Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.
Arizona
With 5.4 million Americans living with Alzheimer’s today, African Americans are twice as likely to be diagnosed with the disease. As awareness continues to grow around Alzheimer’s, the new Alzheimer’s Prevention Registry created and led by Banner Alzheimer’s Institute allows concerned individuals to enroll and help further research in an effort to treat and prevent the disease. A new survey shows nearly half of U.S. adults have a personal connection to Alzheimer’s disease. According to a national survey for the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute, the results also found more than seven in 10 adults, or 218 million Americans, worry about memory loss or the disease for themselves or a loved one.
California
The Los Angeles Lakers will hold ceremonies to honor three of their all-time great players during the 2012-13 season. In the first of these events, on Friday, Nov. 16, the Lakers and Staples Center will unveil a statue of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at Star Plaza outside the center. Kareem’s statue will join those of former Lakers Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Jerry West; former Kings hockey great Wayne Gretzky, boxer Oscar De La Hoya and former Lakers broadcaster Francis “Chick” Hearn. Abdul-Jabbar was a member of the Lakers from 1975-1989. He finished his career as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer (38,287), a record that still stands today. His accolades include six NBA championships (1971, ‘80, ‘82, ‘85, ‘87 and ‘88); six time NBA MVP (1971, ‘72, ‘74, ‘76, ‘77 and ‘80); 10 time All-NBA First Team; Five-time All-Defensive first team; six time All-Defensive Second Team and 19 time All-Star. Abdul-Jabbar was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1995.
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The 22nd annual NAACP Theatre Awards, presented by the NAACP Beverly Hills/Hollywood Branch, was recently held at the Directors Guild of America in Hollywood. It was appropriately themed “A Salute to Black Theatre.” According to the African Theatre Ensemble, “through pioneering creative efforts, theater has become functional, collective, and committed as reflected in the unique rituals and particular historical perspectives of African and African American people. African Theatre is ritualized through music, poetry, dance, folklore, and religion, thus creating a theater art form that serves a greater purpose than theater for theater’s sake. The mission of the African Theatre Ensemble, therefore, is to strengthen our identity, confirm our history, and concretize our future directions.”
