TRIANGLE TRIBUNE.COM 1998 15 YEARS the Triangle 2013 ‘Death Panel’ Myth
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WWW.TRIANGLE TRIBUNE.COM 1998 15 YEARS The Triangle 2013 ‘Death panel’ myth Care and is already available online. hardSTAFF REPORTS to correctThe researchers set up an experiment in RIBUNE DURHAM – More than three years after she which people were given a news article about TTHE TRIANGLE’S CHOICE FOR THE BLACK VOICE coined the phrase “death panel,” Sarah Palin’s health care reform. For one of the groups, a remark continues to inflame the debate over correction was included in the article, which health care. explained that nonpartisan health care ex- perts found no evidence to support Palin’s VOLUME 15 NO. 2 WEEK OF JANUARY 13, 2013 $1.00 Her claim was that President Obama’s plan would allow bureaucrats to determine claim about death panels. whether seniors are “worthy of health care.” As expected, people who felt warmly to- Three researchers – Peter Ubel of Duke ward Palin were more likely to believe in University’s Fuqua School of Business, death panels. Hillside Brendan Nyhan of Dartmouth University and When people were exposed to information High Jason Reifler of Georgia State University – set refuting the death panel claim, however, the out to discover whether media fact-check- results were more surprising. People who sweeps ing could debunk the myth of death panels. liked Palin but didn’t know much about the What they found is that while there is noth- political process believed less strongly in Roxboro ing in the plan resembling a death panel, the death panels when confronted with this in- Person in myth is unlikely to go away any time soon. formation. Such a finding suggests the act Their study, “The Hazards of Correcting of fact-checking such claims can improve JV action Myths About Health Care Reform,” will be in people’s understanding of policy controver- the February issue of the journal Medical sies. See DEATH/2A Academy adds fatherhood coaching to mentoring program By Maria Magher CORRESPONDENT RALEIGH – In the wake of trag- ic events like the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., the need for reaching out to troubled young men has become all the more clear to Terrence Perry. “These young men are hold- ing this stuff in, and when it comes out, it comes out in the worst way,” he said. “If we can get to them before they get to that point, we not only save an individual, we save a communi- ty.” Perry created the Citizen’s Empowerment Academy with his sons, Terrence “Tap” and Miles J., two years ago as a men- toring program for youth inter- ested in sports, music and oth- er positive enrichment activi- PHOTO/FILE ties. However, with more and more troubling events making Despite society perceptions, more whites and Hispanics are on welfare than African-Americans. the news in the past couple of years, Perry saw a need to do more. As a result, he expanded the academy to include the Fatherhood Coaching and Counseling Program to mentor Single blackgle mothers parent, as well as the stereotypes riseto raise above her son, Sha’Quandre, ‘assistance’ and go themselves, Deborah Glenn has kept her men about how to build posi- they face. back to school. She worked until he was reputation as so. While raising her two tive relationships with their sons Activists make push for At 27 years old, Ladanna Richmond 5, and once he started school, so did daughters, she didn’t rely on the child or stepsons. self-reliance to break was determined to come out of the wel- she. support expected from her ex-husband. “We want to focus on the pos- fare assistance she was receiving when Wiggins enrolled at East Carolina She attended N.C. Central and has a itive energy and to show boys welfare dependence she had her son, Debryan Strong, in April University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in English Literature that it’s OK to express what 2008. After graduating from N.C. A&T Bachelor of Science degree in family and with a concentration in communica- they’re feeling,” the St. By Tori Pittman SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE State University with a Bachelor of Arts community services with a minor in bi- tions. Augustine’s graduate said. Perry in psychology, Richmond continued to ology and psychology. In 2009, she com- Glenn put her children through col- said that in his experience, Seventy-two percent of children are pursue her education with the assis- pleted her Master of Arts in human serv- lege. Now a grandmother of two, she young men are taught not to living in single, black parent homes. tance. She recently graduated from ices at Liberty University. continues to share her wisdom and share their feelings, that it’s not While society has been so pressed about Liberty University online with a master’s Wiggins is a targeted case manager knowledge with her immediate family “manly.” They bottle up those this subject alone, many people may not in human services and a concentration with Easter Seals UCP of N.C. and while working as a dining service man- emotions, which can lead to un- be aware of the mothers who are mak- in marriage and family counseling. Virginia. She helps individuals with dis- ager at the Carolina Meadows Club healthy expression later. ing their own way to provide for their She works with mental health children abilities to become independent so they Centre. At times, while her children are “We have to let them know children with little to no government as- and adolescents that have behavioral can live on their own. She is able to make in work or school, she watches her that it’s all right to express what sistance. problems. Her salary is $45,000 a year. her own schedule and can work from grandchildren. they’re feeling. They already According to the Census Bureau, 58.1 While she’s at work, Debryan is in pre- home if needed. Sha’Quandre, a soph- Glenn said she’s “heartbroken of how have a lifelong bond with their percent of black females earned less K at 7:30 a.m. and then goes to day care omore in high school, is in the march- single black mothers who are on wel- fathers, so they can help them than $25,000 annually in 2011. Almost at 2 p.m. At 5 p.m. he is actively play- ing band at J.H. Rose in Greenville, N.C. fare are trapped.” She metaphorically learn how to express themselves 18 percent earned $35,000 to 49,999, ing t-ball, soccer or basketball, or with Now working on her second masters spoke of how they sit and wait for the in a more positive way.” and 14.6 percent made $50,000 to his grandmother until Richmond leaves as a licensed professional in counsel- check to come in like a mouse waiting The program provides indi- 74,999. In a further study by the Census, work at 6 p.m. ing, Wiggins has been on two interviews for a piece of cheese. She taught her chil- vidual and group counseling so analysis showed that 1.9 million black Richmond advises single women with that would raise her salary between dren that they can work, and as long as fathers can learn how to become mothers were receiving welfare assis- multiple children not to stay on welfare $42,000 to $80,000 a year. She said they have a job, they can make it. strong role models for their tance compared to 3.2 million white throughout their adult lives. through her faith, she stayed focused teenage sons and build positive mothers. While some of her family members and saved everything she could to pro- relationships with them. It Three African-American mothers re- didn’t believe she could make it on her vide a decent life for her and her son. Tori Pittman is a freelance writer. She specifically focuses on fathers cently expressed their thoughts and own without welfare, Rashaun Wiggins While growing up in a family that was can be reached at opinions about their position as a sin- at 17 made certain that she was going always known to work and take care of [email protected]. See ACADEMY/3A Reporting crime is part of the crime- solvingBy Caitlin Owens puzzleOut of the three, the desire for THE DURHAM VOICE “street justice” prevents people from reporting crime most fre- Sometimes bullet holes in the quently, Hopkins said. wall of a house serve as the only “If the family is gang-affiliated indication that a crime has oc- or something like that, they like curred. to handle it themselves,” he said. Although Durham officials en- “They don’t think the police will courage community members to get the justice that they want. call the police when a crime is The reality is that it’s an ‘eye for committed, both parties claim an eye.’” that incidents frequently go un- Although establishing a defi- reported. Victims often fail to re- nite connection between the per- port violent crime in particular. petrator of a crime and gang in- This results from either a desire volvement usually proves diffi- PHOTO/CAITLIN OWENS to handle the situation them- cult, Hopkins said most violent selves, a fear of retaliation or a activity is gang-related. “If you Franklin Village Apartment Complex resident Sheryl Smith raises her grand- lack of trust in the police, Officer See REPORTING/2A daughter, 1-year-old Ke’Asia, whose father Smith said recently played a role in Perry Kevin Hopkins said.