>> IF YOU ARE NOT VISITING BOSTON OR MASSACHUSETTS, YOU ARE DOING BLACK HISTORY WRONG.

>> THERE ARE SYSTEMIC CHALLENGES THAT STILL NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.

>> WE’VE GOT A FULL HOUSE TODAY.

HELLO.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

YES.

LET’S GET STARTED.

♪ PARIS: WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, WHAT COMES TO MIND?

PROBABLY THINGS LIKE PAUL REVERE, OR THE BOSTON TEA PARTY.

BUT WHERE WERE BLACK PEOPLE IN ALL OF THIS?

SO, KELLIE, A LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE THINK ABOUT LIKE REVOLUTIONARIES, CHRISTOPHER ATTUCKS IS THE FIRST ONE THAT COMES TO MIND.

>> CHRISTOPHER ADDICKS WAS PART INDIGENOUS, WHO ESCAPED SLAVERY, AND BECOMES A SAILOR AND IS ABLE TO TRAVEL THE WORLD AND NAVIGATE FREEDOM IN REALLY DURING PRECARIOUS TIMES.

IT IS THIS ALTERCATION THAT HE HAS IN BOSTON WITH BRITISH SOLDIERS -- DURING THE BOSTON MASSACRE -- THAT COST HIM HIS LIFE.

IT IS ALSO DURING THAT TIME THAT HE WAS RIDICULED AND SEEN AS SORT OF THIS THUG AND TERRIFYING.

IT TAKES A LONG TIME FOR US TO REJUVENATE HIS LEGACY AND SEE HIM AS THE HERO THAT HE WAS.

PARIS: THAT ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE A FORESHADOWING OF AMERICA’S ENTIRE RELATIONSHIP.

[LAUGHTER] >> IT DOES.

ABSOLUTELY.

PARIS: DART, GIVEN THAT, HAS THERE BEEN ANY REDEMPTION SINCE THEN?

>> THE SAD PART FOR ME IS THAT WE FOUGHT SO HARD TO GET THE EMBRACE MONUMENT, AND THE EMBRACE MONUMENT IS TWO JUST FEET -- THERE JUST FEET FROM A MONUMENT THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEDICATED TO CHRISTOPHER ADDICKS BUT THE PEOPLE OF BOSTON WERE SO RESISTANT TO A MONUMENT TO A BLACK MAN THAT THEY DECIDED TO OPEN IT UP TO ALL OF THE GUYS, ALL THE PEOPLE WHO WERE KILLED IN THE BOSTON MASSACRE, SO THAT MONUMENT THAT IS TWO SHOULD JUST BE TWO CHRISTOPHER ADDICKS.

AND IT TOOK SO LONG TO BE MADE.

IF YOU GOOGLE HOW LONG IT TOOK FOR THIS MONUMENT TO BE CREATED AND HOW MANY PEOPLE IN BOSTON’S BLACK COMMUNITY IT TOOK JUST TO HAVE IT BE MADE, BECAUSE JUST HAVING CHRISTOPHER ADDICKS’ NAME ON IT WAS ENOUGH.

THE FACT THAT HE IS BURIED NOT TOO FAR AWAY WITH MULTIPLE PEOPLE, IN THE SAME GRAVESITE.

>> WOW.

>> AND HE IS ONE OF THE FIRST BLACK PEOPLE TO BE BURIED AND ESSENTIALLY A SEGREGATED CEMETERY, BLACK PEOPLE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO BE BURIED ALONGSIDE WHITE PEOPLE WHICH IS RIDICULOUS THAT EVEN IN DEATH THERE IS STILL SEGREGATION.

IT’S THE BLACK COMMUNITY THAT WORKS REALLY HARD TO KEEP HIS LEGACY ALIVE.

PARIS: JAMES, YOU HAVE BEEN DOING REPORTING ON ESSENTIALLY THE BLACK ROOTS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, WE KNOW THAT CHRISTOPHER WAS NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO WAS PART OF THIS, TELL US MORE.

>> YEAH.

THERE’S A NUMBER OF SOLDIERS WHO ENLISTED ON THE SIDE OF THE PATRIOTS AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR.

I WAS THINKING ABOUT A COUPLE OF THEM THIS MORNING, ONE OF WHOM IS CESAR ROBBINS, THE ROBBINS HOUSE IS OUT IN CONCORD, HE DID NOT LIVE THERE, IT WAS ACTUALLY BUILT FOR HIS CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN IN THE EARLIER SIDE OF THE 19TH CENTURY, THE 1800S.

ROBINS IS AN INTERESTING DUDE.

THEY WERE FIGHTING NAVAL SKIRMISHES IN IRELAND.

THERE WAS SPILLOVER WITH DUTCH ANTAGONISM WITH THE BRITISH IN INDIA.

IT SPILLS OVER INTO ALL THESE DIFFERENT PLACES.

ROBBINS WAS A TROOP ALSO IN THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.

HE SPENT DECADES IN SOME CAPACITY AS A SOLDIER IN WHAT WOULD BECOME THE UNITED STATES.

THAT HOUSE STILL STANDS.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT, TOO, I WAS FOLLOWING THE STORY OF A MAN NAMED MR. FREEMAN WHO WASN’T LYNCHED TO JOHN CUMMING WHO WAS A HARVARD EDUCATED DR. -- WHO WAS ENSLAVED TO JOHN CUMMING WHO WAS A HARVARD EDUCATED DOCTOR.

HE WAS NOT ENSLAVED TO SOME ORDINARY WHITE GUY.

THESE ARE NAMES THAT STILL EXIST AND ARE MEMORIALIZED IN PLACES.

THE ROBIN STORY IS INTERESTING BECAUSE HE ENLISTED THREE SEPARATE TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF THE WAR.

EACH TIME KIND OF GETTING CLOSER TO EMANCIPATION.

WE DON’T EXACTLY KNOW HOW HE WAS EMANCIPATED.

WE JUST DON’T KNOW THAT AT THE OF THE WAR, -- AT THE END OF THE WAR, HE WAS CONSIDERED A FREE MAN.

THE TRAGIC ISSUE IS AFTER HE COMES BACK FROM THE WAR, JOHN CUMMING DOES NOT LEAVE HIM ANY MONEY.

YOU ARE EMANCIPATED, BUT -- HE GIVES MONEY TO THE TOWN JUST IN CASE.

THE TOWN CAN HELP HIM OUT.

PARIS: THIS IS A STORY WE HEAR TIME AND TIME AGAIN THROUGHOUT AMERICAN HISTORY, SOLDIERS WHO FIGHT FOR THE FREEDOM AND PROTECTION OF THIS COUNTRY NOT BEING ABLE TO REAP THE SAME FREEDOM AND PROTECTION UPON COMING BACK HOME.

>> TERRIBLE IRONY.

>> YOU TAKE IT TO WORLD WAR II, BLACK VETERANS WHO WERE NOT ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF GI BENEFITS AND GOING TO SCHOOL AND BUYING HOMES, THERE IS A BIG PART OF THAT VIABILITY THAT ALLOWED BLACK PEOPLE TO GET ACCESS TO THE MIDDLE CLASS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE THAT IS COMPLETELY CUT OUT BECAUSE BLACK PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LEFT OUT OF THAT.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR, YOU LOOK AT PETER SALEM, SALEM FOUR, AND THE SADDEST CASE IN MY OPINION, WHITLEY, SHE WROTE POEMS FOR THE CAUSE.

SHE WROTE ALL THESE DIFFERENT PIECES FOR THE CAUSE.

SHE WAS SEEN AS ONE OF THE MAJOR PIECES OF THE REVOLUTION, AND SHE DIED PENNILESS, AFTER CHILDBIRTH, AND SHE IS BURIED ON A PATCH OF LAND THAT IS BARE.

BUT WE HAVE STATUES OF HER ALONG THE COMING WEALTH AVENUE MALL, THERE IS A SCHOOL NAMED AFTER HER.

WE DON’T KNOW EXACTLY WHERE SHE IS BURIED.

AND SHE DIED BROKEN AND SAID.

>> IT NEVER COMES DURING THEIR LIFETIME, ONLY 200 YEARS LATER.

>> SHE WAS THE FIRST BLACK PERSON, WOMAN, MAN, WOMAN THAT WAS PUBLISHED -- AND THEY HAD TO FIGHT FOR THIS WOMAN TO BE PUBLISHED.

THEY TOOK HER TO ENGLAND, INTERNATIONALLY.

>> TO SEE HER AS AN INTELLECTUAL -- CREDITED AS AN INTELLECTUAL.

PARIS: DART, WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT, WE ALLUDED TO THIS EARLIER.

A LOT OF THIS RECLAIMING OF HISTORY BY BLACK COMMUNITIES OFTEN WHEN THE HISTORY HAS BEEN ERASED OR REVISED.

NOW EVERYONE250 WHICH YOU ARE A COCHAIR OF TELLS A MORE FULL STORY OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION AND CONTEXTUALIZES THAT FOR TODAY, WHY DO WE HAVE TO DO THAT?

>> WELL, I FELL INTO THE ROLE OF COCHAIR OF THE HISTORIC SITES COMMITTEE, BECAUSE I SPENT SO MANY YEARS WRITING ABOUT ALL THIS HISTORY OF BOSTON, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS’ BLACK HISTORY.

IF YOU ARE NOT VISITING BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, YOU ARE DOING BLACK HISTORY IN AMERICA WRONG.

THERE ARE SO MANY IMPORTANT SPACES.

I DID A PIECE FOR BOSTON MAGAZINE ABOUT BURIAL GROUNDS.

THE VERY FIRST SIZABLE COMMUNITY OF FREED AND JUST BLACK FOLKS IN THE COLONIES WAS IN THE COMMUNITY BETWEEN 1650 AND 1850 AND THE ONLY THING WE HAVE REMAINING IS PROOF -- AS PROOF THAT THOSE PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE HEADSTONES THAT I CAN COUNT ON ONE HAND.

BETWEEN 1000 OR 1500 BLOCK BOSTONIANS OVER THE SPAN OF 200 YEARS OR BURIED.

THAT’S WHY E250 THINGS THAT IS IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT ALL OF BOSTON.

I WAS BORN IN 1975.

THE BICENTENNIAL WAS 1976.

A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WERE GOING AROUND STAMPING THINGS SAYING, THIS IS WHAT HISTORICAL THING TO BOSTON IS, AND VERY OFTEN, WE WERE LEFT OUTSIDE OF THE, BETWEEN 1979 AND 1980, THEY CAME BACK AND DID IT AGAIN BECAUSE WE WERE CELEBRATING BOSTON’S 350TH ANNIVERSARY, AND AGAIN BLACK BOSTON HISTORY WAS VERY MUCH LEFT ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THAT.

AND NOW HERE I AM IN THIS PRECARIOUS SITUATION WHERE I GOT TO FIX -- GET TO FIX ALL THESE YEARS OF WRONGDOING.

PARIS: I HEAR WHAT YOU ARE SAYING ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE NEEDING TO VISIT BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS DURING BLACK HISTORY MONTH BUT WE HAVE TO BE HONEST ABOUT THE PERCEPTION OF BOSTON TO THE REST OF THIS COUNTRY.

>> THAT’S PART OF THE REASON WHY.

PARIS: DO YOU THINK THAT THIS IS GOING TO HELP FIX THAT?

>> IT HAS TO, BECAUSE AGAIN, I WILL NEVER FORGET ARRIVING IN MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY IN THE SPRING SEMESTER OF 1986 AND HAVING TO EXPLAIN TO EVERYONE THAT THERE ARE BLACK PEOPLE IN BOSTON AND THERE HAVE BEEN SINCE 1630 AND I AM NOT ONE OF FIVE PEOPLE IN BOSTON AND I AM NOT A MEMBER OF NEW EDITION.

[LAUGHTER] IT’S AN UPHILL BATTLE.

>> IS A STRUGGLE.

>> THERE ARE BLACK PEOPLE THAT ARE IN BOSTON AND THERE -- AND THEY ARE DRIVING AND LOVE THE CITY THEY LIVE IN.

THERE IS A BAD PR ABOUT BOSTON AND SOME OF THAT IS WELL-DESERVED.

[LAUGHTER] BUT THERE’S ALSO A LOT OF VIBRANCY AND BLACK HISTORY THAT WE DON’T TALK ABOUT.

I STUDIED THE EVOLUTIONIST MOVEMENT.

YOU CAN’T LOOK AT THAT MOVEMENT WITHOUT LOOKING AT BLACK BOSTON AND THE AFRICAN MEETING OR DAVID WALKER OR MARIAH STEWART OR LOUIS HAYDEN OR WILLIE COOPER NELL, ALL THESE PEOPLE THAT WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN THE MOVEMENT.

>> TO THAT POINT, I THINK PART OF THE REASON WHY I AM INTERESTED OR INVESTED IN THE UNDERSTANDING OF BLACK HISTORY IN A CITY LIKE BOSTON ESPECIALLY AT A TIME -- AT THE TURN OF THE 18TH OR 19TH CENTURY, IT IS BECAUSE BOSTON AS A PLACE, THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION AS AN EVENT OCCUPY THIS MYTHICAL STATUS IN OUR NATIONAL IMAGINATION.

IT IS ALMOST UNREAL, RIGHT?

YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES AND THERE IS A CONDITIONED VISION OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

AND THEN IT MAKES YOU SECOND GUESS YOURSELF.

I GUESS IF YOU ARE YOUNG.

BUT AM I THERE?

IS ANYTHING HERE FOR ME?

DEAD MY FORBEARERS DO ANYTHING TO POUR INTO THE CREATION OF THIS HAILED BEACON OF FREEDOM AND HOPE FOR THE WORLD?

IT IS ALMOST LIKE A CULTURE OBLIGATION TO SOME MYTH BUSTING.

IT MAKES IT THAT MUCH MORE REAL AND TANGIBLE AS AN EXPERIENCE.

PARIS: IT IS INTERESTING HERE YOU ALL TALK ABOUT THIS, I THINK ABOUT PHILADELPHIA, ANOTHER PLACE THAT WE CONTEND WITH WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE BIRTHPLACE OF AMERICA.

PHILADELPHIA IS A REAL BLACK CITY.

NOT TO SAY THAT BOSTON IS NOT.

BUT PHILLY IS IN A DIFFERENT CATEGORY.

WHY HAVE THEY BEEN ABLE TO START THIS ILLUSION?

>> WELL, REPRESENTATION.

A LOT HAS TO DO WITH REPRESENTATION.

I DO AN EXERCISE.

IT’S UNFORTUNATE I STILL HAVE TO DO IT -- I DO AN EXERCISE WITH PEOPLE AND SAY NAME FIVE BLACK PEOPLE FROM BOSTON, FIVE LATINOS FROM BOSTON, OR FROM MASSACHUSETTS.

IN THIS FIELD OR THIS FIELD.

IF I SAY NAME FIVE BLACK FOLKS FROM CHICAGO OR PHILLY OR NEW ORLEANS, THEY CAN WRITE A LOT OF NAMES, AND BOSTON, THEY HAVE TO FIGHT.

>> THEY CAN’T EVEN NAME RONNIE BOBBY.

[LAUGHTER] AND RAUL.

>> IT IS SO SAD.

>> THAT’S RIGHT THERE!

>> AND NOT NEW EDITION.

[LAUGHTER] I WAS LIKE, YOU COULD HAVE SENT SUMMERS.

-- SAID DONNA SUMMERS.

THAT’S THE UPHILL BATTLE WE HAVE TO SAY IN TERMS OF REPRESENTATION.

MY EARLY DAYS OF WRITING, I WOULD INFORM PEOPLE THAT BY THE WAY THEY ARE FROM BOSTON, THEY ARE FROM BOSTON.

I WAS TELLING EVERYBODY THAT HOMEGIRL WAS FROM DORCHESTER FOR YEARS AND NOW SHE IS BLOWING UP, AND THE MAYOR DECLARED IT HER DAY.

AYO A., DECLARED IT HER DAY, WHILE SHE WAS VISITING BOSTON.

I REMEMBER GOING ON TWITTER BACK WHEN IT WAS SOMETHING YOU DID AND SAYING, SHE IS FROM DORCHESTER.

PEOPLE WERE LIKE, WHAT?

EARLY?

-- REALLY?

>> YOU GOT TO LET THEM KNOW.

PARIS: AS WE ARE STILL FIGHTING FOR THIS REPRESENTATION, NOT ONLY IN THE CITY AND THE STATE BUT TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD, WOULD YOU SAY FOR BLACK PEOPLE THAT THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION IS STILL ONGOING?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE WORK IS NOT COMPLETED.

ANY TIME WE GOT COMFORTABLE AND THINK THE WORK IS COMPLETED, THAT MAKES US PRIME FOR SOMEONE TO COME IN AND DISMANTLE AND DESTROY THE PROGRESS THAT HAS BEEN MADE AND WE ARE SEEING THAT RIGHT NOW.

A A LOT OF THE WORK AND PROGRESS THAT’S BEEN MADE IS BEING ROLLED BACK AND THERE’S A BACKLASH TO THAT.

IF WE DON’T CONTINUE TO FIGHT AND CONTINUE TO BE ACTIVE AT KEEPING THESE IDEAS AND MEMORIES AND HISTORY ALIVE, IT CAN ABSOLUTELY BE LOST.

>> A FUNNY THING TO ME IS, IF YOU GO TO WIKIPEDIA RIGHT NOW AND TYPE IN AMERICAN REVOLUTION, YOU GET TWO PAGES, THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR AND THE REVOLUTION.

THAT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THE WAR HAPPENED.

THERE’S A BEGINNING AND END.

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION, IT IS AN OPTION OF THE ENLIGHTENMENT, IT IS AN INTELLECTUAL AND CULTURAL AND SOCIAL MOVEMENT, IT IS A FIGHT THAT SPILLS OVER INTO A WAR FOR REPRESENTATION.

THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION CAN BE FOR ANYBODY.

A GROUP, A NATION WITHIN A BORDER.

AN INDIVIDUAL.

THAT REVOLUTIONARY ACTIVITY, AS LONG AS IT PERTAINS TO THAT FURTHERING OF IDENTITY OF SELF, OF VOICE AND BEING PRESENT IN THE DECISION-MAKING, AND IN THE COLLABORATION -- >> THAT IS A DEMOCRACY.

>> EXACTLY.

THE CONSTITUTION IS A LIVING DOCUMENT.

THE REVOLUTION IS ONGOING.

IT IS UP TO WHOEVER TO DECIDE TO TAKE THAT UP AND DEFINE WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THEM.

THE REVOLUTION IS NOT OVER.

>> PERIOD.

TO BE CONTINUED.

PARIS: WE HAVE MORE TO TALK ABOUT AS WE SEE HOW E250 UNFOLDS AND HOW THE CURRENT MOMENT UNFOLDS.

BEFORE I LET YOU GO, I WILL ASK YOU WHAT I ASK EVERYONE HERE, WHAT IS ONE THING THAT KEEPS YOU ROOTED?

>> THE WORK, KNOWING THAT IT’S ONGOING, THERE IS A SAYING IN THE FILMS, FASHION IS NEVER FINISHED, WELL, THIS WORK IS NEVER FINISHED.

IT IS A LIVING, BREATHING THING AND YOU HAVE TO KEEP WORKING AT IT TO KEEP IT THRIVING.

PARIS: JAMES, WHAT ABOUT YOU?

>> CULTURAL UPLIFT, QUICKLY, I WAS ON TWITTER, SOMEONE TWEETED, THERE IS NO ALBUM WITH 10 OUT OF 10 TRACKS THAT ARE GOOD.

[LAUGHTER] I DON’T KNOW WHO THIS PERSON WAS.

>> LITERALLY.

>> JUST BAPTIZE, IMMERSE IN THAT, TALK ABOUT IT, THAT KEEPS ME GROUNDED.

>> I’M GOING TO SAY -- IT’S PROBABLY A CORNY ANSWER -- BUT IT’S MY STUDENTS.

.

I AM TEACHING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS.

I FEEL LIKE I AM TEACHING THE NEXT GENERATION OF GLOBAL LEADERS AND WOMEN LEADERS.

THAT TO ME IS VERY EXCITING BUT ALSO, THEY GIVE ME LIFE AND THEY GIVE ME HOPE FOR WHAT THIS COUNTRY MIGHT BE.

>> I THANK YOU.

[LAUGHTER] PARIS: KELLIE, JAMES AND DART, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THE AUTHORITIES HAVE INTENSIFIED PUBLIC EDUCATION AND WHAT THAT IS DOING IS CHANGING A LOT OF MINDS.

PARIS: HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN GHANA ARE DESPERATELY WORKING TO CONTAIN A DEADLY MENINGITIS OUTBREAK.

THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION IS AIDING AS THE SITUATION IS REACHING A CRITICAL MASS.

SO, RIDWAN KARIM DINI-OSMAN, YOU ARE JOINING US FROM YOUR HOME, TELL US WHAT YOU ARE SEEING.

>> NOW, THE SITUATION IS UNDER CONTROL, BUT A COUPLE OF WEEKS BACK, IT WAS QUITE DIRE.

BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE WERE DYING.

PEOPLE, REPORTEDLY, GOT TO THE HOSPITAL THEY RELATE.

THERE’S VERY LITTLE THAT THE DOCTORS CAN DO.

NOW NEW MEASURES HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED, THE GOVERNMENT HAS MADE THE TREATMENT OF MENINGITIS FREE.

INITIALLY, COST WAS A FACTOR.

IT PREVENTED A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM REPORTING ON TIME.

ALSO WE HAD ISSUES AROUND MISINFORMATION AND DISINFORMATION, WHERE PEOPLE SAID THIS IS SPIRITUAL AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MEDICINE.

PEOPLE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN PRAYER CAMPS AND TRADITIONAL HEALING PLACES, TRYING TO GET SOME DIVINE INTERVENTION, BUT THE HEALTH AUTHORITIES HAVE INTENSIFIED PUBLIC EDUCATION AND WHAT THAT IS DOING IS IT IS CHANGING A LOT OF MINDS.

PEOPLE ARE NOTICING THE SYMPTOMS.

PEOPLE IMMEDIATELY ARE NOTICING THE SYMPTOMS AND THEY REPORT TO THE HOSPITAL.

CASES ARE BEING NOW DETECTED EARLY.

BUT THERE ARE SYSTEMIC CHALLENGES THAT STILL NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, AND THOSE ARE THE KEY TALKING POINTS HERE.

PARIS: WHY IS IT TAKING PEOPLE SO LONG TO GET TO THE HOSPITAL?

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST, THE OUTBREAK IS HAPPENING IN A REGION THAT IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE POOREST IN THE COUNTRY, THE UPPER WEST REGION.

POVERTY IS VERY ENDEMIC, AND SO, PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN VERY DEPLORABLE SETTLEMENTS.

MOST OF THE ROADS THERE ARE IN VERY DEPLORABLE STATES, WHICH MEANS THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO GO THROUGH A LOT TO BE ABLE TO ACCESS HEALTH CENTERS.

THE HEALTH CENTERS ARE NOT ACCESSIBLE.

FOR INSTANCE, IF SOMEBODY HAS AN EMERGENCY AND THEY NEED AN AMBULANCE TO COME AND GET THEM TO THE HOSPITAL, THEY WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR -- FOR A FEE FOR THE AMBULANCE BEFORE THEY CAN DO THAT.

THIS IS A REGION WHERE MANY PEOPLE LIVE ON TWO DOLLARS A DAY.

HOW ARE THEY ABLE TO AFFORD A FEE FOR THE AMBULANCE?

ONCE MONEY BECOMES THE ISSUE, THEY WOULD RATHER STAY-AT-HOME AND LOOK FOR OTHER REMEDIES.

THERE’S THE ISSUE ABOUT POOR ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE, THE ISSUE ABOUT POVERTY AND THE FACT THAT HEALTH CARE IS VERY EXPENSIVE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE TO AFFORD.

PARIS: YOU MENTIONED SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TURNING TO SPIRITUAL PRACTICES TO TRY TO TREAT THIS DISEASE.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHERE THAT IS COMING FROM.

OUR PEOPLE UNDERSTANDING -- ARE PEOPLE UNDERSTANDING THIS IS A BODILY ILLNESS THAT CAN BE DEADLY?

AND TWO, ARE THEY RESISTANT TO ANY KIND OF TREATMENT ALONG WITH THE SPIRITUAL PRACTICES?

>> THE THING IS, EVEN THOUGH GHANA IS A SECULAR STATE, RELIGION IS VERY BIG IN THE COUNTRY, SO FOR INSTANCE, IN GHANA, THE THREE MAIN RELIGIONS ARE CHRISTIANITY, ISLAM AND TRADITIONAL AFRICAN RELIGION.

AND IN THE NORTH, PEOPLE ARE PREDOMINANTLY CHRISTIANS AND TRADITIONALISTS.

SO EVERYTHING HAS A SPIRITUAL DIMENSION.

WHEN PEOPLE ARE HAVING A DISEASE THAT THEY CANNOT RUB THEIR HEADS AROUND, THEY TEND TO ASSOCIATE IT WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH SPIRITUALITY.

ALSO REMEMBER THAT SUPERSTITION IS VERY RIPE IN THESE PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

SO WHEN SOMETHING MYSTERIOUS IS HAPPENING, PEOPLE ARE QUICK TO SAY, WHAT IS GOING ON?

IT’S DEEPLY ROOTED IN TRADITION AND TRADITIONAL BELIEF.

WHEN IT COMES TO ISSUE OF BELIEF -- THE ISSUE OF BELIEF, IT IS VERY SENSITIVE.

IT IS MAKING IT TOUGH FOR THE HEALTH PROMOTION OFFICERS TO NAVIGATE IN TERMS OF HOW TO COMMUNICATE AND HANDLE RISK COMMUNICATION IN THE AREA.

BECAUSE PEOPLE JUST WOULD NOT ACCEPT THAT THIS IS MEDICAL, AND SO YOU DO NOT NEED TO GO TO THE PRAYER CAMP, RATHER GO TO THE HOSPITAL AND GET CARE.

SOMETIMES PEOPLE NEED TO HEALTH OFFICERS -- MEET THE HEALTH OFFICERS WITH A LOT OF RESISTANCE.

BUT WITH A LOT OF EDUCATION, PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO REASON.

WHAT THE HEALTH AUTHORITIES ARE ALSO DOING IS GET RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THESE PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS.

PARIS: I KNOW YOU MENTIONED THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN GHANA IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO ACCESS, BUT GENERALLY IS THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM EQUIPPED TO HANDLE AN OUTBREAK OF THIS SORT?

>> THE THING ABOUT MENINGITIS IS, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME WE ARE RECORDING MENINGITIS OUTBREAKS.

IT IS AN OCCURRENCE PARTICULARLY IN THE UPPER WEST REGION.

BUT WHAT WE ARE SEEING THIS YEAR IS THAT THE BACTERIA THAT IS CAUSING THIS PARTICULAR OUTBREAK HAS DEVELOPED A NEW STRAIN, AND SO, THE PREVIOUS STRAINS, WE HAD VACCINES FOR IT.

WHENEVER THERE WAS AN OUTBREAK, THE POPULATION WAS VACCINATED.

BUT THE CURRENT OUTBREAK, WE DO NOT HAVE A VACCINE FOR IT.

THAT IS WHERE THE CHALLENGE IS.

THE ISSUE WITH THE UNAVAILABILITY OF VACCINES, THIS COMES AT A TIME WHERE GHANA’S ECONOMY IS UNDERGOING A LOT OF SERIOUS CHALLENGES.

WE ARE ALSO SEEING THE FOREIGN AID FREEZE WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WHICH HAS DIRECTLY TAKEN A TOLL ON THE HEALTH SECTOR IN THE COUNTRY.

AND ALSO THE COUNTRY HAS POOR INFRASTRUCTURE TO DEAL WITH THE SITUATION.

IN TERMS OF THE TECHNICAL KNOW-HOW, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED, MANAGING COVID, WE HAVE EXPERIENCE MANAGING MALARIA, WE HAVE EXPERIENCED MANAGING OTHER OUTBREAKS, BUT IN TERMS OF THE CRITICAL MEDICAL SUPPLY AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO THE HEALTH SYSTEM STRENGTHENING AND CONDUCT CRITICAL RESOURCE TO BE ABLE TO SEE WHETHER EXISTING VACCINES COULD BE UPDATED TO OFFER SOME PROTECTION TO THE PRESIDENT -- RESIDENTS FOR INSTANCE, THE RESOURCES ARE NOT AVAILABLE.

WE ARE FEELING THE PINCH BECAUSE OF THE FREEZE -- THE AID FREEZE BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

AND ALREADY WE HAVE THE INDICATION FROM THE GHANA HEALTH SERVICE THAT IT’S TAKEN A HUGE TOLL ON SOME PROJECTS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN AND SUPPOSED TO HELP STRENGTHEN THE COUNTRY HEALTH SYSTEM -- COUNTRY’S HEALTH SYSTEM.

THE FREEZE IS HALTING 156 $1 MILLION.

QUITE A COLOSSAL AMOUNT.

PARIS: AND THAT CERTAINLY HITS HOME CONSIDERING MANY PEOPLE NOT JUST FROM THE U.S.

BUT THE DIASPORA AROUND THE WORLD ARE RETURNING TO GHANA AND SETTLING THERE.

IN TERMS OF HUMANIZING EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON, WHAT IS ONE THING YOU WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW?

>> I MEAN, I THINK FOR THE LONGEST TIME, WHEN IT COMES TO DISEASE OUTBREAKS, WE TEND TO THROW THE NUMBERS ABOUT AND MAKE IT LOOK LIKE IT IS JUST NUMBERS.

BUT WE ARE DEALING WITH REAL HUMAN BEINGS.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE FAMILIES AND LIKELIHOODS.

AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DIED HAVE DEPENDENTS.

FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO HUMANIZE THE STORY IS TO CREATE THAT SORT OF RELATABILITY AND CONNECTION FOR THE AUDIENCES TO APPRECIATE THE GRAVITY OF THE PROBLEM.

AND ALSO TO CREATE GLOBAL RESONANCE, THAT YOU CANNOT SAY BECAUSE IT IS HAPPENING IN GHANA , THE REST OF THE WORLD SHOULD NOT BE BOTHERED ABOUT IT.

IN THE CASE OF HIV, IF YOU CANNOT SAY THAT YOU HAVE ENDED HIV IN THE U.S.

WHEN THERE IS STILL HIV IN A PLACE LIKE SOUTH AFRICA.

SO WHEN THERE IS MENINGITIS IN GHANA, PEOPLE IN THE U.S. SHOULD BE CONCERNED.

PARIS: THANK YOU SO MUCH, IT WAS A PLEASURE TO SPEAK WITH YOU.

WE HOPE THE SITUATION THERE IS IS UP.

-- EASES UP.

>> THE PLEASURE IS MINE.

PARIS: AND THANK YOU TO OUR AUDIENCE FOR WATCHING.

AT GBH NEWS ROOTED, WE BRING YOU STORIES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

AND WE WANT TO KNOW, WHAT KEEPS YOU ROOTED?

WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT MATTER TO YOU?

CHECK US OUT ON INSTAGRAM, YOUTUBE, AND RIGHT HERE EVERY TUESDAY NIGHT AT 7:30 P.M. FROM ALL OF US HERE AT GBH NEWS ROOTED, I’M PARIS ALSTON.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

♪ ♪