Here is a News 6 mashup of top stories for the week of Aug. 30, 2021, straight from AWN News 6 Correspondent, Jolene McNutt:

Pfizer Vaccine Receives FDA Approval

Last Monday, the Food and Drug Administration granted “full approval to Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine,” reported AP News. This is the first of three primary COVID-19 vaccines used in the U.S. to be granted FDA approval. “More than 200 million Pfizer doses have already been administered in the U.S.” Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said, “The public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product.”

Afghan Woman Gives Birth on C-17

An Afghan woman gave birth on a U.S. Air Force C-17 last week, reported Military.com. “The mother went into labor during the flight and Air Force medical crews at Ramstein helped deliver the child in the cargo bay of the aircraft.” “The woman began experiencing complications due to low blood pressure . . . the aircraft commander descended to increase air pressure . . . a decision that helped stabilize and save the mother’s life.” The mother and baby are reported to be in good condition. The Air Force also shared that “aeromedical evacuation crews had been dealing with various medical emergencies during Afghanistan evacuation flights.”

Exploring the C-17

Are you curious about how people are being transported out of Afghanistan? The BBC gave a run down of the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III used by many nations. In fact, on Aug. 15, one U.S. Air Force C-17 “safely evacuated a record 823 Afghan citizens” aboard one single flight. According to BBC, “this plane [was] developed in the 1980s and first flown in the 1990s to . . . shuttle troops, cargo, and sometimes people in danger.” The plane “can carry up to 170,900 pounds worth of cargo.”

Ways You Can Help Afghan Refugees

You may be wondering how can you help Afghan refugees. For those of you stationed near Fort Lee in Virginia, Fort McCoy in Wisconsin, and Fort Bliss in Texas, you might be able to help in person. Refugee services are looking for volunteers to fill roles such as driving refugees to appointments, setting up new homes, translating, assisting with legal services, and more. For those unable to volunteer time, financial donations are welcomed. ABC News reported that “people should be cautious about where their donations go.” View a list of recommended organizations that help refugees settle or donate to your local mosque. Additionally, you can write to your government representatives and implore them to protect Afghan allies. “At this critical moment, we also need public pressure on the Biden administration to keep America’s promise to protect Afghan allies,” Nisha Agarwarl, the Deputy Executive Director of the International Refugee Assistance Project, told ABC News.

This Week in History

On Aug. 28, 1963, more than 200,000 people marched on Washington, D.C., a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement. This is the march where Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered his infamous “I Have a Dream” speech. I’d like to share an excerpt with you:

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today adn tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream…I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream that…one day right there in Alabama, little Black boys and Black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

To learn more about racial inequality that is still prevalent in the United States, visit Brookings.edu to read facts and figures to help you understand the discussion in this area. Or explore Global Citizen.org. Here’s article from the National Network to End Domestic Violence: 8 Everyday Ways to Fight Racism.

If you’d like to read a real life story about a bi-racial couple working together during the civil rights movement, I can personally recommend this empower and inspiring story: A Small Town Rises by Lee Anna Sherman. It’s an incredible story of what life was like in Shaw, Mississippi.