Week - New York Beacon

Transcription

New York
Beacon
website:
NewYorkBeacon.net
Vol. 19 No. 31
Showing the Way to Truth and Justice
E-Mail
[email protected]
August 2, 2012 - August 8, 2012
75 Cents
BABY THIEF
Woman gets 12 years for snatching tot from Harlem Hospital
Carl Tyson, biological father
YEARS OF PAIN – Joy White, biological mother of snatched baby Carlina, speaks to the media following the sentencing of baby thief Ann Pettway in Manhattan Criminal Court.
(See Story On Page 3)
HIV undetectable in 2 men after bone marrow transplants
(See Story On Page 3)
35 arrested in defrauding state
of $1.5 million insurance money
NEW YORK BEACON, August 2, 2012 - August 8, 2012 newyorkbeacon.net
2
Danny Glover
For Actor Danny Glover the
AIDS struggle is personal
tive director for The Black AIDS InBy Othor Cain
Special to the NNPA News Ser- stitute (BAI) where his eyes
opened to a more local presence in
vice
the United States.
“Phil said to me it is fine to talk
Working in an industry
where he has seen many of his about what is happening in Africa,
contemporaries lose their battle but we must also add to the conwith AIDS, actor Danny Glover versation what is happening in unis on a serious mission of spread- der-served communities in the
ing awareness about the disease United States, right in our own
in hopes of challenging minds backyards,” the multi-award winning actor said. “I’ve been workand saving lives.
“I had a friend who died from ing with the Black AIDS Institute
the complications of AIDS in ever since.”
That work with the BAI brought
1987 and even then when I didn’t
know a whole lot about the dis- Glover to the Global Village portion
ease, I would bring him food and of the 2012 Conference, where he
do what I could to help him,” shared personal thoughts of his
Glover said. “This is something fight to raise awareness.
“We are in a crisis situation now
that we all should get involved
with this disease adversely and disin.”
Having served as a good will proportionately affecting Black
ambassador with the United Na- men and in particular gay Black man
tions Development Program and with the platform I have, I in(UNDP), Glover’s work in the tend to continue to speak out about
HIV/AIDS arena had centered it,” he said.
Hundreds of community advomostly on under served areas
around the world, specifically the cates, workers, researchers and the
public gathered to hear Glover’s
continent of Africa.
It was in 2000 at the WORLD presentation.
AIDS Conference when he
(CONTINUED ON PAGE 15)
[Glover] met Phil Wilson, execu-
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo
has announced that an investigation conducted by the New
York State Department of Labor
(DOL), in collaboration with the
Bronx, New York, Kings, and
Queens County district attorneys
and the New York State Police
(NYSP), has led to the arrests of
35 people who are charged with
fraudulently collecting between
$10,000 and $38,000 in unemployment insurance payments. Additional arrests are expected in the
near future.
The arrests stemmed from an
investigation that began in August of 2010. All the arrested individuals were previously employed by Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall,
which share common corporate
ownership. The employees were
laid off and then later rehired.
Once rehired, the employees issued false statements to DOL and
collected unemployment insurance benefits that they were not
entitled to. Over 100 employees
were identified by DOL. The District Attorneys are prosecuting 35
individuals for felony crimes.
Madison Square Garden and Radio City Music Hall are not targets of the investigation and have
fully cooperated with DOL and
law enforcement.
“This combined effort between
state government and local law
enforcement agencies is proof
that New York State is aggressively rooting out unemployment
insurance fraud at every turn,”
said Governor Cuomo. “When
individuals commit unemployment insurance fraud, all New
Yorkers pay for it. They are not
only cheating the system, they
are stealing directly from the taxpayers. These practices will not
be tolerated. The new New York
is dedicated to upholding a system of utmost fairness and ensuring that those who flout the law
Gov. Cuomo
are brought to justice.”
Employers across the state contribute to the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund. When the
Fund is forced to pay out because
of a fraudulent claim, the employers have to pay more and that
means consumers will be paying
more as well.
New York State operates one of
the largest unemployment insurance systems in the country. In
2011, New York State paid out
nearly $7.7 billion in total unemployment insurance benefits to
1.15 million people. At the height
of the recession in 2009, the state
paid out $9.2 billion in unemployment insurance payments to 1.2
million people.
“All employers receive
monthly statements of unemployment insurance benefit payments
from the Department of Labor,”
said New York State Labor Commissioner Peter M. Rivera. “We
urge every employer to review
these monthly statements and alert
the Department of Labor as soon
as they see an employee collecting benefits while still working.
This saves not just taxpayer dollars,
but also helps keep employer unemployment insurance taxes low by preventing wrongful charges to their accounts.”
The Department of Labor’s Office
of Special Investigations (OSI) partners with employers to aggressively
investigate and root out unemployment insurance fraud within their
businesses. While DOL has no criminal jurisdiction in regard to prosecuting unemployment insurance
fraud, OSI builds cases and refers
them to local District Attorneys to
prosecute. Over the last three years
DOL has uncovered over
$150,480,451 in fraudulent unemployment insurance overpayments
and referred more than 2,600 cases
to district attorneys and law enforcement agencies, including 750 last year
alone.
New York State Police Superintendent Joseph A. D’Amico said, “Governor Cuomo has made fighting unemployment insurance fraud a high
priority. The State Police will continue to work with our partners in
state government and local law enforcement to arrest those who commit these crimes against New York
State employers.”
New York County District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. said, “In this
economy, unemployment benefits
are essential to the families of New
Yorkers who have been laid off or
find themselves in between jobs. It
is important to ensure that these benefits are directed to those who are
truly in need, and not to those who
have returned to work and are now
cheating the system.”
Kings County District Attorney
Charles J. Hynes said, “I am pleased
to be able to work with the Department of Labor on such an important
investigation. Stealing from unemployment benefits is taking much
needed resources from honest
people who need it to feed their fami(CONTINUED ON PAGE 15)
Sylvia’s Restaurant to mark 50th golden anniversary Aug. 1
Sylvia’s Restaurant, the world
renowned culinary icon, will celebrate 50 years of business and
humanitarian efforts during Day
1 of it’s Golden Jubilee celebration on Aug. 1, 2012.
Sylvia’s Golden Jubilee title
sponsor, Target, will host this
free summer side-walk breakfast
party. Actor, Michael K. Williams
of HBO’s “Board Walk Empire”
and “The Wire” will serve as the
master of ceremonies. Harlem
residents and soul food enthusiasts will be treated to a southern-style breakfast buffet, entertainment, children’s programming, and arts & crafts, complete
with a tribute mini-parade presented by celebrity baker, CakeMan Raven.
The morning’s festivities will
take place at Sylvia’s Golden
Jubilee Plaza located at 126th &
127th streets on Lenox Avenue 8
a.m. to 12 p.m. The mini-parade
route will start at the Adam
Clayton Jr. Plaza, of the Harlem State
Office Building and head south on
125th Street; turn left onto Lenox
Avenue & end at Sylvia’s Golden
Jubilee Plaza.
To celebrate this historic occasion, a 2-day 50th anniversary Fete:
Sylvia’s Golden Jubilee will commence on Aug. 1 and Sept. 18, 2012
to commemorate this milestone and
benefit The Sylvia & Herbert
Woods Scholarship Fund. These
events will salute Sylvia’s numerous contributions to American cuisine as the Queen of Soul FoodTM
as well as the humanitarian efforts
towards the great village of Harlem
and the African-American culture
at-large. The Golden Jubilee Honorary Chairs are: Roberta Flack,
Chad Ochocinco, Chris Rock, &
Rev. Al Sharpton. TARGET is the
Golden Jubilee title sponsor.
Aug. 1: The Woods family salutes Harlemites with a southernstyle sidewalk breakfast party complete with a complementary buffet,
Sylvia Woods
entertainment, guest speakers,
voters registration drive,
children’s programming, prize
give-aways, and plenty of dancing in the streets. This event is
free and welcomes all.
Sept. 18: Sylvia’s Golden Jubilee Gala will salute Sylvia’s as
“the world’s kitchen” with a tented
invite-only fundraising event for
600+ guests. The night will kickoff with a lavish cocktail hour, program, and live performances by
Roberta Flack, Doug E. Fresh, Ron
Grant & Friends, and others who
have made Sylvia’s, a home away
from home for the past 5 decades.
Dinner, dancing, proclamations,
salutes and a grand announcement will round off this spectacular night.
Sylvia’s Restaurant, the Queen
of Soul food was founded in 1962
by Sylvia Woods with a seating
capacity of 35, and to date is
owned and operated by three generations of the Woods family. This
world renowned culinary icon has
proudly served presidents, international dignitaries, celebrities and
Harlem residents alike. For the
past five decades, Sylvia’s Restaurant continues to flourish as “the
world’s kitchen.” This family empire
consists of a 450 seat restaurant,
Sylvia’s Also Lounge, Sylvia’s Food
Products - a nationally distributed
line of products, and two successful
cook-books.
In 2001, in memory of Sylvia’s late
husband Herbert, The Woods family founded The Sylvia and Herbert
Woods Scholarship Fund where the
believe system is that “a higher level
of education should not be a highend luxury, but a right to all those
who seek it” by offering collegiate
scholarships to Harlem and local residents.
To date the fund has dispersed 76
scholarships. Sylvia’s has appeared
in numerous national/international
media outlets and has been saluted
by President Clinton, United States
Congress, Governor Pataki, Mayors
Koch, Dinkins, & Bloomberg, and the
New York Stock Exchange to name a
few. For more information please
visit:
www.sylviasrestaurant.com
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National Bankers Association President Michael Grant; U.S. Black
Chamber Inc. President Ron Busby and Industrial Bank President/
CEO B. Doyle Mitchell Jr. celebrate the deposit that they believe
could be the catalyst for a new Black economic movement. PHOTO:
Courtesy/Industrial Bank
Black Chamber makes ‘game
changer’ move for economy
By Hazel Trice Edney
WASHINGTON(TriceEdneyWire.com)
- Ron Busby appeared reflective
as he sat at the mahogany board
room table at Industrial Bank, a
Black-owned establishment, based
in North West Washington, D.C.
Busby, the president/CEO of the
U. S. Black Chamber Inc. (USBC)
then summed up his thoughts in
one sentence:
“This is a game changer,” he declared.
Amidst an economic downturn
that has pulverized segments of the
Black community with record unemployment and loss of wealth
across the nation, Busby had just
opened a U. S. Black Chamber account with Industrial. The deposit
was a calculated move to start a
new relationship that he hopes will
spread into a national movement
that will strengthen Black financial
institutions and ultimately uplift
the community at large.
“I believe that Industrial has a
success story that is unequaled,”
he continued in the interview.
“And if you really look at the statistics in reference to not only Industrial, but other minority and
Black-owned banks, you’ll see that
they are in our communities; they
lend money to our businesses as
well as our local communities. And
so, for the average reader across
the country that’s going to pick
this up, I think it is game changing
because now you have a national
organization that’s not just talking
about a solution but is actually
actively participating in the solution.”
The USBC deposit was in fact
another significant stride in the
history of the 75-year-old Industrial. The bank started with six
employees and $192,000 in assets in 1934 and now has 150
employees and more than $333
million in assets. With Industrial
Bank pioneers Jesse H. Mitchell,
founder, and B. Doyle Mitchell
Sr., president, adorning the board
room wall in portraits; Busby
underscored the significance of
the new business partnership.
“This will be our primary
bank,” Busby said. “We will
probably do about a half million
dollars of business a year that
will run through this particular
bank.”
The 4-year-old Black Chamber,
Inc. boasts about 108 chambers
in 22 states and 240,000 members
- mostly Black-owned businesses. The ultimate strategy, if
it works as outlined by Industrial President/CEO B. Doyle
Mitchell Jr., would benefit the
community.
“The more deposits we have,
the more we’re able to lend out,”
Mitchell says. “In order to grow,
you’ve got to have deposits.”
Mitchell, also chairman of the
National Bankers Association
(NBA), envisions a spread of the
movement. “I do see it as a partnership, but I also see it as an
encouragement to other Black
A woman who snatched a newborn from a hospital more than
two decades ago and raised the
child as her own was sentenced
Monday to 12 years in prison by
a judge who called it a “crime of
selfishness” that enhanced parents’ fears and forced hospitals
to boost security.
Ann Pettway, of Raleigh, N.C.,
nodded her head repeatedly as
U.S. District Judge Kevin P. Castel
announced his sentence in a
Manhattan courtroom packed
with relatives and friends of
Pettway as well as the true parents of Carlina White, who was
stolen from Harlem Hospital when
she was only 19 days old.
The 50-year-old Pettway had
pleaded guilty to kidnapping in
February, describing how she one
day in 1987 took a train from her
Connecticut home to the hospital, where she posed as a nurse
and reassured White’s mother,
who had brought her daughter to
the emergency room for treatment of a high fever.
The sentence was far less than
the 20 years in prison recommended by prosecutors and the
Probation Department, but it was
within the 10 to 12½ years agreed
to by prosecutors and defense
Baby thief Ann Pettway
lawyers when a plea agreement fear child kidnappings and led hoswas signed.
pitals to install preventive measures
Castel scolded Pettway, telling to avoid similar kidnappings.
her she had “inflicted a parents’
He said it was “not a crime of
worst nightmare on a young
couple,” caused other parents to
HIV undetectable in 2 men after
bone marrow transplants: Study
By Amanda Gardner
HealthDay Reporter
Following bone marrow transplants, two men infected with HIV
no longer have any traces of the
AIDS-causing virus in their lymphocytes, researchers report.
Lymphocytes are a type of white
blood cell and are a key part of
the immune system.
The U.S. researchers suspect
that bone marrow transplantation
along with continuation of
antiretroviral therapy resulted in
the dramatic effects evident eight
months post-transplant. They are
scheduled to present these preliminary findings Thursday at the
International AIDS Conference in
Washington, D.C.
HIV patients on antiretroviral
therapy often achieve “undetectable viral loads,” meaning there are
no virus particles in their blood.
But they still have latent HIV in
their lymphocytes, and if
antiretroviral therapy were discontinued, the latent HIV could reactivate.
But having no traces of HIV in
these white blood cells is an indication that this “reservoir” of latent HIV may have been eliminated, the researchers believe.
At this point, they are far from
saying these patients are cured.
But the findings are “exciting,”
said Dr. Savita Pahwa, director of
the Center for AIDS Research at
the University of Miami Miller
School of Medicine, who was not
involved with the study.
“Every hint you get that it’s
possible to wipe out the reservoir
needs to be investigated,” she said.
“Eliminating the reservoir is the
key to the cure,” said Pahwa. She
also stressed that it would only be
possible to say these patients were
“functionally cured” if the virus did
not rebound when the patients
went off antiretroviral therapy.
The two men whose cases are
described in the paper underwent
chemotherapy for blood cancers
before receiving stem cell transplants. One had his transplant two
years ago; the other, four years ago.
Both also developed graft-versushost disease (when transplanted
cells attack the host cells) and continued with their antiretroviral medications throughout and after the
AG secures permanent ban on sale of mislabeled synthetic drugs
Attorney General Eric T.
Schneiderman has announced a
judge has signed a consent order
demanding mislabeled or unlabeled products, including synthetic marijuana and other intoxicants, be permanently removed
from the store shelves of Look Ah
Hookah locations in Rochester,
Henrietta and Webster. In addition
to the removal of these harmful
products, the owner of Look Ah
Hookah, Theresa J. Dyer, must also
pay a $30,000 penalty and $2,000
in costs.
As part of Attorney General
Schneiderman’s undercover investigation, agents went into Look Ah
Hookah stores and purchased
items such as Kratom, Fly Agaric
Mushrooms, VOODOO Aromatic
Potpourri, and Experience Salvia
150FX.
“The proliferation of synthetic
drugs has become a crisis in
Rochester, New York State and
across the country. Today’s order proves that, by taking a creative approach in using the
state’s existing labeling laws, we
can get swift results to remove
dangerous synthetic drugs off
store shelves and hold sellers
accountable for breaking the
law,” said Attorney General
Schneiderman. “We will continue
to use every tool in our arsenal
to combat the growing and dangerous synthetic drug epidemic.”
The agreement, which permanently bans the sale of any synthetic drugs or intoxicants, was
signed by the Honorable David
AG Eric T. Schneiderman
M. Barry, Supreme Court, Monroe
County. The s order comes after
Attorney General Schneiderman’s
office conducted an undercover
investigation into head shops
across the state. The investigation
revealed that head shop retailers
were selling designer drugs, including commonly known synthetics
such as “bath salts” and “synthetic
marijuana.” Undercover investigators statewide also discovered
head shop employees were promoting these dangerous synthetic
drugs and giving tutorials on how
to prepare and ingest them.
Under New York State’s Labeling law, at minimum, consumer
commodities must identify the
name and place of business of the
manufacturer, packer, or distributor, the common product name, the
net quantity of contents, and the net
quantity of servings, uses or applications represented to be present
with appropriate directions and
warnings for customary use.
On July 10, the Attorney General
filed 12 lawsuits against 16 head
shop locations, including the Look
Ah Hookah chain in Rochester.
Within 36 hours of filing the lawsuits, the Attorney General’s office
obtained Temporary Restraining
Orders from all 12 judges effectively
removing the mislabeled products
off the shelves. Today’s order permanently bans the retailer from selling synthetic drugs.
Although Federal and State authorities have attempted to outlaw
certain chemicals and their analogs
and to remove these items from com(CONTINUED ON PAGE 9)
3
Woman gets 12 years for stealing
a newborn from Harlem Hospital
Wells Fargo makes $175 million
in discrimination settlement case
4
By Charlene Crowell
NNPA Columnist
Vice President Joe Biden and Mrs. Biden
Vice Prez Joe Biden and
wife address AFT meeting
In an address to the American
Federation of Teachers national
convention, Vice President Joe
Biden outlined a clear vision for
an America that invests in educators and public service workers; rebuilds the middle class; and
stops vilifying and attacking
hardworking Americans who
teach the country’s kids, heal
families and keep communities
running. The vice president was
joined by his wife and community college professor, Dr. Jill
Biden. “I love being in a room
with so many fellow educators.
Being a teacher is not what I do,
it’s who I am,” said Dr. Biden, as
she introduced the vice president. “What I see when I look
at you is educators; I see professionals, I see public servants who
are under full-blown assault,”
said Vice President Biden, describing the impact budget cuts
and anti-worker attacks have had
on public service workers. “We
should be debating how big a
seat you have at the table, not if
you even get a seat at the table,
when people are talking about the
future of education.” The vice
president went on to contrast his
and President Barack Obama’s
efforts to keep teachers in the
classroom and make college more
affordable, with Mitt Romney’s
proposals to fire teachers, increase class sizes, and make college more unaffordable and unattainable. Referring to Romney
and the Republicans, Vice President Biden said, “Instead of providing you with the things you
need, they criticize you, they
blame you. Our vision is seeing
you appreciated and respected as
the professionals you are...Unlike
our opponents, we don’t see you
as the problem—we see you as the
solution.” Biden also hit on the
importance of rebuilding and investing in good jobs and a strong
middle class. “The middle class
is not a number; it’s a way of life.
It’s a set of values,” Biden said.
He said it’s about ensuring that
people can own their own homes,
live in safe neighborhoods, and
send their kids to quality public
schools; that students can afford
college; and that people can afford
to retire with dignity. “Both Vice
President and Dr. Biden understand that building strong public
schools and investing in the public services upon which our communities depend are essential to
expanding the middle class and
increasing economic opportunity
for all Americans,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten. “The vice
president is a champion for working people, our schools and our
communities, and his wife is a lifelong educator who knows firsthand many of the challenges facing our schools. We are thrilled to
have them join our convention, and
AFT members are proud to stand
with Vice President Biden and
President Obama to win a better
future for all.” The AFT’s executive council endorsed President
Obama and Vice President Biden
this past February, and the more
than 3,000 educators, healthcare
workers and public employees at
the AFT national convention
passed a resolution today affirming their support for the president
and vice president.
For the second consecutive
month, one of the nation’s largest
banks has agreed to a multi-million dollar settlement of mortgage
discrimination complaints. According to the U.S. Department of
Justice (DOJ), Wells Fargo Bank
will pay more than $175 million to
resolve unfair lending claims
against African-American and
Latino mortgage borrowers from
2004 through 2009. It is the second-largest fair lending settlement
in the department’s history.
According to DOJ, $125 million
will go to borrowers of color who
were charged more for loans they
got through mortgage brokers.
Four thousand borrowers will be
compensated for being steered
into subprime loans with higher
rates and fees instead of receiving prime loans for which they
were qualified. An additional
30,000 borrowers will be compensated for higher costs they paid
on their broker-originated loans.
The Justice Department is now
investigating similar complaints
from consumers whose “retail”
mortgages were originated by
Wells Fargo loan officers during
the affected years.
The remaining $50 million from
the settlement will be used for
down payment assistance in hardhit communities across the country where DOJ identified large
numbers of discrimination victims.
These markets include ChicagoNaperville-Joliet, Cleveland, New
York-New Jersey, Philadelphia,
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont
and Washington, D.C.
Deputy Attorney General
James M. Cole said, “The
department’s action makes it clear
that we will hold financial institutions accountable, including some
of the nation’s largest, for lending
discrimination. An applicant’s
creditworthiness, and not the color
of his or her skin, should determine what loans a borrower qualifies for.”
By its own accounts, Wells
Fargo has $1.3 trillion in assets,
and serves one in three households in America through its 9,000
locations, 12,000 ATMs and
270,000 team members.
DOJ’s investigation into Wells
Fargo’s lending practices began in
2009. A parallel investigation by
the Office of the Comptroller of the
Currency (OCC) examined lending
practices in the metro areas of Baltimore and Washington D.C. OCC
James Cole
Last month and in a separate acfound that there was reason to tion, Wells Fargo reached a settlebelieve that Wells Fargo engaged ment involving lending discriminain a pattern of discrimination in tion with Memphis and Shelby
violation of federal laws.
County, Tenn. In that action, both
The DOJ investigation deter- the city and county governments
mined that Wells Fargo knowingly received a $7.5 million settlement,
allowed its loan officers and mort- but no borrowers were compengage brokers to subjectively vary sated.
interest rates and fees. The invesAbout the same time last month,
tigation showed that Wells Fargo DOJ reached a $21 million settlement
systematically used these excep- of discriminatory actions by
tions to over-charge Black and SunTrust Bank. And lest anyone
Latino borrowers while White think these lending practices are
borrowers with similar credit pro- isolated cases, consider the Bank of
files paid less.
America settlement following its
For example, in 2007 a Latino acquisition of Countrywide, or the
borrower in the Miami area seek- smaller banks that settled discrimiing a $300,000 mortgage paid on natory lending cases in Detroit and
average $2,538 more than a simi- St. Louis.
larly qualified White applicant. A
It is the persistence of these probsimilarly situated African-Ameri- lems that causes the greatest concan borrower in Miami would be
charged an even higher “racial
surtax” of $3,657.
For John Lassiter working at Indian Point is a family affair
For 52-year-old John Lassiter Sr.,
working at Indian Point is a family affair . The proud dad of three adult
sons, John Sr. feels the appreciation
and gratitude, often reserved for
Father’s Day, on a regular basis as a
security officer and co-chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Council at Indian Point Energy Center (IPEC). There,
John Sr. gets to put his paternal instincts to work, securing the safety
and well being of all his co-workers
and visitors at the nuclear facility near
Peekskill, NY.
It also helps having one of his sons,
John Jr., 27, by his side as a fellow se- ALL IN THE FAMILY – It’s a family affair at Indian Point as John Lassiter Sr, sees a changing
curity officer and a nephew, Jason labor force with the hiring of son John Jr. and nephew Jason Lassiter.
Lassiter, 28, working as a nuclear plant
operator at IPEC.
Jason has been working in his position
for five years where he puts his Bachelor
of Science degree in facilities engineering from Maritime College to use. When
he graduated form the college in the
Bronx, his uncle John Sr. was able to help
set him up at Indian Point. For John Sr.,
helping his nephew out with a position
at Indian Point was an obvious decision.
“It’s what families do,” says Lassiter.
“And at Indian Point, we are all about
family.”
Bringing relatives to work at Indian
5
6
Editorial
Obama is ‘fiddling’
his way to failure
New York
Beacon
Walter Smith: Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
Miatta Haj Smith: Co-Publisher & Executive Editor
William Egyir: Managing Editor
Pushing children out of school
By Marian Wright Edelman
Child Watch
In 1642 the Massachusetts
General Court passed one of the
very first laws about education in
what would become the United
States. It ruled that because it was
apparent “the good education of
children is of singular behoof and
benefit to any Common-wealth,”
all parents and guardians were
required to make sure children received “so much learning as may
enable them perfectly to read the
English tongue, & knowledge of
the Capital Lawes.” Educating
children well enough to read and
understand the laws of the community was considered so critical
that local selectmen were put in
charge of making sure it was
done—and they would be able to
tell children hadn’t been educated
properly if they became “rude,
stubborn & unruly.”
For generations to come the
power of education to develop
good character and put young
people on the right path remained
a cornerstone of American
thought about teaching our children. Building good citizens
stayed right up there with reading, ’riting, and ’rithmetic as a key
goal of education and was one of
the early justifications for providing public schools for all, as leaders continued to argue that if educating every child benefitted the
whole community neglecting education was dangerous for everyone.
Thomas Jefferson, a strong advocate for expanding educational
opportunity across classes (at
least for Whites), said in an 1818
letter: “If the children are untaught, their ignorance and vices
will in future life cost us much
dearer in their consequences than
it would have done in their correction by a good education.” A few
decades later education reformer
Horace Mann, considered the “father” of the common school movement in America, made a similar
point: “Jails and prisons are the
complement of schools; so many
less as you have of the latter, so
many more must you have of the
former.” For many more years
teachers remained deeply respected community members who
were often revered for being strong
positive role models. This was
considered especially critical when
teachers were filling this role for
children who otherwise might not
be getting it at home.
But today something has
changed. We still say all of the
same kinds of things about the
power good schools and teachers
have to radically transform a
child’s chances in life. We’ve now
measured the connection between
how much education a child receives and future success. We
know the dangers of dropping out,
especially for the most vulnerable
children and youths who have
fewer high quality schools and
resources than affluent children
and fewer positive options for
spending unsupervised time away
from school. Politicians and celebrities do public
service ads urging children to stay
in school. But as soon as a child
gets in trouble, too often the very
first thing schools do is to kick
them out of class. A public school
student receives an out-of school
suspension every second and a
half during the school year. I’ve
never understood how it makes
any sense, for example, to suspend or put a child out of school
who is absent, truant, or tardy and
is not coming to school. Wouldn’t
it make more sense to find out why
they are not coming to school?
And when as many as 7.5 million
children are chronically absent, as
a new report by Johns Hopkins’
Robert Balfanz says, shouldn’t we
have more vigilant policies to determine why and tackle the
causes?
Data released this spring by the
U.S. Department of Education’s
Office of Civil Rights showed in
2009 that 6.9 percent of all students received at least one outof-school suspension; the out-ofschool suspension rate went up
to 14.7 percent for Black students.
We may continue to talk about
education as the great equalizer,
but when it comes to pushing children out of school we are failing
Black children most, especially
Black males.
One in five Black boys and more
than one in ten Black girls received
an out-of-school suspension.
Black students were over threeand-a-half times more likely to be
suspended or expelled than their
White peers. We need to get to
the root of these racial disparities.
The findings are even more trou(CONTINUED ON PAGE 15)
By Harry C. Alford
Beyond the Rhetoric
The American Dream is starting
to fade away and that is very
scary. The saddest thing about this
is the recent behavior or attitude
of President Barack Obama. He
has abandoned leading us and has
gone on full campaign mode with
more than four months to go before the national election. He seems
to be delirious in his character attacks against candidate Mitt Romney. It is like Nero sitting down
with his fiddle while Rome was
burning away. Is Obama our Nero?
Let’s take a look.
God has blessed our country
with natural energy resources
such as oil, natural gas and coal.
Maybe that’s why he is mad about
it – God has blessed us. He is attacking the life blood of our energy needs. He wants us to stop
using these products but has no
clear solution or even a hint about
how we can do without them. Our
tariff free trading partner Canada
has immense reserves of oil and
would love to ship vast amounts
via the Keystone Pipeline. Everyone but environmental extremists
is cheering for this to happen.
What’s the big problem? Our
president is one of those environmental extremists. He wants to
decrease oil quantities regardless
of the negative effect it has on our
economy (prices, jobs, business
growth, etc.). Let us suffer; he has
a “fiddle” to play.
The process of fracturing, a/k/a
fracking, has opened vast new reserves of natural gas for our nation. We now have more natural
gas than any other nation on
earth. That makes most of us
happy but it depresses our president. He has his Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) trying to
find ways to slow down the process and, at times, to shut it down.
We need more natural gas in a desperate way but he would rather
play that “fiddle”.
Then there is our abundant quantity of coal. This is the cheapest form
of energy and many of our utility
companies rely on it. The harvesting of coal is a serious job creator in
states such as Pennsylvania, West
Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and
Illinois. Our president doesn’t want
to slow this down; he wants to kill
it! His henchman, the EPA, has issued the Utility MACT Rule, which
requires new mercury air standards
that most utility plants cannot possibly meet. The result will be about
32 utility facilities shutting down.
That is a tremendous amount of jobs
(in this recession) and utility prices
will skyrocket as supplies dwindle.
Play that Fiddle!
Remember when our beloved
President John F. Kennedy said we
will put a man on the moon and lead
the world in space exploration?
Well, the guy we have now just
closed down NASA (JFK is rolling
in his grave). Our nation is now #3
in space behind Russia and China.
If we want to go into space we have
to buy a seat from them. Many thousands of engineers are still unemployed as a result of this capitulation. Stop fiddling!
“America, the strongest nation on
earth” – that saying is becoming
passé. Our president has the crazy
idea of slashing our military all the
way back to 1940 levels. Hmmm,
isn’t that the year Nazi Germany and
Imperial Japan considered us punks
and later attacked? It is quite clear
that Russian President Vladimir
Putin considers Barack Obama a
punk. He has a look of disgust when
they are together. No one respects
weakness, especially when it comes
with a fiddle.
No family or business can run
properly without a budget. Our
president is trying to manage and
lead a nation without a clear budget. That’s why in his short tenure
he has increased our debt by more
Zimmerman tries to speak for God
By Julianne Malveaux
NNPA Columnist
George Zimmerman, the Florida
man who killed Trayvon Martin,
told Fox News personality Sean
Hannity that the events that occurred on February 26, 2012 were
“God’s will.” What a cynical manipulation of our Creator, to suggest that the massacre of an African American teenager by a
crazed vigilante is the will of God.
Actually, if one wants to know
about God’s will, one might simply to go to the Ten Commandments, the sixth of which is quite
explicit: Thou shall not kill.
George Zimmerman has proven
himself to be a multiple liar. He
called himself destitute while col-
lecting tens of thousands of dollars from a website that was formed
to fund his defense. A judge put
him back in jail for that lie. He declined medical attention the night
he killed Trayvon, and then
showed up the next day with
bumps on his head, but no evidence of who put them there. This
is the equivalent of a drunk driver
fleeing the scene of an accident
and turning himself in sober the
next day. Now, Zimmerman faces a
camera from an undisclosed location because he fears death
threats, faking sincerity and regrets but saying that Trayvon’s
death is God’s will.
Trayvon Martin’s death is not
God’s will but Zimmerman’s, and
the will of those legislative vigi-
lantes who have passed “Stand
Your Ground” laws in many states.
Trayvon’s death is the will of
those who have peddled these
vigilante laws all over the nation.
Just as Zimmerman has manipulated the God’s word, he has also
manipulated the truth, and he
ought to be ashamed.
Note that “Stand Your Ground”
laws are different from the “Castle
Laws” that allows residents to use
force against those who unlawfully enter their property. These
laws have their own downside –
witness the case of a man who
shot Halloween trick-or-treaters.
But these laws allow folks to
shoot people (as opposed to formerly held laws where one was
required to retreat) if they are in a
place where a defendant is allowed
to be. Using such laws, had
Trayvon had a weapon he might
have justifiably used it on
Zimmerman, since he had the same
right to be on the streets as
Zimmerman. But does anyone
have any doubt that if the shoe
were on the other foot, Trayvon
would have been allowed to leave
jail without being charged?
George Zimmerman says this
case has divided our nation, and
he is, perhaps right. How else
could an admitted killer garner
more than $200,000 via the Internet
unless some rabid souls choose
to support the wanton massacre
of young African American men?
At the same time, this admitted
killer has had hubris enough to
provoke the New Black Panther
Party to make him the target of incendiary rhetoric. But the New Black
Panther Party, a small organization
that is more bark than bite, may have
offered a death threat. Zimmerman,
who was told not to follow
Trayvon Martin, actually committed
one, and were it not for the national
attention this case has garnered,
might have never been charged with
the evil he committed.
I had the opportunity to meet
Sybrina Hudson, Trayvon Martin’s
mother, and attorney Benjamin
Crump at the most recent Rainbow/
PUSH annual conference. Sybrina
is soft spoken but determined, a
woman who would not have sought
7
Hate on social media against President Obama soars
By Earl Ofari Hutchinson
The legion of web sites,
bloggers, talk show jocks, and the
occasional GOP official that has
teed off on President Obama and
at times Michelle Obama with assorted borderline racist digs,
taunts, and depictions have been
relentless. The offensive remarks
quickly evoke a storm of outrage,
and the offender gets rebuked.
This happens because they are
public figures, and their comments are publicly aired. They fly
high on the public’s radar scope.
But that’s not the case with the
growing barrage of racist assaults
on Obama, and other minorities
on social media sites. Baylor University researchers, for instance,
recently tracked more than 20
Facebook page groups and users
and found them jam packed with
racist venom aimed at Obama,
blacks and other minorities. The
growing number of groups that
churn hate on social media sites
are secure in the knowledge that
they won’t be caught or called out
on it.
The signal that Obama would
trigger a titanic wave of race baiting and stereotyping danger in
cyber space came the moment that
he announced he would seek the
presidency in February 2007. He
had the dubious distinction of being the earliest presidential contender to be assigned Secret Service protection on the campaign
trail. As the showdown with Republican presidential rival John
McCain heated up in the general
election in 2008, the flood of crank,
crackpot, and screwball threats
that promised murder and mayhem
toward Obama continued to pour
in. This prompted the Secret Service to tighten security and take
even more elaborate measures to
ensure his safety. As president, the
threats against Obama have been
non-stop.
But the first real tip that hate
could also find a safe haven on
social media sites was the infamous Facebook assassination poll
in September, 2009. The target was
Obama. Hundreds of respondents
dignified the question that asked:
“Should Obama be killed?” by answering. If the poll hadn’t been
quickly yanked, thousands more
might have answered the bizarre
and murderous question with an
answer.
In the nearly three years since
then, dozens of hate groups have
popped up on Facebook. They
have several things in common.
Their prime target is Obama. They
let fly with the most grotesque,
offensive, and rabid hate depictions of the president, blacks and
other minorities. Thousands of respondents chime in with their
own racial haranguing broadsides.
They have defacto protection from
Facebook, not because Facebook
condones or even turns a blind
eye to racism on its site and by its
users. It has a very strict policy to
snatch any group from the site that
makes racial, gender, religious,
sexual orientation attacks against
individuals or groups. But
Facebook bases its existence and
success on being a virtually, free
and open social media platform.
Facebook permits, even takes
pride, in letting individuals and
groups to poke fun, level ridicule,
and toss jibes at any and everything under the guise of humor or
satire at others. It’s the old free
speech canard. Facebook’s extreme reluctance to inhibit the free
expression of ideas and opinions
no matter how many persons may
be offended at the humor or satire
provides virtual open license for
groups and individuals to spew
racial hate. For example, in one
posting Obama is depicted in hip
hop garb with a bucket of chicken.
In another, a grinning Obama has
a bandanna on his head and a
mouth full of gold teeth with the
caption “Going for the AfricanAmerican vote.” The hate groups
outwit the Facebook policy enforcers by avoiding use of the more
blatant racial slurs and epithets.
They use such neutral language
as “Obama is a lousy president.”
They know that this will stir an
avalanche of comments, many of
which will be laced with racial slurs
and propagate racial stereotypes.
The social media hate groups
also are adept at using innocuous
key words and race neutral titles
to give the façade that their criticism of the White House has no
hidden racial animus. Many innocent social media networkers
stumble on the hate group pages
and are appalled at what they see
and read. But they are still exposed
to the hate mongering and that insures a wider audience.
Hate groups have honed in on
Facebook, Twitter, and other social
media platforms to influence and
even recruit others to their ranks.
As the closely contested 2012 presidential election further heats up,
more groups will skirt the social
media censors and ratchet up their
hate filled vitriol on their sites.
They’ll pawn it off as poking fun
and satire at Obama, and minorities.
And for the most part they’ll get
away with it.
Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. He is a
frequent political commentator on
MSNBC and a weekly co-host of
the Al Sharpton Show on American Urban Radio Network. He is
the author of How Obama Governed: The Year of Crisis and Challenge. He is an associate editor of
New America Media. He is the host
of the weekly Hutchinson Report
on KPFK-Radio and the Pacifica
Network. Follow Earl Ofari
Hutchinson on Twitter: http://
twitter.com/earlhutchinson
Blacks allow President Obama to disrespect them
By Raynard Jackson
NNPA Columnist
While watching Mitt Romney’s
speech before the NAACP in
Houston, it dawned on me how
Romney and President Obama are
out of touch with the needs of
Black community. Last week, I
dealt with Romney. This week, it’s
Obama’s turn to be scrutinized.
Much has been made of
Obama’s decision not to address
the annual convention of the
NAACP, the nation’s oldest civil
rights organization. It’s troubling
how many so-called Black leaders almost tripped over one another apologizing for the
president’s behavior. Ben Jealous,
president and CEO of the NAACP,
said on TV that, “they (NAACP)
will give the president a pass because they were told he had a
scheduling conflict.”
Scheduling conflict? That’s the
oldest trick in the book. It’s such
a lame excuse that whenever the
term “scheduling conflict” is mentioned in Washington – which is
pretty often – people laugh
openly. In most cases, it’s not a
scheduling conflict, it’s a case of
people scheduling a conflict.
But, once again, Obama has
concluded that there is no price
to pay for such presidential disrespect. Unfortunately, he is correct. Obama believes that pretending that he is not Black will make
people believe he is not Black. As
one “public intellectual” put it,
Obama run from Black people like
Black people run from cops.
I am amazed at the silence from
the Black community on these
snubs. Blacks seem to have accepted this insulting treatment.
The silence in the Black community is deafening. Blacks get exactly what they deserve from
Obama—nothing!
Ben Jealous is not the only
prominent Black person to make
excuses for the inexcusable.
Consider what Congressional
Black Caucus Chairman, Emanuel
Cleaver (D-Mo.) said last year on
“Meet The Press.” With no sense
of shame he said, “If [former President] Bill Clinton had been in the
White House and had failed to
address this problem [the high
unemployment rate in the Black
community], we probably would
be marching on the White
House…There is a less-volatile
reaction in the CBC because nobody wants to do anything that
would empower the people who
hate the president.”
How about empowering the
people who put him in office?
After President Obama’s spoke
to the National Urban League convention this week in New Orleans,
even the NAACP pretended that
he hadn’t snubbed them.
For the record, I voted for
Obama in 2008. And as a Republican, I took a lot of heat from those
in my party for doing so. My vote
for Obama had little to do with his
race. He was by far the better candidate. There was no way I was
voting for a ticket that included
Sarah Palin. The Republican Party
did not deserve my vote. I will vote
every time on a case-by-case basis because nobody owns me or
my vote.
Last week, I talked about the
importance of Black business leaders. They justifiably complain
about limited access to capital –
which is not good in a capitalistic
society – and the failure of government at every level to make sure
Black businesses get a fair shot
of landing contracts. After all,
Blacks pay taxes too, often at a
higher rate. You would think that
this would change under President
Obama – but it hasn’t.
According to a recent story in
the Washington Post, “U.S. government contracts to black-and
Hispanic-owned small businesses
fell last year for the first time in a
decade, declining at a sharper rate
than awards to all companies.
“Contracts to the black-owned
firms dropped 8 percent to $7.12
billion in the fiscal year that ended
Sept. 30, compared with fiscal
2010. Awards to Hispanic-owned
businesses decreased 7 percent to
$7.89 billion, according to federal
procurement data.
“Contracts to the two minority
groups fell at a faster pace than all
contracts, which dipped 1 percent
as the U.S. government slowed
spending to help reduce the federal deficit. The gap may reflect
stiffer competition over a shrinking pool of revenue and the
recession’s greater impact on
black and Hispanic firms.”
Can you tell me what Obama and
the Democrats have offered as a
solution to this problem? You
guessed it, absolutely nothing.
I am not surprised by Obama or
Democrats. After all, this is the
same party that dissed and embar-
rassed Congressman Jim Clyburn
(D-S.C.) when they fell into minority status in the House in 2010 and
had to shuffle the top leadership
posts. Of course, the first Black
president sat quietly by and said
absolutely nothing. Both parties,
in recent times, have ignored the
Black vote. Butt under Obama, it
has sunk to an all-time low. And if
he gets 96 percent of the Black vote
in November as he did four years
ago, our people will get exactly what
they deserve – nothing.
Raynard Jackson is president &
CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a D.C.-public relations/government affairs firm. His
website is:
www.raynardjackson.com.
The end of AIDS
By George E. Curry
NNPA Columnist
There was a refrain that was
heard in almost every speech this
week at the International AIDS
Conference in Washington: We are
on the verge of ending the HIV/
AIDS epidemic. That wasn’t a
statement that could be made 30
years ago when the pandemic was
first identified. It wasn’t a statement that would be uttered at the
last International AIDS Conference I attended two years ago in
Vienna.
But in the nation’s capital this
week, that was all the buzz.
At the opening session Sunday
night, Michael Sidibe, executive
director of UNAIDS, said: “Now I
want you to close your eyes. Listen to my words. We can end
AIDS…Wear a condom, end
AIDS. Give money, end AIDS.”
Monday morning’s opening
plenary provided more of the
same.
The first speaker was Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National
Institutes of Health.
“We are on scientifically solid
ground when we say we can end
the HIV/AIDS pandemic,” he told
the audience of scientists, researchers and policymakers from
around the world.” He added this
caveat: “The end of AIDS will not
be accomplished, however, without a major global commitment to
make it happen. We have a historic opportunity –with science on
our side – to make the achievement
of an AIDS-free generation a real-
ity.”
Phil Wilson, president and CEO
of the Black AIDS Institute, made
the same point when he followed
Fauci.
“Welcome to the first International AIDS Conference where we
know that we can end AIDS,” he
said. “Thirty-one years after the disease was discovered, right here in
this country, we finally have the
right combination of tools and
knowledge to stop the epidemic. No,
we don’t have a cure or a vaccine
yet.
“But David only had a slingshot,
and he felled Goliath. Our tools are
far from perfect, but they are good
enough to get the job done – if, and
this is a big if, we use them efficiently, effectively, expeditiously,
Opinion
8
African Scene
Makoko residents protest loss of their king, homeland
Thousands of people from
Nigieria’s Makoko slum are being
forcibly removed from their
homes. ...
It is bad enough that they have
lost their ancient homeland, but it
is even worse that they have also
now lost their king. And the residents of Makoko are kitting up
for whatever war they can manage to wage against the Lagos
State Government for making
them lose both their kingdom and
their king. The displaced residents of Makoko community are
billed to march on Alausa, the seat
of government, to display their
displeasure against their displacement.
A resident who spoke to
THISDAY, Agbodemo Isola, said
the protest would take off from
Makoko to the Government
House at Alausa, Ikeja.
He said: “We are going to protest the murder of our ‘baale’ at
Alausa on Monday. It is quite
unfortunate that since the incident happened the government
has not sent any representative.
“For now, we are mobilizing for
the baale’s service of songs and
we’ve gone to see his three widows and the 14 children he left
behind.”
The bulldozers were unleashed
on the community a week ago,
crushing and squeezing the
wooden buildings that served as
their homes, which they had
erected on the lagoon for over a
hundred years. Makoko, before
its demolition, was such a degenerate slum that served as home to
over 85,000 persons. The residents little care about
government’s presence, neither
does the government spare much
thought for them either. But not
anymore.
It is a tough fate for the community that at the time the government ever remembered them,
it is to send them packing from
where they have always known
as home, the ancestral base of
their keiths and kindred. Left with
not much choice, the residents
had begun to warm up for evacuation following the 72-hour quit
notice served them by the Lagos
State Government. But the question is, to where shall they move?
It is a bitter throwback to the
Maroko saga of 22 years ago,
when the then military governor
of Lagos State, Col Raji Rasaki,
sacked the Maroko neighborhood. The lacerations of that eviction and the pains that followed
have not faded over two decades
after the incident.
But beside the pains of dislocation and exposure to the elements, the Makoko residents have
the added pain of having their
Otun Baale of Egun, Timothy
Azinpono, killed by a police Corporal called Boma Pepple last Saturday. It is even more tragic that
the monarch was killed unprovoked, whilst he sought to make
peace between the demolition
squad and the angry residents.
Eyewitness account said the
victim was placating the protesting community youths when the
police corporal shot him.
Although the policeman attempted to escape in a canoe, he
was promptly caught by the
youths.
The state police command announced that it had arrested and
detained the trigger-friendly corporal whose is now undergoing
interrogation.
In a statement given to
THISDAY, the state Police Public
Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, a
Deputy Superintendent of Police,
said the corporal with Force no
363084, was posted on special
duty with the Lagos State Waste
Management
Authority
(LAWMA) on demolition exercise
at the waterfront of Makoko area
of Yaba.
She said: “The corporal allegedly shot a man in the stomach
and the victim was rushed to General Hospital, Gbagada where he
was later confirmed dead.
“The corpse has been deposited at the General Hospital, Ikeja
for post-mortem examination while
the suspect has been arrested and
detained at the state Criminal and
Investigation Department (SCID),
Panti, Yaba.”
Braide appealed for peace, adding that the police would ensure
that justice is done in the case.
Residents were peeved, saying
the shooting of the monarch was
uncalled for since the community
did not put up any resistance to
the demolition that kicked off a
week ago.
Isola said: “When the task force
arrived in our community on Saturday, they came to set our property ablaze and we protested that
it was not necessary because we
were already being displaced without any compensation or alternative accommodation.
“The youths then climbed their
canoes with placards to protest
the action of the task force. It was
then the ‘baale’ came out with
some chiefs to talk with the Commissioner for Waterfront, Segun
Oniru, and the shooting started.
“Unfortunately, the gun shot
the deputy ‘baale’ in the lower
abdomen and he bled to death on
his way to the hospital. It is indeed a tragedy that the police will
resort to this level of violence
against people they are supposed
to protect.”
He also lamented that the nine
persons who were arrested by the
joint task force were yet to be released.
Another resident who was simply identified as Apostle Paul, said
the planned protest by the community would depend on the outcome of the meeting that was
scheduled for yesterday evening.
But Lagos lawyer, Mr Femi
Falana, has demanded the pros(CONTINUED ON PAGE 16)
Makoko eviction
Displaced Makoko residents at a protest rally
Aid worker faces death in Khartoum
The trial for Rudwan Dawod,
an American resident, NGO aid
worker, humanitarian and pro-democracy activist, who worked
closely with former NBA Legend
Manute Bol, continued Sunday,
July 29 in Khartoum. If convicted,
Dawod could be sentenced to
death. Dawod, a Darfurian, has
worked for three years as a volunteer project coordinator with
Bol’s charity, the Washington
based NGO Sudan Sunrise.
Dawod worked extensively with
Bol on his school in Bol’s hometown of Turalei, and in 2011
Dawod led a team of fellow Muslim peace activists who delivered
relief food to refugees in Turalei.
Dawod left his expectant American wife in Oregon in May for
South Sudan to lead a Sudan Sunrise initiative of Muslims helping
to rebuild a Catholic Cathedral in
Torit, Soth Sudan, as a symbol of
reconciliation in the face of recent
church burnings in Khartoum. ,
Dawod traveled to Khartoum to
see his family, renew his visa, and Aid worker Dawod and wife, Nancy
join in non-violent protests with the
Arab Spring youth movement Girifna
(“We are fed up” in Arabic). After
ten days in Khartoum he was abducted, beaten, tortured for days,
and charged with terrorism. The
media in Sudan has accused Dawod
and his wife of working for the CIA
and organizing a terrorist cell with
plans to bomb Khartoum marketplaces. Girifna activists see this as a
campaign to discredit th protest
movement that could cost Dawod
his life.
While incarcerated, Dawod was
severely beaten by government
agents for opposing the burning of
churches, and was tortured in an
attempt to coerce a confession of
working for the CIA. The Government of Sudan led by Omar AlBashir, who has been indicted by
the International Criminal Court for
war crimes in Darfur, has responded
to demonstrations in the past six
weeks by jailing hundreds of protestors (estimates range from 500 to
2,000 protestors currently held by
the government).
DiNapoli: Downtown Bklyn economy is robust and on the move
the largest business district in New
York City outside of Manhattan. In
2010, business, finance and education accounted for nearly one-third
of the jobs in the area.
The health care and social assistance sector was the largest employer in greater downtown Brooklyn, accounting for nearly one-third
of private employment (24,140 jobs).
Educational services, the secondlargest sector, grew by 23 percent
between 2003 and 2010. Leisure and
hospitality was the fastest growing
sector, increasing by 54 percent
during this period.
Between 2003 and 2009, the number of businesses in the area grew
by 12.4 percent, with growth concentrated in hotels and restaurants,
business services and retail trade.
More than three-quarters of all businesses employed fewer than ten
people in 2009. Private sector wages
in greater downtown Brooklyn were
$3.7 billion in 2010. Wages grew by
48 percent in the area between 2003
and 2010, a higher rate than the rest
of Brooklyn (29.4 percent) and the
rest of New York City (38.2 percent).
Arts and cultural organizations
play a significant role in the area,
with the Brooklyn Academy of
Music (BAM) anchoring the BAM
Cultural District. The 21 organizations that responded to a recent
survey by the Downtown Brooklyn
Arts Alliance reported 1,165 workers with an annual payroll of $36.2
million in 2010. Several new buildings have been built, renovated or
are under construction in the area,
including BAM’s Richard B. Fisher
Thomas DiNapoli
Building, a new home for Theatre
for a New Audience, and 80 Arts.
For more information on Arts and
Cultural Organizations in the
greater downtown Brooklyn area.
Eleven colleges, universities
and trade schools are located in
the greater downtown Brooklyn
area. The Polytechnic Institute of
New York University, which is located in the area, and New York
University have agreed to transform the New York City Transit
Authority’s former headquarters
at 370 Jay Street into the Center
for Urban Science and Progress to
support the city’s growing high
technology industry. The Brooklyn Tech Triangle, from DUMBO
to the Brooklyn Navy Yard to
downtown Brooklyn, is home to
more than 500 high-tech firms.
Tourists and city residents alike
come to the greater downtown
Brooklyn area to visit the Fulton
Mall, the Atlantic Center Mall and
Atlantic Terminal Mall and other
retail hubs. Additionally, the 85-
acre Brooklyn Bridge Park, running
from north of the Manhattan Bridge
to Atlantic Avenue, draws thousands
to the borough’s edge.
Major economic development
plans are also underway, most notably Atlantic Yards, a 22-acre mixeduse project that is home to the
675,000-square-foot, 18,000 seat
Barclays Center set to open on September 28, 2012.
The City Point project adjacent to
the southeast end of the Fulton Mall
will house the first new department
store on the Fulton Mall in many decades when it opens in 2015. Steiner
Studios, located at the Brooklyn
Navy Yard, opened five new
soundstages in March 2012, increasing the studio’s size to 355,000 square
feet. The studio is continuing to expand, with a planned conversion of
a nearby 235,000 square foot building into soundstages and other production facilities.
Brooklyn Borough President
Marty Markowitz said: “Bravo to
State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and
the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership
for confirming in their respective reports that Downtown Brooklyn is one
of the most vibrant, booming and exciting neighborhoods in New York
City—and America!
Everywhere you look, things are
looking up for our Downtown, which
has been transformed into a 24/7 live,
work, play and learning city center.
From colleges to cultural institutions,
residents to retailers, attorneys to
artists, the Nets to nurses to hi-tech
startups, everyone wants to be in
Downtown Brooklyn.”
HIV undetectable in 2 men after bone marrow transplants: Study
(from Page 3)
transplant procedures.
Any of these factors could
theoretically explain their HIVfree status, but the bone marrow
transplantation combined with
antiretroviral therapy seems the
most likely explanation, said the
study authors.
“We believe the transplanted
cells killed off and replaced all of
the patients’ own lymphocytes,
including the infected cells, and
the donor cells were protected
from becoming infected themselves by the antiretroviral
therapy they were taking
throughout the transplant period,” said study senior author
Dr. Daniel Kuritzkes, chief of infectious diseases at Brigham and
Women’s Hospital and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston.
Graft-versus-host disease
also probably played a role, he
said. “The replacement of host
cells by donor cells is itself a form
of graft-versus-host reaction,”
Kuritzkes explained.
But the only way to verify that
the transplant plus antiretroviral
therapy can eradicate HIV is to
take the patients off their medication regimens.
That would be the “next logical step,” said Kuritzkes, adding
that this would require patient
consent and adherence to ethics protocols.
But even if the transplant procedure were found to eliminate
the reservoir of latent HIV cells,
bone marrow transplantation is
a very risky procedure. Kuritzkes
said he does not “foresee bone
marrow transplantation being performed on otherwise healthy HIVinfected patients who are doing
well on [antiretroviral therapy].”
Kuritzkes and his colleagues are
continuing to enroll and follow
HIV-positive patients who have undergone bone marrow transplants
as part of a larger study.
This preliminary study contains
echoes of the so-called “Berlin Pa-
tient,” who has no detectable
HIV cells in his blood five years
after a stem cell transplant for
leukemia.
Like the two men discussed
in the current paper, the Berlin
Patient — Timothy Ray Brown
of Seattle — also had been diagnosed with HIV and also underwent chemotherapy (for
acute myeloid leukemia) and de-
veloped graft-versus-host disease.
But, unlike the current patients,
Brown received his stem cell
transplant from a donor who had
a rare genetic mutation that increases immunity against the
most common form of HIV. He remained HIV-free after discontinuing antiretroviral therapy.
The two men described here
received donor cells, which were
“fully susceptible” to HIV, Kuritzkes
said. This raises the possibility that
a cure may be possible even when
the donor does not have this gene
mutation, he said.
Because this research has not
been peer-reviewed and published
in a medical journal, the data and
conclusions should be considered
preliminary.
AG secures permanent ban on sale of mislabeled synthetic drugs
(from Page 3)
merce, their efforts continue to fall
short as the chemists and producers providing the products for head
shops simply alter formulas and
stay ahead of the legislation.
The Attorney General’s lawsuits
also pursue retailers for the illegal
sale of nitrous oxide to the public, a
specific violation of the State
Public Health Law. Commonly
known as “Whip Its,” nitrous
oxide has been linked to several
deaths by asphyxiation and other
adverse health effects. The gas
is typically used by youths who
see it as an easy “high.”
In addition to Look Ah Hookah, judges issued orders remov-
ing synthetic drugs from the following retailers sued by Attorney
General Schneiderman:
* Pavilion International in Buffalo
and Commack
* Twisted Headz in Syracuse
* Trip on the Wild Side II in
Watertown
* Rolling Fire Glassworks in
Endicott
* Goodfellas Alternative Smoke Shop
in Utica
* 20 Below/ This and That in
Plattsburgh
* Shining Star Enterprises in Albany
* Giggles in Poughkeepsie
* Village Sensations in Nanuet
* East Coast Psychedelics in
Oceanside and Commack
* Daze Smoke Shop in Baldwin
For John Lassiter working at Indian Point is a family affair
(from Page 4)
Point helps go along with the elder Lassiter’s role as co-chair of
the Diversity and Inclusion Council. The council’s mission is to create and maintain a wide-reaching
and all-encompassing work environment. The organization promotes an atmosphere where individuals are comfortable to contribute their knowledge, talents and
experience to ensure a safe and
productive workplace at Indian
Point.
John knows that Indian Point
has an extremely talented work
force. In his view, attracting skilled
professionals while allowing
employees to grow and flourish
is the challenge especially in
this rapidly changing business
environment.
“Problems pop up all the time
and it takes talent to overcome
them,” said John Sr. “To be competitive we have to be able to
make this a place where people
want to come to work and exercise their talents.”
As the co-chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Council, summits have been organized to
continue educating the employees at Indian Point and to reach
out to the next generation of
staff on where it stands and
what’s planned for the future.
For John Sr., one of the most
rewarding moments in his career
at Indian Point has been to see
the changing faces at IPEC.
“With every hire, no matter the
department, I see the demographics change,” he said.” We,
as a nuclear power plant are becoming more diverse, not just in
race but in gender and age. We
are becoming more accepting of
new ideas and new ways of
thinking. As a result, we will continue to meet our goal of operating a safe facility that powers the
lower Hudson Valley and New
York City. This is something I take
a lot of pride in.”
“Everyday I go to work it’s like I
am taking care of one big extended
family at the plant,” says John Sr.
who volunteers as a firefighter with
the Winona Lake Engine Company.
“And it’s a double blessing that
that family also includes my real
relatives.”
And the Lassister family is expanding as John Jr. and his wife recently welcomed their first child,
Nia Simone. Will the newborn continue the IPEC legacy? “Who
knows,” says John Sr. who’s busy planning for National Grand-parent’s Day.
It’s only two months away.
Private sector employment and
wages grew at a higher rate in
greater downtown Brooklyn than
the rest of New York City between
2003 and 2010, according to a report released by New York State
Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli.
The report was released at a joint
press conference with the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, which
announced its strategic plan for
the area at the event.
“With robust job growth, economic development initiatives
and classic Brooklyn spirit, downtown Brooklyn has become a magnet for New York City,” DiNapoli
said. “Over the past two decades,
downtown Brooklyn has been
revitalized. With arts, technology
and business concentrated in this
area, good things are on the horizon. Downtown Brooklyn is a
success story and an example of
how the public and private sector can work together to achieve
great results.”
Private sector employment in
the greater downtown Brooklyn
area rose by 18.3 percent between
2003 and 2010, the last year that
data is available. Greater downtown Brooklyn accounted for 17
percent of all private sector jobs
in Brooklyn. The area’s median
household income rose by 40 percent since 2005 to $71,790 in 2010.
The greater downtown Brooklyn area, which includes Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO/Vinegar
Hill, the Brooklyn Navy Yard,
Clinton Hill, Fort Greene, Boerum
Hill and downtown Brooklyn, has
9
10
th
AUDREY'S 9 Annual Awards
SOCIETY
WHIRL
McDonald’s 365Black Awards held
at historic Mahalia Jackson Theater
By Audrey J. Bernard
Lifestyles & Society Editor
NEW ORLEANS — Sweltering
heat did not deter festively
dressed guests from attending
the ninth annual McDonald’s
365Black awards program on
Friday, July 6, 2012, at the historic Mahalia Jackson Theater
in New Orleans. The annual
event honors outstanding African Americans who are making positive contributions to
the community.
This year’s honorees did not
disappoint and proved to be real
troupers having to keep calm
and cool while walking the red
carpet under scorching heat
and stopping for photos and
interviews as sweat poured
down their faces. Even the sundrenched red carpet ceremony
did not temper these honorees’
enthusiasm or that of the media who met them with equal
aplomb. The red carpet was
manned by entertainment correspondent Janelle Snowden
and national television journalist Roland Martin who also remained calm, cool and collected.
The brave -- and a bit tanner
-- 2012 honorees included
multi-platinum and 10-time
Grammy winning recording artist Chaka Khan; global humanitarian, best-selling inspirational
author/entrepreneur Bishop
T.D. Jakes; Grammy-nominated
R&B singer/songwriter Tamia
and husband, All-Star NBA
player Grant Hill; teenage medical innovator Tony Hansberry,
II; youth empowerment activist
Mary-Pat Hector; and McDonald’s owner/operators, Tina
and Harold Lewis.
Once inside the beauteous
and air-conditioned venue, entertainers, professional athletes, political figures and hundreds of citizens from across
the nation were welcomed by
Bettina Roberts, vice president
& general manager, great southern region, McDonald’s USA
and Mitch J. Landrieu, Mayor,
City of New Orleans, followed
by a vision statement delivered
by Jan Fields, president, McDonald’s USA.
The program was laced with
powerful messages of empowerment — saluting the outstanding honorees who are
committed to making positive
contributions that strengthen
the African American community — from Marty Gillis, chairman, McDonald’s African
American consumer market
Bishop T.D. Jakes
Tamia & Grant Hill
Chaka Khan performs
Tank
Host Laz Alonso
committee, Kevin Newell, executive vice president, global chief
brand officer, McDonald’s Corporation, and Neil Golden, senior vice president, chief marketing officer, McDonald’s
USA.
“Helping others and giving
back are critical components to
making our community stronger,
and it was moving to witness the
number of celebrities and community members who supported
the event,” said Chaka Khan,
founder of The Chaka Khan
Foundation. “I am humbled I
was chosen to receive the
365Black Award with such an
amazing group of individuals
who also embrace community
service. I commend McDonald’s
for their ongoing efforts to make
community service a priority.”
The elaborate program was
hosted by actor Laz Alonso and
included soulful performances
by Grammy winning gospel star
Fred Hammond, Grammy-nominated artists Melanie Fiona and
Eric Benet, and hip-hop legend
Doug E. Fresh. Khan closed the
Tisha Campbell & Ronald McDonald
Q Parker
Eric Benet
Ronald n PLAY
ceremony with a surprise performance in tribute to her fellow honorees. Another special
and surprise performance from
honoree Tamia of her new single
was also a crowd pleaser.
Corporate presenters during
the stellar program included
Robert Jackson, director, African American Consumer marketing, McDonald’s USA; Edgardo
Navarro, senior vice president,
strategy, field and ethnic marketing, McDonald’s USA; Cody
Teets, vice president and general manager Rocky Mountain
R e g i o n , M c D o n a l d ’s U S A ;
James Collins, senior vice president, chief restaurant officer,
McDonald’s USA; and Sharlene
Smith, vice president of operations, McDonald’s USA Great
Southern Region.
Celebrity presenters included
Full Force, Marsha Ambrosius,
Tank, Tisha Campbell and the
Rev. Al Sharpton who gave a
very moving speech when presenting the award to youth empowerment activist Mary-Pat
Hector who he appointed Na-
MC Lyte
Tony Hansberry II, Chaka Khan & Mary-Pat Hector
Rev. Al Sharpton, MaryPat Hector
Marsha
Ambrosius
Melanie Fiona performs
tional Youth Director for Na- leading foodservice provider in
tional Action Network Youth the United States offering a variMove last year at the tender ety of wholesome foods made
from quality ingredients to more
age of thirteen.
“We remain steadfast in our than 26 million customers every
commitment to recognize and d a y. N e a r l y 9 0 p e r c e n t o f
celebrate people who are do- McDonald’s 14,000 U.S. restauing significant work for the rants are independently owned
community,” said Rob Jackson. and operated by local business“From what our operators do men and women. Customers can
in their local communities to now log online for free at any of
our efforts around the globe, the 11,500 participating Wi-Fi enMcDonald’s supports multiple abled McDonald’s U.S. restauprograms that help build feel- rants. For more information on our
ings of pride and inclusion and U.S. business, visit:
work to make our communities www.mcdonalds.com, or follow us
on Twitter (@McDonalds) and
stronger.”
(Facebook.com/
M c D o n a l d ’s 3 6 5 B l a c k F a c e b o o k
Awards launched in 2003 as an McDonalds) for updates on our
e x t e n s i o n o f M c D o n a l d ’s business, promotions and menu
365Black platform, created to items.
To learn more about the global
celebrate the pride, heritage
and achievements of African company, please visit:
Americans year-round. This www.aboutmcdonalds.com and
year’s event — produced by follow us on Facebook (http://
Merge Communications — was w w w . f a c e b o o k . c o m /
hosted as a prelude to the Es- m c d o n a l d s c o r p ) a n d Tw i t t e r
sence Music Festival weekend. ( h t t p : / / w w w . t w i t t e r . c o m /
mcdonaldscorp). #365Black
(Photo Credit: Alstek PhotograAbout McDonald’s
McDonald’s USA, LLC, is the phy)
11
12
Beacon On
HARLEM WEEK Gracie Mansion Kick-Off gala
An estimated crowd of 2,000 invited guests, (the largest gatherings
never) converged on the outdoor
lawn of New York City’s Gracie Mansion on Thursday, July 19, 2012, as
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg
kicked-off the 38th anniversary of
HARLEM WEEK with an official
gala reception. Lloyd Williams,
CEO/founder of the Greater
Harlem Chamber of Commerce accepted a Proclamation recognizing the great day. HARLEM
WEEK Inc., is a not-for-profit
501(c) (3) corporation that fosters
continued growth and development of Harlem, one of the world’s
best know neighbors. (PIC-
TURED) Some of the fashionably
attired guests that enjoyed an afternoon of awards presentations,
a performance by the male cast of
the 2012 Tony Award winning
musical “Porgy & Bess” and a
delicious buffet and delightful
cocktails. (D.T.)
(Photos: Ronnie Wright)
Mayor Bloomberg welcomes
guests
Lloyd Williams and Stephanie
Frances display HARLEM WEEK
Proclamation
Air personality Debi B. (center) the wife of the late legendary pioneering radio personality Hal Jackson, the creator of the popular “Sunday Classics” program heard weekends
on radio station WBLS-FM 107.5 accepts special recognition award and portrait of Mr. Jackson during presentation at Great Day In Harlem outdoor festival held at National
Grant Tombs Memorial Park in the Village of Harlem. (PICTURED) with Debi B. are Voza Rivers, producer of the event, Ray Chew, musical director and members of the Greater
Harlem Chamber of Commerce
(Photo: Louis Boone)
R&B singer Alicia Myers belts out her hit single “I Want The Thank You” during tribute to Hal Jackson. Designer Roger Gary (center) is surrounded by models wearing
his fabulous garments during fashion show staged at Great Day In Harlem. (Right) R&B crooner Freddie Jackson (hugging mic) brought the crowd of thousands to their
feet as they sang-a-long when delivered a soul-stirring arrangement of his hit “Rock Me Tonight, For Old Time Sake,” during the Concert Under The Stars tribute to Hal
Jackson. Also delivering classics hits to Mr. Jackson were Cuba Gooding, Sr., Alyson Williams and Hezekiah Walker and his Choir. Ray Chew and the Chew, served as
musical director.
(Photos: Jim Carroll)
The Scene
13
PEOPLE, PLACES, POLITICS & PARTIES by Audrey J. Bernard
14
Hot Hennessy Happenings take over NOLA
Hennessy Hostesses
New Orleans turned into a
Brown paradise when Hennessy,
the bestselling Cognac worldwide as well as one of the most
celebrated and storied brands in
history, hosted several exclusive
events in New Orleans during
the 2012 Essence Music Festival, Thursday, July 5 to Saturday, July 7, 2012. Hennessy is
imported and distributed in the
U.S. by Moet Hennessy USA and
is a subsidiary of LVMH.
Hennessy distills, ages and
blends a full range of marques,
including Hennessy V.S, Privilege V.S.O.P, Hennessy Black,
X.O, Paradis and Richard
Hennessy.
Throughout the festival, many
luminaries stopped by the
Hennessy Luxe Lounge in the
Morial Convention Center where
they mixed, mingled and enjoyed
their favorite brown drinks specially created for the event. VIPs
also were treated to hair-cuts,
massages, make-up sessions,
and walked away with fabulous
swag bags. Some of the VIPs
coming through included Vanessa
Williams, Lance Gross, Tyrese,
Jamie Foxx, Mary J. Blige,
Paula Patton, Angela Simmons,
Amber Rose, Cee-Lo Green,
Dwayne Wade, Jesse Williams,
Tia Mowry and many more.
The Hot Hennessy Happenings kicked off on Thursday, July
5, 2012 at Carol’s Daughter PopUp Store in the heart of the
French Quarter, 214 Decatur
Street, from 8pm-10pm. Hosted
by Carol’s Daughter, The Diva
Lounge and Hennessy, the exclusive Hennessy happening
featured a special shopping soiree benefiting Dress for Success,
an organization that provides
clothing to women returning to
the work force, in New Orleans.
The For You Bayou Presented
by Hennessy event honored leading ladies of Louisiana’s underprivileged community and culture
including Kim Bondy, executive
producer, TV One Network election coverage; Eliza Eugene,
CEO, Eliza Eugene Enterprises;
Melissa Harris-Perry, Professor of Political Science, Tulane
University & host, MSNBC’s
“Melissa Harris-Perry;” and
Carla Major, site director, New
Orleans Works, NOW at Greater
New Orleans Foundation. Celebrity DJ Amanda Seales kept the
party going and We TV’s Trina
Braxton from the hit show, The
Braxton Family Values, was there
showing support and mingling
with Carol’s Daughter creator,
Lisa Price. (Photo Credit:
Collins Metu)
On Friday, July 6, comedian
Kevin Hart hosted a VIP event
presented by Hennessy at the
Saint Hotel, 931 Canal Street,
from 11pm-2am. The “Think Like
A Man” star attracted an envious A-List crowd to the
Hennessy V.S and Essence Birthday Celebration for their number 1 funnyman. There were so
many stars in attendance that
BRUNCH-Eric Benet, Marsha
Ambrosious
CAROL’S DAUGHTER-Honorees Kim Bondy, Melissa Harris-Perry, Carla Major, Eliza Eugene, Shayna
D., Lisa Price
BRUNCH-Keisha Knight Pulliam
and Lance Gross
HART B'DAY BASH-Denise Vasi, DJ D-Nice, LisaRaye
HART B'DAY BASH-Eva
Marcille, Kevin Hart
they were trippin’ over each other
from Denzel Washington to Trey
Songz; from “Single Ladies’”
LisaRaye McCoy and Denise Vasi
who took over the stage for an
impromptu dance off to Atlanta
Housewives’ Cynthia Bailey.
Other celebrities in the house included Tisha Campbell, Anthony
Mackie, Charity Shea, D. B.
Woodside, Terrell Tilford, Tamar
Braxton, Trina Braxton, Eva
Marcille, Lance Gross, Keisha
Knight Pulliam, Michael Ealy,
Brandon T. Jackson, Lamman
Rucker, Michael Jai Walker,
Denyce Lawton, Tank, Craig
Robinson, Shaunie O’Neil, Kevin
Liles, DJ D-Nice and June
Ambrose. (Photo Credit: Kirill
Kuletski and Collins Metu)
On Saturday, July 7, over 600
people jammed at Hennessy’s Very
Special Brunch in the lobby of
the International House Hotel, 221
Camp Street from 11am-2pm with
HART B'DAY BASH-Trey Songz, Kevin Hart, Tank
power driven music by DJ Wop
and DJ D-Nice. This was such a
hot ticket item that it attracted top
Moet Hennessy USA executive
Rodney Williams, senior vice
president business-Hennessy,
who had nothing but praise for
event coordinator Rhonda
McDonald, consumer development manager, Hennessy. The
ultimate afternoon affair featured
massage therapy; food to die for;
and specially made Hennessy
cocktails. Seen on the scene
were Eric Benet, Marsha
Ambrosius, Letoya Luckett,
Bridget Kelly, Prince’s DJ, DJ
Rashida and Alex Boyd. That
evening, most of these stars were
spotted at the swinging LisaRaye
& Friends Everything White Affair presented by Hennessy at
Club Voila, 300 Decatur Street
from 11pm-2am. (Photo Credit:
Kirill Kuletski and Collins
Metu).
CAROL'S DAUGHTER-Lisa
Price,Trina Braxton
BRUNCH-Eric Benet, Rodney
Williams
BRUNCH-Letoya Luckett, DJ DNice
HART B'DAY BASH-Kevin Hart
Woman gets 12 years for stealing a newborn from Harlem Hospital
greed, of vengeance. But it was
an act of selfishness, a crime of
selfishness.”
Pettway apologized, saying she
was “deeply sorry for what I have
done” and sought to “right my
wrong and to ask for forgiveness.”
Carl Tyson, the biological father, glared at Pettway, saying:
“You hurt me really bad.”
Joy White, the mother, said her
daughter had found her but: “I
still haven’t found my daughter.”
She said she “can’t change
how my daughter feels” when she
talks about Pettway’s relatives as
if they are her own.
“My daughter is here, but
she’s not home yet,” she said.
Outside court, Tyson said the
sentence “should have been
longer,” but White said she was
satisfied.
“If they gave her 200 years, it’s
still not going to make up for the
time my daughter was gone,” she
said.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea
L. Surratt said Pettway told “complicated lies” for 23 years.
In court papers, she challenged
Pettway’s lawyers’ contention that
she provided a “stable, loving and
happy home,” saying Pettway was
convicted of five crimes while
Carlina was in her custody and had
confessed to cocaine use from
1983 through 2005.
In a letter to the judge, Pettway
apologized, blaming untreated
psychological disorders from her
failed pregnancies.
“It may not sound correct on
paper but I am hopelessly
SORRY,” her handwritten note
said.
White has described encountering Pettway on the day her
daughter disappeared, dressed
like a nurse. “She came up to me
and said to me, ‘Don’t cry. Your
daughter is going to be OK.’”
The case was solved by Carlina
herself.
As she grew up in Connecticut
under the name Nejdra Nance, the
girl became increasingly suspicious of her own identity. Pettway
ultimately told her a part-truth, admitting she was someone else’s
Obama is ‘fiddling’ his way to failure
(from Page 6)
than $4 trillion dollars (that’s a T).
I can’t recall any other president
in our history running our nation
without a budget.
It is lunacy or it’s like playing a
fiddle while Rome burns. We are
on the verge of financial ruin and
there is no plan from the White
House.
Former President Lyndon
Baines Johnson vowed to make
war on poverty. He started the
food stamp program with a bud-
get of $268 million in 1964. Our
president doesn’t fight poverty; he
promotes it. Last year, we spent
more than $78 billion in food
stamps. We are becoming a nation
of paupers and he is playing the
fiddle.
Finally, there is the low regard
for the Black Church. How do you
jump into the moral discussion of
same sex marriage? That debate
belongs to our church, not the
White House.
This is an affront to our beloved
long standing institution – just for
a few votes.
Mr. President, I am calling you
out. Stop the ugliness and tend to
the crisis at hand.
Raising taxes in a recession and
killing jobs via all of the above is a
blue print for disaster. Your record
with Black procurement is now at
1.1 percent (GAO). Nixon did better than you!
Mr. Alford is the co-founder,
president/CEO of the National
Black Chamber of Commerce®.
Website: www.nationalbcc.org.
Email: [email protected].
Pushing children out of school
(from Page 6)
bling for the most serious school
forms of discipline: Over 70 percent of students involved in
school-related arrests or who are
referred to law enforcement are
Hispanic or Black. Zero tolerance
school discipline policies only
add to the problem. The stories
of six-year-old kindergartener
Salecia Johnson, who was arrested in handcuffs at her
Milledgeville, Georgia elementary
school in April and driven to the
police station in a squad car for
throwing a tantrum, and Desre’e
Watson, who underwent the same
ordeal several years ago as a sixyear-old kindergartner in Avon
Park, Florida, were horrifying reminders that even our youngest
children are at risk of being poorly
handled. I find it hard to believe
that one, two, or three adults can’t
manage a six-year-old during or
after a temper tantrum without calling the police and arresting them.
Sometimes I think we adults have
lost our common and moral sense!
Instead of educating children
well enough so that they will not
become “rude, stubborn, & unruly” we now reject them at the first
sign of any disobedience using
widely subjective catchall phrases
and offenses like disrespectful or
disruptive. Most suspensions are
for nonviolent offenses. Too many
schools are pushing children into
the juvenile and criminal justice
systems to make them someone
else’s problem. It should be little
surprise when so many of the same
children who are punished by being pushed out of school go on to
become the same ones who drop
out and stay away for good. A public high school student drops out
of school every eight seconds during the school year. And it should
be even less surprising when many
of the young people who drop out
are the same ones whose behavior
we continue to complain about and
fear and for whom we pay to build
costly prison cells later. It’s called
the cradle to school to prison pipeline. States are spending on average two and a half times more per
prisoner than per public school
pupil. I think this is a very dumb
investment policy which hurts
children and the nation’s future
workforce.
If giving all children an education still benefits an entire community, and if not educating children still makes it more likely their
future “ignorance and vices” will
“cost us [dearly] in their consequences,” every time a child is excluded from school by adults or is
chronically absent without any
actions to determine why, we are
failing the child and undercutting
the importance of education. Hundreds of years after Americans first
made that connection, what will it
take for us to get it again today?
Marian Wright Edelman is
president of the Children’s Defense Fund whose Leave No Child
Behind® mission is to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head
Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start
and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with
the help of caring families and
communities. For more information go to:
www.childrensdefense.org.
Subscribe and Advertise in
the New York Beacon
237 W. 37th Street,
Suite 203 New York, New York 10018
Tel: (212) 213-8585
daughter but claiming she had
been willingly given away by a
drug addict.
Carlina White said she browsed
the website of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for clues to her identity. After matching a photo of herself
with one on the site, she tracked
down her true mother and they
reunited in January 2011. A DNA
test confirmed they were mother
and child.
Joy White declined to comment
about Carlina White’s absence
from court Monday.
In court papers, defense lawyers
Robert Baum and Sabrina Shroff
called Pettway “broken and severely depressed.”
The lawyers said Carlina White
declined to speak at the sentencing because she didn’t want to go
back to court and felt she had done
enough work finding her biological parents. They also noted that
she is represented by counsel and
has a movie project in the works.
Wells Fargo makes $175 million
in discrimination settlement case
(from Page 4)
cern. Decades after enacting multiple anti-discriminatory protections, people of color still cannot
be confident that “fair lending”
applies to all borrowers.
While it is commendable that
the DOJ and other enforcement
bodies have vigorously pursued
these recent cases, it remains
deeply troubling that systematic
discrimination still survives in the
marketplace. For the people and
communities affected, the shared
consequences are severe.
Even with some monetary relief, full financial recovery will not
be easy.
As Assistant Attorney General
Tom Perez, who leads the civil rights
division, has said, “This is a case
about real people, African-American and Latino, who suffered real
harm as a result of Wells Fargo’s
discriminatory lending practices.”
Borrowers who believe they may
have been victims of discriminatory
lending by Wells Fargo may contact DOJ at:
[email protected].
Charlene Crowell is a communications manager with the Center for Responsible Lending. She
can be reached at:
[email protected].
35 arrested in defrauding state
of $1.5 million insurance money
(from Page 2)
lies. These defendants will be
prosecuted to the full extent of
the law.”
Queens County District Attorney Richard A. Brown said, “In
today’s tough economic climate,
unemployment insurance benefits
are a vital lifeline for many New
Yorkers. Those who falsely apply
for and receive unemployment
benefits cheat legitimately unemployed workers and increase insurance tax rates paid by employers. Their actions erode a vital
workplace protection that was
created for the benefit of all workers.”
Bronx County District Attorney Robert T. Johnson said, “Unemployment benefits provide a
safety net for those families and
individuals who find themselves
deprived of income after losing
their job. When people cheat the
system by filing fraudulent
claims, the safety net is compromised. It depletes available resources for those who are most
in need of financial assistance. We
estimate that the sixteen defen-
dants who’ve been charged in
Bronx County are responsible for
collecting approximately $350,000
by filing fraudulent claims. Such
abuse cannot not be tolerated in
these tough economic times.”
In May 2012, Governor Cuomo
announced that $51.2 million in
fraudulently-collected unemployment insurance benefits had been
returned to New York State’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund
through the Treasury Offset Program (TOP), a state-federal partnership in which federal tax refunds
are intercepted to cover delinquent
debts.
New York State was the first state
in the nation to use TOP to recover
fraudulently-collected unemployment insurance benefits. The program recovered $51.2 million – the
largest amount in the nation – from
more than 50,000 individuals.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s
Office of Inspector General also
assisted in the investigation.
Anyone with information about
unemployment insurance fraud
should call the Department of
Labor’s toll-free fraud hotline at
(888) 598-2077.
For Actor Danny Glover, the
AIDS struggle is personal
(from Page 2)
“I was encouraged to continue
my mission of disseminating information to communities of
color,” said Jason Davis, an HIVpositive 23-year-old, who uses his
condition as an opportunity to
teach. “As teenagers we tend to
think that we will live forever and
we live our lives very carelessly.”
Glover, who turned 66 while at-
tending this conference, noted the
importance of others working in the
space that God has allotted them
and using that space and their platform as a means of helping.
“Everyone, not just athletes,
actors or famous people should
help to raise awareness about HIV/
AIDS,” he ssaid. “Chances are you
know someone infected with the
disease or you will be affected by it
so we are all in this together.”
(from Page 3)
15
16
Black Chamber makes ‘game changer’ move for economy
(from Page 3)
national organizations and Black
companies to do more business
with each other because I think
we trail everybody in trying to
do business with each other and
keeping money in our own communities. I think with the U. S.
Black Chamber being the top
notch organization that they are,
I think it’s a big leadership step
for them and for Ron to take that
initiative.”
Mitchell and Busby both serve
on the Small Business
Administration’s Council on
Underserved Communities,
where they first began this conversation. They have concluded
that - in addition to government
initiatives - the African-American
community must step up its activities to revitalize itself. To make
that happen, Mitchell and Busby
are strategizing with Michael
Grant, president of NBA, which
has a membership of 37 mostly
Black-owned banks.
“This can be the catalyst to
get other national organizations
to see how important it is that we
harmonize; synergize, and energize our efforts,” says Grant as
he listed several major Black organizations. “At the end of the
day, all of these organizations
have constituencies that go all
over America, all of these organizations handle money and their
members handle money... You start
with the leadership of these organizations and you say ‘Listen, we
need to do a better job at harvesting our own wealth. Yes, we want
to look to politicians to do things
and yes we may ask the corporations to be more fair about their
hiring and their contracting and so
forth, but what are we supposed
to do?’”
Grant continued, “To me, I don’t
think that we should keep asking
others and passively sitting back
and waiting for others to deliver
for us. We should be proactive and
aggressive about making sure that
economic opportunity exists in the
Black community. So, all of us are
national organizations; we’ve already got people; we’ve already
got constituents, right? We’ve already got resources. So, let’s set
the example.”
A “national action plan” in this
regard will be announced July 27
during the USBC’s School of Chamber Management conference at
Georgetown University in D.C.,
Busby says.
In a nutshell, the plan is described
as a strategic national movement
in which Black chambers - and ultimately Black businesses and Black
organizations - will be encouraged
to open accounts in Black banks.
Among the initial cities are Phoenix, Ariz.; Austin, Texas; Atlanta,
New York City, and Detroit, Busby
said.
“And so we’re going into those
six cities and saying, ‘Okay, here’s
your local Black bank. We need to
make sure that they’re successful
as well. We need to move as many
of our loans, our bank accounts,
our savings accounts into Blackowned banks.’”
Busby points out that the strategy is actually a part of the USBC’s
“solution-oriented” mission statement, which deals with supporting
African-American businesses and
banks based on five pillars:
*Advocacy: Fighting for legislation, programs and policies that
promote small business growth.
*Access to capital: Creating avenues “by which Black businesses
can gain greater access to credit,
capital and other financial instruments.”
*Contracting: Helping members
“gain access to business opportunities” in private and public sectors.
*Entrepreneurial training: Assisting Black business leaders in
achieving “stellar performance and
growth through entrepreneur and
business management training.”
*Chamber development: The
growth and expansion of new
chambers around the nation.
The new strategy will focus
mainly on three of the pillars. They
are access to capital, contracting
and entrepreneurial training,
Busby said.
Throughout history, Black lead-
Makoko residents protest loss of their king, homeland
(from Page 8)
ecution of the corporal for murder, as well as asking the Lagos
State Government to pay adequate compensation to the families of the murdered community
leader.
According to him, “the killers
of the Baale of Makoko should
be immediately arrested and
prosecuted for murder while the
Lagos State Government should
pay adequate monetary damages to the dependants of the
deceased whose fundamental
right to life has been brutally violated.
“All those whose houses
have been destroyed by the government are equally entitled to
compensation that is fair and just.”
Falana added that “a 72-hour
quit notice was reportedly pasted
in the houses at Makoko on Friday, July 20, 2012 to prevent the
owners from seeking redress in
court. Before the expiration of the
illegal ejection, the Lagos State
Government took the law into its
hand by engaging in the demolition of houses without a court order. This is a reckless violation of
the provisions of the Lagos State
Rent Control and Recovery of Premises which have criminalised the
ejection of any person resident in
Lagos State without an order issued by a competent court and ex-
ecuted by the sheriff and bailiff of
the court.”
He lamented how the displacement would affect the education
of “thousands of children”, warning that the tactics of exploiting the
vulnerable poor residents of
Makoko to “confiscate their
marshland”, develop it and then
later distribute it to the society’s
elite as it happened in the Maroko
incident, would be resisted by “the
progressive extraction of the civil
society.”
As at last night, the tension created by the killing last Saturday,
had subsided, as many of the residents are yet battling how to settle
in their children, especially under
the rains.
Zimmerman tries to speak for God
(from Page 6)
the limelight but for her commitment that her son, and other
young Black men targeted by racists, should have justice. She has
started
a
website
www.justicetm.org, that will promote justice for Trayvon and the
many other young Black men
whose lives are placed in jeopardy by “stand your ground”
laws. She is to be commended for
turning her pain into passion and
power.
The rest of us who love
young hoodie-wearing Black men
who have every right to walk
through streets, to stop at stores
to buy iced tea and Skittles, to
hang out at bus stops, as other
teens do, to play basketball on
courts at night, now must tell
them the racist rules of the game.
One friend told me that she instructs her sons never to look a
White policeman or a threateninglooking White man in the eye. She
says she hates the Reconstructioninspired instructions but embraces
it if it will keep her sons alive. Another has banned evening excursions, choosing to drive her sons
to get snacks rather than to have
them walk. Still another, who lives
in a tony suburb in Maryland, has
instructed her son to turn on the
microphone embedded in his
phone so that, in case of confrontation, she has a record of what
happened.
George Zimmerman evokes
memories of Amadou Diallo whose
wallet was perceived to be a gun,
of the mentally disturbed New York
grandmother whose scissors in her
own hand and no threat to any-
one, caused her death, of Michael
Griffith who found himself in the
wrong neighborhood (Howard
Beach) in Brooklyn and paid for it
with his life, and of countless other
deaths, some of which never get
media attention. He evokes memories of those juries who let Whites
kill without penalty in the civil
rights movement. He reminds us
that, for all the talk of post racialism, in some cases African Americans have no rights that Whites
are bound to respect.
George Zimmerman’s says his
murder of Trayvon Martin was
“God’s will. He knows another God
than most of us do. But then this
gross manipulation of our Savior’s
word is not the first manipulation
Zimmerman has attempted. Shame
on him, and shame on those ministers who do not immediately denounce this blasphemy.
ers have attempted various economic strategies to strengthen the
Black community as whole, most
of which have failed. Grant explains that the greatest hurdle to
this movement will be galvanizing the masses in the same direction and convincing people to
think about community rather
than just about their own organizations or households.
“The civil rights movement was
the last time that over time we
came together and we all got some
kind of agreement - if you will - on
one accord about what we
wanted. The civil rights movement
ended up changing a lot of
people’s minds and attitudes because the reward was so close in
front of them,” Grant said. “If you
want to change behavior, you
have to use positive reinforcement so that rewards for the new
behavior are strong enough.”
Economist Julianne Malveaux
lauds the plan but says prospective participants must ask hard
questions in order to hold the
banks accountable.
“This is a very welcome move
because only one in 10 Black dollars goes into Black entrepreneurs
and Banks. So, whereas a dollar
may turn over seven or eight
times in other communities that
invest in themselves the AfricanAmerican community’s dollar may
turn over only once; then go right
out. So, the Black Chamber is modeling what Black folks supporting
Black folks should be,” Malveaux
said.
However, she said, the success
of the movement will be contingent
upon whether Black banks are serious about spreading the wealth in
Black communities.
“There are a series of questions that
people who are changing accounts
will have to ask,” Malveaux said.
“And those are questions that minority banks will have to answer.
Like, for this support, what are you
offering? Is this support simply rhetorical or does this mean more lending in the Black community? Does it
mean more opportunity for our
young people? Does it mean more
employment for our young people?”
Grant concludes, “The burden is
on all organizations; including the
Black bankers too...It’s a two-way
street.
When you think about all the
things our banks could do in their
communities to help strengthen
those communities, that burden is
on us as it is on everybody else.
What can we do to grow wealth in
our community? All of us have a responsibility. Nobody’s exempt.”
The end of AIDS
(from Page 7)
and compassionately.”
Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton, speaking next, said: “I
want to salute all the people who
are here today who do the hard
work that has given us the chance
to stand here in 2012 and actually
imagine a time when we will no
longer be afflicted by this terrible
epidemic and the great cost and
suffering it has imposed for far
too long.”
The fact that scientists and
policymakers are speaking of the
end of AIDS, even in guarded
terms, represents a major breakthrough.
An International AIDS Conference fact sheet, puts the disease
in perspective: “HIV/AIDS is one
of the most destructive diseases
humankind has ever faced and
with profound social, economic
and public health consequences,
and has become one of the
world’s most serious health and
development challenges. HIV is a
leading cause of death worldwide.
The first cases were reported in
1981 and since the beginning of
the pandemic more than 30 years
ago, nearly 30 million people have
died of AIDS-related illnesses.
There is an estimated 34 million
people living with HIV.”
When researchers speak of
“ending” HIV, that does not mean
the disease will disappear.
“Ending the HIV/AIDS pandemic is an enormous and multifaceted challenge, but we now
know it can be done,” Dr. Fauci
said Monday. “It will require continued basic and clinical research,
and the development and testing
of additional treatment and HIV
prevention interventions and, importantly, implementing these interventions on a much wider
scale.”
In a fact sheet distributed with
Secretary Clinton’ speech, success
was defined this way: “An AIDSfree generation entails that first, no
one will be born with the virus; second, that as people get older, they
will be at far lower risk of becoming
infected than they are today; and
third, that if they do acquire HIV,
they will get treatment that keeps
them healthy and prevents them
from transmitting the virus to others.”
Until the development of a vaccine or cure, success will be defined
by reaching people around the
globe and applying some of the successful approaches already working
in many parts of the world, including widespread testing, reducing
mother-to-child transmission and
expanding treatment options.
In the early days in the disease,
AIDS was seen as a death sentence.
Rae Lewis-Thornton, an AIDS
activist, found out she was HIVpositive in 1983.
In a forthcoming interview with
Heart & Soul magazine, she said:
“When I made that transition to
AIDS seven years later was when it
all hit me like a ton of bricks,” LewisThornton said “Then it became the
expectation of death. The average
time span from AIDS to death was
three years.”
But thanks to advancements in
antiretroviral medications and
greater emphasis on testing, prevention and treatment, AIDS is no
longer a death sentence it was three
decades ago.
George E. Curry, former editorin-chief of Emerge magazine, is editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News
Service (NNPA) and editorial director of Heart & Soul magazine.
He is a keynote speaker, moderator, and media coach. Curry can be
reached through his Web site:
www.georgecurry.com. You can
also follow him at www.twitter.com/
currygeorge.
By Victoria Horsford
NEW YORK CITY
Veteran Democratic Bronx
politico Larry Seabrook,61, convicted of fraud in Federal Court,
must relinquish his Council
seat. His replacement will be
elected in special election on
November 6. not so lucky the
second time around. Convicted
on 9 of 12 counts. Will be sentenced on January 8 Seabrook,
Has served in both houses of
the NYS Legislature. He’s been
NYC Council member since 2002
and would have been term limited next year.
HARLEM CHRONICALS
Hold the date, August 4, from
9 am to 7 pm when the Annual
Wadleigh Alumni Picnic will be
held at the Harlem Meer, Central Park at 110 Street, between
Fifth and Lenox Avenues. Group
shot at 3. Bring picnic lunch,
blankets, chairs, games and
memorabilia.
Contact
[email protected]. Wadleigh
Middle School/HS, a NYC public school, is located at 114
Street, between Seventh and
Eighth Avenues.
Sheron Barnes, the founder
and guiding light of Mobay
Restaurant, Central Harlem’s
first gentrified bistro which
opened in 2002, reports that she
is closing her popular eatery
this month. For about 6 years,
Mobay, located at 17 West 125
Street, along Harlem’s busiest
commercial strip, enjoyed a
wonderful run and was the center of gravity for diners and
night life people who enjoyed
cutting-edge entertainment and
people watching or who needed
a caterer for a special event.
Barnes has a few projects in the
works for Mobay’s next incarnation.
BLACK ENTERPRISE
Two exemplars of successful
NY Black businesses, NY Carib
News publishers Karl and Faye
Rodney who are celebrating
paper’s 30 th Anniversary and
Sylvia Woods Restaurant, celebrating its 50 th Anniversary,
were among honorees at the
Harlem Week Launch Party at
Gracie Mansion on July 19.
Lifestylist Harriette Cole, a
woman with impeccable journalism creds, is getting ready to
launch 108 STITCHES, the
Harriette Cole Collection, a crochet apparel business which is
wedded and inspired by her
long-term practice of meditation. The 108 Stitches boasts an
inventory of great looking
scarves, sweaters, skirts,
dresses. and shawls. Visit
www.108stitches.biz
MEDIA MATTERS
Job Op: Essence Magazine is
looking for a new fashion editor.
Do you remember 2010 when Essence Magazine hired Australian
Ellianna Placas as its fashion director. Well Black women were
incenses, subscriptions were not
renewed, and the editor in chief
Angela Burt-Murray, who hired
Placas, was sent packing. Veteran
African-American journalist/
publisher Constance White, with
who specialized in fashion,
beauty and lifestyle was hired
early last year at the new Essence
editor in chief. Long story short,
Placas was given her walking
papers last week. She was not on
the same page with the
Constance White vision of Black
women’s fashion and style. .
As you know, Michael
Jackson’s family, siblings and
parents and his children, dominates the mainstream news
rooms again, running a second
in popularity only to the Olympics. None of the mainstream
media outlets who have called on
NY based Flo Anthony, Celebrity
Journalist/Radio Journalist, who
has regular lines of communication open with the Jackson family. In fact, she is the only one
whom LaToya has talked to during the recent family contretemps. Are journalists no longer
interested in people with scoops?
Camille Edwards, former News
VP at WRC/Washington/DC was
named News VP of WABC/NY,
the nation’s largest television
market. Hope that her presence
affects a suitable replacement for
Gil Noble’s public affairs show
“Like It Is.”
The University Readers, Inc.
published a new book “VOICES
IN MEDICAL SOCIOLOGY: Contemporary and Historical Perspectives,” edited by New Yorker
Dr. Cynthia T. Cook, a Florida
A&M University (FAMU) faculty member, which is the subject
of lots of academic and media
buzz. A collection of 28 essays
by sociologists, health care providers, public health professional, lawyers whose practice
embraces medical sociology,
VOICES IN MEDICAL SOCIOLOGY runs the gamut with topics
such as “Epidemiology,” “Medical Ethics,” “Medicine and Culture, Race/Ethnicity, Gender, Social Class and Health.” Essay
titles are “The Immortal Life of
Henrietta Lacks;” “Voodoo
Death: Voices From the Past” and
“You Shouldn’t Kill a Fly With a
Hammer: Alternative Medicine, A
Global Perspective”
was readying for re-election in December 2012.
Actor Sherman Helmsley, best
known for his prime-time TV
sitcoms “The Jeffersons” and
“AMEN” died in Texas.
SUMMER PLEASURES
Portia Miller
Constance White
HARLEM WEEK began with
much fanfare and brouhaha with its
signature A Great Day In Harlem
outdoor festival at the US Grant National Memorial Park on West 122
Street at Riverside Drive. Great Day
opened with a Salute to “Debi B”,
Mrs. Hal Jackson and Hal’s Talented Teens, Past and Present. It included a musical tribute with headliners like Will Downing, Cuba
Gooding, Sr.; Rev. Hezekiah Walker,
Melba Moore; Freddie Jackson and
Alyson Williams. HARLEM WEEK,
a month-long, family friendly extravaganza of fashion shows, gospel showcases; outdoor concerts
and film festivals; Uptown Fridays!; a Tri-State Tennis Classic; A
Salute to Jamaica’s 50th Independence Anniversary; Basketball
Classics, and lots more. For
HARLEM WEEK calendar of
events, visit Harlemweek.com.
Sylvia’s 50th Anniversary Jubilee
on August 1, from 8 am to 12 noon
was another great day in Harlem.
The festivities began with a parade
from the Harlem State Office Building on Seventh Avenue at 125 Street
to Sylvia’s Golden Jubilee Plaza, on
Lenox between 126/127 Streets, directly in front of the internationally
famous soul food eatery. Target
Stores hosted the free summer sidewalk breakfast buffet which was
served to Harlem residents, soul
food enthusiasts and the media.
Actor Michael Williams was event
emcee; vocalist Natasha Coward
performed and celebrated baker
Cake Man Raven proffered his goodies. The August 1 breakfast was the
first of 2 events commemorating
Sylvia’s 50th. An invitational Dinner
fundraiser will be held on September 18 where entertainment eminences such as Roberta Flack,
Doug E. Fresh and others will perform.
Bobbi Humphrey, First Lady of
Flute, performs at Ginny’s Supper
Club at the Red Rooster, at 310
Lenox Avenue, on August 11, two
shows. Music charge is $25. Call
212.421.3821 or:
visitwww.ginnyssupperclub.com.
A management consultant,
Victoria Horsford is a NY based
journalist and pop culture historian. [email protected]
PEOPLE IN THE NEWS
Jamaica Prime Minister Portia
Simpson-Miller returns to NY for
the JA50 (Jamaican 50th Anniversary) celebration, where she will
be guest of honor. The TriState
JA50 Gala will be held on August
18 at the NY Hilton Hotel. August 6 is Jamaica Independence
date.
Wall Street big Brian Maillian
and businesswoman and mannequin Beverly Johnson will tie the
knot this fall. Congrats.
Rest In Peace: Ghana President, former law professor John
Atta Mills, 68, died in a military
Hospital in Accra. President Mills
Beverly Johnson
John Atta Mills
WHAT’S GOING ON
17
18
NNPA Award Winner
Enter tainment
By Don Thomas
Remembering
Sherman Hemsley as ‘George Jefferson’
Compiled By Don Thomas
EL PASO, TEXAS — Actor
Sherman Hemsley 74, who played
the brash (George Jefferson) on
the popular television sit-coms
“All in the Family” and “The
Jeffersons,” died on Tuesday,
July 24, 2012 his booking agent
said. Hemsley played Jefferson,
a wisecracking owner of a dry
cleaning business, on “All In the
Family” from 1973 until 1975,
when the spinoff “The
Jeffersons” began an 11-season
run on CBS.
Police in El Paso, Texas, where
Hemsley lived, said there was no
evidence of foul play. The cause
of death will be determined
through an autopsy, according to
a news release.
For the first few years on “All
Sherman Hemsley
“All In The Family” cast Carroll O’Connor, Jean Stapleton, Rob
Reiner, Sally Struthers
in the Family,” Hemsley’s charac- neighbor, (Archie Bunker), played
ter George Jefferson was not seen, by Carroll O’Connor. Jefferson ofonly referred to by his wife, ten referred to white people as
(Louise), played by the late ac- “honkies.”
tress Isabel Sanford.
Jefferson was also mean and
Hemsley told Archive of condescending to his TV neighAmerican Television in 2003 that bors, son (Lionel) and, when he
he was told by the show’s pro- moved to a ritzy apartment on
ducers that Jefferson should be Manhattan’s East Side, to his maid.
“pompous and feisty.” Jefferson But his character was still wildly
was every bit as big a bigot as his popular with audiences.
“By me loving Louise and
Archie loving his wife (Edith)
played by Jean Stapleton, you
got away with being goofy and
stupid, because people said at
least he loved something,”
Hemsley said in 2003.
“I thought Sherman was doing very well. I’am saddened to
hear that Sherman has made his
transition. We were trying to
come up with a new show that we
could participate in, but of course,
that cannot happen now.
Sherman was one of the most
generous co-stars I have ever
worked with. He happily set me
up so that I could slam him and I
did the same for him. I shall miss
him deeply,” said Marla Gibbs,
who played feisty maid (Florence
Johnston)
Hemsley said he drew on his
experiences as a young man to
develop Jefferson’s celebrated
strut, which he did during filming
as a joke. The way we walked in
South Philly, you think you bad.
You gotta be important. We had
Sherman Hemsley (George Jefferson) and Isabel Sanford (Louise
“Weezie” Jefferson)
“I had the pleasure of working
Hemsley, the world loses one of
its most unique comedic talents with him on ‘House of Payne.’ He
and a lovely man,” said Norman brought laughter and joy to milLear, the creator of “All in the Fam- lions. My childhood would have
been a lot sadder without him.
ily.”
“The Jeffersons” Marla Gibbs
(Florence Johnston), feisty maid
done about seven or eight takes
(on the Jeffersons’ set) ... and then
we started clowning around.
That’s the one they kept,”
Sherman said regarding the walk.
Hemsley also played (Deacon
Ernest Frye) in the sitcom
“Amen,” co-starring Anna Maria
Horshford, Clifton Davis, Roz
Ryan and Barbara Montgomery.
“With the passing of Sherman
“Amen” Sherman Hemsley (center) flanked by cast Clifton Davis, Anna
Maria Horsford, Roz Ryan, Jester Hairston, Barbara Montgomery
Lear told Larry King that he dis- Thanks for the joy, thanks for
covered Hemsley doing the Broad- your talent and thanks for your
way play “Purlie,” in 2001. He re- life. I celebrate it in all of its
membered him singing and danc- beauty. God bless you, Mr.
ing. “Hemsley was one of the most Hemsley,” said producer/director
unique actors on the stage,” re- Tyler Perry. Sherman Hemsley
called Lear. In 1990, Sherman re- was nominated for an EMMY
leased an album entitled “Ain’t Award in 1985 but lost to Bill
That a Kick in the Head” and two Cosby.
years later another one titled
“Dance.”
(L-R) Ray Chew, Emmis Broadcasting’s
Donyshia Benjamin, WBLS’ Deon Levingston
and New Heritage Theater’s Voza Rivers.
During the HARLEM WEEK kick-off gala
at Gracie Mansion it was announced that
Chew a native Harlemite has been selected
the executive producer/artistic director for
the Harlem Jazz & Music Festival including
all major HARLEM WEEK musical events
(Photo: Images of Us!)
KICKIN’ IT with Lifestyles & Society Editor Audrey J. Bernard
19
2013 Ford Fusion
The much talked about Ford Hot Spot was the centerpiece of Ford’s involvement in this year’s spectacular BET Awards 12 broadcast on Sunday, July 1, 2012 at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, CA. The
Ford Hot Spot took place at the exclusive backstage area where top entertainmentbloggers and media
gathered to blog and tweet about rehearsals and the BET Awards 12. The all-new 2013 Ford Fusion set
the stage as TV personality/model Toccara Jones and actor Boris Kodjoe served as exclusive hosts
throughout the weekend interacting with all of the talent while securing some of behind-the-scenes buzz
for this year’s awards show. The backstage area was the place to be and be seen. Celebrity stop-bys
included R&B singer Tyrese, R&B singer Estelle, actress La La Antony, R&B superstar Usher, pop super
group Mindless Behavior and singer Marsha Ambrosius. During the awards program, Ford gave away
the keys to a 2013 Ford Escape live during the BET Awards Pre-Show: Live, Red & Ready.
TJ Holmes
Hosts Boris Kodjoe, Toccara
Toccara, Usher
OMG Girlz
Mindless Behavior,Toccara
Tank, Ginuwine, Tyrese
Yolanda Adams
Lala Anthony
Toccara, Marsha Ambrosius
Estelle
Toccara, Wendy Raquel Robinson
Ford Hot Spot was the place
to be at BET Awards 12
Off-Broadway
20
Breathing life into Josephine Baker!
By Ernece B. Kelly
Drama Critic
Performer, singer, and ambulance driver for the French
Resistance, Josephine Baker
continues to be a magnet for
writers such as (Cheryl
Howard) whose one-woman
s h o w, “ T h e S e n s a t i o n a l
Josephine Baker” is making
the rounds again. (It was a
2011 nominee for the VIV
AUDELCO Award for solo performance.)
Howard skillfully sketches
the life of Baker from her early
days in St. Louis where her
adored grandmother blunted
some of her mother’s neglect Actress/singer Cheryl Howard portrays Josephine Baker
Music filled the streets in
the Hamilton Heights/Heritage Village section of the
Village of Harlem as Heritage Health and Housing in
partnership with NYC Department of Small Business
Services, NYC Parks Department, NYC Police Department – 30th Pct. joined
forces to celebrate Harlem’s storied Sugar Hill/
Hamilton Heights districts
with a special tribute to legendary jazz singer and
famed resident Johnny
Hartman. Entitled, “Johnny
Hartman Was Here! A Jazz
Tribute to the Man, the
Music, the Moment,” the
outdoor extravaganza took
place at Johnny Hartman
Plaza, 143 rd Street at
Amsterdam Avenue and
Hamilton Place.
(L-R) LaQuita Henry, Lori
Hartman, Dr. Alvaro
Simmons, NYC Councilman
Robert Jackson, Ronny
Hines, WBGO radio personality Shelia Anderson
and Leslie Wyche.
(Photo: Gideon Manasseh)
and where she first learned the
hip-shaking moves that would
take her eventually to Paris.
Her writing slows down to
provide fascinating details
about the more controversial
parts of her Parisian days—
dancing in the nude wearing
only a skirt of bananas, mugging and crossing her eyes and
taking an Italian lover there.
“For the first time in my entire life, I felt beautiful,” Baker
exclaims as Parisian audiences
embrace her. Bricktop, another
Black ex-patriate running a successful club, becomes a friend
and advisor.
It’s through her voice—
Howard is superb at changing
voices and body language—we
learn of Baker ’s money missteps such as adopting 10 sons
and 2 daughters (her “Rainbow
Tribe”) and buying a chateau
she couldn’t afford.
Throughout this riveting 90
minute show, the very talented
Howard shows off a variety of
skills: singing, making kinetic
moves like the Black-Bottom, as
well as channeling voices of
both men and women (her
French-accented English is hilarious).
And the technical aspects
are on par with her acting. Tim
McMath’s fascinating set consisting of 100 plus boxes at the
back and sides of the stage—
some embossed with stylized
pictures of Baker—acts as the
screen for an array of photos:
Paris, Parisian audiences, playbills, even Baker in classic
poses. And the lighting design
of G. Benjamin Swope and Nicole
Wee’s costume design deepen
the visual drama. “The Sensational Josephine Baker” at the
Beckett Theatre, West 42 nd St,
Manhattan, runs thru Sept. 8 th .
BOOKIN' IT with Lifestyles & Society Editor Audrey J. Bernard
“Imperfect Bliss’s romantic heroine ultimately finds her epiphany in a journey through family discord, reality
TV productions, and a candlelight dinner for two...this is reading as alluring as the best French perfume.”
— Andre Leon Talley, editor-at-large, Vogue
On Wednesday, June 27, 2012, specially invited guests flocked to the beautifully refurbished New-York
Historical Society (N-YHS) on Central Park West to attend an intimate book launch, reading and signing for
author Susan Fales-Hill’s latest must read, Imperfect Bliss, in the handsome N-YHS Reading Room.
Looking amazingly stylish in black, Fales-Hill — who was introduced by N-YHS’s president & CEO Louise
Mirrer — read from her latest novel to the delight of the packed house. Her following grows after each
book as attendees always have a “classy” time. At the end of the reading, the author was surrounded by
guests to obtain an autographed copy of the book. Some ladies purchased more than one book to give as
gifts to loved ones. Imperfect Bliss is available for download on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with
iBooks and on your computer with iTunes. Books must be read on an iOS device. The engagingly sharp
author has also penned Always Wear Joy and One Flight Up. (Photos courtesy N-YHS/Don Pollard)
Imperfect Bliss by Susan
Fales-Hill (Atria Books,
Simon & Schuster, July
2012)
Louise Mirrer and Susan Fales-Hill
Elizabeth Rohayton
Sarah Arison
Malaika Adero and Mikki Taylor
Amy Fine Collins, Alex Hitz
Harriette Cole and Henry McGee
Georgette Farkas and Ted Farris
Deborah Roberts, Susan Fales-Hill
Jonelle Procope, Susan Fales-Hill, Judy Byrd, Simone Zeko
Adriana Trigiani
Louise Mirrer, Darren Walker
Audrey Smaltz, Joey Mills
Frank Delaney, Diane Meier
Annette Tapert, Joan Jakobson
Description: “Meet the Harcourts of Chevy Chase, Maryland. A respectable middle class, middle-aged, mixed-race couple, Harold and Forsythia have four eminently
marriageable daughters—or so their mother believes. Forsythia named her girls after Windsor royals in the hopes that one day each would find her true prince. But princes
are far from the mind of their second-born daughter, Elizabeth (AKA Bliss), who, in the aftermath of a messy divorce, has moved back home and thrown herself into earning
her Ph.D. All that changes when a Bachelorette-style reality television show called The Virgin takes Bliss’s younger sister, Diana, as its star. Though she fights it at first,
Bliss can’t help but be drawn into the romantic drama that ensues, forcing her to reconsider everything she thought she knew about love, her family, and herself.”
N-YHS & Atria Books host blissful
book party for Susan Fales-Hill
21
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24
BEACON
S
PORTS
Stephen A. Smith, A man for all seasons
Marc Rasbury
By Marc Rasbury
Last week I had the pleasure of
spending an afternoon with the
one and only Stephen A. Smith
who is a mainstay on all of the
ESPN TV family of networks as
well as Radio where he co-hosts
an afternoon show with Ryan
Ruocco on ESPN 98.7 FM. Smith
is one of the most recognized, versatile and respected journalist in
the business. If you think that his
expertise is limited to sports, you
are selling this man short. You can
hear him expressing his views on
politics, social issues and entertainment, just to name a few.
Yes Brother Smith is mostly
known as a sports journalist, particularly an NBA insider. However,
he can hold his own in various
aspects of journalism. After graduating from Winston State University, he accepted a position with
the New York Daily News. He was
hired to work with the Sports Department, but initially worked with
the paper’s City Homicide Division, where he saw some things
that nearly brought tears to his
eyes. That experience made him
put the world of sports in perspective. Smith has also ventured
out to express his views on Fox
Sports, MSNBC, Fox News, The
Steve Harvey Morning Show and
even The View.
Over the years he has shared
his political views on Fox News or
opinions on relationships on The
View. However, he is most known
for his work on ESPN and ESPN
Radio. You may catch him on the
8am Sports Center, then see him
Stephen A. Smith
Tee Golf Classic salutes
George ‘The Iceman’ Gervin
The 13th annual Original Tee
Golf Classic (OTGC) once again
brought a diverse group of golf
enthusiasts together for a competitive day on the green. This
year OTGC honored the legendary George “Iceman” Gervin.
“George ‘The Iceman’ Gervin is
truly an original both on and off
the court,” stated Haskins. “He
exemplifies the standard that the
Original Tee Golf Classic strives
to uphold and we are honored to
celebrate him.”
Sponsored by CIROC, The
NBA, Mercedes-Benz, Pepsi and
Converse the festive affair took
place at Wild Turkey Golf Club, in
Hamburg, NJ, raised nearly $8K
for cancer and wellness for Golf
to End Cancer.
“We were honored when
Wendell Haskins and the Original
Tee Golf Classic offered us such a
meaningful alliance to promote
Golf to End Cancer at its annual
event,” stated Anthony G.
Stepney, G2EC’s Executive Director. “Original Tee graciously promoted our cause to prevent diseases such as cancer and promoting health and wellness. It’s great
to see the golf industry collaborating for the good of others.”
“Our OTGC event is a multi-cultural event which celebrates African Americans who share a love
for this sport,” said Wendell
Haskins founder/president of
OTGC. “No matter our color or
race, we are all affected by cancer.”
Haskins continues, “Personally,
I lost my mother to cancer, and
more recently my sister is a cancer
survivor, so having Golf to End
Cancer participate at the Original
Tee event was a great fit. I was able
to do something I love—play
golf—at the same time raising
funds for others.”
Original Tee Inc. was founded
and launched in 1999 by entertainment marketing entrepreneur,
Wendell J. Haskins (Founder/President). Since its inception, the Original Tee Golf Classic has developed
into a golf culture love-fest, where
celebrities, corporate, and entertainment VIPs come together to
promote diversity and inclusion in
golf while supporting worthy philanthropic causes. Find more on
Wendell Haskins and Original Tee
Inc. at www.originaltee.com.
taking on Skip Bayless on ESPN
2’s First Take. Then he hops in a
cab across town to do his ESPN
Radio show with Ryan Ruocco.
After his radio show, it seems as
if he is on call for every ESPN station across the country to offer
his commentary on the topic of
the day.
In between all of his on-air responsibilities, Smith is working
the
phones to get the latest leads on
the top stories or doing research
on a story he is about to break.
“There may be better reporters or
journalist out there, but I will never
be outworked!”
I can attest to that. When other
members of the media are socializing in the sports venue’s dining
rooms, Brother Smith is in the corner on his Blackberry confirming
a lead story or working an angle
for his next story. Read any of his
articles or listen to him on TV or
radio and you can tell how much
he pays attention to details and
effort he puts forth in his work.
I try to figure out when this guy
gets his rest. I would love to get
half of the frequent flyer miles that
he has earned as he flies across
the country to cover several
events within any given week. Remember, he does not just cover
the NBA. He also covers college
basketball and football, the NFL
as well as MLB. He will admit that
his knowledge of hockey is limited but he can still hold an intelligent conversation and hold his
own on that subject as well. He is
by far one of the most versatile
sport journalists out there.
He is obviously one of the more
prominent African American journalists, covering a sports field that
is dominated for the most part by
African Americans. I asked him if
he felt that being an African American in this field is a blessing or
gives him an advantage. “It is a
blessing and a curse. Some ath-
letes take my criticism personally. I
might criticize an act but not the
person and there is difference. You
might be a great person but do something stupid. I’m going report on the
incident. That does not necessarily
mean I do not like you as a person,
and that is the same with their play.
If they are playing poorly or not up
to their abilities, I’m going to call
them out. With the access that I
have, some of these athletes are
lucky. I do not report 80% of some
of the things that I see.”
Then we have to give him his
props for his work on ESPN 2’s First
Take where he debates Skip Bayless
on a daily basis. He should win a
Emmy Award just for that. I do not
know how he can stand there and
listen to Bayless proclaiming that
Tim Tebow is the one of the best
quarterbacks in the NFL or constantly critiquing LeBron James I
wonder what games Good ‘ol Skip
is watching, but he is steadfast in
his opinion regarding Tebow and
James. Thank God Stephen A. still
puts things in perspective and
shoots down Bayless’ rhetoric. I
asked Smith if Bayless gets paid extra to go against the grain with some
of
his opinions because he can not
actually believe some of the things
he says. “Absolutely not! He actually believes the things he says. He
is like that crazy relative in every
family that once he believes something is true, nothing can change
his opinion.”
I would be remiss if I did not bring
up the Saturday Night Live spoof
of Smith. He loved it. He thought
that it was funny and on point and
that Jay Pharoah did an excellent
job. The Producers of SNL have
even indicated that they would do
more segments that will also include
Bayless in the up coming season.
When Stephen A. Smith left ESPN
a couple years ago, we all missed
his high octane viewpoints and insights. You may not agree with everything he says, but he is so convincing that at times he might sway
your opinion.
Now that he is back on the air, we
all remember what this man brings
to the table and we are all more informed because of it.
LeBron James

Week - New York Beacon

Transcription

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