“It’s the flu to the 12th power,” remarked Ivory Payne, a Baton Rouge publisher who is urging Black Louisianans to get COVID-19 vaccines.
“I couldn’t breathe,” Payne said, describing his own experience with the virus in early February. “I think the shortness of breath was the worst thing. It was a terrible experience.”
After his doctors told him to go home and quarantine for 14 days, Payne, 60, found that his fight against the respiratory illness had just begun. He said that after a difficult two weeks in isolation, his condition only got worse.
Payne described a litany of troubling COVID-19 symptoms, including not being able to smell or taste, body aches that prevented him from lifting everyday items and nausea. He spent three distressed weeks in the hospital, where he was forced to consider his chances of survival.
Today
Rain ending early. Breaks of sun in the afternoon. High near 85F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%..
Tonight
Mostly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low around 65F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Updated: May 28, 2021 @ 1:45 am
Gordon s journey began with a desire to change the narrative about Black communities in the media. In my opinion, when I would see and view news about us in the mainstream (media), very seldom was it good news. It was still murder, death, kill, Gordon, 57, said.
It was a far cry from the content she was accustomed to reading as a kid. Having been exposed to historically Black-centered publications such as Ebony and Jet Magazine, she was enamored of stories that highlighted the contributions of Black artists, entrepreneurs and political figures. The 1982 Westerville South graduate wanted to usher in similar content for the Columbus area.