women of color.

2020 study conducted by the corporate National Library of Medicine shows that Black and Latina women who had experienced intimate partner violence or sexual violence were two to 3 times more more likely to experience a dismissive response or mistreatment from law enforcement when reporting harassment.

In many cases, law enforcement has been slower to reply to reports of missing black women and children, labeling them as “runaways” or “engaged in criminal activity.” This contributes to a cycle of neglect and invisibility that puts these women at greater risk of harm.

Authorities should investigate these cases with the identical urgency as they’d anyone else, and training is crucial to strengthen appropriate responses and ensure the protection of all victims.

Adopting mandatory approaches comparable to early intervention and risk assessment might help police discover potential escalations in domestic violence cases before they escalate into potential abductions and murders.

Furthermore, domestic violence calls to the police often only lead to a police report or arrest, but officers should take the time and opportunity to point victims to community resources and support systems.

While nonprofits and domestic violence shelters do essential work, they are sometimes underfunded and overburdened. More funding must be allocated to those organizations to assist them provide the services that victims of violence have to escape abusive relationships and stay secure.

At the middle of each domestic violence and missing individuals crises are survivors – victims of color who’ve been failed by the systems that were alleged to protect them. If we take the problem of missing Black people seriously, we must also take domestic violence seriously. It is not enough to report statistics; we must first address the basis causes and structural inequalities that leave victims vulnerable.

To break the cycle of violence and disappearances, we must center the voices of survivors and spend money on the communities most affected by these issues. In this fashion, we can begin to end domestic violence and the missing individuals crisis and work towards a future during which every man, woman and child, regardless of race or origin, can live free from violence and fear.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Health and Wellness

Why Monday is the most dangerous day on a construction site

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The Australian construction industry employs over 1.3 million employees. That’s about 9% of the workforce.

But there could also be construction sites dangerous workplaces. There are also more accidents on the street Monday than every other weekday, as we see on this pattern many countries.

Many aspects give us this “The Monday effect“. We can address these and other issues to scale back avoidable workplace accidents on Mondays and other weekdays.

Construction is dangerous

The construction sector has higher rates accidents at work than the national average.

The industry reported that in 2023 45 employees diedwhich is a rise from the five-year average of 33.

Construction employees most often die from being hit by moving objects. The next most common causes are deaths resulting from falls, trips and slips.

Financial yr 2022-23 There were over 16,600 serious employees’ compensation claims in the construction sector. The median salary is now A$18,479 and the median lost work time is 8.5 weeks – each higher than in previous years.

“The Monday Effect”

Various studies conducted in numerous regions confirm that “The Monday effect”in construction. For example, a Chinese study found that fatal accidents occurred 12.6% more often on Mondays in comparison with other weekdays. There was a similar trend in Spain AND Hong Kong.

We also see “The Monday effect” IN other industries, akin to agriculture, forestry, mining and manufacturing.

A Spanish study that checked out records almost 3 million accidents at workincluding construction, confirmed the Monday effect across industries, firms of all sizes, every kind of employees, and every kind of injuries.

Linked data from all workplace accidents in Queensland also confirms Monday’s impact.

Why Mondays?

Construction accidents are more likely on Monday many reasons.

For example, staying up late on Sunday night and getting a poor night’s rest the night before the work week starts contributes to “cognitive failures” and mistakes at work on Monday.

Mondays often involve starting recent tasks or projects. This may cause unknown risks.

Construction site conditions, including weather, may change over the weekend, causing unexpected hazards. For example, strong winds over the weekend could cause scaffolding or unsecured materials to maneuver, increasing the risk of accidents on Monday.

We need to handle the root causes

AND test chargeable for the safety and efficiency of the Australian construction industry, stressed the have to proactively anticipate and stop accidents somewhat than taking motion after they occur – on Mondays or other days of the week.

The study used in-depth interviews with 30 industry professionals at 14 firms to discover several aspects contributing to construction accidents:

  • unrealistic deadlineswhich might prompt employees to rush and cut corners to get the job done on time

  • shortage of expert laborwhich suggests some employees could also be doing work for which they aren’t qualified

  • employees are afraid to talk out about safety concernswhich can result in failure to report and address potential threats

  • complicated and unknown custom structureswhich can involve unique risks and challenges that employees may not have encountered before

  • insufficient human factor risk assessmentwhich include fatigue, stress or cognitive overload and might result in errors and unsafe decisions on the spot

  • rushed training programsparticularly for safety reasons, which can leave employees unprepared to cope with risks or follow proper procedures.

What can we do to forestall accidents?

Part of the solution to a few of these problems is supporting a workplace culture during which security it is perceived as a core value and shared responsibility of employers, superiors and employees.

In construction firms, where safety is treated as “psychological contract” – unwritten but mutual obligations of employees and superiors – employees are higher equipped identifying and eliminating security threats.

Awareness campaigns highlighting issues akin to the “Monday effect” can even encourage adjustments to workflows to scale back the risk of accidents. This may include scheduling less dangerous or less complex tasks for Mondays to present employees time to return to their every day duties.

What else can we do?

Technology it will possibly also help prevent accidents.

For example, wearable sensors on a wristband or smartphone can discover, track and monitor employees body posture. These sensors can detect unsafe lifting practices, excessive bending, or prolonged exposure to a static or uncomfortable position. These are aspects that may contribute to ergonomic risks and injuries.

Augmented reality could be used to simulate tasks to assist employees practice techniques safely.

Artificial intelligence could analyze the image from the camera Down monitor workplaces in case of dangerous activities and signaling threats.

But cost concernsprivacy and industry belief that these investments are worthwhile are amongst the barriers to the adoption of those technologies.

Talking about money

Raising awareness of the economic costs of workplace accidents can change attitudes and priorities.

2019 Australian study found that the average cost of a construction accident ranges from $2,040 to $6,024,517. This depends on whether the accident resulted in brief or long absence from work, whether someone is partially or completely unable to work, or whether someone dies.

Elements of this estimate include compensation, lack of income or earnings, costs of coaching and retraining of staff, social welfare advantages, in addition to costs of treatment, tests and care.

Goal: zero deaths

Deaths and injuries at work on construction sites mustn’t be dismissed as accidents. They are a symptom of many systemic aspects that should be addressed through thoughtful motion and a commitment to safety.

Just as road safety initiatives aim to realize zero fatalities, the construction industry should focus on achieving zero workplace fatalities.

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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Health and Wellness

Yvette Nicole Brown’s glamorous bachelorette party was a star-studded affair

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Yvette Nicole Brown is sort of ready for her big day, and her girls are by her side to assist her rejoice her upcoming nuptials.

Brown will soon marry actor Anthony Davis, Brown, 53, celebrated on Nov. 17 with a lavish wedding reception along with her closest friends and sorority sisters at Inglewood’s only Black-owned winery, 1010 Wine & Events. This star-studded event was planned by William P. Miller and hosted by legendary black actresses reminiscent of Vanessa Bell Calloway Lela Rochon Fuqua Kym Whitley, who was also the “Shower Master of Ceremonies.”

The party’s theme was “Our Pearl Found Her Diamond” and paid tribute to Brown’s beloved sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, and its signature pearls and diamond engagement ring. Brown became a proud soror of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority 30 years ago when she graduated from the University of Akron in Ohio, where she became a member of the Delta Pi chapter.

The guest list included several of Brown’s famous friends from Black Hollywood’s elite circle, including Kim Fields, Essence Atkins, Holly Robinson Peete, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Cree Summer Francks and Yvette Lee Bowser.

The ladies rejoiced with the music of DJ Candice Manier, original SV Vodka cocktails and a cake created by Southern Girl Desserts. They also made pearl jewelry, played games, and watched a video with sweet messages and photos.

For Brown, having her friends’ support down the aisle “means everything.”

“I think most of them were or are married. I know a few of them have been at least proposed,” Brown says. “This is my first everything. It’s exciting to be able to sit at their feet and hear their opinions on various topics, and to be able to tell me what they think about it all.”

We cannot wait for Brown to tie the knot along with her beau next month.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Health and Wellness

“Get Lifted” by John Legend (twentieth Anniversary Edition) [Interview] – Essence

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Photo credit: Danny Clinch

When John Legend unveiled his debut album in 2004, he couldn’t have predicted the extraordinary legacy it could construct over the following 20 years. Now, with the discharge the singer returns to the project that launched his profession and redefined the boundaries of R&B, hip-hop and neo-soul. Available now, the digital Deluxe Edition offers fans a refreshed tackle timeless classics with remixes, rare tracks and collaborations that bring latest energy to the music.

The twentieth Anniversary Edition includes 11 bonus tracks, including remixes from iconic artists equivalent to Tems, Killer Mike, Lil Wayne, Simi and Black Thought. Two previously unreleased songs – “Do What I Gotta Do” and “Just In Time” – offer fans an intimate look into Legend’s creative process during this era. The album’s revival doesn’t end there; will even be available as 3LP vinyl in 2025, and all copies are signed by Legend.

Reflecting on the challenges of making an original album, the award-winning artist recalled the struggles of an aspiring artist trying to search out their sound. “I wrote a lot of this album when I wasn’t signed, so the big challenge was just figuring out what would work to give me a chance to get the music out there,” he explains. . “I’ve been trying to get a record deal for over five years, but record labels were turning me down both left and right.”

It was only when Kanye West took a likelihood on Legend and signed a contract with GOOD Music that all the pieces began to alter. Working with West and touring together opened doors for the University of Pennsylvania graduate. That same yr, he signed a record take care of Columbia and was able to hit the shelves. The album’s breakout single “Ordinary people” became the anthem that defined Legend’s artistry. “When it finally came out and made it work the way it did, especially with my second single, it was really beautiful to see it start to connect and connect with people,” she tells ESSENCE.

On the occasion of the anniversary edition, Legend collaborated with artists who provided a refreshing atmosphere to Legend’s debut – but remixes aren’t just repetitions of original songs. “I’m a fan of every artist we asked to be a part of the remix,” says Legend. “They have new beats, new energy, new vibes and of course new guest artists. It really brought a fresh perspective to music and excited me to reconnect with music.”

was a breakthrough album for the Ohio-born artist, combining multiple genres in a timeless and groundbreaking way. “I felt like it happened when neo-soul was already at its peak, so in a way it was almost like my reaction to neo-soul,” Legend reflects. “We also combine hip hop and gospel and create something fresh.” Legend’s commitment to songwriting is a thread that runs deep through his work then and now.

The physical format of music, especially upcoming vinyl releases, also plays a big role in maintaining the impact of the unique album. “There will always be people who want to hold something, read the sleeve notes, and play vinyl on their record players at home,” Legend states. “Especially when you’re celebrating an anniversary like this, it’s nice to have a commemorative thing that you can keep. This album means something to people because they remember 20 years ago when they started listening to it and what it meant to them then.”

Rekindling the magic of a pioneering debut, it also stands as a testament to Legend’s enduring craftsmanship. The album stays a masterclass in musical storytelling, connecting generations of fans and proving that great music, like great artists, only gets higher with time.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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